Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 246) (1882 04 11)
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“74 il a a ti it nH | i ea halted ANS Copyrighted in 1882 by BEADLE AND ADAMS. April 11, 1882, » j; $2.50 a year. Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Mail Rates, s le PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, Price, Vol. X. Number. No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents. No. 246, GIANT GEORGE, The Ang’l of the Ran A TALE OF SARDINE-BOX CITY, ARIZONA, BY MAJOR SAM S. HALL-—“ Buckskin Sam.” AUTHOR OF ‘‘OLD ROCKY’S BOYEES,” ETC,, ETO, Pages Et eS YY e = se ~ = Sn bees V/ Ess SS you * “HYER'S FUN, DON DIABLO! THIS ARE OUR SPREE, AN’ WE PAYS FOR OUR REFRESHMENTS. HOOP-LA] DOWN SHE GOES!”
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Giant George; THE ANG’L OF THE RANGE, A Tale of Sardine-box City, Arizona, BY BUCKSKIN SAM, (Major Sam 8. Hall,) AUTHOR OF “OLD ROCKY’S BOYEES,” ETC. CHAPTER I. GIANT GEORGE “ TRAVELS.” ‘‘Hoop-La! Set’em up! Sling out yer p’ison afore I stampede through yer hull business! I’m ther ‘Bald-headed Eagle o’ ther Rockies,’ an’ are a-huntin’ sum galoot what’s got ther sand ter stomp on my tail-feathers. Shove out a bar’l o’ bug-juice afore 1 bu’st up ye shebang; fer my feed-trough are chuck full 0’ cobwebs, an’ as dusty as Chalk Canyon. Hoop-la! Don’t be bashful, Don Diablo! Don’t you go fer ter go back on yer raisin’. Show all ther brass an’ it yer has got in yer karkiss. An’ yer needn’t ry ter shake up vim enuff ter stampede outen this, for yer hain’t got ther muscle arter our long trail ter kick over a cotton-tail’d rabbit. Glide this-a-ways, an’ we’ll pour down a small decoction o’ chain-lightnin’ what’ll make us feel kinder nat’ral-like.” The speaker, as he shouted the first expres- sions that commence our story, stepped into one of the many hastily-constructed bar-rooms of Sardine-box City, Arizona, holding in his jhand a lariat which was drawn taut. One instant his eyes darted glances around the bar, and then he turned about, continuing as recorded, by addressing himself apparently to some person outside who seemed reluctant to enter. As may be supposed, those in the bar-room were atly astonished, not only at the words, but also at the manner and appearance of the stranger, as well as from the fact that he had seemingly gotten his lariat attached to some one who was being dragged about against his will. All this was soon explained, for as the tar- room loungers gazed open-mouthed, the new- comer gave a powerful pull at the rope, leaning his heavy weight upon it, brought round his hips as it was for the purpose, and the next in- stant a most comical-looking burro, its huge, snuff-colored ears lying viciously along its neck, shot inside the door. This sudden movement slackened the lariat so quickly that the owner of the animal fell to the floor with a shock that sbook the building. Quickly rising to a sitting posture, the ‘‘ Bald- Ineaded Eagle of the Rockies,” as he had pro- claimed himself, gazed into the face of the bur- xo which stood in the middle of the floor look- ing as innocent as a lamb. ** Waal, dod blast yer pecul’ar pictur’, Don Diablo, 1 wouldn’t ’a’ thunk yer’d ’a’ gone back on me, er knocked ther props under me thet-a-ways. I wouldn’t ’a’ thunk yer’d ’a’ made a spread eagle o’ yer old. an’ I’m dog-gon’ad good mind ter drink“alone. I’ve 8 by yer "mong ’Pache yells, cricks, an’ close feed, an’ now ye’re tryin’ ter disgrace me! Who’s thet laff’d?” he continued, springing to his feet, and draw huge bowie-knife. ‘I kin carve ther nose " ther gerloot thet laffs at me er Don Diablo. I kin shoot ther eyelids offen the cuss what smiles. I kin dissect ther in’ards o’ ther pilgrim or tender-hoof what looks crossways or puckers a lip at me or my outfit, fer I’m plum full an’ b’ilin’ over with hydro- phobic!” Turning about, the speaker his sowie and, bringing his hand down suddenly, buried the point of the blade in the pine plank that served as a counter, ‘ ‘* Hoop-la! Did yer hear me whisper whisky? Dig ther bugs outen yer ears an’ trot it out quicker’n an alligator gar kin skute, or I'll make toothpicks outen the hull caboodle!” Accustomed to rough and desperate char- acters though the bar’ xr undoubtedly was, it was evident that the man before bim was a trifle more so than the average patron of the ae oO. K.” Not only was the space behind the bar very narrow, but the stranger retained a hold on his e, at the same time leaning over the plank, and gazing into his eves with a look that meant business; consequentlv the vender of liquors, without a wo placed a bottle, together with glasses, before his strange customer. And a strange customer be certainly was. 2 Giant George; or, The Ang’l of the Range. He was tall, broad-shouldered—in fact a giant—with long unkempt hair, stray locks of which hung ugh holes in the crown of his old greasy sombrero. His face was covered with a heavy beard, with which huge bushy eyebrows claimed a brotherhood, mingling also with the hair.above his huge ears, Large hazel eyes glittered from beneath pro- jecting brows, avd proved by the unflinching way in which they met and held the gaze of others, that, notwithstanding his appearance their owner was an honest, straightforward man, His ragged buckskins were thrust into cow- hide boots, and a strong wide belt was buckled about his waist; this supporting a pair of old- . fashioned army revolvers, and a ae bullet- pouch, from which dangled an antelope-horn charger and the scabbard of his bowie. The O. K. saloon was but a one-story struc- ture, having some fifteen feet front on the street, and about twice that measurement in depth. The bar was to the right of the entrance extending along the side of the room; and sa this were card-tables. here were but half-a-dozen men _ present, -mostly strangers, or counted as such by the citizens who were in the habit of congregatin at a more popular resort. These were yeudéted speechless; dazed by the sudden entrance and strange address of the peculiar man with his peculiar beast. The burro was not much larger than a New- foundland dog, but a well-packed kiack upon its back caused it to appear much bigger, besides adding to its comical appearance. When this strange individual had filled both the glasses, he wrenched the bowie from the plank, thrust the blade, edge upward, over his ear, the ge projecting through a hole in the crown ot his sombrero, and the handle hanging downward, apparently ready for use. bis done, he grasped one of the tumblers, which in his hand seemed scarcely larger than a thimble, and approached the burro, opening its mouth and inserting the glass between its jaws. The giant borderman then clutched his own glass from the bar, clicked the same against the tumbler in the burro’s mouth, and yelled: “ Hyer’s fun, Don Diablo! This are our spree, an’ we pays for our refresbments. Hoop-la! Down she goes!” Thus speaking, he gulped the liquor at a single swallow; while the burro slowly raised its head to the perpendicular, and allowed the whisky to pour slowly down his throat, to the amazement of the observers, who, however, refrained from expressing it. ““Does yer take me fer a humming-bird, that yer sots out sich a thingamy as thet fer me ter drink outen?’ asked the giant, as he returned the glass to the bar. ‘Jest shove out a quart bottle at me, an’ hyer’s ther pewter ter pay fer hit!” and he threw a gold eagle upon the counter, = ; Grasping the bottle, he walked to the side of the burro and Binet it against the animal’s shoulder; then, taking the nose of the beast in his hand, he bent its head into the former Sprighs position. This done, he sprung back- ward ten paces, drew h’s revolver with a light- ning-like movement, and fired, without seeming to have taken aim. . Phe cork flew out from the bottle, showin that the bullet had passed within two inches o the animal’s ears; but the burro did not move until its owner stepped forward and removed the bottle from between its head and shoulder. ‘‘Hoop-la! We're on a jamboree—a reg’lar jim-jamboree, Don Diablo an’ ther ‘King-pin Kiowa killer ’ ther cutest cuss 0’ ther canyons— thet’s me! Hain’'t hit, Don?” “You seem eager to put your oar in,” said one of the loungers to another who was flashily dressed, indicating the card sharp, ‘“‘Why don’t you speak, Sport?” This was spoken in a low tone; and the man addressed straightened up, put on a bold air, and, looking at the giant borderman, asked in a voice of forced insolence, which he showed by his manner that he was not able to maintain: ‘“Where did you come from? Where were you raised anyhow? The huge stranger looked for an instant, with intense contempt, upon his questioner, and the next moment raised his revolver. ‘Hold up yer keard-slingers, or yer mought passin yer chips suddent-like!” ; The Sport instantly raised his hands above his head, at the same time turning deathly pale. “Thes a hefty su ply o’ handles wien I’m Dilin’ over with p’ison, an’ I duzn’t use my plum sober name at all, so yer ain’t liable ter ‘ know hit jes’ now. I cums from fourteen hun- dred an’ forty-four mile t’other sideo’ nowhe: |” And, grasping the man who had presumed to question him by the nape of the neck, ho reised him from the Hior, and set him astride of the burro; at the same time yelling: : “ Keep yer hands up, or I’ll make a few side- shafts inter yer ieaxkiont Hoop-la! Git, Don Diablo! We'll hev some fun outer this here jamboree, or bu’st Sardine-box City!” As if understanding every word of this, the burro wheeled suddenly, and darted out of the door, almost unseating the Sport, and fol- lowed by the giant, while the room rung with uproarious laughter. CHAPTER II. A CAROUSE IN THE CANYON. SARDINE-BOX City contained about sixty slab shanties, all of which had been “slapped up” within six months; none being over one story in hight; many being located below in the gulches, and some on the high foot-hills, near the Pinaleno Range. The greater number of these had been erected on each side of the only street in the ‘‘ City;” and were hotels, so called, groceries and bar-rooms, with all the usual ac- companiments connected, A dance-hall had been talked of; but as there were not females enough in the whole burg to form a cotillion, and these being antique dames who had not vim enough to ‘‘ shake a foot,” the project was abandoned for the time being. But the absence of this indispensable sign of an advanced civiliz- ation being deemed aserious drawback, a meet- ing was called, and the citizens ‘‘chipped in” quite liberally; the ‘‘rocks”” being placed in the hands of a down-country wagonmaster, for the purpose of bribing as many Mexican girls as was possible to return with the train, and make Sardine-box City their future home. From Gold Gulch, thirty miles north, a stage ran twice a week to Navajo, and passing through Sardine-box. The wagon-train followed the same trail, but was frequently a full fortnight on the road. There was no soil suitable for tillage in the vicinity; and no sane man would have located here had not ‘‘ pay dirt” been struck in the bot- tom of the canyons; where at times the water from the mountains rushed down, and rich quartz leads had been discovered. The rush, so far, had not developed the mines; for it would take months to get quartz mills into operation, the heavy machinery having to be transported many hundreds of miles in the most primitive manner, But the ‘‘ City” was, all things considered, in a prosperous condition. It had been at one time at the mercy of Victoria’s celebrated band of border butchers; in fact his warriors had charged through the town, and driven away the horses and cattle of the residents, who only esca death by fortifying themselves among the bowlders. This, however, was some time previous to the commencement of our tale. The reports that rich deposits had been dis- covered in the vicinity, having spread up and down the country, there had been a second rush which had resulted in building up the town to the respectable size that we now find it. The usual number of desperate characters that are always to be found in a new mining town, were in Sardine-box City; and, only a week previous to the opening of our story, a band of road-agents had ‘ ee through ” the Gold Gulch 8 . This was the third time that the mails and passengers had been robbed. The great event in the history of the town, however, had only just occurred. The entire osse of citizens—from Tom Jones, who had mn elected sheriff by acclamation, to the heathen Chinee washerman—had turned out, nearly insane with wonder and delight, at the arrival of a young and lovely lady, whose ex- clusiveness, as tinie advanced, caused the excite- ment to increase. Her beauty was vouched for by Hank Hol- brook, proprietor of Wugget Hotel, the only ublic house that boasted a suit of rooms over the bar, and a glass window overlooking the street. ; Hank had assisted-the young lady from the stage, and, although she was closely vailed, he had caught a glimpse of her face in the dining- room. ‘ “Tl jist be dog-gon’d, boys,” he said enthu- siastically, his face glowing with excitement, and his nose several shades redder than ordi- nary; ‘‘she’s aroarer! She’s arip-staver! An’ I’ll sw’ar ter hit, she’s ther purtiest piece 0’ cal- iker south o’ ther Unyin Paciff. t’s liquor all round et my expense. I be durned ef I don’t keep her ef I hes ter board her free gratis!”
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in | belong to .a wealthy, and highly respectable family of St. Louis. My father resides, at this writ- ing, in that city; although he is an aged man, and in failing health. Ihave left him in the care of a younger sister, and with means sufficient for his every want for the residue of his days. My object in coming among you I will explain. “ Our family consisted of a sister, Laura, a brother, Samuel, and my father, Horatio Lawrence, besides ne Lsay, consisted ; for my brother's bones lie within five miles of your town, He.was one of the earliest discoverers of gold in this section of the ter- ritory. My mother died while I was quite young. My brother, when at home, had two associates; three roe men being of nearly the same age. The names of his friends were Rudolph Reynolds and Edward Willoughby. The first mentioned was a handsome, noble young man, between whom and myself sprung up a warm friendship, which at length ripened into love. The latter was also bandsome, but addicted to drink, and a confirmed gambler, without honor or principle; but my brother remained strangely blind to his vices, “Rudolph Reynolds and mgeee were not. only plighted lovers, but the day had been fixed upén for our ‘marriage. Edward Willoughby had, for some time, persecuted me by his attentions; and, at the pet time, excited somewhat the jealousy of Ru- dolph. ; “The time came when my lover was obliged to visit New York, in the interest of the firm of which his father was a member. From the date of his de+ parture, Edward yy eeug hy haunted our home; and, I have every reason to, be letters which suacion had written me. At last one letter came. In this my lover stated that, having received a letter from me, in which I spoke of my re- et at ever having promised to become his wife and also that I was soon to be married to Edward. Willoughby, he had lost all confidence in human na- ture, and was then setting out for the wild West. “Previous to the receipt of this, to me, inexpli- cable letter, Edward Willoughby had induced my fa- ther to invest almost his entire fortune in mining stocks. This was after he had insulted me,by a proposal of marriage, but of which I bad never spoken. The stock in which my father had invested was worthless; this, however, he did not know, un- cog Edward, with his glowing accounts of the Eldo- rado brother to draw the sum of ten thousand dollars, lieve, intercepted the . he had discovered, had prevailed upon my* —
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4 which had been left him by my mother, from the bank, and start with him for the West, vy en I scorned Willoughby’s offer of marriage he swore that he would yet bring me to grief an | mee and I laughed at his threats; but when my ather’s fortune had vanished through his means, and my brother had gone from home in his com- pany, then I realized something of his devilish char- acter, and recalled his terrible oath. “Time passed. I heard nothing from Rudolph; but word came from my brother, that SS ee after robbing him of all that he sessed, had wounded and left him to die in a strange land. The wre after having been made the chief of a gan of bandits, had come to my brother's camp, an robbed, and then murdered him! “The thought of all the fearful wrongs done to me and mine by this fiend, changed me suddenly into a determined, revengeful woman. I took an oath to hunt this inhuman monster, the assassin of my brother, the traducer of my name, and the swindler of my father. I swore that, weak, defense- less though I was, I would hunt him to his death; and I will keep my oath, even if it takes my whole lifetime to accomplish it, “In disguise I shall disappear from your town; but will return if life be spared me. brother's bones lie buried at the head of Dead Man’s Gulch. A chart, forwarded to me by a friend of his, will guide me to his last resting-place, and also to the pace where the gold, which Edward Willoughby ailed to discover, is hidden. The villain is now known as ‘El Capitan, the Chief of the Panthers.’ “In the event of my death, or even if I do not return within thirty days, mail my papers to Horatio LAWRENCE, 1344 Le Roy St., St. Louis, Mo. “Lena LAWRENCE.” This paper, Dora Deane, for so we must now speak of her, sealed and addressed: “To he citizens of Sardine-bow City:— ‘To be opened by Mr. Hank Holbrook, at the ex- piration of thirty days, and read in public.” This being completed the young girl opened the letter, of which former mention has been made, and read as follows: ‘*Deap MAn’s Guion, ' ** August 18th, 187—, “My Daruine Sister Lena:— “IT have received your letter in which you speak of the perfidy of Edward Willoughby. i accused him of everything. We quarreled. He attempted my life, and then fied, having first robbed me. On my recovery I came to Arizona, where, at this point I struck rich deposits of pocket-gold, and secrete in the mountain near this, a © fortune; but I did not encamp on the spot. Two days ago, a band of road-agents, known as the “ Panthers,’’ discovered my camp aud shot me, leaving me, as er Bu posed, dead. we searched for my gold, but with- out success, and then left. The ef of the out- laws, who himself shot me, with a demon smile and of recognition upon his lips, was none other than the curse of our family, Hdward Willoughby. “T have been nursed, with all the care and tender- ness of a woman, by a scout known as “Giant George,"’ with whom I had traveled many trails, who providentially discovered me. We both know, er, that I must soon die. He is true as steel, tho the most eccentric of men; and he swears that will sty, a4 my murder. “* He will post this letter, in which I will inclose a chart b ot eed nears ae ffm It will place our tamer in a better condition, cially, than he ever was. I hope that you and Rudolph are now man and Mvp oon that ge will come here together. Find Giant rge, and trust him as you would myself. I cannot write more, for I am very weak, and the re of gre Ae ne upon me. I have made my peace, I trus my er. * Break this as considerately as you can to my father, and to my pet, Laura. Tell them my last thoughts were of them and of our home. I shall die prayin, that God will ever watch over, and bless you “The sun is shining bright, but the world is grow- ing dark tome. I can see the tears of sorrow, as they roll down the beard of Giant George, who bends over me. “To the last, your loving brother, “*SamveL H. Lawrence.” A hundred times, at the least, had Dora read and wept over this letter; and now her form was convulsed with grief, and the tears flowed ly. Slowly she bent forward upon the table, her head resting upon her arms, and the weary, travel-worn maiden sobbed herself to sleep. CHAPTER IV. THE CITIZENS RECUPERATE. WE have seen how nearly the entire popula- tion of Sardine-box celebrated the arrival of the ‘‘Sarah-Togey ” and its angelic owner. When the morning sun cast its bright rays across the top of the chasm, one by one, the revelers of the previous night awoke. Not that ‘‘ eye openers” of that description were much required; for all their optical organs were wild and bulging, from the combined effects of the stimulants and the damp night air. Giant George; or, The Ang'l of ‘the Range. The first to awaken looked about anxiously for Hank Holbrook, with the intention of “ strik- ing ” the landlord for the drinks, At last that worthy was discovered on the bowlder; and, with much physical persuasion and bad English, was gotten down to the canyon. ank was perfectly wild, and as mad as a hatter; not knowing how he came to be in such a fix. At length, one of the miners rushed up to him and elled: "Rah for ther Ang’l o’ Penarlayno Range!” These words broaght him to his feet in an instant, his features glowing with the old pride. ‘*Feller citz!”’ he yelled, ‘“‘let’s git! Help me ter climb this cussed canyon, will some 0’ yer? I’m es slimpsy es an old dish-rag, an’ es shaky es Jim Dryden war when we strung him up on a black-jack in Texas, for confistercatin’ mules !- Did yer ever hear me tell ’about Jim ?” “Dod blast Jim Dryden!” called out the sheriff, impatiently. ‘‘ Come on, Hank! We’re es dry es ole punk an’ we'll be done for ef we lingers Baer ong. I’m dog-goned ef I don’t believe I'll hev brain fever.’ With much difficulty, stumbling, tumbling yelling and laughing, ‘ank was at last landed on the level of the canyon, ‘* Hit wd make an alligator laugh, Hank, ter see sich a cirkuss,” asserted the sheriff. ‘“‘ Bless my soul, boys, I’m ’bleeged ter yer; I declar’ I never war so sot back, an’ I’m dang’d ef yer'll ever git me down thar agin. How does I ’pear this mornin’?” “Yer jest look hunk,” said Tom; ‘ only yer want ’bout four fingers straight ter brace yer narves an’ stiffen yer spinal colonnade.” ‘** An’ we'll hev it,” said Hank, “‘ ef hit bu’sts me up. Come on, boys; but keep shady an’ uiet, for we mustn’t disturb ther Ang’l o’ ther ‘enarlayno Range.” It was a hard-looking crowd that filed into the bar-rooni of the Nugget Hotel that morning. Several rounds were drank before the party felt like themselves; then the cause of the jollifica- tion became the all-engrossing subject of con- versation, which was carried on in low, hushed tones. ‘‘T reckon,” said the sheriff, ‘‘ thet we’d orter *p’int a committy ter ax her ef we can’t do somethin’ for her. Mebbe so she’s in trouble, an’ us citz kin smooth her trail. I motions, fust off, thet we’uns ’dopts her. Let’s chip in, ef she hain’t got no extry dust, an’ keep her fer a orniment. Yer say thet nobody hes sich a Sarah-Togey trunk. Do yer reckon she comes from that ¢? Does she sling United States? Whar in thunder is Sarah-Togey, Hank?” me -goned ef I knows, Tom. [ve heer’d on hit in s. Hit’sas am-up place, I’m a- - blin’ on that, or hit wouldn’t uice sech fe- male weemin es she bees. a-as, she slings "Nited States. Hit’s her nat’ral lingo. Mebbe she can’t sing; but I'll bet my int’rest in Arizo- ny she kin 6 a mockin’-bird skute for a hol- ler tree an’ hide hisself outen pure shame an!’ jealousy. ‘We're all goin’ our pile on her, Hank, jest on your say-so. We doesn’t know whether she’s a reg’lar fust-class XXX gal, es es & kromo, but yer hes slung out fet verdick; an’ ef yer hes made a pack of fools of us, why we'll iy ther street in the futur’ when we’s ‘I ain’t "tall afear’d o’ losin’ custom, Tom,” said Hank, ‘‘ on no p’int like that, you bet.” At this moment loud yells resounded through the street, and the ‘‘ citz” who had congregated at the bar of the Nugget Hotel gazed at each other a moment in indignant amazement. “What dod-blasted fool is kickin’ up sich a rumpus now?” exclaimed mine host. “‘Hoop-la! Skip lively, Don Diablo, an’ give ther keard-slinger a fust-class ride. Whoop-’er- up! E-e-e-e-ho! Hail K”lumby! We-unsis on a jim-jamboree, Don Diablo. “We'll shake ther Sardines outen ther ole box an’ run ther town for a few fleetin’ periods. Hoop-la! Hyer we come on a cyclone stampede!” Thus yelled the giant scout as he left the O. K. saloon and followed his galloping burro down the street, holding a ae eater n each hand, while ‘‘ Sport,” his hands held high in air with fear, rage and shame, was forced to curl his legs under the animal to keep from falling igno- miniously to the earth. “Didn’t I tell yer, Don Diablo?’ called out the scout; ‘‘ we-’uns hes shook ther Sardines all out in a buneh. Say, pilgrims, ther cirkuss hes crost ther Penarlayno Range. Who keers ter ride ther boss burro.o’ Arizony ?” As the motley crowd bounded from the bar, and rushed into the street, the burro came galloping at full speed, and as he came opposite the hotel and its crowd of loungers, its owner, walking some ten feet in the rear, gave a pierc- ing whistle. s Rot limb, or a muscle of Don Diablo moved after the signal cut the air, the animal came to an abrupt halt that hurled its rider forward over the burro’s head, sprawling into the mid- dle of the street. c The crowd of “citz,” at first highly indig- nant at the uproar, now. burst into loud laugh- ter, and being somewhat under the influence of liquor, joined hilariously in the racket; for Sport was a new-comer, and not a favorite in the town. The appearance of the self-styled ‘‘ Bald- headed Eagle of the Rockies,” was such, that none cared to question his business in Sardine- box City. In fact, the army revolvers at full cock, the huge bowie-knife projecting over the ear, with his belligerent aspect generally, im- pressed the ‘‘citz” with feelings not very far removed from timidity. Tom Jones, being the leading official of the town, felt it incumbent on himself to address the man; indeed he was forced into so doing by the frequent and urgent glances of his townsmen, who intimated by their manner that they would stand by him, Consequently, as the huge human approached, with a peculiar mingling of disdain, reckless daring, and mirth upon his features, Tom spoke: “Waal, what's ther difficult ‘tween yer an’ Sport? When did yer ’rove in our burg?” “Who tole yer ter open yer corn-cake hop- © per? Who does yer take yerself ter be?” ‘I’m the sheriff o’ this city,” asserted Tom with pride; ‘‘ an’ I hesa right ter ax questions.’ “Yer ther sheriff, are yer? Whar’s ther al- calde?” ‘“We-uns hesn’t no mayor,” was the reply. ‘“‘T holds ther highest office in this h yer burg.” ‘‘Yer mean thet yer did ontil I ’rove,” cor- rected the giant. ‘‘ I’m a-bossin’ Sardines about hyer myself. Me an’ Don Diablo is on a jim- jamboree, an’ we doesn’t take water, or craw- h outen ary crowd yer kin scare up in Ari- zony. Hoop-la! Scrouge him cross the street!” And the burro forced the luckless ‘‘ Sport” be- fore it, as directed, still holding the slack of the enraged man’s breeches between its teeth. The ludicrous side of the scene, however, was no longer appreciated by the crowd. . Tom Jones trembled with pent-up fury, as his hand nervously moved toward the butt of his revol- ver. ‘‘ Now look a-here, Mister Sheriff, thet’ll do. I’ve fooled with you-uns ’bout long enough. Some o’ yer mought be d d soft-headed, an’ try ter bore a stock tunnel through my in’ards, an’ git his own carkiss turned inter @ cream-skimmer. Hold up yer hands, every one 0’ yer, dan ty goes he added, yellin in a key that showed he meant business, an every man among the “‘citz” obeyed. AS I’pear like a ‘fresh? Does I look like a tender-hoof? Does yer think I’m a infant what'll skute, slide, levant from ary crowd this. side o’ ther Unyin Percif? I come inter this: burg for fun; an’ I’m a-goin’ ter till Don. Diablo shakes a few ticks offen his hide.” The ‘‘citz” of Sardine-box, almost insane with rage, were forced to walk single-file, until a line was formed from the Nagget” to the re) ite bar. In front of this line Don Diablo oved the man who was called ‘‘ Sport ”. back and forth. The ‘‘ Bald-headed Eagle o’ the Rockies ” had kept his word; and Sardine-box City was under his thumb, but there was nothing now of exul- tation in the manner of the giant scout, who stood regarding them with a peculiar mysteri- ous look upon his face, which still further puz- zled them. Every man in the line looked toward the singular character who had so sobdondy ap- ed in their midst, and so unexpectedly got the ‘‘drop” on them; but not one seemed to have formed any plaf to extricate himself or his friends from the humiliating position. The fact that they had been on such a recent carouse contributed to confuse their ideas; and the wild and desperate manner of the giant, to- gether with his reckless, dare-devil acts and words dazed them for the time; and they felt sure that the first man who broke the line, or lowered his hands, would get a ball through his brain. While matters were in this condition, Hank Holbrook peeped out from his bar door; the muzzle of a double-barreled shot-gun also pro- jecting showing plainly bis object. Over bis door was a sign, four feet in length, and painted white; upon which, in black let- - ters, was the name of his hotel. d b ¢ d v an at ak eho OM ees
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Giant George; or, The Ang’l of the Range. | . 5 The scout did not stand more than fifteen paces from the entrance to Nugget Hotel; and, as Hank gazed out, he observed him, but did not, by an sign, betray the fact. Slowly the form of che landlord came into view; slowly the gun was brought to his shoulder, and the barrel raised upward, point- ing to the huge borderman, who, with li htning- like motion wheeled toward the point of attack, and fired four shots in quick succession. The next moment, his eyes ranged along the line of *‘citz,” -bhis remaining weapon being ‘firm grasped and pointed. As Hank Holbrook strove to catch sights, his form trembling with excitement and the effects of his whisky, he saw the quick flashes of the ag de revolver; and, rendered desperate by is peril, he straightened up his form boldly; but as his finger pressed the trigger, down came the sign of the Nugget Hotel, striking the affrighted landlord on the head, who fell for- ward, his ‘gun exploding, and the charge scat- tering the gravel in front of his door. The eyes of the “ citz,” gazed in wonder and amazement, for they knew that the giant scout had driven a nail at every shot. CHAPTER V. DEADLY PERIL OF THE GIANT. Tue ‘‘citz” of Sardine-box had been in a demoralized condition for twenty-four hours; but there was a new and startling surprise for them at hand. No sooner had the burly bor- derer showed his marvelous skill with his re- volver, than he coolly ordered: “Sardines! Break ranks!” “Now,” added he, as the ‘‘citz” lowered their hands, ‘‘ef thar’s a pilgrim among yer what feels that his keeracter hes bin lasserated, let him glide out, an’ I’ll give him two p’ints in ary e be keers ter play—cut, gouge, er shute! You-’uns what thinks I hes bin slingin’ too much loose gab, an’ playin’ a bluff game: es it war, kin satis : eee one er two at a time. Ef I got ther dead wood onyer, it warn’t my gravy what war spilt, but your own fryin’- pan what got kicked inter ther fire.” This cool, calm mode of address, and the off- band way in which he offered to fight the crowd, impressed ‘hem even more strongly than his daring and reckless manner. Hank Holbrook crawled into his bar without a word, and the crowd collected, apparently without any object, in front of the hotel, where they were joined by ‘‘Sport,” much the worse for wear. The giant seated himself on the ground in the middle of the street, his revolver in hand, and his gaze fixed upon the crowd, who were being addressed by the half-frenzied Sport, whose in- dignation at the treatment he had received knew no bounds, At this moment the clatter of hoofs sounded apon their ears: and a man, mounted on a pow- erful black horse which showed points of great speed. came Galloping down the street toward 6 Nugget Hotel. The eyes of the rider flashed from one to an- other of the ‘‘citz,” as if searching for a fa- miliar face. Suddenly, the giant scout, who seemed to have escaped the stranger’s notice, bounded forward, with a wild and vengeful whoop. “Black Ben! I’ve got yer now!” he yelled, as he grasped the bridle-rein of the horse. One instant, eye met eye; the face of the stranger turning ghastly pale. The next, the huge borderman jerked him from the horse; at the same time drawing his bowie-knife from above his ear. “Draw, Black Ben! Hit’s bowie ag’in’ bowie!” Before the words had left his lips, the last comer had drawn his knife. Back and forth in the street, did the two men drive each other, the eyes of each filled with a murderous light; while the “itz,” now doubly amazed at the terrible sight, stood open-mouthed and appalled, their hands on their weapons. “Pm jest a-playin’ with yer, Ben!” shouted the giant; and his oppotient seemed to realize that this was true. ne desperate Junge he made at the breast of the scout; but quick as thought, his arm was struck and he was hurled half about; and before he could recover, his heart was sliced in twain by a thrust with the terrible bowie-knife of the giant. With a horrible yell of agony, the man reeled for an instant in his tracks, and then fell with a dull, sodden sound to the earth, his ghastly face upturned, and his lips quivering spasmodi- cally in the agonies of death. It was an awful- Veni tableau. ~ a ; en, as from one man, came the vengeful cries of the “ citz ”— . ‘ sti Hang him! String up the cuss! Jump him, s! less time than is required to narrate, the giant was disarmed and hurried down the street toward the canyon. ~ _ At less than half the distance this strange be- ing came to a sudden halt, and, giving a pecu- liar whistle, yelled: ‘Come on, Don Diablo! Ther cirkuss ain’t over, Sardines. Ef yer string me up for seed, yer got ter hang Don!” Nothing could have caused the mob to be- come less violent than these words and the ut- ter unconcern of the man whom they had re- solved to hang. But they pressed him onward in spite of it, Hank Holbrook following in the rear, panting with excitement and exertion, as he staggered under the weight of a large jug of whisky, with which he proposed to keep up the fever-heat of the ‘‘citz.” To the right of the street, and among the scattering bowlders, stood a large mesquite tree, which, on more than one occasion, had been used for the same urpose; and to it the mob rushed, having first ound the hands of the giant with a lariat. As the crowd neared the tree, their shouts and yells subsided, and all gazed at Tom Jones, expecting him to act as the leader, by virtue of his exalted civic office. At the foot of the tree was a bowlder, and upon it the doomed man was forced to sit, sur- rounded by those who clamored for his life. Tom Jones, mounted on an adjacent bowlder, yelled for order, and the crowd at once became still as death, ‘*T doesn’t suppose that ary preliminary biz is necessary, citz,” he said. ‘This hyer slab- sided, bull-necked cuss hes bustled inter our box like a roarin’ grizzly hankerin’ fer blood. He tuck advantage of our horsepittallerty, we-’uns not keerin’ ter come slap down on a stranger, by gittin’ the drap on us, makin’ the hull crowd feel like a passel 0’ dod-blasted fresh fools! He made every fust-class cit o’ Sardine-box take a } peep inter the muzzle o’ his sixes without givin’ us ary a show; an’ thet are enough ter hang him, fer this thing mustn’t git out, or we’re a ruined burg. Next he. sots up the butcher biz in our street, carvin’ a man’s in’ards inter hash, right under our noses. He looked likea XXX chap, an’ probably ’tended ter locate with us. Every man in this hyer crowd are a witness ter this; an’ now, all what favors a moderate chokin’ off fer the murderin’ cuss by slingin’ him up fer buzzard-bait, jest elervate yer gravel-scratchers.” Every hand was instantly raised, while fiend- ish shouts rent the air, and a rush was made to- ward the scout, who sat upon the bowlder per- fectly unconcerned. “Feller-citz! Oh, yes! Feller-citz!” All recognized the voice of Hank Holbrook, who now appeared upon the scene, puffing like a porpoise, and reeling along the trail ‘with his jug o whisky. Hur-ra-a-a-h for Hank!” yelled Tom Jones. ** Jest in time fer ther cirkuss, old pard. Ther Hep ae Eagle o’ ther Rockies’ are ’bout ter fly! “ Ther ‘King-pin Kiowa-killer’ are "bout ter dance on nothin’!” yelled the ick exultantly. ‘*Give us some o’ yer whisky, Hank.” Hank, however, had no opportunity to dis- ense his hospitalities, for the sheriff caught wu Phe jug and drank heartily, after which it wen the rounds. . : ‘Bless my soul!” said Hank; “ Sardine-box City are a-goin’ ter the devil fast. Are yer all a-gitten’ luny thet yer can’t slide a man inter kingdom come without all thisfuss? Yer orter go ter Texas an’ l’arn ther trade.” ‘ ‘Kin yer tie a boss hangman’s knot?” asked the sheriff. “Waal, I reckon I kin, without half tryin’!” “Sling a lariat over that big limb, boys!” or- dered Tom Jones. ‘‘Now, Hank, perceed ter biz, ole man,” The landlord, first bracing himself inwardly with a sup of the “ bug-juice,” proceeded in a very gingerly manner to the rear of the con- demned man. ‘**Look a-hyer, Sardines!” suddenly called out the giant scout, as he threw one lap over the other in a careless manner; ‘‘I reckon I’m counted inter this little game, leastways hit looks like hit, an’ ther’ hain’t any o’ yer got ther decency to pass ‘long thet terrantaler-juice. Hit’s a len’thy time ’tween drinks, hain’t it, Don Diablo? Pass thet whisky, an’ rig another lariat fer ther Don. Me an’ him has bin pards ona heap 0’ trails, an’ we calkerlates on goin’ on the long, dark one together.” ni ‘Tho words and. manner of the giamt were so strange that the ‘‘citz” became silent as he ! spoke; while Tom Jones, when he brought his remarks to a close, secured the jug and ap- proached him. : ‘“Nary pilgrim shill say I wouldn’t gi’n him a drink when he war dry, an’ I hed hit; ’s - *ly a man what’s goin’ ter make a clean jump inter the regi’ns o’ Tophet, whar hit’s hotter than ther middle o’ ther Staked Plains.” So saying, he placed the jug to the condemned pom 5 mouth, and elevated it, allowing him to rink. “All set!” roared Hank, as he swung the noose. “String him up!” cried out ‘Sport;” ‘I’m a-bettin’ thet he belongs ter ther ‘ Panthers,’ an’ the may make a dash round this way ter rescue him.’ This speech caused those who had begun to be favorably impressed by the prisoner’s daring to draw back and consult as to the justice of hanging the man without learning more about him, to rush again toward the bowlder, clamor- ing. for the instant execution of the sentence. om Jones ordered him to stand up, which he promptly did, and the noose was quickly ad- justed; while a dozen miners grasped the ready to draw him up to the limb, without stop- ping to consider, in their excitement, that he ad taken no advantage, but had killed his man in fair fight. “*Now,” said the sheriff, ‘‘sling us yer real handle. We-uns would like ter know who yer is; an’ hit won’t do yer any good ter glide outen this territory without tellin’ hit. at did yer carve thet stranger fer? An’ what name must we set down on the burg’s books? We-uns is doin’ this thing reg’lar, an’ we wants ter hev hit all recorded.” ‘Start yer cirkuss!” yelled the giant scout, recklessly, ‘‘ Yer kin hang me up, an’ set me down on ther books es ther ‘ Bald-headed Eagle o’ ther Rockies,’ fer I won’t hev my name dis- graced by sich Sardines as you-uns.” “Waal, dod blast bit!” said Tom Jones; “ ef we lets him sling any more gab, tome on us’ll be fer lettin’ him levant. Pull bim up, citz!” With a loud cry the lariat was tightened; but at this instant a horse came with frantic bounds into the midst of the crowd, and upon the back of the animal was Dora Deane! Her head was bare, and her long dark hair was flying in the wind. In each hand she held, cocked, a silver-mounted revolver. B inging the horse, which all recognized as the anim that had belonged to the man who had been killed by the giant scout, to his haunches, she leveled her weapons, and called out, in firm tones, that rung like a bell: ** Drop that rope, or die!” CHAPTER VI. DORA’S RECKLESS RESOLVE. Tue landlady of the N nugget Hotel, after hay- ing’ prepared a square meal for her fair guest, and taken it to the room in which she had left her, saw, to her disappointment, the young lady, reclining upon the table, and fast asleep. She hesita but a moment, and then ap- proached the table and awoke her. **T wouldn’t bother yer,” said Mrs. Holbrook, by way of apology; ‘‘but I knows yer needs ter eat, ter keep Up. “Thank you! You are very kind. I have been writing, and was so fatigued that I fell asleep. : Gathering her papers together, she followed the landlady into an adjoining apartment; and, having seated herself, thus began: ‘Mrs, Holbrook, I have much to say to you, by way of explaining my present tion and future plans, and would be pleased if you could spare me a little of your time to-morrow fore- noon.” “‘ Well, dearie, I hope you'll get a good night's rest; an’ I’ll see thet ther ‘boys’ don’t make a rumpuss in ther bar.” ‘TY shall sleep soundly, I bave no doubt, and the noise below stairs is not likely to disturb me.” ‘‘Reckon miss, yer doesn’t know much "bout Arizony boys. Some o’ them ’u’d raise ther dead when they gits a-drinkin’;” and the land- lady, with a parting smile, departed. Dora ate heartily, and then retired to rest, passing the night in sweet repose; for, as we al- ready know, Mrs. Holbrook was not forced to exert her authority, Hank, her worthy husband having considerately evacuated the bar, an continued the celebration in honor of the sleep- ing maiden, in the depths of the canyon. ey the following morning, Mrs. Hol- — de brook made her appearance in Dora’s apart- | ments, and was welcomed by her guest. In the confidential conversation that followed, the -
