Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-06-20

then, apparently satisfied that the par
ty was settled for the night, he stole
noiselessly away, his evil face lighted
up with look of triumph.
But Bowers found it no easy task to
retrace his steps. 1t was now very
dark, and as Rider had not dared to
light fire there was nothing to guide
his companion, who stumbled about as
best he could, not daring to shout for
fear he might alarm the party he had
just been watching. He became hope
lessly lost at last and was about to give
up the search until daylight when he
heard a horse stamping.
Confident there was no one but Rider
near him, he called softly, and to his in
tense delight the sailor answered from
q point not 20 yards away,
rs that you, Bowers?"
YES" was the surly reply, as the big
miner reached his side, "and I've had a
nice time gittin here, too. I'm starved
Shall 1 light fre?" asked Rider
1--WE got it all ready, but was skit.
fish about lighting it till found out
what you had seen"
You don't light no fire here, "growleG
the other. We've got ter put up will
cold grub tonight. We've been regular
done for, we have!"
whats the matter?"
Matter enuff! In the fust place, that
Tnrbox chap we see start for Dyea has
met party an turned back. One o
ther men is named Avery"
avery"
The mates teeth chartered as he
gasped:
"But saw him buried at seal"
"Rot! Theremay be more'n one Avery
in Their world! Didn't that letter say
somethin' bout man named Bill thai
was to come? Course it did! Mebbeit's
the old chaps brother or cousin OIL
somethin'.
'.Then there's two young chaps tina,
looked like sailors an young gail tina
| take ter be Avery's darter by the way
she stayed round him. They've routed
out the chap as wrote the letter an
they've all gone into camp under a big
cliff not more'n mile from where we're
sittin' this mint"
'sThe' young men must be Scott and
the second mate" said Rider, land
don't you see these papers are no good
to US after all our trouble? We can,
do anything now but give the thing uE
and make for the Klondike. We've go,
good out"
Make for nothin'!" was the savage
interruption. Them men hev got &
gold mine right round here somewhere:
and I've as much right there as they
hev if can only find it. I'd like Tel
see EN- drive me off. You can go to the
klondike if yer like, but yer don't TAX.
any O. this stuff with yer. See?"
Like most DULLES, Obed Rider was
easily cowed by bigger bully than
himself, and he dared not make the re-
ply which came to his lips. Instead he
said:
But can't join these men after tax.
ing these papers from Scott. There'd
be trouble"
II didn't say was goin' to dine 'em
Look here, Rider, are yer scared or not!
Here we are, two stout chaps with plen.
ty of grub an the horses. We knows
jest whar them fellers are now, an
they don't know wbar we be. If we
keeps our eyes open thars sure ter be
chance for business. VIII yer stick
ter me or not?'
Rider had little choice. He dared OF
demand nalf the outfit his own money
had purchased, and was forced to sub.
nit, so with Il show of sincerity he ex.
claimed:
"Of course I'll stick. Bowers"
"All right. Now, you keep watch the
fust half of Their night an call me for
Their last. We've got ter be movin'
bright an early"
In five minutes the hardened rascal
was snoring. while Rider stood guard,
lie had no stomach for Bowers com.
pany now. and would gladly have left
Aim. but the t,iner had gained sueS IN