Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-05-04


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bank and sat calmly down under n
manzanita bush 10 await results, for
he was quite confident that none OF
the occupants of the confounded ca
boose had been treated to anything
worse than wild ride and Il rare
fright, and he was curious to see how
Shirley Sumner would behave in an
emergency.
Colonel Pennington was first TO
emerge at the rear of the caboose. He
leaped lightly down the steps, ran TO
the front of the car, looked down the
track, and swore feelngly. Then he
darted back to the rear of the ca
boose.
"All clear and snug as bug under
q chip, my dear" he called to Shirley.
"Thank God. the caboOse become I'M
cOupled-guess that fool brakeman
forgot to drop the pin; it was the last
car, and when it jumped the track
and plowed into the dirt, 1t just nat
urally quit and toppled over against
the bank. Come out, my dear"
Shirley came out. dry-eyed. but
white and trembling. The Colonel
placed his arm around her, and she
hid her face on his shoulder and shud-
dered. "There. there!" he soothed her
affectiOnately. cts all over. my dear.
All's well that ends we'll"
1.-THE train" she cried in a choking
voice. "Where Is it?"
"In little pieces--down In Mad
river"
Bryce Cardigan" she sObbed. 81
saw him-he was riding atop on the
train. He-ah. God help HIM"
The Colonel shook her with sudden
ferocity young Cardigan" he cried
sharply. riding the logs? Are you
certaln?"
She nodded. and her shoulders
shook piteously.
Then Bryce Cardigan Is gomez"
Pennington's announcement was SOL
emn. deadly with it's fiat finality. mo
man could have rolled down into Mad
river with trainload Of logs and sur
vived. The devil himself couldn't"
He heaved a great sigh. and added:
"Well. that clears the atmosphere con.
siderably. although for all his faults.
regret. for his fathers sake. that this
dreadful affair has happened. Well.
II can't be helped, Shirley. Poor devil
For all his damnable treatment Of me-
I wouldn't have had this happen for
million dollars"
Shirley burst into wild weeping
Bryce's heart leaped. for he under
stood the reason for her grief She
had sent him away in anger. and he
had gone to his death; ergo 1t would
be long before Shirley would forgive
herself. Bryce had not intended pre-.
senting himself before her IN his Init
tered and bloody condition. but the
sight Of her distress now was more
than ne could bear. He coughed slight
~. and the alert colonel glanced up Mt
him Instantly
swell. I'll be hanged!" The words
fell from Pennington's lips with a
heartiness that was almost touching.
Il thought you'd gone with the train"
SORRY to have disappointed you. old
top" Bryce replied blithely. but I'm
Just naturally stubborn. Too bad about
the atmosphere you thought cleared
moment ago! It's clOgged worse than
ever now"
At the sound Of Bryce's voice. Shir-
ley raised her head. whiried and
looked mp at him. He held his hand
kerchief over his CORY face that the
sight might not distress her; he could
have whoopetl with delight at the Joy
that flashed through her wet lids.
bryce Cardigan" she commanded
sternly. "cOme down here this instant"
"Tm not pretty sight. Shirley. Bet
ter let me 60 about my business"
She stamped her foot. "COme here I"
well. since you insist" he replied,
and he slid down the bank.
"How did you get up there-and
what do you mean by hiding there spy
Ing on me. you-yOu-oh. you!"
"Cuss little, II 1t will help any," he
suggested. II had to get out Of your
way--out Of sight--and up there was
the best place. was on the roof of
the cabOose when it tOppled over, 80
all had to do was step ashore and sit
down."
"Then why didn't you stay there?"
she demanded furiously.
You wouldn't let me-" he answered
demurely. "And when I saw you weep
Ing because was supposed to be with
the angels, couldn't help coughing to
let you know was still hanging
around. ornery AZ book agent"
How did. You ruin your face, Mr..
Cardigan.?"
Tried to take a cast Of the front
end Of the cab0ose In my classic coun.
tenance-that's all"
"But you were Hiding the top log On
he last truck"
centinusd on Pa&s' Seven.