Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-02

Stella learns that Monahan Is plot
ting to hurt Fyfe's lumber business by
by mderhand means. Her baby dies
by an accident.
Stella determines to leave Fyfe and
support herself by singing Fyfe
agrees and Stella secures a position
in "A Seattle theater
Stella sees Monahan snpping with
/ woman in Seattle Her last illu-
sion yanisheS. She debates whether
she should not return to f'yfe.. but de-
cides against it.
Charles Benton and Linda Abbey
marry, Stella goes to Vancouver for
2 concert engagement. She hears OF
forest fires in Fyfe's locality harlt
has been shot by Monahan
| mar nile beyond that, beside tht
| first donkey shuddering on its anchored
! skds AS II tore an eighteen inch cedar
| out by the roots, they came on Lefty
Howe He shook his head when Stella
asked for Fyfe
| He took twenty men around to thu
main camp day before yesterday" sale
, Lefty. "There was piece uh timber
beyond that he thought he could save
well, | took shoot around there
! yesterday after your brother got hurt
Jack wasn't there Most Of the boys
was at camp loadin' gear on the scows
/ They said Jacks gone around to Tun'
/ bin creek with one man. He wasn't
back this mornin', SO | thought maybe
he'd gone to the Springs. | dunno'S
there's any occasion to worry. lie
might "a gone to the head nh the lake
night How's Charlie BentonT
She told him briefly.
That's good" said Lefty. Nov. I'd
go around TO Cougar bay if | was you
Mrs. Jack He's liable to come in there
any time. You could stay at the house
/ tonight Everything around there
sfacks and all, was burned days ago sc
the fire can't touch the house. The
crew there has grub and cook.
kinda expect Jackll he there unless he
i fell in with them constables"-
! She trudgcd silently back to the Wa,
terbug. Barlow started the engine, and
the boat took up her slow way. As
th"y Skirted the shore Stella began tC
see here and there the fierce havoc OF
the fire. Black trunks Of fir reared
markedly to the smoky aNy, lay crisscross
on bank and beach. Nowhere was there
a green blade, a Ing bush-nothing
but charred black, a melancholy waste
Of smoking litter, with here aud there
Il pitch soaked stub still waving Its
banner OF flame or glowing redly. Back
Of those scared skeletons shifting
cloud of smoke obscured everything.
Presently they drew in to Cougar bay
Men moved about ON the beach; two
/ bulky scows stood noseon to the shore
Upon them rested half dozen donke,
engines, thick bellied, upright machines
blown down, dead on their skids. About
these in great coils lay piled the gear
Of logging. miles of steel cable, blocks
the varied tools Of the logger's trade
The Panther lay between the scows
with lines from each passed over hel
towing bits.
Stella could see the outline of the
white bungalow on its grassy knoll
They had saved only that, of all the
camp, by Il fight that sent three mel
to the hospital on day when the wind
shifted into the northwest and sent d
sheet Of flame rolling through the tim
Der and down on Cougar bay like Il
tidal wave, so Barlow told her. lie
cupped his hands now AMI called to his
fellows on the beach.
No, Fyfe had not come back yet.
go up to the mouth Of Tumbllng
creek" Stella ordered.
Barlow swung the Watering about
cleared the point and stood up along
the shore. stella sat on Il cushioned
seat at the back Of the pilothonse. hard
eyed, struggling against that d at
weight that seemed to grow and grow
In her breast. That elemental fury
rigging in the woods made her shrink
Her own baud had helped to loose it
but her hands were powerless to stay
1t; she could only sit aud watch aud
wall, eaten up with misery Of her owl