Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 221) (1881 10 18)
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Ss Prac dS OL eimai i [allele allalin!lallallallenlt 7 O al WT Naghtt ‘a et ; G 4 : S\N Bien & . Y >, \ wa . . b° - 3 ¥ Pe vi 4 eR ’ y \ y \ AN RX SN AY Ae a WY Wn SSS . ~,. ORA-c& Ny MM, SN NMOS . ’ Wa year. Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Mail Rates. Copyrighted In 1881 wy BEADLE 1D ADAMS, ; October 18, 1881. Single PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, Price, j ol. IX. Number. No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents. N O. Re 1 " ee SESS -SUGAR-COATED SAM; or, THE BLACK GOWNS OF GRIM GULCH, BY EBDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ DEADWOOD DICK” NOVELS, ‘ROSEBUD ROB” NOVELS, ‘‘ GILT-KDGED DICK,” “BONANZA BILL,” ETC., ETO. m= \ = a NS Sy . = ~ - ne ~ + ‘ “i. WS a " FF . » x = oan SY ———F — N ‘@N MID-AIR, A DOZEN FEET ABOVE THE GRAVE, WERE THE GARMENTS AND THE SEEMING BODY OF DEADWOOD DICK, YET HEADLESS, FOR THE HAT SAT UPON THE COLLAR OF THE JACKET.
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‘ tuivous 2 - Sugar-Coated Sam; The Black Gowns of Grim Gulch, X DEADWOOD DICK EPISODE. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF ‘DEADWOOD D'CK” NOVELS, “‘ ROSH- BUD ROB” NOVELS, ‘‘ BONANZA BELL,” ‘*GILT-EDGED DICK,” ETC., ETO, CHAPTER¢sI, GRIM GULCH. I po not know that Grim Gulch ever had a name-giver, until the gold fever took to its con- finesa few adventurous spirits, who were willing to endure almost any amount of hardship, rather than not to set their grip upon the vullew part- icles, a pound of which meant quite a handsome sum in money. The whole Western border was alive with excitement consequent upon the rich carbonate discoveries at Leadville, and the old eager spirit of the 49ers to acquire golden gain was strik- ingly exemplified in the restless, heterogeneous set who roamed from place to place, wide-awake and eager to dig when there was any shew for getting profitable pay-dirt. Some adventurous chap had expressed a desire, one night, at a Chin-Chin hotel, to explere Grim Gulch, with its deep gloomy furrow track through the heart of the mountain wilderness, and that wish had eventually turned a move in that direction. Grim Gulch was prospected, and lo! geld and silver found. That virtually settled the case. The richest mineral-bearing sectien was christened a town after the lugubrious title of its gulch—Grim Gulch. It was a destinéd cit of the feverish crazy order, so many of whic had been built and abandoned, except by a fow struggling miners who were sometimes content to linger behind, and stand their chances of eking out a miserable and lonely existence. Abandoned or “stampeded” towns are not always necessarily unworthy, but when a big drift gets into a miner’s imagination or he is fired by fabulous stories in some other Locality, you might as well try lassoing a moving loco- motive as attempt to stop him. And so, an ag upon the discovery of the geld, Grim Gulch’s existence as a town became an assured fact, for “pilgrims” and “tender- foots,” began to drop in by degrees, te populate and get rich. Of the discoverers, and therefore thefounders, there had been four: McDuff, a reticent and sour-tempered Irishman, on ,» & Yankee, Hans, a Dutchman, and Sugar-Coated fam, an American in the fullest sense of the werd, It was he who acted as a sor’ of captain, mayor, or president over the other three, until “foiks” began to arrive. A sturdy, dashing fcl- low he was, of fine form and face, and with ride enough to keep him tidy and cleanl7; enca the appellation—‘‘ Sugar-Coatedy’ for, Snapp allowed he “‘ war tew nice ter stan’ ther wear an’ tear of a rough life on ther frontier.” But, despite this pride and maybe a Tittle ersonal conceit that he was reasonably good- ooking, Sugar-Coated Sam was capacitated for command, and was given the say in everything, and his advice was accepted by his three pards, without demur. The site selected for the city was midway up the guich, from its mouth, at a point where it widened out into a ‘‘pot” or ‘‘ basin” of several acres extent, Here Sugar-Coated Sam had caused lots to be staked off, all of uniform size and some fifty in number, and had arranged a squatters’-claim article and posted it upon an extemporized bulletin board for the edification, of any callers who should ‘‘ drop in.” The document went on to dispense the gra- information that they, respectively, Sam’l, IicDuff, Hans and Snapp, had settled upon the aforesaid property and taken out pro- prietury articles according to governmental rules aud regulations, and therefore, it behooved would-be settlers in Grim Gulch to either lease or buy of them, as they were sole owners of all desirable lots in the heart of the city. In penalty whereof it should be deemed an offense punishable with a 82-caliber revolver for any galoot to squat upon the aforesaid lots, without first having obtained the censeut of the owners. When everything was arranged, according te their liking, Sugar-Coated Sam set off to the ee Sugar-Coated Sam. nearest land agency to secure a good title, and | dose of it as an experiment, and put in a bull in due time returned, first having noised about the news of the rich deposits of the auriferous that were to be found up in Grim Gulch. For not only-had the sportive pard secured a title to the lots where the future city,was to stand, but he had taken care to purchase neigh- boring tracts in the guich, on either side of the prospective metropolis, He thought be could foresee a day when these self-same lands, now rugged and unsightly, would turn dollars into the treasury of the firm —for as such they in due time signed articles of | incorporation, as the Sugar-Coated Mining Co., with Sugar-Coated Sam as president, Snapp, vice-president; Sam’l, Snapp, Hans and Mc- Duff as directors, and Sam as secretary, treas- urer and accountant. Timber was not handy to get at, and so they put up their miner’s tent, and used it asa gen- eral habitation and cffice until they should be able to replace it with a brown-stone front, as Sam laughingly remarked to his partners. A week of prospecting served to discover some valuable specimens of nuggets, quartz and “flakes,” which Sam put upon exhibition on a table in the ‘‘ shanty,” as the tent was called, and waited for something or some one to turn up. For, unless there was an influx of miners, the ‘city ” promised not to progress rapidly toward Philadeiphian proportions. One day there came a person, but he was a ** member ” from China, and was not invited to stay. In fact, he was rather prevailed upon by the morose McDuff to ‘‘ be afther l’avin’ at onc’t,” and be it said to his sagacity, the almond-eyed son of Confucius concluded there was no show for him in Grim Gulch, where there were only * four shirtee ” to wash. ‘*Tf we can’t have dacent p’aple we’ll have none aé all, at all,” McDuff averred, and his mates were fully with him, so far as the Chinese question was concerned. Finally a man came one day—a man who had Acard como to stay, as he was of that cheeky, bullying type of character, a cross be- tween the gentleman and ruffian, whom it is hard to suppress, and this fellow was a good specimen of bis class, He rode into the city, upon a superannudted mule, that had had anear taken off in some san- guinary scrimmage, and looked asif there had been a famine in fodder, in his last place of residence, The same might be said of the bullwhacker, who was gaunt and hungry looking, and a sorry men for beauty, with his blood-shot eyes, tangled beard and hair and ragged attire. Riding meekly into the camp, he drew rein in front of the single tent, before the door of which Sugar-Coated Sam was lounging in a hammock, the other pards being engaged jn prospecting among the claims. There was something like an enthusiastic ex- pression in the bullwhackcer’s face as he heaved a deep sigh efter drawing rein, and taking a ood square look at the president of the Sugar- soated Mining Company. “Stranger,” he said, finally, ‘I don’t allow ye luk like a galoot w’ot’s got religyun an’ j’ined ther band o’ saints that is to be!” “Well, I presurie you are right, as I don’t exactly belong to any particular religious sect,” Sam replied, curling his mustache, andregarding the stranger inquiringly. 4 “*T know’d et—Imow’d et ther meme xt I sot eyes on ye. Thar’s nothin’ artificial about you—nary atime. You're built on a ,ud solid asis, wot won’t admit o’ yer stoopin’ to nothin’ mean, Ef ye wart ter do er thing, ye do it. Ef ye wanter smoke, et’s yer bizness, an’ no monopolizin’ mite society hain’t got no say why ye sha’n’t do et, accordin’ ter ther ect 0’ Con- pa Ef ye desire ter lubricate, ye kin ‘smile’ full yer face is one huge shinin’ mark, ’thout any remarks bein’ made. By the way, seein’ thet | haven’t tickled my thrut wi’ a drap fer many a long day, I wouldn’t mind j’inin’ ye in a‘ smile,’ ef ye happen ter hev any ninety-in-the-shade or prime old Taos about yer shebang.” “*Sorry, but as I don’toften indulge, T haven’t any liquor on hand,” Sam replied, smiling at the roundabout way the visitor had in getting | at his object. “No liker? Alas! the words are alike unto the knell 0’ doom. Sure ye heven’t got any- thing, pard—a leetile benzeen or speer’ts o’ tur- pentine, fer instance; wi’ a wassup nost fn if, ter rie the phlegm in a feller’s vocabulary rap “Nothing stronger than the water in the brook yonder,” Sam assured. ‘Might try a . thistle or cactus stalk to give it tang!” ‘Good thought! Stranger, you’re an origi- nal. Great future scientific triumphs isin stcre for you. And as for me, poetica} insperation is all I hev ter rely on fer my fame an’ fortune in the present an’ future.” ‘Then you are a poet, eh?’ Samuel, the sug r- coated inquired, quizzically. ‘Waal, now, thet I jest am, pard—a poet right frum ther pine-clad pinon-forest pinnac’es o’ ther Serious. Allow me three inches 0’ ten- glefut in-my D’iler, stranger, an’ I, Willicm Henry Shakespeare, kin spread out more rbyth- matic perfection ter ther squar’ inch than ary other ravenous rhymer iu ther perfesh.” _*' Well, judging by your flippancy of tongue, I am not prepared to doubt that assertion,” Sam said. ‘* Cometh thou from afar, friend 8. ?” ‘*Frurfi Coffin Lid Camp, Coloredy, latterly— formerly from Arizone, News did reach mie that this was a place of destined golden prox ise, and therefore, being invited toa necktie party, and not keerin’ to offend by refusin’ tcr attend, I silently packed my saddle-bags and stole this way witha view ter resumin’ my old trace— publishin’ a nusepaper. Paper, press and rig- out from A to Zhev I coming, an’ I'll show ye areverlation in journalism thet ll make yer ears tingle, when they arrive on the fust trein that I am the forerunner of. “Summarily will I sit down upon ther siniul- ness of ther people, an’ advocate lynch law ier ther doctoring of road-agents an’ hoss-thieves; in poloticks I shall be strictly neutral ter tler party w’ot sets’em-up; a collum o’ free acvise consarnin’ everybody’s bizness wull be a promi- nent feature tergether wi’ interspersions 0’ clas- sic poetical prunes.” ‘Well, I presume you'll succeed, in care you don’t suck in too much fluid bombasto infuri- oso,” Sam replied. ‘‘At present we've not much enterprise in our town, but all ye’ve fot ter do is invest a thousand in a lot, build yer shanty, an’ go ter work.” ‘A thousand dollars! Great heavings, stran- ger, all I’ve got is but a V!” ‘‘Then, unless you strike luck, there’s a poor show for you ‘here. Still, you can stay about camp, as long as you behave yourself.” For this privilege Shakespeare expressed thanks in strong terms, and dismounting un- loadéd his saddle-bags and turned his cquire companion out to graze, as there was a plenty of tender grass and pushes abcut tbe valley. With the coming of the rough-looking pilgrim it would seem that good luck came to Grim Gulch, though he was a tough customer to be an omen ot luck; for the very next day his promised wagon-train of ‘tstampecers” wound its way into the gulch, and still another, a day later. Of the first all were rugged miners, clad in the inevitable red or blue shirt, and cordurcy breeches, top boots and slouch hat of the mining country, and equipped with mining parapler- nalia, a:d urmed well, for these ‘* stampeders ” of experience are not the ones to venture into an unknown count: y without a-plenty of pow- der and lead. Of the second party there was a more hetero- geneous assortment of humanity, consisting of several ladies—wives and daughters of the men —and some men of the class that aim to earn a livelihood by other means than actual Lard labor—Bohemians who lived by their wits, speculators, gamblers and sporting men gen- erally. f But of all the lot was one whose appezrance would naturally attract the most attention—a girl of some sixteen or seventeen years, rigged out in a stylish fitting gray plaid suit consisting of coat, pants and vest, witha shiny plug hat set jauntily upon a head-crowning of tight little yellow curls, while patent-leather slippers graced a dainty pair of feet. Then there was a glossy white shirt front, with collar, tie and genuine diamond cluster pin, white kids upon the hands, a heavy gold chain strung across the vest, with a miniature gold revolver for a charm, and a slender gold- headed cane that she could twirl, quite dex- trously. And added to the flashy attractiveness of ber dress was the fact that she was in both fececnd form a decidedly bewitching beauty. CHAPTER II. TWO GIRLS AND AN OLD RIP. OF course the inpouring of the new-cormers brought bustle and confusion. A number immediately purchased claims and proceeded to stick up tents upon them, an make things livable, while others were of thé
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- ~ ~ te Sugar-Coated Sam. 3 grumbling class and were not disposed to pay the price asked. Sugar-Coated Sam treated all with politeness, but did not urge any one to purchase, telling them that there was a plenty more land a mile orso up the gulch that could be had for the squatting on it. But, right in town did these pilgrims desire to focate, and many were their arguments for better terms, allof which the young president of the Sugar-Coated Mining Company received with quiet, calm refusal. “Sorry, may friends, but business is business, and ‘cash’ is what talks and just the unalter- able amount [ have asked for.” And so it stood until the girl dandy made her plea. pe You’re a mean robber, and I don’t half like you,” she said, when Sam coolly refused her as he had done the rest. ‘‘ You might just give me a place to make a strike for luck, without asking for money.” “Sorry, ma’am,” Sam responded; ‘but you know the early bird catches the worm, and I and my pards flew down here first, and if you wanta piece of our pie you must reasonably expect to pay for it.” *‘Sure-Pop,” as she had announced herself, did not appear to relish this decision, and went off in a huff, but soon returned for another interview. “See here,” she said. ‘I haven't got no money, an’ yet I want a piece of this bonanza. Therefore, V’ll gamble with ye fer it—either by dice, keerds or pistols. If you lose, you’re ter give me a pick of the lots; if I lose, you are to take my hand in marriage.” ‘‘Humph. I don’t happen to be of a marry- ing disposition, and so cannot see any profit to me in your one-sided proposition. ere is William Henry Shakespeare, however, a man of great poetical promise, who would no doubt arrange with you.” “No, sir-ee, not I! I don’t keer to take no ’sponserbilities o’ ther kind on my slender shoulders,” William Henry protested. And so the girl sport did not meet with suc- cess, and the other emigrants wero in a measure likewise served. A sort of meeting was held among them, and then they harnessed up, packed up, and moved on up the gulch, to a place, it was supposed, where land was more free. ““Sure-Pop” went with them, and _ the last thing before leaving, she turned and shook her finger at Sugar-Coated Sam, as much as to say: * Look out for me.” Just at that time Sam did not attach much significance to the act. The following day brought another influx of visitors, and of these a great many invested in claims, glad of the opportunity to have a hand in what promised to be a future great gold excitement. The price asked was not considered exorbi- tant by those who had had experience; it was only these who were of a quarrelsome disposi- tion that found fault, and of these the great majority had already moved off to other parts, But was there not significance in their going? it was left for the future to reveal that. Passing over a period of two weeks, let us once more look down on Grim Gulch. All is now changed. Everywhere are bustle and commotion. The guich bottom is crowded with people of all sorts, and excitement conse- es upon active and successful business is evi- ent among the people. Although no more claims had been sold, out- right, nearly every lot was ocoupied, for Sam had let them out on shares, and were they net- ting him and his partners more profit than though he had sold them. A little city of cabins, shanties and tents had sprung up about the basin, and a sort of main street laid out, running parallel with the gulch, oneither side of which a few business places had sprung into existence. Sugar-Coated Sam ran his office in conjunc- tion with a brokerage business; Hans had start- ed the only saloon in tho place, together with a dance-house and gaming room, all‘in one large tent, kuown as the Bella Union; Snapp, the Yankee had taken to working one or two claims that had not been let, and McDuff had built a big shanty and started a boarding-house. And as there was a constant tide of emigra- tion pouring in, the Hibernian found his estab- lishment often inadequate to accommodate all applications for b’ar meat and beds. One cveving, while Sugar-Coated Sam was sitting in !.is tent, behind a rude counter, en- gaged in weighing out gold-dust, while in an- other corner the bullwhacker poet was setting up the form of the Grim Gulch Daily Gazetteer, which was now an actual existing news organ, a young lady entered. She was rather a prepossessing appearing young woman of eighteen or nineteen years, with a fair face, blue eyes and brown hair, and was modestly and neatly attired in inexpensive garments. She seemed slightly embarrassed on entering, but finally approached the counter, hesitating- ly. “* Are you the editor, sir, of the local paper?’ she asked, timidly. ‘*No, ma’am, lam not,” Sam replied. ‘ Mr, Shakespeare, yonder, is the prime factor of our local publication.” “Yes, hyar am I,” announced Shakespeare, rising, and doffing his hat, politely. ‘‘ I’m ther editor, ther perprietor, an’ instignator, mum, you bet. Ef thar’s anything in my line ye want did, an’ want it did fust class, ’m yer huckleberry. Ef ye want er funeral notice or an epitaff, shute me fer a grizzly, ef I ain’t thar. Epitaffs ar’ in my line. Fer instance, how ar’ this: “* He was a biped, blithe and gay, An’ tuk his bitters ev’ry day, But cruel fate et called—he pass-ed An’ now is numbered wi’ the blasted.’ “Now, how w’u’d that fit, mum?” *“‘T am not in need of epitaphs, sir,” the young lady replied, in evident surprise at the bull- whacker’s volubility. ‘‘I wished to have an advertisement put in your paper, that a young lady without other means of support would like washing and sewing to do, at low prices.” ‘““Ah! yes. But, ’scuse me, mum, aire ye ther ard ?? **T am, sir.” ‘An’ ye don’t mean ter say ye ken’t git along *thout gittin’ yer hands inter soap-suds?” “JT have no other honest and respecterble way of getting a livelihood, sir, and am not afraid to work.” ‘¢ Mebbe not, but I allow you’re too precious a flower ter waste yer muscle on desert air, Et won’t do, mum—et won’t do. Et would be a sin fer sech a purty gal ter scrub, an’ hyar am I a free-fisted citizen w’at’ll use my influence ter start ye in some better biznecss. Now, how’d tendin’ bar strike ye, or wrastlin’ wi’ pots an’ kittles, over at McDuff's? “Not at all!” was the prompt reply. “I have my business, and propose to follow it. What will the notice cost?” ‘*Nary acent,mum. No charge do I make fer representin’ ther bizness o’ widders an’ or- funts. Jest give me yer name an’ ye can call me a rantankerous rat-trap rhymer ef I don’t fix ye up ther purtiest ad. ye ever see’d.” ‘“My name is Bessie Burt, sir, and you must accept pay. I do not wish to depend on any one, for anything.” ‘Waal, then enough ter buy an eye-opener, ef anything, wull be enuff. Now, how does this strike ye as appropriate ter ther occasion: * Miss Bessie Burt Wull wash yer shirt, Her washin’ is sublime}; She'll darn yer socks, Her ironin’ knocks Ther spots all off o’ time, No Chinee dodge About her lodge, From toe-nail to ther koller, She’ll clean yer duds In honest suds, An’ tax ye but a dollar.’ “Thar! ain’t thet poetry, tho’?” Miss Burt smiled, . “You are quite a success at extemporizing, indeed,” she replied, ‘* but I prefer a plain little card: like this, for instance—‘ Miss Burt, a re- spectable young lady, would like washing and ironing to do, or sewing, at her residence,’ Here is a dollar, to pay for the insertion.” She laid it upon the editorial table, and then turned, and left the tent. “A deuced pretty girl,” Sugar-Coated Sam muttered. ‘‘ I wonder where she came from?” So interested was he, in the case, that he scared up a few white shirts and handkerchiefs, and took them over to a neat tent at ono side of the gulch, where he learned that Miss Burt bad rented privilege ground, upon a claim where | search had failed to discover gold. She was sitting upon a stool, just outside of the tent, but arose with a bow, as he ap- proached. “J thought I would prove myself an early customer,” Sam said, handing her his neat par- cel, “‘ by bringing you a few articles.” “Thank you. You are generous,” she said, | } “andi will try to return the favor in good, work. When will you have them?” “Oh! most any time convenient to you. Are You a stranger in this part of the country?” ‘Ves, sir. I came here from—well, from the East,” she added, after a moment’s pause. Evidently she did not care to tell just where she came from, or much concerning herself, and, Sam therefore concluded it would be imperti-. nent for him to be too inquisitive. So he sim-. ply said; “Ah! well, I hope you will like your new» home; and then he departed.” It was his custom to spend his evenings at home, in the tent, as be always had consider- able gold in stock, and there were plenty of men in Grim Gulch who would not hesitate te go for it. But tonight he neglected his duty and dropped in at the Bella Union to speak to Hans, It was while there that he was approached by~ an old codger, who from his ragged attire and long snow-white hair and beard, looked as. if he might be Rip Van Winkle. ‘“Excuse me, sir,” the old pilgrim said, in a weak, tremulous tone, ‘‘ but I am told that you area brave, good man—would you grant a@ poor stranger in trouble a private interview?” “Well, I don’t know but 1 might,” Sam re-. plied, looking the man over. ‘Something im- portant?” ‘“‘Ay, young man, I have much to say that is of importance, if you would be so kind as. to listen.” “Well, come along to my tent. I reckon it can’t do any harm to listen to you,” the young man said, and led the wae from the saloon. It was quite a walk to his tent, and as they strode along, Sam watched his man narrowly, ‘You are a pretty old pilgrim to be wander-. ing about in this rough country, are you not? he queried. ‘Yes, very old, and fast nearing the end,” was the reply, followed hy a deep sigh. That the sigh was not genuine it did not oc- cur to the handsome president of the Sugar- Coated Mining Company just then,for be looked. upon the aged delegate as some harmless old. chap, who, in a fit of mental aberration, bad strayed from his home, or mayhap a hermit who had just wandered forth from long secly- sion. In due time they arrived at Sam’s tent and entered, and bidding the stranger wait a mo- ment, Sam went forth in search of a lantern, which he had during the day left in another slace. : On finding it he retw'ned and entered his. tent and fumbled about for a watch. Soon he had the lantern lit, and was about to, turn its light upon his aged guest, when he was; conscious of receiving a terrible blow beside the head, and then knew no more, When he regained his consciousness the tent: was in darkness, and a man was bending over him applying restoratives, whom he recognized as the bullwhacker poet and editor, William. Henry Shakespeare. ‘Great catapults an’ comets,” uttered Shakes - peare, when hesaw that Sugar-Coat was re covering—‘‘show me ther man w’ot sold ye, ther p’izen that made ye so drunk, an’ I’m ast ner ef I don’t make it a hundred an’ fifty abows, zero for him,” ; “The old cuss—where is he?’ Sam gasped, “Strike a light, quick! Some cne hit me on the head.” The light was soon produced, but not to re veal the aged stranger; be had gone. What was the mystery of the attack on the president of the mining company? Surely not robbery, for investigation proved that nothing had been disturbed. CHAPTER ITT. ‘Con! My HUSBAND! MY HUSBAND!” To Sugar-Coated Sam it was a mystery, for he could not imagine who the assailant could have been unless it was the old man, and if if were indeed he, what was his object? The puzzle became greater, when examination proved that everything about the tent was in- tact, not a thing having been disturbed, The blow had been given with some square- edged instrument, which Lad inflicted a wound, but only a slight one which promised nothing serious, and Sam soon felt able to walk about. “Pm shotit I know what to think of tra matter,” be muttered. ‘‘The old chap was ss humbug, and had an object~-that’s flat. He « » doubt intended to whack my brains o* ar thought he had, when he saw _ or he Sa fall to the ground, and so fled. He should bave ” \
