The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-11-15
CHAPTER v.
R1DER GETS A SURPRISE

MS dtScharge."
CHAPTER v.
RIDER GETS A SURPRISE.
Obed Rider was far from easy in his
mind as the train sped on, leaving San
Francisco behind. He had slept OF
board the vessel the previous night I'M
til the noise of the second mate ous
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
" 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 hew sig
ni1canee on the incidents?
A guilty Conscience made him mag
Inc all sorts of dangers to himself, and
he trembled each time h train stopped
at a station lest an officer should be Ii,
wait for him.
But nothing of the kind happened,
and IN due time he reached Seattle.
Here things seemed more encouraging,
for he vas fortunate enough to find a
man who had engaged a passage on, q
steamer for Skaguay and Dyea, which
sailed the same day. The man. had re-
cetved a telegram announcing the dan
gerous illness Of his wife. and was eager
to leave Seattle blythe next train.
The mate happened to be the first
man he met, and the latter came
to terms with him, and hurried on
board to ecure his quarters. He kept
himself out Of sight as much as posi-
bic, but when the lines were cast OF
the following day and the City of Sc
attic steamed out Of the harbor he
drew q long breath Of relief, and said,
half aloud:
We're off at last, and I'm safe now"
He found that his ticket entitled him
to a stateroom, and that the trip from
Seattle to Dyea usually occupied about
five days. All his fellow passengers
were 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 one made It
more probable that 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 h former In
CluuSuN llSlIs lIdllSPOI ldl4Ol ~
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 the
beach al Dyea with his belongings and
feeling utterly at a loss how to proceed.
How to handle this formidable outfit
was a puzzle. On boarda vessel he was
Sot hornn HIT a noron uyo . ON a nfunoI NJ
which he knew very little and here
were three of them besides the heap
Of Miscellaneous articles piled on the
ROCKY single.
It was plain that they must be moved
before the tide. came In, and with n
sailors knowledge OF knots he DOE
dashed the burdens on the backs Of the
raw-boned animals and succeeded In
getting them to the town safely.
A small tent raj among his newly
acquired possessions and he proceeded
to pitch 1t 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 q
bruised.
lFAatNV AN LkSADAS s. 6dAN 1uaIOukl
voice from the next camp as a burly,
bearded man strolled leisurely to the
spot. "Hur We much, pard?"-
"A string OF oaths burst from Rider
as he scrambled to his. feet.
Something's cracked inside" he
growied, "and my arms hurt. DIN
the horse, anyway" VIII
Better let my mate see Il a~nything's
wrong. He's 8 master hand with any
thing . that kind. Here, Scottr, he
added, raising his voice.
Obed Rider started at the name, but
The turned fairly white with Amusement
as q tai broad-shouldered man in the
prime of;1ife issued from the tent and
came tc~ard him. saying:
What Is It. Jack?"
Before the other could reply both
Rider ara the newcomer uttered ex-
lclamations .of i~sastontshment. q
stObed Rider!"
"Captain Scott!s
The mate looked about him In q help
less way a. II seeking some avenue q
escape, but thu other held out his hand
cordially, sayfng::
"Of all rlen, - zee you here!" Thea
he added:
But you arc hurt. Can I do any
Hook. We can tank afterward,"s
The injury wa1 soon located, and AFT
er predicting thatsa few days would
set the matter riKhts Captain Ecott
said:
what on earth Brought you here?
Have you been h0naes latelyf Didsyou
see my boy?
The mata had dane considerable
think. Ags during the past few minutes.
After the first Surprfee was over he had
rapidly determined upon his course,
md be- shook his had. replying:
TIN afraid I can't give you much