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Show I lYALLEYi I IB OF THE II I j GIANTS m mAUT7fOR or "capjpy &tcks9kJ& H ItSPL . COPyRIGHT, gf PETER JB.KYNE mUM 1 ' ' SYNOPSIS. H ' CHATTER I.-Ploneer In the California ijjM redwood region, John Cardigan, at forty- ijiJI ooven, la tlio leading cllUen of Sequoia, 8wnor of mills, ships, and many acres of lmbr, a widower nfter throo years of H married life, nnd father of two-day-old H Bryco Cardigan, H i- .' CHAPTER II.-At fourteen Bryoo makes H the ncquplntance of Shirley Sumner, a vis. H , , 'tor to Sequoia, and his junior by a few B ' Kenr8-. ToRother thoy visit tho ValJey of ijjM j the alants, sacred to John Cardigan and iJjM i his son as tho burial place of nrroe's H j inoHior, and part with mutual regret. H j CHAPTKIt III.-Wlillo Dryc la at col. H I lege John Cardigan mcotn with heavy ijjM business losses and for tho first tlmo views H the futuro with uncertainty. . CHAPTEH IV. After graduation from H college, nnd a trip abroad, Bryco Cardl H gan comes home. On tho train lie meets H Hhlrloy Sumner, on her way to Sequoia to H make her home there with her undo, H v Col. Pennington. Uryce learns that his H father's eycBlght has failed and that Col. H Pennington Is seeking to tako advantage ol H tho old man's business misfortunes. M CHAPTEIl V.-In the Valloy of th H Clants young Cardigan flnds a treo felled H directly across his mother's grave. Indl- H cations are that It was cut down to secure H ' the burl, and ovldenco seems to show that H - Pennington and his woods-boss, Julei Itondeau, are Implicated In the outrage. M CHAPTER VI.-Dlnlng with Col. Pen. ijjH nlngton and his niece, Dryco finds thi H H room paneled with redwood burl, confirm- H mg his suspicions of Pennington's guilt iJIH In a diplomatic way, unpercelvcd by Shir H loy, the two men declare war. H CHAPTER VII. Pennington refuses U H renew his logging contract with the Cardl- iH gans, believing his action means bank- H ruptcy for the latter. Dryco forces Ron- iJIH deau to confess he felled the treo In tht H Valley of tho Clants, at Pennington's or- ijjM der. After punishing tho man. Bryc H hurls htm at Col. Pennington, who, with H Shirley, had witnessed tho fight Penning- H ton Is humlllatod, and tho girl, Indignant, ijjH , orders Iiryco to leavo her nnd forget tholi H . friendship. He leaves, but refuses to ao H r cept dismissal. M f .t CHAPTER VIH.-Returnlng to Sequoia. H the train on which Shirley, her uncle, and iJIH Iiryco are traveling, breaks away from H the locomotive, and Dryco, who could have H escaped, at the risk of his life cuts out H " the caboose and savos them from certain H death, bolng painfully Injured in doing so. M CHAPTER IX.-MoIra McTavIsh. chlla- H hood friend of Ilryce and employed In nil H ofllce, makes Shirley's acquaintance and H the two become friends. Needing money H badly, John Cardigan offers to sell Pen- H i nlngton the Volley of the Giants, but the H Colonel, confident the property must soon 1 ,, be his through the bankruptcy of hit .v i. enemies, contemptuously refuses. Un- ', m known to her uncle. Shirley buya tht vM.! ' Valley and the Cardigans have a newi 'I1 lease of business life. They Interest capl- H it u Uki and docldo on a scheme to parallel r"& & Ponntngton's logging railroad. M W CHAPTER X.-Buchnnan Ogly, rail- H ' V road contractor and Bryco'a college friend, H la decided on by the Cardigans aa th , man to figure as the builder of the pro- - ! posed railroad. Bryce goes to San Fran. H ' . cIsco to meet htm. v & CIIAPTER Xl.-Ogllvy ostentatiously M, A boglno work of surveying for the line, H 1 which Is announced as a proposed through d r?.u,0 Bennington, vaguely alarmed, de- (i i cWes to block operations by makl ng It lm- H t, poaelblo to secure a franchlso for the lint , . J.hH?h BJuola. In this he plans to on- H "'' -p Hst the aid of the mayor, Poundstone. I; ' k.S.11'7?1 XII.-"Buck" Ogtlvy. ai S builder of the projected Northern Call- p ;Sr2.,ft. Oregon railroad, meets Molrn Mh McTaytoh and la much Impressed. Bryce m and his father make plans for securing a ' franchise for the lino from the city f 'CHAPTER XHI.-Ogllvy. In a buslnesi 'L Interview, favorably Impresses the Mayor, H and later engages that omclnl's son as at- H tomey for the new road. Through him ' they obtain the temporary franchise. i'1 Pennington, finally convinced that tht M Cardigan Interenta are thlnd the scheme, M sets to work io balk them. H. "CHAPTER XlV.