The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922, September 14, 1920, Image 2
NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. THE VALLEY rf the GIANTS CHAPTER XVIII Continued. 19 "I suppose bo," she answered, "al though I think until very recently Hint It wns (hose sixteen townships of red cedar that crown grant In British Columbia In which you Induced me to Invest four hundred thousand dollars. You will remember that you purchased that timber for mo from the Caribou Timber company, Limited. You raid it wns an unparalleled Invest ment. Quito recently I learned no matter how that you were tho princi pal owner of the Caribou Timber com pany, Limited I Smart ns you arc, HonTebody swindled you with that red -ednr. It was a wonderful stand of timber so rend tho cruiser's report but Ilfty per cent of It, despite Its green and flourishing nppearance, Is hollow-butted I And the remaining llfty per cent of sound timber ennnot be logged unless the rolttcn timber Is logged also nnd gotten out of the way. And I am Informed that logging It upells bankruptcy." She gazed nt him steadily, but with out rir.il ice; his face crimsoned and then paled; presently his glance Nought tho carpet. While ho struggled to formulate n verbal defense ngalnst her accusation Shirley continued; "You had erected a huge sawmill nnd built nnd equipped a logging road before you discovered you had been swindled. So, In order to save as much as possible from the wreck, you decided to unload your white elephant on somebody else. I was tho readiest victim. You were the executor of my father's estate you were my guardian nnd financial adviser, and so you found It very, very easy to swindle me I" "I had my back to tho wnll," ho quavered. "I was desperate and It wasn't at nil the bad Investment you have been told It Is. You had the money moro money than you knv what to do with and with the proceeds of tho sale of those cedar lands, I know I could make an Investment In California redwood nnd more thnn retrieve my fortunes mnko big money for both of us." "You might have borrowed the money from me. You know I hnvo tyivor hes itated to Join In your enterprises." "Tills was too big a deal for you, Shirley, I had vision. I could sec In calculable rlclics In this redwood .em pire, but It was n tremendous gamble and rcQulred twenty millions to swing It nt (ho very start. I dreamed of tho eontrol of California redwood; nnd If you will stand by me, Shirley, I shall yet make my dream como true and half of it shall bo yours. It has nlways been my Intention to .buy back from you secretly and at n nlco proilt to you that Caribou red cednr, and with tho acquisition of the Cardigan properties I would hnvo been In position to do no. Why, that Cardigan tract In tho ISan Ilcdi'ln which we will buy In with (In it year for half a million, Is worth live millions at least, And by that time, I feel certain In fact, I know the Northern Pacific will commenco building In from tho south, from Wit Ills." I "J shall" ho began, hut hd paused inbrupUy, ns If he had suddenly Re membered that tact nnd not pugnacity was tho requirement for tho hnndllng of this ticklish situation. i Sho silenced him with a disdainful gesture. "You shall not smash tho Cardigans," sho declared firmly. "You ,nro devoid of mercy, of n sense of -sportsmanship. Now, then, Undo Seth, listen to mo: You hnvo 'twenty-four hours In which to ninko nip yonr mind whether to ncccpt my 'ultimatum or refuse It. If you re fuse, I shall prosecute you for fraud jnd n betrayal of trust as my father's executor , on that red cednr timber deal." Ho brightened a trifle. "I'm nfrnld 'that would bo n long, hard row to hoe, liny dear, nnd of course, I Bhnll have to defend mysoff." J "In addition," tho girl went on qui etly, "tho county grand Jury ahull bo .furnished with a stenographic report of your conversntlouof Thursday night with Mayor Poundstone. TImt oylll not bo a long, hard row to hoe, t Uncle" Petri, for In. addition to the stenographer, I have another reliable witness, Judge Moore. Your casual disposal of my sedan as a bribe to the mayor will bo hard to explain and rather amusing, In view of tho fact that Bryco Cardigan managed to fright en Mr. Poundstone Into returning the sedan while you were awny. And 'If that Is not