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About Dakota County herald. (Dakota City, Neb.) 1891-1965 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 1920)
DAKOTA COUNTY HERALD, DAKOTA CITY, NEBRASKA. Jk e VALLEY Author of "Cappy Ricks" P BRYCE AND JULES. Synopsis. Pioneer In the Califor nia rod wood region, John Cardigan, at forty-seven, la the trading citizen of Sequoia, owner of mills, ships, and man acros of timber, a wid ower aticr three years of mnrrled life, and father of two-day-old Bryce Cardigan. At fourteen Uryce makea the acquaintance of Shirley Sumner, a visitor at Sequoia, and his junior by a few years. Together they visit tho Valley of the Giants, sacrod to John Cardigan and hla son aa the burial place of Bryce's mother, and part with mutual re gret While Uryce Is at college John Cardigan meets with heavy business losses and for the first time views the future with uncer tainty. After graduation from col lege, and a trip abroad, llryco Car digan comes home On the train he meets Shirley Sumner, on her y to Sequoia tu make her home liiere with her uncle, Colonel Pennington Bryce learns that hlo father's eye sight has failed and that Colonel Pennington Is seeking to take ad vantage of the old man's business misfortunes. John Cardigan I de spairing, but Bryce Is full of light. Bryce finds a burl redwood felled across his mother's grave. He kocb to dinner at Pennlnaton'a on Shir ley's Invitation. U zis CHAPTER VI Continued. 6 Tm nfrnltl I do, my dour," the Colonel admitted with his host air of heurty expanslveness. "I'm nfrnld I do. However, Mr. Cardigan, now that you have at least, I have heen o In formed taken over your father's busi ness, I am hoping we will be enabled to get together on many little details and work them out on a common basis to our mutual advantage. We lumber men should stand together find not make It hard for each other, How ever," he concluded, "let's not tnlk shop. I imagine we have enough of that during the day. Besides, here nnr the cocktails." With the disposal of the cocktails, tho conversation drifted Into a discus sion of Shirley's adventure with a Giilmon In I5lg lagoon. The Colonel discoursed learnedly on tho superior sport of muskollunge-flshing. which prompted Bryce to enter into a descrip tion of going after swordfish nmong the Islands of the Santa Darbara chan nel. "Once I was fishing at San " Tho butler nppeared in the doorway and bowed to Shirley, announcing that dinner was served. The girl rose and gave her arm to Bryce ; with her other arm linked through Iter uncle's she turned townrd the dining room. Jus Inside the entrance Bryce paused. The soft glow of the candles In the old-fashioned silver candle sticks upon the table was reflected In the polished wnlls of the room walls formed of panels of the most ex quisitely patterned redwood burl Bryce Cardigan had ever seen. Also the panels were unusunlly large. Shirley Sumner's alert glance fol lowed Bryce's as It swept around the room. "This dining room is Uncle Seth'a particular delight, Mr. Cardi gan," she explained. "It Is very beautiful, Miss Sumner. And your uncle has worked wonders in tho matter of having It polished. Thoso panels are positively the largest and most benutlful specimens of red wood burl ever turned out In this country. The grain is not merely wavy; It is not merely curly; it is actually ho contrary that you have here, Colonel Pennington, a room ab solutely unique, in that It Is formed of bird's-eye burl. Mark the deep shadows In It And how It docs reflect those candles !" "It Is beautiful," the Colonel de clared. "And I must confess to a pardonable pride in It,. although the task of keeping these walls from be ing marred by the furniture knocking against them requires the utmost cure." Bryce turned and his brown eyes t!azed Into the Colonel's. "Where did you succeed In finding such a marvel ous tree?" he queried pointedly. "I know of but one tree In Humboldt county that could have produced such beautiful burl." For about a second Colonel Penning ton met Bryce's glance unwaveringly; then he read something In his guest's eyes, and Ills glance shifted, while over his benign countenance a flush lrpread quickly. Bryce noted it, nnd hts quickly roused suspicions were as quickly kindled into certainty. "Where did you find that tree?" he repeated Innocently. "dondenu, my woods-boss, knew I was on the lookout for something pedal something nobody else could ret; so