Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-09-17

ism In the Valley of the Giants. This
fact strengthened Bryce's resolve not
to tell him.
Arm in arm they walked up the gar
den path together.
Just as they entered the house, the
telephone in the hall tinkIed, and
Bryce answered.
Mr.. Cardigan" came Shirley Sum
ner's voice over the wire.
Bryce" he corrected her.
She ignored the correction.
II don't know what to say to
you" she faltered. 'T rang up to tell
you how splendid and heroic your ac-
ton vas"
II had my own life to save. Shirley"
"You did not think of that at the
time"
Welt didn't think of your uncle's,
either" he replied without enthusiasm.
I'm sure we never can hope TO
catch even with you, Mr.. Cardigan"
Don't try. Your revered relative
viii not; so why should your"
"You are making 1t somewhat hard
for me toto rehabilitate our friend
ship, Mr.. Cardigan"
| BLESS your heart" he murmured
The very fact that you bothered to
ring me up at all makes me your
debtor. Shirley. cen you stand some
plain peaklng-between friends,
| mean?"
81 think so, Mr.. Cardigan"
"Well, then" said Bryce, ''lIsten 10
this: I am your uncles enemy until
death do us part Neither he nor
expect to ask or to give quarter, and
I'm going to smash him If l can"
IF -ou do, you smash me-" she
warned him.
Likewise our friendship. Tn sorry
hut It's got to be done if can do it,
Shall-shall we say good-by, Shirley?"
''Yes-s-s !" There was break In
her voice. "Good-by, Mr.. Cardigan. /
wanted TO know"
"Good-by! Well that's cutting the
mustard" he murmured soto voce.
land there goes another bright day
| dream" Unknown to himself, he
spoke directly into the transmltter,
and Shirley, clinging half hopefully to
the receiver at the other end Of the
wire, heard him-caught every inflec-
ton of the words, commonplace
enough but freighted with the pathos
of Bryce's first real tragedy.
"Oh, Bryce!" she cried sharply. But
he did not hear her; he had hung up
his receiver now.
TIE week that ensued was remarka-
BILE for the amount of work Bryce ac-
complished in the investigation of his
fathers affairs-also for a visit from
Donald McTavish, the woods-boss.
Hello, McTavish," Bryce saluted
the woods-boss cheerfully and extend
ed his hand for cordial greeting. His
wayward employee stood up, took the
| proffered hand in both of his huge and
callous ones and held it rather child
lshly.
''Weel! IT'S the wee laddie hisser,"
he doomed "Tm glad to see We, boy"
you'd have seen me the day before
yesterday-if you had been seeable,"
Bryce reminded him with a bright
smile. Mac, old man, they tell me
| you've gotten to be regular go-to-
! he'll"
@Pll nae deny | take a wee drappie
now an then" the woods-boss admit
ted frankly, albeit there was a har-
ried, hangdog look In his eyes.
Mac, did MORA give you my mes
sagcT
Aye
"Well. guess we understand each
other, Mac. Was there something
else you wanted TO see me about?"
McTavish sided up to the desk.
"Ye'n no be firm aud Mac oct o
band2" he pleaded hopefully. "A1on.
ha We the heart to do lt--after a. these
years?'
Bryce nodded eff you have the
heart-after all these years--to draw
/ pay you do not earn. then I have the
heart to put a better man in your
place. It's no good arguing, Mac.
You're off the pay roll onto the pen
sion roll--your shanty in the woods,
your meals at the camp kitchen, your
clothing and tobacco that send out
to YOU. Neither more nor lessr'
''Who will We pit in ma placer"
"I don't know. However, ID won't
/ he difficult task to end better man
than you"
am nae let him work. McTavish's
voice deepened to a growl
you worked that racket on m fa-
Their. Try 1t on me. and you'll answer
20 me-personally. Lay the weight Of
your finger on your successor Mac,
and you'll die in the county poor farm.
No threats, old man You know The
Cardlgans; they never bluff"
McTavish's glance met the youthful
masters for several seconds; then the
woods boss trembled, and his gaze
sought the Office floor. Bryce knew
he had his man whipped at last, ard
McTavish realized It, too, for quite
suddenly be burst into tears.
'Dinna fire me, lad" he pleaded.
1 sgTfFE rraa bo 1-.--e