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H -' CAGE SIX. IRON COUNTY RECORD, CEDAR CITY, UTAn,FRIDAY, APR1L.16, 1920. .' . . s .,. , . , . , , I ill "&ka JJ I I VALLEY I 111 OF THE P I J GIANTS m mAVTHOR or "ca7?py j&as&n-mlL M MSL copyright, by peter jb.kyne wm H SYNOPSIS. H CIIAPTKU I.-I'Ionoor In tho California redwood region, John Cardigan, at forty- ncvou, Is tlio leading citizen of Hcquola, owner of mills, ahlpn, and many acres of timber, a widower after throe years of married life, and father of two-day-old M Uryco Cardigan, H CHAPTER II.-At fourteen Uryco makes H tho acquaintance of Shirley Sumner, a vIb. Itor to Sequoia, and his junior by a few J years. ToKCther they visit tho Valley of M the Giants, sacrod to John Cardigan and his son ob tho burial placo of Hryce'i mother, and part with mutual regret. H CIIAPTKU III. While Dryce Is at col. leeo John Cardigan meets with heavy business losses and for tho first time vlowi tho future with uncertainty. H A shndc of nnnoynnce passed over H the classic fenturcs of tho Higher H Living Authority. "0, dear' she m complained, how fearfully awkward! H 'Now 1 shall have to take tho next H train to San Francisco nnd book pan- M eage on tho stenracr to Sequoia and H Mnrccllo Is such a poor sailor. Oh, H M Uryco had an Inspiration nnd hasten- H od to reveal It. H ' s "We nre about to start for Sequoia H now, nlUiough the lateness of our start H will compel us to put up tonight at H the rcsMiouse on tho soutli fork of H 'Trinity river and continue tho journey H In tho morning. However, 'this rest- H houso Is eminently respectable and H tho food and accommodations arc ex- H traordlnnrlly good for mountains; so, H If an Invitation to occupy the tonnenu H 'of my car vflll not be construed ai H an Impertinence, coming ns it does H from n tptul stranger, you aro at H dlberty to regard this car as to trtl H Intents and purposes the public con H veynnco which so -scandalously de- H cllncd to wait for you this' morning." H Sho looked at htm scarclilnsly for H 'a brief Instant; then with a peculiarly H winning smile nnd n graceful lncllna- H itlnn of her bend sho thanked Mm H and accepted his hospitality thus: H "Why, certainly not I You ard very H hind, nud I shall bo eternally grate- m . fmi.", B ,w',"riiank you for that vote of confl- M a donee. It makes mc feel that I hnro H your- permission to Introduce myself. H My namo Is Bryce Cardigan, and I H live In Sequoia when I'm at home." H "Of Cardigan's redwoods?" she H qucsUoned. llo nodded. "Pro heard H of you, 1 think," she continued. "I H am Shirley Sumner." H "You do not llvo In Sequoln." H "No, but I'm going to hereafter. I H was Uicro about ten years ngo." H Ho grinned and thrust out a great m hand which sho surveyed gravely for m a minute before Inserting hers In It. H "I wonder," ho unld, "If It Is to be my M ,-j duty to give you a ride every time you H come to Sequoia? The last time yu M were thcro you wheedled me into glr- . lag you a ride on my pony, an animal H known n Midget. Do you, by any H oliuuco, recall that Incident,?" H She looked at htm wondcrlngly. H "Why why, you're the boy with the H beautiful auburn hair," slit declared. H Ho lifted his hut nnd revealed hli H thick thatch In all Its glory. "I'm not H uo sensitive about It now," he explain- H cd. "When wo first met, reference to M my hair was apt to rile me." He H Khook her little hand with cordial H good-nature. "George, suppose you H pile Miss Sumner's hnnuVbnggngo In H the tonneau nnd then pile In thoro H yourself nnd keep Mnrccllc company, H I'll drive; and you can alt up la front H with me, Miss Sumner, snug behind H tho wind-shield where you'll not he H blown about." H lie wont through his gears, and the H cur glided uwar on Its journey, "lty H the way," he t-ald suddenly as he H turned west toward the distant blue- H mountains of Trinity county, "how did H you happen to connect mo with Cnrdl- H gan's redwoods?" H "I've heard my undo, Colonel Setk H Pennington, speak of them." H "Oolouel