The Bent Spoon: A Tale of Gumption, Gold, and Glory

By Otto E. Henrickson

The Bent Spoon
A Tale of Gumption, Gold, and Glory

In the 1930s college chums Tom and Barry embark on an adventure-packed journey that stretches from Estacada, Oregon, to a gold claim in the wilds of Wasilla, Alaska. Along the way the pair and their partners hook up with a cunning old codger and his wily dog who changes their lives forever. And it all begins with a bent spoon.

Along the way they encounter troublemakers, grizzlies, and a cast of colorful characters. In the end, they go to Alaska searching for gold, only to discover the real treasures in their lifefaith, love, friendship, charity, and family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 3, 2009
• ISBN: 9781440176401

Otto E. Henrickson

Otto Henrickson was born in Estacada, Oregon, in 1921, the son of Swedish immigrants. He grew up in the Garfield district of Estacada, where his father grew ginseng. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, spending much of that time in Alaska. After the service, he raised his family in Eugene, Oregon, where he still resides. He retired as the textbook manager at the University of Oregon and began writing in earnest in the 1990s. His previous books include Wrinkles on my Ginseng Roots and The Nevada Way.

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Copyright © 2009 Otto E. Henrickson

Cover photos copyright © 2009 Diane B. Reed

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This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogue are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

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ISBN: 978-1-4401-7639-5 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-4401-7640-1 (ebk)

iUniverse rev. date: 10/26/2009

Contents

Acknowledgements

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Epilogue

To Georgia, who inspires me every day

Acknowledgements

9781440176395_txt.pdf

I am grateful for my many friends and family members who have, over the past year or so, wheedled and otherwise cajoled me into getting this novel published. My wife, Georgia, with her true love and forbearance is at the top of my list. She has read this book several times and has made corrections and suggestions that have made it even better.

My family—including my sons Bruce, Robert, and Jerry—have always encouraged me in my literary pursuits. I’m fortunate that Bruce’s wife, Diane Reed, is an experienced editor who polished the manuscript and guided it into this publication.

The long roll of friends who have encouraged me over the years includes Jackie Vander Sys and Judy Ness. There are so many others who have supported my efforts that I would hardly know where to start. To all, named and unnamed, I extend my heartfelt thanks! I hope you will enjoy this book.

CHAPTER ONE

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Spring, 1932

Pacific College

Newberg, Oregon

The young man looked out the window of the geology lab as if he was looking for something far away. He was a tall striking figure with jet black hair. His lean chiseled features suggested that he was Native American. His fists were clenched. Suddenly, he slammed them on the windowsill, startling his companion who was working at the lab table.

The young man with the shock of red hair looked up, startled. Tom, you scared the heck out of me!

Sorry, Barry. I was thinking about that girl we just saw in the hall––the one who called me an ‘injun.’ I guess she thought it was funny. I know I shouldn’t let that kind of stuff bother me, but I guess it still does.

You’ve got to stop letting people get to you. After all, getting mad doesn’t help. The best thing you can do is prove all those people wrong about Indians. And you’ve already proved yourself just by being here at Pacific.

Yeah, you’re right, he said, sheepishly. I’ve just got to learn to control my temper.

Besides, I’ve got a sort of a personal problem that I need you to help me with, Barry said.

Tom looked at him quizzically. What kind of personal problem? Is a girl giving you a bad time? Are you sick?

No, nothing like that. Of all the people I know, I think you’re the most likely one to help me figure something out. But right now I’ve got to finish this lab. Can we meet someplace this evening, at the library maybe?

Wouldn’t it be easier to get together at our rooming house? Tom asked.

Well, I’ll be on campus until this evening. It’s kind of confidential so I’d rather we meet in a quiet place at the library.

Sure, how about seven o’clock? said Tom. Are you sure this is something you want to discuss with me?

I’m sure. This is something important, and I think it’s probably something good. I need to share a turn of events in my life with someone I can trust.

Okay. I’ll see you at the library at seven.

I’ll be upstairs in the reading room.

I’ll see you there.

