The San Francisco call., 1898-01-19

"Why not"
 Because, how would it look to have them say afterward that a reporter of the paper had been fed by the county?"
 I suppose I looked as though such an argument didn't appeal to me, for she went on:
 And, anyway, I didn't question any thing I was told to do. I just went and did it."
 Which Is good, soldierly discipline, no doubt.
 Well, I won't talk you to death" she said. as the reporter left; and then. turn ing toward me. she very considerably went over the story which must grow wearisome with such continual repetition.
 But Mrs. Crane does not give to the reporters a hackneyed, note-learned &C., count of her remarkable self. Her voice had slightly raised pitch, due to ex- citement, when she spoke to me. But she talks fuently, simply: she is thor oughly good natured, not at all reticent, and extremely interesting.
 My expenses are paid by small sym dicate of five magazines, to which I shall send matter. Then I am commissioned by the ethnological bureau of the Smith sonian Institution to gather data regard ing Indian folk lore and all the details to be got by living intimately with them"
 Really living with them?' I repeated, with uncomfortable recollections of Piute wickiups and Piute ladies and gentle men.
 "Oh, yes. Why, I've lived with a dozen different tribes of Indians-the Apaches. etc" She checked the Indians names off on her large, strong fingers.
 "Why, I'm the only white woman that ever lived with the Apaches in any other way than as captive. I used to think they let me stay with them cause they liked me so much. But after long while the old chief told me he thought I was crazy!"
 Mrs Crane chats along, punctuating her interesting story with many a laugh She is rather a tall woman, with quantities of golden hair, which she keeps brushing back from her white forehead. She has fair, -forid skin and a broad open face; her eyes are small and keen and blue-gray. Her manner is altogether unconstrained. She sat and talked to a circle of women yesterday afternoon, giving details of her history and that of her family-a most excellent family-in an easy and very interesting way. Mrs. Crane must be nearly 40 years old, and she weighs TO pounds, so she told us.
 But when I get to Dyea." she said. apropos of this. I'll go into training with my dogs" she laughed. I've got two dogs-a beautiful pure Newfound- land and one that's half Great Dane and the other half Russian bloodhound. They'll be trained there, and so will I. And I'm going to lose forty pounds, too. Why. once in an Indian village I trained down to ninety-eight pounds. and I felt fine; could jump on horse and enjoy life.'
 And your purpose in going to the Klondike. then, is to study the habits of | the Indians there?'
 That's one purpose. To write is an- | other And the third is to go as the trus- tee of a syndicate of Los Angeles women, | for whom I shall invest their money and benefit by half the profits
 And to provide against the emergency of their Klondike property becoming valuable, when it might also become tax | able, these Los Angeles women have in- 1 trusted to Mrs. Crane a very unusual power But that wouldn't surprise you if | you saw Mrs: Crane. Confidence natur- | ally clings about such a woman. She 1 has more energy. more executive ability I than any dozen men I know. And, be-