Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-04-30

The men were pouring off the boat
now. and through the crowd came the
TALL frenchman, bearing In the hollow
Of each arm a child who clasped bum
die to its breast. His eyes grew bright
er at sight of Necia, and he broke into
food Of patois. They fairly lombard.
ed each other with quick questions ana
fragmentary answers Till she remeh'
bered her companion.
"Oh. forgot my manners! Lleuten'
ant Burrell. this is Napoleon Doret-
our Ioleonw she added. with proud
emphasis.
Doret checked his volubility and
stared at the soldier. whom he appear
ed to see for the first time. The little
brown people in his arms stared like
wise, and it seemed to Burrell that IL
certain distrust was in each Of the
| three pairs Of eyes. only in those OF
the man there was no shyness. III
| 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, chr
81 live at the post yonder." said the
lieutenant.
Wat bizness you work atF
''rhe 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 unfriendliness,
Burrell watched him with admiration.
There were no heels to his tufted iur
boots. and yet be stood good six
feet two, as straight as pine sap
ling. and it needed no second glance 10
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 giowed
With eagerness when he talked, and
that wis ever-when he was not sing
ing.
Il never see so many people since
lef' Quebec" he was saying SHE $
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. Ba gosh. OATS
fine place.
"Are there lots Of white women
asked the girl.
Eyes; two. tree hondred. Mos OF
dem is work in dance halls. Deres
one fine gal | see, name Marie Borr-
gctte. tell you bout her by an by"
"Oh. Poleou, you're in love-. cried
Necia.
No, stree" he denied. "Dere's none
Of dem gal look half so purity lax You.
Re wcu'E have said niore: hn!. spying
the trader 1T 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 a scanty assert
ment of firearms. cheap shotguns and
Winchester or two, displayed In a
rack behind the counter in a manner
to attract the eye of such native hunt.
ers as might need them. and with the
rest hung 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 be did the double
rolf neatly, following which he exc.
cuted 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
| forefinger 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 tipped the hammer. 1t
was the old "road agent spin" which
| Gale as boy had practiced hours at
time. But that this man was in earnest
he showed by glancing upward sharply
when the trader laughed.
This one hangs all right" he said;
"give me a box of cartridges"
He emptied his gold sack In payment
for the gun and ammunition. then re-
marked:
"That pretty nearly cleans me. II J
had the price I'd take them both"
Gale wondered what need induced
this fellow to spend his last few dol
lars on frearm. Then he inquired:
"Bound for the Outside"
"No. I'm locating here"
The trader darted quick glance at
| him. He did not like this man.
"There amt much doing in this camp.
It's pretty poor place" he said guard
eddy.
"In put in with you, from its looks"
agreed the other. "It's got. many
Mr.. F. G. Fritts, Oneonta, N. Y,
writes: "My little girl was greatly