Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 473) (1886 08 17)
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NV z= He 77 \ wD < eS (hal teen ae 2 et a Alla ANS Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Copyright, 1886, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, P August 17, 1886, $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, Price, ' Vol, XIX. a Year. No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents. No. 473. vn i — Tes “Za LARAMIE JOE'S FOREST PARDS, BY OLL COOMES, AUTHOR OF “BABY SAM,” ‘‘ WHIP-KING JOE,” “TITTLE BUCKSKIN,” ETC., ETO, KAN INS : A A\\ NH ¢ PN \ \\ j iran \ ° rt y " = “ CHAPTER I. | : \ OE = SE a SS a THE MYSTERIOUS MURDER. SSAC et : fain S We THE summer sun hung just above the distant mountain peaks, and the Joungers in the little mining-camp of Last Lick were discussing the romantic beauty of their surroundings, the satis- factory output of the mines, and the affairs of the day in general, when a cry of human agon startled the silent echoes of the canyon, and fell like a thunderbolt upon the ears of the unwary coaenieatatan miners. rv OLD TOM RATTLER—” ‘THER RED RIVER EPIDEMIC?” BROKE IN THE TALL MAN
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ny + Last Lick was situated in one of the most wild, ' rugged and eg canyons of the moun- tains of northern Colorado. The bluffs sloping away gradually on the north, were clad in pine and cedar, whose foliage caught the sunlight and, like a great mirror reflected it in dazzling splendor against the dark frowning cliffs that hung over the camp on the south. Eastward the view was abruptly shut off by the hills, but westward up the canyon the distant mountain ranges could be dimly seen rising specter-like out of the blue haze and mist of heaven. Last Lick was a mining-camp in every sense of the word, and since the outputs of minerals had been exceedingly rich, the place soon gained a local reputation that drew from other campsa class of men the place would have been much : better off without. Gamblers and bummers “a flocked in from far and near. Cowboys from the Laramie Plains, also, came down occasionally and made merry with the miners and roughs and free with their revolvers to such an extent that the departure of those who lived through the ‘“*mellow round-up,” as they were wont to term ee ae ee: was hailed with a feeling of great Tea relief, But it was seldom in the'glare of the sunlight 2g that a pistol-shot, or an angry, disturbing voice was heard. Crime and drunkenness sought the deepest shadows of night in Last Lick, for there was a Vigilance Committee in the camp noted for its promptness of action in all cases that re- quired their attention, and when, on that sum- mer eve, that wail of agony rung through the camp while yet the sky was ablaze with radiant sunbeams, every map that heard it started with a shudder and involuntarily grasped the weapon Bs at his oy hae Their first thoughts were of Indians, for ther BY had been rumors of threatened troubles from this source, and this fear grew almost intoa fonts when, a few minutes later, the newsspread hrough the camp that Judge Benoni Randall lay dying from a cruel wound inflicted by a barbed arrow that had been shot froma strong bow wielded by a strong and skillful arm! hss. The judge was unconscious when found, and hen before his daughter, a fair, sweet girl of seven- o teen, could reach his side he was dead, And his death became enshrouded in mystery, fora care- ful search of the surrounding country convinced all that not a red-skin was within fifty miles of the place, Ro; ous hand of a white man, who had chosen the Ren bow and arrow with which to do the deed be- yi cause it could be wielded in silence, there was oy but little doubt, and so a v gorous and thorough search for the assassin was at once made, ~ lt was not known that Judge Randall had an ememy incamp. He was one of those upright, . exemplary men. whom all, high and low, loved and admired, He was honest, kind and intelli- gent, and was looked upon in Last Lick as its leading citizen. He» was a widower with one child, Zulima, a fair and lovely girl whom all - idolized for her gentleness and kindness of heart and as the miners gathered about,the prostrate form of the dead man, and heard the heartrend- _ ing cries of this poor orphaned girl, their hearts were touched with the deepest sympathy and from many an eye was brushed a tear. ~ And the sun, as if with shame, hid his red face a shadows of night began to gather in the valley Ye as the shadows of sorrow had gathered in the iid ¢, breasts of the miners. The body of the murdered man was removed to Lis cabin and an inquest held. On the day following it was consigned to the grave in the valley under the m ines, ; _ Poor Zulima was ‘so far as relatives im the camp was c¢ , but. she was not _ without friends, Wild and wicked as the camp was, every man and woman was eager and anx- ious to do repre wa for her. And there were several pure and noble women there, whose sis- terly and motherly love did much to lighten her burden of sorrow, Bm However, Zulima would have left the camp, and sought relatives in the East, had it not been that her father’s claim was one of the best pay- father’s friends volunteered to superintend her interest in the mine, and defend her honor so long as she should remain. Being a brave and sensible girl, and now wholly dependent upon _ herself for a livelihood, she took up her cross with all the determination and fortitude of a hristian Ca td @ woman. ; _ In Sybil Bell, daughter of Major Robert Bell, ‘Sybil was a young lady of two-and- ' That the judge was the victim of the murder- behind the distant mountain range, and then the | ing in the place, and that two or three of her | _ who came to Last Lick after the death of Judge Randall, all, Zulima found a warm friend and com-_ | -and means by which the Apostle Paul, as they eighteen PS i Were ig Wha igre ld Tom Rattler, ssc ne same twenty, perhaps. She was a dark-eyed, be- witching little beauty, with an imperious bear- ing and a strange fascination shining from the depths of her wonderful eyes, She and Zulima met the day that she and her father came to the camp, and a mutual] attrac- a stupid, sleepy-looking boy, who scarcel glanced at the trio hee. they entered. ‘ ‘“How you does, shentelmen?” said Freiner, © stepping behind the bar to wait on his supposed customers. seen the same old way,” was Grizzly Dave’s reply. : ao what you takes, eh?” asked the land- ord, ‘Greek fire, if you’ve nothin’ stouter,” was the reply. ‘Greek fire ”—a local name for bad whisky--~ was set out, and the three helped themselves. ‘*Who’s that kid you’ve got there, Luke” asked Cale Bunce, jerking his thumb over his shoulder toward the sleepy-looking boy. “His name is Albert Joslin—he ish a tender- feet poy what runs away and cooms Vest tc grow mit de country up.’ ‘*He’s been readin’ some o’ them ‘are bad story papers and ’s come out here to be a hero, and kill road-agents and Ingins, and have a big bum o’a time. But ther West don’t have to import its heroes—they grow here eh, Grizzly Dave? But I say, Sour-krout, that boy 's dread- ful homesick. You can tell that by the lop o’ his ip. Say, boy, be you sleepy?” ‘* Naw, I’m not,” drawled the boy, sullenly. “Won't ye have somethin’ to drink? Come tion seemed to spring up between them. Zulima invited her to her home, and’ the result of the intimacy was that the major and his quesnly daughter found themselves installed in tle Ran- dall cabin with Zulima and her old servant, Tom Redrow, and his wife Deborah, where they were to remain until Mr, Bell could erect a home of his own, In the mean time energetic efforts were being made to hunt down the murderer of Judge Ran- dall. So effectually had the assassin covered up his tracks that there were some who thought it possible that the judge had suicided, but this idea was soon dismissed when it was shown that it was utterly impossible for the judge to have yy by his own hand in the manner that he id. After the Vigilantes had given up the search, the case was given into the Tonig of scouts and detectives, and, stimulated by the promise of a large reward, they worked as men never worked before, but all without avail. So finally the case was given up as one of those unfathomable ee that only the day of judgment could reveal, CHAPTER II. REV. PAUL POSTLE. Montus have passed cince the mysterious death of Judge Randall. Evidently the search for the assassin had long since been discontinued, albeit there wasa stand- ing reward for the apprehension of the villain; but the people, busy as they were, and varied as were the changes and excitements of the camp, had not forgotten the dead man, nor did they neglect the comfort of his child. n the mean time, Major Robert Bell had been a father, friend and counselor to Zulima, and in fact had, in a measure, filled the place that Judge Randall had occupied in the hearts of the miners. His daughter pe had been a sister and companion to the orphaned girl and partook largely of her father’s popularity. p to this time the spiritual welfare of Last Lick had been almost wholly neglected. It is true, a minister of the Gospel, who had sought the mountain air for his health, had visited the camp some months before,.and seeing the field unoccupied, endeavored to organize a meeting, but his efforts proved an ignominious failure simply because the roughs of the place attend in a body and broke up the meeting, while the better elements of the camp were too busy to give attention to matters of so little importance to the place that they did not expect to make their home 2 al aps f But one day there came a second minister to the camp, or rather a gentleman who registered at the hotel as Rey, Paul Postle, and who soon gave out the word that he had come there to organize a religious meeting. This news proved very unwelcome to the gamblers and bummers, and resulted in their promptly calling a meeting totake action in the matter, and devise ways ‘Don’t want no water,” was the boy’s reply. “T say, Cale,” said Grizzly Dave, aside, ‘‘ that ‘are boy’s not so green and sleepy as he might be fu’st thing ye know.” ‘‘ Tl look furder "bout that, after while,” re- plied Bunce, then turning to Freiner, continued: ‘Dutch, I understand you've got a new lodger —come yesterday?” y, ‘“Yaw; a pray-mans. He coom day ’gainst yesterday.” ‘* Where is he now?” asked Sonora Steve. ‘In his room—he sthays there much time— read he Pible me ’sphecks,” 1a Ws “Will you tell him to step out herc?’ said Grizzly. ‘‘ Tell him that three gentlemen wants to interview him.” ; ‘ ** Shentlemens,” repeated Luko with a grin ‘* yaw, I tells him dot,” and he waddled off an soon returned accompanied by the preacher. Ma sight of the stranger the three roughs ex- — chang coarse laugh, ; cert the parson at all, and advancing he bowed politely to the three men, saying: ; ‘* My host informs me three gentlemen wisk to see Paul Postle. I am that man.” The preacher was, most decidedly, an odd- looking person. He was apparently fifty yeare of age. He was tall and angular with a thin, bony face sparsely covered with gray whiskers. His long, thin hair was thrown back behind his ears in a “reverential” way. His mouth was rather large and wreathed in a seriv-comical the preacher. He was clad in a suit of well-worn | and shiny broadcloth that fit him like the pro-— verbial “ shirt on a bean-pole.” ‘In fact, in most minister of the gospel, but there was a lack of © sublime slouchiness in his dress that had quickly transposed his name, should be su i 4 os ‘ Me the roughs into laughter. pressed, for they were “old-timers,” and knew that a religious excitement in a mining-camp— an exceptional thing, indeed—was sure death to their business, i The result of the meeting was the appoint-. ment of Cale Bunce, Grizzly Dave and Sonora Steve—the latter a half-breed Mexican—as a committee to wait on the reverend gentleman and notify him that his room was far more pre- | ferable than his presence, and escort him beyond | the confines of the camp and admonish him not to return under penalty of death. These three men were bullies and desperadoes who, their friends knew, would have no conscientious scruples about making away with the preacher, |. or the way they did it. That afternoon when most of the miners were at work .and all was quiet in camp, the trio called at the hotel where the preacher was sto ping. The place was kept by a fat and jolly old German named Luke Freiner, who, in con- nection with the house, kept a bar where one or two kinds of liquors of uncertain quality were sold. The ‘‘ Pick-and-Shovel,” as the pro- prietor had facetiously named his house, was the only hotel in the camp, hence the preacher had no choice of lodging-places. _ pe ' Besides the proprietor, but a single person was in the bar-room when the three bullies en- | is person was a youth of perhaps reply to Postle’s introductory remarks, “I’m known in this camp as Grizzly Dave; that Sonora Steve.” ‘Very odd names, “but suggestive I presume. tm glad to make your acquaintance, gentlemen.” - “ Mebby as what you'll have some with us, parson,” said Grizzly. ** Some what, sir?” your throat—do you catch on?” i “T think I do,” said Postle; ‘‘ no, thank you. I never indulge in liquor, gentlemen, My call-— ing forbids it.” m4) a ‘Oh, that’s what they all say.” replied Dav “but the custom o’ this camp requires that new: comers drink to the health 0’ the place, and that custom can’t nor sha’n’t be violated.” BAS) ely drink to the health of the cam] in a glass of water—pure, sweet kn water—God’s beverage—distilled in the dews the heaven,” replied the preacher., ‘*Water—water,” repeated Dave, inset ei then turning to Freiner, asked: ‘ Sour-mash, you_keep that brand o’ drinks?” ‘ ‘* Yaw—to wash my glasses in. remo on your face might your c ines aslo Gara hea weil tet, cool gy ed pT v8 tars | Da V4 rh ’ tas having recently come from the States. He was ~ e a glass o’ water, anyhow, can’t — glances and then broke into a loud, .— But this conduct did not discon- — expression that suggested the clown rather than respects, he bad the meek and quiet air ofa | grace and symmetry in his form, and a kind of — provoked — V4 on ‘Wal, Preacher Postle,” said Grizzly Dave in > coyote is Cale Bunce, and that yaller-belly is. Ay I declare,” said the parson, — “ Greek fire—suthin’ to cut the cobwebs outen 2 i) a 2 bi i 4 xj 4 eh > tot / _ ie AB
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Oh, git along with yer monkeyin’! Set up four glasses o’ reg’ler old Greek, with hemlock and ratsbane for flavor,” exclaimed Grizzly, ‘and the parson will drink with us!” This was said in a tone calculated to forestall any further refusal; but fixing his little eyes on the rough, the parson said slowly, deliber- ately: “T tell you, sir, I dow t drink!” For a moment the gamblers were silenced. "There was a firmness in the man’s tone and a resolute look in his eyes that convinced the roughs that he had the courage and nerve to back his principles of sobriety. However, all they wanted was to pick a quarrel with the parson, and as they were three to one, they made up their minds that they would compel the parson to drink or take the consequences, **fLook here, ole gospel-mill,” Grizzly Dave finally said, ‘‘ you needn’t go to buckin’ us and showin’ your ‘ligious intolerance. You jist got to show your respects for Last Lick and her cit- erzens in the true old way eS riety a loud, long bumper with we three. here’s yer liquor —take it like a man and don’t foolish with Grizzly Dave! This ole Limberger here can tell you that I’m a bad, wild man from away over— e's see’d me chaw up men right in this room for refusin’ to ‘reconcile’ with me, Now here, par- son, hear me—take hold, or Pll take yer by the ears and fetch yer to the trough a-prancin’!” “Stand back!” said Postle, receding a step, his face still wearing a cool, calm and resolute look. : Grizzly Dave saw he had an ugly customer, but he had gone too far now to back down; so he advanced to Positle’s side and reached up to take him by the ear, But that act seemed a signal for a hidden thunderbolt, so it seemed to Grizzly Dave, to let drive into his very face and the next thing the gambler wus aware of was of rising to his feet in a dazed sort of a way at the other end of the room. “ What done that?—what hit me?” he asked jooking around him in bewilderment, the blood pouring from his nostrils. “Dot preacher-mans,” said old Luke, his red ‘face aglow with inwara delight; “‘he ish der atterson what struck you—yaw, he ish m, The Mexican was the first to recover his pres- ence of mind, and then, true to his treacherous nature, he stooped and drawing a knife from his boot-leg, made a dart at the parson. But the latter was on the alert and before the villain zould strike he planted his foot in the fellow’s stomach and sent him, doubled up like a jack- knife, clear over the counter into the corner, At the same moment almost Postle gaye Caie Bunce a scientific left-hander on the jaw that sent that worthy flying through the open door out into the street. Albert Joslin, the sleepy-looking as ten- derfoot seated on the opposite side of the build- ing, regarded the scene with a faint smile on his boyish face and a peculiar twinkle in his blue yes, fs the mean time Grizzly Dave, the-bad-man- from-away-over, had regained his feet and was fumbling at his hip, where hung a six-shooter. But the parson was on the alert. He seemed to fully understand the situation and the kind of men he had to deal with, and in a twinkling— with the celerity of one accustomed to quick ‘work—he had the rough covered with a der- ringer, ? “Don’t dare me further; Grizzly Dave,” he id This was eount. Grizzly Dave saw that he had met more than his match and was beaten. His hand swung around to its natural position empty. Rial A: muttered curse was upon his lips, Luke Freiner had enjoyed the punishment of the desperadoes with inward delight, but when he saw the grizzly man-eater vanquished he laughed outright and said: j “Py shimminy kraut, David, you sthumps your toe, hey? You rhuns’g’inst up a preacher- mans what can fight like der tuyfil and pray like a saint. Grizzly Davy I guess what dis shentlemans coom to Last Licks to sthay, hey? What you t’inks ’pout mush and milk when you halefs a sphoon, hey?” : ? } “Wal, g 1 dang it,” said Grizzly Dave, his whole demeanor changed from that of a bully toa peaceful man, “ye needn’t make fun 0’ a man’s misfortune. I’m no hog—I know when T’ve enuff o’ anything. Say, parson, put down i fib ete “ih Rattler. O ld Tom that pistol and Ill call our account square. Yowre an ole singed cat, you be, parson, I guess you’ve see’d service in a minin’-camp afore—I can tell by the way you strike, and the heavenly ease with which you swing a shooter into position. A man like you, parson, can have the eternal friendship o’ Grizzly Dave. You're no milksop 0’ a preacher, and [ say now that the fu’st meetin’ you hold I want, to set right under the drip o’ the sanctuary. I’m converted pease f and, stranger, if ye have spilled some o’ my blood you can figger on me as backin’ you hereafter. Ill confess that Mg been too nu- merous for me, but you’re the fu’st gol-danged rooster that ever give re the spur. But say, did yer bu’st Sonora Steve? He don’t seem to materialize from behind that box.” ‘* He coom ’round soon he sthraighten out der kinks out ob hesselef,” said the landlord, The Mexican heard these remarks and they seemed to exasperate him beyond control of himself, and, grasping his knife, he glided, in a crouching position, from behind the counter, and endeavored to plunge the knife into Postle’s back, and he would have succeeded but for the prompt action of Albert Joslin, the sleepy-look- ing boy, who, like a young panther, sprung across the room and hurled the treacherous little Mexican into a corner ten feet away. “Great Cott in Himmel!” exclaimed old Luke, ‘* what now preaks loose ’round bere? Py shim- miny krout! more cats mit der hair cooked off dem, hey?” Sonora Steve, half rising, looked around him in a sort of confusion. is eyes met those of the young tenderfoot, who stood erect, his hith- erto sleepy eyes fixed upon him with a look like that of a young tiger. A low, muttered curse was hissed from the Mexican’s lips. The boy snarled at the outlaw and showed his teeth in a way that provoked old Luke toa fit of silent laughter. The Mexican rose to his feet and grasped his knife as if preparing to leap upon the boy. The youth shook his right arm—a revolver slipped from his big coat-sleeve and was caught in his hand with the skill of a juggler. Then, as he raised the weapon on a line with the Mexi- can’s breast, he said: . tek if you dare,” The Mexican made no reply, but turned and left the room, vanquished for the time, but no doubt inwardly swearing vengeance against the preacher and the tenderfoot youth. As the Mexican went out a 1ew-comer entered the hotel and asked: ‘“* Luke, what’s the matter with Cale Bunce? He’s leaning against the house out here in great agony—acts as if he’d the lock-jaw.” ** He gits his jaw smacked—dot preacher-mans he lets ‘imself loose and flings his fists pout like tamnition and he knock der poys gollyvestward. Mister mye Bell, dot mans there pees der preacher, Paul Postle.” “Mr. Postle,” said Major Bell, for he the new- comer was, extending his hand, ‘‘I am glad to make your acquaintance, and welcome you to Last Lick.” “Thank you, major,” said Postle, looking straight into Bell’s eyes with a searching look that almost made the major wince, “‘I hope I shall prove myself worthy of your confidence.” Major Bell was a maz of forty-five years, with a fine physique, a full beard, a dark, brown eye, and withal a man of pleasant address and pre- possessing appearance, “Major,” said Grizzly Dave, mopping the blood from his face, ‘‘ I’m acquainted with ther *Postle Paul, too—we met a while ago; he shook hands with me, but 1'll be well in a day or two, if ghngrene don’t set in.” ‘**From looks of things there’s been a cyclone ’round here,” observed the major. ‘* Yaw, dot preacher mans is ther eritter—he do oop der cyclone pizness gallantly, but, hullo! what dot outfeet what coom there; hey? The ‘‘ outfit” referred to was two horsemen that had drawn rein and dismounted in front of the Pick-and-Shovel. One of them was a tall man dressed in the suit of a Westerner, and well armed, The other was a little, nervous sort of a man with a decidedly foreign appearance and dress. The latter entered the hotel to inquire about lodging, and as soon as he spoke Luke Freiner discovered that he was a. Frenchman. He gave his name as Jules Laclede, and his profession as that of an artist. He said he was making a tour of the great West on horseback. sketching ‘ ze grand mountain scenery,” and called attention to his two ‘pack-horses that were well loaded with his business outfit. He was an eccentric, fussy little chap of perhaps thirty years of age, < | i) speaking English imperfectly; but he had not been in the hotel lomg before those present had made up their mints that there was a method in his eccentricities, CHAPTER III. STARTLING TRAGEDY. ON the morning following the arrival of Jules Laclede at Last Lick, the miners on their way to work stopped in front of the ‘* Pick-and-Shoy- el” and looked with admiration upon a splendid crayon picture of Major Robert Bell that hung against the outside of the building. The picture had been drawn by Laclede with chalk upon a heavy black canvas. It had been hastily yet fairly executed and was given as a sample of the artist’s skill which received no little commenda- tion. Under the picture was written in plain characters that all could read, the following: ** Nortce,—To-night I will give at the Pick-and- Shovel an exhibition of my skillin sketching moun- tain scenery and comic cartoons, etc., ete. Every- body invited. Admission free, “Juues Laciepr, Artist.” And everybody that read the notice resolved to attend. Even the gamblers and old bummers resolved to go in force and give one evening toa change of life in camp. Freiner’s hotel was rather a commodious house, It was divided into three apartments—a bar, dining-room and kitchen. Each one was separ- ated from the other by a curtain, so that by ushing these partitions aside the building could pe thrown into one room. , And this old Luke did as evening approached, and seats improvised of kegs, chairs, boxe and planks were arranged in the room, The artist arranged his canvas at oné end of the room. It was a heavy slate-colored canvas stretched upon an adjustable frame four by six feet in size, By dark the whole population of Last Lick except the few women in the camp, had gathered in the Pick-and-Shovel. Conspicuous in the crowd was the tall form of Paul Postle who had gained no lit‘le notoriety in camp by the punishment of Grizzly Dave and his two friends the day before. Sonora, Steve was also there, and his little snakish eyes search- ed the face of every individual there as if look- ing for some certain one. And he was; but that one, Albert Joslin, the sleepy-looking tenderfoot, was not there. He had left the camp that morn- ing for parts unknown. n due course of time Jules Laclede appeared before the audience, bowed low with the charac- teristic politeness of a Frenchman, then turning, crayon in hand, began his work. With the ra- pidity of lightning his hand flashed over the canvas black-board, Lines and curves, light and heavy, grew rapidly into a cobweb confusion; but out of this tangled mesh there soon bY pu a splendid view of the mountain scenery looking westward from camp. It required no stretch of imagination to recognize it and the audience ap- plauded the artist’s first scene long and loud. Laclede acknowledged the compliment with a smile and a polite bow; then he picked up an eraser and with a few strokes swept the picture f.om the canvas and, with a wave of his hand © to the audience, again went to work. Swiftly and deftly his hand flew 7” and down and over the canvas. The figure of a man of Fallstaffian proportions, and one talland angular grew into form with marvelous rapidity. The fat man was represented as standing at a bar holding in bis hand a mug of foaming beer, while on the other side stood the lean man read- ing a book, The features of the two men were the very last to redeive the attention of the artist, and when the finishing touches had been put upon the faces, the audience broke into an uproarious applause, for, in the fat man al} recognized the rotund face of Luke Freiner, and, in the other, the ungainly form and homely face of Rev. Paul Postile. The two subjects of the cartoon enjoyed the fun with the audience, and it} was several min- utes before quiet could be restored. Then the artist swept the figures off the board and began work on other subjects. Two men an Irishman and a Chinaman, were represented ata game of cards, the game being shown at different stages by erasures and additions, map with the Chinaman in the act of stealing a from the deck while Pat was in the act of takin a drink of whisky. This cartoon was follow by a view of mountain scenery, a négro on a bucking broncho, and a love scene between a young squaw and anold white hunter—each and all of which brought down the house. rushing off the board the artist glanced over the audience and then with a bow and wave or
