Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 172) (1880 11 09)
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\ Mme WME AIK ICEE WE PT MA. SYRH= G0 iy Entered at the Post Offiv.e at New York, N. Y., at Second @lass Mail Rates. November 9, 1880. Single EUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, Price, No 1 72 Number. No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents. . ‘ THUNDERBOLT TOM: or, THE WOLF-HERDER OF THE ROCKIES, Sx EARN ~ Si. .GAOonRGSe, AUTHOR OF “HICKORY HARRY,” ‘‘RaTTLING RUBE,” “‘ DARING DAVY,” ‘“‘ROARING RALPH ROCKWOOD,” “ OLD HICKORY,” ETO,
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~ She es ee ere SOS es ay ee ee - Thunderbolt Tom; The Wolf-Herder ‘of the Rockies. BY HARRY ST. GEORGE, AUTHOR OF “HICKORY HARRY,” ‘‘ RATTLING RUBE,” ‘‘ DARING DAVY,” ‘‘ ROARING RALPH ROCKWOOD,” ‘‘ OLD HICKORY,” ETC. CHAPTER I. THE WOLF-TRAPPER. A LONG-DRAWN, melancholy howl came wind- down the pass, and the sound seemed to be en up by a score of wolfish tongues until it reverberated among the mountains. It was not the usual howl of the prowling wolf at large, for there was something exceedingly mournful in the cry that spoke of confinement and the longing for freedom. A man, garbed and armed as a hunter, came to a sudden pause. He had been making his bse f up the valley and was just about to set foot in the narrow pass that led above when this single howl, followed by the chorus from the pack saluted his startled ear. is man was young of years, but he had won a reputation upon the border that made his name rank alongside of those of Kit Car- son, Grizzly Adams and Pandy Ellis. Reckless and impetuous, ho was always the first to plunge into a fight and the last to leave it. There was something of a prairie whirlwind about the bronzed hunter, and little wonder it was that his companions had given him the significant name of Thtinderbolt Tom. ‘What under the sun does that mean? olves, to be sure, but there is something wrong about those howls. An investigation is next in order. Can it be that they have any thing to do with the trail I have been following? That I {intend to find out; I am going up to see just what it all means.’ He thought nothing of what lay before him while other men, their suspicions aroused by the wolfish howls from above, would have hesitated and counted the chances of gaining the summit in some other than the regular way. The pass was steep and to one who was unac- quainted with its irregularities difficult of as- cent, but the hunter recklessly and daringly kept on and gradually neared the top. ll the time the chorus of howls bad grown in vehemence; the very air rung with the dole- ful music from wolfish throats, and yet the hun- ter made no pause in his upward ascent. All at once there was a break in the mono- tonous chorus, and he heard the hoarse voice of aman shouting to the brutes and cursing them for their racket. An inkling of the truth now came to the hun- ter, but suspecting that the owner of the hoarse voice would look down the little canyon, he has- taly secreted himself behind an outlying rock. re enough, a huge form was outlined above against the fact fading light in the heavens and then the gruff voice rolled far down the pass, uttering: “ That you, Colorado!” The hunter, thinking that he had been dis- covered, grasped his rifle more Sealy and was about to step out from behind his shelter, when, somewhat to his surprise there came en answer from far down the canyon. “Correct! Ti jine you as soon as I can get up this infernal place.’ The giant above laughed hoarsely and then vanished from view. Still the bunter remain- ed in his place of concealment knowing that the other who had been denominated Colorado, had to him by and discovery might yet come unless he was wary. Presently the man passed him by. In the shadows of the canyon be could not distinguish his features and perhaps would not have recog- nized them had he been able to see better. When this man had also vanished beyond the top of the rocky canyon, the hunter thought it was time to move on, which he at once did. Bins arriving at the termination of the little pass he found that the summit of the foothill was still far beyond, for the canyon only de- vouched upon a plateau that extended over a half acre or more of the rocky surface. It was not much lighter here than in the pass itself, but he could still make out a rude cabin built against the rocky wall beyond, Attached to this was what appeared to be an inclosure, running parallel with the white cliff and for a d ce of perhaps twenty yards while it was something over half of that in _ This was ai ge of tall slabs fastened up- right, and fully ten feet in hight, so that no'wo. could ever leap over them an the cabin and cliff formed two of the sides and the others were made up of these slabs. Thunderbolt Tom found this out very soon after reaching the little plateau, for he made it a point to immediately get in the shelter of this high fence, from which point ot observation he would be able to take in his surroundings and sbape his plans accordingly. is first act after this hasty glance around him was to hunt for a hole through which he might see the interior of the inclosure, This he was not long in finding, but upon glancing through the slot between two of the slabs he found that it was too dark to make out any- thing. He was about turning away when a pair of glowing, fiery orbs caught his eye, then another and a third until the place seemed to be actually full of the blazing pairs of wolfish eyes. At ‘about thé same time be felt hot breath on his face, and knew that one of the animals was just beyond the fence, He drew back in a feel- ing of Salt horror, halt disgust. As be did so the animal gave vent to a 'long-drawn, hideous how] that seemed to cut the air like a knife. nay the whole pack joined in and the din that followed \was beyond “description. Knowing just what the resulb would be the young hunter crouched down beside ‘the tall palings and awaited the advent of the wolf- erder. Presently, by looking through the palings he could seea flash of bright light fromthe cabin, as a window or door of some sort was thrown open, This was half a'dozen feet above the pen, and the upper part of the giant’s bulky form was plainly outlined against the light that shone within. In another instant his hoarse voice rung out, and that the fierce wolves feared it couid be guessed, for their racket came to an immediate close just as if a thunderbolt bad silenced them, and only an occasional whining noise gave evi- dence of their presence within the inclosure. Thunderbolt Tom now crept along in the di- rection of the cabin, for when the giant had quelled the disturbance he had withdrawn. Upon reaching the cabin he sought in vain for an opening through which to view the proceed- ings of those within, for although tbe shanty was old and rotten, it seemed to have had its chinks well filled up with a kind of clay that had become with age almost as impervious to the point of a knife as iron. Tom was about to give up his design of over- hearing what the plotters had te say, whena brilliant plan came into his head, which he at once set about executing. The ranch had been built against the cliff by its original owner, whether with any design or not it would have been hard for Tom in his present condition to have told. 1 he saw was that by clambering up the face of the cliff he would be enabled to reach a sort of door not unlike that of a hayloft ina barn, and which stood invitingiy open. Without one thought of the danger he in- curred, the young hunter began the ascent. Agile as a Rocky Mountain goat, he succeeded in reaching the opening, swung himself into it and yr y landed upon the floor of the loft. ; ad found an entrance to the enemy’s or CHAPTER II. THE MAN IN MASK. WuHeEN Thunderbolt Tom gained the loft of the old cabin, he crouched down until he could fully understand his situation. A pair of stairs or else a ladder, he could not tell which, led down to the lower room, and through this opening came the light that allow- ed him to locate himself, though objects in the loft were very dimly outlined by this rough means. He was soon attracted by a narrow line of light just in front of him and found that the cracks in the floor formed a perfect square. It was a trap door. ‘Through the cracks he could obtain a good view of the interior of the lower story, and crouching down he prepared to examine the place and its occupants at his leisure, while at the same time he listened to the words that reached his ears, The room was low and the walls rough and unplastered. There was no evidence of comfort about the place. In one corner lay a pile of skins, evidently used as a sort of couch by the giant wolf-herder when he wished to jove him- self in slumber. escape, Thus barrel stood in one corner which seemed to contain meat for the wolves. There was a fire- place’and a window, the shutter of the last being closed. A rickety table and several home-made chairs well on to the stage of dilapidation that seemed in harmony with all around finished the furniture of the mountain ranch. The persons within it soon occupied his full attention. He could readily distinguish the wolf-herder by his giant size. He was a rough- featured man, with a repulsive face that stamp- ed him a desperado of the lowest type. ' There were two other men preseat at the time the spy looked down upon them. One of these was a fac-simile of the giant, dif- fering from him materially only in point of size, for he was much smaller. Such a ferocious little imp the hunter had seldom seen. When he used his voice Tom had no difficulty in recog- nizing him as the man called Colorado by the wolf-herder. j The third differed very much from his two associates in dress, for he wore the b of civ- ilization. There was a black mask upon his face, however, and this concealed his identity, His voice, too, was assumed, but when it struck his ear, the young bunter started. Somehow or other it seemed familiar to him even in its disguised tones. The figure of the masked man was slenderand trim; but, try as he would, he could not remember such a one among his associates. To his surprise he heard his own name men- tioned by those below, but this fact was quick- ly ignored when he discovered that there was one present whom he had not as yet seen. A female figure was seated upon a chair in a corner, her head bowed upon her hands as if she wept or would shut out the sight before her. The face was thus hidden from his view, but the glimpse he had of the masses of golden hair sent a strange thrill leaping like electricity along the veins of the young hunter while he kept his eyes upon the motionless figure, his ears were Open to the words of the trio seated around the rickety table. A rude candlestick fastened to thé wall held a co of tapers made from bear’s grease, and lighted up the room. The wolf-heréer was ma ; ‘“‘ Thar ain’t no two ways of fixing it. The gal walked into the trap as neat as could be and thar she be! 1 reckon our money are earned, no matter how she came to be hyar. Them’s my sentiments, take ’em as ¥ please, Colonel.” ‘*Oh, it’s all right, Wallace; the money is yours of course. 1 was only remarking that you had earned it easily. Half of the job still’ re- mains undone. You have not yet put Thunder- bolt Tom out of the way, as was agreed upon.” Put out of the way? That meant murder—a suddey; shot in the forest or aknife-thrust iv the heart while he slept. Truly it was getting very — for the ycung hunter, listening above. Who was this man whom they addressed as the Colonel? That black mask rere con- cealed his features, and while the hunter had a half-formed idea that he bad met this person some time previous, for the life of. him he could not tell where. Satisfied with the explanation of his employ- er, the wolf-herder returned to the business hand and laughed at the words spoken in refer- ence to Thunderbolt Tom. ‘Me and Colorado know the critter, though ‘raps he don’t remember us. A year back we ad quite a little difficulty at the fort. Look thar; do ye see thatf” and as the desperado spoke be raised Colorado’s bat and showed branded | upon his white forehead the word ** thief ! “ That was his work! I took Colorado’s and might as well confess that I war licked by the critter, though he took an unfair advantage of me and beat me with some tricks he knew, I hate him, but glory zen couldn’t hold a candle to the feeling Colorado bears him.” ‘‘Hate him?” hissed the small man, with a black, venomous look; ‘bate the man whose hand held the iron that scorched to my soul when it burned these letters on my brow? I could hurl him into a sea of molten lead and laugh to hear his shrieks for mercy. Let him fall into my hands and the tortures of hell iteelf a i wring from him more suffering than I The giant laughed rather good humoredly while the man in the loft muttered to himself; ‘Pleasant party, that Colorado, on my soul! Irather reckon upon remembering them now though the affair had slipped my mind, some- how. Before very long perhaps I shall give Mr. Colorado the chance he wants.” The man who wore the black mask seamed \
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b pa highly pleased with the warmth of feeling shown by Colorado and gave him to understand that he could bo killing two birds with one stone, carry out his revengo and earn the prom- ised reward, by making way with the man who seemed to bo their mutual foe. “It matters not to me what tortures he ex- riences before he dies, but I want him to now that the blow comes from my hand. Be sure you teil him thoso words I gave you before striking the final blow. It will make his soul quiver, for, much as you have reason to hate him, I have more.” «6 We make a nice party all around for Thun- derbolt Tom to fallinto. I wouldn’t give much for his life if le chanced among us now. I’m the only moderate hater lyar, and yet thar air times when I feel as if I could chaw up the critter, though I allers kind o’ admired him. Thar air ono thing I’d like ter see—Thunderbolt Tom without a weapon, battling for life among my wolves.” ‘Good!” burst from the others like a shot; “tho idea is superb. How can it be manageo?”’ ‘* Easy enough if we can only lay hands on the critter. Thar air tho wolves ‘allers half starved and ready to tear the flesh from the bones of any man but me. They fear me, but if either of you was to get among them we might save a few fragments, but I couldn’t auswer for it.” “What revenge could be better! If we can lay hands on the hunter ho shall meet thas fate. Do you agree to that, Colorado?’ asked the man in mask, turning to the terrible hater. ‘““Why not? Just so I have a hand in his death, I care little how it is accomplished.” “Good. It is agreed then that Thunderbolt Tom shall meet his death in this place. Let him battle with the wolves, my heart will de- lightin his cries for help. 1 suppose he can be thrown out from the door where you quieted the animals some time ago, Wallace?” “Course he can. The varmint won’t havea chance when my pets lay their teeth on his car. cass. Lucky I thought of that. Here then we will bring Thunderbolt Tom, and he shall be used as fodder for my pets.” The others nocded a ready assent. “Gentlemen, } our plans are weil Jaid and it seems a pity to methit you lack a victim. Be- liold in me, therefore, the required lamv ready to be led to the slaugater. Make way below, there!” With the last.word the trap in the floor of the loft was suddenly thrown back, and a human form came plunging through. Of course it was reckless Tom. 2 had been wrought up to a pitch of indignation that could no longer be sup- ressed The three men, as stated, were seated around the rickety table, and from the fact that a black quart bottle and a dingy-looking tuu.bler occu- ied a position midway between the giant and olorado, it might be safe to assume that the wol!-herder had business tobe beggars, and so they must take the caance when it was presented to them. Eager to hegin, the old bunter took the large wolf-skin and handing it to his cempanion gave him directions how to place it. after which he got down on his hands and knees. The soldier obeyed the directions given bim, and succeeded in ae quite a respectable looking wolf, considering the circumstances and the length of the trapper When all was ready, the ranger took the knifo in his right band, gave his comrade some last directions, and then sal- lied out on bis strange mission, When the hunter thus set forth he had no idea of what lay before them, for he could not sus- pect that there was danger in the air. He moved along quickly at first, rising now and then to his knees so as to make sure that he was heading in the proper direction. When he drew near to the place where the buffaloes were feeding he became doubly cau- tious and crawled over the ground more after miles from the place where Starving men | the manuer of a wolf creeping upon its intended | prey. This is a trick well known among the Indians of the West, and often one brave disguised in the skin of a wolf, will, armed with his bow and arrows, slay fifty buffalces. The huge ani- mals have a contempt for a cowardly wolf that comes sneaking around, and pay no attention to the creature. Often a pack of wolves will follow a herd of buffaloes for weeks, ready to feast upon any ae fellow who may fall behind, or a ‘calf that has strayed from the rest, so that the animals be- come accustomed to the sight of a wolf skulk- X a — ene ing near at hand and by keeping to the leeward a a hunter thus disguised may do almost The ranger had no bow and arrows and his work would perhaps be a little more difficult | on this account, but starvation would see no chances of losing the game, and with eager confidence he moved on. He was now so close to the herd that he could easily count them, and found nine in sight. Once again he crept forward, and was soon in a position where he could select his game. Again he raised bis head above the grass, so that he might pick out a cow from the rest and turn his attention to her. He noticed, some- what to his surprise that there were now only seven of the animals in sight, two of them hav- ing lain down since his last observation. Even as he looked another of the animals vanished among the grass. It was’ a clumsy movemezs even for such an unwieldy creature, thought’ the hunter, bat his mind was ‘too wholly engrossed with the mat- ter of procuring something to eat to even think of such a thing twice, and baving no suspicion of the true state of affairs, he continued on his ‘| as he will. way. Stealthily he-epproached. The animals seemed to have no knowledge of his presence, and ibe heart of the starving man beat high with exultation at the thought of having a-good meal to ease the pangs of his out- raged stomach. . gain he raised his head. This time he could count only five of ‘the buffaloes'in sight, but the one he bad selected as his game was still browsing upon thé grass. so without arother thought for thore that bad lain down, he continued ‘to approach ‘her, his eyes fastened upon the game, his breath almost held for the time being, and the knife gripped in a hand like iron. Nearer and nearer he crept. The grass though not much over two feet in bight af- forded him an excellent shelter and with such advantages in his favor he did not find it very difficult to draw close up to the. buffaloes. When he was within six yards of ‘the one he had selected as his prey the hunter again raised his head very cautiously, and took ‘another sur- vey. Finding all secure so far as his ame was con- cerned, he was about to proceed when suddenly he saw the cow throw up her bead in a startled way. . - ‘At about the same time a low peculiar thud reached his ears. He saw a trcmor pass over the bulky frame of the animal, then the cow sunk upon her knees, seemed to balance and then roll over. 2 The hunter was surprised. He hd seen bun- dreds 0: buffaloes lie down but never in way. He wished to invest ees: for it seemed to bim that as the animay fel she gave a moan as of pain. Nesrer he crept, his brain too hewildered to catch at the solution of the mystery. It Lurst upon him with a sucdenness that was all the more powcrful because of its unexpectedness. He was now close vyon the recunitent buffalo and still it moved not. He put out his hand; it fell upon the beiry side of the avimal and yet there was no movement. What«ouldit meant His hand mechanically wandered over the surface expcsed of the motionless bison, and then came to a stcp as it etccuntered some- thing. Ha! it was tle feathered sl eft of an arrow that hed been driven far irto the side of the avimal just back of the ¢houlder reach the heart! The hunter, disguised in his wolf skin crouch- ed there as if turned into stone by this discovery. His mind‘had never teken in the full meaning of the ‘signs, else he bad never ccme this far without realizing the truth. He cculd lay it all to the fact that starvation bad | t)lunted > his faculties more than ordinarily and he was hard- ly himself. The fatal arrow betrayed the fact that there were other buffelo-bunters on tke field before him, and these their worst enen-ies, the In- dians. Had they escaped the dangers that hovered over them at the Indian town but to fall into the power of there red buffalo-killers? His mind was active enough now, ané there was need of action. RO What should be done? . There lay the dead buffalo before bim_ and he was starving for something to eat? Let the danger be what it might he wes determined to have a piece from the bump. His’ knife was in his hand; its edge had heen sharpened to an ex- — ceeding fine point in anticipation of just such an opportunity, and without waiting» to lay back
