Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-01-25

Carefully arranged in the various
compartments were bills 10 the amount
IF $1,000. and these he transferred to
hi, own bSlt at once. The paper was
evidently torn from a blank book, and
contained these lines in bold hand:
cold Partner: II YOU haven't forgotten
the old days and the bargain we made,
come out and share my find with me.
/ have struck IL rich. / have written to
Bill. / have a new Chum with me. too.
Come to Dyea and take the old Dalton
trail 40 one uses il now. II goes just
west OF Arkeu lake and runs straight for
Fort SelkiTk. It's almost dead north by
the compass. About 80 miles before II
reaches the fort it splits off to the left.
A big white cliff faces the trail. You can't
mistake II. The main trail keeps on 10
the right. Take the other II only goes
about 80 miles and leaves you at the en-
trance OF a big gorge. Camp there and
make a big smoke. II you have TO bring
anyone to help. be sure Of your man. We
have grub enough 10 last till spring and
then my partner, Joe TarboX, is coming To
Dyea for supplies. He'll get there in. Apnl
or May, l expect. There IS gold here by
the ton If we only had water TO wash it out
am sending this from the fort by an In
dian packer Came here after candles and
-four. Your old friend.
DICK TAYLOR"
Toms heart was beating like a trip
hammer as he finished the letter, for he
now realized that the old miners words
were not of light import. The note bore
the imprint of truth in every line, and
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
ng 10 get a glimpse Of the paper of
which he had heard the dying man
speak the night before. In his villain
Gus heart, he had 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 keptit, but a he
heard the lid OF the chest closed he
drew long breath and muttered:
Its in his donkey! III find a way %
have peep inside Of it before we get to
Frisco. It would never do to trouble il
now. He'd suspect me the first thing of
he missed it. l must rig some kind Of
a derrick on him, that's sure"
For the next few days lie cudgclcd
his brains for some safe means of at
tanning his ends, but without success.
Then chance did what he had failed
TO do.
Land ho!" 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 standisg on
the topgallant forecastle watching
school of fish play about the bows. He
ran up the forerigging at once to catch
q 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. Hell 60 clean up TO
the man on the gallant yard before he
sees it,"
The next moment he had stolen soft
~ down the cabin stairs, entered Toms
room and tried the lid of the chest.
To his surprise it was not locked, and
there on top, half hidden by the sleeve
OF an old coat, lay John Avery's belt be-
fore him. His fingers trembled as with
feverish haste he pulled il open, and
then furious oath came through his
bristling beard.
The belt was emptyi
A rapid search convinced him that
the object he sought was not in the
chest, and hastily rearrsnging the arti-