Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 1050) (1897 09 07)
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a Copyrighted 1897, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, September 7, 1897. Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y., Post Office, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers |, Published Every Tuesday. Vol, XLI. : Five Cents a Copy. Yo 1050. $2.50 a Near, 92 Writ1amM STREET, New York. Wy ‘ 7 VE Lane t, his Ly Wy —— ‘*GOOD-BY, BOY,” CRIED THE ONE-ARMED SPORT. ‘‘ YOU AND THE WHIRLPOGL KIN HAVE IT LICKETY SPLIT.” Ie tae , Pa ee ere ee (bias a. hess Lie tps SO The ae
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3 The One-Armed Sport: : {COLORADO CLAUDE’S CLAIM. BY T..c. HARBAUGH. CHAPTER I. A YOUNG LIFE IN PERIL. A “I'd like ter see the kid. Dash my but- The One-Armed Sport, here; but he’s fully able to take care of himself.” “i. think so,” was the answer. “ He is a boy with a cool head on his shoulders, but, he ¢an’t afford to incur the ill will of Captain Kidd and his chums, that is certain,” “T know that. ~They’re willing to do him a meanness if they think he is at all in their way, and that’s why Claude can’t afford to cross them without serious provocation.” “ He won’t do that, Loggs. I know him ' tons if I wouldn’t like ter catch ‘him just | too well.” | once! They say he has the audacity ter put in a claim ter the mine, an’ it’s worth his while ter drop ’round an’ ’tend Ror- it?" “You wouldn’t hurt the boy, Jerry?” “Me?” and the man half rose from the stool at the table and looked like an enraged Comanche. “Why, he’s not past sixteen, and the best-looking boy in these parts!” urged the other. “T’ll spile his beauty! TPll show him that he can’t run the roost in this land. Look hyar! What are we hyar for? Do you think I’ve founded Gold City -ter be done for by a boy? Jumpin’ Jerry, Cap’n Kidd o’ the Hills, isn’t made that way— not much!” “1 don’t say that,’ answered the man who listened to the burly one-handed mine magnate and sport. “I don’t take the boy’s part, and I don’t b’lieve in claim jumping, as you know, Jerry, but even boys have rights, when they got the Jaw with them.” _ “This one hasn’t any rights if ‘he’s what they say he is.” “Yes, but people don’t always tell the truth, captain.” * “T know that. I’ve been ter all p’ints o’ the compass, an’ I know somethin’ labout human natur’; but thar ar’ some people who b’lieve this world was made for them an’ them alone.” There was no reply to this philosophic remark. “Whar is the boy?” demanded Cap- tain Kidd. | “Out in the hills somewhere, I sup- pose. He may not be in camp, here for a week.” “T’]] lay for him. Ill show him, as true as my name’s Jumpin’ Jerry, that he can’t stake out a claim just whar he pleases. Thar’s law, the law o’ might, in this land, an’ as boss of Gold City I’m strong enough ter enforce it.” With this the speaker left the stool and strode from the resort. In the middle of the street which ran through the mining camp he stopped and let the sunlight fall upon his stalwart figure. Jumping Jerry, or Captain Kidd of the Hills, as he was also known, was a man of splendid physique—a veritable Her- cules. His large face was covered with a full beard, and his mustache he could carry to his ears, a habit he had when not in good humor. j Clad in typical mining “toggery,” for he owned the Mountain Cat, one of the pest mines in that part of Colorado, he Jooked the free and easy Westerner, and everybody knew or had heard of him. “What war Jerry talking about?” asked a young man who came up to the big man’s friend in the camp resort after Kidd’s departure. “He was making a few ugly remarks about Claude Kimball.” “Captain Jerry would better go easy. ‘Colorado Claude ‘has a host of friends Ads Cg ih a Pe Tee 7 eee : at nee aaEEyyEEE UEEEESS nna sna de by ca hat + - Ane i. ‘ . eo = * fis 3s 7. WA oes Pie as rice ny pe a “And then he has a horse that can | out-run the best that Captain Kidd owns, | if it comes to the worst.” “Black Nell, you mean?” “Yes, the mare he got from the Sioux | last summer. She’s as fleet as the wind, and Claude knows ‘how to master her.” | “The boy’s all right, but there’s that infernal claim business. It’s unfortu- nate that Captain Kidd fetches it up just at this moment. He’s ‘spoiling for a muss,’ as they say, and he understands that I’ll be dragged into it.” “How?” “Qaptain Kidd knows that I helped the boy to stake off the claim, that I advised him not a little; and, then, the girl—” “J gee. There’s always a female in the case, eh?” and the speaker laughed. “We will have to wait until Claude comes back to camp to learn just what game the mine-owner is up to.” “Yes. If I knew where to find him I’d go out and see that he was posted.” “Where was he last?” “ Down at the Blasted Buttes. But he’s liable to be miles away now, and Cap- tain Kidd will have to smother his ire and keep watch.” “So will we. Claude’s alone here in Gold City, but he ghall not be run out or bullied by Captain Kidd.” Meartime the man in the street had walked away and had entered a miner’s cabin some distance from the public re- sort. There he confronted a person as burly as himself, but somewhat younger, who was gormandizing from a very unclean table. “Hello, Cap’n! Just in time ter taste the viands!” and he kicked a stool to- ward ‘his visitor, The other took the proffered seat, but did not partake. “ Not hungry, eh? I could eat a grind- stone or: gnaw the tips o’ the Blasted Buttes.” “Tve just dined,” said Jumping Jerry. “ Tharfore, I don’t feel cannibal-like just ! now. I say. Jericho!” Jericho Joe looked over his bone and stopped gnawing. : “ What’s up, cap’n? You look solemn,” he remarked. “Pm mad, all through. When I think of the downright robbery that has been perpetrated, my blood gets hot. I want | satisfaction, am Ill have it or break things.” “Pasier said than done, sometimes,” | was the big tough’s reminder. “ But who’s been robbin’ you, the boss ov Gold City?” “Who? Why, that young celaim-steal- er—the boy, Claude Kimball, of course!” and the “boss” leaned back and looked at the other. “You don’t mean it—the hoy pros- pector?”’ “That’s just who I de mean. You know whar he staked his claim?” “Yes, I heard he had made a locate.” = Vio ah, f Py ; eae, bass, ee ae as, ar ee <— 1) ae es i gs eS ‘ bi a | has staked off his claim in good legal “Well, that’s my land. He’s over my lines,” fe Joe gave the other a questioning look, J but returned to his bone without express- : ing an opinion, “It’s my land—over on my stake, I say. Didn’t I lead you all hyar? Wasn’t I the original discoverer of Gold City? Say, haven’t I some rights that a kid should respect? ” “Sartainly, Jerry: but, you see the boy shape, and—” “Yes, but ’li show him! A boy has no more rights than a man, an’ as no livin’ man can jump my lines, I don’t propose to allow this little interloper to interfere with my rights at all: I don’t want him around. You hear? I’m on the war-path, Jericho; I’ve got my paint on.” “You will rout out the boy prespectcr re see that he gives up the claim—that | a! ° “ That’s just it, an’ it sha’n’t end thar,” asseverated Captain Kidd, bringing his one hand down upon the table with em- phasis. “Just you wait, Joe! You’re with me, o’ course. Others ar’, too, as they’ve got to be. We'll trap this kid from the East an’ send him to Kingdom Come if he don’t let up on his claim and git out of Gold City.” “Whar is he now? Haven’t seen him for some time.” “Oh, I know whar I will find him right soon, an’ that’ll settle it, you bet!” “Do you nfean it—mean a dead-shut game?” and Jericho Joe looked sharply at his visitor. “Don’t I? You’ll help me, Joe?” “Anything for a little fun, seein’ as I’m in yer crew.” “Then, finish yer dinner an’ come over ter my shanty. I’ll see Black Silas, an’ arrange things fer quick work.” Captain Kidd quitted the cabin and left its occupant to finish his repast. Later, three men, Jumping Jerry, Joe and the fellow called Black Silas, all well mounted, i:ode out of Gold City to- ward the west. They seemed *o be in no hurry, for their steeds jogged leisurely along over the trail. : “ We'll likely strike the boy’s trail in the neighborhood of the Blasted Buttes,’ observed Captain Kidd, “so no need tc hurry.” : “He likes the place when he isn’t at camp,” from the man on his right. “Yes, when he isn’t in camp, whar he won’t be any more, if I have my way, an’ ae I will,” said with vicious empha- sis. The three continued on toward the west. The country seemed to get a little wild- er and the mountains came into better view. ees The gold hills of Colorado grew more 5 and more defined; the trail, ascending, a. became yet rougher and more tortuous, © . and at last Captain Kidd and his friends | drew rein in the very heart of the hills. They ‘had gained the neighborhood of the Blasted Buttes, from which the view was magnificent, and all seemed to en-~ joy it, wild men as they were. ; Far away, its waters flashing in the, beams of the sinking sun, ran a river swiftly and with many @ Murmur, It was miles away, but it could be $ plainly seen by the men on their steeds, and Captain Kidd’s finger suddenly point- a ed it out. “ He’s down thar, I’m sure of it, boys,” — said he, “ He’s partial ter Thunder Riv- |
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an ' sharp look around, to discovyer— sr a ia ‘a ' “Why not? It’s not so much of a trick » one-handed leader signalled a halt. ‘boy miner and scout, and touched ‘his hat to Captain Kidd. - “Which way, Claude?” _ Mountain,” was the reply. + A 4 _Smoothed the neck of his pretty mare. The One-Armed Sport. 3 ; Teas ES er, and—he’s liable ter take a bath in it—ha! ha!” The descent-of the mountain began, and ‘the three, after a long ride, drew rein at its foot. Captain Kidd pointed toward a dark line which ran parallel with Thunder River, and turning to his companions with an ugly visage, cried: “Forward! boys, to find the kid!” Away went+the three, but, in a little time all drew rein once more. Jumping Jerry, leaning from his sad- dle, pointed at the ground. “That’s his trail, an’ fresh,” he ex- claimed. “ Look! We’ve found the young- ster. Now, for him!” CHAPTER II. OLORADO CLAUDE’S TERRIBLE FATE. The three steeds sprang forward, un- ider tightened rein, and for some distance kept up a rapid’ gait until, at last, the “ We'll ketch him in the. timber,” as- sumed the captain., “ The boy is near— Hark! That’s the young lark singin’, as sure as I’m hyar!” The clear notes of a song came to the three, and’they listened with intent in- terest. “He’s marchin’ right inter the trap. We'll just draw back an’ get ready,” di- rected the chief. ‘ Don’t let yer hosses whicker, boys, or the game’s up.” They fell back some distance under cover and waited for the singer. As yet he could not be seen, but all the time, as they could tell by the voice, he was coming nearer, and the ruffians waited like a trio of road assassins near- ing their prey. Presently the quarry came in sight. “That’s the kid, boys,” hoarsely whis- ered the captain. ‘“ He’s right in the trap!” A boy, mounted on a coal black horse, lithe of limb and very beautiful, came into view. Claude Kimball—Colorado Claude—the it was, and a splendid specimen of the young Western- er he assuredly was. Athletic for his age, his figure was perfection itself. He sat his black mare like a young Centaur, and his face showed the glow of youth with the animation of a fear- less spirit. Clad in ‘a dark shirt and buckskin pan- taloons, and wearing a wide-brimmed hat, which let his brown locks fall over his shoulders, he was the impersonation of the frontier hero, and even his ene- mies, who watched him/ admired him as he came forward—to doom! Claude stopped singing as he entered the deeper timber and then he threw a Captain Kidd and his partners in in- iquity! The youth smiled at sight of the three, and continued to approach them, sus- pecting nothing wrong, for were they not all from Gold City, and had he not hob- -nobbed with them many a time? As he came near he reined in the black “T had thought of riding over the “Not to-night, I hope.” when I have Nelly here,” and ‘he “e ia icf sorieho Aes “of course, it’s not so much of a trick, but | you might as well postpone the journey.’ ‘ The boy looked a little surprised, but was not on his guard. At once Captain Kidd and his followers brought their ‘horses alongside the boy miner. Then, the truth flashing through Claude’s mind, his hand flew to the weapon at his hip, but the fingers of Silas closed about his wrist. The lad darted a quick look at Jumping Jerry. “What means this?” he demanded. Captain Kidd smiled sardonically. “You'll find out in a few minutes,” he answered. ‘It means that. we don’t in-* tend ter be pestered by you any longer.” “Pestered by me? What have I done? Oh, yes! Is it about my claim?” * About your claim on my land—yes!” snarled the one-armed ruffian. “On your land? Not much it, isn’t Captain Kidd! The land where I staked my claim belongs to me!” The dark eyes of the boy flashed their anger, but the thrée men laughed de- risively. “You must give up your claim,” Captain Kidd. “My claim to the land you dispute?” “The land I own!” “Tt is mine, rightfully obtained, and will not yield my rights.” “You'll fight for ’em, eh?” hi | will.’’ “ And you'll keep ’em if you win?” “T certainly will do that! To the vic- tor belongs the spoils.” “That's pretty good. I used to hear the politicians say that in old campaign times. Well, my young gopher, you’ll not git ‘ter fight for yer claim. You're in my hands now.” Colorado Claude, now seized by Black Silas and Joe, was held like one in a vise. “Tie his hands behind his back,” dered Captain Kidd. The boy, realizing that resistance was useless, contented himself with a look of scorn at the leader of the band. In a few minutes Claude Kimball was fastened to the black ‘horse by a rope which passed around his legs and through the saddle rings, while his hands were secured at his back. The tying was done by Joe, who drew the cords tightly; but, though the ropes seemed to cut through skin and flesh, the victim did not whimper. Captain IKKidd seemed to enjoy all this hugely, and then the forward movement was ordered. Joe and Silas drew their revolvers, and while the former walked at Black Nelly’s head with his weapon in his right hand, Silas and Captain Kidd, mounted, took positions on each side of the mare. In this manner the march was toward the bank of the river, where a halt was made. The boy miner, still undaunted, could but wonder what plans the ‘three had formed—what was their game. Of course the river had something to do with their plans; but just what he could not conjecture. “You have given up your claim, eh?” asked Captain Kidd. “T will not.’ “Then into the river you go, to be sucked into the whirlpool] just round the bend down thar,” and the human brute pointed down the river, grinning exult- antly as he did so. Claude knew what the whirlpool was well enough.’ He had seen it a Fu seg iy said Ll | times with its restless vortex, into which more than one brave white Iman and scores of Indians had been remorselessly | drawn, and the thought of it could but make the strongest heart quail and shud- der. It was just around an abrupt bend in the stream, and the roar of the whirl- pool was plainly audible. ‘“‘ Give him to the river,” cried Captain Kidd. “ That’s the way to wipe out a jumper!” Joe and Silas, seizing Black.Nelly by the rein, led her to the river’s brink. The mare drew back and turned her head as if to look at her young master, but Jericho Joe struck her with his open hand, and she sprang forward. Then ithe two men fell back, and the One-Armed Sport laughed in his su- prame pleasure. “ Good-by, boy,” he cried, . “ You’ve got a strong animal thar, an* you an’ the whirlpool can have it out between yer! It,won’t take yer long ter reach the spot, an’ the— Wal, I won’t anticerpate, as they say in novels... Good-by, yonker! I’ll keep tthe claim while you’ goes—noQ- body knows whar!” Black Nelly, with thé rushing water around her limbs, had halted in the stream, and was trying to stem it, an impossibility. YY She would have crossed the river, but the water’s force turned her head down stream, and Colorado Claude, bound in the saddle, could not guide her. “ We'll settle accounts some other time, Captain Kidd,” shouted the brave youth at ‘his persecutor on the bank. “You don’t say!” drawled the land pi- rate, “ When you want ter settle up just send Captain Kidd word, will yer?” “No! Ill come im person!” ‘ Better still,” roared the ruffian. “ You kin come at any time, an’ you needn't send in yer kerd. Don’t stand on cere- mony, boy! You’ll find me at Gold City.” “We'll meet. Never fear!” came from the rushing waters. “You will find Claude Kimball ready to meet you—” “Thar you go!” shouted Captain Kidd. “Good luck to yer!” The water was forcing ‘the black mare resistlessly down stream. Claude heard the boisterous laugh of the brutes on the shore, but with eyes fastened on the waters ahead, ‘he await: ed his doom. “ Won’t yer give in, boy?” called out Captain Kidd. “ We'll git you out yet if you’ll agree to turn yer claim over ter me.” ** Never!” : The word came back like a shot of defiance: Captain Kidd sprang up and shool his clenched fist at the vanishing victim of his diabolical crime. “Then inter the whirlpool you go!” he cried, “ Dead boys tell no tales, re- member! ” Claude heard all this above the water’s roar, as they neared ‘the vortex. “Didn’t everything jibe grandly, boys?” cried Captain Kidd, as he fairly danced on the banks of Thunder River. “ Never had any one play inter my hands as easy as this kid. I swow, I didn’t ex- pect such an easy victory, but it’s all O, K., an’ we’ve done for him.” “Look! cap’n, look!” exclaimed Jeri- cho Joe. ‘“ Take a last look at the kid.” Captain Kidd looked down the river. Claude had nearly reached the fatal — bend and in another moment he and Levanta ae ebm rea
