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

But the woman, her arms about
houstons' neck. could only announce
Historically that she had seen the
min burning. that sho had sought
help and had failed to find Il.
Then you noticed no one around
the place."
only Ba'tiste."
"Rut that was an hour or 30 be
fore
The hig French Canadian had
moved away, 20 stand IA doicful con
temptation OF the charrcd mass. The
voice OF Agnes Jierdon sank low;
Il don't know. Barry. l dent
want TO accuse"
you don't moan"
can know /. that saw him
leave the place and 80 over the hili.
Fifteen minutes later. l saw the mill
burning and ran down there. All
about the place rags were burning
and could smell kerosene. That's
an saw. But In the absence OF
any one else. what should person
think
Houston's lips pressed tight. lie
turned angrlly. the old Strip OF sus.
piclon upon hiu--susplcion that
would point In time OF stress TO every
one about him. suspicion engendcrcd
by black days Of hopeicssncss. OF
despair. But In an instant. Il all
was gone; the picture OF Batiste Re-
maud. standing there by the embers.
the honesty % his expression OF sor.
row. the slump % HIS shoulders.
while the dog. unnotsced. muKzied It's
cold nose In limp hand. was enough
10 wipe IL all out forever. HouNton's
eyes went straight 20 those Of Agnes
Jicrdon and conferred there.
Agnes" came slowly. Il want 20
ask a favor. No matter what may
happen. no matter what you may
think personally. there a. onc man
who trusts me as much as you have
trusted me. and whom I shall trust
In return. That man a. Batiste Re.
maud. my friend. hope you can
find friend In him. too. but II you
can't. please. for me. never men
ton a."
why. os course not. Barry" She
laughed IN an embarrassed manner
and drew away from him. II just
thought ia tell you what knew.
I didn't have amy idea you were such
warm comrades. Wen forget the
whole Incident
Thank you" Then 10 Ba.tts,c he
went. 10 bang him on the shoulder.
and with an effort TO whiri him
about. 'swcllr' he demanded. In an
echo Of Ba'tisfe's own laundering
manner. shall We stand here and
wcepf Oh"
~Ect was my faultF' The French,
Canadian stiil stared az the ruins.
"Ert II all Ba'teese' fault
Il thouht you were my friend. Ba'.
tisfr.~
''Sacrci ! am
Then show II, Wen not be able
20 make case against the flrebugs
--even tho you and may he fairly
sur. who did u. Anyway. Il isn.t
going 10 break US. rive got about
fifteen thousand ln tho hank. There's
enough lumber around here 20 build
now saw shed ~ a sort. and money
20 buy a few saws. even II We can't
have Rs good place as we had be
fore. We can manage. And I need
help won't be able 10 move with.
out you. But"
~Ouir"
But and Barry smiled ~ him.
~ you ever mention any RESPONSE
bility for this thing again-you'rs
fired DO we understand each other
Very slowly the big trapper turned
and looked down into tho frank.
! friendly eyes % the younger man.
He bllnked slightly. and then one
| tremendous arm encircie Houston's
shoulders for just a moment. AZ
last smile came. to grow s,cadlcr.
The grip about the shoulders tight.
ened. suddenly 20 give way 10
whanEinE blow. as Ba'tiste. tovial
now. drew away. pulled back hts
shoulders and squared himself an
tho for some physical encounter.
"Ah. our lie beloved. "Ou. oul.
! oul, Bon-goodi Ba'tcese. he un'
stan. Now what you want me TO
dor
Take this bunch Of men and turn
TO at clearing away this wreckage.
Then" and he smiled his confidence
at Renaud. make your plans for the
building Of saw-shed. That ls--if
sou really want 20 go thru with it7''
"Ah. oui--oul~ The Canadian
waved his arms excitediy and sum.
moned his men. For moment.
Barry stood watching. then return
ing 10 Agnes. escorted her toward
/ her cottage.
Don you think" he asked. ns
they walked along. sthat you'd bet
ter be going back7 This isn't Just
the place for a woman. Agnes"
why not7"
"Because--weii for ono thing. this
Ia mans life out here. not a WON
ans. There's no place for you
nothing TO interest you or hold you.
can't guarantee you any company
except that OF cook--or some one
like that"