Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-06-20

ascendanc.. over him that be dared not,
attempt TO leave him now that he was
| asleep He had meant to assault Tom
Scott and take his papers, but his Gu
| pidity was intlamed and he had been
| drinking then. lie was sober now, and
the evident intention of his comrade to
attempt to bully or rob five, armed men
was quite another matter. Still, there
was no help for it, and he tried to steel
his cowardly heart to its work.
Bowers relieved him at midnight, and
as soon as the first streak of daylight
| could be seen he aroused the mate and
said:
Tin off again. Stay here and keep in
| under this hill as much as YOU can till I
| get back"
| Once more he made his way to the
bowlder and took up his station. From
his hiding place he could see the diff
ferent members of the party as they
| carried load after load out of sight
among the rocks, but suddenly one of
the men mounted a horse and drove the
restdirectly toward the hidden watcher.
What's he drivin' at?" muttered
Bowers to himself.
AS the rider drew near the miner was
forced to throw himself at full length
on the ground to escape being seen, and
he fingered his revolver grimly. Tar
box was too busy with the horses to look
very sharply about him, and soon
turned back after giving the animals
few sharp blows, which sent them of
ut full speed.
Then he returned to his party. and
at last they had all disappeared from
sight.
Bowers waited until he was satisfied
that they would not reappear; then he
stretched his cramped limbs and hur-
ried back to Rider, who was inpatient
ly awaiting him.
what are they doing?" asked the
latter, eagerly.
They've turned all their critters
loose an hid away somewheres," was
the reply. "See here, Rider, I've got
scheme"
"a scheme?"
That's what said. It's good one,
too. Suppose you could find yer way
back to Dyea?"
"Of course I could. Why?"
I'm goin' ter tell yer why. Thar's
about q dozen good critters turned
loose. They're worth 5000 apiece in
Dyea, 1 dunno but more. You don't
seem ter want ter put up bluff an jine
this party. Well ketch them horses an
you drive 'em back to Dyea an sell 'em.
Bring one spare critter back with yer
fer me an one fer Their swag. When
yer git back come ter tibet big bowlder
an jest as Their sun is risin' show YER
self mint. That night hev the horses
thar an I'll ine yer. Understand"
But what are you goin' to do?"
That's my funeral. You do Jest as
I tell yer. Don't make any slip. 1t
wouldn't be very healthy fer yer if yer
went back on me. I'd foller yer all
over kingdom come"
Rider jumped at the proposal
Whether he would return or not was
question he could settle later on. At
present it was enough to be rid of the
desperate man who eyed him as if read
ing his very thoughts.
You'll come back. l shall have gold
enough to make us both rich or else
shan't be 'boye ground. I'm takin' all
the resll an eff yer don't come back
1 shall prob'ly miss yer. I'll do my part
an you see you do yours"
1t was evident that ne was about to
engage in some desperate scheme, and
Rider fastened to assure him that he
would be back as fast as possible.
you'll travel light an you orter be
back in ~ days" said Bowers. IT shall
look fer yer bout that time. So long"
Rider started off on the back trail at
once, and while he is making his way to
Dyea we must follow Hank Bowers as
he rides around the bowlder and ap-
| proaches the spot where Tom Scott and
his party had camped the night be-
fore.
He had no means of telling whether
his approach was observed or not, but
he rode boldly forward and soon
reached the deserted camp. Here he
dismounted and walked toward the
cliff between the scattered rocks in the
same direction he had seen the outfit
carried.
"I'll swear this is the way they went"
he said aloud as he paused before the
face of the cliff and looked keenly
about him. They hain't got wings an
they must be here somewhere or they'd
never drove off them horses. They re in
some place horses couldn't be took, but
whar is it? Tain't up Their valley,
cause l seen em come in here with my
own eyes"
For some time he paced about the
spot, examining each bowlder to see
that there was no hiding place near it,
but he could discover nothing and bel
gan to grow angry.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
"a