The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-01-19

A(onUnued from t"sNeFuAyl
Its not your place 70 feel peni-
tent" he told her. with infinite sim
certify. "if you had left me take H.
you'd have just served me right
you'd have Just paid me back In my
own coin. IL was fair enough-to
use every advantage you had Good
Lord. have you forgotten that
am holding you hero by forcef but
iastead--you saved me. when you
might have killed me--and wen tho
tight All you've done II 20 show
yourself the finer elay--that's What
you've done God knows l suppose
tho woman Is always finer clay than
the man-yet u comes with Jolt.
jus, the same. It's not for me 60 be
down-hearted--Hea knows the
strength you've shown Is above any
| ever had. or ever VIII have. You've
shown how TO feel mercy could
never show anything but hate. and
revenge YOU'VE shown me bigger
and stronger code than mina. And
there's nothlng-nothing | can say"
The tone changed once moro to the
personal and solicitouA "Hut it's
eeen a nig strain on you'll can SEE
that believe rd lie here and rest
awhile II wer- you IN eat my
dinner-and the fire's about out. too.
That's the giri--neatricc.-
Gently he picked her up. seeming
~ with no physical effort. and
laid her IN her hammock. Then
ycun forgive mo- she asked brok-
enfy.
Good Heavens. wish there was
something 20 forKive---so we'd be a
little morc even. But you've accom-
iixhed something. Beatrice and
don't know what Il Il yeti only
know you've changed me~and soft
eucd meas ] never dreamed any
ono In tho world could Now so 20
sleep
". turned from her. but the food
on The table no longer tempted him
Fer FUN hour he stood before the
ashes Of tho fire. deeply and mex
trscasiy hcwsldercd with himself. with
life. and with all these thoughts and
hope- and regrets that thronwcf him
He was Hike ashes now himself: the
fires OF his life seemed burned out
The thought recalled him 20 hia need
Of cutting fuel for the nights IRE.
lie might be able 20 quiet the
growing turmoil in his brain when
the stiii shadows % the spruce closed
around him. He seixed his axe. then
reered into the cave. Beatrice. worn
out by tho stress OF the hour before
and immensely conforted by Ben's
words. was already deeply asleep.
Hts rir1e leaned against the wall %
the cavern. and he put u IN the hol-
icw OF his arm. n was no, that he
feared Beatrice would attempt 20
procure n. The act was mostly
hahit. combined with the fact that
their supply Of meat was all but ex-
hausfed and he did not wish 20 miss
any opportunity for big game.
The forest was particularly gloomy
today. Its shadows lay deep. And
this was not merely the result Of his
own darkened outlook: gtnncinr up.
he saw that clouds were gathering
in the sky. They would need fsfei
IN plenty 20 keep the ffrr bright to-
night Evidently rain was irnpend-
inw--one OF those cold. steady down
pours that are disitked so cordially
by tho fox OF the upper seikirks
He went q fun 200 yards before he
tough spruce Of medium height and
just nj the edge ~ the stream He
laid his rife down. leaning Il against
fallen log: then tegan his work.
N was an awkward place 20 stand (;
but he gave no thought % r. His
mind dweit steadily on the events In
the cavern OF the hour before: the
girls remorse IN the instant that ahe
had him NJ her mercy and the ex-
ample u st for hius The blade hi,
into the wood with slow cncroach-
rnents. Perhaps the expenditure oi
brute energy IN swinging The axs
would relieve hts pens-up feelings
He Was not watching his work. His
blows struck true from habit. Now
the tree was Undiscovered: n WINS time
70 cut on the opposite ode. sud.
denly his are crashed into Yield.
ing. rotten wood
instantly the powers 81 the wilder.
ness took their iong-awaited toll Der
had been unwary. too absorbed by hi'
swirling thoughts 70 mark the am.
bush Of death that had been pre-.
pared for him. Ever TO keep watch
ever 10 be on guard: ruch is the frs
law Of the Wild: and Ben had dis
regarded II. Half Of the tree haf
been rotten. changing the direction
OF its fall and crashing IT down be
fore ffs time