Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 486) (1886 11 16)
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SIXTE EDITION. Sh i op jo oy DZD Z tye ZZ ZZ Z “ny mm —— TT is 3 ; p 4 i] \\ TEL UT UIQ ih : ON cA - ORR Go Sas ‘ \ ZW X98 STi k fe i al at ot ta ft a Bix Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Mail Rates. _ Copyright, 1886, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, Price, Vol, XTX. a Year. No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents. No. 486. | THE TRIBUNAL of TEN A TALE OF THE MINES. BY ED. L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF ‘' DEADWOOD DICK ” NOVELS, ‘‘ ROSK- BUB ROB” NOVELS, ETC., ETC, CHAPTER I. AT CRYSTAL LAKE, ‘“ Huse! not another word! They come at last!” It was a cracked, wheezy sort of voice that uttered the words, in a low, cautious tone; two human heads disappeared immediately behind — WT, |\f the clump of low-growing bushes, which afford- Diet’ SS 2S {== ed concealment for the owners thereof. Tt was a beautiful moonlit night, in the latter part of August, upon a rolling stretch of prairie WITH A GASP BOLLIVAR BULLWHACK STAGGERED BACK AND LOSING HIS EQUILIBRIUM, VELL TO THE FLOOR, UPSETTING A TABLE AND SEVERAL CHAIRG
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—_ twenty Helen’s foot-hills, Washington Territory, and in the immediate vicinity of a small sheet of water known as Crystal Lake. The moon soared high in the starry dome of the heavens, and sent down a flood of mellow light upon the picturesque landscape, and made objects discernible at a great distance. A strong but invigorating breeze swept down from the northwest, and fanned the verdure of the prairie ocean into a vista of rippling billows, bringing upon its wings an exquisite odor of mountain flowers and foliage, which tended to lull the senses into repose, A hundred yards away Jay the silvery sheet of crystal-like water, sparkling beautifully in the moonlight, Across this lakelet, nearly opposite the place | where the two heads had disappeared, was a large modern residence, situated near the water’s edge, from the chimney of which a column of smoke could be seen curling upward, so clear and pure was the atmosphere. Crossing the lakelet, from in the direction of the mansion, came a small row-boat containing two persons—a man and a woman, The woman was rowing, while the man sat facing her, smoking a cigar, and conversing be- tween ocgasional puffs at the weed. As they neared the northwestern shore, the pearance ofthe twain became more notice- ble, from the fact that both were young and andsome, ~ The fair one who skillfully manipulated the oars was not more than seventeen years of age, and was formed in nature’s happiest mold. She was attired in a neat-fitting costume, and wore a bunch of flowers at her throat, Wer well-poised head was innocent of cover- a ‘a h ing, except fora wealth: of sunny hair which | fell in ripples to her waist; her face was decided- | ly pretty—not a face that an artist would go in 1 Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. = * ‘ * miles to the southeast of Mowtnt St. | the oars to trail in the water, causing the boat | tolisten: You shall be mine, whether you will to move more slowly. - ‘You do understand! You know full well that you are not Bartley Bryant’s daughter, and that he was never married. You also know that he has hopes of leaving this vicinity soon, and when he goes he hopes to take you with him as his bride. Whether he knows of your parent- age or not I am not prepared to say, but I know that a cloud obscures the brightness of your life —you have a secret, and are struggling hard to keep it. Stop! Do not interrupt me. I know even more. [ know that when Bartley Bryant came to this country last winter he found you perishing upon the prairies with a babe in your arms. You he took to his new home, and it’was | mutually agreed that you should be known as his own daughter. But what became of your child?” Her face was averted. It was white. It was rigid, as if frozen in its expression of despair, Her dusky eyes had a wild, appealing look, the interpretation of which was exquisite agony of heart and soul. ‘“What became of your child? Liéutenant Lee repeated, malice unmistakable in his tone, ‘Tt died!” she replied. ‘It was dead when I was found. Would to God I had been dead, too! - Her words, tremblingly uttered, seemed to in- dicate that she would have felt a relief in tears, but a came not. The same stony look of agony clung to her face. He gazed at her pityingly for a moment; then his expression hardened. . ‘**- You have been deceived,” he said, his gaze wandering to the shore, against which the boat was by this time rubbing. ‘‘I had a better opinion of Bartley Bryant than that. Sadie, tell me the story of your past life, won’t you, please?” She shuddered, as if a frightful vision had ecstasies over, but with that indefinable some- | arisen before her. thing in features and expression which always interests, then captivates. The man who sat facing this fair pilot was of good figure, and evidently about twenty-five years of age. His face was that of a haughty, self-willed person, yet there Were softening lines about the eyes and mouth, which gave him something of a dignified and noble appear- ance, He wore a mustache and goatee, and his hair was cropped close to his head, His attire consisted of knee-boots, corduroy pants and jacket, and white flannel shirt, thrown open at the throat. Around silk cap, with tas- sel, sat upon his well-shaped head; a dark-blue cloak was thrown over one shoulder, and a belt at his waist contained a single revolver of the Smith & Wesson pattern, and a hunting-knife, That the two were not on the best of terms was evident from the scowl upon the young man’s face, as the boat glided near the shore. “You will regret it, Sadie!” he said bitterly. “You will be sorry in time, that you refused my offer.” ; ‘*T think not, Mr. Lee,” the girl responded, as she dipped the waters but lightly with her oars. ‘“‘T have never thought of such a thing as mar- rying you, although you have persisted in your ‘attentions. During your stay at father’s ranch T have endeavored to treat you with respect, but, as for becoming your wife, it is out of the question.” ‘‘T am not so sure of that,” he answered dog- gedly. ‘Do you know, I have made up my _— to possess you, whether you consent or not ‘Indeed, sir, you talk very strangely,” and a shade of pallor came upon the girl’s face. “Ifa lady refuses a gentleman, that surely ought to end the matter.” “But it does not always. When an honor-, able man makes a nameless young woman an offer of marriage, the young woman should have the good sense to accept without demur, Do you not really think so?” ‘Most assuredly I do not! Because a man comes of a good family, and holds a lieutensnt’s sition in the army, I fail to see that it signi- es a girl should throw herself away upon him. Besides, Mr. Lee, I do not understand what you mean by your reference to a ‘nameless young woman.’ You cannot mean the slur.for me without your intent is meant to be ee ‘**T do mean it for you!” bending toward her with flashing eyes, ‘‘and it is not insulting you at that. Can;you conscientiously refer to your parentage without a feeling of mortification?” A rift of color swept over her face, to be im- mediately succeeded by a shade of pallor, which . told how deeply his words had affected her. ‘‘T do not understand!” she faltered, allowing ‘* No, no!” she ga . “T cannot do that— f that!” | never ask me to do ‘Why not?” ‘* Because—I could not explain to you, nor to any one.” “You shall explain, however—I swear to that! I love you, Sadie, and [ am determined you Shall be mine. Once I make a resolution, I never rest until it has been fulfilled. I know two things which, no doubt, will surprise you. Firstly, you are married to a man whom you loathe, and you think you love another man— let me see; his name is Walter Bent, is it not?” She gave him a withering look, which made him feel ill at ease, ‘ ‘*T understand!” she said. ‘‘ You are even less a gentleman than I thought you were. You have been guilty of intercepting my letters.” — “To be truthful I have, in a couple of in- stances. My infatuation for you had become so great, that I was bound to learn whom you did really love, and what of your past life I could. Pray forgive, for my intentions toward you are of the most honorable character. Pro- cure a divorce from this other man, whoever he may be, go with me as my loving wife, and—I will restore to you your child.” She started, turned whiter, and gazed at him sus ey. ; ** Sir! what do you mean?” she cried, reproach- fully. ‘‘My baby—my sweet, innocent child is dead!” , vi ‘*'You are wrong. The child is alive and well —I can vouch for that; and you can thank me for the knowledge, as Bartley Bryant would never have told you,” are! “*T tell yout am not! Marry me—now—to- night—and ere the sun. has twice arisen above yonder moonlit horizon, you shall see your child!” !, Icannot do that! I cannot marry you!” ‘ “You can—you must !” he cried, positively, as he arose toa standing position in the boat, - “*Child or no child, you shall marry me, and this very night!” “*T will not—never!” , an She, too, arose, drawing her figure up to its fullest hight, while her face and eyes showed an expression of desperation. ‘You refuse to marry nie, then?” Lee said, a tone of triumph now in his voice and de- Ta teres Lect Vibe that I believe : Yes, Larry illain that jieve you to be, I would die a hundred deaths rather thazk marry you, or any other man except the one who to me is all in all on earth!” she cried, pas- sion tely. “> ; ' ‘“‘Then, if you are so positive, let me ask you fe Oh, sir! you are deceiving me. I know you >) , majestically. or no, and your own acknowledged confession of love for this other man—this Walter Bent—has set the seal of doom upon him, Come, you must go with me. Boys, allready!” He leaped toward her, and caught her in his strong embrace. In a moment he was ashore. Two rough-looking fellows sprung from the clump of bushes, near at hand, and with cords securely bound the struggling girl, and then gag- ged her to stifle her cries. A whistle brought a third ruffian from a neighboring arroyo, with four saddle-borses, In a few minutes the party were mounted, and galloping away toward the mountains, Lieuten- ant Lee bearing his fair captive in his arms, while he occasionally looked anxiously back, as if fearing pursuit. / But none was given, CHAPTER II. AN INCIDENT AT THE ‘* CREMONIA.” ** BOLLIVAR BULLWHACK, gentlemen.” The speaker was over six feet in his rough top- boots, and judging from the extraordinary breadth of shoulder and chest, and massiveness of limb, must have weighed fully two hundred and fifty or sixty pounds, His, too, was an iron frame, that of a Hercules, whom any ordinary man would hesitate to face in a sanguinary battle of strength. His face, broad and massive, its aspect was villainons; features and expression bore. the impress of a coarse nature and of debased pas- sions, The mouth was large and sensual; the nose was flattened, and bore a seed-wart upon its end; the eyes were small, dark, and possessed of a cunning gleam that but added to the owner’s repelling appearance. From eyes to throat the face was covered with a stubble of jetty beard two weeks’ growth; the hair was of the purest fiaxen hue, and stood in all directions over the unusually large cranium. Hat be wore none, and his garments were of bark-tanned and greasy buckskin; the belt at his waist was well supplied with weapons. With a flourish intended to create an impres- sien, he had burst into the ‘‘ Cremonia gambling and drinking parlor,” at Hunki-Dori mining- camp, and stood gazing majestically around him, as if his arrival was a matter of special importance and honor to the habitues of the ce, The Cremonia was not the only establishment of its kind in the flourishing young city of Hunki-Dori, but it was by far the most popular and pretentious, catering as a general thing to the better class of the inhabitants, and of the we 43 floating population. It was a large two-story sbanty. The first floor, the parlor before mentioned, was fitted up in a style of splendor rarely found in places of its class in the far Northwest. — A finely-arranged bar occupied a space near the street; entrance; card-tables of mahogany, and chairs to match, were scattered about the room. Half a dozen girls flitted about. engaged in serving beverages to the thirsty pilgrims who sat at the tables, making an attractive feature tu the scene, attired as they were in pink dresses, white aprons and caps, At the further end of the room, upon a slightly elevated platform, was a private box, or open office, occupied by a woman, to whom all cash for drinks or cigars was borne by the waiters, Such was the Cremonia, as seen by Bollivar Bullwhack, The room was well filled by miner sports, and here and there a traveler who had dropped in to “‘see the elephant.” ——~ , Two smooth-faced, blonde young men, in spotless white duck, presided behind the bar, and all in all, the Cremonia was by far the most ~ west. ; “ Bollivar Bullwhack, gentlemen!” _ The words of the giant were heard in every part of the room, and caused more than a few of those present to pause and take a look at this new Self-introduced customer, wh uy This notice seemed to please the giant, for he advanced among the tables with a grin of ap- Si probation. Ds “Yas! Bollivar Bullwhack am I, me gentle zephyrs!” he repeated, waving one buge fist j “Ther riotous, ring-nosed ram- page from Kalamazam—the duser rry from Devil’s Delight. Out upon a reg’lar _ fu'st-class hurrah am I, an’ ther’s music in the> air, you bet! Let mesee! Let mp'poak ler! Outs — pita is i ; i elegant place of resort anywhere in the Nor’- — A. dynamic dusen-
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vof whose nose shall I tweak the first inspiratin’ anthem uy harmony?” His gaze swept over the sea of faces rapidly, as if he was searching for some particular per- son on whom to swoop down. He had not settled the matter fully in his mind however, when he felt a tap upon his shoulder, and wheeled about to find himself confronted by one of the suave bartenders. ‘You will oblige the proprietress, sir, by making a little less noise,” the mixer of drinks said politely. ‘‘ Wedo notallow any disturbance here that may annoy our patrons.” “* Oh! we don't, eh?” The giant stared at the man a moment, as if amazed—then burst into a coarse, barking sort of a laugh. “Waal! waall waal!” he snorted. ‘‘ Ef you cain’t a purty plum, [ll cry pea-knuckle! See hyer, my daisy, who sent ye heer ter breathe thet astonishin’ piece 0’ news into my ear? Who sent ye, { say” ‘* We receive our orders from the proprietress to preserve order, sir. If you know when you are well off you will keep quiet.” “Thunderation! Did mortal pestiverous galoot evyer heer the likes? Me keep quiet? Whoopee! nix cum a rous, Mary Jane! I’m a ssnorter, I am—a reg’lar b’ilin’ blood poodin’ frum Podunk. Me keep still—me, Bollivar Bull- whack? Nary time! Aire ye sure, younker, thet none of these galoots around hyer didn’t sic -ye on—aire ye sure, I say?” ‘7 am sure, sir.” ‘It is well. Did ary galoot offer to insinni- wate that my voice was ter be restrained from bein’ heerd, a deluge o’ blud would sweep away every cussed shanty in Hunki-Dori Gulch. Be- gone, my baby, an’ set up the swill fer every fu'st-class hog in the stye, fer Bollivar Bull- whack aire a screamer, an’ every one drinks at his expense. Arise, ye thirsty Bedouins, an’ put ‘yer suspenders to the bar, It’s Bullwhack as aire treatin’—Bollivar Bullwhack, the bumstif- ferous bouncer, an’ he who refuseth to slobber, he’s got ter fight, you bet—f-i-g-h-t, fight!” And, turning to the bar, the ‘‘holy terror” ‘slapped down a gold piece of large denomina- tion. Nothing more was wanted by the majority of the habitues of the Cremonia. If Mr, Bull- whack had “‘the tin” to pay for the beverage, it surely was becoming in them to have the grace to drink with him, and they forthwith ranged themselves along the bar. i But a few failed todo so, and these were most- ly strangers in the town, and the waiter-girls of the place. “Come along up hyer, gals! You’ve got ter ‘smile wi’ yer uncle!” the giant cried, seizing one ofthem by the arm. ‘‘Nomulishness’ bout this hyer funeral!” «Oh, sir, please let me go!” cried the terrified girl. ‘I do not drink, sir—really you must ex- ‘cuse me, sir!” ‘Ho! ho! ho! not much, me yaller-spangled ‘canary! You've got ter sip mountain-dew with the beautiful bouncer 0’ Brimstone, an’ ’tain’t no 'arthly use 0’ yer sayin’ nay. Here ye go!” And with a dextrous move, the giant seized the girl and sat her upon his left arm, while he stepped to the bar to procure his drink. e had not time to raise it to his lips, how- ever, when he was seized by one ear and wheel- ed abruptly around! “Put that young lady on the floor, sir!” a stern, authoritative voice comman‘ed, and Bull- whack found confronting him a man of most ex- traordinary appearance. He stood five feet ten in his boots, and was well formed in every part. His face was a strikingly clear-cut and handsome one, with a full, pleasant mouth, shaded by a brown mus- tache, waxed straight out from the lip; piercing hazel eyes, and dark-brown hair that waved back from his forehead to helow the shoulders, A round sealskin cap surmounted his head, anda sealskin ulster of the choicest fur reached below his boot-tops, concealing the character of his undergarments. : His hands were small and shapely, and gloved with a faultless nicety in brown kid, and in his right hand he sported a formidable ebony or lignum-vitee walking-stick, headed with a huge nugget of solid gold. Of a decidedly sportive appearance, he was at the same time a person apt to command respect from the mien, and admiration from the ladies, His stern gaze was leveled unflinchingly upon the giant, as\he uttered the command, and it was plain that he was in thorough earnest, ‘“‘ Place that young lady upon her feét, I say!” ‘he cried, a second time, as Bullwhack glared at Aim in savage amazement, . > ne ee ae ee ee Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. 