Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 1043) (1897)
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Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y., Post Office. Copyrighted 1897, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, July %, 1897. AS SS TE ST SS wa =m — = = oe ————aaae Pub Vol. XLE No. 1048. Five Cents a Copy. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, Published Every $2.50 a Year, 92 WiLLIAM Street, New York. Fuesday. You Bet Boo fram Bross Grick CY. nme aS A oe su BY ARIZONA 3 ay Ly @ \ ‘ \ ? b ; al, THE MAYORS FUNERAL. { i S ™ tr t d ’ \ RM fete ts ro Se arnt Sasa eu Sarak ane eo
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him. ' answered his fool-question. #8 he shook: his head et wasn’t. ‘was a plum fullness ov ther belluses. rd 2 | / You Bet Bob from Cross Crick. You Bet Bob from Cross € (rick: OR, THE CALAMITY AT SAWBUOK CITY, BY ARIZONA CY. CHAPTER I. PREPARIN’ TO P’TIC’PATE. ‘‘ Bob,” said I, suddent, one mornin’, “Gunsight John has gone dead.” “Not Gunsight John, ther mayor ov Sawbuck City?” cried Bob, his under jaw droppin’ and hangin’ limber. “Ther same,” said I. “‘ Ther news has jest been brought over from thar, und Sawbuck City is goin’ to have one ov ther bangupedest plantin’s on record.” “Sho!” sez Bob, plum dazed. “Ye shure don’t mean et, Cy Johnson? Not Gunsight John thet could lick his weight in Wildcats, and thet ‘lected himself may- or by lickin’ his ’ponent clean out’n his boots? ” “Ther self-same,” said I. more, Bob, Cross Crick has got ter do herself handsome on thet occasion, and I move thet we ’p’int you and me a com- mittee ov two ter see thet our town is properly represented in ther procession, and sech,”’ “T second ther mhoshun, ” said Bob, prompt enough. ‘‘ But, Cy, I can’t be- lieve et’s so,” he added. “Oh! et’s sure enough -so,” I ’sured “Did he die with his boots on?” Bob asked me, wonderin’. ‘“ Ye know he allus said he would never die no other man- ner.” “He died with ’em on,” said I, “ though it was a close call fer his not doin’ et, if ther report is true in every particular. He called fer ’em at ther last minute.” “ How was that?” Bob asked me. “Wull,” said I, “ yesee he was tooken down with nomoneya—” “Ther same as we wur tooken down at Hold-up on one ’casion,’”’ Bob made bold ter interrupt. “About ther same, only different,” I “That was a goneness of ther pockets, while this A disease.” “T see,” said Bob, in glad ye do,” said % *“* Proceed,” said Bob, some meeker, “«Wull,” said Bont he got tooken with thet thar nomoneya, and et hit him hard. He died yisterdy. Jest ‘fore he sloped off they seen thar was somethin’ he *peared ter want, and he seemed ter want et bad.” _ “Mebby a parson?” Bob made bold . again. “They asked him ef it was that, but It was somethin’ he wanted badder’n that.” * Mebby whisk?” said Bob. “ Jest what they thought et must be,” said I, cording to what I had heard ov ther facts ov ther case, “ but he sorter got mad an’ made ’em understand et was somethin’ he wanted a heap wuss’n whis- ky. They wur plum at loss then, as ye may be sure.” “What was et?” cried Bob, himself clean bewildered. “‘ What I told ye,” said I. “He want- ed his boots put on. Ye see, he had allus made his boast, same as fos said, that he would never die no other manner, and when they got his meanin’ it was plain enough that he wanted ’em ter pull on his stogies fer him, so he could be as - good as his word. Et ve a? been a people, aang nae t a * What is “J don’t b’live he’d ’a’ died ef they hadn’t ’bliged him,” said Bob. ‘‘ Jest as mebby as not,” said I. “He was a man ov grit, and ef they hadn’t *bliged him, no tellin’ what moughtn’t happened. ‘But they pulled ’em on fer him, so ther feller tells, and a seraffic smile spread over his countenance and he let go his hold and passed off as peaceful as a babe that lets go ther lug and drops ter sleep. Yes, he died with ’em on, but et was a close call fer et, as I told ye.” “ When is ther plantin’?”’ asked Bob. “Termorrer,” said I. “ And et has been moved and second- ed that you an’ me go up thar as a com- mittee ov two from Cross Crick. All in favor ov that will signify by sayin’ Aye.” We said et both together, and ther mo- shun prevailed. e wur duly elected. By the way, dear reader, don’t pay any *tention to my spellin’. It is my own in- dividual and peculiar way. The editor of the Howler used ter lose a good deal ov sleep over my spellin’, settin’ up o’ nights to spell out ther words in my copy and make ’em straight, but he got tired ov it, and so did his readers, too. You see, I spell about as we talk out in these parts, and the boys like it a heap better’n the Websterian way. It is a sort ov short-hand system, and. it goes right to the spot every time. When the boys ov Cross Crick see a word ov mine in print they know at once what it means. This by the way. We'll now proceed, with ’pology fer ther break. When me and Bob make up our minds ter do *a thing, that same thing most gen’ly comes ter pass. Havin’ made up our minds that we would ’tend ther funeral of ther late la- mefted Gunsight John, we _ further ’p'inted ourselves a committee ov ways and means fer ther ’casion. Ther matter rested doubly heavy on me. Not only had I ter do my share ov up- holdin ’ther dignity ov our town,. but T had ter stand fer ther Howler as well. Bein’ reg’lar field correspondent ov ther Howler, I felt it restin’ heavy on me ter make ther best showin’ I could in ther interests ov the paper that ren me my salt. Me and Bob put our heads together, and we'decided that it would be ther proper caper if we went into mournin’ fer ther late lamented. We felt that we could do that up in a way to beat ther band. We might be able ter give Sawbuck City: p’ints and still come eis ahead at the close of the game. That was one p’int settled. “ But what’s fer mournin’?” asked Bob ov me. “ What’s fer mournin’?” I said, over after him, ruther staggered. “Yes, what's fer mournin’?” “ Black, ov course.” “Any durn ijjit would know that,” growled Bob. “Then why did ye ask me?” I de- manded ov him, thinkin’ I had one on him that time. “ ’Cause I ain’t a durn ijjit, and hence didn’t know,” he shot back at me, and I wilted and asked him forthwith what he would take that time. “T know black’s fer mournin’,” he said after we had gone and indulged. “What I wanted ter come at was, whur are we goin’ ter git ther black? That is ther question before ther committee.” I had ter scratch my head; that was a pceser, sure enough; whar was ther black ter come from? Then of a suddent it struck me, and I ; slapped my pard on ther back and ka- © whooped around thar like ary Apache. “T have got et, Bob, I have got et!” I yelled. “Yes, ye act as if ye have,” said Bob, some sarcastic. “‘T plum shur have,” I declared, takin’ no notice of his hint. “ Well, what is et?” he asked. “Yer know Plug Simpson’s wife that went dead? ” said I. “Shur,” said he, ** Well, yer know she used ter have a black gown fer Sunday best, don’t yer?” “ Jest ther thing!” yelled Bob, jumpin’ up and ka-whoopin’ some himself. ‘‘ We are in et, pard, clean up to our ears, and if we don’t make Sawbuck City dizzy et won’t be our fault.” “Tt plum shur won’t,” I ’greed with him. So, off we sot ter find Plug Simpson. He was at his cabin, whur his wife had left him some weeks before with a couple ov kids on his hands ter take keer ov. I had writ ther late Mrs. Simpson up fine in ther Howler, and so stood in well with Plug, and when I worked around to ther matter in hand I touched ther harp, gently, as et wur, and won him over. Fur a triflin’ consideration we got all ther black thar was in ther cabin, ther 1 which same ther late lamented had no furder use fer, and off we sot to our own wickiup to transform ther black gown and other trappin’s into funeral garb ther finest, CHAPTER II. WHAR’IN WE SALLY FORTH. You’d orter seen me an’ Bob ther bai- ancesoy that day. Thar we sot. on ther floor ov our bun-. . galow, cross-legged like a couple of tail- ors, a-conjurin’ and a-contrivin’ funeral trappin’s out’n that thar black stuff. ’ Billup, that keeps ther only store hyer i at Cross Crick, was somewhat s’prised when we drepped in on him and bought nigh-about his hull stock ov needles and thread ter begin with, but he would ’a@’ been more s’prised ef he could ’a’ seen us about ther time we got well inter ther ob. : “Bob,” said I, out?” “T’m alive yet,” asserted Bob, straight- enin’ ther kinks out’n ther spine ov his back and. lookin’ up at me. ‘“ How is et with you?” “*Ditter,” said I. “how are ye makin’ *“T have stitched my fingers fast somethin’ less’n a thousand | times, and have not stitched ther bulge ov my shirt fast ter somethin’ else more’n a hundred.” “How d’ye think we are goin’ ter’ look?” asked Bob. “ We'll look plum gorjus,” I answered © him, ‘“ Thar won’t be no flies on us.” “Think we'll be chief mourners?” “TJ reckon we will.” So, thar we sot and made furbelows | and thingumbobs galore, and we never 4 stopped oncet till we run out ov black stuff and had ter call a halt. Then we got up and shook off ther. splinters and shavin’s, so ter, say, and I took ter myself what I had built, and Bob took ter himself what he had built, and we surveyed it over sorter proud. “ Bob,” said I, full ov feelin’. te Wull, ” said Bob, sober enough. “ D’ye s’pose ther dead knows what is. goin’ on hyer on earth?” oy Manes, enough,” srie Pa sorter i We ic]
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ck oo wonderin’ what I was a-comin’ at, and d I lookin’ fer me ter proceed. Ka- “T was thinkin’ what a happy woman 3, Hanner Simpson must be, if she kin see t!” ther noble use we have put her old duds to,” I explained, sorter impressive. ob, ‘Don’t yer think so?” “Tm plenty enough glad she is a speerit,” said Bob. “I’d a heap ruther she’d do her admirin’ ov our handiwork ‘rom ther speerit world, than ter be hyer hat n ther flesh ter speak her mind.” And aang me if he didn’t sweat over ther byes at ther thought. cin’ ea Well, we laid them thar things tenderly 2?” away, and went down town. yin’ | At ther favorite saloon woe heard more We »v ther p’ticlars ov that funeral, and we und made up our minds that we wur goin’ ter ret de right in et. Thar, was ter be speechin’, paradin’, rith ind a grand time in general, and in ther svenin’ ther hull thing was ter be topped 1. off with fireworks. Sawbuck City was had soin’ ter do herself proud. iple Last thing ov all, ther late lamented v. vas ter be buried by torchlight, and then up har was to be a dance to his memory. in Not that they made light ov et, not ked jy a heap. hed In that way they meant ter show their him preciation oy their honored dead. They regretted that sech a man as all Junsight John couldn’t ’a’ had his last her yish an’ died with his boots on—that is, no wher way he meant. He died with ’em ywn on, but he meant different. wn Seein’ that he had been denied that dis- arb inction, they wur goin’ to make amends er et the best they could, and had re- olved ter give him ther biggest thing n ther way ov a funeral that ther town vy Sawbuck could git up. And me and Sob wur goin’ ter help ’em all we could. Next mornin’ we wur up betimes, Hit. was..quite-a ride up ter Sawbuck juin- ity, and ‘we wanted ter git a early tail- tart. eral More’n that; we wanted ter git out ov & jross Crick before folks at home could 1yer it too blame queerious about our sing- ised ar make-ups. ight In fact, we tried ter git out oy camp and ;ithout bein’ seen; but it wasn’t any use. i ’a’ Ve wur seen, and a hull gang ov fellers seen em 'prancin’ out ter inspect us in our ther ineral garb. , And, durn ’em, they lafft—actooly lafft! he Bob,” said I, “‘ what are they laffin’ bai~ | kin’ ght- - his is et “ Reckon et must be at you,” said Bob. “More like at you,” I ’torted. “What do ye see ter laff at about ie?” Bob fired up. “Wull, mebby enough yer hat,” said I. sand /“Huh! et’s better’n your’n,” scored Bob. ulge “Et is taller by two inches, I know,” else aid/I, So we had it, back and forth, while we ’ ter pastes fer ther boys ter come up ter see 3 0 yered | Seein’ that they had discovered us, and 5.” ad called out fer us ter hold on, we ig idn’t like ter use ’em mean and ride off, 2 we waited. lowS But, blast ’em, ther nearer they got 1ever i more they lafft, till I begun ter git black Jed, And I could see that Bob was beginnin’ ther rie git speckled, too, and I ‘They hadn’t a thing ter laff at. , and ‘Ht was sollum, an’ sollum is as sol- built, m does, you know. ud. We was doin’ et all out ov respect fer er departed, and to uphold ther honor ‘our camp, and they’d orter been proud nat 1S us, is wh at we reckoned. l my é we each had on a mighty tall hat, built out’ pastebourd and like a reg’lar stovepipe; et was haff as tall as a jint ov pipe. Each ov them hats had a narrer brim —we had ter make ’em narrer, run- nin’ out ov cardboard. Around ther hats, then, was a great wide band ov black, with a yard extra that streamed down )e- hind. We had set out ter be plum gor- jus, and I opine we wur. Wull, more’n that, we each had big bows on each ov our shoulders, with great long streamers flyin’ from ’em, and more bows all ther way down ther front ov us, with bands around our arms and slappin’ great big bows with more streamers at our knees. Wulil, now, we had done et up to the queen’s taste, I must confess. And that wasn’t all; thar was a black plume on each hoss’s head, and a slash- in’ bow on ther tail ov each animile, with more streamers a-flyin’ to ther breeze. We had set out ter be chief mourners, and we meant ter be that or nothin’. And yet, thar wur our own townsmen gatherin’ around us and laflfin’ like uhey wur a herd of jackasses. “Yer pear ter feel good,” sneered Bob at ’em. “What do yer see, anyhow?” I scorned at ’em. “That is jest what we’d, by gosh, like ter know,” answered one ov ther gang. *“Wull, I'll tell ye,’ I shot out, speak- in’ plenty strong; but before I could do so, You-bet chipped in and allowed he would tell ’em. I allowed he wouldn’t. would, or nobody. He scorned ’em plenty hearty, I tell He opined he ye. I had et in mind ter knock off his mournin’ hat, but thinkin’ jest in time that such a proceedin’ would spile all ther fun, I didn’t. Bob thought ov ther same thing at ther same time, so we desisted, and he allowed that I might do ther tellin’ if I thought I could do it sufficient hard encugh fer ther occasion. I allowed I could, and sailed in. “ Feller cits,” said I, full scathin’, “ ef ye had any respect fer ther dead and hon- or fer yer camp, ye wouldn’t have ter ask what this is about. We are goin’ to ther funeral ov ther late lamented Gunsight John, over to Sawbuck City, and we mean ter uphold ther dignity ov Cross Crick.” “You are a pair of blame fool jack- asses,” snorted one old cit, whose gray hairs I respected, or he would ’a’ bit the dust then and there. “ You will go over thar to Sawbuck City, and you will dis- grace a respectable funeral, and you'll bring yer own camp into disrepute among ther nations ov ther earth; that’s 4 sum an’ substance ov what yow'll Oo." “That is where you make your mis- take, uncle,” I blockaded. “‘ We are goin’ over thar to do honor to ther dead, and to weld ther bond of friendship that is already buddin’ forth between these hyer two camps. We mean ter show ’em that we have a feller feelin’ fer ‘em in this their sad hour ov distress, ez et wur, and we are goin’ ter play ther role ov chief mcurners—or know ther reason why. Ef they are men, they will welcome us hearty,” That old feller allowed they would, too, plenty; and after a little more pa- laver, we sot out. CHAPTER III. MAKIN’ OUR DAYBOO. When we hove in sight ov Sawbuck eff City we ides see at ther first blush , You Bet Bab from Cross Crick. 3 Ther mines wur closed down, and ther hull poppylashun wur kongregated nigh about ther center ov ther camp, near ther Gilt Edge saloon. This we tuck in ther minnit that we riz over ther last ridge, and as we looked on ther scene et hit me that somethin’ was loose about ther program ov ther day. “Somethin’s amiss,” I opined to Bob. “Et looks so,” he opined back. ““ What kin et be?” ‘Give et up,’ said Bob, back again. “ Mebby they aire short uv black stuff,’* I hinted. “Mebby enough,” countered Bob. “Couldn’t ’a’ had apy defunct Hanner Simpsonses hyer.” “These hyer one-hoss camps have got ter chawk long ter keep pace with Cross Crick, now I’m tellin’ ye,’ I orated. “We'll soon know what’s wrong.” We rode on down ther slope to ther gulch, ther drapery from our tall hats wavin’ out behind like black banners, I opine, and ther streamers from our hosses’ tails all a-flutter. About ther time we got to ther bot- tom ther galoots ov Sawbuck sighted us comin’, and they p’inted us out to one another mighty rapid. We could see that they wur plum dazed with amaze. No wender. That wur what we had come fer—to parrylize ’em. We don’t mean ter ‘low no camp hyer- abouts to rank ahead ov Cross Crick, you kin rely. In about one mighty minnit ther hull blame camp wur starin’ at us as if they had never seen ther likes before in their lives. Mebby they hain’t. ““We hev knocked ’em, Cy,” said Bob. “That’s what we by gosh have,” IE agreed with him. “And we'll astonish ’em more, ther day is done, too,” said he, “ Bt will be our fault ef we don’t, Bob,” I supported. ‘“ That is what we hev come fer, I opine.” “Bt shur is,” said Bob. We rode on, and as we drew nigh we sot our hosses to prancin’. Ef we wasn’t plum gorjus I would like to know et, that’s all; with our tall hats and many bedeckin’s. Natcherly, as we drawed nigh unto them, we looked ter see how much black stuff they wur a-sportin’ among ’em, and daze me if we could find but one emblem in ther hull gang. That was worn by Gila Gabe, like a sash across his body and with long ends hangin’ at his left hip. We soon diskivered that he was actin’ mayor, but, seein’ us he looked rankled and rattled. “Hello, citerzens!” I greeted ‘em. “Who in fumergashun be you?” growled out Gila Gabe. “We cornstitute a Aétiyeashun sent over from Cross Crick to do honor to yer dead,” said I, loomin’ up big. “Ther climated clime ye do!” said he, scowlin’. “Shur,” my perd put in. * Prezack, ”* T added. “We have come ter mingle our weeps with your’n, and iy ther part ov chief mourners, if need e ” Gila Gabe looked as if he didn’t right- ly know how tq receive us. He ’peared *fore ter be sorter stuck—or mebby et was our » plum gorjus array that struck him dumb. We wur keepin’ our hosses a-prancin” some and our Rene a-noddin’ fer good ae —~ a? a ane w