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] ] } | - ces a desperate one too. Thunderbolt Tom. the skin the mock wolf proceeded to slice out a | his mind that this red-skin must die, the deed generous portion from the hump. This little operation had just been completed when a rustling in the grass beyond drew his at- tention, and he looked up in time to see a wolf make its appearance. There was something singular about the animal. It was of a dirty white color, next to a gray, and in the grass the arms of the Indian could not be seen, but among ye hair of the neck could be discovered gleam- eyes. he disguise was a good one, even better than ‘the hunter’s, but being warned by the fatal ar- row, he saw through it immediately. As the dead buffalo screened his uncovered rtions admirably, only the wolf head and ack were in sight, and these alone might have puzzled if not deceived an expert. The white wolf moved forward; evidently the red buffalo-slayer was filled with wonder as to who his rival in that line could be, for his eyes must have fallen upon the generous slice the hunter had taken from the hump. Perhaps one of his comrades had donned a disguise and come out to aid him, but there were several things against this theory, for he did not know of their possessing a wolf-skin. On the whole he was much bewildered and haps not a little enraged to find this rival uman wolf slicing up the animal that had just fallen a victim to his prowess. At any rate a little investigation was in order. Hence the Indian moved forward until close up to the dead buffalo, behind which the other mock wolf was hiding, when suddenly the hun- ter rose up and placed his hands upon the bison. The Indian did likewise and the rivals red and white glared into each other’s eyes. CHAPTER III. WOLF AGAINST WOLF. Tue tableau was an exciting and singular one to say the least. Each of the mock wolves had placed his hands, serving as forefeet, upon the tarcass of the dead buffalo, and with their heads within three feet of each other, glared {= <sgaete into eyes that returned the mad re. Perhaps the hunter bad something of an ad- vantage in the fact that he knew the other was an Indian, while the red-man was puzzled what to make of the form concealed in the skin of the gray wolf. Sun, wind and tempest had bronzed the , er ranger until he was the color of an In- ian, so that seeing his hands, and a trifle of his face amid the rough hair near the chest of the wolf, the Indian knew not what to make of There was little time given him for reflection. The hunter knew that retreat was out of the question, and that he would have to silence the warrior unless he wished the alarm sounded. The socner he got to work then the better it would be forbim. There was a great deal in being the attacking party, as he had often dis- covered, In his dusky hand the Indian clutched the short bow and feathered arrows that had ac- complished all this destruction among the buffa- loes, while our hunter friend held his only weapon, the knife, now crimsoned with the blood of the buffalo cow. Suddenly there came a change. The gray wolf arose, throwing off his disguise, while the white wolf also sprung to his feet. With an agile spring the hunter, now disincum- went over the dead buffalo and closed with his enemy. Whether the attack was expected or not the Indian was hardly prepared to meet it, and be- sides, be was not in good condition for a fight, as the wolf-skin had been so secured by his com- panions that he could only have shed it after some trouble. The assault of the bunter was so vigorous that ‘both of them rolled over, coming to the ground with a crash, but as our white friend was on “Pp, this was something in his favor. t chanced however that the Indian was a strong man, and under the present circumstan- hen he found that his rival in the buffalo-killing line was a white me. he knew that the feud between them could only end in death; and as in all probability he would be the victim, he exerted every muscle in =~ hope of turning the tide of battle in bis favor. Although the hunter had gone through much of late, and been without food two days, he was naturally a man of prodigious strength, which starvation had not yet robbed him of. He knew and fully realized the desperate nature of his condition, and when he made up gta was as good as accomplished. Of course there was some noise made, and the four buffaloes that were left unharmed by the arrows of the red-skin ga loped away with snorts of alarm. This would naturally be the signal for the advance of the red-skin’s comrades wher- ever they might be, and if the hunter delayed matters any great length of time he might find his chances of ultimate escape cut off wholly, by the approach of the Indians. Stil] the red- skin struggled with such desperation that over- coming hiro in a twinkling was something easier thought of than done. The white man had at least one advantage. He was armed with a knife that seemed ready and eager to take the life of the other, while his opponent still clutched the short bow in one hand, and made gallant efforts to pre- vent his using the blade with the other, even while being choked, for as has been said before, as soon as he sprung upon the Indian the hunter grasped bis hairy throat in a vise-like clasp, and although it was so protected by the wolf-skin that he could not squeeze the fellow’s life out, yet be was able to prevent him from yelling. With one tremendous blow the determined hunter beat down the resisting hand of his enemy, and struck home. The steel sunk deep into the brawny chest of the Indian, that pre- sented such a target. It was enough. A tremor ran through the form of the red- man, a tremor that could not be described, for it was like nothing else under the sun. At the same time his hand released the bow, which fell to the ground. The hunter knew that he had given the coup de grace blow, and had intended holding on to the throat of his enemy until death came so that he could not give an alarm; but the coming of the grim monster seemed to give the red-skin additional strength for suddenly he made a ter- rible effort that could not fail of success. He actually twisted himself out of the hand of the hunter and then a yell of piercing shrill- ness broke out upon the air. His energies must have been concentrated in this last act, for no sooner had he given vent to this cr than the icy hand of death was laid upon his heart. ith a crash the wolf red-skin fell to the ground, and lay there motionless, for the knife of the hunter had reached a fatal point. No time was to be lost. The piece of buffalo-meat still lay where it had fallen. He must have that for they were starving, and this would save them. Then there was the bow and the arrows of the dead Indian. Would they not come in very handily in place of better weapons? He him- self was a gocd shot, and on the whole the hun- om as decided to take them with him in s flight. To gather up these things was but the work of = a minute and then he was ready for t was evident to him that the comrades of the dead Indian were already pressing forward with all , havin probably h his death- ery, and it could a long before they would reach the spot, when there would be the mis- chief to pay if he remained upon the field of the late action. He raised his head and took a quick mareey ot the surrounding prairie. It was easy for hi to be out the patch of trees from whence he had come, and in which he had left his com- panion, but it might prove a much more diffi- cult task to reach them, especially if waylaid by the Indians, Bending down so that the grass would serve to hide him in a degree he glided forward as rapidly as the circumstances would allow. here was not much method in his flight, for all he thought of was in reaching the timber without being seen by the comrades of the In- dian whom he bad slain and left among the ese dead as any one of them could well Forward he piided, making good time even though pe ge ed to stoop so much. When he had reached a point about half-way between the spot where the dead an’mals lay, and the timber for which he was heading, the prairie ranger suddenly came toa full stop, and dro ping to his knees, applied his ear to the ground, as if a suspicious sound had met his hearing which he wished to verify. This he was not long in doing, for he could now plainly hear the sounds of hastily approach- ing footsteps, not of oue person but of a dozen or so. “They are coming,” he said, grimly, ‘‘ and fh ches of discovery {aid ily grepared to meet j Jae ap LWiNB (7 “i f i thet 7 : them all, but they’ll have a tough time afore ’em, I reckon, if they tries to extinguish this critter.” He fitted an arrow to the short, stout bow, and then waited with the stolidness of a rock for what was to follow. It might mean death to him, but he had followed the trail too long to shudder at the approach of the grim monster. He had not ng fo wait, for presently the sound of footfalls became so plain that they reached his ear as he crouched there. Then through the slight screen of grassin front of him he saw the form of an Indian running past. Another and another followed until seven had swept past him, all heading in the direction of the late encounter. When they had passed him by the trailer felt that it was safe for him to raise his head and take a quick pity 2 This he did, and the result was that he saw double the number of Indians hastening toward the spot where his late antagonist lay. With- out delaying to see more he again bastened to- ward the timber where he had left the compan- ion of his flight. Every instant he expected to hear the alarm cries ring out, forgetting for the moment that he had been making quite as good time as they duri a me time that had elapsed since they im. As he glided along, a thought that was the next thing to an inspiration came into his head, and rapidly assumed a form that was tangible. The Indians had without doubt come from the same timber as he himself. Although not over a hundred or two yards in breadth this ex. tended for over a mile away, following the course of one of those mysterious streams that spring to the surface of the earth in certain parts of the great West and after running a cer- tain distance, giving life to trees and verdure, sink from sight in some cavity, their departure being about as strange as their coming. If the band of Indians bad been in the timber as was doubtless the case, the white man had not been discovered, for either the Indians had not ge on the log ou Shey had failed to otngy Abs is passage throug € grass, or, seeing him had bean misled by his disguise and the moon- sai into believing that he was a genuine wolf, One thing was positive: they would not be without horses of some kind, and what was to prevent the hunter and his companion from se- curing what mounts they needed while the attention of their enemies was held by their in- vestigations upon the prairie? The very vanes of being once more upon the back of a good steed, wayhap ic 42 in his ession, made the trailer’s blood leap through his veins like wild-fire, and he increas- ed his speed although as yet he did not act in- cautiously about exposing himself,{as that might be the means of deteating his plan. He was now within ten yards of the timber belt and already on the look-out for bis com panion, whom he had left near this point. It was at this moment that a chorus of loud, angry yells came sweeping with the breeze over the level prairie. The red-skins had found their defunct comrade, the man-wolf whom he had left dead among the slain buffaloes. They would speedily discover who had been there and finding his trail, follow it up for vengeance, _ He would not yet show himself but continued the gliding movement until che shelter of the timber was gained. Then he turned to take a sweeping view of the prairie that had now been left bebind him. In the place where the buffaloes had been he could see half a score or more of dark forms moving hither and thither rapidly, and vanish- ing in the grass to reappear further on. These were the Indians searching for his trail. Even us be gazed upon them a hand was laid on his arm and he turned quickly. His companion stood there, having noiselessly reached bis side even as he turned to survey the late field of action. His eyes were fastened hungrily upon the buffalo meat carried by the trailer, but he seemed to conquer the ravenous feeling that came upon him, for other matters of graver import demanded their attention. “You bad a narrow escape,” he whispered hoarsely, as the other caught his hand. “ Ay, narrow enough in all conscience, but the varmints must be sharp to catch Strateg Saul napping. I have a plan, lad, which it will pay to Bice out. Come with me and don’t let the grass grow under yer feet.” He led the way as he — through the trees, taking a course that would lead them along the grove lengthways instead of through it. ~ What his object was the second fugitive had no idea until in a few hasty w the old
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trailer explained it, and then the fires of energy flashed into the youth’s dark eyes. ‘We will get the best of them yet,” he said, und the other smiled affirmatively at his words. Their pace, though hurried, did not betray them for they were exceedingly careful how they ran, and presently, ere they had gone a third of a mile there came from a point just be- yond them, the whinny of a horse. This was a welcome sound in their ears, for they might have missed the spot where the main body of Indians had remained while their spy in his wolf disguise went to his work among the buffaloes, but now, their attention being = led to the point of interest, they made straight or it. Another minute and through the interstices among the bushes and hanging boughs of the trees, they saw the objects of their search. The horses were there, watched by two war- riors, who seemed greatly interested in looking out upon the prairie. Doubtless their comrades were visible from that point and they were try- ing to make out whai it all meant, not realizing the deadly danger that overshadowed them. Lurid lightnings seemed to flash from the eyes cf the old trailer. Before him were two members of the tribe from which he and his companion had suffered so intensely, and the thouglt of sparing them would never have en- tered his head, even had it been possible. Ifnowing full well that they had no time to lose, the trailer gave the buffalo-meat into the charge of his companion, and hastily got an arrow in readiness, meantime holding his knife between his teeth. The bow though short was exceeding power- ful, and quite a curiosity. It was made of second growth hickory backed with snakewood, and would throw an arrow with terrific force. Selecting his victim, the trailer drew the feathered missile to the head and then let fly. The stricken man threw up his arms and fell E ay re — vi ; ~ ~" Thunderbolt Tom. The old trailer turned and with the Spencer ifle he had taken from the dead Indian, sent shot after shot among the howling demons until they were glad to throw themselves into the ore to hide from his murderous fire. us, taking with them the mustangs of their | enemies, the two men rode onward. Once | were free to carry out the mission that had brought them to the dangerous wilds of the far North-west. CHAPTER V. ‘*T AM MONTANA MOSE.” ** Hello! stranger!” A fire burned cheerily in the heart of the t north-western forest, and seated beside the crackling flames was the queerest specimen of humanity that ever addressed judge or jury. He was a boy in point of stature, in clerical garments, wore a white beaver with a broad black band around it, and had a face which, shaven smooth as a planed board, pre- ld for cunning and more the sented quite an extensive fie diplomacy. hen this individual stood up, his attenuated figure was shown to advantage, but the tails of his long black coat mercifully drooped about his nether limbs and hid in a degree their bony proportions. He appeared to have no weapon, unless the huge green umbrella, of the pattern in vogue among professional naturalists, could be called by such a name. Either the shriveled up little man must have been a cool customer, or else a fool, for when the hail reached his ears he merely turned his head, saw that it was a hunter advancing, and then proceeded with his frugal repast. Chuckling at the oddity of the figure upon which he appeared@3to have stumbled, the man continued his advance. Hewas not a bad-look- ing fellow, though his face was covered with a gray beard and his buckskins greasy from long participation in his hunts. As he drew nearer as if he had been struck by a thunderbolt from ; an idea seemed to strike him which made him the heavens, for the arrow, driven by such a tremendous power, had passed completely through his breast, the end protruding on the other side. Death must have been terribly sudden with him, for he made not the least sound. Perhaps his companion had heard the twang of the bow- string, or the hurtling sound of the feathered arrow through the air, for he turned just as the victim of the trailer fell to the earth. A cry of horror broke from the lips of the second brave: he saw that a dire fate had overtaken his com- anion, and realized his own peculiar position, But before be could run, a form leaped from the bushes, and hurled itself upon bim. Of course this was the gallant old ranger. Like a whirlwind he went to his work, knife in hand, but the red skin, though taken wholly by surprise, did not intend to give in and meet his fate without a most desperate resistance. Still, the trailer had an advantage in the fact that his knife was ready in bis band, and the very fact of his being the assailant was enough to turn the tide of battle in his favor. Before half a minute had gone by the Indian’s guard was broken down by the onslaught of the white man, and the arey was over. One sweep- ing blow, a dull thud, a loud, trembling cry, a heavy fall, and the tragedy was over, the ranger had won. : : uickly his companion now joined him, fore them were fourteen fine mustangs all cree in four little groups by lassoes. If they eft the remainder of the steeds after selecting ursuit would be the result. the ranger’s way of doing two immediate This was no things. He knew that the quavering yell of his last victim would bring the Indians to the spot on the run. Even then they were doubtless making for it as fast as their legs could carry them, and in a few minutes our friends would have found it too late for escape. Their movements were exceedingly rapid, however, having been agreed upon beforehand. Each of them sprung to one of the Indians, re- lieved him of rifle, ammunition and everything else of value they could find. This took not much more than twenty sec- onds. Then, selectir.g the leading horses they wished to ride, they leaped upon their backs, and fas- tening the extra lasso to the rude rope bridle, cach rode off with seven of the steeds. As they dashed out of the timber on the prai- rie, @ hoarse yell came from the Indians who were rapidly approaching, and they fired a vol- lsy of mingled bullets and arrows, which, how- £4 er, seemed to have little effect upon our shake like a mold of jelly. Reaching the fire the new-comer seated him- self with a coolness that was surprising, and began to cook for himself a venison steak which he drew forth from some secret receptacle. His manner was quite refreshing in its impu- dence, for had any one but a greenhorn been resent he would have received the benefit of a ullet to pay for the charming way he had of inviting himself to other Sy ae property. Although the little fox-like eyes of the dried- up mummy twinkled now and then as the reste.1 upon the buckskin-clad warrior, he made no sign. Finally the venison steak was cooked and de- voured, the other’s pipe lighted, and both men sitting there gazing into the flames, yet they had not yet exchanged a word. At length, however, the bunter burst into a hoarse laugh that seemed to shake his sides. The queer little stranger looked at him in severe displeasure. ‘**May I inquire what is the prima facie cause of such boisterous merriment, my friend?’ he asked, and bis voice rag og f resembled the cackle of a hen, although he did try very hard to infuse into it the inflection of a born orator. The hunter, after recovering from another spasm of coughing, replied: “*T beg yer parding, my friend, but when I thort w’at an easy prey ye would fall ter the red imps o’ the forest or the outlaws that may be found here, the idea seemed tremenjous ter think o’ ’em creepin’ up all around this hyar camp-fire, mebbe fifty o’ ’em, an’ when they get hyar ter find only such a leetle critter as ye. Ha! ha! ha!” The diminutive specimen of mummified hu- a drew himself up as though mortally of- fended, and his action would not compare un- favorably with the majestic movements of a Pitt, a Patrick Henry, a Cicero or Demosthe- | ly; ‘I'd serve a writ of attachment for his nes, only ou a much smaller scale. “Critter! only a little critter! Sir, how dare ou insult me in that fashion? Maybe out here in these savage wilds you do not know me, but in civilized lands the name of Catiline Demos- thenes Neverfail is a family word, known as soonas children prattle. In the words of the Jimtown i he is ‘the most sublime orator that ever addressed judge or jury, and when this famous lawyer arises to plead the cause of the innocent and the downtrodden, a hush falls upon the court that is like unto death, for the words that fall from his lips are as burning coals, cea to heart and brain.’ That, sir, is the exalted idea his patriotic countrymen have of Catiline Neverfail. Critter forsootb,” “TI beg yer pardon; no’fence intended, but yer size are ag’in’ ye, catfish, an’ ef the outlaws should tackle ve there wouldn’t be much left 0’ yer carkiss. at brings ye ter this wilder- ness alone anyhow?” asked the buckskin ranger. ‘* Business is my ruling passion. To gain my case I would travel around the world. Just now I am engaged on a case, a stupendous case, and have come to these wilds in search cf a man. At the fort, through the colonel, I en- gaged a man to assist me in this search, tu de- fend me against the red heathen, and to furnish me with game, but as Old Rocky failed to put in an appearance, and I was burning up with as to be upon my mission, 1 came one. ‘Weapons I do not possess except a small firearm hid away in my vest pocket, and which has not yet been called into use, but I do not fear danger. Bravery was always a leading characteristic of the Neverfail family. Why my ancestors fought in the Revolution, and he ped to give us this grand and beautiful coun- y. ‘When the little lawyer got started in talking he could cackle away like a whole team with a dog under the wagon, and the other appeared highly amused, though he endeavored to hide t. “Stranger,” said he, finally, “hev ye ever heard o’ Montana Mose, the hoss thief an’ road- agent 0’ this district?’ ** Never,” replied the other. “Wal, that are singular, fur I thought his fame had reached all over the known world. Out hyar he air looked upon as the — robber on the face o’ the airth, an’ ye hev only to mention his name in order ter see people turn pale. He rides all over the country from byar to Deadwood City, an’ thar ain’t a pass nor canyon what ain’t seen some 0’ the work o’ this Montana Mose.” ‘* You interest me, sir. Pray tell me why it is they don’t capture this noted outlaw?’ “Capture him? Capture Montana Mose? Why, I tell ye, stranger, it can’t be did. They’ve tried it fifty times an’ more, an’ he are still at large. No, sir, they can’t git him ina trap. He’s taken more toll than any road-agent in the North-west.” “I declare, Iam interested in what you tell me. What is the ay pearance of this grim rob- ber?’ asked the little lawyer, hugging his knees as he spoke. ‘““Wal, there be various accounts on that score, Catfish. Some say he are a giant an’ ugly as sin, others that he are a dandy in dress an’ handsome as Adunis. I know myself that these accounts are not true, ’cept, p’rhaps, the last part referring ter Adunis. I never met Mose face ter face, but I’ve seen him some, an’ could describe him ter a jury. Ter tell ther truth, he are about my build, and resembles me so much in ther face that several times I hev come era d near being strung 7 as Montana Mose, w’ic warr’t pleasant, yell admit. As ter ketchin’ him in a trap, it hain’t never been done, an’ iu 59 Sete never will be.” he little lawyer heaved a heavy sigh. “‘These western men have no knack at doing such things. Now if they’d engage my services Iassure you Montana Mose the terror of the wilderness would be in custody ere a month had — flown. Genius is king everywhere, and even vice must acknowledge the mastery when she ap ” y The ueer little specimen of humanity seemed to be chock full of conceit, aad his auditor was — bubbling over with suppressed merri- ment. “So ye think thar would be no difficulty in capturin’ Mose ef they’d guv ye a chance? Now that’s what I call a shaine,a pesky shame. Kin ye tell me what ye would doin case ye’d come across this terror o’ the wilderness?” ** What would Ido? Great Cesar, I’d demol- ish the scoundrel,” declared the lawyer, brisk- head, issue a copias upon his body, declare an injunction upon bis whole person and then by Jove I’d give a coroner’s jury a chance to set upon his corpse in less than two minutes. That's what I’d do if they put me in charge of the Regulators in this here outlandish country. “If I remain bere long let this Montana Mose look well to bimself, for the desert shall ring with acclamations for the name of Catiline Demos- thenes Neverfail!” he gave utterance to these words the shriveled up little lawyer leaped to his feet and waved his huge green gingham sunshade above his head. His attitude was a study in itself, a model of diminutive grace, and the other could not bit clap his hands in admiration. “Bravo, my little baniam rooster, bravo, bravo! You are the cock o’ the walk every .
