The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-03

turn his head.
recounted her temperance talk till the
trader broke in, his voice very soft, his
gray blue eyes as tender as those Of
a woman:
Its good to have you home again,
Necia. The old sun don't shine as
bright when you're away. and when 1t
rains it seems like the moss and the
grass and the little trees was crying
for you. l reckon everything weeps
when you're gone, girl, everything ex-
cept your old dad, and sometimes he
feels like he'd have to bust out and
join the rest of them"
81 missed you dreadfully, daddy" she
said. "It seemed as if those days at
the mission would never end. Father
Barnum and the others were very kind,
and 1 studied hard, but there wasn't
any fun in things without YOU
II reckon you know as much as a
priest now, don't you?"
"Oh, lots MORE" she said gravely.
"You see, am a woman"
He nodded refectively. $50 you are!
keep forgetting that"
Their faces were set toward the
west, where the low sun hung over a
ragged range of hills topped with ever
lasting white Beyond were other
ranges thrust skyward in a magnifi-
cent confusion, while still to the far
ther side lay the purple valley Of the
Koyukuk, valley that called insist
emily to restless men. welcoming them
In the spring and sending them back
in the late summer tired and haggard
with the hunger Of the north.
"When will Poleon get back. do you
supposeY'
'Most any day now, unless the Daw-
son dance halls are too much for him.
1t won't take him long to sell our
skins if what hear is true
"What is thatT
about these Cheechakos They say
there are thousands Of tenderfeet up
there and more coming in every day"
Gale turned his eyes downstream to
the barracks and noted that the long
Flagstaff had at last been erected.
Even as he looked he saw q bundle
mounting toward its tip and then be
held the stars and stripes fiutter out
in the air, while the men below cheer
ed noisily. 1t was some time before
he answered.
"POleOn DOret is like the rest of us
men up here in the north We have
taken care Of ourselves so far. and
guess we're able to keep it up without
the help Of a smooth faced Yankee kid
for guardian"
Lieutenant Burrell isn't Yankee"
said Necia. "He is 4 Blue Grass man.
He comes from Kentucky"
Her father grunted contemptuously.
male man with any ginger in him
would shed his coat and go to work.
instead Of wearing his clothes but.
toned up all day. 1t don't take much
'savvy to run a handful of thirteen
dollar n month soldiers Necia stirred
a bit restlessly, and the trader con-
tinued: 1T amt mans work; it's
loafing. If he tries to boss us he'll get
quite a surprise"
"He won't try to boss you. He has
been sent here to build a military post
and to protect the miners in their own
self government. He won't take any
part in their affairs as long as they
are conducted pcIceably."
The old man grunted again, with
added contempt, while his daughter
continued:
"This rush to the upper country has
brought in all sorts of people, good
/ bad-and worse, and the soldiers have
been sent to prevent trouble and to
hold things steady till the law can be
established. The Canadian mounted
police are sending all their worst char.
acters down river, and our soldiers
have been scattered among the Amer
lean camps for our protection. think
it's fine"
Where did you learn all this?"
Lieutenant Burrell told me-" she re
piled, at which her father regarded
her keenly. She could not see the
curious look in his eyes, nor did she
turn when, moment later, he re
sumed In an altered tone:
81 reckon Poleon will bring you
something pretty from Dawson. eh"
He has never failed to bring me
presents, no matter where he came
from. Dear old Poleonm She smiled
tenderly. do you remember that frs
day when he drifted, singing, int
sight around the bend up yonder? al