-Penhlngion refuiei H ' Bryce the use of a locomotive fld truclci H to move equipment for laying a switch, H and Bryce and Ogllvy plan to steal both H 4 and during tho night r In a crossing H , cutting Pennington's tracks in the city. H , Pennington bribes Mayor Poundstone to Ignore the temporary franchise granted H ' and to refuse a pormanent one. That W night Pennington hears the Cardigan H tracklaylng crew at work and hurries to H the spot, M, CHAPTER XV.-Bryce and Ogllvy dlsra- H gnrd Pennington's trended remonstrances , and continue work, but the Colonel gets H word to the Mayor and also employs a H desperado to shoot Bryce. Bryce Is wound- H ed. Work on the track is stopped by the H chief of police. Shirley accuses her uncle H of conniving at tho murder of Bryce, and the Colonel leaves for San Francisco ta H safeguard his Interests through further H legal proceeding). H CHAPTER XVI.-Antlclpatlng Penning. H ton's action, Ogllvy has made nrrango- H monts to secure a restraining order from H the federal courts enjoining the Colonel H . from Interfering with the construction of bbH their line. Victory for the Cardigans Is M plainly In sight. H CHAPTER XVn.-TJnder the protection H of a United States deputy marshal the Hf , Cardigan tracks are laid across Penning. H ton's In Sequoia, the Colonel's henchmen being powerless, Hn Such wonuurful years I H "It wns mlgrity flnc of you to bring H flowers," ho announced presently. "I H appreciate tlint. I wish I could see H you. You must be a dear, nice, thought- m ful girl. Won't you sit down and talk H to mo?" H "I f-hould bo glad to," she answered, H f nnd scaled herself ou the brown car- H . pet of redwood twigs close to his H H "So you camo up hero to do a lit- H Uo clear Uilnklng," he continued in B his dellberato, amiable tones. "Do H 7m come here often?" H "Thjjj is the third time In ten years," B - fche answered. "I feel that I have H ., bo business to intrude hero. Tills is H t:.I yopr Bhrlne, aud strangers .should not H c ;. .profane It" H ,'" '""l think I should have resented the H a presence of any other person, Miss , f 'Sumner. ' I resented you until you H poke." ' . . "I'm glad you said that, Mr. Cardl- H ' gan. It sets me at ease." H "1 hadn't been up here for nearly I'' . . t .. .. two years until recently. You sco 1 I don't own tho Valley of tho Giants any more" "Indeed. To whom have you sold it?" "I do not know, Miss Sumner. I had to sell; thcro was no other way out of tho Jam Dryco nnd I were in; so I sacrificed my sentiment for my boy. However, the new owner has been wonderfully kind nnd thoughtful. Sho reorganized that old sktd-road so evon nn old blind duffer Hko mo can find his way in nnd out without getting lost and she had this easy-chair raado for mo. I havo told Judge Moore, who represents tho unknown owner, to ox. tend my thanks to his client Dut words are so empty, Shirley Sumner. If thnt new owner could only under stand how grateful I am how profoundly pro-foundly her courtesy touches me " "Her courtesy?" Shirley echoed. "Did a woman buy the Giants?" Ho smiled down nt her. "Why, certainly. Who but rt woman and n dear, kind, thoughtful woman would havo thought to havo this chair made and brought up hero for me?" Fell a long stlcnco between thorn; then John Cardigan's trembling hand went groping out toward tho girl's. "Why, how stupid of me not to have guessed It Immediately 1" he said. "You aro the new owner. My dear child, If tho silent prayers of a very unhappy old man will bring God's blessing on yon there, there, girl I I didn't intend to make you weop. What a tonder heart It is, to be sural" Sho took his great toll-worn hand, and her hot tears fell on It for his gentleness, his bcnlimancr. had touched touch-ed her deeply. "Oh, yon must not tell anybody 1 You inusn't," she crlwl. He put IiIh hand on her shoulder as she knelt before him. "Good land of love, girl, what mndo you dolt? Why should a girl like you give a hundred thousand for my Valley of tho Giants? Were you" hesitatingly "your uncle's un-cle's agent?" "No. I bought It myself with my own money. My uncle doesn't know I am the new owner. You see, he wanted want-ed it for nothing." "Ah, yes. I suspected as much a long time ago. Your uncle Is the modern type of business man. Not very much of an Idealist I'm afraid. But tell me why you decided to thwart the plans of your relative." "I know It hurt you terribly to sell your Giants; they were dear 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 ray possession than In my uncle's. In all probability he would have logged this vaftoy for the soke of the clenr seventy-two-lnch boards he could get from these treco." "Thnt does not explain satisfactorily, satisfactor-ily, to me, why you took sides with a stranger against