Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-11-30

AooOh " ~ VI ahs
do they suspect me''
This was the one thought that flashed
through his brain as he waited.
Hold on!" repeated Green, thrusting
his head into the tent. Take 1t easy
till / get the fire going. Doesn't need
but one of u.s.
With a gasp OF relief the mate
slouched his hat owe his eyes and hur-
ried away from the spot as though q
ghost were pursuing him. He did not
stop until he had joined Bowers, who
at once noticed his disordered appear
ance, and exclaimed:
What's up, pard? You look like yer
was scared ter DEATH"
Hes here! / saw them just now"
What's that? Saw who?"
Scott! And Green is with him!"
And who the devil is Scott and
Green? Can't yer talk plain an not
stan thar splutterin' like yer was goin'
ter flop? 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 / got the
papers from, and the other was second
mate OF the vessel with me. We must
get out of this quicki"
Right we are. They must hev come
Over from Skaguay on the BOAT yester-
uo9 1NOhldi 1 w e llltii . y
yer roun' here. They'd be oil ter yer
racket. Chuck them clothes on that
boss, an let's light out, We've got ter
git a big start on 'em, anyhow. faint
likel ythey'll start today"
II don't see how they got here" said
Rider. as they started off through the
tents, leading their horses. Il took
ever cent he had, and / don't believe
the second mate had much"
wall, they're here" replied his COM
panion, philosophically, an Of course
raised the stuff somehow. We've got
ter git thar first"
Half an hour later they had left Pyra-
mid harbor behind them, and were rid
ing along the trail as fast as they could
urge the pack horses, while Tom and
Green were discussing their rude break
fast, in blissful ignorance of % mar
rowly they had missed the man who
they fully believed to have already
reached the writer Of the lost letter.
Although they were eager to get off
at once, 1t was impossible TO start till
the horses had fully recovered from the
sea voyage. They were too valuable to
take any lance with, and one of
them was slightly lame from a fall in
his cramped quarters on the steamer.
To replace an animal was also impos-
SlDlc, lOl ldDulOub pllCSS NSlC DSlllS
offered for anything that could by any
possibility bear a burden.
Then, again, IL was necessary to
make a careful search about the camp
to see If the man Tarbox, 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 vas also a chance that the dead
miners brother might be ever hen on
the spot.
But they found 1t a difficult task to
get any information. The population
OF the camp was changing daily. No
one paused longer than was absolutely
necessary, n each was too busy with
his w affairs to take notice OF others.
Besides this, they were 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, smok-
ing:
tits no use, Green. We might as well
be off and trust to luck. We can't ask
what W. var TO know without arous-
ing suspicion. and we'd better give 1t
up. The horses seem to be in pretty
good shape now, and l move we start
off in the morning"
Before his friend had time to reply q
woman's voice sounded clear and dis
tinct through the darkness;
Help! Help
The two men sprang to their feet.
Tom was q little in advance as they
dashed off in the direction of the cries
n was first to arrive at a little open
ing, where a red-shirted figure was
holding a struggling form in his arms.
Ae he was nearly within striking lis
lance the female managed to free her
sci, but instead of running away she
dealt the man a resounding slap on the
cheek and painted:
you big brutei You-you-"
What she would have added was lost,
for the %ruf1ian, maddened by the sting
ing blow, raised his hand to strike her.
He was too late, however, for just as
his fist was raised Tom dealt him a
straight Highlander hat stretched
him on the ground at full length.
He made an effort and scrambled to
his feet, but 1t was apparent that he
was half daZed by the blow and the
liquor he had been drinking. He at
tempted to draw a revolver from his
belt, but by this time he was surround
ed by angry men who had been at
tracted to the spot by the cutlery.
He was seized by a dozen pairs of
hands n his removed. At
first he attempted TO struggle, but the
muzzle Of a revolver pressed close to
his temple and a few cries of Lynch
completely sobered him, and he
now looked fearfully about him at the
stern faces which beset him on every
side.
'What'n we do with him, boys?'
houte a broad-shouldered giant who
appeared to be a leading spirit.
Hang the scamp" cried a voice near
by.
NONSENSE" returned the big fellow.
What tenderfeot is talking nova It's
hanging matter to kiss a girl. Let's
him In the salt water"
A wild yell of delight greeted this
proposition, and the trembling wretch
was dragged off toward the beach
without ceremony.
turn to their tent when a hand was
laid timidly On his arm, and he turned
to find himself confronted by the inno-
cent cause Of the trouble, who said.
frankly:
Il thank you, sir, for your help. The
seized me from behind ~so.sudden-
ly that l screamed before / knew what
| was doing. My fathers tent is close
by, and l just came out after some
water"
Tom gazed with admiration at the
girl before him. Some one had thrown
armful OF o on q fire q short
away, and by the Pickering
light he could see her distinctly. She
was apparently about Is years old, with
low, broad forehead, large blue eyes,
met his freely, cheeks flushed
with the excitement and a mouth
which, while too large perhaps for
beauty, looked none the less be-
witching. She was dressed In q tight
fitting waist and short skirt, her ankles
protected by leggings, while a pair of
shoes covered her feet.
The young man tool all this in at u
as he replied:
That's nothing. I happened to get
here first. Would you like to have me
see you safe to your tent?"
The girl laughed and said, quickly:
"Oh, there's no danger! / was care
I've got a revolver, and / know
how to use 1t. l shall look out after