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In a letter to my brother, Mr. Peeke speaks of there being "three warrants out against her."

Of course, I wanted to go home, but I could not feel that an agreement signed merely by the parties had any weight and so I asked that the Court should put its seal and signature to it.

"Sept. 7, 1907.

"It seems that Mrs. Brewer is now demanding that Judge Reed sign the contract. It is needless for me to point out to you the absurdity of this position. I am inclined to allow Mrs. Brewer to continue to roam in maiden meditation, fancy free, if that is the alternative." (Signed) H. L. PEEKE.

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This was just at the time I was moving up to the Lake Stevens' ranch, and I assure you I was not roaming in maiden meditation, fancy free," for I was a very busy ranchwoman. To be sure the 130 pounds had been increased somewhat by the bracing Puget air, and wholesome country food, my hair was no grayer than my eyes, which were always hazel. I had never been accused of having "high cheek-bones," but, anyway, now the contour of my face was decidedly round, and the longer I stayed away from Ohio, the rounder it got. The sallow complexion had been replaced by the healthy red glow of the Pacific Coast. Fortunately, my teeth were still good, and I did not fear the description on the posters as much as I had. I grew

calm, and no one can help but sleep soundly under the shadow of the Puget Sound Mountains. The minute the sun disappeared into Lake Stevens the chill of the mountain snows is felt, and even in August one must have heavy blankets over them at night, and be warmly clothed when driving after the sun has set.

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"This mountain is plainly seen from the hill on my ranch at Lake Stevens."

Right here is the broad Snohomish River nearing its mouth where it enters the salt waters of Puget Sound."

CHAPTER XII.

DAILY LIFE ON OUR FAR-WESTERN

RANCH.

The fishing in Lake Stevens is good in April at the beginning of the season and again in October near the end of the fishing season. The last spring we were there 40,000 rainbow trout were placed in Lake Stevens by the County Game Warden. The "fry" were taken from the Hatchery at Startup to Lake Stevens in an auto truck owned by a storage company. The baby trout were placed in various parts of the lake in shallow water, where they would be somewhat protected from the ravaging mature trout. Several years previous 30,000 rainbows had been placed in the lake and some of them now weigh two and a half pounds. 10,000 eastern brook trout have also been placed in Lake Stevens.

Of course, in mid-summer fishermen go to the mountains and fish in the running streams in which that country abounds. As soon as the fishing season was over my boats had to be taken out of the water and put in the boat-house. My boat-house was the original one built twenty years ago when the "homestead" was taken up. Among my boats was a "Siwash canoe " dug out of a

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