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

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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

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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 II K I K ES N M A N • 28 mebbe? (shows Cop handful of nuggets. ) Cop—W hat he them? Las—I»y de light, sec—He’s good one. yes? You lak deni, yes? Cop—Nuggets, Tony ? I .as—Yes. C op—They are. I lip. so the mine's boomed up at last; wal. that's right fortunate: I’m glad of it. Tony: you won’t work hard any more. My. they're sparklers, ain’t they? Shine like the midnight sun. Las—l»ut I (loan lak deni. Cop—You don’t like them? Meanin’ they're no good? I»ut they are. Tony? Las—He’s good; they’s good ones, yes. but dese is bad place. Cop—A bad place, ves, but you won't have to put up with it long now. Not with a mine that has the likes of this. Las—Once I lak dese country, it been so much to me. ()ut in dem hills is lak in big garden. Dese men dev treat me good. but. Jim. you been 111a lies frieti. Cop—I hit why. Tony, who would be otherwise? Las—I work hard. den. I try to be good. I try to pay you back. You poor man. yes? Cop—I'm poor, but as long as we can eat ? Las—Den mebbe you (loan live here so long too: you go to the big country, yes? An Tony go with you. Cop—(aside)—There’s something on his mind (to Las) go away? No. Tonv. the north has been my friend for twelve mighty years. Las—Mebbe the bad man make you go ? Cop—W hat, drive me out? Las—If dey shoot? If dev—? Cop—(looking steadily at Las. who is uneasy)- I guess it won’t come to that. (Las in deep thought) (pause.) Las—I»ut dere is had man dat would kill? Cop—No there aint. Tony. Las—Dat Salter, he would kill. Cop—That’s what I was waiting for. Las—hastily)—No, no, no, uh. 110 Jim ( from his manner, it is very evident lm fears something.» Cop—I las that man been threatening you? Speak Tony? Las—No. no. Cop—I’m your friend, now, if ever you had one. Won’t you tell me? W as Salter threatening you or not? Las—He did not threaten me: no. no Cop—Not at all. Tony? Ilccause if he has, Tonv— Las—No. Cop—Was he—talking to you today? Las—Today? No. no. I (loan see him today: no, no. Cop—Tony, (nods bead) you warn’t never like this before. Las—Jim, you got de papers for de mine? Cop—Yourn. yes. Las—You hide him. yes? Cop—Why ? Las—Den you keep dem an you tak de mine. Cop—Me take it? Las—You tak him. ves, lie’s goot one now. lie’s big one. planty gold. lie mak Alaska Jim rich man. Cop—It’s von that’ll i.e the rich man. Tony. Las—No. no. you not got de papers in de cabin, no? Cause uf dey burn de cabin you (loan lose dem? Cop—There pretty safe. I reckon. Las—An Tony (loan know where, no? Cop—No. Las—Dat is goot: you will tak de mine, yes? Cop—How do you mean, run it for you ? Las—No you keep it. I give to you.