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/ | 7 ew tet a a 1" pe a ee ee Bsa he Fe 2 an ul RAS aia Sahl time! Ter you I hand ther peu an’ yield. Now I admire genuine pluck like that every time, an’ I allers feel a respect fur a man who will sacrifice his own personal comfort for a jcke or tho sake of others. To prove this I'm goin’ ter gay ye ther chance ye ask.” ‘¢Elucidate—be more precise,” demanded the bantam, with a cackle and a swing of the um- brella. “Dxactly. Now, my fighting cock, produce ‘them writs o’ attachment, them injunctions, that capias an’ the coroner’s jury. Bantam, | wake up an’ crow fur hyarare yer game. Jam Montana Mose !” CHAPTER VI. AMONG THE WOLVES. ‘“ THUNDERBOLT ToM, by the eternal cata- | l | er seemed to evade every thrust and yet his mounts!” Black Wallace it was who gave utterance to these words after he had pulled the neck of the black bottle from his throat and regained his | breath. The tableau was an astonishing one. These two stood facing each other; there was Colorado half-buried under the table and the aL CRT PAIRS RA Sede CORRE ) ' Tom had been in many desperate situations during his life but never one like this. | Had his first shot been successful and the blow from his knife equally so, be need not have feared for the result. } Things had not shaped themselves in this way however, and he was obliged to. meet the onset of three enemies. Never before had that old cabin witnessed | such a desperate struggle, asensued. Under the shuffling of the four men it actually seemed to rock. Outside, the wolves, alarmed by the noise, had started a terrible chorus of their own, and seited on their haunches, they glared up at | the cabin and howled as though their very lives depended upon the noise they could make. Despite the effurts of the conspirators. they could not get in a death-blow. The young hunt- blade had drawn blood trom every one of them. Again and again the giant attempted to burl his huge form upon his evemy,. If te could only succeea in doing this, he could crush Tom to the floor; but Thunderbolt was very careful to keep man in mask supporting himself against the | wall, while in the corner the girl had started up | and raising her head revealed a fac of remark- | able beauty, though it was now plainly marked | ; | wa When Thunderbolt Tom’s eyes fell upon that | with terror. beauteous face he uttered a low cry of amaze- ment and incredu ity. Well might be act thus for in this girl he saw one whom he had loved with all the passionate power of his nature and | above whose supposed grave he had shed the | ‘most bitter tears of bis life. Of course it must only be a resemblance but it was so startling in its truthfulness that he could have gazed forever; but other things claimed his attention for he was among the foes who had been planning to take his life. With a groan therefore he tore his eyes away from the bewildering sight and turned» his thoughts upon the task he had on hand. Colorado had emerged from under the table and was glaring upon the object of his hatred as if he could kill him with looks. . The man in ‘mask too had recoverel his equilibrium and seemed to be reaching for some weapon. His eyes too were fastened upon the young hunter through the holes in his black mask, and seemed to emit sparks of fire. Thus environed Thunderbolt Tom found that | lie had put himself into a trap; but be had no fears as to the resulf. In one hand he held a revolver and in the other a knife, which shone in the light witha wicked gleam. The three enemies saw their oppcrtunity, and realizea that the chance they had been longing for had come to them. Like so many tigers they surrounded the in- trepid hunter, but he gave a quick bound and laced himself against the wall where he could efend his front and have no fear of the rear. He did not notice that in doing this be had placed himself against the door that opened out onto the wolf den, and from which the giant shouted to the animals when their howls arose in such a perfect clamor. The attack was not long delayed. These individuals hated Taunderbolt.Tom too well to hesitate long when their intended game ~ was before them. In the corner, the gir] still stood as if frozen ' with extreme terror, not at the peril she was in but for the sake of Thunderbolt Tom. Her eyes were glued upon him, and her breath came and, went in little gasps. Her __ hands were clasped in front of her as if she men- that the heroic young hunter | tally pra should defeat these ravenous foes. They leaped at length. There was a sharp pistol-shot and a cry of agony. Colorado had come in the way of the bullet intended for the giant, to receive a wound | in the left shoulder, which, although not pees ticularly dangerous was exceedingly painful. The knife in the other hand of Thunderbolt Tom made a lunge also as his revolver sounded, but the man in mask dodged the blow. Again it was not wasted, for this time the giant wasin | the way, and although he did not receive any- thing like the full force of the stroke, it was | evough to draw out from him a hoarse how]. Then the scene became more exciting, for the hunter was in the midst of his three foes, bat- tling for bis life. The girl saw that the door was no longer quntee and, gliding over to it, she geenly had a means of escape open. Still she d not fly; her eyes were fixed upon the pale handsome countenance of the hunter, and her lips moved in prayer for him. his knife at work, and his foes at a distance. At last, however, came the chance for which Black Waliace was Jooking. His two comrades had made a fierce attack from the left, when he hurled his buge frame upon the young hunter as though he would crush him through the Then an unexpected catastrophe occurred. The door suddenly gave way back ot Thun- derbolt Tom, and the giant wolf-herder only sav- ed himself by catching hold of the casement. As for the young hunter, be was hurled over the platform, and fell in the midst of two score of savage, balf-starved wolves. CHAPTER VII. THE PRICE OF A LIFE. Ir would be hard to say which was the most surprised, Thuncerbolt Tom or the wolves, when the young bunter came tumbling down among the savage creatures. He Lud received the full benefit of Black Wallace’s weight and had literally been crushed through the door, so | that if he did not exhibit the agility ard. quick- | nob ness that generally distinguished him, he could blamed very much under the circum- | stances. The wolves on the other hand probably took it for granted that this was, the herder comin down to take them in hand, They hed bear his voice above the din, and were accustomed to seeing hism appear upon the little platform. Once in a while he descended into their | midst, whip in hand, to quell some disturbance more than usually boisterous, and the animals had grown to fear that whip’even more tban they did the herder himself. Even for Black Wallace it would have been dangerous, to ven- ture into the den unarmed or even with a knife, which the brutes dil not fear. Thunderbolt Tom. had been in many close situations but this toox the palm caattnedion Before a minute had flown tie animals would have recovered from their surprise and recog- nizing the fact that it was a stranger among them, leap upon hina like furies. Before that time had elapsed however Tom had regained bis presence of mind. He sprung to bis feet like a flash and his. re- volver was drawn from his belt. Around bim he saw what appeared to. be a myriad of. blaz- ing eyes, and even felt.the hot breath of | the ferocious brutes upon his cheeks as he arose, They leaped forward with. open mouths, eager for the fancied meal. Hunger and num- bers made them rayenous and they sprung through the air like so many leopards. brief half minute there was a,confu They seemed to swarm about. bim. their very number prevented them from doing more effective work, for, when one, animal would get in position to take a piece out of the hunter’s throat or leg, some other ambitious wolf would push him out of the way to be treated the same in turn; and this proved the hunter’s salvation. With every shot from his revolver the bullet went down the gaping mouth of a wolf, and he never plunged his knife forward but what it lodged in a wolf’s body. Those in the cabin had not recovered. suffici- ently to procure a light and look out. The | giant had only, by a great effort, saved. himseif | from following after Thunderbolt, and was tut | just now beginning to realize how neatly the _ strange plan that had come into bis bead had been carried out. As for the rest, Colorado was too glad of. the ite to care for anything else than to dress his wounds and the man in mask, realizing that ‘ ' : his object had teen carried out, and a terrible revenge given into bis hands, had. sunk back against the wall, weak and_ trembling, his masked face resting in his hands as though he would shout out the sounds of that terrible struggle that came to the ears of all. There were the snarling and .howling of the wolves, together with yelps of pain each time the revolver cracked, but, not a sound of alarm from the man who was battling for his life. He was game to the backbone; they knew that before this, and the fact had now beew further emphasized. What.the wolves were doing they could not say, but were all brought to their senses when a little gray animal sprung through the room and flashed out of the door lett open by the girl in her retreat from the scene of terror. One of the iene wolves in springing upward had actually alighted upon the shoulders of the young hunter, and from thence gained the little platform. Brought to his senses by this, Black Wallace tcck down a lantern and applied a match to. it, By the time this was lighted and | imself ready to issue forth upon the platform, almost another minute had gone by, so that Tom was given this ume to make good his escape from the wolf en. This he did in a manner that would have been locked upon as a credit to any man. Just after the daring wolf, bent on an escape, had managed to resch the platform by bound- ing upcn his shoulders, the hunter made his grand effort. If this failed he would probably fall a victim to the furious brutes. “Hurling himself upon the wolves, ke no longer stood there to be essailed, but himself became the attacking party. So desperate indeed was his rush that the animals gave way hefore it, like a flock of shecp. separating before the on- slaught of a dog. There was something in the place where Tom had been that immediately clained the atten- tion of more than half the wolves. In bis sud- den descent the young hunter had carried, with bim a buge heunch of meat that had inadver- tently Leen left by the wolf-herder upon the little platform, and it was this, most. prcbably, that had made the wolves how] so fiercely in the first. pluce and rendered their attack uyon the young hunter more desperate in its nature. They were Pepsing for this as well as to slay the young hunter, but he wes nof acquainted with this fact. When be made his movement tow ard escape, hov ever, he was ably assisted by ove amass of the wolves remaining to tear at the meat. Thunderbolt Tom was fortunate in his choice of a place in which to scale the. fence, though, to tell the truth, there was very little seclection about it tor he only possessed the knowledge that the fence was there, and could just barely see it In reality however he bit upon a place which the wolf herder bed arranged so that should he ever be so vntcrtunate.as to fall iuto the den he wculd kave.a chance for bis life. At this point u kind of rude Jadcer bad been formed in such a manner as to be effective. To this, the fertune of war and bis general good luck brought Tcm, and like a flash he bad mounted the rude ladder just. in time to avoid the fangs of bis disappointed enemies who sprung, into the air and .burled themselves against the fence as if seeking a mode of expres- sing their diseppoint ment, Then reelizing that their companion had a monopoly of sc mething gocd, these disappointed animals bounded over to the spot where the quarter of buffalo-meat, several dead wolves. and Tom’s hat werer ffording intense amusement for the starving wolves. Meanwhile Tom hed gained a position on top of the high fence, and panting with his recent exertions, tried to recover his breath. There was ore load still in his revolver and that,-he was reserving. in.case bis position was discovered, He saw the giant step out upon the platform, lantern in band, and pressed close against the wall.of the cab:n so that be might not be discovered, for he bad gained the top of the fence at that point where it joined the cor- ner of the house, so that he was enabled to ren- der his presence almost, invisible -by -pressing against the building. . Another thing or two aided him-eonsiderably. The giant held bis Jantern on the other side and therefore his:sbadow screened the corner where the young hunter was. Then again Black Wallace was too much interested in what was going on below bim to think of looking around. It did not take the wolf-herder_long to dis- cover the truth, as he thought. He caught a
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strange action on the Pee ee ere wee glimpee of Thunderbolt. Tom’s hat, but, was un- able to see what the hungry wolves were tearing at on account of their number, and for once his voice failed to send them slinking to the other end of the den. Black Wallace was not angry with them however. For once they had rendered him a service, as he thought, in ridding him of he young hunter, for he had not the least doubt in the world but that Tom was being torn to pieces below. him,, little suspecting that that worthy was within a dozen feet or so of him, covering him with his revolver and ready at a second’s warning to send a bullet crashing through his brain. Even to such a hardened wretch there was no pleasure in seeing an enemy whom he had feared and respected torn to pieces by the wolves. Tom had been a foeman well worthy of his steel and as he had no extraordinary reason for hating him, the wolf-herder felt a thrill of horror run through his frame after seeing the hunter’s hat and the terrible manner in which the wolves ee pouncing upon the mass of flesh just below im. He returned once more to the room. “*Thar’s no more to fear from him, comrades, the wolves are quarreling oyer his bones now. Thar, hear ’em snarl and fight. Ugh! it makes my blood fairly run cold,” and. the giant, used to scenes of horror, stopped his ears to shut out the sickening sounds. Colorado was the only one who seemed to en- joy it and his ugly face contracted into a look of pleasure that might have done credit to an imp from the infernal regions. Now that his enemy had fallen to a terrible death, each cut and slash he had received had become soothed, and no longer stung as if the poison of a rattle- snake had been infused throughout his entire system. oThe man in mask appeared to be affected more than either of the others. He sunk down into a chair and let his head fall upon his arms. What did this mean? He was the man who.had so longed for the death of Thunderbolt Tom, that he had bribed these two to hunt the young man to the death who had been most fierce in his hatred towar the hunter, and now that the deed had been con- summated—now that Thunderbolt Tom had met afate more terrible than which the most. fiend. ish person. could wish him to be overtaken by, this mysterious personage seemed overcome by a revulsion of feeling. Black Wallace was dressing the cuts of Colo- rado after closing the door that led out to the wolf den, and therefore did not notice this art of the man who bad been in the act of employing them when Thun- derbolt Tom dropped into their midst. Outside, still seated upon the fence and re- covering his breath as he loaded his revolver, Thunderbolt Tom peered through a chink in the cabin wall and saw this strange performance. Soon the trio were engaged in a confab which ended in the man in mask throwing down a purse of gold upon the resurrected table with an angry gesture. Then the young hunter knew that this mysterious man was paying them for his death, and he could but shudder at the com- act. His eyes mechanically looked at the lonel’s ungloved hand which he noticed was as white as snow and as shapely as a woman’s. Who was this deadly foe who bargained for his death and then almost wept over it? CHAPTER VIII. OLD ROCKY. WHEN the man uttered those words: ‘“‘I am Montana Mose,” he made a fearful face as if it was his intention to. scare the life out of the little lawyer then and there. The effect upon the diminutive orator was certainly astonish- Ing. fie raised his head, snuffed the air like a veteran scenting battle afar, and then surveyed the form of his burly opponent who was still pngaged in making his face as hideous as possi- The man could never tell how his weagened up’ little foe got possession of the huge green parasol, but the first thing be knew, whack! it came against the side of his head, almost dislo- cating that member and causing him to see more stars than he was accustomed to gazing upon in a month of Sundays. He gave vent to an exclamation of alarm, but had only time to dodge when the huge um- brella whistled through the air in close proxim- ity to me head. Then ensued a most Fomicel scene, @ outraged lawyer buckled right down to business, and caldbited a.spryness that would have done credit to a grasshopper. His um- 03 = eos ‘Thunderbolt Tom. brella seemed to be bere, there and every where, and, to the bewildered outlaw it really seemed as though the air was filled with umbrellas making blows at him from every direction. ~ It was a wonderful sight to see that small specimen of humanity skipping around his burly antagonist so cheerfully, while the other was not. able to ward off his blows, much less return them. The matter soon began to grow monotonous and the outlaw thought that absence just then would be conducive to comfort. This idea was further impressed upon his mind when a fierce downright blow descended upon his cranium, almost doubling him up, and he immediately concluded that the mummified lawyer was one of those objects to which “distance lends en- chantment to the view.” It was one thing to make this resolution, an- other to carry itout. However, the opportunity came at last, when the spry little wretch of a lawyermade a stroke that missed its aim and whirled him around. Like a flash the terrible outlaw sprung for the bushes and ensconced himself behind them. From here he had a good view of the little lawyer, who was still leaping about in the glade like a jumping harlequin, whacking away at imaginary foes, and all the time keeping up a jargon of Latin law phrases that were enough in themselves to kill any man at whom they might chance to be hurled. “Thunder! why don’t { demoralize the crit- ter,” muttered the outlaw as he half raised his rifle; ‘‘iny head sings like a rattlesnake den. *ve a good notion ter skin the tip o’ his nose jest for fun, No 1 won’t. Hang me, it’s jest what I desarve for attemptin’ ter bamboozle sech a leetle innercent, an’ I hope it’ll prove a lesson ter me. For once I’ve hed enough 0’ Borers jokin’. Ill hail the critter an’ explain. te’s a perfect team with a big dog under the waggin. Jest look at bim. Seems ter me like a@ madman or a feller what’s stirred up a nest o’ hornets around his own ears.” True enough the lawyer did resemble a crazy man, for his excitement had not = worn off, and he was skipping around the glade, slashing the air with his huge green umbrella as if he saw a deadly foe at every turn, or else was wound up like machinery and had to run down ere he could come to a stop. The outlaw bailed him and immediately the animated mummy came bounding toward him with the fires of war flashing from his eyes and the huge umbrella waving in the air in an ominous fashion. “ Halt right thar!” cried the outlaw, and see- ing the rifle aimed the lawyer came to a halt, assuming a dignified position with the huge sunshade under his arm and a hand thrust into illustrious Napoleon. “Now thet I hold ye at a safe distance we will come ter an understandin’, my friend. This has been fun ter ye, but death ter the frog. We'll hev no more o’ sech a frolic an ye love me. My head will ring for many an hour from them gentle taps ye guv me, but I reckon it'll cure me 0’ practical jokin’, an’ for thet I thank @. The little lawyer emitted a long drawn whistle that seemed to come up from his very boots. ““Shades of Blackstone, I do not catch the drift and tenor of your remarks. For the life of me I can distingu'sh no exe about the matter. You are Montana. Mose, I am Catiline Demos- thenes Neverfail. There is an unsurmountable barrier between those two. No, sir, I scorn to accept your haxd or friendship. The hand of a Neverfail has yet to meet that of a horse-thief and rascally outlaw.” Then the pompons little lawyer elevated his nose, and shook his green parachute as if to in- timate that if the other would only lower his chance he would wholl the dreaded outlaw ha bis ability to do, The other laughed aloud, and somehow it was a cheery, honest guffaw, not. the one that might have been expected to emanate from a bloody outlaw whose hands were stained with human ore. “Come, get down off yer high hoss, Mr. Never- fail. I tell ye ’twar alla joke. Won't ye shake hands an’ furget?” he said between laughs as it were. “ And compound a felony by making friends with a horse-thief? Never, ae, severe by the eco of Chitty!” vehemently exclaimed the awyer. - wayne 3 a felon be hanged. I tell ye Tm no more Mo demoralize him, which not the least doubt of ‘ ‘ the bosom of his coat after the style of the | threatening rifle and give him another fair | ntana Mose than the man in! had came out. He had only lost a the moon; I’m Old Rocky, the guide ye hired, but who failed ter reach the fort afore ye left, an’ who hes followed ye up ter rue the day he tempted a practical joke on such a spry leetle critter.” “Old Rocky, eh? I knew it all the time, else I should have put more muscular power into those blows and have eccomplished a little more ea make your head sing,” declared the other, briskly. “Great Jehosophat! knew it all the time! Then the joke grows worse an’ worse. 