Seth Pennington menni H nothing In my young life. I never H heard of him before; bo I daro say H he's a newcomer in our county. I've H been away six years," he added In ex- H planatlou. H "We're from Michigan. Uncle wns H formerly In the lumber business there, H but he's logged out now." H "I sec. So he enmo west, I mip- H pom, und bought n lot of redwood H lumber cheap from somo old croaker H who never could see nny future to the H rexlwood lumber industry. Personally, H I don't think ho could have made a H better Investment. I hope I shall H hUvo tlio pleasure of innklng his ac- H qtmlntanco when I deliver you to him. H Perhaps you mny bo a neighbor of H mine. ITopo so." H At Uils Juncture Gcorgo Sea Otter, H who had been an interested listener B to the conversation, essayed a grunt H, from tlio rear teat,. Instantly, to V' Shirley Sumner's vast surprise, her Hp host grunted also; whereupon George H Sea Otter broke Into a series of ' gnints and guttural exclamations which CTldt'iitly appeared qlilto in telligible to her host, for Ira slowed down to Ave mlcs an hour and cocked one car to tho rear; apparently he wns profoundly Interested In whatever Information his hcnclunnn had to Im part. When George Sen Otter finished his harangue, Uryco nodded nnd once more gave his attention to tossing the miles behind Jilm. "What langungo wns that?" Shirley Sumner Inquired, consumed with curldslty. "Digger Indian," ho replied, "George's mother wns my nurse, and ho nnd I grew up together! So I can't very well help speaking tho lan guage of the tribe." They chattered volubly on many subjects for the first twenty miles; then, the road nnrrowed and com menced to climb Btendlly, nnd there after Dryco gnve all of his attention to the car, for a deviation of a foot from the wheel-rut on the outoldo of the road would hnvo sent them hur tling over tho grade Into tho deep timbered ennyons below. By reason of the fact that Bryco's gazo never wavered from the road immediately In front of the car, sho hod a chance to npprnlso him critically while pro tending to look pant him to the tumbled, snow-covered ranges to their right. Sho saw a big, supple, powerful nmn of twenty-five or six, with tho hearing nnd general demeanor of ona many years his elder, nis noo wns high, of medium thickness and Just n trifle long tho nose of a thinker. Ills cars were largo, with full lobes tho ears of a generous man. The mouth, full-lipped but firm, he heavy Jaw and square chin, the great hnnd. (most amazingly froe from freckles) denoted theruan who would not) avoid a fight worth while. Upon their arrival at the rest-house, Bryce, during dinner was vary atten tljro nnd mildly amusing, although Shirley's keen wlta assured her thnt tlids was merely a clever pose and sustained with difficulty. She was confirmed In this assumption when, after dinner, she complained of being weary and bade him good-night. She hnd scarcely left him when ho called: "George !" The half-breed slid out of the dark-nc-is nnd snt down beside him. A moment Inter, through tho open window of her room Just above the porch where Bryce nnd George Sen Otter sat, Shirley heard the former sny: "George, when did you first notice Uint my father's sight wna beginning to fail?" "About two years ago, Bryce. He began to walk with his hands held out In front of him, and sometimes he lifted Ms feet too high." "Can ho soo at all now, George?" "Oh. yes, a little bit enough to make his way to the office and back." "Poor old governor George, until you told me this afternoon. I hada't heard a word about It If I had, 1 never would have taken that two-year Jaunt around the world, And you say this man Colonel Pennington and my fnther havo been having trouble. "Toa " Here George Sea Otter gracefully unburdened himself of a fervent curse directed at Shlrloy's avuncular relative; whereupou that young lady promptly left tho window und heard uo more. i They were on tlio rond again by eight o'clock next morning, and Just as Cardigan's mill was blowing the six o'clock