your own kin," John Cardigan persisted. "There must be a deeper nn mora potent reason, Mjsj Hlilrlej- SumnerV' & r "Well," SJifrieF roadT answer, glad he could not seo tho flush of confusion and embarrassment that crimsoned her cheek, "when I came to Sequoia last May, your son nnd I met quite 'accidentally. The stage to Sequoia had already gone, and he was gracious enough to invite mo to make the Journey Jour-ney in his car. Then we recalled having hav-ing met as children, and pretontly I gathered from his conversation that he and his John-partner, ns he called you, were very dear to each other. I was witness to your meeting that night I saw him take you In his big arms and hold you tight because you'd gone blind while ho was away having a good time. And you hadn't told him I I thought that was brave of you; and later, when Dryco and Molrn McTavlBh told me about you how kind you were, how you felt your responsibility toward your employees and the community well, I Just coulfln't help n leaning toward John-partner John-partner nnd John-partner's boy, bp-causo bp-causo tho boy wns so tine nnd true to his father's ldenls." "Ah, he's a mun. He Is Indeed," old John Cardigan murmured proudly. "I daro sny you'll never get to know him intimately, but If you should " "I know him Intimately," sho corrected cor-rected him,. "Ho saved my life tho day the log-train ran away. And that wns another reason. I owed him n debt, and so did my uncle; but Uncle wouldn't pay Ills share, and I had to pay for him." "Wonderful," murmured John Cardigan, Cardi-gan, "wonderful I Dut still you huvcti't told mo why you paid a hundred thousand dollars for the Giants when you could have bought them for fifty thousand. You had a woman's reason, I dare sny, and women always renson from the heart never the head. However, How-ever, if you do not care to tell mo, I shall not Insist Fcrhaps I have appeared ap-peared unduly Inquisitive." "I would rather not tell you," she ' i answered. A gentle, prescient smile fringed his old mouth ; he wagged his leonine head as If to say: "Why should I ask, when I know?" Fell again a restful silence. Then j "Am I allowed one guess, Miss Shirley Sumner?" "Yes, but you would never gucsa the renson," "I am a very wise old man. When one sits in the dark, ono sees much that was hidden from him In the full glare of tho light My son Is proud, manly, Independent, and tho soul of honor. Ho needed a hundred thousand dollars; you knew It Probably your uncle Informed you. You wanted to loan him some money, but you couldn't You feared to offend him by proffering It; had you proffered It he would have declined It So you bought my Valley of tho Glhnts at n preposterous price nnd kept your action a secrot" And ho patted her hand gently, ns If to sllenco nny denial, while far down tho skld-rond a voice n hnlf-trnlned baritone floated faintly faint-ly to them through the forest Somebody Some-body was singing or rather chanting. n singularly tuneless refrain, wild nnd barbaric. "Wliat Is that?" Shirley cried. "That Is my son, coming to fetch his old dnddy home," replied John Cardigan. "That thing ho's howling Is an 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 leavo you now. I generally contrive, to meet him on the trail." .Ho bade her good-bye and started down the trail, his stick tapping ngnlnst tho old logging-cable stretched from tree to tree besldo tho trail nnd marking It Shirley was tremendously relieved. She did not wish to meet Dryco Cardigan Cardi-gan to-day, and she was distinctly grateful to John Cardigan for his nice consideration In sparing her nn Interview. Inter-view. She seated herself In tho lumber-Jack's ensy-chalr 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 ynrds down the trnll Dryce met his father. "Hello, John Cardigan I" ho called. "What do you menn by slcallyhootlng through theso woods without n pilot? Eh? Explain your reckless conduct" "You great overgrown duffer," his father retorted affectlonntdly, "I thought you'd never come," Ho reached reach-ed Into his pocket for n hnndkcrchlef, but failed to find It and searched through another -pocket nnd still another. "Dy gravy, son," he remarked remark-ed presently, "I do believe I loft mj silk handkerchief the one Molrn gave me, for my last birthday ur ? l 1 n I sssffstsssW 1 lB lB9JA 11 bVIbsV MbVMI W LP I mml, J lib "I Wouldn't Lose That Handkerchief for a Farm." yonder. I wouldn't lose that hundker-chlef hundker-chlef for a farm. Skip along and find It for me, son. I'll wait for you here. Don't hurry." "I'll bo back In a pig's whisper," his son replied, and started briskly up