Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-08-22
CHAPTER VII.

strange than they do month earlier.
In fhe Northern there was good bust
ness doing The new bar fixtures.
which bad cost kings ransom or
represented the one nights losings of
q Klondike millionaire. shone rich,
dark and enticing, while the cut glass
sparkIed with iridescent hues, reflect
ing in a measure the prlsmatic moods,
the dancing spirits of the crowd that
crushed past. battling at the gambling
games or patronizing the theater In
the rear. The old bar furniture,
brought down by dog team from up
river" was established at the rear ex-
| tremity of the long building, just In
side the entrance to the dance hall,
where patrons of the drama might,
with a modicum of delay and incon-
venience, quaff as deeply of the bea-
ker as 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
rollicking, blood stirring twostep, while
the floor swan with dancers.
At certain intervals the musicians
worked feverishly up to a crashing
crescendo, supported by the voices Of
the dancers, until all joined at the top
mote in a yell, while the drummer
fred a 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 were mostly young,
danced like college boys, while the wo-
men, who were all young and good
dancers, foated through the measures
with the ease of rose leaves on sum
per stream. Faces were flushed, eyes
were 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 as 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
| ~ whisky. Rarely was the choice of
! rotations criticised, though occasional
| iy some rudy eschewer of sobriety in
sisted that his lady "take the same"
avowing that s'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 a metal percentage check, which
she added TO her store. In the curtain
ed boxes overhead men bought bottles
with foil about the corks, and then
subterfuge on the ladys part was idle
but, on the other hand, she was able to
pocket for each bottle check redeem
able at So.
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 "mukluk," others in
sweaters with huge initials and wing
cd 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 Klon-
dixie game, pangingi and the card ta-
i III FOIL Of h11ci n
home, of women, bought and sold
mines and bartered all things from
hams to honor The groomed and
clean, the unkempt and filthy jostled
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 The
glad, bright wine of adventure filed
their veins, and they spoke nightly of
things they had resolved to do, or re-
counted with simple diffidence the
strange stories of their accomplish
ment
The Bronco Kid, familiar from Attn
to Nome as the best bank" dealer on
the Yukon, worked the shift from till
lie was q S4E110cA taGll VI LII ,
dexterous in movement, slow to smile
soft of voice and known as a living
fame among women He 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
ventured many stacks Of yellow chips
and he was quick, aggressive gam
bier. A Jew sat at the king end witt
ten neatly creased $1,000 bills before
him, together with piles of smaller cur
rency. He adyentured viciousIy ant
without system, while outsiders to The
number of four or five cut in sporadic
ally with small bets. The game wal
difficult to follow, consequently ths
lookout. from his raised dais, was lean
r. u Al.