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16 eat i GEN I tes clita, EN Lr TH eh An hin ae ee nee) ee pe Ey Fy - hy - + yh + ye the hand turned and began another subject. His movements were not so rapid as before and Pera his lines and curves more delicate and graceful. is It.soon became apparent that he was drawing the head and bust of a female and there was no little curiosity and speculation as to the out- come. Some of the Ka gamblers, through force of habit, offered to bet on the result, but found : no takers. be The artist worked away, leaving the face un- a til the last; then, when he turned ‘his attention to that part of tho picture, and the features of the subject assumed an expression of familiarity under the magic touches of the workman, a dee and profound silence fell upon the audience. It Was some minutes before the finishing touches were put on the picture, and the artist stood aside for its inspection, a smile of triumph and satisfaction upon his face. The picture was & that of Zulima Randall, the cherished idol of the a eamp. The audience broke into an applause that was long and continuous. lt was not a wild, bois- terous applause, but one full of the spirit of re- . Spect and admiration—such as would have been j jven to the maiden herself had she appeared re fore them, When there finally came a lull in the excite- ment, an old miner sprung to his feet and shouted; Be ‘Mister Artist, if, you'll freeze that are pic- Ae ter there so’s it won’t rub off, Pl give you tea ounces o’ gold for it.” ‘*That iz impozzeeble, monsieur,” Laclede re- plied, with apparent rie as Wal, it’s too gol-all-fired bad,” added the miner, resuming his seat; ‘it looks like a * waste to rub that picter out.” = After the audience had gazed upon the pic- i ture of the maiden for several minutes, the art- ist ener it, and then turning to the audience, said: ‘*Genteelmen, ze Reverend Paul Postle will now to you somethings say more better as I can “3 to you.” art. 3 He stepped aside, and the Reverend Paul Postle advanced to the platform, and bowing, said: _ Gentlemen, the artist, Mr. Laclede, who speaks English so imperfectly, has fequested me to say a few words to you in relation to another gift that he possesses in connection with that of an artist or caricaturist; he claims the power of being able to reveal some—not all—hidden things, and fathom what to many would be a mystery. Heclaims that the gift comes to him by birth, he being the seventh son of the sev- enth daughter born under the planet Jupiter, To some this idea may savor of superstition, but subsequent events will prove to you how much there is in the gift the gentleman lays a claim to. I know nothing at all about it, and RY. am only speaking for Mr. Laclede, and by his ad request, ow, in order to prove what he sf claims, his next sketch will be in connection with an event which, I am informed, threw a cloud of sorrow over your camp, and left your bins minds, your Vigilantes, and your detectives aoa wrapt in mystery and confusion. 1 refer to the ae brutal murder of Judge Benoni Randal, and the unsolved mystery surrounding the crime.” At mention of this tragedy there was an au- dlible commotion in the audience; but after a | ~~ moment’s pause Paul Postle continued: a ‘Mr, Laclede never saw Judge Randall dead * or alive yet he authorized me to say that since i: he came here and heard of the tragedy, he went Bi into a slidep or trance, and while in this state, - saw Judge Randall. In fact, he is so positive ae that he saw the victim of that murderous ar- row that he proposes to produce the face of the dead man on that canvas, and let you judge then of his powers as a pia Sy You who AAS Ola ein Rattler. as before, he drew the outlines of the head, and then stopped work, closing his eyes as if in deep reflection, He passed his hand over his brow, and finally with a start opened his eyes and re- sumed his work; and before he had finished the picture, exclamations of surprise from the lips of those nearest to the canvas were heard, and finally, a wild burst of surprise and wonder rung through the whole house. The face of Judge Randall was there before them as natur- al as had been the face of Zulima. ‘*That’s the judge!” ‘That’s him!” ‘A — picter!” were some of the exclamations neard mingled with others bordering on super- stitious belief, Some one at a window outside made the re- mark loud enough to be heard inside that he was satisfied, and would bet that Laclecae had seen Randall before his death and was familiar with his looks. But this assertion had_no effect on the audience, for so completely had Laclede won the admiration of all that their confidence in him could not be shaken by aspersions. After the audience had taken a zood look at the judge’s picture, the artist erased some parts of it and added new lines that changed the atti- tude of the body and the features to those of a man in great agony. He also added the picture of the shaft of an arrow protruding from the man’s breast, A low cry of horror ran through the crowd at sight of this picture, and expressions of in- dignation, and even low curses were heard all around the room, While the audience were gazing upon the pic- ture of Randall in the throes of death, the art- ist began work on another near the center of the canvas. First, he roughly drew a clump of bushes, and then further along he drew the fig- ure of another man,-holding in his hand a bow and arrow. But this figure he left headless, and turning to the crowd he said: ‘*Gentlemen, ze preacher say more to you *bout ze t edy.” 4 Postle, who still stood near the artist, said: ‘““Gentlemen—men of Last Lick, now comes the climax—the most wonderful of this terrible tragedy, and the full test cf this artist’s myste- rious and supernatural powers. I am told the most skillful detectives have been unable to track down the murderer of Judge Randall, even though you have offered a large reward for his apprehension, Now, then, this remark- able man claims that he has seen the face of that murderer in a trance as plainly as he saw the face of his victim, You now know come- thing of his mysterious power. He produced the face of Judge Randall on the canvas, so you all have admitted; and, gentlemen, he will now undertake to produce on canvas the face of the murderer of your friend Randall !” As Postle concludei Laclede advanced, and with evident nervousness, bowed to his audi- ence. Then, crayon in hand, he turned and ad- vanced to the canvas, hand at his back and his eyes flashing keenly over the crowd as if he expected to read in the countenance of some one there evidence of ilt. cree raised his hand to begin the promised revelation of the most mysterious mystery that had ever perplexed the minds of a community; but before he had made ‘a single stroke a pistol flashed in one of the open windows, and the hand of the artist fell at his side ard a cry of pain burst from his lips! At the same instant almost—before a man in the house could move—before the sound of the pistol had scarcely crossed the room, the long arm of the Reverend Paul Postle was thrust out above the heads of the audience—a der- ringer in his hand rung out with a_ spiteful crack, and a cry of agony arose on the night outside of the window! | ' CHAPTER IV. WHO WAS PAUL POSTLE? FIVE seconds after the report of Postle’s pis- tol the Pick-and-Shovel was the scene of wild, mad confusion. -A perfect panicensued. Seats were overturned; men were knocked down and trampled upon; and to add to the confusion the lights were overturned ‘and put out} and the frantic mob’ fought and crowded its way in darkness. The yells, curses, and threats of the trampled men, the crash of doors and windows, and’ the bang and rattle of chairs and boxes were deaf- ening. It was several minutes before the house was emptied; then Freiner. lit a lamp and pro- ceeded to take an inventory of his losses, the thing he noticed was Jules Laclede, i] ios oa 3 \ ‘eu, OO ae ‘ ne. The preacher still remained stancing, his right ut. Skin: Coa tO TA ie J who was coming toward him holding in his left hand his right arm, which had becn dreadfully lacerated by the builet of his would-be as- sassin. ; Outside, under the open window, a man Jay prone upon the earth in dying agony—the vic- tim of the parson’s derringer. “Bring a light! bring a light, quick!” shouted. a voice; ‘* somebody’s in a bad fix out bere!” A lamp was carried to the window. Its light streamed out upon the prostrate form of the man, A cry of surprise and horror burst from the lips of those standing around at the start- ling > hata they made. The man that lay weltering in his life-blood, that welled from a bullet-hole in the head, was Major Robert Bell ! And the hand of Rev. Paul Postle had done the deed, Cries of vengeance rose on the night. Major Bell was carried into the hotel and placed on a cot, and the doctor summoned, Two miners, Casper Jones and Sandy Farrall, were sent to bring the major’s daughter, Sybil, and her friend, Zulima Randall, to the bedside of the wounded man. : The doctor found the major unconscious. “‘There’s but one chance in a thousand for him,” he said, after he had made an examina-~ tion of his wounds, This sdded new fuel to the flame that was already burning in the breasts of the excited miners. ~* Where is the preacher? Where is the mur- derer?” was asked on all sides, But no one answered, for no one knew. Rev. Paul Postle had disappeared; but like blood- hounds the excited miners. went plunging through the camp in search of him, To still add to the excitement of the hour, Jones and Farrall came running back to the hotel, almost breathless, with the startling in- telligence that both Sybil Bell and Zulima Ran- dall were not to. be found. From old Aunt. Deborah, Zulima’s servant, who had just recov- ered consciousness from a blow on the head when they reached the house, they learned that four | masked men had come here shortly after Major Bell had started to the entertainment, and- seized, bound, and gagged the girls, and upon her—Deborah’s—attempt to call for help, one of the villains had knocked her senseless. That the girls had been carried away into the moun- ne PP those four outlaws there was not a oubt, The news almost paralyzed those that first heard it. ‘ The Vigilantes met at once in their room to take action in the cases that had so suddenly Poned themselves to their consideration. e entire committee, with the exception of Ralph Hatton, one of their best men, was pres~ ent. A warm discussion over the tragic events at the Pick-and-Shovel and the abduction of Sybil and Zulima ensued. Finally one member declared that he believed that the events of that night were the culmin- ating acts in a foul conspiracy which had had its beginning in the murder of Judge Randall. “ This, then—” began another member, but he was interrupted by the guardian of the door with the announcement that the absent mem- ber, Ralph Hatton, had arrived. Mr. Hatton was admitted, and when seated, the speaker continued; ‘‘ As I was going to say, Judson’s as- sertion would, if true, involve Rev, Paul Postle and that artist in the conspiracy, and the sud- den disappearance of the parson convinces me that his decuctions are about right.” ; Several otber members spoke in about the ~ same strain; but finally Ralph Hatton arose and said: : . ** Brothers, I have listened in silence since I came in, to your theories of to-night’s tragic events in this camp, and I am prepared to say that you are all, in .a measure, wrong as to the part Rev. Paul Postle is playing. From the time I first met the preacher here in Last Lick I thought I knew hiin, or, at least, had seen him ~ before; and after refreshing my memory I con- | cluded I dad seen him some years ago in Pueblo, In fact, I would have had no doubt of it had it not beey for his language. The old fellow that I met at Pueblo was the worst butcher of the — English language I ever meé. He never spoke except in the most outlandish, whimsical and — thoroughly Western yernacular, and I then made up my mind that he was one of those il- literate old mountaimeers whose stock of ex- . a 85 pletives and slang was inexhaustible. But this — ‘man Postle has used very fair language, though = __ ‘ in his talk to-night at the Pick-and-Shovel he used a few words that led me to:suspect tha6 my Pueblo acquaintance was before me dis-
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_ gallop under the mellow moonlight. * behind, and on one side of the guised as Paul Postle. And, brothers, my sus- picions proved correct.” **Who is Paul Postle?’ asked an impatient amember, : “Pm coming’ to that,” continued Hatton, ** After the panic in the hotel to-night I ran against Postle in the dark outside, and I took the bull by the horns and called him by what I | sky. believed his true name to be. ** Hullo? was his reply. name’s Hatton, are it not? ‘‘] answered that it was, and he then asked me to step aside with him—he wanted to speak with me. While we were talking in the shadows ‘I b’lieve your we overheard the news of Sybil and Zulima’s ; abduction. The old man was startled by the re- port, and said he must leave at once and en- deavor to head off the girls’ abductors, who he felt sure would go northward. He said he had a friend concealed in the mountains near; and that he would be back here as soon as possible. He begged me to permit no violence to Jules ‘Laclede, for the man was as innocent of wrong asa child unborn. He knew of the rer azainst himself for the shooting of Bell, but sai he'd explain that when he returned.” - Well who the thunder is Paul Postle, any- thow?” asked a member, impatiently. ‘“Paul Postle is the noted old mountain de- tective, Kit Bandy.” CHAPTER V. LARAMIE JOE, TRE BOY KNIGHT. ‘THE scene of our story changes. It is night on the Laramie Plains, A horseman headed northward across the great expanse moved along at a slow, swinging He was a young man—in fact a boy yet in his teens, but e possessed a fine, robust physique, and a pleas- ant, handsome face that was flushed with health and the exuberance of a wild, free spirit, He -was dressed in the garb of a ranchero, and was armed with a pair of revolvers und a Winches- ter carbine. He was mounted upon an easy- going, clean-limbed horse, that was well-capari- ssoned with bridle and silver-bespangled Mexican saddle. ‘ A roll of blankets was strapped to the saddle ommel in front hung, a leather pouch and on the other a coiled ariat, That this youth was familiar with this great male and all its bewildering intricacies was evi- ent from the fact of his moving Sati 2 with nothing to guide him save his instinctive knowl- 2 oe of his course, ramie Joe, the Boy Knight of the Plains, for he this youth mg was, was at home, in- deed, on the Laramie Plains, day or night; and more than all others—rangers,, scouts and rancheros—was he known and feared, To the outlaws and Indians whose fastnesses. were am surrounding hills, and who were confirmed horse and cattle-thieves, had he become a ter- wor. For his perfect knowledge of the topogra- phy of the country, bis skill as a trailer, his ando mitable pluck and courage, his manliness of bearing and wacompromising honor had hoe been chosen over scores of others, and older amen at that, as chief scout for the association of cattle-men throughout that country, This made him a kind of an independent ranger, but so great and constant were his duties that he was kept in the saddle almost day and night. Tf ever he did leave the plain for a week or a single day it was in the interest of his employ- ers, And it was this interest that took him, a few days before we introduce him to the reader, far southward to the mining-camp of Last Lick. ‘He had gone there in search of a couple of horse-thieves. He had gone in disguise, and there were few who had seen Alvert Joslin, the ‘boy tenderfoot, at the Pick-and-Shovel, that -would have believed that he and the dashing ‘Laramie Joe were one and the same person. _ For many long miles the young knight gal- Joped on over the plain taking no note of things around him. To him the flap of a night-bird’s wing, or the snarl of a scampering wolf were no more than the sound of his own horse’s hoofs -.on‘the plain. - It must have been near the hour of midnight when he came to a little clump of bushes that seemed to stand all alone on that great ex- panse. Here he drew rein and dismounted. ‘Quickly he stripped the saddle and bridle from his borse and lariated it out to grass close along- side the little motte, . > The young knight of the plains had put. up for the night. From the pommel of his saddle he took a ao and laid it in a circle on the ground. Within this circle he spread agblanket, > - ‘ ° ett if . z P r d af i ! vi cy “y cee ty 4 _ . : Ne . : Sata Pee Dense Old Tom Rattler. and his couch was ready. | He laid down, usin his saddle for a pillow. At his right side be lai a revolver, at his left his carbine. With no disturbing thoughts nor sounds— with a free heart and clear conscience—with an abiding faith in the protection of Divine Providence, he lay gazing up into the starry As he had done often before in his night- ly solitude on the plains, he traced out the stars with whose names he was familiar and medi- tated upon the infinite power of the Hand that had sent whirling througk space a thousand | worlds, | While thus engaged he saw a star suddenly shoot across the brow of heaven and go trailing its fiery course downward toward the south, His eyes followed it, and just where it seemed to plunge into the darkness of the earth, a black object seemed to spring up from the shadows against the ay He watclied it closely and saw that it moved, and presently he discovered an- other like ita little lower down, They looked like the heads of horsemen whose bodies and horses were below the line of light. Turning over on his side, the young plains- man laid Sis ear to the ground and listened. Then he started, and, springing to his feet took up his weapon and blanket and carried them into the thicket. ‘‘ Horsemen are comin’ as sure as my name is. Joe Harris! and I wonder who in the name o’ George Washington it can be coming in from that direction? Surely it can’t be any of the boys from the Sweetwater ranches.” Treading his horse into the bushes he took a position where he could command a view of the lain and waited and watched. He knew the orsemen would pass near, for they were evi- dently following an old trail that ran hard by across the plain. He had not long to wait. Two persons riding side by side came up and passed the motte ata canter, and to the utter surprise and astonish- ment of the boy he saw that one of them was a woman ! ‘Great guns!” the youth exclaimed to him- self, ‘‘ there's something wrong there or else ma wild Ojibway! No woman’d be gallop- adin’ around over this plain at this time unless there was, and I[ rather think I'll inquire into the matter, There’s nothin’ in my contract with Colonel Bowen that prohibits me from lookin’ after women-folks as well as Mavericks and horse-thieves, so here » Spiel He hastily bridled and saddled his horse, rolled up his blanket and replaced them be- hind the saddle; then from the leather pouch before mentioned he took four ingeniously-con- structed ‘‘ mufflers,” which he proceeded to slip on over his horse’s feet, confining the same with a strap and buckle around the pastern, thereby rendering noiseless the animal’s iron- shod hoofs. This had been a favorite expedient with Lar- amie Joe. It had enabled him many times to approach a foe and deal deadly blows and then escape. More than once he had ridden into the very heart of an Indian — unheard, and then escape before injury could be inflicted upon him, and for this reason the Indians had named him Pantherfoot. As soon as all was ready the youth slung his carbine at his back by means of a strap, then leaped into his saddle, and with his reins in his left hand and revolver in the right, he rode from the thicket. And just as he did so, his ears were greeted by the sound of more passing hoofs, and the next moment two more horse- men came into view from behind the motte and galloped on up the old trail. To his profound astonishment he saw that one of this second pair was also awoman, He knew it was not the same two that had passed some minutes before, for he could still see them it the distance. _Moreover, he was satisfied from. the very at- titude—the drooping form and bowed head—of the second woman that she was not there of her own free will. Still, he thought he might be mistaken, and that it was fatigue that was tell- ing “ES her strength. Of this he must make sure before offering violence, and so settling himself in his saddle, he spoke to bis trained animal, which bounded away, its muffled hoofs creating but the faintest sound. traight toward the unknown pair he gal- loped, approaching them, of course, from be- nd, : ' The first intimation the unknown had of any one’s presence was by the sudden start of their horses, but before the man had caught sight of the boy, the young dare-devil dashed in be- tween him and the woman, and presenting a revolyer at the astounded man’s head, ex- . Ky , \ oF: - Oy Te OF | jo tte * , l horn o ¥ 4 e 1 Generates, 7 tet eo are wf a Pues NOE Oe RARE Roe eR es eke ’ 7 ‘¢ Halt and throw up your hands! or Ill blow your brains all over Laramie Plateau!” ‘‘ Laramie Joe!” exclaimed the startled man, with an oath, “ Yes, sir, that’s who I am,” responded Joe; ‘are you goin’ to throw up your hands?” A little cry—half joy and half fear—burst from the lips of the woman. “Madam,” said the young knight, though keeping his eyes fixed on the man, ‘I rather think you're in trouble.” “ Yes, sir, that man—” the woman began, but Joe heard no more, for the man’s horse sudden- ly shied off to one side, and the fellow endeav- ored to take aahteaaan of the movement by drawing his revolver; but the quick eye of the boy detected the movement, his revolver rung out on the still night, a groan escaped the out- law’s lips, he swayed forward, clutched at the his saddle and then tumbled to the earth, while his horse sped away in affright . over the plain, A cry of terror burst from the woman’s lips. Lavamie Joe now turned in his saddle and - gazed down into the woman’s face that was plainly visible in the moonlight; and it was his turn now to meet with surprise, He saw that the face was that of a young girl—a face of re- markable beauty, notwithstanding the dis- tressed and troubled expression it bore. Reach- ing out, the boy took the reins of her horse and stop d both it and his own. : Young lady,” he said, ‘‘ may I ask who you are? ** Zulima Randall,” she replied, “ Of Last Lick mining-camp?”’ “Yes, sir.” ‘‘Great guns! what does this mean, your presence here?” ‘*T was abducted and carried away by sheer force; but I heard that outlaw calling you Lara- mie Joe; are you that yentleman?” : ‘*f am, Miss Randall.” ‘‘Then I have found a friend,” she added, ina tone more hopeful. " ‘““[’m your friend as long as i’ve life, miss,” he assured her; ‘‘ but while this is the first time you ever saw me, I had the pleasure of seeing you in Last Lick about a week ago.” ‘‘ deed! I never heard that Laramie Joe was in the camp,” Zulina replied, her courage and spirits revivin ‘*T was there in Sisauiee looking for a pair of horse-thieves; but, Miss Randall, when were you abducted?” F k “ About five days ago to-night,” ‘*‘ Then it was one day after I left there,” ‘And my beloved friend, Sybil Bell, was car ried away at the same time.” / ‘*TIndeed! What, in Heaven's name, was the miners doing that; such a thing should happen?” ‘They were all at the Pick-and-Shovel at- tending an entertainment given by a French artist, whom I now believe to be a confederate of — the outlaws. But, Laramie Joe, the outlaw with Sybil is but a short distance on ahead of us.” > ‘*Yes, and yonder the’ outlaw comes riding back this way. The report of my revolver must have reached his ears, and he’s coming back to inquire into the matter. Now,if I can — have as good luck with him as I had with your escort, Miss Bell will soon be a free girl also.” ‘*‘Oh, sir, you are very brave and kind!” the little maiden exclaimed, her face growing — bright with hope and joy. ¢ “Thank you, miss,” Joe responded, his heart’ heaving with manly pride over the compliment the fair girl bestowed upon him, Unslinging his carbine, he awaited the ap- roach of the supposed outlaw. The latter, owever, seemed to bave mistrusted somethi of the true situation, for, wheu about a hund yards away, he drew rein. He remained quiet for several minutes, then called out: ‘¢ Hullo, Barkdale, what’s wrong?” a Receiving no answer, the fellow finally whirled his horse and rode away. Laramie Joe seeing his movement, sent a shot after him, but with no other known effect than to quicken the speed of his horse in flight, “The gal-thief takes the hint and cuts out” ‘ / ; Joe said. “Oh, poor Sybil!” cried Zulima. t The young knight was now in a quandary. He could not think of leaving Zulima there m the open plain alone in her weak and almost ex- — hausted condition, nor could he bear the thought of allowing the other outlaw to escape with Sybil without making some effort to rescue her, »— So he finally concluded that he would conduct a + *. oie 4 r Zulima back to the little motte and assist her to dismount and arrange a temporary bower where she could rest in comfort uniil he returned roe pursuit of the outlaw. 190% INA
