Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-09-15
CHAPTER II.

prOviG1OnJ ana FITTINGS about them.
what Ia she doing here alonc!"
Maybe you'd better ask her your
felf." said Fraser.
For the first time in their brief nc-
7upintance Emerson detected strange
note in the rocue's voice.
The Indian girl summoned them, and
they followed her through the long
passageway into the other house,
where. to their utter ACCOMPLISHMENT.
they seemed to step out of the frontier
and into the heart OF civilization. Thoy
found q tiny dining room perfectly mp
pointed. in the center of which, won
der OF wonders. was Il round table
cleaning like n deep mahogany pool.
upon the surface Of which noated
gGuzy hand worked napery. glipting
Ml,er and sparkling crystal. the dark
iolish of the wood rejecting the light
rom shaded candies. 1t held deli
,ately urured service OF blue and gold,
while tho selection Of thin stemmad
glasses all in rows Indicated the char
lcfer of the entertainment that await
I'd them. The mems eyes were too
note details carefully. but they felt soft
carpet beneath their feet and observed
that the walls were smooth and har
moniously papered
"This Is m-marvelous," murmured
Emerson. I'm afraid we're not In
keeping.
Indeed you arc" said the girl. land
dali uI, cd fn hDy t,,
talk to. It's very lonesome here"
This is certainly swell tepcc," Fra
YER remarked. How did you do IT,"
II brought my things with me from
Nome"
"Nome!' calculated Emerson quickly.
Yes
why. I've been in Nome ever since
he camp was discovered It's strange
Ne never met"
Il didn't stay there very long; went
back to Dawson"
Again he fancied the girls eyes held
vague challenge but he could not
be sure. for she seated him and then
gave some instructions to the 1Aleut
girl. Boyd. becoming absorbed In his
ngns of refinement and civilization
About him revived memories long
sifled. This was not the effect for
which the girl had striven Her
younger guests taciturnity, which grew
As the dinner progressed. piqucd her
80 at the first opportunity she bent her
efforts toward rallying him He an
swered politely, but she was powerless
70 shake Off his mood
AZ last he spoke:
"You said those watchmen have In.
etructions not to harbor travellers.
Why is thnt|'
ut is the policy OF the compan MES
They are afraid somebody will discov-
er gold around herr You see, this Is
the greatest salmon river in tho world
The run is tremendos and seems to
he unfailing: hence the cannery people
wish to keep 1t all to Themselves
81 don't quite underestimate
1T Is simple enough Kalvik Is so
ISOLATED and the fishing season is so
Ihoit that tho companies have to send
their crews in from the States and
take them cut again every summer
Now, If gold We're discovered here
abouts the fishermen would all quit
Ind follow the strike which would
mean the ruin of the years catch and
The loss # many hundreds Of thou
sands OF dollars. Why, this village
would become city in no time II such
\ thing were to happen. The whole
region would Oil up with miners, and
not only would labor conditions be en-
tirely upset for years. but the eyes Of
the world. being turned this way. 9TH
or people might 70 into the fishing
business and create competition
which would both influence prices and
deplete the supply Of fish in the Knl-
vik river. So, You see. there are many
reasons why this region Is forbidden
to miners. You couldn't buy pound
OF food nor get nights lodging here
for kings ransom. The watchmen's
Jobs depend upon their unbrolsen bond
Of inhosptollty, and the Indians dare
not sell you anything. not even dog
ash, under penalty Of starvation. for
they are dependent upon the compa-
nieS' stores"
30 that is why you have establish
90 trading post OF your own?"
IN, dear. no. This isn't store
This food is for my men,"
Your rneny'
ies' nave crew out in the hills
o. CRIB stake This is our cache,
WINE thfy prospect fer gold stand
guard over tho provisions"
Fraser chuckled softly. "Tbcn You
ire buckipA; the salmon trustY'
After fashion, yes. knew this
country has. nevcr been gone ovcr so
staked six men, chartered n schoon.
er and cnme Gown here from Mona IN
ihc early spring. We stood Off rho
Tatchman. and when the supply sb,ns
Arrived we had these houses conplet.
pC. and my men were out In tho hill.
where it WINS hard to follow them.
stayed behind md stood the brunt OF
things"
"Eut surely they didn't undertake to
inture your said Emerson, now thor
Oughly interested in this extra ordinary
young woman.
'Oh. didn't they" shc answered.
with Il peculiar laugh. "You don't 40.
prcciate the character of those people,
There 10 no real code Of financial mo
-a!ity. and the battle for dollars is the
b,ttercst OF all contests. OF course.
being Il woman. they couldn't very well