Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 411) (1885 06 09)
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SEVENTH EDITION, AA, We ia elt a > N No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. =a ; sai \ a ae W. OWLS Se any en Vv RN TOI tid Via Nie Mit eee au ki 5 ' lat | ! | rrr det 6! 168 i ~ j s Sn yall “ Aull | iS y $2.50 a year. Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Mail Rates. Copyright, 1885, by BEADLE AND ADAMs, . June 9, 1885. . Single PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS Price VOL BV Woke. & Canta: No. 411. THE SILKEN LASS0; or, The Rose of Ranch Robin. AUTHOR OF “ ARKANSAW,” “‘ BILL BRAVO,” ‘‘ BUCKSKIN DETECTIVE,” ‘‘ COOL SAM AND PARD,” ETC., ETC, nia FL FUDAN 7 *“ TONGUELESS! BY HEAVENS! BUT YOU CAN WRITE, CHIQUE. youR HAND MUST SPEAK! IT WILL SEND ME AND MY SILKEN LASSO TO THE TRAIL OF VENGEANCE.
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D The Silken Lasso ; oR, The Rose. of Ranch Robin. BY T. C. HARBAUGH, AUTHOR OF “ARKANSAW,” ‘BILL BRAVO,” ““ BUCKSKIN DETECTIVE,” ‘‘ COOL SAM AND PARD,” ‘‘ DYNAMITE DAN,” ‘‘ VELVET FOOT,” ‘‘ CAPTAIN CUTLASS,” ‘“ROUGH ROB,” ETC., ETC. CHAPTER I. THE WORK OF FIENDS. Ir was the early morning of a summer day, and a single horseman was cantering through the luxuriant grama grass that clothed one of the many beautiful valleys that lie between the Hai ot Mountains and the Colorado Chiquito, in Arizona. The horse was a magnificent animal with a sleek skin, and as black as a coal, and the man was a well-built personage, still under thirty- five; his dress was not unlike that of the va- quero—an open jacket. richly embroidered, and tather wide pantaloons slashed almost to the «nees, His hat was of the sombrero cut, a hat often seen in that country, and on this occasion the front brim was thrown back, displaying a face rather fair and adorned with a mustache as black as the skin of the horse he rode. This man had a pair of amply black eyes, and they saw everything as he rode along. ‘* They don’t look for me, but T’ll be welcome all the same,” he mused to himself. ‘I haven’t seen the ranch and its inmates for six months, and they must have wondered what’s become of me. I’ve got something for you, my Chiquito Rose, and a ‘pointer’ about five hundred boss cattle for you, Rolfo.” The speaker had a pleasant voice, and his black eyes seemed to sparkle with pleasure at the thought of the joy his arrival at a certain well- known ranch would cause. Five minutes later the keen eyes of the man caught sight of something they had not seen before; they saw far away dark objects floating against the soft blue skies, which seemed to touch the loftiest —— of the Mogollon Moun- tains, but well did he know that the floatin pecks were between him and the high hills, a that they were, in reality, the gigantic vultures of the Southwest country. Of course he had seen them before, but as he urged his steed forward, he kept his eyes fixed on the birds which he knew hoyered over some carrion feast, miles from the soft grass that bent under the hoofs of his horse. “Forward, Swiftfoot,” he said as he touch- ed the animal lightly with the steel spur buckled to his right foot. ‘‘I don’t like the looks of those rascally vultures. Next to the thieving Apaches, I hate them, and more than once have told them so with lasso and revol- yer. ; Urged forward by_ the spur, the horse in- creased his gait, and was soon bearing his: rider swiftly across the valley. The wind that prevailed kept the sombrero lifted in front, waved the ong hairs of the man’s mustache, and played with the silken ribbons that adorn- ed the long black lasso hanging from the sad- dle-bow. . d Not for a moment did he take his eyes from the soaring scavengers of the air; thehuge birds seemed to fascinate in a singular manner. All at once he drew rein on the summit of a little rise to which he had urged his faithful steed. “My God! the réd fiends have been ahead of me!” he cried ck from the scene before him, ‘“ Why did I stop in Tucson when I was needed here? Why was I detained thar when help was wanted at Ranch Robin? Ive ome too late to help, but not too late, by the eternal! to hunt some down for this!” ‘Down the declivity ed the horse, his feet scarcely touching the ground beneath them - and the man in the saddle had now a pair of eyes. @ vultures were now almost directly over- h and he had seen at a glance that some- thing terrible had summoned them to that part of the country. ’ Before him, and stretching from the base of the rise, lay one of the most beautiful ranches the country of the Colorado. Beautiful? ‘eithor, Shek Rasch J bin, Hag Spell .. ei A Ww cn rh Wey Fe e He ss: ele A » / ws aa ae , : tad " z FW 4s, o Pe tee ile +. aie omar: Te age — is ee ge thegirlare? Here! The Silken Lasso. called, was a place of surpassing loveliness; but now it lay grass fire te its buildings in ashes, and over all that awful desolation caused by ‘torch and Indian fury. : ‘** As my name’s Black-Horse Steve, the doers of this shall suffer!” cried the man as he ap- proached the spot where the building of Ranch obin had stood. ‘They don’t know the Mounted Mystery of Arizona, as they shall for this demon work. Aha! I’ve not yet parted company with Swiftfoot and the Silken Banat It did not take Steve of the sable steed long to reach the spot toward which he guided his horse, and he soon drew rein amidst a scene of el which pen cannot adequately de- scribe. : The home of Rolfo, thé proprietor of Ranch Robin, was in ruins, not a building stood to shelter the smallest animal; the picturesque dwelling, with its long porch on the sunny side, was gone, and the wehliie that led to the flower garden were strewn with blackened cinders. Black-Horse Steve grated his teeth as he sat like a statue in the saddle, and beheld this scene, to which he had come too late; he had reached the spot after the work was done and the marauders had departed, and again ke cursed the men who had detained him three days in Tucson. ‘* Hello! one of the dogs left, eh?’ suddenly cried Steve, catching sight of an object moving among the bushes of the garder near the house. . “No! by my life! ’tis a human being! I will know now who did this, and I'll be on the trail before an hour!” The Arizonian did not wait for the person de- scribed to approach him, but sprung from the saddle and ran forward. Sure enough, it was a man and not a dog, creeping from among the bushes, and the man of the sable steed was soon bending over a half-breed cattle-herder, and, as he well knew, one of the most trusted attaches of Ranch Robin. ‘*For God’s sake, Chique, who did this, and whar are Rolfo and the Rose?” he cried. The herder who was too weak to rise looked up from the ground into Steve's face, but made no ee ou talk? They didn’t take your. tongue, did they?” Chique groaned and lifted his hand to. his mouth. Black-Horse Seve -ed still lower to catch what he thought would be a whisper, but imstead, the herder opened his mouth and disclosed a sight horrible enough to make the most resolute recoil. A wild exclamation parted the, Arizonian’s lips. “Tongueless! by heavens! But you can write Chique. Your hand must speak! It shall send. me and my silken lasso to the trail of vengeance. You know who did this, for you were here! Answer me, quick! Tell me who came like - wolves in the night; tell me where Rolfo and. Thavea pencil! Tam never without one, you know. have paper, too, Write enough to tell whom I must hunt. - One sentence may be enough. You haven’t got long to live, Chique.. Heaven has prolonged your life till came. Now, write!” : While he spoke, Black-Horse Steve had thrust # pencil into: the herder’s hand, and was hold- ing before him a piece of paper with a small note-book for a deals and a strange light gleamed in his eyes as his fingers closed on the pencil, and he started to- ward the pee But all at once he hesitated and. looked up at the breathless man. ? “What! won’t you tell me, Chique?” cried Steve. ‘‘ They cut r tongue out; they left ou to die by starvation whar you have always ad plenty! I will find Rolfoand the Chiquito Rose. I will avenge you !” / The last words started the herder’s hand to- ward the paper again. Vengeance? Yes, that is what he wanted; vengeance for the tongue which had been cut off! Black-Horse Steve saw the pencil move across the paper, and he held bis breath as the tongue- less herder wrote with an. effort two brief, but appalling sentences. 7 It was done three nights ago. Four Apaches and two white men dressed like In- dians !” That was all. The pencil dropped from Chique's hand at the end of the last word, and Steve snatched up the paper and read it aloud. ‘ Only six, Chique?’ he exclaimed, looking down at the herder. i A look said ‘‘ only six.” ‘ys pee ee ee eg Neate J ee “ee esolate before the man’s eyes, its | The mutilated man knew what was wanted, ‘* Which way did they go?” The herder shook his head. ** Ah! I know! You had lost your tongue and were unconscious when the devils left,” Steve said. “Did they kill Rolfo? Did they insult the girl?” ; There was no answer of any sort, for Chique’s eyes suddenly rolled in a wild manner, and he fell back. “You must tell me something more, Chique!” cried the Arizonian. ‘I cannot afford to stop here. You—” k He stopped abruptly, for the herder had gasped and was lying still on the ground. ‘“One more answer, only one!” the Arizonian exclaimed, but it was not obtained, fer the vic- os of brutality, the poor mutilated herder, was ead! "* Black-Horse Steve straightened and gazed for afew moments at the man lying dead at his feet. If he had not been detained at Tucson, he would have found Chique stronger and able to | give him a full account of the swoop of the vul- tures of blood. Now, the man had written but two sentences, and the most important one a very faint clew. “Tl start with what I have,” he said at last. ‘‘[Pve never failed yet to get to the end of a trail and I will not fail now. We three will zet thar; we three—horse, lasso, and man! our reds and two whites, eh? Chique’s eyes saw through their paint. Mebbe he knew them; he knew nearly everybody. Very well. I came to Ranch Robin too late to prevent its destruction, but not too late toswear to find as ple and to pay the Arizonian vultures ack!” He walked to his horse after he had exam- ined the ground about the ruined houses, and threw himself into the saddle. Not a word he said, but he gazed for a mo- ment longer at the terrible scene, and then struck his horse with the spur, and went off like an arrow toward the south. ‘i Somebody was to hear from Black-Horse teve. CHAPTER II. THE DEAD MAN AT ROCK-DUST. RIpING the same horse and with the ‘ Silken Lasso” hanging from his saddle-bow, the swarthy Arizonian rode into a mining-camp deep among the Mogollon Mountains, about forty-eight hours after he had galloped from Ranch Robin. As usual, his restless eyes saw everything, and no sooner had he drawn rein in front of a cer- tain cabin than fully twenty people were staring at him from as many favorable points of view and each. looker on was wondering what had brought the Mounted Mystery of Arizona to Rock-Dust. Not that he had never entered the precincts of the place before, for he had, and always to see a certain inhabitant at whose door he had halted as usual. . Black-Horse Steve was well known through- out the ranch and mining coun between mountains and river; but, for all that, he was known as a mystery, for nobody knew his an- tecedents, nor the object that kept him con- stantly in the saddle, and always on the go. On the present occasion he seemed more ex- cited than usual, and as he leaned from the sad- die toward the cabin in Rock-Dust, he said in anxious tones: t “Pelix?” 4 There was no response, and Steve spoke the name with the same result. — =e Then he threw a quick glance over his shoulder as if to see if anybo Fad near cman. to ques- tion, and his eye alighted on a boy about seven- teen, well built, clad-in dirty buckskin, and with the grime of the mines on his face. “Come here, boy!” commanded Steve. The youth i the Anizonian was soon looking down into his upturned face. cc Where’s Felix?” he asked. J i ‘¢ Welix is dead!” a te The answer seemed to § er the avenger; to the boy he appeared to reel in his saddle, ale “Come, don’t give me wind,” he said. ‘‘ Felix, my—my friend, isn’t dead?” : ‘You kin see for yourself; he’s in thar!” and the post glanced at the cabin. Black-Horse Steve r th M ousness that he was not deceiving him. “When did Felix die?” he asked, “ Last night.” ‘ ‘« Always too late!” Steve murmured. “That infernal every whar. Was Felix sick long?” ‘The question was spoken aloud, and was ade dressed to the boy. 4 ; li ‘ approached without hesitating and _ saw by the speaker's seri- ; etention at Tucson has made me late
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e “We can’t say, but we think not,” was the sansver. ‘* They say he killed himself.” ; “Felix a suicide? I won’t believe it!” cried Steve. ‘‘Go on and tell me about it before I go in.” Thus commanded—for the voice of the mount- ed man was the voice of command—the boy came closer to the Arizonian, and ventured to jay his hand on his knee. *« Somehow or other, Rock-Dust slept sounder than common, last night,” he began. ‘‘ That’s what everybody says that I’ve heard speak about it. Felix was in the street at sundown an’ thar seemed nothin’ wrong with him then. Nobody knows when death came, for Felix war alone Noisy Dan saw the cabin door wide open at daylight, an’ as that war suthin’ uncommon for Felix’s shanty, he looked in. Thar he lay on his cot, dead, an’ with the bottle of poison in his left hand.” ‘The bottle of poison, you say?” echoed Steve. “Yes. I saw it thar myself, before they put it up on the table whar it is now. You kin see for yourself when you goin. Wal, that’s about all if know. It’s not very much, but thar isn’t anybody in Rock-Dust what knows any more— not even Noisy Dan, who made the diskivery.” The Arizonian said nothing, but slid from the saddle and walked toward the door. ‘Watch my hoss,” he said to the boy, anda moment later he ,had pushed open the door and stepped inside. At the left of the cabin door was a window that admitted some light, and nearly opposite it, in the rear of the shanty, was another. The light was not very strong, for the aey, yas closing, but there was enough to show Black- Horse Steve the figure of a large man, appar- ently fifty poh of age, lying on a rou h cot at the foot of a table, on which stood the small bottle referred to by the boy. > “Dead, sure enough; but, by Jupiter! I can’t swallow the suicide story!” ejaculated Steve, after one glance. 4 He reached the table by a single stride and picked up the bottle, keeping on with it to the rear window in whose light he examined the mutilated label. It looked ver as if the label had been scratched with a knife for the purpose of obliterating the name of the person who had sold the deadly drug, and he fell to examining it, wholly oblivious for the present of the dead man lying at his feet. There was but little of the original label left, = all that greeted the Arizonian’s eyes was “_y—de. ——ss—, ——x. —-—on.” Where we have put dashes the letters had been scratched out, but the letters ‘‘on” at the last line told Steve that the poison had been sold in Tucson. : ‘“Tt’s a slim clew, but it’s a starter,” mused the Arizonian. ‘‘J say that Felix didn’t die of his-own accord. I don’t care what Rock-Dust says, Felix had a reason for livin’ an’ nobody knows it better than Black-Horse Steve. Why warn’t I here last night? I would hev flung death out o’ the door an’ kept him thar!” He placed the empty bottle under his jacket, and then knelt de the dead man. It was easily seen that the two had been friends, maybe had kindred interests, but Steve said nothing. He threw back the covering of Felix’s cot which was on the ground, the shanty had no floor, and there saw something that brightened his eyes. 4 That settles it! The Rock-Dusters may talk of suicide all they please, but I know better. Good-by, Felix! ey’ll never make Black- Horse Steve b’lieve that you snuffed your own life’s candle out, for he knows better.” I'l] lasso somebody for leavin’ that bottle on your table, see if I don’t. If the vultures hadn’t bate hover- in’ over Ranch Robin, you'd be alive now, Felix, Heavens! I'll wre see you happy, no! but; 11 have satisfaction Steve dropped the hand of the dead man and went outside. “Who ar’ you, boy?” he asked. *“ Feather Frank.” ‘You live here?” Yes,” ; al = ou know anything about the burning of ne bin?” : ‘It’s news to Rock-Dust,” he said. “ They’ve not heard of it.” : “All right. I want the man in thar planted decently, an’ his grave marked s0 I'll know it if I come this way again. Will you see to this “Tl carry out your instructions to the letter. We would have planted Felix by noon, but some ov ’em said you might come, a1’sSo we waited.” much to Steve | The Silken Lasso. Black-Horse Steve put one foot into the stir- rup and vaulted into the saddle. | “Feather Frank, eh?” he repeated, looking down into the upturned face of the boy. “TU not forget the name. Mark Felix’s .grave; don’t forget this, Feathery.” ‘“When will you be back?” asked the boy innocently. ‘*Gods! I don’t know,” returned Steve with a | gia smile. ‘‘ Mebbe never, Frank. If I hadn’t een detained in Tucson—but pshaw! what’s the use 0’ cryin’ over spilled batter?’ and then he leaned toward the youth and finished in a start- ling whisper while his eyes flashed: ‘* From now | on, Feathery, it’s a race for blood, twixt about half a dozen demons an’ a silken lasso!” The boy started back a pace and stared at | the handsome man who had apparently chang- | ed countenance within a minute, and did not speak until Steve was riding down the main thoroughfare of the silver-camp. ‘*Shoot me for a gopher ef he doesn’t take a whole bakery!” exclaimed Feather Frank as he stared after the Arizonian sport who would soon disappear at the end of the street. ‘‘ What did he do in thar, ’d like to know?” and the boy turned toward the cabin whose door was open. ‘‘Hang me! if he didn’t take the bottle that had the p’isen in!” © ost before Black-Horse Steve had passed out of sight, Feather Frank was surrounded by a dozen men who were clamorous to know what the Mounted Mystery had said or done. The boy replied to the many questions thown out by the anxious crowd, and kept back but one thing—the parting words, the threat of Black-Horse Steve. ‘““ An’ he waltzed off with the p’isen bottle, eh?” ejaculated one of the men, a very dark faced Mexicanish looking man, whose left shoulder seemed a little lower than its ogy am ion on the right. ‘Did he say anything about it, Feather?” **Not a word.” “Didn’t, eh? didn’t say what he thought war aie bottle, an’ whar Felix got it?” 0. ““ Wal, as my name’s, Gila Jose, he’s a queer *un,” ejaculated the man, and then he with- drew from the crow and went back to his shanty where, having shut the door carefully behind him, he found a piece of paper on which in no very scholarly hand he traced these words: “The Mounted Mystery has just left Dust-Rock takin’ with him the p’isen-! ottle what he found on Felix’s table. Look out for him, 1'm afraid the label warn’t scratched enough on the bottle. The Silken Lasso went south. He’s a hoss that’s got to be cor- raled, * Jose.” Having read the writing over with care, Gila Jose stowed it away in his bosom and went out. Ten minutes jater a man who looked very much like Gila Jose went mounted through the southern suburbs of Rock-Dust, and took not the same road down which Black-Horse Steve had galloped, but one that ran nearly parallel with it, and a much smoother way. ‘“‘ They should hev begun on you, Steve,” this man murmured. ‘‘ My private opinion is that the Arizonien Mystery is a bad man to run at large. That Silken Lasso is no sham; it cuts like a bowie. On, on, hoss! We must beat this feller to Tucson.” Three miles apart, but riding in the same direction, though they knew it not, the twomen alloped over the Arizona roads with the front eet of their steeds moving toward Tucson. ‘‘ Tm certain now that these two trails ar’ go- in’ to run together—the one I found at Ranch Robin an’ the one struck at Rock-Dust,” said Black-Horse Steve. ‘I see the same hand in both blows; it smote Rolfo an’ his ranch, an’ tried tomake believe that Felix killed himself, | Won't I prove somebody liars? Won't I throw my lasso in the squar’ of Tucson? Ah! vultures of Arizona, look out for me!” On, on through the fight of moon and stars; on, on toward the city of Southern Arizona, ; Whenever his black horse showed signs of slacking his gait, Steve would stroke his heated neck and exclaim: eae To Tucson, Swiftfoot! Thar’s vengeance r! ceramic ‘mem LLL LL ———_ CHAPTER III. ON THE TRAIL IN TUCSON, “IT was well done, you say, Samson? You | are certain you left no trail behind?” ““Can you trail a snake when it has crept through a forest? If you can, then we left a trail behind us.” ‘But the reds? You left them satisfied?” “I reckon the plunder an’ the captive did | The ranch buildin’s made a hot fire, cap’n. Nobody fought very hard; we took ther hull shootin’-match by surprise; they didn’t git ready ter fight till it war too late. You kin bet yer life, Silver Belt, it war well done.” ** All right, then. I trust you, Samson.” The man calied Silver Beit, large and hand- | some, rose from the chair in which he was seat- ed in a certain room in Tucson, and walked to a heavy wooden desk that filled one corner. Unlocking it, he raised the lid and took out a heavy buckskin bag which undoubtedly contain- | ed coin. ‘“* The reds ar’ paid, you say?” he said, coming I 5 ? > | back to the man called Samson, and well named, too, for he was a veritable giant. ‘*T settled with them, cap’n,” was the an- swer. Silver Belt said no more, but emptied the con- tents of the bag on the table near Samson's chair, and began to count the glittering gold coins. During this task the evil eyes of the soli- tary watcher grew bright with the gleam of reed, and he, too, counted the money 1m an un- ertone after Silver Belt. ‘*Thar’s just enough in the sack. You can take the whole platter,” said Silver Belt with a smile, and he began to put the coins back into the buckskin wallet, adding as he did so: “TI guess this pile won’t last you long among the monte tables of Tucson.” ‘““Mebbe not, cap’n,” grinned Samson. “TI may add to it, though rortune hasn’t given me a fair show inside o’ six months. Ill go an’ buck the tiger, an’ if he claws me, I'll not squeal.” ““That’s it, Samson. Remember thet thar’s no more whar this came from. I never pay a debt but once. We ar’squar’ now. You've set- tled with the reds, an’ I’ve paid you. It’s set- tled, eh?” ‘Settled, cap’n,” was the sententious rejoin- der, and the giant took up the bag of coin and walked from the room, watched until he was no longer seen by Silver Belt who had just paid him for one of the most dastardly ‘‘ jobs” ever performed for gold in Arizona. ‘“*T don’t more than half take his word in some matters,” mused Silver Belt when the door had closed behind Samson. ‘He'll lose that money inside of three hours, an’ he’s likely to come back hyer for more. He will forget that I have paid him every cent I agréed to, an’ if he does come back whinin’ for more, I'll remind ros that I never add interest to a debt once id. Everybody knew the speaker. He had a bad reputation which had gone far beyond the con- fines of Tucson, and, in some respects, it was not a good one. Ralph Porson, or Silver Belt, as he was always called bad made money “hand over fist,” and was known as one of the silver kings of the Southwest. He owned more than one monte den in Tucson, had an interest in sev- eral silver mines, and as many great ranches, and was, moreover, a desperado who had more than once killed nis man in encounters which were not to his credit. As miner, herder, bandit, sport, Silver Belt was well known in different sections of the country, and, as a matter of course, his ac- quaintanceship was extensive, if not very select. At the time of which we write there was no more prominent figure in Tucsoa than this seme Silver Belt, this man who bad drawn around him tools like the man Samson, and who, while he lived in style in the Arizonian town, reached far beyond it, and added to his wealth in more ways than one. It was several days after the desolation of Ranch Robin that theinterview described above took place in Silver Belt’s house. Tucson, not the civilized, thriving Tucson of to-day, had had no excitement for forty-cight hours, and its people, for the most part roughs, miners and mountain desperadoes were sighing for something that would shake them up. The shadows of another night were falling over the town when Samson reached the street with the bag of coin concealed under his jacket and clutched by his right hand. * This man’s greatest passion was gambling, and if Silver Belt had followed him, he would have seen him enter one of the dozen monte in- stitutions then running in full blast in Tucson. And if he had waited at the door oné hour, he would have seen Samson emerge from the den with a countenance showing plainly that he had been effectually clawed by “ the tiger” inside. In sixty minutes Samson had lost his last dol- lar, and was as poor as when he first met Silver Belt, a year before. “He said I shouldn’t come back for more, didn’t he?” growled the victim of the monte tables. ‘‘He says he never pays interest on
