The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-04
copyright. 1910, bv the Nen York HerdI-r
COmpony-AH Rights ReserUed.l
CHAPTER I.

quiet night in the Tivoli At the bar,
which ranged along one side of the large chinked
log room. leaned half a dozen men, two Of whom
were discussing the relative merits Of spruce tea
and lime juice remedies for seurvy. They
gued with air Of depression and with intervals Of
morose silence. The other scarcely needed them.
In a row against the opposite wall the gambling
games The crap table was deserted. One lone man
playing e. the faro table, The roulette ball was
not spinning and the game keeper stood by the
roaring red hot stove talking with the young dark
eyed woman. comey of face and figure who was
known from Juneau to Fort Yukon as the Virgin.
Three sat in at stud poker but they played with
small chips and without enthusiasm while there were
no onlookers On the floor of the dancing room which
opened out at the three couples were Waiting
drearily to the strains of a violin and piano.
Circle City not deserted nor was money tight
The miners were IN from Moosehide Creek and the
other dggngs TO the west the summer washing had
been good and the mems pouches were heavy with
dust and nuggets. The Klondike had not yet been
discovered had the miners of the Yukon learned
the possibilities Of deep digging and wood firing No
work done in the winter and they made prac-~
tce of alternating in the large camps like Circle City
during the long Arctic night. Time was heavy on
their hands, their pouches were well filed and the
only social diversion TO be found was in the saloons
Yet the Tiyo practically deserted and the Virgin
standing by the stove yawned with uncovered mouth
and said to Charley Bates
IF something don't happen soon I'm goin' to bed
What's the matter with the camp. anyway Every
body deadT
nOt
moodiy rolling cigarette. Dan Macdonald. pioneer
salOonman and gambler on the upper Yukon. owner
and proprietor Of the Tivon and all its games wan
dered fororny across the great vacant space of floor
and joined the two at the stove
Anybody deadY the Virgin asked him.
Looks like It," was the answer
Then 1t must be the whole camp" she said with
an air Of fnality and with another yawn
Macdonald grinned and nodded and opened his
mouth to speak when the front door swung uido and
man appeared in the light rush Of frost turnad
tovapor by the heat Of the room swirled about him 70
his knees and poured on across the hoor 0rovvin,
thinner and thinner and perShng dozen feet from,
the stove Taking the wispbroom from its nail in
SIDE the door the newcomer brushed the snow from his
moccasins and high German socks He would have
appeared a large man had not a huge Frencb-Csno.
dian stepped up to him from the bar and rrjpnej b;s
hand
Hello, Daylghtr' was his greeting by Gar Won
good for sore eyes"
Hello, Louis When did you-aI blow IN - ro,,-,..
the newcomer Come up and have drink and tel
us all about Bone Creek Why, dog-gone you-sU shake
again Where's that pardner Of yours? I'm looking
for him."
Another huge man detached himself from the bar N
shake hands. Olaf Henderson and French Louis. part
ners together on Bone Greek, were the two largest
men in the country, and though they were but half
head taller than the newcomer between them he was
dwarfed completely
Hello, Olaf, you're my meat, savvee that?' said the
one called Daylight "TOmorrow's my birthday and
I'm going to put yOu-all your back-savyee? And
you, too Louis. can put you all on your back on nv
birthday-savvee? Come up and drink Olaf and I'll
tell yOu-aH about It."
The arrival Of the newcomer seemed to send a food
Of warmth through the place. Its Burning Day
light" the Virgin CRIED the first to recognize him as
he came into the light Charley Bates tight features
relaxed at the sight and Macdonald went over and
joined the three at the bar. With the advent Of
Burning Daylight the whole place became suddenly
brighter and cheerier The barkeepers were active
Voices were raised. Somebody laughed And when
the fiddler peering into the front ROOM remarked to
the pianist It's Burning Daylight" the waltztime
perceptiby quiekened, and the dancers catching the
contagion, began to whirl about if they really en-
joyed it, 1t known TO them Of old time that moth
ing langushed when Burning Daylight around.
He turned from the bar and saw the woman by the
stove and the eager look of welcome she extended
him.
Hello, Virgin, old gir! he called. "Helo, Char
ley! What's the matter with you-alll Why wear
faces like that when co1ns cost only three ounces?
Come up, you-sn, and drink. Come up, you unburied
dead, an name your poison. Come up everybody
This is my night and I'm going to ride it. Tomor-
row I'm thirty, and then I'll be old man. It's the
last fling of youth. Are you all with me? Surge
along then Surge along
Hold on there, Davis!" he called to the faro
dealer who had showed his chair back from the
table I'm going you one futter to see whether you
all drink with me or VEAL drink with you"
Pulling heavy sack Of gold dust from his coat
pocket he dropped it ou the high card
Fifty" he said.
The faro dealer slipped two cards. The high card
won He scrubbed the amount on pad and the
wegher at the bar balanced fifty dollars worth Of
dust in the gold scales and poured it into Burning
Doyight's sack. The waltz in the back room fin
Sbpd he fbrae L-+