Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-14
A Race for Gold
A New Englander's C~ST3
copyrighted 1898, by S. S. Mcclure Col


The questions now flew thick and
fast and soon Tarbox was made aware
OF tho true state of affairs. Tom
showed him the Identification he hal
brought from San Francisco, which re-
moved the last lingering doubt, but
their new acquaintance was determined
to take no chances. He maintained q
discreet silence in regard to the mine
n Its exact location, declaring that
until his partner had seen and ac-
knowledged the party he was not at lib
erty to reveal any of the secrets.
AT length Avery said, abruptly:
But you are not going to Dyea
now? We nave supplies enough here
to feed our party n you two besides
for the next year. You must come back
with us. We ought to hurry as fast as
we can with those two scoundrels
ahead of us. They may catch Dick with
the papers they've got. How can he
tell but what they are all straight"
Tarbox chuckled grimly as he re-
piled.
They won't find him. You'll under
stand better when you get there. Dick
will know the tallest galoot the mo-
ment he sets his eyes on him. We've
both seen him before. The sailor picked
out just the man to queer him with
- '11AA I AOA AhNI II AAAA III INtl
a little bit uneasy, but it's all right, l
tell you. Die Taylor is no tenderfoot.
We might as well camp for the night.
It'll soon be dark. If all this stuff is
grub there's enough to feed the whole
Klondike country"
He was firm in his refusal to pro-
coed further that day, and, in fact.
by the time the loads had beer re-
moved from the horses and the ami
mails GA rod for tha cttp hnd liSo ~ rod
The tents were soon pitched and after
supper and a friendly chat the entire
party stretched themselves on their
rude couches and were soon asleep.
An early start was made the follow
ing morning, and, three DAYS later, as
they reached the top Of a long hill, Tar
box pointed to a white cliff a few miles
to the north and said:
h is where the trail branches
or to our place. It's only about TWEEN
ty-five or thirty miles then. We'd bet
ter push ahead and see If we can't make
1t before dark"
An hour later they reached the land
mark. Tom could not see any sign Of a
trail in the direction in which TarboX
turned his horses head. but after n
moment the latter pointed to a spot
where the marks Of hoofs were plainly
TO be seen and said coolly:
ouI Two 1TleIQS D.a1ageu TO M
their way, / see."
He had not uttered a threat against
the men who had tried to deceive him.
but Tom felt certain there would be q
DAY or reckoning in the near future.
mere was an air of resolution about
their guide which Is only gained by
contact with danger in it's various
forms.
Push the horses along" said Tar
box. w shan't want all of them after
today. Mebbe we shan't want them at
all. We can't keep them where we are
going"
But there's plenty Of meat on their
bones" said Tom.
w won't need it."
not to explain himself and the subject
was dropped. Mile after mile was rap
Iarbox was apparently determined
ldly traversed, for the country was
comparatively open, and even the pack
horses could trot at times. Still the
guide showed no sign OF pausing, and
at last the sun was dipping behind the
horizon. Then he suddenly turned to
the left around a huge boulder toward
which they had been travelling for some
time, n the rest saw directly In front
or them the SUBMITS of two lofty hills,
the gorge between them being densely
wooded about half way up on either
side.
The tops were still crowned with
snow, upon which the setting sun shone
Its crimson rays until they seemed
bathed in blood.
Tor some distance on the left Of the
travellers extended a perpendicular cliff
fully a hundred feet high an daccessi-
bic only to the birds. On the right the
ascent was more gradual, but the trees
were very dense until the snow line
was reached.
Tarbox led the way among the bowl
ders at the foot Of the cliff until he
came to an open spot. Then he dis
mounted and said:
I'VE are here. Now for a fire.
Tom vas about to go for fuel, when
he saw Tarbox reach behind q rock and
bring out a handful Of dry twigs and
moss, which he soon ignited. When
the blaze shot UP he covered 1t with
damp moss, and the result was a dense
column Of smoke which went curling I'D
the face Of the cliff until 1t showed dis
tinctly against the sky above.
The other men busted themselves
with the usual routine work of camp
ing, but TarboX stood by the fire in
silence for fully ten minutes. An an
xious look began to appear ON his face,
but suddenly he gave a little eXclama-
ton Of relief as a pebble struck him on
the shoulder and r~ebounded to the
ground.
I'll be back in a minute" he called
to Avery's daughter, who was nearest
to him. Then he disappeared behind
n of the rocks.
Like a shadow he glided along in the
gathering darkness, twisting and turn
ing without hesitation until he stopped
at a spot where the base Of the cliff
was covered with scrub and moss.
With a hasty glance about him, as If
to be certain no one was watching him,
he stopped and pulled aside a mass OF
clinging creepers from the rock, reveal
ing 4 narrow opening some three feet
wide and extending upwards TO an un-
known height.
"All right, Dick" he whispered. soft
ly, and. then came a rustling noise as
a man appeared from the dark cavitay
and grasped his hand warmly.
CII ADV,LTD W