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said 1 4 : “Three cheers fer Cross Crick!” said e. I could ’a’ patted him on ther back fer that, fer et no doubt saved a early on- pleasantness that might have occurred just about then. My little remark about minglin’ our weeps had no doubt touched most ov ’em in a tender place, fer them thar cheers went up with a will, and showed ther actin’ mayor which trail ter take to run clear ov windfalls. He smoothed his rumpled feathers best he could, and proceeded to greet us hand- some. “Friends from Cross Crick,” said he, “this hyer camp ov Sawbuck City greets ye welcome. Hop Wilson did a wise thing when he p’posed them cheers which ye have jist heard. This hyer is a sollum occasion, as ye will obsarve, and we feel glad ter know that Cross Crick is mindful ov our loss.” I looked at Bob. Et was necessary fer one ov us ter say somethin’. Bob gave me ther nod, and I took a long wind and sailed into ther job on hand. “Sur and citizens,’ said I, in ther deepest voice I could fetch from ther re- gion ov my boots, “ ye do well ter greet us handsome as ye have done. Et is right fer neighborin’ communities ter dwell in ther bonds ov sympathy and brotherly love Cross Crick has yer sor- rer deep ter heart, and they have on- loaded et all onto us, like ther sins ov ther people ov old used ter be onloaded onter scapegoats that wur sent forth into ther howlin’ wilderness, and we have brought et hyer to dump at yer feet as a simple token ov our esteem, ez et wur. In proof ov our deep sympathy, note ther mournin’ we wear, and believe re when I say that the only reason we hayen’t got et on deeper still is ’cause we run short on black goods before we got fully trimmed.” That little talk seemed ter have ther right ’feck. Ther same feller p’posed another batch oy cheers, and they went off even louder than) the first edition. ‘Whur is yer dead?”’ asked my pard. “He is layin’ in state in ther Gilt Edge hyer,” said ther actin’ mayor. “Kin we see him?” asked Bob. “Shur!” said Gila Gabe. Bob guv me a wink, and I was plum shur- he had designs on ther Gilt Edge, ov some sort or ’nuther. Ther actin’ mayor led ther way, and conducted us to ther doors ov ther sa- loon, which wur standin’ both wide open to give ther people full chance to pass in and out. We follered his Jead, and it was plain ter "be seen that we wur ther prime ’trac- tion ov ther moment. Gila Gabe’s git-up couldn’t hold a can- dle to our’n, no how, and we knowed that he knowed it and was sensertive Ov ther komparison, fer he looked yaller even while he talked nice. At ther door ther actin’ mayor paused. He looked as if he s’posed we would dismount thar, and walk in. But me and Bob had given ther wink and nod and arranged that we would ride in as we wur. . Gila Gabe held up his hands. “Yer don’t mean ter ride yer hosses _in hyer?” he cried out. “Why not?” Bob asked. “Bt won’t do,” ther actin’ mayor neg- atived. “We must do ther dead full honor,” “We. will view ther remains i RINGS , ae ’ i ~ |Avould suit him to 4d k, “ —— You Bet Bob from Cross Cric Bob and I understood, and we guv ther touch to our horses, and in we went, ther crowd trailin’ after us full ov inter- est ter see what would happen next, I reckon. In ther middle ov ther room stood ther box that contained all that was left ov ther late lamented, and me and Bob rode straight down to et, one on each side, and at ther head ov ther box we turned and faced ther doors, and thar we stopped and took off our tall hats. Them same hats, by ther way, we had been ’bliged ter duck mighty low, com- in’ in at ther doors, ter save ’em. We now took ’em off, as I said, and holdin’ ’em in our off hands we clasped our nigh ones across that coffin, and fer a spell wur impressive silent, while we looked upon ther camm, classic features ov ther dear departed galoot. CHAPTER IV. SKEEM FER A SMILE. “Cy,” sighed Bob, “et is too bad.” “ Et shur is,” I chipped back. “ He was good feller.” “One ov ther noblest works ov na- chur,” orated Bob, sollum. “A type ov ther true gentleman,” I put in. ‘He was a white man, Bob.” “He shur enough was,” Bob agreed. “ Ther good an’ ther beautiful dies young, Cy.” “ And we don’t know what minnit our turn will come,” said I. ‘“ This is a sol- lum minnit, Bob. I feel as if I had lost a brother’ And so we kept et up, back and forth, fer some minutes, sayin’ all ther pooty things about the: late lamented that we could think of, and all ther crowd list’nin, open-mouthed. By’m by Bob kem to ther p’int. “T don’t know ov a feller that I'd ruther drink ther health ov,” he asserted, loud enough fer all to take it in. “Nur me,” said I. “ He wur plum sure one- ov earth’s noblemen, and it would be my pleasure ter drink to his long and peacefulest repose.” We looked at ther actin’ mayor almost out ’loud, but he didn’t bite. “We knew him in life, we honor him in death,” parsoned Bob. “That’s what we, by gosh, do,” I chimed after. ‘I well remember ther last time we drunk with him.” “Don’t mention et,” sighed Bob. “It makes me feel sadder’n ever, and my mouth waters with fond remembrance ther same as my eyes now water with sympathy fer these hyer people ov Saw- buck Cit.’ “ And yet he was one that never took water in his life.” “And never asked anybody else ter take water, nuther.”’ “No; his was whisk, every time, and full three finger pull.” * And allus straight.” “ Never fail.” “Too bad,” * Alas!” He heaved a couple ov fetchin’ sighs, and we looked at ther actin’ mayor in a way ter melt a heart ov stone. “Ther is no doubtin’ he’s dead?” Bob came up again. “Oh, no; he’s dead hard enough,” opined Gila Gabe. “ We don’t need no proof ov et,” said Bob. “Et is plain he’s not hisself any more.” “Ef he wasn’t,” said I, ketchin’ on ter what Bob meant, ‘“‘ he would ask us what we'd take, and ’a’ crossed glasses with ” “And just about this time ov day th,” said Bob. -~ a a eee a ye AL, ? RNS 3 $i et fe leave- Now, ther ] “No, ef thar was one spark ov life he would rise up in his box hyer say, ‘Set ’em up to ther Cross C boys!’ ”’ wg “Too bad he’s dead!” now chippee, 4 : Hop Wilson, ther feller I have be mebo quoted, him that p’posed ther cheers, .pody us on our arrival. it. sy Bob had made up his mind to hav drink to ther health ov ther defunct 2 &f needed it to keep up fer the occasio} tied I noted that he was gettin’ s¢- speckled behind ther ears, and that ‘+, a sure sign that his angery passion ha” ws risin’, Hess ‘ert Yas,” said Bob, “et by gosh is, ‘ friend; and it’s likewise too bad thet a ape mantle hain’t fallen onto worthy shtmyat! ders, ez et wur, a worthy successor.” | =e I looked fer squalls, then; but Aon wur forthcomin’. Gila Gabe stood nites er’n Moses. bad . Mebby he didn’t git on to ther full ;2&* ¢ nifercashun ov my pard’s cuttin’ rem“? uh about him. , bad Thar we stood like two by g statchers, one ov us Bolivar and t~ other Napoleon, both togged out in With ther greatness ov glory and pomp, 3°°5 * they not knowin’ enough to ask us ? and refresh. : ai Et was raspin’ on sensitive nerf, Sr I’m tellin’ ye. atone “Thar -will never rise up another hy ag unto him,” said I. “These hyer peq gee ov Sawbuck City will realize their gr!Y P* loss more and more as ther days Putt months roll by. And strangers drop}{© W' in will m'ss his cheery call ter er¢Y® * elbows,” and I sighed loud. th hil Bob follered suit, and we both loof, nett at ther actin’ mayor plum p’inted. @7 5" But he never tumbled, or never let‘™ &° thet he did, anyhow. I laid it to Dh feelin’ yaller to’ards us. ‘ Me and Bob onclasped hands, and turned his hoss so’s ter face ther lamented, and he bent down and t ther defunct mayor by ther hand, cy shook it some hearty. . a I couldn’t do other than foller his le@@e& jait o Ve m ¥ nd .¢ urne n't 5 gab by. not wantin’ to seem distant to ther ai rid sini be, ' “Gunsight John,” said Bob, “ yors Sh be missed.” “ You are missed a’ready,” I echoed. We shook him warm. “You had a soul, you had,” said Bo “And it was as white as ther dow fleecé ov lambs,” said I. “ This honest hand was a power in ti de? TS?’ cause ov right, and a /mighty fo Gila against evil and wrong,” said Bob, %° fi “And this hyer .one was its ma cat said I, shakin’ it in a way ter threa ter shake him out ov his wooden cé entirely. “ Et was a lifter, when et wound forth.” ad t “Good-by, good man!” said Bob, sh®20r. in’ plenty hard. We “ Farewell!” said I, shakin’ plenty m2€”, self. orjus “Peace to yer ashes!” said Bob. vin “ Repose to yer bones,” said I. is cl “ Long life to ye over thar!” Hi c “Whar thirst is unknown.” With that we guv a final shake, fetcP° © a couple or three rousin’ sighs apid®@¢- and laid down his hands as we fo ot 3 7em. ’ Then we straightened up and fat,th ther throng, which by that time was Th reg’lar jam, fer et seemed as if ther Baye blame poppylashun ov ther camp , crowded in. nd We had before that replaced our 2 hats, if I have forgot to mehtion t Wi fact. But that’s ov no moment. - Wher we looked around, At wie pals } Me seh see a
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7 You Bet Bob from Cross Crick. 5 —————= et fer granted that we had finished k ov life -leave-takin’, and so we had. ox h ‘Now, that’s what I call plum white yer ‘ : ” if Cross qther people ov Cross Crick,’ spoke ‘our friend in need—him they called wn chippee Wilson. I might say, our friend, aed. on ee eomebody else agreed with him, and 1ebody else with that one, till purty nd to hav it was clear that we had ther sym- hy ov that crowd all our own way, Pigstiicek ES we had gone, so fur, and me and yettin’ Be: sorter perked up a bit and looked > t actin’ mayor scornful. so thsrcnt, . Yes, that’s what I call real hand- ae,” said Mr. Wilson further, and he gosh is ke with feelin’. “I think et would bad thet proper fer us citerzens ter ask ther orthy shetS up ter take somethin’.”’ 1ccegsor.’ That’s what’s ther matter!” piped n> but m every bum in that hull crowd, in a stood metion ov while not worth mentionin’, her moshun prevailed. her full shat thar crowd surged to ther bar in ttin’ rem’*y that went to indycate that me and b wouldn’t be in et if we didn’t git ». by géait on. eee rr and ive moseyed with ther rest and fell 1 out in With ther procession, and ranged our pomp, 38es side by side at ther end ov ther ask us (> #nd thar we all stood fer a few sec- ds, waitin’. ive nervy ber bar-keep was lookin’ ter see who d made ther call. nother 1. Whose order is this?” he spoke up. hyer pec. her silence wuz awful. their erly pard was by this time clean gone - days spurt. ; : rs dropy1¢ was spotted nigh about as bad as ter er¢Ver seen him in my long ’quaintance th him. oth loo Beted his jug’lar swellin’, while that nted, #% silence prevailed, and when his cha- ever let i got up to a sartain pitch he blurted a he Ther town oy Sawbuck is goin’ ter s, and F.2d el, or by gosh we. won’t serve 28 y ther jUrmerst Ther camp ov Cross Crick and t n't send us over hyer ter be treated hand gabby, yer kin gamble.” ’ ““ Yas, ov course,” chimed in our friend r his jedeed—'cause he was our friend in need. ther qeVhat aire ye thinkin’ about, Gila ibe, after ther honer this hyer camp b, “yor shown ter you, not ter ask ther gents 5 » ter wet their whistles, after their long echoed. old Ain’t it ther camp’s treat, fel- 9? ” said Bo e ren CHAPTER V. er in ti! SAL CUDDYLOOP CHIPS IN. ity fo Gila Gabe wur flanked. He was ’tween ob. vo fires, ez et wur. ts mat: We had him on one hip, so ter speak, ‘threatid his towa had him on t’other. nden cg Ye see, et wur like this: We had n et wound favor in ther sight ov ther people, pid ther people had done him recent ob, shy? Ror. , We could see thet he hated us wuss’n lenty nZen, ‘cause we wur togged out more orjus ’*n what he was, but ther crowd javin’ tooken to us, he had ter swoller as chagrin. ‘Yer pardon, boys,” Gila chirped up uick enough. “I was reflectin’ sadly », fetcho0n “ther beautiful character oy ther s apieead. I was lost fer ther moment in a ve foyort ov dream ov admirashuh. Set ’em ‘~P, Ben, sartain’ set ’em up; what are nd fa@@ thinkin’ about not ter?” ie Ww het thar little speak saved ther actin’ ther yor’s bacon fer him, I’m tellin’ ye et mp Id; ther bottles wur sot out quicker, a%] not a galoot thar but filled three our t7,8ers. ion eos Wilson took nearer four. San ob. E: orter say somethin’, and somehow they all looked at me and Bob. I looked at Bob, and he looked at me, a way we had, and it gen’ly didn’t take but one look, in ordinary matters, ter: come to a clear onderstandin’ in ther af- fair in p’int. Bob was ter make ther speak this time. “Hyer’s to ther health ov Gunsight John,” he said, holdin’ up his glass ov jig-juice and takin’ a squint through et. “May his repose be sweet, may his fu- cher be bright, and may his recepshun over thar be ov ther warmest kind.” “Them’s my sentymints, too,” said I. “May ther fires ov eternaul friendship ever blaze bright fer him.” And with that we crooked and drunk. Et was movin’. Bob then wiped his mouth on one of his black furbelows in front, me doin’ ditter, and we drawed away from ther bar to ‘low ther second edition ter form in line. In backin’, Bob’s hoss touched ther coffin and kem mighty by gosh close to turnin’ et over and spillin’ its contents, but some fellers that stood near grabbed holt onto et and saved what mought ’a’ been a shameful castatrophy then and thar. * Keerful, Bob!” said I. “Let him git out ov growled Bob, soter vashay. “This hyef mob would lynch us in a minit, ef anything wur ter go by der- fault,” said I. ~ “Ther crowd is all right,’’ said Bob. “ All we have got ter do is ter keep our off eye on Gila Gabe. He is feelin’ sorter ring-streak an’ speckled in our behaff.”’ “We'll try ter even up with him,” I allowed. Jest at that minnit we heard a woman’s falsetter voice in ther region ov ther doors. “ Whur’s them iwo fellers?” she piped up, like a parrot that had been sufferin’ with ther croup. ‘‘ Whur’s them two galoots from Cross Crick— Ah! thur ye be, hey?” And she havin’ spotted us out, made straight fer our direction. Me an’ Bob looked at each other. “Who is she?” asked Bob, skart. “ Blame ef I know,” said I, mebby some skarter. We're both mort’ly feerd ov wimmin, is me and Bob, I'll admit’ right hyer. “ Who is et?” Bob asked ov our friend Wilson, him thet had took four fingers on ther treat, and’ thet looked as if he could take four more on sight. “ That? Y said he, “‘ why that’s Sal Cud- dyloop.” “What kin she want ov us?” Bob asked him. ““Mebby wants ter marry one ov ye,” intimated ther feller. “Jumpin’ Gilroy!” gasped Bob. “ Jeeruzlum and Antiock!” said I. Thar was no chance ter say more. Sal Cuddyloop was by that time right onto us. “You aire ther fellers I want ter see,” she was a-sayin’ as she kem. “ You aire jest ther chaps that kin help me out, ef ye only will. And I know that ye won’t refuse a pore widder—” “Bob,” said I, hoarse to ther lips, “she’s goin’ ter p’pose! ” “She by gosh needn’t,” cried Bob, skart. We looked to ther rear, ter see ef thar was a way out, but thar wasn’t, onless we took ther winders. “Et is only a small favor that I want ther way!” sorter hen all wur ready, thar was a pause | ter ask ov yer,” she continnered, “and I et was ’spected that somebody had ; know that ye can’t refuse.” She had by that time gained ther spot whar we stood. Everybody had made way for her; we had noted that. She looked every inch a Amazon, I’m tellin’ ye. She was big and strong, had her hair twisted up in a big knot behind, out ov which stuck a switch about a foot long, like ther brush ov a cow’s tail. Her face was big and freckled, and she had a mole on her chin half as big as a pecan. She was none too clean, and thar was a sort ov a gin blear in her off eye as she looked us in ther faces. “What kin we do, fair lady?” says I. * I lifted my tall hati as I said it, and you'd orter seen her smile. Et was like ther sweet grin ov a hyener. “That is ther proper question, fair belle oy Sawbuck!”’ chipped in my pard, comin’ bravely to my support. “ You have only ter say ther word, and so shall et be unto ye.” I thought that was goin’ too fur. We didn’t know what her request was goin’ ter be. “That is ter say, if it is anything that we kin do in reason,’ I made haste to amend. ' * Oh! it is easy and simple; and it will be ther greatest favor ter me,” she chirruped, like ther birdie she wur, “I seen ye when ye rode inter town, and I said to myself, said I—Thar’s yer chance, Sal Cuddyloop, and ef you'don’t go forth and seize ’pon et you aire a fule.” My heart was all a-flutter, and I knowed that Bob’s was ther same, fer ther spots back ov his ears wur a-waver- in’ like ther flickerin’s ov a rorryboral- lus on a winter’s night. We found afterwards, by talkin’ et over, that ther same thought had hit us both at ther same minnit, that she was goin’ ter go fer one ov us on ther strength ov its bein’ leap year, but which one she had her designs settled upon, we couldn’t guess. '¢ Likewise, too, we laid it all to our plum gorjus array ov mournin’, an’ thought et was that thet had captyvated her—and so et had, as it turned out, but not in ther way we dreaded. “Say on, fair maid!” said Bob, in faint whisper. “Lisp forth ther wust!” said I. She lisped. “As soon as I seed ye,” said she, “I said to myself, said I—Thar’s salvashun fer ye, Sal Cuddyloop, as I said; and I hastened ter slick up a bit and kem right over hyer to see ye. My name is Sal Cuddyloop, widow ov ther late Lunk Cud- dyloop—as my departed pard was called. Gila Gabe, why don’t ye interdoose me? Whar’s yer manners?” She turned her glance onto Gila in a way that made him turn sorter measley. “Sartain, sartain,’ he ey “Gents, this hyer leddy is ther widder ov ther mentioned Lunk Cuddyloop, what killed hisself bout a year ago ter git rid ov—ov—ov—life—” “Not bein’ man enough ter stand up to ther rack,” chipped in ther Amazon. “Et was a misfit, when I married him, anyhow. I throwed myself away on him, and when I would take ’casion to remind him ov ther fact, he would git riled, and then I would have ter lick him ter bring him to time. But, that’s nuther here nur thar. Go on, Gila, go on.” CHAPTER VI. WHAYL SAL WANTED, Ther actin’ mayor was plum gaboo’d. He begun ter stutter an’ stumble f wuss’h a young Lockenvar gittin’ down x a A IT oa ~