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—————————————————— 7 ~ - 7 Territory. I declar’ ter grashus, . " Giant George; or, The Ang’! of the Range. young lady explained her position, and gave in- the hands of her hostess the package of papers she had written the previous evening. uring the disclosure of her plans, the land- lady gazed at Dora in mute amazement, speech- less at the cool manner in which this young and inexperienced girl announced what she intended to do; and, when her guest opened her trunk and displayed its contents, the old lady raised her hands in increased wonderment. First, she took from the trunk her buckskin suit, including boots with the spurs attached. Next, she held up to the admiring gaze of Mrs. Holbrook, a silver-mounted Mexican saddle, with a bridle, and a gaudy serape, or blanket. Lastly, Dora exhibited her arms, which consisted of a air of Colt’s revolvers, a Sharp’s rifle, and a Powie-knife: a belt, and a neat bullet-pouch containing everything requisite in the shape of ammunition. **Oh, lordy me, Miss Dean! I declar’ I never heerd tell 0’ sich desp’rit doin’s. Yer’ll be shot by ther ‘Panthers,’ er sculpt by ther ’Paches, dead sure an’ sartin!” - “T shall brave every danger,” said Dora, firmly; ‘‘so do not try to influence me. You will, [ know, keep my secret. Do not even tell your husband. Can you secrete my trunk where he will not chance upon it?” “T kin shove hit under my bed, I reckon. Hit won’t be very hefty fer me ter tote after yer its them togs outen hit. But, lordy, ef thet other o’ yourn is dead, why he’s dead; hit won’t do ary good ter shed tears over his grave. Yer life are wuth more’n all ther gold in ther never did feel so sot back ’bout a stranger. I kinder cot- tons ter yer, like yer war a blood relation. Hit’s ene a hain’t goin’ ter w’ar petticuts long *bout this burg, er ther ‘ boys’ ’u’d be all crazy, an’ we'd hev three or four funerals a day.” “And now, thy good friend,” said Dora; **you must do all you can to assist me. This. uckskin suit was my poor murdered brother’s, which he had thought to wear at a masquerade; and now I go in it to hunt his assassin. My first step must be to find some man to accom- pany me. Have you ever heard of such a per- son as Giant George? ' ‘Bless my soul!” exclaimed Mrs, Holbrook! “*how come yer ter know ’bouthim? Iknowed him when we fust slapped up a shanty at Gold Gulch, but I never see’d him in this burg.” “He has a donkey, or a burro as you call it, generally with him, has he not?” ‘“‘Thet’s the pilgrim, dead sure,” said the old woman. At this moment a series of revolver shots startled both the women to their feet. ‘*Wa-al, I do declar’,” said Mrs. Holbrook; “ther boys is at hit ag’in. We hasn’t hed a man shot er hashed since yer ’roved yesterday. I reckon they’s makin’ up now fer lost time. Ef my old ears don’t deceive me, thar’s lead struck ther Nugget.” “Do you think they are fighting?” ‘asked ora. “I’m dead sure on hit,” said the old lady. ‘Then I must look out the window.” And, regardless of Mrs. Holbrook’s protestations, the maiden went into the room in front, and glanced through the casement, The first object that caught the attention of Dora was a huge borderman, seated upon the ground, in the middle of the street, and a burro standing listlessly by his side. At once it occurred to her that this man might be the very Tose of whom she had just been speaking; and the presence of the animal by his side was strong proof to her mind that her surmise was the correct one. She was un- able, however, to prevail upon her landlady to venture into the front roomfor the purpose of identifying him. Dazed with horror, she watched the encounter of the giant with the horseman; and, faint and sick, she staggered back into a chair, as the stranger fell dead on the street. Just then, Mrs. Holbrook reappeared. ““One man killed, an’ they’s goin’ ter hang pe 8 sk what knifed him,” she said. “They shall not hang him!” exclaimed Dora, with flashing eyes. ‘I will save him, or die myself! The man they are about to lynch is Giant George. -[ knowit. He was my brother’s friend; and I will save him, or perish in the at- tempt!” As she spoke she buckled on her belt, in which were her revolvers and bowie, and rushed past the astonished landlady, down the stairs, and into the open air. : Near the back entrance stood the horse of the man who had just been killed; the animal being still saddled and bridled, having galloped into the yard of the a when its master had been pulled from its back. Springing into the saddle, Dora Deane whirled the horse about, and dashed into the canyon, to save the man who, she felt sure, had wiped the death-sweat from her brother’s brow! CHAPTER VII. THE SCOUT AS AN ESCORT. THE lynchers dropped the lariat as if it had been a serpent. an angel from Heaven come down into their midst, folded her wings and addressed them, they would not have been more impressed or astonished. Never were the esha ape and feelings of men more suddenly changed. Nota fatind Broke the deathlike stillness, as all gazed, 4 py emhage sea at the daring girl seated upon the horse, her eyes flashing and her delicate, jeweled fingers curled around the fateful triggers. But an instant she sat thus; and then, draw- ing a small bowie-knife and urging the horse close up to the bowlder, she cut the cords that bound the hands of the giant scout, and then, springing from the saddle to the rock, she reached upward and severed the noose by an- other dexterous cut, : This done, she returned the knife to its sheath, and once more her silvery voice broke the still- ess: ‘‘He who harms this man must do so over my corpse! This man is the friend of those who need friendship, and the foe of crime. I am proud to stand by his side and defend him against a merciless and cowardly crowd!” hae aa no one in the assemblage was more astonished than the man who had just been saved from an ignominious death. Showing no concern nor sign of fear when the deadly noose was about his neck, he now gazed upon the lovely girl by his side with every mark of amazement imprinted upon his usually stoical countenance. Looking around her with the poise and man- ner of a Segeey queen, the beautiful Dora made a picture that would have charmed the gaz of even a more highly cultured audience, The spell that had fallen be the just now desperate mob was at last broken by Hank Hol- brook, who, in a voice made hoarse by the vane air of the canyon and frequent potations, elled: me Hur-ra-a-ah fer ther Ang’l o’ Penarlayno Range!” No sooner had these words left his lips than a series of rousing cheers rent the air, and, dur- ing this commotion, Dora Deane turned to the giant scout and said, in a low, hurried tone: “You do not know me, Giant George. I am the sister of Samuel Lawrence, who died, with his hand in yours, at Dead Man’s Gulch. You nursed him and buried him. You were his friend to the death. I have much to say to you. Can you not tell these men who and what you are and why you forced that stranger into a duel and killed him?” ‘* Heavens above!” cried out Giant George; “‘ef you is Sam Lawrence’s sister I'll do any- thing I kin fer yer, though hit cuts me ter hev my leetle pape sp’iled. Thar’s another cuss in this crowd I hes ter go fer, an’ him what I dis- sected up yunder war one o’ ther ‘ Panthers.’ Jess listen ter me. Hit’s my put in now.” Then, turning to the cheering crowd and raising his hand, his voice rung out clear to the outer circle. “‘ Sardines, listen ter a white man! Pilgrims an’ tender-huffs, an’ sand-scratchers, an’ rock- smashers, an’ keard-flipders, listen ter an ole- timer what meandered through Arizony a heap o’ moons ’fore any 0’ yer ever heer’d a ’Pache yell! Yer orter know a squar’ man when yer its yer_peepers onter him, but hit seems yer Sone Since I ’roved in this burg I’ve hed some fun, mixed up with a leetle biz. Doesn’t yer know me, Tom Jones?” As Giant George asked this question he jerked his tattered sombrero from his head and bent forward, showing a bare and circular wound on the top of his head. At the same time he pulled a long mass of false beard from his face and re- sumed an upright position. . “Waal, dod blast my cats!” roared the sheriff. ‘‘Hank Holbrook, we’re a set of thun- derin’ soft headed fools!” So saying, he grasped the giant by the hand. ‘“‘Dog-goned ef yer hadn’t orter bin strung up, though, fer foolin’ us thet-a-way! What tind of a trail is yer on, an’ who war ther gerloot yer knifed jess now?” ‘““Yer mought find out ef yer ’zamined his saddle-bags!” was the reply, as he pointed to- ward the horse. At this half a dozen men sprung forward and tore open the saddle-bags, but in the midst of , this they were surprised by the sound of a pis- tol-shot near at hand, and looking up, they saw: Giant George spring between Dora Deane and the canyon, evidently with the purpose of’ shielding her. Before the smoke had cleared he grasped one: of Dora’s revolvers, and firing with the quick- ness of thought, sprung through the crowd as a yell of pain came from the direction of the canyon, They all looked, and saw ‘ Sport” running for life, his arm swaying unnaturally by his side, and Giant George in hot pursuit. But avery short time did the unequal race last; for, coming up to him, the giant lifted the. “Sport ” bodily over his head, holding him up- ward at arm’s length, his face ghastly with pain and fear, his arm having been broken by the shot of Giant George. ‘-T winged bim a-purpuss, pards,” said the scout; “‘an’ ef yer feels bad "bout yer cirkuss: bein’ sp’iled, stick his head inter ther noose what: yer tied fer me. What hes yer found in the saddle-bags, boys?” In answer, one of the searchers held up to view a black clcth mask; and Tom Jones dis- layed a package of drafts, checks and green- ates inclosed in variously directed letters, the: ends of the envelopes being torn away, ‘“Who war ther man, George?” asked Tom; “‘an’ who war ther ‘Sport’ what’s bin mixin’ with us Sardines 0’ late?” “Ther cuss what I sent up ther flume war Black Ben, I reckon yer heerd me sling his cog when I went fer him with my sticker. He war a sort’ second-class boss in ther ‘Panthers; an” this coward gerloot are a spy fer ther same outfit. Ef yer doesn’t keer to sling him up ter ther mesquite, I’ll pitch him inter the canyon.” “Mercy! mercy!” yelled the wretch. “Give me my life an’ I'll peach. I'll lead you to the cave of the ‘ Panthers!’ ” “Yer can’t sling ary thing o’ thet sort ati me,” said Giant George. ‘‘I knows ther bull biz of ‘El Capitan.’ Hit shows how cussed low an’ mean yer are, ter blow on yer pards. I swored to clean out ther ‘ Panthers,’ an’ yer hes: got only a few breaths left; so aye yer tongue: a job at prayin’ lively, though I doesn’t s’pose hitv’ll do yer any good, fer Ireckon ye’re checked through ter whar yer won’t be ’bleeged ter lay up any dead wood for the winter.” As Giant George spoke he lowered the trem- bling ‘Sport’ to the ground among the crowd. At the same time he caught sight of Dora Deane standing by herself on the bowlder. ‘*Pards,” he added, ‘‘ jess friz onter this con- demned spes’mun o’ deviltry, an’ I’ll kinder git. ther Angel back ter Hank’s, fer we doesn’t want her ter see sich a sight noways.” And, deliver- ing the spy, now shuddering with horror, and unable to keep his eyes from the swaying lariat, the scout spoke a word or two to Tom Jones in explanation of his departure; then, leading the black horse to the bowlder, and returning to Dora her revolver, he said: “‘Leetle gal, I hain’t got no extry gab ter sling at yer, fer I hain’t edjucated, an’ doesn’t mix with caliker-kivered humans, but I’ll see yer bime-by. Jess clim’ this borse ag’in, an’ Y’ll ’scort yer ter ther Nugget, fer I opines ye’re a-stoppin’ thar.” “Yes, my friend; and I shall be thankful if you will accompany me, for, now that your ife is not in danger, I do not feel as courageous as I did, and I would be more at ease awa from these excited men. However, I sha school myself to feel at home among all classes who reside in this territory. This is my first venture at braving the glances and the anger of bordermen, but it is not likely to be my last.” Mounting the horse, Dora rode through the midst of the “citz,” Giant George walking by her side, and with his hand upon the neck of the black steed. ; All lifted their sombreros in respect, as she passed. : Hank Holbrook strove to regain his feet to follow, still clinging to his cherished jug; but, falling backward and spilling some of the whis- ky over the grass, he was forced to content himself with yelling: “Rah-h h-h-h fer ther Ang’] o’ Penarlayno Range.” CHAPTER VIII. A PUT UP JOB. “How did yer come ter know who I war, lectle gal?” asked Giant George, as he walked along by the side of the black borse and its fair rider, ‘Hit kinder mixes me up, this biz. Who tole yer ’bout me an’ Sam at Dead Man’s Gulch?” ; wanes ‘““T will explain every thing’ that appear strange to you,” replied Dora. “ But do not -
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Giant George; or, The Ang’] of the Range. AT / mention to any \one who I'am, or what my real name is. Call me Dora Deane for the resent. Do you think those men would really lane hanged mg and do you imagine they would have shot me, when you speak of my narrow escape?” As the young girl asked these — she gazed inquiringly into the scout’s ace. They had just ridden between the shanties on the west side of the street, when Giant George suddenly reeled against the flanks of her horse, and fell to the ground within ten feet of the body of his late adversary, Black Ben. Springing to the ground, filled with intense concern and grief, Dora allowed the animal, to go free, and drawing one of her revolvers, she fired three shots into the air in quick succession, and bending over her prostrate escort, now saw that the torn shirt and tattered buckskin on his left side was covered with blood; and, in an instant, the truth flashed upon her mind. He had shielded her, when upon the bowlder, from the random shot of the reckless and terri- fied ‘‘ Sport,” by springing before her; and, in this way, had received the wound, which he had never once referred to. With tears streaming down her cheeks, Dora Deane Inelt in the dust of the street by the side of the rouzh, burly borderman who had nursed and buried her brother, and had now, for all she knew, received his death-shot in her place. The sheriff, who had, as well as the ‘ citz,” heard the reports of Dora’s revolver, hastily appointed a guard over ‘‘Sport,” and rushed with the crowd, en masse, under the impression that the ‘‘ Panthers” were raiding the town. When they broke into the street, and saw Giant George prostrate, with the ‘‘Ang’l” bending over him, they were paralyzed. : ‘“What ther dickens are comin’ nex’?” cried Tom Jones. ‘‘ Dang’d ef ther ‘Ang’l’ ain’t bin an’ bored George! I never could understan’ kaliker, an’ this last move jest La ther wings of our ‘ Ang’l’ chuck up ter ther shoulders.” As the sheriff spoke, he ran ahead of the crowd, and Dora, seeing their approach, arose at once to her feet. ‘* What’s ther difficulty with George? Who fired them shots?” asked Tom, somewhat harshly and suspiciously; but as he detected the evi- dent grief and concern of Dora, he raised his hat, and added, ‘‘’Scuse me, but he war one of ther bestest men thet ever wore buckskin, an’ we-uns don’t undercumstan’ this here last play. Hit ’pears ormi’ty strange, fer George hain’t a pilgrim what ’u’d say or do arything ter make a female woman git on ther rampage.” “He was shet,” exclaimed Dora, excitedly, ““by the man you call ‘Sport,’ the bandit spy, when we were on the bowlder, and it was while attempting to save my life that he received the wound. But this is no time for talking, my friends. Bring him into the hotel, and if there is any one in the town who under- stands ery, let him be called in at once. I fired my pistol as a signal for assistance, for he ae thy out a word, and I did not know what 0. Willing bands now gently lifted the uncon- scious form, and bore him tenderly into the Nugget Hotel. Then, laying bim upon the bar, Tom Jones quickly ran his bowie along the seams of the blood-stained shirt, and examined the wound, soon giving utterance to a yell of extreme joy. F ** Some on a skip, an’ tell ther ‘ Ang’l’ that George are allhunk. Thet ball skuted round a rib. He’s jest wilted fer loss 0, bleed, an’ he’ll come right side up with care. Sling out some whisk’, an’ I'll purty quick fetch him ter Arizony. Tell Marm Holbrook ter tote some plaster an’ rags this-a-way mighty suddint!” All rushed at once to obey orders, and ended the shout of the glad tidings with the customary three cheers for ‘“‘ther Ang’l o’ Penarlayno nge. A bucket of cold water was dashed over the head of the patient, who was then raised to a sit- ting posture, and a glass of liquor placed to his lips, The scout opened his eyes, looked around him in some little amazement, and then drank the eres ye Then, throwing off the support of C) the “ vitz, suddenly called out: ‘What {cs ter be ther difficult, pilgrims? What are broke loose in ther Sardine-box this time?” ‘Yer needn’t talk a bit,” said Mrs. Holbrook, who now came in. “Jim, jest bandige his wound, an’ I'll lead him inter ther kitchen. Yer gut ther bullet outen his side, I reckon; didn’t yer, sheriff?” , ““Yaas. Hit war only skin deep. Ef ther lead hed kep’ a-straight, hit would ’a’ bin good- by ’Liza Jane!” a ESEESESeESeSeESSESESEeESEeEeEeEeEEEEEeEE ee ee “Yer kin skip now,” ordered the landlady, “all of you men-folks, I hes fixed up more wounds in Texas nor yer c’u’d shake a stick at in a month of Sund’ys, I'll take keer 0’ George; an’ you-’uns what was goin’ ter hang him, better find somebuddy what deserves hit. 'Thar’s heaps o’ them, I reckon. Bless my soul! Who'd ’a’ thunk hit war George?’ And talking thus, while the scout lay back and laughed, Mrs. Holbrook bustled about to repair the damages to his wardrobe, after first having dressed his wound in a really skillful manner, The ‘citz,” thus relieved from duty, began by confiscating a bottle of Hank’s whisky, and then, with vengeful yells, rushed back to the mesquite tree. “Sport” saw no mercy in their eyes, as they came bounding along in a mad mob; and he gave a cry of terror as he saw the sheriff tie another noose in the lariat. ‘Fetch ther cuss up hyer, boys!” yelled Tom Jones. ‘Say yer pra’rs, Sport, er whatever yer handle are, fer ther hain’( only a few breathes | 0’ Avizony air left yer!” Crouching upon his knees in abject terror, the miserabie wretch begged piteously for his life; but he might as well have pleaded with the surrounding rocks. The “ citz” held bim upon his feet, while Tom thrust the deadly noose over his head; then, with a sbriek of hor- ror upon his lips, ‘** Sport” shot upward into the air, drawn by the quick jerk of a score of sinewy arms. As they were about returning from this scene of retributive justice, they came upon Hank, in a drunken stupor, his arms clasped about the whisky-jug. Tom Jones came to a halt, lifting his hat with one hand and running the fingers of the other through his hair, as if in deep thought. A moment the worthy sheriff stood thus, the miners gathering around him; then, stepping forward and taking the jug from the grasp of the unconscious landlord, he shook it. A smile of satisfuction passed over Tom’s face as, for a full minute, he tipped it sky ward before passing it to the eager bands that awaited it. He then said to the crowd: “We'll hev ter put upa job on Hank, dead sure. He’s lef’ hisself open fer hit. Take a hold on ter his legs, an’ we’ll sot him on ter ther bowlder. Less keep ther cirkuss a-goin’. Some o’ yer git some dead wood limbs ter brace him up. We'll spread him a comfer’ble lay-out, though hit won’t be es soft es a feather-bed.” Carefully the ‘‘citz” carried the insensible Hank, and without. awaking him, laid him upon the rock in such a position that the first object that would meet his fuddled gaze on his return to consciousness would be the swaying corpse of “Sport,” just in front and above him. This done, the empty jug was suspended by the side of the bandit spy. ‘** Now, boys,” said Tom, ‘‘some 0’ yer go ter ther street an’ fotch Black Ben. We doesn’t want our burg disgraced with sich scum. We'll hang him up t’other side ther jug. Hit’ll be mighty aggervatin’ ter Hank, fer he’ll be too dod-blasted skeered ter help hisself ter a drink, which is what he’s dead sure ter hanker fer the fust thing,” The corpse of Black Ben was soon in the re- quired position, and truly these excellent “‘citz” had planned to furnish Hank with a surfeit of horrors, since these ghastly, contorted faces, mingled with the shifting panoramic display of unearthly pictures that was pretty certain to be conjured up in his brain by his protracted indulgence in his favorite beverage, might cause him to lose the little reason that he had forever. _ All being arranged in a manner that was sat- isfactory to the entire party, with the exception of Hank Holbrook, the “citz” made their way to the O. K. saloon, not wishing to place them- selves in the way of Mrs. Holbrook. A messenger was dispatched to inquire as to the condition of Giant George, who returned and reported that the scout was doing well, and was just then apparently in very earnest con- sultation with the ‘* Ang’l,” ‘* Wa-al, dod blast hit!” burst out Tom Jones, in surprise and some indignation. ‘‘ Pards, we hevn’t hed time ter think o’ what hev bin goin’ on. Things hes bin on ther whiz in this bur; since ther Ang’l roved in ther hearse from Gol Gulch. How does ary one reckon did ther Ang’! know ther war sich a pilgrim es Giant George? Secon’ly, es ther gospil-slingers puts it, how come she ter know hit war him, when we~uns didn’t recog’ him? An’, number three, what biz hev she got with him that driv her so dang’d desp’rit-like thet she’d ’a’ plug’d a ball inter ther man what would ’a’ pues a rope. onter him? She’d ’a’ done hit, fer her eyes war es full of shute es thet dang’d burro’s ears is 0’ wood-ticks.”’ But we need not record the long and storm arguments, pro and con, which, duly sand- wiched with drinks, kept the O. K. saloon for hours in a perfect uproar. Various were the reasons advanced to ex- plain why the ‘‘ Ang’l” had interfered with the hanging of the giant scout. Some asserted that she would have done the same for any man in like position; but the stringing up of ‘‘ Sport” proved this conclu- sion to be an erroneous one, for she. well knew what his fate would be when they left the otel. The more and the longer that the “ citz” talked the matter over, the more puzzled and confused they became; but the unanimous decision was, that, although Giant George was ‘*as square and as white aman” as there was in the entire territory, he must not be permitted to monopolize the friendship and the society of *“tuer Ang’l o’ Penarlayno Range,” for she peoages to tke ‘‘citu” collectively of Sardine- box City. 4. CHAFTER IX. : ON THE TRAIL FOR REVENGE, The recovery of Giant George, under Mrs, Holbrook’s care and skill, was a rapid one. ‘I'm dog-goned ’bleeged ter yer, Marm Hol-, brook, fer yer doctorin’,” he said, as he got up, and paced the kitchen; ‘‘but I wonder whar Don Diablo has squatted? He giner’ly makes out ter take keer of hisself, but he orter hev ther kiack tuck offen him, ter gi’n his back a airin’.” ‘** Don’t yer fret bout ther burro,” said the landlady; ‘‘he’s in the back-yard snatchin’ grass Holy T’other critter’s thar too. I tell yer, Miss Dora’s no slouch on a hoss, ef she did come from ther States; for she jest went a kitin’ thet time, ter step ther boys from bangin’ yer., Why didn’t yer let ther ‘ citz’ know who you was, an’ what trail yer was onter? How did yer ’spect ter git outen the scrape?” “T thought I wouldn’t spile ther fun till the last minit. "Sides I war watchin’ how ‘‘ Sport” war goin’ ter perceed; but I hed ther dead wood onter them all ther time, an’ should ’a’ tuck it in about tew shakes of a big-horn’s tail.” “ And I should be pleased to have you ex laim how you proposed to escape death,” said Dora Deane, as she came into the kitchen, and took the scout’s hand, ‘Il am extremely rejoiced to find you so much better, Does not your wound pain you very much?” a Bary / replied Giant George; ‘I hed forgut all bout hit, Hit’s nuthin’ but a scratch, but ther bleedin’ kinder weakened me; ’sides my head gore back on me since I got a ounce ball inter hit. But I’m a-feelin’ jest. hunk, an’ ready fer biz ag’in,” ‘* Do sit down and rest yourself,” urged Dora. ** T doesn’t keer ter take a sot down, ’less hit’s on ther perrarar grass, or onter a bowlder, IF hain’t used ter cheers. But Pll ’splain things fer yer. When Tom Jones war a-makin’ hig Jeetle speech thet time on ther rock, I gin Tom Diablo ther wink; an’ he, seein’ I war in a tight fix, gut up t’other side o’ me, tuck ther lariat ‘tween his teeth, an’ purty soon chawed ther raw hide nigh in tew. I ‘tended ter snap the rest on hit, jerk ther rope over ther limb, an” upsot them what hed a holt onter hit. Them I'd ’a’ gut clear o’ ther crowd, grabbed. ‘ Sport,’” an’ skuted fer ther canyon, whar I’d’a’ throwed. ther cuss over, an’ stompeded.” “What a daring exploit that would have beer!” said Dora; ‘‘but would you not haye been riddled with bullets?” “Nary bullet,” was the reply. “ Ther boys hedn’t got thar sixes out, an’ I’d ’a’ done ther biz up, on ther whiz.” ; ‘ ‘It makes me shudder to think of it, I shall What was your object never forget the sight. in kee ing quae inter this b ‘Wa-al, | cum inter this burg ’speshly arter Sport, an’ I didn’t keer ter be Btw yt war tryin’ ter git upa row in ther O, K., jest ter git rid ev him in a reg’lar way. But these Sar- dines interfered with my game.” “T hope that your plans and mine are the same now, George, ill you come up-stairs and have a talk, where there is no danger of our being overheard ?” Much puzzled, the scout followed both females; and, after they were seated, Dora ex- plained the source of her information in regard tohim. She then gave him a full detail of her own history, with the wrongs that herself and family had suffered at the hands of Edward ~ °
