Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-11-12
CHAPTER XVI.

NFINT ! IN NNl.
Quite oblivious of her urc.e's denar-
ture for San Francis %. Shirley lay
awake throughout the remainder of
the night, turning over and over in her
mind the various aspects of the Cardi-
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 by the
memory of Bryce Cardigan's blood on
her white finger tips, convinced the
girl that, at all hazards to her Hnan-
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 fixity Of purpose, the resolution
cost her no particular pang.
She had been obsessed of a desire.
rather unusual in her sex, to see a
fight worth while; she had planned to
permit 1t to go to a 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 banded
her at breakfast the following note:
Shirley Dear:
after leaving you last night, l de-
cided that in your present frame of
mind my absence for a few days might
tend to a calmer and clearer percep-
ton, Il your part. of the necessary
tactics which In moment of despera-
ton. I saw fit, with regret. to 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 do
not feel equal TO the task of confront
ing you until In a more judicial frame
of mind, you can truly absolye me Of
the charge of wishing to do away with
young Cardigan.
"Your affectionate
UNCLE SETH"
ShirIey'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 soliloquized
"Very well, unkie-dunkl While
you're away, shall manufacture a
few bombs myself"
After breakfast she left the house
and walked to the intersection of Il
with Water street. Jules Rondeau and
his crew of lumberjacls 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. "Afr. Cardigan
is a bad man to fight. You fought him
once. Are you going to do 1t againT
He nodded.
by whose orders2"
''Nfr. Sexton, she tell me TO do IT."
"Well, Rondeau, some day III be
boss of Laguna Grande and theren be
no more fighting" she replied, and
passed on down B street to the office
OF the Cardigan Redwood Lumber
company. MORA McTayish looked up
as she entered.
"Where is he. dear?" Shirley asked.
81 must see him"
an that office, Miss Shirley" MORA
replied. and pointed TO the door. ShIr-
lev 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 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. I'm so sorry" she said softly.
His dull glance frightened. ut
doesn't amount to that. Shirley" And
he snapped his fingers. 1T throbs a
little and it's stiff and sore, so l carry
It il the sling. That helps a little.
What did you want to see me aboutf"
~ wanted to tell you" said Shirley.
"that-that last nights affair was not
of my making" He smiled compas-
sionately. Il couldn't bear to have
you think I'd break my word and tell
him"
at never occurred TO me that you
had dealt me a hand from the bottom
Of the deck, Shirley. Please don't
worry about It. Yo1s uncle has had
two private detectives watching oElyy
and me-"