Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-03-30
NUMBER l3

Il was O gamble whether o. not they
would get across the great chain Of
lakes before the freezeup. Yet when
Kit arrived at the tent Of Messrs.
spraRue and Slime be did not nnd them
stirring.
By q 1re. under the shelter OF tar
pauiin. squatted a short, thick man.
"Hellor he said. Are you Mr..
Sprague's new manT
Kit nodded
"Well. I'm Doc Shines man." the
other went on. I'm five feet two inch
es long an my names ShorV-Jack
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
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 Klondike adventure.
"Oh. they're sure made Of money"
Shorty expounded when they hit
the beach at Dyea freight was 70 cents.
but no Indians. There was q party
from eastern Oregon. real miners,
that'd managed to get team Of In.
dams together at 10 cents when along
comes Sprague an Slime. They Of.
fered 80 cents an 90. an at a dollar
q pound the Indians Jumped the con.
tract an took Of their straps. Stins
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.
"Have another cup OF coffee. an
take II from me that wouldn't travel
With no such outfit II didn't want to
get to Klopdike 80 blamed bad They
amt hearted right Did you sign
contractY
Kit shook bis head.
'.TheD I'm sorry for you, pardner.
They amt no grub In the country. an
they'll drop you cold as soOn as they
bit Dawson Men are going to starve
there this winter What's your name.
pardnerY
Call me Smoke" said Kit
"Well. Smoke. you'll have run for
your verbal contract Just the same
They can SIRE shed mazuma. but they
can't work Or turn out OF bed In the
mornin We should have been loaded
an started an hour ago It's you an
me for the big work What dye know
about bOatin on the waterf I'm
cOwman an u prospector but I'm sare
tenderfooted on water. an they don't
know punkins What dye known"
Search me. Kit answered.
II was = O'Clock when the call for
coffee came from the tent and nearly
8 before the two employers emerged
Hello. said Sprague. rosy cheek.
I'd. well fed young man of twenty-five.
Thine we made n start. Shorty You
and Here ne glanced interrogattve-
ly at fit - didn't quite catch your
name last evening
Smoke
"Weli. Shorty. you and Smoke mad
better begin loading the boat
Sprague strolled away among the
tents. to be followed Dy Dr Sune.
slender. pauid young man.
70 move 1900 pounds on the shoui.
ders 100 yards was no slight task. and
to do It In half gale was exbausting
Then came the loading. AS the boat
settled II mad to be showed farther
and farther out. increasing the dis
tance they had to wade.
by z 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
predicament. foraged through the pots
and pans and drew forth big pot OF
cold boiled beans In which were EN-
bedded large chunks OF bacon There
was only one spoon. long banded
one. and they dipped turn and turn
about, into the pot.
Sprague and Stine arrived In the
WHATS the delayY' Sprague COM
planned. Aren't we ever going to get
startedT'
Shorty dipped In turn and passed the
spoon to Kit. Nor did either speak dill
the pot was empty and the bottom
scraped.
"Of course we amt been dom moth.
In" Shorty said. wiping his mouth
With the back Of his hand 1--WE amt
been doin' uothin' ut all And OF course
you amt had nothin' to eat II was
sure careless Of me-"
ayes, yes." Slime said quickly. I'VE
nte at one OF the tents-friends OF
Snrs hut now that you're finished let
us get started"
They waded out. and the employer
got on board while Kit and shorty
showed clear. When the waves tapped
the tops of their boots they clambered
In The other two men were not pre-
pared with the Oars. END the boat
swept lack and grounded Half
dozen times, with a great expenditure
Of energy. this was repeated
III you'll take my orders III get her
or" Sprague finally said
The attempt was well intended. but
before he could Chamber on board be
was wet to the waist
"We've got to camp and build .
fire," be said as the boat grounded
again. I'm freezing"
Don't be afraid Of wetdng." Sdne
sneered. "Other men have gone Oh
today wetter than you Now. I'm go
ing to take her out"
This time It was he who got the
wetting and who announced with chat
tering teeth the need Of q fire.
"If you give me a shot at It think
can get her or" Kit said
"How would you 60 about itr' 6t1ns
snapped at him
'Sit down and get q good rest III
iull comes in the wind and then bock