The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-08-11

10 hasten the last to the top of the
cbstructing bowlder was an easy task.
aided by the light Of match. which
could not be seen outside. Down the
ladder he felt his way. and after some
trouble reached the plain. where tho
starlight made the rest of the way com
paratiyely easy.
As he approached the rock ne saw o.
dark figure Fastening TO meet him and
a moment later Obed Rider stood before
him. saying:
as ii you, Bowers?"
YES, Rider it's me an yer brickI
Right on time!"
81 got here yesterday. Sold the
horses for $50 apiece and put the coin
in a safe place there. Got three horses
with me back here What are you
going to do?'
"Git the bosses an foller mel" said
Bowers, hurriedly. "Tll explain later
on"
Rider obeyed, and as they made their
way across the plain he asked again
what his companion intended to do.
"All you've got ter do is ter wait
where I'put yer an do as l tell yer, an
to-morrer you'll be a rich man." re-
piled Bowers, mysteriously.
When they reached the base of the
cliff he fastened the animals securely
and led the way into the narrow pas
sage, saying:
Hold on to my coat 1t isn't far"
When they came to the rope ladder he
struck a match and whispered:
stay here till 1 come an pass some
thin down ter yer. Take it out an
fasten it on the boss an come back. If
yer hear eny shootin' come up an
| gimme hand"
Without waiting for Rider to reply he
assembled the ladder, leaving the latter
in the dark passage and in no enviable
| frame of mind.
Nov for the gold" he muttered, as
! he crept silently toward the cave
It was a perfect night and the stars
overhead gave sufficient light to enable
! Bowers to see objects quite a distance
away. He was obliged to move very
carefully over the broken ground to
avoid a fall but he seemed entirely at
home at this sort of work, avoiding
rolling stones as if by instinct.
In order to reach the cave he must
| pass close to the tents. and as he drew
near them he redoubled his caution, for
| his only hope of success lay in stealth.
| Nearer and nearer he crept until he
could hear the heavy breathing of the
occupants, and for fully five minutes he
stood motionless, every sense on the
alert.
Apparently the entire party was
asleep. and with noiseless step he stole
past the two tents and fixed his eyes on
the opening to the cave. Twice since his
arrival he had managed TO peep inside
unobserved. and only that morning he
had seen the pile of fat'canvas bags on
the ground to the left. He had also no.
ticed that the boughs and blankets
| upon which Avery and his daughter
slept were on the opposite side.
Now he was within ten feet of the
entrance, and after last swift glance
al the tents behind him he dropped to
! his knees and crawled deliberately up
TO il.
Again he paused
Yes, they were both asleep. lie could
hear the long-drawn breathing at the
] AAE ~ anu IilhAA4lN AlNAlllN ulNl AlllA vi
/ the father from his daughter.
Then, like some huge black spider, he
crawled into the inly darkness, and
was lost to view.
Inch ny inch he advanced, gmdlng
himself 10y the glimpses he had fixed in
| his mind of the place, until his hand
rested on the treasure. The bags were
| heavy, and lie moved them with diff
/ Guilty in his recumbeut position, but he
had come prepared.
Thrustiug his hand into his bosom. he
| produced a short thick thong. with
which he fastened two of the largest
! together, pausing often to be certain
/ he had not disturbed the sleepers.
When this was done he hung them
over his neck in sdqh manner that
they swung clear from the floor. His
| next move was TO stuff two small bags
/ into his shirt. Then, with infinite pa
| thence, he worked his way back to the
door and through it.
His breath came hard as he reached
the open air, for the strain had been
| tremendous, Detection meant almost
| certain death, and even his iron nerve
had not been proof against the situa-
| ton.
When he had somewhat recovered, he,
| crept slowly by the tents, until salts
fled that all immediate danger was
past. Then he rose to his feet and
hurried down the bed of the old brook
until he reached the top of the bowlder.
! 1t was the work of moment to fas--
/ ten his plumber TO rope and lower it