The Winslow mail., 1900-08-09
lNE fEOW tRg IUM OIL S9IS S9TSo ill., '',. E'"',.

The mate noticed none of these
things. His eyes were fixed intently
in the direction from which he expect
ed his victim to come, and his square
jaws were set. Through his brain ran
but one thought:
"The papers!"
Half an hour passed and Tom came
striding along under the gaslight
humming tune and merrily rehears-
ing the play he had just witnessed.
Suddenly the watcher uttered an i'm
precation under his breath, for just as
he vas gathering himself for u spring
he espied dark figure stealing noise
lesssly along behind the young man.
Closer and closer crept the fateful
shadow, and as Tom arrived opposite
the alley where the mate was crouch
ing, the latter saw the second figure
take few rapid, noiseless strides.
Then an arm was raised over Toms
head and fell with crushing force, send
ing him stunned and senseless to the
muddy pavement, while his assailant
bent over his form to secure the valu-
ablfs he might have about him.
With shout of rage the mate rushed
from his place of concealment toward
the stranger, who sprang nimbly to his
feet and sped down the street at amaz-
ing speed, without waiting to dispute
the field with the newcomer.
To kneel by the PROSTATE form and
tear open his clothing was the work
of an instant, and when Obed Rider
arose to his feet he held the belt con-
tanning the precious documents in his
han
Slipping it quickly into his pocket he
gave hasty glance about him. All was
still and once more he knelt by Toms
side. painting.
as he dead? 1 must be sure!"'
In enc hand he grasped his weapon
and the other he placed over the young
mans heart.
At first he detecte1 no pulsation,
then there was a feeble futter and a
moment later Tom groaned family.
Hes alive!"
The words were hissed forth in a
murderous manner and as he spoke
Rider raised his weapon.
But the blow did not fall, for even as
he nerved himself for the stroke the
mate had new thought which arrested
his arm. He must have money and had
mo- time to lose. If he robbed Tom of
both money and papers the victim.
even if he recovered, was powerless to
pursue his journey further. Who
would believe his story of the gold
mine?
All this flashed through his brain in
much less time than it takes to write it.
and with feverish, trembling haste he
began fumbling about in Toms clothes
He was not long finding the money
which Tom carried in aninside pocket
of his vest and was rising to his feet
when> door suddenly opened a few
yards away and man came out of the
house.
Without waiting to see in which di-
rection he was turning, Obed Rider hur-
ried away toward the wharf and was
soon safe in his stateroom with his ill
gotten booty. His eyes shone with dew
ilish triumph as he pored over the pa
pers, and the sight of over S700 in cash
wrapped around the railroad ticket to
Seattle filled his measure Of satisfac-
tion 10 overfowing.
He had no knowledge of the amount
left Tom by the old miner and as he
carefully secreted his treasures about
his person, he chuckled:
''I'm made man. He's lost his pile
and the papers, too. I'll take the train
to-day, you fool, in. your place. won
der if he will get over the rap or not?
1 don't need to fret, anyway. l didn':
hit him, and he'll never know who did,
Toms unintentional rescuer came
quickly along until he caught sight of
the PROSTATE figure, then he stopped
short and slipped his hand behind him,
glancing sharply about on every side
Apparently satisfied that no one was
near, he knelt by the motionles>1 form
and struck match.
1t was ghastly picture. Toms face
was so covered with blood that his fea-
lures were not recognizable, his cloth
ing was disarranged and covered with
black mud, and as the newcomer looked
a deep groan came from the PROSTATE
mans lips.
With a little exclamation of horror
the stranger rose to his feet and ran
back TO the door he had just left. He
was gone but an instant, returning
with another man, who assisted MIN in
carrying the inanimate form to the en-
trance. With much trouble they lifted
their heavy burden along a narrow
passage into scantily furnished room,
where they placed it upon narrow bed
Ia one corner.
A small kerosene lamp stood on a
table, and by its light the first man took
a look at the face, saying:
''Get a basin of water, Ned, quick
We must see how bad he is hurt"
When the water arrived a moment
.ater, he washed the blood from Toms
face with a gentle hand, then as the
features became distinct he uttered q