The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1905-02-07

stranger sat on a musk OK hide and
the latter asked:
rs your name Paul Miller"
1T is"
Are you from Fresno. California;"
Il am.
do you know Laura Kean@'
Il do; what of her? His whole
frame was trembling with anxiety and
emotion"
She is in Alaska Just landed a
few days ago at Juneau in company
with Mr.. Theodore Lakeland"
1T is liza lie!" roared Paul, be-
side himself with rage and mortifica-
ton. ITS a lie and | will crowd it
down your throat"
Before anyone knew what he in
tended he had his informant b, the
throat and hurled him to the ground.
The guards came to the relief VI
their companion. Paul was quickly
torn away from him and his hand
bound. He lay upon the dead grass
piled in the cavern. His mind was In
a whirl and he kept saying to him
self:
Can it be possible? No, no, 1t is
not possible. The whole world may
be false, but Laura is not. Come to
Alaska in company with that man
no, it Is not true"
A thousand tumultuous emotions
were stirring his breast as he lay
on the dried grass striving to per
suade himself that after all this was
some horrible dream. The man whom
he had assaulted in company with
Padgett and Morris approached him.
Morris handed Paul a letter in the
well-known handwriting of Laura
kean. 1t was dated at Juneau and
addressed to Pauls mother in Fresno
The letter was brief, saying she had
just arrived, and would rest day or
two before proceeding farther.
Isn't that evidence?" asked Morris.
Eyes; but she did not come with
him"
",Oh no; he came on another ship"
Then he lied when he said they
came together"
Morris laughed a cold, sardonic
laugh, and in voice that seemed to
have all the evil of demon in it,
answered:
Though they came on different
ships from America, there is but one
train going to the Klondyke and both
will be in that train. The chances are
she knows no one but him. and you
know Lackland's feelings towards the
girl. When he starts to win he wins;
he's got millions to work with, and If
it's necessary to buy the entire pack
train off he can do it,"
Paul Miller groaned aloud, but
made no answer. He realized how
great her danger and how Utterly hope
less he was to aid her.
Now you san save her. said Nor
ris.
Save her? My Heaven, how?
What other Internal scheme have you
on hand?"
you were overheard talking with
the old man about walrus hide. From
what you said it was understood you
knew something about it. If you will
give us information that will lead to
finding it, you shall be given your lib
erty and be taken to this young lady,
Laura Kean."
81 cannot" groaned Paul.
"Why." .
II don't know where it Is.
what did you do with it?" asked
Morris, his face expressing the deep
est concern.
81 gave it to another. Where he is
or what he has done with IL do not
know"
A look of disappointment swept
over the faces of the captors at this
announcement. They retired to near
the entrance of the cavern and there
held consultation.
tits all a pack of lies" cried Pad
gett. We've been twenty years in
these woods waitin' t. grab that pile,
an no nearer to it now than before.
Knock out their brains an go away
is what | say"
Tom Ambrose, though equally as
much villain as his companion,
urged moderation. During all the
years the unprincipled rascals had
struggled to get possession of their
captives secret, Tom had acted as
brake to fiery Ned's temper.
1--WE have a hold on the old man."
one of the plotters at last declared.
"He can be made to tell where the
gold is cached"
But he don't know"