iUKiiffif
By JOHN R MUSICK
Whor let Mysterious Mr Howard Th
Dark Straaer Charlie Allendale
Double Etc
Copyright IM7 by Bobzxt Borons Boss
All rights rwwrod
CHAPTER I
Strange Information
From the flowery fields of Califor
nia to the barren region of the Klon
dyke from 1849 to 1897 is a -wide
reach but the gulf of time is bridged
over and the hopes and fears of
thousands of hearts follow the ar
gonauts -who g0 to search for the
goltien fleece in the confines of the
Arctic Circle as they did forty eight
years ago the California prospectors
The real story of the discovery of
Sold on the Klondyke is not generally
known and to unravel that mystery
is the purpose of this story
On a certain night about three years
ago last May five men were seated
about a camp fire built under the
south side of a cliff among some pine
trees near the banks of the Yukon
river fifteen miles above Dawson City
As some of this party have become
well known by the development of
the Klondyke gold fields it will be
as well to introduce them to the read
er before we proceed with our story
That large man dressed in moose skin
coat and trousers with a bear skin
thrown over his shoulders was once
well known in the great northwest as
the most daring hunter miner and
adventurer in all Alaska He was
as honorable as he was brave and as
kind hearted as he was sullen His
name was Jack Ralston but along the
Yukon he was commonly known as
Glum Ralston
Ralston was once an American
He was getting along in years for
his hair was growing frosty yet his
frame was still strong and his heart
had not abandoned its hope
George W Cormack or Lucky
George as the miners nicknamed
him sat on the log just opposite
Glum Ralston George was an Eng
lishman a brave adventurous fellow
who was also an expert miner Per
haps it was his knowledge of geology
and mining that tended to his suc
cess Nevertheless the miners at
tributed it to luck
Gid Myers was a v n of thirty
with pale blue eyes t sandy com
plexion Gid had ha considerable
experience as a hunter and prospect
or but in the miners parlance had
never struck it rich
Porter Allen or Big Port was a
giant in size being over six feet in
height with broad shoulders and sin
ews of steel He was forty his hair
and long beard quite grizzled with
time and exposure
The fifth was a young man of
twenty two or twenty three years of
age with the freshness of youth and
innocence still on his face While his
older companions were smoking their
pipes the younger man of the party
gazed abstractedly into the glowing
fire His mind went back over the
mountains rivers and seas to his
quiet little home in Fresno where
he had left his widowed mother dear
to his heart and one still dearer
Her name was Laura Kean They
wrere lovers and betrothed
While he sat gazing into the fire
and seeing only the well beloved face
of his betrothed his companions toast
ed and ate their suppers and talked
of their present situation
Glum how long ye been in Alas
ka asked Lucky George
Its now twenty one years
An never been back to the
States
No
Are you ever goin
v Dont know he answered with a
sigh Itd be like goin back to a
graveyard now Most everybody I
knews dead If but he did not
fialsh the sentence His
seemed to gleam with softer
light as he gazed into the fire and
Gid Myers thought he saw a shade
of moisture Catherine there
l vi iMt ntton nrnmicDd nc vnn
would your own story sometime
how you came here and why you
have spent all these years in Alaska
Why not tell now asked Lucky
George
Glum moved uneasily on the log on
which he was sitting and clearing
his throat said
Boys taint much of a yarn when
its spun I came to Alaska in 73 in
the sealin schooner Eleanor We
had good officers and crew an the
sun never shone on a better man than
our captain We all loved him and
would have died for him
Well we had no luck sealing and
the captain and sailors went with a
party of Indians who said they knew
where gold could be found I didnt
believe them and wouldnt go But
he asked me not to leave Alaska
till he came back and I promised
At the end of six months an ex
plorin party came back with the cap
o one o the sailors which they had
found on the snow several days jour
ney away
Winter was on us and we ran into
Sitka where we anchored until spring
and I have
It was a hard winter
often wondered why we didnt all die
but all but two pulled through and
When spring came on an the captain
hadnt hove to in sight the first mate
said he was going back with the ship
They tried to make me go but Id
promised the captain Id stay until
he came back
Our ship sailed away an I stayed
around the town for a while an then
with some hunters
wont on a cruise
We branched off into the woods I
didnt tell tho story of my captain
and the Injun chief with the gold
