Page:Raymond Spears--Diamond Tolls.djvu/76

 paid much 'tention to what's been talking around. I'll jes' get over into the whisky boat and listen where the listenin's easy and good."

Thus Junker Frest made up his mind to get out and move around in society. Take it where a man is thrifty and attends to business and don't trouble other people in their business, he loses track of things. Frest had lost track of things, except that he happened to hear that Delia was dropping down, and he recognized her as the girl on the Ohio, who was just the kind of a girl he wanted to marry, but whom he never dreamed at that time was alone on her shantyboat, supposing of course her man was inside sleeping while she watched ahead.

"If I'd only knowed she was alone," Frest grimaced. "You bet she'd never passed out the Forks 'thout a good man. No, you bet!"

The Klondike happened to be the whisky boat lying in at Shanty Boat Ridge, opposite Ferry Street. Frest, having put most of his money into the Mendova Bank—a wise precaution—went down the Ridge to the Klondike that evening and having treated the white men once around, sat at one of the tables, where two other river men were at their ease, smoking and contemplating filled little gill glasses.

"Hello, Macrado," Frest grinned. "See you sold some block copper."