he kept his eyes open." "Indeed I" There wus Just a trace of Irony in Bryce's tones ns he drew Shirley's chair nnd held It for her. "You nro fortunate to have such a 1 woods-boss In jour employ. Such loyal fellows are usually too good to be true, nnd quite frequently they put their blankets on their backs and get out of tho country when you least ex pect it. I dare say it would bo a D&ock to you If Uonileau did that." There was no mistaking the Tellod tfcrcat behind that apparently Innocent ttecrvatloa, aud thn Colonel, being o3u o' more than ordinary astute By PETER B. KYNE ness, realized thnt at last he must place his cards on the table. "Yes," he said, "I would he rather disappoint ed. However, 1 pay Hondenu rather more than It Is customary to pay woods-bosses ; so I Imagine he'll stay unless, of course, somebody takes a notion to run him out of the country. And when that happens, I want to be on linnd to view the spectacle." Bryce sprinkled a modicum of salt In his soup. "I'm going up Into Town ship nine to-morrow afternoon," he remarked casually. "I think I shall go over to your camp nnd pny the In comparable Jules a brief visit." Again the Colonel assimilated the hint, but preferred to dissemble. "Oh, yon can't steal liltn from me, Cardl aan," he laughed. "I warn you In ad vance so spare yourself the effort." "I'll try anything once." Bryce re torted with equal good nature. "How ever, I don't want to steal him from you. 1 want to uncertain from lilm where he procured this burl." "He wouldn't tell you." "He might. I'm n persuasive little cuiw when I choose to exert myself." "dondenu is not communicative. He reqtilreu lots of persuading." "What delicious soup I" Bryce mur mured blandly. "Miss Sumner, mny 1 have u cracker?" The dinner passed pleasantly; the challenge and defiance tetween guest nnd host had been so skillfully nnd gracefully exchnnged thnt Shirley hadn't the slightest suspicion that these two well-groomed men hnd, un der her very nose, ns it were, agreed to be enemies and then, for the time being, turned their attention to other and more trifling matters. A sprightly three-cornered conversation continued for an hour. Then the Colonel, secret ly enraged nt the calm, mocking, con templative glances which Bryce ever nnd anon bestowed upon him, nnd un able longer to convince himself that ho was too apprehensive Unit this cool young man knew nothing and would do nothing even If he know something rose, pleaded tho necessity for looking over sonic papers, and hade Bryce good-night. Foolishly he proffered Bryce a limp linnd ; and a demon of deviltry taking possession of the latter, he squeezed It with a simple, hearty earnestness, the while he said: "Colonel Pennington, I hope I do not have to assure you that my visit here this evening has not only been delightful but er Instructive. Good night, sir, and pleasant dreams." With difficulty the Colonel suppress ed a groan. However, he was not the sort of mnn who suffers In silence; for a minute Inter the butler, leaning over the banisters ns his master climb ed tho stairs to his library, heard the Intter curse with an eloquence that was singularly appealing. CHAPTER VII. Goloncl Seth Pennington looked up sourly ns a clerk entered his private office. "Well?" he demanded brus quely. When addressing his em ployees, the Colonel seldom bothered to assume Ills pontlflcnl manner. "Mr. Bryce Cnrdlgnn Is wnitlng to see you, sir." "Very well. Show him in." Bryce entered. "Good morning, f Colonel," he said pleasantly, and brn I zenly thrust out his hand. "Not for me, my boy," the Colonel 1 assured him. "I hnd enough of thnt last night. We'll Just consider the hand-shaking all attended to, If you please. Have a chair; sit down nnd tell me whnt I cap do to make you happy." "I'm delighted to find you In such a generous frame of mind, Colonel. You enn make me genuinely hnppy by renewing, for ten years on tho snme terms ns the original contract, your arrangement to freight the logs of the Cardigan Hedwood Lumber company from tho woods to tidewater." Colonel Pennington cleared his throat with n propitiator- "Ahem-m-tn !" Then he removed his gold spec tacles and carefully wiped them with a Bilk handkerchief, ns carefully re placed them upon his aristocratic nose, nnd then gazed curiously at Bryce. "My dear young friend ! My very dear young friend I I must protest nt being asked to discuss this matter. Your father and I havo been over it in