The searchlight., 1911-12-29
CHAPTER ..

At the bar, which ranged along one
side of the large chinked-log room.
leaned half dozen men. two of whom
were discussing the relative merits
of spruce tea and lime Juice as rene
dies for scurvy. They argued with an
air OF depression and with intervals
Of morose silence. The other men
scarcely needed them. In row.
/ against the opposite wall, were the
/ gambling games. The crap table was
| deserted. One lone man was playing
/ at the faro table. The roulette was
not even spinning. and the gamekeep-
er stood by the roaring. red-hot stove,
] talking with a young, dark-eyed wom-
an. comely OF face and figure. who was
known from Juneau to Fort Yukon as
| the Virgin. Three men sat In at stud
poker. but they played with small
| chips and without enthusiasm, while
there we're no onlookers. On the floor
OF the dancing room. which opened out
at the rear. three couples were waltz.
Ing drearily to the strains of violin
and a piano.
Circle City was not deserted. nor
was money tight The miners were in
from Moosehead creek and the other
diggings to the west. the summer
washing had been good. and the mems
pouches were heavy with dust and mug.
gets. The Klondike had not yet been
discovered. nor had the miners Of the
Yukon learned the possibilities Of deep
digging and wood.firing. No work was
done In the winter. and they made a
practice 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 tt.
voli was 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? Everybody dead?"
| Bates did not even trouble to reply.
but went on moodily rolling a ciga.
rette. Dan Macdonald. pioneer sa-
loonman and gambler on the upper
Yukon. owner and proprietor of the
Tivoli and all its games, wandered for
lornly across the great vacant space OF
floor and Joined the two at the stove
Anybody dead?" the Virgin asked
him.
Looks like IT," was the answer.
Then II must be the whole camp.
I II. ,..ft d. 81 aaa nd
with another yawn.
Macdonald grinned and nodded. and
| opened his mouth TO speak. when the
| front door swung open and a man ap'
| peared In the light. He would have
! appeared n large man had not huge
French Canadian stepped up to him
from the bar and gripped his hand.
Hello. Daylight" was his greeting
by Gar. you good for sore eyes!"
Hello, Louis. when did you-all blow
in?" returned the newcomer. Come
up and have a drink and tell us all
about Bone creek. Why. dog-gone
you-all. shake again. Where's that
pardner of yours! I'm looking for
him"
Another huge man detached himself
1 from the bar to shake hands. Olaf
Henderson and French Louis. partners
together on Bone creek. were the two
largest men In the country. and though
they were but half a head taller than
the newcomer. between them he was
dwarfed completely.
Hello. Olaf" said the one called
Daylight. "Tomorrow's my birthday.
And you. too. Louis. Come up and
drink. and I'll tell you-all about IT,"
The arrival OF the newcomer seemed
TO send flood of warmth through the
place. "It's Burning Daylight" 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 suddenly became brighter and
cheerier. The 5arkeepers were active,
Voices were raised. Somebody
laughed. And when the fiddler. peer,
ing into the front room. remarked TO
the pianist: ITS Burning Daylight.
the waltz time perceptibly quickened,
and the dancers. catching the conta'
gion. began to whirl about as II they
really enjoyed II. II was known 70
them Of old-time that nothing Ian.
guished when Burning Daylight was
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 girl" he called.
Hello. Charley. What's the matter
with you-all! Why wear faces like
that when cofins only cost three
ounces! Come up. you-all. and drink.
Come up. you unburied dead. an name
your poison. Come up. everybody.
This Il my night. and I'm going to
ride IT, Tomorrow I'm thirty. and
/ hen I'll be an old man. It's the last