Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 42) (1878 05 14)
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A VO Vis: . fy URE NEL A tn a f, Ss le Number. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK, "7 Z| $ ‘a AN Price, 5 Cents. No. 42. The Phantom Miner: DEADWOOD DICK’S BONANZA. A Tale of the Great Silver-Land of Idaho. BY EDWARD L, WHEELER, AUTHOR oF ‘‘WILDCAT BOB,’’ “* DEADWOOD DICK,” “DOUBLE DAGGERS,” ‘‘BUFFALO BEN, ‘““WILD IVAN,” ‘‘DEATH-FACE, THE DETECTIVE,’ ETC., ETC. CHAPTER I. ‘* BONANZA’? SHOOTING—OLD FACES IN NEW FRAMES. EvuREKA! : I do not know that you can find it by looking on the map of Idaho; nevertheless it is there—a pros- rous little gold and silver-mining town, nestling in he mouth of a gulch of the Salmon river mountains, and fronting westward toward as grand a prairie ocean as ever existed. me one had cried ‘*Eureka ’’ when the wild tor- tuous gulch’s end was reach- ed; and they had stopped right in its mouth, found abundant mineral resources, and built a city. Not a city of brick or stone, but a city of rude cabins and shanties, which were im- mediately filled by a popula- tion of two or three thousand souls, who rushed in from the other towns, to share the ex- citement of the new-found Strike. The width of the gulch-mouth would admit of but a couple or three streets, running inter- mountainward, but the houses were scattered here and there wherever a foundation could be planted. lt might justly be called a modern Deadwood City, for it lacks very few of the features of the Black Hills metropolis, while it adds to the striking active drama of real life in the mines. A rushing, red-hot city is Bu- reka! She boasts of the best silver ore and golden sand in the ter- ritory; she counts her saloons, hoteis and gambling-houses by the score; she has stores, @ church (a rare thing to find in a far western mining town), a y0st-office, and several ore- freakere in full blast; a bank, with a stated capital of half a million, and other branches of industry, too numerous to men- tion. s in Deadwood, there are men, women, boys and girls in nearly all stages of life, and a few of Eureka’s inhabi- tants may be considered fas- tidious, whom wealth and re- finement has set apart from the main rough ‘mining ele- ment. Wide-awake, active and pros- perous is the condition in which we present Eureka to the read- er. Night has fallen over the city; a few pale stars ew a silent — overhead, awaiting the coming of the late moon; the air is pure, and pine-scent- ed, as it is wafted down from the mighty mountains that rear their forest-crowned summits, far, far above. Down below nestles the city, not in repose, but bustling and lively, with the streets thronged, and the saloons crowded. A couple of men, evidently new-comers to Eureka, were sauntering along the main street, smoking their cigars, enjoying the nvigvrens breeze, and watching the restless tide of humanity arcund them: Two men opposite in ap: rently great friends. ne a young man, with a fresh, handsome face, bold in expression, and mag- netic black eyes and hair—the latter reaching below his shoulders; straight, erect form, which hard ser- vice in rough western life had toughened, and a bearing fearless and manly to a fault. His dress was black buck-skin, with moccasins fancifully bead- ed, to match, and a broad-brim slouch hat of the same hue upon his head. Unlike those around him he wore no belt weapons, probably trusting to his hands for defense in case of necessity. nee and age, yet ap- MY * ¢ venhy Nl Teens DEADWOOD DICK’S ESCAPE. +8 Ui Br A )andsome looking fellow he was, and people na ally stared as he sauntered by. ” is com ugly, ed to creditably. Many were the glances centered upon the trio as they strolled along, by the observing Eurekaites, and when at last they entered a saloon, over whose en- trance was the suggestive title of ‘‘ The Man-Trap,” not a few of the Eurekaites went also. The interior of the ‘‘ Man-Trap” proved to be slightly more attractive than the exterior, being fur- nished after a rude fashion with a bar, chairs and tables, and the walls hung with mirrors and none too modest pictures. It was a whisky-trap and a gaming den combined, and was already filled with excited pat- rons. “Come this way, Dickey,” said the old man, elbowhig his way through the crowd. “We've a right ter hev our say in heer, ther old court knows hersel’. How’s this, eh? Begins to luk like Deadwood, don’t et?” “Begins to savor that way, for a truth,” rented the young man, a faint smile playing from underneath his slight pointed mustache. ‘Hardly Dead- wood, after all, though.” “Wal, mebbe not, but thar's fun here, as old Cleopatra sed when she tickled a jack-mule in ther left hind fut wi’ her needle. Haydoogins o’ fun, Arfter we onc’t git a’quainted, we'll be all hunky.” They sauntered around, now and then stopping to watch a game, but finally moving to- ward a rear portion of the ialoon, where a shooting gal- leav was located. * urra! who sez ] ain’t ther crack shot of Eureka?’ bel- lowed one of a crowd who were gathered around the stand. ‘Seventeen bull’s-eyes out of twenty-five, 7’m tellin’ you.” ‘*Pshaw, Buckskin; you're no shot!"’ replied the keeper, a oung woman somewhere be- hy (De Oh ween seventeen and nineteen elie: oF years of age, and one of the Way's 8 prettiest the two Strangers had \ My yetseen in Eureka. “ You're: \ A ewer that’s your sum to- _“You're @ humbug, N Nell,” replied Buckskin. “Ye think thar’s no one kin shute = so purty as yerself, an’ allow I can shute clear over you.” , = be oe beet, on have a string o 0) pay tor, as a result!" Noisy Nell was very pretty of face and feature, with pS tinted chec:xs, a small shape mouth of vempting Sweetness; , Spar , brownish- blue eyes, and to match which swept in an unconfined
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2 cloud quite to her waist. Her form was cast in na- ture’s happiest mold, symmetrical and graceful. She was clad in a en Spanish dress, low in the neck, sleeveless, an:| just short enough to expose the pretty ankles and small slippered feet. Buckskin was a brawny customer, with ruffian clearly written in his dark sinister countenance, and gleaming from his bloodshot eyes. “Theva oy | ter pay, hey?” he replied; ‘‘ wal, jest figger that down on yer slate thet you've hung thar; an’ I'll bet a -ounce nugget ag’in’ a kiss frum yer bong -trap, thet I kin plum the bull’s-eye more es out of forty than you can.” “Done!” cried Noisy Nell, instantly. “‘If you win, ae shall have the kiss; if 1 win, lb take the nugget. ere, give eed stakes to this young man,”’ she pointed to the younget of the two strangers, who had now drawn near. “Git out!’ cried Buckskin, in contempt; ‘‘d’ye s’pose I'd trust that rooster? Not much! Hold my own nuggit.”’ “Then you won't shoot with me," replied Nell, string?” ** Wal, gal, dunno as it would be any harm ter try,” said the elder of the strangers, steppi we and ex- amining the target-rifle. “My name is Old Ava- Janche, miss, an’ my old eyes can’t craw! along a rifle barrel as they once could. Ef thet target thar war an un, I fancy I ked put a current o’ electri- city thru him wuss’n a streak o’ wicked htnin’. Tell ye wat I did do, once. Ther great Annihilation —that is me, Old Avalanche, my goat Florence Night-in-a-gale, an’ ole Prudence Cordeliar, my mare —war up in Montana, huntin’ Injuns, an’ sellin’ their fer door-mats. “One day we run forninst about sixteen thousan’ o’ the pesky varmints, out on ther meee an’ the maneuvered around till hod on ther right an’ le side o’ me, an’ fetched up in ther rear, leavin’ a nat- ural lane ter scoot thru—a gantlet ter run, wi’ guns coverin’ me wi’ deadly aim. But thes old devasta- tin’ en demic nary an inch, not for Han- ner! fost raised old Punch-’em-Judy, my gun, an’ let drive a bullet down thet lane, like refined light- nin’, an’ actooally, sir, ther suction or draft o’ thet bullet war so treemendous, thet et jerked cussed Injun for’a’d on his face, an’ broke his neck |" A roar of laughter went up from the crowd, in which Noisy Nell joined, heartily. “Thet war no more’n a muskeeter on ther back uv an elefant ter what I hev seen done, tho’,’’ remarked the Annihilator, dryly. “ , don't mind tryin’ ter fetch thet bell, yonder, tho’ ther old man ain’t so young as he used ter be. This is my pard, Dead—I mean, Nedward Harris. He’s sum on ther shute. Yes, don’t care ’f I do.” And the next moment the rifle was at the old “man. , gal. soty Nell obeyed with alacrity, and again the old man sighted and shot. Twenty times in succession he fired, and every time the bell rung. ““Good shootin’, sir,’ said Noisy Nell, as the An- successive bullets on the bull’s-eye, in one spot. No li man has done it, or can do it, I am sure.” ean put as many against the bull’s-eye, on the same spot. No catches?” ‘*No catches, sir.” “Very well,then. Gentlemen, you all witness this wager, I believe. I am to put twenty-four succes- sive bullets inst that bull’s-eye, in the same spot. and win the Bonanza mine; or, I am to fail, and AGT apt? respomied th d ‘Ay! ay!” 6 crowd. Deadwood Dick turred to Red Brand. Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. | | * agai e pA Your name, sir—” **Ts Red Brand!” “‘ And mine is Deadwood Dick, the ex-road-agent of the Black Hills, at your service!” A cry of astonishment rung through the room, as if the name of the notorious young outlaw were well known in Eureka, “You Deadwood Dick!’’ exclaimed Nell, in sur- prise, Yes, one and all, I am Deadwood Dick, but no longer aroad-agent. I have come here to Eureka, to lead an honest existence, and be a citizen among you. If you let me alone, I'll let you alone. If you encroach upon my cornfield, I'll encroach upon yours. If you strike me, I'll strike back, and Non probably have heard of the reputation I bear in that t. We can be good friends, or bitter enemi j whichever you please, Now, then, if you’ watch you'll see me fairly win this mine you call the nanza.”’ Bo F It will be yer death ef you do!” growled Cal Buckskin. “Oh! will it? What have you got to say about it?” Dick demanded. ayin, yo ye, after which the handsome ex- road agent took his ition, one revolver in each hand, Old Avalanche holding the other two. Then up came the right hand, and, instantaneously, a parently without taking aim, he fired. Then his Fight dropped, and a shot from his left the bell. right then followed, then his left, and thus in al- ternation, until the whole of the twenty-four shots had been dispatched poe their unerring mission. Noisy Nell and Red Brand hurried forward to ex- amine the target. They found only one visible spot where a bullet struck, and that was precisely in the center of the bull’s-eye. Yet every shot had dis- tinctly rung the bell / Deadwood Dick had won the Bonanza! CHAPTER IT. A HAUNTING FORM—THE FIRST BLOW. Looup cries of astonishment ran through the Man- Trap, as Nell made known the wonderful fact that Deadwood Dick had pe each of the twenty-four bullets upon rede on the bull’s-eye. No such shooting as this the citizens of Eureka ever seen, and the keenest excitement followed. All had heard of Deadwood Dick, and his reckless deeds of daring, but none of them could have be- lieved that he was such an expert with fire-arms. “Hurra! Great bone that domesticated old Joner!” yelled Old Avalanche, excitedly, while Flo- rence bleated his approval. ‘Moses in the bull- rushes! thet war ther beautifulest o’ ther beauchi- ful! Why, ther singin’ o’ them, aire purgatory pel- lets 'd be condoocive ter a fit of nonhearativeness ef ee don’t wear cotton in yer ears. Dicky, my night- oomin’ serious, ther Big Bonanza is ourn, by fair shake.”’ **And we shall take it,” said Deadwood Dick, coolly. ‘‘Eh? Mr. Red Brand; did I not win it on the square, and isn’t it mine?” nihilator set down the gun. “I’ve seen crack shots “Yes, you won it by the skin of your teeth, and it that couldn’t beat it.” is yours,” was the sullen reply. “But beware! A “Oh! wait til ye see a, f boyee, heer, shute,” | curse is on the place, and you may inherit it.” was the grim response. ‘ Heer, Nedward, try yer “*T fear not for curses, sir. I have been cursed all ifist.”” my life, but have weathered the storm, and can do “Not with the rifle, Alva,’ replied Ned Harris, | so pn. Curses affect me about the same as bul- shaking his head. ‘‘There’s no fun in that for me. | lets. Give me about four of those six-shooters you Then Dick and Avalanche turned away, and saun- pa" tered about, wa the scenes transpiring about “Heer they are, then, but I’m afeered you're | them, aiid observing the many a . Some @ountin’ too much. Thet target are deceivin’, ef my | of them the great Annihilator was able to recognize, old optics ain’t in fault.” while others were not within his memory. “Oh! that’s all right,” laughed Harris, coolly. There were girl waiters connected with the Man- °“* Perhaps there is some enterprising individual | Trap institution, some of whom were remarkably ———_ who wants to bet that I cannot put twenty- | pretty, while others were quite the contrary. our bullets in one mark upon ‘he bull’s-eye.”” wood was not a little surprised when Then the handsome ex-road-prince looked calmly | one of these a gay, fascinating little but- around him, scanning the sea of gri n faces. terfly, tapped him on arm, and then pulled him It was a bold challenge, with 4 fair chance for e. winning, and still no one see~.ed eager to wager “You are Deadwood Dick?’ she said, more - money on it. tive in tone than interrogative. ‘“‘You come from “Guess there isn’t much “oney in the crowd, or | the Black Hills.” else not much sand, Mr inth See ain’ er ag e?” he » pointing little Veh i Brone who you told me was dead— Ma a ae ng ‘00 yee, ye’ve got the spinal me is in yer eyes. Lord! amin thats was ther last sick- ness uv old Joner! thet’s no more her than you be, you listen ter yer legal adviser.” “Tt is she! You cannot fool me. I know her figure too well. And that vail is but a flimsy dis- guise. It is Edith Stone, or her spirit.” He made a step forward as if to follow her, but the Annihilator held him back with a strong gripe. “Hold yer hosses; no sweatin’ ag’in. once knew a feller thet got drowned in his own puddle of sweat. Thet gal ain’t no Edith Stone, an’ I'll bet my fine-tooth comb an’ et’s population on it. But in case it is her, do not want to see her. Reckel- | young feller, thet thar’s one little red-haired critter thet's deservin’ 0° yer luy, an’ baste me frum North Pole ter South, with aged and Gecrepit eggs, ef ye’re a-goin’ ter luy enny other gal but / ut thet yer pipe an’ chew it. Jest you ante ack inter yonder lubricatin’ establishment, an’ I'll interdooce myself ter ther girl. Horn of ther bull thet gored Moses in ther rushes! Ill soon anylize her, /'m tellin’ you!” Deadwood Dick turned rather reluctantly back into 1 ae saloon, a strange expression upon face. “ e at the white fully. ‘“‘I know rihas followed me,” he muttered, biting nails of his still whiter fingers, tho it is she, no matter what ught- report %
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The Phantom Miner. : 3 a Avalanche may bring back. He cannot deceive me. And she has come after me, alone. What are her t , I wonder—love or hate? I hope the lat- ter; I can fight it best!” He sauntered alo , watching those about him, sharply, for now he might look for a ised enemy in Carlos Cambre. What could the disloyal lieuten- ant want of him? ‘ “Hal by heaven! the blow has fallen at last!" he suddenly exclaimed under his breath, as he beheld.a man tacking up a large poster against the wall. ;‘ Again, Edwa , are you an outlaw by the decree of the law! They have pursued you, but you Iwill na is Steel to steel, face to face with nis foes wood Dick will fight till the breath leaves his body. Once it was a ght for reputation —now it shall be a fight for life or death!” There was a gleam in his eyes that boded no good r to those who would strike at him—a grim set expres- sion of his features which, rightly interpreted, meant defiance to the death / hat he saw to arouse his old bitterness of spirit was the sheriff of Eureka posting a notice of rewar upon the wall in a conspicuous place: one of those heralds that had hounded him—stared at him from every hand for the last three years, like haunting phantoms, _ And, in large letters, the poster read, as follows— in words that went straight home to Harris's heart, like coals of fire: *°$500 REWARD! By that power vested in me by virtue of law, and whereas the Territorial Government of Dakota has repeatedly found guilty of high-handed murder and goal | the person herein-named, I offer the above reward for the cap- ture and delivery at Yankton, Dakota, of ‘ Deadwood Dick,’ or Edward Harris, the road-agent, whose form- er operations were confined to the Black Hills, but who is now supposed to be in some of the Territories. “* Affixed hereto, by me, Jonn L. PENNINGTON, on this the 12th day of October, 187—, the great Guber- batorial seal of the Territory of Dakota, Such was the notice Sheriff Jake McComber posted up for public inspection by the Eurekaites, and it was renal and re-read, amid much excitement, by all who were con ted in the saloon. * Deadw: Dick! Deadwood Dick!" passed from every mouth. “Deadwood Dick!” shouted the man Buckskin. ** Thet very chap was in hayr ter-night, gentlemen— thet very same galoot. He put twenty-four bullets out o’ twenty-four on ther bull’s-eye, a-flukin’—” “And Deadwood Dick is here, now!”’ cried the youn road-agent, advancing fearlessly among the crowd. “You heard me say to-night, pilgrims, that Dead- wood Dick was no longer an outlaw unless forced to be one, Here I am. ave me alone, and I'll leave ote alone. Come and knock off my hat, and I'll ock off yours; then it will be war to the last—muz- zle to muzzle and knife to knife!” Not a man moved for a few moments—scarcely a breath was drawn. Deadwood Dick stood confronting the crowd, his face grim, handsome, expressionless, his form erect, a pair of shining revolvers upon full level in his hands. All knew that he would not hesitate to com- mence the game of death, if pressed; he was desper- ate and reckless; as it were, their lives were in his hands. Yet Sheriff McComber did not hesitate to do his duty. He eae forward, a look of resolution ! on his sunbrowned face. “T'll not knock your hat off, Fone he re- yom slowly, “‘ for that is a prize-fighter’s hold. But must do my duty and arrest you, in the name of the law, You'll see the advisability of yielding with- out resistance, for they’re all with me, here,” with a nod at the crowd. “That's the whole family is it, eh?” retorted Dick, a faint smile ering sarcasti about his lips. { ‘* Well, they’re a fine lot. Better adopt a few more, however, before attempting to arrest me. I give you fair warning to let me alone. If you don’t heed it, } abide the consequences!” “Come on, boys! we'll take the brageart, or we'll die Ae” bee One, two, three, and at r The sheriff was a reckless fellow, whose previous ood luck had made him vain, or else he would never ve made the move, for the first leap he made for- ward was a leap of death, a bullet from one of Dead- wood Dick’s revolvers plowing a passage through his heart. And that checked what might have been a bloody aie: 8 : The death of the sheriff seemed for the moment to inspire the ag ee Eurekaites with a terrible GietrWieoena Unoks bromts Lated dee Pe pons, a of resolu- tion holding them powerless to move. And, comprehen the situation, Dead k slowly backed his way out of the saloon, ots Pek ers still covering the crowd, But the moment he issued out into th ,h ; saw them spring forward triumphantl ne gal ere they counted upon an easy victory. j CHAPTER II. AVALANCHE ENCOUNTERS A PHANTOM. Drapwoop Dick escaped by making a dash through > the crowd, that still swarmed out in the gulch, and ¥ worked his way al by until he was half ish on his return from an interview with her whom Dick Edith Stone, who was the cause of the parting of Dick and Leone, he found ex- citement rife,and then sheriff. and the young road. ss pee Bully fer ther boyee. I'd do the same ef they kicked me on thershins. Great ham-bone! ef they'd let him alone he’d been peaceable enough, but now thet they’ve r’iled his angery speerits, look out fer a comet ter ’splode. Wonder where he'll go to?” And this the great Annihilator was left to wonder, du the next four or five days, during which time he made determined search, but could find no trace of Deadwood Dick. He had either left the diggings, for safety or else was so securely hidden in the mountain fastnesses as to render his immediate neonate? # impossible. After the fourth day of search, the old man came to the conclusion that further effort was useless; then came the remem- brance of Dick’s right to the Big Bonanza mine. “TJ will take persession uv et, an’ hold et fer ther boyee,”’ he muttered, and immediately ful- filled his geome by selecting a dozen miners from the crowds of idlers who thronged Eureka, and riding to the mine, which was two miles and a half above the golden town. There was simply a straight tunnel sunk into the mountain side, and an easy ial to defend, once right of possession was ob- ned, Red Brand sat in the mouth of the tunnel, smok- ing away at his pipe, as the horsemen rode up, the Annihilator the lead. He was a strange being, unreadable and mysterious, and no one seemed to understand him. “Hello! t ham-bone that kerflummixed old Joner!”’ cried Avalanche, in his ag tes . “Heer’s our man, now, me lads! Hello! Howdy do, Mr. Red Brand! How’s ther pulsating state of yer phre- nological persession.”” “T am well,”’ was the reply, as the miner rose to his feet. “ What brings you here, sir?”’ “What? Wall, I don’t reckon et’s hard ter an- s’er sech a question as thet,’ said Old Avalanche. “T am heer, wi’ my backers, ter take persession 0’ ther ‘Big Bonanza,’ w'at Deadwood Dick won at shutin’. [am called Old Avalanche, ther great In- jun Annihilator, tho’ ther acheevement don’t con- fine itself hully ter ther transmogification 0’ ther In- ine race. This ‘ere hoss is my left bower, Prudence ordeliar, an’ thess ‘ere beast on my t aire Florence Ni nich see hoee of ’em workin’-j’ints o’ ther great Annihilator, ther awe-inspirin’, devas- tatin’ eppydemic w’at sweeps like a dose o’ castor ile flzzie thru these la’ des and longy- toads. Iam counsellor and | adviser 0’ Dicky, an’ I venture ter put in his c fer him, during absence.” “Your claim. ‘shall be recognized,” said Red Brand, calmly, though the old scout detected a fiery leam in his peculiar dark eyes. “ Dismount and ollow me, and I'll show ye what is to be yours,” “Yes, cum erlong, boyees, but pull yer Wo jae! in readiness, fer we don’t know what sort 0’ deeficulty we're a-goin’ ter encounter. Great ham-bone thet e Joner! ef I was as mean as sum men is, I'd go an’ sell my head fer a statter o’ Washington, I would, true ’s thar’s soothing influence in a jack- mule’s fut. Once know’d a man so mean thet he sold his corpuss ter a fizzician, an’ then cheated ther oor cuss Out o’ his rocks by crematin’ hisself in her smoke-house—fact, by gracious. But thet’s neither here nor thar, as ther hoosier sed when look- in’ fer ther lively flea. An’ thet same reminds me uv a feller thet got covered wi’ fleas, up in Colarad- do. At fust he didn’t know how ter u ‘em, but finally raised an army o’ fifteen thousan’, an’ went ter wagin’ war ag’in’ grasshoppers, an’ thet. same feller ac ly used to git id by ther govern- ment fer hullsale slaughter.” The Annihilator then dismounted, and he and his gang followed Red Brand in through the tunnel, which was long and dark. It fin ended, how- ever, but in a way unexpected to all except Red Brand; for once more they emerged into the open et ge Ng ee na emm on e e - dous piles of mountain-rocks. rg tens witoae Sot tom was covered with a light, fine sand, through which ran astream of clear, spar! water, pour- ing down from the crags on one side, and sinking out of sight on the other through a huge crevice in the rocks. And this was Big Bonanza mine. A strongly-built cabin stood at one side of the surrounded by little rows of spruce pines, and looking desolate and uncanny in its solitude. “Here we are, pilgrims,” Brand said, waving his hand around m, with a strange smile. ‘ This Bonanza basin and the place of theaccursed, You see yonder cabin. That is the abode of the spirit of Andrew Denham—the Phantom Miner—who is the terror of this region. There is a little legend con- nected with this mine, which you should know. It was discovered first by Andrew Denham, four years ago. He is the ay one who ever took away an ounce of gold from here, even though these sands are rich with the stuff. He remained here a year, and panned out an immense fortune; then, one day, he was found dead in front of yonder cabin. Since then the mine has had ten erent owners, but never has an ounce of gold been taken away at one time. A phantom was said to guard the place, and each gang of miners has been frightened away. bought the mine, and J have seen the elephant. You are welcome to the if you are to fight — age be 4 ye legions. I a not!” ‘ite a g which the man turned upon his hee strode back through the tunnel toward the — For a few moments after his departure, neither the Annihilator nor his men spoke a word—stood and stared at each other, each evidently waiting for the other to break the silence. Atlast Old Avalanche made the break. “Great ham-bone thet wrecked ther constitoo- himself chin uv Joner!”’ he ej shaking by way of p ng for action. “So thes aire an abode uv hog-gob' an’ ghastly perambulators, eh? A sort o’ hot-house fer cultyvatin’ speerits; but ef thet cuss calkylated he war goin’ ter skeer yer ‘umble sarvent, he aire barkin’ at ther wrong coon. G’osis! phantoms! hog-gobblins! hurra!”’ And the eccentric Annihilator executed a jig in the auriferous sand. “Red Brand didn’t lie Fo? Bl bit,” said Hi Samp- son, one of the miners. “ is a Phantom Miner, an’ I’ve see’d him ride ight thru ’Reka, like split- an’ we all blazin’ away at wi’ our revolvers ter no re Ye might as well try ter tumble an quake.”’ “Oh! I don’t doubt your word—ham-bone and Joner, no!” replied Avalanche, ‘‘ but when ye make this great devastatin’ eppydemic believe in hog-gob- blins an’ od tee expect old Gabriel ter play his trump-et card, thet’s all,” “ And are goin’ ter stay heer?” asked one. “Sartain, I aire. Ef ye don't want any o’ the a’riferous layin’ around loose, here, jest scoot fer Eureka, as fast as you can. J’m goin’ ter stay!”’ “ Then we’re with you, old man. My name is Keno Bill, and I ain't no coward, ef ther court knows her- self. We'll stay, an’ we'll ‘hold ther fort !”’ And they did stay, Camp was pitched on the bank of the stream, mining implements, provisions and ammunition brought from Eureka; sluice-boxes sunk, and mining begun in earnest at Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza. Another week passed by, and no molestation was offered miners, whose number Avalanche had in- creased to thirty, and the rich sand of the basin-bot- tom was panning out immensely. : Curious miners and loafers swarmed in from Eure- ka, to watch Sap meee nd every ar much to the annoyance of the Annihilator, who d not desire to be disturbed; speculators also came and made hand- some offers for claims in the rich basin, all of w! were refused by Avalanche, **T hain’t got no say onter thes ere mine, gentle- men,” he would say, shaking his head in a way that was at once decisive and resolute. “Et b’longs ter Deadwood Dick, an’ I'm merely keepin’ things a- movin’ fer him, ye see.” And when Wy pean about the whereabouts the pouns, road-agent, Avalanche would again shake his bead, dubio , Saying: nothin’ about ther boyee, gentlemen. He all along wi’ ther great ation; but he skipped out; an’ that’s the last I've see’d 0’ him. he'll come back? Waal, thet’s hard to tell, as ler sed when he tuk aim at ther apple on top o’ William’s pericranium, He may cum down on us in a way thet won’t fit our ijees. Ye've distarbed ther seethin’ caldron o’ ran’ got et bubblin, an” like’s not et’ll scald A reat historical ham-bone! 3 Bonne a Bcd deadly power o’ my ckey, pilgrims m paralyze a cuss: Srer Ma Deadwood once, by jest winkin’ his e fact, by gracious! An’ he’s a dose o’ fizzic ter as he don’t like.” And so the da by—the soft, hazy au- tumnal days, and at the Bonanza everyt ran along in an even tenor. The miners worked indus- triously, and were well rewarded, for the yellow sands were rich with flakes of gold, in some cases panning out a quarter of an ounce to the As yet none of the gold had been the basin, the miners preferring to k own possession rather than trust it in t of the Eureka bank, whose officers were precious stuff, resolved into town for the purpose of exchanging it fo greenbacks, entering his mind. where all was poets dark, his thoughts went to Red Brand Phantom Miner, and an unexplicable dread attacked him. He was not a coward; nei- ther was he of a su yet he had power to control the stra sensation that over him, now. His imagination conjured up ¢x- aggerated pictures; a clammy sweat unconsci broke out upon his face and body; he was ner- vous, and grasped the reins with one hand, while the other rested upon the hilt of a | volver in his belt. “‘G'lang, Prudence, ye durned beast; what is the mai wi’ you?” he wled, using his heels im the place of spurs to So the eg ee along. = tthe luck. I feel’s spookish as a colt in fly time. G’lang, ce— Thunder! lo!” The latter two exclamations were caused by the sudden bolting and rearing of the mare, accompa- nied by terrified snorts. teint stlll, you orne bed around which clung a halo h ro slowly but surely along toward eet Seaes ary yraieed tos pie finig of inless in the salle his lips, though he sat motionless in the dle, a cocked revolver in his clutch, and a stern ex- pression on his face. “ Ghosts, eh?” -he pos ne atite ek? Waal, voir find bblins an’ eva)
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4 power ina mule’s fut. We'll ask Mr. Hog-gobblin w’at he wants, an’ef he remains mum, we'll try cold iead as a restorative fer lost s h.’ Nearer came the white-robed » pee floati along. on the current of air, t drew through the tunnel. And the nearer it came, the iuv.2 Uneasy grew Prudence. At last it came toa pause, not ten yards away, and now the Annihilator made the discovery that beneath those cloud-like white robes was the shape of a human skeleton! And to his further horror he could hear the harsh rattle of the bones, and a faint wheezy unnatural laugh, sounding far more ghostly than human. Still was the arm of the ter upraised, and the strange fore-finger, the end of which glowed like a human eye, pointed s' ht at Old Avalanche, who for the space of a minute was unable to command his powers of speech. But at last he threw off the spell, by a determined effort, and brought his re- volver to bear upon the phantom. “Hello, thar—wie ghats, as ther Dutchman said. What do you want?”’ he cried. There was no answer, except a horrible rattling of the bones, and adeclination of the fore-finger of several d until it aimed at the A tor’s belt, to which three leathern pouches of gold were attached. “Oh! ye want ther a’riferous do ye? Ye want thes devastatin’ disease ter give ye a few flakes 0’ fortune, do ye? Waal, here they aire then;” and raising his weapon on a level with the specter’s heart, or where such an organ ought to be, he fired—once! twice! thrice! the roar of each report echo weirdly through the tunnel. But the only result was another rattling of the bones, and that same faint, ghostly laugh—unlike anything the old scout ever heard. His hair now fairly rose up on end! What was the meaning of this? he indeed tackled something invulnerable—bullet proof?—a phantom, not of the living but of the ? An awful horror, such as he had never before experienced, stole over him, and he gazed at the ghostly vision in a sort of fascina- tion, irresistible and intoxicating. The more so, when his gaze was riveted upon a pair of little black eyes, which gleamed from an ope in the phan- tom dress—a pair of eyes so magnetic that he felt their overpowering influence—felt that he was pow- erless to move a limb or muscle; it was a strange, awful 8 7 in which, though living, he seemed as one of the dead. He was conscious of all—conscious that the terri- ble thing came closer—conscious that his waist was lightened of its load, even though he could feel no touch betra, the agency of human hands—con- scious that the phantom swept past him and vanish- ed, and that he was left alone there in Stygian dark- ness, powerless to move or speak. CHAPTER IV. THE GRAYLFORDS.—LIEUTENANT CAMBRE. Ovrsipe of the mouth of Eureka gulch, about a mile beyond where the mining element had pitched its town, was a palatial country residence, such as Li serge could be found in no other part of the wild silver land of Idaho. The property embraced sev- eral thousand acres of the immediate billowy prairie, which was well watered and used for grazing pur- poses, and the buildings and s ous junds, which were known as “‘ The Oaks,” sobebiy on ac- count of a complete hedge- work of these trees which the hand of man had planted around the mansion. The lawn, slop either way from the dwelling, was well laid, and dotted here and there with flower- shrubs and beds of blossoming plants, and mark- by serpentine walks and carriage drives, Here were shaded bowers, there swings, croquet grounds and the like, and everywhere evidence of wealth, and an eye for beauty, which had not found training in the wild West. The mansion was built of stone, which had been quarried from the neighboring mountains, and was imposing in pppeecnee externally, while the inte- rior was richly furnished, with a critical taste dis- vara in the arrangement of everything. ere resided the Graylfords, one of the richest and most aristocratic, as well as influential families in the territory. They counted their money by the tens of thousands, and the senior Graylford owned some of the largest silver lodes in Idaho. He was an inveterate miser, and had few friends among the or, toward whom he was harsh and haughify. He oarded his money Daag O and not trus to the honesty of banks, kept it in a large safe in man- on. Re betty had attempts been made by outlaws to arise the Oaks, but Fordyce Graylford kept a apt over his strong room, and a -dozen faith- male servitors; consequently each attempt had been unsuccessful on the part of the burglars. Of the fa there were four, consisting of For- dyce Graylford and his wife; a grown-up son named ri! and a daughter of eighteen, named Claudine. f his children old Fordyce Graylford had no cause to be proud. Guy was a reckless, worthless reprobate—a gam- bler, a spendthrift, and, it had been hinted, an out- law. Of this, however, there had never been any proof, further than that he had been seen in conver- sation with several notorious characters. Claudine was haughty, uncivil and bad in temper; treacherous and deceitful, and though rather hand- some, as the word goes, she had few admirers. ‘Worst of all, she was a thief. On more than one oc- casion she had depleted the purse of her old father of a thousand or so, gene in co-operation with her brother. The elder Graylford was a man of some five-and- fifty years at the time of our story. He derived an immense income both from his mining investments Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. and extensive cattle herds, but this not satisfying his greed for riches, he ventured into speculation in and about Eureka, almost always successful, in spite of the fact that sharpers ene: laid traps for him. On the day acon” J the night of the Annihilator’s encounter with the Phantom Miner, Captain Grayl- ford, as he was called, brought home a new visitor to the Oaks—a ree ie ge army officer, he ex- oy to his household, who must be treated with he greatest respect and consideration. The individual in question was a tall, well-formed fellow of twenty-five, with a dark Spanish face, that sar yee a few handsome points, dark eyes and ir,and a mustache and imperial to match. In dress he was faultless and elegant. Lieutenant Cambre, he was called, and claimed to be of the United States Army, which of course was a lie, as the reader will readily recognize him as Cam- bre of Deadwood Dick’s once notorious band. What Cambre’s business was at the Oaks was quite apparent by listening to the conversation between him and Graylford, as they were closeted in the speculator’s 0: ce, an hour or so after dinner. “You perceive,” Cambre was saying, “that the scheme is simply immense. It cannot fail, and the investment of a few hundred thousand will pay twen- vor or thirty per cent. the first year, and after that increase with age. Why, my dear sir, six years ago I sunk five out of six hundred thousand dollars in a gigantic railroad project, but that was because of inexperience. Since then I have doubly retrieved bet ve and by this last move I propose to raise my- self to independence for life. Itis a sure thing, and one’s capital invested, is bound to pay a handsome revenue.” Old Captain Graylford gazed at the coolly-scheming villain opposite him, with a age erg in his lit- tle gray eyes. He wasa n student of human na- ture; experience had taught him the secret of pick- ing out a villain almost at sight. See here,” he said, bringing his hand heavily down upon his knee, “do you know that J know you to be an unmitigated rascal and a liar? You are smart and crafty above the average, but not suf- ficiently so to fool an old miser like me, who has had dealing with men of just your type through- out a prosperous and eventful life. ere is no such eh gpl in contemplation as the one you nafffe, and, even if I were to invest capital in such a.‘ *T should do it myself, not trusting even my Own son or daughter, both of whom are a dis- grace to the name of Graylford.” Cambre uttered a fierce curse. To be_baffled from the beginning was maddening, but he was not to be cheated of his prey, even at this rebuff. ** And you dare to insinuate—” he “YT dare to insinuate nothing, sir, face I dare tell you openly tha andaliar. To be sure, youat first rather gens me but after you began to preach on tha’ railroad scheme—that was enough. You are no longer a welcome visitor in my house, sir.”’ “Oh! well, then we'll call me an unwelcome one for the present. I have you completely in my wer, Fordyce Graylford, and I mean to make he most of my situation.” “Completely in you power?’ repeated the u- but to your ou’re a scoundrel lator, in un amazement. “I should like to know how?” “You would? Well, it will require but a few moments to give you an idea of what I am driv- ing at. You are not one of the dull kind, and will easily comprehend, I believe. I did not eopae to enter upon this matter yet, but may as well, to let ag know on how little’ a thread a life may hang. the first place, I enter a charge against you which the law, except in Utah, pronounces a mis- demeanor. Fordyce Graylford, a are a bigamist. You have married and become the father of children by this second wife, while you have a first wife living !” Ha! has a thunderbolt fallen? The mine-owner leaps to his feet, with a ghastly white face, his form trembling as in an ague-fit—his a ba blazing luridly. “ You say this?” he cried, his breath ’coming and going in quick gasps. ‘Then you lie!—lie like the e %. “Oh! no, I do not lie,” Cambre replied, non- chalantly. ‘‘I’m diways sure of my nt before I show my hand, as the saying goes. I can pro- duce that first wife inside of twenty-four hours, and her heir to all your wealth, inas many more. Aha! I have got it all worked out fine, old man, and you are in my power!”’ : “Yes, in your power,’ muttered the old mine- owner, dropping back into his chair; “heavily in our power. But still I defy you. Youcan do noth- yi t is twenty years since all that; time has out- lawed the case. e refused to live with me then or to let me have the child. Therefore I am legally di- reer and the result of that first union is not my eir,”’ **Ah! we'll see about that,’’ Cambre said, rising, with a dark frown. ‘“ Perhaps you are right; then , perhaps you are wrong. I will seek legal counsel, and report at the first opportunity.” He left the mansion, and ordering his horse, a fine, ee bay, he mounted, and galloped back toward ureka, But, while galloping along, busying his brain over his little scheme, there suddenly rose before him, out of a hollow in the billo prairie,a figure on horse- back—a familiar figure, the sight of whom caused him to pee Se in his stirrups, with an oath: Could this be?—was he really in the presence of the one he most dreaded, yet was most anxious to meet, the dauntless, daring road-prince, Deadwood Dick? It uired only one glance to satisfy him that it was indeed the notorious young outlaw, who dissolv- ed his band and fled hither, where veins of silver run zig-zag through the earth. Deadwood Dick as of yore,in his emblematical suit of jetty black, black my S0vES, mask, saddle- trappings, and horse! A revolver was in the yo road-agent’s hand, else Cambre would have creel away. But he knew Dick’s marksmanship too well to run any risks, and therefore rode straight on until the noses of their horses touched. ‘* Halt!’ came in the clear, pure tones of the out- law; “‘you are mine, Carlos Cambre. _ Right here in my hand I hold a traitor’s death—who deserves it more than you?” The unfaithful lieutenant w white about the = and shifted uneasily in his saddle. Then a gen- tle flush stole over his counteriance, like a flame of fire upon a prairie horizon—flashed and then died out, leaving a smoky-white appearance, “Tam in your power, true enough, captain,” he replied, in a low tone. ‘ You will never, never for- give me because I had you imprisoned by your wife’s orders, I sappoee. Perhaps I did wrong, and I would crave your forgiveness, only I know you are unfor- ving. You have P hese revolver ready—shoot me, it will cancel the debt; I am not id to die.” ‘No, you are not afraid to die,” replied Deadwood Dick, with a low moc laugh, “or else I should kill you, which I am not quite ready to do, yet, I would first use you for other purposes,”’ “Oh! so you wish to make me your tool, eh?” Cambre sneered, his eyes emitting tigerish sparkles; “Td advise you not to trust me too far. Snakes sometimes bite snakes.” “Oh! yes, I am aware of eee ey when two venomous reptiles of your t collide. But you have your choice—death, or the execution of my wishes, whichever you will.” ** What dirty job aR want done?” “No dirty seed wretch! I want you to color your fingers in a little human blood, that is all!’ with a reckless laugh. Cambre shuddered, in spite of himself. He was rised to find such a change in Dead- rufian, just because of the loss of a woman’s love? wood Dick. as he t “Name your work, Dishonor and death have pe terrors—I know not which I shall choose!’ he replied. At which there was a contemptuous “ humph!” from Deadwood Dick. “You are em ng pious of late, I see,” he went on, deepest sarcasm in his tones. ‘Wouldn't cut .a pe breathing-pipe, sooner than you'd look at him, dare say.” ‘*T can proudly say that I have never been guilty of willful murder, yet, sir. Nor can any one th- fully accuse me of such a crime." “T do not peer to. Thecase I wish you to exe- cute is this: I have learned t Leone, your confed- erate and my wife, is here in Eureka. came into ssession of the knowledge by merest accident, but d not learn her whereabouts, for a certainty. She may be disguised or not, just as the case happens. Anyhow, she has a babe in her arms—the child of our union. It does not a “eye! belong to her and she shall not have it! You must steal it and bring it to me. Do you understand?”’ “Perfectly! But you spoke of blood. You surely do not wish me to murder it ?” “Oh! no. I wish you to murder a certain indivi- dual named Deadwood Dick, the Road-agent Prince!” What! want me to murder you? Are you crazy, man? “Ha! ha! No, I do not want you to murder me, ome Ps e wood Dick No.1. I am Deadwood Dick 0. 21 “You are lying!’ he said, decidedly. ‘‘ You are the real Deadwood Dick, and I know it." “Oh! you do, eh? Well, in case that what you say is true, who is No. 2 Deadwood Dick?” ‘That I cannot tell. Nor can I tell your object in wanting such os killed. It need not matter to w me, however. get the babe, at earliest oppor- “Very well; see that you do, tunity.” My hall spies sha watch you even as you e each step. And if you try to play me false, remember the old sign of the Double Daggers!”’ Then Deadwood Dick wheeled his horse and gal- lo back toward the mountains, a course that would lead him a good dozen miles beyond the mouth of Eureka gulch. While Cambre rode slowly on toward the minin town, watching the graceful equestrianism 0: the vgn hatte and wondering in his mind if it were wood Dick, ** He said he was No. 2, but lied. There are few per- sons who ride like him. But who is this other party? There must be two Deadwood Dicks in the field. ° I want the original, but must contrive to meet him when this matey business gets ripe, and I can drop him before he drops me. Two dwood Dicks} Phew! that promises to make such a little town as this Eureka, exceedingly lively.” And right here Cambre hit upon the truth. Things = to be peculiarly int for the Eureka- who had never known molestation from those bold fearless knights of the field called road-agents; for before night of that day all Eureka knew that Deadwood Dick was haunting the town—were told so by many a notice posted conspicuously about on trees and rocks:— Ag ye do by me, 30 will I do unto you! “Degapwoop Dicx.”’ People about town read these notices; curious miners paused on their way from work and stared at the threatening posters; speculators and mine-own- - een nen, fee indulged * fits of Geoered ve om ’ a of excitement! and indignation was rife in all sce.