beads for a good many years Then
I went into he interior to try to
find him I got In with some moose
hunters and traveled one whole sum
mer and part of a winter and nearly
starved an froze a hundred times
but not a word could I hear of him
so I suppose I am doomed to make
my last voyage from this port When
I meet my captain on that unknown
sea to which we are all steerin Ill
tell him I kept my promise
When the ex sailor had finished his
story a silence fell on the group No
one spoke for several minutes
Tho youth known only by the
sobriquet of Crack Lash sat gazing
abstractedly into the fire He had
heard no part of the story for his
mind was still on his far away home
where dwelt mother and the fair
being who had promised to be his
wife for whom he had braved the
dangers of the wilderness
At early morn the little camp on
the Yukon was astir Paul was the
last to awake Youth is healthful
and innocent so sleep lingers longer
about its eyelids than those whose
bodies are freighted with disease or
minds burdened with cares
Wheres George asked Gid as he
toasted steaks
Been gone these two hours Big
Port answered
Alone
Yes
Thats strange
Breakfast was disposed of the dogs
fed and harnessed and the party pre
pared for their journey up the river
to Dawson City then an insignificant
village and yet lucky George had not
returned
As the sun rose higher the mud and
snow made travel more uncomfortable
yet Paul trudged on uncomplainingly
He could bear any burden or hard
ship without a murmur when he re
flected that it was for Laura Her
presence gave strength to his arm
and keenness to his eye spurring him
on to efforts more than superhuman
When they halted at noon they were
compelled to set to leeward of the
smoke to protect themselves from the
mosquitoes But little had been said
of their missing companion Lucky
George Gid followed his trail through
the snow without difficulty and gave
it as his opinion that he was going
straight to Dawson City
Glum Ralston who had not ex
pressed an opinion on the subject for
some time at last said
Boys I heard him say somethin
one day bout goin up the Klondyke
What for asked Gid
Said a squaw man told him there
was heaps o gold along that air
stream
Glum informed him it was one of
the tributaries of the Youkon which
had been but very litte explored Gid
remained with his head bowed for a
few monents his mind lost in thought
At last he said
Boys hes tryin to give us the
slip I am afeard or run a cold deck
on us said Gid
What if he does asked Port
We dont lose much
We might if he struck pay dirt
said Gid
Wont we be just as likely to strike
pay dirt as George
No
Why
Because George is allers in luck
Every time he draws from the deck
its a trump If a feller holds a
straight George has a flush Ill gam
ble my dogs an packs that he makes
a ten stride right now
There was a silence and the men
sat and smoked and steamed to drive
away the mosquitoes At last Paul
broke the silence by saying
If there is gold on the Klondyke
let us go and find it ourselves
Now yer shoutin cried the pros
pectors Why not go to the Klon
dyke ourselveT
Truth is boys said Glum Ive
never had any very exalted opinion o
Lucky Georges honesty If he makes
a big strike we can o course come
in for a claim but hell strike out
the best an work on the others with
out us a knowin it
They decided to set out at once for
the Klondyke It was a journey at
tended from beginning to end with
great danger and hardship Glum
Ralston was the only member of their
party who had been on the stream
and he acted as guide
Again night came on and they went
into camp and prepared their sup
pers Paul was a little disheartened
on this night Continual disappoint
ment had made him heart sick Ris
ing to relieve his cramped limbs he
turned his back toward the fire and
gazed across the wood covered hill
into the darkness beyond To his sur
prise he discovered a glow on the
woods far in the distance For a
moment he gazed upon it in doubt
and then touching Gid Myers who
sat near on the arm he whispered
Look off there Gid in the direc
tion I am pointing Dont you see
anything suspicious Gid Myers did
as directed and said
Yes thars somethin onnatural
Crack Lash
What is it
Well Id say it was th glow from
a camp fire like our own
Gid suppose we go and recon
noitre We may make some discov
ery
Keep your eyes peeled boys cau
tioned Big Port It may be a mighty
sight more riskyn ye think
Oh let us alone for that well let
no red nigger o the north woods get
the drop on us
Through the dense wood across ra
vines snowdrifts and muddy streams
the two pressed on over hill and dale
until after three hours painful toll
they came upon a bend in the stream
called the Klondyke where on pass
ing around a spur of the cliff all of a
