The Dolores star., 1920-12-03

ley Sumner. "I'm going to leave you
now" he said. "Thank you for rid
Ing over from Red Blufr with me. My
rather never leaves the office until the
whistle blows, and so I'm going to
hurry down to that little building you
see at the end of the street and sur
prise him."
He stepped out on the running
board, stood there a moment, and ex-
tended his hand. Shirley had COM
menced a due and formal expression
OF her gratitude for having been de-
livered safely in Sequoia, when George
Sea Otter spoke:
Here comes John Cardigan" he
said.
Drive Miss Sumner around to Colo
mel Pennington's house." Bryce order
ed, and even while he held Shirleys
hand, he turned to catch the first
glimpse of his father. Shirley follow
ed his glance and saw tall, power
fully built old man coming down the
street with his hands thrust a little
in front of him, as II for protection
from some invisible assailant.
"Oh. my poor old father!" she
heard Bryce Cardigan murmur. my
dear old pal. And I've let him grOpe
In the dark for two years!"
He released her hand and leaped
from the car. "Dad!" he called. ut
is bryce. I've come home to you
at last"
The slightly bent figure of John
Cardigan Strengthened with jerk he
held out his arms, trembling with
on to the Pennington house Shirley
looked back and saw Bryce folded in
his fathers embrace. She did not,
however, hear the heart-cry with
which the beaten old man welcomed
his boy.
"Sonny, sonny-oh, I'm so glad
you're back. I've missed you. Bryce,
Pm whipped-Tve lost your heritage.
Oh, son! I'm old can't fight any
more. I'm blind-I can't see my enc
mics. I've lost your redwood trees
even your mothers Valley Of the
Giants"
And he commenced to weep for the
third time in fifty years. And when
the aged and helpless weep, nothing
Is more terrible. Bryce Cardigan said
no word, but held his father close
to his great heart and laid his cheek
gently against the old mans tenderly
rs woman might. And presently
from that silent communion of spirit,
each drew strength and comfort AS
the shadows fell in John Cardigan's
town, they went home to the house on
the hill.
Shirley Summers eyes were moist
when George Sea Otter, In obedience
to the Instructions of his youthful
master, set her, the French maid, and
their hand-baggage down on the side
walk In front of Colonel Seth Pen
nington's house. The half-breed hesi-
tated moment, undecided whether he
would carry the hand-baggage up to
the door or leave that task for a
Pennington retainer; then he noted
the tearstalns on the cheeks Of his
fair passenger. Instantly he took up
the hand-baggage, kicked open the
iron gate, and preceded Shirley up the
cement walk to the door.
Just wait a moment, If you please,
George" Shirley said as he set the
baggage down and started back for
the car. He turned and beheld her
extracting a five-dollar bill from her
purse. For you. George" she con-
tinued. THANK you so much"
In all his life George Sea Otter had
never had such an eXperience-he,
happily, having been raised in ceun-
try where, with the exception of
walters, only a pronounced vagrant
expects or accepts a gratuity from a
woman. He took the bill and fingered
1t curously; then his white blood as
serted itself and he handed the bill
back to Shirley.
THANK you," he said respectfully.
"If You were man-all right. But
from lady-no. I am like my boss.
l work for you for nothing"
Shirley did not understand his re-
fusal but her instructive tact warned
her not to insist. She returned the
bill to her purse, thanked him again,
and turned quickly to hide the slight
flush Of annoyance. George Sea Otter
noted it.
Lady" he said with great dignity,
"at first I did not want to carry your
baggage l did not want to walk on
this land" And with n sweeping ges-
ture he indicated the Pennington
grounds. "Then you cry little be
cause my boss is feeling bad about his
old man. So I like you better. The
old MAXWELL. he has been like father
to me and my motheI-and we are
Indians. My brothers, too-they work
for him. So If you like my boss and
his old man. George Sea Otter would
go to hell for you pretty damn quick.
You bet your life!"
You're very good boy, George"
she replied, with difficulty repressing
n smile at his blunt but earnest
avowal II am glad the Cardigans