The Red Cloud chief., 1907-11-08
Continued from Page Three.)

games OF phtrOnlLlnB the tneuter Ill
the rear. The old bar furniture,
brought down by dog team from "up
river" was established at the rear cx-
trcmity OF the long building, just in
side the entrance TO the dance hall,
where patrons Of the drama might,
v%cnicnce, quafr as deeply of the bea-
kcr as Of the ballet.
Now. however, the show had closed,
the hall had been cleared of chairs
and canvas. exposing a CLASSY, tempt
ing surface, and the orchestra had
moved to the stage. They played n
roIiicking, blood stirring twostep, while
the floor swan with dancers.
At certain intervals the musicians
worked feverishly up to a crashing
e~rcscendo. supported by the voices Of
the dancers, until all joined at the top
note Ia a yell, while the drummer
tired a forty-four Colt into a 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
d%oncers, foated through the measures
with the ease of rose leaves on a sum-
mer stream. Faces were flushed, eyes
were bright, and but rarely a voice
sounded that was not glad. Most OF
he noise came from the men, and, al
though one caught here and there a
blot Of haggard lines about the glrlish
faces and glimpsed occasional eyes
that did not smile, yet as n whole the
scene was II Of genuine enjoyment.
Suddenly the music ceased, and the
couples crowded to the bar. The wom-
en- took harmless drinks, the men most
ly whisky. Rarely was the choice Of
potatl6ns criticised, though occasional
ly some ruddy eschewer of sobriety In
sisted that his lady take the same"
nvOwlng that "hootch," having been
demonstrated beneficial In his case,
was good for her also. Invariably the
lady accepted without dispute. and in
yariably the man failed to note her
gl0uce 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
girt a metal percentage check. which
she added to her store. In the curtain
I'd boxes overhead men bought bottles
will, foil about the corks. and then
subtcrfuge III the lady's part was idle,
but. on the other hand, she was able to
pocket for each bottle n check redeem
able mt 50.
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 We're in "mukluk," others In
sweaters with huge initials and wing
ed cmblems, and all were collarlcss.
Outside In the main gambling room
there We're but few women Men
crowded III dense masses about the
faro layout, the wheel, craps, the Klon-
bl"S. They talked of business, OF
home. OF women, bought and sold
miues and bartered all things from
hams to honor. The groomcd aud
clean, the unkempt aud filthy jostled
shoulder TO shoulder, equally affected
10y The license Of the gold fields and the
exhtI0ration 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
thlngs they had resolved 10 do. or re-
counted with simple dilIidence the
strange stories of their accomplish
meat.
The Bronco Kid, familiar from Atlln
to Nome as the best bank dealer on
the Yukon, worked the shift from 8 till
2. lie was Il slender nan of thirty,
deXtcrous ia movement, slow to smile.
soft Of voice and known as Il living
flame among women He had dealt
the biggest games of the early days
and had no enemies. Yet, though
many called him friend, they wondered
in~wardly.
1t was Il strong play the Kid had
tonight, for Swede Sam OF Dawson
Ventured many stacks of yellow chips,
and he was Il quick, aggressive gam.
bier. A Jew sat at the king end with
ten neatly creased 81 1000 bills before
him. together with piles of smaller cur
rency. He adventured ~viciously and
without system, while outsiders to the
number OF four or five cut In sporadic
ally with small bets. The game was
ditfcult to follow. consequently the
lookout. from his raised dais, was lean
ing forward, chin In hand. while the
group was hedged about by eager on.
lockers.