The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-06-03
fcontinued from page u

.
o. Bryce's first real tragedy.
"0h. Bryce :" she cried sharply But
he did not hear her; he had hung M
his receiver now.
The week that ensued was remarka.
bic for the amount OF work Bryce nc.
compIished In the investigation OF his
fathers affairs-also for visit from
Donald McTavish. the woods boss.
Hello, McTavish." Bryce salnied
the woods-boss cheerfully and extend.
ed his hand for cordial greeting His
wayward employee stood up took the
| profered hand In both Of his huge and
callous ones. and held IL rather child
ishly.
"Weel '1'is the wee laddie hissel'. :"
he doomed. "rm glad TO see We, boy"
You'd have seen me the day before
yesterday-if you had been seeable,' -
Bryce reminded him with bright
smile. Mac. old man. they tell me
you've gotten TO be a regular go-to-
hell"
'Tll nae deny ! take a wee drappie
now an then" the woods-boss admit
ted frankly. albeit there was a har.
ried. hangdog look in his eyes.
Mac, did MORA give you my mes
sageT"
ave"
"well guess we understand each
other Mac. Was there something
else you wanted 10 see me aboutT'
McTavlSh sidled up to the desk.
"Yell no be frin' aud Mac DOT o.
hand?n he pleaded hopefully. Mon,
ha We the heart 10 do it-after a. these
yearsf'
Bryce nodded III you have the
heart-after all these years-to draw
pay you do not earn then / have the
heart to put a better man IN your
place. It's no good arguing Mac.
You're of The pay roll onto the pen
sion roll-your. shanty In the woods.
your meals NJ the camp kitchen, your
clothing and tobacco that I send out
10 you. Neither more nor less I"
"Who will We pit In ma placer
II don't know. However. IL won't
he a difficult task 10 find a better man
than You"
"T'Il nae lei him work" McTavishs
voice deepened 10 a growl.
"You worked that racket on my IN.
Their. Try II on me. and you'll answer
to me-personally. Lay the weight Of
your finger on your successor. Mae.
and you1l die In the county poor farm
No threats. old mani Ton know the
CardIgans; they never bluff."
McTavish's glance met the youthful
masters for several seconds: then the
woods boss trembled. and his gaze
sought the Office floor. Bryce knew
he had his man whipped AT last. and
McTavlsh realized IL. too, for quite
suddenly he burst into tears.
"Dlnna fire me. lad" he pleaded
"I'll gaze back on the job an leave
whusky alone"
Nothing doing. Mac. Leave whisky
alone for a year and I'll discharge
your successor TO give you back your
Job. For The present. however. my
verdict stands. You're discharged"
"who kens the Cardigan woods as
ken themT McTavish blubbered. |
Who'll fell trees wi the least amount
O. breakage? Who'll get the work out |
o. the men; who'll Ye dinna mean i
~, lad ye Gamma mean H."
ION your way. Mac. loathe argn-
ments."
II maun see yer father ABBOTT this.
He'll nae stand for sic treatment o.
sD auld employee"
Bryce's temper fared up. You
keep away from my father. You've
worried him enough in the past. you
drunkard. II you 90 up 20 the house
10 annoy my father with your plead
lngs. McTavish, I'll manhandle YOU
He glanced al his watch The next
train leaves for the woods In twenty
minutes. II you do not 90 back on IL
and behave yourself. you can never
go back to Cardigan woods"
Il win nae take charity from any
man" ucravish Numbered. "Tll nae
bother the ovid man. an I'LL nae go
back 20 yon woods 10 live on yer
bounty. I WIS never a man 10 take
he roared furiously. and left
fhe Office. Bryce called after him
goodbye. but he did not an.
swer. And he did not remain In town
neither did he return 10 his shanfy
Id the woods. For month his where
abouts remained a mystery; then one
aay MORA received letter from him
her thar be had job knee
boiling In a single mill in Mendocino
county.
In the interim Bryce had not been
die From his wood crew he picked
N old. experienced hand-one Jabez
~urtis-,o take the place OF the ysn-
shed McTavish. Colonel Penning
ion. having repaired 10 three DAYS the
rap in his railroad wrote a letter 10
he Cardigan Redwood. Lumber com