Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-06
copyrish. by Peter ,. Kyns
CHAPTER v.

CHAPTER v.
Along the we'll remembered streets
| Of Saquoia Bryce Cardigan and h''
father walked arm In Arm. their prog
! ress continuously interrupted by
we'll meaning but impulsivs SeQuoi-
| ans who insisted upon hating the
pair to shake hands with Bryce and
bid him welcome home. I'm the pres
ence of those third parties the old
man quickly conquered tho agitation
he had felt at this long deferred
meeting with his son, and when pres
entity they left the business section
Of the town and turned into q less
frequented street, his emotion assum-
| ed the character OF q quiet Joy. evf-
denced in q more erect bearing and q
firmsr tread, a. II he strove. despite
his seventy six years, not to appear
incongruous 90 he walked beside his
splendid son.
II wish I could see you more clear
ly." he said presently. His voice a.
we'll az his words expressed profound
regret but there was no hint Of de-
spair or heart brsak now. :
Bryce, who up to this moment had
refrained from discussing his father'r
misfortunes. drew the old man . lit
tie closer to his side.
whats wrong with your eyes
pal?" ne queried. He did not often
address his parent. after the fashion
Of most sons, ~ Father" Dad" or
Pop" They were closer to each 9TH
or than that, and . rare sense OF per-
feet comfadeship found expression,
on Bryce's part. in suoh saiutations
as pal" partner" and. infrequently.
"old sport
"Cataracts. son." his father answer
ed. Merely the penalty Of old age"
But can't something be done about
1t ?" demanded Bryce Cant they be
cured somehow or otherT'
Certainly they can. But shalt
have to wait until they are complete
ly matured, and haye become COM
pletely blind: then q specialist will
perform an operation on my eyes. ana
in all probability my sight will be re-
stored for . few years. However. !
haven't given the matter great deal
Of consideration. And am about
ready to quit now. I'd IKE 70, In
fact: I'm tired"
"oh. but you can't quit until you
have seen your redwoods again.
Bryce reminded him. Il suppose it'a
been long time since you've visited
the Valley Of the Giants: your long
exile from the wood COLLINS has
made you trifle gloomy. I'm afraid"
John Cardigan nodded. II haven't
seen them in q year and half.
Bryce. Last time was MP, I slipped
between the logs on that old skid
road AID like to broke my old fool
neck"
pal. It wasn't fair Of you to make
mo stay away 30 long. II had only
known-if I had remotely suspected
You'd have spoiled everything
Of course. Don't scold me. son. You're
all I have now. and couldn't bear
to send for you until you'd had your
flins." His trembling old hand crept
over and closed upon his boys hand.
so Arm but free from signs OF toll.
TT was my pleasure. Bryce" he con-
tinued. and you wouldn't deny me
my choice Of sport. would you ? Re-
member. lad. never had = boyhood:
never had . college education, and
the only real travel I have ever had
was when I worked my way around
ICape Horn as foremast hand. and
all saw then was water and hard
ships: all I we seen since il, my little
world hero In Sequoia and in San
Francisco"
You've sacrificed enough-too
much-for me. Dad"
1T pleased me to give you all the
advantages wanted and couldn't
afford until was too old and too busy
to consider them. Beside, It was your
mothers wish. And you have enjoyed
your little run. haven't your he con-
Guided wistfully.
Z have, Dad" Bryce's great hand
closed over the back Of his fathers
neck: he shook the old man with
mock ferocity. stubborn old lumber
5ack!" he chided.
John Cardigan shook with an in
ward chuckle. for the loving abuse
his boy had formed habit Of heap
ing on him never failed to thrill him.
Instinctiyely Bryce had realized
that tonight obvious sympathy~ cop
iously expressed was not the med
icins for his fathers bruised spirit;
hence he elected to regard the lat
ters blindness as asmere temporary
annoyance. some thing to be corsid-
cred lightly. II at all: and It was
typical Of him now that the subject
had been discussed briefly. to re-
solve never to refer to II again.
Tomorrow morning I'm going to
put pair OF ovsrails on you. arm
you with q tin can and swab. and
set you to sreaSing the skidwsys.
Partner. you've deceived me-"
"Oh, nonsense. II had whimpsr-
ed that would only have spoiled
everything"
''Nevertheiess. you were forced to
cable Ve TO hurry home"
| Summoned ;ou the instant I
realized I was going to need YOU"
"No, you didn't. John CARDIGAN.
You summoned me because. for the
first time In your life. you were pan !
icky and. let yourself get out OF
hand" Z.
] HIS father nodded slowly. And
you aren't over It yet" Bryce con-
tinued. MI voice no longer bantsr-
ing but lowered afSectiona&sly.
Whats the trouble, Dad4 Trot out
your old panic and let me inspect II.
Trouble must be very rVai whom Il