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4 The One-Armed Sport. The big villain held ‘this breath for a moment. “ Thar-he goes!” he cried. “It’s good- ‘by forever, an’ the land’s mine.” Silas and Joe did not speak, for they saw the black mare plunge as she turned the bend in the river, as if she had put forth a desperate effort to escape. “Hurrah for Captain Kidd!” vocifer- ated the brute in buckskin. “‘No man or boy gets the best 0’ him. He’s mon- arch o’ all he surveys an’ his rights no man lives long ter dispute.” At this moment there came from around the bend the shrill cry of an ani- mal in danger. “Come! let’s see the end,” head ruffian lunged forward. All three ran down the bank until they could see the vortex. It was leaping, dashing, boiling in its madness, but—neither Claude nor Black Nelly was in sight! and the CHAPTER III. ROBBING THE ROBBER. Jumping Jerry, the boss miner of Gold City, was a well-known character in the West. Like many other men of his calling, the did not have a very good name behind him, but that did not prevent him from becoming a man of note among the gold hills. As we have heard him say, he was the founder of Gold City. He had led tthe present inhabitants, or the greater part of them, to the place and they had es- tablished there the camp with its motley population and diverse interests. Gold City thad mo real “ boss,” like other camps, but it had several men who were leaders. Needless to say, Captain Kidd of the Hills was one of these. The Mountain Cat, the best mine in the region, belonged to this man, and he would share his good fortune with none. He owned ‘the entire mine, worked it with men entirely under ‘his control, and took from its veins gold galore. He had grown rich; his fame and for- tune had been talked about in other placés and had even crossed the country. Tt was early in the morning, before daybreak,. when the trio who had dealt with Claude rode back to Gold City. At the edge of the camp they halted ' for consultation, then rode quietly down - the main street to their several shanties. They had returned so quietly that the camp was not disturbed, and no one seemed te be the wiser for ‘their absence. Day broke over the camp, and one of the first out on the street was Jumping _. Jerry. The morning was clear and cool, and the chief plotter strode on until he reached the last shanty on the street. To i _ this he proceeded and opened the door without knocking. *“ Silas!” he called, and a Man sprang from a couch. “ Well, cap’n, what is it?” “T thought I’d drop in. You know what Wertalked about the last thing this morn- ant - “Yes, cap’n, I remembers.” “ Well, you want ter do yer duty now.” “T will. When shall I strike?” “To-day. The sooner the better. You : know where the boy’s things are?” “T think I can find them. He gener- ally left his traps with Calloway Tom.” “Tf that’s the case, it’s dead easy. ' ‘Tom’s not in camp; so go at once. I’ll ait for you here.” Black Silas was “on the go” imme- Le ee ee SS... i nL DD DL Slipping from his own shanty, in a few moments he pushed open the door of another cabin but a short distance away and entered it. It was the bunking-place of Claude when he was in Gold City. Now it was-not tenanted, and Black Silas—so named on account of his dark face—moved like a robber about the lit- tle room. His keen eyes scanned everything and his hands slipped into all little nooks and stowage places. At last he found, in a rude cupboard, well up on the wall, a package of pdpers, which he clutched with eagerness. “Just the things the cap’n wants!” said the prowler aloud, to- himself. “They are the claim papers and the diagram!” he exclaimed, a moment later. Now the cap’n’s all O. K.!” and Black Silas turned to depart, when the door was opened in his face. The camp tough recoiled from the fig- ure that confronted him. “ What’s up, Silas?” asked the young girl in the doorway. .- t What could Black Silas say? He had been caught im the very act of theft, so must find some excuse for his presence there. “Calloway Tom asked me to look after his. house while he was away, and I’ve been doing it,” added the girl. “T see that everything is in shipshape order,” stammered Silas, looking away. “You'd make a good housekeeper, Myr- tle, for a nice young chap.” The girl flushed, but did not answer. “What's that in your bosom, Silas?” The thief was start!ed, and betrayed his confusion, *T see the end of it sticking out,’ con- tinued the girl. ‘“‘ You’ve taken the pa- pers, haven’t you?” “What papers?” “Those ‘that belong to Claude—that were placed for safe-keeping fp in the cupboard there.” “I’m no thief, I’d let you know,” blurted Silas. “I don’t rob people, es- pecially boys.” “Then, what brought you to Calloway Tom’s shanty this early in the day?” “T—I had business with him.” “You know, as does every other man in Gold City, that Tom’s not at home. He went off two weeks ago and publicly de- elared his intentions for days before he started. Come, Silas. You will have to get up a better story than that. It won't do. What are you here for?” The man looked viciously at Myrtle, and started toward her. His eyes be- trayed his rage. “Don’t you cross me!” he warned. “You're but a girl, but you must: not cross a chap like me. It is none of your business what brought me here.” “But the papers?” persisted Myrtle, perfectly cool. “‘ You’ve taken them from the cuphoard where they were kept. See, the cupboard door is open.” “What if I have taken them or any- my own.” “T want those papers,” said Myrtle, not at all disturbed by the ruffian’s in- golence. “You have them there in your ghirt bosom. You know what they are and so do I. They are Claude Kimball's claim papers.” Black Silas frowned and put his hand upon the roll. . “Get 'em,” he said, derisively. “You won’t deliver them up?” “Not te you, my miss.” ‘ and a revolver ? - . S45 rye s thing else? It is nobody’s business but leaped into sight, drawn from the jacket pocket. : The camp tough recoiled. He very well understood that that meant ‘busi- ness. “Come!” commanded the girl over the leveled weapon. ‘“‘ You haven’t the least right to those documents, and you know it, Black Silas. You came here for the express purpose of robbing Claude Kim- ball, but, Silas, you have to-stand and deliver. I’ve got you lined for a dead sure shot!” The belle of Gold City stood erect as an Indian near the door, with her back to it, and the six-shooter leveled at the tough’s head. “We'll make” you pay for this!” growled the six-foot emissary of the mine magnate. “ That’s all right. I’m willing to take the consequences. Hand me the docu- ments, or it’s shoot!” and the eye and attitude of the heroic girl were danger- ously menacing, ; “ What'll you do with them?” “See that they are restored to their owner, of course.” ; No wonder Black Silas laughed at this, for, fresh in his mind was the event on the banks of Thunder River. He had seen Colorado Claude and his black beauty vanish on the edge of the death vortex; and the idea of Myrtle restor- ing the papers ‘to their owner was enough to excite ‘his risibilities. Myrtle’s face did not relax. On the contrary she seemed more determined. “T’ll count three,” she warned. Silas did not move. oni One—” Black Silas saw that she was in dead earnest—perfectly well apprehended his own peril, and, not waiting for “two” to be called, he drew the roll of papers from his shirt. “Take ’em!” he grated, throwing the documents at Myrtle’s feet. “ We’ll see that they don’t do you any good.” The beauty of Gold City placed her foot upon the roll. “ You can go now,” was all she said. As she spoke she stepped aside, moy- ing the papers with her, and left the way to the door clear, Silas did not wait on the order of his going. ‘ “Ta, ta, my daisy!” he said. “ This is Gold City, and you'll discover that you: can’t keep the stakes you think you’ve won. You are a little boss here, with that pistol, but I’ll see you later, miss!” With this he left the shanty, in very ugly mood, of course. “What will the cap’n say?” was the question then with him. » Silas burst in upon Captain Kidd. “Got the papers, eh?” cried Jumping Jerry, with outstretched hand. “ No, curse it, I haven’t! I had ’em, but she made me drop the hull kit at the point o’ her gun, Myrtle did.” Jumping Jerry uttered a characteristic execration. CHAPTER IV. ‘ONE-ARM AND HIS RED ALLY. The One-Armed Sport and miner glared at his minion. “Myrtle? You don’t mean ter tell me that you left the girl holdin’..the fort?” : “JT do, by my life! 1 just had ter,” blurted the irate and disgusted Silas. “She had me kivered, an’ it was @ ticklish ranmet sik oa ri aN led iad a Be! ‘ * fo j ABR S) Ot hac tice She had the 08: , -
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drop on me an’—an’ I had ter give in or take a dose o’ lead. “Whar did you leave her?”’ * At Tom’s shanty, in course. thar, keepin’ house.” : “With the papers in her possession? ig ; “Yes, she’s got ’em. She said she in- tended to restore ’em ter Claude.” “Restore them to nothing!” snarled ; the captain. ‘She nor anybody won't even find the carkiss; but with them same documents she might give us trou- ble and jump my lines.” “That's what I thought. huzzy’ll fight; you bet!” The one-armed man thought a little while. “She'll take ’em to her own cabin, of course,” he decided, “and it will be the easiest thing in the world ter ketch her nappin’. She’s but a gal,” contempt- uously. “A she catamount, she is!’’ muttered the discomfited emissary. ‘‘ She’s on the fight; so you won’t ketch her so easy.” A few minutes later Captain Kidd was | out in the gold camp, seemingly per- fectly at ease, but he watched a certain cabin with an eagle eye. By-and-by he saddled his mounted. The sun was creeping lazily over the tips of the eastern hills when the cap- tain turned his face toward them, but once out of the camp, he faced in an- other direction and pushed on as if his was an important mission. He did not draw rein again until he had crossed the first range and was de- scending into a beautiful flower-carpeted valley. The sun was well up now, and One- Arm’s horse was pretty well blown. Once or twice he lifted his hand to his eyes and shaded them as he looked ahead. But, he evidently saw nothing that attracted him, for he continued to ride on for miles. Suddenly he drew rein and rose in his stirrups. The way was open for some distance and his gaze swept the land before him. He had caught sight of a horseman approaching, and he watched the blend- ed figures with a good deal of interest. Nearer and nearer came the objects, and at last the captain gave utterance to his delight. “Tt just suits me. Nothin’ could have done it better, an’ I wouldn’t have chos- en a better place than this in which ter meet the chief. Yellow Feather is the feather for me!” ; On, on came the mounted man, and presently he revealed himself. | He was an Indian—a stalwart in size. The yellow féather which formed the only ornament of his head-dress had given him the name he bore; it was the signet of his chiefship. Signals of friendship were exchanged between the One-Armed ‘Sport and the chief, and when they met they shook hands like comrades, “T was just comin’ down to yer camp,” announced the white man. “Yellow Feather save Cap’n Kidd that trouble. Him here.” “Of course. How goes it?” i The Indian smiled as he nodded. ‘All right, eh? That’s good.” “ How—how with white brother?” + “Not so well. I’m in a bit o’ trouble, ‘Yellow Feather.” t “Yellow Feather sorry,” was the an- swer. “Cap’n Kidd can talk; red broth- _ er will help if he can.” She’s The little horse and —_ SS ee The One-Armed Sport. “TI know that. eh, chief? ”’ The Indian extended his red hand again, and the other shook it with en- ergy. “What matter?” asked the redskin. In the first place, I want ter punish a little gal who has crossed my path. You’ve seen her, Yellow Feather.” “The Camp Flower?” ee Myrtle. She’s dome me a scurvy We're brothers, 1&5, ery an’ I want you to help me tackle er.” “Yellow Feather will brother.”’ “You know where she lives?” The.Indian nodded. “You know how to reach the cabin after dark, without noise, and you know how to make your horse carry double?” The eyes of the chief sparkled appar- ently with eager viciousness. “Well, I want the red eagle to swoop down on the dove. I want the girl car- ried off—I don’t care where. Only l want to let her know that she can’t cross my path without getting the worst of it.” “Cap’n Kidd shall have his revenge,” assured the Indian. “That’s it! I want revenge!” “He no care what becomes of Camp Flower?” “No; but I wouldn’t like ter see her lose her life or to be harmed.” Yellow Feather held out his right hand and grinned. “Yellow Feather no hurt her; no, no!” he cried, smiling again. “Just show her, for Cap'n Kidd, that she can’t have her way.” “That’s it, exactly. Yellow Feather. so to you.” The pair rode off together, their horses nearly touching each other. They evi- dently had been comrades before. Their course led toward the right bank of Thunder River, and in a short time they came within sound of the waters. All at once, on a certain spot where the ground was8 barren of grass. Yellow Feather reined in his steed and pointed downward. “Look,” he said. ‘“‘ Boy rides here! ” There were hoofprints in the ground, at which the white man stared in silence. “Boy rides about a good degl,” con- tinued Yellow Feather “Trail down there fresh.” The captain looked questioningly at the redskin. “Passed here this morning,’ the chief. “T guess not, chief. I know he didn’t.” Yellow Feather did not like thisdenial. He dropped to the ground and examined the hoofprints very closely. “Yellow Feather right, boy pass here since daybreak,” he reiterated. “Tll show you that you are wrong. Come!”’. Yellow Feather vaulted into the sad- dle again, and the captain led the way from the spot. Not a word was spoken until the One- Armed Sport halted on a hill, from which could be seen the whirlpool in Thunder River;then the captain pointed toward it, in triumph. “Yellow Feather sees the death hole,” remarked the chief. “Has any one ever escaped when once in its clutches?” “No; it’s clutch means death!” “Did any one drawn into the vortex ever ride out of it?” The redskin shook his head. “Then, tuat settles it. The hoofprints serve white Teach her that, I leave the way to do added 5 back yonder were not made by the boy's black horse.” ‘Horse in the whirl?” dian. “Both the boy and the black steed were in the fatal circle.” Yellow Feather for a moment looked first into Captain Kidd’s face and then at the far-away whirlpool. His dark face was a study. Captain Kidd uttered a chuckle of de- light as he watched the countenance of the man at his‘side. asked the In- * When?” “Last night, "bout sundown.” “Who saw them?” “T for one,” “Boy and horse both into the whirl- pool?” “Both. The boy was helipless—was hand-bound; couldn’t have guided the horse from the stream. You’ll have to knock under; boy’s horse didn’t make the tracks.” The Indian touched ‘his steed with his heels, and rode toward the whirlpool, the other following, and both halted on the river bank, opposite the roaring whirlpool. The bank at this spot was gently shelving, and in some places covered . with fine sand or sediment to the depth of many inches. The captain rode close to the water’s edge, his eye scanning the ground under his hhorse’s feet. Yellow Feather looked on with the face’of a sphinx. “He’s yonder!’ and the captain, with his lone hand, pointed at the whirlpool. © “Thar ar’ no hoofprints in the sand here, Yellow Feather. You saw only an old trail.” “Mebbe so, white brother! Why did boy miner ride down into the mad water fastened to his horse?” “Tt was a case of necessity,” was the reply. “The chap was cuttin’ his eye teeth a little too fast ter suit us. Ina few years he would be boss o’ the camp, so you see, Yellow Feather, his trail had to be ended here.” The Indian was very thoughtful and surprised; his gaze wandered again to the fatal vortex, and he seemed to be contemplating the terrible death which had overtaken the boy victim of the one- arm’s enmity. “Now, remember the other job,” sud- denly reminded the captain. “I want © you to play the red eagle, as I said, and ~ swoop down upon the girl. She’s going to be as troublesome as the boy. No one must stand in-my way, Yellow ~ Feather, young or old. Understand?” The redskin evidently did understand, but did not reply, and the captain turned away. Yellow Feather followed, but his visage had a strange look, and the further. glance which he threw toward the boil- ing whirlpool expressed his wish and purpose to know more, CHAPTER V. A STARTLING NARRATIVE. The next morning Gold City had a genuine sensation, and one which prom- — ised to last awhile. i Myrtle was gone! * The discovery was made by a miner who called at the girl’s cabin very early — and who was confronted by emptiness — when he opened the door. In a few moments the whole camp Bie knew of the event, and Gold City was — excited from limit to limit. ' rr ath beh
