Iditarod pioneer., 1913-11-08
The ChechaCO

He stepped off the boat at one of the Alaska river towns, gave comprehensive glance around which took in the crowd gathered at the dock, inquired his way to the office of the only attorney in town, and walked up the street He was young very young and the crowd of sourdoughs who happened to be in from the creeks took note of his youthful appearance and gen eral air of satisfaction with himself. It was a rather patronzing glance that he had bestowed upon the crowd of roughly dressed men at the dock, and, had he but known It. a patronizing air assumed by a cheechaco is always the precursor of trouble. On the way up town to the nearest refreshment resort the crowd discussed the newcomer and haZarCed guesses as to his identity and business in the camp During the several rounds" that celebrated the boats arrival the stranger was the main topic of conver- ,ation, and it was learned that he was the attorney HeW stello5l dpi-ti, "1io hoN 'oAiiN in from the Outside to take the position made vacant by the "Judge" who had fought several losing battles with John Bar loycorn and, finding that drinking lnteriered with his business, had taken Josh Billings advice and quit business.
 The town did not have to wait long to make the acquaintance of the new arrival. He was one of those of whom it has been aid lie never met stranger" It was cen learned that his name was John New ,au b and that, in his own words, he had
 cen a It of the world" He had not been n G:l croy week before he knew every man. woman and child in town, and was calling half the population by their given names No company was too exclusive for
 in and he woull break into discussion of mining problems CT an argument on the operation of the new mining law with all he assurance and 'inscl,nce of youth Yet ,,ith all his ne",ness be was a likable fellow, and being an accomplished player on the banjo. an instrument which he had brought n with him, he was much in demand at ,ociI gatherings, and soon acquired the nickname of The Banjo Kid by which he vas universally known,
 IIj> iay rite recreation, however, was to
 a.her with crowd of congenal souls in a 3.Wn-to~n ci ar store of an evening and Ii ate at great length on the wonderful hngs Le had seen in his travels Outside -ol1ehaw he seemed to have gained the i'm .rc.sioa that his roughly dressed hearers on..,t of whom were well supplied with his w.sl"s goods ard had seen something f the worli themsclvesl had never lived anywhere el than in the Northl2nd. To :hca he expa,latcd cn the wonders of mod lrn ci.ie,, such & automobiles airship5 moving r.ctures and the like And his audi nee, ind,lg:ng him, drew him cut to such n extent that he came to believe he was 6. en.ng up new yistas to them of real i'te" The waGs and VI ase cut-urs lad yi:ic@s cf many l2ng winter evening which woll. be crIiyened by the young ieI l w's yarns and with the interest displayed he commenced to even enlarge cn his won lrous stories of city life.
 The short sumner season was drawing to 2 cl lrse, and with the frosty evenings came the Ircblcm of fuel The Banjo Kid" was nlt used to acting as ciIica boy and carry ing in wood and bull ling fires, sweeping the office, etc., were tasks to which he Gid not -&lie IkiHg, and also his employer was a $ tree of much grief to him. Unlike the cigar store audience, the attorney could not see the humorous siGe of tlc Kids yarns and sarcastic remark was gil the response he could draw from him. This was a sore spot with him, and the village cut-ups took the cue. They tClI him stories of the heart IeszneSs cf his employer and of his cruelty to bis predecessor, the "Judee' who was a diminutiye specimen of manhood who weighed ful y a hundred pounds when in condition. They told him how the Judge" had been compelled by his employer to cut wood when the thermometer registered 40 degrees below zero, and not only that, but on one occasion had made him go to the woods procure his own fuel and haul it to town, and undoubtedly the 'kid' would be compelled to do likewise "Well, sir" said one of his tcrmentors, T never felt so sorry for anyone in my life as I did last winter It was as ccli and disagreeable a day as ever saw in Alaska. No one was out of doors who could possibly help it. As l came past the lawyers office saw the poor little Judge endeavoring to saw up some wood into stove lengths He was struggling with log which would have tasked the strength Of two husky men, Unable to handle it 1 alone, he opened the office door and re Quested his employer to help him raise the log. The answer he got from the lawyer who was seated near the stove with his feet