The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1920-03-25
PLANTATION,

EIocsOs anu OouGhe wv VI ASN"OON
lumber cheap from some old croaker
who never could see any future to the
redwood lumber industry. Personally,
don't think he could have made
better Investment. I hope shall
have the pleasure of making his ac-
quaintance when deliver you to him.
Perhaps you may be a neighbor Of
mine. Hope So"
At this juncture George Sea Otter,
who had been an interested listener
from the rear seat. Instantly, to
Shirley Summers vast surprise, her
host grunted also; whereupon George
Sea Otter broke into series of
grunts and cultural EXPLANATIONS
which evidently appeared quite in
telligible to her host, for he slowed
down to five miles an hour and cooked
one ear to the rear; apparently he
was profoundly interested in whatever
information his henchman had to i'm
part. When George Sea Otter finished
his harangue, Bryce nodded and once
more gave his attention to tossing the
miles behind him.
what language was that?" Shirley
Sumner inquired. consumed with
curiosity.
digger Indian" he replied.
Georges mother was my nurse, and
he and l grew up together. So
can't very well help speaking the Ian
guage of the tribe"
They chartered volubly on many
subjects for the first twenty miles;
then the road narrowed and COM
menced to climb steadily. and there
after Bryce gave all of his attention
to the car, for deviation of foot
from the wheel-rut on the outside Of
the road would have sent them hur-
Ting over the grade INTO the deep
timbered canyons below. By reason of
the fact that Bryce's gaze never
wavered from the road Immediately
in front of the car. she had a chance
to appraise him critically while pre-
tending to look past him to the
tumbled. snow-covered ranges to their
right.
She saw =. big. supple. powerful
man of twenty-five or six. with the
bearing and general demeanor of one
many wears his elder. His nose was
high. of medium thickness and Just
trif1e lonS--the nose of a thinker.
His ears We're large. with full lobes--
tie ears of a generous man. The
mouth, full-lipped but firm, the heavy
jaw and square chin, the great hands
(most amazingly free from freckles)
denoted the man who would not avoid
a fight worth while
Upon their arrival at the reSt-houSe,
Bryce during dinner was very atten-
tie and mildly amusing, although
Shirley'S keen wits assured her that
this was merely a clever pose and
sustained with difficulty. She was
confirmed in this assumption when,
after dinner, she complained of being
weary and babe him goodnight. She
had scarcely left him when he called:
George"
The half-breed slid out of the dark
ness and SAT down beside him. A
moment later. through the open
window of her room just above the
porch where Bryce and George Sea
Otter sat, Shirley heard the former
say:
George, when did you first notice
that my fathers sight was beginning
to fail?'
about two years ago. Bryce. He
began to walk with his hands held
out in front of him, and sometimes
he lifted his feet too high"
"Can he see at all now, George?"
"Oh, yes, a little bit-enough to
make his way to the Office and back"
Poor old governor! George, until
you told me this afternoon. | hadn't
heard a word about it. If l had,
never would have taken that two-year
jaunt around the world. And you say
this man Colonel Pennington and my
father have been having trouble.
Yes" Here George Sea Otter
gracefully unburdened himself of
fervent curse directed at Shirley's
avuncular relative; whereupon that
young lady promptly left the window
and heard no more.
They were on the road again by
eight O'clock next morning and just
as Cardigan's mill was blowing the
six o'clock whistle, Bryce stopped the
car at the head Of the street leading
down to the waterfront "rn let you
drive now, George" he informed the
silent Sea Otter. He turned to Shir
ley Sumner. "I'm going to leave you
now" he said. Thank you for rid
ing over from Red Bluff with me. My
father never leaves the office until the
whistle blows, and so I'm going to
hurry down to that little building you
see at the end of the street and sur
prise him."
He stepped out on the running
board, stood there a moment, and eX-
tended his hand. Shirley had COM
menced due and formal expression
Of her gratitude for having been de-
livered safely in Sequoia, when George
Sea Otter spoke:
Here comes John Cardigan" he
said.
Drive Miss Sumner around to Colo
mel Pennington's house." Bryce order