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——$_— 8 Giant George; or, The Ang’l of the Range. ‘Willoughby; now ‘El Capitan’, the chief of the **Panthers,” —_ She then expressed a desire to have her new- found friend guide her to her brother’s grave; and, after assisting ber in finding his gold, aid her also in keeping her vow of vengeance. She displayed her armsand costume, and announced her intention to disguise herself as a youngman and leave Sardine-box City at the earliest moment, allowing the people to remain in igno- rance of her movements, or her business in Arizona. The giant scout listened to all this with sur- prise and admiration, and expressed himself as eager to take the trail to avenge her wrongs; me at the same time, proud of the implicit confidence and trust placed in him. Never before had Giant George been so af- ‘fected by the words of a female; and her anxiety to hasten her departure was so mani- fest that he proposed to start that very night, and within a few hours. ' * But you cannot go. Think of your wound!” said Dora. ‘Does I ’pear like a infant? Don’t yer fret "bout me. Git ready, Miss Dora, an’ we'll skip ther burg. Yer kin confiskate Black Ben’s hoss, an’ me an’ Don Diablo kin keep ‘long side jest es easy.” “TY should like so much to go at once,” was the reply; ‘‘ but I should never forgive myself, if you should be ill.” ‘I hev asserwated thet we'll levant, an’ we'll not waste any more gab over hit. Weill glide out when you's grin Ke *T can be ee 4 within an hour; buf you must call me Dick Deane when you next see me.” So saying, the young girl at once set about her preparations. Giant George followed the landlady down- stairs; and the latter proceeded to put up a uantity of food for her guests to take with them, all the while muttering her protests the wild and dangerous scheme. busy was Mrs. Holbrook, that not a thought of Hank entered her mind. Had she known his present predicament, well used to frontier ways as she was, she would have shuddered with hor- ror, and shrunk from going to his assistance. here was a bright moon; and, as the depar- ture must, for wine reasons, be a secret one, the scout had saddled and bridled the black horse in the rear of the hotel. destined to carry the suppl of omen otf stores which the excellent landlady had hurried- ly prepared. When the animals were ready for the road, Giant George returned to the kitchen, and, as he entered, Dora came down \the stairs in her disguise, carrying also her revolvers and rifle, “Wa-al, I do declar’,” said Mrs, Holbrook, **of I hedn’t ’a’ know’d yer war goin’ ter es er rig, 'd’a’ bin dead shure a stranger war in her ranch! Whar’s yer ha’r? Yer ain’t cut bit off, I doesn’t reckon?’ “No,” said Dick Dean, as we must now call ‘our heroine, “it’s done up in a knot on the top of my head. Do I look very much like a man?” “ Yer the dog-gonedest bestest lookin’ man in Arizony !” exclaimed George in admiration, “‘ an’ I’m a gamblin’ heavy onter hit. How did yer git smoked so?” IT brought a preparation with me that colors my skin quite brown,” was the self-satisfied re- Ply. ; **Wa-al,” said the landlady; “I’m not used ter prayin’ much, but I’m goin’ ter ax the good Lord ter watch over yer, though I don’t reckon He bothers Hisself much ’bout folks what ain’t got more sense nor ter squat in Arizony!” “* Well,” said Dick, in a business-like manner, ‘‘we mustn’t keep you up all night. We had better be moving, if all is favorable. Do you not think so, George?” ; ‘‘Thet suits me ter a dot,” replied the scout. “Don Diablo an’ ther black hoss is ready, an’ s0is JI. Come.on, every thing is hunk, all sot. Marm Holbrook, take keer yerself. We'll see yer ag’in ’fore this moon gits through hits biz.” And with these words, the scout walked off. Dick took leave of the landlady in a manner ‘that was so affectionate that it would have caused Hank to rave, had he witnessed it, and then followed her guide. The strange party, the giant scout marching by the side of his. little burro, the young maiden, in her perfect disguise as a youthful borderman, mounted on her strangely acquired possession—her borrowed steed of midnight hue—left the now quiet scenes of the late strangely perturbed Sardine-box City, passed along the rear of the long line of shanties east of the street, and, disappearing among the bowlders and stunted cedars, were soon well started on their strange mission of vengeance, Don Diablo was It was the witching hour of midnight, and the bright moon cast its silvery rays down bean Ja the scant foliage of the ame ge upon the ru cund face of Hank Holbrook, who still lay in a drunken stupor, bolstered up on the huge bowl- der. They fell, too, upon the slowly swaying forms of the ‘‘Sport ” and Black Ben, his brother bandit; at times seeming almost to smile upon the ghastly, hideous spectacle. A score or more of sneaking, cowardly coyotes, peering from the bushes, and among the rocks, jerked out in concert their short, sharp barks of impatience and hunger at the sight. At last, a long-drawn howl sounded from the canyon, and the coyotes became silent. A second broke upon the air, louder and more piercing; and, the next mo- ment, an immense black wolf of the Llanos sprung from the canyon trail, its long tongue hanging from its jaws, and its red eyes glowing with hunger. For an instant the fierce beast shot fiery glances around; then its eyes became fastened upon the swinging corpses of the bandits, and again a piercin Rost echoed amid the clefts canyons and foot-hills, as the brute bounde toward, and sprung upon the bowlder, its open mouth uplifted, and its ravenous gaze upturned. CHAPTER X. HORROR UPON HORROR. Tue last howl of the wolf pierced even the whisky-numbed ears of Hank Holbrook; and slowly his heavy lids opened, their muscles be- ing at this time the only portions of his frame that were subservient to his will. Slowly his brain recovered sufficiently to al- low the return of bis natural power of sight, but he was, so to speak, chained to the rock. At first, the scene appeared to be nothing more than a continuation of the realistic visions that had been presented to his mind’s eye during his drunken slumbers; the terror and dread at the sight of which, he had been unable to manifest by groan, or gesture. But now, as the moon cast its brilliant rays down i him, and the cool breeze fanned his heated brow, he gradual- ly realized the horrors by which he was sur- rounded; without, however, being able to bridge over in his mind, and connect the pre- sent with the past. Nothing within the scope of his vision served to remind him of Sardine-box City; for the reason that, in his recumbent position, none of the familiar outlines of the landscape were within his view. Nothing but the limbs of a tree, from which hung the horrible forms with their glassy eter eyes, and the huge beast, with its lolling tongue and glittering teeth, all outlined, terribl tinct, against the clear mirror of a silvery sky. At length the wolf arose, and springing up- ward, clutched at, and snapped its teeth into a leg of Black Ben; but the co swaying far outward, caused the beast to lose its nce, and fall from the bowlder snarling with rage its claws clutching wildly down the steep side of the rock with a blood-chilling sound. The hair of Hank’s bead began to crawl and writhe like scorched serpents, and his brain seemed like molten metal. ‘ Had he gone to sleep, and awoke in the surburbs of Hades? Was this a preliminary torture, inflicted by the fiends, before hurling him into the fire that is never quenched? Doubtless he was forced, at length, to the conclusions, that the ghosts of those whom he had hel to launch into the other world before their time, had come to usher him into the re- gions of eternal torture, and exulted in his an- ish. o Not for an instant, in his state of mind, could Hank have supposed that he was upon the earth—much less, within a rifle-shot of his own hotel in Sardine-box City. There was. little time, however, for him to digest these thoughts; for the maddened wolf sprung again upon the bowlder, this time striking heavily upon his stiffened limbs. The wolf’s eyes, which had previously been drawn upward, now became fixed upon the form and features of Hank, and its cold, repulsive nose and lolling tongue were drawn over his face, causing him the utmost horror and dread. But whether the breath of the landlord, so power- fully scented with vile whisky, was too muck for the beast, or whether the animal knew by instinct that danger to itself lurked in those rolling whee who can tell? But it drew aside, and made ready to spring upward again to- on the slowly oscillating corpse of Black nD. To describe the terror and despair of Hank, at this moment, would be impossible. Slowly his fuddled brain began to realize that he was still in the flesh. here hung the jug—another link that bound him to earth, although the fact that it was its contents that bound to the bowlder did not occur to him—and the “make-up” and features of the ‘‘ Sport” were also familiar to him. His mind pings were soon broken in upon b the wolf, which made another desperate bound; this time forcing the body of Black Ben afar out, the beast falling, with a maddened snarl, to the earth below. The corpse of the bandit came whirling back, the rope parted, and the horrible thing fell with a heavy thud upon the rock within six inches of Hank’s head; its glassy eyes seeming to gaze into his with a demoniac stare, and its cold, clammy limbs touching him. One wild, unearthly yell of fear and horror burst from the lips of Hank, which broke the terrible spell; and, with a gigantic bound he gained his feet and sprung from the fearful spot, falling from the bowlder directly down upon the wolf, the two rolling over upon the sward, the man clutching the throat of the beast with furious strength, until both came to the verge of the canyon. Here Hank gained his feet, and, his strength doubled by his danger, hurled the howling beast over the dizzy hight. Then, ype with ex- ertion, he looked around on the silent, moonlit scene with a cold, unearthly shudder. A moment only gazed he thus, for a nameless fascination drew his attention beyond, within the shadows of the cedars, where a sight met his eye that caused the blood to congeal in his veins; for he knew that this time death, real death, hovered around and about him. Here and there, among the rocks and cedars, were near a score of men, mounted upon black steeds, their faces covered with sable masks, through the holes of which glittered eyes that burned into the soul of Hank Holbrook. There they stood, still as equestrian statues, with reins drawn taut in their left hands, the — hand of each clutching a deadly Colt’s re- volver atfullcock, Dazed with the certainty of death, his flesh creeping at the fearful sight of this silent horde of masked bandits; one instant, and with the of the wind he dashed toward Sardine-box City. Then, as the clatter and os of horses’ hoofs sounded from the rear, he filled the air with shrieks that seemed pierc- ing enough to split the bowlders. ht for the Nugget went Hank; his short legs flying over the ground as they had never done before, his unearthly yells sounding stran and fearful through the silent town, when sud- denly the door of the O. K. opened, and the “citz,” who had been making another night of it, rushed pell-mell into the street, just in time to see Hank as he disappeared around the cor- ner of the Nugget, headlong. When the crowd recognized their friend Hank, and began to recall the trick they had played upon him, they burst into the most up- roarious laughter, venting their mirth by unding each other, some shaking hands, some Raping up and down in the spasms of mer- riment that convulsed them; when—presto change!—their extreme hilarity was quick] quenched, for a complete phalanx of blac steeds, with black-draped riders wheeled into the street, stretching entirely across it, and then came thundering down-upon them in a mad gallop, while the night air was filled with a rat- tling fusilade of revolver-shots. Surprised and demoralized, the ‘‘citz” fled in a wild stampede, right and left, betwecn the shanties, leaving some half-dozen of their nvum- ber dead or wounded in the street, over which thundered the death-dealing platoon. Then, whirling their steeds about quickly, the night- riders galloped, with increased speed, back in the direction of the gallows-tree. Hank Holbrook, reaching bis castle in. nomi- nal safety, burst in tbe rear door of the Nugget, and fell prone and senseless upon the floor. CHAPTER XI. MRS. HOLBROOK ON THE RAMPAGE. THE landlady of the Nugget, awakened by her husband, grasped a shot-gun and rushed, in her night-dress, out of doors, just as the bandits opened fire; and, when the “ Panthers” re- turned, the old woman, crouching by the cor- ner of the building, brought her gun to bear, and pulled the trigger. A yell of agony rent the air, as one of the band threw up bis hands and fell to the earth; his horse, wounded by the scattering shot, gal- loping down the street. At the same time, Tom Jones, with a score of men at his back, dashed toward the Nugget, firing as they charged; but — ;
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= Giant George; or, The Ang’l of the Range. 9 —— the bandits, with yells of derision, spurred away at full speed toward the canyon, Sardine-Box City was again in a fearful up- roar. Four good and true men lay dead, two more were severely wounded; but the most hu- miliating feature of the whole case was that Marm Holbrook had killed one of the Panthers. “‘T tell yer, pards, we’re ruined,” said Tom Jones, in a voice full of excitement and Xe ‘* We mought as well pull up stakes, an’ git; fer this hyer thing’ll spread ’round ther country, an’ we'll be ther laughin’ stock of all Arizony, dead sure! Jest think; a woman defendin’ ther burg, plum alone, an’ wipin’ out one o’ ther *Panthers!’ Ther town’s plum bu’sted, pards, an’ no mistake,” added the sheriff, as he made sure that the bandit was really dead, “Til throw up my persish hyer, an’ crawl inter a kiote hole, er goon a’ ole drunk; [ duzn’t keer a dang which. But jest wait a minnit fust. Stay where yer is, pards; tew many mought spilemy game. I guess hit’s recorded thet I’ve gut a ball in my six as’ll be inside human meat fore yer gits through breathin’ hard!”, Y Down the street ran Tom, just as the bandits were spurring their horses into the cedars be- Es the bowlder. Quick as a flash he raised is revolvers, and with great rapidity fired twelve shots toward the “ Panthers;” then, reckless and desperate, he rushed on, yelling dike an Apache. His ruse-succeeded; for the bandits, thinking ‘that the citizens were upon them in full force, galloped away, leaving another of their number ead near the mesquite, “*Reckon I ain’t quite so slouchy arter all,” said the sheriff, in soliloquy. ‘ But hit won’t do. We'll hev ter buy Marm Holbrook out. ‘Git her ter sw’ar she never see’d a shot-gun, ner fired ary thing in her life but a flat-iron, an’ thet at Hank’s head. Hit’ll kill ther burg ef it does git out; an’ I’m dog-goned ef I'd own up oa bein sheriff o’ Sardine-box, proud es I are oO’ it! Making sure that the bandit was dead, Tom mounted his horse, and spurred up to the bowl- ‘der, still soliloquizing: ‘““Wa-al, dod blast my cats! Thet Hank must ’a’ bin ’bout skeered ter death; fer ther rope broke, an’ let Black Ben down on top 0’ him!” And Tom was forced to lie back on his ‘horse and roar with laughter, at the imaginar Po emai of Hank, as he awoke from his = umbers, and found a dead man lying beside m. _ “Hallo! What's thet?” continued Tom; and, loosening the lariat from the horn of the saddle, he dismounted and sprung upon the rock, while ‘he tore a placard from the jug. Remounting, the sheriff spurred toward the street; reading, as he went, the following words, in large le ters: “* To Tom Jones of Sardine-bow City :— Sxxerur Jonzs—The Panthers are watching you ‘and the town. They will make a jump to-night, but you will only feel our claws. Drive Giant George rom your burg within hale Fp hours, or you will feel our teeth. You have cr eg of my men, and shot two. Iwill forget this, if G. G. is sent ona westward trail within the time I have specified. Otherwise, I'll hang as many Sardines as you have killed of my men, * Ex Caprran.”’ By the time that Tom had reached the street he had studied out enough of the words to get the gist of the meaning of the placard and he resolved to assemble the ‘citz,” an read the notice in public; first calling up Giant George. : The dead had been prepared for burial, and ‘tthe wounded were being cared for. Mrs. Hol- brook had been greatly worried as to how she was to account for the absence of the scout and Dora; but now an idea entered her mind which she thought would be the means, if carried out, of clearing her own skirts. _ Mounting the stairs, she scattered the cover- ing of Dora’s bed in all directions about the room, upset everything generally, and left the room in such a state that any one would sup- pose a struggle had taken place in it. This done, she returned to the bar, and locked herself in. When, therefore, Tom Jones knock- ed at the front entrance, he was greeted with a warning from the landlady: ‘Git from thar, or Pll bore yer, dead sure!” Remembering the recent exhibition of her skill in that line, the sheriff sprung to one side, and yelled: “Don’t pull trigger, Marm Holbrook! It’s me, Tom lng: es es a ball o’ cotton, an’ Seg full 0’ biz. Open ther door, an’ shake up iant will yer?” A y lit a candle, and admitted Tom, who, the first thing, caught sight of Hank as he lay senseless on the floor. ‘What ther dickens are up with Hank?” he asked, in pretended surprise; not wishing Mrs. Holbrook to know that he had been concerned in the trick that had been played. “Don’t yer ax me! I’m blest ef [know! I wish ter grashus I war back Texas-way, fer his burg are a-goin’ ter ther devil es fast as it n glide. I know thet much.” *“*Slide out a leetle p’ison, Marm Holbrook. Treckon ye’re ’bout kerrect. Ther burg would bu’st i sartin sure, ef you wer’n’t located hyer. er showed fust-class pluck ter-night when yer dropped thet Panther,” ‘“Yer axed fer George,” said the landlady. ‘“*T don’t know whar he es, nor whar pnts is, Hain’t he bin with yer? I locked myself in hyer with Hank, an’ ther’s a rumpus bin goin’ on all ther time. an’ call him. I reckon he’s sleepin’ on the floor o’ ther kitchen, ’less he’s dead !” Tom obeyed; but returned quickly, with a look of surprise. “Thar ain’t no George thar, an’ everythin’s all mixed up. Yer better glide up, an’ see ef ther Ang’l’s all serene.” Up-stairs went the landlady, and came back instantly, with an assumed scared look, and ex- claimed: “She are gone, an’ everythin’ knocked a- kitin’! Ther ‘Panthers’ must ’a’ took her an’ George both! I shill go crazy.” “‘ Wa-al, dod blast my cats!” said the sheriff, in wonder and concern, as he rushed up the stairs, then down, and out upon the street, where he met a crowd of the ‘‘citz.” Scream- ing out, with perfectly insane rage, he said: ‘Pards! Sardine-box City air bu’sted, sure enough! Ther ‘ Panthers’ hes tuck Giant George an’ ther ‘ Ang’] o’ Penarlayno Range!” It was the culminating evil of this night of terror; the climax of all the horrors, real and imaginary, that had been of late accumulating. The gloomy Vets of the worthy sheriff of the ill-starred burg seemed in a fair way of be- ing accomplished. The dark threat of the ban- dit chief had been fulfilled more speedily than could have been apprehended. It was more indeed, than the claws of the “‘ Panthers” that had left their impression, The “Sardines” had already begun to feel their teeth. CHAPTER XII EL CAPITAN AT HOME, WHEN Giant George and his companion left Sardine-box City they made a detour and struck the stage route a mile south of the town. They took advan‘age of every gully, motte and line of bowlders, to prevent being seen from the rising ground; and lucky it was that they did so, or El Capitan would certainly have Ov- ered them on his march. The scout walked in advance, taking lon strides, Don Diablo following in a slow trot, an Dora Deane bringing up the rear. The silence of the night, the weird, moonlit scenes, and the long, dark, grotesque shadows, impressed the young girl greatly, while the thought that she was now approaching the pare of her murdered brother, contributed to fill her mind with feel- ings such as she had never before known. Far from friends anil home, disguised and in male attire, and journeying in company with one who would be deemed by her former asso- ciates as a savage, surrounded by wild beasts and by wilder human beings, hers was indeed a situation such as might well have appalled any one. But as all these, and more, were forced upon ber mind, she urged her horse onward raised her clinched hand on high, and repeated her vow of vengeance in order that she might smother down her weaker nature and nurse the daring and the resolution that were necessary to its accomplishment. At last they arrived at a branch of the can- yon which led directly toward Pinaleno Range, when the scout made halt, looked back, and then, raising his hand in air, turned into the ravine toward a huge wall of rock half screened from view by cedars and clumps of nopal. Dora followed, and came up to her strange es- cort, as he stood facing her, and with his arms | folded. They were now in a vast natural amphithea- ter, which was the termination of the gulch. Behind them the mountain ‘rose the form of mee steps, these being covered with clumps of cacti, dwarf-pines and cedars. To the right and left its sides were of the same formation, and here stood Giant George in the center of the circle, his back to the north, where the vast adamantine range of rocks towered up- ward toward the sky. Unlock thet door thar, | gradually in | ine by which th otal ceurel tt ieee vine by whic e en a but a narrow and dark cleft in the wells settee environed them. “Wa-al, Dick, we hes ’roved. I hope yer foe fagged out by ther ride,” said the scout, quietly. ; “s i, no! I am not in the least fatigued,” was the reply. ‘‘I have been so much interest- ed in the strange wild country through which we have pa , that the journey has not seem- ed long to me. I see that we can proceed no further in this direction. Do you intend to en- camp here for the remainder of the night?” ‘We hes gut ter ther end of our trail fer ter- night, Dick. Ef you’ll glide a leetle ways on, thar’s a cozy place ter camp ahint ther pines. Jess slide offen yer nag, an’ I'll lead ther hoss. Yer see thet Don Diablo knows mighty well whar he are.” Dora looked in the direction which the scout pointed out, and saw the burro icy fi | among the trees. Then she dismounted an followed Giant George as he led the horse, Soon they came into asmall clear space. The surface of this opening was covered with a car- = of grass, and the animals at once lowered heir heads and began feeding. j ‘Does yer see thet black spot, Dick?” asked the scout. “Yes, I do see something like a pile of ashes,” she replied. ““That’s jest what hit are, Dick. Hit’s ther spot whar I cooked fer yer brother while he war sick, though he didn’t eat enough ter keep a a hummin’-bird alive.” Dora’s face became deathly pale, and she eae the arm of ker friend with both her ands, trembling like a leaf, while she asked, in a low husky voice: ““-You do not mean to tell me, George—you do not mean that Samuel died here? It cannot be that in this short space of time, we have reach- ed his grave?” Her ‘look and manner showed that she knew it. The scout without a word, led her to the pines at the base of the mountain} and then, parting the branches, pointed within. The moonlight, shooting through the foliage, dis- closed to the girl a rude wooden cross at the head of a mound; and, staggering forward, she threw herself upon the sod, sobbing beyond the power of self-control. Giant George removed his sombrero and stepped at once away from the sacred i a Crossing the grass-grown plot, he called softly to Don Diablo; and the burro, although enjoy- ing its feast, followed its master, who entered a thicket some twenty yards from the grave, and, unpacking the ck, prepared to encamp for the night. Scarcely had the form of the scout disappear- ed from view, when two men, their faces con- cealed by black masks, stepped out into the opening, and toward the motte in which the disguised girl was weeping over the grave. Ean asi carried a sack and a gag in their ands. With a quick glance in the direction that Giant George had taken, they entered the motte; and, the next instant Dora Deane was gagged and bound, the sack drawn over ead and shoulders, and she burried along to the east side of the basin. In ten minutes from | the time that the scout had left the weeping girl, she was bound to a horse, and, riding be- tween the two bandits, was being taken at head- long speed away from her only friend and pro- tector—away tons her murdered brother’s Tave! ‘¢ On the morning following the visit of the bandits to Sardine-box City, as the sun was just gilding the peaks of Pinaleno Range, the same of borsemen were proceeding in a line, one after another, through the pines at the base of the mountains, some ten miles north- west from the town, through the streets of which they had charged the previous night, leaving death in their trail. Turning abruptly toward the mountain range they entered a narrow cleft between the hig granite walls. shy Their leader followed this dark fissure for a few yards, when a hoarse summons brought him to a halt. ‘‘ Who goes there?” ‘El Capitan,” is the prompt reply. ‘< Pass on!” The file of black steeds proceeded on; passing, first one masked sentin 1, and then another, until they entered a lovely valley of not more than five acres in extent, with high walls upon every side. Across this they walked their horses, and '
