Jack London

“ CAPT. EPPINGWELL
But—but—wait a minute. Enlighten me. I am only a poor traveller. Who is this Flossie? And why shouldn't this Vanderlip-man—whoever he is—run away if he wants to?
MRS. EPPINGWELL
How ridiculous of me! I forget you've been away. You know who Freda Moloof is?
CAPT. EPPINGWELL
Surely, surely. She has the most magnificent furs and the most magnificent dogs in all Alaska. A fascinating creature, I—er—understand. She plays with men as a child plays with bubbles. ”

“ SITKA CHARLEY
Um good woman.
MRS. EPPINGWELL
(With an angry movement of arm and clenching of hand.)
Oh!
SITKA CHARLEY
(Looking surprised and getting stubborn.) Me know Freda long time—two years. Um good woman. Um tongue speak true. Um just like you, no afraid. Um just like you, travel Long Trail with me. No afraid, very soft heart; sorry for dogs; no ride on sled when dogs tired. Um tired, but um walk. And um tongue straight; all the time speak true. I am Sitka Charley—I know. ”

“ FREDA
Oh, far from it. I never make anybody do anything. They just—do it.
VANDERLIP
All right, I'll let you come with me, but only outside. I'm not going to your cabin.
FREDA
That is for you to determine. Let us start.
(Mrs. Eppingwell talks with Indian. Mrs. Eppingwell now and again glances anxiously at Freda and Vanderlip; Mrs. McFee is more suspicious than ever, her hands involuntarily clutching and unclutching as though with desire to spring upon Freda and held back only by doubt.) ”

“ VANDERLIP
(Half rising, enthusiastically.)
Freda, you were made for me! It's just the life I want. I couldn't have hit it off better myself if I'd tried. The way you put it—a bit of this, and a bit of that—variety, you know—that's me.
FREDA
That's it, variety, change. A strong man like you, full of vitality and go, could not possibly stand a palace for a year.
(He shakes his head.)
It's all very well for effeminate men, but you weren't made for such a life. You are masculine, intensely masculine. ”

“ SITKA CHARLEY
(Nodding head toward Freda.)
Um Freda there.
(Mrs. Eppingwell turns involuntarily to look. Freda pauses on entering, starts as though to retreat at sight of the crowd, then stiffens herself, face and body, to meet it, and proceeds to brush snow from moccasins. There is silence in store. Then a perturbation amongst miners about stove, men craning their heads over one another's shoulders to look at Freda. The clerks look at her. Everybody looks at her.) ”

“ FREDA
(Seeming in high spirits, while Maid is taking off her street moccasins.)
And now for a toddy! You've never tasted Minnie's. She makes them—
(Holding up hands.)
oh, to the king's taste, and to a Klondike king's at that.
VANDERLIP
(Brusquely.)
Sorry. Won't have time. What did you want me for?
FREDA
My! There's the man of it!
(Imitating his voice and manner.) What did you want me for?
(Natural voiced)
Can't let the poor woman catch her breath. Won't sit down for a moment in the warm.
(Motions to Maid to help him off with his bearskin overcoat.) ”

“ FREDA
You know it is so.
VANDERLIP
Well, for the sake of argument, yes.
FREDA
It is very easy. And why?
VANDERLIP
(Still playing innocent.)
Darned if I know.
FREDA
(Impressively.)
Because you are masculine. You strike the deepest chords of a woman's heart. Woman is weak. You are a wall of strength to her. You are something to cling to—big-muscled, strong, and brave. In short, because you are a man. ”

“ FREDA
(Interrupting.)
Won't you let go of me and sit down?
VANDERLIP
(Ignoring her.)
Why do they take advantage of me?
(Freda shrugs her shoulders.)
Because I am a fool. Because I am playing their game and don't know how to play it. They know how to play it. They ought to know—it is their game. A man's a fool to buck another man's game. The percentage is all in favor of the house. And a man is a bigger fool to buck a woman's game. ”

“ McFee suddenly springs upon Freda, tearing mask jrom face. Freda is startled and frightened. Vanderlip, the situation beyond him, stares helplessly back and forth between Freda and Mrs. Eppingwell. Everybody on the stage stares at Freda, forming a wide and irregular circle of onlookers, who are too polite to crowd closer, but who, nevertheless, cannot resist staring, one and all, from a distance. ”

“ MRS. EPPINGWELL
I did my best to break her influence. The time and thought I've wasted upon that man! It's almost scandalous the way I've devoted myself to him! Sitka Charley believes I am in love with him—told me so to my face. And it's all wasted, card parties and everything. What was I against the only woman in Klondike who possesses a piano and a maid? And to-night he runs away down the river with her.
CAPT. EPPINGWELL
With Freda Moloof?
MRS. EPPINGWELL
With Freda Moloof. There she is now, buying things for the journey most probably. ”

