Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-10
CHAPTER vi

a Just inside nd. entrance Bryce
padsed. the soft glow OF the candles
in the old-iash.Oned silver candle
sticks upon the table was reflected in
the polished walls Of the room-wal!s
formed OF panels OF the most eN-
quisitely patterned redwood burl
Bryce Cardigan had ever seen. Also
the panels were unusually large.
Shirley Summers alert glance fol-
lowed Bryce's at it swept around the
room. This dining room is Uncle
Seth's particular delight, Mr.. Car
dIgan," she explained.
Ut is very beautiful. Miss Sumner.
And your uncle has worked wonders
in the matter of having it polished.
Those panels are positively the lars-
est and most beautiful specimens OF
redwood bur. ever turned out in this
country. The grain is not merely
wavy; it is not merely curly; If is
actually so contrary that you have
here, Colonel Pennington. room
absolutely unique, in that it is form
ed of birds-eye burl. Mark the
deep shadows in it. And how it does
reflect those candles"
1t is beautiful" the Colonel de-
clared. And l must confess to a
pardonable pride in it, altho the task
of keeping these walls from being
marred by the furniture knocNn
against them requires the utmost
care"
Bryce turned and his brown eyes
blazed into the Colonels. Where
did you succeed in findisg such d
marvellous tree?" he queried pointed
ly. 4 know of but one tree in Hum
boldt county that could have produc-
ed such beautiful burl.'
For about a second Colonel Pen
nington met Bryce's glance unwayer-
ingly: then he read something in his
guests eyes, and his glance shifted
while over his benign countenance a
flush spread quickly. Bryce note7
II. and his quickly aroused sus-
utctons were as quickly kindled into
certainty. Where did you find that
tree?" he repeated innocently.
"Rondeau. my woods boss, knew
I was on the lookout for something
notwithstanding nobody else
could get: so he kept his eyes OPEN
Indeed" There was just trace
of irony in Bryce's tones as he drew
Shirley's chair and held il for her
You are fortunate to have such a
woods-bOss In your employ. Such
loyal fellows are usually too good to
be true. and quite frequently they
put their blankets on their backs
and get out of the country when YOU
least expect it. I dare say il would
be shock 10 you if Rondeau did
that"
There was no installing the yelled
threat behind that apparently in
noCent observation. and the Colonel.
being a man of more than ordinary
astuteress- realized that at last h
must place his cards on the table.
Yes" he said T would be rather
disappointed However. I pny Pom
deau rather more than i is custarn-
airy 10 pay woods bosses: 50 I i'm
agine he'll stay-Ju'HSr. Of course,
somebody takes n notion To RIM him
out of the country. AnG whom that
happer,s. I want to be on hand TO
view spectacle"
Bryce sprinNlcd modicum of salt
in his soup. I'm @o:ng up into Town
ship nine tomorrow aft"runun.' ilr
remarked casually. " .hirk 7 shall
60 over TO your camp and pay the
incompatible Jules lrief visit"
Again the Colonel arsin1ated the
hint. but preferred 10 dirsamiale. ooh
you can't steal him from me. Cardi-
gan" he laughed. Il warn YOU IN
advance-,so spare yourself the eff
fort"
"rll try anything once" Bryce re
torted with equal good nature.
However, don't want to steal him
from you. wan to ascertain
from him where he procured this
burl."
He wouldn't tell YOU"
He might I'm 2 persuasive little
Gus. when choos" tc exert myself"
"Rondeau is not communicative.
He requires lots al Dersuadine."
What delicious soup" Bryce
murmured blandl%. Mss Sumner,
may I have a cracker ?''
The dinner passed PLEASANTLY; the
challenge and defiance between guest
and host had been so skillfully and
gracefully exchanged that Shirley
hadn't the sligttc"t suspicion that
these two well groomed men had,
under her very nose, as il were.
agreed to be enemies and then. for
the time being, turned their atten-
ton to other and more trifiing mat
ters. 4 ,-sarisi,tFy sthree- cprnered
conversation 'cdntinued for an hour.
Then the Colonel, secretly enraged
at the calm. mocking. contemplative
glances which Bryce. ever and anon
bestowed upon him, and unable long