Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 1143) (1903 11)
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A \Ml lee, cs on CopyYRicHT, 1878, py BzapLe & ADAMS, é x ® \ RN mK \\ NY XK A\y Ss Can CRAY ay Tn 3 APublished Every a bb Month. on, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. A ROCKY MONNTAIN ROMANCE. BY PHII [P 8. WARNE, aumeor or “‘ ELZGaNr’E0sERT,” “ TIazR pick,” “a HARD CROWD," .THE KIDNAPPER,”’ ETC. CHAPTER I. 4 GREENY—FLASH LIGHTNING. ‘Now, gents, you had better be born lucky Yhan rich. _Who’s the next candidate for the smiles of the fickle jade? Why soil your hands and make your back acho, grubbing a fow of the filthy out of the earth, when it’s as ree as the air you breathe, by only exercising your wits? ow, gentlemen, do you, or don’t you? Take #® while it’s going. Ah! this pont wins. Here youare, sir. never quarrel with a man’s luck, uck-a-luck! Chuck- a-luck! Who’sthenext lucky man?’ His dress was decidedly ‘‘loud,” his plaid pantaloons being very wide in the legs, his ‘b’iled” shirt displaying what might or might not be a diamond, and an immense seal ring decofating: his fin- rer, ‘ ® After the manner of his like, he was called Patent- Jeather Joe. The “ next lucky man ” at the moment we open our story, was a “greeny ”—that is to say, one who has just come to Virginia City from the “ States,” knowing as yet only 80 much of mining and the life of a miner as he had picked up in the news- rs, ae Hamilton had al- Froady “tried his luck” at Fatent-leather Joe’s “ little ame,” until he had only five oars left. Then he had sat down in a corner in rath- er rueful cogitation. Evidently his meditation had been productive of some ilJea; for he now advanced again to the gambler’s tabse. ‘* Ts there any limitation to the amount of bets in your game)!”’ he asked. ‘*No, Anything not less than ten cents, or more than my pile.” “* And how much is that? iesaierneanlea = em | (JAMES SULLIVAN, PROPRIxKTOR), 379 Pearl street, New York. Da C7 NO, NWT, a y/ / @ Ase edie A. PRICE 5 CENTS. 50c. a year. Li saying I won’t be able to before the night is If you clean me out, last, Ireckon, You're welcome to “Will you play with this understanding—I can bet much or little, as I please; and, no matter how luck runs, who wins or who loses, neither can stop without the consent of the other, until one is dead-broke! Again Patent-leather Joe smiled. “ an right,” he replied; ‘‘T’ll agree to that.” ‘Suppose we te it down, so that there will be no misunderstanding.” And Arthur put the agreement in writing. “ That’s all right is it? PO onary Joe ran his eye carelessly over 8 r. t’s square,” he assented. “Gentlemen,” said Arthur, addressing the spectators, ‘‘ you all hear?” Rs i ul i YS “I'm Flash Ligh 5 4ud I mean Mle awakening interest, the crowd indicated assent. Then the © began. Arthur bet ten cente—and lost. He bet twanty—and lost again. He bet forty—with the same result. He bet eighty. This time he won. Beginning again, he bet ten cents, and won. Once more he bet ten centse—and lost ; twenty —and lost; forty—won. Pocketing his winnings, he returned to his first stake of ten cents. You may well believe it did not take Patent- leather Joe long to drop to this littl game. ‘“* Hold on, stranger, he said, “you ain't giv- ing me any show.’ : wiv, not?” ; £6 , every time you loss double, so that [when you Ra mal Ao voultre bout to wim first or last—you’re just ten cents ahead.” ‘* That’s so,” “Well, at that rate you can skin me, ten cents at a time.” ** What of that?” a Why, that ain’t fair. You don’t give me no show. ‘Certainly I do,” “‘T don’t see it.” “ Sup that you had such a run of luck that you kept winning until I could double no longer? you'd rake my pile, wouldn’t you?” **Sup the heavens should fall! I reckon one side can’t win more than half s dozen times running.” “T see nothing to preves it, if you’re lucky enough.” The crowd began to grin. Patent-leather Joo Sows ed angrily. ‘*Tt’s a doggone slim show ft he muttered proceeding witk the game. The aim won steadily until 1] “I might, as well give ye my money out and out, as to fool away my. time letting you have it by driblets.” **T want your money only as I win it, “That'll do for talk; but the long and short of it ie you’ve got the dead open an shut on me, You're bound to give me a show, or you can't take my money!” ‘But, as I showed you he still have the chance o: reaking me by an unusual run of luck.” “Yes, ad med unusual = 0 a run.o’ luck t mever happens to any- body. No, go down. eee Bee ew, at
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2 “Let me seo,” said Arthur, referring to the yeas “T am to bet much or little, as I choose, not under ten cents, not over your pile; ‘and neither is to stop without the consent of the uther, nntil one is dead-broke. I see nothing about giving any show in that.” ‘Oh, well, that’s understood, of course.” 4 Nothing is understood which is not expressed, in a written agreement.” **Confound your written agreement! Do you suppose I’m going to let any galoot beat me out o’ my money in this way?’ ““T suppose you're going to stand by the terms ef the agreement.” ‘‘ Blast me if I do, if that’s the way you make itout! Stranger, you’re welcome to what * thi got; and you’ve learnt me a lesson. But reckon, now you’ve got your money back, I say Rico ‘Hold on, boss! This thing hain’t played out yet. A go’s a go; and you’ve got to stand to it until you're bu’sted. You hear me—Flash Light- , miner and prospector!” ' verybody looked surprised, and then smiled. The bold challenger was a boy of not more than seventeen years of age. As he spoke, he drew a pistol and cocked it in immediate readiness for use. . CHAPTER II. THE BITER BIT—A NEW FRIENDSHIP—BERENICE. PATENT-LEATHER JOE stared at his young an- mist. Cig “Who are you, and what do you mean?” he ded. ““Cap,” said the boy, carelessly, “‘I’ve just give you my handle—Flash Lightning, miner and pros r. That’s who Iam. ‘Ard I mean business |” “You're a doggoned meddlin she git your mouth slap er 'Bhe boy iaughed. “Now I reckon, Cap,” he said, “you'd jest e to break me in two, Perhaps you could do if it cometo muscle. But these little trinkets” —referring to his weapons—‘‘ make big and little even, if you only know how to handle ’em. And [ allow I can hold my own with the best man in the mines. Boss, I reckon you'll have to cave.” With a fierce oath Patent-leather Joe reached for his own revolver. i “* Cheese it, cully /? commanded Flash Light- ning, brin, his weapon into line with his eye the gambler’s heart. Putent-leather Joe was mabonss foo. <A ce showed him that the crowd was against Y while this determined boy ‘‘held the drop as re Ided to ste ity, with such © yie rn necessity, with such grace as he could command. : ’ ‘*T reckon you’re the gent I’ve got my_busi- ness with,” he said, sullenly, to Arthur mil- ton. Me Of course, you want to do the fair “Yes, I want to stand by our agreement,” gaid the young man, quietly. The gambler scowled. : “‘'That’s a cléan beat,” he said. “Tt was a fair ain.” The gambler thought a moment. af ” he said, presently, ‘‘you’ve got fool; and you !” amended the I cave. But of course, you don’t want to hard on-me. The ment says that either can stop, if the other is willing?” “ Yes.” “You've won back all the money you lost with me?’ 4“ Yes.” ** Suppose I give you as much more, and then eal the thing off?” It was now Arthur’s turn to make _ Wait until we investigate this thing a bit,” he said. ‘‘I suppose you will admit that where , men bet at random, as anf ordinarily do, this pane ig all t your favor? Although it looks ‘ fair, the fact is your are bound to win.” ‘A man may be lucky enough—” ‘No; luck or no luck, from the nature of the game, the odds are all in your favor.” ‘* Well, that may be.” **In fact, is/ on the other hand, the way I have played I am sure to win all of your money, wit 4 longenough.” «| | , ‘That's just what. makes the thing a beat.” “ At any rate, under the terms of this agree- men Lcan take all of your pile, if I choose!”. “ And if I let you off short of that, Iam giv- ay pont eaten yates 4g" ie _ ™T suppose you can call it that.” . Beadle’s HalfDime Library. ‘‘ How much money have you beat these men out of, when the sure-thing was on your side?” “T may have won a hundred dollars, per- haps. ” ‘How much had you when you began?” ‘* A little over four hundred.” ‘Well, this is how I will let you off—pay these men back their money, and give me two hundred.” “I'm blowed if I do!” “Very well, then! We'll go on with the game.” ** Hold on, ‘You don’t want to skin me like that?’ ““T’ve offered to give you a clean two hundred and over, when I can take the lot just as well as not. There was no other way out of it. Every- body who had lost money to Patent-leather Joe was immensely in favor of the plan, for a very. obvious reason. “Blast my) eyes!” cried one, ‘‘I think the nt’s doin’ a mighty white thing. Blow’ me if wouldn’t gobble the whole pile if it was my chance.” : “ The “Divy up, Joe!” laughed another. green fod you foul, sure,” A -white pallor overspread Patent-lea- ther Joe’s face, and set about his tightly pressed lips. His eyes began to’ glitter, and his nostrils quivered with suppressed passion. - ~ Without another word he spread his money out before him on the table, and’began to pa back the several amounts he had won from dif- ferent miners, It was not long before there was a disagree- ment, one of the men claiming more than the gambler awarded him.) * © "+: 4 9 Then Patent-leather Joe stopped, and said, in a low, husky voice: ai Pages! oF “‘Pardner, I’m doin , ever heard of before, ‘ing I’m in for it, ? deal square; but blow me if Pll stand any og! at that is what I won from you. Do you give me the lie ?” The miner * caved.” Having satisfied the other claims, Patent-lea- ther Joe ded Arthur Hamilton two hundred dollars out of what was left. Then he arose, drew himself to his full hight, and poe WE around on the crowd, J “‘ Gents,” he said, slowly, ‘‘ every dog has his day. It'll be queer if I don’t get even with some ae in this room!” Hite ieicd @ ceased speaking his eyes se upon Flash Lightning, with’a scowl of intense hatred. The boy returned his look with a quiet half- smnile, The out of the saloon. Flash Lightning grasped Arthur Hamilton’s ‘* Stranger,” he said, heartily, ‘‘I like your wit. You got him where the hair was short.” “ And I,” said Arthur, smiling, “like your grit. You held him where I had got him:” “Ha! ha! ha!” laughed the boy, with relish, ‘You're not slow with your answers. Have ou got ” you & , a pardner? at Nor have I. Suppose we strike hands on ( “ Agreed!” “It’s a go, then! I’m yours to command, while wood grows and water runs!” ‘And Yll back you while I’ve got a leg to stand on!” 5 ee oe friends - hands with a bespo. gemuine eartiness, Conis isn’t the last we'll hear from Patent- leather Joe,” said Flash Lightning, lightly. “ He’s an ugly customer.” “He'll always find us at home, won’t he?” “You bes!” “ And now, gentlemen,” said Arthur, turning to the crowd, ‘‘ you will all favor me and my partner, I know. Bartender, we don’t want anything but the best.” ® e crowd cheered the joint heroes of the occa- on. PE ens Lightning again grasped the hand of his end. ‘*You’re a trump!” he said, ‘Everybody wouldn’t have thought to give me a share in this, rae yon eye done. That’s the way I want it rake f sg pardners in ewery*hing. ’ ner! ‘, ' Meanwhile ‘the y thro the moonlit night, until he away ket, ni the cliffs where nébody would think of they chanced % stumble com- a thing that nobody bler turned on his “heel and walked: bler left the town, walk- Walking down the little valley, he appro ache the face of a precipice where a ‘dense grov hot Vines hung like a vail. Before he reached the an animal came to meet him and fawn about affectionately. It proved to be a huge bloodhound. he drew nearer, & musical yoice was heard to ns : “Tt’s Walt!” Then the curtain of vines was pushed aside, and a young girl of exquisite loveliness shyly awaited his approach. i He quickened his step with a pleased smile of greeting, and spoke her name; , “ Berenice!” ~ en Shyly she let him take her hand; * ~~ “You are earlier than usual,” she said. 4) He bent until his lips-touchediher cheek, a caress to: which she must have been accustomed, since she did not shrink away, as he'said ina low, Meaning tone: ed), ‘“*T couldn't stay away from you, Berry. Do you know why?’ CHAPTER III. BERENICE’S GRIEF—THE SERPENT CHARMS, As he spoke, the gambler passed his arm about the supple Pao of the girl, and drew her further ge 6 moonlight, - that he could gaze upon her fresh young beauty. Seen in that light, "che tas very lovely. At ‘sweet sixteen,” life in the cpenair bad iven to Berenice Granger a roundness of figure yond her years. ,Yet in her manner was all ‘the coy timidity of a girl at her first outlook on manh They were full of strange questioning now, as she raised them to Patent-leather Joe’s face, What was it in his manner that thrilled her ‘| so? She had never felt it before. For the first time im, her life she te tremble, feeling -herself held so close to his side —feeling his breath on her cheek—feeling (yes, she could feel.them!) his eyes upon her. And the consciousness of something new, something different from all that had gone he- fore, startled her with a sort of vague appre- hension. ey Patent-leather Joe knew, though the girl did not, why she looked up at him Weasily and half drew away from him, } i For the first time a thrill of passion had crept into his caress. He had always designed her for himself, and had. watched her growing from year to Year, noting jealously every budding charm; but until now he had always regarded and treated iG as agen ee i h ‘o-night, for the first time, he gazed upon her as a woman. To-night, for the first time, his heart glowed and his ulses beat high with a de. licious thrill of tation, as he gazed upon her, and felt that the fruition of his hopes was near at.hand. Patent-leather Joe was not a 00d man. In his love there was nothing of that half.wonder- ing reverence which sets its Object apart as something sacred above others Of her kind. And when, without waiting for her answer to his question, he bent and Tisnoll her on the lips, his 88 was hot with passion, instead of being ten. der with affection, as it should Perhaps an in gage his am. Don’t, please,” she said, in a low, startley tone. é Still she had no clogtly defined fear of him, or re ugHANCe toward . * 1 «Don't draw away from me, Berry,” he sai gently. “Let us walk in the moonlight. want to talk to you.” fA a a rnd wa © girl yielded herseit y. gue ide 16 Momen ting of the vail only left a faint fiush on her check and 4 dreary thoughtfulness in her eyes. afer they had walked in silence & Moment “ How is Aunt Sue?” N . “This has been one of her dull days”. swered teed girl, “‘ Yesterday she wept a “What did she say’. interrupted Patent sadn commas he sath
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Fyfe tad toees pigs GS and broken her heart. She begged bring back her pact Pe i If he would only do m that, she would forgive every thing.” Shaded by his hat-brim, Patent-leather Joe’s face underwent a variety of expressions while | the girl was talking. There was cold, relentless hatred, and gloomy remorse; there was white-tipped anger, and humid-eyed pity, and perhaps a faint quicken- ing among the dead embers of a love that had , beeu quenched long years before by a fierce flood of passions. Walking in silence, with averted face, he cut at the flowers and shrubs with a stick which he carried in his hand. ’ The girl glanced up at him le vcaisnent several times. She could not see the expression of his face. Presently she broke the silence. Walt.’ He made no answer, but turned his face to the front, as if willing to listen to her, and so walked with his eyes on the ground. After another pause, the girl again spoke, in low, hesitating tones. “Walt, you have never told me about—Aunt Sue and—myself—as you promised.” She clasped her hands with a wringing mo- tion and drew her shoulders forward, gazing up into his face panting and with great tears.in her eyes, as little children are sometitnes seen to do, when they have broached a forbidden sub- ject in which strong desire centers. ‘““Oh! I have so longed to know!” she mur- mured, pleadingly, with her whole heart in her quivering tones. The man s e started. ; “Wait! wait!” he said, soothingly. ‘ Not now. But I will tell you, all in good time. There! there! do not cry!” But with her hands pressed hard over her eyes, the girl sobbed violently, and stood trem- hing in every nerve. Then Patent-leather Joe sat down on a bowl- der, and drawing the sorrowing girl ta his side, and placing her head on his shoulder, began to stroke her luxuriant hair; and so soothed her until she rested quietly gazing up at the moon and tranquilly sailin clouds, her breast shaken by only an occasional spasmodic sob. Her sunny temperament would not long be overcast by grief, and soon he won her to smiles. Then he approached the subject which he had been meditating ever since he had awakened that night to the fact of her womanhood. “Berry,” he said, “‘do you love me very much” i one “ i hs e re nocently, ou have altaya beer goad to me and ‘Aunt Sue” ; A slight trown flitted across his brow. She was so much a child that it was difficult to make her understand, without an avowal * which he feared would shock her. Again he drew her close in his arms and kissed her fips nite Ran sarene Doce: 8 vagy aR t, and rom a vaguely ‘eel- ing rather eran from any clearly-defined repug- nance, x I am going away from you for a time ha eald, eatebig her narrowly, “ Going away? When? Where? Why are you going, and for how long? Her ons were eager. The anxiety in her eyes was open, with no trace of coyness. Instead of answering her directly, he asked:— “Shall you miss me?” ; “Why, yes, of course; we shall both miss you * go very much. But it seems so strange. Why are you going?” ‘a ee will call me away.” ‘¢ Not for long?” “A few w perhaps.” “Can't you take us along with you? It will be so lonesome here, with only Aunt Sue and Nero. I shall almost be afraid,’ “ »” he asked, g to control his voice, ‘‘ would you like to be with me always?” ‘“* Yes,” she said, wondering somew ae at his ner. ‘‘I always shall be, shan’t “‘T have been thinking of it a great deal of late,” he replied. Abruptly he added: ‘Berry, do you know that you are a woman, now? k ‘¢ Am I?’ asked the girl, with a show of sur- ise, as if it were a new thought to her. “Yes; and it’s pretty near time you were married. Don’t Se think so?” At that the girl laughed, an amused, care-free laugh. Then she bl and drew her ghoul- riers together, with her head on one side and a weary half-mile on her lips, which showed dat in her solitary rambles had begua to eed . C ta cew bn ARES Tevet fae | it was not. whom nothing could daunt. ‘Oh, no,” she said, ‘‘ that’s ever so far away et.” me Berry,” he said, softly, ‘‘I have hoped that Do you know, dear, that all these years I have watched you growing more and more beautiful day by day, until—’ He drew her down until his lips were at her ear, ‘*Until—oh, Berry, is it strange that I should ‘| learn to love you and want you for my wife?” CHAPTER IV. A BETROTHAL—FALLEN FROM THE CLIFF—A NEW LOVE—‘‘ OH! MY HUSBAND!” “Your wife!” the girl cried, breathlessly, with a spasmodic effort to start from his em- brace. But he held her fast. Then up went her hands, and, the tide of maiden shame streaming all over face and neck, she murmured: “Oh! let me go, please 1 “Berry! Berry!” he breathed, plaintively, ‘fall my life happiness depends upon you. ou wish to make me miserable, after all that I ave hoped and so longed for?” ‘** No-o-0,” she whispered. ‘‘ And, dear, don’t you love me nie, to make me happy every day of my life, by being my wife?’ mbling violently, the girl was mute. he persisted ** Don’t you, Berry ? ; > was the hesitating “*Ye-e-s, if you wish it, reply. ** My darling !” he cried, clasping her ecstati- cally to his heart. ‘‘NowIs have you with me always \—always fe ‘*But—byt—can’t I live: with you—just the same—without—without being—your—wife?”’ “Oh, no, dear. You'd slip through my fin- gers—going off with somebody else, you know.” ‘* Oh, no, I shouldn’t,” said the girl, éagerly. Patent-leather Joe laughed, though he was not altogether undisturbed by her evident willing- ness to resort to any expedient other than the one he wished. a “Well, dear, we won’t discuss it,” he said, “since rae have consented to be my wife.” _ “Perhaps—I won’t suit—you,” she faltered. “Oh, yes, you will,” he replied, ‘ And when pee married I will tell you all about your- self,” ; ‘* Will you?” cried the girl, with sudden ani- mation. “Certainly, dear. And now, will you seal our bargain with a kiss?’ Smiling he drew her toward him. Held by the magnetic power of his eye, so that she could not look away from him, and with her heart fluttering like a bird Msn the fascin- ations of a serpent, the girl felt herself helplessly drawn nearer and nearer, until her lips touched “* Mine !