The Winslow mail., 1900-07-19

pecting such an improbable thing at
the time.
Il tell you he's going on that bark
to San Francisco" said the taller of the
two men, eagerly. Hes bound for the
Klondike, and he must have a fat roll
with him. 1 heard him say he would
buy his outfit out there. We can lay
for him on the dock when he is going
on board"
ITS risky job" replied the other,
nervously.
"Oh, what's the matter with you'll"
was the angry rejoinder.
Nothing, but we take great risks. l
don't like it,
There's no risk at ALL" urged the
other "All we have to do is lust tap
him on the head and. go through him.
The whole thing won't take minute,
and we can be at the West end before
he knows what struck him. I'm going
to have his stuff, and if you want to go
back on me, I'll"
The rest of the sentence was indis-
tinguishable. The word Klondike had
-
and he had involuntarily strained to
catch the mems conversation, but he
felt sudden thrill of horror as he
realized the full import of what he had
just heard.
What could he do? That the men
were planning robbery, if not MUIR
der, was evident. He could not warn
the intended victim, for he had no
means of finding or knowing him, and
TO lose sight of the men to find an
officer was out of the question. Then
the athletic young fellow set his teeth
and shrugged his broad shoulders,
while under his gloves pair of hard
fists balled up involuntarily.
To some it might have occurred to
pay no attention to the matter, but
Tom Scott was of different caliber. 1t
was true that he had seen little of the
great world, but he was brave to a
fault, and nature had added a tall,
well-knit frame to this gift. He de-
termined to prevent the villains from
accomplishing their purpose if it lay
in his power, and had no doubt of his
ability ito do so.
Fearful that the men might turn and
see him, he slackened his pace and al
lowed them to gain several yards on
him, keeping close to the buildings
himself and hoping each moment to
see an officer.
But none appeared, and soon the two
thugs turned into dark, narrow alley
way, which led to one of the wharves,
and were lost to view.
Tom was in quandary. To venture
into the place was to invite attack from
the villains, and he decided to wait in
convenient doorway until the in
tended victim came along or an Off
GER should appear to whom he could
tell his story.
A few yards to the right he found a
sheltered recess in front of block, and
took up his station, keeping sharp
lookout in the direction of the saloon,
where he naturally supposed the man
was enjoying himself. A short dis
lance away street lamp shone dimly
through the falling snow and threw a
broad band of light on the sidewalk,
across which no one could pass without
being seen by him.
1t was situation to try the stoutest
nerves, for Tom was unarmed, and the
man he was trying to save might be
intoxicated, while the two robbers
would surely be provided with all the
tools of their trade. A dozen schemes
flashed through his mind as he
crouched in the shadow, only to be dis
carded as useless. The time dragged
slowly enough, but his resolution did
not falter.
Suddenly a dark figure came stag
gering across the lighted space and
Toms heart gave a bound. Was this
his man? Would he have sense enough
to understand his danger?
No, the drunken sailor lurched heavily
along and turned up side street a
short distance beyond the alleyway,
where the men were hidden.
Another and still another followed at
intervals, but none paused on their way
and Tom began to wonder if his ears
had not played him false. He was be-
ginning to waver when a slight crunch
ing noise at his left caused him to turn
quickly in time to see the form of a
man disappear in the alleyway, having
approached from the opposite direction
while Tom was looking up the avenue.
What was to be done?
He stood for a ID oment with his heart
beating unanimously and every nerve
tingling. Then from the dark opening
came a muffled cry, followed by an
oath and the sound of struggle.
Tom cast one quick look about him.
No one was in sight and the next in
stant he had pulled off his gloves and
darted up the passageway at full speed.
The darkness was intense for short
distance, but after few yards he
emerged into a small open space in the
midst of which the three men were
writhing and twisting in desperate
struggles. Tom was unable to distin-
guish one from another, but as he
reached the spot one man tore himself
free and shouted:
Help! Police! Stand back or I'll
shoot"
The rest of his threat was drowned
by a heavy blow from blackjack,
which knocked the weapon from his
hand.
"Stopl" cried Tom, springing to-
ward the assailant.
He was too late, for a second blow
stretched the stranger senseless and