ers and heavy skirts of brown cloth well lined and topped by double-breasted Eton jackets of thick material. Their arms will be covered by two extra pairs of well-lined sleeves, besides the outer coat and sweater. The question of getting into the sweaters is causing the women some worry, but Mrs. Keiser says they will come in handy and be a great comfort.

"I presume that we will have no trouble with them," she said, "and I believe they are the correct articles to take along. We will be away from society and what we wear no one will make remarks about."

Miss Osborne expressed herself as being in complete ignorance in regard to the mode of wearing a Chicago sweater, but she says they will be warm and bring comfort, and that is all she wants.

"We will wear woolen garments and short skirts— no frills about them, you know," she said with a smile. "We would put on our short dresses right here in Chicago, but we do not want to be pointed out as the two women who are going to dig for gold. We have 1,000 pounds of provisions for each member of the party, which we expect will last us a year. I do not think we will be homesick and I hope to return to Chicago in good health and with a good supply of the treasure of the Yukon."

CHAPTER VI.

Life at Dawson City.

A Typical Mining Town-What.it Costs to Live-A Store Price List-The Price of Luxuries-Bloomers Not Wanted-Cupid Smiles on Bridget-Where the Mosquito Hunts-Capt. Healy's Views-To the Klondyke on a Wheel-As a Means of Transport— Round About Dawson-Pay Dirt at Eldorado$500,000 for 500 feet-A Big Nugget-Present Dangers-Wages and Outlay-Getting Rich in a Hurry-In Behalf of Law and Order-Need of Outside Communication-Now for a Loan AgencyWhat Miners Wear-Strange Mining MethodsHow the Gold Is Distinguished-Work for AllScurvy the Chief Trouble.

This newly established town of shacks, log cabins and would-be millionaires, is situated on the Klondyke river, where it empties into the Yukon, and promises to be one of the chief placer gold-mining camps of the world.

Inspector Strickland of the Canadian mounted police, who came down from Alaska on the Portland, says:

"When I left Dawson City there were 800 claims staked out. We can safely say that there was about $1,500,000 in gold mined last winter. The wages in the mines were $15 a day, and the sawmill paid laborers $10 a day.

"The claims now staked out will afford employment to about 5,000 men, I believe. If a man is strong, healthy and wants work he can find employment at good wages. Several men worked on an interest, or what is termed a “lay," and during the winter realized $5,000 to $10,000 each. The mines are thirty-five to 100 miles from the Alaska boundary.”

WHAT IT COSTS TO LIVE.

Living is high now, as may be seen from these quotations of prices: Flour, $12 per hundredweight. Following are prices per pound: Moose ham, $1; caribou meat, 65 cents; beans, 10; rice, 25; sugar, 25; bacon, 40; potatoes, 25; turnips, 15; coffee, 50; dried fruits, 35; tea, $1; tobacco, $1.50; butter, a roll, $1.50; eggs, a dozen, $1.50; salmon, each, $1 to $1.50; canned fruits, 50 cents; canned meats, 75; liquors, per drink, 50; shovels, $2.50; picks, $5; coal oil, per gallon, $1; overalls, $1.50; underwear, per suit, $5 to $7.50; shoes, $5; rubber boots, $10 to $15.

Miners who reach here do not act like people who have suddenly jumped from poverty to comparative wealth. They are very level headed. They go to the best hotels and live on the fat of the land, but they do not throw money away, and no one starts in to paint the town red.

They have to work so hard that they appreciate the value of money. What they delight in most are theaters and other amusements. They say no one knows how to enjoy these if he has not spent a year in Alaska. Three-quarters of the miners will return in the spring, when they are well rested.

A STORE PRICE LIST.

To give an accurate idea of the cost of living in Dawson City, the price list of a general store there is

THE PRICE OF LUXURIES.

Drinks are 50 cents up there, and more than 20,000 gallons of whisky are being taken in. taken in. Returned miners say that when they left, some of the saloons

were taking in $1,000 to $2,000 a day. A hair cut costs $1.

There are several public resorts in Dawson-each with a bar in front, gambling tables in the rear and a dancing floor in the middle. Yukon has struck the typical early mining camp pace. Faro and poker are the favorite means for parting with gold dust. One hears of games with $20 ante and $50 to call blind. They don't have money in circulation.

"There is no such thing as money. When you go in just leave your sack at the bar and say, 'Give me five hundred' or 'Give me a thousand,' and get your chips," explained a Yukoner. "Then if you lose you can call for what you want, and it's just put down, and when you get through they weigh out what you owe. I have seen fellows go in with $50,000 they had cleaned up and go out with an empty sack and go to work again."