1 beg o’ ye, comrade, ter say no more about it an’ Pil forgive ye the rough whacks from thet Satan’s insixument ye hold in yer hand. Shake hands now an’ let bygones be bygones.” To this the little Jawyer readily assented and the two crossed palms, af er which O.d Rocky sat down to join his ev ployer in a smoke. He knew that the mumumy’s fire was a dan- gerous thing that might draw enemies to the spot even as it had drawn him, and so it was at once extinguished. Of ccurse there was no means of telling whether it had already done any harm. That would Lecome more evident as the time passed on and perhaps in a way far | from pleasant, The old Rocky Mountain ranger found the little lawyer to be a good companion, full of humor and stories of comical events which he would tell with a droll face that enhanced the joke. é He could also appreciate a good story and Old Rocky soon found that he had a ce mpariion de royoge who was after his own heart. Having bad a good sample of the lawver’s prowess he yas able to look upon him with re- spect. It would have been bis greatest delight to have seen some other innccent stir the mum- my up as he had done, and in his heart Old Rocky fervently prayed that such might be the case ere long. That be was gratified, though in a somewhat different way from that which he longed for, the reader will presently see. These two strange worthies were not the only souls abroad that night in all the great black forest, nor were they fated to continue long in the lazy luxury of their pipes. Through the undergrowth stealthy figures were creeping with the noiseless action of cats. Their only guide was the sharp voice of the lit- tle lawyer which he occasionally raised to an exceedingly high pitch, or it might be the fire from their pipes. At one time the mummy lit a watch in order to replenish the fire of his pipe, and this gave the creeping figures a fine chance to observe their wherea bout, The forward movement was continued, and it seemed as though they would ae reach the two men before their presence was discovered; and so they would had it all rested with the lawyer. Old Rocky, however, was continually on the look-out for danger. seemed most peaceful he suspected a lurkin ril that would perhaps come like a clap o hunder in its suddenness. His ear, therefore, being attuned to such emer- | gencier caught the slight noise made by some of the shadowy figures in crecping forward, and in an instant the old hunter was on the alert. Some of the prowlers must have forgotten that there was a bright line along the horizon back of them, for presently the hunter, awoke to the necessities cf the occasion, saw several heads decorated with feathers plainly outlined against this light background. “‘Professor,” he said, in a sibilant whisper that reached the ears it wes intended for and no others, “don’t get skeered, but I want ter let_ye know thet we are surrounded bY, TInjuns!” Whether the little lawyer believed him or not it would be hard tosay. He remembered that. it was human fora man to wart revenge, and would not h: ve been surprised if it was discoy- ered that Old Rocky was just trying to alarm him in order to get some satisfaction out of the business. However that might be he was determined When his surroundings | that the laugh should not be on him, taking it ~ for granted that this was his line of thin » for fe did not exhibit the least show of une ness. Old Rocky took bis pipe and expectorated a lot of tobacco-juice into the bowl, effectually extinguishing it. The lawyer, not being a chew- er, bad vo other method than to empty the bowl ve ri Five upon the ground, which he proceed: _ It chanced that while they had been Joung- ing about, the cork of Old Rocky’s powder-horn handful or ‘
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fo : two of the precious article, but fate would have it that the little mummy should empty his pipe directly upon the lost powder. There could be but one result. A sudden flash, a cloudy white smoke, and up went the little lawyer like a sky rocket. Probably his ascent was mainly due to his alarm and the fact of his having been seated tailor-fashion, for there was not enough powder upon the ground to have done much toward as- sisting his rising, for it was lying there loose in- stead of being packed. At any rate he rose quicker than ever before in his life, and Old Rocky, realizing that the worst had now come, also sprung erect, pick- fng up his rifle as he did so, in order to be ready for business. Although the Blackfeet did not understand what it was raised the little lawyer, it dawned upon their minds that their approach must have been discovered, and so with one accord they sprung erect and gave vent to thrilling war- eries. Then camo the pond 4 report of the old ran- er’s rifle, and a death-shriek could be heard ar above the noise created by the attack. The lawyer had armed himself with his umbrella and was already hopping about like a harlequin, veady for business, while Old Rocky has hastily secured his rifls to his back, and stood there in a half-crouching attitude, a revolver in each hand, waiting for the advent of the yelling de- mons who were breaking through the bushes. CHAPTER IX. TEMPEST-TOSSED. “ HALT !” The voice was that of a woman, but there was @mething so commanding in its tories that the bravest might have come to a pause from sur- prise if nothing more. A solitary man on horseback was pursuing his way down a lonely defile among the hills when thissummons fell upon his ears. lt was accompanied by the clicking of a revolver -ham- mer, and the mounted man turned hastily in the direction from whence the double summons eame. The gray light of morning was spreading over the mountains and prairies, giving them that strange pallor so peculiar and yet so fami- liar to all who are early risers, The night fog was rising. Although the light was not very strong it re- vealed the fact that this mounted person was no other than the mysterious man in mask, whose actions had been so strange at the cabin of the wolf herder not many hours before, showing a terrible animosity toward Thunderbolt Tom until it seemed certain that he had met an aw- ful fate, and then giving way to an emotion that seemed strangely like remorse, if such a thing was possible. The person who had commanded him to halt with such a convincing argument as a leveled revolver, was no other than the young girl whom we saw in the cabin of Black Wallace, a pear and who made her escape at the time underbolt Tom was pushed through the open- ing into the wolf-den. er face showed a different aspect from that which we last saw upon it. All traces of fear had entirely vanished, and in their stead could be seen a determination to do something terrible if provoked beyond a certain line already mark- out, The little silver-mounted revolver was held steadily on a line with the head of the oye man in mask, and it was very evident that she intended keeping him under cover during the interview. When the horseman saw who it was obstruct- ing his path, ho gave vent to a little exclamation of surprise and consternation. ‘*What do you want?” he asked. ‘‘That you will soon learn. I am not a pris- oner now and you are in my power. Did Thunderbolt Tom die last night?” demanded the girl. ‘* He did,” came the answer from the man in mask. Not a cry escaped her lips, but a sudden whiteness could be seen upon her face. One would think she was about to faint, but she ne her lips and refrai: ed from showing any urther emotion. That she trembled, however, could be seen from the manner in which the revolver wavered, but no sooner did the other make a movement with his hand as if he, too, wou!d draw a weapon, than it covered him di- rectly. “Hold, right there! You aretoblame for the death of Thunderbolt Tom, and you alone” Thunderbolt Tom. *T know it and I gloryin it. Of all this world mine should be the hand that sent him to his death, I swore a terrible oath that I would kill him, and I have kept my word. It was also night, though fate seemed to draw you on into the clutches of the wolf-herder in time to see Thunderbolt Tom in our power. I am glad now that you have escaped. I thought then that ou should share his doom, but now I see that is death has fully satisfied me—overwhelmed me. The strange horseman paused, for emotion seemed to choke his further utterance. The eyes of the girl were bent upon him keenly; she seemed to reading every outline carefully, and some suspicion was being gradually chang- ed into a cece “Ha!” she suddenly exclaimed, ‘* you deceive me no longer; I know your secret.” The other started violently, and the black | eyes were hastily fastened upon the fair, deter- mined face of the girl. ‘““You hated Thunderbolt Tom; why it was thus I am determined to find out, for it concerns me and how my memory of him shall rethain. I have found you out; you are a woman |” ‘*There is no need of denying it, since you have been so shrewd todiscover what others have never suspected. I ama woman, anative of the | South. he blood of an old family runs through my veins. Your face tells of your in- | credulity, my fair maiden, but I shall tell you my story since you have unearthed my secret, and whether you blame me or not, I have been | fully justified in my course in thus disguising myself and pursuing to the death one who | wronged me and jilted me.” The strange girl leaned forward in her saddle as she spoke, while the hand of the other hold- ing the little silver-mounted revolver fell to her side. Her blue eyes were fastened upon the girl mounted on the horse with a questioning gaze, as if she feared, yet longed to hear the story in which Thunderbolt Tom was imtimately con- ceene, and because of which he had lost his ife. ‘My name is Adele Cummings,” began the disguised girl, ‘‘ and my home has always been | in the South. When my father, who was a | colonel in the late war, died, my only relative | was an aunt in Arkansas, to whom I went, and with whom I have remained up to the time when the culminating event occurred which I | am about to relate, ‘They called me beautiful. Whether I ever sseased any right to that name you sball udge for yourself, only you must acknowledge that all the trouble and nes through which I have gone has been enough to mar the softness of any woman’s loveliness of feature.” As she spoke, she quickly and dexterously re- moved the black mask that had cove her features, and also the broad hat. A mass of | luxuriant hair, black as the raven’s wing and | glossy as spun silk, fell down, covering her shoulders. The gray morning light fell upon | her face and revealed the fact that it was rav- ishingly beautiful. She had done well to hide it behind a mask, for those bandits of the border among whom her mission had carried her, would have forgot- ten all else had they but discovered that she was a woman and have seen that lovely face. It was of the pure Southern type, buther skin was fair as the hue of a lily, and her features so perfect that with her dazzling black eyes—that could melt with tenderness, weep with sorrow, or flash with scorn—she presented a picture such as Raphael might have done well in transfer- ring to canvas. ‘** You do not see me as I was before this ter- rible sorrow came to me. I am a desperate woman now, one to whom life bolds no pleas- ure, whose only love died with that false man, whom trouble has unsexed and made an aveng- er of her own wrongs. Imagine Adele Cum- mings an innocent girl, supremely happy in her love, and seeing no cloud upon the brigh: hbori- zon of her life. Then you will see her as she was when Tom Reynolds first met her a year ago this very summer.” The blue-eyed girl started violently, which action did not escape the eyes of the other. “You, yourself, remember that he was ab- sent from this neighborhood at the time, and for nearly four months; during that time he was in the South. I bave found out that his ex- cus> was he had to see about some property to which he had fallen heir. Am I not right?’ ‘So far you are,” replied the other, slowly. “Tt was October when he leftme; it was No- vember when he came back to you?” The blue-eyed girl nodded her head, © This oh ow through my hand that you were captured last new proof of her lover’s unworthiness seemed to have taken from her all the power of speech, ‘* He lied to me in more ways than one, for he toid me he was a soldier taking a furlough. Did I believe him? My soul, I loved and trust- ed that man'so that I would have believed any- thing he told_me, and because of this worship- ful homage I gave him, the greater came the, revulsion of feeling when I learned of his du- plicity. “‘T loved him from the first as only a South- ern girl can love, with a heart of fire. To me he seemed so manly, so handsome, so noble and true that my heart went out to him, and, ah, me! never returned. From that hour my life was in his hands. **He deceived me fully, and telling me that he had a rich old uncle very near his end, whose heir he would probably be unless he angered ar) sro my consent to a secret marriage. “Heaven help me! my heart seems to be breaking with mingled sorrow and mortification when I think of how happy I was during that brief time. Poor fool, I could not see the dark cloud before me, knew nothing of it until it burst and I was overwhelmed in the storm of despair, ruin and unconscious sin. “One day—will I ever forget it—Donald Warren came tosee me. Donald had loved me before I saw Tom Reynolds but I could never think enough of him to return it though he had always been good to me, hoping on for the best a te that some day I would ehange my mind. “T have a letter for you Adele,” he said as he entered; I met Captain Reynolds riding furi- ously along the river road as if on a matter of re and death and he begged me to give you s. “Then he handed me a sealed letter in Tom’s own handwriting. Some undefinable sense of coming woe possessed me and made me weak, but summoning all my resolution I tore it open and read. Here is the letter just as it was given to me.” As the sorrow-stricken girl spoke she handed the missive to the other. It was a crumpled ae of Le ag and bore the signs of much read- ng while the marks of teardrops could be seen | upon the sheet. Heaven alone knew how much | agony that letter hed caused the girl who own- ; ed it, and what wild bursts of anguish it had witnessed each time of its perusal. i This was what Milly Torrence the blue-eyed maiden read, while her heart seemed to cease beating: * ADELE: “I am leaving you now—forever. The past hag been a happy one so far as I knew you but the dream is broken now. Perhaps you will be glad to know that our marriage was asham, and that you are free to accept of Donald Warren. My best wishes for our future. It will be useless to hunt for me. What told you about my being a soldier was false. “ Your friend, Tom Reynoups." With a low Millie read the name attached to this epistle. Then she handed it back. “It was infamous, whoever wrote it, but it is | herd to believe that Tom did so, though the writing resembles his hand. Go on, I beg of ou. Adele put the letter away with a hand that trembled in spite of herself. “*T saved that intending to show it to the traitor when he mee dying at my feet; now bs is no chance for that, but I shall keep it ‘When I read that I felt as though I should faint, but my will was powerful and I smiled. Donald saw the pain, though, and he cried: ‘That villain has deserted you, Adele; I know it, I feel it. Oh, that I had guessed it when I met him; he would never have lived to boast of his work. Let me comfort you, Adele. I love you so well that with my name I will shield your honor, Fly with me from this ac- cursed spot and be my wife. The future may be a happy one yet.” “So he pleaded and raved but I was firm. Poor Donald! he loved me so. I put bim off until the morrow, and he left me. To this day Ihave not seen him.” “That very night I fled, disguised in the clothes of my dead brother. Reaching the get- tlement I perfected my assumed characte Boy a false mustache, and then sought for the ifan who had deceived me. Far end near I hunted for him, and finally in the North-west I got track of heen _ — Sh rest you know. ‘He not seem recognize me in the cabin, but I did him, though he had changed somewhat and grown brown, When I realized that he had gone to his death I thought I should faint away. That moment revealed te me how \ . t ae |
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deathless love could be in a woman’s heart. ven since that day I learned of his perfidy I had let my hate boil and bubble over, but no seoner was he dead than love burst its bonds again and rose triumphant. “Once he was mine, and in death it seemed that he belonged to me again. Yes, at this mo- ment, base though his action was toward me, I love him still, and shall continue to regard him with that affection that lasés beyond the grave. I glory in it instead of feeling ashamed. Once i trusted in him as in my Maker, and though the idol is broken, the remembrance of what he has been to me will never fade from my heart. ‘*T do not know your history or your name. All I know is that you, too, loved Tom Rey- nolds, and it was avy first intention to gain my revenge bye ie you, but something tells me that you too have found out the dross in his nature. Perhaps your story is not unlike mine. You have suffered; that I can see on your fac»; but you cold Northern people are not like us of the South. Their hiiod flows like rich wine and revenge is the result of injury. ‘** Both of us have suffered through him. He is dead now; let him rest in peace. There is no war between us; I love you already, sweet girl. Come, let us be sisters; will you not?” Milly started back with a gesture. ‘“No, never! How can I when there is blood on your hauds—the blood of the man I loved. A shadow came between us but his death has brushed that away. I do not fully believe your story. Let us part here. Each can go ber way and let memory form a tomb for our lost love. ‘* Be it so,” returned the proud Southern girl; “then here we part, but something tells me we shall meet again, that the future holds some- thing in store for you aud I which will brivg us together. Farewell.” A ringing of horse’s hoofs and she was gone. Would those two children of fate ever meet again? CHAPTER X. SHE ASSASSIN’S BULLET. THUNDERBOLT Tom had seen enough of the strange drama within the wolf-herder’s cabin, and with a feeling of thankfulness in his heart, He having escaped such a terrible danger, Stifi, his thoughts were not so much on that as the ether things connected with it. Who those two parties were—the strange masked man whose actions had been so queer, and the girl who in form and feature resembled his dead love so much—he would have given years of his life to discover. ‘Buis seemed impossible so far as the present was concerned, but ia the future he might ho to learn something of them, especially as he in- tended to haunt the neighborhood with that object in view. advantage he bad that might prove useful to him some time. They all believed him dead. Tt was to them a settled fact that they thought his body had been torn to pieces by the wolves, and should he chance to meet any of them in the future they would be apt to look upon him somewhat in the light of a ghost, which he was far from being. \ “ll unravel both of these mysteries before I leave this place. What right has that girl to resemble my love whom I lost in death? Ah! the bitter memory of that cruel fate overwhelms me at times and I feel as though death itself would to me be a biessed relief. Ishall bide my time and follow her to eternity where the little difference between us will be lost in the magni- tude of our happiness. “It is wonderful what a resemblance this girl bears to her, my sainted sweetheart. I thougbt so when I saw her footprints and later on as I azed upon her form through the hole in the Bier, but when she looked me full in the face I gusped for breath. ‘What a terrible thing it is to have one adored under the sod and meet a ee living, breathing picture of her in theflesh. The shock is enough to unstring all one’s nerves, and after such excitement I feel as weak as 4 cat.” ; Thus solilcquizing the young hunter made his way down the canyon and efterward plunged into the depths of the valiey. It was his inten- tion to remain in the neighborhood until at least something turned up that would give him achance to unravel the strange mystery sur- rounding those t wo. That the Colonel might be a woman he had several times suspected, for his keen eyes, more cunning than those of Black Wallace and his rough companion, had traced a delicate symme- | - y Men. x | Thunderbolt Tom. try of form hardly suitable to any except one ot those slight willowy men with narrow waists after the style of the noted scout and plainsman Wild Bill. This thought he had banished as often as it appeared, for he had never offended a woman in his life, having fought shy of their company up to the time of bis meeting the girl whom he had loved so tenderly, and then it was her unusual charms that had attracted him. On the whole it would have to be put aside as one of those mysteries that time alone could ex- plain, and Tom finally turned his attention to other matters. He wandered on scarcely know- ing whither he was going until finally, when an hour more had passed he found himself beside a hollow tree, the cavity of which would serve him well as a place for sleep. He was wearied both from the tramp of the preceding day and the exertions of the night, and forgetting all the strange occurrences that had come to pass since sundown, he lost himself in slumber. He slept peacefully until dawn. When he once more made his appearance out- side of the tree the eastern sky was showing by its golden glory the nearness of the sun. Pre- sently the oe king of day peeped above the horizon and gave his light to the world. Thunderbolt Tom speedily shot an antelope, and building a fire had some steaks broiling. He dispatched his breakfast and made a bun- dle of the remainder of the cooked steaks for future use. He was not afraid of his fire being discovered by the smoke, for having been made of dry wood what little smoke there was could hardiy be detected in the atmosphere