mifllclcnt for my purposo, I I have the sworn confession of the I Black Minorca that you gave him Ave hundred dollars to kill Bryco Cardigan. Your woods boss, Rondeau, will also swear that you approached htm with a j proposition to do away with nryco Cardigan. I think, therefore, that you will readily see how Impossible a sit (unllOB you have managed to create nnd will not uisagree wiui me wnen i suggest that It would be better for you to leave this ,couuty." Ills face had gone gray and hag card. "I can't," he murmured, "I I can't leave this great business now. .Your own interests in me company 'render such a course unthinkable. ; "Without my hand at tho helm, thing I will to te swash." By PETER B. KYNE Author of "Cappy Ricks" "I'll risk that. I want to get rid of that worthless red cedar timber; so I think you had better buy It back from mo at the same figures at which you sold It to me." "Hut I haven't the money nnd I can't borrow It. I I " 'l will have the cqulvnlcnt In stock of the Luguna Orande Lumber com pany. You will call on Judge Moore to complete the transaction and leave with him your resignation ns president of the Lngunn Grande Lumber com pany." Tho Colonel raised his glance and bent it upon her In cold nppralsal. Sho met It with firmness, nnd the thought enme to him: "She Is n Pen nington I" And hopo died out In his heart. He began pleading In maudlin fashion for mercy, for compromised Hut tho girl wns obdurate. "I nm showing you more mercy than you deserve you to whom mercy wns over n sign of weakness, of vacillation. There Is a gulf between us, Undo Seth n gulf which for a long tlmo I hnvo dimly sensed nnd which, be cause of my recent discoveries, has widened until It enn no longer De bridged." He wrung his hands In desperntlon and slid to his knees beforo her; with hypocritical endearments he strove to tnko her hand, but she drew nwny from him. "Don't touch me," she cried sharply and with n breaking note In her voice. "You planned to kill Brvco Cardigan-! And for that and that alone I shall never forgive you." She fled from the office, lenvlng him cringing nnd grovelling on the floor. "There will be no directors' meeting, Mr. Sexton," sho Informed the mana ger ns she passed through the general ofllcc. "It Is postponed." Thnt' trying Intervlow had wrenched. Shirley's soul to a degreo that left her faint and weak. She at once set out on n long drive, In tho hopo that be foro sho turned homeward again she might regnln something of her cus tomary composure. Presently tho nsphnltum-pavcd street gave way to n dirt road nnd terminated abruptly nt the boundaries of n field that sloped gently upward a Hold studded with huge blnck red wood stumps showing dismally through coronets of young redwoods thnt grew riotously around tho base of the dopnrtcd parent trees. From tho fringe of tho thicket thus formed, the terminus of nn old skid-road showed and a' signboard, freshly paint ed, pointed the way to tho Valley of the Olants. Shirley hnd not, intended to como here, but now thnt sho hnd arrived, It occurred to her that It was hero sho wanted to come. Parking her car by tho sido of tho road, she alighted nnd proceeded up tho old skid, now newly planked nnd with tho encroach ing forcstratlon cut nway so that the daylight might enter from nbovo. On over tho gentlo divide sho went nnd down townrd tho nmphlthenter where the primeval giants grow. And ns slu' approached ft, the sound that Ts sllenco In tho redwoods the thunder ous dTnpason of tho centuries wove Its spell upon her; quickly, Impercept ibly there faded from her mind the "Who la It?" memory of that grovelling Thing she had left behind In the mlll-ofllce. nnd In Its place there came n subtlo peace, n feeling of awe, of wonder such a feeling, Indeed, ns must como to one In the realization that man "Is distant but God Is near. A cluster of wild orchids pendent from the great fungus-covered roots of a glunt challenged her attention. Sho gathered them. Farther on, In a spot where n Bhaft of sunlight fell, sho plucked an armful of golden Cal Ifronla popples and flaming rhododen drcu, nnd with her delicate burden -she came at length to the giant-guarded clearing where the halo of sunlight fell upon tho grave of Hryca Cardi gan's mother. There were red roses on (t a couple of dozen, at