The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-05-29

empty IoI llle "OOuSg surrey SulllISI
made her appearance in his office.
"Uncle Seth" she complained, I'm
lonesome. The bOokkeeper tells me
you're going up to the lOggins-camp.
May l go with yOu?"
by all means. Usually l ride in
the cab with the engineer and fireman;
but if you're coming, III have them
hook on the caboose. Step lively, my
dear, or they'll be holding the train
for us and upsetting our schedule"
BY virtue of their logging contract
with Pennington, the Cardig;tns and
their employees were transported free
over Pennlngton's logging railroad;
hence, when Bryce Cardigan resolved
to wait upon Jules ROndeau in the mat
ter Of that murdered Giant, it was
characteristic of him to choose the
shortest and most direct route TO his
quarry, and as the long string of empty
lOgging-trucks came crawling off the
Laguna Grdnde Lumber company's log
dump. he swung over the side, quite
ignorant of the fact that Shirley and
her precious relative were riding in
the little cabOose In the rear.
At twelve-ten the train slid in on
the log landing.
where's RondeauT' Bryce asked.
The engineer pointed to a huge.
swarthy man approaching across the
clearing in which the camp was sit
uated. THAT'S him." he replied.
And without further ado. Bryce strobe
to meet his man.
Are you Jules RondeauT he de-
handed us he came up to the woods
boss. The latter nodded. I'm Bryce
Cardigan" his interrogation announced.
''and I'm here to thrash you for chop
ping that big redwood tree over in
that little valley where my mother is
buried"
"Ohp" Rondeau smiled. "Wiz
pleasure, Msieur." And without a
moments hesitation he rushed. Bryce
backed away from him warily, and
they circled.
"When get through with you, Ron
deau," Bryce said distinctly, it'll take
a good man to lead you to your meals.
This country isn't big enough for both
of US, and since you came here last,
you've got to go first"
Bryce stepped in, tented for Ron
deau's jaw with his right, and when
the woods-boss quickly recovered, rip
ped a sizzling left into the iatter's
midriff. ROndeau grunted and dropped
his guard, with the result that Bryce's
great fists played a devils tattoo ON
his cOuntenance before he could
crouch and cover.
"This is tough one" thought Bryce.
His blows had not, apparently, had the
slightest effect on the woods-boss.
Crouched low and with his arms
wrapped around his head, Rondeau
still came ON unfalterlngly. and Bryce
was forced to give way before him; to
save his hands, he avoided the risk of
battering Rondeau's hard head and
sinewy arms.
Already word that the woods-boss
was battling with a stranger had been
shouted into the camp dining room,
and the entire crew of that camp,
abandoning their half-finished meal,
came pouring forth to view the contest.
Out of the tail of his eye Bryce saw
them coming, but he was not appre-
henslve, for he knew the code of the
wOOdsman: let every man roll his
own hoop" 1t would be a fight to
finish. for no man would interfere :;
striking, kicking, gouging, biting, or
choking would not be looked upon as
unsportsmanlike and as Bryce backed
cautiously away from the huge, 1.-the,
active, and powerful man before him.,
he realized that Jules ROndeau was,
as his father had stated. "top dog
among the lumberjacks."
ROndeau, it was apparent, had no
stomach for Bryce's style of combat
He wanted a rough-and-tumble fight
and kept rushing, hoping to clinch; if
lie Dul SCl great vi
Bryce, he would wrestle him down.
climb him, and finish the fight In jig
time. But a rough-and-tumble was
exactly what Bryce was striving to
avoid; hence when Rondeau rushed.
Bryce side-stepped and peppered the
woodsman's ribs.
Suddenly two powerful hands were
placed between Bryce's shoulders, eff
fectually halting his backward prog
ress; then he was propelled violently
forward until he collided with Ron
deau. With a below Of triumph, the
woods-boss's arms were around Bryce.
swinging him until he faced the man
who had forced him into that terrible
grip. This was no less a parsonage
than Colonel Seth Pennington, and it
was obvious lie had taken charge of
what he considered the obsequies.
"Stand back, you men, and give
them ROOM" he shouted. ARondeau
will take care of him now. Stand
back, say. I'll discharge the man
that interferes."
With heave and grunt Rondeau
lifted his antagonist. the pair went
crashing to the earth together. Bryce
....,l.,.,.aath And fho,, snraofhfr,o hor