Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-12-05
TTT7
! A Rec for Gold
A New sslander's ~~~ @Sfss,c}
Adventure IN AlASAa9S
Copy S. Mcclure Col


coffee an bacon, an them GOALS is jest
right ter cook OH. We've fed, but yer
welcome. 1t Yer jest in from Il Ions
tramp l dare say as Yer kinder low On
grub
Without waiting for reply he seized
the coffee pot and set to work in q way
which showed he was no novice.
The stranger laid aside his pack, and
Mas soon eating With a relish, which
did justice to his hosts supposition.
When he could eat no more Bowers
said:
Got any tobacco"
was the reply
That's tough. Here's a pipe. Join
u.s."
His manner was so cordial and frank
that Rider looked at him in wonder.
The stranger eagerly accepted the pipe,
and fer few moments sat in silence,
drawing huge puffs of the fragrant
weed With an enjoyment Which fairly
spoke for itself.
suddenly Riders companion slapped
his thigh as though he had Just
thought of something wonderful, and,
turning to The mate with q look of
warning, eXclaimed:
by thunder. Scott, You don't sup
pose this is
lie stopped in the middle of the sem
tence and looked searchingly at the
stranger then continued:
lit would be funny. wouldn't it.
Scott, If we had met him out here, You
know the letter said he was comm
down this month fer grub"
The stranger looked wonderingly at
the two men and Bowers fastened to
say:
excuse me. stranger. but might
| your name be TarboN%
The man took his pipe from his lips
and stared at the speaker for full 4
second before replying. then he replied:
1t might be and 1t is. HON did YOU
know mo-"
An Yer pardner's name is Taylor?"
This time the man was too astonshed
to reply, and Bowers Went ON:
You're going to pyca after grub, an
| he's back in the hills Amt that all
4 straight?'
1 Joe Tarbox rose to his feet and laid
| his hand on his weapon, saying in Il
That is correct, but it's my turn to
ask questions now. How did you find
/ all this out?
Bowers turned to the mate and said,
/ promptly:
Tom, old man. you tel him our
/ yarn an let him see the documents
4 Thatll soon put things straight"
My name is Scott said Rider, i
was an officer OF the ship where a man
name John Avery died. He was com
ling out here on account OF a letter from
1 an Old chum of his named Dick Taylor.
4 The old chap fell overheard and pulled
4 him aboard after hard tussie. We
4 come nigh going TO Davy Jones. both Of
4 us and he never got over it. We buried
him out to sea and he drawed up a
i writing to make me his heir. He give
me letter he'd got from this Taylor,
4 telling how to get to gold mine he'd
4 been working.
HE told me to take what money was
4 In his belt and did. He said he'd no
family. The letter said for him to bring
some one with him If he needed any
help, and as didn't know nothing
i bout horses and shore rigging,
/ brought Bowers here along with me.
4 That's the whole yarn as we'll as Il
rough sailor man can spin 1t.
i Bowers face showed his approval of
the mates efforts and TartoX was APP
parently convinced, for he shook hands
! warmly with the speaker and ex.
ITS a lucky thing i met you. Dick
4 told me he had written to both the
Averys. They We're old friends of his.
He told ne To look out for them IN
Dyea. Have you got the papers with
you?,'
That's what have Here they are,
all shipshape and above board, re
Piled Rider as he proceeded to extract
them from his belt.
That's Dick Taylor's fist the world
over" asserted larboN as he examined
the letter. Il remember the day he
wrote that in our tent. We had just
found the first big mug"
lie eoughel to hide his confusion and
then added:
ITS all right, OF course. but man
has to he careful. once let the MOI
know where we are and what we've
found and We'd he oTerrun Ia no time
AS lack would have 1t Hank Bowers
chose this instant when Tarbox was
examining The papers, To throw a look
of ferocious triumph on the mate Al
though neither OF them noticed The
fact. Joe IarboX raised his eyes just
then and to n man of his training
nothing more was needed to but him or
his guard.
lie cast a keen look at Bowers. anG
as il his scrutiny had been satisfactory
) he dropped his eyes again, but there
vas a little hardening OF the muscles
about his jaw, and with a careless
+ twist Of his body he brought his weapos
. nearer his hand
He was too old a hand however, t.
make any outward sign Of alarm, and
said, coolly:
Its pity YOU didn't pick up TIL,
ether Avery at Dyea. He ought to bt
there b. this time
And how can we find your pardner?'
asked Bowers.
do Just as the letter says" replied
Tarbox. Build fire and he'll see tn,
smoke and come. The route is to,
crooked to describe"
How long afore You'll be back witt
the grub? We've got a good lot here
! but you can't hev too much
It'll take me three days to get i,
and two or three more to get what
want. If l can't find horses / shall
back under q fortnight or three week.
at the best
After finishing his pipe, Tarbo,
. pleaded fatigue, and rolled himself w
III his blanket. But there was no alcel
, for him that night. The sinister looi
! on Bowers face had given him the clep
I he wanted. and as he waited patientl,
for daylight he muttered to himself:
THAT was u close shave, There i.
something wrong about that sailor, j
his company is anything to go by. j
this Bowers isn't the man / saw driv
: en- out of Joe Ladues station for steal
ing, then LIN mistaken. Dick will b.
all right. They may make all the fire
they want to, ard that's all the isoot
,, it'll do them. Ill Just bring back tw'
!, on three men of the right sort with me
There's no other way"
At the first sign of daylight he Wa
astir y hasty meal was soon eaten
.. and shaking hands cordially with boil
: men, he said
Tell Dick I'll he back as soon as
can. You can't miss the trail"
, Then ne struck out nlanfully on tn
back track to Dyea. leaving the plot
, tiers standing in front OF their tent. ex