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_ perkin’ up a trifle. 6 ere to poppin’ ther question fer ther fust time. “Spit et out! “spit et out!” the gentle gazelle urged him on. “ Don’t git rattled jist ‘cause a lady asks a favor ov yer, fer mercy sakes. You men makes me tired.” “I was goin’ ter say,” said the actin’ mayor, “ that I don’t happen ter recollect ther gentlemen’s names—” “ Bob Horner,” spoke up my pard, com- in’ to his rescue. “Cy Johnson,” I follered suit. “Glad ter know ye, glad ter know ye,” chippered the little Kitten, in a pussy-like way. ‘Shake, ef ye don’t mind!” and she offered a number seven- teen hand to each ov us. We shook et haff hearty. “As I was goin’ ter say,’ she then continnered, “ ther minnit that I sot eyes on ye I knowed et was my last chance, and hyer I be, accordin’. Now, what I want ter know is jest this: Ye see, while Gunsight John and me wasn’t actooly engaged, that ain’t ter say that we moughtn’t ’a’ been ef he had lived, fer I was settin’ my cap fer him—the which same I speak right out without fear or favor, fer I am a woman that don’t do nothin’ ter be ‘shamed ov.” She glared around as if ter challenge anybody ter say that she was, and no- body said et, you bet! They wilted under her glance like as ter grass under ther breath ov a sor- okker. Me and Bob ’changed glances, bein’ still in ther dark. What was that ter us, and where was we at? we both wanted to know. “ But that’s nuther here nur thar,” she chirruped again, purty presently. “‘ What I want ter know is jest this: Ye see, seein’ that we mought ’a’ been engaged, ef he had lived long enough, | feel that it is my bounden dooty, ter some ’stent, anyhow, ter show out my grief fer his goneness, and fer that reason, if fer no other, I sorter orter conduct myself, ac- cordin’, don’t you think so yerselves?”’ Me and Bob wur plum dumfuzzled. What.in ther mischief wur she comin’ around to, anyhow? How did she make out thet we wur her sallyvashun, as she had said? I looked at Bob, and he looked at me, and ther crowd wur all lookin’ on as still as ther dead man in ther box behind us. We felt like two blame fools, not know- in’ what wur comin’. We nodded that we thort so, anyhow. “Ov course,” said she. ‘ That is jist ther p’int. Now, what I want ter know is jist this: Ye see, ther minnit that I seen ye I knowed ye would be glad ter render me ther simple service, and so, as I said, I slicked up a bit and pranced right over hyer—” ** Miss,” said Bob, clean gone frazzled, “in ther name ov Goshaway come to ther p’int. What kin we do fer ye?” “Yes, tell us,” I chipped in, “and if it is anything that we kin do—” “Oh! you can do it, and you'll be glad to, I know. What I want ter know is jest this: Ye see, it was—” “Blushin’ damsel,” said my pard, “stop right whar you be.” She stopped. Bob was sorter recoverin’ from his skar. “You have come ter that p’int severial times, and mebby ye hadn’t better pass et this time. Better tell us ther wust and done with et.” “I second ther moshun, timid lass,” said I, sorter ketchin’ et from Bob, and “Thar is nothin’ so killin’ as surspense, and if you hold us ea he You Bet Bob from Cross Cric any longer on this ragged edge, no know- in’ what ther kornsekence wull be.” k, 1 BO 8 _—$—$<—< her down a bit. “ es Oi Rei ay n a bit He don ten we quired tes n row ¢ “ Drape myself in a hoss bla!® : to offer | “See hyer,’ she fired up, and she "minded me ov a she wildcat gittin’ raspy, “be you tryin’ ter poke fun at me?’”’ “Bless yer, no!”’ cried Bob. “Not fer all ther world!” cried I. “Wull, ye hadn’t better; that’s all! I ain’t no blushin’ damsel, ner no timid lass, as mebby you will find out when ye come ter know me better. Iam a straight out widdy-woman, with no frills about me. Bear that in mind. Now, what I want ter know is jist this: Ye see, when I seed ye comin’, as I said, togged out in all this black goods, said 1 to my- self, said I—They kin as well as not spare me a triffe of et, enough ter show my feelin’s to ther world on this sad and sollum occasion, and—” Bob fell a-gaspin’ and I ter swollerin’ a lump in my throat. “She shur wants ter borry our mourn- in’,” said Bob, in aksents wild and full ov ’larm. “She shure does,” I gaspered. ‘“‘ She mought jest as well ask us fer our wads, or, what’s wuss’n that, our good names, and be done with et. Madam, what ye ask is onpossible.” “Ye don’t mean ter refuse?” she cried, pluin dazed. “We have ter,’ said Bob, sollum. “We shur do,” said I. “ But, think of et!’’ she wailed. “ Hyer I be, and not a yard ov mournin’ ter be had in ther hull camp, and what am I ter do? Surely, you kin spare me ther streamers from yer hosses’ tails.” ““Nary a stream,” declined Bob, “ Positiv’,” I seconded. “Then a yard or so from what’s on yer hats, I beg ov ye.” * And what would ther camp ov Cross Crick say?” I asked her. “ Ther only reason We ain’t got more, is ’cause we got all thar was.” ‘But, think ov me,” she growed des- prut. “ How kin I ’pear as a mourner with nothin’ ter mourn in? Ther best I have got is only gingham, thanks ter that wuthless Lunk Cuddyloop, and—” “See hyer,”’ Bob interrupted. “Wull,” sez she. “You wasn’t married to ther late la- mented Gunsight, wuz ye?” “Well, no; but that’s nuther here nur thar.” “That does away with ther need fer fust mournin’, then,” declared Bob. “ Ye wasn’t even ‘gaged to him, I; think ye said.” “Well, no; but, that’s nuther here nur thar. We had come to—” “Let me have my say,” put in Bob. “That does away with ther need fer sec- ond mournin’, I take et. Mebby he hadn’t even begun ter shine up to ye, and ef that—” “That is none ov your business,” she fired sassy. ‘‘I told ye that I was sorter settin’ my cap fer him, and no tellin’—” “That is jest it,” rung in Bob. “ What you need is about third mournin’, I take et. Go an’ let down yer ha’r and drape yerself in a hoss blanket, and you will do prime—” That thar crowd let out a bust ov lafter that shook ther shanty, and that old gal colored up like ary carrot. She made a flew at my pard, with her claws ready fer biz, I’m mentionin’, and he had ter whip out a gun ter check her in ‘her mad kareer. “Don’t yer do et, lady,” Bob gently warned. “He has ’sulted me!” she cried, turn- in’ and ’pealin’ ter me. “He didn’t mean ter,” said I, ter cool whcoped, givin’ a jump that’ oO. . tn: her ha’r come down. “ Third 9™) chav is it? Look out that thar ‘ef COS. mcurnin’ fer you, that’s all!’?™ slag ae hu ae = oe said I, turnin’ ontc stag ike was mad clean throu e amazed at yer, ter speak att fell tee hyer widder. Ther best thing\© ni threo 1 do is ter offer ’pollygy, ST seep ry "cause et ain’t our’n—” speechi sa “ Ain’t your’n?” cried ther Aj cat d. but “ Ov course not!”’ owned ap Bee ace his | aire hyer as a dellygashun fr Oy isiae pe Crick, and this hyer drapin’ ye f°) |. that bulk ov sorrer that is sent ae is W faint ’spression ov ther sympa! Repo 3 camp ov Cross Crick feels fer Ribot come City in her time ov trial and a - our to What’s more, ef I have said any” a rankle yer f.ner feelin’s, dear humbly chaw dirt.” She was mollyfied ter onct,, J aire down her rumpled feathers. Aft’ jop Wils more palaver she took her depar, ” relief ov ther crowd, et ’peared Tory a sk Then we found oppertoonerty ‘ turn to ther main biz ov ther d. away, an we wanted ter l’arn what had be + none b ez we wur comin’ inter town. “ vearth That hadn’t slipped our minds, ave sent CHAPTER VII. eta Gt WHAT WAS AMISS. ‘aire in h However, my pard had somethiqpper pre on his mind that demanded more\q can’t & jit attention. So th Ther ’citement ov ther mome:ypjjc mint sorter ’vaporated ther flavor ov th¢ejier cit bibe he had tooken, and he kalk_—just th that it was time fer another. ° thar “Fer ther luv ov mercy,” he “Jet’s take another sip. That théy a one, man has’so onsot my Marves thai jy't az most fergit what we aire. hyer of gOsT want somethin’ ter take ther bee penig ov my mouth,” rd. Et was a gentle hint. ry not oO Our friend Wilson—him ov therjat wow finger capacity, he made haste ter s?”’ crie ther moshun. all, that Everybody else took moshun ferharge 2) counter, and thar they ranged itrter sat selves before you could say scatorter D ther bar-keep was ready to sarve ’éry ijee soon as ordered. wasn’t t “Ts et a go, Gila Gabe?” he inqgthek. “Ov course et’s a go,” chimed outs]] ye ¥ Wilson. ‘“ Ef thar ever was a time \pard— et orter be free, this hyer is ther tiyy Cro’ At that ther hull crowd voted in v—’ ‘firmytive, and thar was nothin’ fer 6ftly, P ter do but order et up. He was locy thin fer honor, ye see, and he had ter semd if sails to ther wind that blowed. yff pris So he said et was a go, and et goe act f Hop took four fingers again, good, n’t git smacked his chops as if he wur goods don four more. lo; 1 Me and Bob wiped our mouths on, stub mournin’, and then we sallyed inter i see, } immejit biz on hand. Bob guy meal wat ter take ther lead, and I braced up 4 me said: iu “Now, men ov Sawbuck, we hopet he @ our comin’ hyer ain’t in no way delayther anything that ye have got sot down le th yer day’s program. We aire hyer to teas 4 part in anything that offers, and weov } ter uphold ther reppytashun oy Crdhat Crick on this hyer ’casion.” ,ye, Thar was a murmur oy approval, ater 4 we aire re Rob nodded et was good and fer me tt et purseed. All) I purseeded: And “ Ez we hove in sight over ther rid ; on our comin’ hyer, et ‘peared to us tha¥® somethin’ was amiss hyer, and we wou) oS
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—=— You Bet Bob from Cross Crick. § Te don’t hoss blgin’t crowded ’pon us so thick. up thapyyer to offer our services, as | “Thirg anything that we kin do, ye thar ter command us. That is ther ’S alj!’72n we bring with us.” n’ ontc fer ther hull camp ov, Cross throu eal at fell to ther actin’ mayor to t thingie sort ov ‘sponse, and we had y, rigiiskivered that he wasn’t at speechin’. ther A; camp ov Sawbuck thanks ye ad up pee said, but his looks guv ther hun fy Under his skin. “That is ter in’ ye gank ther people ov Cross Crick. Sent giOw as thar is anything ye kin sympg! thar is we kin let yet know. Is fer -we thank ye, gents.” l anq have come hyer to be chief id any® fer our town, ye know,” spoke deay2t4. ; we aire ready fer any service,” oncet, 3 ; ‘ v9 3. Aft we aire minus is a parson, depay Hop Wilson. ared jrson? 4 merty Bary a sky pilot in ther camp. her qv 8 ther one at Holiday?” I axed. d bee #Way, and can’t be had, and we mn it none hyer as can even say linds ‘© yearth an’ dust ter dust.” “have sent off ter Cross Crick fer though, and hope he will be hyer i,’ said Gila Gabe. meth| aire in hard luck,” I had to ad~ Mite 'Ther preacher over thar is sick ®\d can’t git out, except to his own arial So that is what was rufilin’ in tpblie mind when we kem jn sight, k feller cits?” just that an’ nothin’ else.” ‘ hate thar ary one hyer kin play par- th tha er ” y a one,” was ther sad rejoinder. ain'ta galoot.in thercamp knows of gospel or psalm book.” r, benighted people!” exclaimed rd. 1y not omit et?” T suggested. herjat would a funeral be without a er 8?” cried Gabe. ull, that’8 so!” said I, but ef. you €tharge and make a rousin’ crashun, trter satersfy most folks.” "at korter paled at ther word orashun; € ‘Gry ijee weakened him. vasn’t figgerin’ on et,” he said, sor- Nd thek. outs}1 ye what,” spoke up Bob; “ hyer 1€ Ypard—he is ther silver-tongued or- ’ tixy Cross Crick, the Chauncey De- n iv—” . I 6ftly, Bob,” said I; “ yer treadin’ on logy thin ice! ” Semd if ye want yer defunct mayor ff prime grand, jest let him do ther Oe act fer ye,” he continnered. “ Ef d,n’t git a parson, somethin’ has got ods done.” fo; I'll do et myself,” whirled in nm, Sstubburn as ary mule. r tsee, he was lookin’ fer office. . 1 wanted ter be mayor fer all ther ) 5 and ther bee was buzzin’ in his hut bad. *t he allowed us ter come in thar and ajther hull funeral, what would his n le think ov him? They would think teas a weak stick to support ther dig- ve OV Sawbuck Cit. rdhat is right, sir,’ said I. “I gree pa? full up. Still, if ye find ye need er anything, {’ll chirp my chune fer et is worth.” All right, I'll] ramember,” said Gabe. And as fer a parson,” I added. gWhat ’bout et?” nVhy, h BY AY tas b; “(he is no slouch at a sank i ste MAb Neh ID er is my pard,” jerkin’ my ” ov oaths. He will do, prime! “That so?” chirped in Hop Wilson. Bob was smilin’ modest. “Ov course et’s so,” said I. s’pose fer a minnit that I would tell ye so ef et wasn’t?” “Then he is jest ther man we want! ” cried Hop. ‘‘ What d’ye say, boys? This hyer lets us out nice, and if we can’t have ther real article in a parson, we must take what we kin git.” “That’s ther talk!” whooped ther crowd. Bob was in fer et, shure enough! He looked daggers at me, but that didn’t alter ther fact a bit, and I had ter grin ter think what a figger he would cut. “Well, what asked. Then I whispered ter Bob: “ Pard, we have got this hyer thing all our own - way. Cross Crick is goin’ ter have the full honor ov ther ’casion.”’ “ Bt shur is,” said Bob, “‘ and ther dis- honor, too, when bustin’ time comes.” “Thar’ll be none,” said I. “You'll see,”’ said he. “What d’ye mean?” I asked him. “What do I know about preachin’ a sarmount?” he demanded. “ Wull, what ye don’t know, guess at,” I advised him. ‘ We aire hyer to do this thing up brown, and we must do et,” He jumped his shoulders, but said nothin’ more, and by that time ther act- in’ mayor was readv to respond ter my question, fo ‘we ceased our Whisperin’ and paid ‘tention to him. “Wull, we wanted ter have a grand parade, ther fust thing,” he said, “‘ car- ryin’ ther dead mayor around ther camp a couple ov times, stoppin’ finally out hver in front ter have ther speechin’, but when we got word that ther parson was not ter be had, et knocked us out.” “No need ter,” said my pard, “Let’s earry out ther program, and ye kin lean hard on Cy Johnson hyer fer .all ther help ye want when et comes to speech- aD ii He was gittin’ in ’venge fer my ’lectin’ him parson. Ther crowd took et up, and thar was nothin’ else ther actin’ mayor could do but comply with ther demand ov his people. : So, accordin’, ther arrangements wur begun, and thar was started one ov ther greatest funerals ever seen, I’m bettin’. We had sized up ther actin’ mayor, so ter say, and whar in we had found him weak, we resolved to be strong, is ther program?” I CHAPTER VIII. PREPARIN' THER PROGRAM. We wur then ready ter leave ther she- bang. My pard thought et would be right and proper ter imbibe-oncet more ’fore we vamoosed. Hop Wilson was ready fer that, ter say nothin’ ov ther rest ov ther crowd, and when Hop had put away four good fingers more, and all ther rest three on ther average, folks wur beginnin’ ter feel good. Then we moved to’rds ther door. Ther crowd streamed out ahead ov us, havin’ crowded in ’pon us after we had entered. é When we reached ther door we took off our tall hats and held ’em most sollum respectful while we passed out, and oncet pes on i need oi , em uM “e Dy’e ! have ’quired what et was ef | gyin’ doctrin’, and he was oncet a justice | Them ‘ar hats guv us a heap ov dig- | ov ther peace and bas ’ministered no end | nity. “Now, what?” asked my pard. “T’m by gosh stuck,” said I back. “But we musn’t be,” said he. “We must keep ther ball rollin’. Thar is plenty ov good whisk in this hyer town, ter be had free all day, ef we kin work et right, and et must be worked.” “You aire goin’ ter git corned, that’s what you ar’ goin’ ter do,” I ’monstrated with him. “Tm not a-goin’ ter fight ag’in et,” sez he. * You’re a hog,” said I. “ An’ you’re my pard,*’ sez he. “Et is all you think about,” I told him. “ An’ you are allus on hand ter second my moshun,’” he shot back. Et was no use argyin’ a simple thing like that, so we let et drop and guv ’ten- tion to ther actin’ mayor. He was struttin’ around thar in his mournin’ sash like ary gobler on state parade, and thought he was cuttin’ some feather, when he couldn’t hold a candle to us. “Wull, mayor, what’s ther word?” I asked him. “Ther grand parade, ov course,” he said. “‘ Wasn’t that understood inside? ” “Et shur was,” said my pard. “Ther grand parade et is,” said I. “You will be ther marshal, ov course, Gila Gabe?” “Wull, I ruther opine I will,” he said with some feelin’. ‘“‘ You two don’t want ter fergit that I am ther head ov things hyer.”’ “Shur nt,” said Bob. “That. is all right,” said I. “All we aire hyer fr is ter represent Cross Crick and do what little we kin to help make things go ff nice.” “That is right,” said Bob. “ Don’t think fer a minnit, mayor, that we want ter rob you ov any ov ther honor that is your’n ov right. Bless you, not a bit ov hd That seemed ter mollyfy him. “Yer want yer hoss,” said I. ‘“ Ther marshal must be mounted.” “Yas, that’s so,” said he. “I thort somethin’ was lackin’.” He forthwith sent a feller ter fetch ther same. “ We will want a platform or somethin’ ov that kind out hyer,” said my pard then, “Yas, ’ranged fer,” said Gila. all but ther puttin’ up. and fetch her forth.” “ Don’t think we aire meddlin’,” said I. “We want ter see this hyer funeral a rousin’ big success, and we aire your servants ter command in anything we kin say or do.’ Et was hard fer ther cuss ter keep rankled, even if he did hate us wuss’n pizen. Ther platform was brought out and sot up. ; Et was something decent. Ther carpenters oy ther mines had made et, and et was substanshul and ov good ’pearance. “ What d’ye think ov it?” asked Gila Gabe. “Et is some shakes,” said I, meanin’ thet et wur purty elegant. “T would like ter drink to ther health that is one thing we have “Et is all ready, Hustle, boys, ov ther fellers what made et,” said my__ , pard. _ “Me too!” yauped out Hop Wilson. Ther rest ov ther bums ov ther camp thirded ther moshun, and th a rush fer ther Gilt Edge. { Ther actin’ mayor put ther veto’ y ‘sume ey all made f
