The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-07-04
BIZ LEO
BIZ AHERN

air OF unbroken peace soothed and
comfortcd her. sick with hurry and
swiftfooted events.
She stood for a time at the outer
wharf end. mildly interested when
the fisherman drew up n two-pound
trout. wondering n little at her own
subtle changes OF mood. Her sur.
roundings played upon her like vir.
tuoso on his violin. And this was
something that she did not recall as
a trait in her own character. She
had never inclined TO the volatile
perhaps because until the motor ac
cident snuffed out her fathers life
she had never dealt in anything but
superficial emotions.
After a time she retraced her steps
Nearing the halfway slip, she saw
that a wagon from which goods were
being unloaded blocked the way. A
dozen men were stringing in from
the road. bearing bundles and bags
and rolls OF blankets. They were
big, burly men, carrying themselves
with "A reckless swing. with trousers
cut off midway between knee and
ankle so that they reached Just be.
low the upper OF their high.topped.
heavy. laced boots. Two or three
were singing. All appeared unduly
happy. talking loudly. with deep
laughter. One threw down his bur.
den and executed a brief clog. Splint.
ers flew where the sharp calks bit
into the wharf planNing, and his
companions applauded.
1t dawned upon Stella Benton that
these might be Jack F'yfe's drunken
loggers. and she withdrew until the
way should be clear. vitality interest
ed because her brother was n logging
man, and wondering IL these were
the sort OF men with whom he as.
ISOLATED. They were a rough lot
and some were very drunk. With
the manifestations of liquor she had
but the most shadowy acquaintance.
But she would have been little less
than a fool not to comprehend this.
Then they began filing down the
gangway to the boats deck. One
slipped. and came near falling into
the water, whereat his fellows howled
gleefully. Precariously they nego.
tiated the slanting passage. All but
one: he sat him down at the slip
head on his bundle and began n
quavering chant The tnamster i'm
perturbably finished his unloading.
two men meanwhile piling the goods
aboard.
The wagon backed out, and the
way was clear, save for the logger
sitting on his blankets wailing his
lugubrious song. From below his
fellows urged him to come along. A
bell changed in the pilot house. The
exhaust of a gas engine began to
sputter thru the boats side. From
logger sharply. and when his call was
unheeded, he ran lightly up the slip.
A short. squarely.bult man he was,
light on his feet as a dancing mas.
ter.
He spoke now with authority, i'm.
patiently.
Hurry aboard, Mike; we're wait
ing"
The logger rose waved his hand
wy Aih IL W TtlItdl
down the wharf. The other caught
him by the arm and spun him face
to the slip.
Come on, Slater" he said evenly.
81 have no time to fool around"
The logger drew back his fist. He
was a fairly big man. But If he
had in mind to deal blow. IT failed,
for the other ducked and caught him
with both arms around the middle.
He lifted the logger clear OF the
wharf, hoisted him to the level of his
breast, and heaved him down the
slip as one would throw a sack of
bran.
The mans body bounced on the
incline, rolled, slid. tumbled till at
length he brought up against the
boats guard, and all that saved him
a ducking was the prompt extension
OF several stout arms. which clutched
and hauled him to the flush after