The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-07-03

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
gnngway TO the boats deck. One
slipped. and came near falling into
the water. whereat his fellows howled
glccfully. Precautionary they nego.
tiated the slanting passage. All but
one: he sat him down at the slip.
ead on his bundle and began a
auavering chant The teamster 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 gas engine began TO
sputter thru the boats side. From
her afterdeck man hailed the
logger sharply, and when his call was
unheeded. he ran lightly up the slip.
A short. squarely-built man he was.
light on his feet as n dancing mas
ter.
He spoke now with authority, I'm.
patiently.
Hurry aboard. Mike; we're wait.
ing"
The logger rose. waved his hand
airily. and turned as IL TO retreat
down the wharf. The other caught
him by the arm and spun him face
to the slip.
Come on. Slater" he said evenly.
II have no time to fool around"
The logger drew back his fist. He
was a fairly big man. But IL he
had in mind to deal n 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
deck. He sat on his launches blink
ing. Then he laughed. So did the
man at the top OF the slip and the
lumberjacks clustered on the boat.
Homeric laughter. as at some sur
passing Jest. But the roar OF him
who had taken that inglorious de-
scent rose loudest of all, an explosive,
'Har-har-har!'
He clambered unsteadily to his
feet. his mouth expanded in an am
liable grin.
Hey, Jack" he shouted. Maybe
y en- throw m blankets down, too,
while y'r at it."
The man at the slip-head caught
up the roll. poised II high. and cast
II from him with a quick twist of
his body. Tho wooden missile flew
like a well.put shot and caught its
owner fair in the breast, tumbling
him backwards on the deck--and the
Homeric laughter rose in double
strength. Then the boat began to
swing. and the man ran down and
leaped the widening space as she
drew away from her mooring.
Stella Benton watched tho craft
gather way, trifle shocked. her
breath coming a little faster. The
most deadly blows she had ever seen
struck were delivered in a more sub.
tie, less virile mode, a curl OF the
lip, an infection Of the voice. These
were a different order Of beings.
This. she sensed, was man in more
promitive aspect, man with the con-
ventional bark stripped clean off
him. And she scarcely knew whether
to be amused or frightened when she
that among such her life
would presently lie. Charlie had
written that she would find things
and people trifle rougher than she
was used to. She could well believe |
hat But-they were picturesque