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ete ee ee ee gee his washing,” | | assured himself of the thickness of my skull be- fore gg bi rashly.” ‘Yas, them’s words of great poetry without rhythm,” Shakespeare declared. For instanee: ** Hyar is Sugar- -Coated Sam, Every inch 0’ hima man, Whose pate is really harder’n a brick; Thar’s naught wull lay him flat Unless a heavy spat Admin’ster’d by an aahy jack-mule kick.’ “Thar, [ reckon that’s true, too. And yet, friend an’ pilgrim, it will behoove thyself to louk on either side fer snags.” ‘*T shall certainly be more on guard,” Sam replied. ‘he next day Shakespeare devoted most of his papcr to the news of the attempted assassi- uation of Sugar-Coated Sam, and wound up by offering a hundred dollars reward for the ca ture of the old reprobate, aud added the fo towing versification: *** A man of note Is Suger-Coat— A man of muscle, Sam; Got hit on ther head But never bled— Is lively as a clam. And such was the case, for Sam soon felt all ¥ight again. ,9 That day, while the town was in its usual bustle of excitement, astage arrived and un- loaded among other passengers a tall, stern man with iron gray hair and beard, accompanied by @ woman aud child—a woman of perhaps twenty years of age, and not strikingly hand- some, They at once went to McDuff’s boarding-house iauenelatered, after which the lady was shown to a room, and the man who had inscribed him- self as Commodore Burt upon the register of McDuff’s Grand Central, strolled out about ‘the town. In the course of his rambles, he came abruptly to a halt in front of Miss Bessie Burt’s tent, where that young lady was sitting engaged in Some sewing while she archly conversed with Snuyar-Coated Sam, who had strolled over ‘‘ to which was a good excuse, al- ough he privately presumed that she would any be likely to have the work done for several “ys. The commodore was seen by the =e Jaundress almost the same instant he saw her, and it was evident there was a recognition, for Miss Bessie uttered a startled exclamation and shrunk away. ‘Ah! what is the matter? Do you kpow this man, or is he some enemy?” Sam said, stepping ‘eloser to her, as if willing to actas her pr otector. ‘*Tam no loafer, sir, and presumedly | know this girl!” the commodore replied, haughtily. “If you will kindly take yourself off, I will Cuuverse with Miss Bessie.’ **No, no! don’t leave me in that monster’s @-mpany !” Bessie cried, clinging to Sam’s arm. * He is a bad, wicked man, ‘and I fear, loathe «ud despise him.” “Then Pll look well to it that he don’t harm 304 when Iam nigh,” Sam said, calmly. ‘Td 1. gest that you are the proper person to take yourself off, sir.” **When it pleases me.I may see fit to do so, bu 5 not before,” the commodore retorted. ‘* You \ iil not scare me, my noble border ruffian.” * We'll see avout that, if I hear any report of your offering this young lady molestation!” the j resident of the 8. C. M. Co. replied, ‘* [ve een known to horsewhip a man for a legs of- lense, Mark my word now! So beware what you do or say And then Sam turned and strode away, Commodore Burt watched him like a hawk wu: til he had disappeared, then turned to Bessie, ao Was standing a few paces away, her ficure drawn up to its fullest hight, in an attitude of indig 2nation. ‘ Well!” he said, with a smirk, ‘‘ it seems the fas have willed it that we should meet again, my dear, although I littie expected to find you Nd ‘ck in the West again. It must be my blood- * -unds have been sharp of scent.” ’ ‘Your Mormon dogs are of no account. It has been an easy matter for me to elude them!” 1 ssie replied with a calmness born of terror. ‘But it will not be so easy a matter for you ‘tv elude me, however,” he sucered. “Bab! I fear you not, even though you_are %-se enough for any act. I am not in Utab nw,” ‘Bah! you are as much in my power as thongh you were at Salt Dake!” was the reply. “Tho inevitable meshes of fate have woven ee hee Sugar-Coated Sam. around you, and you may as well yield. You are mine, and I will have you—or your life. Escape you cannot—experience has taught you that. ou have squandered all your ready cash in scudding from one part of the continent to another, but my sleuths have never for a min- ute been off your track. As a last extreme, | find you in this rough place, engaged in a doubtful and poverty-stricken attempt to get your living.” ‘*Stop! don’t dare to cast any on insinua- tions, you cowardly. wretch!” Bessie cried. ‘“Though I may have spent all the money my father left me, and though you hold all of his estate under control until I am of age, I am not even yet reduced to disgrace—least of all, the disgrace of becoming your third wife, you mon- ster!” ‘* But listen to reason. You are a Mormon, bred and born. Your father was a Mormon be- fore you, although he had but one wife. On his death-bed he gave you to me, and his prop- erty under my contr ol, until you were of age, with the understanding that you were to marry me. If you refuse, according to the rules of the Mormon Church, your fate will be a terri- ble death. Become my wife, and before you is a bri ht and happy future.” ever, George Burt—never! I would suffer a hundved deaths rather than become the vic- tim of your polygamous designs. Go back to our two foolish wives, and rejoice in the owledge that your last would-be victim was not for you!” “Curse you, no! I'll have you yet, as soon as I perfect my plans. Your nice little thousand acres in Utah shall yet be mine by right of be- ing lord and master.” Then, shaking his hand at her threateningly, he turned and left her, striding back toward the hotel. “God hel gone. “It me!” Bessie moaned, when he was After leaving Bessie, Sugar-Coated Sam re- turned. to his tent, and opened the safe with which he was now Fa ovided, to make an inven- tory of the stock of dust and cash he had on de- posit for the miners. What was his horror, on opening the strong repository, to find that some one had recently been there ahead of him, and removed every- thing of money value! Who was it? Who was there in the camp ex- [are enough to open the safe without under. standing the combination of the lock? That was what puzzled him, as he knelt upon the ground and stared at the empty drawers. He knew something was to pay—he realized that it would be a hard rap against him, for, aside from his own and the firm’s money, he held in trust several thousand dollars for other miners who had no safe place for keeping their earnings. How would they take the loss? Not very pleasantly, he feared, and yet he knew it was his duty to apprise them, no mat- ter what the consequences might be. But he preferred to do it in hisown way, and accordingly so set to work. Procuring some large sheets of blank paper, he printed with ink and brush, thereon, the fol- lowing notice, in plain lettering: “$500 REWARD! *Roppery! Rorpery! Rospery! “THE above sum will be paid for the arrest and conviction of the par ty or parties who, within the past hour, have opened and extracted from the safe ot Sugar-Coated Sam, all the money and gold stored the rein, during the absence of the undersigned from his tent. Sue@ar-CoaTep SAM,’ After printing several of these notices, he sallied forth, and posted them up where they would attract the attention of the losers by the robbery. Asa result there was'an immediate excite- ment, and people began to crowd around and ply Sam with questions, particularly those who had bad money or gold deposited in the safe, To one and all he gave the same invariable enswer, that all he knew about the affair, was that on opening the safe he had found the money gone. . Some few were inclined to believe this, but there is always a contrary spirit in every party, and in this case there were a number whose thought I had eluded him for good.” dark and significant looks expressed a different | view of the maiter, had not their words «on- fessed it. “IT dunno how any feller could git inter ther | treasury, without your knowledge,” one miner | remar ked, ‘‘as ve sed thar was a combination | lock ter yer safe.” NES RETA TR 8 RR A TE ART APSE ARE AORREY NE LT MEMS SUES RE SE EE EASE AE LE 5 NT EES DE AES LESS RA SE STE RITE Se SE a “J don’t suck et in, nuther,” another said. You probably stole the pile yerself an’ made off with it, an’ then cum back a tryin’ ter stuff us up that some unknown person robbed the safe, Et won’t pass muster, Sugar-Coat!” Sam flushed with indignation. ‘You are unjust, sir!” he replied, ‘‘ and did [not believe that you do not really mean it, I would be tempted to shoot you. I swear by all I hold ered that I know nothing of what has become of the contents of the safe, further than what I have told you, and that is all in my power to do, at present. If you see fit to doubt my word, I cannot prevent, nor shall I fly from you or any man’s wrath,” Then turning, Sam strode away toward his tent. No attempt was made to preyent his going, but many dark glances were sent after bim and those who were suspicious of him huddled about in groups, and conversed among them- selves. There was evidently no pur him, until something more proven against him. His own partners, Snapp, Hans and McDuff were among those who seemed to doubt bim although they freely admitted that they had never before had any reason to doubt his hon- esty and integrity. “It would not be policy to arrest him urtil more than simple suspicion points to his ,uilt,” one of the more practical ones said. *‘ It will however be well enough to keep a secret watch on his movements, to insure that he does not escape.” Accordingly several miners were detailed to linger about the approaches to the town, while a couple of others were appointed to secretly dog Sam’s footsteps. But there was no need of this, as he made no motion toward leaving Grim Gulch. Just at dusk he sauntered around to Bessie’s place, and received his washing and took it back to his tent. ‘“*T have heard of your trouble and the suspicion, and | don’t believe you are guilty,” she said, frankly. ‘I hope they wil not barm yOu. ’ : “Thank you. Idon’t anticipate any serious trouble,” he replied. ‘* Perhaps it was 'ub natural they shuld disbelieve me, but they will sooner or later find out their mistake.” After returning to his tent, ard leaving his package there, be went over to the Bella Ur. ‘ion, and entered ‘with the sume nonchalance he would have exercised, bad no suspicion been cast upon him. Sauntering about among the tables, he was about to select a seat, when a women sprung forward, and threw her arms im) ulsively ar ound his neck. ‘*Oh! my husband! my busband!” she cried; “at last we meet after so many years sep- aration.’ And this woman was the same one who had accompanied Commodore Burt to Grim Gulch! ose of harming efinite could be CHAPTER IV. A VOTE FOR MAYOR—THREE SHOTS. Ir ever a man was surprised, it was Sugar- Coated Sam. He instantly realized that he wag the victim of a blackmailing scheme, but how was ke to get out of the scrape creditabl y to himself? He knew it devolved upon him to act immedi- ately and deci tedly, ** Excuse me, m a ’am,” he said, putting her forcibly off, at arm’s le neth, “but I allow ) ou’ve got bold of the wrong man!” ““No! no! I have not; you aren) |}tstond, my long lost husband,” she assented, 1 i ug iving another lun; ge to get her arms obout +i 1+ ¢k. “You needu’t try to deceive me, (6) | Liew you the moment I set eyes upon you i) are my Sammy—Samuel Singletou—i T mm will- ing to swear to iG Tf Singleton was Sen’s san « Lit of news to the Grim Gulchit«s ver known what his Jatter cognen ¢: “This is false; itis an +ttep | n vil me! Som cried, sternly puting 01 ia rom him. ‘‘T’swear I never saw you ‘eon, and ni ve or want to again.’ “Oh! no doubt about that,” seid a n ccking d the Mormen Commodore ers el- voice, $ 1 ed Aealece through the crowd. thai bad coll 4d * After consigning your sane wife tun mad- house, to get rid of her. one could hard] + xr er you would be extra unxious to see | ¢ Ver
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thet this is not true, theless, L interested myself encugh in the case to secure her liberation, and bring her here, where she will have an oppo tur uty to enjoy the benefit of your surplus gold-bags.’ ‘Great Heaven! this is the most infamous of lies. You are a Mormon scoundrel come here in pursuit of a defenseless girl, and this foolish woman is one of your wives—and because I de- fended in a measure, your would-be victim, you have sprung this revenge upon me, by causin your on polygamous tool , to stand up, anc give utterance to a base lie,’ ‘Gentlemen, I appeal to you; I swear to you ” the woman cried piteously. “Tt is just as Mr. Burt has said. This man, Samuel Singleton, married me, a number of Yeors ago, and then consigned me to a mad- house to yes rid of me. Through the kindness of Mr. Burt I at last have succeeded i ) escaping, did in reaching this point, and I want make him live with me as busband shou d—or, at least, give me sufficient money to support mein comfortable circumstances through life.” The appeal was not mede in vain, miners, especially: thos) who had _ suspectod Sam of the safe-robbe ry. **Eb stands ter reason, b’yees, thet we shed give the petticoater ther preference, in belief,” one eit er declared. “ Sugar Coat luks like ther kind 0’ a ch: ap wo *t would desart his wife.” “Yas, an’ [ opine ther more ye investigate him, ther more one is apt ter discover, too,” another k night of the pan and shovel declared significantly. **On course,” chimed in still another. ‘“Sugar- Coat knows w’ot he’s about, every day, an’ was ther galoot w ’ot robbed the safe’ an’ then, tried ter play up ‘possum on us.” ‘** An’ hyar’s w’ot suggests tLet we, a thrivin’ young city, should hev a government ter settle wi sech cases, and I purpose we hyar, on this spot, elecb a combined jedge an’ mayor an’ 8 eriff, who shall hev ther power ter transact all legal bizness, an’ settle ther hash o’ evil- doers at large.” ‘Gud idea—gud idea. Hyar am I, Bill Hener Shakespeare, ther primest factor in ther hull tultiplicand, who would accept ther persish wi’ blushin’ pleasure, an’ be glad o’ ther chance | ter adjust all deefickulties of a personal or public natur’, “Fer makin’ a noose They say I am handy, Tho’ law is my princerpal holt; Jest fill me wi’ juice An’ I am ther dandy Poetercal petterfogical colt.” “Or I can be prevailed upon to accept such a sition,” Commodore Burt modestly volun- eered, ‘‘ Although a stranger to vou, I pre- sume I can give you satisfaction, having filled several positions in public, such as governor, mayor and secr etary of state.” ‘Ary article o’ my personal raiment, from my holey socks ter ther thr’ut piece o’ my shirt will I bet, that ye nevyer fied a position higher than boss over 9 hoss- steal, in yer life,” the bullwhacker poet declared grimly. “An? no other canderdate w’u’d L rather buck ag’in’ than you. For “*T kin see it in yer eye, That yer head is full o’ rye— In legal matters soon ye‘d make a blunder— Fer, ef ye tried ter quash, Boon *twu'd setile yer fair hash, An’ ther boys’d blow yer ec: arcass up ter thunder." “Your postical self-sufficiency ought to be suppressed or it will prove generally detrimental ale e community,” Burt fired back, “By the ay, gentlemen, I fully indorse the idea that eis need a mayor, for you are a young city of much importance, and rapidly drawing nigh unto the zenith of your aspirations, Therefore, it becomes you to have dignity in the posses- sion of a good public representative—moreover it is necessary, as this country is fast filling up with lawless characters, and soon we will have. road-agents and roughs ‘of every description to | contend with. Therefore, I suggest it as an excellent idea that we ake the the roads get bad—to use a figurative expres- sion. is an unsavory rascal, and keep him under lock and key until we can give him atrial. On the morrow, call an election, and nominate and elect, by vote, a good man "to boss the town and keep matters | in a good healthy state. What say?” A cheer greeted the Mormon’s speech. His views were pra ictical, if they were selfish, and | hit the nail upon the head, so far as the citizens were concerned. A number made a move to secure Sugar- ou to | for it | elicited a sympathetic grunt from a number of | move before | Arrest. this man, Singleton, who at best | Sugar-Coated Sam. Coated Sam, but got knocked very uncere- moniously down, as a result of their indiscretion. | In no ways inclined to be teken was the | sportive president cx the Sugar-Coated Mining Company, and after laying out four of his , assailants, he whipped outa pair of 82-caliber revolvers, and with them at full cock, in his grasp, stood awaiting the issue, ‘*Come on, if you like!” he said with a dan- gerous quietness of demeanur. ‘I’m ready for the second and third edition, you perceive. If you want to have sufficient material to poll an electoral vote, to-morrow, about the surest thing you can doi is to let Sugar-Coated Sam alone— | take my word for it!” But these men of Grim Gulch evidently did not think in this same way, for an overwhelm- ing number leaped forward, regardless of his nee aud secured him in less than it takes. to tell it Three fell, mortally wounded, however, ere the capture was accomplished, and it was the sport’s revolvers, that did the business. One thing Sugar-Coated Sam noted, particu- larly—Shakespeare took no part in the attack | or the suspicion against him—a fact he won- | dered at, somewhat, for once upon a time, be- fore, these two men had been foes, although it was evident the bullwhacker had not as yet come into knowledge of the truth. Of all the rough assemblage more highly gratified at Sam’s Commodore Burt. ‘* Ha! ha!” be hissed, ‘I fancy you will not take the role of a defender, hereafter, will you? Your game will end, here. in Grim | Gulch.” Sam did not reply, but suffered himself to be led away to a cabin belonging to a miner named Carter, which had recently been finished, and offered as strong attractions as a prisou, as any other in the young city. Into this Sam was locked, and left to his own reflections, whatever they might be, none seemed capture than An immediate canvass was inaugurated, aud Grim Gulch was politically alive. Three tickets or candidates were offered as being the best for the people to vote for, for mayor, judge and sheriff, and each ticket had its advocates. First proposed for the new office was Commo- dore Burt, and he promised to become popular among one class—not because there was any- thing ‘attractive about the man himself, but be- cause he seemed to have an abundance of ready greenbacks in his pocket, which he quietly slip- ped into the hands of such men as he thought would be likely to support him and influence others to do so. The next candidate proposed was Poetical Shakespeare, and he rae ge likely to carry the votes of the roughes! class, from the fact that they stood in awe of him, because he had al- ready demonstrated that he. was the bully of | the burg, so far as fisticuffs and excessive brag- ging were concerned, The choice between him and Burt, promised to be about equal, And in face of the suspicions and circum- stances which had arisen against Sugar-Coated Sam, there had been one party bold enough to propose his name for the mayoralty. Who this person was, was not definitely known, if indeed, known at all. He was a bushy whiskered and hairy indi- | vidual, of medium size, little of whose counte- nance aside from the peering eyes could be seen; owing to his hair, beard, and slouch hat. His garments were coarse and dirt stained, and his belt bristled with weapons, and upon his hands he constantly wore’ a pair of mittens. Where he had comhe from no one took pains to inquire—he was simply one of the strange and varying types of bumanity that the daily stage brought into the town, and had risen up on top of a table in the Bella Union saloon, and declared to the crowd that it was bis opinion that Sugar-Coated Sam was the right man for the office to be filled, and that he had a few surplus ‘‘ rocks” to back his opinion. Later he gave his name as Bumblebee Bob, and ‘‘set ’em up” for a large number of the bystanders, paying for the treat with a large and valuable nugget, | Although his first proposition in favor of Su igar- -Coated Sam was greeted with a general laugh, it was not without its effect, and when the follewi ing day dawned, it began to grow ap- | parent that there were to be three lively con- tests for a choice of the ‘‘boss of the town,” among which Sugar-Coated Sam was not to be so far behind. And as the election day pro- gressed, the excitement waxed hot and furious, pane | and beta wer bets were made by the hundred, on the re~ sult Although Sugar-Coated Sam was kept con- fined in the cabin, anda vigilant guard kept over him, his race progressed probably as favorably asif he had been at large, for Bumblebee Bub, he called himself, was wide-awake to the prisom : candidate’s interests, in the fullest sense of the word, and much to the envy of the other candi- dates, and their friends, He used his money quietly and judicicusly, where the others used theirs rashly and with publicity; he was here, there, and every where, and approached one and all with an irre presst~ bility characteristic of a professional ‘fslun per,’”” Another thing might have been noticeable to a close observer. There were a great meny strangers in the plac e, who had never been secu there, and, what was ‘most singular, two thirds of their aggregate number wore heavy ft, beards of a decidedly i color, while the other third wore jetty black be ards. A detective would have pronounced them twee different bands of disguised men, whose busi- ness was not above suspicion, but in the hul- bub and excitement of the election day, few if any took any notice of the matter, And, too, the eccentric female fop in male st- tire, whom we have once before seen as Sure Pop, came into the camp, accompanied by ti ° male part of the people who had previously le’ it with her, and all bands polled votes—but t: : whom was hard to tell. Commodore Burt and Shakespeare, snid tha ticket-taker, were running about even > near as he could estimate, but when asl how Sugar-Coated Sam was running, he wou [ shake his head with a peculiar smile, and «- cline to answer, What did the smile signify? That Sam wis to receive an overwhelming majority# Or cit it mean he was going to get left majestically bebind? Burt rushed from the polls to McDuff’s board. ing-place, and to the room of the woman wi,» had said she was Sugar-Coated Sam's wite, She and the little girl were sitting by a window, gazing out upon the bustling scene, on tha stree t. ‘‘Furies take the man,” he said, ‘He will beat us at our own geme, if a desperate measure is not adopted. Fire three shots upon, the street; get quietly out of the town, ard follow the directions I gave you this mcru-. ing.’ Vhen he had gone, the woman got a pistol, fired three times into the street, eae te, open window, and then stole from "the bouse | we the rear way. : What did it all mean? CHAPTER V. A MOONLIGHT TRIAL, WHATEVER it meant, few could tell—few thaw, knew—few that: took pains to know, Most every one’s thoughts were upon the issue. of the vote, andif a dozen had been assassinatedk by those two bullets, it is doubtful if any pum aouan notice would have been taken of the act And when a number of black-whiskered met left the crowd, and scattered’ in various div. rections, but one person upon the street took notice of it, and that person Commodore Burt, , into w hose face there flashed a light of cume, bined evil and satisfaction. The bu!lwhacker n ioticed this, and brol.e forth: “*Yes, hyar’s w’ot's a jedge o pia, An’ thar’ 's green in yer eye, or ye can call me a surcker. I say, brother Cane didate, w’ot expression twinkles in yer eyet” Burt started. * Go to thunder,” he growled, on seeing w! & it was. ‘If you see any ting é xpressed in nv eye, it is because I am going to win the race,” Now, ef ye want ter bet on that, ?m yer man, from toe- nails ter eye-teeth, pardner, }. ary sum, fur bu’st my boots ef ri on’ allow Sugar-Coated Sam is goin’ ter bale ther po Aw I reckon et ain *t goin’ ter disappoint a: itt Ido get left, ’ca’se my responser bilities in th newspaper line won't allow me ter ’tend to macau outside.” ' “Whata pity you should be so overtesiet with business,” Burt sneered, ashe-turned upiun his heel and went on his way. Noon arrived, and the excitement was e ho Wwe at.fever heat, when an escaned guard came f ing from in the direction of the cabin-jail, ¢: if ing: “The Vigilantes! the Vigilantes! they -\.ik, lynch Sugar-Coated San!”
