Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-05-26
CHAPTER ~.
wAYLAID AND ROBBED.

When Tom Scott went ashore in
Frisco he found the city was Klon-
dixie mad. On every hand were huge
posters calling attention to the SUI
perior merits of some particular route
to the fields of gold, and men of all
walks in life were straining every nerve
to be among the first to reach the Yu
kon with the advent of spring. Several
steamers We're loading at the piers, but
every inch of space on board had been
engaged months ahead. After consult
ing with Capt. Coffin he determined to
go by rail to Seattle and trust to luck
to secure passage from that port.
He made no mention of the singular
secret bestowed upon him by the old
miner, but frankly told the captain of
the money he had received from the
same source, and the latter promptly
gave him some good advice.
Better not be drifting round FRS
co with all that stuff in your pocket"
he said. 1--WE got a good little safe
here and you're welcome to use it.
There's some desperate characters on
the water front here, and plenty of em
would kill man ten times over for half
your pile. They've all got the gold
fever now. My second mate is going 10
leave me. He's got it, too. Hope the
mate doesn't follow suit"
Tom was wise enough to listen to the
warning and left the larger part of his
money in the safe, but he kept the two
precious papers in his money belt, a
proceeding which he was to regret very
soon.
He found there was a special excur-
sion advertised to leave the following
morning, and was just in time to secure
ticket. After taking in the sights Of
the city during the afternoon he pro-
cured his supper in restaurantand de-
cided to spend the evening at theatcr,
| for it must be remembered that he was
country reared and with few rare ex-
ceptions, when he had visited Boston, a
theater had been beyond his reach.
He thoroughly enjoyed the perform
ance and started down toward the wa
ter front when 1t was finished without
thought of any danger as he strobe
rapidly along the well-lighted thor
oughfares. While he is thus engaged
let us take look at Obed Rider, the vii
famous mate of the Seabird, and see
how his schemes are progressing.
While Tom was watching the foot
light favorites Obed Rider was sitting
In little drinking saloon near the
wharf where the Seabird had been
| locked. Before him was bottle OF
liquor and a glance at his face was suffi-
| Gent to show that he had been indulg-
ing deeply. His SMALL bloodshot eyes
we're fixed upon vacancy, and he was
apparently meditating deeply.
Hell be off tomorrow" he nut.
tered, savagely, land then my chance is
gone. l must have those papers and
money enough to get an outfit. das
sent get anyone to lend me hand, fol-
then the cat would be out of the bag
If had that paper the old man give him
what's to hinder my going and claim
ing TO be Mr.. Scott? There's a fortune
in it, but it's ugly business"
Filling his glass again he drained j,
at gulp as if trying to screw up III:
courage to the necessary point for some
resolve. Then he looked at his watch
and said:
Ten o'clock. No time to lose. FRS
20 see if he is on board yet"
Five minutes later he was back again
Tom had not returned, and RIDE
gulped down another draught of fiery
liquor and then skulked up the stree
until he came to the darkest portion
where narrow alley affordedhim Sc
cure hiding place. His right hand wa
hidden in the pocket of his coat, ant
grasped short implement made o
bone, which the sailors call I'D" ant
which he had secured while on board
few moments before.
Under ordinary circumstances TIL,
liquor he had imbibed would have con
fused his brain, but now he was onl,
conscious of an intense, overpowerins
determination to secure the paper
which meant SO much to the man VIII,
could reach the gold region with them
There had been smart shower in tn,
early part of the evening, and the drip
ing from the low caves of the house.
still continued, but had a dragging ant
relenting sound. A solitary street ligh
80 yards away cast dismal CLEAN TO
a few square yards in either direction
while an occasional burst Of drunken
laughter from the next street told O
some party OF jewellers making thei
noisy way home.
The mate noticed none of thes,
things. His eyes were fixed intentl,
in the direction from which he expect
ed his victim to come, and his squar,
jaws were set. Through his brain raj
but one thought:
1.-THE papers!"
| Halt an hour passed and Tom cam,
stridiuE along under the Rsslisht