That evening, Tom stepped out of the rooming house into a spring breeze. It felt like rain was in the offing. Some of the trees around the campus were anticipating the season by budding out. As he made his way toward the library, he wondered about Barry’s cryptic remarks, but he couldn’t come up with any inkling of what was in the wind. I guess I’ll find out, he thought to himself as he opened the door to the library.

Barry was sitting alone at a table along a wall off to one side. Closing his book, he said, Glad you came. I was afraid I might have scared you off.

No way! You’ve got me so intrigued I’ve gotta know what’s going on.

Sit down and I’ll tell you all about it.

Tom sat down across the table from him. I’m all ears.

Barry looked around the room. Very few students were there and no one else was studying at the tables close by. Reaching inside his coat, he took out a large envelope. He pulled out a document several pages long with a letter attached. Handing the papers to Tom, he said, These papers pretty much say it all. Go ahead and read them.

The letter on top of the papers bore the name and address of a law firm in Anchorage, Alaska. Tom looked at him quizzically.

Barry nodded. They’re handling my father’s estate.

Without looking at the papers, Tom read the letter. It indicated that Barry’s father had willed his son a gold claim in Alaska.

After glancing around, he whispered, Is this for real?

Barry whispered, It’s for real—lock, stock and barrel. Remember last year when I told you that my father had died?

I sure do. I sure felt bad for you.

Like I told you, dad was a pilot up in Alaska. He had a small airport and a couple of planes that he used to ferry passengers up and down the coast and elsewhere. He had to work long and hard for his money, so he was hardly ever around. In a way, I feel like I never really knew him very well. Even though I knew he was working hard so we could get by, I guess I kind of resented him not being there when I was growing up.

Tom looked at him with concern, but Barry took a deep breath and shook his head.

Anyway, somewhere along the line he ended up with this gold claim—I think it was given him to settle a debt. I didn’t even know he had it.

Was this claim paying out? Is there any gold in it?

Apparently there’s gold there, but it takes work to get it out. Dad wasn’t into mining much so he was paying someone to keep the claim active. I’ve been corresponding with the lawyer, who said that the claim might have potential if it was handled right. But over time trespassers might make a mess of it and someone should be there to look out for it. So I think it’s legitimate. My mom got their house in Juneau and all dad’s personal belongings, but she’s struggling to get by. My brother Dan inherited the flying end of the estate and I got the claim. Dan can’t really help me out on this; he’s pretty busy with the airport and the planes. It’s settled as far as he’s concerned. That’s okay by me, because I don’t like to fly that much and okay by my brother because he isn’t interested in mucking around in the wilds.

They spent some time talking about Barry’s family and Alaska. Tom was interested in hearing more about the territory. Finally he asked, Where do I come into the picture?

From what the lawyers are saying, I need to get up there and take the time to do something with the claim, but I didn’t get any cash out of the estate. What little there was went to my mom so she could keep the house and to my brother who needs all the help he can get to keep his air service going. So here I sit with a gold claim in Alaska and no way to get up there to explore it. And even if I could get up to it, I don’t have any funds to do anything with it.

Tom sat in silence listening while Barry spoke. How can I help?

Barry said, I’ve given this a lot of thought and I keep coming back to you. I have no idea what your financial situation is but I’m hoping to give some reliable person a half interest in the claim for giving me the money that I need to get it started. Right now, there’s only one person that I know of that I can trust with such an offer, and that’s you.

Me?

Yes, you. You’ve got brains and you’re sharp as a tack. I have no reason to think that you’re anything but an honorable person and I don’t care that you’re part Indian. You’re a good guy and I’d be honored to work with you as a partner. We’re both going to be geologists. Unfortunately, were not going to be mining engineers, but our geology background could come in handy. Between the two of us, is there some way we can finance this venture? Start small and go from there, or something. One person can’t work it by himself.

You’re proposing that if I can find a way to help come up with the money for this venture, you’d give me half interest in the claim?

I know it sounds like a fishy deal, but that’s what I want to do. If I can’t get the funds, I’ll just have to let it go. I can’t see any other way, can you? And I really don’t know anyone else to ask. I don’t have any other close friends down here and I don’t know anyone in Juneau that would have the money.