leust, and these rho rearranged In order to make room 'for her own offering. "Poor dear I" she murmured aud ibly. "God didn't spare you for much happiness, did ho?" A voice, deep, res'onant, klndlv, spoke n few feet away. "Who is It?" Shirley, startled, turned swiftly. Scutcd ncross tho little amphitheater In a lumberjack's easy-chntr fashioned from nn old barrel, John Cardigan sat, his sightless gaze bent upon her. "Who Is it?" he repeated. "Shirley Sumner," sho answered. "You do not know me, Mr. Cardigan." "No," replied ho, "I do not. That Is a name I have heard, however. You nre Seth Pennington's niece. Is some one with you?" "I am qulto nlonc, Mr. Cardigan." "And why did you come here alone?" he queried. "I I wanted to think." "You mean you wanted to think clearly, my dear. Ah, yes, this Is tho placo for thoughts." Ho was silent n moment. Then: "You were think ing nloud, Miss Shirley SOmncr. I heard you. You said: 'Poor dear God didn't spare you for much hap piness, did he?' Then you knew nbout her being here." "Yes, sir. Some ten years ago, when I was n very little girl, I met your son ltryce. He guve mo n ride on his Indlnn pony, nnd we came here. So I remember." "Well, I declare 1 Ten yenrs ago, eh? You'vo met, eh? You've met BrycO since his return to Sequoln, I believe. He's quite n fellow now." "Ho Is Indeed." John Cardigan nodded sagely.- "So that's why you thought aloud;" ho re marked Impersonally. "Bryco told you nbout her. You nre right, Miss Shlr loy Sumner. God didn't give her much tlmo for happiness Just three years; but olvsuch wonderful years! Such wonderful yenrs I "It was" mighty line of you to .bring flowers," ho nnnounced presently. "I nppreclnto that. I wish I could see you. You must bo n dear, nlco, thought ful girl. Won't you sit down nnd talk to me?" "I should be glad to," she answered, nnd seated herself on the brown car pet of redwood twigs close to his chair. - ' "So you came up here to do a lit tle clear thinking," ho continued In his deliberate, amlnble tones. "Do you come here often?" "This Is the third time In ten years," sho answered. "I feel thnt I liavo no business to Intrude here. This Is your shrine, und strangers should not profnno It." "I think. I should have resented the presence of nny other person, Miss Sumner. I resented you until you spoke." "I'm glad you said that, Mr. Cardi gan. It sets me at ease." "I hadn't been up here, for nearly two years until recently.' You see I I don't own the Valley of tho Giants nny moro." "Indeed. To whom have you sold It?" "I do not, know, Miss Sumner. I had to -sell; there was no other way out of tho Jam Bryco nnd I were In; so I sacrificed my sentiment for my boy. However, the new owner has been wonderfully kind nnd thoughtful. She reorganized that old skid-road so even nn old blind duffer like me enn find his wny In nnd out without getting lost and she had this easy-chair made for me. I hnvo told Judge Moore, who represents the unknown owner, to ex tend my thanks to his client. But words are so empty, Shirley Sumner. If thnt now owner could only under stand how grateful I am how pro foundly her courtesy touches me " "Her courtesy?" Shirley echoed. "Did a woman buy tho Giants?" Ho smiled down at her. "Why, certainly. Who but a woman and a dear,, kind, thoughtful woman would have thought to hnvo this chair made and brought up hero for mo?" Fell n long silence between them; then John Cardigan's trembling hnnd went groping out townrd the girl's. "Why, how stupid of mo not to hnvo guessed It Immediately 1" ho said. "You are the new owner. My dear child, If the silent prayers of a very unhappy, old man will bring God's blosslug on you there, there, girl I I didn't Intend to mnke you weep. What a tender heart It Is, to bo surel" She took his great toll-worn hand, and her hot tears fell on it, for his gentleness, his benlgnnncy, had touch ed her deeply. "Oh, you must not tell anybody! You musn't," she cried. lie put his hand on her shoulder as she knelt before him. "Good land of love, glr!, what made you do it? Why should a girl like you give a hundred thousand for my Valley of tho Giants? Were- you" hesitatingly "your un cle's agent?" "No. I bought It myself with my own monoy. My uncle doesn't know I am tho new owner. You see, he want ed It for