Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-09-27
CHAPTER XVI.
. The Fire Behind the Smoke.


THIS Is no intimate chronicle Of
Charlie Benton and Linda Abbey,
save in so far as they naturally
furnish logical sequence in what
transpired. Therefore the details Of
their courtship and nuptials Is Of no
particular concern. They were welded,
dined as befitted the OCCASION, and de-
parted upon their hypothetical honey
moon, surreptitiously abbreviated from
an extravagant swing over half OF
North America to seventy miles by rail
and twenty by water, and month OF
blissful seclusion, which suited those
two far better than any amount OF
Pullman touring, besides leaving them
money in pocket.
Charlie and Linda were married on
an early day in June at the home of the
Abbeys in Vancouver. Stella had run
over for the wedding and then had
caught the next boat back for Seattle
so as to interfere as little as possible
with her engagements.
Time passed quickly and uneventfully
enough between the wedding day and
the date Of her Granada engagement.
1t seemed mere breathing space be-
fore the middle of July rolled around
and she was once more aboard Van
couver boat. In the interim she had
received letter from the attorney who
had wound up her fathers estate, init
mating that there was now n market
dcland for some oil stock that had
been considered of no value, and asking
IL he should sell or hold for Il rise in
price which seemed reasonably sure
Stella telcgraphcd her answer. II that
leftover Of speculative period would
bring a few hundred dollars 1t would
never he of greater service TO her than
now.
All the upper reach Of Puget sound
haskcd in its normal midsummer haze,
the day Stella started for Vancouver.
That great region Of island dotted sea
and the foot of the coast range lay
bathed in summer sum- untroublcd, som
nolent. But nearing the international
boundary the Charlotte drove her TWEEN
ty knot way into thickening atmos-
phere. Northward from Victoria the
rugged shores that line those inland
waterways began to appear blurred.
Just north of Active pass, where the
steamers TAKE to the open gulf again, a
vast bank Of smoke flung up blue and
gray, n rolling mass. The air was pun
gent, oppressive. When the Charlotte
SPAWNED the thirty mile gap between
Vancouver island and the mainland
shore she nosed into the Lions Gate
under slow bell, through smoke pail
thick as Bering fog. Stella's recollec-
lion swung back to Charles uneasy
growl Of month earlier. Fire.
Throughout the midsummer season
there was always the danger Of fire
breaking out In the woods. Not all the
fire ranger patrols could guard against
the carelessness Of fishermen and camp
ers.
Its tough summer over here for
the timber owners" she heard man
remark. 1--WE been twenty years on
the coast and never saw the woods 80
dry"
"Drys no name" his neighbor re.
sponded ITS like finder. A cigarette
stub II start blaze forty men couldn't
put ont. It's me that knows II. I've
got four limits on the North Arm, and
there's fire on two sides OF me. You
bet Tn praying for rain"
"They say the country between Che
halls and Roaring lake is one big
blaze" the first man observed.
80" the other replied. "pity too.
Fine timber Is there. came near buy.
ing some timber on the lake this spring,
Some stun that was on the market as