Why, I think he's just the kind of man who
WOULD send a girl a blackberry pie."
The Colonel noticed a calm little smile fringing her generous mouth.
He wished he could tell, by intuition, what she was thinking about--
and what effect a hot wild-blackberry pie was ultimately to have upon
the value of his minority holding in the Laguna Grande Lumber
Company.
CHAPTER IX
Not until dinner was finished and father and son had repaired to the
library for their coffee and cigars did Bryce Cardigan advert to the
subject of his father's business affairs.
"Well, John Cardigan," he declared comfortably, "to-day is Friday.
I'll spend Saturday and Sunday in sinful sloth and the renewal of old
acquaintance, and on Monday I'll sit in at your desk and give you a
long-deferred vacation. How about that programme, pard?"
"Our affairs are in such shape that they could not possibly be hurt
or bettered, no matter who takes charge of them now," Cardigan
replied bitterly. "We're about through. I waited too long and trusted
too far; and now--well, in a year we'll be out of business."
"Suppose you start at the beginning and tell me everything right to
the end. George Sea Otter informed me that you've been having trouble
with this Johnny-come-lately, Colonel Pennington.
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