Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-09-24

Btlt she stood cooking out the window
after he left, Uneasy With u prcscience
on trouble. She watched with feverish
interest the stir that presently arose
about the bunk houses. That summer
wide space had been cleared between
bungalow and camp She could see
moving lanterns and even now and then
hear the voices Of men calling to each
other. Once the Panther's dazzling
eye of a scarcllight swung across the
landing, aud its beam picked out Il file
Of men carrying their blankets toward
the boat. Shortly after that the tender
rounded the point Close behind her
went the Watering, ana both boats
swarned with men.
Stella looked and listened until there
was but faint thrum far up the lake
Then she went to bed, but not to sleep
What ugly passions were loosed at the
lake head She did not know. But on
the face of il, s!" could not avoid won
dering If Monohan had deliberately set
i
cause Of her? That was the question
which had lowered on her lips that
evening, one she had not brought her
self to ask Because of her or because
, { some enmity that far preceded her?
,.le had thought him big enough to do
as she had done, as Fyfe was tacitly
doing make the best Of grievoua
matter.
But if he had allowed his passions to
dictate rcprisals she trembled for the
outcome. t'yfe was not a man to sit
quiet under either aff'ront or injury lie
would fight with double rancor if Mon
ohan were his adversary.
If anything happens up there III
hate myself" she whispered when the
ceascless Tuning Of her mind had be-
come almost unendurable Il was a
SILLY, weak fool ever to let Waiter Mon
ohan know | cared And I'll hate him,
too, if he makes me a bone Of conten-
ion. ! elected to play the game the
Only decent way there is to play Il. SO
did he. Why can't he abide by thatT
Noon of the next day saw the Water
bug heave to quarter mile abeam OF
Cougar point to let off n lone figure In
her dinghy and then bore on, driving
straight and fast for Roaring Springs.
Stella flew to the landing. Mother
Howe came putting at her heels.
Lands sake, been worried to
DEATH the older woman breathed.
when men git to quarreln' about tim
Der you never can tell where they'll
stop, Mrs. Jack. I've knowed some wild
times in the woods in the past"
The man in the dink was Lefty Howe.
He pulled in beside the float. When
he stepped up on the planks he limped
perceptibly.
Land alive, what happened yuh,
Lefty?" his wife cried.
Got rap on the leg with a peeyy,"
he said "Nothin much"
"Why did the Waterbug 60 down the
lake?" Stella asked breathlessly. The
mans face was serious. "What hap
pened up there?"
There was fuss" he answered
quietly. "Three or four Of the boys got
beat up SO they need patchin'. Jack S
takin'. em down to the hospital. Blast
that yeller headed Monohan!" his voice
lifted suddenly in uncomfortable anger.
"Billy Dale was killed this mornin',
mother"
Stella felt herself grow sick. Death
il a small matter when it strikes afnr,
among strangers when it comes to
ones door! Billy Dale had piloted the
Watcrbug for year, chubby, round
faced boy Of twenty, foster son Of
Mother Howe's before she had children
of her own. Stella had asked Jack to
put him on the Waterbug because he
was such a loyal CHEEKY sort of soul,
and Billy had been n part OF every ex-
petition they had taken around the
lake. She could not think Of him as n
rigid, lifeess lump Of clay. Why, only
the day before he had been laughing
and chattcring aboard the cruiser, go
ing up and down the cabin floor Oh his
hands and knees. Jack Junior perchetl
triumphantly nstride his back.
"What happcncd?" she cried wildly.
TEL me, quickr
tits quick told" Howe said grimly.