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ee a . ; oe ty AT RE ER AOE IR MR OR RE = erm Oe roam rs = mm ‘ To this arrangement Zulima readily consent- ed, and they turned and started back toward the grove. y _ “Oh, why have I got to suffer so much?” the maiden exclaimed, as some new fear seemed to seize upon her mind. “Tie cussedness of man is at the bottom of it all, Miss Randall,” the boy replied, ‘‘ but theyll all smoke for 1t, now mind.” ** Laramie Joe, it looks to me as though we were the victims of a great conspiracy.” ah ‘“‘'You may be, miss; God only knows.” ** Sybil thinks that preacher, Paul Postle, and the artist that came to Last Lick are at the bot- tom of all.” ** What made her think so?” ; ‘*Because we were carried away while all the Ava -men were at the entertainment given by the ni artist, and she thinks it was gotten up on pur- pose to draw them there so that we could be carried away.” ‘* Well, Miss Sybil is mistaken as to Rev. Paul Postle,” said Laramie Joe, **Do you know him?” **'Yes; he was in your camp under false colors .—he is not a preacher, but Kit Bandy, the noted ar old’ detective,” “*Tndeed? Oh, I am glad to hear it!” ‘Yes, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bandy along this way before long; but here we are, Miss Randall.” ' They had reached the motte, and, dismount- ing, Joe assisted Zulima from her horse and conducted her into the grove. With his knife he cut some bushes and constructed a little bower for her. Inside of this he then spread his eae own blankets saying: i ‘* Now, Miss Randall, that’s the best I can do for your comfort, but I'd advise you to lie down, and, if you can, take a good, sound % sleep. I will go now in pursuit of Sybil, and ' will try and get back before morning. If, however, I should not return by that time, you had better mount your horse and get where you can find water and food. Ride straight to- ward the rising sun—keep the sun right before you for three hours’ lively ride. It will take you a little out of your way, but it will be the safest—it will bring you to Deer Creek, down which stream you must follow until you strike Redmon’s cattle-ranch, where you will find friends and protectors.” Zulima repeated his instructions to make sure she understood him aright, then thanked him for his kindness with all the fervency of her grateful woman’s nature, After addressing a few more words of en- couragement to the maiden, the boy. bade her ¢ good-night, leaped into his saddle and galloped | @way northward. Zulima watched him until he had disappeared in the distance, then, as a sense of her loneli- ness rushed across her mind, she went back and _ © knelt down in her bower, and litting her face vid toward heaven, poured out her heart’s emo- tions in prayer to her Heavenly Father, hum- bly supplicating Him for strength and courage to bear her own burden, and for the safe re- turn of her rescuer, the brave and gallant young knight of her girlish dreams. CHAPTER VI, HAIL FELLOWS WELL MET, ' THE horse from which the outlaw—the _ wictim of Laramie Joe’s revolver—tumbled “was a spirited animal, and, taking fright at the ; sound of the boy’s revolver and the scent of blood that spurted from the man’s wound upon _ dts withers, it frantically dashed away over the ; re It did not keep the old Indian trail it had followed since crossing the Sweetwater, but sped away toward the northeast, the heavy swinging stirrups lashing it in the sides at every bound and goading it on almost to madness. ~ then a hungry coyote would spring aoe in ark and giv 7 brought to a halt by the tat ei ha sh. 7 op old Tom Rattler. ** Whoa, now, ole boy,” suddenly came a hu- man voice from the bushes hard by; ‘‘ whoa ”— it went on—‘‘be easy, ole feller—easy, old hossy, and I'll he’p you out o’ yer preedicamint —ya-att, now, pony.” Then a man rose up and advanced to the side of the horse, and taking the reins unloosened . them and began patting the trembling animal on the neck, The man was dressed in the garb of a hunter. He must have been fifty odd years of age, small of stature, with keen gray eyes overhung with shaggy brows, a rather prominent nose and a sharp chin covered with short, stubby whiskers, He carried a Sharpe’s rifle and around his waist was a cartridge-belt, well filled, and to which was suspended a sheathed hunting-knife, After he had quieted the horse, the old man said, as if the animal was an intelligent being: = T guess, old hossy, youre been doin’ some tt, seratchin’, but then I guess from your build you’re put up for lively work, and as I’m in need o’ a hoss ’'1 cabbage you— Ah! by the great Rosycrusians! here’s blood on you ole feller, and [ll bet it’s the blood o’ your other master. Been in some kind 0’ a racket, haven’t ye, ole hoss?: Snakes! how I do wish you could talk—tell me the story o’ that blood, but, as ye can’t, Pl ace ye as strayed or stolen, and mount you and ride over to camp.” So saying, the old borderman slung his rifle at his back, placed his foot in the stirrup, and was in the act of raising himself into the sad- dle when, to his spa and horror, he beheld the head and face of a man who stood peering pie his very eyes from the opposite side of the orse, This stranger had approached unheard or un- seen, and this stealthy action had led the old borderman to the conclusion that he was an enemy, and dropping his foot from the stirrup, he shoved his hand over the saddle quick as a flash of lightning and caught the stranger by the hair of the head, At the same time, how- ever, the ito flung a long arm over the horse and seized the borderman by his scanty locks and held him fast, This unnatural proceeding excited the horse so that it made a sudden lunge forward, break- ing the hold of the foes, and flinging them head- long to the earth a rod apart, Quick almost as they had gone down the two men arose and confronted each other—each fin- gering at his belt for a weapon. ‘*Cuss your ganglin’ ole carcass!” hissed the little borderman through his set teeth, his eyes blazing with fury, ‘‘come on, and ll rip you open like a bean pod—I’ll fang you in the liver!” ‘t Ha! you bushy-faced little weasel,” retorted the other, a tall, slim man, dressed in a suit half-savage and half-plainsman, ‘‘advance one step and I'll tunnel yer carcass with lead so’s a coyote can gallop through you. Understand I'm not to be foolished with—I’m a hull regi- ment o’—-” _“Bushrangers,” interrupted the little bor- derer, ‘‘a confounded bush-louse. Ive killed whole acres 0’ sich things as you.” **-You’re a holy untamed tempest, ar’n’t you?” “I'm old Tom Rattler—” ‘‘Ther Red River Epidemic?’ broke in the | tall man, | “* You bet your fuzzy old liver I’m that, per- simmon, ripe, too, for anything from a bush-rat to a_red-skin.” ‘ ‘Rattler, ve heard _o’ you, now to introduct myself as Ka-ristopher Bandy.” ‘**Do you mean to say you’re Kit Bandy, the old mountain byck-goat detective?” ‘The same, 2 “T don’t b’lieve it—1 b’lieve you’re lyin’ like Ananias and Sy ee .Pve been told that Kit Bandy war a handsome man; youw’re uglier’n a Texas steer with a bob tail.” “Stranger—Old Rattler ”—began the other, but he was cut short by a wild, fiendish yell from behind Old Rattler, and half a score of savages burst from the bushes and rushed to- ward the two disputants. One of them was so close kg Rattler that bis tomahawk was raised to strike, but before he could deal the deadly blow, the pistol in the hand of Kit Bandy rung out and the red-skin fell. . With a bound side, saying: mien rs You are Kit Bandy, by the great Rosycru- -sians! : , ** Come, or your tresses "ll be yanked,” was Bandy’s re se, as he turned and fled with the ermit me Co-lumbus ; A ate + hal can 0a » J ae Old Rattler reached Bandy’s. | | The savages gave chase yelling hke demons possessed, but the fugitives finally dodged into a thicket of tall bushes and eluded them. Still the two old men did not stop until they had reached a place of safety far from where they had started. Rattler was the first to speak after they had stopped. ‘*Yes, you must be old Kit Bandy,” he said, ‘but I never s’posed Kit war sich an ornery- lookin’ old rat as you be,” and the old fellow in- dulged in a low, good-natured laugh, *“*T'll confess, Rattler, that I’m not so pretty as youare, That chaparral o’ whiskers on your face gives you such a mature look like a sun- scrotched brush patch, and that six by ten mouth looks so rosebuddish, and that anchor- fluke nose crooks so ain that any one ’& take you for old Adonis hisself,” ‘*Thanks fer yer lavish praises, Bandy, but say, ole smokestack, you did me a good favor by shootin’ that Ingin, and now if you be lost up here on the plateau ll gladly conduct you out i o’ danger.” ‘* Lost nothin’; I can git out and you needn't distress yourself bout it, either. A man that’s. +. ia see’d as much domestic war and thunder as I, Be has a fully-developed faculty for gettin’ out o” _ trouble in a hurry.” i ‘Then you be a married man, Bandy?” ““T was, I am, I am not, jist as you please. I’m a wanderin’ Jew now. Domestic life didn’t jibe well with me and Sabina. We didn’t work | well in the harness together. She hung back om the breechin’ and I kicked over the traces. But i Sabina had a willo’ her own and when she blowed Me ‘her horn the walls o’ Jericho had to git. I was ao , Pp g mind a little whirl with the red-skins, Late ga cee SBN UR Se ee) STORE ‘Prospect ’d be for game when the pelt ie that wall and I got—I got out into the moun- ‘ains in the midst o’ Ingins, bears, wolves, snakes: and outlaws, and intrenched behind these I lived, . happy. But she left her mark on me, Rattler. If it war light, Rattler, I could show you a scar big as the Rattlesnake Mountains runnin’ across | my head where ’Bina fetched me one with the wat poker, and on this cheek isa Devi’sGorgewhere = | she flipped from the tips o’ her rosy fingers a, huntin’-knife. Oh! I’m a total wreck, Rat; ct 2 I’m the Ruins 0’ Babylon, the downfall o’ the et ee Roman Empire, the deestruction o’ Herculan- — . eum—” e “* And a hull full Insane Asylum,” interruptea Waa Sep Rattler; ‘‘ oldman, you’rea blushin’ old damsel a lily-lipped bummer, an ox-eyed daisy; but all ‘ii ao this classical jokin’ aside, Bandy, who does that ; hoss belong to over which we looked into each other’s majestic countenances?” “JT don’t know; but I did know it didn’t ne b’long to you and I made up my mind you war Ys a hoss-thief and that ’'d take youin. But I’m P beginnin’ to think now that all’s not as serene as a nest 0’ suckin’ doves on the Laramie Plains. Them Ingins are hereaways stealin’ hosses and A cattle, I’ll bet, and I persume the outlaws are 3 at work, also, in that business as well as gale stealin’.” o “ Ah! somebody’s gals in trouble, Bandy?” | ‘‘Two o' the fairest in the West war carried away from Last Lick camp several days ago. They war fetched off up in this direction and I’m here lookin’ for ’em.” ‘“‘Rosycrusians! if I can do anything to help — count me in, too, Bandy,” said Rattler. “All ae old man—glad to have your help. — I’ve been ookin’? for a young kid named Lara- mie Joe, He’s up on the Plateau somewhars, and if I can only strike him he'll be wortha@ = =| dozen men, for he knows every foot o’ this kem~ =f try—mountains and all; and besides, he’s a hull — ap nest 0’ full-grown wildcats in a fight.” ‘ '“* Pve heard o’ him, Bandy, and would like to meet him. For frolicsome fun give me a good brave boy every pop. I knew a boy once, and. we chummed together durin’ a red-hot Ingin war | in Minnesota, and [ tell you he war a wall-eyed daisy. Why, bless your ugly old eyes, Bandy, we war. a pair o’ wild sneezers and you’d ought to see’d the ha’r fly. But poor Deerhunter! he’s _ ‘one now,” = iapdy ae pes lead?” asked Old Kit, . 5 yeah Lt =o we = 7" “ “s Se eter ey = == ~ ey “ ‘No, married,” 4 : i if ‘‘ Poor Deerhunter, sure enough. If he’s — drank to the dregs of domestic infelicity % Pind have, mebby he’s a wall-eyed lunatic by this — time, ,Skulkin’ on the plains or in the moun- tains, ‘ eae ‘“No, he’s a happy man, Kit, for he had sense — enough to dicchia wile that had a heart and — brain; but not changin’ the subject, I wouldn’t ‘It’s been a long time since I war on the trail, and vobauie my hand and arm are notso steady as they and vinegarish yet, war, my spirit is bain i way to see jist rambled off up this ee: reo at a Bs Oe tg Mis aT SiS pion Werte: a
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wipe et, —— —--——--—— ——— — ———— ‘set in, Scalps o’ red-rinds, howsumeyer, are ripe at all seasons of the year.” hus the two old *plainsmen conversed for | h and ere tne were scarcely aware of the fact the red streaks of dawn shot athwart the eastern sky and soon burst into the flame of day. “Bandy,” said Rattler, when they began to | think of moving away, ‘‘ I’m hungry as a b’ar, and purpose to have some fresh meat for break- fast if it’s nothin’ but sizzled coyote. If yowll light a fire Pll get the game.” ‘* All right, Rattler, bring on yer ki-ote.” Rattler shouldered his rifle and started off into the hills in search of game. Old Kit laid aside his weapons and set about | gathering dry limbs and twigs for fuel. While thus engaged he was startled by the sound of hoofed feet. Turning quickly, with arms full of limbs, he was startled beyond expression to see before him, seated upon a horse, the slender figure of a masked woman, who held a cocked revolver leveled full upon him. And he was astounded—thunderstruck—when there came to | his ears from the lips of that woman the com- | mand: ; ‘* Paul Postle—murderer—assassin, throw up your hands, for you are my prisoner |” In an instant the truth of thesituation flashed | through the old man’s brain, He dropped his wood and threw up his hands, and for the first time in his eventful life Kit Bandy was brought | to bay by a woman, — CHAPTER VII. CAPTAIN RACHEL, THE FEMALE OUTLAW, Wits uplifted hands, Kit Bandy stood with his eyes fixed upon the masked female who held him at bey with a drawn and cocked revolver. That he was surprised and astounded was evi- dent from hismomentary confusion. The name by which he had been addressed, the dual charge that accompanied it were evidence of the fact that the woman had heard of his exploits at Last Lick; and the steadiness of her band and the ringing firmness of her voice, told him that she had the nerve, the will and the deter- mination to shoot did he fail to comply with her command, As the old detective stood with his hands up- lifted, he realized very readily that he was in no enviakle position to be seen by one who had heard so much of the skill and undaunted courage of Kit Bandy. However, the old man’s mind acted swiftly. He had heard—yet he did not credit the story--that there was a band of outlaws somewhere in the Rattlesnake Mountains whose leader was a woman by the name of Captain Rachel; and if there was any- thing of truth in the story, then that woman before him was Captain Rachel, and if so, she had followers near—perhaps at that very mo- ment enjoying, from some hiding+place, the spectacle of his humiliating position. -But he had been in tight places: before, and having the utmost faith in his ability to oufgeneral the woman through his prolific fund of expedients, he appeared to accept the situation in the spirit of “| oke, and when he threw up his hands he said: “All right, my lady, I’m your ownest to com- mand. ou've got me, and I’m old enough to know it, but by the way you address me, I fear, my lady, that. you’re mistaken as to the man you are after.” *T am not, sir,” the woman replied in a voice that was not at all musical; ‘‘ youare Rev. Paul | Postle, alias Kit Bandy, the mountain detective, and you are at the end of your deceptive, atro- cious career.” “Well, it’s jist as you say *bout my career, but you are away off on your man Postle- Bandy. If you’d arriv’ awhile sooner, you'd found Bandy here. He left *bout twenty min- utes ago. Iam Old Tom Rattler, woman, from over on the Chugwater, that’s who [ are; but then if you aré wantin’ a husband, take me in preference to Bandy, for I’m a han’somer man and besides, Bandy’s sich an onmitigated old liar. Take me off to your wild mountain grotto, oh, fair lady, and make me your prince, your mate. so, though I see not your face. Take me away to your palatial nest, for I’m yours to love, | cherish and protect—I’m your hero, your knight, your crusader, your dashin’ ox-eyed dandy.” ; “Vour silly twaddle will avail you nothing, old'seoundrel.” the keen-witted woman replied, “nor can you deceive me as to who you are, I know you're a sweet, lovely gal | —your graceful form and noble mien tells me | Old Tom Rattler. “‘And even if that wax so, are you Major | Bell’s avengeress?” ‘**T am,” she replied with measured accents. / ** Then you must be Captain Rachel, the she- | | outlaw.” | of her, you know your doom is sealed.” “Tve heard the capt?in war a dancin’ devil, | but I don’t believe youare, Rachel. | Major Bell’s trouble to you, anyhow? Hullo! who’s that comin’ there?” A low sardonic laugh escaped the vailed wo- man’s lips. ‘Those are some of the followers of Captain Rachel.” Six mounted outlaws came in sight from around a wooded point and rode toward them. War you | being rough, bearded and desperate-looking men, each of whom carried a revolver in his hand. A loud, coarse laugh, that rung through the woods in demoniae glee, burst from the men’s lips at sight of the old detective and the woman. ‘Murrah for Captain Rachel!” yelled one of them, and again the six made the hills ring with Satanic voices. | ‘Captain Rachel,” said the masked outlaw | “that’s our man, the Apostle Paul, the gay and festive Kit Bandy.” Pie denies that he is Bandy,” the woman said, [eae No difference, we can run him in as a sus- picious character,” said the masked outlaw, whose voice Bandy felt assured he had heard ‘| before, Kit found that he was in a worse difficulty than he had at first supposed. His weapons were fully two rods away, and his fertile brain after all could conceive no possible chance of escape. He finally began to grow uneasy lest Rattler should return and unknowingly place himself 1n the same trap, for in the old hunter’s aid now centered his only hope of escape. ‘Old man,” Fe pan Rachel said, ‘ you wiil have to submit to have your hands bound and accompany us to headquarters where your case will receive further attention.” “Shoot him down there! why bother with him?’ exclaimed an outlaw: ‘if he’s Bandy, he’s a slippery old cuss, and may getaway. A bird in the hand’s wu’th two in the bush.” ‘No, no, we have use for him,” said Captain | Rachel; ‘‘I desire to have a talk: with him be- fore he dies if he is whom we think, Kit Bandy,” By this remark Kit knew the woman was not sure of his identity, altnough the masked man had declared he was, and so the old fellow began to speculate as to how he could take advantage of their doubt, While his thoughts were thus busied, an outlaw dismounted, and taking a | Jariat from his saddle-bow, advanced to bind the | old detective’s hands, Bandy saw his move- ments and divined his intentions, and the spirit of his combativeness asserted itself beyond con- trol, and the instant the fellow came within reach, his right arm fell and his bony fist was driven into the villain’s face with such sudden and terrific force as to knock him down, So quickly and unexpectedly was this lick given, that the outlaws were for a moment con- fused by the audacity of the act, and before they could resent ‘the blow, a rifle off in the bushes rung out, and an outlaw, uttering a cry of agony, tumbled from his horse. And this shot was followed by a second one, but from a different direction, and the bullet, grazing the hip of Captain Rachel’s horse, caused the ani- mal to lunge forward with pain and affright, and, despite the efforts of the woman, who dropped her revolver and gave her attention to her horse, it;dashed away-down the canyon at a furious speed. In the midst of the confusion ! that_reigned, Laramie Joe, the Boy Knight of | the Plains, suddenly glided from around a bluff | —his horse’s hoofs muffled—with a revolver in | each hand ringing out in deadly tones. Confusion and terror seemed to seize the | minds of the outlaws, whose horses were already plunging with affright so that they could not | use their revolvers, and, panic-stricken, the fled down the canyon after Captain Rachel, leaving two of their number dead on the field. Laramie Joe did not attempt to follow them ne was satisfied with sending a few shots after them, “Hurrah for Laramie Joe!” yelled Old Kit, when he realized that he was a free man once | more; ‘‘hurrah for the velvei-footed kid 0’ the Laramie Plains!” ** And hurrah for Kit Bandy!” suddenly burst ‘Tam Captain Rachel, andif you know aught | But what’s | The face of one of them was masked—the others | from the lips of Old Rattler, who emerged from the bushes whence the first shot had come, *‘ hurrah for the gigantic fraud o’ the Plateau! the lily-hpped hummer ©’ the foot-hills! the royal, paieyed liar o’ the West! ,Oh, by the great Rosycrusians! Bandy, I overheard your | conversation with that vailed woman and your trying to palm your ugly self off for Old Rat- tler, the Chugwater gambolier; and I am pee pared to vote you a hceary-headed, sacrilegious deception.” “Say, you old ox-eyed daisy,” interrupted Bandy, his face aglow with joy, ‘‘close that Mammoth Cave and let me introduct you to Laramie Joe, the young hurricane ©’ the Lara- mie Plains.” ‘*Rosycrusians! that Laramie Jce? well, by snakes, Joe, ’m glad to press your palm,” said * Rattler, grasping the ie hand in a grip that almost Lehad hick ba bat issaddle; ‘my name’s Rattler—Old Tom Rattler.” ‘Indeed?’ exclaimed Joe; ‘ well, sir, ’m re- joined to meet you of whom Pve often heard; but doesn’t it strike you that our friend Bandy was in close quarters?” “T should gargle that it did,” responded Rat- tler, with a hearty laugh; ‘‘and if you could ’a’ hearn the great old mountain, detective’s talk when he stood under kiver o’ that gal’s revolver you'd ’a’ had a fit. Fu’st he lied like a pirate and tried to pass his ugly self off for me, and then the soft, creamy love-stuff he lipped off to that gal made her gag.” ‘* By the horn o’ Joshua! if you'd ’a’ seen that woman’s eyes through her vail, you'd ’a’ been broke up, too. Dll. sw’ar they fairly fanged me —gored me to the heart like the horns 0’ a Texan steer, I’m no chicken-heart, Rattler. I’ve been—am—am not married, and my wife Sabina, was no chicken-heart—no hovse-plant —no doll for her husband to dendle, but she shot straight from the shoulder and candled her huskand; and that’s why I’m here, Rat.” “But didn’t this woman call you Paul, the Apostle?” asked Rattler, ‘Yes, I s’pose she see’d I resembled that good old man o’ the Bible—kind o’ martyrish like.” “Yes, but ske called you an assassin—a mur- cerer, and tkat didn’t sound much like Holy 8 ! | ! 1 | | | Writ. Old feller, I are dre’dful afeerd there something smudgy al cut you.” ‘You can’t alers tell by a feller’s lock, Rat, what be is. Uf sich war the case that mug o’ yours ’d not indicate a spore snow-ball char- acter, But layin’ metaphysics aside, Rattler, I must confess you fanged that outlaw’ in good shape and that squares up for that Injun I drapped for you last night.’ i: yeas the Indians on tke rampage, Kit?” asked Laramie Joe. ‘“Haydoogins of ’em are ki-otin’ round over the plateau.” a am sorry to hear it,” said the boy, thought- fully. “Lad, ye hav’n't heard what happened to Last Lick, have you?” oe Yes,” ‘* From who?” ** Zulimia Randall.” ** Horn 0’ Josbua! where'd you see the gal?” TY rescued her trom ap outlaw last night.” ** And where’s she now?” “*T jeft her in a groyé far down the plain and came on in search of Sybil Bell whom Zulima informed me had also been carried away.” ‘‘Hurrah for you, boy! you're a wall-eyed screamer; but that war a rather tragic night in Last Lick.” “Why, did anything else happen besides the abduction of the two girls?” ‘‘T should proclamate there did. Major Bell was shot in the hcad, and I guess he’ll kick over the traces—die.” “Who shot bim?” “Paul Postle, that old preacher,” A grim smile passed over the boy’s face as he fixed a searching look upon the old detective’s eyes. After a moment’s silencs, Bandy went on: ‘¢ And you haven't rescued Sybil, yit?” **No,” replied Joe: ‘‘IT followed her trail, as T supposed, to the hills and to this point. but it seems Pve heen following the wrong trail.” “Why the wrong trail, lad?’ * Because I failed to find the ahdueted girl,” ‘‘ Ah! there’s where you're mistaken, Joseph,” “T don’t understand you, Kit,” “Wal, I have discovered that all Last Lick has been most, shamefully and robustly deceived ; for I have discovered within the last half-hour | that Sybil Bell, the charming, queenly darter |o’ Major Bob Bell, is that festive outlaw wo- man, Captain Rachel !”
