Hammond Times, Volume 2, Number 46, Hammond, Lake County, 10 August 1907 — Page 3

Saturday. .'Aiitrust 10, 1907.

THE LAKE COUNTY TIMES

By REX E. Copyright. 1005, by This is a story of that great north country of which it has been said, "There's never a law of God or man runs north of fifiy-thrca ;" a tale of impetuous emotion, of brute strength and courage, of swift and passionate love and hate; a tele vigorous, forceful and absorbing, which tells itself without fine vjords ; a story of the hunger for gold and the hunger of man for woman, brooking no interference or rivalry, going straight for its object, as did the primitive man before the time of laws and conventionalities ; of civilized man turned back to savagery and losing no manhood in the turning. Tarry awhile, O reader, with these rugged men of Nome, and you shall be refreshed and strengthened in their company. CHAPTER I. GLENISTER gazed out over the harbor agleam with the lights of anchored ships, then up at the crenelated mountains, black against the sky. He drank the cool air burdened with, its taints of the sea, while the blood of his boyhood leaped, within him. "Oh, It's fine fine," he murmured, "and this Is my country my country, after all, Dex. It's in my veins, this hunger for the north. I grow. I expand." "Careful you don't bust," warned Dextry. "I've seen men get plumb drunk on mountain air. Don't expand too strong in one spot." He went back abruptly to his pipe, its villainous fumes promptly averting any danger of the uir's too tonic quality. "Gad, what a smudge!" sniffed the younger man. "You ought to be in quarantine." "I'd ruther smell like a man than talk like a kid. You desecrate the hour of meditation with rhapsodies on nature when your aesthetics ain't honod up to the beauties of good tobacco." The other laughed, Inflating his deep chest. In the gloom he stretched hi3 muscles restlessly, as though an excess of vigor filled him. They were lounging upon the dock, while before them lay the Santa Maria ready for her midnight sailing. Behind slept Unalaska, quaint, antique and Russian, resting amid the fogs of Bering sea. Where a week before mild eyed natives had dried their cod among the old bronze cannon now a frenzied horde of gold seekers paused In their rush to the new El Dorado. They had come like a locust cloud, thousands strong, settling on the edge of the Smoky sea, waiting the going of the Ice that barred them from their golden fleece from Nome the new, where men found fortune in a night. The mossy hills back of the village were ridged with graves of those who had died on the out trip the fall before, when a plague had gripped the laud, but what of that? Gold glittered In the sands, so said the survivors. Therefore men came in armies. Glenister and Dextry had loft Nome the autumn previous, the young man raving with fever. Now they returned to their own land. "This air whets every animal Instinct In nie," Glenister broke out again. "Away from the cities I turn savage. I feel the old primitive passions, the fret for lighting." "Mebbe you'll have a chance." "How so?" "Well, it's this way. I met Mexico Mullius this moruin. You mind old Mexico, don't you the feller that relocated Discovery claim on Anvil creek last summer?" "You don't mean that 'tinhorn the boys were going to lynch for claim Jumping?" "Identical! Remember me tellin' yon about a good turn I done him once down Guadalupe way?" "Greaser shooting scrape, wasn't it?" "Yep. Well. I noticed first off that he's gettin' fat high livin' fat. too, all In one siot, like he was playin both ends agin the center. Also he wore di'mon's fit to handle with ice tongs. "Says I, lookin' at his side elevation, 'What's accented your middle syllable so strong, Mexico? " 'Prosperity, politics an' the Wal-dorf-Astorier.' says he. It seems Mex hadn't forgot old days. He claws me Into a corner an says. 'Bill, I'm goin to pay you back for that Moralez deal. " 'It ain't comin to me,' says I. "That's a bygone.' " "Listen here, says he, an', seeln' he was in earnest, I let him run on. " 'How much do you value that claim o yourn at?' " 'Hard tollin',' soys I. 'If she holds out like she run last fall, there'd ought to be a million clear la her.' "'How much '11 you clean up this summer? " 'Bout four hundred thousand, with luck.' "Bill says he, 'there's hell a-pop-pin an' you've got to watch that cround like you'd watch a rattlesnake.