3 ‘*Humph!.who yer torkin’ to?’ the ruffian growled, fiercely. ‘* Made a little mistake in yer man, hain’t ye?” ‘Not a bit of it! Once more I tell you to place the young lady on the floor!” Dangerous was the light now entering the sport’s eyes, and the giant was not slow to take note of it. ‘*S’posin’ I refuse?” he leered, his face becom- ing uglier in expression. ‘‘S’posin’ I do jest as please, erbout the matter—what then, me ace friend?” ““Then, I shall persuade you to obey!” the sport replied, ‘‘and shall not wait more than a couple of seconds more, neither.” “Waal, sence ye aire achin’ fer a fu’st-class scrimmage, jest let me apprise yer royal nibs thet I’m open fer engagement!” and, with the words, he placed the alarmed and mortified waiter-girl upon the floor. ‘I want yer ter know, me noble purp, thet I’m a-howlin’ blood- aor Dilin’-hot, and my name is Bollivar 3ullwhack, a biter, a bouncer, an’ a death’s head, all combined inter one!” ‘* It matters not tome if you are the President of the United States, or a dozen Austrian armies, or a twenty-horse power Jesse James!” the sport replied, with composure; *‘ you are a big, overgrown, ranting ruffian, and if ever again I catch you in the act of insulting a wo- man, I'll make you regret the act.” “Oho! oho! what kinder dictionary talk d’ ye call that?) Mebbe ye better git right onter yer muscle, now! Ye cussed low-lived whiffet, ye hev hed the honor uv insultin’ one o’ ther viggest guns o’ modern times. I hain’t goin’ ter palaver wi’ ye much—I’m a red-hot ran- tankerous epidemic, a’ teetotal annihilation, am I, an’ ’'m bizness frum spurs cl’ar up ter teeth, So will ye be kind ernuff ter tell us who ye aire, an’ where ye cum from, so thet we kin hev yer epertaff scratched upon yer tombstone, wi’ a rusty toothpick?” And et his arms akimbo, the giant squatted, and leered defiantly at his newly-ac- quired enemy. The sealskin sport brushed unmelted snow- flakes of the crisp November night from his coat-sleeves, ere he answered, and at the same time took a first searching glance about the saloon. ** Tf it concerns you, or any one else you know wholam. Iam best known as Sealskin Sam, or The Sparkler,” and he made a movement to retire to one ofthe tables, but the giant put himself in the way. ‘No, ye don’t, me Martha!” he cried, with a rin. ‘* You an’ me has got ter hev it out, ‘u’st. I, Bollivar Bullwhack, am here fer blud, an’ blud aire I goin’ ter hev, you know. So the sooner ye name the way ye want ter die ther quicker Pll trim ye out, an’ set ’em up fer the boys!” **Be kind enough to step out of. my path!” Sealskin Sam ordered, the fire once more creep- ing into his eyes, “Bah! I’m hyer ter stay all winter,” Bull- whack replied. ‘* Ye see me, Martha, I don’t skeer fer a leg 0’ mutton!” Sealskin Sam did not immediately reply, but gazed at the bully a moment; then, with a sud- dep bound, he leaped forward, and dealt the giant a slap over the mouth with the flat of his hand, the report of which could have been heard in any part of the Cremonia. With a gasp Bollivar Bullwhack staggered back and losing his equilibrium fell to the floor, upsetting a table and several chairs. He lay where he had fallen, only for a mo- ment; then he slowly arose to his feet, a sort of bewildered expression upon his ugly counte- nance, ‘¢ That’s enuff!” he said, spitting out a couple of tusk-like teeth, ‘‘The next time I fee} like tacklin’ an ’arthquake, ye can bet yer sw et life I'll not forgit ye. Good-by! [P’mgoin’. Ill see ye, when I’ve chawed off some other man’s ear an’ whetted up my appetite on b-l-u-d, blood!” And turning, with a sickly smile, he limped out of the gaming-parlor, followed by: a roar of laughter from the spectators, CHAPTER III. THE FATAL FINGER, SEALSKIN SAM gazed after him, until he had disappeared, then took a seat at an wnoecupied table, and lit a cigar, Of course he was the center of notice of the habitues of the place, and yet was apparently unmindful of the fact, as hé seemed lost in rev- erie, as his handsome dark eyes watched the spiral column of smoke that arose from the cigar. Three persons in the room watched him with more than ordinary interest, as if to satisfy themselves whether or not they had ever before met the man. One of these was the proprietress of the Cre- monia, Mile, Circe, as she was known—the wo- man who sat in the little open office, and re- ceived the cash from the floor-maids. To everybody, Circe was a puzzle—a human ae without solution if such a thing could 18, To-night she was attired in an elegant maroon- colored silk, set off with laces, and true dia- monds, which adorned her hands, and glittered at her throat and in her carefully arranged wealth of golden-hued hair. Her form was one of exceeding grace, and of that fullness which betokens strong vitality, good health and reserve force. Her face was, seemingly, beautiful, but no correct idea could be formed on that point, for from the middle of her fair forehead, to the tip of her chin, she wore a dark silk illusion Taak: which effectually concealed the face. What was known of the woman of queenly bearing, in Hunki-Dori, can be briefly stated. She had come there, a year before, when hunki-Dori boasted of a population of but ten men, in company with a dank, villainous-look- ing man named Jack Dean. or was rowdyish and a hard-drinker, but had plenty of money, and built the Cremonia, as . now stood, and furnished it with a lavish rand, Circe was announced as his sister, but the con- trast between their appearance and characters caused more than one to discredit the relation- bi unki-Dori. grew, and the Cremonia became the chief place of resort. One night Dean was shot dead, in a dispute over a game of cards, he being a very quarrel- s0me person, After which event, Circe ran the place for herself, and added many improvements, but after the night of Dean’s death, she was never seen without a mask across her face. Dean’s murderer, who chanced to be a stran- ger, had made good his escape, although stren- uous efforts were made for his capture, Circe had never seemed to mourn for her ‘*brother;” and as to her looks, the few miners who had seen her face unmasked, declared that hers was the most beaufiful face they had ever beheld. She was one of the trio who watckeda Sealskin Sam, studiously, from her position in her office; but if she recognized him, no act or word be- trayed the fact. he second of the three was a man dressed in citizen’s garments of superior quality, includin overcoat and silk hat. He was a portly indi- vidual of good stature, with restless brown eyes, and a huge iron-gray beard that covered the better share of his countenance, and reached to his breast. He stood leaning against one of the wooden columns that supported the ceiling, and had re- garded the stranger with the keenest interest from the time of his entrance, The third party was one of those peculiar characters, so often described and which is not unfrequently to be met with in towns and camps in the mining and grazing regions. ; It was a young woman, or more appropriate- ly a girl, attired in men’s clothes; that is, she wore a pair of neatly-fitting gray pants thrust into patent-leather top-boots reaching to the knees, and a hunting-frock of white flannel, the gold-fringed skirts of which reached nearly to the boot-tops, A belt about her waist contained a pair of superior revolvers; the shirt, unlaced at the neck, partly exposed a throat of purest alabaster; a slouched prairie-hat was set jauntily upon her head. This girl was probably between seventeen and eighteen years of age, and possessed a figure which, while not inclined to robustness, was perfectly molded. She was not tall, but nature had certainly made her a model of figure and form. : No less pretty was her face—a piquant, laughing face, sunny in its every peprcesion, yet with lines to indicate that it could change suddenly to the sternness of anger and resolve, Her hair hung down over her shoulders in a flossy brown wave, and although there were several very pretty girls among the Cremonia maids, the general verdict was that none could compare with the girl sport. She stood near a. card-table, overlooking a game between two young men, and her posi- tion was such that she could covertly watch the side of the face of the man who wore the sealskin ulster without being seen herself, while she also kept an eye upon the game,
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must a searching glance. She quickly dropped her gaze, however, and averted it to the card-table, a wave of color leaping into her cheeks, for the expression of surprise and instant admiration that beamed from his magnetic eyes rather confused her. ‘* By Jove! here’s a royal surprise!” was the thought uppermost in the Sparkler’s mind. veritable queen among women, in thedisguise of | Would that some op- portune chance might make it my luck to form a girl sport of the mines! er acquaintance.” Seeing that she was embarrassed by a con- sciousness of his bold stare, he returned to watching the smoke of his cigar, giving her only now and then a furtive glance, when their eyes were almost sure to meet. The two men at the card-table were getting excited over the game, judging by the character of their conversation. ‘*Curse the luck, I’ve lost again!” one of “T believe you are cheating me, I count myself a good card- per but you have certainly got the devil’s uc them cried. Salem Sphinx. or his cunning!” “te you suspect that I would do such a thing ascheat you you had best quit playing, Mr. Sphinx retorted, his tone decidedly Ashcroft!” ° expressing triumph. What! quit after you have won nearly all I am perhaps not of my money? I guess not, as green as you imagine, sir!” ‘*“Oh! suit. yourself, then, burning a hole in your pocket, tion. What shall we play for, sir He spoke as cool and calculating as if wholly indifferent. He was a man of uncertain age, this swarthy- complexioned, black-haired individual, Bebe, He had a hawkish sort of ap- pearance, looking just what he was, a ‘profes- although it was safe to say that he had pas his thirtieth year. sional card-sharp, Ashcroft was a younger man by several ssing of appearance, although there was that in his face which in- that he was on the downward road to years, and more _prepossessin, dica consuniption. He looked at the cards thoughtfully before he answered the gambler; and taking a wallet ‘ket, counted his money, a des- from an inner rate expression upon his pale face, ‘See here!” he suddenly exclaimed, staring at Salem Sphinx; ‘you have won precisely three thous dollars from me!” Sphinx nodded, with half-closed eyes, as he lit aci for New mortgage on faithful lassie, who got and blow my brains out.” “You're a fool, young feller!” / It was the girl sport who spoke, and her tone r expressed what were evidently her candid con- victions. watching him, for he took the cigar from his | lips, and gradually turned his head around toward her, their eyes meeting for an instant in If your money is I can perhaps save you from being consumed a a conflagra- he r “T believe them’s the figures,” he agreed, ‘““And I’ve but five hundred left, Do you know I came to tae mines and worked hard for this money, and to-morrow I was to start back ork, to see the old folks, pay off the the homestead, and then marry a has been waiting for these two years? Now you see what I have left to go on! IV’ll either win back what l’ve lost, and take to-morrow’s stage, or will lose what I have Ashcroft looked up at her with a scowl. In the course of a few minutes some instinct | ave warned Sealskin Sam that she was | cA “Of course I’m a fool, and you’d make me a worse one, if I were not capable of resisting the smiles of your baby face!” he gritted. Salem Sphinx was getting impatient. ‘¢Bither put Palaver never pays the spot- f ‘*Come, come!” he interposed. { up or shut up! painter. Are you goin’ the five hun ‘* Yes,” desperately. ‘first. If I win I wi ** Very well!” man received his hand. paused to look on, ce, and then scanned the car & + filly and quickly, Sphinx’ betraying | a player, not only. . ‘best possible advantage, but also in his shuffling om . Twice the lynx-like eyés of Sealskin Sam de- ‘e he, a) ‘ ke. he ene ye ay ay Saige OS oe N ings DANE Oe z “Mie cS enc. cs A 4 Sk i ‘*Five hundred for the double it; after that I will double jt every other game, till you or I are broke.” A fresh pack of cards was produced, and each skin Sam, having overheard the conversa- tion, arose and sauntered to the table, where he Salem Sphinx gaye him a single scorn Reg! aod wee Pia cate. he game was seyen-up, and was ed care- rc z his skill as in playing his cards to their iz tected him dealing himself a valuable card from the bottom of the pack, the act being accom- plished so quickly that not one out of a hundred would have noticed it. . The Sparkler was about tc interfere several times, but hesitated, for it was really none of his business. If the Easterner was foolish enough to believe he could beat a professional gamester at his own game, he deserved to be ‘‘ stuck.” At last the game stood tie at six points each, having one to go. .lt was Salem Sphinx’s deal. He looked into the flushed, excited face of his opponent rather pityingly, as Ashcroft clapped the pack down on the table, after having shufiled the cards, ‘¢ Ashcroft,” he said, “TI rather like you, and I'd truly like to see you win. Therefore, to give you a chance, you can have the deal, and Dll mark myself three instead of six, making me four to go. If I cannot make four times out of the hand you deal me, Ill give you back the en- tire amount that [have won from you, That’s fair, isn’t it, Seals«in?” and the gambler darted a peculiar glance at the stranger, as much as to say, ‘‘I know you are watching me,” ‘*T should judge it to be an over-fair offer, pro- vided both parties play an honorable game!” Sam answered, his face not changing from its usual serene expression, ‘“Ah! do you suppose I would disgrace my reputation by cheating, sir?” ‘I believe I heard you remark something to the effect that you would not, a few moments ago!” was the dry answer, which brought a quiet glitter to Sphinx’s eyes, ‘“‘Tt’s a good offer, Mr. Ashcroft, or my name ain’t Placer Poli!” the girl sport cried laying her hand upon his shoulder, ‘‘ Here’s your chance to git back to your true-love!” _ is only answer to. her was a slight i) los sion of the lips, while Sealskin Sam wondered if the beautiful girl opposite him had purposely alluded to her title that he might know it. Ashcroft spoke rather wearily, addressing Salem Sphinx: ‘** Give me the cards; I will accept your offer. Nothing but my regard for those many thousand miles away from here could tempt me to thus humble myself.” He took the cards and dealt them, his face un- naturally white, his eyes betraying scarce a gleam of hope. A number of bystanders, had gathered near the table, and upon every face was an expression of intense interest, As Ashcroft turned the trump—which proved to be the four of hearts—Sphinx picked up his hand, and glancing at the cards for a moment, uttered an exclamation of surprise and threw the cards on the table, face up, exposing to. view the ace, king, queen, jack, ten and deuce of e He had four times—high, low, jack and the game—a strange fatality. ‘ ‘*That settles it,” Ashcroft remarked, as he shoved the stakes over his victorious op- ponent. ‘‘[t is not my luck to win anything, except by hard labor.” ; Then turning to one of the waiting-maids, he added: ‘* Fetch me some whisky, Kitty, I’ve a little change left,” and he arose from the chair and stretched himself, with a yawn, doing it so cleverly that no one suspected his purpose until too late. He suddenly clapped his hand to his breast, in the region of his heart; then there was a pistol report; he staggered, and falling, a revolver of the bulldog pattern dropped from his nerveless rasp. : Several pers sprung forward with cries of alarm, and he was raised to a partly reclining posture. ** Don’t!” he said.. ‘“‘ It’s no use, I couldn't go back broke. Yd rather dic. Tell em I tried to lift the