The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-12-23


Kit grinned to himself and went on.
This was what be must expect to en-
for he, too. in his new role of
man was to start from the
beach in similar boat that very day
Everywhere men were at work. and
at work desperately. for the closing
down of winter was so imminent that
1t was a gamble whether or not they
would get across the great chain of
lakes before the freezeup. Yet when
Kit arrived at the tent of Messrs
Spragne and Stine be did not find them
stirring.
By a fire. Under the shelter Of tar
paulin. squatted short. thick man.
Hello" he said. "Are you Mr..
Sprague's new many'
Kit nodded.
well. I'm Doc Shines man," the
other went on. 'l'm five feet two inch
es long. an my names Shorty-Iack
Short. for short Sit down an have
some grub. The bosses amt turned
out yet
Thomas Stanley Sprague was bud
ding mining engineer and the son of Il
millionaire. DR.. Adolph Stine was also
the son Of wealthy father. and
through their fathers both had been
backed BY an investing syndicate in
the KIondike adventure
'Oh. they're sure made of money"
~nkv A@S ls
the beach at Dyea freight was 20 cents.
but no Indians. There was a party
from eastern Oregon. real miners.
that'd managed to get Il team Of In
dians together at 20 cents when along
comes Sprague an Stine. They Of
fered so cents an 30. an at a dollar
a pound the Indians jumped the con-
tract an took off their straps. Slime
an Sprague came through. though it
cost them three thousand. an the Ore
gon bunch is still on the beach. They
won't get through till next year.
Hare another cup OF coffee. an
take It from me that | wouldn't travel
with no such outfit If didn't want to
get to Klondike SO blamed bad. They
afn't hearted right Did you sign u
contract?'' ..> :
Kit shook bis head.
''Then I'm sorry for you. pardner.
They amt no grub In the country. an
they'll drop you cold as soon as they
hit Dawson. Men are going to starve
there this winter. What's your name.
pardnerY
Call me Smoke" said Kit.
We'll. Smoke. you'll have a run for
your verbal contract just the same
They can sure shed uazuma, but they
can't work or turn ont Of bed IN the
inornin'. We should have been loaded
an started an hour ago. It's yon an
me for the big work. What dye know
about boatin' on the water? I'm a
cowman an prospector. but I'm sure
tenderfooted on water. an they don't
know punkins. What dye know?"
Search me-" Kit answered.
1t was 3 O'Clock when the call for
coffee came from the tent and nearly
before the two employers emerged,
''HelloS' said Sprague. a rosy cheek,
ed. we'll fed young man Of twenty five.
"Time we made II start. Shorty. You
and"- Here be glanced interrogative-
~ at Kit. II didn't quite catch your
name last evening"
Smoke
well. shorty. you and Smoke had
better begin loading the boat"
Spragne strolled away among the
tents. to be- followed by Or. Stine, a
slender. paIlid young man.
70 move 1900 pounds on the shout
ders 100 yards was no slight task. and
to do it in half gale was exhausting
| Then came the loading As the boat
| settled 1t had to be showed farther
and farther out, increasing the dis
tance they had to wade.
BY 2 o'clock 1t had all been accom-
plished. and Kit was weak with the
| faintness of hunger. His knees were
shaking under him. Shorty. in similar
predica ment. foraged through the pots
and pans and drew forth big pot OF
cold boiled beans in which were EN-
befded large chunks Of bacon. There
WIS only one spoon. a long handleC
one. aud they dipped. turn and turi
about. into the pot.
Sprague and Slime arrived in thu
midst of this pleasant occupation.
What's the delay?' Sprague com
planned. Aren't we ever going to ge
started!'
Shorty dipped in turn and passed thu
spoon to Kit. Nor did either speak til
the pot was empty and the bottom
scraped.
"Of course we amt been doin' moth
in" Shorty said. wiping his mouth
with the back Of his hand. 1--WE ain,
been doiu' nothin' at all. And of cours
/ you amt had nothIn' to eat. 1t wa
sure careless OF me-"
"Yes, res" Stine sale quickly wv
ate at cne OF the tents-friends o
ours But now that you're finished lie
us get stnrted."
They waded out. and the employer
E0t or hoard while Kit and Short.
showed clenr. When the waves lappe'
the tops Ut their boots they ciamnpre'
In. The other two men were not pre-
pnred with the oars. and the hna
svept back and grounded Half