detail; wo failed to agree, and thnt settles it." "I did not expect you to ngreo to my request. I urn not quite thnt optimistic," Bryce replied ovenly. "I thought thnt possibly, If I reopened negotiations you might have a reason able counter-proposition to suggest." "I haven't .thought of any." "I suppose If I agreed to sell you that quarter-section of timber In the little valley over yonder" (lie pointed to tho east) "and the natural outlet for your Squaw creek timber, you'd quickly think of one," Bryce suggested pointedly. "No, I mil not In tho market for that Valley of the Giants, ns your Idealistic father prefers to call It, Tho posses sion of that big timber Is an ndvun tngo I expect to enjoy before I ac quire many more gray hairs. But I do not erpect to pay for It." GIANTS Copright b Peter D. Kyne .w w wywMMM fcl . i. "Do you expect me to offer ft to you as n bonus for renewing our haul lug contract?" The Colonel snapped his lingers. "By George," he declared, "that's a bright Idea, and a few months ngo I would hnve been Inclined to consider it very seriously. But now " "You tlguro you've got us winging, eh?" Bryce was smiling pleasantly. "I am making no admissions," Penn ington responded enigmatically, "nor any nnullng contracts for my neigh bor's logs," he added. "1 suppose I'll have to abandon log ging In Township nine and go back to the San Iledrln," llryco sighed re signedly. "If you ilt, you'll go sroke. You can't afford It. You're on the verge of insolvency this minute." "I suppose, slnc you decline to haul our logs, after the expiration of our present contract, and In view of the fact that we are not llnnncinlly able to build our own logging railroad, that the wisest course my father and 1 could pursue would be to sell our timber In Township nine to you. It ndjolns your holdings In the same township." "I hnd a notion the situation would begin to dnwn upon you." The Colonel was smiling now; his handsome face was gradually assuming the expres sion pontifical. "I'll give you u dollar a thousand feet stumpnge for it." "I'm afraid I can't accept that offer. We paid a dollar and n half for. it, you know, nnd If we sold It to you nt n dollar, the sale would not bring us sufficient money to take up our bonded Indebtedness; we'd only have the San Iledrln timber nnd the Valley of the Giants left, and since we cannot log either of these at present, nntumlly we'd bo out of business." "That's the way I figured It, my boy." "Well we're not going out of busi ness." "Pardon me for disagreeing with you. I think you are." "Not much! We can't nfford It." "My dear boy, my very dear young friend, listen to me. Your pntcrnnl ancestor Is the only human being who has ever succeeded In tanking a per fect monkey of me. When I wanted to purchase from him a right of way through his absurd Valley of the Giants, in order that I might log my Squaw creek timber, he refused me. And to add Insult to Injury, he spouted a lot of rot nbout his big trees, how much they meant to him, nnd tho utter artistic horror of run ning n logglng-trnln through tho grove particularly since ho plnnned to be queath It to Sequoia ns a public park. "I will not renew your logging con tract. That Is final, young mnn. No man can ride mo with spurs and got away with It." "On, I knew that yesterday." "Then why hnve you called on me today, taking up ray tlmo on n dead issue?" "I want-Mi to give you ono flnnl chance to repent. I know your plnn. You have It In your power to smash the Cardigan Redwood Lumber com pnny, acquire It at fifty per cent of Its value nnd merge Its nssets with vour "I Will Not Renew Your Loualno Con tract." Laguna Grande Lumber company. You are an ambitious mnn. You want to be the greuttMt redwood manufacturer In California, and in order to nchieve your ambitions, you are willing to ruin a competitor: you decllno to play tho gamo like n thoroughbred." "I play the game of business accord ing to the rules of the gamo; I do nothing Illegal, sir." "And nothing generous or chivalrous. Colonel, you know your plen of a shortage of rolling-stock Is that the contract for hauling our logs has been very profitable and will bo more profit able In tho futar if you will accept v 4 flfty-cnt-per-thousnnd Increase on the freight rnto and reuow the con tract for ten years." "Nothing doing, young mnn. He member, you are not in n position to ask fnvors." "Then I suppose we'll have to go down lighting?" "I do not anticipate much of