The Mena weekly star., 1917-09-13

She leaned over the rail.
 Charlie Benton-for heavens saker'
 They stared at each other
 Well" he laughed at last. If 1t were not for your mouth and eyes, Stell, wouldn't have known you. Why, you're all grown upg
 He clambered to the wharf level and kissed her. The rough stubble of his beard pricked her tender skin. and she drew back
 My word. Charlie, you certainly ought to shave" she observed, with slsterly frankness "I didn't know you until you spoke. I'm awfully glad to see you. but you do need some one to look after you
 Benton laughed tolerantly.
 Perhaps. But, my dear girl a fel- low doesn't get anywhere on his ap- pearance in this country. When fel- lows bucking big timber he shucks off lot of things he used to think were quite essential. By love, you're a pie ture, Stell. If I hadn't been expecting to see you 1 wouldn't have known you"
 T doubt if 1 should have known you elther,' she returned drily.
 Stella accompanied her brother to the store. where he gave an order for sun dry goods. Then they went to the ho- tel to see if her trunks had arrived. Within few yards of the fence which inclosed the grounds of St Allwoods d man hailed Benton and drew him a few steps aside. Stella walked slowly on, and presently her brother joined her.
 The baggage wagon had brought the trunks. and when she had paid her bill they were delivered at the outer wharf end, where also arrived at about the same time miscellaneous assortment of supplies from the store and Jap anese with her two handbags. So far as Miss Estella Benton could see, she was about to embark on the last stage of her journey.
 How soon will you starty' she in- quired when the last of the stuff was slowed aboard the little steamer Twenty minutes or so,' Benton an- swered. Say" he went on casually, have you got any money, Stell? I owe fellow $50, and l left the bank roll and my check book at camp"
 Miss Benton drew the purse from her handbag and gave 1t to him. He pocketed 1t and went off down the wharf with the brief assurance that h,, Kvai5id ha e~s.no epI,- a tniputo or co
 The minute however, heightened to nearly an hour, and Sam Davis had his blow-off valve hissing, and Stella Benton was casting impatient glances shoreward before Charlie strolled lei surely back.
 You needn't fire up qulte so srrVns, sam" he called down We won't start for couple of hours yet"
 "Sufferin' Moses,' Davis poked his fiery thatch out from the engine room. T might 'a' known better'n to sweat over firin up You generally manage to make about three false starts to one l getaway"
 Benton laughed good naturedly and turned away
 Do you usually allow your men to address you in that impertinent way?" Miss Benton desired to know Charlie looked blank for a secondf then he smiled and, linking his arm affeetionately in hers. drew her or along the wharf, chuckling to himself.
 My dear girl" said he, you'd bet ter not let Sam Davis or any of Sam's s kind hear you pass remarks like that. Sam would say exactly what he thought about such matters to his boss or King l George or to the first lady of the land regardless. Sabe? We're what you'll call primitive out here yet. You want to forget that master and man bust. ness, the servant proposition, and prop CT respect and all that rot, Outside the English colonies in one or two big towns that attitude doesn't go in E. C. | People in this neck of the woods stand pretty much 9n the same class footing and you'll get in bad and get me i'll bad if you don't remember that. I've got ten loggers working Nbr me in ths woods Whether they're impertinenl or profane cuts no figure, so long as l they handle the job properly. They'rt men. you understand, not servants 1 None of them would hesitate te tel me what he thinks about me or any thing l do. If don't like it can fighi | him or fire him. They won't stand fol the sort of airs you're accustomed to They have the utmost respect for | woman, but q man Is merely a tw, legged male human like themselves whether he wears mackinaws or broad cloth. has barrel of money or nonG at all. This will seem odd to you al first. but you'll get used to it. You'l find things rather different out here. q suppose so." she agreed But il sounds queer. For instance, if one oi papa's clerks or the chauffeur hat spoken like that he'd have been dis charged on the spot"
 ''The logger's different breed" Ben ton observed dryly, 'or perhaps only the same breed manifesting under diff ferent conditions. He isn't servile. H' doesn't have to be"
 "why the delay, though?" she re verted to the point. T thought yo, were all ready to go"
 q am," Charlie enlightened, "bu while was at the store just now Pau