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Dey
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“YT
claim. Outer bad given them a general
idea of its loc:
acky!" ‘exclaimed Tony, “to think
that Fou own three thousand acres of land
hy Bob, you're bound to be a
“Time will tell, ” replied Bob in bis cone
servative way “y know, there may u not
f gold on al my
“That's hardly likely.
wee there may not be enough to make
it wo.
“Very true.”
For over an hour they climbed the moun-
tain slopes. Then they came to a sort 0!
and,”
tableland right among eraggy hills,
“}lere we are,” "Said Bol Me
“Sho!” exclaim “You don't
mean to say that this is the claim?”
“Or Hare mentioned this tableland as a
part of it.
“jpureka! This looks like easy work.
Look at the great hunks of quartz lying
around loose, Why, Bob, there are streaks
of gold in every one of these fragments.”
Tony picked up one of these fragments
as big as his fist.
It had a deep incrustation of gold.
“That is what is called a ‘floater,’” said
Bob. “Where you find those, there is indi-
cation of a rich vein.”
“Why is it called a floater?” asked Tony.
“I believe for the reason that it is char-
acterized as surface or floating evidence of
they have worked up to the surface trom a
yein many feet below.”
t “Then the tie yein is possibly right un-
er us."
“yes.”
“Why, the soil here is easy to work with
Why could we not do some placer
“T fear that gold is not held in this soil
in sufficient quantity,” said Bob.
he vein, but | At will need blasting
Tony. “We can borrow
enough to buy a team with. In a week we
art.”
“I have a better idea,” sald Bob, with sud-
don inspiration.
oe id I are strong. We will carry
down as much of this floating quartz as we |
hard work for a time, but we will be on the
gaiu all the wate, and soon get enough |
money to buy a
plate ‘mining tools were secreted on the
Pine the two miners went to work, In
the course of the quest luck favored them,
for Bob found an almost clear nugget worth
at least one hundred dollars.
For two days they worked like beavers.
An account was entered into with the
quartz mill.
At the end of the two days a balance was
he
Over two
hundred and fifty dollars was returned to
them,
Bob bought a hardy mule and a cart.
Then sticks of dynamite were bought and
drills and wedges,
Work began in earnest. Part of the big
vein on the tableland was uncovered. A
marvellous seam of sold was found. It was
immensely productiv
O'Hare was deeply “‘nterested, and paid a
new strike. But he kept the
‘A week later another balance was struck
at the quartz mill. This time over a thou-
sand dollars was Placed, to their credit.
in excess of the
usual individual returns made by the
quartz miners that the boss of the stamp
mill grew curious.
“Gee whiz!” he exclaimed. “You fellows -
must have acinch, How big is your claim, |
anyway ?”
“Not any larger than we can handle,”
plied Bob, evasively. “I think we may
have reached the limit.”
“Well, ye’'ve done well, anyway,” said the
yer claim is large enough
the Golconda will do business with ye.”
But alr this had a test “or course the
news gradually spread. It became rumored
about that some newcomers, “tenderfoot
“miners,” had made a big strike.
Bob and Tony became the objects of ate
tention.
“I don’t like this,” said Bob one day. “I
believe we will camp out on the claim and
not come down here at all
But the next morning as they emerged
from their hotel, a man of-powerful frame
confronted them. He held a revolver in
his han
ant you,” he said tersely.
eqn” exclaimed Bob. ‘‘Who are you?”
“I’m sheriff of Brisco, an’ I’ve got to ar-
rest you for trespassin’ on another man’s
ela’
[To BE CONTINUED.]
| nee eee
For names of latest issues of the best !
weeklies published see 8th’ page.
MAUD TELLS UER STORY,
“How can it possibly be that Dates is
there?” exclaimed Alex, staring at th
steamer with the red pipe.
“It certainly
Maud. “Listen
gonig to your steamer. He will attack us;
there is sure to be trouble and you ought
to be prepared.
ne moment, Maud,” interposed Walter.
on that steamer of ours.
what it really is and how we came to be
aboard of it. There isn’t so much to tell
and it won’t take me a minute. You can
tell your story then.”
‘w brief words and amid many
exclamatioas from Mrs. Latimer, Walter
told all that happened to them after they
went overboard from the Sea Eagle.