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‘Sugar-Coated Sam. With the utterances of the words there was a pistol-shot, and the poor fellow dropped dead upon the ground. Who had fired the shot? No one seemed to know. Shakespeare instantly drew a pair of revol- vers and sprung away toward the jail, followed by anumber of the better class of citizens, who in turn were followed by the crowd at large. They arrived in the vicinity of the jail, and put to flight a band of masked, whiskered men, who were upon the outside clamoring for ad- mission—a part of the same gang who had pre- viously been seen in the village. After they were gone it was found that Sam was all right as faras safety was concerned. It was decided, however, to place a stronger guard around the jail, and ten men were de- tailed for that purpose, with orders to repel wn attack coming in whatever shape it might, and to allow no one to see the prisoner, without permission of some of the principal citizens. Evening came on; voting ceased, for every adult male had voted at least once. The next thing to do was to count the votes to decide who was to be mayor. This was done publicly, and in the open air. ~The three pool-tenders mounted a box just out- ‘eile the Bella Union saloon, and with the ticket a.ceptacle between them two of them began to ‘count while the third kept tally. ‘Yip! bip! hooray. Three jeers fer ther tar bavgled spanner! Eecky signum sic dis- ‘einper syringe, anidomi plurus discombobbe- “rate!” bellowed Shakespeare, rolling in upon the scene, with legs made unsteady by the frequency “ef his potations. “In Fourth o’ July Latin, thet means thet Sugar-Coated Sam’s goin’ ter take ther cake— ‘you bet—goiw’ ter waltz right inter our White Louse,an’ show us how ter run a town skientific. Ten thousand million dollars ter bet ag’in’ a single cent thet Sam’! scoops in the most votes.” * Thirty-two for Burt!” “Thirty-two for Shakespeare.” ** Ninety-seven for Sugar,” said the tally. * Heer thet, now, wull ye! Even I, ther Joa- ‘quin Miller o’ Grim Gulch sink inter significance aus compared wi’ ther great sweet-toothed, ’lasses caudy dandy, Sugar-Coated Samuel!” yelled * ‘the bullwhacker. Sag mee ax **Ninety-eight for. Burt,” cried the tally, ~whereat the bullwhacker looked cresttallen “Shenannigun hyar,” he muttered. ‘ Re- peatin’, or I’m a blarsted fule. Ef Burt gets at, then ther divil will be to pay.” But Burt didn’t get it. The last vote told the story. With next to the last vote Burt and Sugar- ‘Coated Sam were tie at a hundred and eight; “ue last vote was for Sam, and made the hun- «cred and ninth. . When it became known a general shout went m: from those in favor of the election of the yrevident of the Sugar-Coated Mining and Mill- uu, Company, while the others gave vent to grunts, not of approval, but of extreme dis- *s..tisfaction. ‘Curses take my luck!” Burt said, addressin ‘the girl sport, Sure-Pop, in an undertone. “ felt it would be so. hy did you not see that “the attempted lynching was a success?” “‘[did not care to,” was the fearless reply. ~ ““T knew your plans would fail in that respect. ‘and was wary enough not to get myself mixed Sap in the trouble.” ‘“‘Humph. Youaresmart! You hinted that ‘ycu had madea discovery that were it known would place this Sugar-Coated Sam in a bad ‘position! What is it?” ‘How much you will be willing to give to ‘know, is what | would prefer to know first?” “Not a cent!” **Then you'll not know a cent’s worth.” * What? What doyou mean?” ‘‘T mean that you and [ are quits, George ‘Burt. DPve got tired of playing second wife to my sister’s third-ship, and being bossed around Moby youasasort of slave to your will. : Here- wafter, when you want me to do work for you, it “will be necessary for me to see a stipulated sum . wf cash forthcoming, in advance, to satisfy any “conscientious scruples I may chance to have. If ‘you want me to turn up a trump card against “Sugar-Coated Sam, I have no 2 pear in case tyou’ve got a spare hundred dollars in your ipocket. And I won’t make such a failure as “suy sister did on the wife business.” ** It does not follow that she failed,” the Mor- wnon said, “ for Sam is now in jail, principall “n account of her little business. I shall loo well to it that he don’t get out right away.” “Provisine I gives vor ~onns ae let te Oot bi: ~ c 6, oe ee 4 dente Rae ee yp AU, ¥Say at ' denced by a feint grunt of approbation on tue 4 - a ay « 7 . 2 oe nie you get ready to fork over the hundred, I can fix him effectually.” **T]l see you hung first!” he deciared, grimly, and turned wrath fully away. In the mean time a crowd were discussing the feasibility of releasing the new mayor from con- finement, and after leaving Sure-Pop, Burt hur- ried forward to take a part in the business. * **T argue that it will be utterly rash to re- lease that man. until he is tried,” he declared, vehemently. ‘‘Heis a hard customer, and the last man you should think of making your head official. propose that you take him from the jail and try him at once. If he is jury-judged guilty, hang him without ceremony. judged not guilty, release him.” Ths proposition met with favor among a large majority, and so it was decided that Sugar- | Coated Sam should have his trial at once in the moonlit main street of the town. A jury was picked out of the most disinterest- ed parties that could be found; Dutch Hans was appointed judge, and Shakespeare and Burt of- fered to act respectively for and against the prisoner as lawyers. Then a big barrel was rolled out into the street, and Sugar-Coated Sam brought forth from his prison and mounted on top of it in full view of the audience, Other barrels and boxes were produced for and mounted by the judge, counsel and jury in a circle, while the rude audience stood upon the ground surrounding, holding flaring torches to light up the peculiar scene. Sam was very cool and collected, considering that he was quite well aware that an attempt would be made to convict him and give him the benefit of some taut rope. He had been informed of his election to the office, but placed no expectation in ever being able to fill it, as he felt sure that, if a clear case could not be proven against him, as he was well aware could not be honestly done, Commodore Burt would invent some heinous charge of suffi- cient plausibility to preclude the idea of the people’s ever accepting him, Sam, as mayor. When things were all ready, Dutch Hans rapped upon his box with the heel of his stogy boot to enjoin silence, and the c.mmodore arose to make the opening speech. ‘** Fellow-citizens,” he began, ‘‘ the purpose of this occasion, as you know, is to try the pris- oner at the bar, known as Sugar-Coated Sam. Among you he is known by that nom-de-plume, and asa winer and speculator of the sportish order; of his former life I am aware that you know little or nothing. Enough to say that he never bore any too savory a reputation, and after placing his wife in an insane asylum, be- cause she refused to screen a terrible crime he had committed, he fled to the West to escape the vengeance of the law. That he is a thor- oughbred rascal this act alone quite clearly eae and if pains were taken you can easily d what an unenviable reputation he bears, in the East. Mrs. Singleton is a perfect lady, and though, on account of past bygones, she no longer cares for the man whose name sbe bears, she feels that it would be but right, that, after he receives his just dues, she should come in for what wealth he leaves behind. Then, too, you naturally believe that Sugar-Coated Sam has been guilty of appropriating some money you had intrusted to his care. Why, then, should you parley over the matter? He is at best, an undesirable citizen, and where’s the man with conscience to express the candid belief that Sugar-Coated Sam’s death would not be a benefit to the community?” “ Right hyar he is—I, William Henery Shake- speare, ther poet o’ ther Pacific—l’m ther galoot as durst rise an’ spontaneously declare an’ asse- verate thet et can’t be did? Sugar-Coated Sam can’t be lynched, feller-heerers, fer the simple reason tbat he’s as innercent o’ ther charge ag’in’? him as ever war Mary’s lamb o’ coun- terfeetin’ government bonds. No, sir, feller- citizens, jes’ as squar’ an’ honest a galoot treads ther inners o’ Sugar-Coated Sam’s boots, as evyer trod ther trail frum hyar ter Jordan, and at the same time I allow ye all know thet ther chap ye call commodore ain’t nuthin’ but a reg’lar mountain wolf in man’sclothing. Ef ye don’t know it, et’s time ye did. He shouldn’t be believed half so much as I, ther royal old rhyme-slinger, an’ I allow until he cum nobody sed a word ag’in’ ther sugar-coated pard. So thet goes ter show thet ther commodore hez got a grudge ag’in’ Sam, an’ is workin’ on yer ter git ye ter help him wipe it out.” Rude though the logic and style of delivery, it made a perceptible impression, as was evi- 4 - fi. t . ¢ ee ee ee ay It he is | But, justthen came a new witness. ‘Tf you please,” said Miss Bessie Burt step- ping forward, “‘ would it be asking too much, if I would give a little testimony in this case?” “Yes!” the commodore yelled. “No!” cried Judge Hans. ‘Say yoost vot ever ish drue.” ‘* Then I wish to state that Commodore Burt, my uncle, is a great rascal and a Mormon Danite, whose sole motive is to kill me, in order to possess my property. In company with two of his wives, he is now bere for that purpose. This charge of the third Mrs, Burt is but a black- mailing scheme against Sugar-Coated Sam, be- cause he aroused Burt’s anger by taking my part. They never saw the prisoner, before coming to Grim Gulch!” ‘This is utter falsehood!” an authoritative voice cried—that of the female eccentric, Sure- Pop. ‘I am.a United States detective, and Commodore Burt is my aide. The man on the prisoner’s box is the famous outlaw, known to many of you as—Deadwood Dick.” CHAPTER VI. A STRANGE HORROR, Hap a bomb exploded in the camp it could not have created more astonishment than the sudden declaration of Sure-Pop. ** Deadwood Dick!” ejaculated Commodore Burt. ‘Deadwood Dick!” cried several others— “the dare-devil road-agent!” “ Ay, Deadwood Dick, the outlaw of a dozen aliases!” Sure-Pop replied, triumphantly. ‘ He came quietly among you this time, to ply his thieving vocation, and I’ve been watching him, and now I expose him!” “Tt is well. At last I know your game!” Bumblebee Bob cried, leaping forward. *‘ Hur- rah for the new mayor, and death to all who oppose him!” ; And, following his words, he leveled his pistol at the bosom of the Danite’s wife and fired. With a cry of pain, the beautiful but mis- guided woman threw up her arms and fell to the ground. An instant later the vicinity of the trial-stand was in excited commotion—a pandemonium of wild and warlike sounds, It seemed as if a campuign of incarnate war- fare had opened upon the spot. The torches had been dashed out, to be suc- ceeded by the vivid flasbes from revolvers, whose reports rung out. on every side with deadly spitefulness, accompanied by yells of pain and human agony. Two party cries rung loud and fierce above the din—two cries which spoke of opposing ele- ments that were struggling fiercely for victory: ‘‘Long live Deadwood Dick, mayor of Grim Gulch!” ‘‘Death to Deadwood Dick, the road-agent!’’ In the darkness that shrouded the street of the lone mountain town it was hard to tell which party was getting the worst of it, but the rapid rattle of fire-arms and the succeeding yells of distress fully evidenced the fact that it was a deadly affray in the fullest sense of the word. : In the beginning of the battle Deadwood Dick (whom the reader has bitherto known as Sugar- Coated Sam) was hastily and quietly removed from his stand, and @arried back to the rude cabin jail, Commodore Burt being one of the leaders in the matter, and the turnkey of the rison. +‘ You see it would be bad policy for me, the future mayor, to relinquish hold on so valuable a bonanza as you,” he said, with a sneer, as he took a last look at the prisoner, and then left him to himself, locking him in. . The two men who had assisted in returninz Dick to the jail were left on guard, and Burt rettirned to the neighborhood “of the battle, which was raging as hot as ever. But the valiant commodore was careful to keep himself out of the path of the flying bul lets, instead of rushing forward to take a han | in the conflict. He was not over-brave at any time, and much less when a deadly struggle ap pealed to his manly qualities for succor. But the conflict could not always be, and soc » there was a lull in the uproar caused by 0'© party beating a precipitate retreat. And it might have been noticeable to a clo-» observer, that this party was principally com posed of the red-whiskered men who had been so numerous during the election. 3 Although a dash was made ‘in pursuit of ant it resulted only in eliciting a yell of de ance. The victors returned to the scene of the con flict, and lighting torches, proceeded te sxami.e SO Pad 2ita oh.
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—————— t ; . *~ : There were a score andone, all told, and of the lot not one of the Red Beards! All citizens were they who had succumbed. Some were dead, some were fatally wounded, and others were merely disabled. Among the latter was Bessie Burt, who had been stunned by a blow, but now arose fully re- covered from the sbock and otherwise unin- jured. As no attempt was made to intercept her she gladly hastened away from the sickening scene, toward her own cabin shanty. But a few steps had she gone, however, ere she stumbled and nearly fell over the figure of Bumblebee Bob, which lay upon the ground in the shadow of a shanty, where he must have crawled from the scene of the affray. A groan from the man apprised her that he was not dead, and she accordingly paused and bent over him, scarcely knowing what else to do, The eyes opened, and she discovered for the first time that they were not a man’s orbs, but those of a woman. The lips which were nearly covered by beard then parted, and Bumblebee Bob spoke: ** Ah! a friendly face. lam glad. I am badly sounded, and unless I have immediate care Ym done for. Will you assist me to a placo of safety?’ ‘“Who are you?” Bessie asked a little deubt- ful what to do. “T am Bumblebee Bob. I am friendly to the cause of Deadwood Dick, as, I trust, you are, also.” ‘““You are a woman in male disguise!” Bessie asserted. The wounded person gave a start. “T supposed my disguise was impenetrable,” was the reply. ‘‘But | know you will not bring me harm—your face is too good to belong to a cruel or heartless person. I am a woman— Jam Calamity Jane, the wife ef Deadwood Dick.” ‘‘ Why are you here in disguise, then?” ‘‘ Because my husband bade me remain be- hind, while he went forth to seek us a heme; but, knowing his peculiarities ef running into seril, I could not resist the temptation to secret- y follow him, and be near to him. I would not like to have him know I am here, however, for I promised him I would, remain where he left me. If you will take me to your home, and give me what assistance you can, you shall be properly rewarded.” ‘*T will, of course, and will do all I can for you,” Bessie said, assisting her to arise, and supporting her as best she could. ‘‘ I would be cruel indeed to turn you over to the authorities in your present condition.” And so, by slow stages, the the shanty of Miss Burt, the them from observation. The shanty was finally reached. Originally it was a tent, but now board sides took the place of canvas ones, enly the tep of the latter material being retained. Entering, and securing the door behind them, Miss Burt assisted Calamity to a rude bed, in arear apartment and then procured a lantern and lit it. “T shall have to keep you shut up for the present,” she said, ‘‘as I can keep you from curious eyes here.. Should my enemy, Com- modore Burt, find out that you were here, hoe would immediately herald the news far and near, and I fear that I would be judzed harshly for taking you in. But, don’t worry about it, eee 1 don’t apprehend that any one will be the wiser for your presence here.” walked toward arkness sercening Among the losers by the conflict, the bull- whacker, Shakespeare, came in for special men- tion. A flying bullet had cleanly shaven his nose from bis face, and done the job as neatly as a surgeon’s knife could have done. Many a man of even weaker or stronger con- stitution, would have taken to his bed with such \ a mishap, but not so with the poet. Although wincing with pain he salted the wound to stop the flow of blood, and then ban- daged it sorrowfully up, the cut to his pride ap- parently being harder than the actual pain from the wound. “York about yer martyrs o’ anshent times, ilgrims, or yer soldiers who fell on the fields o ull Run—et ain’t no sarcumstanee,” he eb- served, with a tear in either eye, ‘“ When a mortal’s proboscis is gone, gents, 1 tell ye he’s lost one o’ ther component parts o’ man. Thet aire nose o' mine war’n’t no great guns fur beauty, but I tell ye et war some on smell, an’ war a connoisseur at jedgin’ ther qualities o’ gud bash er whisky. Au’, tee, et could tel when a ow RRS a Sugar-Coated Sam. storm war brewin’, or thar war Injuns near. Alas! pow et is gone!” ** All of which came of your shoving it into other people’s business, no doubt,” Commodore Burt said, as he came forward to inspect the dead and wounded. ‘‘ However, it may allay some of the regret at your loss, when you see the man you were wor cing for swinging in mid- air. ‘‘Nary a time, you Mormon skunk, Plenty o’ time will I hev ter grow another proboscis, ere you see Deadwood Dick performin’ on tight rope. ‘*T reckon ye don’t lie about thet, Bill,” a miner said. ‘I’ve heerd allowed as Deadwoed | Dick has as many lives as a cat.” ‘*But I say he has run to the end of bis trail Burt declared, ‘‘for instead of having escaped, as you all supposed, I have him safely lodged in the jail.” This news was received with a shout ef ap- proval by all except the poet. There was a grim, dissatisfied look upon his bandaged phiz. ‘‘T was in hopes ther b’yeo war off,” he mut- tered to himself, ‘‘ tho’ he an’ I war nevyar on ther best o’ terms.” ** Some say he is too ‘ chic,’ Ther famuss Deadwood Dick, But I allows he knows his little biz, An’ ca’se he wears gud clothes, An’ hez nevyer lost his nose, My conferdence in Dicky et has riz,” ‘‘Hurrah! If we’ve got him, why not make sure of him, while we have got him!” one miner cried. ‘‘ Et ain’t good policy to keep bad eggs long, or they’re apt to create an un- healthy smell. Tho s2me wi’ Deadwood Dick, Ef we keep him long, like as not he’ll make it unhealthy for us.” ‘*Them’s my ideas,” another man volunteered. “Hit the iron while it is hot.” ‘¢Then, if all are willing, I have noobjections to finishing the job’ at once,” Burt declared, secretly exultant. ‘‘ We've fairly got our hand in to business, to-night, and needn’t ba at all bashful. Come! all who wish to attend this pic-nic, forward march!” With cries of approval, the main body ef the citizens followed him toward the jail, which was ,further up the street; but, as they ap- proached the shanty it took but a glance for them to see, in the lurid light of their torches, that they had been cheated out ef their con- templated vengeance. Leaning up against the cabin, rigid and stiff, was one of the guards—dead! A knife in his breast told how he had gone off. The other guard was nowhere to be seen, bus in the open doorway of the cabin lay the body of a man, from which the head was missing! At first, it was thought that this was the other guard, but when all eyes perceived that the headless trunk was clad in the faultless raiment of the late President of the Stgar- Coated Mining and Milling Company, opinions were of course changed. Here was Sugar-Coated Sam, alias Deadwood Dick, minus his head which was nowhere to be found! What did it mean? Who had wrought this silent and summary vengeance? » CHAPTER VIL TREATING OF THE GHOSTLY. Tne excitement which the tragedy and mys- tery raised in Grim Gulch was unprecedented in its history. Men rushed hére and there; wo- men wept and wrung their hands in terror. The body of the beheaded prisoner was buried, the next morning, as also were the remains of the other dead of the town, and then the people looked each other in the face, and mentally asked “ what next?” What new phase of ex- citement was destined for the little mining city. But, after a seven days’ wonder, the excite- ment died out, somewhat, and Grim Gulch set- tled back into her monotonous routine of min- ing existence, with only now and then a fight or a drunk to create any unusual stir. Commodore Burt had gradually come to be regarded as mayor, which was exceedingly to his liking. Whena dispute er quarrel of any kind occurred, he was looked to to proneunce such justice as the case required. __ Then, too, the majority of the citizens had agreed that it was fair that Mrs. Singleton, as she called herself, should come into possession of Sugar-Coated Sam’s interests in the mining ecmpany bearing bis title, and accordingly. she had appointed Commodore Burt as receiver for her, of all profits of said interest. hich placed everything in the Mormon’s hands, me which was quite according to his prearranged determination. In the mean time, at the home of Bessie Burt, Calamity Jane lay upon the bed where she had been placed, lingering, as it were between life and death. She had been shot in five places, during the conflict, and two bullets bad passed in close proximity to the left lung. These were the. most serious of the five wounds, and were not necessarily fatal, had she been in experienced hands, ut, though careful and tender in nursing, Bessie could do nothing further than to wash the wounds or bandage them, and pre- pare sueh little dishes as the sick girl required. She begged leave to call in some person who had a knowledge of surgery, but Calamity re- fused, fearing that the populace would learn who she was, and rise against her, as Deadwood Dick’s wife. Thus the days dragged by—some of them, ex- ceedingly painful days to her—others restful and mere bearable, when she would be quite light-spirited. “No wse of trying to help me,” she would say, whenever Bessio would mention calling in aid. “Iknew I was done for, when them two bitin’? bullets hit me, an’I allow a surgeon would only shorten my days, if he were to ge probiw areund for the cold lead, No! no! let - me be—I’mi right as I am, and one of these days I'll be better off. Have you heard anybhjng new concerning Deadwood Dick?” , Of course Bessio had heard of the death of Deadwood Dick, but she had kept the knowl edge ef his tragic fate from Calamity, knowing how the terrible news must distress and fur- ther prostrate her; hence Bessie had answered her that he-was free—as indeed, he was, of the cares of this life, ifso be that he was really dead, . One day, however, about a week and a half after the tragedy, when Bessie entered the sick room, she found Calamity leoking very whits and tearful, as she lay back upon the pillows “Are you feeling worse, dear?” Bessie asked, approaching the bedside. ‘*Oh} so much worse,” was the sad answer, accompanied by a reproachful look, ‘I have just sustained a shock which I could better have withstood, at first, when stronger, had you told me the worst.” “You know, then—” Bessie faltered, in , mixed amxicty and relief. “That Deadwood Dick is dead—yes. Why did yeu not tell me this, at first?” ‘* Because I wished to spare you the pain, un til you got better.” “You were considerate, true, buat I could have borne the blow better, at first. I shall never be any better, in this world—I am wel} satisfied of that. Do you believe my husband + is really dead?” “*} have no reason to believe otherwise, Mra, Harris, but all that I know about the matter, i what others have heard said. But, how did you learn ef his death?” “IT everheard a customer of yours in the next reom say ‘since Deadwood Dick was planted,’ and knew by that. Tell me al!—evcry- thimg concerning what has happened. I an brave, now, and would rather kuow the worst, than not.” Se Bessie was forced to relate such circum- stances ef Dick’s death as had come to her hear- ing. Calamity heard her through, her face scarcely changing in expression; nor did she grow hys- terical at the dread recital, as some womer would have done. ‘‘It is terrible, if true,” she said, in a sad ~ tone, when Bessie concluded. i ‘‘But something tells me it was not my hus- band’s headless body that was found. Oh! that I could know the truth! If I only had a liftle more strength—” 4 : ‘But you haven’t, and you must remam quiet,” Beasie said, firmly. ‘‘ It would be rash for you to attempt to leave your bed.” ‘*T suppose so. Oh! this is bitter,” Calamity moaned, burying her face in the pillow, and sobbing. That afternoon, however, she cheered up, visibly, and called Bessie to her bedside, ‘‘T “feel better,” she said, ‘‘and think I shalf get well, after all. At least, while there is life there is hope. You have never told me of you~ self, Bessie? Have you parents living? heery person basa life bistory—tell me yours.” “JT have no parents living,” essie replied sorrewfnlly. “My. mother dicd when I was 4 \