the trail, while his father leaned ngalnst a madrono tree and smiled his prescient little smile. Bryco's brisk step on tho carpet oi withered brown twigs aroused Shirley from her reverie. When sho looked up he was standing in the center of the little amphitheater gazing nt her. "You you l she stammered, nnd roso as If to flee from him. "The governor sent mo back to look for his handkerchief, Shirley," he explained. ex-plained. "He didn't tell mo you wore here. Guess ho didn't hear you." He advanced smilingly toward her. "I'm tremendously glad to see you today, Shirley," he snld, nnd paused beside her. "Fnto lins been singularly kind to me. Indeed 1'vo been pondering nil dny ns to Just how I wns to nrrnngo n private and confidential little chat with you, without calling upon you ol your uncle's house." "I don't feel like chatting today," sho answered a Httlo drearily and then he noted her wet lushes. Instantly In-stantly ho was on ono knee beside her; with tho nmnslng confidence that had always distinguished him In her eyes his big left arm went around her, and when her hands went to her fnce he drew them gently uwny. "I've waited too long, sweetheart," he murmured. "Thnnk 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 met at the station, and all these months of strife nnd reprot- ' " ' i -' i . i ... in slon have merely served to make me lore you the more. Perhaps you have been all the dearer to me because you seemed so hopelessly unattainable." Ho drew her head down on his breast; his great hand patted her hot check; his honest brown eyes gazed earnestly, wistfully Into hers. "I love you," be whispered. "AH that I have oil that I am all that I hope for 1 offer to you, Shirley Sumner; and In the shrine of my heart I shall hold you sacred while life shall last You nro not Indifferent to nie, dear. I know you're not ; but tell me nnswer mo " Her violet eyes wore uplifted to his ond In them ho read the answer to hN cry. "Ah, mny I?" he murmured, nnd kissed her. "Oh, my denr, impulsive, gentlo big Bwecthenrt," she whispered nnd then her nrms went around his neck, and the fullness of: her happiness found vent In tears he did not seek to hnve her repress. In tho snfo haven of his arms sho rested; and there, quite without effort or distress, she managed to convey to him something more than nn Inkling of the thoughts thnt were wont to como to her whenever thej met. "Oh, my love I" ho cried happily. "I hadn't dared dream of such happiness until today. You were so unattainable unattain-able the obstacles between us were so many nnd so grent " "Why todny, Dryce?" sho Interrupted Interrupt-ed him. He took her adorable little nose In his grent thumb and forefinger nnd twenked It gently. "The light began to dawn yesterday, my dear little enemy, en-emy, following an Interesting half-hour half-hour which I put In with his honor the mayor. Acting upon suspicion only, I told Poundstone I wns prepnred to send him to the rock pile If ho didn't behnve himself In .the mntter of my pcrmnncht franchise for the N. C. O. nnd the oily old Invertebrate wept nnd promised mo anything If I wouldn't disgrace him. So I promised I wouldn't do nnytlilng until the franchlso matter mat-ter should bo definitely settled after . which I returned to my office, to find awaiting me there no less a person than the right-of-way mnn for tho Northwestern Pnclflc. no was n perfectly per-fectly delightful young fellow, nnd he had a proposition to unfold. It seems the Northwestern Pnclflc hns decided to build up from Wllllts, and all thnt powwow nnd publicity of Duck Ogll-vy's Ogll-vy's nbout the N. O. 0. wns In nil probability the very thing that spurred them to nctlon. They figured the C. M. & St. P. wnB bnck of tho N. 0. O. that It was to be tho first link In a chnln of const roads to be connected ultimately with the terminus of the 0. M. & St. P. on Gray's Harbor, Washington. Wash-ington. And If the N. 0. O. should be built It meant that a rival road would get the edge on them In the .mntter of every stick of Humboldt and Del Norte redwood and they'd bo left holding tho sack." "Why did they think that, denr?" "That amazing rascal, Duck Ogllvy, used to bo a C. M. & St P. man ; they thought they traced an analogy, I dare say. Perhaps Buck fibbed to them. At any rate this right-of-way man wns mighty anxious to know whether or not the N. C O. hnd purchnscd from the Cnrdignn Redwood Lumber company com-pany a site for a terminus on tidewater tide-water (we control all the deep-water frontage on the bay), and when I told him the deal had not yet been closed he started to close ono with