"Confound them," the Colonel murmured distinctly, "I must look into
this immediately."
"Look into what, Uncle dear?" Shirley asked innocently.
"This new railroad that man Ogilvy talks of building--which means,
Shirley, that with Sequoia as his starting point, he is going to
build a hundred and fifty miles north to connect with the main line
of the Southern Pacific in Oregon."
"But wouldn't that be the finest thing that could possibly happen to
Humboldt County?" she demanded of him.
"Undoubtedly it would--to Humboldt County; but to the Laguna Grande
Lumber Company, in which you have something more than a sentimental
interest, my dear, it would be a blow. A large part of the estate
left by your father is invested in Laguna Grande stock, and as you
know, all of my efforts are devoted to appreciating that stock and to
fighting against anything that has a tendency to depreciate it."
"Which reminds me, Uncle Seth, that you never discuss with me any of
the matters pertaining to my business interests," she suggested.
He beamed upon her with his patronizing and indulgent smile. "There
is no reason why you should puzzle that pretty head of yours with
business affairs while I am alive and on the job," he answered.
"However, since you have expressed a desire to have this railroad
situation explained to you, I will do so.
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