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| — = a ee _ Coated Sam, alias Deadwood Dick, the poet } would ask of each other. time. T’ve got a premonition o’ suthin’ wuss than losin’ one’s nasal fluke, you .bet, or ye wouldn’t see Wiliam Henry Shakespeare down in ther mouth. Ye’re goin’ ter git a shock, drectly, my noble guzziers—a shock w’at'll warm ye et’s high time ter be dustin’ up yer disused testaments, an’ devote yer spare mo- ments tew reflectin’ on the runsart’inties uv ther ethereal future.” Looking over the rough citizens of Grim : ; : Gulch, it would seem probable that few, if any of them, had ever handled a Bible, more es- pecially in the latter years of their lives. small child—my father perished, it is said, in a conflict between Mormons and Gentiles, four years ago.” ** Ah! your people were Mormons, then?” “My father was a settlerin Utuh, and per- force a member of the Mormon church. He was, however, a secret foo to polygamy, and had but one wife. In consequence of this, he . was not a favorite among the Mormons, but I don’t think they bore nim any positive enmity. Sometimes I have had strange jears that he did not fallin the affray with the Gentiles, as was said, but fell a prey to the Danites, 1 have heard him privately speak in favor of the Gen- And it appeared there was something in tiles, one ot whom he really was at heart, and | Sbhakespeare’s premonition, for a few evenings it does not seem probable to me that he would | later, a man came rushing into the Bella Union, tacc uparms against them. I was attending { yelling incoberently and gesticulating more like school at Salt Lake City at the time, and there- | a lunatic than asane person. He trembled in fore am in the dark, concerning bis fate.” every limb, and his teeth chattered as though “ After his death, you left Utah?” he was wrestling with a chill. ‘* Yes, I was forced to, or become a victim of “ Speak—what’s ther matter?’ one of the an existence I abhor. After my father’s death, | miners demanded, shaking him, roughly. ‘‘ Out a will purported to have been written by bim, | with it!” was produced and read to me. I now believe ‘Ghosts! g-h-o-s-t-s!” the poor fellow an- and always shall believe that it was a forgery. | swered. ‘‘ D-d-deadwood Dick—grave!” In this will, my fatber bequeathed me to his own Taking the cue, the cecupants of the saloon brother, Commvudore Burt, for his fourth wife. | rushed forth into the street, All his landed estate and money he willed to me Deadwood Dick’s grave was located upon a until my marriage—then, it was to be handed knoll, three or four hundred yards away, and over to my husband—my own uncle—to do with | in full view from the street in front of the Be}! as he might choose. When I heard these strange | Union. stipulations, my very being became §lled with As the crowd poured forth into the street, unutterable horror. And, more especially so, | their eyes turned upon this mound and cries wher I was told that Commodore Burt was com- | horror and consternation broke from their lips. ing the next day to claim me as his fourth wife, Mounted upon some invisible object in mid- under sanction of the church. Rather than be- | air, a dozen feet above the grave, were the come his prey, death in any phase seemed wel- | garments and the seeming body of Deadwood come tome. Resolved not to yield even to the ick, yet beadless for the hat sat upon the col- man ‘ate of my father’s will, I made hasty pre- | lar of the jacket. parations, and that night escaped from my And around and over all, shone a weird school and from the city, and fled for my | phosphorescent light. father’s country residence. I knew where he —— qilways kept his money, and before daybreak I CHAPTER VIIL Was in possession of the small sum of five hun- ie: dred dodars he had laid by, and was flying for THE POET GOES A JOURNEY. Wauart did it mean? ‘the East, “Tt was now a matter of life and death with Wad Deadwood Dick returned to the earthly as a spiritual wanderer, minus his head? « me—the laws of Mormonism told me this. I knew that the Commodore would put Danite | Even the immortal Shakespeare seemed a lit- -ageuts upon my trail, with instructions to take | tle nervous. ‘ ‘Tork, now, wull ye,” he whispered. ‘‘Say me, dead or alive. It would not matter to him ‘ which—indeed, I knew my death would be most | thet William Henry Shakespeare ain’t a prog- nosticator, as well as a poet, hey? Waal, I to his liking, as my father’s estate would go to should chuckle—ZJ should! Ghosts, boyees— him all the same. 1 € “‘ Need I tell you the rest? I fled from Utah | ghosts! reliable, genywine bony-fried article, too. Ob! Job, whar is thy monument 0’ eastward—lI tried to escape the pursuing demons . t of the Mormon church, by hiding myseif in the | patience, ter slip under my gallusses, an’ stay ‘towns under various aliases, but all to no avail. my Dobt in this hour o’ need?” The Danite hounds tracked me with tho per- | |“ Pool! et’s somebody a-tryin’ tricks on us; T ‘sistency of demons, and I would scarcely get | don’t believe in ghosts,” one miner finally be- ‘settled in one place, ere their near presence | came bold enough to declare. ‘ Ye ken’t shet would frighten me into flight to some other, | my gazin’ trap up wi sech nonsense.” And in this way I have flown, until at last I ‘* Ner I,” agreed another. : sdbught this remote region, but only to find my “ That's right, boys; don’t take any stock in relentless foe, the Commodore, here nearly as such rubbish,”: advised’ Commodore Burt, soon asl, Ihowever now resolved to remain | coming along. ‘* Supernatural visitations in- and fight it out, if need be. He cannot do more variably originate’wita weak minds and vivid than kill me. | imaginations. I dare say if you toss a couple “J approve of your grit,” Calamity said, | of bullets over in the direction of the robber’s heartily. ‘‘ Don’t get skeered until you're hurt. | grave, you won’t have any further trouble, You’re in Uncle Sam’s country yet, and I allow whatever.” Mormon laws won’t work, hyar, All yer | _ “S’posin’ we try it,” suggested a citizen, enemy can do, is pop you over, and I reckon | drawing a revolver. “If thar’s a human be- ho’!l thiuk twice before doing that.” hind them togs 0’ Deadwood Dick, I opine I can tickle him, fu’st time trying.”> And raising his weapon, he aimed and fired. | Instead of acry of pain, which many of the and publisher had been strangely quiet, for a spectators had expected to hear, there came a man of his roustabout and hilarious character. | wild eldritch peal of laughter, which seemed to ! { | | Since finding the headless remains of Sugar- ‘To be sure he had lost one of the most promi- | echo and re-echo, mockingly, and caused a chill nent. features of his visage, which fact might | of doubt and consternation to creep down the account for his quiet, but then, a sort of general | backbones of nearly every one who heard it. despogdency seemed to have settled over him; | And not only one laugb, was there, but a dozen he was nervous and watchful, as if about to re- ceive a blow; his poetical fits were few and far between—the issues of the Grim Gulch Gazet- tecr were irregular and sourly edited. “What's the matter wi’ Shake?’ the miners tions. Was there an army of ghostly visitors sur- rounding the town? Ha! what strange visions were these that greeted the citizens’ eyes, as, on gezing around at different house-tops, they bebeld ghosily white-robed figures positioned there, each with the right hand pointed accusingly down at the astounded behoiders! From these specters the peals of laughter seemed to emanate, and grim and uncanny enough they looked, the same phosphorescent halo of light that surrounded the garments of Deadwood Dick, being perceptible around his phantom guard. ‘“*Curses on me!” Commodore Burt gasped, quaking with affright, ‘‘what does all this mean? Fire, somebody—fire and break this in- fernal spell!” “He looks like he was mournin’ fer his mother-in-law.” ‘* Or his proboscis, fer instance,” But when questioned on the matter, the bull- whacker poet would sadly shake his head. “‘Nary a mourn fer mother-n-law, b’yees,” he wouid say, ‘‘’ca’se I nevyer hed one, * An’, as fer ther nose, Et’s wrapt in repose— Et war a bad dose— A shave werry ‘close, But I’ve cradled my woes, “As every one knows.’ ; N>, et ain’t oo »ceount o’ thar loss o? mv a : ‘ “1 wl les ‘ : rt or more, coming from as many differeut direc- | | | had composure enough to do so, and he drew a pistol and fired at the nearest of the ghostly figures on the house-tops. Bang went the weapon spitefully! ‘‘ Hal ba! ba!” came another shriek-of de- risive lauguter, then, almost as quick as a flash of lightning, the phantom figures disappeared from’ the house-tops, and darkness reigned supreme. It was the same over at Deadwood Dick’s grave. The resurrected garments of the ex-coutiaw were no longer to be seen, nor was any object in the vicinity of hie grave, owing to the gloom. And, yet, this fact seemed hardly a relief to the aroused populace. They stood still, for some time after the disappearance of the appa- ritions, in fear lest they should return. Thoroughly cowed and irightened were a great majority of them, while a few pretended to be perfectly composed, although they really were as much ‘put out, as their comrades. Gradually, however, they slunk away, and no more were seen till day dawned again over the golden gulch. ; By this time, a great many had partially re- gained their spirits, but a number of the badly frightened packed their ‘kit,’ and took the morning stage, bound to other ‘lays.’ During the morning an old, ragged and de- crepit man, who walked with a gnarled staff, | and whose long tangled hair and leard was as | er ulga-ifare Ir the orcywd whe f white as driven snow, made his appearance in camp. He was the same party whom Sugar- Coated Sam had taken to his tent, the night before the safe robbery, and who had afterward been found missing. z He was hatless, now, and wandered silently about, an object of curiosity and suspicion to the miners. About noon he met Commodore Burt face to face, just in front of the Bella Union, and shook his fist in the latter’s face, with a guttural and unintelligible utterance, after which be hobbled on, while, for several moments the Mormon stood still, pale, and like one\dazed. Then a shudder passed over him, and an angry flush came to relieve the pallor upon bis cheek. ‘** Curses on me—the thought nearly electrified me,” he muttered, gazing after the stranger. ‘‘But, pshaw! the old lunatic is some harmless fool, who does not know what he is doing. If I thought that there could be any truth—’ Without finishing, he gritted his teeth, and re-entered the Bella Union, Later, he returred to McDuff’s boarding house, and to his room, where the woman who had claimed to be Mrs. Sam Singleton was seated, engaged in sewing. ‘Well?’ she said, inquiringly, as he entered, “what now?’—for she perceived by his expres sion, that something was wrong. “ Enough to make me feel uncomfortable,” he growled, pacing the floor. ‘‘ Did you see the old codger on the street with snow-white hair and beard?’ sé No ? ‘“Well, I did, and a thought entered my mind, that he was my bitterest enemy, here to finish me.” ‘‘Pshaw! you are weakening.” “By no means. I am in fair way of owning the town, if this ghost business only scares off a few more of the miners.” ‘‘To whom do you assign the authorship of the apparitions?” ‘“‘T’m puzzled. If, as I have sometimes believed, Deadwood Dick is alive and well, to- day—then I amas good as assured that he is the prime instigator. But if he’s dead, lam in the dark, unless the old pilgrim is at the bottom of it. ‘* Deadwood Dick cannot well be alive, after being found dead, and headless.” ‘““Who knows for certain that it really was his body that we found? To be sure, the clothes were recognized as belonging to him, but that was all. His head was gone, and nobody could have sworn to the figure.” ‘‘ Tt will be davgerous for us here, in case he is alive.” “Undoubtedly, if, as I suspect, he is at the bead of a band of outlaws again. He is a steel- bar I would not care to cope with, even with odds in my favor. I shall keep on the look-out and we must be prepared to flee at any mo- ment. First, however, we must ‘be sure that two persons are dead—the girl, Bessie, and the old ragmuffin who is at present in town. You must attend to the latter case at once, and | will look out for the giri.” ‘ “Ueh! you know my horror of this kind of work?” ~> 889 sal oF io 3 t s+ . ist Pak ’ alba.
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wee plied. ‘“‘ You know better than to fool with me.” The woman did not reply, but by the pallor which ls her face, it became evident that she did know better. When he had taken his departure, she arose and procured a shawl and pistol, and laid them upon the table. With dread a majority of the citizens saw an- other nights grim and dense shadows covering the face of the earth. What wouid another night bring forth in the line of ghostly visita- tions? Shakespeare, the poet, seemed similarly af- fected, and was nervous as such a man well could be. He however imbibed freely of the Bella Union ‘‘condoler,” and thereby gained courage to make a call upon Miss Bessie Burt as the sun was setting. Bessie was seated in the doorway of her little habitation, engaged in sewing buttons on some pilgrim’s picturesque red shirt, and looked up with a bow, as the bullwhacker came up. “*¢Gud eve, Miss Bessie Burt! I see upon a shirt You aire earnin’ yer pay-dirt ‘Rocks’ w’ot give ter life ther spurt,’ ” tipping bis hat. ‘‘SoIthort l’d cum over ona mission o’ business an’ pleasure—business, in ther way o’ bringin’ ye sum togs to laundry for me—pleasure, by announcin’ my extremest and most emphatic admiration of yourselt.” “Thank you, sir. Iam grateful for the work to do, but cannot appreciate a stranger’s ad- miration.” “Especially when they’re big, ongainly cusses, an’ minus a nose,’ nodded the bull- whacker, comprehendingly. ‘‘Ob! yes, I know { ain’t a Beau Brummel no more; my beauty has faded an’ gone like ther hair fruma rac- coon’s snout; but then, my layout don’t include poppin’ ther momentous, an’ makin’ luv—no, sir-ee, bobtail burvo0. I’m on an ontirely dif- ferent trail, you bet yer boots! Instead 0’ axin’ ye ter git up an’ go harnessed wi’ me, I wish ter express my admiration fer yer success in so long keepin’ yer secret guest away from the gaze of the public.” . Bessie started. Least of all persons, did she suppose the bullwhacker to be suspicious on this score. ‘* What do you mean, sir?” she asked, trying to preserve an unruffled countenance, “ Who— what do you refer to?” ‘Oh! you're sly, I know, but [m up ter yer dodge, an’I allow et wouldn’t be healthy fer fe if the townspeople know what I know. owsumdever, thet’s neither heer ner thar, av’ as I am favorable ter yer cause, count my vocab-trap hermetically glued shut.” And with this assurance, he turned and strode away. Immediately afterward Bessie entered Ca- lamity’s room and communicated the substance of her interview with the bullwhacker poet, “T know him, and so did Dick,” Calamity said, ‘‘and while he 1s mean enough to betray me, I do not think that is his game, if, indeed, he knows that I am really here. He probably has some other game afoot.” : “T only hope he does not betray you,” Bessie said, ‘for if he should, Heaven only knows how we should fare.” But it was evidently not the burl ne in- tention to betray the presence of Ga amity to the townspeople, as future developments will show. « Soon after leaving Bessie’s home, he mounted his mule, which was grazing along the street near the Bella. Union, and rode away down the gulch, into the gloom of the approaching night, followed by the gaze of many of the citizens, whose curiosity was aroused. Following the eastward course of the gulch for a mile or so, he turned off into.a narrower defile between two mighty walls of mountain rock, where darkness reigned supreme. The burro, however, seemed equal to the somewhat difficult task of threading the pass- age, while Shakespeare tried to dispel the mo- notonous loneliness of the ride by frequent ut- terance of sundry original rhymes. In this way they proceeded for several hours, through one of the wildest, ruggedest seams in the brow of nature, until, when it was about the midnight hour, they emerged into a sort of oper elen, fringed close beside the perpendicular sur- rounding walls with gaunt, spectral dead pines. Here Shakespeare drew rein and gazed rather nervously around him. ‘* Waal, hyar am I, in the place whar I war directed to come,” he muttered, glancing at a scrap of paper which he beld in his hand, “I Sugar-Coated Sam. allow this must be ther place, an’ now I must quiet my nerves fer w’ot’s ter foller.” It was an action which he- knew pretty well how to perform. Taking a quart flask of *‘ bug- juice” from his pocket, he proceeded to get away witha good half of it, in the most ap- proved manner, after which his spirits seemed somewhat braced up. And well was there need, for at this junc- ture, from either side of the gloomy glen, at a dozen different points of the compass, appeared the spectral, white-robed figures of the night before, with arms outstretched as they advanced in a bee-line toward the mule-mounted poet, | whose countenance began to assume an ashen pallor, and teeth began to chatter, in spite of the ‘‘ bracer” he had just partaken of. Closer and closer glided the white figures, surrounded by the strange apt bail halo, until they formed a ghostly circle around the bullwhacker, each with a draped arm pointed accusingly at him, while an unearthly groan escaped them in chorus. “Oh! Lordy!” I wish I war back in Grim Gulch!” Shakespeare gasped, while even his long-eared companion gave vent to a bray of terror. CHAPTER 1X. DARK PROMISE AHIAD, CoMMODORE BuRv?’s third wife, who had tried the “black” game on Sugar-Coated Sain, was emphatically a woman of a business. The daughter of a bloody-handed Mormon Danite she had been reared amid scenes well calculated to harden even a woman’s heart; hence she did not hesitate at the murderous work Burt had planned for her; she would be but fulfilling bis desire, which, according to the doctrine of the Mormon Church must be her sole object in life, Therefore she deliberatly planned to murder the old tramp, whom some one had christened Snow Flake, because of bis snow-white beard. Waiting until it was quite dark, she left her room, with a shawl wrapped around her and partly thrown over her head, and hurried down the street toward the Bella Union, She was just about to take a look into that thriving establishment, when her victim came hobbling out, and walked rapidly away, all ap- arauces of lameness gone as soon as he en- ered the dark unlighted street. She could have struck him down, as he passed her, but knew it was a dangerous locality to boldly accomplish her mission, and so waited until he had got a few yards away, and then followed swiftly and silently in pursuit. As soon as she became satisfied that he was not aware of her pursuit, she quickened her footsteps. Soon she was within arm’s reach of him, stepping when he stepped. Soon out from under her shawl came an up- raised hand, in which was grasped a gleaming knife, then bounded forward to do her deadly work just as the old tramp wheeled = game and fired upon her with a pistol which he he d in his hand. *‘Oho! you find it a bad trail to follow me, eh?’ he exclaimed, as she throw up her hands, and fell back totheground, ‘‘ Youseo I chance to have eyes in the back part of my head, wo- man!” Probably Mrs. Burt did not hear or compre- hend his words. She gave but a few struggles, and then became still in death. “Ugh! Death is a fearful thing,” tbe old man mused, as he bent over her and peered into her face; ‘‘ but it can be no awful thing to kill one whose hand is seeking one’s own. life, And then—this is but vengeance!” An hour later, Commodore Burt might have been seen knocking at the door of Bessie Burt’s shanty. Not thinking but what it was some of her customers, come with or for a package, she opened the door, and without waiting for an invitation the commodore pushed rudely past her, into the house. : “Sir!” she exclaimed, alarmed at this sudden intrusion. “Madam!” he retorted, with a sneer, “ you | perceive that I am here, and I presume you can guess my business,” . ‘‘T do not care to consider your business, sir; please to leave my house.” ‘Ha! ha! I refuse.” “Then, I'll scream for help, Leave my house. I command you ‘Command as much as you please—Pve no objections, As for me, I never pay the least “aa ruffian. ” attention to feminine commands, and as for your | BO screaming for help, Pll assure you there’s 9 sugar-coated pilgrims around to come to your rescue, The tone and short of the matter is, Vm here for a purpose, in which it is not my intention to be balked. Hither you shall take a solemn oath that you will marry me, or when I leave this ranch, your life blood will be making fancy figures upon your earthen carpet here. Swear that you will marry me, or I will murder rou. me Monster! ruffian! brute!” was the undaunted answer, “On! yes, [know. Those are Sunday names for me—pet names. I am all they signify, and more, too, as you will find, before you have done with me. Promise to become the fourth Mrs. Commodore Burt, and we will go back to Salt Lake and enjoy the snug little property your father left behind.” ‘Never! I will die first!” “You can have your choice about that, of course. I shall not try to urge you, or dictate to you! If you prefer to climb the golden stairs ratter than double in alife of unalloyed bliss with me, I can assist you off, with but short notice. I can get plenty of wives, for that matter, Brother Jones having offered to bequeath me his double-kit. So you see, I am really doing a great thing in offering you the chance for life.” ‘You loathsome reptile! I would endure the bitterest torture human wit can invent before l’d consent to become your victim. Kill me you dare not, for you are not in Utab now where a so-called Church shields villainy and crime; therefore, once and for all, / defy you!” ‘Then, curse you, you shall have the reward that your defiance merits!” he cried, savagely, and drawing a dirk from a side ket, he leaped toward her, tbe gleam of a fiend incar- nate in his eyes. Upraised was the weapon, ready for the blow, when there was a pistol shot; the arm that clutched the dirk fell to his side, and a howl of pain and rage burst from his lips. he bullet had completely shattered bis right wrist! * Calamity Jane it was who had fired the shot, she having struggled to her feet from her sick bed, and reached the door of her bedroom in time to send the bullet that saved Bessie’s life. Ere Burt could transfer the dagger to his other hand, he was seized by a man who at that instant bounded into the room, and borne bodily out into the dark night, and rapidly away from the cabin. ‘ Father! father!” Bessie screamed rushing to the door. Tben she sunk to the floor, and covered her face with her hands, while she shook with vio- lent sobs. *** What is it, dearest?” Calamity said, steady- ing herself by chairs, and managing to reach the poor wail's side, a “Oh! father! Did you see him—the white- haired old man who bore my enemygaway? Did see him, Isay? Was he alive, or was it a errible apparition?’ ‘Well 1 should opine he was pretty live, by the way he bounced the commodore,” Calamity replied, smiling. ‘‘There, now, don’t cry after the play’s over. I allow the commodore won’t trouble you any more.” “But my father—that was, alive, but old and white haired. Oh! tell me, what can all this mean?” ‘“* Wall, it savors like the old man ain’t dead at all, but has turned up just in time to hev a little picnic with his brother. So cheer up and give me a lift back to bed, if you can, because I find I’m weaker than I supposed.” “Oh! to be sure. I am so inconsiderate, Why ore you ever leave your bed, when you are not able? ‘Well, Lopine if I hadn’t you’d be ready for a pine box about this time. heard that thar was business in the commodore, and I managed to get to the fore just in time to wing bim. reckon I'll be all right, as soon as I get off from my unsteady pedals,” 4 But she reckoned without her host that time, By her exertion she had quite exhausted her limited strength, and swooned ere she could reach her bed, so that Bessie was obliged to car- ry her. vad it was only after an hour of incessant application of restoratives that the brave girl once more opened her*eyes. From the moment the commodore was borne from the cabin by the Unknown, his senses for- sock him. ‘ Great was the pain which the pistol-wound caused him, but it is not probable that he would have fainted had he not found bimselé