nothing." "Ah, yes. I suspected as much a long time ago. Your uncle Is the modern typo of business man. Not very much of an Idealist, Tm afraid. But tell me why you decided to thwart the plans of your relative," Copyright by Peter D. Kjne "1 knew It hurt you terribly to sell your Giants; they were denr to you for sentimental reasons. I understood, also, why you were forced to sell ; so I well, I decided the Giants would be safer In my possession than In my uncle's. In all probability he would have logged this valley for the sake of the clear seventy-two-inch boards he could get from these trees." "That docs not explain satisfactor ily, to me, why you took sides with a stranger ngalnst your own kin," John Cardigan persisted. "There must bo n deeper nnd more potent reason, Miss Shirley Sumner." "Well," Shirley made answer, glad ho could not see the flush of confusion nnd embarrassment that crimsoned her cheek, "when I came to Sequoia last May, your son nnd I met, quite accidentally. Tho stago to Sequoln had already gone, and lie wns gracious enough to Invite me to mnke the Jour ney In his cnr. Then we recalled hav ing met ns children, nnd presently I gathered from his conversation that he and his John-pnrtner, as'he" called you, were very dear to each other. I was witness to your meeting thnt night I saw him take you In his big amis nnd hold ,you tight because you'd gone blind while he was away having a good time. And you hndn't told him! I thought that was brnve of you ; and later, when Bryce and Molra McTnvIsh told me nbout you how kind you were, how you felt your responsibility townrd your employees and the community well, I Just couldn't help a leaning townrd John partner nnd John-partner's boy, be cause tho boy was so fine and true to his father's Ideals." "Ah, he's n man. He Is Indeed," old John Cardigan murmured proudly. "I dare say you'll never get to know hlra Intimately, but If yqu should -" "I know him Intimately," she cor rected him. "Ho snved my life tho day the log-train ran away. And thnt wns another reason. I owed him n debt, nnd so did my uncle; but Uncle wouldn't pay his share, and I hnd to pay for him." "Wonderful," murmured John Cardl gan, "wonderful I But still you haven't told me why you pnld a hundred ithousnnd dollars for the Giants when you could have bought them for llfty thousand. You had n woman's reason, I dare say, and women nlways reason from tho heart, never the head. How ever, If you do not care to tell me, I Bhnll not Insist. Perhaps I have ap peared unduly Inquisitive." "I would rather not tejl you," sho answered. A gentle, prescient smile fringed his old mouth ; ho wagged his leonine head ns If to say: "Why should I nsk, when I know?" Fell again a restful silence. Then : "Am I allowed one guess, Miss Shirley Sumner?" "Yes, but you would never guess the reason." "I am a very wise old man. When one sits In the dark, one sees much that was hidden froln him In the full glare of the light. My son. Is proud, manly, independent, and the soul of honor. He needed a hundred thousand dollars; you knew It. Probably your uncle Informed you. You wunted to loan hlra some money, but you couldn't. You feared to offend him by proffering It; hnd you proffered It. he would have declined It. So you bought my Valley of tho Giants at a preposterous price and kept your action n secret." And he pntted her hnndtgently, as If to silence any denial, while far down the skid-road a voice n half-trained baritones-floated fnlnt ly to them through tho forest Some body was singing or rather chanting a singularly tuneless refrain, wild and barbaric. "What Is that?" Shirley cried. "That Is my son, coming to fetch hlH oUl daddy home," replied John Cardigan.' "That thing he's howling Is. nn Indian war-song or paean of triumph something his nurse taught him when ho wore pinafores. If you'll excuso me, Miss Shirley Sumner, I'll leave you now. I generally contrive to meet him on the trail." Ho bade her goojl-byo and started down the trail, his stick tapping against tho old logging-cable stretched from tree to treo beside the trail and marking It. Shirley wns tremendously relieved. Sho did not wish to meet Bryco Cardi gan to-day, and she was distinctly grateful to John Cardigan for his nice consideration In sparing her nn Inter view. She seated