The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1920-05-27
CHAPTER v--contInued.

Certainly they can. But shall
have to wait until they are completely
matnred and have become completely
blind; then q specialist will perform
an operation on my eyes. and In all
probability my sight will be restored
for few years. However. / haven't
given the matter great deal of con-
sideration. And ! am about ready to
quit now. I'd like to. in fact; I'm
tired"
"Oh. but you can't quit until you've
seen your redwoods again." Bryce re-
minded him. II suppose it's been
long time since you've visited the
Valley of the Giants. your long exile
from the wood-goblins has made you a
trifie gloomy. I'm afraid"
John Cardigan nodded. 81 haven't
seen them in year and a half, Bryce.
Last time was up, I slipped between
the logs on that old skid-road and
like 10 broke my old fool neck"
pal, IL wasn't fair of you to make
me stay away so long, If had only
known-if had remotely suspected
-"
you'd have spoiled eveFything-of
course. Don't scold me, son. You're
all l have nov, and / couldn't bear to
send for you vntil you'd had your
fling" His trembling old hand crept
over and closed upon his boys hand,
80 firm but free from signs of toll.
at was my pleasure Bryce" he con-
tinued, land you wouldn't deny me
my choice Of sport. would you? Re
member. lad. ! never had boyhood !:
] never had college education, and
the only real travel ] have ever had
was when / worked my way around
Cape Horn as foremost hand. and
all i saw then was water and hard
ships; all I've seen since Is my little
world here Ia Sequoia and in San
Francisco"
you've sacrificed enough-too much
for me, Dad"
ut pleased me to give you all the
advantages l wanted and couldn't af-
ford until was too old and too busy
TO consider them. Besides, it was
your mothers wish. And you have
enjoyed your little run, haven't your
he concluded wIstfully.
II have. Dad" Bryce's great hand
closed over the back of his fathers
neck; he shook the old man with
mock ferocity. stubborn old lumber
Jack r. he chided.
John Cardigan shook with an In
ward chuckle, for the loving abuse his
boy had formed habit OF heaping on
him never failed to thrill him. In
stinctively Bryce had realized that
tonight obvious sympathy copiously
expressed was not the medicine for
his fathers bruised spirit; hence he
elected to regard the latters blindness
as a mere temporary annoyance. some
thing to be considered lightly. II al
all: and II was typical of him now
that the subject had been discussed
briefly. to resolve never TO refer to
II again.
Tomorrow morning I'm going to
put a pair of overalls on you, arm
you with a tin can and swab. and
set you TO greaslng the sideways.
Partner, you've deceived mes
"Oh, nonsense. If / had whimpered.
that would. only have spoiled every
thing"
Nevertheless, you were forced to
cable me to hurry home"
II summoned you the instant ]
realized j was going to need YOU"
mo, you didn't. John Cardigan. You
summoned me because, for the first
time in your life, Won were panicky
and let yourself get on of hand"
His father nodded slowly. "And
you aren't over It yet" Bryce CON
tinued, his voice no longer bantering
hut lowered aTectionately. aWhat's
the trouble. Dad? Trot out your old
panic and let me inspect 1t. Trouble
must be very real when II ges my
father on the run"