The daily Alaskan., 1907-06-19
The TenderfOOt.

I confess that when l went to Colo rado to look up mining property I did not like the term "tenderfoot" that was applied to me in common with all who came from civilized countries. l had been an athlete. a soldier and a mountain climber both in South Amer ica and Europe. Therefore ] did not see any propri,y In the term for me.
 ] met some royal good fellows at Colorado Springs and soon after my ar- rival there was entertained by a party at supper. Al the table opposite me sat Mark DyGomuu, who had evident ly been long enough m the country to be entirely careless Jr h's dress for, although from his language and his manners 1t Was easy ro see that he was at Iras, fairly well bred and ed. heated. hr was dressed u the trousers, boots and wooden shirt of tine region, to say nothing of the revolver and car uidges strapped ro his waist. He had a pair of cold gray eyes with hgshy brows over them and wore U perpetual sneeriug expression on his face ] mentioned having climbed the Natter hOru. in Switzerland. Uykeman's snecI Intensified
 "DId you o up tcHlrrgooi style. % he asked, "w.th a Urt of men to hold you uu win a r.ne sand cut your steps for you. OF did you do it yUursr.f|
 l confess ! was iruwCeI when ] re- piled.
 "On. the Maucrnrm is not tu be climbed like u.sr hills aDout hrrr. it's a mountain"
 "I dout doubt" he retorled "tlat its a mountain. and s.ppu 0ue. only doubt your ability as a climber"
 "Tm going up ptkes peak tomor- row." said. euaeayartng to speak without aApw of choInr "I shall climb it a,our'
 "Du you know the wayE'
 "Never was on the momtatn In my life"
 And you consider yourself able to go to the top within 8 reasonable llmet'
 "I do."
 "Tug man" he snarIpd. "You'rr no climber You're trndcrlo0t"
 "Tu bet you," | retorted losing my caution. "that | climb tine mountain alone and in a reasonable timc-whar a reasonable time is t0 be fixed hy ,ho members of this party, you and l cN- rcptnI"
 "What do you take me for. Do von think I'm hero to make a sure het with a tnuderroot to get his money un- fairly: I know a blind man that can beat you on a race"
 "BImdt"
 "Stonc blind. I'D bet you Slgu hr naa climb ro the top ot r.Eo's peak sooner than you"
 "II seems To me- l replied. ..a her ike that would he all in my favor."
 "po you take the bet or take w0rorE'
 There was a cold bIooded. disagree able look in th, mans coutempwous glance that Irrttated me beyond measure.
 "Df course ] take the bet. Ilr wue dances must pay the piper. lt you insist in calling me a .euderf0ot. you must hand uut the cost"
 It was then arranged that l and 80 halE dozen others were to start from thc hasp of pil,e's peak the next morn ing and that irW blind man beat me t1 .n, tom | was to lose the bet. The moucs was put up. and We broke up to ga To ard
 T.a next morning We met at an Up- pointed rendezvous. Dykomau was ruoso. and a good nap had evidently taken away bis disposition tu luuul mr. for ue trcatel mo very eiviily. yutnly endravored 10 discover from the looks of others of the party whether they considered tHe contest m 80 srrl ous light or mot and made some rr- marks to draw them uut but every mm seemed to have bottled hlmseI1 upon the subject and ] got uo salls. faction. The umpire permitted each person who was to join in the race To take position wherever he liked. pro. yiIei he was in sight. the umpire and ! heinz in the center Then at the firing of a revolver We started.
 ! soon found that l had been put on the usual route taken by those who asccuded the peak. Why this had been done ] could not imagine. but inferred that it was to give me every advantage m order that there should be no war rant for blame on the part of those conducting the contest for taking an unfair advantage of a stranger Surely if after having been started right ] couldn't beat a blind man to the sum