mortgage, but luck was against me,” He was silent a moment, his gaze roving around from face to face, A hush of death vg eur in the room as the habitues of the place tip-toed to the death- scene, ‘“‘ There’s something I wanted to say,” he said, directly, in fainter accents. ‘“‘Ye know—ye know there’s a band of villains—” He paused a moment, gasping for his breath. ‘* A band of villains, clubbed together, sworn to enrich themselyes, and protect themselves, to the death, in defiance of all Jaw or order. They rob stages, commit murder—anything to add to their booty. Their main object, however, is to capture this camp,.and here make their | aly COPRY, prematigntsd deflance of any law except that of outlawry. This band now numbers nt ese Ree Se Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. sn — SS Eee SS TS many of your friends and citizens. Secretly they are on all sides of you. I am not afraid to speak, because I cannot die but one death. Be- ware of the Tribunal of Ten! Their leader’s: name is—” ; The words never reached the ears of those: surrounding him; for the loud report of a pistol broke the stillness, and a jet of blood spurted from a hole in the center of the informey’s fore- head! His hand with forefinger out-pointed, which had been raised on high, gradually sunk, until the finger pointed directly toward Sealskin Sam; then it became rigid and :efused to fall further, for young Ashcroft was dead, and his whole: body had suddenly become stiffened as by a. spasm. A horrified murmur escaped the crowd, as the: long, white index finger pointed out the man in malic ulster. Sealskin Sam’s face flushed, and he stepped to- one side, with an exclamation of horror, quickly realizing the effect the startling occurrence: would be apt to have upon the minds of the: e. But horror of horrors! What infernal mystery was this? The moment he oti to one side, the finger- crooked sufficiently to still point directly at the: man. A shade of pallor pewed, over the handsome: stranger’s face, and he was about to make some- utterance when he was interrupted by several voices, The cry was: ‘* Stand!” He looked. He saw that.a dozen cocked revol-- vers were leveled at him by as many stern-faced. miners—knew that the, accusing index finger, in conjunction with the dying words of young Ash- crott, had been the means of getting him into. an unenyiable predicament. Stand!” one of the party cried, gruffly. “Throw up. your hands and surrender, or die in your tracks! Your guilt is too clearly proven for question!” CHAPTER I[V. ; BOLLIVAR BULLWHACK, MAKES A CALL. Hunk1-Dort was the liveliest young mining- camp in the Mount St. Helen’s mountains, and although its fame bad not yet spread afar, it. Rapier of a population of several hundred ple, of the various clas; es and nationalities which. usually gather in mining-towns, and in Western Retiance, was as ‘‘ fly” a city as there was in the: erritory. It was located in the. wild, deep mountain. gulch, from which it derived its name, and be-- sides its public houses, or ‘‘ hotels,” comprised perhaps three-score cabins, shanties and tents,. which were of the most primitive character,. with seyeral exceptions. A couple of paying quartz-mines had been drifted into the mountain, and supplied work for’ _all who were inclined to work. Other mines were: being located; a company breaker and mill had been put into operation, and the camp had the- usual characteristics of a wide-awake young mining-town. One main street or stage-road was all Hunki- Dori yet boasted, or was, in reality, all that was: required. on this street was locatedymost conspicuous: of nu the Cremonia, in addition to which was ‘a barn-like tavern, a theater, a number of stores, saloons, shops and dance-resorts—the latter gen- erally connected with the saloons. Then there were the shanties, tents and cabins, two Pee da frame Cwellings, owned by the rival ‘‘ mine kings” of Hunki-Dori—Eben Selden and Maurice Clarkson, Selden owned one of the opened mines and a. considerable portion of the camp, while Clarkson was proprietor of the other mine and another euaitnatita section of the camp, so that between them the two rather monopolized the town’s: business and property, . Both were past the middle age, well educated, with much business tact, and thorough-going gentlemen to the ordinary observer, Both were widowers, and, strange to say, had daughters and sons of nearly the same age; but between the two families, more especially be- tween the. parents, there existed a coldness, which, while it could not be regarded as a fam- ily feud, approached very nearly toit. Neither of the elders spoke to one another. | The reason of this estrangement the good and bad pene, of i-Dori could never quite com S end... y Si De Yn? Colonel Maurice Clarkson was a tall, slim man, of sedate aspect, very neat. of dress, ard rather inopeesatve fn apieetence with his sweep-
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| Om re eA 4 oe SNE. ae Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. ‘ing iron-gray side-whiskers, and brilliant black eyes. ¥ His son, Leroy, was a’young man of two-and- twenty, and although something of his father’s ‘general appearance, was of a lively disposition, and by no means unattractive, with his clear-cut face, keen blue eyes and light hair and mus- ‘tache. Father and son, in business relations, always { worked together harmoniously, and no one * would suspect that everything did not go right \ with the Clarksons—for Bertie Clarkson, the & eighteen-year-old sunbeam of the family, was pretty, light-hearted and merry, with never a care upon her girlish mind. With the Seldens, it was not altogether the same as with the Clarksons. Eben was a close-fisted, avaricious, grasping sort of man, in one sense; in another, when the act would multiply the dollars and cents in his pocket, he was helpful and generous—a mer- cenary liberality that is ever and always des- picable. He was a little ‘‘ sawed-off individual”—as the saying is—‘‘ about as long one way, as the other "—with round, fiery-red cheeks, keen, cold, discriminating gray eyes, and a bulging, well- wrinkled forehead. Sardon Selden was a graduate of Harvard— and was the ‘‘dude” of Hunki-Dori, Nothing ‘that money could supply had been spared in his education, and when he returned from college, looking as if he had ‘‘ stepped out of a band-box,” he was set down as the Pee: man of Hunki- Dori, It did not take the rugged miners of the camp long, however, to ‘‘inventory” him. He was lazy, affected, overbearing and at times so silly as to be voted a ae fool, by a large ma- jority of the e. i Baroy Selon, was much like her brother, but with a little more genuine refinement, and com- mon sense, and a little lessaffectation. She was passably pretty, proud, arrogant, and at times peevish—such a woman as no honest man, with any self-respect could endure for an hour, much ess a life-time. On the evening of Sealskin Sam’s singular ad- ‘ venture at the Cremonia, Miss Selden sat in an } easy-chair, in the cosily furnished parlor of her oN father’s residence, reading from a volume of oems. She was richly attired, and could hard- y have appeared to better advantage. Jewels glittered upon her fair hands and at her throat, and she wore a pair of diamond earrings that would have been the envy of a princess. Outside, the shrill winds of the blustermg No- vember night made weird music, but did not concern the reader, for she kept closely to her book, until a footstep near at Mand: caused her ‘to raise her eyes. She started to her feet with a cry of alarm, as ‘she beheld a man standing but a few paces away regarding her with sinister admiration. his man was pone other than the redoubtable Bollivar Bullwhack, and a broad grin swept over his face at sight of the terror manifested ‘by Miss Selden. : “Don’t be skeert,m> purty goslin’; I ain’t goin’ ter hurt ye, yer know. jest dropped in ter see how Eben, ther old rascal, aire gittin’ erlong. I heer he’s struck it rich sence he came heer, an’ T’ll swan it’s no more’n fair he should give his duterful brother a lift—what der you “say?” % Sir! .I do not understand you. You are an intruder here. gone, or I will call my ser- vant!” Miss Selden cried, imperiously. } ‘Youll do what?” Bullwhack grinned, aim- ing a squirt of tobacco-juice at a slumbering snowy poodle dog on the hearth, ‘‘ You'll call yer servant, did ye say?” “Yes, I'll call my servant, and have you ejected from the house!” “Waal, I'll be chawed up an’ spit out; ye wouldn't, would ye, now?” and the giant burst intoan uproarious guffaw. ‘* Why, d’ye kno’, sirly, ye actooally make yer uncle sick tew his iaphragm, yeou do?” “Susan!” ‘cried Miss Selden, sharply, at the same time touching a silver bell, upon the table. : ean “Yas, ma’am!” came the answer, and a bux- -om negro girl marched into the room. She was ca ‘‘heavy-weight,” evidently. _ DPse heab, . ma’am. hat’s de matter, ma’am?” she cried, eying Bullwhack from head ‘to foot, with her rolling orbs of black and white, — : ‘Why, yer see—” Bullwhack began. ‘ Silence!” cried Miss Selden. “‘ Susan, thir ‘monster is an intruder here, Put him outof the _ Thouse at once!” , “Yas, put him right out, kerslap!” assented a the giant with a delighted grin. ‘‘’m jest as gentile an’ docile as er spring lamb, an’ | mind | like a muel, when I’m spoken to!” **Cum, youh jes’ done buckle up an’ git out ob dis!” Suse ordered, advancing. ‘* None ob youh back-talk, but yo’ jes’ march!” ‘“*Nary a march, Susy!” Bullwhack replied, blandly. ‘‘Ef yer wanter know et, you blub- ber-lipped black-an’-tan, I’m ther great an’ gelorious Bollivar Bullwhack—a howhin’ six- horned hornet—a lively old flea from Flipville, an’ thar’ll be frost on ther whiskers of the moon ere I budge one squar’ inch!” and the ruf- fian drew and cocked a pair of large-caliber re- volvers, i Help—heip!” screamed Miss Savoy, frantic- ally. ‘** Hello! what is all this rumpus about?” and Mr. Eben Selden waddled into the room, ** Well, well, I declare! This is a pretty state of affairs!” ** Lor’, boss, ’tain’t no state—et’s a hull wil- | lage, fo’ suah!” Suse ejaculated. “Yas, an’ er hatful o’ mountings an’ volca- ners throw’d in,” added Bullwhack, with a chuckle. ‘“‘ My beloved brother Eben, haow dye do?” The capitalist stared aghast. ‘ Sir-r-r! I do not understand you! What do | you mean by intruding upon my daughter’s pri- vacy? Explain yourself at once!” ‘“Thet’s suthin’ I ken’t do. I never hed my intervidual masheenry apart, so as ter be able ter explain all ther tecknercal points, Brother Eben, haow d’ye do?” ‘“Man, are you mad? I am no brother of yours!” “Ye ain't? Now, that’s funny. I thort ye was, chaw me up an’ spit me out, ef I didn’t! You’re Ebenezer Selden, ain’t ye?” ' ““T am,” “Waal, ’m yer genuine prodigal brother, Jerrymiaher, more latterly named by Congress, Bollivar Bullwhack, the beautiful bouncer, from Bungtown—an’ don’t ver fergit it! So ef e hev got ary a fattened calf, kill it instanter. f ye hain’t got a calf, kill thet durned blubber- lipped nigger wench!” “Oh, jes’ you wait!” Suse cried. “If dis chile don’ get eben wid you, dar’ll be somethin’ funny!” ‘There is a mistake here!” Eben Selden cried, angrily. ‘‘ You are not my brother, sir! I never had a brother, You are a coarse, ruf- fianly impostor, ana I command you to leave my house!” ‘**Not ef ther legislatur’ knows herself, Eben, dear. Thar’s no kinder use o’ your trying ter shake me, fer I’m all hyer, tooth an’ toe-nail, an’ I don’t shake worth a cent. I did get ruther shook up a while ago, when a nasty sort o' galoot swiped me one in the gob, but thet ain’t nothin’. am right heer, Eben— yer own i brother, an’ I am heer ter linger, you pet! ‘*Father, who is this terrible wretch?’ Miss Selden cried, anxiously, ‘‘ Why do you stoop to have any conversation wita him at all? Have some one come and put him out.” ‘Yas, do!” the giant chuckled. ‘ Fetch in about seventy galoots as hev got weary 0’ tray- elin’ through this vale of tears, an’ hey each one | fetch his own coffin measure with him. That’s ther idea!” Then turning to the mine-owner, Bullwhack went on: “Brother, dear, perhaps yer darter never heard a certain little story o’ ther past, that—” “Stop!” Selden cried, with startling savage- ness. ‘* Enough of this. I know you now, Savoy, this is your uncle, and you will please treat him with all due respect hereafter.” | Bullwhack turned to the astonished girl with a mocking bow, ‘* Yas, sissy, I’m yer unkle, an’ any time ye wanter kiss me ye bev ther undisputed prive- lege of doin’ it—it’s all in ther family, yer know. If ye ever make any mistake betwixt us, an’ can’t ‘tell ther which frum which, jest count ther warts on our noses—Ebenezer’s an’ mine.” Eben Selden stood impatiently waiting for the giant to retire, a venomous glitter in his eyes. i Come—come!” he cried, with a scowl at Bullwhack’s speech. ‘I want to see you in my private room.” ‘AN right, Eby! Lead ther way, and I'm with ye. I s’pose you’ve got suthin’ good in ther way 0’ moisture, up thar?” t ** Certainly! tamed f ‘The giant skip orward with surprising agi iy tocked arms with the miner, analtbe two | left the parlor togethez. Savoy stood gazing after them with dilated. eyes, her cheeks colorless, her lower lip com- pressed between her pearly teeth. A moment she stood thus, a frightened ex~- pression upon her face; then— ‘““ At lJast—at last!’ she murmured, and sink- ing upon the luxurious sofa, near which she had been standing, she buried her face in her hands and wept as if her heart would break, CHAPTER V. CABOOSING THE SPARKLER. A GLITTER entered the eyes of Sealskin Sam as he saw the deadly tubes leveled at him, and an expression of defiance swept over his face. He did not throw up his hands, but stood lean- ing carelessly with one hand upon a chair-back, and the other resting against his hip. His gaze met that of the last speaker, unflinch- ingly. ‘In what respect has my guilt been proyen?” he calmly demanded. ** Oh, that won’t work!” the spokesman of the party said. ‘You can’t play none of your innocence off on us, I want yer ter understand that ’'m Lion Lije, the Vigilant Chief o’ this hyer burg, an’ ’'m bizness from the wo d ‘go.’ Thet aire corpus war goin’ ter whoop out who war the capting o’ the Tribunal of Ten. only his breath war shet off, an’ bein’s he couldn't let us kno’ no other way, his spirit helped him ter pint you out!” ‘* This is all utter nonsense, sir. This night is the first I have ever spent in this camp, or any- where near it!” Sealskin Sam raplied: quietly. **T have no knowledge of this Tribunal of Ten, of which the unfortunate young man made mention. I had never met him before, nor had he me, and I repeat that I know nothing what- ever of the alleged party he mentioned as the Tribunal of Ten!” “Mighty cute denial, my man, but it won’t work,” the Vigilante replied, ‘ We ain't got much law hyer in Hunki-Dori, but yer kin bet we allus attend ter sech cases as this, Ef ye ax .all o’ them w’ot’s present, I opine you'll git a verdict straight from ther shoulder, Eh, boys? Ther evidence aire too conclusive fer dispute, ain’t it?” ** Of course!” “ Sart’in!” ‘* Rvery time!” “Dead sure thing!” were the characteristic replies in a chorus. ‘* You see,” Lion Lije continued, triumphant- ly, ‘‘ it’s a clear case ag’in’ you. Sorry ter hey ter arrest ye, but it are my duty.” “You haven’t arrested me yet!” and a deter- mined expression came over the Sparkler’s handsome face. ‘‘f came to this camp with the intention of minding my own affairs, but an unfortunate circumstance has thrown me into an unenviable situation, However, I do not see that it is necessary we should have any trouble about the matter. I am amply able to prove that I came directly to this camp from Alaska, where I have been with a prospecting party for the season—which certainly shows that I am in no way connected with any band fe a that may infest your neighbor- ood, Lion Lije shook his head oh E ‘**T don’t keer a cuss ef ye war in Yurrop ther hull year. It has been proven that you're our mutton, and we’re goin’ to take you. So sur- render like a man, or you'll git yer medicine right whar yestand!” _ ‘Lije Landers, this ain’t a fair shake!” and Placer Poll stepped forward. ‘The stranger says he can prove he has been in Alaska for months past; that ee to be enough to satisfy - any one, I’m sure. Ye all know it’s been less than a year since ye first heard of the Tribunal.” ‘“You go to thunder!” was the Vigilante’s savage answer. ‘“ Ye’r’allus stickin’ yer lip in, whar it ain’t wanted, Placer Poll. One o’ these days you'll get run out 0’ camp:” “ Will 1?” the girl flashed back. ‘‘ It will be after your term, you ruffian, Mr, Sealskin, you stand game. Ef you want backin’, I’m with you, you bet! And the pards of Hunki- Dor, know whether Placer Poll can shoot or not! “Thanks! I presume there will not be a need of bloodshed!” ‘Tf there is, the disadvantage will be on side of the assailants. I don’t often oe a a gory racket, but when I do I always a point to come out Al, TB ully for’ § you! We'll hey a shake on that arter the funeral is over. Now then, Liger, ef you want to distinguish yourself, y chance is — remarked, quietly.