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5 Npiertnarte srt Ay a ee SE) a 4 3 ; é clover.” G dann pretentious cabi _ the man who was most interested in the -oughfare which ran out of Gold City agi and in an instant he was there in a jiffy : ne One-Armed Sport shut the door aS Sa a 6 NaS ae: PhP ORES AT. ET The One-Arm Ernied Sport, street, or in the*”various resorts; they | were grouped on the little square, and | their excited demeanor betokened the a cupboard; the dwarf at once sidled over | to it and began to help himself. People discussed the mysterious van- | ishment, and concluded at last that she | few minutes, then curtly demanded: general feeling. had for some unexplained reason decided to quietly change her quarters.. But not all came to this conclusion; | there were some who looked at it in an- | | “ Nothin’; only I’m a bit hungry.” Captain Kidd waved his hand toward ” The man on the chair watched him a “Did you run across anything strange comin’ in, Pedro?” “Didn’t 1? Well, I should smile, I saw a most marvelous escape, day before other light, who openly hinted of treach- | yesterday. You never saw anything like ery, if not something worse, and by high > noon things began to turn. The One- sa Sport kept his own coun- sels. hardly hide his glee as he listened to the general discussion of the girl’s ab- | sence, and Black Silas and Jericho Joe. winked at one another in a knowing manner. | | The owner of the Mountain Cat could | “Tt war well done,” declared the for- | mer to his confederate, while both were seated in Joe’s shanty. “Never left a_ trail See’d anything so slick.” behind. “Nor I. Thar’s but one galoot capa- | ble of doin’ that.” “Well? ” “The chief is the best stealer in this | kentry, an’ if the captain saw him, why, thar’s whar she went.” ; The two worthies were content to wait for further revelations, which they knew would come in due time, but Black Silas remarked: Never | “Tll never forget how she looked at. me over her six-shooter. Thar was “shoot’ in her eye, and her finger jest playin’ with the trigger. he’d git even with her, an’ he has, dead sure,” “Tf Yellow Feather did it, ‘won't let the bird escape. You remem- The cap’n said why, he! ber how he watched her the last time | he dropped inter camp?—how he praised her eyes and saidhe’d give his horse for | a lock o’ her hair?” “Tt’s all right, but she’s got the dock- -erments.” “Not if Yellow Feather bagged the game,” was the answer. “ You kin bet that they fell inter the cap’n hand.” “No doubt. But the red? No one saw him in camp, an’ thar isn’t the ghost of a trail ter be found, so every- body says.” y An’ none ever will be. Count on, Yellow Feather. Now, with things as they ar’, the cap’n ought ter be in A few yards down the street, in the in Gold City, sat strange disappearance. - The day was fast declining, and long shadows were falling across the thor- age the mountains. _ The one-armed miner had tilted his “Bone one outside tapped on the win- He opened the door and looked out. ADTY Cap’n,” was called distinctly: ~ “ Yes. Come in.” f human figure sprang to the ‘door and was inside. d turned upon his visitor. He could have lifted him with one nd, for he was dwarfish and thin, but "a pair of eyes that shone like car- les. Well, Pedro?” js quaried the captain. she hep baat been hyar for six weeks, x mo Is. < ee , dle of the stream. ‘ the saddle. ‘away, it, cap’n.” “ Where was it, Pedro?” “ At the whirlpool.” The One-Armed Sport started. “Did some Indian get out of the clutches of the hole?” he queried. “Indian? Not much! It was a white victim that got away this time. Never saw anything like it.” The one-armed miner was excited now. “Tell me about it, Pedro,” he com- manded, The little man dropped the bone he was picking, and leaned against the table. “Tt was about sundown day before yes- terday when I lay on the left bank of the river looking at the hissing and boiling cauldron. I was almost fascinated by the sight and the roar of the waters nearly deafened me. * All at once, I saw a horse in the mid- Jt came round the bend where the pool is, and, to my as- tonishment, I saw that some one was in You can imagine how I stared at the horrible sight and how my blood. ran cold. The waters had the steed in their grip, the horse was help- less, and the boy—for boy ‘the victim was—seemed helpless like one tied to the saddle. “The rushing, whirling and sucking waters bore horse and rider on. Both were powerless to escape their doom. I could not lie still. All at once I saw another person I ‘had not seen till then. Where he came from is still a mystery to me; but, he was there on the bank just opposite the pool—an Indian .on a met- tled bay. “T’saw the redskin uncoil a lasso and rush his horse toward the water’s edge. Would he be in time to save the boy? I doubted it. The Indian was as cool as a cucumber, and his hands were as steady as if lassoing a steer. “Out shot the lariat; it settled over the boy’s head, tightened round his body near the saddle, and seemed to take the saddle in also. That done the redskin turned his horse’s head from the water and the bay began to pull. “The black horse seemed to realize what was wanted, and he struggled like a human being to assist his deliverer, and for some time I held my breath, for everything hinged on the strength of the lariat. “The pool was fighting for its victims and the redskin was trying to rob it of them. Cap’n, it would have done you good to see the Indian win.” _ The mine-owner uttered a cry that quite startled Pedro. “ Heavens! he didn’t win, did he?” he exclaimed. “He did; but it wa his teeth. The bay h He pulled the boy and his black horse from the river!” .““ What happened then?” “The boy was relieved of .the lariat, and ‘he pointed toward the hills down the river and said something hurriedly to the red, In another moment both rode and I lost them in hie spa ae beyond ‘the Seen gitt ity “by the skin of. the best muscle. SE eae at ae may 2 2 . “That accounts for it,” said the One- Armed Sport barely above his breath. Pedro was astonished. he “Had you heard of it, cap’n?” asked. “No; but the Indian won a great trick.” “T should say so. I knew the boy, and . when he comes to Gold City again you will hear the story from his own lips.” | “Perhaps. But ‘the Indian? Who was he?” “Oh, they’re all alike to me. I think, | however, I would know this one if I were to run across him. I would know him by a peculiar feather he wore.” “What sort o’ feather?” queried Cap- tain Kidd, “Tt was a yellow one.” “e No! ” | “T took it for that color, anyhow; but,. | you See, cap’n, I wasn’t very close, and — it was getting dark. Whoever the red was he has nerve and skill, and he did Claude Kimball a service that time.” Pedro turned once more to the cup- board, while the face of Captain Kidd assumed somewhat of its usual plac- idity. Saved? It could not be! Yet, why shoulé Pedro’s explicit narrative be un- true? The dwarf was generally truthful, and had never been caught in a downright falsehood. “You saw nothing more, asked the miner. “TI did not, for the moment the pair vanished, I made myself as scarce as possible,” “You haven't seen the boy since, I suppose? ”’ “No, nor the Indian. They duanp? peared together, but you know the boy belongs in Gold City.” “Claude does,” replied Captain Kidd... “He makes his headquarters here when—” Pedro held up his hand, and the speak- er glanced toward the door. The dwarf bounded to the door, flung it open quickly and thrust out his head. “There he goes, cap’n,” he exclaimed. Captain Kidd, stepping to the éntrance,. did see a figure moving away, rapidly vanishing. “It’s queer, and yet I can’t be mis— taken,” averred the dwarf. “What? What is it?” “That is the same Indian who saved Claude from the pool.” — Captain Kidd, whipping out a revolver, | bounded into the street. 1 Si Pedro?’” CHAPTER VI. THE SIX-SHOOTER’S MUZZLE. In a short time the captain caught. sight of the. flitting form, and then changed his tactics. Instead of rushing up, he glided to one side, and reached the plaza before the other came to it. The moment he saw - who it was he uttered a cry. It was Yellow Feather! pe, For a few moments the big man of the one arm seemed quite dumfounded. ; He could not believe that it was the | chief who had saved the boy from the an whirlpool. Yellow Feather, with whom he had | bargained for the forcible abduction of || Myrtle, had come back to Gold City for | — a purpose, and the white man thought | he could guess its import. The red had doubtless been frightened from the cabin by finding Pedro there, and the captain resolved to Seria Bric
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the confines of the camp when the One- ~ Armed Spert rushed after him. The redskin turned, and they stood once more face to face. “Back again?” spoke the miner. “You've carried out your part o’ the bargain, chief?“ .“ Yellow Feather does what he prom- ises.”’ “Of course. And she is safe?” The chief nodded. “ And the papers?” The Indian’s gaze dropped to his belt and rested there for a little while. “You got them?” demanded Captain Kidd, as he put out his hand for the prize. Yellow Feather drew back and looked at his white friend. “She had them,” the Captain insisted. . “Yellow Feather doesn’t know.” id & told shanty.” “Yeflow Feather searched.” “And found nothing?” The Indian shook his head. “See hyar, redskin! | | q t you to search the girl’s dockuments, They were in the shanty because she robbed Black Silas of them.” “My white brother knows where the nest is.” “And you know what became of the papers.” “The white captain lies,” flashed the red. The one-arm’s hand moved toward his { hip, but that instant he was seized by | the redskin and forced back into the ; deeper shadows of a shanty, close-by. : “Don’t make Yellow Feather mad,” hissed the red. “ Don’t trifle with him.” “But you said you would get the papers as well as relieve me of the trou- blesome girl,’ urged the captain. “Yellow Feather forgets nothing.” “They say you pulled the young kid from Thunder River,” cried the big miner. At this the eyes of the savage flashed anew, and he darted the full light of them into the captain’s face. “Who says that?” he asked. “T have just heard the story.” «“ Where is the liar?” Why not take Yellow Feather back to his own shanty? Why not stand him face’to face with Pedro and see which one would tell the truth? Besides this, he would then have the -treachercus redskin in his own hands, and if he really intended to betray him, _ why, he could put an end to him then and there. It was a brilliant idea. _“T can show you the person who says that.” _ “Come then! Show me!’ Feather must see the man.” . They went back toward the boss mine- owner’s shanty, the Indian apparently eager for the meeting. The.owner of the Mountain Cat ush- a ered his red companion into the cabin ‘)} and shut the door after him. iy “Where is the liar?” demanded the “1 Y chief. bay _ The miner looked around the room in A is “vain; no Pedro was to be seen, i “He was here,” declared the other. en “What call him?” ' “Tt was Pedro.” ies - Yellow * liar. ” - “He isn’t altogether white, _ from Arizona.” “The serpent that sues in the grass,” . _It was| entered Myrtle’s recent home, little Pedro, the yellow man—the man | tain stopped in the dark and waited for Po | TT a5 3S ¢ a The One-Armed Sport. ner of the room stirred, and the move- ment caught the Indian’s eye. In an instant Yellow Feather was on the spot and had jerked the robe aside. He dragged the struggling Pedro into the light and crunched him down into a chair, as if he would break every bone in his body. Captain Kidd did not interfere. “Ts this the.liar?”’ demanded the red. “That is the person who told me that you saved some one from the death pool. “T named no one,’ whined Pedro, ‘“and I never saw this Indian there.” “Look! he has a yellow feather,’ said the One-Armed Sport. “T said I couldn’t just see the color of the teather. It was getting dark, you know.” During all this time the gaze of Yel- low Feather was riveted upon Pedro, who trembled in the chair, and the dwarf glanced at the door, as if meas- uring the distance to it. “You deny it, then?” from Captain I want those! Kidd. “T—I really don’t know what I said.” “Fool! Open the door, Yellow Feath- er, and I’ll throw the wretch into the street.” “No, white brother,” and the hand of the savage interposed. ‘“ The liar is not out of Yellow Feather’s hands yet. He said he saw me ‘pull some one from Thunder River, did he?” “He told me that in this room.’ > Pedro tried to rise, but was pushed back by the red hands, “Does the captain believe it against Yellow Feather?” “Candidly, I.do not, chief.” “That’s good. Shall I fling the liar against the wall?” and the fingers of Yellow Feather seemed to sink into Pedro’s shouiders, until he nearly howled with pain. “Let him go this time, quested Captain Kidd. Yellow Feather picked Pedro out of the chair and appeared to raise him above his head. “Open door,” he cried. The captain did so, and as the shite swung back a human figure shot out of the Indian’s hands and vanished. “ That’s the way Yellow Feather serves liars!” cried the savage. ‘Now, white brother, do you believe him?” “Of course I don’t. You saved noone from the pool. I am sure of that.” “T have the girl safe.” ““That’s good. She was an easy cap- chief,” re- ture, eh?” ji She didn’t give me much trouble, and now she is where they cannot find her.” “T only wish you had found the papers which must have been in her cabin. They are very important papers in my eyes, chief.” “They may be there yet.” “T thought nothing ever escaped your eyes, but she may be an adept at hid- ing things, and has secreted the docu- ments where we would never! think of looking for them.” “House near by,” suggested the chief. “We might look.” Captain Kidd eagerly accepted the proposition, and, as night had come again, he proceeded to the shanty, with “Yellow Feather don’t ‘nee: the waite: the Indian. They lifted the latch carefully and The cap- the Indian to begin the search. It would not do to strike a light, for “He must face| the camp knew that Myrtle was not at - | home and suspicion Peps be the out # hung’ across ‘one cor-" come of a match, - z The cabin was searched by the pair moving round the walls feeling with their hands. They did not miss a single . inch of space and after a good hunt |. | they came back to the door unsatisfied. ‘6 They’re gone, Yellow Feather,” ; avowed Captain Kidd. y ““Mebbe so. What they read about? ” 4 “They amount to a claim intended to ~ rob me.” “To rob you, brother?” cried the { | Indian. “I thought no one quick : enough to beat the captain.” q “They can’t beat me in the end; but | just now if I ‘had those papers they 4 would make me feel better.” SS Yellow Feather clutched Captain Kidd’s wrist and bent his face down- | ward until the miner felt his hot breat:. “What will the captain give for the papers?” he asked in lowered tones, : “What, have you got ’em?” “Yellow Feather did not say so. What will white brother give for the talking papers?” “Tll give you two hundred dollars.” | Yellow Feather laughed derisiveiy. og “No more, captain?” he asked. “‘Then 4 papers no good to you. Yellow Feather F can sell them elsewhere.” “Tl raise it another hundred. That’s all I can afford to give.” . “They won’t come back, then.” - The One-Armed Sport was on his met- tle now. 4 “IT will fix this Indian,” he said to - himself. “I'll see if he beats me, black- | mails a-man like me, in Gold City. I | wasn't born ter be hoodwinked by a red-skinned thief.” As Yellow Feather drew back the big mine-owner looked the savage sternly in the face. a4 “You can’t sell me.a single paper,” he — hissed. ‘“You’re a_ treacherous, red-, a skinned dog and this is to be your re s ward!” His one hand closed on Yellow Feath- | er’s throat, and he hurled the surprised — red man back, preparatory to drawing ea his revolver. eS Just then the door opened and the — moonlight shone into the place. e Captain Kidd nearly dropped the weapon. The boy miner faced him, ~— CHAPTER VII. CLAUDE TAKES HIS OWN PART. Be Colorado Claude had come back from the dead, as it were, and now he faced the one-handed wretch who had con- signed him to that terrible place. The base ruffian showed his astonishment. — Claude touched his hat in mock courtesy. : ““Good night, Captain!” he saluted. The answer was a look, at once sav- age and malignant, but the boy smiled. “Don’t show yer teeth. I’m master s yet,” he growled ferociously. “Master, are you?” he echoed. will see,” ‘and the boy at once Yett shanty. “You scared, Cap’n?” trom the chi “Seared! Bah! I’ll show him. Y must help me.” oa “Yellow Feather is seas Boy rs) mine here, eh?” > “The Mountain Cat is tus best. in Colorado, or will be, and the sport has staked off a claim that. feres with my rights and lines. T why I hate him, and want him silen Yellow Feather grinned and nod ’ “My white brother play bluff, = ; “Yes, he knows all the tricks of th game,” a A consultation followéd betwee ar in the Ba be aga of tae Fb b!