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CHAPTER VIII. A MAIDEN’S PRAYER AND THE DEAD MAZEPPA, Lzr us now return and lock after Zulima Randall, whom we left in the little motte on the plain under the starry sky. After the maiden had offered up a fervent | ag So she sat down upon the couch prepared or her by her gallant young rescuer. She now ' had an opportunity for reflection, and the lone- liness of her situation filled her heart with a de- spondency that she could not shake off. The face of her dead mother and that of her mur- dered father came up before her, and in her heart of hearts she wished that she was with of them. The only ray of light that seemed shin- ing through the gloom that surrounded her ee young life was a new-born hope that had sprang up within her breast since her meeting wit = Laramie Joe. She was tired, nervous, and hungry, and her fears worked so like a gnawing canker upon her ‘gs mind that the slightest sound became magnified IZ iato a dreadful noise. The chirp of a Cricket ’ seemed like the scream of a savage; the foot- . falls of ground-mice running around her were j like the tramp of coyotes, and the sound of her horse cropping the grass, and the rustle of the a foliage above her in a passing breeze, all eon- ke } spired to distress her, Once she thought she >" heard a taint moan, and her thoughts at once a ' reverted to the outlaw—her late captor—whom ‘Laramie Jos had killed, lying on the plain so near. She listened with bated breath for a [ repetition of the sound, but all was quiet. 4 After a long mental struggle tired nature ; ave way and she laid down and fell asleep. She slept soundly—so soundly, in fact, that when she awoke it was broad daylight. The sun was high in the heavens. She started up, _. realizing at once that she had overslept herself, a for she was to have started at sunrise for a place of safety in case Laramie Joe did not re- _ turn; and he had not, eo 2 What bothered the maiden now, as one often Sa is who in sickness or mental troubles falls asleep in the darkness and awakes in the day- light, was the time of day. She could not tell whether it was late in the morning or early in the evening. There was no dew on the grass and the sun was shining warm. To satisfy her mind as to the points of the compass she cut a slender stick, and stepping out into the open plain she stuck one end of it in the ground. en she watched the shadow of the stick and noted the course it moved. This test, taken in connection with the increas- ing space between the sun and the horizon, con- vinced her that it was morning. So she made haste to depart for Deer Creek Ranch as directed by Laramie Joe, Catching her horse, which was grazing near, she bridled and saddled it, and then took up the lariat and se- cured it to the saddle. Then she went back into the grove to get her blankets, and while there she was startled with a genuine moan of human agony. She drew back, the blood running cold in her veins, She gazed around her in terror, her brain growing dizzy. Her eyes fell upon an object that almost paralyzed her very heart, It was the wild, haggard face of a man lying in the bushes near, and she recog- nized the face as that of ber late outlaw captor whom Laramie Joe had shot and, as he sup- The maiden took a step backward and seemed on the eve of turning to flee, **Zulima, for God’s sake, don’t leave me!” oe aie man gasped, with apparent great effort. Zulima_ swaliowed the great lump in her throat. She breathed somewhat easier, yet she could not speak nor could she removy> her eyes from that ghastly face. The wounded outlaw saw that she was dumb with terror, and to relieve her he said: »“ Zulima, you need have no further. fears of me. Lamdyin’. I know [ have wronged you, but I hope you will not desert me, That des- perate boy’s pistol has done the work for me. Oh, I'm dyin’ in agony—don’t leave me—I can- not harm you, Zulima!” “T can do you no good,T fear,” the girl found use of her voice to =P. “Only for my soul, Zulima,” he moaned; “I want you to pray for me, for ve but a short ; time to live, Oh, I know it will be hard to hoe eid for one that has wronged you as I have— but that wrong brings me here a dying peni- _ tent. I know you are a good Christian girl—I - have heard you doa”. many times since we left _ Last, Lick, ae * seems to have answered (your prayer. (0; 2 you. wi eluse __ pray for me—ask God’s mercy for a soul that ¢ : Me ie y wr ~~ ' i" Bie tp ea aed as uf, he fig ie CSAs = a he or es HEN PCAN S PL TR i‘ Z know you will not refuse to is so soon to leave my burnin’, achin’ breast. Zulima, I was raised better. My poor old mother—” Here the conscience-stricken man _ broke down. Zulima’s woman-heart was touched with pity, instead of revolting with indignation and scorn. She forgot that the man was an. outlaw and that he had endeavored to carry her away in captivity than which death would have been preferable. She thought of nothing tut a trembling, penitent spirit hovering on the shores of eternity, asking a as aig aa ing a prayer—an appeal to the Great Master fore whom it was so soon to appear in judg- ment. Zulima advanced toward him. She saw that his clothes were incrusted and stiff with blood. The pallor of death was about his lips. His eyes wore that wild, glassy lcok, so evident of the presence of the grim monster. “Can I not relieve your pain? bind up your wound?” asked the noble, forgiving girl. ‘* No, no,” he replied, with a feeble shake of his menage NE aay, By no one on earth can help. me, Zulima d I do not want to die before my soul has been commended for mercy at God’s throne—come nearer me, Zulima—don’t fear me —lI’m helpless as a child. Tell Laramie Joe I hold no grudge against him for this—he was 2 a was wrong—lI’ve been tbo et years, Oh, that I had life and strength to unburden my soul! Id tell you all. How the past comes up before me—I have lived my life all over in the ast two hours. My boyhood days, the old ome, my parents, my brothers and sisters, my playmates, the old school-house and the old stone church—lI’ve seen them all, Zulima. And once I thought I heard my mother’s loving voice in ape edie righ 3 or us all— praying that we’d all come to her by way of Calvary and Cross. But, Zulima, [ am growin’ weaker, Will you pray for me? I ask it as a dyin’ favor.” With streaming eyes Zulima went down upon her knees. The dying outlaw turned over on his side and rested his elbow on the ground and his head on his hand, Zulima Randall was. a devout Christian girl, and with all the fervor of her young heart she lifted her voice to Heaven in behalf of the dying outlaw. Long and fervently she prayed. Low and sweet was her voice. Her slender form swayed to and fro, and her white face up- lifted toward Heaven wore the serenity of an angel. When she had pronounced the last word and turned her a a upon the outlaw, she saw his head fall back, his jaws drop apart and his glassy eyes stare sightless toward heaven, He was dead. Zulima rose to her feet. A footstep sounded near. She turned quickly, and to her surprise and terror found herself confronted by a great, bearded, ruffianly-looking man, dressed in a half-savage garb, while from the bushes near appeared, like so many grinning demons, a on or more painted and plumed Indian war- riors! , A cry burst from the maiden’s lips and she started back. A savage nimbly sprung forward and seized her by the arm, at the same time uttering a low, guttural ejaculation. © Zulima shrunk from his grasp, a shriek escap- ing her lips. ; ‘Let manded the Lord ’d strike me dead,” the white chief said, ‘if I didn’t have enough o' the honor o’ civilization and manhood left in me to defend you after that prayer. I heard it, gal, from beginnin’ to ‘Amen.’ That dead man there is an old, b’loved friend e’ mine, and the woman that’d git down on her knees and pray for his soul deserves my protection. I’m no angel, gal, God knows, and the company I keep ll tell you that; but I promise you that them red-skins sha’n’t harm you as long as Ican pull a trigger.” . _ Zulima breathed a prayer of thanks, She’sa now that her kindness of heart was bearing rich ed RTE AR NR Eon 4 AER. OR eS Oe Bent cite é ale - ae rari ity phew e iy Seog Mult ire Weebl Wien cl yas hone, She'saw | noble beast, the other horse fruit—that her prayer for the dying had touch- ' on bis back, Bo eda chord in the breast of the renegade and aroused his honor and manhood which, perhaps, had laid dormant for years,. But she saw that his words were received with ill-fayor by his savage followers. A low grunt of disapproval passed from lip to lip, and a fierce, malignant scowl settled upon their faces. More than one hand had already sought the knife at its ewner’s girdle. Mutiny was threatened, but the chief himself was equal to the emergency, and grasp- ing his revolver he again said: ‘Miss, you can go nov, and if you would find friends, go in yonder direction—ride fast, and you'll strike a creek epee} which you must follow until you reach acattle-ranch. And as you go, I hope you'll not forget that there is one white outcast and outlaw among the many in the great West that has a spark of honor and manhood left—who respects innocence and virtue,” ‘** Oh, thank you, sir, I shall never forget you and your kindness and mercy!” Zulima said, and then she turned to ee ; A savage stepped in before her, saying: No, can’t go.” “Warrior, stand aside and let that white squaw pass,” commanded the chief, indignantly, eres P : " ? The Indian looked at his superior with a treacherous scowl, then drew his knife. ¢ ‘*Go on, miss,” the ee said, ‘‘ and if he interferes again it’ll not be healthy for him.” Zulima turned and started around the Indian, but, quick as thought, the red-skin seized her by the arm, with a look of devilish malignance upon his face, and raised his knife to plunge it into her heart and thus settle the dispute; but the renegade was too quick for him—his pistol ciacked and the murderous arm fell, shattered, at its owner’s side. : A scream of pain burst from the red-skin’s - lips. With acry Zulima bounded away, and pass- - ing out of the grove she ran to ter horse that was waiting near, and nimbly leaping into the saddle gallo away, never daring to glance back toward the grove through fear of her eyes meeting some horrid scene. She heard seve- ral pistol-shots follow each other in rapid suc- cession as she rode away, and also savage yells that filled her breast with a vague fear for the safety of the man who had saved her life. __ But free of all dangers for the time being, and mounted upon her horse that had been re- freshed by a good feed of grass and rest, the meiden rode swiftly eastward, inwardly pray- ing that her trials and suffering were near an end. She rode forward for some time, and finally | entered a httle depression in the plain that kept deepening until it grew into a canyon with wooded bluffs on either side. A little stream a of water meandered through the canyon, gath- a ering strength as it advanced from springs > a along the way. At one of these springs Zu- “hae lina finally dismounted, slaked her thirst, Pe ae and then bathed her hands and face. She also Se, ee watered her horse, then remounting continued on her way. She had ridden some distance, and had come to the happy conclusion that she Oa pe, was at last free from all dangers, but this 3h a proved a delusion,’ for suddenly she was star- ele tled by the clatter of boofs in the canyonbe- f x hind her. ; ; EES aie Glancing back she saw a horse coming down =| the defile ata furious gait, his rider lying flat upon his back, and, seized with a new-born fear, the maiden lashed her pony to his utmost y ae The way was smooth and unbroken by bush, stone or gully, though winding and tortuous, _ and the girl had hoped to outdistance her pur- suer, as she believed the horseman to be; but she soon became convinced that he was gaining , upon her. He came so close, in fact, that she could hear the panting of his horse, and pres- ently she discovered that the animals were run- ning side by side—neck and neck, 1:3) Allg > As her pursuer spoke not, Zulima ventured to — look around, when ascene of horror met her _ gaze. A cry burst from her lips, and she was compelled to grasp her pony’s mane to steady herself in the saddle, ate RE a Lashed to his horse’s back with ropes, his face _ covered with crusted blood, and, to all pleas ances dead, was Laramie Joe, the Boy. night — of the Plain—was the sight that met her gaze and sent a convulsive shudder through her — breast. Her very soul revolted at the awful sight, and she lashed her borse with all her strength in hopes of urging it away from the other, but despite her efforts, and that of her ‘kept close at her side with his silent rider—the lifeless Mazeppa
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CHAPTER IX. THE ROBBERS’ CAMP, In a deep, dark valley, under a cluster of pines in the Laramie Hills, ten men were en- camped. They were rough, bearded, booted fellows, heavily armed. They were outlaws, as their appearances indicated. Their horses were tethered in the valley near camp, and one of their number stood guard. It is night when we would look in upon this rob- ber camp. Around a dim camp-fire the party is seated—some playing cards, some telling sto- ries and singing ribald songs, and some con- versing. And in course of the conversation, one of the latter remarks: ‘‘T shouldn’t be surprised if that Last Lick skeme o’ Ralston’s had miscarried.” ‘* Why so, Red Bob?” asked a companion. “Because, here two weeks have passed and nothin’ heard from thar yit.” ‘*Ha! ha!” laughed another, known as Hyena Jim, ‘‘Red Bob is gittin’ anxious to see Cap, tain Rachel. I alers thought Bob war in love with that gal.” ‘Call it what you want to, Hyena,” replied Red Bob , ‘* but I’m gittin’ tired o’ this inactiv- ity; besides, I don’t see what there can be in that Last Lick business that ’d take a year or more to develop. Now, the general and Cap Rachel hev been at that minin’-camp ten months. They got rid o’ Judge Randall easy, and the best o’ their detectives hev failed to fer- ret out the matter. Now, what war they doin’ to keep them thar all this time?” pres Waitin’ for a chance to carry off the judge’s darter.” “Thunder and Mars! I could ’a’ rid in thar and toted her off six months ago—somethin’ else the general’s after.” “Yes; but the gineral knows his business, and don’t you disremember that. He's’ slow, . but alers sure, and you know we all promised him to be patient till he got back.” “To be sure, Hyena,” replied Bob, ‘and hav’n’t we been?” ‘*Harkee!” suddenly exclaimed one of the band. Ajl listened and heard the sound of approach- ing hoofs. ‘* Some one’s comin’ sure as death,” said Red ob. ‘Some o’ our folks, T’ll ante an eye,” ‘Who comes there?’ the man on guard was heard to call out. “My name is Sonora Steve; is this the camp o—” 4 “All right, Sonora. Steve, advance,” the guard replied. «. fj . ~ ‘6’ News from Last Lick, or I’m a goat!” de- elared Hyena Jim. ‘‘Ho, Sonora Steve, old boy—glad to meet you, senor.” The little Mexican dismounted and shook thands with his old companions, in the mean time glancing eee about camp. “Glad to git back to the ranks, boys,” the Mexican said, ‘‘ but I see Captain Rachel hasn’t arriv’ yet.” ** No, not yet.” “That's queer—she and her party left twenty- four hours before I did.” ‘** Indeed? and did the “They got the girl, ineral’s scheme work?” ulima, but at fearful ‘¢-You don’t say so?” ‘Yes, the gineral got a bullet through his head, and ’s goin’ to die.” An exclamation of surprise and sorrow burst from. the lips of the robbers, ‘¢ How on earth did that happen?” asked Red > Bob. “Tt’s a long story and I’m tired and hungry,” was Sonora’s ah ’ _ Acting upon this hint an outlaw took Steve's horse while another procured him some food. - After he had eaten, and regaled himself on a drink of whisky, he began and narrated the story of the Frenchman’s exhibition at the Pick-and-Shovel in Last Lick and the final _ shooting of Major Bell by the Rev. Paul Postle. The outlaws were thunderstruck by this sad intelligence, for, as the reader has already in- ferred, Major Bell was the ‘‘ General” Ralston Zandt of the outlaw band. “Did you kill the cuss that shot the general?” asked Hyena Jim, furious with rage. t “Kill nothin’,” replied Sonora Steve; ‘he _ skipped out right away, but it war developed that the preacher war a noted detective named Kit Bandy.” A tbuader you say!” exclaimed one, Kid Cole, ‘he’s the wu’st old hellyon unhung. I've had to do a him to be re oS Lec 8 yk ars in the State jug, But how does the ga pn Rachel, take the shootin’ o her dad?’ ” i tts 2. t So aieiccie 7 xe ead of the earth,” the wronged wife said. a ec neta 4, Sekeegce ae a a i er ae i WES SS Sere 3 Tad Old Tom Rattler. ** She don’t know it.” ad **Don’t know it? how’s that?” **You see the gals war abducted while all the camp war at the Frenchman’s show, and of | ear as he did when he won my childish hand. course, Rachel war ten miles or more from ps afore Postle shot the gineral; and I’ve fol- lered up to break the news to her.” ‘* By snakes, it’ll kill her!” declared Red Bob, ‘for she worshiped her dad, and no mistake, Poor gal! I feel—” ** Hello-oh, down there!” » It was a sharp, shrill voice that came piercing through the night to the ears of- the outlaw band, putting an end to their conversation and bringng every man to his feet, ** A woman’s squawk or I never heard one!” declared Hyena Jim, and advancing a few paces in the direction whence the call came, he demanded: ‘* Who's there?” ‘*Tt’s me, please gracious,” was the unsatis- factory reply. ‘* Who's me, please gracious?” demanded Hy- ena, ot} r, deserted female woman—Sabina Bandy,” came from out the gloom. ‘““By gar!” exclaimed Kid Cole, “she said her name war Bandy—some relation o’ Old Kit’s, I reckon—his darter, maybe. Tell her to waltz in, Jim.”, ““ Advance, Sabina, Bandy, and accept the hospitality o’ our camp, won’t you?” asked Jim. ‘* Who are you? outlaws or hunters?” the Wo- man questioned, ‘‘ Hunters,” lied Hyena Jim. ‘*Git up, Pecos,” the woman was heard to say to her horse, and the next moment she rode from the gloom into the light of the outlaws’ camp-fire. , A hroad grin overspread the bearded faces of the freebooters at sight of the woman and her horse; and one of them said ina low tone to Kid Cole: ‘*Must be Bandy’s youngest darter, and I’d freeze onter her and make her my wife, if I war you, Kid.” The woman must have been fifty years of age, with a soured and wrinkled visage, a sharp, piercing Be and a sunken mouth with thin, compressed lips, She was dressed in a coarse frock of dark material, a sun-bonnet that was battered and torn, Around her shoulders, was an old faded shawl pinned with a huye thorn: atthe throat. — The horse this woman rode showed that he not only carried a burden of years but was old himself, thin in flesh, and to all appearances well-jaded, ; ‘Now here I be—good-evenin’, gentlemen,” the woman said, as she glanced over the crowd; ‘*my name is Sabina Bandy, and I'm the law- fully wedded consort o’ Kit Bandy, the—” ‘Well, what are you doin’ up here, Mrs. Bandy?” Red Bob asked, **In search of my husband who desarted my bed and board without cause or provocation; and, please the Great Master, if I ever get eyes on that deestroyer of female happiness, that blighter of my girlish heart, Pll make him smoke,” ‘“That’s the way we are feelin’ bout now, Mrs. Bandy,” said Hyena Jim, ‘“‘ and we'd like to assist you in your work; but if you’re in search of him you must know he’s in these parts somewhere,” . ‘ “The last I hearn of the heartless destroyer of female happiness ve war wp in these parts,” replied Sabina, still keeping her seat in the sad- dle; ‘‘and if the truth’s known perhaps some innocent, confidin’ girl is the object of his rapacious heart, though I’m told he’s in’ hisself off for a detective. A pretty detective he must be! I'd like to detect him once more Rod, pineee gracious, I’d break every bone in “ff he’s such an old heathen what do you want to bunt him up for?’ asked Kid Cole. ‘““To torment him, to devil hith, to harass him, to make his life as miserable as mine, to make him sup sorrow, to make sure he never ’s Nee eee ee eee ee CE ES pillar, and as long as my lamp of life holds out to burn the darned old, ‘fickle-hearted man-flirt — shall breathe no love-words in another woman’s Oh! it breaks my heart to think of the perfidy of that man!” and Mrs. Bandy began to sob and wring her hands while her body swayed to and fro like a reed in the wind. “ That’s good as a monkey show,” remarked one of the outlaws. ‘*'Thar’s so dashed much deception and hy- pocrisy in this ’ere great, big, wicked world,” said Kid Cole, ‘that I’d as soon think that old woman’s playin’ some sharp— Hello! now, I wonder who’s comin’?” The last question was drawn out by the sound of a hoofs coming up the valley from the - south. In an instant the outlaws had their hands on their weapons. Silence reigned for a few moments, then, as a man and woman suddenly emerged from the gloom, a shout burst from the lips of the band, and a rush was made toward the new-comers, ‘* Captain Rachel! Captain Rachel, the queen of the mountaineers, by the great Jehovah!” shouted Hyena Jim, excitedly, The woman thus received by the outlaw band was re Bell, the beautiful and queenly daugh- ter of Major Robert Bell! The outlaws seemed wild with delight, and, for the time being, all else was forgotten. The valley rung wild with their lusty shouts of joy, and it was several minutes before ihe excite- ment of the reception of the queen of the moun- tain outlaws bad abated; but when it did, the band.met with a surprise in the absence of Sa- bina Bandy, The old woman had taken advantage of the outlaws’ excitement over the arrival of the girl, and rode away into the darkness of the valley. CHAPTER X. A FIGHT FOR LIFE. LaRAMI£ JOB was astounded by the declara- tion of Old Kit that Sybil Bell was the notori-. ous female outlaw known as Captain Rachel. At first he could scarcely credit the story, but after some reflection, and the consideration of certain facts, he was forced to accept it as true; and upon these grounds he could readily under- stand how the trail of Sybil Bell had disap- peared in the hills. Ay “Then she, too,” the young knight said, “ has been instrumental in the abduction of Zulima Randall.” . ‘*'To be sure she has,” replied Bandy, ‘ but until [ recognized her voice under her mask sich a thing as Captain Rachel bein’ Sybil Bell never entered my mind. But it seems they’ve all got onto my scheme, for they addr me as Paul Postle; but, by the horn o’ old Joshua! I don’t care a continental! Postle has been accomplished, and now Ka-ris- topber Ko-lumbus Bandy’ll finish up the job and polish it off.” “Tl begin to see, Bandy, that you are a lily- — lipped hummer—a velvet-throated damsel,” said. Old Rattler; ‘‘but it hurts me to think o’ the way you lied to that outlaw gal.” ; “T guess you'll live through it, Rattler,” re- sponded Kit, ‘for if I war huntin’ for a George Washington truth-teller F np are the last critter I know of I'd pick on, But as we have no busi- ness in these parts, boys, spose we lean off in some other direction—a healthier climate, for instance.” t “ All right, Kit,” said Joe, “I would Jike to et back to where I left Miss Randall, though I hardly expect to find her there, for I told her to go on down to the Deer Creek Ranch if I were not back by sunrise.” Securing the dead munition, they packed them on Joe’s horse, The mission o’ Paul | outlaws’ weapons and am- _ then‘the trio started away toward the south- — west. ~“ In the course of a couple of hours they cleared — the hills and entered the open plain across whi lay their course. ik ramie Joe insisted dn his two old friends~ clasped in other female arms than them,” and | taking turns with him in riding, and by this she thrust out her long bony arms as if to clasp an imaginary being, while her eyes snapped like re, The outlaws could not suppress an outburst of laughter. : : ¥ OM gal, I’ve an ijee youll make it tropical n sure enough, for your lord and master if you could find him.” ‘* Find him I will if I have to foller him to nee woman’s spirit has been ‘roused, and I can te ou I'm no doll—no honre plans. _ For five years *ve hounded that ongrateful man from post to / + sd Bt ERP 8 5 art 76 o Saat Sin ae ao, ; | | means they were enabled to make tolerably good time, : ahi An hour or so after entering the plain, Lara-_ ‘ mié Joe discovered a number of yultures high _ in the air away to the north of them. were slowly circling in the air, and-seemed to be coming nearer and nearer. Old Ratti wh in the saddle tuyned — er o was in the saddle, turned his head, and’ gazed across ‘the plain,’ A burst frombislips, . The Lb} © Fi U : ‘ ‘ * . ’ ~ Sh ee is i parr Roehl, i onkte: Fie amet Dae: ps ra NAD EERO Ohi peas hg Fy ““T don’t like to see them,” remarked the boy, ‘No, they’re not stars o’ Bethlehem,” adm et on ae ; = apy ee ©
