The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-07-05
BIG TIMBER
By BERTRAND w. SINCLAIR
o

Here's a nook fixed up for YOU.
stella he said briskly. 1T isn't
very fancy but It's the best | could
do just now.
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 said.
That's something, II 1t isn't what
you're used TO. Try to overlook the
erudities. Wen have supper as soon
ms you feel like it,
He went out. closing the door be-
hind him.
Miss Estella Benton stood In the
middle OF the room fighting against
swift heart.sinldng. terrible de-
preston that strove to master her.
Good Lord In Heaven" she NUT.
tered at last. What n place TO be
marooned In. LISTS simply i'm.
possible"
Her gaze rovcd about tho room.
A square box. neither more nor less,
fourteen by fourteen feet OF bare
board wall. implanted and unpapered.
There was an iron bed, willow
locker. and a rude closet for clothes
In one corner. a duplicate OF the
department-store bargain rug In the
other room lay on the floor. On an
/ tfnfiIFna1 a,
pitcher and n tin washbasin. That
was all.
She sat down on the bed and view.
cd II forlornly. A wave of sickening
rebellion against everything swept
| over her. To herself she seemed as
lirrevocably alone as II she had been
lost In the depths of the dark tim
Der that rose on every hand. And.
sitting there. she heard at length
the voices OF men. Looking out thru
a window curtained with cheesecloth.
she saw her brothers logging gang
swing past. stout woodsmen all. big
men. tall men. short bodied mon with
thick necks and shoulders. sun.
burned. all grimy with the sweat OF
their labors. carrying themselves
with n free and reckless swing, the
doubles in type OF that FOSTERING
crew she had seen embark on Jack
F'yfes boat
In 30 far as she had taken note OF
those who labored with their hands
In the region Of her birth. she had
seen few like these. The chauffeur,
the footman. the street cleaner, the
factory workers-they were all diff.
ferent. They lacked something-per.
haps nothing In the way OF physical
excellence: but these men betrayed
In every movement "A subtle differ.
ence that she could not define. Her
nearest approximation and the first
attempt she made at analysis. was
that they looked like pirates. They
were bold men and strong: that was
written In their faces and the swing
OF them as they walked. And they
served the very excellent purpose OF
taking her mind off herself for the
time being.
She watched then cluster by q
bench before tho cookhouse. dabble
their faces and hands In washbasins,
VI ~ NAthfetfHtS PfVth5tdobrfy VII
towels. sometimes one at each end
of n single piece of cloth, hauling II
back and forth in rude play.
All about that cooknouse dooryard
spread a confusion OF empty tin cans.
gaudily labeled. containers OF corn
and peas and tomatoes. Dishwater
and refuse. chips. scraps. all the
refuse of the camp was scattered |
there in uniovely array.
But that made no more than n I
passing impression upon her. She |
was thinking. as she removed her |
hat and gloves. OF what queer angles |
come now and then TO the human |
mind. She wondered why she should |
be sufficiently 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 un.
able 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.
Continued In Mondays Star)