Douglas Island news., 1903-08-12

said member of the Liars Club
 "The day lasts six months and the nights last six months. There is six mouths sunlight and six months semi darkness. A tenderfoot came up from Seattle one time just as the night had set in. He went to the leading hotel in Skagway and asked for a room.
 "'How long do you wish to stay? ? asked the clerk.
 "Over night answered the stranger
 1.-The clerk consulted a card of rates behind him and answered:
 'It will cost you just S726."
 "Of course the stranger was gre atly taken back, but he had heard of the fabulous prices existent in Alaska, he had unlimited means, and hewas game.
 "'Can l sleep all night?" he asked sarcastically.
 1.-The clerk looked at him.
 "'You can if you are second Rip Van Winkle,' he answered.
 'The stranger did not understand the point of the joke and accordingly asked to be shown to his room.
 "I would like to be called early in the morning. was his parting cry as the clerk closed the door upon him.
 "Well, to make long story short, the tenderfoot slept for nearly ten hours  and then arose much refreshed. Look ing out of his window he saw that it was not yet daylight, so he went back to bed. This time he slept for only five hours. Awakening again he looked out of his window and saw that it was still dark. Resolutely he tumbled in be- tween the sheets again and tossed fit fully for several hours more.
 "In the meantime breakfast and din her time had come and gone and sup per time was rapidly approaching. As the guests of the hotel were gathered about the rough board which served as a table, aud were partaking of the eve ming meal they were surprised by haggard apparation which appeared at the top of the stairway.
 "'For Gods sake clerk" the haggard stranger asked, "What meal are you eating?'
 "'Why this is late supper answered the clerk.
 "'Then for heavens sake get me an opiate. went to sleep early this eve ming and have done nothing but roll and toss since, snatching few minutes of sleep in the interval. ] must get sleep or certainly will go insane
 "The clerk excused himself and pro- cured a half grain of morphine which he gave to the stranger, who grasped it feverishly and made for his room. Under the eiufuenceo of the drug be slept . for nearly twenty-four hours, but awakened to find that it was still night. i Coming down stairs again wild and haggard, and with feverish glitter in his eyes, he was surprised to find the same party at their evening meal. The stranger eyed the food ravenously, and inquired with note of alarm in his voice how long he had slept.
 'Forty-eight hours, answered the clerk.
 "'But it has been night all the timer
 "'Yes, and will be for six months, answered the clerk as he crammed a dog biscuit into his mouth.
 "The stranger realized at last what he was up against and received rebate of s6S6 on the price he had paid for a nights lodging. He never did make friends with the clerk, though"
 "How do you tell when it is time to go to bed?" asked the Curious Liar.
 "Wheu you are sleepy, fool" respond ed Mir. Spitzenheimer disgustedly.
 "Were you sleepy fool?" asked the Curious Liar.
 The timely interference of the re- mainder of the Liars prevented imme- diate trouble between Mir. Spitzenheim- CT and the Curious Liar.
 "And where is the sun all the time?" asked the Notorious Liar, after the disturbance had been averted.
 "With its mother!" answered Mr. Spitzenheimer.
 The traffic on Fish river, in the Coun- cil City district, is immense, and work on Onhir and other creeks is starting 1