Evening star., 1908-01-19
By
CAROLINE LOCKHART
Copyright.

saw the stout figure of S b. Bates strid-
ing from the house on the hill to tho
bridge with an unmistakablc air OF de-
termination. In the exact center of tho
bridge she knelt and began to saw on
the big log supporting the small cross
poles which formed the structure.
Stout was aghast. Who would have be-
lieved the woman capable OF such vindic-
tiveness? S. B. Bates was going to saw
the bridge in two and move away her
half, Stout knew that expostulations
were useless and he had no notion of ex-
posing himself to an attack with the wire
clippers. He could only stand sloomily
watching the strong. machine-i like motion
the wood while the girl from the Half
magpie
When the log was cut. and that side OF
the bridge sagged into the water. she be-
gan with equal vigor upon the log sup
porting the other end of the cross poles.
She sawed with ferocity which was for
midable even at distance. Could II he
that she was SO intent upon revenge that
the thought of disaster to herself did not
occur to her?
There was nothing of the COOL level
headed s. B. Bates in the painting. excited
woman who sawed so savagely upon the
hardwood beam. In her jealousy she was
truly feminine. Infuriated by the sight OF
the girl from the Half Way House rirt-
ing with Stout as she supposed, perhaps
ridiculing herself. she had only ono
thought and that was to prevent the
girl from crossing the bridge, and at the
same time to prove conclusively to Stout
that she was done with him forever.
Blinded with rage as she was, her ord-
narily good judgment forsook har. She
meant to retreat in good time, but she
intended also as thoroughly to destroy
the bridge as she could before she went
While Stout strained his eyes in the in
tensity Of his interest the log suddenly
parted. and, even from his doorstep, he
could see the splash which followed the
disappearance Of S. b. Bates into the
river.
Stout's long legs stood him in good
stead: he ran as he never had run before.
the shrill, despairing cries from the river
nSSAh6 dpcH MIN ihc spurs lie TcdCHeu
the bank just in time to see S. 3. Bates
head bobbing around the bend. She was
clinging to two OF the bridge poles and
shreking as she went. Stout ran along
the river bank calling to her to keep up.
That he was coming. That he would save
her! As he turned the bend an inarticu-
late cry OF relief broke from him-S B.
Bates had washed into the wire fence.
Her ruddy face was white and she looked
at him piteously. all the anger gone from
her black eyes.
Hang on" Stout begged.
Don't come in,'' cried s. B. Bates.
Get a pole. 1 can hold on a little
longer
Panic-stricken, the girl from the Half
Way House left her horse and ran in
order to get to the river quicker. Hyster-
ical and exhausted. she dropped to tho
ground before she reached the wire fence.
Don't go in. You'll drown'd! Please.
please don't go i'm she screamed. But
Stout did not even hear her. He rushed
to and fro until he found a tall saplinE
and this he literally pulled up by the
roots. He waded into the water as long
as he could keep his feet and then he
cautiously pushed out the end Of the pole
Trusting to him, she let go her hold on
the fence and Stout. wading slowly
ashore, deposited s. B. Bates upon the
bank.
If you had drowned. s. b." he ex-
claimed. and with the reaction from his
fright came a At of trembling
Would you have cared?" asked rs. B."
wistfully. looking at him with softened
eyes.
"Cared?'' Stout's voice choked
LAS much as If 1t had been hero de-
manded IS. B." with more energy, jerk
ing her head toward the still hysterical
girl from the Half Way House.
"S. b." exclaimed Stout. IS. B..
you are jealous" The sudden under
standing which flashed upon him il
lumined his face and-in courage born
of a new and delicious sense of impcr-
tance-he took her unresisting hand
We'll build up the bridge as soon as
the crick goes down-Walter,". answered
s. B. Bates coyly.