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“What of that? I’d give it a try, anyhow, and see if he wouldn’t settle. There’s lots of lawyers would take your case. But say, that’s the toughest tough-luck story I ever heard. You’ve sure got a jinx on you.”

“I’m going back, but I won’t sue Guth. I’m sick of Alaska; it has licked me. I’m going out to God’s country.”

Folsom indeed acknowledged himself beaten. The narrow margin by which he had missed reward for his work and his hardships bred in him such hatred for Alaska that he abruptly changed his plans. He had no heart, perversity had killed his courage. It exasperated him beyond all measure to recall what little things his luck had hinged upon, what straws had turned his feet. A moment of pique with Lois, a broken piece of steel, a match, a momentary whim when Guth offered him payment. It was well that he did not know what part had been played by his quarrel with Harkness, that wet muk-luk, that vicious lead dog, and the storekeeper’s wager.

Folsom carried cord-wood to pay for a deck passage down river. He discovered en route that Guth had really tried to get in touch with him, and in fact appeared greatly concerned over his failure to do so, for at Tanana he received another message, and again at St. Michaels. He was grimly amused at the little Jew’s craftiness, yet it sorely offended him to think that any one should consider him such a welcher. He had no intention of causing trouble, for he knew he had no legal claim against the fellow, and he doubted if he possessed even a moral right to share in the Lulu’s riches. To play upon the Hebrew’s fears, therefore, savored of extortion. Nevertheless, he was in no agreeable frame of mind when he arrived at his destination and inquired for Guth.

The new-made millionaire was in his office; Folsom walked in unannounced. He had expected his arrival to create a scene, and he was not disappointed. But Guth’s actions were strange, they left the new arrival dazed, for the little man fell upon him with what appeared to be exuberant manifestations of joy.

“Mr. Folsom!” he cried. “You have come! You got my letters, eh? Well, I wrote you everywhere, but I was in despair, for I thought you must be dead. Nobody knew what had become of you.”

“I got your message in Fairbanks.”

“You heard about the Lulu, eh? Gott! She’s a dandy.”

“Yes. I can hardly believe it. So, you’re rich. Well, I congratulate you, and now I can use that hundred.”

Guth chuckled. “Ha! You will have your joke, eh? But the Lulu is no joke. Come, we will go to the bank; I want them to tell you how much she has yielded. You’ll blame me for leasing her, but how was I to know what she was?”

“I–Why should I blame–” Folsom stared at the speaker. “It’s none of my business what the Lulu has yielded. In fact, I’ll sleep better if I don’t know.”

Little Guth paused and his mouth opened. After a moment he inquired, curiously: “Don’t you understand?” There was another pause, then he said, quietly, “I’m a man of my word.”

Folsom suddenly saw black, the room began to spin, he passed his hand across his eyes. “Wait! Let’s get this straight,” he whispered.

“It is all very simple,” Guth told him. “We are equal partners in the Lulu–we have been, ever since the day my store burned. It was a little thing you said to me then, but the way you said it, the fact that you didn’t blame me, gave me new heart. Did you think I’d renig?” When Folsom found no answer the other nodded slowly. “I see. You probably said, ‘That Guth is a Jew and he’ll do me up if he can.’ Well, I am a Jew, yes, and I am proud of it; but I am an honest man, too, like you.”