The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-07-07

Before. IN tho days agone. they
had been only mountains. reminders
OF an oruptive time IN the cooling OF
the carth--so many humpy places
upon a typographical railroad map.
hut now-now they were different.
They scented like home. They were
the future. They were the housing
place of the wide spaces where the
streams ran thru green valleys.
where the sagcbrush dotted the
plateau plains. and where the world
was a thing with a rim about Il;
hills soft blue ana brown and gray
and burning red In the sunlight.
black. crumplcd velvet beneath the
moon and stars. hills where the
pines grew. where his life awaited
him. new thing TO be remolded
nearer TO his own desires. and where
lived Ratiste. Agnes-and Mcdaine
Houston thought Of her with a sud
den bringing. In that moment as he
stood outside tho door OF Batlstes
cabin. he had heard himself sealed
and delivered 10 oblivion as far az
she was concerned. He was only an
acquaintance--one with erlsly
shadow In his past-~and Il was best
that he remain such. Grudglngiy.
Barry admitted the fact TO himself.
as he sat once more in the rcd.piush
smoking car. surrounded by heavy
ehouldered. soddcn.faced men. His
new crew. en- route 20 Empire Lake.
IL was best. There was Agnes. with
her debt Of gratitude TO be paid and
with her affection for him. which in
Its blindness could not discern the
fact that IL was repaid only as a
sense of duty. There was the fight
20 be nade--and the past Houston
shuddsred with the thought OF II.
Tnings were only as they should be,
Erimiy he told himself that he had
erred In even thinking OF happiness
such as comes 20 other men. His life
had been drab and gray: Il must re.
main go.
Past the cleaning lakes and eter.
nal banks OF snow the train crawied
20 the top OF the world az Crcxtline.
pufyed and Gathered thru the snow.
sheds. then ciambercd down the
mountain side 10 Tabernacle. With
his doughfaccd men about him,
Houston sought transportation. AZ
last TO obtain II. then started the
Journey 10 the mill.
mo the canon and to tho last rise.
Then a figure showed before him. a
gigantic from. running and sumbling
thru the underbrurh At one side Of
shc read. n dog bounding beside him.
II was Ba'tiste. excited. redfaced.
his arms waving like wlndmiiis. hts
voice booming even from a distance
''Nrsieu Houston. srsieu Houston,
Barcsse have fail. Batce.c no good
He watch for you--he IA glad you
come, Ra'teese asharnc'. Asname'F'
He had reached the wagon now.
painting. stiii striving to talk and
failing for iack % breath. his big
hands seeking 10 fiii in the spaces
where words had departed Houston
leaned toward him. gripping him By
= massive shoulder
whats happeneds what's
~Bavcsxe ashame-t came again be.
tween puffs OF the bis lungs. PA
teese watch one. two. trco night.
Eoshin happen Batees- think
about his Loaf trap. He think rnehbc
there IL one place where he have
not look. He say to Coleman he
win go for Jus one. two hour. No
body see. he think. So he go. And
he come back Biooey. Eet IL donel
Bateese have failr'
''But what. Ba'tlsse7 N wasn't
your fault Don't feel that way
about ne Has anything happened
TO Agnes
mo. The mill"
They've"
Look
They had reached the top Of the
rise. Below them lny something
which caused Barry Houston 10 leap
% his feet unmindfui % the 3olting
wagon. to stand weaving with white
wripped hands. TO stare with suddenly
deadened eyes
Upon a biackened. snnordering mass
q charrcd timbers and twisted ma
ehfnery. The remainder OF all that
once had been his mill.
CHAPTER
Words would not come for a mo.
Irefamkr~. .r.s.fT <.-.f.. -