Part 12 (1/2)

”I do not know So you were struck down? Where?”

”Just outside of the booht me word that pawnee Broanted to see me privately I went, and a rascal rushed on me and demanded my private papers I resisted and he struck ave another gasp His eyes were open, but in them was that uncertain look which dick had seen before, and which the lad so ht, father, and several miles from here You must have come down to the river at a spot above here Don't you remember that?”

Mortimer Arbuckle tried to think, then shook his head sadly

”It's all a blur, dick You know ht be”

”Yes, yes; and you ot your private papers?”

”Yes”

”The ones referring to that silver mine in Colorado?”

”Yes, and all of the others”

At this dick could not help but groan The papers were gone--those precious documents by which he and his father had hoped some day to become rich

The history of the deeds to the silver mine was a curious one Two years before Mortimer Arbuckle had paid a visit to Creede, Colorado, on business connected with aunder the laws of the State of New York

While in Creede the man had materially assisted an oldinto the hands of a set of swindlers headed by a rascal called Captain Mull

Mortimer Arbuckle had never met Captain Mull, but he had saved Burch's clairateful

Over a year later Burch had died and left with another old reat promise, deeds which had not yet been recorded

The oldwith others of i the exact location of the claiun preparations to go to the West and see if the claiined

dick was just out of school, and would not think of reed that father and son should go together

A spell of sickness had detained the father several o to Creede with hi the new claim

As Mortimer Arbuckle failed to come West, Jack Rasco returned to the companionshi+p of pawnee Brown, for, as already stated, he considered hiht-hand man

At last Mortiiven his word to pawnee Brown to stick with the boomers until the desired entrance into Oklahoma was effected

”Yer will hev ter wait, Mr Arbuckle,” Jack had said ”I'iven my word ter pawnee an' I wouldn't break it fer a cool o with the boomers!” dick had returned enthusiastically ”It will be lots of fun, father, and it will give you a chance to get back your health before you tie yourself down to those silver ainst his wishes Mortimer Arbuckle had consented dick saw his father was in nocompany, and do other labor of this sort, and trusted that the days to be spent with the booer in both body and ht of the deeds when he robbed you?” went on dick, after a pause

”I--I--don't know, dick It runs in my mind he spoke of the deeds, but I can't remember for certain”

”He took your roan ”We are now out here penniless, my son”