The Republican journal., 1920-06-17
CHAPTER XVI.

the night, turning over and over in her
mind the various aspects of the Card
gan Pennington imbroglio. OF one
thing she was quite certain; peace
must be declared at all hazards. She
realized that she had permitted mat
tiers to go too far. A revulsion of feel
ing toward her uncle, induced hy the
memory of Bryce Cardigan's blood on
her white finger tips. convinced the
girl that. at all hazards to her finan-
cial future. henceforth she and her
uncle must tread separate paths She
had found him out at last, and because
In her nature there was some of his
own f1Aity of purpose, the resolution
cost her no particular pang.
She had been obsessed of a desire.
rather unusual in her sex, to see
fight worth while; she had planned to
permit 1t to go to knockout, to use
Bryce Cardigan's language, because
she believed Bryce Cardigan would be
vanquished-and she had desired to
see him smashed-but not beyond re-
pair, for her joy in the conflict was
to lie in the task of putting the pieces
together afterward!
1t was rather relief. therefore,
when the imperturbable James handed
her at breakfast the following note:
Shirley Dear:
after leaving you last night. ! de-
cided that in your present frame of
mind my absence for a few days might
tend to a calmer and clearer percep-
ton, Oh your part, of the necessary
tactics which In moment of deSpera-
lion, | saw fit, with regret, tc pursue
last night. And in the hope that you
will have attained your old attitude
toward me before my return. am
leaving in the motor for San Fran
cisco. Your terrible accusation has
grieved me to such an extent that I do
not feel equal to the task of confront
ing you until, in a more judicial frame
of mind, you can truly absolve me of
the charge of wishing to do away with
young Cardigan.
Your affectionate
JUNGLE SETH"
Shirley's lip curled. With a rarer,
keener intuition than she had hitherto
manifested, she sensed the hypocrisy
between the lines; she was not de-
ceived.
He has gone to San Francisco for
more ammunition" she solloquized.
every well, unkie-dunk! While
oh
few bombs myself"
After breakfast she left the house
and walked to the intersection of 3
with Water street. Jules Rondeau and
his crew of lumberjacks were there
and with two policemen guarded the
crossing.
Shirley looked from the woods bully
to the locomotive and back to Ron
deau.
"Rondeau,". she said. "N1r. Cardigan
is bad man to fight. You fought him
once. Are you going to do it again?"
He nodded.
"By whose orders?"
"Mr. Sexton, she tell me to do it."
"Well. Rondeau, some day I'll be
boss of Laguna Grande and there'n be
no more fighting" she replied, and
passed on down B street to the office
of the Cardigan Redwood Lumber
company. Mora McTavish looked Nm
as she entered.
"Where is he, dear?" Shirley asked.
II must see him."
"In that office, Miss Shirley" MORA
replied, and pointed to the door. Shir.
ley stepped to the door, knocked, and
then entered. Bryce Cardigan, seated
at his desk. looked up as she came in
His left arm was in a sling, and he
looked harassed and detected.
Don't get up. Bryce" she said as he
attempted to rise. 81 know you're quite
exhausted. You look it." She sat
down. "Fm so sorry" she said softly.
His dull glance frightened ut
doesn't amount to that, Shirley" And
he snapped his fingers. at throbs a
little and it's stiff and sore. so | carry.
it in the sling. That helps a little.
What did you want to see me about 2"
81 wanted to tell you" said Shirley,
"that-that last nights affair was not
Of my making" He smiled compass
sionately, Il couldn't bear to have
you think I'd break my word and tell
him."
1T never occurred to me that you
had dealt me hand from the bottom
Of the deck, Shirley. Please don't
worry about it. Your uncle has had,
two private detectives watching Ogilvy
and me-"
"Oh!" she breathed, much relieved.
A ghost of the old bantering smile
lighted her winsome features. swell,
then," she challenged, Il suppose you
don't hate me-"
ION the contrary, love you" he an
swered. However, since you must
have known this for some time past, l
suppose 1t is superfuous to mention
1t. Moreover. I haven't the right
yet"
She had cast her eyes down mod
estly. She raised them now and looked