—ali mine !” cried ga rg Joe, kissing her in and again with such passionate vehemence that, when at last he released her, she was faint and dizzy, and trembling with a vague fear of she knew not what. “Here is our betrothal ring, dear,” he pro- ceeded, taking from his pocket a plain gold cir- clet, evidently old and much worn. ‘‘ But I Ao not wish you to wear it on your finger yet. Sto, I have put it on this silken cord, so that you can wear it out of sight about your neck.” d with his own hand he slip the cord over her head and dropped the token into the throat of her dress. As the girl felt the ring glide into her bosom, she shrunk away from it with a little involun- tary shiver; but offered no further resistance. *" Say nothing to Aunt Sue of what has between us; and do not let her see the ring,” continued the gambler. ‘‘ And now I must leave ou. It will seem an tome. Good-by, dear. I member !~my happiness is now in your keep- Fie bent and kissed her, and then strode away. She stood looking after him like one in a m. She was startled by the touch of something cold and moist in her palm. It was only the nose of her faithful blood- hound, who thus sought to rouse her from: her long reverie. aking pes of his collar, as if somehow she needed his protection, she turned with a sigh and walked back to the face of the cliff, where, lifting the curtain of vines she Cigappeared from view. The space which she entered behind the eur- tain proved to be acave of some extent, adopted aa a place of abode, 3 It was divided into compartments by curtains strung on wires; and coarse matting covered the smooth sand floor. me was obtained from ordinary dip candles, made from the fat of wild animals, Though the furniture was by no means pre- penn it was all that was necessary for com- ort. Inan inner apartment, which evidently served as a kitchen, a woman sat crouching over a. small fire, crooning monotonously in a low tone, asif lulling a baby to sleep. Her stragglin gray hair and her emacia' , was m3 ' most to a skeleton, made her look much older than she really was. wir ae in an old faded shawl, with one corner thrown over her head, as a sort of hood she was in appearance not far from the typical ing up to,her, Berenice rested her hand om her shoulder, and said: ** Aunt Sue, are you feeling better?” The woman paid no heed, but kept on rocking her bent form to and fro, and mumbling her strange melody. \ The girl bent down and kissed her tly, and pee ing her arm about her and lifting her © up, said: ‘“* Come, Aunt Sue; it is bed-time.” The old woman submitted in silence, and sie herself to be led away, disrobed and put to a Then the girl went to her own curtained apart+ ment and threw herself on her couch. ; Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes un usually lustrous...,For hours she about in feverish restlessness. At last, toward morne ing, she sunk into a troubled sleep, in which she frequently started, or sobbed, or gave vent to a gasping: sigh. en With the first chirrup of the birds she was up and out, to greet awakening Nature, the friend she loved so well. Out of harmony with the universal cheerful ness of the early morning and the bright fami- ° liar light of the sun, the phantoms of_ the night fled away, and the girl went about her accus- tomed singing almost as lightly as ever, She was neither glad nor sorry forthe chaise only seemed that had come into her life. I so strange. Whatshe thought of most was, that when she was his wife, Patent-leather Joe would. tell her all about herself, So she passed the day in a state of suppressed excitement, until toward night, while she was wandering amid the cliffs with her constant companion, Nero, she heard a low and the dog showed signs of restiveness, and wu d a low, whining bay. A moment later she had gained the side of a He who had evidently fallen from the rocks above. The first emotion of her gentle nature was keen pity. It was instantly blended with a sense of strong admiration. At a glance she noted his strong, symmetr> cal frame and his frank, kindly countenance. The hero of her dreams lay before her, ap- pealing directly to that pity which the poet has said is ‘‘ akin to love!” Her heart beat wildly. She forgot all about Patent-leather Joe—about Aunt Sue—about herself—about everything but the injured man. as Oh, ee ou are 1 Seal Wiglse on f dot ow can I help you e , tears to her eyes in her excess of feiceMbe ar ae, i . And kneeling beside him piped her ar™ un- der his neck and raised his head. i Arthur Hamilton—for it was he—looked up at this angel of loveliness who had come to suc- cor him; and in spite of the pain that blanched his cheeks and lips a radiant smile of wondering admiration overspread his face, He felt her warm arm against his n and his ear was so near that he could hear the throb- bing of her heart, while her pect breath on Pongrhigys eyes told of her sweet pity! t : ‘Who are you?” he asked, scarcely above a whisper, with a sort of reverential awe, ‘‘T am Berenice,” replied the girl, innocently. “* Ber-e-ni-ce!” repeated Arthur, d on the syllables of the name with a sort of brood- — ing tenderness, while his eyes clung to hers in « worshipful that might have disconcerted tm not her sympathy for his pain been so -en, ecstasy. “Yes! yes!” she replied, hurriedly. “Bu emt ae Dow Lowe BaP. you. Idon’t how He would have preferred that she should keep on holding him, fast” as she was doing; but that could not continue, he said:—- yr
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4 Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. “Don’t distress yourself on my account. If “don va turn ox over just a sg bit and get my Jeg from under me, perhaps I’d lie easier. There! So! Ah-h!” #5 ens She turned him as he directed, and straight- ened out his leg; and the result was that he nearly fainted with excruciating pain, though her touch was the, very gentlest. “Oh! I have hurt you!” she cried. ** Not the least in the world!” he gasped, mur- desing the truth heroically. Had it killed him, he would have sworn that t was the most delightful sensation of his life! oe pe you lie so until I go for help?’ she “I guess I’m not so badly broke up but, if ‘you'll put that tuft of grass under my head, I’ll do,” he replied, smiling, though his lips were ‘colo Mess. ? '. The rascal knew that in order to get the im- } tu pillow in place she would have to lift ts head again with her arm under his neck. .. And with the sweetest unconsciousness she fell into his amatory little trap! Next she made tho put his nose in Ar- thur’s and pattin on the head, said: wt ee Wateke hie Kero! Good dog—good dog!” ' And while the intelligent anima! lay with moses between his paws, she sped away, as fleet as ‘fawn, for Aunt Sue. ne dear Auntie!” she throwing her creature, the arms about. the r, demen' new-born love whine had so suddenly sprung up in her heart unconsciously overflowing in toward this other object of her affec- tion—‘‘ dear Auntie. you must arouse yourself. There is a gentleman in the glen who has fallen from the rocks. You must help me to bring him into the house,” “Amen in oa a stranger!” exclaimed Aunt Sue, a Vely. * He poidine hurt us, dear. He is greatly in- fured. And then he would not. I know he is ” ' The old woman rose in sudden trepidation. “ Get stimulants and bandages!” she directed. Berenice hastened to comply. When they came in sight of the wounded man, Aunt Sue uttered a sharp cry and cast herself upon him, exclaiming: “ Oh! my husband! My darling husband !” CHAPTER V. YOUNG LOVE’S DREAM. You may well believe that Berenice stood or at Aunt Sue’s unexpected exclamation. at Arthur’s surprise should be quite as t is nots Tho a yor pa bayed dismally. ‘¢Oh! my murdered loved one!” moaned Aunt Sue, ou forgive me—will you believe me? I have been true toyou! Indeed—indeed, I have never wronged you by so much as a thought! . Oh, Fred! speak ‘to me—only ‘one word—only one word! See! my husband, for our child’s sake—our little se pp, wf _ You love him so! Can you leave him? erick! Fred- erick! A word—only a word! Oh! God of mercy! it’s too late—he’s dead—he’s dead!” Her voice in its wild appeal rose to ascream, and then died away in its despair to a heart- broken wail. Weeping distractedly,’she arose and fled back to the cave, wringing her: hands and beating her head and breast. pats **Go to the poor creature at once, said Ar- thur, comprehending the situation. “I can WwW. i+ 77 ait, : * Here! take this,” said Berenice, thrusting a flask of spirits into his hand, and hastened ater her insane relative. She returned in a few minutes. “T can do nothing for her,” she said. ‘‘ New, how can I get you into the house without her fhelp?” * Your stimulant has already done mea great ‘deal of good,” said Arthur. “I think I was weak from the loss of blood. Now, if no bones are broken, perhaps I can manage with your help. . ‘Help «me to a sittin g e first, please. There! AA! Sol Um! ere some; but if you will baby me a little, I shall get along famously. 9% 9%: “That knee is all right. Ah/ It isn’t so limber as it was this time Aewaga on ‘‘Oh!—ah! I guess there’s a joint—in that— ah !/—rib that wasn’t—down in the or—oh /—in We won’t meddle with “Oh! let me get you some water to wash that ugly wound; and then I will bind it up.” “No, thank You. Nature has patched it up for the present better than we can fix it. Does the sight of blood make you nervous?” “T can’t help thinking how it must pain you.” “Not a bit—Ah-h-h! Um! That was a lit- tle twinge, I'll confess! I’m afraid that leg’s a total wreck! It’s been playing quartz-crusher, and got the worst of it. ** My head, too, must have been trying con- clusions with some of the primitive. It feels like a cracked cocoamut.” AS 3 how sorry I am for you!” sighed the girl. **Thank you; but it isn’t worthy of your notic6. Now, if you can get me a stick of some sort, to use as a crutch orcane.” ‘She had one for him in a moment. “Now, if I can edge up to that sapling. Will you put your arm about me? So! The-e-re! I guess we’ll—ah /—we'll manage it—one moment! —s0!—by slo-o-ow—ah/—stages. Ah! Her we are! It has winded me, hasn’t it? TU breathe a bit, if you please.” The sweat stood on his brow and he fainted with exhaustion! “Tf I were only stronger,” sighed the girl, “*T could ca A ? “Ha! hal !’ he laughed—a rather faint laugh, but a brave effort—‘how you'd look Fb ay a great lubberly fellow like me! Yes- terday I wouldn’t have asked any. better fun than to you; but I’d have to let out the job to-day, wouldn’t I? ‘* Now that I am rested, if you will give me the support of your arm once more. Thank you. -afraid I tax awe strength too much.” in ie no! Indeed, I am stronger than you er ; ‘She lifted his arm and put it about her neck, and wound her arm about his body. It delight- éd him, inspite of his pain. He grasped the:sapling with his other hand, t his best leg under him, and set his teeth for he painful effort. eR $y, Slowly he rosé to his feet;-and when at last hes erect, an involuntary moan escaped his lips, and his head sunk forward until his cheek rested on her sunny hair. Standing thus within the circle of his arm, and feeling his strong frame tremble, the girl suffer- ed as much in sympathetic imagining as he did in reality. She tele no shrinking from him, nor a particle 6f fear. It seemed to her as if she had known him all her life. When he saw the distance he must walk even his stout heart failed him. ‘That is almost as distant as Heaven,” he said. Then glancing in her face with a faint smile, he added: ‘Distance isn’t the only point of re- semblance, since it,is your home! ‘Perhaps it was the first real compliment to which the girl had ever listened. e flushed beghety with pleasure. “T have an idea!” she said, trying to cover her confusion with sudden animation. ‘‘ Why can’t you ride on Nero’s back? He is strong enough to bear you,” “That’s an idea, indeed, if Nero does not ob- ject. Sup we consult his dogship’s pleasure.” “ He'll do anyting I want him to. ome here, sir! Standthere! Now, let me ease you down,” The animal, was perfectly docile; and with much less pain than he could have walked, |- Arthur actually rode to the cave, steadied by Berenice’s arm. When at last he was safely bestowed on Ber- enice’s own bed—she put him there because it was softer than the one Patent-leather Joe used when he was at home—he almost swooned with exhaustion. Then began a new experience in the lives of | both these young beings so well suited to each other. ; She had him helplessly under her care, so that she could lay down, her whole life at his feet. Every thought, every energy of her being was devoted to his service. ‘ She never analyzed her feelings. It did not oecur to her that there was possible disloyalty to her pledge to Patent-leather Joe. She was so wholly engrossed with Arthur, that it required little if any effort to avoid all thought of Joe, either one way or the other. Only when his ring forced itself upon her notice, she experi- enced a sensation for which she would have found it difficult to account. As for Arthur, every want was ministered by her hand, every good he owed to her wateh- ful care, and it was all infinitely, deliciously Be kim her every movement was postry, har —— voice music, the touch of her hand a panacea for all pain. As yet, his love was too ethereal for the familiarity of a caress, so that he never startled her into a knowledge of the nature of the ties that were interweaving their lives more and more closely every hour. the time until he was convalescen and could walk with her, in the warm sunshine and under the mellow light of the moon. He had told her about Flash Lightning, and asked her to fetch him. She replied that she cenld not leave their laee of abode, nor admit strangers, without alter’s consent. For years Aunt Sue and she had led perfectly secluded lives, rarely see any one belo to the outside world, then always in Walter’s company. ur was the only stranger who had penetrated to their secret retreat. All this seemed strange to Arthur; but as he could see no’ connéction between the man she called Walter and the gambler he had met as Patent-leather Joe, and as he fenred no rival in one who had been her guardian ever since her infancy, he did not try to break through the reserve with which she spoke of Walter. Thus he necessarily put off communicating tape Flash Lightning until he could go to him m. ith returning strength came the desire to seek the great outside world of act which ht the engue of having to vee Berenice or take her with him as his e. It flashed upon him suddenly one day, and without a-second thought he turned-and caught both the: girl’s hands, Berenicé looked up at him, a little startled by his abruptness, yet with a smile of pleased ex- pectanc She ae something altogether new jn the fixed, eager regard with which he read her eyes. It was vastly different from what she had seen in Patent-leather Joe's face, and enough like it'so that she knew its meaning tim e. Her first sensation was a thrill of exultant delight; the rich color mautled cheek and bruw; and unconsciously she gave a responsive prem sure to the clasp of Arthur’s hands. ing oie ane a rive AS i rested te a scorc ng from the ring that tten her bosom, and she turned as pale as a tly. By this time Arthur had caught her in hi arms, and his passionate words were ringing is her ears. “Sweet! I needn’t tell a end rE satel know it. y tell me, in words; for we —don’t we, Berenice?’ And without waiting for her answer, he ressed his first kiss on her lips. He was no aint-bearted wooer. He saw that she belonged to him, and he never thought of beating about the bush. In that first moment, when the revelation of her love brought with it the knowledge of the iron manacles that bound her to another, she was equally powerless to repulse him, or to re- spond to his caresees. Before the impassioned lover discovered that she lay cold and inert in his embrace, both were brought face to face with the barrier that rose between them in the person of Patent-leather Joe, who stepped from the undergrowth and stood in their presence with folded arms. ** So!” he exclaimed, in a low, hoarse, rattling hiss. met, His His brows were indented until the | eyes were closely contracted, snd glittered like | those of a basilisk. A white circlo that had set- | tled about his mouth could be seen on the nether lip, the upper being hiddea by his mustache. is a Be were pinched, with a white spot on either side. He stood the impersonation of deadly hatredt CHAPTER VI. A MURDEROUS INTRUDER—A FEARFUL RIDE. STARTLED by the intrusion of this evil n.on ster on his love-dream, Arthur stared at the | gambler in speechless astonishment. - Being a woman, Berenice’s first thought was | to establish peace between the man who owned | her heart and the man who claimed her alle- giance, Tearing herself from’ Arthur’s embrace, she depres toward his rival, with a sharp cry of ‘ recation: Walt!” hee epol looking at he-, Pavert-leather Joe Ho gated fixedly at the men in whess avmes
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Patent-leather Joe. he had seen his betrothed wife—the woman whom he had brought up under his own eye from her very infancy, until she should be ripe for his enjoyment. Berenice’s one word informed Arthur that he was confronted by her guardian. inferred from that that she was in no dan- ger, though toward himseif he read murder, as plainly as it it had been written in letters of He never dreamed of Patent-leather Joe in the light of a possible rival. He thought that his anger sprung from finding an intruder in the home he kept so secluded, augmented by the fact that that intruder was one toward whom he had previous cause for hostility. Then too he would naturally be suspicious of a stran- ger’s intentions toward Berenice, whom he had ‘reared with such evident care. To Arthur’s mind this amply accounted for Patent-leather Joe’s anger. Had it not been so extreme, he would uave tried to propitiate him; but he saw that the gambler was deat to reason, and would kill him before he had a chance to vindicate himself. In that secluded valley, where even defense- less women were safe, Arthur, having been reared in the East, had not thought it necessar to carry weapons; so he had now only his hands to defend himself with, while Patent-leather Joe was armed with the accustomed bowie and revolvers. Fortunately they were not far from the mouth of the cave; and keeping his eyes fixed on those of his enemy, as he would have watched a wild beast, Arthur began to retreat backward to- ward where his weapons were. . Patent-leather Joe, knowing his purpose, and -having nointention to let him accomplish it, et willing to prolong the enjoyment of his evilish hatred, followed him with a creeping motion, step by step, neither increasing nor di- minishing the distance between them. Terrified into utter helplessness, Berenice walked not more than a pace behind ee gam- bler, and a little to one side, powerless touch him or even to speak tohim again. Had he drawn a weapon it might have broken the charm, so that she coul spring upon him and try to prevent the murder by embarrassing his movements; but while he crept forward thus, like the demon of hate that he was, she was spell-bound. At this moment the hound, Nero, issued from the mouth of the cave, and ded toward his master with demonstrations of affectionate At sight of him a devilish idea lighted Patent- leather Joe’s face with a smile that the arch- fiend might have envied. “‘Hah! I'll have him torn to pieces before my eyes!” he muttered. And crouching low, and glaring at Arthur with a savage grin, he clapped his hands and “Take him, Nero! H’s—s! Tear him limb from limb!” é j With a bay; not of anger but of friendship, the dog bounded toward Arthur and put his a ai his hand, as if to show that he was a end, Good dog— Nero!” said Arthur, patting him on the "29 a ‘ The animal bounded back to his master, evi- dently thinking that it was all right. Berenice’s heart, which for an instant had stood still, now went out to the dog in a great throb of love, and she murmured: ** Dear Nero!” ) As for Patent-Leather Joe, he nearly choked with pie oe ** And he has won you too?” he cried. And turning, as the dog passed him to go to Berenice, he drew his revolver and shot the noble beast through the head. Without a whine, Nero fell to the ground, quivered convulsively, and straightened him- self in death. “Oh Walt! What have Berenice, astonishment and e of every other emotion, And forgetful of all else, she knelt beside her dead companion. — Knowing that his turn would come next, Arthur took advan of the momentary di- version of the gambler’s eye from him, and , ran toward the mouth of the cave. With a savage oath, Patent-leather J oe whirl- ed around again, and fired at the rapidlye- ou done?’ cried ismay taking the treating figure of his rival, and then started in hot pursuit. ; But Arthur gained the curtain of vines, and disa from view. i t-leather Joe followed, almost at his heels, ~ 5 Berenice was left alone, frozen with terror. She heard two more pistol-shots. They were followed by sounds of a struggle. Clear and shrill above Patent-leather Joe's hoarse curses rose Aunt Sue’s voice. The poor, insane creature was wrought to the highest pitch of excitement. What could Berenice do? She felt that Ar- thur (yet weak from illness, while Walt was in the full vigor of health) was being murdered, and that she was powerless to help > {ty At that instant she heard the whinny of a horse that Patent-leather Joe had ridden into the valley. Instantly she conceived the idea of going for Flash Lightning, to come to the rescue of his friend, She did not reflect that, for good or ill, the struggle would be over long before she could even reach her lover’s ‘pardner.” She had but the one thought, to get him. She knew from Arthur's description pretty nearly where he was to be found—that is to say, if she were fortunate enough to find him at home. Quickly she gained the side of the horse, mounted his back in spite of the inconvenient saddle, and urged him with voice and rein to his greatest speed. Out of the valley, and then up among the cliffs she sped, risking her life at every step, placing all dependence on the saredooted. beast that bore her so gallantly. Now scrambling up some steep incline, now slipping and sliding down some weather-worn declivity, now tearing through the under-brush, now coursing alcng a less-obstructed bridle- th,—on !