“Your escape has been a wonderful one,”
said Maud, and it is still more wonderful
as we did.
the ship were a! .
consummate Villain, Shortly after you dis-
appeared—he made me believe that you were
both dead—that steamer which you see now
appeared in the ofling.
ates immediately began signaling it
and the signals were promptly responded to.
suspected what it meant and ran to tell
my father. It was the excitement which
killed him. AS ho was trying to explain he
fe! lL dead at my i
“Why, you poor. “child!” cried Walter,
wT wag terrible!”
ould say it was,” put in Mrs. Lati-
| mer, put you ought to have scen how
bravely Maud bore i
did the best I coud,” continued Maud,
| for my own safety and Mrs. Latimer’s de-
my coolness, I saw at once
! that father was past all “help, so I hurried
n deck to see what help I could get from
| the crew. Just as I was passing the main
hatch, wien I found open, I heard voices
in the hol Dates and Mr. Handy were
; just ne nine up and I heard the mate say
“‘Yes, the plugs are all out and she w Tt
sink in an hour's time. We want to do up
Branscomb now and secure the girl while
the ere’s a chance to do it without a row.’
“What did he mean by that?” asked Alex.
hoo I suppose he thought that some of
j th crew might interfere on my account,”
replied Mai
| *Tell them what you heard them say
| about me,” added Mrs, Latimer. “Oh, that
scoundrel Handy, and I did so much for
him, too. I only wish I could get my fin-
gers on his hair just once.”
“They were going to shoot Mrs. Latimer
| and throw her overboard,” said Maud, opae
[i we didn’t wait to give them the chance.
| ®
}
i
qT Gent
and told Mrs. Latimer and we went on deck
hid under one of the boats. You
should have seen them look for us! Every-
bod: nt below as soon as they heard that
father waa dead—that is everybody but Ike
Moody, who was at the wheel
| “That was our chance, Walter. One of
; the boats was in the davits and while
| Moo oody happened to be looking the other
; Way Mrs. Latimer and I got in. I’m sailor
‘ enough to handle a boat on right and f let
we were half a mile away then.
it saw Dates come to the stern rail and
shake his fist at us. He called out some-
‘ thing, but I could not understand what he
said. Ten minutes later he and the whole
j crew were in the boats and we saw the Sea
, Eagle go down. They pulled away toward
the steamer and we saw them taken aboard.
“That is all my story, boys, except that Mrs.
Latimer .and I have been floating about
ever since.”
| wna you did not find out what the plot
was and why Dates and Handy were doing
all this?” asked Walter. “You have no
‘Tea what the plot really is?”
“IT found out nothing,” replied Maud. au
ow no ere Spout it now than I did
when you left .
nd you don" t think your father knew?”
“Tm sure he didn't. Mandy shipped the
crew. I suppose he and Dates made their
arrangements beforehand.”
“Your father was acquainted with
Dates?
“Not at all. andy introduced him as a
friend of his k passage on the
Sea Eagle just. as you did, but look! Isn’t
that light getting brighter? Can it be that
the steamer fs on fire?”
Flames co ould. “be seen shooting up from
| the deck and the masts and funnel were
HAPPY DAYS.
you will be comfortable here and safe for
the time bein,
Walter then went aboard and so arranged
the ladder that the ladies could easily come
up on deck.
There was some e little difienlty in getting
the boats on deck, th Alex’s efficient
help Walter soon ‘oninaged it,
The boys were wild with excitement over
what had occurred, Nothing had been said
about the money as yet and Walter was
most anxious to take Maud below and show
it her, but the other steamer claimed
their full attention at this
Getting out the glass, Walter turned it
“pen the strange craft.
It was moving away from them and rap-
idly disappearing in the distance, but. he
could see enough to assure him that the
moving figures had all abandoned the « deck,
mont no wonder. The steamer was now a
mes and formed a most brilliant
object f& the western horiz!
They all continued to wateh it, Walter
telling about the wonderful find on the
Metropolis white they stood looking off
over the sea, until all at once a great mass
of smoke and flame shot up as though there
had been an explosion and then the burn-
ing steamer suddenly vanished and was
seen no more.
. CHAPTER XI.
THE MAN WILO CRIED “BRAVO” TWICE.