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ei , ‘ ‘ debts once canceled. I don’t know but that’s good policy, but ve got ter hev more dust somehow. I’m goin’ ter eucher thet monte tiger ef it takes blood. It’s ther third time I’ve Leen clawed within thirty days. By Jehu! I’m goin’ ter git even! Thar’s erough left of this pears chick ter whip ther beast out 0’ his 1ide.” Samson cast a sidelong glance down the street and moved off. He walked hastily to- ward Silver Belt’s house, and had just turned into the street on which it stood, when he came to a sudden halt, uttering at the same time an ejaculation of astonishment. ‘* Hades! what makes that fellar turn up in Tucson at this time?” he cried, and his gaze be- came riveted on a horseman who had just turn- ed into the street and was riding toward him. It was evident from Samson’s ejaculation that the horseman was known to him, and he retreat- ed involuntarily toward the building as he came n. ‘“‘T could make money by sellin’ what I know to you,” continued Samson, eying the rider who was a handsome man with sombrero, slashed jacket and pantaloons, and witha lasso hanging irom his saddle-bow. ‘If I wanted ter betray ther captain, I needn’t suffer long fer money ter buck the tiger ag’in, fer ther man on ther black hoss vimter ‘d give a cool thousand fer what I carry in my head.” Samson continued to watch the horseman, who was nolessa person than Black-Horse Steve and was astonished to see him dismount in fron of a building, the front room of which was oc- cupied as a drug-store, where drugs were sold for their weight in gold.” ‘“What’s he goin’ ter buy!” queried Samson of himself, and a singular curiosity led him down the street to the drug-store in front of which he halted at a spot that enabled him to view the inside from the open door. He saw Black-Horse Steve walk up to the counter which stood between him and the pro- prietor and run his hand beneath his jacket. “ Jupiter!” ejaculated Samson as the Arizo- nian drew forth a small bottle apparently emp- ty. ‘‘ Whar did he git that ?” Then he heard Steve’s voice in anxious tones: ‘‘ Look at that bottle,” he said to the druggist. “What was in it last, and was it sold hyer?” The druggist took the bottle from Steve's hand, looked at the mutilated label, and then ap- plied it to his nostrils. He evidently knew the man with whom he was dealing—he must have seen by Black-Horse Steve’s eyes that he would stand no equivoca- tion, and that he had come a long distance for the truth. “The label’s been scratched off for a pur- ” said Steve, as the druggist examined it. _ “I see, but enough remains for me to identif it. The ‘x’ is the last letter of my name—Col- fax, you know?” “Shen you}sold the last contents of that bottle?” “ I did. ” “ Cy: Ne ga sd anide of po um, bie A.deadly poison?” “T should say it is,” said the druggist. ‘‘ One of the deadli sir, in the market. Now, sir, will you let me ask where you came across this bottle?” A I have put another question,” said Steve. ‘‘ Who bought the poison?” t this question, direct as a shaft from an Indian bow, the druggist hesitated. “A secret, eh?’ ejaculated Black-Horse Steve. gti keep a ‘poison book,’ don’t you?” i You “Then you know who bought this killin’ stuff?” ison customers 7 Perhaps but—” er Mir. fax,” and one “Don't like ter give away? Now, look hyer, of Black-Horse Steve’s swarthy but velvet hands dropped cat-like on the druggist’s wrist, ‘‘ I’ve come @ long ways ter find out who sold that scr an’ who bought it. You don’t like ter ll me, I see, because you think it killed some- body. Wal, whether it did or not, ’'m hyer ter find out who bought it. Now, sir, tell me!” The last brief sentence was a command, and or glittering eyes of the Arizonian were full of eats, “Since you must know I'll tell you,” the drug- gist said, ‘‘but I beg of you not to give me away.” Steve made no promise; his lips only said: ae Go on y"? P “T sold the drug to a man who had his name put on the book as 8, Bronson.” _ *§, Bronson, eh?” echoed Steve. “Do you ! RIMES une” nk COP aka Sa ial em ae re = wagons) 4) ‘ var oe a i yi a ee i ik 2 Se he “J aes we The Silken Lasso. sell poison to every Tom, Dick an’ Harry that calls?” . ; «No, sir.” ‘‘ Who recommended this customer to you?” Despite the hand on his wrist the druggist hesi- tated again. ‘Pm hyer ter know,” said Black-Horse Steve soni: ‘‘ Well, Silver Belt did.” | ‘Ralph Porson?” said Steve, speaking a name seldom heard in Tucson. ‘ e buys poison through another person, eh?’ And he added under his breath: ‘‘ I thought he preferred the revolver.” “Now, sir,” said the druggist, ‘‘ you will tell me where you found the pond bottle?” ‘¢T made no promises,” was the quick response. “Tl take the bottle back, if you please.” And he took the empty vial without resistance from the druggist’s hand, and then turned toward the street. ‘*Good-night, Mr. Colfax,’ he finished, and left the druggist amazed at his coolness, Ere he reached the door the man who had lis- tened to the above conversation had disappeared, but he had not passed out of sight. “‘T see a way of gettin’ more money to tackle the monte tiger with,” he said, as he saw Steve remount the horse which had waited for him in front of the building. ‘‘I kin sell what I know for another start ter Silver Belt. He needn’t add more to the old debt; I'll just sell him my diskivery.” Silver Belt’s house was not far from the drug- store, and Samson soon reached it. He went up the steps, crossed the porch and struck the door heavily with his knuckies, ‘*Whar’s ther cap’n?” he said to the boy who opened the door. ** Busy just now.” “Wal, Pll bev ter. disturb *im; it’s import- ant,” and the burly figure of Samson brushed yen the youth, and pushed open the door at his right. ‘ as he crossed the threshold his eyes caught sight of two men, instead of but one as he had expected to see, and the next moment he utter- ed an exclamation of wonder as he faced Silver Belt’s companion. ‘You hyer, Gila Jose?” he cried. ‘Pm hyer!” answered the man addressed, showing his teeth. ‘‘ What d’yer think, Sam- son? Black-Horse Steve, Felix’s right bower, is on ther way ter Tucson,” ‘* No, he isn’t, Gila. He’s hyer now, an’ Col- fax, ther druggist, hez given ther hull thing away!” CHAPTER IV. THE LASSO’S FIRST CATCH, ‘So it’s your work, eh, Silver Belt? Well, I hardly expected to see you mixed up in the poi- sonin’ affair so deeply, but I can’t say that I am so terribly surprised.” Black-Horse Steve sat in the saddle but half a square from Silver Belt’s house while he spoke thus, and it would be safe to say that bis eyes were fastened on one of the windows in which there was a light. The man with the silken lasso had apparently tracked somebody to the house; why not Sam- son, or Gila Jose, who thought he beaten Steve to Tucson? At any rate, he was there al- most within the shadow of Silver Belt’s home for a purpose, and that it was not one of friendship his keen eyes showed. He had traced home the purchaser of the poison which had taken Felix’s life miles and miles to the north in Rock-Dust; he had made a discovery which had startled him, and he and his silken lasso had struck a trail on the street of the Arizonian town. “*Somebody will come out soon. I know it,” he continued, still watching the house.“ All’s fish that drops into my net to-night. If I am not mistaken, there ar’ two men in thar, Silver Belt an’ one of his pards. The door ’ll open presently to let one o’ em out, then—something will happen!” He had scarcely finished when a door near the lighted window was thrown open, and the figure of a stalwart man appeared therein, Steve watched the man with a keen eye. “All right, I'l report later,” the giant said, aking to some one in the house as he paused @ moment on the threshold. ‘‘ We'll git to ther end ov ther new trail afore mornin’, ren . Be yer everlastin’ boots thet I’m a rattler when I git down ter bizness.” The door closed and the speaker sprung from the porch and landed in the street. J “Til be able ter buck ther tiger ag’in,” he éjaculated. ‘‘Thar’s more ways than one ter raise ther wind in Arizony. I’m not ther hair- : Shake RD hy nD ee: , pin ter stay broke long, an’ then I’m one ov ther- rds thet’s rich in exredients when they’r” u’sted. It war a durnea good thing, thet long- haired mystery’s coming ter town ter-night. He hezn’t been ter Tucson fer a rattler’s age.” Black-Horse Steve did not catch all these words, though he was leaning forward with a ow hd rope—his ribboned lasso—in his right and, All at once he touched his steed with a spur and as the animal went forward, the noose Tet the sport’s grip, shooting straight at the man who had just left the house, ‘* Heavens! lariated!” cried the victim over whose head the noose dropped without any warning of its intent, and the following.second his arms were pinioned to his sides, and that be- fore his quick hands could touch bowie or revol- ver, ‘* Who did this?” he grated, wheeling upon the lassoer. ‘‘ Who dares ter— Great God Pour” The black horse had stopped within five feet. of him, and he was staring into the cool but tri- umphant face of the man who leaned from the saddle, “Yes, it’s me!” was Steve’s reply. ‘‘ You did not think I war about, eh? I turn up some- times when I’m not wanted. No answer hyer. I want to see you, but outside o’ Tucson.” ‘*See me?” stammered the captive, who was. Samson. ‘“That’s what I caught you for. Come along) Be docile, pard. I don’t want your blood; but. you mustn’t try Black-Horse Steve.” Samson bit his lip, but made no answer. He saw he was ina trap, and in the power of a man who would not be trifled with any more than the desperate silver prince whose house he had just left; therefore, he let Steve lead him down he street, he keeping close to the horse, so as not. to let any one see that he had been lassoed. There was something singular in the sight of one man leading another captive through the streets of Tucson. It was an event that did not happen every day, but then on this occasion no one saw it, and Samson felt relieved. No halt was made till the town was left be- hind and the tops of the nearest mountains that looked down upon the Arizona town loomed up against the heavens. Samson began to wonder whither be was to be conducted wha, Black-Horse Steve halted and looked down into his face. “Samson, eh?” he said, laconically, but in a manner which the athlete understood. ‘*Thet’s what they call me,” was the answer. ‘*One of Silver Belt’s pards?” ** One oy ther cap’n’s friends.” “Which means a pard. You ar’S. Bronson, — I suppose,” The look which Samson gave Black-Horse Steve told him that the shaft had gone straight to the mark, “Now, Samson, tell me whose knee left its” mark in the ground alongside o” Felix’s blankets, War it yours, er some other pard’s?” ‘* Ye’r’ talkin’ in riddles ter me,” said Semson, — ‘Felix who? See, hyer, Black-Horse Steve; hevn’t you caught ther wrong gudgeon?” Samson’s manner might have deceived some a a but the man in the saddle had not come cson to be hoodwinked at the first move, “No,” he said. caught, and you know whose knee made a mark in ther ground by Felix’s blanket. Felix who, Samson? Why, ther man you poisoned t’other night in Rock-Dust arter ther Arizona vultures swooped down on Ranch Robin. Don’t look inter my face an’ say thet Felix took bis own life. You didn’t hide ther marks ov a struggle as you should hev done. Ther empty bottle on ther table might hev said ‘suicide,’ but ther knee-print by ther cot gave ther hull thing away, No lyin’, Samson, J won't stand it!” : Samson showed his mad eyes and yellowish teeth a moment longer, eyed oe by the man who looked downward from the saddle, and then sna chs “You seem ter know it all, Sones ov Arizony, What’s ther use ov quizzin’ me?” “Thar! you hevn’t answered me, TI asked . you whose knee-mark war thet left in Rock- art * ‘* Not mine.” “Not yours, eh? Whose, then?” Samson was silent. “ Ver : Steve, and all at once Silver Belt’s tool and pard found himself looking up into the muzzle of a six-shooter. ‘‘f have told you that I don’t want yer blood. J don’t, Samson; but I want no fooli#hness. Now will yeu Will you tell me who left his Felix died? You know!” nee-print whar “*T know exactly who Ive Well, Samson,” smiled Black-Horse itout the truth? |
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ee Sap IP sl = wy The Silken Lasso. “ Wal, what ef I should say it war Silver “*T would call you a liar an’ prove it,” said Steve. ‘‘ No, it wasn’t the imprint of Silver ; Belt’s knee, though he knew something war ter a be done at ther North. He sent 8S, Bronson to i ther drug-store for ther poison, but he remained in Tucson. Now go on, Samson.” |“ Dl] play fair with yer, Steve, though I don’t ‘ b’lieve in forcin’.a fellar ter give his pards away at ther mugzle ov a dropper. I can’t do better now. I might keep my mouth shut an’ die, but a man’s a fool ter when he kin tell ther ‘ truth an’ live.” a ** Right you ar’, Samson!” , } “Wal, Gila Jose left thet mark behind, I i guess.” “Gila Jose?” repeated Steve. ‘‘ Thar’s a man r ‘da Rock-Dust—” ears. “Thet’s him!” interrupted Samson, { “He did it?” ' {" ‘“‘ Thet’s what I intimated.” eee; ‘An’ you didn’t do anything, but take ther 4 ‘poison worth.” ae * Me, Steve?” , 3 { “Yes, you! Oh, no; you're innocent as a “aa < Aamb. could trust you with a gold-mine, i Samson. You're a child in innocence, A guilty thought ’d make you blush. You took Hy. @ poison to Rock-Dust, but you didn’t know what it war for; you probably turned yer back while it war bein’ administered. owre a -charmer, Samson.” . While the Arizonian was speaking Samson ; was showing his teeth in a malicious grin; he felt the cutting sarcasm of the language used, ‘and waited in silence for Steve to conclude, } ‘Do you want to know anything else?” he asked. ; ‘* What ef I should ask you what Felix said when you surprised him? But I won't do this, ‘Samson. I'll know one ov these days. It’s not very important now. But what nanpened at Ranch Robin a few nights ago? Who cut if Chique’s tongue out, an’ left him ter die in ther garden?’ It seemed that Samson had expected an in- terrogative of this kind, that he had steeled . himself against surprise, for he did not starw, nor in the slightest manner betray himself. “Ranch Robin, eh?’ he said coolly. * Ask ‘me what happened in ’Frisco last night, Black- ‘Hoss Steve. I kin tell yer jestas well. What did happen thar? Anything?” “4 _ **Yes!” and the speaker’s lips shut like a ‘spring worked trap-door behind the little word. “Tf you don’t know—thar! I'll get at ther bot- ----tom of it before long, Samson. They may hood- wink Steve for a little while—then, let the vul- tures of Arizona look out. Now, my friend, -- -J’m done with you. You can go back to town - with me if you want to, or elsewhar, just as it thits your fancy.” ni A’ sudden jerk, and then a twist of the lasso followed the last word, and the loosen- ‘ed noose dropped at Samson’s feet to be sudden- -—-:Yy caught up at the saddle-bow. Mechanically is = be athlete stepped back, but saw the revolver --—-till in Steve’s hand. . -—-—s * You’re thinkin’ that you'll get even with "me, eh, Samson?” smiled the man in the saddle Ley ashe looked into the giant's face. “ All right, old fellow. This is a free country, but, remem- ber, that ’'m a bad man when I’m trifled with on the trail. Goin’ back ter town, eh? Come along.’ A ‘A tow minutes later the two men re-entered “Tucson, and at the first cross-street Black-Horse Steve turned to the left, and with a hurried “‘(Good-night, Samson,” left so suddenly that _ Silver Belt’s pard was astounded, _- * Gone, an’ afore I could get ther nie 3 on ’im eh?” exclaimed Samson, gazing down the street wherein the Arizonian Mystery had disappear- ed. ‘ When he lassoes me ag’in, he'll know it, ‘e forced from me ther truth consarnin’ Felix’s death, but not a word did he git from me about Ranch Robin. I war true to ther cap’n thar, Td hey let him shatter my brain-box afore I'd ~ hev. oe thet swoop away. Bet yer life I woul , cap’n.” * : __ Black-Horse Steve had already disappeared anda few moments later Samson turned an _ walked rapidly toward Silver Belt’s house. _ anne ject post ‘im about ther Mystery wantin’ pais Ur eta Ranch Robin,” he mused ‘went up the steps and knock ane The Boor was 0 med as usual x Ao outh aa Se Ny. a + , as he _-who, for years, had served Silver Belt with zeal. Back ag’in, Billy,” said Samson. ‘I want ter see ther cap’n.” “But you cannot,” was the answer. “‘ He for you.” h -swent off with Gila Jose; but there’s a note here Cal. Palace to hang “Shove it forth, Billy.” The next minute Samson stood in the lamp- light and read the message, as follows: “*T have left Tucson. Will be absent several days. Keep /ém here till I come back, or kill him!” ‘““All right,” said Samson, glancing up at Billy. “Vu do one ov ther two things—prob- ably ther latter !” CHAPTER V. SAMSON MISSES HIS MARK, ‘* PROBABLY the latter, Samson?” echoed Sil- ver Belt’s boy, looking up into the face of the giant, who had given vent to his words in a most vicious manner. ‘‘I think that ’d suit the captain best.” ‘Then you know what the message says, eh?” . And Samson extended the paper toward the Oy. ay ought to,” was the answer, accompanied with a smile. ‘I wrote it myself, at Silver Belt’s dictation, just before he left the house.” ‘“Eh? Do you know who he refers to?” * Not exactly, Samson.” “But you hev a purty good idea? An’ so you think I'd please ther cap’n best by doin’ what this note suggests in its wind-up?” ‘‘That’s what I’ve said.” Samson said no more, but crumpled the mes- sage in his big brown hand and walked out of | the house, ‘*Gone away from Tucson! goin’ ter be ab- sent several days; wants ther man on horseback kept hyer, dead or alive! Thet’s ther way ther land lies jest now. Wal, he'll stay hyer. It’s | Samson what says so, cap’n, an’ Samson’s a hoss —bet yer eyeballs!” The big pard of the silver king went down the street and within the next thirty minutes had dropped into half a dozen monte banks and sa- loons, which institutions were, at the time, the curse of Tucson, Without a dollar in his pocket, he managed to et several drinks through the kindness of riends, for it was known that Samson was a bad man when crossed, and nobody, not even acknowledged desperadoes, cared to reject his feelers for a glass of liquor. He was known in every monte den in town, and whenever he layed, which wasas often as he had any wealth, e displayed a recklessness thai astonished even old players. But now Samson was not in a condition to fight the tiger; he could thrust his great hands into the depths of his pockets and yet touch not a single coin; he had thrown to the beast a wal- let of gold only a short time before. Therefore, Samson was compelled to swallow his poverty, though it choked him, and to look empty-handed upon the faro and peco tables with nobody kind enough to lend him a dollar, “Til find him flush!” he suddenly exclaimed to himself, ‘He didn’t come ter Tucson dead broke. ‘Keep int hyer tillI git back!’ Thet’s what ther cap’n says.” ! Samson turned suddenly from one of the gam- ing tables while yet the last word fell from his lips, and went out into the street again. He was now on the hunt of the man who had come to Tucson from the dead man left behind in Rock-Dust; he was as eager to meet Black- Horse Steve as he had been to avoid him a short time before; and with several drinks of Arizona whisky ahead, Samson had nerve enough to tackle an imp just from Tartarus. In the first place, Black-Horse Steve came to | Tucson so seldom that he had no regular “ head- quarters,” therefore, Samson was somewhat at a loss where to look for him, He had seen the Ari- zonian in the place but once before, and then, as at present, at large on the street, and mounted | on the black horse, his inseparable companion. “Probably he’s dropped in at ther Crystal | Palace,” suddenly said Samson, and off he went toward the most pretentious hotel in Tucson, a | rather exalted yee for the times and place, | and one which fronted on the main square or plaza, It would be by the merest chance if he found the mysterious Arizonian there, but Samson evi- sc) thought, that a look in that direction | would do no harm, and a few strides brought | him to the square. ** More luck than sense!” he cried, almost the | moment he struck the square. “Shoot me fora | Digger squaw! ef thar doesn’t stand that big black piece ov swiftness waiting for his master, All right, Steve, my cherub. Ther cap’n says ee im in Tucson,’ an’ hyer’s whar ye’r’ goin’ r stay. It was the custom of the proprietor of the ; } a lamp with a polished reflector in front of the hotel after dark, aud the \ light thus afforded always revealed a good vart ot the square. It was so on this occasion, and in the tight Samson saw the handsome horse which was as well-known in eastern Arizona as his master. And as the horse stood directly in front of the Crystal Palace, he was plainly visible. e sight sent one of Samson’s huge bands toward a huge revolver that rested on one of his hips, and he stop just beyond the fall of 4 light, and remained stationary and watcb- ul. Five minutes passed away and nobody seemed to see the stalwart desperado who watched tor the Arizonian to emerge from the Crystal Palace where the presence of the black horse proclaimed him to be. Samson bad a good deal of patience, and that when he knew he could bring about a collision by crossing the threshold of the hotel. “He can’t outwind me if I am pitta’ dry,” muttered Silver Belt’s agent. ‘‘ I'll bet'my head that somethin’ "ll drop within a radius ov a mile afore daylight for that hoss warn’t leit thar ter keep guard all night,” No, that he was not, forSamson had hardly finished when the handsome figure of Black- Horse Steve emerged from the door of the Crys tal Palace, and stood for a moment on the ve- randa in the full glare of the brilliant lamp. “ Jehosaphat! ain’t he a daisy!” mentally ejaculated Samson. ‘ He’s a picter from boots ter sombrero. Ther molds must hev broken arter makin’ him. But all that makes no dif- ference. ‘Keep ‘im hyer till I git back,’ ther cap’n says!” And Semson’s pistol-hand moved upward, for just at. that moment Black-Horse Steve left the porch and moved toward bis steed. The horse was between Samson and the hotel, and about thirty yards distant. and Samson’s eagerness carried him a step nearer. ‘I war goin’ ter try it in another quarter ov ther town, tut mebbe I'll not git a chance,” he grated in a whisper. ‘‘When he mounts, jest watch ’im tumble!” Steve, the Arizonian, appeared as eager to give Samson the coveted chance as he was to cbtain it, fer three strides carried him to the horse, and he reached the saddle by a single bound without having touched the stirrups. “Straight throvgh the head an’ a dead tum- ble!” slipped between Samson’s teeth, and for- ward went his pistcl arm. Silver Belt’s tool was not the man to hesi- tate, and he pressed the trigger with delight There was a crack and a flash, and a noise of shattered glass, and Samson felt like throw- ing his revolver down with a furious cath! ‘x once in his life he had missed a human target, and instead of the Arizonian’s head, had broken to pieces and extinguished the lamp that hung in front of the’Crystal Palace. The startling failure of his shot seemed to glue Samson to the spot from which he had He saw the figure of Black-Hore2 Steve still upright in the saddle from whicn "ie had not taken the ‘‘dead tumble;” but he was too surprised over his shot to try again. All at once, however, he saw the black -teed turn, and before he could stir, a stecn voice reached his ears. ‘**Hold thar, you! For ther lock yer builet. clipped I'll take your life if youstir. vege, | ther drop on you, Samson, eee ) In a glance, as it were, Black-Horse Stew, . had ings ai the athlete in the square; ke ‘ had marked his powerful phystque, and war, } moving down upon him, with a revolver pointed straight at his head. : Samson expected death; he knew the un- written law of the wild Southwest tod well to hope for mercy at the hands ef the man whose life he had attempted, and he waited for the ball that would prevent him from carrying out Sil- ver Belt’s orders. A minute is a long time to some men, to others it passes like a flash of light, and as swift as a flash it was to Samson. : Black-Horse Steve came down upon) bim almost before the echoes of his unfortunate shot had died away, and Samson saw himself looking up into the Arizonian’s face for the second time since sundown. ‘‘A lamp instead of a man, eh, Samson?” said Steve with a laugh that was not at all merry to Silver Belt’spard. “Can't you shoot | no better than that? Missin’ a man like me at ye thirty steps! Why, man, you'll hev to practice, I b’lieve 1 ought ter spare you till you kin hit something.” : ! Samson’s eyes said plainly: ‘‘ I think yeu had better not,” but Steve, notwithstandin, menace went on: g thoir \ ~ ae
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“JT do spare you. I won’t spatter Tucson’s best plaza with your blood to-night. The next time, Samson, hit your man. Waltz into ther Palace like a man an’ pay for ther lamp. I’m goin’ off; don’t follow me. Silver Belt vamosed ther ranch awhile ago, an’ I’ve nothin’ ter keep me hyer. Samson, old pard, I’m of ther opinion thet you know something about Ranch Robin; but never mind. The Silken Lasso will get thar at last!” and the steel spur on the left foot touched the black steed’s flank, and Samson sod alone, the most amazed man in Tucson. ** Jehu!” he cried. ‘‘ He had me an’ he didn’t kill me! Black-Horse Steve, ye’r’ a fool!” CHAPTER VI. THE ROSE OF RANCH ROBIN. Over a rather broad trail that meandered across a beautiful valley not far from Rock-Dust rode two men on powerful horses, Night was not far away and the pair were ap- proaching a dark line of mountains behind which a brilliant sun had just set. ‘* Will she know you, cap’n?” asked one of the men, looking into the face of his companion, who was a powerful map with piercing black eyes, long hair, and a skin the hue of a Mexi- can’s. ‘Well, she may, Gila Jose, though it’s been five years since 1 was Rolfo’s guest at Ranch Robin,” was the reply. ‘‘These girls have tenacious memories sometimes, an’ hers may be of that sort. She did not suspect when you swooped down on the ranch that you were not an Apache, eh, Jose?” ‘‘T should say not, cap’n! Samson an’ I war completely disguised, an’ looked like two ’Paches for all ther world. We didn’t leave a smidgin’ ov Ranch Robin; but I’d like ter know—” Here the speaker, who was Gila Jose of Rock- Dust, broke his own sentence abruptly, and look- ed nto the eyes of Kis comrade no less a person- age than Silver Belt. ‘‘You’d like to know what? The bargain was, I believe, thatno questions war ter be asked, ‘warn’t it?” : “Yes, cap’n, but I don’t want ter know yer reasons for wipin’ Robin out, but—” “a Well?” ‘*T’d like ter know, jest out ov curiosity, you see, what kind o’ link connects, er connected, three men, Rolfo, Felix an’ Black-Horse Steve.” Silver Belt gave Gila Jose a long, deep look before he replied. ‘An’ you'd like to know this, eh? Oh, you shrewd old rascal, you! Of course nothin’ ree you but curiosity!” he laughed. ‘‘ Nothin’ more than that—I’m ready ter sw’ar it, cap’n!” cried Jose, and up went his right hand. ‘I’ve got an idea thet those three men ar’ strangely connected, an’ thet you know suthin’ about it.” “ An’ I do,” said Silver Belt, in a mysterious manner, that served to increase Jose’s curiosity. “« But you won’t elucidate, I suspect?” ““Why not? We ar’ pards, Jose, an’ you’ve done me one good turn within the last two weeks.” { ‘*Lalways play fair, cap’n.” “Very well, then,” and Silver Belt leaned to- ward the citizen of Rock-Dust as he continued, in a slightly lower tone: ‘‘ About twelve years ago three men invaded Arizona; they came from Lower California, an’ war somewhat tough. They had poughed it all over golddom, from Shasta to the Gulf, but two ov’em hedn’t enough ter buy a mountain graveyard. By an’ by they ter separate; one went ter Texas, whar he struck it rich, one planted himself in Ari- zona, an’ the other stuck fer ther saddle.” ““] kiow that last. one—Black-Hoss Steve!” ejaculated the listener. Silver Belt gave an approving nod, and went on: “Since you have guessed so well, Gila, let me inform you that the pard who went ter Texas lately owned Ranch Robin, an thet ther second one war Felix, who died t’other night in Rock- Dust. Those war ther three pards who came from Lower California twelve years ago. Rolfo found a gir] somewhar on ther line, an’ adopted her; but Felix never got higher than a cabin in Rock-Dust, an’ ended his days by takin’ poison, as you know, Jose.” x smile was visible at the coruers of Silver Belt’s mouth as he paused. “War thar nothin’ stronger than pardship ter link those three men together?” asked Gila Jose, “* What do you think?” *% Pardship is strong, I know, cap’n, but blood stronger. Silver Belt darted the speaker a quick look. “ You're right,” he said. ‘‘ Kinship is stron- ger than pardship, an’ thet’s what bound the three men together. They war brothers, Gila.” ‘* No!” exclaimed Silver Belt’s companion. “ Rolfo, Felix an’ Steve brothers, eh?” ‘*They war nothin’ less,” For several minutes longer the two men rode silently toward the mountains; then Gila Jose leaned suddenly toward Silver Belt, and laid a finger on his sleeve. ‘““T’m not goin’ ter interfere with yer affairs, cap’n; thet’s not Gila Jose’s style. ou sent us ter Ranch Robin with orders which we carried out ter ther letter; you said, ‘Kill Felix, an’ make it look like suicide,’ an’ thet’s what we've done; you didn’t give us any orders about Black- Hoss Steve.” ‘‘T left them behind for Samson,” said Silver Belt, quickly, and with a smile. ‘ He knows just Sad | to do, an’ Samson has never failed me et. “But he’s got his hands full now,” said Gila Jose. ‘‘It took two ov us ter handle Felix, an’ we ar’ no slouches; but hyer you’ve left one man ter finish Felix’s brother.” ‘*But I left Samson!” said Silver Belt with confidence, “All right, an’ Samson has never failed you, you say?” “* Never!” Gila Jose made no answer, but turned his head away, and began to whistle. “What! don’t youthink Samson is that man’s match?” cried Silver Belt, coloring and perplex- ed by Jose’s whistling. ‘* He never failed you, cap’n,” said Jose, with agrin. ‘*Samson an’ the last ov ther Californy pards pitted ag’in’each other! We'll watch ther result.” The silver desperado saw by his companion’s manner that he did not have much confidence in Samson’s ability to cope with Black-Horse Steve, and he would have rebuked him in a sharp manner if they had not entered the shadows of the mountains. “How far is she from here?” he suddenly asked, ‘* Nearer than you think, cap’n.” ‘‘Did the Indians see you hide her away?” “Not much. We let them take Rolfo north, while we turned off with ther gal. We turn down ther trail a ride about three miles, an’ then—then, I'll show you ther prettiest flower thet ever growed *twixt ther Gila an’ ther Chi- quito,’ Silver Belt’s black eyes kindled with satisfac- tion at Gila Jose’s last sentence, and the two men quickened the gait of their steeds and set off in a smart gallop over the trail. Tn less than twenty minutes Jose, who was ‘n the advance, drew rein, and looked at Silvcr Belt in a triumphant way. They had reached a spot where the trail led along a wall of rock, and from one side looked down intoa snug little valley nearly one thousand feet below. ‘Is she there?’ asked Silver Belt, eagerly. ‘* Hyer, cap’n!” The man from Tucson looked around, but saw no si of a hi rat 4c Gila Jose slid from the saddle and began to uncoil the black extra-thick lasso that hung from the brass-tipped saddle-bow. “*Come, cap’n; ye’ve alia go down ter ther dove-cote,” he said to Silver Belt with a smile. and forthwith the man from Tucson drop to the ground. " Meanwhile, Gila Jose had uncoiled the lariat, and had made a little loop or stirrup at one end, ‘You go down to her on this, cap’n,” he said. “Come. Ther openin’ to her parlor is about twenty feet below ther top ov ther wall. Es- cape’s ra cap’n. It’s an old den ov mine; diskivered it accidentally years ago, an’ never had any use for it till it came ter me ter clap ther Chiquito Rose inter it fer you. Thar ye ar’, Silver. Ill hold ther rope; now over ye co) And Silver Belt To over the edge of the trail, and was lowered inch by inch, the black lasso slippinz through Gila Jose’s hands, “Tll play fair with ther cap’n,” said the bronzed fellow to himself as he lowered Silver Belt. ‘‘He’s played thet way with me thus far. 1’d like ter see ther meetin’ twixt him an’ ther gal, but I can’t do thet an’ hold this Jasso.” Gila Jose could not even look over the edge of the trail to note Silver Belt’s progress but that individual was lowered until he reached a dark, cavernous entrance that seemed to lead into the solid rock. ‘‘Her home!” he said. ‘The home of the prettiest girl north of the city of Mexico.” In another moment the silver sport had swung himself to a lodgment within the aper- ture, and having disomgaged himself from the netratingly lasso he pushed down a rather commodious cor- ridor of stone, and reached a large cave illumi- nated by a fire that burned in the middle of the stone floor. ‘*Not at home, eh? Has the bird. flown?” ejaculated Silver Belt in audible tones as he saw nobody. ‘“*No! I am here!” was the reply in a rich voice, and there stepped forth from the darkest portion of the cavern, a young girl of seventeen, of striking beauty, and finely molded figure. Silver Belt could scarcely repress a cry of de- light; he had not seen the Chiquito Rose since she was a mere child and he could hardly be- lieve that the beautiful girl and the little -ward of Rolfo of Ranch Robin were identical. Still, the proof of it was before him, and a. second look showed him that he actually stood in her presence. ‘*T know you,” continued Rolfo’s ward as she came forward with her deep dark eyes riveted. upon Silver Belt. ‘*‘ You are the silver king of Southern Arizona, and you have been to Ranch Robin. They call you Silver Belt. Why, ever. the men vultures who swooped down upon the ranch, knew you.” Silver Belt started. Had either of his white- tools intimated to the girl that Ranch Robin owed its destruction to him? “* What’s that?” he said, dissimulating. “‘ Who knew me?” “The fiends who blighted our lives in a night. —the villains who- burned the ranch heme, butchered three servants, and carried off Rolfc- and me!” 4 Si oomemiveat when did this occur?” Another stride brought the girl stiil nearer the man from Tucson. f “Take me to Rolfo,” she said. “My God? og do not want to separate us mow, do you? e has been a father to me. The Indians took him to the north—toward Apachedom; the two white men who played Indian fetched me to this. lace. What was our crime that Ranch Robim 1ad to be burned, our servants butchered, and we separated and led into captivity?” Silver Belt looked astounded. The girl seemed to know it all; she had pene- trated the disguise of his tools; now, did she know that he had charged them with theinfamy they had performed? “What! will you not make reparation?” she went on before he could speak. ‘Stand there, Silver Belt, and witb your right hand lifted to- ward heaven, tell me, if you dare, that you knew nothing of all this till now. The last. words that Rolfo whispered ere they tore us. apart told me much. Swear that you had no» hand in it. You were not there; no, I should have known you. Now, sir, I command you te take me hence, to take me to Rolfo!” ‘“‘T can’tdo that, girl. "The Apaches have him,. ou say?” “But they were your tools, like the painted whites. Take me to him, Silver Belt, or I wil} avenge on your head the desolation of Ranchs Robin!” Despite his audacity, the silver sport from Tucson went back a pace from before the girl. “Very well!” she said, terribly calm in a mo-- ment. ‘‘Keep me here in this cave, with the mountains above and the gulch below. For alk, that, the debt of vengeance will be paid. There: were three of them, Silver Belt. You know” the trio who came together from Californie years ago, You have sat on the veranda of anch Robin and listened to the story of their ie Two are left to strike, Felix and Ste-- en.” Silver Belt laughed ; he thought of Felix dead, and Black-Horse Steve watched by Samson in, Tucson. “Com; let’s compromise, girl,” he said. “With you?—with the man who sent the. merciless vultures to Ranch Robin? I'd rather — leap from this cave to the bottom of the canyom below!” CHAPTER VII. GILA JOSE’S PIC-NIC, “Py find means to tame her, Jose. She’s a. tigress now, but I’) transform her intoa lamb. before I get to the end of this game,” said Silver Belt when Gila Jose had again drawn him up tov the trail from his interview with the beauty of Ranch Robin. — |, ‘Wat! couldn’t you do any thing with her, cap’n ”? asked Jose in astonished tones. ‘ _*No, curse somebody who mentioned my ranch. Was it you?” ‘“ Nary —<s cap’n.” ‘* Did you hear Samson of ; me could have heard?” speak of me where she peal f \ name in her presence after the destruction of the _
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Ty No.” “Somebody gave it away; she says so.” The man from Tucson was in bad humor; he had traveled miles to meet the girl against whom he plotted, and she had given him cause for believing that she k 2w of his villainy; his schemes seemed to have been formed for naught. Night had fallen over the mountain trail, and the two men stood by their horses at whose saddles hung the inseparable lasso of the Ari- | zonian. ‘“ Which way now, cap’n?” asked Gila Jose. at last. ‘‘Go it back to Tucson, whar you left Samson ter take keer ov Black-Hoss Steve, or—” ¢ Gila Jose broke his own sentence, and turning suddenly on his heel, went down the trail with a cocked revolver in his hand. “ Tha’ man-fo> hear ometbiung,” said Siler Belt to himsclf, “C ‘tb th. mebody has discov: ve” tho place where we have. d the C i- quito Rose Jose had already passed ovt of sight, anu h silver prince’ was beginning to grow pepaiiene when he sud nly reappeared witha puzzle e..- pression 0. countenan . “‘Cap’n, thar’s a wolf about hyer, a sneakin’ human wolé at that,” ' e said. ‘* A spy?” flashed Silver Belt. “ Suthin’ oy ther kind.” “id yousee hi...” — No, but I heard his steps. See hyer: that individual he ter ‘e caged afore we go a step further in thi: game. Doe I say,” and then Giia Jose spoke in a lo. ‘er * ne of voice. ‘ Off we rr’, cap’—bound Zor old Tucson, Thar’s m~ 1 ti,er thay worth fi, hti.’: not a durned beast ‘1 this kentry!” Sitv'+ Bel saw at once through Gila Jose’s trick . -r he answered gayly: “Wl break u- m»re’n one lair, old pard. Come! Ou w. ar’ for Tucson!” _ Both men had seated t’:emselves in the saddles but the steeds had not proceeded far ere Jose slippe to on motioning to his compan- ion to go ahead. ‘‘N - letther spy come up,” said Jose to him- self, and with eager mien, he crept back toward the spot directly above the cavern, and crouch- ed at the foot of the dark wall of rock. For awhile he was inclined to believe that the spy, whoever he was, was his equal in keenness; but all at once a footstep reached his ears, an then a figure glided into view. Walkin’ right inter ther trap, eh?” ejacu- lated Jose with his ym riveted on the appari- tion-like object. ‘‘Just a little nearer, m mountain hollyhock, an’ then we’ll see what this prowlin’ means.” Nearer and nearer came the prec who had suddenly come in sight and within five feet of Jose’s position he sto and listened, A minute later Silver Belt’s pard saw him take a coil of rope from beneath his jacket and slowly uncoil it in the starlight. ‘Goin’ down ter ther gal? We'll see about thet!” hissed Jose under his breath, and all at once he went forward and dropped one of his bronze hands upon the person’s shoulders, “No runnin’! it’s me—Gila Jose,” he said with -acool chuckle as the surprised person wheeled with a cry of astonishment. ‘ Kinder not look- in’ for me hyer just now, eh?” ere Was no reply, and the man from Rock- Dust looked into tl e of a youth who could - not bave passed his seventeenth year. ‘Do yer often take such mountain trips like this, Feather ” continued Jose, showing his teeth. ‘* Perhaps.” ag Wal er’ playin’ spy on mighty dangerous ’ ” h : ‘eathery was the _ continuance, ’ ‘What war oin’ ter do with thet lasso?” i aaa over the cliff with it.” eee.) know, Gila Jose!” said the boy. “Jus betes sundown I looked up the eulch wall from away below us, an’ thought 1 saw some standin’ in an openin’—” “You did, eh?” interrupted Jose, and one of encircled the youth's arm, ‘ You thou t you saw some one, an’ you war goin’ ter satisty yerself on thet pint?” “Yes,” and the youth's eyes dropped to the We ow, teens ’ go back ow, take my advice, Feathery, an’ go bac ter Rock-Dust wits tryin’ ther experiment,” _ continued Jose, giving Feather Frank a look calculated to terrify him, ‘Nobody ever came EE SY BT oat te Ser = 55 gap SONS : a, The Silken Lasso. out ahead investigatin’ in these parts. Go back. et the trail, but you know itas well as I 0. _ The pe straightened instantly, and threw pe Gila Jose’s face a look that breathed de- ance, “Not goin’, eh?” cried the man, ‘Coil yer rope, an’ trot. I don’t suggest now,. Feathery ; by Heavens! I command!’ That was enough; it .onfirmed the discovery the young Rock-Duster had made, and he was not disposed to yiel obedience’ \ the man whose tricks and villainy he knew so well. Ali : once, with a vigorov effort, he bre se two men cmerge from Gi _ use’> ant « ne was, of course, J imo’ ether a handsome man physica’; ‘- ve 7, and to all sut Jose, a stranger “n tio hansied ape At some hour between dar .e. an. ¢ light the couple had taken ossessi of the cabin, where they had remained undisturbed, and the first intimation Rock-Dust .ad of their presence was their appearance in the .creet. ose led his companion straight to a certain shanty where liquid nourishmeut was to be had at tifty cents a drink, and the early enllers there were severally introduced .o Gilver Belt, the bonanza pard of Tucson, and asked to ‘take suthin’ ” at Jose’s expense. In a very short time Silver Belt was on good terms with the denizens of the camp, and Jose busied himself in finding out what they thought of their new visitor. ‘* He’s not hyer ter locate,” Jose always ex- lained when questicned aside about Silver It, ‘‘ He’s on bis way Nerthwest on business, an’ I urged ‘im ter stop hyer awhile ter see ther nards ov Rock-Dust xn’ ter leave a little oy his ucre among us, ov which he hez plenty, Look at him; see what shoulders an’ what eyes! Ive seen thet individual fore, b*hoys, an’ my pri- vale opinion is thet he’s a b-a-d'man in a tus- sle,’ It would be proper to say here that the pre- ponderance of opinion coincided with Jose’s ex- pressed views, for the ds of Rock-Dust had earefully i ted Silver Belt from every stand-point. Butthey could not see why he had selected Gila Jose for his friend, when there were better men in camp. Nobody cared about the mines that day; Jose’s hint that Silver Belt had plenty of money to leave in Rock-Dust, if ur to play, and the prospect of plucking a fat pigeon formed a temptation which the Rock-Dusters could not resist. , The one saloon which the camp afforded was not large enough to afford amusement for its entire population, therefore, when Silver Belt signified bis willingness to play for money, the whee party <4 voting to the end of the street, and the games The man from Tucson had a reason for re- maining in Rock-Dust till night, at least. He wanted to see whether Feather Frank the boy baffled among the mountains would come to camp, and he had resolved to lengthen out his journey. ; Jose was watchful, and while Silver Belt amused the Rock-Dusters, he kept his eyes on the trails that led from the mountains, watcb- ing them with the patience and pertinacity of a faithful dog. Silver Belt was careful to lose and win just cnough to keep the mountain men in ho- mor, and at last he saw the sun sink behind the rogged hills without having disturbed the hilarity of the camp. “‘That young fox, cap’n, hasn’t showed up,” winapeses Jose, at the ears of Silver Belt as the sun nally went down, throwing the ow of , Fock and tree over the camp. 4 “f semi ae — “4 —— = —
