CHAPTER VII
Shirley Sumner's eyes were still moist when George Sea Otter, inobedience to the instructions of his youthful master, set her, theFrench maid, and their hand-baggage down on the sidewalk in front ofColonel Seth Pennington's house. The half-breed hesitated a moment,undecided whether he would carry the hand-baggage up to the door orleave that task for a Pennington retainer; then he noted the tear-stainson the cheeks of his fair passenger. Instantly he took up thehand-baggage, kicked open the iron gate, and preceded Shirley up thecement walk to the door.
"Just wait a moment, if you please, George," Shirley said as he setthe baggage down and started back for the car. He turned and beheld herextracting a five-dollar bill from her purse. "For you, George," shecontinued. "Thank you so much."
In all his life George Sea Otter had never had such an experience--he,happily, having been raised in a country where, with the exception ofwaiters, only a pronounced vagrant expects or accepts a gratuity from awoman. He took the bill and fingered it curiously; then his white bloodasserted itself and he handed the bill back to Shirley.
"Thank you," he said respectfully. "If you are a man--all right. Butfrom a lady--no. I am like my boss. I work for you for nothing."
Shirley did not understand his refusal, but her instinctive tact warnedher not to insist. She returned the bill to her purse, thanked himagain, and turned quickly to hide the slight flush of annoyance. GeorgeSea Otter noted it.
"Lady," he said with great dignity, "at first I did not want to carryyour baggage. I did not want to walk on this land." And with a sweepinggesture he indicated the Pennington grounds. "Then you cry a littlebecause my boss is feeling bad about his old man. So I like you better.The old man--well, he has been like father to me and my mother--and weare Indians. My brothers, too--they work for him. So if you like my bossand his old man, George Sea Otter would go to hell for you pretty damn'quick. You bet you my life!"
"You're a very good boy, George," she replied, with difficultyrepressing a smile at his blunt but earnest avowal. "I am glad theCardigans have such an honest, loyal servant."
George Sea Otter's dark face lighted with a quick smile. "Now you payme," he replied and returned to the car.
The door opened, and a Swedish maid stood in the entrance regardingher stolidly. "I'm Miss Sumner," Shirley informed her. "This is my maidMarcelle. Help her in with the hand-baggage." She stepped into the halland called: "Ooh-hooh! Nunky-dunk!"
"Ship ahoy!" An answering call came to her from the dining room, acrossthe entrance-hall, and an instant later Colonel Seth Pennington stoodin the doorway, "Bless my whiskers! Is that you, my dear?" he cried, andadvanced to greet her. "Why, how did you get here, Shirley? I thoughtyou'd missed the stage."
She presented her cheek for his kiss. "So I did, Uncle, but a nicered-haired young man named Bryce Cardigan found me in distress atRed Bluff, picked me up in his car, and brought me here." She sniffedadorably. "I'm so hungry," she declared, "and here I am, just in timefor dinner. Is my name in the pot?"
"It isn't, Shirley, but it soon will be. How perfectly bully to have youwith me again, my dear! And what a charming young lady you've grown tobe since I saw you last! You're--why, you've been crying! By Jove, I hadno idea you'd be so glad to see me again."
She could not forego a sly little smile at his egoism.
"You're looking perfectly splendid, Uncle Seth," she parried.
"And I'm feeling perfectly splendid. This is a wonderful country,Shirley, and everything is going nicely with me here. By the way, whodid you say picked you up in his car?"
"Bryce Cardigan. Do you know him?"
"No, we haven't met. Son of old John Cardigan, I dare say. I've heard ofhim. He's been away from Sequoia for quite a while, I believe."
"Yes; he was abroad for two years after he was graduated fromPrinceton."
"Hum-m-m! Well, it's about time he came home to take care of thatstiff-necked old father of his." He stepped to the bell and pressedit, and the butler answered. "Set a place at dinner for Miss Shirley,James," he ordered. "Thelma will show you your rooms, Shirley. I wasjust about to sit down to dinner. I'll wait for you."
While Shirley was in the living room Colonel Pennington's features worean expression almost pontifical, but when she had gone, the atmosphereof paternalism and affection which he radiated faded instantly. TheColonel's face was in repose now--cold, calculating, vaguely repellent.He scowled slightly.
"Now, isn't that the devil's luck?" he soliloquized. "Young Cardigan isprobably the only man in Sequoia--dashed awkward if they shouldbecome interested in each other--at this time. Everybody in town, fromlumberjacks to bankers, has told me what a fine fellow Bryce Cardiganis. They say he's good-looking; certainly he is educated and hasacquired some worldly polish--just the kind of young fellow Shirley willfind interesting and welcome company in a town like this. Many thingscan happen in a year--and it will be a year before I can smash theCardigans. Damn it!"