Until the next morning there was no ad-
venture worth noting on board the Metrop-
olis and by that time Maud Branscomb
and good Mrs: hatimer had come to feel
very much at
A careful reckoning of the treasure had
now been made, although as.a large part of |
the money was in foreign bank notes, the |
denominations of which the boys found
extremely difficult to understand, Walter
did not by any means feel sure that his con-
clusions were correct.
Still he reckoned that there must be at
least $150,000 and perhaps several thou-
sand more if the notes were all genuine.
mm. the othes hand if this did not prove
to be the case the sum total might be les-
sened a good deal.
As soon as she saw the money Maud
made a suggestion which Waiter thought
an extremely sensible one.
know,” she said, “that I believe
t
I heard him say something to Handy about
the big money there was in the scheme if
they could only find it. I believe he knew
of the existence of this steamer and the
plan was to hunt it up."
lex was rather inclined af alansh at
this but Walter accepted it of
“We neyer know the froth ” ke said,
“put I believe that Maud is right. Mean-
while if Dates was really on that steamer
I suppose we have seen the Iast of htm. Of
course he may have escaped—all hands
may have had that luck—but it is not likely
we shall ever see any of them again.”
So Walter thought then, but at will soon
be seen how much mistaken
In the meantime Mrs. Latimer had taken
hold of matters with a strong hand and
constituted herself chief cook as well as
stewardess and the result was good meals
were serve
She laughed at the idea of the cabin hav-
ing been cleaned up and gave it such a
thorough overhauling that it looked like a
different Place altogether when she was
through wi it,
Certainly things were a great deal more
comfortable for this good soul having come
on board.
Matters ran smoothly enough next morn-
ing and in the afternoon it was just the
same,
The sun shone brightly and the temper-
ature was about 70 degrees Fahrenheit,
while a steady breeze from the southwest
sent the Metropolis along ‘the blue waters
of the Gulf Stream at a rate of speed which
meant business.
Walter, who had examined certatan maps
and charts discovered in the cabin, de
clared that they would strike the Azores
in about ten days’ time if this state of af-
tairs kept up.
When evening came Mrs. Latimer, who
was pretty well tired out by the labors of
the day, retired to her stateroom early,
Walter, Alex and Maud remained on deck
enioying the wonderful beauty of the stars
alking over the str: Tange events
through which they had, pass
“T suppose,” said Maud, at last, “that you
think I take my father’s death very casily,
‘should do.
meen, 1
— git
-— e in No. 2: envelope thick black smoke, which at | Father bad got so that he was of no use to :
LEMS story commenced im No. 282) first had not Been the himself or any one else and if be had lived jee
{ “There's something. wrong sure,” said | half an hour longer he would surely have :\)m
1000 Niles from hand: Alex, “See them rushing around! There's | been murdered, and for that reason I——" #"pg
. 2} a lot of them, too. reat Scott! What was that?” sudden- ‘i ;
oy are getting more and more mys- | ly broke in Alex, springing a o is fee . wate
. on, terious,”" said Walter, “but tell me, Maud, “What?” cried Walter. What did you ger
~ how did you and Mrs. Latimer get along | see? “Tl
during the storm “E thought I saw a man peering at us joys
LOST IN THE GULF STREAM. “Wh. 6 have seen no storm,” replied | around the corner of the deck house.” gt
. A faud. beer since we left the Sea Eagle ‘impossible’ tit? Same time, E ala see ind
3 nd as calm “Se so, don’t it? , £
By J, G, WIADLEY, cout be. perfectly clear something mighty like it, Walt.” ae
Author of “Dr. Dick,” “Captain Thunder,” Then we rust have been just in the edge “ under, then, we'll soon know!” ex- ot
“Sinbad the Second,” “The Hero of the of it,” said Walter, “but here we are at the claived Walter. wc«
Maine,” “The Lost Schoolship,” etc, Metropolis. I’m supposed to be captain the revolver which he had oi
- ere. Let me welcome you to our steamer, | found in the cabin and started for the aD
. and you, too, Mrs. Latimer, At all events, | deck house, but Alex sprang ahead of him, En
CHAPTER X. declaring that it was his discovery and nr
his place to take the risk.
