Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-05
CHAPTER XVI.

He TOOK DOWN tHe tciePho"S
ceiver and called up the mayor
Bryce Cardigan speaking. Mr.
Poundstone," he greeted the chief ex-
ecutive of Sequoia.
"Oh. hello, Bryce, my boy" Pound
stone doomed affably. "How's tricks!
"So-so! hear you've bought that
sedan from Col. Pennington's niece.
Wish I'd known it was for sale. ia
have outbid you. Want to make a
profit on your bargain
mo, not this morning. Bryce.
think I'll keep it. Mrs. P has peen
wanting a closed car for a long time.
and when the Colonel offered me t1iS
one at q bargain, snapped it up"
"And you don't care to get rid or II
at q profit?" Bryce repeated.
"No, street"
"Oh, you're mistaken. Mr.. Mayor
I think you do. I would suggest that
YOU take the car back to Penntng-
toms garage and leave it there. That
would be the most profitable thing
you could do"
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in the blue
blazes are you driving at?" the mayor
sputtered.
II wouldn't care to discuss it over
the telephone. I take 1t. however.
that q hint to the wise is sufficient;
and I warn you, mayor, that II you
keep that car it will bring you bad
luck. Today is Friday. and Friday is
an unlucky day. I'd get rid OF that
sedan before noon If / were you
There was a long, fatefui silence.
Then in q singular small, quavering
voice, "You think 1t best, Cardigan" =
IT do. Return it to No. SO Redwood
boulevard and no questions will be
asked. Goodby!"
When Shirley reached home at
noon, she found her car parked in
front Of the porte cochere; and
brief note, left with the butler, in
formed her that after thinking the
matter over Mrs. Poundstone had de-
cided the Poundstone family could
not AFFORD such an extravagance. and
accordingly the car was returned
with many thanks for the opportun-
ity to purchase 1t at such ridicuZ
lousy low figure. Shirley smiled, and
put the car up in the garage. When
she returned to the house her maid,
Thelma, informed her that Mr. Bryce
Cardigan had been calling her on the
telephone. 20 she called Bryce up at
once.
".Has Poundstone returned your
carr" he queried.
why. yes. What makes you ask?"
ooh, had q suspicion he might.
You see, I called him up and suggest
ed Il: somehow his honor is peculiar
" susceptible to suggestions from me,
and"
Bryce Cardigan" she declared,
"you're a sly rascal-that's what you
are. I shan't tell you another thing"
IT hope you had a stenographer at
the photograph when the mayor and
your uncle cooked up their little deal.
That was Thoughtful Of you, Shirley.
It was q bully club to have up your
sleeve at the final showdown, for
with It you can make Unkiedunk be-
have himself and force that compro-
mise you spoke Of. Seriously. how
ever, I don't want you to use 1t, Shir-
ley, We must avoid a scandal by all
means; and praise be. don't need
your club to beat your uncle's brains
out. I'm taking his club away from
him to use for that purpose"
Really, believe you're happy to-
day."
Happy? I should tell a man! II
the streets Of Sequoia were paved
with eggs, I could walk them all day
without making an omelette.'
ut must be nice to feel so happy,
after so many months OF the blues"
Indeed it is, Shirley. You see I'M
y til very recently I was very much
worried as to your attitude toward
me. I couldn't believe you'd SO far
forgot yourself as 10 love me in spite
OF everything-so never took the
trouble to ask you. And now don't
have to ask you. know! And I'll be
around to SEQ you after I get that
crossing IN"
You're perfectly horrid." she blaz-
ed. aid hung up without the for
melity of saying good-by.
Shortly after Shirley's departure
from his Office, Bryce had a visit
y from Buck Ogilvy. The latter wore
neatly pressed suit of Shepherd
plaid, with a white carnation In his
lapel. and be was apparently the
most light hearted young man in
Humboldt county. He struck an at
titude and demanded:
"Boss, what do you think OF my
new suit7ss ess
'.You ,lunatic! Don't you know red
blonde should never wear light
shades? You're dressed like a negro
minstrel
well, feel as happy as All Gnu
man. And by the way, you're all
chirked up yourself. Who's beer
helping you to the elixir Of life:
When w parted last night. you were
forty fathoms deep In the slough OF
deGpond."
M mo less a divinity than Miss Shir-
ley Sumneri She called this morning
to explain that last nights fisco was
none Of her making, and quite inno-
4 Gently she impaired the information
that old Pennington lighted out for
San Francisco at one o'clock this
morning. Wherefore laugh. Te-he!
Ha- hafl'
~ .Three long, loud raucous cheers
for Uncle. He's gone to. rush -
4g - ffs