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| | | _ who had officiated at several | nching bees, and “A ‘“ BEWARE!” ’ when approached, very cleverly feigns illness, tightly clinched in the iron grasp of the mysterious stranger whom Bessie had called father. Inspired by ea nameless terror over which he had no control, little wonder tho Danite felt bis senses leaving him. When he once more awoke to consciousness it was with a horrified start—he scarcely knew why, more than that an expectancy of some- thing awful possessed him. He was lying upon his back on the ground, and an effort to rise roved tohim that he was free and unfettered. ut as he arose toa sitting posture, a half sheet of paper slid from his breast to the ground, upon which was rudely printed, in phosphorescent | letters, the single word: Significant in all its untold meaning, it warned him that for some cause his life had been spared. With a curse, he was about to rise to his feet, when he made another discovery which gave him a greater start than the finding of the paper had caused him, for, lying upon the ground be- side him was his lifeless wife, whom he had commissioned to dispose of the stranger—the same woman who had claimed to be the wife of Sugar-Coated Sam. “Ha! this tells the story to me, plainer than words,” the Danite muttered. ‘1 know now who the white-bearded devil is—he whom I have all along supposed six-feet under the sod. Ugh! this is bad—bad—bad!” . ' And laboring under the sickening excitement of fear and horror, the plotter sprung to his feet and left the spot. The ghostly visitants of the previous night did not return, and thereat the citizens felt greatly relieved. After leaving the side of his murdered com- nion in crime, Commodore Burt had sought is room at McDuff’s and locked himself in, to finish the night in concocting plans for the | future. On the following morning when he emerged therefrom, it was to enter the Bella Union. There he dispatched a “‘three-finger shoulder- bracer,” after which he mounted a barrel in the center of the pavilion. With curiosity a number of bystanders gathered near, and when a sufficient crowd was collected the Danite looked them over and “sized” them carefully. He saw a number of his own backers in the lot, and knew that they were nearly a majority, and that was all he wanted. “Gentlemen!” he said, ‘‘I have heard several os email lately—even since the death of Deadwood Dick—to the effect that some one of | the townspeople or other are constantly losing their things through the agency of a sneak thief—little sums here and there, to be sure, but Senregating largely in the long run. These little thefts are carried on systematically, and are traceable to the hand of some party fully acquainted “with the business. What, then, would you say, if I were to disclose to you the fact that I have discovered the author’ of the deviltry?”’ “‘Hurra! show us the varmint, an’ it’s to tha _ top avathree we'll be afther hoistin’ im,” a burly Irishman declared. “Yas, them ar’ ther sentiments right frum -rock, Show us ther pilgrim w’ot’s ap- propreratin’ our circulation, an’ we’re bound ter do ther elevated thing by him, best we know how,” another miner chimed in. “T have to repeat that I have discovered the of you, she is in your midst plying her vocation,” | “ho 8 here! where!” “She can easily be found, by searching the ranch kept by the woman, Bessie Burt, who is also her coadjutor. The woman, Calamity, but the dodge don’t hold out, when ne one is around.” “Then, let’s bounce her—let’s send ’er up to search for her late husband,” a miner cried had a craving for more. manifest by yelling. “Ty “Tp?'** Hyar!” came in a great shout, “Contrary, no!” proposed the miner. There was not one dissenting voiee. The Commodere chuekled maliciously as he noted the fact.~ “Then to-night let it be for us to do the job. ‘We ean just as well take ’one off their ouard. in faver, make Sugar-Coated Sam. and perhaps save several of our own party’s lives, as Calamity Jane is always on guard.” And so it was arranged that a raid should be made that very night, and Calamity and Bessie treated to a dose of that border medicine known as lynch law.’ CHAPTER X, A GHOSTLY CONFERENCE, LET us return to the bullwhacker poet, Shake- speare, and see what came of the little adven- ture he bad entered into. We lett him the center figure of a decidedly picturesque circle, the outer edge ofywhich was formed of the mysterious white-draped figures whom he had first seen upon the tops of the shanties, in Grim Gulch. ‘* Now, see hyar, gents. This ain’t really a squar’ deal,” he expostulated: ‘‘I allow et’s all funny enuff fer you, but sic my poodle dorg ef 1 dou’t want yeouw Senate chaps to keep in yer own sphere, wi’out encroachin’ over on ther House 0’ Representatives. Ye parseeve I’m in- clined ter be fair and squar’, but I allus did b’lieve in every flea keepin’ in his own pasture. Torkin’ about fleas, hev any o’ you chaps got em!” The surrounding specters slowly shook their heads in the negative. *“‘Thort so,” the poet grinned, approvingly; ‘* fleas aire the holy terror of my life. As ther younger Shakespeare used to remark when I war gone: ** White pillers, sheets and rugs, Need not handled be with nippers, Fer tho’ they’ ll oft be bugs, You’ve a warrentee ’gin skippers. Muchee likee! chirps the festive earthly sem- blance o’ yours truthsomely: but he w’u’d ruther you'd keep yer distance, if et’s all the same to you.” But the ghostly circle stepped one pace nearer, and gave vent to an unearthly laugh. Shake- speare fairly wilted beneath the sepulchral chorus, and his scrawny burro seemed similarly affected. ‘““Humph! dog my Maltese cat!” the bull- whacker muttered, when he found power of ut- terance. ‘A feller’d think you’ve got the hy- poprepérposterous ter hear ye sigh. Reckon ye ain’t easy, hey? despite ther fac’ thet ye’ve es- caped from yer coffins, Thar was Bill Bustover up at Salt Creek, fer insiance—Bill he war a tough pard, tho’ he natterly had a good heart, which one day got out o’ kilter, an’ Ben Boxer sed as how Bill died o’ ther James Jams. Any- how, about a week arter Bill hed been planted his shadder cum back an’ handed me a string oO verses for publication in the Clean Shave Bazoo, o’ which I were then editor an’ proprietor, They ran thusly: “ Thermometers an’ compasses— Barometers ner meters Can ne’er depict ther scorcbin’ rays, O’ Hades’ infernal heaters. They fricassee ye spirits bright; Pig-tails they Cook, an’ ’coons, While sinners bad, in generale, They’re cravin’ without boons, This lower world is desolate; Ther snow storms much amazes} Jest try a change ef ye don’t b’lieve That Hades aire hot as blazes, An’ I durst allow thet’s sum ther figger o’ ther thermometer up your way.” No answer came from the ghosts; the mute beckon of their outstretched fingers was all the reply the poet got for his little speech. And he liked it not. “Oh! ye needn’t speak if ye don’t want ter,” | he said sullepy “Ef ye think ye kin make t poe me, ther gr t o’ ther Pacif, believe thet yowre gennywine bony-fried ghosts, yer off yer kerbase—clean off, No sheep’s fleece can ye elucidate my understanding with, nary a time; no patent eye-closer kin ye apply sufficient ter close up my pair o’ Peruvian peepers—not fer many colored-coated Josephus. Plain as uster be ther proboscis upon my physique, ar’ ther fact thet thar’s no more ghost about you than there is erbout ther business-end of a mule, an’ sO ye might as well cum down to _ bigness, acknowledge ther corn, an’ hev a confab. Ef ye don’t wantertork, why jest say so. I nevyer war much of a talker, in my best days, an’ I recollect thet I’m gettin’ slow, ther more m age advances. Ef so beit Deadwood Dick is ther prime instigator of yer gang, then hyar’s one philosophic poetieal paragrapher what wants ter jine.” “Deadwood Dick belongs net to the Spirit Band of Silver Brew,” 2 deep veice” replied. “The famous bandit has paid his earthly score and is at rest.” “Bully fer Dickey! I warn’t quite satisfied on thet pin’t an’ thort I would investigate. ’Spect et’s all right, only I had a premonition that Dickey war yet on his pegs. No ’ffense, eh? Reckon Vl journey back ter Grim Gulch.” ** An’ I reckon ye won’t!” the ghostly speaker declared, with emphasis. ‘‘ You are our prisoner, until we see fit to otherwise dispose of you! “Then at a motion from bim, the other ““shosts” closed in, and Shakespeare was a prisoner ere he was scarcely aware of it. It needed no further experience to determine that his captors were too strong-handed to be other than humans; no vapor or etherealism was there in the grip of the hands that held him while he was being bound. This operation successfully performed, the bullwhacker’s eyes were blindfolded; and then his feet were liberated and he was marched off, a man having hold of either arm. “Yas, ver mighty smart—too cute fer any- thing,” he grumbled, as he was trotted along rather briskly. ‘Thar ain’t nary a shadder 0’ respect about ye fer ther fine arts or ye’d respect a courter of the Muses. Jist let me return to Grim Gulch, an’ J’)] sw’ar et shan’t cost ye a nickel when ye want an epertaff composed fer yer tombstone. I git thar, on epertaffs, I do, an’ I tell ye ther biggest kinds o’ complerments aire paid me, ter boot. Thar’s heaps o’ ther statesmen I’ve epertaffed ahead o’ time, so as ter be ready when they shuffled off. Ther beaucbifullest stanzer I_ ever perpetrated, how- ever, | got off on Big-Mouthed Sam, over in Piute: “Big mouth-ed Sam Is dead an opened He died of a bile in his gall; When he hit from the shoulder I tell ye et smarted But he’s cloaked his sins under a shawl. “That aire ar’ werry good, stranger, but et ain’t no sarcumstance:— “ Heer lies Mrs. McGraw, A woman of jaw, j Who eippes off the coil quite disgusted; * She scalped with a saw, Her new son-in-law, An’ his proboscis quietly bu’sted, * Or techin’ another subject :— “Hyar sleeps Jim Plum Ther biggest bum, Thet evyer pulled a trigger; He got his last meal - Of Trojan steel Fer callin’ Ching Chag a ‘ nigger,’ “Yas, gents, ef ye’ll remounteth me upon mine ’umble jack-mule, and headeth mine course to- ward Grim Gulch, ye can freely call up6n me at any time fer leetle effusions like the above or to suit any circumstances.” ** Can’t eet what you want; the best thin for you to do is march along and shut up!” was the surly response of the commanding ghost. ‘‘When we want any epitaphs very likely we can provide some to suit.” Shakespeare was about to venture some reply, but was checked from so doing by a rap upon the head that dropped him to the ground, sense- less. The scene had changed, when he awoke to consciousness, and found the bandage removed from his eyes. He was lying upon the floor im an apartment of what appeared to be a one- roomed log cabin. At all events the walls on either side, and the ceiling overhead were com- posed of partly hewn logs, with clay stuffed be- tween the chinks, But, there were several doors from which it appeared that there must be other apartments. The room in which the bullwhacker found himself was wholly unfurnished, and untenant- ed, save by himself. Where he was, or what he had been put here for, he could not tell, but he felt next to posi- tive that he was a prisoner, despite the fact that his bonds had been removed, and he had the freedom of his limbs. Examination proved that each door was locked on the cag side, and being made of heayy oaken slab, there appeared to be slim chances of escape, as far as the doors were con- cerned. * There was but one window of any sort, and this was a small grated opening up near the ceil- ing, barely large enough for the passage of a ca Shakespeare surveyed his situation as well as he was able by the rays that struggled in through this window grating. ther felt himself
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over, to make sure no bones were broken, ‘after which he soliloquized :— ‘* Waal, I’m caged—thet’s sure’s:— ‘The early bird thet caught the worm An’ started out to hunt, An’ met a ram frum Alabam’, An’ got an awful bunt. ‘‘They’ve shet me up hyar like sum prisoner in a Bastile, an’ ef [I ain’t gone off in ther kerbase o’ my reckonin’ entirely, et’ll be a considerable yeriod ere Tam able to perigrinate once more In my native sphere, and resume editoral enter- prise. I half suspected, however, that should I ‘ , | exert myself the powers of these walls are not adequate to contain my noble self.” Perhaps he could make his escape! He decided not to despair until he could test the matter, and to that end drew a keen-bladed knife from his bootleg, and set to work at cut- | ting a hole through one of the doors, so that he could reach his hand through and dislodge the bar upon the other side. It was a slow and tedious job, which required more than one hour of steady labor, the effect | of which brought beads of perspiration to his brow. He finally accomplished his object, and had the door unfastened. It opened into another room which was a duplicate of the one that had been assigned him as a prison, and this in turn had a door which eninar into some other room. This door, however, was not locked, and he was enabled to pursue his investigation with- out hindrance. One room after another he entered, and found them nearly all alike, until fifteen bad been visited, and yet the end was not! What strange mountain den was he rambling through, of such gigantic dimensions? The sixteenth room brought a change. It was a mammoth affair, the heavy log ceiling being supported on upright timbers or pillars of the same material. Several bunks of skins contained white-robed figures, such as had con- stituted the poet’s captors. They were appar- ently asleep. Shakespeare paused in the entrance, unde- cided whether to enter or not, as there was | danger of his being discovered. Seeing no stir, however, he ventured softly into the room, and across it to the further side and into a passageway beyond. Now came a predicament. His ears were greeted with the blare of a trumpet, and he heard many footsteps march- ing along toward him through the densely dark and varrow hallway he had entered. Glancing back into the apartment he had just left, he saw that the sleeping gbosts had risen to their feet, and were advancing toward the center. To advance into the passage seemed to court actual discovery, while to retreat into the room was to confront the same result. So dark was the passage it was barely possi- ble that, by standing pen against the wall the new-comers might pass vy without discov- ering him—only barely possible, yet was the only chance and he resolved to try it, — g On came the tramp of feet, as if in mili- tary order; nearer they approached, until Shakespeare could see their shadow, even In the dense eS iaiaer and felt sure he must be dis- covered, He drew his knife and waited for the worst. On came the band, and he perceived that they were clad exactly in the style they had been at the time of his capture, only that they wore black gowns, instead of white ones, now. The first couple passed him, without discover- ing him, and he felt a great relief as he was satisfied the rest would do the same. other lot coming, a little in the rear of the others. darkness, that he could better distinguish them as they approached, and saw that they were two of the Black Gowns, leading a third man between them, who wore no gown. A hand- kerchief was thrown over his face, however, so as to render it impossible for the poet to see it. No fool was Shakespeare. Lite among the mines had taught him a few things, if he was big and blatant, and one of those things was to | be crafty. ; And feeling sure that the man in charge of the two Black Gowns was none other than Deadwood Dick, alive and well, despite all evi- dence to the contrary, he resolved to make a bold «ffert to rescue the young mayor ef Grim Guich of sucW tae reason WHy: ' who conducted between them the man | most providertial te me. Sugar-Coated Sam. CHAPTER XI. A POET’S GRIT AND STAGE DRIVER’S HONOR. Two men were of no great account in the eyes of the bullwhacker; he had often laid out many more than that in a single struggle, and lived to tell of it. To successfully attack these Black Gowns, however, meant a big job in point of discretion and caution—one blow must do the work, with- out giving them an opportunity to alarm their friends in advance, or all would be lost, Nearer and nearer approached the couple, whom the bullwhacker was next to certain was Dead- wood Dick—closer, until they came opposite him; then, with the agili:y of a panther, he made the spring which was to tell the tale. There was a short, almost noiseless struggle, then two men lay dead upon the floor of the passage, and two stood up facing each other, They were Deadwood Dick—he who had been ‘ known in Grim Gulch as Sugar-Coated Sam— and Shakespeare; and even in the darkness the men recognized each other. “ You!’ Dick gasped, a little surprised that the man who had in a previous life experience been his enemy should now come forth to his rescue, ‘Ves, I!” Shakespeare declared in an wnder- tone. ‘Thar ain’t no time fer contemplative retrospection, you bet yer boots! Ef we want ter geé out o’ hyar wi’ our cravat models un- touched, we’ve got ter slope mighty suddintly. D’ye know whar ther exit air?” “Ves, follow this passage back, and it will bring you to daviiels, Go ahead, and I will follow.” The bullwhacker mado haste to obey, and Dick, of Deadwood fame, was not slow in fol- lowing his example. Down the passage with rapid. but careful steps, it was not long ere they debouched through a doorway into a mountain glade, fringed with trees and overshadowed by tower- ing walls of rock. The only apparent exit from this glade was through a split between two. mountain peaks, which constituted a mountain ravine, and the two'had barely succeeded in reaching the mouth of this when they heard loud yells in their rear, and saw the Black Gowns pouring from the cabin. ‘it’s leg bail for security now!” Dick said, ‘and I opine the man who can make tho fewest laps to the mile is the lucky fellow. Come on!” and he took the lead on a brisk run up the gulch. Shakespeare followed suit, while after them came the Black Gowns, howling like a pack of coyotes, It was no use, however, for them to give chase, and they finally abandoned it, for Dick and the poet had a good quarter-mile the start, and appeared quite able to make it more, both being fleet of foot and inspired with the deter- mination to escape or drop in the attempt. Seeing that they were no longer pursued, they slackened their speed somewhat, and began to cast about them for indications of their where- abouts. The best way of finding out seemed to be to ascend one of the peaks and take observations therefrom. This they accordingly did, and found, as near as they could judge, that they were some seven or eight miles north of Grim Gulch. The day was pretty well gone, and feeling considerably exhausted, Dick questioned Shake- speare concerning the state of affairseat Grim Gulch, and then said; “Tt is so late, and things being easy in the town, I guess we had better remain here until | to-morrow, and then I will disguise myself, and About twelve couples passed him, and he was | about.to breathe freer, when be heard still an- | we will return to the camp, I guess I can fix myself up so I won’t be known—for a few days at least. But tell me what appears most | strange to me—why do I find a rescuer in you? He was now becoming so accustomed to the | I fancy we were not exactly friends up in Tombstone a short while ago.” ‘No, we war not, ’ca’se I war inclined ter be bullysome, but now I’ve got over that. Since I’ve lost my nasal appendage, friend Richard, my speeret has underwent a change, and I am able to discover that all thet shines ain’t auri- ferous an’ thet thar’s gud resolutions in ary down-trodden human, ef ye only take pains ter cultivate it. I foreseed thet ye war a purty level sort 0’ senator, despite all efforts to crush you, and so I reckoned et would be a purty gud idea to give you a lift in an hour of need,” ** And you have done so, and have my hearti- est gratitude and thanks,” Dick said, warmly. “The escape from those pretended ghests, is Some tame agn, a dv 11 ing adventuress voluntarily gave me a teken which exposed the secret burial-place of a vast amount of mined gold, which she said was rightly hers. I came to Grim Gulch, as Sugar- Coated Sam, with a party of other prospectors, to hunt for the buried treasure, but found neth- ing where my clew directed. It now seems that the chief of the band you recently rescued me from, was the husband of the woman, or, at least, that is the claim preferred, and that the woman had stolen and secreted all of his gold, and fled. If this story be reliable or not, I of course do ngt know. At any rate, by some means unknown to me, the chief of this band of miners and robbers combined, got wind of the fact that I had come into possession of the clew to the burial-place of the stolen treasure, and he sent his aids to capture me. He, in per- son, it was, who robbed my safe, after knock- ing me over, and his men it was who came to the jail, murdered the guards and freed me, after which one of the dead men was clad in my own garments, and I was borne away to this mountain retreat from which you rescued me. Here in the short interval since my cap- ture, I have been subjected to many indignities, and, at the time of my release, thanks to you | for it, they were going to blister my feet, in hopes of extorting from me the secret of the buried treasure, which I should think twice about surrendering, did I possess it.” Shakespeare was silent a few moments, them he said, after first having related the recent ex- ploits of the pseudo ghosts, in Grim Gulch: ““Thar’s another thing [ allow ye don’t know,, an’ et’s one thing w’at brought me to your res~ cue,” “Ah! indeed! What is it?’ ‘““Waal, et ain’t werry pleasant news at the best, an’ I suppose et’ll be a surprise to ye, but heer she am. Ther partner 0’ yer joys and sor- rows, Calamity Jane, lies sick in Grim Gulch at the cabin o’ Bessie Burt. She war playin? strong keerds fer ye, during the campaign, an’ callin’ herself Bumblebee Bob; but she got more lead than she could stand up under, and so had to crawl away to shelter. I figured the: thing out, and allowed thetef Commydore Burt war to get hold of et, thar might be a rumpus, s0 I come to let you know.” ‘*Bad enough,” Deadwood Dick muttered, his brow darkening. ‘‘I was afraid the brave but reckless heart would not remain behind, as she promised me. As you say, if the Mormon devil, Burt, were to find out her presence and helpless condition he would do the utmost in his. power to kill her. We must basten back to the town, at once!” Shakespeare was ready. He seemed fully as. eager as Dick for the welfare of the two women, As they had no horses, nothing was left for them but to’make their journey on foot, with- out any certainty how many miles they weuld have to cover nor perils they might encounter. Shaping their course in the presumed direc- tion of Grim Gulch, they set out through the gathering twilight, The day preceding the night which was te witness the attack upon the Burt shanty, by the commodore and his followers, was a far from bright day at the shanty. The exertion of the previous night, whieh had brought such exhaustion to Calamity, had also brought on brain fever, and all through the day she was wildly delirious. _ At times she would call for Deadwood Dick, in piteous tones; then again she would grow furious over some nameless Mala of an equally nameless person. A lull would then follow,, for few a minutes, when to all appearances the poor girl would enjoy a refreshing nap. It is doubtful, however, if she really felt any better, as she would soon begin her ravings again. “Bessie was nearly distracted. She tried everything she knew, to relieve the sufferer, and when that failed, she sat down in a corner, and indulged in a good, prolonged cry. She could not refrain from it—she keenly felt what was the pain of being alone and friend- less, and especially in such an hour of sickness and distress. The sick girl must. have heard her sobs, or else subtle instinct told her who was crying, for she sat up, abruptly, on her bed. Her eyes were wild and strange in their glaring expression, and her features were rigidly drawn as if she were in an angry ssion. ° ‘What are you crying about?’ she asked in a. eold, repellent way. ‘‘Who told you te sniffie.” 3 bossie (ote Uy with e start, atterty shocked.