whistle, Bryce stopped the car at tho head of the street leading down to Uie wntr-front. "I'll let you drlvo now, George," he Informed tlus silent Sea Otter. He turned to Shir ley Sumner. "I'm going to leave you now," ho snld. "Thank you for rid ing over from Red Bluff with me. My father never leaves Uie office until the whistle blows, nnd so I'm going to hurry down to that little building you sec at tho end of the street and sur prise him." He stepped out on tho running board, stood there a moment, and ex tended his hand. Shirley had com menced a due nnd formal expression j of her gratitude for having been do-, llvered safely in Sequoia, when George Sea Otter spoke: , "Nero comes John Cardigan," he snld, "Drive Miss Sumner around to Colo nel Pennington's house," Bryce order ed, and even while ho held Shirley's luind, he turned to catch tho first glimpse of his father. Shirley follow ed hl glanco nnd saw a tall, power fully built old man coming down the street with his hands thrust a little In front of him, as if for protection from sonio Invisible assailant. "Oh, my poor old futherl" she heard Bryce Cardigan murnrir. "My ... ii ,, I, in - iii hi dear old .i I And I've let lilin grope In the dark for two years I" lie released hor hand nnd leaped "Dadl" He Called. from the car. "Dadl" he called. "It Is I Bryce. I've come homo to you at Inst." The slightly bent figure" of John Cardigan straightened with a Jerk ; he held out his arms, ' trembling with engemess, and as the enr continued on to tho Pennington houso Shirley looked bnck nnd saw Bryce folded In his father's embrace. Sho did not, however, lieur tho heart-cry with which the beaten old man welcomed his boy. "Sonny, sonny oh, I'm so glad you're back. I've missed you, Bryce, I'm whipped I've lost your heritage'. Oh, son I I'm oldl can't fight any more. I'm blind 1 can't seo my ene mies. I've lost your redwood trees even your mother's Valley of the Giants." And ho commenced to weep. for the third time In fifty years. And when the aged and helpless weep, nothing Is more terrlblo. Bryce Cardigan snld no word, but held his father close to his great heart and laid his check gently against the old man's tenderly as a woman might. And presently, from thnt silent communion of spirit, each drew strength nnd comfort. As John Cardigan, I dare sny. I've heard of him. He's been away from Sequoia 'for quite a while, 1 believe. About time he came homo to take care of that stiff-necked old father of his." Ho stepped to tho bell and pressed It, and tho butler answered. "Set a place at dinner for Miss Shirley. James," h ordered. "Thchna will show you your rooms, Shirley. I was Just about to sit down to dinner. I'll wait for you." Whllo Shirley was In the dining room Colonel Pennington's features wore nn expression almost pontifical, but when sho hnd gone, the atmos phere of paternalism and affection which ho radiated faded instantly. The -Colonel's face was in repose now cold, calculating, vaguely repellent. Ho scowled slightly. "Now, Isn't that the devil's luck?" ho soliloquized. "Young Cardigan is probably tho only man in Sequoia dashed awkward If they should bo come interested in each o titer at this time. They say he's good-looking; certainly he Is educated and tins ac quired some worldly polish Just the kind of young fellow Shirley will find Interesting nnd welcome company In a town like this. Many tilings can hnppen in a year and It will be a year betforo I con smash tho Cardi gans. Damn it." .l CHAPTER V. Along the well-remembered streets of Sequoia Bryce Cardigan nnd his I fnther walked nrm In arm, their I progress continuously Interrupted by well-meaning but impulsive Scquolans who Insisted -upon halting the pair to shako hnnds with Bryce and bid him welcomo home. In the presence of tlioso third parties the old man quickly conquered tho agitation he hnd felt .at this long-deferred meeting with his Ron, nnd when presently they loft the business section of the town nnd turned Into n less-frequented street, his emotion