Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-04-16
CHAPTER Vli-Continued.

The helpless hulk Of the woods-boss
descended upon the Colonel's expan-
siye chest and sent him crashing earth
ward. Then Bryce, war-mad. turned
10 face the ring of Laguna Grande EN-
ployees about him.
"Next!" he rOared "Singly In
pairs, or the whole damned pack"
'Mr Cardigan"
He turned Colonel Pennington's
breath had been knocked out of his
body by the impact Of his semi-con-
scious woods,boss, and he lay inert,
gasping like hooked fish. Beside
him Shirley Sumner was kneeling, her
hands clasplng her uncle's, but with
her violet eyes blazing fiercely on
Bryce Cardigan.
"How dare your" she cried. "You
coward To hurt my uncle"
He gazed at her for moment,
fiercely, defantly, his chest rising and
falling from his recent exertlons, his
kn0tted fists rory with the blood of
his enemy. Then the light of battle
died, and he hung his head. am
sorry he murmured, mot for his
sake, but yours. / didn't know you
were here. ] forgot-myself."
I'll never speak to you again so
long ms | live" she burst out passion
ately.
He advanced step and stood gaz-
Ing down upon her. Her angry glance
met his unflinchlngly; and presently
for him the light went out of the
world.
"Very WELL" he murmured. Good
bye" And with bowed head he turned
and made off through the green timber
toward his own logglng-camp five
miles distant.
With the descent upon his breast OF
the limp body of his big woods-bully,
Colonel Pennington had been struck
to earth as effectually as If fair-sized
tree had fallen on him, the last Whit
of breath hnd been driven from his
lungs; and for the space of a minute,
during which Jules Rondeau lay heav-
ily across his midriff, the Colonel was
quite unable to get II back. Pale,
gasplng, and Jared from soul to sus-
penders, he was merely aware that
something unexpected and discomfort
ing had occurred.
While the Colonel fought for his
breath, his wOodsmen remained In the
offlng, paralyze,i into inactivity by
reason OF the swlftness and thorough
ness of Bryce Cardigan's work; then
Shirley motioned to them to remove
the wreckage, and they FASTENED to
obey.
Freed from the weight on the
geometrlc center Of his being, Colonel
Pennington stretched his legs, rolled
his head from side to side, and snorted
violently several times like buck.
After the sixth snort he felt so much
better that a clear understanding of
the exact nature of the catastrophe
came to him. he struggled and sat up,
locking around him a little wildly.
"Where-dld = Cardigan -goT he
gasped.
one of his men pointed to the timber
into which the enemy had just dis
appeared.
surround him--take him." Pennlng-
ton ordered. "Tll give-a months
pay-to each of-the six men that
bring--tha: scoundrel to me. Get him
-quicklyl Understand"
Not. man moved. Pennington
shook with fury. "Get him." he croak.
ed. There are enough of you to do
the Job. Close In on him--everybody.
I'll give a months pay to-every-
body"
A man Of that indiscriminate mix
ture of Spaniard and Indian known In
California as cholo swept the circle of
men with an alert and knowing glance
His name was Flavio Artelan, but his
straight black hair, dark russell COM
plexion, beady eyes, and hawk nose
gave him such resemblance to
fowl that he was known among his fell
lows as the Black Minorca. regardless
OF the fact that this sobriquet was
scarcely fair to very excellent breed