close at hand, while at a little distance it was invisible. Once more Tom was stalking through the forest in an aimless sort of way. His thoughts, naturally enough, were upon the occurrences of the previous night, but his success at unraveling the mysteries that had come up was no better than at that time. He had seen the maker of those mysterious footprints, and been amazed ather resemblance to his dead love, but could get no satisfaction out of the meeting. He must see her again, face to face, and learn some- thing of her. Perhaps this ra resemblance would fade away when brought under the scrutiny of his eyes on an occasion more suitable for observing than the last had been. Higher rose the sun in the heavens and still the young bunter continued his aimless wee? though bis thoughts were far away, his eyes were on the alert, and all at once he drop- ped to the earth as if he had been shot. The reason of this strange action was speedi- ly made manifest for the sharp crack of a rifle sounded upon the morning air and a bullet whistled by within half a foot of his head as he sunk down. The shot came from the bushes close at hand, and would have been a fatal one but that the quick eye of the young hunter had seen the leveled rifle and the dim figure of a crouchin man wore tne undergrowth in time to avoi the deadly bullet. No sooner had the shot been fired than the reckless young hunter, rolling over several times in the carrying out of his idea formed on the instant, _— to his feet and bounded into the bushes where his unknown foe and would be assassin had secreted himself to accomplish his dread work. The man had realised that his shot must have missed, but the actions of Thunderbolt Tom bad been so rapid as to confuse him, and before he could even rise from his knees the young hun- ter was upon him. Dropping his rifle, Thunderbolt Tom leaped upon the assassin. His strong hands seized him by the throat, and closed like a vise upon his windpipe. When a man’s supply of air is thus summarily shut off, he is not capable of show- ing his powers to advantage, no matter what an smount of strength he may possess, and the fellow upon whom Thunderbolt Tom hurled himself was no exception to the common rule. Notwithstanding this fact he developed qvit> an amount of strength, and the young hunter found it hard work to force him into such a position that there was nothing left for him but to give in. His ceasing to struggle was an indication to this effect, and Thunderbolt Tom acknowledged it_ by removing bis hands from the throat of his adversary. He had dropped his rifle and now taking a revolver from his belt he aimed it at the head of his recumbent enemy, so as to be ready in case the other attempted any trick upon him. His foe lay there quietly however, — no sign of uneasiness save in the half frigh / — look in his eyes. Tom knew him not, had never seen his face before to his knowledge, and was at a loss to understand why the man wished te murder him. He did not have the appearance of a des- perado either in features or dress, so that it seemed possible that he had some other motive for desiring the young hunter’s death besides love of gain or bloodshed. ‘You have me foul, Tom Reynolds; fire and end the whole business. I have played a heavy me and lost too, I reckon. Shoot and get ough with it,” he growled. Tom Reynolds! Then he was known to the other who appear- ed to have some grudge against him, but the young hunter was ready to swear that he had never before set eyes on this individual. He was not in a mood for trifling however, and al- though he allowed the other to rise he still kept him well covered with his ready revolver. **Now, see here; I don’t know you or what you have against me, but if you ever try that dastardly shooting dodge agesin, you'll neyer leave the spot alive. Iam Tom Reynolds but I neither know anything about you nor why you have cause to hate and pep tog me, nor do I care to. I will not take your life, for I think you have made a serious mistake, a repetition of which may cost you dear. I have warned ye, now beware!” urning, Thunderbolt Tom walked away from the spot, leaving the other to look after him as ree picked up his rifle and plunged into the dense orest ‘Death and furies!” exclaimed the man, scowling fiercely, ‘‘I huve failed again. — that man bear a charmed life? Thec vert as mine, and I missed. It was Tom Reynolds; he acknowledged that, and I could swear to the fact, but, why did he not know me? Has Don- ald Warren changed so much as that? So much the better then for my plan. I am determined he sball not see Adele, for that would ruin all. Ah! he thinks she fled with Dovald Warren, and yet he did not know me! It was a mercy > he did not. Can be have lost his mind? Hedid not look insane. Well, I intend to make sure work next time, and if I miss he is welcome to all the satisfaction he can get.” So saying, Donald Warren, Adele’s old lover, also plunged into the woods. CHAPTER XI. THE LAWYER IN LUCK, Op Rocky had not long to wait for the ex- pected attack. He could see forms hurrying through the bushes in all directions, as if his shot had been the means of telling them that their advanee and presence had been discovered by the ever- vigilant whites. he rifle shot had been fatal to one of the dusky heathens, and while his death-shriek had enraged the rest, it also at the same time taught them a lesson, for in that very uncertain light ——e a deadly marksman could have aimed to kill. Old Rocky pleced himself in immediate posi- tion for work, having his back against a tree, and a ready revoiver in each hand. The little lawyer was hopping around like a born lunatic, with bis huge green umbrella over his shoulder, waiting for a chance to use it. The opportunity was not long in coming, for a brawny Blackfoot brave sprung out of the thicket and confronted the white dwarf with upraised tomahawk. He make a slashing sweep through the air with the weapon, but either miscalculated the oy 3 of his Segre or else the lawyer drew in his head like a turtle. At an failed to take effect, and the Indian was swung half-way round by the extreme violence of his efforts. s Old Rocky was on the point of firing one of his revolvers, but the lawyer was ahead of him and crash came his old green umbrella against the head of the offending red-man. Either he ut more muscular power into the blow, know- ing certainly that he was now dealing with a foe and not a friend masquerading, or else the Indian received it at a more effective point than bad Old Rocky, for certain it is he went over like a nine-pin, only bis arms and legs were fly- ing in the air like so many appendages to a wind-mill such as the fabled Don Quixote charged in days of yore. Although two of the Blackfeet had been posed of in this summery way, there were sti others to take their places, and presently Old Rocky had his hands too full to pa perticular heed to his little companion, though © cast @ rate the blow |
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' ploy. glance toward him now and then, to'see that nothing serious had happened to the diminutive specimen of lively humanity. From all quarters the Blackfeet mow rushed into the glade, and while a few assailed the active little lawyer, the major portion of them assaulted the hunter, recognizing in him one to whom they owed the death of the brave who had been shot, and knowing that the most dead- ly resistance would come from him. When Old Rocky’s revolvers bean to play, it was a lively time assuredly, for even in the half gloom he was not the man to waste his bullets. In the meantime the lawyer was amazing those of the Indians who had assailed him by the wonderful dexterity with which he leaped from side to side and up into the air like a born nast. He rained in his blows upon them so fast, striking right and left indiscriminately, and put so much effectiveness into them that it seemed like attempting tostorm an old fashioned thresh- ing machine with ail the flying flails in motion. i after another they received the full benefit of his blows. They rolled over each other, such was the rapidity with which they were floored. Several lay quiet upon the ground. It may have been because they were knocked senseless er through strategy, either fearing to face that unknown weapon again or else hoping for some g@hance to overcome the savage little fighter by Pmaining recumbent. How it would all end, there could be no telling of course, but if numbers had much to do with it the game was ultimately in the hands of the red-men, for they outnumbered their adver- saries almost ten to one. Old Rocky had about emptied his revolvers, and accomplished great execution with them considering the uncertainty of his aim. Against the effoctiveness of this he had found two things to contend against, the darkness and the con- tinual moving of his enemies. He had manzged to oa a the force of the attacking party considerably, however, and was well sa isfied with his work as he quickly re laced his revolvers and drew the long, ugly- ooking bowie knife that had erstwhile reposed so peacefully in his belt. Giving a truly diabolical yell which was quite enough to make any one’s hair stand on end, and which he was pleased to term his war-cry, the old Rocky Mountain ranger threw himself upon the foe, determined to make a gallant showing before he took to his heels, for this he felt sure must be the ultimate result of the matter, as they two could hardly expect to make way with the half-score of braves who still remained nninjared and fought like fiends incarnate for the scalps of the two whites, The only bother was in relation to the little lawyer. How was he to be gotten away? His short legs had shown an amazing amount ef activity, but it could be hardly — that fn a rush for life and death through the dark forest, leaping over logs and brushwood, pay ing into dense ravines and undergoing all such annoyances, the lawyer could make good head- Way. Stil there might be no other way, and Old ky was not fool enough to consider it in- -cumbent upon him to be captured along with the lawyer simply because he was in his em- Besides, free he might and probably would be able to effect the ultimate escape of his companion but if they were both prisoners their chances would be few indeed. There was no telling how it would turn out. The little lawyer evidently had no intention of being captured, for he was still thrashing or with as good will as ever. His enemies had fired and burled all their weapons at him but the effect was not gratify- ing for the jamping harlequin appeared to bear a charmed life, and none of the missiles were in the least effective. It was at this time that Old Rocky plunged into the fight, knife in hand. He wasa perfect whirlwind, but he found men opposed to him who also knew how to handle the weapon and for a time it seemed as though he might have to turn tail after all and fly to save his own life. As for the lawyer, the violence of his actions was wearing him. out and bis gyrations were not so emphatically funny as they bad been a short time previous. Stik he managed to make it lively for theithree or four red-skins who sur- rounded him, and was evidently quite capable of holding out as long as Old Rocky chose to continue’ resistance. The valiant ranger now found himself in something of a predicament, for he was forced to place his back against u tree and continue to defend himself. As to assuming the offensive, Tr - ‘Phunderbolt Tom. the time for that had gone by now, and he was obliged to use the utmost caution in order to make sure that one of his antagonists did not manage to get in a telling blow and thusend the spirited contest. Thus the good fight went on. Had these two been left to themselves there could have been but one end to the affair, for the red scoundrels would have tired them out eventually and then ended the struggle. It happened however that the nvise of the combat reached other ears, and two men made their way through the forest toward that quar- ter. They came in the nick of time. One of: the Indians had lighted a torch, and: by the glare of this several of the others were chasing the old scout around a fallen tree with guns in their hands. It was an exciting scene and the old scout never made better time in his life then he did when dashing around that tree. One of the wily red-skins knew a trick or two, and halting in his tracks he waited tor the scout to come around. Old Rocky was promptly on hand and seeing the threatening danger, dodged in time to let the Indian’s leaden missile strike another of the red-men .in his rear. Then leaping forward he had brained the fellow with a blow from his clubbed rifle ere he could offer any resistance. Thus the circumstance that had seemed about to prove a fatal one to the old ranger turned around and rid him of two enemies. The chase was continued for there were still four red-skins after him more determived than ever. At this moment the two men who had been breaking their way through the bushes came upon the scene. Their weapons soon sounded and the Indians minus two more of their number, took the alarm at this fresh arrival. Those who were able scampered away while the wounded ones crawled into the bushes or feigned death. Two men came into view. The torch that the Indian had held had by some queer aecident stuck upright in the earth and continued burn- ing so that the two who had fought so long and valiantly were able to see the new-comers. They were white men, one dressed in the garb of a hunter, while the other seemed to be in the undress uniform of a commissioned officer of the army although he carried no sword. His attire too had the appearance of having seen rather rough usage, and with this much of a clew the reader would not have great difficulty in recognizing the two whom we saw wander- ing. upon the prairie. he two old hunters came to a sudden pause and stared at each other as though both of them were looking upon ghosts. Such was indeed the thought uppermost in their minds, for their story was a strange one on both sides. A couple of years previous they had been chums, ready to die for each other. Some dispute arose and it came to blows. This could only result in a duel, for they were on a soil and the code was much in vogue there. Through some mistake both men were reported killed when they were only wounded, but as their factions immediately indulged in a free fight;in which broken heads were pepe the affair was considerab!y mixcd up. It was nat- ural, however, that the two men while heing nursed back to life should be made to believe that the other was dead, for their friends thought so themselves, Up to this time fate had kept the two old hunters widely apart, so that. each had no sus- picion of the other’s being alive, and believin his hand was red with the blood of one who ha been so dear, a dreariness wuld occasionally come upon both that must’have seemed rather strange to their companions. Fancy then the extreme joy of this meeting, when for the first time theyJearned that their hands were not dyed in the blood of a friend, and that this old comrade was still alive. They embraced each other with tears in their eyes, anda suspicious trembling of the voice. It was hard for them to believe the truth, but gradually it became clearer, and ‘they realized how they had deceived themselves and been de- luded by fate. While they were still engaged in explanations another scene was being enacted close at han though of a somewhat different nature. The little lawyer had quieted down after the engagement was over, bnt had watched the meeting of the two old rangers with wondering eyes. Turning his gaze upon the companion of Strategy Saul, he might have been observed to start as if he too had seen a ghost. Fs een seer wenn a RE A SR SL SN TE SO ITS ET PTE NSS ni NTs AE ET TT nN Then a cunning expression came over his face. ““By my soul, it. is Tom Reynolds. Now will Linterview him and get him to. sign my con- tract ere I inform him of the joyful tidings that his old uncle has gone the way of aJl flesh, and left him half his property. .Arouse ye shades of Blackstone and Coke within my breast se that I err not in presenting my case.’ Thus muttering to himself the diminutive mummy approached the soldier. He had in- tended that: his manner should be dignified but his stap was something between a hop, skip and jump that reminded one very much ot a cricket’s spring upon being touched. Gaining a position in front of the young man, whom, in company with Strategy Saul we have seen pass through such deadly perils he made a bow that would have done honor to a disciple of Chesterfield. ‘* Have I the honor of addressing Thomas Rey- nolds, nephew of Squire Robert Reynolds of Cedar Croft#” The soldier trying to keep back the smile that a, gy determined to come upon his sad face, replied: R I don’t know much about the honor, but Iam Tom Reynolds, and the Squire was my uncle. I say was for I half believe he must be dead by this time,” replied the soldier, without winbgne > much emotion, for the old man had been col and stern, and he had never seen euough of him to learn to love him. é ‘Correct, sir, quite correct. The old ire lay down and peacefully passed away from sheer oldage. His will was read, sir, and it left you half of his immense estate on condition, sir, that you appeared to claim it within a certain length of time. That stipulated period will have elapsed, sir, some time before you could possibly reach Cedar Croft.” Here he paused to see what effect this would have upon the other, for it was equivalent to saying that the half million was now assuredly lost’ to him. Somewhat to his amazement the young man showed not the least sign of emotion. “Bless me,” muttered the dried-up little law- er, “ he cares. as little for half a million as I do for a dollar. Did 1 ever behold such a specta- cle? Poor chance that to get my contract sign- ed. However, I moke a bold effort. “There are technicalities of the law, sir,” he resumed, aloud, ‘‘which will bring about another course. Others may not see them, and would deem your chances small of ever S8- ing your legacy, but the eagle eye of Catiline Demosthenes Neverfail, sir,”—here he struck an attitude a la Napoleon, with one hand in the bosom of his coat and the other behind his back—“ has discovered the flaw, and there is not. the least doubt but that be can place you into possess.on of your rightful property at any time. “T have traveled hundreds of weary miles, sir, and braved the dangers that are generally unknown to members of my craft, sir, in ordes to find you, and it would please me very muck for you to place your signature upon this paper. ‘Strike while the iron is hot’ is always my motto. This is merely a contract to pay me five thousand a when I menses in placing ou in possession of your property. . The soldier glanced over the paper by the light of the still blazing torch. He was amused at the business ways of the cunning little law- yer, though he did not seem to care much about the matter. “T promise to sign it at a more opportune time. No, that will not do. | Well, 1 must say you deserve a reward for: your pertinacity and luck, theugh how you ever found me here un- ess some of them at the fort put you on my trail, 1 am at a loss to tell.” With a lead pencil the soldier wrote the name; ““CapraiIn THOMAS DUDLEY REYNOLDS.” Then he handed the paper to the little lawyer and turning toward the two rangers gave the man of briefs to understand that their interview was over. The lawyer read the name several times and then looked. up with an expression of crafty cunning upon his face, muttering, while his eyes rested on the soldier: ; “ Spirit of the departed Webster, my star is in the ascendant. This is not the man I sought but the other beir. My soul be. on thy guard and tt will be two birds with one stone. This is thé®ther Tom Reynolds.” CHAPTER XII, MORE BITTER THAN DEATH. “ Heaven help me, I tear I shall go crazy for remorse is gnawing at my heart. Why hd Ido it, oh, why? Wronged though I have been ’ Gi