@ver on, she sped, wide-eyed with a srrible dread, panting with nervous sobs, with her long hair streaming in the wind and adding to her wild look. Foam flew in white flecks from her horse’s lips, dappling his reeking breast and flanks. His legs were torn and bleeding, rent by thorns and cut by the jagged edges of rocks. His nostrils were distended and his eyes round and wild with the exertions he was making. On! on! unconscious that her hands and face were lacerated and her dress torn, and every muscle so strained that she could scarcely cling to her saddle! The noble girl had but one thought, that con- nected her imperiled lover and the fiend who alone could save him, Then occurred a terrible accident! She heard a fierce buzzing sound, Next her horse uttered a screaming neigh, vaulted high in the air, and kicked wildly, nearly unseating her; then co madly away, kicking and bit- ing, no longer picking his way, but frantically endeavoring to rid himself of the swarm of hornets that had attacked him at every point. In that place of pitfalls and perils without name, the girl knew that the animal she rode was now wholly beyond her control, Worse, he was so occupied with the torments that gave him no rest that he could exercise no caution whatever. She, too, felt their terrible stings, as they hung in a cloud about her, striking now here, now there, until she felt as if on fire, She could make no effort even to protect her face. Inthat mad ride, where to relax her hold but an instant meant certain death, she could but cling desperately to her horse’s back, and await the uncertain issue. More and more precipitous became the way, until she was ridiug along a narrow ledge, with a wall of rock on one side, and a sheer descent of a hundred feet on the other. With a great heart-thrill of terror she recog- niged the place, and knew that a little further on was an angle round which it required a sure- footed horse to pass at a walk. Atthe mad pace she.was going, she must inevitably be hurl- ed over the precipice, to die a mangled corpse on the rocks below! Wildly she clutched at the bridle-rein. She nearly lost her seat, and her horse swerved so near the edge of the cliff that for one terrible moment she thought that all was over. Haif-blinded by the sting of a hornet, and nearly swooning with terror, she dimly saw some obstruction in the path—heard a warning cry, followed by a pistol+shot—felt her horse leap high, with a neigh of pain and terror, and threw herself from his back. There was a rush through empty space—then oblivion! CHAPTER VII. A LEAP FOR LIKE!—A NEW PERIL! On the night of their suddenly-formed friend- ship, Flash Lightning and Arthur Hamilton ‘se by parted company, with the understanding that they would rmsd ain on the morrow, when the pro ership was to go into operation, and henceforth their prospecting and mining schemes be prosecuted in com- ny. But feeling restless early in the morning, Ar- thur had gone out ‘to look around a bit,” with results which we have already learned. When Flash Lightning came to look for his “‘pardner ” he was not to be found; and by the next day his prolonged absence excited serious anxiety. Patent-leather Joe too had disappeared; and Flash Lightning began to fear that the coinci- dence pointed to foul play. ‘rue to bis friendship, the youth reselved to search for Arthur’s body, if’ indeed he had fal- Jen a victim to the gambler’s resentment, For days he devoted himself to the self-ap- pointed task, searching every nook and cranny within miles of Vi: sinia City. He was almost in despair, when one day he heard the clatter of a horse’s hoofs along a ledge which he was traversing. A moment later, horse and rider burst into view, and he saw a young girl, with hair stream- ing in the wind, clinging to the back of an ani- mal whose headlong course jeopardized her life at every bound. Instantly he realized the inevitable destruc- tion to which she was igen Standing against the face of the wall, he crie ‘* Jump ! Iwill catch you!” As the horse neared him, threatening to ride him down, he fired at his breast, then threw up his arms with a wild yell. ° The animal leaped hig , as the bullet pene- trated his body, swerved outward, struck the verge of the precipice, and toppling over, went hurtling down to the rocks below, to lie a quiv- ering, gory masse of mangled flesh. But the rider had thrown herself from the saddle! True to his promise, Flash oan gx 4 caught her in his arms; but the impetus of her body hurled him from his feet; and, having saved her from death or mutilation, he lay stunned and ps iy 9 on the very brink .of the cliff ; over which he came near rolling with his bur den. For a time Berenice too lay unconscious; hry her fall had been broken, and her swoon we; one a over-excitement, rather than from ke shock. hen she recovered, she found herself ‘vying across the body of the man who had saved her life, and so near to the precipice that kar arm hung over the verge. In terror she started back, and t?.n sought to drag her preserver to a more secnradistance; but her exhausted energies were uacgaal to the task She next sought to restore him to conscious- ness, but failed. He lay like adead man. She feared that his skull had been fractured. She felt that she must go for assistance. But if he recovered while she was gone, in the first gropings of returning animation he might roll over the clixt! To obviate this danger, she removed from her waist a silken scarf which Arthur Hamilton had worn, and with which he had playfully adort her that morning; and securing one end of the scarf to a bowlder, she tied the other end about Flash Lightning’s wrist. Being thus anchored he could get no nearer the ries pice. Then to her tremulous limbs she set the task of bearing her whither she knew not—any where in search of a fellow-creature who could be moved to pity. For perhaps half an hour she toiled aauud the mo 2 with leaden feet and swimming head. Then, while dark spots floated before her eyes, and her ears rung with a dull, raise, sound, she saw directly in her path a large rattlesnake, | coiled, ag to spring at her, She saw the vibrant tail, the head rising from the coil and drawn ominously back, the glitter- ing eyes, the forked, restless tongue and the white fangs. All the horrors of a death by the poison of that deadly reptile came over her with a creeping, sickening sense of oatne: She would have leaped back, but her feet seemed glued to the She would have cried out, but her tongue lay like a lump of lead in her mouth, Everything faded from view but those oft ne ii ing eyes and the vibrant tongue. She felt as if she were floating in epene: about her seem- ed suddenly | perv: by a girange, wed music, Then all died out with nothingness. She sunk down, once more unconseiows! \ j Ri. i ahi ce
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with its wealth of sun-lit hair from his shoulder, the man’s hand closed about the neck of the snake ' Old Rattlesnake (for that was the name this - 42t and began a succession of wild cadences on ined its mouth critically, and the Thon, kneeling and lifting her limp hand—‘ _ thou seemest to live again! at the girl. Then he murmured: gether fancied?” ae And lifting the limp form in his arms, he be- |. 6 Beadle’s Half-Dime Libra ry. Se CHAPTER VIII. @UD RATTLESNAKE —THE SNAKE-CHARMER’S HOME—A LOATHSOME SPECTACLE—BERENICE’S FLIGHT. BERENICE’S sensations were not all illusive. The music was a reality. J It proceeded from a sort of hautboy, in the batts of a strange-looking old man, whom Bere- nice had approached without seeing. i Judging from his sallow, wrinkled skin, and neglected gray beard and hair, he might have been pronounced sixty or seventy years old; but in fact he was not over fifty. His dress and accouterments were rather odd for the country in which he lived. ; He wore an old Oxford collegian’s cap, with ita square top and tassel. His coat was almost a gown in length and looseness, and was full of large pockets, which now contained plants, or bits of rock, or birds which he had shot with a double-barreled shot-gun slung to his back bya strap. One of these ge held a variety of birds’ eggs, protected by a feathery moss, In another wes perhaps a score of little snakes, mess by reason of their infancy. To a belt e@bout his waist, under his long coat, were strung three or four large rattlesnakes, which coiled ure And with the sigh, he would shake his head sadly and walk on. Presently he reached a low-roofed hut, rudely built, and yet a shelter from the storm. It was all overgrown with creepers, and but a ste from its doorway was a garden-patch, wit hotbeds, filled with what seemed to be speci- mens of flora of that part of the country. Not far distant was an artificial basin in which fish of various kinds mal and built partly within and partly without the house a wire aviary held its tribe of fluttering, twittering birds. From these surroundings we may infer that Old Rattlesnake was a naturalist, though his unusual familiarity with the most venomous of reptiles had most impressed his rude neighbors, and had thus given him his sobriquet. Bearing Berenice into the hut, which every- where bore tokens of his life-passion, he laid her on a bed in the innermost of its two apartments, and stood gazing at her buried in melancholy thought. For a long time he stood thus; and when at last he suddenly awakened to the expediency of applying restoratives, he discovered that her swoon had lapsed into an exhausted slumber. With a parent’s solicitude he examined the inflamed spots on face, neck and hands, which marked the stings of the hornets, and applied a cooling lotion to them. Then he left her and repaired to the other room, closing the door gently, He was much distressed in mind, evidently a prey to gen recollections, and often the name of Agat about his legs or hung pendent at pleas- At the moment when we introduce him to the reader, he was playing a weird melody on a much-woern reed instrument, with his eyes fixed on the reptile that threatened Berenice’s life. The snake yielded tothe charm of the music. | The coil relaxed some of its tension. The head rose higher and began to oscillate in time with the rhythm of the strange melody. Presently the serpent uncoiled his body and glided up to the musician. Without stopping the melody, the snake- charmer put out his hand and ran it along the body of the repulsive reptile, The snake showed no signs of repulsion, but lay still, like a domestic animal receiving a\ca- ress est accents. After an interval of perhaps two hours, Ber- enice awakened from her slumber. With a sense of strangeness upon her, she la perfectly still, to collect her thoughts and loo about before attempting to move. She was in an unfamiliar room, evidently having a man for its usual tenant, as was evi- denced by a Mexican saddle, a pair of top-boots and some mining implements on the floor, and several garments hanging against the wall. So much for the sense of sight. Listening, she heard the strangest music that had ever greeted her ears. Its sad, sweet ca- dences induced a dreamy melancholy, which disinclined her to move or do anything but ten. But she thought that this must be the owner of the room; and then, wondering how she came to be his guest, the scene on the cliff of the man rescuing her from her runaway horse gradually recurred to her, and then the cause of her ride—Arthur’s deadly peril ! And here she lay dreaming while Arthur might be dead! ith a great heart-throb-of remorse and dread she instantly rose from the bed, though every muscle of her body seemed stiff and sore. Was it Flash Lightning who had rescued her out there among the cliffs? If so doubtless he was just on the other side of the door. And yet, not certain who it might be, she went on ne to reconnoiter before making herself eard. Peeping through a crack in the door, she wit- nessed a spectacle that froze her blood! Seated cross-legged in the middle of the floor, Old Rattlesnake was Playing his strange music, while perhaps a half a score of loathsome rep- tiles lay their length at his feet, or coiled them- selves about his person. ; One, resting in his lap, had raised its head to a level with his face, and its sinuous body oscil- lated back and forth to the time of the music. Near at hand were open boxes in which the reptiles evidently were kept. he snake-charmer was so engrossed with his The music, which had swelled wildly at times, now became low and exquisitely pathetic, while with a firm, steady pressure. The reptile seemed to sink into an ecstatic ance, Presently the music became a single prolong- ed note; very low and sweet. The charmer watched the reptile narrowly. The snake moved restlessly. The melody began again, more exquisitely pathetic, if possible, than before. The hideous monster once more yielded to its charm. ra At asecond trial the snake showed no signs of arousing. Then, having both hands free, while the instrument was held between his lips, strange old man had received) drew forth a knife or lancet, with a spoon-shaped blade, but very small. / By a skillful procsure of the finger and thumb f the left hand the snake’s mouth was opened. en by a quick movement of the lancet the reptile was rendered harmless by the removal #7 its venom-sac. (nstantly the snake-charmer dropped his lan- ais hautboy, while the ee writhed about his wri«'s ind forearm, he holding it by the neck, so ‘YZ .c was powerless to bite him. ; a/ ey atime it once more succumbed to the of his music. Then Old Rattlesnake exam- ison sac as well; and having satisfied himself that his work was effectually done, strung it to his belt with the others. The old snake-charmer now advanced and bent over the unconscious Berenice. : The first glance into her pale face caused him ‘6 start vio. ently. “Ah!” he ejaculated, with a sort of gasp. te) watched them with a rapt look of admiration and affection that was horrible in its unnatural- ness, 'To the sensitive girl who had never witnessed or heard of such a thing, this old man was a monster even more loathsome, if possible, than his hideous play-things. . The thought occurred to her that he must have brought her to his house while she was un- conscious—that sbe must have been held in his arms—that her face, pears even her mouth / had been in contact with his person! A cold shudder passed over her from head to foot. She experienced a horrible creeping sen- sation all over her body as if the clammy folds fair!—so delicate! ! Agatha! in her If she were but thy ehild— Ah! what am I saying?” A sad humor gathered in his eyes as he gazed Aga’ “For thy sake I will care for her more ten- derly than but for the resemblance. Js it alto- to pick his way among the rocks toward Eis sequestered abode. Ret s Ever and anon he paused, to lift the head of those x tact with her flesh! - that moment of every tissue sent and gaze into the still, white face. As 2) Five t ms bot * 7% = ak ai Pe %, Fae 5 i “hts me i eee Ae . Aan ata = 5 intel Se rt S42 n6 | In ‘So like, sweet Agatha!—dead Agatha! Ah!” | test of sachet ate 3 all her nature st a escaped his lips uttered in the tender- | pets as to be oblivious to everything else. He | _b nauseous monsters were in actual con- nerve | child!—have you not commi lee (soap wi ~ ai PY ETE Toe ee nna ee ete he lc At OE ITT EE back in utter detestation and abhorrence, she forgot even Arthur’s peril in the one irresistible instinct of self-preservation. No, that does not express it. Had it been merely death, she could have given up her Ttife for Arthur’s sake; but to have her flesh in aet- ual contact with the most repulsive thing cre- ated, or to touch one whose nature was such . that he could voluntarily handle, nay, fondle ! anything so hideous—Ugh! she had but one thought—flight! A window offered her the means of escape. Noiselessly she glided through, and was free! But imagination pictured that man-monster, hung with wriggling serpents, in pursuit, and taking no note of whither she was going, she fled aimlessly. This dread of being overtaken and dragged back to the snake-charmer’s den, acted as an ever present spur, and her excessive fear made her waste the fictitious strength which that very fear lent her; so that when, after perhaps an hour’s exhaustive flight, she heard a ste behind her and a voice culkitie to her, she down utterly helpless. The step came nearer, though sounding far away; she heard with muffled indistinctness the voice; she felt the touch of a hand on her shoul. der; and without lifting her face from where it was buried in her hands, she fainted away with terror and weakness, CHAPTER [X. A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER! Durine Arthur Hamilton’s stay in the cave under Berenice’s care, Aunt Sue’s mania had received a new impetus. The brooding melan- choly which had clouded her life ever since Berenice’s earliest recollections of her was suc- ceeded by a quickening of all her faculties which made her a ve fferent sort of person. Laboring under the ucination that Arthur was her husband, whose life had been attempted by a rival for her love, she gave him every at- tention—indeed, so much so as to interfere with that more exclusive enjoyment of Berenice’s society which he would have preferred. But as he became convalescent, the vividness of this impression seemed to abate somewhat, so that he was left freer to gratify his predilection for the younger woman. So matters stood when Arthur rushed inte the cave, hotly pursued by Patent-leather Joe. nape Aunt Sue’s hallucination sprung u j again in all its intensity. She saw her husband | fleeing for his life, pale with excitement, and with blood streaming over his wound on the side of his head. , She saw Patent-leather Joe tear aside the cur. tain and fire again at his victim, just as Arthur — his weapon and turned to defend him- face from a self. Blindly Arthur fired a return shot, which flew wide of its mark, staggered a step forward, and sunk upon his kneés, With a mocking laugh, Patent-leather Joe raised his weapon for a finishing shot. (i But at that instant Aunt Sue sprung upon , r him with a cry like that of a wounded tigress. / His bullet was flattened against the rocky bo walls of the cavern, and he felt his face being f torn by the nails of the fury. Bewildered by the fierceness and unexpected- ness of this assault, he dropped his weapon in [ the effort to disembarrass himself. Par To overcome the maniac’s artificial strength and activity was no slight task; and before he { could hurl her from him, she had injured one ‘4 of his eyes and lacerated his face, so that be~. 4 Liha the pain and the blood he was nearly ; He sought to draw the revolver remainingin _ } his belt; but with the quickness of a cat she © snatched it from its holster; and whenhe grop- sy ed for the weapon that had fallen to the floor, her ready foot kicked it beyond his reach, “You accursed devil’s cat!” he snarled through his grating teeth, “why haveI let you | live so long!” Pe 3 2 i _ And drawing his bowie-knife with one hand, while he wiped the blood out of hiseyes with the other, he advanced upon her with the gri- mace of a ed fiend. ta ‘The woman, overcome by a sudden panic, — cowered beside pint and, staring at theiras- sailant with eyes distended by insanity and ter. ror, ¢ H a of Be nmitted ‘wickedness e. - af <3 Wh . 4 a : ‘Murderer of my husban ~
