The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1905-01-03


he was not certain. Having clue to
the mystery, he sat down to study the
puzzle.
The more he read the note the more
he was puzzled and the farther he
seemed to get from the solution.
There has been a carefully laid
plot to ruin me" he said to himself, as
he sat upon the stool trying to study
the missive. Who is Il. T., and
why should he wish me to remain in
the Klondike?"
He left the shanty, carefully lock-
ing the door after him, and was max
ing his way to the cabin at which he
had stayed since the attack, when he
met Glum Ralston.
Hello, Crack Lash, gettin' under
way agin?"
81 am able to be out, Glum," he
answered
Glad on it, boy-glad on it.
The ex-sailor was about to pass on
when the young man said:
Il want to talk some with you,
Glum. There was a deep-laid plot to
rob and murder me. have an enemy
or enemies-I know not how many
who have designs on my happiness.
Ralston was not man to be moved
by emotion or jump at conclusion.
He sat long time listening to the
unreasonable evidence of the youth.
When he had finished there was no
longer doubt that here was a con-
spiracy to injury Crack Lash, and per-
haps take his life. A new light was
breaking in on him and he became
more interested In the youth than he
had been.
"M-well, Crack Lash, think we'd
better run 'em down. Wonder how
many we kin git to 60 with us"
81 want no one but you. Glum. said
the youth. You and are enough, for
| can trust you, which is more than |
care to do with all. believe that II
l can capture those men they will not
only tell me where to find my lost
treasure, but also inform me who this
enemy Il. r. Is.
Then by the trident O. Neptune
wen go an never stop until we find
| them"
After consulting the matter, they
| decided to keep their departure Sc
cret from their companions, and de-
cided to start before they were awake
next morning. During the night a
snowstorm ragged. Next morning long
before the miners were astir our. two
friends were attired in furs, with sew
eral dogs, provisions, blankets and
rifles, and set off on snow-shoes in
search of the three men who had
robbed and so nearly killed Paul sew
eral weeks before.
| Glum Ralston had received reliable
information that the men he wished to
find were in valley up the Yukon,
and they acted ON that information.
They found the snow still falling,
though it was not very cold. For sew
eral miles they trudged along on the
snowshoes in silence. At last Glum
said:
Stop"
"Why?" asked Paul.
"We1l rest"
Il am not tired"
''Ye don't think we are, mate, but
you'll have all the wind out O. yer sails
afore We know it. Set down"
There was log lying near, and both
sat upon it.
Il am sufficiently rested, SO let's &C
on" said the youth, after short rest
starting to his feet.
Don't be too certain we know ye
kin stand it, lad. tell we it's q longer
voyage n you think, an there's rough
sailin' between this an the Chilkoot.
They reached Dawson City next day
at noon. AS Paul was still weak, he
secured room In the hotel and went
to bed to rest Being overcome by
WEAKNESS and the journey, he was
soon buried in profound slumber.
He was awakened by some one shak
ing him by the shoulder and whisper
ing:
Tumble up, Crack Lash"
What Is 1t, Glum?" he asked. start
ing up and rubbing his eyes
They're here"
"Who?"
THE rascals that robbed We. saw
tn face O. one o. them fellers wee
| seen a-hangin' around our diggiu's be
fore you were robbed, an I'd bet m,
wolf-skin cap tn others amt fur Off
Paul Miller hastily donned hi
clothes. The pale youth drew on hi
fur boots and buckled his revolver
about his waist. He realized nov
dangerous an encounter would be ant
he knew he might be corpse Ii
twenty minutes. He breathed silen
| prauar for apro ynofhor md Ia cf1,