Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-11-26
CHAPTER x1..

~ dr.zzle from seward and a
~ lcaden rack of. clouds drifting
low, matched the sullen, fitful
mood of Glenister.
During the last month he had chafed
and fretted like an animal in leash
for word Of Wheaton. This uncertainty,
this ilnpotent waiting with folded
hands, was maddening to one of his
spirit. Hc could apply himself to no
fixed duty, for the sense of his wrong
preyed on him fierccly, and he found
himself haunting the vicinity of the
Midas, gazing at 1t from afar, grasp
ms hungrlly for such scraps of news
as CHANGED to reach him. Mcnamara
allowed access to none but his min
ions, so the partners knew but vague
,ly of what happened on their prop
erty, even though. under fiction OF the
law, 1t was being worked for their
protection.
No steps regarding a speedy hearing
Of the case We're allowed. and the col
fusion between Judge Stillman and the
receiver had become SO generally rec
ognized that there were uneasy NUT
terings and threats in many. quarters.
Yet, although the politician had by
now virtually absorbed all the richest
properties in the district and worked
them through his hirelings, the people
of Nome, as a whole. did not grasp the
full turpftude Of the scheme nor the
SYSTEMS perfect working.
Strange to say, Dextry. the fire eater,
had assumed an oriental patience quite
foreign to his peppery disposition and
spent much of his time In the hills
prospecting.
On this day, as the clouds broke
about noon, close down on the angry
horizon drift of smoke appeared,
shortly resolving itself into steamer.
She lay to in the ofling, and through
his glasses Glenister saw that it was
the Roanoke. AS the hours passed and
no boat put off, he tried to hire crow,
but the longshorcmen spat wisely and
shook their heats as they watched the
surf
There's the devil Of an undertow
gettin' along this beach," they told
him, "and the waters too cold to
ilrownd in comfortable" So he laid
firm hands upon his impatience.
Every day meant many dollars to
the watcher, and yet It seemed that
nature was resolute in thwartlng him,
for that night the wind freshened, and
daylight saw the ship hugging the lee
Of Sledge island, miles to the west
ward, while the surf, white MS boiling
milk, doomed and Numbered against
The shore.
Word had gone through the street
that Bill Wheaton was aboard with a
writ or Il subpoena or an alibi or what
ever was necessary to put the "lSibosh"
on Mcnamara, SO public excitement
grew. Mcnamara boarded his gold In
the Alaska bank, and it was taken for
granted that there would lie the scene
of the struggle. No one supposed for
an instant that the usurper would part
with the treasure peacefully.
On the third morning the ship lay
abreast of the town again. and life
boat was seen to make off from her,
whereupon the idle population stream
ed toward the beach.
She'll make it to the surf all right,
but then watch out"
Wed better make ready to haul 'cm
out" said another. ITS mighty dan
gerous." And, sure enough, as the
skitf came rushing in through the
breakers she was caught
She had made it past the first line,
soaring over the bar on a foamy roller
crest like a storm driven gull wfnging
In toward the land. The wiry figure
of Bill Wheaton crouchel in the stern,
While two sailors fought with their
oars. AS they gathered for their rush
through the last zone OF froth !, great
comber rose out OF the sea behind
them, rearing high above their heads.
The crowd on the surf's edge shouted.
The boat wavered, sucked back into
the oceans angry NAV. and with n
crash the deluge engulfed them. There
remained nothing but swirling food
through which the lifeboat emerged
bottom up, amid tangle of oars, graf
ings and gear.
Men rushed into the water, and the
next roller pounded them back upon
the marble hard sand. Therescame the
sound of splitting wood, and then n
group swarmed in waist deep and bore
out dripping figure It was hemp
en- headed seaman, who shook the wa
ter from his name and grinnel when
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