The Dolores star., 1921-03-11

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| to gather up the tools, store them in
the machlne-shop OF Cardigan's mill.
and dismiss his gang; then he. too, en-
tered the automobile, and at word
| from Bryce the car slid noiselessly
away into the darkness. The track
| cutting crew departed a few minutes
later. and when Shirley found herself
alone with her uncle, the tumult In
her heart gave way to the tears she
could no longer repress. Pennington
stood by, watching her curiously,
coldly.
Presently Shirley mastered her
emotion and glanced toward him.
"Well. my dear?" he queried.
IL think ! had better 20 home"
she said without spirit.
81 think so, too" he answered. Get
into the mayors flivver, my dear and
I'll drive you. And perhaps the least
said about this affair the better. Shir-
ley. There nre many things that you
do not understand and which cannot
be elucidated by discussion"
81 can understand an attempt at as
sasslnation. Uncle Seth"
THAT blackguard MinOrCa. should
have known better than to put him on
such job. I told him 10 bun and
threaten; Cardigan, | knew, would
realize the grudge III" Black Muorca
has against him. and for that reason
| figured the gyeascr was the only man
who could blum him. While gave
him orders TO shoot. told him dis
tinctly not to hit anybody. Good Lord,
Shirley. surely you do not think !
would wink Mt a murder"
Il do" she answered passlonateiy.
with Bryce Cardigan out Of the way
you would have clear field before
you-'
"Oh, my dear, my dear! Surely you
do not realize what you are saying.
You are beside yourself Shirley.
Plcase-plcasc do not wound me So
so horribly. l am surrounded by enc
mies-thc most implacable enemies.
They force me to fight the devil with
tire-and here yon are. giving them aid
and comfort"
81 want you TO defeat Bryce Cardi-
gan. If you can do II fairly"
mood we will discuss that villain" he
said authoritatively. Get into the ear.
and we will 20 home. There is moth
ing more to be done tonight
"Your sophistry does not alter my
opinion" she replied firmly. How
ever. as you say. this is neither the
time nor the place to discuss It,"
They drove home In silence. Shirley
went at once to her room. For the
Colonel. however. the nights work had
scarcely begun. The instant he heard
the door to his niece's room shut. he
went to the telephone and called up
the Laguna Grande roundhouse. Sex
ton, his manager, answered.
Have you sent the switch engine TO
the woods for Rondeau and his men?"
"Just left"
Good! Now, then. Sexton, listen to
me: AS you know, this raid Of Cardi-
gan's has developed so suddenly am
more or less taken by surprise and
have had no time to prepare the kind
of counter-attack that will he most eff
fective. However. with the crossing
blocked. ! gain time in which TO organ
iZe-only there must he no weak point
In the organization. In order 10 insure
that, I am proceeding to San Fran
cisco tonight by motor, via HE coast
road. I will arrive late tomorrow
night. and early Saturday morning
will appear in the United States dis
trict court with our attorneys and file
a complaint and petition for an order
temporarily restraining the n &. y.
from cutting our tracks.
81 will have to make an affidavit to
support the complaint, so | had better
be Johnny ont the-spot to do IT, rather
than risk the delay of making the nfi-
davit tomorrow morning here and for
warding it by mail to our attorneys.
THE judge Will sign a restraining
order returnable In from ten TO thirty
days-I'll try for thirty, because that
| will knock out the n. c. O.'s temporary
franchise-and nfter / have obtained
the restraining order will have the
United States marshal telegraph II to
| Ogilvy and Cardigan
"Bullyl" cried Sexton heartily.
THAT Will fix their clock"
In the meantime. Pennington CON
tinued "logs will be Cutting our land
ings. We need that locomotive for its
| Legitimate purposes. Take all that dis
,arded machinery and the old boiler
We removed from the mill last fall,
dump 1t on the tracks at the crossing.
and get the locomotive back on Its run.
Understand? The other side having
no means Of removing these heavy OBJ
structions. will he blocked until ] re-
turn; by that time the matter will be
In the district court, Cardigan will be
hung up until his temporary franchise
expires-and the city council will not
renew 1t. Get me7"
"Yes. SIR"
an he back Sunday forenoon. Good.
by"
He hung up. went to his chnufrenr's