The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-06-30
The k|0Idyke Gold Mystery.
By JOHN K. MUSIcK,
Authsr Of "Mystssious Mr.. Howard" "Ths
Dark Stranger "Charile AlIendals's
Oesb,s." Bic.
Copyright. 1851, BY RossEr BoxnEEs SOFA
Al flghts reserved
CHAPTER xvl.-(continued.

CHAPTER xvl.-(Continued.
did you leave the others there?"
Yes; an lemme tell We, it'll take
four to manage that woman.
couldn't stay in the same camp and
set up quarters by big black stump
half mile away from her.
Curse such luck! l wish the men
had stayed"
why? Who are you afraid off"
Il don't know who he is, only he
calls himself the Old Man of the
Mountains
Where is he?"
I'm her tent"
Where did he come FROM"
Looks as if he had slid down the
peak of some iceberg. Go and take
a sQuint at him"
Cummins, though coward when
there was woman in the case, had
little fears of men. Creeping stealth
lily up to the tent he peeped in and
beheld the odd Man of the Noun
talns, seated on camp stool before
the fair Laura. his rifle between his
knees, while she was telling him her
story.
"Umph! It's old st. Nick or an
escaped Selkirk. Looks as if he
bristed with weapons. and l don't
doubt but he can use 'em. The boss
is right. for glimpse O. that face
and the arsenal he carries is enough
to give polar bear the ager"
Notwithstanding the unprepossess-
ing appearance of the man from the
mountains. he pressed his ear close
to the tent to listen to the converse
ton between the two.
why did you come to Alaska, my
poor child?"
Il came to find the man l love. My
Paul, who was lost"
Laura told the old man her story
and at the conclusion said:
He tells me Paul is dead. do
not believe him. He has deceived me
on more than one occasion, and he
will do so again if it serves his pur-
pose. My heart tells ME Paul lives"
My child that silent monitor is
never wrong. Your Paul lives. He is
not far away, but he you and are in
great peril. We must act with caution
and secrecy or we will all be dead
before morning. These men are des-
perate criminals. Will you trust me?"
Yes. with my life"
pretend as if you had heard moth
ing but be ready to act as | direct"
do you know where Paul isl"
Yes, but he is under a strong
guard. Is there no one with the
train you can trust? No Indian or
Esquimo?"
Il do not understand them nor
they me: but I have my trusty SER
want. Ben Holton."
Where is he?"
He was sent to-day to see if the
pass could be opened
The pass has not been closed, ~
said the hermit. "My dear daughter,
sending him off was only an excuse to
get your friends out of the way; bur
all is we'll. Heaven is on your side
and directed me here
"Humph. Well see about that"
growled Cummins, rising from his
knees. They kin put their trust in
what they like, but ii the boss will
let me have my way. I'll put mine in
about ten inches of cold steel.'
He hurried to Lakeland, who was
sitting on sled. his face expressing
the deepest anxiety In as few words
as possible he narrated the interview
between the mysterious old man and
Laura. Lakeland made several eff.
forts to speak before he finally sue
ceeded. then. in voice strangely IN.
natural. he said:
1T has come at last! I hoped
would be spared bloodshed. but there
is 10 help for it. Since it must come
let it come. We will do our worst. If
the old man and Paul Miller are in our
way. let them die"
We'll there will be little time
to act
Il know it,
Lakeland, who still shrank from the
thought of committing murder him
self. began to plan to have his myrm
dons do all tae work, and agreed very
readily to have reinforcements
II think it would be well for you tc
start back and get two of the men,
he said. Cant you do it in a few
hours?"
Yes; on snowshoes l can make i,
by tomorrow noon. Let us leave
the valley and start down the trail.
They had to cross the river to reach
the trail, but by this time the Yukor
was frozen over, SO they crossed or
the ice.
They had scarce got over when they
saw three forms coming along the
trail.
There they are now" said Lack
land
The three forms could be seen com
ing hurriedly up the path and, wher
they drew nearer, the form of the ole
man could be seen coming along be
hind.
"Holton, come here!'' said Lakeland
AS the old man advanced toward him
the Indians were ordered across tn,
river on the ice.
III ssWhat dive want Mr. Tacklondc