sudden the full glare of torches and
Are light fell upon them It was a
strange and unexpected sight that met
their view A great fire was blazing
to which was added the light of pine
knot torches stuck In the ground
Two men were at work with picks
shovels and pans Late as it was
dark as it was and tired and hungry
as they were they toiled on and on
Crack Lash Gid gasped in a
hoarse whisper its Lucky George
and the squaw man Lattimer
Yes
What are they doln
Digging Great heaven look at
the shining ore See the buckets
and pans are full of nuggets and dust
Oh Gid Gid Its a bonanza
Hush they will hear you
I am going to make myself known
to them
And be shot
Why should they shoot me when
we are friends If they are like sav
age dogs over a bone then wo can
shoot first
Gid consented to go to them and
advancing to within a hundred paces
they called to the diggers At first
they were a little confused but
Lucky George who was a shrewd fel
low saw it was best to admit to the
discovery
Come down boys come down he
cried cheerfully I tell you we have
made the greatest strike in the world
Look at the work of a few hours
George are there more good
claims
Plenty of them Let us all set to
work stake out the best and get the
very cream before the world finds it
out Lattimer here put me onto this
he got it from the Indians
This was the discovery of the great
gold fields in the Klondyke Lucky
George got the tip from Lattimer the
white man with an Indian wife and
had determined to work it alone if he
could do so but now that his friends
had found him he decided to make
the most of it and divide
The others were sent for and
claims for all staked out
Next morning with the dawn of
day Paul began to work his claim
From the first shoverful of earth he
began to take out gold His pick
seemed attracted to the largest nug
gets and his pan was always rich In
ore He washed out a thousand dol
lars worth of dust and nuggets to
the pan He forgot breakfast lunch
or dinner but toiled on The small
moose skin bags were quickly filled
and then he poured the renewed accu
mulation into a water bucket His
eyes gleamed with the fire of the in
sane and in his mind he saw only
the faces of sweetheart and mother
and took no thought of rest health
or the danger which his accumula
tion brought him
There was danger hovering over the
happy youth His claim was some
distance up the stream from the
others and one day as he was toil
ing and heaping up the golden treas
ure two pairs of fierce avaricious
eyes glared at him from the dense
foliage of pines They watched him
a long time as he toiled and then
exchanged knowing looks winks and
smiles which said
Let the fool toil on When he has
taken his thousands from the earth
we will have it
After the first few days he stopped
long enough to eat and sleep a few
hours at a time dreaming of home
and of making loved ones there happy
Little did he dream that a storm
cloud was gathering over the loved
ones at home and another over his
own head threatening to ruin him
self and all most dear to his heart
Tc be continued
BRIGANDS QUEER IN GREECE
Treat Prisoner Well But Insist on
Ranson Money
M Stravalopoulos a young man
who was captured recently by brig
ands has returned to Athens He
states that as he was about to go on
board his yacht at Eghion he was ac
costed by a fashionably dressed
young man who kept him in conver
sation while four other men crept
up behind him and seized and gagged
him They then carried him off to
the mountains to which they were
accompanied by the fashionable
young man who turned out to be a
notorious brigand chief named Pano
poulos M Stravalopoulos was taken
to a large cavern or grotto very com
fortably furnished where the
brigands compelled him to write to
his father a rich banker for a ran
son of 4000 in gold His captors
gave him plenty of food and wines
and even insisted on his saying his
prayers twice a day They also made
him read various improving books of
which there was a large supply in the
grotto On the arrival of the money
it was conveyed to a monastery in
the mountains where one of the
monks counted it and handed it over
to the robbers A great feast was
held the same evening in the grotto
and the brigands becoming intoxi
cated the prisoner made his escape
and reached the railway after a jour
ney of five hours on foot He re
turned to the grotto as soon as a
force of police could be got together
but the brigands had all decamped
London Globe
An Unlikely Event
Despite the conclusion of the Boer
war it is unlikely that King Edward
will be known to posterity as Edward
the Conqueror
It sometimes happens that the man
who dubs his house a castle has the
moat in his eye
i Sv
CONftBESS WILL ACT
DISAPPOINTMENT IN STORE FOR
