Part 29 (1/2)
”Why, I believe he will,” Pennington replied soberly.
”I'd love to see you beat him.”
”s.h.i.+rley! Why, my dear, you're growing ferocious.” Her uncle's tones were laden with banter, but his countenance could not conceal the pleasure her last remark had given him.
”Why not? I have something at stake, have I not?”
”Then you really want me to smash him?” The Colonel's voice proclaimed his incredulity.
”You got me into this fight by buying Cardigan bonds for me,” she replied meaningly, ”and I look to you to save the investment or as much of it as possible; for certainly, if it should develop that the Cardigans are the real promoters of the N.C.O., to permit them to go another half-million dollars into debt in a forlorn hope of saving a company already top-heavy with indebtedness wouldn't savor of common business sense. Would it?”
The Colonel rose hastily, came around the table, and kissed her paternally. ”My dear,” he murmured, ”you're such a comfort to me.
Upon my word, you are.”
”I'm so glad you have explained the situation to me, Uncle Seth.”
”I would have explained it long ago had I not cherished a sneaking suspicion that--er--well, that despite everything, young Cardigan might--er--influence you against your better judgment and--er--mine.”
”You silly man!”
He shrugged. ”One must figure every angle of a possible situation, my dear, and I should hesitate to start something with the Cardigans, and have you, because of foolish sentiment, call off my dogs.”
s.h.i.+rley thrust out her adorable chin aggressively. ”Sick 'em. Tige!”
she answered. ”Shake 'em up, boy!”
”You bet I'll shake 'em up,” the Colonel declared joyously. He paused with a morsel of food on his fork and waved the fork at her aggressively. ”You stimulate me into activity, s.h.i.+rley. My mind has been singularly dull of late; I have worried unnecessarily, but now that I know you are with me, I am inspired. I'll tell you how we'll fix this new railroad, if it exhibits signs of being dangerous.”
Again he smote the table. ”We'll sew 'em up tighter than a new b.u.t.tonhole.”
”Do tell me how,” she pleaded eagerly.
”I'll block them on their franchise to run over the city streets of Sequoia.”
”How?”
”By making the mayor and the city council see things my way,” he answered dryly. ”Furthermore, in order to enter Sequoia, the N. C. O.
will have to cross the tracks of the Laguna Grande Lumber Company's line on Water Street--make a jump-crossing--and I'll enjoin them and hold them up in the courts till the cows come home.”
”Uncle Seth, you're a wizard.”
”Well, at least I'm no slouch at looking after my own interests--and yours, s.h.i.+rley. In the midst of peace we should be prepared for war.
You've met Mayor Poundstone and his lady, haven't you?”
”I had tea at her house last week.”
”Good news. Suppose you invite her and Poundstone here for dinner some night this week. Just a quiet little family dinner, s.h.i.+rley, and after dinner you can take Mrs. Poundstone upstairs, on some pretext or other, while I sound Poundstone out on his att.i.tude toward the N.
C. O. They haven't asked for a franchise yet; at least, the Sentinel hasn't printed a word about it;--but when they do, of course the franchise will be advertised for sale to the highest bidder.