Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-09-05

and tired-looking, and his black eyes
were sparkling and flashing brighter
than ever. His parka of cotton drill
hooded him like monk, and fell IN
Straight lines to his knees. Grimed
and scorched by camp-smoke and hre.
the garment in itself told the story OF
his trip. A two-months' beard COW
cred his face; and the beard, in turn,
was matted with the ice Of his breath
ing through the long seventy-mile
run.
He experienced a thrill of surprise
as the roar of welcome went up and
as every familiar detail of the Tivon
greeted his vision-the long bar and
the array of bottles, the gambling
games, the big stove, the weigher at
the gold-scales, the musicians, the
men and women, the Virgin, Celia,
and Nellie, Dan Macdonald, BEETLES,
Billy Rawlns, Olaf Henderson, Doc
Watson--all of them. 1t was just as
he had left 1t, and in all seeming
1t might well be the W day he had
left The sixty days Of incessant trayy
ell through the white wilderness sud
denly telescoped, and had no exis-
tence in time. They were moment,
an incident He had plunged out and
into them through the wall of silence,
and back through the wall OF silence
he plunged, apparently the next
instant, and into the roar and tur-
MOL Of the Tivoli.
He drew deep breath and cried:
"The winner pays, and I'm the win
ner, amt 1? Surge up, you-all Male
mutes and Siwashes, and name your
poison! There's your Dyea mall,
straight from Salt Water, and no horn.
swogglin about 1t! Cast the Hastings
adrift, you-all, and wade into It'll"
A dozen pairs of hands were at the
sled-lashings, when. the young lie
Barge Indian, bending at the same
task, suddenly and Imply straight
ened up. In his eyes was a great sur,
prise. He stared about him wildly,
for the thing he was undergoing was
new to him. He was profoundly
struck by an unguessed limitation. He
shook as with a palsy, and he gave at
the knses, slowly sinking down to fall
suddenly across the sled and to know
the smashing blow of darkness across
his consciousness.
Exhaustion" said Daylight. Take
him off and put him to bed, some OF
you-all. He's sure good Indian"
| A few minutes later, Daylight was
whirling around the dance-foor, waltz
ing with the Virgin. And small won
der 1t was that the Virgin yielded her
self to his arms, as they danced dance
after dance, and sick at heart at the
knowledge that he found nothing In
her more than good friend and an
excellent dancer. Small consolation
1t was to know that he never loved
any woman. She was sick with love Of
him, and he danced with her as he
would dance with any woman, as he
would dance with man who was q
good dancer and upon whose arm was
tied a handkerchief to conventionalize
him into a woman.
At one In the morning he saw Elijah
Davis herding Henry Finn and Joe
Hines, the lumber-jack, toward the
door. Daylight interfered.
4 Where are you-all going?" he de
manded. attempting to draw them &c
the bar.
4 Bed Elijah Davis answered.
Got to-" Joe Hines added apollo
getically.- Were mushing out in the
mornin'"
Daylight still detained them.
Where to? What's the excite
ment?"
No excitement" Elijah explained
.sWe're just a-goin' to play YOU
hnnch, an tackle the Upper Country
Don't you want to come along?"
81 sure do" Daylight affirmed
But the question had been put II
fun, and Elijah ignored the accept
ance. rs
Were tacklin' the Stewart, ht
went on. al Mayo told me he seer
some likely lookin bars first time h,
come down the Stewart, and were
goin' to sample 'em while the rivers
froze. You listen, Daylight, an mari
my words, the times comm wher
winter dlggln's Il be all the go
There'll be men in them days thatl
laugh at our summer scratchin' an
ground-wallerin'."
Elijah laughed, gathered his two
partners up, and was making secont
attempt to reach the door.
Hold on" Daylight called. 81 sur
mean it"
The three men turned back sudden
ly upon him, in their faces surprise
delight, and incredulity.
"G'wan, you're foolin'," said Finn
the other lumber.jack, quiet, steady
Wisconsin man.
There's my dawgs and sled," Day
light answered. "That'll make tw,
%eams and halve the loads; though
VEAL II have to travel easy for
spell, for them dawgs is sure tired"
The three men were overjoyed, bu
still trihe incrodulous.
Now look here" Joe Hines blurte,
out, none OF your foolin', Daylight
We mean business. Will you come?
Daylight extended his hand AM
shook.
,ss
CHAPTER w. ~