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He called out that thar wasn’t no treat ordered, and that checked ther stampeed. “You'll git inter trouble yet,” said I ter my pard. “T’ll take you with me ef I do,” said he. “That is what I’m _ kickin’ about,” said I. “ And I’ll rely on you ter git me out,” he said furder. “ An’ I’m blamed if I don’t let ye stay thar, ef I have ter stay with ye,” said I. By ther time the platform had been long ter do et, ther actin’ mayor’s hoss was on hand. Gila Gabe got inter ther saddle, and ae he looked pooty decent, I have ter ad- d mit, with his wide black sash in contrast with his flamin’ red shirt, but he couldn’t *proach us. Then ther time was at hand. Ther actin’ mayor picked out six stout fellers, and told ’em ter fetch forth ther ‘corpus. They went and fetched, comin’ out bearin’ ther coffin in their arms, and when they got et outside they swung et up to their shoulders and wur ready. “Now,” called ther mayor, “fall in line, ye galoots! ” “Hold on,” said my pard. “What’s ther matter now?” “Ain’t thar no moosic in this hyer town?” | “What do yer want with moosic?” was ther amazed demand ter oncet. “Bt would give tone to ther ’casion ef ‘ thar could be a funeral march, or some- thin’ like that,” said Bob. ““That’s so,” said I. '‘‘ Can’t. ye scare up somethin’ mayor?” “T dunno as thar is anything in town,” said Gila. Et sorter tickled him ter call him mayor. Et seemed ter fall on his ears like ther sweet note ov a tinklin’ symbul. “ Bven a juiceharp w’u’d do,” said Bob. “Ha! I have et,” cried our friend in ~ need, Wilson. “Er juiceharp?” asked Bob. “Naw; better’n that.” “ What is et?” “Lippy Doozberry’s ’corjun.” “A ’ecorjun! ” cried Bob. “ That is jest ther chawk! ” “ Bring et forth,’ said I. “ Lippy, git yer ’corjun, and fall in line hyer.” I looked around fer him, not knowin’ Lippy Doozberry from ther fust cousin ov Adam, : A sorter silly-lookin’ half-wit came to _ ther front, grinnin’ like ary ape with a _ tickled conshuns, so ter say. “Shill I git ’er?”” he asked the mayor. “Will et be right and proper?” asked ther mayor, ’pealin’ ter me. “Right and proper!” I ’sclaimed at him. “ Nothin’ ye kin do could be any righter or properer. Did ye ever hear ov a great man havin’ a funeral without - moosic? Look at Neepolyun, look at _ Ginrul Grant, look at—’ _ “Lippy, git yer ’corjun and foller after me. Play ther most becomin’ chune ye Jmow.” : . _ Lippy wur tickled ter death. ° Away he went on ther run, and while he wur gone we formed line. Ther mayor took first place, ; then we Jetta place fer Lippy, and after him wur me and Bob. Bogs penne band kem Bi bearers with ther late defunct, and then ther vox -popply, t r say, ul ffect; don’t bother t finished off nice, and et hadn’t taken. _ “We'll have ther moosic,” said Gila. You Bet Bob from Cross Crick. CHAPTER IX. THE GRAND PARADE. Lippy Doozberry soon put in his ap- pear. He was luggin’ a monster big accorjun in his arms, and had put on a coat that had belonged to his dad, and which was severial sizes too big fer him and almost trailed in ther dust. An’ darn me ef thar didn’t come Sal ‘Cuddyloop, too, with her hair all a- streamin’, same as my pard had told her to wear et, but she didn’t have ther hoss blanket. In place ov that she had put on a black coat that evidently had belonged to her late pardner. Ther coat was sizes too small fer her, and she filled et almost to ther bustin’. Sal was no airy fairy, be et known. She tipped ther beam at nigher three hundred than two, I’m bettin’. Yes, along slie kem, and she crowded in right after ther bearers, and then she sung out to ther crowd: “Now, then, let ’er go. I am hyer ter show my ’spects to ther man that mought ’a’ filled ther place ov Lunk Cuddyloop, ef I had only had a fairer chance at him.” She surveyed that throng, as if chal- lengin’ any one ter dispute her rights. Nobody done so. Meantime, Lippy Doozberry had took- en his place right after ther actin’ mayor, He kad now onbuckled his ’corjun, and with a smile on his homely mug that was like unto ther flow ov fat over a warm griddle he touched et up a bit to see if et was in chune. Not bein’ up in moosic, I’m not p’pared ter say et was or et wasn’t. #t seemed ter,me to have a disj’inted come-ter- gether some’rs in ets tone. “Now, then, Lippy,” sung out my pard, “ give us ther best ye know.” “And make et worthy ther ’casion,’ said I. “ All ready?” called ther marshal. “Let ’er go!” “ For’d, march! ” With that, Gila waved his hand and started. : Lippy struck up a chune on ther ’cor- jun and pranced after hint steppin’ proud, | Then kem ther ’traction ov ther pro- seshun—me and my pard, our hosses a- prancin’ and our plumes and streamers a-noddin’ and a-wavin’ too durn purty ter menshun. After us follered ther bearers, with ther dead mayor on their shoulders in his long box, keepin’ step and walkin’ sollum and slow, and after them wur that thar Amazon, wringin’ her hands and wavin’ her arms by turns, in a sort i ov hired wailer fashun. And ther moosic—wull, now, et jist beat ther band! That is ter say, et would ef et hadn’t been fer ther chune ther feller played. . Et was anythtihg but a sollum air, bein’ nothin’ more nor less than that good old- time mellydy that everybody in ther world knowed ‘fore he was born— “When Johnny Comes Marchin’ Home.” But that made no difference. ; ; Ther crowd was jist in ther humor fer et. y They soon fell inter time with their feet, and purty soon with their tungs as | well. : j My pard was ther first to set up ther singin’, which he done with some credit to himself and honor to Cross Crick, fer in a brief spel sect wd took up ther air, and i while | A iv ‘a j h 4) “What do yer think ov jt jist the paused long enough ter say tepv ther b “ Bt is clean plum gorjus,” Ler ov the him. “We couldn’t do better |ttle, and et made ter order.” “TI ’gree with yer,” said Bobther long¢ “Qunsight orter be a proudey imbibe remarked. er higher “No doubt he would be, efall wur behold us in this toggery,” said to his fe “Then yer think he can’t? ld see his him. /a new th “And him dead!” sneered Bpeech, an “T mean from ther speerghether he Bob.” ; \. “ Speeret world? Cy, ef he hepped to t any sech world as that, he is er ther bi ly corned by this time, and he! forth th a hoss from a borro.” e ary bla “Yer don’t git on,” said I, w#h, but 0 “T mean ter ask ye ef ye don’t)s plum 8 knows what is goin’ on hyer, #4 at Bob place whar he’s at, ther place ofS goin’ t parted? ” d we kn “Don’t yer s’pose ther smo! nf ther vision hazy?” sez he. “You're a fool,” sez I. “ Admitted, pard,’’ sez he, on ther “ pard.” t As ther singin’ was beginnin’|with the forth oncet more, full force. So we went up ther gulch, poppylashun ov ther camp in As red a all a-singin’ ready ter bust themmocked me and Bob bearin’ ther brunt) a blizz sorrer, 2 nd did 1 Et wuz as sollum as could bet Bym’by et dawned upon us band had changed ther chune, We, bein’ in ther front, wur hi slight discord that was made ’twat aire Jy ‘corjun and ther voices. another We wur still marchin’ Johnnjdown! but Lippy Doozberry had swit¢f— felle onter “ Comin’ Thro’ ‘Ther Ryer pore natcherly the two chunes E a S~ mernize wuth a persimmon. City. Bob an’ me held up our handgo our 4 lence. ray ly its ov ther’camp on ther west, we turned and paraded back a off to their limits on ther east, et up. By ther time we got back to t ov startin’ et was high noon, hull crowd wur so dry with sing they seconded my pard’s mosh {eee man, and fer ther next ten minn ae Gilt Hdge did a prime rushin’ b purer I tell ye. Ther late departed had been d on ther platform without. We had dismounted and given + ant hosses fer feed. We stuck close to ther crow? ti selves. eanin’ By ther way, a great dinner wa, gh! prepared, all ther wimmin ov thel, pee havin’ jined forces ter make et 4 it minnit ther parade was over, and i after ther grand orashun by ther mayor we wur to dine. y After ther business in ther Gilt; yo was over, all hands returned t¢)." square. ’ , ;
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hink oy y’t jist ther season fer flowers, ter say tepv ther boys had ornymented gorjus,” Ter ov ther sarcoffygus with a do better jttle, and strewed et with old ’ said Bobther longer ther time, and ther e€ & proudey imbibed to ther dead man’s er higher their spirits grewd. wld be, efall wur ’sembled, ther actin’ ery,” said to his feet. 1€ can’t? |ld see his knees gimble. anew thing in his kareéer, ter Sneered Bpeech, and we doubted mighty er speer@hether he would be able ter do y, ef he hepped to ther front, thrust one it, he is kr ther buzzum ov his coat and >, and hel forth the other, and thar he : fe ary blame statcher. He opened said I, wrth, but nothin’ kem forth, ye don’t)s plum gabooed. m hyer, @d at Bob and Bob looked at me. r place of8 goin’ ter be a clean case Ov id we knowed et prime shur. her smok he. I. CHAPTER X. ez he, RATIN’ THER ORASHUN actin’ mayor gulped like ary eginnin'|with ther pip. © an’ Band kem down, and he shifted his rece, one foot to t’other, and then he gulch, me more. 4mp in as red and white by turns, his bust thernocked and gimbled wuss’n a r brunt, a blizzard, and he gulped and nd did nothin’ but gulp. Et was Ould betase. on us t) somethin’, blast yer, say some- thune, |cried one feller in ther crowd, wur hid no ’sideration fer feelin’s. lade ’twat aire ye actin’ mayor fer?” de- _ another. | Johnnydown! ” + elled a third. id. swit¢f— feller c— c— citerzens!” stut- her Ryier pore cuss, plum druv desprut. es aida on. City. W# bire hyer r handgo our dead,” ray!” yauped somebody. and thn’, Gabe.” her rig found et!” from another. nt, to thd fer Gabe!” west, t had a disastrous ‘fect. ack agé Mought jist as well up an’ shot r east, ad, fer all ther good he was after k to the8un ter stretch his neck and gulp oon, aplore, and purty scon ther gang ter do “Keep h sing to ther fact that he was plum , and they hollered fer him to sot mosh ee onmistakable. minny, hin’ pt? ‘urspurashun wur jist runnin’ is face. ur jist bubblin’ full ov chagrin, /mad that he couldn’t ’a’ told what ht an’ proper name wur. crowf crowd was whoopin’ wild. have got et our own way,” said ead over and hollerin’ in my ear. Vv thei’ Shur have,” I answered him. ‘ Et e et your turn, now, ter say somethin’ ve ther honor ov Cross Crick.” ‘the er. D; ae i as Bob. pu,’ given ler W. “ Et all r Gil .©” you, Cy. ¢ ed tab. you aire to say ther sarmount Ov et,’ I ’minded him. “ You 1 impat as well pitch in.” tform you aire to do ther orate part, ther Wi have got ter!” ettled et. rtant ’A ip me ter make ther try. , and ther crowd let up their S a S— s— sollum ‘casion ‘ferbyer promises to be. like that, et didn’t stagger me any wuth a cent, and I sailed in. I flung my head back defiant, keepin’ my hat on and snappin’ my black ban- ners in ther breeze, ez et wur, and plantin’ out my foot and stickin’ one hand in my buzzum, I sailed in. “Honored galoots ov Sawbuck!” I yauped at’em. “ We hev come hyer ’pon this hyer sollum ’casion, not ter bury Seezer, but ter praise him!” “Who's Seezer?” yelled somebody. “What has he got ter do with et?” chirped another. “This hyer is ther funeral ov Gun- sight John, don’t fergit that ’ar.” “ Seezer ain’t in et!” I waved ’em scornful. “J only spoke figgery,’” I told ’em. “ Ef you want anything purty said ov yer de- funct mayor, keep yer heads shut and hear ther oracle,” “ amen!” said my pard, sollum. “In ther fust place,’ I resumed, “I feel plenty fer yer actin’ mayor, so over- come with emoshun that he wasn’t able ter render ther refulgent orashun thet we all know he had in mind.” Thar was some cheerin’, at that. Gila Gabe perked up a bit, seein’ it had been let down easy fer him. “And et is maybe jist as well,’ re con- tinnered. ‘“‘ Ef he had onloaded ther sor- rer ov_his buzzum to ye, all at oncet, it would have caused ye all to weep salt, sad tears, and would have rendered sad this joyous ’casion. Let us be thankful fer small blessin’s as they come to us.” “ Amen!” said my pard, plenty hearty. “Ons ov nacher’s noblemen has been ealled to his reward,’ I slung at ’em. “ Whyfor should we be spillin’ our weeps about that? Ruther, let us rejoice and be glad that we kin show this respeck fer his memory, and that we are left alive ter give him sech.a send-off as this What more could yer mayor have asked in life? Et is sublime!” “Et shur is,” shouted my pard, with much. voice. “This is ther plum joyousest occasion ov my life !” I yauped forth fn their will- ing.ears: “I am proud to stand hyer, as I do, upholdin’ the banner ov Cross Crick *pon sich an event as this hyer,” I rubbed under their noses. “Thar is a bond ov sympathy between these hyer two camps that should be cemented fast so’s et could never be sundered. Why not cement et hyer and now? At my feet lies ther whitest mayor this hyer camp ever had— et never had but one. I am hyer to speak ov his virchews.” “ Amen!” shouted my pard, and added sorter voshay: ‘“ Spread et on thick!” Ther smell ov them thar four fingers Hop Wilson had sevrul times imbibed was makin’ me feel tol’bly good, and I sallyed right in. “What more could mortal man ask "nh what yer defunct mayor is gittin’ hyer? ” I demanded ov ’em, takin’ off my tall hat and wavin’ ther ribbons and banners around impressive. “Ter have Cross Crick stand hyer and pronounce him one ov ther grandest men that has ever lived sense ther days ov Autalycus ther Great! Ef one was great, ’tother was greater, as you will admit. Ef anything, this noble man,” stoopin’ and takin’ ther defunct by ther hand, “was greater than two Autolycusses!”’ and I shook him impres- sive warm. “Men ov Sawbuck City, ye have cause fer rejoicin’ on this hyer mo- menchus occasion!” “ Beautiful!” cried my pard, clappin’ his hands tremenjous. Thar follered sech a storm ov cherrs as you never heard in all your life. ts hae So re Aa Ae Ee | oe us FF ‘ tw ee You Bet Bob from Cross Crick. 9 Actooly, tears wur standin’ in ther eyes ov some ov that crowd, wur ready ter well forth at ther slightest biddin’. They swollered all I guv ’em. “Words fail me, ter portray a charac- ter so beautiful,” I waxed ellykent and more so. ‘“ Nothin’ but ther onwritten pages ov ther vast beyond kin ever show up sech a life fer all et was worth when et went up an’ down ther world among ets feller mortals. What lies before ye hyer is only ther dust and ashes ov what was oncet a man, and this hyer must perish; but his name will go ringin’ adown ther aisles ov time and thunderin’ ther domes and corrydurs oy memory while this hyer camp shall exist. Men of Sawbuck City, do ye fully ’preciate this moment? Do ye wholly realize ets importance? Ef ye do, let’s have a drink.” With that, I salammed wide and low, and stepped back, and felt fer my soap box with my hind foot. “So be et!” yelled my pard, clappin” like mad. “Second ther moshun!” yelled Hop Wilson, and he took a run and a jump off’n that platform in ther direction ov. ther Gilt Edge. “Jump” Wilson would ’a’ been a bet- ter name fer him. Others follered his lead, and thar was nothin’: ther actin’ mayor could do ‘but give ther word. Thar was only one thing my pard was afeerd ov, ashe told me later on, ana that was really no consarn ov ours. Et was that ther town treasury would run short ov funds. Well, that thar platform wur emtied in a jiffy, save only by ther defunct, and the only reason he didn’t foller was be- cause he wuz plum dead. Really, I felt sorry fer him, ter think what a plum gorjus affair he was missin’ and all that. Well, Hop Wilson took four full again, and the rest ov us about three on a av- erage, and by ther time that important duty was off hand, ther dinner was an- nounced, and we wur requested ter form a circle,out on ther plaza, around ther platform, whar ther grub was ter be passed around. And we went and circled, needless ter say. Fact ov ther business was, most all ov. us wur beginnin’ ter gyrate and circle whether we wanted to or not, CHAPTER XI. ALL HANDS AROUND. Me and my pard sot down side by side. I noted that Bob’s eyes wur beginnin’ ter swim loose in ther sockets. Mebby mine wur ther same, fer ther ground wur beginnin’ ter upheave in a‘ fashion most unruly, et ’peared ter me. “ Cy,’ said Bob. “Sigh on,” said I. “Don’t git funny,” said he. “TH try not ter,” said I. “How do yer feel?” he asked me. “Plum galush,”’ I answered him, “How do you?” “ Ditter,”’ said he. bang up time hyer.” “T sh’u’d snigger ef we ain't,” ugid I. “Wonder what'll be next on the pro- gram?” “Give et up,” said he. ‘“ We'll ’tend ter this part ov et first, and then we’ll be fortyfied fer whatever may happen. Hyer comes ther fillin’.” Ther wimmin of ther camp wur trot- tin’ around with ther provinder, and we got our share jist about then. They had gone i killed a fatted caff or two, by ther looks ov things. Et wur some good, and ther way we laid et under our vests was a womise ter. “ We aire — a ee
