Missouri Valley times., 1901-11-07

Toms future plans.
1t was an hour before sunset and the
two passengers were leaning over the
stern watching the water fly swiftly
under the counter, when a loud shout
from aloft attracted their attention.
Looking quickly UP they had barely
time TO spring aside when a heavy
block struck the deck beside them with
terrific force. A rope attached to it hit
Toms companion across the chest.
sending him backwards His heels met
the wheel ropes and the next instant
he struck the water astern and diSap-
peared from TOMS sight.
1t had all happened so quickly that
he hardly realized what had occurred
until the sailor aloft shouted:
Man overboard! Man overboard."
With the promptitude of a sailor the
man at the wheel sprang to the rail and
cut adrift the life preserNer, which was
always ready for use. and at the same
time the captain rushed on deck and
ordered the ship hove to.
Then Tom tore off his coat and shoes
and leaped over the rail before the cap
tain could detain him.
Like most Cape Cod boys, he had
learned to swim at an early age and a
pond in Merriyale had enabled him to
indulge In the exercise in late years, so
that when he came to the surface he
felt no anxiety for himself although
the vessel was some distance away.
He struck out with all his might in
the direction OF the vessels wake, and
coon caught a glimpse of a white face
clead rising and falling on the waves.
Keep up till reach you!" he shout
ed to encourage Avery, who was fully
TO yards away
There was no reply, and when Tom
was within a dozen strokes of his friend
1,n 1oif fo,>
and began TO Sink.
Tom reached the spot just In time to
grasp his hair and drag him to the sur
face, where he lay utterly unconscious
and unable to assist himself. Tom sup
ported him as best he could but his
clothes soon began to drag him down,
and his limbs felt like lead. He was
nearly spent when something white
swept before his eyes on the top of a
sea, and he saw that it was the life
buoy. With a last effort he struck out
and succeeded in grasping 1T.
In the meantime the Seabird had
been brought to the wind and a boat
lowered with all possible speed, but 1t
is a slow operation at best, and the
craft was half mile distant before
the boat struck the water with Captain
Coffin in her stern.
Although the buoy supported Tom
easily, he found it no easy task to keep
the unconscious mans head above the
surface, and when the boat reached
them he was pulled from the water in
q state of utter exhaustion.
Avery showed no signs of life, and
when the vessel was reached he was
taken to his berth. Where the old cap
tain gradually resuscitated him, Tom
having changed his clothes in the
meantime and regained the use of his
limbs.
was shocked at his friends face. There
was a look there which comes but once
to humanity, and which froze the
words on his tongue.
Scott, sit down." said the old miner.
II can see by your face what you read
In mine. 1 have no time to waste. I'm
dying man, Scott Something has
given out inside and my time is up;
Don't interrupt me, please. I must tell
you something While j have time"
He paused an instant TO press his
hand to his side, saying:
When that hit me something snapped
I'm here. l think . rib is sticking into
my lungs. Take off my belt, Scott.
Hurry up! Don't stop to ask questions
row!''
Tom obeyed, and with trembling fin
gers the dying man drew forth a fold
, ed bit of paper, whispering:
Its yours, and 1T means q fortune
to you! Get me a pen and paper and
then write What 1 tell you!
His request was soon complied with,
and with a faint voice he dictated:
give my share in the gold mine discov-
cred by my partner, Dick Reed, to the
bearer, Thomas Scott, who has risked
his life for mine twice.
When this unique will was on paper
he added:
Give me the pen. There needn't be
any witnesses. Dick Reed knows my
paper is map to tell me how to reach
the mine. It's a secret trail leads to
1T, and only three men know of it. You
Will be rich If you live to reach It, Trust
no one, but so by yourself. Take the
money in my belt, too. and use 1t as
you please. You may find my brother
Bill at the mine He was sent for, too.
You'll get my share
violent fit Of coughing interrupted
him, and before it ended tho handser-
chief he pressed to his lips was stained
With his life blood.
Tom hastily summoned the captain
but the old man Sank into an uncon-
scious state, and before morning Tom
was the only living occupant Of the lit
tie stateroom.
1sut behind the thin partition which
separated it from the mates room sat
that worthy himself with q look of tri-
unlpl on his evil face.
There We're no Witnesses and what
is to prevent my being Mr.. Tom Scott
and becoming mine owner" he NUT
tered to himself. II must have that pa
per if / have to kill to get it,"
C-il t!Se following day the remains OF
the old miner were consigned to the
deep, and as Tom saw the weighted
canvas disappear beneath the blue wa
ters, his grief outweighed every other
sentiment and drove all thoughts of his
Inheritance from his head. he had
grown to love the rugged old man like
a brother, and 1T was the first time he
had been brought face to face with
DEATH
That night as he was about to re-
tire he remembered the slip of pape,
given him by his dying friend, and
which he had not yet examined. He
had placed 1t in the belt and tossed the
letter into his chest at the time and a
huge lump swelled in his throat now as
he lifted the lid and drew it forth.
Carefully arranged in the various
compartments We're bills to the amount
of $1,000. and these he transferred to his
own belt at once. The paper was evil
IDENTIFY torn from a blank book, and
contained these lines in bold hend
odd Partner: IL you haven't forgot.
ten the old days and the bargain We
made. come out and share my find with
me. have struck ii rich. j have writ
ten to Bill. have n new chum witt
me. too. Come to Dyea and take tht
old Dalton trail. No one uses it now
1t goes just west of Arkell lake and
runs straight for Fort Scllfirk. It's al.
most dead north by the compass. About
so miles before 1t reaches the fort Il
splits off to the left. A big white cliff
faces the trail You can't mistake 1t
The main trail keep on to the right