The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-07-09
BIG TIMBER
BY BERTRAND w. SINCLAIR


and for the time being too much at
peace TO permit thought that would.
in the very nature OF things. be dis.
turbing.
A hey maintained for his own
pleasure a fast motorboat. He slid
now into the bay unheard. tied up be.
side the float. walked to the kitchen.
glanced in. then around the corner,
and smilingly took a scat on the grass
near her.
ITS too perfect n day TO loaf In
the shade" he observed. after n brief
exchange OF commonplace. Won't
you come out for little spin on the
lake? A ride In the Wolf viii put
some color In your checks"
''If had time" she said. II would.
But losgers must cat tho the heavens
fall. In about 20 minutes I'll have 10
start supper. I'll have color enough,
goodness knows. once | get over that
stove"
Abbey picked norvously at a blade
OF glass for n minute.
This Is a regular dogs life for
your he broke out suddenly.
"oh. hardly that" she protested.
Its n little hard on me because |
haven't been used TO II. that's ALL"
IT'S Chinaman's work" he said.
hotly. Charlie oughtn't TO let you
stew in that Kitchen
Stella said nothing: she was not
moved TO the defense OF her brother.
She was loyal enough to her blood.
but not so intensely loyal that she
gu d defend him against criticism
that struck a responsive chord in her
own mind. She was beginning to see
that, being useful, Charlie was max.
ing use OF her. His horizon had mar.
rowcd TO logs that might be trans.
muted into money. Enslaved himself
by his cngrossing purposes, he
thought nothing OF enslaving others
to serve his end. She had come 10 a
definite conclusion about that, and
she meant TO collect her wages when
he sold his logs. collect also the 500
OF her money he had coolly appropri.
ated. and try different outlet. II
one must work. one might at least
seek work little to ones taste. She
therefore dismissed Abbey's comment
carelessly:
Some one has TO do IT.
A faint flush crept slowly up into
his round. boyish face. He looked at
her with disconcerting stcadiness.
Perhaps something in his expression
gave her the key TO his thought, or
II may have been that peculiar
psychicai receptiveness which in n
woman We are pleased TO call intui.
ton: but at any rate Stella OWNED
" h WAS coming and would have
forostalled II by rising. He prevent.
ed that move by catching her hands.
Look here, StellaY' he blurtcd out.
1T just grinds me 10 death TO see you
shaving away In this camp. feeding
lot OF roughnecks. Won't you
marry me and cut this sort OF thing
out? We'd be no end good chums."
She gently discngaged her hands,
err chief sensation one of amusc.
ment. Abbey was in such an agony
OF biushing dinidcncc. all fiustcrcd at
his own temcrity. Also. she thought.
trifc precipitatc. That was not the
SUIT VI WVVitk W Ull ntF
feet. For that matter she was quite
sure nothing Paul Abbey could do or
say would ever stir her pulses. She
had TO put an end TO the situation,
however. She took refuge in a Zip
pant manner.
Thanks for the compliment. Mr..
Abbey" she smiled. But really /
couldn't think OF infiicting repent.
ance at leisure on you in that ofYhand
way. You wouldn't want me to marry
you just so l could resign the Job
OF chef. would your"
Don't you like me?" he asked.
plsintiveiy.
mot that way she answered. pos.
itively.
You might try" he suggested
hopefully. Honest, I'm crazy about
you. I've liked YOU ever since l saw
you first wouldn't want any
greater privilege than to marry you
and take you away from this sort OF
thing. You're too good for It. May.
be I'm kind OF sudden. but l know
my own mind. Can't you take a
chance with me7'
I'm sorry" she said gently. seeing
him SO sadly In earnest. 1T isn't
question OF taking a chance. don't
care for you. I haven't got any feel.
ing but the mildest sort of friendli.
ness. II I married you. It would only
be for home, as the saying is. And
LIN not made that way. Can't YOU
see how impossible Il would bep"
You'd get to like me-" he declared.
I'm just as good as the next man.
His smooth pink-and.white skin
Redeemed again.
THAT sounds a lot like footing my
own horn mighty strong,v said he
But In in dead earnest. II there
isn't anybody else yet, you could like