The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-11-22
copyrighted 1875, by S. S. Mcclure Col

"What will he do If he finds his
whelp alive and hears what I told about
his skipping out?" he thought. HE
will murder me! I must be out OF this
before he gets back here, and he will
never think Of looking for me on the
Dalton trail! Besides, II he's rich the
chances are that they'll go east at once
and I can work my little scheme with
out anyone to hinder me. Perhaps it's
the best thing after all that / met him.
If h youngster is dead the old man
will never hear what I told about him
unless he. goes to Merrivale, and he
nin't likely to go there now he has no
folks there. He won't go nea no ship
ping firms to near itSnot if he's rich
He was beginning to feel more easy
In his mind when he was Interrupted
by Captain Scott, who said:
What brought o out here, RIDER"
20, I got the gold fever like the rest
Going to the Klondike r%egion?"
YES suppose so.,'
Take my advice and don't. It's on
Canadian ground. and you can't do SO
well. I'll give you a tip that is worth
a fortune to you. Go to the Copper
river and you won't regret 1t. I'll give
you the lay Of the ground and a note
to a good chum there who will set you
right. How are you fixed for money!
Rider hesitated. Scoundrel as he
was, he could not find his tongue for a
moment in reply, and the miner saved
him the trouble by adding:
Never mind, Rider, I see how 1t is,
but you needn't be bashful. I'll see
h a you have enough to start in with
the best Of them. A good outfit is half
the battle up there, and you want all
the grub you can take in. I'm going to
make a rush for that steamer now be-
fore I get left. I'll see you again If
there Is time before the boat leaves. I
guess my partner will CO., to-"
He wrung Riders hand heartily, dis
appeared into his tent, and came out
with a plump bag Of gold, which he laid
by Riders side without further COM
ment, then started for the beach with
long, swinging strides. that took him
to the waters edge in very few mo-
ments, while the mate looked at the
bag with glistening eyes and said to
himself: e5c
He's got a heart big as an OK, but
I'm in too deep to back out now, and
I'll need all I can get to keep out Of his
clutches II he ever finds out the TRUTH
The steamer sailed the following
morning, but before he left the return
ing miner saw that Rider wanted for
nothing. He gave him the benefit OF
his experience In the wilderness, made
- - Oh k4SlCSr III ouIS
At and paid a penniless unfortunate to
look after the mate and. his horses un-
TIL the former was able to do it him
self.
The return voyage went well for two
days. then h steamer broke down
and It was nearly a week before she
was able to proceed. The following
night she ran on a small island, caus-
ing another weeks delay. It was over
three weeks before Captain Scott
reached San Francisco and was driven
to the dock where the Seabird st1l7t lay.
Old Captain Coffin was on deck and
Toms father accosted him at once:
rs this Captain Seth Cof1n?"
That's my name"
We'll. my name is Scott. My son
came u with you and"
What? Are you his father?" inter-
rupted the old skipper. Yes, I can see
the look! Give US your ripper. Won't
he be disappointed? It's too badl'
His visitors weather-beaten face
turned chastity pale and he gasped:
Disappointed! What do you mean?
Is he not"
Aboard? No, confound It, he start
ed up north a week or ten days ago."