The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-17
"Tfigher'n a l,ite."

'TIigher'n a ltite."
"l've oight thousand f. Macs safe
-" she l@:2n.
RNt Daylight interrupted. The
aDron-strins icOmed near and he SHE'D
Ike an unbroken colt.
1t don't matter" he said. Busted
cano into the world. busted | go out,
ana I've been busted most of the time
since | arrived. Come on; let's waltz"
But, listen," she urged. MY
moneys doing nothing. | could lend
1t to ycu-a grub-stake,". she added,
hurrfedly, at sight Of the alarm In his
face.
Nobody grub-stakes me-" was the
answer. Il stake myself, and when
! make killing it's sure all mine. No
thank you, Old girl. Much obliged. Ill
get my stake by running the mail ont
ard in" With sudden well-assuned
ebullition of spirits he drew her to-
ward the dancing-hoor, and as they
swung around and around in a waltz
she pondered on the from heart OF the
man who held her in his arms and re-
sisted all her wiles.
AT six the next morning, searching
with whisky, yet ever himself. he
stood at the bar putting every mans
hand down. The way of it was that
two men faced each other across a
corner, their right elbows resting on
the bar, their right hands gripped TO-
gether, while each stove to press the
others hand down. Man after man
came against him, but no man put his
hand down, even Olaf Henderson and
French Louis failing despite their
hugeness.
The winner payy!" Daylight cried.
Surge along you-ail! This way to the
snake-room!"
I'm busted higher'n a kite. and I'm
hittin' the trail for Dyea-"
Coin out?" some one called.
A spasm of anger wrought on his
face for flashing instaat, but In the
next good humor was back again.
Il konw you-all are only pokin' fun
asking such question: he said with
smile. "Of course I ain't going out"
Take the oath again, Daylight" the
same voice cried.
Il sure will first come over Chill
coot In SO. went out over the Pass
IN fall blizzard, with q rag OF a shirt
and cup of raw flour. got my grub
stake IN Juneau that winter, aud in
the spring | went out over the Pass
once more. And once more the fam
fne drew me out. Next spring I went
In again, and I swore then that I'd
aever come out TIL 1 made my stake.
Well, amt made 1t, and hero l am.
And amt going out now. 1 get the
mail and / come right back. I won't
stop the night at Dyea. I'll hit up
Chilcoot soon as 1 change the dogs
and get the mail and grub. And so
swear once more. I'll never hit for
the Outside till make my pile. And
l tell you-all, here and now, it's got
to be an almighty big pile. I'll be real
conservative, and put the bottom notch
at a million. And for not an ounce
less'n that will l go out Of the coun-
try. l tell you-all l got a hunch.
There's big strike coming on the
Yukon, and it's just about due. don't
mean no ornery Moosehide, Birch
creek kind Of a strike. mean a reall
rip-snorter hair-raiser. Nothing canl
stop her, and she'll come up river.i
There's where you-all'll track my moe,
casins In the near future If you-alll
want to find me-somewhere In the
country around Stewart river, Indianl
river and Klondike river. When I getl
back with the mail, I'll head that wayl
SO fast you-all won't see my trail for
smoke. She's a-comipg, fellows, gold