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


the shore from Cape Nome to Penny
river was a long reach Of white. CLINT
Inc in the low rays OF the arctic sun
set like foamy breakers on a trOpic
Island
THAT'S Anvil creek up yonder,' said
GIenister. There's where the Mid's
lies. SeeP' He indicated a gap in The
buttress of mountains rolling back
from the coast IT'S the greatest
creek in the world. You'll see gold by
the mule load and hillocks of nuggets.
oh. I'm glad to get back. This is life.
That stretch of beach is full Of gold
These hills are scanned with quartz
The bedrock Of that creek Is yellow.
There's gold, gold, gold everywhere
more than ever was In old Solomon's
mines-and there's mystery and peri!
and things unknown"
"I.et us make haste" said the girl
81 have something ] must do tonight
After that can learn to know thesc
things"
Securing a small boat. they wer-
| rowed ashore, the partners plying Their
ferryman with eager questions. HAY
ing arrived five days before, he was
exploding with information and volun
teered the fruits of his ripe experience
till Dextry stated that they weie
"sour coughs" themselves and owne
the Midas, whereupon Miss Chester
marveled at the awe which sat upon
the man and the wondering stare Wit
which he devoured the partners. t"
her own utter exclusion.
"Sufferin' cats Look at the freight
calculated Dextry. IF storm come
No. it would bust the community"
The beach they neared was WALLED
and crowded to the high tide mark
With ramparts of merchandise, while
every incoming craft deposited its quo
Ia upon whatever vacant foot was
close at hand till bales. boxes, boilers
and baggage Of all kinds were con
fusedly intermixed in the narrow space,
Singing longshoremen trundled burdens
from the lighters and piled them Oh
the heap, while yelling, cursing crowds
fought over it all, selecting, sorting
loading.
There was no room for more, ye
hourly they added to the mass. Teams
splashed through the tapping surf o.
stuck in the deep sand between hi
locks Of goods. AL was noise. pro
family, congestion and feverish hurrT
The burning haste rang in the voice
Of the multitude, showed in its violene
nj gesture and redness of face. pc
heated the atmosphere with q mag
aetic, electrifying energy.
ats somethin' fierce ashore" SAID
the oarsman. II been up fer three
DAYS an nights steady. There amt no
room nor time nor darkness to sleep
In. Ham an eggs is dollar an q
half. an whisky's bits throw" lie
walled the last sadly, as a complaint
unspeakable.
"Any trouble doin'?" inquired the old
man.
"You know itv' the other cried col
Aoouially. There was massacre III
the Northern last night"
"Gamblin' row."
.sYep. "Tinhorn' called Nilsson done
It."
"Shov' said Dextry II know hin.
He's bad actor" All three men nod
ded sagely, and the girl wished for
further light, but they volunteered no
explanation.
Leaving the skiff, they plunged int
turmoil. Dodging through the tangle'
they came out into fenced lots where
tents stood wall to wall and ever
inch was occupied. Here and there
was vacant spot guarded jealousy
BY its owner, who gazed sourly upon
all men with the forbidding eye OF
suspicion. Finding an eddy In the
confusion, the men stopped.
where do you want to goT they
asked Miss Chester
There was no longer In Glenister' :
glance that freedom with which he
had come to regard the women OF the
north. He had come to realize dull.
that here was a girl driven by some
strong purpose into position repe.'
lent to her. In man Of his type he
independence awoke only admiration,
and her GOODNESS served but to inf1ame
him the more. Delicacy in Glenister
was lost in a remarkable singleness OF
purpose He could laugh at her loafh,
ing, smile under her abuse and remain
utterly ignorant that pything mere
tnan his action In selzlng ner tnat
night lay at the bottom of her dislike.
He did not dream that he possessed
characteristics abhoTent to her, ana
he felt keen reluctance at parting.
She extended both hands.
81 can never thank you enough for
what you have done-you two-but !
shall try. Goodbye
Dextry gazed doubtfully at his own
hand, rough and gnarly, then taking
hers as he would have handled a rob
ms egg waggled 1t Imply.
1--WE amt goln' to turn you adrlft
this-a-way. Whatever your destination
n, well see you to It."
Al -. f.tnuIo - ohn ao1ttrnH