The Jones County news., 1920-09-30


each other. Shlriey.s
Indeed, Il Is However. It's all yous
fault. / have told you once how YOU
can obvla,e that distressing situation.
But you're 50 stubborn. Afr. Cardigan y
Il haven't got TO the point where ]
Ike crawling on my hands and knees. y
he Jared back at her. Even for your
sake, decline TO simulate friendship
or tolerance for your uncle; hence I
must be content to let matters stand
rs they are between US"
She laughed lightly. $50 you are
still uncompromisingiy belligerent--
still after Uncle seth's scalp7"
yes; and I think I'm going to get
IT. I'm not fighting for myself alone,
but for thousand dependents--fo a
princlple-for an ancient sentiment
that was my fathers and is now mine
You do not understand"
Il understand more than you give
me credit for. and some day you'll
realize II. understand just enough
to make me feel sorry for you. | un-
derstand what even my uncle doesn't
suspect at present, and that Is that
you're the directing genius Of the
Northern California Oregon railroad
and hiding behind your friend Ogiiyy.
Now, listen to me, Bryce Cardigan
You're never going to build that road.
DO you understandT
The suddenness OF her attack amaz-
ed him to such an extent that he did
not take the trouble to contradict her
Instead he blurted out, angrily and
defiantly: I'll build that road if It
costs me my life-if 1t costs me you.
Understand I'm In this fight to win
"You win not build that road" she
reiterated.
"WhyY'
Because shall not permit you to.
I have some financial interest in the
Laguna Grande Lumber company, and
It is not to that financial interest that
you should build the N. @. o."
How did you find out that was
behind Ogllvy7"
Intuition. Then I accused you OF
1t, and you admitted It,"
II suppose you're going to tell your
uncle now" he retorted witheringiy.
"On the contrary. ! am not II It
VIII comfort you the least BIT, you
have my word OF honor that ! shall
not reveal to my uncle the identity Of
the man behind the N G. o. The fact
Is, both you and Uncle Seth annoy me
exceedingly. How lovely everything
would have been If you two hadn't
started this feud and forced upon me
the task of trying to be fair and Inn
partial TO you both. Forgive my
slang. but-Im going to hand you each
a poke soon."
Shirley" he told her earnestly,
"listen carefully to what am about to
say: / love you. I've loved you from |
the day first met you. / shall always |
love you; and when I get around to
II, I'm going to ask you to marry me.
At present. however. that is a right |
I do not possess. However. the day
acquire the right 1 shall exercise
it"
"And when win that day ber' Very
softly, in awesome tonesl
"The day / drive the last spike in
the N. C. o.
Fell a silence. Then; "rm glad,
Bryce Cardigan. you're not a gutter.
Goodbye. good iuck--and don't forget |
my errand." She hung up and sat at
the telephone for q moment, dimpled |
chin In dimpled hand. "How I'd hate |
you II could handle your she muir
INJURED.
Following this exasperating but
Illuminating conversation with Shirley |
Sumner over the telephone, Bryce |
Cardigan was a distressed and badly |
worried man. For an hour he sat |
slouched In his chair, chin on breast,
the while he reviewed every angle
Of the situation. He found 1t impos-
sible, however. to disassociate the busi-
ness from the personal aspects Of his
relations with Shirley, and he recalled
that she had the very best Of reasons
for placing their relations on a busI-
ness basis rather a sentimental one |
For the present however. It was all a
profound and disturbing mystery, and
after an hour OF futile concentration I
thcic Suhic 10 DIyCc Tie Oiu CnllOlSn /
impulse to gos to his father with his
troubles.
"He will be able to think without
having his thoughts blotted out by a
wcman's face" Bryce soliloquized.
Hes like one OF his own big redwood
trees; his head is always above the
storm"
Straightway Bryce left the office and
went home to the old house on the
knoll. John Cardigan was sitting on
the veranda. and from a stand beside
him George Sea Otter entertained him
with a photograph selectIon--"The
Suwanee River" sung by a male quar-
tette. He could not see. but with the
Intuition OF the blind he knew.
"What ia It. sonr he demanded
gently as Bryce came up the low steps
"George. choke that contraption of"
Bryce took his fathers hand. SIN
In trouble. John Cardigan he said sim
ply, "and Tn not big enough to handle
"a -