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10 * What d’ye see, Rat?” “ Hossmen! and they’re comin’ a-flukin’, too!” “The devils are after us, sure,” exclaimed Bandy. “Yes, boys,” said Rattler, ‘‘ we're goin’ to ; have some stiff old fightin’ to do, but then we’re them as can do it.” ** Laramie,” said Old Kit, ‘‘ jump yer hoss and line out and save that gal, Zulima.” ‘Yes, that’s so, boy,” added Rattler, leaping from the saddle, ‘‘ go save the gal, and if we go under, you—” “No, no, old friends,” interrupted the boy, **T will never desert a friend in the face of dan- er. If there’s going to be some fighting to do, want a hand in it.” **But look here, boy, you and the gal are young, and there’s a deal o’ life before you yit,” argued Old Rattler, ‘‘ while me and that old Ruins o’ Babylon there have ’bout rounded out our full measure 0’ years.” “That may all be, but my sense of duty will admit of no desertion of you,” replied Joe; ‘Td rather die an honorable boy than a conscience- stricken old man. No, I shall stay with you, for I can plainly see that you will need my help. There are Indians among those horse- men.” The approaching enemy could now be seen quite plainly, and, as near as possible, Old Kit made out about eoeney in the party, the ma- jority being savages. They were riding rapidly, a line of dust hanging on the air marking their trail back almost to the hills. “We've got big odds to fight, boys,” the de- tective said, ‘‘ and here in the open plain it’s go- in’ to hustle us to kill’em all afore they git in some work, I hate arfully to deestroy so many people that might be useful to society.” ‘Bandy, you're a hull Quaker-meetin’-house full o’ Christianity—a rooral deestrict of sim- plicity, a female seminary o’ tender-hearted ness,” said Old Rattler; ‘‘ you’d ought to’a’ been a deetective in the land: 0’ love instead o’ the hills and prairies.” “Tet us hurry forward to yonder eminence, folks,” said Laramie Joe; ‘‘there’s a spring there where we can get water, and besides we can command the approach on all sides to a bet- ter advantage.” ‘* A good idea, lad,” replied Rattler,” for we'll need some advantage, sure sartain.” The three hurried forward and took their po- sition on the eminence and got their rifles and revolvers, mcluding those taken from the out- Jaws, in readiness for the struggle. By this time the oncoming foe were within lialf a mile of them, and as the trio gazed upon the flying horde, a look of desperate determina- tion settled upon their features. To the two old men Laramie Joe looked beroic in his un- wavering, resolute courage, and his calm, manly demeanor. To one unacquainted with the skill, courage and fighting qualities of those three whites, an attempt to repel that horde of infuriated sav- ages and outlaws would seem like'criminal folly, and could have but one outcome, and that cer~- tain death to the three. But the idea of surrendering to their enemies never once entered the minds of the whites, They knew it was victory or death. They calm- ly awaited the approach of the foe, never mov- ing until they were within two hundred yards. Then Laramie Joe apoE upon one knee, and resting his elbow on the other, leveled his car- bine on the foremost of the foe—a red-skin—and fired, The boy had measured the intervening dis- tance with the eye, but the distance was longer than he had calculated upon, and the bullet fell short of the mark, but it was not without ef- fect, for the savage’s flying horse was shot through the brain and the red-skin flung heels over head to the earth. A shout of triumph burst from the lips of Bandy and Rattler, and was answered by a de- fiant war-whoop from the foe, ** By the horn o’ old Joshua!” exclaimed Ban- dy, ‘‘ you ey im that feller, Laramie, sure!” ** No—only his hoss,” said Rattler; ‘‘ but try another shot the same elevation and you'll get a red-rind.” ' The enemy had come to a stop in some con- fusion. The unhorsed red-skin was evidently the chief of the party, and taking advantage of their halt, Laramie Joe sent a second bullet down among them with the effect of killing a ae and wounding an outlaw. “Whoop! that fetched a persimmon, boy!” shouted Rattler; ‘that shot war a compound jer, and I guess I'll see if I can’t pluck a de meres too.” ckly the unkorsed chief sprung to his feet, Old Tom Rattler, and seizing the reins of the dead savage’s horse, vaulted upon its back and again led the charge up the knoll toward the three intrepid plains- men, , Never moving from his kneeling position, Laramie Joe took careful aim and again brought down the chief’s horse, which accident agein threw the savages into confusion; but this lasted only for a few moments. The foe of the three deadly rifleman, and to dally was to court sure death, so, with one accord and without their chief, they thundered on up the knoll yelling like demons possessed, ‘Crack! crack! crack!” went the plainsmen’s rifles, and at every discharge a savage or out- law tumbled to the earth or swung out of the ranks to the right or left seriously wounded. The deadly repeating carbine of the Boy Knight and the breech-loaders of the old hunter and de- tective, enabled them to keep up a hot fire in the face of the enemy, nearly every shot taking effect on man or horse. But inspired, no doubt, by their superior num- bers, the savages displayed unusual courage and pressed on, determined upon the death of the dread young Pantherfoot, whom they had never had at such an apparent advantage before. As soon as they were within pistol-shot the three whites dropped their rifles and took up their revolvers. With yells of defiance the savages began throwing their tomahawks and the outlaws to discharge their revolvers. Fast and deadly flashed the weapons of the brave trio almost in the very face of the foe. Up to within twenty feet of them charged the warriors, and then, when it seemed but another step to victory, a wounded outlaw turned aside with a cry of agony, and his words and actions struck terror to the hearts of his friends, and like panic-stricken sheep they turned and fied in the wildest disorder and fear. But as they turned, an outlaw, with a muttered curse, fired his revolver at the three brave victors, A gasp burst from Laramie Joe’s lips. He staggered forward, clutching his brow, and fell limp and lifeless to the earth! *€Oh, Lord!” groaned Old Kit, ‘‘in the midst of victory there is defeat, The poor, brave boy has been slain!” ‘¢ Great Rosycrusians! I hope not!” cried Old Rattler, hurrying to the side of the prostrate form of the youth. Joe had fallen forward on his face, Rattler turned him over-on his side. A groan escaped the old man’s lips. | The handsome, boyish face was all covered with blood. There was adeath- pallor around his mouth, ‘‘¥es, Bandy, he’s gone,” said the hunter, feeling the lad’s pulse; ‘‘it’s all over with the Boy Knight. Laramie Joe’s dead !” ; CHAPTER XI. CAPTAIN RACHEL’S ARRIVAL ON THE FIELD. For a few moments Kit and Rattler stood and gazed upon the motionless form of Laramie Joe, a look of sadness upon their faces, ‘Yes, the career 0’ the Boy Knight’s ended,” Bandy said seriously, sorrowfully. ‘ And itll so be with us, too, afore long, for them varmints have drawn rein and are preparing to give us another charge.. They’ve seen that our best man’s down and willreturn with renewed hopes, But then, if I’m to die, die it is; nor do I keer what they ‘do with my old carcass arter the spirit’s gone, but I don’t want them to mutilate this boy’s, nor they sha’n’t if Ican help. Let us bind his body on his hoss and turn the animal loose. Them devils have got nothin’ that can catch it.” ‘‘ Anything, old pard, anything,” answered Rattler. So the horse that had been picketed near be- fore the fight began was unfastened and the sad- dle removed, Then the body of the young knight was tenderly lifted and placed on the animal’s back and securely bound there with the Jariat. This done, the animal, already frantic with af- fright, its strange burden and the scent of blood, was turned loose, and it. at once dashed down the knoll and away across the plain with its voice- less rider, The old plainsmen watched the animal for a few moments, then Kit turned away, saying sadly ; ** Pity it couldn’t ’a’ beén me, Rattler, for I’m gittin’ old and wouldn’t been missed by a soul on earth, This is a queer old world, purd, and full o’ queer things, but to God all, is plain enough, and when He wills it we will foller the OY, a It begins to look as though our time’d come, realized that they were now within easy range | Kit,” observed Rattler, wiping the perspiration from his brow. ‘*Yes, it does; but I’ve been in as close a fix haydoogins o’ times and allers pulled through some way. In the thirty years of active ser- vice on the prairies and in the bills, among the wu’st men and dangers, savages and wild beasts, ve encountered hundreds 0’ scrapes like his and concluded the jig war up with Kit Bandy. Scores and haydoogins 0’ villains have I brought to justice and to judgment, and did I not know the eend justified the means, I ex- pect ’'d died long ago with remorse for the de- ception, the wholesale hypocrisy, lyin’, cheatin’ and rascality I practiced in order to’ cireumvent crime and its votaries. Buta detective has to resort to these things.” ‘*T ruther think it comes nateral, Bandy, for they say it takes a rogue to catch a rogue.” ““Tf that be true, Rat, you’d surely make a good rogue-catcher,” responded Bandy, with a grim smile. And thus the two old plainsmen conver ed and badgered each other until they saw three horsemen—outlaws—leave the party on the ee and start away in pursuit of the Boy night’s horse. ‘*Ha! the devils ll never catch that hoss,” said Kit, grimly. ‘* Nor will there be another charge on us till them three fellers git back, I reckon, But that’s all the better for us. We can git our persimmon-pickers in good shape.” Carefully the old men reloaded their guns and revolvers, then they slaked their thirst and bathed their brows at the little spring whose waters boiled from the side of the knoll and crept away through the grass and disappeared in the plain below. In the pouch on Laramie Joe’s saddle they found some dried venison, which they divided and ate with a keen ,relish, for they had no breakfast that day. Suddenly, Bandy, whose eyes were ever on the watch, pointed across the plain far beyond the foe in the valley, and said: ‘Thar comes another horseman, Rattler.” ‘Yes, and by the Rosycrusians! it’s a wo- man! It must be Captain Rachel, the lady to whom you tumbled so gracefully this mornin’.” ‘* And it might be my wife, Sabina, for she are abroad in the Jand, Rattler, and ruther. ’n encounter her, give mea hull brigade o’ red- skins—a rigemint 0’ outlaws.” ‘* And even if it’s that Captain Rachel, and she’s got her ire Mi *bout that affair this morn- in’, and then gits it up still higher when she sees them karkidges along down this hillside she’ll make it bilious for we old pilgrims, ri nba pa tat so hot now the hair on her head’s tinkin. At a lively speed the womar approached, and long before -she reached ber friend’s Kit and Rattler saw that it was the female outlaw, Captain Rachel, sure er ough. She was received by her friends without any apparent demonstration. not in a spirit for enthusiasm at that time. Too many of their friends lay stretched along the hillside and writhing in agony around them for rejoicing. he woman conversed with her allies for nearly an hour, nevei for a moment quitting her saddle. Finally she turned and rede at a walk toward Kit and Rattler, her friends re- maining behind, some in the saddle, some on the ground. ‘“*Bythe horn o’ old Joshua! she’s comin’ up here, Rat!” exclaimed Bandy; ‘‘what d’ye s’pose ’s im the wind now?” ‘t Deviltry o’ a kind you and me arenot up to, Kitsie, I’m afeard, She may be figgerin’ on our havin’ too much robust manhood to strike a wo- man, and intends to take the advantage of her sex toslip a chunk o’ Jead through our an- cen And then, Kit, it may be a mission 0” ove,” ‘¢ Well, we'll have to watch her closely,” said it. ‘“Hullo! see thar, Kitsie Band, she waves a Do you know what that means, you old god~- dess+—understand that, you old buccaneer?” ‘‘ Means she wants a conference, I reckon.” ** Ha, I believe she’s in love with you, is that Queen Cleopatra and she’s anxious to speak to her Mare Antony.” ‘‘T rather think she’d prefer sendin’ # bullet through nry heart instead o’ a Cupid’s dart. No, no, Rattler, you need not feel envious—that gal’s not dyin’ of affection forme. She’sno rea- o’ her wicked heart to kill me. But I may be Evidently they were . handkerchief—flings to the breeze a flag o’ truce? - son to; on the contrary, she’s reason, if not. a just one, to use all the deception and treachery —
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TE at es arty Old Tom Rattler. x of ee Vind “mistaken in her motives in comin’ up here; howsomever, we must watch her every move- ment, Rattler, for she’s liable to famg us quicker’n a lightnin’-geared rattlesnake, and when she does strike it’) be to kill.” CHAPTER XIT. THE INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN RACHEL, In recognition of the young female outlaw’s flag of truce old Kit Bandy put his cap on the muzzle of his gun and waved it above his head as a counter flag. This seemed to satisfy the girl that she would be received in a conference, and she touched up her horse and approached at a canter, finally drawing rein before the old plainsmen. The horse she rode was not the same one she had in the morning, but a large and splendid animal with arched neck and clean limbs. ’ The face of the beautiful outlaw wore a min- expression of disappointment and sorrow. er eyes burned with a strange, subdued light. She seemed worn in body and mind, and when she drew rein she sprung to the ground, and with a nervous, restless start looked up into Bandy’s face, and then said, 1m a voice that was not ay all the clear, musical voice of Sybil Bell: “Kit Bandy, I want you to know whol am; you escaped me this morning before I had time to introduce myself.” ‘Thank you, Miss Sybil, but I recognized your voice the moment you spoke,” replied Kit, politely. “Then, I presume, you are here to arrest me?” the woman said, in a ‘tone slightly tinged with sarcasm, ** Not at all, Miss Sybil,” replied Kit; ‘‘on the contrary, our retreat hus been arrested here by your followers.” ‘You deserve to die, Kit Bandy—you shot my father,” she said, half choking with a deep sigh. “T’m sorry that it was necessary todo so, Miss Sybil, but you know why I did it, I’m sure,” the detective responded. “You played a shrewd game as a detective, but you do not know i whether you have un- raveled the secret of Judge Randall’s murder,” she declared in a self-confident tone. ‘* A little more time ’ll tell, Miss Sybil, and et there are no doubts in my mind, nor is there in yours.” **T never knew my father had been shot until Jast night,” she said, biting her lip to keep back the grief that seemed struggling upward in her breast, while tears gathered in her eyes. “T are truly sorry for you, MissSybil, I sw’ar to God I be, for I see you are feelin’ bad,” said Old Kit, his voice deep with emotion; ‘and I admit when I fired that shot in the Pick-and- Shovel that night, I never dreamed of you bein’ Captain Rachel, the outlaw. In fact, Uhad only ped pag your father of bein’ the murderer of Judge Randall, and—” ** And brought that French artist there to help develop what never could have been done other- wise,” the woman broke in. “You are endowed with woman’s wits, gal, I confess,” Bandy replied; ‘* but. as I remarked before, I never suspected you and your father being connected with the outlaws,” ‘* Nor did we ever dream of Rev. Paul Postle being old Kit Bandy, or he would have met the fate of Judge Randall. . But this is not what I came here for: a messenger arrived from Last Lick this morning, bring ng me the news that my father was still alive, but dying from the effects of your shot. He wants to see me, but I dare not return there—” ‘Ves ve dare, girl; if T had my say-so "bout | it, you should go right to him and leave unmo- lested, even though you be Captain Rachel.” ‘That is a generous offer, but I could not ac- cept it—I will never go back to that accursed camp of my own free will—no, never /” and she jah emphasis to her word by a stamp of her oot. “Well, that’s all I could do, even if I’d liberty %o do that.” ‘There is a favor you can do me, if you will,” ihe said. ‘+ What is it?” ‘“* Carry a message to my father for me.” ** Miss Sybil, I will agree to do so, providin’ I git out o’ this place with my life; though I must confess that things are in a mixed state— rather peculiar that youshould ask metodo you a favor, and yetatthesame time your followers are right at my heels seekin’ my life.” ‘In consideration of the favor I ask,” said _ Sybil, “I will give you this horse upon which toescape, though really I ought to kill you dead Tistead of helping you.” “Miss Sybil, as a detective, I have no apolo- aMiy gies to make for what I do, nor am I askin’ any mercy at your hands; I am willin’—yea, ready to take my chances with my old pard here in lickin’ thunder out o’ your folks, and yetif I git through all right I'll deliver your message to your dyin’ father, I hold no grudge ag’inst you, understand, gal, nor your father. As Cap- tain Rachel, I presume you can command—” ‘*That name, sir,” she broke in, ‘is simply honorary—lI never ied the men in a single raid on a stage or settler. This is true, 1 care not what you have heard to thecontrary. Itis true, the men, wild, rough and wicked though they be, have shown me every kindness and respect that any woman could ask; but I have not even the power to prevent them killing you if they can, and they are sure to attack you soon, They know that Laramie Joe is dead, end they are now simply waiting the coming of a party of twenty more Indians over in the hills when the fight on you will be renewed. Even if I could persuade the road-agents to let you go unmolested, the Indians would not. So I say to you in all candor, there is but one chance for you, and that is the one I offer.” ‘* And but for the favor you seek through our ere you’d fang us—help kill us,” said Kit. ‘* Very likely,” was her frank response, given with a sardonic smile, ‘‘ But will the red-skins not punish you if you help us away?” questioned Rattler. ‘*T have no fears of them—none at all.” * But if your father dies, what'll you do, gal? sagt not stay with the outlaws?” “Tl take care of myself, nor will I stay with the outlaws. Here is the note to my father. wrote it just before I came up here. Those mountaineers and red-skins do not know what I am here for, and they will doubtless pursue you, but that horse is strong and fleet, e will carry ou both out of danger. He was the favorite orse of my father; but do you hesitate to ac- cept these terms because I am & woman?” ‘Not at all, Miss Sybil; there’s as much or more in your act for you than for us, else you’d never be so generous,” ‘*You speak very truthfully, Kit Bandy; I would rather kill you than permit you to go free, and would did I not believe you would keep your promise with me.” ‘Yes, Pll keep my word with a woman—” ‘* Then mount and flee—let us say no more,” she exclaimed; then. turning she walked away in the direction of her friends, ‘“‘Wal, by the ram's horn o’ Joshua!” ex- claimed Old Kit, as he glanced first at the re- treating girl, then at Old Rattler, “if this don’t git away with anything I ever encountered!” ‘Tt area leetle numerous,” averred Rattler, ‘like the ingredients in Ingin hash; but, by the great goblins! if that woman ain’t a wheezer, a hly-lipped hummer, Satan’s a swine. Man alive! but her fingers did burn—I see’d the ends smoke —to shoot the everlastin’ enjoyments outen you, Kit. Oh! buc she’s a honey-puddle, a nest 0’ yaller-jackets,” ‘** Well, what d’ye say, Rat? Shall we mount that steed and skip?” ; “Guess we’d better, Kit, for, by the great Rosycrusians! yander comes that band o’ red- rinds, and if we stay here they'll make it epi- demick’ly 7ill-firish for us.” ‘“‘Then hand up the guns to me when I git on,” said Old Kit, and he swung himself up into the saddle; ‘‘ there now, give me your hand, old boy, and step onto my foot and make a spring— that’s it, now here we go!” ‘* Yes, and thar comes our deestroyers, too,” said Rattler. ‘Let ’em come,” said Kit, as they went flying down the little knoll like the wind, ‘‘ and if they catch us, we can fight one place as well as an- other.” The sight presented by the two old fugitives was as ludicrous and comical as it was exciting, and they fully realized the fact from the start, themselves. With a readiness, so charac- teristic of the borderman, and that, too, in the face of most deadly danger, they took the humorous side of the situation and appeared to enjoy it. “T say, Bandy,” Rattler observed, as the sped along. ‘I know thar’s a splendid sight goin’ to waste just now, and that’s we too o twin babboons on this ’ere hoss,” ‘‘Yes I reckon we present a splendid pair 0’ figzers on hossback, and 1’) bet that gal’s laugh- in’ till she fangs herself.” **Tt would be a loud joke on you, Bandy, if this war jist a slippery little trick o’ her. to git we old Mathusilanians from that knob. _Isn’t it a good, robust, rosv-cheeked joke, anyhow, to go abroad, that Old Karistopher Kolumbuss Bandy, the great mountain deetective, and Old © darkness was upon them then, an pe I h y la | Tom Rattler, the wild, untamed tempest, and Red River Epidemic, had to accept terms from: an outlaw gal—also a hoss, and shin out like & pair o’ wild-eyed gamboliers? Speak out, Bandy, and let the winds carry your sad words along the mountains and over the plains till it—” “Say, ole man, ar’n’t ye afeard the sun’lh blister yer lungs, talkin’ so much?” asked Bandy, with a smile illuminating his face; spose ye blockade that gap in yer head ” “T never git tired o’ tellin’ the Book-o’-Reve- lations truth, Kit; but say, old chum, glance back over your brawny shoulders and tell me if ye don’t think them red-rinds and their friends ar’n’t gainin’ upon us.” Old Kit glanced back, and as he did so, sud- denly exclaimed: ‘* By the horn o’ Joshua! they are gainin’ om us, ‘less the distance are longer’n it seems.” ‘Think they’re gainin’ a bit, Kit; but them it will be a long time yit before they overhaul us, ‘less this steed breaks down. Blame that: al, an old fool man can be led around by her ike a bull with a ring into its nose. I'll bet if you git away safe this time that in less’n a week you'll be lungin’ across the plain like a wild antelope, or plungin’ throu; h the bills like: a mad Texan steer, a-huntin’ for that gal ta fling love stuff at her. You can’t foolish me om an old rat like you, Bandy.” ‘I s’pose you’ve Varnt something by a cen- tury o’ experience, Rattler, even if a tongue is all you’ve got in your head,” retorted Kit; ‘but say, pard, lve a notion to swing off SH pape to the left and plunge in ameng them ills and brakes yander.” ‘*You’re the captain o’ this bark, Kitsie, and I go whither you sail. Make for any port you wish, for I’m only out on a pleasure excursior for my bealth,” Kit bore slightly to the left, and in the course of some two hours they entered the head of @. canyon trending away toward the southeast, bile we have been but a short time writing of the events that transpired after the first: meeting of Kit Bandy and Captain Rachel in the early morn, it is nevertheless true that their enactment ran through the entire day, so that when the two old fugitives entered the canyom it was just sunset. At this time there was no doubt of the fact that the foe were gaining upen the fugitives, and that rapidly, too. Scarcely eighty reds: separated them. The old bordermen’s horse was. fast failing under his double burden and long, unbroken race across the hot, dry plain. He had done nobly under the circumstances, but he had not the endurance of the mustangs riddem by the pursuers, However, the fugitives felt certain that he would hold out a few minutes longer, when they could safeiy take to the shadows of night among the hills and bluffs that grew deeper and darker as they advanced. But in this they were dcom- ed to a bitter disappointment. Their horse sud- denly stumbled, staggered, and with a convul- sive lunge fell dead, Old Rattler was pitched headlong to the earth, but in an instant he was upon bis feet, to find his companion held fast upon the ground by ther bedy of the horse lying upon bis leg. ‘Great goblins! Kit, are you hurt?” the old man exclaimed, “No, Rat, but I’m in a vise, sure’n death,” replied Bandy, . Rattler endeavored to release his friend, but, his strength was not adequate to the task. ‘Oh, I'm elected, Rattler,” Bandy said, wity an air of calm resignation; “you'd better line out, old pard, and save yerself while ye ken,” fh Sandy, I’m not that kind o’ man,” replied Rattler, with a resolute determination writtem upon his bearded face; “if you are to die, Pl die with you, but T’ll paint the sky red before I o under—bhere the red-rind demons come, and Il go to swatin’ ’em!” He took up his rifle and sent a bullet crashmg through the body of a savage, but they were closer than he had cg , and before he could repeat the shot the foe was upon them like so many maddened devils, With his clubbed gun the old man fought like a fury until he was overcome by sheer force and made prisoner. With Bandy they had little trouble, and re- moving the dead horse from his leg, his hands of eh CNS eb ML MENS EDT ier PM deine: May ‘4 inv’ w were bound, and then he and Rattler both were: - subjected to many cruel indignities by the pack of red and white demons, whose yells, shouts: and curses of vengeance made the canyon) ring with an infernal din. The victorious pursuers now held a short con- sultation as to their course for theevening, As d their ponies;
