Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-03-01

say
Excuse me. stranger, but might
your name be Tarbox?"
The man took his pipe from his lips
and stared at the speaker for full Sec
ond before replying, then he replied:
1T might be and IL is. How did you
know me?"
San yer pardner's name is Taylor?''
This time the man was too astonished
to reply, and Bowers went on:
You're goin' ter Dyea after grub, an
he's back in the hills. Amt that all
straight"
Joe Tarbox rose TO his feet and laid
his hand on his weapon, saying in a
quiet tone:
That is correct, but it's my turn 10
ask questions now. How did you find
all this out?"
Bowers turned to the mate and said,
promptly:
TON, old man, you tell him our
yarn an let him see the documents.
Thatll soon put things straight"
MY name is Scott" said Rider. ~
was an officer on the ship where a man
named John Avery died He was com
ing out here on account Of a letter from
an old chum of his named Dick Taylor
The old chap fell overheard and pulled
him aboard after hard tuSsle. We
come nigh going TO Davy Jones, both Of
us, and he never got over it. We buried
him out 10 sea and he drawcd up a
writing to make me his heir He give
me letter he'd got from this Taylor,
telling how 10 get TO gold mine he'd
been working.
"IIe told me TO take what money was
in his belt and | did. He said he'd No
family. The letter said for him TO bring
some one with him if he needed any
help, and - | didn't know nothing
about horses and shore rigging, |
brought Bowers here along with me.
That's the whole yarn as we'll as a
rough sailor man can spin it,"
bowers face showed his approval or
the mates efforts and TarboX was APP
parenty convinced, for be shook hauGs
warmly with the speaker and ex-
claimed:
Its lucky thing I met you. Dick
told me he had written to both the
Averys. They were old friends Of his.
He told me TO look out for them in
Dyea. Have you got the papers with
you?"
That's what I have. Here they are,
al shipshape and above board, =" replied
Rider as be proceeded to extract them
from his belt
That's Dick Taylor's fist the world
over assented Tarbox as he examined
the letter. II remember the day he
wrote that in our tent. We had Just
found the first big mug"
He coughed TO hide his confusion and
then added:
ITS all right, Of course but a man
has TO be careful. Once let the mob
know whore we are and what we've
found and we'd be overrun in no time"
As luck would have il Hank Bowers
chose this instant. when Tarbox was
examining the papers, to throw a look
of ferocious triumph on the mate. Al
though neither Of them noticed the fact,
Joe TarboX raised his eyes just then,
and TO man of his training nothing
more was needed 10 put him on his
guard.
He cast a keen look at Bowers. and as
If his scrutiny had been satisfactory, he
dropped his eyes again, but there was
little hardening of the muscles about
his jaw, and with a careless twist of his
body he brought his weapon nearer his
hand.
He was too old n hand, however. TO
make any outward sign of alarm, and
said coolly:
"It's pity you didn't pick up the 9TH
er Avery at Dyea. He ought TO be there
by this time"
"And how can we find your pardner?"
asked Bowers.
do just as the letter says" replied |
Tarbox. Build fire and he'll see the |
smoke and come. The route is too
crooked 10 describe"
How long afore you'll be back with
the grub? We've got good lot here,
but you can't hev too much"
"It1l take me three days TO get in
and two or three more to get what
want. II l cant find horses I shall
have to go TO Skaguay. l shan't be
back under fortnight or three weeks
at the best"
After finishing hispipe. Tarbox plead
ed fatigue. and rolled himself up in his
blanket. But there was no sleep for
him that night. The sinister look on
Bowers face had given him the clew he
wanted, and as he waited patiently for
daylight he muttered to himself:
That was a close shave! There is
wrong about that sailor, il
his company is anything TO go by. If
this Bowers isn't the man saw driven
out of Joe Ladue's station for stealing.
then I'm mistaken. Dick will be all
right. They may make all the fires
they want TO. and that's all the good
it'll do them. I'll just bring back two
or three men Of the right sort with me.
There's no other way"
At the first sign Of daylight he was
astir. A hasty meal was soon eaten,
md SHAKING hands cord lie v.itb both /