The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-08-30
BY HAROLD BINDLOSS.
Copyright, 1914,
BY +. A. Stokes Co.
CONTINUED from our last issue.

dlt6T THO hiOnuy NC iuSh otoi sSo'
went up to Alaska to relocate
the mine. Clay had gone north
before this, but not as a miner.
He had started a transportation
service to several mining camps,
and financed prospectors who
made lucky finds. He was unen-
thusiastic about my project. How
ever, after much persuasion, he
agreed to come, and we set Off
with two hired packers and sup
plies enough to give us a good
chance of success.
Summer was late that year,
and we hauled the hand-sledges
two hundred miles over the snow;
but I needn't tell you about our
journey. We made 1t with some
trouble, and one afternoon came
down to the creek.
well, we struck the creek, by
compass, near where l intended,
for soon afterward l picked up
one landmark and Clay another"
CLAY? But he hadn't been
there before!"
You're KEEN" Osborne OBJ
served. I'VE had often talked
over my plans, and he must have
known nearly as much about the
place as l did. Then one couldn't
mistake a prominent strip of ris-
ing ground, though it was some
distance off when Clay saw it,"
But the NINE"
1--WE made the spot in the even
ing. Where l had left small pole
there was a large one. 1t was OBJ
vious that we had come too late"
How dreadful" Ruth exclaim-
ed. after all you had gone
through. What did you do?"
II can't remember. Clay was the
first to speak and l can recall his
level voice as he said, 1T looks as
II somebody has been here before
us, partner!'"
''But who had found the
miner" Ruth interrupted.
81 never learned. The next
morning we set out up the creek
and found gold here and there;
but our provisions threatened to
run out before We came to the
watershed"
Were any of the pockets as
rich as the stolen one?" Ruth
asked.
mo-" her father answered with
a hint of reserve. "Still, we found
some gold and got back safely to
the coast. We sailed in the vessel
that he and some of his friends
had bought. The small, dirty sa-
loom and part of the tween decks
were crowded with successful min
ers and others who were at least
fortunate in having money enough
to take them out of the country
before winter set in.
1--WE had some trouble in get
ting to sea. The miners had to
help with the tackle before they
could bring the kedge to the bows.
Then she crawled slowly ont to
sea under half steam"
How did such an old ship get
passengers?" Ruth wanted to
know.
Passengers were not particu-
lar during the gold rush"
ooh! Where was the gold she
carried kept?"
In the strong room under the
floor Of the stern cabin. Our
troubles began on the first day
out, for she burst a pipe in the en-
CINE room"
you must have felt anxious
with all your gold on board" Ruth
said.
NO." responded Osborne, with
out moments hesitation. Clay
had insured the vessel and his
shipments by her on a kind of
floating policy. / believe he had
some trouble to effect it, but he
managed to get the thing arrang-
ed through broker with whom
he had a little influence"
CLAY seems to have a good deal
of influence" Ruth thoughtfully
remarked. How does he get it?"
TITS gift of his" Osborne an
swered, with a curious smile.
However, to go back to my tale,
! knew the gold was insured. To
tell the truth, ] was getting more
anxious about my personal safety,
for the cold and mist and wild
weather were wearing on the
nerves. At last. one night, / was
awakened by shock that threw
me out Of my berth. AS I got q
few clothes on I felt her strike
again, and when / ran out on the
deck, half dressed, 1t was clear
that she had made her last voy-
age. She lay, canted over. across
the sea, while the planking
crushed In with a horrible sound
as the reef ground through her
bilge.
There was. however, no panic.
The miners quietly helped to
swing the boats out. and seeing
that she was holding together. |
went with Clay two seamen
to open the strong-room. 1t was
reached through a trap in the
cabin floor, but some beams In
breaking had jammed this fast.
I'VE might have broken through
IL we had had a few more min
utes, but q roller struck her, and
she was going down when we
'waded across the afterdeck. A