The Holly chieftain., 1909-03-05


die to Its breast. His eyes grew hripht.
er At sight of Necia. aud he brok. into
Hood Of patois. They fairly lombard
I'll each other with quick questions aud
fragmentary answers till she remem-
bered her companion.
"Oh. forgot my manners. Lieuten-
ant Burrell. this is Napoleon Doret-
our f'OIeOn!" she added, with proud
empbasis-
DOret checked bis volubility and
stared NJ the soldier. whom he appear
ri to zee for the first time The little
brown people IN his arms stared like
wise. and it seemed to Burrell that a
certain distrust was In each Of the
three pairs of eyes. only in those Of
the man there WAS no shyness In
stead. the Canadian looked him over
gravely from head to heel, seeming to
note each point of the unfamiliar at
tire: then he inquired without remov-
ing his glance:
"W'ere'bOuts you live. ehY'
II live at the post yonder" said the
lieutenant
Nv at btZness you work at?"
"The lieutenant has been stationed
here. foolish" said Necia Come up
to the store quick and tell me what
It's like at Dawson"
In spite OF the mans unfrendliness.
Burrell watched him with admira ton.
There were nO heels to his tufted fur
boots. ana yet he stood good six
feet two. rs straight as Il pine sap
ling. and 1t needed no second glance to
tell Of what metal he was made His
spirit showed In his whole body, in
the set Of his head and. above all. in
his dark. warm face. which glowed
with eagerness when he talked and
that was ever-when he was not sing
ing.
Il never see SO many people since
lef' Quebec" he was saying She's
Jus lax beeg city-mus' be tree. four
tOusan people. Every day some more
dey come. an all night dey dance an
sing an drink w'iskee Ra gosh. dat's
fine place.
Are there lots of white women?"
asked the girl.
"Yes: two, tree hondred Mos Of
dem is work i'm dance halls. Dere's
one fine gal ! see, name Marie Bour-
gette. tell you bout her by an by"
.'Oh. Poleon. you're In love- cried
Necia
no Stree he denied "Dere's none
of dem cal look half so purity lax you"
He would have said more: but. spying
the trader at the entrance of the store,
he went to him. straightway launching
into the details Of their commercial en-
terprise. which, happily, had been most
successful.
Among the merchandise Of the post
there were for sale scanty assert
ment of firearms. cheap shctguns and
a Winchester or two. displayed in a
rack behind the counter in manner
to attract the eye of such native hunt
ers as might need them. and with the
rest hung a pair of Colts revolvers.
One Of the new arrivals, who had sep
arated from the others at the front.
now called to Gale:
"Are those Colts for sale? Mine was
stolen the other day" Evidently he
was accustomed to Yukon prices. for
he showed no surprise at the figure the
trader named, but took the guns and
tested each of them, whereupon the
old man knew that here was no
'Cheechako." as tenderfeet are known
in the north, although the mans garb
had deceived him at first glance. The
stranger balanced the weapons, one in
either hand: then he did the double
roll" neatly. following which he exc
cuted a move that Gale had not wit
messed for many years. He extended
one of the guns, butt foremost. as II
surrendering it. the action being free
and open. save for the fact that his
forefnger was crooked and thrust
through the trigger guard; then, with
the slightest jerk Of the wrist, the gun
spun about. the handle jumped into his
palm, and instantly there was click
as his thumb flipped the hammer. 1t
was the old road agent spin," which
Gale as a boy had practiced hours at .
time. But that this man was in earnest
he showed by glancing upward sharply
when the trader laughed.
'sThis one hangs all right" he said;
"give me box Of cartridges
He emptied his gold sack in payment
for the gun and ammunition. then re-
marked:
''That pretty nearly cleans me. II l
had the price I'd take them both"
Gale wondered what need induced
this fellow to spend his last few dol
-. ~ = ar,cr Than ho fnnnirod.