The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1920-05-06

tail.
described Bryce In minute detail and
related TO her eager auditor little un-
conscious daily acts of kindness,
thOughtfulness or humor performed by
Bryce-his devotion to his father, his
idealiStic attitude toward the Cardi-
gan employees, his ability, his indus
try. And presently, little by little,
SI1irley's resentment against him
faded, and in her heart was born a
great usefulness bred of the hope that
some day she would meet Bryce Cardi-
gan on the street and that he would
pause. lift his hat. smile at her his
compelling smile and forthwith pro-
coed to bully her into being friendly
and Orgiying-brOWbeat her into adj
hitting her change of heart and glory
ing in it.
To this remarkable state of mind
had Shirley Sumner attained at the
time John Cardigan, leading his last
little trump in Il vain hope that 1t
would enable him to take the odd trick
in the huge game he had played for
fifty years, decided to sell his Valley
of the Giants.
Shirley, as explained in a preceding
chapter, had been present the night
John Cardigan, desperate and brought
to bay at last, had telephonod Penning-
ton at the latter's home, accepting Pen
nington's last offer for the Valley Of
the Giants. The cruel triumph in the
CoIonel's handsome face as he CURLY
rebutfed old Cardigan had been too ap-
parent for the girl to mistake; she
realized now that a crisis had come in
the affairs of the Cardigans, and across
her vision there flashed again the
vision of Bryce Cardigan's homecom-
ing-of a tall old man with his trem-
bling arms clasped around his boy,
with grzzled cheek laid against his
sons, as one who, seeking comfort
through bitter years, at length had
found it.
Presently another thought came to
Shirley. 81 wonder" she unused. Hes
proud Perhaps the realization that
he will soon be pennless and shorn of
his high estate has made him chary of
acquiring new friends in his old cir
Gle. Perhaps if he were secure in his
business affairs All, yes. Poor boy :!
He was desperate for fifty thousand
dollars. :" Her heart swelled. ooh
Bryce Bryce" she murmured, 81 think
Tt,,, +n 90
your fury that day in the woods. It's
all a great mystery, but I'm sure you
didn't intend to be $3.50 terrible. Oh,
my dear, if we had only continued to
be the good friends we started out to
be, perhaps you'd let me help you now.
For what good is money if one cannot
help ones dear friends in distress?
Still, know you wouldn't let me help
you, for men of your stamp cannot
borrow from a woman, no matter how
desperate their need. And yet-yOu
only need a pa1try fifty thousand dol
larS!"
Shirley carried to bed with her that
night the woes of the CardiganS, and
in the morning she telephoned MORA
McTavish and invited the latter to
lunch with her at home that noon.
When Moira came, Shirley saw that
she had been weeping
"My poor Mora!'' she said, putting
her arms around her visitor. ''What
has happened to distress you? There,
there, dear! Tell me all about it."
Not he,
shoulder and sobbed for several min
utes. Then, ITS Mr.. Bryce" she
walled. Hes so unhappy. Some
things happened; they're going to
sell Cardigan's redwoods; and they
don't want to. Just before l left the
office, Mr.. Bryce came inland stood
a moment looking-at me-so tragi-
cally II asked him what had hap
pened. Then he patted my cheek-oh,
/ know I'm just one of his RESPONSE
| bilities-and said, Poor Mora Never
any luck" and went into his-private
went in, too; and-oh Miss Sumner,
he had his head down on his desk, and
when l touched his head, he reached
UP and took my hand and held it
and laid his cheek against it little
while-and oh, his cheek was wet.
It's cruel of God-to make him-un-
happy. He's good-too good. And
oh, love him so. Miss Shirley, love
him so-and he'll never, never know.
I'm just one Of his-responsibilities
you know; and I shouldn't presume.