Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-11-03
CHAPTER L.
TOM SCOTT TO THE RESCUE.

The White pass starts off here and goes
right plumb over the mountains like
this
And the speaker made a bold stroke
with huge piece of chalk with which
he was ornamenting the floor of the vii
lage store in Merrivale. where every
thing was dispensed from postage
stamps to lace curtains.
Clustered about his kneeling figure
were dozen men of all ages whose
eyes were eagerly following the rude
map of Alaska which Hank Merritt was
drawing for their benefit
For stories of the wonderful wealth
of this far-off Eldorado had penetrated
even this remote place among the hills
of New Hampshire, and the Globe re-
ports of the lucky strikes made by ven
turesome argonauts had stirred the
blood of every man in the village until
the riches of the Yukon valley had be-
come the all-engrossing topic among
those who met every evening at this
public rendezvous to pass an hour or
two after their days toll was finished.
"This is where you strike the lake.
he continued, San then it's bout all
water the rest o. the way, near as can
make out. Gold is SO plenty they dig
it out jest as easy as we spade up worms
to go fishing with. Gee whiz! I'd like
to try it if it warn't so darned far off
an didn't cost so much to git there"
The arrival of the mail interrupted
his artistic efforts, and when the hand
full of letters had been put away the
postmaster was called upon to read
regarding the favOrite topic.
'sThe steamer P. W. Weare had eight
miners on board who brought cut a
total of $780, Others had $4,000 to
$4,000 apiece, and some refused to give
their figures. The steamer Portland
brought down. 81, 900, 900. One man got
$216 from pan of dirt, and two miners
cleaned up $4,000 in a single days
work"
As the reader paused one nigh. have
heard pin drop, SO intense was the 81
lence for fully a minute. Then dozen
voices broke out in EXPLANATIONS of
amazement and disbelief and in the
turmoil nothing Ineligible could be
distinguished.
There was one listener, however, who
said nothing, but after the resi- had
Gained down a bit ne secured copy of
the paper and FASTENED to the farm
where,he was employed with a wild i'm
pulse surging through his brain. In his
little room under the caves he eagerly
devoured the article he had heard at
the store, and in another column he
found an interview with one of the pio-
neers Of Dawson City, giving full de-
tails as to the proper outfit and its cost.
It was midnight when the stalwart
young farmer sought his couch, and for
the first time in his healthy life sleep
refused to come to him, for he had made
up his mind to leave the village where
the greater part of his youth had been
spent and seek his fortune in this dis
tant land, where a stout heart and
strong hands seemed able to force Ma
ture to relax her icy grip on her golden
stores.
Tom SCOTS life had been an unevent-
full one. He was the only son of sea
captain and until the death OF his
mother they lived on Cape Cod. Then
an uncle took him on his farm at Mer
rivale and his father continued his row.
ing life. A few years ago, however, Obed
Rider, a native of Merrivale, who had
SdIlcu VILE 4OIh - ldlACi az AAdtC. IC-
turned to the village with story which
made great sensat ton at the time. 1t
was to the effect that Capt. Scott had
deserted his ship at San Francisco and
absconded with a large sum of money
belonging to the owners.
Tom was lad of IS at the time, but
few eyewitness would ever forget the
scene when he hurled the lie at the
- L
tiger until overpowered by the brute
strength of his fathers defamer, whose
nose was disfgured for life in the en-
counter and who vowed vengeance for
his injury.
This was four years ago, but Tom,
Scott still felt the disgrace cast upon
his name. His uncle had now been
dead over three years, and Tom had
saved the wages paid him by the farmer
for whom he had worked since that
time, until he possessed about $500,
which was deposited in the village saw
ings bank. This would buy him min
er's outfit, but how to reach the far
northwest was the problem.
His sleep was troubled that night,
but with the morning came the de-
termination to start at once for Bos-
ton and trust to fortune to join one of
the numerous expeditions organizing
there,
His announcement was received with
amazement, but Tom Scott was a man
of prompt action, and that afternoon
saw him in Boston. He had been in the
city several times before, and had no
difficulty in finding respectable hotel
where the rate was within his means,
but by the time he had eaten his supper
it was growing dark and thick snow
storm set in. He determined, however,
10 lose no time in bis searcb, and made
his way to the water front. where he
had no doubt he could obtain all the
needed information.