The Adair County news., 1921-03-02


Moira brought some document into the
private Office for his perusal, there
were days during which his pleasant
"Good morning, Moira," constituted
the extent Of their conversation.
Bryce had been absent in San Fran
cisco for ten days. He had planned to
stay three weeks, but finding his busi-
ness consummated In less time, he re-
turned to Sequoia Unexpectedly. Moira
was standing at the tall bookkeeping
desk, her beautiful dark head bent
over the ledger, when he entered the
Office and set his suitcase in the
corner.
"Is that you. Mr.. Bryce?" she
aueried
"The identical Individual, Moira.
How did you guess it was IT'
She looked up at him then, and her
wonderful dark eyes lighted with a
flame Bryce had not seen in them
heretofore. 81 knew you were com.
ing," she replied simply.
"You had a hunch, MORA. Do you
get those telepathic messages very
often?" He was crossing the Office
to shake her hand.
'Pve never noticed particularly
that is, until came to work here But
1 always know when you are return
ing after n considerable absence"
She gave him her hand. "rm so glad
you're back"
'Why?" he demanded bluntly.
She flushed. IL really don't
know, Mr. Bryce"
swell, then," he persisted, what do
you think makes you glad"
II had been thinking how nice It
would be to have you back, Mr.. Bryce.
When you enter the office, it's like a
breeze rustling the tops Of the red
woods And your father misses you
so; he talks to me great deal about
you. Why, Of course, we miss you;
anybody would"
As he held her hand, he glanced
down at It and noted how greatly it
had changed during the past few
months. From her hand his glance
roved over the girl, noting the i'm
provements In her dress, and the way
the thick, wavy black hair was piled
on top Of her shapely head.
'sIt hadn't occurred to me before,
Moira," he said with bright imper-
sonal smile that robbed his remark of
all suggestion Of masculine flattery.
''but It seems to me I'm unusually
glad to see you, also. You've been fix
ing your hair different. Is this new
style the latest in hairdressing in Sc
quoiaf"
~'I think so, Mr.. Bryce. copied It
from Colonel Pennington's niece. Miss
Sumner"
"Oh," he replied briefly. you've
met her, have you? 1 didn't know she
was in Sequoia STILL"
"She's been away, but she came
back last week. / went TO the Valley
Of the Giants last Saturday arter-
noon"
Bryce interrupted. "You didn't tell
my father about the tree that was cut.
did you?" he demanded sharply
"No."
"Good girl! He mustn't know Go
on, Moira. What was she doing in our
TIMBER"
"She told me that once, when she
was little girl, you had taken her
for a ride on your pony up to your
mothers grave. And it seems she had
a great curiosity to see that spot
again."
tI've, met Miss Sumner three or four
times. That was when she first came
to Sequoia. She's a stunning girl,
isn't she?"
Perfectly, Mr.. Bryce. She's the
first lady I've ever met. She's differ
ent."
mo Doubt Her kind are not a
product of homely little communities
like Sequoia. And for that matter,
neither is her wolf of an uncle. What
did Miss Sumner have to say to you,
Moira?"
"She told me all about herself-and
she said lot of nice things about you,
Mr.. Bryce. after told her worked
Luz SOul Anu SHe lHSlSleu luttl
should walk home with her. So l did
and the butler served US with tea
and toast and marmalade. Then she
showed me all her wonderful things
and gave me some of them. Oh. Mr..
Bryce, she's so sweet"
81 can see that you and Miss Sum-
ner evidently hit it off just right with
each other. Are you going to call on
her again7"
"Oh, yesl She begged me to. She
says she's lonesome"
81 dare say she is, Moira. I'm glad
you've gotten to know each other. I've
no doubt you find life a little lonely
sometimes"
Sometimes, Mr.. Bryce"
"How's my father?"
Splendid. I've taken good care of
him for you."
"Moira. you're a sweetheart Of a
girl. don't know how we ever man.
aged to wiggle along without you"
Fraternally = almost paternally -he
gave her radiant cheek three light lit
tie pats as he strode past her to the
private office. He was In a hurry to