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Tiare pEyptassare ie he ' trusted messenger o’ our Sg capt’in. U up ag’inst that wall and chaw their hair off with bi 4 a) a ae so pee - —y “Ola Tom Rattler, about fagged out, they concluded to stop in the anyon for the night, during which time they could decide on what disposition they would make of the captives. Not far away, at the foot of the bluffs in the canyon, was an old sod house that had once ‘been the headquarters of a party of buffalo- hunters. Although it had been deserted for years, it was in a fair state of preservation— probably because fire would not destroy it— and its presence there among the trees and bushes being known to Hyena ha that worthy ‘led the way to the building after a party had ‘been detailed to take care of their horses and see ‘that they were lariated out to grass. Reaching the old sod house the party with the prisoners entered, when Kid Cole, the outlaw, proceeded to strike a fire in’ the center of the ut, an abundance of dry twigs and limbs suit- sable for the purpose being found near the door outside. And as soon as the place had been relieved of tts gloom an outlaw advanced, and looking Kit ‘Bandy in the face, asked: “Reverend Pau! Postle—Mr. Detective Bandy Pa hea recognize me?” ** Yes, you are that imp of hell—Sonora Steve, ‘that I had the sublime pleasure o’ liftin’ over ‘Luke Freiner’s bar on the toe o’ my boot,” was ‘the frank, defiant reply of Old Kit. ‘And I am to have the pleasure of knifin’ you,” the fellow replied, his little snakish eyes glittering like beads of fire, while a devilish, Satanic grin swept over his ugly face, | CHAPTER XIiI. ‘THE OUTLAWS’ PISTOL PRACTICE ON KIT AND RATTLER, +» Krr Banpy expected every moment to feel a steel blade driven into Ins body by the hand of ‘the cowardly little Mexican, Sonora Steve, and rhaps such would have been his fate had yena Jim, who seemed to act with authority ' mot ordered the Mexican to put up his knife an keep cool till all could take a hand in Bandy’s vexecution. - The enemy numbered in all about twenty ‘persons, eight of whom were outlaws. The sav- ‘ages were an atrocious-looking crew, and seem- ed half-crazed with frenzy, and for awhile it ‘required considerable effort on the part of the outlaws to prevent them from tomahawking the captives, , ; risoners’ pockets were carefully search- ed, and everything loose about them appropri- ated. Hyena Jim found on ne et the note given him by Captain Rachel. He opened ‘it and read it. A contemptuous smile passed over his face. “Tm sorry to disappoint the young lady,” he said, with a sneer, ‘but you, old man, will not be permitted to deliver this note. That girl played us a scurvy trick to-day in fittin’ you out with the b st hoss in Wyoming, and the first thing she knows she'll find her commission revoked. I’ve alers said a woman ina band of mountaineers was a nuisance,” ‘Mountain devils! you’d better say,” ex- «claimed Old Rattler. “Have it as you please, old man,” replied Hyena Jim; ‘‘ but say, which of you old festers is Kit Bandy?” - **T’ve the honor of bein’ that lark,” promptly spoke up Old Kit. ‘It'd be better for you if you had not that honor,” put in Kid Cole, ‘‘ for our folks have put a price on your head.” _ “Do your worst, thugs, for I can die game,” } sekorte’ Kit. ‘‘ I’ve had haydoogins o’ fun saltin’ down sich critters as you—l’ve filled one hull corner in purgatory with mountaineers,” **Very well, Kit Bandy; blow and bluster now will avail you nothin’, even if you be the But don’t let this note worry you; lll agree to deliver it myself. Nobody in Last Lick will know but I'm the governor o’ the territory when I go down thar.” ““The brand on your forehead ‘ll give you dead away,” remarked Old Rattler, ‘‘for hell’s full and b’ilin’ over with sich branded cattle as you be.” : __ “Say, where do you s’pect to meet that boy, Laramie Joe, that --mornin’—'bove or below?’ chimed in Sonora _. Steve, who could not be kept in the back- got his last sickness this ound, _ ~ “Bark, ki-yote!” retorted Rattler. “3B smoke! they’re gamey terrapins!” de- clare an outlaw. ‘‘Can’t we contrive some way to take tho ae oh een outen them?” <i Yes.” replied Cole; ‘'s’pose we pin ’em ears and crash. yullets—have some pistol-practice, ! What's the use standin’ ’round here firin’ cheap talk at sich old hardshells as they be?” ‘All right; if some one’ll get half a dozen forked stitks, ‘lt show you how to tack ’em to the wall,” said Hyena Jim. Borrowing a couple of tomahawks of the In- dians, two outlaws went out in search of the sticks requested. Ina short time they returned with them, The prongs of the forks were sharpened, then the captives were crowded against the wall, standing. A fork was then placed astride of each one’s neck and driven in- to the sod wall until the crotch fitted snug against the throat, but not tight enough to choke. Other forks were thea placed over their ankles thus virtually pinning them fast to the wall, sure enough. Their hands were tight- ly bound at their backs, and altogether they were pretty well secured. One of the savages, impatient to put the old captives to the torture, took up a bundle of pine sticks, and setting them ablaze swung the hiss- ing brand to and fro apast the old men’s faces, singeing their hair and whiskers. But not a word significant of fear or pain escaped the captives’ lips, and so this mode of punishment became monotonous to the savages and the out- laws, and finally Hyena Jim said: “Oh, stop that hair-barberin’ and let’s trim up ears awhile. Them souses o’ Kit Bandy’s are too big for the man, anybow, and we want to see him trigged up afore he goes over the river—stand back there, boys.” The crowd fell back to the opposite end of the long room, when Eyena Jim raised his revolver, and taking deliberate aim at Bandy’s head, red, Z ‘A cloud of dust and dirt puffed from the dry sod wall at the side of the old border detective’s ead, A yell burst from the lips of the savages, Hyena Jim was a noted pistol-shot, and on examination it was found that his bullet had buried itself in the wall within a hair’s breadth, as it were, of Old Kit’s head, ‘* Me throw scalp-knife now,” said a red-skin, and stepping back he took a long, sharp knife by the tip of the blade and flung it at tho head of Old Rattler, driving-it into the wall so close that the hunter felt the wind of the weapon. A shout of applause burst fromthe lips of the crowd, Another savage grasped his knife-point and endeavored to display his skill, but being a tall man, the haft of the knife, as his arm swung forward over his shoulder, struck the low roof of the house and drove the blade through his hand, severing muscles and tendons, and forcing a cry of the keenest agony from the unlucky performer’s lips. For & moment the sport was interrupted by this accidert, and before it could be renewed, in fact, the presence of a new-comer was an- nounced by a sharp, piercing shriek at the door, and an old woman, carrying an umbrella which she brandished above her bonneted head, bounded into the room and sweeping down to where Bandy stood, turned and facing the crowd of astounded savages and outlaws, screamed out, in wild, fierce tones: ‘*Tnhuman monsters! stand back! That man is my husband, ungrateful deserter tho’ he be! I have sought him from the eends of the earth, and now proclaim in the voice of injured inno- cence that I’m his lawfully wedded wife, Sa- bina Bandy, and, please gracious, Pll defend my rights with my life!” Fe Ae CHAPTER XIV. , THE PALE HORSEMAN, For a minute or so the outlaws and savages were somewhat surprised and confused by the appearance of Sabina Bandy upon the scene of action, “That blamed old woman ag’in!” snarled Red Rob, the outlaw, \ ‘Oh, Lord, Rattler!” groaned Old Kit, as though the presence of his self-confessed spouse had added new terrors to his situation. ‘‘?’m a goner now, old pard.” Sonora Steve darted from the crowd toward the old woman and made an attempt to seize her by the arm, but the woman eluded him and at the same time brought her oJd umbrella down upon the head of the Mexican with a rattling The blow was so stunning that the out- law. was brought to his knees, and the maledic- tion that escaped his lips was drowned in the de- risive laugh of hisfriends. “Lay yer vile hand on me—Sabina‘ Bandy— will ye, ye vile wretch?” the old woman fairly hissed, fixing her flashing eyes on the outlaw; bof TI Rigas ge a EDU OE EEE 1s Re OE RE ELE NT od Re you! Please gracious, I’m a woman of courage. and now that I’ve found my heartless husban after years of search I’ll not be cheated outen him!” the foe, then with a sweep or two 01 her knife severed her husband’s bonds, * ‘* Hold on there, old lady,” said Hyena Jim; “yvowre carryin’ this thing a leetie too fur, S’nora Steve, guard the door thar, so that old im up ag’in, and expel bis wife, who'll be better off without him if he’s as villainous as she claims,” tion in the door, his knife clutched in his fingers. As he did so, a sound behind him arres his attention, but before he could turn something struck him in the back and knocked him half across the room. At the same instant a horse— a pony, with a rider lying upon its back— bounded into the room with a fierce snort and glowing eyes, and knocking over three or four savages in its mad lunge. And as soon as the anima] had passed through the door the rider rose to a sitting posture, a revolver in each band, and opened a deadly fire on the outlaws and savages; and close at the heels of the pony followed eight men dressed in the ihe of rancheros, each with a revolver in hand, Taken by surprise, the savages and outlaws started back terror-stricken, before the mur- derous crash and blaze of the rancheros’ re- volvers, ; 4 Once Hyena Jim endeavored to rally his fol- lowers and engage the foe, but his daring life was cut short by a bullet crashing through his brain. With her characteristic combkativeness old Sabina Bandy dropped her umbrella, threw back her bonnet from her head and drawing a little “twenty-two” revolver, opened on the foe, giving utterance to a wild, hysterical scr°am at every discharge ef the weapon. The panic-stricken foe, cut off from the door, made a rush for the open window on the opposite side—crowding, cursing and yelling—trampling beneath their fee their dead and wounded com- rades in their mad endeavors to escape. Fully eee those that did escape were at once hotly pursued except the cne on the horse. . At the ae of the conflict Old Kit Bandy sprung to the side of his friend Rattler and quickly jerked the crotched sticks from his neck and limbs, and then releasing his bonds, turned to take a hand in the conflict, Just then he caught the first fair view of the face of the ranchero on the borse, and be started back with surprise written on his features. The head of the horseman was tied up in a scarlet bandage, and from his face, that was almost ghastly in its paleness, shone a pair of eyes that fairly glowed in their unnatural brigbt- traying the deepest emoticon, that peerie e ws TU Laramie Joe, the Boy Knight, or his spi he was here interrupted by the berseman, . ing to the ground and extending his two hands, saying: F pards.” ‘ elt It was Laramie Joe in flesh and spirit! — the evidence of, their own eyes. Then they speak. ; “Tl be fanged !” was his remark. to be shut,” was Rattler’s rejoinder, my presence here,” the koy said. don’t express it, boy,” replied Bandy in appa- rent disgust. By i that old huccaneer of the prairie, there.” point- ing to Rattler, ‘expresses. my feelin’s better’n = words could.” ; “ And’ I, your wronged companion, Christo: — her C. Bandy,” exclaimed old Sabina, comit bo the front, ‘can express the heartlessness ‘of your heart in a few words, andI—” Don’t, Mrs. Bandy,” interrupted Kit meek politeness, ‘‘ there is no time now rere 6 fa : ” Rot | rai Sant Decaes | A ee. “touch me and I'll maul the liver-pins out 0 And turning, she snatched the forked sticks — from over his neck and limbs and flung them at- pee can’t give us the dodge, and we'll halter _ Sonora Steve advanced and took Ee posix — i half their entire force fell within the hut, and | into the night by all the victorious rancheros ness. “* My God, Rattler !” cried Old Kit, his looks be- “Tt can’t be, Bandy--” began Old Rattler, but So we meet this side of eternity again, ola But not until the old plainsmen had felt the warm clasp of his hand could they fully believe’ i turned and looked into each other’s face in con- __ temptuous silence. Bandy was the first to — “You and another old, old fool I know ought — Another silence followed that was broken by Laramie Joe who turst into a peal of Jaughter. “Tsee you folks are somewhat confused by — “ Confused? well, by the horn o' Joshua ! that — r ‘The ki-yotish countenance of — Bis
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your—your blessing.” “Very well, very well,” Sabina said, and turning, she walked out of the cabin, to the ap- parent reliet of Old Kit, who, turning to Lara- mic Joe, asked: ‘““ How does it come, Joseph, that you’re here alive? The last time we looked upon you to-day on the plain, you were deader’n the mother 0’ Adam,” ‘‘T don’t know myself, friends, all about to- day’s doings,” the pale youth answered, but I suppose you can throw some light on the darker part of it. I remember our being in a red-hot ight on the plain with the Indians and outlaws, and then there seemed to have been an end to my career for a while, for the next thing of which I was cognizant was of lying upon a couch in a house with a terrible pain in my head, When I had fully recovered my senses and recognized those around me as my rancher friends, and recalled-the incident of the fight on the plain, felt the bandage on my head, I was not long in making up my mind that there*was a blank in my life—a skip of an hour, or a day or week, as the case might be. $i n inquiry I learned that I had been car- ried there in an unconscious state, tied to the back of my horse. The time was about two o’clock in the afternoon when I was released, so that I concluded I must have been carried around by my horse some five hours—that is, if my ride dated from the last recollection I had of the fight on the plain up to my rescue,” **Do you. hear that, Kit Bandy?” asked Old Rattler with a look of contempt; ‘‘ do you hear that, Brent Rocky. Mountain detective? Does our old grandmotherly brain begin to grasp old o’ the truth with the grizzly b’ar hug o’ a pismire?? ~ ‘*Yes, great untamed tempest o’ the Red River, I begin’ to grasp,” replied Old Kit; ‘it war you who felt the lad’s pulse when he lay stretched on the plain, and it war your rosebud lips that pronounced him ‘dead, poor sg 88 ow do yuu, old buccaneer o’ the plateau, 'be- gin to comprehend that you know ’bout as sapeh "bout a boy’s pulse as a hull lunatic asy- turn ? ** Old friends,” said Joe in a pacific tone, ‘‘I hope you will have no. hard feelings about my case, for I am satisfied that you did what you thought was right, and for which I am most thankful,” “Oh, no, Joe, Rattler and me’ll not quarrel— we're too glad to meet youaliveagain; but after you went down in the fight, we made up our minds the demons shouldn’t chop and back you in case we fell, so we bound you on your hoss in the most approved style, and started the animal off across the plain.” / “T really did ’zamine your pulse, boy,” said Rattler, ‘ and never felt the faintest flutter.” **T sot a pretty hard rap across the head here,” said Joe; ‘* the scalp was cut to the skull and bled considerable. I was also struck by a ball in the stomach which would undoubtedly have killed me but for the heavy broad buckle on my belt. It’s probable that I got both blows at the same instant, for I have no recollection of receiv- ing either. But just as soon as my friends had restored me to consciousness, rubbed my almost palsied limbs until the circulation was restored, and bandaged me up till I began to feel like my- self again, I began to wo about you folks. I remembered that the last thing I did remember was of our fight on the knoll; so the boys fur- nished me that pony and eight of them came with me to look youup. We never expected to find you here.” ‘ ; “Thanks to that gal Sybil Bell, who furnish- ed us a horse, we got away from the foe and would have eluded ’em altogether if the hoss hadn’t fe!l dead and, fallin’ on my leg, held me there fast.” “ Do you say that Sybil Bell, or Captain Rachel helped you to escape?” asked Laramie Joe in sur- rise. Px Yes, sir, she did,” answered Bandy. ‘ “Think she’s all broke up—hopelessly swamp- ed in a honey puddle o’ love with Bandy,” said Rattler, with a wink. ‘‘She don’t know he’s a lawfully wedded man.” 4 “ But what about Zulima, Joe?” asked Kit. ‘She's safe at the Deer Creek Ranch.” _ “Good! glory!” exclaimed the old detective. “Thanks to the kindness of a renegade chief, she escaped from the grove where I left her in the presence of a dozen Indians.” ; “Horn o Joshua!” exclaimed Bandy, ‘‘is the mellinnium a-coming?, Think o’ two acts of gen- _ erosity from outlaws the same day in the same ° territory! It’sastoundin’. It takes a brain like : oo “<— Old: Tom “Ruttier, our affairs. Just wait till we're alone, and like Rattler’s—Doctor Rattiler’s—to comprehend. the a Christian martyr I'll bow down and receive | magnitood o’ the thing.” ‘ * Bandy, s’pose you give that classic tongue o’ yours a rest afore you fang yourself,” retorted Rattler. In the mean time the rancheros that had gone in pursuit of the fleeing foe had returned, and with them they brought a stranger, at sight of whom Old Kit Bandy uttered an exclamation of joy, and advancing, took the man by the hand, saying: ** Ichabod, old pard, never did we meet under happier sarcumstances. How’ve you been, old chum? Gentlemen,” and the old detective turn- ed to the crowd about him, ‘‘ this man is Icha- bod Flea, my old pard of years—one o’ the shrewdest, spunkiest old detectives that ever wore hair, This critter here, Ichabod, is Old Tom Rattler, and this lad is the inimical Lar- amie Joe. Mix up, Ichabod, shake hands all around and make yerself to home and beware o’ Old Rattler.” The little old detective, a man of fifty, with a smooth face, a keen sharp eye, and a mouth wreathed in a quaint expression, shook hands around with the party, speaking in a rather sharp, falsetto voice, After he had ee to Rattler the latter went over to Old Kit Bandy and looking him square in the eyes, said: ‘Old pirate, ’'m ima study which to do, knock the stuffin’ out o’ you or go away out in the can- yonand kick myself stupid, blind, or over into daho.” “The latter’d be no great job,” replied Kit, ‘but what’s got the matter with you now?! Taken another spell?” ‘I see into alittle game o’ yours, old cappy. That man, Ichabod Flea, is your old Sabina and anal old Sabina is Ichabod. Don’t deny it, you ily-lipped hummer!” Old Kit and Ichabod Flea burst into a peal of laughter, “Is that true, Kit?” asked Laramie Joe, in surprise and astonishment. ‘*T can’t lie to you, boy, it’s so. That old buc- caneer is hard to foolish, I can tell you. Icha- bod and me’s worked “gether that way for ears and years. It’s a clever dodge, you can ‘¢ And the lies you've told bout each other would swamp a huil missiona society in the brimstone lake,” declared Old Rattler, ‘* Oh, Kitsie, you are a hull outfit, you are.” “Kit, what you been doin’ to your hair and beard?” asked Dick Howard, one of the cow- boys. * An outlaw fanned me and my old chum there witb a firebrand. You can see by the stubble-patch on his Adonis mug that it has been shaved by the same barber-ous hand. Oh, we war havin’ a royal entertainment jist afore ou folks come in; and, boys o’ Laramie Plains, T want to say to you_now, without jokin’, that, that man, Old Tom Rattler, is as brave an old buccaneer as ever sailed this ocean of verdure over-—a hull mad-house let loose after the keeper.” x The rancheros applauded . this declaration, and Rattler acknowledged the compliment in a few well-chosen words, ATOR Ge dead outlaws Bandy found the body of Hyena Jim and recovered the letter that Sybil Bell had intrusted to him for her father. The excitement of the night having finally subsided, the party made arrangements to re- main there until morning. Guards were posted in the canyon above and below the hut, al- though no one had any idea the enemy would return unless largely reinforced, and this was hardly probable since they were so far from the haunts of their friends, Old Kit and Rattler entertained -their res- cuers until late in the night with one story after another, told in their inimitable and extrava- gant language, that kept their auditors in a roar of laughter, and not until the last one of the cowboys had stretched himself on the floor and laughed himself asleep, did the old detec- tive and hunter'cease talking and lie down themselves to rest. CHAPTER XV. A TRAGIC DEATH. Kit BANDY was the first to awake in the morning, and, arousing his friends, prepara- tions were soon made for departure down the canyon. From among the outlaws’ horses, most of which had been left in the hands of the victors by those who escaped, Kit, Rattler and Ichabod a ‘ Flea were supplied with riding “horses, and mounting, all started off, the initial point now: being the Deer Creek Ranch. After journeying a few miles they came to a. spring, where the party halted, bathed their hands and faces, and then breakfasted off the supplies that the cowboys had provided them- selves with before leaving the ranch, Thus refreshed, they continued on, and about. noon reached Redmond’s cattle-ranch. Laramie Joe’s return was hailed with pleasure by Zulima Randall, and her young heart knew no bounds of joy when she learned that the two old plainsmen were safe. Joe introduced her to them, when she and Bandy held a long and pleasant conversation. Jack Kirby, the gies ae eae of the ranch. ordered a fatted calf killed and a royal dinner prepared for their gaa Sprig guests, who- were to remain over until the morrow by the urgent request of the rancheros. And the calf was killed and a sumptuous dinner pre- pared, to which all did ample justice. Old Rattler, by Kit’s request, consented to accompany him to Last Lick with Zulima and Laramie Joe. An escort of three cowboys with pack-horses was also detailed by Jack Kirby to go with the party, As the a ay would require several days” travel, a tent for Zulima anda stock of provision were furnished the perey, from the ample stores: of the ranchmen, ith these arrangements all made, the party expected to start the next mornin ; but as there were several hours yet. before that time arrived, the cowboys became uite anxious as to how they should entertain their guests through the evening, One sug- ested onv thing and another something else. hey were more particular about what they should do and say on account of Zulima’s pres-- ence, Rough as they were, and rougher still as: they are reputed to be, they showed the most. gentlemanly respect to the maiden. Not a word nor act was said nor done that could have of- fended the most fastidious, Finally Fred Danton proposed they have a banquet in honor of their guests, and a banquet: it was to be, whatever that term implies in a. Western cattle-ranch, So Fred Danton was appointed master of ceremonies, and when night came on, and all had assembled in one of the capacious rooms of the long sod house, he announced the pro- gramme, which consisted of music, songs and speeches, There were three violins in the party, and as: many excellent players, and the entertainment. was opened with music by this trio of instru~ ments; and as thé sound floated out upon the air, there was something in its ravishing strains. that touched a chord in the breasts of Old Kit. and Rattler—awakening forgotten memories, and sending the blood thrilling through their veins with all the impulsive fervor of youth; and the first thing the party knew the two old men were whirling over the room in the giddy mazes of a waltz, to the infinite delight of Zu- lima Randall and Laramie Joe. After the old bordermen had satisfied them- selves with dancing, and the music had ceased, the toast, ‘‘Our Guests,” was proposed, and re- sponded to by Jack Kirby in a very happy speech, for Jack, having once been a lawyer in Ghio, possessed one of the essential elements of the profession, and that was a “ gift of gab.” Jack's speech was followed by a song, ‘‘ Away out in the West,” by four of the rancheros, and the song was concluded amid genuine ap- plause. Then Old Ichabod Flea sprung to his feet and proposed a toast not on the programme, and that was, ‘“‘Our Hosts.” He called on Kit Bandy to respond, , And promptly the old detective came to the front with a bland smile upon his face, and said: ‘‘My friends, it affords me pleasure to say that ‘Our Hosts’ are a host o° royal princes. In the thirty years that I’ve been rummaging the West, I have messed with the soljer, affili- ated with the outlaw—for policy’s sake—donned the paint and feathers of an Ingin, roughed it with the miners, hunted with the hunters and bunked with the cowboys from the Rio Grande. to the Yellowstone, but in none of these cam and bivouacs have [ ever been received with more hosspitality than in the dug-out or sod hut o’ the ranchero. In fact, it have always been an exceptional 'good place to stop, for the average cowboy is a rollickin’ good feller, and always has a good supply in. his larder. But I’m free to confess that the folks o’ Redmon’s Ranch are exceptions to a'] I have ever met, That library yander on .them shelves, that bountiful supply o’ good things to eat in the ¢