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open!” and the girl sport stood facing the Vigi- Jante, with a pair of revolvers, in her grasp, ready for use, Sealskin had not drawn a weapon, but main- tained the same careless position, as if there were no danger menacing him. ‘*Waal! aire ye goin’ ter surrender?’ Lion Lije demanded, growing enraged at the Spark- ler’s nonchalance. ‘‘Ef ye aire, ye had better hurry up about it—Tll give ye a pomter on that!” **T haven’t the least idea of doing anything of the kind!” Sam answered, ‘‘I am astranger to you all, and do not wish ill for any of you; but I give yo fair warning that if you attack me some of you will have cause to regret it! You have heard me !” Lion Lije eyed the cool stranger a moment, hesitatingly, for a something in the tone of the last speech implied more than a simple threat. **Cuss ye, ef ye don’t surrender we’ll bore ye full o’ bullet-holes!” he growled. ‘*Better not!” was the terse answer. ‘If I am forced to, I shall try to drop at least a dozen of you myself, although you have the drop on me! “Tll save you that trouble,’ a voice cried in the Sparkler’s rear, and at the very word, a lasso settled around him, and pinioned his arms temporarily to his side. Ere he could extricate them, a dozen men mes upon him, and although be struggled manfully, it was but a few minutes ere they had made him a prisoner, Three miners lay upon the floor, insensiblo, and a third had received a knife-thrust that was likely to prove fatal. ‘Hurrah! we've got ye, now!” Lion Lije cried, dancing about the prisoner, who, though bound, was only held down by two stout miners. “Ye thort we couldn’t take ye, didn’t ye? Ho! he! take that!” And he gave the Sparkler a slap in the face, with the flat of his hand. ‘‘ For shame!” Placer Poll cried, indignantly, while the victim grew a shade paler, from the anger he tried to ge back. ‘Tl dare you to repeat that action, Lije Landers! ye cowardly brute!” “Cuss ye, what'll ye do, ef I do repeat it?” Landers demanded, glaring at her. ‘‘ What wull ye do, ye nameless nobody!” The girl’s fair face flushed, and she uttered an exasperating cry, as she stepped toward the vil- lain, her eyes fairly blazing. “Have acare what you say, Lije Landers!” she warned, looking him straight in the eye, “Tm enough sight better than a hundred like you, even if 1 am a waif of the mines, \/hose real name nobody knows but myself. If you don’t want to die before your natural time, I warn you not to cast evil insinuations on my mame or character!” So terribly in earnest did she speak that Lan- ders shrunk back a pace, as if quailing from her righteous indignation. ‘Darn ye, ye needn’t git up on yer ear about it,” he growled. ‘I guess no one is partic’ler afeard of ye, no matter who ye be!” “You'll find who is afraid of me if on don’t conduct yourself a little more carefully, you shameless loafer!” she replied, in a meaning tone. Then turning to Colonel Clarkson, who had just entered, she said: “Mr. Clarkson, this ruffian, Landers, has arrested a total stranger, on the simply ridicu- lous charge of being te chief of the Tribunal of Ten. As he is ready to prove that he has not been near this place for all this year, you will see that he cannot be the real party. I trust you will order his release,” Altogether different was Placer Poll’s man- ner and speech, now, from her usual rough-and- ready style, which caused Sealskin Sam to give her a quick interrogative glance. * How is this, Landers?” Colonel Clarkson de- - manded, giengns from the prisoner to the Vigi- jlante chie ‘*Tt’s all right, cunnei, an’ ther boys will tell ye the same. Billy Ashcroft committed sui- cide, a few minutes ago—that aire, he shot his- self an’ war makin’ a confession, when some one ut his candle out, ye see, I guess no one see’d the last shot fired, ’ca’se all war lookin’ at Billy. Billy war tellin’ thet he war a forced member -o’ the Tribunal o’ Ten, an’ war goiug to speak ther capting’sreal name, when the shot war fired, It shet off his wind an’ he did ther next best thing—p’inted ont thet Seal- psrsie thar, as bein’ therman. The Sealskin SKIP ter ter one side, but Billy’s ‘indexer’ t in. I don’t know what yer want : satis! to hang Mr. Samuel higher than Haa- turning her gaze toward the Sparkler. ‘‘I know | Landers declared, with an evil chuckle. couldn’t speak, but he ployees ©: du ed, an’ we're | Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler, ‘¢ What have you to say, sir?” Colonel Clark- son demanded, turning to the Sparkler. ‘‘Nothing more \than I have said before, sir— that I know nothing whatever concerning your so-called Tribunal of Ten, nor bave I ever be- fore until to-day and to-night been within fifty miles of this town.” / ** What is your name?” ‘** Seaiskin Sam.” ‘That is not your own name?” **Tt is the only on¢ I lay any claim to since I have roamed in the West. If I ever had an an- other name it does not matter what it is, so far as this affair is concerned.” “Thar! now what d’ye think of it?’ Landers demanded in triumph. ‘‘ Ain’t it a clar case, cunnel? Ye kin see fer yerself.” ‘* Who shet the young man the second time?” Mr. Clarkson asked, without answering the Vigilante, ‘* Nobody seems to know that,” Placer Poll spoke up. ‘‘ Whoever did it was careful to do it so quickly as to defy detection,” ‘*T can throw some light on that part of the matter,” and all turned around to behcld Circe, the masked proprietress of the Cremonia, stand- ing near’. “Then speak up!” the colonel demanded, giv- ing her a keen glance. ‘‘Itisa grave affair at best, and if possible, some light should be thrown upon the act.” ““T have only this to say,” Circe answered, not whether the stranger is connected with the outlaw band, but an instant before the last shot was fired I saw his hand behind his back and a pistol in its grasp. I did not see the shot fired, but should presume it was the prisoner who fired it.” “This is simply false testimony, perpoey designed to criminate me!” Sealskin Sam cried, with a sudden fierceness. ‘* Who you are, what you are, woman, I know not, but I do know that you have uttered a most villainous lie! I have not grasped @ weapon in my hand to- night! In God’s name, what is your motive in wishing to make me out a murderer in addition to the other false charge against me?” ‘‘T have no motive, further than the desire to see justice done!” was the reply. ‘* You are un- doubtedly guilty, and should be punished!” “‘T am not guilty. More likely it is you who are guilty, and are trying to screen yourself, by implicating me!” “This is not reasonable!” Colonel Clarkson said. ‘‘ Mademoiselle Circe bears a good reputa- tion, sir, in our town, and no one ever speaks ill of her. As the matter stands, I do not see but what it is perfectly proper to arrest you, until an investigation can be made!” ** Tf you choose to do so I suppose I cannot ob- ject, as Lam already aprisoner. I warn youall, owever, that I shall not submit to this indignity tamely. If I am not released I will be revenged on those who have proven themselves to be my enemies!” Sam retorted, ‘¢Oh! I guess ye won’t hurt no one!” Vigilante “We'll take keer ye don’t git nothin’ less than a noose around yer neck. Git a rope, boys, an’ we'll fix ba sh bet, sealskin coat an’ all!” _ “Hurra! it’s ter be a lynch picnic!” cried several. ‘‘No! no! There shall be nothing like that!” Colones Clarkson ordered, sternly. ‘‘ The pris- oner shall not be lynched—certainly not until an investigation is made!” _° ““T reckon "tain’t all jest as that!” Landers growled. * ‘Tt is just as Jag 8 the colonel retorted, with decision. “If a hair of this man’s head is } harmed before he has had an Cpportenalhy: “4 lea you say about i vindicate himself, you will find yourself a man, sir!” The scowl upon Landers’s face did not lessen, although it was evident he stood considerably in awe of the mine-owner, **T jedge no one ain't skeert to death, 0’ you, ’ea’se you've got a little money,” he gritted. ‘I say, boys-—how aire it? Shell we string the Coss up, or let ther colonel hev his way about it?” The miners eeciatees glances. There was, undeniably, a strong inclination among them to visit peremptory death upon the handsome sport; but there was something that caused them to hesitate. : The ae iy of the miners present were em- f Colonel Clarkson, and felt rather in bound to respect his order and wishes, ‘*T reckon et’s no more than fair to give the, feller a show!” one miner responded. °‘‘ He or- ter hev a trial, ennyhow!” . ¢ This was a signol for the others to assent, DN i eee Sateen tel which they did, until the expression became al- most unanimous. ¢ **Ye’r’ a pack o’ fools!” Landers flung at them, his rage and disappointment increasing. ‘* Ye’r” a lot 0’ babies, w'ot is afeard 0’ Clarkson, Bah} ye disgust me. Ef ther feller hain’t lynched, ere’s what will take devilish good care he don’t escape. Fetch him along, boys, an’ we'll lock him up in Jo Roscoe’s caboose, an’ put a guard over him,” There were plenty ready to assist in taking Sealskin Sam to prison, had he been inclined to refuse to go peaceably, which he was not; so he allowed two of the miners to seize him by the: arms and lead him from the saloon without a word of remonstrance. He was a prisoner, and had naught to do but conduct himself as such. A crowd of curious ones followed. A piercing wind of wintry coldness blew down the gulch, bringing with it a few flakes: of snow. It was a dark night, but the lights: from: the places on either side,made the way clear. Roscoe’s cabin was but a few doors from the Cremonia, and was the most substantial struc- ture of its kind in the camp, and therefore was- known as the caboose; but from bits of conver- sation he overheard, as he marched along, Sam judged that it was untenanted, because of an existing superstition that it was haunted, On reaching it, the heavy door was unlocked, and the prisoner shoved inside, the two guards> following him, and likewise Lije Landers. ‘‘Hyer ye be,” the latter said, gruffly. “Ef yer wanter lay down, the flcor aire the best ac- commodations we hev fer sech as you. Bet yer life ye kin consider it thunderin’ lucky ye ain’t: danglin’ to ther limb of a tree, instead.” “*T presume I shall be as thankful as the oc- casion requires,” Sam retorted. ‘‘If I get free, Tl guarantee to get square with some of this: town’s interesting people. Ill let you feel the wer J hold then!” and though he spoke calinly, it was with the intense bitterness of a man who» considered that he had been made the victim of great injustice. ‘Ye better not brag, or ye may git the rope, afore mornin’ as it is,” Landets warned, signifi- cantly, as he and his comrades went out, and closed the door, leaving the Sparkler in inky darkness. CHAPTER VI. THE TRIBUNAL OF TEN, Tue Tribunal of Ten was a secret band of daring villains, none of whom were known to» the public at large, yet were alleged to be prom- inent persons of the camp. . Placards hae been posted, signed by the ‘‘ Tri-- bunal,” giving various wasnt to citizens,. and, also, others, defying the public to capture members of the league, or to break up the bro- therhood. | They robbed stages and persons, boldly or by” ‘strategy, as the case required: stole cttonage committed murder, when safety or persona spite required; forged and counterfeited, or held rsons for ransom—-in fact, anything, by which B realize pecuniary profit. It was, therefore, little wonder, considering” this existing state of affairs, that the population had come to stand in constant dread of the un- known league of desperadoes, and large rewards: had been offered for the capture or breaking up: of the gang. fon i Stimulated by this, a trio of would-be detec- tives had taken the matter in band, and at- tempted to ferret out who were really the mem- bers of the dread Tribunal, and where was their’ place of rendezvous. The result was that one of the three had been found dead, shot through the heart, and the | other two had turned up missing, never to be heard from afterward, Both Colonel Clarkson and Eben Selden had been robbed on a number of occasions, and it was by them that the larger reward had been offered; but_up to the time of Sealskin Sam’s. arrival in Hunki-Dori, nothing of a definite nature had happened toward the ultimate breaking up of the gang. } Later, that night, when the town was wrap-. d in darkness and quiet, and the blasts of win- — ry wind howled a weird dirge through the gulch, the Tribunal of Ten held a meeting. The place was in an apartment of considera- ble size, which, from its damp, musty - might safely have been judged as being under= ; und, $ rs onthe ceiling was low, and whet light there was, was obtained froma couple of lanterns swung: to a beam overhead, r slg eit ener % ie a ‘ |: | ) i, 8 i) f ' if oo A _ i. i : : i { \ } ae ban * LBP: 4 % , Pi ‘A t * s a ae ¥ ‘ i Vv : Me) one \ae “eat Rie he iu ee rd ie: Oe we} , ¥ Xe : \ amt ‘ fi ae he ‘ i4 “ w ta ¥ 4 “Page 7 y: ~ ie a 1 OSs : 1" ! ve ai i. Aa c nm ‘ y ag “ea ‘ {Os" > “ asl 15 Fag i ; 44 "3 Pa ATs i hae i ct] pe ay ue ae ee : >, {Va oes Mee 1 aie 3 “ aa. Vea ey ae
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The only furniture of the apartment was a long, rough table and a dozen or more rudely | ‘*On! it’s nothing more than the fact that I constructed, stools. Stout hardwood doors opened from several rts of this room, but into what was not visi- le. Eleven men sat about the table, engaged in drinking or smoking, as the case might be. Each was dressed alike, in coarse black suits, and all had precisely the same appearance, be- ing the owners of immense black beards that so covered their faces as to completely disguise them. The beards were evidently false. Each man was armed, and each one wore a slouched sombrero, pinned up at the left side. Finally one of the men, glancing at bis watch, spoke up, addressing his companions: we Well, transacted to-night, let’s get at it, as the hour of dawn is not far off. I suppose the main thing to be done is to consider the case of our deceas- ed member, Billy Ashcroft. Letter B, I believe to you belongs the credit of having prevented the informer from uttering my name,” ‘“‘T had the honor of shutting off his wind, captain!” was the grim response. ‘‘I felt sure he war goin’ to squeal, an’ made up my mind Pd settle his hash, if it cost me my life the next minute, I shot through an open window from thé outside, an’ no one war quick enough to de- tect from whence came the bullet!” j ‘Letter H, you can draw up a resolution, thanking Letter B for his admirable act, in be- half of this tribunal,” the captain said, address- ing one of the outlaws, who had pen, ink and paper before him. ‘Now, fellows, the next thing on the books is to consider the probability of young Ashcroft’s having taken the precau- tion to betray us prior to his attempted suicide. It appears to have been his intention to depart for home at once, only for his loss at the gaming- table. Might he not have given us up to some one in the camp for a consideration, with the understanding that no move was to be made against us until he was safe out of the reach of our vengeance?” “Hardly probable,” Letter B said. ‘‘If he had done this, would he have attempted to give us away, as he did, at the Cremonia?” ‘“‘Perhaps approaching death made his con- science smite him,” Captain A chuckled, strok- ing his false beard. ‘“‘I have always regarded him as being none too reliable.” **T dont believe he would have paneer’ had he not lost at cards and despaired. he