THE DEMOCRATS
Their Claim That President RooBe
velts Monopoly Issue Is a Bluff Is
Absurd Voice of the People Will
Be Heeded by Congress
The Democrats who content them
selves with the stand regarding Pres
ident Roosevelts monopoly issue that
such legislation as he asks for will not
and cannot be enacted in tho next
short session of Congress are stak
ing their all on one throw They
scoff at the Presidents call to the
country deriding him for making a
bluff for fall campaign purposes
They accuse him of presenting an Is
sue which cannot they declare be
acted on by Congress in December
but with which he and his party hope
to carry the congressional elections of
next November The elections carried
they assert the trust issue will be for
gotten or neglected
Let them recall that this issue is
going before the voters of the United
States next November It will be
passed on then by the popular elec
torate And there never yet has been
an issue passed on by the American
people that an American Congress
following that decision ignored or
dared to ignore The Democrats pooh
pooh the Presidents issue and the Ad
ministrations desire How little Con
gress cares for the Presidents plans
or the Administrations programmes
they declare is shown by the way in
which Congress treated the Presi
dents Cuban Reciprocity measure
They pretend to believe that Con
gress would treat the Presidents mo
nopoly measure in the same fashion
But the Reciprocity measure was
not passed on by the country at the
polls If it had been there would have
been no shadow of doubt as to its en
actment there would have been no
pause in the work of speeding it to
the estate of law It was because it
had not been passed on because there
were some Representatives and Sen
ators who did not know what their
constituents wanted that no power
the Administrations the Dowagers
or that of any one else could force it
through Congress
But it will be known what the
voters want done with the question
of monopolistic combinations They
will declare themselves in the cam
paign the President wise in his ex
perience has made provision for that
and confirm their declaration with
their official decision af the ballot
box And whatever they decide that
thing will Congress do just as sure
as there is such a thing as a Congress
of the United States No sane man
Republican or Democrat and no
thoughtful citizen interested in the
trusts or disinterested who have stud
ied the course of events in the indus
trial world for the last two years can
have the faintest most lingering doubt
what it is that the voters of the Uni
ted States will decide that they wish
done with the industrial combina
tions that their power to suppress
competition control markets and
raise prices at their own sweet will
shall be so governed by statutes and
regulated by the enforcement of those
statutes that the public shall be pro
tected in all its rights along with the
legal and rghtful protection that shall
be extended ot every interest and with
held from none And since that will
be the decision of the voters in the
November election Congress will not
fail to write their verdict into the
laws of the United States
Never Stronger Than Now
The divergent views of Republican
statesmen and the tenacity with
with which such views are severally
maintained indicate the virility of the
Republican party It has been a posi
tive forceful party throughout its
strenuous existence It is a thought
ful considerate party with convic
tions that are not cast in the weather
cock mold making them amenable to
change with every political breeze
The Democratic leaders are quite
welcome to all the hope they can
make out of the vision they affect to
see at Washington They may at
least enjoy the comforting assurance
of Paul But if we hope for that we
see not then do we with patience wait
for it It will be a long wait The
cohesion of the Republican party was
never stronger than it is to day
There never was a time when its lead
ers were more loyal in its support or
more determined to stand shoulder to
shoulder in defense of its principles
But there is no bell wether in the Re
publican fold The leaders of the
party and the rank and file as well
do their own thinking and express
their own views When it comes to a
political battle however all minor
considerations are forgotten with the
usual result of a total eclipse of Demo
cratic hope Los Angeles Herald
A Great Octopus Hunt
The tariff and the trusts are said to
be on the list as the leading issues for
the congressional campaign on the
part of the Democrats Bryan will be
eliminated anti imperialism and anti
expansion will be touched upon very
gingerly if at all the leading issues
will be tariff and the trusts and the
campaign managers will be instructed