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to two men, and his listeners were tak- , stood looking into each others’ faces, ing in every word but saying nothing. “You must be cautious,’’ advised one | of the pair, at last. “We will stand by you, Claude. soon his cards and then we can trick him. fore moving against him?” “Why. wait? the outrage; now is the time to open the battle.” *“ Where will you do that?” “ At the Goldbug, where I can find the biggest crowd at this hour.” Claude started toward the door. “You'll find many of the Captain’s friends there.” “Then I’ll see them.” The youth turned his steps toward one of the most prominent resorts in the camp town. The room was ablaze with light and.) seemed to be filled with men. At Claude’s appearance a group of miners asked him | eagerly if he had heard of the disap- spearance of Myrtle. “T know all about that,’ Claude ans- wered., her own accord. I’m here now, men, to tell you a story.” In an instant all sounds were hushed in the place and two men caught Claude and lifted him upon a table. ’ For a moment the fearless lad looked over the crowd and seemed to single out certain parties here and there; then he began the story of his usage at the hands of the three pards. He mentioned no names, but related his terrible adventure—told it all as it | had happened, and when he finished one might have heard the fall of a feather. Then a cry broke out; the crowd de- manded the names of the ruffians, and the rough fellows nearly overturned the | table, in their eagerness. “Give us the names o’ the cowards an’ we'll make crow meat o’ ’em,” ‘cried the men. “Tell us who sent you inter ther’' Death Rapids an’ thar’ll be some rope work right in Gold City! ” But Claude held back. “You must tell us or we'll not b’lieve ” eried a tall man in a blue shirt. “ We want the names an’ then we'll go ter | work.” “T’ll find them myself,” said the boy. “T am Claude Kimball, and am able to | take care of myself.” * But you needn’t do that! keer o’ the galoots for you. Long live Claude, the boy miner of Gold City!” The shout was taken up until the raft- ers of the Goldbug seemed to shake. The men surged around the table, near- | = at toe Te; Captain Kidd will show | Won’t you wait till morning, be- , Let Gold City know of | “JT know she is missing, and I’m | here to say that she didn’t go away of | | person who had spoken the criminating | The crowd gathered around. ; ‘Tell the truth,” cried the men. ee a een oe ss a aa The One-Armed Sport. hae Ee ee | amazed, Claude’s hat lay on the floor, but Claude himself was gone! Cries of vengeance filled the air. Men rushed from the place pellmell, in their | rage, “The man who did the deed at the Death Pool was Captain Kidd,” said a voice. Instantly all sounds ceased. Could it be true? The men of Gold | City were amazed. ““Who says that?’’ demanded a big fel- | low, stepping forward from the crowd. “ Let the man who accuses Captain Kidd stand forth and make his words good.” “Captain Kidd and his two pals, Black Silas and Jericho Joe, sent Claude to the Death Pool!” was repeated. The men rushed forward and broke open the door of a cabin a few yards |away, and dragged out a little man, whom they held up before them as they carried him back, It was Pedro. | The dwarf had been found, and, as the accusation had come from the shanty, all were willing to swear that he was the words. “ Tell it now. You said that Captain Kidd and his two pards did it. Is that true?” “Speak out! We'll protect you, Pedro,” | was shouted. “Set me down first,” said the little man. “They shoot lamps down in Gold City and they can hit a livin’ lamp like me with the same ease.” They set him on the ground. “Tt is true,” declared Pedro, “It was | Captain Kidd, Black Silas an’ Joe. I | Saw ’em do it!” The little bunch of nerves and bones hesitated a moment, and then he told his | story. | Some men doubted; others, clutching their revolvers, looked toward Captain | Kidd’s abode, “Would you back that up with an oath, Pedro?” asked Tall Abner, the | leader of the growing mob. The dwarf held un his hand. “'That’s enough,” and the crowd drew back, leaving the little man standing alone in the moonlight. | He realized his peril, for, all at once, | he bounded away, as if to get beyond We'll take | the bullet of the marksman who had ' shot off the lamp-cord. He stopped on the fringe of the little plaza which the Goldbug saloon faced, and then threw up his hands. All heard a shot, and instinctively ly tipping it over, when, suddenly, the every face was turned to the spot. street door was thrown open and a pistol | shot was heard. The big lamp, suspended in the centre of the saloon, came rattling down, and They saw Pedro totter and pitch head- long to the ground, Half a dozen ran and lifted him up. | The little head fell back, the eyes the resort was wrapped in almost total | closed, the bosom heaved a moment; darkness. CHAPTER VIII. PEDRO'S OATH, The table upon which the boy miner | was perched came down with a crash, for ‘ “the men had fallen against it trying to avoid the falling lamp, and Claude was hurled to the floor. then was still. “Whar’s the villain?” The crowd rushed toward the shanty from whence the shot seemed to have come, but-only to find it empty. They had heard no flying footsteps, ' had’ seen no assassin, and the result of the hunt was fruitless. _ Ten minutes later the One-Armed Sport, in his own cabin, heard footsteps Half a dozen rushed to the door, pistol , at the door. in hand, but no one was to be seen, and | the excited miners stood in front of the - Goldbug, uttering maledictions loud and - dee Dp. - Some one struck a match in the room. “Whar’s ther boy?” was shouted. He was not in the place. Another lamp was lit, and the men He opened it to face fifty men. “We want ter talk to you, captain,” said Tall Abner. ‘‘ You know what has happened? ” “T’ve been asleep,’ was the answer. “‘T heard something like a shot, an’ that wakened me. What has happened?” The mob was astonished. Was it true that this man had not} heard of the thrilling events of the last) hour? “In the first place, they’ve accused you of sending Ciaude, the boy miner, into the rapids of Thunder River,” vent-| ured Tall Abner. “Who says that?” “Pedro said it, but the little man is dead,” “ Dead? * Yes. ago.” “Who did that?” : “We don’t know; but we will find out.” “That’s right. Pedro was a friend of mine, and it seems unreasonable that he should accuse me of a thing like that.” “But he did. We heard him plainly. He says you had Black Silas and Jericho Joe at your heels.” “We deny that! ” The crowd turned at the words and saw the two men side by side before them, Captain Kidd smiled upon his friends and the crowd made way for them to) join him. : “We want the truth, that’s all,” con- tinued Tall Abner. ‘‘ We want to know for certain who sent the boy and his horse down the rive, and who killed Pedro.” “We'll help you to do that,’ assured | Captain Kidd. : “We want to know, too, who is to. blame for the disappearance of Myrtle, the flower of Gold City.” ) Pedro?” | He war shot a few minutes! “We'll assist you in solving that | mystery as well,” was the quick re- sponse. “You hear Tall Abner, boys,” addressing the pair at his side. ‘‘We must help these pards solve this mys- teries which disgrace the camp.’’ At this a cheer went up for the One- Armed Sport. ; Tall Abner and his friends were dis- concerted; they did not know how to proceed with their mission. * Bring Claude here and let us hear the story from his own lips,’ quietly or- dered Captain Kidd. *He’s gone, too!” . 4 “Not that, Abner. “No one knows.” Gone where?” “ Don’t you think he is about the camp | somewhere? ” “Can’t say. Some one shot out the big chandelier an’ when they lit another | lamp the boy was gone.” “That’s strange. Did he accuse us?” “He told the story of his adventure in the rapids, but he named no one,” “T thought not. Claude is not the youth to wrongfully accuse a friend.” The captain folded his arms and Jose and Silas leaned against the cabin. “When you fetch proof against us, why, you can punish,” said the one- arm tough. “ Until then we are innocent citizens of Gold City, entitled to all the rights and privileges of such.” Tall Abner said “Yes,” and backed off, followed by the crowd. Lying on his face in the moonlight some distance from the place where he had fallen, was Pedro, the dwarf; no- one seemed to notice him. All at once the supposed dead Pedro moved. His motions were slow and he wriggled through the moonlight toward a cabin. This reached, he forced the door open, and dragged himself across— the sill. ° In the darkness he found a couch in "There he groaned and moaned in his agony. ws 4 ayy ME : - corner of the place and crawled upon ~ t
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ts \ '’“T will have revenge,” he muttered. “They think Pedro dead; but he lives; he lives to be avenged; I swear it by the powers above! ” Silence fell in the little shanty—si- lence, save the heavy and painful breath- ing of the little victim of the secret as- sSassin. CHAPTER IX. CLAUDE’S TERRIBLE DISCOVERY. “Hark, what was that?” The speaker was on the outskirts of the camp. Claude, the boy miner, it was. He stood among the shadows and looked toward the camp. His escape from the crowd in the Gold- bug bordered on the remarkable. In the darkness, when the surging of the crowd overtipped the table, Claude felt a hand at his wrist, and was jerked from the mob. Almost before he could realize he was hustled from the place, through a rear door, and, in a moment, stood in the open air. He stared into the face of the person at his side and drew back as if to resist the friendly, but firm grip. * White boy no go back!” said his companion, “ Him get into heap trouble! Him must go out o’ camp.” Claude, though he resented this inter- ference, was almost dragged away, and only halted when he reached the spot where he utteder the exclamation: “Hark! What was that?” The Indian stood beside him. *“Didn’t you hear some one down there?” The chief shook his head, but his figure was bent in a listening attitude; one of his hands at his right ear. “Nothin’, white boy,” said he at last. “ Yellow Feather sees and hears nothin’ down. yonder,” “Tell me, chief,” and the boy miner gripped the. Indian’s naked arm. “ Tell me if you had a hand in taking away Myrtle?” * Instantly the Sioux’s face seemed to get a new expression. “Does Claude think Yellow Feather a girl-thief?” he demanded, “Why should the chief steal the flower of Gold City?” “Yes, why should he?” echoed the youth, “Captain Kidd is said to be your friend. You have been with him to- night.” “Yellow Feather has many friends among the whites. Him know ’em all.” “But you don’t serve two masters, do you, chief?” The redskin looked away. “What would Claude do to the girl stealer?” he suddenly asked. “Woe to the hand that harms Myrtle,” was the quick threat. “I am that man’s foe!” Yellow Feather looked down into the upturned face and a smile was on his own. “What if he should find Yellow Feather’s hand in the play?” “Tf that hand harmed her, woe to it! ” “Boy miner brave! Boy miner true to the flower of Gold City; but he must not play too cold a hand against Cap- tain Kidd.” “You don’t mean to take that demon’s part. Yellow Feather?” exclaimed the lad. “You don’t mean to tell me that I must not resist his game of robbery? Why, he wants to defraud me of my claim! It lies close to his mine, Tl acknowledge that, but it is fairly mine, and it will not be surrendered to the . "Cinuée's land pirate of Colorado.” Clau spoke with decision, and his PAP Sdn The One-Armed Sport. language seemed to please the stolid chief. “White boy Come! ” Yellow Feather started on, Claude’s wrist again in his grip. On—on they tramped, further up into the hills, until at last the redskin stop- ped, turning a questioning face upon Colorado Claude. ‘What white boy give to see Myrtle?” was asked. Claude looked amazed. “T have nothing to offer, Yellow Feather,” said he. “I can only promises Show me Myrtle alive and safe and name your price when I open my bonanza down there.” The pleased Indian seemed to chuckle, and the two darted off again, but in a little while the chief, pausing, threw aside a lot of matted vines that over- hung a perpendicular wall. The mouth of a cavern of some kind was revealed, “In, in!” cried Yellow Feather, push- ing the boy forward. ‘“ White boy can give chief his gold by and by!” Guided by the Sioux, the boy was taken down a winding passage in utter darkness, and at last halted, Yellow Feather gave vent to a pe- culiar whistle and waited for a reply, but no answer followed, ‘Was she left here?” asked Claude. A match light flashed and he saw the Indian’s face again. It wore a troubled expression. : “Gone,” was all the chief said. ‘Heavens! did you bring her here?” the boy demanded. The redskin nodded, then suddenly ran along the wall, with the tiny light near the ground. ‘See! Yellow Feather find the it i pointing to the rock floor. ‘Let us follow it, then!” The Indian turned once more, now bear- ing a real torch, whfch he had taken from a shelf upon the wall, where it evidently had been left for use. For some time Yellow Feather pushed on, looking sharply at the ground over which he moved his torch, but at length he stopped, and leaned against the rocky wall, while an expression of horror came over the stolid face. Handing the torch to Claude, he point- ed at the moist floor of the passage. The boy saw there the imprint of a dainty foot, going forward. He was about to go on in that direc- tion, but the Indian held him back. “Death down there,” warned. the Sioux. “The chasm edge is yonder, white boy—the edge of the bank of the underground river.” Claude’s face became. pallid, but at once he dragged the Indian forward in his determination to know what was meant by, the underground. stream. He could not hear the noise of water, yet he had heard of and seen subter- good grit—much good! ranean rivers which flowed far under ground with a noiseless sweep, deeper and deeper into the Stygian gloom. Yellow Feather let himself be led un- til the torch revealed the end of the path. The bank of the river.was below them, and the boy prospector threw the glare of the torch over the brink. Far beneath him—it looked like it was a hundred feet—ran a river that sent up no sound as it carried its waters into the unknown. Claude shuddered at the very thought that Myrtle had fallen into this awful tide. and for half a minute his heart seemed to stand still. ane wi Teun z 1 Ee eee By nen + pe ee Se 9 He saw that the foot-tracks which they had followed ended at the very edge of. the bank. He turned suddenly upon Yellow, Feather, with the fury of a young lion. The torch dropped at his feet and blazed there. “You kidnapped her, chief,” he cried. Yellow Feather leaned against the wall and covered his face with his hands. “You played that infamous part for Captain Kidd,” continued the boy miner. ‘You stole Myrtle, my friend! You brought her here—to this horrible place, and left her: to wander through darkness to the death she has met. Stand erect and receive the doom you deserve!” Claude stepped back and a half-naked figure against the wall suddenly straight- ened there. “Yellow Feather deserves it!” said the Sioux. ‘“‘ Let the white boy be his death! % CHAPTER X. FOUND. It was the most trying moment in the life of Colorado Claude. The torch flashed its light into the Indian’s face and Claude’s fingers gripped the deadly pistol which Yellow Feather seemingly did not fear. “Why does not the white boy shoot?” cried the Indian. “Yellow Feather stands before him ready for the death- shot. He stole Myrtle from her cabin. He carried her to the cavern, but she is not here.” Once more Claude’s gaze wandered to the brink and thence came slowly back to Yellow Feather. “Tt was more Captain Kidd’s work than yours,” he said. “You are but his tool,” and the boy lowered the re- volver and kicked the torch away. “We may find her; she may not have fallen from the bank into the silent river.” Yellow Feather snatched up the torch with a quick start. Claude saw him wave it along the bank, while his eyes searched eagerly; but he looked up at last with the same blank expression of countenance of ut- ter disappointment and despair. Suddenly Yellow Feather appeared to bethink himself of something new, for he turned and darted away. “Come, white boy!” he called, back, and the youth dashed after the Sioux. He followed the torch as it flashed up one dark passage and down another—on, on, until at last the Indian stopped. The river was flowing past his feet. They were nearly on the level of the tor- tuous stream, and its black waters wash- ing the shore gave forth a strange, mon-= otonous sound. Yellow Feather pointed to a natural — archway from which the waters came and his face assumed a questioning look. “Could any one pass down the river . to this place and live?” asked Claude. Yellow Feather shook his head, but on the instant he threw one hand to his ear and leaned forward and listened. “What is it?” asked the lad. No reply, but the chief continued to listen. “Come!” soon bounding away. Dashing along the bank of the river, he turned into another passage. “ Here, boy! ” The chief stopped and Claude came up. “She lives, but she is yonder,” and Yellow Feather pointed forward. Suddenly he put his ear against the wall and remained there in a = po~ sition, like a mei cried the Indian, : ee
