Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-10-29

oeA. meet INC Ut tlle second CLASS IN
half an hour, and we'll run out to the
Midas They pushed through the tan
gle of tents, past piles Of lumber and
emerged upon the main thoroughfare,
which ran parallel to the shore
Nome consisted Of one narrow street,
twisted between solid rows of canvas
and half erected frame buildings, its
every other door that Of saloon.
There We're fair looking blocks which
aspircd to the dizzy height of three
stories, some sheathed in corrugated
iron, others cleaning and galvanized.
Lawyers signs, doctors, surveyors,
were In the upper windows. The street
was thronged with men from every
land. Helen Chester heard more dia-
lects than she could count. Laplnnders
in quaint three cornered padded caps
idled past. Men with the tan of the
tropics rubbed elbows with yellow
haired Norsemen, and near her care
fully groomed Frenchman with riding
breeches and monocle was In panto-
mime with skin clad Eskimo. To
her left was the sparkling sea, alive
with ships of every class. To her right
lowered timberless mountains, unpeo-
pied, UNEMPLOYED, forbidding and desc
late, their hollows inlaid with snow.
On one hand were the life and the
world she knew, on the other silence,
mystery. possible adventure.
The roadway where she stood was n
crush OF sundry vehicles from bicycles
to dog hauled water carts, and OH all
sides men were laboring busily, the
echo Of hammers mingling with the
cries Of Transfers and the tinkle of
music within the saloons.
And this Is midnightw exclaimed
Helen breathlessly. "Do they ever
rest?"
There isn't time. This is gold
stampede. You haven't caught the
spirit of 1t yet"
They climbed the stairs in huge
iron sheetcd building to the Office Of
Durham s. Strive, and In answer to
their knock n red faced, white haired.
tousled man In shirt sleeves and stock
ing feet opened the door.
what dye wan'?" he bawlcd, his
legs wavering uncertainty. His eyes
were heavy and bloodshot, his lips
loose. and his whole person e1haled al
coholic fumes like gust from Il still
house. Hanging to the knob. he strove
yainly to solve the mystery Of his sus-
penders. hiccoughing intermittently.
"Humph! Been drunk ever since
lefti' questioned Glenister.
Somebody mus have tor you" the
lawyer replied. There was neither Gu
riosity. recognition nor resentment III
his voice. In fact, his head dropped
SO that he paid no attention to the
| girl. who had shrunk back at sight OF
him. He was young man, with
marks of brilliancy showing through
the dissipation betrayed by his silvery
hair and conrsened features.
"Oh. ! don't know what to do" la
mented the girl.
ANYBODY else here besides youy
| asked her escort of the lawyer.
NO. I'm runnin' the law business
unassisted Don't need any help.
Dunham's In Wash'n'ton. D. c., the
Ian OF the home. the free of the brave.
w ual gill L no LOT YOU Z.
He made to cross the threshold hos.
pitably. but tripped. plunged forward
and would have rolled down the stairs
had not Glenister gathered him up and
borne him back into the office, where
he tossed him upon bed in q rear
room,
Now what. Miss Chester?' asked
the young man, returning.
| isn't that DREADFUL" she Shuddered.
| "Oh. and l must see him tonight.w
She stamped impatiently. II must see
him alone"
mo. you mustn't" said Glenister
with equal decision. I'm the first
place, he wouldn't know what you
| were talking about, and, In the second
| place. know Strive. He's too drunk
to talk business and too sober to-
well. to see YOU alone'
! But must see him." she insisted
ITS what brought me here. You
| don't understand"
! II understand more than he could
He's in no condition to act on any
| important matter. You come around
tomorrow when he's sober"
ut means so much" breathed the
girl. The BEAST"
Glenistcr noted that she had not
wrung her hands nor even limited at
tears, though plainly her disappoint
ment and anxiety were consuming her
"Well, l suppose I'll have to wait,
but l don't know where to go-some
| hotel l suppose"
| "There aren't any. They're building
two, but tonight you couldn't hire a
room In Nome for money. was about
to say love or money Have you no
other friends here-no women? Then
you must let me find place for you.
have a friend whose wife will take
you In"
She rebelshd at this. Was she never
| to have done with this mans favors
She thought of returning to the ship,
but dismissed that She undertook to
4 decline his pid, but he was halfway
down the stairs and paid no attention
to her beginnins-so she followed him.
| 1t was then that Helen Chester wit
messed her first tragedy Of the frontier
| and through 1t came to know better
| the man whom she disliked and with
whom she had been thrown so fateful-
~, Already she had thrilled at the
! spell of this country. but she had not
learned that strength and license carry
| blood and violcace as corollaries.
Emerging from the doorway at the
foot Of the stairs, they drifted slowly
along the walk, watching the crowd.