The Dolores star., 1920-12-31
Seeing him running .u..

Stood neat tier OF firewood In tba
chopping block. where the donrar
nrelnan had driven It prior to .bon.
uonlhs MS post to view the contest
"et"eeh Bryce and Jules Rondeau was
double-bitted axe. Bryce ierked II
loose, swung it, whirled on hIs nur.
suers, and rushed them. Like turto,s
scattering before the raid of a covote
they lied In divers directions and from
saie distance turned to gaze an
prehehsively upon this demon they
had been ordered to bring in.
Bryce lowered the axe. removod bts
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 of my property. you savage ~
he shrilled.
Don't be nut, Colonel" Bryce re-
turned soOthingly. "I'll get off-when
/ get good and ready, and not a second
sooner. In fact. 1 was trying to get
of as rapidly as 1 could when Won
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, cold and disapprov-
Ing glance. "Pll 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 you. One more cheep
out of you, my friend, and I'll go up
to my logging-camp, return here with
a crew of bluenoses and wild Irish and
run your wops, 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 was the better part of valor
promptly subsided, 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 a few seconds; :;
then her lids were lowered and she bit
her lip with vexatlon.
shirley" he said.
"You are presumptuous," she qua
vered.
"You set me an example in presump
tion," he rptorted good humoredly.
"Did you not call me by my first name
n 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. ~
loathe you" she sobbed.
For you | have the utmost respect
and admiration" he replied.
"No, you haven't. If you had, you
wouldn't hurt my uncle-the only hu-
man being in all this world who is
dear to me-
"Gosh !" he murmured plaintively.
"I'm jealous of that man. However,
I'm sorry hurt him. I give you my
word came here to fight fairly"
"He merely tried to stop you from
fighting"
"No. he didn't, Shirley. He inter
fercd and fouled me. Still, despite
that. If had known you were a spec
tator think should have controlled
myself and refraIned from pulling off
my vengeance in your presence.
shall never cease to regret that sub
jected you to such distressing spec
tacle. I do hope. however. that you
will believe me when tell you am
not bully, although when there is n
fight worth while. 1 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"
~ can't do that. He Is my enemy
and / 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, Mr..
Cardigan"
"Call 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 so away and never pre-
sumo to address me again. You are
quite impossible"
He shook his head. Il do not give
up that readily, Shirley. didn't
know how dear-what your friendship
meant to me, until you sent me away
| didn't think there was any hope until
YOU warned me those dogs were hunt.
Ing me-and called me Bryce" He
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-