The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-07-07
CHAPTER V.
RIDER GETS A SURPRISE.

board the vessel the previous night un-
til the noise of the second mate arous-
ing the captain had awakened him.
They did not call him. knowing the en-
nifty that had existed between himself
and Tom, but he overheard enough to
tell him that Tom was alive. although
badly hurt and out of his head with
| fever
He knew Tom was in utter ignorance
| OF the identity of his assailant. but had
he been aware of the loss of the belt?
Would the skipper remember the time
he had seen the mate coming out OF
Toms room and place any new sig
nifcance on the incident?
\ guilty conscience made him mag
| inc all sorts of dangers TO himself. and
| he trembled each time the train stopped
at station lest an officer should be
in wait for him.
But nothing Of the kind happened.
| and in due time he reached Seattle
| Here things seemed more encouraging.
| for he was fortunate enough to find
man who had engaged a passage on
steamer for Skaguay and Dyea. which
/ sailed the same day. The man had re-
ceived a telegram announcing the dan.
! gerous Illness Of his wife and was eager
10 leave Seattle by the next train.
The mate happened to be the first
man he met, and the latter soon came
TO terms with him. and hurried OF board
TO secure his quarters. lie kept him
self out Of sight as much as possible
but when the lines were cast off the
following day and the City Of seattle
steamed out of the harbor he drew a
long breath of relief, and said. half
aloud:
Were off at last, and I'm safe now"
lie found that his ticket entitled him
TO stateroom, and that the trip from
Seattle to Dyea usually occupied about
five days. All his fellow passengers
were wild with impotence to reach the
land of gold, and now that he felt safe
from pursuit he eagerly listened to the
stories of wonderful wealth found by
lucky miners, for each one made it
more probable that the papers he had
secreted. about him were genuine evil
deuce. a fact which at times he was in
c!incd TO doubt.
He had paid the returning miner $500
for his ticket and outfit, the latter in
Guiding three horses and good supply
Of provisions. while the former includ-
cd their transportation TO Dyea free of
cost. He must. however. land them
himself. the company declining all re-
sponsiblity for this part Of the work.
\ short stop was made ltJuueau. and
two days later he found himself on the
beach at Dyea with his belongings and
feeling utterly at loss how TO proceed.
How to handle this formidable outfit
was puzzle. On board vessel he was
at home. but a horse was an animal OF
which he knew very little ard here
were three Of them besides the heap
of miscellaneous articles piled on the
rocky single
1t was plain that they must be moved
before the tide came in, and with o
sailors knowledge of knots he soon
lashed the burdens on the backs of the
raw-boned animals and succeeded in
getting them to the town safely.
small tent was among his newly
acquired possessions and he proceeded
to mitch il ms hest ne could. Milling his
goods outside. He set up his little
sheet-iron stove and was going for wa
fer when he missed close TO one Of his
animals who launched ont yiciouslv al
him with his hoof sending him TO the
Ground several Yards away with q
broken rib and his left arm badly
bruised
"What's the trouble? ." said a rough
voice from the next camp as n burlv
bearded man strolled leisurely TO the
snot Hurt We much nard?"
4 striug Of ootbs hurst from Rider n,
he scrambled to his feet.
"Sometbinp's cracked inside" h,
croyled. and nv arms hurt. d.
the horse onvvayl"
"Retter LEI NV mote see ifarytbinr',
,,.rorn nos - master hand with any
tbirg q, That Kind. Here, Scott" h,
addoI roieirr his voice
=