The Huttig news., 1916-02-19

and spoke of lost faith in men.
 Throughout the week Poppy Ordway stood such vigil as only a woman who loves. be she good or bad, can stand. With clever jealousy she kept everything under her own capable hands, only giving gru1ghg place to Ma Daily when she could no longer command her overtaxed strength.
 One night she refused to leave San dry at all, firmly dismissing Ma, who ragged inwardly but was no match for her in the open ways of bluff At mid night the owner of the Dillingworth suddenly opened his eyes. weak and tired, but sane. He saw, on the dim background of faint light from a shad- ed candle, the transfgured face of the watcher. and with a feeble smile of utter content dropped back to ob- livion-this time the oblivion of heal ing sleep.
 With that look, that weak smile, the woman knew that he had turned his face toward life and would journey back to it, and the surge and sway of passionate joy rocked her soul in a storm of emotion.
 She stepped lightly and restlessly about. strengthening cloth on a table. tipping the candle shade at a better angle, for she felt imperatively the need of action. She picked up an empty pitcher and in the starlit dark ness went up the path to the cook shack still with that bounding. light step of victory, and entered the porch where the pump stood.
 There, alone in the night, leaning against post of the porch. & slim little figure kept also midnight vigil. The woman looked at her and all the danger that lay that way arose sud denly before her, rousing her hatred swiftly. and something ugly and cat like prompted her to strike.
 She laughed, little, low, musical laugh, and spoke in caressing tone.
 Congratulate me" she said softly. the fever has left him. I'll have him up before the first flowers bloom in the valleys. Dear boy-dear Walt"
 Siletz, moment before dropping, whirled upon her like fury Even in the dusk Miss Ordway saw the hid den fire leap up uncovered in her eyes and heard primal danger whimper in her voice.
 Wait" she cried, springing toward her and lifting hand whose slim fn- gers threatened her throat. say San- dry."
 Miss Ordway in her broadcloth sprang back against the rough blanks of the cook shack wall, her face gone white in the shadows and sudden, grip put up a useless hand--a trembling hand. palm outward-and strove to speak-once, twice.
 Then. "Sandry," she faltered like a craven. She was whipped. scared, her power gone
 But the wild thing died in Siletz as 1t had lived. on the turn of a moment, and she let out a great breath and covered her face with her hands after fashion she had.
 Mo- she whispered in her palms. he kissed me and l am his woman. Oh. l am unworthy! What would [ have done?" And she shuddered, as if in fear.
 She did not go near the man in the office. Instead she rode afar on Black Bolt. Hour upon hour she spent on the ridges, sitting with her knees clasped in her arms and her suffering eyes sweeping the dropping hills. Not for moment did she doubt Sandry He had kissed her That was suffi- cient. She was his woman With the voicing of the fact that night in Ko. lawmie's house it had come to be a part of her daily thoughts. Only with 1t there had come mighty yearning for perfection. What would Sandry have her do or be? That would she do and be. To Black Bolt and Coos nah she took her trouble, faithful loy- CTS who nudged her breast with a soft nose, licked her hand and watched her with wistful eyes.
 So the camp went forward. John and his silent crew cut steadily into the timber at the north and sent the logs down to the backwater Here he kept guard. for although there was nothing of importance that Hampden could do since he had played for the Dillingworth contract and failed. still he could steal the logs which lay all too close to the mill at the mouth of the slough-and John Daily was strung to higher pitch than he had ever been in all his lifelong timber war with the Yellow Pines.
 AS soon as Sandry was able to bear it, Daily told him of the safe delivery of the raft, of his trip home in the Indians sling. of his subsequent de- lirium, and at last showed him ths big check. At sight of the papeg, sweated and creased from pock ct wear. the sick mans face flushed and his eyes sparkled with blue flame.
 We won, John,' he said. we all won-you, l, Miss Ordway and SletZ"
 There was a little pause before tho last word and then he went on.
 ''l want to shake hands with us all