The farmer and mechanic., 1903-12-01
THE MAN WITH THE CASH.
BY JACK LONDON.
Copyright by Mcclure Philips and colnPanyp

By JACK LONDON
lCo9yright by Mcclure, Philips and Company

Il
the fever OF klondyke had entered Ei>
blood ana torn him away from Gs loom.
His cabin stood midway 5ct"cef. SiEl>-
Mile Post and the Stuart River. and iAe2
who made II q Gust ON TO travel the tEafl
to Dawson hkencd him TO robbef baron,
perched IN his fortress and eXacIng tot
rom the caravans that used his iH-kcpt
roads.
One afternoon in April he eat by ~
dcor-for all the world like predatory
spidcr-narvcl1ns at tho heat OF the re
turning sun and keeping an eye on tfc
trail TOR prospective flies. The Yukon la
at his feet, i sea of ice, disappearing
around two great bends 10 the north and
4outs ana stretching an honest lwo miles
frC.n bank 10 bank.
Jacob Kent was feeling particularly
good that afternoon. Til. record had
been broken the previous night, and lac
had -uld his hospitality TO EO less thda
twrnty-eigEt visitors. True, II had been
quite uncomfortable. ana four had snoFcd
beneath his bunk all night; but then II
had added apprcciablc WeiSht TO The no *
in which lie kept his gold dust. Tha}
sack. with is slittcring yellow treasure,
was at once tho chief delight and inc
chief bane Of his existence. Heaven an!
nature OF things, there being 10 privacy
10 his croomed dwelling, he vas tor
tured bv a constant fear of theft. 1t
would be very easy for those bearded.
desperate looking strangers 10 make way
with il.
often he dreamed that such was tho
case, ana awokc III The grlp OF nightmare.
\ select number of these robbers haunted
MIN through his dreams, end he cane 10
know them quite well, especially III"
bronzed leader with the cash on HIS
right check. This fellow was the most
persistent OF the lot, and, because OF
him. he had, in his waking moments,
constructed several score OF hiding places
in and about the CABIN. After q coi.-
cealment he would breathe freely ag2:a,
perhaps for several nights. only to cellar
The Man with the Cash III the EHcy act
Of unearthng The sack. Then, on
awakening III the midst Of the usual
struggle he would at once get up ana
transfer the bag TO 4 new and more III
Scnious crypt. So he continued 20 bleed
the unfcrtunatc5 who crossed his thfca-
hold ANA ct the same time ada TO his
trouble with every ounce that went lEto
the sack
A. he sat Stunning himself thought
came 10 Jacob Kent that brought HIM 10
his feet with jerk. The pleasure or
HE had eliminated in the continual
weighing ard rcWeghing Of the dust;
but shadow had been thrown upon his
pleasant avocation, which he had hither-
to failed to brush aside. His gold scales
were quite small; in fact. their maxi
mum was Il pound and a hali-cigAtc. II
ounccS--whie his hoard mounted up 20
something like three and third times
that. He had never been able To weigh
IT Ill ut one operation. II WAS tine So
luton of this problem flashing across his
mind that had just brought him TO his
,eet. He searched the trail carefully III
either direction. There was nothing II,
sight 50 he went inside.
In q few seconds he had the table
cleared away and the scales set mp cti
one side he placed the stamped disks 10
the equivalent OF fifteen ounces, and bal
ancetl it with dust on the other. Re
placing the weights with dust, he then
had thirty ounces precisely balanced
These, in turn, he placed together OH one
side and again balanced with more dust,
BY this time the gold was exhausted,
and he was sweating literally. He trer1-
bled with ecstasy, ravished beyond meas
urc. Nevertheless. he busted the 50 ci1
thoroughly, to the last least grain. till
The balance was overcome and one Side
Of the scales sank to the table Equit'-
brum, however, was restored by the add
tiou OF pennywcight and five grains to
The opposite side. He stood, hc2I throwa
back, transiXed.
The sack was empty. bat the pctent!-
alitv Of the scales had become immeaa-
ul7l ble. Upon them he could weigh any
amount from the tinlcst grain to pounds
upon pounds. Mammon laid hct fingers
~
tcring way till it flashed through Tic
. open doorway, full upon tive yello" bur
dened scales.
"Gawd blime me, but you've 'l.vc tt?e
maxim OF several quid there, 'avcn t
you?"
Jacob Kent wheeled about. at the sarac
time reaching for his double narrclod
shotgun, which stood handy. But when
his eyes lit on the intruder's face IL
staggered back dizzily. 1t was the face
of the Man with the Cash.
The man looked at him curious!y.
''Oh, that's all right he said, waving
his hand deprecatingly. You needn't
think as I'll arm you or your blasted
dust. You're rum ur, YOU are" h
added reHectively. az he watched the
sweat pouring from off Kent'a face and
the quavcring Of his knees. 'Wby dor't
you pipe Up and say somcthin'?" nc went
on, as the other struggled tor breath.
''Wots gone wrong o your gait? Any
think the natter
"W---w-where' you get it?" Kent Al
last managed tc artlculate, raising q
shaking forefiuger to the CHASTITY scar
which scanned the others check
"Ship1nate stove nc down with a mar
linspike from The main royal, An nov a.
you ave your tigeer'ead In trim, Wot
want to know Is, wot's it TO you: That 5
wot want to know wot's it to you !.
Gawd bime me. do it 'urt you? Ain I
it SNUG enough for the likes o YOU
That's what I want to know
No. no Kent answered. sinking upor
stool with sick1y grin. 4 was just
wondering.
Did you ever see the like" the othe,
went on truculently.
No
Amt it d bcute?"
Yes" Kent nodded hi, head approx
insly, intent on humoring this strange
visitor. but wholly unprepared for thG
ousburst which was to follow his effort