Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-02-17

at roulette.
He continues TO win and the gamblers
buy him Off His ayseem was based on
the discovery that t,e roulette wheel was
warped
On the smooth stretch Of ice beside
the trading post az Sixty Mile Smoke
overlook two more sleds All had just
changed teams and for five minutes
they ran abreast each man on his
knees and pouring whip and voice into
the maddened dogs But Smoke had
studied out that portion OF the trail.
aud now marked the tall pine on the
bank that showed family in the light
of the many fires Below that pine
was not merely dark ness. but an alb
rupt cessation OF the smooth stretch
There the trail, he knew. narrowed to
single sled width Leaning out ahead
he caught the haul rope and drew his
leaping sled up TO the wheel dog. he
caught the animal by the hind legs
and threw it. With snarl OF rage
il tried TO slash him with its fangs.
but was dragged on by the rest OF the
team Its body proved an efficient
brake and the other teams. still
abreast. dashed ahead into the dark
ness for the narrow way.
Smoke heard the crash and uproar OF
their collision. released his wheeler
sprang 10 the gee pole and urged his
team to the right into the soft snow.
where the straining animals wallowed
10 their necks. 1t was exhausting
work but he won by the tangled teams
and gained the hard packed trail be
yond.
On the relay out of Sixty Mile SmoF'
had next 10 his poorest team. and
though the going was good. he had set
II short fifteen miles Two more
teams would bring him into Dawson
and to the gold recorders office. and
Smoke had selected his best animals
for the last two stretches. Sitka Char
ley himself waited with the eight Male
mutes that would jerk Smoke along for
twenty miles. and for the finish with
d fifteen mile run, was his own team.
The gray twilight Of morning was
breaking as be exchanged his weary
dogs for the eight fresh Malemutes
Sitka Charley called out the order OF
the teams ahead. Big Olaf led. Arizo.
ma Bill was second. and Won Schroeder
third. These were the three best men
in the country. In fact, ere Smoke
had left Dawson. the popular betting
had placed them in that order
AS daylight strengthened Smoke
caught sight of a sled ahead, and in
half an hour his own lead dog was
lcaping at its tail Not until the man
turned his head 10 exchange greetings
did Smoke recognize him as Arizona
Bin. Won Schroeder had evidently
passed him. The trail. hard packed.
ran too narrowly through the soft
snow. and for another half hour Smoke
was forced to stay in the rear Then
they topped an ice jam and struck a
smooth stretch below. where were a
number Of relay camps and where the
snow was packed widely. On his knees.
swinging his whip and yelling. Smoke
drew abreast Of Arizona Bill. then pull
cd ahead
Bill dropped behind very slowly.
though when the last relay station
was I'm sight be was fully half mile
m the rear Ahead. punched together.
Smoke could see Big Olaf and Won
Schroeder. Again Smoke arose to his
knees and he lifted his jaded dogs into
n burst of speed such as a man only
can who has the proper instinct for
dog driving He drew up close to the
tail OF Won Schroeders sled. aud i'm
this order the three slcds dashed out
on the smooth going below jam.
where many men and many dogs wait
cd. Dawson was fifteen miles away
Won Schroeder. with his ten mile re-
lays. had changed five miles back and
would change five miles ahead So
he held on. keeping his dogs NJ full
leap Big Olaf and Smoke made dying
changes. and their fresh teams imme
diately regained what had been lost
To the baron Big Olaf led past. and
Smoke followed into the narrow trail
beyond
OF Won Schroeder now behind. hr
had no fear. but ahead was tile great
esi dog driver In the country. To pass
bin seemed impossible. Again and
again. many times. Smoke forced his
leader 70 the others sled tail. and each
time Big Olaf let out another link and
drew away. Smoke hung on grimly
TIE race was not lost until one or the
other won, and In fifteen miles many
things could happen
Three miles from Dawson something
did happen. To Smokes surprise Hir
Olaf rose up and with oaths and yenth