to coach their spellbinders on these
topics This selection of issues indi
cates talent on the part of the Demo
cratic board of strategy for the sub
ject chosen will afford the widest pos
sible latitude for misrepresentation
and deception for appeals to passion
and demagogic denunciations of those
in control These subjects also will
afford opportunity for many and most
generous promises But does any
body imagine that if the legislative
Tf
jrrSff w
functions of the government in both
branches were turned over to the
Democracy to day any groat reforms
would be brought about or that
any more stringent laws would
bo enacted It is too Improba
ble even to imagine any such results
In no two sections of tho country does
the Democracy stand for the same
thing The election of a Democratic
Congress would simply fill the seats
with a quarreling crowd of Incom
petents and instead of having bettor
laws we would have a government
crippled in Its most Important branch
But we will have a great octopus hunt
this year Grand Rapids Herald
MINERAL PRODUCTS
Their Output Enormously Increased In
Five Years of Protection
To a large degree our mineral pro
duction is indicative of what protec
tion has done for our industrial expan
sion under the operation of the Ding
ley law The coal for our furnaces
and for engines in mills on the rail
road and as the basis for all motive
power the Iron ore which is the basis
of our great Iron and steel output
tho stone for construction purposes
the copper and silver and gold all
show a most wonderful increase dur
ing the past five years In value our
mineral production has increased
from 622000000 in 189G to over 1
200000000 in 1901 or 100 per cent
and the output for 1902 will no doubt
show a most substantial increase over
last year
The following table shows the in
crease in value of a few of our min
eral products from 1896 to 1901
1896 1901
Coal 196000000 325000000
Gold 53000000 83000000
Iron ore 23000000 75000000
Silver common
value 40000000 36000000
Copper 50000000 105000000
Lead 10500000 26000000
Zinc 6500000 12000000
Nickel 4500000 8000000
Stone 30000000 55000000
Clay products 63000000 85000000
Petroleum 58500000 84000000
Natural gas 13000000 26000000
In all the above the increase was
enormous except silver which shows
a slight decrease in both quantity and
commercial value
Some of the less important products
increased in even greater proportions
such as graphite from 48000 to 220
000 feldspar from 35000 to 200000
precious stones from 97000 to 260
000 flint from 24000 to 196000
mineral paints from 530000 to 950
000 pyrite from 320000 to 890000
and so on through the list Perhaps
the most noteworthy increase is that
in the production of iron ore This is
shown again in the pig iron output
which has increased from 6657388
tons in 1894 to 15878354 tons in 1901
and an estimated output of nearly 18
000000 tons for the present year
Our whole mineral production like
that of agriculture manufacturing and
forest products shows the effect of our
increased purchasing power In ship
ping railroading building and every
field of mechanism there is the same
increased demand for the products of
our mines which at the present rate
of increase will in a year or two ex
ceed a billion and a half in value aiy
nually
w Wsl JAr1
Which Would Fare Best
Bryanism in Colorado
The Democratic press and poli
ticians of the state are deeply con
cerned as to what shall be said in the
keynote speech at the coming state
convention As might be expected
there is a wide and active divergence
of opinion although the majority of
those interested seem to be actuated
rather by a desire to find something
that will be popular than by the dec
laration of principles in which they
really and truly believe Even these
cannot agree while those who are
genuinely sincere are hopelessly at
loggerheads A bunch of papers in
which we find our dearly beloved
Rockville Tribune savagely demands
the support of the peerless Bryan
and all his woolly vagaries while a
large number are in favor of reorgani
zation openly repudiating Bryanism
and all it stands for Others the real
ly wise ones are saying nothing
waiting for the cat to jump before ex
ploiting their principles There is
nothing in the situation to trouble r
harass the Republicans and the event
can be awaited with gladsome inter
est It now looks as though the re
organizationists would win and the
Bryanites would do well to begin tak
ing in sail Terre Haute Tribune
Both Bad Ones
However the Democratic party is
not obliged to follow either Cleveland
or Bryan As leaders they are both
has beens Both brought disaster
Cleveland with his administration
and Bryan with his platform It
would do well to look up a new Moses
not recommended by either Kansas
