Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-01-16

J 4 Copyrighted 1873,
+. !. i....s i. I
1 Right Yer are, stranger. Yer was
boun' fer IDyea afoot am | was comm
this way. Didn't Know yer at first
Yes; got long here an found this fell
Ter most dead. ] knocked up Il sort OF
Il shanty in the bush an got him into
it, but he's dyin sure's Yer BORN
What's Ills name asked Avery
| and who is he?
Says his names Rider Obed'
"Obed Rider" cried Tom and the
second mate, simultaneously.
That's ii. Dyer know him?' asked
| the stranger, looking AT them with
| well-fcigned surprise.
The scaundrel'" cried Tom, jumping
from his horse Come, Green, lets &c
and see if it is really him.
But Avery spoke up at this point and
said:
Hold on boys. Don't go rushing off
like that, | don't take much stock in
this story. Suppose 1t is some sort of
a trap? Remember what we are taking
with us
| tits all right boss urged the new
conner. You needn't be scared o one
man. This Rider begged me ter stay
with him an hadn't ther heart ter
/ leave him. | Wouldn't leave a dog ter
| die In the bush alone. If yer don't want
Ter come. all right, but hoped yer was
men enuff fer that. I'm goin' back ter
Kim. He may be dead by this time"
tWhcrc does your man says he's
/ FROM" demanded Nom. his anger melt
| ing away as hY thought of his enemy
| dying mlserablS by himself in this viii
| derness
lie says he's from Dyea He had q
/ pafdner named Buffers or some such
I name. He's out of his head sometimes
an goes on bout Il lot q gold an how
some ones goi;.' ter git held ;,p an
sech nonsense. Then he's got some pa
pers an all he thinks about when he
/ sees EN- is some gold mine an chap
/ named Scott"
THAT settles ~" cried Tom. Come
on. Green, We'll go
Without waiting to hear another wore
| tho man turned on his heel and led the
| way among the stuntcd pines from
whence he had emerged. Tom and
| Green followed him aud the rest dis
1 mounted to await their return.
A short walk through the scattering
trees brought the three men to the
close columns of the main forest, and
soon Tom saw what appeared to be a
| confirmation of the mans story, for in
a little opening toward which they
We're directing their steps he could dis
| tinglish the outlines of Il hut.
| This Is the place" said the guido, as
they reached the entrance. Come IN"
Tom was right at this heels and fol-
| lowed him without hesitation. 1t was
now growing dark and at first he could
not distinguish objects distinctly, but
gradually he became accustomed to
| the seni-light and saw Il mans form
| stretched on the ground I'm one corner
of the interior, while a deep groan came
| from the spot
Hank Bowers had altered his plans
somewhat since first outlining them, for
a faint voice said:
Who is It, Turner?"
There was no installing the voice.
| Both Tom and the second mate recog-
nized it Instantly as belonging to the
mate of the Seabird Tom stepped
quickly to his side and bent over him,
saying:
ITS Tom Scott, the man you robbed
and nearly killed.
tom Scott"
Rider seemed to raise himself on his
elbow by a great effort and whispered
Thank heaven Here's Take the pa
pers 1 stole / didn't hit YOU, 1t was
some one e,se. did rob YOU. though.
Here. take them am say yer forgive
me-
without any suspicion of danger
Tom bent coinpassionately over the
form of the recumbcnt man to take The
papers when he felt his pistol slip from
his belt A hand had Withdrawn it
from behind. 1T was the hand of the
guide.
Tom Strengthened up and turned
sharply to find the muzzle of Il revolver
within an inch of his face, while at the
same instant Hank Bowers appeared in
the doorway and covered the second
mate with a weapon, saving sharply:
Hands up. II yer move. yer dead
mem"
1T is needless % say that both Tom
and Green did as they We're bid. 1t was
madness tn attempt resistance, for not
only was there something in the mans
tone that showed he was i'm earnest,
but a third reason presented itself in
the shape of a weapon In the hand of
Rider, whose face wore an expression
OF devilish triumph at seeing Toms pale
face
What do YOU want of us?" demand
ed Green, who was the first to find his
tongue.
we want YOU was the prompt re-
ply Then we want the rest OF the
party, am we may as we'll take in their
dust While were about it. Turner,
take Them guns away from en-. an
see they haln't got none out er sight
This was done, and he added:
Here, Rider. tie EN- up. hand an
foot. You ought ter be handy ut maxi
In knots that won't slip secin as yer
a sailor
A rope, which. had evidently been pre-
pared for the occasion, was produced
and cut into requisite lengths. after
which Rider bound both prisoners Sc
eurelg and rolled them helpless into
the corner of the hut. completing his
v, rlS by tieing pieces OF blanket over
their mouths in such a way that while
they could breathe they could not give
an alarm If so disposed.
All this WAS accomplished much
quicker than it takes To tell it. and in
Jess than five minutes from the time
Tom and his friends crossed the thresh-
old Of the hui they We're bound and
helpless prisoners. While Hank Bowers
and his two partners We're congratulate
ing themselves ON the outset at the
complete success of their scheme.
1t was now 50 dark that they knew
tne party must camp fer the night
where it was. That search would be
made soon for the missing men was
more than probable. and, after a short
consultation they concealed them
selves near the hut and waited
Deeper and deeper fell the shadows,
until ut length they We're forced to the
conclusion that the miners had taken
the alarm.
I'm try again" said Turner, al last.
ut Won't do to hey them suspectin'
anythin has happened ter them CHAPS.
III go out ter where they are an say
the two young felers know Their sick
man an is goin' ter stay by him ter
night. Then I'll allow it's too dark ter
amt room fer so many in it, Jest as it
gets light enuff ter see you an Rider
Kin come down on US an hold the gang
UP with Yer guns. III git behind en-,
an We've got 'enl then"
Good" whispered Bowers admir-
inc