The Press., 1920-12-30
Lizzie and
 Her Dove By KATHERINE BAKER
(Copyright.)


 If you know the plank sidewalks as.il the rain and the mist like s0ggy Sl ."',il and the stony river-bed; ii :c.: ri5p>p hunted Soapy Smiths grave T B ht lonely valley that runs to. land of gold. and have .r gOry picture of his taking .a:, ,Ircorates Mir. Draper's shop VI" !..u bargain for moccasins and muki,Ik$ and medicine hats; if you have seen in Kirmse's rival establish. nent the polar bearskins that leave you speeches. and make all bear. skins you formerly approved look like Angora cats for size-then you surely have beheld the famous necklace. It lay in it's case in Kirmse's win dow. the admiration and envy of na- tive and tourist alike, graduated series of fat, opulent nuggets. discreet ly polished, pear-shaped, pendant from a suitable golden chain. The miner who should present his lass with such token of esteem must rank high among impetuous lovers. But probably you'd rather get on and hear the story.
 Gee, that's some puddin'!" said the man in shirt-sleeves appreciatively. Smiling and blushing until the scar let behind her dusky skin quite out did the rouge in front of 1t, the little Indian waitress set another plate of pudding before him and offered a pitcher of the thickest cream.
 And that meant better cream than you are used to, unless you are mighty lucky.
 She was a stylish young woman, this chiefs daughter who waited at table fin Mrs. Bullets boarding-house. l At thirty she would be shapeless.
 At seventeen she had slender, slov- enIy prettiness that reminded one of a Japanese.
 The man in red shirt-sleeves rose piano at the other end of the room.
 The Indian girls eyes followed him with dumb adOration as, coughing, he pulled sweater over his head and went out into the eternal spring rain.
 The little waitress slipped through the doorway, and ran across the foot bridge in the yard to where the light fly through the mist.
 Drawn shades hid the room within.
 The Indian girl. stepping lightly in her sOiled white dancing slippers, crossed the threshold like slender shadow and found shelter in a closet in the hall.
 The partitions were badly seasoned fir, which Is the most unreliable of woods.
 Wide cracks let through gleams of electric light. The men were tramp ing about noisily. They dropped their great boots on the floor.
 Presently one uttered a mild oath as bag slipped from his fingers and clinked melodiously.
 Dog-gone-there goes my poker he grumbled. stopping.
 The listener knew well that chime of gold. She leaned nearer to the partition.
 At breakfast next morning she bent oyer the red-shirted youth. placing oat- meal before him.
 Big nuggets" she murmured. Above Forded Falls. You go, too"
 The puzzled expression of his face hanged slowly to understanding.
 "T ain't got the money for fare and an outfit" he answered morosely.
 In the passageway outside the waitress drew little bag from her hIouse-a pitiful, dirty little bag with few gold pieces in 1t.
 You pay me easy you get those nuggets" she explained the loan with brilliant smile. "I not need"
 So the women of Weinsburg gave their hair for bowstrings to their men.
 The compositor caught her hand a moment gratefully in his.
 You're a darned nice girl, Lizzie, " he declared. If win, I'll get you the finest present in Alaska"
 When the red-shirted man, thinner and largeeyed, reappeared in Skag- way there were now women, too, to arrest wandering eye.
 The Crystal Concert company, with Miss Crystal Kelly, had landed there.
 The company was not numerous. A stout person with a strong contralto voice and faded, pretty elder sister, who played the piano. assisted Miss Crystal Kelly.
 Miss Crystal was attractive enough to require chaperon.
 For the present her company waited in the doorway of Alaska. ad- vertising, engaging the Brotherhood hall over Draper's store, planning the coming tour.
 It was on the day of the concert that the compositor came back to town.
 Everybody welcomed him cordially every one wanted to know where he had been and how he had come out
 The compoSitor was not reticent. He had made his strike.
 But there's no gold in that forma- tion," objected the bishop. who knew his Alaska from Point Barrow on the Arctic ocean to Ketchikan at the gate of civilization as farmer knows his farm.
 Gold is where you find it," retorted the SkoOkum boss. who knew his Alas ka from tle klondfke to iditarHl as a captain knows his ship.
 The "omI"'sitor showed his bag nf nuggrS. huge things some of them weighing ounces.
 Fvprrhndy crowded :trou,d
 How do l.izE' said the compassion
 .sSlv "~ she t,rn''"ht lis butter and milk. Good eats here after camp. I've got your money for you. all right"
 Lizzie's eager. answering smile sub- sided at this greeting into the secretive expression of her race.
 The boss of the Skookum mines had made the path straight for the Crystal Concert company.
 He, as an arctic brother of the de- funct Kelly, had engaged the hall, had attended to the decorations, and this