The Owosso times., 1907-11-15
The Spoilers.
By REX e. BEACH.
- copyriaht 1905. by Beach.
By REX e. BEACH.

town doubled daily III size, IL grew
endwise like a string of dominoes til
the shore from Cape Nome to Penny
river was long reach of white, CLINT
ing in the low rays of the arctic sun
set like foamy breakers on tropiC
island.
That's Anvil creek up yonder," said
Glenister There's where the Midas
lies. See!" He indicated gap in the
buttress of mountains rolling back
from the coast. Its the greatest
creek in the world. You'll see gold by
the mule load and hillocks of nuggets
oh, I'm glad to get back. This is life.
That stretch of beach is full of gold
These hills are scanned with quartz.
The bedrock Of that creek is yellow.
There's gold. gold, gold everywhere
more than ever was in old Solomon's
mines-and there's mystery and peril
and things unknown"
"Let us make haste,' said the girl
~ have something l must do tonight.
] After that l can learn to know these
things"
Securing small boat. they were
rowed ashore, the partners plying their
ferryman with eager questions. Hav-
ing arrived five days before, he was
| exploding with information and volun-
| teered the fruits of his ripe experience
till Dextry stated that they were
''sour doughs" themselves and owned
the Midas, whereupon Miss Chester
| marveled at the awe which sat upon
| the man and the wondering stare with
which he devoured the partners, to
her own utter exclusion.
"Sunrerin' cats! Look at the freightw
calculated Dextry. "If a storm come
up, 1t would bust the community
The beach they neared was walled
and crowded to the high tide mark
with ramparts Of merchandise, while
every incoming craft deposited its quo
ia upon whatever vacant foot was
close at hand till bales, boxes, boilers
and baggage Of all kinds were con-
fusedly intermixed in the narrow space.
Singing longshoremen trundled burdens
from the lighters and piled them on
the heap, while yelling, cursing crowds
fought over 1t all, selecting, sorting,
loading
There was no room for more, yet
hourly they added to the mass. Teams
splashed through the tapping surf or
stuck in the deep sand between hill
locks Of goods. All was noise, pro-
family, congestion and feverish hurry.
The burning haste rang In the voice
Of the multitude, showed in its violence
Of gesture and redness of face, per.
meated tbs atmosphere with a mag
netic, electrifying energy.
"It's somethin' fierce ashore" said
the oarsman. II been up fer three
days an nights steady. There amt no
room nor time nor darkness to sleep
In. Ham an eggs is dollar an q
half, an whisky's A bits throw" He
walled the last sadly, as complaint
unspeakable.
"Any trouble doin'?" inquired the old
man.
You know itv' the other cried col
loquially. There was massacre in
the Northern last night"
"Gamblin' rowT'
1ep. llnnOrn calleu NILSSON done
it."
"Shov' said Dextry. II know him.
He's bad actor" All three men nod
ded sagely, and the girl wished for
further light, hut they volunteered no
explanation.
Leaving the skiff, they plunged into
turmoil. Dodging through the tangle,
they came out into fenced lots where
tents stood wall 10 wall and every
inch was occupied. Here and there
was vacant spot guarded jealously
by its owner, who gassd sourly upon
all men with the forbldding eye of
suspicion. Finding sn eddy in the
confusion, the men stopped.
Where do you want to go?" they
asked Miss Chester.
There was no longer In Glenisters
glance that freedom with which he
had come to regard the women of the
north. He had come to realize duly
that here was a girl driven by some
strong purpose into a position repel-
lent to her. In a man Of his type her
independence awoke only admiration,
and her coldness served but to infame
him the more. Delicacy in Glenlster
was lost in remarkable singleness of
purpose. He could laugh at her loath-
ing, smile under her abuse and remain
utterly ignorant that anything more
than his action in seizing her that
night lay at the bottom of her dislike.
He did not dream that he possessed
characteristics abhorrent to her, and
he felt keen reluctance at parting.
She extended both hands.
Il can never thank you enough for
what you have done-you two-but 1
shall try. Goodbye
Dextry gazed doubtfully at his own
hand, rough and gnarly, then taking
hers as he would have handled rob-
ms egg waggled it Imply.
I'VE amt goin' to turn you adrft |
this-a-way. Whatever your destination
Is, well see you to it,
II can find my friends" she assured
him.
This is the wrong latitude In which |
to dispute lady; but, KNOWN this
camp from soup to nuts, as do, / SUI
gests male escort"
Very well. wish to find Mr.. Struve |
OF Durham & Struve, lawyers"