The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-07-06
(Confhnpsi Trvnn Yesterday
CHAPTER NNVt.
The Hind See

The blind SEQ
To those waiting for the threatened
attack upon tho power dam. the mere
torment OF continued inaction became
intolcrable. but as TO material danger,
nothing definite came. Tho keen.
eyed young soldiers on their beat
night after night. day after day.
caught no sight or sound OF any
lurking enemy, and began 10 feel re-
sentiment at the arduous hours asked
of them. Once I'm a while one trooper
would say 20 another that no saw no
sense In people getting scared Mt
nothing out In No Mans Land The
laborcrs OF tho camp were more or
less injurious. They did their al
lotted hours OF labor each day. passed
at night 20 tho bunk house. and fell
into a Hnake-liko torpor. Life seemed
quiet and innoououA Liquor WIS
prohibited. Tho regime was military.
Soon after the buglo had sounded
Retreat each evening the raw little
settlement became silent. save for the
unending requiem 20 hope which the
great waters chatting thru tho tur.
bines continually moaned. IL was ap'
parcnly place OF peace.
Doctor barnes felt reasonably sure
that the attack. II any. would come
thru tho valley at the lower dam. for
that would be the only practical entry
point OF the maraudcrs marooned
somewhere back in the hills. The
trail between these two dams lay
almost wholly above the rocky river
bed. IL would have been difficult II
not impossible 20 patrol tho bed OF
the river itself. for close TO the
no foothold could have been obtained.
evcn now. low as the water was
Therefore II seemed most neodful TO
watch tho main wagon trail along
tho canyon shelf.
IL was aun.fail OF tho third day
after Doctor Barnes had left Mary
Gage for her long wait in tho dark.
Tho mon had finished their work
about the great dam. and were on
their way TO their quarters. Sim
Gage. scout. beginning his nights
work and having ended his own at
tempt at sleep during tho daytime.
was passing. hated and beltcd, rifle
In hand. 20 tho barracks, where he
was 20 speak with tho lieutenant in
charge Tho two men OF tho color
guard stood at tho foot OF the great
staff. dressed out OF n tall mountain
spruce. At whose top nut,ercd the
flag OF thi. republic. The Ahriiling
~ tho busic's beautiful salute 90 tho
flag was ringing far and near along
tho canyon walls. IN. flag began
TO drop. slowly. into the arms Of the
waiting man. who had given oath OF
HIS lifc TO protect II always. and 60
keep I, stili fun high advanced. It
must never touch tho earth at all.
but remain n creature Of Tn. air
that In tho tradition Of our Army and
all the Ar,ny'n proud color guards.
Sim Gage stopped now. as every
man In that cncampment. soldier or
laborcr. had been trained punculously
to do. Mt tho evening gun He stood
az attention. like these others. for
sim Gage was n soldier. or thought
h. waa His eyes were fixed on this
strange thing. this creature called
the Flag. A strange. fierce jealousy
aros, In his heart for IL. n savage
love. as tho u were a thing that be-
longed 20 him His chest heayed
now In the feeling that he was identi.
fled with this guard. waiting for the
colorp TO como to roat and shelter
after the day OF duty. IL stirred him
in a way which he did not under
stand A simple. unlntelligcnt man.
Of no great Hhrewdness. tho FREQ OF
any maudiln sentiment he stood fast
In the mid street and salutsd the
flag. not because he was obliged TO
DO so. but because no passionatsly
cravcd to do no.
He turned 10 meet Annie Squire.
who was hurrying away from her
own quarters. She held I'm her hand
a letter which she waved at him as
she approached
"Lookit here,- she exclaimed.
Look what found Where's the
Door ! want TO see him right away"
Hes like enough down at the
lower dam by now" said Sim.
well. he'd ought 20 see this"