Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-04-30

F, ueDtoT' cHlTley, cun you Sthnu some
( plain speaking-betwee friends, ]
} meanw
81 think so, Mr.. Cardigan"
swell, then" said Bryce, ''lIsten to
this: am your uncle's enemy until
death do us part. Neither he nor |
expect to ask or to give quarter, and
I'm going to smash him If | can"
"lf you do, you smash me-" she
; warned him.
Likewise our friendship. I'm sorry
! but it's got to be done IL | can do il.
Shall-shall we say good.by, Shirley"
"Yes-s-s!" There was break in
her voice. "Good-bN Mr.. Cardigan.
wanted TO know
"Good.by! Well that's cutting the
mustard" he murmured soto voce,
"and there goes another bright day
dream Unknown TO himself he
spoke directly into the tranSmtter,
and Shirley, cllnging half hopefully to
the receiver at the other end of the
wire, heard him-caught every inhec-
ton Of the words, commonplace
enough, but freighted with the pathos
of BryceS first real tragedy.
"Oh, Bryce" she cried sharply. But
lie did not hear her; he had hung up
his receiver now.
The week that ensued was remarka-
Bile for the amount of work Bryce ac-
complished in the investigation OF his
fathers affairs-also for visit from
Donald McTaysh, the woods-boss.
Hello, McTavish," Bryce saluted
the woods.boss cheerfully and extend.
ed his hand for cordial greeting. His
wayward employee stood up, took the
profered hand In both of his huge and
callous ones, and held 1t rather child
ishly.
"Weel IT'S the wee laddie hlSsel."
he doomed. I'm glad to see We, boy"
YOU'D have seen me the day before
| ypSterday-if you had been seeable."
Bryce reminded him with bright .
smile. Mac, old man, they tell me
you've gotten to be a regular gO-to-
hell"
"1li nae deny take wee drappie
now an then" the woodsboss admit.
ted frankly, albeit there was har-
ried, hangdog look in his eyes
Mac, did Mora give you my mes
sageT
AYE"
-"Well guess we understand each
other, Mac. Was there something
else you wanted to see me about?"
McTavsh sidled up to the desk.
"Ye1l no be firm aud Mac DOT o.
hand?' he pleaded hopefully. mon.
ha We the heart to do it-after a these
years?'
Bryce nodded. IF you have the
heart-after all these years--to draw
pay you do not earn. then | have the
heart to put better man in your
place. It's no good arguing. Mac.
You're Off the pay roll onto the pen
sion roll-your shanty in the woods
your meals at the camp kitchen, your
clothing and tobacco that send out
to you. Neither more nor less y
'Who will We pit In ma placer"
Il don't know. However, 1t won't
he a difficult task to find better man
than you"
"Ill nae let him work." McTavlsh's
voice deepered to grow.
"You worked that racket on my IA.
Their. Try 1t on me, and you'll answer
% me-personally. Lay the weight of
your finger on your successor, Mac,
and you'll die in the county poor farm.
No threats, old mani You know the
Cardigans; they never bluff"
McTavlsh's glance met the youthful
masters for several seconds; then the
woods boss trembled and his gaze
sought the Office floor. Bryce knew
he had his man whipped at last and
McTavsh realized it, too for quite
suddenly he burst into tears.
"Dinna fire me, lad he pleaded.
"I'll gaze back on the job an leave
whusky alone"
"Nothing doing. Mac. Leave whisky
alone for year and I'll discharge
your successor to give you back your
job. For the present, however, my
verdict stands. You're discharged"
"Who kens the Cardigan woods as
l ken them?' McTavish blubbered.
"Who'll fell trees wi the least amount
o. breakage? Who'll get the work out
O. the men? who'll Ye dinna mean
1t, lad. Ye Gamma mean IT."
"On your way, Mac. loathe argu-
ments."
II maun see yer father ABBOTT this
He'll nae stand for sic treatment o.
an auld employee"
Bryce's temper lared up. "You
keep away from my father. You've
worried him enough In the past. you
drunkard. If you go up to the house
to annoy my father with your plead
lngs, McTnvish, I'll manhandle you"
He glanced at his watch. 1.-THE next
train leaves for the woods In twenty
minutes. II you do not 60 back on II
and behave yourself, you can never
go back to Cardigan woods"
II will nae take charity from any
man." McTavish Numbered. 'T'll nae
bother the owe man, an I'll nae go
back to y0n woods to live on yer
bounty. was never man to take
charity" he roared furiously, and left
the office. Bryce called after him !
cheerful goodbye, but he did not an
swer. And he did not remain in town |
neither did he return to his shanty {
In the woods. For month his where
abouts remained mystery; then one {
dav MORN rprpivpd n letter from him