The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-11-04


the direction Of the vessels wake, and
soon caught glimpse of white face
ahead rising and falling on the waves.
keep up till reach you'll" he shout
ed 20 encourage Avery, who was fully
so yards away.
There was no reply, and when Tom
was within q dozen strokes of his friend
the latter suddenly threw up his arms
and began TO sink.
Tom reached the spot just in time to
grasp his hair and drag him TO the sur
face, where he lay utterly unconscious
and unable to assist himself. Tom sup
ported him as best he could, but his
clothes soon began TO drag him down,
and his limbs felt like lead. He was
nearly spent when something white
swept before his eyes on the top of =
sea, and he saw that ii was the life
buoy. With last effort he struck out
and succeeded in grasping it.
In the meantime the Seabird hadbeen
brought TO the wind and boat lowered
with all possible speed, but ii is slow
operation at best, and the craft was q
half mile distant before the boat struck
the water with Capt. Coffin in her stern.
Although the buoy supported Tom
easily, he found 1t no easy task to keep
the unconscious mans head above the
surface, and when the boat reached
them he was pulled from the water in
state of utter exhaustion.
Avery showed no signs Of life, and
when the vessel was reached he was
taken 10 his berth, where the old cap
tain gradually resuscitated him, Tom
having changed his clothes in the mean
time and regained the use OF his limbs.
When he reached the stateroom he
was shocked at his friends face. There
was look there which comes but once
to humanity, and which froze the words
on his tongue.
"Scott, sit down." said the old miner.
81 can see by your face what you read
in mine. have no time TO waste. I'm
a dying man, Scott. Something has
given out inside and my time is up.
Don't interrupt me, please. l must tell
you something while have time"
He paused an instant to press his
hand to his side, saying:
"When that hit me something snapped
in here. / think a rib is sticking into
my lungs. Take off my belt, Scott
Hurry up! Don't stop to ask questions
nowl"
Tom obeyed, and with trembling
fingers the dying man drew forth a
folded bit of paper, whispering:
Its yours, and it means a fortune
10 you'll Get me pen and paper and
then write what l tell you'll"
His request was soon complied with,
and with a faint voice he dictated
~, John Avery, being about to die,
give my share in the gold mine discov-
cred by my partner, Dick Reed, TO the
bearer, Thomas Scott, who has risked
| his life for mine twice"
When this unique will was on paper
he added:
"Giye me the pen. There needn't be
any witnesses. Dick Reed knows my fist
and he's as square as die. This paper is
a map 10 tell me how to reach the mine
It's secret trail leads to 1t, and only
three men know of 1t. You will be rich
| IL you live to reach il. Trust no one
but go by yourself. Take the money in
my belt too, and use IL as you please
You may find my brother Bill at the
mine. He was sent for, too. You'll get
my share"
A violent fit OF coughing interrupted
him, and before 1t ended the handker.
chief he pressed TO his lips was stained
with his life blood.
Tom hastily summoned the captain
but the old miner sank into an uncon.
scious state, and before morning Tom
was the only living occupant Of the lit
| tie stateroom.
But behind the thin partition which
separated it from the mates room sat
that worthy himself with look OF tri.
umph on his evil face.
"There were no witnesses, and what
is TO prevent my being Mr.. Tom Scott
and becoming a mine owner" he NUT