herself-In the lumber-Jack's easy-chair so lately vacated, and chin In hand gave herself up to meditation on this extraordinary old man nnd his extraordinary son. A couple of hundred yards down the trail Bryce met his father. "Hello, John Cardigan I" he called. "What do you mean by skallyhootlng through these woods without a pilot? Eh? Explain your reckless conduct," "You great overgrown duffer," his father retorted affectlonatoly, "I thought you'd never come." He reach ed Into his pocket for a handkerchief, but failed to find It and searched through another pocket and still another.. "By gravy, sob," he remark ed presently. "I do believe I left my silk handkerchief the one Molrn gave me, for my" last birthday up yonder. I wouldn't lose that handker chief for a farm. Skip nlong nnd find It for me, son. I'll wait for you here. Don't hurry." "I'll lie back In n pig's whisper," his son replied, nnd stnrtcd briskly tip tho trail. While his father lenniwl against n mndronc tree nnd smiled his prescient little smile. Bryce's brisk steD on the enrnot of withered brown twigs nrouscd Shirley rrom ncr reverie. When she looked up he wns standing In the center of the little nmphlthenter gazing nt her. "You you IV she stammered, and rose ns If to fieo from him. "The governor sent me back to look for his handkerchief, Shirley," he ex plained. "He didn't tell me you were here. Guess ho didn't hoar von." H advanced smilingly townrd her. "I'm iruiiicuuuusiy gmu to sco you today, Shirley." ho said, nnd paused beside her. "Fate has been, singularly kind to me. Indeed I've been pondering nil dny ns to Just how I was to arrange a prlvnte and confidential little chat with you, without cnlllng upon you nt your uncle's house." ".I don't feel Ilko chnttlng today," she answered n little drearily and then he noted her wet lashes. In- "I Wouldn't Lose That Handkerchief for a Farm." stantly he was on one knee beside her; with the amazing confidence thnt had always distinguished him In her oyes his big left arm went nround her, nnd when her hands pent to her face he drew them gently nwny. "I've waited too long, sweetheart," he murmured. "Thank God, I can tell you at last all the things that have been accumulating In my heart I love you, Shirley. I've loved you from that first day we mqt at the station, and all these months of strife nnd repres sion hnvo merely served to mnke me love you the more. Perhaps you have been all tho dearer to m.e because you seemed so hopelessly unnttalnnble." He drew her head down on his brejsst; his great hand patted her hot check; hi? honest brown eyes gazed earnestly, wistfully Into hers. "I love you," he whispered. "AH thnt I have all that I nm all that I hope for I offer to you, Shirley Sumner; and In the shrine of my heart I shnll hold you sacred while life shall last. Yor. are not Indifferent to me, dear. I know you're not ; but tell me answer me " Her violet eyes were uplifted to his, nnd In them he rend the answer to his cry. "Ah, may I?" he murmured, and kissed her. "Oh, my denr, Impulsive, gentle big sweetheart," she whispered and then her arms went nround his neck, .and the fullness of her happiness found vent In tenrs he did not seek to have her repress. In the safe haven of his nrms she rested; and there, quite without effort or distress, she managed to convey to him something more than nn Inkling of the thoughts that were wont to como to her whenever they met (TO BR CONTINUED.) Emaciated Bride Considered Beautiful. Javanese marriage customs Include n period of, religious-Instruction for both the bride nnd the groom. The young man starts his instruction by paying daily visits to the priest of tho village, nnd learning all the com plicated phrases which he will have to utter on the day of his wedding. The pupil Is placed In a tank of cold water nnd stns there submerged up to his chin whllo the priest bends over him and reads the Koran, the perform ance taking place In front of the church. Tho girl begins her preparations for tho great day by several weeks of seml-starvatton during which time sho tnkes only sufficient rice nnd hot wa ter to sustain life. Bccnuse of this hunger strike enforced by custom, she loses considerable weight an emaci ated bride lielng considered a thing of beauty on tho Island of Java. De troit