The Alaskan Adventure Read Online Free PDF Page B

Natik’s friends from New York,” he said. “I’m Jake Ferguson. What do you need today?”
    Frank handed him the list Mona had drawn up, and Jake began taking items down from the shelves.
    â€œTerrible thing about that fire,” he said as he climbed a stepladder to reach some canned goods. “It just shows how important it is to have proper protection. Too bad the town can’t afford to have some decent firefighting equipment. Now, if ThemeLife comes in—”
    â€œAre you in favor of the ThemeLife plan, Mr. Ferguson?” Joe asked.
    â€œCall me Jake, son,” the man replied. “And as for this big controversy, I guess I’m neutral. I’m a storekeeper. I’ll let the others in town battle it out. Whatever they decide is fine with me.”
    â€œOh,” Frank said. “From what you said about firefighting equipment, I thought  . . . ” He let his voice trail off.
    Jake gave a little laugh. “Oh, I can’t deny that Curt Stone makes some good arguments. His company’s done this sort of thing all over the place. They know what pulls people in. They come into a town and emphasize the things that make people want to visit.”
    He broke off as the bell over the door sounded. A weathered man in a worn parka came in and asked Jake for twenty-five cents’ worth of candy from the big jar on the counter.
    Jake served him and put the five nickels in his cash drawer. After the man left, he said, “You take Ralph Hunter, who was just in. He’s got four kids to feed. If the plan goes through, there’d be new jobs and extra money for people like him.”
    â€œIs he voting for ThemeLife?” Frank asked.
    Jake paused and looked away. “He’s not a good example, I guess,” he said, shaking his head. “No, Ralph makes it pretty plain he isn’t going to vote yes. But you could argue that he should, for his own good.”
    While Jake packed Mona’s order into two cardboard cartons, Joe and Frank admired a glass case filled with traditional Athabascan handicrafts. “Those are real collector’s items,” Jake said. “Very expensive. Anything you’re interested in?”
    Frank laughed. “Just looking, thanks.”
    Jake totaled the bill and said, “I’ll put it on the Windman account. Come see me again. Maybe I’ll have something you want to take home as a souvenir.”
    â€œThanks, Jake,” Joe said as he and Frank picked up the two cartons of groceries.
    When they went outside, Joe saw Curt coming toward them. He waved and smiled. “Well, we cheechakos meet again. I hear you went for a dogsled ride. That must have been exciting.”
    â€œIt was great,” Joe said.
    â€œJake has everything, doesn’t he?” Curt said. “Even opinions about this and that. It’s a wonder he doesn’t put a price tag on those, too.”
    â€œHe was talking about your plans for Glitter,” Joe said.
    â€œI hope he had good things to say,” Curt replied. “I’m trying to help this town, and it could use help.”
    â€œYour company would make a lot of changes, wouldn’t it?” Frank asked.
    Curt nodded. “Sure. Changes for the better. People are a little nervous about change. I don’t blame them. But it’s my job to persuade them that they need ThemeLife.”
    â€œPersuade them how?” asked Joe.
    â€œWhy, by explaining the advantages to them,” Curt replied. “You’ll have to excuse me. I’m due to call in to the home office, and the only way to do that is to use Jake’s two-way radio. That’s one of the things about Glitter we’ll change—we’ll bring in modern communications.”
    Curt went into the store. Joe and Frank headed down the street to the cabin. They hadn’t gone far when they heard an anguished cry. They whirled around. Ralph Hunter was on his knees