Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 1074) (1898 02 22)

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Fie se ‘4 » Entered ag Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y., Post Office. Copyrighted 1898, by BEADLE AND ADAMS. February 22, 1898, ———E Se SIA a —— oy Pu Rate Fiv © nts Bar e . AD, @ hlighers P blisl ed E é ; pap . No. 107 4 ae oe ea BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, u X very Vol. Xin i 92 Wiii1aM STREET, New York. Tuesday Mustang Merle’s Mandate, BY MAJOR SAM §&. SCOTT. —_— NS : WN NY oe \ \ DN ane a Y,

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, Prince Pedro, the man most feared by the ranch- ' the man who runs it says he has no fears of _ Prince Pedro.” _ good long ride yet. dro. , \* _ to th Asleep and without a guard.” _. * The fool! He doesn’t care a snap for us,” A brief halt was made, but tre band soon 2 4 ustang Merle's Mandate; ‘WIPING OUT the WAR SADDLES. A Romance of the Rio Tagus, BY MAJOR SAM §. SCOTT, (‘THE OLD MAJOR,”) AUTHOR OF “MUSTANG MERLE, THE BOY RAN- CHER ” ‘* MUSTANG MERLE’S MINE,” ‘* MUS- TANG MERLE'S MERCILESS FOE,” ETC, ‘CHAPTER I. THE MIDNIGHT MAZEPPAS. A CLEAR, starry night in midsummer, A light breeze stirs the long erpes of a wide plaie, and passiug over it, ripples the starlit waters of the Rio Tagus. From the mouth of a. gulch, which is not far from the scene of the night wind’s dalliance, ride a band of determined looking men, led by one who looks like a veritable bandit. ‘He is a bandit, in truth—no legs a person than ers of the Southwest, as well as by all who have occasion to pass through the country. } _ “ Where did you say you thought we would strike the train?? he asks of the man riding at hi: side, . ‘**The camp, when I left it, was at the east end of the Long Gulch. It is not watched at all,as ‘** Ah, well, we shall see,” and the Prince stroked his long mustache, ‘“ He is not the first fool wao bas ventured into my domain, At the east end of the Long Gulch, eh? We have a Come, Oriole Bill, give us another song. Don’t be afraid; no one will hear ou but the War Saddles, Tune up and let us ave something new,” The mau addressed as Oriole Bill is a person of not more than twenty, and, but for a scar across his cheek, would have been accounted bandsome ‘A song! a song!” ery half a dozen other men, whereupon the singer of the band at once be- gins: y ' ** Oh, we’re the boys who ride by night And never lose our prey; We lift our hands and strike, and smite, Then gallop fast away, A wild and merry life is ours, We never stop to love; We leap the stream, we crush the flow’rs, | For hawks will kill the dove. * They hunt us, but they never find, For midnight wraiths are we; We never leave a trail behind For any one to see. The sharpest fox that scours the plain, The eagle in the sky +» Would hunt Prince Pedro’s band in vain, . §o baffle we the spy. * Beware! beware! we're out again! /A camp is now our spoil; And like the roses of the plain, ___We spin nob, nay, nor toil. Three cheers, three cheers for Pedro’s band, . The coolest, bravest, best! We are the terrors of this land— » The Invincibles of the West! Cxorvs:—‘‘ Hurrah, hurrah, for Pedro’s band, The terror of the plain! We're masters of this sunny land— The ranchers hunt in vain!” A loud shout, accompanied by an enthusiastic clapping of hands followed the song, and those nearest the singer pe bim on the back. ‘* Well done, Bill,” complimented Prince Pe- “You must spend your leisure netting up new songs. Thatis the best one yet. If the girl ‘im the camp at the end of a Gulch isas pretty as you say, you must give her a taste of your lyric abilities, Came, now. Let’s have a little _ gallop in earnest.” ~ Away went the whole troop, and in a short time their steeds had crossed the plain and were bearing them over arougher country, _ - Half an hour later the gallop dwindled into a bef walk, and a man who had been sent 8 returned and said something in low tones ted the e leader, . ** All asleep, eh?” Prince, a — - _ - _ : . ae — ; a sind “ = moved on again, It waa now to be seen that an —, @btack of some kind was intended, + ty ivy Leary f 2 ala ass. a4 as, Bhp eye fpr the sparks of fire. Mustang Merle’s Mandate. brigands did not speak and kept a little apart so that their aecouterments would not touch and betray their presence, It was true that a camp of travelers lay not far off, At the end of a gulch were two wagons which seemed to have been placed for the night. A number of horses, boppled so that they could not stray far, were to be seen bere and there nibbling the succulent herbage that grew to the very mouth of the gulcb. Everything about the little encampment was still and its occupants were fast asleep, or seemed to be, Prince Pedro, the scourge of the Tagus, rode forward and drew rein at the very fringe of the camp. A smile overspread his swarthy face, “In which wagon is the beauty?” he asked a man who came to his side. “I cannot tell you that, captain, You must remember that { did not stay till they made arrangements for retiring. I think, however, she will be found in the nearest one, Iam quite sure that is the one she rode in to-day.” ** All right, Dick, We shall soon see.” The bandits had ridden close to the doomed camp and were awaiting the signal heard so often from the lips of their leader, All at once it sounded—a singular cry like that from the throat of a certain night bird of the region, The scourges moved forward, and the following moment bad burst upon the camp with yells, , In an,instant there were answering cries and men were seen to spring out of the two wagons, “Surrender!” cried Prince Pedro, e are ten to one and you have played fool by sleeping without a guard, in this country.” The attack was over almost as quickly as it was made. : But the victory had not been accomplished without s me confusion, Half a dozen shots had been fired, and two men who belonged to the camp were stretched on the ground, Prince Pedro rode to one of the wagons and lifted the side curtain, ‘* Hands down there!” cried a stern voice, and. the handsome bandit turned to see himself cov- ered by a revolver in the hand of.a man who stood a few feet away. ‘“*That wagon contains my niece, and you shall not insult her.” _ ‘* Watch that man,” ordered Pedro. ‘If he attempts anything foolish,. shoot him down.” And the chief again turned to the wagon and lifted the curtain. ‘‘ There’s no girl here,” he said in tones of dis- appointment. * The spy known as Dick ran to his side. ““She was in the wagon to-day, I saw her myself,” he exclaimed, . ‘But she is not here now, I say. Look for yourself,” and Prince Pedro’s face grew dark. Dick looked into the wagon and then shook his ead, Fi ‘ Not there now; that’s certain.” Pedro whirled and came toward the man who had ordered him to drop the curtain, ‘* Where is that niece of yours?” he demanded. * If she is not in yon wagon | cannot answer “She is not there, Here, boys; bring out + Naoed straps. We will see what these people ow. The girl has been sent away.” [t did not take long for the War Saddles to ab gi cords which they shook in the prisoners’ aces. But two men of the camp were living; the = shot by the War Saddles were already ead, 2 One of the prisoners was a man of five and forty with a handsome face, The other was not et twenty, good-looking and well-clad. He looked like a young eagle as he stood before the bandits of the plains, his figure drawn to its true height and his breast swelling with indig- nation. . ‘Where is the girl?’ demanded the Prince, addressing the elder captive, “TI do not know.” In an instant be turned to the younger of the pair. _ “Are you going to follow with a lie?” he asked, ? For a second there was no reply. ' “If I knew I would not tell you,” the young ‘man _retorted, 5 “By Jove, that is coolness! See here! D you know who I am?” te ‘‘T bave never ‘seen you before, but I should am you Prince Pedro, the yellow cur of the plains. : The eyes of ths m.rauder chief seemed to emit ‘* cael —s ee ‘i “You “‘T»am Prince Pedro!” he roared. have yet to know me, young man,” “To have heard of you is enough.” There was no reply by the bandit, but Pedro turned to his men, Ina little while the wagons had been plundered, Everything that caught the eyes of the freebooters was taker, and when the looting bad been done the men came up to their leader and waited for instructions. “We shall have two Mazeppas to-night,” he announced, with a fiendish grin. ‘I have selected the horses. There are two in the teams : that fill the bill. Go to work,” - Twenty minutes Tater an inbuman deed had been done, J f The man and the youth—Abuer Nevins and Larry Blair—had been lashed at full length on | the backs of two of the youngest and wildest horses of the teams and were awaiting the sig- nal which seemed to tremble on Prince Pedro’s ips. : ‘*Won’t you give up the secret?” asked the eae for the last time, ‘No, “Let them go!” Away dashed the horses. At the same time some one applied a match to the wagons and a spear of flame shot heavenward, and in a short time there was nothing to show where the little camp had been but a beap of coals, Tbe two Mazappas of the Southwest had dis- appeared, f CHAPTER II, THE ‘‘ GHOST” JOE BUNDY SAW. ‘““T KNOW a genuine ghost when I see one. Didn’t I used to see °em whar I came from, an hevn’t 1 had many a tussle with ’em—tussles. enough ter make one’s ha’r stand on eend? But | look yonder, Thar’s a fire what started up since | we crossed the ridge,” fa { The speaker was a tall lank specimen of the genus Yankee and he addressed a companion who stood at his side and was looking, like bim- self, at.a bright light which told that a large fire was beyond the ridge at their back, The Yankee was Joe Bundy, a character not unknown to the readers of this Library, and his companion was a fine-looking young Indian, * . The red-skin looked toward the light some time in silence, ; af “Tf the light war a little bigger it would en- able us to see the ghost,” continued Joe, ‘fm as sartain that I saw one asl am tbat lam the last representative of the Bundys, a family worth belongin’ to if Ido say it myself. ae we go over to the fire, or look for the spoo awhile longer.” _** The ghost,” responded Red Hawk, promptly. The pair started off again, led by Joe, who eg confident that he had seen & genuine ghost, ; The two friends were out on a night bunt for lost horses belonging to Mesquite Ranch and were returning without their game when the | figure called a genuine ghost by Joe was sighted. The old man had fallen back with a cry of terror and when he recovered he asserted that he had seen a spirit, and at the same time cry- ing out that be did not fear such things, bound- ed after it. But it bad eluded them, and now they stood baffled by a strange adventure. ‘Thar it is ag’in!” suddenly exclaimed the Yankee, springing forward, and plunging into a gulch at the top of his speed, ‘‘ It sha’n’t escape me this time!” Red Hawk followed and soon came up with Joe holding in bis arms not a ghost, but the ae form of a beautiful young girl into whose face the young Apache gazed with intense - curiosity. Jick “ * Don’t this beat all the spook-catching you ever beard of, Red Hawk?” ejaculated Joe. “ Ain’t she a beauty? Never saw her afore, eb, chief?” A pk.” The Indian shook his head. i “‘T think she must haye been walking in ber sleep,” continued Joe, looking down at bis charge. ‘“‘She came toward me with her cyes wide open, yet sbe didn’t appear wed hey me, What is it you call these kind o’ people, It’s a. big name that Inever could get the hang of. ell, never mind, That’s what she is.” had returned, bearing in his double hands some water which he sprinkled over the fair white face in Old Joe’s arms, rs; eter. The effect was magical, for in a moment, as it — were, the closed eyes had opened again and were staring at the two pards, ° by the sleep-walker, Paes He ya ‘Where am I?” was the fa'st question asked ‘ ¥ by A . > Red Hawk oho away and in a little while — ¢ ‘cael

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13.8 good deal. -oners?”? . only Red Hank com _ tthe Yankee, but did not fully understand, **Safe with friends, but strangers,” said Joe. “Tam the last of the Bundys and this is Rea ‘Hawk, the best young Indian out o’ doors,” ‘* But this is not my uncle’s camp at the mouth of the gulch?” ‘OF course it is not. This is Rolling Stone Hollow and if you mean Long Gulch, you have walked about two mile from thar.” “Long Gulch! had camped,” Joe and Red Hawk exchanged hasty looks: the fire they had seen was in that direction, “Tam subject to fits of sleep-walking,” con- tinued the girl, with a sigh. ‘I must have crept from my couch in the wagon and left camp. Take me back before they miss me.” “Pm afraid—” ’ Old Joe stopped and, looked toward the far- away gulch. P He motioned to Red Hawk who bounded away and in a seconG had disappeared, ‘*My name is Nelly Nevins and I am going West with my uncle Abner, end oveor two oth- ers, We have had very nice traveling thus far. We were warned to look out for robbers who are said to infest this country, but as yet we have seen nothing of such people. Some years ago. my uncle had an enemy who carried in his breast a secret of his life which Uncle Abner wanted to get hold of, and hearing that this man was somewhere beyond the Tagus, he resolved to look for him. Aslam under hiscare and did not want to remain at home alone, I de- cided tocome along. Larry is with us,” The manner in which she spoke the last sen- tence drew a smile from the last of the Bundys.” ‘** Larry’s a friend, I suppose?” Nelly blushed. ‘* Yes, I know he is, so don’t tell me an more,” said Joe, I'll bet my head that Larry is one of the best fellows out of doors, Hawk has gone ahead to prepare’em foryour comin’, so we'll move back.” Nelly Nevins talked freely of herself while the old ** Yank” led her back over the ground which she had traversed in a somnambulistic state, He feared the worst, but did not tell his young charge. He knew that Prince Pedro, the successor of Captain Red Jacket and Do- Jores Dick, had become the terror of the region, and expected to have a bad report from Red Hawk, the Apache, The fire- by this time fo longer lit up the borizon and Old Joe rightly concluded that it bad died down for want of fuel; but he kept the trail to Long Gulch until balted by the In- dian who appeared suddenly to him and his charge, P : ‘Dm sorry, miss, but we bad better go back to Mesquite,” announced Old Joe. “No! I must go back to the camp!” An expression of sympathy crossed the old scout’s face. ‘* But, thar’s no camp thar, now!” he blurted out. “Itis gone up in fire!” ae In an instant the face of the waif grew death- That is the place where we ly white. “Nocamp? Gone upin fire? Oh! oh!” The long arm of Old Joe reached out and caught, her = she reeled back; but Nelly Nev- ims not faint. £ bat Tell me all,” she said, looking at Red Hawk. “The worst has happened. I am worse than orphaned.” ‘The wagons have been burned,” answered sie Indian. “The fire bas eaten up every- ng. ‘* Did your people do it?” ““No, It was the work of the War Saddles,” the young Indian responded, ‘He means Prince Pedro and his band,” ex- plained Old Joe. “I think we will take the war- ath now, in dead earnest. Merle will be eager for the fray and, then, we haven’t had a fair chance to cross swords with this! yaller vulture yet, who ought to be swooped in without mercy!” ° ; Nelly insisted om being conducted to the de- stroyed camp and was bumored by ber newly found friends, The ruins of the wagons were _tound; also thé bodies of the two men killed by the rover raiders, Nelly examined these herself and turned to _Joe and Red Hank witb a sigh ofvrelief. “Larry and os uncle are still alive and that oes Prince Pedro kill his pris- He is devil enough to do anything, but it is _ likely that they have ‘taken a ride’,’ There was a meaning to Old Joe’s words which “To Mesquite now,” said Joe, bended, Nelly looked Mustang Merle’s Mandate. 3 ‘* Will your friend Merle take up the trail?” she asked eagerly. ‘*T promise that this is just the excuse we've been waiting for.” **To Mesquite, then!” cried Nelly Nevins, with sudden energy. It was a somewhat tedious trip, but the young girl did not lose hope nor exhibit the least signs of fatigue. The ranch of the boy nabob was nearer than she thought, and at lasta signal from Old Joe brought a man from one of the stables and in another minute the little party stood on Mustang Merle’s porch, The return of the borse-hunters with a young girl instead of the lost animals drew a crowd of ranch hands to the dwelling and Old Joe told the story he bad to tell, Curses loud and deep were heard on every side, and a thousand anathemas were showered upon the heads of Prince Pedro and his War Saddles, “Remember that without Uncle Abner and Larry Iam alone in the world,” cried the fair girl, stretching out her bands in pleading ges- ture. ‘‘I will go with you. There is fighting blood in my veins. I am eager to force Prince Pedro to give up his captives and to make bim pay for this night’s work,” ** We'll have to do some bard riding to over- take the two Mazeppas,” said a voice near Nelly Nevins. _ In an instant the girl bad turned upon the speaker, ‘* Merciful beavens! do you mean to say that the robber lashed his prisoners to the backs of horses and sent them adrift?” she exclaimed. There was no reply, for the man who could not hold his tongue had dipped his head and slunk away. ‘If that is true they are lost forever! They will perish somewhere of bunger and thirst, and the vultures will pick their eyes out before life leaves their bodies!” The horror of the picture she had painted rushed across Nelly’s mind with ten-fold awful- ness, ea ** Lost! lost!” and she fell swooning in the always-ready arms of the last of the Bundys. Old Joe, his eyes on fire, looked at his young master. ‘* We've got ter hurt somebody for this,” he said, and Mustang Merle made instant reply. “Yes. Now let Prince Pedro look out! Ven- geance must be ours, my men!” CHAPTER ITI, THE TORTURES OF THE DESERT, THE two steeds that carried Abner Nevins and Larry Blair from the camp at the end of the gulch bad been united in a manner by the bandits, A line passed from one to the other, so that it was impossible for them to become separated, and thus strangejy united the two companions were carried out into the night and soon had the camp far behind them, For some time nothing was said by either of the Mazeppas, The frightened horses bore them on and on, and now and then seemed on the eve of breaking the cord in their efforts to get away from one another, “This is the work of a devil incarnate,” said Nevins, when the two steeds had come together so as to let them converse, “T have always heard that Prince Pedro, as he calls himself, is capable of anything,” was the reply. ‘Ob, if we bad but seta guard, but I did not know we were in his domain. In heaven’s name, what has become of Nelly?” “The fate of the girl is what troubles me. She must bave wandered off in one of her strange fi While she has escaped the clutches of Prince Pedro, she is liable to fall into those of a roving band of Indians, even if she avoids the teeth of wolves, Our horses never carried such loads before. We are doomed to some terrible death which the coming day may revea],” * _ The youth said nothing for a spell. , On, on went the two steeds, seeming to be as fresh as when they started with their bound riders. ‘* Why can’t they break the ropes?” suddenly asked Nevius. “‘That would separate us,” was’ the reply. ** As for me, I don’t want to lose you.” ‘© You are right, boy. Let us suffer and die together!” . Morning came at last, and the exhansted men looked. around upon a new country which was. full of strange sights to them, They were on the borders of a plain across which they could notlook, It appeared asillimitable as the ocean itself, aud here and there stood a little grove of ‘**Trat must be the Waterless Plain,” said Nevins. ‘‘ We were told to avoid it, you know.” ‘Yes; but fate directs our horses on this hor- rible journey.” The steeds, instead of turning aside from the outlook which lay before them, went toward the plain, and to their riders’ horror passed ou into. the terrible waste, ’ The sun came up and beat upon the upturned faces of the two Mazeppas. ‘* Death! death!” cried Nevins, “Life! Life for vengeance!” responded Larry Bisir, ‘* Heaven spare me for that!” By and by the horses felt. the effects of the heat and the glitter of the sand. They checked their speed and staggered along like animals about to sink to the ground, Horrible looking lizards crawled at their feet and now and then a rattlesnake would send’ forth its rattle in their path. ** You will live, Larry,” said Nevins, at last. ‘“*T am not to come out of this journey alive, I bave told you about the man who holds the secret which lured me upon this trip. You will buns him down. He knows the truth about the birth of the girl I have lost, He knows: when Nelly’s mother was married, and perhaps what finally becameof her. The poor woman, driven almost to her death by the persecutions of a. wretch, vanished from her home one night, and, _ leaving the babe in the cradle, crossed the Obio and disappeared. We tracked her to the water’s edge, but there all trace of her was lost. It was supposed by some that she thfew herself into the’ stream, but I do not believe it, Shecame South. I once saw a man who ran across a woman somewhere in this country who resembled her, but she had changed and was, when he saw her a queen of crime and wickedness, Nest “Larry, my boy, when you escape from this living death, as something tells me you will, you: will take up the trail where [ leave it. Y will make Prince Pedro pay for this, bis crown- ing race of villainy—” ‘ ‘I swear it, Nevins!” broke in the youth, ** No oath is needed, for I know you will not let him escape, Why should be hunt us out? How did be know that we had Nelly with us, — for, don’t you recollect, the first thing he did wus to go to the wagon where the gir) slept and — lift the curtain to see if she were there? That man knew she was with us, I say.” ‘* He must have known it,” Nevins made no reply for a moment, “IT would give ten thousand dollars for a drop of water,” he said when he spoke again. ‘‘Tam afire within and my vitals are burning up, , Half an hour later when he looked at Nevins be sawawild glare in his eyes and heard a feeble groan which told him that death was not far off, Overhead he saw something w! ich the glazed eyes of Nelly’s uncle could not make out.) — These were moving specks in the heavens; they came nearer aud showed that they bad beak, Wings and talons! Jee “The vultures of the Waterless Plain!” mur- mured Larry. ‘ Death is not far off when they flock to the feast.” * iN The horses were now trying to escape from the — multitude of wings, They were straining every nerve toget beyond the power of the swarmin birds, but each succeeding moment only show bow hopeless were their efforts, __ Presently one of the steeds staggered and fell, He dragged the otber animal down with bim and both lay panting in the shade of a bunch of cacti, where the shadows were as hot as the sunburnt sand AS ae Larry Blair in falling with the borse that carried him saw that the cords around him had been overstrained and loosened. ' A ray of hope flasbed through bis brain, He turned avd began to tug atthe cord with all. the strength he bad left, It seemed that he bad summoned to his rescue supernatural powers, for all at once he withdrew one band, then ao- other and at last staggered to bis feet, free! __ Jn another instant he had sprung to Nevins’ side. ‘Too late!” cried the young man, “Itisall — over with poor Nevins, and he will never solve the secret!’ . The fierce birds swooped down but the brave Larry drove them back long enough to note that Nevins was dead, Stripping the heavy cords from his steed. he fought off tbe vultures and plied the cords with such effect that they were “a to lift theix loathsome bodies into the igher air. Almost dead, Larry Blair procoeded ae ace : Nevins in the desert. He easily made a hole in the sand and placed the booy therein, and } J You |

