The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-10-23

HHa
'oNicaiing pleasure.
hNra had become a metropoll, Of
eo'rds and canvas. ~ logs ana cor.
raEaioa iruu. Stores had risen tbsr,
WeFo hotels and lodging houses busy
restaurants aud buster saloons
whence came tho sounds of rcyrIr,
eS uisHt and 10y day. II was a
healthy rcvolry. by tho way. like The
eolaierous hlhrty OF a robust bo,
lAr3 was Just that-au oy,rgr1Wp.
hilarious boy There was nothins
qserulous on sickly about this child.
u Was strong, 70 was sturdy. Il was
rough, u rompcd with every body and
y grew out of lis clothes overnight
Every house, every tent. in tho town
was crowded, supply never quite
overlook demand.
fackauImals were being importsJ
bridges were being built. the swamps
Wero being hastily corduroycd. there
was talk Of a tramway up the side
OF the Chilkoot but the gold rush
increased daily, and. despite better
means OF transportation. the call for
packers went unanswered and the
price per pound stayed IN New
tribes OF Indians from down the coast
had moved thlther. babies and bag.
ease, and they were growing rich.
The stampede itself rcscmblrd the
spring run Of tho silver salmou-lt
was equally mad equally rcslstless.
II was equally wHsteful, too. FOR birds
ana beasts OF prey hlttened upon Il
and the outsetilng current bore a
burden % dercllcts
Values were cxtravaFant; money
ran Ike water. the town was wide
open and Il took toll from every
newcomer, The frrment was kept
active hy a trioklc of outgoing Klon,
dikrrs, "a considerable number Of
whom passed thru on their way hack
20 the States. These men had been
educated 20 tho liberal ways OF the
, Inside" country and were prodigs,l
spoudcry. The scent OF the salt sea.
the sight OF new faces. the proximity
OF the open world. were like strong
drink 10 them. hence they united
their mooseskln ''pokos and seat.
terod the contents like sawdust. Their
tales OF the new ~ Dorado stimulated
similar recklessncss among their
hearers
To a boy like Pierce Phillips. 10
whom the spirit OF youth was a fam
ing torch. all this spelled glorious
I abandon, a supreme riot OF Olympic
emotions
Precisely what reason he had Tor
coming 10 town this morning he did
not know; nevertheless. ho was
drawn scaward as by n mighty mag.
net. lie told himself that ordinary
/ gratitude demanded that he think
the Countess Courteau FOR her sery.
Ice 10 him. but rs matter ot fact
he was less interested in vulcing his
/ gratitude than In merely seeing her
/ again. He was not sure but that
she would resent his thanks. never.
/ theles5. Il was necessary TO seek her
out. for already her image was nob-
ulous. and he could not piece together
satisfactory picture OF her. she
ohscessed his thought. but his intense
desire 20 fix her indelibly therein had
defeated is purpose and had blurred
the photograph. Who was Ehs7 What
was she7 where was she going
VIVA, did she think OF him7 Tho
possibility that she might leave Dyea
before answering those questions
/ spurred him into gait that dcvourcd
/ the miles
/ But when ne turned into the main
street OF the town his haste vanished
and sudden embarrassment over
took him. What would he say 10 her.
now that hc was here7 How would
he excuse or explain his obvious pur.
suit7 Would she see thru him. II
so. what Hight would kindls tn those
I ice blue eyes7 The Countess was an
unusual woman. She knew men. she
read them clearly. and she knew how
/ 70 freeze them in their tracks. Pierce
felt quite sure that she would guess
his motives. therefore he made up
his mind 20 dissemblc cunnIngly. He
4 decided TO assume a casual air and
I 70 let chance arrange their actual
I meeting when he dld encounter
I her. quick smile OF pleased sur
I prise on his part, few simple words
Of thanks. manly statement that he
I was glad she had not left before his
duties permitted him TO look her up,
and she would be completely de.
celved. Thereafter fato would decree
how we'll or how badly they got &C.
qualnted. Yes. that was the way 10
20 about II.
Having laid out this admirable
program. he Immediately defIed II By
making a Decline for the main hotel
n big board structure still in process
Of erection. His feet carried him
thither In spite Of himself Like d
homing- pigeon he went. and instinct
guided him unerringly. for he found
the Countess Courteau in the office
She was dressed as on tho day
before, but by some magic she had
managed 70 freshon and TO brighten
herself. In her hand she held hor
travelling bag; she was speaking "a
the proprietor as Pierce stepped W
behind her.
Fifteen thousand dollars az II
stands" no heard her say. That's
my price. III mako you a present
Of the lumber The Queen leaves in
20 minutes"
The proprietor began TO argue, but
she cut him short: That's my last
word. Three hundred per cent on
your money"