The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-01-24
a Race for Gold
A New E~nglander's ~sT~~3
Adventures in Alaskas. esps J. !: 3 RoBlSsoN}

could readily distinguish th>. outlines OF
several men under a tree. AS they APP
preached the group. his captor said:
Here he is. Now, what shall we do
with him?"
It was Tarbox who stood behind the
prisoner, and he added:
"One of you take away his weapons"
Tom Scott sprang to the side Of his
old enemy, and to his delight found
TWO loaded revolvers in his belt, which
he secured. giving one to Taylor.
Avery had taken the one from his
daughter, and Tom found that the car
tridges in the weapon just secured fit
ted the empty revolver he had foundi in
the hut.
To slip three of them into it was the
work of a moment. Then our friends
found they had foul weapons ready for
use. and determined to lose no time in
recovering their golden treasure. :
Lets surround the hut" said Tom,
eagerly, "and call them out. They'll
surrender when they find they have 10
show with u.s."
But Avery advised caution. They're
desperate men," he said, and they will
fight When cornered. We don't want
any bloodshed over this affair If we can
help it. When daylight comes they
may be glad to give us the gold to save
their skins, but if we surprise them in
the dark somebody is likely to get
killed.
See here" said Tarbox, suddenly,
still gripping Riders collar with his
sinewy hand, why can't this rascal
help us? Send him back, and let him
get hold of the guns in the hut and
bring them out. If he tries any crooked
business I'll put a bullet through him
myself at the first sign"
You hear?" said Taylor. Nov be
nff nd ,-ra-~N-. --~-.-
three. We already have the horses
safe, and If you serve US well you shall
go free, although you ought to be hung
Tor what you have done. Go back and
get all the weapons you Ear out Of the
hut. Hurry up"
But Bowers will shoot me in a min
ute If he wakes" whispered Rider, fear
fully.
Shoot him first, them was the
prompt response. "I'll shoot you If you
act the least bit suspicious. No more
talk now. Start!"
The muzzle of a revolver poled
smartly into the small Of his back left
the Wretched man no alternative and
he stole away toward the hut, where
his two confederates We're sleeping, his
heart beating SO loudly that it seemed
to him 1t must arouse them the instant
he reached the threshold. He dared not
pause, however, and as he picked his
way along through the trees he began
to realize that the way of the trans
gressor is sometimes lot so rosy as 1t
is painted.
When he reached the door he could
plainly hear the deep snoring of both
men, and, mastering all his courage.
he stepped lightly inside.
In order to reach the rifles in the cor
ner he was forced to step over the body
Of Turner, and it seemed to the mate
that he lived an hour in h few sec
onds SO employed.
His hand trembled so that 1t was with
the utmost difficulty he managed to Sc
cure the three weapons noiselessly, but
fortune favored him. With bated
breath he stole out of the hut with them
In his arms, and when he reached the
edge of the clearing he was met by
Tarbox. who said, grimly:
Good! You. make q capital burg
lar! Now, how many revolvers have
they. got in there"
They've got two apiece" replied Ri
der, but you might as we'll shoot me
as to ask me to try to get them OF the
men. Bowers sleeps with one eye open.
and he
The rest Of the sentence was lost by
q startling interruption.
While he was speaking he had unwit-
ttngly raised his voice above a whisper
and aroused the very man Of whom he
was speaking, and who now stood in
the doorway saying:
.va What the the - -. Rider' Who's that.
Even as he spoke the moons edge ap-
peared over the tops OF the trees be-
hind the hut and a bright shaft of light
Illuminated the spot with startling dis,
unctness.
i AT the sound Of his voice the entire
party sprang from the dark shadows,
and Tarbox shouted, as he leyeIed his
revolver:
Surrender peaccably and we will
only take u own! II you show fight
we'll shoot. We are two to--your one!''
"Treachery!" snarled Bowers, as he
jerked his revolver from his belt with
lightning speed and fired pointblank at
Rider.
The bullet sped true to the mark and
with q groan the unfortunate ma sank
to h graund, grasping his side CON
Hyulsively.
Tarbox fired almost at the same In
slant, his bullet striking Bowers hand
and sending the weapon spinning to the
ground.
Although the wound must have caused
him exquisite pain. the desperate drew
his remaining weapon Instantly with
his left hand and at the same moment
Turner appeared appeared and 3coolly
took his place at his side.
There's too many of EN- he said,
after q comprehensive glance about
him. Wed better light QUIT"
Bowersnsfaply WastoSsend a bullet
within half an inch of TOMS head, but
1T was his last shot. for the second
mate, who had stolen behind the hut,
suddenly sprang at him with heavy
club and stretched him senseless on
the ground.
When Turner found himself alone
a ND 41OpIfS - ~, ny Is 4 hnuE ,,t~eIaraN .:,a
many weapons, he dropped his own
held his hands up above his head and
said quietly:
Don't shoot, pards!s I gives ini"
s1Tfe him up!'' ordered Tarbox.
1t was soon done, and while Tom was
assuring his sweetheart that he had
not been injured one of the other men