Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-01-11

white mantle which made his footsteps
inaudiblc as Dee walked along, not with
out a slight feeling OF Uneasiness as hc
thought of his Hide capital strapped
about his waist under his clothes i'm a
Waterproof belt which had been his
first purchase.
As lie alnrOachod a saloon from
which came confused murWur Of
voices aud sharp blinking of glasses.
two mcnecumc out directly in front Of
HIM and turned i'm the direction in
which ne was walking. being only a
few rcet i'm advance. Coming from the
vcll-.igLtcd saloon as they did into the
thick storm. they failed TO notice Tom.
and upon this fact his whole future de
pended. although he was far from sus-
pectiug such an improbable thing at
the time.
81 tel YOU hes going on that bark
10 san Francisco" said the taller Of the
TWO men. eagerly. He's bound for the
Kloudike. and he must have a fat roll
with him. ! heard him say he would
buy his outfit out there. We can lay
for him on the dock when he is going
on board
Its a risky job" replied the other,
ucryoUs'y.
ooh what's the matter with you"
was the angry rcjoinder.
Nothing, but we take great risks. l
don't like it."
There's 10 risk at all" urged the
other. "All we have to do is Just tap
him on the head and 60 through him.
The whole thing won't take a minute,
and we can be at the West end before
he knows what struck him. I'm going
TO have his stuff, and if you want to 60
back on me, I'll"
The rest Of the sentence was indis-
tinguishable. The word Klondille had
naturally attracted Toms attention,
and he had involuntarily strained to
catch the mems conversation, but he
felt sudden thrill of horror as he
realized the full import Of what he had
just heard.
What could he do? That the men
were planning a robbery. if not muir
der. was evident. lie could not warn
the intended victim. for he had no
means Of finding or knowing him. and
10 lose sight OF the men TO find an
officer was out Of the question. Then
the athletic young fellow set his teeth
and shrugged his broad shoulders,
while under his gloves pair Of hard
fists baIled up involuntarily.
To some it might have occurred TO
10 Ia. far lint
Tom Scott was of different caliber. 1t
was true that he had seen little of the
great world. but he was brave 10 a
fault. and nature had added a tall.
well-knit frame to this gift. lie de
termined TO prevent the villains from
accomplishing their purpose if it lay
in his power. and had no doubt Of his
ability 10 do so.
Fearful that 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 dark, narrow alley
way, which led TO one of the wharves
and were lost to view.
Tom was in a qusndary To venture
into the place was to invite attack from
the villains. and he decided TO wait IN
a convenient doorway until the IT.
tended victim came along or an OIL
Ger should appear 10 whom he could
tell his story
\ few yards TO the right he found a
sheltered recess i'm front Of a block. and
took up his station. keeping a sharp
lookout i'm the direction of the saloon
where he naturally supposed the man
was enjoying himself. \ short dis
lance away a street lamp shone dimly
through the falling snow and threw a
broad band of light on the sidewalk. |
across which no one could pass without
being seen by him.
1t was a situation TO try the stoutest
nerves, for Tom was unarmed, and the
man he was trying 10 save might be
intoxicated. while the two robbers
would surely be provided with all the !
tools OF their trade. \ dozen schemes
flashed through his mind as he
crouched in TIE shadow only 10 be dis /,
carded as useless. The time dragged !
slowly enough. but his resolution did |
not falter
Suddenly a dark figure came stag |
gcring across the lighted space and |
Toms heart gave a bound. Was this
his man? Would he have sense enough |
to understand his danger?
No. thc drunken sailor lurchod heavily |
along and turned up a side street a
short distance beyond the alleyway. |
where the men were hidden
Another and still another followed al |
intervals. but none paused on their way !
and Tom began 20 wonder If his ears [
had not played him false. lie was be !
ginning to wayer when a slight crunch /
ing noise at his left caused him 10 turn !
quickly in time 10 see the form Of |
man disappear in the alleyway. having
approached from the opposite direction
while Tom was looking up The avenue.
What was 90 be done?
lie stood FOR moment with his heart |
beating unanimously and every nerve
tinulinp Then fran. IN. 20, u. on.pfn, |