Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-10-17

"If he darcs." growled Glcnister.
while his thick hrows came forward.
and ugly lines hardened in his face.
In the gray Of the early morning
they descended tho foothills into the
wide valley Of tho Nome river and
filed out across The rolling country to
the river bluffs where. cleverly con-
ceacd among thc willows. was n
rocker. This they set w. then pro
ccedcd TO wash the dirt from the sacks
carefully, yet with the utmost speed,
for there was serious danger Of dis
covery. Il was wonderful, this treas
ure Of tho richest ground since the
days Of 40, and the men worked with
shining eyes and hands a-tremble. The
gold was coarGN. and many ragged, vel.
low humps. TOO large TO pass through
the screen rolled in the hopper, while
tho aprons bcllicl with its weight. In
the pans which they had provided there
grew cleaning heap Of wet, raw gold.
Shortly. by divergent routes, the part
ners rode unnoticcd into town and into
the excitement of the holdup news.
while tho tardy still fingered over
their breakfasts Far ont in the road
stead lay the Roanoke. black smoke
pouring from her stack. a tug wns re-
turning from its last trip to her.
Glenister forced his lathered horse
down TO the beach and questioned the
! longshorcmcn who hung about.
NO. It's too late to get aboard
| the last tender is on its way back"
| they informed him. IF you want to
go to the outside You'll have to wait
| for the feet. That only. means another
| week. and-therc she blows now"
A ribbon of white mingled with the
velvet from the steamers funnel. and
there came a slow, throbbing. farewell
| blast
Glcnistor's jaw clicked and squared.
"Quick, you men," he cried to the
sailors. II want the lightest dory on
| the beach and the strongest oarsmea
| in the crowd. Iii he back in five mill
utcs. There's n hundred dollars in it
for Won if We catch that ship"
| He whirled and spurred up through
the mud Of the streets. Bill Wheaton
was snoring luxuriously when wrench
ed from his bed by n disheveled man
who shook him into wakcfulness and
into q portion of his clothes, with n
storm Of excited instructions. The
| lawyer had neither time nor oppor-
tunity for cxpostu.ation. for Glenister
snotcbe1 n volise and svent into y q
litter ~ documont, from tho t.h,e
"1urrr I'M MANI ha velle1 no the
lawyer dired fr,nticoIlv about his of.
fec in robblt.li,o hunt for itcn,s
envy heavens are Won dead; Wake
m, Tho Sims Ieavine" With s,ee,
still in his owes Wheaton was drorre,r
down the street TO tho beach where q
knot had assembled to witness the
race. As they tuuhlcd into the skiff
willing hands ran it ont into the surf
on the crest Of n roller A few lifting
heaves and they were over the bal
with the men at the oars bending III,
white ash at every swing.
II guess didn't forget anything
raspcd Wheaton rs he put on his coat
81 got ready yesterday, but I couldn'
find you last night. SO | thought tn,
deal was off,
Glenister stripped off his coat and
facing the bow. pushed upon the oar,
at every stroke, thus adding hi
strength to that of the oarsmen. The,
crept rapidly out from the beach, eat
ing up the two miles that lay TOWARD
the ship. He urged the men with al
his power till the sweat soaked
through their clothes and, under thei
cllnglng shirts. the muscles stood on
like iron. They had covered half tn
distance when Wheaton uttered or,
ana Gienlstcr deslsted from MS worl
"'h a curse ne i'oa''ohe was NOV
ing slowly.
Inc rowers rested, put the youh
man shouted at them 10 pegln agar
and Selling boat hook. stuck 1t Int
the arm or MS coat he waved I'M
on hlsh WINE 'he iiieI' reuoup'eu thei
cnortS' ror many inoiheh's 'ney nun
III suspense watching the oiach hu
as IL gathered speed ana 'heh' IN 'he
were ABOUT 10 cease 'heir e"oi'' Pul
OF steam purst from lts "hiSlie an
the next moment snort LOOT OF recoe
hl'ioh reached thehl' HiehiSler wipe
the moisture from MS pro" anu erlf
ned hr wheaton.
A quarter or an hour later as the
lay heaving Mellow the snip steel side
ne thrust heaVy pucKsRin sack Int
the lawyers naho'
There's money to win the night, Bill
! don't know how much, but It
enough. God bless you. Hurry back.