NOTiTH PT.ATTF FVT V'twTY TT?Tmr'TC MM it MP THE GIANTS PETERB.KYNE COPY RI GHT, Br PETER JD.KYNE CHAPTER XIV. 15 The dictograph which Shirley had naked Ilrycc to obtain for her In Son ITrnnclsco' arrived on the rcfrular pax wiper fttenmer on Thursday monilnjc nnd Hryco called tier tip to ask when she desired It pent over. "Good morning, Mr. Cardigan," he creeled hltn cheerily. "How do you fMl thin morning? Any the wonc for Imv.lng permitted yourHclf to he a hu man being last night?" "Why, I feel pretty fine, Shirley. I think It did mc a. lot of good to crawl out of my flhell last night." "You feci encouraged to go on .liv ing, eh?" "Yes." "And nghtlngr "By nil means." "Then something has occurred of lute to give you new courage?" "Oh, many thlngH. Uy the way, Shir ley; you may Inform your uncle nt hrcakfast Friday morning about my connection with the N. C. O. In fact, I (hlnlc It would be far better for you tf you mndo It a point to do so." "Why?" "ItocnuRe both Ogllvy and myself have n very- strong suspicion that your Mucle bas n detective or two on our trails. I Judge your undo will learn today that you dined with Ogllvy, Motra nnd mo last night." "Oh, dear! That's terrible." no could sense her distress. "Ashamed of having been seen In my company, ch?" "Please don't. Are you quite serious , In this matter?" ' "Quito." "Uncle 8oth will think It so so strange" "Uo'll probably tell you nbout It. Heller boat him to the Issuo by 'fesslng up, Shirley. Doubtless his suspicions arc already aroused, and If you Inform him that you know I am the real build er of the N. C. O., he'll think you'ro a smart woman nnd that you'vo been doing ft little private gum-shoe work of your, own on behalf of tho Lagunn Or.nndo Tiutnbcr company." "Which Is exnetly what f have been doing," sho reminded him, ".know. Hut then, I'm not afraid or you, Shirley that Is, ony more. ' And, after Friday morning I'll not bo ufrald of your uncle." "I feel as If I were a conspirator." "I bcllevo you aro one. Your dlcto graph has arrived. Shall I send George Sea Otter over with It? And have you somebody to Install It?" ''Oh. bother! Does It havo to bo In stalled?" , "It docs. You place tho contrnptlon hldo It, rather In tho room whero Ifyconimlrntorfl consptro; then you rim wires, from It lata nunthcr room uhero tho detectives listen In on tho icccivcrs." "Could George Sea Otter Install It?" "I think ho could.- There Is n'prlnt d card of Instructions, and I daro say Georgo would find the Job no moro hudllug than tho Ignition system on the Napier," "Will he tell anybody?" 'Not If you ask him not to." "Very well, then. IMcaso send him over. Thank you so much, Ilryce Cardigan, You'ro an awful good old sort, after all, Itenlly, It hurts mo to have to opposo you. It would bo so mu'h ulcer If wo didn't have all those redwood trees to protect, wouldn't It?" "UrtAis not arguo tho question, Shir ley, I think I have my redwood trees protected. Qood-by." He had scarcely finished telephon lug his homo to Instruct George Sen Otter to report with tho express pack ago to Shirley when Buck Ogllvy strolled Into the office and tossod document on bis desk. "There's your little old temporary franchise, old :hlng," ho announced ; nnd with many a. hearty laugh bo related to Bryco tho ingenious means by which ho had ob tallied It. "And now If you will phono up to your logging enmp and Instruct the woods-boss to lay off about fifty men to rest for tho day, pending a hard night's work, and arrange to wend them down on tho last log train today,, I'll drop around after dinner ind we'll fly to that Jump-crossing." "I'll telephone Colonul Pennington's mnnugor and aslc him to kick a switch tiglno In on tho Laurol creek spur and utialce thoso flat cars with my rails (board out to tho Junction with tho main line," Bryce replied, And he railed up the Laguna Grande Lumber ropipany only to be Informed by no lew u person than Colonul Pennington hdiiself that U would bo Impossible o send tho BWltch-cngtno In until the following afternoon. Tho Colonel was rorry, but the swltch-cnglno wns In tit jUtop having the brick In her flrobox renewed, yrlillo tho mogul that hauled tho; log trains would not havo. time to