The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-17
PART l.


leaned half dozen men. two Of whom
were discussing the relative merits
AZ spruce tsa and lime Juice a. remer
dee for scurvy. They argued With IN
air q dspressip and with intervals
Of moross silence. The other men
scarcely hseded them. In Q row.
against the opposite wall. were the
gamhlins uAmes. The crap table was
deserted. One lone man was playing
a The faro table. The roulette was
not svsa spinning. and the gamekssp-
Or stood By tho roaring. rsd-hot stove.
talking with q young. darkeysd wom-
m. oomsay OF face and figure. who was
known from Junesu TO Fort Yukon -
the Virgin. Three men ut In Ut stud
poker. but they played with small
chips and without enthusiasm, while
there wsre no onlookers. On th,, door
Of tho dancing room. which opened out
- the rsar. three couples were waltz
fng drsariiy to the strains of violin
and q piano.
Circle City was not deserted, nor
vas money tight The miners were in
from Moosshead creek and the other
diggings 10 tho west. the summer
washing bad been good. and the mems
pouches we're heavy with dust and mug
sets. The Klondike had not yet been
discovered. nor had the miners Of the
Yukon learned the possibilities OF deep
dig8tng and wood-firing. No work was
done In the winter. and they made
practice Of alternating In tho large
camps nhs Circle City during the long
Arctic night Time was heavy on their
hands. their pouches were well filled
and the only social diversion TO be
found was In the saloons. Yet the II
voii wss prA...,ally deserted. and the
Virgin. standing b. the stove, yawned
with uncovered mouth and said to
Charley Bates:
IF something don't happen soon, I'm
eoin' 20 bed. What's the matter with
the camp. anyway? Everybody dsadf"
Bates did not even trouble to reply.
but went on mcodily rolling q ciga-
rotte. Dan Mcdonald. pioneer sa-
Soonman and gambler on the upper
ruson. owner and proprietor Of the
rivou and all its games. wandered for.
iornly across the great vacant space OF
1oor and Joined the two A. the stove.
Anybody deadr" the Virgin asked
him.
Looks like t." was the answer.
Then II must be the whole camp"
she said with an air OF finality and
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 q large man had not a 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
fny" returned the newcomer. Come
mp and have n drink and tell us all
sbout 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
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 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
60 send a food OF warmth through the
place. Its 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 barkeepers were active
Voices we're raised Somebody
laughed. And when the fiddler. peer
ing into the front room. remarked to
the pianist: TITS Burning Daylight"
the waltz time perceptibly quickened,
and the dancers. catching the conta-
zion. began to whirl about as II they
really enjoyed II. n was known to
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 welpme she extended him.
'Hello. virgin. old girl" he called.
Hello. Charley What's the matter
with you-all? Why wear faces Ike
that when collins only cost three
ounces7 Come up. you-all, and drink.
Come up. you unburied dead. an name
your poison. Come up. everybody.
This 10 my night. and I'm going 10
ride II. Tomorrow I'm thirty, and
then I'll be an old man. It's the !p"'
t7sng OF youth. Are you.a1l with nc;