Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-06-09
CHAPTER VIII.
ON THE DALTON TRAIL.

The two young men followed him in
silence. When they reached the tent
Tom repeated the story of his acquaint-
ance with the old miner, touching as
lightly as possible on the two occa-
sions in which he had risked his own
life, but a pair OF blue eyes were fixed
upon him all the while. and the girls
face showed that. she fully appreciated
and admired his daring.
Her father made but few interrupt
tons until Tom described the thbed
scene, and then he said:
"Have you the papers now?"
NO" replied Tom. but know them
by heart. I was waylaid and robbed
IN San Francisco. See, here is the scar"
AS he spoke he bent his head. and
then went ont
1--WE have reason to believe the mate
of the vessel, a man named Rider, heard
what your brother said to me when he
was dying and that he was the rascal
who nearly killed me and took the
papers. He disappeared, and we think
he came here and started up the trail
to pass himself off as the rightful own
er of the will. He has had long start,
and may be there before this"
Avery was silent for moment, and
then he said, frankly:
IT don't want to doubt your word.
Scott, but I must take every precau-
ton. Before admit anything, tell me
what the letter to John said, and what
it was signed"
| Tom promptly complied, and appar-
emily convinced the other, for he ex.
tended his hand, exclaiming:
Its all right, and you shall have
Johns share if l can helpyou Shall we
go on together? l have been waiting
here a week in hopes to run across Tar
4 box. He was coming down after sup
plies this month
81 think we'd better start at once,
said Tom. eve may meet him, and be
sides feel sure the mate is there some
where"
Would you know this man Tarbox i
you saw him?" added Tom.
NO." was the reply. Hes new
partner Taylor has picked up out here.
DO you know Taylor?"
80, yes We were all out together II
the California mines in the sos. Poo
John was one of us. Dick Taylor love-
him as though he'd been his brother
too. It'll be sad news for him TO hea
your story"
1t was late that night when Tom an,
Green returned to their tent. 1t ha
been decided to make sure that tn
man had not arrived from the mine
and, should they be unable to hear Q
him, they were to start on the day fol
lowing.
The sailor threw himself down on hi
bed of boughs and was asleep almost in
stantly, but Tom Scott could see pal
of blue eyes when his own were tight
shut. his dreams that night were
sad tumble of gold mines and fair dan
sells in distress, and he awoke but littl
refreshed.
The day was spent in quiet bu
fruitless inquiries for the man the
sought, and the following morning
little caravan filed away from the ha,
DOT toward lTe WllQ nOTlQeTn cOuntT'
Tom led the way on his horse, the pac
horses came next, Avery and his daugl
ter followed and Green brought up til
rear.
The Dalton trail is over an undula
ing country all the way to Fort Selkirl
and can easily be travelled on horse bac
the entire distance of some ais mile
which relieved our travellers of the har'
ships attendant upon the other trail
and it was with a light heart that To-
looked back over the well-fitted strin
of animals and exclaimed:
"If we can only meet the man fro
the mine we shall be in luck! We ha,
provisions enough for all hands!"
He would not have felt SO happy cou,
he have known that Of that nome,