You’ve just sprung a good one on me. I’m not saying no, but at the moment I haven’t got a dime to help you. Let me think—my dad’s not in a position to lend me the money, but I have an aunt and uncle who might consider it, depending on the amount. Have you figured out how much you’ll need to get started?

Not really. This hit me pretty fast. But I don’t think it would be a lot.

If I can make a suggestion, why don’t you sit down and do some figuring—run some figures for various options.

Can you help me on that? You know as much about the claim as I do right now. Tell me a little bit about your aunt and uncle. Do you really think they might be interested?

My Aunt Lila and Uncle Ed Denham are paying for my college. They thought it was really important that I get a good education, particularly since it’s not easy for a half-breed to get work. My uncle has a pretty good job at PEPCO—the power company—so they’re doing pretty well. It may be that they would be interested in helping out. Of course, they’d want me to get my degree before traipsing off to Alaska. But maybe they’d figure it’d be one way to make good use of my geology degree, particularly since the economy seems to be slipping over the brink. A gold claim might be a good ace in the hole.

Barry nodded. I need to get my degree too. But I think we can work around that. I’d like to scoot up there this summer and scout out the lay of the land if I can get the means to get there.

Where’s the claim located?

It’s located near the town of Wasilla, east of Anchorage.

I’m guessing that’s a long way up there.

Yeah. Right now it seems to me that I should be thinking basics. Get up there and take a look, inventory the place, and see what we could do with the operation.

I wonder how much it would take to get you up there and back. Of course, you’d have to have funds for food and a place to stay, but maybe a tent will do the trick for lodging, said Tom, grinning.

That would probably work out okay. Know any good bear repellent? said Barry, laughing.

They talked animatedly about the prospects of being gold miners. They figured that they both liked the outdoors and if they could make enough to make ends meet, it might be a great adventure. They discussed the practicality of the enterprise, realized that they didn’t know enough yet, but concluded that they had little to lose.

Tom said, My Aunt Lila will be coming over this weekend to visit. That’ll give us a few days to get our heads together and figure out what we need. She’s a pretty smart woman, so we’ll have to have our soldiers lined up when we talk to her. Is there some way you can find out the fare by steamer to get up to Anchorage? How much to get from Anchorage and on up to the claim? And, of course, supplies and stuff like that.

I think I can do that. I’ve been taking the train up to Seattle and going back and forth to Juneau on the steamships or, at times, cargo ships. I can put together an estimate.

Tom asked, Where are you getting the money to go to school?

Since my dad died, mom has been sending me some. She works really hard to make ends meet, and she’s been keeping me going. She never had to go out and get a job before dad died, and since my brother’s air service has been going downhill he can’t help her. So she had to get out and find work. The last couple of years, I’ve worked a few months each summer in the canneries in Ketchikan. And, as you know, I have a job washing dishes in the café downtown on weekends. Then I work evenings two or three times a week in the cafeteria doing odds and ends. Keeps me going. But every little bit helps.

Sounds like a pretty skinny existence.

For mom’s sake, I just have to get my degree somehow.

When Tom’s aunt came to Newberg to visit him, she usually stayed a few days with a longtime friend, Ophelia Morgan, who lived close to the Pacific College campus. Ophelia’s husband, Percy, was an English professor at the college. Anticipating his aunt’s arrival at mid-afternoon, Tom went over to the Morgan home at about three o’clock. The day was sunny and the air was warming.

He rang the doorbell. The door opened and he was greeted by Professor Morgan, who was wearing neatly-pressed tan pants and a white shirt open at the collar,

Come on in, Tom, said Percy as he offered his hand. Good to see you. Your aunt hasn’t arrived as yet, but we expect her momentarily. Let’s retreat to my study. It’s quieter back there.

Except for Percy’s highly polished black shoes clacking on the hardwood flooring as he walked, the old home was quiet. An occasional click or a muted clang from the kitchen hardly qualified as noise, making Percy’s comment a bit odd. The large study overflowed with bookshelves filling every spare space that the walls would allow. A window on the shady side and a reading light at the easy chair that accommodated the professor gave enough light to take away a good share of the gloominess. He waved him to a chair.