would have been sure to put himself at a safe distance, had he won before betraying us, had it been his intention of doing so.” ‘“ Well, we hope he didn’t dous any more harm than is at present known,” the captain said, ‘‘ Now let_me see—what else of import- ance is there to do?” ; “T reckon there’s a lot,” Letter C said, omi- nously. ‘ Ain’t nothin’ ter be done about that | feller, Sealskin Sam?” “Ah! yes. If hardly know what to say about >) ““T doubt if his presence in Hunki-Dori will prove favorable to our interests,” Letter B said. “ Ah! then you regard him with suspicion?” “T do, most assuredly, He’s a sport, out and out, and I should judge him to be a bad enemy to have. [I’ve known these dashing, devil may- care sports to turn out to be very shrewd and successful man-hunters.” “That may all be, but you know of the fate of the detectives who have attempted to nose us ‘“T am not forgetful. They, however, were mere boys a8 compared with this Sealskin Sam. 1 tell you, captain, he is a dangerous chap to be Jet loose around Hunki-Dori.” aie ‘Mabe so,” the captain said, meditatively. Pa) “He struck me, though, as being too fine a spe- ood to cimen of manh me a victim of the lynch law.” “We've too much at stake to risk being nosed out by such a sleuth-hound!” cried B. -““Ye kin bet we bev!” chimed in C. *But we might be able to add him to our number,” mterrupted the captain, who, it was evident, was anxious to give the Sparkler a show for his life. ; ““We don’t want him here!” Letter H declar- ed vehemently, ‘]’]] drop bim myself before anything of that kind shall occur.” - The captain looked at the speaker, with a pe- culiar laugh. . “ Valiantl fellows, if there’s any business to be | ore likely , | | * Lak ' » POW pity A oe Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. agely. ‘‘ Your knowledge must be very exclu- sive.” saw an exchange of admiring glances between 7 “De debbil. He’s stan’in’ yander, down de gulch!” ‘*Got oud! ‘You vos tryin’ to foolish me!” ‘**‘ No—hope dis nigger nebber go ober Jordan, Sealskin Sam and Placer Poll, and I presume | ef I is!” you saw the same.” grow less at the captain’s words. **Maybe I did,” he replied. as it’s any one’s business if I did. | } | “T don’t know | 1 am dead ; he don’ see yo!” ‘**Vot does ter tuyfel look like?” Jakey in- | The angry glare in Letter B’s eyes did not | credulously demanded, seeing that Nick was, / apparently. in dead earnest. . ** Jes’ take a peep ober de rock, an’ take care ick advised, in a solemn tone. in for a vote to see whether the fine-turred spy | ‘I done expected dat somefin would happen dies or not.” * Tt’s fair,” Letter C assented. he’s safer dead than livin’, so fur as our personal interests air concerned.” Just then a door opened, and a grotesque- looking Chinaman looked into the room, ** What’s wanted, Chinny?” the captain of the | Tribunal of Ten demanded, while all eyes were leveled at the son of Confucius, inquiringly. “’Melica lieutenee, second dlivision, wantee see captla’n,” the answer came, in a comical voice, ** Ah! I wonder what can be the matter?” the captain exclaimed anxiously, ‘‘ Show him in, Chin-Chin.” : The Chinaman shuffled from the room. Pres- ently there was a heavy footstep, and a man entered the presence of the Tribunal of Ten. The reader will recognize him as Lieutenant Larry Lee, of the U. 8. Army. CHAPTER VII. ‘A NIGGER, AND A DUTCHMAN, AND THE DEVI.” ‘“SurmMiny dunder! vot is der matter, mit you?” ** Jes’ yo’ squat, quicker’n de roll ob Jordan!” was the low answer, and the second speaker, a lithe young negro, of jetty color, yanked his more ponderous German companion, down be- hind a pile of rocks with a suddenness that near- ly took the latter’s breath away. “‘’Sh! jes’ yo’ done keep dat cheese-hopper of yours close or dar’ll be blood on de face of de moon!” . . ) ‘¢T haff a notion to smack you mit der mouth oud!” the Teuton growled. stitch int mine back.” “* Golly! if yo’ done had sebbril in yo’ mouf we'd git ‘long heap sight better. We come widin de razzor edge of gittin’ ourselves into heap lot ob trouble. But fo’ dis nigger’s long .fo’sightness we’d be in a debbil ob a scrape now.” ** Vot you mean?” the other growled. ‘‘ You pe alvays borrowin’ some droubles, mit your- self. Vot ish de matter?” “Jakey Schwackhammer, we’se done got lost, isn’t we?” ? “7 sospectds ash vot we am,” Jakey replied, dubiously. “I neffer vas in such a schrape, before.” : ‘“* Nor dis chile, neither, sure’s his apperlation am Nicodemus Slambang. But, we’se lost, an’ dar ain’t no sorter use fo’ to itch our backs ’g’in’ a rock, an’ say ’tain’t so. We’se two lost babes, in ie woods.” ey were, at any rate, two very lively- looking “ babes.” ; sad The Dutchman was a short, but ponderous fellow, of over thirty-five years, with a red, po rei face of Germany’s genuine type, reddish hair, and a big stomach. He was armed with rifle and revolvers. Nicodemus was a lithe ‘‘coon,” more than ten years Jakey’s junior, and being fairly well dressed, was by no means a bad-looking speci- men of the colored race, his features and eyes being rather attractive. He, too, was well-armed. The strangely contrasted pair had been wan- dering along through a rugged mountain-gulch, until Nick had suddenly jerked Jakey down be- hind a sheltering pile of rocks, as before related. The two had lost their bearing hours before, and also had become separated from a com- panicn, and had no definite idea in what course ic vere going, although their objective point was the mining-town of Hunki-Dori. ; The} prospect of night coming on and heing lost in the mountains was in no wise consoling, ‘You vas put von and they had been debating upon the situation | _‘‘No! no! you mean Tombstone!” corrected ——__ up to the point whereat we introduce them. Nick, with becoming tones bites Sa ‘“ Yas, we’se two bahes inde woods!” Nico- ‘“You don’t know where you are going, I hy demus continued. ‘* We’se los’ de boss, an’ | dare say!” the stranger returned. “I’m going we’se los’ de dog, an’ we’se done gone los’ ou’- | to Hunki arter my little gal rests, an’ ef yedou’t _ . selves, in de bargain. But dat ain’t de wus’ | want ter join us, ye ne n't,” WT Or ae ob it—we am goners!” “Yer little gal” queried Nick, ~ “Exblain vot you mean! ‘You make me “My little gal Ruth. She’s restin’ down the 5 r \ ch, ' 7 é ed af y “Well, ’be seen de debbill” i" “Does she look likeyo? = = ‘ t ie _ “ Well, I should smile, not! She's as purty — : . ly ary fred ye a Bat | at, Soseecas iF “You can bet | like dis. De boss he hab+gone up de spout, an’ de debbil hab come fo’ us!” Jakey hesitated a moment, having become perceptibly alarmed, He made several feints to peep over the rock, but dodged back, protest- ing: ‘I don’d vas see noddin’! You vasa shack- ass vot got skeered at your shadow!” Yo’ anudder!” Nick declared, indignantly. **'You didn’t look ober dat rock at all. Yo’re de biggest coward I ebber see!” ‘I vasno coward! I mind der smack you mit de nose!” Jakey cried, and raising his head he took a hasty glance over the rock, but only to instantly drop back, with pallid face. ‘* Gott in himmel! id vas coomin’!” he groaned, covering his face with his hand. ‘‘ Id vas coom- in’, Oh, blitzen, ye shall pe kilt deader’s dot smoked herring in mine bocket,” Nicodemus seized his rifle, with sudden deter- | mination. | “fis yar nigger nebber gib up, till ole Gabr’el toots de horn!” he gritted. “I teli yer dar’s stock in de Slambang fambly!” cocking the weapon, he sprung to his feet. Tn the next instant he had covered the object of their terror, and his voice rung out clear and distinct, ‘*Hol up, dar, drat yo’ ugly picter, or Pil bore a hoel froo yo’ as big as a goose-egg.” To his‘infinite relief, the opject in question came promptly to a halt but a few yards away. {t was a strange-looking being, but whether ee or devil, Nicodemus was not prepared to » And, It wasa man of rather squat figure, with a head seemingly of enormous proportions, the face being double the size of that of ordinary human beings. There wes a bread, flat nose, a tremendous mouth, and an eye at either side of the nose—or rather en eye-hole, for, as the | reader must have guessed, the head was a mask a of papier mache, maskmaker’s art. Weapons he appeared guiltless of wearing— at least in the belt that girdled his waist. He came to an instant halt at sight of bel- ligerent Nicodemus, and threw up his hands as a warning to the darky not to fire. b ‘* Jes’ you hol’ up an’ stay dar where yo’ are!” Nick cautioned a second time. ‘We docsn’t desire to make yo’re acquaintance at all, sah!” “You yust pet your life on dot!” echoed Jakey, venturing to poke his head above the top of the rock, ‘ Bedder you keep avay mit us, or we blay der tuyfel mit your mains. Me and was a marvel of the Pt Fed IIIS PS VL ap we al Nas oy gate 5 " f 4 4s rat tai : fe? : a 4 ‘ aw o ‘ee ; ay ss und mine frient Nicodemus ve vas bad men, so . keep avay mit us!” : ‘Yas, yow’se a bad man, fo’ shore!” Nico- demus growled, “If it done haben’t been fo’ dis nigger whar would yo’ be now?” This quieted Jakey and gave the apparition a chance to speak. ‘*T say, what’s the matter with you two fools?” the mask demanded. ‘I hope you are not seared |” eel ‘“Yo’ bet we is, fo’ suah!” Nick replied. ‘* Yo! jest keep yo’r distance, or I hope I’se flat- futted if I don’ bang away at yo’, fo’ suah!” ‘“Oh, go along with your gun! I’m on the Sonar, every day in a week, aud my name aire Thede, the Gnome 0’ the West. So come hyer an’ give us yer flipper!” “Ro, sah! no flip!” Nick announced. ‘Don’ git dis chile wid de debbil, no. sah! We'se go- in’? to Hunki-Dori, an’ not to dat other place wot begins with H—oh! no!” beh, “Why, you young imp o’ darkness. I’m no devil! [ma reg’lar saint on wheels. And, as it happens, Hunki-Dori is my destination, too!” “Den dot settles it!” shouted Jakey, shaking his fist at the odd stranger. “ Ve vas A mit a blace called Brimstone—ain’d it, Nick?” ~ a 1 7 M ral “en : rs
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= ER er thinking, even now, that [ am a detective!” t founded wnpleasant charge on re. What will —— Pi apse De ee er ee 9 SS ae a eer re ots. | ae ae : 7 - sf B ; —- Se 6 as a sunflower in springtime. Better jine me, | you fellers, fer it will be dark soon, an’ I jedge thet one man wouldn’t stand a smell of a show, alone, wi’ ther wild animals in these moun- tains.” Nick looked at Jakey, and Jakey looked at Nick. ‘‘Vot you t’ink?” queried Jakey. ‘‘Ve go mit der tuyfel, or got ead up py der vild ani- mals?” | ‘*T reckon we better go long wi’ dat pusson,” was Nick’s conclusion. ‘* We done keep our eye | peeled fo’ any funny bizness, an’ run if he axes | s’picious.” ° ‘* Well, are you going?” demanded the Gnome of the West. ** Yas, we’se gwine!” replied Nick. ‘‘ Yo’ jes’ let off down de gulch an’ we foller at a ’spectful distance behind you!” Thede uttered a dry sort of laugh, and strode | away down the gulch. Nick and Jakey emerged from behind the rock and slowly followed. ‘*Der vas some foolishness apoud dat veller!” Jakey declared to his sable companion in a low tone. ‘‘ Dot big bead vasa dead vif avay. Id vas no human head, und you bet your swect life on it!” ‘You are right there!” Thede responded, turning around. ‘The head is an old one my fatber used to have before he was hung, I cut it off, hollowed it out, and wear it as a me- | mento!” ‘* How you know I say somedings?” Jakey de- manded, in startled surprise. ‘* Because I can read your mind. You are ‘*Gott in himmel! you speak der truth. I goes no furder mit you!” ‘“Come on! come on!” Thede cried. ‘‘ You two have no reason to be afraid of me. What are you going to Hunki-Dori for?” “To see our boss!” Nick replied. ‘* Who is your boss?” ‘“Sealskin Sam! We done got separated from him in de mountings.” ** Ah! so Sealskin Sam is in Hunki-Dori?, He is one of several persons we want to see. I won- — . der what brings him to these parts?” aslzed the Gnome. They soon reached a bend in the rugged gulch, and there found a mule cropping the leaves from the bushes, and a little child was _ resting upon a grassy knoll—a bright little girl, between two An a half and three years of age, but rath- er large for her years, and possessed of a, pretty, thoughtful face, sunny hair, and large blue eyes of winning expression. _ \ She jumped up joyously at sight of Thede, but gazed wonderingly at Nick and Jakey. ‘Tm rested now, papa!” she said. to goon, Who are these men, papa?” “Only a couple of persons I met, who are going with us, dear!” the masked man replied, lacing her in a sort of hamper on the mule’s ack, so constructed that she was in nv danger of falling. ‘‘Now then, come on, boys,” and, taking the mule by the bits, he led the way down the gulch, Nick and Jakey following. ‘‘Der vas some fooney pizmess ’boud all dis!” the latter whispered to Nick. ‘‘ Vot der tuyfel vas dot feller doin’ mit dot shildt, I vants to know?” “T want os CHAPTER VIII. - IN DURANCE. SEALSKIN SAM, as soon as he was left alone, manazed to put himself in a comfortable posi- tion, and here he lay meditating over the un- enviable situation his coming to Hunki-Dori had entailed. “JT doubt if I am known here,” he mused, “but itis very evident that the members of the this outlaw gang abound in numbers at the gaming-saloon, and they saw a good opportu- nity to screen themselves by shoving this con- be the result? The prospect for me is certainly rather dubious. The, gang is a power"ul one, and undoubtedly contains some of the most popular citizens of the camp. I can, therefore, hardly expect to escape the noose—unless I can get out of here and, by keeping shady, burst up : this precious piratieal party, and clear myself. | 1 would prefer that, instead of being forced to | betray my, identity, to save my neck from the noose. If my three—Nick, Jakey and Hero were here, I might stand a somewhat better show.” ae His mind went back to Mlle, Circe. “She is my enemy!” he muttered. ‘‘ She, and that infernal Vigilante leader, Lije Landers | #{ I get free I’ll endeavor to give them my com- ! ee — - Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. ° { pliments. Then, there’s that girl who calls herself Placer Poll. If I mistake not, she is | more a friend than an enemy to me! One can never tell, however. The est of apparent friends often proves false!” Outside the wind howled dismally, and the sleet dashed against the single little window up near the eaves. He could hear the men talking who were standing guard. There were two of them; the others had gone away, evidently. The hcurs passed, and the streets became silent, as one after another the citizens had turned in for the night. By and by the men outside began to slap their hands together vigorously. ‘*Cuss my boots ef I aint frizzin’!” one of them grumbled. ‘“‘A good swig o’ whisky wouldn’t go bad, would it, Murphy?” ‘*Bedad an’ it wouldn’t, at all,” perfectly agreed Murphy. ‘ ‘* Then let’s slip up to Jim Fadden’s and get a horn. The prisoner’ll be all right till we git back. I allow he’s asleep, an’ he’s bound, any- how!” And Sam heard them walk away. : “Tf I were only band-and-foot free, now,” he } muttered, ‘‘ ’'d make it lively in here.” The footsteps had but fairly died away, when the prisoner heard another noise that instantly attracted his attention. It was within the cabin! His eyes had become slightly accustomed to the intense gloom, and he peered around him inquiringly. t took but a moment for him to ascertain that a dark figure was creeping toward him from the furthest corner of the cabin. He at once