Douglas Island news., 1903-04-08
ALICE STRICKLAND
By W. o. Graham
G~-From the Clever Magazine, by special permission of the Author.
tContinued from last week.l

0N-- tered the Louvre. Their reception and the breathless attention given their description of the perilous trip, l will not attempt to describe. The occasion for this most rec6less adventure was still mystery, but only for few days. Bartwell's claim, which had been the subject for many joke, even on his part, for he had never taken out enough gold to pay weeks board, had proved to be rich, and Jack Patent, who had been prospecting it, had let two of his chums into the secret, and they had planned to work it for all it was worth during Bartwells absence. But one of them, we never learned which, confided in the "Countess."
 Being beach claim, and the winter mild with only now and then a Taku wind, which drove the icy air of the interior over and down the mountain side, work could be carried on most of the time. Bartwell commenced work at once, and snug fortune was taken out in a few days; but that seemed to exhaust the pocket; it revealed however a strata of rich quartz, which promised many fortunes in the future.
 At this period Bartwell was taken sick, nothing serious, we thought, and he insisted on remaining in bis room instead of going to the hospital. The "Countess" was with him and he want ed for noting, but there was a sudden change for the worse, and almost be- fore we knew that he was seriously ill, he died.
 A fraterual order, of which he was a member, conducted the funeral ser vices according to it's ritual. A church choir would have furnished the music, but for some cause, the presiding off, cer, who came to Alaska as comedian at the head of a theatrical troupe, ask ed the Countess" to sing couple of solos. Everyone was surprised,-it was an odd service,-but knowing the man and his life, it seemed but prop CT that he should be buried by his associates. Tie Countess" was fine singer, and no church choir could have affected that audience as that pathetic voice, and the tear bedimmed eyes of of ha
 Had Bartwell been single man, the "Countess" would have been protected in holding the claim, and probably would have anyway had she asked for it, but she was the first to suggest that the wife should come to protect her interests.
 A month later, one stormy night, the heavy bass whistle of the Cottage City, six or eight miles down the channel, aroused the camp, and in short time a thousand people were under the glare of the searchlight waiting for the ship to make fast, but it was high tide and rough sea, and nearly an hour passed before the gang plank was low cred. Mrs. Bartwell was among the first to land; her sad face showed many traces of sorrow. She hurried through the long line Of spectators.
 The "Countess" was there, and was probably the only one who recognized her, for an hour later she boarded the same boat and started for Dawson.
 The next morning Mrs. Bartell re- ceiyed note signed by the Countess" begging her forgiveness if she had wronged her and stating that in the bank she would find one thousand dollars to her credit. She said she thought she had some claim on the mine, but excepting the few thousands she was taking with her, she relinquish- ed it, and hoped it would prove as rich as indications promised.
 And sothe "Countess" disappeared, but she did not go to Dawson; she probably returned South on the same ship. Men accustomed to hardships and dangers are the ones who honor courage, and the ''Countess" was the heroine of the camp. The claim prov ed bonanza, and early in it's develop ment, Mrs. Bartwell authorized her bankers to notify the "Countess" that ten thousand dollars awaited her orders. Search was in vain,-she could not be located.
 But the most interesting incident of the story is yet to be told
 It was that coming summer that "Slim Jim" struck it rich in the interi- or, and when he came out that fall he