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-center-shot, he’s as good as—I be. naa ae PARED RET a a lr aa a ies al ‘/piatmteiaeh anecte atten F Ag ee r a o> ne ried ome 2 VP Nek Sheet ey ty ue Po pean ' Te ‘ 14 store-room, that wash-basin, soap and combs, those assorted kinds o’ pipes and abundance 0’ tobacco—all' tells me that the Redmon Ranch- men are men o’ intellect. I know them to be brave and darin’, for under the lead o’ the ~ gamesbitak boy that ever hopped, Laramie Joe, have see’d them tried. To the gallant boys ©’ Redmon’s Ranch—to ‘Our Hosts,’ me and that old buccaneer, Rattler, owes our exist- ence to-night, and language fails me in ex- pressin’ my thanks and deep sense o’ gratitude to them.” Bandy’s speech was enthusiastically cheered; then followed another appropriate song by the “ elee-club,” after which Fred Danton an- nounced this toast: “«Kit Bandy, the famous mountain “detec- tive’—response by Tom Rattler, the hunter.” A slight commotion stirred the little audi- ence, smile lit up the faces of all, for they now expected something peculiarly novel and interesting. Old Rattler rose, and with a tone in his yes and: that innate spirit of humor lurking about his mouth in a faint smile, said: ‘*My respected friends, speechifyin’ are not in my line o’ business, I am free to confess, yit the subject onto which I'm to speak is one so deep and eloquence-inspirin’ that I can’t he’p but swat it hightly, It has been wt gorg’ous pleasure to know Kit Bandy personally for two days, and in that time I’ve found him to be an old wild-eyed rouser. I find he combines all the elements o’ character that war ever repreesent- ed in the home-circle, the meotin’-house, the hall o’ Congress, the insane asylum or the ed eetenshary (applause by Bandy). I met him under *bout the same sarcumstance that a hungry ki-yote meets a wounded deer—I bein’ the wounded deer, I hev see’d him stand like @ majestic oak, with both hands up, kivered by a revolver in the hands o’a masked woman, and—lie like a trooper Say ube I have see’d him on the full retreat—I war with him at the time—and I can bear witness to the fact that his instinct o’ self-preservation is strong. I have stood by his side in battle, when the air was full o’ death-whistles, and hearn him cuss the foe’s poor marksmanship, Ive see’d him— from the brush—in the presence o’ a beaucheful woman, his face a honey-puddle o’ smiles and smirks, talk love-stuff like an Ambrosia god, I’ve stood by his side, pinned to a wall by the hands of red and white demons, and sass them ina defiant way borderin’ on suicidal reckless- ness. My friends, thar be no diskount on Old Kit Bandy. As a mountuin deetective, he’s a behemoth success—a lily-lipped hummer, As an Ingin-fighter, he’s a hull litter o’ hyenas and a Jersey bullian throwed in. As a liar, with fancy trimmin’s, he beats that ‘un the feller struck when nations heard entranced, As a As a love- maker to outlaw weeiin, he’s a velvet-throated gagger. Nor are these all his noble traits fapplause). .He is possessed o’ as much piety as a ong temple, the serenity and calmness 0’ a buzzard bangin’ high above on airy wing. His modesty is like unto that o’ a dreamy Ingin maiden, and his meekness and innocence is like unto that o’ a hull Sunday-school o’ Congo- colored urchins. Jn fact, he’s as many virchoos as war.ever planted in a big grave-yard; and to sum it all up, friends, a bigger, braver, nobler heart war never crowded into a human breast than that o’ Old Karistopher Columbuss Bandy.” A round of. vovrpied applause followed this unique speech, and then, after another songz, a aa dasiee by one of the cowboys and another waltz by Kit and Rattler, and the banquet ended with a supper, prepared by the colored cook of the ranch, that would have been a credit to a far more pretentious affair. Finally all retired for the night, a private room having been carefully and neatly fitted up for the fair Zulima. The remainder of the night was passed in quiet sleep, but all were astir early in the morning, and shortly after sunrise the party, bound for Last Lick, were in their saddles, “* good-byes” were said, and the journey began. Laramie Joe, with Zulima at his side, took the lead, with Kit and Rattler next, and the escort of rancheros with the pack-horses bring- EP the rear, he first two days ot the journey were attended with no excitement, and would have been voted monotonous by men who love ex- citement had it not been for those two jolly old men, Bandy and Rattler, who kept everybody’s spirits in highest.glee with their whimsical ‘humor and pallicking stories. — in the morning of the third day, however, the party was suddenly thrown into a momen- tary excitement, just as they were breaking camp, by the sudden appearance of a woman on horseback from a wooded canyon, putting into the one they were following. She was recog- nized at a glance, It was Captain Rachel, the female outlaw, or Sybil Bell, as we shall know her hereafter. ‘“By the horn _o’ Joshua! it’s Cap Rachel!” exclaimed Old Kit, in astonishment and sur- prise. ‘*Tt are, by the great Rosycrusian!” added Rattler. ‘And look out for a band of outlaws at her heels,” exclaimed a cowboy, grasping his trusty | rifle. The woman approached the party that had drawn rein to await her coming, A look, half- joy and half-surprise, was upon her handsome ace, ** Oh, Sybil! Sybil!” cried Zulima, as her false friend rode up, “is it possible that we have met again?” ‘Yes, Zulima, and I thank God for it,” re- plied Sybil, in a tone of humble penitence, ‘for you more than all others have [ longed to see and talk with. Of course you know all. The friends I see around you have told you all. But I am surprised to see Laramie Joe at your side alive. I heard he had been slain; and you, Mr. Bandy, I had fears would never escape the horde that pursued you and your friend across the plain.” ‘* Didn’t you intend us to escape, Miss Sybil?” asked Kit. “I certainly did, and yet, before you disap- peared from sight on the plain, the Indians seemed to be gaining on you so rapidly that I became uneasy,” “Tt wer'’n’t me but the message to your fa- ae you were most concerned about, wasn’t ‘*T admit that it was, and through fear of its never reaching him, I resolved to go straight to Last Lick and see him, come weal or woe.’ “A sensible gal,” Bandy said, ‘‘so come ride right along with us. We'll cheerfully accept you as one o’ our party.” ‘* As an officer of the law, I presume you will consider me under arrest,” the girl said, biting her lip to keep back the feeling of distress surg- ing A ale in her breast. ‘Not by a darned sight, Miss Sybil. I are not makin’ war on weomin. I know ’bout the extent o’ your outlawry, bein’ the darter of an outlaw, Come right along, and consider your- self as free as anybody.” “Thank you, sir,” she said, her proud, defiant spirit hopelessly crushed; ‘‘I do not merit such treatment, nor could I accept of it, were it not my desire to see my dying father.” ith this understanding the party rode on. Kit rode at Sybil’s side, and they conversed about various things. The old detective. en- deavored to draw her mind from her troubles and revive her spirits, but he made little head- et little impression upon her broken eart, Zulima treated her with the utmost kindness —such as is due to one in sorrow and trouble. She made no allusion by word or act that would in any way revive a single incident of the ter- rible past, On the afternoon of the fifth day of their jour-+ ney, the party rode into Last Lick. All was quiet in the camp, for most of the miners were at work. But the news of their coming soon spread abroad, and in a few minntes every one was headed toward the Randall cabin. As the cavaleade drew up before Zulima’s home Old Deborah, her old colored friend and servant of years, reaching back into her baby- hood, came running from the cabin, her hands up, and one cry after another pealing from her ps. ‘* Bress de good Lawd in heaben!” she shout- ed, and she clapped her hands, and then rushing up to Zulima, clasped the maiden in her embrace. ** Bress der Lawd, for sendin’ my chile back to me! Oh, honey, bow weary you look, chile— and dar am Miss Sybil; but oh, poor chile, I’se sad, sad news for you!” ‘Is my father dead, Deborah?” cried Sybil, a wild, distressed look upon her face. sg Yes, he is; he died jist few hours ago,” re- plied the negress., ‘ A shriek burst from the girl’s lips, and she sunk sobbing to the earth, Kit and Zulima went to her side, and spoke words of hope and encouragement to her. By this time the whole population of the town had assembled at the Randall cabin to congratu- late Zulima on he” safe return, and her rescuers ‘for their noble work, a mn — After Sybil had recovered from the shock she — had sustained by the sad news of her father’s death, she expressed a desire to look upon his remains, Deborah led the way to the door of the room | wherein the body lay dressed for burial on the morrow, and Sybil passed in. Those outside heard a wild, piercing shriek come from the room, then there was a long si- lence which was suddenly broken by the spite-~ ful bark of a pistol and the fall of a body in that chamber of death. ‘*My heavens, Kit!” cried Laramie Joe, “ There’s something dreadful happened in there!” ‘*’m afraid so, fad,” replied Bante Together the two rushed into the room and found their worst fears realized. Sybil was lying on the floor, a smoking derringer still clasped in her hand, motionless—dead / ‘‘Poor child!” sighed Kit, a tear glistening in his eyes, “it’s all over with her and she’s at peace.” CHAPTER XVI. THE CONCLUSION. ‘ Tue tragic death of Sybil Bell threw a gloom over the spirits of the miners of Last Lick, and no one felt the force of the blow more than Kit Bandy—not that he felt a guilty Appel but because the force of necessity had brought such a dreadful result through the exposure and death of her father. As soon as the excitement of the hour had subsided Old Kit hastened to the Pick-and- Shovel to see his friend Laclede, the French artist whom he found fast recovering from the effects of his wound. Shortly afterward, Ralph Hatton, the Vigi- lante with whom Kit had spoken on the night of the tragedy, called at the tavern in compan with two others of the Vigilantes to converse wit the detective and pay over the reward offered for the apprehension of Judge Randall’s assas- in. “Mr. Bandy,” Hatton said when they had been seated, “‘I presume you are entitled to the reward for the detection and bringing to justice Randall's murderer.” ‘“‘Then all Last Lick is satisfied that Bell is’ the guilty party, eh?” replied Kit. * Fully satisfied,” responded Hatton, ‘* Did he make a confession?” ‘Yes, a short time before his death—when he saw he must die, he confessed that he had mur- dered Randall, and that his true name was Zandt, and that he bad been the leader of the outlaw band known as Captain Rachel’s band. He said Captain Rachel was his daughter and the title of ‘captain ’ was only honorary—that while she was a queen in the respect and obedience she commanded of the outlaws, she had never led them on a single expedition of outlawry. Zandt admitted that at the time of Randall’s murder he had no intention whatever of ab- ducting Zulima, but it seems that one of his men had seen Zulima and become greatly en- amored with her beauty and resolyed to pcs- sess her; and rather than try to win her by Pair means he resolved to abduct her at once, and ave Zandt to. understand that he must have is assistance, and as Zandt knew of his bein a desperate man, having a full knowledge o his—Zandt’s—crime of killing Randall, he could not refuse him, To allay suspicion they ar- ranged that Sybil be abducted with her. Barks- dale, the scoundrel that wanted Zulima, and’ three confederates lay concealed in the moun- tains near, with extra horses for the captives, waiting for an opportunity to use the girls. Of course Sybil was let into the secre ‘¢ Well, they’d waited some two weeks when at last Laclede’s entertainment seemed to prom- ise the desired opportunity to strike. Zandt at- tended it simpl have been r for him, perhaps, had he stayed away. He had been so worked up over the remarkable skill of Laclede that he could not control Kis emotions when, after so good a picture of Judge Randall had been produced, as he fully believed, from his clairvoyant reve- lation, the artist declared that he would reveal the face of the murderer; and in a moment of excitement he drew his revolver and fired at the artist.” ‘* Ha! ha! ha!” laughed Bandy, ‘it war ex- ted when the idea o’ that war entertained hat Randall’s murderer would give himself away when the time come, but we never ’spect- ed he’d shoot.” ** But would the Frenchman really have drawn his picture?” asked Hatton. Yes, he wo ” , to allay suspicion, but it would |
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: 7 1" ‘ * Then he does possess clairvoyant powers?” “Bout as much as you and I,” replied Bandy. “You see, me and my pard, Ichabod Flea, bave been at work on this case ever since the death o’ Judge Randall. Slowly, and step by step, we gathered circumstantial evidence that pointed suspiciously to’ards Major Bell. 1 cannot tell you now how we worked the case up, for itd take me a week to give it in detail, and then it wouldn’t be very in- terestin’.. But when we'd simmered the thing down to Bell the next would be to con- vict him on the chain of evidence we had. We knew he stood deep in the affections and esteem of Last Lick and that any mistake on our part would bring judgment upon our heads, So we began to figger as to how we could make him convict hisself, and in our ramblin’ ’round through the hills we stumbled across the artist, Laclede. Then the idea o’ the entertainment struck me and so I took him into my confidence and Jaid the scheme before him. Bein’ in for adventure he jumped at it like a toad at a fly. Then I furnished him with a portrait of the judge that I'd got from Detective Drew; he racticed on it till he got it perfect, and then in disguise he came to Last Lick and as a fes- tive ‘ bummer’ laid around two weeks studyin the faces and features of Major Bell and Zu- lima Randall, and when he concluded he’d got them well in mind, he come back to the hills and practiced on ’em, goin’ back to camp every few days to refresh his mind and compare notes. In this way he got the faces of all three in pretty fair shape for off-hand drawin’s; and then he sailed in. We banked considerable on his ‘ clairvoyant powers’ workin’ on the super- stition o’ the miners, and givin’ me a hold on the public mind that would enable me to take time to bring to bear in court the chain of cir- cumstantial evidence I’d linked together. More- over, I'd expected after his arrest, that a few more links would be found to make the chain stronger. But, to sum it all up; the fellow’s own guilty conscience give him away, and he has paid the penalty with his life. And now, gen- tlemen, I want only one third o’ the reward; I want Laclede to have the balance, for he de- sarves if. Genius should be rewarded, especial- ly when it gits its arms shot half off, as did the mchman’s.” : “All right, Bandy, that just as you say,” re- lied Hatton; ‘* you have won the reward by a ittle bit the slickest scheme I ever heard of. But say, have you any idea what object Bell had in murdering Judge Randall?” ** No, sir; I must confess I hav’n’t, but I s’pose he told you, didn’t he?” “Not a word. He had just come to that point in his confession and asked for a sup of water. The water was given him, when his head feli forward on his breast and he never breathed again.” ** Horn o’ Joshua! you don’t tell me?” “We had hopes, however,” continued Hat- ton, ‘‘ of Sybil disclosing the secret in case of her return, but now that she, too, is dead, I premnie it will go down to the grave with hem, unless, perhaps, some time we may get the secret from some one of her confederates in crime.” On the day following her death Sybil and her father were laid at rest in their graves. Whatever the girl’s part in ber unnatural fa- ther’s crimes, her untimely death was mourned by all the camp. Zulima Randall now found herself alone again with old Deborah, but however great had been her suffering—however greatly she had been sinned against, out of it all came a noble reward in the friendship and love of our hero, Laramie Joe, the Boy Knight, who in at- ter years became her protector, her idol, her all, Kit Bandy and Ichabod Flea, as well as Old Rattler, remained several days at Last Lick, the honored guests of all the camp, but, finally the three departed together for new fields of conquest, and when and where the old “ buc- _ caneers” may turn up again, we know not but we can rest assured that men of their im- ' pulsive and adventuresome spirits are not like- fy to remain idle, and there is no telling how soon they may “bob up serenely” in another ‘great drama of the Wild West, THE END, | y & ———— OO ww ‘ 1 A Harp Crowp. By Philip S. Warne,.......... 10¢ 2 Tue Dare-Devin, By Col. P. Ingraham..... . 10c 8 Kir Carson, Jk. By Buckskin Sam......... .. 10¢ 4 THe Kipnaprer. By Philip S, Warne.... .. . 1c 5 Tae Fire Fienps, ay BSR CMOLTIR sia. Sea osha 100 6 Witpcar Bos. By Edward L. Wheeler . 10¢ 7 Deata-Norcen, tue Destroyer. Ol] Coomes,, 10¢c 8 Tar Heapiess HoRSEMAN. By Mayne Reid.... 10c 9 Hanpy Anpy. By Samuel Lover .. 10¢ 10 Vipocg, THE FRENCH Poice Spy. By himself, 10¢ 11 Mipsuipman Easy. By Capt. Maryatt ~ ait LOG 12 Tue Dearu-Suot, By Capt. Mayne Reid... . 10¢ 13 Patuaway. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.. ., . 10¢e THAYENDANEGEA, THE ScouraE. Ned Buntline. 10¢ 15 THe Tiger SLAYER. By Gustave Aimard,.. 10¢ 16 THe Wuire Wizarpv. By Ned Buntline..,..... 10¢ 17 NiagutrsuHape, By Dr. J. H. Robinson ......., 10¢ 18 THe Sea Banpit, By Ned Buntline....... ., - 10¢ 19 Rep Cepur, By Gustave Aimard........... . 10¢ 20 Tur Banpir ar Bay. By Qustave Aimard... 10c 21 THe Trapper’s DaveHTER. Gustave Aimard . 10c 22 Wuitretaw. By Dr. J. H. Robinson. ....... . 10¢e 23 Tax Rep Warrior. By Ned Buntline ...... . 10c 24 Tne PRArRiz FLrower. By Gustave Aimard.. 10c 25 Tue Gop Guipe. By Francis Johnson....... . 10¢ Pee Ue 27 Tue Sporrer Derective. By Albert W. Aiken... 10¢ 28 THREE-FINGERED JACK. Joseph E, Badger, Jr. 10¢ 29 Tiger Dick, THe Faro Kine. P.S. Warne . 10e 30 GosprL Greorcr. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr . 10c $1 Tue New York SHARP. By Albert W. Aiken... 10c $2 B’noys or YALE. By John D, Vose .. ... , 10¢ 33 OveRLAND Kir. By Albert W. Aiken... ... , 10¢e 34 Rocky Mountain Ros. By Albert W, Aiken.. 10c 85 Kentuck, THE Sport. By re W. Aiken... 10c . Aiken 88 Vetvs7 Hanp. By Albert W. Aiken. é 10c 39 THe Russian Spy. By Frederick Whittaker. 16e 40 Tae Lona Harrep ‘ Parns.’ J. E. Badger, Jr.. 10¢ 41 GoLp Dan. By Albert W, Aiken. |. vyene LOC 42 THe CALIFORNIA DeTECTIVE, A. W. Aiken.... 10¢ 43 Dakota Dan. - By Oll Coomeés Oda ey AO 44 Otp Dan Rackpack, By Olt Coomes Sb gh AU 45 Oup Buiw’s Eye. By Jos. KE; Badger, Jr.. 10¢ 46 Bowre-Knire BEN. By Ol] Céomes ...... . 10¢c 47 Paciric Pete, By Jos E. Badger, ur..... deriv Oe 48 IpaHo Tom. By Oll Coomes, Ae ee ee 49 THe Woutr Demon. By Albert W. Aiken.... . 10c 50 Jack Rapsir. By Jos. BE. Badger, Jr ..... + 10e 51 Rep Ros, THE Boy Roap-AGeEnr, Oll Coomes.. 10¢ 52 DeaTn TrRaILER, By Wm. F. Cody........... . 10¢ 53 Srrver Sam. By Col. Delle Sara...) |... . 10c 54 Aways ON Hanp. By Philip S. Warne...... 10c 55 Taz Scape Hunters, By Capt, Mayne Reid... 10e 56. THe INDIAN Mazeppa. By Albert W. Aiken.... 10¢ 67 THe Sitent Hunter. By Percy B. St. John... 10c 58 Sr.ver Kyire. By Dr. J. H. Botingon, <3 ee 10e 59 THe MAN yYrom Texas. By Albert W. Aiken. 10¢ 60 Wipe Awake. Ry Frank Dumont........... . 10¢ 61 Caprain SEAWAIF. By Ned Buntline......... . 10¢ 62 LovaL Heart. By Gustave Aimard,... 10¢ 64 65 66 69 THe Dusan CAaprarn, ba HYDRABAD, 72 THe Poantom Hanp, By Albert W. Aiken. . 10c 73 Tue Knicur or THE RED Cross. By Dr. J. H, Robinson. ... HOA ENR ins OUT 10¢ 74 CAPTAIN OF THE RIFLES. Capt. Mayne Reid.. 10c % GENTLEMAN GrorG@E. By Albert W. Aiken... 10c 76 THe QUEEN’s MUSKETEERS. By Geo. Albany.. 10¢ v7 Tue FresH or Frisco. By Afbert W. Aiken,. 10¢ 78 Tae Mysterious Spy. By A. M. Grainger.... 10c 79 Jon Puentx. By Albert W, Aiken ee Oe 80 A Man oF Nerve. By Philip S. Warne....... 10¢ 81 THe Human Tiger. By Albert W, Aiken. ... 10¢ 82 Iron Wrist. By Col. Thomas H. Monstery.. 10c 83 Gotp Butler Sporr. By Buffalo Bill . 10¢e 84 Huntep Down. By Albert W. Aiken -. 10¢ 85 Tur Creran Rover. By Col, P, Ingraham .., 10¢ 86 THe Bra Hunter. Author of “Silent Hunter.” 10¢ 87 THE ScARLET Capratn. By Col. Delle Sara.... 10¢ 88 Bra Grorae. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr....... 10¢ 89 THe Prrate Prince, By Col, P, Ingrabam.... 10¢ 90 Witp Wits, By BuckskinSam.......... ... 1e 91 THe WINNING Oar. By Albert W, Aiken. ... 10¢ 92 BurraLo Bit. By Major Dangerfield Burr... 10¢ 93 CaprarIN Dick TaLBor, By Albert W. Aiken.. 10c $4 FREELANCE, THE BUCCANEER. By Ingraham . 10e 95 AZHORT, THE AXMAN. By Anthony P. Morris, 10¢ 96 DouvBLe DeatH. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker, | 10c ’; 97 Bronze Jack. By Albert W. Aiken .+ 10¢ 98 THe Rock Rmerr. By Capt. F. Whittaker.. . 10e 99 THe GIANT RiFLEMAN. By Oll Coomes .. .. 10e 100 Tae FrencH Spy, By A. P. Morris......... 10¢ 101 Tue MAN From New Yorx. By A, W. Aiken. 10¢ 102 THE Maskep Bann. By George L. Aiken .. | 10¢ 103 Meriter, THE Mutinerer. Col. P. Ingraham.. 10¢c 104 MonTEezvMA, THE Merciurss, By Ingraham, 10¢ 105 Dan BROWN OF Denver. By Jos, E. Badger., 10c 106 Saamus O’Brien. By Col. Delle Sara Oe (1) 107 Ricnarp TALBOT oF CinnaBAR. By Aiken. .. 10¢ 108 THe DuKe or Diamonps. By Fred.Whittaker. 10¢ 109 Caprary Kyp. By Col. Prentiss graham . 10¢ 110 THe Stvent RivtemMan, By H. W. Herbert . 10¢ 111 THe SwveeLer Caprarn. By Ned Buntline.. 10¢ 112 Joe Prenrx, Private Detective. By Aiken, 10c 113 Tae SeA Sureprr. By Prof. J. H. Ingraham. 10c 114 Tae GENTLEMAN FROM Pike. By P. 8S. Warne 10¢ 115 Tur SevereD Heap, By Capt, F. Whittaker. 10e | 15 116 Buacx Piume, fr «< Devi, or THESEA. By Col. P. Ingraham ds Coll) eta Mateus 106 117 Dasuine Danpy By Major Dangerfield Burr, 10¢ 118 THe BureLaR Jarrain. By J. H. Ingraham. 10¢ 119 ALABAMA Jok. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.... 