Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-09-08


logging lumber In British Columbia
Charlie tells Stella Of his prospects and
describes his primitive manner of living
lilo introduces Il nci,hbor, Paul Abbey
The st. -tllwoods' car was rolling out
to llopyard when they came back. BY
the time Benton had turned the canoe
over to the bathhouSc man AMI reach
cu the wharf the horn of the returning
machine sounded down the road. They
waited. The ear came to Il stop ut
the nhutting wharf The driver hand
cd two suit cases off the burdcncd hood
OF his machine. From out the tonncal
clnmhcrcd Il large, smooth faced young
man. He wore an expansive smile in
addition to Il blue serge suit. white
panama and polished tan oNfords. and
he bestowed II hearty greeting upon
Charlie Benton. Rut his smile sur-
frrcd eclipse and II faint flush rose in
his round ch""kS whru his eyes fell
upon Ernt"n'S sister.
Miss R"nton's cool, impcrSonal man
ncr seemed rather to hrightcn the
young mans embarrassment. Benton,
apparently observing nothing amiss,
introduced them in IN orhand fashion.
"Ar. Abbey, my sister,"
Mr.. Abbey bowed and murmurcd
something that passed for acknowl-
cdEmcnt. The three turned up the
Wharf toward where sam Davis had
once more got up steam. AS they
walked Mr.. Ahhcy'S habitral assurance
rl hn IL !,
genial flow Of conversation TO Miss
frht"n. Il" Strlla's inner amusement,
however. he did not make any refer
"nce to their having been fellow trav-
clrrS for Il day and II half
Presently they were embarked and
under way. Charlie fixed Il seat for
her on the attrrlrcli and went for
ward to steer. WHITTIER he was >tlai-ht-
way joined by Paul Abbey. Miss Ben
ton WAS rs we'll pleased 10 be alone.
She was not sure she should approve
OF young men who made such crude
efforts to &crape acquaintance with
women on
After ABOUT hours run, with the
south wind i, inning to whip the
crcSts Of the short seas into white
foam, the boat bore IN to landing be-
hind low point. Here Abbey discm-
barkcd after taking the trouble to
come aft and shake hands with polite
farewell. STANDING" on the float, hat
IN hand, he bowed his sleek blond
head to stella.
II hope you'll like Roaring lake, Miss
Rcnton,' he said as Ecmtnn inelcd the
90 ahead bcl IL tried to persuade
Charlie TO stop over awhile, so YOU
could meet my mother and sister, but
He's in too big hurry Hope to have
the pleasure of meeting you again
SOON
Miss Benton PARTED courtcously, a
little at II loss to iathom his bland
frrndlincss. and presently the widen
ing space cut off their talk. AS the
boat drew oIlShurc she saw two wom-
en- in white come down toward the
float. meet Abbey and turn back. And
little farther out through an opening
in the woods she saw Il white and
green bungalow. low and rambling,
wide vcrandacd. set on a hiIock 300
yards back from shore. There was an
cncircln;; area of smooth lawn, Il place
rcStlnly inviting.
Far ahead doomed n ridge running
down to the lake shore and cutting
off in hold promontory. That was
Halfway Point. Charlie had told her,
and under its shadow lay his camp.
Without any previous knowledge of
camps, she was approaching this one
with less eager anticipation than when
she began her long journey. She be-
gan to fear that it might be totally un-
like anything she had been able to
imagine, disagreeably so.
In due course the Chickamin bore in
under Halfway Point, opened out n
sheltered blight where the watcry COM
motion outside raised but a faint rip
pie, and drew in alongside float.
The girl swept lake shore, bay and
sloping forest with Quickcning eye
Here was no trim painted cottage and
no velvet lawn. In the waters beside
and lining the beach tioatcd innumer-
able logs, confined by boom sticks; hun
drcds Of trunks Of fir, forty and sixty
feet long, four and six feet across tho
butt, timber enough, when it had pass
cd through the sawmills, to build four
such towns as IIopyard. Just back
from the shore, amid stumps and lit
tered branches. rose the roofs of divers
buildings. One was long and low
Hard by it stood another of like type,
but of lesser dimension. Two or three
mere Shantics lifted level with great
stumps - crude, implanted buildings
Smoke issued from the pipe of the
larger, and white aproncd man stood
in the doorway.
Somewhere in the screen Of woods a
whistle shrillcd. Benton looked at his
watch.
"We made good time in spite OF the
little roll" said he. "That's the don
key blowing quitting time, 6 o'clock.
Well, come on up to the shack, sis.
Sam, you get Whcclbarrow and run
those trunks up after supper, will
your"
Away in the banked timber beyond