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10 Giant George; or, The Ang’! of the Range. entered beneath the shade of a luxuriant motte of pines. A short passage was traversed, when they reached a large chamber; and here the bandits dismounted. It was filled with stores of every description, for both man and beast; as well as with arms, ammunition, saddles and blankets in abundance. The leader of the gang sprung from his horse, leaving it to the care of the others, and strode into the east passage, lighting a candle that stood in a niche in the wall. ' As it kindled into a blaze, it disclosed a rough log partition, evidently of recent construction; and the bandit leader, drawing out a ponderous key, unlocked and threw open a door, and then, with the candle in his hand, entered, closing the heavy door with a clang. The chamber which he entered was of considerable extent. In the middle of it was a long table, upon which were standing a dozen wax candles, which he ignited, and soon the arched cavern was bril- Hantly illuminated. Tearing off his mask, and running his fingers through his black wavy hair, the chief began to page the apartment im- patiently. He was of medium hight, and well formed, and his face would have been called extremely handsome, had it not been for the marks of debauchery, and the deep lines of utter recklessness and desperation. His eyes were black, snake-like and treacher- ous, and his curled black mustache and pointed, glittering teeth gave him the expression of a panther at bay. Pacing the room with quick strides, he burst out: ‘* By all the gods, it has been a most eventful night for our band! Two hung, two shot, two wounded, and the treasury not one dollar rich- er. Curse the luck! It was a black day that I left the vicinity of Santa Fe; but the Vigilance Committee made it too hot for me in that sec- tion. If I could only find the nuggets that Sam Lawrence secreted I would quit the mountains and return to St. Louis, Ha! ha!”—the laugh was a fiendish one—‘‘I have kept my oath as far as J sats pk taking time into consideration. Miss Lena Lawrence knows by this time that she has been the cause of her father’s ruin_and her brother’s murder. Murder, did I gh Yes murder! for I shot him like a dog, and laughe in his face as his eyes grew filmy in death; but he was cunning enough to hide his gold far from his camp. It was a streak of pure luck that my bullet missed its mark in Colorado, and his life was spared to dig gold for me, for Ill have the princely fortune that he hid if I have to consume months in the search. Luckily, I picked up the little book in which he kept a record of each day’s find, and by that I know the extent of the pile that he stowed away; but so far all my search has been fruitless. If the fellow should have written to any one in re- as to his luck, and they ascertain that he is ead, they will very likely come to hunt for the treasure; and, if he sent a plan of any kind to guide them, I shall be sure of the gold, for my spies are on the watch, night and day. If I do find Sam Lawrence’s gold—and I am very sure to do it, even if I am obliged to search every foot of Pinaleno Benge from this point to Sar- dine-box City—I will, within a month after revel in the smiles of Lena Lawrence, and spend her dead brother’s gold in placing her in her former ei in society. Then, when 1 tire of her, [ will reveal the source from which her luxuries have been derived, and, holding up my delicate digit, shall tell her that it pulled the trigger that sent a bullet into the breast of her noble brother Sam, and that the wolves of Ari- zona tore his body limb from limb. Ye gods! that will be revenge worth having—revenge most sweet—but not one-half as devilish as the vixen merits, who scorned the only love I ever felt for woman—the love of the now infamous El Capitan.” On he went, still pacing the floor, and solilo- quizing: “Yes, she shall know all in time: But the first thing to be done is to find the gold, The poor deluded fools who shall come across it, if they knew my mind, would never reveal the hiding-place, for they shall die as soon as the secret is mine. ‘Dead men tell no tales’ is an old adage, and a true one. Come in!” be ex- claimed, slipping his revolvers around on his belt as he spoke, handy for use, while a peculiar tap sounded on the door. CHAPTER XIII, THE CAPTIVE. ® THE heavy door swung mg and a man en- tered, removing his mask as he did so. “Well, Burke! What brought you from duty this time?” ‘* News from the grave,” was the strange re- sponse, ‘*Hal!l ha! Pretty good; Burke, you’re a wit, but you choose a strange subject. What have you seen?” ‘* We have captured a young prairie sport in Devil’s Washbowl, and brought him in. I thin he must be some relative of the man you sh¢ for be was lying on the grave. I have obeys orders, and searched him, but have found noth- ing on his person. He was well dressed, in a new suit of Rio Grande buckskin,” ‘Where have you placed the fellow, Burke?” ‘In the north cave, El Capitan.” **-You have done well, I am sorry, however, that you bave found no papers. But if he knows the hiding-place of Sam Lawrence’s gold, Tl have it out of him in some way. You and Strong had better get your breakfasts, and then return and keep a sharp look-out; for I think it more than probable that Tom Jones may lead a osse comitatus from Sardine-box on our trail. ake a drink, Burke. [I'll attend to the captive, and pump him after I get a rest.” A few minutes previous to this interview, Burke and his comrade had borne Dora Deane into the passage to the right of the main en- trance of the cave; and, after cutting the bonds and removing the sack and gag, thrust her into the darkness. They then lit a candle, which they placed in- side the door, and proceeded to make thcir re- port to their chief. When Dora Deane was thus suddenly seized before she could get a glimpse of her captors, she was so startled that she could not collect her thoughts; soon, however, she caught enough, from their conversation, to know that she was in the power of the ‘‘ Panthers,” and all hope for the time’being left her. After a time she began to reason that Giant George would not long remain in ignorance as to where, and by whom she had been taken. She felt assured that the brave scout would not sleep, or indeed think of remaining in the basin a single moment after finding that she was gone; but would he find the trail? He had intimated to her that he knew of a secret way of entering the retreat of the ‘‘ Panthers;” but, would he at once conclude that she wasin the power of El Capitan? The more she thought upon the sub- ject, the more confident she became that George would take effective steps toward her release. These thoughts produced a more composed and confident frame of mind; and, when her bonds were removed and she was pushed into the dark cavern, she felt greatly relieved. Drawing from the leg of her boot a long slender knife, she resolved to defend herself if intruded upon by any of the gang. ‘ Grasping the candle, the light from which did not extend six feet, she held it upward, but nothing except outer darkness met her eyes. She followed the walls entirely. around, but could discover no opening. There was no out- let except by the passage; and even were it pos- sible to cut through the door, there were no doubt the guards on its opposite side. The more Dora pondéned npOn her desperate and dangerous situation, the more she became convinced that naught but the most cunning strategy on the part of the scout could release er. At last she seated herself upon the stone floor, and remained in this position for a long time, razing at the dim light of the candle, and listen- ing for any sound that might be made; but all was silent as the grave. How long she remained thus, she knew not; but suddenly she was brought to her feet by the rating of a key, and a man entered, closing and ocking the door behind him. The blood seemed to congeal in Dora’s veins, and her breath came in gasps, as she drew back from the light; for, on the instant, she had re- cognized Edward Willoughby, the dastard who had been the curse of her family and of her own life—the murderer of her darling brother, and now known as El Capitan, the merciless chief of the ‘‘ Panthers!” Such was the young girl’s loathing for this man thatshe came near falling; but, like a flash came the thought that all was lost, that her brother’s murder and her father’s ruin would remain unavenged if she faltered; and, collect- ing all her strength of mind and body, she folded her arms and, with her hand clutching the hilt of her concealed dagger, she began to walk boldly up and down the cave, while El Capitan gazed upon her with evident curiosity, uckily for Dora, the darkness had prevented the bandit from observing her long hair, which the removal of her sombrero by her captors had somewhat disarranged. ee eh ee ‘“Who are you, my game-cock? And what were _ doing at the grave in the Devil’s Wash- bowl?” No sooner had El Capitan put this question, in a hoarse voite which showed that he bad been drinking heavily, than a new idea flashed through Dora’s brain. She turned and confront- ed him, standing facing him, and with her eyes looking steadily into his twitching orbs, which ony. now and then flashed a direct look into her ace. Springing to one side, he grasped the candle, and rushing toward her, set it upon the floor near her feet, and then stared into her face in utter amazement, His eyes bulged out in su- perstitious horror, and his form began to tremble from head to foot, The dim, flickering candle threw out a fitful and ghastly light. Speechless for a full minute, the bandit. screamed: “They lied! They have brought the corpse of Sam Lawrence! I have killed you twice, and still you stand before me with the semblance of life. Man, or devil, die again!” Drawing his bowie, he rushed toward the ter- rified girl, but, at this instant, a huge fi so of the rock fell from above with a thunderin crash between the bandit chief and his intende victim. The candle was extinguished by the rush of air, and the cavern was left in dark- ness. With a wild shriek, E] Capitan sprung back- ward, and fled through the darkness, as though the fiends were in pursuit. Dora, now doubly frightened by the crash of of the huge stone so near her person, stood lis- tening with all her soul, and heard the head of the chief strike with great force against the wall, and the next moment his limp body fell heavily upon the floor of the cavern. She was alone now with the senseless El Capi- tan! Alone with her brother’s murderer! Alone, in the dark bowels of the mountains, with tbe dastard who had sworn to ruin her and hers! She was entombed with him, and vengeance was within her grasp; but she cried out from her inmost soul, as she fell to her knees, her hands clasped, and her lips quivering —‘* God help me!” Her prayer was answered; for, as she cried out, in the wild delirium of excitement and horror, she also sunk senseless; and there, in the dense Egyptian darkne:s, surrounded by impen- etrable walls of adamant, lay guilt and inno- cence! The murderer and the avenger—a vile, crime-hardened man, and a pure, angelic maiden, both as utterly devoid of all sense and feeling as the cold rocks upon which they lay! CHAPTER XIV. THE SEORET SHAFT. Grant GeorGE had quietly seated himself’ beneath the pines, to await for the grief of his. charge to subside. He knew that the scene was enough to un- nerve any one, especially a young and delicate irl; but he judged from what he bad seen of Dora, that she would soon recover her self-con- trol, and drown her anguish in her strong and all-absorbing desire for revenge. Becoming, at last, a little impatient, the scout arose and walked into the opening, where he stood and listened. All was stili except the champing of the ani- mals, as they tore the fresh rich grass from the sod. At once the form of the scout straightened up, and he whirled about, his face showing signs of surprise, mingled with alarm, for the distant clatter of horses’ hoofs over stony ground fell upon his ear. Pausing but a mo- ment, to make sure that he could not be mis- taken, he ran toward the motte, in which he had left Dora Deane. Parting the branches, he glanced into the shades, calling out: “Dick, ther’s danger ’mong ther canyons! Ther ‘ Panthers’ is out!” Receiving no answer, he crawled through to the grave. There was the rude cross, but. Dora was nowhere to be seen, Again he cried out, with deep anxiety in his voice: “Dick! O-o-o-h, Dick!” Buthis words were thrown back in his teeth from the crags and rifts beyond. Back into the opening he bounded; and, like an enraged beast, tore up the rocky shelves of the Devil’s Wash-bowl. Gaining a position that commanded a view to the westward, the keen eyes of Giant George ranged over the foot-hills in that direction; as if he knew, by the sounds that he had heard, the course the steeds were taking, ‘ Again the same sounds struck his ear, proving that the night-riders were crossing a belt of stony
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ij Giant George; or, The Ang’l of ger Shading his eyes with his broad palm, é looked intently toward the point which his keen, practiced sense of hearing enabled him to locate with almost a nicety of exactness. Soon a horseman came into view; the moon lighting him up, and showing, as he turned to gaze behind him, that he was masked. An- other quickly followed, and then another; the position of the middle rider, with no arms in view, showing that he was partly enveloped in a sack, with his arms bound, the leader having in his band a lariat attached to the neck of the animal. Giant George was no longer in doubt as toithe identity of the captive. Dora Deane was in the hands of her brother’s murderer! This flashed upon fhe mind of the scout when he saw’ that his charge was not in the motte; and he was now positive that such was the case, al- though confident that the bandits could have no knowledge as to the character and sex of their prisoner. Then, as the terrible danger of the inexperienced girl broke upon him, he raved madly. “Jumpin’ Jericho! What a dog-goned fool I war ter ‘low her outen my sight; but who'd ’a’ thunk ther danged maskers war ’round this-a- ways? I hopes ter be chawed inter saddle- strings by a grizzly, ef I doesn’t save her from ther pesky perrarer pirates. Ef they pulls one ha’r outen her head I'll tortur’ every dod-blasted one of ’em. T’ll tie up El Capitan, with a stake through his ’natomy, an’ leave him fer ther wolves an’ buzzards!” Rattli g these words off, as he looked after the fast disappearing trio of horsemen, Giant George sprung down into the basin, and hastily secreted the rifle, saddle and bridle of Dick Deane in a fissure of the rocks near the grave. He then detached the lariat from the black horse, allowing him to go free, procured an- other rope from his own stores, and threw the kiack and its contents into the thicket. This done, he caught Don Diablo in his power- ful arms, carried him up the west side of the basin, and set him upon his feet; then, giving a low whistle, the giant scout proceeded with long strides in a north-west direction, among the rocks and pines, the burro following like a og. Not half a mile had they gone, when Giant rge was brought to a halt by the sound of hoofs; and, secreting himself and his brute companion, he awaited developments. The next moment a horseman came jogging along at an easy gait, and the scout, with a joyful cry, revealed himself. ““Terrif, ye’re jest ther man I’m dog-goned glad ter see! har yer bin, an’ whar yer goin’?” Recognizing the man before him, the horse- man leaned down and grasped the hand of the scout, saying: “Well, George, you are the last man I expected to see around loose. You must have had good care, or you would not be able to be about. How is your wound? ‘‘ Ther scratch are all hunk, Marm Holbrook patched me up,” answered the scout with a show of impatience. ‘“What’s up? I’ve been hunting Tom Jones’s bay mare, but without success; an’ I’m on my way now back to the city. Tom offered me ten dollars to anne te nag in, but I reckon the ‘Panthers’ roust have corraled her.” ‘“‘Wa-al, Terrif, I'll give yer twicet ten, ef yerll do what I tells yer. Yer knows thet Ang’l what roved at Sardine-box City from ther Gulch, in ther hearse?’ ** ] should just say that I did,” was the prompt reply. EWa-al, ther gal is tuck. Tuck by ther ‘Panthers!’ An’ I wants yer ter skute, quick es hoss-meat’ll tote yer, arter Tom an’ the boys. I knows all bout ther cave of El Capitan, an’ Pll gi’n yer a plan on bark fer Tom, so he’ll hev plain trav’lin’. We'll clean out ther bull o’ aD AR this time, or I'm a dod-blasted iar ‘“‘All right! Pm your man,” said the youngster. ““Thet’s hunk! Then I wants yer ter take this same trail hyer, arter yer hes gut ther boys started on ther west side o’ ther Range; an’ yer'll find me in a pine motte, nigh ther bottom o’ ther Peak, whar ther three pines stands. We'll kinder feel o’ ther ‘ Panthers’? claws afore ther boys lights down t’other side.” yf While he was speaking, Giant George had cut a ane piece of bark from an adjacent tree, and was marking with his bowie the outlines of the Pinaleno Range, and the points to guide the sheriff to the bandits’ mountain retreat. Passing the bark to Terrif, as he finished, he added: ‘‘' Thar she are! Plain an’ squar’ es ther nose onter yer face. Don’t spar’ hoss-meat, an’ take a fresh mount es. yer glides back; fer I wants er with me, 4 “PU fill the bill, clear the whole business. Good-by !” Driving his spurs home, the cowboy disap- — through the pines in the direction of ardine-box City; and Giant George went quickly up the Range, followed by Don Diablo. When the morning sun gilded the Peaks of Pinaleno Range, and shot its golden arrows rea | the three pines that towered high above the ‘‘ Panthers’” fastness, the giant scout, half bent, his keen eyes wandering hither and thither, made his way along the bed of a deep fissure, which seemed to have been caused by some vidlent eruption of nature that had half sundered the range. Through the middle of the motte that lay beyond, was a clearly defined trail, evidently made by wild beasts, and, following the same for some yards, the scout parted the branches on one side of the path, an urging Don Diablo to enter, crawled after, and allowed the branches to fly back into their natural position. For some yards further the advance was difficult, there being a dense undergrowth of thorns; but these were soon passed, and a yawning cavity was next reached, itssides bein rough and easy of descent by one who h been accustomed to that kind of mountain travel. ‘* Jess linger right thar, Don Diablo, an’ yer needn’t git lonesome ef yer doesn’t get a peep at my b’utiful pictur’ fer some lengthy periods, Fact are, I mought never come up at all, so we'll shake, ole pard!” The next moment the scout started down on his dangerous journey into the bowels of the mountains. Suddenly he paused, and a low ejaculation burst from his lips. ‘*Cuss my cats! I’m a blunderin’ ole fool, for l’ve bin hyer afore, an’ never see’d thet branch hole. Hit pears ter me thet humans hes bin in thar, an’ I'll jist ’zamine things, though I can’t spar’ much time.” With some difficulty he crawled into a cavity that branched off from one side of the shaft. Proceeding for a short distance, by feeling about in the darkness, he concluded that he had reached a cave-chamber. Striking a light with flint and steel, he ignited a pine knot. When the torch blazed up, a cry of joy escaped from the scout, for just in front of him was a box, roughly hewn from a log, and on which was nailed a horse-shoe. “Jingo! Ef hyer ain’t a reg’lar streak o’ stud-horse luck! If these hyer ain’t Sam Lawrence’s nuggets, ma liar. He wanted ter tell me whar it war afore he started on ther long trail, but he couldn’t make hit out clear. Howsomever, I won’t disturb nuthin’ ontil I gits Dick outen ther claws o’ ther ‘ Panthers.’ ” Giant George, after commenting thus in regard to his discovery, returned to the shaft, and began to descend. Feeling his way slowly, he came to a bar of wood that extended across the shaft, and which had evidently been placed there by himself on a former occasion. Here he made fast the ends of the two lariats, and dexterously forming a double rope by tying them together at intervals, he was about to begin his descent, when he suddenly became conscious that the regions below were partially illuminated, and he heard the sound of a human voice. Bending down, and gazing along the shaft, he saw the form of a man whom he knew to be El Capitan. * The place appeared to be a large cavern, into which the shaft led by way of the roof. While Giant George thus looked down upon the scene in wonder, he saw the bandit- chief, with knife in hand, rush along the cave- chamber, seemingly about to spring upon some one with murderousintent. The scout, without pausing for an instant, seized a large, loose rock that lay upon a shelf near him, and hurled it downward, without any previous calculation as to where the fearful missile would strike. He heard the*crash of the ponderous projectile upon the rocky floor of the cave, followed by a blood-curdling shriek, and then all was still and dark below—still and dark as the grave! CHAPTER XV. THE ARRIVAL. ‘“Parps! Sardine-box are busted! Ther ‘Panthers’ hes tuck Giant George, an’ ther Ang’l o’ Penarlayno Range!” hen Tom Jones yelled these words to the crowd of ‘‘citz” who had been busy attend- ing to the wounded, and preparing the dead for the Range. i burial; wild cries of rage, and clamors for im- mediate pursuit filled the air. “Yer needn’t be so dang’d r ter scatter yer corpuses ’mong ther foot-hills,” said Tom. “Yer all knows thet yer can’t buck ag’in’ ther ‘Panthers’ when ther murderin’ cusses hes took ter the’r hole. Fact are, we’uns didn’t hey no show. We hes gut ter find out whar ther cave are, an’ this we can’t do till Giant George shows up. He ain’t ther pilgrim ter stop long with them, ef they hes gut him corraled. They "11 hev ter bore es many holes in his carkise es ther’ is in a cream-skimmer, er he’)l knife a few 0’ ’em, an’ levant back this-a-ways. Thar must ’a’ bin some o?’em skuted ’round, back o’ ther Nugget, an’ scooped in George an’ ther Ang’l. Come inter ther Nugget, pards, an’ I'll read Capitan’s leetle speech ter yer, an’ then we'll pump Hank, ef he’s gut his idees back on ther squar’. Reckon he’s gut a strong appertite ter sign ther pledge, *hout now.” The ‘‘citz” crowded into the bar, and al- though they were filled with grief at the loss of their friends, and deeply concerned in regard to the future of the town, they could not refraj from laughter, as the form of Hank Holbroo met their view. The worthy landlord we stretched upon the floor, and his features wer still ee with the unmistakable impress on horror, although he had again relapsed into un- consciousness. The noisy, protracted meeting in the O. K, saloon, close followed by the charge of the ‘‘ Panthers,” had driven all thoughts of Hank from the minds of those who had conceived and carried out the plan that came so near being his death; but now, seeing him prostrate and sense- less, and imagining the effects of the ‘‘ surprise party” which they had gotten up for his e cial benefit, they could not control their mirth, but burst into perfect roars. ‘* Pards,” said Tom Jones, ‘‘ I know hit war a. mighty mean trick we-’uns played on Hank, but hit loosened his j’ints most surprisin’ly, fer I see’d him come jest a-t’arin’ up ther street ahead o’ ther ‘Panthers,’ his eyes stickin’ out like El Paso onions, an’ yer could ’a’ played seven-up onter his coat-tails, Dll give him a reg’lar sockdolager of a drink, an’ thet will fetch him ’round, I reckon.” When the sheriff had entered the bar, Mrs. Holbrook, disgusted with her husband’s recent indulgence in drink, and having had no rest during the night, delivered up the keys, telling Tom to to “ take keer o’ things,” and retired to bed, resolved to get her usual sleep, if the ‘* Panthers ” carried off the whole town. , A number of the ‘ citz” now raised Hank to a sitting posture, and Tom Jones poured a itcher of cold water upon his head, and down is back. “Yer seé, pards,” explained Tom, “hit wouldn’t do ter fotch Hank ’round too suddint- like. Ill jest irrigate his outside systematics in a segenee gid way, ter kinder loosen his so he won’t ’splode in pure joy when ther whi 3 ‘gins ter work. Now pass ther bug-juice, an’ on’t sample hit too heavy on ther way. Hyer, Hank, ole pard, take a snifter, an’ come back ter Arizony:” and Tom pressed the glass to the landlord’s lips, and poured the fiery liquor dowm his throat. ‘**Dog-goned ef he doesn’t swaller es nat’ral, an’ es easy es a suckin’ calf,” said Tom, with @ loud laugh; ‘an’ he’s a-openin’ his eyes, which looks like a couple o’ fried aigs in bacon grease. Brace up, Hank, an’ take yer nat’ral persish ahint ther bar.” : “ The landlord’s eyes rolled wildly, his hands clutched a moment at the empty air ; then, re- cognizing familiar faces, he shuddered con- vulsively, and with some assistance, gained his feet, but was forced to catch the arms of those who were nearest, to support himself. Looking for a moment around the room, which resounded with laughter, and beginning to realize that he was in his own home, he staggered behind the bar, winking and blinking like an owl] at noontide. ‘Read the keard, Tom! Read the keard!’” shouted several of the “citz”; and the sheriff jumped upon the bar, and ina loud voice, but not without difficulty and the substitution of words of his own for those which be was unable to pronounce or understand, he read the notice: which he had found on the jug at the bowlder, and which was signed by El Capitan, the Chief of the Panthers.” Hank paid as much attention as he could, under the circumstances, waiting very im- petetty until Tom had folded the paper; then, e took another stiff horn. ‘‘Tell us what yer see’d, Hank,” said the sheriff. ‘‘Whar yer bin? Yer look like yer
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) ad thro 12 ‘hed bin playin’ Merzeppa, an’ got a purty tough Tophet., . t did you boys leave me fer?” were Hank’s first words. ‘* Leave yer?” said Tom, in feigned surprise. “Yer hain’t bin with we’uns at all. We hain’t -see'd yer since we hung “Sport.” Whar yer bin, an’ what struck yer?” “ Felier-‘ citz,’”” explained the landlord, ‘‘ I’ve mixed with ther biggest ole cirkus an’ menadg- “ery what ever struck Arizony; an’ I’m gamblin’ on hitheavy. I’ve hed a hefty struggle with about fifty Panthers, I hashed a few without gittin’ a dang’d scratch; but they piled onter ~~ leetle too thick, an’ run me ter ther Nug- geVa-stompedin’, whar I intends ter stay hyer- arter. Ef yer could shovel up pure dust by the pound from the bottom o’ the canyon, I wouldn’t stir a peg from ahin’t this bar. I wouldn’t pass another night outside ther Nugget, for the bull of Arizony, an’ New Mexico counted in.” ‘*Set em up, Hank! Your treat, Holbrook! ‘Sling out yer bestest!” roared the “ citz,” with laughter. While the crowd was drinking, the clatter of thoofs sounded in the street, close at hand; and ‘Terrif,’ the cowboy, of whom some slight mention has been made, entered the bar in haste, and advancing through the crowd, placed a piece of bark in the hands of the sheriff, ‘Giant George sent this, boys. I met bim in the foot-bills, where I went to hunt for Tom’s horse. The Panthers have got the lady who came in the stage. George wants, you Tom, to raise a crowd, and come as quick as possible to help clean out El Capitan. Ho has drawn a anap of the Range on this bark. Here is Devil’s ‘Wash-bowl, at the head of Dead Man’s Gulch. ‘There is the trail you are to follow. The cave of the ‘Panthers’ is nearly below the three pines, which you know is a landmark. Herehe as marked down the North Star, which will help you to understand the route.” ““ Great Gee hoss-a-fat!” exclaimed '[om Jones. * George must think he hez ther déad wood on El Capitan this hitch. Whar yer goin’, Terrif? Can’t yer guide us, boy?” ** No; for I promised George to go with bim on the other side of the Range, He proposes to enter the cave, by some way known to himself. There is a long, narrow age, which is guarded by two of the ‘ Panthers’; after passin which, you enter alittle valley, inclosed on a sides by high walls of rocks. Once into this, you will have the weg safe,” ‘‘ Boys!” yelled Tom Jones, ‘‘ shill ther ‘ Ang’l © Penarlayno Range’ be murdered, an’ ther citz o’ Sardine-box stan’ here pourin’ down bug- juice? Who's goin’ ter help clean out ther ang’d eatery | pirits?” Every man fell into line, and Tom, selecting twenty-five, ordered them to get ready at once for the trail. At this moment a man came eer wee. rapid- ly down the stage-road from the direction of ld Gulch and came to a halt, his horse cov- ered with foam, within five feet of where the sheriff was aoeriy. 5 Lifting his hat, the stranger, who was a re- markably handsome young man of some twenty- _— or four years of age, asked in a hurried CH ’ “+ Excuse me, sir, but did not a have lady by the name of Lena Lawrence arrive in this town two days ago on the stage from Gold Gulch?” ‘(Thar war a lady ’roved hyer, but I’m dang’d ef I knows her handle,” answered Tom. ‘‘ Marm Holbrook kin tell ye, I reckon. Howsomever, hit won’t do yer any good ter know, fer ther * Panthers’ hes tuck her!” “The Panthers, you say?’ cried the stranger in a husky voice, while his face turned pale with horror. ‘“That’s what they calls theirselves; but they’s road-agents,” ‘* Great heavens!” said thestranger. ‘ When did this occur?” “They tuck her from the Nugget Hotel, an’ we-uns air jest a-goin’ ter skute up ther Range arter her. That’s our biz, right now. We'll hev a tough fite, I reckon, afore we gits through with El] Capitan an’ his gang.” ‘Bil Capitan!” suddenly exclaimed the stran- ger. ‘“*Ya-as. Does yer know ther cuss? Whar yer from, an’ what biz hes yer gut with ther Ang’l?” “The lady I have reference to is a life-long friend. This fiend, El Capitan, as he now calls himself, was the means of breaking up our en- ement. His real name is Edward Willough- by. At one time he pretended to be my friend. e was also the friend of a brother of this qyoung lady; but, asI have recently ascertained, Giant George; or, The Ang”’l of he murdered him near this town. It has also come to my knowledge that Miss Lawrence came to Arizona with the sworn intention of avenging her brother’s death.. Show me a way to save her from this monster’s power, my friends, and you shall have golden rewards.” ‘She disappeared last night,” said Tom, ‘an’ ther hull air a puzzle ter me. But say, stranger, now I think on it, thar’s aman,” and he pointed to ‘‘ Terrif,” ‘‘ thet’s goin’ ter j’ine Giant George on thet trail right now. Ef yer glide along with him yer’ll stan’ the best show, I reckon.” Away at headlong speed dashed “ Terrif ” and the new arrival before Tom Jones had ceased speaking. ‘““'Wa-al, dod blast my cats!” exclaimed the latter; ‘‘ things bout this hyer burg is gittin’ mixed wusser an’ wusser. I b’lieve I’m gittin’ luny, or else Hank’s whisk’ are too strong, one or t’other. ’Pears like George run’d off wi’ ther Ang’l, then she gut tuck ’way from him, an’ now hyer’s another man arter her. T’ll scrouge through this ef it bu’sts me up, an’ Sardine-box City ‘long with me!” As Tom brought his soliloquy to a close the men whom he had selected for the expedition came galloping into the street from all direc- tions, and in ten minutes they had filled their canteens at the Nugget, and, with the sheriff in their lead, were speeding away among the bowlders, The last words of the redoubtable Hank Hol- brook, as he stood in the door of bis bar, wav- ing his hat by way of farewell, were: “Don’t yer show yer faces ag’in in Sardine- box City without yer fotches with yer ther Ang’l o’ Penarlayno Range!” CHAPTER XVI. A SAD DISCOVERY. Giant GEORGE waited for some time at his perch in the shaft, expecting every moment that members of the.band would rush into the cave below him with lights; but not a sound reached him. Grasping the doubled lariats, and igniting a pine knot, he went down the shaft until he reached the firm rock. There he gazed around, holding his torch on high, and shading his eyes with his hand. He could hardly repress a cry of anguish, for, within five feet of him, stretched upon the stone floor, was the girl for whom he was in search, Close by her side lay the rock he had hurled from above. His heart sprung to his throat, his brain whirled, as the thought flashed through his mind, that perhaps he had killed the brave girl who had da so many perils that she might avenge her brother's murder. neeling ~ |e the floor of the cavern by her side, he raised her in his arms; when, to his ex- treme joy, he discovered no evidence of ef She was, however, limp and senseless, and he knew not what was best todo, At last he re- membered that he had secured a canteen of wa- ter about Don Diablo’s neck; and forgetting, in his deep concern, the fact that he had seen the bandit leader in the cave, he caught the doubled lariats, and ascending to the cross-bar, 7 made his way to the surface. As he climbed the shaft he formed a plan in his mind, to build a barrier of rocks across the passage below, which would enable him to defend Dora against the bandits until Tom Jones and his men should attack them from the west. So planning, the scout reached the mouth of the shaft; and, as he caught sight of the burro, he cried out: ‘‘Dod blast hit, Don Diablo, I never hed ary a ten-strike o’ pure luck without yer. Ef yer hedn’t bin "long, I'd never ’a’ found Sam’s box; an’ es I’m a-wantin’ the heaviest piece o’ luck now, down yer goes, ef I breaks my fool neck a-totin’ yer!” With these words, the scout turned his back to the burro, while he stood ona ledge below the beast, caught its fore-legs, and clasped them around his neck. He then bent forward, and, with his other hand to guide his movements, be- gan the descent. At the cross-bar he drew up the lariats, made them fast about the body of Don Diablo, and lowered the animal into the cavern, himself quickly following. Then, un- lousing the canteen from the burro’s neck, and releasing the patient beast from the lariats, he took up the torch, which he had left upon the floor, and, hastening to the side of ‘the still senseless maiden, began to bathe her head and to moisten her lips. “‘ Poor leetle gal,” he muttered; “she’s plum beat out, an’ thet cussed rock skeered her “bout ter death. I’m gittin’ ter be a’ out an’ out ole fool, since I begun ter scout with a female wo- man. Dang’d ef I hedn’t forgot thet El Capi- the Range. os tan war in this hole when I drapp’d thet rock. Hit war a — lucky drap, I reckon; fer, es things "pears e war goin’ ter knife Dick. ’ It must a’ bin him what elled, but what for isa uzzle. Ther stun couldn’t ’a’ struck him, er e’d ’a’ laid stiff. An’ she hain’t bin hurted, only skeered.” In this strain the giant scout talked; while he alternately moistened Dora’s lips, and bathed her head. While he was thus occupied, the bandit chief, E] Capitan, recovered his senses, and with diffi- culty raising himself to a sitting posture, gazed around him in utter bewilderment; his bead and face being covered with blood, giving bim a most repulsive appearance, Feeling around, his hand came in contact with a heavy club, and as he had lost his knife, he grasped t is weapon, realizing that, although he was in his own stronghold, he was in great We Aft first the weird scene seemed unearthly to him. Then he remembered that he had come face to face, within this cavern chamber, with aman who appeared to be the same that he had shot down months ago. El Capitan was not only tly mystified, but strangely moved. His mind was filled with superstitious visions, conjured up suddenly by a conscience that had previously given him no trouble, or if it did, it was ineiily drowned in riot and dissipation. Rising to his feet, he caught sight of the corpse-like face of the prostrate Dora and the igantic man bending assiduously over her, himself in darkness. He felt positive that no other mortals were in that portion of the retreat, and he now regret- ted having given permission to his band to en- camp for the day on the opposite side of the valley, although at the time of granting them this favor he had wished to be free from their presence. How came this huge man whom he now saw before him in hiscave? He did not belong to his band. There was no person in the country of such strength and stature, ex- cept Giant George. Itmust behe. In some se- cret manner the scout had entered his strong- hold. This meant ruin and an ignominious death if the giant scout should be allowed to ee and reveal his secret. ith such thoughts in bis mind, the danger to himself and his band uppermost, El Capitan removed his boots and walked stealthily over the floor of the cave toward his unsuspeeting victim. Gaining a favorable position, the bandit chief raised his club in air and struck Giant George a fearful blow upon the head. With a heavy roan, the scout fell by the side of Dora, and El Capitan was about to step forward, when, to his horror, he felt himself lifted bodily upward by something which had darted between his limbs from behind. Quaking with terror, he clutched at the dread thing with both his hands. They came in con- tact with the cold nose of Don Diablo, and the bandit caught sight of a pair of devilish eyes gasing from a head of most unearthly shape— he ears of the burro were not in view, being held tight between El Capitan’s legs—then be was hurled backward with great violence: his head struck the hard, cold granite, and with a cry of horror again, he lay senseless. For some length of time neither of the three human beings gave any indication of life; but at last Dora Deane moaned, turned eee upon her hard bed of rock, and slowly open her eyes. At first naught met her view og a the darkness that filled the cavern: then she caught sight of the burro, which seemed to be a pleasant reminder, but still a mystery. Rising to a sitting posture, she saw that Giant George was lying near her, the blood flowing from a wound in his head; and with acry of anguish she caught his wrist and placed one hand upon his brow. , ‘ “Oh, God, spare him!” she cried in her agony. ‘Let not another noble life be sacrificed through the fiend, El Capitan. Spare the life, ob, Fath- er in Heaven, of this brave, unselfish man, and I will leave judgment and vengeance in Thy hands! Then, looking around, Dora saw the blood- stained form of the bandit chief, the fiead who had so wronged her and hers, and a convulsive shudder shook her frame, as the dread peril through which she had conn came vividly’ be- fore her. There lay the rock which, she felt sure, must have been hurled from some point by Giant George. She remembered, presently, that El Capitan had struck violently against the wall in the darkness. But he was notin the middle of the chamber; and the scout was
