The Mena weekly star., 1920-11-25

1
Eyes; and l think I'm going to ge
IT, I'm not fighting for myself alone
but for thousand dependents-for 8
principle-for an ancient sentiment
that was my fathers and is now mine
You do not understand"
81 understand more than you give
me credit for. and some day you'll
realize II. ! understand Just enough
to make me feel sorry for you. | I'M
| derstand what even my uncle doesn't
suspect al present. and that is thai
YOU'RE the directing genius of the
Northern California Oregon railroad
and hiding behind your friend Ogilvy
Now, listen to me, Bryce Cardigan
You're never going to build that road.
DO you understands
The suddenness of her attack amaz-
ed him to such an extent that he did
not take the trouble to contradict her.
Instead he hlurted out. angrily and
defiantly: "pll build that road If 1t
costs me my life-if 1t costs me you.
Understand I'm in this fight to win. 7"
"You will not build that road" she
reiterated.
"whyY'
Because ] shall not permit you TO.
I have some financial interest In the
Laguna Grande Lumber company. and
Il is not to that financial interest that
YOU should build the N. G. O."
How did you find out that | was
behind Ogilvy?"
"Intuition. Then accused you Of
IT, and you admitted it,"
Il suppose you're going to tell your
uncle now" he retorted witheringly.
"On the contrary, | am not. II II
will comfort you the least bit, you
have my word of honor that | shall
not reveal to my uncle the identity Of
the man behind the n G. o. The fact
Is. both yon and Uncle Seth annoy me
exceedingly. How lovely everything
would have been If you two hadn't
started this feud and forced upon me
the task Of trying TO be fair and i'm
partial to you both. Forgive my
slang, but-Tm going to hand you each
poke SOON"
"Sharley." he told her earnestly,
"listen carefully to what am about to
say: love you. I've loved you from
the day first met you. shall always
love you; and when I get around to
II, I'm going to ask you to marry me.
At present, however. that Is a right
| do not possess. However, the day
acquire the right I shall exercise
t."
"And when will that day be7" Very
softly, In awesome tonesi
THE day drive the last spike in
the N. G. o.
Fell a silence. Then; I'm glad.
Bryce Cardigan. you're not gutter.
Goodbye. good luck-and don't forget
my Grand" She hung up and sat at
the telephone for moment. dimpled
chin in dimpled hand. How I'd hate
you II could handle you!" she muir
INJURED
Following this exasperating but
Illuminating conversation with Shirley
AouiiiIti VNff iltt ttftUtiVUts DiHtt
Cardigan was a distressed and badly
worried man. For an hour he sat
souehed in his chair, chin on breast,
the while he reviewed every angle
OF the situation He found it mpos-
sible. however. to dsassociate the bust
ness from The personal aspects Of his
relations with Shirley, and he recalled
thai she had the very best of reasons
for placing heir relations on bust.
ness basis rather a sentimental one.
For the present. however. ii was all q
profound and disturbing mystery. and
after an hour of futile concentration
there came 10 Bryce the old childish
impulse to 70 to his father with his
troubles.
He will be able to think without
having his thoughts blotted out by n
woman's face" Bryce soliloonzed.
Hes iike one OF his own big reewoad
trees; his head is always above the
storm.
Straightway Bryce left the office and
went home TO the old house on the
Nhoit. JoIiH &dIutEdH WIS SlfllIlE on
The veranda. and from stand beside
him George Sea otter entertained him
with a monograph selection-"Th
Suwanee River" sung by male quar-
tette. He could not see. but with the
intuition of the blind he knew.
"Whar Is it. son?'' he demanded
gently rs Bryce came up the low steps
George. choke that contraption Off"
Bryce took his fathers hand. I'm
in trouble John Cardigan. he said sim.
ply. and I'm not big enough to handle
II alone"
The leonine old man smiled, and his
smile had all the sweetness of a bene
diction. His boy was In trouble and
had come TO him. Good. Then he
would not fail him. .Sit down. son
and tell the old man all about II. Be,