attend to the matter, since tho flats would havo to bo spotted on the side track atjCardlgan'a log landing in tho wopdsT'nnd this could not be done un til tho last londed log train for the duy had been hauled out to make room. "Why not switch back with the mogul after tho log tralti has been hauled out on tho main line?" Bryco demanded pointedly. Pennington, however, was not trapped. "My dear fellow," ho replied patronizingly, "quite Impossible, I ns sure you. That old trestle across 'the creek, my boy It hasn't been looked at for years. While I'd send the light switch-engine over It and havo no fears" "I happen to know, Colonel, that the big mogul kicked those Hats In to load the rails I" "I know It. And what happened? Why, that old trestle squeaked and shook nnd gavo every evidence of be ing nbout to bucklo In the center. My engineer threatened to quit If I sent him In again." "Very well. I suppose I'll have to wait until the switch-engine comes out of tho shop," Bryce replied re signedly, and hung up. He turned a troubled face to Ogllvy. "Check- ranted!" ho nnnounced. "Whipped to n frazzle. Tho colonel Is lying, Buck, and I've caught him nt It. As n mat ter of fact, tho mogul didn't kick those flats In tit nil. The switch-engine did and I know It. Now I'm going to sond o man over to snoop around Pen nington's roundhouse and verify his report about the switch-engine being In the shop." Hp did so, Half nn hour later the messenger returned with the Informa tion that not only wns tho switch-engine not In tho shop but her fire box had been overhauled tho week be fore and was reported to bo In ex cellent condition. "That settles It." Buck Ogllvy mourned. "Tho Colonel Is as suspicious as a rhino. Ho doesn't know anything, but bo smells danger Just the snme." "Exactly, Buck, So he Is delaying the game until he can learn something definite." Ho drammed Idly on his ilcsk for several minutes. Then : "Buck, enn you run n locomotive?" "With ono hand, old mnn." "FIno business I Well, I guess we'll put In that crossing tomorrow night. The switch-engine will be In the round house nt Pennington's mill tomorrow night, so wo can't steal that; but we can steal the mogul. I'll Just send word up to my woods boss not to havo his train loaded when tho mogul conies up lato tomorrow afternoon to hnul It down to our log landing. Of course, tho engine crew won't .bother to run down to Sequoia for the night that Is, they won't run tho mogul dawn. They'll Just leave her at our log landing nil night and put up for tho night at our camp." "But bow do you know they will put up nt your camp all night, Bryce?" "My men will mako them comfort- nble, and It means they can Ho' abed until seven o'clock Instead of having to roll out at ttvo o'clock, which would lie tho case If they spent tho night at this end of tho lino. There Is n slight grade nt our log landing. I know thnt, because tho air leaked out of tlw brakes on n Jog train I was on a short time ago, and the train run nway with me. Now, the engine crew will set tho airbrakes on tho mogul nnd leave her with steam up to throb nil night; they'll not blow her down, for that would menn work llrlng her In the morning. Our task, Buck, will bo to throw off the airbrakes and lot her glide silently out of our log lnnd Ing, About a mllo down tho rond we'll stop, get up steam, run down to the Junction wtth tho main Hue, back In on tho laurel Creek spur, couple onto thoso lint cars and breezo mer rily down to Sequoln with them, They'll ho loaded waiting for us; our men will bp congregated In our dry yard Just off Water street near B, waiting for us to arrlvo with the rails and blngiv to go to It. After we drop the Huts, we'll ran the engine bnck to tho woods, leave It whero wo found It, return a-tlylng. You can get back In ample time to superintend the cutting of tho crossing 1" "Sokcn llko a man I" quoth Buck Ogllvy. "You'ro tho one man In this world for whom I'd stenl a locomo tive. 