Southern Republican., 1899-09-02

what to do with and III see 1ha1 Iay
poor hoy is buried properly IN Frisco.
Then I'll do the square thing by ever
body that was good tc him there and
then
He broke off suddenly and set his
teeth hard.
"Then I'll put $4,000 reward up for
the wretch who killed HIM!
Rider shuddered involuntarily as the
captain spoke. but he made no reply.
The belt about his waist seemed to fair
ly burn his flesh as the father went on,
and he dared not meet the speakers
gaze:
"What will he do if he finds his whelp
alive and hears what I.told about his
skipping out?'~ he thought. He will
murder me! / must be out Of this be-
fore he gets back here, and he will never
think of looking for me on the Dalton
traiE Besides, if he's rich the chances
are that they'll 60 east at once and l
can work my little scheme without
anyone to hinder me. Perhaps it's the
best thing after all that | met him. II
TIE youngster is dead the old man Will
never hear what | told about him Un-
| less he goes to Merrivale. and he aint
| likely to 90 there now he has no folks
there. He won't go near no shipping
! firms to hear it, not if he's rich.
He was beginning o feel more easy in
| his mind when he was interrupted by
| Capt. Scott who said
what brought you out mere, RIDER?
30. got the gold fever like the rest"
Going to the Klondike region
Eyes, l suppose So"
| "Take my advice and Cont. Its on
! Canadian ground. and you cant do 50
well. I'll give you tip that is worth
fortune to YOU Go to the Copper river
and you won't regret it. III give you
the lay of the ground and a note TO
good cbum there who will setyou right
How are you fixed for money!?
Rider hesitated. Scoundrel as he was,
he could not find his tongue for mo-
ment in reply, and the miner saved him
the trouble by adding:
"Never mind Rider, see how it is
but YOU needn't lie bashful. LII see thai
YOU have enough to start in with The
best of them A good outfit is half the
battle up there, and you want all tn,
grub you can take in. I'm going tt
make rush for that steamer now be
fore | get left. I'll see you again j.
there is time before the boat leaves.
guess my partner will 60, to-"
He w~ung Riders hand heartily, dis
appeared into his tent, and came ou
4 with plump bag Of gold, which he lair
by Riders side without further com
ment, then started for the beach will
long. swinging strides, that took hin
to the waters edge in very few mo
ments, while the mate looked at TIL
bag with glistening eyes and said t.
himsef:
t"He's got heart big as an on, bu
I'm in too deep TO back out now, and II
need all L can get 70 keep out of hi
clutches if he ever finds out the truth.
The steamer sailed the followin:
morning, but before he left the return
ING miner saw that Rider wanted fo
nothing. He gave him the benefit o
his experience in the wilderness, mad
?, list of the necessary articles of out
fit and paid a penniless unfortunate I
look after the mate and his horses unit
the former was able to do it himself.
The return voyage went we'll for tW
days. then the steamer broke down an
it was nearly week before she wa
able to. proceed. The following nigh
Size ran on small island, causing ar
other weeks delay. 1t was over thre
weeks before Capt. Scott reached Sa
Francisco and was driven to the doc
where the Seabird still lay.
Old Capt. Coffin was on deck an
Toms father accosted him at once:
rs this Capt. Seth Coffin ?"
That's my name"
"WeIl my name is Scott. My so
came out with YOU and"
"What? Are you his father?" inter
rupted the old skipper. YES, | can Sc
the look! Give us your f1ippfr! Won
he be disappointed? It's too bad"
His visitors weather-beaten fac
turned ghastly pale and he gasped;
disappointed! What do YOU mean
Is he not
"Abcard? No. confound it. he star
ed up north a week or ten days ago"