The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-10
on THE TH'as WHITE il PASS & YUKON RAILROAD,

journey to Dawson; a miniature capital
ist. who had his, fortune invested in Yu-
llon river steamers and who was going
to see to their winter quarters; a wom-
an who was going to spend the winter
with her husband at Bennett City; a
leading citizen" of Alaska only rail-
road terminal, Skaguay; couple of rail
road engineers, and a tourist very much
out Of season, but none the less interest
ed in all that went on around him.
The passengers were discussing the rush
to the new American diggings at Nome
City with all the fervor of hackers of
the rival camp of Klondike. The car
door was suddenly opened and figure
which would attract attention anywhere
''blew' in with furry of snow
'All the latest magazines and papers.
gents; cigars-tobacco-an anything you
want TO drink the newcomer began,
when halfway down the2atsie.
The tourist had almost recanciled him
self to the incongruous idea of a railroad
i'll full operation in far-away Alaska, and
had ceased to wonder at the engine bav-
ing a cowcatcher, although there was
not a live cow within 1909 miles; but a
train boy was a little too much. He
gazed at the approaching vender of news
in open-mouthed establishment
'"The latest papers, 1 say, fellows. Boat
for it," he said, coming nearer. Under
one arm he carried a bulky bundle of pa
pers In his disengaged hand was a
heavy tin pail filed with general mer-
chandise. On the outside was stenciled
in heavy black letters, FIRE, Steamer
Humboldt" 1t was evident that the
bucket had been borrowed.
The tourist watched him make q dieker
with the rich KIondiker for a New York
paper two weeks old and one from Sc
attIe which had attained but half the
age
You can have the two for 75c," said
the boy, but it's giving them to you
The I<londiker gave him s. with a lock
which said, Don't talk about giving me
anything" and he read the stale news
with much intertss, for he was used to
paying much more for papers several
times as old.
The only Alaskan train-boy was a boy
in vocation only. He was well bundled
up. for the car in which he made his
headquarters was unheated and the zero
marx 10 stranger. Enough of his face
showed, however, to enable the tourist
to judge his age as twenty-five. at least,
and his life as a continual round of
trouble. He looked very much like a
Klondiker, as far as clothes went, and,
in truth, he was wearing miners out
fit. presented by one of the lucky men
from the inside, who had purchased store
clothes. His face was small and peeked,
aged before its time, and full of wrinkles,
which crossed and recrossed each ether
like the checks in the 5naekinaw coat
which he wore. The eyes were very
small and well hidden, and his chin
hardly dignified the name; As TO fore
head and hair one could notajGdge, owing
to the old fur cap. which .sEas pulled
tightly down. Well-worn mittens COW
change. 1t was just as well. for when he
showed them the accumulated dirt testi-
fed to an astonishing aversion to water.
He was gone from the coach but short
time when he returned wfths new wares.
and original wares they were.
Nuggets Nuggets!" he cried, as he
came down the aisle. -s'Nhgget pins,
nugget rings, fresh from Dawson. AtIin
nuggets, Bonanza nuggets and some from
Eldorado.'' -
He singled the tourist out at once and
did net leave until he had disposed OF
brass ring with the smallest possible mug
get setting, for which he demanded S.
The tourist was sufficiently interested to
go forward and look over the train boys
stock They managed to get across the
ice covered platform and into the chilly
baggage car, where they sat down on
rough box, which was being sent over the
pass for some unfortunate who had
frozen to death. The boy was perfectly
willing to talk shop and did not need
to be questioned
"Sort of surprised you. didn't it, to see