The Winslow mail., 1900-09-27

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ten his plunder to a rope and lower 1t
down, atthe same time whispering loud
ly to his conf sderate:
Are you there. Rider?'
"Yes," came the answer. "What is all
this?"
Gold, you fool" Kissed Bowers.
Lash it on one of the. critters, quick!
For a moment he hesitated. Should
he join his partner and make good MS
escape?
Apparently cupidity won the day, for
he began to retrace his steps toward the
cave. His first success had made him
more confident, and he was well aware
that he had not secured half the bags
he had just touched.
Again he reached the entrance with
out noise and crawled to the spotwhere
the gold was piled against the wall
This time he could only stuff two or
three small bags inside his buckskin
shirt and grip one in his teeth.
He reached the open air safely and
was just rising to his feet when Avery
appeared in the mouth of the cave, re-
volver in hand, shouting:
'Thieves! Thieves! Take that, you
robber!"
But before the wordS'were fairly out
of his mouth Bowers had dropped the
bag which he had brought out in his
teeth like retriever and sprang away
in full flight.
Crack! Crack!
q ri hull ofS
head.
AS he dashed by the tents man
darted out with suspicious promptitude
and fired apparently pointblank at his
back, but missed him.
A few seconds more and he had
reached the rocky cleft and darted out
of sight. Down the rope ladder he
scrambled then with great presence of
mind he stopped long enough to jerk it
free from the spur above so that it fell
at his feet.
Rider had not yet returned from his
errand and Bowers felt his way rapidly
along the passage until he emerged
upon the plain.
Running quickly to the horses, where
Jump up! Jump lively an let's git
out O. this! Vamose!"
He set the example by throwing him
self on one of the horses and seiziDg the
bride of the one upon which Rider had
been carefully securing the stolen gold.
The latter needed no second invitation
and moment later they were hurrying
the beasts along the back trail as rapid
ly as the poor light and the nature of
the ground would permit.
For fully two hours they made their
way in silence except for an occasional
oath from Bowers at the unevenness of
the route, then, apparently reassured
that they had made good their escape,
he eXclaimed:
''This is the biggest nights work one
man ever done in this ere country,
Rider. I took long chances an 1 won
out! 1t was great plant!'
"How did you manage it?" asked
Rider, eagerly. els it all gold in them
bags?
'Itain't nothin' else!"
With great pride he now narrated to
his. companion the whole villainous
scheme, and then added, complacently:
"All they've got ter do is ter dig out
some more gold. There's plenty of it
whar they are. They hogged all the
best claims, but I'm up ter them now!"
"But they'll be after US, won't they?"
asked Rider, fearfully.
''They hain't got no hosses, hev
they?" retorted Bowers. Besides that,
they dassent leave their claims fer fear
some chap might jump en-. It's won
der nobody's struck that place afore."
The two thieves did not draw rein
until daylight. When the sun was fair
ly up they paused on the top of hill
commanding a view for long distance
of the route they had traversed, but
there was no sign of pursuit.
Il told yer So" said Bowers, triumph
antly. 'They can't chase us. Let's get
some grub an rest the hosses a bit. If
we take 'em into Dyea in any kind O.
shape they'll sell for a tidy fgger."
Their meal dispatched, they once
more assured themselves that no one
was in sight behind them, then mount
ed and headed for civilization, the bags
of gold strapped securely on the spare
animals back and hidden from view
by blanket tied over them.
That night they went into camp just
before dark, and Bowers proceeded to
unload their ill-gotten gains. The first
bag he removed. CHANGED to be the one
he had himself filled in his two weeks
of toll AS he lifted the second he
noticed very perceptible difference in
the weight, although the two bags were
of the same size.
That's d-n strange!" he growled.
They couldn't hev washed their gold
very clean"
AS he spoke he united the second bag
and thrust his hand within, then. with
yell of rage and disappointment be
dashed the bag to the ground and
stamped upon it like an infuriated ami
NAL, when Rider stood aghast. fearing
the man had suddenly gonemad-
With Il bound Bowers sprang to the
pack horse and seized another bag.
One fierce slash Of his knife rent it its
entire length and then Rider compre-
hended.
Out of it dropped mass of damp
clay and gravel.
Hank Bowers was silent while he laid
open the restof the bags. When he was
certain that his own, was the only one
containing a particle of gold he burst
l,