BEACH. Rex E. Beach. Don't never leave 'em get a grip on it or you're down an' out' "He was so plumb ' in earnest it scared me up, 'cause Mexico ain't q gabby man. "'What do you mean?' says I. " 'I can't tell you nothin' more. I'm puttin' a string on my own neck savin' this much. You're a square man, Bill, an' I'm a gambler, but you saved my life oncet, an' I wouldn't steer you wrong. For God's sake, don't let 'em Jump your ground, that's all. " 'Let who jump it? Congress has give us judges an' courts an' marshals' I begins. '"That's just it. How you goin to buck that hand? Them's the best cards In the deck. There's a man cornui' by the name of McNamara. Watch him clost. I can't tell you no more. But don't never let 'em get a grip on your ground. That's all he'd say." "Bah! He's crazy! I wish somebody would try to jump the Midas. We'd enjoy the exercise." The siren of the Santa Maria inter rupted, its hoarse warning throbbing up the mountain. "We'll have to get aboard," said Dextry. "Sh-h! What's that?" the other whis pered. At first the only sound they heard was a stir from the deck of the steam er. Then from the water below them came the rattle of rowlocks and a voice cautiously muffled. "Stop! Stop there!" A skiff burst from the darkness, grounding on the beach beneath. A figure scrambled out and up the lad der leading to the wharf. Immediate ly a second boat, plainly In pursuit of the first one, struck on the beach be hind it. As the escaping figure mounted to their level the watchers perceived with amazement that It was a young worn an. Breath sobbed from her lungs, and, stumbling, she would have fallen but for Glenister, who ran forward and helped her to her feet. "Don't let them get me," she panted. He turned to his partner in puzzled Inquiry, but found that the old man had crossed to the head of the landing ladder up which the pursuers were climbing. "Just a minute, you there! Back up or I'll kick your face In!" Dextry's voice was sharp and unexpected, and in the darkness he loomed tall and menacing to those below. "Get out of the way. That woman's a runaway," came from the one highest on the ladder. "So I jedge." "She broke qu" "Shut up!" broke in another. "Do you want to advertise It? Get out of the way, there, ye blame fool! Climb up, Thorsen." He spoke like a bucko mate, and his words stirred the bile of Dextry. Thorsen grasped the dock floor, trying to climb up, but the old miner The old miner gUitnped on his fingers. stamped on his fingers, and the sailoi loosened his hold with a yell, carrying the under men with him to the beach in his fall. "This way! Follow me!" shouted the mate, making up the bank for the shore end of the wharf. "You'd better pull your freight, miss," Dextry remarked. "They'll be here in a minute." "Y'es, yes! Let us go! I must get aboard the Santa Maria. She's leaving eow. Come, comeT' Glenister laughed as though there were a humorous touch In her remark, but did not stir. "I'm gettin awful old an' stiff to run," said Dextry, removing his mackinaw, "but I allow I ain't too old for a little diversion in the way of a rough house when it comes nosin around." ; Ife moved lightly, though the girl could see In the half darkness that his hair was silvery. "What do you mean?" she questioned Bharply.

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"You hurry along, miss. We'll toy rith 'em till you're aboard." They stepped across to the dockhouse, backing against it. The girl followed. Again came the warning blast from the steamer and the voice of an oSicer: "Clear away that stem line!" "Oh, we'll be left!" she breathed, and somehow it struck Glenister that she feared this more than the men whose approaching feet he heard. "You can make it all right,' be urged ber roughly. "You'll get hurt if you stay here. Run along and don't mind us. We've been thirty days on shipboard and were praying for something to happen." His voice was boyishly glad, as if he exulted in the fray that was to come, and no sooner had he spoken than the sailors came out of the darkness upon them. During the space of a few heartbeats there was o::!y a tangle of whirling forms with the sound of fist on flesh, then the blot split up, and forms plunged outward, falling heavily. Again the sailors rushed, attempting to clinch. They massed upon Dextry, only to grasp empty air, for he shifted with remarkable agility, striking bitterly, as