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STTSR cee ™ 6~ FUROR & Shn% & ee on (SE EE ASE AA SRT AT LS THE QUEST~—PATENT-LEATHER JOE’S DELIVER- ey _ fears allayed by the cessation of the sounds of owt Patent-leather Joe. And her voice rose to a shrill shriek of ago- nized fear, id age time Arthur had recovered from the | de y faintness that had prostrated him. Supporting himself on his knees by clinging to the bed, he leveled his revolver at his would- be murderer, and cried: “Halt! I hold your life in my hand; but I finve no desire to kill you unless you make it u iavoidable.” ** Hah!—hah!—hah!” R coaty the gambler, whom baffled rage had almost deprived of rea- son, so that for the time he was more a wild beast than a human rie “And do you dream that I will now yield to you? You give me my life—ha—a-h ! my life !—if I will tame- ly surrender!—if I will lick the dust at your eet and whine:—Take the hope of my life!— take the love of my life!—take the revenge of my life!—only leave me life itselfyah /—sweet ~ ia life!—hah !—ha-a-h !” vag dly he dashed the blood from his eyes and cried: ° “No! If you an jo rob me of my soul’s core, let my body rot, that I may not know my loss! War!—war to the death! You shall have all, or nothing!” And raising his clenched hand with its mur- derous knife on high, he sprung forward to the attack, At that instant Arthur Hamilton’s revolver exploded. ith a look of anguish and horror Patent- ‘eather Joe recoiled. The knife Groves from 4is nerveless hand, His arm sunk shattered and helpless at his side! It was not so much the physical pain, as the overwhelming consciousness that his foe had re- éused to take his life, as he might have done, ‘ut instead had rendered him helpless, so that 4s must live on and know that Arthur had wrizem phed. It never occurred to him that Berenice might adhere to her‘pledge, He thought that Arthur aad alresdy won her from her allegiance, and jn imagination saw her clinging to her love and | shrinking from him in abhorrence. The thought goa'ed him toa frenzy of des- peration. “Not yet!—not yet!” he cried, and stooped to pick up the knife with his left hand. ut the maniac had seen the weapon fall; and darting forward, she snatched it up before he could reach it, At the same time she uttered a scream of exultation, as a valture might in pouncing upon its prey. With an oath of such concentrated rage that it seemed as if his heart mizht ieap from his throat, Patent-leather Joe seized her by her long hair and hurled her violently vy ve floor of the cavern. The knife flew ont of her hand beyond yecov- ary. Patent-leather Joe had now nothing bet his empty hands, and one of them helpless, while his foe held four lives in the chambers of his revolver; but the desperate gambler had no thought of abandoning the unequal struggle, With an inarticulate cry which sounded like the snarl of a wild beast, he sprung upon Arthur, bearing him to the floor, With a magnanimity and presence of mind ‘which few men so circumstanced would haya displayed, instead of seeking his assailants life, the young man dropped his revolver, and seiz- ing Patent-leather Joe’s wounded arm, gave it a violent wrench. : With a scream of anguish the gambler fainted away ; and the struggle was at.an end. CHAPTER X. ANCE—TRACKED!—AT THE MERCY OF HIS FOR! For some time after the termination of his desperate struggle with Patent-leather Joe, Arthur Hamilton lay exhausted, partly under the body of his now unconsclous foe. Aunt Sue lay at a little distance, stunned by ber fall. ) “When he had gathered sufficient strength, Arthur rid himself of the burden of the gam- bler’s body, andrising with some difficulty, tot- tered across the apartment, to where he could ur his flagging energies by a draught from a flask of spirits. ! His. next precaution was to bind Patent- feather Joe securely. : He then la etal on the bed, e ting that Berenice would soon venture into the cave, her } } EO eee Exhausted nature sought her proper medica- ment, and without warning he sunk into slum- ber, from which he awoke perhaps an hour later much refreshed. Patent-leather Joe lay like a baffled demon. Aunt Sue, who had also recovered conscious- | ness, sat in the middle of the floor, with the skirt of her dress thrown over her bowed head, rocking back and forth, and moaning in a low voice. Arthur rose, feeling very weak and tremulous, and went out of the cave to search for Bere- nice, All was still in the vale save for Nature’s varied life. The girl was nowhere to be seen. He called aloud:— : ‘* Berenice!” There was no response. Still louder:— ‘* Berenice !” Only the whir of the startled thrush answer- ed him. Then he made search for her, thinking that she might be lying in a swoon. His eye was rewarded no more than his ear. If he had only Nero’s true nose to guide him to her! But Nero lay still in death. Coming upon the tracks of a horse evidently going at speed from the glen, he paused to speculate on their significance. Had Berenice ridden the horse? and if so, whither had she gone? Doubtless for help..- In that case whom would she ask? She might go to Virginia City, or— He started with a sudden idea. She might seek Flash Lightning! So forcibly did this thought strike him that, without further reflection, he set out to follow the trail. Patent-leather Joe and Aunt Sue were noth- hg 30 him, if only he got Berenice. 6 never stopped to think whether it was wise or not to leave them in the cave together. In coming out he had brought his own weap- ons; but he had not taken the precaution to re- move those belonging to Patent-leather Joe. The gambler heard Arthur calling Berenice’s name, and knew by the diminishing loudness with which his voice could be heard that he was going further and further from the mouth of he cave. The desperate man saw one more chance, ‘* Aunt Sne!”. he said, in a decisive, yet not unkind tone. The woman looked up very much in her ordi- nary manner. ‘“Get.me a drink of water,” he added in the same tone. The woman got v4 and wen* to dochis bidding, looking bewildered ant omewhat apprehen- sive. ‘“Untie this knot for me,” he said, when he had drank the water. The woman looked at him and began to trem- ble. ‘From him she looked about the apartment, as if vaguely contemplating flight. It was a supreme moment! If her shattered intellect picked up again, the thread for which it was evidently groping, he was lost! If the habit of song seare of passive submis- sion prevailed, then he was a free man once more, ready to renew the struggle! ‘Come! I am in a hurry!” he said, though his voice trembled, with the momentous issue. **Forgive me,” she said, deprecatingly, and knelt down and began to pick at his bonds. One knot was removed. [Then she paused and passed her hand across her /brow. ; Hy What has happened?” she asked. ‘ I thought saw— ** Why are you so slow? Call Berry. Or, no —you shall do it yourself. Now be quick, Sue’ can’t wait here all day!” Patent-leather Joe’s heart was in his mouth. His impatience was of a different sort from that simulated by his voice. With a thrill of renewed hope, he saw Aunt cee resume her work, with a sigh of hopeless- Her incautious handling of his wounded arm racked him with acutest agony; yet he made no sign. A cry of pain might furnish the mis- sing clew to her clouded mind. At last the trying ordeal was over—his hand was free! Then he was master of the situation, and with no misgivings ordered : ge sap Phare. ered her to make a sling for When she saw his arm bandaged she shrunk away from him with slow-coming conscious- ness, * , Ne te ae ne aa Bie nas y a —- —— ad He cared nothing for her now, but left her without a word or glance. : Fifteen minutes after Arthur Hamilton left the glade, the avenger was on his track! Patent-leather Joe caught glimpses of his rival now and then among the crags, and followed on, intending to take him at a disadvantage. He must fire with his left hand, and could not afford to run any risks. He must creep upon him, and shoot him in the back at short range! All unconscious of the peril in his rear, Arthur hastened on, giving his whole attention to trailing the animal he supposed to have been ridden by Berenice, " In health he had scrambled among the rocks with the untiring activity of a mountain goat, Now his pulses throbbed and bis head swam, and his knees tottered under him, Every once in a while he would stop to lean against a rock and ‘regain his breath, and to dissipate the black spots that began to float be- fore his vision. Then he would toil on, until he was nearly blind, and strange fancies began to mingle with realities. : He had proceeded perhaps half the distance to a Léghtning’s home, when he lost the trail. For a time he was dimly conscious of search- ing to regain it. Then he lost the knowledge of where he was going, and why, and so wan- dered on and on aimlessly. Patent-leather Joe saw this, and interpreted it aright. With a horrible grimace of malig- nant hate and triumph, he began to creep up on his intended victim. He had diminished the distance to less than a hundred paces, and was watching his opportu- nity to close in upon him and end all, when Arthur caught sight of a figure with fluttering robes moving on before him. To his eye, which had lovingly studied every detail of her dress and personal appearance, Berenice was immediately revealed, and his mind, took cognizance of her even amid the. vapors of fevered delirium. e quickened his pace, and called: * Berenice!” Without looking back, the terrified girl sunk ‘upon her knees and buried her face in her hands, Arthur gained her side, bent over her, and laid his hana on her shoulder. As if at his touch, she collapsed and sunk vn conscious, As the reader knows, she was over* powered by fear of Old Rattlesnake. Patent-leather Joe witnessed this reunion of his betrothed and his rival, and in his blind rage he ran against a projecting rock with his wounded arm. The pain was so intense that he sunk to the ground in utter helplessness, and had to fight hard not to lose consciousness in the awful nausea and vertigo that seized him. A new thought tortured him. There were two of them now. How could he creep upon them without being detected? He did not know that Berenice lay unconscious, and that Arthur was so absorbed in seeking to re- store her, that he might have walked up to hin with no precaution whatever, and knocked him on the head with a stick. Presently he grew desperate and staggered try his feet, resolved to risk all on a single effort. But he had wasted precious moments in deg- pondent thought. Arthur had — brandy between the lipr of his beloved, and hung over her, chafing her hands and appealing to her with every endear ing epithet his tongue could frame, until at lass she opened her eyes and recognized him. Then he took her-in his arms; and she clung to him, forgetful of all else. So Patent-leather Joe found them; and a sup+ ressed howl of rage from his lips, and a stone Toosehed by his incautious foot, warned them of his approach. : With a scream the girl tore herself from hes lover’s arms. é “Oh! here is Walt again!” she cried. “Ar thur! Arthur! let us fly!” | She Seized him by the arm and sought to d him away with her; but he stood still and cane at Patent-leather Joe without 2. trace of recog nition in his eye. : ‘“ Ah! a friend of yours?’ he asked, smiling, and with a half-bow to Joe. The girl’s heart sunk ‘nm despair. She saw that he was wandering. He was beat help. less, not rational enough to fear his deadly foe. As for Patent-leather Joe, when he realized the situation he stopped and uttered a vraag delight. Then he came up close to them, stood regarding them with a sort of shivering laugh which was almost the gibe of a maniac so intense was his gloating hatred and exultar -- tion, mS
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Seti CHAPTER XI, THE MISSING GUEST—OLD RATTLESNAKE AND FLASH LIGHTNING—THE MEETING IN THE O ‘EK. ¥or::me time after Berenice’s flight Old Rat- tiesnake continued engrossed with his strange ts. : yee had had recourse to them to wean his mind from the brooding memories which the ight of the girl had conjured up. n a measure he was successful, When at last he put them away his brow had recovered its wonted serenity, dashed perhaps by a shade of tender melancholy. é With noiseless tread he went to the door and pushed it slightly ajar, to gaze in on his sleeping guest. The roam was empty! . The effect on the old naturalist was very marked. He stood like one dazed, He pushed the door further open, took a step into the room, and gazed all around. There was no place to hide. She must indeed be gone. He brushed his hand across his brow and d in the direction of the bed. There was he impress of her body. But for that he might haye thought it all a conjuration of his imagi- nation. Siowly he crossed the room, sat down on the couch and put his hand in the depression, as if to satisfy himself that some one had indeed been there. The spot was yet warm. With a sigh the snake-charmer bowed his face in his hands and sat thus in painful reverie. ‘* Agatha, was it thou?’ he murmured. “*Didst come to remind me of thy wrongs yet unavenged? Have I seemed to forget thee, Agatha? Yet have I loved and mourned thee— ay, unceasin of : that which the wick- ly! “How can i make edness of man hath given to destruction? Will it better thy sore grisvance should my hand visit upon thy destrc- ‘~ that which he meted cut to thee? Hath not the great God, into whose presence thou ‘t gore, said—‘ Venge- ance is mine !/—I will revay ! Hath He not set his seal of condemnat«m on the law—‘ An eye for an eye!—a tooth {.. tooth’? “See! Leaving the Great Avenger to the execution of His righteous law in his own good time and way, have notI done my part? Him, for the boon of whose seg aay Tage didst biess the bounteous God in thy day ot happi- ness, and whose tender years thy death left un- protected—him have I reared with watchful solicitude—him have I loved much, that he might the less miss thy lost tenderness. “ Agatha! have I failed in my duty or my love for thee/—have not I done well?’ For a time he sat thus, and then rose, pos- sessed by a feeling of restlessness, Leaving the house, he took his way among the rocks, wringing his hands, and muttering to himself, and looking anxiously about. ' He had not proceeded far when his attention was attracted by-six pistol-shots, fired in rapid succession. He stopped and listened. Tie shots were repeated. “*Tis some one in distress,” he muttered, and | hastened in the direction whence the sound came. When he had proceeded a little way, he fired four shots from his own weapon. He soon got an answering signal, which was repeated at intervals, until he was guided to the ledge where he found Flash ery of pain, and ran and knelt down beside m. “Nay, my child!” he murmured, clasping the hand of the injured youth, ‘‘ what misadven- ture hath laid thee helpless? Art wounded sore?—say it not!—oh, say it not!” “Don’t worry, Nunky,” replied Flash. Licht- ning, cheerily. ‘‘ I’m stove in somewhere about the head-piece and I’ve got a kink in my back that takes all the starch out o’ me when I try to set up; but barrin’ that, I’m as good as new.” | desperately. Onl ightning | aying. At sight of him the oldman uttered a sharp | | one scarf, so that I could not roll over the precipice. Uncle, she must have got it from Arthur, and no doubt he sent her forme. I know nothing about her except that she lives in the gulch due west from the great bend in Dead Man’s Run, Arthur must be there, and you must go to him at once.” “* Right willingly will I seek thy friend. But first let me place thee within the shelter of our home, and minister to thy pressing needs. Canst get upon my back?’ “No, no! Let me lay, and go at once to Arthur, He may need help worse than I do.” ‘Peace, boy! Let discretion run hand in hand with thy generosity. Whatever hath de- tained thy friend must have befallen him days ago; and now his need for thy company cannot be so urgent that thou shouldst not pause to medicine the ills of thine own body. ‘*Moreover, I have that of which I would speak to thee,as we go. See! I will lay me on my face—thus. Now, if thou canst get upon my back, I will rise under thy weight, and bear thee hence to the greater comfort of thine own bed. pogeratty to his words the old snake-charmer stretched himself prone on the rock beside the yal hoe youth. Vith some effort and pain Flash Lightning got upon his back, and, with a strength of which is appearance gave no promise, the old man | rose and bore him with seeming ease. After walking a moment in silent thought, Old Rattlesnake began: ‘*Methinks I have seen the young woman that, as thou hast said, oweth her salvation to thy address and courage.” ‘*Oh! And she sent you tome?” **Not so. I found her confronted by a ser- pent, before which through fear she fell like one dead. ve) pipe saved her from the venom of the reptile, and knowing nothing of thee and thy distress, I bore her in, and placed her on thy bed. There her swoon p into refresh- ing slumber. I left her so, and when at a later hour I sought her, lo! she had fled.” ‘‘ Fled!” repeated Flash Lightning, wonder- ingly. ys Without saying anything?’ ‘* But why should she do that?” “T have meditated thereon. Mayhap she awakened, and finding me with the serpents, fled in fear.” ** And you followed her?” ** Not so.” / ** And why not? She could have told us all.” ‘‘Knough,” said the old man, decisively. ‘I plaeed myself in the hands of Providence, and ee. i was directed to th Puzzled by the snake-charmer’s evident re- ticence, Flash Lightning yet refrained from pressing him further. Presently Old Rattlesnake asked guardedly: “Know’st aught of this girl, other than thou has just told me?” ‘‘ No,” replied Flash Lightning, ‘‘I never saw her but once before.” ‘Wilt tell me the time, and circumstance, and what passed between ye, if aught?’ “It must have been two months ago. I was on the cliffs above the gulch I told you about, and heard the baying of a dog, evidently fight- ing with some animal. Running to the spot, I found a doe lying bleeding on the ground, and beside it a blood-hound and a wild-cat fighting a few paces from them stood this girl with a small rifle) And watch- ing her chance, she dispatched the cat before my + bing ‘*She told me that the cat had dropped upon the doe, and then the dog had gone in. **T cuc the doe’s throat, and then offered to it and take the hind-quarters to the girl’s While she admitted that she lived some- where in the gulch, she begged me not to fol- low her, or try to find cut anything more about her, or to speak of her in Virginia City. “‘Of course I let the thing drop, and that was the last of it. Now you will have to follow the trail of the horse to find where Arthur is.” Flash Lightning waited for some comment on “Thou makest light of thy sufferings, which | his story, but Old Rattlesnake, having made adle’s Half-Din.e Library. _— ot nest sine then without fear, he ran inst a curtain. nowing nothing of the internal ar- pis ip of the cave, he paused, and called out! ‘Fear not, whoever may be in affliction, for I come tosuccor. I pray thee, strike a light, that thou mayst make known to me the whereabouts and surroundings that I may minister to thy needs,” Pausing for a reply, he received none; but the wailing sound continued, as if the sufferer were in too great distress to heed him. As he could do goer but lose his way in tl.c dark, he returned to the open air, and maco search for a splinter of pine which might serve as a torch, Soon he had a murky flame which he could bear about with him; and re-entering the cavo, he proceeded to an inner apartment, where he came upon Aunt Sue, kneeling beside the empty couch which Arthur had occupied, wringing her hands and weeping and moaning in the keenest. grief: As Old Rattlesnake entered with the ligut, she turned and looked at him. The light fell full on his face and on hers. With a look of wild inquiry on her face, her plaint suddenly frozen into silence, the pocr, insane creature rose slowly to her feet and ad. vanced falteringly, step by step, until she grasp- ed the wrist of the hand in which he held Lis torch, and peered breathlessly into his eycs, Sas her face scarcely more than a foot from is. Then, without warning, she uttered a piercing shriek, and let go his wrist. At the same instant a sharp <jaculation escap- ed the snake-charmer’s lips—the torch fell from his nerveless grasp, to be extinguished at his feet—and they were wrapped in utter dark- ness! ; Old Rettlesnake heard a dull thud, and knew that the woman had fallen to the ground. CHAPTER XII A TERRIBLE BARGAIN! Wuart pen can describe Berenice’s feelings She saw murder, utterly ruthless, in Patent- leather Joe’s eyes, and in Arthur’s a total un- consciousness of his peril. Indeed, after the greeting, Arthur’s mind passed from the gambler altogether. ‘“‘Berenice, is not the sun very hot?” he said. ‘Let us sit down here in the shade. I feel so bee? weak, and my head is like a ball of fire, esat down in the shadow of a rock, and plucking a small reed with a ligulate flower, be- gan to pull out the petals, smiling, and saying alternately, as children do: ‘You love me!—you love me not! You love me!—you love me not!” _ The pathos of his simple sport, in such utter ignorance of the awful peril that threatencd him, and in such tragic contrast with it, wrun the girl’s heart. She knew that it only stee! the soul of his waiting murderer. ; **So!” sneered Patent-leather Joe. “A new phase of the game, and an interesting one, I as- sure you, This, then, is the way your courtship has been conducted+—‘ You love me!—you love me not!’ No doubt you culled flowers thet would make the issue accord with your wish.” ‘“There has been no courtship between us,” ne Perea restraining her tears by an eftert of pride. indeed!” sneered Patent-leather Joe. ‘‘Con- sidering that there had been no previous intcr- changes of tenderness, I found my betrothed wife in a very strange attitude on my rturn this morning !—and again but a moment ago!” ‘Whether you believe. it or not, it is the truth. Except on the occasions you have men- tioned, he has never uttered a word to me or committed an act which would be improper if I were already your—your—toward any mar- ried woman. And he knew'nothing of our re- lations,” She stammered wretchedly in avoiding refer- ence to herself as his wife. oR jaar Joe noticed it with a sardcric - stnile. "y are not slight, I fear,” said the old man, anx- | him comfortable, left him with no further re- “Tt was natural that you should conceal tke ~ oo jously; ‘‘yet will not all thy bravery mend | ference to Berenice. trifling fact of your betyothal, while you \. cre broken bones.” | Taking the trail of the horse, as Flash Light- | making love to him.” F } ‘Oh, I’m allright. But, uncle, here is work | ning had suggested, the naturalist followed it to ‘‘T did not think of it; and I have never ©..ace ' for me, that you must do in my stead. Do you | the gulch, where his quick eye soon detected | love to him,” roe a r see this scarf? It belongs to Arthur Hamilton, | the curtain of vines torn by heedless pastes. ‘Well, Ihave a better memory; ana rou will ih “a that I told you about. This morning I saved Lifting the curtain he peered into the mouth | find that it was easier to throw away the ring ae a girl from going over the cliff, by shooting her | of the cave. that you wore than to evade the obligationit * horse and catching her as she leaped from his; All was dark, but from the cavernous depths | symbolizes—at any rate, by marrying him!” * oe back, It knocked me out of time, but she must | issued a low moaning, wailing sound. And Patent leather Joe scowled hismurder- = | fave escaped uninjured: for when I recovered. | Listening, the old man determined that it | ous hatred at his unconscious rival. tigre eee .ounG myself unchorea tc © sock witt ome! war the voice of 9 Woikad: ip distress. ‘“{ have no intention of evading my Obligate. i fe tka se 1 FAs ely fy 4% ne ees j i ga" 1F sig’ ig . ‘gts ‘ 4 S: ae , : ne Me Paid, AB ele, x ee ie A