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sey . 12 and borrified at the harsh speech; but in a moment she comprehended that it was but anotler freak uf the poor girl’s wandering | reason, ‘ Speak!” Calamity cried, her voice unusually stroug. ‘* What are you crying about?” ‘*{ was ouly weeping because you are feeling f so badly,” Bessie replied, drying her tears, but feeling a strange, indescribable sensation of alarm. ‘‘I am so-:orry I can not do something to help you.” **Pooh! You’re a silly fool! I never was better in my life. [ understand your case. You see there’s every indication of my getting well, and you’re sniveling lest you don’t get Dick. Ob! 1 understand—I understand! I know how itis. Dick used to come here, I’ve beard, and was playing it up soft on you. But, ha! ha! he’s planted—thank goodness for that! Besides, he wouldn’t stoop to caress one of your little fingers,” Bessie listened, with something akin to horror, { unable to make any protesting reply. But there was no particular need of it. Calamity soon subsided into quiet again; her terrible gaze however, never for an instant left the face of \ her supposed rival. It was a gaze of suspicious i resolve, and Bessie felt fearful lest she should } attack her in one of her spells of insanity. i At last she closed ber eyes, and kept them | closed so long, that Bessie took it for granted she was asleep, and rose to steal from the room. But, as quick as a flash Calamity sat up in bed, her eyes fairly blazing with anger, and in | her hand she held a cocked revolver! } Where she could have got it Bessie had no idea, but she had it all the same, and Bessie was the target at which it was aimed. “Stop! Desert me in this hour of trouble, and Pll make acorpse of you. I mean business, so sit down!” she said, with promptness and be command. And nothing was left for Bessie but to obey. She sat down again, and appeared to busy herself at some sewing, but she was secretly expecting the erratic woman would make an attempt to do her some injury. Such was not the case, however. In about an hour, Calamity fell asleep. She }slept soundly until the shadows of night began to gather over the town, and in the mean time De Bessie locked her shanty, and ran over to the nearest store for some groceries. She could but notice the many strange glances of those who had previously been friendly to- ‘ ward her, a3 well as of strangers, and this too | aad sent a chill of terror through her frame. ‘IT wish 1 were far from this place,” she mur- mured, after she had made a few purchases and was hurrying homeward. Benen seems to tell me that trouble is brewing. Indeed, I have hourly been expecting it since the commodore | discovered Calamity in my house, if indeed he ‘7 ah gaia to discover her before be was dragged Just before she reached home she met Joe Langdon, the man who drove the stage. He was a sober, well-minded man of four-and- twenty, fairly good-locking, and making money, but not generally popular because he seither drank, swore nor gambled, and would ‘not work on Sunday. He had called on Bessie once or twiée to leave some washing, and during such occasions their acquaintance bad so progressed that Bessie be- came quite fond of him, while it was easy to | « gee that she was one after his special liking, He,stopped her now by a gesture of his hand, the old quict smile not upon Lis face, but in its place an expression of anxiety and doubt. ‘Miss Burt,” he said, scberly, ‘‘ reports reach me that you are harboring the wife of the once , famous outlaw, Deadwood Dick. Tell me, is this true?’ i - “Quite true, Mr. Langdon. Calamity Jane, H as she is called, came to me, wounded almost unto death, and as lam a Christian woman, I took her in, and have cared for her up to the present time.” i | “Humanity in this case may work you ex- ceeding mischief. That blustering party who calls himself Commodore Burt has discovered _ that you are secreting the woman, and he has i enlisted the majority of the citizens against you. _ To-nigbt an attack will be made upon your eabin, and an attempt made to lynch you r both.” Bessie gasped. “Surely ghey would not do this, sir?” ‘ “*{ fear they will, ifthey get you. Thename \. } | [- of Deadwood Dick, or any ae ages who bas ever been associatea with him, dou’t get much mer- ey at the hands of the citizens of these rough Sugar-Coated Sam. . ° would show you no merey. Your only safety | win him laurels, and rising with a smothered is to take your tew effects and quietly leave the town.” ** What! and leave poor helpless Calamity to the fury of the mob?’ “* What better.can you do?” “TI can die defending her, Joe Langdon, and that’s every bit what 1 will do before l'll desert her. Indeed, I’d face a whole army if need be, before I’d be guilty of such a thing!” “Brave girl! I honor your decision, and though it has never been my wiil to war against mankind, Pll stand by you now. Hurry back to your home, and I will join you soon, with ammunition and weapons, with which to de- fend ourselves!” CHAPTER XII. THE END. Besstz obeyed the siage-driver’s orders, for she had faith in him and his judgment, be- cause he had to her ever seemed honest and re- liable. According to promise, he soon followed her, bringing a trio of good rifles, several revolvers and stock of ammunition, It was by this time quite dusky outside, and an attack might be expected at any minute. Calamity was sleeping calmly, and at Bessie’s request, Langdon took a glance in at her. * Ah! very fair—too pretty, in fact, for the position in life she occupies,” was his comment, as he left the room. ‘‘ I’ve heard of her as Calamity Jane, and that a wilder, more un- manageable piece does not exist in the bills.” ‘“¢T do not know much about her,” Bessie re- plied, ‘‘more than she has seemed very nice, and has endeared herself to me, in the short time she has been under wy care.” ‘‘ Undoubtedly; she is probably handy at the endearing’ business. Nevertheless, you are to be commended for having taken ker in, under the circumstances.” An hour passed and no hostile demonstration was begun on the outside of the shanty, the doors and windows of which Bessie had taken the precaution to carefully fasten. A little later, however, there came a knock at the door, and Bessie thought she recognized it. “Get in the next room quietly,” she whis- pered, “tend wait for my call. I think it is the commodore, come to talk the matter over.” Joe obeyed, and then Bessie went and opened the door. It was the commodore, indeed, and he entered promptly, when le saw the door opened for him. ‘“Hal! ha! Isee you are still here.” ““Oh! yes, I am nearly always here,” Bessie replied, composedly. _‘* You were also here once before, | believe, but took leave so suddep- ly that you scarcely had time to say your adieus, I wonder you are back so soon.” “Oh! yes. Iam aware that I have returned too soon for you,” he replied, ‘‘ but this time I mean business.” “* Indeed !” “You shall see, my independent miss. things all my own now.” “J fail to see in what respect, sir.” ‘““Do you? Well, L bave been fortunate enough to discover the important fact that you are secretly conniving against the law by har- boring the wife and partner in crime of the late Deadwood Dick. This fact is all the evidence I can ask against you, for it will hang you with- out parley, if you don’t accede to my terms.” “Hang it shall be, then,” Bessie replied, cool- ly. “I would greet such a punishment, if such it can be called, with the greatest alacrity, in preference to accepting or deliberating on any plans you might make. I am perfectly aware of your proposed attack upon my cabin, backed by a collection of ruffians whom cowardice forced you to hire to do your bidding. All I have to say is, come on! [am prepared, and I dare and defy you! Joe?’ Ihave In response to the call Langdon stepped quick- | ly from the adjoining room. “Throw bim out, Mr. Langdon,” Bessie or- dered. ‘‘ His presence is obnoxious to me.” ‘¢ Yes, throw him out, you overgrown loafer, if you can!” the commodore cried, drawing a revolver, But he had no oppurtunity even to cock it, for the wiry stage driver sprung upon him ata single bound, wrenched tie weapon from his grasp, and, by a dextrous movement, pitched bim head-foremost out of doors. Then, with a pair of sixes in his grasp, he stood fearlessly in the doorway and waited for a return aesault. But the valiaut commedore evidently did not mining towns, and unless I guess amiss, they ' feel disposed to depend upon his own ability to | malediction, he limped off. ‘Now, then! look out tor trouble,” Laugdoen said, as he closed and re-barred the docr. ‘* He won't tarry long in communicating his pr.cv- ances to his backers, and we mey safely icok for the attack at any minute.” Aud he was not ‘* off” in his reckoning. Tn less than balf.an bour a hum of veices be- 2ame audible out on {' enight, which the nearer it approached incre...d to a pandemonium of yells and screeches, mingled with terrible prs fanity and the heavy confused tramp of ect. ln the course of five minutes more the riotous crowd came into sight, many of them armed with torches, while others were equipped with weapons and missiles of every kind. They were all in all a hard jJooking gang, numbering forty or fifty. If Burt was among them he was in the rear, where there was the least possibility of the bul- lets reaching him. Inside the cabin Bessie and Langdon stood near two loop-holes which the Jebu had thought- fully provided, and peered out at the rough gang, with anxiety and doubt written upon their faces, ‘“It looks like we’ve got a bigger dose than we can swallow,” Langdon remarked; ‘‘ but there’s only one thing to do—be brave, and fight to the last. If wesucceed in beating them back, all right; if they once get their hands on us, up we go.” Bessie clinched her rifle tightly, but did not reply. By this time the mob had drawn up in formi- dable force before the shanty, and stood for a moment in grim silence. Then an uncouth, ruffianly-looking pilgrim who had evidently been appointed to command stepped forward and took off his hat, threw it under between his Jegs and caught it again on his head, after which he said: ‘‘Gentlermen an’ feller citizens! This hyar is an occasion as shed fill every patriotic speerit with genuine enthusiasm, fer we’re on ther eve o’ one oO’ ther greatest triumphs thet bes ever struck ther country wild. onder in thet she, bang aire three human mortals who stand in utter contempt and defiance of the laws of man- kind, one of whom is the wife of the recently killed outlaw, of whom every mother’s son of ou must have beard—Deadwood Dick. Asa fair, squar’ an’ upright set of galoois, we hev put our heads tergether in communion, and de- cided thet et becomes our station, as active honory citizens who takes our bitters straight three times a day, or more, ter boost these law- defying ones to an altertude above ther sins an’ sorrers 0’ this world. Tharfore, on callin’ upon ’em ter deliver up, ef they refuse we aire ter sail in an’ tear ther shebang down over their heads. Ain’t thet ther ticket?” ‘‘ Percisely ther plum!” responded one of the men, and the rest assented by sundry nods and ejaculations, **Then, to ve all whomsoever an’ whatsoever, may be confined witbin yon shanty, do I, Grass- bopper Jake, issue a pre-cmptory command ter vacute them premises instanter an’ ter oncet, an’ surrender, or et’ll be ther wuss fer ye, an’ ye’ll hey ter abide wi’ ther consequences thet foller! Wull ye open up an’ surrender, or no?” ** No!” ior yelled, through one of the loop- holes, ‘‘ Beware, lest you tackle a hornets’ nest.” ‘* Hooray! Heer that, will ye! At ’em, boys!” the leader shouted. ‘* Capture ’em, an’ string ’em up, as ye would a haunch ©’ venison to a—” They were the last words of the ruffian, A bullet from Joe Langdon’s rifle cut off his words, and, with a gurgling moan he fell forward, dead. . As they saw him fall, the mob uttered a venge- ful shout, and sprung toward the shanty, bent upon its destruction, It was but a frail, hastily built affair, and it was evident that the infuriated roughs must make short work of it. Langdon seemed better aware of the fact than Bessie, and knew that it would be next toa miracle if they succeeded in saving themselves from slaughter. This fired him with awful resolve, and with his sixteen shot repeater he fired ra,idly and with telling effect. Bessie was elso enough of a border girl to well know the use of a rifle, and she fired her repeater nearly as rapidly as her companion. The mob were hanimering and pounding away on the outside, like a pack of demons, doing far more swearing and yelling than effective work. In the midst of the terrible ccntusion Calam-
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: —_—- ——--- ity appeared at Bessie’s side, clad in the same attire she had worn when she had played up Bumblebee Bob. ‘What is the metter?”? she demanded, her wild eyes gleaming /uridly. ‘““It means that the townspeople are after you, ani we are trying tosave you from their clutches!” Bessie replied. Calamity stood an instantas if not quite com- pri hevding the drift of the words; then with a wild laugh she turned and dashed back into her ewn room and slammed the door shut. Barve! bang! bang! Hammer! tear! yell! ‘hese seemed. to be the ruling sounds that mde the night hideous, ‘he ruflians were getting several boards loose; soo they would have made a hole large enough to admit them to the inside of the cabin. It seemed but a moment, now, from the life to the death of the plucky defenders. “* Give it to ’em!? Langdon gritted, his face smoked with powder, “If we give upnow we’re lost.” ‘We are, anyhow, I am afraid,” Bessie an- swered, ber courage wavering. “Take hope, till the last! Ah! hark!” Tue mob had temporarily ceased their attack upon the building, and the hoofstrokes of ap- proeching borses were heard above the subdued ‘ells of the rioters, “Thank God! help of some kind is coming,” Lancdon cried. Ani so it appeared, for the attack.on the shanty ceased altogether, while the mob opened fire upon the approaching party, whoever they might be, and their salute was promptly and steadily returned, By aid of a step-ladder, Joe climbed up to the roof of canvas, and cutting a slit, thrust his heed through to see what was the aspect of things. What he saw was a band of horsemen bear- ing down upon the mob, firing as they came— not plainly attired riders, by any means, but tho same white-robed things that had once be- fore paid the town a visit. They appeared rather lively for ghosts, just now, and the mob seemed to think so too, for there was evident terror among them; they wero the defensive rather than the attacking party, now. Joe, as soon as he hadreconnoitered, descended and apprised Bessie of the situation, and she clasped ber bands iu joy. ‘ «This is good news. “Whoever these pre- tended ghosts maybe, I do not believe we have any more to fear from them than from this mob of rufians, What is best to do?” ‘ Is ape while the two parties are engaged in battic. is there not a rear way?” “Yes; but can we get Calamity to accom- pony us? You know how she is in her state of delirium.” ‘We can try. bave on ler.” He crossed the room and opened the door which communicated with Calamity’s apart- ment. A glance showed him that it was vacant. She was gone, and a raised window told how she Lad escaped. : : Langdon immediately reported to Bessie this foc . and she was greatly surprised. ; “Poor girl,” she said. ‘‘I fear she will fall into greater peril, and then she is so sick and weak too! ome, let us get away if possible. The battle outside is furious now, and we shall perbaps be able to escape unnoticed.” Tuey hurried to the rear entrance, not for- gol ing to take along their weapons. Opening the door they went forth into the almost Siygian darkness of the night, Lut not half a dozen steps had they taken when they were jounced upon by several white-robed fi» ures, made prisoners in a jiffy—then mounted upon: horses, with a guard, and borne rapidly away. I will see what effect I can The “‘ehosts” made short work of cleaning eut the mob, for seeing that defeat was inevita- ble, ie rougbs soon broke into confusion and filed in all directions, Many were successful in beating a retreat, but not all, and those who were not, fell beneath the fire of the white-robed asseilants. One of those whomade an attempt to escape was the Danite, Commodore Burt, but before he ran ten varas he got a bullet in his leg which cause! Lim intense pain and disabled him so that Le could scarcely walk. Then he became awre that he was being followed, and that, tov, by one of the white-robed figures, Tis terror at this was great, and was hight- | Sugar-Coated Sam. ened by the fact that he was weaponless, having loaned them to one of the roughs at the begin- ning of the attack on tho shanty. Cursing and groaning at every step, he hob- bled along as fastas ho could; but the footsteps of the pursuer sounded close in his rear, and he came to a halt. The white figure also came to a halt, and threw off his ghostly gown, revealing the same gray-bearded man who had once before at- tacked the commodore and whom Bessie had called ‘‘ father.” “Hal you?” the Danite gasped. “Yes, I,’ the other replied, sternly. ‘I see you recognize me now, as your brother, whom you *onsigned to a dog’s death, at the hands of your accursed Danite allies. But 1 escaped them, and after I found the persecution you were offering my child, I took your trail, swear- ing to hunt you down to the death you deserve. Your time has come: you shall die now, before any more crime stains your vile soul. Here is a revolver—take it and blow your brains out, and save me the trouble.” The Danite picked up the weapon, and ex- amined it; then, instead of aiming it at himself, suddenly leveled it at bis brother. But he did not fire. He fell to the ground, shot through the heart by the one whom he would bave assassinated. Thus ended this life of crime—the checkered existence of one of the worst wretches that ever helped to add to the dark reputation of Mor- mon Utah. Deadwood Dick and Shakespeare found that they were getting more then they bar- gained for, in attempting to find their way back to Grim Gulch, for they lost their bearing, on a dozen different occasions, and were obliged to retrace their footsteps, all of which was most vexatious, Not only that night was absorbed in this wan- dering about, but also the ensuing day, and it was considerably after nightfall the noxt night ere they reached any familiar landmarks that told them where they were. “IT reckon we’re not far from Grim Gulch, now,” Dick said, as they strode down a gloomy ravine. ‘‘lf Iam not greatly mistaken, this is a tributary of the main gulch,” “By ther cackle of old Job’s turkey, I hope we're purty nigh thar, fer I’m sufferin’ fer refreshments like some camel, ten weeks out in ther desert o’ Sarah Jane,” was the poet’s gloomy answer. “ve noticed that you’ve been less poetical than usual,” Dick observed with asmile. ‘But cheer up; it cannot be far now toa piece where strychnine-juice isfor sale. Ha! hold on!” They came to a halt, Dick a few paces in ad- vence and standing in an attitude on the de- fensive. : A few rods ahead gleamed a faint light throuch a thin motte of trees, which looked as if there might be an encampment there of some sore. ‘We'd better investigate the origin of that,” Dick said, pointing toward i’, *‘ before we stum- ble into a hornets’ nest. You stay here, and ll go ahead and explore.” He did so, and found a little eamp-fire burn- ing in the motte, in the light of which were four persons, who had evidently but recently ar- rived. Two of the persons were duplicates of the white-robed gang who had been Dick’s captors from the Grim Gulch jail; the other two were Joe Langdon and Bessie Burt. Deadwood Dick grew pale, when he saw them, for he knew there had been trouble at Bessie’s home, and if Calamity was there sick, what may not have been her fate? At first he was tempted to sail in and attack the two ‘‘ghosts,” single handed, but, having only one weapon, and that a knife, he conclud- ed it would be the safest to enlist the poet in the rescue. Therefore he hastily notified that worthy, and together they made a detour, and approached the camp from the opposite side, to which their backs were turned. To approach close behind them, and seize them, was sbort but careful work, and their ghostships found tliemselves bound and helpless, almost before they were aware of ita Langdon and Bessie were then released, and explanations were exchanged when Dick learned of Calamity’s condition and her strange flight. “IT fear I will never see her again—at any rate, not like the same girl she Once was. God watch over and protect her!” The outlaws were unmasked of their white zowns, aud proved to be two of the pilgsms ene | oe ee SE SSPE RES REE TS SE AS PERS ENN SRL ELE RED AES 9 ES SER EEO REN Yona ew rane eS A who had once, in the early days of Deadwood, belonged to one of Dick’s bands of road-agents. On this account, Dick decided not to do them any further harm than to leave them where they were bound, to await the arrival of their companions. Feoling that it was no longer safe for any of the party in that region, Dick proposed that they cross the range to the favorite mining dis- tricts, thirty or forty miles distant, to which ell assented, and they set forth. The following day they came across the body of Mr. Burt or Silver Brow. In the darkness he had evidently fallen from a cliff above the trail, to which he had been making his way. He was stone dead; and by his side were sev- eral bags of gold, both in nuggets and shining dust, which he was, for some reason, bearing along with him. The gold was turned over to Bessie, who re cognized the dead man as her father; and he was given as good a burial as circumstances would permit. The party safely reached the new camp, and here Bessie, jn due time, became Mrs. Joe Lang- don, while Deadwood Dick and his now fast friend, Shakespeare, took their leave on a tour of search for lost Calamity Jane. THE END. SOA = KG. So “The Model Family Paper , —AND— Most Charming of the Weeklies.” A pure paper; good in every thing; bright, brilliant and attractive. Serials, Tales, Romances, Sketches, Adventures, Biographies, Pungent Essays, Poetry, Notes and Answers to Correspondents Wit and Fun— All are features in every number, from such celebrated writers as no paper in America can boast of., What is best in POPULAR READING, that the paper always has; hence for Homr, Srop, Li- BRARY and GENERAL READER it is without a rival; and hence its great and steadily increasing circulation, The SaTukDAY JOURNAL is sold everywhere by newsdealers; price sia cents per number; or to subscribers, post-paid, at the following cheap rates, viz. : Four months, one dollar; one year, three dollars ; or, two copies, five dollars, Address BEADLE & ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York, DIME DIALOGUES AND SPEAKERS FOR SCHOOL EXHIBITIONS AND HOME ENTERTAINMENTS, Dialogues, Nos. 1 to 28 inclusive, 15 to 35 pop lar dialogues and dramas in each book. Hach vol- ume 100 12mo0 pages. ‘ Speakers, Nos. 1 to 8 inclusive. Each speaker 100 pages 12mo, containing from 50 to 75 pieces, YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERIES, Dime Book of Summer Athletic Sports, Dime Gents’ Letter Writer. Dime Book of Etiquette. Dime Book of Verses. Dime Book of Dreams, Dime Fortune Teller, Dime Ladies’ Letter Writer. Dime Lovers’ Casket. Dime Ball-Room Companion. Dime Book of 100 Games, Dime Chess Instructor. Dime Book of Beauty, (Fr The above books are sold by newsdeale everywhere, or will be sent, post-paid, to any oe dress, on keceipt of price, ten cents each, BraDLB & Apas, Publishers, 98 William st., N.Y.
