The Dolores star., 1921-04-01

morning.
| Yes. MORA read the mall to him
and then took him up to the Valley OF
the Giants. He said he wanted to DO
little quiet figuring on that new
steam schooner you're thinking OF
building. He thinks she ought to he
bigger-big enough to carry two mil
lion feet"
Bryce glanced at his watch. "fts
| half after eleven" he said. Guess I'll
run up to the Giants and bring him
! home to luncheon
He stepped into the Napier standing
outside the office and drove away.
Buck Ogllvy waited until Bryce was
ont OF sight: then with sudden deter
mination he entered the office.
"Moira." he said abruptly. approach
| irg the desk where she worked. "yOur
| dad IS back. and what's more. Bryce
Cardigan has let him have his old job
as woods boss. And I'm here to an
nounce that you're not going back to
| the woods to keep house for him. I'm
| derStanl? Now, look here. Moira. I've
| ShlIy- -shnllied around yOu for months,
protesting my love. and | haven't got
| ten anywhere Today I'm going to ask
! you for the last time VIII you marry
me? ! need you worse than that rns-
cal Of father OF yours does, and tell
| you I'll not have you 20 back to the
woods to take care OF him. Come.
now, MORA Do give me definite an
| Swer.'
"I'm afraid I don't love You well
enough to marry you. Mr. Ogilvy."
Moira pleaded. I'm truly fond OF You,
! but"
"rhe last boats gone" cried Mr..
| Ogilvy desperately. I'm answered.
Well. I'll not stick around here much
| longer. Molra. I realize | must he
nuisance. but I can't help being n nul-
sance when you're near me. So III
quit my job here and 60 back to my
old game of rairoading."
"Oh. you wouldn't quit p tcn-thou-
sand-dollar Job" Moira cried aghast.
'I'd quit a million-dollar job. Tin
deSnerate enough to go over to the
mill and pick fight with the big
bandsaw. I'm going away whore
| cant see you. Your eyes ure driving
me crazy"
"But don't want you to go, Mr.
Og'ivy"
call me Buck" he commanded
sharply.
81 don't want you to go. Ruck." she
repeated meekly. 81 shall feel guilty.
driving you out of n fine position"
"'rhen marry me and I'll stay"
"But suppose I don't love you the
way you deserve"
Suppose Suppose!" Buck Ogilvy
cried. you're no longer certain of
yourself How dare YOU deny your
love for me? Eth? Moirn. I'll risk IT,"
Her eyes turned to him timldly. and
for the first time he saw In their
smoky depths lambent fame. 81
don't know" she quavered, "and It's Il
big responsibility in case"
"Oh. the devil take the casev he
cried rapturously. and took her hands
In his. "Do I improve with age. dear
Moira?' he asked with boyish enger.
ness; then. before she could answer
he swept on, tornado Of love and
pleading. And presently Mora was in
| his arms. and he was kissing her, and
she was crying softly because-well
she admired Mr. Buck Ogivy: more
she respected him and was genuinely
fond Of him. She wondered and she
wondered, a quiet JOY thrilled her in
the knowledge that it did not seen
at all impossible for her to grow, In
time. absurdly fond of this wholesome
red rascal
"Oh. Buck. dear" She whispered, "I
don't know, I'm sure, but perhaps I've
loved you a little bit for n long time.
I'm perfectly wild over you. You're
the most wonderful woman ! evel
heard of. Old rosy-cheeksw And Ii.
pinched them just TO see the colol
come and go.
John Cardigan was seated in hi.
lumberjack's easy chair MS his son ap
proached. His hat lay on the litte
Of brown twigs beside him: his chir
was sunk on his breast, and his heat
was held n little to one side in lis
tening attitude; a vagrant little breez,
rustled gently lock of his fine ion,
white hair. Bryce stopped over tn,
old man and shook him gently by tn,
shoulder
Wake up, partner" he called cheer
fully. But John Cardigan did no
wake. and again his son shook him
Still receiving no response Bryce lift
ed the leonlne old head and gaZeo
into his fathers face. "John Cardi
gan" he cried sharply, "Wake up
old pal"
The old eves opened and John Car
lignn smiled up at his boy. "Goo,
son." he whispered good SOM" H,
closed his sightless eyes again as /
the mere effort Of holding them opel
wenried him. I've been sitting here
waiting" he went on in the sam
gentle whisper. "No. not waiting 70
you. boy-waitlng-"
His head fell over on his sons shoul
der; his hand went proninp fo