Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-08-07


Foot by Foot Big Olaf Drew Awsy lin.
til He Led by Score of Yards.
such a killing pace and kept up with
fresh dogs-no team save this one
Nevertheless the pace was killing IL
and as they began to round the blur
at Klondike City he could feel the
pitch OF strength going out of his anil
mails. Almost imperceptibly they lag
ged, and foot by foot Big Olaf drew
away until he led by score Of yards.
A great cheer went up from the pop.
nlation Of Klondike City assembled on
the ice. Here the Klondlke entered
the Yukon, and half mile away.
across the Kondike. on the north
bank, stood Dawson. An outburst OF
madder cheering arose, and Smoke
caught a glimpse Of a sled shooting
out to him. He recognized the splen.
did animals that drew 1t. They were
Joy GastelIs, and Joy Gastell drove
them. Mittens had been discarded,
and with bare hands she clung to whin
and sled.
Jump" she cried as her leader
snarled at Smokes.
Smoke struck the sled behind her.
It rocked violently from the impact Of
his body, but she was full up on her
knees and swinging the whip.
HI! You! Mush onl ChookI Chooky'
she was crying, and the dogs whined
and yelped In eagerness Of desire and
effort to overtake Big Olaf. 1
And then 2s the lead dog caught the
tail Of Big olaf's sled and yard by |
yard drew up abreast the great crowd
on the Dawson bank went mad.
when you're in the lead I'm going
to drop off" Joy cried out over her
shoulder. "And watch out for the dip
curve halfway up the bank" she
warned.
Dog by dog, separated by half a
dozen feet, the two teams were run
ming abreast. Big Olaf, with whip and
voice, held his own for minute. Then
slowly, an inch at n time, Joys lender
began to forge past. \
Get ready" she cried to Smoke.
I'm going to leave you In minute.
Get the whip"
And as he shifted his hand to clutch
the whip they heard Big Olaf roar
warning, but too late. His lead dog,
incensed at being passed, swerved In
to the attack. His fangs struck Joys
leader on the flank. The rival teams
new at one another's throats. The
sleds overran the lighting brutes and
capslSed Smoke struggled to his feet
and tried to lift Joy up. But she thrust
him from her. crying;
"Gow
On foot already lfty feet in ad-
vance, was Big Olaf, still intent on
finishing the race, Smoke obeyed, and
when the two men reached the foot
OF the Dawson bank he was at the 9th.
ers heels. But up the bank Big CT
lrted his body hugely, regaining doz-
en- feet
Five blocks down the main street
was the gold recorders office. Not so
easily this time did Smoke gain to his
giant rival, and when he did he was
unable to pass. Side by side they ran
iIons the narrow aisle between the
solid walls Of cheering men. Now one,
now the other, with great convulslve
lerks, gained an inch or 80, only to
ose It Immediately after.
II the pace had been a killing one for
.neir dogs, the one they now set them
'eiIeS was no less so, But they were
,acing for S1,oO0,00O and the greatest
ionor in the Yukon country.
smoke felt himself invoiuntarlly lag,
,uu blg Olaf sprang a full stride in
ne lead To Smoke II seemed that his
iv'rt y, would burst, while he had lost
+" +, righteousness Of his legs. He knew
nsy were flying under him, hut he
Nv not Know how he continued to
nuke them fly, nor how he put even
.reuter pressure Of will upon them and
.Ia l, ,v'leu them again to carry him TO
~ -, giant competitors side.
ne open door OF the recorders Of
W. , appeared ahead OF them. Both
n.,,I len made a final, futile squirt. Neither
Cuiu ,, draw away from the other, and
lSv "i,, Dy side they hit the doorway.
V,'iugd ! Ss, Violently, and fell headlong on
Aney sat up, but were too exhausted
o,ni aSe' Big Olaf, the sweat pouring
,V.u IN, nim' breathing with tremendous,
, ,',riu, .,, gasps, paved the air and vain
=, Uled to speak. Then he reached out
,,,,I Is hand with unmlstakable meaning;
liUse aI,,' extended his, and they shook.
~ Us dead heat" Smoke could hear
- /, 'esOnder saying, but It was as IL
a. dream. "And all can say Is
lay iSs you both win. You'n have 10 d.
,Ut ! Ort,,e sne claim between you. You're