How’s your schooling progressing? he asked.

Very well, replied Tom.

Your aunt’s comments from time to time lead me to believe that she’s very proud of your accomplishments.

I try my best. I guess I’m satisfied with my progress.

Percy made a few more rambling comments. With a flourish, he picked up a book lying on a small table beside his easy chair and showed it to Tom. I’m presently reading a bit of Homer to refresh my perspectives. Teaching tends to misalign my concepts of my intended objectives, and therefore my significance as a professor …

Tom sat in silence, mystified but amused by the Percy’s ramblings. Looking out the window at a blooming cherry tree, he thought that surely a geologist might have better days to look forward to than this poor ingratiating English professor.

Fortunately, the sound of the doorbell penetrated the realm of the professor’s study. Percy got up. I assume that your aunt has arrived. Come.

At the door, Tom and Lila greeted each other with affectionate hugs. Percy stood to one side tolerating the displays of affection in his front door in full view of his neighbors. Ophelia came out from the kitchen and joined them, acknowledging Tom and exchanging a quick hug with Lila as she flashed a bright smile to both.

Tom, it’s good to see you. You should visit more often, she said, shaking his hand.

Schoolwork keeps me pretty busy, said Tom, watching Percy mutter as he retreated back into the study.

Lila was a petite woman, with short bobbed auburn hair. Her perpetually smiling face was sprinkled with freckles. Standing at five feet five in high heels, she seemed to be looking up at people as she met them. She was always well dressed.

Each time his aunt came to Newberg, the ritual was repeated. She visited with Ophelia, sipped coffee from English cups and saucers and nibbled on crumpets. Tom often joined them, but Percy usually ensconced himself, as he did on this day, in his study.

An hour later, Tom and Lila left Ophelia’s, and his aunt handed him the keys to the 1927 Star four-door sedan, You drive.

When are you going to get a new car? Tom kidded.

I don’t know. Ed was in town the other day kicking tires on the new Hudsons. Who knows, it might be sooner than later.

The afternoon was sunny, and the air was warming a bit after the cold morning. Let’s go over to the park, said Tom. I have something that I want to talk to you about.

Sounds important—you’re not thinking of dropping out of school, are you?

Never! Come heck or high water, I’m getting my degree.

He pulled over into a small parking spot partially shaded by a maple tree with budding leaves. Frisky pine squirrels chased each other around and around and up and down the tree trunks.

So what’s going on? asked Lila

A friend of mine has dangled a carrot in front of my nose; in fact it’s a gold carat. He went on to explain the circumstances involved in the gold claim. She listened attentively to what he had to say.

When she had heard enough, she asked, What do you know about Barry?

I’ve actually known him for several years—we live the same rooming house. I’ve always liked the guy. Since we’re both studying geology, we’ve been in a lot of classes together. He’s a real straight shooter, so I’m convinced this is a legitimate offer.

When can I meet this guy?

Right now if you’d like. We could pick him up and go down to Daisy’s Diner like we usually do and talk about this. I’m sure you’ll like him—he’s a real good guy.

That’s what I’m afraid of, Lila smiled. Let’s go.

I’m hoping that that back table in the corner’s empty—should be this time of the day, he said as they drove away from the park and headed for the rooming house.

Sitting around the back table in the corner at Daisy’s Diner, Lila was impressed with Barry. He was about six foot two with a shock of red hair, and she noted that he was neatly dressed. Sitting across the table from her, this ruggedly handsome young man impressed her with the confidence he demonstrated when he spoke.

Barry hesitated, then ordered a hamburger from the menu. Lila said, This is on me. You look a little bit lean to me, and I doubt that a hamburger will do. I’m Tom’s rich aunt— comparatively speaking—so please take advantage of my generosity, and order something more substantial.

Tom laughed, You’d better listen to my aunt. I do.

That being the case, I’d better take another look at the menu.