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i . Beadle & Adams’ Standard Dime Publications. — * 498. Sagamore of Saco. 499. The King’s Man, 500. Afloat. and Ashore, ; 501, The Wrong Man, 502. Rangers of Mohawk, 503. Double Hero, 488. Ruth Harland. 489. The Gulch Miners. 490. Captain Molly. 491, Wingenund, 492, The Partisan Spy. 493. The Peon Prince, Speakers. } Bape AND ApAms have now on their lists the fol- lewing highly desirable and attractive text-books, prepared expressly for schools, families, etc. Hach volume contains 100 large pages, printed from clear, DIME NOVELS. Incomparable in Merit. Unapproachable in Price. — ppen type, comprising the best collection of Dia- ta" Be very careful not to confound these books | 494. The Sea Captain. 504, Alice Wild. A logues, Dramas and Recitations, (burlesque, come | with those of other publishers, sold at the same | 495, Graybeard. 505. Ruth Margerie. and otherwise.) The Dime Speakers for the Season | price. The vast success of the Dime Novels called | 496. The Border Rivals, 506. Privateer’s Cruise, i} of 1881—as far as now issued —embrace twenty-three | into existence ‘‘Ten Gent Novels,” which the public | 497, The Unknown. Others in Press, ae » volumes, viz.: 1. American Speaker. 13 2, Natioual Speaker. 14, 8. Patriotic Speaker. 15, 4, Comic Speaker. 16. 5, Elocutionist. 17 6. Humorous Speaker. 18, 7. Standard Speaker, 8. Stump Speaker. 19, 9, Juvenile Speaker. 20, 10. Spread-Lagle Speaker | 21. 11. Dime Debater. 22, 12, Exhibition Speaker. 28. . Eloquent . School Speaker. Tudicrous Speaker. Komikal Speaker. Youth’s Speaker. Speaker, Hail Columbia Speak- er, Serio-Comic Speaker. Select Speaker. Funny Speaker. Jolly Speaker. Dialect Speaker. These books are replete with choice pieces for the School-room, the Exhibition, for Homes, ete. They are drawn from FrrusH sources, and contain some of the choicest oratory of the times. 75 to 100 Declama tions and Recitations in each book. Dialogues. Dialogues No. Fifteen. Dialogues No. Two. Dialogues No. Sixteen. Dialogues No. Three. (Dialogues No. Seventeen. Dialogues No, Four. Dialogues No. Kighteen Dialogues No. Five. | Dialogues No. Nineteen. Dialogues No. Six. Dialogues No. Twenty. ‘Dialogues No. Seven. ‘Dialogues No. Twenty-one. Dialogues No, Hight. (Dialogues No. Twenty-two. Dialogues No. Nine. Dialogues No. Twenty-three, Dialogues No. Ten. Dialogues No. Twenty-four. Dialogues No. Eleven. |Dialogues.No. Twenty-five. Dialogues No. Twelve. |Dialogues No. Twenty-six. Dial Dialogues No. 15 to 25 D These volumes have been ogues No. Thirteen. | Dialogues No. Twenty-seven. urteen| Dialogues No. Twenty-eight, ogues and Dramas in each book. repared with especial reference to their availability m all school-rooms. ‘They are adapted to schools with or without the fur- niture of a stage, and introduce a range of charac- ters suited to scholars of every grade, both male and female. It is fair to assume that no volumes yet offered to schools, at any price, contain so many available and useful dialogues and dramas, serious and comie. Dramas and Readings. 164 12mo Pages. 20 Cents. Fer Schools, Pario s, Entertainments and the Am- ateur Staze, comprisin Comedy, Farce, D' ess Original Minor Dramas, Pieces, Humorous Dialogue and Burlesque, by rected writers; and Recitations and Readings, new :nd standard, of the eatest celebrity and interest. Edited by Prof. A. M. Russell. DIME HAND-BOOKS. Young People’s Series. Beavue’s Dine Hanv-Booxs ror Youna Propie cover a wide range of subjects, and are especially adapted to their end. They constitute at once the cheapest and most useful works yet put into the market for popular circulation. Ladies’ Letter-Writer. Gents’ Letter-Writer. Book of Etiquette. Book of Verses. Book of Dreams. Book of Games. Fortune-Teller. Lovers’ Casket. Ball-room Companion, Book of Beauty. Eland-Books of Games. Buapie’s Dore Hanp-Booxs oy Games anp Popular Hanp-Books cover a variety of subjects, and are es- pecially Baap to their end. andbook of Summer Sports. Beok of Croquet. Chess Instructor. Cricket and Football. Guide to Swimming. Yachting and Rowing Riding and Driving. Book of Pedestrianism. Base-Ball Player for 1881, Handbook of Winter Sports. Manuals for Housewives. Brsvie’s Dom Famty Serres aims to supply a class of text-books and manuals fitted for every per- son’s use—the old and the young They are of conceded value. 4. Family Physician. 5. Dressmaking and Mil- the unlearned. 2. Recipe Book. : 8, Housekeeper’s Guide. Lives of Great the learned and linery. Americans Are presented complete and authentic biographies of many of the men who have added luster to the Republic by their lives and deeds. VII.—David Crockett. VITI.—Israel Putnam. IX.—Kit Carson. X.—Tecumseh. XT.—Abraharna Lincoln XTI.—Pontiac. XIII.—Ulysses 8. Grant. braces: I.—George Washington. T.—Jonn Paul Jones. TIL.—Mad Anthony Wayne IV.—Ethan Allen, YV.—Marquis de Lafay- , wtte. VI.—Danie! Boone. The series emm- The above oe agence oe sale by all newsdealers sent, post-paid, on receipt of price, b be Wruttas Sr., N.Y * or will be BEADLE & ADAMS, is sometimes deceived in buying as Dime Novels. The only Dime Novels are those published by BEADLE | AND ADAMS, whose copyright trade-mark and signet the word “ Dime” Novel is, Ask always for BEADLE’s Dime Novels, and you will then get what you wish. | The following comprises a complete list as far as published. Numbers omitted are out of print. 3. Myra. 886. The Black Wizard. 9. The Slave Sculptor. | 387, The Mad Horseman. 10, The Backwoods Bride | 388. 11. Prisoner LaVintresse | 389. The Jaguar Queen. 14, Emerald Necklace. 390. Shadow Jack. 16. Uncle Ezekiel. | 391. Eagle Plume. 17. Madge Wilde. 392. The Oeean Outlaw. 22. The Maid of Esopus. | 293, Red Slayer. 28, Winifred Winthrop. * | 394. The Phantom Foe. 82. Trona. 395. The Blue Anchor. 33. Maum Guinea. 20c. | 396, Red-Skin’s Pledge. 35. East and West. 397. The Quadroon Spy. 40. Union’s Daughter.20c | 398. The Black Rover. 44, Agnes Falkland, 399. Red-Belt. 47. Tim Bumble’s Charge . The Two Frails. 53. Hates and Loves. 401. The Ice Fiend. 54, Se 402, The Red Prince. 56. mo’s Plot. 403, The First Trail. 68. The Indian Princess. | 404. Sheet-Anchor Tom. 65, The Wrecker’s Prize. | 405. Old Avoirdupois. 70. The Indian Queen. 406. White Gladiator. 87. On the me 407. Blue Clipper. 98. The Creole Sisters. 408. Red Dan. 102, Hearts Forever. 409. The Fire-Eater. 104, Guilty or Not Guilty. | 410. Blackhawk. 118. Rattlepate. 411. The Lost Ship. 118, The Water Waif. 412. Black Arrow, 121. Vailed Benefactress. | 413, White Serpent. 232, The Prairie Queen. 414, The Lost Captain. 256. Antelope Abe. 415, The Twin Trailers. 4. The Young Spy. 416. Death’s-head Ranger 289. The Balloon Scouts. | 417. Captain of Captains. 292. Black John. 418, Warrior Princess. 208. The Hussar Captain. | 419. The Blue Band. 308, Glass Bye. | 420. The Squaw Chief. 812, Dick Darling. 421, Thé Flying Scout. 813. Thé Red Brotherhood | 422, Sonora Ben. 814. Rival Lieutenants. 423, The Sea King. 382, Old Grizzly. 424, Mountain Gid. 828. Dashing Dragoons. | 425. Death Trailer. 824, Will-o’-the-Wisp. 426. Crested Serpent. 825. Dashing Dick. 427. Arkansas Kit, . Old Crossfire. . The Corsair Prince. 827. Ben Bramble. 429. Ethan Allen’s Rifles. 828. The Brigand Captain | 430. Little Thunderbolt. 829. Old Strategy. | 431. The Falcon Rover. 330, Gray Hair, the Chief. | 432. Honest Hand. 831. The Prairie Tigers. _ | 483. The Stone Chief. 382. The Rival Hunters, | 434. The Gold Demon. 383. The Texan Scout. 435. Eutawan, the Slayer 334. Zebra Zack. 436. Masked Guide. 535. Masked Messenger. | 437. The Conspirators. 886. Morgan, the Pirate. | 488. Swiftwing. $37. The Boy Spy. 439, Caribou Zip. 838. Tahle, the Trailer. 440, The Privateer. 839. The Boy Chief. 441, The Black Spy. 840, Tim, the Trailer. 442, The Doome unter. 341. Red Ax. : 448, Barden, the Ranger. 342, Stella, the Spy. 444, The Gray Scalp. 843, The White Avenger. | 445. The Peddler Spy. 344. The Indian King. 446. The White Canoe. #45. The Long Trail. 447. Eph Peters. 846, Kirk, the Guide. 448, The Two Hunters, 847, The Phantom Trail. | 449. The Traitor Spy. 848. The Apache Guide. | 450. The Gray Hunter. 349, The Mad Miner. 451. Little Moccasin. 850, Keen Eye, the Ranger | 452. The White Hermit. 351. Blue Belt, Guide. 453. The Island Bride. 852, On the Trail. 454. The Forest. Princess. 353. The Specter Spy- 455, The Trafl Hunters. 354, Old Bald Head. 456. Backwoods Banditti. 855, Red Knife, Chief. 457. Ruby Roland. 856. Sib Cone, Trapper. | 458. Laughing Eyes. 857. The Bear Hunter. 459. Mohegan Maiden. 358, Bashful Bill, Spy. 460, The Quaker Scout. 859. The White Chief. 461. Sumter’s Scouts. 860, Cortina, Scourge. 462, The Five Champions, 361, The Squaw Spy. 463, The Two Guards. 342. Scout of 76. 464, Quindaro. 363, Spanish Jack. 465, Rob Ruskin. 864 Masked Spy. 466. The Rival Rovers, 365, Kirke, Renegade. 467. Ned Starling. 866, Dingle, the Outlaw. | 458, Single Hand. 867, The Green Ranger. | 459. Tippy, the Texan. 868, Montbars, Scourge. 470. Young Mustanger. 860, Metamora. | 471, The Hunted Life. 870, Thornpath, Trailor. | 472, The Buffalo Trapper. 371, Foul-weather Jack, | 473. Old Zip. 872. The Black Rider. 474, Foghorn Phil. 873. The Helpless Hand. | 475. Mossfoot, the Brave. 374, The Lake Rangers. | 4/6. Snow-Bird. 875, Alone on the Plains. | 4/7. The Dragoon’s Bride 3Y6. Phantom Horseman. | 47", Old Honesty. 377. Winona, . Bald Eagle. 78. Silent Shot, Slayer. | 480. The Black Princess. . The Phantom Ship. / 481. The White Brave. . The Red Rider. 482 Riflemen of the Miami 321. The Grizzly-Hunters. | 453. The Moose Hunter. 882, The Mad Ranger. ; . The Brigantine. 383, The Specter Skipper. | 495. Put. Pomfret’s Ward. . Simple Phil. . The Red Coyote. 487, Jo . The Hunchback. aviess’ Client. * rs " " | The Privateer’s Bride | | | THE ILLUMINATED DIME POCKET NOVELS. 1. Hawkeye Harry. 97, The Squaw Spy. 2. Dead Shot. 98, Dusky Dick. 8. The Boy Miners, 99, Colonel Crockett, 4, Blue Dick. 100, Old Bear Paw. 5. Nat Wolfe. 101. Redlaw. 6. The White Tracker. 102. Wild Rube. 7%. The Outlaw’s Wife. 108, The Indian Hunters. 8. The Tall Trapper. 104. Scarred Eagle. 9. Lightning Jo. 105. Nick Doyle, 10. The Island Pirate. 106. The Indian Spy. 11. The Boy Ranger. | 107. Job Dean. 12, Bess, the Trapper. | 108. The Wood King. 13, The French Spy: 109. The Scalped Hunter, 14. Long Shot. 110, Nick, the Scout, 15. Gunmaker of Border, | 111. The Texas Tiger. 16. Red Hand. 112. The Crossed Knives. 17. Ben, the Trapper. 113, Tiger Heart, Trackel 18. Wild Raven, Ranger, | 114. The Masked Avenger 19. The Specter Chief. 115. The Pear] Pirates, 20. The B’ar-Killer. 116. Black Panther. 21, Wild Nat. 117. Abdiel, the Avenger, 22. Indian Jo, the Guide. | 118. Cato, the Creeper. 28. Old Kent, the Ranger. | 119. Two Handed Biat. 24, One-Eyed Trapper. 120. Mad Trail Kanter, 25. Godbold, the Spy. 121. Black Nick. 26. The Black Ship. 122. Kit Bird. 27, Single Eye. 123, The Specter Riders. 28. Indian Jim. 124. Giant Pete, 29. The Scout. 125. The Girl Captain, 30. Eagle Eye. 126. Yankee Eph, 31, The Mystic Canoe. 127, Milverspur. 82. The Golden Harpoon. | 128, Squatter Dick. 38. The Scalp King. 129 The Child Spy. 34. Old Lute. 18%, Mink Coat, 35. Rainbolt, the Ranger, | 18%. Red Plume. 36. The Boy Pioneer. | 182, Clyde, the Trailer, 37. Carson, the Guide. | 183, The Lost Cache. 38. The Heart-Eater. 134. The Cannibal Chief, 39. Wetzel, the Scout. 135. Karaibo. 40. The Huge Hunter. 136. Scarlet Moecasin, 41, Wild Nat, the Trapper , 137, Kidnapped. 42, Lynx-cap. 38, Maid of the Mountain. 43, The White Outlaw. 139, The Scioto Scouts, 44. The Dog Trailer. . The Border Renegade 45. The Elk a . The Mute Chief, 46. Adrian, the Pilot. 2. Boone, the Hunter. 47. The Man-hunter. . Mountain Kate. 48. The Phantom Tracker 144. The Red Sealper. 49. Moccasin Bill. 5. The Lone Chief. 50. The Wolf Queen. . The Silver Bugle. 51. Tom Hawk, Trailer. . Chinga the Cheyenne 52. The Mad Chief. , 448, The Tangled Trail. 53. The Black Wolf. 149, Vhe Unseen Hand. 54. Arkansas Jack. 15€, The Lone Indian, 55. Blackbeard. . The Branded Brave, 56. The River Rifles. 152. Billy Bowleg:s. 57. Hunter Ham, | 153, The Valley Scout. 68. Cloudwood. | 154, Red Jacket. 59. The Texas Haws | 155. The Jungle Seout. 60. Merciless Mat 156. 61. Mad Anthony’s Scouts | 157. The Cherckee Chief. The Bandit Hermit, 62. The Luckless {rapper | 155. The Patriot Scouts. 63, The Floridz. cont. 159. The Wood Rangers. 64. The Islani Trapper. | 160. The Red Foe. 65. Wolf-Cap. 161. Beautiful Unknown, 66. Rattlin Mick. 162. Canebreke Mose, 67, Sha e. 163. Hank, the Guide, 68. Tron-Hand. | 164. The Border Scout. 69. The Yellow Hunter. | 165. Wild Nat. 70. The Phantom Rider. | 166. Maid of Wyoming. 71. Delaware Tom. . The Three Captives. 72. Silver Rifle. | 168. The Lost Hunter. 73. The Skeleton Scout. . Border Law. 74, Little Rifle. . The Lifted Trail. 7%. The Wood Witch. | 171. The Trader Spy. 76. Old Ruff, the Tra ee | 172. The Forest Specter. 77. The Scarlet Shoulders | . The Border Foes. 78. The Border Rifleman, | 174. Border Vengeance. 79. Outlaw Jack. | 1%5. Border Bessie. 80. Tiger Tail, Seminole. | 176. The Sons of Liberty 81. Death Dealer. | 177. The Lost Bride. 32, Kenton, the Ranger. | 178. Keetsea. } | 179. The Tonkawa Spy. | 83. 2 gay Horseman. 84, The Three Trappers. . The Prairie Scourge. 5, Kaleolah. | 181. Red Lightning. 86. The Hunter Hercules. | 18?. Brave Heart. 87. Phil Hunter. | 88. The Indian Scout 89. The Girl Avenger. 90, The Red Hermitess. | 186. The Red Ontlaw. 91, Star-Face, the Slayer. | 187. The Swamp Scout. 92. The Antelope Boy. . The Shawnee’s Foe. 93. The Phantom Hunter | 189. Mohawk Nat. 94, Tom Pintle, the Pilot. | 190. Old Jupe. 95, The Red Wizard. | 191. The Prairie Riffes. 96. The Rival Trappers. 192. Old Kyle, the Trailer. ane Bill. SONG BOOKS. Brapin’s Dive Sone Booxs, Nos, 1 to 88, containing the only popular collection ef copyright sengs te be found in the marke. Melodist, ) School Melodiss «Music end Words, =
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82 Large Three-Column Pages. 1.A Hard Crowd. By P. S. Warne. 2. The Dare-Devil; or, ae WINGED Wiron or THE SEA. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 8. Kit Carson, dr., THr Crack SHOT OF THE WEST. By Buckskin Sam. oe 4. The Kidnapper. By P. 8S. Warne. 5. The Fire-Fiends; or, HERCULES, THE Honcupack, By A. P. Morris. , 6. Wildcat Bob, Tur Boss Bruiser ; or, Tor BornpER BLooDHOUNDS, 47. Death-Notch, TH DrsTroyer; oR, Tour Sprrit LAKE AVE NG terns. By Oll Coomes. : 8. The Headless Horseman. A strange story of Texas. By Capt. Mayne Reid, 9. Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover. 10. Vidoegq, The Frencu Pouce Spy. Written by himself. ue 1. Midshipman Easy. By Capt. Mar- v2, The Death-Shot ; DeatH. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 13. Pachiawaey 5 or, Nick WHIFFLESs, THE OLp TRAPPER OF THE ORTHWES iT. By Robinson. 14, A ag aaa, Dig By Ned Buntline. 15. The Tiger-Slayer; or, EaGLe- HeAp To THE Rescur, By Gustave Aimard. 16. The White Wizard. Ned Buntiline. 17. Nightshade, Tur Rosser PRINcE or Foovauon Hratu. By Dr. J. H. Robinson. 18. The Sea Bandit. By Ned Buntline. 19. Red Cedar, Tur Pram OvutLaw. By Gustave Aimard. 20. The Bandit at Bay. 21. The Trapper’s Daughter 5 Tue OvrtAw’s Fare. By Gustave Aimard 22. Whitelaw; or, NATTI£ oF THE LAKE Suore. By Dr. J. H. Robinson. 23. The Red Warrior. By Ned Buntlne. 24. Prairie Flower. By G. Aimard. 25. The Gold-Guide; or, STEEL Arm, tHE ReGuLaTor. By Francis Johnson. 26. he Death-Track. By F. Johnson. 27. The Spotter-Detective. By Aiken. 28. Three-Fingered Jack, Tue Roap- AGENT or THE ROCKIES. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 29. Tiger Dick, Toe Faro KING; or, Tre CasHrer’s Crowe. By Philip 8. Warne. 30. Gospel George. By J. E. Badger. 31. The New York ‘Sharp ;’ or, THE : FLASH OF LicuTnina. By Aibert Wa Aiken, By Ed. L. Wheeler. oR, TRACKED TO By Aimard. OR, % ‘ ‘ ae 32. B’hoys of Yale; or, THe Scrapers or A Harp Ser or Cotuteaemns. By John D. Vose, 33. Overland Kit. By A. W. Aiken. i 34. Rocky Mountain Rob. By Aiken. 35. Kentuck, the Sport. By Aiken. 36. Injun Dick. By Albert W. Aiken. 37. Hivl, the Hunchback; or, Tux SworpPMAKER OF THE SANTEE. By Dr. J. H, Robinson, . 88. Velvet Hand; or, Tue [Ron Grip or Insun Dick. By Albert W. Aiken. soe : 39. The Russian Spy. By Whittaker. 4 40. The Long Haired ‘Pards;’ or, ; Tre TARTARS OF THE PLarns. By Jos, E. Badger, Jr. ; 41. Gold Dan; or, THe WnaitTE SAVAGE i" or THE Great SALT LAKE. By Albert W, Aiken. t 42. California Detective. By Aiker. 43. Dakota Dan, THe REcKLESS RANGER} or, THe Bee-Hunters’ Excursion.. By Oll Coomes. 44, Old Dan Rackback. 01! Coomes. 45. Old Bull’s Bye, Tue Licutrnina Sor oF THE Piains. