Millie moved closer to see the contents. “Oh goodness!”
Inside was a variety of jewelry and gold nuggets. She had several bags of gold dust, but perhaps most impressive was the gold-nugget necklace she’d taken off just a few hours ago.
“That necklace is really something.” Millie lifted it from the box. “Heavy too.”
“Yes.” Addie studied the piece as Millie turned it one way and then another. A heavy gold chain had been used for the base of the necklace, and from that hung the gold nuggets in various sizes, starting small near the clasp and gradually increasing in size until the center, where a large teardrop-shaped nugget marked the middle of the necklace. It was a ghastly thing as far as Addie was concerned.
Millie carefully put the necklace back in the box. “Oh, Addie, surely we can get you out of Dawson with all of this.”
“I know Bud and Joe will help me. Even if Mr. Lundstrom doesn’t manage to sell the Gold Palace, it won’t matter. Dawson City is losing people every day. Surely I can just slip away with those folks and start anew somewhere else.”
She paused and took hold of Millie’s hand. “I’m setting you free, cancelling your contract. Tomorrow, I’ll go through Sam’s papers and set everyone free. If they want to renew a contract with the new owner that will be up to them, but I will see that they have their freedom and some cash to leave this place.”
“Oh, Addie, that will cost a lot.”
“All of this gold cost someone a lot in either work or their very life. I want to do whatever good I can.” She put a bag of gold dust into Millie’s hands. “Tell Jack this is for the two of you. But I’m going to need your help first. I can’t trust anyone else.”
Three days later, Addie had a plan. Hiram and Shep had tried to force her to meet with them more than once. The armed guards for the Gold Palace refused them entry as Addiehad ordered, which only served to make them all the madder. Hiram stood in the street yelling up at her window for nearly fifteen minutes, making it clear that he wasn’t about to drop the matter.
It gave Addie a certainty that she needed to get out of town as soon as possible. The funeral for Sam had been short and simple the day before. Afterward, Mr. Lundstrom had quietly bought the Gold Palace from her. She’d practically given it away, knowing that she had more than enough gold to see her through the rest of her life if she was careful. Her one provision was that each of the girls who had worked for Sam be given some money and set free. If they chose to stay in that lifestyle, Lundstrom would deal with them honestly. He agreed. That gave Addie great comfort.
She and Millie had hit upon a plan. Because she was still quite small, they figured she could pass as a boy. A down on his luck boy who had gone to the Yukon hoping to find a fortune and instead found hunger and homelessness like so many.
It was almost comical to resort to such a thing. Her father had brought her into the Yukon the same way. He didn’t want anyone knowing she was a girl as they traveled because he knew there could be conflict should someone take a fancy to her. Men were often ruthless when it came to women. Her father knew that full well because he and her brothers often acted that way. And Addie had been happy to pretend to be a boy. She very much liked the idea of being ignored. Hopefully, it would work again.
Millie arranged to find some ragged boy’s clothes and an old knapsack. Addie arranged for Mr. Lundstrom to get her passage on a boat that would take her south. Eventuallyshe’d catch the train and then a ship to head to Seattle. That big city was surely large enough to hide anyone who wanted to be hidden.
The trick would be getting away from the Gold Palace. Hiram, Shep, or someone working for them watched the place at all times. Addie had heard they were promising their friends a piece of her fortune if they would help keep Addie under observation.
Bud and Joe, however, figured out how to help her with that as well. They rounded up a bunch of boys to come into the Gold Palace, making a commotion. Bud would usher them out, and Addie would slip into their ranks. They set it all up for when the Palace was at its busiest. With so many people coming and going, Addie ought to be able to just leave without being noticed.
Now, waiting for the appointed time, Addie made one last decision. “Millie, help me cut my hair. I snuck into Dawson with my hair cut off, I might as well go out that way. At least this way if my hat falls off it won’t give anything away.”
“Are you sure?” Millie asked.
“Yes. Quite. We’ll have to be quick. Don’t worry what it looks like, just cut it.”
Millie took up the scissors and nodded as Addie started to undo her braid. “No, just leave it. I’ll cut it at the top of the braid.”
“Smart thinking.”
Millie began snipping away at the thickness. Finally, she held the braid up in front of Addie. “There you go.”
Addie looked in the mirror. They had already smudged her up with dirt and soot. She didn’t even recognize herself. “Cut some more. Trim it up a little shorter.”
Millie did her best. When the clock chimed the hour, Addie was ready. She grabbed the heavy knapsack. She had packed it with a change of clothes and another pair of boots. Each of the boots was stuffed with gold and jewelry, and on top was a pair of wool socks to keep everything contained.
She secured her cap in place. “How do I look?”
Millie studied her a moment. “I honestly wouldn’t recognize you.”
“Good.” Addie’s voice sounded confident, but inside she was fighting back her fears.
She sent Millie downstairs first to let Bud know she was ready. Meanwhile, Addie snuck down the back stairs and waited in position for the boys to show up. It wasn’t long until a half dozen or so urchins wandered into the Gold Palace. They started begging for food almost immediately, causing a disruption to those who were dining. Addie slipped into their numbers and found herself welcomed without words. The boys crowded around her, as Bud and Joe had no doubt instructed. Across the room, Addie spied Hiram drinking at the bar. She prayed he wouldn’t recognize her or even care about the rowdy boys.
He didn’t. He glanced up only once that she saw and then went back to his beer. She had no idea where Shep might be, but so long as neither recognized her, she’d be safe. At least she prayed she would be. She wasn’t all that sure God heard her prayers, since she’d never been in a church, but Isaac had once told her that He would.
“You boys get out of here. You’re not old enough to be of use to me.” Bud grabbed her by the collar and put his arm around another boy to push them through the door. Once outside, he gave Addie’s shoulder a squeeze. “Go on andstop causing me trouble. You boys know better. Why don’t you go beg down by the docks?”