me." "Did you close?" "My dear girl, will a duck swim? Of course I closed. I sold three-quarters of all we had, for three-quarters of a million dollars, and an hour ago I received a wire from my attorney In San Francisco Informing me that the money hnd been deposited in escrow there awaiting formal deed. That money puts the Cardigan Redwood Lumber company In tho clear no receivership re-ceivership for us now, my dear one. And I'm going right ahead with the building of the N. C. 0. whllo our holdings down on the San Hedrln double In value, for the reason that within three years they will bo accessible acces-sible and can be logged over tho rails of tho Northwestern Pacific I" "Dryce," Shirley doclared, "hnvon't I always told you I'd never permit you to build the N. 0. O.?" "Of course," ho replied, "but surely you're going to withdraw your objections objec-tions now." "I nm not. You must choose between be-tween the N. 0. O. and me." And she met his surprised gnzc unflinchingly. "Shirley I Yon don't mean It?" "I do mean tt I have always meant It I lovo you, denr, but for nil that you must not build that road." Ho stood up and towered above her sternly. "I must build It. Shirley. I've contracted to do It, and I must keep faith with Gregory of the Trinidad Timber company. He's putting up tho money, nnd I'm to do the work nnd operate the line. I enn't go back on him now." "Not for my snke?" she plended. no shook his head. "I must go on," he reiterated. "Do you realize what that resolution means to us?" Tho girl's tones were grave, her glance graver. "I realize what It means to me I" Sho camo closer to him. Suddenly the blnzo In her violet oyes gave way to one of mirth. "Oh, you dear big booby 1" sho cried. "I was Just testing test-ing you'." And sho clung to him, laughing. laugh-ing. "You nlwnys beat me downyou nlwoys win. Dryce, dear, I'm tho La-gunit La-gunit Grande Lumber compnny nt least I will bo tomorrow, and I repeat for tho last tlmo that you shall not build the N. 0. O. because I'm going to oh, dear, I shall die laughing nt you becauso I'm going to merge with tho Cnrdignn Redwood Lumber compnny, com-pnny, and then my railroad shall be your railroad, and we'll extend It nnd haul Gregory's logs to tidewater for him also. And silly, didn't I tell you you'd novr build the N. 0. 0.?" 4 ii in in 1 1 i f1 - " -- God blew my mildewed soull" he murmured, nnd drew her to him. In tho gathering dusk they walked down the trail. Dcsldc tho madrono tree John Cardigan wnlfed patiently. "Well," he queried when they Joined him, "did you find my handkerchief handker-chief for me, son?" "I didn't find your handkerchief, John Cardigan," Dryce answered, "bul I did find whnt I suspect you sent mo "I'm the Laguna Grands Lumber Company." Com-pany." back for nnd that Is a perfectly wonderful won-derful daughter-in-law for you!" John Cardigan smiled and held out his nrms for her. "This," ho said, "lg tho happiest day that I have known , since my boy wns born." CHAPTER XIX. Col. Scth Pennington wns thoroughly crushed. Look which way ho would the bedeviled old rascal could find no loophole for escape. "You win, Cardigan," he muttered dciporntely as he sat In his office after Shirley had left hlra. "You've had more than a shade In every round thus fnr, nnd nt the finish you've landed a clean knockout. If I had to fight any man but yon " ne sighed resignedly nnd pressed the push-button on his desk. Sexton entered. "Sexton," he said bluntly nnd with n slight quiver in his voice, "my niece and I have hnd a disagree ment. We have quarreled ovor young Cardigan. She'B going to mnrry him. Now, our uffnlrs nro somewhat Involved, In-volved, nnd In order to straighten them out we spun n coin to see whether she should sen her stock In Lngurm Grande to me or whether I should sell mine to her and I lost. The book valuation of the stock at the close of last year's business, plus ten per cent will determine the selling price, and I shnll resign ns president You will, In nil probability, be retained to manage man-age the company until It Is merged With the Cardigan Redwood Lumber company when, I Imagine, you will be given ample notice to seek a new Job elsewhere. Cnll Miss Sumner's attorney, attor-ney, Judge Moore, on the telephone and ask him to come to the office at nine o'clock tomorrow, when the papers pa-pers can be drawn up and signed. Thnt Is all." Tho Colonel did not return to his home In Redwood boulevard that night. He had no appetite for dinner and sat brooding in his ofllce until very late; then he went to the Hotel Sequoia and engaged a room. He did not possess sufficient courage