The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-11-11
THE NEWCOMER
 AT PICKVILLE
IorlrlnaLl

NN Che miuig town faccuously dubbed ! pict,iur. Since the place has emerged from the rub (camp) Into the butterfly town th e have been but three wom cn W hlu ts corporate limits. and they ul q rrlc.l. Now comes young wom- an l.ng herself Molly Grifton and | s.ts uu small store. Mining supply te.ll md gamblers arc among the c.l .hlc men in Pickvlllc, besides a young man. Arthur Hugglns, in con. ! sumpIou. who came to save his life and lo slvc souls, though he has mel. ! thcr church nor salary. The day after | Molly GrIfton's appearance every bach clor ln the town was agog as to who | would draw the prize, for it was not for moment supposed that any good looking young woman would remain ! long n such a community without be- ! ing appropriated. The question was slftcd like au algebraic problem. The | parson was not considered at all; the mine owners had wives in the east the ! merchants were none of them pro lclent with the gun; the miners were too busy to look after their Interests. This left the gamblers to fight it out among themselves.
 The most dreaded among the gam blprs was Fox Armstrong, and when he was observed to stop at Molly Grif- tons store and buy up the first edition of the stock. cleaning out the shelves entirely. the rest of the profession con. cluded to keep at a safe distance. But one man i'm PickviIle had the audacity Co buck against Fox Armstrong and he was a young prospector named ! stephen Bartlett stephen was the only man i'm town who seemed to find favor with the lady, and. though he | had not the means of wOOing by trade, as in thc case of Armstrong, the scale was turned In his favor by his manly and honest bearing his cheerful dispo. sitlon and certain ingenious traits which rendered him attractive to wo men. He wus warned by his friends that as he valued his life he should refrain from any attention to Miss ! Molly.
 As Grecracker has been known to kindle a city, SO a meek and lowly man started the shooting that was bound In time to take place on account Of ! Molly GrIfton. Fox Armstrong one night ceased dealing faro at 1l3O o'clock on account of an indisposition, ! concluding that he would go Co his room and turn in for the night early. | Passing Molly Griftons store, he was surprised, though an was dark within. to see the door standing ajar. Think. ing that some one might be appropri. | atlug Molly's belongings and that he might win credit with her by cupiur lug the thief. he sidlcd up to the door ! and listened Low voices came from thc room behind the store where Molly ! lived. the one a womans, the other a mans Armstrong ot once assumed that his rival Bartlett was stealing march upon him and got his revolver In position to handle readily at the exit Of thc intruder upon what he con sidcrcd or wished to consider his own domain. Presently the two inside ad. yauccd to the shop.
 Come" said the girl; take it You are palnlng me by refusing"
 "Do you suppose | could live a mo. ment among these men if they knew you were furnishing me with moneyY
 But they don't know it."
 "ycry well; [ will take this. Next week l am going to work with a pick and shovel"
 "You will do no such thing"
 There was the sound of a kiss, and the man stepped Into the street
 Great heavens! It was the parsou. Unconscious of being observed for l Armstrong occupied a position where he could not be secn-ArthW Hugg.ns wcudcd bis way toward his room ! Armstrong followed him and when ln be center Of a bridge across the gulch .ccosted him:
 "You white liyered hypocrite"- he was beginning, but paused. A step was heard on the far end of Che bridge, and ln a few moments stephen Bart lett came mp and was recognized un. der the starlight.
 "Parson Higgins and Fox Arm. strong together here at this time Of night! What does it mc0n|
 That he has been skulking with Molly Grifton, which l don't permit"
 "Ue has as good a right as you any way" said stephen.
 "You give me great joy in taking his part" sneered Armstrong CT can't kll a man with a womans soul in him. but can take care or'-
 The words were never finished Had he not had something of the contempt for Bartlett that he had for the par son he would have fired first and talked afterward. stephen knew fun well that firing, and quick firing, was essential or he would be a dead man Armstrong dropped.
 Molly Grifton heard the shot and fearing that Hugglns might have been waSaid. rushed upon the bridge.
 "Stephenl Arthur! What does it meanp
 "That dog" said stephen, "assumes sole right to you l have maintained that Parson Huggins or any man you choose has an equal right"