The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1921-03-02

MORA Described Bryce In Minute De-
tail.
little trump in a vain hope that 1t
would enable him to take the odd trick
In the huge game he had played for
fifty years, decided to sell his Valley
of the Giants.
Shirley, as explained I'm a preceding
chapter had been present the night
John Cardigan, desperate and brought
to bay at last, had telephoned Penning-
ton at the latter's home, accepting Pen
nington's last offer for the Valley of
the Giants. The cruel triumph In the
ColonePs handsome face as he CURLY
rebuffed old Cardigan had been too ap-
parent for the girl to mistake; she
realized now that a crisis had come in
the affairs Of the Cardigans, and across
her vision there flashed again the
vision of Bryce Cardigan's homecom-
ing-of a tall old man with his trem-
bling arms clasped around his boy,
with grizzled cheek laid against his
sons, as one who, seeking comfort
through bitter years. at length had
found it.
Presently another thought came to
Shirley. 'T wonderl" she unused. 'He's
proud. Perhaps the realization that
he will soon be penniless and shOrn Of
his high estate has made him chary Of
acquiring new friends in his old cir
Gle. Perhaps if he were secure In his
business affairs All, yes Poor boy
He was desperate for fifty thousand
dollars p' Her heart swelled. "Oh,
Bryce, Bryce" she murmured, 81 think
I'm. beginning to understand some of
your fury that day in the woods. It's
all great mystery, but I'm sure you
didn't intend to be $3.50 terrible. Oh,
be the good friends we started out to
be, perhaps you'd let me help you now.
For what good is money If one cannot
help ones dear friends in distress?
Still, know you wouldn't let me help
you, for men of your stamp cannot
borrow from woman, no matter how
desperate their need. And yet-you
only need a paltry fifty thousand dol
larsi"
Shirley carried to bed with her that
night the woes of the Cardigans, and
in the morning she telephoned Moira
McTavish and invited the latter to
lunch with her at home that noon.
When Moira came. Shirley saw that
she hadbeen weeping.
my poor Mofra!" she said, putting
her arms around her visitor. "What
has happened to distress your There,
there, dear! Tell me all about IT,"
MORA laid her head on Shirley's
shoulder and sObbed for several min
utes. Then, Its Mr.. Bryce" she
walled. He's so unhappy. Some
things happened; they're. going to
sell Cardigan's redwoods; and they
don't want to. Just before left the
office, Mr.. Bryce came inland stood
a moment Iooking-at me-so tragi-
cally FL asked him what had hap
| pened. Then he patted my eheek-oh,
1 know Pm just one Of his RESPONSE
bilities-and said, Poor MORA Never
| any luckp and went into his-private
office. l waited little, and then ]
went in, too; and-oh, Miss Sumner,
he had his head down on his desk, and
when l touched his head, he reached
up and took my hand and held IT
and laid his cheek against it little
while-and oh, his cheek was wet
/ It's cruel of God-tO make him-un-
happy. He's good-too good. And
oh, 1 love him so, Miss Shirley, 1 love
him so-and he'll never, never know
!. I'm just one of his-respOnsibilitie
/ you know; and 1 shouldn't presume
But nobody-has ever been kind Il
me but Mr.. Bryce-and you. And
can't help loving. people who are kinC
and gentle to nobOdies."
Moira's story-her confession o
love, so tragic because so hopeless
stirred Shirley deeply. She seate'
herself in front of Moira and cuppe'
her chin in her palm.
"Of course, dear" she said. 'yo
couldn't possibly see anybody 20
loved suffer so and not feel dreadful
about it. And when man like Bryc
Cardigan is struck down, he's apt t
present rather tragic and helples
figure. He wanted sympathy, MORA
woman's sympathy, and it was dea
Of you to give It to him"
'Td gladly die for him." MORA al
swered simply. "Oh, Miss Shirle,
you don't know him the way we VIII
work for him do. If you did, you
love him, too. You couldn't help
Miss Shirley"
'Tell me about his trouble. MORA
st think its money. He's been te
ribIy worried for long time. and r
afraid things aren't going right viii
the business. II hurts them terribl
TO have to sell the Valley Of Il