Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-11-01

this spring rnan IN the wnole length
and history of the Yukon"
They had reached the hotel, and
Glenister paused. turning to the girl rs
the judge entered. When she started
to follow, he detained her.
II came down from the hills on pur-
pose to see you. 1t has been q long
week.
"Don't talk that way" she interrupt
ed cofdly. II don't care to hear it."
See here, what makes you shut me
out and wrap yourself up In your
haughtiness? I'm sorry for what did
that night. I've told you so repeated
~. I've wrung my soul for that act
till there's nothing left but repent
ance."
ut is not that" she said slowly. 81
have been thinking 1t over during the
past month, and now that have gain
ed an insight into this life I see that
it wasn't an unnatural thing for you
to do. It's terrible to think of, but it's
true. l don't mean that 1t was pardon
able" she continued quickly, "for it
wasn't, and hate you when / think
about 1t, but l suppose put myself
into position to invite such actions.
No; I'm sufficiently broadminded not
to blame you unreasonably, and think
could like you in spite Of 1t, Just for
what you have done for me. But that
isn't all. There is something deeper.
You saved my life, and I'm grateful,
but you brighten me always. 1t Is
the cruelty in your strength. 1t Is
something away back in you-lustful
and ferocious and wild and crouching."
He smiled wryly.
ut Is my local color maybe, absorbed
from this country. I'll try to change,
though, If you want me to. I'll let
them rope and throw and brand me.
I'll tnke on the graces Of civilization
and put away revenge and ambition
and all the rest of it If It will make
you like me any better Why, I'll even
promise not to violate the person of
our claim jumper If l catch him. and
heaven knows that mems that Sam.
son has parted with his locks"
II think could like you II you did,"
she said, but you can't do 1t. You are
a savage"
There are no clubs nor marts where
men forcgather for business in the
north-nothing but the saloon, and this
Is all and more than club. Here men
consregate to drink, to gamble and to
traffic.
1t was late in the evening when
Glenister entered the Northern and
passed Idly down the row Of games,
pausing Mt the crap table, where he
rolled the dice when his turn came.
Moving to the roulette wheel, he lost
stack of whites, but at the faro "lay-
OUT his luck was better. and he won a
gold coin on the high card, whercupon
he promptly ordered round of drinks
for the men grouped about him, for.
mality always precedent to overtures
of general friendship.
AS he paused, glass in hand. his eyes
were drawn to man who stood close
by. talking earnestly. The aspect of
the stranger challenged notice. for he
stood high above his companions. with
peculiar grace of attitude In place of
the awkwardness common in men of
great stature. Among those who were
listening intcntly to the mans care
fully modulated tones Glenister recog.
nized Mexico Mullins the cx-gambler
who had given DeNtry the warning at
Unalaska. AS he further studied the
listening group a drunken man stag.
gered uncertainty through the wide
doors OF the saloon and, gaining sight
OF the tall stranger, blinked, then an.
pronched him, speaking with a loud
voice:
"Well, If faint ole Alec Mcnamara.
How do, We ole pirate?"
Mcnamara nodded and turned his
back coolly upon the newcomer.
Don't turn your dorsal fin to me. L
wan to talk to ye"
Mcnamara continued his calm dis
course till he received vicious whack
on the shoulder Then he turned for
moment to interrupt his assailant's
garrulous profanity:
Don't bother me. am engaged"
"1e Won talk to me, eh: Well, I'm
goin to talk to you. see. guess you'd
listen If told these people all know
about YOU. Turn around here"
His voice was menacing and attract.
ed general notice. Observing this, Nc.
Namara addressed him, his words
dropping clear, concise and cold:
Don't talk to me. You are a drunk
en- nuisance. Go away before some
thing happens to YOU"
Again he turned away, but the
drunken man seized and whirled him
about. repeating his abuse. encouraged
by this apparent patience.
Your pardon for an Instant, gentle
men,. Mcnamara laid large white
and manicured hand upon the flannel
sleeve of the miner and gently escorted
MIN through the entrance to the side.
walk, while the crowd smiled.
AS they cleared the threshold. how
ever, he clinched his fist without n
word and. raising it, struck the sot
fully and cruelty upon the jaw. His
victim fell silently, the back of his
mead striking the boards with hollow
thump; then, without even observing
how he lay, Mcnamara re-entered the
saloon and took up his conversation
where he had been Interrupted. His
voice was rs evenly regulated as his
movements, betraying not sign Of
anger, excitement or bravado He lit
cigarette, extracted notebook and
5otted down certain memoranda sup
Piled him by Mexico Mullins.
All this time the body lay across the
threshold without sign of life, The
buzz Of the roulette wheel was re-