Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-04-16
CHAPTER VI

When Shirley Sumner descended to
the breakfast room on the morning
following her arrival In SequOa, the
first glance Mt her uncle's stately
countenance informed her that during
the night something had occurred to
irritate Colonel Seth Pennington and
3tartle him out of his customary bland
compOSure.
shirley" he began, "did hear you
calling young Cardigan on the tele-
phone after dinner last night or did
my ears deceive me?"
your ears are all right. Uncle Seth.
called Mr.. Cardigan up to thank him
'or the pie he sr'tt over, and incident
ally to invite him over here to dinner
on Thursday night"
81 thought heard you asking some
body to dinner, and as YOU don't know
4 soul In SequOa except young tardi
gan. naturally opined that he was to
oe the object Of our hospitality"
II dare say It's quite all right t"
have invited him. isn't it. Uncle Seth?"
"Ccrtainly. certainly. my dear.
Quite all right. but. er--ah. slightly
!hconvcnicnt. I am expecting other
company Thursday night
". Rraytcn, the president of the Bank
IF Seuuoia. is coming up to dine and
discuss some business affairs with me
afterwards so If YOU don't mind, my
lear. suppose you call young Cardigan
IN and ask him to defer his visit until
s,me later date"
"Ccrtainly, uncle. What perfectly
marvellous roses. How did you sue.
seed in growing them Uncle Seth"
lie smiled sourly. II didn't rai6e
them" he replied "That half-breed
Indian thnt drives John Cardigan's
car brought them around about an
hour ago, along with card There
It IS, beside your plate"
She bluShed ever SO slightly. Il
suppose Bryce Cardigan Is vindicating
himself" she m,Irmured as she with
drew the card from the envelope. AS
she had sur.nised. 1t was Bryce Cardi-
CANS. Colonel Pennington was tn"
proprietor of similar surmise.
Fast work, Shirley" he murmured
banteringly. ~ wonder what he'll
send you for luncheon. Some dill
pickles. probably"
She pretended to be very busy with
the roses. and not to have heard
him.
Shirley left alone at the breakfast
table. picked idly at the preserved figs
the owlish butler set before her.
Vaguely she wondered at her uncle'S
apparent hostility to the Cardigans;
she was as vaguely troubled in the
knowledge that until she should succeed
In eradicating this hostility, 1t must
inevitably act as bar to the further
progress Of her friendship with Bryce
Cardigan. And she told herself she
did not want to lose that friendship.
She wasn't the least bit in love with
him albeit she realized he was rather
lovable. And lastly he was good. de-
voted son and was susceptible OF
development into Il cOngenial ana
wholly acceptable comrade to II young
lady absolutely lacking in other means
of amusement.
She finished her breakfast in
thoughtful silence; then She went 10
the telephone and called up Bryce,
He recognized her voice instantly ana
called her name before she had oppor-
tunity to announce her Identity
THANK YOU so much for the heauu-
full roses Mr. Cardigan" she began.
I'm glad you liked them, Nobody
picks flowers ont of our garden, You
know. used to. but I'll he too busy
hereafter To bother with the garden
BY the way. Miss Sumner, does your
uncle own Il carr
~ believe he doeS-a little old rat
tletrap which ne !:!"es himself"