Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-03-15

their stampeding packs stored behind
the bar, ready to hit the trail at a
moments notice.
Mrs. Eppingwell was a woman of
capacity; so, when she turned Made
line over to her trainers on Thanks
giving night she was so transformed
that they were almost afraid of her.
Prince wrapped Hudson Bay blanket
about her with mock reverence more
real than feigned, while Malemute Kid
whose arm she had taken, found it a
severe trial to resume his wonted men,
torship. Harrington, with the list Of
purchase still running through his
head, dragged along in the rear, nor
opened his mouth once all the way
down into the town. When they came
to the back door of the opera house
they took the blanket from Madeline's
shoulders and spread it on the snow.
slipping out Of Princes moccasins, she
stepped upon 1t in new satin slippers.
The masquerade was at it's height.
She hesitated. but they jerked open
the door and showed her in. Then
they ran around to come In by the
front entrance.
"Where is Freda?" the old timers
questioned, while the che-cha-quas
were equally energetic in asking who
Freda was. The ballroom buzzed
with her name. 1t was on everybOdy's
lips. Grizzled "sour-dough boys" day
labOrers at the mines but proud of
their degree, either patronized the
spruce-lOOking tenderfeet and lied
eloquently, the "sOur-dOugh boys" be-
ing specially created to toy with truth,
or gave them savage looks of indigna.
ton because Of their ignorance. Per.
haps forty kings Of the Upper and
Lower countries were on the floor,
each deeming himself hot on the trail
and sturdily backing his judgment
with the yellow dust Of the realm. An
assistant was sent to the man at the
scales, upon whom had fallen the bur-
den of weighing up the sacks. while
several of the gamblers, with the rules
Of chance at their finger ends, made
up alluring books on the field and IA.
vorites.
Which was Freda? Time and again
the Greek dancer was thought to have
been discovered, but each discovery
brought panic to the betting ring and
a frantic registering Of new wagers by
those who wished to hedge. Male
mute Kid took an interest in the hunt,
his advent being hailed uproariously
by the jewellers, who knew him to a
man. The Kid had good eye for the
trick of a step. and ear for the Tilt
Of voice, and private choice was a
marvellous creature who scintillated
as the aurora Borealis." But the
Greek dancer was too subtle for even
his penetration. The majority Of the
gold hunters seemed to have conferred
their verdict on the Russian Prin-
cess" who was the most graceful in
the room, and hence could be no 9TH
err than Freda Moloof.
During a quadrille a roar of salts
faction went up. She was discovered.
At previous balls, in the figure "all
hands round" Freda had displayed an
step and variation peculiar
ly her own. AS the figure was called.
the Russian Princess" gave the
unique rhythm to limb and body. A
chorus of I-told-you-so's shook the
squared roof beams, when 10! it was
noticed that the Aurora Borealis"
and another mask, the spirit of the
Pole" were performing the same trick
equally well. And when two twin
"Sun Dogs" and frost Queen" fol.
lowed suit, a second assistant was dis
patched to the aid of the man at the
scales.
BEETLES came off trail in the midst
Of the excitement, descending upon
them In a hurricane Of frost. His
brOws turned to cataracts as
he whirled about; his mustache, still
frozen, seemed gemmed with diamonds
and turned the light in varicOlOred
rays; while the flying feet slipped on
the chunks of ice which ratified from
his mOccasins and Scotch socks. A
dance is quite an informal
affair, the men of the creeks and trails |
having lost whatever fastidiOusness
they may have ut one time possessed;
and only in the high official circles are |
Mt all observed. Here, |
caste carried no significance. Million
aires and paupers, dog drivers and |
mounted policemen, Joined hands with
ladies in the CENTER" and swept |
around the circle performing most re-
narkable capers.
In his quest for the Greek dancer,
Cal Galbraith managed to get into the
same set with the Russian Princess"
toward whom popular suspicion had
turned. But by the time he had guild
I'd her through one dance, he was will
ng not only to stake his millions that
she was not Freda, but that he had
had his arm about her waist before.
When or where he could not tell, but
he puzzling sense Of familiarity so
wrought upon him that he turned his
attention to the discovery of her iden-
lily. Malemute Kid might have aid.
ID him instead Of occasionally taking
he Princess" for few turns and
alking earnestly to her in low tones.
But 1t was Jack Harrington who paid
he Russian Princess" the most as
'iduous court. Once he drew Cal
ialbraith aside and hazarded wild
'uesses as to who she was. and ex-
blamed to him that no was poino In