Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-09-02

Ps'o>sON
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 a skin clad Eskimo To
4 her left was the sparkling sea, alive
with ships of every class. TO her right
! lowered timberless mountains, unpeo-
4 pled. 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
crush of sundry vehicles from bicycles
to dog hauled water carts, and on 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 midnightv' exclaimed
Helen breathlessly. "De 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 a huge
iron sheeted building to the office OF
Durham & Struve and In answer to
their knock red faced. white haired,
tousled man in shirt sleeves and stock
ing feet opened the door
''What dye wan'?" he bawled. his
legs wavering uncertainty. His eyes
were heavy and bloodshot, his lips
loose, and his whole person exhaled al
coholic fumes like gust from still
house. Hanging to the knob, he strove
vainly to solve the mystery Of his sus-
penders, hiccoughing internationally.
! "Humph! Been drunk ever since !
lcft?' questioned Gienister.
Somebody mus have tor you" the
lawyer replied. There was neither Gu
riosity. recognition nor resentment In
/ bis 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 a young man, with,
marks OF brilliancy. showing through
the dissipation betrayed by his silvery
hair and coarsened features.
"Oh, don't know what to do,' la
mented the girl.
"Anybody else here besides your
asked her escort Of the lawyer.
mo. I'm runnin' the law business
unassisted. Don't need any help.
Dunham's in Wash'n'ton, D. c., the.
nm of the home, the free Of the brave.
THAT can do for your"
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 Officer where
he tossed him upon bed In rear
room.
"Now what, Miss Chester7" asked
the young man. returning
Isn't that dreadful!" she shuddered.
"Oh, and l must see him tonightw
She stamped impatiently. Il must see
1 him alone"
mo, you mustn't" said Glenister,
with equal decision. In the first
place, he wouldn't know what you
were talking about. and. In the second
place, know Strive. He's too drunk
4 to talk business and too sober to-
well, to see you alone"
But must see him. she insisted
tits what brought me- here. You
don't understand"
IT understand more than he could.
He's In no condition to act on any
important matter. You come around
i tomorrow when he's sober"
ut means SO much" breathed the
girl. "The beastv'
Glenister 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 don't know where to go-some
hotel, 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.
1 j have friend whose wife will take
you In"
She rebelled at this. Was she never
i TO have done with this mans fayors?
She thought of returning to the ship,
but dismissed that. She undertook to
dechne his aid, but he was halfway
down the stairs and paid no attention
to her beginning SO she followed him.
i It 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 fatefuE
". Already she had thrilled at the
spell Of this country, but she had not
learned that strength and license carry
blood and violence as corollaries.
Emerging from the doorway at the
foot of the stairs, they drifted slowly
along the walk, watching the crowd.
Besides the universal tension, there
were laughter and hope and exhilara-
ton in the faces. The enthusiasm OF
this boyish multitude warmed one.
The girl wished to get into this spirit
to be one of them. Then suddenly
from the babble at their elbows came
discordant note, not long nor loud,
only few words. penetrating and
harsh with the metallic quality lent by
passion.
Helen glanced over her shoulder to
find that the smiles Of the throng were
gone and chat its eyes were bent OF.