The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-10-24

in front of the young mans face, and
hattening against the wall at his side.
Tom still retained the knife, and with
a quick slash he struck the hand which
held the revolver, causing the owner to
drop it, with a yell of pain, ana dash
off toward the street at full speed, fol-
lowed by his companion, who had evil
IDENTIFY no desire to face Tom lone.
AS the men disappeared he turned.
to find the stranger he had rescued
grooming with pain, and trying to get
on his feet.
Take my arm and see if you can't
stand" a Tom. Are you badly
hurt?"
MY right arm is helpless, and my
head goes round like a top" was the
faint reply: but I'm coming round all
right, l guess. I got a nasty clip from
one Of them cutthroats. l came to just
as that chap pulled his gun on you,
and 1 tried to get up, but everything
swan round SO I couldn't. You're a
plucky chum-"
Can you get up?' interrupted Tom,
hastily. IF you can I'll just find hat
pistol and We'll get away from this
place. If not, I'll leave you the weapon
and go after help. I'm cut in the side,
but l don't know how bad it is"
A moments search discovered the
weapon, and after assisting the in
jured man to his feet they were NOV
ing slowly up the, wharf when a bright
ray of light suddenly penetrated the
darkness and a tall policeman appeared
before them, throwing the searching
beams of a dark lantern Upon them.
Whats going on down there?" he
demanded. Didn't I hear a shot just
a moment ago."
Tom was about to reply when his
companion exclaimed:
1.-Two men knocked me down and
would have robbed me but for this man
here, who pitched into them. They
both ran up this way"
II passed W. men," said the officer.
One was tall and the other short. Were
they the ones?"
Upon receiving an affirmative reply,
he turned on his heels and dashed off
in pursuit of the evildoers, who by this
time a made good their escape.
AS the avenue was reached a herdic
happened along and Tom hailed 1t at
his companions suggestion.
Take us to the police station on Bat
terry street." he said to the driver, and
in a few moments they stood before the
official in a well-lighted room telling
their story. A physician was in attend
ance upon a prisoner and he soon made
a rapid examination of their wounds.
"A few strips of plaster will fix your
scalp all right" said he to the elder
man, a your arm is only numb from
the blow. You'll be all right tomor-
row. Then turning to Tom, he added:
you have had a very narrow escape
from death. young man. That knife
was meant for our heart. AS it is, it
glanced on a rib and there is no dam
age done 1t is only a slight flesh
wound, which will give you no trouble
whatever"
A few moments sufficed to dress the
cut properly, and after turning over the
knife and revolver to the authorities,
to aid in Identifying the two robbers,
Tom was about to start for his hotel
when his new acquaintance said, blunt
~:
Hold or a minute. I'd like to know
the name of the man who stood by an
old chap tonight and saved my life.
How did you happen along SO handy
like?"
MY name is Tom Scott, and I hap
pened to heal those men planning to
rob somebody, SO I kept an eye IN
them. That's ALL"
NO, il amt all, by a long chalk"
was the hearty response. You did
n,ore'n that, and I might be chucked
into the dock before this only for your
pluck. My name is John Avery, and
I'm pretty we'll known along the water
1lollS az q 1lo I'll III "olu. IL l. Cdll
ever do you a good turn you can count
On me. Live here in the city?''
mo, I'm just from New Hampshire
said Tom.
Looking for work?"
mo. I'm trying to I'M a chance to
get to the Klondike."
Then, by thunder, you needn't look
n longer" was the prompt reply, be
cause I'm bound there myself, and you
shall go with me if you al to. l
wouldn't ask a better mate than you.
Where are you stopping?"
Tom mentioned the name of his hotel
and the other said at once:
"All right. Let's go there and talk
this thing over"
Half an hour later they were seated
in the smoking room and Toms modest
story was told. When he had finished
his friend said:
That's a good, straight yarn, and
some day / may have one to tell you
hat will open our eyes. All 1 need to
say now is that my name is John
Avery. I'm an old 49-er without wife
OF child, and I'm bound for the Klon-
dix to get my pile. It's waiting for
me there, all right. I've taken passage
on a sailing vessel because I like the
water and hate the cars. Besides, there
is nc use getting there before spring.
1 will pay your passage out on the
same vessel, and you can keep your
little pile. If the Yukon camps are
anything like the old days in Califor-
MIA, you'll need 1t all and more, too.
Well call it a loan or anything you
like. and you can a me when o
strike a rich claim"
Continued Next Week.)