Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-05-23

''And I've something to own up to-" said
the man. 1.-THE name gave you is false.
am Jonathan Harley, father of the Ned
Harley who performs with your folks as
q Cascabel.'
Pierre was an ardent admirer and fast
friend of Ned Harley, and his desire to
bring the father and son together overbore
his wish to be rid of the man whom h.
had fooled; so he proposed that Jonathan
should accompany him to the disabled
Belle Roulette, and very soon three horses
started abreast from Victoria into the
wilderness. The man bestrode one, the
boy another, while on the back of the
third were loaded the four jackscrews.
As this small caravan proceeded, its two
human beings conversed about the things
which they saw along the route, and once
in while they touched upon the question
of their radical disagreement, viz: Was
Pierre, or Pierretta, boy or girl. The
man was sometimes convinced that his
companion told the truth; and then some
distinctly feminine gesture, acquired by
professional imitation as one of the Gas
cabel Sisters" would unsettle his belief.
They had travelled steadily. with only
stop for luncheon and rest Mt noon,
showed an unmistakable disposition to
stop for the night. A halt was therefore
made, and simple preparations were made
to camp out. A mere trace of roadway
had been followed, and at this point it
crossed the head of ravine. down which
a creek tumbled over the rocks in it's steep
descent. With grass and water in plenty
for the tired horses, with pine boughs
with which to make a sort of bedding for
themselves, and with clear. warm weather
to supplement those essentials, comfort
able night seemed to be certain. But of
a sudden the prospects were radically
changed
"Well, what be you two doin' here!"
gruff voice asked.
The speaker looked as rough rs his ut
terance sounded. At his back were three
others as unpleasant as he in aspect. They
carried rifles, and had other indications
of trappers; but the unarmed man and
boy opined that bullets from those guns
| would penetrate human beings quite as
readily as game.
"We're only travelers-this lady and
me-" Mr.. Harley TREMENDOUSLY replied.
"And what have you got to do with
us, anyhow" Pierre added. so spiritedly
| that the mention of him as "a lady" pass
ed unnoticed.
"We'll keep a very careful guard over
you tonight" the stranger resumed; $50
| the chipmunks won't eat you up"
Compromising that they were prison
! ers, but puzzled why or wherefore. Mr.
| Harley and Pierre at length fell asleep
| from sheer fatigue. Daylight was streak
| ing the sky when they awoke. Their cap
tors were already astir with preparations
| for a start.
| whats them contrivances for? the
| leader asked, pointing to the jackscrews.
| Pierre explained fully.
"Then, as we're going your way" the
| man resumed, "we'll escort you"
Here it is as we'll to put the reader into
possession of facts which the two cap
tives did not learn until later. A month
| prior to this United States Government
vessel, on its way to Alaska, had on board
! over hundred thousand dollars with
which to pay the salaries and expenses
! of all the officials stationed in that detach-
ed territory. The steamer put in at Vic
! toria for provisions. and there plot was
made to steal the treasure. A gang of
desperadoes. connected with the mining
and trapping interests of the region, made
a night raid on the ship, and disappeared
so completely with the cash that no clue
| to them was obtainable. The fact was
that, knowing of a worked out and long
abandoned coal mine, distance in the
interior, the robbers conveyed the booty
there, to hide it along with themselves
until circumstances should favor their es-
cape with it from the country. A reward
/ nd Toll nG En-
their capture, and as much more for the
recovery of the fund. There were ten of
the thieves, and Of their number were
those whom Mr.. Harley and Pierre en-
| countered. They imagined that the man
and boy were spies, and that, anyhow,
they should be kept from returning to
Victoria with any possible information.
Right here you'll excuse us for blind
folding you," said the chief captor, after
| devious route through forest had been
followed several miles.
The prisoners were compelled to dis
mount. Their eyes were bandaged. Then
they were led into the long-abandoned
and not very capaciOus mine, where the
Hudson Bay Company had long before
found it improbable to take out coal at
SO great distance from the coast. The
existence of this artificial cavern had
been well-nigh forgotten, and it's entrance
"a level one at the base of a ledge-was
concealed by a growth of bushes. Along
corridor, and past the stolen treasure
boxes, the two were conducted: and at
length, in the furthest chamber. the ban
dages were taken from their eyes.
"You'll stay here SPELL" said the chief
of the gang. "Mebbe we'll have to kill
you, and mebbe not; but we're sure to il
you try to get out"
They were left alone, with a single
lamp dimly burning. Gradually their
eyes became accustomed to the gloom
They were in space from which the coal
had been removed, leaving cavern OF
irregular shape, but not more than twenty
feet in height at it's greatest.
whats that?" Mr.. Harley exclaimed
He was gazing at this dome-like roof
Pierre looked up. The sight astounded
him.
'"Those are the wheels of the Belle Rou
iette," he replied.
And he was right. Protruded down
ward, through break in the top of the
mine, hung the running gear of the circus
van. The nature of the mishap was ex
planned. The weight of the vehicle hao
crushed the thin crust left by the miners
and yet the aperture thus made had no.