suspected that it was some one of Lije Janders’s pals, who had been purposely re in the cabin, and that his object was mur- er. ' ‘* Who's thers?” he demanded, sternly. ‘°Sh! not so loud!” a low voice replied. ‘I am a friend+-not a foe. I am Placer Poll.” Sealskin Sam felt like uttering a shout of joy at this welcome intelligence, but he desisted, ‘How came yon here?’ he queried calmly, ‘*T thought I was alone.” She had reached his side now. “T entered before you did, and took advan- tage of the darkness to crouch in yonder corner unobserved.” “T am afraid you have boldly risked your reputation, my dear lady, if not your life. How can escape from here be effected until the door is unlocked by parties on the outside?” ‘*That’s more than I can tell you. We'll have to investigate first. I have with me my dark- lantern!” and she uttered a dry laugh. ‘‘ Pll re- lease you first!” She drew a knife and severed the thongs that held his feet and wrists. “What interest had you in attempting my rescue?” he asked. ‘‘ The interest of one human for another!” was the matter-of-fact reply. ‘‘I knew you were not guilty, and made up my mind they should not have you. You will have to fight shy, though. The Tribunal is a power, and then, too, you don’t know all the things about Hunki- Dori camp!” Her language was not the slang of the camp. ‘One would naturally suppose that I wouldn’t want to after the experiences of to-night!” Sam responded as he arose to his feet. “Yet you do!” Placer Poll said, more posi- tively than interrogatively. ‘* Perhaps. I mus‘ not neglect to thank you for thus releasing me, I° am only afraid it will get you into trouble.” ‘“Never fear. The folks of Hunki-Dori don’t bother me much. They know I am about the safest kind of a girl to let alone rather than quar- rel with, Let’s Jisten!” They did so. Nosound was heard of the returning guards. “JT don’t reckon they'll turn up for a half- hour!” Polly said, shooting the slide of her lan- tern and letting forth a bar of light. ‘ One drink ain’t a drop, scarcely, for them galoots. We'll investigate our prison, now!” Here she dropped again into the vernacular of the mines, The investigation did not disclose anything particularly encouraging. The cabin walls were of logs, the floor was of logs, and the roof was of logs, The place had evidently been built by some man who meant to live in nerfect safety. The door was one great slab, hinged and hung on the outside. Apparently it would have with- stood the siege of a battering-ram. ~ The window was but a small aperture, much oe 1 eS eS eS eee too narrow to escape through, could it have been reached. ‘‘The prospect is dubious!” Sealskin Sam had to admit, glancing at his fair companion. ‘ Ds you see any possible chance for our escap- ing? “Not at present,” composedly, ‘TI ain’t de- spairin’ yet, though. Thet ain’t my way.” Sam suddenly thought of something which, co excitement of his arrest, had escaped his mind. ‘““My cane!” he ejaculated. what became of it?” * Yes. “Ma’m’selle Circe had it the last I saw of it. ‘“Who is that woman?’ the Sparkler de- manded, ‘*T know no more than that she is said to have come here when Hunki-Dori was but a patch to its present size in company with a dis- solute fellow named Jack Dean, who announced her to be his sister. He built the Cremonia. Afterward he was shot, and since then she has run the Cremonia, and has always been half- masked as you saw her,” The Sparkler was silent for a few moments— deep in thought, evidently. **T must recover my cane if I get out of this!” he said, directly. ‘By the way, would you consider it impertinent if I were to be so curi- ous as to ask you what you are doing in Hunki- Dori in your present attire? I judge that you have not always been accustomed to this sort of l'fe and the associations that are in keeping with it.” ‘¢ Perhaps not!” she replied. ‘‘ Tt is, however, a secret which I cannot explain to any one. Here, Iam Placer Poll—a wild, devil-may-care sort*of creature—a waif of the mines; a friend to friends, and one whom few men care to insult. When they do—well, there is a way to settle such things, even where there is no law, Why I lead this life, no one has, to my knowledge, ever truthfu.ly guessed. The secret will die with me. Iam simply Placer Poll.” Sealskin Sam did not press the matter further —knowing it would be quite useless. She was one of those many women with a past—a bitter one, perhaps—who could fight her own way in life, and preserve her secrets and her honor. , And yet she was but a girl. “Do you know they. were both silent several minutes. Deep sagt t evidently had possession of their minds. ark! Footsteps were approaching. + The guards are coming back!” Polly said, com- pressing her lips. ‘‘I must douse the glim!” The guards were coming back. One of them soon pounded on the door loudly. ‘* Phat tha devil be yez doin’ wid the light in thaire?” Murphy’s voice cried. ‘“None of your business!” Sealskin Sam re- torted, reaching over and taking a pistol from Poily’s belt, he having lost his own at the time of his capture, \ ‘Be ready!” he added to the girl. ‘“ None av me bizness, is it?” repeated ay fe gs Bedad, I’ve a moind to give ye the toe of my boot. ‘* Bah! get out, you Irish loafer. You're noth- in’ but a Mick!” ‘¢ Dye hear the lilzes av him now?” the Hiber- nian queried of his companion. ‘“ Faith, an’ it’s a moind I have to be afther goin’ in an’ blackin’ his eye for him.” ‘Tt wouldn’t do him any hurt, T’ll agree!” ac- quiesced the other man, ‘‘ Wemightgo in any- how, and see if everything is all right. ’ “Nary time, me boy !” the Irishman declared, weakening. ‘‘It’s nary a scrape ye'll get me into. The divil’s imp moight be loose, an’ w’u'd ley the two av us out.” After that they relapsed into silence. ‘A failure. They’re too keen!” Sam whis- eta to his comrade, Placer Pcll, ‘I thought could get them to open up shop in that way!” ‘* Little hope. Wemightas well sit down and take it easy!” E They did sit down, and relapsed into silence. Thus the wild November night wore on, and there seemed no possible chance of their making their escape. 2 Placer Poll’s brave act was likely to get her into trouble yet! es. Ss yaeke | CHAPTER IX, THE DECREE OF DEATH. THE entrance of Lieutenant Lee to the Coun- bs cil-chamber of the Tribunal of Ten, caused not a little curiosity, for, although he was Sion at secretly be a member of the organization, he had never before visited tbe headquarters ib / } / a wy ine Ds snl ere Pac be a. 4b as Cae Oo Cr oR a! Ae 3 ’ os ‘ re ~~ ¥ - PAs ee ‘ ay
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another portion of the band known as Division 2, whose principal work it was to operate upon the road. : , Captain A arose and extended his hand, which the heutenant shook heartily, at the same time | looking over the erowd. . ‘Well?’ the captain demanded, interroga- tively, ‘‘ what brings you here? Has anything gone wrong?” ‘Wrong? Well, I should say so!” and the yourlg man shrugged his shoulders. ‘‘ What do you suppose has happened?” “IT haven't the slightest idea!” “T presume not. The fact has been betrayed to my superior officer that I am connected with the mountain band. Consequently I have had : to desert from the army, and am now an outlaw om in every sense.” ~ The captain laughed lightly. ‘“‘ Why, that’s nothing wonderful. You were really an outlaw before—how much worse are you now?” ‘* A devilish sight worse. Orders have been 4 issued for my arrest, and you can judge what a ss court-martial would do for me, sir. ’m a hunted +3 man!” 4 ‘We are all hunted, for that matter! They don’t seem to catch on to us very lively.” ‘* Be not too sure of your safety. A company of cavalry has been detailed to search for me, and if more is needed they will be supplied. Scouts have also been sent out after me!” The captain looked thoughtful for a few mo- ments. ** Who squealed on you?” he asked. “You might know!” Lee sneered—‘‘ the one who would have been dead long ago, had I had my way!” “Walter Bent?” ‘Ay! Walter Bent, the sleuth-hound of the West, who has sworn to have my life and yours!” ** How did he find it out?” - “Tow do I know? He found it out, at any rate, and telegraphed my regiment from Olym- phia, ordering my arrest. The thoughtfulness of a friend, only, helped me to escape.” ‘** Have you been to the Den?” “Yes. I traveled a hundred miles more than needed, so as to make the place and leave no ‘trail behind. At the Den another disappoint- ment greeted me.” , ** What?” the captain demanded, excitedly. ‘* What could you expect?” he gritted. ‘‘ The game was gone!” ih ‘** Gone?” echoed the captain, in undisguised ~\ astonishment. + ' ‘Yes, gone! If she is not captured there will be some blood spilled.” ‘¢ Are the boys searching for her?” ‘A couple cf the shrewdest The rest are keeping to the Den for fear of being run down by the cavalry and scouts.” ¥ ‘“‘ She may come here!” : “T believe it more than probable that she will.” “Then we will keep a sharp outlook for her. By the way, is there anything more about Wal- ter Bent?” : “Fay. “Yes. He has, I believe, a commission from the Government to come here and break up this band.” matter. an assumed K name? You will remember I have never seen ia more than a photograph of him!” _ ; r “He has an alias. It is, I believe, Sealskin Sam, and he wears a handsome sealskin ulster!” “ Aha!” the captain cried, bringing bis hands together. We have the honor of having the gentleman already caged, in our own camp!” “ What?” | “Sealskin Sam is locked up in the strong cabin, and will bo tried in the morning, on the charge of being the actual leader and chief of the Tribunal of Ten! Ha—ha!” and he laughed . merrily, pag : * * Then he must not live till morning !” Ten of the twelve men uttered this verdict, in grim decisive tones. “Bravo? Larry Lee approved. “Tam with you in that, We'ye got this devil by the horns, _and if we give him an inch he will gain a fur- er i : _“ What dye say now, Cap?” sneered Letter C, while Letter B laughed with sarcasm, The captain did not reply for a moment—then Does he travel under he looked up, amd said: [suppose your verdict is law here, gentle- men, and his fate is irrevocably sealed. t shall it be?” a ~~ “Not lynch law!” Letter C decided. “It might attract too much attention, and might, also, get some of us into trouble!” announced, “Aha! that puts a different phase to the Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. ' Hunki-Dori, but had confined his connection to | Jt can easily be settled!” B assured. ‘C, you and I will do the job!” , ‘**T ain’t purtic’ler fond about it, if ye please,” | C demurred. “Tl fill your place, then!” Lieutenant Lee want to make sure it is paid.” “Tf it is so decided, we will adjourn the meet- ing until to-morrow night!” the captain pro- claimed. ‘‘I beg of you gents, if you do the job, to make no bungling about it that will be | a discredit, or in any way implicate any of us in the transaction, as regards our private life!” The meeting then adjourned. Half an hour later, two forms, enveloped in hooded cloaks that nearly hid their faces, crept toward the primitive cabin-jail, bent on a mur- derous mission. Each man grasped a revolver, ready for use, and other weapons studded their respective belts. * Won’t there be danger,” Lee’s companion asked, ‘‘ of pistol-reports being heard? It might | give us trouble.” ‘* Nonsense!” was the retort. ‘*The contents of both our revolvers can be dischareed into his carcass in a second, and we sball have ample time to get out of reach of detection.” They went on and reached the cabin-door. All was dark and silent. The guards were nowhere to be seen! A suspicion of the truth flashed across Lee’s mind. He drew a dark-lantern, shot the slide, and flashed the bolt of light about. He then examined the door. It was unlocked. With a curse he flung it open. A glance proved that the cabin was indeed untenanted! ‘* By all the furies! the scoundrel has es- caped!” Lee cried, furiously. ‘‘ Again have I been cheated of my vengeance!” . ‘¢ How could he escape?” his companion asked. ¥E Two stout miners were put here to guard the door, ‘*T owe the fellow a grudge, and | ‘* Tl] show ye!” he roared. wi’? you, Placer Poll!” “ Have ye? Then transact it at a proper dis- tance, 1f you please. What d’ye want?” “T want you! Et looks suspicious that you hed somethin’ ter do wi’ the escape o’ Sealskin Sam, bein’s you took his part last night, an’ et becomes my dooty ter take ye in!” ‘** You take me in, Lije Landers,” and the girl burst into a peal of laughter. ‘‘ With what a are you vested to arrest me on suspicion, ‘d like to know?” ““Pm_ sheriff, constable an’ everything for “Pve got bizness | this hyer camp!” ‘Ye ain’t nothin’ o’ the kind. There’s never been an officer of the law elected or appointed here. Isn’t that so, Mr. Clarkson?” ** Precisely so!” Clarkson replied. “*T don’t keer a tinker’s darn. I’m ther chief ,o’ Vigilantes, an’ this gal is suspicioned of abet- tin’ a criminal to escape, an’ I want her. She’s got ter be locked up!” ‘* What! you lock me up, Lije Landers? Well, I guess not! Ef ye want ter know how the Sparkler escaped go find out of Muggins and Murphy—don’t come a-buzzin’ around me, ye big buzzard!” ‘*-You won't come, eh?” Landers demanded, an evil glitter in his eye. ‘“Of course I won’t!” and Poll’s eyes flashed with fast rising anger. “Durn yer picter, I'll take ye, then!” He took a step forward, but hesitated as he saw a revolver gleaming in her hand, | | ders!” he said. *“Come on!” she cried. ‘“‘If you want yer town-clock tinkered you've struck the right jeweler this time.” ‘“Cuss ye!” Landers gasped, not knowing what to do. Young Clarkson now interfered, authorita- tively. “You'd better go about your business, Lan- “The girl has done nothing, and, more than that, you have no business trying to arrest her. So be off with you, or I'll take the law into my own hands and have you put in the jug!” A dark scowl clouded the Vigilante’s face, for he knew that young Clarkson would make good ‘Bah! the’ accursed sport is never without ; his promise were further provocation given bim, money. He has bribed the guards, and | they’ve all skipped together.” “What shall be done? A general alarm should be given.” ‘Nonsense! Do you want to betray the fact that we were prowling around here? Nothin could be done, if an alarm was raised, as Seal- skin Sam has taken good care to get himself well away from here, long ere this, Just let matters rest as they are, until morning. Some one will discover the thing.” They soon after separated, each going in a different direction. , Lieutenant Lee had spoken truly, It was barely daybreak, when a miner made the discovery of the Sparkler’s escape and sent out a general alarm. In a half-hour the whole camp was aware of the fact that the suave gent in sealskin had slipped beyond their reach—vanished, as by the wave of a magic wand. : The magicians of the occasion, however, were undoubtedly the two guards, Muggins and Mur- phy, as no trace of those worthies could be ound. | The escape excited much comnient, and not a little indignation on tbe part of ‘some, and sev- eral individuals spread the impression that Seal- skin Sam’s escape was all-sufficient proof that he was guilty of what was charged against him —of being the leader of the notorious Tribunal of Ten. Talk will influence, and asa consequence, as the feverish excitement waxed hotter, it became pretty generally believed that such really was the case. The one self-important individual of the town, Lion Lije Landers, was