The Spokane woman. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1921-1935, 1927-10-20
CEDAR SWAMP
Continued from Page g.

may lose everything"
THAT'S a chance | mean to take,'
returned Eddie, smiling. He felt bet
ter that the refusal was behind him
"IIum." Sealman digested this for
time. I'm not justified Mr.. Forbes,
not Justified at all. In fact, I'm proa-
ably foolish for doing ii. But | might
raise it to twelve hundred"
mo thank you"
Sealman rose. Displaasure was
struggling to show through the sleek
ness of his manner. Fifteen hundred
That's positively the last WORD,
Forbes"
"No, Mr.. Sealman | think | can
make it worth that by keeping it."
The rowing blue eyes encountered
Eddie's for an instant. anyone else
been making you an offerf"
mo, l haven't talked with another
soul about it. by the way, how about
that job? Does it look as though you
could take me on as Il farmhand?"
Sealman paused at the door and
turned, his hand on the latch. 1--WE
changed by plans somewhat, Forbes.
l don't see how | can use you. Good
day."
why, the old hoptoad" calculated
Eddie. whats gotten into him?
Is he sore because we wouldn't sell, or
whatT'
Il don't know, but I'm glad we
didn't" returned Patsy Jane stoutly.
Il don't like him any better than you
do, Eddie. I'm glad you're not to work
for him. What did he mean when he
asked if anyone else tried to buy the
place?~
"He meant that he's mighty anxious
to get it. We haven't heard the last
of him Pat. Well, we'll have to jump
in and pull it out of the FIRE. Ii he
wants it and Brewer wants it, there
must be more to it than we realized.
can get a job easy, | know"
His optimism was not justified
Most of the settlers in the vicinity had
little good land, and that was lily
cultivated. They preferred hunting and
fishing and getting outposts to farm
ing, for which they had neither capt.
tai nor equipment.
When he crossed the creek, however,
there was ray of hope. The Daven-
ant ranch. plaything of wealthy De
troiter, had a resident foreman. lie
told Eddie that the owner had ambi-
tiouS plslIlS lOI the attl III lHt WHY VI
heavy planting and much clearing. He
might need several men. When Mr..
Davenant came up in week or so, and
made final decision, he had better be
on hand.
Eddie felt that he could not afford
to wait even week. lie went to town.
But Long Portage was overlooking
with labor. The married men who had
been in the woods all winter were
trooping back. Their summer jobs
were kept for them. There was no
chance for an outsider against their
long-established claims.
The week passed duly. He dug and
chopped out pine stumps, for their
roots and pitchy knots made excellent
firewoOd. The hard labor of saving
and chopping smotbered his homesick-
ness and drowned in fatigue the crav-
ing for liquor which was ever near the
surface.
Another rainy day found him chink
ing the logs of the cabin with mud
from the banks of the creek. 1t really
did not need it. But restlessness was
devouring him, and the demand for
liquor was rising like a prairie fire.
The intensity of the passion frightened
him. Back home, in normal surround
ings and with n regular occupation,
he had been able to keep it somewhat
within bounds. Especially as the
little town and its uncompromisng
opinions imposed restraints upon him.