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“He may know we’re here, an’ keeps off,” laughed Silver Belt, ‘ Why, he needn’t fear me, I wouldn’t twist a finger if he came.” “ Consarn him! I’d probably wring his neck!” owled Gila Jose. ‘* You don’t know ‘im, I oO; the: . ther difference twixt us, cap’n. He’s up ter some deviltry out thar,” “That kid, Jose?” “Thet same bey whose lasso I cut up last aight. What ar’ ye waitin’ fer hyer?” “For two men who have gone to their shanties to get their last dust.” ‘Yer bet ag’in’ yer game, cap'n?” “ Yes. ” “Two fools, I say. But throw up ther game hyer. Wemust be off if we reach Red Chick afore to-morrer night.” “I can’t, I promised to wait for them,” **Oh, yer did, eh? Then I'll go down an’ take up my old station. I'll hev ther hc-ses thar. ome ter me when you've plucked ther Rock- Dust pigeons.” “*T will.” ' Jose moved away with a glance a” the crowd which awaited with Silver Belt the return of the two Rock-Dusters who had gone after their lost stakes, He was plainly impaclent; there seemed a sudden fear in Gila Jos. s eyes;he had said that he was watching for the boy when, in fact, he had fears that some one else was com- “Samson may be his match, b-t I don’t b’lieve it,” he had murmured time ufter time. “Sometimes it takes two men w watch one. Silver Belt may rest easy; but hang me! ei I do, The sentry paced back and forth under the trees while the jman from Tucson played with the men who seemed fascinated by the games that relieved them of their money. @ was restless, impatient; his very motions showed this, and every minute he would glance over his shoulder toward Rock-Dust, and curse Sil- ver Belt’s delay. **Confound it! don’t he knw I’m waitin’ for him?” he cried, “I’ve got ther hosses by yon rock, all ready for ther galloy ter Red Chick. See hyer, cap’n: ef yer don’t hurry, somebody il come, an’ [ won’ insure it ter be ther kid.” And * somebody” did come, and that in a manner totally unexpected by Gila Jose, Almost suddenly a horse and his rider loomed up in the lightest spot for many yards uround, and Jose’shand moved /voluntarily toward his. six-shooter as he started back with an exclama- tion of surprise parting his lips. “I know ‘im! See ’im once an’ you never for- got ’im?” said Jose. ‘ Thet man’s presence hyer lis me thet Samson, with all his cunnin’ failed ter keep’im in Tucson. Now, what will ther cap’n say?” 5. ose thought himself unperceived by the man who had so suddenly appeared, and was draw- ing the revolver already cocked when something very like a lengthening serpent shot over the horse’s head and straight at hi : In a second Gila Jose knew what it was, and he threw up two bronze hands to c‘rcumvent the stranger's inte..tion, but quick as he was, nud Jose was quick, he was too lato, The black noose of a lasso settled over his head, and suddenly, as it tightened, he was je: '- ed almost off his feet. ‘Jerusalem! thar’s only one lasso on top o’ ground thet kin do thet,” grated Jose as he went to work to relieve himself of the terrible coil. * Cut that rope, or try it, an’) lanc you in hades!” roared a voice at his ear aud Silver Beli’s pard looked up into the face of a man who leancd from the saddle, and was “garding him with two blazing eyes. ‘‘So, I have found you if not your pard, Gila Jose, You war wait- in’ for him, I suj pose.” Jose said ‘‘ yes” before he knew he had spoken, and the capt: ., Black-Horse Steve, laughed at the manner he displayed. 1s My silken lasso has never caught a man amiss,” he went on. ‘‘ Don’t squirm there, Joso, old fellow. It only tightens the cord. Yes, look at my horse’s feet, they’re muflled just the least bit ain’t they? an’ thet’s how I came ter steal », march on you. Silyer Belt’s in eamp, eh, Gila?” Jose made no reply; this time he watched his tongue, resolved not to betray the man to whom he had sworn eternal fidelity. “Very well. We'll go - an’ see, Jose,” laugh- ed the Arizonian, and the lack horse lea or- ward, throwing Jose off his feet and hurling him heavily to the ground. ‘ The movement and its results were so unex- pected by the Rock-Duster, that he could not meet them, and when he attempted to regain his feet, hc was being dragged over the road in a Silken Lasso. ° ' a characters of Rock-Dust, and a six-foot speck very. unceremonious manner, and heard these 5 t words distinctly spoken. men of humanity, ‘‘Give ’em room an’ fair ‘Look out, Gila Jose! If you to get up 2 Thar’s no kickin’ ‘lowed in Rock-Dust; I'll give my horse the spurs an’ we'll go up ter | no backin’ out in this saints’ paradise ov ther Rock-Dust like rockets! Besides, I’m fable ter | silver region!” use ther trigger on slight occasions.” The men of the camp drew back, eager to see t was warning enough, and grinding his | the two men thus brought face to face settle teeth till they cracked, Gila Jose was forced to | their differences in the prevailing method of the hold his , but did some terrible thinking. “ Thar’ll be a pic-nic when this Arizona cyclone ; reaches Rock-Dust an’ mebbe it’ll result in my | rough journey from the scene of his capture to favor,” he mused, “‘Things can’t get -much | the gaming-table, and lay on the ground still in worse for me over wha, they ar’ now, but some- | the ’s coil and unpitied by his former com- times ther fryin’-pan i. better nor ther fire.” ‘rades, who despised him for having brought to A* journeys have an end, and Jose’s forced camp a sport who had fleeced them out of their one terminated when he began to think that | precious dust. ‘ every particle of sin would soon be rubbed from Black-Horse Steve clutched a revolver in his hi> bones. right hand, and leaned toward Silver Belt trom Biack-Horse Steve rod- into Rock-Dust, and | his saddle. ( ; saw the light: that revealed Silver Belt and his| “If it’s satisfaction you demand, satisfaction antagonist. Th game whic’) had had but few | it shall be,” suddenly said the man from Tucson. intermissions duriv’, the diy was still running, | “No man lives who can say that I ever refused and just befor» Le was discovered, a voice sung | him that. Let us put, ourselves on an equality, ous an’ may the best man ridealone from Rock-Dust within the next half-hour.” . Silver Belt came around the rough table with glittering eyes as he spoke; not for a moment ad he taken them from Steve save to glance twice at Gila Jose = and probably ‘ country. ’ / Gila Jose had been rendered insensible by his “We qui’ -or to-night, gentlemen. You can’t say” ** aven” given ov gvod chances ter et even, thai we heyn’: played a squar’ game. © mor playin’ to-nigh’.’ “QO. cours: no, when ¢1' ther dust’s on one side,” grow’sd a broa -shouldeve’ Rock-Duster. b°-king ou from the tavle under the trees. * Ain” ther another ounce in Rock-Dust ter gi. . fortune anothe. tilt?’ * Iwo. dn’t reopen thc game if thar war a thousand ounces here.” “Yeo, yo. will, Captain Silver Belt!’ ex- claimed Black-Horse Steve, at tho sound of whoso voice ever>*- man wh. Jed. ‘I’m hyer to la** you a@ .,ame that wili cost the loser his life. a. you know me!” Silver Belt hau straiy tene.., and was looking across the tale at the man who confronted him in the saddle. “Samson played his game, and I beat him; nov., sir, I pla you! What } ve I to bet against your pile, eh? The man at the end of my lasso !” The crowd had parted and drawn back, and Silver Belt saw a man st the end of the rope! werless to render assist- ead, ' n an equality? Certainly, though you don’t deserve it,” said ‘the Arizonian, and the next moment he slipped dextrously from the saddle and struck the ground just as Sil\ ur Belt gained the cleared space in front of him. “ What’s yer weapons, gents?” asked Noisy Dan who had made himself master of ceremo- nies without the semblance of an invitation. “We a hyer accordin’ to ther code, an’ no non-resident: ov this city shall infringe ther rules. Face ter faco ye ar’, thar. Name yer weapons; bowies «.: revolvers? an’ at what dis- tance? Whoop ’er up lively, ‘Liza Jane!” AY. this time the two enemies were confront- = each other with about ten feet between them. ‘*As I came here to meet you, sir,” said Black-Horse Steve, ‘I will give you the ad- vantage of choice of weapons. Choose!” “Very well. An’ as I want to meet’ the man who openly accuses me of poisonin’ a fel- low human, I’ll accommodate yeu at once. choose revolvers at ten paces. Stand back thar, gentlemen, an’, if I'm not mistaken, you'll see one good shot to-night.” ‘““Thet’s bizness! Stand back thar, men go- phers, an’ let ther gents hev full swing!” — rung out the stentorian voice of Noisy 6 When two men like these distinguished indi- viduals come all ther way from ‘Tucson ter give us a diversion like this, we should give’em « squar’ shake. Thar ye ar’, gents, Shall I drop my hat?” : olsy Dan had taken off his hat, and placed himself about midway between the two men, though a little to one side, and was holding out between thumb and finger the dirties sombrero to be found in Arizona. ‘Tt ‘ll suit me for that chap ter drop his hat <or signal,” said Silver Belt whose right hand held a cocked revolver along his leg as Steve also did. “ Allright! Drop the hat!” —_ Noisy Dan shouted out a boisterous “ all right, gents!” and the desperate crowd expected | CHAPTER IX. INTERFERED WITH. BLACK-HorsE §_ ‘VE was lookin directly in- to the fae: of the si ee ae 0, who had come up from ft! e scu. | With Gila Jose. It v-as loo!- for look, de® --e for defiance, and the dark-facec crov, eyed the pair intently. The next move, ali expected, would be the display wf revolvers and the *: 1 of one or two human bodies, Steve, the Arizonian, saw the quick glance sent by Silver iselt toward the burly figure lying at the end of the lariat a short distance behinc hic hose, and a smile appeared at the corners of his mouth. ‘*~ bet the bully at the end of my rope, sir; what is your stake?’ suddenly continued Steve to‘ ‘Iver Bel’. ‘‘ Remember, sir, that you are toi lay a game of some sort with me. Tamhere for that: purpose.. What shall it be?” . * Anything to yer likin’!’ was the instant re- sponse. “‘I am ‘| voys ready. In tho first place, slip yer nooso,” ‘‘ From Jose, back thar?” ? WY og? ‘0 see the sombrero descend toward the ground “Your friend, eh?” within the next ten seconds. “tty frond?” “Drop ‘er, Noisy! what ar’ yer clingin’ to — hat fer?’ whispered voices béhind the Rock- uster. ‘* Hang it! I’m kivered myself!” was the an- swer, “ Look straight «head ov me. Ef I drop ther hat, Fu tumble myself. Somebody take my place! i ready the entire crowd was looking toward the spot designated by Noisy Dan, and there to their utter astonishment they beheld a boy at whose shoulders was a riflc that covered the self- appointed master of ceremonies. _ Feather Frank!” fell from the lips of several, “ See hyer, boy! don’t ye know ye’r’ interferin’ with men’s sport? Drop thet Winchester, an’ let ther performance proceed. " ‘ But the rifle was not lowered an inch, nor did the boy who had so suddenly appeared on the scene take a backward step. | If Gila Jose had been conscious at the time, he would doubtless have upbraided Silver Belt in no gentle tones for sparing the br y’s life only a - few hours before; but as it was, the men’ of Rock-Dust were cursing him enough, ' Noisy Dan still held his hat between thumb and finger, and it was likely that he had taken “No,” said Stevo, his lips meeting firmly be- hine ‘he jittle - Hlabic. “He’s fixed for the present. Silver Belt, huve found the man who sent Samson thi. way c. fe\7 days since with a ottle, under «vyhose cork lurked death. That poison killed Felix, Ah! you know who Felix war” : “IT know,” said the Tucson desperado— | know pretty much of ther history of ther three Lower Californians, But thet’s a bad charge of ers, Block-Horse Steve. I ginerally strike with lead or steel,’ ‘But this time Samson an’ the man at m lasso’s end did the work for you. I know if, Silver Belt. TI never. lost a trail after strikin it, an’ ther one I struck in Felix’s cabin has ied me here—to you!” ** An it’s blood you want?” grated Silver Belt. ** Satisfaction!” “ For what?” ‘For Felix’s death an’ for the desolation of Ranch Robin; for Rolfo an’ his ward!” Those who were watching the silver sport nar- rowly saw him give a slight start, “Crar a ring for ’em ef they're goin’ ter fight!" sung out Noisy Dan one of the foremost a new purchase on it for fear that it might acci-\. ; Pe) Le ae eo = ‘ eeeeerd ee ve A yh Sia
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Fimo este BOP EES og rae: « The Silken Lasso. dentally slip from his grasp, and thus precipitate a very unfortunate melee, “There’s to be no fight while I’m around,” suddenly spoke the boy over the rifle that still covered Noisy Dan. ‘Put on yer hat an’ step back, Noisy. An’ you two men, rebelt yer re- volvers, This duel is off!” ‘* That’s ther durndest meanest interference I ever heard oy!” growled Noisy Dan, not forget- ting to return his dirty hat promgey to his head. “ Flay me fer a’Pache ef I don’t git even with ther kid fer it. Gents, I’m sorry ter inform yer thet ther young gopher yonder hez sp’iled ther fight fer ther present, Lz he says, gents, ther duel ar’ off.” Silver Belt had glanced but once at Feather Frank, and that glance had enabled him to recognize in him the youth he had encountered the night before. : “Maybe I had better let Jose have his way when he had the boy in his clutches,” he said to himself. ‘‘ He’s here now in my way, an’ his ac- cursed Winchester prevents me from killin’ the last of the three brothers. But Dll do it yet. It’s a long while till mornin’, an’—” ‘Back to back thar, ge roe suddenly interrupted Feather Frank. *‘ Thar’s ter be no fight in Rock-Dust_to-night. I owe you a good turn, Silver Belt. I haven’t forgotten what you did last night. I pay that debt by breaking up this fight for vengeance. Turn yer backs on each other. Thar! now walk away.” Silver Belt at the mercy of the bhoy’s re- peater, obeyed with the look and the sullenness of a baffled tiger; Black-Horse Steve, disap- pointed, but in a better humor. Within a minute the two Arizonians were many feet apart, and three strides carried the boy interferer to Steve's side. “*T didn’t want you to take any chances with that man,” he said, meeting the lassoer’s rebuke calmly. Silver Belt is cat-quick with the trig- ger. **So am I.” “T believe it, but I take no risks. where the girl is.” ** Rolfo’s ward?” “Tt must be she.” “Thank Heaven!” ejaculated Black-Horse Steve. ‘‘ An’ is she near?” ‘In the mountains near at hand. I would have found her last night if the man in your coil thar had not interfered. Your lasso will reach her.” ** An’ Rolfo?” ‘*T know nothin’ about him, though I think the girl is alone.” ‘Come, then! We will find her at once. I'll release my captive first; then, for the Chiquito Rose! After all, boy, I thank you for your in- terference.” The Arizonian stepped to where Gila Jose lay bruised and unconscious in the lasso’s loop, and quickly shook him out of it. “Tsn’t he dead?” exclaimed Frank, ae No.” “Tt’s almost a pity,” was the reply. “A craftier sport than Gila Jose never slung a re- volver or thumbed a mountain deck!” “Til risk him, boy,” laughed Black-Horse Steve dextrously coiling his lariat as he stepped toward hishorse. ‘‘ The journey be had to-night the devil-wretch will long remember. It’s but ae beginnin’ ov the settlement I have with im.” As the handsome Arizonian threw himself upon the back of his black horse Feather Frank appeared at his side. “To the mountains! to Rolfo’s ward as you call her!” he exclaimed. “Yes, boy; and then for Rolfo himself!” *‘ Look out for Silver Belt!” “For the man whose life you saved for doin’ you a good turn last night, eh? We'll not for- get him. I long to see the girl. She can tell me all. Come, boy! To the Rose of Ranch Robin!” The next moment Black-Horse Steve was rid- ing off with Frank walking at his side. CHAPTER X. THE TUCSON TRAP. ; Rivne cautiously up the mountain, a giant om P horse in every respect as poweriul as him- self. “T'll watch the place awhile,” mused the man. “‘T have an idea of what’s goin’ ter happen. He has met the boy called Feather Frank—the oung imp I should have let Gila Jose finish last night, an’ he will tell him that he has found the Arizona girl. They will come together, an’ I will show this last of the three Californians a trick that’ll make me winner in this game.” The mountain trail way narrow and gently as- I know ——— cending, and the solitary rider kept on until he had reached a certain elevation far above Rock- Dust and some miles away. At last he dismounted at a spot which, to him, must have looked familiar, for he had been ae before and during the past forty-eight ours, ‘““ Now let ’em come,” parted his lips as he guided his horse to some bushes that grew along- was able. ‘If I’m not fixed for Black-Horse Steve now, I’d like ter know when I ever will be. Come along, Stephen, you an’ yer new boy pard. I long ter show you Silver Belt’s best trick.” Not a sound disturbed the vigils of the stal- wart sport leaning against the horse concealed by the bushes; man and animal seemed a part of the mountain wall, but they were not stone, for the former moved slightly at times as he looked up and down the trail starlit enough to he discernible some distance, More than an hour passed, and then came the first sound to reach the silver sport’s ears since taking up his station. ‘Straight ter ther Tucson trap!” laughed Silver Belt, while he listened to the approach of some one. ‘‘A few more steps, my guileless rds, an’ ther explorations ov this night will | pa terminate dst ak He saw two figures approach his station, and his eyes presently enabled him to see that one, a man, was mounted, and the other a boy afoot. ** Just as lexpected! I could have sworn ter it,” he muttered. ‘* Feather Frank has told about his diskivery, an’ Steve is hyer ter see | ther girl.” There was no longer any doubt of the identity of the pair who had come to Silver Belt’s station; | i Black-Horse Steve and the boy from Rock- Dust had come to find the ranchman’s ward, and one, perhaps both, would go down to the cavern in the wall over the Arizonian’s lasso. More than ever like a statue now looked Silver Belt, his handsome figure unperceived by Steve and his young pard. ‘* Hyer! give me the lasso,” said the Ari- zonian. ‘‘Mark the place whar it’s to be put over the ledge, an’ I'll see Rolfo’s ward ina jilty. No; you can’t lower me, boy. I’m too heavy for you, but I’ll fasten the cord around that rock- _tree an’ you kin keep guard.” ‘ ‘*T can watch for Silver Belt, eh?” said the OY. “For the man I long to meet_an’ to pay back for the blow struck at Ranch Robin,” was the answer, in tones that brought a mad glare to the, eyes of the Tucson sport. Black-Horse Steve now approached the trail wall from which projected a living tree in a sin- gular manner, and proceeded to fasten his lasso to the trunk, ‘How many feet down to the cage, Frank?” he asked, speaking over his shoulder to the boy looking on. ** About twenty.” “Tl shorten the rope accordin’. Now thar we ar’. Thar’s no danger of that lasso lettin’ me down to the bottom of the canyon. I’ve hung to it before, boy, an’ when more than one life de- pended on it, too.” Following the lasso back to the edge of the cliff, Black-Horse Steve divested himself of his hat and jacket, which he placed on the saddle of the horse that stood ‘near, and slipped the “stirrup” of the lariat over one foot to try it. ‘“Down we go now, Feathery,” he said in merry tones to the boy standing by. “ Keep a sharp eye on the lookout, In Arizona a man must never sleep,” Black-Horse Steve dropped the black lasso over the fringe of the cliff, poke body after it, but kept the hairy cord wrapped about one arm. Curiosity drew Feather Frank to the spot, and he saw the daring Arizonian lower himself grad- ually until his shoulders were below the bank, Silver Belt, too,.saw all these movements, for he stood not twenty feet away, in’ his hand a bowie whose ten-inca blade was wide and keen. It was his time for work, and he was not the one to play merciful with the life of the man he hated in his hands. * Now, I'll show you the Tucson trick!” he ex- claimed, stepping toward the rope stretched taut from tree to cliff, showing that the weight of Black-Horse Steve was still upon it, Three strides the kind he took—they seemed panther-bounds—pbrought him to the lasso, and over it the bowie was poised for a moment. “To ther bottom of ther canyon—not ter ther Chiquito Rose!” he almost hissed, and then the blade came down on the rope, and it parted! There was more than the snap of the rope in a fee ————__. the result of Silver Belt’s cut; a wild ery run out on the air, and Feather Frank recoiled wit a shout of horror, : ** Oh, it’s me, boy,” said the man from Tucson, as he met the little Rock-Duster and seized his arm before he could make an effort toward de- fense. “It war a slick trick, eh?—-one Black- Hoss Steve warn’t lookin’ for! D’yer think he’ll | find ther Rose ov Ranch Robin now? What's side the trail and got behind them as well as he | ther distance ter ther bed ov ther canyon? I’m not familiar with this part ov ther kentry.” The voice of the sleek rough had a devilish sound to the boy who was compelled to listen. He pictured with horror the body which had fallen a thousand feet through starlit space, and imagined it lying on the bed of the canyon bruised out of shape—Black-Horse Steve at the end of his last and most fatal trail! And he—Feather Frank—was in the grip of the man who had coolly cut the lariat and pre- cipitated the avenger of Ranch Robin to a ter- rible doom. What mercy could he ask or expect at Silver Belt’s hands? ‘* What mercy do you ask?” suddenly contin- ued the silver sport. ‘* You know what you did a while ago in camp; you know what you told Steve about the bird in the cage below us. You war his guide, his friend; now, what mercy, Feather Frank?’ ‘Well, I expect none at your hands,” was the answer, “‘ A vulture seldom releases ther young goat it catches in ther mountains,” “*Thet’s true. Last night, on this very spot, I saved you from ther clutches of Gila Jose— Steve’s last catch. . For what you've done to- night, you ought ter foller him!’ eather Frank expected to. “All right; it is yer chance!” he said, fear- lessly. ** An’ you won't beg?” “No!” ‘““By Heaven! ye're ther very kid I want! I'm in luck! Git inter thet saddle thar.” ** Black-Hoss Steve's?” iad Yes.” Feather Frank walked toward the Arizonian’s horse, but with his arm still encircled by Silver Belt’s bronze fingers. He halted beside the horse, across whose sad- | dle lay Steve’s embroidered jacket and som- | then lowered his supple | | | brero, and the next moment he was lifted to a seat ppp them by the strength of the Tucson sport. ‘We are goin’ off, boy,” said Silver Belt. ‘*Ther ‘bird in ther rock cage ll not suffer, fer Gila Jose will see ter that. See hyer; do you know ther trail ter Red Chick’s camp?” The boy looked astonished. ** Red Chick, the Apache?” he asked. “ce Yes.” ** Tt’s one hundred miles from here.” ** What ef it’s five?” laughed Silver. ‘‘ Do you know ther way?” “T might find it.” “That’s enough. Off we ar’ now. Oh, I’m worse than ten tigers when I’m stirred up. Ef you’ve never heard ov Silver Belt, ther Bonanza <ing, before, ye’re likely ter Varn him thor- oughly before we dissolve acquaintance, Good- by, Black-Hoss Stephen! Ther Tucson trick took ther red card ter-night—ha! ha! Thar’s one man ther Silken Lasso’ll never catch. Now fer Red Chick’s camp!” The two horses moved off before the echoes of Silver Belt’s words had died away, and Feather Frank found himself riding Black-Horse Steve's famous steed alongside the Tucson sport, and watched by him like a hawk. He had heard a thousand times of Red Chick, the most merciless, villainous and cunning of all the Apache raiders, and now he was going to his rendezvous! : It seemed a horrible dream to the boy, and he asked himself what was taking Silver Belt to Red Chick. CHAPTER XI. BY THE LASSO ROUTE. ‘“‘T FEEL as if I’d been dragged over a cor- | duroy road at ther tail ova Texas steer, an’ if Pve gota hull bone inmy anatomy, I don’t know it. But I’m livin’ yet in spite ov thet infernal | ride at ther eend oy a lasso—livin’ ter get even with Black-Hoss Steve who missed it when he iled ter choke this Arizona wild-cat ter death!” Gila Jose, who spoke thus, stood in his shanty situated near the western terminus of Rock- Dust’s main street, and his dilapidated appear- ance certainly justified the idea that he had been dragged over a rough road at the tail of a Texas steer. The time was about one hour after Black- Horse Steve’s departure from the mining-camp, aud Jose had recovered consciousness on the
