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the native women； had put unclean thoughts in the heads of the men and
made them ashamed。
'I guess she's all right；' the Circle City King answered hastily；
and in an apologetic manner。 'Tom Dixon's got charge of my
interests； you know； and he sees to it that she has everything she
wants。'
Malemute Kid laid hand upon his arm and hushed him suddenly。 They
had stepped without。 Overhead； the aurora； a gorgeous wanton； flaunted
miracles of color； beneath lay the sleeping town。 Far below； a
solitary dog gave tongue。 The King again began to speak； but the Kid
pressed his hand for silence。 The sound multiplied。 Dog after dog took
up the strain till the full…throated chorus swayed the night。 To him
who hears for the first time this weird song； is told the first and
greatest secret of the Northland； to him who has heard it often； it is
the solemn knell of lost endeavor。 It is the plaint of tortured souls；
for in it is invested the heritage of the North； the suffering of
countless generations… the warning and the requiem to the world's
estrays。
Cal Galbraith shivered slightly as it died away in half…caught sobs。
The Kid read his thoughts openly； and wandered back with him through
all the weary days of famine and disease； and with him was also the
patient Madeline； sharing his pains and perils； never doubting；
never complaining。 His mind's retina vibrated to a score of
pictures； stern； clear…cut； and the hand of the past drew back with
heavy fingers on his heart。 It was the psychological moment。
Malemute Kid was half…tempted to play his reserve card and win the
game； but the lesson was too mild as yet； and he let it pass。 The next
instant they had gripped hands； and the King's beaded moccasins were
drawing protests from the outraged snow as he crunched down the hill。
Madeline in collapse was another woman to the mischievous creature
of an hour before； whose laughter had been so infectious and whose
heightened color and flashing eyes had made her teachers for the while
forget。 Weak and nerveless； she sat in the chair just as she had
been dropped there by Prince and Harrington。 Malemute Kid frowned。
This would never do。 When the time of meeting her husband came to
hand； she must carry things off with high…handed imperiousness。 It was
very necessary she should do it after the manner of white women；
else the victory would be no victory at all。 So he talked to her；
sternly； without mincing of words； and initiated her into the
weaknesses of his own sex； till she came to understand what simpletons
men were after all； and why the word of their women was law。
A few days before Thanksgiving Night； Malemute Kid made another call
on Mrs。 Eppingwell。 She promptly overhauled her feminine fripperies；
paid a protracted visit to the dry…goods department of the P。 C。
Company； and returned with the Kid to make Madeline's acquaintance。
After that came a period such as the cabin had never seen before；
and what with cutting； and fitting； and basting； and stitching； and
numerous other wonderful and unknowable things； the male
conspirators were more often banished the premises than not。 At such
times the Opera House opened its double storm…doors to them。 So
often did they put their heads together； and so deeply did they
drink to curious toasts； that the loungers scented unknown creeks of
incalculable richness； and it is known that several che…cha…quas and
at least one Old…Timer kept their stampeding packs stored behind the
bar； ready to hit the trail at a moment's notice。
Mrs。 Eppingwell was a woman of capacity； so； when she turned
Madeline over to her trainers on Thanksgiving Night she was so
transformed that they were almost afraid of her。 Prince wrapped a
Hudson Bay blanket about her with a mock reverence more real than
feigned； while Malemute Kid； whose arm she had taken； found it a
severe trial to resume his wonted mentorship。 Harrington； with the
list of purchases still running through his head； dragged along in the
rear； nor opened his mouth once all the way down into the town。 When
they came to the back door of the Opera House they took the blanket
from Madeline's shoulders and spread it on the snow。 Slipping out of
Prince's moccasins； she stepped upon it in new satin slippers。 The
masquerade was at its height。 She hesitated； but they jerked open
the door and shoved her in。 Then they ran around to come in by the
front entrance。
III
'Where is Freda？' the Old…Timers questioned； while the
che…cha…quas were equally energetic in asking who Freda was。 The
ballroom buzzed with her name。 It was on everybody's lips。 Grizzled
'sour…dough boys；' day…laborers at the mines but proud of their
degree； either patronized the spruce…looking tenderfeet and lied
eloquently… the 'sour…dough boys' being specially created to toy
with truth… or gave them savage looks of indignation because of
their ignorance。 Perhaps forty kings of the Upper and Lower
Countries were on the floor； each deeming himself hot on the trail and
sturdily backing his judgment with the yellow dust of the realm。 An
assistant was sent to the man at the scales； upon whom had fallen
the burden of weighing up the sacks； while several of the gamblers；
with the rules of chance at their finger…ends； made up alluring
books on the field and favorites。
Which was Freda？ Time and again the 'Greek Dancer' was thought to
have been discovered； but each discovery brought panic to the
betting ring and a frantic registering of new wagers by those who
wished to hedge。 Malemute Kid took an interest in the hunt； his advent
being hailed uproariously by the revelers； who knew him to a man。
The Kid had a good eye for the trick of a step； and ear for the lilt
of a voice； and his private choice was a marvelous creature who
scintillated as the 'Aurora Borealis。' But the Greek dancer was too
subtle for even his penetration。 The majority of the gold…hunters
seemed to have centered their verdict on the 'Russian Princess；' who
was the most graceful in the room； and hence could be no other than
Freda Moloof。
During a quadrille a roar of satisfaction went up。 She was
discovered。 At previous balls； in the figure； 'all hands round；' Freda
had displayed an inimitable step and variation peculiarly her own。
As the figure was called； the 'Russian Princess' gave the unique
rhythm to limb and body。 A chorus of I…told…you…so's shook the squared
roof…beams； when lo！ it was noticed that 'Aurora Borealis' and another
masque； the 'Spirit of the Pole；' were performing the same trick
equally well。 And when two twin 'Sun…Dogs' and a 'Frost Queen'
followed suit； a second assistant was dispatched to the aid of the man
at the scales。
Bettles came off trail in the midst of the excitement； descending
upon them in a hurricane of frost。 His rimed brows turned to cataracts
as he whirled about； his mustache； still frozen； seemed gemmed with
diamonds and turned the light in va