Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-11-08
CHAPTER VII.

uuHs uSutS from DOORWAY anu
- window seem less garlsh and
strange than they do month earlier.
In the Northern there was good bust
ness doing. The new bar fixtures,
which had cost kings ransom or
represented the one nights loslngs Of
Klondike millionaire, shone rich.
dark and enticing. while the cut glass
sparkled with irldescent hues. reflect
Ing In measure the prismatic moods.
the dancing spirits Of the crowd that
crushed past. halting at the gambling
games or patroniZlng the theater in
the rear. The old bar furniture.
brought down by dog team from up
river" was established at the rear OK.
tremity Of the long building. just In
side the entrance to the dance hall,
where patrons Of the drama might,
with modicum of delay and incon-
venience, quaff as deeply of the bca-
ker rs of the ballet.
Now, however, the show had closed,
the hall had been cleared of chairs
and canvas. exposing CLASSY, tempt
Ing surface. and the orchestra had
moved to the stage. They played a
rollicklng. blood stirring twostep. while
the floor swan with dancers.
At certain intervals the musicians
worked feverishly up t, crashing
crescendo. supported by the voices Of
the dancers, until all joined at the top
note in yell, while the drummer
fired forty-four Colt into box of
wet sawdust beside his chair-all In
time. all in the swinging spirit Of the
tune.
The men, who We're mostly young,
danced like college boys, while the wo-
men. who We're all young and good
dancers, tloated through the measures
with the ease of rose leaves on sum-
mer stream. Faces were flushed, eyes
We're bright, and but rarely voice
sounded that was not glad. Most Of
the noise came from the men, and, al
though one caught here and there a
hint of haggard lines about the girlish
faces and glimpsed occasional eyes
that did not smile, yet rs Il whole the
scene was one Of genuine enjoyment.
Suddenly the music ceased, and the
couples crowded to the bar The wom-
en- took harmless drinks, the men most
ly whisky. Rarely was the choice Of
potations criticised, though occasional
~ some ruddy eschewer of sobricty in
sisted that his lady take the same"
avowlng that "hootch," having been
demonstrated beneficial In his case,
was good for her also. Invariably the
lady accepted without dispute, and In
variably the man failed to note her
glance at the bartender or the silent
substitution by that capable person Of
ginger ale for whisky or of plain wa
ter for gin. In turn the mixers collect
ed 81 from each man. Tipping to the
girl metal percentage check. which
she added to her store. In the curtain
cd boxes overhead men bought bottles
with foil about the corks, and then
subterfugc on the lady's part was idle
but, on the other hand. she was able to
pocket for each bottle check redeem
able Mt 50.
a stranger straight from the east
would have remarked first upon the
good music. next upon the good looks
of the women and then upon the shah
by clothes Of the men. for some of
them were In "mulllul," others in
sweaters with huge initials and wing
ed emblems. and all were collarless.
Outside in the main gambling room
there were but few women Men
crowded In dense masses about the
faro layout, the wheel. craps. the Illon-
dixie game, pangingl and the card ta-
bles. They talked Of business. OF
home. of women, bought and sold
mines and bartered all things from
hams to honor. The groomed and
clean, the unllempt and filthy jostlcd
shoulder to shoulder. equally affected
by the license Of the gold fields and the
exhilaration of the new. The mystery
of the north had touched them all. Tn,
glad, bright wine Of adventure filled
their veins, aud they spoke nightly of
things they had resolved to do, or re-
counted with simple ditlidence the
strange stories of their accomplish
ment.
The Bronco Kid, familiar from .Atlin
to Nome as the best "bank" dealer Oh
the Yukon, worked the shift from s till
2. He was slender man Of thirty
deXterous in movement. slow to smile,
soft of voice and known as u living
fame among women. lie had dealt
the biggest games of the early days
and had no enemies. Yet, though
many called him friend they wondered
inwardly.
1t was strong play the Kid had
tonight. for Swede Sam OF Dawson
many stacks Of yellow chips,
and he was a quick. aggressive gam.
bier. A Jew sat at the king end with
ten neatly creased $1,000 bills before
him. together with piles of smaller cur.
rency. he adventured viciously and
without system, while outsiders to the
number of four or five cut In sporadic.
ally with small bets. The game was
difficult to follow, consequently the
lockout, from his raised dais. was lean
Ing forward. cain in hand, while the
group was hedged about by eagee on.
lockers.
Faro is closed book to most people,
for its lntricacies are confusing. Lucky
Is he who has never persevered in solv.
Ing its mysteries nor speculated upon
the systems" Of beating it. From
bose WHO have learned it. the game de-
mands practice, AeXterltS and cool
ness. The dealer must run the cards, !
watch the many shifting bets, handle
the neatly piled checks. figure light.
ninglike the profits and losses II was