The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-10-31
CHAPTER I.
TOM SCOTT TO THE RESCUE.

The White pass starts off here and goes
right plumb over the mountains like
thu
And the speaker made bold stroke
with huge piece of chalk with which
he was ornamenting the floor of the vii
lagt store in Merrivale. where every
thing was dispensed from postage
stamps to lace curtains.
Clustered about his kneeling figure
were \ dozen men Of all ages whose
eyes were eagerly following the rude
map of Alaska which Hank Merritt was
drawing for their benefit
For stories Of the wonderful wealth
of this far-off Eldorado had penetrated
even this, remote place among the hills
of New Hampshire, and the Globe re-
ports Of The lucky strikes made by VEN
turesome argonauts had stirred the
blood Of every man in the village until
the riches of the Yukon valley had be-
come the ~il-engrossing topic among
those who net every evening at this
public RENDEZVOUS to pass an hour or
two after their days toll was finished.
"This is where you strike the lake, y
he continued, IAN then it's bout all
water the rest ~ the way. near as can
make cat. Geld is so plenty they dig
it ont jest as easy as we spade up worms
to 90 fishing with. Gee whiz! I'd like
to try it if it warn't so darned far off
an didn't cost SD much to git there"
The arrival of the mail interrupted
his artistic efforts, and when the hand
full of letters had been put away the
postmaster was called upon to read
aloud from the papers anything new
regarding the favorite topic.
"The steamer P. W. Weare had eight
miners on board who brought cut a
total of $3.50, 600. Others had 100000 to
$4,000 apiece, aEd some refused to give
their figures. The steamer Portland
brought down LOCO, 900. One man got
$216 from pan of dirt, and two miners
cleaned up $4,000 in a single day
work"
AS the reader paused one nigh, have
heard pin drop, so intense was the 81
lence for fully minute. Then dozen
voices broke out in ordinations Of
amazement and disbelief and in the
turmoil nothing ineligible could b.
distinguished.
There was one listener however, who
said nothing, but after the RESI- had
cdfmed down Bit ne secured a copy Of
the paper and FASTENED to the farm
where.he was employed with wild i'm
pulse surging through his brain. In his
little room under the caves he eagerly
devoured the article he had heard al
the store, and in another column be
found an interview with one of tie pio-
neers of Dawson City, giving full de-
tails as to the proper outfit and its cost
1t was midnight when the stalwart
young farmer sought his couch, and fol-
the first time in his healthy life SLEEP
refused TO come TO him, for he had made
up his mind 20 leave the village where
the greater part of his youth had beer
spent and seek his fortune in this dis
tant land. where a stout heart and
strong hands seemed able to force Ma
ture 10 relax he@ icy grip on her colder
stores.
Tom SCOTS life had been an uneyent
full one. He was the only son Of see
Captain anu uuill INC ONdl1I " liz
mother they lived on Cape Cod. Their
an uncle took him on his farm at Mer
rivale and his father continued his row
ing life A few years ago, however. ObeC
Rider, a native of Merrivale, who hai
sailed with Toms father as mate, re
turned 10 the village with story which
made great sensation at the time. L
was to the effect that Capt. Scott hac
deserted his ship at San Francisco anC
.absconded with large sum of money
belonging to the owners.
Tom was a lad of IS at the time, bu
few eyewitness would ever forget the
scene when he hurled the lie at thu
aDrawny sailor and fought like young
tiger until overpowered by the brute
strength of his fathers defamer, whose
nose was disfigured for life in the en-
counter and who vowed vengeance fol
his injury.
This was four years ago, but Ton
Scott still felt the disgrace cast upo1
his name. His uncle had now beer
dead over three years, and Tom haC
saved the wages paid him by the farmer
for whom he had worked since tina
time, until he possessed about $500
which was deposited in the village saw
ings bank. This would buy him min
~er's outfit, but how to reach the ia
northwest was the problem.
His sleep was troubled that night
but with the morning came the de
Termination to start at once for Bos
ton and trust to fortune to join one O
the numerous expeditions organizing
there.
His announcement was received will
MANAGEMENT but Tom Scott was a mar
of prompt action, and that Afternoon
saw him in Boston. He had been in the
city several times before, anL had III
difficulty in finding d respectable hote
where the rate was within his means
hut by The time he had eaten his supper
Il WAS growing dark and thick snow
Storm set in. He determined, however