The Dolores star., 1920-12-17

~ Sidh Nou llheu them. NODOuy
picks flowers out of our garden. you
know. used to, but I'll be too busy
hereafter to bother with the garden.
BY the way, Miss Sumner, does your
uncle own a carp
II believe he does-a little old mt
tletrap which he drives himself"
"Then I'll send George over with
the Napier this afternoon. You might
care to take a spin out into the sur
rounding country. BY the way, Miss
Sumner, you are to consider George
and that car as your personal prop
erty. l fear you're going to find
Sequoia dull place; 80 whenever you
wish to 20 for ride, Just call me up,
and I'll have George report to you"
But think of all the expensive gaso-
line and tires!'
"Oh. but you mustn't look at things
from that angle after you cross the
Rocky mountains on your way west.
What are you going to do this after
noon?"
II don't know. I haven't thought
that far ahead"
For some real sport I would sug-
gest that you motor up to Laguna
Grande. That's Spanish for Big La
goon. you know. Take a rod with
you. There are some land-locked sal
mon in the lagoon.
"But haven't any rod"
I'll send you over good one"
"But have nobody to teach me
how to use it," she limited daringly.
'I appreciate that compliment" he
flashed back at her, "but unfortunate
ly my holidays are over for long,
long time. I took my fathers place In
the business this morning"
$50 Soon?"
"Yes. Things have been happening
while I was away. However, speak,
ing of fishing, George Sea Otter will
prove an invaluable Instructor. He is
good boy and you may trust hIp
implicitly. On Thursday evening
you can tell what success you had
with the salmon"
"Oh, that reminds me, Mr.. Cardigan.
You can't come Thursday evening,
after ALL" And she explained the rea-
son. Suppose you come Wednesday
night instead"
"We'll call that bet. Thank you"
She chuckled at his frank good hui
NOR. "Thank you. Mr.. Cardigan, for
all your kindness and thoughtfulness
and If you will persist in being nice
to me, you might send George Sea
Otter and the car at one-thirty. I'll
be glad to avail myself of both until
I can get car of my own sent up
from San Francisco. Till Wednesday
night, then. Good bye"
AS Bryce Cardigan hung up. he
heaved slight sigh. 1t was difficult
to get out of the habit of playing; he
found himself the possessor Of a very
great desire to close down the desk,
call on Shirley Sumner, and spend the
remainder of the day basking in the
sunlight of her presence.
Following his discovery of the out
rage committed on his fathers sanctu-
airy. Bryce wasted considerable val
liable time and effort in futile en-
deavor to gather some further hint
of the identity of the vandals; but
despairng at last he dismissed the
matter from his mind, resolving only
that on Thursday lie would go up
into Pennington'S woods and interview
the redoubtable Jules Rondeau
Bryce's natural inclination was to
wait upon NJ. Rondeau Immediately.
II not sooner, but the recollection of
his dinner engagement at the Penning-
ton home warned him to proceed
cautiously; for while harboring no
apprehensions as to the outcome of a
possible clash with Rondeau, Bryce
was not so optimistic as to believe he
would escape unscathed from an en-
counter.
Colonel Pennington's pompous i'm
ported British butler showed Bryce
into the Pennington living room at
six-thirty, announcing him with due
ceremony. Shirley rose from the plano
where she hnd been idly lingering the
keys and greeted him with every ap-
pearance of pleasure-following which,
she turned 10 present her visitor to
Colonel Pennington. who was standing
in his favorite position with his back
to the fireplace.
Uncle Seth, this is Mr.. Cardigan.
who was so very nice to me the day
I landed in Red Bluff"
The Colonel bowed. II have to
thank you, sir, for your courtesy to
my niece" He had assumed an air of
reserve, of distinct aloofness, despite
his studied politeness.
"Your niece, Colonel, is one of those
fortunate beings the world will alwa! :
clamOr to serve"
"Quite true, Mr.. Cardigan. When
she was quite little girl 1 came un-
der her spell myself"
$50 did I, Colonel. Miss Sumne.
has doubtless told you of our first