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Giant George; or, The Ang”’l of the Range. there also, and senseless. This was proof, al- most positive, that Giant George had, in some way, gained an entrance; and, in saving her life the second time, had been wounded by the bandit chief. But if so, if the bandit had struck the scout to the floor, why had he not followed up his advantage, and murdered George and herself? And how came he again to be in a prostrate and senseless condition? It did notse em possi- ble that each could have struck the other with blows that had bereft them of further power atthe same moment. The more Dora pondered, the more confused she became. Then, seeing the canteen, which still contained a small quan- tity of water, she poured some of the cool liquid upon George’s head. Binding up his wound with her handkerchief, she ‘ial om her hat; and, filled with dread forebodings, expecting each moment that some of the bandits would enter, she sat down by the side of the scout, and chafed his huge 8, while she prayed most fervently for his re- turn to consciousness, and his restoration to strength and health; ready, all the while, at the es noise from the passage, to dash out the re . CHAPTER XVIL HAND TO HAND, AND STEEL TO STEEL, © A new idea seemed, all of a sudden, to strike Don Diablo, for he pricked up his ears, and pro- ceeded to walk about the cavern; mnelling along the floor, here and there, in and out the circle of light cast by the burning pine knot. From the actions of the animal, Dora de- cided that it was hun and was searching for food; but, as she watched the beast, she saw him, after a somewhat prolonged absence, walk out suddenly from the darkness with the ends of the two lariate, that had been knotted together, in his mouth, and chewing vigorously upon them, apparently with the greatest satis- faction. Still watching the burro, she saw that the lariats were drawn taut by the animal, and that they appeared to be stretched from the mouth of the beast upward to the roof of the cavern. The presence of Giant George ‘now ceased to bea mystery for Dora now knew that he had descended m above; and that, from the same point also, he had hurled the rock through the secret entrance—a passage which, she felt sure, must be unknown to the bandits; for, if this had been the the fall of the stone would not have terrified El Capitan as it cer- tainly had done. While these convictions were gradually brought home to her, her eyes were once more turned to the curious contortions of Don Diablo, in his efforts to masticate the tough raw-hide; and she was again surprised and somewhat alarmed by observing that the lariats were sud- denly jerked, by some unseen power, awa from the burro’s jaws, and went swinging bac. into the darkness. Dora was conscious that not only her own life, but that of Giant George, was in the greatest jeopardy, and she was now apprehen- sive of the appearance of enemies from any and every rter. She felt confident that a new danger threat- 2 the secret entrance, for the scout had come alone to her rescue; so, grasping the torch, and with her knife in her hand, she udvanced in the direction in which the lariats had disa red. But a Re paces did she walk when the ropes again met her view, swaying and twitching, as though some person was descending; and, hold- ing the torch above her head, she discovered a man coming down, hand under hand, with the most reckless haste, Frightened beyond measure, her tongue seemed to cleave fo the roof of her mouth, and for the moment she was unable to get her speech; but, throwing off, by a powerful effort, e dread that had taken possession of her, she cried out in as firm a voice as she could com- mand: ‘“‘ Who comes there?” A friend to Giant George, and to all honest men,” was the reply, in a fearless voice, that caused Dora Deane to spring back, the blood lve neal with increased velocity through her veins, _ The next instant, the new-comer, relinquish- ing his hold upon the rope, dropped upon the cavern floor, his face filled with deep concern; but he was blinded for the moment by the glare of the torch, which Dora had hastily t rust, again into its former position, 10 4 n the rock. Taking her sand close to the prostrate form of her friend, the suspicious girl, her knife clutched tightly, stood now on the defensive, her eyes fastened upon the face of the stranger, her face pallid, and her form trembling; for the voice of the man before her had awakened a thousand and one tender memories of the past. “God, I thank Thee!” broke from the stran- er’s lips, in earnest, heartfelt prayer. ‘‘ At ast, at last, I meet m seated Lena Law- rence my long-lost darling, do you not know me? Have you forgotten Rudolph?” _The knife fell from the hand of the disguised girl upon the stone floor with a clang; and she rung, with a wild cry of intense joy and re- hef, into the outstretched arms of the man who addressed her. “Thank Heaven! Rudolph Reynolds, my first, my only, but long-lost love! Can it be ible that we have met again, and in this orrible place, or is it a dream?” ‘Better to meet thus than never, my dar- ling!” said Rudolph, as he held the tremblin maiden to his heart; ‘this is no dream, and, thank God, you are unharmed! But what means all this? I hope, I sincerely hope, that your noble protector, Giant George, is not dead. If he is, I shall terribly avenge him, as well as the wrongs that you have endured!” ‘No, Rudolph; he is not dead, but badly brui and unconscious. He has saved me twice from yonder fiend, who is no other than the wretch who for years professed to be ‘te friend, and also the friend of my poor brother. He is Edward Willoughby, here known as El Capitan, the chief of the Panthers. But we are stillin great danger, Rudolph; for the bandits may, at any moment, dash in, and murder us all. Is there no way of getting George up through that secret entrance by which Me came? Ido not know what to do, or what to say. Surely it must be that God has sent you to my aid, in the midst of my deepest distress. But it is the greatest mystery to me how you come to be in Arizona. This is no time, how- ever, for ya ere Oh, Rudolph, do we meet thus, only to be parted by death?” “‘T will not leave your side again, my dar- ng, though a thousand bandits were on our trail. But, come, we must revive the giant scout. Our hopes center in him, for we cannot take him up the shaft, neither can we leave such a man to the mercy of these demons in human form. ‘*Ha! ha! ha!” The laugh was a fiendish one, and _ rung through the arched cavern, causing Dora Deane to shrink back in horror and dread, and Rudolph to spring up from the side of Giant George to a posture of defiance. “The gods smile upon you, but Satan favors his own,” said El Capitan, who had revived, found his knife, and now stood, with the same tightly clutched in his hand; his black, snake- like eyes blazing with fury from out his blood- smeared face. ‘‘Rudolph Reynolds, I see that you still live, and have walked into my parlor, as well as my long adored Lena. Come, we must fight for the fair prize! I scorn to call for help to secure such as you, although a score of good men and true only await my signal. =s pretty Lena, our buckskins become you. was a weak ‘ool to suppose for a moment that Sam bad arisen from his grave. I thank the fiends for leading your footsteps into my rocky bowers. Pll embrace you when my steel has found the heart of him who deserves not such a prize, or he would have gained it long ere this. Rudolph Reynolds, there is not room on the earth for both of us. Come!” Not a word spoke a Reynolds; but with firm clenched bowie, half bent, with every muscle and sense braced and strained, for the conflict, he stole slowly toward the bloody bandit chief, conscious that the lives of Lena Lawrence and Giant George, as well as his own, at ae upon his strength and skill; and also well aware that he had to deal with no novice in the use of steel. Both men were nearly the same hight, but El Capitan was of more robust build. one loss of blood, however, had somewhat weakened the bandit chief, which made them more nearly ual. Never, perhaps, was there a more impressive scene. Lena, standing by the torch, her face pale as death, her features stamped with horror and agonizing anxiety; while the man whom she loved more than her own life, and who had long been lost to her, was about to engage in deadly conflict with the wretch whom she loathed with an intensity that bordered on in- sanity. 13: So dazed was she, by sudden surprises and) horrors, that, for the time, she forgot the in-- sensible form of her noble protector who lay” prone upon the floor so near her; but the giant: scout regained his consciousness, just at the: moment that the two men sprung upon each: other. Back and forth, over the cavern floor, they fought with insane desperation, their bowies throwing out sparks of fire. Rising to a sitting posture, Giant George drew his hand quickly across his eyes, felt of” par sty head, and then muttered to him- se ‘““What ther dickens are up now! Thet El Capitan kim nigh wipin’ me out, dead sure, an’’ he pears ter hey more lives nor a cat, blast bit! Ther hull crowd o’ Panthers ’ll be: rushin’ in onter us. Ther leetle gal are all hunk, thank ther Lord! An’ now some strange’ gerloot hev dropped in ter keep up ther cirkuss, which ’ll be all sp’iled ef I doesn’t block up ther’ door, an’ keep t’other teat from stompedin"’ this-a-ways. Dang’d ef I ever see’d things git quite so mixed afore. Don Diablo, ole pard, how is yer? °*Pears ter me he is right side up: with care, dntil yit;” and springing to his feet, without paying any further attention to the ir who were engaged in the terrible wm, the scout picked up a pine knot which ba fallen from his belt, ignited the same, and rushed across the cave to the passage, inserting the clear end of the torch in a cleft. He then ran to one end of the cavern, where: there was a pile of loose stones of some size, and: began to carry them into the passage, laying: them in a wall directly across the entrance. Foaming at the mouth with desperate fury,. El Capitan, frenzied by the thought that his: hated rival might triumph over h and win the maiden that be had sworn to himself a thousand times should be his slave, the bandit chief, with his eyes frozen upon the face of his: pepe fy hae by a lightning-like fe sf of steel, to bewilder and break the guard of the man, whom he hated with an intensity the most; inhuman. Lena Lawrence had been captured by his: spies at the grave of her brother, disguised im male attire, and this proved that Sam Lawrence must have written to her previous to his death. If so, he had doubtless, feeling that his end was: mfr per disclosed the. secret hiding: place: of his gold. By some me soe Ba was certain, Lena had learned of her brother’s death, and had come to Arizona to recover bistreasure. El Capitan had no doubt of this, and the thought: served to madden him doubly, for should he be killed, those whom he so much hated would escape, and would enjoy the murdered man’s: wealth, thus rendering as naught all his well- laid plans of revenge. On the other hand, should he kill Rudol Reynol all his fondest ho would rechised) or he would then have Lena Lawrence in his power, and could easily compel her to divulge the whereabouts of the concealed treasure of her brother. When, however, Giant George revived, and El Capitan knew by bis active movements that — he was building a icade across the passage that would prevent his band from joining bim or he them; then he began to ve that alk was lost, but determined, nevertheless, to kill his opponent, even if he himself should be slain the next moment. Thus, he felt, he would rtly avenge himself upon Lena Lawrence, by bit hting her life forever. And 80 be rushed wildly upon Rudolph, who cool and calm as at. the first, gave way, watching for an opportunity to thrust his adversary in a vital part. Words cannot express the anxiety and the horror that racked the brain of Lena, and kept her still chained to the spot where she ha? stood when the two men, both so closely linke to her life, sprung into deadly conflict, an when she saw the furious onslaught of th bandit chief, before which her lover seemed te retreat, she darted across the c vern, and the arm of Giant George, implorin im to shoot El Capitan, and save the life o: Rudolph Reynolds. “ o are he, anyway? Whar did ther pil- grim drap from?” demanded the giant scout. ‘‘He has been the lifelong friend_of my brother Samuel and myself. He is Rudolph Reynolds, who was estranged from me by the base lies and trickery of the villain, Edward Willoughby—El Capitan! I have told you of him; and I have wished—yes, prayed—that he would come to assist me. And God did bear my prayers. He came, but he will be killed by this infamous man, who has wronged him, and made his life, as well as mine, most miserable. Save him, George! Can you not, will you not
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> 14 Gignt frees or, The 14 ————i‘C*tCHaszn't George; or, The Ang”l of the Range. of the Range. save Rudolph? Or do you wish to see me raebp dead before you?” ‘I never sticks’myself inter a squar’ fight,” said the scout; “that’s whar it is, Dick. But yer needn’t fret; for El Capitan are slashin’ mighty wild, and. Rudolph, es yer calls him, hes gut ther dead wood already on splittin’ his bleed reservoy, inside o’ ten shakes ev a big-horn’s leose end.” Before Giant Geor ise had ceased to speak, his words were verified; for Rudolph Reynolds, who had husbanded._ his strength, sprung upon the bandit chief unexpectedly, grasping him with his left hand by the throat, and with the ‘quickness of thought, burying his. knife in the wretch’s heart, t the same instant, he hurled him from him with great violence, and El Cap- itan, with a terrific cry of baffled rage, fell backward upon the stone floor of the bandits cave, CHAPTER XVIII. HURRAH FOR THER anal 0’ PENARLAYNO RA Art the same deen ‘that El Capitan. fell, the door of the cavern was opened, and the sound of wild yells of alarm, mingletl with rat- tling reports of rifles and revolvers, run through the arched F ne ges; while eager an anxious cries for “ Capitan ” sounded amid the general tumult. This critical moment showed that the fore- thought of Giant George had saved himself and ‘his friends from instant death; for, through the door from the outer cavern, the bandits rushed in a maddened mob; but the giant scout stood behind his breastwork of rocks, and, with a deadly Colt in each hand, sent death and de- struction into the confused and fear-demor- alized ‘‘ Panthers,” who, doubly amazed and frightened at finding a hostile fores within their stronghold, came to a halt; at the same instant, Giant George caught up the limp, half-dead El constans and hurled his biood-stained form over the rocky barrier into the very midst of his ap- palled followers. Don Diablo, at this moment, no doubt getting scent of the fresh, air and green grass of the opening at the mouth of the cave, clambered upon the rough wall, and gazed downward with his wild A into the crowd of terrified bandits, Paral ype with terror and dread by the fear- ful sight of their leader’s gory body which had just been hurled among them, the ‘‘ Panthers” gazed for an instant, with superstitious horror upon the strange, unearthly beast, dimly out- lined by the torch in its rear; then, with yells of Soepe'y and desperation, they bounded back into the main cavern entrance, hastened in their flight by the wild laughter of the giant scout, Reaching this, they were called upon to cut their way through the ranks of the ‘‘citz” who, led by Tom Jones, the worthy sheriff from. Sardine-box City, had. penetrated the secret vale of the dreaded bandits. Lena Lawrence sprung to the arms of Ru- dolph, = the latter hurled El Capitan from him, and clasped him ina loving embrace, as she breathed a braver of thankfulness; but, as the bandits rushed back from the passage, the giant scout clambered over his barrier of rocks, that had proved the salvation of the trio, at the same time yelling: “Come on, stranger! Dick must take keer of hisself for awhile, Foller me, for ther’s hefty biz out-this-a-ways, you bet!” ly embracing Lena, and imprinting the a kiss since their strange meeting upon her Rudolph made his way over the barrier . ter the scout, and both were soon pouring a deadly fusilade ‘into the rear of the “ anthers ” from tha pines that masked the mouth of the cave; the bandits being now in the open valley, See operand in a desperate battle with t é In the most critical moment, during the des- perate charge of the “Panthers” from out the cave into the valley, after their fright and de- air at the sight of their fallen chief, when they drove the sheriff and his company ‘before them, Don Diablo went, bounding and kicking, right and left, through ‘their ranks, and in full view of the men of Sardine-box City. When the brave “ citz” recognized the burro, they gave one wild, ringing cheer and rushed in an overwhelming onslau me uy nthe bandits, who, beginning to realize that they were being shot down from the rear as yo broke and ran in oe nme confusion, and being shot each in- stant. The beautiful rock-inclosed valley was soon scattered over with the dead and dying bodies of the bandits; in fact, the gang was totally ,much agains ‘cleaned out,” and the “‘citz” gave a round of hearty cheers as they rested on their rifles. Giant George and the stranger who had ridden into Sardine-box City just previous to the depar- ture of the posse, and then left with ‘‘ Terrif,” appeared from the cavern, the disguised Dora Deane following them, a fresh round of cheers broke upon the air. But the hearty reception was given to Giant George alone, for the “ citz” did not recognize ‘‘ ther Ang’]”’ until the latter had removed her sombrero and allow her hair to fall below her waist; then the welkin rung louder. than ever with wild hurrahs for the ** Ang’l o’ Penarlayno Range!” No sooner had the giant scout delivered over Rudolph Reynolds and Lena Lawrence into the care of the “ citz,” than he disappeared within the cave; but soon after returned, bending be- neath the weight of the chest of gold that had been secreted b Samuel Lawrence a short time previous to his being murdered by El Capitan, and, which Giant George had discovered in the shaft. This treasure he formally delivered to Tom Jones to hold in trust for Lena Lawrence until all parties should reach Sardine-box City. During the absence of the scout Lena recounted in brief the sufferings she had endured through bi fiendish E] Capitan and her object in com- ing.te Arizona and assuming a disguise. She d them, also, her relations with Rudolph Reynolds, and he, in his turn, told her, through detectives, he had learned of his friend Sam Lawrence’s murder, as well as by whom it had been committed, and Lena’s departure on her mission of yengeance. The rough crowd, with Tom Jones at their head, listened in wonder, and their honest faces were filled with the sincerest sympathy. Not one of their number but was proud that he had acted his part in bringing about such a pleasant denouement; and great was the surprise and joy of all, and especially of Lena, when the giant scout returned ‘with the chest of nuggets, The posse collected their horses, and all re- turned to Sardine-box City, filled with the eatest relief at the thoushie that the dreaded | Capitan and his murderous gang of bandits could no longer cause trouble or loss to them or theirs. The following day, the sheriff and his party returned to the cave, and conveyed the plun- der, which proved to be of considerable value, to the town. It was divided equally among the “‘citz.” They also bore the bodies of four of their number, who had been killed in the fight; back to their former homes, to be interred near the burg; and leaving the bandits for the wolves and buzzards. Rudolph Reynolds explained to Lena and Giant George, that ‘ Terrif” had guided him to the shaft that led down to the cavern, and then had departed to ascertain the position of the bandit sentinels, which it was proved that he did, conveying the intelligence to Tom Jones, and thus insuring the success of the expedi- ‘cn. Hank and .Mrs. Holbrook welcomed the “ Ang’l” with the most extravagant expres- sions of joy back to the Nugget Hotel; and re- jpiced with her when they were informed as to the character of Rudolph, and their past and Rens relations to each other, as well as in the iscovery of the gold. Rudolph insisted a Sa an immediate mar- riage, the cermony rformed amon, those who had proved ae selves such faithfu friends in the hour of need; and Lena’s being a stranger in the land, and. without any rela- tive who might say her nay, was forced—not ber will, however—to agree Lg her lover’s most urgent wishes; and a cler man _ having been summoned from Gold Gulc the holy rite was solemnized in the presence of the ‘‘citz,” in the open air, amid the bowlders. Being himself quite wastthy, ip Hadith insisted that each of those who had so. no ly risked their lives to rescue Lena should accept a hand- some present in the gs of golden eagles; Mrs. Holbrook getting, through Lena’s liber- ality the lion’s share—a sufficiency, indeed, to enable her to ‘pint back Texas-way’ ” when- ever she felt disposed to do so, Giant George was not only made the recipient of a small fortune, but was prevailed upon by Lena to rig himself out in a showy suit of pagsanes, and return with herself and husband to St. Louis ; but he only consented on con- dition that Don Diablo also should form one of the party. The extreme liberality of the handsome poasio-- ihe first who had been joined in wed- lock in the burg—so elated bie “citz” that the night of it” int would not be complete without F most emphatically and decidedly refused to go, the ‘‘citz,” with the help of Giant George, bound the enraged landlord of the Nugget upon the back of Don Diablo, who bore Hank in safety down the dangerous canyon — trail; although it was almost as terrible and dread an experience to him as his never. to be for- gotten night upon the bowlder, causing his hairs literally to stand on end, which, as he had but few of them, gave him a most comical ee eee to have ‘‘ another canyon; aig beg Party appearance, and throwing the ‘‘citz,” who watched - the descent, into convulsions of laughter. pon the afternoon of the day of their mar- riage, Rudolph and Lena visited the grave of the latter's eh in the Devil’s Wash-bowl, and our heroine, then and there, resolved to re- move his remains, at no distant day, to the family burial-place in St. Louis. The next morning Sardine-box City was once again in an uproar, all hands being met to- gether at the Nugget Hotel to witness the de- parture of our friends by the Gold Gulch stage; the horses attached to the ‘‘ hearse” becoming almost frantic at the yells of the ‘‘citz,” as Giant George carefully lifted Don Diablo into the “‘ hind boot,” and buckled bis strange pard in, allowing the head of the animal free scope, ‘ “ter *joy ther scenery,” as the scout expressed vith heartfelt good-bys, and hearty hand- shakes, Rudolph, Lena, and Giant George set out on their long and tedious journey; the air resounding with cheers as the horses galloped up the street; but poor Hank, who had indulged too freely the previous night in the canyon, when the ‘‘citz” had ‘‘ made things howl,” was so played out, and badly demoralized enerally, that when the loud and piercing ‘‘ Hurrah fer ther Ang’l o’ Penarlayno Range ” rung out, he could utter nothing but a series of convulsive, choking gasps, while the maudlin tears ran . down his ruddy cheeks. THE END, Half-Dime Singer’s Library | 1 Wxaoa, Emma! and 59 other Songs. ” 2 Caprain Curr and 57 other Songs. 8 Tue Garnsgoro’ Har and 62 other Songs, 4 Jounny MorGan and 60 other Songs. 5 Tut Strike You With A FEATHER and 62 others. 6 GrorGr THE CHARMER and 56 other Songs. 7 Tue BELLE or Rockaway and 52 other So 8 Youne Fe.uan, You're Too Fresx and 60 ot 9 Say Youna Girt and 65 other Songs. 10 I’m THE Governor's OnLy Son and 58 other Songs. 11 My Fan and 65 other Songs. 12 Comm’ THRO’ THE Ry and 55 other Songs. 18 THe ROLLICKING IRIsHMAN and 59 other Songs. 14 Oty Doa Tray and 62 other Songs. 15 Wao, Carte and 59 other Songs. 16 In THIs WHat By AND By and 62 other Songs. 1% Nancy Lex and 58 other Songs, 18 I’m THe Boy THAT’s BounD To BLAzE and 57 others, 19 Toe Two OrpHAns and 59 other Songs, 20 WHAT ARE THE WILD WaAvEsS Sayina, Srsrer? and 59 other Songs. 21 Inpienant Ponty Woe and 59 other Songs. 22 Tne OLD ARM-CHAIR and 58 other Songs. 23 On Conry IsLanp Bracu and 58 other Songs. 24 OLD Simon, THE Hot-Corn Man and 60 others, 25 I’m 1n Love and 56 other Songs. 26 PARADE OF THE GuARDs and 56 other Songs. 27 Yo, Have, Ho! and 60 other Songs. 28 "Twit Never po Tro Gi rr up So and 60 others. 29 Buur Bonnets Over THE BoRDER and & others. 30 Tar Merry Laverna MAN and 56 other Songs. 81 Sweet Foraet-me-Nor and.55 other Songs, 32 Leerie Basy Mine and 53 other Songs, 33 De BANJO AM DE INSTRUMENT FoR Mr and 53 others. 84 Tarry and 50 other Songs. 35 Just TO PLEASE THE Boys and 52 other Songs. 36 SKATING ON ONE IN THE GurreR and 52 others. 87 KoLorep Kranxks and 59 other Songs. 88 No DESPERANDUM and 53 other Songs. 39 Tae Girt I Lerr Benryp Mz and 50 other Songs. 40 "Tis put a Lirrie Fapep Fiower and 50 others, 41 Pretty WHILnetmrma and 60 other Songs. 42 DANCING IN THE Barn and 63 other Songs. 43 H. M.S. Prvarore, compete, and 17 other Songs, Sold everywhere by Newsdealers, at five cents per copy, or sent post-paid, to any address, on re- - ceipt of Sie cents per number. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Pusu 98 WILLIAM StreET, New Yor.
