Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-10-26
The Silver Horde By B ss Rex Beach s:sa /
By Rex Beach

Copyright 1909
By Harper d Brothers

they seemed to step out of the from
tier and into the heart of civiliza-
ton. They found a tiny dining-rooin,
perfectly appointed. in the centre of
which, wonder of wonders, was q
round table cleaning like a deep ma
hogany pool. upon the surface Of which
hoated gauzy hand-worked napery,
glinting silver, and sparkling crystal,
the dark polish, of the wood rejecting
the light from shaded candles. 1t held
a delicately figured service of blue and
gold, while the. selection of thin
stemmed glasses all in rows Indicated
the character of the entertainments
that awaited them. The mems eyes
were too busy with the unaccustomed
sight to note details carefully, but they
felt soft carpet beneath their feet and
observed that the walls were smooth
and tremendously papered.
When one has lived long in the rough
where things come with the husS on
he faneies himself weaned away from
the dainty. the beautiful, and the art
iStic; after = years of a s~killet-and-
sheath-knife existence he grows to feel
a scorn for the finer, softer, inconse-
quent trifies of The past, only to find,
of a sudden, that, unknown to him
perhaps, his soul has been hungering
for them all the while. The feel of
cool linen comes like the caress of a
forgotten sweetheart, the tinkle of
glass n silver are so many Ginning
fairy bells inviting lin back into the
foretime days. And so these two UNI
kempt men, ~toughened and Drowned
to the texture of leather by wind and
snow, brought by trail and campfire
to disregard ceremony and look upon
mealtime as an unsatisfying, irksome
period, stood speechless, affording the
girl the feminine pleasure of enjoying
their discontinue
This is m-marvelous," murmured
Emerson, suddenly conscious of his
rough clothing, his fur boots, and his
hands cracked by frost. "Tm afraid
we're not in keeping"
Indeed you are" said the girl, and
1 am delighted to Lave somebody to
talk to. It's very lonesome here, month
after month";"
This is certainly a swell tcpee,"
Fraser remarked, staring about in open
admiration. How did you do it?"
Il brought my things with me from
Nome"
"Nome." calculated Emerson quick
ly.
Yes"
"Why, I've been in Nome ever since
the camp was discovered. It's strange
we never met"
81 didn't stay there very long; went
Jack to Dawson"
Again he fancied the girls eyes held
a vague challenge, but he could not be
sure; for she seated him. and then
gave some instructions to the Aleut
girl, who had entered noiselessly. 1t
was the s%trangest meal Boyd Emerson
had ever eaten, for here, in a forgot
ten corner of an unknown land, hidden
behind ~high-banked log walls, he par
took of a perfect dinner, well served,
and presided over by a gracious, rich
ly-gowned young woma who talked
interestingly on many subjects. For a
second time he lost himself in a maze
of conjecture. Who was she? What
was her mission here? Why was she
alone? But not for long. he was too
heavily burdened by the responsibility
n care of his own affairs to waste
much time by the way on those OF
other people; and becoming absorbed
in his own thoughts. he grew more
silent as the signs Of refinement
civilization about him revived mem
cries long stifed. Fraser. on the con-
trary. warmed by the wine, blossomed
like the rose, and talked g~arrulously,
~recounting marvellous stories, as I'M
probable as they were egotistical. He
monopolized his hostess'S attention., the
while his companion became more pre-
occupied, more self-contained. almost
sullen.
ITO BE Continued Tomorrow.)