to face his niece again. At four o'clock the next day the Colonel, his baggage, his automobile, his chauffeur and the solemn butler, James, boarded the passenger steamer for San Francisco, and at four-thirty sailed out of Humboldt bay over the thundering bar and on Into the south. Tho Colonel was still a rich man, but his dream of a redwood empire had faded, and once more ho was taking up the search for cheap timber. Whether he ever found It or not Is a matter thnt does not concern ns. At n moment when young Henry Poundstono's drenm of legal opulence wns fndlng, when Mnyor Poundstono's hopes for domestic penco had been shattered beyond repulr, the while his cheap political aspirations had been equally devastated because of a certain cer-tain damnable document In the possession posses-sion of Dryce Cardigan, many events of Importance were transpiring. On tho veranda of his old-fashioned home John Cnrdignn snt tnpplng the floor with his stick and dreaming dreams which for the first tlmo In many yenrs wcro rose-tinted. Beside him Shirley sat, her glance bent musingly out ncross the roofs of Sequoia nnd on to tho bay shore, where the smoke nnd exhaust steam floated up from two snwmllls hor own nnd Bryco Cardigan's, Cardi-gan's, To her came nt regularly spaced Intervals the fnlnt whining of tho saws ond the rumble of log trains crawling out of the log dumps; high over the piles of bright, freshly suwn lumber she caught from time to time tho flash of white spray as tho grent logs tossed from tho trucks hurtled down the skids and crashed Into tho bny. At the docks of both mills vessels were loading, their tnll spars cutting the sky lino nbove and beyond tho smokestacks; smoke-stacks; fnr down the bay a steam schooner, loaded until her main deck was almost flush with the water, was putting out to sea, and Shirley heard the faint echo of her siren as she whistled her Intention to pass to starboard star-board of s wind Jammer Inward bound In tow of a Cardigan tug. "It's wonderful," she said presently, apropos of nothing. A "Aye," he replied In his deep, mele ! dlous voice, "I'va been Bitting here, my dear, listening to your thoughts. Yem ' know something, now, of the tlo that binds my boy to Sequoia. Tills" he waved his arm abroad In tho dnrk-ncss dnrk-ncss "this la tho true essence of life to create, to develop tho gifts thnt God has given us to work nnd know tho blessing of wenriness to have dreams and sec them come tme. That Is life, and I hnve lived. And now I nm ready to rest." He smiled wistfully. wist-fully. " 'The king Is dead. Long llvo the king.' I wonder If you, rnlAan you have been, can fnCo life In jjM&' resolutely with my Bon. It Is ITCl, drab sawmill town, whero life unfolds gradually without thrill whero the years stretch ahead of ono with only trees, among simple folk. Tho life may be hard on you, Shirley; one has to acquire a tnsto for It you know." "I hnve known the lilt of battle, John-pnrtner," she nnswered; "hence I think I enn enjoy the sweets of victory, vic-tory, I nm content." g "And whnt a run you did glvo that boy Dryce J" B She laughed softly. "I wanted him I to fight; I hnd a great curiosity to see y the stuff that was In him," she cx plained. " Next day Dryco Cardigan, riding tho I top log on tho end truck of a lond train Just In from Cardigan's woods in Township Nine, dropped from the end of tho log as the train crawled through the mill yard on Its way to tho log dump. Ho hailed Buck Ogtlvy, where tho latter stood In tho door oj tho ofllce. ' "Big doings up on Ltttlo Laurel creek this morning, Buck." "Do tell P Mr. Ogllvy murmured morosely. "It wns great" Bryco continued, "Old Duncan McTavIsh returned. 1 knew ho would. His year on tha mourner's bench expired yesterday, and he came back to claim his old Job of woods boss." "He's ono yenr too late," Ogllvy de clared. "I wouldn't let that big Cnna dlan Jules Rondeau quit for a farm. Some woods boss, that and his first Job with this company was the dirtiest you could hand him smearing grease. J on the skid road at n dollar and a half f a day- and found. He's made too good I to lose out now. I don't care whnt his private morals may be. Ho can get out the logs, hang his rascally hide, and I'm for him." Tin afraid yon haven't anything tcj say about it, Buck," Bryce replied dryly. "I haven't eh? Well, any time yotf deny mo the privllego of hiring nnd firlnt- Vnil'ro rminrr tft Via Sltit Mia ont-tri j Ice of n rattling good general mnna-I mnna-I ger, my son. Yes, slrl If you hold , me responsible for results I must sealed sea-led the tools I want to work with." "Oh. very well," Bryce