n fight." "And I'll begin by running your woods-boss out of tho country." "Ali-lil" "You know why, of course those burl panels In your dining room. Ron deau felled a tree In our Valley of the Giants to got thnt burl for you. Colonel Pennington." Pennington iltiMicd. "1 defy you to prove that," he almost shouted. "Very well. I'll make Roudenu con fess; perhaps he'll even tell me who sent him nftcij the burl. Upon my word. I think you Inspired thnt dastardly raid. At any rate, 1 know Hondenu Is guilty, nnd you. as his employer and the beneficiary of his crime, must accept tho odium." The Colonel's face went white. "1 do not admit anything except that you appear to have lost your head, young man. However, for the sake of argu ment: granting thnt domicilii felled thnt tree, he did It under the appre hension thnt your Volley of the Giants Is a part of my Squnw creek timber adjoining." "I do not believe that. There was malice In the act brutality, oven; for my mother's grave Identified tho hind as ours, and domicilii felled the tree o;i her tombstone." "If that Is so, and domicilii felled that tree I do not bellevo lie did I am sincerely sorry, Cardigan. Name .your price and 1 will pay you for the tree." "You can't pny for that troe," Bryce burst forth. "No pitiful human being can pny In dollars and cents for the wanton destruction of God's handi work. You wanted thnt burl, and when my father was blind nnd could no longer make his Sundny pilgrimage up to that grove, your woods-boss went up nnd stole thnt which you know you could not buy." "That will bo about all from yini, young mnn. Get out of my office. And, by the way, forgot that you have met my niece." "It's your office so I'll get out. As for your second command" ho snapped his fingers In Pennington's face "fooey !" When Bryco bad gone, tho Colonel hurriedly called ills logging-camp on the telephone nnd nsked for Jules Rondeau, only to bo Informed by the timekeeper who answered tho tele phone, thnt domicilii was up In tho green timber with the choppers and could not he gotten to the telephone in less than two hours. "Do not send for him, then," Pen nington commanded. "I'm coming up on the eleven-fifteen train nnd will talk to him when he comes In for his lunch." At cloven o'clock, nnd Just as the Colonol was leaving to board tho eleven-fifteen logglng-trnln bound empty for the woods, Shirley Sumner iiinile her appearance In his office. "Uncle Seth," she complnlned, "I'm lonesome. The bookkeeper tells me you're going up to the logglng-cnmp. May I go with you?" "By nil means. Usunlly I ride In tho cab with the engineer and flreninn ; but If you're coming, I'll hnve them hook on the caboose. Step lively, my dear, or they'll be holding tho train for us nnd upsetting our schedule." By virtue of their logging-contract with Pennington, the Cardigans and their employees were transported free oer Pennington's logging railroad; hence, when Bryco Cardigan resolved to wnlt upon Jules domicilii In the mut ter of that murdered Glnnt, It wns characteristic of him to choose the shortest nnd most direct route to his quarry, and as tho long string of empty logging-trucks came crawling off the Laguna Grande Lumber compnny's log dump, lie swung over the side, quite Ignorant of the fact thnt Shirley nnd her precious relative wero riding In tho little caboose In the rear. At twelve-ten tho trnln slid In on tho log landing. ."Where's Rondeau?" Bryco asked. The engineer pointed to u huge, swarthy man approaching across tho clearing In which the camp was sit uated. "That's him," ho replied. And without further nilo, Bryce strode to meet his man. "Are you Jules Itomlenii?" ho de manded us he came up to tho woods boss. Tho latter nodded. "I'm Bryco Cardigan," his interrogator announced, "and I'm hero to thrash you for chop ping that big redwood tree over In that little valley where my mother Is burled." "Oh I" domicilii smiled. "Wlz pleasure, M'sleur." And without n moment's hesitation ho rushed. Bryce backed away from lilm warily, and they circled. "When I get through with yon, Hon denu," Bryce said distinctly, "It'll taV. u good man to lead jou to your meals. This country Isn't big enough for both of us, nnd since you came hero last, you've got to go first." Bryco stepped In, feinted for don dean's Jaw with bis right, and when tho woods-boss quickly recovered, rip ped n sizzling left Into tho hitter's midriff. Hondenu grunted nnd dropped his guard, with the