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it- n- Fatent-leather Joe. 9 . tion to you, nor, have I thrown away your ring,” ‘What! would you desert a man in delirium said Berenice, in a dead sort of way, and drew | of fever, and leave him exposed here in the the ring from the bosom of her dress, mountains?” Patent-leather Joe stared at her. ‘Why not? He got himself into the scrape. “What nse Sg have worn the ringf’ he cried, | Let him get out of it the best he can.” incredulously. ‘“Of course he shall accompany us until he “Tt has never left me.” can be given over to proper care,” she said, with ‘“‘ And there were never an quiet decision, taking Arthur’s hand. tween you until to-day /—an “That was not in the bargain,” said the your seeking?” gambler, with a jealous kindling of the eye. “No.” ““T agreed to let him alone on condition that “* And you have always intended—and still in- you would let him alone too.” tend—to marry me, and not him?” **Common humanity would imply it as a part sek poe my word. I have always intend- éd and still intend to stand by it.” of our bargain,” she said, bitterly. “Come, we are wasting time in idle debate.’ The girl was as pale as death; but there was | And she walked forward, leaving Patent- a directness about her answer that would not | leather Joe to follow. admit of doubt. The gambler yielded with a sullen frown. There was a dead silence, broken by the pleas- As they entered the gulch which Berenice had ant voice of the delirious Arthur, saying: so long known as her home, the shades of night ‘You love me!—you love me not! You love | were beginning to fall. me!—you love me not! Ah!” The silence of the birds and the chill of night- He ended with a sigh, putting his hand to his | fall struck to Berenice’s heart with a sense of desolation. It seemed as if the glade were the abode of death. love be- those were not of ead. The girl shivered at the tragic significance . that his words derived from circumstances. It | Purposely she avoided the spot where she was the mocking of a cruel fatality! knew Nero lay. She had a sigh and a tear for As for retent-leather Joe, a fierce thrill of ex- | his memory. ultation illuminated his face with an aimost They entered the cave. lurid glow. ' All was still and dark as the grave! ae ‘fe then!” he cried, ‘‘ all I have to do is to Berenice’s heart beat wildly. What had hap- crush this reptile that lies in my path, and be | pened to Aunt Sue since she had last quitted happy!” er? Could she have been killed in that dread nd taking a step forward, he raised his | struggle from which both Arthur and Walt weapon to execute his thought on the instant. | bore such ghastly marks? Arthur had raised to his feet, so that he “‘ Will you strike a light?” she asked, in a fail- presented a fair mark. - ing Voice. With a scream Berenice sprung before him. Patent-leather Joe groped across the apart- “Stop!” she cried. ‘‘1 have promised to | ment, until he stumbled against some obstruc- marry you; but you shall not harm him!” tion lying on the floor. “You love him!—you love him!” cried A hollow groan sounded through the cave! Patent-leather Joe, frantically. ‘‘Oh!youhave | The gambler uttered a startled oath, been deceiving me!” ; A moment later he lighted a dip. “TIT have not deceived you. You will have Aunt Sue was discovered lying in the middle me as your wife. Let that content you. But | of the room, A thin stream of blood run you shall not harm him who has never injured | from her mouth and stained the matting that you.” covered the floor. For the first time Arthur’s clouded mind Old Rattlesnake had come and gone, though ‘seemed to realize that there was trouble. none of the party assembled knew aught of Putting his arm about Berenice’s waist, he | him. drew her back of him, and glaring at Patent- With a cry, Berenice ran to Aunt Sue and leather Joe, demanded: knelt beside her. “Who are you! Dare you insult this lady?” ‘*Oh! have you been injured?’ she cried, ina The action maddened Patent-leather Joe; and | piteously-quavering voice. . the murder that leaped into his eyes agonized The woman looked at her and smiled faintly, the girl with dread. as she returned the clasp of her hand with a just ith the quickness of lightning she snatched | perceptible pressure. Arthur’s revolver from his belt, cocked it, and “Ts this your work?’ demanded Berenice, placed the muzzle at her head. turning upon Patent-leather Joe with blazing “* See!” she cried, ‘If you dare to harm him, | eyes and dilating nostrils, I will kil) myself before your eyes! He is wholly ‘‘She was ali right when I left,” he said. ‘I at your mercy; but if you kill, I shall never She’s broke a blood-ves- live to be the wife of his murderer!” Patent-leather Joe shrunk back with horror and dismay, ‘“Don’t!—for God’s sake, ‘don’t, Berry!” he haven’t touched her. sel, I reckon.” Xe ey me to get her on the bed,” said Bere- nice, coldly. With some difficulty they made the transfer, cried, : | Patent-leather Joe showing no sympathy for the ““T leave you to determine!” cried the girl, | woman’s sufferings. recklessly. 2 “T'm going to town now,” he said, when it y a ‘“‘Oh! what is this pusgleryt You promise to | was done. “I'll get horses and somebody to marry me, yet you love him!—you show it in | take care ot chese two, and then we can get out every act!” ibs o’ this.” “Tt would save his life—” The girl looked at him, but refrained from re- ‘“What is his life to me? He may live a ply, and he went out. million years, if he does not stand between you Arthur was walking back and forth in one of and me!” : } the rooms, muttering to himself. His delirium “ Let it be a bargain: then, I will marry you, | was taking a violent turn. and you shall cease your ruthless quest of his Berenice went to him and persuaded him to ife.” lie down. Having administered such a simple ‘remedy as she knew to allay the fever, she re- turned to Aunt Sue. Though very weuk, the woman was conscious, | and in her face was a light Berenice had never I have got you cheap! |.seen there before. | She was perfectly rational! Let him live forever! Come! we have'no fur- Her lips moved, and her eyes looked their ap- ther need for his compatly. f And» Patent-leather Joe held out his hand to Berenice, to take her away from the man who owned every throb of her heart! —_—__—- CHAPTER XIII. ““y am YOUR MOTHER!” “You swear to marry me?” “Yes; but if you ever attempt to injure him way, I st 1 consider myself absolved Berenice bent her ear to the lips. ‘‘Bend lower, for I cannot speak loud,” she whispered, ‘“‘and I have much to tell you. have received a shock that has oronee we my death and, through the mercy of <1 , my reason. \ “ All my life that has been measured by the span of pour existence comes to me dimly, as I PATENT-LEATHER JOE would have taken his | canr the impressions of partially-lucid in- betrothed away at once, and left his rival in his | tervals, helplessness alone there among ‘the mountain | “J know that you are Berenice, whose love has never failed me. You have known me as a poor demented creature who claimed your Fae and your love because of her helplessness. hat more has the man you call Walt told you of What cared he, if in his delirium Arthur hurled himself over 4 precipice, or whether he became a prey to wild beasts, or died alone and forgotten, with no hand to hold a ing in her eyes. ‘‘ He has put me off aguin ‘and agai, I renee only that you are Aunt Sue and I am Berenice!” The woman sighed, and gazed searchingly in- to the girl’s face. ‘* What have you asked him?” she said, “Oh! to tell me about my mother!—my dear mother, whom I cannot remember ever to have seen!” =‘ A faint flush came into the woman’s cheeks. “Do you love her so much, knowing nothing about her?’ she asked. : ‘Love her!” repeated Berenice, clasping her hands and raising her tearful eyes heavenward. ‘“‘Oh! Aunt Sue, I have lain awake nights, and longed to have her come to me, if only in a dream! [ have wondered whether she was like you, if youare really my aunt. Oh! I don’tknow for certain that you are! [have studied your face and looked at my own in the glass, and I think that I look like you—a little—don’t I? And if you are my aunt, you must know about her— my dear, dear mother!—and oh! you will tell me!—will you not?” ** Would you like your mother to look like me?” asked Aunt Sue, ana ner eyes read the girl's face narrowly. “Oh, yes!” said Berenice, affectionately,” only not so sad and worn; for I have loved you very, very dearly, Aunt Sue!” Tears sprung into the eyes of the dying wo- man, ‘* Kiss me! she whispered. Wondering, yet with unmistakable tender- ness, Berenice complied. “And now you will tell me? Oh! I have se longed to know!” **Can you find place in your heart for such a wreck?” sighed Aunt Sue. ‘Worn and sad, as Iam, I am what is left of—your mother !” CHAPTER XIV. AUNT SUE’S STORY—‘‘ CHEESE IT, CULLY!” ‘““My mother!—you! Oh; Aunt Sue!” cried the girl, excitedly, clasping the hands of the woman and gazing into her face. “Can you accept me—can you love me as our mother?” asked the woman, with infinite onging and tenderness. or reply the girl sunk on her knees beside the couch, clasped the withered form in her arms, and burying her face in the emaciated neck, be- to sob and murmur between her kisses. oy mother !—oh! my own dear, dear moth- er! Tears oozed between the closed eyelids of the dying woman, and her lips moved in thanks- iving to the Power that had crowned her long ife of shadow with this golden sunset, Presently she said:— ‘Dearest daughter, while my strength lasts I must finish my story. “*T do not wish to impose upon others all the blame for what was in part due to my own wickedness and folly. ‘* When I was scarcely older than you are now I had two lovers; and I confess that my vanity led me to encourage both of them. When at last I married one, the other upbraided me vio- lently, and threatened to be revenged. ‘“‘ Afterward he apologized and sought i the friendship of my husband and myself. I learned too late that it was only for the accou- lishment of his scheme of revenge. He still Koved me with a desperate ion that was re- solved to take me from my husband, “So subtle was he that he ingratiated himself into my husband’s confidence until he became our most intimate and trusted friend. My poor Frederick knew not the name of jealousy. “For a year all went smoothly, and a son, whom we named after his father, was given to us. “Perhaps six months after bis birth, Andrew Ashurst began to undermine my confidence in my husband’s love and truth. How he did it 1 cannot now say. It took long months for ite accomplishment, so wilily and patiently did he work; and when at last he offered me indubit able proof of my husband’s faithlessness with a woman whose pesnry had brought ruin into at least two families of my acquaintance, I felt so outraged that I was ready for any act of retalia- tion. “In my desperation I thought nothing of my- self or my children; for I was then pe your birth at no distant day. But I resolved a any hazard to cut my husband to the heart (through his pride, for I doubted his love for cooling draught to his fevered lips! : me?’ me), by anticipating him... Before the world ‘“* Come!” said, and sped her wrist. | ‘‘Nothing:—oh! absolutely potning of you, or |- knew his faithlessness to me, it should know that “ We have no further need for his company! of myself!” sighed Berenice,-with mtense long- ! | had deserted him. : asta aie Tae
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a we : N 10 hi _ mother thwarte _ world to gain possession of her! Now that I . i Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. “This thonght was instilled into my mind ot Andrew Ashurst; and I consented to fly wit him if he would show me my husband in the company of the woman of whom I was so bit- terly jealous. ‘He showed me the two together. I thought my husband guilty, though I now believe him to have been the victim of a plot. ‘“How I got home I know not. But I was left for a few minutes, Then he came back to hurry me into the carriage that was to bear me away from husband, home, honor—everything but my revenge and my children. I had m boy in my arms. I would have parted wit life sooner than give him voluntarily up. *T noticed that my tempter was wild with ex- citement, but I asked him no questions. ‘‘At the carriage we were met by a spectacle which froze my blood. My brother approached, bearing my husband on his back, '‘My Frederick was wild-eyed, and as pale as a corpse, with blood streaming over his face and clothes. He cried out to me: ““* Agatha! Agatha! in God’s name, tvhat are yeu about to do? ‘Then the man who had made me forget all that is womanly deliberately shot before my eyes the man I had sworn at the altar to love, honor and obey! “When I awoke from the deadly swoon in which I fell at the spectacle and the delirium that followed it, you was born and vl bo was not with me! That was Andrew Ashurst’s one act of cruelty tome. He said that the boy looked so much like his father that he could not bear the sight of him. . “The loss of my child together with the shock I had received induced the melancholy in- sanity under whose cloud you have always known me. It was a blessing in that it saved me from further criminality with the man who had wrecked my life.” The woman stopped, breathless. “And this Andrew Ashurst?” gasped Ber- enice. ‘‘Whois he? Do I know him? ; ** You call him Walt!” The girl rose to her feet with a look of horror on her face. At that instant thero was the sound of a foot- step. The curtain was put aside, and Patent- ‘leather Joe stood in the room. ‘*Come!” he said, ‘I have brought people who will attend to these two. They are just without, and will enter the cave as soon as we leave. I have got horses. We will be miles away from here before daylight, and you will have fullfilled your contract. Come!” The girl lifted the tallow dip and held it so that its light fell full upon her face, that he might see its terrible expression—its deathlike pallor, its blazing eyes, its quivering nostrils! These words fell from her white lips: “ Andrew Ashurst |—betrayer of my mother ! —murderer of my father !” For an instant Patent-leather Joe stood like one turned to stone. Then he cried: ' “Hak! has she told you? Well, that shall not interfere with my purpose! Theinsanity of the me after I had braved all the have waited day by day and year after year, seving the daughter grow into the image of what I loved once and forever—now, Heaven _ nor hell shall deny me!” C i: " ae : ; “© — ei} 4 And with a stride forward he clutched the ‘gitl’s wrist. Aunt Sue uttered a shrill scream and half rose on her elbow; but the blood welled into her mouth and she sunk back unconscious. Before Berenice could make an effort to free herself, a voice was heard crying: Cheese it, cully! ’ve brought your death- warrant!” Patent-leather Joe turned his head, glaring fiance, + Arthur Hamilton had arisen and entered the 1% ‘si - room, still held in the thrall of delirium. Just before him was an old man bearing a a3 younger one on hjs back. The face of the latter ‘was ghastly pallor and stained with are Patent-leather Joe let go his hold on Ber- enice’s arm, shrunk away with a cry of agonized terror. f ry. : ae ‘Wren the torch snake Pe be CRAPTRR SY. | OLD RATTLESNAKE’S STORY—FACE TO FACE!— _ PATENT-LEATHER JOE ESCAPES. . dropped from Old Rattle- he heard Aunt Sue fall to the Then trembling from head to foot, and mut- tering incoherently to himself, he groped his way out of the cave, and continued under the spur of the excitement to which the sight of Aunt Sue had given rise, until he reached his own home and Flash ce. rim bedside. “ Hallo, Nunky!” cried the youth. ‘‘ What’s in the wind? Did you find him? What’s the matter?” ‘*Boy!” cried Old Rattlesnake, seizing the wrist of his nephew, ‘‘thou hast no time for ill- ness; thou must be up and doing. Im the first shock of discovery I ran away; but now I am come again to the possession of my senses; and it behooveth us all greatly that I return without delay, not unaccompanied by thee. Know that thy mother liveth!—she whom I have long con- sidered as one dead!” ‘*My mother!” cried Flash Lightning, rising on his elbow in amazemeut. ‘‘ Hitherto I have denied thy importunity, and told thee naught of her,” said Old Rattlesnake sadly; ‘‘ but now is the fullness of time, and mistake me greatly, if much floweth not from this day’s doings.” “My mother!” repeated Flash Lightning, with a far-away look in his eyes. ‘‘ Take me to her at once!” ‘**Canst sit thy horse?” asked Old Rattlesnake, anxiously. “T can do any thing that takes me to her!” cried the youth. And rising to a sitting posture, in spite of the pain, he let his feet slip to the floor. That he might mount with the least difficulty, Old Rattlesnake brought the horse into the but, and exerting that great strength to which his aged appearance was as a mask, lifted him up- on the animal’s back, In spite of the caution with which they picked their way, his horse’s every step caused Flash Lightning a throe of pain. et he sat with “Ti RS lips, permitting no moan to escape n, ** And now, while we are going to her,” he said, ‘‘ tell me about my mother.” “That, I have so long denied thee,” replied Old Rattlesnake, ‘‘arose not from unkindness, but rather that thou mightest reach man’s estate before thy life was clouded with the story of man’s iniquity, So in the ripeness of thy reason mightst thou judge fairly and mercifully, nor do aught of injustice to one who loved much, and who hath suffered much.” : With this introduction, he told Flash Light- ning the story of woman’s love and wae a4 and man’s treachery, the substance ot which the reader has already received from the lips of ‘one of the principal actors. “Thy father was a just man,” he added, “loving her whom he had taken to heart with a love so perfect that, as he was incapable of doubting her, so he took no thought that any act of his might be viewed with distrust. ‘Andrew Ashurst knew the human heart well—both thy father’s unquestioning trust in all men with a fair seeming, and thy mother’s strong love that might easily be fanned to jeal- ousy. And the creature utterly vile, suborned to the iniquitous office of the siren, joined to that beauty which might well fire the jealousy of the one, a plausibility which would lull the distrust of the other, “Tt was no task to her craft to lure the sim-, ple, chivalrous man to her house; for though er acts were abominable in the sight of God, yet had she done nothing but what society views leniently in one possessed of wealth and posi- tion; and when she told her tale of sorrow with tears and distress, such as lendeth to beauty its greatest charm, and clung to thy father’s hand. craving such help from him as would be no dis- honor to him who granted or her who received, he had no suspicion of her treacherous purpose. ** So by the evil machinations of Arthur Ash- urst thy mother saw them, and questioning nothing of what the deceiver whispered in her ear, fled, making no sign. **T alone doubted Andrew Ashurst, and on the eve of the tragedy which overwhelmed thy father’s house sought my sister. Her manner and that of the false friend confirmed my fears that there was collusion between them. So I sought thy father and’ told him that his own hearthstone demanded his watchfulness. “ Doubting his wife in nothing, thy father’s wrath inst the friend who had courted him ay to betray, knew no bounds. They met and thy bullet, : “‘ Then the traitor fled, and thy father caused me to bear him on my back in pursuit. 