City Journal
WAGE WAR ON HOUSE FLY
Washington Authorities Seem to Have
Undertaken Big Job
Many generations of Amorican
housakoopers have boen hurried tc
their graves by worrlment over th
musca domestica tho stomoxys cal
cltrans tho drosophlla ampelophila
In Bhort the house fly At last tho de
partment of agriculture at Washing
ton has determined to exterminate
the nuisance If possible So long as
he only meandered gontly over the
table buzzed inside tho patent screon
sat down upon tho sticky papei
thoughtfully provided for his repose
and drove the housewife to tho verge
of Insanity to keep him outdoors the
fly was allowed to go his way In
peace But now that It has been dls
covered that tho fly like his little
frind the mosquito carries germs
about with him tho department ol
agriculture has decided that he must
go Incidentally the American house
wife when she hears this will prob
ably smile a little bitterly and decide
that tho department of agriculture
has undertaken the biggest job in
which It has yet engaged in short
has bitten off more than it can chew
The department has begun its cam
paign by the issuance of pamphlets
through tho division of entomology to
health boards doctors and Individ
uals all over the country asking them
to see that no breeding or feeding
places are afforded the little fly
if they can help it As if any per
son on earth can help It quoth the
weary housekeeper as she makes one
more wild swipe with a towel
CURING A BALKY HORSE
Simple Methods May Be Employed
Without Using the Whip
An expert states that the vice of
balking in horses is almost invaria
bly caused by improper breaking and
handling of the animal while young
It is only high strung and ill tempered
horses that balk and these are han
dled with more success by humoring
and patience than by severe meas
ures which generally make matters
worse It is almost impossible to fol
low rules in a case of this sort What
will succeed in one case is useless in
another so that a driver must excer
cise good judgment horse sense
in handling a case A very good treat
ment is to watch the animal closely
in places where it would be likely to
balk and with the first sign of stop
ping the driver should say Whoa
then get off and loosen or pretend to
change the harness in some way also
take up a foot and tap the shoe with
a stone Spend a few moments
leisurely in this way and in nine
cases out of ten the animal will for
get his inclination to balk and will go
on at the first bidding It is also well
to give a lump of sugar or a handful
of oats or an apple This will al
ways produce better results than se
vere measures
MADE A GREAT DIFFERENCE
Railroads Are Great Conveniences
When They Cause No Discomfort
Secretary Shaw the humorist of the
present administration tells this
story
I stopped off at Syracuse not a
great while ago and listened to two
men talking about the tremendous
business development of this country
in which everybody was sharing Ono
of them was making the point that
the general prosperity was for tho
benefit of the entire community
Look at this great railroad with
its four tracks running east and west
he said It is a highway of empire
carrying each day to the Atlantic or
the Pacific the product of the factory
the mine and the loom Wipe it off
the map and everything comes to a
standstill and we become involved in
a common ruin
Just then the empire state express
came rushing along and a red hot cin
der struck the speaker in the eye
D these engines said he E
wish there was not a railroad in the
country
It Didnt Matter
A well known musician relates an
experience of his as a teacher
One day a lady somewhat advanc
ed in years came to make arrange
ments for taking private lessons in
singing At the end of the second
lesson the teacher felt constrained to
tell her that her ear was not true She
received the remark very coolly and
at the next lesson sang as badly as
she had done on the previous occa
sion
I am afraid said Mr E that
you can never learn to sing in tune
Oh it doesnt matter was the
reply
Doesnt matter said the aston
ished teacher
No said the pupil I dont care
anything about music but my doctor
said that singing would be the best
thing for my dyspepsia and so I de
cided to take lessons
A Severe Test
You have taken a severe cold
said the old family doctor and it
seems to have settled in your throat
Yes doctor you see I can hardly
speak said the patient a vivacious
bright eyed young woman
Can you stand heroic treatment do
you think asked the doctor
Try me
Are you sure
Yes anything you like medicine
mustard plasters electricity any
thing said she in a breath
And you want to get back your
voice
Yes
-Its heroic treatment mind you
All right what is it
You mustnt talk at all for two
days