in a terrible passion, and started in circulation a paper, soliciting contri- butions toward raising a hig reward for Sealskin Sam’s capture, dead or alive, Mr. Landers then paid a visit to the sbanty where Placer Poll made her home with a miner's family. She was not in, but he continued his search, and finally found her standing in front of the office of the Clarkson Mining Co., engaged in chatting with the Junior member of the firm, Mr. Leroy Clarkson. | ; Straight up to the girl the Vigilante chief str8de, with pompous mien, and endeavored to clap his hand « on her shoulder, but she eluded hi “Oh! no ye don’t, Lije Landers!” she cried, mockingly, ‘‘ Hands off, if ye please!” e was one of the most popular fellows in Hunki-Dori camp, liked by nearly everyhody, and was santo by his subordinates as a kind and easy-going taskmaster, when obeyed, but a very ugly customer when any one attempted to be treacherous or abusive to bim. ‘“°Tain’t a fair shake, nohow!” Landers growl- ed, turning on hisheel todepart. ‘ Ef criminals git off this easy, the Lord cnly knows what will become o’ this hyer town!” He trudged away, evidently with the most in- tense dissatisfaction, followed by a mocking laugh from the girl sport. ‘*T had a mind to plug him, as it was!” she de- clared. ‘‘Tll bet, if the truth were known he knows as much about the Tribunal of Ten asany one else.” ‘* Perhaps!” Leroy Clerkson said, absently. “‘ But, by the way, Miss Polly, you haven't given me an answer tomy proposition. Donotsay no, This wild sort of life isnot suitable for one as fair as you. Adopt tke attire of your s’x, and accept a home with us, as my sister Bertie’s com- pavion. We have all talked it over, and would like to lift you out of the rough world you now live in.” ‘*T can never sufficiently express my gratitude for your kind offer, Nr, Clarkson, for I believe it to be an honest, kindly and considerate one, but I cannot accept; nor can I comprehend why you bkave taken such an interest inme. Iam a waif of the mines, with no other name or past than that by which I am known here, Oh no;I could never thipk of such a thing as accepting» your offer, But. believe me, Iam deeply, truly grateful!” and tears camé into her beautiful eyes. MN But, pray, consider!” he persisted; ‘* we know you must have another rame— must have a past, and very likely secrets that may shadow it; but let all that be forgotten. Some day you might be able to explain, Then, too, were you to be- come an inmate of our home, I—I—I hope—” She looked at him so quickly that he left the balance of the sentence unuttered. He was gaz- ing into her face eagerly, his eyes glowing with ovis Det t bone? h id, quiet] “T will **Don’t hope,” she , quietly. will be frank wit you, Mr. Giarkson—it is not worth your while. I repeat, I am very grateful for the many little courtesies you hare paid me—feel highly honored, in fact—but the hope you would se expressed would far better remain a un- spoken. ; ak aE ——————————————— ee EE
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» yy -Here’s your money—four fifties each. te ee eg ort ai 10° “Ah! Itis he then, you fancy!” and his eyes | flashed across the street, to the office of the Seldens. ‘*Oh, no!” she laughed, gayly. ‘‘ Not so bad | as that! But, your father iscalling you, sir, and | I will not detain you.” , And, nodding, she walked away, while Leroy | Clarkson entered the office, with a moody brow. CHAPTER X. / A TRAITOR’S DOOM. SEALSKIN Sam had effected his and Placer Poll’s escape in the manner that people natural- ly supposed. ? He had bribed the two guards. The idea had occurred to him as he and the | girl sport sat in silence on the floor of the cabin. He had a considerable sum of money with him—why could he not use it as the key to his liberty? Both guards were probably hard-working miners, who could save little or nothing out of | their wages. Perhaps a bird in the hand would | be worth two in the bush to them? | ““T say, Murphy!” he called out. 7 Weil, phat is it?” “Ts it cold out?” Not a bit! not a bit, me boy!” was the dry answer, “1t’s cold here. I'd like to get out and exer- cise a bit,” ““Tt’s tight-rope exercise you'll be gittin’ in the mornin’, shure.” “Ts that so? How would you like to stretch hemp, Murphy?” “Divil a bit w’u’d I like it!” ‘Then how d’ye think I’m fixed?” ‘¢ Shure, it’s a bad lookout yez have.” “‘T should murmur! But, ye see, I don’t in- tend to dang’e. How long have you been work- ing in the mines?” ‘Thrae months—me an’ Muggins, here,” was the answer. ‘“‘And how much have you laid by for a rainy day?” ‘*Waix! divil a cent at all, at all!” ** And if you were to remain here three more months, you’d not likely be any richer?” ‘* Shure, it’s sinsible yer ’re shpakin’ now, me laddy-buck!” **Of course Iam. Now, I'll tell you what I'll do. You and Muggins release me from here, and I'll give you each a hundred dollars, and you can accompany me into the mountains to a safe place, where you can remain until you get ready to seek another location.” The two guards consulted together in low tones for several moments, Here wasachance to make a “stake” that would help them out of the wild West, which they were in nowise loth to leave. ‘*Make it two hundred apiece; and it’s a go!” Muggins cried. “Very well. Let me out, and the money shall be yours!” the Sparkler answered. To Placer Poll he ganiea: “You remain here till I’m gone, The door shall be left open. I will see you later.” She put out her hand, but was silent. He fancied a tremor shook it, as he pressed it in his own. ‘Ther’ ain’t no shenan about this?’ Mug- ins demanded. “It’s square, dead open-an’- shet? **Of course. You have my word of honor!” Sam replied, a “Then it’s a bargain, Murphy, unlock the oor!” A moment later the door swung open, and Sam stepped into the open air—free! The guardsstarted back in surprise. “How tha divil did yez git loose?’ Murphy _ demanded, suspiciously. ‘“Kasy enough. It takes more than an or- dinary bed-cord to hold Sealskin Sam, agiinens ow, follow me, for this camp won’t be healthy for you!” The miners obeyed, full well realizing that Sam had spoken the truth, Leaving the mining-camp behind, the Spark- ler strode rapidly away up the gulch, at a rate of speed that made his followers “ hump” them- selves to keep up with him. Full an hour he continued on, without paus- ing, and then stood before the mouth of a small cavern, far up among pines and jagged rocks of the mountain. ‘Here we are safe!” he said. had better remain here until the search blows over, and then skip for parts unknown. It will be the healthiest thing you can do!” _“* How about you?” Mugginsasked, . rar “You fellows | emt ae - a — ry “* Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. A strange sort of laugh escaped the handsome man. ‘I? Why, I shall stay here in the vicinity of Hunki-Dori until the Tribunal of Ten is broken up, and several wrongs are righted—several debts of vengeance paid!” He had brought Placer Poll’s lantern with him; be turned on the light, and they all step- ped into the cave. It proved to be a dry, warm place, and by Sam’s direction a fire was soon burning bright- ly, the smoke escaping up through the crevices. Sam threw himself down before the fire, and lay gazing thoughtfully into it, rev ewing, in mind, what had already passed since his com- ing to Hunki-Dori. Muggins and Murphy also seated themselves upon the rocky floor, and producing a pack of ‘cards began to play the game of casino. The occasional glances at the Sparkler he did not notice. | : He felt wearied, not having had any sleep for thirty-six hours, and the warmth of the fire soon had the effect of lulling him into a state of repose, Still the miners played on. The loud, breathing of the sport finally at- tracted their attention. He was sleeping soundly, and his face wore a pleasant expression. Murphy looked at Muggins. “Why not nab him ag’in, bedad? There'll be a big reward for the loikes av him.” ““T was thinkin’ the same thing, Pat. But, how would we work it?” “Easy enough. Swear that Placer Poll kiv- ered us, an’ forced us to let him out. Thin we gave chase an’ captured him again.” ‘*Good idea! Have ye got any rope?” “Divil/a bit; but Ihave some wire, an’ it’s better.” He took some serviceable wrapping wire from his pocket and exhibited it in triumph. “That will do! Give me apiece. We shall have to go at this carefully!” _Sealskin Sam, however, lay in an admirable position to be captured. His feet were close to- gether and his hands were clasped. «¢ Murphy took the job of fastening his wrists together, jwhile Muggins attended to the feet. t was a delicate undertaking to accomplish without awakening him, but it was soon done, and the two captors arose and surveyed their work proudly. | ‘¢ A fat raise we'll make!” Muggins chuckled. ‘Faith, an’ shure we will,” Murphy agreed. ‘“‘ Hi, there! turn yer back forninst me, mon— thaer’s a worrum a-crawlin’ on it!” Muggins quickly obeyed, having a great hor- ror of vermin species, ; It was a fatal action. Murphy suddenly shoved his revolver against tbe back of his companion’s head and fired, Uttering a piercing cry, Muggins fell forward upon his face—dead! The report and cry awakened Sealskin Sam, and finding himself powerless, a glance was sufficient to make him understand the situation, Murphy dropped the reyolver and drew a knife, as he stepped toward the anh “‘There’s a reward for the loikes av ye, dead or alive!” he cried, a wolfish glitter in his eyes, ‘an’ begorra, it’s not poor I’m goin’ to be all me days. You're as slippery as tha divil himsilf, an’ I'll take ye, dead!’ He leaned forward, glaring down into the Sparkler’s face, his murderous blade upraised to strike; but at that instant a tremendous Sees dog leaped into the cave with a savage ark, ‘Hero! Thank God!” Sealskin Sam cried. Murphy wheeled around in alarm as the huge mastiff caught him by the throat, knocking the weapon from his hand. It was now ‘‘ good-by ” Murphy. CHAPTER XI. A STORY OF THE PAST. Ir now becomes our duty, in the interest: of our romance, to go back toa scene at the Selden mansion, which occurred in the mine-owner’s rivate room after he and Bolivar Bullwhack ascended to that cosey apartment from the parlor, as related in a previous chapter. The face of the giant was smiling and tri- umphant; the face of the mine-owner, on the contrary, was scowling and disagreeable, his eyes gleaming, with malignant evil in their depths. ‘ ‘ Well?” he said, pointing out a chair to Bull- whack, and i a student-lamp reflected a circle of golden light, “You have dared to come here! What now?” ‘ : ‘ } CO ey, ae oe Te himself at a table on which | sts ro — _ cascades atiettimadtiaien-ersdemermamartae ain ac ee a ~y » Bullwhack took a greasy pouch from his pocket, and filled his mouth with a huge chew of fine-cut, munched away on it awhile, and then squinted one eye and regarded Ebenezer Selden with a speculative stare. ‘*Thet ‘brotherly’ racket war warn’t it?” he observed. ‘*More clever than the most of your actions. You had to make a blunder toward the last!” ‘*The gal didn’t notice it,” " ‘Of course she did. She’s no blockhead, you , may bet.” b ** What does she know?” and the giant grinned good-naturedly. “I have given both her and Sardon a hint, and I think they understand.” **Oh! I’ allow thar’ll be some kickin’, but I ken’t help it. The time is come, an’ it hes got ter be done!” Eben compressed his lips grimly. ** In God’s name why do you not spare them a little longer?” he gritted. ‘*Not much. Et ain’t my natur’!” ** You needn’t tell one of that. Your face be trays your ugliness fast enough.” “If I am any uglier than you I'll eat my shirt. “You have grown worse since we met last. Eben, ye,old sucker, I want lucre.” “Yow ll get none from me.” **Oh! won’t I? Neow I ain’t so sart)in sure about it. I hope ye don’t calkylate Dve been as still as mice all these fleetin’ years, months, days, an’ weeks? I’ve found out a few things about you.” “ Bah! what?” “First, murder, Second, abduction. Third, theft. Fourth, desertion and corruption. Fifth, robbery, and, lastly, a conglomeration of sins that would fill a caterlogue!” ‘**Pshaw! you’ve been drinking too much.” ““Nary: ‘The fact is, Eben, unless your bank- account is rather bulky yer coil o’ cordage aire unwindin’ purty near to the end.” Selden lit a_ stubby clay pipe, tipped back in his chair, and blew a cloud of smoke ceiling- ward, ‘* Now, look here,” he said. ‘I am a rich and influential man, and you are a ruffianly beggar. Supposing, for instance, I was to refuse you one red cent—what would you, or could you do . about it, sir?” j } The same triumphant leer was upon the giant’s a purty good, ce. ‘* What c’u’d I do?” he repeated, closing one eye, and aiming a squirt of tobacco-juice at the fire-place. ‘‘ Waal, that depends, Will ye listen to me all through, ef I tell ye?” Eben Selden’s mood seemed changing from ill-feeling to good-nature, e arose, went to the door, looked out, came back, and was seated. ‘*Go ahead!” he said, drawing an extra cloud of smoke from his pipe. ‘‘ My ears are not of abnormal size, but they are attentive.” Bolivar Bullwhack evidently did not admire the rather cool way the mine-owner had adopt- ed, He gave a sharp glance around the room, as if to see if there were convenient places for eavesdroppers; then, after a moment, he spoke: ‘* Well, ye seem desirous 0’ drawin’ me out, an’ I’m goin’ ter let ye draw. Ye needn't inter- rupt me, more’n to say yesor no, when I require. Reckerlect, ’'m goin’ ter tell ye what I know, an’ ye needn’t try no funny bizness on me, sech as killin’ me, fer, Vl tell ye why beforehand. Ye parseeve that I've got my right hand in my right-hand pocket, an’ thet aire hand aire clutchin’ a ‘ bull-dog’ revolver w’ot aire leveled straight at yer heart, as square asa geograffy, Ef ye try any munk’y bizness wi’ yer’s truly, Bolivar’ Bullwhack, Tl apprise ye aforehand thet ye get beautifully left.” “Goon!” Selden called out, with a compres- sion of the lips. ‘“‘Keerect. Waal, to begin with, it war sev- eral years ago when we first met, warn’t it?” “Yes,” Selden replied, stolidly. ““We war some years younger than. now,” & Bullwhack pursued, ‘‘ Thar warn’t so many _ | crow’s tracks on our faces—not a wart on ther § proboscis 0’ either of us, I reckon we must ha” stepped on toads when we war young, Eben, a which accounts fer the warts,” **Go on. Come to the head,” * Like a bile on yer neck, eh! Well, hyer goes: It hogs ears ago. We war both young purty. and warn’t so big, by long odds. as ye are w aware. Our first acquaintance—let me see—I war trampin’ along a country road in Pennsyl- _ vania, when I heerd a carriage a-comin’, dodged i a oF bushes, i carriage do but come along an’ stop in | my hidin’-place, ‘Ther’ wasa man aa? worn - we ee a | hedn’t drunk so much Pog iuicniee a vf ' v2 What did thet mont oF ae oO ee Le ECE PE ist = ; hers eed > = . Salem thi ian Od =e OS; od ~ =. a Se a eset tint aa