laughed. "Have It your own way. Only if you can drive Duncan McTavIsh out of Cardigan's woods I'd like to see yon do It Possession Is nine points of the Inw, Buck and Old Duncan is In possession." ''What do you menn In possession?" "I mean thnt at ten o'clock this morning Duncan McTavIsh appeared at our log landing. Tho whisky fat was all gone from him and he appeared ap-peared forty years old Instead of the sixty that ho Is. With a whoop he came Jumping over tho logs, straight for Jules Rondeau. The big Canuck saw him coming and knew what hu visit portended so he wasn't taken unnwnrcs. It was a case of fight fofr his Job nnd Rondeau fought." "The devil you say I" "I do and thert was the devil Ml pay. It wns a rough and 'tumble and no grips barred Just the kind of a fight Rondeau likes. Nevertheless Old Duncan floored him. While he's been away somebody taught him the hammer ham-mer lock and tho crotch hold and a few more fancy ones, and he get ta work on Rondeau in a hurry, u fact he had to, for If tho ttutsle had gone over five minutes Rondeau's" youth would havo decided the issue." "And Rondeau was whipped?" "To a whisper.- Mac floored him, and choked him until he beat the $ ground with his free hand In token of surrender; whereupon old Duncan let him up, and Rondeau went to his shanty and packed his turkey. The last I saw of him he was headed over the hill to Camp Two on Laguna Grande. He'll probably chase that assistant as-sistant woods boss I hired after the consolidation out of Shirley's woods and help himself to the fellow's Job. I don't care If he does. What Interests mo Is the fact that the old Cardigan woods boss Is back on the Job In Cardigan's Car-digan's woods, nnd I'm mighty glnd of tt Tho old horscthlef ho's had his lesson and will remain sober hereafter. here-after. I think he's cured." "The infamous old outlaw I" "Muc knows tho San nedrln as I know my own pocket. He'll bo a tower of strength when wo open up thnt tract nfter tho rnllrond builds In. By tho way, has my Mad been down this morning?" "Yea. Molrn read the mnll Jyfc& and then took him up to tho Vamft' the Giants. Ho said ho wanted i do n little quiet figuring on that new steam schooner you're thinking of building. He thinks sho ought to be bigger big enough to carry two million mil-lion feet." Dryco glanced at his watch. "It's hnlf after eleven," ho said. "Guess I'll run up to the Giants nnd bring him homo to luncheon." Ho stepped Into tho Napier standing outside tho ofllce and drovo awny. Duck Ogllvy waited until Dryce was out of sight; then with sudden determination deter-mination he entered the office. "Molra," he sold abruptly, approoch- ...-.(Continued on Page seven.) VW-LEYOflHEGIANTS (Continued from previous page) Ing the (leak where she worked, "your dad It back, and what's more. Dryco Cardigan has let him have his old Job as woods boss. And I'm hero to announce an-nounce that you're not going back to the woods to keep houso for him. Understand? Un-derstand? Now, look here, Molra. I'vo shilly-shallied nround you for months, w protesting my love, and I haven't got- ten anywhere. Today I'm going to ask jl you for the last time. Will you marry tl mo? I need you worse than that rns-9 rns-9 cal of a father of yours docs, and I tell n you I'll not have you go back to the m woods to take caro of him. Come, Jj now, Molra. Do give me n definite an swer." "I'm afraid I don't love you well I enough to marry you, Mr. Ogtlvy," flj Molra pleaded. "I'm truly fond of you, I but" jl "The last boat's gone," cried Mr. II Ogllvy desperately. "I'm answered. H Well, I'll not stick nround here much longer, Molra. I realize I must bo a M nuisance, but I can't help being a nul- sancc when you're near inc. So I'll I quit my job here and go back to my I old game of railroading." I "Oh, you wouldn't quit a tcn-thou- I snnd-dollnr job," Molra cried nghast. I 'Td quit a million-dollar Job. I'm II desperate enough to go over to the H mill and pick a fight with the big m bandsnw. I'm going away where I can't see you. Your eyos arc driving me crazy." m "But I don't want you to go, Mr. 1 Ogllvy." m "Call mo Buck," he commanded B sharply. I "I don't want you to go, Buck," she repented meekly. "I shall feel guilty, n driving you out of a fine position." Z "Then marry me and I'll stay." "But suppose I don't lovo you the I -way you deserve " n "Supposol Supposol" Buck Ogllvy cried. "You're no longer certain of I yourself. How dare you deny your love for mo? Eh? Molra, I'll risk It," Her eyes turned to him timidly, and I for the first time ho saw in tholr 1 smoky depths n lambent flame. "I 1 -don't