The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-05
ICopvi0ht, 1910, By the Neto York HeroE5
Compony-AH Rights ReserVed.l
CHAPTER 7,

CHAPTER ].
was a quiet night in the TivolL At the bar.
which ranged along one side of the large ehinked
log room, leaned half a dozen men, two Of whom
were discussing the relative merits Of spruce tea
and lime juice remedies for scurvy. They ar
gued with air Of depression and with intervals Of
morose silence The other men scarcely needed them.
In a against the opposite wall were the gambling
games. The crap table was deserted. One lone man
was playing at the faro table. The roulette ball was
not even spinning and the game keeper stood by the
roaring, red hot stove talking with the young, dark
eyed woman. comedy of face and figure. who
known from juneau to Fort Yukon the Virgin.
Three sat in at stud poker but they played with
small chips and without enthusiasm, while there
no grookers On the door Of the dancing room which
opened out at the three couples Waiting
drearily to the strains Of violin and piano.
Circle City was not deserted nor was money tight
The miners were IN from Moosehide Creek and the
other diggings to the west the summer washing had
been good. and the mems pouches heavy with
dust and nuggets The K1ondike 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-
tiee OF alternating in the large camps like Circle City
during the long Arctic night Time was heavy on
their hands, their pouches were we'll filed and the
only social diversion to be found was in the saloons
Yet the Tvo practically deserted and the Virgin
standing by the stove, yawned with uncovered mouth
and said TO Charley Bates
III something don't happen soon Pm goln' to bed
What's the matter with the camp anyway Every
body deadY'
Bates did not even trouble to reply but went on
moodily rolling a cigarette. Dan Macdonald. pioneer
saloOnman and gambler the upper Yukon owner
and proprietor OF the Tivon and all It's games, wan
dered forlorny the great vacant space OF floor
and Joined the two at the stove.
Anybody dead" the Virgin asked him
Looks Ike IT," was the answer
Then 1t must be the whole camp" she said with
an afr Of fnaity and with another yawn
Macdonald grinned and nodded and opened hts
mouth to speak when the front door swung wide and
man appeared in the light rush Of frost turned
to vapOr by the heat Of the room swred about him 70
bis knees and poured across the floor growing
thinner and thinner and perishing dozen feet from
the stove. Taking the wispbroom from its nail in
side the door the brushed the snow from hts
mOccasins and high German socks He would have
appeared a large man had not a huge French-Cana-
dian stepped up him from the bar and grpped his
hand
Hello, DaylightT was his greeting. by Gar. Won
good for eyes"
Hello, Louis When did you-aI blow IN 2" returned
the newcomer. Come up and have a drink and tell
US ali about Bone Creek why, doggone youaI. shake
again Where's that pardner of yours? I'm looking
for him"
Another huge man detached himself from the bar TO
shake hands. Olaf Henderson and French Louis part
together on Bone Greek, were the two largest
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, thatT" said the
one called Daylight "To-morrow's my birthday and
I'm going to put youaD your back-savYee? And
you. too, Louis put you all on your back on my
birthday-savvee? Come up and drink, Olaf and I'll
tell you-all about It,"
The arrival Of the newcomer seemed 10 send food
of warmth through the place. ITS Burning Day
light" the Virgin cried, the first recognize him
he 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 cheerer. The barkeepers were active.
Voices were raised. Somebody laughed. And when
the hddler peerng into the front room remarked 10
the pianist. IT'S Burning Daylight" the waltz-time
percepubly Quickened and the dancers catching the
cOntagion, began to whir about if they really
Joyed It. 1t known to them of old time that moth
ing languished when Burning Daylight around
He turned from the bar and the woman by the
stove and the eager look Of welcome she extended
him.
Hello. Virgin, old girlw he called "Hello Char
leyl What's the matter with you-all7 Why wear
faces like that when collins cost only three ounces
Come up, you-all and drink. Come up, you unbured
dead, an 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 met Surge
along. then. Surge along.
Hold there Davsl" he called to the faro
dealer, who had showed his chair back from the
table. I'm going you hutter to see whether you
all drink with me or veal drink with you"
Pulling heavy sack VI gold dust from bis coat
pocket, he dropped II on the high card
Fifty" be said
The faro dealer slipped two cards. The high card
won. He scrubbed the amount a pad aud the
weigher at the bar balanced fifty dollars worth OF
dust in the gold scales and poured It into Burning
Dayllght's sack. The waltz IN the back room hn-