Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-11-22

might pass unnoticed. Before quitting
the valley they halted their heaying
horses and, selecting n stagnant pool.
secured the grease paint from their
features as best they could. Their
ears were strained for sounds Of pur-
suit, but as the moments passed and
none came the tension eased some
what, and they conyersed guardedly.
As the morning light spread they
crossed the moss capped summit Of the
range, but paused again, and, remov-
ing two saddles, hid them among the
rocks. Slapjack left the others here
and rode southwark down the Dry
Greek trail toward town, while the.
partners shifted part Of the weight
from the overloaded pack mules to the
remaining saddle animals and con-
tinued eastward along the barren
comb of hills on foot. leading the FIVE
horses.
ut don't seem like Wen get away
this easy" said Dextry, scanning the
back trail. "1f we do, I'll be tempted
to foller the business reg'lar. This
grease paint on my face makes me
smell like minstrel man. bet we'll
get some bully press notices tomor-
row."
II wonder what Helen was doing
there" Glenister answered irrelevant
", for he had been more shaken by
his encounter with her than at his part
in the rest of the enterprise. and his
mind, which should have been busted
with the fight, held nothing but pic.
lures of her as she stood In the half
darkness under the fear of his Win
chester. what if she ever learned
who. that black rufian vast" He
quailed Mt the thought
Say, Dex, am going to marry that
girl"
II dunno If you be or not" said Dex-
try. Better watch Mcnamara"
"What?" The younger man stopped
and stared what do You mean?"
"Go on. Don't stop the horses. I
amt blind. kin put two an two to-
gether."
you'll never put those two together.
Nonsense! Why, the mans rascal.
] wouldn't let him have her. Besides.
1t couldn't be. She'll find him out, ]
love her so much that-oh. my feelings
are too big to talk about" He moved
his hands eloquently. You can't I'M
derstand."
"Um-m! s'pose not" grunted Dex-
try, but his eyes We're level and held
the light Of the past.
"He may be a rascal the old man
continued, after a little. "I'll put in
with you on that, but he's n handsome
devil, and as for manners he makes
you look like a logger. Hes brave
man too. Them three qualities are
trump cards and warranted to take
most any queen in the human deck
red, white or yellow
IF he dares,' growled Glenister,
while his thick brows came forward,
and ugly lines hardened in his face.
In the gray of the early morning
they descended the foothills into the
wide valley Of the Nome river and
tiled put across the rolling country to
the river bluffs where. cleverly con-
cealed among the willows. was n
rocker. This they set up, then pro
ceeded to wash the dirt from the sacks
carefully, yet with the utmost speed
for there was serious danger Of dis.
covery. 1t was wonderful, this treas,
ure Of the richest ground since the
days OF 40 and the men worked with
oy,}ufpc, ovyoc a M hands ~ fraY,, hyn vr1,c
gold was coasse, and many ragged, vel
low Jumps, too large to pass through
the screen, rolled in the hopper, while
the aprons bellied with its weight II
the pans which they HAD provided there
greMia Obtaining heap Of wei, raw gold
Shortly, by divergent Routes. the part
nera Foda hunnotIeed iAte town and into
the excitement Of the holdun news
while the tardE still lingered eve
their breakfasts. Far cut In the road
stead lay the Roanoke, black smoke
pouring from her stack A tug was re
turning from It's last trip to her.
Glanister forced his latherad Aerss
down to the beach and questioned thu
ngshorelnen who hung about
mo. It's too late to get aboard
the last tender is On Its way back
they Informed him, "if you want Il
go to the outside, you'll have to wal
for the fleet. That only means another
week, and-there she blows now"
A ribbon of white mingled .math The
yelysi t s the stealiigfs funnel, apt
there came a slow, throhhi9g, farewell
blast.
Glenlster's jaw clicked and squared
"Quick, you menu he cried to tlls
sailors. Il want the lightest dory 0,
the beach and the strongest-oarsme,
In the crowd. Tllbe back in Ave min
utes. There's a hundred dollars in /
FOR YOU if we catch thar .ships..a b.
| tsHe aNnttisd ana sphfTAd lib through
the mud Of the streets. Bill Wheato,
vas snoring luxurionsIX when wrench
ea From Aia bed by a disheveled MAJ
wh9 shock him int wakefulnesa ant
Into a portion OF hls Clothes with I.
storm OF excited instructions. The
lawyer had neither time nor oppor
tunity for expostulation, for Gleniste
snatchel a valise and swept into 1t
litter of documents from the table.
Hurry up, inan!' he yA.lea, asAt tn,
LAWYER aiyea tFanticall$ aDbut his 81
ice VIII q rabbit.like hunt for items
fAIy heavens; are you dead? Wax,
up! The ships leaving With. slee]
still In his eyes, Wheat ton WAS draggs,
| down The street to the beach. where
Knot had assembled to witness til,
race. As they tumbled into the skif,
willing hands ran It emf Into the sur
| on tho crast an n rolta,, "a cow II ftt,,.