The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-01-13

II can't kick on that"
"All right. Now we'll git some sleep
an to-morrer we'll see If thar's any
bosses ter be got. II hadn't been a
chump I'd held on ter what brought
in with me when come"
On the following day, however, he
took different view of the matter. II
would be impossible to start off on the
trip without arousing the suspicious of
Obed Rider, and Bower decided that he
must be Of the party.
"He's just the chap ter split on us IL
we happened ter have a scrimmage an
thar was any fuss here over 1t. /
dassent leave him behind. Wen take
him an then he'll hev ter keep his
mouth shut when he's in the same boat
with u.s."
But after two days search he was
unable to procure a single horse, so
great was the demand. His gold was
running low besides, and at last he
dared not wait any longer. Each man
took as much provisions as he could
carry on his back, and, early one morn
ing, they started over the trail, armed
with rifles and revolvers.
When they had proceeded a few miles
on their way, Bowers said:
snow, pards, we're out fer big game
an we've got ter be mighty smart il
we want ter come out all right. We're
likely ter meet some o. the party we're
after any time. They can't tote all their
dust in on their backs an then thar's
that girl. They must hev bout enuff
by this time an they'll like enuff send
one o. the men ter Dyea after bosses
fer the gang. See?"
That's boss sense" replied Turner.
"Wall," continued Bowers, ''we must
keep our eyes peeled that we don't let
ourselves be seen by any sech man.
tn Spite everything IL we do"
1t was well for his plans that he did
keep a sharp lookout, for before night
he saw speck far ahead on the trail
which he knew at once TO be man. He
was standing on the edge of piece of
woods, and his companions were behind
him at the time. Stepping in the shad-
ow of the trees, he explained:
'Thar's a man comm, an I'll bet it's
one o. them we're after. He may hev
seen me, an IL won't do fer us. all ter
hide. He won't know you, Turner. You
keep on an pass Their time o. day With
him. Yer bound fer the fort, yer know
Keep right on, an we'll hide til he's
out o. sight, then we'll overtake yer"
Turner at once walked ahead, while
his two companions secreted themselves
in the underbrush. They saw Turner
stop and converse with the stranger a
few moments, when the latter drew near
them. and Bowers whispered:
"Its the man they call Taylor! He's
goin' after hossessurel"
All unconscious of the proximity Of
the two men. Taylor tramped sturdily
on, and was soon out of hearing in the
woods. Then the two left their ambush
and hurried after Turner, who awaited
them far out on the plain.
what did he say?" inquired Bowers,
eagerly.
| asked me where / was bound an
whether there was any bosses ter be got
in Dyea," said Turner. who never
seemxd TO waste word.
81 knew It'll" declared Bowers. "Now
all we've got ter do Is find snug place
this side whar the trail splits an take
ii easy till the dust is under our eyes.
He'll be back pretty quick II he gifts
any bosses an then we won't hev much
longer ter wait"
Several days later saw them securely
hidden in piece Of dense woods, but
each day was divided into watches,
when they took turns standing on SEN
tinel duty. From knoll n short dis
lance from the hut they had built the
trail was visible for fully mile, and
from daylight 20 dark they watched it
closely.
Their patience was rewarded when,
late one afternoon, they saw Dick Tay-
Tor riding along to the north, leading a
string OF horses behind him.
"Our time is mostup now" said Bow
ers, grimly. "He1l fetch the mine by
to-morrer. Them two chaps with him
I've seen round Dyea. They're rich
chaps, I've heard. He's picked 'em up
an is goin' ter sell out"
"How many will there be OF them p
asked Turner, IAN how's the trick ter
be done when they git here? Dyer
reckon a regular holdup, or what?"
eve might do IL in tibet way" said
Bowers, "an' stan the risk o. gittin'
wiped out, but IL won't do ter risk IL.
Therell be too many of 'em. I've got a
scheme I'm goin' ter spring on 'em.
Let's git back under cover an I'll tell
yet what it is"
When they reached their rude shell
ter and lighted their pipes he outlined
his plan as follows:
Upon sighting the party Rider was 10
conceal himself in the woods near the
hut. Bowers himself was to remain in
the hut on the boughs which served
him for bed, while Turner's part was
to meet the travellers and play the role
OF a decoy.
They all know my phiz," said Bow
ers, IAN some o. them knows Rider
You are the only one they don't know
~ n.