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floor of his shanty whither he had been carried _ by his companions, the pards of Rock-Dust. If the Rock-Duster could have heard some of the. expressions made over him, he would have con- eluded that there were but few sympathetic hearts among the silver hills, for he was round- ly cursed for guiding to the place the prince of gamesters, who had coolly fleeced the pards out of their dust. ; He had been left on the rough boards of his cabin to recover at his leisure, or not to recover at all, Rock-Dust cared but little which, and he had disappointed the majority of its inhabitants by regaining consciousness. ‘Wal, it’s not so bad, arter all,” he went on, finding that he could move about though his limbs were sore and his bones ached. ‘‘ Shoot this mountain hollyhock for a sunflower, ef he floesn’t git even with ther ti ger-lily what drag- ‘im inter this paradise! Whar’s Silver Belt? me, ov course! An’ Black-Hoss? Vamosed also. Hev they raced fer ther girl, er did they fight ter ther death hyer in Rock-Dust?” Jose’s questions were answered by peg | Dan, who peeped in at that moment to see how he was getting along, and being seized by the pro- scribed Rock-Duster, he was forced to retail an account of the interrupted duel, and the de- parture of the enemies. “Didn't git ter fight, eh, Noisy?’ exclaimed Jose. ‘*Got parted what I told ther cap’n last night. tim from ther bottom ov—” ; Gila Jose paused abruptly as if he had sud- flenly approached the threshold of a dangerous secret, for he was on the point of revealing the girl’s captivity, and Noisy Dan was the last per- son to whom he conld afford to trust informa- tion of this kind. ‘‘From ther bottom ov what, Gila?” asked Noisy Dan. ‘Oh, no difference. Ain’t I gettin’ out o’ my head# Thet ride war enough ter shake an iron man ter pieces, Say, Noisy, what do they say about me?” ‘“« About yer fetchin’ thet card-sharp ter Rock- Dust?” “cc Yes.” “Thar’s a difference ov opinion,” answered Noisy Dan evasively. ‘‘ But ther majority ’s ag’in’ me, eh? Spit out ther truth, Noisy.” ‘« Thet’s about ther way it looks, Jose.” Gila Jose did not speak for a moment. “‘Mebbe,” he said; ‘‘mebbe, Noisy, a short absence on my part ’d smooth ther rough edges ov opinion, I guess I'll go.” ‘‘Go whar?” asked Noisy Dan. “Out inter ther cold world,” was the dolorous answer. ‘‘ By heavens! when Gila Jose can’t take keer ov himself among ther mountains, ye'll see fleas on ther moon!” Noisy Dan, who was not muchof a consoler especially in the present case, for Silver Belt had stripped him of all his dust, found it an op- portune moment to take his de e, and —e from the shanty, he left Jose once more one. “Got Rock-Dust ag’in’ me, eh?’ suddenly grated Jose, while his eyes gleamed madly. ‘Wal, I'll take my departure without touchin’ off ther powder; but one o’ these times [ll set off ther whole durned magazine ov this silver Eden!” Never, Gila Jose; the boast made shall never be carried out, for the finger of fate has already marked you for doom. In less than ten minutes the hated Rock- ‘Duster had found the horse he usually rode, and armed to the teeth and full of vengeance, he left the camp unnoticed by its denizens who, with the exception of Noisy Dan, thought not of his departure. * a matter of course, Jose rode toward the spot upon which the cavern in the cliff could be reached by a lasso, a stout sample of which dangled from the pommel of his saddle. If Silver Belt had left Rock-Dust he had re- turned to the Chiquito Rose, the beautiful crea- ture for whom he had destroyed Ranch Robin, and Jose was anxious to strike his trail, and to reunite himself with the man he had fetched up from Tucson at command, The myriad stars of midnight were now glit- ing in the summer sky, and Jose, who was thoroughly familiar with the region, had no i in keeping the ascending trail. His unceremonious journey at the end of Black-Horse Steve’s lariat was visible in his bruised face and torn clothes, but these. re- minders only served to keep his anger up. He thought of little beyond the pale of vengeance, and more than once he roundly cursed the Ari- NS eet OSE . a The Silken Lasso. zonian who had pinioned his arms at his side * Gila Jose jolted against the man on firm foet- with the Silken Lasso. A genuine pape awaited Gila Jose when he reached the trail directly above the cavern, for his quick eyes detected certain marks which told him that more than one person had been there since sundown. ‘‘T'm a little late, for Silver Belt has come an’ gone,” he murmured, in a disappointed strain. ‘But Pll go down an’ take a peep inter ther bird cage anyhow.” Depriving his horse of the lariat at the saddle, he went toward the leaning tree for the purpose of securing one end of it. The next instant he recoiled with an ejacula- tion as if his hands had come in contact with a snake. ‘“‘ Jerusalem! what’s this?” he cried. ‘A cut lasso hangin’ ter ther tree, by Jupiter! Who's been hyer? Somebody with a bowie ov course! Black-Horse Steve? Silver Belt! fer thar ar’ silk ribbons to this piece. I feel ’em!” This discovery was indeed a surprise to Gila Jose, and for almost a minute it completely took his breath. He knew the Silken Lasso of the man on horse- back, as Steve had been nicknamed; he had lately felt its Saheers coil, and his painful joints still reminded him of its powers. Jose did not let his wonder abate until he had y thet young kid? Jest | struck a match, and by its light had examined I hed ther | the remains of the most famous and most dread- oungster in my clutches, but he put in an’ kept | ed lariat in Arizona, “Sure enough! it’s Black-Horse Steve's lasso!” he said. ‘‘I begin ter see through the hull thing. Silver Belt got ther start o’ Steve; he came hyer an’ waited with his ten-inch bowie. Stephen came accordin’ ter expecta- tions, an’ tied his lasso hyer ter ther tree. He had found out thet ther Rose ov Ranch Robin war hyer. Somewhar! Who told ‘im? Why; who but Feather Frank, ther kid ov Rock-Dust? Wal, over ther trail thar went Steve with Sil- ver Belt watchin’ all ther time with his knife. All at once knife an’ lasso met; then somebod fell about a thousand feet through starlight. It war Silver Belt’s picnic; it war also good-by Black-Hoss!” Gila Jose ceased as his match went out, and then he began to fasten his own lasso to the tree just above the place where the remains of the Arizonian’s rope encircled it, | He went to the edge of the cliff and dropped his lariat down, then lowered himself cateli ully over the edge and began tne descent. Gila Jose was large and well set, but he knew he had a strong lasso for_support, and he went downward ‘confident. He looked hke some great weight dangling in the starlight twixt | earth and sky, but moving earthward by de- grees, Inch by inch he went down the black lasso. ‘Hyer I am!” he ejaculated as his feet struck a level spot and he swung his body slightlv for- ward. ‘‘I’ve reached ther cage; now we'll see if Silver Belt’s left ther bird in it.” Jose had reached the opening of the girl’s cliff-prison in safety, and had but to swing his body forward to get a good purchase, Bracing his feet against the wall, he swung outward into space, and then came back wit good momentum. But as his feet landed well within the opening, he found a hand at his throat! ‘‘ Thunders!” ejaculated the horrified Rock- Duster. ‘‘ Thet’s no woman's silken grip!” ‘‘ Drop the rope!” cried a stern voice at that moment, and at the same time the fingers of the enemy seemed to become the jaws of a steel vise. ‘‘ By my life, Gila Jose, you’ve got nine lives like a cat!” “ An’ so hev you, Black-Hoss Steve!” cs - siege to you, though. Drop the rope— quic Jose knew that the moment he released the lassc with both hands he would fall back, for all the strength of one man eould not prevent him from tumbling from the cavern. No wonder he hesitated. . “T compromise with no man from this time on!” continued the man, whose hand was at his throat. “‘ Drop the rope, or be shot loose! Take your choice, Gila Jose.” At the same time the click_of a revolver reach- ed the Rock-Duster’s ears. It meant doom. “T guess I'm at ther end ov ther string,” mused Jose. ‘Who thought I war descendin’ inter a trap?” ‘Quick! open yer hands ? This command was savagely obeyed by Gila Jose; he released the lasso with an inward curse, but at the same moment he attempted to throw himself forward. ; It was a bold effort, but a futile one. "9 SE ee a ing, and then felt the terrible grip at his throat relax. Backward he went with a yell of horror at his lips, out into starlit space, and then down, down like a cannon-ball, toward the bottom of the canyon almost a thousand feet below. Gila Jose had found the very man whom he thought crushed on the very rock-bed toward which he was shooting; he had let his curiosity carry him too far, and he bad found the grip of the Arizonian more fatal than the coil of the Silken Lasso. And the victor?’ He turned toward a beauti- ful girl and said with triumph; ‘Fortune has sent us a lasso-route to safety, Rosa. This time it will not be cut!” —— CHAPTER XII. IN APACHE LAND. In the waning light of a summer’s day an ath- letic Indian wale beside a fine looking, though dark-faced white man within the confines of an Apache camp at the foot of a ridge of moun- tains which, to the north, reached the waters of the Colorado Chiquito. ‘My brother came a long distance to find the ranchman,” said the Apache, looking into his companion’s face, —~ “ ““T want to know what you did with him. I don’t want more than one of those three Cali- fornians againstme. Of course I’ve come a long weys atterinformation. I am anxious, as I hev a right ter be.” A look which seemed akin to a smile lurked in the red-skin’s eyes, while the white man spoke. “You went ter Ranch Robin accordin’ ter agreement, Red Chick,” continued the white. ‘“Jose an’ Samson hev told me all about ther swoop. You took Rolfo for yer share, they ther girl. I know whar she is; now, what hev you done with him ?” In an instant a flash of resentment lit up the d: pths of the Apache's eyes. ‘‘Does Silver Belt doubt Red Chick?” he ex- claimed. ‘Couldn’t he wait till the Apache was ready to report?” “T could, but I didn’t,” was the retort, show- ing that even in the Apache camp the Tucson sport had no fear. “I chose ter come hyer, IL am deeply interested in this matter. I might have waited weeks for you. You hev a nice thing ov it hyer. After a raid you kin come in- ter this region an’ laugh at yer victims. A bull regiment ov Arizonians wouldn’t think ov in- vadin’ Apachedom in search of you. But thet isn’t it, Red Chick. You hevn’t told me what disposition you made ov Rolfo ov Ranch Robin.” ** Red Chick will tell his brother; the ranch- mean ong erg f Silver Belt recoiled a step, and stared into the cool, immobile face of the red Centaur. ‘Got away, you say? Rolfo get out ov yer clutches, Red Chick? “I don’t believe it!” The Indian said nothing, but raised his right arm and pointed silently to the south, “Speak! I want words, not signs!” cried the man from Tucson. “Very well. Rolfo has ace toward the land of the warmer winds!” said Red Chick quietly. ** An’ you let him got You ‘did not follow?” exclaimed Silver Belt almost _ beside himself with suppressed jon, “Was that in the bargain, chief? didn’t pay you ter swoop down upon ther ranch, an’ then ter spare thet man. Samson an’ Jose did their part; they caged ther Arizona lark, but you hev failed ter fulfill yer part ov ther agreement.” It was evident that Silver Belt had raised the ire of the gs for no sooner had he finished, than Red ck turned on his heel and deliber- ately walked off. “ Confound the traitor! I could drop him in his tracks!” hissed the Arizonian, allowing his hand to creep toward a revolver in his belt, as he eyed the red savagely. ‘“‘I have netrated Apachedom to find Rolfo of Ranch Robin alive an’ gone away—back ter ther old stampin’- ound! Trust an Injun out o’ sight, an’ get cheated |” Meanwhile, Red Chick the Apache was walk- ing off as complacently as if Silver Belt was a thousand miles away; bis very coolness exasper- ated the Tucson sport. | “Ill know something before I leave this camp,” he went on, seeing that the Indian con- tinued to ignore him. “You ma this ranch, but yer followers aren’t incorruptible. I know an Apache’s weakness as well as you know a ‘em on their weak spots’ before I leave.” good horse, Red Chick, an’ I'l] touch some ov oti
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chad halted like a pack of wolves a *- The Silken Lasso. a ee 11 ———————— > — Silver Belt and Feather Frank had reached the rendezvous of the Apaches a short time be- fore sundown. They had traveled twelve hours at a good gallop, from the spot where the Arizonian cut the Silken Lasso for Black-Horse Steve, and while Silver Belt conversed with Red Chick, the boy was taking care of the two well-blown horses, surrounded and watched by some of the most villainous-looking red-skins, above ground, Eager to know what had been Rolfo’s fate, Silver Belt had entered the lands of the Apaches, He might have feared that Red Chick’s treach- erous nature had played him false, although on previous occasions the Apache had served him well. ‘“‘T know the braves who were with him on that raid,” mused Silver Belt, while he watched the red-skin, ‘Gila Jose told me their names, an’ Ill just rake up a little information while I’m hyer. If Rolfo has escaped, back we go, my young kid. I'll know what kind o’ game Red Chick’s playin’.” : The Apache camp was neither large nor diffi- cult of threading; there were no regular streets, but the lodges, or tepees, were scattered pro- miscuously over the ground, and were easily seen in the waning light. ; From the first moment of their appearance in the Indian camp Silver Belt and Feather Frank were marked individuals—the gamester espe- cially. The under-warriors knew that he had come for the purpose of seeing Red Chick, the head chief, and were not disposed to interrupt the confab; but they cast covetous eyes upon his elegant silver-mounted revolvers, his laced sombrero, and his lithe-limbed horse. He was followed by fifty pairs of eyes as he walked about the camp, and the day had de- parted when he reappeared suddenly to the boy. He was in no good humor, and Feather Frank was unaware of his presence until his fingers en- circled his arm. ‘‘T guess we'll go back,” he snapped madly. “‘The head serpent ov this rattlesnake-nest is an infernal traitor!” “What!” cried the boy. Apache?” ‘No; I trusted_a snake. Come! let us get out o’ this den. By Heaven! I wish I had my revolver at Red Chick’s head just outside the camp. One hundred mountain miles for noth- in’! time lost, an’ ther deuce ter pay in general.” Feather Frank, who stood by the two horses, from which he had not removed his gaze for a moment since entering the camp, turned toward his steed as Silver Belt finished. The group of Indians who had been watching the boy had withdrawn a few steps, where they iven back by the torch of a hunter. ‘‘ What hev them reds been doin’?” whispered Silver Belt with a glance toward the Autos. “ Hev they tried ter plunder ther hossest—hey they threatened?” : : ; “Nothing of the kind, but I don’t like their ooks,” “No? Curse’em! They’re all alike—ther hull litter! I thought thar war honor in Red Chick, if thar war any in a livin’ red; but he’s a ras- “ An’ he betrayed you?” »p¥« Sold me out!” hissed Silver Belt. ‘‘ He took the pledge of a man when he had my gold under his blanket. He let the prisoner go!” * Rolfo?” “Yes, Rolfo; I guess you know now who I mean,” said Silver Belt. *‘ Ther agreement war —wal, no matter what, boy. It'd do yer no ood ter know. Throw yerself on thet hoss. We've not hed a rey rest, but we've got ter git out o’ hyer. I wish could leave a fuse behind an’ blow this whole camp ter Hades!” Feather Frank threw himself into the saddle without a word, and Silver Belt did the same at the same momen The heads of the steeds were turned toward the southern confines of the Indian camp, and the Apaches drew aside to let them pass. The mission to Apachedom had resulted in a manner that enraged the silver prince from Tucson. His enemy, Rolfo of Ranch Robin, had escaped from his power, and was at large. What if he should go South and find Rosa? What if he should unite the pards of Rock- Dust, and all swear vengeance against him? These thoughts filled Silver Belt’s mind as he rode from the dangerous Apache camp; but they* were brought to a sudden ending in the first. pass, for a hand suddenly gripped his bridle, and a voice exclaimed: “Hello! Cap’n! Is it you?” Silver Belt knew the voice in an instant. *¢ Samson!” he cried. ‘Did you trust an CHAPTER XIII. A FRESH TRAIL. FEATHER FRANK leaned forward, somewhat startled by the voice, and looked curiously into the face of the speaker. He saw Samson for the first time, and the iant’s salutation told him that he and Silver | lt were friends. Samson rode a powerful horse whose riding, and Feather Frank felt that some im- wrtant ntission had fetched the bronze giant into the Apache country. The unexpected encounter seemed to take Silver Belt’s breath, but in a moment he ex- claimed: ‘Tn ther name ov Heaven! what fetched you hyer? I left yer in Tucson with a command which you didn’t obey.” There was stern rebuke in the silver sport’s tones, and Samson felt the cut. ‘* Wal, didn’t I try ter?’ he snapped. ‘' What kin a fellar do arter he’s done his best?” “3 You got my message?” “ You war ter keep Black-Horse Steve in Tuc- son! ‘* That’s what it said.” ‘* But he didn’t stay worth a continental!” “So it seems, cap’n. You’ve heard ov ‘im since.” ‘*T should say I have, ay, an’ seen "im, too.” ‘‘ Not face to face?” cried Samson. ‘“* Face ter face.” ‘* An’ nobody got hurt?” ‘* Nobody.” ‘Whar war yer hands?” “At the trigger ov ther best weapon in Ari- zona! Ask thet kid thar rg 4 nobody war hurt,” and Silver Belt threw a hasty glance at Feather Frank. ‘‘ He held ther dead drop on us an’ declared ther duel off. We ar’ pards now, ha, ha! Did Steve give you the slip in Tucson?” “Yes,” said Samson, ashamed to say that he had shot ata man and hit a hotcllamp. ‘He ot clear off before I got ready ter operate. Must hev got wind ov yer goin’ off, [ think.” “Yes; he warn’t far behind Jose an’ me,” growled Silver Belt. ‘‘ Jehu! Samson; if you had been at Rock-Dust when he came we might hev corraled him, You struck our trail whar?” ‘In ther mountains back o’ ther camp—saw it goin’ north, an’ I thought I’d find yer up hyer seein’ how Red Whick carried out his part o’ ther programme,” ‘Like a traitor!” like an Injun!” cried the Tucson sport, his mind flying back to_ the Apache’s treachery. ‘ By thereternal! ef [hed hyer ten men I could name, I'd go back an’ clean out ther red buzzard’s nest.” *‘What! did Rolfo git away?” cried Sam- son, ‘¢ Got off by promisin’ Red Chick a huge ran- som. I could hev blown ther traitor’s brains to ther winds, an’ would hev done it ef I hedn’t been in the heart ov bis camp.” “ Say; let’s go.back.” “No; not to-night,” said Silver Belt, cooling down. ‘ We must strike the trail of the man who got away. He an’ Steve must not meet.” S esate "ae ce ~ rey ; eve I kin strike thet trail,” sudden cacladgeed. ,” he suddenly ** Rolfo’s?” “I think so, On my way hither I heard a hoss neigh; it war dark, an’ I halted an’ listened. Arter awhile I heerd ther gallop ov a critter, no