In glowing terms he spoke of the billions of
tons of timber-products to be hauled out of this wonderfully fertile
and little-known country, and confidently predicted for the county a
future commercial supremacy that would be simply staggering to
contemplate.
When Colonel Seth Pennington read this outburst he smiled. "That's a
bright scheme on the part of that Trinidad Redwood Timber Company
gang to start a railroad excitement and unload their white elephant,"
he declared. "A scheme like that stuck them with their timber, and I
suppose they figure there's a sucker born every minute and that the
same old gag might work again. Chances are they have a prospect in
tow already."
When Bryce Cardigan read it, he laughed. The interview was so like
Buck Ogilvy! In the morning the latter's automobile was brought up
from the steamship-dock, and accompanied by his secretary, Mr. Ogilvy
disappeared into the north following the bright new stakes of his
surveying-gang, and for three weeks was seen no more. As for Bryce
Cardigan, that young man buckled down to business, and whenever
questioned about the new railroad was careful to hoot at the idea.
On a day when Bryce's mind happened to be occupied with thoughts of
Shirley Sumner, he bumped into her on the main street of Sequoia, and
to her great relief but profound surprise, he paused in his tracks,
lifted his hat, smiled, and opened his mouth to say something--
thought better of it, changed his mind, and continued on about his
business.
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