result that Bryce's sxeat lists played a devil's tattoo on his countenance before he could crouch nnd cover. "This Is u tough one," thought Bryce. Ills blows had not, apparently, had the slightest effect on the woods-boss, Crouched low and with his arms wrapped nround his head, Hondeuu still came on unfalteringly, nnd Hi-yee wns forced to give wny before lilm ; to snve Ids hands, he avoided the risk of battering dondeau's hard head and sinewy arms. Already word thnt thrt wooa.s-boss was battling with n stranger hnd been shouted Into tho camp dining room, and the entire crew of thnt enmp, nhnndonliig their hnlf-finlshed meal, came pnurlt"; forth to view the contest. Out of the tall of his cyo pryce saw them coming, but he was not nppre henslve. for he knew the code of tho woodsman: "Let every mnn roll his own hoop," It would he n light to a finish, for no man would Interfere; striking, kicking, gouging, biting, ot choking would not be looked upon as unsportsmanlike; and ns Bryce backed cautiously away from the huge, lithe, active, nnd powerful man before lilm, lie realized that Jules Hondenu was, as his father had stated, "top dog among the lumberjacks." Rondeau, It was apparent, hnd no stomach for Bryce's style of combat. liuVAvvVvQO !tirXKu$ n. Ill' S2su "Rondeau Will Tnko Care of Him Now." He wanted n roiigh-iiiiil-tuinhlc fight and kept rushing, hoping to clinch; If he could but get his great hands on Bryce, he would wrestle lilm down, climb lilm, nnd finish the fight In jig time. But a rouglwind-tuniblo was exactly what Bryce was striving to avoid; hence when domicilii rushed. Bryce side-stepped and peppered the woodsman's ribs. Suddenly two powerful hnnds were placed between Bryce's shoulders, ef fectually liultlng his backward prog ress; then he was propelled violently forward until ho collided with don deau. Willi a bellow of triumph, the woods-boss's nnns wero around Bryce, swinging him until ho faced the man wlio had forced lilm Into thnt terrible grip. This was no less n personage than Colonel Seth Pennington, nnd It was obvious ho hnd taken charge of what ho considered tho obsequies. "Stand brick, you men, and give them room," he shouted, "domicilii will tnko care of him now. Stand buck, I say. I'll dlscluirgo tbo man that Interferes." With n lieuvo nnd a grunt domicilii lifted his antagonist, tho pair went crashing to tho earth together, Bryco uidenieath. And then something hap pened. With a bowl of pain, dondenu rolled over on his back and lny clasp Jug his left wrist In his right hand, while Bryce scrnnlblcd to his feet. "Tho good old wrist-lock does tho trick," ho iiimoimccd; nnd stooping, he grasped the woods-boss by tho col lar with his left hand, lifted lilm, and struck lilm a terrible blow In tho fuce with Ids right. But foc tho nrm thnt upheld lilm, dondenu would hnve fall en. To hnve him fall, however, was not part of Bryce's plan. Jerking the leiVnv toward hint, he passed his arm iiroiinu dondeau's neck, holding the hitter's bend as In a vise with the crook of his elbow. And then tho bat tering started. When It was finished, Brycu lot his man go, and dondeiiu, bloody, sobbing, and seinl-cousclouH, sprawled on tho ground. Bryco bent over lilm. "Now. damn you," ho roared, "who felled that tree In Cardigan's redwoods?" "I did, M'sleur. Enough I con fess I" Tho words were u whisper. "Did Colonel Pennington suggest It to you?" "Ho want ze hurl. By gar, I do not want to fell zat tree " "That's all I want to know." Stoop ing, Bryco seized dondenu by the nape of the neck and the hlnck of his over alls, lifted him shoulder-high mid threw lilm, as one throws a sack nt meal, full at Colonel Pennington. "You throw mo at him. Now 1 throw lilm at you. You damned, Moving, greedy, hypocritical scoun drel, if It weren't for your years and your gray hair, I'd kill you." "You coward! my uncle!" To hurt (TO HI3 CONTINUED.) Great Wlno Cellar In Roumanln, Tho most capacious wine cellar In the world Is owned by tho doiinianlan government. A railway tunnel 2,000 feet long could not be used for the pur pose for which It was Intended bo Ciiuso of Inferior construction, so It was leased to a wine dealer, who turned It Into a storehouse for wines. fr " --'" """ -nTTi R M ' '' v '- vV t v V l' . ,' V. irJ H & rimObm -T.'d -o DIVIDENDS FROM THE GARDEN Showing Made This Year Should Make All Resolvo to Have Their Own, If Possible. Home gardens are declaring dtvl .