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— SF ae = gm i ee | waters of life. & when this had been done, stood erect and swore over the grave a terrible oath of revenge. But, he was still in the direst peril. The blood of one of the horses quenched bis raging thirst for the time, and in a little while he was moving through the sands afoot, His brain seemed on fire. Indeed he hardly knew which ‘way he was going, but the long, dark line be- yond one side of the desert sHowed him where the hills were and for them he steered. Toe awful trip seemed interminable, but the | brave youth bore up under the strain until he crossed the boundary of the waste, and sunk ex- hausted at the brink of a muddy pool which he found at the foot of tho hills, . He drank and drank until be could swallow no The snake-infested pool was to him the He raved and danced, then sunk down and drank again, Wherever he crawled he wrote one word on rock and tree, With a bit of red stone, which he had picked up vear the pool, he wrote ‘t Revenge” wherever he went. The sun went down the western fields of the hot sky. Like a great ball of fire it was dipping more, _ below the horizon when Larry Blair stood on a - . owner of Mesquite Ranch, had teen “ aching,’ as the saying is, to get a chance to havea brush y he resolve? to take up ee _ known at Mesquite, an ae) of the tw Yankee large flat rock on one of the elevated trails which overlooked a valley from which he had emerged and broke out intoa strange song. The notes floated far and wide, and birds stopped their songs to wonder who their rival was, All at once an arrow passed so close to the singer’s bead that he checked his song and looked around, He saw the arrow sticking in a tree at his back, . - The next moment he had pulled it out and was looking at it. The Indian, who had crawled close to him, was fitting another to his bow and was about to fire when Larry detected the red marksman, Instead of falling back among the bushes or sheltering himself behind the tree, he bounded at the Indian with a tigerish yell! The red-skin stopped long enough to discharge another shaft, but the arrow missed its mark, and in a second the savage was in fu’l flight. The powers of the insane were in Larry Blair’s ‘limbs. He cleared rocks at a bound, and after a run of half a mile threw himself upon.the Indian and wrested his knife from his grip ““T am the king of this region! My mission is to kill everything that has life!” cried the de- mented Larry, and he threw the Indian down and was about to plunge the knife into his breast when something struck him on the head. Larry staggered to his feet, only to pitch head- long across the body of his enemy, A white man, is it?” said a voice, and the In- dian, still trembling over his narrow escape, looked at the speaker, en man and mad as a wolf,” the savage replied, The next instant, the person who had struck ‘Larry bent over him and felt his pulse, “This man isn’t dead yet, Oralano, Go and bring up my horse,” : _ The Indian, with a glance at Larry, turned and walked off, while the hand of the Queen of the Hills went back to the faint pulse it had left * a moment before. _ “ This is fate,” she murmured, Ay, fate _and—death |” CHAPTER IV. ‘*mTGER FOOT,’? For some time Mustang Merle, the youn with Prince Pedro, the yellow chief of the War 68. : It seemed that the Neca oe had come, for elly Nevins’s cause, and hunt the Rover Raiders of the Tagus down with his band. oc adherents, chief among whom were ‘Joe Bundy and Red Hawk, the young Apache. _ Prince Pedro had no regular abiding place. _ [Ie was to be found here and there, but most of _ the time in the saddle surrounded by his despe- _ radoes, though it was known that some of the _ booty which they looted from the rich ranches was hidden in the caverns to be found in the soitha tatoo west of the Tagus, fate of Nevins and Larry Blair was un-, Merle decided to send Red Hawk and Bundy to look for the trail at bis heels, for the borse had been turn to the care of a tough of the band. above his head, Mustang Merle’s Mandate. but saying nothing to any one, he saddled his own horse and rode quietly away. ‘“‘We will find the nest of the vultures and then we will attack them,” he said to himself, ‘*T propose to make it a war of extermination. This, and a lesson to all border brigands, that the end to their devilish work and career, on this side of the Rio Grande, has come!” The day after these events, a horse looking quite unlike the majestic animal ridden from Mesquite by Merle might have been seen moving down a narrow trail near the edge of tne Water- less Plain, Indians were not a rarity in that region, and the person who rode the horse we bave just seen was a young red-skin who sat his steed with the grace of a Centaur. The anima] turned into another trail at last and when the-descent stopped all at once and the tun- nel went straight ahead. ic) ‘‘ How did you leave old Leopard Robe?” sud- denly asked Prince Pedro, ‘¢ Well,” sententiously answered the young red-skin, ** And Eagle Claw?” “ Still nursing his broken leg.” _ “bose two reds are friends of mine,” said Prince Pedro with a malicious grin which did not entirely confirm his words, ‘‘ Ah, here we are. It had been said in certain quarters that months before the opening; of our present story Prince Pedro had entered into a treaty with the Comanches; that the chiefs of that tribe were to afford him a éafe asylum if he was ever hard pressed by enemies, and on several occasions was brought under the shadow of a rocky wall | they had befriended bim in a manner which which rose nearly five hundred feet above him. The rider, though he knew it not at the time, was being watched bya pair of very keen eyes, and when he had passed on, the owner of the eyes was also on the move, Ten minutes later the young red was halted by a stern command, and leaning eagerly for- ward, he fixed bis eyes upon a man who had rid- den into bis path and who now sat bolt upright in his saddle with his fingers at the trigger of a rifle, ** Why don’t you come on, you young red?” Tbe Indian rode forward, keeping bis ya riveted on the speaker, and came toa halt a few feet from where he sat, Out riding for your health?” queried the white man, who wore the usual garb of the bor- der, with a belt that showed the butts of two re- volvers, besides the horn hilt of a bowie, ‘‘ Tiger Foot is riding,” said the Indiam , ‘or yer health, of course, By the way, did you see anything of two horses tied together and carrying two men on ’em?”’ Tiger Foot shook his head. . ‘* Maybe they didn’t cross yer path,” laughed the white man, ‘‘We came down on a camp last night and give the two big bugs in it a free ride, as we do sometimes.” . ' “Which way?” asked tbe Indian, ‘‘The last we saw of them they were headed for the Waterless Plain, Ireckon bse struck it ere this an’ know what it is to keep their mouths shut when they were asked to tell Prince Pedro the truth!” went far towatd confirming tbe rumors of an alliance, This is why Prince Pedro felt that he could trust the young red-skin whom he had brought to the secret cavern in the bill. If he had had any doubts concerning Tiger Foot’s identity his last answers had removed them, The room to which Prince Pedro had con- ducted Tiger Foot was quite or se and the store-house of a vast amount of ty. The floor was littered with rich equipments of every description. There were gilt bridles and laced saddles, taken from ranches plundered by the desperado band, and in one corner were a lot of gan, garments, which at one time must have ung in the wardrobe of some nabob’s hacienda. ‘Look at the spoil,” said Pedro, turning to Tiger Foot. ‘It is: worth as much as the wealth of some old king across thawater. Here, this is yours,” and he picked from the floor a beautiful whip, which had a golden handle, and extended it to the young Indian, **You can wor your horse with a senorita’s whip,” he laughed. j ‘ ger Foot took the whip and handled it play- ully. i rs ieee if the white ranchers should find this?’ e said. ‘‘They never will. I mean that the discovery would do them no good,” hastily corrected Prince Pedro. ‘I have everything ready to blow the hill to the sky.” “ How ? The bandit took the lightand carried it close — “The White Vulture knows how to send his | along one of the wall§ of the room, followed by his enemies to death!” The Indian had spoken the name by which Prince Pedro was known among the Comanches, and the man before him, one of the White Vul- ture’s band, iaughed immoderately, ‘“Don’t he, though?’ he exclaimed. ‘* He’s over there now.” The outlaw pointed as be spoke to a conical hill, which was said to be hollow. Tiger Foot looked away and seemed to smile. ** Mebbe you'd like ter see Prince Pedro?” con- tinued the War Saddle. Just ride over and enter the camp. The boys’ play-hour bas come, and they'd like to see you,” But Tiger Foot shook his head, ““T'll go with you,” said the white man a mo- ment Jater. ‘*1 haven’t anything to do here, and, then, I'd like to show Wu somethivg no red person has ever seen, 1 guess the captain won't object.” In a little while the Indian and his guide were riding toward the bill and before long had en- tered a camp of dark-skinned men some cf whom were gambling on the ground, while others were grooming their horses, ‘*Captain Pedro? called the pard, and a handsome man of Spanish descent arose and came forward, *‘ This is Tiger Foot, a young Comanche buck that I picked up in the moun- tain back yonder, and I told him that I would show him somet!ing none of our red friends ever saw if you tadn’t any objection,” i Do you mean the old chamber?” | es, Prinee Pedro looked for a moment at the In- ‘dian and then said: ““T prefer to show him myself, Nickajack.” ‘* All right, Here’s your man, and I’m sure you will find bim a good looker.” Prince Pedro started off with the Indian youth ‘The captain of the War Saddles led his visitor to one sidevof the bill where bushes fcr in pro- fusion, and parting them showed him the en- trance to the cavera, . Bk Foot stepped in after Prince Pedro who struck a light near the entrance and held it i, For some time the twain seemed descend into the very bowels of the earth, over . the sharp eyes of the young red. He pointed out a slender wire, which after running along the wallsome distance, lost itself in the darkness. “That is a secret which I impart to no one,” he said, luoking at Tiger Foot. ‘I will not tell you how very safe my treasures are. They will never fall into the hands of the enemy. Just as the hand was extended to seize them, the whole would be blown sky-high. Somuch for the cun- ning of my people, Tiger Foot. “Ha, ha! I guess we beat you Indians at some things.” For some time Tiger Foot remained under- ground, looking at the stolea wonders of Prince Pedro’s treasure-house. When he emerged into the light he found the. t camp as before, and looked proudly at the whip the bandit prince had given him, For several hours Le lounged about tne camp, He played with the War Saddles, for a Co- manche knows the tricks of his whiter brethren. He showed them how he could jump, and did some other things which captured their good in- tentions. ; The shades of evening fell at last. Tiger Foot told Prince Pedro that he would ride back. q ‘* What sball Tiger Foot say to the chiefs of his tribe?” he asked, ‘¢ Tell them that I have sent two more Mazep- pas toward tke Waterless Plains,” laughed the bey tg “But don’t kiss old Eagle Claw for me oy Five mioutes after the red-skin’s departure Oriole Bill, the singer of the camp, came over to where Prince Pedro stood, and said something in a low tone, “* What, that Indian no red at all, but Mus- tang Merle, the boy owner of Mesquite Ranch?” cried Pedro, ‘It is false! Tell another lie like that, and by heavens! T’ll hang you up by the ~ ears for the vultures!” _ ’ ! But, somehow or other, the look Oriole Bill ‘gave him when he slunk away, seemed to haunt the captain of the War Saddles, — CHAPTER V. THE HUNT FOR

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_——SESS— = ES Wie Tl dene | Ba At seo ay Bia i di te en ee Mustang Merle’s Mandate, 5 They struck the trail of the frightened steeds at the confines of the destroyed camp’at the end of the gulch and followed it to the edge of the Waterless Plain. ‘“*Tf they struck out over that desert they are lost,” said the old scout to his companion, and Red Hawk shook his head. The horses of the pair seemed to shrink from entering upon a bunt on the waste, as if they | knew something of the dangers that lurked , among its shining sands; but Joe and Red Hawk had not reached that stage of the trail to turn back and in a little while they were moving across the open, Now and then the trail became lost entirely, but the keen eyes of the friends would pick it up agai, and at length they drew rein at two heaps vf well-picked bones which told them that the horses had perished, ‘** But what became of Nevins and the boy?” exclaimed the Yankee, ‘I don’t see anything of them and I know dead men don’t bury them- selves in this accursed country.” Red Hawk smiled and fell to examining the ound, “ Look!” he suddenly cried. ‘‘ One went back; only one, white brother.” “By voip you are right, chief, as you al- ways are, One went back overthe waste. The other stayed.” ' The grave of Nevins was next found, after ‘which the two trailers turned their faces toward ithe distant hills and followed Larry Blair’s footsteps until they lost them among the shadows and trails beyond the plain, Trailing was no new occupation to the two men, and, besides, they knew the country. to which their present trail led them; but some- how-or-other they did not meet with the success ‘they anticipated, for they again lost the track “among the hills, and were on the point of despair- ing when Red Hawk suddenly came upon the marks of hoofs, and both stopped. ld The day had worn away by this time, and night once more hac thrown her sable curtain over the scene, ‘* Somewhere in this region dwells the strange beauty we saw last summer—the Hermit Queen, as they call her,” said Old Joe, “The woman with the black eyes that can Jook one through?” ss Yes ” “* White brother, who is that woman?” “That puzzles me as well as others,” said Bunly. “‘We don’t know who sbe is, nor why she hides in these hills and has Indians for ‘her companions when she is not beating the toughs of i and the other camps out of their dust. uanita is a deep puzzle. Merle ‘once ran across her and invited her to Mesquite; but she has never come,” They followed the tracks of boofs until they became lost among the rocks, when Old Joe stopper and listened. ‘* What is it?” asked the watchful Red Hawk, The answer was a quick recoil on Joe’s part and the young Indian felt himself: seized and pulled back, ‘* Not a word!” was breathed in his ear and ‘the next moment the two pards stood like pillars of stone at one side of the trail, ‘**Go straight abead, Oralano,” said the wom- an’s voice, ‘‘I am at your heels,” * Oralano can see like the owl after dark,” “ We're gone if the red can do that,” mutter- od Joe. The next instant two forms barely ‘discernible came into view. Both were afoot, but one led a horse and with one hand seemed to be holding a human body on the saddle, The foremost person was an Indian, the other a woman, and in a jiffy they had passed the motionless watchers, ‘OTis the Hermit Queen,” said Joe in a whis- per. ‘'The otber is a young Comanche who is, said to be her husband: them just yet.” j He had thrown back his hand to restrain the eager Indian at his elbow. ' “ Juanita was holding some one in the saddle, I.could not see whether the rider of the horse was dead or alive, Something mysterious is The forms of the woman and her guide had disappeared by this time, and slowly Joe and ned Hawk moved forward and were soon at her eels, “Tf she sees us the jig is up,” said the Yankee ‘to his companion. ‘‘ We must be almighty cau- ‘tious not to let that woman’s eyes alight upon us to night, She shoots at the drop of.tha hat, [say, and from the way sbe acts she seems to be mad at times, I don’t want to stop one of her bullets and thus terminate the famous Bundy family. Not jes’ yet, Red Hawk.” . ait; don’t follow ‘ f = a Ma a Juanita, the Hermit Queen, led the trailers down the billy eee to the valley below. There she stopped and dismissed the Indian. ‘*T will take him on,” she said. .‘‘ You may go back to the work I have assigned to you. Come to me-.when you have accomplished it. From what I have got of the man in the saadle he had a companion when be came into this region; they were captured and Mazeppied by that rascal of rascals, Prince Pedro, and sent across the plains on frightened steeds, Go back and find the trail. Discover what became of the other one,” The woman’s words were wafted to the listen- ors’ ears and they saw Oralano, the Indian, de- part. ‘* $he has diamissed the red in order not to let him know whither she intends taking the man on the horse,” said Old Joe, ‘I believe we have found one of the two Mazeppas. Juanita and her charge must not get away.” The woman did not move until she had watch- ed her guide out of sight, Joe and Red Hawk saw her look into the face of the silent rider, and then for the first time discovered that a handker- chief covered his mouth. Asif she thought she was not watched at all now, Juanita relaxed some of her former cau- tion and led the trailers some distance before she 9 ta again, ‘*She’s dropped intoa hole in the ground!” said Old Joe, drawing back with astonishment 5 on his leathery countenance. “si Hawk stood dumfounded, but made no reply. ‘ **She war right thar a moment ago, but whar is she now?” The mystery was soon solved to a certain ex- tent, for the trailers saw an opening like the mouth of a cavern, though at first none Was visi- ble. This opening was large enough for a horse and his rider, and Joe discovered that a quantiiy of vines hid it from view and that Juanita must have held them aside while the steed went in, **Shall we follow?’ he asked with a smile, Miproaaon the eager red-skin, ‘Red Hawk will follow anything.” In a moment the twain stood within the cay- era which was dark, They could hear the echoes of hoofs beyond the opening and were about to move forward when something passed their heads, ‘* Jehosaphat! a bat as big asa bar’l!” cried Old Joe. In a jiffy a hand fell across his mouth for he had unwittingly spoken aloud, **T couldn’t help that. The Bundys never took to bats, nohow,” he said when the band was with- drawn. Hoping that the old scout’s exclamation had not alarmed the Hermit Queen, our friends moved on again and came to a halt against a wall of solid stone, beyond which they could not oO. ay Follow the wall,” whispered Joe, They did this for some time, when all at once a light flashed in their faces, and they stood in the presence of the woman they had been track- 1) fn an instant Joe and Red Hawk fell back, their hands moving instinctively to their revol- vers; but they saw that a hand as firm as theirs already held a weapon as deadly in their faces, and. their six shooters were not drawn. ‘I know yov. You have trailed the Hermit Queen of the Hills,” said a voice, ‘Don’t you know that you have doomed yourselves to a liv- ing death?” : “We have a right to hunt this country,” an- swered Joe Bundy, with his old-time nerve. ‘*We don’t intend to take from you anything that belongs to you. We are looking for the survivor of the last swoop of the infamous Prince Pedro,” y A smile appeared to cross the face in the light of the torch which illumined the scene, ‘*Do you expect to find that survivor here?” demanded Juanita, ‘ ‘* We think he isn’t far off,” ‘Do you think he is in my hands?” “We have a right to believe that he is.” ‘* Then, you have been watching me?” ‘** By Jehosaphat! we couldn’t help it,” cried Old Joe. ‘‘We came across you out yonder, and saw the gagged man on the horse and—” _ ‘Follow me!” interrupted the woman, turn- ing suddenly and leading the way. ‘‘ Maybe he will talk coherently for you,” Joe and Red Hawk followed the torch, and resently saw its bearer halt over aman who ay on the ground. “Here he is, and as mad as a March hare,” she said, looking up into the faces at her side, *Doyou know him?” , Joe Bundy bent over the young man, over whose face still lay the handkerchief. € 2 f a “ He must be Larry Blair, the youth who a¢- companied Nevins and the girl Nelly—” A wild cry broke the sentence, and he was jerked up by the hand of Juanita, whose face was deathly white, and in whose bulging eyes was a stare of horror, ‘* Nevins and Nelly, did you say!” she almost shrieked. ‘‘ Where are they?” ** Nevins is dead and the girl is at the ranch,” There was no reply, only Juanita fell back to the wall, and dropping the revolver, drew a dag- ger, which she suddenly lifted above her breast. The old scout divined her intention, and sprung forward; but the knife came down like a de- scending arrow. CHAPTER VI. PRINCE PEDRO’S TERRIBLE TRUMP. ORIOLE RILL, the singer of Prince Pedro's camp, had it right when be intimated that Tiger Foot, the person to whom the bandit of the bor- der had shown the wealth of the underground treasure-house, was not an Indian at all, but Mustang Merle the boy rancher. If Prince Pedro had followed Tiger Foot from camp he would have seen him bend his course toward the ranch at the door of which he reined iu his steed and entered the house, Five minutes later he had resumed bis regu- Jar garb and had called into his presence a hand- some man of six feet to whom he was talking rapidly, ‘) have seen the lair of the plains wolf,” said Mustang Merle. ‘I bring this back as a proof,” and be tossed upon the table the gold-mounted whip Prince Pedro had given bim. “That isa senorita’s plaything,” said Yellow Van, the man before him. . “Yes, It belonged across the border. You know I could have gotten the whip nowhere alse but in Prince Pedro’s camp?” ‘*Of course, Master Merle,” ‘¢To-morrow night we will teach these rascals a lesson. By that time Joe and Red Hawk will have returned.” ‘¢ The boys are ready for the fight, They are aching t6 get at this devil of the border and each one will give a good account of himself,” The boy rancher retired, This time there were no traitors enjoying his hospitality, On several occasions he had been harassed by trai- tors and some of bis plans bad been given away, but now he could trust every man under his ao and with this thought to cheer bim he fell asleep, The motfning came and by and by there were seen riding toward the ranch two horsemen who supported a form between them, n an instant Mustang Merle heard a cry and the next moment there rushed across the open and toward the men a young girl with stream- ing hair, t was Nelly Nevins. ‘* You have found him?” she cried, with clasp- ed bands, as she halted before the horsemen who roved to be Joe Bundy and Red Hawk. ‘' You Gave found Larry, but where is Uncle Abner?” ‘The truth is, we couldn’t just fetch him,” said Joe, with a glance at bis companion, “He is dead.” Nelly followed the pair to the house into which Larry Blair was led and placed in a chair, Mustang Merle stood and watched the play of light and sbade on the youthful face over which Nelly bent with womanly tenderness, while Joe narrated their adventures in search of the two Mazeppas, ‘* We had to leave the woman in the cave,” he said, in tones which the girl, absorbed with her attentions to the late captive, did not hear, ‘‘The wound she inflicted was not very deep, and when we tried to doctor her she broke from our grasp and ran back into that hole in the a which is a perfect maze. In fact, we ost her, and eager to get this boy to Mesquite, we came away. But we know the road back, and will go and find her some other time,” “She must be found,” said Mustang Merle, “But first we will pay our respects to Prince Pedro and his band of border cut-throats, I have been to their camp—” ** You, boy?” cried Old Joe. ‘* Why not?” Merle crossed the room and came back with the whip in his hand. “This proves it,” said Joe, with a glance at the whip. ‘In Heayen’s name, what sort of a gow did you play ag’in’ the old hawk of the ains? . “\T was Tiger Foot, the Comanche,” ‘* Ho, ho! Do you hear that, Red Hawk?” The Apache nodded, ‘ Blair seemed to come out of that terr Slowly, under the gentle care of pba 9 nae e