an old wolf snaps. It was baffling work, however, for In the darkness his blows fell short or overreached. Glenister, on theVther hand, stood carelessly, beating the men off as thej came to him. He laughed gloatingly, deep in his throat, as though the encounter were merely some rough sport The girl shuddered, for the desperate silence of the attacking men terrified her more than a din, and yet she stayed, crouched against the wall. Dextry swung at a dim target and, missing it, was whirled off his balance. Instantly his antagonist grappled with him, and they fell to the floor, while a third man shuffled about them. The girl throttled a scream. "I'm goin' to kick 'im, Bill," the man panted hoarsely. "Le' me fix 'im." He swung his heavy shoe, and Bill cursed with stirring eloquence. "Ow! You're klckln' me! I've got 'im safe enough. Tackle the big un." Bill's ally then started toward the others, his body bent, his arms flexed, yet hanging loosely. He crouched beside the girl, ignoring her, while she heard the breath wheezing from his lungs; then silently he leaped. Glenister had hurled a man from him, then stepped back to arold the others, when he was seized from behind and felt the man's arms wrapped about his neck, the sailor's legs locked about his thighs. Now came the girl's first knowledge of real fighting. The two spun back and forth so closely intwined as to be indistinguishable, the others holding off. For what seemed many minutes they struggled, the young man striving to reach his adversary, till they crashed against the wall near her and she heard her champion's breath coughing in hi3 throat at the tightening grip of the sailor. Fright held her paralyzed, for she had never seen men thus. A moment and Glenister would be down beneath their stamping feet they would kick his life out with their heavy shoes. At thought of it the necessity of action smote her like a blow in the face. Her terror fell away, her shaking muscles stiffened, and before realizing what she did she had acted. The seaman's back was to her. She reached out and gripped him by the hair, while her fingers, tense as talons, sought his eyes. Then the first loud sound of the battle arose. The man yelled In sudden terror, and the others as suddenly fell back. The next in stant she felt a hand upon her shoulder and heard Dextry's voice. "Are ye hurt? No? Come on, then, or we'll get left" He spoke quietly. though his breath was loud, and, glancing down, she saw the huddled form of the sailor whom he had fought "That's all right. He ain't hurt It's a Jap trick I learned. Hurry up!" They ran swiftly down the wharf. followed by Glenister and by the groans of the sailors In whom the lust for combat had been quenched. As they scrambled up the Santa Maria's gangplank a strip of water widened between the boat and the pier. "Close shave, that" panted Glenister, feeling his throat gingerly, "but I wouldn't have missed it for a spotted pup." "I've been through b'iler explosions and snowslldes, not to mention a tri flin' jail delivery, bt fer real sprightly diversions I don't recall nothin more pleasin' than this." Dextry's enthusi asm was boylike. "What kind of men are you?" the girl laughed nervously, but got no an swer. They led her to reir deck cabin, where they switched on the electric light, blinking at each other and at their unknown guest. They saw a graceful and altogether attractive figure in a trim short skirt and long tan boots. But what Glenis ter first saw was her eyes, large and gray, almost brown under the electric light. They were active eyes, he i thought, and they flashed swift com prehensive glances at the two men." Her hair had fallen loose and crinkled to her waist all agleam. Otherwise she showed no sign of her recent ordeal. Glenister had been prepared for the type of beauty that follows the frontier beauty that may stun, but that has the polish and chill of a new ground bowie. Instead this girl with the calm, reposeful fac struck a note almost painfully different from hersurj roundlngs, suggesting countless pleas ant things that had been strange to him for the past few years. Ture admiration alone was patent in the older man's gaze. "I make oration," said he, "that you're the gamest little chap I ever fought over, Mexikin, Injun or white. I What's the trouble?" "I suppose you think I've done something dreadful, don't you?" she said. "But I haven't. I had to set a was

from the Ohio tonight for certain re a- j sons. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow. I haven't stolen anything, nor poisc'ned the ere v. really I haven't." i She smiled at them, and Glenister ! found it impossible not to smile with her, though dismayed by her feeble explanation. ""Well, I'll wake up the steward and find a place for you to go," he said at length. "You'll have to double up with some of the women, though. It's awfully crowded aboard." She laid a detaining hand on his arm. He thought he felt her tremble. "No, no! I don't want you to do that. They mustn't see me tonight I know I'm acting strangely and all that, but it's happened so quickly I haven't found myself yet. I'll tell you tomorrow, though, really. Don't let any one see me or it will spoil everything. Wait till tomorrow, please." She was very white and spoke with eager Intensity. "Help you? Why, sure Mike!" assured the impulsive Dextry. "An", see here, miss you take your time on explanations. We don't care a cuss what you done. Morals ain't our long suit, 'cause 'there's never a law of God or man runs( north of fifty-three, as the poetry man remarked, an' he couldn't have spoke truer if he'd knowed what he was sayin'. Everybody is privileged to 'look out' his own game up here. A square deal an' no questions asked." She looked somewhat dou'otful at this till she caught the heat of Glenlster's gaze. Some boldness of his look brought home to her the actual situa

