Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-12-10
CHAPTER ~.
wAYLAID AND ROBBED.


When Tom Scott went ashore In
frisco he found the city was Klon-
dixie mad. On every hand were huge
posters calling attention to the SUI
Perior merits of some particular route
! to the fields OF gold. and men of all
walks in life were straining every nerve
TO be among the first to reach the Yu-
! kon with the advent of spring. Several
steamers were loading nj the piers, but
every inch of space on board had been
engaged months ahead. After consult
Ing with Capt. Coffin he determined to
10 bS rs.ii''so Seattle and srua; 10 luck
TO secure a passage from that port.
He made no mention of the singular
secret bestowed upon him by the old
miner, but frankly told the captain of
the money he had received from the
same source. and the latter promptly
gave him some good advice.
Better not be drifting round FRS
co with all that stuff in your pocket"
he said. I've got n good little safe
here and you're welcome to use it,
There's some desperate characters on
the water front here. and plenty of 'em
would Kill a man ten times over for half
your pile. They've all got the gold
fever now. My second mate is going 10
leave me. He's got it. too. Hope the
mate doesn't follow suit"
Tom was wise enough to listen TO the
warming and left the larger part of his
money in the safe, but he kept the two
precious papers in his money belt, a
proceeding which he was TO regret very
soon.
He found there was a special excur-
sion advertised to leave the following
morning. and was Just i'm time to secure
q ticket. After taking in the sights OF
the city during the afternoon he pro-
cured his supper in restaurant and de-
cided to spend the evening at theater,
for ii must be remembered that he was
country reared and with few rare ex-
captions, when he had visited BoSt on,
thcater had been beyond, lis reach.
He thoroughly enjoyed the perform
ance and started down toward the wa
ter front when il was finished without
thought of any danger as he strobe
rapidly along the well-liGhted thor
oughfares. While he is thus engaged
let us take look NJ 0bed Rider. the vii
famous mate of the Seabird. and see
how his schemes are progressing.
While Tom was watching the foot
light favorites Obed Rider was sitting
in q little drinking saloon near the
wharf where the Seabird had been
locked. Before him was bottle of
liquor and glance at his face was suffi-
Gent to show that he had been indulg
ing deeply. His small, bioodshot eyes
: were fixed upon vacancy, and he was
apparently meditating deeply.
Hell be off tomorrow" he NUT
tered, savagely, land then my chance Is
gone. / must have those papers and
money enough to get an outfit. das-
sent get anyone to lend me hand, for
then the cat would be out OF the bag.
If had that paper the old man give him
what's to hinder my going and claim
Ing to be Mr.. Scott? There's a fortune
In it. but it's ugly business"
Filling his glass again he drained 1t
at a gulp as if trying to screw up his
courage to the necessary point for some
resolve. Then he looked at his watch
and said:
ten o'clock. No time to lose. First
to see IL he is on board yet"
Five minutes later he was back again.
Tom had not returned, and Rider
gulped down another draught of fiery
liquor and then siulked up the street
until he came to the darkest portion,
where a narrow alley afforded him Sc
cure hiding place. His right hand was
hidden in the pocket of his coat, and
grasped a short implement made Of
bone, which the sailors call lid" and
which he had secured while on board a
few moments before
Under ordinary circumstances the
liquor he had imbibed would have con-
fused his brain. but now he was only.