Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1920-05-07

forlorn hope. III | lOsc-well, this will
be goodbye"
II hate you" she answered drearily.
"All our fine riendship-smashed
and you growing stupidity sentimental.
! didn't think It OF you. Please go
away. You are distressing me-"
He smiled at her tenderly. forgiv.
ingly, wistfully, but she did not see IL.
Then II is really goodbye" he muir
INJURED with mock dolorousness.
She nodded her bowed head. "Yes,"
she whispered. after all. have
some pride, you know. You mustn't
presume TO be the butterfly preaching
contentment to the toad in the dust"
"As you will It, Shirley" He turned
away. "I'll send your axe back with
the first trainload Of logs from my
camp. Colonel" he called to Penning-
ton.
Once more he strobe away into the
timber. Shirley watched him pass out
of her life, and gloried In what she con.
ceived to be his agony, for she had
both temper and spirit, and Bryce
Cardigan calmly. blunderingly, rather
stupidity (she thought) had presumed
fagrantiy on brief acquaintance.
The Colonel's voice broke in upon
her bitter reflections. THAT fellow
Cardigan is hard nut to crack-I'n
say that for him." He had crossed the
clearing to lier side and was address
ing her with his customary air Of ex.
pansiveness II think. my dear, you
had better go back into the caboose
away from the prying eyes Of these
rough fellows. I'm sorry you came
Shirley. I'll never forgive myself for
bringing you. II had thought--but
how could I know that scOundrel was
coming here to raise a disturbance
And only last night he was at our
house for dlnner''
to make such mailman out OF him7"
the girl Queried wonderingly. "H-
acted more like a demon than q human
being"
"Just like his old father" the Colonel
purred benevolently. "When he can't
get what he wants, he sulks. III tell
you what got on his COMPOUNDED
nerves. I've been freIghting logs for
the senior Cardigan over my railroad !;
the contract for hauling them was
heritage from Bill Henderson, from
whom ! bought the mill and timber.
lands; and Of course as his assignee II
was incumbent upon me to fulfill
Henderson's contract with Cardigan.
even though the freight-rate was ruin.
Gus.
well, this morning young Cardigan
came 10 my Office. reminded me that
the contract would expire by limita-
ton next year and asked me to renew
1t, and mt the same freightrate. l
offered to renew the contract but at
higher freight-rate, and explained to
him that could not possibly continue
TO haul his logs at loss. Well, right
away he flew In rage and called
me a robber; whereupon l informed
him that since he thought me robber.
perhaps we had better not attempt to
have any business dealings with each
other-that ! really didn't want his
contract at any price, having scarcely
sufficient rolling stock to handle my
own logs. That made him calm down,
but In little while he lost his head
again and grew snarly and abusive
to such an extent, indeed, that finally
was forced to ask him to leave my
Office"
Nevertheless, Uncle Seth, cannot
understand why he should make such
furious attack upon your employee"
The Colonel laughed with a fair
imitation of sincerity and tolerant
amusement. my dear, that Is no
mystery to me. Cardigan picked on
Rondeau for the reason that few
days ago he tined to hire Rondeau
away from me-offered him twenty-five
dollars month more than l was pay
ing him, by George or course when
Rondeau came to me with Cardigan's
proposition, promptly met Cardigan's
bid and retained Rondeau; consequent
ly Cardigan hates us both and took the
earliest opportunity to vent his spite
on u.s."
The Colonel sighed and brushed the
dirt and leaves from his tweeds
Thunder" he continued philosophi-
cally, "its all In the game, so why
worry over it2 And why continue to
discuss an unpleasant topic, my dear?"
Her uncle took her gently ny the
arm and steered her toward the ca
boose. well. what do you think OF
your company nowT he demanded
gayly.
II think" she answered soberly,
"that you have gained an enemy worth
while and that 1t behooves you not TO
underestimate him."
CHAPTER VII