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a es ee gata 2 Bates aos Ve eo a iran Mustang Merle’s Mandate. trance into which he had been thrown by the in- Prince Pedro’s last piece of devilment?” he said ‘* Everything goes!” laughed Prince Pedro ir describable tortures of the Waterless Plain, and | to bimself as he groped his way over a mass of j high glee, ‘This is the crowning triumph in when his eyes had back their old ratural look, | broken rock, my career. I fancy it is getting even with and he could reply to their questionings, a sweet There was no-reply. Mustang Merle for the death of my old friends, smile overspread the face of the young creature, He found a match in one of bis pockets and | Captain Red Jacket and Dolores Dick. Now, All that day the men of Mesquite prepared | drew it along the wall, remember the ranch is not to be burnt, You for the swoop on Southwest, Fire-arms were lcoked to with the greatest of care§ for all realized the desperate nature of the undertaking at hand, and that Prince Pedro would fight to the death. Larry came out of the house toward sundown, with a glitter in bis eyes, and laid his hand on Mustang Mer'e’s arm, **T go with you,” said he, In an instant the young rancher had turned, and was looking into the white face of the ban- dit’s victim. ** Don’t say no, for I will not listen to it,” he went on. ‘ You don’t know the oath I took at thé grave I left on the Waterless Plain, It was an oath of vengeance’intensified by the most ter- rible sufferings. Nelly bas given ber permission, the human vultures of the and she knows that I will not disgrace her, . Mustang Merle, 1 go with you to-night.” ‘* You skall go,” was the answer, and the hand of Larry Blair took the boy’s with a gfasp of thankfulness ere be turned back. By sundown everything was ready, and leav- ing bebind a guard, the avengers of many a heartless act rode from Mesquite, resolved to pay Prince Pedro back for more than one des- perate swoop and massacre, The gallop: across the country was devoid of incident, and in time the band swam the Tagus and pulled up on its furthest bank, Beyond the river rose the hill where lay the camp of the bandits, and Mustang Merle, who was his own guide, Jed his men forward. What if the bandits were on the lookout? What if they bad discovered Tiger Foot’s rea! identity? — could not expect to catch a weasel asleep. | At last it was past midnight and the avengers rode close to the hill without a challenge. ‘* The camp’s actually asleep,” passed from lip tolip. « , «Bon't fool yerself,” said Old Joe to one of these whisperers. ‘‘I don’t expect to catch Prince Pedro napping, The chances are that we will find bim up tosome devilment, If he is, : thar will be something for all of us ter remem- rs The foot of the hill was gained, All was still, **The camp is deserted,” said, Merle. ‘ The birds have flown, but we do not go back without a brnsb to the death with them.” The men dismounted and ran everywhere through thedesertedcamp: Everything denoted hasty flight. Mustang Merle led a party to the mouth of the eavern in the hill, but stopped there, - He bad not forgotten what Prince Pedro had told him about the secret wires, and that ata certain moment he could blow the hill and all its contents sky bigh, ‘*We can cut the wires the moment we find them,” sail Joe to bis young master, “If the rascals have vamosed the camp they can’t blow . us up—thbat’s pretty certain.” A dozen men, led by Merle, plunged into the opening. A torch was lighted and threw its glare over the underground scene, - Mustang Merle led his men from room to room hoping to find the treasures he had seen, and at the same time was looking for the wires which ran along the wall. - “ Hyer they ar’, the wires I mean!” cried’Joe, his discovery. _ “Cut them at once!” rung out the vcice of the boy rancher. : Red Hawk's belt and lifted it above bis head, The next iastant the hatchet came down and there was a terrible explosion which seemed to rend the hill, ; The whol» interior of the chamber was an im- mense blaze of ligbt, Men were thrown in every direction before i _ abated and the bill felt the throes of the crash as if it had been rent by an earthquake, '. The mine had been exploded as if by the stroke Nd ~ me tomahawk and Joe had wrecked every- ung Thrown against a rock, Mustang Merle recov- consciousness only after a long spell. He Was surrounded by Cimmerian darkness and _ the air was laden with the fumes of the ex- e oy which almbst suffocated him as he gasped -for brea Aspe et ‘ee ven’s name, am I the only survivor of Id oe snatched the tomahawk that rested in e As the little flame shot into existence he fell back with a groan from the sight that encoun- tered his gaze. Men were Jying in every direction; some held down by huge rocks; and others in the open; but all, so far as he could see, dead! The young owner of Mesquite roused himself and crept forward. Fortunately he had escaped without much in- jury and could stand without support. ean! made a trumpet of his hands and shouted aloud, The only sound that came back was the echo of his own voice, and in despair he flung down the matcb and stood once more in the dark cavern, When be went forward again it was in search of the opening by which he had led his gallant followers to theirdoom, The rough wall was his only guide, and at last he came upon a pile of rocks which told him that the opening bad been closed by the explosion and that he was buried alive! The situation was one of utmost horror, Mustang Merle recoiled from the doom that threatened him, and for a time stood speechless, “What, die here at the bands of Prince Pedro?” he exclaimed, ‘I will not! I will live to bunt down that infernal rascal! I am stillon the war trail, and he shall yet feel the avenging hand of Merle of Mesqnite!” The boy’s last words were followed by a Satanic laugh. He ran forward a few steps and listened, ! ‘**] will laugh last!” he cried. Hy CHAPTER VII. NEDLY NEVINS HOLDS THE FORT, THE destruction of the interior of the bandits’ hill seemed complete, The men who did not enter the place with Merle were thrown back by the force of tbe explosion, and before they could recover they found themselves assailed by Prince Pedro and his minions. ‘ From every corner of the night the War Saddles came down upon them with shout and yell, at the same time discharging toeir weapons at the living targets that dodged hither and thither, The Mesquiters believed that the explosion of the mine bad terminated the existence of every one on the inside, and had no beart to defend themselves against the brigands, but .rather sought safety ia fligkt, so that in a short time the remnant which escaped from the border scourges were riding back to Mesquite with a story of horror for the-ears of those left behind. ‘“*Come!” said Pedro, ‘*This is a chance we baye never bad before, The boy rancber and his best friends are lost forever, The young rat himself is cooped up in the underground trap, and will never see sunlight again. There is rich spcil at Mesquite, which is practically defense- less, This is our time! Now or never! -We must get ahead of the few who have escaped.” The War Saddles rode from the scene of their last success, and by a route known only to them, soon distanced the fugitives and were on the trail leading to the ranch. 7 The sun was mounting toward the zenith when the War Saddles were seen ccming over : ire’ _ the bills near the ranch, halting suddenly and pointing at the objects of | _ Merle is coming back already!” cried some one and a little grou among the stables and watched the approaching arty. All at once they discovered their mistake. It was not the boy rancher returning from pun-. ishing the border bandit king, but Prince Pedro himself, “To arms! to arms!” rung out the cry on every side and while some darted to the hcuse to acquaint its occupants of the cyclone that threat- ened, others ran to the horses and hastily sad- dled the best. Prince Pedro and big men did not check their speed, but came on with yells which seemed to strike terror to the hearts of those who heard |. em, J The War Saddles were strong enough to over- come all opposition and this they did in a jiffy, for they replied to the volley fired in their faces’ by pare men and almost annihilated the de- Lenders, tt) 7 ey The rest did not fight longer, but some threw | themselves upon the steeds and galloped away. of ranchmen assembled - men lay take what you like, but the torch is not to be applied.” With this the whole band drew up in front of the house and Prince Pedro sprung from the: saddle and landed on the porch. He clanked across the boards-and laid his band on the Jatch, Before he could open the door it was drawr inward and the captain of the War Saddles re- coiled witb a cry for a vision of loveliness stood before him. - Nelly Nevins had opened the porta] and con- fronted him revolver in hand, a look of defiance in ber dark eyes. ‘* What, are you the fair keeper of the fort?” laughed the bandit when he recovered his breath. ‘*T am the only was the reply. ‘ gurrendered?’ The men in the saddles laughed at their lead- er’s discomfiture, but Prince Pedro did not quail again, ‘* But you don’t intend to fight us all?’ he cried. ‘My dear girl, we outnumber you twenty to one and—” ; : **Tf the odds were twice as great I would not surrender Mesquite to a band of border cut- throats!” ; The door was shut in Prince Pedro’s face and he turned to his followers with a laugh of de- rision, ‘*T like that sort of snap, boys,” he exclaim- ed, ‘*I don’t think we would have whipped reat they had all been like this fighting serapb. She may wing you from the window, cap-: tain!” called out one of the mep, ‘* Look out,” Prince Pedro said nothing, but crossed the porch again and rapped on the door, ‘*We have had fun enough, miss,” he said, ‘“T am Prince Pedro, but not the cut-throat. you bave called me, Open in the name of bor- der law!” There came forth no answer to the demand of the robber prince, and biting his lip, Prince rine: kicked on the door and left a mark on its anel, q The next moment the balf-muffled report of a fire-arm was heard and tbe bullet that crashed through the door grazed the bandit’s head an} ene left to confront you,” The ranch has not yet been sent him back witb a curse, This seemed to take all the mercy from Prince Pedro’s nature, and he eprung like a lion at the door and throwing himself against it tore it from its fastenings and sent it inward, “Hurrah for the captain!” shouted a dozen voices as the leader of the War Saddles pitched into the bouse only to be confronted by a revol- ver which was clutched in the determined hand of Nelly Nevins, . “TJ come of fighting blood and will not hesi- tate to send a bullet through the head of the murderer of my kin!” she said, “Go ack, Captain Pedro, Cross the porch and mount your steed, or I will end here the life that has lasted too long already.” There was *‘ shoot’ in the eyes that blazed he- hiod the leveled weapon; the arm was as steady as an arm of iron, and the beauty of the one de- fender of Mesquite made Prince Pedro more than ever anxious to take her captive. She advanced upon him with her last words and the revo]ver came nearer and looked dead~ lier than before, ‘Quit the house which you have polluted witb, oy presence,” said Nelly. ‘‘ As I live, I will ill you, Prince Pedro, for I will never fall alive into your hands.” The courage of the captain of the War Saddles seemed to 0028 out at his finger ends, ' The contrast betwen him and the sleuder girl was striking, but Nelly held her ground. **T shall count three,” sbe said, ginnetng along: the polished barrel of the revolver into the bronzed but handsome face of the bandit leader, “Stand your ground, captain! We are with you. Don’t let the beauty of the ranch keep you out ofa a iuend a ' Fes Prince Pedro heard these words behind him and for a moment they infused new colrage into ** One!” said the fair girl suddenly, Captain Pedro did not move. ** You can’t hope to defeat us alj,” be said. ‘“Two—|!” was the only answer he received. ‘‘ Mustang Merle and your young friend have been blown sky high,” om ¥ " = ; : Cee SLT s re aetola tele $i: Ss Meta to ale Roa gas wee 4

