The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-06-29

Il
dark figure, Fastening to meet him and
q moment later Obed Rider stood before
him, aying: ~
rs II you, Bowers? p
Yes, Rider, it's me an yer a brick!
Righton time!"
u got here yesterday Sold the
horses for $3.50 apiece and put the coin
in 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. "1'll explain later
on" D.. ~
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. B." =
When they reached the base of the
cliff he fastened the animals securely
and led the way into the narrow pas
sage, saying: *.-.. ..J .
Hold on to my coat. Itisn't far"
When they came to- the rope ladder he
struck a match and whispered:
"'Stay here till 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 a hand!"
| Without waiting for Rider to reply he
assembled the ladder, leaving the latter
in the dark passage and in no envia BILE
frame Of mind.
Nov for the gold," he muttered, as
he crept silently toward the cave.
It 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. Twicesince 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
at the tents behind him he dropped to
his knees and crawled deliberately up
to it.
Again he paused.
Yes, they were 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 recumbent position, but he
had come prepared.
Tbrusting 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 such 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
fed that all immediate danger was
past. Then he rose to his feet, anC
hurried down the bed of the old brook
until he reached the top of the bowlder
IT was the work of moment to fas
ten his plumber to a rope and lower i
down, at the same time whispering loud
ly to his confederate:
,, "Are you there, Rider?''
"Yes," came the answer. ''Whatis al
this?" y
Gold, you fool!" Kissed Bowers
"Lash it on one Of the. critters, quick!
For moment he hesitated. Should
! he join his partner and make good III
escape?
Apparently cupidity won the day, TO
, he began to retrace his steps toward tn
? cave. His first success had made hin
more confident, and he was well awar,
that he had not secured half the bag
e he had just touched.
l Again he reached the entrance with
: out noise and crawled to the spotwher
the gold was piled against the wall