The Crittenden press., 1920-08-20
CHAPTER V-continued.

"Ccrtnlnly they can. Eut | shall
have Ia wait untll they are completely
mnlurcd and have hrcomr completely
blind then n specialist will perform
m operation on my eyes. and IN MI
probability nay sight viii be- restored
for u few years. However. haven't
given the matter great deal ~ ron.
sIderntIon. Anr am about ready 10
quit now. I'd IKE To. IN fact; I'm
tired"
"Oh. but you cant quit until you've
seen your rrdwoods again" Bryce re-
minded him Il suppose It'S been u
long time since you've visited the
Valley ~ the Giants; your long exile
from The wood. cohllns has made you u
trife gloomy. I'm afraid"
John Cardigan nodded. 81 haven't
seen them In year aud half. Bryce.
Last time was up ! slipped between
the logs on that old skldrnad and
like to broke my old fool neck" '
"ral, II wasn't fair Of you To make
me stay AWAY "a long II had only
known-if | had remotely suspected
-"
"loud hnNe spoiled everything of
course. Don't scold me, son. You're
all have now. and couldn't bear TO
send for you until you'd had your
fling" His trembling old hand crrpt
over and closed upon his boys hand,
firm but free from signs of toll.
1T was my pleasure, Bryce" h. con.
tlnued. "nnd you wouldn't deny me
my choice Of sport. would yoni Re.
member, lad. never had boyhood .
] never had college education. and
the only real travel have ever had
was when worked my way around
Cupe Horn Ms foremast hand. and
nll | saw then was water aud hard.
ships; nll I've seen since Is my little
world here In Scquoia and In san
Francisco"
you've sacrificed enough Too much
for me, Dad"
1T pleased me IN give you NIL the
Advantages ! wanted and couldn't nf.
ford until wnS too old and too busy
Ia consider them. Resides, II was
your mothers wish And You have
enjoyed your little run. haven't your
he concluded wistfully.
II have. bad" Rrycc'S great nnnd
closed over the hnck NJ his fathers
neck; he shook the aid man with
mock fcrocily. "Suhhori old lumber.
Iack :" he chldcd.
lolm Cardigan shook with mn In.
ward chucklc. for the loving abuse his
hoy hnd formed habit of henping on
him meyer failed 20 thrill him. In.
stinctlvcly Bryce hnd realized that
tonight obylors "ympathy coplously
expressed was not the medicine for
his fathers bruised spirit; hence he
elected 10 regard the latters blindness
MS n mere temporary annoyance, some
thing In he considered lightly, n nj
all: and II was typical of him now
that the subject had been discussed
briefly, TO resolve never 10 refer Ia
II again.
Tomorrow morning I'm going "a
put q pair of ovcrulls an you. arm
yon with n tin can and swnh. and
set yuu TO grcnsing the sideways
Partner. you've deceived me"
"Oh. nonsense. Il had whimpercd
that would 'lly have spoiled every.
thing"
Nevertheless. YOU were forced Il
cable me to hurry home"
II summoned YOU the instant
realized | was going To need you."
"No, YOU didn't. John Cardigan. You
summoned me because. for the first
time In your lf-. you were panlrky
and let yourself get out OF hand"
His father nodded slowly. "And
you aren't over IL yet" Bryce con.
tlnucd, his voice no longer bantcring
hut lowered niTcctionntcly. "Whnts
the trouble, Dndy Trot out your old
panic and let me inspect II. Trouble
must be very real when II gets my
father on the run"
at Ia, Bryce, very real indeed. As
I remarked before. I've lost your
heritage for you" lie sighed "l
waited tlll you would be able TO com,
home aud settle down to business. nov
you're home; aud there isn't any busl
hess 10 settle down TO-"
Bryce chucklcd. for he was indeed
fni from being worried over business.
matters, his consideration now helms
entirely for his fathers peace Of mind
"All right" he rctorted. "father hn,
lost his money and we'll have TO 10,
She servants 10 and give up the OLD
bone. That part Of Il Is settled. and