assumed the character of a quiet Joy, evidenced In a more prect bearing and n firmer trend, as If he strove, despite his seventy-six yenrs, not to nppear Incongruous as ho wnlked beside his splendid son. I wish I could seo you more clenr ly," ho 6ttld presently. His voice as well as his wools expressed profound regret, but thcro wns no hint of despair or heart-break now. Bryce, who up to this moment had refrained from discussing his father's misfortunes, drew the old man a little closer to his side. "What's wrong with your eyes, pal?" ho queried. He did not often address his parent, after tho fashion of most sons, as "Father," "Dad," or "Pop," They were closer to each other than Unit, nnd n rare sense of perfect com radeship found expression, on Bryce's part, In such salutations as "pal," "partner" nnd, infrequently, "old vsport." "Cataracts, son," his fatlicr nnswer ed. "Merely tho penalty of old ngc" ."But can't something be done about It?" demanded Bryce. "Can't they bo cured somehow or other?" "Certainly they can. But I shall havo to wait until they nre completely matured nnd I hnvo become completely blind; Hiui n Npeclailst w... nprinrm ' (.n Ciiititon on my eyes, nnd In nil probability my sight will be restored ' for a few yours. However, I Imvcn'l given the matter a great deal of con sideration. And 1 am about ready to quit now. I'd like to, in fnct; I'm tired." ' "Oh, but you can't quit until you've seen your redwoods ngnln," Bryce re minded him. "I suppose it's been n long time since you'vo visited the Valley of the Glnnts; your long exile t from tho wood-gobllns has made you a trifle gloomy. I'm afraid." John Cardigan nodded. "I haven't ' seen them In n year and n half, Bryce. I Last time I wns up, I slipped between tho logs on thnt old skid-road and ; like to broke my old fool neck." "Pal,, It wasn't fjilr of you to mnke me stay away so long. If I had only I known if I hnd remotely suspected ( ,t "You'd hove spoiled everything of course. Don't scold me, son. You're j all I have now, nnd I couldn't bear to send for you until you'd hnd your fling." His trembling old band crept over nnd closed upon his boy's Iinnd, so firm but freo from signs of toil, "It wns my pleasure, Bryce," ho con tinued, "nnd you wouldn't deny mo my choice of sport, would you? Ite membcr, lad, I never hnd a boyhood; I never had a college education, nnd tho only real travel I havo ever hnd was when I worked my wny around Cape Horn as a foremast hand, nnd all I saw then wns wnter nnd hard ships; all I've seen since Is my little world hero in Sequoln and In San Francisco'." "You'vo sacrificed enough too much for me, Dad." "It pleased me to glvo you nil tho advantnges I wanted nnd couldn't nf ford until I was too old and too busy to consider them. Besides, It wns your mother's wish. And you hnve enjoyed your llttlo run, haven't you?" ho concluded wistfully. "I have, Dad." Bryco's great hand closed over Uie bnck of his faUier's neck; ho shook the old man with mock ferocity. "Stubborn old lumber Jack I" ho chldcd. John Cardigan shook wIUi an In ward chuckle, for tho loving abuse hl boy had formed a habit of heaping on him "never failed to thrill him. In stinctively Bryce had realized that tonight obvious sympaUiy copiously expressed wns not tho medicine for his father's bruised spirit,; henco he elected to regard Uio letter's blindness as n mere temporary annoyance, some thing to bo considered lightly, If al the shadows fell In John Cardignn's town, Uiey went home to Uie house on the hill. Shirley Sumner's eyes wcro moist when Georgo Sea Otter, in obedience to Uie instructions of his youthful mnster, set Iter, the French maid, nnd their hand-baggage down on Uio side walk In front of Colonel Seth Pen nington's house. The half-breed hesi tated a moment, undecided whether he would enrry tho hand-baggage up to the door or leave that task for n Pennington retainer; then he noted the tenrutnins on the checks of his fair pnsscnger. Instantly ho took up the hniul-baggnge, kicked open the Iron