Evening star., 1922-04-23

sauntered toward the girl. who had
gone back to the porch. He sat down
beside her She did not change her
position nor look at him.
| The children came timidly out of
the door of a new log house.
| You may go home now" said the
| teacher.
The children Joined their parents
and the little throng melted away
| x* y
DENSoN. gazing down with humid
- stare on the girls tumbled mass Of
I hair, thought that she was offering
an opportunity to a wooer.
| "You know I've had my eye on you
for some time, beauty" he Olumbled.
You don't belong in tribe like this.
no matter where it goes struggling off
to- l want you. What say?"
| She gave no sign that she heard
him.
Her stubborn indifference stirred
his quick temper.
| "See here, girl. Don't put ON airs
with me- I'm drive master Of the
| Great Onawa-a better man than any
I
say want you. I mean business"
He had been posing an eager hand.
clutching and unclenching his fingers
| for some moments. Suddenly he
stabbed the fingers into her hair and
with the other hand seized her chin
and pulled her head around.
I'm a good mind to kiss you" he
declared thickly.
| She had 1.-THE strength and agility.
| Twisting out of his grasp when he
| started to rise she slapped him furi-
ously across the face, sending him
! staggering backward.
| She did not fee toward the settle
| ment, but toward the river. where the
men were already at work "carding
the lodges" rolling the logs into the
| turbid food. Benson went humping
after her. calling to her angrily.
T. The flight and pursuit attracted at
| tention. The young man who had en-
| gagged in a colloquy with the boss
| leaned on the stan Of a cantdog and
displayed great interest. The girl
slowed her pace to a walk when she
was near the river.
Benson overlook her.
i've been laughed at once today.
and I don't propose to stand for it
| again." he told her. You stand here
can see you, so that the curse can be
taken OF that running way. 1t isn't
| going to be said about me up and
down this river"
She started to 90 on and he made a
clutch at her wrists. She slapped him
again with all her indignant strength.
The young man came running up
the bank. Benson made swing at
| him, but the latter caught the swing
| ing arm, crouched, dived forward. and
flung Roaring Bill in such a manner
that the boss body turned in the air
| and he came down on the finty slope.
close to the water. with his right arm
doubled under him In sickening fash
Ton. The arm was dislocated at the
shoulder. The young man who called
himself Jim leaped to the boss side,
calling for helpers. They came on
the run. Tho champion commanded
them to hold the boss while he
grabbed the Hopping arm. set his foot
against Benson's breast and snapped
| the bone back into the socket by a
tug and q twist, all the time Roaring
Bill exemplifying his nickname.
TIM found the girl stifiy self-pos-
J sessed when he faced her.
sI thank you" she said, and walked
away.
Her knight went and picked UP his
| cantdoK. He had thrown 1t down
when he started up the river bank.
Two Of the crew had helped Benson
| to q seat on a "jill poke" q rotting
lor that had been wedged between
the lodges of the shore. One of the
| men was mumbiing earnestly in the
boss ear The mumbled suggestions
logged his memory regarding the riv-
erman's ways Of .olden time.
Tell him to stand right there In
his tracks" he ordered his aid. i
don't dare to trust my voice on him
I right now-ths plan has got to be
| worked regular style or its no good
for . show"
+, But when he spoke his tone was
s;ngularly mild.
| Never keep honor away from q
| man who has earned it, AL who agree
! with me say 'Aye'!"
!, They ali shouted agreement. excepting
! the younx man: he found something
| bodeful In ths bosss blandness.
There's ths man VINO has earned 1t. /"
statAd Bsnson. He took his left hand
away from his aching shoulder End
4