Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-12-31
= uust be Scott and

=
-" q AUST be Scott and
the second mate" said Rider, "and
don't you see these papers are no good
to us after all our trouble? We can't
do any thing now but give the thing up
| and make for the Klondike. We've got
good out"
snake for nothin'i" was the savage
interruption Them men hev got
gold mine right round here somewheres
| and I've as much right there az they
hev IL I can only find it. I'd like ter
see EN- drive me Off. You can go to ths
Klondike If yer like, but yer don't take
any o. this stuff with yer. See?"
Like most DULLES, Obed Rider was
easily cowed by a bigger bully than
himself, and he dared not make the re-
ply which came 10 his lips. Instead he
EsiG:
'3'iit t7Ssri JtIh sIiesv sl,s.u after taS- ,
ing these papers from Scott. There'd
be trouble"
81 didn't say I was goin' 10 fine 'em.
Look here, Rider, are yer scared or notr
Here we are, two stout chaps with plen-
lest whar them fellers are now. an
they don't know whar we be. II we
keeps our eyes open thar's sure ter be
n chance for business. viii yer stick
ter me or not?"
Rider had little choice He dared not
demand half the outfit his own money
had purchased, and was forced TO sub
init, so with n show of sincerity he ex-
claimed:
"Of course III stick, Bowers!-
~All right. Now, you keep watch the
fust half OF ther night an call me for
Their last. We've got ter be movin'
bright an early
In five minutes the hardened rascal
was snoring, while Rider stood guard.
Tie had no stomach for Bowers COM
pany now, and would Gladly have left
him, but the miner had gained such an
hscendancy over him that he dared not
attempt TO leave him now that he was
asleep. He had meant TO assault Tom
Scott and take his papers. but his Gu
pidity was fntlamed, and he had been
drinking then. He was sober now, and
the evident intention of his comrade TO
attempt TO bully or rob five armed men
was quite another matter. Still, there
was no help for it, and he tried to steel
his cowardly heart to its work.
Bowers relieved him al midnight, and
as soon as the first streak of DAYLIGHT
could be seen he aroused the mate and
said:
I'm off again. Stay here and keep in
under this hill as much as you can till I
get back
Once more he made his way to the
bowlder and took up his station. From
his hiding place he could see the diff
ferent members of the party as they
carried load after load out of sight
among the rocks, but suddenly one of
the men mounted horse and drove the
rest directly toward the hidden watcher.
What's he drivin' at?" muttered
Bowers to himself :r7-.rTrvs
AS the rider drew near the miner was !
forced to throw himself at full length
on the ground to escape being seen, and
ne fingered his revolver grimly. Tar
box was too busy with the horses to look
very sharply about him, and soon
turned back after giving the animals a
few sharp blows, which sent them of
at full speed.
Then he returned to his party. and
at last they had all disappeared from
sight.
Bowers waited until he was satisfied
that they would not reappear; then he
stretched his cramped limbs and hur-
ried back to Rider, who was impatient
~ awaiting him.
what are they dofng?" asked the
iatter. eagerly.
They've turned all their crftterz
loose an hid away somewheres," wa. ]
the reply. "See here, Rider, I've got q |
scheme"
"A scheme?"
That's what said. It's good one.
too Suppose You could find yer way |
back to Dyea?''
of course l could. Why?"
I'm goin' ter tell yer why. Thar's
about dozen good critters turned |
loose. They're worth $500 apiece in l
Dyea, l dunno but more. You don't