Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-11-08
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER IL.
is she?'' asked Emerson.
M "You heard, didn't you?
V She's Miss Malotte, and she's
w certainly some considerable
lady," answered the crook.
Eyes, but who is she2 What does
this mean?" Emerson pointed to the
provisions and fittings about them.
"What is she doing here alone"
Maybe you'd better ask her your
SELF" said Fraser.
For the first time in their brief &C.
auaintance Emerson detected strange
note in the rogue's voice.
The Indian girl summoned them. and
they followed her through the long
passageway into the other house.
where. to their utter establishment.
they seemed to step out of the frontier
and into the heart of civilization. They
found tiny dining room perfectly ap-
pointed, In the center Of which. Won
der of wonders. was round table
cleaning like a deep mahogany pool.
upon the surface Of which foated
gauzy hand worked napery, glinting
silver and sparkling crystal, the dark
polish Of the wood rejecting the light
from shaded candles. 1t held deli
cately figured service of blue and gold,
while the selection Of thin stemmed
glasses all in rows indicated the char
acter Of the entertainment that await
ed 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 har-
moniously papered.
"This Is m-marvelous," murmured
Emerson. I'm afraid we're not In
keeping"
Indeed you are" said the girl, land
am delighted to have somebody to
talk to. It's very lonesome here"
This is certainly swell tepee." Fra
ser remarked. How did you do it,"
Il brought my things with me from
Nome"
"Nome!" CALCULATED Emerson quickly.
YES"
"Why. I've been in Nome ever since
the camp was discovered. It's strange
We never met"
II didn't stay there very long: wen:
back to Dawson"
Again he fancied the girls eyes held
q vague challenge. but he could not
be sure. for she seated him and then
gave some instructions to the Aleut
girl. Boyd. becoming absorbed in his
own thoughts. grew more silent as the
signs of refinement and civilization
about him revived memories long
stitled. This was not the effect for
which the girl had striven Her
younger guests taciturnity. which grew
as the dinner progressed. piqued her.
SO ut the first opportunity she bent her
efforts toward rallying him. He an
swered politely. but she was pvwerless
to shake Off hi" mood.
At last he spoke:
"You said those wntrhmcU have 10.
structions not to harOor travellers.
Why Is that?''
ut is the policy of the companies.
They are afraid somebody will dtscov'
er gold around here. You SIZE. this Is
the greatest salmon river In the world.
The run Is tremendous and seems to
be unfailing: hence the cannery people
wish to keep 1t all to themselves"
II don't quite understand
ut is simple enough. Kalvik Is 80
isolated and the fishing season Is 50
short that the companies have to send
their crews in from the States and
take them out again every summer.
Now. If gold were discovered here
abouts the fishermen would all quit
and follow the strike which would
mean the ruin Of the years catch and
the loss of many hundreds Of thou
sands Of dollars. Why. this village
would become a city in no time II such
a thing were to happen. The whole
region would Gil 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
er people might so into the fishing
business and create competition
which would both influence prices and
deplete the supply Of fish in the KaI-
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 a nights lodging here
for kings ransom. The watchmen's
jobs depend upon their unbroken bond
Of inhospitality. and the Indians dare
not sell you anything. not even u dog
fish. under penalty of starvation. for
they are dependent upon the compa-
MES stores"
80 that is why you have establish
ed n trading post of your own?"
"Oh. dear. no. This isn't a store.
This food Is for my men,"
"Your menu"