"
"You might have borrowed the money from me. You know I have never
hesitated to join in your enterprises."
"This was too big a deal for you, Shirley. I had vision. I could see
incalculable riches in this redwood empire, but it was a tremendous
gamble and required twenty millions to swing it at the very start. I
dreamed of the control of California redwood; and if you will stand
by me, Shirley, I shall yet make my dream come true--and half of it
shall be yours. It has always been my intention to buy back from you
secretly and at a nice profit to you that Caribou red cedar, and with
the acquisition of the Cardigan properties I would have been in
position to do so. Why, that Cardigan tract in the San Hedrin which
we will buy in within a year for half a million is worth five
millions at least. And by that time, I feel certain--in fact, I know--
the Northern Pacific will commence building in from the south, from
Willits."
She silenced him with a disdainful gesture. "You shall not smash the
Cardigans," she declared firmly.
"I shall--" he began, but he paused abruptly, as if he had suddenly
remembered that tact and not pugnacity was the requirement for the
handling of this ticklish situation.
"You are devoid of mercy, of a sense of sportsmanship. Now, then,
Uncle Seth, listen to me: You have twenty-four hours in which to make
up your mind whether to accept my ultimatum or refuse it.
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