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———E— The Phantom Miner; : 5 ** Deadwood Dick!”’ was on the end of everybody’s tongue; people discussed and re-discussed on the subject. Each man scanned his neighbor narrow: when in a crowd. Nee ig to find a disguised Dead- wood Dick by side, for in so many strange and impenetrable disguises had the young outlaw enacted his drama of life, that it was hard to tell when or in what shape he might not turn up. CHAPTER V. THE BOSS POKER-PLAYER FROM VIRGINIA CITY. ‘*T am the boss poker-player from Virginia City!” This announcement was made to an enthusiastic crowd of miners and roughs, by a a indi- vidual, who was mounted upon a table in the cen- ter of the Man-Trap saloon, and stood eying those around him coolly, a couple of gold-mounted six- shooters in his grasp. There was not remarkable about him, un- less it was the cool fearlessness and courage ex- pressed in his face, which was smoothly shaven and me. His form was tall and well molded, and exhib- ited to advantage in his suit of broadcloth, which was cut in the latest style, and which, with his immaculate shirt-front, white vest, diamond pin, massive watch-chain and cane, gave him the os rance of a first-water dandy of the mines. was black and»worn long upon his shoulders, and surmounted by a jaunty sombrero; his eyes were dark. R pabens magnetic; a pleasantly-shaped mouth added ge ty to his appearance. “T am the pols pokerist from Virginia ony he repeated, around him and stud audience 4 quick, keen glances. ‘‘I am -Hot Harris, the rother .of that ay eng and frolic- some individual they call Deadwood Dick. And, by the way, here is a little paper I wish some of you bummers would tack against the wall. Its - ficance will be readily appreciated by those in the reward business, For the deliverance up to jus- tice of Deadwood Dick, I, Red-Hot re brother of said Dick, and the boss dk yoy s yer from V: City. will give— but the paper; Tain’t goin’ ter you.” Saying which, the young man whirled about on , and gave the gaping crowd a few steps a round of applause. ‘*Tt’s nothin’ when ye know how, pilgrims,”’ he said, a smile playing about his lips. same way ee er-playin’—the e indulged in lookee, sons 0’ r marriage. Bu sunset! how doth yonder advertisement strike inter er hearts? Read, and be made wise; then fetch me y ar Ne at had h half-length ne 0 e ers ung & -length pos- ter upon the wall of the saloon, and upon it was an accurately engraved likeness of Deadwood Dick, while below were the words: *¢ $500 Reward.—This will be paid for deliv- erance into my custody of the outlaw and road- agent, Deadwood Dick. Rep-Hor Harris. ** At Man-Trap Saloon, Eureka.”’ All hands gazed, first at the reward notice, then at the Eshogram of Deadwood ry) and then at the smiling, tranquil face of Red-Hot Harris. There was a sti ng neece in the two faces; in fact, the only noticeable difference was that where Deadwood Dick wore a slight mustache and imperial, the face of Red-Hot Harris was shorn of all traces of beard. The crowd gazed at the two faces and commented upon the resemblance; st. at the cool youth on top of the table, and nodded to each other, know- ly. me Gt bet the younker’s Deadwood Dick hisself!’’ bawled the ruffian Buckskin. ‘I see’d him over in Desawoos onc't, an’ this is ther identercal same “You're a Har, by the clock!” responded Red-Hot .» “You never saw your ‘umble ser- wood. Iam Red- “Then I’m yer meat, you young bull dog!” roar- ed Buckskin. “I never take a dare—not even from Satan hisself. Climb down offin that table an’ jerk off, ef ye want ter yerself ag’in’ a ragin’ torna- der. erlong, or 'U—I-I-I—_TU-l—"__.. He did not the sentence, for the words froze to his lips. His bloodshot eyes were tin- to the black, magnetic ones of -Hot as if glued in one position; his hands hung rigid by his side; not a muscle moved in his face or body. hi He was a muscular, cast- iron fellow, with some bull-dog courage and plenty of cheek, and could show about as many battle-scars << Mat this ‘outh in ied garb sh . y ould hold bully of Eureka at bay with the ee eye, was a startling m no solved by the rough men of the ba regi They knew little or not of mesmeric influence—the wondro oung ‘Vv’ —as Pp) ginie po hae lubbed—held the ruffian in abeyance his- By the strength of mind bed mind, he skin. As soon as he saw that as powerless to f if he is left un- and motionless for the next fen hours, unless I should conclude to dis-spell “See hayr, younker, be you d of the devil?” demanded one old weather-worn veteran who had “sl ” the “cradle’’. since the.days of 49; “or, w’at ther secret o’ yer influ’nce over thet chap? J’d like you ter ’splain.” ““Mebbe you want me to you out,” Red-Hot said, with a laugh, turning his magnetic orbs upon the old man. But the old chap slunk quickly back into the crowd. He evidently had no desire to become a model of liv- ing sta , like Buckskin, who stood rigid and mo- tionless in the center of the floor. At this juncture Carlos Cambre came into the sa- loon, and seeing the crowd collected, pushed for- ward. ‘Hello! what’s the circus here?’ he demanded, elbowing his way through, importantly. “Ha! by the devil and all his legions! Dead—” ‘*Red-Hot. Harris!’’ corrected the young gentle- man on bey table, coolly—“ the twin brother of Dead- wi ck. Cambre was about to give some retort of denial, but something caused him to desist, and he came for- i = gf ee saar go a hand. ee “By Jove! so Shake, yo man; see you! You look so much like “this -agent devil, that it is hard to tell you a ie Red-Hot accepted the ex-lieutenant’s hand, and aNYou are looking well” Wis’ badd gazing straight “You are looking well,” he A into the other’s win You also used to be a good poker-player. ll you try me a skein? They call me the boss, up in Virginia City.” Harris slid from his perch on top of the table, and Cambre and he sought a less crowded portion of the room, but to no avail. The miners swarmed after them, bound to see what sport there might be, But they were destined to be re amitgs Nothing oc- curred to arouse their excitabilities; all of interest was a quiet game of poker, and occasional funny re- marks from Red-Hot-he invariably winning. At last Cambre threw down the cards in ay and left the table. Harris was about to follow him. when a hand was laid upon his shoulder, lightly, bu He turned quickly around, his lips ster die ng ng an enemy. But he was happily disap- pointed. A young woman of pretty face and form stood over him and gave him a sign to follow her; then retreated toward the me wares, F pe'goth Harris = and followed her, wondering what was to come next. Noisy Nell, for it was she whom he had followed, faced when they were alone. “You must escape from here!’’ she said, excited- ly, her voice lowered to aw . “But I don't know how. There are no back modes of exit.” “Humph! I ain’t in no hurry to escape!” replied the boss ker-player, indifferently, staring at her, thoughtfully. “Guess no one’s goin’ to give me the unce.”’ “Ah! you have not seen the danger then, sir? One of your worst enemies is in this room—Roxly, the Regulator, from Deadwood!” “Just so! Roxly, you say? Guess I never heard of 3 “Oh! but you cannot deceive me, as you have de- ceived those men,” Nell answered, quickly, ‘“* You are Deadwood Dick— “°S brother!”’ he finished, with a little laugh. “I am Red-Hot Harris, and no one else, and can’t be made different, if one was to bay Spt “But the t resemblance belies you, sir.” “Hang the resemblance. Didn't you never see well Ape can don’t try to choke me with such nonsense. Be you whoever you may, there is urgent need that you es- ur | not in deed, your _— life has shown that you are a to fear. But, for Leone’s sake, and the sake of tnpant Deadwood Dick, I beg of you run no risks! us observ A aa make our way out into the gulch, un- Harris perched himself upon a card-table, with his feet dangling off, and loo into the face of the pretty 7 etor of the shooting-gallery, he laughed outright, the very essence of fun from his eyes You still think I'm Deadwood Dick!” he sai holding his breath to prevent another explosion . ‘“‘T know it!” replied Nell, firmly. “ Well, by Hon, satel s ee. er mag ies Bo peace of mind ef he pens ve been cast in the same mold of clay sum other feller was cast in. Irec’on if I looked like George, of hatchet fame, you’d swear I was the old man. resurrected, wouldn't you?” “Oh! no; I should believe your denial then for it would be simply impossible for you to tella lie!” was the retort. Red-Hot run his fin through his hair, refiect- ively. How. he was convince these stubborn Eureka-ites that he was Red-Hot Harris and not Deadwood Dick, was a question he lacked the means to solve. The resemblance was against him; he had only the influence of his fists, weapons and Congpe for argument. i "he said, at last, “call me what you like order, miss?”’ ; “You know I am speaking the truth, Deadwood Dick. And I should think you would yearn to see your baby boy!” “My baby boy! ha! ha! ha! that’s too much fo give a feller at one dose. For the Lord’s sake, don’t give us any more uv that peppermint!” “Then you deny that you are married, even as you deny that you are Deadwood Dick?” the girl a a Pad ed, well—I'll go bag head, - am marri well—T'll go m and throw it away. The idea of me unto me a wife! Got in love with a once, but she flung me over her cold left shoulder, and I forever collapsed on the subject of love.” At this moment the door of the Man-Trap was thrown and a man rushed in, bootless, hat- less and his shirt-sleeves, and in one sentence he made known his mission. “Murder! The Oaks has been robbed, and every person but me killed, in cold blood!” he cried, loud enough to be heard all over the apartment. ‘ Mur- der! murder! thieves! robbers!’’ “Now, miss, I'll prove to you I’m not the one ou’d make out!" Red-Hot Harris said, hastily. e then pushed forward boldly h the ex- cited crowd, and in two moments the reckless youth stood upon the bar, his fine figure erect and st ht as an arrow. mr the gods! Deadwood Dick!’’ cried a little, weather-bea man, starting back in astonishment. ‘You here!” road-agent—my twin brother. I’ve got five hundre FD. to me. ” “Too thin!” grinned Roxly, the Deadwood Regu- a oo ” bo an ‘andsum actor, wee but ye en’t fool an old stager. Pilgrims, can I rely on ye to take this road-agent?”’ vd P “Ay! a chorused a dozen voices; “we're be- hind ye—lead on.” And Roxly drew his revolvers, pre tory for the coming affray. But he need not have taken that trouble. -Hot a ntly was going to offer no oF seal a hie enti iti f th e re on on of the ‘ arms were folded Taeroes his atuat an expression of cool defiance rested upon his hand- some face, his black eyes burning that pecu- liar magnetic fire that had ears Buckskin. In one corner of the saloon, tha SA Rhea pate re recovering from the effects of mes- ™i . “Harris, come down and deliver yourself up!" commanded Roxly, advancing a few paces. “T am very neni gern was the reply of the oN ae Soa f the battery of revolver-muzzles onre eg F him, berwarp de F ox you're e, are ye ell, we'll soon fetch you. Pards, = goin’ ae cout one, two. three, an’ ef he don’t budge at the word three, fill his carcass so full o’ holes thet there won’t be any room fer blood ter circulate!” * « Hold!" eried a voice, which tung steraly through ts) cried a voice, w the room. “En ’ xly! TY von want Dead- wood Dick, you'll him conveniently handy in: your rear!”’ CHAPTER VI. CAMBRE SHOWS HIS HAND—DEEPER i left the saloon, after his unsuccessful game of a with Red-Hot Harris, a dark frown upon his brow. ested. that oo. soe re Ff = api he _ aking way alo’ e over W ht Had thrown its dark Tents. “Tl be if lam not puzzled. If that was the uine I met to-day, this was the Number spoke. But if that was not the gen , this must have been him, to-night. But, whyzdid he not shoot me, as is undoub his inten he did not wish to another career of crime. And perhaps this was not him. ie tea never was so set. I served long enough under wood Dick, that I ought to be able to ehim. This Red- Hot Harris has Dick’s face, and some of his reckless ; Jae cee it, P'l give it what does he want of Leone’s child? That's none of) my ess. I must first consult with e, and then hunt up Leone. I think she will be glad to see Fortunately she me, tho I am her worst foe. v8) Gorrie dark Spanish been a riddle ar face would have a to have stu with its constantly-shifting expres- sions, as he strode alo Eureka was blessed with one hotel that “ first-class,"" in the mines. It was a large, roomy structure, and bore the name of the “ Flag of Truce,”
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6 Beadlé’s HalfDime Library. its proprietor ® late Confederate, and probab chbhalily the name as one appropriate to his anf mients. : Si ht to this hotel, which was perhaps a quarter ofa mile from the Man-Trap, went Carlos Cambre, a waiter showing him to a commonly-f room on the second ws The only occupant of this apartment was a woman of some five-and-forty years—a woman on whom time had left marks, for her features were and pinched, and her hair threaded with gray. Her eyes, however, still retained their fire of youth— were rather sinister of expression, inasmuch as they could at times become fascinating in their glances. Her attire was simple, yet neat, and upon her mar- riage finger a solitaire diamond ring was worn that in its day had costa e sum, the pattern showing it % pave been of ee ent manufacture—probably a c of past erations. The Woman looked up from some sewing at which she was 6 as Cambre entered, nodding me- chanically to a chair opposite her. ‘** You are back, I see,” she said, as if the effort to converse was “T suppose you bring the same old story?” ““No, Cathie,” the ex-lieutenant replied, ‘‘I do not. I to-day called upon Fordyce Graylford, and broke the ice. But Ifear that your claim won't pass mus- ter. The old rascal claims that it is outlawed, it be- ing twenty Sige since you left his bed and board,” Ah! so he will defy me, eh?’ and Cathie com- 2 her li teeth ae Sriekt oH a ope e canno ute my son's o the es en if 7am outlawed. Please touch the bell on the le, there, Mr. Cambre!”’ Cambre obeyed, and a moment later an elderly tleman step into the room, hat and cane in d, he evidently coming from an adjoining apart- ment. “Ah! did you summon me, madame?” he asked, bowing low. ‘‘ What service can I do you, pray?” **T wish to ask you, Mr. Bolton, if I am out: lawed from claim aon the Grayltord property—that ; really outlawed by time? As a lawyer, your inion ought to be decisive on that subject.” “Ahem! yes. Well, my dear madame, I am in- clined to the belief that your claim is indeed out- lawed, on account of the an . number of years that ve passed ce you baod 8 roof.” the shelter of your hus- “Oh! then are all my hopes and tions to be crushed?” the woman moaned, b her face in her hands and burs into tears. ‘‘I believed after I found that my truant husband was here 1 could make him own me, or I and my boy could come in for the property after death,” “Oh! I wouldn’t be discouraged yet, madame. Your son’s claim will hold all the Bevpesty, if you has made a late can but find him, unless the old gen’ will. I don’t know how the case would be, then; I ‘would have hen! go to Boise City to consult the Terri- statu “That son will not be easy to find, I think,” said (Cambre, drumming upon the table. ‘Of course I know nothing about who he is, but I have a saspicion. derived ffom a word Cathie let drop when I first me her in Deadwood.” “4h! so you have a suspicion, eh?” the woman said, gazing mepignt at him until he was forced to ) ‘gaze, a flush of mounting his cheek. wie hikers you. are p a double game, here, Ohi you do, eh? h ed ning glitter in ‘ou do. ” he ,am gz r his ayia. “Well, think what you Soe, I don’t arave your émployment one iota. You proposed oo een ur 8, ve pro- en my services would was lit up by a smile of triumph, which exposed his “Btoss. nature. “What? What is this you say?” demanded the ‘woman, Cathie, springing to her feet, excitedly, while Lawyer Bolton followed her example—“ you possess Topies of my papers, Carlos Cambre?”’ : bang got madam! I saw a big game at stake, when I entered your service. I saw that J had the matter all in my own hands, I stole your papers and vopied them! ; Ah! but we at the o Is er cried. Bol- ton, gleefully, “and our mon; overbalance tnt an ex-outlaw. Ha! ha! take cour- , madam; we still bid fair to come in on the home- ** But ruled out of time,” replied Cambre, with a it “Ont ies ally ht, my friends—on ring patty, a mak i f course leaving t y, an ¢ him ofc you ou the cold, unless you will handsomely to be in- } a have ‘iy e originals, also—’’ ** You lie/” cried le, flercely. “Oh! no, I don’t; look and be sure of your point before ae show your hand!” A look of horror overspreading her features, and with falte footsteps, Cathie went to a desk, in one corner of the apartment; and unlocked a drawer. Gone!’ she gasped, reeling back, as if she had struck a hen blow. vy. “Gone?” echoed Bolton, the lawyer, i for- ward to ascertain the truth of mace petaneos “Gone!” assented bre, with a mocking laugh, “and I have them—put away for nadie Bae , and worthy Hind f the law, red g dear madam, meio ne bien a pleasant Sood eae : t ha tri- ates leaving thie two astonish: ed victims of his villainy to their bitterest reflections, while he made his way down-stairs and out into the gulch street. It must have been fully an hour, after the departure of the terrible Phantom Miner, that Old Avalanche spent in the mine tunnel, unable to move or rege from the effect of the combined scare, defiance an robbery, before he felt a return of his ned senses and the blood once more coursed through his veins. From some incomprehensible cause he had stiffen- ed where he sat, but soon was able to move his hands and feet, after which by violent exercise of those limbs he found himselfonce more himself in. radetie occupied the same position she had be- fore the spell, and was senving complacent with one eye open, while Florence Cordelia was brows- ing ga at'some brush she had dragged into the une “Great ham-bone thet afflicted old Joner,” the old man gasped, when he found that his power of speech. was returning. ‘‘ Rushes thet bull-dozed old Moses! am I or am I not am I, as the lads say? An’ whar am I? Be I ther dreaded devastater 0’ the peraries? Aire I ther t eppydemic 0’ ex- tarmination—ther terrific ietun fizzic? Or aire la phantom—a ghost—a hog-gobblin’ or discomboweled speerit, frum ther immortal shades uv Tinctarrius?”’ He’ peered around, expecting still to behold his phantom foe, but to his unbounded relief, only blank arkness hovered around, The dasted critter’s vamoosed, sure’s thar’s fun in a jack-mule’s hind foot. An’, by thunderation! my gold’s gone! Fact, by ous! Here I’ve bin made a helpless old galoot by some infernal power, a ag ly skinned uv my a’riferous by a hog- gobblin!’ The old scout was sorely puzzled for once in his ven- tiresome life. He knew w t he had through an nm robbed of his con- cerning his encounter with the Phantom, Fe . He ty to unravel the mystery of the Phantom. ortunately, he had none of the others’ gold but his own with him, and no one need know anything about his loss, Indeed, it would be death to the interests of the mine to alarm the superstitious on ng as they would no doubt instantly quit the m. He found most of them still lounging about the fire prowling, their Lape and telling yarns, Keno and Little being without rivals when Avalanche was absent. But when he rode into camp on his sorry-looking pene of a horse, followed by the ugly, sneakish-appearing billy-goat, a shout went up. “Hurra! here’s the great eppydemic o’ Injun fiz- finished. the. lat f Beet * Eu se e latter te) ourne ure ¢ Peaa enon Dick: later had_en- tumble . off, hilator, and spin us an old tearin’ yarn, for you’re the boss on lyin’, ef e there was a You ’n’ old Whiffles orter been hitched tergether like the Siamese twins, Nick Whiffles was a good shot, by the way, I seen him scrape a roy blush frum a gal’s cheek, onc’t, quicker’n ye ked say Knickerbocker,” “Jess so," Avalanche observed, sitting sidewise iller; it made my blood bile ter see ther cuss ickin’ his chops in contemplation uv a gory ery ti un e I drew my ; shed be blood fer blood; I pulled: ther trigger, there was an orful report, accump’nied by terrific screams, an’, gentlemen, I bein’ in Nevada an’ that gal in Washington, what d’ye suppose? w'at d’ye spect war the (7 ad “You hit the musketeer, eh?” from Alf. “No, he hit the !” declared Keno. “No, I didn’t, ees. Great hambone! In m sleep I'd pulled a six-shooter, an’ pinned Florence’s tail, hayr, ter a cottonwood , Jest as nice as ye please. Ther hole’s thar yet, ef ye wish to make an examination.” “Pshaw! thet’s nothin’,”” averred Keno, laying aside his . “T once see’d a feller lay a field-glass on top 0’ rifle, an’ shoot clean from Galveston ter London and knock a fly offin the nose o’ Queen Vic- tory. Oy pass,” cried Little Alf. “T guess it remains fer me ter order ’em up, next time we go to ’Reka,” added Avalanche, dismount- ing, oe Im smile, ‘tho’, gentlemen, I hev beat even thet. tracted so much friction, thet et set ther hull prcirie afire, an’ ther fire heated ther bullet an’ oa it red-hot, an’ therrays frum it set fire ter thet feller’s clothes, an’ he was a cremated corpuss before he’d got any- where’s near ter ther bullet, or ther bullet got anywhere’s nigh ter him, and—_—_—- “Hold on! we pass,” cried both Keno and Alf, de- precatingly. The Annihilator unbridled Prudence, and let her free to graze, while he sat down upon a log, and lit his pipe. “Avalanche,” said Alf. exsbanginig peaticen with the others, “ we've seen the Phantom er!”’ $ Eh? You see'd the Sen a te or what we suppose ostship—a white floating thing in Gnid-ai, sailin’ Ssbout as ef rae was fun in scarin’ folks out o’ their wits.” again!” yelled Keno, springi hanthapparitiint wes cuts nd procgutle fowtag ghastly ap, was y and gr y floa eke ath, surrounded by a mysterious halo of t was far above them and only dimly visible against the inky-black heavens, with no motive pow- er visible. Was it a spirit of the air? Could it be that Bonanza Basin was really haunted by supernat- ural beings? The thought was horrifying! But 3 ae : ation a pr pm warned the group of their danger. @ hantom, or wh , was coming swiflly idamaaea? ! ‘ CHAPTER VIL A BLOW STRUCK IN FIRE—WHICH OF TWO. Tue words that rung through the Man- saloon were uttered by a strange horseman who had ridden boldly in through the open door, and with a cocked revolver covered the crowd of miners and ruffianly characters, who eens forward against the bar upon which Red-Hot Harris stood so we * e words also caused Old Roxly to lower his aim upon Red-Hot, and wheel ee uttering a curse as he beheld the d rider. Was he wrong? Was this black-clad, masked youth on the horse t genuine Deadwood Dick? Ah! what doubt could there be of it? It was the same outfit he had worn in Deadwood, or one a very exact counterpart of it; the same handsome figure, and graceful ease in the saddle. But the two revolvers held in the leveled hand caused the crowd to k k with a murmur o: fear. Roxly stood fora moment in speechless dis- the world lavishes such a wealth of pure, undefiled af- fection,” with a bitter, sarcastic laugh. “I tried to reform, but you would not let me, Your work be pom your own heads; this time it is fire—the next be blood!” Sternly came these words; then, at a le word, the powerful black horse wheeled and bounded from the saloon, bearing away its dare-devil rider into the gloom of the starless night, “ Ten.thousand devils! Quick! after him; a thou- sand dollars for a horse!”’ yelled Old Roxly, spring- ing after him in pursuit, with the excited Aabitues of the Man-Trap at his heels. ‘Stop him! A thousand dollars reward for Deadwood Dick! Shoot him! A horse!_a horse!”’ But Eureka did not possess m available hor- ses, and these, at the time, were browsing some- where within ten miles of where they were wanted. So that Deadwood Dick was free to thunder away up the gulch on his charger, unpursued, while the mighty walls of mountain rock echoed back his wild laugh mockingly. With terrible rage Roxly realized that he was again a subject of defeat. Among those who esca from the saloon in the ruab was. Red-Hot the boss , poer player. e slipped away unnoticed and hurried off into the darkness, taking the ard the Deadwood Dick Bonanza, a puzzled expression upon his hand- some, fearless face, and astrange gleamin his black, etic eye. r it is time for me to be elsewhere!”’ he muttered striking a match and glancing at his diamond-set gold watch. “Iieft the old galoot at eight; it is now near That road- it ten, and time I was * ; Ghar nckily freed me from what promised to a recarious situation. be him! I guess Fit be all right in the future, Ha! a fire, by all that’s e had now reached the u end of the town, when chancing to look back, he perceived that sev- eral tents and one frame shanty Were in flames, near the other end of the town, at the end of Eureka Ich. ie an of anger, borne on the evenin reeze, proclaimed that the citizens of Eureka h discovered the fires. Men, women and children were ti e direction of the flam: a as | frantically in th buildings, the light of which lit up the heavens wit: a lurid reflection, “Ha! I remember!” Red-Hot muttered, passin his hand over his brow. “ Deadwood Dick said th blow would be fire, and yonder’s the blow! The next will be blood! Ha! ha! ha! but look; yonder are flames ing up two cabins at this of town! And now men are coming this way, Which makes it necessary for an individual of about my size to va- moose!” hurried up the lonely gich, abe brisk pace. u up the lon a 1 De wood ig had made a threat of fire: now he Unknown incendiaries were applying the torch to the dry crisp shanties, without being seen, and the rn were growing lighter each and every min- Men, women and children were rushing about in confusion; every heart was filled with indignation and fear; consternation and anger were the prevail- ing p as the Eurekaites looked epeeeiy Ob to behold the conflagration that was destroying their hard-earned homes. A few puny attempts were
