The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-08-21

! one of Macs old friends down to
Willis purpoSely to call on him and
invite him out for a time;' but Mac
! wouldn't drink with him. No. sir. he
couldn't be tempted. on the contrary,
he told the tempter that l had prom
Used to give him back his sob if he re-
manned on the water wagon for one
year; he was resolved to win back his
job and his self-respect."
Il know what your plan is" Ogilvy
interrupted. Listen, now, 20 fathers
words Of wisdom. Didn't YOU hear me
tell that girl and her villninOk avun-
cular relative last night that I'had an
other ace up my kimono?"
Bryce nodded.
THAT was not brag, old dear. l had
the ace. and This morning | played it
wherefore in my heart there IS that
peace that pasSeth understanding
particularly since | have just had a
telegram informing me that my ace
took the odd trick
you will recall that from the very
instant we decided to cut in that jump
crossing, we commenced to plan
against interference by Pennington in
consequence we kept. or tried to keep,
our decision secret. However. there
existed at all times the possibility that
remington might discover our benevO-
lent Intentions and block us with his
only weapon-a restraining order is
sued by the judge of the United States
district court.
Now, one of the most delightful
things | know about a court is that ii
Is open to all men seeking justice-Or
injustice disguised as justice. Also
there is a wise old saw to the effect
that battles are won by the fellow who
gets there first with the most men, The
situation from the start was absurdly
simple. If Pennington got to the dis
trict court first. we were lost!"
you mean you got there first?" ex-
claimed Bryce.
Il did-by the very simple method
Of preparing to get there first in case
anything slipped. Something did slip
last night However l was ready;
so all had to do was press the but
ION, for as Omar Khayyam remarked:
What shall 1t avail a man If he buy
eth a paddock for his stable after his
favOrite stallion hath been lifted? Sew
eral days ago. my boy, / wrote long
letter to our attorney In San Francisco
explaining every detail of our predica-
ment; the instant ] received that tenn
porary franchise from the city council,
| mailed certified copy of 1t to our
Attorney also. Then, in anticipation
Of our discovery by Pennington, in
structed the attorney to prepare the
complaint and petition for restrain
ing order against Seth Pennington ct
al. and stand by to rush to the Judge
with it the instant he heard from me
well, about the time old Penning- |
ton started for San Francisco this
morning. ! had our attorney out of bed |
and on the long-distance telephone: at |
nine o'clock this morning he appeared |
In the United States district court: at |
the judge signed a restrain
ing order fOrbiddlng our enemies to |
interfere with us In the exercise of a |
right legally granted US by the city of
SeGuoia and at nine-thirty deputy |
United States marshal started In an |
for Sequoia, via the over
and route. He will arrive late tomor.
row night, and on Sunday we will get
hat locomotive out of our way and in
stall our crossing"
"And Pennington"
"Ah, the poor Pennington! Mon
oauvre Seth" Buck sighed comical-
y. "He will be jSst twenty-four hours +
ate"
"YOu old he-fOx!" Bryce murmured.
You wicked wicked man! 2"
Buck Ogilvy lifted his lapel and
'niffed luxuriOusly at his white carna-
ion, the while thin little smile
played around the corners of his hui
nOrOuS mouth. "Ah," heamurmured
presently, ''life's pretty sweet, isn't
t."