'At-a-boy 1" Had either of the conspirators known of Pennington's plans to enter tain Mayor Poundstono nt dinner on Thursday night, It Is probable they would not havo cheered until those flat cars were out of tho woods. Mayor Poundstono and his wife ar rived at tho Pennington homo In Red wood boulevard at six forty-live Thurs day ovonlng. It was with n profound feeling of retlor that his honor lift od tho lody from their modest little "flivver," for onco lnsldo the Penning ton house, ho felt, he would ho free from a peculiarly devilish brand of persecution Inaugurated by his wife about three months previously, Mrs. Pounrrstone wanted n new automobile. And she had entered upon a cam paign of nagging and complaint, hop ing to wear Poundstono's resistance down to the point where be would be willing to bnrter his hope of salva tion In return for a guarantee of peaco on earth. "I feel like n perfect fool, calling llnnn tltncrn rininln In Hilo Olttw t-nttln. IJ I "I-"" jfv'.i. ... ........ ........ W trap," Mrs. Poundstone protested. ninyor rounostone pausou. "in pity's nnme, woman," ho growled, "talk about something else. Give me one night of peace. Let mo enjoy my dinner and this visit." "I can't help It," Mrs. P retorted with nsporlty. She pointed to Shirley Sumner's car parked under tho porte cochere. "If I bad a sedan llko thnt, I could die happy. And It only cost thirty-two hundred nnd fifty dollnrs." "I paid six hundred nnd fifty for the rattletrap, and I couldn't afford that," he nlmost whimpered. "You were happy with It until I was elected mayor." "You forgot our social position, my dear," she purred sweetly. Ho could have struck her. "Hang your social position," ho gritted snv agely. "Shut up, will you? Social position In n sawmill town! Dam mit, you'll drlvo me crazy yet," Pound stono gurgled, nnd subsided. The Pennington butler, n very su perior person, opened the door. The Poundstones entered. At the entrance to the living room the butler an nounced sonorously: "Mayor Pound stono nnd Mrs. Poundstone." "Glad to see you aboard the Rhlp," Colonel Pennington boomed with his best air of hearty expanslvenoss. "Well, well," he continued, lending Mrs. Poundstone to n dlvun In front of the fl.ro, "this is certnlnly delightful. My niece will bo down In two shukes of u lamb's tall. Have a cigarette, Mr. Poundstone." In tho midst of the commonplnce chntter Incident to such occasions, Shir ley entered the room ; und tho Colonel leaving her to entertnln the guests, went to n small sideboard In one cor ner nnd brought forth the "mntcrluls." ns ho Jocularly termed them. Jnmes nppeared like magic with a tray, classes and tiny serviettes,, aud the Colonel's elixir was passed to the com pany. "Dco-llclous," murmured Mrs. Pound stone. "Perfectly dee-llclous. And not strong I" "Hnve another," her hospltnble hoRt suggested, nnd ho .poured It, quite ob livlous of the frightened wink which tho mnyor telegraphed his wife. Pound stone prayed to his rather nebulous gods tlrit Mrs. P. would not discuss automobiles during tho dinner. Alas! The Colonel's cocktails were not unduly fortified, but for all that, tho two which Mrs. Poundstono bad assimilated contained Just sufficient "kick" to 'ooscn the lady's tongue without thickening It. Consequently, nbout the time the "piece do resist nnce" made Its appearance, she threw caution to the winds nnd ndverted to the subject closest to her heart. "I was telling Henry ns wo came up tho walk how greatly' I envied you that beautiful Sedan, -Miss Sumner." sho gushed. "How an open car does blow- on nround. my denr!" "Yes, Indeed," said Shirley Inno ccntly. "Heard the McKlnnon people had a mnn killed up In their woods jester day, Colonel," Poundstone remarked. hoping against hope to divert the con versntion. "Yes. Tho fellow's own fault," Pen nlngtnn replied. "He wns one of those employees who held to tho opinion that every man Is the captain of his own soul nnd the sole proprietor of his own body hence.that It behooved him to look after both, In view of the high 1 rj ipw j "Mayor Poundstone and Mrs. Pound stono." cost or safety appliances. lie wns warneu that the logging cable was weak at that old splice and liable to pull out of tho becket and sure enough It did. The free end of the cable snapped back llko n whip, and " "I hold to tho opinion," Mrs. Pound stone Interrupted, "thnt If one wishes for a thing hard enough nnd Just keeps on wishing, one