The Dolores star., 1921-03-04

living room.
"rhnt you. PoundstoneT she heard
him saying rapidly into the transmit
ter. Pennington speaking. Young
Bryce Cardigan is behind that n. G. y.
outfit. and It's logging road and not
Intended to build through to Grants
Pass at all. Cardigan and Ogilvy are
at Water and b streets this very In.
stant with a gang OF fifty men cutting
In jump-crossing Of my line, curse
them! They'll have 1t in by six o'clock
tomorrow morning II something isn't
done-and once they get 1t In, the fats
in the fire.
Telephone the chief Of police and
order him to take his entire force
down there, II necessary, and stop that
work. To blazes with that temporary
franchise! You stop that work for
two hours. and I'll do the rest. Tell
the chief OF police not to recognize
that temporary franchise. He can be
suspicious of 1t. can't he. and refuse to
let the work go on until he finds Out7
And you can be hard to find for two
hours. can you not? Delay, delay. man!
That's all l want Yes. yes,
understand. You get down about day
light and roast the chief Of police for
interfering. but In the meantimel
Thank you, Poundstone, thank
you. Good-by"
He stood at the telephone. the re-
ceiver still held to his ear and his
right forehnger holding down the hook
while the line cleared. When he spoke
again. Shirley knew he was calling his
mill office. He got n response immedi-
ately, notwithstanding the lateness Of
the hour.
Sexton? Pennington speaking. I've
sent over the Black Mlnorca with
rife and sixty rounds Of ammunition.
What2 You can hear him
shooting already? Bully boy with a
crockery eye! He'll clean the gang
out and keep them from working until
the police arrive. You've telephoned
Rondeau. have you? Good!
He'll have his men waiting mt the log
landing. and there'll be no delay. Sex.
ton. we've got to block them. 1t means
a loss OF millions to me II we fail! !"
Shirley was standing In the doorway
as he faced about from the telephone.
"Uncle Seth" she said quietly. "use
any honorable method Of defeating
Bryce Cardigan. but call of the Black
Minorca. I shall hold you personally
responsible for Bryce Cardlgan's life,
and II you fall me. shall never for.
give you.'
"Silly, silly grill" he soothed her.
Don't you know would not stoop to
bush -whacking? There's some shoot
Ing going on, but its wild shooting, just
to frlghten Cardigan and his men of
the Job"
You can't frishten him." she cried
passionately. "You know you can't.
He'll kill the Black Minorca. or the
Black Minorca will kill him. Go In.
stantly and stop It,"
"All right. all right I" he said rather
humbly, and sprang down the front
steps into the waiting car. "I'l play
the game fairly. Shirley, never fear"
She stood in the doorway and
watched the red tail-light. like q
malevolent eye. disappear down the
street. And presently as she stood
there, down the boulevard huge gray
car came slipping noiselessly-sO
noiselessly, in fact, that Shirley recog.
nized II by that very quality of silence.
1t was Bryce Cardlgans Napier.
George" she called. "Come here"
The car slid over to the gate and
stopped at the sight of the slim white
figure running down the garden walk.
rs Mr.. Cardigan hurt?" she demand.
ed In an agony Of suspense.
George Sea Otter grunted comtemp.
tuously. "Nobody hurt 'cept the Black
Minorca. ! am taking him to your
company hospital. miss. He tried to
shoot my boss, so 1 shot him myself
once through the leg. Now my boss
says: Take him to the Laguna Grande
hospital. George Me, would drop
this greaser In the bay II 1 was the
boss"
She laughed Historically. "on your
way back from the hospital stop and
pick me up, George" she ordered.
He touched his broad hat. and she
returned to the house to dress.
Meanwhile Colonel Pennington had
reached the crossing once more, sim.
ultaneously with the arrival of Sam
Perkins. the chief of police, accom-.
panied by two automobiles crammed
with patrolmen. Perkins strutted up
to Bryce Cardigan and Buck Ogllyy.
What's the meaning of all this row.
MIR. Cardignn?" he demanded.
something has slipped, Sam"
Bryce retorted pleasantly. you've
been calling me Bryce for the past
| twenty years, and now you're mister
Ing me! The meaning Of this row.
you ask1" Bryce continued. "WelI.
| I'm engaged in making n iump cros..