Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-04-19


It'll Spite everything if we do"
1t was well for his plans that he did
keep a sharp lookout, for before night
he saw a speck far ahead on the trail
which he knew at once 10 be a man. lie
was standing on the edge of piece of
woods, and his companions were behind
him at the time. Stepping in the shad-
ow Of the trees, he explained:
"Thar's a man comm, an I'll bet it's
one o. them we're after. lie may hcy
seen me. an it won't do fer US all ter
hide. lie won't know you, Turner You
keep on an pass Their time o. day with
him. Yer bound fer the fort, yer know
Keep right on, an Wen hide till he's
out O. sight. then we'll overtale yer"
Turner at once walked ahead, while
his two companions secreted themselves
in the underbrush. They saw Turner
stop and converse with the stranger a
few moments, when the latter drew near
them, and Bowers whispered:
"It's the man they call Taylor! He's
goin' after bosses sure!'
All unconscious Of the proximity Of
the two men, Taylor tramped sturdily
on, and was soon out of hearing in the
woods. Then the two left their ambush
and hurried after Turner, who awaited
them far ont on the plain.
"What did he say?" inquired Bowers,
eagerly.
asked me where ! was bound an
whether there was any bosses ter be got
in Dyea," said Turner. who never
seemed to waste a word
Il knew it," declared Bowers. Now
all we've got ter do is find a snug place
this side whar the trail splits an take
it easy till the dust is under our eyes.
He'll be back pretty quick il he gifts
any bosses an then we won't hev much
longer ter wait"
Several days later saw them securely
hidden in a piece of dense woods, but
each day was divided into watches,
when they took turns standing on sem
tinel duty. From knoll a short dis
lance from the hut they had built the
trail was visible for fully q mile, and
from daylight TO dark they watched II
closely.
Their patience was rewarded when,
late one afternoon, they saw Dick Tay-
Tor riding along TO the north, leading a
string of horses behind him.
"Our time is most up now" said Bow
ers, grimly. He'll fetch the mine by
to-morrer. Them two chaps with him
I've seen round Dyea. They're rich
chaps, I've heard. He's picked 'em up
an is goin' ter sell out"
-How many will there be, Of them?"
asked Turner, Fan how's the trick ter
be done when they git here? Dyer
reckon regular holdup or what?"
1--WE might do it in tibet way" said
Bowers, AN stan the risk O. gittin'
wiped out, but il won't do ter risk il.
Therell be too many of 'em. I've got a
scheme I'm goin' ter spring on 'em.
Let's git back under cover an I'll tell
yet what ii is"
When they reached their rude shell
ter and lighted their pipes he outlined
his plan As follows:
Upon sighting the party Rider was TO
conceal himself in the woods near the
hut. Bowers himself was to remain in
the hut on the boughs which sesved
him for bed, while Turner'S part was
TO meet the travellers and play the role
of a decoy.
They all know my phiz,' said Bow
ers, AN some o them knows Rider.
You are the only one they don't know.
OF course, Taylor will remember meet
in yer the other day when he was goin'
in, an yer can tell him you've met a
chap as is shot himself by mistake, an
is almost dead. Ask one Of 'em ter
come an see if there's any chance fer
him, or sumthin' like that. One of 'em
is sure ter come an when he gifts in
side the shanty we kin hold him up
darned quick"
But what about the rest of them|'
asked Rider.
why, yer chump, when this one
don't come back it's ten ter one tibet
another feller'n come lookin' arter
him, an we'll fix him too. Then il the
rest don't come we'll go out with our
guns all of sudden an hold 'em up
Well take all thar guns an horses an
light out lively fer Dawson City
They'll be sure we've gone ter Dyea an
we'll git off clean with the gold. It's
higher ter Dawson anyhow, then it is
ter Dyea. We kin git down by water
an then take Their steamer fer Seattle,
while they're lookin' fer us round Dyea
or Skaguay. See?'
''Great head" said Turner, senten-
tiously, while even Rider began 20 be
impressed with the clever scheme. II
was also a great relief to know that
there was 10 be no bloodshed, for, bad
as he was, he had not the heart for such
deeds when he was sober.
After carefully discussing every
phase Of their villainous plot and ar.
ranging the details the trio stretched
themselves on their rude beds and were
soon sleeping as soundly as though nc
guilt rested on their minds
CHAPTER XVI.