tion, and a stain rose in her cheek. She noted him more carefully noted his heavy shoulders and ease of bearing, an ease and looseness begotten of per fect muscular control. ' Strength was equally suggested in his face, she thought, for he carried a marked young countenance, with thrusting chin, aggressive thatching brows and mobile mouth that whispered all the changes from stpength to abandon. Frouiinent was a look of reckless energy. She considered him handsome in a heavy, virile, perhaps too purely physical fashion. "You want to stowaway?" he asked. "I've had a right smart experience in that line," said Dextrv, "but I never done it by proxy. What's your plan?" She will stay here tonight" said Glenister quickly. "You and I will go below. Nobody will see her." "I can't let you do that," she objected. "Isn't there some place where I can hide?" But they reassured her and left When they had gone, she crouched trembling upon her seat for a long time, gazing fixedly before her. "I'm afraid," she whispered. "I'm afraid. What am I getting into? Why do men look so at me? I'm frightened. Oh, I'm sorry I undertook it." At last she rose wearily. The close cabin oppressed her. She felt the need of fresh air. So, turning out the lights, she stepped forth into the 'night. Figures loomed near the rail, and she slipped astern, screening herself behind a lifeboat, where the cool breeze fanned her face. The forms she had seen approached, speaking earnestly. Instead of passing, they stopped abreast of her hiding place. Then as they began to talk she saw that her retreat was cut off and that she must not stir. "What brings her here?" Glenister was echoing a question of Dextry's. "Bah! What brings them all? What brought the duchess and Cherry Malotte and all the rest?" "No, no," said the old man. "She ain't that kind she's too fine, too delicatetoo pretty." "That's just it too pretty! Too pretty to be alone or anything except what she Is." I Dextry growled sourly. "This country has plumb ruined you, boy. You think they're all alike an' I don't know but they are all but this gal. Seems like she's different, somehow, but I can't tell." Glenister spoke musingly: "I had an ancestor who buccaneered among the Indies a long time ago, so I'm told. Sometimes I think I have his disposition. He comes and whispers things to me in the night Oh, he was a devil, and I've got his blood in me untamed and hot I can hear him saying something now something about the spoils of war. Ha, ha! Maybe he's right I fought for her tonight Dex the way he used to fight for his sweethearts along the Mexicos. She's too beautiful to be good, and there's never a law of God or man runs north of fifty -three.' " They moved on, his vibrant, cynical laughter stabbing the girl till she leaned against the yawl for support. She held herself together while the blood beat thickly In her ears, then fled to the cabin, hurling herself into her berth, where she writhed silently, beating the pillow with hands into which her nails had bitten, staring the while into the darkness with dry and aching eyes. CHAPTER II. " HE ' awoke to the throb of the engines and, gazing cautiously through her stateroom window, fc- saw a glassy, level sea, with the sun brightly agleam on it So this was Bering? She had clothed it always with the mystery of her school days, thinking of it as a weeping, fog bound stretch of gray waters. Instead she saw a fiat, sunlit main, with occasional sea parrots flapping their fat bodies out of the ship's course. A glistening head popped up from the waters abreast, and she heard the cry of 'Seal !" Dressing, the girl noted minutely the personal articles scattered about the cabin, striving to derive therefrom ome fresh hint of the characteristics of the owners. First, there was an elaborate copper backed toilet set all richly ornamented and leather bound. The metal was magnificently hand