gate, and preceded Shirley up the cement wnlk to the door. "Just wait n moment, If you please, George," Shirley said ns ho set the bnggugo down nnd stnrted back for the cnr. He turned nnd beheld her extracting n five-dollar bill from her purse. "For you, George," she con tinued. "Thank you so much." In nil his life Georgo Seo Otter hud never had such an experience he. happily, having been raised In a coun try where, with tho exception of waiters, only n pronounced vagrant expects or accepts a gratuity from n woman. Ho took Uie bill and fingered It curiously; then his whlto blood as serted Itself and he handed the bill back to Shirley. "Thank you," ho snld respectfully. "If you wero a man all right. But from n lady no. I nm like my boss. I work for you for nothing" Shirley did not understand his re fusal, but her Instlnctlvo tnct warned her not to Insist. She roturncd the bill to her purse, thanked him again, nnd turned quickly to hido tho slight flush of annoyance. Georgo Sen Otter note! It. "Lnfly," he snld with groat dignity, "nt first I did not want to carry your bnggage. I d'.d not want to walk on this land." And with a sweeping ges ture he Indlcnted tho Pennington grounds. "Then you cry a llttlo be cause my boss Is feeling bad about his old man. So I like you better. The old mnn well, he hns been like fnther to mo nnd my mother nud wo ure Indians. My brothers, too they work .for him. So If you like my boss and his old man, George Sea Otter would go to hell for you pretty damn' quick. You bet your life!" "You're a very good boy, George," she replied, with difficulty repressing a smile nt his blunt but enrnest avowal. "I am glad tho Cardigans havo such nn honest, loyal servant." George Sen Otter's dark face lighted with a quick smile. "Now you pay me," ho replied and returned to the car. Tlio door opened, and n Swedish maid stood In tho entrance regarding her stolidly "I'm Miss Sumnor," Shirley told her. "Tills Is my maid Marcelle. Help her In with Uio hand baggage." Sho stepped Into tho hall nnd cnlled: "Ooh-hooh! Nunky dunkl" "Ship ahoy I" An answering call camo to her from the dining room, across tho entrance-hall and an In stant later Colonel Seth Pennington stood in tho doorway. "Bless my whiskers Is that you, my dear?" ho 'h if J' "Why, How Did You Get Here, ShlK j ley?" cried, and advanced" to greet her. j "Why, how did you get here, Shirley? I thought you'd missed the stage." She presented her cheek" for his kiss. "So I did, Uncle, but a nice red-haired young mun nnmed Bryce Cardigan found mo In distress at Bed Bluff, picked mo up" in his cnr, and brought mo here." She sniffed adorably. "I'm so hungry," sho declared, "and here I nm, Just In Umo for dinner. Is my nnmo In Uie pot?" "It Isn't, Shirley, but It soon will be. How perfectly bully to have you with mo again, my dear I And what a charming young Indy you've grown to bo since I saw you Inst I You're why, you'vo been crying I By Jove, I hnd no Idea you'd be so gind to see me again." She could not forego a sly little smile nt his egoism. "You're looking per fectly splendid Undo Seth," she par ried. "And I'm feeling perfecUy splendid. I By Uio wny, who did you say picked I you up In his cnr?" I "Bryce Cardigan. Do you know him?" "No. we haven't met. Son of old nil: nnd It was typical of him now that the subject had been discussed briefly, to resolve never to refer to It ngnln. "Tomorrow morning I'm going to put a pair of overalls on you. nrm you with a tin can and n swnh. nm! Iset you to greasing the skldwny.s Partner, you're deceived me." "Oh, nonsense. If I hnd whimpered j that would only have spoiled every thing." j "Nevertheless, you were forced to , cnblo mc to hurry home." I "I summoned you the Instant I realized I wns going to need you." "No, yort didn't, John Cardigan. You summoned mo because, for the first time In your llfo, you were pnnlcky nnd let yourself get out of hand." His faUier nodded slowly. "And you nren't over It yet," Bryce con j tinued, his volco no longer bnnterlng j but lowered