The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-01-18

Fuonded on facts.
1t was Christmas eve in Dawson
City and the thermometer registered
40 degrees below zero.
Outside the moon had not risen
and the intense darkness, usually in
that latitude, seemed more intense by
contrast, as great flashes of light
streamed forth from stores, hotels and
saloons as people passed hastily in
and out. The windows looked like
great fiery eyes through their wells of
hOary frost. Down the street came
two men dressed in the usual garb of
the well-to-do Klondiker. They
hurried on through the darkness as
if intent on some Christmas nilsson,
but the serious look on each face be-
tokened different motive. Stopping
before the principal gambling and
dance-house of the place, they entered
and gazed eagerly around. Seen in
the light oneiwas an Oldham of seven
~ but his stalwart frame showed the
hardy miner. He was one who would
have stood out alone among men. He
looked, as he had i'm truth weathered
the storms of the Arctic Zone. fought
the darkness of the Arctic nights and
had been victorious. Only Nature
could have made such man. The
other was young: also strong and
vigorous. There was something
about him that yet spoke of civiliza-
ton and drawing rooms.
George Hardin had gone to Alaska
to win fortune and had left the re-
fnements of life, but had not forgot
ten them. cold Sludge," as the old
man was called, had been in Alaska
so long that he knew nothing but her
mountains, her forests, her great
northern lights, and her shining,
treacherous earth; also mankind-for
of late, it had been a splendid field to
study human nature.
1t was a typical scene at which they
gazed-one that is Witnessed in every
mining camp, and tonight it was UNI
usually brilliant. Every game known
to the western gambler was in pro-
gress and excitement ran high. Miners
had come from ElDorado and Bonan-
"a Greeks, from Stewart River and
the Forks. All the Klondike region
was represented. Many had walked
and carried all the gold dust they pos
sessed, to stake it on tonight's play.
Cheechakoas were there too, in plen-
ty. Some who had "otyU,G it rich"
we're recklessly stalking fine gold dust
and nuggets. Others stood apart
their ragged clothes and haggard
faces told the story. They had lost
all, the struggle had gone against
them, and they had come tonight to
drown their troubles in one last wild
reve. Then they would go back to
the friends waiting on the outside or
maybe try luck once more. There's Il
fascination about it after all.
Women we're there, in all their
brilliant, gaudy lnery. Their faces
dushed with wine and excitement.
Many smoked cigarettes while they
laughed and iolted. Others were in
tent on the jack pot, and swept in their
winnings with greedy, ieweled hands.
Above all the noise could be heard the
sound of the either and mandolin, and
the low, sweet strains of IA violin add
ell pathos to the harmony. Now
and then crash ofglass told of mem
minds gone mad with drink.
The two men who had just entered
stopped and watched group on the
other side of the room. There We're
four people seated at IL table, two
men and two women, The eyes of the
iaen were aAame. Their gaze first
sought each other and then rested on
the dark woman seated between them.
One was tall and dark, known in the
Klondike region as "Handsome Bill"
and the shrewdest gambler there. The
other was tall, but slender, with fair,
boyish features, and soft, ;gray eyes;
SO dainty and delicate was his whole
appearace that he seemed out of place
in this rough mining camp
The woman at whom they gazed was
of the Creole type, so small that she
seemed almost a child, Her large,
Yelvety eyes were raised with such
seeming innocence that they made men
wonder if there we're truth in woman
kind. She was dressed in scarlet
velvet robe, and her small hands and
neck glistened with brilliants. The
other woman was SO fair that they
called her Lilly"
Suddenly the handsome man
showed his hand, threw down
the cards, and sweeping off all the
gold oil the table, cried with a ma
licious laugh, 'T'm winner tonight,
come, Babe, let's have waltz" AS
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