Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1918-03-21

act. Later ne lntenueu 10 "cOuSolluhtc
the claims and turn them over TO the
Guttenchilds under an agreement by
which he was TO receive one-eiglHh Of
the stock of the company formed to
work the mines. The entries had been
made, the fee accepted by the land Of
fee and receipts issued. In course OF
time Macdonald had applied for pat
ents.
Before these were issued the maya
zines began TO pour in their broadSldeS,
and since then the papers had been
held up.
The conscience Of Macdonald was
quite clear. The pioneers in Alaska
were building ont of the Arctic waste
a new empire for the United States,
and he held that Il fair government
could do no less than offer them liberal
treatment. To lock up from present
use vast needed by Alaskans
would be a mistaken policy. a narrow
and perverted application of the doc
trine of conservation. The territory
should be thrown open to the world.
If capital were invited In to do its
share of the building. immigration
would flow rapidly northward. Within
the lives of the present generation the
new empire would take shape and
wealth would pour inevitably into the
United States from its frozen treasure
house.
The view held by Macdonald was
one common TO the whole Pacific coast.
Seattle, Portland. San Francisco. were
a unit in the belief that the govern
ment had no right to close the door
of Alaska and then put a paddock
upon it.
Feminine voices drifted from the
outer office. Macdonald opened the
door to let in Mrs. Selfridge and Mrs.
Mallory.
The latter lady, Paris-shod and
gloved, shook hands smllingly with the
Scotch-Canadian. "Of course we're
intruders in business hours. though
you'll tell us we're not" she suggested.
I've just been reading the Transcon-
tinental Magazine. A writer there saws
that you are a highway robber and n
gambler. l know you're a robber be-
cause all the magazines say so. But
are you only a big gambler?"
He met her %raillery without the least
embarrassment.
"Sure I gamble. Every time I take
a chance I'm gambling. So does every
body else. We've got to take chances
to live"
How true, and I never thought of
it, beamed Mrs. Selfridge. "Nhot n
philosopher you are. Mr.. Macdonald
The Scotsman went on without pav-
ing any attention to her effervescence
I'VE gambled ever since | was n kid
bet l could cross Death valley and
get out alive. That time | won 7
Def 1t would rain down in Arizona
my cattle died. lost. An
liner time | took a contract to run n
.unnel. In my bid I bet | wouldn't RIM
nto rock. My bank went broke thar
rip. When l joined the Klondike
'ush l was backing my luck to stand
Up. Same thing when | located the
Namatlah field. The coal might he n
'oor quality. Maybe l couldn't inter
st big capital in the proposition. Per-
laps the government would turn me-
lown when came to prove up. | was
'etting my last collar against big
dds. When I quit gambling il will
e because I've quit living"
And suppose I'm a gambler, too?"
lrs. Mallory demanded with a LITTLE
Ilt of her handsome head.
0 all the women l know Won are
best gambler. It's born in Won"
Mrs. Mallory did not often induIoe IN
luxury of a blush, but she changed
oior now. This big. blunt man some
mes mac an uncanny d~ivination. "Did
e. she asked herself, know what
axe n was gambling for at Ku.
You are too WISE" she laughed with
touch OF embarrassment very becom.
g. But suppose you are right.
re excitement"
I'VE all do. The ONLY man uho
'esnt gamble is the convict In strines
ID the only reason he doesn't is that
$ chips are all gone. It's true that
on the frontier play for bigger
axes. They back their bets with an
ey nave got and put their lives on
p Tor good measure. But kids in tbe
all over the United States are
ing to live easier because of tbe
at the dropping-off place"
sne moved with slow grace toward
: door, then ove her shoulder
ned a sudden invitation at him
RS. Selfridge and 1 are doing a littIa
today, Big Chief Gambler .
ere backing our luck that VOL two
N VIII eat lunch with us at the Rlue
d inn. Do we VIM"
Macdonald reached for his hat
IMPLY. You win."