University of San Francisco - USF Don Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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I II K I- K ICS II M A X . 2( Alaska Jim Jim Coppens—Known as Alaska Jim. Dan Salter—A gambler, late of Circle City. Steve W illiams—Resident of Alaska. Tony Lasan—A French Canadian. John Cory—A profligate. Scene—Coppens’ cabin. Flambeau Alaska. I'imc—About 8:30 I . M., the middle of October, 1903. Discover Coppens seated in C. near table, smoking. Kilter Will C.. his coal buttoned tightly about him. Will—llrrr—Evenin’ Jim. Cop.—Oh. howdy Steve; wal how’s everything? Will (unbuttoning coat)—Oh. fair, same as usual. My. she sartin are cold out! Cop—Won’t be long fore we have snow. Will—W e ll have it fore mornin.’ Cop—I fear so. W’ill—When it begins up here we get all we wants of it. Leastways I do— lounging about, the grip sets in. Cop—Sit down that by the fire an be comfitablc. Got your pipe? I got some 0 Gibbons’ new tobacco thar. W ill—Xo; but I reckon I’ll sit down awhile. Whar’s Tony, out? Cop—lie aint come home yet: don’t know what’s keepin’ him. Will—Cnusual. ain’t it? Cop—Wal, it’s not every niglu. Even Tony has business, sometimes. His mine, I reckon. Will—Tim. I want to tell you something. I11 the middle o last summer, as 1 suppose you recollects, you an me had quite a talk with a sartin individual bout bey in’ our laws, an’ the wust of it was. he didn’t take it peaceful like at all. C p—Salter? ill—Yup. Well you mind how he went away after that, we don’t know whar. Wal today— Cop—Do you mean lie’s come back. W ill—Yes, sar, that’s just it. I hit I want to tell you. this morning I saw him talking with Tonv. Cop—W ith Tony ? ill—You weren’t here at the time, so I let it until now. Cop—That gambler, what can he be tip to now? Can you think, Steve? W ill—Xo; but there’s something more. Cop—I lout Salter? W ill—Yes. I was at the barracks the most part of the day; anyhow, about noon Salter shambles in with another. I didn’t pay much attention to the latter, for I was all eyes upon Salter. He spoke all right at first, 011 no one thing or other, as though he had forgotten all about our little mix-up. pretendin’, you know. Finally he came to his point. ‘’Williams.” says he. “this is I lob Fallon.” At that I looked to the stranger, and Jim, could you think who it was? Cop—Don’t suppose I could. Will—Cory. Cop—Cory? Good God. did Tony see him ? W’ill—Xo. fpau.se). Cory don’t know me but I knows him. I knew Salter was lying, but 1 didn’t let on to it. I fe wanted 11s to take Cory into Flambeau to run a mine of his. Cop—Run a mine? Xot Salter. He makes his money at the card table or the point of a gun; that’s how. Will—Anyhow, that’s what he told me. Fallon, he said, was a right good man. and he was the one to run it. Cop—We've had enough of Cory; we won't stand for any murderer or thief

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T 11 E F K E S 11 M A X . thu on Reckoning Day lie will gain a high place tor his generous services. ()ur table was set in the open, amid a groping field of grain; and as tile last dish was cleared away, we turned to view a glorious sunset on the water. I never could do justice to a description of our ensuing joys. A moonlight walk through the canon and a grove ot palms completed that day's outing, and returning, we rolled in our blankets and gazing into the starry realms above dropped oft into a welcome slumber. And then I dream, a beast of prey is at ni side. I awake to gaze into the light of a dickering lantern while a voice commands me to “get up and see the comet. ’ I jump up and join in the sport of arousing our sleeping fellows. Soon all are awakened. I;ar to the east we gaze and finally a keen eye shouts, “I see it.” And sure enough driving amid the accustomed stars is the intruder who has come to glide across the picture of the heavens. At first the comet seems out of place hut as we gaze it grows in beauty and magnificence and soon it is an integral part of the firmament. It holds our awestruck gaze until it falls a victim to the brilliant rays of the coming dawn. Then we manage to snatch an hour’s sleep. As a fitting start to the day. which was Ascension Thursday, we all heard mass. There upon a rude altar in the villa was offered up the body of Him for whom we live. Xo choir to extol 11 is praises with