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TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION! Pa fx 1 FEE 2 PAPERS [F FR etlaee ata tettag Tries ee eee Se as « #* a's A New Library Expressly Designed for “Our Boys” WHO LOVE True Stories of Stirring Lives! Tales of Actual Peril and Adventure! : Romance of Sport on Field and Flood! Daring Deeds and Great Achievement, On the oceans and seas—in the deep, silent forests—on the boundless plains—in the mountain fastnesses and the untrailed hills— over the wild game ranges and the cattle ranches—on lakes, rivers and lonely lagoons—over the world, everywhere; thus being something Wholly New and Novel, and giving « literature which in quality, kind, and exciting interest is | PECULIARLY THE AMERICAN BOY’S OWN! Each number, a perfect and complete work, from the hand of some noted and. well-accredited writer, is a Boox in ITsELF— literally a halfdollar book for a half'dime—and so answers the call, in this day of cheap publications, for a ‘“* Library” that is unexceptionable in tone, thoroughly delightful in matter, and so modest in price as to be easily within the reach of every one who cares to read. Issued weekly. ‘- NOW READY AND IN PRESS. No. 1. Adventures of Buffalo Bill. From Boyhood to| No. 12. Woods and Waters; or, The Exploits of the Manhood. Deeds of Daring, and Romantic Incidents in the early life of William F. Cody. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, The Ocean Hunters; or, the Chase of Levia- than. A Romance of Perilous Adventure. By Captain Mayne Reid, (337 An extra large nwnber. &) Adventures of Wild Bill, the Pistol Prince. Re- markable career of J. B, Hikok, (known to the world as “Wild Bill”), giving the true story of his adventures and acts. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. The Prairie Ranch; or, the Young Cattle Herd- ers. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. Texas Jack, the Mustang King. Thrilling Adven- tures in the Life of J. B, Omohundro, “Texas Jack.” By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. lS Cruise of the Flyaway; or, Yankee Boys in Cey- lon. By C. D. Clark. Roving Joe: The History of a Young “Border Ruffian.” Brief Scenes from the Life of Jos. E. Badger, Jr. By A. H. Post. : The Flyaway Afloat; or, Yankee Boys ’Roun the World. By C. D. Clark. Bruin Adams, Old Grizzly Adams’ Boy Pard. Scenes of Wild Adventure in the Life of the Boy Ranger of the Rocky Mountains, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. . 10, The Snow Trail; or, The Boy Hunters of Fur- Land. A Narrative of Sport and Life around Lake Winnipeg. By T. C. Harbaugh. - 11. Old Grizzly Adams, the Bear Tamer; or, “The Monarch of the Mountains.” By Dr. Frank Powell. No. 2. No. 3. 4, 5. 6. 7. 8. No. 9. No. Littleton Gun Club, By Capt. Frederick Whittaker, No. 13. A Rolling Stone: Incidents in the Career on Sea and. Land as Boy and Man, of Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. By A. Professor William R. Eyster. . No. 14. Adrift on the Prairie, and Amateur Hunters on the Buffalo Range. By Olli Coomes. ‘ No. 15, Kit Carson, King of the Guides ; or; Mountain Paths and Prairie Trails. By Albert W. Aiken. — No. 16. Red River Rovers; or, Life and Adventures in the Northwest. By C. D. Clark. No. 17. Plaza and Plain; or, Wild Adventures of “Buckskin Sam,” (Major Sam S. Hall.) By Colcnel Prentiss Ingraham. j : No. 18. Rifle and Revolver; or, The Littleton Gun Club on the Buffalo Range. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker, No. 19. Wide-Awake George, the Boy Pioneer; or, Life in a Log Cabin. Incidents and Adventures in the Back- woods. By Edward Willett. F No. 20. The Dashing Dragoon; or, The Story of Gen. George A. Custer, from West Point to the Big Horn, By Captain Frederick Whittaker. | No. 21. Deadwood Dick’s Early Life; or, Why Wild Ned Harris, the New England Farm-boy became the Western Prince of the Road. By E. L. Wheeler. Ready May 3d. No. 22. The Boy Exiles of Siberia; or, The Watch-Dog of Russia. By T. C. Harbaugh. Ready May 10th. BEADLE’S BOY'S LIBRARY is for sale by all Newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, f 98 William Street, New York.
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1 Deadwood Dick, THe Prince of THE Roap Edward L. Wheeler. ellowstone J t% By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 3 Kansas ae or, THe Rep Ricur Hann, Buffalo on. Wm. F. Cody). 4 e eba-Horse ‘upeurs: By Captain Mayne Reid and Captain Frederick Whittaker. 5 My bond Joe, THE YounG WANDERING JEW. Coomes. Double Number, 10cts, 6 Hill Iddon Trapper. by £. & Ellis. 7 The Flying Yankee} of, THE Ovr- By Col. 7 Ingraham 8 Seth Jones, a Edward 8. Ellis, 9 Adventures ric tee Munehausen. 0 Nat Todd. ByE. 5S. EI 1 The Two tice sitvees B Gulliver’s Travels. The Dumb ng, Oe By Oll Coomes. Aladdin}; or ONDERFOL LAMP. The Sea-Cat. By Captain Fred. Whittaker, Robinson Crusoe, (27 Illustrations.) Ralph wo, Tax Boy Buccaneer}, or, THE Foarrive Yao Sol, Prentiss am, eae. the’ Sailor. His Seven Voyages, The Phantom Spy. By Buffalo Bill. The Double Daggers. By FE. L. Wheeler. ane Fronticr Angel. By EdwardS. Hillis. Crusoe. By Juan Nick o° the Nigm. By T: OC. Harbaugh. Diamond Dirk. By Colonel P. Ingraham. The Bo nape tain. By ry nooo preven. > THE BurraLo Demon; or, THE Borprr V an ote I By Edward L. Wheeler. Antelope Abe, tHe Boy Guipg. Oll Coomes ) ee) ed QF Sako sae AT Sd 32 Bob Woolf, THE Border RvurF1aNn; or, THE Grau Deap-Sxor. By Edward L. Wheeler. 83 The Ocean Bloodhound. 8. W, Pierce. 34 oo ey em or, Nick Wuirries’ Boy Sry 35 ine D OF © hence 36 The Boy Clown. rip Ce Bion 37 The Hidden Lodge. By T. O, Harbaugh. 38 Ned Wylde, THe Boy Scour. By Texas Jack. 39 Death-Face, THe DeETecTIvE. By Wheeler. eee , Adame "Cyapor Duvay or, THE op Dares L. Wh 40 Roving Ben. By J.J; 41 Lasso Jack. By Oll Coo 42 The Phantom ere ‘Bye. EK. L. Wheeler: 43 pce ees THE > ad REsS RIDER. 45 Old Avalanch rs Ling Epa, ts 2 BRIGAND, E. L. Wheeler, 46G Voor THE be SHor or Tax WEsT. . Sy “ ; bx Bi ‘ ick Whifiles’ Pet. Deadwood Dick's © Border a =, 1d Hickory. By St. ‘ rey Sh Col. 2 WHSCSID ak CWKOCe4 Soe 3 DBABSrrSr rst Sr Grr Ouse ih gerary 63 The Pa ec ae r Pg: ES ree ° 9 Go Sag rd‘L. 70 Old tices Spe: n. ‘By Gant J. y. denies Ol. Coom 71> Western. By W. 5. Hamilton: 73 Deadwood Dic Deck; or, Canamrry vas Hxnore: or op Dew} By Wheeler. » BY Oll Coomes, Hoy Duelist, By Gol P. am. ie, ae Crow-KILLer. ‘By A. W. Aiken. Soma Tat Boy eae or, ue Dick, By Sol & — GIANT By A.W. Aiken, mad Hob or, Nuecer Nap, Tae Knicut ward L. Wh awe the. Hoy H Banger, tit my, my Ss 5 ¢ Date Buckram, CCGG GH GGDGD Wake eFakadad GHNeOwH OCOD Re Ew shi 33 Island Jim. hetdgo 5 % 0 The sd Simm. By B - allio trownk. 31 The Captain ofthe Club; or, Tax Younc Rival ATHLETES. Hemyng. 92 Canada Chet. By 93 The Boy Miners. ah Edward 8. Ellis. 94 Midnight o—_ Roap-AGEnNT; TRAPPER. By TC. C. Harbaugh. Tut Boy 95 The Rival Rovers. Lieut. Col. Hazeltine. or, e Sea Serpent We Tae Boy: Roptvsonr . By E.L. Wheeler. Reid. , +4 2 Watch-Eye, tHe Sxapnow. By E. L. Wheeler. 97 The Outlaw Brothers. By J. J. Marshall. 98 Robin Hood WED Ear; or, THE Merry MEN 0} > Gace wote. Prof, Gildersleeve. 99. The Tiger. of Taos. By G. Waldo Browne. 100 Deadwood Dick in = aaagge AIF - or, A STRANGE STROKE FoR LIBERTY. pee eéler, 101 Jack Harkaway in New York, By Bracebridge Hemyng Edward L. Wheeler. The Black Steed of the Prairies. A of Texan Adventure. By Bowen. The $ vil, By Col. P. am, The Wad Hunter. By Burton Saxe. Jack Hoyle, THz Youre SPeotna that or, Tue Roap To Fortune, By Ed. L. Wheeler. The Black Schoonar, Ae Starbuck. The Mad Miner. By G. Waldo Browne. ‘Rhe Hussar Captain.» Col. P. Ingraham, b a ys ed Dic ’ THE Sport DETECTIVE; or I Ap-AGEnT’s DapGuTER. Wheeler, Wilts Somers, THE Boy Morris, Mustang Sam. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. The Branded Hand. ByFrank Dumont. Cinnamron ‘Ch THe Gtet Sport; or, Tae GOLDEN Ino or Mr. Rosa, Kd. L. Wheeler. Phil Hardy, Tux Boss Boy. » By 0, Morris. Kiowa Charley, THe Ware Musranger, By T. C. Harbaugh. ippy, TH Texan, By George Gleason, Bonanza Bill, peed, By Ed, L. Wheeler. Picayune Pete. By Charles Morris. -Fire, Boss or tHE Roap. By Dumont, The Young Privateer. Re faVendish, Dick’s Double. By Wheeler. Detective Dick. By Charlies Morris. Khe Golden Hand, Geo. W. Browne. The Hunted Hunter. By Ed. 8. Ellis. Boss ye THE KING OF THE BOOoTBLACKS: or, Taw PAWNBROKER’S PLor..: Ed. L. Wheeler. 4 Sure Shot Seth, Tat Boy Rirteman; or THe ——_ Pavriots or THe NorTx. By Oli booinest 5 ve ain Paul, roe Kentucky MoonsHinER} Boy Spy or THe Mounrars. kK. 6 or Ries Box Se Kit. By Jos. E. ger, Jr, T The Helpléss Hand. Capt. Mayne Reid. 8 Blonde o hk dge n he . Hine Wlazos "oF ir WM WOK Reet ee et OO OOOO wre one pet ot ° epeees Rew © BRB KBHwwrwdWwwtd RWH SS SUIAGe =e i] = as > ° or Fait’ BS 3 bes im, aa y rank ten “AoE: or, THE Brows. By: Edward L. Wheeler. ke, i ag Boorsuack Dz- 3 eee an saul, r Olt cig n ance, THE Boy mr. By Badger. w Fe ret, THE New Yore Dersc- B's. Boss Jos. By ¥ Wheeler. Sipees Sta. 4 THe Boy Knicur. Coomes. ill wildare, THE THOKOUGHBRED; .or, fae Wreire Hann. Charles Morris. Sharp Sams ByJ. Alexander Patten. A Game of Gold3 or, Desvpwoop Dick's = G@ STRIKE. Edward L. Wheel anal and Lasso. Panther ul, AINTY To. : Black Bese, Wa ier Ger Charis Morn. ‘or, le Kit, THE Bor a, a, Gold Headwoo. “Bick. oft” awatiee by edward or es i f rg a RBOR POLICE or; on, =. he te = a - EEEE 5 a i) B aliiileleadeed me Re dh a ee el ee ee “orGrerty oor) Over a omme w KS SD AS cm — oF 1GHT- 59 The Lose at, Captain. By Whi fant. By J. £. E. Badger, Jr. ow | vou Nell, THe Boy y's NEY. > Wane Wildfire in the Woods. c Tale of Texan Prairies Dandy Rock’sP Billy Baggage, THz Rarro Ron 6 Eee by Charles Morris. eo. Sane re. or S3nS SF Se ell el ee PIP CVe SO 3 > = me eeler. litary. By Oli Coomes. 43 Bob a eer THE Bank RvuNx Morria,. The i a Trai or 182 Little Hurricane, tae Boy Capr Coomes. 183 The Hidden Hand. By Chas. Morris, 184 The Boy Tralilers. By Badger, Jr. le 39 woop Dick’s Hom Hawaid 12 Wheeler | By EL Wheoler: 1385 ge Eye, Krxe or Carriz THirves; or, ULTURES OF THE R10 GRANDE. 86 no Desmond, By Col. D 7 Fred Malyard, tue Lirtz Boar Boy; or, THe SMUGGLERS OF THE INLET. By C. ares. Coen o i g z 3 f Pe i Fee 5 2a THE Captain = ay Tiert HD. Perry,U.8.N. erry, Captain Mask, Yon, Lapy Roamdauen’. or, PaTENT-LEaTHER ,Jo&’s DereaT. By Warne. Buffalo Bill's Bet. By Captain Taylor. Deadwood Dick's Dream, By Wheeler, Shadowed} or, Bos GHT FOB Laci i it tee Morrig, graha © Grit, THE WiLD ER, In m. Arkansaw, THE Man eM KNUE T. OC. Harbau = Coo Coo SO CORZne & Qi Hoe ai bn S S eatherwei By Edward Willett. 00 le Boy Be thine, By Whittaker. e Black Hills Jezebel; or, Deap- woop Dick’s Warp, By Edward ler. 202 a eg Pete, or THe Boy Brieapy; or, Tre Youne OvuTLaw Hunters. By Oll Coomes. 203 The: Bey Pardsj *By Jos. ©. Badger, Jr. 204 Gold Plume, Tir Bor BAanvrr. Ingraham. 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom. By Wheeler. 206 Dark Paul, Tue Ticrr Kina. By C. Morris. 207 Navajo Nick, THE Boy Gotp Hunter. A Tale o Astonia. By T. C. Harbaugh. 208 The Boy Hercules. By Ol 209 Fritz, THE pe agpertp= Detective. Wheeler. 210 Faro Frank of High, Pine. By Fyster. 214 Crooked Calé, THe ware Catrahy oF Crry. By Jos, E. Badger, Jr. 212 Dashing..Ddve, THe Daxpy Derecrive. Charles Morris. 213 Fritz to the Front. By E. L. Wheeler. 214 Wolfgang, THE Rosser oF THE Rare, By Captain Frederick Whittaker. 215 Captain eters THE Rainer Kine. By 216 Ber “iis THE PRINCE OF THE REINs, Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 217 Captain Crack-Shot; BE. L, Wheeler. 218° Ager Tom, THe Texin Rm, By Olli 219 Despara, the Duelist. By P. 8. Warne. 220 Cn = Ranner SoaLaAwaG AND SCAPEGRACE. Charles Morris, 221 Be ng Coated Sam. By E. L. Wheeler. 222 G the Bravo Sport. Ingraham. 223 Ozark Alf, Kiso oy Tan Mountam. By Edward Willett. 224 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castix, Oll Coomes. 225 nen Charcoal ae Premium Dar- y 226 ners THE Bor Buuel: By Edward L. 227 Dusky Darrell, TRaprer. By E. Emerson. 22° Little Wildfire. an OD Coomes. By 29.Crimson Kate, THE GIRL Col. Prentiss By ©. D, Clark. AN Trai. By DOTS sat tp kt pl mes. Ingraham. 230 The Yankee Rajah, 231. Plucky — OF THE MOUNT. T. C. 232 Gold-Duat. Dick. E. L. Wheeler. 233 Joe Buck, of Angels, axp ths B Boy Parp: Pam Seige or, Tan Taken Witp Mmw 34 ora ‘Hocky: ants Hovecs oro Benrro,. 2 ae ding MnO eng By Buckskin 235 Shadow at ig Tae MrssExcrr Boy; or, TURNING THE TaBLES. By Charies Morris. 236 ape bean) ee Trait Tornapo, By Ed- I, 237 ioe Star, the + ana Oaptain tae, Mr Mysrr stemious Rane 4yy Colonel Bron 238 he Parson Oli Coomes. Detective; or, Lirm:z Roost. Rancer or Raven By 2389 The Goldesecker ¢ Guide: or, Tax Losr __Movrram. By Captain Mayne Rei Reid. 240 Oy@one Kit. By Edward L. Wheeler. 241 Bill Bravo and Wiis Bear Pards,. -, © By-T,.0, Harbaugh. Two ‘ Bloods? ; or, ANDOAH 242 lg Anp His GAna. y Charles é orris, e ‘Disgutaed Gnidet or, Witp Raven, 233 Th Tom RANGER OV THE Norte. By Oll Coomes. 244 Sierra —s THe Fronrign Ferrer. By Edward L. Wheeler. .... 5 Merle, the Midd i Tae Herr or Aw si OcEAN feeELANOE. By Col P. Ingraham. 246 Giant George; or, Ts yah or THE RANGE. By Bockskin ‘Sam,’ ’ (Major Sam 8. Hall.) 247 ere Grizzly and His Pets; or, THE Wrmp Honrers or. tam Hows. By Captain “ Bruin” Adams, Ready April 18th. 248 Sierra Sams rey oe: By Ldward L. Wheeler. Ready April 249 Mile Romer, rae Annu. Kina; fe THE Rounp. THE .WoRLD. WANDERER. Say Bo Captain Whittaker. ; A new issue every week, The Walf-Dime Library is for sale by all Newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail om receipt of six cents each, BEADLE & ADAMS Pvblishers, 98 William Street, New York.