Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-01-04

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Nearer and nearer he crept until he
ould heal the heavy breathing OF the
occupants, and for fully five minutes he
stood motionless, every sense on the
alert.
Apparently the entire party was
asleep, ard with noiseless step he stole
past the two tents and fixed his eyes on
the opening OF the ave. Twice since his
arrival he had managed to peep inside
unobserved. and only hat morning he
had seen the pile of fat canvas bags on
the ground to the left. He had also no.
ticed that the boughs and blankets up
on which Avery and his daughter slept
were on the opposite side.
Now he was within ten feet Of the
entrance. and after a last swift glance
at the tents behind him he dropped to
his knees and crawled deliberately VI
TO II.
Again he paused.
Yes. they were both asleep. He could
hear the long-drawn breathing at the
right, and plainly distinguish that OF
the father from his daughter.
Then. like some huge black spider, he
crawled into the inky darkness, and
was lost to view.
Inch by inch he advanced. guiding
himself by the glimpses he had fixed In
his mind of the place, until his HAND
rested on the treasure. The bags were
heavy, and he moved them with diff
Guilty In his recumbent position, but he
had come prepared.
Thrusting his hand into his bosom, he
produced a short, thick thong, with
which he fastened two Of the largest
together, pausing often to be certain
he had not disturbed the sleepers.
When this was done he hung them
over his neck In such a that
the SWING plnar From, thu floor ITic
next move was 20 stuff two small bags
Into his shirt. Then, with infinite pa
thence, he worked his way back to the
door and through It.
His breath came hard as he reached
the open air, for the strain had been
tremendous. Detection meant almost
certain death, and even his iron nerve
had not been proof against the situa-
ton.
When he had somewhat recovered, he
crept slowly by the tents, until salts
fed that all immediate danger was
past. Then he rose to his feet, and
hurried down the bed OF the old brook
until he reached the top of the bowlder
1t was the work of a moment TO fas-
ten his plumber to a rope and lower II
down at the same time whispering
loudly to his confederate:
Are you there, Rider?"
Yes" came the answer. What is
all this?"
Gold. you fool!" Kissed Bowers
Lash 1t on one Of the critters, quick!'
For n moment he hesitated. Should
he join his partner and make good his
escape?
Apparently cupidity won the day, for
he began to retrace his steps toward the
cave. HIS first success had made him
more confident, and he was we'll aware
that he had not secured half the bags
he had just touched.
Again he reached the entrance with
out noise and crawled to the spot
where the gold was piled against the
wall. This time he could only stuff two
or three small bags inside his buckskir
shirt and grip one in his teeth.
He reached the open air safely and
vas just rising to his feet when Avery
appeared In the mouth Of the cave, re.
volver in hand, shouting:
Thieves! Thieves! Take that, you
robert"
But before the words were fairly on,
of his mouth Bowers had dropped the
bag which he had brought out In his
teeth like a retriever and sprang away
in full flight.
Crack! Crack!
He heard the bullets sing over his
head.
AS he dashed by the tents a mar
darted out with suspicious promptitudt
and fired apparently p~ointblank at his
back, but missed him.
A few seconds more and he had
reached the rocky cleft and darted on
of sight. Down the rope ladder he
scrambled, then with great presence OF
mind he stopped long enough TO jerk II
free from the spur above so that 1t fel
at his feet.
Rider had not yet returned from his
errand and Bowers felt his way rapidly
along the passage until he emerged
upon the plain.
Running quickly to the horses, where
Rider was at work, he cried:
Jump up! Jump lively an let's git
out o. this! Vamose!"
He set the example by throwing him.
self on one OF the horses and Selling the
bride Of the one upon which Rider had
been carefully securing the stolen gold
The latter needed no second invitation
and q moment later they were hurryine
the beasts along the back trail as rap,
idly as the poor light and the nature OF
the ground would permit.
For fully two hours they made their
way In silence except for an occasiona'
oath from Bowers at the unevenness OF
the route, then, apparently treasured
THAT lllcy Ildu llduG BOOu lllClI tSCdDe
he exclaimed:
"This is the biggest nights work one
man ever did in this ere country
Rider. / took long chances an l won
out! 1t was a great plant"
How did you manage it?" asked
Rider, eagerly. us 1t all gold in them
bags?"
ut amt nothing else!"
With great pride he now narrated tc
his companion the whole villainous
scheme, and then added, complacently.
"All they've got TO do is ter dig out
some more gold. There's plenty of Il
whar they are. They hogged all the
best claims, but I'm up ter them now!'
But they'll be after us, won't they?'
asked Rider, fearfully.
They hain't got no bosses, hey
they?" retorted Bowers. Besides that
they dassent leave their claims fer fear
some chap might jump 'em. It's q won.
der nobody's struck hat place afore.'
The two thieves did not draw reir
until daylight. When the sun was fair.
ly up they paused on the top OF q hill
commanding a view for a long distance
of the route they had traversed, but
there was no sign Of pursuit.
Il told yer So" said Bowers tri.
umphantly. "They can't chase us. Let's
get some grub an rest the bosses a bit
If we take 'em into Dyea in any kind
O. shape they'll sell for a tidy fgger."
Their meal dispatched, they once
more assured themselves that no one
was in sight behind them, then mount.
cd and headed for civilization, the bags
OF gold strapped securely on the spare
animals back and hidden from view
by a blanket tied over them.
That night they went into camp Just
before dark, and Bowers proceeded tc
unload their ill-gotten gains. The first
bag he removed CHANGED to be the one
he had himself filled in his two weeks
OF toll. AS he lifted the second he no.
tlced a very ~preceptible difference ir
the weight, although the two bags were
OF the same size.
That's d-n strange!" he growled.
They couldn't hev washed their gold
very clean"
AS he spoke he united the second bag
n thrust his land within, then with
a yell of rage and disappointment he
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