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geet Jaa Lo 10 “Yellow Feather hears the lost Flow- er of the Camp! ” he said, a look of in- tense expectancy on his visage. The boy .miner heard a noise, seem- ingly from the other side of the wall, and he held his breath as he listened. a How can we reach her?” he demand- ed. “We try, boy.” Ten minutes later the two were in another part of the cavern. The Sioux stood on what appeared to be the brink of another precipice, an uncoiled lariat in his hand, and gazing searchingly over the cliff. : All was dark below, but quickly the redskin made the lariat fast to a pro- jection and at once lowered himself over | the wall. Claude watched with keenest interest and tried to throw the light of the torch into the chasm below. Down the Sioux went hand over hand, and quickly disappeared wholly from sight. Soon there came a strain on the lariat, and the rope seemed to become taut as with a heavy burden. Claude leaned over the brink and saw something beneath him. He made: out, the head and shoulders of the Indian, but—what more? Surely the chief held something thrown across his broad shoulder} Seconds seemed hours to him then, and at last the redskin and his burden reached the top. “Myrtle! ” cried Claude, as he fell back, white faced and horrified. Yellow Feather clambered over the rim of the pit, the form of the girl now clasped tightly in his arms. Yellow Feather laid his burden at the youth’s feet and stepped back. Yes, it was Myrtle, but Claude seemed to shrink from the now ghastly-looking object, once the beauty of Gold City. “She lives!” said the Indian. “ Yel- low Feather reached her just in time. She must have fallen into the black river and been carried to the wild spot down there.” Myrtle uttered a moan. Instantly the boy was at her side. “Tt is a dream,” she said. “It must be, for you cannot be Colorado Claude.” Claude assured her that it was reality and not a spirit vision, and by degrees Myrtle came out of the illusion. “Now for Gold City!” cried the boy, as he rose from Myrtle’s side, but, the - next. moment, he uttered a cry. Yellow Feather was gone! “The Sioux has deserted us,” he said. “We are alone in this labyrinth of death.” He ran down the passage with the torch, only to come back to Myrtle dis- appointed. “Tt is true. Yellow Feather is really gone.” “But we will find the way out,” reas- sured the girl. “‘i am sure we are not to perish here.” Signs in the passages showed them the prints of moccasins, and these they fol- lowed, and in a half hour’s time both uttered a cry, for ahead shone the stars of the summer sky! Fortune had indeed favored them; Claude and Myrtle stood underneath the starry vault, free! . The night deepened; the stars went down the trails of the sky; the wind blew, for dawn and the first birds of morning made music as Claude Kimball and Myrtle entered Gold City. The girl ‘was conducted to her little home on the straggling street, where the boy miner said good-bye for the present. Se Oo 5 re a: Jee AP SLA The One-Armed Sport. As he turned into the street again a . man opened a door and started at sight | Joe. “ of him. It was Black Silas! The bearded tough caught sight of the boy and turned to speak to some one be- hind him, and eré the door closed Claude saw another figure in the same shanty. * Birds of a feather,” observed the boy. “They now know that I’ve come back. Both Silas and Joe have seen me and | the captain won’t be kept in ignorance.” Claude kept on to his own cabin, and entering it he shut the door behind him. The little room had been disturbed since his last visit, he could guess by | wiom, and he looked around with flushed face. Crossing the floor, he at once opened a well-concealed niche in one of the logs and reached his hand into it, but only to withdraw it empty! “Myrtle was right. They’ve plun- dered me,” was all he said. The sun crept over the eastern hills, and the men of Gold City came out, one at a time, until all seemed congregated in the main thoroughfare. Claude watched from the little window alongside the door of his shanty with compressed lips and determined visage. The crisis in the boy miner’s life had come, as he knew. Presently a tall man, with a check shirt, and wearing a yellow belt, came toward the shanty. “ Granite Gid, the high sheriff of Gold City,” murmured the boy. Gid had many times proclaimed no- tices of outlawry and posted them on the front of the outlawed’s shanties, but this time he had another duty to- per- form. He came on until he stood in the street nearly opposite Claude’s cabin. * Now I’m in for it,” thought the boy. “Granite Gid is going to perform some official function.” Sure enough, the tall sheriff raised his hands. “HWeaHr ye, hear ye, all consarned! ” cried he. “ This day Captain Kidd of Gold City takes possession of the follow- ing territory, which he rightfully claims as his own.” A slight pause followed; then Gid in the same loud tones described the land covered by the boy miner’s claim. “Who disputes this claim?” ended the sleuth. The door of the cabin suddenly flew aside. “T do!” and Claude Kimball stepped forth. ; . CHAPTER XI. THE SECRET OF THE HAND. Granite Gid looked at the boy amaz- edly. “Tell Captain Kidd that I am here to defend that which is mine, and that I will defend it to the bitter end.” With this Claude retired into the cabin and the door was closed. “T didn’t know he war about,” thought Gid as he walked back. “But, he’s got the grit, an’ now Captain Kidd must fight his own battles.” ; In less than ten minutes the whole camp knew that the boy had reappeared. His disappearance had proven a mys- tery, but the pards of Gold City did not doubt the boy would explain all in good time. The One-Armed Sport heard the news with apparent composure, from his two minions. “The boy can’t hold out with us,” de- clared the Boss; “ we can crush the lit- | tle cuss like an egg shell.” a oe ele Mae . aha’ _ tad “He’s a cool duck, cap’n,” ventured You know that.” “Little his coolness will avail him now,” was the answer. “I have put in my claim to the ground and Granite Gid has proclaimed it to the hull camp.” “Yes, and the boy said he disputed the claim.” “ Pish! ay),'? Ere long the cabin swarmed with his; adherents—the toughs of Gold City, and all were ready to obey the orders of the one-armed Boss. Meantime Claude, quitting his cabin, was talking to a group of men in front of the Goldbug, his face illumined with joy as he told of the unexpected rescue of Myrtle who soon came forth to recsive cheers from the dark-shirted fellows. “ When is the case to be tried?” asked Tall Abner. “Granite Gid says right away.” “You have your papers, boy?” “Myrtle has hid them and knows where they are. “That will settle it.” “She was fortunate enough to hide them from all eyes after she made Black Silas give them up.” “Captain Kidd will play a bold hand or else try to deal the cards secretly to suit himself.” “He'll find me ready for him,” asser- vated Claude as he walked toward Myr- tle’s home. R Captain Kidd remained at home until late in the afternoon; then he ventured out. It was noticed that he was dressed with scrupulous care, wearing a new suit of buckskin and a dark shirt that well fitted his burly figure, and of course was ‘well heeled,” as usual. One thing about the One-Armed Sport, which from the moment of his arrival on the spot where Gold City stood, had been a mystery, and this was the lost hand. The arm apparently was missing from a point halfway between elbow and wrist, but no one had ever seen the stump. He kept the end of the arm bundled up in a neat manner, and beyond this the men of Gold City knew nothing. The fact that he never referred to the loss of hand and wrist sometimes, puz- zled the denizens of the gold camp, but they had never pushed any queries; ip that direction. t Captain Kidd, or Jumping Jerry—. latter name he seemed to like . best—- made his way to the Goldbug, which he entered in his usual cool manner, The moment he did so his eye roved to- ward the farther end of the place and ~’ once singled out a man who stood there This person already had attract. some attention from the men there con- gregated, and they were amused. {0 ,se the embarrassment he seemed,to." °° We'll wipe him out, that’s ” the Boss of Gold City. “om 4 “Hello!” cried the stranger. aS hy 9) 9 , stepped forward and held out his hane — to the One-Armed Sport. The captain, vs a not, to be out-done, shook hands with him, but his gaze fell. “How is it?” asked the other. glad to see you.” Captain Kid laughed and passed a few remarks with the stranger, but in a short time the Boss quitted the resort. Straight back to his own shanty he; oe I’m A , walked, his face anxious in expréssicy — “ QGurse it!” he muttered, as he threw #7 himself into a chair at the round table. *~ 4 “That this man should come to Goid |} City just now is unfortunate. Who 7 sent him? And what infernal fate ") «7 rected me to the Goldbug just now?” =| 4
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The One-Armed Sport, - Just then the door opened to admit Jericho Joe. “Who is he, cap’n?” asked his right bower. “I saw and heard it all. He knows about you, cap’n, for he smiled grimly and asked the boys when you lost yer hand.” “Did he do that, Joe? they tell him?” “Abner said it war off when he first knowed you, and the others chimed in with him.” “And the man? What did he say?” “He just looked away, but I caught a grin at the corners of his mouth, but he was as silent as the grave.” “Whar is he now, Joe?” “In the Goldbug yet.” “ See hyar, Jericho. ; against us.’ = /\ “T’d bet my head on that same! But, I say, who is he, cap’n?” “T’ll tell you, ‘Joe, for I don’t see any need of keepin’ the secret.” He came over to where Jericho Joe stood and touched the man’s arm. “That man is Pedro’s brother! ” “What, brother of the dwarf?” ; “Yes. You wouldn’t think it, Joe, j one so tall and well built, the other a ; midget. But, its true, and they | are the And what did That man is 5 strangest brothers you ever saw.’ “What fetches him ter Gold City?” ““The little man’s trail, I opine.” “Pedro has been missing, then?” . “For years. The big brother is sin- cerely. attached to the little one. What has become of Pedro, Joe?” “They say he crawled away in a mys- : , terious manner, and since then he hasn’t i | ~ been seen.” uw | -, “ He may have died.” i “Perhaps, for the person who pulled the trigger on Pedro never shoots for nothin’. But, I say, cap’n, what made that man look so closely at yer maimed arm?” a, “‘T don’t know that he did, Joe.” | ae “He really did. He appeared suspici- ous, and he had before asked the pards when you lost it.” “This man is dangerous,’ and the voice dropped almost to a_ whisper. “When I say dangerous, Joe, I mean just that.” : : “Call him out. You’re a dead shot, -eap’n. And do it right away. If he is _ Pedro’s brother and dangerous, he must be ‘spoilin’ for a muss, and you can make him fight.” _’ The One-Armed Sport seemed to re- ~ flect. - “He’s left handed,” suggested Joe. “And I am right handed.” “You?” and Jericho Joe stared at the bandaged arm. ' With a grim smile Captain Kidd held out the maimed arm. ‘- ®@T am right handed and that man knows it!” he averred. right hand!” ‘ ©" Oh, can’t 1?” and Captain Kidd, ‘fumbling a moment at the stump, sud- _ denly jerked away the covering. Joe, with a sharp ery recoiled, as a > Ted hand at the end of a deformed arm ~ was held up before him. “That’s yer secret, cap’n,” he said at ” Jast. “I never dreamed of it.” | _- * Pedro’s brother knows that I have a _ hand at the end of this arm,” was the answer. “ He knows much more than ‘that, stay That man man must die! ” Wang Riis: CHAPTER p 2 hae ‘STRANGE EVENTS. _ a 9 ee ‘saad the pair ‘But you can’t hold a weapon in yer > returned to his. companion in ir put their By and by, emerging from the place, they walked over ta Captain Kidd’s cabin. Pedro’s brother, meantime, had asked about the dwarf, but the men of Gold City could not throw much light upon the little fellow’s whereabouts. Night had closed its curtains around the camp, when Colorado Claude in his abode was startled by a rap, and, open- ing the door, he faced the brother of Pedro. The tall man entered and stood there, without speech, his eyes riveted upon the boy miner. “Well, sir, what is it?” finally de- manded. Claude. “Let me see your claim, boy,” he reached forth his hand. Claude at once drew from his bosom the important papers and handed them without reserve to his unknown visitor. Pedro’s brother, drawing a stool up to the table, sat down; then he opened the documents and ran them over carefully, closely watched by the boy. At last he put them down and looked up into the young claimant’s face. ss They're good,” said he, “If they were mine I’d call them good enough to fight for.” “That’s just what I’m willing to do,” asserted Claude. “I don’t believe that Captain Kidd has the ghost of a claim on the ground I’ve staked out. It may approach his mine, but it does not get over upon him.” “Tt’s the same old tactics, will never forget them.” | “You know Captain Kidd, then?” “Don’t I?” with a smile. be fairly well acquainted with Jumping Jerry, as you call him here, or Captain Kidd,” and he added, abruptly: “You never saw the stump of the captain’s right hand, boy?” “ Never, nor any one else. He keeps that arm Well hidden, as if he dared not show up.” “You spoke truly then; he dare not! He would not take off the wrappings.” “You know it, then?” “Yes, all about that arm. It is a fraud! There’s a good hand-at the end of that arm.” Claude’s look betrayed his astonish- meant. “I’m going to unwrap that hand! ” “ Be careful! ’ warned the youth, “ he’s as dangerous as a rattler! ” “Tye been warned before,” was the reply. “In the morning, my young friend, Gold City will see the hand he has kept concealed so long.” “But why does he hide it? ” “T’l] reveal the secret at me same time.” “JT hope you will. boss here, and ——” “Wark!” and Claude, springing up, sprang to the door, which he opened. Heavens! Look here!” The boy pulled a bit of paper from the door and handed it to his visitor. It was a piece of yellowish paper as large as two hands when put together, and Pedro’s brother leaned forward in the light as he tried to decipher the scrawl thereon. “Tt’s for you, boy,” he said. “What does it say?” “Tt warns you to quit Gold City, and is signed ‘A Friend.’” and The man J een Jerry is Claude, bursting into a laugh, cams, the paper. — “My friends would not send a warn- ing in this manner,” said he. they. “T used to a ag : © ite “Tt is | simply a play by my foes. My friends. here wilt, stand by me; ‘wouldn't. me | return by daylight. ” “Give me the paper,’ and Pedro’s | brother took the scrawl from the boy miner’s hands again. Once more he read it carefully, dwell- ing on the shape of the letters, as it seemed; then he looked up with a smile. “It’s the old handwriting slightly dis- ; guised,” said he. “I’ve seen it before.” “It is the captain’s?” a “Surely,” answered the man. “And | io he wrote it with the hidden hand. Your’ claim comes up in the morning, T ama informed.” a “Yes, so Granite Gid tells me.” 2 ty What will be done, then?” a “Gid will select a jury, and it will determine who has a right to the ground. a “And Gid won’t select a jury against — Captain Kidd?” x “ Of course not! ” 4 “T see. It’s easier than looking through a stone wall,’ was the reply. “The jury will decide that you are on Jumping Jerry’s ground. Can I have your horse, boy?” The question was so abrupt that the boy miner started, but he assented. “Black Nelly is at your service,” _he said. “T’ll be back by daylight. My own — horse threw a shoe coming down the | mountain, and can’t travel very well.” “Take Nelly, then.” Pedro’s brother opened his dark shirt and took from it a package not larger | than his hand. , co “T’]ll commit this to your care,” said — he. “It contains something important. If I should not come back—you know | that dangers lurk in the mountains— you will place this package and its con- tents before the jury.’ 3 He pushed the object across the table es and rose. A “But Ill be back,” said he. “ “This |, is a double game, and if I can prevent, — boy, they shan’t despoil you.” = When he was again alone Claude | Net picked up the warning and read: ia “You're in the death coils, Claude. They are tightening, and if you remain the vultures will have a feast to-mor- row.. “A Friend.” The boy threw the warning upon the table with a gesture of defiance, and for a few minutes walked the floor, his face strangely white. - : All at once he left the cabin, and soon. was at Myrtle’s door. It was ‘opened to his knock, and he stood before the belle of Gold City. “TI saw a strange thing just now, vee cried Myrtle. “Black Nelly passed my house. Has some one _ stolen siete mare?” “No; I let him have her.” “TI did not know the man, but . y looked like a messenger from another Ae world, so solemn and strange. Just be- — low my cabin he stopped and looked — back. I saw him hold in midair a long, naked knife, and as I listened ~ breathless I heard him say that the day of doom had arrived. Who is that mine, Claude?” “As much a mystery to me as to you. “Yet you intrusted Black Nelly him?” f “T did. I hardly know why, but I le him have the mare, for he promised ras The girl looked incredulous. ae “You've lost a good steed,” said We: = “That man will never return. | “T have made a discovery that startles me,” continu lute
