Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-06-02

Say? Why, what would any man
say? I'm with you us long as have
drop Of blood left! OF course I'll go,
but have hanged little mon"
Don't talk money to met" interrupt
ed Tom, quickly. 81 know what you did
for me before you knew had cent. l
have $4,000 left, and the first thing is for
you to take half of it. I'll feel safer
then"
Don't you think anyone knew you
had them papers?" asked his new COM
rade after awhile. Sure you never
mentioned them or showed them?"
Sure" replied Tom. II did not men
ton them to u single person, and they
were never out of the belt except when
l was looking at them alone by my
self"
WAS the money you lost in the belt,
too?"
"Yes-no, come to think of it, had it
in my pocket that night. 1t was lucky
put the most of it in the safe that
very day"
What made you do that?"
Capt. Coffin advised me to-" replied
Tom, little surprised at the persist
ency of his friends questioning. "Why
do you ask?"
Because" was the thoughtful reply.
I'm figuring up how many folks could
possibly have seen those papers,"
II tell you"
Delay bit!" broke in Green. LET
me finish my calculation. Two heads
are better'n one. The old man gave the
paperstoyou aboard ship, in your state
room?"
Tom nodded, and the other went on:
"Now, who could have seen them
when they was in your room? Let's
count up. The cap'n, the mate and me
Is the only ones that had any chance,
cause no one else is allowed in the
cabin beside the cook. The cook went
to sea long ago, which he wouldn't done
If he had any money TO buy rum nor
any such papers as them in his pocket.
We know Cap'n Coffin didn't slug you,
for he amt that kind, and if he was he
wouldn't have told you to put your
money in the safe and felt SO bad over
your hurt"
what are you driving at?' asked
Tom, rather amused at the businesslilie
way In which the sailor was checking
off his points on the ends of his fingers,
"Then there's the mattel"
Green paused and looked triumphant.
ly at Tom.
THE mates room was next to yourn
He might have seen them. He was in
his room when you came out and said
the old man was dying. He skipped out
the saplle day YOU was hurt and give nc
notice. lie never come nigh you at all
He"
What do you meanT' demanded
Tom, starting to his feet, as for the first
time the others meaning began te
dawn upon him.
Vie hated you like poison, and"
Yves! Yes! see it alll" cried Tom
clenching his fists. 81 see why he lef,
so suddenly. had a ticket in my
pocket by an excursion train for Seat
tie! 1t was only good that day! He i.
the robber. could swear to It'll How
did you come to think of it SO quick?"
Cause the chap that did 1t would
have taken your money out Of you,
pocket and lit out. He wouldn't hay,
/ took no chances hunting for belt UNI
less he knew there was one there. SCI
1t must be some one that knew of The
papers, and then the rest was easy
| Now come down aboard and We'll see il
We can't prove it."
Tom followed him to the Seabird, ant
they soon stood in the mates state
room.
| "See here!"
The second officer pointed as he spols.
to a narrow crack in the partition which
| separated it from Toms room. 1t need
cd but a glance to show that 1t hat
been recently enlarged.
'That's what did the business" h,
continued, land he's off for that gol,
mine. He's got big start, and what
to prevent bis passing himself OFF as MI
Tom Scott on those people?"
"He couldn't do that!" exclaimed
Tom.
why not? Was there any descrip
ton of you in the paper the old MAJ
gave you? How are they to know
"But I've got a statement in M
pocket from Capt. Coffin. telling who w
are, and all about it! insisted Tom.
What good is that when the mate
on the spot, perhaps, with his docu
ments, and how can you make anyon
believe you are the right chap? Loo
here, Scott, there's only one thing /
do. We've got to go after that son of
sea cook, and take the law in our ow
hands. Something will turn up to he'll
us out. After all. don't know but tina
there is something in what you say. AL
he could tell about Avery was what h
saw on board the vessel. lie neve
talked any with him, and don't kno,
anything about his family OF business
Now, dare say the old chap told you
good many things about himself, didn
he?"
Eyes" replied Tom, eagerly, "he tol
me all about his family, and can 500
convince anyone that the mate Is lyin
il he claims to be me. I've got the cal
tain's statement, you know, sworn
before justice of the peace. and all wi
messed. The mate will have hard tim
to get round that"
"Mebbe so" was the doubtful repl,
"but it's wild country where wei
going, and don't believe papers will
Of much account there. We're two
one, anyhow, and II we overhaul IL
rascal we shall find some way to g.
square with him."