“ Clown startles Sitka Charley by unexpectedly hitting him a resounding blow with bladder between the shoulders. Sitka Charley runs in and out amongst people, pursued by Doorkeeper and Clown. The Doorkeeper is slow and ponderous, and falls down. At the moment he falls, Sitka Charley dashes into group where stands Capt. Eppingwell, whom he strips, with one rush, of domino. Sitka Charley swiftly puts domino on himself and dashes, on, still pursued by Clown, who is striking him with bladder. Both make exit to left. ”

“ In short, it is the best possible living apartment that money can purchase in the Klondike.
A Maid is in easy chair, reading magazine and yawning. Door opens on right. Indian enters with armful of firewood, which he carries to stove and dumps in woodbox. He proceeds to put several sticks of wood into stave and to adjust damper. His entrance arouses Maid, who looks up, yawns, lays magazine face-down on lap, yawns again, at same time stretching arms behind head, and glances at clock. It is quite a distance to clock. She rubs eyes and looks again. ”

“ Um long black, like priest man.
(A domino, with lady on arm, appears in doorway, as though about to enter, then changing mind, disappears.)
Look see! Just like that. That um Vanderlip.
FREDA
All right, Charley. I understand. And now for you. Flossie can't get here too quickly. You must take dogs, fresh dogs, up the trail, and when you meet her, put her on your sled, and race in with her as fast as you can. Tell her Vanderlip sent you and is waiting for her.
SITKA CHARLEY
(Dubiously.)
Um dogs, fresh dogs, have not got.
FREDA
Take my dogs. You know them. ”

“ Alongside each stove is a wood-box filled with firewood. On right, a window. On left, wide doorway, open, connecting with ballroom. Through doorway come occasional snatches of dance-music, bursts of laughter and of voices. Because it is very cold, street door is kept closed, and is opened by doorkeeper only when some one knocks, and then only long enough for that one to enter. All parleying is done on inside with door closed. Prince, as doorkeeper, is standing at rear by street door. Men and women, in costume, are disappearing through door to left, from where come strains of a waltz. ”

“ SITKA CHARLEY. An Indian dog-puncher, who has come into the warm and sat by the fires of the white man until he is somewhat as one of them. Should not be much shorter than Vanderlip and Captain Eppingwell.
DAVE HARNEY. An Eldorado king, also a Yankee, with a fondness for sugar and a faculty for sharp dealing. Is tall, lean, loose-jointed. Walks with a shambling gait. Speaks slowly, with a drawl.
MINNIE. (Maid to Freda.) A cool, impassive young woman. ”

“ Maybe say Vanderlip meet her twenty mile down trail. One Indian man take her on sled twenty mile down trail, then she sure make no trouble.
FREDA
(Laughing.)
A good idea. You hurry and fix it up, quick, and then start after Flossie.
(Sitka Charley starts to go.)
One moment, Charley. Ten miles down river is Salmon Stake. One missionary man lives at Salmon Stake. Tell Indian man to take Lisznayi woman to missionary house and knock on door. Missionary man gets out of bed and lets them in. Indian man tells missionary man that Lisznayi woman come to see him, come to be good woman. ”

“ To try to impress him to do the right thing would be like setting fire to a powder mill. I wish I knew how near Flossie is. There hasn't been a courier or a mail carrier in for weeks and weeks. The mail from Dyea is twenty days overdue.
(Enter Mail Carrier, carrying leather mail-pouch. He is clad in a long squirrel-skin parka reaching to his knees, the hood drawn over his head and ears and leaving only jace exposed. Face and mouth are iced-up, making speech impossible. He does not stop to brush snow jrom moccasins, but proceeds rapidly to cross to stove.) ”

“ MRS. EPPINGWELL
Floyd Vanderlip is a big, strong man. For five years he chased Eldorados over the ice-fields, living on moose and salmon and working like a beast. He never had an idle moment in which to be wicked. Then he struck it on Klondike and is worth millions and millions. ”

“ MRS. EPPINGWELL. His wife. Twenty-five to twenty-eight years of age. Of the cold order of women, possessing sanity, and restraint, and control. Brown hair, demi-blond type, oval-faced, with cameo-like features. The kind of a woman who is not painfully good, but who acts upon principle and who knows always just what she is doing.
FLOSSIE. Eighteen or nineteen years of age. Of the soft and clinging kind, with pretty, pouting lips, blow-away hair, and eyes full of the merry shallows of life. Engaged to marry Floyd Vanderlip.
PRINCE. A young mining engineer. A good fellow, a man's man. ”