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al is changed, end when it is too late 1 would £-Vo my Lifo to call him back again. ‘© A! how noble ho looked, stunding there eni defying us to do our worst. Courage he had that was almost sublime. What matters it ic my Ufo is wrecked throug’ him. Two wrongs do not make a right, and now that he is dead willit co mo any g9024 Ob! fool, fool that I was; ko might havo married me yet and now my culy chanco is gona.” Tho girl wrung Ler hands in agony for fully f minuco and tien resumed her soliloquy which pecmed fu.l of bitterness, “Yoo is mo. Timo shall come and go, the seasons Liing blessings in their train for others, bet fer mo all is black as death. With my o\.n hands1 have molded my future, as I have mao my bed so must I lie, and may Hea- ven bo merci.ul cnough to send me a speedy re- leaso from this creary workl. Oh, ‘Tom, my love, forsive the crusl blow that came through my hand; forgive the crucl heart. Oace I vowed to lovs you through good and evil report. How hevo [kept that vow?’ {Sho suuddere | at the question. Ucr band was red witi the blood of the man who had been lover and husband, and for whom sho Lad willingly given up the world with all its van-ties, TO long a3 £20 remembered the scenes of that ter- rivio night, would her soul cry ovt in horror. A'reacy \.as she suffering the torments of the flamnet and the future looked horrible indeed to her cyos. fSa9 had been one of the most innocent and con- fidin creatures in the world before tuis blow strucx home, but dcep down within ber fiery nature Lad repose that demon who was 10ow mck.ng himself known to ber, and when the proper timo cams he showed his fangs. ‘VO sacta nature remorse would come as an everwhe'ming flood, and so it was when she begaa to comprehend the enormity of her pline. Shoremembere‘ the Bible instructions “ judge not (has ye bo not judged,” and bere she had rot cxnly condemned the man she loved so well, qaneard, bus hat actually had him executed. Tho moon was hanging in the eastern sky, and as tho trees were scattered at this point, her light managed to enter and illuminate the spot around her. She was seated upon a log, in an attitude cf despair, for the thoughts that ran riot in ler brain seemed to be killing her. Sho was unconscious of the fact that she was not clene in the patea of forest. ALuman figure was making its way along through the undergrowth, and by keeping directly on, must pass very near to where she sat. Finally sho heard the sound of footsteps close besido her, and looked up hastily. A man had come toa halt within a dozen feet of her, and halt raised his riflo as if uncertain who this love.y figure could be. Tko mooniight, falling upon his face reveal d both if and bis flrure to the amazed girl, and she stood thero, ju:t where she had sprung, as if firmly rooted to the spot. It was Thunderbolt Tom! Ycs, tho man whom she had seen deatn stood before her. The moonlight illu- mined her face, which was noy devoid of mask, ani as her bat was off thagetty black curls hung far Cown her back, but though a look of wonder appears upon the face ot the young man, no trace cf recognition gleamed from his eye. ois, however, the other had no chance to notice just then, for her amazement at seein him clive was powerful enough to over-ride al other fancies end thoughts. S.0 stood there devoid of motion, Mer breath no longer came and went, cud it scemed as thouch in this terrible minute cven her heart refused to execute its usual functions, and stood still, At first it was but natural to believe that go tohis | tv .. xX 1 Whonderbole-tom. 1. away so comp'ete.y, but Adele was no believer in guosts and presently discovered that be he whom he might, the man before her was an ac- tual, living, breathing reality. Then with her returning breath she cried out, and her words were but a mention of his me: ** Thunderbolt Tom!” The young hunter bad not strongly suspected tha@# bis masked eneniy was a wouian, and he was therefore very much astonished at what he saw, but being angry at the other for having involved him in such a terrible scrape as that had been with the wolves, he allowed his right- eous indignation to over-ride his cuawiosity as to what this woman hated him for. ** Yes, it is Thunderbolt Tom, alive and in the flesh, but no thanks to you that this is so. If your wishes had been granted the wolves in the den on the mountain would, ere this, have picked my bones clean. What prevents m sending a bullet through your heart now?# know you are a woman and by the stars that is the only thing that prevents my punishing your fiendishness as it so richly deserves!” The young bunter’s words burned like fire, such was the beat of his honest indignation, but Adele was too glad to know that her wickedness had not accomplished its work, to notice this. Besides, she knew she deserved more stinging words of reproach, and with her hands clasped and extended toward him, she cried out: ‘Tom, oh, Tom, do you uot know me?” A scornful smile played upon bis .ace. “Know you? Yes, { know you as one who hated me so bitterly that she would have given to the fiends of Hades to torture, had such a thing been possible; whose venom went so far as to cast me into a den of wolves, but like Dan- iel of old, [came out from among the wild beasts unscathed. Beyond that, woman, traitress to the purity aud gentleness of your sex, [know you not.” ‘Not know me. Tom, oh, my darling, what words are these? Not know your Adele, she whom you swore you loved above ali things on earth? Heaven help me, I must indeed be go- ing mad when he to whom my heart was given mys be knows me not,” half wailed the strange girl. ‘Tt is false, false as Hades!” cried the young hunter vehemently, ‘‘I never loved but one in all ny life, and she, oh, Father in Heaven—” ** And she?” eagerly repeated the girl, her mag- netic black eyes fastened upon his face. * Isdead. I wept tears of blood upon her ve, and there, too, I buried my heart. Oh, illie, my darling, my angel love, to think that when lust we parted it was in anger,” and over- come by this sudden emotion, Tom let his bead fall upon bis breast. Atterward it came to Adele that she had met the Millie he spoke of and whom he thought dead, but at this this time, the thought never entered her head. She heard him disown her and declare that he had never loved her, ani this was enough to engross her full attention. Her great black eyes opened with the horror that pessessed her soul, and she was dumb for a time. Then her anguish burst forth, and it was like a stream rushing over its banks. ae not so, implore you. Take away the fact of your loving me in the happy past and et remove the support that keeps me alive. | now that I sinned grievously in plotting for | your death, but my heart was enraged because | you deserted me. You will forgive me, Tom, | 9 + cs me back to your heart?” she im- plored. ; . “Since you ask it I will forgive you, but as for the other I must insist that I do not know you. Either you are crazy or else mistaken, I do not know which. Do not cross my path | again, orl may forget that you are a woman and do you injury.’ “* Little do | care. You can add that and I will bless you with my dying breath. You | have said you never knew me. Can you den | that you are Tom Reynolds?” she demanded, al- most flercely, “Tcannot nor do I attempt to for I have never done aught that I am ashamed of. At the same time I take occasion to add that I never bad the honor of your acquaintance, if honor there can be in knowing one who thinks nothing of masquerading around the country in male attire and—” “ Hush ” The word fell from her lips in an imperious manuer, and Thunderbolt Tom ceased. So..e- | how, though he felt an outward contempt for this creature who persisted in claiming him as — 0 Qa. er. *““You have said enough,” she continued, in that full, rich voice that impressed him so wertuily, *“‘and now nothing on earth could us together again. Your desertion near- illed me but I have tracked you far and found you to learn that in your eyes the past is a thing utterly forgetten and as for poor Adele Cummings, you know her not. “Sad was the hour when I learned how you had deceived me, but this present minute is more bitter than death itself. Farewell, Tom, my lost love, along farewell. Death alone can comfort me, the grave rest my throbbing brain and broken heart. May Heaven forgive you this terrible wrong even as does Adele, once your wife, loat forever now.” Before be could do aught to stop her she bad given him one last mournful look that would haunt him for many a day and turning fled into the forest, vanishing like a wraith. The mystery was deepening. It was hardly robable that she was crazy, for she seemed to now his name and spoke of bim as one whom she had loved, but Thunderbolt Tom denied hay- ing ever seen her before. hetber he was truthful or otherwise in this denial, the reader will hcve to judge for the present, but the truth of his guilt or innocence will be made manifest before long. Tom had a good character among the rangers of tlie North- west, and although it seemed that he and Millie, being lovers, had separated, still the fact of bis thinking ber dead had much to do with his not making his appearance a. ain to confess bimself at fault and make up the foolish lover’s quarrel that had separated them. Tom looked after ber retreating form in won- der until 1t had vanished from view; then with a long-drawn sigh for the one who bad left him professedly to seek for death, be turned and made his way through the forest more like a man in a dream than one awake, CHAPTER XIIL THE CAPTAIN’S STORY. WHATEVER the dried-up little mummy ofa lawyer learned from the name sig-ied to the document, he appeared highly pleased, though with wonderful tact he kept the source of his amusement a profound secret. At times his wizened face would he actually illun.inated with a broad smile, and as he rub- ted his skinny litle hands one over the other, a dry, peculiar Jaugh that was almost a chuckle, would escape his lips. With the exception of the soldier, it seemed a neppy party, for the two old rangers were so delighted over their finding each other alive when Oid Rocky supposed be bad the blood of Strategy Saul upon his hands, and vie versa, that they seemed to be Reg epee shaking hands as if it was next to impossible to con- gratulate each other enough, while the lawyer, feeling glad thatsome one else w as happy besides bimsrIf took occasion to make a little speec which although lacking considerable of bis usu Fourth of July orations, contained not a little good advice which they could profit by if they chose. The words yg by the legal gentleman in reference to his uncle the Squire, appeared to have recalled some memory to the mind of the soldier which he would tain have torgotten. It resulted in his being more tian usually silent, for his thoughts were busy. What was on bis mind he never told, but while the others were rejoicing aud talking in a mien f manner over things that mutually inter- ested the two rangers he sat on a Jog with his head resting on bis hand. Once Old Rocky thought he heard a groan froa the direction of the soldier, but upon looking that way saw him sitting there so silent and motionless that he concluded he must be mistaken and resumed his talk with Saal. They were speaking of the Scuth. Old Roc had been there several times since their due and he was able to tell bis companion many things about the parties they knew in the old times. There were tragic events that had hap- pened which he narrated, and by a strange combination of circumstances he gave the story of Adele, Captain Tom Reynolds and Donald Warren, just as he had heard it, though he did not know that the “Captain” he was s & of was near him, nor did Strategy Saul for that matter, as he knew next to nothing of his com- rin ly
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| 22 ; Axum SAR Mh tale 7] Y% Thunderbolt Tom. ESE ———————eE==e=—~—e=e=—=—=ee=S=S=E=EeeESSSEEE SSS anion’s life history, they having been captured ogether by the reds, and united their fortunes in escaping, which cemented the bonds of friend- ship between them as only great dangers, mu- tually shared, can. This was what he said: ** Another strange thing happened ter a party as ye knowed. Thet were Adele Cummings. the war deceived by aman,a captain in the army I believe, and the last heard ot her she had either killed herself or followed him, for she dis- appeared. Some say as he murdered her, oth- ‘ers that she killed herself when she found she wasn’t his wife, and thar war many other things said. One young critter named Donald Warren tried ter make folks believe she had fled wid her paramour, but they know’d and loved her too well ter believe a word o’ chet, an’ [led a jouty myself in search of this same Donald in- tendin’ ter tar an’ feather him, but he had van- ished. No man dar’s ter stand before me ter-day :nd say a word ag’in’ the purity of Adele Cum- inicgs. I know’d her and ef thar ever war an ug@el on this earth she war one.” ‘here wasa movement behind them. Then (ootain Tom sprung to his feet, sirode over to \ Sere the two men stood, and ai his hand pou the shoulder of the ranger Old Rocky, to _om Le addressed himself. ‘Old man, you never spoke truer words in all your life. Adele Cummings was an angel i? ever one trod this earth, and the man who dares to say a word to the contrary, in my presence, dies. no matter who or what he may be. **Look well upon me, Old Rocky; for I am the man you have been talking about—the cap- tain. Nay, start not, my friend; I do not cheer- ish any ill-feeling against you. Whatever I might have thought has been fully wiped out by your noble defense of my bright angel love, Adele.” He paused to let his bead fall upon his hands, and though the two rangers turned their heads away and winked violently at the stars, this did not prevent their seeing the tears roll through the fingers of the soldier. Finally he seemed to master his emotion and looked up with a sad smile. “Pardon me, my friends, but the memory of the happy past has completely unmanned me. The tortures of the ag Sirgethh could not force a gro n from my lips, but when agony wrings the heart, then it must find an utterance. “J you will give me your aitention, 1 will briefly tell you my sad story, so far as it per- tains to Adele Cummings, and perhaps Old Rocky may be able to throw a little light upon what has been up to this hour obscured in dark- ness to me. ‘*T met Adele last summer while on a fur- lough of a few months and transacting some special government business in the South. We loved at first sight, for it seemed as though some responsive chord in our souls drew us to- ther. “Oh, the memory of those days of bliss! I shall never forget them while I live. All the earth\ seemed glorified because of our great love; but I hall pass over briefly what I could with rapture dwell upon for hours. Suffice it to say that we loved as man ard woman can love but once in a lifetime, and that nothing would have been too great a sacrifice to that at affection that lasts beyond the grave. “ Circumstances would not allow me to mar- ry Adele publicly. Iwas the prospective heir of a rich old miser—the same whose demise leaving me half his property, our friend here has told us about—and it was one of his crotchets that I should not marry without his consent and full approval under pain of being disinherited. “Adele and I talked the matter over and agreed upon a quict wedding with only a couple oF witne:ses. This was accomplished, an old backwoods circuit-rider uniting us one sage I brought a friend of mine along, and Adele h-d asa witness one Donald Warren, who had once been a Jover of hers, and in whom she seemed tu have the greatest confidence, more so than I did myself, to tell the truth. : ‘* Por two weeks our wedded life was indeed like a honeymoon, and then the great calamity befell me which I am about to relate. ‘¥¥ must tell you that we had formed quite a neat little plot fcr getting ahead of my old uncle, “Tt was our intention to smuggle Adele into the kouse as an attendant, which could easily be done, as she was a distant relation of our family, an1 I knew that when she came thus, the ad man, being unprejudiced, would soon love er dovotediy, and I would not have the least trouble in pacifying him when the truth was made known. “We wero never given a chance, however, of putting this nice plan into execution, for ere the opportunity occurred, the blow fell with stun- ning force, ‘*One day—shall Lever forget it?—I left home on business, intending to return by the follow- ing evening. Full of love for my darling and anticipating no evil, I drew near our cabin home. “Suddenly a man sprung out of the bushes and confronted me. It was Donald Warren, I could see that his face was full of terror. He caught my arm and I tried to ask him what was the matter but my tongue refused its office and clung to the roof of my mouth. ‘In a few words he told me. Adele was gone. She had vanished in the night. There was a letter for mein the cabin which he had opened and read, hoping to gain some intelli- ence. en Breaking from bim I ran to the cabin, my face white as death, yet with a strange calm- ness upon me, Yes, there was a letter upon the table, opened as Donald had said, and addressed in the writing I knew so well. I have preserved it to this day. Let me read the cruel lines to you, word for word.” He took from the lining of his coat, where it had escaped the scrutiny of the Indians when he was searched by them, a piece of paper that looked as though it had been handled many times, Old Rocky puffed his pipe close beside it and this gave fitful flashes of light by means of which the captain was enabled to see enough to read, for he knew the cruel missive by heart at any rate. “My Hvussanp: You will curse the hour when first you met me when you learn that I have fled with one whom I loved long ere I met you. He has srsuaded me that we were married in the sight of Teaven before the ceremony between you and I was performed, and that I am therefore his wife. Do not mcuru for me too long; there are others who will love you better than I have done. Search for me would be useless. Remember me only as “Your lost, ADELE.”’ ‘That isthe letter I received, my friend, and it well-nigh destroyed my reason. What is your opinion of it, Old Rocky?’ asked the cap- tain turning to the ranger. **False—false as the hand thet wrote it. I tell ’ee, Captain Tom, my life on it Adele never put her hand ter thet paper ’less she war mad!” ejaculated the old prairie man vehemently. “You are right, my noble friend. The thought never came into my head, and future incidents only strengthened the suspicion that there had been foul play. For the time being, however, the shock was so severe as to prostrate my mind. Ihardly know what I did; for the fact that my darling was lost to me seemed to unsettle my reason. ‘*T remember of even accusing Donald War- ren, who bad been a friend through all, of hav- ing a part in this vile scheme, and to this day I can remember the look of terror on his face, Perhaps it was my wild appearance and seem- ing crazy state that alarmed him, and at the same time it may have been something else. “I do not. remember what 1 did, but if I at- temptei violence upon Donald he escaped me. I was rushing wildly through the forest, calling on my darling’s name and praying Heaven to bring me face to face with the villain who bad brought this black desolation upon my heart and home, when a rifle belched out its contents from the bushes and I fell to the earth likea corpse. ‘When I recovered my consciousness I found myself under a pile of brushwood which had been thrown upon me by the man who had shot me. By a great effort I managed to crawl] out from under this and then fainted again. Here I was found by an old settler who lived a sort of hermit life in the heart of the forest. He carried me to his cabin and for weeks and months I hovered between life and death. “Gradually I became myself, and when able to talk heard that no one could tell whither Adele had gone, but that the report was abroad that she had been murdered by me for some reason. Horrified as I was that this idea should have entered the minds of those I had looked upon as friends, I had neither the time nor the inclination to set them aright. ‘*From other words that he spoke I drew my conclusions and realized uron whose shoulders the whole blame rested. It was reported that Donald Warren had shot at me, being fired with vengeance because he had once loved Adele, and had gone in search of me. ‘‘This news opened my eyes considerably, and in these see actions of a friend I saw the cunning plot of an arch villain. He had \ » ‘ruined ee and hers in reven e because } had won girl he loved, and who had never had aught but friendship for him. ‘My heart was at once filled with thoughts of revenge. If I could but meet this double- dyed villain, pa I might make him confess his share in the matter, and also what had be- come of my darling Adele. I resolved to track him to the death, and to have a terrible revenge for the ruin he bad put upon my life. ‘“‘ Months had elapsed since the disappearance of my darling, and much valuable time had been lost, but without even waiting to set the people aright concerning me, I got upon the trail of Donald Warren and commenced follow- ing it, determined to make the villain suffer as much as I bad done for his treachery, his at- boi to murder me, and al) combined. ‘T pursued my course with the assiduity of a sleuth-hound, and in so doing found myself in the North-west. While I was yet upon the track the Blackfeet gobbled me up and I found saat a prisoner in their clutches. At their village I discovered that Strategy Saul here had also been captured, and at the first oppor- tunity we united our fortunes and set about ef- fecting our escape. “The rest you know. What means this fiend in human sane took to lure my wife away I do not know, but the report about m erg a villain and she deceived was false—false as the heart of the man who circulated it, for never was woman loved as I loved Adele Cummings, my lawfully-wedded wife.” ust at this point of the story, when Captain Tom had payed reached the end, they were all amazed to hear a slight crackling of the un- der-brush close by; and then an exclamation in a female voice caught their ears saying: “ Heavens! it is Tom—alive and well.” CHAPTER XIV. THE HAND OF FATE. SomMEWHAT startled by this our friends looked in the direction from whence the voice came. They could see something white and mystic, but could make nothing clear out of it, although it seemed as though it might be a female form clothed in white. The pipe of the old ranger was still working like a young volcano, being an unusually large one, and no doubt the light, flaring up, had illuminated the countenance of Captain Tom just as he was finishing his story and declarin vehemently that woman was never so we loved as Adele had been by him, - Of course the effect of this intrusion upon their camp could not be otherwise than start- ling, and every one of the four men had his ve lued upon the figure so dimly seen through the bushes. The only thought that seized possession of the a “gas mind, was that this was his lost ele. He had not been able to distin but the words that had been use fer it. His blood seemed to leap through his veins with the speed of a race-horse, for could he but find the beloved one whom he had long since given up as lost to him forever, Heaven could grant him no richer blessing. He was stupefied for the time being and then sprung erect, full of life and determination. ** Adele, my pare my lost love! is it you? Wait for me, do not flee 1 pray you, sweet wife. lt is I, your husband, who loves you so well!” As he uttered these plaintive words the strick- en captain commenced to advance toward the figure as seen in the darkness; but it retreated. All of them heard a cry full o dismay and oes terror, as if the words of the captain ad struck more keenly to the heart of the girl than the belief of his death that had up to this time been so overwhelmingly planted in her brain. There was no mystery about it as the reader will readily understand when it is said that the figure in white was no other than Millie, the Letrothed of Thunderbolt Tom, whom last we saw, fleeing through the forest after holding that interview with the disguised Adele. She had come upon the little camp of our friends by the merest accident, and was just in time to hear the last words uttered! by the cap- ish her voice, led him to in- tain. Then the old ranger’s pipe flared up and illumined the countenance of the soldier, Of course no other thought entered the mind of the young girl but that she was gazing upon the face of Thunderbolt Tom, the man whom she loved with all her heart and soul, and who, she. thought, had been torn to pom among the wolves in the den of Black Wallace, i
