The Huttig news., 1916-02-05
CHAPTER XIII.
The Red Bar on the Waters.

A day later Miss OrdWay packed an expensive bag of real alligator and made ready for departure
 I'm going to Salem, partner" she said. 'If Hampden gets anxious enough to inquire openly, tell him I'm after-clothes."
 She smiled to herself, thinking of those millions of trees. For it's own sake, the pursuit of Hampden was be. ginning to enthrall her professional instinct, but there was a flicker of passion under her lashes, sleepy lock Of anticipation. as she glanced side wise at Sandry on the step beside her.
 l may be away week-maybe a month. I'll drop you line occa. sionally"
 A yearning sense of loss and loneli ness gripped Sandry as he took her hand at parting, lending to his clasp an unwonted tightness, and to his voice a sense of huskiness. She was home and the things thereof, this woman who was an orchid among the pines, and with her going went some thing he had scarcely realized. yet which he would sorely miss
 The camp seemed more than usually dreary in the days that followed The fog ribbons twined and twisted con- tinually along the hills, the pines brought their marching ranks closer in upon the shrinking valley, and San dry was taken with an acute attack of the blues.
 "SletZ," he said abruptly as he met the girl one noon at the pump, will you ride with me tomorrow? It's Sun- day and we can take lunch What do you say?"
 She did not meet his eyes, her own somber ones glancing down the slough.
 Yes she said quietly.
 They were up betimes the following morning. Ma Daily cooked an early breakfast and Sandry sat down for the first time with the girl at table. Con versation languished until a gentle tread sounded on the floor and the Preacher came in, his delicate face aglow from the touch of icy water John Daily, too, numbered in at the same moment
 Sleep we'll, father?" he asked
 As always, son. The lowering of Gods hand is like the sound of many wings-hushing- so hushing Isn't 1t so,- -ah-l have forgot"
 The pathetic, childlike eyes searched Sandrys face in straining inquiry.
 What is it 1 would remember?" he asked plaintively.
 Nothing, father. It is all we'll"
 Siletz had pushed back the bench for him. Now she laid her slim hand lov- ingly upon his and looked in his face smile curving up the lips above the broken sign. AS the two hands lay upon the oilcloth Sandry noticed them -one white and fine veined and shape ly, with the slender, pointed fingers of a dreamer-the other olive and shape ly and with the same slim-pointed fin gers.
 Alike" he unused, how very much alike. Why, they are counterpartsi
 As he led Black Bolt to the hammer block for Siletz to mount he heard snatches of song from the bunkhouse Collins was outside, stretching a fresh deerhide against the blanks.
 The owner turned in his saddle and looked back at the camp-his camp as they trotted away down the green valley. 1t lay snuggled tight against the pine-elad hills, primitive force in h primitive country and he thrilled to it's suggestion. As they passed the lower rollway he stopped and sur yeyed the brown slough, solid floor of logs as far as he could see, even un- til it lost itself between it's low. tule- edged banks.
 Fine" he said aloud, "our logs are drifting clear to the baekwater at To. iedo. We'll meet our date all right
 "Of course,'' said Siletz, and it was the first word she had spoken.
 At natural clearing they reined in to breathe the horses, and Sandry turned to the girl
 Sletz, he said, tell me now it IS that you have lived all your life so near the ocean and have never seen it, when you have wanted to so much?9
 The rare smile lighted her face and she turned to him.
 T was afraid she said.
 What? Afraid! Afraid of what?"
 "Of how 1t might look in truth. l know how it looks in my own pictures lt-it might not-look the same
 For a moment the man was silent