The Valley of the Giants Part 31

Buck suggested.

Moira's Madonna glance appraised him steadily. "I haven't known you very long, Mr. Ogilvy," she reminded him.

"Oh, I'm easy to get acquainted with," he retorted lightly. "Besides, don't I come well recommended?" He pondered for a moment. Then: "I'll tell you what, Miss McTavish. Suppose we put it up to Bryce Cardigan.

If he says it's all right we'll pull off the party. If he says it's all wrong, I'll go out and drown myself--and fairer words than them has no man spoke."

"I'll think it over," said Moira.

"By all means. Never decide such an important matter in a hurry. Just tell me your home telephone number, and I'll ring up at seven this evening for your decision."

Reluctantly Moira gave him the number. She was not at all prejudiced against this carroty stranger--in fact, she had a vague suspicion that he was a sure cure for the blues, an ailment which she suffered from all too frequently; and, moreover, his voice, his respectful manner, his alert eyes, and his wonderful clothing were all rather alluring. Womanlike, she was flattered at being noticed--particularly by a man like Ogilvy, whom it was plain to be seen was vastly superior to any male even in Sequoia, with the sole exception of Bryce Cardigan. The flutter of a great adventure was in Moira's heart, and the flush of a thousand roses in her cheeks when, Buck Ogilvy having at length departed, she went into Bryce's private office to get his opinion as to the propriety of accepting the invitation.

Bryce listened to her gravely as with all the sweet innocence of her years and unworldliness she laid the Ogilvy proposition before him.

"By all means, accept," he counselled her. "Buck Ogilvy is one of the finest gentlemen you'll ever meet. I'll stake my reputation on him.

You'll find him vastly amusing, Moira. He'd make Niobe forget her troubles, and he DOES know how to order a dinner."

"Don't you think I ought to have a chaperon?"

"Well, it isn't necessary, although it's good form in a small town like Sequoia, where everybody knows everybody else."

"I thought so," Moira murmured thoughtfully. "I'll ask Miss Sumner to come with us. Mr. Ogilvy won't mind the extra expense, I'm sure."

"He'll be delighted," Bryce a.s.sured her maliciously. "Ask Miss Sumner, by all means."

When Moira had left him, Bryce sighed. "Gos.h.!.+" he murmured. "I wish I could go, too."

He was roused from his bitter introspections presently by the ringing of the telephone. To his amazement s.h.i.+rley Sumner was calling him!

"You're a wee bit surprised, aren't you, Mr. Cardigan?" she said teasingly.

"I am," he answered honestly. "I had a notion I was quite persona non grata with you."

"Are you relieved to find you are not? You aren't, you know."

"Thank you. I am relieved."

"I suppose you're wondering why I have telephoned to you?"

"No, I haven't had time. The suddenness of it all has left me more or less dumb. Why did you ring up?"

"I wanted some advice. Suppose you wanted very, very much to know what two people were talking about, but found yourself in a position where you couldn't eavesdrop. What would you do?"

"I wouldn't eavesdrop," he told her severely. "That isn't a nice thing to do, and I didn't think you would contemplate anything that isn't nice."

"I wouldn't ordinarily. But I have every moral, ethical, and financial right to be a party to that conversation, only--well--"

"With you present there would be no conversation--is that it?"

"Exactly, Mr. Cardigan."

"And it is of the utmost importance that you should know what is said?"

"Yes."

"And you do not intend to use your knowledge of this conversation, when gained, for an illegal or unethical purpose?"

"I do not. On the contrary, if I am aware of what is being planned, I can prevent others from doing something illegal and unethical." "In that event, s.h.i.+rley, I should say you are quite justified in eavesdropping."

"But how can I do it? I can't hide in a closet and listen."

"Buy a dictograph and have it hidden in the room where the conversation takes place. It will record every word of it."

"Where can I buy one?"

"In San Francisco."

"Will you telephone to your San Francisco office and have them buy one for me and s.h.i.+p it to you, together with directions for using.

George Sea Otter can bring it over to me when it arrives."

"s.h.i.+rley, this is most extraordinary."

"I quite realize that. May I depend upon you to oblige me in this matter?"

"Certainly. But why pick on me, of all persons, to perform such a mission for you?"

"I can trust you to forget that you have performed it."

"Thank you. I think you may safely trust me. And I shall attend to the matter immediately."

"You are very kind, Mr. Cardigan. How is your dear old father? Moira told me sometime ago that he was ill."

"He's quite well again, thank you. By the way, Moira doesn't know that you and I have ever met. Why don't you tell her?"

"I can't answer that question--now. Perhaps some day I may be in a position to do so."

"It's too bad the circ.u.mstances are such that we, who started out to be such agreeable friends, see so little of each other, s.h.i.+rley."

"Indeed, it is. However, it's all your fault. I have told you once how you can obviate that distressing situation. But you're so stubborn, Mr. Cardigan."

"I haven't got to the point where I like crawling on my hands and knees," he flared back at her.

"Even for your sake, I decline to simulate friends.h.i.+p or tolerance for your uncle; hence I must be content to let matters stand as they are between us."

She laughed lightly. "So you are still uncompromisingly belligerent-- still after Uncle Seth's scalp?"

"Yes; and I think I'm going to get it. At any rate, he isn't going to get mine."

"Don't you think you're rather unjust to make me suffer for the sins of my relative, Bryce?" she demanded.