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But for the words he had uttered sho might havo come to bim, and at any rate expianations would have ensucd that would have made the captain crazy with ped Sah though Millic would have found poor consolation in the knowledgo that after all her Tom must have been devoured by the wolves on that fateful night. His words, however, struck such a pang to her loving heart that she turned and fled from the spot, not wanting Tom to overtake her and discover his error. Through the forest she flitted like a spirit. The captain pursued but soon discovered that he was making poor progress for the white form seemed to be leaving him. In vain ho cried out, imploring her to come back to him, and protest- ing his great love; she would not turn, knowing that it was Adele he meant. Finally, the captain could no longer see the white form flitting in advance of him, and was induced by this circumstance to give up the ehase, though he did it most unwillingly. He turned to retrace his steps. His mind was filled with thoughts of the woman he loved so devot- edly, and after this meeting with one whom he believed to be ber, his excitement must have —_ intense, so that anything could be forgiven m. His main idea was that Adele had become dis- tracted from the suffering through which she had passed, and either did not know his voice, or, believing that he had deserted her so basely leaving that terrible note behind him, she had fled from him in fear and disgust. At any rate he knew she was in the forest and he was determined never to leave there until he liad found her and told her the true story of that; fatal mistake. Although she had fled from himashe really be- lieved, yet could he but find her he would con- vince her how ievously she had judged him. As for the villain whom he had followed to the wilds of the North-west, he had best keep clear of the chy, husband, for the fury of Hades would not be more terrible, now that he had learned why Donald Warren was in the lonely region. So full of such thoughts was Captain Tom that he did not realize the fact of his not goin in the proper direction. Many things conspir to mislead him, and all at once he awoke to the fact that he was lost, or, asan Indian might in rl pompous pride have put it, ‘‘ the camp was os’ After wandering about for some time and re- alizing that he was getting further in the fores the captain concluded to give up the attemp end wait until morning before attempting to find his friencs. In his mad rush after the shadowy figure that had appeared to them, he had gone further than any of them had thought, _and as they knew Indians were as thick as black- berries in the vicinity, and Captain Tom still cherished fond memories of his recent captivity, he was not very apt to shout out to any great extent. Selecting a hollow tree he entered the cavity and prove to sléep, for he needed rest very muc The night wore on and Captain Tom was sleeping soundly when in a dream he heard the voice of a demon hurling maledictions upon him, This seemed to arouse him, and as he started up to his surprise, he heard a deep voice that re- sembled the rumbling of thunder, followed b many more, only they were loud and sbrill, making one intuitively think of a flock of ducks quacking furiously. ‘Indians, by Jove!” muttered the captain. It_was true. During the time he had slept the Blackfeet had gathered in the immedia vicinity and when he ventured to look out there were a dozen of the red-men within as many feet of him. They bad built a fire and seemed to be hold- ing a confab of some sort, judging from their excited demeanor. He noticed that they were almost directly in front of the cavity in the tree, and wondered that he had not been discovered leng since. The only reason he could assign to their not seeing him was that they were too busily engaged in debating the point that had oeme up among them. It could not be long however tefore some for their keen eyes would discover him, and then all would be Jost. Asa sensible man therefore it behooved him to get out of the scrape in the quickest possible time. There was only one way of leaving the tree and this was’ by the sauje means as he had taken to come in. the fire of the Indians was momentarily grow- in; — this ae bea Tagine thing. wail PP upon hands and knees, screening his body as well us possible under the ee a ee ‘Thunderbolt Tozh. circumstances, Captain Tom commenced mov- ing. Hie gradually issued from the hollow tree in this way. So far so good. His next effort was to placo it between his foes and himself. While he was still in the act of accomplishing this he saw a move on the part of the red-skins. One of them suddenly directed the attention of the others to the ground and_ immediatel they were all intensely interested. The trut was patent. They had discovered the trail leit by the captain where he came to the hollow tree. By following this up they would quickly find him unless he vamosed the place. This he sroceeded to do with ull speed possible. Before e made a move, however, he saw the Indians advancing toward the hollow tree, their eyes fastened upon the ground. Captain Tom waited to see no more, but com- meuced crawling away at as rapid a pace as ossible, determined to reach shelter if it could @ done, before the red hounds discovered his late hiding-place. Just as he was crawling into the fringe of protecting bushes, a chorus of exclamations caught his ear. Then he knew that tke Indians had come upon the hollow tree, and noted the fact of its not having an occupant. Now was the most critical moment, for their eyes would naturally be roaming about and if they were to discover him at all the time was at hand. His thoughts were interrupted by a shrill yell, just as he was peo his feet into the thicket. The light of the Indian’s fire had betrayed him. There was no need of further secrecy. Tom cast one look over his shoulder, and seeing the whole of red-skins on the jump for his lace of hiding sprung to his feet, turned upon hem and with the revolver that Old Rocky had loaned him sent several shots into their midst. Of course this had the effect of demoralizing the Indians for the time being, and as they has- tened to shelter themselves Tom sprung away. He ran like a hound, and considering the na- ture of the ground his pace was wonderful in- deed. The Indians, seeing that their intended uarry had no further intention of resistin them, left their various places of shelter, an resumed the mad chase. Over logs, bushes and rocks, through dense portions o the forest glens and over ridges the captain dashed knowing full well that his safety depended upon his heels, though he might weave cunning in with it. The night was dark, a heavy bank of clouds hanging in the western sky. is assisted the soldier while at the same time it retarded his progress, though for that matter the same kind —t was performed for the red-skins in pur- suit. He was a rapid runner and had a way of overcoming obstructions that was very apt to give him an advantage in the race. That he was gaining was soon made manifest, for the sounds of the pursuit grew less in volume, as if the Indians were one after another giving up the chase. Still there seemed to be one brave who kept up the pursuit and appeared to be gaining. hen the captain realized that this was the case, and that the others had fallen off, he determined not to run from one man. _ His resolution was ably seconded for at this time he suddenly came upon the bank of the river. At this point it was some ten feet or more to the water, and he would have been obliged to leap over had he not determined to Revolver in hand he wheeled. The Indian came dashing on, and as soon as Captain Tom could catch the outlines of his form he gave him the contents of one chamber of his revolver. That was quite enough. The red-skin went over with only a grunt that sounded as if the last atom of breath had been knocked from his body by the concussion. Although Captain Tom did not hear any more of the red-skins on ae << he pape yy that it vas be wise for im to leave the place as speedily as possible. Ten minutes later he was down by the edge of the water, cooling his heated brow and tting a drink. The bank arose above him, tting out so that it afforded quite a screen. n case of a rain he could not have found a bet- ter hiding-place so far as shelter was concerned, and he resolved to remain there until morning, when he could search for his comrades with some hopes of success. As some hours must boa elapse ere the dawn of day, he threw himself down upon the strip of sand and quickly lost himself in slumber. The time and still he slept, never once dreaming of the terrible awakening he was soon — oe to have. Slowly tho night wore away. The bank of heavy clouds in the west ha away, and not a cloud dimmed the heavens. A cool, delicious breeze had sprung up and as the gray light of morning appeared the air was delicious. Captain Tom was aroused suddenly for the second time within a few hours. This time it was a shrill shriek that made him leap to his feet, without doubt a female in trouble. As he sprung up he saw a form leap through the air and plunge into the water with a sullen thud. It was the form of a man, and yet b the manner of his descent the soldier could te that he must have either fallen over the bank by accident or else knew nothing of diving. He watched eagerly for the man’s appearance, and soon saw him come up, but he seemed to be making feeble efforts to sustain himself. In a few seconds he vanished from view again. **My soul, the man will be drowned;” ex- claimed the chivalrous soldier, in excitement. Hurriedly throwing off his coat and boots he sprung into the river and swam like a fish to- ward the spot where the drowning man was again throwing his arms aloft preparatory to sinking a second time. By making herculean efforts he managed to reach the drowning person just as he was about to go under again and grasped hold of him. ven in this situation the captain was amazed to find that the man whom he was attempting to rescue had remarkably long bair in the form of curls, and a suspicion of the true state of af- fairs may have entered his mind. He struggled bard to reach the shore and such efforts could not fail to be crowned with success. At length the bank was reached, he staggered out and laid his inanimate burden upon the ground, Above him were the great foot-bills that gradually merged into the mountains, while on the other side the prairie and forest lay. The gray dawn was growing apace and objects could be recognized even at some little distance. When he had recovered his breath in a degree the captain knelt down beside the person he had saved; as he put his hand upon the motionless chest, he learned what he had before suspected —that it was a woman disguised in man’s clothes. Then he gave a start, bent closer and there broke from him a heart-rending cry: “Oh, my God! it is Adele, my darling!” CHAPTER XV. HILT TO HILT. THE cry that Captain Tom gave utterance to was the strangest one that could be imagined. lt was a mingling of intense anguish at seeing her lying there as white as death, supreme joy because he had found her at all, and anxiety for her welfare. He bent closer and gazed into the loved face with a look that was Poot description. Oh! was she dead? Had he taken her from the hungry water only to have her die thus? The strong man’s frame was racked with emotion. Wildly he called upon her name, using every endearing epithet he could think of, but still they failed to call her back to life. Then he bent down and kissed her passionate- ly, but she gave no answering pressure. Her lips were cold as ice and her face white as alabas- ter. Who could describe the anguish of that man when, after having hope revived in his breas' by the story told by Old Rocky, he was doomed to look upon this beart-rending spectacle? She could not be dead! Heaven would not be so cruel as to do this thing. Surely they had suf- fered enough already without this crowning agony being added to his life. He eng up with his hands clinched in his hair. hat was the matter with his sluggish brain? Why could he not think of some method in common use for restoring drowning persons! Thus he stood for a full minute until he had be- come somewhst calmer, and all the while his brain was at work. Then he stooped down and went to work, placing Adele with her head elevated a trific and her face toward the ground. He tore off the velvet coat, rolled up the shirt sleeves and rubbed her arms vigorously. She was not so far gone as if she had sunk for the third time and remained under for a minut: or so, and his labor soon showed its result. He could feel a faint Leating of the heart. then there was a quivering of the lips and a twitching of the eyelids. Encouraged by this he persevered and in a few minutes more saw aod eyes open and fasten in bewilderment upon face. Then a deathly whiteness came u her again and be could hear har murmur: ey -
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\ 14. ‘‘Oh Tom, my darling, forgive me but I havo eome to ycu across the dark river.” Evidently sho thought she was dead, that her effort at suicide had beensuccessful and that the first soul to meet her in spirit land was that of her darling, who she thought had gone before. Captain Tom was in an agony. when ho saw her sink back into this lethargy again and began to despair of saving her, when fate scemed so determined that i5 should not be. Cou!d he but fizd some person, he felt sure Adele’s life could be saved, for he knew so recious little cf the methocsin use. Mentally e cursed his stupidity and rising, looked about him for some sign cf humanity. There wasa hope in his mind that perhaps he might see some signs of his friends, perhaps the smoke of their camp-fire. but this was fated to be otherwise, for at that minute these self-same friends, though not far away, were engaged in a desper- ate little business venture of their own and had no time for building camp-fires. In vain the captain’s eyes wandered around kim and then with almost a forlorn hope they were raised to the hill above, from whence there tame a great howling that mystified him con- yn omeg'b Then he heard a grvff voice raised in anger bnd sounding more like the bellow of a mad bull than any thing else. The prospect was not so very invitiny, but at any rate it was a buman voice, and a flash of Lope darted into the young man’s breast. Ile did not waste time for even a second thought, but bending down, raised the beloved form of the disguised girl in his arms, and has- tened up the steep ascent. The way was rough, end his burden soon became a dead weight, lus love urged him on, and his progress was much moro rapid than une would believe could be pos- sible. Up he went. All was silent above him save for the occasional howl of a wolf, sounding drearily upon the morning air. The glorious sun made his appearances in the east, lighting up tie earth with his weleome rays, and still Captain Tom continued his upward tramp, growing continually nearer the cabin on the lit- tle plateau where Black Wallace, the wolf- herder, lived with Lis ugly pets. Colorado was still with the wolf-herder, and upon this morning they were up before sunrise, for they had a little scheme in view, which it was their intention to carry out at once. Colo- rado had suggested it, and showed the wolf- herder how easi y they could secrete themselves in the bushes and shoot down the driver and guard of the Deadwood coach, when it would be a short job to secure the box of gold which was within the coach. Even Black Wallace had forgotten his usual caution, and was eager to be at the business which he had once followed in da vs of yore among the mountains of the old gold State, Cal- ifornia. As it would take them several diys to gain the route of the cozch, perhaps a week, they intended losing no time when once their minds were made up. Little did they realize how their doom was closing in upon them, and that neither would ever leave that cabin agaiu unless it was to go to his doom. They were discussing a hasty breakfast. Their arms lay upon tie floor near bys and presented quite a heterogeneous display weapons, which in themselves spoke of some desperate undertaking in which they were about to embark. Colorado could not get over the event that had occurred a few nights before, and every now and then he would break out in reference toit. He seemed to gloat over the tcrrible deed and thought it was a morel way of getting rid of one whom he had hated for so long a time. Black Wallace, on the other hand, did not ap- pear to be in fine spirits on this morning. Some- thing seemed to bang heavily on his mind, and he looked at it as a premonition of coming evil. Whenever be looked out upon the bun mob of gaunt wolves he found himself shivering as ¢ had never done before, and this fact alarmed im, Had he possessed meat enough on hand he would have gorged the welves, but what little he did possess they gobblel up in a twinkling and eyed him sava oy. He could evenimagine they were contemplating what a good seal he would make. The man whom he would send to take care of the calin and the wolves in his ab- sence, would have toé:pply meat for them un- less they were lett to starve. / 1 of this heavy focling on his mind served to depress the spirits of the wolf-herder, and he was as gruff as a bear with a sore head as he at- _Thunderbolt Tom, tacked the frugal breakfast that had Leen pre- pared. While they were thusengaged a figure crept up tothe cabin from the outside, mounted the tree as had been done once before on that night when, as they thought, Thunderbolt Tom had gone to his death. Hardly had this figure gained the loft than another appeared coming from the canyon. This one was that of a girl. It was Millie Tor- rence and in her hand she carried a light rifle. There was a look upon the young girl’s face that would be bard to descrite. Sigis of in- tense suffering could be seen there, but besides this there was a look of resolution that made her countenance that of a heroine. She had suffered terribly since that night, when she saw Thunderbolt Tom in the chitches of bis enemies. As the reader »o doubt sus- pects, it was Millie whom Captain Tom followed through the forest on the previous 1ight, and from chasing whom he was brought to a place where he could save the life so dear to him, that of Adele Cummings. The young girl bad thought him a specter and when he cried out, calling her Adele an his darling, she had fled in mortal pain. Dead or alive it seemed to her that the one she loved so well belong?d to the black-eyed girl who had the first claim on him. Her present visit. to the cabin of the wolf-berder was to find out for cer- tain whether Thu: derbolt Tom. was living or dead. In her bewilderment it was all she could think of and she thought that those men would know the truth if any one did. She had only caught a glimpse of that face and even then it was by tbe strange light of the ranger’s pipe so that she was puzzled as to whether her imagination had not conjured up the pursuit, also the words used by Captain Tom on that occasion. As she now came armed and was not to be trifled with, the two men would no doubt re- spect her, and comply with her request. No wonder the two were somewhat surprised when the door was pushed open and there en- tered the girl whom they bad held before as a prisoner, but now she held a rifl> in her hands and there was a light in her eyes that told them she was not to be trifled with. ‘*What do you want? Our war with you is over, and we want nothin, more to do with you. It was the wolf-herder who spoke these words. He remembered that this girl had been some relation to Thunderbolt Tom, though be cid not fully understand what it was, and by the light in her eyes he knew that she was determined to do something to avenge hisdeath, So Black Wal- laee thought he would be cunning and in some manner contrive to deceive the girl. This was why he demanded of her what sLe wanted. **] have come back, as you see, but do not think you can browbeat me. I am armed and ready for you, so that it you shculd care to offer any violence I shajl not hesitate but will shoot you down, Black Wallace, with as little compunction as if you were a wolf. Now an- swer my question; did Thunderbolt Tom die the other night when you shoved him into the den of wolves? If you dare to tell me what is nct the truth, I can see it from your face, and woe to you. Answer me.” Bleek Wallace was locking Ceath in the face, and he knew it too, With that little rifle cov- ering his heart he dared not lie, and yet, again, he dared not tell the truth, for he knew she was there to avenge the young Lunter if he had in teuth fallen, and that an acknowledgment of his death would meet with a prompt answer in the shape of a retributive bullet, Perhaps after a minute’s deliberation he would have declared that Thunderbolt Tom had escaped, and run the chances of her seeing the lie in his face and firing upon him, for his companion did not seem ready to r.n the risk of imn olating himself upon the altar of friend- ship by drawing the attention of the giri to himself and thus giving the gient a chance to do something toward disarming th’ one who kept them both at bay with so much pluck and de- termination, Just about this time however his eyes were attracted to some object beyond the girl and he saw that which caused him to keep silent for a minute. A bumen form, the figure of a man, was creeping upon Millie. Who this was the Recky Mountain wolf-herder hed not the least idea, but trat he was friendly to their cause could be judged from the fact of his creeping upon the irl, i Noticing his deloy, but not dreaming of the cause of it, Millie became impatient, and arain demanved him to tell ker the fate of Thunder- bolt Tom, declaring that she would firo unigss he spoke in ten seconds. Urged by this the wolf-herder began a rigmarole iu which bis only intention was to distract Millie's attention for half a minute or so, until the creeping man could get bebi: d her. ‘*Ye are too hard on a poor critter, miss; we have no spite ag’in’ ye. T’other night ye ran afoul o’ us, au’ by the crders o° our employer, the Squire, we took ye in. Then came Thunder- tolt Tom an old enemy of ourn, and yesaw ) er- self thar war no shirkin’ the figiit when he pressed it, so we bad to sail in. reckon he’ll } ay us back for the nasty trick we played on iim, for we found out arter ycu had fled that Le warn’t no more dead nor the man in the moon, an’ if you don’t cloose te leLeve me, I kin sw’ar ter ye cn a stack of Bib’eses highas a church steeple that this are a fact. Whoop!” Tre last word left his lips like the whistle of a loccmotive, for at thut instant the man who lad Leen ciceping up behind Millie pounced up- on her and made a grab for her rifle. There was a short struggle end then the weapon was snatcled from the hands of the young girl who found herself leaning agaiast the wall of the cabin wexpon’ess savirg for a emall degger, which now gleemed in | er hand. “Good «novgh!” declared the wolf-herder, showing creat delight, “ye done us a good turn that time, stranger. Why hello! 