Cleveland County herald., 1920-07-08

landing Bryce ran. Beside the donkey stood neat tier of firewood; in the chopping block, where the donkey fireman had driven 1t prior to aban- doning his post to view the contest between Bryce and Jules Rondeau, was a double-bitted axe. Bryce jerked it loose, swung 1t, whirled on his pur- suers, and rushed them. Like turkeys scattering before the raid of coyote they fled in divers directions and from safe distance turned to gaze ap- prehensively upon this demon they had been ordered to bring in.
 Bryce lowered the axe, removed his hat and mopped his moist brow. From the center of the clearing men were crawling or staggering to safety with the exception of the Black Minorca, who lay moaning softly. Colonel Pennington, seeing his fondest hopes expire, lost his head completely.
 "Get off my property, you savage!" he shriiled.
 Don't be nut, Colonel" Bryce re- turned soothingly. "Tll get off-when J, ct sooner. In fact, 1 was trying to get off as rapidly as 1 could when you sent your men to bring me back. Prithee why, old thing? Didst crave more. conversation with me, or didst want thy camp cleaned out?"
 He started toward Pennington, who backed hastily away. Shirley stood her ground, bending upon Bryce, as he approached her, a cold and disapprov- ing glance. 'I'll get you yet" the Colonel declared from the shelter of an old stump behind which he had taken refuge.
 Barking dogs never bite, Colonel. And that reminds me: I've heard enough from yoa. One more cheep out of you, my friend, and I'll go up to my logging-camp, return here with crew of bluenoseS and wild Irish and run your weps, bohunks, and cholos out of the county. I don't fancy the class of labor you're importing into this county, anyhow"
 The Colonel, evidently deciding that discretion wss the better part of vaior promptly subsded, although Bryce could see that he was mumbling threats to himself, though not in an audible voice.
 The demon Cardigan halted beside Shirley and stood gazing down at her. He was smiling at her whimsically. She met his glance for few seconds; then her lids were lowered and she bit her lip with vexation.
 Shirley" he said.
 You are preSlmptuous, she qua vered.
 "You set me an example in presump- tion," he rNtorsed good humoredly. Did you not call me by my first name a minute ago?" The heir to Cardi- gans redwoods bent over the girl. "You spoke to me-after your promise not to- Shirley" he said gently. "You will always speak to me-"
 She commenced to cry softly. T loathe you," she sobbed
 For you I have the utmost respect and admiration" he replied.
 'No, you haven't. If you had, you wouldn't hurt my uncle-the only hA- man being in all this world who is dear to me-
 Gosh! ?! he murmured plaintively. ''Fm jealous of that man. However, I'm sorry I hurt him. l give you my word came here to fight fairly
 "He merely tried to stop you from fighting"
 "No, he didn't. Shirley. He inter- fered and fouled me. Still despite that, if I had known you were spec tator I think should have controlled myself and refrained from pulling off my vengeance in your presence. l shall never cease to regret that l sub jected you to such a distressing spec tacle. I do hope, however, that you will believe me when I tell you 1 am not a bully, although when there is fight worth while, never dodge it. And this time I fought for the honor of the House of Cardigan"
 "If you want me to believe that, you will beg my uncle's pardon"
 q can't do that. He is my enemy and I shall hate him forever; I shall fight him and his way of doing business until he reforms or I am exhausted"
 You realize, of course, what your insistence on that plan means, MT. Cardigan?"
 Gall me Bryce" he pleaded. You're going to call me that some day anyhow, so why not start now?"
 You are altogether insufferable, sir. Please go away and never pre- sume to address me again. You are quite impossible"
 He shook his head. T do not give up that readily, Shirley. I didn't know how dear-what your friendship meant to me, until you sent me away ; | I didn't think there was any hope until you warned me those dogs were hunt ing me--and called me Bryce" He 1 held out his hand. "'God gave us our relations" he quoted, "but, thank God we can choose our friends And I'll be a good friend to you, Shirley Sum-