The Mena weekly star., 1918-01-17

All the upper reach of Puget sound basked in it's normal midsummer haze, the day Stella started for Vancouver. That great region of island dotted sea spread between the rugged Olympics and the foot of the coast range lay bathed in summer sun, untroubled, som nolent. But nearing the international boundary the Charlotte drove her twen- ty knot way into a thickening atmos- phere Northward from Victoria the rugged shores that line those inland waterways began to appear blurred. Just north of Active pass, where the steamers take to the open gulf again, a vast bank of smoke flung up blue and gSy rolling mass. The air was pun gent, oppressive. When the Charlotte spanned the thirty mile gap between Vancouver island and the mainland shore sine nosed into the Lions Gate under slow bell, through a smoke pail thick as Boring fog. Stella's recollec- ton swung back to Charlie's uneasy grow1 Of month earlier Firel Throughout the midsummer season there was always the danger of fire breaking out in the woods Not all the fire ranger patrols could guard against the carelessness of fishermen and camp. CTS.
 Its a tough summer over here for the timber owners" she heard a man remark. I've been twenty years on the coast and never saw the woods so dry"
 "Dry's no name." his neighbor re- Bponded. Its like finder. A cigarette stub II start blaze forty men couldn't put out. It's me that knows it. I've got four limits on the North Arm. and there's fire on two sides of me. You bet I'm praying for rain"
 'They say the country between Che halis and Roaring lake is one big blaze" the first man observed.
 "So?" the other replied. Pity too, Fine timber Is there. came near buy. ing some timber on the lake this spring. Some stuff that was on the market as a result of that Abbey -Monohan split. Glad I didn't now. I'd just as soon have all my money out of timber this season."
 They moved away in the press of dis embarking, and Stella heard no more of their talk. She tcok Q taxi to the Granada. and she bought paper in the foyer before she followed the bell h<w fx. kaw. nIxs taken off her hat and settled down to read when the telephone rang Linda's voice greeted her when she answered.
 T called on the chance that you took the morning boat" Linda said. "Can run i'm I'm just down for the day. I won't be able to hear you sing, but I'd like to see you, dear"
 Gan you come right now?" Stella asked. Come up and we'll have some thing served up here. I don't feel like running the gantlet of the dining room just now"
 'T'll be there in a few minutes," Lin da answered.
 Stella went back to her paper. She hadn't noticed any particular stress laid on forest fires in the Seattle dai- lies, but she could not say that of this Vancouver sheet. The front page reek- ed of smoke and fire She glanced through the various Items for news of Roaring lake, but found only brief mention. It was reported" and "as- serted" and ''rumored" that fire was raging at one or two points there, statements that were overshadowed by positive knowledge of greater areas nearer at hand burning with fierce ness that could be seen and smelled. The local papers had enough feature stuff in fires that threatened the very suburbs of Vancouver without going so far afield as Roaring lake.
 Linda's entrance put a stop to her reading without, however, changing the direction of her thought. for after an exchange of greetings Linda divulged the source of her worried expression. which Stella had immediately remarked.
 'Who wouldn't be worried" Linda said, with the whole country on fire and no telling when it may break out fin some unexpected place and wipe one out of house and home"
 'rIs it so bad as that at the lake?" Stella asked uneasily. There's not much in the paper. I was looking
 "It's so bad" Linda returned, with a touch of bitterness, that I've been driven to the Springs for safety; that every ablebodied man on the lake who can be spared is fighting fire. There has been one man killed and there's half a dozen loggers in the hospital suffering from burns and other hurts. Nobody knows where 1t will stop. Char lies limits have barely been scorched, but there's fire all along one side of them. A change of wind-and there