Is bound to get It." "My denr," said Mr. Poundstone Impressively, "If you would only con lino yourseir to winning, I nssuro you your chances for success would bo In finitely brighter." There was no mistaking this rebuke: even two cocktails were powerless to render Mrs. Poundstone oblivions to if. With the nicest tact. In the world, Shir ley adroitly changed tho subject to some tailored shirtwaists she had ob serve In the window of n local dry goods emporium that day, nnd Mrs. Poundstone subsided. About nlno o'clock, Shirley, in re sponse to a meaning glance from her relntlve, tactfully convoyed Mrs. Poundstone upstnlrs, leaving her uncle alono with his prey. Instantly Pen nington got down to business. "Well," he queried, apropos of noth ing, "what do you hoar with reference to tho Northern California-Oregon rail road?" "Oh, the usual amount of wind, Colo nel. Nobody knows whut to mako of that outfit." Pennington studied tho end of his clgnr a moment. "Hnve they made uny move to get a franchise?" he nslced bluntly. "If they have, I suppose you would bo the first man to hear about It. I don't mean to be Impertinent," he ndded with u gracious smile, "but the fuct Is I no ticed that wlndbng Ogllvy entering your office In the city hall tho other afternoon, and I couldn't help wonder ing whether his visit was social or of ficial." "Social so far as I could observe." Poundstono replied truthfully, wonder ing just how much Pennington knew. "Preliminary to the official visit, I dare say." The Colonel puffed thoughtfully for a while for which the mayor was grateful, since It provided time In which to organize himself. Suddenly, however, Pennington turned toward his guest and fixed the latter witli a serious glance. "I hadn't anticipated discussing this matter with you, Poundstone, and you must forglvo me for It ; but the fact Is I might ns well he frank with you I am very greatly Interested In the operation of this proposed railroad. If It Is built, It will hnve a very distinct effect on my nnnnces." In Just what way?" "Disastrous." "I am amazed, Colonel." "You wouldn't he If you hnd given the subject very close consideration. Such a road as the N. C. O. contemplates will tap about one-third of the red wood belt only, while n line built from the south will tap two-thirds of It. The remaining third ban be tapped by an extension of my own logging rond; when my own "timber Is logged out. I will want other business for my road, and If the N. C. O. pnrnllcls It, I will be left with two streaks of rust on my hands." "Ah, I perceive. So It will, so It will I" "You agree with me, then, Pound stone, thnt tho N. C. O. Is not designed to foster the best Interests of the community. Of course you do. I tnke It, therefore, that when the N. C. O. applies for its franchise to run through Sequoln, neither you nor your city council will consider the proposition at all." "I cannot, of course, speak for the city council " Poundstone began, but Pennington's cold, nmused smile froze further utterance. Be frank with me, Poundstone. I am not a child. What I would like to know Is this: will you exert every ef fort to block thnt franchise In the firm conviction thnt by so doing you wfll accomplish u laudable public service?" Poundstone' squirmed. "When T have had time to look Into the matter moro thoroughly " Tut-tut, my denr m.nn I Let us not straddle the fence. Business Is n game, and so Is politics. Nelthet knows nny sentiment. Suppose you should favor this N. C. O. crowd In n mistaken Idea that you were doing the right thing, nnd that subsequently numberless fellow-cltlzens developed tho Idea that you had not done yohr public duty. Would some of them not bo likely to Invoke n recall election and retire you and your city council In disgrace?" "I doubt If they could defeat me, Colonel." "I hnve no such doubt," Pennington replied pointedly. Poundstone looked up nt him from under lowered lids. "Is that n thrent?" he demnnded tremulously. My dear fellow! Threaten my guostl" Pennington laughed pntronlz Ingly. "I am giving you advice, Poundstone and rather good advice, It strikes me. However, while we're .on the subject, I havo no hesltnncy In telling you that In the