The Adair County news., 1921-02-09


iack!" he chided.
John Cardigan shook with an in
ward chuekle, for the loving abuse his
boy had formed habit of heaping on
him never failed to thrill him. In
stinetively Bryce had realized that
tonight obvious sympathy copiously
expressed was not the medicine for
his fathers bruised spirit; hence he
elected to regard the latter's blindness
as a mere temporary annoyance. some.
thing to be considered lightly. If al
all; and it was typical Of him now
that the subject had been discussed
briefly, to resolve never to refer to
it again.
Tomorrow morning I'm going to
put pair of overalls on you, arm
you with a tin can and swab, and
set you to greasing the sideways.
Partner, you've deceived me-"
"Oh, nonsense. If had whimpered,
that would only have spoiled every
thing"
Nevertheless, you were forced to
cable me to hurry home"
Il summoned you the instant ]
realized was going to need you"
mo, yos didn't John Cardigan. You
summoned me because, for the first
time in your life, you were panicky
and let yourself get out of hand"
His father nodded slowly. "And
you aren't over it get" Bryce con-
tinued, his voice no longer bantering
but lowered affectionately. What's
the trouble, Dad? Trot out your old
panic and let me inspect it. Trouble
must be very real when it gets my
father on the run"
'It is, Bryce, very real indeed. AS
remarked before, I've lost your
heritage for YOU" He sighed. u
waited till you would be able to come
home and settle down to business; now
you're home; and there isn't any bust
mess to settle down to-"
Bryce chuckled, for he was indeed
far from being worried over business
matters, his consideration now being
entirely for his fathers peace of mind.
| ALI uC II mas
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, anemic, tenderly nurtured little
Bryce Cardigan must put his turkey
I on his back and go into the woods
looking for job as lumberjack. :.
Busted, Ell? Did or did / not hear
the six O'clock whistle blow at the
mill? Bet you a dollar did,"
"Oh, have title to everything
yet"
"How / do have to dig for good
news! Then it appears we still have
business; indeed, we may always
have business, for the very fact that
it is going but not quite gone implies
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,
Shan't cry, partner. l have a profes
sion to fall back on. Yes, Stree.
own a sheep-skin, and it says I'm an
electrical and civil engineer"
"WhatI"
Il said it. An electrical and civil
engineer. Slipped one over ON you al
college, John Cardigan, when all the
time you thought was having good
time"
"Bu-bu-but-"
1T drives me wild to have a mar
sputter at me. I'm an electrical an6
civil engineer. tell you, and my two
years of travel have been spent study
ing the installation and construction
of big plants abroad
any dear boy And you've go
your degree?'
Partner, 1 have string of letters
after my name like the tail of q
comet"
You comfort me-" the old maj
answered supply. 81 have reproachet
myself with the thought that l rearet
you with the sole thought of making
Mmberman out of you-and wher
I saw your lumber business slipping
through my fingers"
you were sorry l didn't have c
profession to fall back on, Ell? Oh
were you fearful lest you had raiset
the usual rich mans son? If the
latter, you did not compliment me, pal
I've never forgotten how hard you al
ways stroye to impress me with {
sense of the exact weight of my
responsibility as your successor"
How big are you nowp his father
queried suddenly.
well, sir" Bryce answered, for his
fathers pleasure putting aside hi:
normal modesty, "Fm six feet twt
inches tall. and weigh two hundred
pounds in the pink of condition.
have forty eight-inch chest, with five
and half inches chest-expansion, an6
a reach as long as a gorilla's. MI
underpinning is good, too; I'm not one
of these fellows with spidery legs and
barrel-chest. can do hundred
yards In ten seconds; Pm no sloucl
J Of swimmer; and at Princeton the,