The Mena weekly star., 1917-10-04


 ae was scarcely fifty yards away. .ross his shoulder he bore reddish - burden, and in his right hand was
 rnn She did not move. Bowed slight ,. under the weight, the man passed .athin twenty feet of her. so close that - could see the sweat beads glisten
 that side of his face, and saw also 4at the load he carried was the car .nes of deer.
 Gaining the beach and laying the ami --s, across a powder he straightened tfrnself up and drew a long breath. 4sen he wiped the sweat of his face. A sturdily built man about thirty, of nxop fairness, with q tinge of red io his hair and 6 liberal display of <keckles across nose and cheek bones. fze was no beauty, she decided, albeit < he displayed frank and pleasing coun- fe1ance. That he was a remarkably erong and active man she had seen for Herself. and if the firm round of his law counted for anything an individ- nal of considerable determination be- ssies. Miss Benton conceived herself fo be possessed of considerable skill at charaeter analysis.
 He put away his handkerchief, took ssp his rife, settled his hat and strode of toward the camp. Her attention how diverted from the Siwashes, she watched him, saw him go to her broth er's quarters, stand in the door a min sinte. then go back to the beach accom- panied by Charlie.
 Tn a minute or so he came rowing cross in a sliff, threw his deer aboard and pulled away north along the shore.
 She watched him lift and fall among the waves until he turned point, row ing with strong, even strokes. Then she walked home Benton was boring over some figures, but he pushed aside s his pencil and paper when she entered.
 You had visitor, I see" she re marked.
 q Yes, Jack Fyfe. He picked up a deer on the ridge behind here and bor- rowed a boat to get home"
 T saw him come out of the woods, !" { she said His camp can't be far from < here, is it? He only left the springs as 7 you came in. Does he hunt deer for z 9ort?'
 I Hardly. Oh. well, suppose it's sport for Jack, in way. He's always piking around in the woods with gun or fishing rod" Benton returned. But we kill 'em to eat mostly. It's \ good meat and cheap. get one myself now and then. However, you want to keep that under your hat-about us fel- lows hunting--or we'll have game war dens nosing around here" Are you not allowed to hunt them ?" she asked
 Not in close season. Hunting sea sons from September to December" If it's unlawful, why break the law?" she yentured hesitatingly. Isn't that rather-er"-
 "0h, bosh r Charlie derided. "A man in the woods is entitled to venison, if he's hunter enough to get it. The woods are full of deer, and a few more or less don't matter. We can't run forty miles to town and back and pay famine prices for beef every two or three days when we can get it at home In the woods"
 Stella digested this in silence, but 1t occurred to her that this mild sample Of lawlessness was quite in keeping with the men and the environment. There was no policeman on the corner, no mechanism of law and order visible anywhere. The characteristic attitude of these woodsmen was of intolerance for restraint, of complete self sufficien- eg. It had colored her brothers point of view. She perceived that whereas aa her instinct was to know the rules of the game and abide by them he, talk. Ing his cue from his environment, in dined to break rules that proved incon- Tenient, even to formulate new ones to apply.
 And suppose" said she, that game warden should catch you or Mir. Jack FFfe killing deer out of season?"
 Wed be hauled up and fined hun cred dollars or so," he told her. But BY don't catch us"
 He shrugged his shoulders and, smil- iSg tolerantly upon her, proceeded to snoke.
 Dusk was falling now, the long twi- hent of the northern seasons gradual V deepening. as they sat in silence Aong the creek bank arose the evening uoFus of the frogs. The air, now hush N and still, was riven every few min sSeH by the whir of wings as ducks in evening flight swept by above. All the sosaterous laughter and talk in the sunkhouse had died. The woods rang ea gloomy and impenetrable, save only ln the northwest, where patch of sky ssnted by diffused pink and gray re tealed one mountain higher than its iaiows standing bald against the hori- zsn
 "en, l guess it's time to turn in nonton muftied a yawn. Pleasant
 ms. Sis. Oh. here's your purse. Ss'eu part of the bankroll. You won't ave much use for money up here, any way"
 ne Tipped the purse across to her and