§ 120 A Seasonable and Timely Suggestion
It was in the old days up in the Klondyke. On a winter’s night—a night destined to be remembered even in that land for its severity—the inhabitants of a mining-camp were gathered in the local dance hall for companionship and for warmth. It was too cold to play cards. Those present had huddled themselves about a huge, red-hot stove which stood in the center of the big room, when from without there came the sound of feeble cries.
The proprietor threw open the door and peered forth into the blizzard. The light from the coal-oil lamps behind him revealed a string of exhausted husky dogs and a sled upon which was huddled a human shape. Hardy spirits dashed forth into the storm and separated the form of the traveler from his sled to which he was frozen fast. They bore him inside, chafed his hands and thawed him before the fire, and by these means succeeded in restoring him his powers of motion and coherent speech. It developed that the rescued one was a green prospector who in his ignorance had undertaken to make the trip from a settlement ten miles below to a point considerably up country from the place where he now was. When he was almost spent from cold and exhaustion he had seen the lighted windows of the dance hall and had guided his staggering dog-team there in the nick of time.
Now that he was able to walk, two sympathetic Samaritans guided his footsteps to the bar where the barkeeper awaited them.
“Stranger,” said the hospitable barkeep, “you’ve had a blamed close call and we’re goin’ to celebrate. This round is on the house. What are you goin’ to have? I’d suggest a hot whiskey punch—or maybe you’d rather have a hot Tom-and-Jerry?”
The stranger considered for a moment.
“If you don’t mind,” he said, “I think I’ll take a seltzer lemonade.”
“What’s that?” cried the stupefied barkeeper.
“I think I’d like to have a seltzer lemonade.”
“Pardner,” stated the barkeeper, “we’re out of lemons and likewise we’re shy on seltzer. But I want you to feel at home; I tell you what I’ll do; I’ll just run upstairs to my trunk and get you a nice pair of white duck pants to wear.”