After they ordered, he said, I hope you don’t have the impression that I’m some charlatan trying to drag you and Tom into something shady. I’m just an ordinary guy that’s facing a dilemma and trying to do the best I can and maybe help someone else. The whole thing may sound suspicious—a gold claim and all—but I’d like to reassure you that I’m on the up and up. By nature, that’s the way I am.

Laying the same envelope he’d shown Tom in front of her, he said, Take a look at this.

Without a word, she glanced up at him, opened the envelope and removed the contents. On top was the letter from the lawyer, which she read carefully. The other papers were the deed to the mining property listing Barry as the sole owner. The last sheet was a copy of his father’s will and testament outlining the distribution of his estate, including his bequest of the claim to Barry.

She folded the papers, returned them to the envelope, and slipped the envelope back across the table to him. Well, it certainly seems that you have a gold claim in Alaska, she said. But what comes next?

As Tom probably told you, I need to go up there this summer and find out what’s really there, inventory the place, and see if it’s possible to make a profitable mine out of the whole shebang.

And the dime in your pocket won’t get you up there.

That’s right, and for the means to get up there and get things going, I’m offering Tom half interest in the claim.

Why Tom?

I like him and he’s a trustworthy guy. He also has good sense and brains. I think he’d be good at mucking around up there with me, he said, smiling at Tom.

Lila laughed. I think you’re a good judge of character.

Tom said, Between the two of us, I’m sure that we can fend off the claim jumpers, don’t you think?

Well, I guess if there are claim jumpers there’d have to be gold.

Where does your mom fit into the picture? Lila asked. I see in the will that she was given their home and belongings in Juneau. Is that where she lives?

Yes, but she’s having a hard time of it. Before dad died, she had never worked for a living a day in her life. Now she’s working as a seamstress in a laundry and cleaning houses. To make matters worse, she insists that I stay in school and she helps me pay for that. She sends me what money she can and I make up the difference working odd jobs, mostly dishwashing and cleaning up in restaurants. In fact, I’m scheduled to work ten hours here tomorrow.

How come the estate lawyer is up in Anchorage?

Dad had his air service headquarters in Anchorage—there’s more business up there and lots of room for an airport. But both mom and dad liked Juneau better than Anchorage as a place to live. Since he was coming and going to Juneau all the time, it worked out fine for them to live down there.

That makes sense.

Mom’s a jewel, and I’ll make it up to her one of these days.

The light banter went on for some time. Lila instantly liked Barry and the way he presented himself—with no evidence of bluster and show. In fact, his modesty was evident, and he seemed like a capable young man with good sense and brains.

Barry said, I think it’s important—even necessary—that I go up there this summer and let people in the area know who I am and that the claim’s not abandoned. I don’t want more than I need for expenses this summer. Transportation expenses, some funds for food and shelter, some rudimentary equipment, and so forth. I’m in the process of exploring the transportation costs. This whole thing was dumped in my lap just recently, and right now you two are the only people outside my family who know about this. Now you know about as much about this whole thing as I do. I need help and I’m open to suggestions. What do you think?

Lila thought for a moment. These are unusual circumstances, but I think maybe we can work things out. Most of all, you’ll have to be a straight shooter with Ed and me. And if we throw in some stipulations, I want both of you to follow them.

Such as? asked Tom.

Both of you must finish school and get your degrees. That’s of the utmost importance. Second, if we go along and help with the finances, I don’t want you to act like a couple of kids going on a lark up in Alaska. Third, we’ll need a strict accounting of expenses. Mind you, I’m not saying that Ed and I’ll be able finance this operation yet, but we’ll certainly entertain the notion. I just wanted both of you to be prepared to meet our stipulations should this thing materialize. Understood?

Absolutely, said Barry.

No problem, answered Tom. And I think that any money you might put up should be in the form of a loan.

Barry said, Perhaps, but somehow you should expect to share in the good fortune, should this turn out to be a profitable operation. I’m enough of an optimist to believe that somehow the potential’s there; otherwise I don’t think my dad would have left it to me. We really need to know one way or another.

Do you know how your dad happened to have this claim?

