Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-02-04
CHAPTER XVI.


Quite Oblivious Of her uncle's depar-
ture for San Francisco, Shirley lay
awake throughout the remainder of
the night. turning over and over in her
mind the various aspects of the Cardi-
gan-Pennington imbroglio. OF one
thing she was quite certain; peace
must be declared at all hazards. She
realized that she had permitted mat
tiers to go too far. A revulsiOn Of feel
ing toward her uncle, induced by the
memory of Bryce Cardigan's blood on
her white finger tips, convinced the
| girl that, at all hazards to her finan-
cial future, hencefOrth she and her
uncle must tread separate paths. She
! had found him out at last, and because
| in her nature there was some of his
own ixity Of purpose. the resolution
cost her no particular pang.
She had been obsessed Of a desire,
rather unusual in her sex, to see a
fight worth while; she had planned to
permit it to go to a knockout. to use
Bryce Cardigan's language, because
she believed Bryce Cardigan would be
vanquished-and she had desired to
see him smashed-but not beyond re-
pair, for her joy in the conflict was
to lie in the task of putting the pieces
together afterwardl
1t was rather relief, therefore,
when the imperturbable James handed
her at breakfast the following note:
Shirley Dear:
after leaving you last night, I de-
cided that in your present frame of
mind my absence for a few days might
tend to a calmer and clearer percep-
ton, on your part. of the necessary
tactics which in a moment of despera-
ton, I saw fit, with regret, to pursue
last night. And in the hope that you
will have attained your old attitude
toward me before my return, I am
leaving in the motor for San Fran
cisco. Your terrible accusation has
grieved me to such an extent that I do
not feel equal to the task of confront
ing you until, in a more judicial frame
of mind. you can truly absolve me of
young Cardigan.
Your affectionate
JUNGLE SETH"
Shirley's lip curled With a rarer,
keener intuition than she had hitherto |
manifested. she sensed the hypocrisy |
between the lines; she was not de-
ceived.
HE has. gone to San Francisco for
more ammunition" she soliloquized.
VERY well. unkie-dunkl While |
you're away, shall manufacture a
few bombs myself"
After breakfast she left the house
and walked to the intersection of B
with Water street. Jules ROndeau and
his crew of lumberjacks were there.
and with two policemen guarded the
Shirley looked from the woods bully
to the locomotive and back to Ron
deau.
"Rondeau." she said, "AIr. Cardigan
Is bad man TO fight You fought him
once. Are you going to do it again?"
He nodded.
by whose orders?"
Mr.. Sexton. she tell me to do it,"
"Well. Rondeau. some day I'll be
BOSS of Laguna Grande and thereH be
10 more fighting" she replied, and
passed on down B street to the office
If the Cardigan Redwood Lumber
Mora McTaviSh looked I'D
is she entered.
where is he, dear?" Shirley asked
I must see him."
'In that Office, Miss Shirley" MORA '
eplied. and pointed TO the door. Shir-
ey stepped to the door, knocked. and {
hen entered. Bryce Cardigan. seated {
t his desk. looked up as she came in.
lis left arm was in a sling. and he J
)oked harassed and detected. '
Don't get up. Bryce" she said as he r
tempted to rise. 81 know you're quite t
Exhausted You look It." She sat
own. I'm so sorry" she said softly. y
His dull glance frightened. 1T b
Oesn't amount TO that. Shirley" And n
e snapped his fingers. 1T throbs a 1
tile and it's stiff and sore. so I carry
in the sling. That helps a little. ! a
hat did you want TO see me about?" G
II wanted to tell you" said Shirley, a
last nights affair was not k
my making" He smiled compass "
onately, IL couldn't bear to have
u think I'd break my word and tell m
M" =,
1T never occurred to me that you hi
ID dealt me hand from the bottom 81
me deck. Shirley. Please don't L.
,rry about it. Your uncle has had OF
o private detectives watching ogilvy
9 nv" DC