The Storyteller THE SPRY LITTLE WOMAN

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 15, 11 April 1907, Page 3

The Storyteller THE SPRY LITTLE WOMAN

(Concluded from last week.) Cutting from a Seattle -. paper Lof December 26, 189—' pasted in the scrap-book' of 1 a spry little woman of the city :— - -'•,_'* ' Seattle may not be aware that it has had a distinguished visitor lately. Those who may -have seen the magnificently arrayed and richly bejewelled gentleman' from Alaska probably did not in him the sullen fish pedlar "who used to- sell, them very excellent sea food three or four. 1 ", years "ago; 'French Jack," as every one calls him up Alaska ~way, played in' better luck, than most of those who strme the trail for" the * Klonuit c. iSome years ago he discovered the Gcilightly Mine, one of the richest yet found in that | land of the... yellow metal, faome sharpers got him full of' whisky and bought it of him before it- was developed tor SUU dollars. - From its yield" up to now this would mean about 1000 per cent, profit on their investment^?), and it has not ' panned out yet. '-French" Jack ' started in to drink himself to death when he had ■ his' eyes opened to what he had done. But his iron " system weathered the D.T.s successfully, and he came here a downcast, friendless beggar, •' ncme so poor to do him reverence," and sold fish in a listless, way for a living. ' Something "revived his old "spirit, apparently, for when he had hoarded up\ enough to staice . himself again he made a bee-line- for Alaska. He has struck it rich once more. Captain Black, of the " steamboat ' line .to Juneau, s&ys up there they say "French^ .Jack" can smell gold.- It would 'be mo<re likte it to"" say that he can see il through the earth, for he has an eye as piercing as a .diamond drill, -though he is as dumb as a bump on a log. But if reports are true, he has got - enough money now" to let that talk for him. ~ ■ _. ; ■ ' " French. Jack" is likely to hang '"On to every cent of it, • too, for he Has no relatives or friends and no expensive tastes barring a pretty "fancy for clothes. He is as shy of strong waters now as a bull 'is of a red flag.- He has already left, probably headed for 1 Alaska" again, after' being^'fßere only a few days. Nobody knows why |he earned — ' Canadian Messenger of the Sacred -Heart!', - _ .