The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-12-30

Shorty broke into run. "If We cntch
en- We'll never pass en-" he painted.
Lord. what pace they're hittin':
They're the real sour dough variety.
you can stack on that
Smoke was leading when they final
~ caught up. and he was glad to ease
to walk at their heels. Almost i'm.
medately he got the impression that
the one nearer him was woman.
How this impression came be could
not tell. Hooded and furred, the dark
form was as any form. yet there was
haunting sense of familiarity about it
How do you do. Miss GaStell?'
Smoke addressed her.
How do You do?" she answered.
with turn Of the head and quick
glance, Its too dark to see Who
are Tou?
Smoke"
She laughed in the frost. and be was
certain 1t was the prettiest laughter he
had ever heard How many cheka-
kos are there beh;ndT'
L
passed over 300"
ITS the old story" she said bitterly
The newcomers get in on the rich
creeks. and the old timers. who dared
and suffered and made this country.
get nothing. Old timers made this dis
covery on Suunw creek-how it leaked
out Is the mystery-and they sent word
up to all the old timers on Sea Lion.
But it's ten miles farther than Daw-
son. and when they arrive they'll find
the creek staked to the sky line by
the Dawson chekakos."
1T is too bad" Smoke sympathlzed.
But I'm hanged If | know what you
are going to do about it."
II wish could do something" she
dashed back at him I'D like to see
them all freeze on the trail or have
everything terrible happen to them. so
long as the Sea Lion stampede arrived
first And now. if you'll forgive my
TRADE. III save my breath, for l don't
know when you and all the rest may
try to pass dad and me-
. No further talk passed between Joy
and Smoke for an hour or so. though
he noticed that for time she and her
father talked in low tones.
81 know 'em now" Shorty told
Smoke. Hes old Louis Gastell. an
the real goods. That must be his kid
He come into this country so long age
they amt nobody can recollect. an he
brought the girl with him. she only Il
baby"
II don't think we'n try to pass them.
Smoke said. Were at the head OF
the stampede. and there are only foul
of u.s."
Another hour OF silence followed
during which they swung steadily
along. At ! O'Clock the blackness was
broken by a last display Of the auror'
borealis, which showed to the west {
broad opening between snow ciat
mountains. ......
"Squaw creek" Joy exclaimed.
Coin some" Shorty exulted
1t was at this point that the Dye;
trail. baff1ed by ice jams, swerved alb
ruptly across the Yukon to the eas
bank. And here they must leave th'
hard packed. main travelled trail. noun
| the Jams and follow dim trail bu
| slightly packed that hovered the ives
bank.
! Louis GastelI. leading. slipped in tn
darkness on the rough ice and sat uT
holding his ankle in both his hands
He struggled to his feet and went or
but at a slower pace and with pei
ceptible limp. After a few minutes h
abruptly halted. .-t
Its no use." he said to his daugf
ter. "I've sprained tendon. You
ahead and stake for me as we'll a
yourself"
Cant we do something?' Smok
asked.
Louis Gastell shook his head. "Sh
can stake two claims as we'll as on
I'll crawl over to the bank. start I'll
and bandage my ankle. ri be d
right. Go on. Joy. Stake ours abos
the Discovery claim. It's richer higl
er up."
Here's some birch bark" Smok
said. dividing his supply equail.
We'll take care of your daughter
Louis Gastell laughed harshl.
Thank you just the same" he sail
but she can take care of herself. Fo
low her and watch her"
do you mind if lead?' she aske
Smoke as she headed on. Il kno
this country better than you"
Lead on" Smoke answered gallan
~, though agree with you it's dai
shame all US chekakos are going
beat that Sea Lion bunch to it. Ism
there some way to shake them"'
She shook her head. I'VE can't bic
our trail. and they'll follow 1t Ill
sheep"
After a quarter of mile she turns
sharply to the west. Smoke notice
that they were going through unpac
ed snow. but neither he nor Shorty o
served that the dim trail they b;
been on still led south Had they w
messed the subsequent procedure
: Louis Gastell the history of the klo
dixie. would have been written diffe
entity, for they would have seen tn
old timer. no longer limping. runnil
with his nose to the trail like a houn
; following them; also they would ha
seen him trample and widen the tu
to the fresh trail they had made 10 I
west. and finally they would have Sc
. him keep on the old dim trail that ST
) led south.
A trail did run up the creek. but
slight was it that they continually Il
, It In the darkness. After quarter