The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-06-22
CHAPTER V-Continued.

CHAPTER V-Contnued
"Obed Rider!"
capt. Scott!"
The mate looked about him in help
less way as if, seeking some avenue of
escape, but the other held out his hand
cordially, saying:
"Of all men, to see you here!" Then
he added:
"But you are hurt. Can I do any
thing for you? Let me have little
look. We can talk afterward."
The injury was soon located, and aft
er predicting that few days would
set the matter right, Capt. Scott said:
What on earth brought you here ?
Have you been home lately? Did you
see my boy?"
The mate had done considerable
thinking during the past few minutes.
After the first surprise was over he had
rapidly determined upon his course,
and he now shook his head, replying:
Pm afraid I can't give you much
good news from home, cap,n."
His eyes fell as he spoke, but the
other was too eager to notice.
"'What do you mean, Rider?"
The voice was hoarse now with sup
pressed eagernessI my boy! Tell me!
Is he-why- don't you speak? My
brother, too! D. it, man speak out!
Has anything happened to them? They
might both be dead by the way you
act!''
They are" murmured Rider, still
with his eyes cast down.
Without word the captain turned
on his heel and disappeared. It was
half an hour before he returned, and
there was such q change in his rugged
features that even the mate felt COM
passion for him. But he had no alter
native. Anything to prevent Toms
father from learning the truth. He
had told his story, and now he must be
prepared with the details. Fortunate
ly the absence of his latest victim had
given him time to rapidly sketch out a
line Of procedure which he hoped
would be safe.
Your brother died three years ago."
he said, land your son was a passenger
with me to Frisco this winter. He was
coming to the mines, he said. He was
killed couple of weeks ago one night
when he was coming down to the YES
sci. Capt. Coffin took charge of the
body. 1t was the day before left town.
1 had my ticket all bought and couldn't
wait for the funeral.'
enid vo,, bo hO1v vo11rco1fO''
NO." said the mate, hesitatingly,
"but I heard the second mate say he
was Dead"
do they know who did it?"
mo"
"How did it all happen?"
The stalwart miners voice trem5ied
as he spoke, but he controlled himself
by superhuman effort and Obed Rider
replied:
He was picked up dead on the water
front one night. He was on his way
down to the vessel and they supposed
some one hit him from behind. They
went through the poor chaps clothes
and left him on the sidewalk, the scoun-
drels! The second mate found him
there the same night long toward
morning. I had my ticket on an excur-
sion train that day and couldn't wait.
had lots to do getting ready"
'Was there no clew to the m urderer?'
"No, they said there warn't no chance
of ever finding out who doneit. No one
was round to see the Teller do it and he
got clean off,"
Then you don't know where he was
to be buried?"
NO. but Cap'n Coffin would see that
he was taken care of all ship shape and
snug"
"Who is this Capt. Coffn?''
'Skipper of the Seabird."
'Was that the craft you came out in p
The mate replied in the affirmative
and the unhappy father went on:
God bless him for his big heart if he
does that! Money is no object to me
now. I've frozen and sweltered all these
years to get gold, and now I'm alone in
the world. You haven't told me how
my brother died. When was that?"
The mate gave him all the details
this time truthfully, for he had hearc
them all at Merrivale. When he hai
finished, Capt. Scott said:
Ibid you never hear Tom speak O.
me? Why did he never write? When
left the ship in your charge gave 20,
a letter to mail to him, telling him tha'
I was going up in Alaska after gold
and giving him an address in Seattle
where he could write. and would ge
the letter some time. He never wrote
as far as I know, or If he did it wa
never forwarded to me. For over tire,
years I have been buried where no let
tiers could reach me, and now I was OF
my way to Seattle and then for home
dts an awful blow, Rider!" ~.
The mate was silent, and the stricken
man continued: ~ T..
What did the owners say when yo1
turned over the vessel and accounts?
The others face was ashy pale, bu
he made great effort, and replied:
20, it. was all right"
Accounts were all straight?''
Riders agitation was so great tina
~