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

low and include him In its wrath.
Sold! Took In like a tenderfoot!"
raved his companion, kicking one OF
the bags in his fury. What's that?"
AS he spoke he picked up a folded
paper which had dropped from the bag.
Tearing it open he read the following
lines:
1--WE were too smart for you. Re
member that IL we find you have given
away our secret we will give an ac-
count of you to the Canadian police
and have you driven out OF the coutl-
try. If you show yourself here we will
fill you full of lead"
A SECRET NO LONGER.
AS the reader is aware, there was no
pursuit made after Rider and his COM
panion. The whole matter had been
arranged by Avery. who Ia seen a
would-be robber deceived I'm a similar
manner in his younger days. He n
been awake through II all, and there
had been no intention to shoot the
thief. They had purposely aimed wide
OF the mark.
When he had disappeared they all
INDUCED In a hearty laugh at his dis
comiture when he Should discover the
fraud, then retired to rest with a feel
Ing Of relief at the success Of their
counter-plot
Freed from the necessity Of watching
Bowers, they now redoubled their la
Dor, and for another fortnight they
took only barely sufficient time TO
sleep. They were constantly In dread
lest some ~prospeCtor should appear, but
day after day passed and ii left them
undisturbed.
The unusual labor, however, began TO
tell on the older men, and one evening
Dick Taylor declared, as he threw him
self YEARLY down on his couch:
I'm about ready to quit. Let's reck-
on up how we stand"
They had a very indefinite idea Of
their wealth, as they had made no
calculations up to that time, dcvoting
every momen to work. Now they
watched him eagerly as he produced
his scales and began to estimate the
weight of the numerous bags contain
ing the result of their arduous toll.
Bag after bag was laid aside In 81
lenCe until the last had been weighed.
Then after n rapid mental calculation
the miner said:
well, / make 1t that we've got about
$50, 600 worth now. That's about $780,
600 apiece, and a very tidy months
work. But I'm tired. / haven't got n
great many years To live and | confess
l want to enjoy the rest of my days.
We can sell our claims here for a big
pile any time, ana | move that we do
it."
But who is to buy them?" asked
Tom, while Avery merely nodded his
approval of his friends sentiments.
"Therell be dozens OF capitalists and
spectators in Dyea by this time re-
piled Taylor. We've got a good deal
more here now han we wan To carry
out on II backs. I move that the rest
Of you keep on digging here ard that
l go TO Dyea, and ind out what kind Of
n trade | can make. Besides that,
these claims must be registered before
we can sell them"
Il agree that is the right thing to
do agreed Avery. I'VE shall be rich
enough, and / confess / am anxious to
see these claims registered before we
have any trouble over them. 1 think
you'd better start right off, Dick. The
season is very short, and it'll take some
time to settle the whole thing up even
If you find some one right ole who
wants to buy"
The others were of the same opinion,
and 1t was soon decided that Dick Tay-
Tor should start the following morning
for Dyea on his important mission, the
rest delegating to him fun power to dis
pose OF their interests to the best ad-
vantage and to bring the would-be
buyers back with him.
Accordingly he started bright and
early the next day, the little party
watching him from the top of the elf
until he waved his hand at u turn In
the trail and disappeared from view.
with ~listless steps the party turned
to their work, but the labor OF the past
few weeks seemed to make itself felt
all at once, now hat their thoughts
had been eve temporarily turned to-
ward civilization. They had been slaV-
ing like madmen each day, their minds
intent on adding to their golden store,
while at night they slept that sleep of
utter exhaustion. Now that Taylor had
diverted their minds for awhile from
the incessant labor they returned to 1t
almost u~nwillingly against the protest
of their aching limbs.
AS they neared the claims Avery
suddeny exclaimed:
II wonder If hat ridge Is worth any
thing? I've been thinking lately that
It may be where all this gold comes
from. All these pieces Of quartz We
find in the bed Of the river must have
been washed from it thousands OF years
ago. Suppose VIZ break up a few OF the
smaller pieces? If we find gold there we
shall have something TO sell and no
mistake"
They had no implements heavier thar
axe and found it slow work, but after
an hours disappointing labor the old
miner CAV a shout OF triumph and
stood erect, holding in his hand q piece
Of quartz about h size Of an egg, the
SIDE Of which was a bright yellow. 1t
had the appearance of a honeycomb.
the cells being filled to overlooking
with gold.
As the other gathered about hin he
exclaimed:
We've struck It! It's the richest vein
I ever saw"
The heavy lump was passed from
hand to hand for examination, and
Avery said e~Xcitedly:
IF Dick had only known this! This
ledge is full of gold"
Then / guess we'd better locate
here" said a strange voice near the
little group.
With a start of surprise they turned
to see two rough-looklng miners who
had approached them from the wooded
side OF the valley, their packs on their
backs, and who were gazing at the
treasure in Avery's hand with greedy
eyes.
For a our friends were too
astonished to speak; then Tarbox
stepped forward with extended hand,
saying:
Hello, Mitchell! Where did you
come from7"
"Why, it's Joe Tarbox!"
One of the strangers shook his hand
warmly end then asked, eagerly:
What's the show here, Joe2 That's
a beauty nugget you have there"
Are there any more OF you?" said
Tarbox.
mo; Bill and I are ALL"
How did you happen TO find us?"
Saw our smoke last night before
dark. We thought 1t must be somebody
outp respecting, and so we took q look
over this way this morning. Struck 1t
rich?'
Yes; we've been here all winter. You
see where u claims are staked out.
Dick Taylor has gone to register them.
Better stake out before any one else
comes. l guess you'll find plenty of
room above us. 1 don't mind telling you
we've made our pile here, Bill. We've