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Nelly seemed to receive a sudden shock, but the revolver did not drop a mite, — , By this time some of ths bandits who had entered the house from the rear were about to enter the room occupied by the courageous girl. Nelly’s quick ear caugbt the noises they made and realized what had happened. She fell back, crossing the apartment until she bad reached the door which they were about to force, An iron rod hung above it in a man- ner wyich enabled it to drop by the touching of a button in the wall, and all at once, throwing up one hand, she pressed the \uttoun and the rod fell. The barricade was sufficient to keep the ban- dits out in that direction, and baving done this, Nelly suddenly came toward Prince Pedro, thrusting a six-shooter into his face and saying in tones that told him that he had encountered the most desperate little beauty of his whole career: . “Back! Cross the porch, or by the heavens above us! you have not a second to live!” The robber recoiled; this time be was fol- lowed up by Nelly and the moment the heavy boots had touched the porch, the broken door was seized by the girl, righted in a moment, and a bar of iron fell into its place! If, in the excitement which had followed the first assault, she had mot forgotten the bar, Prince Pedro might not have reached the point _ trom which be had just been forced to retreat, The leader of the border outlaws turned to his smiling men with the rage of a baffled tiger, To have been beaten by a man was enough, but a girl bad driven him from the bouse! For a moment he stood on the porch, biting his lips beneath his mustache and grinding par- ticles of desert sand to powder beneath his heel. _ T will show the beauty that she can’t hold the fort against me!” he suddenly exclaimed. “‘ Bring up yon pole and four or six of you dis- mount and take it.” There was an instant springing from saddles and Prince Pedro saw his men seize the pole which lay on the ground a few steps from the house, He stood aside and directed the proceedings, * You want to strike the door a little below the middle, There is a bar of iron across it at that point,” he said to his myrmidons, four of whoni, stalwart fellows, bad taken up the pole. It was a moment of keen suspense, Human life trembled in the balance. The beautiful defender behind the menaced door held in her hands more lives taan one, Prince Pedro was about to give the command to attack when some one uttered a cry. * Look! Yonder come the survivors of the hill figbt!” The bandit looked toward the west. Sure enough a vumber of men were riding down upon the rancb, \ CHAPTER VIIL THE BURIED ALIVE, ‘PrincE PEDRO looked at the new riders a mo- ment, and then at the men who held the batter- ing-ram, ahr ; He seemed to be mentally calculating whether he could force the door first, and then beat off the avengers, riding with such fearless spirit to- ward the ranch. : “There are but seven of them, captain, and when they get sight of our numbers they'll turn tail and let us alone.” j But Prince Pedro thought differently, for he had eyed the Mesquiters long enough to know that from the manner of their riding they in- tended to tbrow themselyes upon him, hawever smnall their numbers were,® - ““The ranchers first!” he said to his men, and those who had hold of the ram let it fall and sprung to their Winchesters, \ At that same moment the seven riders threw themselves along the sifles of their steeds, after the manner of Comanches, and came on, much to the War Saddles’ astonishment. * Down, with the scourges of the border!” arose ihe War-cry of the fearless seven, and puffs of smoke issuing from alongside the charging steeds told that their riders knew how to handle their firearms under difficulties, Men near Prince Pedro tumbled right and left, and a bullet carried away a lock from the ruffian’s head. , The maddened War Saddles returned the vol- ley, and several borses were seen to pitch for- ward, but not a rider was unsaddled, — “Give it to them again!” shouted Prince ro, and his men fired another volley, which stretched one man on the ground, in the agonies of death, but did not check the speed of the ‘ iy oO _ Seeing that bis men were not making much ‘| seemed bottomless, for I d _ Mustang Merle’s Mandate. | ; headway against their new assailants, the ban- | dit was compelled to draw off behind the house, from whence he poured another volley into the ranks of the brave ranchers, which, like its | predecessors, did not do much damage, ‘““No mercy to the villains of the plains!” , cried the men of Mesquite. ‘ Vengeance for the massacre of Hollow Hill!” On some occasions the War Saddles had per- formed prodigies of valor, but it was generally when the cdds were largely in their favor, or when they could swoop down upon a sleeping camp at the dead hour of vight; but they were not used to meeting a fce in open fight, as they now found themselves compelled to do, The men of the ranch had ceased to ride upon the house, but had halted in the protecting shadow of some trees, and from that point were firing at every head that showed itself, At last, swearing future vengeance, Prince Pedro gave the command to draw off, and in a eae while the late fugitives of the hill battle aw the backs of the foe, Prince Pedro had left behind seven of his men, while but one of the Spartan band had | been killed; and when they rode away a cheer arose from the throats of the victors, and a young girl who had emerged from the house waved her hand after the vanquished bandits, “Tell me! Did the captain of the bandits lie?” cried Nelly, springing forward and halting at the side of the leader of the band of rescuers, ‘* He said that he had blown Mustang Merle and Larry sky bigh—” he stopped suddenly, for she saw the cloud of bad news that had gathered on the face of the man she addressed, ““T'm afraid he told a good deal of trutb, miss,” was tho interruption, ‘**Tell me. 1am strong enough to bear it all,” In a few words the man told Nelly all he knew abcut tbe explosion and said, in conclusion, that, as they were compelled to seek safety in flight with the intention of rendering Mesquite all the assistance they could, he was afraid not one of all those who had entered the bill had escaped. “Why didn’t I send a bullet through the brain of the chief of ruffians?” cried Nelly, ‘‘I had him at my mercy and once or’ twice fclt my finger pressing the trigger. But my time will come yet. 1 wiil show this man that a girl can avenge the dead!” and she turned and ] oked after the flying bandits with no color at her lips. It was evident, even to the girl who had held the fort with such tenacity, that the rescuers had arrived in the nick of time, for while she ‘| thought she would kave been able to-have dropped one or two of the wielders of the pole, the door would bave been forced in time and sbe would have fallen into Prince Pedro’s power, It had been a terrible day for Mesquite, and long before sundown those who had fallen in its defense had been buried, and the survivors made preparations for resisting a night attack, as they were almost certain that the War Saddles would return and try again, While this is going on at the ranch, let us go back to the bloody hill and see how fares the boy rancher whom we left in the gloom of the living tomb, Mustang Merle had at last made a pleasing discovery even under the terrible circumstances in which he found himself placed, This was nothing less than that he was not the only living soul in the hill, A band bad suddenly touched him in the dark, and he had heard a voice which filled him with a* thrill of joy. “The Bundy family ar’ on top yet! I'm a little ae psec but still in the ring.” “Old Joe! Tbank Heaven!” cried Merle, squeezing the hard hand of the lank scout, ** We are the only ones who escaped instant death.” . “Don’t know about that. The firm round opened at my feet an’ I fell into a : aM that ropped a long distance. ore it took me a year—so it seemed —ter git ack, , Merle and Old Joe exchanged a good many words, and at Jast the boy rancher proposed that | they investigate the fate of their companions, Provided with a light, they crept over the broken rocks and came upon several dead men, ‘‘T see nothing ot Red Hawk,” said Merle, ‘This fills me with hope, for I would not lose | the services of that Indian for the world,” ; ‘Tt takes more than an explosion big as that one was to kill the Apache,” said Joe,, ‘ He’s as | tough as the Bundys, an’ they're very tough, See here!” and Joe knelt and held bis light over ‘the imprint of a moceasin in the fine dust of the | underground cavern. VA RT ts hoe ate | Both were looking at the footprint when a are . what seemed the edge of a bottomless pit which the darkness of the undergro anished, | 9 sound bebind caused them tr turn, and they saw standing near the wall the fi.ure of Red Hawk, Mustang Merle almost dropped his torch, over- joyed at the unexpected sight, and Red Hawk came forward, ‘* Three living prisoners of a tomb!” said Joe, with a grin. The Indian’s countenance did not relax, ‘* Where tomahawk?’ demanded Red Hawk, “Great Jebosaphat! it war blown out o’ my hand. The moment I struck the wire the whole thing went off, an’ | went I don’t know whar. ‘You don’t intend ter hold me responsible for that tomahawk, I hope?” Despite the gravity of the situation, Merle cculd not repress a smile, ‘* The hole is a deep one,” said Red Hawk. ‘* What, war you thrown into it, too?” ° Red Hawk fell down along a wall, bumping here and there on the pointed rocks, but he climbed up, and here he is, ready to pay Prince Pedro back for what be did.” } ve “Put ’er thar!” cried Old Joe, holding out his yy bronzed hand, ‘If ever I war with any one, I am with you on that,” **Red Hawk heard the rush of the river that is far under ground,” t ¥ a thought T heard something like water my- x self. Don’t you know that these hills and plains bave rivers far’*beneath them?” The Indian nodded, ‘ { An hour’s search told the trio that they © were securely cooped up in the press ; that the explosion had.changed the whole interior of the | cavern, and bad fastened up the main entrance x as surely as though a mason had walled them in, ye ‘ Bot we get air from somewhere,” said Merle, ‘Tt comes up, up!” replied the red-skin,. ont “Then, down we go two see whar it comes from!” ° Not long afterward the three friends stood on dé Joe declared was the one opened by the explo- sion, The lights of the torches failed to show q them the depths of tbe place and they could J oply look down and speculate about it, Merle | threw a fragment of rock into the darkness that = prevailed below the circle of light and alllisten- | ed for the Janding of the stone, They could not hear it strike the bottom of the hole, oy Hee All at once Red Hawk snatched the torch — from Merle’s hands and ren back, Hewasgone some time, when he returned, drag ing athigs heels a quantity of rope which he te found N serene beien9 d ends of lassoe , bridles and the ike, rf ‘Red Hawk go down and see how deep the ® well is and where it leads -to,” was all the — Indian said, as he fell to splicing the cords and trying their strength, — mae ; When he finished his job he lowered thelong rope over the edge of the pit and gave the other end to his companions, - lo Merle and Joe saw him crawloverthefringe of oe abyss and lower himself with the courage of a sailor, 3 j Ay) Down he went as they could tell by the motions of the rope, which was nearly two hundred feet in length. , t Wie a hs All at once the swaying of the cord stopped, y and the two at the uppermost end awaited there- j sult with conflicting emotions, (eae The torch had been stuck intoacrack inthe wall rear by and threw its light upon the sur- | rounding scene, _ ; : a ““He’s coming up,” said Joe Bundy, “That =| ull means that we should lift him tothe surface, | Paon't expect he found anything worth smiling ag over, though. Pull away, Merle. We can’t afford ter let that cunning red-skin'remain whar “ a 8 is, - ; Ne ~ : Both Merle and Joe pulled away with’all their might and felt that they were bringing Red: — Hawk out of the pit, Sb sae The hands of the Indian were first seen and then be s pang {nk the light. dine, ail oat awk has found air anda trail!”he cried. . ; ‘**Hooray!” cried Old Joe. ‘‘ When I make i a my will, chief, Ill give you the hull Bundy | estate providin’ thar’s one ter give away when that event takes place,” ae er CHAPBER IX. chante A DIFFERENT SORT OF SWOOP. Ir will be femembered that Joe Bundy, on his — return to Mesquite with Larry Blair, whom he — found in the cavern inhabited by Juanita, the Bares tie ae fase tar eae ing herself with the Jagger, plunged into und retreat and L com” yy i

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Mustang Merle’s Mandate. If Joe and Red Hawk had followed her down a certain path not visible to the eye amid the gloom, they would have seen her reach a spot . _ where she fell exhausted on the stones. The strange creature, whose past was not vi known to any one among the hills, lay in a swoon for some time, and when she recovered, she groped her way on until she emerged from | the cave and stood beneath a jutting rock, which Nelly, looking into the eager face before pees eunat she heard the beating of her own er art, “‘ What became of your mother?” she asked, with a supreme effort. . Nelly started. ‘*T wish you could tell me that,” she cried. **T wish you could tell me what became of her, That is the mystery of mylife. Sbe went away ' * Fool that I was, not to bave struck the heart | when I wassmall and from that day to this I i I aimed at!” she exclaimed. || the Yankeo said about the fate of Nevins and we How I would like to see her—but I dare not! What brought them into this region? Fate? Merciful heavens! am I to perish here without once more seeing the face so dear when I was a happier woman?” 1s he stanched the flow of blood from the self- inflicted wound, which was not dangerous, and » turned away, Not long afterward she might have been seen riding from the scene of her last halt, and many _ hours later she appeared on the bill overlooking the boy rancher’s bome, a Juanita was a beautiful creature, but the life she had led, and her wild existence, bad made her on more than one occasion tne terror of the - * eamps of the border, for she would*shoot “ at the drop of the hat” as the saying went, and more than one desperado bad looked into the muzzlv '_. of ber revolver and trembled, aah **She is yonder,” said Juanita, speaking to mei herself, while she surveyed the fair fields of Mes- quite, and watched the herders drive home the herds, ‘* They have had trouble there, for the ‘men go doubly armed,” Night was coming down over the landscape, and by and by the sun set, and Juanita saw the shadows grow longer than the tall trees in front of the bouse, ; ‘*T would be willing to die if I could see her _ once more,” she went on. “That is why I came i hither, and I will not go back without a long look at her, I wonder if she has any recollec- (b " me of her mother? Why should she have ay) GBY a | oa Dismounting, Juanita stole toward the house, _ creeping from shadow to shadow like a wily ser- ‘pent, 4 ‘She neared the house, and was within a few -- yards of the porch, and was crouching in the tall grass there, when the door opened and a - - young girl came out, ~ fhe sudden appearance of Nelly seemed to drive a dagger to Juanita’s beart, ’ _ . She fell back and uttered a sharp groan, | Heavens! what a picture for eyes like mine! she exclaimed. “ Why didn’t I find my heart with the needle-pointed steel?” Nelly stood for a few moments on the porch, * when she went back into the house and the wo- man the grass breathed freer. ne ‘Why not take her back with me?” she said, * Why not let her, know that she is safer with me than here? It is no trick at all. I know , how to peerage of her and once in my ' | hands, all the men of the ranch could not tear - herfromme.” | : . Nelly was alone in the room which she had defended against the War Saddles when she heard a step on the porch and then a rap sound- ed in her ears, — One of the guards with some news,” she ; murmured, rising and crossing the room. Who is there?” she asked, _**A friend.” anal ) rr ST et ae a woman’s voice,” exclaimed Nelly, - Taying hands on the fastenings. - The door was opened and the beauty of the ranch recoiled from the figure that stood before -* “Don't let me frighten you,” said Juanita, stepping into the house and at the same time seizing Nelly’s wrist. _ [bate that villain as few _ have come to talk to you. _. “ Quite alone,” said Nelly. Fons ean hate, @ are alone?” the young niece of Abner Ni 7 rose and fell with an emotion she could not sup- a, Bye ts PY ' SOS Fi SES a — =a - fa hia. Te ere pr | * Us Se A 7e “Tam not Prince Pedro, | For a Jittle while Juanita stood and looked at evins, A strange _ color came and went on her face and her ‘es ‘* What was that | have never heard of her, } ' to this country to look for a man who was said | the nearness of the girl? At Mesquite Ranch? | to possess a secret which he wanted solved, a | formed Mustang Merle and Old Joe that he had Uncle Abner came secret upon which depends so much,” If the reader could have seen those two per- sons standing face to face beneath the roof of Mesquite he would have noticed the resemblance that existed between them. ‘Tf Prince Pedro sent him across the Water- less Plain the secret is not likely to see a speedy soition, eh, my child?” **T fear not.” ‘* How came you here?” **T wandered off from the camp in my sleep and was found by a white man and an Indian, and thus escaped: the swoop which Prince Pedro and his gang of villains made upon the wagons.” * And the youth you call Larry?” *“ He was brought back by Joe and Red Hawk, and is now with Merle, wherever he is.” All at once the band of Juanita again fell about the young girl’s wrist and closed there like the jaws of a vise. Nelly drew back the length of the arm, bpt the grip was not loosened, : “lam going to take you with me,” said Juan- itu, witb a smile, ‘ You?” ‘* Why not?’ * But [ am satisfied where I am.” _ * Perbuaps, but I am not,” was the reply. i Nelly saw in the depths of the eyes that re- garded her a look that seemed to send her blood | in chilling currents to her heart, “Come! If you raise a cry I will choke you till life goes out,” said the Hermit Queen. “I have come for you, and if you submit you will find me wereiful; but if you don’t I will be as merciless as Prince Pedro,” The door was opened and Nelly was dragged across the porch, © No one seemed to be at band to help her, as if Juanita had silenced all the guards, and down between the lines of trees she was taken to the steed that waited for his mistress among the shadows, ‘Still bolding Nelly’s arm, Juanita vaulted into the saddle and drew her captive up to her. ° You haven’t seen my home yet,” she said with a light laugh ‘‘I am going to show you how a princess of the hills lives. any trouble, dear,” ; The horse responded to his mistress’s word, and went off like an arrow. Half dead from fear, though her senses did not desert her, the fair defender of Mesquite found herself being carried over the ground un- til a line of bills was reached, **We are nearing home,” said Juanita, look- down into the eyes of her prisoner. ** You are the creature called Juanita. heard Joe describe you.” “Tam Juanita,” was the reply. “I am the creature who hates the bandit raiders of the border, and who lives to pay their leader back Ihave “for an old crime of the past,” Half an hour later the horse entered an open- ing ina side of a hill, and Nelly knew that she was in the strange woman’s ho.ae. When Juanita struck a light, sbe came and stood before Nelly, showing her fine figure to advantage, m : ‘‘ When Prince Pedro comes back to wreak his vengeance on Mesquite, he won’t find you |, there as a part of the booty,” she said. ‘ Girl, if you bad killed the captain of the War Sad- | dles, I don’t believe I should have carried you to my home.” - ‘Nelly made no reply.» . . “*Would you get away from me if you could?” ig “TY would. Itell youthatto yourteeth. Yo have no right to keep me any where.” | Juanita went to the entrance to the cavern, | and presently |across the chamber, and Nelly came back. She made a line ng what it meant, — ie) eS ih ae wt > on’t give me- | horses saddled looked at it, | not that sort of person, and Nelly saw her trembling in the light of the rch. “Merciful heavens, I have fallen into the hands of an insane creature! Heaven protect me from her fury!” Juanita turned suddenly upon her captive, My and then after one look, bounded away. ‘ Nelly did not know what to think. } CHAPTER X. a : PRINCE PEDRO AT PLAY, / Rep Hawk did not exaggerate when he in- on _ found air and a trail below the edge of the pit in the bills, “We won’t quit the mine until.we have settled the fate of Larry Blair,” said the young rancher, Once more they scoured the dark places of the cave and at last discovered the young man lying i, under a lot of stones which had fallen in such a bist manner as to hem bim in withcut hurting him to et any extent. ‘ It was a most miraculous escape and all parties if were much rejoiced, pr Preparations for quitting the cavern were at . 7, once made, and in a short time all had descended bY to the bottom of the pit and were treading the. ae) underground path to the open air which Red ‘ah Hawk had providentially discovered. f The trip back to Mesquite was full of breath- \ ings of future vengeance, and the moment Larry caugbt sight of the houses he ran forward and halted the first man he met withan eagerin- , a quiry for Nelly. \ ey kgs ‘¢ We've lost the girl who held the fort ag’in’ Prince Pedro,” were the words that stunned him. “Lost Nelly?” Mes ss “Yes. She's given us the slip, or else the ban- dit came back and played a little game of his < own. This was terrible news for Larry Blair and he iy) turned away declaring that he would bunt Prince oye. pines down and take vengeance for his last / Shrte yr work, : ahs Meantime the robber prince of the border was i in a new camp which bad no mine that he could explode by touching a button, and he and bis men were recovering from their last battle with the white ranchers of Mesquite. Prince Pedro was still resolved to get even with Merle’s men and to secure the beautiful prize which had slipped through his fingers by the most gallant defense of a house ever made 1 inane by a fair girl. He stood apart from his men and was watch- : | ing wets vultures soaring in the blue‘of the sum- pei apet | \ mer sky, oye Presently he hurriedly withdrew and -went — ; 3 down a narrow path until he came toa large Poe rock set against a tree beside the trail. ; ‘*T haven’t been here for months, but I guess a there’s no letter for me,” be said, thrusting his we a hand behind the stone. Beir. Ne ~ In a moment he had taken out a piece of paper Baa Lvs which was somewhat soiled and looked at it with surprise, ‘*T wonder bow long this has been here?” he murmured. “Juan said he would tell meif he . found anything worth plucking and this no doubt is his letter.” ? Prince Pedro found the words rather difficult nee to read, for the weatver had blurred them, but icaey. te he mastered them at last. — era “My Dear CapiTAN:— '_** The Red Ratieh bas been restocked, and is row the richest one in the land, It is richer than Mes- quite, and if you want,good spoil you must attack it as soon as possible. e old man has ordered his fine stock to be sold, but the sale won't take place for some time. Make hay while the sun shines, an you will ave a good crop. Don’t forget what you promised me for this report. 7 - ~ : JUAN, Prince Pedro smiled to himself when he read t this missive, which he folded and stored away under his jacket, “We might ride over to the Red Ranch and ‘see what is there,” he said. ‘* It would make the. boys feel better after what has happened to our fortunes,” _ ate ge ets 4 He went back to the camp and ordered the The bandits sprung to this task with alacrity, for they knew that a raid was at hand, and soon all were galloping over the country, and before | nightfall came in sigbt of a ranch belonging toa _ ¢ rich man known as Major Pintado. Mat, & The Red Ranch, as it was called, was large and well-stocked. It had never been raided, probably because it was understood that its owner paid tribute to the raiders of the border, =~ which was not the case, for Major Pintado was apes Se oer Tae