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ties 1S Soe ery peLBE “re = Sher a eS i ects ae v pled - ms “Bah!” Bod is a hog, natcherly. He says ther same ov me, but that - don’t count. That is on:y ‘cause he has ter say somethin’ ter cover up his own short-} comin’s. They wur a hungry lot, and fer a time they ’tended strickly ter business, but when they bergun ter git full they ber- gun ter git playful, and took ter throw- in’ bones around. Hap Wilson, purty soon, throwed one that took Lippy Doozberry plum in ther neck. Lippy got. mad quicker’n scat, throwed et back again. It took Hop right on ther nose. Then he got riled. Up he jumped, and made a meander jin Lippy’s direction. Lippy wur up too, same as his dander and | wuz, and he took a tack in ther direction ov Hapry. I could see myself that ther ground was rollin’, but et didn’t ’pear ter me to ‘be rollin’ ez bad as they found et, fer they could hardly hold et down under 7em, They. went head on, with right arms drawed back at full cock all ready fer business soon’s they met. But, they didn’t meet that time. Ther ground swelled up ‘tween ’em as they ‘proached, and they shied off in spite ov the’rselves. Et wuz laffybul ter see ’em, tryin’ hard ter bear up to ther ’counter, but sidlin’ off more an’ more at every step, and when they had gone clean past they luffed. “Try et ergin,” yellel my pard. “ Better aim next time,” said I. “Round up an’ fetch him quarterin’,” said Gila Gabe. ‘Better a heap sight git down and creep for’d,” said Colonel Kittens—by ther way, has he been interdoosed? Colonel Kittens was a feller ov some standin’ in ther camp, and et had been a hot race ’tween him and Gila Gabe ter see which one should be ther actin’ mayor. “Steady, now,” said Bob. “Take yer bearin’s,” said I. They stopped, and wur glarin’ at each other. Ther ground was behavin’ shameful, and they could hardly keep on their pins. “T’ll chaw yer ear,” said Lippy Dooz- berry. *“An’ T’ll chaw yer nose,” said Hop Wilson. “T’ll ’arn yer who ye'’re throwin’ bones at,” said Lippy. * An’ I'll l’arn you better’n ter throw em back at me again,” yauped Hop. Havin’ got about as steady as they wur likely to git, they made another try fer et, but blame me ef they could make et. They held to ther direction purty good fer a time, but purty presently they ber- gun ter shy, and in their care not to shy ther same way as before, they took to fetchin’ t’other side. They tried to hold back, but et wasn’t no go. Et wasn’t as wide a fetch as t’other time, but et was too wide fer any good. Ther rest ov ther crowd whooped and yelled at ’em, and that made ’em all ther madder, and they wur madder’n wet ‘hens ter begin with. ““Tll—I’ll smite ye!” cried Lippy. “Tl grind ye,” yelled Hop. “Yer can’t do’t!” 9 “Show yer!’ ergain, and stood gim- each ) her, and ther 4 crowd was jist goin’ plum crazy with de- | funct on et, in his wooden overco light. Everybody was on their feet now, and had formed a ring around ther two plum ijjits, and ther late-lamented was fer ther time bein’ clean fergot. Sawbuck had a new ’citement. At et they went again. This time they took better bearin’s, and run up closter. As they kem head on they both drawed back and cut a swipe at each other, but fate wur gainst ’em. They missed, somehow, and ther force ov ther blow each had struck at t’other carried *em off their equilib., and they went rollin’ over and over on ther ground. How ther crowd whooped et then! “ Bah! I’m disgusted with yer!” yelled ther actin’ mayor. He picked up a rock as he said et, and let drive at ‘em, not carin’ which one he hit. But, jimminny! he shied wide ov ther mark and that thur stone kem bang up ergainst ther manly chest ov Colonel Kittens! Then thar was fun, I’m whisperin’. Thet thar Kitten bekem a roarin’ tiger in one mighty minnit, and he made a run fer Gila Gabe, bellerin’ like a bull. Ther actin’ mayor turned pale ’round ther gills, and looked as if he wanted ter run, but ther eyes ov all ther people wur onto him hard, and he had ter face ther moosic. “Flingin’ stones at me, are ye?” cried ther Kitten. “TI didn’t go ter hit yer,” actin’ mayor. “But yer done et ali ther same, dang ye! ” ‘ “Et slipped out’n my hand.” “That don’t matter, I’m goin’ flay ye fer et.” “You had better go slow about that thar,” warned ther actin’ mayor. “I don’t want ter hurt ye.” “Yer couldn’t do et ef ye did want to,” was ther snorted ’sponse ter that, “Come out hyer like a man and take ther durn’dest drubbin’ ov yer life!” Colonel Kitten .wur a-prancin’ and a-dancin’ lixe mad. His arms wur wavin’ like wings. Them other two fellers, by ther way, had crawled into each other’s fond em- brace by this time, and wur goin’ et hammer and tongs. Seein’ that he had ter fight or stand boogoo’d in ther sight ov ther camp, ther actin’ mayor screwed up and went forth to do battle with ther Kitten, and they pranced up to each other. Et wur high ’citin’, I tell yer et was. They went shyin’ and sparrin’ around at each other, ther ground some onstiddy fer them, too, but not ez much so as et had been fer Lippy and Hop. - So they went, one-afraid-and-t’other- dasn’t sort ov fashion, till at last they fouled with ther two galoots thet wur al- ready havin’ et warm on ther ground, when down they went. In ther fall, they somehow parted tvother two, and Lippy lit onter ther Kittin, and Hop hopped onter Gila, and then they sashayed some, you bet. Et was nip and. tuck amongst ther four ov ’em, and ther crowd went wild with delight and all jined hands and went dancin’ around in a circle. said ther ter CHAPTER XII. SAL CUDDYLOOP Now. Sech a lallyga yer life. at Gs Thar’ was ther +, boo time ye never seen in You Bet Bob fron Cross Crick. pard said in Pate Lin hOB (GLE + BE t I mig a adn’t be desarted. e sad te Then thar was ther hull mee shur pylashun ov ther town dancin’opped | holt ov hands, like they had alljygq sopr leave ov their senses, whoopin) gown to lot ov fool Apaches. ye wo In ther circle wur ther combats ez cou They wur goin’ into et in dead} 7 would I’m tellin’ ye. fn yer fi They had no regard fer one a feelin’s, but dug away fer all t wuth. Gila Gabe’s sash and trimm black wur gittin’ torn and a Yur ow 3 \” growl promiskus, and ther claret wur right free. On ther whole, et ot ane Ra jolliest funeral I ever ’tended. fer ther | “ Ain’t this hyer scrumpshus? "}py | dor out my pard. at time “ Et shur is,” I had ter agree Wiley and “We aire right in et, Bob.” therin’ “Clean up to our necks,” he sahy qyad again. “ Wouldn’t ’a’ missed et f@,5w 9} thing. t fhim the Ditter with me,” said I. “Wein it a story ter tell when we git back td,» ° Crick, a tale that will plum ’stoni natives,” q “We shur will,” said he. Then we continnered whoopint” ther rest ov ’em, and ther way we around thar was a caution ter ae e)” said oy he d But, that didn’t last forever. Ther four gladdyaturs soon be tire out, and they drawed away fro\., 1;-. ° *nuther. rt him. They wur a sorry lot, all tor gant scratched and bleedin’, and looked ;, too they had beeh drawed through e mig ragged knot holes. me life Thar was Colonel Kitten, lookin’) joerg + like a tom cat that had been t ey had Thar was ther actin’ mayor, lookin), then he hed been run through a quartz 0” T’other two wur nondescript. Ther dancin’ ceased, As soon as ther ring wur broke ther foreground sprung Sal Cuddy like a ’vengin’ Nemmysus. . “Fur shame!” she squawked. She glared around as if ter pic her p’ticlar victim. Every man jack thar had busin another direction, and that circle ed out instanter. “Fur shame!” she squawked more so. “ Ter think ov ther may layin’ dead hyer, and sech goin’ around his dead body. I wonder world don’t come to a end!” t ' 0 be! My pard stepped for’d. wur * I know et was rash ov him, buhourn stepped. ov i He took off his hat, made a stidit jn e salaam as he could, and said: or ere “Fair lady, I agree with ye théeq is a shame, a howlin’ shame, and it 44s y be made right.” : , sol “Made right!” she bawled. aff. “That was what I said, Madam,” }o the my pard, softly like. er act “ How kin et be made right?” her ¢ “They had orter be licked,” said Tes | “They hev been lickin’ each oth way: said she. thoi “Then let’s lock ’em up,” said, pi pard. nly | “Would ye?” laff “Sech perseedin’s is out ov place } quiet funeral,” said my pard. “I pps 3 sure would, ef I had my way.” ther “Ef Gunsight John wur only alilthe: she sighed. up ¢ “Then thar wouldn’t be no funer.st,” said Bob. en “That’s so. Ef we only had his fy p hyer,” she sighed. : “He will never be found, same rt Oi) Ly DO pa ad fer
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ae eee sa dainttatels You Bet Bob from Cross Crick. ge Spe ee ——— at I might ’a’ had him ter wed, adn’t been so hard on him. Et me sad ter think ov et.” she shur was sad. opped her eyes with her big nd sopped up a tear that hed down to ther end ov her mole. - ye would wed again?” asked d h ez could be. I would.” h yer first ’sperience must have ppy.” en overco hull m | dancin’ y had al whoopin r comb in dea Pr one a er 5 F ‘ + But growin’ sorter interested like, i trimm!™ © onderstand et at all, young 1 strew’d . wasn’t no spring rooster, and I rob at wtow why she called him young nded ut she did. Mebby out ov con- pshus? er ther sex generally. * Dby I don’t,” said Bob. at time ther crowd had stopped en, and ther four late pugyvlists » eer therin’ themselves up. sed et f k Cuddyloop wasn’t a match fer how,” she said. “‘ When I had ter « Weim thar wasn’t ther spirit ov a t back t im. It was so easy thet et made m Stoni&e, said Bob. oy he did. W, et wasn’t so with Gunsight ray we 4 She continnered. “He was some ter kil], - @ fight, and I thought if 1 could ver, it would be interestin’ when we 0n bert" have a fallin’ out. But, poor soul, Way fro Sone to his reward before I could rt him.” jMayor was a man mighty to be tulated. is too plum bad,” said Bob. “I Agree wi lookin been t , lookin llers to be locked up?” ey had orter be.” t, then, who would be actin’ may- LY not you.?”’.said. she, . soa COs er same,” said she. G!”’ said Bob, plum dazed. nes et was time fer me ter chip t en, or Pic ar ain’t a man hyer better fitted rae Office,” said I, loud enough fer ‘ircle w lear.‘ Se what broots these hyer ade ov themselves, and draw yer vked ,Omparisons.” sr may Ved skornful at ther Kitten and 1 goin’tttin’ mayor. vonder ©2 was all split up ther back like d fer fryin’, and Gila Gabe wur a to behold. wur tord asunder, so ter say, and hournin’ was nothin’ but a mere oe OV its former beauty. Truly, they t in et with ther crowd no more. ar id -, yen a toe yelled fer ’em ter be cal and itt is what should be done with ’em,” . I, sober as I could fer my wantin’ dam,” im, b o ther lock-up with ’em!” er actin’ mayor sorter shook himself QO" . data her and ketched on. Win oe es, I order them to ther jail,” he eae his arm with all ther pomp Paidit, bless ye, he was so done up that nly looked funny, and ther crowd nud lafft ther more, bringin’ him ter ry " \ I Dh! you aire in et too, Gila Gabe,” fecal ther Amazon. “Ef anything, you ther wust ov ther bunch. Ef we f unem a) ene we lock up all, and you will en ov Sawbuck City,” ther actin’ 1 his Hy pellered, “ aire we ter be ruled by nin? Is sech a thing as Sal Cuddy- Mgt Bon’ ter rule eg cho ee a fey a y h a DOU! no a ys n) Th Mi Sabie ge tle + Sree Wile ee Sal Cuddyloop swooped down on him, grabbed him by ther collar and ther | breast works ov his breeches, and made him walk Spanish, I’m tellin’ ye. “Fetch along them thar other three,” she hollered. ‘‘ We’ll see whether or not a funeral ov a decent man is goin’ ter be made a shame and a mockery ov, I reckon. Fetch ’em along!” And they wur fetched, forthwith. CHAPTER XIII. MY PARD GITS THAR. Et was a full swoop. I looked at Bob and he looked at me. Thar wuz ther four ov ’em, in ther hands ov ther Fillistines, so ter put et. “Bob,” said I, “et. is gittin’ seeryus.” “Et plum shur is,” said he. e took holt ov each other, to stand stiddy while we talked. “You aire nomynated mayor,” said If. ‘But they’ll never ’lect me,” said Bob. “Why not?” said I.- “T’m from Cross Crick.” “What's ther diff?” “They hate Cross Crick wuss’n pizen.” “Yet see how plum white they have used us all day, so fur,” said I. “That’s only ’cause ther fates hev fa- vored us,” he said. “ Et is goin’ ter turn, see ef et don’t.” Bt will be our fault ef et does.” “Mebby enough,” said he. “Well,” said I, “you aire nomynated, and et only remains ter git ther crowd willin’ ter vote ye into offis, and we'll conduct ther rest ov this hyer funeral to suit us.” “Kin we do it?” he asked me. “You leave that to m2,” said I. “ We'll git on ther platform and be thar when they come back.” Most ov ther crowd had gone off to ther jail to see ther unforchunates locked up, leavin’ that part of ther field to us and some ov ther rest that felt too tired fer much exertion. We made two or three tries, and then got up on ther platform and.sot down on our soap boxes. We sot still and sollum. Ther fact ov ther business was, that platform had tooken ter pitchin’ and rollin’ wuss’n a tubby-boat in a chop sea. Thar wur indycashuns ov seasickness on our part. “ Bob,” said I, “how do you feel?” a beginnin’ ter feel good now,” said he. “But,” said I, “kin you bear up till you have said that sarmount?” “T plum forgot et!” he exclaimed at me. “Then ye had better fix yer mind on et,” said I. “Can’t we omit et?” he asked. ““Nary omit.” Bob groaned. I knowed he was weakenin’. “Bob,” said I, “what did we come hyer fer?” “Ter have a by gosh time,” he an- swered prompt enough. “ Are we hayin’ et?” I asked him. “We plum aire, so fur.” “ And aire we goin’ ter have the? rest ov it? or aire you goin’ ter flunk and spile et?” “We'll have et,” said he. He said it in a way thet meant et, too. Thar we sot, in our high hats and mournin’ array, when ther crowd kem back. \ Sal Cuddyloop was at ther head, with a lot more wimmin flockin’ after her, and ther crowd ov men bringin’ up ther rear. straightene d greeted em. fer actin’ “Aire they cooped?”’ I asked ’em. “They sure enough aire,” answered Sal. I riz up in my place, givin’ myself plenty of spread ter stand stiddy, “Gents ov Sawbuck,” said I, “ your fair town is now without ary actin’ mayor. Wet has been proposed that my pard hyer, Bob Horner by name, be ’elected ter that ’portant office.” I waved plenty, and salammed some. , They cheered. “Thus far,” said I, “everything has passed off as nice as pie, with ther ex- ception ov ther recent onfortunate occur- rences, and fer that yer late actin’ mayor was ’sponsible.” : They cheered plenty more. I salammed. “Now,” I said furder, “we have come over hyer as a dellygashun from Cross. Crick, as I have already told ye before, ter show our good will, to do honor to yer dead, and ter cement ther brother- hood ov ther two towns, ez et wur.” They all whooped her up. They wur in mood fer whoopin’ anything. “Tharfor,” I said furder, “ef ye see fit to lect my pard to ther office ov actin’ mayor, we'll do our level best to carry on ther rest ov this hyer funeral to ther honor and credit ov all consarned. A man oy thei standin’ ov yer late mayor desarves ther best that kin be done or said. ov him, and my pard is modestly ready ter do his best.” How they yelled! “Henceforth,” said I furder, “all in favor ov makin’ You-bet Bob ther actin’ mayor ov this hyer camp fer ther time 29? bein’ please ter signify accordin’. And blame me if: every man jack ov ’em didn’t vote fer him, amd some ov ther wimmin, too. They follered ther lead ov Sal Cuddy- loop. , Then I turned to my pard. “You-bet Bob,” said I, “you have been ‘lected to ther greatest honor this hyer camp could show ye. You aire now ther actin’ mayor ov this hyer burg, vested with all ther ’thority ov ther posishun, and ef you don’t do honor to et, et’s your fault.” I sot down amidst much cheerin’. “ Bob,” I whuspurd, “ we aire thar.” “We aire gittin’ thar,’’ said Bob. “You have got ter say somethin’,” said I. “ What’ll I say?” he asked me. “ Make yer ’naugral speak,” said I. “What's that?” he asked. “Well, say somethin’,” I told him.. “Ye have got to. Remember, et ali *pends on you now.” Bob looked queerious, and no wonder, havin’ so much honor heaped onto him all to oncet, but I seen him grit his jaws and I knowed he would stand up to ther rack. He got on his feet. Et took him a minit to git his grip, but he got et. Then he looked around him, as if-he was monark ov all he surveyed, and fer a fact he was, too. “Feller galoots,” he said, right cut bold, “hyer’s greetin’ ye. You have done me.a honor ov which I am preud, and I'll try to do honor to ther trust re- posed in me.” He paused ter hikkup. They cheered. “ Fust and foremost, by ther power in me vested as mayor ov this hyer town, I order and decree a treat fer ther hull crowd ov ye, and may et be had with no delay. As fer me, jest fetch out a best, and I will drink bottle ov ther again to ther honor oy yer
