Trench and camp., 1919-05-22

This. story Of Alaska.
OF the hardships and the dangers
That were met with almost daily,
By the rough and ready miners,
And the no less sturdy soldiers.
Who. In that cold Arctic region,
stood for law and human justice, !,
Ready to protect the helpless
From the greed Of lawless natures
That came down upon that country-
As they swarm to every country
When it's new and in the making
Like flock Of human vultures,
Each one seeking Oist victim. +.
This, country for the strongest. -.
Men whose courage never faltered
In the face of gravest danger.
Men with spirits always cheerful,
Through the long, dark Arctic winter.
Men whose cheerfulness peryaded
Those with whom they came in contact
And in this wise helping others
Bear the solitude and silence.
This the year OF nineteen hundred,
When many left the homeland
For that land Of precious metal
That the people called Alaska.
Men there were, quick with the six gun,
Men with teinpers on hair trigger.
There the smooth and oily gambler,
And his games were always open.
Poker, roulette craps and faro
Seeking always the unwary
When the brain had lost its cunning.
Through imbibing too much liquor.
There the brazen. painted women
OF the underworld were gathered,
COnsOrts of the human yu.tures
That had come TO pluck their victims.
Through this motley aggregation
Strobe the soldiers, stern, determined,
Representing law and order
In this bleak, Alaskan country.
Homeland Of the borealis,
Northern lights, whose flashing cOlors
Would, at times. light up the darkness.
Shooting beams Of rainbow brillianee
Cross the bleak and barren tundra,
Turning darkness into twilight.
King Of Arctic winters darkness, q
As the midnight in summer
Is the king Of Arctic daylight.
Came the night before the blizzard.
Every gambling house was crowded
With crew of pleasure seekers.
Some were gambling, others drinking,
Others. still. danced with the women
As stepped into that hell-hOle
That was called the "SkOokum Dance Hall. ~
Looked about me rs | entered,
Ever watchfui for the danger
OF shot from some dark corner.
There, behind the faro table.
Stood q woman fair to look on
Innocent Of paint and powder.
On her face q look of sadness
And of fear WAS plainly written.
She had come down from the KlOndyke
With a handsome male cOmpa niOn.
He was sitting Just beside her,
Dealing at the faro table.
Quick her eyes were filed with horror
As the outer door was opened
And a man stood on the threshold,
Cast glance about the barroOm,
Saw the couple at the table,
Took step in their direction.
But the dealer sensed the danger, -
And his hand sought his revolver
AS his eyes sought the newcomer.
Then his face turned gray with terror,
Every muscle seemed to stilfen,
And the fear Of death was on him.
Then my eyes strayed to the other,
Standing silent the doorway.
Beth Ids hands were in his pockets
As he eo0lly eyed his victim.
Then, without the slightest movement,
Flame burst from his right-haBd pocket,
And the gambler. with eyes glazing,
Slowly sank against the table.
Then the stranger. quickly turning,
Disappeared int the darkness.
Not a hand was raised to stop him.
Just the one word: ''Retributien.'
Passed the woman's lips, then silence.
Search for him was ma vailinG
Till the early honrs Of morning,
When = prospector from Kougrock
Said he passed 4 trail-wOrn dOgteam
Working slowly toward Teller. -
Then, witt sledge and Team Of huskies,
On the trail to OverAaHl him.
Down tpen us came the blizzard.
FeaFfuily The dogteam huddled
Close. together for protection
And the terror Of the BOrtbland
Seemed to eat infe Vftais,
FFo1e the very blood within us,
A4,the howhng, moaning blizzard
Swept aiong the open tundra;
zAad H&F9se s4he .fFoBen ecenhs -
s&&an9 4gizfE we lay flaenFs at0Embound,
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