The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1920-08-26

"Get OFF Ny Property, You Savagel"
He shrilled.
Colonel Pennington, seeing his fondest
hopes expire, lost his bead completely.
"Get off my property, you savage !"
he shrilled.
Don't be nut. Colonel" Bryce re-
turned soothingly. 'T'll get off-when
get good aud ready, and not second
sooner. In fact, / was tryiI & to get
off as rapidly as / could when you
sent your men to bring me back.
Prithee why. old thing? Didst crave
more conversation with me. or dds
want thy camp cleaned outY'
He started toward Pennington. who
backed hastily away. Shirley stood
her ground. bending upon Bryce. as he
| approached her, cold and disapprov-
ing glance. "rll get you YET the
Colonel declared from the shelter OF
an old stump behind which he had
| taken refuge.
Barking dogs never bite. Colonel
And that reminds me: I've heard
enough from you. One more cheep
out of you. my friend, and I'll go up
to my logging-camp. return here with
crew Of bluenoses and wild Irish and
run your wops. bohunks, and cholos
out of the county. don't fancy the
class of labor you're importing into
this county. anyhow"
The Colonel. evidently deciding that
discretion was the better part of valor,
promptly subsidized, although Bryce
could see that he was mumbling threats
to himself. though not in an audible
voice.
The demon Cardigan halted beside
Shirley and stood gazing down at her.
He was smiling at her whimsically.
She met his glance for few seconds;
then her lids were lowered and she bit
her lip with vexation.
shirley" he said.
you are presumptuous." she qua
vered
you set me an example in presump-
tion," he mtorted good humoredly.
did you not call me by my first name
minute ago?" The heir to Cardi-
CAMS redwoods bent over the girl.
you spoke to me-after your promise
not to, Shirley he said gently. "You
will always speak to me"
She commenced TO cry softly. ~
loathe you she sobbed.
"For you have thr utmost respect
and admiration" he replied.
No you haven't If you had. you
wouldn't hurt my uncle-the only ha
man being in all this world who is
dear to me-
Z Gosh !" he murmared plaintively
I'm jealous Of that man. However
I'm sorry 4 hurt him. | give you my
word came here to fight fairly"
"He merely tried to stop you from
fighting"
mo, he didn't, Shirley. He inter
fcred and fouled me. Still. despite
that. if had known you were a spec
tator l think | should have controlled
myself and refrained from pulling off
my vengeance in your presence.
shall never cease to regret that sub
jected you to such distressing spec
tacle. do hope, however, that you
will believe me when / tell you am
not bully. although when there is a
fight worth while, never dodge il.
And this time I fought for the honor
Of the House of Cardigan"
IF you want me to believe that, you
will beg my uncle's pardon"
Il can't do that. He is my Enemy
and | shall hate him forever shall
fight him and his way of doing business
until he reforms or | am exhausted"
"You realize, of course, what your
insistence on that plan means. Mr.
Cardigan"
"Call me Bryce" he pleaded
You're going TO call me that some day
anyhow, so why not start now?"
You are altogether insufferable,
sir. Please go away and never pre-
sumo to address me again. You are
quite impossible"
He shook his head. Il do not give
up that readily. Shirley. didn't
know how dear-what your friendship
meant TO me, until you sent me away !;
| didn't think there was any hope until
| you warned me those dogs were hunt
ing me-and called me Bryce" He
held out his hand. "'God gave us our
relations" he quoted. but, thank God.
we can choose our friends And I'll
be good friend to you, Shirley sum-
ner, until have earned the right to be
something more. Won't you shake
handsawith me? Remember, this fight
to-day is only the first skirmish in a
war to the finish--and am leading n
forlorn hope. II Iose-well, this will
be goodbye"
Il hate you" she answered drearlly.
"All our fine friendship-smashed
and you growing stupidity sentimental.
didn't think IT of you. Please 20
away. You are distressing me-"
He smiled at her tenderly. forgiv-
ingly. wistfully. but she did not see it.
Then It is really goodbye" he muir.
| INJURED with mock dolorousness.