Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-11-16
CHAPTER V.

A btllAllu. ne Idu blSpl ph
board the vessel the previous night un-
til the noise Of the second mate arous-
Ing the captain had awakened him.
They did not call him, knowing the en-
nifty that existed between himself and
Tom, but he overheard enough to tell
him that Tom was alive, although bad-
ly hurt and out Of his mead with fever.
He knew Tom was in utter ignorance
of the identify of his assailant, but had
he been aware of the loss of the belt?
Would the skipper remember the time
he had seen the mate coming out of
Toms room and place any new sig
~nilcance on the incident?
A guilty conscience made him mag
inc all sorts Of dangers to himself, and
he trembled each time the train stopped
at a station lest an officer should be in
wait for him.
But nothing Of the kind happened,
and IN due time he reached Seattle.
Here things seemed more encouraging,
for he was fortunate enough to find n
man who had engaged a passage on q
steamer for Skaguay and Dyea, which
sailed the same day. The man had re-
ceived a telegram announcing the dan
gerous illness of his wife, and was eager
to leave Seattle by the next train.
The mate happened to be the first
man he met, and the latter soon came
" C Ills VAL i&Ab va a VA
board TO secure his quarters, He kept
himself out Of sight as much as posi-
BILE, but when the lines were cast off
the following day and the City OF Sc
attic steamed out Of the harbor he
drew a long breath of relief, and said,
half aloud:
Were off at last, and I'm safe now"
He found that his ticket entitled him
to n stateroom, and that the trip from
CAAyA1A 81 n,.nn ,.rysn1lTp nnNIntCd about
1--WE days. All his fellow passengers
wero wild with impatience to reach the
land Of gold, and now that he felt safe
from pursuit he eagerly listened to the
stories Of wonderful wealth found by
lucky miners, for each n made it
more probable hat the papers he had
secreted about him were genuine evil
dence, a fact which at times he was in
clined to doubt.
He had paid the returning miner $500
for his ticket and outfit, the latter In
GLIDING three horses and q good supply
Of provisions, while the former in
Guided their transportation to Dyea
free of cost. He must, however, land
them himself, the company declining
all responsibility for this part of the
work.
A short stop was made at Juneau, and
two days later he found himself on he
beach at Dyea with his belongings and
feeling utterly at q loss how to proceed.
How to handle this formidable outfit
was n puzzle. On board a vessel he was
at home, but q horse was an animal of
which he knew very little and here
were three Of them besides the heap
of miscellaneous articles piled on the
rocky shingle.
It was plain that they must be moved
before the tide came IN, and with n
sailors knowledge OF knots he soon
dashed the burdens on the backs Of the
raw-boned animals and succeeded In
getting them to the town safely.
A small tent was among his newly
acquired possessions and he proceeded
to pitch it as best he could, piling his
goods outside. He set up his little
sheet-iron stove and was going for wa
ter when he passed close TO one Of his
animals, who launched out viciously at
him with his hoof, sending him to the
ground several yards away with a
broken rib and his left arm badly
bruised.
whats the trouble2" said a rough
voice from the mex camp as a burly,
bearded man strolled ~leisurely to the
spot. Hurt We much, pard?"
A string of oaths burst from Rider
as he scrambled to his feet.
Something's cracked inside" he
growled, land my arms hurt. D-n
the horse, anyway"
Better let my mate see II anything
wrong. He's q master hand with any
thing O. that kind. Here, Scott" he
added, raising his voice.
Obed Rider started at the name, but
he turned fairly white with amazement
as 4 tall, broad-shouldered man In the
prime Of life issued from the tent and
! 20 mn fourord him caytnu,
what is it, Jack?"
Before the other could reply both
Rider and the newcomer uttered ex-
carnations Of establishment.
"Obed Rider!"
Captain Scott"
The mate looked about him In a help
less way as If seeking some avenue OF
escape, but the other held out his hand
cordially, saying:
"Of all men, to see you here!" Then
he added:
but you are hurt. Can I do any
thing for you? Let me have a little
look. We can talk afterward."
The injury was soon located, and aft
er predicting thai a few days would
set the matter right, Captain Scott
said:
What on earth brought you here?
Have you been home lately? Did you
see my boy?"
The mate had done considerable
thinking during the past few minutes
After the first surprise was over he had
rapidly determined upon his course
and he nov shook his head, replying:
I'm afraid / can't give you mucf
good news from home, cap'n."
His eyes fell as he spoke, but tht
other was too eager TO notice.
What do you mean, RIDER"
The voice was hoarse now with sup.
pressed eagerness. my boy! Tell me
Is he-why don't you speak? Ny
brother, too! D. it, man speak out
might both be dead by the way yoi
act!"
"They are" murniured Rider, still
with his eyes cast down.
Without a word the captain turneC
on his heel and disappeared. 1t wa
half an hour before he returned, an
there was such a change In his rugge'
features that even the mate felt com
passion for him But he had no alter
native. Anything to prevent Tom
father from learning the truth. II,
had told his story, n now he must b,
prepared with the details. Fortunate
ly the absence Of his latest victim hac
given him time to rapidly sketch out
line Of procedure which he hoppe
would be safe.
Your brother died three years ago,
he said, "and your son was a pas
senger with me to Frisco this winter
He was coming to the mines, he said
He was killed a couple of weeks ag,
one night when he was coming dow
to h vessel. Captain Coffin tool
charge Of the body. 1t was the da.
before 1 left town. / q my tickek
all hnIlUhf md nnII1dnff xuoif fnr III
funeral"
Did you see the body yourself?"
NO" said the mate, hesitatingly
"but I heard the second mate say h
was dead"
ID they know who did it?"
mo"
How did 1t all happen?"