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x v 4 re tte d - *e < ar ‘ oh y Mustang Merle’s Mandate. a ele an ey Te 9 The practiced eye of Prince Pedro saw that he had chosen for the attack the very huur when a was least likely to be prepared for the raid, He had hoped by this little side diversion to raise the hopes of his men, and to keep them in proper humor to return to Mesquite at another time. With his men on all sides of him, Prince Pedro eas the signal for the swoop, and the bandits ashéed down upon the ranch. The'surprise was complete, The few attaches of the place were secured without so much as a single shot, and as the major himself was not at home, the looting began at once, Some of the bandits filled their capacious pockets with silver coin, which was every where; and others raided the cellars and filled up on the major’s wines, The diversion was a success, and Prince Pedro was about to quit the scene of the raid when he suddenly thought of something. . He stalked into the major’s library and sat _ down at the tabla there. Taking up a ven, he wrote the following on a sheet of paper: ““My Dear Masgor Pinrapo:— ““T am sorry you were not at home to receive me, but the next time I come you will do me the honor to welcome me and my men. I have Jeft youa few colts and some small change, with a few bottles of wine. Please don’t give me any trouble over this little visit. I am not always the soft-footed tiger, for when'I want to I can show my claws. * PxInce PepRo.” Ha laughed aloud when he signed his name to this document, and laid it on the table for Major Pintado’s perusal, The bandits mounted their steeds and rode away. : There was little left behind worth taking besides the 35 aa buildings, and these, of course, could not be ried off by the raiders, Priace Pedro laughed whenever be thought of the letter he had Jeft in tke library for the major. How he would curse and tear his hair - when he found his horses gone and his money in ore purses of the War Saddles of the South- west! _ All at once on the summit of a rise Prince Pedro and his men drew rein and looked ahead. _ . They could see the country far and wide from that spot and their eyes had caught sight of a woman riding alone over the landscape not half a mile off, ‘Tt looks to me Jjike Juanita,” said Prince Pedro to his nearest man. ‘You are right; itis the Hermit Queen of the Hills.” f . He watched the rider a minute longer and then _ ordering his band to proceed, turned aside and rode aw ay. ' “Tye ieugei to meet her alone and now is | my opportunity,” he muttered, ‘“‘I will, see what she has to say for herself, for I haven’t seen her since the night she confronted me at Tagus City and would have shot me dead if Oriole Bill n't wares in.” Present tirely for some time, came into view again. He drew rein and waited for the steed which he knew was approaching, bearing his rider on aod into the snare he had spread. But all at once something seemed to stop the ‘woman Called Juanita. “What has checked her?” cried Prince Pedro, leaning forward in his saddle, _ The next moment he turned white, for Juan- ita had caught sight of his head among the bushes and in an instant had covered it witha Winchester. Of course the captain of the War Saddles ducked bis head but he heard the ping of a bul- let as it clipped a bough at his ear and his steed _ shied a little. : In another moment a second bullet bad sung | past him and he was cursing the woman who _ Was sending the leaden pellets after him. “She shoots almighty wicked without seeing ber target,” he ex aimed. ‘‘I fully expect the third ball to tumble me from the Saadin: She - hates me like Satan hates holy water, and she has reason to, Why don’t she shoot again?” The third bullet did not come until Priace | Pedro with a revolver clutched in one band There was another report and this time the ) that 1 the bandit started. torward so sudden- _ ground, "Black ts Fs BO ie wis a Te is hes § o% Lat y Prince Pedro, who disappeared en-. a forward again, for a second exposing his | Prince Pedro was almost thrown to the | cover and before his master could check him had carried him some distance away. The ruffian looked over his shoulder and saw coming after him at full speed the woman who had treated him to several very narrow escapes, ‘* Words won’t stop that creature!” he said through his teeth. ‘* She wants blood or noth- ing. On came Juanita, her eyes seeing nothing but the borse and bis rider. “Pll try it, anyhow,” thought Prince Pedro, and rising in his stirrups he took off and waved his hat at the woman, a signal common in that country for the pursuer to stop. But the signal was ineffectual, for Juanita came on, the rifle at her shoulder, and the hoise carrying her swiftly toward her enemy. All at once Prince Pedro dodged under his steed’s belly, but that did not save him, for the Winchester spoke and he uttered a cry. *“*Now for life, Black Lightning!” he cried, tearing at his horse’s flanks with the red spurs, and the maddened animal seemed endowed with the fury of a fiend, J Away went Prince Pedro as he had never rid- den before. — Juanita with a yell of delight started in pur- suit. It threatened to be a chase which must end in victory for the Hermit Queen for she seemed to ride the swifter horse, but all at once her animal stumbled and she was thrown over his head and re stunned in the trail, f Prince Pedro had known this—if be could have looked back and seen the woman of the bills lying like one dead among the rocks—he would have ridden back and terminated a desperate game, ; But he knew it not, and his black steed bore him on until one of his own men caught the rein and stopped him, _ Prince Pedro gave vent to an exclamation of joy. CHAPTER XI. THE SILVER BULLET. ‘*HarK! What is that? Somebody singing, I aes a And whata voice he has, Lis- ten Clear and distinct the chorus of the wild re- frain came over the starlit landscape and those whose ears had caught it sat like statues in their saddles: “ Hurrah, hurrah for Pedro’s band, Thet rrorof the plain; We are the masters of this land, The ranchers hunt in vain!” “ They do, eh?” exclaimed one of the men who heard the song. ‘He 1s down yonder in the gulch, and all we have to do is to lie in wait for bim at the end of it, Shall we, Captain Merle?’ ** Don’t let him escape,” ‘Just as if Oriole Bill could get away from us! I'd like ter see the bird of the bandits escape from the trap we will set for him, Come, Red Hawk; you an’ me will catch the singer an’ find out what secrets he may have.” _ Joe Bundy and the young Apache left the band which Mustang Merle had again led from | Mesquite after Prince Pedro and went down the trail. They stationed themselves at the mouth of the little gulch from which the song seemed to have come and waited for Oriole Bill. There was a half-smile on the face of the ore Indian and a twinkle in the depths of his dark eyes. “When I git tired of raiding here wll go back to my mamma, T'll never lave her side ag’in *Way down in Alabama, There I'll be a gentleman, With a mighty h-ap of money; And live as happy as I can ; With all my golden honey.” “Gee whiz! he’s fixin’ things up ter suit bim- self!” ejaculated Old Joe at the conclusion of the verse. its back ter Alabama? But the truth is, Red wk, he’s more liable ter sing a song of trouble | than to live on his golden store.” The Indian did not reply, ey In a little while the noise of hoofs was heard _in the gulch and presently the forms of a horse and his rider were seen Signs Pe “Ready!” said Bundy in a whisper, Red Hawk modded, but continued to watch the maa approaching, : * Halt, Oriole!” said the old Yankee, In an instant the horse in the ravine was si eo ay rr ie , oy Lightning, the steed, sprung out of | pulled up short and the man in the saddle lean- : . iar ee) " rs " o ‘i = oe ‘Won't be have a grand time when he have told you the truth, the border.” “Then we will find ing forward laid one hand on the butt of a re- voiver., » “Who are you?” he demanded, but the six- shooters that were poked into his face seemed answer enough for he fell back and did not draw — the. weapon he bad clutched. ‘“Can’t yer give us another stanza?” queries Joe, think ustanger bent forward and scanne fore him, : ¥ %,. . fi sh! I Sid not mut it,” ‘*Never mind how we got out, but here we ore and now, Oriole, we want a bit of informa- tion, ; ' ** About the captain?” “ Yes,” ‘*T betray no one,” : ’ A frown darkened the face of the young avenger. ait ‘Ob, you don’t, eh?” he said, ‘ You don’t intend to betray the greatest rascal that ever sat a saddle?” No answer. ; ‘Here, Joe, Red Hawk; take this man out and see that he sings no more vs ot In an instant the hands of Joe Bundy and Red Hawk were stretched out to take hold of Oriole Bill. The singer drew back and looked into the eyes of the pards, ‘ee ‘*Make sure work of him,” continued Merle, © ‘We are on the war-path now and don’t intend | to mince matters,” oh ‘*Mercy !” came from Bill’s throat. ** You can’t have it without you we want to know, The plundered ranches of the Southwest and the unfortunates who have . been compelled to ride wild horses to their death cry aloud for vengeance, and I stall not turn — back until I have settled with this villain called Prince Pedro,” “Come,” said Joe, drawing Hill away. ‘If you don’t want ter sing any move you will keep yer mouth shut, for, by bokey! you won't open it after to-night.” ; “Take him away!” Ee ; Oriole Bill seemed on the eve of relenting, but all at once his lips ret and 1-6 flashed a look of defiance at bis captors. , **Do your worst, I betray noone,” he said. It was evident that Mustang Merle was disap- pointed, that'he expected to see the lips eae open and tell him the whereabouts of rince Pedro, and he looked strangely at when he was led away by Red Hawk and Joe, “Tl tell him what he wants to kuow,” sud- denly said Bill. . ; Joe and the Indian exchanged swift glances. ‘Take bim back,” said the former, ARE When Bill was brought back into Merle’s presence be said: - Nia “You sha’n’t kill me while my life is worth — something to myself, Iam ready totalk.” * Where is Prince Pedro?” : - fie ** Across the border,” / For a moment Merle did not believe the man or not, eye ’ ‘“‘ Day before yesterday.” ‘But why are you here?” _ hay ‘*T was too sick to ride,” PiMic. oR Ne _ ‘Don’t you think you rekivered almighty soon?” put in Old Joe, There was no reply, more than a quick, mad : look from the prisoner, “ When will your master come back?” : P = ty 4 4 “T cannot say.” “Soon ; “J tell you, I cannot say.” __ hie i Wiens “Mustang Merle waved "his hand toward the gulch, ee ; Non lt Rit 7 1 | ‘Take him away!” he said to Joe Bundy, “Just. what I thought, You can’t lie enough ter kiver yer trail, Bill, You'll soon be a real, angel, and kin sing through countless “eT haven't lied” a: al Prince Pedro is him,” was ep a i “ ee iP My M le’s ly. RUS OT Ys ’ Bch ae ht fe rr eG! /, eg f by; tell’ us whAg. | of the Bill know whether to ‘* When did he cross?” Tied ey Si Wy ba} | well be ” Oriole Bin, ST = ohey ‘ | lg 4. a, pera Maat " Y Bia ah, on yay’ \ if Ts \ ey 1 Vf Te ¢ ” i» ?

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ee ee “CAPTAIN PepRo:— | an oath not to stop till your career is ended, cape the hands of - hand of _ des ¢ ek be,” he was saying to him > : : Dp seit, _ Fich Pedro eae ed Hope was seen to, fade from the prisoner’s soul. He was being led away when the quick eyes of Joe Bundy detected bis hand as 1t moved swiftly to his mouth, and in an instant his grip was at his throat, A silver bullet, which the captive was in the act of swallowing, was thrown out into the Yun- » kee’s hand, and he held it up to Red Hawk with a smile. **T guess this will do the talking for you, Bill,” he said, with a malicious grin. ‘* We'll postpone our angel-making for a spell, and see what the paper says.” vob oe ce more Oriole Bill was taken back to where Merle and his band sat on their steeds, and the bullet was handed over to the Boy Rancher, + a A light was struck, the bullet unscrewed, and the following minute the young Pec) was read- F ieaeaph 3) i ae 7 “ > ing as follows: e a *.“T send this by Oriole Bill to you, Mustang Merie is on the war-path, and his whole band haye taken e, - ect he will find you in camp at the Riven SOEs. Bia Major Pintado is up in arms over the looting of his ranch; but he is harmless, A thousand thanks for the] ot you sent me. Don’t let the boy rancher and his pards beat you in this game. Juan.” '“ Juan?’ said Old Joe, ‘‘That must be the yellow .rascal I knocked down at the last fan- dango in‘Tagus City.” : . Bjll’s eyes said, in spite of his efforts to remain dealt ** [t’?s the same man, Joe,” “What do you say now?” asked Mustang Merle, looking up into the face of the convicted spy. ' PY What kin he say?” laughed Old Joe Bundy, For a moment Bill, who had been allowed to retain his horse ever since his capture, looked nonplused. ’ The silver bullet had convicted him; there was no mistake about this, and death awaited him if he did not effect his escape. All at once, falling suddenly forward to es- Joe and Red Hawk, he dug his heels into the flanks of his steed, which shot away like an arrow. In a moment he had vanished, Twent erle held back every trigger. ‘*No noise now,” he cried. ‘ We may be too near the foe; but that man must not escape.” Already Joe Bundy and the Apache were in hot pursuit, The ranchers heard the sounds of their horses’ hoofs, but not for long. ° By and by Old Joe came riding back. _“* Where is the messenger?” asked the Boy Rancher, ** Whar they don’t sing about goin’ back ter ' Alabama,” said Joe, with a grin, as he took his ; place at Merle’s side, and waited for Red Hawk _ tocome up. f ', CHAPTER XII. _ ' A YELLOW DOG'S MISSION, TaGus Ciry, like many places of its class, was not a very healthy point for those who did not do as its people desired, ! - Tt was the bome of many a desperado who afterward died with his boots on, and now and ' then the figure of Prince Pedro was to be seen on its streets, or among its gaming-dens. Juan, the person whose name was signed to : the pote which had been found screwed into the silver bullet, was one of the numerous citizens of Tagus City, and it was from there that he sent Oriole Bill to bis master with the warning which, as we have seen,/had cost the singing rado bis life. his Juan was a yellow fellow, said to be more than half-Mexican, as wiry as a cat, and fond of doing just, the sort of tricks we have witnessed, — ' It wax generally believed that he was in league with Prince Pedro, for after a successful raid by the War Saddles Juan would be flush, and would not stop until he had lost his pile at the tables of the carp, When he sent the message to Prince Pedro he xpected another reward for his trouble, and would have received it if bis warning had reached its destination, / ' Juan—if the rascal bad another name he had never told it—was seated in a low cabin in Tagus ty, laughing over the trick he had played ‘If the Prince Pedro gets my message in time to meet. Mustang Merle [ will get a share of when the ranch js plun , as it will “Pye struck it letting Pedro know where the feast is and os Wyte MeRRE yee a — cw Pasty ren tre op et a ee wiped Le Ee revolvers had been drawn, but the } . . Mustang Merle’s Mandat a NAT at tn / when the enemy intend to take his trail. The | result is that they have never caught him, and so long as I can warn bim and rake in coin I will live in clover,” Juan had the yellow skin of a genuine Greaser, and when be had concluded his talk he arose and went out, It was the night after the events of the last chapter and he had heard nothing from bis messenger. Presently there came down the street a man who wcre riding boots which told that he had been in the saddle. “Juan?” he said, and the yellow sport came toasudden halt and suddenly threw one hand toward his bip, ’ “Oh, is it you?” he said a moment later, and then went forward and shook hands with the person who had spoken his name, It was Prince Pedro, * You got my message?” queried Juan, **T got none,” ‘* But I sent it—last night—by Oriole Bill.” ‘*T did not get it, I say.” ° Juan seemed to lose color, “T told him to go to the Riven Rock and that he would find you somewhere in that neighbor- bood,” ‘‘It is strange,” mused Prince Pedro. ‘'I have seen nothing of my mocking bird,” ‘*Do you think—” ‘¢ That he could bave fallen into bad hands?” “Yes, Prince Pedro.” | ‘**T can’t say.” t ‘“‘T warned you in the letter that the Boy Rancher and bis pards had taken to the war trail—that they have sworn to hunt you down and not to turn back to Mesquite until they had accomplished their mission.” *“So that was the letter, eb?’ said Prince Pedro, ‘** Tt told the truth,” Tbe king of border robbers looked away and was seen to smile, ‘* What a splendid chance to turn the tables ou this young fellow and apply the torch to Mesquite!” / ‘* A magnificent chance,” smiled Juan, ‘* But the girl is not there.” ‘* Why not?” **T have learned that a woman swooped down upon the ranch and carried her off,” » ‘“* A woman?” “* Juanita,” ‘Why should she want to steal Nelly, as I believe they call her?” ‘“* Juan, there are some things you have never found out,” said the bandit with another. laugh, ** Juanita has all the reason ln the world to get possession of Nelly.” i A mystery, eb?” ‘ ‘* May be so,” “She is as pretty as a tizress—Juanita, I mean” said Juan, ‘ She can shoot, too.” **T koow that. J have seen ber shoot since 1 saw you last. Two bullets, one after the otber, before you could say ‘Jack Robinson.’ I felt the wind of each one, and the tuird nearly fin- ished my career,” ; ‘*Sbe has no friendly feeling for you, Prince Pedro,” a a “T should say not, But, Juan, I have work for you.” ; ‘* For me, captain?” : ay Thave, You know where the Twin Caves are There was no reply, but the look Juan gave Prince Pedro told him thatbe knew. ~ ‘Well, I want you to go to that place and investigate a mystery for me.” The man with Mexican blood seemed to sbrink within bimself, yy, ** There is no danger to a man who knows the ‘caves and trails of the region as you do, What ‘I want is this: In one of those two caverns, I can’t say which one, is said to be an iron chest—” ‘*What, do you believe that story, Prince Pedro?” ** Wait till I am through,” said the bandit, sternly. ‘' That chest is said to have been buried years ago by a man who came out here and who disappeared as suddenly as he made his appear- ance,” ** An old story!” ‘Never mind that, This man was said to be a rich money king from the East whocommitted acrime there by which he robbed the heirs of a large estate of an enormous sum of gold. There were complications which I need not explain now, Juan. .The chest would tell the whole story if it could be found. I have not time to look for it now. I want to keep this Mustan Mer his pards from geiting the best o me, I once thought I had blown them to pieces, t ” at arto oe Tiss , \ Meer its ’ AK “ . f allen ms y il PP kay eo tent aa vee ee makes geen EN but somehow or other they escaped and will give me some trouble if J don’t take care of my own campaign. You know the exact location of those caverns, You will goinsearch of the iron chest,” Juan was about to refuse, when he seemed to think that to do so would be to lose the frieni- ship of the villain whom he had served so long. “Tl go, but I tell you that, in my humble opinion, the story of the chest amounts to noth- ing,” he said, ‘*T believe that the chest exists, Joan, to be plain, there was an iron ‘chest brought into this region by acertain man. It contains a very important family secret, and | must know it,” Juan, the yellow, drew back and for a mo- ment looked at the man before him, ‘‘ When must I go?” he asked. * Atonce. The sooner the chest is found the better,” “But I invade Juanita’s territory.” ‘* Of course you will be on the lookout for that woman,” “s I would be a fool if I didn’t keep my eyes n. ‘‘Thatis all you will have to do, Juan, and I know you will do that. Find the chest and come to me with the news of the discovery.” Ten minutes later the bandit of the Southwest rode out of Tagus City, scowled at by Juan whe ‘| did not at all like his mission, ‘* That iron chest holds the secret of Juanita’s marriage and all about the girl’s birth,” ne sai: aloud to himself, “‘I will send Juan after it and I could not send a better ferret. He knows the Twin Caves for he has been to them tine and again, and if the chest is there he will find ” When Juan went back to his little shanty he was ill at ease, lt was apparent that be did not like the task before him, But by and by he saddled his horse, but not until be had written something on a bit of dirty paper which he hid where it was apt to be found by a careful search of the cabin, and stole out into the night, League after league, Juan, the yellow, left behind him, The only thing that seemed to goad bim on was the expectation of reward which would follow his success, ‘‘ Let me find the c! est and I am fixed for life!’ he said. ‘ Prince Pedro seems to desire it above the spoil of the ranches, and 1 am the man to find it if it is to be found,” Daylight was near at band when herode down | a little valley and, left it for some hills on the other side, ' He stopped and looked on every side. The Twin Caves were near at band and he was about to enter them, After a while he ied his horse into a dense thicket and proceeded on foot. n he found himself iu dense darkness, but striking a light he went on and reached a smalb) chamber which looked as though it had been cut out of solid stone, Holling the torch above his head, be went down a fligut of natural steps and peered into the gloom which even his light could not penetrate. ‘“‘T have never trusted myself far enough to lower my body into the abyss,” be muttered, ‘““Tf the chest is anywhere it must be down there, [am going to see, He now vnwound a long cord which be had ~ brought with bim and fastening one eud to a& rock near by, climbed over the fringe of the pit: and went down, + . ‘lhe match he struck at the bottom of the place showed him a round chamber, and the next second a cry burst from his tbroat, — ‘‘T have found it! By Jericho, the iron chest. is not a myth!” He had cleared the space between him and the: wall with a single bound and bent above a smalk iron box covered with rust, \ The yellow dog’s mission bad not failed. oe ’ ‘ CHAPTER XIII. THE HOT ATTACK, Prince Prpro had gone back to his men con- fident that Juan would find the iron chest which held the secret be wanted. t Now that he knew that Mustang Merle had taken the trail, he expected to bave some hot work, for he felt’that the young ranch king would not turn back until they bad met and settled old scores, pat h When he reacbed his men and discovered that Oriole Bill, the messenger, bad not turned up with his silver bullet, he began to believe that ; the singer had fallen into Merle’s hands, \ 1} \ ‘ : . In faet, \ i a ar ‘ = Ta 5 sx ae — a aE; = er Sa i oe —2 > rs eS eg — tae €