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The Phantom Miner. made to check the flames by the application of buck- éts of water, but there was a strong breeze , and wrOid Boxy, the Deadwood Regulate ha: ly, the wi r, was perhaps the coolest man on the spot, despite the tact of Lis late defeat. He gathered around a score of armed miners, and spread them around, promiscu- ously, with the order to shoot the first incendiary seen, without mercy, while, after a little delay, he sted a guard on every house-top in the town, with he same instructions. This ended the co: tion, and Eureka owed its redemption to the hardened old tor, who had sworn to hunt Deadwood Dick to death, or pass in his checks in the attempt. No more fires were set, and when the dozen buildings, all told, had burned to the ground, the fiery blush died out of the heavens and darkness once more reigned supreme, A strict watch had been kept at both ends of the town, but none of Deadwood Dick’s band had been seen to escape. Were they still within the Moco intending to strike when quiet was restored? feared that such would be the case, but were happily disappoint- ed; they were not again molested that night. After leaving the of Truce "Hotel, on the ter- mination of his interview with Cathie, Carlos Cam- bre turned into a street which ran crosswise of the ch, and hurried along, a low chuckle occasionally reaking from his lips. “My scheme has worked like a charm, thus far,” he muttered, glancing ese yr tgs to see that no one was within hearing. thie is in my power, and I have nothing to fear from her. Deadw Dick is undoub her child, by Fordyce Grayl- ford, although he knows it not. The case stands now between him and these later children of the old miser, Whoever will pay the most shall have these eres nd the villain chuckled again and again at the cleverness of his plot and its prospect of success. He kept a yess outlook upon all sides, not know- ing when he might receive a blow from some,_unseen enemy. One cannot exist without more or less en- emies out in the wild, rough West. But his nce did not detect a slight, trim that constan shadowed him—had shadowed him, unknown an He went straight to the Seber ge Sd of John Jones, who stage, and found that Seige room the woman and a baby, eh? Wal, I fetched in two week, three the week before, and one this week; day before yesterday; 80 you. see it’s hard tellin’. which you mean.” “Tshouldsay so. But, the one I have reference to has red hair, of medium very , and is o pretty in form and face.’ “Dunno nothin’ "bout it. Once got my own ha’r pulled fer commentin’ onthe beauties of another woman's cap possessions.” baka wey d you drop all these six women with es 79 “All at the Man-Trap; but none o’ ’em stayed there long, you bet!” Cambre turned away, without thanks for the infor- mation he had obtained. It looked as if there might be some trouble in finding Leone and her d. a likely she wo seclusion, until she biapeny x t Camb them, and his h aw r, ye re caught them, eart gave an exultant bound. sa “Here is my clew, when least !” he mut- tered, sp off in now rough, unpainted picket fence, w! stood roniviite to one & the burning ae eueae eS beng to her heels. A female figure clasping a very yo babe in her arms, stood leaning ey ate, watching the con- flagration, and uttered a little cry of joy when Nell ee Obt iit sister? I was just out enj ss ou, r Ww Ww (e) the fire. I always did Pt a &@ great .”? al with a little shivering n “I feared it was my shanty, and that ‘you would Oponiney tie bee ot aeons welotho rand oon ste e w she had adorned with a Per eds of fragriat ** No; my later life harden and soul. eves gs with bitterness ted in her tones; it roo! er ; re iain she was losing faith in the world, and its “ And yet they say that Deadwood Dick, your hus- band, is the cause of this fire. There was oS foe man in the Man-Trap to-night, calling himse - Hot Harris, whom I and rites ‘osc else took to be Deadwood Dick. Roxly, the wood Regulator. undertook to arrest him, when in rode your husban: on his jetty horse, and attired in_ his costume of black, and ordered him to desist. Then he told them this blow would be fire, and the next blood, after which he made a dash, and escaped.”’ a what became of this -Hot Harris, sis- r Lal “ He escaped when the crowd rushed from the sa- loon in search of Dick. He claimed to be your hus- band’s twin brother, is a very oe het of him, and offers five hundred dollars reward for the deliy- erance of Deadwood Dick into his hands.” Leone looked puzzled. “Was not this Red-Hot Harris my husband, then?” she asked, rly, her flushed face showing how much she was inte “Oh! no. I believed so, at first, but not after I saw the man on horseback. It was the same dash- ing, handsome figure you have so often and elo- quently described to me,” A flush of proud ‘joy—genuine enthusiasm, swept over Leone’s pale face. She was changes somewhat since we last saw her (in Wild Ivan); her form had lost some of its round- ness, but still retained all its old grace of motion; a maturer expression was given to her pale, pretty face, and a softer light to her eye—though there was ever worn about her lips a haunting expression of pitiful t and sorrow. She never ceased to love her outlaw husband; she felt that her love was a thousand times stronger now that she had his and her baby boy in her oung mother’s arms—the little, plump, ig aan that was the very picture of Deadwood Dick; and she never spoke but in a lo , endearing way of him who had so prety. dese her, for was she not in a measure to blame? Norhad she given up hope of a final and happy reunion, Perhaps the horseman was my Eddie,” she said “but I can*hardly believe that he was the cause of this fire. Heswore that he would no longer lead “ Dare? Why, miss, Dick would dare ride into the very gates of the Infernal Regions, if he had any’‘business there!’’ said a low, in uating “Why, is it ing out one hand, which se | both here. Presently old frien is this the juvenile Deadwood Dick?” and the ex- lieutenant attempted to take the little bundle of hu- manity in his arms, but the youngster set up such @ piteous howl, that the man back. ** Yes, this my son ” Leone said, hushing Master Dick’s sereams, ‘ and ‘he ava onan ee teen uw seats Cambre, what ever became of ne The ex-lieutenant stared. ‘“Why, did you not hear? She drowned herself in the Little Madrass, all for the love of Deadwood c ‘ A pained, regretful expression came upon Leone’s ace “Poor child,” she murmured, a tear pitening in either eye; “T was wrong in being so harsh to her. She could not help it; hers was infatuation, while e was love, Poor Edith!” ‘She is better off now, Mrs. Harris. It is a dan- —_ thing, sometimes, tor two women to worship e same man.”’ ; “True, very true. Mr. Cambre, my dear friend, here, tells me that there were two men in the -Trap saloon to-night, who looked like my hus- band, one Naa himself Red-Hot Harris, he being undisguised, while the other was rigged out like the Prince of the Road, and ealled himself Deadwood Dick. Which was Deadwood Dick?” “*That’s a conundrum I will not to answer, dear lady.. Undoubtedly Deadwood Dick in this case was Deadwood Dick. I thought at first that Red-Hot Harris was Deadwood Dick, myself, for the two are near counterparts, but I don’t believe he is Deadwood Dick’s brother; in fact, I am positive that he is not, As the matter now stands, there a to be two or three Deadwood Dicks in the field—” : “One of whom takes pleasure in presen him- self for —. inspection!” cried a clear, voice. ‘ los Cambre, remember that on the - gg you are doomed to die the death of a 0g CHAPTER VIII. GHOSTLY MYSTERY—A WARNING. Ir would be hard to describe the feelings of the miners and Old Avalanche, when the appalled at the weird spectacle; and-cfs ap a we e, and e spot, unable to flee or speak, until; by a great effort, the Annihilator mastered his te end a yell of horror, which aroused the o fled across the -mell, toward the tunnel. At the mouth ie cam ’ general. : * Great ham-bone thet waz the last sickness of old Joner !’’ exclaimed Old Avalanche, so overcome with the m rege and terror of the situation that he was. forced. to sit down upon a convenient rock, ‘“Boy- ees, this is ther fust time ther great tor’s ever bin skeered. Aire it the devil?” Give it up,” replied little Alf Coyle. “’Tain’t nothin’ human, I'll sw’ar!” “On course it ain’t!’’ declared Keno, contemptu- ously, wiping the per iration from his brow. “It’s a ghost, thet’s what it is. Allers kn o’ the ayes an’ chase me six mile thru the woods, till I fainted.” “Good! served ye right,” declared Old Avalanche. “Learnt ye ter let mother-’n-laws alone, I ne. Got learnt su’thin’ o’ ther kind once, myself. ied ter — ther old woman, an’ she chawed off about Suet, -hogeobbia. aac ee Kiar aut et hog-go e’s sno0o eround, seein’ ef he ken’t find sum more a’riferous, true’s thunder!” “Some more? Then he tuk yours, eh?” demanded Keno, suspiciously. “Yas, boyees; may’s wellown up. Met ther ’tar- nal in ther tunnel, an’ it petrified me stiffer’n a poker by jest lookin’ at me, an’ after * me 0’ eve’ grain, swooped off an’ left me. When I re- coves: kim back tercamp. "Tain’t no use talk- in’, pilgrims: et’s a genuines it, I plugged seven chunks o’ lead right at oe out o’ my revolver, an” ther consarned thing larfed jest as if et enjoyed thet sort 0’ fizzic ous !”’ ‘‘Don’t dispense your fizzic yet, boyee,"’ he said. “One bullet wouldn't effect thet hog-gobblin no more’n would a flea-bite. We must creep down ter ther camp, and make a rush upon et, or our gold is gone whar ther woodbine eth. Come, now, down on yer horizontal, an’ do sum o’ yer wigglin’, an’ when ye ear ther Annihilation ¥ out‘ scoot,’ jist lay fer thet Phantom wi’ yer revol- vers, an’ put moar holes in him than ye’ll find in a Ready to obe; hom they knew to be fear 8) one W. ew three a ds ant and miners, old Avalanche head, only a dozen yards. when slowly the ap- ted. init then ened forehead, “I’ve bin thru more infarnelated an’ adventur’s than most feller humans 0° but.I’ll be durned ef I ever hed hog-gobblins ter wras'le wi’ before. I h awhile ago, thet this war no speerit, but o’ my mistake, now, Et aire ther pure added Keno, decisively. “It are a epee floatin’ Sin pnw soul, right fresh out o’ of Tinctoarius - settles it thet Little Alf Coyle ain’t a-goin’ ter stay in Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza any es gg announced that individual, venturing to_ligh’ pipe, now that the Phantom had gone. * otek we evacuate.”’ “ 1’ winter. An’ I'll paste thet ga- beauchiful thet dares go an’ desert!’ cried the loot old leader. : The miners lances. They knew the veteran would not h tate to back his words—that it would be certain death to that one who made the first a to aes *m Annihilator,”’ said Keno, promptly. “T can make my fiye dollars a day host an’ thes ain’t no ghosts goin’ ter scare me away. § hos’ emen, reminds me thet I once hed an eck Beat speerit riz frum ther grave, He'd allus oJ dows ie his wens. ettocten an’ emigra “Co H She | up to the head o’ the Glens, Mr, Keno,” Sail Boyle. *“ Fizzic, we'll hear m you, _“ Hain’t got a substit ” replied the An- nihilator, slowiy. Pye fist stu ” on an ijee, Why not go an’ set fire ter yonder old cabin? Brand sed thar’s whar ther Phantom Miner held hig quext sng as, an’ look! thar’s ther cuss-darned now!” cried Alf, pointing toward the cabin, -
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Beadle’s -Half-Dime, Library. iS dilated eyes, the miners saw the Phantom slowly de- scend out of mid-air and enter the old vine-wreathed habitation. ** Now’s our time, lads!” whispered Avalanche, ex- citedly. ‘‘Ther bird’s caged, an’ we'll cremate it. Snatch a torch an’ kim along. Ther old shell’s dry, an’ ‘ll burn like old been-zeen!” He plucked a burning brand from the fire, and his companions did likewise; then in a body they rushed toward the old cabin, looking wild and weird under the flaring torchlight. Not a word was spoken, but, like so many fiery dragons, they plunged on, and at last stood by the side of the cabin, which was fast yielding tothe ravages of worms and decay. The work of setting the fire in half a dozen places was but of a moment: then the miners drew back at a safe distance, and watched the flames run madly through the crisp Oey. vines that covered the cabin walls, They crac and a high toward the heavens, luridly illumining the black night. erly the miners watched the spectacle, believ- ing that they had successfully triumphed over the Phantom—had caged it in this fiery trap. “Ha! ha!” laughed Little Alf, gleefully, “it’s good- by, Phantom Miner, now. Hark! don’t ye hear him frying in yonder furnace?” ‘He’s a gone goose, I reckon,” replied Keno, “ on- less ye ken’t scorch speerits, I never hed enny ‘speri- énce in thet line, myself.” “Scorch nothin’! suddenly cried Avalanche. * Zook!” and he pointed toward the burning cabin. The vines nearly burned away, and the flames were beginning to creep over the dry lo when all at once that mysterious apparition of the Phantom bf enna upon the roof, which was sur- rounded by leaping flames. A wild, awful shriek; then the ¢ ing an swiftly to arise, and floated like a cloud off up into the blackness of the overcast heavens, until lost from view. The startling words of threat caused Carlos Cam- bre to wheel about, his hand seeking a revolver in his belt. But he paused and hesitated, when his eyes rested on the black knight of road-agents—the familiar, somber-clad figure of Deadwood Dick. Rene: he gasped, allowing his hand to drop to e. “Yes, J/” replied the young outlaw. “TI saw you here and came to see if you have forgotten your ‘*N-no! of course not,” the ex-lieutenant faltered, quail beneath the other’s stern gaze. ‘ But, you must give me time.”’ “Until the 26th—your death-day!’’ was the cool, stern answer. “Dick! oh! Dick! Is this really you?” Leone had put her babe into the arms of Noisy Nell, and sprung ae ae forward—stood before the man in black, hopeful, and oh! so fearful he would re e her advance. e looked down at her a moment; then put his arm gently around her, drawing her close to him. m e, we meet—unexpectedly, for I su ou far from here. But, we must Peon oath must remain unbroken. Is that the—our boy?” Yes, that is our Dick,” Leone said, reaching for the babe that he ht more closely i t it. “See, Dicky, this is your papa! Oh! Eddie, he is all I have left, now, since you deserted me. Oh! my husband,” and her voice was lowered to a whisper, will you never come back?” ** Sometime, peerless!’’ was the low reply, then he turned upon his heel, and strode away in the dark- ness. Cambre soon followed. He saw no chance of steal- ben Bed child at present, and besides, he had work to attend to, elsewhere. After he had gone, Leone and Noisy Nell stood in their front yard, and watched the progress of the flames for some time. But at last th grew tired of the glare, and retired into the shanty which was Nellie Brandon’s home. There were but a couple of pie i but these were neatly furnis and ee: : _ Leone seated herself before a low fire which burn- ed upon the hearth, clasping infant Dick close to her breast. There were tears in her eyes, for the words of Deadwood Dick had been more painful than com- forting. They had illy-fed the craving desire within her breast—she could scarcely believe that it was re- ally so. Yet, who else could play his part so fault- lessly? Ah! it must be he; but yet so cold and cite hod betrayed no dea Of b warviving passion f C) yed no a su on for her; he had merely giyen_her darling baby-boy a careless glance—he said: “Sometime, peerless !’’ and then was gone; what comfort to her? She was ¢ softly to herself, when Noisy Nell came and seated herse in the fire. “What! erying again, Harris? Please don’t; ~~ will cry your pretty eyes out, some of these von! I cannot help it, Nelly. You don’t know any thing about it, for you were never the mother of a loved husband’s child, and that husband estranged from you. Oh! it seems, sometimes, as if I could not live this life much longer, without him. You were never in love, Nellie!’’ “Never,” the girl answered, moodily into the fire. ‘I’ve mn hing it ‘alone for ten years —since I was eight, but no one ever seemed to care for me, unless some rough attempted to make him- self familiar, when he generally Ot paid back in his My I think Tob own coin, I’ve seen those uuld have loved, but they were such as don’t often notice in my tion. Guess there ain’t much at ms about oisy Nell.” And then there came a bitter little laugh from the girl, that was sad to hear. anon. “Oh! do not despair. Pretty girls like you can- not always escape observation and admiration. I hope, however, that you will find a happier lot than Ihave. Oh! lam utterly wretched and ‘miserable. I one not to live unless I can have my darling back ‘*How did you come to part, dear sister? You promised to tell me your story, but never have.” ““No, because it is painful to rehearse the scenes I jn to forget,” replied Leone, closing her eyes wea- ly. ‘She soon roused, however, and told her story in a pitiful way, that affected Nelly Brandon to tears. But she did not screen herself in the recital—told - as it was, even to holding Deadwood Dick blame- ess. “*And do you know,” Nelly said, after she had lis- tened attentively to the story, ‘‘that, after what I have heard, I do not believe that was your husband at the gate to-night? It was some outlaw who has an inkling of your history, and is working up some heinous plot, using Mr. Harris’s name as a shield to his identity. I saw your husband in company with Old Avalanche, a couple of weeks ago, on the night of their arrival in Eureka, but I do not believe that this was he whom we saw to-night.” “Then is not Red-Hot Harris and this man the same? I am sure the former is not Dick’s brother, for I never heard him méntion that he had one. He has a sweet sister—Mrs. Anita McKenzie—in Dead- wood, but I never saw, or heard him speak of having a brother.” “T hardly think Red-Hot Harris was this man to- night, for he would hardly have had time to have changed his costume after escaping from the Man- Trap, until this so-called Deadwood Dick came along. There is a mystery somewhere, which I can- not solve.” “T believe I would like to see Old Avalanche; he might ge a “Hardly, I think, for even he knows nothing of the whereabouts of your husband, not having seen him since the first night of their arrival here.” At this instant there came a timorous knock at the door; then the sound of retreating aoe “What does this mean?” exclaimed Nellie, picking up a paper that had been thrust under the door. “ira! mercy! Listen, Leone; it is a warning to you: “Fly, without delay. If you have male friends, seek them. Above all, beware of Carlos Cambre. He is scheming to steal your child, to deliver into the hands of a man—Déadwood Dick No. 2. Never leave the babe unprotected. Will report further, ETECTIVE.”’ CHAPTER IX. A CLEW OF CRIME—FLEEING FROM FOES. On the morning succeeding the fire, when the ex- citement of the night was somewhat subdued, the Eurekaites gave their attention to the matter of the murder and robbery at the Oaks. Cornell, the man-servant who had brought the re- po eg SS by Murrill, a newly-appointed sheriff, and Roxly, the Regulator, with a posse of armed men, set out for the scene of the massacre, as soon as day dawned, to investigate matters, for, al- though Fordyce Graylford was a miser and not a general favorite, his influence was not to be despised. Little information could be obtained of Cornell concerning the affair, more than that immediately after dark, on the preceding night, a band of masked outlaws had surprised the household while they were at supper, and had shot them down without mercy, he, ornell, being the only one to escape. The out- laws did not seem to have any ar leader, but appeared to understand their work as if it had pre- ously been planned out, On their arrival at the mansion, the servant’s statement was found to be correct, all except that Fordyce Graylford was not d but seriously wounded. His wife, son, and daughter and five ser- vants lay. dead where they had been shot down. The old speculator was wounded in a dozen places, and faint and exhausted from a tt loss of blood, but had tod himself about from place to place, leaving a gory trail wherever he had gone. e seemed relieved when he saw that friends had come. “Do you eee the author of this fearful tra- gedy. laptain Graylford?” asked Murrill, the new she “No! God only knows who can have struck me such a blow. But that he is numbered with the dead, there is one I could sus t, for he has several times of Jate threatened my life.’ * Ah! paige aes already struck aclew. To whom do you refer?” pad my 6, who lies dead, yonder. But I cannot suspect him, now.” “Ah! he may be the traitor; there is no telling. Men, remove these bodies and see that they are pre- = for burial. Roxly, you are a good surgeon; the captain's wo’ . And after gi these orders, the sheriff went over to the stark, stiff of pai, Fla fae, and went through the pockets of his clothing. He once been in the detective service, was shrewd, well educa’ and quick to draw correct conclusions. At least, it proved so in this case. From among other things taken from the young man’s pockets, he soon selected a small note, pen- ned in a bold, graceful hand. It had been written on the day before, and ran as follows: “The men will come. It is best I should not ac- company them. Look out for yourself about nine in the evening. CAMBRE. “Hal ha! Cambre,” muttered Murrill, scratching his head. ‘As long as I have been in Eureka 1 never before heard that name. Either it is an assumed one, or else this Cambre’is a new arrival. Let me see. I will keep this matter close, and work up the case without publicity. I feel like trying my hand in the detective line ay 7 4 He put the al in hi the bodies. e old speculator was ed up as best he could be under the circumstance uid left in care of a ce of competent nurses. The aims of the outlaw-ruffians had been, no doubt, to mur- der the household, and then rob the safe of the hoards of money which ae Graylford was sup- se to ssess. But in this they were baffled. ey had blown Me the safe, but, according to the old speculator, had found no booty, as he had several days before buried his treasure where no one could find it except himself. Thus had the outlaws realized nothing but blood for their crime. Sheriff Murrill went back to Eureka, and made careful inquiries after a man named Cambre, but amid the seething populace of the infant Deadwood, no one knew aught concerning the individual in question. A governor or president might have been among the surging throng that ever swarmed in the streets, without being recognized. But Murrill was not baffled. He was possessed of great erg and one failure by no means discour- aged him. He resolved to watch and wait, trusting to luck and his own keen powers of perception to sift the matter to the bottom. If a Cambre there was in Eureka, he was satisfied he could find him, Later in the day he shouldered his rifle, and set off up the gulch, having in mird to shoot a deer if one came conveniently within range. But a couple of hours’ wanderings among the mountain crags put him all out of the notion of game, and seating him- self upon a natural rocky platform, he drew the little piece of paper from his pocket, and scanned the few lines, eager VY: This was a game that was well worth capturing, if Graylford offered a reward, which he undoubtedly would. “Cambre! Cambre! I am sure I never heard the name. Sort of a Spanish one, I should say. And what now becomes necessary, is that I should dis- cover the whereabouts of this individual. He is the author of this murder at the Oaks, and Graylford’s son was in league with him, but accidentally got into the trap he had helped to lay. This note says, ‘look out for yourself about nine in the evening.’ Cor- nell states that the attack and massacre were made at seven; which accounts for matters a little. Ha it! I wish I could find some one who knows th Cambre.” “Wishes are often unexpectedly realized!” said a cool voice, close at hand, and Murrill glanced quick- V around to behold a person seated astride a bowl- er directly in his rear, where he had evidently been for some moments a listener to the sheriff's mutter- ed soliloquy. “‘I happen to know this same individ- ual you are in quest of.” h! you do?” exclaimed Murrill, staring curi- ously at the handsome black-clad figure, whose face was masked and shaded by a broad sombrero, “‘ Who are ew pray?” “Tt hardly matters. I am one whom the world drives before it—an outcast, a wanderer, and an ex- road-agent chief.” “You are Deadwood Dick!’ Murrill exclaimed, growing a little uneasy, for he perceived that the young outlaw’s hand rested upon arevolver, while he not reach for one. “Yes, Deadwood Dick, if you like it that en AM was the indifferent reply. ‘The man that strikes back when struck at. Don't fear; I shall not offer you harm as long as _you find it convenient to mind our own business. ou know how the other sheriff rted. It was all because of rash hot-headed- ness “You say so, because you recognize no law, young man.” “No more I don’t. But didn’t I offer to make n, pocket, and hel remove dge against this youth, Why should he enlist net hin when ap- ly his friendship would not be despised. “T prefer your yi vert ngs We can more advanta- eously become mae a eenlet, I hiok. I ave no you, an e we can be ong peal Ay ve pera “Tt is agreeable, decidedly,’ Deadwood Dick said, sliding down from his perch, and extending his black-gloved hand. “TI have so few true friends in the world, that I am anxious to add to the list. I bas ot hs pe Ls whom I ees i “Implicitly. My friendship is lasting, and you will find me ready to strke in defense ofa friend?” “Task no one to fight ref battles,” replied the ex- road-agent, proudly. *“ my life I have had to de- pend upon my own muscle. I can fight the battle on alone. Task is that they will give me time to pray for every soul I send to perdition; then I am ready to receive them.” “You look at matters on the wrong side,” Murrill said, when he had listened to a part of Harris's eventful history. ‘‘ You can easily quit this sort of life, by going , where you are unknown. Take my ce and go. Hunt up your deserted wife and boy, and leave this western sod forever behind you.” eo But Deadwood Dick shook his head, “No, I could not live oe, from the West. I ow 0 yo pose I'd rem ade the ploodhounds of fe law?” unm! y ‘Perhaps for years—" “Nota month, I'll wager my life I’m not un-
