The Coolidge examiner., 1934-01-26
CHAPTER II

?
Two decades, then; two decades
Il and bit more since that day
when Jim Flynn's body brought
comfort back to tender flesh,
and ii was a tall, bronzed Steve
Drake who loafed into that jewel of
lake, paddle across his knees.
Gee" he breathed. "A new
world a new life coming" :"
He dipped his paddle and smiled
somberly.
A new world; new in freshness,
surely; a new part of the world to
Steve. too. And a new life was
opening before him. he felt. Be
hind-in the years-were many
things: handicapped boyhood, a
duty well done. a father who was
now only a memory. and a disaster
marked up as the net result of the
first business enterprise he had
tackled.
He was cleaned out; after his
men had been paid not dollar had
remained. He had not even been
able to buy himself new outfit to
start this aimless journey. Cleaned
out, yes. but he owed no man,
he had learned many things, and
was still young. He was just drift
ing through the country. vaguely
headed for some other territory
than that which had rendered him
III fortune, alert for whatever
might turn up; perhaps little i'm
patient for action, now that he had
had a fortnight of solitude TO mus
ter his scattered forces.
He rounded a jutting point and
stopped padding abruptly, for be-
yond him he saw tent and
group of men.
They came down to the waters
edge and one called out:
Hi, chum. comm ashore?"
Hadn't figured on it.
He was close enough to see that
this obviously was party of city
men and a guide. 1t was the guide.
a short, wiry man, who had hailed.
Have you got any extra salt?"
"A little Need some?"
Yes. we're"
Need someI" another broke In.
Need it? Ever been out of salt
for three days? Say, l wanna know,
have you?"
Clearly this speaker, a tall, hand
some youth. was well on his way
toward drunkenness.
Steve turned toward them. After
three days you should be used to
H." he remarked, grinning.
"Where'd you get that You stuff?
Whom HI wants to not notice it?
Say. buddy, you just show US some
salt and name the pricew
Steve let the canoe beach gently.
If it'll help you any. I'll split"
he said, rising.
They gathered close with an
eagerness which was good evidence
of their salt hunger. Steve opened
his torn and weather-rotted pack
sack and drew out a tin can.
There. Help yourselves"
What's it worth?" the chief
spokesman demanded. Name
price. old party! We're rotten rich
so longs tn jack holds out"
Take what you want; that's all
right"
"A right, HI! How much you
want for half thish?"
Steve laughed them away, telling
the insistent purchaser to help him
self, and the three. bearing the salt
can as if it were a great treasure,
walked up the rise toward the tent.
The guide and Steve exchanged
significant glances.
Idle rich?" Steve asked.
idle. anyhow Thrun a fit cause
tn flapjacks didn't have salt. Beats
HI how folks gifts pampered. Bet
ter come up and dry"
Steve had just gotten himself
stripped and was wringing out
his shirt when the drunken lad
emerged from the tent
Now, say. Buddy, what we owe
you?" he demanded. "Nothin'? TIL
HI we don'tl That salts worth
its weight in gold, md a whole lot
more"
Drake again protested and his
firmness baked the other who be-
gan to nod with narrowed eyes, re-
turned to the tent and reappeared
with a hottie of whisky and a clean
pack-Sack
Now. first you gotta have
drink, fella. Then, from looks your
pack-Sack. you could use mother.
Take thiSh. Its extra. Not been
used once. Small token our 'ppre-
ciatiOn."
Steve looked at the pack. 1t was
of white duck. stoutly made. On