The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-03
BY JACK LONDON


won't away thinking what wicked wo-
man this Lorraine Lisznayi must be, also
what noble women Mrs. Eppingwell and
Freda were to interest themselves in the
Iwelfare of the unknown Flossie.
Now Mrs. Eppingwell was open as the
day. Having taken Floyd Vanderip's
measurements, she did not dare this with
him; but she was not afraid to go down
Into the town to Freda. And down she
went, in the bright light of day, to the
house of the dancer. She was above silly
tongues, as was her husband, the cap
tain. She wished to see this woman and
to speak with her, nor was she aware OF
any reason why she should not. So she
stood in the snow at the Greek girls
door, with the frost at sixty below and
parleyed with the waiting maid for a full
i've minutes. She had also the pleasure
OF being turned away from that door and
OF going back up the hill, wroth at heart
for the indgnity which had been put
upon her. who is this woman that she
should refuse to see me?' she asked
herself. One would think it the other
way around, and she herself but a dane
ing girl denied at the door OF the wife
OF captain.
She would not have been surprised had
she been taken into the dancers cabin
and encountered on common ground; nor
surprised had she been taken in and
Haunted in priceless arrogance. But to
be treated as she had been treated was
unexpected and Disappointing. Ergo, she
had not caught Freda's point OF view.
One cannot understand defilenent with
out laying hands to pitch, which is very
lsticky, while there be plenty wiling to
undertake the experiment. All OF which
lis CT small concern beyond the fact that
it gave Mrs. Eppingwell ground for griev-
ance and bred for her great love in the
Greek girls heart.
And in this way things went along for
month, Mrs. Eppingwell striving to
withhold the man from the Greek dan
GERS Establishments against the time OF
Fiossie's coming; Flossie lessening the
miles each day Of the dreary trail; Freda
pitting her strength against the model
woman; the model woman straining every
nerve to land the prize: and The man
tile, very proud of himself, whom he be
loved to be a second Don Juan.
1t was nobody's fault except the mans
The way Ct man with a maid may be
too wonderful to know. but the way OF
a woman with a man passeth all con-
certion Perhaps the model woman's at
traction lay in that to the eye she was
a handsome animal; perhaps she fascl-
mated him with her Old Work talk OF
palaces and prices, leastwise she dazzled
him whose life had been worked out in
Iuncultured roughncss, and he at last
agreed to her suggestion of a run down
the river and marriage at Forty Mile.
In token of his intention he bought dogs
lfroin Sitka Charley-more than one sled
is necessary when a woman like Lorraine
L,szayi takes to the train-and then
went up the creek to give orders for the
superintendent Of his Bonanza mines
during his absence.
He had given 1t out rather vaguely thai
he needed the animals for shedding lum-
Der from the mill to his sluices, and
righ; here is where Stka Charley dem
onstrated his fitness. He agreed to fur
Hish dogs on a given date, but 10 sooner
had Floyd Vanderlip turned his toes up
creek than Charley hied himself away in
perturbation to Lorraine Llsznayl. Did
she know where Mr.. VaEderllp had gone +?
He had agreed to supply that gentleman
with big string of dogs by a certain
time but that shameless one, the Ger
man trader Meyers, had been buying up
the brutes and skmped the market. 1t
was very necessary he should see Mr..
Vanderlip because of the shameless one
would be all Of a week behindhand IN
filing the contract.
She did not know where he had gone
Up-creek? Cool, Did he understand her
to say Mr. Vanderlip needed the dogs
on Friday night?-that he must have
them by that time? 1t was too bad. but
it was the fault of the shameless one
who had bid UP the prices. They had
jumped $50 a head. and should he buy
on the rising market he would lose by the
contract. He wondered if Mr.. Vanceriip
would be willing to meet the advance.
She knew he would? Being Mr.. Van
derlip's friend. she would even meet the
difference herself? And he was to, say
nothing about it? She was kind to Sc
look to- his interests Friday night, die
she say? Good. The dogs would be on
hand.
An hour later Freda knew the eiope
ment was to be pulled off on Friday
night also that Floyd Vanderlip had gone
up-creek, and her hands were tied.
On Friday morning, Devereaux. the OF
fetal courier, bearing dispatches from the
Governor, arrived over the ice. Besides
.hc dispatches, he brought news of Fios
sic. He had passed her camp at Sixtl
Mile; humans and dogs were in good con
dition; and she would doubtless be in OF
the morrow. Mrs. Eppingwel experienced
great relief on hearing this. Floyd Van
lerIp was safe up-creek, and ere th'
Greek girl could again lay hands upof
him, his bride would be on the ground
Sitka Charley remarked incidentally tina
she intended jumping out down river tha
night with Floyd Vanderlip. and furthe'
venturcd the information that accident'
were very likely at that time OF year.
So Mrs. Eppingwell's thoughts OF Fred
were unkinder than ever. she wrote
note addressed it to the man in question
and intrusted it to a messenger who lay
in wait at the mouth of Bonanza Creek
Another man, bearing a note from Freda
: also waited at that strategic point so /
; happened that Floyd Vanderlip. ridlnf
| his sled merrily down with the last day
night rpcelypd tho notpc Together. Ill