Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-11-16

he S allVe!
The words were Kissed forth in a
murderous and as he spoke
Rider raised his weapon.
But the blow did not fall. for even
as he nerved himself for the stroke the
mate had a new thought which ar
rested his arm. He must have money
n had no time to lose. If he robbed
Tom of both money and papers the
victim, even If he recovered, was pow
erless to pursue his journey further.
Who would believe his story of the
gold mine?
All this flashed through his brain in
much less time than It takes to write
1t, and with feverish, trembling haste
he began fumbling about in Toms
clothes. He was not long finding the
money which Tom carried in an inside
pocket of his vest and was rising to
his feet when a % suddenly opened
a few yards away n a man came out
of the house.
Without waiting to see in which di-
rection he was turning, Obed Rider
hurried away toward the wharf and
was soon safe in his stateroom with his
~ill-gotten booty. His eyes shone with
devilish triumph as he pored over the
papers, and the sight of over $500 in
cash wrapped around the railroad
ticket to Seattle filled his Measure of
satisfaction to overlooking.
He had no knowledge OF the amount
left Tom by the old miner and as he
carefully secreted his treasures about
his person, he chuckled:
I'm a made man. He's lost his pile
n the papers, too. I'll take the train
today, you fool, In your place, / Won
der If he will get over the rap or not?
| don't need to fret, anyway. l didn't
hit him, and he'll never know who did"
Toms u"nintentional rescuer came
quickly along until he caught sight Of
the PROSTATE figure, then he stopped
short and slipped his hand behind him,
glancing sharply about on every side.
Apparently satisfied hat no n was
near, he knelt by the motionless form
n struck a match,
It was a CHASTITY picture. Toms face
was so covered with blood that his fea-
lures were not recognizable. his cloth
Ing was disarranged and covered with
black mud, and as the newcomer looked
q deep groan came from the PROSTATE
mans lips.
With a little exclamation Of horror
the stranger rose TO his feet and ran
back to the door he had Just left. He
was gone but an instant, returning
= "iioNhiNA iAAeAAAt " nv ooFlSA'u AI "a
carrying the inanimate form to the en-
trance. With much trouble they lifted
their heavy burden along q narrow
passage into a ~scantily furnished room,
where they placed it upon q narrow
bed in one corne
A small kerosene lamp stood on a
table, and by its light the first man
took a look at the fact, saying:
Get n basin of water, Ned, quick!
W. Y,o,,Ct Ioxv haJ ha q, h,,,tp
I When h water arrived a moment
later, he washed the blood from Toms
face with a gentle hand, then as the
features became distinct he uttered a
little cry of establishment and dropped
on his knees by the wounded man, ex-
claiming:
"By thunder, Ned, / know this man!
He was a passenger with us! If IL
isn't Mr.. Scott, I'm a sinner! Somebody
has knocked him on the head and gone
through him! Bring the light! He
may be hurt bad"
AS he spoke Tom moaned and stirred
upon the bed. Then he opened his eyes
and struggled with a wild look into
half-erect position.
Whats all this!" he groaned,
Where am II"
IT'S all right, Mr.. Scott" replied a
familiar voice. you are with a friend.
Better lie down awhile till you feel bet
ter"
Tom looked al him in a bewildered
fashion, blinking his eyes in the glare
Of the lamp which the third man held
close to him.
Mr.. Green!" he said, wonderingly.
Eyes, sir" replied the second mate
of the Seabird, IT'S me. / happened
along just in time. Are you hurt much?
Let me look at your head"
my head?" repeated Tom, who had
NJ clear conception of where he was
or whether he was asleep or awake.
Yes" replied his rescuer lifting the
hair on the top of his head as he spoke.
You were knocked down on the street
and / found you there. ! was going
down to the vessel after some things
l left there and / stumbled over a man
on the sidewalk. / had nc idea 1T was
you, but I couldn't let q chap lie there
I'm the mud, so we took you in here.
This is my room. I've left the Sea
bird, you know. I'm off for the gold
mines In the Klondike If l can get
there"
The last word acted like magic upon
Tom.
THE Klondike!" he repeated. Eyes
I remember. IT all comes to me now. ]
forgot where ] was. / remember now
/ was attacked on the street! Some
body came up behind and struck met
That's 1t. Then I came along and
found you. You've got an ugly cut on
the head, but 1 don't think it will
amount to anything after you rest
awhile. There is no doctor round here
of plaster on 1t for you If you dom
mind. You can get it looked at tomor-
row IL you want to-"
The third man held the light while
this was done and then left the second
mate with his patient, who asked:
"Who was that"
II hire this room of him." was the
reply. "He helped me bring you In
from the street"
It's late and I'm keeping you out OF
your bed"
AS he spoke he tried to rise, but the
other restrained him.
you are not well enough yet" hi
said, kindly. Better rest awhile. Did
you lose anything when you were
struck? Have you watch or money
Tom interrupted him with a hoarst
cry and sat bolt upright.
MY belt!' he painted, wildly.
His hands went to his waist and ther
him.
1t WIS gone!
The unfortunate young man looked
stupidity at the sailor a moment, ther
be broke into meaningless laughter ant
fell back upon the bed. The blow haC
robbed him Of his scattered senses ant
he tainted.
When the doctor reached his side 6
few hours later, Tom vas suffering
from brain fever and could not bt
moved. The second mate had sum
Dnnna1 Tonfoin Coffin md nnuy t,tr,,af
to him, saying:
1--WE can't leave him alone and with
out a cent. l was going to try my luck
up north In the mines, but hang me Il
I'll cave him this way. I'm going Il
stay alongside the poor chap till he get:
well or dies, If 1T takes every red I've
got!"