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- But of course he did not know that Joe Bundy and Red Hawk, the red-skin, had finished forever the career of the bandit bard. Prince Pedro bad barely reached his camp when a man camerunnivg from the picket line, and cried out tbat horsemen had been seen, ‘The ranchers bave come!” said the bandit. The following instant there was a dash of horsemen down through the timber at the edge of the camp, and the air resounded with the sharp crack of fire-arms. Mustang Merle had fallen like a wolf upon the camp! Trough taken by surprise, the bandits rallied as soon as possible and the fight went on at short |. range, Winchester replied to Winchester and revolver met revolver in the shock of border battle; but despite the ferocity of the bandits, they were driven back and at fast broke to escape the avenging fury of Merle and bis men. Prince Pedro found himself left almost alone, and all at once bis borse, badly wounded, bore him off the field despite his wishes, and he was dragged from the strife until he was far from the disastrous spot, Right in his front roared a mighty volume of water whose waves were crested with foam and the steed blinded by his wound was rusbing to- ward the stream. ‘“* Here he is!” Prince Pedro heard a voice say in his rear, ‘‘We have tha prince of. border devils at last!” ” Down upon him came the speaker of these words, and one look back showed him that he would soon bé upon him with cocked weapon. ‘* Better be drowned than have one’s brains blown out,” said the bandit king through clinched teeth, aud the next second be had struck his steed with the spur and sent the mad animal to the very fringe of the river’s bank, ‘* Heavens, we have lost him!” cried one of the riders, coming up justas horse and rider went over the bank, for Prince Pedro took the fatal plunge and was ingulfed beneath the raging waves, , Joe Bundy turned back to report. He be- jieved that he had witnessed the death of the man they had hunted and was anxious to tell Merle that Pedro was no more, The old scout should have waited on the bank of the stream for be would have witnessed asizht ee would have kept him from Merle a while onger. . ne undercurrent had swept Prince Pedro un- der one of the high banks, and instead of re- maining under the water, the bandit drew him- self up on the shore and crept back under the projecting rocks, ‘“They think me dead,” he said, with joy. ‘I am dead for the time to Mustang Merle and his men, but I will pay them back for this attack and massacre, I wonder if any of my men es- caped? I want to find the iron chest which I sent Juan after, and with that in my hands I will play a game worth playing. I can enlist a new company of mtn atany time. The South- west is full of just such men as I need, and I will get another lot. Perhaps I can pick up a few of my old men, for I noticed that they were beginning to et out of toe fight when my horse ran off, and I know where to find them.” All the next day he lay under the sheltering rocks, Now and then he would hear voices above him, bnt they kept bim all the closer, for he knew that Merle’s men were still on the hunt as if there was a doubt of his death. Let us see if this was the case, _ When Joe Bundy came back with the report of what he bad seen the Boy Rancher listened dang ee his ets ‘¢ Prince ro has been ‘dead’ more than once, Joe,” he said, ‘ He has been shot a score of times, but altvays got over it, I believe he was once hange’l and left with the noose around his neck —that was in Mexico—but the next night be swooped down upon the hacienda of the man who had hanged bim and treated him to the same rope. We must search the vicinity we and see if he did not escape us after a Rape : So the noises which the hidden bandit heard while he hugged the dark walls of his retreat were made by Merle and bis men and they did not relinquish the hunt until they were appar- ently convinced that the robber bad gone to bis ‘death beneath the waters of the river, ; "When night came again Prince Pedro pulled himself out of the uncanny place and crawled up _ the high bank. ( His horse was lost. Black Lightning would ca him to no more deeds of violence and be would have to steal a new steed. _ He made his way down the BREE Pm ? pale Mustang Merle’s Mandate, stream until he NN ee ae reached a trail which his keen eyes discerned and | then be struck inland. An hour later, looking quite unlike his former self, he appeared at the door of a cabin whose owner, a little old man, did not recognize him, There be heard the result of the fight. The old man told him that of all Prince Pedro’s band but three bad escaped; that the leader of the bandits had been drowned in the river; bad news for him, but it made him smile so that he had to turn his face away to escape being seen. ‘“{ am dead, sure enough,” he thought and then spoke to the man, ‘*- You have a horse, Morgan?” **- Yes; one of the best in the country, too,” ‘Ts he for sale?” ‘+ He is not.” ‘‘ But you would take for bim twice his value?’ “ J couldn’t think of doing that.” ‘*T would like to see this famous horse that cannot be bought,” Morgan, the settler, led the way to the little stable that adjoined the shanty and Prince Pedro feasted bis eyes on one of the finest steeds be had seen in months, f Nels say you won’t part with him?” he said., Morgan looked at the ragged man at his side. ‘“Why, you haven’t money enough to buy one hair of his coat,” he answered, in tones of derision, ‘* But [ have strength enough to take him with- cut money,” was the instant retort, and Morgan was hurled against the logs of the stable in such a manner as to break nearly every bone in hig body. ‘*Don’t take the horse,” he groaned, ‘ He saved my life once—” “That’s just what [ want him to do for me,” was the reply, and unconsciousness came to the old man, Prince Pedro saddled the steed and was soon out on the open again. He rode back over the ground of the figbt and saw for himself evidences of the terrible defeat which bis men had received at Mustang Merle’s hands, ** Vengeance for this, my boy!” he exclaimed, ‘«T will show you that Prince Pedro has as many lives as a cat. I won’t forget you, Joe Bundy, nor the young Indian who has been the friend of the ranch through thick and thin, I have something for all. Just give me a little time, Meantime the victors of the fight had ridden back with the news of the extermination of the bandit bund, “We look for Nelly now, don’t wet” asked ahd Blair, looking up into Merle’s triumphant ace. ‘‘ Yes, Larry. The hunt for Nelly the lost begins at once.” And it did. Not many hours after the victory Merle and Larry might have been seen in a bit of timber closely examining a borse’s track which sbowed itself in a soft part of the trail, ** This is queer to me,” said the Boy Rancher. ‘*-You see the curious print of the shoe? Well, it belongs to no horse but the one, old Morgan owns,” ‘Old Mofgan?”? _ ‘* A Jittle old bermit-like man who lives across the country and whose pride is a magnificent steed which he loves as he loves life itself. But just why it should be here at this time is what puzzles me,” ‘4 } Merle and Larry rode off and soon came in sight of Morgan’s shanty. “Hello, Joseph?” cried the young rancher, halting in front of the but, There was no reply. : | Mustang Merle sprung from the saddle and opened the door; but no face greeted him. From the bouse they went to the stable where to their horror they found the body of Morgan nearly where Prince Pedro bad left it. is ‘““The hurse bag been taken and the owner killed!” cried Merle, bending over the corpse, ‘That is very plain, Captain Merle; but what is that in one of the hands?” The band of the Boy Rancher moved swift] toward the closed fingers designated by Larry, and after some work, opened them, _ A piece of crumpled paper dropped out, "It seems to be a leaf from the old hermit’s diary; but be has scrawled something on the other side, and there is the stub of a pencil in one hand,’ , Mustang Merle sprung to the light and looked at the paper he had taken from the dead, ‘* Heavens! can the old man have written the truth?” be exclaimed. ‘ Listen to this, Larry.” He read: pe t ¥ 4 i = _ se SSEeSSeSSSeeSeSeeeENESSeeSEeeeeeeeee, Ce | breath with an effort, it “The man who took the horse was Prince Pedro.. I recognized him at the last mon-ent. I pray that. whoever finds this will aveuge us. MORG@AN.”’ “Hscaped!” cried the young man, ‘‘ Then,. . we are still on the war-path, Merle,” The eyes of the boy owner of Mesquite fairly glowed with excitement, “ Still on the war-path, Larry, The river did not ingulf the wolf of the plains,” CHAPTER XIV, THE TRAIL OF THE OLD PARDS. Waite Musiang Merle and Larry Blair were: making the startling discovery we have just re- corded, Joe Bundy and his inseparable compan~ ion, Red Hawk, were exploring in another field, but one none the less exciting. The bunt was now for Ne)ly Nevins, who bad been “ mysteriously kidnapped from Mesquite anch, * The two friends were in a different part of th’ country from that in which we left Merle am the girl’s lover, and were nearing the famoua Twin Caves, This place was not far from where they had lost Juanita, the Hermit Queen, and when they” reached the mouth of the Twin Caves, they — plunged in and found themselves in dense dark- ness. . ndian’s arm while he pointed head, Sure enough, a ligbt was moving down what. grasping the a and for a few moments they stood and watch b, At last it disappeared altogether, and the. two were nonplused, ‘* Some one is ahead of us,” said Old Joe at the red-skin’s ear, ‘* Yes, white brother,” They waited, but the li and presently they pushed on again, ‘‘Pve got to strike another light,” said a voice 80 near the pair that they fell back, and with difficulty repressed a cry, : ’ All at once there flashed up.a tiny light which arms. The box seemed very heavy, notwithstanding; its size, and the moment Joe saw the man said to Red Hawk: | - . ; “Tt is Juan, the yellow—the hound who has been helping Prince Pedro,” continued to glare at the half blood as down the passage with the box in his arms. ‘* Don’t let the rascal bide that box where we can’t find it,” whispered the Yankee, “Tra came be here, Red Hawk was crouching like a leo at once he sprung from Joe’s side, and. as the and the man whose throat be had caught, recoil ed, but did not escape, ‘You always ‘* What’s in the box?” asked Joe, _ ag “ How do I know when | haven’t opened it?” ** But you knew it war hyer?” ‘ **T didn’t. I came across it accidentally.” Joe looked down at the little box and smiled.. Fe “Diamonds, Juan?” he grinned, 1 ed it and see,” eer. ‘Hold yer prisoner, Red Hawk. Don’t let — him bave an inch of string, or be will be off like _ a pot-leg.” be Indian shook his bead and the red fingers ‘Look! a light!” suddenly exclaimed Joe, . seemed to be a corridor some distance rae ht did not come back, | revealed a tall man with a small box in bis _ The immovable Indian made no reply, but thinking it is something precious, else it wouldnt) _ , with + his eyes riveted upon Juan, the yellow, and al. | match went out there was a cry of sudden terror, “ne tal wf and yer fish, don’t you?? | laughed Old Joe, coming up with a light of bis own, and holding it so close to the man’s face that the rascal begged him to remove it.. - we seemed to sink deeper than ever into the yellow throat of the man who had been caught, —~ Joe now feli to examiuing the find, which did not seem to have any keybole, : ‘*Locked up for keeps!” he observed, A scowl was the answer he got. ‘* We'll take the whole catch to the | ent, Joe said at last, ‘I say, Juan, who told you — this box war byer?” No answer. * You couldn't choke bim a little, could you, Red Hawk? Tbe next instant the eyes of the yellow dog seemed to be starting from his bead, to the intense delight of the young Apache, who seem- ed to like the task, ; i “ Mebbe he'll talk now, If be don’t you kin — tighten the screws ag’in, an’ mebbe we'll leave m where be is.” * ee Shy Juan’s throat was released, and he got his ‘al by "? . “ ty ree aN . > % ‘ 4 ‘4 . y } ma . a! { erate cyte ea “Ve = *¥ ay eA a rs f tehee Ms _" wik§ < te i 3 3 ots ie at Re ae ae ge =, agen ree A MAUR NT | cate | Abie Saad tiie. " a ae * Bets = ¥ J. dares ¥ sae sty a. da —s= 1. You \ haven’t got the combination about you, Juan?” — pe Sar ¥

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gaan naa eae ee = 7 — 12 \ Mustang Merle’s Mandate. ‘“Who told you, Juan?” “ Prince Pedro.’ } ‘ ** Ho! that gentleman whose band we wiped rout last night?” Juan started a little. ‘*Wiped out?” he said. _ “ Annibilated! The null band went down be- tore the avengin’ rifles of Mesquite, and Pedro ‘himself was lost in the current of Rocky River. So you’ve got no perd any more, Juan,” The bandit’s spy was silent. ** So Pedro told you this box war hyer, eh?” 6“ Yes, ” “* An’ sent you ter git it?” ** He did.” “+ What did he say it contained?” “* He didn’t go that far.” ““ Was afraid ter trust you, was he, Juan?” **T didn’t ask to be trusted with any se- ecret.” a pe: you undertook to find the box, eh?” , “Tatas Did you have ter bunt long?” » “* Not Mok ; “Who left this box hyer?” “A man who came into this country years nf Joe and the Indian exchanged swift glances. i ** You’ve heard the young chap’s story, Red k Hawk,” said Joe. ‘‘ You know what ke said | about a lost lot of papers that brought Nevins __ ither? Mebbe they're in thar,” and Joe kicked i the box smartly. f ‘* Tt’s iron,” remarked Juan, ** Yes,” I see that, and if it was empty it would still be very heavy. I guess that’s the ‘box that holds the secret for which Nevins left home with Larry and the girl,” f | “Tf you say so it doesn’t belong to me. I _ don’t want any other people’s property,” ‘ When did you get that way, Juan?” laughed the last of the Bundys, with a twinkle in bis eyes. “You don’t want anything that’s not yours, haf” : ‘That's what I said.” Joe now picked up the box and told Red Hawk to lead the way toward the mouth of the \ -@avern, Juan was conducted on down the passage and at last the three stood at the opening. _ * We don’t want yer miserable life. Some- ‘pdy not so choicy will take it one of thesedays. a; ou are free, Juan, ay; The man from T City could hardly be- yt eve that his life had been spared, and when he .2alized that it-was he touched his hat to the two hunters and bowed, _** No thanks,” said Joe. ‘I don't want you around. Ihave a mind to serve P $y like I did Ber at the fandango, but I won't. Get out of our at ewe sight! et was slunk back to where he had left his _ horse, but that animal had broken his tether and decamped, whereupon he cursed at a * hes rate and wished he had seen the hunters ; t. ; Ra Dory age abe went > i their ie ret and the iron box was strapped upon the | back of the Yankee’s horse, if I “T's a find, Hawk,” said the old scout, _ “T fancy that the young couple will open their eyes when the7 peep into the chest. You know Nelly’s past—something concerning ber mother. You know she was persecuted by a rascal who ‘ran away with some documents which estab- lished her marriage witb Nelly’s father and a oho hata i stuff like rake ws bl me t into my noggin all at once, but I guess Le Merle understood. it all from the way he fis- ‘tened,’ : “Shall we try to break open the box?” asked the Indian, 4 “Guess we'd better not,” was the reply. ee) we id for the lost girl, __. Joe took the box from the saddle and carried ithuto the dense brushwood of the placs where pe Indian with his eagle eye on the alert stood Pied nk gure thd Yess 4 ’ Gy ; ‘ ss na oy 7 1 ’ a t ‘ Fey rn \ u iy #. i be ele Uae Wea eh aN Larry said there was a certain mystery about | . © Then we'd better bury it somewhere while | wipe-out, was seen coming back, a smile on his leathery ce. ‘Buried she is and no one saw me but a cricket and it was killed when I turned to come pag ‘Then we go back to the girl’s trail.” Joe and Red Hawk turned back, but did rd see the pair of eyes already fastened upon them. a2 If they had looked up at the trails overhead they might have seen the figure that stood balf- concealed by a heap of rocks with a pair of keen orbs as dark as the raven’s plumage watcbiog them as they moved away. After awhile the owner of these eyes came down and stopped at the edge of the little thicket. ‘““What did the old man hide in here? He seemed to carry something heavy in his arms; but what could it have been?” Into the thicket dodged the speaker and was lost to sight. Come back, Joe Bundy, and look after your treasure, Come back or it may rot be here when you return, The old man comes not. He and the young Apache have gone to other adventures and the person who has entered the thicket scrapes away some leaves and dry pine-cones and dis- covers that the ground has recently been dis- turbed. The box so important to Nelly Nevins is on the eve of discovery. CHAPTER XV. BACK IN TAGUS CITY. Wira the War Saddles practically destroyed Mesquite Ranch was in no danger of being ree the therefore its young owner and his riends could take the trail of the man whose name had been a terror of the country so long and who was connected in some manner with Nelly Nevins’s bistory. Prince Pedro rx, Phe en of the dis- covery which Mustang erle and Larry had made in the stable attached to Morgan’s little ranch, bad left the immediate vicinity of his last crime, and, mounted on the stolen horse, had gone to see if Juan bad succeeded in finding the iron chest. He reached the Twin Caves but concluding that Juan had gone back to Tagus City, rode in that direction and entered the place so well disguised that he was not recognized. ‘ Not only had he altered his own looks but he | had changed the looks of Morgan’s horse; had even removed the shoes that had led Merle to the ranch. . : Juan had not come back, and for a moment, Prince Pedro thougbt his man had deceived bim, -It was the vight after the last events recorded when the robber-tough stood leaning against one of the walls of Tagus City’s most famous gam- bling dens. He was looking at a game then in progress ‘at one of the tables when a person came in and looked over the players, : Ale knew that news of his defeat and a story of | bis own death was current in the placd and of Spor he had said nothing to contradict the atter, When he looked up and encountered the eye of the map who bad come in he started. One of bis old band stood before bim! Prince Pedro saw at once that despite his dis- guise he had been recognized and made a signal bidding the man to bold his peace, He made it too late, however, for all at once the bandit came down the aisle and cried: ** Well, thar’s two of us what didn’t get our everlasting from the Boy Rancher. Give me your bund, captain—” P: ince Pedro instantly put on a bold face, ‘* Who are you calling captain?” he cried, - * Why, you, of course.” : “Tf you take me to be the villain Prince Pedro, who was lost in the waters of Rock River, you have made a mistake. I’m Jac Jessup, from Trinidad,” . ha The hasty bandit had by this time caught what his old. leader was after,and hastened to come to his aid, | : ‘tT guess you're right, stranger,” he said in apologetic tones, “TI haven’ had my mind since | got a bullet along the skull in the fight. ‘Won’t you take something, Mr. Jessup?” _ Prince Pedro walked to the bar with his old companion in arms. we 1?’ he asked. low y of you escaped ?” ,_ 1 guess we're the only two. It was a clean The bandit king swallowed his drink and walked out, followed by the War Saddle, =~ Ab Me ae eee “| hae Nei i iis ‘ ut; ¢ thoug . “I’ve found the girl,” said the man, laying his hand on Prince Pedro’s arm, se No 1” ‘*T have, for a fact.” ** Where is she?” ‘*Over among the hills, But she was a pris- oner.” ** Whose prisoner?” ** Juanita’s,” For a moment Prince Pedro seemed thunder- struck. f ** How did yon find this out, Logan?” ‘* By accident, I was still on the ran when 1 saw Juavita come out of acavern. I wited till she was off some distance, when I took it into my head to see what was in the underground nest. In I went, and to my surprise discovered that the cabin was still inbabited.” A gleam of victory came into Prince Pedro’s eye. ‘‘This is worth a thousand and more to me, Logan. We will go at once,” “To where the girl is?” ‘** Where do you think she is?” ** Where you left her, of course,” ‘* Wrong. I stole her from the wtealer,” Prince Pedro fell back, and stared at tae man before him, ‘* So much the better,” he said at last, ‘* Lo- gan, you are worth your weight in gold. Nelly is mine at last!” ** Yours?” cried Logan, ‘* No; I will take that back. She is not mine until we have outwitted Mustang Merle and his men, 4 ‘But you are dead to them, Captain Pedro, The river saved you,” : . ‘* T hope so, but one cannot tell.” - Logan looked toward the open door of the place they had just left, and saw standing there in the light the figure of a man, **Look yonder!” he cried, ‘As I live, it is Juan,” ‘* So it is,” cried Prince Pedro, turning back, and the next moment be had shaken hands with the vellow dog of a Juan, ‘*The box! Where is it?” *T couldn’t fiad it.” . ** What! could not findit when it was in the cavern?” ; * That is what I’ve just said.” ‘‘Juan, you have hed! 1 can tell when you stretch the truth,” and the hand of Prince Pedro closed on the fellow’s wrist. ‘‘Here, Logan; come up!” Logan, with revolver drawn, sprung to his leader’s side, Together the two marched Juan away, and did not stop until they had conducted him to the edge of the town. **You found the box!” hissed Prince Pedro, The man began to stammer. Logan placed the muzzle of the revolver against the )cllow temple, ‘ ** Count three mentally, Logan,” said the rob- ber. ‘If at the end of the count he doesn’t ad- mit ree lying, touch the trigger,” “Is The touch of that merciless pistol was like the cola band of the dead, . **T found the box,” said Juan. ‘**T thought so.” ** But I lost it again.” * “No lies, Juan,” “Lam telling nonenow, LIlosfthebox. That long villain and his pard came upon me asI was carrying it from the cave and despoiled me, I bad to give it up or be shot to death.” | ; . Tbe impress of the truth was in the man’s voice and Prince Pedro saw that the threat of the re- volver would get nothing else out of him. © **So they robbed you?’ be said, ** Joe Bundy and Red Hawk.” * ft is a wonder that they let you go.” ' “ They believe you dead, so what was the use of keeping me?” Juan next asseverated the entire correctness of his story, and gave such a minute description of the box that Prince Pedro knew that he had — found it. i aoe ‘** We must find that chest,” he said to Logan. — “ Not another hour in Tagus for me,” “But the beauty of the ranch, captain?” ** We kill two birds witb one stone, Come!” Without so much as thanking Juan for the’ information he had turned away. Ma Juan, 8 Tila his fist after them. “I bope you — will find Mustang Merle or the Hormit Quesh of | ster Gil ae See ou baven ' me for dc ev. ; t lost it afterward,” oF OPN arene Juan tramped toward the saloon, but wee sud-— ihe given, the two War Saddles. + eae ou find more than you want,” cried er ar -

