Missouri Valley times., 1901-11-14
copyrshed 1888. by 5. Mcclure



moment later Tom groaned family.
He's alive!"
The words We're Kissed forth in q
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 ar
rested his arm. He must have money
and had no time to lose. If he robbed
Tom of both money and papers the
victim, even if he recovered. was pow
erless 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
1t, and With feverish, trembling haste
he began fumbling about in Toms
clothes. He was not long finding the
money which Tom carried in an inside
pocket of his vest and was rising to
his feet when a door suddenly opened
a few yards away and a man came out
of the house.
Without waiting to see in which di-
rection he was turning, Obed Rider
hurried away toward the wharf and
was soon safe in lis stateroom With his
ill-gotten booty. His eyes saone with
devilish triumph as he pored over the
papers, and the sight of over SEQ In
cash wrapped around the railroad
ticket to Seattle filed his measure Of
satisfaction to overfiowing.
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 q made man. Hes lost his pile
and the papers. too. I'll take the train
today, You fool, in Your place. Won
der if he will get over the rap or not {?
| don't mead TO fret, anyway. / didn't
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 motlonless form
and struck q match.
1t was CHASTITY picture. Toms face
was so covered With blood that his fea-
lures We're 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 little exclamation of horror
back to the door he had just left. He
was gone but an instant, returning
with another man. who assisted him in
carrying the inaninlate form to the en-
trance. With much trouble they lifted
their heavy burden along marrow
passage into q scantily furnished room,
where they placed it upon narrow
bed in one corner.
a small kerosene lamp stood on
tn C,,I
took a look at the fact, saving:
Get a basin of water, Ned, quick.
We must see how bad he is hurt
When the water arrived a moment
later, he washed the blood from Tom S
face with gentle hand, then as the
features became distinct he. uttered a
little cry of astonishmcnt and dropped
on his knees by the wounded man, ex-
claiming:
by thunder Ned, I know this man,
He was passenger with us! If 1T
has knocked him on the head and gone
through him. Bring the light! He
may be hurt bad,'
AS he spoke Tom rnoaned and stirred
upon the bed Then he opened his eyes
and struggled With wild look into
half-erect position.
whats all this.." he groaned
Where am IL?
Its all right, Mr.. Scott" replied a
familiar voice. ''vou are with u friend.
Better lie down awhile till you feel bet
ter
Tom looked at him in bewldered
fashion. blinking his eyes in the glare
of the lamp which the third man held
close to him.
"Mr. Green." he said, wonderlnglv.
eyes, sir replied the second mate
of the seabird. Its me. l happened
along just in time. Are you hurt much?
Let me look at your head"
MY head?" repeated Tom, who had
no clear conception of whore he was
or whether he was asleep or awake.
Yes replied his rescuer, lifting the
hair on the top of his head as he spoke.
You We're knocked down on the street
and / found you there. ] was going
down TO the vessel after some things
/ left there and | stumbled over man
on the Sidewalk. L had no idea it was
You, but | couldn't let chap lie there
in the mud, so we took you in here.
This is my room. I've left the Sea
bird, you know. I'm off for the gold
mines in the Klondike if I can get
there"
The last word acted like magic upon
Tom.
THE Klondike." he repeated "Yes,
I remember. 1t all comes to me now. /
forgot where was. remember now
was attacked on the street. Some
body came up behind and struck met"
That's it. Then / came along and
found You. You've got an ugly cut on
the head, but / don't think it Will
amount to anything after you rest
awhile. There IS no doctor round here
that | know of, and I'll just put bit
of plaster ON 1t for you if you don't
mind. You can get it looked at tomor-
row il YOU want to-"
The third man held the light while
this was done and then left the second
mate with his patient. Who asked:
"Who was that"
Il hire this room of him" was the
reply. He helped me bring you in
from the street"
You are very good, said Tom, "but
it's late and I'm keeping you out of
your bed"
AS he spoke he tried to rise, but the
other restrained him.
You are not We'll enough yet" he
said, kindly. Better rest awhile. Did
you lose anything when you We're
struck? Have you watch or money
Tom interrupted him with a hoarse
cry and sat bolt upright
MY belt" he painted, wildly.
His hands went to his waist and then
the fun force of his loss burst upon
him.
1t WAS gone.
The unfortunate young man looked
stupidly at the sailor a moment, then
be broke into meaningless laughter and
fell back upon the bed. The blow had
robbed him of his scattered senses and
lie tainted.
When the doctor reached his side n
few hours later, Tom was suffering
from brain fever and could not be
moved. The second mate hnd sum