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12 That was an extreme that I hadn’t jooked fer, but as et happened he had struck a pop’lar kord in ther crowd. Thar was ther biggest cheer oy all, and away they went fer ther Gilt Kdge. I was surveyin’ ther crowd, anid I sighted Sal Cuddyloop. a Thar was somethin’ in her eyes that Be \made me think that she thought mebby es. ‘a mistake had been made som’rs. : \ YI ’vyoided her glance all I could, but I ra seen her head a-bobbin’ this way and that as she gossiped with some ov ther other wimmin, and I surmised that some- thin’ was afoot. re They fetched out a bottle, same as my pard had ’quested, and he took a pull at et to ther health ov ther defunct, and handed et on to me. . With ther crowd lookin’ on, I couldn’t do other than foller suit, but when I had done so I slipped ther bottle under me in ther soap himself, CHAPTER XIV. THE FUNERAL SURMOUNT. Things wur gittin’ lovely. Ther goose wur hanging altitoodinous, you bet. My pard had took a seat on ther head ov ther coffin while we waited. That thar platform was onstiddy, and "was like ther deck ov a vessel in crum- pled waters. Purty soon ther crowd begun ter gather oncet more, comin’ out ov ther Gilt Edge a-wipin’ their mouths on their sleeves in a satisfied manner. Thar was a general onstiddyness ov carriage amongst ’em all. Et was observable to anybody. Me and Bob wur about the only re- spectable ones thar, ’cept ther wimmin. Wull, they gathered around oncet more, and then I guv Bob ther word that et was time fer ther funeral, “Bob?” said I. ““Wull?” said he. “ Ther funera.,” said I. *‘ What about et?” said he. “Preach et,” said I. ‘That thar sorter sobered him. Yes, I have ter admit that he wur gittin’ how-kum-ye-so. . He had been rumynatin’, ez et wur, ‘and had clean forgot that he was master ov sarymonies. He stiffened up a bit, and looked over - ther crowd, as if wonderin’ whur he was at, and ther crowd was growin’ some impatient. “Come, actin’ mayor!” shouted one galoot. aa: “Let’s hear from ye,” said another. Bae ik “ Whur’s yer sarmount?” “alk et out.” mri) Cae Ready! ” Bob staggered to his feet, and hang me ef I didn’t expect’ him ter go head- Jong off’n ther platform. ; I jumped up ter steady him, but that _ thar platform humped up in ther middle ther minnit I did so, and almost flung me - inter eternity. I sot down suddent, inter one ov ther soap boxes. \ _ My pard sot down almost as suddent, plump onto ther mesosternum ov ther defunct. -_ Sal Cuddyloop let out a whoop as loud’ as if he had sot down on her. . op ay ‘was in ther rear ov ther crowd, box, so’s Bob couldn’t make a pig ov. - ft ‘A You Bet LD from Cross Crick, “Men ov Sawbuck, pitch him off’n thar!” Sal yaupped out in tones of vine- gar. I knowed that crisus wur at hand, and I tried my best ter git up on my pins, but that thar soap box held me fast. ; Bob, too, seemed ter waken to ther importance ov ther ’casion. He made one or two efforts, and stood up. He tottered mightily, but he stood. “Fur shame on yer!” cried Sal. “Hold yer peace, old gal,” said Bob, wavin’ his hand soothin’, “I’m all right, you bet.” “You had orter be hanged, that’s what you’d orter be!” ther Amazon fired back at him. “I'd like ter do et fer ye.” “ Hold yer peace,” my pard repeated at her. “‘ Yer needn’t bother yer head about my hangin’, old lady. I am all right, and I’m mayor ov this yere camp, b’gosh!”’ He had got a hook fer his toes under ther edge of ther coffin, and that helped him ter brace up, “A disgrace to ther camp!” cried Sally. ‘An honor to et,” said Bob. *T say a disgrace! and if I could git at yer I’d nip ye short in ther bud, so ter speak!” “Stay whar ye be,” said Bob, wavin’ her scornful. ‘We aire now goin’ ter have ther funeral of this dear good man what’s passed in his chips. Let ther crowd obsarve due silence.” He waved his hands over ’em in a fath- erly way. . He looked plum gorjus, with his tall hat and black streamin’s, and I begun ter perk up a bit. I was all ther while tryin’ ter git out ov that soap box, but et held on faster’n a brother, and I couldn’t seem ter budge et wuth a cent. And Sal, she wur a-tryin’ ter work her way through, but ther crowd was thick in her direction, and ther men wur sorter ugly and wouldn’t give way to her jest on her say-so. “Friends and feller galoots,” said Bob, wavin’ and salaamin’ as much as he dared ter do, “give me yer ears fer a brief peeryud ov while, and I will show up ther vurchoos ov yer dear departed mayor, surnamed Gunsight, in a way that will do him proud,” Ther crowd perked up and cheered. “He wur a daisy mayor, as I have heard tell,” Bob continnered. “Et is a pity that ther good and beautiful have ter die young, but sech is life, and et can’t be helped. Many a better man has been hanged much younger than yer mayor hyer died. Thar is no respecter ov per- sons when ther grim deestroyer gits on yer trail.” I was proud ov Bob, and ther crowd cheered him some more. Gittin’ interested in what he wur say- in’, I fergot ter try ter git out of that box I was stuck in. “Tam no parson,” said Bob, further, 7 ona fer that reason can’t mebby send him off strick ’cordin’ to ther gospel plan, but I’ll do ther best I kin in thet thar di- rection.” 5 More yaups. ‘ Evén Sal was now listenin’. “Thar text ov ther ’casion will ms found some’rs, no matter jist whar, ye kin look et up some other time. Et is) in these hyer words: ‘The wicked cease from troublin’ and the weary is at rest.’ I take et that is a Brite. text fer this one with ther other wimmin ov ther | hyer case.’ He looked ground’ ‘ter see howe et took. yer.” I suppose things wur solid / ther dead man. - Ther crowd peemed ter swoller et all ht, br cin : | pints ORAS |: qoore and, tott fack, and ther wicked won’t d@- troublin’, you kin bet. When dis hat | dead he is dead, and that is thi“ thar i et. My pard,” wavin’ at me, | fer yer me what a noble feller Gunsinsight, | wur, so [ won’t dwell on that. hat, he vu sum uD his prospecks in t’other gurgle et wur.’ he was } More cheers. I holl “He is purty plum sartain o)-to and reception,” said Bob, furder. 's ther n no doubt beer received with and pressed plenty warm ther 1 got thar. And I ain’t no doubt in’ himself as much at home stances will admut, fer that wager must as you will all allow, I reckon. Hand n John, ther good, ther true, th€you’ll g ful, we mourn yer loss, but we ater one ter know’ that you aire out a0?” heartless world and in a warns a-gimt They whooped et. coffin it “Thar ain’t much more tol man 1 Bob still continnered, ‘You \sook m him, pards ov Sawbuck, and Cnd ter sq feels fer ye in yer sorrer. We héoap po; times felt fer ye in a differeniottle I « fact, hev gone gunnin’ fer ye f galoot occasions; but that is now a ‘ould $a, ther past. We now clasp hands/and du this open coffin, and pledge ye t} but I Crick is still able to take keer me!” and asks no odds ov anybodyped and nothin’ of Sawbuck City. You/almest — warmest symputhy in this yeryas. The git cori ldn’t w man by ther hand. The crowd whooped and ya hands. Et was a send-off good enogram anybody, I thought. . i But, Bob wasn’t done yet. wash! CHAPTER XV. 5 goin’ t CAPPIN’ THER CLIMAX,’ Would He was standin’ thar, was Bepart wi in’ in his pockets and a-looki#mect a ¢ on ther floor. My d, et i Et struck me thet he was 1¢Me befo somethin’, and et struck me at} Whistle time that. it was ther bottle tl put in ther soap box. har cro Also et struck me thet thet. wasn’t in ther same box that |that th: but in another one that was ji. my reach. I hadn’t dropped inte et is!” box. white t . Cy, ”- said Bob, “ “whur’s ters did at? yer dc “What bottle?” said I, . Puddyloc “Ther one I had,” he menti¢ ther ca “T dunno,” said L. in’ abo “T guv et to yer,” said he, so? that ¢ ted. n’t got Se Shur??? said. J, ow of. “Double shur,” he growlé hyer f x Don’ t yer try ter hide et, or own, he spoke He was a-lookin’ hard at mé then, ; save my life I couldn’t keepWVe'll sh from movin’ in ther direction|! aroun ther bottle was at. of the Bob follered my sight, and sig COncer1 “Hyer it is,” he cried, maki ray!” ye fer et. what ° He reached too fur; ther plaPPer thir a Jurch, and over he went. me git I am speakin’ figgery, you oPOP Was she mea ard Bob got ther bottle, and wh is body was Jaffin’ at him he go hin
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is hat and wavin’ ther bottle d that is thi“ thar is only one thing more in’ at me, | fer yer dead, and that is this ‘eller Guns nsight, hyer’s to yer health!” ll on that. tat, he ups with ther bottle and ‘S$ in t’othery gurgle. € was never goin’ ter stop. ’ I hollered. -to and righted ther bottle. 's ther matter? ’” he asked, won- n sartain b, furder. ved with o warm ther j git corned,” said I. no doubt Ridn’t wonder a bit ef I did,” at home af er that wager mustn’t till ther fun is over,” , I reckon. ‘Hand me that. bottle.” et true, the you’ll go and git corned,” said 3s, but we ater one than both ov us, don’t aire out a?” in a warns a-gimblin’ and a-bobbin’ over | coffin in a way that threatened 1 more tol man most desprut. d, “You lsook me and turned to ther ick, and Cnd ter save me I couldn’t git out rrer. We héoap box—not even ter git holt a differenjottle I couldn’t! in’ fer ye tf galoots!” he said again; “a is now a/ould say somethin’ about ashes lasp hands and dust to dust, or somethin’ pledge ye t; but I say speerut to speerut, take keer me!” v anybodyed aud gurgled again. City. You/almest wild, ter see how reck- n this yeryas. Ther bottle was more than ht John, yty! lefinite peehe had done gurglin’ he righted marcy on le again, and he looked out over his hat wh crowd, steady as he could, and and shookbn he spoke again. feller galoots, aS Mayor ov yer od and yal’ ther time bein’, it is in my , and I cl order what is ter my mind best nterests ov all consarned. This f good enoOgram is about drawin’ to a ne yet. > was"ne, by ther way he wob- R XV. 5 goin’ ter say,” he continnered, R CLIMAX,’ Would be right and proper, be- ar, was BePart with him ferever, ter give id a-looki#inect a drink. He will be a long d, et is most probable, and a he was ]¢Me before he will git a show ter ick me at} Whistle again. What do yer r bottle t har crowd was jist in ther hu- 6 thet thet. box that |that thar is a good idee!” cried hat was jit. opped inte et is!” said another. “ We must White thing by Gunsight John, whur’s thlers did by us.” yer do no sech thing!” piped id I. yuddyloop. “Het wull be a dis- he ménti¢ ther camp ef ye do! What aire xin’ about?” aid he, so? that old gal out,” cried Bob. n’t got no call ter chip in hyer, w of. Keep her out, and we'll .e growlé hyer funeral to suit ourselves.” de et, or Rt down, a-straddle of ther coffin. 8 spoke again. ard at m¢ then, after we hev drunk,” he in’t keep ive'll Shake hands with ther de- direction!! around, and that will end ther of tier day, so fur as his fu- it, and sig Concerned.” ied, makiitay!”’ yelped ther reckless cusses. What we'll do, and et will be ther pla?Per thing.” vent. ‘Ine git in thar, I tell yer!” Sal ry, you or pop Was a-yellin’ “ r solid eBhe meant business. ard had leaned over and got hold , and whlSight by ther shoulder, and he n he got him up, gerocaad face to face with d tottere defunct was. some limber about > saluted PC, , ther rigor mortus havin’ __. (of, but Bob On Be ov him by ron ey - Aare P Ag ON ‘ J Ri ne ee pa mee / You Bet Bob from Cross Crick. ther whiskers and held him steddy while he spoke ter him “ Gunsight John,” he said, feelin’-like, “this hyer is a sad partin’ fer you, but before you go let’s take one ter old times. Hyer’s lookin’ ye in ther eye and a-wushin’ ye well. Hyer’s to yer health on t’other side. Hyer’s to yer journe.” At each peerud he tipped and imbibed a swolle-. And Sal, she had her dander up, and she was a-sashayin’ to ther front. “ Now, pardner, et is your turn,” said Bob. “Bt wull soon be my turn,” hollered Sal. That thar crowd laffed wuss’n a pack ov wild hyeners over ther findin’ ov a feast, but ther defunct took et all in good part and never oncet offered ter kick. But, Sal did. I was a-strugglin’ my hardest to git out ov that thar box, but I couldn’t, and ther more I tried ther more I seemed ter stick fast; and by that time ther platform wur a-high-rollin’ at sech a rate that et was dangerous. That thar box seemed to weigh a ton, and every time I would fetch et clear et would pull me back with a force that nigh about loosened by teeth. And all ther time ther crowd wur whoopin’ et wild, as if et had been ther greatest sarcus they had ever seen in their lives. But, Sal was a-comin’, Ther rest didn’t see her, but I did. They all had their eyes to ther front, but I was facin’ t’other way. Her arms wur wavin’ like ther wings ov a windmill, and at every wave she fetched a couple ov galoots. Et was amazin’ to behold. And after her kem all ther rest of ther wimmin. They wur follerin’ in Sal’s wake, as et wur, and I looked fer a sad awakenin’ fer my pard. Et was a high time fer somebody ter nip his game in the bud. He was carryin’ a joke a leetle too fur: Sal Cuddyloop done ther nippin’! CHAPTER XVI. BOB IN A BOX. Thar was Bob, straddle ov ther coffin, and he didn’t dare to let go, fer if he had he would gone down in a heap, and he knewed et. He had loaded himself clear up to ther guzzle. Oncet let him git on his back, and he would be as dead as ther dead man, al- most. I knowed that, and so did he, and tharfor et was to his intrust to brace up long as he could do et. Gunsight had laid himself down again, and was behavin’ respectable. I opine he was the only decent galoot in ther gang. Sal Cuddyloop kem through that crowd like a shot out ov a mortar. She had buckled on her armor, as et wur, and she flung men right and left as she cut her swath. And on reachin’ ther front she reached over and cut my pard a swipe on ther cabeez that made him see stars. “T’ll Yarn ye some respeck fer ther dead!” she yelled at him, “Tll Varn ye ter—whoo-oop!” Thet thar swipe had done more’n she had figgered on. Bob had swayed a second or so, this way and that, as if pickin’ a place to fall, and bless me if he didn’t fall clean plum into her arms! Her whoop might ’a’ been heard a mile, I reckon. _ And no wonder, — 13 She guv a jump back, instead ov hug- gin’ to my pard as she had orter done, and off ther platform kem Bob. Down on ther ground he went, limber and flimp, and then ther way Sal whoop- ed was a caution ter kill. And all ther other wimmin took et up till et was like bedlum let out fer a hol- lyday. Ther crowd ov men sorter took skar at what had happened, thinkin’ et was Gunsight, and stampeded like a lot ov cattle, leavin’ me thar to faee ther moo- sic ther best I could in my situashun. I tried again ter git out ov that box, but no go; I was thar to stay. And Amazon Sal, she was a givin’ et to my pard right and left, and he unable ter lift a finger in his ’fense. “T’ll lam ther stuffin’ out ov ye!” she shrieked, ketchin’ him one on ther left. side ov his head. “ I’ll knock ther livin’ daylights out ov ye!” ketchin’ him one on t’other side. And I really thought she would, too. “ Hold on, fair maiden!’ I hollered out to her. ‘“ He’s my pard, and I can’t see him ’bused like that.” “T’ll sarve you ther same!” she hol- lered back at me. “T’ll ’tend ter you soon’s I git done with him! I'll show ye that ye can’t come hyer frum Cross Crick and run things as ye please!” I got some frantic, about that time. You bet I made a grand splurge to git out ov that soap box. But, et wasn’t ther least use, fer ther darn thing stuck to me wuss’n a case OV fever. And all ther time my pard was a-get- tin’ et hot on every side from haff a dozen or more ov them wimmin, till I thought he was plum shur dead, J hollered and struggled, but ther more I struggled ther harder I seemed ter stick in that box, and that platform was cuttin’ antics wuss’n a balloon in a chop wind. In my frantic efforts to git to my pard’s rescue, I did git haff onto my feet oncet, but I didn’t stay thar wuth a cent. I took to runnin’ backwards, and ther next I knowed I was flyin’ into eternity from off’n that thar platform, and I kem down on ther ground in a way to make me think I had dropped from ther moon. At first I was dazed, but I purty soon got my bearin’s. I could look under ther platform, and thar was them wimmin still a-punishin’ my pard. They wur about satisfied by that time, though, and as a last bit ov spite they took ther coffin down, lifted Gunsight tenderly out, and slammed my pard into ther box in a way that made my blood run cold ter witness. Havin’ done their wust, they took their dead mayor up and carried him tenderly away in their arms, and in a minnit or two Sal Cuddyloop and all her gang had disappeared from ther scene. I was thankful they had fergot me. My pard was like a dead man—in fact, I feared he was a dead man. I called to kim, but got no ’sponse, and I struggled some more to git out ov ther, fix I was in, but et wasn’t no use. Every time I tried et, ther ground would take on a rollin’ that would dump me, and finally I made up my mind I would have to take et easy till some good Samaritan kem my way. Ther wimmin gone, ther crowd begun ter come back. They wur all talkin’ and shoutin’ ter ye and I siseariara make ’em hear me ata id carriass ome ov them a good | Poel y peas % eS Every jack ov ‘em had aboard all he