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~~- known there. Chicago and Cincinnati, even, have entered into competition in the race for the rewards set upon my head. No, I shall remain in the West. and Aight it out on this line to the end. I see that counterfeits are being shoved on the market—that is, sham Deadwood Dicks. We have one here in Eureka—the same individual who rode into the Man- Trap saloon last night, and afterward fired the town. I wish to meet this chap, and learn where = obtained the right to use my copyrighted han- lel’? ‘* Then you say that was not you?” “Swear to it, if necessary. Saw part of the fire from a distance. Was in the saloon at the same time this bogus Deadwood Dick entered.” “Ha! then you were, after all, Red-Hot Harris?” the sheriff exclaimed, shrewdly. The road-prince laughed ‘‘Bah! Red-Hot Harris claims to be my brother, but he is not. I do not possess one of those branches . of relation. He looks so much like me, that he to manufacture some yarn to prevent be strung up in my place. My wife’s brother p in his checks thus, on account of a t resemblance to me. As it happened in Deadwood, you may have heard of it?” “Yes, at the time. Resemblance to a criminal I should say would be undesirable. And, now, about this Cambre! You know him, eh?” “Oughtto. He was a lieutenant in my road-agent band, before I left them.” “Ah! that is good. Doyou think you would know him, at sight?” Certainly. I owe him a grudge, and shall not for- get him. You want him in connection with this massacre affair, eh?” ““Yes.”” Then the sheriff showed him the paper, and related what he knew on the subject of the attack and murder. ““Cambre and Graylford’s son were undoubtedly in the plot,” Dick said, after listening attentively. ““Cambre is sly and wary, yet I know him to bea villain. You have proof enough to him. Fol- low up Par clew, after the description ve given you, and let me know the result.” “When will I see you again?” “Tm ible to say, as my movements are un- certain. A letter left.on this rock, however, will reach me. This is Deadwood Dick’s fice !’’ Then, after a few more words and a cordial hand- inty the guisiy aan -treniping off toward’ Muvekcs, e ramping o wi which lay some six miles alow. Startling and crushing was the intelligence the note brought to poor Leone Harris—that the only man she had thought her friend, was in reality an enemy. And it was hisintention to attempt the kid- napp ng of her babe, that the innocent thing might ‘be delivered into the hands of this Deadwood Dick No. 2. Who was this Deadwood Dick No. 2? Why did he wish to obtain possession of her child? these questions flashed across her mind with light- ning rapidity, when Noisy Nell finished reading the strange missive. “Oh! Nellie!” the poor yo: wife exclaimed, tears ‘* What Ido? cou down. her pale ch Whore shat I go? afloat than ie) tt does it all mean?”’ “Tt means that there is more devilt we have imagined. I did not like the looks of that Carlos Cambre. He is a villain,” replied the “Ah! itseems so, but I never thought him other than afriend, before. But now that I of it, he has several times said thi to me that were un- warranted and ungentlemanly. Ah! since the death of my. brother, the world has tried to deal me a blow. Nellie, do you know what I begin to believe? —though God knows the suspicion may be an unjust one.”’ “No, sweet sister. What?” “ This—that my husband hates me, and by doing away with the c and then with myself, he inten to free himself of m bonds, so t he will again be at liberty to woo and win!’ oe you do not think him so base as this, Mrs. arris?”’ ‘““Maybe I am very wrong, but I cannot see how else these things be. I know of no earthly can oneety who could wish to harm me through my child. ‘Ah! you are greatly at fault, my dear. Dead- wood Dick is no such a , I am well satisfied, from what little I saw of him. Perhaps this Dick No. 2 is some one who has a against Dick No. 1, and takes the method of at him through “Ah! Nellie, you are an angel,’’ Leone sai Master Dick aS the bed, and embraci oe fone “You can see t in a truer t nil of course my Dick is no such villain, and I have d ly wronged him by my unjust suspicion. But, whee shalll do? It is a I should find another lace, as I will no longer be safe here. - r ba- y Dick! Can it be that your young life be be- set with perils and be forever hunted like that your Seudhoen father? Oh! heaven forbid! morning I will take you to the Bonanza Mine, where Avalanche is at work, and he will protect you. We mien go in the darkness, but nee unseen < gore be in our path. Daylight will answer So they remained up through the long night, watch- ing for he first streak of | ht in the eastern sky heralding the approach of dawn. Morning came at last, cloudy and dull, with a pros- pect of a long drizzling rain, such as the autumnal months b : ; Nell was the owner of a couple of saddle-horses, and mounted upon these, the two girls rode through The Phantom Miner, the town, and up the gulch in the direction of Dead- wood Dick’s Bonanza. tte 5 ieee seen of Carlos Cambre, and a hope entered ne’s heart that she would yet escape him. Once under the protection of Old Avalanche, she felt that she would be safe. But alas! how sudden hopes may be blasted, and their fruit destroyed. They were yet a quarter of a mile from the en- trance to the mine, when, on loo! back, they be- held Cambre coming furiously on in pursuit, his animal covered with flecks of foam. : He was not to be defeated! CHAPTER X. A FEMALE DETECTIVE—INVASION. Tuar night following the flight of Leone and Nelly from Eureka, found the Man-Trap saloon filled to overflowing, both with miners and men-about town, together with the new-comers fetched in by the evening stage. Almost every type of character, from the negro, all. through the. various imported for- eign races, down to the plain-faced Yankee, was represented within the crowded whisky den; men who, for long years, had dabbled in crime, were here, as were new nners in the bloody field of action. A study of the rough-bearded faces, some kindly of expression while others were re and villainous, would have revealed a i a eal in the history of human nature. Could all those faces have had their tale written out in plain lish, such startling events might be brought to light as “‘Duiniings gan bling, fightin d general carousal nking, gambling, g and general caro’ were, as usual, the order of the evening, in which all hands were occasionally forced to cipate or ‘““ante out.’’ And then, like enough, that unlucky individual who refused to share the “fun,” would be followed and mauled by. the drunken crowd. This is how they do things in “ brown style " in the lively little unmapped city of Eureka. No man is too good to fight there—none need be too pious to absorb moisture at fifty cents a drink, or swear a streak as long as a search-warrant. The one church of Eureka had boasted of but one minister, who preached to a co tion of four or five \religfo ” with a pair of cocked re- volvers by the side of Bible on the pulpit desk. But he had, ere long, ti and flown other fields, where his effo: we hope, were more fully ent . wood Dick was among those within the room which constituted the saloon, but he was in deep disguise as a rough miner. He had a desire to see the wife of Carlos Cambre, whom it will be remem- bered, he encountered on the first night of his ar- rival in Deadwood. He knew she would aid him materially in discovering Cambre himself, if he were in hiding or disguise. He spied the petite little ere long, flit about and serving drinks to the thirsty patrons 0: the establishment. Pretty of face, he inwardly pro- nounced it a pity to see her spen her life in such aden as this, where oaths and indecent language were the order of the hour. It was some time before she passed where he was ES ee, SE ae eae te to hail er. ““What is it?’ she demanded, coming up with a number of beer glasses upon her tray. “Bring me a lass of light wine; aso one for your- self. I wish to with you a wuile.”’ “Who are you?” she questioned, looking him over, suspiciously. ‘‘ What do you want of me?” “You will learn in time. Fear not, for Iam Dead- wood Dick!”’ She — a nervous start, as if the intelligence sur- prised her; then nodded her head and went away. at wpe ful ap hour, and. Dick was gro ine impa- ent, when mroppreened, tenes e wine. “Indeed! have you come at You must im- agine a fellow’s appetite is not strong!"’ he said. “Tt is probably not stronger than that of these thirsty brutes around us,” was the reply. “I knew rico news more than beverage, so I let you Ww 1 bbl “* And have you news that will interest me?” “T just have. I have a story—or part of one—to tell you. But, first, what do you want to know?— what brought you here?” “ Curiosity—longing for adventure—want of news,” he replied, with a smile from his jetty-black orbs. ere is your so-called husband—Carlos Cam- “About town somewhere, plo mischief, as usual. Went up the gulch to-day, r Noisy Nell and Leone—” “What!” Deadwood Dick exclaimed, vio- lenis “Leone, you say—surely not my Leone—my wife Lal “Yes, your wife, Mr. Harris. She is here; has been here for a couple of weeks. Cambre has gota lot afoot to steal her babe, and deliver it up to this wood Dick No. 2, whoever that may be. I ed her,’and saw her and Nell Brandon ride uy; toward Bonanza Basin. Cam followed, and would have done likewise, only that my attention was called to matters here.” " And you do not know what became of them, “No, but I think they were far enough ahead to reach the Bonanza before he overtook them.” “Thope so. He is a worse villain than I ever be- fore took him to be. He was concerned in this Gayl- Toro was the Head insti ‘He was the ator of it!’ Martha re- plied. ‘‘I know all about it. He and Graylford’s son were in the plot eran seem pre’ thing. well posted upon every- ow do you know so much?” oft = pe 9. e time in shadowing m i into his secrets. “T improve my 5s faithless: husband. an find that there is a plot on the tapis, in which you are concerned. cannot give you the full ag now—not till I learn more. It ap hat this Fordyce Graylford has a wife and son siving by a first marriage. He deserted his first wife—or she deserted him, it is hard to tell which —and wedded again. Now this first wife wu and as soon as she can produce her son-heir, whom she has traced here to Eureka, she intends to a’ claim to the ee ata rather, intended to.. But, something happened which will for a time check her progress. bre entered into her service a few weeks ago, and has, while pees her trace up this missing heir, learned the whole story, and stolen all her pe SM agian 4 certifi- cate, birth-paper, and so forth—with the intention of taking the e into his own hands.” “But what all this to do with me?” Dick de- manded, wonderingly. “ You are the first and only lawful son of Cathie and Fordyce Graylford /” replied Martha, in a low tone, that her words might not be overheard. “Git out! what are you t to give us now? My parents are long since in their grave, for which I am_grateful to that they may not know the leva to which their son has sunk,” Dick re- ® “T have reason to think that you never knew sir, but cannot at present give ou any further information. Cambre holds the the possession of those papers, and eves "you to negotiate with you, when you meet. But, don’t rind him. pany opened the The glimpse Dick caught of a gleaming silver caused him to atane: ou are “Detective,” finished she, with a peculiar little laugh. ‘‘ You probably wonder how I came in pos- session of this bad My father was one of the shrewdest and most successful detectives on the border, and on his death, the honor of an — ment was conferred upon me, because I on several occasions materially aided him in capturing rogues. Thus I have the power to aid justice, even though but a woman. In my vocation here, me, and I am seem! interested. I must now go m e, Leone, for harm befall her, I could never forgive m: I trust this matter in your hands, and when you learn , and to, communicate, give a letter to She Murrill, and he will dropit m Deadwood Dick’s post-office.’ Then the young outlaw stalked toward the door of the saloon, looking strange in his rough dirty mining suit, and bushy red beard. But he was des- tined not to ren ts unnoticed, fornian. who had got a liquid © im, a b grin widening y, stubbly countenance. “Hello!” he exclaimed, pitching forward with a drunken leer, and extending his fn te “howdy do, Mr. Joaquin Murieta. Hoy under did oe ever find yer way down here? Remember the rr be eens wi’ ea Soong Salibuster the great water-melon 0’ Quin lats—’’ He did not have time to fish the remainder of his information, for Deadwood Dick pushed him quick- ly aside, and made a leap for the door, just in ame to escape a bullet from the revolver of Old t Roxly. He had evidently been ad and the Cali- fornian used as a delay- and trap. But this failed, for when the crowd swarmed out of the saloon Deadwood Dick was nowhere in “Oh! heaven, we are lost!"’ Leone exclaimed, as she beheld Cambre spurring madly toward them. “Ah! my pose baby boy, your battle against the a has indeed begun! How, oh! how will it “Do not despair, dear sister,’ replied Noisy Nell, “for there is nothing to fear, for yon. Ride on, un- til you reach the entrance the mine. You will not go amiss, for the sign ‘“‘ Deadwood Dick’s Bonan- will you toward the tunnel. Ride fear- e style of girls on grow in Eureka. Go on now, and trust in God: Had she not been incumbered with her child, she would not have hesitated to have faced Cconteeioar self. Noisy Nell waited with cool composure for the out- law to come up, one of her fair hands ing the bridle reins, and the other a small silver-plated re- volver, which covered Cambre’s a She had spent nearly all her
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{ f f t 10 blacken her name, but she held her own, and was re- spected by the ruffians—her greatest foes. Cambre she believed to be an arrant knave, yet she feared him the least of all those whom she had encountered, although she could not tell just why. He rode furiously up, but reined in when he per- ceived that her finger —— the revolver-hammer back to full-cock—and that the weapon never qua- vered a particle. He had heard of her prowess, and concluded it his wisest part to stop and hold a par- ley. ¥. Well?” he interrogated, his face flushed with anger. “what do you want? “What do want?’’ she returned, putting ques- tion for question. “T want to . Are you a highway robber, that you block the way?” ‘If you choose, yes. You are in pursuit of Leone Harris and her boy. You ought to know that she is not without friends, and I will tell you, further, that any attempt to steal her child will be useless. You cannot go any further in this direction, until she has had time to reach Bonanza Basin, where she will find a protector that you will not care to face.” e ex-lieutenant uttered a furious oath, ai.4 drop- ped his hand toward his belt. At the sa e. there was a flash and a report, followed by lof n and rage, as a bullet from her revolver pierced arm near the élbow, causing a stream of blood to spurt therefrom. “That's the ticket you get,” she cried, with a cool la “That is a short-trip ticket. Try any more such pretty moves, and I’ es you one that will ghtning time. Face- bs pip te pore h ad Eurek about, ap e 8) and away you go, a- ward, or Vit make a case for the coroner's investi- ting committee!’’ Cambre uttered a fiercer curse than before. He would have drawn a weapon and killed the girl, only that he knew that she would kill him. But one alternative was left, and that was to obey her com- mand. So he turned his animal around, shaking his fist at Nell, with an mn of savage ferocity upon his countenan t would have frightened a less fearless girl. , now, and get out of range as quick as possible, lest I be os ene to bullet-doze you yet!”’ She exclaimed, recocking her revolver, leisurely. “And mind that you don’t have business up this way again, while I’m around, or there'll be one clock wre “Oh! I'll have revenge for this, you she cat!” the baffled villain cried. ‘‘Look out for me, for your life shall a forfeit, or I’m a liar!’ ** Bah! spitz poodles are to be feared, for their bite is poisonous, but not such mongrel curs like you. Any time Phe} want anything of Noisy Nell, you know wite dia gown it b string of pie 1 e not re exce a ig oO ‘u as he spurs to his foaming animal, and Gemned down the ch toward Eureka. - Nell watched him till he had disa from view around a bend. Then she turn er own an- imal, and np toward Deadwood Dick’s Bo- nanza, a contracted expression of her brows betray- ing some anxiety about something. ‘He does not mean to give up?’’ she mused. ‘* Doubtless he can purchase friends with money to him carry out his plans.”’ ' She rode on, and fifteen minutes later stood in the miner’s camp in Bonanza Basin. Leone was the ha arrived safely, and Old Avalanche was tickled to death over her and young Master Dick. The old man was very fond of children, and he held the little bundle humanity upon his knee, as proudly as if he were its grandfather. Leone and Nell were given the hospitalities of the camp. It was a snug, secure little spot here in the basin; it reminded Leone of Flower Pocket, the home of Harry Redburn and Alice, whom Dick had “MThe day. paseo’ qk a nigh e Vv quickly, an t once more threw her shadows over the land. ne grew un- easy as darkness approached, for it brought to her a foreboding of danger. And it came. One of the miners returning from the announce- ment that a crowd of armed, masked men were swarming into the basin! CHAPTER XT, A “ SCRIMMAGE ’'—THE PHANTOM AGAIN. TxxE supposition was that Cambre had come with a gang roughs to make an attack upon the camp, probably with the intention of capturing its supp’ of prev ously-mined gold, and Leone or her chile. ‘Great ham-bone thet old Joner gnawed on!” ex- claimed the Annihilator, instantly springing to his feet, unmindful of the baby who was reposing in his lap, that youngster being under the painful necessi- ty of taking a tumble to the soft sandy earth. ‘‘To arms, boyees! ‘Gather yer spitzbe , an’ perpare fer lively music. Hoo-o-ray! I’m ther very disease w'at di ter innocculate etself émongut' & passel o’ ther enemy—ther great roarin’ flukin’ snow starm °’ a great awe-inspirin’ terrific - demic o’ demoralization an’ electric annihilation, w’at sweeps thru ther northern lett ndes an’ longy- toads like a ayn 0’ powdered fizzic thru an’ elefant’s co -The miners gathered in a compact body, and look- ed to their weapons. The fre wis kicked out, and the blackness of the night became more intense. All around lurked a thousand shadows that might easily screen ambushed foes from observation. The two women were thrust into the single tent, and this bey Dre by half of the men, while the other ; to command of Keno, by Avalan- che’s orders, withdrew to the further side of the gulch. When the attack should begin, they were to ~ Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. circle round the basin, to the tunnel entrance, there- b the escape of the enemy. Yvon this arre. a ent was made to his satisfac- tion, Avalanche, h Florence, the Rost, trotting by his side, crept off to reconnoiter. Not a sound given ing the last ten minutes, betraying the presence of enemies in the gulch. They were doubtless waiting for the coming of midnight, or else were creeping up from all sides, meaning to attempt surprise. _ Old Avalanche crept along with less noise than a cat would have made, using his eyes sharply, and oc- casionally pausing to listen, for although his ears were shaven off close to his ly old head, his sense of hearing was just as acute as when he pos- sessed these ornamental appendages, Old as was the Annihilator, he had lost none of his keenness nor wariness upon the trail. seemed to sharpen all his powers in this respect, in a gi cat bsg e crept stealthily along, and not less cautiously followed his companion, the billy goat. e animal seemed endowed with sense and knowledge almost human, sometimes; it had learned the uirements of the prairie and forest trail, and in others of our stories, we have illustrated some of its fighting ac- complishments, On more than one occasion had it proven its worth to the satisfaction of its dauntless master, “Steady, Florence, ; not much noise as ther skeeter made when he fell down stairs and broke his neck, Keerful, like,”’ the veteran cautioned, as the skulked along. “ these ornery skunks don’t git salibasted in short meter, ye can call ther a- tion a condemned fraud. How I'd like ter entwine my old claws in sum ha’r, jest about this percise mpoth stopped stock till, and lstensd” Ad oth stop ck still, an ned, r n sound through the soft sand, warned tome that some one was approac , And it was no doubt an enemy, as friends were not expected, now. Evidently the comer was also on a reconnoissance for et of his movements betrayed an attempt at s' ; “Watch out, now, my beloved jint!” whispered the old scout, softly, “an’ we'll errupt this Yortiint 5 constitoochin’, in less time ’n et es a bumblebee ter sock his stinger inter yer cheek, Just you creep around, an’ get his rear, while I hold ther front in solid shape.’ Florence seemed to understand the words, for with a sniff of assent he turned earipey to the left, and made a wide detour through the darkness, in order to get around behind the enemy. Avalanche crouched upon his knees, in the dense gloom, pa- tiently, well kno that not many moments would elapse ere he would be signalled to attack, or be at- tacked. And it came sooner than he had expected, and very much pace Ning 4 There was presently a loud shrill bleat; a vicious eee ues Monica ame mreeteat, Fag farm ot e goat came p e air. vain at- tempt the old scout made to avoid the calamity, but vain it was, for the fledg: -hammer head of the ani- mal struck him full in the stomach, and rolled him over and over like a rubber ball. Inthe darkness Florence had mistaken his victim, wrongly supposing Avalanche to be the enemy. It was several utes ere the old man could com- mand breath sufficient to speak, but when he could, he rolled forth such’'volumes of oratory to the poor ~ af would have astonished a Phillips or even a ebster, We will not attempt to put it down, for now a wild shout arises from a different portion of the basin, and there is a roar of fire-arms that breaks in upon the stillness of the night. Forgetting all about the injury done his bread-bas- ket, Avalanche scrambled to his feet, and, rifle in hand, plunged away toward the sound of the con- flict, which y aaahee to be at the camp, or in close iivatcnee wan Gili xt Tie: Jibiedl’ tly regre lorence was close a apparen t- ful of his mistake, and bound to be cerenged upon the enemy for his deception, The two circled around, and reached the camp from another side, a few moments later. The orng had ceased, and he found that after a feint of at the enemy had withdrawn, probably only to prepare for a fiercer and more determined onslaught. Of their numbers those in the camp had no id except that there were swarms of them, all arm with_rifles, “Great ham-bone thet fractured the jaw of old Joner!” the old scout exclaimed. ‘Let ’em cum, ef they wanter encounter a small-sized tornader—a cotchin’ disease o’ ther pra’ries. I’m thet disease— I an’ Flor’nce, my goat, an’ Prudence, my mare— we're thet. great eppyzootic. Lordy, my friends, I jest wish ye knew 0’ all o’ ther terrific exploits we three ’ve bin thru! It'd fill a book bigger’n a dozen Bibles. Sum apted historian once attempted ter in- terdoose us into the psalm-books, but they thort et war ous ter our names.”’ I've a old_skinflint by your name, sumwhere,” said Keno, were one eye and engulf- ing a huge quid of fine-cut. “P’r’aps et was you.” ust now a rifle report rung out, and one of the iners dropped in tracks, with a groan. Then me a series of triumphant yells, but no attack. The enemy were maneuvering, and picking off a man whenever opportunity offered. Thus matters stood at midnight. Neither the outlaws nor the miners had —— ly pe any Sarantase, for several had en on either side the loss about even, ‘The positions were not changed, worth mention- ‘the suspense of wai was more harrowing to the miners than would bate been a pitched battle. All were men who had fought life and foes witha strong hand—just that sort of men who would at any time rather fight than eat. But matters could not forever remain thus, and a short time after midnight, an attack was made in earnest, from the north and south side of the basin, The half of the men under Little Alf Coyle took things coolly, and fought with a desperate on that told upon the enemy, who wil rapi der a deliberate fire. Nothing as yet had been heard from the men un- der Keno, although a signal had twice been given for assistance. Their peley pupesren unaccountable, Finally the enemy withdrew again, greatly weak- ened in numbers, and when.they renewed the attack they had consolidated their separated forces into one body, on the south: side. Then on they came once more, with evident determination to sweep all before them, without further delay. Little Alf’s men had suffered a loss.of over half their number, and the forces now stood four to one, if not more. But bravely the miners met the onset, striking for life and ps with a desperation that was in fiself heroic. Revolvers were used in the. place of rifles, and the conflict became hand-to-hand. Slowly, but surely, the weaker y were driven back toward the northern wall of the basin, and they must have suffered total defeat, only that when all seemed |} there was a shout of encouragement, and Keno an his men attack d the outlaws in the rear, mowing them down like grain before the reaper, ; Unexpected, by the ruffians, was this timely aid. They made a feeble attempt at resistance, but in vain, They were shot down without mercy, not a man escaping the death he so richly ceocweds Victory was awarded the brave miners of Dead- wood Dick’s Bona but at what cost! Out of a gang of thirty men, n had pulled their last trig- ger. Nor was this all, During the last attack the defenders had drifted away from the camp, which was left forjthe time un- arded. As soon as the last shot had been fired, valanche and Little Alf hurried toward the tent, where the two girls had been left, but to their horror, found that they were missing. Ex-Lieutenant Carlos Cambre, was the instigator of the attack upon the Bonanza miners, but he took no part in it. He left all the management to one Jean Jago, a confederate in crime, while he remain- ed just outside the tunnel-entrance, in Eureka gulch. His orders had been to kill off the miners, take pos- session of the mine, and the two girls; Leone and Noisy Nell. As soon as the victory was complete, he was to be thus informed by a messenger, when he would come in and take command. Outside in the gulch he waited for the ee to appear, but in vain. Midnight came, with the sounds of the desperate battle; two o’clock, said the hands on his jeweled watch, and the sounds of con- flict were hushed in the basin; still no messenger. ae it be ses pe + * have ee riers _ ers W em?’ he growled, angrily. poe = so, or I should long ere this have been in- formed. Curse the luck! I will have to go and see for myself, I expect.” He waited a few minutes longer, and not being re- warded for his patience, he turned into the tunnel and hurried olang, awsee in a manner frightful to hear. This was handiest mode of expressing his rage. “th did not take him long to reach the basin, and he discovered that all was as he surmised. He saw the miners h about with torches, os among them being Avalanche and his — This told him that his men were extinct or had been taken prisoners, “They are searching for some one or something!”’ he muttered. ‘Perhapsitis the two females? Some of my men may have smuggled them off, and are waiting for a ce to escape. In that case they will bring them to head-quarters, so I will get out, leat be seen, and this crime be thrown upon my g name.” He laughed sarcastically at the idea, and then turned back into the tunnel, and after a brisk walk of a few moments he gained the end opening out in- to the gulch, and was about to step out, when his gase became riveted upon an appari htful, that tion so frig he was rooted to the spot, and a deathly pallor dusky features. That mysterious spirit of the air, the Phantom Miner, stood only a few yards away in all its ghostly w and sur- rounded by the unearthly halo of bluish light, which was gy of the es of burning brimstone in —— , dam re had heard of the Phantom—heard hardy miners tellof encounters with the 5: n men who claimed to have spent weeks in to kill or capture the thing; but he bad never before seen it , and therefore his terror. He trembled in every limb, but was powerless to move, and a clammy perspiration broke out upon his face, as he perceives | that the ghostly thing was coming nearer and nearer in a slow, gliding motion, one finger of the outstretched Fore direct- y toward him, and the end of that finger shone like and a low, unearthly —— such as might emanate his, horrified, Cambre stood like a statue, his terror expressed in bulldog courage. thing, be it ghost or devil. Words came, after a pause,in a low, sepulchral
