It was a wonderful stand of timber--so read the cruiser's report--but
fifty per cent. of it, despite its green and flourishing appearance,
is hollow-butted! And the remaining fifty per cent. of sound timber
cannot be logged unless the rotten timber is logged also and gotten
out of the way also. And I am informed that logging it spells
bankruptcy."
She gazed upon him steadily, but without malice; his face crimsoned
and then paled; presently his glance sought the carpet. While he
struggled to formulate a verbal defense against her accusation
Shirley continued:
"You had erected a huge sawmill and built and equipped a logging-road
before you discovered you had been swindled. So, in order to save as
much as possible from the wreck, you decided to unload your white
elephant on somebody else. I was the readiest victim. You were the
executor of my father's estate--you were my guardian and financial
adviser, and so you found it very, very easy to swindle me!"
"I had my back to the wall," he quavered. "I was desperate--and it
wasn't at all the bad investment you have been told it is. You had
the money--more money than you knew what to do with--and with the
proceeds of the sale of those cedar lands, I knew I could make an
investment in California redwood and more than retrieve my fortunes--
make big money for both of us.
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