1}css my moe- cusins ef it ain’t my old friend Donild Werren c{ Missouri, tle very m:n ]’ve Leen wanting to sce tlis year tack. How are ye, old feller? f bake hends on it. Howis it 1 find you up Jere? Reckon thar’s a temale in the case tor You vere aluays the devil «mong women. ‘raps this are the gal too, Wal, she’s pretty c.cugh fcr a picture an’ I can’t blame you. Used to Le the deuce an ong the women my self until one went back on me, Sve that red scar siretchin’ from ear to ear? That’s whar her lnife went across my threat. Wasn’t ler fault ] lived through it, but she never (new it. “Now, my young lady, I lin answer yer guestion without being compelled to teli u tic. “Lat rifle of }ours was ae wortul peysnesion {or a man to disgrace George Washiprgion Thuiderbolt Tom you will never see again. He cied the other night among ny pets, a’ if I was culy as sure ot falling in with a gole mine as Jam that he kicked the Lucket, I’d Le « by) py van. Yes-sir-ce, them wolves never kit La’r 1¢r hide of bim. All we found war bis bat, end you can set it Cown fur sartin that Thunder- (lt Tou are in the land of spirits.” $< TAny Tt? The voice seemed to ccme from the very eir and the three men started vivlently as they heard it. As for Millie she was a!’most falling to the rough purcheon floor when she cuught that word and suddenly starting up she waited for what was to tollow. Thunderbolt Tom frem his position in the loft had witnessed ail of the scene. For the first tin.e he realized that he had been tasely deceived. and that his swectleart Millie was not cead. Then the grave over which he had wept o ust Lave Leen tbat of her sister, and the person who directed him tLither either unin- tentionally or willfully dice'ved him. There woe only the initals M. 7. vpon tle ruce {cot- Loard, but they might stend for Mary as well cs Millie. At the time this thoug)t bad 1 ever cecurred to him but now the trutl: flashed uyon Lim like an ins p:ration, and he reelized that the fu'ure might yet contain greet happiness for them lt oth. He was so overwhelmed by the discovery he lad made that he wes inceupable of taking y art in the game even when Denald Warren stiug- pled with Millie for the possession of the rifle; Lut by the time Black Wallece so cruclly and «mphatically declered that Tl undertolt Tom was dead as a herring, that worthy thought it about time to show them e}) thetif he wesa departed spirit. rcturned ft) m over tke dark river, he was capeble of bei g an exceedingly lively ghost. Therefore, as i.e made that for- cible denial of the volf-herder’s assertion he opened the tray just cs he had done on the pre- vious occasion, and cropped down in the midst of his eneraies. The consternation of Black Wallace and Colo- rado can be imagined, fer neither of them had the least Coubt but that the wolves Lad torn the young hunter to pieces when he was Lurled through the opening into the den by that effort on Mi part of the giant proprietor of the lone cabin. Donald Warren of course took this man for |
Page 15
den, and knives in hand the three sprung at him like panthers, They met a ready blade, and while steel struck steel within, the starved wolves without howled like a pack of fiends incarnate escaped from the regions of eternal torment. CHAPTER XVI. CONCLUSION. THUNDERBOLT ToM was pitted against three antagonists this time and in the same place that had witnessed his previous fight, which had only come to an end when he pitched backward through the doorway into the den of wolves. He had learned that his loved one was: alive, and because she was there to see him, his arm would gain new strength. The first onslaught of the trio was met in a manner that amazed them, for the hunter’s weapon seemed to be everywhere at once so that their blows fell us harmless as if he had been surrounded by an in- visible wall of steel. At the same time in a manner that was most mysterious he managed to give several thrusts with his knife that brought blood. The pain of these cuts infuriated them’ and rendered their assault the more desperate. Still, Thunderbolt Tom was equal to the occasion; having much more than life to agut for, though’ of course he conld not hold.out long. The men assailed him like so matiy demons each eager to dip his knife in the heart’s blood of the brave young hunter. They knew they mat the advantage and meant to keep it till the end, When she saw these human panthers’spring at ber lover, Millie had sunk upon her knees and clasped her hands as though appealing to Heaven to spare him to her. Was it fated that after finding bim alive and well, even while the false-tongued giant was telling her how terribly he had died, that she should see him murdered before her eyes? All that was womanly in her nature made her weak at first, but soon this away and the brave spirit showed itself. She looked wild- ly about her, for up to this time her hands had covered her eyes to shut out the horrid sight. There was ber lover still battling with all the gal- lantry of a knight of old against the overwhelm- ing numbers of the foe, Agaiust the wall where he had thrown it af- ter wresting it from her, was her little rifle. When she saw this Millie’s eyes brightened and she gave a little cry of satisfaction. Springing to her feet she reached the spot and in another instant the weapon was in her hands, Then she turned, eager to use it. There was some difficulty experienced about this, for the men were no longer separated but appeared to be mixed up so that in their rapid evolutions she could hardly tell one from an- other. The opportunity for which she waited came at last however, and the rifl> sounded. Although the bullet, striking a knife-b..ac>, was not dead- ly, still it pierced the right sho:.: ler of the giant wolf-herder and in a degree disabled him, Their tactics were changed, however, at this time, for while Black Wallace and Daniel War- ren kept the young hunter busily engaged, Col- orado stepped back several paces, and drawing a revolver, proces to pull 1 back the hammer with great deliberation, Now they bad the hunter foul, for he could not break from his two antagonists so as to pa any attention to Colorado, and that worthy would have things all hisown way. Therewas a devilish malignity upon his face when he saw how matters stood, Millie could doncthing more. She had sprung forward and grasped the arm of the desperado, but he shook ber off roughly and proceeded to aim his wenpon. He seemed to enjoy the situa- tion knowing that he was safe and held the win- ning power. The revolver was now aimed and it seemed as though all were waiting for the sbot. Even Thunderholt Tom stood there with knife up- raised, his eves fastenec upon Colorado as if fascinated while he waited for the report that was to sound his death-knell. Jt never came, Treo, a report did ‘sound, but it came from without, and the man who held the revolver, giving a wild yell, leaped spasmcdically into the air, and fell to the puncheon floor a corpse. He was shot through the eye. At the same instant, through the door came a couple of leather-clad figures which Thunder- bolt ‘Pom knew at once to be friends, and ere Black Wallace and Donald Warren could half comprehend what a turn affairs had taken they were being vigorously assaulted by Ol Rocky and Strategy Saul. Seeing that these new-comers were fully equal to the occasion without his help, Tom bounded over to the other side of the room where Millie stood bewildered at this sudden change of the pro mme introduced by the advent of the tekskin-clad heroes. She sunk upon his breast with a cry of delight and the arms ofthe long-separated lovers were twined around each other affectionately. The fight was a hot one, and all the while the hungry, ravenous wolves outside kept up an. in- fernal racket’'which made it seem as though a legion of tormented sduls from the ever-burning brimstone lakes had escaped from their torment and come back to earth again. Old Rocky had assailed the wolf-herder while crete Saul was pushing Donald Warren to the wall. Both men fought with desperation but it was of no use, for they were outmatched, Donald soon fell with the knife of the hunter buried in his breast. Black Wallace held out longer, but when he saw Strategy Saul advancing to the assistance of his chum he became panic-stricken, Whether he did not know what he was doing, deliberately sought such a terrible death, or hoped to pass out from among the wolves un- harmed can never be known. Certain it is that in his fright he sprung through the doer at the back of the house, and landed among the’ ra- venous avimals. The hunter seized his rifle and planted himself in the doorway, to see that’ Black Wallace did not get off, but there was no need of this. The gaunt. wolves sprung upon the giant like the gray fiends that they were, and his voice, once fearedalmost like death by them, was now unnoticed. In vain he roared and cursed like a madman, [TS | ters suited to scholars of every grade, striking out with his knife in every direction; | they leaped upon him and sunk their glistening f Bob ma bis qupeing flesh. The hunter watched until he saw the giant pulled down, and then. he turned away unable’ to witness any more, but by the gradually de- creasing cries that died away toa murmur, they knew t the wolf-herder of the Rockies had. met the horrible fate to which he would have doomed our hero. While they were recovering breath after the contest, the little lawyer made his appearance, followed by Captain Tom bearing the slight form of Adele. All were speedily informed of his ad- venture, and work was commenced in order to resuscitate the young woman. When she came to, she was left with Millie aud the captain. Explanations must have followed, for soon after they saw her sobbing upon the breast of her husband, the captain, for she knew now that he had never written that note, but Donald War- ren, who confessed his whole share in the vil- lainy ere he died. All was peace and joy now with our friends. The two cousins, after mucn suffering held again in their arms those whom they loved t on earth, and never again could shadows overcast their pathway. The little lawyer had obtained the signature of Thunderbolt Tom to his documeut, and was therefore as happy a man as could be found in the universe. Before leaving the place the two hunters amused themselves in cracking away at the savage wolves of whom they left not one alive. Colorado and Donald Warren were buried decently near by and then the little party head- ed toward the home of Millie Torrence, where they were joyfully received and Adele provided with clothing more suitable for her sex. After all ber trials, earth seemed a Paradise to Adele, now that she learned how noble and true her husband was. The little lawyer overcame the technicalities of the law that intervened, with a cunning that ip him well worthy of patronage, and the wo cousins settled down on their great estate. Old Rocky and Strategy Saul still roam the plains, but the first will never forget the time when he tried to palm himself off on the diminu- tive lawyer as eception. ; THE END. ontana Mose, the terror of the | rairie, and the drubbing he received for the | BEADLE & ADAMS’ STANDARD DIME PUBLICATICNS. Speakers. 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| ’ ' ; | ' ‘ ye Deadwood Dick, tH PRINCE oF THE Roap. By Edward L. Wheeler. ellowstone Jack. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Kansas King; or, Toe Rep RicuT Hanp. Buffalo Bill (Hon. Wm. F. Cody). he Wild-Horse Hunters. By Captain Mayne Reid aud Captain lrrederick Whittaker. or, PLorrmse rox A Lecacy. By Oll Coomes. Bill Biddon, Trapper. By E. 5S. Ellis. Lhe Flying ¥ cast. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, Seth Jones. By Edward 6. Ellis. % Adventures of Baron Munchausen. “0 Nat Todd. By E.S. Ellis, il The Two Detectives; or, Toe Fortunes or A Bowery Girt. By Albert W. Aiken. i2 Gulliver’s Travel-. By Dean Swift. i3 The Dumb Spy. By Oil Coomes. ; t Aladdin; or, Tus WonperFuL Lamp. 1 1 YA om OO Mm a?) 56 The Sea-Cat. By Captain Fred. Whittaker. 6 Robinson Crusee, (27 Illustrations.) 7 Ralph Ros, tse Boy Buccaneer; or, Tux Fueitive Yacut. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages. i9 The Phantom Spy. By Buffalo Bill. 20 The Double Daggers; or, DEapwoop DIck’s Deruance. By Edward L. eeler. 21 The Frontier Angel. By Edward §. Ills. 22 The Sea Serpent; or, THz Boy Rosinsoy Crusoz. By Juan Lewis. 23 Nick o° the Night; or, Tur Boy Spy or "76. By T. C. Harbaugh. 24 Diamond Di:k. By Colonel P. Ingraham. 25 The Boy Captain. By Roger Starbuck. 26 Cloven Hoof, truz BurraLo Demon; or, TRE Borper Vourures. By Edward L. Wheeler. 27 Antelope Abe, tar Boy Guipz. Oll Coomes. 28 Buffalo Ben, tue Price or_ THE PISTOL; or, Dkapwoop Dick in Diseuiss. FE. L. Wheeler. 29 The Dumb Page. By Capt. F. Whittaker. 30 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, THE RECK- Less Kancer. By Harry St. George. 31 Keen-Knife, Prince or tue Prainms. By Oll Coomes, 32 Bob Woolf, Tae Borper Rovrrtan; or, THE Girt Deap-Suot. By Edward L. Wheeler. 83 The Ocean Bloodhoundy or, Tas Rep PIRATES OF THE CariepeEs. By 8. W. Pierce. 34 Orecon Sol; or, Nick Wuuirries’ Boy Spy. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams. 35 Wild Ivan, rx Boy Ciavpg Duvat; or, Tae Broruernoop or Deatu, Ly El. L. Wheeler. 36 The Boy Clown. By Frank S. 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Lasalle. 563 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., THe Boy PHenrx; or, Turover to DearH. By Edward L. Wheeler. 54 Ned Hazel, THe Boy Trapper; or, Toe PHAN- tom Princess. By Capt. J. I. C. Adams. 55 Deadly - Eye, THe Unknown Scour; or, THE BRANDED BrotHERHOOD, By Buffalo Bill. 56 Nick Whifiles’ Pet. Capt. J. F. C. Adams, 67 Deadwood Dick’s Eagl $3 or, THE Parps or FLoop Bar. By Edward L, Wheeler. 58 Whe Border King. By Oll Coomes, 5S Old Hickory. By Harry St. George, 60 The White Indian, Capt. J. F. C. Adams. 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, Taz Rep Rite Tram. By Edward L. Wheeler. 62 The Shadow Ship. By Col. P. Ingraham. 63 The Red Brotherhood, W. J. Hamilton. 64 Dandy Jack. By T. C. E-arbaugh. 65 Hurricane Bill, By Jo:. E. Badger, Jr. 66 Single Hand, By W. J. Hamilton. G1 Patent-leather Joe. By Philip 8. Warne. G8 Border Robin Hood, By Buffalo Bill 62 Gold Rtfie, rar SaarpsHooTeR; or, Tak Boy Dergcrive or Tue Buack Rance. By Wheeler. 1C Old Zip’s Cabin; or, Tat GREENHORN IN THE Woops. By J. F. C. Adams, 91 Delaware Dick. By Oll Coomes. 72 Mad Tom Western, THE Texan Rance; ot, Tae QueRw OF Tus Pramm ——— i i, _ 1 “ [BEADLE'S | HALF-DIME | LIBRARY. Vagabond Joe, THE YOUNG WANDERING JEW; | ankee3; or, THe OCEAN OvT- | By Hamilton, ! cr, JANE, THE Herows oF WHoop-Up, by Wheeler. 74 WMawkeeye MMarry. By Oll Coomes. 75 The Boy Duelis:; or, THe CRvIse or THE Sea-WotF. By Jol. Prentiss Ingraham, 76 Abe Colt, tre Crow-Kier; or, THe Great VIGHTING Man oF 108 WeEsT. By A, W. Aiken. | 77 ed ag. Cheriie, Taz Boy Bravo; or, Drapwoop Dics’s Last Act. By E. L. Wheeler, 78 Blue D.ck. Dy Captain Mayne Reid. 79 Sol Ginger, Grant Trapper. By A.W. Aiken. 80 Rosebud Rob; or, Nuccet Nep, THE KNIGHT or THE GuLcH. By Edward L. Wheeler. 81 Lightning Jv. By Captain J. Fr. C. Adams, 82 Kit Haretvot, tat Woop-Hawk; or, OLD Powrer-Face anpD His Demons. By Harbaugh, | 73 Deadwood Dick on Deck} or, CaLanity 83 Rollo, the Boy Ranger. By Oll Coomes, | 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner3 or, Rosenpup Ros ON np. 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By Gecrge Waldo Growne. 116 The Hussar Captain; or, Toe Herr or Hext-Gate. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, tre Srort Derective; or, Tug Roap-Acent’s Daventer Wheeler: 118 Will Somers, THe Boy Drtective. Morris. 119 Mustang Sam, tHe Kine oF THE PLAms. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 120 The Branded Hand, By Frank Dumont. 121 Cinnamon Chip, tHe Grr. Srorr; or, THE GOLDEN Ipon or Mr. Rosa, id. L. Wheeler. 122 Phil Hardy, tue Boss Boy; or, Taz Mys- TERY OF THE Stronaspow. By Charles Morris. 123 Kiowa Charley, Tat Wire Mustancer. By T. C. Harbaugh. 124 Tippy, tur Texan. By George Gleason. 125 Bonanza Bil}, Minrr. By Ed. L. Wheeler. 126 Picayune Petes or, Nicopemvs, THe Dog Detective. By Charles Morris. 127 Wild-Fire, Boss ortne Rosy. By Dumont. 128 The Young Privateer. Bv H. Cavendish. 129 Deadwood Dick's Double; or, Tate Guost or Gorcon’s Gvicn. Ed. J.. Wheeler. 180 Detective Dick, By Charles Morris. 131 The Golden Wand, or, Danpy Rock To Tne Rescve. By George W. Browne. 182 The Hunted Hunter. By Ed.&. Bllis. 133 Boss Rob, tHe Kine or TH“ Boorruacks: or, THE PAWNBROKER’S Pitot, Ed. L. Wheeler. 134 Sure Shot Seth, rue Boy Ririrman; cr THs Youns Patriots or THE Nort. By Ol! Coomes. | Newsdealers, five vents per co 135 Captain P+ ul, tHe Kentucky MoonsHiner; Tre Boy Spy or THz Mountams By Clark. ‘ | 136 Night-Hawk Kit, By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 137 The Heipiess Hand. Capt Mayne Reid. 138 Blonde Bili; or, Deapwoop Dicr’s Hour Base. Ly Edward L. Wheeler, 139 Judge Lynch, Jr. By T. C. Harbaugh. 140 Blue Biazes; or, Toe Break o' Day Boye oF Rocky Bar. By Fiauk Dumecnt 141 Selid Sam, THe Boy Roap-Acent; or, THE BranveD brows. By Edward L Wheeler. 142 Mandsome Harry, THe Boorsirack Ds- TectTivr. By Charles Morris. 143 Secar-Face saul, By Oll Coomes, 144 Dainty Lance, THe Boy Sport; cr, THs Bank-BrREAKERS’ Decoy Luck. J. E. Badger. 145 Captsi+ Ferret, tHe New York Derec: TIVE; or, Boss Bor’s Boss Jos. By Wheeler. 146 Silver Star, tHe Poy Knicut. A Prairie Romance. by Oll Coomes. 147 Will Wildfire, tHe THoKkoUGHBRED; or, Tur WinninG Hanp. By Charles Morris, 148 Sharp Sam} cr, THE ADVENTURES OF A FrienpDuess Boy. By J. Alexander Patten. 149 A Game of Goldy; or, DEapwoor Dick's Bie Strike. By Edward L. Wheeler. 150 Lance and Lasso, By Capt. F.Whittaker. 151 Panther Paul, THe Pram Prrare; or, Dainty LANCE TO THE Rescvg, J. E. Badger, 152 Black Bers, Wirt Wrvrme’s Racer; or, Wrisnino Acarinst Opps. By Charles Morris, 153 Eagle Kit, tae Poy Dzzcn. By Oll Coomes. 154 The Swerd Hunters. By F. Whittaker. 155 Gold Trigger, THE Sport. T. C. Harbaugh. 156 Deadwood Dick «f Deadwoedy; or, Tue Picken Party. By Edward L. Wheeler. 157 Mike Merry, tur Hareor Porice Boy; or, Tur Nicut-Hawks or PHILADELPAIA. Morris, 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado}; or, Tus TRAPPER’s Trust. By Buffalo Bill. 159 The Lost Captain; or, THe Oren PoLar Sza. By Captain Frederick Whittaker, 160 ‘The Black Giant; or, Damry LANCE Iv JroparDy. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 161 New York Nell, tHe Boy-Girt Derectivr; or, OLD BLAKESLY’s Money. By E. L. Wheeler. 162 Will Wildfire in the Woods; or, Camp LIve IN THE ALLEGHANIES. By Charles Morris. 163 Little Texas, tre Youne Mustancer. A Tale of Texan Prairies. By Oil Coomes, 164 Dandy Rock’s Pledge; or, Huntep Tc\ Deatu. By G. Waldo Browne. 165 Billy Baggage, THe Ramroap Boy; or, Roun te EartH. By Charles Morris. 166 Hickory Harry. By Harry St. George. 167 Asa Scott, THE Srramecoat Boy: or, THE Lanp PinaTEs OF THE Mississippr. By Ed. Willett, 168 Deadly Dash. By Jos. EB. Badger, Jr. 169 Tornado Tom; or, tysun Jack From Rup Corg. ‘T. C. Harbaugh. 170 A Trump Cardj3 or, Wr. Witprime Wnv AND Loses. By Charles Morris. 171 Ebony Dan, By Frank Dumcnt. 172 Thunderbolt Tom; or, Taz Wo.ir-Herpre oF THE Rockies. By Harry St. George. 173 Dandy Rock’s Rival. By G.W. Browne 174 Bob Rockett, Taz Boy Dorerr; or, Mys TERIES OF New YorE. By Charles Morris. 175 Captain Arizona, TEE Kine Pry or Roar AGENTs; cr, Patent Leather Joe’s Big Game. By Philip 8.Warne. 176 The Boy Runaway; or, THe Buccaneer oF THE Bay. Lieut. H. D. Perry, U.S.N. 177 Nobby Nick of dare or, Tar Scams OF THE Srerras. By Edward L. Wheeler, 178 Old Solitary, tHe Hermit Trarrer; or. Tre DRAGON OF bitver LAKE, By Oll Coomes 179 Bob BRockett, tee Barr Recnvner; or, Ta Roap To Ruin. By Charles Morris, 180 The Sea Trailer; or, A Vow Wet Kept By Lieut. H. D. Perry, U.S. N. 181 Wild Frank, tH Bucxsxi Braye; or, Lapy Lity’s Love. By Edward L. Wheeler. 182 Little Hurricane, tHe Boy C/prarn; or THE OATH oF THE YounG AVENGERS. By O Coomes. 183 The Hidden Hand; or, Wm Wiprrre’s Rrvence. By Chas. Morris. Ready Jan. 25th. 184 The Boy Trailers; or, Darnry Lance on Tar War-PatH. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Ready Feb. 1st. 185 Evil Eye, Krxo or Cattie Trirves: or, Tae VuLTUREs of TFE Ric Granvg. By Frank Du- mont. Ready Feb. &. 186 Cool Desmond: cr, Tur Gsyrter’s Bio Game. By Col. Delle Sara. Ready Feb, 1th. 187 Fred Halyard, tre Lire Boat Poy: cz, Tar SuvGcLens OF THE INLET. By C. Morris. Ready Feb. 2, A new issue every week, The Half-Dime Library is for sale ty all BE or sent by mai! ox receipt of six cente each. ADLE Publishers, 98 William Street, New va es