Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-07-11

slowly up and down IN front Of the hut,
as he had been accustomed to do on
shipboard.
He did not see q dark form which
drew nearer each time his back was
turned.
Closer and closer 1t crept until 1t
reached tree at the end Of his route.
The next time he turned his back to it
he was seized by the throat from be-
hind with grip which completely shut
Off his breath while stern whisper
sounded In his ear,
"Maks sound and I'll kill you like
dogl"
obed Rider made no attempt to strug-
gle after the first involuntary start Of
surprise. The cold rim Of steel pressed
against his ear was too strong an argu-
ment in addition to the viselike grip ON
his windpipe.
The latter was loosened when he
ceased struggling and the voice whis-
pered,
"Come with me quietly, or It'll be the
worse for you!"
The speaker pushed him along few
yards until he reached spot where be
could readily distinguish the outlines
OF several men under 3 trss- A. they
approached the group, his captor said.
"Here he is. Now, what shall we do
with him9"
It was Tarbox who stood behind the
prisoner, and be added,
zone Of you take away his weapons"
Tom Scott sprang to the side of his
old enemy, and to his delight found
! two loaded revolvers In his belt, which
he secured. giving one to Taylor.
Avery had taken the one from his
daughter, and Tom found that the car
tridges in the weapon just secured fit
ted the empty revolver he had found In
the hut.
To slip three Of them into it was the
work Of q moment. Then our friends
| found they had four weapons ready for
use, and determined to lose no time In
recovering their golden treasure.
"Let's surround the hut" said Tom,
eagerly, land call them out They'll
surrender when they find they have no
show with u.s."
But Avery advised caution. They're
desperate men," he said, land they viii
| fight when cornered. We don't want
any bloodshed over this affair II we can
help It, When daylight comes they
may be glad to give us the gold to save
their skins, but If we surprise them In
the dark somebody is likely to get
killed."
"See here" said Tarbox. suddenly,
still gripping Riders collar with his
slnewy hand, why can't this rascal
help usa Send him back, and let him
get hold OF the guns in the hut and
bring them out. II he tries any crook.
ed business I'll put a bullet through him
myself at the arst sign"
/ "Yt hear?" said Taylor. Now be
of, and remember we are six to your
three. We already have the horses
safe, and If you serve us well you shall
60 free, although you ought to be hung
| for what you have done. Go back and
get all the weapons you can out Of the
hut. Hurry up!"
But Bowers will shoot me in a min,
ute If he wakes" whispered Rider, fear
fully.
"shoot him first, then" was the
prompt response. "I'll shoot you If yor
act the least bit suspicious. No more
talk now. startl"
The muzzle Of q revolver pokec
smartly into the small Of his back left
the wretched man no alternative ant
he stole away toward the hut, where his
two confederates were sleeping, hi:
heart beating SO loudly that it seemed
to him 1t must arouse them the instant
he reached the threshold. He dared mo-
pause, however, and as he picked hi!
way along through the trees he begar
to realize that the way of the trans
J gressor is sometimes not SO rosy as /
Is painted.
When he reached the door he coult
plainly hear the deep snoring of boil
men, and, mastering all his courage, h,
stepped lightly inside.
In order to reach the rifles in the cor
ner he was forced to step over the bod,
of Turner, and it seemed to the mat
that he lived IN hour in the few sec
onds so employed.
His hand trembled so that 1t was witt
the utmost difficulty he managed to Sc
cure the three weapons noiselessly, bu
fortune favored him. With bate,
breath he stole out of the hutwith then
In his arms, and when he reached tn
edge of the clearing he was met b
Tarbox, who said, grimly:
"Goodl You make capital blu,
glarl Now, how many rewolvers hav
they got In there?"
They've got two apieceg' replied r
der, "but you might as well shoot m
: as to ask me to try to getsthem off tn
men. Bowers sleeps with.one eye ope
and he"
The rest of the sentence'was lost b
startling interruption.
While he was speaking he.had unwit
ttngly raised his voice abovesa whispe
and aroused the very man of whom h
was speaking, and who now stood in tn
doorway saying:
What the -, Riderl Who's tha
you're talking to2''
Even as he spoke the moons edge az
peared over the tops of the trees bt
hind the hut and o bright shaft ofligh
Illuminated the spot with startin
distinctness.
At the sound of his voice the entir
party sprang from the dark shadow
and Tarbox shouted, as he le9eled hi
revolver,
Surrender peaceably ands'we wi
only take our ownl If you show figf