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12 The One-Armed Sport. it carefully and found the door un- | gulch, the walls of which seemed to reach hooked.” “Tt is seldom hooked, you know.” “Yes, but I thought it would be hooked to-night. You remember when Pedro was shot he suddenly vanished if he had crawled off somewhere to ie?” =e Gy “T thought he might have died in the cabin, and that is what directed my steps in that direction.” ; “Well?” eagerly queried Claude. “TI found the shanty deserted, but in the little table where Pedro ate I found a knife buried half way to the hilt. It must have taken a great deal of power to bury the blade thus. I approached still nearer, and I saw that some hand had chalked on the table the word Vengeance! and that the knife had been _driven through the middle of the word.” “Then the yellow midget is alive! ” cried Claude. “ That is Pedro’s work.” CHAPTER XIII. THE HUMAN VULTURES’ SWOOP. The boy miner went back to his little cabin to prepare for the testing events which he knew were near at hand. He wondered if Myrtle’s estimate of Pedro’s mysterious brother was correct, and whether the man to whom he had intrusted Black Nelly would return in time to unmask the one-armed sport. Placing under his pillow the package received from Pedro’s brother, as well as the documents that substantiated his claims, he barred the cabin door, and in a few minutes was in the land of dreams. How long he ‘slept Claude did not know when he found himself sitting bolt upright on the couch, as if some strange noise had stirred him, then, in a moment more, in the darkness, a hand | fell upon his shoulder, and. he sprang out of bed, but only to be thrown against the wall and held there. Cords went deftly round his body, pinioning his arms; then he was lifted from the floor. Some one unbarred the door, and he was hustled from the shanty. Once 'out- side other hands clutched him; he looked into two masked faces of stal- wart men and was hurried away. A thrill shot through his mind when he thought of the papers he had left under the pillows. They were lost now! The young claimant struggled in ‘vain; he was powerless in the hands of the enemy, and in a few moments was thrown astridé of a horse that stood behind the shanty, a pistol held close to his head compelling his silence. A rope was passed around his legs and then under his steed’s flanks, and he was fastened .to the saddle. That done, the masked pair mounted horses at his side, and five minutes suf- ficed to carry all three from Gold City to the mountain trail. “How do you like it, eh?’ asked the ‘man on his left. Claude looked at the gleaming eyes behind the mask, but kept silent. “Do you think you'll win the play now?” “This is infamous! ” “Of course it is, in your eyes,” Jaughed his tormentor. “We don’t ex- pect to do anything that would please the claim jumper.” “Liar! I am no claim jumper!” was his irrepressible retort. Ina little while the Bae ty) og Neel ba MN aM ag trio entered a the clouds in their grandeur. Here a halt was made, but soon the party moved on once more, and it was several miles further on up the | gulch before the two men drew rein again. “The river didn’t hold you,” then re- marked one of the masks. “You got out of the Pool. Who saved you? Was it Yellow Feather?” ‘ “Find out; I will not tell you?’ “Tf the red helped you, he will lose more than his head-dress.” “ Yellow Feather can protect himself,” from the boy miner, defiantly. One of the men now stripped the bri- ' dle from the head of the steed the boy rode. They now reinspected Claude’s bonds, and one of the pair produced a revolver. * Will you agree ter remain away for- ever from Gold City and disturb no one there from now on?” he demanded, menacingly. “No! Gold City is my home and there I stay!” “Life is sweet. Life is worth living for. It is now or never with you, boy!” and as the ruffian spoke he took from his bosom the packet left in the boy’s care by Pedro’s brother, as well as the papers which proved his own claim. “You recognize ’em, don’t you?” “Yes, thief, I do recognize them! ” “You will never see ’em again! ” and with that he struck the prisoner’s horse sharply with his open hand. The horse snorted and dashed away. Claude knew that a levelled revolver was behind him, and ducked his body the best he could. At the same instant two revolvers blended their reports, and he felt a | sharp sting like that made by an Indian | arrow. ; acct en LD He tried to straighten in the saddle, but was unable to do so, and the pain instantly became keen. “They've got me at last, the vil- lains!” muttered the boy miner. “I am to perish here—to die like a wound- ed coyote.” He saw the stars dance in the heavens before his eyes as on he rushed; he saw them vanish suddenly; then he felt a strange darkness like the gloom: of a haunted house swoop down over him. Meantime the masked men rode back, keeping on their masks until they re- entered Gold City and rode to the masked. Jericho Joe and Black Silas stood re- vealed. The two men had simply done their master’s bidding, and while they crept toward Captain Kidd's cabin the bridle- less steed was carrying his doomed rider deeper and deeper into the heart of the hills. Captain Kidd, still out of bed greeted his tools with— “Well, did you send him adrift?” “We hold all the trumps, Cap’n,” an- swered Joe, throwing upon the table the spoils of the expedition. “The boy slept like a log, and Silas wiggled inter the shanty like a weasel. We had him when he opened his eyes, and now they’re shut. Ha, ha!” The captain picked up the package of papers and handled it with a look of triumph, “This is what [’ve wanted. It is the packet she took from you, eh, Silas?” Black Silas nodded. “But, what is this?” asked the Boss, taking up the other object. _ Both men shook their heads. uel stables, where they dismounted and un-; Se ee ee ee ee ee “You don’t know, eh?” “We don’t, cap’n, because we haven’t looked.” The One-Armed Sport scanned package from all points. It was about as large as his hand and as flat, and was tied with a faded scar- let cord. the “We found ’em both together,’ ex- plained Jericho, ‘‘ under his pillow.” “T know nothing of this,” mused Cap- tain Kidd, ‘‘ but we'll soon see what it contains.” He drew his knife and cut the strings. The two men leaned forward, curious- ity in their dark faces. “ What is it, cap’n?” from Silas. “T’ll be hanged if I know,” was the reply. “Why, here’s a picture and a lock o’ hair. And here’s a ring and a dagger hilt. Strange things for a boy to have in his possession, out here in this wild country.” A piece of folded paper fell from Cap- tain Kidd’s hands, and Silas picked it up. It proved to be a printed procla- mation, offering in large letters one thousand dollars reward for the head of an outlaw named Major Christmas. As Silas read aloud the document, Captain Kidd snatched it from his grasp. His face had grown pallid, and holding the paper in his hands, he gazed at it like a man suddenly sentenced to the seaffold. ‘ CHAPTER XIV. THE STRANGE BROTHERS. Pedro was at home again. The dwarf was “on deck” and evi- dently, by his demeanor, was on the verge of a new excitement. His yellowish hands looked talon-like in the rays of the dip that burned on the table, and the bandage about his head gave him an almost ferocious ap- pearance. He looked uneasily toward the door, and now and then shook his head as if he distrusted the pledge of some one whom he expected. “T will go out now,” he finally decided. “Why not give Gold City its greatest sensation to-night?” Slipping from the cabin after blow- ing out the light, Pedro glided away and soon was staring in the window of Captain Kidd’s abode. “ All there,” he chuckled. *“ The three vultures are talking over some new in- iquity and don’t dream that death is at hand.” Captain Kidd had thrown upon the table the proclamation that had paled his cheeks, and Black Silas and Jericho Joe were looking at their leader in amaze. ‘“ Looks like one of the old proc- lamations we used to see in the South,” resumed Pedro, recognizing the paper. “It’s about the size of the sort Red Hazen used to tack up on the trees and the cabins in the San Pablo Valley. I wish I could read that one.” Suddenly the captain seized the paper and put it away in a little box beside the rude chimney. “No matter who Major Christmas was, boys; we’ve got other work before us,” Pedro heard the big ruffian say, “The boy’s gone. The girl is back in the nest and the man called Pedro’s brother is—” Pedro gave vent to a low cry and dropped to the ground. When he looked again the three men were on the.eve of quitting the shanty. “Gods! ” said Pedro, “ they’re coming out! ” The dwarf drew back and hid him- __
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|) 4 Be ob b 4 i Re: on 1 once! ” He was quivering with excitement and one of his hands wound itself about the hilt of a kife. He saw the three emerge from the cabin and go away; then, watching them out of sight, he sprung to the door and entered. “T’ll see what it says,” said he. “If that was one of the old proclamations I want to know it.” Pedro at once sought the cigar box in the chimney niche. Standing on tiptoes he secured the box, and its contents. “T’ve got it and something more,” said he. “By my life! Here’s a lot of docu- ments! And I’ll just take a peep at them! ” Thrusting his find in his bosom, he slipped out, and in five minutes was back in his own shanty, which the light quickly again illumined. Pedro..at once proceeded with his scrutiny of the documents. “Why, here’s the boy’s claim papers! That’s a queer place ter find em!” ex- claimed the dwarf. ‘‘I wonder how they got ter Captain Kidd’s den? And this? Why, here’s a picture and a lock of hair, and—Jehosaphat! Here’s the hull lay- out!” Pedro’s eyes fairly blazed. “Just as I expected! It’s on ovo‘ the old proclamations from the San Pablo Valley. It wants Major Christmas. I ‘wonder—” The little man looked up and started toward the door, the paper in his hand. He had. heard a notse outside and the door stood an inch ajar. “Who is there?” he called. The door opened wide and a stranger stepped inside. Pedro drew back and clutched his knife. : “You can’t rob me!” he gritted, and his eyes flashed venomously. “T don’t want to rob you, but. where did you get those documents? Did you rob the boy? ” “ No, I robbed the captain! ” “Well, they are mine; not the cap- tain’s.”’ : “Yours? Who are you?” The other one, much taller than the misshapen Pedro, opened his shirt. “Took!” he cried. Pedro gazed at the exposed breast, then he threw the papers on the table, “Juan!” he cried. The next moment the tall man had the dwarf in his arms and was looking at him in the dim light. “ Juan!” repeated Pedro. “ What be- ' eame of mother?” “ Ask Major Christmas! ” “Ah! I understand. Yes, I'll ask him. I found those papers at Captain Kidd’s shanty. How came they there, I won- der?” “T'm sure I don’t know.” Juan put his brother down and for a minute the two, so strangely reunited, looked at one another in silence, * Gome! ” said Pedro, suddenly. “ Let’s make Rome howl!” “Not just yet, brother! We want first to see the bey claimant get his rights. He must not be wronged and robbed!” “The boy, Claude? Yes, yes. Where is he?” “T left him at his shanty when I rode _ away on his mare to-night; then he had “all these papers—that I know.” “ But, if they had them in their shanty they must have robbed him, so he may have been in trouble since you left.” “That is so; let us investigate at The One-Armed Sport. self near, while he watched the door. | Pedro put out the light, and the broth- ers immediately quitted the cabin. Juan soon opened the door of Claude’s habitation and looked inside. He saw the plundered couch and the | truth flashed across his mind in an in- stant. “They’ve robbed the boy sport! ” said he. “And killed him, too, I suspect. His not being here shows that something has happened to him.” “That is evident. We must try and find out at once.” Juan and Pedro turned up a few min- utes later in another part of Gold City and crept toward Captain Kidd’s cabin. It was past midnight now, and the light beyond the window revealed the solitary figure inside. Captain Kidd had come home again. “Give me a chance at him!” whis- pered the dwarf. Juan pushed his brother back. “No, not yet; Pedro! Colorado Claude must face Captain Kidd—” At that moment Jumping Jerry sprang from his chair and hurriedly sought the chimney. “He will find them gone! ” muttered Pedro. “We must play our hand of vengeance now, brother! ” The One-Armed,Sport put his hand into the box in the niche and hastily with- drew it, and jerking the box from its place he looked into it, his face telling the silent spectators that it was empty. For half a second the captain stood in the middle of the room looking like a robbed lion. “Did the scoundrels come back and rob me?” he hissed. “Do they expect to betray me into the hands of the avengers? Better for you two villains if you had never seen the light of day! ” He threw the box across the room in his anger. “T’ll beat thé boy, after all, and I can make terms with them,’ he went on. “ Captai Kidd must not falter now. I can hold Joe and Silas despite their treach- ery, for I know them. They thought the old proclamation meant me and therefore they sneaked back and took it.” He armed himself and came toward the door, and if Juan had not knocked down the arm of his brother there would have been a dead man at the threshold. As it was he saved the captain’s life. Jerking Pedro around the cabin cor- ner, the brothers watched the boss of Gold City vanish toward another part of the camp. ““We must wait until Claude gets his own for all time before harm comes to this villain, on whose track we both are. I promised to wait until after the trial, which will take place to-morrow. Claude must be there and I have proof that will turn the packed jury against the so-called one-armed sport.” “Heavens! Minutes will be hours! ” cried Pedro. “Even so, but you must curb your spirit, my brother. Remember, we have in our hands the man who embittered our mother’s life, and that he cannot es- cape.” . - “He shall not! But Claude will never come back to claim his own. Pedro be- lieves that! ’ the dwarf exclaimed. CHAPTER XV. THE SECOND DELIVERANCE. In the widening light of a new day far from Gold City a horse was careering over a beautiful landscape. His rider lay forward on the neck of the beast. Ahead rolled a swift river, that leavea 13 and careered wildly through the lone region. The rider was Claude, the boy miner, and ever since the parting shots from Jericho Joe and Black Silas he had been carried on and on, helpless and faint, and suffering. At last the horse stopped and sniffed the cool air, lifting his head and stretch- ing his sleek neck in his eagerness. Then, suddenly, he sent out a _ shrilf whinney. Claude looked back over the trail and saw approaching another steed and rider. They were making for him! Claude watched the new-comer with eagerness and fear. What if Joe or Silas had trailed him, believing that they had not quite put ah end to his existence? Claude was speedily undeceived, for, all at once, he caught sight of a yellow feather that waved above the rider’s head! “Tt is the Sioux chief!” exclaimed the boy. “Yellow Feather comes again to the rescue!” But at that moment his own horse, as if suspicious of the stranger, started for- ward once more, Seeing this, the Indian uttered a cry and put spurs to his own steed. It was ow a race between two well- mettled animals, and they galloped away with the speed of racers. But suddenly the boy’s steed took a new spurt and escaped for the time, which only gave Yellow Feather renewed courage. But the boy Mazeppa’s tired horse was no match for that of the Sioux, and ere long the Indian came alongside. Then came the whoop of victory as the chief leaned forward and caught the horse’s mane. Both steeds soon came to a standstill, and even while the boy was uttering his gratitude Yellow Feather was severing his bonds, “White boy had hard ride,” said the young chief. “ Yes, I fared hard at the hands of the masked enemy.” “Who bound the boy?” ““The two slaves of Captain Kidd.” “The white wolves,” hissed the young Indian. “It is Yellow Feather who speaks. He says they shall pay for this!” Claude’s wound was dressed and found to be not severe, but the escape had been a very narrow one. Yellow Feather led the bridleless steed back, quite docile now, and the pair turned their course toward the gold camp. “They robbed me, of course,” said Claude, as they rode. “ The villains took ine strong papers from beneath my pil- ow.” “They steal everything,” was the an~ swer. ‘“ But wait, boy! The young eagle can tear with his talons!” “That he can, Yellow Feather!” cried Claude. ‘“ The trial is to take place this. morning. Whether I am there or not, it - will proceed, and everything is in Captain Kidd’s hands now—all the evidence he wants.” * Look!” cried the Indian a moment later, as he pointed down the trail to the roofs of the cabins of Gold City, visi- ble from where they were. . Claude turned to the chief. ‘“ Will you ee ‘the camp with me?” he asked. “a oO.” “You are not afraid, Yellow Feather? ” . He a, will let the boy miner go forward and — *“Yellow Feather fears nothing! fight out his battles with Captain Kidd, at Y, 4 ‘ ——_—_