7] -hath restored ye on father fell before Andrew urst’s” “At the door of the carriage which was to bear thy mother to undying regrets and vain ' enmity with him remorse we overtook them; and once more the rourderer’s hand was raised, ‘Thy mother swooned, and would have fal- len but for the arm of her betrayer. As it was, her baby—thou—slipped from her lifeless arms to the ground; and viet she was lifted into tha carriage and borne away ye were separated. “Thy father lived long enough to consign thee to my care, and to commission me with full forgiveness for the wife who had forsaken at conjuring me to spare no effort to save er. “Thou knowest how throughout the years of thy life I have fulfilled my duty to thee. I have now. found her, and may yet return te ‘bear to her sore heart her husband’s forgiveness and blessing. ‘* As for thee, I adjure thee, {nize her not harshly. She is thy mother, and in the happy day her love for thee filled the measure to cver- flowing. Of her es of heart, I, who have watched her, holding her as the apple of my eye, do assure thee. ‘* When the wreck of what was once my beau tiful sister gazed inte my eyes, and shrieking, recoiled, I saw that the burden of her sorrows had bereft her’ of reason. In dismay I fled, thinking only to get thee. ¢ ** Now, canst receive her, lookimg only to that niet arould move thee to love and pity? peak! Flash Lightning was greatly moved by this narrative.’ Looking straight before him, he clutched the pommel of his saddle with unconscious tenacity. ‘* And where is Andrew Ashurst?” he asked, in a hoarse voice. ‘*Of him I know nothing,” replied Old Rattle- snake, ‘‘Since the dread day that stained his hands in thy father’s blood I have never seen or heard aught of him, To-day I found thy mother in solitude.” Flash Lightning remained silent. After looking up at him anxiously several times, and noting the settled expression of his face, Old Rattlesnake again broke the silence. “Canst receive her, boy, in all forgiveness and love?’ A wave of color appeared faintly in the youth’s pale face, and a tender humor glistened in his eyes. ‘Is she not my mother?” he asked, in a low tremulous voice whose cadences could have bué one significance. The old naturalist laid his hand on that of his nephew. “1 am not disappointed in thee. Thou hast thy father’s magnanimity,” he said. ‘* As God to another after all these intervening years, let us accept it as.a sign that it is His will that as she nursed thy infancy, so now shalt thou not deny succor to her infir- mi ” They entered the poe and approached the wire curtain, where Flash Lightning was taken . on his uncle’s back, to be carried into the cave. They were just about to enter when they heard some one fees ‘Let him precede us,” whispered Flash; and Old Rattlesnake shrunk with his burden into the deep shadow, , The moon which had risen since Patent- leather Joe had left the cave enabled Flash Lightning to recognize him on his return; and when the gambler had disappeared beyond the vine curtain, Flash drew his revolver and said: ‘* Ah! if that gentleman is in the case I shall have need of unanswerable arguments!” | As for Old Rattlesnake, at sight of Patent- leather Joe he was so shocked that it seemed as if he would sink beneath his burden. ~ “Ah!” he reflected, sadly, ‘it is as I feared. All these years hath she given herself to the destroyer. Yet can I never doubt that my mother’s daughter was true and pure of heart. For she budded and bloomed by my side. Like as an open book hath her soul lain before my vision. \" But the shock of believing that her great love was betrayed hath left her dis- traught, Agatha, my sister, bitterly hast thou been sinned against. May the merciful God write this over against thy fault! “It is plain that the boy recognizeth not the destroyer in this man. Then will I not quicken | his understanding, lest in the mement of wrath, seeing the strait to which his mother hath been reduced, he be moved to mete violence to him who hath caused her suffering.” With this thought Old Rattlesnake refrained from identifying fPatent-leather Joe with Andrew Ashurst; and Flash Lightning, in the early suitor, saw in gambler onl at ee ae ol oe? 4) vl ae ing to see a much older person in his mother’s — WN, - — i ‘ ; F; ] / ‘ é , orate ly 7 BS fib ‘i ablh! Sear eh hana t Sy ankine Carcep tn ar sae es eeu UL Ty Wastin Ca AeD Sr eM eA ere ee Ps a a og Vane EE OP fiche cilia iti PR
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(RRs ene ee eee Se eee { . | Patent-Leather Joe. 7 * ’ ny 1 1% ilton. With this latter association in his. mind, | love for the sister, his affection for whom had * ‘he dia not think to question what were the re- | been expended in watching over her son; and her gratitude to him blended with her gratitude 5 Jations between his mother and Patent-leather to God for this happy yet sad reunion before oe. t So they ertered the cave. death. Bisse They were just in time to witness Patent- So she passed away. { leather Joe’s assault upon: Berenice; and think- ; ing eey'é of her protection, Flash Lightning By Patent-leather Joe’s last attempt on Ar- § leveled his revolver and cried: thur Hamilton’s life, Berenice was relieved from the hateful obligation that hung its iron mana- cles on her young lite. Freed from all fear, she entered again upon the sweet task of nursing him back to health and strength, and when he arose from his bed of pain, her arm aided his first weak steps. It was a sweet time, and culminated in that solemn ceremonial when God’s blessing fused their two lives into one, There was but one cloud on Berenice’s bridal. Her brother was not there. Flash Lightning's recovery bad been much more rapid than Arthur Hamilton’s; and as soon as he could ride his horse he entered upon a mission to which he had devoted bis life while he stood beside his mother’s dead body, It was the most wretchedly mistaken end to which a life ean be turned—revenge /—yet Old Rattle- snake tried to dissuade him in vain. “Vengeance is mine saith the Lord—I will repay!” quoted the old man. 0 which Flash Lightning replied: “The blood of my father—the wrecked life of my mother—cry out to me for revenge!” ; ‘Nay, boy,” still urged his uncle, “ it ill-be- seems thy years.” Flash Lightning drew his revolver. ‘This leaves no advantage to the old over the young—the strong over the weak !° ; “ty e set out on the trail of Patent-leather 0e “Cheese it, cully—I’ve brought your death- warrant!” But Patent-leather Joe’s guilty conscience gaye another significance to the words, Instant- y he recognized the old naturalist; and from the strong resemblance between Flash Light- ning and his father, brought out by the accident of the son’s being borne into his presence just as the father had been, it seemed to Patent-leather Joe almost as if the intervening sixteen years had been blotted out, and the old scene were being re-enacted, the mother’s place now being Tits oceppied by her daughter. gamblers are superstitious, and Patent- leather Joe invested this coincidence with a su- pepnatural significance, With a thrill of hor- * ror, he conceived that he stood face to face with his deavh, brought about in a manner which bore a direct relation to his crime. It was this that froze his blood and turned him to stone, as he shrunk away and glared at Flash Lightning as at an avenging Nemesis, _ Then through the agony of superstitious ter- ror came the instinct of self-preservation. He ‘was not one to give up, even when he felt that he was fighting against Fate. But his sense of the hopelessness of the strug- gle made him fire almost at random, aiming } ngither at the combined figure of Old Rattle- snake and his burden, as if they together consti- tuted a being that must be removed from his ath, sin Old: Rattlesnake received the bullet in his ie Ponte and sunk upon his knees. though Flash Lightning returned the shot ‘promptly, his aim was disconcerted; and he sprawled upon the floor of the cavern, over the ' snake-charmer’s head. With a yell of exultation, so great was the reactien from the incubus of fear that had par- alyzed him, Patent-leather Joe bounded past his foes on his way to escape from the cave. . But he was confronted by another obstacle in the person of Arthur Hamilton. He was in the hight of delirium, bis face flushed with fever, his eyes staring wildly. ' At sight of him a wave of intense hatred THE END. Edward L. Wheeler’s . Deadwood Dick Novels Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. 1. Deadwood Dick; or, The Black Rider of the sur, . ? ; st- Black Hills. ing bis fstol alinoet inte his faco bo fred, yell | 29. The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick's il ; efiance. 28, Buffalo Ben; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise. 35. Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval; or, The Brotherhood of Death. 42. The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s 1n Se * . & Die! You shall at least never have her!” Before this fierce assault Arthur Hamilton went down, and, all obstacles removed from his path, Patent-leather Joe bounded out of the cave, mounted his horse and dashed away into - the night! 2 Bonanza. 49, Omaha Oll; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger. - %5. Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar, ) 73. Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane, - the Heroine of Whoo 443 v7. Corduroy Chariie; or, The Last Act of Dead. wood Dick. 100. Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for Liberty. — 104, Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, The Sign o the Double Cross. 109, Deadwood Dick as Detective, j 121, Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport; or, The Golden Idol of Mount Rosa. ,129. Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of wie ee Gulch. 188. ee Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home ase pi. 149. gee of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big e. Ty Ea aes 156. Deadwood Dick) of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party. | 195, en Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of he Road. | 201. The Black Hills Jezebel; or, Deadwood ay Dick’s Ward. 205. Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity : CHAPTER XVI. 7 REUNITED!—A LIFE DEVOTED TO REVENGE. ApTER him! after him!” cried Flash Light- ning, struggling to his knees, though in less ex- citement he might have fainted with pain of his y inful, was not serious, replied: ~ a ar Nay, boy! it would ara thee roan see at the him and shrunk trembling now recogniz vane Sea . ’ aan! “6 hy mother’s brother— h Jane’s Last Adventure. | y: *lamt 4 one whom O17. Captain Sik tee ‘Girl Brigand; or, iG a ’ Gypsy Jack from, Jimtown. Speman throug 221, Sugar Coated Sam; or, The Black Gowns of - Grim Gulch. . ; | 282. Gold-Dust Dick. ! sister fully real te Telatio Sep- fix Bente cept 5: | BEADLE AND A | a ie i Hliams stent, Ne bi Hiroe wy y a | Ladies’ Letter-Writer, Book of Games. | The above are for sale by all newsdealers, | | five cents a copy, or sent by mail on receipt of | BEADLE AND ADAMS’ STANDARD DIME PUBLICATIONS Speakers. ' Each volume contains 100 large pages, printed ad from cleat, open type, comprising the best collece tion of Dialogues, Dramas and Recitations, ae The Dime Speakers embrace twenty-four volumes, vs viz.: 1, American Speaker, 15. Komikal Speaker, ‘ 2. National Speaker, 16. Youth's Speaker. ma 8. Patriotic Speaker. 17. Eloquent Speaker. 4. Comic Speaker. 18, Hail Columbia Speak- F 5, Hlocutionist, er. th 6. Humorous Speaker. | 19. Serio-Comic Speaker, a 7, Standard Speaker. 20. Select Speaker. Meee, 8. Stump Speaker. 21, Funny Speaker, in 9, Juvenile Speaker. 22, Jolly Speaker. “d 10, Spread-Eagle Speaker | 23. Dialect Speaker, Be 11. Dime Debater. 4. Recitationsand Read a sj u 12, Exhibition Speaker. nee. 13, School Speaker. 25, Burlesque Speaker, 14. Tudicrous Speaker. These books are replete with choice pieces for the School-room, the Exhibition, for Homes, etc. 7 to 100 Declamations and Recitations in each book, Dialogues. Pa} The Dime Dialogues, each volume 100 pages,em- brace thirty-two books, viz.: y Dialogues No, One. Dialogues No, Kighteen. i Dialogues No. Two. {Dialogues No, Nineteen. i Dialogues No, Three. |Dialogues No. Twenty. a 5 Dialogues No, Four. Dialogues No, Twenty-one. , Dialogues No. Five. Dialogues No, Twenty-two. te Dialogues No, Six. Dialogues No, Twenty-three, Dialogues No, Seven. Rincgies No. Twenty-four. " Dialogues No, Kight. |Dialogues No. Twenty-five, we Dialogues No. Nine. Dialogues No, Twenty-six, Dialogues No, Ten. DialoguesNo. Twenty-seven, % Dialogues,No. leven. | Dialogues No, Twenty-eight, Dialogues No. Twelve. (Dialogues No. Twenty-nine. — i é Dialogues No, Thirteen. |Dialogues No, Thirty. Dialogues No. Fourteen, Dialogues No, Thirty-one, Dialogues No. Thirty-two. a Dialogues No. Thirty-three. Dialogues No. Fifteen. Dialogues No, Sixteen. _ Dialogués No, Seventeen 15 te 25 Dialogues and Dramas in each book, Dramas and Readings. 164 12m Pages, 2 Cents. | i For Schools, Parlo:s, Entertainments and the Am- os ateur Stage, comprising Original Minor Dramas. Comedy, Farce, D ess Pieces, Humorous Dialogue — - * and Burlesque, by noted writers; and Recitations =~ and Readings, new nd standard, of the greatest = celebrity and interest, Edited by Prof. A.M, Russell, DIME HAND-BOOKS. __ Young People’s Series. Beapie’s Dure Hanp-Books For Youna Propuz | cover a wide range of subjects, and are ospecially Bey adaptea to their end, | te : Gents’ Letter-Writer. Fortiune-Teller. - be ii Boek of Etiquette, Lovers’ Casket. aa Book of Verses? Ball-room Companion, Book of Dreams. Book of Beauty, c ) Hand-Books of Games. X Handbook ef Summer Sports, ae Book of Croquet. Yachting and Rowing. Chess Tnstrostor, Riding and Driving, | b Cricket and Football. Book of Pedestrianism, Guide to Swimming. Remy s om ti +4) ; Handbook of Winter Sports—Skating, ete, Manuals for Housewives. , ’ ete. 1. Cook Book, 4, Family Physician, 2: Recipe Book, [® Dressmaking and Mik qi 3, Housekeeper’s Guide. | linery. Net as j of, ! pas mu Lives of Great Americans. I.—George Washington, | VIII.—Israel Putnam, — a rift ~yohu Paul nee 'X—Tecumseh, Tll.—Mad Anthony Wayne | _XI.—Abraham Lincoln, TV.—Ethan Alleo. —Pontiacn V.—Marquis de Lafayette | XIII.—Ulysses 8. Grant, — _ Song Books. at | - Beavur’s Drak Sone Boors, Nos. 1 to 84, containin | the only} popular collection cf covriaht tage 4 Pocket Joke Book. -_ Jim Crow Joke Book. trad . Paddy Whack Joke Book, here, or | ile sent. post naa to 2 y 8 Tlie above books eceipt of
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—_— BY OLL COOMES. Bandy, Detective; or, Silver Star, the Roy Knight. Bandy In Texnea; or, The Young Mustanger, Zon Kiar ttandy’s Catch; or, The Boy Hercules. 42% Kit Bandy’s “tight Bower; or, Baby Sam,the Boy Giant 444 Kit Bandy’« Swoep; or, Little Buckskin, tne Centaur. 4.% Wit Handy'’e Blick Scheme; or, Old Tom Rattler, 661 Kit Bandy’s Veliverance; or, Banner Bsn. Ga Kit Bandy’s Pares or, Dauntless Dan, the Freelance. Toi Kit Bandy Rattledy or, The Iniant Giant, Ts Kit Bandy in Ked Ruiny or, he Young Whirlwind, TOY byit Bandy’s Big Rustle: or, Saddle King Sam. 804 Kit Bandv’s Brigade; or, Dan, the Mountain Guide, $27 Kid Candy's Brigade in Arizona, ¥60 Kit Bandy’s Star Engagement. 158 Jack Drew, the Nemesis. or, Eagle Kit the Roy Demon, Is2 Jack Drew's Drop; or, Littie Hurricane, the Boy Captain, 202 Jack Drew in Deadwood; or, Prospect Pots. 27 Keen Kuife on Guard; or, Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide 81 Keen-Knifey the Privce of the Prairies, & Vazabond Joe, the Young Wandering Juw- 18 The Dumb Spy. 41 Lasso Jack, tle Young Mustanger, 68 The Border King; or, The Secret T Tt Delaware Dick, the Youny Reanuer Spy. 74 Ilawk-eye me § the Young Trapper Rangey 88 Rollo, the Boy Ranger; or, The Heiress, 184 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. 148 Scar-Fave Sau), the Silent Hunter. /178 @id Solitary, the Hermit Trapper, 18 Tiger ‘Tom, the Texas Terror, 24 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Cathy 28 Little Wildlire, the Young Prairie Nomad, BS The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranges. 248 The Dinzulsed Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger, 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger, 272 Minkakin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. { 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy, or, Old Caleb Arbuckle. \ BOO The Sky Demon; or, Kaivbolt, the Ranger. f B84 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ravehero, 1 409 Hercules; vr, Dick, the Boy Ranger, 417 Webtvot Moxe, the Tramp Detective. 4e7 Wingedfoot Fred; or. Old Polar Saul. 468 Tamurae Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. p 482 Stonewull Bob, the Boy Trojan. *. 662 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trappe 652 Don Barr, the laine Freelance, 670 Norway Nels, the Bix Boy Mountaineer, T7S8 Whybland Marry, the Wizard Rifleman, 823 Poker Jack, tw Detective Sport, BY T. J. FLANAGAN, 909 Midshipman Dare, the Pirate Catcher, 446 Rit 168 jt 925 The aoa Cowboy Captain, PBs at wo Midshipmen; or, The Corsair-Chasers First ‘rules, BY DAN DUNNING, * Lt Jack, the Secret Service Spy. P54 | fand Juck, the Invinclbles, or, The Diabetteal Thres. S7H Hetective Dave's Clese Call, { &S4 Farrel Fox and His Girl Ferret, s¥8 Farrel Fox’s Sweep-Stakea ; BY GEORGE ©, JENKS#, 445 Git Ther Owney the Unknown, 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge, 518 The Demon Docter; or, Dendhold, the Kid Detective, 581 Double-Ourve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. Bs Flutes yae Singer Detective; or, Owney in a New Role, G08 The Pitcher Betective’s Foti: or, Dan’s Double Play, | 416 The Ocean Detectives or. The Last Cruise of the riiuck Bear, oni The Pitcher Detective’« Toughest Tussle. | $4 Larry the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Siae, | 779 leon Wand, the Charmed Detective 851 Unele Sum’s Deteetive in Chicago, BY WM. G. PATTEN. 824 Violet Vane, the Velvet Sport; or, The Jubilee ot Jacktown 66% Violet Vage’s Victory; or, The Jasper City Clean Out, 698 “lolet and Watsy, the Posy Pards. T05 Violet Vane’a Vows or, The Cratty Detective’s Cratt. 3 Violet Vane’ Vengeance; or, The Wipe Ont, #0 Violet Vane’s Verdtets or, The Game at Coffin City. 1 Violot Vane, the Ventrllogaist Vidocg: or, Sport va. Sport, Violet Vane, the Vanquished. or, The Lite Strugg'e, Violet Vane’s Visions or, The Fiery Hand of Fate, The Dinwend mpert 5 or, The Dourls #uce ot Bed Rock, Captasn Mystery; or, Five in One, Wale, ware the Sport from Denver. 