Cleveland County herald., 1920-06-10

whistle blows, and so I'm going to hurry down to that little building you see at the end of the street and sur prise him."
 He stepped out on the running board, stood there a moment, and ex- tended his hand. Shirley had com menced a due and formal expression of her gratitude for having been de livered safely in Sequoia, when George Sea Otter spoke:
 Here comes John Cardigan" he said.
 "Drive Miss Sumner around to Colo nel Pennington's house." Bryce order ed, and even while he held Shirley's hand, he turned to catch the first glimpse of his father. Shirley follow ed his glance and saw tall, power fully built old man coming down the street with his hands thrust a little in front of him, aJ if for protection from some invisible assailant.
 "Oh, my poor old fatherT she heard Bryce Cardigan murmur. My dear old pal! And I've let him grope in the dark for two wears"
 He released her hand and leaped from the car. "Dad!" he called. Tt is I-Bryce. I've come home to you at last"
 The slightly bent figure of John Cardigan strengthened with jerk; he held out his arms, trembling with eagerness, and as the ear continued on to the Pennington house Shirley looked back and saw Bryce folded in his fathers embrace. She did not, however, hear the heart-cry with which the beaten old man welcomed his boy.
 "Sonny. sonny-oh, Pm so glad you're back. I've missed you. Bryce, Pm whipped-Ive lost your heritage. Oh, son! I'm old--I can't fight any more. I'm blind-I can't see my enc mics. I've lost your redwood trees even your mothers Valley of the Giants"
 And he commenced to weep for the third time in fifty years. And when the aged and helpless weep, nothing
 
 no word, but held his father close to his great heart and laid his cheek gently against the old mans tenderly as a womanamight And presently, from that silent communion of spirit, each drew strength and comfort. As the shadows fell in John Cardigan's town they went home to the house on the hill.
 
 Shirley Summers eyes were moist when George Sea Otter, in obedience to the instructions of his youthful master set her, the French maid, and their hand-baggage down on the side walk in front of Colonel Seth Pen nington's house. The half-breed hesi- tated a moment undecided whether he would carry the hand-baggage up to the door or leave that task for a Pennington retainer; then he noted the tearstains on the cheeks of his fair passenger. Instantly he took up the hand-baggage, kicked open the iron gate, and preceded Shirley up the cement walk to the door.
 "Just wait moment, if you please, George" Shirley said as he set the baggage down and started back for the car He turned and beheld her extracting a five-dolar bill from her purse. ''For you, George" she con tinued. "Thank you so much.
 In all his life George Sea Otter had never had such an eXperience-he, happily, having been raised in a coun- try where, with the exception of walters, only a pronounced vagrant expects or accepts a gratuity from a woman. He took the bill and fingered it curiously; then his white blood as serted itself and he handed the bill back to Shirley.
 s'Thank you" he said respectfully. 'If you were a man-all right. But from a lady-no. I am like my boss. l work for you for nothing"
 Shirley did not understand his re- fusal, but her instinctive tact warned her not to insist. She returned the bill to her purse, thanked him again, and turned quickly to hide the slight flush of annoyance. George Sea Otter noted it.
 Lady" he said with great dignity, "at first I did not want to carry your baggage. did not want to walk on this land" And with a sweeping ges- ture he indicated the Pennington grounds "Then you cry little be- cause my boss is feeling bad about his old man. So like you better. The old maxwell, he has been like father to me and my mother-and We are Indians. My brothers, tOo-they work for him. So if you like my boss and his old man. George Sea Otter would go to hell for you pretty damn quick. You bet your life!"
 You're a very good boy, George" she replied with difficulty repressing a smile at his blunt but earnest avowal. T am glad the Cardigans have such an honest, loyal servant" George Sea Otter's dark face lighted V-ith o,,iol- emilia aNaxx x-o11 nav