mistake, cap’n, an’ I leaned forward with m ae gi ked. Thet hoss passed ter wind- ward just out o’ pistol-shot, an’ I lost ’im.” ‘Did you mark the spot?” asked Silver Belt erly. ‘*T kin go straight to it.” ‘‘Come, then. We leave this nest ov red traitors behind. Our task is ter catch ther man thet rode thet hoss.” “War it Rolfo?” ‘Tt could be no one else.” “ But what would he be comin’ this way fer, cap’n ?” “This way?” echoed Silver Belt astonished. “Ther hoss I heard war comin’ toward this camp.” ., Jupiter!” Then it might not hev been Rolfo.” he man from Tucson made no reply. The mystery of the horse heard in the night by Sam- son seemed to nonplus him to a considerable degree, and his silence lasted until it was broken by his companion’s voice. ‘* Mebbe it war an Apache,” he said. _“‘& stray one, then, for one ov Red Chick’s right bowers told me not an hour ago that ther hull band war at home,” antings were evidences of hard | “Mebbe ther horseman war Black-Hoss | Steve?” Silver-Belt broke into a laugh. ‘lf a man who falls a thousand feet through starlight is able ter mount a hoss, then ther man | you heard war Steve,” he said to Samson. Wal, we’ve got ter leave this bizness. Rolfo must be found.” “I'm with yer, Silver Belt. I didn't check Black-Horse Steve in Tucson, but you must hev stopped ‘im somewhar.” ‘*T did—at ther bottom ova canyon. Off we ar’, Samson,” and the trio moved up the pass again, Feather Frank looking at Samson keen|y, | and the silver sport puzzled over what the giant } ES ee pyre told him about the horse heard in the night. mson’s ears had not deceived him, for if Silver Belt had crept back into the Indian camp at the foot of the hills, he might have seen a horse enter at the northern confines and carry his rider forward. ‘Tm hyer to find an’ to avenge,” murmured the man in the saddle. ‘‘I’ve gota new lassc, an’ I’ve tied a piece of the old silk to one end, so it is still the silken lariat. If Rolfo lives I will find him; if dead at the hands of the red vul- tures that came down upon Ranch Robin at Silver Belt’s instigation, somebody will push ajar the gates of eternity before mornin’!” A minute later the speaker halted in the shadow of one of the outer tepees, and instantly horse and man became an equestrian group like one done in bronze. Without the semblance | of a sound the man deftly uncoiled the rope that hung from the pommel! of his saddle, and con- tinued to survey the ground about him. If his ears had caught a sound he did not be- | tray it, but he saw the figure of an Indian the moment it advanced across his line of vision. ‘ Mebbe I'll get some news,” mused the horse- man, “I’ve made up my mind to net the first fish that comes along an’ yonder’s my Apache | salmon!” Up went his hand and with it the lasso that described a noiseless circle about his head, and then shot straight toward the Indian who kad halted within reach of the noose. If the hour had been ncon the cast could not have been more successful, for the coil settled over the red- skin’s head, and he was thrown off his feet and. jerked toward the lassoer before he could shriek or defend himself. It was the work of a second, as it were. “Now, we'll see what news you can give a fel- low,” chuckled the man with the lariat as he brought the Indian up standing beside his sad- dle, and held him there by a vise-like grip on his shoulder. ‘‘Open your mouth, reddy,” he went on in a whisper. ‘Don’t yell an’ rouse this buzzard nest. These tepees ar’ not filled just now, eh? No? All right! Whar’s Red Chick?” A flash brightened the mad black orbs of the Apache, and it is probable that he would have given the alarm if the left hand of his captor had not thrust a cocked revolver into his very face. “The white man has caught Red Chick,” he said. ‘“ What! the boss Apache buzzard himself?” cried the lassoer. ‘‘By Jupiter! this is luck unlooked for! You Red Chick, the Apache; the red for whose head twenty towns have of- fered a reward?” “Tt is true. The lasso of the pale-face has las- soed Red Chick, the Apache.” “Then I'll get news direct from head-quarters. What have you done with Rolfo, the owner of Ranch Robin? You pounced upon the ranch a few nights since; the gold of one man an’ the lunder of *he place made up the inducement. on’t shake yer head an’ play the innocent dodge, Red Chick. This isnoplay game. Iam hyer on the sternest kind o’ bizness. Answer me. What have you done with Rolfo?” ‘The white lassoer has come too late.” “Too late, eh?’ And the words seemed to drive the revolver closer to the red temple. “Have you killed him?” “No. Rolfo is far away on a fleet Apache horse. Red Chick an’ bim made a trade; he swore by his God, an’ the Apache by the Great Spirit.” ’ “Then you betrayed Silver Belt? Oh, you’re a treacherous quantity, Injun! For a promi ransom you let Rolfo go, en? Isn’t that about: the heft of it?” The Indian nodded. “‘Rolfo, the ranchero, promised to pay Red Chick two hundred ounces of dust for his free- dom an’ Red Chick let him go.” “You trusted a man whose word will not be broken,” said the lassoer. ‘‘I will stand surety
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ne is far away now?” ‘He rides toward the big city of the whites.” ‘“‘T know! toward Tucson, an’ I know, too, whom he seeks thar,” cried the man in the saddle, ‘‘ Between Rolfo an’ Black-Horse Steve, Silver Belt an’ pards, you'll experience tough ““mes,” Red Chick started at the mention of the Tuc- son sport’s name, . ‘- If Black-Horse Steve had come a little soon- er he might have seen the silver sport,” he said. ‘* Silver Belt?” ‘Yes, Steve.” » ** An’ he has just left the Apache camp?” The Indian nodded. : ‘* Gods! set me on his trail, Red Chick! Tll add.fifty ounces to Rolfo’s ransom, Thar! ye’r’ } not lassoed now, neither does my revolver cover you. Show me the trail of Silver Belt, the planner of all this mischief. You must know which way he went! you do!” The additional fifty ounces opened wide the eyes of the avaricious red-skin; he seemed to jump at the chance afforded. res Red Chick will show Steve the lassoer,” he said, and he started away at a rapid tg fol- lowed by the man who had boldly entered the red lion’s den. Passing beyond the southern limits of the camp, Red Chick came suddenly upon a young Indian whom he engaged for a few moments in whispered conversation, then wheeled sud- ot upon the anxious lassoer. ‘ Strai a Be 7 RAY a: 9 Smet jo aa SO ~~ ht ahead through the s,” he said ta pointing forward, ‘‘ They cannot be far ahead.” he ‘*They?” spoke Black-Horse Steve in amaze- ae ment. J ' pes ‘Silver Belt an’ the white boy,” was the Bt answer, xg ‘* Ah! I see; he spared Feather Frank.” “ An’ a big white man who came up from the south an’ met ’em in the pass,” said the ee young Apache. ' ; ‘‘A big white man? Ah! it must be my old eS ae friend, Samson. nL Spiele at Red Chick!” and away dashed Black-Horse steve. CHAPTER XIV. STEVE AND ROLFO. SomrEHow or other, fate it was, perhaps, Black-Horse Steve lost the trail to which he Aj aa sprung so eagerly by Red Chick’s direction, er Down through the pass he went, through the N wild, rough country that lay beyond, and out into the region of rich grama grass and fine grazing lands that lay south of the red-skin camp. All the time he held one hand on the lasso carried in readiness at his side, and his eepene were kept in tension and always on the alert. At last he lessened the speed of his horse, and let the animal blow among the luxuriant pas- turage. Black-Horse Steve had missed his man, Somewhere, perhaps, along. the trail Silver Belt and his companions had turned off, and the man with the lasso had missed them. Daylight broke and found the persistent hunter riding on, he and his horse the only living objects visible in a vast expanse of country. ‘*So Rolfo is at large!” he exclaimed, speak- ing his thoughts aloud. ‘It must have galled him to swear a ransom to the red devil who burned Ranch Robin an’ murdered Chique, ms the faithful old servant! Dll wager my boots ae that when he has paid his ransom he'll pay Red Chick for his deviltry. An’ I will help him! By heavens! I should have choked the Apache serpent to death last night; but no! Tilleave that duty to Rolfo. Rosa is safe in ‘Rock-Dust. The rough pards will treat_her as she deserves to be treated—like a lady! They're a hard set but they’rehuman. ‘'hey said they’d give me a good horse with which ter hunt Sil- ver Belt an’ they have; but this animal isn’t like my old black.” On, on went Black-Horse Steve acress the rrama valléy,and with his face turned toward ' . Rock-Dust, miles and miles away, Suddenly he started and shaded his eyes with his left hand, “It war no coyote in the grass—no valley jackal,” he said. ‘‘To me it looked like the ead of aman. I saw it but a moment, but— thar! A man by Jupiter!” The object which had attracted the sport’s at- tention appeared among the grass some distance away, and almost straight ahead, and Steve’s keen eyes had made it out to be-a man. “ A white wouldn’t be in this part o’ the ken- try without a hoss!” he went on, watching nar- rowly the spot where he had seen the object sien ie Man ES wy Te ae ETT Oe re cece ek > A = for Rolfo of Ranch Robin if he needs any. He | | The Silken Lasso. He put up his lasso as he finished speaking. and drew and cocked a revolver of the laeam ttern, a weapon placed in his hands by Noisy an just before quitting Rock-Dust. “This’ll put us on an equality, I guess,” he smiled, riding slowly toward the man in the grass. He reached a spot about thirty yards from the stranger, when all at once a man rose among the grama grass and threw up his hands. “ Rolfo!” fell from the horseman’s lips, and then giving his steed the spurs he landed at the man’s side in three seconds. ‘*Stephen!” cried tie fine looking though dark-faced man who grasped the’ Arizonian’s hand in transports of joy. ‘This is luck un- looked for. You have been North?” ** Into Red Chick’s coop. Whar’s yer hoss?” ‘*T have none.” **But you left Apachedom mounted?” “Yes, an’ on a good horse, too. Last night he ran off at the hiss of a snake in the grass, an’ I was on the ground helpless before I could pre- vent, You can’t trust an Apache horse any more than you can one of the red-skins.” “Thet’s gospel, Rolfo,” said Black-Horse Steve. ‘Tha fortune, I have found you. This horse will carry double. Get up an’ we'll break for Rock-Dust.” ** Why Rock-Dust?” ‘* Because Rosa is thar.” An exclamation of happiness burst from Rolfo’s throat. ‘Rosa in good hands? thank heaven!” he cried. ‘‘She was taken from me the night after Red Chick and his infamous pards swooped down upon Ranch Robin and blotted the happy old place from existence. She was taken off by two white thieves painted as Indians.” ‘*Samson and Gila Jose!” ‘You know them, Stephen?” “*T have that distinguished honor,” smiled the lassoer. ‘‘ One of them is in a bad fixat present I fear.” ** How so?” “He tumbled a thousand feet through star- light an’ struck a bed o’ stones.” ‘** Did you do it?” “Yes; I couldn’t help it, Rolfo,” was the an- swer. ‘*He did me a favor; he supplied Rosa and I with a lasso, which meant freedom, an’ I war ungrateful enough ter throw ‘im down ther canyon wall,” Rolfo made no reply, but looked far ahead in a thoughtful manner, all the while closely watch- ed by the handsome man in the saddle. They were moving slowly through the grass, and Rolfo was walking beside the horse. Any observer could have told that these two men were brothers; they had the same physique, the same piercing black eyes, and their voices had the same sound. Rolfo was the oldest, but not the best known. Few men in Arizona knew that they were brothers, and fewer still knew the history of the three brothers—Felix being the third—who had come to the territory from California some twelve years before. ( When Rolfo spoke again it was to give Black- Horse Steve a succinct account of the destruc- tion of Ranch Robin at the hands of Red Chick and his pards. The story was told to the min- utest particulars, and Steve listened without let- ting a word escape. e had heard the same story from Rosa’s lips, but he wanted to hear it from Rolfo’s, “Ah! don’t I know in whose brain the whole infamous scheme was born!” cried Rolfo, show- ing a pairof mad eyes to Black-Horse Steve. ‘I saw his hand in it the moment the cyclone burst over the ranch! And I said to myself: ‘If I live, Silver Belt, I'll_pay you for this!’ I have lived, Stephen, and I will pay the king of vil- lains!” * And pay Red Chick his ransom?” “Yes, and choke the red snake before he counts the money!” ’ “Youre not goin’ ter leave any thing for perl laughed Steve. “TI want ter do some- ing. ‘Tasso Samson. You say the fellow shot at you and hit the lamp before the stal Palace in Tucson? A poor marksman like t be lassoed!” ; The lassoer laughed, but made no reply. Thus for several miles the two brothers went southward through the grass following the slight trail that ran ahead of them like a cattle path, Rolfo trey expressing his joy at Rosa’s safety, and Steve as frequently assuring him that she was in excellent hands. E The sun came up, and passing his meridian station, went down the western sky. It wasa long trail to Rock-Dust, and the brothers were Eee = + SR os | fated to reach it in the night and se Iste thos even the one whisky den of for the night. ‘*Do you want ter see Rosa ter-night?” aske@ Black-Horse Steve. , ‘Yes. She will pardon me for disturbing her, and I cannot wait till morning. Do you know her quarters?” The lassoer had seen Rosa assigned to a cer- tain cabin, but in the dim starlight, he could not pick it out from among the many similar ones that surrounded it, and was for a moment at a loss how to . “Tl try it,” he said. “If I recollect aright, it was the tenth cabin from the southern ter- minus of this street. We'll count ’em an’ see.” This task did not occupy any time to speak of, and Black-Horse Steve rapped on the door of the tenth shanty. : ‘* Thet’s right! wake a fellar up jest when he’s bu’stin’ a bank at dream-keno!” growled a noisy voice as the door was opened and a may and a revolver made their appearance. ‘‘ Wha wants Noisy Dan?” ‘*Black-Horse Steve an’ a man he found at the North.” ‘Jehu! Silver Belt, eh?” ‘Not quite, Noisy Dan.” ** Not Rolfo?” ** Rolfo it is!” Noisy Dan gave utterance to an exclamation calculated to rouse the the soundest sleepers, — bi is across the threshold to seize Rolfo’s and. “You want ter see Rosa, eh? Ov course! Bless ther ep heart! she war talkin’ ov you at sundown. [ll jist rap ’er up; kinder break ther ice, yer know.” Noisy Dan walked to the third cabin from his own shanty and rapped on the closed door, and received no response. “Sound asleep!” he cried. ‘‘Tll try ag’in; mebbe— Hello! ther door’s ajar.” Dan’s discovery seemed to throw a gléam of apprehension into the brother’s eyes. We'll peep in on ther daisy,” he went on, striking a match. A moment later he thrust his head into the cabin with the lucifer blazing above it only to startle the brothers with a cry. ‘* Heavens! ther shanty’s empty!” ‘Rosa gone!” cried Rolfo and Steve bounding into the place. “Look an’ see, gents. thar’s nobody in thar.” **Gone she is,” grated Rolfo starting back to face his astonished brother. ‘* Well, Stephen, ory beat us to Rock-Dust. That’s all thar is of it. ““ Who beat you, gents?” queried Noisy Dan. ‘* Silver Belt an’ Samson.’ ** Jewhizzer! you don’t give me thet game, eh? Then I'll rouse ther natives!” And leaping back into the starlight, the noisy man of Rock- — let slip a yell that opened thirty cabin oors. @ camp haa closes Looks ter me as if CHAPTER XV. SILVER BELT AND HIS PRIZE. “Wuar’s ther matter? Look inter thet empty cabin!” said Noisy Dan to the inquisitive men who rushed from their cabins and half- dressed but well-armed stood before him. “Hang me fer a Celestial! ef thet card-sharp an’ pard hevn’t invaded Rock-Dust while we slept, an’ waltzed off er got off somehow with ther bird. Thet empty cage tells ther bull story. I’m mad enough ter chaw a lasso. Whoopee! I could whip my weight in wildcats!” ‘ The empty state of the cabin lately occupied Rosa was discovered before Noisy Dan con- cluded, and the miners had turned to the two brothers for an explanation, which Rolfo gave in as few words as possible. : “We need no help, gentlemen,” he said calm- ly when he finished. “ It is our an’ We in- tend to follow it to the end.” a “You an’ Black-Horse Steve thar? “ Stephen an’ I.” The pards of Rock-Dust would have put in a remonstrance had they not seen that the brothers t ought to | pards were determined. “We ask two fresh horses, nothing more,” continued the owner of Ranch Robin, y ““Which ye shall hev, gents!” cried twenty men at once and there was an Instant break for the camp corral. It is needless to say that two of the best horses belonging to the camp were speedily placed at the disposal of the two men, nor that the favor was gratefully accepted, ' ‘‘Gome,” said Rolfo to Steve. ‘The silver buzzard bas a good start of us, no doubt, but
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The Silken Lasso. this chase is not to end this side of him. Re- | the death, of Rolfo stand between us and that member that!” ‘ Five minutes later two men strangely alike and | consummation!” Silver Belt, who was gazing into Rosa’s face both splendid riders left the mountain-camp, | as she spoke, burst into a boisterous laugh. and side by side galloped south. Did the two brothers know where to look for Silver Belt and his captive? Had they already struck the trail of the silver sport? Meanwhile, ridin advance of Black- four persons, two men, a boy and a young girl the latter placed between the men and watched by them’ as with the eyes of hawks. The boy southward, but far, far in | orse Steve and Rolfo, were | rode beside the man on the girl’s left, a veritable | giant in strength and physique. Feather Frank, for the pass was the youthful Rock-Duster, could have told a story of daring and cunning lately done by one of the men; how he had entered Rock-Dust where discovery for him meant death, how he had slipped up the darkened street and boldly glided into the cabin that contained the Rose of Ranch Robin; and how he had carried her away, out from under the very noses of the miner 8. He had not seen all this for he had been rded by Samson during its occurrence, but e knew it had happened, for Silver Belt’s return with the amazed girl was proof enough. Not for a moment since his captive by the silver sport had the vigilance of his guardians been relaxed; he had journeyed to the land of the Apache raiders and back, had ridden miles at Silver Belt’s side, and all the time had watched for a chance to break for liberty, but all the time had he been thwarted. And now he was going away from Rock-Dust again, but this time he was near the girl, and he secretly resolved todosomething to baffle Silver Belt and his big pard. *“My chance may come this side mused Feather Frank. Z.% “If it should not, I will watch for it within the town. I am not going to be this villain’s captive for all time. I will show him at the first opportunity, that I am a dangerous pris- oner. e threatens tomake me his major domo in place of the boy who serves him at his house now. Well, let hee try it! Of course Silver Belt, I will jump at the chance of becomin’ your slave. Yes, just try me!” On, on southwa four horses that carried the quartette toward Tucson miles away. of Tucson,” Feather Frank never ceased to watch his, |: chance, but it did not come. He saw the silver- mounted pistols that shone in the belts of the two men and looked in dismay at his own help- less condition. ‘‘ He was afraid to arm me,” said Frank, ey- ing Silver Belt. ‘‘ The coolest headed and most fearless man in Arizona would not trust a boy with a revolver.” Day, breaking at last, found the four riders nearing a stream that wandered lazily through the luxuriant pasture lands before them; they saw the many trees that reached almost to the water's edge, and entered the grove at a slow canter. j The well-blown horses hailed the crystal tide with many expressions of equine delight, and were soon greedily in the middle of the stream. “Do you know whar we ar’, boy?” asked Sam- son, turning suddenly upon Feather Frank. - ‘Tt is Crystal river.” ‘Then, you've traveled this trail afore?” “T have.” ‘‘ What d’ yer say, Rosa? You know this river?’ And Samson looked at the beautiful creature still mounted between him and Silver lt. Ph It flows near Ranch Robin, though far north of this point,” was the answer. “ ood Crystal river well. ilver Belt glanced at Samson and shook his head, which caused the giant to keep back the other questions bubbling to his lips. ‘‘T ask you for the last time to take me back to Rock-Dust,” said Rosa, suddenly turning to the silver sport. ‘ You have struck deepenough now. I see through your plan, and I tell you here, for the last time, Silver Belt, that, though i play a4 sree game do you refer to, an’ who’s playin’ it?’ Rosa smiled cynically and answered with spirit: ‘I do not speak in puzzles. You know, Silver Belt. There can be but one outcome to this game—failure for you! on your hands. I can never be your wife. fate of Ranch Robin and the captivity, if not Crystal river, through the night went the | “We'll let the future take care of that, girl!” | he exclaimed. ** Dare you take me to Tucson, where Rolfo is | well known and where my name has been spoken many times?” “se | ho’s mentioned Tucson?” laughed Silver Belt, ‘A man o’ my oT has more homes than one. Tucson, Rosa? We're not likely to see Tucson this journey.” Feather Frank, who had been watching the girl narrowly, saw her countenance fall as if | hope had been suddenly extinguished. **You will not take me back?” she said, still addressing the silver sport. ‘Not to-day!” with a chuckle. ‘I’ve played many a game afore, my ranch rose, but never one in which the stake was so precious. Rolfo was always myenemy, I hated him from the moment you fell into his hands, and of late years he seemed to know it. Still, I was merciful. I told the Indians not to harm a hair of his head—” ** But you knew the infamy of Red Chick!” in- terrupted the girl, her eyes flashing. Silver Belt’s brow darkened; yes, he had dis- covered the Apache’s infamy; he had released Rolfo for a ransom, but the girl knew it not, ““Rolfo may not be alive to pay you for all this pretended mercy; but there is another,” Rosa went on. ‘* Black-Hoss eh? All I Steve, right! | thought I had finished him when I cut the black lasso that lowered him over the cliff, but fortune helped the lasso sport an’ his hands caught on the threshold of the cave as he went downward, It was one chance in a thousand, an’ Black-Horse Steve got it. No; my daisy; Silver Belt is not afraid of the Mounted Mys- tery, as some call this man. When I have taken you to a place of safety, I will hunt him. Turn about is fair play, eh?” “Tt is somal so in Arizona; but it re- mains to be seen who hunts last,” was the an- swer. “Don’t I owe thet lasso sport one, too?” ejaculated Samson. ‘ By Jupiter! I feel his lasso at my throat whenever I think of him, Ther next time I shoot, I'll not break a hotel lamp!” By this time the horses had quenched their thirst, ahd were urged toward the southern bank of the stream, a bank which was rather precipitous and somewhat difficult of ascent. As the steeds toiled bravely up toward the level land above Feather Frank’s horse was sud- this game through, you cannot win | ** What do you mean, girl?” asked Silver Belt. | and the next minute three persons instea denly jostled against Samson’s and the limbs of the twain tonchal . Then, for the first portunity and seized All at once his hand shot toward one of the exposed revolvers in the gins belt, and in a aond he 3 it pn bent. es ive up thet pper, boy!” roared Samson wheeling upon the be <n, Rock-Duster who had reined in his horse so as to fall a yard behind. “You can’t play a drop game hyer!” ccnat Can't, Ap amson? was the quick retort. Throw up your hands, gents, both of you, an od Rosa turn her horse an’ ride back to me, a eer a bullet whistling through your It looked for a moment as though the boy’s sudden action would result in success, but he had two desperadoes at mistaken his ability to cover once. Samson und his teeth and let slip a bi Ose een Rata Nu etir bapes uick as a thought, a revolver | thine his belt and went off Me ha it ri Baga itrg raised, and before Rosa’s hand could be inter- aot the boy saw his op- “That's what he gets for playin’ a bold hand!” said the silver sport as Feather Frank threw up his hands and fell backward from the horse without a cry! a saw Rabiaon reach for his revolver for a shot at the boy rolling down the bank. «owt you dare!” she cried clutching his arm. Shoot that boy, an’ I’ll call you to account!” The giant hesitated and put up his weapon, of four rode on, CHAPTER XVI. SAMSON HALTS THE WRONG MAN. ‘* THIS is not one of the misses that is as good You play it with blood | as a mile,” said the youth, who got upon his The j feet with difficulty hear the clear Bin we of toward which he staggered with 13 blood streaming down his face. ‘‘I owe you & deadly one for this, Silver Belt, if I ever re- cover. You took a snap shot an’ hit me, but a not dead, though winged for a time, per- aps. t was an hour after the shot that tumbled Feather Frank from Black-Horse Steve's steed, and it is safe to say that Silver Belt, Samson and Rosa were far from the spot. Frank had fallen almost into the water, bul- ark a gee and bleeding, and not until he had bathed his hurt with the clear fluid, did he know the extent of his injury. Then he saw that he had had a very narrow escape from death, thanks to the hastiness of Silver Belt’s snap shot, for the ball had plowed through the flesh that clothed one of his temples, and had tumbled him senseless from the horse. Having washed the wound, he clambered to the top of the bank, and gazed southward with much eagerness. But not a glimpse could he catch of the Tucson sport amd his big pard; they had vanished from sight, and were doubt- less riding fast toward the new abode of which Silver Belt had hinted to the girl. Afoot and weak, in the ba river region, which he knew was far from Rock-Dust, Feather Frank was on the verge of despair. The black horse belonging to the lassoer had probably fol- lowed Silver Belt away, as he was not to be seen—a misfortune which the boy greatly re- tted. “What's to the north for me?” asked Frank turning about and looking across the river and far beyond. ‘‘ What’s that I see? Two horse- men, by heaven! An’ they are ridin’ straight toward me too!” Beyond the trees which dotted the opposite bank of the stream the overjoyed boy could see the two objects which swung along over the grass,and which came forward in a manner that proclaimed them swift steeds. If the river had not been before him, he would have hasten- ed forward to meet the riders who sat in the saddles, but he was obliged to stand on the bank and wait for them with bated breath. Nearer and nearer they came and the moment: they broke through the timber, Feather Frank took off his cap and sent up a loud cry. “Steve, I know,” he said. ‘‘ An” the other must be Rolfo.” The horses that dashed into Crystal river car- ried their riders across and up the bank to the boy who waited for them with undisguised eagerness. Frank sprung between the men and looked at Black-Horse Steve. “ Left you winged behind, eh?” cried the lasso rs ““They will beat us to Tucson, but we'll d ’em thar, Rolfo!” “‘ Anywhar,” was the reply. ticular, so we find ’em!” ‘**Not to Tucson,” exclaimed Frank; ‘‘ Silver Belt told Rosa she was not tosee that town. He said he has more homes than one.” ‘‘More than one?” echoed Steve, glancing at his brother. ‘“ What do you know about this?” “He owns a ranch just over the line; he has owned it for years, though it ostensibly belongs to the man who inhabits it.” * He is thar!” said the lassoer, confidently. The horses that were sadly blown, for they had been with unwearied zeal from Rock- Dust by the two brothers, had to be rested, and it was decided to rest them on the bank of Crys- tal river. * Look yonder!” suddenly exclaimed Feather Frank. ‘“Isn’t that a horse comin’ toward us through the grass?” Black-Horse Steve fixed his eyes on the object pointed out by the boy, and exclaimed: ‘*A hoss! An’ he canterslike my black! Ah} if he be the old pard, this hunt i soon be on ag’in!” ‘ For five minutes the solitary horse was eager- ly watched by the trio, and as he suddenly swerved to the right just beyond hearing dis- tance, Black-Horse Steve leaped to saddle, ‘and uncoiling a lasso, started in pursuit. Rolfo and Feather Frank watched him with unflagging interest, and both uttered an ex- clamation of delight when they saw the lone and riderless horse respond to the lassoer’s shout and approach him. Sable-Horse Steve came beck to the little camp waving his hat above his head, and shout- ing his enthuiasm. “This is pot luck!” he said, halting before Rolfo and the boy. _ ‘+ Tt’s now a boss apiece an’ I kin guide the best piece o’ hoss-flesh in Arizona. I go at once; you two kin follow when yer animals bev rest- Rolfo started, “You follow alone?” he cried. “‘T'm not par-
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14 ** Alone! I kin see the trailin thegrass. It’s ‘* Mebbe Samson isn’t outside,” he was saying, a road ter Black-Hoss Steve, Rolfo.” ‘*But remember Ranch Robin ” ** Remember Felix!” grated Steve, once more on the back of his famous black horse, fresh, and apparently eager to carry him away. “We'll not be far behind you,” said Rolfo, who saw that his brother could not be restrained. *“T strike for Ranch Robin an’ Felix, you for Felix alone.” ‘* But my blow will smite as hard as yours!” and then with a shout the lasso sport gave the black horse the spur and left Rolfo and Frank on the river-bank. Steve seemed to disappear like a shaft shot from a Pawnee bow; Rolfo and the boy watch- ed him out of sight, and then turned to their still fatigued steeds. They saw that while the horses might be urged forward they were yet in no condition to make good headway, for the ride from Rock-Dust had almost exhausted their wers. If they could have followed Black-Horse Steve with their eyes, they would have seen how faith- fully he hung to the trail that ran southward for a few miles, and then struck off suddenly to the left. *‘Rolfo is right!” the lassoer said. “ Silver a heads for the secret ranch across the bor- er.” ‘* Across the border,” meant within the con- fines of New Mexico, a region with which Black- Horse Steve was thoroughly familiar, though he had not known that Silver Belt owned a big ranch there. More than once he looked back with a satis- fied smile; Rolfo and the boy were not in sight, and his aorse was still eager and fresh. He had hunted before astride the magnificent black steed, had followed raiding Indians and white offenders over miles of plains and pasture-lands, and he knew the endurance of the animal. The sun went down on the lassoer pressing steadily down the trail that led toward the bor- ger; its last rays saw Black-Horse Steve still unfatigued in the saddle, with the brim of his sombrero blown back and fire in his eyes. Far, far behind him two trailers were pressing forward—Rolfo and Feather Frank. All at once, just after Steve had entered the last mountain-pass that intervened between him and New Mexican soila savage ‘‘ Halt!” reached his ears, and there loomed between him and the faintly-lighted sky ahead the figure of a giant on horseback. ‘*Throw up yer hands, Black-Hoss!” followed the ceapendind, ‘This time thar’s no hotel lamp fer me ter smash. This ain’t Tucson, but Freeze- out Mountain, an’ I’m ther quintessence ov Tar- tarus!” Steve knew both the voice and the figure. No- body who ever saw Samson could forget him. He had taken the lassoer by surprise; he had fallen behind at Silver Belt’s command, prob- ably to guard the lost pass. ; ‘ The Arizonian had a brief time in which to act. He saw the revolver gripped in the big hand of Silver Belt’s giant pard. ‘* What's yer choice—hands up, er death?” de- manded Samson, mercilessly. The answer came in an unexpected manner. ‘The black horse shot forward with the vehe- mmence of a stone thrown from a catapult, and ‘the lassoer had dropped forward out of sight! All this in the space of a flash! ‘* Jehu!” cried Samson. The two horses did not meet but grazed in the pass, and the coil of a black lasso was forced over Samson’s head as Steve’s steed shot by. The big pard was jerked from the saddle with a half-smothered cry as the rope shut off his breath, and the oa ahs moment he went down the pass at the lasso’s end and behind the black steed’s heels! ; : ‘No, Samson, this isn’t breaking hotel lamps smiled the man who looked down from _ his - die at the end of the past, “If you had it ter do over, you'd halt Black-Hoss, with a leaden com- mand, eh?” : The coup of the lasso had proved terribly suc- cessful, and when Black-Horse Steve rode on, the giant lying across the trail behind had a broken neck! It was another blow for Felix! CHAPTER XVII. FOR FELIX. *‘ Gap’n thar’s a horseman before the house.” ‘¢ What's he like?” “‘ He’s a big, fine-lookin’ pe Ric ‘¢ Dark-faced, with long hair?” ** No.” The man addressed as ‘‘Cap’n” sprung from the cot where he lay and started toward the door. ” when, crash! the door was flung wide and the man just announced leaped into the room, s Jehu! Black-Horse Steve!” cried Silver elt. ** Yes, or Felix’s brother—just as you wish ter style me,” was the answer. ‘‘I am hyer, cap- tain, on the best hoss in Arizona, an’ with a las- so that has silk ribbons at one end. Stand over in yon corner, sir!” to the man who was an- nouncing his arrival to the silver sport when he burst into the room, and the command was tremblingly obeyed. ‘This isn’t Rock-Dust, Silver Belt. The boy isn’t hyer ter interfere. What's yer choice o’. weapons on yer own ground?’ Steve had taken Silver Belt completely b surprise. He had come when least expected, had ridden up to the house in the first flushes of morning, and with the faudacity of Satan him- self, had forced his way into the very presence of the Tucson terror. There was something more than startling in these two famous men standing face to face in the little room of the hacienda building, both splendid specimens of wild manhood, and the coolest and bitterest of foes. “I’m hyer principally because Felix died at your command, Silver Belt!” continued Steve. *The man somewhar behind me, an’ pushin’ this way, wants ter strike for Ranch Robin. Samson won’t help yer, cap’n. I choked thet fool to death back in ther path whar ye station- ed’im! It war ther print o’ his knee I saw in ther ground beside Felix’s cot; that, an’ ther ones bottle with ther mutilated label, gave me aclew. You hed ter kill Felix because he war Rolfo’s brother; but you spared ther worst 0’ ther three brother-pards! Now, cap’n; what’s yer weapon?” ie sig Belt was unarmed, but his eyes gleamed madly. ‘ The weapons we did not get to use at Rock- Dust!” he said. ‘““You need fear no interference hyer, Black- Horse Steve. The man in yon corner is the only guardian ov ther ranch just now.” ‘* All right! Get yer weapon, cap’n.” Silver Belt turned half-way around and laid his hand on a silver-mounted revolver. ‘“No! I won’t fight hyer,” he suddenly cried. “*T don’t fight on Silver Dew Ranch.” ‘* Whar, then?” ‘‘ Tn my house in Tucson,” A smile appeared at the corners of the lasso- er’s mouth. e saw through the whole game. It was a long distance to Tucson, and Silver Belt wanted chances, “T fight hyer!” he said. “ But I don’t,” said the silver sport, coolly. “Tt takes two ter fight a duel.” ‘““But only one ter kill,” was the answer. ‘What do yer call ther man in ther corner?” ‘“Pepo.” ‘¢ Then let Pepo count five, or ten just as you ” ‘“No! LI fight only in Tucson.” ‘* Felix didn’t get a chance ter fight at all,” came madly over the lassoer’s lips, and up went his revolver covering the tall figure of the silver sport. ‘‘ Whar shall it be, cap’n—hyer or in ucson?” “ In Tucson,” The response was a loud report, and the man in the corner almost bounded to the ceiling as he who had tried the man of the Black Horse too far, fell at the foot of the wall! “‘T fight whar I find my man,” the lassoer said, coolly. ‘An’ when_I find the man who compas Felix’s death I don’t care whar_ he falls. Now, Pepo, you will show me the girl.” There was enough of the sternness which had killed Silver Belt in Steve’s eyes to make Pepo, the yellow attache of the ranch, leave his corner with alacrity. ; ‘* This way, senor,” he said, and the two men passed out of the room together. The sun had not gilded the tree-tops about Silver Dew Ranch, when Black-Horse Steve rode off. At his side, and well mounted, also rode a beautiful young gil, to whom he was telling an interesting and exciting “ogi f The end of the trail had been reached; the death of Felix and the swoop of the human vultures upon Ranch Robin avenged, with the exception © one blow, to be inflicted yet by Rolfo, and Rosa had a right to rejoice. ; Long before the sun reached the zenith that day the girl was clasped to the breast of a man who met her in the midst of a plain, and Steve said with a smile: “T have settled with Gila Jose, Samson, an’ ther chief Satan ov all—Si!ver Belt. Now pay TC | IN rts: BH ca ih Red Chick yer ransom, an’ add some Arizona in- terest.” Rolfo laughed as he said: “It shall be paid!” Just two months later, to the day, Red Chick, the treacherous red, met Rolfo with the two hundred ounces of dust within a few miles of his own camp. The Apache knew the rancher; he knew too that the ransom would be paid; and it was, ‘*Thar’s yer golden ounces fer my ransom,” said the Arizonian. ‘*‘ Now, you pay me fer yer work at Ranch Robin.” The Indian showed his amazement in bis look. ‘““Two hundred Jashes on yer bare back, Red Chick; a stroke fer an ounce—fair play, yer know!” In an instant the hand of Rolfo was at Red Chick’s throat, and when he was half-choked into insensibility, he was lashed to a handy tree, and the man who sat in the saddle near at hand laid on two hundred lashes with a cutting lasso. It was a terrible whipping, but it. gave the man of Ranch Robin satisfaction. “That squar’s us, Red Chick,” he said as he rode off. ‘Now, keep yer distance from ther new hacienda!” And the Apache did. A new ranch soon arose over the ruins of the old one, and the first big occasion that graced it vas a wedding, at which Rolfo gave his ward away toa certain late young citizen of Rock- Dust, and the first person to congratulate the outh was the handsomest, and, at the time, the sstknown man in Arizona—Black-Horse Steve. There was no m rstery now, for all knew that he was Rolfo and Felix’s brother. THE END. Half-Dime Singer's Library 1 Wnoa, Erma! and 59 other Songs. 2 Caprain Curr and 57 other Songs. 8 Tue Gartnszpory’ Hat and 62 other Songs. 4 Jounny Morcan and 60 other Songs. 5 I’uu Strike You WITH A Fratuer and 62 othera, 6 GEoRGE THE CHARMER and 56 other Songs. 7 Toe Bette or Rockaway and 52 other Songs. 8 Younc Fevuan, You’RE Too Fres# and 60 others 9 Sny Youne Girt and 65 other Songs, 10 I’m THE GoverNoR’s ONLY Son and 58 other Songs. 11 My Faw and 65 other Songs. 12 Comin’ Toro’ Tur Rye and 55,other Songs. 13 Tue Roiiickine InisuMan and 59 other Songs. 14 OLD Doe Tray and 62 other Songs. 15 Wuoa, Cuarue and 59 other Songs, 16 In TH1s WaHeat By anv By and 62 other Songs. 17 Nancy Lee and 58 other Songs. 18 I'm THE Boy THAT’S SouND TO BLaze and 57 others, 19 Toe Two OrpHans and 59 other Songs. 20 WyaT ARE THE Witp Waves Sayin, SISTER? and 59 other Songs. 2] INDIGNANT PoLLy Woe and 59 other Songs. 22 luge OLtp ArM-CHarr and 58 other Songs. 28 On Coney IsLanp Beaca and 58 other Sc \gs, 24 OLp Simon, THE Hot-Corn Man and 60 others. 25 I’m In Love and 56 other Songs. 26 PARADE oF THE Gvarps and 56 other Songs. 27 Yo, Heave, Ho! and 60 other Songs, 28 ‘Twin Never po To Grn It ur So and 60 others. 29 Buvr Bonnets OVER THE Rorper and 54 others, 80 Tue Merry LAUGHING MAN and 56 other Songs. 81 Sweer Forart-ME-NoT and 55 other Sc. 82 LeeTrLeE Bapy MINk and 53 other Songs. 38 Dz Banao AM DE INSTRUMENT FoR Me and 53 others, 34 Tarry and 50 other Songs, 85 Just TO PLEASE THE Boys and 52 other Songs, 36 SKATING ON ONE IN THE GuTTeR and 52 others, 37 Kotorep Kranks and 59 other Songs. 38 Nit DESPERANDUM and 53 other Songs. 39 Tue Girt I Lerr Benny ME and 50 other Songs 40 °T1s Bur 4 Litre FADED FLOWER and 50 others 41 Prerry Warnueimrna and 60 other Songs, 42 DANCING IN THE BARN and 63 other Songs, 43 H. M.S, Prvaror®, COMPLETE, and 17 other Songs Sold everywhere by Newsdealers, at five cents per copy, or sent post-paid, to any address, on re- ceipt of Six cents per number, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Pvus.isners, 98 WituiaM Srrezt, New Yorx,
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id-Glo gps Kia G06 The Meng OS. Gath if 605 Powell's Paras or, The One-Armed Giant = ee _ 2 - BEADLE'S* H ALF- DIMEe LIBRARY. “Prblashet Boory Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. ~ as — SY PHILIP 8. WAKNE. @¥ Patent-Leather Joes «, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. ate Gapenin Arizona or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game. 198 Captain Mask 5 or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat. 219 Gesapard, the Duelists or, The Mountain Vompires. BA8 A Tough Boy 3 or, The Dwart’s Revenge. 868 Little Tornado or, The Outcasts of the Glen. BIB Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. yr ee Cheesy of Cong in = Own rng Aittle Shoo-F ly 3 or, A Race for a A 408 Littie Leather-Breeches 3 or, Old Jambo’s Cores, 481 Little Ab Sin; or, The Curse of Blood. 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the alines. 480 Three Jolly Parda, 617 Jim Gladden’s Pepniys S27 The Jolly Pards to the Rescue, BY OAPTAIN FRED. WOITTAKER. 15 Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 Dumb Pa med The Doge’s Daughter. 48 Darling, he ony Express Rider. 150 Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chace. 54 Sword Hunters} or, The Land of the Eh Riders, 159 The Lest Laptains or, Skipper Jabes Coffin’s to the nm rvlar Sea. 200 The Boy Bedoultnsy} or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance, 211 W olfgaiie, the Robber of the Rhine, gay pile ‘Romer, the Animal King; or, The Round the World ancderer. 266 The Tiger Tamer 4 or, The League of the Jungle. 881 Biack Nick, the Demon Rider. 89% California Joe’s War Trail. | BY BUOKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 6, Hall.) 284 Old Rocky’e “ Boyees 4” or, Benito, the Young Horse Breaker. 246 Giant George} or, The Ang’l of the Range. 275 Arizona Juck ¢ or, Giant George's Pard. 297 The Tarantula of Taos; or, Giant George’s Revenge. BO Strange Pard ; or, Little Ben’s Death Bunt. 81 ta ay 3 Ker-whoo? or, The Tarantula of Taos, B2T Creeping Cat, the Cadde; or, The Red and White Pards. Frio Fred or, The Tonkaway’s Trust. $414 The Fighting Trios or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. 4 olf or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front, 857 The Ranch Raiders; or, The Siege of Fort Purgatory. 864 Snap-Shot, the Boy Ranger. 875 Chiota, the Creek 5 or, The Three Hp oe omeo an e mg or, The Beleaguored 404 Little Lariat? or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 42¢ The Three Trafleret or Old Rocky on the Rampage e ree Trailers; or, on 442 Bluff Bills or, The Lynx of the Head 455 Little Lone Stary or, The Belle of the Citote. BY EDWARD WILLETT. ESE fe Aote Oet ano eSetiege ‘eatherwe! te the Boy Champion e 228 Ozark Alf Sy Featherweight Reese the Outlaws. 282 The Typo Petectives or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. 295 Feurless Phil; or, The King of Quartzville. 811 The Roying Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckalnek 822 Nemo, the tive; or, Kit Kenyon'’s Vendetta. 840 Clip, the Contortionists or, The Montana Vigilantes. BY J. ©. COWPRICK, hppa a Shasta, the Go ng or, 420 The Detective’s Apprentice aah Without a Name. 424 Cibuta Johns or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout, 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo, 606 Redlight Ralph, the Prince of the Road, pty 3 Broadwa a - Recile e Engineer Detectives roadway Billy’s ‘ Diftikilty.” BY Jo PIERCE. B9T Rob o? the Row The Prinoe of Pitt The Vagabond Dalastives cr, Bowery 2 otepur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 460 The wyer’s Shadow } or, Luke’s Leguey. 472 Jounty Poer,the Young Horse-King. 504 Five Pointa Phil.” y ne 509 Jack Ja, re, the Butcher Boy Detective. 516 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Phil's Menagerie. Be North ar Gave is Fer Dent Xy the Pri 641 Jeff Flicker, the Stable Me hecaen Veh rreet, BY OAPT. MARK WILTeR. gs¢ Young Kentuckt or, The Red Lasso, 0 BU rd or, The Ri B56 Josh the Boy Tenderfoot ©*%? Came BY CAPTAIN MAYNE Rep 8 Bi The Yellow ChieM™ S? Thetek trates et, Phe legal of Devil's tetend. 487 The Helpless Hand} or, Backwouds Retribution, -seeker Guide or, The Lost Mountala, BY MAJOR MENRY B. STODDARD, Ex.aceus, B06 Bepter eavhts or, The Dng-Out Pardes, ve aT hnel ; or, The Swordsmen of +4! iS Kite the Dandy of the Teckiog wmeeae, it and Pard; or, The Gold Man-Hunter; or, The Mystery of Gotten BY BRACEBRIDGE HEMYN@. nd Jim; or, ork, ——EESGEESA Gti ane BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, BY W. J. HAMILTON, 41 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortanes ofa Bowery Girl. 68 The Red Brotherhoods or, The Twelve Avengem, 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer, 7% Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 268 Joe Buek of Angela and His Boy Pard. 7 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham. 