Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-11-09
A Race for Gold
A New Englander's I~~T3
Adventures in Alaskas- lsSs = p sos1ssos3
Copyrighted lsS BY 8 s Mcclure Col


the imprint OF truth III every iue, anu
for awhile he could scarcely realize
what he had read.
He had no suspicion that the mate
was at that moment gluing his eye to
a crack In the bulkhead and vainly try
ing TO get a glimpse of the paper of
which he had heard the dying man
speak the night before. In his villain
GUS heart, he a sworn that Tom Scott
should never grasp the golden treasure,
but how to prevent him was the ques-
ton. Clearly he must obtain possession
OF the precious paper, but how was this
to be done?
His peephole was too small to enable
him to tell where Tom kept II, but as he
heard the lid of the chest closed he
drew q long breath and muttered:
TITS In bis donkey! I'll find a way to
have a peep inside Of IL before we get
to Frisco. 1t would never do to trouble
Il now. He'd suspect me the first thing
IL he missed II. / must rig some kind
OF a derrick on him, that's surel"
For the next few days he cudgeled
his brains for some safe means OF at
tanning his ends, but without success.
Then chance did what he had failed
to do.
Land hot" was the welcome cry
from aloft one morning just after sun
rise, while the captain and second mate
were asleep. the mate was stumping
the deck and Tom. who had turned out
earlier than usual, was standing on the
topgallant forecastle watching a school
of fish play about the bows. He ran
up the forerigging at once to catch a
glimpse Of the welcome sight.
"Now's my time said the mate, I'M
der his breath, as Tom went over the
foretop and began to swarm up the
topmast rigging. He'll go clean up to
the man on the gallant yard before he
sees t."
The next moment he had stolen soft
ly down the cabin stairs, entered Toms
room and tried the lid OF the chest.
To his surprise 1t was not locked, and
there on top, half hidden by the sleeve
OF an old coat, lay John Avery's belt
before him. His fingers trembled as
with feverish haste he pulled IT open,
end then a furious oath came through
his bristling beard.
The belt was empty!
A rapid search convinced him that
the object he sought was mo- In the
chest, and hastily ~rearranging the arti-
Giles as he had found them, he closed
the lid and stepped out OF the room to
meet Captain Coffin face to face In the
narrow passage.
What are you doing In there?" de-
manded the latter.
Were going to wash decks and the
portfolio was Open" he stammered. Il
just stepped down to close It,"
Whatever comment the old skipper
was about to make was interrupted by
the man aloft, who again gave that
long drawn out, indescribable cry, so
dear to the sailors heart:
Land ho!"
The captain forgot everything else
Instantly and sprang on deck at once,
exclaiming:
Its the Golden Gate or I'm a lub-
berl I'VE made a record passage this
time for the old bark! We're only SO
days from Boston and We'll keep 1t
down to two figures II the wind holds
and have a day to spare! Slap the
canvas on her, Mr.. Rider! There's let
ters and fresh grub waiting for us over
the starboard bow! Sweat her for all
she's worth"
His orders were promptly obeyed
and as Tom reached the deck n came
art the captain added:
We'll soon be ashore, Mr.. Scott. If
my ~reckoning's right, hat Is the en-
trance TO 'Frico harbor and we ought
TO be tied up alongside the dock to-
night. You've never been there, have
your"
Tom replied in the negative and the
captain continued:
well, see here. / don't know how
you're fixed, but / always live aboard
when I'm in port. It's cheaper and I
keep a good cook by her. If you like
you can stay with me and 1t won't cost
you a red. I've made a rafting trip
and you are welcome"
Thank you" said Tom. I'll do so
until / start north. i shall be glad to
have a familiar face with me. This Is
my first trip, you know"
Hes going to live aboard" chuckled
Obed Rider, who was standing close by,
land it'll be queer If he dosn't run into
trouble coming down through Tar flat
some dark night. Things are coming
that paper somewhere about him and
l can easily find some one to help me
In the job"
without the slightest suspicion OF
what was passing in the mates mind
Tom watched him bustling about the
deck and congratulated himself that In
q short time ne would see the last of
the red-faced sailor who had brought
the only faint of disgrace into his life.
Early that evening the Seabird was
anchored In the magnificent harbor OF
San Francisco, and the long Voyage
was over.
CHAPTER ".
WAYLAID AND ROBBED.
When Tom Scott went ashore in
Frisco he found the city was Klon-
dixie mad. on every hand were huge
calling attention to the SUI
perior merits OF some particular route
to the fields Of gold, and men Of all
walks in life were straining every nerve
to be among the first to reach the Yu-
kon with the advent Of spring. Sew
eral were loading at the
piers, but every inch of space on board
had been engaged months ahead. After
consulting with Captain Coffin he de-
to go by rail to Seattle and
trust to luck to secure a passage from
that port.
He made no mention of the singular
bestowed upon him by the old
miner, but frankly told the captain OF
the money he had received from the
same source, and the latter promptly
him some good advice.
Better not be drifting round FRS
co with all hat stuff in your pocket"
said. "Tve got a good little safe
here and you're welcome to use 1t.
There's some desperate characters on
the water front here, and plenty OF 'em
kill a man ten times over for half
pile. They've got the gold fever
now. My second mate is going to cave
me. He's got 1t, too. Hope the mate
follow suit"
Tom was wise enough to listen to the
warning and left the larger part of his
money In the safe, but he kept the
two precious papers in his money belt,
q proceeding which he vas to regret
very
He found there was a special excur-
sion advertised to leave the following
morning. and was just in time to Sc
cure a ticket. After taking in the sights
Of the city during the afternoon he pro-
cured his supper In a restaurant and
to spend the evening at a
theater, for It must be remembered
that he was country reared and with
few rare exceptions, when he had WIS.,
ted Boston, a theater had been be-
hic raanh