Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-03

Stella learns that Monahan Is plot
ting to hurt Fyfe's lumber business by
by undelhand 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 Seattle theater
Stella sees Monahan srppng with
a woman in Seattle Her last illu,
sion vanishes. q nc debates whether
she should not return to Fy!e, hut de
cides against 1t.
Charles Benton and Linda Abbey
marry. Stella goes to Vancouver for
a concert engagement. She hears of
forest fires in Fyfe's locality, Charlie
has been shot by Monahan.
Charlie is not seriously wounded
Stella learns that Monahan had set
fire to the woods and that Fyfc Is
) r'linod-s Stella returns to her home
and husband.
ITS wiped out" he said happily.
THE states clean Fair weather didn't
get us anywhere. 1t took storm
Well. the storms over"
She stirred uneasily in his arms.
Haven't you got the least bit Of re-
sentiment, Jack, for all this trouble I've
helped to bring about?' she fall
tered.
why, no." he said thoughtfully.
"All you did was to touch the fire.
works Off And they might have start
ed over anything. Lord, no! Put that
idea out of your head"
II don't understand" she murmured.
Il never had quite understood why
Monohan should attack you with such
savage bitterness-tha trouble he
started on the Tyee, then this criminal
firing of the woods. I've had hints,
first from your sister, then from Lin
da. | didn't know you'd clashcd be-
fore I'm not very clear on that yet.
But you knew all the time what
he was. Why didn't you tell me.
Jack?'
We'll maybe | should have" Fyfc
admitted. But | conldn't very well
Don't you see? He wasn't even an
incident until he bobbed up and res
cuca you that day. couldn't after
that start in picking his character to
pieces rs II matter Of precaution. We
had a sort of armed truce He left
me strictly alone. I'd trimmed his
claws once or twice already. ! sup
pose he was acute enough to sec IN
opportunity to get whack at me
through YOU You were just li'-lng
from day to day, creating world Of
Illusions for yourself, nourishing your
self with dreams, smarting under a sti.
fled regret for lot you thought you'd
passed up for good. He wasn't fac
tor at first. When he did finally stir
In YOU an emotion had failed to stir
IL was too late for me to do or say
anything II I'd tried at that stage Of
the game to show your idol's clay feet
you'd have despised me. as wei, az re-
fused to believe. couldn't do any
thing but stand back and trust the
real woman Of you to find out what
quicksand you were building your
castle on. pulposely refused to let
you go when you wanted to 90 away
the first time, partly on the kids nc
count, partly because could hardly
bear to let you go-mos.ly because
wanted to make him boil over and
show his teeth, on the chance that
you'd be able to size him up
"you see, knew him from the
ground up. knew that nothing would
afford him keener pleasure than to
take away from me woman | cared
for and that nothing would make him
squirm more than for me to checkmato
him. That day cuffed him and choked
him on the point really started him
properly. After that you. rs some
thing to be desired and possessed, run
second to his feeling against me- He
was bound to try to play even, re-
gardlcss Of you. When he preclpitatod
that row on the Tyce | knew It was
going to be n fight for my financial life,
for my own life If he ever got me fonl
And It was not n thing | could talk
about to You, In your state Of mind
then. You were through with me. re.