Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-10-06

In minute the thrum of the boats en-
haust arose as she got under way.
Come on In. You'll get cold standing
there" Fyfc said to Stella.
She followed him back into the living
room. He snt on the arm of big
leather chair, rolling the dead cigar
thoughtfully between his lips, little
crcnses gathering between his eyes.
I'm going up the lake." he said at
last. getting up abruptly
whats the matter, Jack?r she ask
ed. "Why, has trouble started up
'thcre?"
Part of the logging game" he an
swcred indiffcrently. Doesn't amount
TO much"
but Thorscn has been fighting. His
face was terrible. And I've heard you
say he was one of tho most pcaccablc
men alive. Is its Monohan"--
1--WE won't discuss Monohan," Fyfc
snid CURLY. Anyway, there's no dan
ger Of him getting hurt"
He went into his den and came out
with hat and coat on. at tho door he
paused Il moment.
Don't worry" he said kindly. Moth
ings going TO happen"
But she stood looking out the window
after he left. uneasy with prescicnce
OF trouble. She watched with feverisll
interest the stir that presently arose
about the bunk houses. That summer
wide space had been cleared between
bungalow and camp. She could sec
moving lanterns and even now and then
hear the voices OF men calling to each
other. Once the panther's dazzling
eye Of scarchlight swung across the
landing. and It's beam picked out q file
OF men carrying their blankets toward
tho boat. Shortly after that the tender
rounded the point Close behind her
went the Wnterbug, and both boats
swarmcd 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 Mt the
lake head she did not know. But on
the face. OF 1t she could not avoid won
dering IL Monohan had deliberately set
out to cross nnd hnrnss Jack Fyfc-be.
cause of her? That was the question
which had lowered OH her lips that
evening. one she had not brought her
self to ask. Because of her or because
Of some cnmity that far preceded her?
She Ind thought him big enough to do
as she had done, as Fyfc was tacitly
doing-mnkc the best Of gricvous
matter.
But IL he Ind allowed his passions to
dictate rcprisnls she trcmblM for the
nl1fNnytn ,,.f.
quiet under either nffront or injury. He
would fight with double rancor If Mon
ohan were his adversary.
If anything happens up there I'll
hate myself" she whispered when the
ceaseless turning of her mind had be.
como almost uncomfortable. II was
silly, weak fool over to- let Walter Mon
ohan know I cared. And I'll hate him,
too, IL he makes me bone Of conten-
ton. I elected to play the game the
only decent way there Is ~ play 1t. So
did he, Why can't he abide by thatT
- tho next day saw THO Water
vus Acu.e 20 a quarter mile abeam OF
Cougar point to let Off lone figure In
her dinghy and then bore on. driving
straight and fast for Roaring Springs.
Stella few to the landing. Mother
Howe came putting ut her heels
Lands snke, I been worried to
DEATH" the older woman breathed.
when men git to quarrelin' about tim
Der you never can tell where they'll
stop, Mrs. Jack. I've knowed some wild
times In the woods in the pnst."
The man In the dink was Lefty Howe.
He pulled IN beside the font. When
he stepped up on the planks he llmped
perceptibly.
"Land alive, what happened yuh,
Lefty?" his wife cried.
"Got rap OH the leg with a peevy,"
he said. "Nothin' much"
"Why did the Wnterbug go down the
lake?" Stella asked brcathlessly. The
mans face was serious. what hap
pened up there?"
"Thcre was FUSS" he answered
quietly. "Three or four Of tho boys got
beat up so they need patchin'. Jacks
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
Is small matter when 1t strikes afar,
among strangers--when it comes to
ones door! Billy Dale had piloted tho
Waterbug for n 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 no
was such loyal, CHEEKY sort Of soul,
and Billy had been a part of every ex-
petition they had taken around the
lake. She could not think Of him as a
rigid. lifeless lump Of clay. Why, only
the day before he had been laughing
and chattcrlng aboard the cruiser, go
ing up and down the cabin floor on his
hands and knees, Jack junior perched
triumphantly astride his back.
"What haprened?" she cried wildly.
"Tell me, quick"
"It's quick told" Howe said grlmly.
1--WE were ready Mt daylight Mono