Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-10-26
A Race for Gold
A New Englander's ST3
Adventures i'm Alaskas~ Cay. J. u !: RoBINsoN3
copyrighted 1898. by s. S. Mcclure Col

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a 10 attention to the matter, but
Tom Scott was of different caliber. 1t
was true that he had seen little of the
great world, but he was brave to a
fault, and nature had added a tall,
well-knit frame to this gift. He de-
termined to prevent the villains from
accomplishing their purpose If 1t lay
in his power, and had no doubt OF his
ability to do so.
Fearful thai the men might turn and
see him, he slackened his pace and al
lowed them to gain several yards on
him, keeping close to the buildings
himself and hoping each moment to
see an officer.
But none appeared, and soon the two
thugs turned into a dark, narrow al
leyway, which led to one Of the
wharves, and were lost to view.
Tom was in a ~quandary. To venture
into the place was to invite attack
from the villains, and he decided to
wait in a convenient doorway until the
intended victim came along or an Of
hcer should appear to whom he could
tell his story.
A few yards to the right he found a
sheltered recess in front OF a block,
and took up his station. keeping a
sharp lookout In the direction OF the
saloon, where he naturally supposed
the man was enjoying himself. A short
distance away a street lamp shone dim
ly through the falling snow and threw
a broad band OF light on the sidewalk,
across which no one could pass with
out being seen by him.
1t was q situation to try the stoutest
nerves, for Tom was unarmed, and the
man he was trying to save might be
intoxicated, while the two robbers
would surely be provided with all the
tools of their trade. A dozen schemes
flashed through his mind as he
crouched In the shadow, only to be dis
carded as useless. The time dragged
slowly enough, but his resolution did
not falter.
Suddenly a dark figure came stag
gertnS across the lighted space and
Toms heart gave a bound. Was this
his man? Would he have sense enough
to understand his danger?
No, the drunken sailor lurched heav-
lily along and turned up a side street a
short distance beyond the alleyway,
where the men were hidden.
Another and still another followed at
intervals. but none paused on their
way n Tom began TO wonder II his
ears had not played him false. He was
beginning to waVer when a slight
crunching noise at his left caused him
to turn quickly in time to see the form
of a man disappear In the alleyWay,
having approached from the opposite
direction while Tom was looking up the
avenue.
What was to be done?
lie stood for a IN with his heart
beating unanimously and every nerve
tingling. Then from the dark opening
came a mufiled cry, followed by an
oath and the sound of a struggle.
Tom cast one quick look about him.
Nc one was in sight and the next in
slant he had pulled Off his gloves and
darted up the ~passageway at full
speed.
The darkness was intense for a short
distance, but after n few yards he
emerged into a small open space in the
midst of which the three men were
writing and twisting I'm desperate
struggles. Tom was unable to distin-
guish one from another, but as he
reached the spot one man tore himself
free and shouted:
Help! Police! stand back or I'll
shoot"
The rest Of his threat was drowned
by a heavy blow from a blackjack,
which knocked the weapon from his
hand.
stop" cried Tom, springing toward
the assailant.
He was too late. for a second blow
stretched the stranger senseless and
bleeding on the snow, and with an
angry snarl the robber turned Just as
Toms right fist shot out with tremen-
dous force.
Down went the man like a stricken
OK and Tom grappled with the other
with a shout of triumph. His blood
was up, and, lifting his smaller p
nent bodily from the ground, he shook
him as a mastiff would q terrier.
Hands Off" painted the helpless
man, hercely. Curse you, what are
you trying to do?"
He was not long in doubt, for Tom
hurled him against the side OF a stone
building with such force that he fell
in an inert heap and lay m~otionless.
Tom turned to see what had become
of the taller man, but at that instant he
felt a sharp pain In his side and q
strong hand seized him by the throat
and bent him backwards, while n
hoarse voice Kissed in his ear:
Take hat for your pains, you med
ding fool!'
WITH a desperate effort he twisted
himself free from his assailant, spring.
Ing aside barely in time to escape an
other lunge Of the murderous knife he
had just felt.
Again the fellow lunged viciously at
him, but Tom caught his wrist, and a
desperate struggle ensued. Although
$1,000 tHN 5NhNiGSl mani ioiil lpuilu IL
no easy task to avoid the blade, and
the w swayed back and forth over the
snow, the man trying to free his hand
for a decisive stroke, n Tom bending
all his efforts to prevent 1t. Soon, how
ever, his iron grip began to tell, and he
felt his eneny's muscles relax. Put
ting all his strength into a supreme eff
fort, he wrenched the knife free, ex-
kclaiming:
I've got you now, you murderer, and
/ dom leave you till you are behind the
bars!"
Hold up your hands, mister, or
you're a dead man! quick, 1 say, or
I'll shoot!"
1t was a moment Of fearful peril.
There was murder in the mans tones,
and Tom felt II. He released his grasp
slowly, and the larger man pushed him
suddenly backward, crying:
Shoot him, you IDIOT"
His action saved Toms life, for the
other man pressed the trigger at the
same instant, the bullet passing a foot
In front of the young mans face, and
fiattening against the wall at his side.
Tom still retained the knife, and with
a quick slash he struck the hand which
held the revolver, causing the owner to
drop 1t, with a yell of pain, and dash
off oward the street at full speed, fol-
lowed by his companion, who had evil
IDENTIFY no desire to face Tom alone.
AS the men disappeared he turned,
to find the stranger he had rescued
grooming with pain, and trying to get
on his feet.
Take my arm and see If you can't
stand" said Tom. Are you badly
hurt?"
MY right arm is helpless, and my
head goes round like a top" was the
faint reply; but I'm coming round all
right, i guess. / got a nasty clip from
n of them cutthroats. 1 came to just
as hat chap pulled his gun on you,
and 1 tried to get up, but everything
swan round so l couldn't. You're a
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