marked and bore Glenister's initial. It spoke of elegant extravagance and seemed oddly out of place in an arctic miner's equipment, as did also a small set of De Maupassant. Next she picked up Kipling's "Seven Seas." marked liberally, and felt that she had struck a scent. The roughness and brutality of the poems had always chilled her, though she had felt vaguely their splendid pulse and swing. This was tb ? girl's first venture from a sheltered ' fe. She had not rubbed elbows with uie world enough to find that truth may be rough, unshaven and garbed In homespun. The book confirmed her anabysis of the junior partner. Fendent from a hook was a worn and blackened holster from which peeped the butt of a large Colt's revolver, showing evidence of many years service. It spoke mutely of the white haired Dextry, who, before her inspection was over, knocked at the door, and, when she admitted him, addressed her cautiously: "The boy's down forrad, teasin' grut

out of a flunky. He'll be up in a minute. How'd ye sleep?" "Very well, thank you," she lied, "but I've boon thinking that I ought to explain myself to you." "Now, see here," the old man interjected, "there ain't no explanations needed till you fel like givin them up. You was in trouble that's unfortunate. We help you that's natural. No questions asked that's Alaska." "Yes, but I know you must think" "What bothers me," the other continued irrelevantly, "is how in blazes we're goin' to keep you hid. The steward's got to make up this room, and somebody's bound to see us packin' grub in." "I don't care who knows if they won't send me back. They wouldn't do that, would they?" She hung anxiously on his words. "Send you back? Why, don't you savvy that this boat Is bound for Nome? There ain't no turnln' back on gold stampedes, and this is the wildest rush the world ever saw. The captain wouldn't turn back. He couldn't His cargo's too precious, and the company pays $3,000 a day for this ship. No, we ain't puttin' back to unload no stowaways at five thousand per. Besides, we passengers wouldn't let him time's too precious." They were Interrupted by the rattle of dishes outside, and Dextry was about to open the door when his hand wavered uncertainly above the knob, for ha heard the hearty greeting of the ship's captain. "Well, well, Glenister, where's all the breakfast going?" "Oo," whispered the old man, "that's Cap' Stephens." "Dextry Isn't feeling quite up to form this morning," replied Glenister easily. "Don't wonder! Why weren't you aboard sooner last night? I saw you. 'Most got left, eh? Served you right if you had." Then his voice dropped to the confidential: "I'd advise you to cut out those women. Don't misunderstand me, boy, but they're a bad lot on this boat. I saw you come aboard. Take my word for it, they're a bad lot Cut 'em out Guess I'll step inside and see what's up with Dextry." The girl shrank into her corner, gazing apprehensively at the other listener. "Well er he isn't up yet," they heard Glenister stammer. "Better come around later." "Nonsense! It's time he was dressed." The master's voice was gruffly good natured. "Hello, Dextry! Hey! Open up for inspection." He rattled the door. There was nothing to be done. The old miner darted an inquiring glance at his companion, then, at her nod, slipped the bolt and the captain's blue bulk filled the room. His grizzled close bearded face was genially wrinkled till he spied the erect gray figure in the corner, when his cap came off Involuntarily. There his courtesy ended, however, and the smile died coldly from his face. His eyes narrowed, and the good fellowship fell away, leaving him the stiff and formal officer. "Ah," he said, "not feeling well, eh? I thought I had met all of our lady passengers. Introduce me, Dextry." Dextry squirmed under his cynicism. "Well I ah didn't catch the name myself." "What?" "Oh, there ain't much to say. This Is the lady we brought aboard last night that's all." "Who gave you permission?" "Nobody. There wasn't time." "There wasn't time, eh? Which one of you conceived the novel scheme of stowing away ladies in your cabin? Whose Is she? Quick! Answer me." Indignation was vibrant in his voice. "Oh!" the girl cried, her eyes widening darkly. She stood slim and pale and slightly trembling. His words had cut her bitterly, though through it all he had scrupulously avoided addressing her. The captain turned to Glenister, who had entered and closed the door. "Is this your work? Is she yours?" "No," he answered quietly, while Dextry chimed in: "Better hear details, captain, before you make breaks like that We helped the lady side step some sailors last night and we most got left doing It It was up to her to make a quick get away, so we helped her aboard." "A poor story! What was she run ning away from?" He still addressed the men," ignoring her completely till, with hoarse voice, she broke in: (To be continued.) Novel Church Is Proposed. A German merchant who died at Cottbus left $25,000 to found a church in Constantinople for all denominations. The sermons are to be preached in Esperanto.

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