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t ery minnit fer ’em to Laer my bord all 14 more, and lots ov ’em wur strewed around on ther ground onable ter stand up. They kem to ther coffin, and ther first thing they done was to slap on the lid. That made me plum crazy. Did they mean to bury my pard? Did they mistake him for ther late lamented? { tried ter holler, but somehow my voice had gone hoarse and I couldn’t make a sound that could be heard above all ther babel that was goin’ on, and they picked that coffin up and sot et on ther platform. Then I heard ’em a-plannin’, “We might as well cut et short now,” “one of ’em said. “Yes, that’s so,” said another. ‘“‘ Poor Gunsight, et was rough on him, et shur Was.” “But rougher on them fellers from Cross Crick,” said another. ‘“ Wonder if Sal left any life in ’em at all? Let’s pull "em out and see ef she did.” ““No, let ’em lay thar; we'll ’tend to them later on. They won’t git away till we have planted Gunsight, and then we'll come back hyer and finish ther job Sal bergun.” I was struck with horror. Et was my pard they had in that thar box, as I said! Ther more I tried ter holler ther more my voice got husky, and I was onable ter whusper. It was plum desprut. Wull, they gathered around thar in force, all a-talkin’, and after a time they shouldered ther coffin and started fur ther place ov plantin’. Then I went plum wild. My pard go- in’ ter be buried alive, and me onable ter ¥ do a thing in his behaff! Dear reader, kin ye fetch up a feller feelin’ to ’pre- sheate what I felt? If ye kin, do et. Worst ov all, two of them fellers had taken our hats, and they was at ther head oy ther proseshun, ther chief mourn- ers! Some feller had brought out Lippy Doozberry’s ’corjun, and was makin’ a doleful sound on et, not able to play a bit, and in that fashion they took ther circle ov ther camp. Havin’ done, they set forth fer ther Zrave, and ther last I seen ov my pard was his wooden overcoat, when they rounded a bend in ther gulch. Oh! but I was plum gaboo’d. But et was no use my strugglin’ against fate; thar I was, fast in a soap box. ne ete CHAPTER XVII. MB ’N’ SAL. My pard was doomed; I felt that in my bones. So distressed I was, that I hardly knowed whur I was at, shur. .I seemed ter be hangin’ on by ther rag- ged edge ov nowhar, and all ther world swimmin’ around me. Ther ground was a-heavin’ and a-roll- in’, ther houses wur a-hobnobbin’ with one another, and ther hills round about "peared to be havin’ a dizzy waltz. I don’t know that I ever had anything to distress me ther way my pard’s fate ‘distressed me then, and me powerless to lift a finger fer him. Thar I had ter lay, , watchin’ his funeral purseshun. And that purseshun, by ther way, was |. & queerious affair. It wormed and wobbled along wuss’n 2 snake with a jag on, and I looked ev- You Bet Bob from Cross Crick. Then ov a suddint et kem to me that | this wasn’t my pard’s purseshun, but an- other one; that/et was made up ov wim- min, and that Sal Cuddyloop was at ther head ov it! Shur enough; fer hadn’t my pard’s fu- neral kurtayzh already gone out ov sight? Fer shur et had, and I rubbed mine eyes. . I looked hard. Ther surprise sorter cleared my head a bit, and ther ground seemed to grow a degree more quiet. Thar was no mistakin’ et; thar was Sal Cuddyloop, with all ther rest ov ther wimmin’ ov ther camp after her, and they was bearin’ ther late lamented on a shutter. They wur comin’ ther platformni. I sorter shrunk up and wished thet I could hide myself in that thar soap box entirely. Then I thought ov my pard again, and that sorter roused me up to ther danger he was in, and my head sorter quieted a bit and I tried ter holler out. \ To my delight I found that I had got my voice back again some. “Sal!” I hollered. ‘Sal Guddyloop! ” “T’ll give ye Sal,” she fired back at me, comin’ near. “T don’t want her,” I ’torted, “but I eg want my pard, and you must save im.” “Your pard bur darn!” she snapped. “Whur is that.thar coffin at, I want ter know? Whur is all ther men critters? Speak up, o- I'll Jam ther duff out ov yer!” “That is jist et,’ [ murmured. “ You dumped my pard into that thar coffin, and they have sot off to bury him, think- in’ et is yer defunct mayor; and they will have done ther job fer him if ye don’t hustle to ther rescue. Fur the love—”’ “ Him in that thar coffing!”’ she yawp- ed at me. “ Him a-disgracin’ the kaskut that was made fer Gunsight John!” “Anyhow, thar he is,” said I. ther love ov heayen save him!” *T’ll save that coffing!”’ she hollered. Off she sot, on a run. “Git me out’n this hyer box,” I begged ov ther rest ov ther wimmin. Two ov ’em ondertook ther job, and one pullin’ me and t’other pullin’ gee box, they managed to tear us asunder, et wur. As soon as I was on my pins I started after Sal. Ov all ther crooked trails I ever fol- lered in my life, I am free ter say that was ther plum crookedest. I could see Sal all ther time, but I would no sooner take her bearin’s in one direction than I would find her in an- other, and et took me haff ther time to zigzag that thar gulch. I was thankful that OF wasn’t any wider. But, mebby my mind was better’n her’n, fer I was most up to her by ther time we reached ther plantin’ ground. Thar was ther citizens ov Sawbuck City, flocked around ther open hole in ther ground, and they wur about ter de- posit my pard in ther earth fer keeps, I tell yer. “Hold on!” yelled Sal. “Yas, hold on!” bellered I. “Yer have got ther wrong man!” said Sal. “Et is my pard ye have got in ther box!” said I. They stopped, plum dazed with amaze, and looked at us. On we dashed, Sal first and me second, in ther direction ov * Fur a sage Ek sn when we kem up. hand ad PN ors. ae on " ah Thar was a slight dow down s and Sal was goin’ at sech a Hl couldn’t seem ter stop. Ther coffin was jist ahead}, I expected sure enough she trip over et, but she didn’t;? an’ caught hold oy et and wa But, what about me? i I realized. all ov a suddenb goin’ down that slope with fv In watchin’ Sal and thin fate, I had fergot all about ther time bein’, and hadn’t! put on ther brakes a bit. fe Now that I tried to, et wa couldn’t no more stop thant and jist ther minnit that S straightened up, I collided wi on. Over that thar coffin she‘ first, and into ther grave, a? her Jead instanter. In we wur, fer a hard fact.® Then mebby thar wasn’t was no fun fer us. Ef thar had been a thous& in that hole they couldn’t ’a’! wussn’ what that old gal did.) I really thort that ther di} ment had arrove, and that handed over to ther tender? ther Old Boy himself, and { rubbin’ me down, . She bit and scratched andf yelled in a\way that was a hold, I reckon. Et shur was amazin’ to exp She made shreds and rav funeral fixin’s in short orde coat and vest shameful, and) dered my shirt into ribbons. 1 what wild havoc she would h when she got down to bare hil But, I was saved before et ¢ Friendly hands wur let & and I was lifted out’n’ that» was more dead ’n alive. p Then they helped out Sé wanted to continner ther job gun, but they kept her off’ that I wasn’t in no fit shape round jist then. Sal’s back ha’r was all d was lashin’ et to and fro heffer lashes her tail. “T’ll finish him yet!” she ed, shakin’ her fist. “Put et off, I berseech o tered. “ Citerzens, my par thar coffin, alive!” That brought ’em back to ov life oncet more, and they) thar coffin forthwith in a haste, and thar was my par I was consarned, fearin’ sure enough dead. But, he was only dead i a-sleepin’ oif his booze. They dumped him out, an out ov ther way, and by th rest ov ther wimmin had CO, Gunsight. He was laid tenderly to } long box, ther wimniin re face, after his bitin’ ther manner I have set forth, was secured oncet more. Sal and ther wimmin had men away, and now they low funct into his hole. Et was sollum, ez sollum af I had crawled over to w was at, and was tryin’ ter rd Et wasn’t no use, though, stone gone, so ter speak, while they wur fillin’ in couldn’t git a peep out ov ther grave had been filled up, then Sal Cuddyloop too
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i CHAPTER XVIII. lope jes aa rate th) HOW WE KEM OUT. vy,” she hollered at ther rest ov | ov heimmen, “ we'll settle with these was goisses from Cross Crick! ”’ - she st myself turn sorter pale, fer I 1g safe.vant no more ov her kind ov set- tin mine, I tell yer. t+ that bhus madam,” said I, “ my pard is ull steahd—” nkin’ oj dead drunk,” she snapped at me. t mysefix him in short order, you bet!” t thougbid et!” I cried, sorter gittin’ hot ‘collar and standin’ on my dignity. 4g no wmy pard, and I ferbid yer mon- I coulwith him in any—’” al Cudds goin’ ter say—way, shape, or ith her,; but she cut me a swipe under r that knocked et all out ov me . went,i° me over on my back with my nd I foigher’n my head. e ov your lip!” she screamed, “ or 1 git more ov ther same kind ov fun—h.” _ my pard is dead,” I faltered. and wilvull be,” said she. went firabbed holt ov one ov Bob's legs, ; other woman another, and in a lay ov twinklin’ they had looped on ther I hadaat had been used ter lower ther * merciito ther hole. that h@> done that, ther wimmin got holt ropes, and away they went with | claweq, draggin’ him on his back over nazin’ hgh ground. up on my pins ther best I could eriencent after ‘em. elin’s Oy I didn’t holler! r, rippewed plum surtain that they would almost) sure enough, if they kept that Hard tne up fer long. ave WIlChey didn’t pay no ’tenshun to me; lide. apt right on, and purty soon I came tOay was headin’ fer ther crick, and lown tohollered all ther more, fer I had hole, -lyoice back again: wed they meant ter heave Bob in, al, andtnowed plum shur that he would she hadyed. n me, frest ov ther male poppylashun . fer ani me, and we all run like mad. tuddyloop was in ther van, her wn, anqavin’ in ther wind, and she ‘was uss’n @wuss’n a wild Injun. was no let up to et till they kem gently Yorick, and thar they stopped, took s 1a up, and into ther water they ye: +*him, kerslush! and then pulled 1 is in. by ther ropes. } went again, and out again, and ther rea. time I got thar they had done openedtnree times sartain. e degréeq up reckless and cut Sal a slap . jaw— he MUE" happened jist then I hardly jut ther next I did know I was git- | his S®y that crick more dead’n alive. kicked#er men and wimmin wur laffin’ 4 re er kill, and they did say that Sal me up ‘ked me up and flung me in all erself, without a hand’s help from in y. wapnet that, even though I can’t prove in’ t so. beg Mo I got out, about a dozen ov ’em onto me and flung me in eee leared Y kept that up till all was a blank. rat (id 1 kem-to I sot up and looked 5 et wasas growin’ dark, and ther crowd ur my | in ther direction ov ther Gilt yuse hin fer he} on ther bank ov ther crick, and ind all ked around I espied my pard. He her graup about ther same time and sot him. W looked around him in sim’lar and rou} ther jo,” said I, “ whur aire we at, any- i o ; ¥ } \ You Bet! Bob from Cross Cric k. 15 “Yer kin hang me fer a sick kitten ef | Before we got home we fell in with a ” I know,” was what he spoke. He was a sight to behold, and I opine that I was sim’lar—in fact, I know et. “Bob,” said I, “have Wwe had fun enough?” * Plenty enough,’ “T move that we go home, “TI second ther prompt enough. We got onto our pins, and took a fur- ther survey ov things around. About ther time we wur doin’ that we heard a yell, and a dozen wimmin swoop- ed down onto us. We tried to dodge ’em, but et wasn’t no use; they had us before we knowed whur we was at,.and off they marched us to ther camp, prisoners ov war, ef so I might say. Thar we found that a change had took- en place in our absence. Sal Cuddyloop had been ’lected actin’ mayor, and she was on ther platform in all ther pomp ov greatness. She had on all ther remnants ov our mournin’, includin’ ther streamers from our hosses’ tails, and one of our tall hats, mine or Bob’s, and no matter which et was. Other wimmin: wur on ther platform with her, and et looked as if et was pet- ticoat rule thar at Sawbuck. And et shur was, fer ther time bein’. Well, me and Bob wur brought up be- fore her, and she looked us chillin’ scorn- ful when she sot eyes onto us. She stood up in her place, and she said, said she: “ Wimmin and men ov Sawbuck City, hyer aire the two galoots that have brung disgrace upon our beloved town this day. I demand ov ye all, as actin’ mayor ov ther camp, what shall be done with ’em?” * Shoot ’em up!’ hollered one feller. “Tar andéeather ’em!” cackled one ov ther wimmin. “That is what I would do, ef we had ther tar to do et with,” said Sal; and I believe she would, too. ‘‘ But, bein’ as we ain’t got et, I am goin’ to send ’em home as a warnin’ to ther galoots ov Cross Crick not ter come hyer any more under no sarcumstances.” Thar was cheerin’. “Fetch forth their hosses!” she or- dered, wavin’ her hand as if she’ owned ther hull camp. Some fellers set off to do ther fetchin’, and she ordered some more to bring ropes a-plenty; so et wasn’t long till she had ther hosses and ther ropes on hand. “Now,” she further ordered, “ bind ’em and tie ’em onto their critters with their faces to ther south ov ther same, and start ’em off. Ef they git home, well and good, and if they don’t, no matter. Et ain’t likely they will pine fer any more funerals hyer, and if they ever do come again they will come to their own, they kin ’pend on’t!” So, they took us and they tied us fast onto our critters, same as she had told ’em, face to our hosses’ tails; and then, amidst ther greatest whoopin’ ye ever heerd tell ov in yer life, they sot us adrift, and we cut loose fer Cross Crick at a desprut rate, jist as ther shades ov night wur burginnin’ ter hover over ther guich, as if a kind Provvydence wanted ter hide us from ther gaze ov mortal man in our disgrace. As our hosses carried us over ther ridge that inclosed ther gulch, we didn’t have ter look back—seein’ as we wur already face about—ter see a grand and highfa- lutin’ display ov fireworks to sullybrate ther wind-up ov ther plum greatest day ther camp ov Sawbuck had ever had in ’ said Bob. ” said I. ‘ moshun,” said he, its history. | And thar’s ther hull story, eee Pe Ne rl ‘ ees, ; pard who kindly set us free and put us right on our hosses, and when I writ ther thing up fer ther Howler I omitted some ov ther minor details that I have men- shuned hyer. THE END. 2 Beatlle’s Half-Dime Library. BY GEORGE ©, JENKS. 485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Decttor; or, Deadhold, the Kid Detective. 581 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. 59s Flute, the Singer Detective; or, Owney In a New Role, 608 The Pitcher Detective’s Foil; or, Dan’s Double Play. 616 The Ocean Detective: or. The Last Cruise ofthe Black Bear, 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussle. 786 Larry the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Side. 779 Iron Hand, the Charmed Detective 854 Uncle Sam’s Detective In Chicago. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl. 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 7% Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 288 Joe Buck of Angels and His Boy Pard. 447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham. 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling. 464 Nimble 3 ick, the Circus Prince. 498 Taos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Half-Breed Detective. : 518 Cool Colorado in New York: or, The Cowboy's Fight, } BY JOSEPH £. BADGER, JR, 2 Vellowastore Jacky; or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Hurricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard. 119 Muatang Sam ; or, The King of the Plains. 186 Night-linwk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Glant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly mat or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trallers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, } 08 The a Pards; or, Dainty Lance Unmaska, 11 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 10 The Barranca Wolf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. The Black Rider? or, The Horse-Thieves’ League. Old Double Fists or, The Strange Guide " The King of the Woods: or. Daniel Boone’s Last Trail.) <it Fox, the Border Boy Detective. ‘hincapin Dan, the oy Tratler. ‘hineapin Dans Second Trail. Yhincapin Dan’s Home Stretch. Id Crazy, the Man Without a Head, Aght-Heart Lute’s Legacy. Aghi-MWenart Tute’« Last Trail. 28 Silverblaic, the Shoshone. 29 Silverblade, the Half-Blood; or, The Border Beagle at Bay, 89 Silverblade, the Hostile; or, The Border Beagte’s Tratl. 748 Slilverbiade the Friendly; or, The Border Beagle’s Boy Pard we _ cS o me —) rlele! Ss 9 0 1 fad a a PAINS DT MSCS oO “ SAEPWOLAMSAA z BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER. 15 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Page: or, The Doge’s Denghter. 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 120 Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. 154 The Sword Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s tg 200 The Boy Bedoutne; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance 214 Wolfyang, the Robber of the Rhine. 249 Milo Romer the Animal King; er, Round the World 265 The Tiger Tamer; or, The League of the Jungle. 881 Black Nick, the Demon Rider. 895 California Joe’s War Trail. BY MAJOR HENRY B,. STODDARD, Ex-Scout, 806 Neck-Tle Ned: or, The Dug-Out Pards. 846 Rapier Raphael; or, The Swordsmen of Zacatecas, $91 Kid-Glove Kit, the Dandy of the Rockies. $98 Kid-Glove Kit and Pard; or, The Gold King, 406 The Mad Man-Hunter; or, The Golden Gulch Mystery 605 Powell’s Pard; or, The One-Armed Giant. BY CAPT. MARK WILTON, 256 Young Kentuck; or, The Red Lasso. 270 Blizzard Ben; or, The Riot at Keno Camp. 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot. BY ARTHUR C. GRISSOM, 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowie Kid. 558 The Sure-Shot Parda, 621 Truthful James the “ Pecoooliar” Man, BY PHILIP &. WARNE. OT Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 Captain Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Gamew 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat. 219 Despard, the Dueliat; cr, The Mountain Vempires. 888 A Tough Boy ; or, The Dwarf’s Revenge. 868 Little Tornado; or, The Outcasts of the Glen. 878 Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. 888 Little Oh-my 3 or, Caught in His Own Trap. ot heey Spero ae] or, A Race for a Ranch. e ather-Breeches ; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse. | . 481 Little Ah Sin; or, The "rat of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the sliner. 480 Three Jolly Parda; or. The Pets of Pasdy’s Flat. 517 Jim Gladden’s Deputy; or, The Jolly Pard’s Sage plow 527 The Jolly Par da to the Rescue; or, The Jack of Heurta, $47 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down, 5656 Lariat. Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. 574 Old Weasel-top, the Man with the Dogs. 598 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. 599 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport. 618 Billy Blazes; or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. G13 Wapyy Harty ’s Big Fledy on The Bonatite! Sercbet appy Harry’s ndy or, an eel 664 Cheeky Charley the Special. The Half- Dime Library is for asle by all newsdealers, five _ cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, _ SLY ee