News. He Had the Dough. Mr. Blinks Here's a $75 millinery bill I've Just paid, another instance that a fool and his money soon part Mrs. Blinks I know, dear, but Just think how fortunate It la that you art one of those who have money. Bos ton Transcript Dost love life? Then do not squan der time; for that's the stuff Ufa It made C- v. SAY "DIAMOND DYES" Don't streak or ruin your material In poor dye. In lit on "Diamond Dree, Xaay direction! In package. "CORNS" Lift Right Off Without Pain Doesn't hurt n bit I Drop a Uttto "Freezone" on nn achlntr corn, instantlv that corn stops hurtine. then shortly you lift It right oft with flngert. Truly I xour druggist sells a tiny bottle of "Freezone" for a few cents, sufficient to remove every hard corn, soft coral or corn between tho toes, nnd tho calluses. without soreness or irritation. Tho Neighbor Found Out A young womnn wns out In tho front yard with an oil can "oiling" the dan delions so thnt they would meet with nn early death. A neighbor came along nnd asked her what Bho wns do ing. She nonchalantly replied that she was "oiling the grass so tho lawn mower would run ensler Exdinng. "Eatonic Worth Its Weight in Gold" Writes Mrs. E. L. Grlflln from her home In Franklin, N. H. "I feel llko a new person. Stomach feels lino af ter eating all from taking your won derful catonlc. It's worth its weight In gold." Millions of sufferers from sour, add. gassy stomachs, heartburn, Indigestion, bloating, full feeling after eating, should try eatonic. Just try It 'tlint's oil, nnd get relief, new life, strength and pep. It produces quick, sure nnd safe results, because eatonic takes up tho harmful nclds and poisons nnd carries them right out of the Jody. Of course, when the cause Is removed, the sufferer gets well quick! The cost Is a trifle. Your druggist will supply catonlc, so, If you want better health, all you need do Is try It TODAY. You will surely feel big benefits nt once. Adv, Forgiven. "Cnn you help mo. out sir?" an Id the seedy looking stranger. "I've bad some hard luck." "I suppose you've seen better days?" replied Mr. Twobblc. "Oh, yes, sir. I once,got $75 a week for playing In a jazz orchestra." ."Well," said Mr. Twobble. as he thoughtfully thrust his hand Into his pocket, "I'm a humane man and I won't hold that ngalnst you. Here's a qunrtcr." Birmingham Age-Herald. Important to Mothers Examine carefully every bottle ot OASTOItIA, that famous old remedy for Infants and children, nnd see that It Bears the Signature In Use far ("Ivor SO Children Cry for Fletcher's Castoria Stepping Out The Into long staple cotton crop has trrn-'c quite n lot of money for South Cnrollnn- negroes. A short time ago ono of them purchnsed n high-priced car. A few days later he went back to tho Kalesnniu. "Cap, Is., you g6f any of dese here cowketchers?' he Inquired. "Do you menu bumpers', Charlie?"- "YiiPHlr," . - "Well, Charlie, do you want ono for both ends ot your cnr?" ' j f'NnwsIr, cap, nln't nobody gwlne tor ketch up wld mei Ah Jes want ono fo de front" "Cold In the Head" Is an acute attack of Nasal Catarrh. Those subject to frequent "colds In the head" will find that the use of HALL'S CATARRH MEDICINE will build up the bystom, cleanse the Iilood and render them less liable to colds. Repeated at tacks of Acute Catarrh may lead to Chronic Catarrh. HALL'S .CATARRH MEDICINE Is taken Internally and acts through the Dlood on the Mucous Surfaces ot the Sys tem, thus reducing- the Inflammation and rostoring- normal conditions. All Druggists. Circulars free. F. J. Cheney & Co., Toledo, Ohio. "Getting Your Money's Worth. Mrs. Browne Your husband now spends nil his evenings nt home. Mrs. Banks Yes. Ho wants to get as much use out of the flat ns pos sible before the landlord raises tho rent again. London Answers. Cutlcura Ooap for the Complexion. Nothing better than Cutlcura Soap dally and Ointment now and then as needed to mnke the complexion clear, scalp clean and hands soft nnd white. Add to this the fascinating, fragrant Cutlcura Talcum nnd you have th Cntlcura Toilet Trlo Adv. No Such Animal. "What Is your opinion of a man who constantly deceives bis wife?" "That ha Is a myth," replied J. Fuller Gloom. Judges Found at Last "Where Is the woolly West, any how?" "Won, Wyoming has n largo Bhee Industry." fm ( -. wr