The Washington times., 1938-02-17

wouldn't do that. He promised" :"
She read the notice once more,
color rushing into her cheeks to
the roots of her soft brown hair,
where occasional gray streaks were
beginning to show.
Ted Penning has sold the stand
of yellow pine on Camis Ridge to
the U. and l. Lumber Company.
Logging operations will start there
shortly"
Clutching the paper to her, Ann
started to run for the corral, then
stopped short, her hand against
her heart to still the wild beating
that was not all from the exertion
Of running.
No use rushing for Ted to deny
It! 1t was true! Everything in the
last two weeks pointed to it. Ted's
complaints about the deer that
came down from the ridge and got
In the vegetable garden; his eva
sion about his reasons for going
to town: his bringing her back a
box of candy. a thing he hadn t
done in years; oh. yes, it was true.
He'd sold the timber and he was
trying to make it up to her, though
he hadn't yet had the courage to
tell her about it.
TO PLEAD FOR TREES
With a heavy heart, Ann went
back to her breakfast dishes, but
her mind was far away. In imagi-
nation she was following the game
trails through the virgin timber OF
the ridge; seeing it in the spring,
with the shadows of the giant vel
low pines falling across the carpet
of blue camis that had given it its
name; seeing the vistaS Of green
grass that hot August afternoon
is years ago. when Ted had asked
her to marry him. j.,
All through the hard years that
had followed, in every kind OF
weather and season, that ridge had
been her refuge and consolation.
She had fought there for cour-
age to go on living after the baby
died. From it had come strength
and peace and understanding. And
now it was to be cut down; the
last bit of virgin timber in the
county. It was wicked not to pre-
serve it, not only for her, but for
the generations to come; wicked
to sacrifice it to Ted's desire to
buy in the Owen ranch that had
lately come into the market.
A clatter of hoofs brought her
eyes from the sink to the kitchen
window. It was all she could do
to answer T'ed's wave as he gal
loped past. How blind and stupid
she had been! When Ted had
talked about the Owen place the
idea of buying it had been so pre-
posterous that she hadn't even
tried to show him what an added
burden instead of help it would
be. And now it was too late.
A sudden flare of coura
Strengthened AIMS dropping shoul'
derS. No, she wouldn't take it
lying down! She'd go to Grant
Preston, the president OF the lum-
ber company, and plead for her
trees.
HARD, HARD, EARD'
She'd hardly seen Grant since
she had married, but he used to
like her. A flush crept into her
face. If she'd married Grant in
stead of Ted-loyalty dismissed
the thought. With all Ted's i'm
practical responsibility she loved
him as she never could have loved
Grant, hard and successful as she
heard he had become.
1t was after lunch when Ann
parked the flivver before Deer
Creeks most impressive office
building.
She got out and slowly climbed
the stairs to the offices of the U.
& l., her courage sinking to the
zero point. But she couldn't give
up now; she had to see it through
Surprise and reserve were in
Grant Preston's eyes as he rose
to greet her. Though not heavily
built, there was a sense Of 1.-the
ruthless power about him.
Ann! This is a SURPRISE" his
tone gave no indication that il
was pleasant one. What car
I do for you?"
Hard, hard. hard" Ann thought
desperately, taking the seat HI
offered her.
She resoultely put her case, II
spite of the realization of how
childish and sentimental it ap
peared to those cold, blue-gray
eyes. 1T is the only piece o,
virgin timber left" she ended
"All the other ridges have beer
numbered or burnt over"
PRESTON SAYS NO
That's the reason want it,
Preston said crisply. I'm sorr.
I can't do as you ask. Ann, bu
there is a point Of pride involved
as well. I have had a struggl
with my directors over tha
: ridge They want to stick to SCI
ond growth, claiming it will cos
more to lumber Camis Ridge thai
it is worth. I know it won't
Boards the size we can get fror
those trees bring a fancy price
Even now we've bought it, they
rather let it stand. but, believ
me, I'm showing them who's bos
Of this company"
He brought his fist down on tn