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_——— —-— BEADLE'’S+« H ALF- DIME*] IBRARY. Fe ‘itis ¥ : Published Hvery Tuesday. 1 Deadwood . 20 Deadwood 28 Deadwood | 85 Deadwood 42 Deadwood 49 Deadwood | 57 Deadwood | 78 Deadwood '?7 Deadwood 100 Deadwood 104 Deadwood 109 Deadwood 129 Deadwood 188 Deadwood 149 Deadwood 156 Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood 05 Deadwood ? Deadwood Deadwood 282 Gold-Duat 268 Deadwood 268 Deadwood BO9 Deadwood Deadwood 847 Deadwood Deadwood 262 Deadwood BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. ; Deadwood Dick Novels. Dick, the Prince ot the Road. Dick’s Deflance; or, Double Daggers Dick in Disguise; or, Buffalo Ben Dick in Hia« Castle. Dick’s Bonanza; or, The Phantom Miner. Dick in Danger; or, Omaha Oll. Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. Dick on Deck; or, Calamity 4 ine, the Heroine Dick’s Last Acts or, Corduroy Charlie. Dick in Leadville. Dick’s Device; or, The Double Cross Sign. Dick as Detective. Dick’a Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. Dick’s Home Kase; or, Blonds Bill. Dick’s Big Strike; or, A Game of Gold. Dick of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party. Dick’s Dreamy or, The Rivals of the Road. Dick’a Ward; or, The Black Hill’s Jezebel. Dick’s Doom: or, Calamity Jane’s Adventure. Dick’a Dead Decal. Dick’s Death-Plant. Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Tovghs, Dick’s Divides or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. Dick’s Denth Trail. Dick’s Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon, Dick’s Pozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats Dick’s Ducata; or, Days in the Diggings. Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta, Dick’s Claim. 405 Deadwood 410 Deadwood Deadwood 480 Deadwood 448 Deadwood Dead wood 458 Deadwood 459 Deadwood 465 Deadwood 471 Deadwood 476 Deadwood 451 Deadwood 491 Deadwood 496 Deadwood Dick in Dead City, Dick’s Diamonds. Dick in New York; or, A “ Cute Case,” Dick’sa Duat; or, The Chained Hand. Pick, Jr.3 or, The Crimson Crescent Sign, Dick, Jr.’s, Defiance. Dick, Jr’«a Full Hand. Dick, Jr.’«, Big Round-Up. Dick Jr.’s Racket at Claim 10, Pick, Jr.’a Corral; or, Bozeman Bill, Dick, Jr.’a, Dog Detective. Dick, Jr.» In Deadwood, ey 5 gt) Pomipect. “K Jr. ® inheritance, 500 Deadwood Dick, Jroa Diggings. 5608 Deadwood Dick, dr.’s, Deliverance, 515 Deadwood Dick Jr.'s Protegee. 622 Deadwood Dick. Jr.'«, Three. 529 Veadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Danger Ducka, 584 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s,; Death Munt. 539 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Texas. 544 Deadwood Dick, dr., the Wild West Vidocg 549 Deadwooa Dick, Jr., on Hia Mettle. 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Gotham. 561 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Boaton. 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadelphia, 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago. 578 Deadwood Dick. Jr.. Afloat. 584 Deadwooe Dick. vr.. in Denver. 590 Deadwood Jr.'s, Decree. 400 Headwood Dick, Jn? ut Geace tee 4 eK, or.» & one aland. 606 Deadwood Dick, Irs, Leadville Lay, 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Detrolt. 618 Deadwood Dick. Jr. in Cinctnuati, 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Nevada. 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in No Man’« Land, 686 Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer. 642 Deadwood ;. Jr.. in Buffalo. 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Chase Across the Continent sae co pee ia en the ene r.'s neaurance nse. 666 Deadwood Mick, Jr., Back in the Mines. 672 Deadwood dr., tn Durango; or, ‘ Gathered In.” S34 eae bate Shi ewer?) or, Found a Fortune, eandwo ra. Dazzle. 690 Deadwood Jr’«. Dollara. 54 penawees ors af Donner Divide, adwoo r.’a, Drop. 704 Deadwood Jr., at Jack-Pot, 710 Deadwood Jr., in San Franclaco, 716 Deadwood JrJa Still Wunt. 722 Doadwood Jr’a Dominoes, 728 Doadwood Jr.’« Diagulae, ous peed wese eri aoume peal, end wok r.’*, Deathwatch, T47 Deadwood dr.’s, loublet. T52z Deadwood Jr.’a, Deathblow. T58 Deadwood dr.’s Desperate Stralt, 764 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Lone Hand. T7O0 Deadwood Jrs Defeat. ; : peg at Bee’ ore peservection. end wooa r."4 ark aya. TST Deadwood Jr.» Defied. 792 Dead wood Jr.'s, Double Device, 797 Deadwood Jr’.s, Desperate Venture, 4} +44 pepawses bap semen moe, enawooe r,s. oya uah. 812 Deadwood D Iron HMeud-off. 816 Deadwood Jr.’s, Rival. S22 Deadwood dr.’s, Boom. S828 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Scoop. 884 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Proxy. 840 Deadwoed Dick, Jr.’s, Clutch. 8465 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, High Horse. 852 Deadwood Dick Jr., at Devil’«a Gulch. 858 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Veath-Hole Hustle, 868 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s Bombshell. 870 Deadwood Dick, Jr.,"in Mexico, S76 Deadwood Dick, Jr’a Decoy Duck. S82 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Silver Pocket. S91 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Dead-Sure Game 89S Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Double Drive. 904 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Trade-Mark. 910 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Tipit ep. eke Bonruens pie » ay Dero are eadwoo Jick, Jr. at Dollarville. 984 Deadwood Dick, Jr.. at Flush Flats 940 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, en pip 946 Deadweod Dick, Jr.’s, Double Drop. 95t Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Right Bower. 957 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Ten-Strike. 965 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Gold-Dust. 9TL Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Oath, 977 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death-Doom. 986 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Best Card. 992 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at_Gold Dust. 998 Deadwoed Dick, Jr.'s, Big Play. 1005 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Branded. 1011 Dsadword Dick, Jr.'s. Dutch Pard. 1018 Deadwood Dics, JIr.’s, Big Four. BY T, J. FLANAGAN, 109 Midehipman Pare, the Pirate Catcher. 925 The ¥ a, yd ane d Captain. ; 988 ‘The Two fdshipmen; or, The Corsair-Chaser’s First ruise, 949 The Three Lieutenante 959 The Mascot Middy ; or, The Four Commanders, 966 Fighting Jack Shubrick. gz Jack’s Middtes ; or, Dandy Dick’s Dasb 972 ht! 990 Fact ang, the Privateer Rover. 1014 Middy Ned, tke Runaway, 5 Mi f ¥ us ae ea ; {% % ‘ : Ao AMS ; ‘ae Oi at ist nn = Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by all Newsdealers.. Other Novels Ly E. L. Wheeler. 80 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Rosebud Rob on Mand; or, Idyl, the Girl Miner. 88 Rosebud Rob's Reappearance; or, Photograph Phil. Rosebud Rob’s Challenge; or, Cinnamon Chip. Denver Doll, the Detective Queen; or, The Yankee’s Surround Denver Doll’s Victory; or, Skull and Crossbones, 285 Deuver Doll’s Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza. 296 Denver Doll’s Drift; or, The Road Queen. 868 Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gathererys or, The Life Lottery, 873 Yreka Jim’s Prize; or, The Wolves of Wake-Up, i 885 Yreka Jim’s Jokers or, The Rivals of Red Nese, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective; or, Dot Leetle Game, 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter 244 Blerra Sam, the Frontier Ferret; or, A Sleter’s Devotion, 248 Sierra Sams Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sierra Sam’s Pard; or, The Ange! of Big Vista. 2558 Sierra Saim’s Seven; or, The Stolen Bride. 884 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner. 889 Kangaroo Kit’s Racket; or, The Pride of Played-Out. 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Lifein New York. —~ 96 Watch-Eye, the Detective; or, Arabs and Angels. 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 145 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. 161 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 226 The Arab Detective ; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp. 291 Turk the Boy Ferret. 825 Kelley, Hickey & Co,, the Detectives of Philadelphia. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Detective, 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Mat Marry, the Base Ball Detective. 426 Sam Slabsides, the Beggar-Boy Detective. 434 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives, 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures, 82 Bob Woolf: or, The Girl Dead-Shot 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team 92 Canada Chet ; or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. 118 Jaek Hoyle the Young Speculator. 125 Bonanza Bill, Miner; or, Madam Mystery, the Forger,. 188 Boss Bob the King of Bootblacke. 141 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent; or, The Branded Brows, 177 Raeby Nick of Nevaday or, The Sierras Scamps. 181 Wild Frank the Buckskin Bravo; or, Lady Lily’s Love, 286 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado: or, Rowdy Kate. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator; or, The Locked Valley. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs. 880 Little Qu!ck-Shot or, The Dead Face of Daggersville, 858 First-Class Fred, the Gent from Gopher. 878 Nabob Neds or, The Secret of Slab City. 882 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, 438 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher; or, A Son's Vengeance. 486 Sealakim Sam, the Sparkler; or The Tribunal of Ten. 918 Kit Keith, t e Revenue Spotter. $22 Sol Sharpé, the New York Night-Iawk,. 948 Old Hayseed Among Bunco Men, 1001 Banty, the Denver Bootblack. BY J. C. COWDRICK, 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 614 Brondway Billy’« Boodle; or, Clearing aStrange Case, 586 Broadway Billy’s ‘ Difikilty.” 557 Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. 579 Broadway Billy’« Surprise Party. 605 Broadway Billy; or, The Boy Detective’d Big Inning, 628 Broadway Billy’s Dead Acti or, The League of Seven Broadway Billy Abroad: or, The Bootblack In Frisco, 675 Broadway Billy’s Beasts or, Beating San Francisco's Finest. 687 Broadway Billy tn Clover. * Broadway Billy tn Texas; or, The River Rustlers, Broadway Billy’« Brand. 711 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe; or, The Clever Deal. 720 Broadway Billy’s F'ull Hand: or, The Gamin Detective, 785 Broadway Billy’« Business. 788 Broadway Billy’s Curtous Case. Broadway Billy in Denver. 762 Broadway Hilly’s Bargain; or, The Three Detective, 769 Broadway Lilly, the Retriever Detective. 775 Broadway Billy's Shadow Chase. 788 Broadway Billy’s Beagles; or, The Trio’s Quest. 786 Broadway Billy’« Team; or, The Combine’s Big Pull. 790 Broadway Billy’« Brigade; or, The Dead Alive. 796 Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequest. 800 Broadway Billy Baffled. 805 Broadway Blily’« Wipe ¢ 810 Broadway 815 Broadway Billy’« Kank Racket. Billy’s Bloff. Rroadway 826 Broudway Billy Among Jersey Thugs. Billy’«a Raid. Broadway 889 Broadway Billy’« Big Boom. 844 Rroadway Billy’« Big Bulge. Broadway. Billy's #100,000 Snap. 856 Broadway Billy's Blind: or, The Bootblack Stowaway, 862 Broadway Billy in London. Broadway Billy Shadows London Sluma, 874 Broadway Billy’« French Game. 880 Broadway Billy and the Bomb-Throwera. 860 Silvyer-Maak, the Man of Mystery; or, The Golden Keys. 869 Shasta, the Gold King}; or, For Seven Years Dead, 420 The Detective’s Aprren tice; or, A Boy Without s Name, 424 Oibuta Jontin; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar, 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 506 Redlight Ralph. the Prince of the Road. ingineer Detective; or, Redlight Ralph’s Resolve 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 671 Atr-Line Lake the Young Engineer; or, The Double Case 592 The Boy Pinkerton; or, Running the Rascals Ont. 615 Fighting Marry the Chief of Chained Cyclone, 640 Bareback Beth, the Centaur of the Circle, 647 Tyrewriter Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward. 659 Moonlight Morgan the * Piseneat’’ Man of Ante Bar, 887 Battery Bob. the Dock Detective. 894 Arizona Dick's Wipe-Out, 900 Jumping Jack’a Jubilee. 906 Safety Sam, the Cvele Sport. 912 Train Boy Trist’s Hot Hustle, 918 The Trump Dock-Roy. 924 Big Boota Bob, the Fire-Laddie. 980 Kuatler Ralph, the Bey Spotter. 985 The Ex-Neweboy Detective’s Chum. 941 The Bowling Green Detective’s Drop. 944 Cowboy! Charlie’*« Double. 947 The Bowery W reatler: or, The Butcher-Boy’s Backer. 958 Paddy's Trump Card; or, Silver Sallie, the Girl Sport. 960 The Broadway Sports or, Flyer Fred’s Clear Case. 987 £1000 Reward: or, The Rival Reporters’ Sleek Scoop. 978 Bantam Billy, the Corker-Ferret. 978 Plucky Pat, the Btreet-Boy Detective. 989 Bicycle Bob’s Hot Scorch, 997 Scoreher Sam, the Detective on Wheels 004 Scorcher Sam's Sweep-Stakes 009 Dune Girl Oy cliat’s Winning Hand. BY WILLIAM PERRY BROWNE. 956 Brooklyn Bob’s Bulge}; or, Dodger Dot’s Diamond Snap. 968 The East-Side Spotter: or, Turning Down the Big Three 974 Old Sant’s Dark Peal; or, Miner Mat’s Iron Grip, 1015 The Rem ‘er-Detective’s Big Pull. ~~ ast 8 i er Z » , aes ¢ hy ea SOO aes BUFFALO BILL NOVELS, BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 1018 Buffale Bill« Texas Team. 1007 Buffalo Bill's Sure-Shota. 1000 Buffalo Bill's Decoy Boye. 995 Buffalo Bill’« Drop; or, Dead-Shot Ned , the Kansas Kw 988 Buffalo Bill's Lasso Throwers. 981 Buffalo Bill's Fighting Five. 975 Buffalo Bill’ Hifle & ote. 968 Buffalo Bill's Kush Rides or, Sure-Shot, the High-Fly» 964 Buffalo Btil’« Decoy ; or, The Arizona Crack Shot, 958 Buffalo Bill’« Mazeppa-Chase. 948 Buffalo Bill's Snap-Shot ; or, Wild Kid’s Texan Ts 942 Buffalo Bill's Tough Tussle. 936 Buffalo Bill’s Boy Mascot; or, Joe Jarvis’ Hold-up, 929 Buffalo Bills Crack-shot Pard. 650 Buffalo Bill’s Boy Pard; or, Butterfly Billy, 216 Bison Bill, the Prince ot the Reine. 222 Bison BILl’s Clue; or. Grit, the Bravo Sport, BY BUFFALO BILL, 55 Deadly-Eye. the Unknown Scout; or, The Banded Brotherhe.+ 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairle Rover. 158 Faney Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s iru. 1029 The Phantem Spy. BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR, U. 8. A, 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker. 194 Buffalo Bill's Bet; or, The Gambler Guide. BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM.” 1081 The Texan Huatlers in Cuba. 1027 The Cowboy Raiders in Ouba 1025 The Flying Yankee or, The Ocean Outcast, 1028 The Cowboy Clan in Cuba. 1016 The Boy Bugler in Cuba. 982 New York Nat’s Drop: or, Ex-Ferret Sykes’ Bold Gt 926 New York Nat and the Traitor Ferret. : 920 New York Nat Trapped. : 4 New York Nat’s Three of a Kind, 908 New York Nat’s Double. 902 New York Nat’s in Colorado. 896 New York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp, ) 889 New York Nat’s Deadly Veal. New York Nat's Crook-Chase, New York Nat’s Trump Card. New York Nat and the Grave Ghouls, > New York Nat’ Masked Maseot. 859 New York Nat, the Gamin Detective. 858 Dick Doom’s kidnapper Knock-Out. 847 Dick Doom’s Ten Strike. 842 Dick Deom’s Flush Hand. 72 Dick Doom’s« Veath-Grip; or, The Detective by Destin» 7? Dick Doom’s Destiny; or, The River Blackleg’s Terror. 84 Dick Doom; or, The Sharps and Sharks of New York. 88 ick Doom in Boston; or, A Man of Many Masks. 798 Dick Doom in Chicago. 798 Dick Doom in the Wild Weat. 808 Dick Doom’s Clean Sweep} or, Five Links in a Clue. 808 Dick Doom’s Death Clue. Dick Doom’s Diamond Deal. 819 Dick Doom’s Girl Mascot. 829 Dick Doom’s Shadow Hunt. 835 Dick Doom’s Big Maul. 7AO Dashing Charlie; or, The Kentucky Fenderfoot’s First Tr } Dashing Charlie’s Destiny; or, The Renegade’s Capti 760 Dashing Charlic’s Pawnee Pard. 766 Dashing Charlie, the Rescuer. 497 Buck Naylor; King of the Cowboys. | 787 Buck Tayler, the Comanche’s Captive. 748 Buck Taylor’s Boys; or, The Red Riders of the Rio Gran, 560 Pawnee Bill, the Prairie Shadower. Pawnee Biil; or, Carl, the Mad Cowboy. 719 Pawnee BIll'« Pledge; or, The Cowboy's Doom. 5& Pawnee Bill; or, Dering Diek. Redfern’s Curtous Case: o, The Rival Sharpe. Kedtern at De vil’s Haneh} or, The Sharp from Texas 702 Redfern’s High Mand; or, Blue Jacket. 707 Redfern’s Last Trail: or, The Red Sombrero Rangers, Ana Fifty Others. BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS. 589 Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dead Set at Silver City, 622 Tom-Cat’s Triad; or, The Affair at Tombstone. 681 Tom Cat’a Terrible Task; or, The Cowboy Detective 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumph; or, Black Dan’s Great ‘ ombine. 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock; or, Josh’s Ten Strike, 568 The Dandy of Dodge; or, Rustling for Millions. 576 The Silver Sport: or, Josh Peppermint’s Jubilee, 588¢Saffron Bol, the Man With a Shadow 4 601 Happy Hang, the Dutch Videeg; or, Hot Timeesat Round-Up 611 Bilanad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules. 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. 657 Warbling William the Mountain Mountebank, 665 Jolly Jeremiah, the Plains Detective. 676 Aignal fam, the Lookout Scout. 689 Billy the Gypa y Kpys_or, The Mystery of Two Lives, 699 Simple Sim, the Rroncho Buster; or, For Big Stakes. 712 The Meameriat Sport; or, The Mystified Detective, ~ 788 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector. 745. Kanana Jim the Cross-Cut Detective, 761 Marmaduke, the Mustanger Detective. 778 The Rustler of Holling Stone. 285 Lone Hand Joe the Committee of One. 801 Kent Kirby, the High-Kicker from Killbuck. R82 The Doctor Dete etive in Texas, ; 872 Twe Showmen Itetectives in Colorado. 987 The Texan Fir ebrandg or, Brazo® Billy’s Snap,Shos 961 The Tramp’s Trump-Trick-. NEW ‘ISSUES, 1042 Little Grit, the Pony Express Rider, By Col. Ingraham, 1048 You Bet Bob from Cross Crick. By Arizona Cyz 1044 The New York Sharp. By Ben D. Halliday. 1045. Mustang Merle’s Mine. By Maj. Sam. 5. Scott, 046 Gold Plume, the Boy Bandid; or, Boffalo Biil, the Pony aia Tix prees Rider. r By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. 1047 Flyer Fred, the Cycltet Ferret. By Roy Rockwood, JUST ISSUED. 1088 Vou Bet Bob’s Ofreus. _ By Arizona Cy. 1084 The Gold Witch’s Shadower. By Col. P. Ingrnham, 1085 Antelope Abe, the Bow Guide. if Oll Coomes, 1086 Dandy Pick’s Double. By Robert R. Inman. 1087 The Artist Detective. By Col. P. Ingraham " 1088 Kansas King or, The Red Right Hand. By Buffale BUS y Rancher. y A > F. 2 * 1089 Mustang Merle, the Boy R ByCel. Py Ingrabams we i Patrol. Ing 1041 Soukar This to t e Fore By Wm. W. Wilder A New Issue Every Tuesday- ind The ra ib: is for sale by al! newsdenlers, PB nn mag Fegeetry A tae oft ot six cents aoe ADLE AND ADAMS Publishers, BEADED William Street, New Yor