event of n dis astrous decision on your part, I should not feel Justified In supporting you." He might, with equal frankness, hnve said : "I would smnsb you." To bis guest, bis' meaning was not obscure, Poundstono studied the pattern of the rug, nnd Pennington, watching him sharply, saw that tho man wns dis tressed. He resolved on n bold stroke. "Let's not bent nbout tho bush, Poundstone," ho said with the air of a father patiently striving to Induce his child to recant a He, tell the truth. and save himself from the parental wrath. "You'vo been doing business with Ogllvy; I know It for a fact, and you might us well admit It." Poundstone looked up, red and em barrassed. "If I had known " ho be gan. "Certainly, certainly! I realize you ncted In perfect good fnlth. You're like tho mnjorlty of pcoplo In Sequoia. You're nil so crazy for rail connection with tho outside world that you Jump nt tho first plan thnt seems to promise you ono. Hnve you promised Ogllvy n franchlso?" There was no dodging that nucs tlon. A denial, under tho present cir cumstances, would bo tantamount to nn admission; Poundstone could not guess Just how much tho Colonel really knew, and It would not do to lie to him. since eventually the lie mutt b discovered. He resolved to "come cenn." "The city council has already grant ed tho N. C. O. a temporary fran chise,'! he confessed Pennington sprung furiously to his feet. "Dnmmlt," bo snarled, "why did you do thnt without consulting mo?" "Dldn t know you were remotely In terested." Now that the Ice was bro ken, Poundstono felt relieved and was prepared to defend his act vigorously. "And we did not commit ourselves ir revocably," he continued. "Tho tem porary franchise will cxplro In twenty-eight days and In . that tlmo the N. C. O. cannot even cet started." "Hnve you any understanding an to nn extension of thnt temporary fran chise, In enso the N. 0. O. desires It?" "Well, yes not In writing, however. I gave Ogllvy to understand that If ha was not ready In thirty days, an ei tension could readily be arranged." "Any witnesses?" "I. nra nor such a fool, sir," Pound stone declnred with asperity. "I had a notion 1 might as. well ndmlt It that you would hnve serious objection to having your tracks cut by n Jump- crossing at B and Water streets." Ano. for no reason In life except to Justify himself and Inculcate In Pennington nn Impression that the Intter was deal ing with a crnfty nnd far-seeing mayor. Poundstono smiled boldly and knowingly. Ho leaned back nonchal antly and blew smoke nt the celling. "You oily rascal I" Pennington solilo quized. "You'ro a smarter man than 1 thought. You're trying to play both ends against the middle." He recalled for Your FARMERS DO WELL Record Prices Paid Wheat Grow ers of Western Canada. "You're Not In Politics Health." the report of his private detective and the Incident of Ogllvy's visit to young Henry Poundstono's office with a small leather bug; he was more than ever convinced that this bag had contained the bribe, In gold coin.. which had been productive of that temnorar.v franchise nnd the verbal understanding for Its possible extcn slon. ' "Ogllvy did business with you through your sou Henry," he chal lenged. Poundstone started violently. "How much did Henry get out of It?" Pennington continued brutally. "Two hundred and fifty dollnrs re tainer, nnd not n cent more." Pound stono protested virtuously nnd truth fully. "You're not so good n business mnn it . .i t. ns I gave you cromr ior neinc, mu Colonel retorted mirthfully. "Two hun dred and fifty dollars! Oh. Lord! Poundstone, you're funny. Upon my word you're a scream." And the Colo nel cave himself up to a sincerely henrty laugh. "You call It a retainer,' he continued presently, "but a grand Jury might call It something else. How ever," he went on after a slight pause, "vou're not In politics for your health so let's cot down to brass tncks, How much do you want to deny the N. C. O not only an extension of thnt toni pornry franchise but also a permanent franchlso when they apply for ft?" Poundstone rose with great dignity. "Colonel Pennington, sir," tie said "you Insult me." "Sit down. You've been Insulted that way before now. Shall