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“ Which I gladly do,” and Claude held _ ut his hand to his rescuer, who reined in . his steed while the boy passed on. y At the foot of the mountain Claude drew rein, for the chief had extemporized a rude bridle out of his lariat. | He was on a line wifh the main street ~ of the camp and could see groups of men uttered a cry. br 1 ee ee SORES Ee ES ee ee LE tet ere See had “ae * The One-Armed Sport. hand against Captain Kidd. He is one man among a lot of human wolves. What can he do without help?” The boy sport was about to step forth when he heard the voice of Pedro’s brother, the tall Juan. “Major Christmas never ground’ he claims! ” Captain Kidd, at mention of the name, gave the speaker a sharp look, and then glanced at his pards, standing shoulder to shoulder a few feet away. “What is the witness’s name?” a voice. “ Juan—Juan of San Pablo!” was the answer. ‘I am here-to say that Major Christmas never owned the claim he seeks.” “ But, Major Christmas does not claim anything in Gold City.” “That man does!” and the hand of Juan covered Captain Kidd. ‘“‘He says owned the asked he’ owns the ground covered by Claude’s | claim. He is Major Christmas of an- other region. Ask him!” Captain Kidd’s hand went toward his hip, but Jericho Joe checked it. “ Wait!” whispered the pard. ‘“ Time enough yet for that. I’ve fixed it with the tall man. He is covered by half a dozen revolvers, and can’t escape us.’ The One- Armed Sport ote at Juan with flashing eyes. “Let him prove his story!” he cried. “Let the liar from San Pablo convince the jury of Gold City, if he can!” CHAPTER XVI. THE DUEL IN THE DARK. Colorado Claude was under deep ex- citement; he threw wide the door, but an invisible hand, as it were, grasped his arm and kept him from quitting the cabin. “Let the man from San Pablo speak his piece against me,” cried the .One- Armed Sport. “I am here! ” fiercely and threateningly spoken. Claude could wait no more, and was in the street. “My time has come,” he said. “if will bring these villains to judgment and stand by Juan.” Forward he sprang, bursting through the throng, and stood before the jury. “The boy! the boy!” shouted fifty men. Claude and Juan exchanged glances, and the man from San Pablo seemed to read the boy’s thoughts, for he stepped to his side, and at the same time Jericho Joe and Black Silas stepped closer to Captain Kidd. “Will the boy miner of Gold City. talk? ” asked Granite Gid. “That's what I’m here for,” said he, undauntedly. “Let him tell his story.” “Wait, Wait till I have told ine: ts and Juan gently pulled Claude back. “ Wait until Juan of San Pablo has spoken in full. He knows Captain Kidd, so- called, and that man knows Juan.” Tnrat moment some one shouted for ail to look down the main street, and those who looked saw the dwarf of Gold City, f the solitary spectator in the cabin | little Pedro, with the mune xe of ropes clinging to his figure. “ He’s gnawed his bonds off, ae said Juan } to Claude. “I left him bound in his shanty, to prevent him from reaching | this spot, but he is free.” | Yes, free he was, and now furious for | vengeance. Juan advanced, with the intention of checking his brother, but Pedro, with the skill of a monkey, avoided his hands, and | | the next ES yellowish bps took on a darker e faced the tg hi Pablo annouriced. : Jain that he is, I yet will give him the faced The One-Armed Sport glared back at ~ the little man, his hand on his weapon. y Juan now caught his brother, and held him back with one hand, while he ad- dressed the crowd. He talked rapidly, and told the story, of Captain Kidd’s life in the San Pablo Valley, and how he (Juan) had hunted him for years. The crowd listened spellbound, and the jury seemed to hang on every word as it fell from the speaker’s lips. At last Juan stopped and looked at Claude. “What is the verdict of the jury?” demanded Granite Gid. ‘‘ Who owns the ground the boy miner claims?” The dark-faced twelve arose ahd stood side by side. They put their heads together in con- ference, and at last one of their number faced the people. “The verdict is in favor of the de- fendant,” he announced. * The hush was broken. The first sound was an execration from Captain Kidd; the next a cry. from Pedro. “Now,” cried Juan; “the man from old San Pablo shall give Juan satisfaction. Let him unwrap his right hand, and he will then have two good ones for the battle.” “Tt shall be done!” The One-Armed Sport tore at the ban- dages at his right wrist, and jerked them off, casting them at-his feet, as he dis- played to the gaze of the men of Gold City the hand which they now saw for the first time. “ Juan is ready to fight any way Major Christmas selects,’ the man from San “ Thrice-accused vil- chance; it is his life or mine!” Captain Kidd leaned toward the dark- sport, and asked, malignancy — stamped on every feature of his evil face: _ “ How does the dark shanty suit him?” aw “Very well.” “Then the dark cabin it Shall be,” and , the captain looked around upon the crowd. ‘“ We have selected the manner | of fighting. We will enter a darkened . shanty and fight there to the death.” ~ « — The crowd set up a little cheer, which — s quickly suppressed, and all saw Cap- tain Kidd walking toward his own cabin.’ Then the little figure shot front Juan’s ~ Sand and darted toward the Boss of Gold ty A warning cry warned the captain of his danger, but Jericho Joe seized the dwarf and hurled him across the square. The crowd surged toward Captain Kidd’s shanty, and blankets speedily made it dark. Juan stood near the door, cool and col- lected. i The man from San’ Pablo was the ideal =“ vengzance hunter, and his glances be-* aw trayed no fear. id “Tt is ready,” said the One-drmee Sport, stepping up to his enemy. mat. shall be knives in the dark, eh?” “ Just as you elect!” was the answer, and the Boss turned to the door‘again. _ “Shut the door when hiya enter,” he commanded those before - “Let it remain elosed until one of on “knocks or» ealls out.” eon “Tt shall be done, ” said Granite Gia. Juan and the big ruffian entered the a shanty and the door was shut. Pedro sprang to the shanty and glue his ear to the largest crack in the logs. His eyes blazed like carbuncles, and ee oo | hue, led, and he d he wa
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sound from the shanty that would tell | him the result of that terrible duel in the | ' dark. The-crowd left him there, and, drawsng off a few yards, all watched the cabin | with most intense interest and mee oe itude. Not long did they wait, for ere five | minutes had passed a voice came _ Within. “The door of this shanty is not to be -| opened until midnight!” was what was | heard, Granite Gid repeated the words, anit | the crowd looked at one another, but said nothing. By and by Pedro, the dwarf, left the door of the cabin and crept away to his own little den. Claude and Myrtle waited for the signal of the opening of the cabin’s door, in Myrtle’s home, and saw the long shad- ows creep down the street, silent and _forboding. | In the mountains the night birds began _ their shrill calls and the coyotes stole forth on their nocturnal hunts. “T once heard,” remarked Myrtle, “ that the cabin of Captain Kidd hid the door of a secret mine,” “It may be true. It was the captain’s “voice which said that the cabin door should not be opened before midnight. That may conceal some deep game of the /man vulture.” Side by side Claude and Myrtte watched. the stars, and every now and then the ‘boy stole forth, to find the cabin as silent a8 the heavens themselves. At last the fated hour struck. The crowd had surged back to the _ cabin, and Pedro, with his knife, was first and foremost. Granite Gid, watch in his palm, stood ‘beside the door, waiting until the hands +. denoted twelve o’clock, and the moment he nodded to the crowd Pedro sprang up - with a shrill cry. Some one tried the latch, but the door » did not yield! “Ho! thar!” called out Granite Gid. It is twelve o’clock.” No answer from within. |. Pedro caught the window sill and drew .. his lithe body up. . 6 “ Push the dwarf inside! ” was shouted and it was no sooner suggested than J») done. Strong hands thrust the little man *s through the window into the room, for ~ him to open the door. _ A ery from Pedro was heard, and the _ faces at the window were revealed by the blaze of a match in his hand. _ _ “They’re here!” cried the dwarf, open- jing the door. _ Yes, they were there; but— / The caréer of Captain Kidd, alias Major > Christmas, the sport with the mock arm, w was at an end, for dead in the light ‘9 ofthe dwarf’s match he lay. _ And not far off, against the logs, stood i+ the tall figure of Juan. Pedro sprang forward., “Juan! God be thanked!” was his ~» fervent cry. ‘. But, he suddenly fell back and dropped his light. Juan did not move, and some one iy thrust his match forward until it nearly ‘» touched Juan’s swarthy cheek, 2 They carried the duellists out into tLe _ moonlight and laid them side by side on s the sward, ‘ rf 4 7 Then a ery for Jericho Joe and Black ak ir (Silas: st and the crowd rushed toward _|the shai ccupied by these detestable ninions of 1 : ' itor. . t bay j 5 POUTrE 4 Sere had / . 0 ere ere + . The One-Armed S~ort. flight, but this did not check the men of Gold City. The next morning, in the heart of the mountain, two bodies were seen swing- ing in a rocky pass, and overhead silently floated a troop of vultures. The Boss of Gold City and his two tools would never again try to wrest from the boy miner that which belonged to him, nor would Captain Kidd wear a bandaged arm in sight of all. Yellow Feather, who had at one time served two masters, rode past the swing- ing bodies. “Ugh! Heap right!” and he passed on his way. In course of time, Gold City, had its first welding, when Claude led the much beloved Myrtle to tne altar. The ywllow feather of the Indian’s head-dress was conspicuous in the assembled audien:e. _ Colorado Claude’s claim, under his en- ergetic enterprise, developed into tke great Kimball Mine; and to-day the ouce Boy Claimant is a magnate among the men of the great silver State. THE END. Beatles Half-Dime Library. BY OLL COOMES, 168 Kit Bandy in Texans; or, The Young Mustanger, 422 Kit Bandy’s Right Bower; or, Baby Sam,the Boy Giant 444 Kit Bandy’s Swoop; or, Little Buckskin, tne Centaur, 478 Kit Bandy’s Slick Scheme; or, Old Tom Rattler. 661 Kit Bandy’s Deliverance; or, Banner Bsn. 680 Kit Bandy’s Pard; or, Dauntless Dan, the Freelance. 791 Kit Bandy assess or, The Intant Giant. - 795 Kit Bandy in Red Kuin; or, The Young Whirlwind. 799 Kit Bandy’s Big Rustle; or, Saddle King Sam. 804 Kit Bandy’s Brigade; or, Dan, the Mountain Guide. 927 Kid Bandy’s Brigade in Arizona. 989 Kit Bandy’s Star Engagement. 955 The Dandy Dead-Shot; or, Old Kit Bandy’s Compromise, 158 Jack Drew, the Nemesis; or, Eagle Kit the Boy Demon. 182 Jack Drew’s Drop; or, Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. 202 Jack Drew in Deadwood; or, Prospect Pete. 5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew, 18 The Dumb Spy: 58 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. 1 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 74 Hawk-eye Marry the Young Trapper Ranger 148 Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter, 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 224 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle, 22S Little We fldfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. ~ 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger. 248 The Pixgulsed Gulde 3 or, Wild Raven, the Ranges, 260 Dare-Pevil Dun, the Young Prairie Ranger. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy; or, Old Caleb Arbuckle. og | The Sky Demon; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero, 409 Nercul vr, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 41 Webfoot Mose, the Tramp Detective. 467 Wingedfoot Fred}; or, Old Polar Saul. 468 Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. 562 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. 652 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance. 670 Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. 778 Highland Harry, the Wizard Rifleman. 828 Poker Jack, the Detective Sport. BY HAROLD PAYNE. 848 Dan, the River Sport; or, Foiling the Frisco Sharp. 92 Bowery Ben In Chinatown. 1 Bowery Bob, the East-side Detective, 952 The Circus Detective. : 984 Scaler Ram, Detective, of Hook and Ladder 6, BY DAN DUNNING. 4 Gries Tack, the Secret Service Spy. ‘67 Mae and Jack, the Invincibles; or, The Diabolical Three. S75 Detective Dave’s Close Call. SS4 Farrel Fox and His Girl Ferret. 898 Farrel Fox's Sweep-Stakes. BY WILLIAM G. PATTEN. 629 Violet Va the Velvet Sport; or, The Jubilee ot Jacktown 66% Violet Vane’s Victory; or, The Jasper City Clean Out, 698 Violet and Dalay, the ay ahs. 705 Violet Vane’s Vow; or, The Crafty Detective’s Cratt. 724 Violet Vane’s Vengeance; or, The Wipe-Out. 780 Violet Vane’s Verdict; or, The Game at Coffin City. TAL Violet Vane, the nora Vidoeg; or, Sport vs, Sport. 750 Violet Vane, the Vanquished. or, The Life Strugg'e. 768 Vielet Vane’s Vision; or; The Fiery Hand of Fate. 489 The Diamond Sport; or, The Double Face of Bed Rock, 519 Captain Mystery ; or, Five in One. 631 Dals) are the Sport from Denver. BRT Old Hombehell, the Ranger Detective. — ~ €04 Iron Fern, the Man of Fire: or, Among the Vultures, 619 The Boy Tramp Detectives or, The Doubie GripWitnese 641 Piamal Dave’s Pandy Pard; or, The Clue to Capt. Claw pa Bound Boy Frank, the Young Amateur Detective 82 Wild Vulcan, the Lone-Range Rider, 714 Old Misery the Man from Missenri. f 74 Clear-Grit Cal, the Never-Say-Die Detective. 789 Sam Sheridan, the Secret Serviee Special. 806 Cowboy Steve the Ranch Mascot. 820 Nobby Nat, the Tenderfoot Detective. 886 S| r Stoke’s Double Deal. 857 Spotter Bob in New York. 866 Spotter Bob’s Bowery Racket. BY HARRY ST. GEORGE, 44 Rattling Rube; or. The Lt eset of Kentucky, 59 Old kory ; or, P: Ellis’ * Fae " td volt I “i fe - bs zo BY CHARLES MORRIS. 118 Will Somers, the Boy Detective. 122 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Picayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero tn Rags. 142 Handsome Harry the Bootblack Detective, 147 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Black Beas, Will Wildfire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry the Harbor Police Boy. 162 Will Wildfire in the W coda. 170 A Trump Card; } or, Mysteries of New York. 179 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, 188 The Hidden Hand; or, Wil! Wildfire’s Revenge. 187 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy: or, The Smugglers. 189 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. ~ 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Tom Tanner; or, Bhe Black Sheep of the Flock. 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky. 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two * Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang, } 252 Vick Dashaway : or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. 262 The Young Sharps; o:. Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-Mound; or, The Young Thoronghored. 805 Dashaway, of Paketa: or, A Western Lad in Quaker City.| 824 Ralph Keady, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Therne, the Vagabond Detective, 858 The Reporter-Detectives or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, . 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. 879 Larry, the Levelers or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Fireily Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Loat Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier. 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vaganond. 466 WidecAwake Jerry, Detective; or Entombed Alive. : 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket; or, How He Fonght for Honor, 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharper.) 566 The Secret Service Boy Detective. ; 596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. Tom Bruce ot Arkanaast or, The Wolfin the Fold. 655 Plucky Paul, the Boy Speculator. 667 Bob and Sam, the Daisy Detectives. 709 The Curbstone Detective; or, Harry Hale’s Big Beat.) 7b? Detective Frank’s Sweep-stakes. at 869 Ned Norman, the Gamin Broker. S81 Turkey Billy, the Shine-’em-up Detective, 917 Flash Lightning, the Mountain Mascot. BY GECRGE ©, JENKS. 455 Git Thar Owney the Unknown. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledee. z 518 The Demon Doctor; or, Deadhold, the Kid Detective. 581 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. H9S Flute, the Singer Detective; or, Owney in a New Role, €08 The Pitcher Detective’« Foll; or, Dan’s Double Play.) 616 The Ocean Detectives or. The LastCruise ofthe Black Bear, ' 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussle. wi 786 Larry the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Side., 779 lron Mand, the Charmed Detective 854 Uncle Sam’s Detective in Chicago. MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS. 4 The Wild-Ilorse Munters. By Capt. Mayne Rela and) . Frederick Whittaker. \ 12 Gulliver’s Travels. By Dean Swift. 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Vo \ : 22 the Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusce. By Juan) Cs 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribees, By S, W. Pierce. 86 The Boy Clown: or, The Arena Queen. By Ff S, Finn. BS Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. &1 The Boy Rifles; or, The Underground Camp. By A. C. Irons, 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi = By Lieut.-Col, Hazeltine. . tes 98 Robin Hood, the Uutiawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Green wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve. 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. ? s3 112 The Mad Hunter; or, theCave of Death. By Burton Saxe, — 124 Tippy, the Texan; or, The Young Champion. By George 128 The Young Privateers or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By ° - { 148 Sharp Sen or, The Adventures of a Friendless Boy, By J. lexander Patten. ns 227 De aay ‘Sarrek per: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel ae Ot eee va remuata the Bin Yak Bir. eG: To hide oe « Fearna w Yr ; 6. L. en 266 Ki War, the @ fide: or, Davy Crockett’s ed Trall 298 Jted Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Clif. By Captain Comstock. 817 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Lieu- tenant Alfred Thorne. 828 The Sky Detectives or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Honor, By Maior aover Or. 850 Ralph, the River Rover}; or, The Brother’s Ree — B65 Holtineire Mem the Bootbleck Detective. By A. P. Mon altimore Ben the ac ‘ 5 A 874 Gold-Duat Tom: or, Ben’s Double Match. 6 Hi, Morse, - 876 nahn Poe First Trail. By Colonel Thomas — er Vonstery. Y 418 Blily Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By F.S. Winthrop. , 475 The Black Ship. By John S Warner. b Comanche Dick and His Three Invincible, By — Henry J. Thomas. ae | 582 The Dewher Duke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest. B52 Artel the Athlete. By David Druid. — 585 Will Waters, the Bov Ferret. By i. Enten. 682 The Dead Neteetive’» Double. By Gerald Carlton, 721 Maverick Mose, tne Arizona Detective; or, The Wizard of rkow Pasa. By Will Lisenbee. 809 Don Danton, the Gent from Denver. By King Keene, of the 814 Ace High, the Frices Det BPC. E. Tripp. > ce High, the Frisco Detective. 2 &. STIPPs 880 The Grim Lodgers In Rag Alley} or, Citizen Rube of Number Seven. By Ben D. Halliday. ; 881 The Chicago Drummer’« Deal. By J. G. Bethune. 841 Prince Charlie, the Cat’s-Paw Sport. Ty Marm dake Dev. 861 Billy Brine, the Swamp Fox. Chas. F. Welles Bee ee erm Shint, ihe Seppbue Geet on, Fie Denver tive’s Lone Hand. By King Keene. 976 The Boy-Spy Detective, By Ned St. Meyer. Ms 979 Jacks the Girl Shot; or, Sol Bunker. the Cowboy. By Maj. Dan Browne. sa ee 990 Sheriff Huntway, of Montana; or, Steele Sharp Num- ber One. By Ed, A. Wicks. r e A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library {s tor sale oy all ‘Newsdealers, t
