Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-03-29
CHAPTER NJ.
JUST TOO LATE.

JUST TOO LATE.
When Joe TarboX left the mate and
his companion and started on his way
to Dyea the latter watched him until
he disappeared behind the first hill.
Then he turned TO Rider and rubbed his
hands together glcefully.
"You done that fuc!' he exclaimed
"We are an right now! Let's make
tracks. I'm itchiu' ter git my hands on
some Of the waller boys. Did Yer notice
how that Teller choked himself off when
he started ter say somethin' bout a
nugget? l wouldn't give a cent for his
chances Of seem EN- agiu."
heir horses were soon ready, and
once more the two adventures took up
their route. Several times they missed
the trail, but after four days travel
they came to the white cliff mentioned
in the letter.
"Make sure what it says said the
miner, and Rider produced the precious
document at once.
at says keep to the left he an
nounced
"All right. Here goes. but l don't see
no signs of any trail. Wen have to
keep our eyes open for that feller's
tracks, | suppose rejoined Rider,
wheeling his horse as he spoke. Its
n mighty blind sort Of a route along
here, but III find tiff there gold at the
end of our trip waitin' fer Us. See if l
don't I'm as good as one O. them di-
vinin' rods any time"
lie seemed to be right, for he picked
mis- way along with marvellous accuracy
until at length they reached an open
spot Here ne paused and said:
Its guesswork now, but we'd bet
ter keep as nigh the same direction as
we kin. We amt far from the end
now"
But for once he was wrong. Had he
diVerged more 10 the left he would have
soon reached the turn from which a
view Of the gorge was to be had. As il
was they inclined TO the right, and as
IL was nearly dark they decided TO
camp for the night. Hank Bowers rest
less eyes were always on the alert, and
rs they were unsaddling their animals
he suddenly gripped Riders arm with
one hand and pointed with the other.
''See that smoke he exclaimed.
Look"
Rider did look, and there, plainly de-
fined against the setting sun, was a col
umn of black smoke curling upward far
to the southwest.
"What do you suppose it is?" he in
quired.
THAT is a signal No fool would try
TO cook with wet wood when there's
plenty O dry ter be had! You stay here
and don't move till git back"
Without another word he strobe off
in the direction Of the smoke, which
seemed 20 be beyond heavily wooded
hill not more than a mile away. At the
right of the hill stood a ragged rock
like a sentinel on duty. and toward this
he bent his steps. He was not long
reaching it and from its shelter he
peered cautiously around the outer cor
per.
a party Of ncu were unsaddling their
horses near the foot of high cliff, and,
as he looked, he distinctly saw a woman
among them. The twilight was deepen
ing fast, and he could not distinguish
any features, but he muttered aloud:
"If that don't beat all! l don't UNI
derstand it nohow. | must know who
they be, an what they re after!"
With stealthy steps he drew near the
party, sheltering himself easily behind
the powders as he proceeded. Soon he
was near enough to be certain that the
men were strangers to him, and he
watched the thick smoke with curiosi-
ty. He did not see Joe TarboX. for the
latter had disappeared before the
watcher drew near. but as the latter
crouched behind a rock he suddenly
uttered savage oath.
sold Curse him! lie must have
been on to mel"
For there before him stood the man
he had parted with on the trail, while
fifth man was shaking hands heartily
with one of the party, his joyous shout
of "Ayery!" being plainly distinguish
able.
For a few moments Hank Bowers
watched the preparations for camping,