chants of melody, no marble pillars to adorn 11 is home, only a rough altar and a hand of twenty-two adoring souls, yet the simplicity of mass in that beauti- ful scene surpassed the splendor of the grandest cathedral. After breakfast in which we heartil indulged, we tried a game of baseball This over, it’s hack to the beach for another swim. And how we did enjoy it' This time the whole party of twenty-three plunges in and delights to revel in the waves. Then we lounge about in the sand, forming in groups and chatting. Having gone hack to the house, preparations were made for our last meal We resolve to make it one never to be forgotten. A lamb is secured from a neighboring ranch and we start a barbecue. My power of description is too limited to attempt an account of it. suffice to sav that we consumed it all. including the inevitable beans, potatoes and coffee. With no little reluctance, we make preparations for our departure. Cameras have been clicking all the time but now all are busy snapping groups, scenery and individuals. Pleasures of this life are fleeting and it was not long before we were hoarding the train for home. As the train pulled out we looked back upon that scene where we spent such a ha] pv time, again we contemplate the glories that Xature has spread around the vilb « Then our backs turned to pleasure we return, refreshed, to conquer a month of repetitions and to weather the gruelling storm of a week of examinations. I »ut even now we recount with joy the many happy incidents of those two days we spent at Manresa. the villa by the sea. John If. Grady.

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Til !•: F R KS II M A X . 2 here. I k ’ the one who shot Tory, who made the |x or fellow what he is. you Know. What, the man that did this come here? lie dare. Will—That's how I take it. Cop (pause)—What did you tell him. Steve ? Will—Mr. Fallon, I says, you’ll have to see Alaska Jim about that. C op— iood ! W ill—At that Cory turned away sick like. Cop—Ami Salter? W ill—He flares up indignant, and demands a reason. Salter.” says 1. we’ve had an understanding before: you’ve got to see Jim C’oppens about this, and that settles it.” and at that I walked away. Cop- It was the right thing. Steve, (arises, pause), but I wonder if he will come? Salter may make a fight, lie’s that kind, but Cory, has got to go. Will—A tolerable bad one. Cop—Yes, but for another reason. Will—What is that? Cop-—Tony. He’s lost a good part of his mind. Rut good God, if—I just say—if he remembers Cory. 1 don’t want anything like that l come on him now. Will—Xo. Co| —It’s ten years now. Steve, ten years. When the winters would set in and the summers pass away, the long dreary nights before the fire, the quiet hours with our pipes, 1 had most forgot that man. I tried to. but 1 knew, something told me. that he would come back to blur everything. Will—I reckon not, Jim. Cop- laska is a great country, Steve, she’s bad and she’s good, just as winter and summer. Will—We’ll fix it. Coppens, bv tomorrow night we’ll have all Flambeau with us. Cop—He brings nothing good with him. that’s sartin : the sooner it’s done the better. ( Will arises and moves to door.) W ill—It’s not quite snowin,’ but I’ll be on my way. Cop—A bad night out, eh Steve? For Tony, specially. Will—Well, you’ve got what there is. Jim. Cop—(shakes hands) I thank ye Steve. Yes sar an’ I know I’ve a good man with me. Will—What’s for the good of Flambeau is that to he done, says I. Wal. night, Jim. Cop—Good night. Steve: I may be over in the morning. Will—Xight. (Exit Will. Cop. pauses—business—goes to l . and commences to arrange the blankets on the floor.) (The door in C. opens slowly and quietly. Enter Hasan. Me is nervous and walks fearfully to L.. he continually clutches his right coat pocket Cop turns and sees him.) Cop—Tony? (Las turns quickly.) Las—Jim ? Cop—(approaching him)—What is it, lony? Las—What is it? I dunno deres noting. Cop—Look at me. Tony, what is it: I .as—I )ere’s noting. Cop—Can’t 1 see? Why man you’re shaking like a leaf. Ye ain’t ill, be ye? 'Fell me, Tony, what is it? Las—Wid me, Jim, dunno. 1 cold tnebbe? Cop—Xo, it ain’t that, you’re keepin back something. Tony, you know. 1 don’t like that. You wouldn’t want me not to like you? I.as—Xo, no. no (hastily) you like Tony? Cop—Then tell me. Las—(pause, business)—Zit is destv