The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-08-07
BIG TIMBER
BY BERTRAND wv. SINCLAIR


sought for the cause. lie could not
nnd IL. stella could hear him nut.
terinR profanity. turning the rs.
wheel over, getting an occasional ex.
plouion.
An hour passed. Dark OF the PIT
descended. ahrouding the lake with
"A sable curtain. close folded. impene.
trable Tho dead stiffness OF the day
vanished before hot land breeze.
and Stella, as she felt tho launch
DRIFT. knew by her experience on the
lake that they were moving offAhore.
Presently this was confirmed. for out
OF tho black wall on tho west. from
which tho night wind brought
stifiing purs OF smoke. there lifted
a yellow erulgcnce that grew to
rcd glare an the boat dfifted out
Soon that red glare was glowing
line that rose and fell. dipping and
rising ana waVcring along "a two mile
stretch. a ficry surf beating against
the forest.
Down In the engine room Barlow
finally locatcd the trouble. and the
motor took up is laborn. spinning
with "A rhythmic chatter of valves.
The man came up into the pilot
house. wiplng the sweat from his
grimy face.
Gee. I'm sorry. Mrs. F'yfe." he
said. "A gas engine man would IA
nxed that In i've minutes. Took me
I " O hours 10 md out what was
wrong. i'm be a heck % job to
fetch Cougar bay now
Iiut by luck Barlow made his way
back. laundering fairly Into the land.
ing at tho foot of the path that led
to tho bungalow. az IL the cruiser
know tho way 20 her old berth. And
as he reached the fioat. tho from,
windows on IN. hillock broke out
yellow. pale blura in the smoky light.
well. say" Barlow pointed II
bet a nickel Jacks home. Seer No.
body but him would be In the house"
I'm so up" Stella said.
IAN right. | gucns you know the
path bc,ter'n do" Barlow said.
I'm take the Bug around into the
bay"
Stella ran up the path. She halted
halfway up the steps and laaned
tho rail TO catch her breath.
Then she went on. Her step was
for tucked in behind n
cushion aboard tho watcrbug she
had found an old pair OF her own
shoes. rubbcr-noled. and Hho had put
them on to ease tho ache In her feet
b orn OF % hours encas~mcnt In
leather. She gained the c.sor with.
out a sound. IL was wide open. and
in tho middle Of tho biz room Jack
Fyfo stood with hands thrust deep
In his pockets. staring abnentiy at
the fioor.
She took n step or two inside.
Fyfo did not hear her. he did not
look up.
"Jackr'
lie gave ever 30 slight a start.
looked up. stood with head thrown
back a Little. Bu; he did no; move.
or answer. and Stella. looking at
him. seeing tho fame that glowcd in
his cyea. could not speak. Something
seemed 20 choke her. something that
was a strange compound Of relief
and bewiidcrmen, and a slow won.
der at herself AT the queer. un,
steady pounding of her heart
''How did you get way UP hsr~T-
he asked az last
LINDA wired last night that Char
Ito was hurt. l got n machine TO the
Springs. Then Barlow came q W n
this Rftcrpoon looking for you. lie
said you'd been missing for two days
SO -
She broke off. Fyfc was walking
toward her with that peculiar. light.
footed step OF his. a queer. tense
look on his face.
Nero fiddicd when Rome was
burning" ho said. harshly. did
you come 10 sing while my Rome
goes up In smoker
A little. half strnnglcd sob escaped
her. Sho turned 20 30. But he
caught her by tho arm.
There. lady" he said. with a swif,
change OF tone. n didn't mean to
slash at you. ! suppose you mean
ali right. But just now. with every.
thing gone To the devil. TO look up
and sec YOU hcrc-I'yo really got an
ugly temper. Stella. and IFS pretty
near the surface these days. I don't
want to be- piticd and syrnpathixed
with, I want to night. l want TO hurt
somebody
Hurt me. them she cried
He shook HIS head sadly.
81 couldn't do that" no said mo.
/ can't Imagine myself ever doing
that
sWhy7" she asked. Knowing why.
but wishful TO hear in words what
his eyes shouted.
because I love You" he said.
you know well enough why"
Sho lifted her one free hand 10
his shoulder. Her face turned up TO