“ I—I am jealous, Floyd. I know it, but I can't help it. You are a man to touch women's hearts. They can't help loving you, and—and—
VANDERLIP
(Showing that he is secretly pleased.)
Oh, pshaw. Anyway, you are the one woman, or I wouldn't be taking you down river to-night.
(Prince has gone to left and is looking into ballroom, so they are unobserved.)
LORAINE
(Recovering.)
Yes, yes, I know. Forgive me. And now I must be going.
(They move to rear to street door. He helps her on with moccasins and street wraps.) Aren't you coming, too? ”

“ About the stove, backs to the stove and hands behind their backs, clad in mackinaw suits, mittens dangling from around their necks at ends of leather thongs, ear-flaps of fur caps raised, are several miners. Prince stands by stove An Indian is replenishing the fire with great chunks of wood. Mounted police pass in and out. Sitka Charley is examining snow-shoes, bending and testing them. Behind the counter are several clerks, one of whom is waiting upon a bearded miner near end of counter to right. ”

“ Good figure, willowy, yet not too slender. Of indeterminate age, possibly no more than twenty-five. Her furs the most magnificent in all the Yukon country from Chilcoot to St. Michael's, her name common on the lips of men. ”

“ VANDERLIP
A woman needs so almighty much to be comfortable. But it'll be all right. Two sleds'll carry us, no matter how comfortable you make yourself. Bring plenty of foot-gear, moccasins, and stockings, and such things. And be at the water-hole at midnight with your whole outfit. Be sure that Indian of yours has enough dog food. ”

“ Eppingwell waits expectantly, and Freda, with expressionless face, faces audience.)
Sitka Charley big fool, too. Him think you love Vanderlip. Him think Freda love Vanderlip. (Shaking head.)
No love. All the same make Vanderlip big fool. All the time all womans make all mans big fool. You say, No tell Freda. Freda say, No tell you. All right. Sitka Charley no tell. Now Sitka Charley much tired. Now him tell. Um, him drive Freda's dogs. Freda say, "Charley, bring Flossie girl much quick." ”

“ INDIAN
Much tired. Ride on sled. Plenty tired, cry little bit, like baby. She say must camp right away. Sitka Charley say make Dawson. She say no camp right away she die. Sitka Charley say don't care, make Dawson anyway. I go now. Good-by.
FREDA
Don't you want to go out in the kitchen and get warm?
INDIAN
No. Good-by.
FREDA
Good-by.
(Indian opens door and goes out.)
(Freda returns to chair at stove.)
(Freda Sitting down.)
You haven't told me how you like it.
VANDERLIP
(Turning plate upside down.) Actions speak louder than words. (She helps him to some more.) ”

“ There she comes now.
(Maid rises to her feet, like a soldier coming to attention, hastily puts magazine on table, and brushes down front of skirt. Indian puts another stick of wood into stove and busies himself with raking ashes level in ash-box of stove.)
(Street door opens. Freda enters, leading Vanderlip by the hand. Both are mittened and in same wraps, coats, etc., with which they left anteroom of Pioneer Hall.)
(Indian finishes with stove and goes out slowly to right. Maid goes to rear and helps Freda off with wraps, moccasins, etc.) ”

“ FLOYD VANDERLIP. An Eldorado king, worth a couple of millions. Simple, elemental, almost childish in his emotions. But a brave man, and masculine; a man who has done a man's work in the world. Has caressed more shovel-handles than women's hands. Big-muscled, big-bodied, ingenuous-faced; the sort of a man whom women of the right sort can tie into knots.
LORAINE LISZNAYI. A Hungarian, reputed to be wealthy, and to be travelling in the Klondike for pleasure and love of adventure. ”

“ You think you're smart, don't you? Got a corner on sugar, eh? And poor Dave Harney left without no sweetenin' for his coffee an' mush. Well, poor Dave Harney's got a corner on noos. When you want noos, come an' see him, an' be sure an bring your sugar along.
(Goes out, followed by miners.)
(Mrs. Eppingwell and Capt. Eppingwell come forward to stove and warm their hands.)
CAPT. EPPINGWELL
(Continuing conversation.)
Perhaps Freda doesn't know about Flossie. I always thought her a good girl at heart. ”

“ Freda has just finished brushing snow, and has risen erect. Mrs. McFee, passing her to go out the door, sniffs audibly and draws aside her skirt. Freda makes no movement, though her lips tighten. Exit Mrs. McFee. Freda tries to hang up wisp-broom, but her hand trembles, misses peg, and wisp-broom falls to floor. She picks it up and this time hangs it properly. Turns and goes to right rear to counter, where clerk waits upon her.)
SITKA CHARLEY
(Glaring after Mrs. McFee, angrily) .
That womans no like Freda. What for?
MRS. EPPINGWELL
(Speaking gently.)
No women like Freda. ”