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denly stopped by a man who overtook him near the door. ‘¢ Who was that tall man, Juan?” ‘Prince Pedro,” snapped the spy. ‘* But I thought be was dead.” ‘‘ Not he. I’d like to see you kill that rascal,” With a singularsmile on his face the strange man walked into the well-lighted place and shouted: ‘Gentlemen, Prince Pedro, the biggest rascal of these parts, has just walked out of camp. The story about bis death at the hands of Mustang Merle’s men isnot true. [ move that we declare him outlawed. I have just come from Morgan’s ranch, The old man is dead and his fine horse stolen. There is no doubt that Prince Pedro did the job.” In an instant fifty men were on their feet clamoring to be heard. ‘**Outlaw the rascal!” ‘Hunt him down!” “ Let Tagus City take the field!” ‘* Revive the Black Court of last year!” For a moment the confusion was such that no one could be understood, “‘T move that a decree of outlawry be pas against Princo Pedro!” cried a man who mounted the counter, ~ y All looked at him. It was Juan. The spy had turned against his master. ** All you who are in favor of the decree of out- lawry will say ‘ay.’” ; A chorus of responses went up and the men Mi surged toward the counter, \ Gentlemen, J am going to deal with that man!” a These words were pronounced clear and dis- ; ji? tince above the roar of voices, ray Everybody turned toward the door, A youth had riddén bis black horse into the establishment and sat the saddle like a young king. He was seen by every one, | : “J am on the war-path. I claim the right to i deal with the man called Prince Pedro!” \ The speaker was Mustang Merle. CHAPTER XVI. ‘ SOMETHING OF THE PAST, Mustang Mere never looked handsomer than when he faced the startled pards of Tagus City avd announced from the saddle that he was > ‘on the war-path and claimed the right to deal a with Prince Pedro. ) “Take him, Merle!” cried a dozsu voices, _ « * We turn him over to you, for you never fail at L anything you undertake. ae “Thanks, gentlemen,” answered the youn ‘by rancher, doffing his hat. ‘I will attend to this id 1a business to the satisfaction of all, There shall ae i ay be no failure,” and he threw a handful of coin toward the counter, which was received with and while the tougbs of Tagus were health, he turned and rode out. me, By this time Prince Pedro and Logan had aa reached a spot some distance from the town and were proceeding through the hills, “Don’t miss the place where you left the girl UE after robbing Juanita,” said the bandit, “TI ean make my own terms, with the fair creature in my hands.” se - Terms with whom?” asked Logan. | * With the enemy, to be sure.” : figs» Both men laughed, but there was a lurking y rine in Logan’s eye and it did not quit it,for some 4 ime, 4 Two hours later the border pards came to a trail which the keen eyes of Logan recognized, | Sh he turned into it and was followed by Prince ro. ‘Here we are,” said the last at the foot of a hill, _ Another of those caves?” - Logan nodded. typ ae “7 don’t know what we would do without them,” he said. ‘‘They come handy to hunted --:persons sometimes, a3 well as do the hunters many afavor.” | dismounted and hid their steeds cheers crowding forward to drink guide, stopping at- ‘© Merciful Father! you here?” cried a youn rl, falling back from before the man who ene § 2 ® + =y ® =} a} B “I 5 5 y Nevins said nothing for a moment, but Pedro, oe 1 Yon “me! from the woman called : Juanita, to get me into the clutches of Prince eS ae Mustang Merle’s Mandate. ‘‘T had to bring the captain to see yop.” The interior of the cave was lit up by a lamp that bung along the wall—a lamp found in one of the dark recesses by Logan, showing that atacertain time the cavern had had another tenant. ‘What is it you want?” Nelly had taken a step toward Prince Pedro, and was facing him with all the true dignity of a queen, “* Whose child are you, girl?” ‘“TamaNevins. Is not that enough?” ‘¢ Where is your mother?” ‘* You ask me as though there were a stain on my name,” **T ask for information.” ‘‘It is false! You can answer the questions a have asked better than I can, Prince Pedro, ou know more about my parentage than you want to tell. Look here. hat ever became of Junius Powell?” Despite the effort put forth by Prince Pedro, not to start at mention of any name that might oo from Nelly’s lips, he could not remain a stoic, ‘ “ Answer me, will you?” continued the fair irl, ‘Look me in the eye and tell me what ecame of the man who persecuted my mother until she lost her reason, and fled from one of the best homes in the East.” The bandit of the Southwest looked toward the entrance, and waved his hand at Logan, who sullenly fell back. ‘¢-You have asked me for something ou shall have,” he said, addressing Nelly. ‘* You seem to want to know the past, and you shall know it. The girl’s face grew white, ““T am ready for the story of tho past, I am waiting for the firsr words of the narrative,” “ Years ago—I need not say how many—there lived in a certain city east of the Mississippi a man who had obtained by. means not accounted altogether honest a large sum of money. His family consisted of wife and child, the latter then a babe in the cradle, This man hated an- other person who knew a secret concerning bis life, and one night the secret-keeper was found murdered in analley. The detectives of the day took up the scent and would have tracked the murderer down if he had not abandoned home and fled. “* His wife, a haughty woman, tried to buy off the detectives, and at last left, too, but she abandoned her child—left it in the cradle and fled in the night. What became of the man who had killed the holder of the secret? Whither fled the woman who knew that her husband was guilty of murder?” Prince Pedro, standing with folded arms be- fore Nelly, paused a moment for breath and saw the eyes of the young girl fastened upon him, ** Why don’t goon?” she said, ~ “Give me time, Years passed and it was rumored that tne criminal came back and died in the on but the wife has never been discov- ered, hy, it was said she ran off with a man who had her heart before she first met her bus- and,” “That is false!” cried Nelly, stamping her foot on the ground. ‘*I am here to shield the name of my mother, Prince Pedro!” “Your mother, eh?” laughed the roffian, | leaning forward. Yes, the name of my mother. secuted by the wretch called Junius Powell, I have heard of the killing from my Uncle Abner whom you sent across the Waterless Plain, Iu the first Faces my father was not guilty of that crime. It would bave been fastened upon bim, however, owing to tho surrounding circum- stances. He came back to the city and died there, but under an assumed name,” ‘Changed bis name, did he? I thought the name of Nevins was such an honored one!” The young girl bit her lip with indignation. ‘(He changed his name for his child’s sake, for he wanted to be near me. Junius Powell was a thief as well as a murderer. He fled the city himself and took with bim some papers. which not only established my fatber’s inno- cence, but fixed the true date of my mother’s marriage, thereby clearing ber name of a stain which bis lying lips had tried to cast upon ! “You seem to know as much as I do about the past, Aig you asked me for the story,” smiled the bandit. “T wanted to hear what you would say,” was the answer, would tell the details,” ; ie am) “Why should Jknow it? Hiyey ' 5 ,) i) dy ee» ¥ She was per- | *T wanted to know how you | ov. and story which you know in all its dark rg afraid I would lose him. 13: “Ves, why?” cried Nelly. ‘‘Of all men you should know the truth about the past which is so closely connected with my history.” { At this juncture Logan came back with a curious look on his face, we He and the bandit captain exchanged looks . and Prince Pedro joined bis man. “T want to show you something,” whispered’ BD) Logan, The two left the cave and Logan led Prince ~ Pedro along the. trail a short distance. Beneath them ran another trail which was barely discernible in the starlight and the chief of the War Saddles felt his hand as Logan pointed downward, (3 “They are looking for us,” he said at the Sa bandit’s ear. “Who are they?” ; k ** Joe and Red Hawk?” ae | Prince Pedro, with his revolver balf drawn, bent over the fringe of the trail and looked at the figures gliding a few feet below them, “1 could kill both in half a second,” Logam heard him say. ‘‘Ibave them at my mercy.. Why not?” ; But he withheld his fire, though he scowled at the men with the ferocity of a tiger. Nant) Slowly the deadly weapon was lowered over | the path and Old Joe’s head was covered. ay Prince Pedro seemed togloatover thetriumpm | be bad at his thetrigger, = and Logan waited for the shot, ~ ‘. “They may not be alone,” said Prince Pedro, rising and looking at his companion. ‘* Mus-—- bh haar keel may be near and a shot, no matter Se how deadly, might betray us,” PL. Five minutes later the two pardsonthelower = trail were seen to move on and their liveshad = been spared, : tal **Come back to the ype tee the cavern,” said Prince Pedro, ‘‘No; stand guard here, — n, 1 won't be gone long.” Nelly started when she saw coming back — rouge the lamplighbt the figure of the manshe = espised, Di, “T had two of your friends at the muzzle of q my revolver, yet I spared them,” he said. — te “That is more than Junius Powelldid whem he had Theodosia Nevins in his clutches,” was the reply. Reoe:. Prince Pedro burst into a laugh and cameto~ ward the girl. oes) “Tt is always Junius Powell with you,” he — cried. ‘'Can’t you think of no one elseY” rie ‘*T can’t forget the ruin that man wrought. =. His infamous lies broke up what was the mo piest home under the Stars and Stripes, We came down here to find him and try and wrench = from him tbe truth which would vindicate my = parents’ bonor,” i hae ** Well, do Le ever expect to find him?” tee In reply Nelly almost bounded up to the AF bandit king and halting before him, covereh him suddenly with a quivering finger. yas “T have found bim! I need look no further!” _ tiie sax Yostah dG ing out and next instant a sharp report rung ou' a aes Logan ran into the pe and throwing u ms Ni with a wild cry, pitched forw ea yea Prince Pedro caught the lamp from the wall and dashed it to the ground, : A , Asit struck, all became dark, a ey LG 5 CHAPTER XVII. et THE RIDE FOR LIFE. its A TE shot so unexpected seemed to paralyze Rs the young girl. , 07 ae Toe falling of the man to the floor,andthe extinguishing of the only ligbt that enabled her tosee what was yoing on, seemed simultaneous, In another instant the band of Prince Pedro — m aha her wrist, and she was lifted from the round, de ut) ets ‘*‘Silence!” was whispered in berear, ‘‘You = _ will know more »bout the mystery of the past if arch you keep a still tongue in your head.” mi ia That she was in the grip of the man she most despised she did not doubt, and when she found | — herself being carried through the dense dark- | _ rote that prevailed, terror rendered her speech- ess. ; Fl co ; det) Prince Pedro had barely quitted the place — when there dashed into it a person whose hands drew a match across the wall, an} the room wey Lew revealed by the light ofa mateb, uanita!l . aye bis The Hermit Queen of the Hills stood for a moment and stared at the body at her feet, —_ ~ One of the vitlain’s men!” she said, . } holding the light fs gre face, ‘‘He was on ¢g and I } vi here is his ~ She saw then the lamp which the cd We A, ie

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Hee te. Amat, Ne un, oe er ewe and win the game? § _ ‘the secret of the past, 14 thad dashed to the ground, and turned toward ‘that portion of the cavern into which Prince ‘Pedro had fled with his captive. . What a splendid target she would have ‘afforded for the aim of the man whose life sie wanted. ‘* Have I lost him again?” she cried, ‘Can it ‘be that he has escéped me after all these years -of hunting? Prince Pedro, I have longed to pay . you back for the infamous work of the past, will not lose you, even if I bave to search every nook and cranny of this cavern, I know the secret places of this region. You have forced me to hide among these hills, and it is for ven- geance that I have lived here.’ The match went outand she struck another. Whea it had blazed up she sprung over the ‘tbody of the dead bandit and plunged into the ‘first corridor that met her gaze. It was the same which Prince Pedro had ‘taken. But what bad become of the man who was playing the last desperate game of the many played before? f . Prince Pedro, following the winding of the underground passage, and dragging after him ‘the beautiful prisoner captured by Logan’s help, ‘went deeper and deeper into the bowels of the / earth, Nelly said nothing, as if waiting in silence for deliverance, _ “Do you know this accursed cave?” he said at st, ‘No, If I had there might have been an es- ca f?? , i We will outwit the person who stretched Logan dead on the ground, There lives not the one who is to baffle Prince Pedro,” ‘When did you take that name?” The bandit’s answer was a coarse laugh, ‘Men take any name that suits them in this country,” he sald. “We make strange trails here, and there is many a chance against one’s life in the Southwest,” pte. “The name you had was name enough—Ju- nius Powell!” ; Nelly thought she heard the mad grating of teeth in the gloom, . } On, on went Prince Pedro and his captive. All at once the bandit drew back. 4 . * The wall has ended,” he said. ‘* There is no rock ahead. I can feel nothing.” ' The girl was silent. * Dare I strike a light?” In a moment, however, he struck one, and the irl, brave as she was, shrunk back with a cry, or the trail in tke dark had terminated and a black chasm yawned before her. ‘‘*That’s a close shave,” grinned the bandit. ** Another step and we would have fallen, Heaven knows where.” They turned aside now, into a passage which the light revealed, and kept on, Half an hour later they stood in a large cham- ber, the sides of which Nelly could not touch hi the hand she put out, and Prince Pedro said: e ‘*We ought to be safe enough here. I hear nothing. I guess we have outwitted the hun- ters,” It seemed so, Not a sound came to their ears, though they listened with all their might, ‘Do you know who shot Logan, Nelly?” **T do not.” “Do you think it was one of the men whose lives I spared awhile ago?” ** How should I know?” “True, I'll tell you who dropped the last of the War Saddles, with the exception of their captain, It was the Hermit Queen of the Hills.” * Juanita?’ “ Yes. Do you know her?” “T bave been her prisoner, took me from mt git bo ron “‘She swooped down upon you like the eagle, eh? Why should she carry a oft?” : » .“ Yes, why? You know, Prince Pedro,” _. There was no reply, avd it seemed to Nelly It was she who _ that the hand which had not released her fora _ moment sunk deeper into her flesh. “Girl, you have yet to know something con- nected with the history of the past,” be said at “The career of Prince Pedro has just be- Do you think the Boy Rancher is to hunt uch a thing is not to be, Neither is the Queen of the Hills to succeed, * en thought Nelly Nevins, “‘I am lost, » "Minutes were hours to the beauty of the ~ Sout , y ‘Southwest. “She was now the captive of the man who knew : GS on SEY h 80,” was the quick answer. Mustang Merle’s Mandate. He had not told her all, but_ there was much which she could guess. He had not always been Prince Pedro, There was a time when he had another name, and she thought how different her ro eh ty have been if he had never crossed her path, By and by the big room of the underground hiding place was deserted and Prince Pedro and his captive stood beneath the stars. ‘*] know this region like te sailor knows the sea,” he remarked, seeing a look of sudden hope in the depths of hereyes. ‘‘ I can find the horses Logan and 1 left when we entered the cave,” and he led Nelly back over the rocky ground and discovered the steeds in the thicket, Helping Nelly into one saddle, he sprung upon the other horse and looked back over the dark- ened landscape. “Do you think, after what has just pg pe that they willever get the best of Prince Pedro? he laughed, ‘They will outlaw me for one lit- tle thing that happened since the battle with the ranchers, What do I care for that? I have been posted before. It is nothing for me,” Li oe found the pair ina country which was wild and strange to Nelly. As she looked over the ground and saw the trees growing here and there, with clumps of bushes and cacti between, with no sign of succor in all the landscape, her heart seemed to sink within ber, . ‘¢'The border is not far off,” he said. ‘* Yon- der is a new land where a thousand men might hide from the best hunters of the Southwest, A bloodhound even could not track us across those wastes. Nelly, my fair one, what think you now? The white lips seemed to move, but there was no audible reply, ‘ Prince Pedro looked for a moment at the girl at bis side, and then raised his head and scanned the country around them. ‘*- You know me now?” **T do, You ure Junius Powell.” He smiled and ran his fingers through the long locks which fell to bis broad shoulders, * There was a time when a woman who looked like you would not listen to me,” he said, ‘‘She has wished a thousand times since that she had not played so foolishly.” **T would almost hate her memory if I thought “* My mother regret that she would not become your bride, Prince Pedro? Never!” : The handsome bandit was looking at some- thing that seemed to give him no little uneasi- ness, and Nelly watched him closely, That something was down in the little valley which lay at their feet, and though she looked in that direction she could not see it. “Come! Won't they never give me any rest?” he exclaimed. ‘ But 1 know my horses and the trails of the Stormy Hills. Catch the yellow free-lance if you can,” \ The following moment the two steeds were fairly flying down the trail, and the girl was clinging to the insecure seat with all her might« Presently she discovered that a horseman was straining every nerve to head them off, Prince Pedro saw the same person, and then another and still another came in sight. They had been seen and were pursued! More than once the bandit seemed on the eve -| of drawing rein and facing his pursuers, | _. “* They ulght as well try to catch a doer,” he Wengneds as gave the steeds the keen spur. ‘““When I do turn—if they should corner me, Nelly, I will show them a trick that will halt them in the twinkling of an eye.” There was a mad eg aa the bandit’s words—a meaning which the utifal prisoner was to discover ere long, and when they came out on a cleaner trail and could look back, hope rose again in her bosom. It seemed to her that the pursuers had gained a little, and she could make out one who was far ahead of all, riding with all his might, with his eyes fastened upon them. ‘The young fool thinks he can outwit the man who is his superior!” smiled Prince Pedro, ‘I will show him, girl!” ~~ ' CHAPTER XVIII. THE DEATH COIL, THERE had been times in the life of the ban- dit of the Southern border when he had been pursued as then. More than once had he been chased by a pack of determined men whose rights he had disre- spected, and whose ranches he had plundered, But now it was a terrible race for life, and if he —if he should lose it—he knew what would follow, ; b , _ All this time Nelly Nevins was watching witb — —_—— an interest which the reader can imagine, the riding of those who were trying to hem the plunderer in. Now they would disappear and now, again, would come into full view, all the time riding like the wind with the one object ahead—the capture of the wild king of the saddle, Prince Pedro saw that if he could reach a cer- tain place among the hills, he would be safe. A sudden bend in the trail seemed to assure him that beyond it lay safety, and driving the spurs into his steed and now and then touching the flanks of Nelly’s horse, he went over the trail like an arrow. “* Halt!” Never rung in the’ girl’s ears a word more welcome. The two steeds had reached the bend in the’ trail, They were about to turn it when the one word rung out, and Prince Pedro sent out a fierce oath in reply. It was evident from the foaming horse ridden by the person who had called a halt that he had just reached the Spot and the bandit looked over the pointed ears of his own steed into the muzzle of a Winchester, ‘* Mustang Merle!” cried the girl. She could not have kept back the name if she had tried. The young owner of Mesquite sat before her on his handsome black and the fin- ger tbat touched the trigger was not there for sport, The appearance of the Boy Rancher was so sudden that the trick of which Prince Pedro had spoken was not played. ‘* Let the roan loose,” said Merle. There was defiance in the bandit’s eye, but the menace of the leveled weapon was enough to awe him and he sullenly obeyed. Nelly did not need a command to ride for- ward, for the next instant she had done so and Prince Pedro saw that the captive for whom he had played such a hand was gone. By and by sounds of horses galloping over the trail bebind bim saluted bis ears. ‘Hooray for the young master!” cried the rider of the foremost steed and a bat went sailing into mid-air. S “I’m sorry I spared your life last night,” said Prince Pedro to the shouter when he came up and presented the face of Joe Bundy. ‘¢Thanks, Captain Pedro. You have placed the whole Bundy family under, lasting obliga- tions.” The game had failed. Prince Pedro had fallen into the hands of the rancbers of Mesquite and Merle had kept his promise with the men of Tagus City, Nelly was overjoyed when she met Larry who had come up, and the young lovers were ex- changing stories, while the men took care of their prisoner, tying him t> his horse, so that he could not give them the slip, ‘Back to Mesquite!” said Mustang Merle when the pursuers had rested a spell, Back to the ranch they went and the captive was well i Nog to await bis trial, while Merle dispatched a rider to Tagus to invite its citizens to a sitting of the court. Did Prince Pedro expect mercy? No, He knew the severe code of laws in force in the Southwest. He knew that the bandit, when caught by the men he had despoiled, was tried by a court organized on ithe, spot and promptly executed, The next day the men of Tagus City came over the hill and drew rein in front of the build- in * : They wore stern countenances, for the death of Morgan, and the theft of his horse had turned be a against Prince Pedro more than anything else. Juan, the yellow, came with the rest and looked his old’ master in the eye. For a moment the heart of the bandit prince took hope at sight of the yellow dog. uan who had- He did uot know that it was proposed to outlaw him, ‘* You know your old friend,” he found oppor- tunity to whis»er to the half-blood, . A strange smile lit up Juan’s dark face. **T know no Prince Pedro,” said he, The trial took place in the clearing in front of the ranch buildings. There was not an eye to pity the man who stood bound before them all, : ‘Prince Pedro was not to be tried for the plun- dering of ranches. He was not charged with having sent Abner Nevins across the Waterless Plain, a Mazeppa; but the death of old Morgau was made the crime for whick a jury of twelve bronzed men were to try him for bis life. Apart from the court stood the girl who saw in bim more than the bandit of the plain, ) / ‘ + P hh xh a eg ooh ’ } i oi j ‘ EF SL, wu ») - Me re ad "La _— sh Pes z rap ae See PS a i id : eae

