Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-06-09
Copyright. 1893. by S. S. Mcclure Co..

the man he mentioned was seated by
campfire with Rider and his companion
reading John Avery's will and the letter
written by Dick Taylor.
Leaving Tom and his party fairly on
their way, we must return to Obed
Rider and his new friend, who were
pushing forward as fast as possible.
Their undue haste the first day had
proved disastrous, for one of their pack
horses had gone lame, and they were
obliged to abandon it or go into camp
They chose the former, dividing its bur
den among the others as best they
could.
The second night found them many
miles on their Journey, but as night
came on the weary beasts could hardly
be forced ahead, and Hank Bowers
cursed the delay roundly.
I'VE might as we'll stop here" he
| growled at last, utter helping one of the
horses to regain it's feet after STUN
bling. Get them packs off, will yer,
while l see about the fire I'm as hun
cry as a shark
/
supper was disposed OF and pipes light
ed he said;
See here, Rider, let's have sort O.
understanding bout this job. 'Spose we
meet this man Tarbox. then what2
We've got ter have our yarns SO they'll
agree. guess now is good time ter
fix it up. You don't want ter forget
| sc
Tom all right enuff. You see the young
chap jump overheard and save the old
TELLER, an you can tell that yarn all
right. Any darned fool can see you are
a salt wa ter chap, an he'll swallow that
part of it,"
Rider nodded, and the other went on:
'I've been thinkin' this out an I've
come ter the conclusion that we must
pump him about how ter get ter the
place where the gold is an let him go
on ter Dyea after his grub. He won't
hev enough stuff with him to make it
with our while to stop him. see?"
After pause he continues:
Wen keep on and find this other
Teller what sent the letter. They'vegot
u big pile all dug by this time and we
must hev it. He'll drop out o sight"
Riders face showed that he did not
understand the others meaning, and
the miner repeated:
Hell git off the earth! Understand
Then when we .hcv the place all ter our.
selves, Mr.. TarboN will come back with
q lot Of grub. Well tell him his pard got
starved out afore we reached the place
an took their stuff with him. Hell
never know the odds, ard if he does
make any trouble, there's a mighty
quick way of stopping his mouth"
AS he spoke he dropped his hand sig
nificantly to the butt of the heavy re
volver at his hip and his face tool
on such an evil look that the mates
Z blood ran cold in his veins. He began
70 feel decidedly uneasy in this mans
company. What assurance had he that
this INSCRIPTIONS ruffian would not
treac him in the same manner after his
ends were served?
AS If reading his thoughts Bowers
laughed hoarsely, and exclaimed:
whats the matter, Rider? 'Fraid
, III go back on yer? Don't worry as
long as yer use me on the square. III
stick ter yer, but yer too chicken heart
) ed for q job like this"
The day had been very warm and
sunny, for summer comes all at once il
this part of the country. They hac
; built. small fire to make their coffee
and were lying in their tent where they
!. could command quite view of the trni
= ahead. 1t was still light, and us tn,
speaker glanced carelessly over the val
ley in which they had halted he uttered
a sharp exclamation and sprang to hi
feet.
= 'Thar's something movn' over thar!
= he said quickly, shading his eyes will
> his hand as if to aid his vision. Its
fire, jest as sure's yer born Ten dollar
:, ter one it's our man! Remember your
Mister Tom Scott, and don't make
mess of it'll"
Rider soon saw a dark figure drawing
= near them, and when it was but fe,
rods away Il mans voice shouted:
Y Hello, there"
+" leIlo. IeSpOHueu boNele, slSpPih
from the tent.
n The stranger came rapidly towar
r him, and there was light enough to re
d veal powerfully-built man of middl
r age, who wore small pack on hi
IT back and carried serviceable lookin
revolver at his belt. His beard wa
d long and unkempt, but he walked wit
d long. swinging step, which told {
lie unimpaired vigor.
e. When he reached the tent he locke
If sharply at the two men. AS his eye
l. rested upon Riders companion pu
zlcd look came into them for an instan
is but he said, heartily:
D. Hello, mates, which way are yo
ir bound?"
y Cup this way" replied Bowers. jerl
a ing his thumb in the direction fro
n which the stranger had appeared.
lie Going up the Yukon wayp'
Not quite"
ut The man looked bit uneasy, b,
~ Bowers, who had been watching h
a face closely, now said:
r Dump yer load, pardner, an can
y. long with us. We've got some prin
TX coffee an bacon, an them Goals is je
H. right ter cook on. We've fed, but v
ne welcome. If yer jest in from lor
tramp 1 dare say as yer kinder low {