White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-09-24
OF THE FIRST WATER
Bv WILLIAM MERRIAM ROUSE

"Well," replied Bill, somewhat i'm
pressed, "if he's mean enough, he sure
can do a lot of damage without get
ting into trouble himself. He could
set fire, for instance, when the wind
is blowing away from his line, and
spoil our whole job-burn up the
cabin, like as not, too. There wouldn't
be any way of proving it on him, not
that l can see."
"Eh bien, my Bill" exclaimed
Beaudry. II guess mebbe you got
some frs class brains, after all. Most
probly Barnes have think of that,
ALSO"
"That's about all he can do, outside
of murder" reflected Hartman.
"If was going to set fire like
that" continued Bill, thinking aloud,
"I'd most likely start it in that place
where I've been chopping, over near
his line. / got some big piles of
brush there, and the brush has dried
out this weather so it's all ready for
a spark"
"Certainement," agree Pierre.
$50 guess we'd better stand watch,
| Pierre. It'll kind of break up our
work, but that's better than getting
run off the mountain"
To this Pierre Beaudry did not i'm
mediately reply; and with surprise,
Bill realized that his partner was not
meeting his own frank gaze. He was
looking anywhere in the cabin rather
than at Hartman. For the first time
| in five years there was stiffness be-
tween them.
II was going to tole you, Bill" said
| Pierre, finally. II guess go board on
Jim Malloy's house, me. He ask me if
want to come board on his house. !
guess go there tomorrow, Bill"
Bill Hartman was stunned. 1t was
a clean preliminary victory for Beau.
dry in the contest for the love of
Marie Malloy; not necessarily decis
i've, but certainly of the first impor
lance. Moreover, the affair smacked
| of desertion. 1t was not what he ex
pected of the French-C Canadian, whom
he had long regarded as brother
But of this feeling he said nothing.
! "All right, Pierre" he agreed, after
a considerable pause. II guess I can
rig me up a sleeping bag and stay out
in the clearing. That way I'll get my
rest, and at the same time be on the
job, if Barnes does start something
YOU'RE getting along pretty good with
old man Malloy, Pete"
Beaudry shrugged.
| Ills wife was Franchise. For that
he likes me-"
| Bill made up his mind overnight
what course he was going to take
He had lost a friend in Pierre, he de.
cided, and he had made an enemy in
Barnes. Nevertheless he was going
to stick on the wood job. keep to the
partnership, and do his best to wiz
Marie Malloy.
Hartman slept out night after night
and nothing happened. Two evenings
after Pierre had left him he went to
the house of Jim Malloy. The old
man let him in, with civil but un
enthusiastic greeting. Bill was sure
he caught flash of pleasure in the
eyes of Marie, but he did not that eve
ming get a chance to speak to hel
alone. Beaudry had quite the air OF
one thoroughly at home, and yet il
seemed to Hartman that he was de
pressed. Bill called again, after q
decent interval, and met with the
same situation. He found himself
growing to like Malloy, in spite of the
fact that the old man obviously fav
ored Beaudry; for Jim Malloy had all
the charm of his race.
1t was not until matters had stooo
thus for three weeks that Hartman
got his first chance to speak privatel,
to Marie. Going to make the semi
weekly call which he allowed himself
he caught her just as she was goine
indoors with an armful of firewood
He spoke out of the darkness, and she
turned with little cry of surprise.
II wish could get chance to talk
to you," he said. "You never come
up on the mountain any more"
NO" she answered, in low voice
| Il want-to know-your fathel
doesn't like me-he and Beaudry-"
| She understood, although Bill dit
! not know how to say what he had t.
say.
He does like Pierre Beaudry. H,
wants me to marry him"
| "But you?" cried Bill. There's {
mystery about this business. If you're
going to marry Beaudry, I'll sta,
away. Marie.I love you! want tt
marry"
| keep coming!"
With that she almost ran into the
house.
II yuoo 1ator than usual >,;pI,