The Republican journal., 1920-04-29
CHAPTER TX.

ported his battered young master back
TO Sequoia. Here Bryce sought the
doctor in the Cardigan Redwood Lum-
Der company's little hospital and had
his wrecked nose reorganized and his
cuts bandaged. 1t was characteristic
of his fathers son that when this de-
tail had been attended to, he should go
to the office and work until the six
o'clock whistle blew
Old Cardigan was waiting for him
at the gate when he reached home.
George Sea Otter had already given
the old man more or less garbled ac-
count Of the runaway log-train, and
Cardigan eagerly awaited his sons ar
rival in order to ascertain the details
of this new disaster which had come
upon them. For disaster it was in
truth. The loss of the logs was trif1ing
perhaps three or four thousand dol
lars: the destruction of the rolling
stock was the crowning misfortune.
Both Cardigans knew that Pennington
would eagerly seize upon that point to
stint his competitor still further on
logging equipment. that there would
be delays-purposeful but apparently
navoidable-before this lost rolling
stock would be replaced. And in the
interim the Cardigan mill, unable to
get sufficient supply Of logs to fill
orders in hand, would be forced to
close down.
"Well. son." said John Cardigan
mildly as Bryce unlatched the gate,
another bump, eh?'
Eyes, sir-right on the nose"
81 meant another bump to your
heritage, my SON."
I'm worrying more about my nose,
partner In fact, I'm not worrying
about my heritage at all. I've come to
decision on that point: We're going
to fight and fight to the last; we're 60
ing down fighting. And by the way, l
started the fight this afternoon. l
whaled the wadding out of that bucko
woods-boss of Pennington's, and as a
special compliment to you, John Cardi-
gan, 1 did an almighty fine job of
cleaning. Even went so far as to
muss the Colonel up a little"
'Wow, wow Bryce! Bully for you!
| wanted that man Rondeau taken
apart. He has terrorized our woods
men for a long time. He's king of the
mad-train, you know"
Bryce was relieved. His father did
not know, then, of the act of vandal-
ism in the Valley of the Giants. This
fact strengthened Bryces resolve not
to tell him.
Arm in arm they walked up the gar
den path together
Just as they entered the house, the
telephone in the hall tinkled, and
Bryce answered.
"Mr. Cardigan" came Shirley Sum-
ner's voice over the wire.
Bryce" he corrected her.
She ignored the correction.
Il don't know what to say to
you" she faltered. 81 rang up to tell
you how splendid and heroic your ac-
ton was"
81 had my own life to save, Shirley"
"You did not think of that at the
time"
'Well-I didn't think of your uncIe's.
either" he replied without enthusiasm
I'm sure we never can hope to
catch even with you, Mr. Cardigan"
Don't try. Your revered relative
will not; so why should your"
you are making it somewhat hard
for me toto rehabilitate our friend
ship, Mr. Cardigan"
"Bless your heart" he murmured
"The very fact that you bothered to
ring me up at all makes me your
debtor. Shirley, can you stand some
plain speaking-between friends,
mean?"
81 think so, Mr. Cardigan"
swell, then" said Bryce 'listen to
this: I 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"
eff you do, you smash me-" she
warned him.
likewise our friendship. I'm sorry,
but it's got to be done if 1 can do it.
Shall-shall we say good-by, Shirley?'
"Yess-s!" There was a break in
her voice. "Good-by, 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 transmitter
and Shirley, clinging half hopefully to
the receiver at the other end of the
wire, heard him-caught every inflec-
ton of the words. COMMONPLACE
enough, but freighted with the pathos
of Bryce's first real tragedy.
ooh, Bryce!" she cried sharply. But
he did not hear her; he had hung up
his receiver now.
The week that ensued was remarka-
BILE for the amount of work Bryce &C.
complished in the investigation of his
fathers affairs-also for a visit from
Donald McTavish, the woods-boss.
Hello, McTavish," Bryce saluted
the woods-boss cheerfully and extend
ed his hand for cordial greeting. His
hayward employee stood up, took the
nrofered hand in both of his huge and