The Adair County news., 1921-02-16

"Rondeau VIII Take Care OF Him
Now"
climb him, and finish the fight In Jig
time. But a rough-and-tumble wa
exactly what Bryce was striving Il
avoid; hence when Rondeau rushed
Bryce side-stepped and peppered tn,
woodsman's ribs.
Suddenly two powerful hands wer,
placed between Bryce's shoulders, eff
fectually halting his backward prog
ress; then he was propelled violently
forward until he collided with Ron
deau. With below Of triumph, tn,
woOds-bOss's arms were around Bryce
swinging him until he faced the mar
VINO had forced him into that terrible
grip. This was no less a parsonage
than Colonel Seth Pennington, and 1t
was obvious he had taken charge of
what he considered the obSequies.
Stand back, you men, and give
them room," he shouted. "Rondeau
will take care of him now. Stand
back, say. I'll discharge the man
that interferes."
With heave and a grunt Rondeau
lifted his antagonist, the pair went
crashing to the earth together, Bryce
underneath. And then something hap
pened. With howl of pain, Rondeau
rolled over on his back and lay clasp
Ing his left wrist In his right hand,
while Bryce scrambled to his feet.
1.-The good old wrist-lock does the
trick" he announced; and STOPPING,
he grasped the woods-boss by the col
lar with his left hand, lifted him, and
struck him a terrible blow In the face
with his right. But for the arm that
upheld him, Rondeau would have fall
en-. To have him fall, however, was
not part Of Bryce's plan. Jerking the
fellow toward him, he passed his arm
around Rondeau's neck, holding the
latter's head as In a wise with the
crook of his elbow. And then the bat
tering started. When it was>finished,
Bryce let his man go. and Rondeau,
bloody, sobbing, and semi-conscious,
sprawled on the ground.
Bryce bent over him. snow. damn
you," he roared, "who felled that tree
In Cardlgan's redwoodsP"
81 did, M'sieur. Enough con-
fess ~ TheNwords were a whisper.
did Colonel Pennington suggest 1t
to your"
"He want re burI. BY gar, do not
want to fell Eat tree"
THAT'S all want to know" Stoop-
ing, Bryce seized Rondeau by the nape
of the neck and the slack of his over
alls, lifted him shoulder-high and
threw him, as one throws a sack Of
meal, full at Colonel Pennington.
"You threw me at him. Now /
throw him at you You damned,
thieving, greedy, hypocritical scoun-
drel, If it weren't for your years and
your gray hair, I'd kin you"
The helpless hulk Of the woods-boss
descended upon the Colonel's expan-
sive chest and sent him crashing earth
ward. Then Bryce, war-mad. turned
to face the ring of Laguna Grande EN-.
ployees about him.
"Next!" he roared. "Singly, in
pairs, or the whole damned packI"
''Mr. Cardigan"
He turned. Colonel Pennington's
breath had been knocked out Of his
body by the impact of his >semi-con-
scious woods-boss, and he lay inert,
gasping like a hooked fish. Beside
him Shirley Sumner was kneeling, her
hands clasplng her uncle's, but with
her violet eyes, blazing flercely on
Bryce Cardigan.
"How dare your" she cried. "You
towards To hurt my uncle!"
He gazed at her for a moment,
iercely, defiantly, his chest rising and
falling from his recent exertions, his
knotted fists CORY with the blood of
his enemy. Then the light of battle
died, and he hung his head. I'm
sorry he murmured, mot for his
sake, but yours. 1 didn't know you
were here. forgot-myself."
'TlI never speak to you again so
long as ] live" she burst out passion
ately.
He advanced step and stood gaz-
ing down upon her. Her angry glance
met his unhinchingly; and presently
for him the light went out Of the
world.
"Very we'll" he murmured- Good
bye" And with bowed head he turned
and made on through the green timber
toward bis own loggiag-camp i've
miles distant
With the descent upon HIS breast Of