Cleveland County herald., 1920-06-17


 waited till you would be able to come home and settle down to business; now you're home; and there isn't any busi- ness to settle down to-"
 Bryce chucl1led, for lie was indeed far from being worried over business matters, his consideration now being entirely for his fathers peace of mind "All right" he retorted, Father has lost his money and we'll have to let the servants go and give up the old home. That part of it is settled and weak anemie, tenderly nurtured little Bryce Cardigan must put his turkey on his back an9 go into the woods looking for a Job as a lumberjack. Busted, eh? Did I or did I not hear the six o'clock whistle blow at the mill? Bet you a dollar I did"
 "Oh, I have title to everything yet
 "Row I do have to dig for good news. Then 1t appears we still have business; indeed we may always have d business, for the very fact that 1t is going but not quite gone implies a doubt as to Its ultimate departure, and perhaps we may yet scheme a way to retain it. If we can save enough out of the wreck to insure you your customary home comforts, I shan't cry, partner. I have a profes- sion to fall back on. Yes, sirree. I own sheep-skin, and il says I'm an electrical and civil engineer"
 "What!"
 'I said il. An electrical and civil engineer. Slipped one over on you at college, John Cardigan, when all the time you thought I WAS having good time."
 "Bu-bu-but-"
 Ut drives me wild to have man sputter at me. I'm an electrical and civil engineer. I tell you, and my two years of travel have been spent study ing the installation and construction of big plants abroad"
 My dear boy! And you've got your degree?'
 Partner, l have string of letters after my name like the tail of a comet"
 "You comfort me-" the old man answered simply. T have reproache0 myself with the thought that I reared you with the sole thought of making a lumberman out of you-and when saw your lumber business slipping through my fingers"
 You were sorry I didn't have profession to fall back on, eh? Or were you fearful lest you had raised the usual rich mans son? If the latter, you did not compliment me, pal I've never forgotten how hard you al- ways strove to impress me with a sense of the exact weight of my responsibility as your successor"
 sHow big are you now?" his father queried suddenly. Well, sir" Bryce answered. for his fathers pleasure putting aside his normal modesty I'm six feet two inches tall, and I weigh two hundred pounds in the pink of condition. I l have a fortY-ei ght-inch chest, with five and a half inches ehest-eXpansion, and a reach as loug as a gorila's. My underpinning is good, too; I'm not one of these fellows with spidery legs and a barrel-chest I can do hundred yards in ten seconds; I'm no slouch of a swimmer; and at Princeton they say I made football history"
 That is very encouraging, my boy very. Ever do any boxipg?"
 Quite little. I'm fairly up in tke manly art of self-defense." The old man wagged his head ap- proyingly, and they had reached the gate of the Cardigan home before he spoke again. There's big buck woods-boss up in Penningtons camp" he remarked irrelevantly. He's a French Canadian imported from north ern Michigan by Colonel Pennington. I dare say he's the only man in this country who measures up to you phys ically. He can fight with his fists ! and wrcstle quite cleyerly, I'm told. His name is Jules Rondeau, and he's top dog among the lunberiaeks. They say he's the strongest man in the county" He unlatched the gate. Folks used to say that about me once" he continued wistfully. "Ah if I could have my eyes to see VOL meet Jules Rondeaui"
 The front portal of the quaint old Cardigan residence opened, and q silver-haired lady came out on the porch and hailed Bryce She was | Mrs. Tuly, John Cardigan's old house. keeper, and almost mother to Bryce. "Oh here's my hoy!" sha cried. and a moment later found herself encireied by Bryces arms and saluted with q hearty kiss.
 AS he stepped into the familiar en- l trance-hall, Bryce paused, raised his l head and sniffed snspiciously. like d i bird-tlog Mrs. 1nlly. arms akimhn. watched him pieasnrably. "I smeI, 1 something" lie declared. and advanced steh down the hall for another snin i;