Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-09-22

sight Of the fact that you helped pull
me out Of hole when sure needed
a pull. And. don't like this high
handed style. No; il it comes to a
showdown I'm with you Jack, as far
as | can go. What the thunder can
he dor"
Nothing that l can See" Fyfe
laughed unpleasantly. But he'll try.
He has dollars to our cents. He could
throw everything he's got on Roaring
lake into the discard aud still have
forty thousand year fixed income.
Sabe? Money does more than talk in
this country. think III pull that
camp off the Tyee."
well, maybe" Benton said. I'm
not sure
Stella passed on. She wanted to
hear. but It went against her grain to
eavesdrop. Her pause had been pure
~ involuntary. When she became con
scious that she was eagerly drinking
in each word she hurried by.
Her mind was one urgent question
mark while she laid the sleeping young
ster In his bed and removed her heavy
clothes. What sort Of hostilities did
M0nOhan threaten? Had he let hope
less love turn to the acid Of hate for
the man who nSminally possessed her?
Stella could scarcely credit that. 1t
was too much at variance with her
idealistic conception Of the man. He
would never have recourse to such
lttleness. Still. the biting contempt
In Fyfe's voice when he said to Ben
tom you underestimate Monohan.
He'll play safe; ." he's foxy That
stung her to the quick. That was not
said for her benefit. 1t was Fyfe's
profound conviction. Based on what?
He did not form judgments on momen-
tary impulse. She recalled that only
in the most direct way had he ever
passed criticism on MOnohan, and then
1t lay mostly In tone, suggested more
than spoken. Yet he knew Monohan,
had known him for years They had
FLASHED long before she was factor
In their lives.
Fyfe and Benton came to dinner
more or less preoccupied. an odd mood
for Charlie Benton. Afterward they
went into session behind the closed
door Of Fyfe's den. An hour or so lat
er Benton went home. While she
listened to the soft chutf-a -chuff a -chuff
Of the Chickamin dying away in the
distance frye came in and slumped
down In chair before the fire where
Il big fir stick cracked. lie sat there
silent, a half smoked cigar clamped IN
one corner Of his mouth the lines of
his square jaw in profile, determined.
rigid Stella eyed him cOvertly.
She leaned forward to speak. Words
Iulvered on her lips. but as she strug.
gled to shape them to utterauco the
blast Of a boat whistle came screaming
up from the water, near and shrill and
imperative.
Fyfe came out Of his chair like
shot. He landed poised on his feet,
lips drawn apart, hands clinched. Tie
held that pose for an instant. then 70.
Taxed, his breath coming with quick
sigh.
Stella stared at him. Nerves! She
knew the symptoms too well. Nerves
at terrible tension in that big splendid
body. A slight CULVER seemed to run
over him; then he was erect and calm
~ himself again. standing in Il listen.
ing attitude.
THAT'S the Panther" he said. pull
ing in to the Waterbug's landing. Did
| startle You when bounced up like a
cougar, Stellar" he asked, with Il wry
smile. Il guess / was half asleep
That whistle jolted me-"
Stella glanced out the shaded win
dow.
Some ones coming up from the float
with lantern" she said. rs there
is there likely to be anything wrong,
Jack?"
Anything wrong?" He shot a quick
glance at her, then casually, Not that
know Of"
The bobbing lantern came up the
path through the lawn. Footsteps
crunched on the gravel.
I'll 90 see what he wants." Fyfe re.
marked "Calked boots won't be good
for the porch floor"
She followed him.
stay in. It's cold" He stopped in
the doorway.
mo; I'm coming she persisted.
They met the lantern bearer ut the
foot Of the steps.
"Well Thorsen!" Fyfe shot at him.
There was an unusual note of sharp.
hess In his voice, an irritated expecta-
ton.
Stella saw that II was the skipper OF
the Panther, big and burly Dane lie
raised the lantern little. The dim
light on his face showed 1t bruised aud
swollen. Fyfe grunted.
Our boom is hung up" he said plain
lively. They've blocked the river l
got licked for arguin' the point"
"How's 1t blockedt" Fyfe asked.
1.-TWO swifters uh logs strung across
the channel. They're drivin' piles In
front. An three donkeys buntin' logs
in behind"