(lends, regular, extra and midsummer pedals all being Included in the dis tribution. These prolita havo been coming to the homo gardener from the time the first lettuce, thu first rad ish, the first green onion wits ready for the table. The variety of divi dends is limited only by the wisdom of the man wiio planted tho garden. The earlier dividends are accompanied now by others more seasonable tho entire distribution Increasing tha pleasures of those who tasto and en- loy. The innn who prepared tho garden plo, who mndi tho soil ready, who laid It out, planted the seed, put out the plants and gave care and thought nnd attention each day, has already hud his Investment back In greater health, to say nothing of the pleasures that havo been his In helping nnd studying the productive forces of na ture. Now he gets the special divi dends In delicious tabic offerings, everything tnstlng better because of the toll and thought he gave it. And he can laugh and grow merry over some high prices quoted, because tho little back-yard garden spot, to which lie gave time and toll, has helped htm solve tho high cost of living In part. What Is there that pays so much for the work ns the back-yard garden? Ohio State Journal. BEAUTIFY THE WASTE SPOTS Jnslghtly Places May Be Given an Attractive Appearance If Paid a Little Attention. Borders In the garden and yi(rd are like frames that lend beauty to the picture. In many gardens and lawns there seems to lie no space that can bo spared for flowers, yet there are walks of cement, brick or cinders, wnste spaces along tho alley, or around small buildings which If bordered with some flowers would change tho entire nppearatico of tho place. China astors, old fashioned pinks, English daisies, forgot-ine-nots, sweet nlyssum, candy tuft, nnd verbenas nro good varieties for almost any soil or climate. In nlaces where u taller border would bring out tho plcturo, use sweet William, Oriental popples, or tho stately hollyhock. Then find a' high place for n bird house, or plant some shrubs for nest places. The true home picture Is lacking without tbo birds and (lowers. Tho Thrift Magazine. Town and Country. I wonder when nmbltlous cities will Icnrn that It Is ii dangerous business to ho everlastingly campaigning for a greater population. Nearly every town and city In the United States hud ono slogan, "More population in 1020." This has been going on for tho lust fifty years until wo seo our farm pop ulation decreased to tho danger point. The 101!0 census will show five mil lion less people living on tho farms In this country now than there wero In 1010. It will show an lucrcnso of population for thu nation of twenty inlllons. This means twenty-flvo mil lion more peoplo In the towns and cities and live million less peoplti to feed them. Unless these city folks can find u substitute for bread, meat and potatoes, something serious Is go ing to happen. John A. Simpson, Farmer. The Small Towno. It has been figured up that there aro about 12,000 smiill towns In tho United States, half of them with populations of MM) or less. It Is these miiull towns that the rural peoplo are Intimately as sociated with. They sell their produce there, buy tho things they need; In fact, these are a pari of tho rural com munity. Some of these small towns will become cities, but a very largo per cent of them will reinaln as they are. It Is no iltogrnco to live In n small town, but the-rule Is that these peoplo are waiting until next year, or some future year to Improve their schools, put In sidewalks, a water sys tem, or n sewer system to snfegunrd the health of tho people, or before taking any wleps to Improve tho social and living conditions of thu children. Tho Thrift Magazine. Billboards Indicted. Not uloue because they are n blot on tho landscape, hoardings nro con sidered mi evil in more tunglblo ways. When they aro not strongly supported there Is always danger of their falling over in storms. Unless they aro of fireproof material they are easily In llainumblo and often servo to carry tiro from nuo building to another. If the boards aro not raised several feet from the ground tho space hack of them almost Invariably becomes n dump for refuse and a convenient place ff.r criminals to hide. Signboards nearly always shut out Miiillght and air. To prevent this us ninth as possible, some cities limit the height nnd width of the board. Tho Importance of breathing space nround 'i building Is recognized by a number ot millionaires S