The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1920-04-08

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a good boy and you may trust him
implicitly. On Thursday evening
with the salmon"
"Oh. that reminds me. Mr.. Cardigan.
You can't come Thursday evening,
after ALL" And she explained the rea-
son. Suppose you come Wednesday
night instead"
"Well call that bet. Thank you"
She chuckled at his frank good hui
NOR. ''Thank you, Mr.. Cardigan. for
all your kindness and thoughtfulness !;
and if you will persist in being nice
to me. you might send George Sea
Otter and the car at one-thirty. I'll
be glad to avail myself of both until
I can get car of my own sent up
from San Francisco. Till Wednesday
night, then. Good bye"
AS Bryce Cardigan hung up, he
heaved a slight sigh. 1t was difficult
to get out of the habit Of playing; he
found himself the possessor of a very
81 cat dSSlIC " SlOSS uOWu llc uCSk,
call on Shirley Sumner, and spend the
remainder of the day basking in the
sunlight Of her presence.
Following his discovery of the out.
rage committed on his fathers sanctu-
airy. Bryce wasted considerable val
liable time and effort in futile en-
deavor to gather some further hint
Of the identity of the vandals; but
despairing at last, he dismissed the
matter from his mind, resolving only
that on Thursday he would go up
into Pennington's woods and interview
the redoubtable Jules Rondeau.
Bryce's natural inclination was to
wait upon NJ. Rondeau Immediately,
If not sooner, but the recollection of
his dinner engagement at the Penning-
ton home warned him to proceed
cautiously; for while harboring no
arprehensions as to the outcome of a
possible clash with Rondeau, Bryce
was not so optimistic as to believe he
would escape unscathed from an en-
counter.
Colonel Pennington's pompous i'm
ported British butler showed Bryce
into the Pennington living room at
six-thirty, announcing him with due
ceremony. Shirley rose from the piano
where she had been idly lingering the
keys and greeted him with every ap-
pearance of pleasure-following which,
she turned to present her visitor to
Colonel Pennington, who was standing
In his favorite position with his back
to the fireplace.
"tLcle Seth, this Is Mr.. Cardigan,
who was so very nice to me the day
landed in Red Bluff"
The Colonel bowed Il have to
thank you, sir, for your courtesy to
my niece" He had assumed an air of
reserve, of distinct aloofness, despite
his studied politeness.
"Your niece Colonel, is one of those
fortunate beings the world will always
clamor to serve
quite true, Mr.. Cardigan. When
she was quite little girl came un-
der her spell myself"
80 did l, Colonel. Miss Sunni n
has doubtless told you of our first
meeting some twelve years ago"
quite so. May l offer you a
cocktail, Mr.. Cardigan?
''Thank you, certainly. Dad and 1
have been pinning one on about this
time every night since my return"
SHIRLEY belongs to the Band of
Hope" the Colonel explained. "She's
ready at any time to break a lance
with the Demon Rum. So we will
have to drink her share, Mr.. Cardigan
Pray be seated"
Bryce seated himself. "Well, we
lumbermen are low lot and naturally
fond of dissipation" he agreed. II
fear Miss Summers prohibition tenden-
cies will be still further strengthened
after she has seen the mad-train."
what is that?". Shirley queried.
"The mad-train runs over your
uncle's logging railroad into Township
nine, where his timber and ours is To-
Gated. 1t is the only train operated
on Sunday, and 1t leaves Sequoia at
five p. m. to carry the Pennington and
Cardigan crews back to the woods
after their Saturday celebration
in town. As usual thing, all hands
with the exception Of the brakeman,
engineers, and fireman, are singing,
weeping or fighting drunk"
"Do they fight, Mr. Cardigan?"
"Frequently. l might say usually.
It's quite an inspiring sight to see a
couple Of lumberjacks going to it on
a flat-car travelling thirty miles an
hour"
allow horrible!"
Eyes, indeed. The right of way is
lined with empty whisky bottles"
Colonel Pennington spoke up. eve
don't have any fighting on the mad
train any more" he said blandly.
Indeed! How do you prevent itY'
Bryce asked.
"My woods-boss, Jules Rondeau,
makes them keep the peace" Penning-
ton replied with small smile. IF
there's any fighting to be done, he does
it."
'You mean among his own crew, OF
course" Bryce suggested.
mo, he's in charge of tie mad-train
i ,..I>o q