Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-09-08
Copyright, 1916, by Litto, Brown G. Co.

flowing by the cabins, faint call rose
long drawn:
"Tim-Dcr-r-r-r!"
Thcy moved along n path beaten
through fern and clawing blackberry
vine toward tho camp, Benton carry,
, ing the two grips. y loud, sharp cracl,
split the stiffness; then mild swish
Ing sound arose. Hard OH the heels OF
that followed Il rcnding, tearing crash
thud that sent trcmors through the
solid earth under their feet The girl
started.
trailing gang dropped n big fr,'
Charlie laughed. "You'll get used 10
that. You'll hear II h good many times
day here"
Good heavens 1t sounded like the
, end of the world" she said.
well, you can't fell stick OF tim.
Der 200 feet high and six or eight feet
through without making pretty con
siderable noise" her brother remark.
cd complaccntly. Il like that sound
myself. Every big tree that goes
down means n bunch of money"
lie led the way past the mess house,
from the doorway OF which The apron.
cd cook eyed her with fTaiih curiosity,
mailing his employer with nonclmlant
mir, II cigarette resting in one corner
of his mouth. Benton opened the door
OF the second building. Stella follow
cd him in.
Ii had the saving grace OF clcanli-
ness. according to logging camp stand.
ards. but the baroness OF II nppnllcl
her. There WAS Il rusty box heater,
Uttered with cigar and cigarette stubs:
desk fl hricatcd Of undrcSScu boards,
homemade char or two. Suudry boxes
standing about. The sole concession
TO comfort WAS rug OF cheap ANmin-
stcr covering half the toor. The walls
were decorated chiefly with misceHanc.
Gus clothing suspended from nails, n
few maps and blucrrints tackled up
askcw. Straight across from the en-
tcring door another stood njur, and
she could see further viStuS Of bare
board wall. small. dusty window pnncs
and bed wlcrcon gray blankets were
tumDled as they fell when waking
sleeper east them aside.
Benton crossed the room and threw
open another door.
Here's q nook | fixed up for you
Stella" he said br.stly. sIt isn't very
fancy, but it's the best ! could do just
now" ,s..
She followed him in silently. He set
her two bags on the floor and turned
to go. Then some impulse moved him
to turn back. and he put both hands on
her shoulders and kissed her gently.
you're home, anyway" he snid
THAT'S something. if it isn't what
you're used to. Try TO overlook the
cruditics. Wen have supper as soon
as you feel like it,
He went ont. closing the door behind
him.
Miss Estclla Benton stood in the
middle OF the room fighting against n
swift heart sinking. II terrible dcDrcs-
sion that strovc to master her.
Good Lord in heaven" she muttcr-
cd at last. what Il place to be ma
rooncd in. lt's-it's simply impossi.
ble."
Her gaze rovcd about the room. A
square box, neither more nor less. IL
by II feet OF bare board wall, unpaint-
cd and unpapcrcd. There was an iron
bed, willow rocker and rude closet
for clothes in one corner. a duplicate
Of the department store bargain rug in
the other room lay on the floor. On
pitcher and Il tin wnshbasin. That was
klk
She sat down on the bed and viewed
1t forlornly. y wave of sick cning re-
Dellion against everything swept over
her. To herself she seemed rs irrev-
ocably alone rs If she had been lost
in the depths OF the dark timber that
rose on every hand. And, sitting there,
she heard at length the voices of meil.
Looking out through q window cur.
taincd with chcesecloth, she saw her
brothers logging gang swing past
stout woodSmen all, big men, tall men,
short bodied men with thick nccks and
shoulders, sunburned. all grimy with
the sweat OF their labors, carrying
themselves with free and reckless
swing, the doubles in type OF that rois
tering crew she had seen embark on
Jack Fyfe's boat.
All about that cook house dooryard
spread confusion Of empty tin cans
gaudily labeled, containers Of corn and
peas and tomatoes. Dishwatcr and ref.
use, chips, scraps, all the refuse of the
camp was scattered there in unlovely
array.
But that made no more than pass
ing impression upon her. She was
thinking as she removed her hat and
gloves Of what queer angles como now
and then to the human mind. She
wondered why she should be sufficient.
ly interested in her brothers hired men
to drive off a compelling attack of the
blues in consideration Of them as men
Nevertheless she found herself unable
to view them as she had viewed, say;
the clerks in her fathers office.
She began to brush her hair and to
wonder what sort Of food would be
served for supper.
CHAPTER III.