The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-03-14

In the offhanded note Of the frontier.
Fine" said Lander a. he waited
for Salaria to climb into the truck.
1t was many q year since I'd
seen an Alaska jarnboree Of that
kind, and II left me wondering Il
life hadn't rather spoiled me for
such affairs. For along with the
dancing was much brawling and
lovemalking and the imbibing Of a To-
cal brand Of hooch known as moose
milk. The orchestra was merely
q tinny old piano helped out by Q
fiddle and accordion. Even as we
pushed our way into that crowded
roadhouse with its open bar / won
dered II the natives weren't doing
the best to revive the old Klondike
days. Men in flannel shirts and high
tops gyrated about with gum-chew-
ing white women In Stacks or held
well-rouged and sloe-eyed half-breed
girls in calico close to their Maclxi-
nawed bosoms.
Lander danced with smooth Sc
dateness that left US almost conspic-
uous in that swarm Of jigging bod
les and flying heels. And felt odd
ly small and passive In that strong
arm Of his. The sense of his near
ness, I suppose, should have made
me happy. >
But couldn't drum up any en-
thusiasm for that falsetto and loose
jointed hilarity born Of bad music
and worse whisky.
/ tried to tell my partner that
there was something pathetic in
such childlike efforts to escape the
isolation Of wilderness life. But Lam
der only laughed.
"This is easy" he said. "There'l
be broken head or two before
the nights over" There'd even been
a stabbing, the week before.
But had no craving to see fist
fights and lnifeplay.
II want to 60 home," said at
the end of our dance. For along the
line that crowded the bar I'd caught
sight of Eric the Red, surrounded
by a circle Of transients. He was
too busy drinking and talking to give
any thought to dancing. But his
sardonic smile as we passed within
six PAGES Of him confirmed my dis
taste for the place.
"All right" said Lander. Yet
knew by the way his gaze fingered
on the flushed and bleary-eyed faces
all about him that he would have
preferred to stay.
The air outside was sweet with
small wind that blew down from the
Talkeetnas. s
IT guess this is BETTER" he said as
he tucked blanket about my knees
and climbed in beside me. He was
silent for while, tooling the truck
along the spectral ribbon of road.
"Tm afraid I took you away from
your work." ! ventured.
Lander laughed as that none-too-
even road kept our swaying bodies
in rough but friendly contact.
"That's about the best ! can ask
Of life," he said. $50 be next to
you like this
My answering laugh, suppose,
was largely defensive.
while we both remember to keep
to the center Of the road" I sug-
gested.
eth be better road before
we're through with it," the resonant
low voice beside me announced. He
was speaking in riddles, Of course.
Yet knew well enough what he
meant.
''But where will it lead TOT" I
asked.
81 don't know, yet," he answered
after moments silence. "But !
don't want it to lead me from YOU"
Hasn't it already done that?" !
questioned.
It may have sounded a bit cruel.
He turned and made an effort to
study my face in the none-too-cer-
tain light. Il Is.
II thought we meant something
to each other" he said with q quick
and boylike candor that was more
disarming than all the earlier rid
dies. II rather thought you liked
me-"
81 do" said in an effort to
match casualness with casuahess.
But that, plainly, didn't solve his
problem. He drove on in silence
until he came to the narrower trail
that led in to my shack.
81 suppose there's somebody
else?" he finally ventured, coming
to stop in the cabin clearing.
There's nobody else," was hon.
est enough to acknowledge.
''That's all ! wanted to know"
he said with q new resoluteness in
his voice.
! was more afraid Of myself,
think, than ] was Of him. ! didn't
like the way my heart was pounding
as he got down from his seat and
crossed to my side Of the truck.
ssWith me there is nobody else,"
compelled myself to say.
] knew, by the way he stiffened,
that my shot had hit its mark.
you're right" he quietly ac-
knowledged. Then he laughed his
curt laugh. IT guess I'm running q
little ahead Of the 0anne.n