Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-28
XII.
DIGGING A

"a w 1NA 49,
imagine thai the big boulder had fallen
by accident. On the contrary he real
lied II had been p~urposely rolled there
to prevent his ingress. 1t followed,
then, that he had been seen approach
Ing the cliff.
There must be some sort Of a valley
behind this ere cliff he concluded, as
he stood measuring the distance to the
top OF the obstructing stone with his
eye, IAN that Teller won't keep me out
of Il long,"
With a confident air ne retraced his
steps to the opening and removed the
packs from his horses. Then he took
q coil OF rope on his arm and entered
the cleft once more.
Bowers had been a cowboy once and
was an expert with the lasso. he had
noticed a sharp spur on the upper side
Of the barrier, and with a deXterous
cast he looped his rope around Ii at the
first attempt. Then with an agility
really remarkable In so large a man he
drew himself up about twenty feet, UNI
til he was able to secure a foothold and
Chamber over the top.
To his surprise he saw no one, and
without the least sign or fear he
climbed up the short distance remain
Ing to be traversed and appeared be-
fore the astonished eyes OF the little
group, who were even then discussing
the noise they had heard a few mo-
ments before.
Hello, pards," he said, boldly APP
preaching our friends yer don't seem
over'n above glad ter see me, but I'm
here. Now, what's ter be done? / amt
q very r~evengeful sort o a cuss or I'd
ask yer what yer meant by trying ter
squash me with a couple o ton o rock
Jest now"
His impudence kept the others quiet
for a moment, n then TarboX tepped
forward and said. sternly:
You are not wanted here. You were
Kicked out Of Ladue's for stealing, and
your present partner Is a thief and
would-be murderer. Where is hep
"Ive parted company with the low
down skunk" was the ready reply, as
Bowers threw into his voice an excel
lent assumption OF Indignation. He
owned up this mornin' that he'd stole
them papers and dassent show his head
here fer fear the man what owned 'em
might hev passed us while we was off
the trail. l told him ter git out an
leave my company, and he's gone back
ter Dyea. That's straight"
His manner was so earnest that he
made an impression and was quick to
notice Il. Before anyone had time to
reply he went on.
ITS true | was kicked out o. Joe
Iadue's, but I was drunk an took some
dust from a chap what was drunker'n
/ was. | had the craze fer Ticker on me
an didn't more'n half know what /
was dom.
Besides that" he continued, seeing
that he was gaining ground, i've got a
good outfit down below here an l don't
ask no grub. / know you've struck 1t
rich here an here's the papers ter
prove 1t. l took 'em from that Rider
afore he started off. All | want Is ter
stay here an make my pile. This is
free ground, anyway, an yer can't
drive me off If l want ter stay. Even
II yer did clean me out / could bring
hundreds O. miners here in no time by
telling what I know. What is 1t, pards,
stay or light out for Dyea and fetch the
crowd?'
AS he paused for a reply the others
looked blankly at each other. He had
spoken the truth. He had a perfect
right to stay. They could not murder
him, and to drive him away would be
TO give the news of their mine to the
world.
Both Tarbox and Taylor realized hat
they had but one course to pursue. The
pay streak was so crooked and shallow
thai it would be necessary to go over
n large piece of ground to follow It,
and should their discovery leak out
they would be confined to a claim
apiece, where they now could pick n
choose over the entire valley.
Bowers watched them with an Easy
mir as they spoke in low tones for n
moment, for he knew we'll they could
but decide one way. Presently Dick
Taylor said, bluntly:
what you say is true in regard to
this place. We don't want you, but
we are obliged to have you. Get your
stuff up out of sight. We will help you
do hat for our own sake. After that
you will keep away from our camp and
dig all you please"
An hour later his outfit was in the
valley, and as he busted himself put
ting up his tent he wore a self satisfied
expression that BODIED i'll for the peace
Of the men upon whom he a forced
himself so clcverly.
But IL Hank Bowers could haVe been
present at a little conference that night
he would not have congratulated him
self so suddenly. He vas a deep rascal,
but he had different material to deal
with than the sailor In whose company
he had recently been
Dick Taylor was a very shrewd sort
Of n person, and while he had been
forced to receive the stranger into his
camp he was determined he should not
remain there after they were ready to
have him go. To get rid of him In a
way that would keep his tongue sealed
In regard to the gold they had found
was the problem and he had thought OF
n way which he hoped might answer
their purpose.
That night he detailed his scheme to
the others, and all agreed that 1t was
the wisest course under the circum-
stances. What 1t was will develop
later.
II don't believe a word about his
breaking with that Rider" he added,
when the whole ground had been gone
over. There's no doubt in my mind
that they've put up some job between
them. There's five Of us, anyhow. and
while he's in camp WI must keep an
eye open nights. Wen divide the time
up, and 1t won't come hard. We will
stay In this tent, of course, and we
won't let him know but what we're all
asleep. He won't do anything until
we have a bigger pile than we've got
now"
Their plans being arranged, the lit
tie party separated for the night, but
Avery shared the cave with his daugh-
ter, as he thought 1t safer. This was
also the repository of some $40, DOC
WI III VI Solu' winch lhC wv ihSi nav
already taken from the spot.
On the following morning work was
commenced in earnest, and the piles OF
dirt began to melt away before the Wig
orous attacks OF the men, while Hank
Bowers dug manfully by himself q
short distance away apparently salts
fled to take them at their word. Ic
was an experienced miner, n his lit
tie pile Of dust grew steadily.
That night the result of their com
bined efforts was nearly 81, 900, and
Tom Scott could hardly be content &c
Ike the necessary time for sleep. II
seemed to him that his fortune was al
ready made.
Three days of unremitting toll fol.
lowed, the average being a little less
than the first day. Then Avery said
as they were starting out the fourth
morning