know," she quavered, "and it's a 'big responsibility in case " "Oh, the devil take the cusel" he -cried rapturously, and took her hands In his. "Do I improve with ago, dear Molra?" ho nsked with boyish eagerness; eager-ness; then, before she could answer, 'he swept on, a tornado of love and pleading. And presently Molrn was in Ills arms, and ho was kissing her, nnd uho was crying softly because well, she admired Mr. Buck Ogllvy; more, she respected htm and was genuinely fond of him. She wondered and she wonaerea, a qmct joy tnriliea her In I the knowledgo that It did not seem jl at all Impossible for her to grow, In jl 'time, absurdly fond of this wholesome g red rascal. g "Oh, Buck, dear," she whispered, "I gj don't know, I'm sure, but perhnps I've gj loved you a little bit for a long time." 1 "I'm perfectly wild over you. You're the most wonderful woman I ever I heard of. Old rosy-cheeks I" And he H pinched them just to see tho color como and go. John Cardigan was seated In his M lumberjack's easy chair as his son np-I np-I pro. died. His lint lay on the litter of brown twigs beside him; his chin was sunk on his breast, and his head was held a little to one sldo In a lis-H lis-H M tenlng nttltudo; a vagrant little breeze rustled gently a lock of his fine, long white hair. Bryco stooped over the PJ old man and shook him gently by the I shoulder. "Wnko up, partner," he called cheerfully. cheer-fully. But John Cardigan did not wake, and again his son shook lilra. Still receiving no response, Bryce lifted lift-ed the leonlno old head nnd gazed Into his father's face. "John Cardigan!" Cardi-gan!" ho cried sharply. "Wake up, old pal." Tho old eyes opened and John Car-llgan Car-llgan smiled up nt his boy. "Good son," ho whispered, "good uonl"- He closed his sightless eyes again as If the mere effort of holding them open wearied him. "I've been sitting here wnltlng," ho went on In tho same gentle whisper. "No, not wnltlng for you, boy wnltlng " Ills head fell over on his son's shoulder; shoul-der; his hand went groping for BryceVsu "Listen." ho continued. "Can't winr it the Silence? I'll wait for yt-lHtFC, my son. Mother and I will wnlr together now In thlt -lot she fancied. I'm tired I want rest. Look after old Mnc and Molra and Bill Dandy, who lost hlb leg nt Camp Seven last fall and Tom Ellington's children chil-dren nnd all the others, son. You .mow, Bryce. They're your responsibilities. responsi-bilities. Sorry I can't wait to Bee the Snn Hedrln opened up, but I've lived ray life nnd loved my love. Ah, ye, Tvo been happy so happy Ju.t doing things and drenmlng here among my -Innts and " He sighed gently. "Good son," he whispered again ; his big body relaxed, and the great hcurt of the Argonaut was still. Bryce held him until the realization came to him that his father ws no more that Mke a wateh. ttta r winding of which has been neglected, ho had gradually slowed up and stopped. "Goodby, old John-partner V h murmured. "You'vo escaped into the light at last. We'll go homo togcthor now, but we'll como back again." And with his father's body in his strong arms he departed from the little amphitheater, walking lightly with his heavy burden down tho old skid road to tho waiting automobile. And two dnys Inter John Cardigan returned to rest 'forever with his lost mate nmong the Giants, himself nt Inst an Infinitesimal Infinites-imal portion of that tremendous silence that Is the diapason of the ages. When tho funeral was over Shirley and Bryco lingered until they found themselves alone beside tho freshly turned earth. Through n rift In the great branches two hundred feet nbovo n pntch of cerulean sky showed faintly faint-ly ; the sunlight fell like a broad golden gold-en shaft over the blossom-laden grave and from the brown trunk of an adjacent ad-jacent tree a gray squirrel, n descendant, descend-ant, perhaps, of tho gray squirrel that "H Was a Giant Among Mon." had been wont to rob Bryce's pockets of pine nuH twenty, years before, chirped at them Inquiringly. "He was u giant among men," wild Bryco presently. "What a fitting plnco for him to lie!" He pnsscd his arm iround his wife's shoulders and drew tier to him. "You made It possible, sweetheart." She gazed up at him In adoration. And presently they left the Valley of the Giants to face tho world together, to-gether, strong In their faith to live their lives and love their loves, to dream their dreams nnd perchance when life should lie done with nnd the hour of rest nt hnnd, to surrender, sustained sus-tained and torn for ted by the knowledge knowl-edge that ttrafte dreams had some true. THE END. |