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_ “% Well, didn’t she, girl? y “died,” ‘ ;

Just then the hands of Juanita moved and she -stood erect, (CHAPTER XIX. THE END OF IT ALL, “I Must, The time has come!” said the Her- anit Queen of the Hills, - Almost at the same moment, the figure of Nelly Nevins sprung toward the man being led to his death, “Tell ine all. Where are the papers that ‘prove my mother’s marriage? Junius Powell, will you die with this secret on your lips?” _ ** Junius Powell!” he we ie turning and Goat art beautiful girl. ‘Why dons you go aud as when Logan found you. She knows.” “Heavens! that woman?” cried Nelly. ‘“* Why, ‘that person is Juanita. She took me from Mes- -quite, and said she would kill the person who stole me from ber.” You know how Logan Nelly Nevins was pushed gently back by the guards, and stood for a moment looking at the prisoner, white-faced and undecided, — _ Suddenly the report of a _fire-arm broke the " , - 7 “if cers + bo he to) ee is ae ee re sind > ‘ } ha a HED the woman ip whose clutches you were word, and those who looked toward the hills saw a puff of pale smoke rising sky ward. At the same time, the form of Prince Pedro reeled and fell from the grip of his executioners, ‘it is too late. His lips are sealed forever!” cried the balf-fainting girl, ‘‘“*Pve been suspecting that the unexpected would happen before we war through with this job,” said Joe Bundy. “It ginerally does, eb, od Hawk?” ; Tne young Apache was looking at an object now seen by every one, for Juanita had left her place of concealment, and was walkiwg toward the border. court, “It is the witch of the bills!” went from lip to lip. ‘It is Juanita.” The woman strode on until she stood before the borderers, when, after a glance at the figure stiffening on the grass, she came toward Nelly. **T beard you say that the secret was lost for- ever,” she said, addressing the borrified and speechless girl. ‘ Let me tell you what the lips of that man would not reveal. The iron box he carried to this country has been found—” ‘* What, ar’ you the person who robbed the thicket whar Red Hajvk an’ I bid it?” cried Joe Bundy. ‘‘I told the young red that the foot- track looked like a woman’s. So it war yours, eh? ‘It was mine. I found the box and managed to open it. The papers it contained are in my possession. They remove the stain that bas rested so long on my life. They tell the world that I was legally married to Nevins; that he was innocent of the crime for which he suffered the tortures of a hundred deaths. They tell how 1 was wrongfully persecuted by the man called Powell, but who, fleeing to this land, be- came Prince Pedro, and who lost the iron box, forgetting that some internal convulsion of nature changed the interior of the Twin Caves ‘where he hid it, ‘*T took the vengeance that belonged to no one but me,” continued Juanita, turning to Mustang Merle, ‘ I swore that I would some day pay bim back, I have done so, And now if the child of my heart will come to tbe arms that have longed for her these many years, I will give her the kiss of a vindicated mother?” The hands of the speaker were outstretched to- ward Nelly; there was a loud cry and the young girl rushed forward to be folded to Juanita’s ‘bosom. It was a]] over. - Mustang Merle’s war-trail was ended, and that night the old ranch saw a scene of rejoicing, - The War Saddles were no more, Their leader had paid the peaalty of crime and would never again curse the beautiful border, ‘Nelly, of course, became the wife of Larry Blair, and at the wedding which took place soon after the death of Prince Pedro, or Junius Powell, Joe Bundy renewed his promise to be- queath to Red Hawk all his estate for having found a way out of the bill after the explosion of the bandit’s mine, * provided Iremain the last o’ the Bundys an’ thar’s any estate left when I come ter shuffle off this mortal coil,” for this was the proviso with which the old scout ended his remark, — zat THE END, Beatle’s Dime Library. — BY COL. THOMAS H. MONSTERY, 322 Spring-Heel Jack: or, The Masked Mystery. 262 Fiehting Tom, the Terror of the Toughs. 236 Champion Sam; or, The Monarchsof. the Show. 169 Corporal Cannon, the Man of Forty Duels 157 Mourad, the Mameluke; or, The Three Sword masters. 150 El Rubio Bravo, King of the Swordsmen. 148 The Czar’s Spy; or, The\Nihilist League 126 The Demon Duelist; or, The Leagu: of Steel. 82 Iron Wrist, the Swordmaster. BY LEON LEWIS, | 624 The Submarine Detective: or, The Water Ghouls, 484 Captain Ready, the Red Ransomer. 431 The Silent Detective; or, The Bogus Nephew. 456 'The Demon Steer. 428 The Flying Glim; or, The Island Lure. BY ISAAC HAWKS, Ex-Detective, 240 A Cool Head; or, Orson Oxx in Peril. 232 Orson Oxx; or. Tbe River Mystery. BY E. 4, ST. MOX. 491 Zi and Cutt, the Invincible Detectives, 471 The Heart cf Oak Detective. ai " . ; y £44 ‘868 The Canyon King; or, a Price on bis Head. “110 The Silent Rifleman. By H. W. Herbert. re, "| Publishers, 98 William street, New York, BY NED BUNTLINE, 657 Long Tom, the Privateer. 633 The Sea Spy. ‘ 621 The Red Privateer; or, The Midshipman Rover. 584 Fire Feather, the Buccaneer King. P 517 Buffalo Bill’s — Trail.” ie.) 861 Tombstone Dick, the Train Pilot. f 270 Andros, the Rover; or, The Pirate’s Daughter, ; 122 Saul Sabberday,,the Idiot SRY. 111 The Smuggler Captain; or, The Skipper’s Crime. 61 Captain Seawaif, the Privat -er. 23 The Red Warrior; or, The Comanche Lover. 18 The Sea Bandit; or, The Queen of the Isle. 16 The White Wizard; or, The Seminole Prophet. . 14 Thayendanegea,the Scourge; or, The War-Eagle, BY LIEUT, A. K. SIMS. 666 Old Adamant, the Man of Rock. Y 618 Kansas Karl, the Detective King. al 552 Prince. Primrose, the Flower of the Flock ‘ne 528 Huckleberry, the Foot-Hills Detective. ; i BY DR. NOEL DUNBAR. 604 The Detective in Rags; or, The Grim Shadower, 500 The True-Meart Pards. BY EDWARD WILLETT. i 483 Flush Fred, the River Shar " 348 Dan Dillon, King of Crosscut. ; 387 Old Gabe, the Mountain Tramp. oy 827 Terrapin Dick, the Wildwood Detective. j 315 Flush Fred's Double; or, The Squatters’ League, | ‘ 3808 Hemlock Hank, Tough and e. Pe 298 Logger Lem; or, Life in the Pine Woods, be 289 Flush Fred’s Full Hand. : 274 Flush Fred, the Mississippi Sport. | 248 Montana Nat, the Lion of Last Chance Camp. } 222 Bill the Blizzard; or, Red Jack’s Crime. o 209 Buck Farley, the Bonanza Prince. . 1 Nee 129 Mississippi Mose; or, a Strong Man’s Sacrifice, a BY GEORGE ©. JENKS. 572 Jaunty Joe, the Jockey Detective. : 554 Mad Sharp, the Rustler. ; ‘ a 538 Rube Rocket, the Tent Detective: ¥ 526 Death-Grip, the Tenderfoot Detective. vA 507 The Drummer Detective, ’ 432 The Giant Horseman. ‘ 898 Sleepless Eye, the Pacific Detective. BY WM. G. PATTEN, Oa ' 668 The Giant Sport; or, Sold to Satan. bs 056 Old Piug Ugly, the Rough and Ready. ho a 645 Gold Glove Gid, the Man of Griv. ; 641 Aztec Jack, the Desert Nomad. ‘g 631 Colonel Cool, the Santa Fe Sharp. } | 602 Captain Nameless, the Mountain Mystery. : 4 571 Old Dismal, the Range Detective. : 2 545 Hustler Harry, the Cowboy Sport. — BY CHARLES MORRIS, Bia: i 589 Prince Hal, the oe Detective.. « aly» 830 Cop Colt, the Quaker City Detective. \ eke MISCELLANEOUS, a 566 The Dauntless Detec;ive; or, The Daughter jy th Avenger. By Tom ys 542 The Sena Bie or, The Fight for Two Lives, By A, F, Holt, Bae: 534 Greeti Mountain Joe: or, The Counterfeiter’s Cave. By Marmaduke Dey. Hy 518 Royal Richard, the Thoroughbred. By J. W, — sbon. : 410 Sarah Brown, Detective. By K, F. Hill. 266 The Telegreph Detective. By George H. Morse, 353 Bart Brennan; or, The King of Straight Flush, ey: By John Cuthbert. 850 Flash Falcon, Society Detective. By W.J.Cobb. | 812 Kinkfoot Karl, tbe Mountain Scourge. By Mor- — | ris Redwing. hi 275 The Smuggler Cutter, By J.D. Conroy. ’ 261 Black Sam, the Prairie Thunderbolt. By Col. Jo Yards. 0 esa OF t 190 The Three Guardsmen. By Alexander Dumas. 179 Conrad, the Conviet. By Prof, Gildersleeve.. 166 Owlet, the Robber Prince, By S,R. Urban. 158 ‘The Doomed Dozen. By Dr. Frank Powell f 152 Captain Ironnerve, the Counterfeiter Chief. Ue 146 The Doctor Detective. Goonies Senels \ 144 The Hunehback of Notre Dame, By Victor URO Nt 140 The Three Spaniards. By Geo, Walker. at 133 Rody the Rover. By William Caneton, = = A® The Blacksmith Outlaw. By H. Ainsworth. | , 102 The Masked Band. By George L. Aikep, 78 The Mysterious Spy. By Arthur M. Grainger, r 76 The Queen’ Musketeers. By George Albany. "| 68 The Fighting eeeres, By Capt. J.¥,C. Adams, | 60 Wide Awake, the Robber King. | a 32 aoe of Yale: or, The ae ge of Collegians, — Aa ; 11 Midshipman Easy. 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BEADLE’S«H ALF- DIME« 7 IBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Haeh Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick: Novels, 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Deadwood Dick’s Detiance; or, Double Daggers. oy Pesdweod ak os rieng ares or, Buffady Ben. >» Denadwoo « n a Onatie. 42% Deadwood Dick's Bonanza; or, The Phantom Miner. 49 Deadwood Dick in Danger}; or, Omana Ol). 57jPeadwoeod Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 78 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity 4 me, the Heroine 43 endures picks inet nats or, Corduroy Charlie. ead woo ck in Leadville. 04 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Double Cross Sign. 09 Deadwood Dick aa Detective. 2 Dick’sa Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. Dick’s Home Kase; or, Blonde Bill. Dick’s Big Strike; or, A Game of Gold. Dick of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party. Dick’s Dreamy or, The Rivals of the Road, Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill’s Jezebel. Dick’sa Doom: or, Calamity Jane’s Adventure, Dick’s Dead Decal. Dick’s Death-Plant. Dick, A Romance of Roughs and Tovgha, Dick’s Di vides or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. Dick’a Death Trail. Dick’a Veal or, The Gold Briek of Oregon, Diek’a Dozens or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats Dick’s Duecatas or, Days in the Diggings, Diek Bentenceds or, The Terrible Vendetta, Dick’s Claim. ob b Pag ee Oley, ond w ck’s Diamonda. 421 Deadwood Dick tn New York; or, A “Cute Case,” Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand. yr peegvecd HH oi grt oy oe Crimson Crescent Sign, ek, dr’, Defiance, 458 Deadwood Dick, Ira. Full Hand, 459 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Rig Round-Up. 465 Deadwood Dick Jr.’s Racket at Claim 10, A471 Deadwood Jr.’a Corral; or, Bozeman Bill. 476 Deadwood Jr.’«, Dog Detective. 451 Deadwood dr.» in Deady ood, 491 Deadwood ’ ar.’ » Compact. A496 Deadwood Jr.’a, Inheritance. 500 Deadwood dre pie nge. dra, Deliverance. dr.’ Protegee, 5 og Taree. D r.’*, Danger Ducka, Jr.’*) Death unt. dr., in Te 149 Deadwood 156 Deadwood 195 Deadwood 201 Deadwood 205 Deadwood 217 Deadwood 21 Deadwood 2 Gold-Duat 268 Deadwood 268 Deadwood 809 Deadwood 821 Deadwood 847 Deadwood 851 Deadwood 862 Dead wood 408 Deadwood 5228 Deadwood Dick. 529 Veadwood Dick, 584 Deadwood Dick, BBY Deadwood Dick, xaos. 544 Deadwood Wick, Jr., the Wild Weat Vidocg 549 Deadwood Dich, Jr., on Mia Mettie. S54 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Gotham, 61 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Boston, 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadelphia, 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago, 578 Deadwood Dick. Jr.. Afloat, 584 Deadwood Dick. vrA in Denver. 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Decree, 505 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Beelzebub’s Basin, 600 Deadwood Dick dr at Coney Island. , 606 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Leadville Lay. 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Detrolt, 615 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Cincinnati. 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Nevada. 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in No Man’s Land, 686 Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer, GAZ Deadwood Dick. Jr.. In Buffalo. 648 Deadwood 1 dra, lnaurnnee Case. dr. Back in the Mines, dr.> ta Durango or, Gathered In.” Jr.’a Discovery; or, Found a Fortune, dr.’a, Dazzle. Jr.«. Dollara. Jr., at Danger Divide. Jr, Drop. dr., at Jack-Pot. Deadwood 1 Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Dick, 04 Deadwood Dick, 10 Deadwood Dick Jr., in San Francisco, 6 Deadwood Dick, Jrfa Still Munt. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a Dominoes. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Disguise Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Double Deal, 740 Deadwood Dick Jr.’s. Deathwatch, Deadwood Dick Jr.’«, Voublet. Deadwood Dick Jr.’a, Deathblow. Dendwood Dick, Jr.’a Desperate Stralt, Reckaeed Bik Ire eka 74 ‘eat. Deadwood Jr.’«, Resurrection. Deadwooa Dick. Jrs Dark Daya. Deadwood Dick Jr., Defied. . 792 pene wood Hem rhe poune Device. : ead woo c r’.«, Desperate Venture, | Deadwood Diels, rae, Diamond Dice, endwoo « ra oynl F lus Deadwood Dick, Sra” Hend-off, Dendwood Dick, Jdr.’«, Rival, 2 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’*, Room, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’*, Scoop, 884 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’#, Proxy. 840 Deadwood Dick, Jr’s, Olutch, 845 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, High Horse, Deadwood Dick Jr., at Devil's Gulch. Booiesed tian $c meee 601 Happy Mans, the Dutch Vidocg; or, Hot Timesat Round-Up 611 Rilted Barnacle, the Detective Hercules, 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective, 657 Warbling William the Mountain Mountebank, 665 Jolly Jeremiah, the Plains Detective, 676 Signal Samy the Lookout Scout. > 689 Billy, the Gypsy Spys_or, The M peery of Two Lives, 699 Simple Sim, tbe Rroncho Buster: or, For Big Stakes, 712 The Mermeriat Sports or, The Mystified Detective. 788 Toltee Tom, the Mad Prospector. 245 Kansans dim the Cross-Cut Detective. 61 Marmaduke, the Moustanger Detective, 728 The Ruatler of Rolling Stone. 785 Lone Wand Joe the Committee o1 One. 801 Kent Kirby, the High-Kicker from Kiilbuck. 882 The Doctor Dete etive In Texas, 873 Two Showmen Vetectives in Colorado, 987 The Texan Firebrand: or, Brazos Billy’s SnapShot, } 961 The Tramp’s Tromp-Trick. NEW ISSUES. Dick Decoyed. By Robert hot Seth, the Boy Riflem:n. R. Inman. ure Ry Ol Coomes, ‘o boy Chris, the Des rt Centaur, Py W. W. Wilder. ‘ou Bet Rob's Jangle._ By Arizona Cy. The Crulse of the Sen Wo f By Col. Ingraham. 9 On Land and fea. By Braceb idge Hemyng | The Fate of tue SI vag kt ive. By Ellis. 21 Dandy Dick’s Decoy, Py Rob‘. BR. Inman, | 72 Keen Knife, Prince of the Prairies. By Oll Coomen, JUST ISSUED. OB Red Raven’s Redskin Ruse, By Col P. Ingraham 1056 Oewbor Chris in Cinnabar. By Wm. W. Wilder, 105? Gold Rifle, the Sharpshootr. PS Ed. L, Wheeler. 1068 Roderick, the Rover. By{T. J Fianngan 1059 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Ts xas Jack. 1060 Marlo, the Renegade. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 1061 Milver Star, the Boy Knight. By Ol Coomes : 1062 Th> Left-Hand Athlete. By Bracebridge Hemyng. 1068 Wild Bill’s Weird Foe. By Wm.G Patten, A New Issue Every Tuesday. a A io for sale by all newsdealers, BEY te Babee cp inde ot alx cents each, ‘BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 92 William Street, New York, Pand 1064 1065 & 1066 ¢ 1067 Y 1068 106 10 10 10 O70 Nat Todd; or,