“Oh, do be careful, boys,” erfed Maud,
nursying “after them. “If anything should t
ppen to you I’m sure I don’t know what I mnt
‘Yhe circuit of the deck house was made, }¢f bi
however, and nothing was discovered. an
Walter ran down into the cabin and had oe
a look, while Alex searched the galley and j
their own stateroom and elsewhere on deck, {ste
but all without result. i
“J don’t care what you say, though, I did |
ee him,” he declared. “It was a man t
as sure as shooting or else it was a ghost.”
Maud shuddered.
“This steamer might well be haunted,”
she said. “from what you tell me about
the looks of things when you first came
about I don’t doubt that there have been
dreadful goings on pete.
“I don’t like to say ‘What nonsense!" but jI imi.
I’m thinking it,” laughed Walter. “Por my pyse
part 1 dont believe in ghosts.”
“I wouldn't be a sailor’s daughter if 1
dian” returned Maud, “but T can't
prove it there’s no use of saying any more,
1 was going to bed, but really I am half
afraid now. ish we could have!
It 3 a Pleasant out here;
and it would liven me up.”
Why there's a first-rate banjo in the!
captain's stateroom,” said Walter; “trouble
is neither Alex nor I can play at all.”
“What about me?” asked Maud. “Get
your banjo out, Walter, Let’s see what it
looks like.
“Can you play”
“Indeed I can.”
“Out she comes by all means, then,”
eried i “
it properiy, began to play with such skill
tat the boys went wild with enthusiasm.
o professional could have done better.
The banjo, which was a good one, seemed
to fairly talk and after rendering two or ‘tapp
hree instrumental pieces | Maud began to} "y.
sing in a clear, sweet vi “Ww
“Bravo! Bravo!” Sel “Watter, when she § "T
had finished, ayy
“Bravo! Bravo!” exclaimed a voice fur- { yr.
{her along the deck, and a tall man dressed {het
n black clothes suddenly stepped out into {ect
Hew.
CHAPTER XII.
MR. SEPTIMUS DATES ANNOUNCES THAT us|
WAS COME TO STAY,
Maud dropped the banjo with a scream.
Walter and Alex sprang to thelr feet, the ;
former whipping out the revolver and cov- |
ering the man, whom all had instantly rec- { { eot ¢
ognized as Mr, Septimus Dates. j Hsu
“Put up your shooter, Mr. Walter Bray,” joy
he said, coolly. “It won't pay you to x
me; on the other band, I’m quite certain
that I can make a very plain that it will; ot
pay you to let me live.”
a
deck
ome no nearer! " cried Walter, oe re ‘
an enemy all right and we propose i
tect ourselves, How did you get aboard juan
this steamer? Explain!” T
“Not while you keep that pistol pointed j ; Ome
at my head. As for my being your enemy, te aid
you are greatly mistaken. I am your ( atl
friend. Extend the hospitality of this it
steamer to me and I a
will pay you well.” : tt
“Don’t talk rubbish!” cried Walter. “Yo
are armed; throw down your arms and ;'
then we will talk, Are you alone?” ‘An
“All alone, young man. I am prepared
to throw down my arms. When I came ,
out of the spare stateroom on deck here, '
where 1 was hiding under the bunk when } \,
Alex McLean looked in on me, I made up
my mind to throw down mz arms and I’m *
going to-do it now.” heir
Thus s caying "Dates tossed two revolvers | _
toward yale, and then a long knife. che
“That’s all,” he said. “Now that I am: as
at your merey, will you take down that re-
volver? It makes me nervous and when I? "an
am nervous I can’t tal i “h
“Not until we have ‘searched you,” Te ‘pli
plied Walter. “Put up your hands and Jet ‘tim,
Alex go through your clothes. When that ton’
is done we'll discuss the situation and not fat
before.”
“T'N do it,” said Dates, “I want to be on” atl
friendly terms with you all.
past forgotten.
stay here. I
fering as well a you, Walter Bray, and deo
don’t you forget it. Do any old thing you Moy
like with me, only Tet us be fri It
Walter picked up the | revolvers, and knife
and coolly Docketed th
“re Tow
and I will not deny that Iam relieved,
the kind ‘Of. man you are ra *hig
shoot you “where you stand,” he said, “bu at