10¢ 120 THe Texan Spy. By Newton M. Curtis. 10e 121 THE Sea Caper. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 10¢ 122 SaAuL SaBperpay. By Ned Buntline . 10¢e 123 ALAPAHA, THE Squaw, By Francis Johnson, 10¢ 124 ASSOWAUM, THE AVENGER. Francis Johnson, 10¢ 125 Toe BLAcksmira Ourtaw. By H. Ainsworth. Ie 126 Taz Demon Dugwisr. By Col. T, H. Monstery. 10¢ 127 Sot Scorr, THE MAskep Miner, By Badger. 10¢ 128 THe CHEVALIER Corsair. By the author of “‘Merle, the Mutineer,”’ ) ee « ae 129 Mississrppr Mose. By Edward Willett..... 10¢ 130 Capratn Votcano. By Albert W. Aiken.... 10¢ 131 Buckskin Sam. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham.. 10¢ 132 Nemo, KInG or THE TRAMPS, By Capt. Fred, Whittaker.... Wa cates 10¢e 138 Ropy, Tae Rover’ By William Carleton.... 10¢ 134 DarkIg Day, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 10¢ 135 THe Bush Ranoer. By Francis Johnson.... 10¢e 136 The OurLaAw-Hunter, By Francis Johnson, 10¢ 137 Lona Bearp, THE Giant Spy. By Oll Coomes. 10¢ 138 THe BorpDER Banpirs, By Francis Johnson, 10¢ 139 Fire-Eyn, tHE SeA Hyena. By Ingraham 10¢ 140 Tue Tourer Spantarps. By George Walker., 10¢ 141 Equinox Tom. By Joseph FE. Badger, Jr.... 10¢ 142 Caprarn Crimson. By Major Dangerfield Burr 10e 143 Tue Czar’s Spy. By Thos, H. Monstery.... 10¢ 144 Huncwpack or Notre-Dame. Victor Hugo.. 10e 145 Piston Parps. By Wm, R. Eyster... .... We 146 THe Docror Detective. By George Lemuel We 147 Goip Spur. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, .. 10¢ 148 OnE-ARMED ALF. By Oll Coomes 10¢ 149 Tue Borper Riries. By Gustave Aimard.. 10¢ 150 Ex Rupro Bravo, THE Kine cF THE Sworp- MEN. By Col. Thomas woyer Monstery. . 10¢ 151 Tae FrReEBOOTERS, By ustave Aimard.. . 10¢ 152 Caprain TRonNERVE. By Marmaduke Dey ive 153 Tae Wuirre Scatper. By “tustave Aimard. 10¢ 154 JoaQquin, THE Sappie Kina. By J. E, Badger. 10¢ 155 Toe Corsair Quern. By Col. P. Ingraham. 10c 156 Vexver Face, By Major Dangerfield Burr. 10¢ 157 Movurap, tHe Mamewvke. By Col. Thomas Hoyer Monstery .a5't4 Mae A Ate .. 10e 158 THe Doomep Dozen. By Dr. Frank Powell... 10e 159 Rep Rupiger. By Capt. Fred’k Whittaker., 10¢ 160 Sorr Hann, SHarp. y William R, Eyster., 10¢ 161 Taz Wotves or New Yorn. By A.W. Aiken, 10¢ 162 Tak Map Martner. By Col. P. Ingraham.. 10¢ 163 Ben Brion, tHe TRAPPER Capratn; or, Rep- PATH, THE AVENGER. By Dr. J. H. Robinson, 10¢ 164 Tue Kixa’s Foon. By é. D. Ciark ABS eyes (1c: 165 JOAQUIN, THE TERRIBLE. By Jos, FE. Badger. 10c 166 OwLeT, THE RospeR Prince. By Septimus R. Urban SET EC RUA AA tr ae en etal 10¢ 167 The MAN oF Steeu. By A. P. Morris...,.., 10¢ 168 Witp Briw, tHe Piston Deap Suor, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. . CITY Carag aclu Wel ad phate 169 CorpoRAL Cannon. By Col. Monstery.”. ... 10e 170 Sweer Wituum. By Jos, E, Badger, Jr 10¢ 171 Tiaer Dick, THE MAN oF THE IRON HEART, By Philip 8, Warne. . PR ans A (7 172 THe Brack Prrare. By Col. Ingraham.... 10e 173 Cattrornia Jonn, By Albert W. Aiken...... 10e 174 PHanrom KniGuts, Capt. F. Whittaker.. 10¢ 175 Wiip Bitu’s Trump Carp. By Major Burr, 10¢ 176 Lapy Jaguar. By Capt.Mark Wilton.. We 177 Don Drasio. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham... 10¢ 178 DarK DasHwoop. By Major 8. 8S. Hall. 10¢ 179 Conran, THE Convict. Prof: 8. Gildersleeve. 10e 180 OLD ‘49. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.,.. . 10¢ 181 THe ScarLer Scuooner. By Col. Ingraham, 10c 182 Hanps Ur. By Wm. R. Fyster... say AOS: 183 GinpertT, THE Guipg. By C, Dunning Clark. 1e¢ 184 Tor OcEAN VAMPIRE. Col. P. Ingraham, 10¢ 185 MAN Sprper. By A. P. Morris ....... .. .. le 186 Tre Buack Bravo. By Buckskin Sam. 10c 187 THe DeatH’s-Heap Currassiers, Whittaker. Me 188 PHantoM Mazeppa, Major Dangerfield Burr, 10¢ 189 Wiip Brii1’s Gory Tram. _ By P. Ingraban,. 10¢ 190 THe THREE GuarpsMEN. By Alex, Dumas., 10¢ 191 THe Terre LE TonKaway. By Buckskin Sam, 10¢e 192 THe Licutnina Sport, By Wm. R. Byster, 10¢ 193 THe Manin Rep Ry Capt. F. Whittaker. 10¢ 194 Don SompreRo By Captain Mark Wilton . 10¢ 195 The LoneSrar Gameier. By BuckskinSam, 10¢ 196 LA Marmoser. By Albert W. Aiken.,.. .... 10e 197 Revotver Ron. By Joseph EB. Badger, Jr... 10¢ 198 Tar Skeveron Scuooner. By P. Ingraham, 10¢ 199 DrAMoND tise By Buckskin Sam, - We 200 Tue Rirue Ranarrs, By Capt. Mayne Reid. 1e 201 THe PrravTE of THE PLAcERS, by Badger, 10¢ 202 Cactus Jack. By Captain Mark Wilton, 10c 208 Tur Dovste Detective. By A. W. Aiken.. 10e 204 Bra Foor Wauuacr. By Buckskin Sam 10¢ 205 Tun GAMBLER Prrare, By Col. P. Ingraham, 10¢ 206 One Eve. THE CANNONEER. By Whittaker... 10e 207 Otp Hard Heap. By Philip 8. Warne... ... 10e : 208 Tae Wirt Carer. By Capt, Mayne Reid. 10¢ 209 Buck Fariry. By Edward Willett..... -. 10¢ 210 Buccaneer Bess. By Prentiss Ingraham .. 10¢ 211 Tae Unknown Sport By Capt. Whittaker, 10c 22 THe Brazos Tigers. By Buckskin Sam.. . 10c 213 THe ‘AR Tram. By Captain Mayne Reid., 10c¢ 214 Tux Two Coot Sports. By Wm. R. Evster, 10¢ 215 Parson Jmm. By Captain Fred, Whittaker, 1Cs 216 THe Corsarrk PLANTER. By Col. Ingraham, 1 217 Tae Serpenr or Eu Paso By Buckskin Sam. 218 Tar Witp Huntress. By Capt. ines fh Reid. 219 Tue Scorpion Brotrers, By Capt. Wilton. A new issue every Wednesday. Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by all Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of twelve cents each. BEADLE & ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William street, New York, :
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as ae ee ee fh Ae 4 aa =? Mat ae aetadien’ * at oe BY EDWARD L. WITEELER,. Deadwood Dick Novela. 1 Deadwood 20 Deadwood 28 Deadwood 85 Deadwood 42 Deadwood 49 Deadwood 57 Deadwood 78 Deadwood TZ Deadwood 100 Deadwood 104 Deadwood 109 Deadwood 129 Deadwood 188 Deadwood 149 Dendwood 156 Deadwood 195 Deadwood 201 Deadwood 205 Deadwood 217 Deadwood 221 Deadwood 2B2 Gold-Duat 268 Deadwood 268 Deadwood’ 809 Deadwood B21 Deadwood 847 Deadwood 851 Deadwood $62 Deadwood 405 Deadwood 410 Deadwood 421 Deadwood 480 Deadwood 448 Deadwood 448 Deadwood 458 Deadwood 459 Deadwood 465 Deadwood 471 Deadwood 476 Deadwood 451 Deadwood 491 Deadwood 496 Deadwood 500 Deadwooa 508 Deadwood 515 Deadwood 622 Deadwood 529 Veadwooa 534 Deadwood 539 Deadwood 514 Dendwood 549 Deadwooa 554 Deadweod 561 Dendwood 567 Deadwood 572 Deadwood 578 Deadwood 584 Dead wooa 5600 Deadwood 505 Deadwood 600 Deadwood 606 Deadwood 612 Deadwood 618 Deadwood 624 Deadwood 680 Deadwood 686 Deadwood 642 Deadwood 648 Deadwood 654 Deadwood 660 Deadwood 666 Deadwoor 672 Deadwood 678 Deadwood 684 Deadwood 690 Deadwood 695 Deadwood 700 Deadwood 704 Deadwood 710 Deadwood 716 Deadwood 722 Deadwood 728 Dendwood 74 Deadwood 740 Deadwood TAT Deadwood 752 Deadwood THX Deadwood T64 Deadwood 770 Deadwood 776 Deadwood 732 Deadwood TST Dendwood T9Z Deadwood THT Deadwood 802 Deadwood SOT Deadwood 812 Deadwood 816 Deadwood 822 Deadwood S828 Dendwood 884 Deadwood 840 Deadwood 845 Deadwood 852 Deadwood 858 Deadwood 868 Deadwood ST0 Deadwood 876 Deadwood SS2 Deadwood S9L Deadwood S98 Deadwood 904 Deadwood 910 Deadwood 916 Deadwood 1 Dick, Jr., Dick, the Prnce of the Road. Dick’s Deflance; or, Double Daggers. Dick in Disguise; or, Buffalo Ben Dick In His Onatle. Dick’s Bonanzay or, The Phantom Miner. Dick In Danger; or, Omana Oll. Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. Dick on Deck; or. Calamity 2 ine, the Heroine nent hme ant or, Corduroy Charlie. ekin Leadville, te ae Des lee; on The Double Cross Sign. ck as Detective. Dick’s Double; or, The Gorgon’s Guich Ghost. Dick’s Home Base; or, Blonde Bill. Dick’s Big Strike; or, A Game of Gold, Dick of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party, Dick’s Dreams or, The Rivals of the Road, Dick’s Wards or, The Black Hill’s Jezebel. Dien oom Ras ne aad Jane’s Adventure, ckh’s Dea cal, Dick’s Death-Plant, Dick, A Romance of Roughs and Toughs, picks eee a Spirit of Swamp Lake. ck’s Death Trail, Dick’s Deals; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. Wiek’s Dozens or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats Dick’s Ducatas; or, Days In the Diggings, ier Mentoncsds or, The Terrible Vendetta. ek’s Claim, Dick In Dead City, Dick’s Diamonds, Dick in New York} or, A “ Cute Case,”’ Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand. Dick, Jr.; or, The Crimson Crescent Sign, Dick, Jr.’a, Deflance, Dick, Jr.’s Full Hand, Dick, Jr.’a, Big Round-Up. Dick, Jr.’*. Racket at Claim 10, Dick, Jr.’a, Corral; or, Bozeman Bill. Dick, Jr.’a, Dog Detective. Dick, Jr., in Deadwood. vay Jr's, Compact. i Be 1 a thy . . Dick, OP. De verance. Bick: $roe, anewseee . ° , ll Dick, Jr.’a, Danger Ducka, Dick, Jr.’ Death Hunt, Dick, drs, in Texans. Dick, Jr., the Wild Weat Vidocog Ihnek, Jr., on Mia Mettle. Dick, Jr., In Gotham, Dick, Jr., In Boston, Dick, Jr., in Philadetphia. Bice $e: Keene . ov be Dick. Jr.. in Denver. Dick, Jr.'s, Decree. Dick Jr., in Beelzebub’s Basin. Dick, Jr., at Coney Island. Dick, Jr.’«, Leadville Lay. Dick, Jr., in Detrolt. Dick, dr., in Cincinnatl. Dick, Jr., in Nevada. Dick, Jr., In No Man’s Land, Dick, Jr., After the Queer, Dick Jr.. In Buffalo. Dick, Jr.’a, Chase Acrosathe Continent Dick, Jr.. Among the Smugglers. Diek, Jr.’a, Inaurance Case. Rack In the Mines. Dick, Jr., tn Durango; or, Gathered In.” Dick, Jr.’a, Discovery; or, Found a Fortune, Dick, Jr.'s. Dazzle. Dick, Jr.’«. Dollars. Lt gry ot Wanner Divide, ck, Jr.’s, Drop. Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot, Dick dr. in San Franclaeco, Dick, Jr.'s, Still Hunt, Dick, Jr.’s, Dominoes. Dick, Jr.’s, Disgulae, Dick. Jr.’a, Honble Deal, Dick, Jr.’s, Deathwatch, Dick, Jr.’s, Doublet. Dick, dr.’s, Deathblow. Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Stralt, Dick, Jr.%, Lone Hand, Dick, Jr,.’#, Defent. Dick, Jr.’a Resurrection, Dick, Jr.’s, Dark Days. Dick Jr.» Defied. Dick, Jr.’«, Double Device. Dick, Jr’.#, Desperate Venture, Dick, Jr.’s, Diamond Dice, Dick, dra, Royal Flush, Dick, Jr.’a, Head-off, pak * r.7My nivale Dick, Jr.'s, Scoop. Dick, Jr.'s, Proxy. Dick, Jr’s, Clutch. Dick, Jr.’«, High Horse. Dick Jr., at Devil's Gulch. Dick, Jr.’s, Neath-Hole Hustle.) Dick, Jr.’s Rombshell. Dick, Jr., In Mexico. Dick, Jr’s, Decoy Duck. Dick, Jr., in Silver Pocket. Dick, Jr.'s, Dead-Sure Game, 1 Dick, Jr4, Double Drive. Dick, Jr’, Trade-Mark. Dick, Jrey at Tip ke Dick, Jr.’« Double-Decker. BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS, B89 Tom-Ont and Pardy; or, The Dead Set at Silver City. 622 Tom-OCat’a Triad; or, The Affair at Tombstone, 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Task; or, The Cowboy Detective. 6 Tom-Oat's Triumph; or, Black Dan's Great Combine. 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock; or, Josh’s Ten Strike 568 The Dandy of Dodge; or, Rustling for Millions, &76 The Silver Sport; or, Josh Peppermint’s Jubilee, 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow 601 apps Mansa, the Dutch Vidocg; or, Hot Timesat Round-Up ae 611 Bild 657 Warbling 665 Barnacle, the Detective Hercules, 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range * Detective. Wiilltam. the Mountain Mountebank. Jolly Jeremiahy the Plains Detective. 676 Stenal Sam, the Lookout Scout. 689 Billy, the Gypsy Spy: or, The Mystery of Two Lives, 699. &tnple Sim, the Rroncho Buster, or, For Big Stakes. 712 The Weamertat Sport; or, The, Mystified Detective, 7838 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector. 745 Kanags Jim, the Crosa-Cut Detective. 761 Marmaduke, the Mostanger Detective. 778 The Ruatler_of Rolling Stone, 785 Lone Hand Joe, the Committee of One. 801 Kent Kirby, the High-Kicker from Killbuck, 882 The igcter Deteetive In Texas. 872 Two Showmen Detectives in Colorado. - a BEADLE’S+H ALF- DIME* | JBRARY. + Tuesday. Hach Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by all Newsdealers., Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 80 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Rosebud Rob on Hand; or, Idy!, the Girl Miner. 88 Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance; or, Photograph Phil. 121 Rosebud Rob’s Challenge; or, Cionamon Chip. 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen; or, The Yankee's Surround 281 Denver Doll’s Victory; or, Skul! and Crossbones, 255 Denver Doll’s Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonansa. 296 Denver Doll’s Drift; or, The Road Queen. 86% Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherer; or, The Life Lottery, 872 Yreka dim’s Prize; or, The Wolves of Wake-Up, 885 Yreka Jim's Toners or, The Rivals of Red Nose. 889 Yreka Jim’s New Role; or, Bicycle Ben. 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective; or, Dot Leetle Game, 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter 244 Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret; ov, A Sister’s Devotion, 248 Sierra Sams Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sierra Sawm’s Pardy or, The Angel ot Big Vista. 258 Slerra Sam's Sevens or, The Stolen Bride. $84 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner, €89 Kangaroo Kit’ Rackets or, The Pride of Played-Out, 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York. 69 The Boy Detective; or, Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter, 96 Watch-Eye, the Detective; or, Arabs and Angels. 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the jh Detective 145 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. 161 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 226 The Arab Detective ¢ or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp. 201 Turk the Boy Ferret. $25 Kelley, Mickey & Co,, the Detectives of Philadelphia, 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Detective. 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Hat Marry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam Slabsaides, the Beggar-Boy Detective, 484 Jim Benak and Pal, Private Detectives. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon: or, The Border Vultures. B2 Bob Woolf’; or, The Girl Dead-Shot. 45 Old Avalanche} or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand. 58 Jim Bludsoe, Ir., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team. 92 Canada Chet; or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp, 118 Jack Hoyle the Young Speculator. 125 Bonanza Bill, Miner; or, Madam Mystery, the Forger. 188 Hose Bob the King of Bootblacks, 141 Solid Sam, the Boy Rond-Agent; or, The Branded Browe. 177 Nobby Nick of Nevaday or, The Sierras Scamps. 181 Wild Frank the Buckskin Bravo; or, Lady Lily’s Love. 286 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado; or, Rowdy Kate. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator; or, The Locked Valley, 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs, 299 A No, 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. 808 ’Liza Jane, the Girl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. B80 Little Quick-Shot; or, The Dead Face of Daggersville. 858 Firat-Clasa Fred, the Gent from Gopher. 878 Nabob Neds or, Phe Secret of Slab City. 8BSZ Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher; or, A Son's Vengeance. 486 Seulakin Sam, the Sparkler, or The Tribunal of Ten. 918 Kit Keith, t ¢ Revenue Spotter. BY J. ©. COWDRIOK, 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo, 614 Broadway Billy’« Boodle; or, Clearing a Strange Case, 586 Broadway Billy’« ‘Ditikilty.” 5657 Broadway es Peath Racket. 579 Brondway Billy’s Surprise Party. 605 Broadway Billy; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. 628 Broadway Billy’s Dead Act: or, The League of Seven. 669 Broadway Billy Abroad; or, The Bootblack in Frisco. 675 Broadway Billy’« Best; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest. 687 Broadway Billy tw Clover. 696 Broadway Billy tn Texas; or, The River Rustler, 708 Broadway Billy’s Brand. 711 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe; or, The Clever Deal, 720 Broadway Billy’a }'nll Hand; or, The Gamin Detective, 785 Brondway Billyja Business. 788 Broadway Billy’s Curious Casc. 758 Broadway Billy in Denver. $ 762 Broadway BUTy’s Bargain; or, The Three Detective, 769 Broadway Billy, the Retriever Detective. 775 Brondway Billy’s Shadow Chase. 788 Broadway Billy’s Beagles; or, The Trio’s Quest. 786 Broadway Billy’ Team; or, The Combine’s Big Pall. 790 Broadway Billy’s Brigade; or, The Dead Alive. 796 Broadway Billy’a Queer Bequest, 800 Broadway Billy Baffled. & Broadway Billy’s Signal Scoop. 810 Broadway Rilly’s Wipe Out. 815 Broadway Billy’s Bank Racket. 821 Broadway Billy’s Bluff. 826 Broadway Billy Among Jeracy Thugs. S88 Broadway Billy’« Rald. 889 Broadway Billy’s Big Boom. 844 Broadway RBilly’s Big Bulge. 849 Broadway Billy’s #100,000 Snap. 856 Broadway Billy’s Blind: or, The Bootblack Stowaway. $62 Broadway Billy tn London, 868 Broadway Billy Shadows London Sluma. : S74 Broadway Billy’# French Game. S80 Broadway Billy and the Bomb-Throwers. 918 The Trump Dock-Boy. 912 Train Boy Trist’« Hot Hustle, 906 Safety Sam, the Cyele Sport. 900 Jumping Jack's Jubilee. SST Battery Bob, the Dock Detective. 860 silver-Mask, the Man of Myatery; or, The Golden Keys. 869 Shasta, the Gold King or, For Seven Years Dead. 420 The Detective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without a Name, 424 Cibuta Jonny or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar, 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 506 Redlight Ralph. the Prince of the Road. 524 The Engineer Detective; or, Redlight Ralph’s Resolve 648 Mart, the Night Express Detective, 671 Alir-Line Luke the Young Engineer; or, The Double Case 592 The Boy Pinkerton; or, Running the Rascals Out. 615 Fighting Harry the Chief of Chained Cyclone, 640 Bareback Beth, the Centaur of the Circle, 647 Tynewrlter Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward. 659 Moonlight Morgan the *f Pizenest ”’ Man of Ante Bas. 894 Arizona Dick’s Wipe-Out. BY WILLIAM R. EYSTER. 190 Dandy Darke; or. The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Franky or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pards 818 The Hustler Rogue-Catcher, 888 Poker Pete’s Double Dodge, 851 The Tie-T'o Sport; or, High Hustling at Sinners’ Flat. S88 Monte Saul, the Sport. 901 Diamond Pave, the Gilt-Edge Shooter, 919 Crack-Shot Daisy’s Drop, BY HAROLD PAYNE. 848 Dan, the River Sport; or, Foiling the Frisco Sharp. 892 Bowery Ben in Chinatown. _911 Bowery Bob, the East-side Detective, BY BUFFALO BILL (ion. Wm, F. Cody). \ 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prafria. 55 Deadly-Eye. the Caknown Sccut, or, The Banded Brotherhood 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust. BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 914 New York Nat's Three of a Kind. 908 New York Nat’s Double. 902 New York Nat’s in Colorado. 896 New York Nat In Gold Nugget Camp. SS8SY New York Nat’s Deadly Deal, ‘ 888 New York Nat’s Crook-Chase, S77 New York Nat’s Trump Card. STL New York Nat and the Grave Ghouls. 865 New York Nat’s Masked Mascot. 859 New York Nat, the Gamin Detective. 858 Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out. S47 Dick Doow’s Ten Strike. 2 Dick Doom’s Flush Hand. 2 Dick Doom’s Death-Grip; or, The Detective by Destiny. 7 Dick Doom’s Destiny; or, The River Blackleg’s Terror, 1 Dick Doom; or, The Sharps and Sharks of New York, & Dick Doom In BRoaton; or, A Man of Many Maske. 98 Dick Doom tn Chicago. 798 Dick Doom in the Wild West. 808 Dick Doom’s Clean Sweep; or, Five Links ‘in a Clue. 808 Dick Doom’s Death Clue. S18 Dick Doom’s Diamond Deal. S19 Dick Do « Girl Mascot. 829 Dick Doom’sa Shadow Hunt. 885 Dick Doom’s Big Haul. TAY Dashing Charlie; or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s Firat Trai. 756 Dashing Charlle’s Destiny: or, The Renegade’s Captive. 760 Dashing Charlie’s Pawnee Pard,. 766 Dashing Charlie, the Rescuer, 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 787 Buck Taylor, the Comanche’s Captive. 748 Buck Taylor’s« Boys; or, The Red Riders ot the Rio Grande, 560 Pawnee BI, the Prairie Shadower. 718 Pawnee Bill; or; Carl, the Mad Cowboy. 719 Pawnee BPs Pledges or, The Cowboy's Doom. 725 Pawnee Bills or, Daring Dick. 692 Redfern’s Curtous Caset o, The Rival Sharps, 697 Kedtern at Devil’s Ranch or, The Sharp from Texas. 702 Redfern’s High Wand; or, Blue Jacket. 707 Redfern’s Last Trail; or, The Red Sombrero Rangers. 668 Red Ralph’s Ruse; or, The Buccaneer Midshipman, 674 Red Ralph's Bold Game; or, The Wizard Sailor, 679 Red Ralph, the Shadower; or, The Freebooter’s Legacy. 644 Butterfly Billy’s Disguise. . 650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Express Rider. 656 Butterfly Biliy’s Man Hunt. 662 Lutterfly Billy’s Bonanza. 565 Kent Kingdon; or, The Owle of the Overland. 570 Kent Kingdon’s Shadower} or, the Card Queen, 5675 Kent Kingdon’s Duels or, The Surgeon Scout. 586 Kent Kingdon’s Doom; ¢r, The Buckskin Avenger, 5645 Lafitte Kun Downy; or, The Buccaneers of Barrataria, 550 Lafitte’s Legacy; or. The Avenging Bon. 555 Lalfitte’s Confession; or, The Creole Coranir, And Fifty Others. BY JO PIERCE, 897 Bob o’ the Bowery ¢ or, The Prince of Mulberry Street, 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom, 452 Hotapur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow; or Luke’s Legacy. 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective. 04 Five Pointa Phil, the Pavement Prince. 09 Jack Jaggers, the Butcher Boy Detective, 616 Tartar Tims} or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerte. 526 North River Naty, the Pier Detective, B88 Wreatling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward. 5641 Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective. — 651 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow; or, The Old Well Mystery. 659 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. 5669 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, 577 Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter, 588 Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector. G08 Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer. 614 Whistling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid. 628 Buck Bumblebee, the Harlem Hummer. 689 Sunrise Saul, the Express-Train Ferret. OP es 649 Gamin Bob, the Bowery Badger; or, Scooping a Slippery Set, 658 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. 688 Raltpeter Sol, the New York Navigator. 694 Spicy Jim, the Only One of Hie Kind, 706 Tom Thistle, the Rond-House Detective, | T17 Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. 726 Dennis Duff the Brown Sport’s Kid. 744 Dick of the Docks, the Night-W atch. 765 Filpper Flynn, the Street Patro}. Ms 271 Foxy Fred's Odd Pardy; or, The Keener’s Huge Hostle, TRL Cast-Off Cale, the Scapegoat Detective, 824 BRowery Billy, the Bunco Bouncer, S8T The Big Four of the Bowery. 846 Buck, the New York Sharper. 850 The Grand Street Arab, 855 The West Broadway Gamin. 860 The Boat-Club Mascots or, Dan Decker’s Double Deal 864 The Union Square Baxeage Boy. S78 The Street Arab’s Blind. S86 The Five Points Lodging Mouse Janitor. 890 Ace High, the Trump Card Detective. S95 Fifth Avenue Fred, the Valet Detective, 899 Basement Bert, the Boy Cobbler Detective. 908 Billy Blue-Blazes, the Dodger ofthe Docks. 907 Reddy Rusher, Bell- Boy _4-11-44. 915 Flip Flasher, Ferret, of | East Broadway. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 920 New York Nat Trapped; or, The Texan Tenderfoot Crook-Tracker. By Col. P, Ingraham 921 The Boy from Denver; or, Fighting the Toughs of Dead- set, By T.C, Harbangh, 922 Sol Sharpe, Detective; or, Hayseed Ramsey’s Double Find, By Edward L. Wheeier, 928 Gold-Dust Dan's Snap-Shot; or, The Deadwood Specu~ lator’a Blind, By John W. Osbon, 924 Big Boots Bob, the Fire-Laddile; or, The Dandy De- tective’a Double-up. By J. C, Cowarick. 925 The Young Cowboy Captain; or, Rounding-up the Greasers, By T. J. Flanagan. 926 New York Nat and the Traitor Ferret; or, The Girl Mascot’s Best Score. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. 927 Kid Bandy’s Brigade in Arizona; or. Biack Vulcan’ Redwood Terrors, By Ol! Coomes. 928 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Dollarville3 or, The Irish-- mau’s Sweepstakes. By E. L. Wheeler. $29 Buffalo Bs Crack-shot Pard; or, The Tenderfoot Im the Wild West. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 980 Kuatler Ralph, the Boy Spotter; or, Jigger’s Grand Bulge. Ly J.C. Cowdrick. 981 The Sport in Velvets or, Billy Bird’s Big Boom. By Win. R. Eyster. 982 New York Nat’s Drop. By Col. P, Ingraham. 988 The Two Midshipmen; or, The Corsair-Chaser’s Firat. Cruise. By T. J. Flanagan. A New laaue Every Tuesday- The Malf-Dime Library is for sale by all newsdeslers, five: cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York, =