"No, I am not in the market for that Valley of the Giants, as your
idealistic father prefers to call it. Once I would have purchased it
for double its value, but at present I am not interested."
"Nevertheless it would be an advantage for you to possess it."
"My dear boy, the possession of that big timber is an advantage I
expect to enjoy before I acquire many more gray hairs. But I do not
expect to pay for it."
"Do you expect me to offer it to you as a bonus for renewing our
hauling contract?"
The Colonel snapped his fingers. "By George," he declared, "that's a
bright idea, and a few months ago I would have been inclined to
consider it very seriously. But now--"
"You figure you've got us winging, eh?" Bryce was smiling pleasantly.
"I am making no admissions," Pennington responded enigmatically "--
nor any hauling contracts for my neighbour's logs," he added.
"You may change your mind."
"Never."
"I suppose I'll have to abandon logging in Township Nine and go back
to the San Hedrin," Bryce sighed resignedly.
"If you do, you'll go broke. You can't afford it. You're on the verge
of insolvency this minute."
"I suppose, since you decline to haul our logs, after the expiration
of our present contract, and in view of the fact that we are not
financially able to build our own logging railroad, that the wisest
course my father and I could pursue would be to sell our timber in
Township Nine to you.
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