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BEADLE’S« H ALF- DIME«[_ IBRARY. Published Hvery Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by all Newsdealers.. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novels. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Deadwood Dick’s Detiance; or, Double Daggers. 8 Deadwood Dick In Disguise; or, Buffaso Ben & Deadwood Dick in IM« Caatle. Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza; or, The Phantom Miner. Deadwood Dick in Danger; or, Omaha Oll. Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity 4 ine, the Heroine St bly ee pa mpat re or, Corduroy Charlie. adwoo ck in Leadville. Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, The Double Cross Sign. Deadwood Dick aa Detective. Deadwood Dick’s Double: or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. ey ace ge Rowe noe or, Blonds Bill. endwoo ck’a g Strike; or, A Game of Gold. 6 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party. Deadwood Dick’s Dreams or, The Rivals of the Road, Deadwood Dick’s Ward: or, The Black Hil)’s Jezebel, 05 eee oes ack oe ion aang dense Adventure, endwoo ck’a Dea cal. Deadwood Dick’s Death-Plant. Gold-Duat Dick, A Romance of Roughs and Tovghe, samy poles | piers pavides a Spirit of Swamp Lake. eadwoo ck’s Denth Trail. Deadwood Dick’« Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon, Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats Deadwood Dick’sa Ducata;: or, Days in the Diggings. mooaweed Peake Genaneed's or, The Terrible Vendetta, eadwoo ek’s Claim. 405 Deadwood Dick In Vead City. Deadwood Dick’s Diawends. Deadwood Dick In New Yorks or, A “Cute Case.” Deadwood Dick’s Duet; or, The Chained Hand. s Deadwood Bick, sr ey . Crimson Crescent Sign. adwo ek r’*, Deflance. Deadwood Dick, Jr2« Full Hand, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Big Round-Up. Deadwood Dick Jr.’« Racket at Claim 10, het poe! seks ore Sot or, Bozeman Bill. end wooe ek r.74 og Detective, crtey, ae Dick, es in Deadw ood, endwoe ek r.’a, Compact, Deadwood Dick’ Jr.’s. Iuheritance, Panstoes piek, or.’s a Inga. endwoo Ick, Jr.’«, Deliverance, 5 Deadwood Dick’ gra Protegee. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Three. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Danger Dacka, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Death Hunt, Sid Wendwood sick? Be. the Wild West Via ‘ endwoo ek rs. ew yest V 5649 Deadwooa Dick, Jr. on Hla Mettle. 5654 Deadwood Diek, Jr., in Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Beaton, eee chop a or » Sheeciphia. eadwoo r-, in Chicago. poncwaor Jr.. Afloat. end wooe ar.. in Denver. Dendwood Jr.’a, Decree. 595 Deadwood Jr., in Beelzebub’s Basin, $06 Deadwood Dick; Iriq Leadville Lay end woot ek r’% Leadville La 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Detroit. “f G18 Deadwood Dick. Jr. in Cincinuatl. 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Nevada. 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in No Man’s« Land, +4 eng woed mice? Jr., i the Queer. end woo ek Jr..in Buffalo. 645 Deadwood Diek, Jr.’a, Chase Across the Continent 654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Among the Smugglers. 660 Deadwood dr.’4, Lnaurance Case. 666 Deadwood Ores Back in the Mines, dr., (tn Darango} or, “ Gathered In.” Jr.’a Discovery; or, Found a Fortune, dria. Dazzle. Jr. Dollars. 672 Deadwood 678 Deadwood 684 Deadwood 690 Deadwood 695 Deadwood Jr., at Danger Divide, 700 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Drop. ae Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. 10 Deadwood Dick Ir.y in San Francisco, 716 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’« Still Munt. 722 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Dominoes, 728 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a Diagulae, 84 Dendwood Dick. Jr.’«, Double Deal, 40 Deadwood Dick Jr.’«. Deathwatch. 47 Deadwood Dick Jr.’s, Doublet. 52 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Deathblow. 58 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’« Desperate Strait. 64 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Lone Hand, T7Z0 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Defeat. Z76 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Resurrection. TR2 Deadwood Dick. Jr's Dark Days. TST Deadwood Dick Jr., Defied. T9H2 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’a, Double Device. 7Z9T Deadwood Dick, Jr’.«, Desperate Venture. } So? Zwecwose Dick, Jr.’a, Diamond Dice, endwoo 812 Deadwood 816 Deadwood 822 Dendwood 828 Deadwood 884 Deadwood 40 Deadwood 4% Deadwood 852 Deadwood S58 Deadwood 868 Deadwood 870 Deadwood S76 Deadwood 882 Deadwood dr., in Mexteo. Jr’a Decoy Duck. Jr. in Silver Pocket. 89L Deadwood I dr.’«, Dead-Sure Game. 89S Deadwood Dick, Jr’«a, Double Drive. 904 Deadwood Dick, Jr’a, Trade-Mark, 910 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at ai. T ep. 916 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Double-Decker. 928 Dendwood Dick, Jr, at Vollarville. 984 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Flush Flats. 940 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Shokeoup. 946 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Double Drops 951 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’a, Right Bower. 957 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Ten-Strike. 965 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Gold-Dust. PTL Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Oath, OTT Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Death-Doom. 986 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Best Card. 992 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at_ Gold Dust. 998 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Big Play. 1005 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Branded. 1011 Weadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Dutch Pard. 1018 Deadwood Dicw, Jr7.’«, Big Four. BY T,. J. FLANAGAN, 909 Midshipman Dare, the Pirate Catcher. 925 The Young Cowboy Captain. 988 ae Two Midshipmen; or, The Corsair-Chaser’s First ru iee. 949 The Three Lieutenants % The Mascot Middy ; or, The ehting Jack Shubrick, hting Jack's Middies t or, Dandy Dick’s Dash. the ed, tke Runaway. our Commanders, Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler, Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. Rosebud Rob on Hand; or, Idy), the Girl Miner. Rosebud Rob's Reappearance; or, Photograph Phil. Rosebud Rob’s ¢ ballenge; r, Cinnamon Chip, Denver Doll, the Detective Queen; or, The Yankee’s Surround Denver Doll’« Victory; or, Skul! and Crossbones. Denver Doll's Decoy ; or. Little Bill's Bonanza. Denver Doll’s Drift; or, The Road Queen. Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherers: or, The Life Lottery, Yreka Jim’s Prize; or, Th ves of Wake-Up, 5 Yreka Jim’s Joker} or, The Rivals of Red Nose. Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam. Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective; or, Dot Leetle Game, Fritz to the Front} or, The Ventriloquist Hunter Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret; or, A Sister’s Devotion. Sierra Sam’s Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, Sierra Sam’s Pardy or, The Ange! of Big Vista. Sierra Saim’s Sevens or, The Stolen Bride. Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner. Kangaroo Kit’s Racket; or, The Pride of Played-Out. Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York. 7 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, Mickey & Co,, the Detectives of Philadelphia. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Detective. 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Mat Harry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam Slabsides, the Beggar-Boy Detective, 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Butfalo 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 Jack Hoyle the Young Sneculator. 125 Bonanza BIL, Miner; or, Madam Mystery, the Forger. 188 Boss Bob the King of Bootblacke. , 41 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent; or, The Branded Brows. tT? Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps. 81 Wild Frank the Buckskin Bravo; or, Lady Lily’s Love. 86 Apollo. Bill, the Trail Tornado; or, Rowdy Kate. 24 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator; or, The Locked Valley. 1 1 1 2 2 2 8 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol: or, The Rival Heira. BBO ulck-Shots: or, The Dead Face of Daggersville, 858 First-Class Fred, the Gent trom Gopher. 878 Nabob Ned? or, The Secret of Slab City. BS2 48 Little Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain” Vengeance, 8 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher; or, A Son’s Vengeance, 486 Seal«kin Sam, the Sparkler; or The Tribunal of Ten, 918 Kit Keith, t ¢ Revenue Spotter, 922 Sol Sharpe, the New York Night-Hawk. 948 Old Hayseed Among Bunce Men, 1001 Banty, the Denver Bootblack. BY J. C. COWDRICK, 490 Brondway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 514 Broadway Billy’s Boodle; or, Clearing a Strange Case 586 Broadway Billy’a ‘Dittkilty.” 557 Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. 9 Brondway Billy’s Surprise Party. Broadway Billys or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. Broadway Billy’s Dead Acts or, The League of Seven Broadway Billy Abroad; or, The Bootblack in Frisco, Broadway Billy’« Best; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest, Broadway Billy in Clover. Broadway Billy in Texas; or, The River Rustlers. Brondway Billy’a Brand. 711 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe; or, The Clever Deal. 720 Broadway Billy’s Full Handy; or, The Gamin Detective, Broadway Billy’s Business, Broadway Billy’s Curious Case. Broadway Billy tin Denver. Broadway Billy’s Bargain; or, The Three Detective, Broadway Billy, the Retriever Detective. Broadway Billy’« Shadow Chase. Broadway Billy’« Beagles; or, The Trio’s Quest. Broadway Billy’s Team or, The Combine’s Big Pull. Broadway Billy’« Brigade; or, The Dead Alive. Brondway Billy’« Queer Bequest, Broadway Billy Baffled. Broadway Billy’« Stgnal Scoop, Broadway Billy’« Wipe Out. Broadway Billy’a Bank Racket. Broadway Billy’s Bluff. Broadway Kuly Ass aee Jersey Thuga. Broadway Billy’a Raid. Broadway Billy’s Big Boom. Broadway Billy’s« Big Bulges Broadway Billy’« #100,000 Snap. Rroadway Billy’s Blind; or, The Bootblack Stowaway, Billy tn London. Billy Shadows London Slums. Billy’s French Game. | 880 Broadway Billy and the Bomb-Tarowers. 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery; or, The Golden Keys. 869 Shaata, the Gold Kings or, ForSeven Years Dead. 420 The Detective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without a Name, 424 Cibuta John; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Disco Dan, the pr Dude. 506 Redlight Ralph the Prince of the Road. 524 The Engineer Detective; or, Redlight Ralph's Resolve 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 571 Alr-Line Luke the Young Engineer; or, The Double Case 592 The Boy Pinkerton; or, Running the Rascals Out. 615 Fighting Warry the Chief of Chained Cyclone, 640 Bareback Beth, the Centaur of the Circle, 7 Typewriter Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward. 659 Moonlight Morgan the “‘ Pizenest ”? Man of Ante Bar, S87 Battery Bob. the Dock Detective. 894 Arizona Dick’s Wipe-Out. 900 Jumping Jack's Jubilee. 906 Satety Samy the Cycle Sport. 912 Train Boy Triat’« Hot Hustle, 918 The Trump oNtagt ag 924 Big Boots Bob, the Fire-Laddle. 980 KRuatler Ralph, the Boy Spotter. 985 e Ex-Newsboy Detective’s Chum. 941 The Bowling Green Detective’s Drop. 944 Cowboy! Charlie's Double. 947 The Bowery W restler; or, The Butcher-Boy’s Backer. 958 Paddy's Trump Card; or, Silver Sallie, the Girl Sport. 960 The Broadway Sports or, Fiver Fred’s Clear Case. 9R7 ®1000 Reward: or, The Rival Reporters’ Sleek Scoop. 978 Bantam Billy, the Corker-Ferret. 978 Plucky Pat, the Street-Boy Detective. 989 Bicycle Bob's Hot Scorch, 997 Scorcher Sam, the Detective on Wheels. 1004 Scorcher Sam’s Sweep-Stake a. 1009 Tne Girl Oyclia’s Winning Hand. 840 R56 862 Broadway 868 Broadway S74 Broadway BY WILLIAM PERRY BROWNE. 956 Brooklyn Rob’s Bulges or, Dodger Dot’s Diamond Snap. 968 The Enat-Side Spotter: or, Tarning Down the Big Three 974 Old Sant’*s Dark Deal: or, Miner Mat’s Iron Grip. 1015 The Keporter-Detective’s Big Pull, seaaeehtiy . OMe BUFFALO BILL NOVELS, BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM. 1018 Buffalo BUM. Texas Team. 1007 Baffalo Bill’« Sure-Shots |} 1000 Buffalo Kills Decoy Boy 995 Buffalo Bill's Drop; or, Dead-Shot Ned, the Kansas Kid. 988 Buffalo Bill's Lasso Throwers. | 981 Buffalo Bill’* Fighting Five. 975 Buffalo Bill's Rifle Shots. 968 Buffalo Bill's Kush Ride; or, Sure-Shot, the High-Flyer. 964 Buffalo BUVs Decoy ; or, The Arizona Crack Shot. 958 Buffalo Bill's Mazeppa-Chase. 948 Buffalo Bill's Snap-Shot ¢ or, Wild Kid’s Texan Tally 942 Buffalo Bill's Tough Tuasle. 986 Buffalo Bills Boy Mascott or, Joe Jarvis’ Hold-up. 929 Buffalo Bills Crack-shot Pard. 650 Buffalo Bill's Boy Pard; or, Butterfly Billy. 216 [lson BIH, the Prince of the Reins. 222 Bison Bill’ Clue: or. Grit, the Bravo Sport, BY BUFFALO BILL. 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout; or, The Banded Brotherhood 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust. 1029 The Phantom 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 Hustlers in Cuba. 1027 The Cowboy Raiders in Cuba f 1025 The Flying Yankee or, The Ocean Ontcaat, 1028 The Cowboy Clan In Cuba. 1016 The Boy Bugler in Cuba, 982 New York Nat's Drees or, Bx-Ferret Sykes’ Bold Game New York Nat and the Traitor Ferret. New’ York Nat Trapped. ; New York Nat’s Three of a Kind. ’ New York Nat’s Double. New York Nat’s« in Colorado. New York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp. New York Nat’« Deadly Deal. New York Nat’s Crook-Chase. New York Nat’s Trump Card. New York Nat and the Grave Ghouls. & New York Nat’s Masked Mascot. New York Nat, the Gamin Detective. Dick Doom’sa Kidnapper Knock-Out, Dick Doom’s Ten Strike. Dick Deom’s Flush Hand. Dick Doom’sa Death-Grip; or, The Detective by Destiny. Dick Doom’s Destiny; or, The River Blackleg’s Terror. Dick Doom: or, The Sharps and Sharks of New York, Dick Doom in Boston; or, A Man of Many Masks. Dick Doom tn Chicago. Dick Doom in the Wild West. tins A : Dick Doom’s Clean Sweep}; or, Five Links in a Clue, Dick Doom’s Death Clue. Dick Doom’s Diamond Deak Dick Doom’s Girl Mascot. Dick Doom’s Shadow Hunt. Dick Doom’s Big Haul. s Dashing Charlie; or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s First Trait, Dashing Charlte’s Destiny; or, The Renegade’s Captive. Dashing Charlie’s Pawnee Pard. Dashing Charlfe, the Rescuer. Ruck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. Buck Taylor, the Comanche 8 Captive, Buck Taylor’s Boys; or, The Red Riders of the Rio Grands Ana Fifty Others, BY LIEUT. A. K, SIMS. Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dead Set at Silver City. Tom-Cat’s Triad; or, The Affair at Tombstone. Tom Cat’a Terrible Tasks or, The Cowboy Detective Tom-Cat’s Triumph; or, Black Dan’s Great Combine, Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock; or, Josh’s Ten Strike, 568 The Dandy of Dodge; or, Rustling for Millions. B76 The Silver Sportz: or, Josh Peppermint’s Jubilee. 588'Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow 601 Happy Hans, the Dutch Vidoeg; or, Hot Times at Round-Up 611 Bilted Barnacle, the Detective Hercules. 646 Cowhoy Gidy the Cattle-Range Detective. 657 Warbling William the Mountain Mountebank. 665 Jolly Jeremiah, the Plains Detective. 676 Signal Sam, the Lookout Scout. : 689 Billy, the Gypsy Spyz or, The Mystery of Two Lives, 699 Rimple Sim, the Rroncho Buster: or, For ig Stakes, 712 The Meameriat Sporty or, The Mystified Detective, 738 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector, 745 Kansas Jim the Cross-Cut Detective. 761 Marmaduke, the Mustanger Detective. 778 The Rustler of Rolling Stonc. 785 Lone Mand Joe the Committee of One. 801 Kent Kirby, the Higb-Kicker from Killbuck, 882 The Doctor Dete etive In Texan, 872 Two Showmen Detectives in ¢ colorado. 987 The Texan Firebrandat of, Brazos Billy’s Snap.Shot, 961 The Tramp’s Trump-Trick. NEW ISSUES, 1044. The New York Sharp. By Ben D, Halliday. 1045 Muatang Merle’s Mine. By Maj. Sam. 8. Scott, 1046 Goid Plume, the Boy Bandit; or, Buffalo Bill, the Pony Express Rider. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. 1047 Flyer Fred, the Cyclist Ferret. By Roy Rockwood, 1048 The Street Spotters’ Weird Hunt. By Waring, 1049 Queen Edna of the Panthers. By Wm. R. Eyster. 1050 The One-Armed Sport, By T,C. Harbaugh. 1051 The Boy Hercules, By Oli Coomes. JUST ISSUED. 088 You Ret Bob's Circus, _ By Arizona Cy. 1oBd The Gold Witch’s Shadower. By id Ingrnham. 1085 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. By : Joomes. 1086 Dandy Dick’s Double. By Badert ; ey 108? The Artist Detective. By Col. P. In < Pree 1088 Kaneas King: or, The Red Right Hand. By 2 ae i, 1089 Mustang Merle, the Boy Rancher. Py BN § hc 1040 Ruffalo BUV« Pony Patrol. By Col. 2% i 1041 Cowboy Chris te the Fore By Wm. sts i . 1042 vittle Grit, the Pony Express Rider, By Col. neTanees 1048 You Ret Bob from Cross Crick. By Arizona Cy. A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Pime Library {« for sale by all newsdealers, five tents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 92 William Street, Ne-v York,