Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-30
CHAPTER IL.


engines and, gazing cautiously
through her stateroom window,
~ saw a CLASSY, level sea, with
the sun brightly agleam on it.
So this was Boring? She had clothed
1t always with the mystery Of her
school days, thinking OF 1t as weep
ing, fog bound stretch of gray waters.
Instead she saw a fiat, sunlit main,
with occasional sea parrots Tapping
their fat bodies out of the ships course.
4 glistening head popped up from the
waters abreast, and she heard the cry
of "Seal!''
Dressing, the girl noted minutely the
personal articles scattered about the
cabin, striving to derive therefrom
some fresh hint of the characteristics
Of the owners. First, there was an
elaborate copper backed toilet set, all
richly ornamented and leather bound.
The metal was magniffcently hand
marked and bore s;lenister's initial. 1t
spoke of elegant extravaganza and
seemed oddly out of place in an arctic
miners equipment, as did also small
set of De Maupassant.
Next she picked up Kipling's Seven
Seas marked literally, and felt that
she had struck scent. The roughness
and brutality of the poems had always
chilled her, though she had felt vague
~ their splendid pulse and swing. This
was the girls first venture from q shell
81 ho1 ~ r1,ht,a1 a1h0vyq
with the world enough to find that
truth may be rough, unshaven and
CARRIED in homespun. The book con-
firmed her analysis Of the junior part
ner.
Pendent from hook was a worn
and blackened holster from which
peeped the butt of a large Colts re-
yolyer, showing evidence Of many
years service 1t spoke mutely Of the
white haired Dextry, who, before her
Inspection was over, knocked at the
door, and, when she admitted him. adj
dressed her cautiously:
1.-The boys down forrad, teasln' grub
out of fiunky. He'll be up in min
ute. How'd We sleep?''
every well, thank you," she lied,
''but I've been thinking that ought to
explain myself to you"
'.Now, see here" the old man inter-
jected, "there ain't no explanations
needed till you feel like givin' them
up. You was in trouble that's I'M
fortunate. We help you-that's natu-
raj No questions asked = that's
Alaska"
Yes, but know you must think
"What bothers me- the other con-
tipued irrelevantly, lis how in blazes
we're goin' to keep you hid. The stew.
ards got to make up this room, and
somebody's bound to see u packin'
grub in"
II don't care who knows II they
won't send me back. They wouldn't
do that. would they?" She hung anx-
iously on his words.
Send you back? Why, don't you
savvyl that this boat is bound for
Nome? There amt no turnin' back
on gold stampedes, and this Is the
widest rush the world ever saw. The
captain wouldn't turn back. He
couldn't. His cargo's too precious.
and the company pays $1,000 q day
for this ship. No, we amt putin
back to unload no stowaways at five
thousand per. Besides, we passengers
wouldn't let im-time's too precious"
They were interrupted by the rattle Of
dishes outside, and Dextry was about
to open the door when his hand waver-
ed uncertainty above the knob, for he
heard the hearty greeting Of the ships
captain.
''Well, well, Glenister, where's all
the breakfast going?"
90" whispered the old man, that's
Cap Stephens"
"Dextry isn't feeling quite up to
form this morning" replied Glenister
easily.
Don't wonder! Why weren't you
aboard sooner last night? saw you.
Most got left, Ell? Served you right If
you had" Then his voice dropped to
the confidential: I'D advise you to cut
out those women. Don't misunf r.
stand me, boy, but they're bad lot on
this boat. 1 saw You come aboard.
Take my word for 1t, they're bad lot.
Cut EN- out. Guess I'll step inside and
see what's up with Dextry."
The girl shrank into her corner, gaz-
ing apprehenstvely at the other lis
tener.
"Well-er-he isn't up yet" they
heard Glenister stammer. Better
come around later"
Nonsense! It's time he was dress
ed The masters voice was gruffly
good naturcd. "Hello, Dextry! Hey!
Open up for inspection" He ratified
the door,
There was nothing to be done. The
old miner darted an inquiring glance
at his companion, then. at her nod,
slipped the bolt, and the captains blue
bulk filled the room.
Ills grizzled close bearded face was
genially wrlnkled till he spied the
erect gray figure In the corner, when
his cap came of involuntarily. There
his courtesy ended, however and the
smile died coldly fDm his face. His
eyes narrowed, and the good fellow
ship fell away, leaving him the stiff
and formal officer
".Ah," he said, mot feeling well. Ell?
I thought l had met all Of our lady
Introduce me, DeXtry."
Deytry Sullfrmed under his cyniciSn |