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The Phantom Miner. 11 ve a whisper, yet loud enough for etankre . “Man, thou hast’ burdened thy soul with crime— dyed am A hand deep in the blood of thy fellow-men. Retribution will be thine, God’s holy hand shall smite thee, Make what reparation thou while life remains. Give up the papers _— hast stolen unto me, or the fire of ven, ce shall shine in the ont and a thunderbolt. shall plow the earth at th Tne x words sent a deeper horror into the heart of Cambre. He was positive that he was standing in the pres- ence of oun pa. cumeenature’ being; he believed the words, and that, unless he pheved the penalty would be a sudden and frightful deat “T have not the openers here. They are locked up in my room, in Eureka!’’ he in terror. “Here is the key, or I will bring them to you!” ‘Bring them!’’ returned the Phantom, tersely. “Put them in thy purse, and we will meet again.” Then, to his great, horror, the n to rise sowiy, ay he saw it tloat up into the ess, and Wee gras from view. { mystery was this? omere earthly coming to populate this God forbid that we ever meet again,” the terri- fied villain muttered, as he leaped into the gulch, and sped away. not CHAPTER XII. ‘““rHe KIND OF A MAN I AM!’’—RED-HOT’S ADVENTURE AND ENCOUNTER WITH DICK NO. 2. Nor yew was it morning, when Cambre s hted the city, yet all the saloons, stores and gam dens were in full blast. Cambre’s terror, owing to his long run, had some- what abated, by the time he yenches the town, — traces of aoe still were visible upon his swarthy visage. e had never before experienced such a bo See ‘he muttered, biting fie (eee Sn poms to ent woul ion of the eaven! I wo believe it was ee host at all, cay that I saw it float so m retched pk oe Ge easing “40 tie venw as ford ee not surrender pa- pers—never / ores ‘ord soon die, then there be no one to dispu tomy. ht to this fortune. Let Deadwood Nice bo fo to evil!”’ “Oh! no; not to the devil yet, my larkie!”’ cried Tbe sarcastic voice, and a horseman wheeled out of an alley directly in front of the ex-lieutenant, whose words had been spoken loud enough to be heard, “‘ Not to the devil, by any means. The devil wouldn't race his domains by taking in two such villains Tong ant, Cambre. Our souls were scorched, ~ she sai ying her hand, Spee. n his arm, “I should mot deta think you wo * Hello! Sc hat struck miss?’ Red-Hot ejacu- lated, staring at the li and pretty face, in evident amazement. “I at er guess you’re barkin’ up the wrong tree.” iY Oh pene! you can’t pull coarse wool over m. thou artha retorted, with alaugh. ‘I’m no foo! o h I look it.”’ ? you ain’t?” the poker-player said, perplex- edly. ‘Well, by Jove, there’s a screw loose some- where. Who are you?” “T am ha Comer: beer-slinger and detec- are, s he deserted wife of Carlos Cambre replied, a = erry, twinkle in her eyes. “You are Deadwood c 7 ae piel mei groaned audibly; then muttered «By heaven! in. a-ais oe neoner of e thrown u my face, 8a, suppos 7g ou had a a Foe who a not as Pal yt as Ps might te Would you like it if people were to constan take “No. See ou for her?”’ u are no brother of this Deadwood Dick. He told me so while here to-night. And now, who are you—Deadwood Dick, or his double? Iti is eqpece I must know—and you can answer it.”’ arris whistled a few notes from a quaint moun- taineer’s so’ i pied around ei heel; then stared straight at Martha, Pit Red-Hot Haris, hes he said, me be neds Sy one ne else knows better who Iam than I ieee my- » why Vl drop the name, and apply to Congress for @ new one,’ “You ard emma th Dick,” the little detective rsisted, coo. te patho you know what happened at nanza mine “How should I?” ith a blank look. “Well, Carlos Gomi aka up there with a band of men SRE Te and steal the baby from vor w baiag toe ne!”’ ha ked | at the pokerist, just then, ex- poctine some sign of emotion. But the face of a carved statue was never more placid ‘cas that of Red-Hot Harris: Not a visible start betrayed that he was in the least interested. ‘Carlos Cambre went and esrigag came!” he PI Gens with a smile. ‘‘ H alone. dying, didn’t further his aims,” hou araek: in riddles. He got aimee then?” Badly!” ** How do you know?” “Tt makes no difference.” And the young gentleman turned away, as if the conversation was growing monotonous. He kept his eye open one man in the room, and that ns was r, ss was watch- iain MBuddenly the eyes of the pokerist pilaf = he elbowed his way through the crowd, a a pati | th immediately when it was seen that ‘he held = ome! of six-shooters in his hands. traight up to the bar, and onto it leaped the _—— occupying the position he had once upon a fn hand. ous oceasion, though then he héld no weapons Giada 1” hecried, his voice out clear- ly, ‘there is a little matter I wish to ur presence. When first I came to Eureka, I dle- it down. I want to see that chap, and bu’ 7 this he —that’s the kind of a hairpin Jam!” Not a murmur came from the crowd, as the tka | bravo was § , but when he had Roxly stepped forward, a grim, pucke expres- sion about his mouth, te rg See ay exclaimed, a sternness = aa ae oe the Regulator of Ration ge be guilty eve oven a hog would hesitate to commit such an insult to the nation.” intended ter give us *ye want smoibing °’ Please make a ring, { Sena itte es. , sana ve this bizness thro Red-Hot weapon tp. She floor, and Bed off his jacket a t, and a ! what d’ye intend to do?” Roxly demand- “To fight ‘you, and black both of your eyes, smash om nose your teeth down your throat, polish mr ott aa nerally demolish ou, ea replied Mot “Come! strip your “No. you. We'll try other weapons than eg the tor sneered. ‘I’m no prize-fighter.” a ery be: Tain’t ae if you ackngwled hat’s e of a man Jam ou manenetee our- self a ul ot laughter ech ‘and see “ ‘ thromat the me “Aa d silladnons were most of A shout of ay were the very ones to admire ons even rol crowd, dare-devil character as was this Red-Hot Harris. “ Hurra! bed es eee yelled Cal Buckskin, enth see, geelorious pil- ?—thar’s a leak in in "RO *s constitoochin, w’at’s et all ther sand run out!”’ “ Craw-fish!’’ yelled ate, the Regulator etiaiaa Dalene, wi withou oe his coat or belt No s) , now!’’ — Red-Hot, as he spat on hishands, ‘If to use of th those implements in your belt, sate ll take your life, instead of some of the conceit out of you. One, two, three, sow, and ae you come, like a full-grown African on me Pay men pee forward, and cane the oawigy ren en been a bout of ing and thrusti: . eas. both to the spec talons and the varies con- cee it soon became evident, was no slouch at the business, for he was wary. defensive, and agile as acat. But he was no match for Red- the “‘ boss’ from Virginia Ci assured from the battered emy’s countenance, Both of Roxly’s eyes were soon meer ly oe oaks ee ~ iaaen . out of 8 ut he grew despera’ e€ more et re aned. and Sprote forward to ch in a death-h Foolish was this rer ot ‘blows ho vet for Red- OW! ot Harris, ity, which soon became appearance of his en- cacy rained S shower of to his “wd te which s hd ang Still he was undaun and rushed forward, but a Senile ane Siow from Harris’s clenched white fist, b hurled es the bar, in a heap. ith ae a ‘he drew a revolver, and despite the fact that he had been warned that such an action would be his ee he sent a bullet, well- aimed, tow ene kerist’s heart. A ety of indigna n came from the crowd, at this penetrate, irene earl = as for you, you cow- ard,”’ turning ‘0 Roxly, w. o had Rbk his feet. : our life steal pay t ong forte ir e Borns age Se r, and bore him to anther moment the revolver was por Ry rep ron ay and there came a report. ounded was Roxly, ‘Sut not dead! Then Red-Hot sp to his feet, and swung the still smoking weapon above his head, “Does 5 Age 3 47) to hes I didn’t do it fair?’ > he cried, eyes blazi ; out, and Tl show ye the kin “eee aman] am{’ A rent th “Burra! ther tor ia it fair—jes’ ’s fair as ary man ken_do!’’ came the response from a dozen “‘Hurra fer Red-Hot!”’ A general good-will toward the aos beatae spemned. manifest, and drinks w ordered all aroun Harris did not imbibe, but do le betook himself from the ~ E aie ts few ay now abroad; one penis was betes the gulch, and at him Red- = 6 re Gals a glance as he hurried toward d bo os hts to notice that he was followed, and that, y the lone horseman. Pte was not aware of the fact until he saw a noose settle at him, boa draw taut above his waist, pin- po arms to his side, and jerking him to the tj ‘int moment he felt a revolver-muzzle pressed a temple, and a full-masked face g over ’ “Hal ha!” cried a voice, evid a disguised one, “so this is ba econ is it? ximorning, Deadwood Dick Number one! Sorry to see you such a plight, but there was no other way to Ect at me_to introduce myself—your double, ou. Deadwood Dick Number two!”’ curse escaped Red-Hot’s li Ake cs What means this foo! he dcmanded, an- ory means,” replied Number 2, with a chuckle, “that you are my prisoner. I have been awaiting the opportunity to capture you for a long while.” RED-HOT IN DURANCE—A BOLD PLAN, THE announcement caused a flame of deeper er to flush the cheek of pepe ged Harris. He = he was wholly in the er of this Deadwood Dick No, 2, whoever he +44 e, tor aside from his hands pinioned to his sides “4 es the cocked revolyer stared him threa' e face, He was no coward, but he saw Moat for the prpsese attempted resistance would be worse than useless— wo speedy death. uld insure his 5; “Yes, you are my prisoner,” No, 2 repeated, tri- uh alee You do not know me now, W, but you ere long, and will be astoni shed. Ihave a cave o and there we will will £9. Perhaps ‘ou may remain there some time; so case © ony: you would have done here below, first, nam: Twill attend to it, to the best of my ability, for ¥ No, thaok ou. Tam note peng ack tae with bered such,” Red-Hot Pepe, ¢ | Holaing or hale me a me 6 pelea aye my Dead oen an ‘Dick, the rood -agent, perishe and business man, and cares that at “But, see here; if e idea that you are in error. nearly @
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12 month ago. So you see that — are not holding on- to the trump card, as you im e.”” “The devil!” No. 2 ejaculated; ‘“‘ but I do not be- lieve this trash. I have a test at my retreat, that will bring out the truth of the matter. Come; rise to your feet, and march along before me. No funny pe oar now, or I'll put you out of your misery, in style!” s %. Well, I suppose there is no help for it,’’ Harris growled, rising to his feet. ‘* Whither away, you cuss?” “Straight ahead, up the gulch. Turn only on or- der, and attempt to draw no weapon, and will be — Forward!” -Hot stalked off, biting savagely at his lip, while No. 2 followed closely behind, kee hold of the lasso with one hand, and grasping revolver in the other. Bound was he that the boss ker-player should not escape him, if vigilance could prevent it. The march was a long and tiresome one, They left the gulch a mile above the Bonanza mine, strik- po J a defile much narrower and more totuous which Le Peete into the mountains. All around were steep crags, ya chasms and dizzy declivities; and over the y omntate a dense pine for- est cast its shadows. Day dawned, and tinged the peaks rosy red; still the tramp continued, nor did it end until noon, when they entered a mountain cave, far above the level of the western plains. There was — one apartment to it, and this was rudely furnished with rough stools, a table, and sev- eral piles of skins, sho that it had some day been tenanted by a hunter or ek net Indeed, one of this ies of individuals sat before the fire now, engaged in roasting some bits of venison—a tough, blear-eyed, villainous-looking man, of five-and-forty, in whose face the word “cutthroat” was p y written. “Here we are, at last!’’ the bogus Deadwood Dick cried, as they entered the cave. “ Wake up, Cork and disarm this fellow, and bind him. He is the b I have been planning to ge oe “Eh! ish dot der poy?” rkus forward and scrutinizing Red-Hot, critically, dot Deadtwoot Dick?” “The same notorious reprobate!’’ No. 2 laughed, tauntingly. ‘‘The amiable gentleman I have been ee to counterfeit.” — ‘You're a liar!’ replied Red-Hot, as hotly as his name might have implied, ‘‘and if you'll give memy freedom, I can lick thunder out of both of you in less time than it takes to say Eureka! a ed off one conceited lark last night, and ain’ id to try you a whirl.” “No, I thank you!”’ No, 2 nae with a sarcastic smile. ‘I am not risking any thing when matters in my leapde are sure. I'll soon show you that I let things mature before I strike.” Corkus deprived Red-Hot of all the weapons on his rsop, and pushed him away into a corner where here were plenty of skins to te gree This done, he and No. 2 re to the portion of the cave where the fire was burning, leaving the un- lucky poker-player to his reflections. Vas In the Bonanza mine great excitement prevailed on the discovery that Leone and her babe, and Nell Brandon, were missing from the tent. Only two sur- mises could be made concerning their absence— either they had become frightened and fled in ter- ror to get out of the mice of the bey Pompene or else they had been captured by some of ruffians, and spirited away. is seemed the more Farag and search was immediately made in the _—, which resulted in the ae no gf by Little Alf an Avalanche, of Nelly Brandon, lying insensible, not far from the camp. An ugly cut upon her forehead, over the temple, had evidently caused her uncon- wre toee halite thet paralyzed the larn, “ Grea -bone the e yx uv old Joner!’’ the Annihilator ejaculated, picking the sender in from Pye ground, rye it —, y towardcamp. ‘“ settles ther question, as ther oyster shell eed wen it went down ther Trishman's Mrs. Leone an’ ther piccaninny hes encoun- tered a condemned snow-starm 0’ di ty, an’ bin wafted away on sum boreal breeze.’ “Et looks kinder thet way,” replied Alf, dubious- ly. ‘‘Mebbe. thes gal ken give us an ijee on ther subject, as soon as she returns from thet *** Distant hemisphear From which no man returneth.’ “Ef the leetle woman’s run off with, here’s what’s goin’ ter search for her.” ‘*Hayr, too, I’m tellin’ ye!’ replied Avalanche. ** Deadwood Dick shen’t never say thet ther cavortin’ old devastatin’ disease 0’ these lattytudes, didn’t act levil wi’ him an’ his’n. Why, thet desarted wife o’ his’n is sweeter than all ther molasses an’ sh r in ther hull world! Never see’d only one sweeter female, an’ thet waz Wild Edna. She war actooally so sweet that the honey on her lips would form into shugger crusts, and she'd trade et for balls an’ pow- der, at ther fort.” Water was dashed into Nelly’s face, and her hands gently chafed, but it was some time ere she recover- ed consciousness sufficiently to tell what had occur- red. She seemed dazed and bewildered, but a swal- low of liquor from Keno’s flask seemed to right her yoga and she glanced around her with a shud- er. “ Are they gone?”’ she agen “Bet yer Sife—gone whar ther whang-doodle wheres” doart quote en rimes, please!” , ere!’’ don’t quote enny more es, please wled ‘Arplanche, in d ‘ “especially. if ou en’t do it skientific. Thar war my brother, 5 throat. er —durnedest coon fer poetry ye eversee’d. Hed him pnd coming: Beadle’s .Half-Dime Library. | arrested, a —_ in ban ar nit fer Seana ther edi- tor uv a political paper crazy wi’ campaign try Anuther time, he prevented an Injun attack at Laramie, by ridin’ out an’ readin’ an everlastin’ strin’ 0’ poetry about the muses, to the Injuns. . Eh? miss; no, thar ain’t a live outlaw prisent, ’cept w’at’s layin’ around dead.. Whar’s Mrs. Leone?”’ ‘Oh! she’s gone! she’s gone!”’ Nelly cried, burst- ‘““We ran out of the tent to escape ing into tears. the bullets, and the danger of being cut down b two men saw and followed us.. One man snatched the babe from her arms, and fled. She ran scream- ing in pursuit, and I would have followed her, only that the other man struck me, and I knew no more.” “Then, thar’s bizness fer ther great firm o’ Ava- lanche, Goat and Mare, hullsale Injun Annihilators!”’ declared the old man, fiercely. ‘*‘ We three ken find that innercent baby ef enny mortal can. When all ther masheenery o’ ther acchievements gits inter mo- tion, I tell ye there’s bound ter be a rupture sumw’ar erlong ther ecrater.”’ “Oh! sir, I fear you cannot find her,” sobbed Nelly, piteously. ‘“‘Those men may have dragged her away and murdered her. I believe it was Carlos Cambre’s intention to do so.” ‘*Wall, we'll hope fer ther best,’’ the Annihilator said, soberly. ‘ We'll wait till daylight, and then en- deavor to s' up a trail.” The rest of the miners now came flocking irregu- larly into camp, with the report that there was no one alive within the basin except themselves, nor any signs of the missing Leone and her child. ch forced the conclusion that she had been = off by the two ruffians, to imprisonment or eath, Under the cover of darkness graves were dug, and the dead outlaws and miners were consigned to their last resting-places. After this duty was performed, the miners all athered around the camp-fire, and waited for day- fight sleep was not thought of after the excitement Morning came, at last, with a cold, ye Novem- ber rain, which in this region is about all the winter that the inhabitants experience. After the morning meal Avalanche saddled Pru- dence Cordelia, and prepared for his de ure. Noisy Nell having concluded to go back to her post in the Man-Trap, was comfortably mounted upon the old mare, the Annihilator having volunteered to give her passage as far as Eureka, where he and Little _ pro) to go first, having left the mine in eno’s ¢ s Cathie, the discarded wife of Fordyce lford; was very much Py tiie oe after she found t she was powerless to do gf —— account of the theft of her proof-papers. ith Bolton, her lawyer, she still retained apartments at the Flag of Truce, hard- ly knowing what she was waiting for, now that her hopes and intentions had all been dashed by the treachery of Cambre. Still, she was a persevering woman, and was determined not to give up while a chance re- mained. Bolton had met her in San Francisco, and becom- ing interested in her case, had volunteered to ae her prosecute it, he having been promised a libe fee, should she succeed in obtaining her rights. They had first gone East, and procured such evi- dence as they were able, after which they had tracked Graylford to Deadwood, and then to Eu- reka. Cathie’s only hope was in the discovery of a lost son. If she could and enlist him in her cause, he could, on Graylford’s death, claim every cent’s worth of the mors 3 But lost son was not so easily found. He, too, had been traced to Deadwood, but on their ar- rival there, they found that he had lately emigrated to ae unknown. e day after the battle at Deadwood Dick’s Bon- anza, Bolton rushed into Cathie’s room, pell-mell, like some overjoyed ra ete = ‘*Good news, so cheer up!”’ he cried, dropping his beaver, and seating himself, with a thiatnees tite cross of the lower extremities. ‘‘ Deadwood Dick, or Ned Harris, is here in Eureka!” Cathie looked up, a hopeful, anxious expression upon her face. ‘* Really, truly?” she demanded, as if she doubted the fact. “Are you sure?” “Yes, Iam sure. There are evidently two Dead- wood Dicks, according to all report, and then there is another fellow, who calls himself Red-Hot who looks as much like your notorious son as your- self, and you very much resemble him.” + Yes, but which of these three is my son?” ‘““Ah! that’s the stick. No one seems to know which is genuine. But I shall keep watch, and en- deavor to find out.” *T have a little more hope, then. But, did you hear from Fordyce?” “Yes. He is no better. The man in attendance who pretends to have an extended knowledge of surgery, says that he cannot live the week out. His wounds and old age cannot but use him ot “Poor man,” Cathie said, wiping away the that had risen to her eyes. ‘But that he would curse me, I would go to him. Ah! that we had never parted! But he was so miserly and cruel, that I believed life with him would be an endless torture.” “Tt will be necessary,” the attorney said, gravely, “for you to go and see him before he dies. rha: he might be willing to conciliate. I will keep in- formed of his condition, and take time. In the meantime, I have work on hand. Carlos Cambre, it appears, has a wife living here in Eureka, who is in the detective business, having put the harness on her own back, when her father She accosted me to-day, and we had a long talk. She knows all about our business here, and Campbre’s theft of the documents, which keep us from W6rk- ing. We are going to attempt to break into his room to-night, and resteal them.” “Oh! God grant that you may be successful, sir,” = lady muttered, as Bolton took his hat and arose e . “Tf nothing happens we pare obs them, unless he ins to have them concealed on’ his person, which we doubt,’’ he said, retiring with a bow. That evening about the hour Cambre was supposed to be at supper, Bolton met Martha near the Man- Trap saloon, and they hurried away. Cambre had rooms ina lodging-house at the fur- ther side of the oy and got his meals at a restau- rant some distance from his rooms, so that the plan of the two tte “ar to be successful, if they could only find the villain out. When in sight of the lodging-house, Martha left Bolton, and went to see if the ex-lieutenant was at a neighboring restaurant, where she hoped to find him. She soon returned to the attorney with the an- nouncement that he was there, drinking with a half dozen of Deadwood Dick’s old band, who had just arrived on the evening stage. “Now, come on, and the papers are ours!’ she said. “Ihave a duplicate key of the room, filed to fit from an impression. Get your revolvers in readi- ness, and follow me.”’ They hurried up the street, and entered the build- ing, ascending a pair of stairs to the second floor. It was a general lodging-house, and no one of the two or three persons encountered noticed them. Martha led the way to Cambre’s room, and for pre- caution, knocked upon the door; and there was @ halloa from within! CHAPTER XIV. AN ASTONISHING DISCOVERY—THE GIRL ROAD-AGENT. Rep-Hor Harris was left lying in one corner of the cave, and was not again molested during the day. Corkus brought him a slice of venison and a cup of water, at dark upon which to_ appease his appetite, which had been keenly aroused by his long tramp. A short while after, Deadwood Dick No. 2 came, and seated himself near the prisoner, as if for a talk. He was still attired in the jetty suit of buck-skin, with gloves, hat and mask to match, which made -— such a clever imitation of the genuine Ned Har- S. “Well?” Red-Hot in ted, an, ; Manag- elbow, hat do you ing fe raise himself upon want.” ouayiee hod —_ re na sl 6 hao ing the or- er a strange, nse —‘* what Well, Ts t tired of talking to old Gor- kus, and thought I’d come and let you amuse me. I am sometimes weary of the old *tch’s stories.”’ ‘* Well, I am sorry to say you've clumb the wro tree, for amusement!” Red-Hot replied. ‘“‘I am no in much of a mood for conversation.” “Oh! you ain’t? But I reckon you will become interested, by and by. Do you know what I have ae ou here for, sir?” “No; Tam sorry to say that I hav’n’t the slight- est Se sir road-agent.” “Well, then, I will tell you. Deadwood Dick. when you left your wife, and came here, I foun our wife was about to follow; sol came also. My heart was filled with bitterness, which ually dis- sipated into resolve. I have lately found that she is the mother of a child rs as well as hers: and this discovery caused a definite plan of attack against you, Ned Harris, you will find that you have one to fight out this duel—yes, exter- that is human. minate everything in my path , to at- tain my object.”’ ‘““Humph!”’ Red-Hot drawled, coolly. ‘I do wish, ou must talk, that you would say some- I don’t care roar Dick, nor your contemplated revenge. If you new eno, I shall boss poker-player, was extremely provoking, and oor rate the | Kk Fs evowlel Whatt t is ™ e er,”’ he growled. “ at I wan for you to adutowledge that you are wood Dick, and then I will surprise you.” “You'll wait till your teeth decay, Pm thinkin’, before Z shall eee an. g of the kind!’ rted Red-Hot. ‘ Did I not tell you that Dead- reto wood Dick is dead?” “Yes; but you lied.” “Did I? No, I think not. Deadwood Dick is dead; Edward Harris dives /” “ Ah! I see,"’ No. 2 said, comprehendingly; ‘‘ and you are Edward Harris.” “T am!’ was the aN, attempt at deception—this Red- “Then why this Bao Breer si ‘ hnisw coh “The name was suggested a fellow me a red-hot customer cated Pith. en 1 left the Hills, I dropped the name of Deadwood Dick—buried it as we bury the dead, intending never to use it again. But 1 find that to be an impossibility. I came here as Harris, and they recognized me, and I aires them down. = bee ved off the hair that wn upon my ’ rea. treks as Red- Hot Frarriy. e character, by cone erable i i ing’ and ‘brass,’ was partially successful. ess the Eurekaites are OGavinesd that I am Red Hot arris!”’ “Probably. I knew keg were Deadwood Dick— the eyes of love are er to deceive than those of uninterested curiosity-seekers.”’
