Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-06-27
going 10 do z"

Bowers. hurriedly. "l'll 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 put yer an do as tell yer, an
to-morrer you'll be 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. Itisnt far"
When they came to the rope ladder he
struck match and whispered:
Stay here till come an pass some
thin down ter yer. Take 1t out an
fasten 1t on the boss an come back. II
yer hear eny shootin' come up an
gimme q hand!"
Without waiting for Rider to reply he
assembled the ladder, leaving the latter
In the dark passage and in no enyiable
frame of mind.
Now for the gold" he muttered, as
he crept silently toward the cave.
1t was perfect night, and the stars
overhead gave sufficient light to enable
Bowers to see objects quite distance
away. He was obliged to move very
carefully over the broken ground to
avoid 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 a last swift glance
at the tents behind him he dropped to
his knees and crawled deliberately up
to it.
Again he paused.
Yes, they We're both asleep. He could
hear the long-drawn breathing at the
right. and plainly distinguish that OF
the father from his daughter.
Then, like some huge black spider. he
crawled into the inky darkness. and
was lost to view.
Inch by inch he advanced, guiding
himself by the glimpses he had fixed in
his mind of the place, until his hand
rested on the treasure. The bags were
heavy, and he moved them with diff
Guilty in his recum bent position, but he
had come prepared.
Thrusting his hand into his bosom, he
produced q 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 such q 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 1t.
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
fed 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 a moment to fas-
ten his plumber to a rope and lower it
down. at the same time whispering loud
ly to his confederate:
"Are you there, Rider2"
"Yes," came the answer. "Whatis all
this?"
Gold, you fooll" Kissed Bowers,
Lash 1t on one of the critters, qu!ck!"
For moment he hesitated. Should
he join his partner and make good his
escape3
Apparently cupidity won the day, for
he began to retrace his steps toward The
cave. His first success had made him
more confident, and he was we'll aware
that he had not secured half the bags
he had Just touched.
Again he reached the entrance with
out noise and crawled TO the spot where
the gold was piled against the wall.
This time he could only stuff two or
three small bags inside his buckskin
shirt and grip one in his teeth.
He reached the open air safely and
was just rising to his feet when Avery
appeared in the mouth OF the cave, re-
volver In hand. shouting:
"Thieves Thieves. Take that, you
robert"
| But before the words were fairly out
Of his mouth Bowers had dropped the
bag which he had brought out in his
teeth like retriever and sprang away
in full flight.
Crack. Crack!
He heard the bullets sing over his
head.
AS he dashed by the tents n man
darted out with suspicious promptitude
and fired apparently po!ntb!ank at his
back. but missed him.
A few seconds more and he had
reached the rocky cleft and darted out
of sirht Down the rnna lad1er Ii q