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Poundling. 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 498 Taos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colerado, the Hall-Breed Detective, 615 Cool Colorado in New York. RY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE. 86 Dandy Rocks the Man from Texna, 90 The Drend Hider or, The Texan Duelist. 99 The Tiger of Tuos; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel 115 The Mad Miner: or, Dandy Rock’s Doom, 181 The Golden Hand; or, Dandy Rock to the Reseus, 164 Dandy Rock’s Pledgey or, Hunted to Death, 178 Dandy Rock’s Rivals or, The |\aunted Maid of Tass, BY CAPT, J. F. 0. ADAMS, 84 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffies’s Boy Spy. 46 Glasa-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 54 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. 56 Nick Whitfies’s Pet or, Ir The Valley of Death. 60 The White Indian; or, The Scout of the Yellowstoma, TO Old Zip’s Cabinyg or, The Greenhorn in the Woods, 81 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Buckram} or, Bess, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and iis Peta; or, The Wild Hontress. - 251 Light-house Lige; or, Osceola, the Firebrand. 257 The Lost Hunters; or, The Underground Camp, 288 The Scalp King or, The Human Thundervolt, BY ROGER STARBUCK. 25 The Roy Captains or, The Pirate’s Danghter. 114 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Junk, the Old Tar. 259 The Golden Harpoon? or, Lost Among the Flees, BGd Ble Horm Ter the Hill Tracey a, Te Oa) Pests, 2 Horn Ike, the ramp} or, 861 The Phantom Light-hourse. >” 870 Breaker Ben, the Reef-Runner, BY WILLIAM R. EYSTER, 190 Pandy Darke or. The Ticers of High Pine, 210 Faro Franky} or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Panda. BY COLONEL DELLE SARA. 108 ul f 8 *, The Vailed Lady. 186 Fite psec . on The ‘Gambler's Big Game. BY HARRY 8T. GEORGE. 80 Roaring Ealph K he Ranger. 44 oir ane Rube: sone wievibewks of Ki Kentucky. 59 Old Hickory 3 or, Pandy Ellis’s Scalp. 108 Daring Davy + or, The Trait of the Border Wolf. 166 Hickory Warry ¢ or, The Trapper-Brigade’s Spy. 172 Thunderbolt Tom, or, the olf-Horder. BY JAMES L. BOWEN 107 One-Eyed Sim? vr, The Abandoned t ome. 110 The Black poly HF Prairies. "A Story of Tease. BY ©. DUNNING CLARK. 185 Captain Paul; or, The Boy § f the Mountaina. 280 The Yankee Ikajah; or, The ‘ of the Black Shevee!. BY GEORGE 0. JENKS. 485 Git Thar Owney, the Unknown, 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 618 The Demon Doctor. BY OAPT. ALFRED B, TAYLOR, U. 8, & 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Ballwhacker; o, The Doomed nm. 194 Buffalo BIll’s Bets or, The Gambler Guide, BY CHARLES E. LASALLE. | §@ Bart Bunker, the Trapper. 62 The White Buffalo. A Tale of the Northwest, BY JOHN J. MARSHALL. a Roving Ben, A Story of a Young American, . ee eee ia chinere 4 on, The Captive ths Benpes 4ap BY WM. G PATTEN, The Diamond Sports or, The Double Face of Bed Rock. 519 Captain Mys: five in One, a Seterbacasgacies BY MAJOR E. L. 8T. VRAIN, 898 Sancho Pedre, the Boy Bandit. le 801 Leadville Nicky the rte 812 Redtop Tuba: the Viginoes Prince. rimatone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quertette, 852 Tombstone T: Sand. ‘om, the Arizona Boy of “ ” 859 Duranre ave, th. Vo ung Chan , n Wrestler, 8T1 Kingbolt Chris, the Y Hard-Shell Detective, B80 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills ‘Guide. “guar Joe, of the Mountain BY EDWARD 8, ELLIS, 6 Bill Bilddon, Tra 8 oe Jones; or, Phe eutives éfthe 21 The Frontier ¥ fen og of the Sioux Captive, ed itupter or, The Strum Tsland. BY MAJOR LEW?e w, o ARSON. The Th Tra 4 S58 Ladin Foes on The Whise bot wruntn Moceter, 66 Single Hand, or, A Life for a Life. 72 Mad Tom Western, the Texan Ranger, 887 Bem Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Scoop BY JACK FARRAGUT. 818 Ned, the Cabin Boy. GOO The Sea Sorceress; of, The Boy Shipp. BY FRANK DUMONT. 880 The Branded Hand ot, The Man of Mysithy. 127 Wild-Fire, the Boss of the Rosa. 140 Blue Blazes; or, The Break o& Day Boys of Rosky On, 871 Ebony Dany} or, The Rivai Leagues. 185 Evil Eve, or, The Valtares of the Rio Granda, BY LIEUT. H. D. PERRY, U. 8. B. 276 The Boy Runaway 3 or, The Buecaneer of the Bay 180 The Sea Traller; or, A Vow Well Kept. 29% Captain Kits or, The Mystery of Montenk Potat. BY HARRY HAZARD. 888 Arkansaw Jack; or, The Scourge of the Mines, 829 Red-Skin Tomy or, The Demon’s Trail. 642 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw, BY COL. A. F. HOLT. 899 Black Buckskin; or, The Masked Mon of Deata Oangen, 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King. 485 Little Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods. BY J. W. OSBON, 4698 The Rival Giants of Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burt, the Man from Hard Leek, OST @l4 Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. BY FREDERICK DEWEY. 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifte-Shows. 478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective, 649 The Canyon Pards, MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORE, a-H 4 a Fee Whe Recee Munters, By Capt. Mayne Golf ané ® Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 38 Gulliver’s Travels, By Dean Swift. 34 Aladdin: or, The Wonderful Lamp, 16 Robinson Orusve, (2 Hlustrations,) 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages. z2 Toe Seo Serpents or, The Boy Robinsoe Oresse, By Jean 83 Bloodhou ‘The ootaay agg mma or, The Red (iretes ob ine 86 Fin Ber Clowns or, The Queen of the Aresa. By iicnk 88 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. ! 51 The Boy Ritiens or, The Cndergrennd Camp. By Archie 95 The Rival Roverss or, ibe Preebooters of the Missiesippi. By Lieut Col. Haseltius, 98 Robin Hood, the Uutlawed Earl; or, The Merry weed. By Prot, Gtiderslesta, ayes 205 Old Rube. the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive, By Captais Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Hunters or, The Cave of Death. By Barton Saxe, 124 Tippy, the Texans or, The Young Champtoa. By George 128 The Young }rivatecrs or, The Pirate's Stronghold, By ish, Harry Caven 8 ‘ 148 Sharp Sam} or, The Adventares of a Priendless Boy. By 4. S27 Dusky D Pea Pasryih Dramas: Te Som Renew ot 8 261 Fergus Fearnaught, the Now York Boy. By George I. en. 266 Kir , the Guid Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trail By Ene awa." 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; By Captain Comstock. or, The Maid ef the CHM, k Pete, the Live} Lend) We. Liew ett Seeetiiic ow int Ses Sane 828 The Sky Ke*ecti Boy’s Fight By Maior Mickey Foon? m4 i Life ond Hone. © Red Ralph, th The 35 ay By Ned ne, River Revers ot, Beocther’s The 865 Baltimore Ben, the Bootblack Detective, ®¥ A. » Morg, ez4 Gold-Dust Tom; or, Ben’s Double Match. By George & 876 Californian Joe's First Trall. By Colones Thomar Hoyer Monstery. 418 Billy Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By F, &, Wwtboan 440 Little Foxfoot, the Geld Bowle Kid. By Arther ©, @atuestie 475 The Black Ship. By John 8. Warner, 484 Comanche Dick and His Three Invineibles 57 Henry J. Thomas. 528 Wizard-Arm, the Dandy Sport. By Arthur F. Hoth 682 The Cowboy Duke. By Eawtn Brooke Fozrest. | A New Issue Every Tuesdays ‘ The Half-Dime Library is tor sale py all cewedenkens, Ove cents per copy, oF sent by mat! on receipt of six conte each. d BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New Yaa.
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¢ BEADLE’S*H ALF-DIME* LIBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Isswe Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. BY EDWARD L, WITEELER. Deadwood Dick Novels. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick's Defiance, 28 Butfalo Ben; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise, 65S Witla lvan, the Boy Claude Duval. 42 Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza, 4Y Omaha OID; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger. & Deadwood Dick's Eagles; or, The Parda of Flood Bar. 78 Dendwood Dick on Deck; or. Calamity Jane, the Heroine. @@ Corduroy Chartte 5 or, Deadwood Dick's Last Act, 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. 104 Deudwood Dick'« Device; or, The Double Cross Sign. 109 Deadwood Dick as Detective. 129 Bond wend Dick's Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s gulch. 188 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base. 149 A Game of Golds or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike, 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwoods or, The Picked Party. 195 Dendwood Bick’s Dream; or, The Riv.ls of the Road. 201 The Black Hills Jezebel; or, Dexdwood Dck’s Ward. 205 Deadwood Dick's Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Ad- venture, 217 Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand, 221 Sugar-Coated Sam 3 or, The Black Gown. 282 Gold-Dust Dick, A Romance of Rough. and Toughs. 263 Deadwood Dick’s Divide; or, The Spir.t of Swamp Lake. 268 Deadwood Dick's Death Trail 809 Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of - Jregon, 821 Deadwood Dick's Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. 847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducuts; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- ginys. 851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta. 862 Deadwood Dick’s Claim; or, The Fairy Face of Faro late. 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City. 410 peenweed Dick’s Dinmonds ; or, The Mystery of Joan ‘urter, 421 Deadwood Dick in New York} or, A “Cute Case.” 4380 Deadwood Dick's Dust; or, The Chained Hand, 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 448 Nickel-Plate Neds or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Defiance. 458 guenen ee Sam, of Shasta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Full dand. 459 Flush Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Ronnd- Up. 465 Philo Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Racket at Claim 10, > AT1 Bozeman BIII; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Corral. 476 Humboldt Harry, tue Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Dog Detective. 481 Moll Mystery; or, Dendwood Dick Jr. in Deadwood, 491 Prince Pistol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Comnpact. 496 Monte Criato, Jr.t or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Inheritance. 500 Deadwood Dick's Migginges or, Dr. Death-Grip’s Swoop. 60S Deadwood Dick’s DeHverance. 515 Deadwood Dick’s Protegee. 522 Deadwood Dick’s Three. 529 Deadwood Dick's Danger Ducka, 584 Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt, 589 Deadwood Dick Jr., in Texan, 544 Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidoeg, Other Novels by FE. L. Wheeler. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon. 82 Bob Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot. 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York, 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, Fey the Boy Phenix. 6 or, The Red Kifle Team, 69 Gold Riff ’ Detective, 80 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand. re} Phetograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance, 92 C0 soda Chet $ or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp, 96 Watch-Eye or, Arabs nnd Angels of a Great City, 118 Jack Moyle the Young Speeulator, 117 Gilt- Dick, the Sport Detective. 121 Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport. 188 eae Bob the King ry Bhothlacks, 141 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent, 145 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective; or, Boss Bob's Boss Job. 161 New York Nell 17 Nobby Nick of N 181 Wild 209 F ts or, The Ventriloquiat Hunter, vy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 1, the Trail Tornado, Young Gladiator, 244 Bie rra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. ; a ra ‘a Re r, The Bloody Footprints, 255 lerra | Th BS ¢ Angel of Big Vista, 277 Denver Do 1, the Detective Queen. 81 Denver Doll's Victory. ; 255 Denver Doll's y 3 or, Little Bill’s Bonanza, it. ft a or, The Road Queen. 2 Hl ‘oll-Taker. 808 ’Liza Jan rl Miner; or. the Tron-Nerved Sport. B25 Kelley, Hickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia. 80 Little Quick- hot or, The Dead Face of Daggersville. $4 Kangaroo kit he Mysterious Miver, 9 Kangaroo Kit’s Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood. B58 First-Class Fred, the Gent trom Gopher. 865 y volte dim, the Gold-Guatherer; or, The Lottery of fe. 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize.| 875 Nahbob Ned; or, The Secret of Slab City. B82 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, B85 Yreka Jim's Joker; or, The Rivals of Red Nose. BRY Bicyele Beng or, The Lion of Lightning Lode, 894 sFeks im of Yuba Dam, 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Mat Harry, the Base Ball Detective. Sam Slabsides, the Beggar-Boy Detective, im Beak and Pal, Private Detectives, 438 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher. 486 Sealskin Sam, the Sparkier, ‘ate BY BUFFALO BILL (ion. Wm, F. Cody). 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy t or, Lhe Pilot of the Prairie. BS Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout, 4 68 Border Robin Hoods or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado, or, The Trapper’s Trust, BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, ? The Flying Yankee? or, The Ocean Outcast, 17 Ralph Roy, the Boy Buceancer; or, The Fugitive Yacht, 24 Diamond Dirk; or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone. 62 The Shadow Ship; or. The Rival Lieutenants. 75 The Boy Dnellat; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf, 02 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Smugzgier. 1 The Bea-Devil 3 or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. The Hussar Captain; or, The Hermit of Hell Gate, Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter, 4 Gold Plumes; or, The Kid-Glove Sport. 6 Bison BILL, the Prince of the Reins, 222 Grit, the Bravo Sport; or, The Woman Trailer. 229 Crimaon Kate; or, The Cowboy's Triamph, 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Vaptain. 245 Merle, the Middy 3 or, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midshipman Leutinecrs or, Brandt, the Buccaneer, 264 bon Floating Feather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure sland. 269 The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned. 276 morte Monte’s Crulse; or, The Chuse of “The Gold Ship. 280 Merle Monte’s Fate ; or, Pearl, the Pirate’s Bride. 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Verie Monte’s Pledge. 287 Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Shot Dandy ; or, Benito, the Boy Bugler. 808 Keno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double. 814 Lhe) Mysterious Marauder}; or, The Boy Bugler's Long rail, 877 Bonodel, the Boy Revers or, The Flagless Schooner. 858 The Indian Pilots or, The Search for Pirate Island, 887 Warpath WILL, the Boy Phantom, 898 Seawalf, the Boy Lieutenant, 402 Isedor, the Young Conspirator; or, The Fatal League, 407 The Boy Insurgents or, The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild Yachtamany; or, The War-Clouu’s Cruise. 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy’s Luck; or, Tie Corsair. 487 The Sea Raider. 441 The Ocean Firefly 3 or, A Middy’s Vengeance. 446 Naphazard sinery $ or, The Scapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard WIll3 or, The Boy Ferre: of New York, 454 Wizard WIIPs« Street Scouts, 462 The Born Guide; or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Ned, the Koy Coaster. 474 Flora; or, Wizard Will's Vagabond Pard. 488 Ferrets Afloat: or, Wizard Will’s Last Case, 4ST Nevada Ned, the Revolver Kauger. 495 Arizona doe the Boy Pard of Texas Inck, 497 Buck Taylor, King ot the Cowboys. 5 The Royal M Jags or, The Shark and the Sea Cat, 07 The Hunted Midshipman. 511 The Outlawed Middy. 520 Buckskin Bill, the Comanche Shadow. 525 Brothers in Buckskin, 580 The Buckski» Bowers. 5685 The Bue skin Rovers. 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder of the Rio, 5645 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Latinte, BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 WII! Somers, the Boy Detective, 122 Phil Murdy, the Boss Bey. 126 Picayune tete z or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 180 Detective Dicks or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Claes woe st pi mowds me 157 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. Will Wildfire in the Woods, 165 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. 170 A Trump Card; or, Will Wildfire Wins and Loses, 174 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York, 7? Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, 88 The Midden Hand; or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge, Fred ite Boat Bietots The Smugglers, all. 408 Firelly 428 The Lost Ft 428 Fred Flyer. 482 Invincible 1 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagabond. ‘ 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive. 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. °488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman ; or, Too Sharp for the Sharper. BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. 2 Yellowstone Jack ; or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Hurricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard. 119 Mustang Sam ; or, The King of the Plains, 186 Night-Iawk Kits or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul: or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. - 184 The Boy Trallers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path. 208 The Boy Parda; or, Dainty Lance Unmasks. 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestini City, 810 The Barranca Wolfs or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider}; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League. 885 Old Double Fiat or, The Strange Guide. 855 The King of the Woods: or Danei Boone’s Last Trail, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. No Double Numbers. BY OLL COOMES. Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. A ntelope Abe, the Boy Guide. Keen-Knuilfe, the Prince of the Prairies. Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger, The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 74 Hawk-eye Marty the Young Trapper Ranger, 88 Rollo, the Boy t anger. 184 Sure Shot Seth, th. Boy Rifleman, Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter, 146 silver Star, the Boy Knight. 158 Eagle kit, the Boy Demon. 168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger, 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Hurricane, th- my aptain, 202 Pro« t Pete; or, The Young Outlaw Hunters, 208 The Roy Hereules: or, The Prairie Tramps. 218 Tiger ‘om, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dick; or, ‘Irepper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective: or, The Little Ranger, 248 The Dixguised Guide 3 or, Wild Raven, the Ranger, 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. 272 Mink«kin Mike, tlhe Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. 808 The Sky Demon ; or, Ruinbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 409 Hercules; or, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 417 Webtoot Mone, the Tramp Detective. 422 Baby Sam, the Roy Giunt of the Yellowstone. 444 Little Buckakin, the Young Prairie Centaur, 457 W ingedfoot Fred or, Old Polar Say. 468 Tamarac ‘Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic. 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. BY T. ©. MWARBAUGH. 8 Nick o’ the Nights or, Th» Boy Spy of '76. 87 The Widden Lodge; or The Littl, Hunter. 47 Nightingale Nat; 1, The Forest Captains, : 64 Dandy Jack 3 or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trail. $2 Kit Hurefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jack 3 or, The Boy Trapper. 06 Old Frosty, the Guide: or, T le White Queen, 28 Kiowa Charley the White Mustunger. 89 Judge Lynch, Jr: or, The Boy Viviiante, 55 Gold Tr gger, the Sport; or, The Girl Avenger, 69 Tornado Tomy or, {iin Jack From Red Core, 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 198 Arkansaw ¢ or, The Quen of Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 215 Captain Bullets or, Little Topknot’s Crusades 281 Plucky Phil; or, Rosa, the Re Jezebel. 241 BMll Bravo; or, Tie Roughs of the Rockies, 255 Captain Apoll , the King-Pin of Bowie. 267 The Kuckakin Detective. 279 Old Winehs or, The Buckskin Desneradoes, 294 Dynamite Dany; or, The Bowle lade of Cochetopa. 802 The Mountain Detective: or, The Trigger Bar Buily, 816 Old Eclipse, Tromp Card of Arizona, 826 The Ten Pards; or. The Terror ot Take-Notice, 886 Ble Benson; or, The Queen of the La so, 845 Pittless Matt; or, Red Thunderhol:’s Secret, Bhi Cool sam os Var ¢ 0 The Terrible Six. 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 8X6 Captain Cutiasa; or, he B cenneer’s Girl Foe, B96 Rough Rob: or. Inve twin Champions of Blue Blazes, 411 The Silken Lasso; or, The Rose of Rancn Robin, 418 Fellx Fox, the Boy Spotter. Texas Trump, the funder Rattler, Phil Flash Fox. 1 1 1 1 1 e New York a Beat D Boy Detectives, LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 546 Captain Cactua, the Chaparral Cock. By Liens. A, K. Sims, BAT Sandy Andy). or, A Good Man Down, y . Warne. B45 Becdcvas ick same" watte, 9 Hs « ‘ » L. Wheeler, B50 Lafitte’s Leste, ¢ Avenging Son. By Col. Prentise Ingraham. Siiddod. By Jo Pierce, David o “ly ” perate Case. By T. C. Harbangh. ek, Jr., in ‘Gotham. By E. L, Wheeler. ae, , Se Frat Tograham. P or, The Cast fora Life, Ry Philip S. Warne. 74 Lariat 1 Billy’ Death Racket. By J.C. Cowdriek. 558 The Sure-Shot Pards, — By Arthur C. Grisaeet,, 559 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. By Jo Pierce. 560 Pawnce Bill, the Prairie Shadower, By Col. P. Ingraham, ’ By Edward L. eeler, pper- By Oll Coomes, - auch, Oxbon, _ tiss Ingraham, ve. By Charle- Motria, iphia. By Edward L, roo of Dodge. By Lient. A- K. Sima. Sch, the eh Bis Own-Hook Detective, By Jo. Chicaro. T. C. Harbaugh, Readed : Man with the Dogs. MEA By P. 8. Warne. Ready August 15. 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr, Afloat. Ready August 22- A New Issue Every Tuesday. 4 a Library is for sale by all ad fi f Ped yegeea| by mail y receipt of ae pmard ot on BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New Yorkie By Edward L, Wheeler.