The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-02-07


emerged upon the main thorOughfare,
which ran parallel to the shore
Nome consisted OF one narrow street
twisted between solid rows o. canvas
and half erected frame buildings, rs
every other door that of saloon
There were fair looking blocks which
aspired to the dizzy height OF three
stories. some sheathed in corrugated
iron. others cleaning and galvanized
LAWYERS signs. doctors. surveyors.
were in the upper windows. The street
was .hronged with men from every
land. Helen Chester heard more dia-
Iects than she could count. Laplanders
in ouaint three cornered padded caps
idled past Men with the tan OF Inc
tropics rubbed elbows with yellot.
haired Norsemen. and near her a care
fully groomed Frenchman with riding
breeches and monocle was in panic
mime with a skin clad Eskimo. To
her left was the sparkling sea. alive
with ships of every class. To her right
lowered timberleSs mountains, unpeo-
pled. unexplOred. 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 teamsters and the tinkle OF
music within the saloons.
"And this is midnight! exclaimed
Helen breathlessly. "Do they ever
rest?"
"There isn't time This is a gold
stampede. You haven't caught the
spirit of it vet"
They climbed the stairs In huge
iron sheeted building to the office of
Durham & Strive, 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 a 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
left? questioned Glenister.
Somebody mus have toP you" the
lawyer replied. There was neither Gu
riosity, recognition nor resentment in
his 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 young man, with
marks Of brilIiancy showing through
the dissipation betrayed by his silvery
hair and coarsened features.
ooh, don't know what to do" la
mented the girl.
anybody else here besides your
asked her escort of the lawyer.
"No I'm runnin' the law business
unassisted. Don't need any help.
Dunham's in Wash'n'ton, d. c., the
IAN of the home, the free Of the brave.
What 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 Office, where
he tossed him upon a bed in real
room.
"Now what, Miss ChesterT asked
the young man, returning
''Isn't that dreadful she shuddered.
"Oh. and must see him tonight!
She stamped impattently. II must sec
him alone"
'.No. you mustn't" said Glenister.
with equal decision. "In the fir7e
place. he wouldn't know what you
were talking about, and, in the second
place, know Strive. He's too drunk
30 talk business and too sober to-
well, to see you alone"
'But must see him." she insisted.
'Tts 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
tomorrow when he's sober"
"It means SO much" breathed the
girl. 1.-The beastp
Glenister noted that she had not
wrung ner hands nor even limited at
tears. though plainly her. disapnoint-
ment ana anxiety were consuming ner
"Wer, 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 women2 Then
you must let me find a place for you
have a friend whose wife will take
you in"
She rebelled at this. Was she never
to have done with this mans favors?
She thought of returning to the ship,
but dismissed that. She undertook TO
decline his aid, but he was halfway
down the stairs and paid no attention