Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-01-07

OF sight. Tow6 Cue robe ladder +.
scra-abled, then with great presence OF
mind be stopped long enough to Jerk Il
rec from the spur above SO that il fell
1t his feet.
hider had not yet returned from his
trrand and Bowers felt his way rapidlv
along the passage until he emerged
upon the plain.
Running quickly to the horseg, where
Rider was at work, he cried:
Jump upl Jump lively an let's gis
but o this! Vamose!"
he set the example by throwing him
self on one of the horses and Selling the
bride of the one upon which Rider had
been carefully securing the stolen gold.
The latter needed no second invitation
and moment later they were hurryinp
the beasts along the back trail as rapid
ly as the poor light and the nature Of
the ground would permit.
For fully two hours they made their
way in silence except for an occasional
oath from Bowers at the unevenness of
the route, then, apparently treasured
that they had made good their escape.
he exclaimed:
This is the biggest nights work one
man ever done in this ere country.
Rider. L took long chances an L won
out! 1t was a great plant!"
How did you manage it?" asked
Rider, eagerly. els it all gold in them
bagsF'
TT amt nothir' elsei"
With great pride he now narrated to
his companion the whole villainous
scheme, and then added, complacently:
"All they've got ter do is ter dig out
some more gold. There's plenty of it
whar they are. They hogged all the
best claims, but I'm up ter them nowI,
"But they'll be after US, won't they ?''
asked Rider, fearfully.
They hain't got no HOSES, hev
they?" retorted Bowers. Besides that,
they dassent leave their claims fer fear
some chap might jump 'eu. It's won
der nobody's struck that place afore."
The two thieves did not draw rein
until daylight. WheI. the sun was fair
ly up they paused on the top of hill
commanding view for long distance
of the route they had traversed, but
there was no sign of pursuit,
Il told yer so" said Bowers, triumph
antly. ''They can't chase US. Let's get
some grub an rest the bosses a bit. If
we take 'em into Dyea in any kind o.
shape they'll sell for tidy figger."
Their meal dispatched, they once
was in sight behind them, then mount
ed and headed for civilization, the bags
of gold strapped securely on the spare
animals back and hidden from view
by blanket tied over them.
That night they went into camp just
before dark, and Bowers proceeded to
unload their Il-gotten gains. The first
bag he removed CHANGED to be the one
he had himself filed in his two weeks
of toll. AS he lifted the second he
noticed a very perceptible difference in
the weight, although the two bags were
OF the same size.
That's d-n stranger" he growled.
They couldn't hev washed their gold
very clean"
AS he spoke he united the second bag
and thrust his hand within, then with
yell of rage and disappointment he
dashed the bag to the ground and
stamped upon it like an infatuated ami
NAL, when Rider stood aghast, fearing
the man had suddenly gone mad.
With bound Bowers sprang to the
pack horse and seized another bag.
One fierce slash of his knife rent it its
EN- tire length and then Rider corpre-
hended.
Out of it dropped a mass of damp
clay and gravel.
Hank Bowers was silent while he laid
open the rest of the bags. When he was
certain that his own was the only one
containing a particle Of gold he burst
forth in torrent of blasphemy so ter
rible that even Rider trembled lest some
retribution might instantly follow and
include him in its wrath.
Sold! Took in like tenderfootI"
raved his companion, kicking one of the
bags in his fury. whats that?"
As he spoke he picked up folded
paper which had dropped from the bag.
Tearing it open he read the following
lines:
I'VE were too smart for you. Re-
member that if we find you have given
away our secret we will give an account
OF you to the Canadian police and have
you driven out of the country. If you
show yourself here we will fill you full
of lead"
CHAPTER XIV.
A SECRET NO LONGER.