Chapter I: Foreword

The desert of this story is that semi-arid region east of the upper Columbia. It is cut off from the moisture laden winds of the Pacific by the lofty summits of the Cascade Mountains which form its western rim, and for many miles the great river crowds the barrier, winding, breaking in rapids, seeking a way through. To one approaching this rim from the dense forests of the westward slopes, the sage grown levels seem to stretch limitless into the far horizon, but they are broken by hidden coulees; in propitious seasons reclaimed areas have yielded phenominal crops of wheat, and under irrigation the valley of one of the two tributaries from the west, wherein lies Hesperides Vale, has become a garden spot of the world.

To the initiated I wish to say if in the chapters touching on the Alaska coal cases I have followed too literally the statements of prominent men, it was not in an effort to portray them but merely to represent as clearly as possible the Alaska situation.

ADA WOODRUFF ANDERSON.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I THE MAN WHO NEVER CAME BACK
II THE QUESTION
III FOSTER TOO
IV SNOQUALMIE PASS AND A BROKEN AXLE
V APPLES OF EDEN
VI NIP AND TUCK
VII A NIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD
VIII THE BRAVEST WOMAN HE EVER KNEW
IX THE DUNES OF THE COLUMBIA
X A WOMAN'S HEART-STRINGS
XI THE LOOPHOLE
XII "WHOM THE GODS WOULD DESTROY"
XIII "A LITTLE STREAK OF LUCK"
XIV ON BOARD THE AQUILA
XV THE STORY OF THE TENAS PAPOOSE
XVI THE ALTERNATIVE
XVII "ALL THESE THINGS WILL I GIVE THEE"
XVIII THE OPTION
XIX LUCKY BANKS AND THE PINK CHIFFON
XX KERNEL AND PEACH
XXI FOSTER'S HOUR
XXII AS MAN TO MAN
XXIII THE DAY OF PUBLICATION
XXIV SNOWBOUND IN THE ROCKIES AND "FIT AS A MOOSE"
XXV THE IDES OF MARCH
XXVI THE EVERLASTING DOOR
XXVII KISMET, AN ACT OF GOD
XXVIII SURRENDER
XXIX BACK TO HESPERIDES VALE
XXX THE JUNIOR DEFENDANT
XXXI TISDALE OF ALASKA--AND WASHINGTON, D.C.
XXXII THE OTHER DOCUMENT
XXXIII THE CALF-BOUND NOTEBOOK

THE RIM OF THE DESERT