The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-23
EVENING STORY
Somebody's Pal.

1t was not that Three Arrows was
naturally suspicious, but nature had /
placed it so seclusively, all by itself |
on the shoulders of Kaska- mountain, !
that it regarded strangers in the light /
of interlopers. Therefore, it kept one
eye on Evelyn May from the moment /
she stepped from the river steam |
boat.
: Another thing that did not add to
her immediate popularity was her
from the beginning to take Three Ar
rows into her confidence. Whether
she had come north drawn by the lure
of gold, or merely from the love of
adventure, no one could, tell.
Slim Rogers sized her up at long
distance from his point of vantage on
the lean-to porch of Rafferty's shack.
In Three Arrows he was accounted
not only local sheriff, but also the
final court of appeals on the standing
of strangers. Slim had been rather
idle of late. pail of monotonous
morality had fallen over the land inn
mediately under his lawful guardian
ship. There had been no killings
since Christmas, when Lone Duck,
from Nome, had jubilantly picked OF
two harmless salmon trimmerS from
a tribe down river
The Golden Eagle had been doing
languid business. supported only
of Three ARROWS were beginning to
take a civic pride in preserving the
peace. Therefore, Sims occupation
was gone, and he had the more leis-
ure to observe Evelyn May.
1t was this observation which an
noyed Evelyn. She felt herself under
suspicion and did not hesitate to
show Slim that she was aware of his
| official scrutiny. She had taken up
quarters at the only abiding place for
tranSients, Mrs. Rafferty's lodging
house and cafe. Mrs. Rafferty, had
ruled public opinion in Three Arrows
| tor many moons, put even she was
placed aloot from Evelyns confidence
| She would stand in the door of her
kitchen after lightsomely turning
| fried eggs and bacon for her star
| boarder's breakfast, and try her best
to CLEAN some personal information
Its long way for a girl of your
| age to be travelling Alone she said
one morning.
Il love TO travel" said Evelyn,
pleasantly. rs it very far up Kas-
| ka ?" She looked from the window at
her right hand at the great peak that
| seemed to touch the morning clouds
There's nothing to see when you
| get up there, said Mrs. Rafferty,
You want to go up or down the river
| If you're looking for sights. There
| amt nothing up there but Indians 1t
! gets pretty bare past timberline. You
wouldn't find pickings for a wood
| chuck"
Evelyn glanced at her with her first
show of interest.
DO you know woodchucks she
asked eagerly. Its the first time
I've heard the word since 1 came
West, and 1 guess there aren't any
out here"
We're both of us from Connecti-
cut" responded Mrs Rafferty,. Come
| from down East, do you?
Evelyn retreated into her shell at
once, and only nodded. From the cor
ner of her eye she could see Sims
tall figure shadowing the doorway
| Better put me up a lunch, Mollie"
| he said to Mrs. Rafferty,, trying to
| ignore the presence a the table by
the window. Were going up Kaska
again today. Benson blew in last
| night, and they think they've struck
| a new scent
Mrs. Rafferty, hustled around, cary
king deep slices of boiled ham as she
talked.
We'll, hope to the lord. Slim Rog-
ers, that you never come within a
mile of shooting at him. If ever a
man deserved what he got, it was
Lone Duck. He got so he thought he
owned the whole river front. 1t wasn't
just those two fellows from the sal
mon fishery. He'd about eight more
some. Did you hear what the fight
was about? 1 mean the one with the
kid"
Slim helped himself to a large cur
of black coffee, knowing full well that
he had an audience.
''They fought over an Indian girl
Lone Duck came into camp drunk
and started to beat her up. Billie
had been prospecting around there fol
several weeks, and 1 rather think the
Duck was afraid he had heard toe
much from Neonta. Anyway, he tried
to silence him forever and the kic
got in first shot. Laws law, Mollie
you know. Nice citizens you womer
folks would make, wouldn't you, il
you let every curly-haired blue-eyed
youngster get away with murder
There's nine of us going after him to-
= ! day and Benson says he can lay his
finger right on him
No one will ever know just what
| took place in Evelyn's mind at thai
moment. She rose from her table ant
went over to Mrs. Rafferty's side.
J Cant | help you cut these sand
witches? I'd love to help" she said
: Whereupon it naturally befeH tha
Mrs. Rafferty, introduced Slim.
Never in the sheriff's twenty-eigh
years of life had he encountered such
a subtle spell as that which lay il
the girls personality. Didn't he thinl
the view from Kaska was wonderful
He sure did. And when she begged
for the privilege of riding up with hin
and the rest of the posse Slim wa.
Ii not the man to say her nay. They
were going eight miles around the
| mountain. He told her she could ride
until he ask her to turn back. and
she agreed to obey orders. There is
a witchery about Alaska scenery in
/ June and suddenly, without warning
the whole land throws aside its frozer
cloak and blooms in splendor.
Slim had only known her for -four
hours. but before they had reached
. the timberline he had forgotten the
vital importance of catching the kid
and was absolutely at the mercy OF
| Evelyn May. 1t didn't worry him
much Benson had gone ahead with
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