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The Phantom Miner. Harris started, and gazed keenly at the a: a wrinkle disfiguring the placldy of his forehead. “What do you mean?” he demanded, suspiciously. “By heaven! can it be you, Leone, in disguise?” There was a bitter little laugh of sarcasm; then the answer: ‘No, not Leone; she would have more leniency on you than I shall have. Wait a moment, and you shall see whom you have to expect mercy from?” Saying which, No. 2 arose and glid away into the darkess of the cave. It was some ten minutes later when a slight, girlish reappeared and stood before the ex-road-agent; and he started vio- lently, and uttered an exclamation of astonishment. ‘*My God! is that you, Hdith Stone ?” ‘“‘ Yes, itis I, Ned Harris—the girl who loved and still worships you—the girl who has schemed for many long days, and now has you in her power. Dick,’ and the beautiful girl-woman came closer, “you are mine now, forever, In this mountain eats you must spend the rest of your days with me!’ “My heaven! I thought you were dead—drowned in the Aide hye girl,’ Deaiveot replied, gazing at her, wonderingly. ‘‘ But, es see you before me, as foolishly and hopelessly blind as you were before.” “No, not hopelessly, Dick. You are mine, now, beyond all other claim—mine, forever. I don’t sup- pose you will become reconciled to your lot, for a while, but I can ‘ bring you to your oats,’ as the ex- ression goes. If love and Yerntnine persuasion won't 0 it, force will!” “Ah! you are comb’ force with infatuation, eh?” Dick said, slowly. ‘‘ You seem to be consider- ably below what I’d estimated you to be. What force could you use, that you for one moment im- agine would make Deadwood Dick yield—give up his paso his manhood, to lead a doub life with you ” “Tt need not be doubtful; you could take me East and marry me. As to the force, I shall soon come into gs iene of a infant aoe You ar then Swear, you_hold sacred, that you will marry me, or Corvus shall cut the brat’s throat from ear to ear, right in your presence. How like you the pic- ture, Ned Harris?’ “T cannot say that I particularly admire it!” Dick replied, in his grim way. “Nei do I believe I fear in that direction.” mous act as that. Besides, you have not got the child yet, and are not likely to get it.” ‘““Don’t be surprised if I have it in my possession before .to-morrow, this time. As to the other. part, the brat shall die, if you remain obstinate, and your red-headed wife follow suit. Don’t el fear to do this, or an A despe wo- man is sometimes worse a desperate man. I am desperate, and determined that you shall be mine, no matter at what cost. I gave up my father, friends and a grand home and luxurious life, all for you, and do you imagine I will let anything balk my esigns? No! I would kill you, even, before I would relinquish you to that other girl. Irretrievably you are mine.’ Dick did not reply. He saw that she was terribly in earnest, and he wondered how he was to find ex- trication from this dilemma, which involved not only himself, but his darling Leone, whom he now loved tenfold more than ever before. Old Avalanche and Little Alf conducted Noisy Nell to Eureka, and set her- down in front of the Man-Trap. Then they stabled_ Prudence Cordelia, and with the eccentric goat following at their heels, wandered about town, using their eyes and ears, and instiga- part beige Angin “pan t they were om successful. No had been seen of her, and they finally arrived at the conclu- sion that she had not come to town. ‘“*Great ham-bone thet choked old Joner,” the An- nihilator at last grunted, when they gave up the search. ‘Ther great snow-flake ’s struck a snag an’ collapsed, I reckon. I ken’t see w’ich way ther boreal breeze kin advantageously waft now.” ‘Nor I,” replied Coyle. ‘But I’m pretty well satisfied the woman never cum here, or else she airs eh ha bo ! I-s"pose righ “Great ham-bone! I, ou’re t; an’ yet I orfully hate ter give up ter the noshun thet she’s becum crow fodder!” “Oh! no fear fer that. She's plucky, an’ got grit enuff fer sixty common gals, ? Avalanche?” “Wal, Iruminate she hes. But speakin’ o’ spunk an’ grit, ye jes’ orter see’d a gal yer umble sarvent one’t went ter court, wi’ sum intentions ter ask her ter agg part nov eppydemic’s harness fer lifetime. e war a Hoosier an’ great scriptural ham-bone thet killed Joner! sech a temper 4 truly prevented a disaster. When ane got roarin’ mad she'd" ! d’ye see them two fellers a-comin’ down ther he? Guess so. see %ém?” “Yes—two rough-loo evidently miners—one a bag o’ sumthin’ slung behind **Karect! an’ don’t et enter yer an 0’ phre- nology, thet thar mought be sumthin’ is thet bag as would suit our fastidgeous tastes?’ was the query, and the young scout watched the approaching men narrowly. ‘‘Jaws o’ ther whale thet masticated old Joner! dey a sharp ‘un, boyee. _Mebbe thet very same contains an infant prodigal or whatever you it. °*Twon’t do ter let them men go unobserved, that is sartin.” **O’ course not. We'll let ’em slide by, an’ then we'll foller,’’ Coyle said. The two men drew back behind a clump of bushes, and allowed the two miners to , which they did. Both were large, burly-looking fellows, evil.of coun- tenance, and huge of muscle. Neither looked too good for the commission of almost any crime. “They’re genuine ‘toughs’ of the blood and 9 pag order,’ Coyle muttered, as they tramp- “Yas, reg’lar old cavortin,’ buckin’ hyenas!”’ as- sented the Annihilator, with a grunt. ‘‘Cusses ter lick wi’ brute force, but no more’n a bundle o’ chips ef ye git ther drop on ‘em, or work skientifically. Ef ’tain’t Deadwood Dick’s offspring they’ve got in thar; et’s sumthin’ they’re mighty keerful uv. See what a grip thet eoon hes got onter ther bag.” ‘* Yes, ther kid’s in thar, no doubt. Come, let us saunter along and see whar they go to. Sech game ain’t picked _ 4 every day. Keep ther goat d, or ther de’il will be to td “Not much, I don’t,” the Annihilator replied, eae A ‘Whar wafteth this boreal breeze 0’ de- struction, wafteth one or more o’ ets liar j’ints. Leave Florence Night-in-a-gale? o, siree] I’m telling you.” s° right; cum along then or they’Il—by thunder they’ve escaped us, now. Where are they?” While they werespeaking the two ‘ toughs” had led in with the crowd that swarmed in the gulch, and were lost from view. Cursing their own stupidity both Coyle and Avalanche = forward a elbowed their way along in pursuit, but all in vain. Their most careful efforts failed to discover the pair of villains, or where they had gone to. Like shadows they vanished. Itwas a bitter disap- pointment to our two friends, who had calculated upon an victory. ‘* We're ed again,” Coyle said, h lessly. “We may’s well hang up the fiddle and the bow.” “Great ham-bone, no/ We'll not give up Ps Thar’s thet Careless Cambre; the babe will doubtless be delivered inter his hands, It tharfore behooves a ter keep our optical masheenery glued onter They wandered about aimlessly during the day— not really aimlessly, for ee were constantly look- ing for Camnbes, whom Avalanche had once seen, and thought he should be able to recognize again. Little was a good poker-player, and so they went into the Man-Trap saloon and amused them- selves for a while. Noisy Nell came around to their table shortly, perhaps because she was very fa- vorably impressed with the looks and apparent worth of Coyle. And his good opinion of her was not lessened by the fact that she occupied so undesirable a tion within one of the worst haunts in Eureka. He saw that she was modest when modesty was called for, and brave and fearless when the case demanded; and to say the little scout admired her, would be oy. drawing it mild. e was not a bad-looking fellow himself, twenty- five summers in this wayward world having dealt with him kindly. “Hev ye seen anything o’ Careless Cucumber?”’ Avalanche demanded, as she came up. “No, He has not been in here since I came,”’ the you found tidings of Mrs. r"? “Nary a tidy, my gal. Saw a couple o’ ‘toughs’ —one kerried a bag on his back, in w’ich a baby Nell announced, ‘‘ and then went out 6 “The deuce they did! An’ did one tote a °’ sumthin’ on his nigh shoulder, w’ich mought ’a’ a baby 3 a@ condensed ‘arthquake?” o es bal “Which way ’d they go?” “T cannot tell. I did not watch them; only no- ticed them by chance.” Avalanche and Little Alf rose to their feet simul- taneously. “We ma pie ‘em by visitin’ the different sa- Tit Siee, peteactty,” the old ted. ust my ijee, , the old man assen' **For’a’d, march—you take the lead—the dirt allus et thauk yeu.” kit amiled, bo Nelly, and you,” wing to > an 1 the way toward the door. “ Ayslouch some- times follows the broom, also.” They went out, and made a round of all the sa- loons, without result, until. they were ing from the last one, when they came face to face with Car- los Cambre. CHAPTER XV. THE PAPERS—EYES MIGHTIER SOMETIMES THAN THE SWORD. ; eth Peg — Lawyer gaol, shrunk back n ice m wi .respo) to the little woman’s knock. A shrill halloa, it we in a woman’s voice, evidently; but it told the two coun’ lotters that their coast was not clear as they What ghall we do? This is scrape 6 shall we a deuce of a to be caught in,” the disciple of Blackstone cd, clutching Martha bythe arm. ‘ Our game is ed; let us escape.” “You can go, if you want to,” Martha replied, 13 calmly. “T ain’t quite so far gone as to back out now; and as if to carry out her assertion, she took a little shining revolver from among the folds of her dress. 4 ‘*Halloa! w’at the debbil you’s want?’’ came again from the inside. ‘I cum along out dar, pu’ty soon, an’ mop de floor wid you rats.”” “Ah! that is explanation,” Martha said, in a whis- Be. ‘* There is some negress inside, evidently caring or the room—making the bed and dusting. Come She glided forward and opened the door, which, as she had surmised, was unlocked. Another moment and she and Bolton were inside the room, with the door locked behind them, An old negress, with a face as black as coal, and hair white and woolly, was engaged in sweeping the room, and putting things to order. But she stopped stock still, roo to the floor with horror, when she beheld the intruders, and the pair of revolvers the worthy attorney and counselor-at-law held leveled toward her. . **Oh! de Lordy sakes alive! Oh! ness gra- cious!’ she gasped, sinking back upon the floor, with a jar heavy enough to convey the idea that she was a small-sized earthquake. ‘‘ Don’t shoot, marster— don’t hurt a poor ole woman w’at can’t help herself, I be’s innercent—'deed I is, for shuah!”’ “Yes, you’re an innocent old idiot, sure enough,” Bolton replied. ‘ Just ? te keep quiet, and we'll not —, nor roast you, I'll guarantee. But if you ap- peal for assistance, tll make perforated card-board out 0’ you. Go on, miss, and see if you can discover the per J “You had better stand near the door—with your back inst it!’ Martha replied. ‘ My villainous husband may be along at any moment, and it would be dangerous for him to discover us in his room, I will turn things topsy-turvy to find the —— She was as i as her word in respect. She set to work, first, and went through the con- tents of a large old fashioned desk; then a bureau and w but without satisfactory result. The carpet was then ripped up, and ev con- ceivable place minutely examined, where the lost documents could a me pe have been concealed. t found, much to the two counter- But they were no plotters’ disa tment. “T think there is a secret compartment in this old desk,’’ Martha said at last, sere? before the struc- ture of walnut, which was an oddity in the way of curious pigeon-holes and drawers. ‘But I do not know how to findit. Is there anybody in the room below or in those adjoining, old woman?” “No, missus. Dar’s berry few in de buildin’, at this hour.” “Good. Let me out, Mr. Bolton, and I will —_ and procure an ax with which to knock this old a hk Bolton —— by unlocking the door, and letting her out into the passage. With an injunction to fly for safety if Cambre should put in an appearance, she hurried away on her errand. She was not gone long, however, soon returning with a heavy ore bar as a substitute for the ax which she could not find. ‘Now, if Carlos will only stay away for a little while, we will have a chance to learn if the papers are here,” she said. “ Yes, it. will take but a short time to find out,” Bol- ton answered. “At least if we cannot find the papers, we can wait here for him to come, and force him to give them up to us.” “Ah! but I am afraid we should have our hands full, there. Such villains as he, combining the charac- teristics of the stubborn bull-dog and the cunning be 34 fox, would be a hard customer to force.” At his request she surrendered the bar to him, anew she took his revolvers, and stood guard at the oor. wrapper. There was also a quantity of money, which, no doubt, also belonged to Soastee, Ths was all. “The papers! the rs!’ Bolton cried, leaping forward oe them in hisgrasp. “Victory is at last. = Don't be toosure. My father always taught me never to hope until I was sure I had something to he for, sir,’ Martha said, coming forward. lton tore off the wrapper, and hastily glanced them over. “They are here,” he said, exultantly—the genuine ones, and the Cambre drew from them!” of “Hello!” he cried, followi , and slapping the old man on the shoulder, Seon “Hold up, old rackabones, if ye don’t wanter git plugged. I recog- nedul you d !” Avalanch turnin d, + you do!” Av. e sai ig aroun with a ‘six’ in his full ed and ready for use. “Ye recognize ther great equatorial pestilence, do ye?—ther great distructive eppydemic o’ ther aries—the Norweejan snow-flake 0’ boreal tion? Wal, thet ain’t nothin’ ler, since I you. Guess thar’s a picture rubbin’ etself ag’in’ your visage, ain’t thar, o’ how beauchiful I laid you
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} | J | y ' i 14 out, not more’n a month ago? Ham-bone thet pre- pared ther obi’ uv old Joner! I spect ye wanter TUE ast” Comite replete, wnllive grade no!’ re re i nD, ously, as -he saw the Annihilator Shad the aren on him. “I just chanced to recognize you, and wanted to ask you if you had seen Deadwood Dick, lately?” “Nixy; hain’t seen ther lad since the day we arriv’ in Eureka, But, ef ye wanter fight, et’s all right. Hayr’s what kin accommydate ye,” ‘Oh, no, thanks; my inclinations don’t run in that channel,” the ex-lieutenant replied, turning away. “ , then, boyee. we've gone keep our orbs on him!” Avalanche whis to Coyle. “I bet he gits the baby afore mi ht, unless we intercept it, w’ich we must try to do,” ** Yes, the papers are all here,’’ Bolton repeated, counting cee oree the marriage certificate, the birth certificate of Cathie’s child, and others of minor or ter importance.” **T am truly grateful to God for this sueccess,’’ Mar- tha said, reverently; ‘‘ but come, let us hasten from this place, before my husband returns, or he will kill us. Ha! the negress has escaped—how negligent of me!”’ True pa. a while Martha’s back had been turn- ed, the wene glided to the door, softly unlocked it, and made her escape. “ Qurse the black-and-tan,"’ Bolton exclaimed, an- erily. ‘Tt will not do for us to try and escape—”’ “Ve tomer roe ed. At this mengpiin Somes gaze rested for the first her pierci lance leveled at him, sternly. r Harthat ere!’’ he gasped, his face growing first white, and then flushed. ‘Yes, Martha is here!’’ the deserted wife replied, scornf ; but in the second of Cambre’s " he had lowered his aim, and she quickly took advan- tage of this opportunity to cover him with her re- volvers—" here, but not to claim you for a husband. You are a dastardly wretch, even below my con- tempt. Step aside and let us pass. No; go down ahead of us, or I'll blow your brains out!”’ He growled not unlike some fierce wild beast when he saw where he had failed, in allowing them to gain a point. RY won’t go!’’ he declared, stubbornly. ‘You willl’? Martha assured, mig ee A and back came her revolver hammers, click! ck! to full-cock. ‘‘One! two—” Cambre uttered a fierce curse, and leaping along the passage to the head of the stairs, made a mighty ring. A flash from Martha’s revolver followed ; then ey ran forward and found him lying on the landing below, with his right arm broken, and a bullet wound in leg. But he clutched a pistol in his left hand, and there was a gleam of desperation in his eye, that foreboded ev % t where you are!”’ he cried, leveling the wea- mn, “or I'll fire as long as there’s a cartridge left, if costs my life.” **Gome!” Martha said They hurried k into Cambre’s room, locked the door behind them, and found that the one window, over whose surface cobwebs had been allowed to collect, was neither shuttered nor barred. The sash was taken out; and several bed-quilts twisted and knot ther a mode of escape to the und, so that in a few minutes the two were on the soil below, and hurrying away through the night's gloom. ‘Now to the of Truce to apprise Cathie of our good luck,” Bolton said, as they hurried along. “It will be cheer to the r woman.” ‘Well, I hope so,”’ ha replied. “I must re- turn to the -Trap, to resume my duties there. If you should be in need of my further services, do not hesitate to call upon me.”’ * Certainly not,” he replied. They walked along until in front of the Flag of Truce, and there separated. It was a painful subject to think upon for Dead- wood Dick a ee was nds, Ww. were 0: a and from which he saw no way of ex- tricating himself. All his —— had been taken esperate young ea phoae bor aoe d rate woman— 0} him had sienly made her mad on the subject; for from the bottom of his heart, Dick believed she was He could not think otherwise, unforarately toes ortuna ome Hills. Then, no one would have suspected that the innocen confiding; no changes Rough and passionate, with a tendency to she \ it would ther a consoling Se a posses- on But he was aware that in either case she would do as she had promised—she was desperately n ly in ear- Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. He laid a long while after she left him, turning the subject over in his mind. e darkness in the cave was intense, the little fire on the opposite side illumining a radius of only a few feet. He could see no of Edith or her tool, the man Corkus, and concluded that they had turned in for the night. “Now would be my time for escape, if ever,” the risoner muttered, rolling off his bed of skins to the fond, rocky floor. “ that I were only out of this! There is a land in this great wide West where I could settle down in quiet, without much fear of being molested on account of the bitter past. With my boy, I could weary through a life that thus far has presented a hundred-fold more of bitterness than pleasure. Leone? Ah! why do thoughts of her constantly arise before my eyes—why do they haunt me? Have notI m her forever? Can it be forever? I sometimes think not. As God is my judge, I believe I would take her back were I sure she would come. But, would she come? Ah! I fear not. Love is not always enduring. After bein, cast off as I cast her, very, very few women woul come back, even if be; on bended knee.”’ Yet he realized that he did not fully know Leone, He had learned some new characteristic of her each of the happy days that had followed their marriage, and yet knew comparatively little of her—only knew that she was the queen of his”heart—the one fair vision at whose And he knew fitted the occasion. Failure meant death to her, and the same to the ts of his future happiness. He had resolv now, to go back to her, and ask forgiveness, and if she still loved him—if even only a tenth part as much as he did her, she would grant the boon, for the sake of their baby boy. Edith glided Se renerne, tee o him, in the midst of his thoughts, like some haunting shadow. “Oh! Dick!’ she cried, aneting beside him, and again put me off, for I do not want to commit this awful crime I have threatened.” “ Nor need you,” he replied, unable to restrain her from kissi m. “Ido not love you, and life with you would be a torture.” **Ah! you love the other!” she cried, with almost tigerish ferocity, a terrible gleam reddening her eyes. “Yes, I love the other,” he replied, firmly, “ and re shall.” ‘Then she shall die, and the brat, too.”’ ‘But their death will not make you any the bet- ter off," he reasoned. “I cannot marry you, in either “What! would you see them murdered before your eyes, rather than give 2 our future to me?” “ Yes, rather than become a t, and promise devotion to a mad-woman!”’ “A what?” she gasped, shrinking away from him. “A mad-woman—a maniac, for you are no less. Were you in your right mind, Edith, you would never think of such a crime.” “Mad! mad!”’ she repeated, s' ering to her 7 her hand to her forehead, as if it ach —'* yes, Pa ps I am mad—mad in love; but sane enou t no other woman shall ever you, my Prince. I will look to that with a perserverance that will some time astonish you.” sats nee Your life will be only spent in in.”’ “So it shall be then. You will know no peace— that may in a measure appease my hunger for your love. I will haunt you day and night, like some ter- rible phantom. But, bah! why this ley? I can still win you by love, without resorting to harsher measures. See! Iam going to free your limbs, un- til morning, that you may rest better. Do not try to escape, however, for Corkus stands yonder in the mouth of the cave with an Evans repeating rifle, and can put twenty bullets into you in less time than it takes to count trem. So adieu.” With a long bc wie she cut the bonds about his feet, leaving his hands still confined. “Thank you,” he said. “Acts of kindness and confidence often produce great results.” “Bah!” she retorted, with a sarcastic laugh, “ Don't think me a fool, or that you can deceive me. Maybe, by some of the infernal power you are said to A oy amp you can succeed in outwitting me. But I will follow you to"the very ends of the earth, A very tigress you will find me, if you try to play any games on me. Remember!” Then she turned and rors a the Aes gra ousness of a queen. Deadwood Dick lay for several hours after her departure, well-kno it would be useless to precearys Be escape, until Co grew sleepy, and relaxed Ma t he worked silently at the bonds which confined his wrists. If he could but free his wrists, he had no fears but that he could escape. “The suit of mail I wear beneath my clothing makes me bullet proof, unless the cuss should ha. pen to aim at my visage, be fag mag as to qualities against pga. | lead, tho "ve been called ‘hard-cheeked’ and ‘brassy ’!’’ he m a grim smile playing over his features. iligently he worked away, first soaking the een “4 in a little pool of water which ran at his feet, = en ge alow J to stretch them. hte a low process, but eventually successful, for a Se of hours he rejoiced in the freedom of both “ Now, I guess it is a safe time to make an attempt to quit this place,” he muttered, tightening his belt, po se around into the gloom to if his mo men bad bee m ss am ta But 5-6 nb m9 they had not. The intense black- ness that rei “I wonder if the villainous guard is asleep?” Dick queried, hesitating before starting. “I Come it don’t come to a tussle, lest he should crush me in a hug, for he is as stout as a cinnamon - If Yean oniy enchain his gaze for a moment, I am almost certain that T can mesmerize him; though he is strong pped cautiously toward the entrance, his footfalls softer than those of acat. His fists were doubled on the defensive, in the absence of other ge évery nerve was strung, every muscle drawn _ § his whole mind devo to the work before m Nearer and nearer he approached the entrance, his magnetic black orbs pie et gloom as in search of something; his lips set firmly, a wrinkle in his forehead. He expected to hear the report of the ’s rifle, each moment; was pre to meet death in this venture, hardly expecting anything else. Closer and closer he moved, untif he caught sight of the shadowy outline of the sentinel, standing sta- tionary in the entrance, grim and silent as some rock-carved statue, y His head was turned the other way, but Dick cared not for this. He stopped in his tracks, and threw the whole force of his mind into his gaze, which he directed at the guard, And not long had he to wait for the effect. Soon the man shuddered, and turned around, his bloodshot eyes coming instantly in contact with the —- orbs of wood Dick. His gaze became It was no use for him to resist. He could not break the spell that came over him, from the’pecu- liar influence of the road-agent’s all-powerful gaze. Like a statue he was rooted to the spot, immov- able, of his own will, and powerless to Kk, “Hal hal” Dick laughed, in a low vile this is another victory.. Now, the next act on the sche- dule is to get out of this, find Leone and my boy. ang then forever quit this place. I know of one spot in this great, fair earth, where even the hounds of the law scent not, and there I will go with mine own wife and child, and begin life anew!” CHAPTER XVI. PRIZE UPON PRIZE. OLD AVALANCHE and Little Alf were not far away at the time when Bolton and Martha left the lodging-house. They had seen Cambre enter, an were crouching in the bushes, not far away, waiting for the men to come with the babe, as they calcu- lated they eventually would. “Great ham-bone thet deceived old Joner!” the Annihilator exclaimed, as first they heard the pistol- descend the mitory, an’ Careless Cucumber hes got his crop full. Thet ain't enny o’ our hash, tho’, er pe in- derviduals we’re wantin’, at present time, aire them two ts, one 0’ whom hes got a bag slung over his shoulder. Shouldn't be surprised ef they’d be slong. afore @ great while.”’ e- ” assented Coyle, nibb away at the end of a piece of plug tobacco, reflectively. “ But I argue that we bad better git inside o’ thet barn or dormitory, as ye call it, fer it’ll be easier nabbin’ our larkies thar than out hayr in ther gulch, whar there’s chance fer bullets ter skip arround so free.” Accordingly they crossed the gulch, and entered the I ng-house, which was dark and gloomy. : no he ‘a antes bean home's nee eng ying, groaning and cursin ra’ over na- bility to move on account of the painfulness of his wounded lee and broken arm, “ Hello! heer’s 8 ee ne on ther deserted bat- ” the tor cried, bending over the villain. ‘By ther great allegorical ham-bone, it’s Careless Cucumber, sure’s there’s condoocement ter reason in ther scattered more gory brains over ther peraries 0’ thes pecooliar lattytude, than all ther extinct Injun-fight- ers uv ther age. Many’s ther time’s she’s slung a ges off a-reachin’ out wi’ them hindmost tenpins o’ ern. “Hello! what are you doin’ here, pilgrim?”’ Little Alf demanded, of Oenthre, 5) Beet. tee be kinder «“Oh ? Sorry ter say yer pigeons hev fled, my gallus Jo joi - help me somewhere to a bed, and send for a ’ Cam groaned. ‘I’ve more’n forty ht te t. Never know’d a rascal yet thet could tell ther r rath. Thet, Thar wasn’ a Hogg in ther bull collection 6" H r ) thet ked tell a falsehood ef they were ter try, ’ca'se
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The Phantom Miner. 15 ye oy te Jerry Hogg, ther 01 uv ther ju- venile war a Methodist preacher, oer up ter reserd ther truth as a thing more sacred than terbaccer or tarantler juice,” ** Do you mean to say that I lie?” Cambre demand- ed, in a well assumed rage. “Oh! no, my dear Careless: I nevyer yit war guilty 0’ callin’a feller a liar, But, I sw’ar, you look sn hea snc like this great destructive eppydemic, when he pulls ther long bow!” “T’'d shoot if—’ 5 “ You had the Tops w’ich you ain't!” was the grim response. ‘Alf, @ away the sarpint’s fangs, an’ we'll carry him up-stairs, before them galoots cum wi’ ther babby!” ‘Furies: what do you know about it?” the ex- lieutenant demanded. * All about it, geelorious Cucumber—thet ye’re ex- pectin’ ther consignment into your grub-hooks uv one male infant prodigy, by a couple o’ as ornery dasted galoots as evyer absorbed ther moisture from Virginia barley. But fate ordained thet our desires she'd ruminate after thet same kid; wharfore we embraced the prisent opportunity to wisit you, an’ take persession uv it, accordin’ ter law.” Little Alf deprived the villain of his wea then they carried him up to the room ee had recently ransacked, and laid e ” Avalanche, then, with a skill that years of frontier life had perfected, set the broken arm, and dressed the wounded leg. This relieved the unlucky plotter of some of his pain; but his rage was more intense than the pain when Avalanche gagged him, so that he could not utter a word. This done, the two men seated themselves to await the rg of the two kidnappers. And, fortune favoring them, they had not long to wait. Heavy footsteps were soon ascendi the stairs, and presently two burly miners—the same the two scouts had seen before—entered the room, closing the door behind them, The next moment they were ‘“‘ covered” by the revolvers of Avalanche and his companion, “Move an inch, without orders, and you're both dead corpuses!”’ Little Alf exclaimed, sternly. “Great salubrious ham-bone frum which old Joner manyfactered broth, yes!"’ put in Avalanche. ‘Ef er don’t want ter e ryence the eternal electric joke, jes’ becum stationary, or I'll demolish ye sure’s this great devastatin’ gy Ore luvs fun. Til forever transfix ye wi’ glory, ttytudes, an’ sich scriptural punishments!”’ © two ruffians stood co Np conet epee around them in astonishment. Such a trap they had not ex- pected to fall into. “Oh! we've got you!"’ Coyle joined in, triumph- antly, “‘ without a doubt, so just d over yer wea- pons, and done with it.” ‘Fork ’em over,"’ added Avalanche. Seeing that they were in the power of the two scouts, the ruffians obeyed the Eee, by deliver- ing a pair of revolvers and a knife, ap’ ece. Ow, then, be kind ernuff ter open thet bag, and gently remove the baby,” orde the Ann tor, coolly. ‘‘No roughness, now, or I'll salivate ye wi lead fizzic fer all ye’re worth.”’ With an ai growl the larger of the two men sl the bag from his shoulder, and deposited it up- on the floor. Then he untied it, and took therefrom a little bundle of humanity, at + Ney asleep, with a bandage tied over its little mouth, to prevent its screams. It was Deadwood Dick, Jr., sure enough, and Ava- lanche received it into his arms with a grin of de- light. Coyle assisted him to remove the bandage, but as the ———— did not awaken the little thing, they came the conclusion that it had had been drugged, But its respirations evinced the fact that it was rapidly wearing off the effects of the potion. and ‘oot, ns, and fton and him upon The two r-ffians were now bound hand after whicl. our two friends quitted the lodging house, Avalanche ha restored the babe to the bag, and slung it over shoulder, to prevent at- tracting the attention of any one they might meet. ““Now we'll go back to Bonanza B wi’ our rize!’’ he said. “I'll go on ahead, while you fetch a Bois on ther back o’ my mare Prudence.” ‘“Why Noisy Nell?’’ Coyle asked. ‘4 bbe’ oe ham-bone! lh she Ped tec ther mither 9’ this youngster, till we can fin - wine mother? Wish ter gracious my Florence Night- in-a-zale war uv ther tender sex, so we ked derivé sum teal benefit out o’ him fer thes little cuss, As et is, ye’ll hey ter fetch along a bottle o’ milk, I spect, onless et ken chaw venison.” ‘D’ye think et can?”’ : “Dunno. My experience wi’ ther mians ain’t werrey much; but ef I remember, my marm used ter feed me on pertaters an’ " ‘Waal, thet accounts fer yer smartness, then.” “Doubtless. Better ask ther gal w’at babies eat; she’d be apt ter kno’ sumthin’ about it.” “Who? Miss Brandon?” “Yas—weemen fokes ginerally take more ter in- funts then men; they orter know.’ After a few more words, Avalanche tramped awa: up the lonely gulch, while Alf turned back on poi He first got Prud ‘ Avalanche said. She told her story to all, as they gathered about She had ed the two ruffians who stole Master Dick until they had puzzled and lost her in the intri- cacies of the mountain. Then it bad taken her many long, weary hours to pick her way back to the mine, where she at last arrived, pn a few hours pre- vious to the arrival of Avalanche with the babe, and Alf and Nelly. That was a happy night at Bonanza mine—happy to Leone, in particular, because of somethi at promised her future happiness—the arrival of. one, at the darkest hour before day-dawn, who of all men they least e ted to see—the Prince of the Road hose bygone days in the Black Hills—Deadwood ick! He came stalking apg ae ind into camp, his form erect and face calm; he stopped in the playing firelight, and ed around him, his eyes resting “rhe little woman hed grows deathly palo a fist e little woman grown dea at firs but she threw off the faintness that had attacked oh bed * gs effort, and pons widoes feet, mt ng violently, an appealing look in her eyes. had taken Master Dick, and the husband and wite stood once more face to face. ‘* Leone!’ Deadwood Dick said, opening his arms, “T have come.”’ She gave a low, glad cry of joy, and springing into his embrace, burst into tears. But they were tears of ecstatic joy; how shall we ever attempt to de- scribe the ha piness and love that then filled those two reunited hearts? Tenderly Deadwood Dick caressed her; it seemed now that life once more had a future; that he could ever be supremely happy in the love of this glorious little creathre whose undying affection had so well stood the test. He had never known the depth of his own love until the hour of this gladsome reunion; he how he had wronged, and ned her; and now with her clasped close to his fast-beating heart, he swore a silent vow that in the et kindness and strong true love he would atone for all their mutual unhappiness in the past. Leone was happy, Dick was happy, and so were all about the Sag cet when they saw the young ex-outlaw and his true loving wife reunited. Little Dick took immediately to his new-found papa, and seemed by instinct to know it was his papa. And thus general §o3, prevailed. After the t rapturous greetings were over, due explanations were made all around, Deadwood Dick coming in last on the list. “*And what hev ye bin doin’ wi’ yerself, since the ht I left ye, on our arrival in Eureka?” Avalanche asked of the ce, ‘Well, I will tell you. I fled from the town, after laying out the sheriff, and hid for a couple of da in the mountains which flank one side of this gulch. The first day I at thus, I made a discovery —dis- ne Ls man, neg ree in fhostly robes, an rading upon a teau. e hour was ust bey dusk, othe cand. revious to our com- ng to Eureka, of the tom Miner, I put this and that together, and came to the conclusion that Red Brand and the Phantom Miner were one. I grew interested, and from my hiding-place I watch- ‘By and by two burly men the of a large balloon out upon the u, an Seer a natural gas geyser close at hand, inflated the con- cern, which was of goodly size, and attached to it a car capable of holding four or five persons. When all was in readiness, the two men let go the grapnel, and —— into the car, and rose slowly upward. Then 3 saw the secret of the whole business, plain enough. “ A rope was attached tothe car upon a windlass, and also to Red Brand, around his body, in under his feet and arms, so that when the full length, of about a thousand feet, had spun from the reel, he was raised upward and borne through the air. In the night his means of flight through the air is a mys- tery, unless the observer has an eye keen ape = to es far toward the heaven, where, in what is wn as the semi-counter-current—meaning four currents blowing to a center—the balloon is drifting. The balloon rises or lowers at will, by use of a lever escape-valve, and ballast; if allowed to rise above the coneentrating current, it moves north toward the place of starting; if lowered below the said cur- rent, it foes sou’-westward toward the prairies. In the daytime the Phantom is not seen abroad, and I think this su ins what has been a cay | to the ites of Ted ‘And this Red Brand is the Phantom?” ‘Was, until I adopted his role. We accidentally me one day later, and he told me of my know! rs) his secret, though the Lord only knows how he found itout. He d red his hate for me, and proposed “Tf I won, Iwas to Phantomize it in his stead. gold, which he had secretly mined from the basin.”’ “And you, then, are the ghost thet robbed us?” Yes, by the mesmeric power which I I mesmerized you in the and later rapbed the |} camp. It was to try the experiment. You may have observed what seemed to be a finger of my hand, the end of which pomen like a human eye, It was sim- ply an ingeniously-contrived bull’s-eye-lantern, one side appearing like an eye, and the ite, by means of a small but powerful SOP ating reflector, around my person a phosphorescent halo.”’ Then Dick made further explanati ions, mentioning Of course. that the skeleton Suspe and rattles were all ingenious contrivances of Red Brand's originality; also all con- peng Bey ase diate or pone This is w a of surprise. known to the —" He also explained the secret of his invulnerability, by Le a suit of mail worn beneath his garb, which he had found on the body of Red Brand. A week was spent in Bonanza Basin, quietly, no in- trusions from the Eurekaites making it necessary for Dick to fly. Happy was he with his wife and child, and a prime favorite in cam. During the week old Fordyce Graylford died, and by Bolton’s arrangement, Dick and his new-found mother, Cathie, were present. The old man relent- ed in the last hours, and asked the forgiveness of his wronged ones, and made over all his mupperty, at Dick’s request, to Cathie. Dick did not any of it. Though the poy of how Cathie had left with the Harriet fancy, and the proofs, seemed all genuine, he could not quite make it seem that she was his mother, and he avowed it his intention to still retain the name of Harris, At the iration of the week he made a sale of Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza to Little Alf and Keno Bill; then, with his wife and child, and the two aero- nauts, one Cee) Say sailed away over the silver land of Idaho, in balloon, the ‘‘ Leone,” for a land of the West, where he hoped to bury him- self forever, and the bitter Later, Keno married Cambre, the little fe- male detective, who had obtained a legal divorce from her husband, and at the same time he ae es k the — & Coyle. a raylford, also, after a peri mo . at ng attorney, for a permanent legal dfrector Cami suddenly disappeared from ka, and with him went a fit associate, bull Cal Buckskin while Roxly returned to Dead disheartened over the unfruitfulness of his mission, so nearly re- sulting in his death. With Deadwood Dick went that “ devastatin’ ep- pydemic,’’ Old Avalanche, and his goat. Prudence was left behind, for want of room in the balloon. They'are supremely happy, Dick and Leone, but occasio: there rises before the vision of the ex- ae aa a haun 4 the future, ro ee 2 nant face menacingly gleaming eyes 0: e terest of all his foes, Bath Stone Nor is this the end of Deadwood Dick’s career; we have simply written to a happy conclusion of the PHANTOM THE END. THE NEW YORE Fireside Library. 1 Was Sue His Wire? Mrs. Mary R. Crowell... 10c. 2 Fieewe From Love. By Harriet Irving..... 10c. 8 Dip He Love Her? Bartley T. Campbell.... 10c. 4 A Srrance Woman. By Rett Winwood ..... 10c. 5 Napis, THE Russian Spy. F. Whittaker....... 10c. 6 Two Grats’ Lives. By Mrs. Mary R. Crowell. 10c ee eee 2 ae ea ew 20c. 9 Tue War or Hearts. Corinne Cushman.... 10c. 10 LeraHton Grance. Miss M. E. Braddon ..... 10c. 11 Tae Fatse Wivow. Mrs. J. D. Burton ...... 10c, 12-13 Lost ror Love. Miss M. E. Braddon...... 2c, 14-15 TorERs or THE Sea. By Victor Hugo..... We. 16 Tas Ocroroon. By Miss M. E. Braddon..... 10c. 17-18 Uncite Smas. By J. S. Le Fanu..:........ 2c. 19-20 Drap-Sea Frurr. Miss M. E. Braddon..... We. 21-22 Lrtrte Karte Krrepy. F. W. Robinson...... %e. 23 Sowrnc THE Winp. Mrs. Mary R. Crowell.... 10c, 24-25 Brrps or Prey. Miss M. E. Braddon...... 2c. 26 Tuat Boy or Norcort’s. Charles Lever .... 10c. 27-28 CHaRLoTTe’s INHERITANCE. By Miss M. B, eae en eee, eee See eee er res 2c. 29 A Grru’s Heart. By Rett Winwood ........ 10c. 30-81 Rep as 4 Rost is Sue. By Rhoda Brough- WOM nd. 25s 52. Suc: 5 anes sta pease EEN 20c. 82 Tue Liy or St. Erne. By Mrs. Crow ...... 10c. 83 SrraNGELY Wep. By Mrs, J. D. Burton...... 10e. 34 Tue Gresy Browz. By M. E. O. Malen........ 10c. 85 Annie Tempter. By Rev. J. H. Ingraham.... 10c. 36 Wirnovt Mercy. By Bartley T. Campbell... 10c. 37 Buack Eyes anp Buus. By Corinne Cush- SURI... <0 we RO + og BS MeV Sip 0 6 he's obic- cases 10c, 88 Brave Barpars. By Corinne Cushman...... 10c. 39 A DanaErovs WomAN. By Margaret Blount.. 10c. 40 Ourpa’s Love. By Henrietta E. DeConde.. . 10c. 41 Lost: A Wire. By Corinne Cushman........ 10c. 42 Wneine Ways. By Margaret Blount ... .-.- 10c. 43 A Woman’s Heart. By Mrs. M. V. Victor.. 10c, A new issue every week. For sale by all newsdealers, or sent, postage paid, on receipt of twelve cents for single numbers, double numbers.twenty-four cents. LE & ADAMS, Publishers, BEADLE & ¢) William strect Wt, Ye
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BEADLE’S HALF-DIME LIBRARY. Every one of them ‘‘ Live” Stories by ‘* Live®? Authors. Each number a Complete Novel, at the extraordinary price of a HALF-DIME. DEADWOOD DICK, 1 Deadwood Dick, Tre Prince or THE Roan; or, Tae Buack Rimmer or THe BLack His. By Edward L. Wheeler. Yellowstone Jack; or, Taz TRAPPER OF THE ENCHANTED Ground. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr., author of “ Pacific Pete,” ete. 3 Kansas King; or, THe Rep Ricut Hinv. By Buffalo Bill (Hon. Wm. F. Cody). 4 The Wild-Horse Hunters. By Capt. Mayne Reid and Capt: Frederick Whittaker. 5 Vagabond Joe; Tux Younc WAnDER- ine Jew. By Oll Coomes. 6 Bill Biddon, Trapper; or, Lire In THE Nortuwest. By Edward §. Ellis. 7 The Flying Yankee; or, Taz Ockan Outcast. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. By Seth Jones; or, THE CAPTIVES OF THE Frontier, By Edward 8S. Ellis. +!) The Adventures of Baron Mun- Sioux Captive. A Sequel to “ Bill Biddon, 1 1 Fortunes or A Bowmry Giri. By Albert Lilliput, and a Voyage to Brobdingnag. chausen. 1 Nat Todd; or, THe Fare or THE Trapper.’ By Edward S. Ellis. The Two Detectives; or, THE W. Aiken, author of ‘‘ The Spotter Detective,” etc. 1 Gulliver's Travels. A Voyage to 13 The Dumb Spy. By Oll Coomes, author of ‘‘ Vagabond Joe,” etc, 1 4 Aladdin or, THE “WonpDERFUL 15 The Sea-Cat; or, Taz Wircu or Darien. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker. 16 Robinson Crusoe. His Life and Surprising Adventures, (27 illustrations.) 1 7 Ralph Roy, The Boy Bucca- meer; or, THE FuGITIVE YACHT, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 1 cnt Sindbad the Sailor. His seven voy- ages. From the Arabian Nights. 19 The Phantom Spy ; or, THE Prior OF THE PrRarerg. By Buffalo Bill, The Double Daggers; or, Drap- woop Dickx’s Deriance. By Edward L. Wheeler, author of ‘*‘ Deadwood Dick.” 2 Frontier Angel. A Romance of Kentucky Rangers’ Life. By Edward §, Ellis, author of ‘* Seth Jones,”’ etc. 2 The Sea Serpent; or, THz Boy Roprson Crusoz. By Col. Juan Lewis, 23 Nick o’ the Night: or,’Tuz Boy Spy or 76. By T. C. Harbaugh. Diamond Dirk: or, Taz Mystery oF THE YELLOWSTONE. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, author of ‘“‘ The Flying Yankee,” etc. 2 5 The Boy Captain: or, Tue Prratr’s DAUGHTER, Roger Starbuck. ROBINSON ‘CrUSOE.—No. 16, 26 Cloven Hoof, the Demon. B Edward L. Wheeler 4 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. 27 By Oll Coomes, QR Buffalo Ben, the Prince of the Pistol: or, Drapwoop Dick In Discuise. By Edward L. Wheeler 29 The Dumb Page; or, THe Docr’s DAUGHTER. By apt. Frederick Whit- taker, author of ‘The Wild-Horse Hunters,” etc, 30 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, Txuz Reckiess RanGerR. By Harry St. George. 31 Keen-Knife, THE PRINCE oF THE Prarrizs. By Oll Coomes, 32 Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian: or, Toe Girt DeAp-SHor. By Edward L. Wheeler, author of “ Deadwood Dick,” etc., etc. 33 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, THE RED PrraTEs OF THE CaRIBBees, By Samuel W. Pierce, author of ‘The Boy Detective,” etc., etc. 34 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Wutrr.es’ Boy Spy. By Capt. J. F.C. Adams. Ready March 19th. 3 Wild Ivan, Tux Boy CLaupE DvvAL; or, THE BROTHERHOOD OF DEATH. ° wood Dick Romance No. 4. By Edward L, Wheeler. 36 The Boy Clown; or, THE QUEEN OF THe ARENA. By Frank 8, Finn. a7 The Hidden J. odge; or, THE LITTLE Harbaugh, author of “ Nic Hunter or tur Aprronpacks. By T. C. the Night,” ete. 38 Ned Wylde, .z Boy Scour. By Texas Jack. ANTELOPE ABE.—No, 27, 39 Death-Face, the Detective; or, Lire AND LovE IN New York. By Ed- word L. Wheeler. 40 Roving Ben. A story of a Young American who wanted to see the world. By John J. Marshall. 41 Lasso Jack, THE YounG MustTanec- ER. By Oll Coomes. Ready May 7th. The Phantom Miner: or, Drap- woop Dick’s Bonanza. By Ed. L. Wheeler, author of ‘‘ Deadwood Dick, etc. Ready 4 Dick Dar , the Pony Express Rider. A Story of the Overland Trail. By Capt. F. Whittaker. Ready May 2)st. 44 Rattling Rube: or, THe Nicut- HAWES OF KenTucKY. By Harry St. George. Ready May 28th. 4 5 Old Avalanche, the Great An- nihilator: or, THE Grru BaAnpIt. By Edward L. Wheeler; Ready June 4th, 46 Glass Eye, the Great Shot ofthe West. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams. Ready June 11th. A new issue every week. The Half-Dime Library is for sale by all Newsdealers, five cents per CORE OF sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. SADLE w ADAMS Publishers, 98 William Street, New York. ’ WILD tvan.—No. 35.