87 Old tHombsahell, the Ranger Detective, von Fern, the Mra ot Fire: or, Among the Valtures, » Boy Tramp Detective: or, The Doubdie Grin Witness Dismal Pave’ Pandy Pard: or, The Cloe to Capt. Claw Pound Rey F rank, the Young Amateur tive . Wild Vulcan, the Love-Ranew Rider, 4 Old Misery the Man frow Missouri. Clear-Grit Oal, the Never Srv-Die Detechv>, 9 Sam Shertdan, the Secret Service Spec" _ 866 Cowboy Bteve the Ranch Mascot, 820 Nobby Nat, the Tenderfoot Detective, SR6 Sharner Stoke's Double Deal, 857 S»otter Bob in New York. $66 Spotter Bob's Rewery Racket, RY COLONEL DELLE BARa, 308 The Von of the Sean; or, The Vatled Lay. “@ Ooal Deamond ¢ or, The Gambler's Big Game, - Py ttt te Sese save PPBLAVAS VI ee ee ve —_ ae Zrim ze - tetas HY) CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER, yo The Sen-Cnt: or, The Witch of Darien, The amb Vage: or, The Doge’s Deventer. | Diek Parting, the Pony Express Rider. vf ~ ance and Laxae zor, The Children of the Chaco, T ghe Sword Munters: or, The Land of the Elephant Riders The Loxt Captain: or, Skipper Jaber Coffin’s Cruise, Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine. WMilw Ramer the Animal King; er, Round the World, The Tieer Tamer: or, The League ot the Jungle. Picek Nick, the Demon Rider. Ousiforaln Joe's War Tralfl. RY CAPT, J. F. ©. ADAMB, Sol; or, Nick Whiffies’s Boy Spy. e. the Great Shot of the West, Bev Trapner Niew iMew’e Pets or, In The Valle 6 6 80 ThE White Tn 4 7 ant or The Scovt of f if os * « Tints Oubin: or, The Greenhorn in aes *' "249 EE ae the Woods, ng Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. a techaite ram t or, Ress, the Female eiznly ned Wie Pets: or, The Wil Lge or, Fi pty her or, The aden ond Wing oh The Haman Pounder (er. Radersae RY T. ©. HARBAUGH. : Nick o the Nights or, The Boy Spy of '76. The Hidden Lodge; or The Little Hunter, Nightingale Nat; or, Tne Forest Captains, 4.Duandy Jaek 3 or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trail. Kit Harefoot, the Wood-Hawk; or, Old Powder-faca Gold Trigger, the Sperts er, The Gir] Avenger. Tornado Tem; or, Injun Jack From Red Core. 88 Ned Temple, the Border Boy; or, The Mad Hunter. Arkancaw ; or. The Queen of Fate’s Revenge. Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hanter. Captain Bullet; or, Little Topknot’s Crusade, $1 Plueky Phils or, Rom, the Res Jezebel. 41 Bill Bravo; or, Tie Roughs of the Rockles, 255 Captain Apoliv, we King-Pin of Rowle. 267 The Kucksakin Detective; or, The King of Road-agents. 279 Old Wimehys or, The Buckskin Desperadoes, 294 Dynamite Dan; or, The Bowle Blade of Gochetopa. 802 The Mowntain Deteetive; or, The Trigger Bar Bully. 816 Old Eclipse, Trump Card of Arizona, 826 The Ten Parda?: or, The Terror ot Take-Notice, 886 Bie Benson; or, The Queen of the Lavno. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Ked Thunderholt’s Secret, B56 Cool sam and Par’; or The Terrible Six. 766 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detectior. 336 Captain Cutlass 3 or, ' he Boceaneer’e Girl Foe. 396 Rough Reb; or, The ! win Champicns of Blue Blazes. 411 The Siiken Lasso; or, The Rosec Raneh Robin. 418 Felix Fex, the Boy Spotter; or, The Gold Gang of New York. 425 Texas Trump, the Border Rattler. 486 Phil flash, the New York Fox; or, The Mystery of Room 21, 445 The City Vampires; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pizeun, 461 One Againat Fifty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. 477 The Exceisior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter. 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport, 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. 512 Dodrer Diek, the Wharf-Spy Detective. 621 Dodger Dick’« Best Dodge; or, Tle Gotham Gold Gang, 528 Fox and Faicon, the Kowery Shadows, 588 Dodger Dich, the Dock Ferret, 548 Dodger Dick’« Donble: or, The Rival Boy Detectives 558 Dedger Dick's Desperate Cane. BEB Dodger Dick. the Rey Vidocq; or, The Garg of Three. 5678 The Two Shadows: or, Dodger Dick’s Stop Game, 582 Dodger Dick’s Prop; or. The Mon from Jermey, 594 Little Lon, the Street-Sipyer Detective, 610 Old Bkinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard. 626 The Champion Parda; or, The Lucifer of Silver Bar, 68T Dick Doan, the Dock Bov Detective, 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp. G58 Billy Bantam, the Boy Beavle. - 671 Jersey Jed, the Boy Hustler: or, Stadowing the Shadower, 685 Happy Wugh, the Boy Musician Detective. 701 Photograph F red, the Camera Sharp. 715 Wide cake Len, the Quaker City Ferret, TBS Datay Pell, the Pavement Detective; or, Trapping Big Game, 742 Rilly Winka, the Rel) Boy Detective, 754 Billy Winks, the Boss Boy Shadow, 768% EFacle Ned, the Boy on Guard: or, Tue Camp Epiders, 780 Tonkaway Tom, the Red Wheard S827 The Rantam Sport. RAS Clip, the Ruattery Ferret &YT Davy Doen’s Big Bounce. 905 Dandy Nugect, the Bow Shudow, 921 The Boy from Denver. BY CHARLES MORRIS, Will Somers, the Boy Detective, Phil Viardy, the Boss Rey. Picayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective Detective Dick ¢ or, The Hero tn Rage. Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. Black Beas, Will Wildfire’s Kacer. Mike Merry the Harner Pollee Boy, Will Wildfire in the Woods, Billy Baggage, the Railroad ae A Trump Card; or, Will Wildfire Wins and Lowe Rob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. Bob Reckett, the Bank Rooner, The Hidden Hand} or, Wil! Wildfire’s Revenge, 87 Fred Halyard, tiv Life Boat Boy; or, The Smoggiers. 89 Bob Recketty; or, Driven to the Wall. 96 Shadowed ; or, Bob Keckett’s Fight for Life. 06 Dark Paul, the ‘Viger King. 12 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 20 Tom Tanner; or, The Black Sheep of the Plocs, 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky, 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy, 242 The Two ** Blooda”; or, Shenandoah Pili and Hie Gang. 252 Dick Dashaway ; or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. 262 The Young Sharps; o1. Rollicking Mik’s Hot Trail, 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’s Job; or. The Young Detective, 298 The Water-Heund: or, The Young Thorongnored, 805 Dashaway, of Daketa: or, A Western Lad in Quaker City, 824 Ralph Keady, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagahond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyers Slizzard, B67 Wide-Awnke Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. 879 Larry, the Leveler: or. The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Firefly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger; or. The Entrapped Cashier. 428 Fred Flyer. the Renorter Detective. 482 Invinelble Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Rilly Brick, the Jolly Vagapond, 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or Entombed Alive. 479 Petective Dodge: or, The Mvstery of Frank Hearty. 48s Wild Dick Racket; or. How He Fought for Henor, 501 Reota, the Roy Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, b66 The Secret * ervice Boy Detective. F496 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. 627 Tom Rruce of Arkanana: or, The Wolf in the Fold, 655 Plueky Paul, the Boy Speculator. &67 Rob and Sam, the Daisy Detectives. TO9 The Curbstone Detective: or. Harry Hale’s Big Beat THT Vetective Frank’« Sweep-atakes, 869 Ned Norman, the Gamin Broker, S21 Turkey Billy, the Shine-’em-up Detective 917 Flash Lightning, the Mountain Mascot, BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 1 The Two Detectives: or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl, Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 33 Rol Ginger, the Giant Trapper, 248 Joe nek of Angels and His Rey Pard. 447 New Vork Nat. A Tale of Tricke and Traps in Gotham. ry} New England Vtel: or. The Fortunes of a Foundlting, 49 3 Of, oncx eeuers Foul Play vt ase eon 2a RHOVWONGS 6 6 Frirans Sas , 64 Nimble Nick, the Cirens Prince, 8 Tanew Ted, tae Avizons Snort. B10 Cool Colorado, the Half-Rreed Detective 518 Cool Colorado In New Vark: or, The Cowbov's Mighs BY CAPT, ALFRED R. TAYLOR C. 8, & the Roy Rnllwhacker, i) Bets or, The Gambler Guide, #4 ‘pit hos : } BEADLE’S« H ALF- DIME* LIBRARY. mm ee ‘ ” Published Every Tuesday. Hoch Issue Complete and Sold at the Unijorm Price of Five Cents, hy all Newsdeasere. | RY J. W. OSBON, 469 The Rival Giants of Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Lack, 587 Old Ruckeye, the Sierra Shadow. . 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner. or, The Man Withontal a 609 Bolly Dorrit, the \ eteran Detective, 620 Little Li nbalng's League; or, The Mystery o. tue Ioland 688 Plucky Pant, the Boy Prospector, 751 Gold-Duat Dan, the Trai) Patrol. \, 755 Gold Dust Dan’s Onth: or, Reckkes Roy, the Reguins 9028 Gold-Duat Dan’s Snap-Shet. BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR, 2 Vellowatone Juck; or, The Tyappere ce 48 Black Jehn, the Road-Agent; or, The Ontlaw’s Retreat, 65 Hurricane Teil ; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 119 Mustang Sam ; or, The King of the Plains. 186 Night-Huwk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul; oy, Dainty Lance to the Rescue, 160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy, 168 Deadly if ae or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 The Boy Pards; or, Dainty Lance Unmasks, 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca W olf; or, The Beautiful Deewy, 819 The Black Riders or, The Horse-Thieves’ 685 Old Double Fiat; or, The Strange Guide 255 The King of the Woods: or. Danie) Boone’s Last Trmtkc 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective 625 Chincapin Dan, the Rey Trafler. 677 Chinecapin Dan's Second Trafl, 688 Chincanin Dan's Wome Stretch. 698 Old Crazy, the Man Without a Mead, TOR Light-Meart Lute’s Legaey. TIS Light-Neart Tute’*s Last Trall. 728 Silverblnde, the Shoshone. 729 Kilverblade, the Half-Blood; or, The Border Beagle ot Gm 789 Silverblade, the Hvetile; or, The Border Beag!e’s Trall, 748 Silverblade the Friendly; or, The Border Beagie’s Boy Paw’ BY ¢. DUNNING CLARK, 185 Captain Paul: or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains, 280 The Yankee Najuh; or, The Fate of the Black Shovemh, BY LIFUT. i. D. PERRY, U. 8. N. 176 The Roy Runaway; or, The Buccaneer of the Ram 180 The Sea Trailer; or, A Vow Well Kept, 192 Captain Kit; or, The Myster) of Montack Poles. BY. JACK FARRAGUT. 815 Ned, the Cabin Koy; or, The Witch of the For&, | 820 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Shipper. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. 7& Blue Dicks or, The Yellow Chief's Vengeance. $87 The Land btratent or, Thw League of Devil's lolant, 187 The eymiase fiand ¢ or, Backwoods Retribution. 289 The Gold-seeker Guide} or, The Los Mouptala BY RRACEBRIDGE NEMYNG, Ialand Jim: or. The Pet of the Family. The Oaptain of the Club 4 or. The Riva) Athicem Jack Markaway in New York. MISCELLANEOUR AUTHORS, * 4 Tho Wild-Uerse Hunters, By Capt. Mayne Rete. Frederick Whittaker. ® Adventures of Raron Munchauses, 12 Quiliver’« Travels. By Dean Swift. 14 Aladding or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe. (27 Llustrations.) 18 Rindbad the Sailor, Hise Seven Voyages. 22 The Scan Serpent; or, The Boy Rebinsos Crosse, By Juans Lewis. 88 The Ocean Fileodhnawts or, The Red Phrates of the Carribers. By S. W. Pierce. RE The Boy Clowns or, The Arena Queen. By & 8, Finn. ; BM Ned Wylde. the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 51 The Rey Pifes: or. The Underground Camp. By A.C. Tropa 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Minsissipp By Lieut,-Col, Haseltine. 98 Robin Hood, the Outiawed Ear): or, The Merry Mon of Groom wood, By Prof. Gildersleeve. 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Onprats Phe Mad tlunte he Cave of De th. Ry Burton Baxe, 112 The Ma unter: or, heCave ath. 124 Esppys the Texan? or, The Young Champion, By George erson. - 128 The Voung Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Btronghold. Be Harry Cavendish. 148 Sharp Bums or, The Adventures 01 8 Friendlies Bey, By 3 Alexander Patten. ' 227 Puaky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yo) ’ lowstone, By eae ~~ ¥ mk Boy Pi | 2641 Feren« Fearvaught the New fT: , . L, aiken 206 Kilib’or. the Guide: 1, Davy Orockett’e Trail By Ensign C. D, Warren, ; 208 Red Claw. thy One-Eved Trapper; or, The Maid of the Ciifl By Captain Comstock. ~* 817 Panearkt Pete. tae Lively Lad from Leadville. By Liew tenant Alfred Thorne. RVR The Sky Detective ¢ or, A Boy’s Fight tor Lite and Honos- By Maior Mickey Free. B50 eed Ralph, the River Rovers or, The Brother's Re yenge, By Ned Buatiine. REG Raltimore Ren the Boothlack Detective. By A. k. Morris j RTA Gold.Veust Tam: or. Rer’e Dovhle Match. @ €. Mors 876 Callfernin Joe's Firet Trail. By Colonel) Thomar ~ Hover Monetery. 418 Billy Nombahcll, the Clift Climber. By F. 8. Winthrop, 475 The Binck Shin, Ry John 8 Warner. 484 Comanche Mick and In Three Invincivies, Henrv J. Thomas. 7 BRL The Cawhoy Puke. i / ; 89 rol 101 Ry Edwin Brooke Forrest. j BS2 Artel the Athlete. By David Droid, ; BRE WH Waters, the Rov Fervet. By 11. Enton. | 6R2 The Vend Veteetive’a Vouble. By Grraié Carton. | 721 Mavertek Mase, tne Arivona Detective: cr, Tae Wheard Urkow Pose, Ry Wl) Licenhee. 809 Don Darton, the Gent from Denver, Rv King Keene, of @ R14 Ave Mich, the Prisca Petective, Ry C. ¥. Tri re gh, the Frisce Petective, iv U- ~ 880 The Grim Jadrers In Peg Alleys ov Citeen Rab of Number Seven, Rw Ren I. Holidny. : R81 The Chicago Prvrorer’s Tent, Ry 3. 6. Betum, 841 ree Charlie, the Cat’s-Tiaw Spert. by bow By * nuke Dar, : - R61 Billy Rrtne. the Swamr Fox. Fy Chas. F. Welles 879 Bine-Haht RIM, the Sapphire fy. rt; or, The Denes Daten tive’s Lone Hand. By King Keene. 4 New Tsene Fverx Tuerdry. The Half-DPime ¥ Mhrary te tor ane py ol ms ‘ BS donna tg Pees Mod Fp aoa fix b
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WIBITIONS < pens FOR scHOoO HOME EN Mec. 1 % BS inclusive. 16 to 35 Pepular Dialogues and Dramas in each book, Each volame 100 lfme pages, sem post-paid, on receipt of price, TEN CENTS. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William St., N.Y. These volumes |bave been prepared with éspecial reference to their availability for Exhibitions, being adapted to schoois and parlors witt gr without the furniture of a stage, and suited to SCHOLARS AND YOUNG PEOPLE of every age, both male and female. It is fair to assume ‘eat no other books in the market, at any price, contain so many useful and available dialogues and dramas of wit, pathos, humor and sentiment, Dime Dialogues, No. 1. Young America. For three males and two females. | The Golden Rule. For two males and two females, Josephine’s Destiny. For four females, one male. ‘The of the Queen. For several femajes, Batting « Live. Gealastoan tee unotuere Doxsintlcun | Bor canes esmle pean + Caren And orbit to the Clty, Several charectea , gma’ ort male ers. un unt’s to y. Sev Dasso's Coronation. For male and fom The Ignorant Confounded. For two boys. The Two Romans. For two —. For two ladies. The Fast Young Man. For two males. Trying the Characters. For three males, Spatphooree. For six bo The Year's Reckoning. Twelve females, one male, | The y Family. For several “animals.” bon will you Choose? For two boys. The Village with One Gentleman. Foreight females | The Balin, For several of May. For two little girls. and one male, How to write “ Po Stories. For twe males. gue TeaPerty. Tor four ladies. The New and the Old. For two males, Scenes edded Life. For male and famalk, Dime Dialogues, No. 3. A Sensation at Last. For two males. Mrs. Sniffies'’s Confession. For male and female. The Greenhorn. For two males. The Missiqn of the Spirits. For five young ladies. | The Genius of Liberty. Two males and one female, | The Three Men of Science. For four males, . For five rs. Cinderella or, the Little Glass Slipper. The Old Lady’s Wil. For four males. Georet of Success. three speakers. Doing Good and Saying Bad. For several characters, { The Little hers. For two little girly, How to Find an Heir. ‘For five. males, The Virtues. For six young : iawn ene 4 ge five males and ic ecting. One female The English Traveler. For two males, Dime Dialogues, No. 3. The May Queen. For an entire school Dress aes Convention, For tea females, Keeping Bad Company. A Farce. For five males. Courting Under Difficulties. Two males, one femaa Representatives. A Burlesque. Fourmaleg Esca’ ng the Draft. For numerous males. The Cook. For two males. Masterpiece. For two males and two femalea The Two Romans. Fortwo males. toe ey pare per ee ars we males, White Feather. Four es, one female, ao Ratle Call. A Recitative. For one mais, Sneed The Frost Ring. For ten or more persons. arr in Life. For three males and two f Faith, Hope and Charity. For three little arby and Joan. For two males and one female, “he May. A Florai Fancy. For six little gints. The Enchanted Princess. 2 males, several females, Honor to Whom Honor is Due. 7 males and 1 fenaaie The Gentle Client. Several males and one female, Phrenology. A Discussion. For twenty males, The Stwbdletown Volunteer. 2 males and 1 femaka, A Sceue from “ Paul Pry.”’ For four males. The Charms. For three males and one f == =f Bee, Clock arid Broom For three little t the r Says. For two es, e Crimes of Dress. A Colloguy. Yor two boys, : Th The Reward of Benevolence. For four males, J X The Letter. For two males, a Dime Dislogues, No. 5. The Three Gueases. For school or i e 4 save BEADLE AMD ADAMS, 98 WILLIAM STREET, N.Y. Sentiment. curtain Por melos and female General Dime Book Publisher 8: Examination Day. For several female chareeteiR I eereral n |
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\2 A Hard Crowd; or, Gentleman Sam’s Sister, y Philip &. Warne. 2 The Dare-Wevil; or, The Winged Witch of the Sea. By Col P. Ingraham, 8 Kit Carson, Jr., the Crack Shot of the West. Bv Buckskin Sam. 4 The Kidnapper; or, The Great Shanghai of | the Northwest, Philip 8S. Warne. & The Fire-Fiends; or, Hercules, the Hunch- back. By A. P. Morris. 6 Wildcat Bob, the Boss Bruiser By Ed- ward L. Wheeler. ¥ Death-Notch, the Destroyer. By Oll Coomes, 8 The Headless Horseman, Bv Cwtain Mayne Reid. 9 Handy Andy. a ¥0 Vidoeq, the French Himeelf. ' 11 Midshipman Easy. sy Captain Marryat, 12 The Death-Shot; or, Tracked To Death. .4 Captain Mayne Reid. 13 uthaway }; or, Nick Whiffles, the old Trap- r of the Nor’west. By Dr. J, H. Robinson. ¥4 Thayendanegea, the Scourge ; or, The War ! Eagle of the Mohawks. By Ned Buntiine. As The Tiger-Slayer 3: or, Eagle-Head tc the Rescue. By Gustave Aimard. 6 The White Wizard; or, The Great Pronhet of the Seminoles. B Ned Buntline, 7 Nightshade, the Robber Prince of Hounslow Heath. By Dr. J. H. Robinson, 18 The Sea Bandit. By Ned Buntline. ra 19 Hed Cedar, * 2 Prairie Outlaw. By Guscave } Aimard, , ( 20 The Bandi€«.' Bay; or, The Pirates of the lo Prairies. By Gustave Aimard. 1 Cbs Trapper’s Daughter; or, The Out- | law’s Fate. vy Gustave Aimard, 22 Whitelaw; or, Nattie of the Lake Shore. } By Dr. J. H. Robinson, 23 The Red Warrior; or, Svea Delorme's ) Comanche Lover. By Ned burtline. + 24 Prairie Flower. By G. Aimard. 25 The Gold Guide; or, Steel Arm, the Regu- |. __ lator. By Francis Johnson. 26 The Death-Track 3 or, The Outlaws of the Mountain. By Francis Johnson. 27 The Spotter Detective. By A, W. Aiken. 28 Three-Fingered Jack, the Road-Agent of the Rockies, By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 29 Tiger Dick, the Faro King; or, The Cashier's Crime, By Philip 8, Warne. 80 Gospel George; or, Fiery Fred, the Outlaw. oN ge h E, Badger, Jr. ty or, The Flash of Samuel Lover. ‘ Pol‘ze Spy Written by ae New York Sharp; tning. By Albert W. Aiken, B2 Whoys of Vale; or, The Scrapes ofa Hard Jollegians. By John D, Vose, 8 Overland Kit; or, The Idyl of White Pine. By Albert W. Aiken. 4 Rocky Mountain Rob. the California Outlaw. By Albert W. Aiken, BS Kentuck, the Sport; or, Dick Tathot at the Mines. By Albert WV. Aiken. 186 Injun Dick}; or, The Death Shot of Shasta. : By Albert W, Aiken. ; 37 Hirl, the Hunecbbacks or, Tae Sword- maker of t 'e Santee. By Dr. Jj. H. Robinson. 8 Velvet Hands; or, The Iron Gry of Injun Dick, By Albert ‘WwW. Aik~- 9 The Russian Spy; “he Brothers of the Starry Cross, By Captain Frea, Whittaker, 0'The Long Haired ** Pards;? or, The Tartars of the Plains. By Jos, E, Budger, Jr. 1 Gold Dan; or, The White Savage of the Great Salt Lake. By Albert W. Aiken. a2 The California Detective; or, The Witches of New York. By Albert W, Aiken. 43 Dakota Dan the Reckless Ranger; or, The 4. . Bee-Hunters’ Excursion. By Oll Coomes, 44 Old Dan BRackback, the Great Extarmina- |__ tor; or, The Triangle’s Last Trail. Oll Coomes. 5 Old Bulls mp the Lightning Shot of the Plains. By Jos, E. Badger, Jr. 6 Bowile-Knife Ben, the Little hunter of the Nor’-West. By Oll Coomes, | ¥ Pacific Pete, the Pri e0° ‘2 Revolver. By } Joseph FE, Badger, Jr. ‘ 448 Idaho 'Tom, the Youu, Outlaw of Silverland; or, the Hunters of the Wild West. By Oll Coomes, 49 The Wolf Demon. By Albert W. Aiken. 50 Jack Rabkhit, the Prairig Sport By Jos. E. Badger, Ji. ‘51 Red Bob, the x% Roaa-dgeni® By Ol | Coomes. ; 4 : € 52 Death Tructer. the Chief of Scouts; or, Life and Love in a Frontier Fort. - By Buffalo Bill, B63 Silver Sams; or, The Mystery of Deadwood City. By Col. Delle Sara, By Philip 8. Warne. Bb4A ways On Hand. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 5 The scalp Hunters, 6 The Indian Laser gh, ST or, The Madman of the Plains, By A, W. Aike 67 The Silent Hunter; or, The Scow! Hall ‘ prea By Percy B. St. John. 58 Silver Knife; or, Wickliffe, The Rocky Mountain marge. By Dr. J. H. Robinson. 9 The Man Fro m Texas; or, The Outlaws ~ of Arkansas. By A. W. Aiken. 80 Wide Awake the Robber King; or, The Idiot of the Black Hills, By Frank Dirmont, 61 pe “994 Seawaif, the Privates) Sy Ned : ntline, ‘‘@2 Loyal Heart; or, The Trappers of A. <ansus, , a ustave Aimard. 63 e Winged Whale, A. W, Aiken, @4 Double-Sight, the Deatu Shot; or, The Ou jaw of the Chaparral. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. The Red Rajah ‘the Soourwe of the Oe ee eee Sena, Whittaker |B) E/A|D|L|E)'s/=|D/1/M|E|—'L/1/B)R/ A/R|Y 66 The 8 ecter Barque. By Mayne Reidy 67 The si oy Jockey. By Jos. E. ger, 68 The Fighting Trapper; or, Kit Carson to the Rescue. By Captain J. fh C. Adams. 69 The Irish Captain. By Capt. F. Whittaker. 70 Hydrabad, the Strangler; or, Alethe, the Child of the Cord. By Dr. J. H. Robinson. 71 Captain Cool-Blade; or, The Man-Shark of the Mississippi. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 72 The Phantom Hand; or, The Heiress of Fifth Avenue, by A. W. Aiken, 78 The Knights of the Red Cross; or, The Magician of Granada, By Dr. J, H, Robinson. 4 The Captain of the Rifles; or, The Queen of the Lakes, By Capt. Mayne Reid. Gentleman George. By A.W, Aiken, The Queen’s Musketeers} or, Thisbe, the Princess Palmist. By George Albany. The Fresh of Frisco. By A. W. Aike» The Mysterious 4 - By A. M. Grainger. Joe Phenix, the Police Sny. By A.W. Aiken. A Man of Nerve. By Philip S. Warne, The Human Tiger; or, A Heart of Fire, By Albert W. Aiken. Iron Wrist, the Swordmaster, Thomas Hoyer Monstery. By Buffalo Bill. Gold Bullet Sport. 84 Hunted Down; or, The League of Three, or, Zuleikah, the = Albert W. Aiken. 85 The Cretan Rover} Beautiful. Reape Prentiss Ingraham. The Big unter; or. The Queen of the Woods. By theauthor of “ The Silent Hunter,” The Scarlet Captain; or, The Prisoner of the Tower. By Col. Delle Sara. Big George, the Giant of the Gulch; cr, The Five Outlaw Brothers. By J h E. Badger, Jr. The Pirate Prince, By Col. P. Ingraham. Wild Will, the Mad Ranchero; or, The Ter- rible Texans. By Buckskin Sam. The Winning Oar; or, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, By Albert W. Aiken. Buffalo Wili, the Buckskin King; or, The Amazon of the West. By Maj. Dangerfield Burr. Captain Dick Talbot, King of the Road; or, The Black-Hoods of Shasta. By A. W, Aiken. Freelance, the Buccaneer; or, The Waif of the Wave, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. Azhort, the Axman; or, The Secrets of the Ducal Palace. By Anthony P. Mcrris. 96 Double-Death; or, The Spy Queen of Wyo- ming. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker. 97 Bronze Jack, the California Thoroughbred. iP Albert W. Aiken. , 98 The Rock Rider}; or, The Spirit of the Sierra. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker. 99 The Giant Rifleman. By Oll Coomes. 100 The French Spy; or, The Bride of Paris. By Anthony P. Morris. 101 The Man From New York ; or, The Ro- mance of a Rich Young Woman, By Aiken. 102 The Masked Band} or, The Man With- outa Name. By George L. Aiken. 103 Merle, the Mutineer3 or, The Brand of the Red Anchor. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 104 Montezuma, the Merciless; or, The Eagle and the Serpent. By Col. P. ingraham. 105 Dan Brown ot Denver, the Rocky Moun- tain Detective. By Joseph E, sedests Jr. 106 Shamus O’Brien, the Bould Boy of Glin- 1, By Col. Delle Sara, 107 Richard Talbot of Cinnabar ; or, The 108 109 By ‘ol, Prentiss Ingraham. 110 The Silent Rifleman. By H. W. Herbert. 111 The Smuggier Captain; or, The Skip- er’s Crime. By Ned Buntline, 112 Joe Phenix League of the Skeleton Keys. By A. W. Aiken. 113 The Sea S\ipper; or, The Amateur Free- booters. By Prof. J. i. Ingraham. Brothers of the Red Hand, By A. W. Aiken. 114 The Gentleman From Pike; or, The Warne. MWaFadad aFay mSC M+ Ser By’ Colonel 86 $1 93 94 The Duke of Diamonds; or, The Flower of Calcutta. _By Captain Frederick Whittaker. Captain Kyd, the King of the Black Flag. Ghost of the Canyon, By Philip 8. 115 Whe Severed Head; or, The Secret “f Castle Coucy. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker 116 Black Plume, the Devil of the Sea. iy Col, Prentiss Ingraham. 117 eid pony Raney the Hotspur of the Hills. By Major Dangerfie d Burr. 118 The Burglar Captain; or, The Fallen Star. By f. J. H. Ingraham. 119 Alabama Joe; or, The Yazoo Man-Hun- ters.. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 120 The Texan SPy3 or, The Prairie Guide, By Newton M. Curtis, 121 The Sea Cadet; or, The Rover of the Rigo- letts. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 122 Saul Sabvberday, the Idiot Spy; or, Luliona, the Seminole. By Ned Buntline. ; 123 Alapaha, the Squaav ; or, The Renegades of the Border’ By Francis Johnson. 124 Assowaum, the Avenger; or, The Doom of the Destroyers. By Francis Johnson. 125 The Blacksmith Outlaw; or, Merry England. By Harrison Ainsworth. 126 The Demon Duelist; or, The League of Steel. By Ool. Thomas Hoyer Monstery. 127 Sol Scott, the Masked Miner; or, Dan Brown’s Double. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 128 The Chevalier Corsair. By the author of ‘‘ Merle the Mutineer.” 129 Mississippi MWose; or, A Strong Man’s Sacritice. By Edward Willett. 180 Captain Volcano; or, The Man of the Red Revalvers, By A. W. Aiken. 131 Ksuckskin Sam, the Texas Trail or, The Randits of the Bravo, By Col. P. “™ Private Detective; or, The’ ee —~ y 132 Nemo, King of the Tramps. Cape Frederick Whittaker. acaba ( 133 Rody, the Rover, the Ribbonman of Ire land. By William Carleton. ; 134 Darkie Dan, the Colored Detective; or, Thg Mississippi Mystery. By Col. P. Ingraham. ' 135 The Bush Ranger; or, The Half-Breed Brigade. By Francis Johnson, 12.6 The Outlaw-Hunter; or, Red John, thy Bush Ranger. By Francis Johnson. 137 Leng Beard, the Giant Spy. By © Coomes, 138 The Border Bandits; or, The Horse Thief’s Trail. By Francis Johason. \ 139 Fire-Eye, the Sea Hyena; or, The Bride o§ a Buccaneer, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 140 The Three Spaniards. By Geo. Walker. 141 Equinox Tom, the Bully of Red Rock; or Dan Brown’s Masterstroke. By Joseph. BE Badger, Jr. 142 Captain Crimsom, the Men of the Irom Face. By Maj. Dangerfield Burr 143 The Czar’s Spy; or, The Nihilist League By Col. T. H. Monstery, 144 The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, BY Victor Hugo. 14& Pistol Pards; or, Soft Hand, the Silen § ort from Cinnabar. By Wm. R. Eyster. 146 The Doctor Detective; or, The Mystery of the Golden Coffin. By George Lenmeh 147 Gold Spur, the Gentleman from Texas, By Col. ntiss Ingraham. One-Armed Alf, the Giant Hunter of the Great Lakes, By Ou Coomes. The Border Rifles. By Gustave Aimard, El Rubio, Bravo, King of the Swordsmen, By Col. Thomes Hoyer Monstery,. The Freebooters. By Gustave Aimard. - Captain Ironnerve, the Counterfeiter Chief. By Marmaduke Dey.. She White Scalper. By Gustave Aimard Joaquin, the dle King, By Joseph E; Badger, Jr. . The Corsair Queen}; or, The Gipsies of the Sea.. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. 156 Velvet Face, the Border Bravo; or, Muriel the Danite’s Bride. By Dangerfield Burr. 157 Mourad, the Mameluke; or, The Three Swordmasters. By Col. Thomas H, Monstery. 158 The Doomed Dozen; or, Dolores, the Danite’s Daughter. By Dr. Frank Powell. 159 Red\ Rudiger, the Archer; or, The Lady Bertha’s Treachery. By Capt. F. Whittaker. 160 Soft Hand, age tt ae he Man With thé r. 161 162 163 Sand. By Wm. R. Eys The Olves of New Works or, Joe Phenix’s Great Man Hunt, By A. W. Aiken. The Mad Mariner 3 or. Disbonored and Disowned. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. Ben Brion, the Trapper Captain: or, Red ath, the Avenger. BySDr. J. H. Robinson. 164 The, King’s Fool}; or, The Knights of the Clasped Hands and Red Branch, By C. D.Clark, 165 Joaquin, the Terrible. By J. BE. Badger, Jr. 166 Owlet, the Robber Prince; or, The Unknowy Highwayman. By S ptimus R. Urban. 167 The Man of Steel; or, The Masked Knight of the White Plume. By A. P. Morris. 168 Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead Shot; or, Dagget Don’s Double, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 169 Corporal Cannon, the Man of Forty Duels, By Col. Thomas Hoyer Monstery. 170 Sweet William, the Trapper Detective, By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 191 Tiger Dick, the Man of the Iron Heart; oy The Dumb Bandit. By Philip S. Warne 172 Khe Black Pirate; or. The Mystery of the Gok en Fetters. By Col. P. Ingraham, 173 California John, the Pacific Thorough: bred. Albert W. Aiken. 174 The Phantom Knights. By Capt. F. Whittaker. 175 Wild Bill’« Trump Card; or, The Indian Heiress. By Major Dangerfield Burr. 176 Lady Jaguar, the Robber Queen. By Cap; tain Mark Wilton. { 177 Don Diablo, the Planter-Corsair; or, The Rivals of the Sea. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 178 Dark Dashwood, the Desperate; or, The Child of the Sun. By Major Sam 8, Hall. 179 Conrad, the Convict; or, Was He Guilty? By Prof, Stewart Gildersleeve, LL. D. ¥ 180 Old 949; or, The Amazon of Arizona. By Jos. E. r, Jr. 181 The Scarlet Schooner? or, The Nemes of the Sea. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 182 Hands Up; or, The Knights of the Canyon, By Wm. ; 183 Gilbert, derness. 184 The Ocean Vam Castle Curse. By Col. Prentiss ham, 185 The Man eps er; or, The Beautiful Sphing, By Anthony P. Morris, 186 The Black Bravo; or, The Tonkaway¥ Triumph. Buckskin Sam, 187 The Peat %s Head Cuirassiers; oa, Brave of all Braves. By Capt. Fred. Whittakes 188 The Phantom Mazeppa; or, The Hyens of the Cha als, By Maj. Dangerfield 189 Wild Bill’s Gold Trail; or, The Despé ado Dozen, By Col. Prentiss ‘Ingraham. 190 The Three Guardsmen. By Dumas. A new issue every Wednesday, : \ _enaie® tne FARE OTe, is Son Fe a?! e ers, ten cen r copy, or sent by @ |, receipt of twelve conte cach. BEADLE & @DABe | Pui 98 Williarr ftreet, New Yors-
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a THE DIME SPEAKERS. - —_ Dime American Speaker, No. 1. Young America, i Birthday of Washington, Piea for the Maine Law, Not on the Battlefield, The Italian Struggle, Independence, ‘sod Youmtry, Equality of Man, Character of the Revo’n, The Fruits of the War, The tewing-Machine, | Crue Manhoad, The Mystery of Life, The Ups and Downs, The Truly Great, : arly Re and Ris’g, A. Ward's Oration, True Nationality, Our Natal Day, Solferino, Intelligence ‘the Basis of The War, [Liberty ‘Charge of Light Brigade, After the Battle, The Glass Railroad, Case of Mr. Macbeth, Prof, on Phrenology, Annabel Lee, ens Name, The sailor Boy’s Syren, Dime National Union and its Results, J. Jeboom's Oration, A Dutch Cure, The Weather. The Heated ‘Term, Philosophy > icp An Old Ballac ; Penny Wise, Pound Fool- True Cleanliness, fish, Sat'd’y Night’s Enjoy’ts, ‘In a Just Cause,” No Peace with Oppres- sion, A Tale of a Mouse, A Thanksgiving Sermon, The Cost of Riches, Great Lives Imperishable The, Prophecy forthe Y’r Unfinished Problems, Honor to the Dead, Immortality of Patriots, Webster’s Polit’l System, | A Vision in the Forum, The Press Woman’s Rights, Right of the Governed, My Ladder, Woman, Alone, The Rebellion of 1861, Disunion, — Speaker, No. 2. Ohio, ‘ Our Country's Future, Oliver Hazard Perry, ~ The Statesman’s Labors, | Our Domain True Immortality. Systems of Belief, Let the Childless ‘Weep, | The Indian Chief, Our Country’s Glory, The Independent Farmer Union a Household, Independence Bell, The Scholar's Dignity, The Cycles of Progress, A Christraas Chant, Stability of Christianity, The True Higher Law, whe One Great Need, The Ship and the Bird, ‘Tecumseh’s Speech, « Territorial Expansion, rtha Hopkins, Bashful Man’s Story, @ Matter-of-Fact Man, Rich and Poor < Beeing the Eclipse, Beauties of the Law, Ge-lang! Git Up, The Rats of Life, Creowning Glory of U, §., SUE EA Jas ton, ur Great Inheritance, Lulogy on Henry Clay, Mrs. Grammar’s Ball, How the Money Comes, Future of the Fashions, Loyalty to Liberty, Our Country First, Last, and Always, British Influence, Defense of Jefferson, National Hatreds, | Murder Will Out, | Strive for the Best, Barly Rising, | Deeds of Kindness, | Gates of Sleep, The Bugle, A Hoodish Gem, Purity of the Struggle, Old Age, Beautiful and bee The Worm of the Still, Man and the Infinite, Language of the Eagle, Washington, The Deluge. \ Dime Patriotic Speaker, No. 3. merica to “ World, mistory of Our. Fisg, ve of Country, - I. Meagher’s ress, Right, of Se Bela yeowe to the Union, ur ’ 8 A Kentuekian’s appeal, | Last Speech of Stephen Kentucky Steadfast, @ A. Re las, Timidity is Treason, ag Bo Roland, The Alarum, (4 roves Year and the April 15, 1861, K g tton, [Union, The Spirit of °61, Rattle Anthem, The us Heritage, | The Ends of Peace, The Irish Element, Freedom the Watchword Frain’s Speech Crisis of Our Nation, Christy’s Duty of Christian’ Pa. Let Me Alone, triots, re Brigand-ier-General, pte § oration, Draft, Union Square Speeches, | The Onus of Slavery, The Union, A Foreigner’s Tribute, Gur County's Gall, | The Lit rel The Story of an Oak Catholic q L-e-g On My Leg, The * Speculators, Dime Comic Speaker, No. 4. ergoss On the War. '.A So of ‘Woe, yee ntly Considered,’ Word's Trip to Richm’d, Early Rising, Parody, kc The Wasp and the Bes, The Mounteban ’ omic Grammar, No, 1, | Gompound Interest, ym Nota Single Man, A Sermon on the Feet, A. Ward's Advice, Old Jock, Snzfuz on Pickwick, The Fishes’ Toilet, Romeo and Juliet, Brian O’Linn, is Happiness, Crockett to Ofiice-seenore Bogs, Who Is My Opponen % P Political Stump SEO. 2, Poxan Bua m, Comic Grammar, 409. tegen |peyeis e » e , “1's Acct of Him The Smack in School Ee tioal *Marenology,’ ) giick's Definition of Wile, Beautife , Yale of a Hat, Cabbawe, a The De Club, le Peo A Dutch Sermon, What i ® ? | Lecture on Locomotion, fanny Folks, Mrs. Jaudle on Umbr'lle Nee —E——_—eEeEeEeEeEEE Dime Elocutionist, No. 5. SEC. I Prrvorprrs oF True Envxciation.—Faults in Enunciation; How to Avoid Them, Special Rules and Observations. SEC. I. Tae Art or Oratory. Sheridan’s List of the Passions: Tranquillity, Cheerfulness, Mirth, Raillery, Buffoonery, Joy, Delight, Gravity, In- uiry, Attention, Modesty, Perplexity, Pity, Grief, elancholy, Despair, Courage, Commanding, Difference, fear, Shame, Remorse, asting, Pride, Obstinacy, Authority, Forbidding, greeing, Hxhorting, Judging, Approv- Affirming, Denying, ing, Acquitting, Condemning, Teaching, Pardon- ing, Arguing, ismissing, Refusing, Granting, De- pendence, Veneration, Hope, Desire, Love, Re t, Giving, Wonder, Admiration, Gratitude, Cu tion, prog f Persuasiow, Tempting, Promising, Affecta- sloth, Intoxication, Anger, etc, SEC. 1, Tur Component ELEMENTS OF AN ORA TIon.—Rules of Com and Phrases, viz.: sition as applied to Words irity, Propriety, Precision. Asapplied to Sentences, viz.: Length of Sentence, Clearness, Unity, Strength, Figures of Speech; the Exordium, the Narration, the Proposition, the Confirmation, the Ref utation, the Peroration, SEC. IV) Represenrarrve Exercises IN PROsm AND Verse.—Transition; A Plea for the Ox; Falstaff’s Soliloquy on Honor; the Burial of Lincoln; the Call and nse; the Bayonet Charge; Histor: Old of a Life; the Bugle; the Bells; Byron; Macbet and the Dagger; Hamlet's Solil King William Rufus; the Eye; an Look Upward; uy; Things; Essa Onto Musik; Discoveries of Galileo. : SEC. V. OssSERVATIONS OF GOop AUTHORITIES. Dime Humorous Speaker, No. 6, A Sad ga A String of Onions, A Tragic Story, Cats, Courtship, Debt Devils, Dow, Jr.'s Lectures, Ego and Echo, Fashionable Women, Fern Thistles, -Nature, Gottlieb Klebcyergoss, Schlackenlichter’s snake, Hosea Biglow’s Opinions, How the Money Goes, ‘Hun-ki-do-ri’s Fourth of July Oration, ou Mean No, Say No, ws on Leap Year, Lay of the Henpecked, Lot Skinner’s Elegy, Matrimony, Nothing to Do. Old Caudle’s Umbrella, Old Grimes’s Son, If Jo Paddle Your Own Canoe, Parody |. on ‘“ Araby’s Daughter,” Poetry Run Mad, Right Names, Scientific Lectures, ’ The Ager, The Cockney, The Codfish, | Fate of Sergeant Thin, The Features’ Quarrel, | Hamerican Voodchuck, The Harp of a Thousand Strings, The Last of the Sarpints, The March to Moscow, The Mysterious Guest, The Pu aes The Sea-Serpent, The Secret, The Shoemaker, The Useful Doctor, | The Waterfall. To the Bachelors’ Union py, br Uni States Presidents, Vagaries of Popping the Question, What I Wouldn’t Be Yankee Doodle Aladdin, Ze Moskeetare, Dime Standard Speaker, No. 7. The World We Live In, Woman's Claims, Authors of our Liberty, The Real Conqueror, The Citizen’s Heritage, Italy, . he Mechanic, ( Nature and Naivire’s God The Modern Good, [Sun, Ossian’s Address to the Independence Bell—1777, The Unbeliever, The Two Lives, The True Scholar, Judges not Infallible, anaticism, Instability of Successful “a? [Crime, The People Always Con- Music of Labor, — [quer, wien Austria, John Burns, Gettysburg, No Sect in Heaven: i) Miss Prude’s Tea-Party, The Power of an Idea, Hn Beneficence ai the rage, Sea, Dream of the Revelers, HowCyrus Laid the Cable The Prettiest Hand, Paradoxical, Little Jerry, the Miller, The Blarney Stone, A The Student of Bonn The Broken Household, The Bible, The Purse and the Sword My me paey True Moral Courage, What is War? Butter. My Deborah Lee, e Race, The Pin and Needle, The Modern eet Immortality of the Soul, Occupation, Herston and Daring, ‘A Shot at the Decanter, Dime Stump Speaker, No. 8, Hon. RS M. Stubbs’ Views | The tion, on the Hans Schwackheimer on | Sermon Sman’s Suffrage, All for a Nomination oi Sere vf k Star oeete Limits to Happiness, Good- a Blessing, ney Hard-shell Tail-enders, {Baptist, The Value of Money, Meteoric Disquisiticn, Be Sure You are Right, Be of Good Cheer, Crabbed Folks, _ (Shrew, Taming & Masculine Farmers, [Our Country: The True Greatness 0 The Cold-water Man, Kumbers 1 to 24, inelusive. Each Speaker, 100 pages 12mo., containing from 50 to 75 pieces. Sahigsindenicbhebolcsal Libert by of Permanency of States, Astronomical, The Moon, ech, E New Hngland ¢ and Union, | Duties of American The Unseen Battlefield, Rlea for the Republic, Ameriea, (Fallacy, “Right of Secession ”’ Life’s Sunset, Human Nature, Lawyers, Wrongs of the Indians, The Man Temptations of Cities, Broken Resolutions, a | There is no Death, ie pruitful Di urse, A itful Disco A Frenchman’s Dinner, 4 Unjust National Acqui'n popes in behalf of Am, | The Amateur Coachm 1 series of War,[Liberty, A Lay Sermon, A Dream, John Thompson’s Dau'r, House Cleaning, | It Is Not Your B.asinegs. Dime Juvenile Speaker, No. 9. A Boy’s Philosophy, Hoe Out Your Row, Six-Year-Old’s Protest, The Suicidal Cat, A Valediction, Popping Corn, The Rd tor, The Same, in rhyme, The Fairy Shoemaker, What Was Learned, Press On, | The Horse, The Snake in the Grass, Tale of the Tropics, Bromley’s Speech, The Same, second extract The Fisher's Child, Shakspearian Scholar, A Maiden’s Psalm of Life, A Mixture, Plea for Skates, eae: Ball, Why Ah re for Something,” Live Lay of the Hen-Pecked, The Outside Dog, Wolf and Lamb, Lion in Love, Frogs Asking for a King, Sick Lion, Country and Town 1h__-e, Man and Woman, Home, The Lotus-Planter, Little Things. A Baby’s Soliloquy, Tepenvencs, A Plea for Eg: Humbug Patriotism, Night After Christmas, Short Legs, Shrimps on Amusements, | How the Raven Became Black, A Mother's Work, The same, Who Rules, | A Sheep Story, A Little Co onden' One Good Tare teases Hy Dream, [Another, in I'll Never Use Tobacco, A Mosaic, The Old Bachelor, pre to Light, Little Jim, Angelina’s Lament, Johnny Shrimps on Boote Mercy, Pre gd pt Baie, oor Richard's Sayings, Who Killed Tom Nope Nothing to Do Honesty Best Heaven, Ho for the Fields, Fashion on the Brain, On Shanghais, Policy, A Smile, | Casabianca, Homeopathic Soup, Nose and Eyes, 1 Malt, Come; | A Hundred Years t# |The Madman and he Little Sermons, | Snufiles on Electrieity, The Two Cradles, { The Ocea a Storm, Do Thy Little—Do it We Little bi Base- [Wever | Prescription for pring Dime Spread-Eagle Speaker, No. 10, Ben Buster’s Oration, Hans Von Spiegel’s 4th, Josh Billings’s Advice, A Hard-shell Sermon, The Boots, The Squeezer, Noah and the Devil, A Lover’s Luck, * Hifalutin Adolphus, Digestion and Paradise, Distinction’s Disadvant- mith. ages, Gushalina Bendibuise A Stock of Notion Josh agi ha Lectuzng, Doctor De Hard x Dan Bryant’s S A Colored View, Original Maud Muller, o Y: Train of Circumstan Good Advice eins The Itching Palm, | Drum-head Sermons, | Schnitzerl's Philosopedis | ** Woman's Rights,’ Luke Lather, Jack Spratt, | The Ancient Bechelon” 16 Ancien chelor, Jacob Whittle's Speech, Jerks eroqnos aera A Word with Snodoks, Sut Loven c A Mule Ride, Josh Billings on Buzzer&, Il Trovatore, Kissing in the Streey Scandalous, Slightly Mixed, The Office-seeker Old Bachelors, Woman, The Niam Niams, People Will T: Swackhamer’s ' Who Wouldn’t be Fire’ Don't Depend on Daddayn Music of Labor. The American Ensign, Debater and Chairman’s Guide No. 11, 1.—Dersatina Socrery. Its Office and Usefulnees, Formation of, Constitution of, By-Laws of, Rules of Government, Local Rules of Order, Local Rules of Deba*‘e, Subjects of Discussion. 11,—How To Drpate. Why there are few good Debaters, t spy ma to Oratori- cal “a ge The Logic of Debate, The Rhetoric of Debate, Maxims to Observe, The Preli 1. MAN’s GurIDE, Ordinary Meetings and Assemblies, The Organization, Order of Business ang The “ Question.” Hew it be Trea’ ts of a Speaker ag the , Yeas and Nays, Interrupting a’V n of beray
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