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 46. Bowie-Enife Ben. By Oil Coomes. 47. Pacific Pete, Tur Prince or tue Revotver. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 48. Idaho Tom, THE Youne OvuTLaw ' oF SILvERLAND. By Oll Coomes. ' if 49. The Wolf Demon. By A. W. Aiken, 50. Jack Rabbit, Tun Pram Spor; By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 51. Red Rob, Tue Boy Roap-AGEnt, By Oll Coomes. 52. Death Trailer, THe Curr Scoors. By Hon. Wm. F. Cody, (Buffalo Bill.) 68. Silver Sam; or, THe MYSTERY, OF Dealwoop Crry. By Col. Delle Sara. ' 54. Always on Hand; or, Tut Sportive Sport or “THE Foor Hitts. By Philip 5. Warne. 55. TheScalp Hunters. Mayne Reid. 56. The Indian Mazeppa. By Aikev. 57. The Silent Hunter; or, Tar ScowL Haut. Mystery. 58. Silver By Percy B. St. John. e. By Dr. J. H. Robinson, BEADLE’ DIME A a, et ce ee The Man From Texas. By Aiken. 60. Wide Awake; or, THE IDIOT OF THE Buack Hits. By Frank Dumont. 61. Captain Ssawaif, THe PRIVATEER. | By Ned Buhtline. Or | WrrnHout A NAME. 62. Loyal Heart. By Gustave Aimard. 63. The Winged Whale. By Aiken. s 64. Ones Sight, the Death Shot. sy Joseph EH. Badger, Jr. 65. The Red Rajah. By F. Whittaker. 68. ae Specter Barque. Mayne Reid. 67. The Boy Jockey. By J. E. Badger. 68. The Fighting Trapper; or, Kir | CARSON TO THE Rescur. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams. 69. The Irish Captain. By Whittaker. 70. Hydrabad, Tur STRANGLER; or, ALETHE, THE CHILD OF THE CorD. By Robinson, 71. ‘Captain Cool-Blade, or, Trr Man SHARK OF THE Mississippr. By Jos. KE, Badger, Jr, #72. The Phantom Hand, By Aiken. 73. The Knight of the Red Cross; or, THE MAGIcIAN OF GRANADA. Dr. J. H. Robinson, 74. Captain of the Rifles. Mayne Reid. 75. Gentleman George. By Aiken. 76. The Queen’s Musketeer; or, Tuiser, THE Princess PALMIST. By George Albony. 7'7. The Fresh of Frisco. By Aiken. 78. The Mysterious Spy; or, Go_prn FEATHER, THE BUCCANEER’S DAUGHTER. By Grainger, 9. Joe Phenix, Poutice Spy. By Aiken. 80. A Man of Nerve. By P.S. Warne. 81. The Human Tiger. By Aiken. 82. Iron Wrist, the Swordmaster. By Col. Thomas H. Monstery. 82. Gold Bullet Sport. By Buffalo Bill. 84, Hunted Down. By A. W. Aiken. 85. The Cretan Rover. By Ingraham. 83. The Big Hunter; or, or Tre Woops. By the author of ‘Silent Hunter.” 87. The Searlet Ceptain; or, Tux PRISONER OF THE TowER. By ( ‘ol. Delle Sara. 88. Big George, ‘HE GIANT OF THE Guicnu; or, THE Five OuTLAW BrRoTHERS. By Badger. 89. The Pirate Prince. By Ingraham. 90. Wild Will, Tue Map RancueEro; or, THE TERRIBLE TEXAN. ,By Buckskin Sam. 91. The Winning Oar. By Aiken. 92. Buffalo Bill, Tue Bucxskry Kina; By Mz jor Dangerfield Burr. 3. Captain Dick Talbot, Kina or THE ROAD. y Albert W. Aiken. 94. Freelance, THE BUCCANEER; or, Warr or THE Wave. By Col, Prentiss ngraham. 95. Azhort, THE AxMANn. By A. P. Morris. 98. Double-Death. By F. Whittaker. 97. Bronze Jack, THE CALIFORNIA TnoroverereD. By A, W. Aiken, 98. The Reck Rider}; or, or THE Srerra, By Capt. Frederick Whittaker. 99. The Giant Rifleman; or, Wi~p Lire In THE Lumber Recions. By Oll Coomes. 100. The French Spy. By A. P. Morris. 101. The Man from New York; or, Tare RoMANCE of A Rich Youna Woman. By Aiken. 102. The Masked Band; or, THe Man By George L. Aiken. 1038. Merle, the Mutineer. Ingraham, 104, Montezuma, the Merciless; or, THe EAGLE AND THE SERPENT. By Col. P. Ingraham. 105. Dan Brown of Denver, THE Rocky Mountain Detective, By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. i106. Shamus O’ Brien, Tux BouLp Boy or GurncAL. By Colonel Delle Sara. 107. Richard Talbot of Cinnabar; or, 108 BROTHERS OF THE Rep Hanp. By A.W. Aiken. . The Duke of Diamends; or, TH neem R OF CALCUTTA. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker, 109. Captain Kyd. By Col. Ingraham. 110. The Silent Rifleman. By Herbert 111. The Smuggler Captain; or, Tun Sxrpper’s Criue. By Ned Buntline. Mets Joe Phenix, PRIVATE , THE LEAGUE OF THE SKELETON Keys. By Ailen, aie 13. The Sea Slipper: or, THE TUR Frersoorers. By Prof. J. H. Ingraham, 114. The Gentleman from Pike; or, Tne GHost or THE Canyon. By Philip S. Warne. 115. The Severed Head; TRE SECRET OF CASTLE Covucy. 116. Black Plume, THE DEvu. or THE SEA; or, THE SORCERESS OF HELL-GAtTzs. By Ingraham. DETECTIVE: or, THE QurEEN | The | | THE SPIRIT | AMA- | By Capt. Fred. Whittaker. | Each Number Complete, | 117. Dashing Dandy, Tur Horsrur oy THE Hits. By Major Dangerfield Burr. 118. The Burglar Captain; FALLEN Stan. By Prof. J. H. Ingraham. 119. Alabama the: By J. E. Badger. 120, The TexanSpy. By N. M. Curtis. a The Sea Cadet. By Ingraham. 22. Saul Sabberday, Tux Iprior Spy; | Or, canes THE SEMINOLE. By Ned Buntline. | 123. Alapaha, the Squaw} or, THE RENEGADES OF THE BorvER. By Francis Johnson, 124. Assowaum, the Avenger; or, | Tas Doom or Tow Destroymrs. By Francis Johnson, 125. The Blacksmith Outlaw; or, Merry Enauanp. By Harrison Ainsworth, 126. The Demon Duelist; Price 10 cts, or, THY or, Tuy Leaaus or Steeu. By Colonel Thos. H, Monstery. | 127. Sol Scott, THz MaskEep Miner; or, Dan Brown's Dovusie. By Joseph E. Badger, 128. The Chevalier Corsair; or, Trz HeritaGe oF Harrep. By the author of “ Merle,” 129. Mississippi Mose. By Ed. Willett. 130. Captain Volcano; or, Toe Man or THE Rep Revotvers. By Albert W. ” aiken, 131. Buckskin Sam,THE TEXAN TRAILER; or, THe BANbITs OF THE Bravo, By Col. Ingraham, 132. Nemo, King of the Tramps; or, Tue Romany Giru’s VENGEANCE. By Whittaker. | 133. Rody, the Rover; or, Tux Rm- BONMAN OF IRELAND. By William Carleton, 134. Darkie Dan, tHE CoLorren Derre- | Trve; or, Tue Mississipr1 Mystery. By Ingraham, | 185. The Eush Ranger; or, Tus HALF-Breep Brigape. By Francis Johnson, 136. The Cutlaw-Hunter; or, Rep JoHN, THE Busu Rancer. By Francis Johnson. 13'7. Long Beard, Tux Giant Spy. By OU Coomes, 138. The Border Bandits; or, Tax Horse-Turer’s Trai, By Francis Johnson, 139. Fire-Eye, THE Sra Hymna; or,. Tne Brive or A BuccanrerrR. By Col. P. Ingraham, 140. The Three Spaniards. By George Walker. 141. Equinox Tom, THE BuLty or Rep Rock, By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 142. Captain Crimson, Tir MAN or THE Iron Pacer. By Major Dangerfield Burr. 143. The Czar’s Spy; or, Tax Nrarsr Leaagvurz. By Col. Thos. Hoyer Moustery. | 144, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. By Victor Hugo. 145. Pistol Pards. By W. R. Eyster. 146. The Doctor Detective; or, THE MYSTERY OF THE GOLDEN Corrin. By Geo. Lemuel, 147. Gold Spur, tax GrNTLEMAN FROM Texis. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. 148. One- Armed Alf, Tre Gran? HUNTER OF THE Grear Lakes. By Oll Coomes. 149. The Border Rifles. By Aimard. 150. El Rubio Bravo, KING or THR SworpsMen. By Col. Thomas Hoyer Monstery. 151. The Freebooters. By Aimard. 152, Cantain Tronnerve, tHE COUN- TERFEITER CuiiF. By Marmaduke Dey. 153. The White Scalper. By Aimard. | 154. Joaquin, Tur Sappie Kine. By | Joseph EB, Badger, Jr. : 155. The Gipsies of the Sea. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, 156. Velvet Face. By Major Danger field Burr, Ready October 19th. 57. Mourad, THE MAMELUKRE, By | Col, Thomas Hoyer Monstery. Ready October 26th, A new tissue every week. BReadle’s Dime Library is for sale by all Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of twelve cents éach, BEADLE & ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York, 3
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if | eS Cj aint = ss SED Jeo] w vaake = Hm Meek ehakede¥ POWDER-Fack aND His Demons. By Harbaugh, 85 ‘follo, the Boy BRauger. Ey Ol] Coomes. | §! idyl, the Girl Miner. By E. L. Wheeler, | 8. Suck Buekrams; or, Bess, toe FEMALE ‘aPPER, By Captain J. F.C. Adams, 8 Jusdly Live. By G. Waldo Browne, THE GREAT ANNIHILATOR; | or, W1LD EpDNA, THE GIRL BRIGAND. E. L.Wheeler. | EADLE'S | HALF-DIME | LIBRARY. 87 The Land Pirates. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 88 Photograph Phil, tae Boy Siuvrs; or, RosEsup Rob's REAPPEARANCE, By E. L. Wheeler, | 89 Island Jim. By Bracebridge Hemyng.- - % Shit Maretoeot, rae Woopv-Hawk; or, OLD | 90 The Dread Rider. By G. Waldo browne. 91 The Captain oi the Club3; or, THe Youne RivaL Aruieres. By Bracebridge Hemyng. 92 Canada Cinet; or, OLD ANACONDA IN SITTING Buiu’s Camp. By Edward L. Wheeler. 93 'The Boy Miuers. By EdwardS. Ellis. 94 Midnight Jack, tHE Roav-AGcent; or, Toe Boy Trapper. By T. C. Harbaugh. 95 Whe Rival Rovers. Lieut. Col. Hazeltine, 96 Watch-Eye, THe SHapow. By E. L. Wheeler. | 97 The Outlaw Brothers, By J. J. Marshall. | 98 Robin Hood, THe OvtLawepd Eart; or, THE | Merry Men or GReENwoop. Prof. Gildersleeve. 99 The Tiger of Taos; or, Wi Katz, Danny Rock’s ANGEL. By Geor Waldo Browne. 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A STRANGE STROKE For LiperRty. By Wheeler. 101 Jack Harkaway in New York, By Bracebridge Hemyng. 102 Dick Dead-Eye, THE Boy, SuvaeaiEr; or, THE CRUISE OF THE VIXEN. By Col. Ingraham. The Lion of the Sea. _ By Col. Delle Sara, Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, THs Sian oF THE DousLE Cross. By E. L. Wheeler. Old Rube, THe Huyrer. Capt. H. Holmes, Old Frosty, Tux Guive. By T. C. Harbaugh. One-Eyed Sim, By James L. Bowen. Daring Davy. By Harry St. George. Deadwood Dick as Detective. By Edward L. Wheeler. The Black Steed of the Prairies. A Thrilling Story of Texan Adventure. By Bowen. The Sea-Devil. By Col. P. Ingraham, The Mad Hunter. By Burton Saxe. Jack Hoyle, THe YounGc SPECULATOR; Or, THe Roap To Fortunr. By Ed. L. Wheeler. The Black Schooner. Roger Starbuck. ‘The Mad Miner; or, Danpy Rockr’s Doom. By George Waldo Browne. The Hussar Captain; or, tax Hermit or Heuu-Gatr. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. Gilt-Edged Dick, THe Sport Derective; or, THE Roap-Aaent’s DavuGurer. Wheeler. Will Somers, THE Boy Detective. Morris, Mustang Saim, THE KiNG oF THE PLAINS. By Jos. E. Badger Jr. The Branded Hand. By Frank Dumont. Cinnamon Chip, THE GIRL Sport; or, THE GOLDEN IpoL or Mr. Rosa. i'd. L. Wheeler. Phil Mardy, tue Boss Boy. By C. Morris, Kiowa Charley, THE WuiTre MustTancGer. BY T. C. Harbaugh. ‘Tippy, THE Texan. By George Gleason. Bonanza Bill, Miner. By Ed. L. Wheeler. Picayune Pete; or, NicopEmus, THE Doe Detective. By Charles. Morris, Wild-Fire, Boss ortTnHe Roap. By Dumont. Whe Young Privateer. By H. Cavendish. Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, THE Gost or GorGon’s GuicH. Ed. L. Wheeler, Wetective Dick. By Charles Morris. The Golden Handy3 or, Danpy Rock To THE RescvuE. By George W. Browne. The Hunted Hunter, By Ed. 58. Ellis. EBoss Kob, THE Kine or THE BOOTBLACKS; or, THE PAWNBROKER’s Prior. Ed. L. Wheeler. mee SCwatau wwe © — Ct itt et COOOO CO CH SO Omer w we oS wNwnw Www KWH =o Chest Que ww eC Wwe = wh YounG Patriots of THE Nortu. By Oll Coomes. Tum Prckep Party. By Edward L. Wheeler. vw a Tue NigHt-HAWEKS OF PHILADELPAIA. Morris, Fancy Krank of Colorado; or, THE TRAPPER’s Trust. By Buffalo Bill. 159 The Lost Captain; or, THe Orrn Potar Sea. Bv Captain Frederick Whittaker. 160 ‘the Black Giant; or, Damry Lance In Jroparpy. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 161 New Work Netl, rue Boy-Girt Derecrive; or, OLD BLAKESLY’S Money. By E. L. Wheeler. 162 Wilt Wildfire in the Woods. Morris. 163 Little Texas, THE YounG MusTanaer. A Tale of Texan Prairies. By Oll Coomes. 164 Dandy Rock’s Piedge, By G.W. Browne. bon on ir 3) Sure Shot Seth, THe Boy RirLeman; or THE | 35 Captain Paul, THe Kentucky MoonsmINER; or, THe Boy Spy or THe Mounrarns. By Clark. 36 Night-Hawk Kit. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 37 The Helpiess Hand. Capt. Mayne Reid. 38 Blonde Bill; or, Deapwoop Dick’s Home Base. By Edward L. Wheeler. 39 Judge Lynch, Jr. By T. C. Harbaugh. 40 Biue Blazes; or, THE Break o’ Day Boys or Rocky Bar. By Frank Dumont. 41 Solid Sam, THE Boy Roap-AGEnT; or, THE BRANDED Brows. By Edward L Wheeler. 42 tftandsome Harry, THE Boorstack Ds- TECTIVE, By Charles Morris. 43 Secar-Face Saul, ~ Oll Coomes. 44 Dainty Lance, THe Boy Sport. By Badger. | 45 Captuin Ferret, tHe New York Derec- TIVE; or, Boss Bos’s Boss Jos. By Wheeler. 46 Silver Star, THE Boy Kniaur. By Coomes. 47 Will Wildfire, THe THoxovuGsEReED; or, THe Winnina Hanp. By Charles Morris. 48 Sharp Samy or, THE ADVENTURES OF A FRIENDLESS Boy. By J. Alexander Patten. 49 A Game of Golds or, Drapwoop Dicx’s Bia STRIKE. . Edward L. Wheeler. | 50 Lance and Lasso, By Capt. F.Whittaker. 51 Panther Paul, Tse Prarmiz PimatTe; or, Darsty Lance To THE Rescur. J. E. Badger. 52 Black Bess, Witt Witprme’s Racer; or, Winnino AGAINST Opps. By Charles Morris. 53 Eagl: Kit, tHe Boy Demon. By Oll Coomes, 51 The Swerd Hunters. By F. Whittaker, 55 Gold Trigger, Tar Srort. T. C. Harbaugh. 56 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, Nike Merry, THE Harror Pouce boy; or, | 165 Billy Baggage, THz Ramroap Boy; or, Run To EartH. By Charles Morris. : 166 Hickory Harry. By Harry St. George. 167 Asa Scott, THE Sreamuoatr Boy. By Willett, 168 Deadly Dash, By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 169 'Tornado Tomy; or, tngun Jack From Rep Corr. ‘T. C. Harbaugh. 170 A ‘Trump Cardy; or, WoL WILprire Wins AND Loses. By Charles Morris. 171 Ebony Dan. By Frank Dumont. 172 Thunderbolt Tom ; or, THz Woir-HERDER OF THE Rockies. By Harry St. George. | 173 Dand i, | 174 Bob 175 Captain Arizona, Rocks Rival. By G.W. Browne. 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 Nevaday or, THe Scamp | OF THE Sterkas. By Edward L, Wheeler. | 178 Old Solitary. By Oll Coomes, 179 Bob Rockett, tur Bank Runner, Morris, 180 The Sea Trailer; ‘or, A Vow Wet Kurt, By Lieut. H. D. Perry, U.8.N. 181 Wild Frank, THe Buckskin Bravo; or, Lapy Lity’s Love. By Edward L. Wheeler. 182 Little Hurricane, THE Boy Capram. By Oll Coomes. 183 Whe Hidden Hand; or, Wi. Wi~orin’s Revenace. By Chas. Morris. 184 The Boy Trailers; or, Dawry LANcz oN THE War-PatH. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 185 Evil Eye, Kina or Cattie THirves; or, THE VULTURES OF THE Rio GranpE. By F. Dumont, 186 Cool Desmond; or, THE GsMBLER’s BiG Game. By Col. Delle Sara. 187 Fred HMalyard, rue Lire.Boar Boy; or, Ture SMUGGLERS OF THE INLET. By C. Morris. 188 Ned Temple, THe BorpvEer Boy. Harbaugh, 189 Bob Rockett, THz Cracksman. By Morris. 190 Dandy Darke; or, Tut Tigers or Hieu PINE, by Wm. R. Eyster. 191 Buffalo Billy, tHe Boy BULLWHACKEER. By Capt. A. B. Taylor, U. 8, A. 192 Captain Kit. By Lieut. H.D. Perry,U.8.N. 193 Captain Mask, Taz Lavy RoAp-AGENT; or, PaTent-LEATHER Jo“’s DureatT. By Warne. 194 Buffalo Bill’s Bet. By Captain Taylor. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dream, By Wheeler, 196, Shadowed sy; or, Bos Rockertr’s FIGHT ror Lire. By Charles Morris. 197 Little Grit, raz Witp Riper. By Ingraham. 198 Arkansaw, THE Man with tToE KNIFE. By T. C. Harbaugh. 199 Featherweight; or, THz Boy CnHAmpion oF THE MuskincumM. By Edward Willett. | 200 The Boy Bedouins,. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker. 201 The Black Hills Jezebel; or, Drap- woop Dick’s Warp. By Edward L. Wheeler, 202 Prospect Pete, or Tur Boy BrRIcADE; or, Tar YounG OurLaw Hunters. By Oll Coomes, 203 The Boy Pards. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. | 204 Gold Plume, THe Boy Banpir. Ingraham. 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom. A Tale of Death Notch. By Edward L. Wheeler. 206 Dark Paul, tHe TiceR Kina. By C. Morris. 207 Navajo Nick, THe Boy Goup Hunter. A Tale of Arizona, By T. C. Harbaugh. 208 The Boy Hercules. By Oll Coomes, | 209 Fritz, Tur Bounp-Boy Derrcrive. Wheeler. 210 Varo Frank of High Pine; or, Danny DarRKE'’s Go-pownN Parps. By W. R. Eyster. 211 Crooked Cale, THe CaLiBaN oF CELESTIAL Crry. By Jos, E. Badger, Jr. 212 Dashing Dave, THe Danny Derecriveg, } By Charles Morris. | 213 Fritz to the Front, By =. L. Wheeler, ee Wolfgang, THE RospeerR OF THE Ra#INE, By Captain Frederick Whittaker, 215 Captain Bullet, tue Ramer Kine. By T. C. Harbaugh. 216 Bison Bill, rae Prixce or THe Res. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 217 Captain Crack-Shot, THE Girt BRIGAND; or, Gipsy Jack FRoM JImTOWN. By Kdward L. Wheeler. 218 xiger Tom, THe Texan Terror, By Oll Joomes. 219 Despard, the Duelist; or, Tag Movun- TAIN VAMPIRES. By Philip S. Warne, 220 Tom Tanner, SCALAWAG AND ScAPEGRACE, By Charles Morris. 221 Sugar Coated Sam; or. Toe BLack Gowns or Grim Geico. By E. L. Wheeler. 222 Grit, the Gambler. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. Ready October x5th. 223 Ozark Alf, Kine or THz Mountain. Edward Willett. Ready November Ist. A new issue every week. Whe Malf-Dime Library is for sale by alt | Newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six_cents each, BRHADLE & ADAMS, | Publisners, 98 William Street, New York. ockett, THE Boy Dopaer. By Morris. '