The Republican journal., 1920-04-01


"Oh, ! have title to everything
yet"
"How / do have to dig for good
news! Then 1t appears we still have
business; indeed, we may always
have 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 vet scheme a
way to retain it. If we can save
enough out of the wreck to insure
you your customary home comforts, !
shan't cry, partner. l have profess
sion to fall back on. Yes, Stree. l
own sheep-skin, and it says I'm an
electrical and civil engineer"
"What!"
Il said 1t. An electrical and civil
engineer. Slipped one over on you at
college, John Cardigan, when all the
time you thought was having a good
time"
"Bu-bu-but-"
1T drives me wild to have a man
sputter at me. I'm an electrical and
civil engineer. l 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, have string Of letters
after my name like the tail of
comet"
"You comfort me-" the old man
answered simply. Il have reproached
myself with the thought that l reared
you with the sole thought Of making
a lumberman out of you-and when
l saw your lumber business slipping
through my fingers"
you were sorry l didn't have
profession to fall back on, Ell? 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
sense Of the exact weight of MY
responsibility as your successor"
How big are you nowf" his father
queried suddenly.
well, sir" Bryce answered. for his
fathers pleasure putting aside his
normal modesty, "1'm six feet two
inches tall, and l weigh two hundred
pounds in the pink of condition.
have fortyeight-inch chest, with FIVE
and half inches chest-expansion, and
reach as long as a gorillas. My
underpinning is good, too; I'm not one
of these fellows with spidery legs and
q barrel.-chest. ! can do hundred
yards in ten seconds; I'm no SLOUGH
Of a swimmer; and at Princeton they
say I made football history.n
'That is very encouraging, my boy
very. Ever do any boxing?"
"Quite little. I'm fairly up in the
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. '"rhere's a big buck
woods-boss up in Pennington's camp"
he remarked irrelevantIy. Hes
French Canadian imported from north
ern Michigan by Colonel Pennington.
l dare say he's the only man in this
country who measures up to you phys
ically. He can fight with his fists
and wrestle quite cleverly, I'm told.
His name is Jules Rondeau, and he's
top dog among the lumberjacks. They
say he's the strongest man in the
county," He Unmatched the gate
Folks used to say that about me
once" he continued wistfully. "Ah,
If l could have my eyes to see you
meet Jules Rondeau!"
The front portal of the quaint old
Cardigan residence opened, and a
silver-haired lady came out on the
porch and hailed Bryce. She vas
Mrs. Tully, John Cardigan's old house
keeper, and almost mother to Bryce.
"Oh, here's my boy" she cried, and
a moment later found herself encircled
by Bryce's arms and saluted with a
hearty kiss.
AS he stepped into the familiar en-
trance-hall, Bryce paused, raised his
head and shifted suspiciously. like o
bird-dog. Mrs. Tu1ly. arms akimbo
watched him pleasurably. 81 smell
something" he declared, and advanced
step down the hall for another sniff
then. In exact imitation of foXhound
he gave tongue and started for the
kitchen. Mrs. Tully, waddling after
found him pointing" two hot black
berry pies which had a few minutes
previously been taken from the oven
He was baying lugubriously.
I'm still pie-hound, Mrs. Tully
and you're still the same dear, thought
full soul. How many did you make 2
"Two."
"May | have one all for myself Mrs
Tully?"
Indeed you may, my dear"
THANK you. but l do not want I
for myself. Mrs. Tully, will you pleas
wrap one Of those wonderful pies ir
napkin and the instant George Ses
Otter comes in with the car, tell hin
to take the pie over to Colonel Penn
fngton's house and deliver it to Mis-
Sumner? There's girl who doubles!
thinks she has tasted pie in her day
and l want to prove to her that sh,
hasn't" He selected card from hi
card-case, sat down and wrote: