Word traveled swiftly that Alan Holt had come back from the States.

Before the day was over, it was on its way to Shelton and Candle and Keewalik and Kotzebue Sound.

Such was the beginning of his home-coming.

But ahead of the news of his arrival Alan walked up Front Street, stopped at Bahlke's restaurant for a cup of coffee, and then dropped casually into Lomen's offices in the Tin Bank Building.
For a week Alan remained in Nome.

Carl Lomen had arrived a few days before, and his brothers were "in" from the big ranges over on the Choris Peninsula.