According to his lawyer, dad loaned someone a sizeable amount of money with the claim as collateral. Whoever that someone was vanished from Alaska without making a payment on the loan, and after a few years the title to the claim automatically went to my dad. Not long after that, dad died of a massive heart attack right out of the blue. And now, here we are.

Lila sighed. The stock market troubles are hitting us all and making paupers out of a lot of people. But after you both graduate, the claim may be your ace in the hole. I don’t know what’s going to happen with gold prices, but it seems to me it will always be worth something.

Something’s better than nothing, said Tom.

The gold standard’s holding the price in place but if we go off the standard, there’s no telling where the price will go.

We’ll just have to see, said Barry. He hesitated for a moment as if wanting to say something.

What is it? asked Lila.

Well, it’s just that as it stands right now, I own the claim. I’ve offered Tom half of it for some financial help. But if this goes through, you and Ed would be the ones making this all work for Tom and me. I’m going to make a suggestion, and don’t construe it as buttering you up, but it seems that you two should have some of the benefits from this venture if it pans out.

What do you have in mind?

Well, I haven’t consulted with Tom about this, but I’m going to suggest that we cut you and Ed in on this by giving you 10 percent of the business for making the loan. Of course, we’d pay your loan back first, but you’d still have a long-term stake in the enterprise. That would give Tom and me 45 percent each. What do you think?

I agree, said Tom.

Lila was silent for a moment. It seems to me that you two are going have your hands full making a go of this claim. Ten percent’s a generous offer, but under the circumstances, perhaps you should reconsider. Are you sure you want us nosing around in your business?

Perhaps that’s just what we’ll need. I think I’m a pretty good bookkeeper, but we’ll probably have to make some significant decisions as we go along. Your and Ed’s input would be welcome as far as I’m concerned. You impress me as a savvy lady. Barry smiled.

Lila laughed. Now you’re just flattering me.

It was meant as a sincere compliment, said Barry.

I think 10 percent’s too much. Why don’t you make it 5?

Are you sure? asked Barry.

I’m sure.

Tom?

Fine with me.

Well, it sounds like we might have a mining company, said Barry. And since we need a name for it, I suggest we name it after one of our benefactors and call it the Lila Mining Company. It’s sweet and simple and has a certain ring to it.

I think you’re both jumping the gun. I still have to talk to Ed about this. He might put his foot down.

I’m just thinking ahead, said Barry. But we know you have to talk this over with your husband. If he nixes the deal, we’re back to peg one, but if this happens, I hope this will be a long and fruitful relationship.

All three grasped hands across the table.

Lila was a bit surprised over the day’s events. But she saw that Tom was in a mood that she had never seen before. It was as though he finally had some direction in his life. This was good. Now he had a goal and something to plan for and look forward to.

Even though she had met Barry just a few hours ago, she was impressed with his common sense approach, his enthusiasm for the prospects of meeting the challenges of business ownership, and the positive attitude he demonstrated.

She was also convinced that they could work together harmoniously to reach their goals. Neither smoked or drank or caroused. It seemed to her that it might be the right thing to help them with the needed financing. The economic situation, the fall of the stock market, and the high unemployment rate added to her hunch that perhaps Tom and Barry would be better off taking a chance on a gold claim in Alaska than trying to find jobs in Oregon.

So what’s our plan of action? asked Tom.

Do you have any idea of what it would take financially to get this venture on the road? asked Lila.

I’m not entirely certain yet, said Barry. But I’d think a few hundred dollars would be enough to get me up there and back with some to live on, a place to stay, and perhaps pick up a few tools to work the claim a bit.

How will you get to the claim?

I can get from here to Seattle by train, then to Seward via Juneau by passenger ship. Once I caught a freighter that had passenger accommodations for a bit less. I can get back and forth for less than a hundred dollars between here and Seward and I can take the train to Anchorage. Then I can take the train or hitch a ride over to Wasilla. The claim’s just outside of town.

As I said before, I can’t do anything before I talk with Ed. We never go out on our own on matters such as this. We’ll see what we can come up with. We’re fortunate that he has a secure job at PEPCO.

By all means, let’s lay everything out on the table.

"Could I take your paperwork with me? I’d like to check this all out with our lawyer, and get