Theodore Seixas Solomons

“ The subtler were debarred from Dick—or he from them—by reason of the simpler mind and simpler education of the young New Zealander whom Lederer had met on the steamer crossing the Pacific and hooked up with as a very fitting partner for one who needed a man Friday. There had been no difficulty in accomplishing the partnership, for Dick, alone, like himself, venturing, like himself, half across the world in search of the gold of the Klondike, was but too glad to become associated with a man so much his superior, so magnetic, so charming, so wonderfully educated and well-informed. ”

“ Lederer sauntered over to a clean packing case, sat upon it in the still-genial autumn sunlight and thought—fighting.
He could run up to the fraction—which would not be disturbed for several days, he knew, by the purchasers. He could fix things with Dick the peasant, the yoeman, the clod. And then he could catch the boat—easily! With seven thousand five hundred dollars in his pocket, less his fare to Seattle. Seven thousand five hundred dollars did not seem very much to him—now. His fluent mind ran on to cities of the world—expensive cities to men of refined expensive tastes. ”

“ It was a dangerous thing to permit the recording of a fraction. The circumstances must be exceptional. Lederer understood perfectly just what that word “exceptional” meant. It must be exceptionally rich—to justify the risk. The claims adjacent to this fraction staked by Lederer and Kibble were being opened up. They were as rich as any on rich Gold Hill. But was the fraction rich?
It took work to determine that, and Lederer had several objections to doing it. In the first place he never worked—with his hands. Not as a workman. Not as a laborer. ”

“ Lederer's brains had availed against many men of cunning in their time. But this time the honest stupidity of a yokel set them at naught.
DOCTOR FERDINAND LEDERER had a beastly headache. He pressed a clean, wet handkerchief to his forehead as he lay in his tent on Gold Hill in the Klondike. He had just returned from an unsuccessful stampede. His pack lay flung in a corner. Dick Kibble, who was his “pardner,” but whom he always thought of as his man Friday, was outside, getting him something to eat and drink. ”

“ In the second place, work might show that the pay streak missed the fraction, and then there would be no use moving heaven and earth to record the fraction, for who would want to buy it? In the third place, if gold were in it in plenty, there was still no assurance that the men on the fringes of officialdom would or could obtain the recording of it. Lederer compromised with these none-too-roseate considerations by letting Kibble do the work. One of them was enough to stampede about the country and look for chances of a coup. ”

“ A stampede to a rumored new gold strike is an intensive affair in the going, not in the returning. Whether you have staked a claim or have not you may take your time about getting back to your starting point. Doctor Lederer had staked a claim on a side gulch off Eureka more to be doing something than because he was at all impressed with the forlorn-looking place. He did not intend to pay fifteen dollars to the Canadian government to record the claim. Every river, creek and gulch for miles and miles around Dawson was being staked, the near-by ones long ago. ”

“ His manner with his young partner was always a combination of the mysterious and the confidential. It was a very potent mixture. “They've got to make something out of it themselves, you know, to afford to take the risk. Any time an inspector from Ottawa may come and check up on them. So, if we are to record, we must make a cut.”
“Oh, sure, doc—the bloomin' thieves!” It was Dick's invincible notion that the fraction law was an Ottawa steal. That was the only reason he was willing from the first to make whatever concessions might be necessary to the powers that were for the sake of a recording. ”

“ Dick let Lederer precede him. He always had done this and Lederer took no alarm. As Lederer stepped upon the sod of the camp Kibble sprang upon him and bore him down. Naturally the two men were less than equal, in Lederer's favor. Fourteen hours a day, however, is a hardening process when devoted to pick, shovel and ax. ”

“ But their chief clerk, Bonbright, who was in, usually attended to simple matters of conveyancing anyhow, so there was no difference—except to Lederer who noted, with an inner frown, that this man was the same man who had made out the power of attorney from Dick to himself.
The papers were quickly signed and attested, and the consideration passed. Lederer, an hour before, had expressed a preference for currency over exchange “on the outside.” Currency was less safe than exchange, in case of theft. But Lederer, alert, worldly-wise, never feared theft. ”

“ It sounded better—this fifteen thousand dollars.
Dick! Dick and money. It was hard to think of them together—fittingly. Consider, if you please, the differing natures of men. Their widely differing needs. Dick was happy working—with his hands. He, Lederer, was unhappy when forced to work—actually work. The struggle thus ended.
He bought—two days later—several bottles of wine and some good cigars. This was his only concession to the gilded palaces of Dawson City. He had written a letter to Dick, telling him their affairs were delayed somewhat but promised success. ”

“ He spent money—in his mind—for this and that. How expensive the things he loved most were. Soon he would be driven to practice his profession again—as an obscure physician. A thing he hated. But fifteen thousand dollars? ”