The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-11-11
CHAPTER Y.-CoNrrNurn.

your brother died three years ago"
ne said, ''and your son was passenger
with me to Frisco this winter. He was
coming to the mines, he said. He was
killed a couple of weeks ago one night
when he was coming down to the YES
sci. Capt. Coffin took charge Of the
body. 1t was the day before left town.
mad my ticket all bought and couldn't
wait for the funeral"
did you see the body YOURSELF"
"No," said the mate, hesitatingly,
"but l heard the second mate say he
was dead"
do they know who did it?"
"No"
How did II all happen?"
The stalwart miners voice tremoied
as he spoke, but he controlled himself
by superhuman effort and Obed Rider
replied:
''He was picked up dead on the water
front one night. He was on his way
down to the vessel and they supposed
some one hit him from behind. They
went through the poor chaps clothes
and left him on the sidewalk, the scoun-
drelsl The second mate found him
there the same night long toward
morning. ! had my ticket on an excur-
sion train that day and j couldn't wait
had lots to do getting ready"
"Was there no clew to the murderer"
"No, they said there warn't no chance
of ever finding out who done II. No one
was round to see the Teller do IL and he
got clean off,"
"Then you don't know where he was
TO be buried?"
mo, but Cap'n Coffin would see .hat
he was taken care of all ship shape and
snug"
"Who is this Capt. Cofiln?"
skipper Of the Seabird."
"was that the craft you came out in 2"
The mate replied in the affirmative,
and the unhappy father went on:
"God bless him for his big heart IL he
does that Money is no object TO me
now. I've frozen and sweltered all these
years to get gold and now I'm alone in
the world. You haven't told me how
my brother died. When was that?"
The mate gave him all the details,
this time truthfully. for he had heard
tlem Ill III NhNh ht
finished, Capt. Scott said:
"Did you never hear Tom speak of
me? Why did he never write? Wien |
left the ship in your charge gave you
letter to mail to him, telling him that
/ was going up in Alaska after gold,
and giving him an address in Seattle
where he could write, and | would get
the letter some time. He never wrote
as far as / know, or IL he did IL was
never forwarded to me. For over three
years have been buried where no let
tiers could reach me, and now was on
my way 10 Seattle and then for home.
It's an awful blow, Riderl"
The mate was silent, and the stricken
man continued:
"What did the owners say when YOU
turned over the vessel and accounts?"
The Others face was ashy pale. but
he made great effort, and replied:
go, it was all right"
Accounts were all straight?'
Riders agitation was so great that
the other must have noticed ii but for
his own great grief, but he managed TO
say:
All blThlBnl, cap II,
Toms father was silent a moment,
and Obed Riders thoughts were any
thing but pleasant His brain was In
whirl, and he feared that any moment
his tongue might betray him to the man
he had wronged so deeply. He was at
his wits end for the best course 20
pursue, when suddenly his companion
settled the matter at once by exclaim-
ing;
s'I have only one thing left 20 live for
powl / have more money than ] know
what 10 do with. and I'll see that my
poor boy Is buried properly in Frisco.
Then I'll do the square thing by every
body that was good to him there and
then"
He broke Off suddenly and set his
seth hard.
"Then I'll put $4,000 reward up for
tie wretch who killed him"
Rider shuddcred involuntnrily as the
captain spoke, but he made no reply.
The belt auout his waist seemed 10 fair
Nv burn his flesh as the father went on,
and he dared not meet the speakers
gaze;
"What Will ne do IL he finds his whelp
alive and hears what I told about his
skipping out?" he thought. He will
murder mel must be out OF this be-
fore he gets back here and he will never
think OF looking for me on the Dalton
trsili Besides. IL hs's rich the chances