The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-09-16
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVI.
Quite obllvlous Of her uncle's depar-
ture for San Francisco, Shirley lay
awake throughout the remainder of
the night. turning over and over In her
mind the various aspects of the Card.
gun-Pennington lmbroglio. OF one
thing she was quite certain; peace
must be declared at all hazards. She
realized that she had permitted mat
ters TO go too far. A revulslon Of feel
Ing toward her uncle, induced by the
memory of Bryce Cardlgans blood on
her white finger tips, convinced the
girl that, at all hazards to her finan-
cial future. henceforth she and her
uncle must tread separate paths She
had found him out at last, and because
In her nature there was some of his
own fixity OF purpose. the resolution
cost her no particular pang.
She had been obsessed of n desire.
rather unusual in her sex, to see
fight worth while; she had planned to
permit 1t TO go to knockout, To use
Bryce Cardigan's language, because
she believed Bryce Cardigan would be
vanqulshed-and she had desired to
see him smashed-but not beyond re-
pair, for her JOY in the conflict was
to lie in the task Of putting the pieces
together afterwardl
II was rather relief, therefore.
when the lmperturbable James handed
her at breakfast the following note:
SHIRLEY Dear:
>After leaving you last night, de-
cided that In your present frame of
mind my absence for few days might
tend to n calmer and clearer percep-
tlon, on your part, of the necessary
tactics which In n moment of despera-
tlon, | saw Mt, with regret TO pursue
last night And In the hope that you
will have attained your old attitude
toward me before my return. am
leaving in the motor for San Fran
cisco. Your terrible accusation has
grleved me to such an extent that do
not feel equal to the task of confront
ing you UNTIL In n more judicial frame
of mind, you can truly absolve me of
the charge of wishing to do away with
young Cardigan.
'Your affectlonate
"UNCLE SETH"
Shlrley's lip curled. With rnrer
keener intuition than she had hitherto
manifested. she sensed the hypocrisy
between the lines she was not de
ceiVed.
'IIe has gone to San Francisco for
more ammunition" she soliloqulzed.
every well. unkle-dunkl While
you're away, I shall manufacture a
few bombs myself"
After breakfast she left the house
and walked TO the intersection OF II
with Water street. Jules Rondeau and
his crew Of lumberjacks were there.
and with two policemen guarded the
crossing.
Shirley looked from the woods bully
to the locomotive and back to Ron
deau.
"Rondeau," she said, "Mr. Cardigan
is bad man 10 fight You fought him
once. Are you going to do It agaln?"
lie nodded.
"By whose orders"
"AIr, Sexton. she tell me 10 do IT,"
"Well Rondeau, some day I'll be
boss of Laguna Grande and therein be
no more fighting, eshe replied, and
passed on down II street to the office
OF the Cardigan Redwood Lumber
MORA McTavish looked up
ms she entered.
"Where is he, dear2" Shirley asked.
81 must see him."
"ln that office, Miss Shirley" Moira
replied, and pointed to the door. Shir. |
ley stepped to fhe door, knocked and |
then entered. Bryce Cardigan, seated |
at his desk, looked up as she came I'm.
His left arm was in sling, and he !
looked harassed and detected.
Don't get up Bryce" she said as he
attempted to rise 81 know you're quite
exhausted You look IT," She sat
down. I'm so sorry" she said softly. |
His dull glance frightened. at
doesn't amount TO that. Shirley" And
he snapped his fingers. ut throbs a
little and it's stiff and sore, so carry
Il in the sling, That helps n little.
What did you want TO see me about?'
II wanted 10 tell you," said Shirley,
"that--that last nights affair was not
Of my making" lie smiled compass.
IL couldn't bear 10 have
YOU think I'd break my word and tell
him."
1T never occurred TO me that you
had dealt me a hand from the bottom
Of the deck, Shirley. Please don't
worry about II. Your uncle has had
two private detectives watching ogilyy