Missouri Valley times., 1901-11-28

IIl.pu:rn MS 5pfssiil as lie Nalteu.
Hold on repeated Green, thrussing
His head into the tent Take 1t easy
till / set the fire going. Doesn't need
hut one of u.s.
With gasp of relief the mate
S,cUched his hat over his eyes and hur-
ried away from the spot as though
ghost We're pursuing, him. He did not
stop until he had Joined Bowers, who
at once noticed his disordered appear
anee. and cxc}aimed:
Whats up, pard? You look like Yer
was scared ter DEATH
Hes here. | saw them just now"
What's that? Saw who2"
Scott. And Green is with him."
And who the devil is Scott and
Greene Can't yer talk plain an not
stan thar spiutterin' like Yer was goin
ter hop9 What's the row, that's what
want Ter know
by this time the mate had found his
tongue, and he said, hurriedly:
Scott is the Young chap l got the
papers from, and the other was second
mate of the vessel with me. We must
get cut Of this quick."
Right We are. They must hev come
over from SkaguaN on the boat yester-
day. Twouldn't do fer them ter see
Yer roun here. They'd be on ter Yer
racket. Chuck them clothes ON that
lltSS, az ltti : ltSHl sOut NefNS sSpe te.
sit y big start ON EN-. anyhow. 'Tain't
lilscl ytheS'll start today
Il dent see how they got here said
Rider, as they started oil thrcugh the
tents, leading their horses. II took
ever cent he had. and l don't believe
the second mate had much"
Wall, they're here.' replied his COM
panion philosophically, AN of course
they're hound for that mine. Hes
raised the stuff somehow. We've got
Yer sit thar first.
Half an hour later they had left Pyra-
mid harbor behind them, and We're rid
ing along the trail as fest as they could
urge the pack horses, While Tom and
Green We're discussing their rude break
fast in blissful ignorance OF how mar
rowly they had missed the man who
thcS fully believed to have already
reached the writer of the lost letter.
Although they We're eager to get off
ct once. 1T was Impossible to start TIL
the horses had fully recovered from the
see Noyage. They were too valuable to
take any chances With, and one of
tl,en Was slightly lame from fall III
his cralaped quarters on the steamer.
To replace an animal was also impos-
sih,e. for fabulous prices We're being
offered for anything that could by any
possibility bear u burden.
Then, again, II vas necessary to
make a careful search about the camp
To see if the man TarboN, mentioned In
the letter. had arrived yet. If they
could find him all would be plain sail
ing, and he could pilot them back.
There was also q chance that the dead
miners brother might be even then on
the spot.
But they found it a difficult task to
get amy information. Tho population
of the camp was changing daily. No
one paused longer than was absolutely
necessary, and each was too busy with
his own affairs to take notice of others.
Besides this. they We're obliged to
avoid giving many details which might
/ perhaps have helped them. and at the
close of the second day Tom said, as
they sat in front of their tent, slnol-
ing:
.Irs no use. Green. We might as we'll
be off and trust to luck. We can't ask
what we want TO know without arous-
Ing suspicion. and we'd better give 1t
up. The horses seem to be in pretty
good shape now, and move We start
off in the morning."
lseIore his friend had time to reply Il
w0iAan.s voice sounded clear and dis
/ tinct through he darkness:
Help. lieip.'
The two men sprang to their feet.
/ Tom was . little in advance as they
4 dashed OFF i'll the direction of the cries
! and WAS first TO arrive at Il little open
/ ms. where red-shirted figure was
\ holding a struggling form in his arms.
4 .Ae he was nearly within striking dis
tance the femaie managed to free her
/ sci. but instead of running away she
! dealt the man Q resounding slap on the
/ cheek and painted:
You big brute: You-you-''
What she would have added was lost
! for the rufiian, maddcned by the sting
4 ing blow, raised his hand to strike her
his fist was raised Tom dealt him q
4 straight right handler that stretched
him on the ground at full length.
lie made an effort aud scrambled tc
/ his feet hut it Was apparent that he
was half dazed by the blow and tbs
liquer he had been drinking. lie at
I tempted to draw a revolver from his
belt but by this time he WAS surround
ed by angry men who had been at
tfacted to the spot by the outcry.
He was seized by q dozen pairs o.
/ hands and his weapons removed. A
/ first he attempted to struggle but the
I muzz'e of a revolver pressed close Il
his temple and few. cries of 'Lynel
aim,n completely sobered him, and h,
now looked fearfully about him at tn,
i stern faces which beset him on ever,
4 side.
4 "Mhatil we do with him. boys 2
shouted a broad shouldered giant VIII,
4 appeared to be a leading spirit.
Hang the scamp." cried a voice nea
by.
"Nonsense." returned the big fellow
What t@nderfoot Is talking now? IT.
30 hanging matter to kiss a girl. Let.
duck him in the salt water
\ Wild yell of delight greeted th
proposition, and the trembling wretcl
was dragged off toward the beacl
| Without ceremony
i Tom and his friend We're about to re
turn to their tent when a hand wa
TO find himself confronted by the lnno
cent cause Of the trouble, who said
frankly:
Il thank you. sir, for your help Th
man seized me from behind so sudden
ly that / screamed before 1 knew wha
was doing. My fathers tent is clos
by, and l just came out after som
water"
, Tom 9azed With admiration at tn
, girl before him. Some one had throw
an armful of wood on a fire shor
II distance away, and by the iliekerln
light he could see her distinctly Sh
was apparently about is years old, wit
i cw, broad forehead, large blue eye!
which met his freely, cheeks ilushe
with the excitement and q moul
which, while too large perhaps fo
, classic beauty. looked none the less be
. witchng. She was dressed in a tight
| fitting waist and short skirt, her ankle
protected by legginss. while pair 1
!, stout shoes covered her feet.
The young man took all this in at
glance a. he replied:
That's nothing. l happened to &c
: here first. Would you like to have m
Won safe 10 yOllr tpDtr"
5 The girl laughed and said, quickly:
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