The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-06-22

looking miner.
ing him to be utterly INSCRIPTIONS,
had decided to enlist his services in
his own schemes.
On the very night Tom landed at
Dyea he was making the offer. He
first informed his new friend that his
name was Avery, then showed the let
ter from the old miners partner, also
the will drawn up on shipboard.
The other laughed insolently in his
face as he went on and sneered:
Come off! Do yer take me for a
fool? If you was digging gold in 40
you was at it blasted young!"
Rider shrank before his look, and he
continued:
See here, now, old man. Give us
straight deal. Them papers amt none
of yourn. You've pinched 'em some
whar. Of course, that's your business,
an yer amt obliged ter split on yerself.
l amt a man ter stick at trifes, but
don't go in with yer blind. Now, in the
fust place, what's yer right name?"
Having obtained this infor1na ton, he
continued:
"All right. Now, the next thing is,
how did yer git them papers?"
Rider dared not refuse to tell, but he
said, sullenly:
II took them from young fellow in
Frisco"
'"Oh, you did! Now we are Coming
down to biz. He give 'em up fer the
askin', dare say?"
NO." growled Rider, II knocked him
over and took EN-"
Good! And did yer make clean job
of it? Did yer kill him?''
II don't know. He was alive the next
morning."
Know who hit him?"
"No."
Then you're all right, and I'll join.
yer. But, see here, Rider, if that is your
name, there's one more to this than yer
think. You say there is one man up to-
the place now besides the one that was
to come in after grub in the spring.
Now, why can't we run across this chap
on his way, and-well, he must be taken
care of. Then we can go to the place,
where the gold is and look after your
other friend. We shall have the whole
shootin' match to ourselves then.
What's to prevent US stakin' out claims.
and layin' round loose, then sellin' out
for big money when the rush comes?
It's with million apiece to US, mani"
'But what about these men?" whis-
pered Rider.
bah! Yer chicken! They'll never
be missed!"
"You mean to murder them?"
< See here" said Bowers, don't you,
be a fool. This thing has got to be-
managed right, an it's lucky yer took.
me in. You'd spoiled the whole
racket I'D like ter see yer work it.
alone" r-..
Riders heart failed him for an in
slant, but pull at the whisky bottle
revived his courage, and for another
hour the two conspirators continued to
plot against the lives and wealth of
their fellows. -:s
They had decided to start at once on
their villainous errand, and the follow
ing morning they were astir before day
light. They wished to avoid observation.
as much as possible, and but few peo-
pie saw them as they loaded their
horses.
Bowers was attending to this, when .
Obed Rider, who had been bringing the
goods to him, remembered that he had
left some articles to dry on a smalls
bush not far away, and hurried after
them.
By this time it, was broad daylight,
and fires were being started in the.
stoves here and there. He was passing
close behind one. of.these when sudden
" his heart seemed to: leap into his.
throat, for voice he could not mistake
sounded clearly:
Hello, Greenl You're,up earlyl Myl
Amt I sleepy!"
. Il was Tom scotts voice, and the
mate stopped. AS Though. he had BEEN,