Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-10-27
PART |.
CHAPTER I.

side OIL the large CuiuhCuoio0 '
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-not stove
talking with a young, dark-eyed Won'
an. comeiy of face and figure, VINO was
known from juneau to Fort Yukon as
the Virgin. Three men sat IN at stuu
uoker, but they played with. smail
chips and without enthusiasm, "hlle
there were no onlookers. On the noot
of the dancing room, which opened OUT
at the rear, three couples were waltz,
ing drearily to the strains OF Violn
and a piano.
Circle City was not deserted, nor
was money tight. The miners were IN
from Noosehead creek and the otner
digsincs 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 tue
Yukon learned the possibilities OF deep
digging and wood-firing. No work was
done in the winter, and they made
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 hiled
and the only social diversion to pc
found was in the saloons. Yet the II
wolf 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 WIN
the camp, anyway? Everybody dead
Bates did not even trouble to reply,
Init went on moodily rolling ciga-
rette. Dan Macdonald. pioneer sa-
1oonnnan and gambler On the upper
Yukon, owner and proprietor OF the
Tiyoli and all it's games, wandered LOT.
lornly across the great vacant space OF
aoor and joined the two at the stove.
ANYBODY dead?" the Virgin asked
him.
Looks like it." was the answer.
"Then it must be the whole camp. :
she said with an air OF finallty anu
with another yawn.
Macdonald grinned and nodded, ana
cpened his mouth 10 speak, when the
front door swung open and man ap-
reared in the light He would nave
appeared large man had not huge
French-Canadian stepped up to MIN
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
ND and have a drink and tell us all
about Bone creek Why. dog-sone
you-all. shake again. Where's tha1
pardner of yours? I'm looking for;
him" ;,
Another huge man detached himsei1
from the bar to shake hands. ,oiat
Henderson and French Louis, partners
together on Bone creek. were the TWO
largest men in the country. and though
they were but half head taller IMAM
the newcomer. between them ne was
dwarfed completely. ..
Hello, Olaf" said the one calieo
Daylight. "Tomorrow's my birthday.
And YOU, too Louis. Come up ana
drink, and I'll tell you-all about It.
The arrival of the newcomer seeheo
to send a food of warmth through the
rlace. "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 anu
Joined the three at the bar. with tue
advent of Burning Daylight the Wnole
place suddenly became brighter anu
cheerier. The barkeepers We're actlVe'
Voices were raised. SOMEBODY
laughed. And when the fiddler, peer
ing into the front room. remarked ~
the pianist: tits Burning Dayllght.
the waltz time perceptib!y qulckeneu'
and the dancers, catching the conta-
gien. began to whirl about as II thes
really enjoyed it. It was known u
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 collins only cost three
ounces Come up. you-all. and drink.
Come up, YOU unburied dead. an name
YOUR poison. Come up, everybody.
This is my night, and I'm gong 10
ride it, Tomorrow I'm thirty. and
then I'll be an old man. It's the last
fling of youth. Are you-all with me?
Surge along. then. Surge along.