nffectlonntely. "What's j the trouble, Dad? Trot out your old ' pnnlc nnd let me Inspect it Trouble 1 must be very real when It gets my! 1 fnther on the run." j "It Is. Bryce, very rcnl Indeed. As. I remarked befpre, I've lost your! heritage for you." He sighed. "1 , i waited till you would be able to come I homo nnd settlo down to business ; now I you're homo; nnd Uiere Isn't nny busi ness to settle down to." Bryco chuckled, for he wns Indeed i far from being worried over business , matters, his consideration now being entirely for his father's peace of mind. "All right," he retorted, "FaUier has lost his money nnd wo'll havo to let ' the servants go nnd give up tho old , ! home. Thnt part of It Is settled; nnd weak, anemic, tenderly nurtured IUIi , Bryce Cnrdlgnn must put his turkey on his bnck and go Into the woods looking for a Job ns a lumberjack. . . Busted, eh? Did I or did I not henr ' tho six o'clock whistle blow at the 1 mill? Bet you a dollur I did." ! "Oh, I have title to everything , yet," ' "How I do hnvo to dig for good newsl Then It appears wo still have, a business; Indeed, we may always havo n business, for the very fnct that It Is going but not quite gouo Implies , i a doubt ns to Its ultimate departure, ; and perhaps we may yet sclkemo n j wax to retain It. If wo can save enough out of tho wreck to Insure you your customnry homo comforts, 1 1 shnn't cry, .partner. I hnve n profes sion to fall back on. Yes, slrrec. I own n shccp-skln, and It says I'm an clectricul and civil englueer." "Whntl" "I said It. An electrical and civil' engineer. Slipped one over on you at college, John Cardigan, when all the I Umo you thought I wns having n good time." "Bu-bu-but " ! "It drives mo wild to havo a man i j sputter nt me. I'm an electrical nnd ; civil engineer. I tell you, nud my two ' yenrs of travel hnvo been spent study I ing tho Installation and construction of big plants abroad," I "My dear boy I And you'vo got your degree?" "Partner, I Iwve a string of letters I I after my name like Uio tail of a 1 1 comet," "You comfort mo," Uie old mun i answered clmply, "I have reproached ' myself with tho thought that I retired )' you wIUi the sole Uiought of maklna THE LUMBER in that house of yours is worth twice as much today as when it was put there. PROTECT IT. That means PAINT. We all know that paint preserves wood but that is the mere economical argu ment. Pleasing the eye, giving to your home the same bright freshness of spring that all nature is portraying that is the duty you owe to the com munity To OUR Town. Call and obtain on estimate and our advice in the selec tion of colors most suitable, for both interior and exterior decoration. CEDAR LUMBER & COM. . COMPANY ' t APRIL SHOWERS HOLD NO TERROR For a Man To ting an Um brella The man who holds life, fire and accident INSURANCE policies is just as self-assured. Our risks are based on such sound business principles that cyclone, fire, flood or panic can not delay payments one second. DROP INTO THE BANK OF SOUTHERN UTAH AND SEE US ABOUT IT, FOSTER & GORRYl a lumberman out of you ami when I saw your lumber business sllpp'a; through my lingers " 3 . "You wero sorry I didn't hnvo . profession to fall back on, eh? Or wero you fearful lest you had raised tlio usual rich mnn's son? If the latter, you did not compliment mo, pal. I've never forgotten how hard you al ways strovo to Impress mo with a senso of tho exnet weight of my responsibility as your successor." "IIow big aro you now?" his father queried suddenly. "Well, Blr," Bryco nnswerod, for his father's pleasure putting nsido his normal modesty, "I'm six feet two Inches tall, nnd I weigh two hundred pounds In Uio pink of condition. I havo a forty-elght-Inch chest, with Ovo and a half Inches chest-expansion, nnd a reach as long as a gorilla's. My underpinning Is good, too; I'm not one, of Uieso fellows with spidery legs and a barrel-chest I can do a hundred yards In ten seconds; I'm no slouch of a swimmer; nnd at Princeton they say I inado football history."