The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1920-06-17

for the loading donkey at the dog
landing Bryce ran. Beside the donkey
stood a neat tier Of firewood; in the
chopping block. where the donkey
fireman had driven II prior TO aban-
doning his post to view the contest
between Bryce and Jules Rondeau. was
double-bitted axe. Bryce jerked II
loose. swung It, whirled on his pur-
suers, and rushed them. Like turkeys
scattering before the raid OF a coyote
they fed In divers directions and from
safe distance turned TO gaze APP
prehensively upon this demon they
had been ordered TO bring In.
Bryce lowered the axe. removed his
hat, and mopped his moist brow. From
the center of the clearing men were
crawling or staggering TO safety
with the exception Of the Black
Minorca. who lay moaning softly.
Colonel Pennington. seeing his fondest
hopes expire. lost his head completely.
''Get off my property. you savage"
he shrilled.
Don't be a nut, Colonel" Bryce re-
turned soothingly. 'I'll get off-when
get good and ready, and not second
sooner. In fact. was trying to get
of as rapidly as ! could when you
sent your men to bring me back.
Prithee why, old thing? Didst crave
more conversation with me. or didst
want thy camp cleaned outr'
He started toward Pennington, who
backed hastily away. Shirley stood
her ground, bending upon Bryce, as he
approached her. cold and disapprov-
Ing glance. "Tll get you Va" the
Colonel declared from the sheitAr of
an old stump behind which he -ad
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 blnenoses and wild Irish and
run your wops. bohunks, and choios
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 retorted good humoredly.
| did you not call me by my first name
minute ago?" The heir to Cardi-
gan's 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. 81
loathe you" she sobbed.
For you l have the utmost respect
and admiration he replied.
'No, you haven't. If you had. you
wouldn't hurt my uncle--the only hn-
man being in all this world who is
dear to me-
"Gosh!" he murmured plaintively.
'I'm jealous of that man. However,
I'm sorry I hurt him. give you my
word came here to fight fairly"
"He merely tried to stop you from
fighting"
"No. he didn't, Shirley. He inter.
fered and fouled me. Still, despite
that, II I had known you were spec
tator ! think / should have controlled
| myself and refrained from pulling of
| my vengeance I'm your presence. I
shall never cease to regret that ] sub
| jected you to such a distressing spec
| tacle. do hope, however, that you
will believe me when tell you I am
not bully, although when there 10 n
| fight worth while, / never dodge II.
And this time ! fought for the honor
Of the House of Cardigan"
IF you want me to believe that. you
will beg my uncle's pardon"
II 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