The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-07-16
BIG TIMBER
BY BERTRAND w. SINCLAIR



bered. The noon sun struck flashing
on the windows. About II spread the
living green OF the grassy square.
behind that lowered the massive.
darker.hued background of the forest.
oh" she exclaimed. what
wizard of construction did the work.
That was why you fused 10 long
over those plans In Los Angeles. 1
thought II was TO be this summer or
maybe next winter. I never dreamed
you were having Il built right away"
well, isn't II rather nice TO come
home top he observed.
TITS dear. A honey looking
place" she answered. "A beautiful
site, and the house fits-that white
and the red tiles. Is tho big stone
fireplace in the living room. Jack?"
Yes, and one In pretty nearly
every other room besides" he nod
ded. Wood fires are cheerful"
The Panther turned her nose shore.
ward at Fyfe's word.
IL wondered about that foundat ton
the first time saw IT," stella con.
Tossed. whether you built Il, and
why II was never finished There
was moss over the stones in places.
And that lawn wasn't made in
single season. / know, because dad
had a country place once. and he
was raging around two or three sum.
mers because the land was 80 hard
, to get well-grassed."
mo. didn't build the foundation
or make the lawn" Fyfe told her. II
merely kept II In shape. A man
named Hale owned the land that
takes in the bay and the point when
fret came to the lake. He was
going to be married. / knew him
pretty well. But 1t was tough going
those days. He was In the hole on
some OF his timber. and he and his
girl kept waiting. Meantime he
cleared and graded that little hill.
sowed II to grass and laid the founda.
ton. He was about to start building
when he was killed. A falling tree
caught him. / bought In his land
and the timber limits that lie back
OF It. That's how the foundation
came tnerc.
ITS wonder IL didn't grow up
wild" Stella unused. How long ago
was that7"
About five years." Fyfe said. IL
kept the grass trimmed. II didn't
seem right to let the brush overrun
II after the poor devil put that labor
of love on II. II always seemed to
ne that II should be kept smooth and
green. and that there should be a big,
roomy bungalow there. You see my
hunch was correct, too"
She looked up at him I'm some
wonder. She hadn't accustomed her.
self to associating Jack Fyfe with ac.
tons based on pure sentiment. lie
was too intensely masculine. solid,
practical. impassive- He did not
seem TO realize even that sentiment
had influenced him In this. He dis
cussed IL too matter-of. factiy for that.
She wondered what became Of the
bride-to-be. But that Fyfe could not
tell her.
Hale showed me her picture
| once" he said. but I never saw her.
Oh. suppose she's married some
other fellow long ago. Hale was n
good sort. He was out.iucked. that's
ALL
The Panther slid in TO the float
Jack and Stella went ashore. Lefty
Howe came down to meet them
Thirtyfivc or forty men were string.
ing away from the camp. back to
their work in the woods. Some waved
greeting TO Jack F'yfe. and he waved
back In the hail.feilow fashion Of the
camps.
sHow's the frau. Lefty7" he In.
qrired. after they had shaken hands.
Fine. Down to Vancouver. Sis.
tcr's sick" Howe answered laconic.
ally. Houses all shipshape. wanta
eat here, or up there?"
Here at the camp. until we get
Strengthened around" F'yfe respond
ed. Tell Pollock to have something
go up and take n look"
Howe went In to convey this mes.
sage. and the two set off up the
path. A sudden spirit Of impishness
made Jack F,yfe sprint. Stella gath
cred up her skirt and raced after
him. but a sudden shortness Of
breath overlook her. and she came
painting to where Fyfe had stopped
to wait.
you'll have to climb hills and
row and swim so you'll get some
wind" Fyfe chuckled. TOO much
easy living. lady"
She smiled without making any
reply to this sally. and they entered
the house--the House OF Fyfe, that
was to be her home.
II the exterior had pleased her.
she went from room to room inside
with growing amazement. F'yfe had
finished 1t from basement to attic
without word to her that he had
any such undertaking in hand. Yet