That's the way I made it out. I thought my eyes was all right. CLERK _(After a pause.)_ Well? DAVE HARNEY Well, that mangy little cuss around at the warehouse said I could only get five hundred on that piece of paper, an' nary sugar. What's that mean? CLERK It means five hundred pounds and no sugar. Scale-down went into effect to-day. Orders. DAVE HARNEY _(Wistfully.)_ An' nary sugar? CLERK Nary sugar. DAVE HARNEY That grub's mine, an' that sugar. I paid for it last spring. Weighed my dust in on them scales there. CLERK Can't help it. Orders. DAVE HARNEY _(Wistfully.)_ An' nary sugar? CLERK Nary sugar. DAVE HARNEY _(Meditatively, in low voice.)_ Curious, ain't it? Mighty curious--me ownin' two five-hundred-foot Eldorado claims, with five million if I'm wuth a cent, an' no sweetenin' for my coffee or mush. _('Whirling upon Clerk in sudden wrath, Clerk retreating wearily to behind counter.)_ Why, gosh dang it! this country kin go to blazes! I'll sell out! I'll quit it cold! I'll--I'll--go back to the States! I'll--I'll--see the management! _(Strides rapidly toward door to left.)_ CLERK Hold on! _(Dave Harney stops.)_ The boss is busy. Vanderlip's with'm. DAVE HARNEY He's buckin' the sugar proposition, too, eh? Clerk No, he ain't. DAVE HARNEY Then here goes. Dave Harney don't wait on Vanderlip or any other man. _(Jerks open door marked "Private.")_ _(Vanderlip appears in doorway, just entering.)_ VANDERLIP Hello, Dave. What's the rush? DAVE HARNEY Hello, Vanderlip. Got any sugar to sell? VANDERLIP No, but I want to buy-- DAVE HARNEY _(Interrupting.)_ No sugar, you can't do business with me. _(Rushes through door, slamming it after him.)_ _(General laugh from miners about stove. Clerk throws up his arms despairingly.)_ _(Vanderlip looks backward through door, which he pulls open for a moment, and laughs at Dave Harney.)_ _(Loraine Lisznayi enters from right and pauses at door to brush snow from moccasins.)_ VANDERLIP _(Sees Loraine Lisznayi, starts across to meet her, but stops midway to speak hurriedly to Sitka Charley.)_ How about those dogs, Charley? SITKA CHARLEY I get um all right by and by. VANDERLIP I want them right away, to-day. SITKA CHARLEY Yesterday you tell me to-morrow. VANDERLIP To-day, I tell you to-day. Never mind the price. I must have them--good dogs. Tonight, twelve o'clock, have them down at the water-hole all ready, harnesses, grub, everything in shape. And you're to drive them down river for me. Sure? SITKA CHARLEY Sure. VANDERLIP _(Over his shoulder as he continues to cross to right.)_ Never mind the price. I must have them. _(Crosses on over to right to Loraine Lisznayi, an expression of joy on his face. Sweeps off his Fur cap and shakes her hand.)_ LORAINE You must do better than that. Had there been a woman here, your face would have given everything away. VANDERLIP I can't help the gladness getting into my face, Loraine. LORAINE