we say one thousand dollars per each for your three good councllmen and true', and for yourself that sedan of my niece's? It's a good car. I Imagine It will please Mrs. P. Immensely and grant you sur- pi.hk from sorrow. Of course, I -will not clvo It to you. I'll sell It to you five hundred down upon the signing of the agreement, and In lieu of tho ensh I will take over that Jitney Mrs, Poundstone finds so dlstnstcful. Then I will employ your son, Henry, as the attorney for tho Lnguna Grande Lum her company nnd glvo him n retnlner of twenty-five hundred dollnrs for ono venr. I will leave It to you to get till twenty-flvo hundred dollnrs from Henry nnd pay my niece ensh for the car. Doesn't that strike you as a per fectly safe and sano proposition?" Had a vistn of paradise opened up before Poundstone, ho could not have been more thrilled, ne had been abso lutely honest In his plea to Mrs. Poundstone that ho could not afford a thlrty-two-hundredand-fifty-dollar se dan, much as he longed to obllgo her and gain a greatly-to-be-deslred peace. And now the price wns dangling before his eyes, so to spenk. At any rate It was pnrked In the porte-cochere not fifty feet distant I (TO BE CONTINUED.) Trout Irive been Introduced success fnllv In Now Zealand und Australia. Will Get Above 40 Cents Over ths Fixed Scale 8et World Looking to the Dominion for Its Grain. It will be of Interest to mnhy read ers to learn that their fanner friends. In Cannda will do so well out of the wheat they grew on western Canada's prairies last year. There was a fixed price of $2.15 per bushel p lil for their wheat last sea son. Not knowing the prlco at widely It would be possible to mnrket the crop, tho Canadian grain board, which or ganization handled the whole of I no crop last summer, fixed $2,10 as n min imum prlco for No. I wheat, and ar ranged thnt each farmer should bo given certificates for the quantity of whent he delivered. The amount re ceived over and above the fixed prlco which was paid to the formers when Rolling their wheat was to he divided pro rata at the end of the senson. nnd the holders of these certificates will, therefore, participate In the extra, price received according to the quan tity of wheat sold. The latest advices arc that tho wheat board will pay at least 40 cents bushel over the fixed rate of $2.15 a busiiel for their wheat of last season. This means that about ,.40.000.000 will be distributed nraong the fanners of Alberta. Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Ibis sum represents the difference in the price nt which the wheat crop was Bold and the price that was fixed for last season's crop. Canadian Wheat In Demand, A declaration that Canadian wheat would In all probability sell this year it between $3 and $0 per bushel, was made recently before a conference of western supporters of the government by Dr. Kobert Mnglll, who was one- of deputation from the Winnipeg grain exchange. Dr. Magtll argued In fa vor of open trading from the nspect of world conditions. He stated that no wheat could be exported from Itus- ila owing to Internal troubles. lloumanln would hnve absolutely none to export. India was prohibiting export, while Australia's acreago would fall from 12.000.000 to 7.000.000. The result would be that Australia would scurcely have enough to feed herself, and there would be absolute ly no wheat for Europe, except from the Argpntlne nnd North America. Dr. Maglll, according to formal an nouncement, though It would be Im possible to secure as good a price for. the producer by control ns by the open market. The United States mar ket was now open, and. according to present prospects, there would be mighty little to spare from that quar ter. The net result would be that Ca nadian wheat would undoubtedly ga a record figure. Advertisement. to Chickens and Chickens. "Do your neighbor's chickens both er you nny?" asked an East Side gen tleman of his neighbor, who lived near large family. "No." replied the other, thinking that roferenco was made to the neigh bor's three comely dnughters. "They go down town every dny, so we don't, see much of them. Columbus Dis patch. 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