Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-23

fury of the and the increasing deadliness of the
cold until all living things had persisted. The thought
forced itself upon those hudded in Coppertops road
house that perhaps this the visitation of divine
wrath often predicted by the bitter man they knew
as Coppertop But after awhile, when the walls had
not fallen in and there lul someone got out the
cards.
The game had been going hour. The Commits
sioner and Sanford winning and Coppertop, his
face growing darker with every hand, beginning to
mutter things about crooks and blacklegs
Behind the big sheet-ron stove that stood well out
the low, black room, Marston bending his
tub working down the pan OF dirt he had brought from
the shaft of "The Forgotten In the light of the single
candle he could little; but the fascination of pan
ming upon him, and he describing all the grace
full motions that go with that primitive but exact
method of separating the precious yellow metal from its
alluval setting Occasionally of the players called
stove; but the only sound in reply the swirling
catter of the larger pebbles the bottom of the pan
Marston was getting down to the fine stuff
"Just two industries in this blankety country
growled Coppertop, striking the table with his fist
grand larceny and petty larceny.' he finished after
pause.
THERE was a gasping, choking sound behind the
stove Moosepasture Bell, old prospector, had
heard the sound before and knew it for the little heart
burst of Joy that sometimes follows mans first peep
at his fortune. He his feet in instant. As he
rounded the stove, followed by the Commissioner and
Sanford, the pan dropped from Marstons nerveess
fingers and sank to the bottom of the tub 1t per-
fectly clean when Marston drew it out
mot color" was Marston's laconic remark as he
looked up into MoOSepaSure'S face.
"Lar" shouted Moosepasture, reaching for the pan.
"Lsten!" roared Coppertop.
Someone calling feeby and ha1nmering at the
stormshed door. The dogs up, and two or three
of them "outsders, were barking There a stan-
pede for the door, and moment later all hands
grouped round exhausted, speeches. man who had
collapsed like figure in the center of the room.
Coppertop was pouring whisky into the man. throat
and the Others ripping off his footgear and snow
matted parka. In hour the man could make himself
understood.
0rTouro hello (,,,ndarc hr1H- torae
miles-Billy Salto by bush-seven eight, miles back,
Swede Eric buried in snow-lost two days-mai'
into harness. the cook putting up food and stimu-
ants and the others were getting into parkas and
mushirg gear. Robes and blankets hurled into
sleds and in ten minutes the roadhouse deserted
save for the cook and the who by Gods mercy,
had stumbled upon it in the wilderness OF death out
side. Down the river, believing above the storm and
followed closely by clad little Marson, old Copper
top led the way
7 ONG after midnight Moosepasture, Sanford. and
Il the Commissioner fought their way back to the
roadhouse with Billy Sato They exhausted, and
declared that no living thing out there could survive
till morning.
At daylight which did not come until nearly nine
o'clock the had spent ITSELF everywhere stretched
bilowy of white, unbroken by tree rock the
dreary, desoate vista of Frozen dead world. Out of
it. hour later, Coppertop working in harness with
his tagged dogs dragging in the frozen and all but
dead Swede Eric.
Somewhere, sometime in the night, when he was
ngntng LOT every men OF progress ana the Whoe Jury OF
the North seemed directed against him, he had lost
little Marston.
Fresh dogs going into harness, preparations
for another start were going on, while Coppertop
gulped food and drink, roaring out orders between
swallows.
"The best dogs, the best musher- Moosepasture,
that's you'll cried Coppertop @Get ready! He's
hero, that Marston! 1t he that found Eric and
he's out there without clothes enough on him to
keep in Turkish bath. Follow in two hours with
fresh team you feows" addressing Sanford and the
Commissioner.
And Coppertop and Moosepasture screaming curses
at the dogs, swept away down the white river.
Every minute of the day that followed, and till far
into the night, filled with heartbreaking struggle for