Claw paid off Yondo and struck straight westward alone, crossing the divide by means of a steep and narrow pass known only to a few. Thus, shortening the trail by some four or five days, he showed up in Cuter Malone's Klondike Palace at the height of an evening's hilarity.
Cuter greeted him from behind the bar: "Hello, Claw! Thought you was over with the whalers!"
"Was," answered Claw, "Jest got back," he drained the glass Malone had set before him, and with a sidewise quirk of the head, sauntered into a little back room.
A few minutes later, Cuter followed, carefully closing and locking the door after him: "What's on yer mind?" he asked, as he seated himself beside the little table.
"They's aplenty on it. But mostly it's a girl."
"What's the matter? One git away from you?"
"She ain't yet, but she's damn near it. She'll be here in a few days, an' she's the purtiest piece that ever hit the Yukon."
"Must be right pert then, cause that's coverin' quite a bit of territory."
"Yes, an' you could cover twict as much an' still not find nothin' that would touch her fer looks."
"Where is she?"