Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-06-09

and for few moments sat in silence,
drawing huge puffs of the fragrant
weed with an enjoyment which fairly
spoke for itself.
Suddenly Riders companion slapped
his thigh as though he had just
thought of something wonderful, and.
turning to the mate with look Of
warning, exclaimed:
by thunder, Scott, you don't sup
pose this is"
He stopped in tho middle of the sen
tence and looked searchingly at the
stranger. then continues:
ut would be funny, wouldn't it,
Scott. if we had met him out here! You
know the letter said he was comm
down this month fer grub"
The stranger looked wonderingly at
the two men and Bowers fastened to
say:
Excuse me, stranger. but might
your name be Tarbox?"
The man took his pipe from his lips
and stared at the speaker for full a Sec
ond before replying, then he replied:
ut might be and it is. How did you
know me?"
AN yer pardner's name is Taylor?"
This time the man was too astonished
to reply, and Bowers went on:
You're goin' ter Dyea after grub, an
he's back in the hills. Amt that all
straight"
Joe Tarbox rose to his feet and laid
his hand on his weapon, saying in a
quiet tone:
THAT is correct, but it's my turn to
ask questions now. How did you find
all this out?"
Bowers turned to the mate and said.
promptly:
"Tom, old man, you tell him our
yarn an let him see the documents.
Thatu soon put things straight"
my name is Scott" said Rider. II
was an officer on the ship where man
named John Avery died. He was COM
ing out here on account of a letter from
an old chum of his named Dick Taylor.
The old chap fell overheard and pulled
him aboard after a hard tussle. We
come nigh going to Davy Jones, both of
us, and he never got over it. We buried
him out to sea and he drawed up
| writing to make me his heir He give
me letter he'd got from this Taylor,
telling how to get to gold mine he'd
been working.
"He told me to take what money was
in his belt and I did. He said he'd no
family. The letter said for him to bring
some one with him if he needed any
help. and as 1 didn't know nothing
about horses and shore rigging,
brought Bowers here along with me.
rough sailor man can spin it,"
Bowers face showed his approval of
the mates efforts and Tarbox was APP
parenuy convinced. for he shook hands
warmly with the speaker and ex-
claimed:
It's lucky thing met you. Dick
told me he had written to both the
Averys. They were old friends of his.
He told me to look out for them in
Dyea. Have you got the papers with
your"
That's what have. Here they are,
all shipshape and above board" replied
Rider as he proceeded to extract them
from his belt.
That's Dick Taylor's fist the world
over" assented Tarbox as he examined
the letter. 81 remember the day he
wrote that in our tent. We mad just
found the first big mug"
He coughed to hide his confusion and
then added.
Its all right. of course, but man
has to be careful. Once let the mob
know where we are and what we've
found and we'd be overrun in no time
AS luck would have it Hank Bowers
chose this instant. when Tarbox was
examining the papers, to throw a lool
of ferocious triumph on the mate. AL
though neither of them noticed the fact
Joe Tarbox raised his eyes just then
and to man of his training nothing
more was needed to put him on hi:
guard.
He cast keen look at Bowers, and a!
dropped his eyes again, but there was
little hardening of the muscles abou
his jaw, and with careless twist of hi
body he brought his weapon nearer hi
hand
He was too old hand, however, Il
. make any outward sign of alarm, ant
said, coolly:
Its a pity you didn't pick up the 9th
er Avery at Dyea. He ought to be Their
by. this time
"And how can we find your pardner?
asked Bowers.
DO just as the letter says" reptile
Tarbox. Build fire and he'll see tn
smoke and come. The route is to
crooked to describe"
"How long afore you'll be back wit
the grub? We've got good lot here
but you can't hev too much"
It'll take me three days to get i
and two or three more to get what
want. If l can't find horses sha
have to go to Skaguay. l shan't b
> back under a fortnight or three week
5 at the best"
After finishing hispipe, Tarbox plead
u ed fatigue. and rolled himself up in hi
u blanket. But there was no sleep fo
him that night. The sinister look o
q Bowers face had given him the clew h
5 wanted, and as he waited patiently fo
z daylight he muttered to himself:
y THAT was close shave! There
something wrong about that sailor.
u his company is anything to go by.
this Bowers isn't the man saw drive
Il y -.