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in it, an’ both were werry la-lah—that is to say, werry upper notch, jedgin’ by looks. ** “Now, Leonora,’ ther man said, ‘ this thing has gone farenough. J want your answer,’ He _ spoke real mad like. '. *Tuther,’ answered the gal, ‘my answer is the same as before—no! I may as well be plain with you. I am engaged to Bartley Bryant. He will take me, and be a protector of my poor dead husband’s child, and I am content.’ ; ‘“* Ver’ content, aire ye? Luther growled. 5 ‘Let me tell ye that your dream is a mockery, then. Noone knows of this drive to-day. Iam mesg oing to kill you, and cheat my rival of his prey. Rene child shall follow you, Leonora.’ *She put up her hands then, but he did not hesitate. His knife flashed through the air, and J.eonora died immegetly. She war pitched out o’ the carriage, an’ you—you, Luther, driv’ fast away!” The face of Ebenezer Selden remained stone- like in its composure. **Go on,” he said, with a yawn. *T found out who ye war, reckonin’ mebbe I could salt some ee er out o’ you. Yewar poor, but were likely to inherit a good boodle in due time. I wrote ye what I had seen, but didn’t mention givin’ ye away. I war content ter wait. The next timeI met you war in St. Louis. You war then on the prisoner’s dock fer petty theft—an’ ye war all broke up, eh?” Selden nodded. , “You have a keen memory,” he admitted, ews oS OD POE ett Me Hor > oe . eS Sk teh ils ee aa grrs Fe — grimly. “y Oh, you bet I hev! My wad war numer- ous then, so I got ye off at light bail, an’ we slid together. ou slipped me, tho’—an’ I got married. I would ’a’ had a good future, meb- be, only, like the snake ye aire, you crept in, an’ furst I knew, I war minus a wife. It warn’t Jong. I trailed ye, an’ once more found nand dipped in blood. Ye had killed her /” An expression of pain passed over Selden’s é A oO >. =e Ba: Saleh yer part = ‘ace, Bullwhack paid no attention to it. “ An’ still I war content,” he went on—“‘all I wanted war ter see ye git rich. _ I might relate avollum o’ other criminal rackets ye had, but Tl tech only on ther main ones, ter save time. I hunted ye up, an’ fer a time we war friends. Ye unfolded ter me a secret. Yer rich uncle war about ter step out, an’ ef ye were married an’ settled down, an’ hed children—at least two —he proposed ter make ye his heir. But nary a chick ner a child did ye hev, an’ in yer di- lemma ye turned to me, I loaned ye mine, you promisin’ ter fetch ’em up ter votin’ age in t-class shape.” — ‘* Haven’t I done it?’ Eben Selden hissed, sav- agely. ats reck’ I haven’t seen the boy, but ther gal looks like she might hev jest popped out o’ a dress- maker’s shop. But, let me g6 on, When yer _ uncle amble off, ye found, ter yer sorrer, thet the thing weren’t goin’ ter sagaciate, He hed left his cool half-a-milyun ter the kids, but it weren’t to tech ’em, till the youngest war plum squar’ eu age.” Selden drew a long breath. “The only thing fer you todo were ter hang on ter "em, an’ git hold of the boodle, when they were of age.” _ ‘ “Yes, an’ Pll have it!” Selden gritted, fiercely, “T’ve bided my time, and shall have my re- ward. Everything: is fixed in readiness, and the minute the girlis of age and signs the aly I am willing you should have your children back.’ «Oh, how clever! Wouldn't thet be a reg’lar blood-poodin’? When’s the girl of age?” ** Soon, : “T ain't fergitful o’ thet. Yet it aire sum time, too. She lacks a few year yet, Eben.” “That matters not. She is misinformed as toher age. Ina couple of days she will be able _ to swear she is twenty-one.” “Ho! ho! that’s yer racket, eh? Waal, I per- rAd ’ sume I might sp'ile it, eh? But I ain’t done wi’ ¢ et yet, Eben. The daughter of Leonora 1 lives, and knows of your crime, an’ has sworn to wreak eenpeance on you,” ‘Bah! am Ia baby to fear a weak woman?” _. “Maybe not, But, Leonora’s gal is not a weak woman. Cast upon the world, her life hes _ been a rough one, an’ she has lost the quips an’ She seeks ven- “ _ quirleques of feminine wimmen. - geance.” is _ “ Let her seek!” f ‘* But she aire in this very camp en started, !? . rah but don’t know VAG » See ee eee Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. cc Ah {” | ‘A relief, eh? Waal, I should faint! Ef she | knew ye war heer, I opine thar would be blood spilt, somewhat, T ken easily put her on yer track, ef ye want me to.” ‘* You needn’t mind!” Selden returned. ‘* Are you done?” 4 Not quite. I’ve another thing or two to “ Be brief then.” “T will, What man, of all your enemies, do you fear most?” ** None of them!” ‘You don’t, eh?” **T do not fear God, man or devil!” ms AR hog Bartley Bryant war to confront you? How d’ye think ye would feel?” ‘**T do not think I should quail.” ‘Waal, you’re queer. I should almost shiver my socks off, ef I war you!” Selden laughed in his old cracked voice. His composure, evidently, was not so great as he as- sumed, ' ‘Go on!” was his mechanicalanswer. ‘' Talk me to death if you like,” . “ll try my best Eben, T hev a few remarks ter make consarnin’ Bartley Bryant and ther brother of one Sadie Southwell!” CHAPTER XII. BULLWUACK’S PRICE, Tur face of Eben Selden suddenly !changed color, as the giant uttered the last name. “What!” he gasped. ‘‘ What do you know about—” “All!” Bullwhack assured, with one of his peculiar grins—‘‘all, dear Ebenezer. Shall I explain? I might as well, as 1 see that your memory is very defective, “To begin with: There was a pleasant leetle home, once upon a time, down among ther pine- clad hills of Nebraska, where dwelt a trio of persons named Southwell. The only living parent was a decrepit old man 0’ seventy years; then thar war a son an’ daughter. The son war a hunter, miner, and so forth, an’ kept the family supplied wi’ ther necessaries 0’ life; the gal, young, beautiful an’ charmin’, was the housekeeper.’ D’ye reckernize_the tint o’ my Michael-Angelo-like picter, Eben? Well, a great, an’ pompous, an’ learned man, gained access to thet home, an’ courted the girl—daz- zled her wi’ his pictures o’ aristocratic life, A marriage war secretly performed. It war in- tended to be a mock marriage!” ‘¢ Intended |” Eben Selden gasped in uttering the word, ‘Yas, intended, so fur as you aire concerned, Ebenezer, an’ ye know it/ Scheming old vil- lain that you are, you never intended to make the innocent. tru:tin’ girl your wife!” ‘‘ Nor did I” was the fierce answer. ‘<Tll beg ter tip ye a cross-eyed smile on that. Ye did marry her, an’ she an’ her child aire yours, an’ come in fer yours when you turn up yer toes!” ‘+ Tt’s false as hell itself!” _ “Kain’t say "bout that, fer I’ve never bin there, but ye kin bet on my bein’ right. I war watchin’ ye them days, an’ I war yer evil genius then, When ye hired yer rascally nephew, Larry Lee, to furnish a snide instead of a gini- wine: preacher, Larry, dear boy, didn’t fill the bill! ‘No, sir-ee! A peculiar sort o’ inderwidual, named Bollivar Bullwhack, got Larry so b’ilin drunk be couldn’t hey told a minister frum a stone quarry, an’ a veal minister war sent an’ did the job!” Selden’s eyes fairly blazed. “You accursed ruffian—you did this?’ he hissed, venomously, “Waal, I should cough up a cat!” Bullwhack assured—‘ but I let the sarcus go on. My bub- ble warn’t ready ter burst, jest then. Yer chil- dren war at college—thet is, mine were—an’ ye war livin’ in clover, you hardened old sivner! “Waal, things went on until forthcoming events began to cast their shadows—then ye skipped, Ebenezer, like a guilty son-of-a-gun, leavin’ behind ye 4 letter tellin’ her ye war tired o’ her—her, the sweetest angel in Nebraska—an’ thet ther marriage wer’ only a mockery!” For the first time during his narration, the face of the giant became stern, and he glared at Selden in a way that made the detestable old villain feel very uncomfortable. The mine- owner’s usually florid face now showed a shade of pallor, ' bah 6 e be- | onl 4 ‘) re fis hy ie jg far oebtets f Peet Oe a, yee rire a _ we. ? J a Fs 2 4 ‘ Lis pas. ——— 4, wy pezishing upon the prairie. By whom, do you: € suppose?” ** How do I know?” ‘* By Bartley Bryant, at that time a ranch- owner in this Territory. She was taken to his» home, but was stolen away by Larry Lee, and. has not been heard from since, I doubt if Bry- ant told her her child lived, for he gave it to 2 erson who had once known the Southwells, and rom whom he learned of yer perfidy an’ Sadie’s. wrongs!” ‘* Where is the child?” 4 “Safe! that’s enuff fer ye to know. But, let: me goback: Sadie hed another lover, whomshe hos fer you. Mebbe you hev heard o’ him?” o! ‘“‘Waal, his name war Walter Bent. Arter- Sadie’s disappearance, several o’ those who hed knew her got together—Bent, an’ her brother, among ’em—an’ took a solemn oath never to rest. until your death paid their penalty o’ yer treat- ment o’ Sadie!” Ebenezer Selden arose from his chair, and paced the floor, his brows contracted, his eyes: wearing a scared look, ‘* Who are they?” he demanded, fiercely turn-- ing toward the giant. “Waal, Eben, J aire one!” “You! Bah!” ‘¢ T-me, Bollivar Bullwhack, is one.” ** Who else?” “Well, [ dunno whether I better let on ter you or not. Guess I will, however. Walter- Bent is number two.” ‘* Yes!” **Gerald Southwell is three.” “ec Yes,” ‘*Salem Sphinx is four,” The mine-owner started. ‘Salem Sphinx, the gambler?” he ejaculated. ‘Why, I have known him for months!” ““Mebbe. But, very likely, to your sorrow.. He and Leonora’s gal are after you.” “Oh! Well, goon! Who else?” Ther’ may be others, but I presume, if so,. they aire in the employ of Walter Bent! By the way, however, your most vehement enemy aire here—has been heer fer some time!” Eben Selden looked at the giant searchingly. He then arose, went to a safe in one corner of the room, and presently returned with a roll of Wirawicd 7, beh DO alelia) 4' ills, “Who?” he tersely demanded, throwing dowm a fifty-dollar note before the giant, on the table. “Bartley Bryant!” Bullwhack answered.. 4 eprotnnly, know him as Maurice Clark-. son The mine-owner uttered an oath, “Great God! Colonel Clarkson—impossible!™ ‘““Nary a time, dear Eben! I also see’d a *spectable-lookin’ chap at the Cremonia, ter- night, from St. Louis. I sized him up, an’ reck-- oned he wanted a feller 0’ about your size, f counterfeitin’ or somethin’ o’ the sort, dowm. thar, So ye see thet yer bale o’ hay aire gittin” Py reduced purty nigh ter the last spear.” tea ‘So it would seem!” Selden replied, “I am not frightened, though!” ws “*T shed be, ef I war ye. Ef my idears ain't lost their origin, most all yer enemies aire in Tae this hyer very camp o’ Hunki-Dori. Clarkson ye | an’ Bent both ar’ on hand,” “Yes; Bent is here, and im limbo. He is. ee Sealskin Sam!” © my “Correct. But he ain’t in limbo,” 1) Jo ‘He is, Isaw him locked up just before you; honored me with this visit. If he gets, out, ‘. alive, it will be queer.” a! ‘“‘1¢'ll be a durned sight queerer ef he don’t git free. He’s as slippery as an eel. Who else hev ye tumbled to?” ‘No one.” ‘ag “Thort not. Waal, Leonora’s gal aire heer, - ; Bullwhack aire heer, Sealskin aire heer, an’ fer what I kno’, a couple c’ bis confederates, Gerald Southwell, ef not heer, will be, soon, an” i yer prospects aire purty thin. Not needful ys tho’. Of all yer enemies, Luther Lee, I am the one that knows youare not really Ebenezer Sel aa * Are you sure?” ** Sure as that I live this minnit. hunters w’ot aire after you aire not aware o” the fact thet ye live heer. This place, Ireckon, — war selected fer ’em to meet, an’ compares notes.” le ae, The man of many crimes did not appear to re- gard this assertion asreasonable, = fehl s" ‘They evidently believe I am in this part of we the country, or else they would not hoverso el ae together.” sii aa ae ‘ The man- a eae ert) “5 wl a Ae ie ~~
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3 over the mine-owner’s face, -on the ry ae sign of old ¢ eet _ tee oe A SR ee a ee TO A A a -out or swing wi’ you. Ef ye cum down liberal, I kin easy put ’em off ther track. Ef ye don’t, why my conshence won’t allow yer to escape the ~vengeance 1oomin’ up fer you.” ‘* That’s your game, is it?” “You bet! hevn’t s’arched out all these things fer years wi’out expectin’ ter git well paid fer doin’ it. Ic’u’d hey sprung ther trap on ye long ago, but didn’t want to. I wanted ye to git rich, so thet I could bleed ye. Oh! Lute, me boy, l’m as fly as ye find ’em!” **T see!” the mine-owner growled. ‘* You’ve «struck the wrong party, however, I'll not give ; E ‘you ove copper! “Ye won't?” ‘* You have heard me!” “Then I wouldn’t give two cents fer yer hull warcass!” the giant growled, rising to depart. “*TH leave you now—ye need time ter reflect. My price aire fifty thousand dollars, An’ not a stiver less—fifty thousand in cool cash, or up ye go, ye double-dyed-in-the-wool villain” and ‘Bullwhack backed out of the room, still grasp- ing his revolver in his pocket, ready to draw it Eben’s attempt to *‘ get the drop” on him, The old scoundrel now had good reason to wish the giant silenced! CHAPTER XII. WHO PLAGER POLL WAS. Axzout noon of the day that followed Seal- skin Sam’s escape from the cabin jail, Thede cand little Ruth made their appearance in Hunki- Dori, as did also Nicodemus Slambang, and his Teutonic comrade, Jake Schwackhammer. As may be imagined, their arrival, coming as ot . - 5 IU, . they did, together, created a lively sensation, as * Gnome,” in particular, coming in for the amajor share of curiosity. About the first thing the strangely-contrasted -quartette did was to adjourn to the hotel, and <order a square meal. After that, Thede and his baby protege went forth upon the street, and taking a stand near the Cremonia, the child, in plaintive accents, -solicited pennies from the passers-by. ‘‘ Please, sir, give mea penny!” _ This was the appeal, and was by no means unsuccessful. Pennies and silver, and gold ieces, were dropped into a little tin cup she held, rigbt freely. Among those who stopped to view the Gnome, and his pretty child, was Ebenezer Selden. He surveyed the man awhile, with evident sus- picion, and also feasted his eyes upon the fair face of the little girl. . Heaven, there can be no doubt of it!” he iiaged turning sharply away. ‘‘ That young -one’s face is all the world like that of Sadie Southwell. Itisherchildand mine! But, what is it duing in the possession of that disguised beggar? Who is he?” is brows were knitted ina dark scowl. He ‘went straight to the tent where Lije Landers had his quarters, and found that gentleman at home, and also, in his company, the deserter, Larry Lee! Tue latter nodded nonchalantly, and surveyed his uncle, interrogatively. ** (to0d-day to ye, Mr. Selden,” Landers said, “obsequiously. “What can I do fer you to- day? “A great deal, if you like. Can I see you privately?” Ad ‘Ob! don’t be afraid to speak out, before me, ~unky!” Larry Lee said, sarcastically. ‘‘ I know ‘what you would mention—concerning the dis- -guised beggar and the child!” “You are unusually brilliant!” Selden sneer- ved. ** Who is the fellow?” “T don’t know. The child ough‘, by rights, “to caJl you papa!” ‘¢ T suspected as much!” and a grim look came ‘* See here, Larry, T’ve learned something about you. You ab- -ducted Sadie, over a year ago, Where is she, now—tell me that?” ‘* Why do you want to know? D’ye want her back again?” ** No—of course not.” “ Well, Pll tell ye. I found her at Bartley Bryant’s, and fell in love with her. I tried to -persuade her to marry me, but she wouldn’t, I abducted her and have held her a prisoner, ever since, determined she should never have her liberty until she married me. But she has at last escaped, and Satan only knows whether I ‘shall ever get possession of her, or not.” ‘Probably not. I am afraid she and the child will be the means of causing us both trou- “Bah! you are a coward.” “Tam not. Landers, I want you to go take se re a ae a ee ee, — - Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. ——aaeaeaEeasasSaSaaaaananooaq®q=®=«=$=$q$q$q$q$®$qaqmS eS SSMM—nm oo that child away from this masked fraud, that’s causing so much commotion, and in some indi- rect way fetch it to me.” ; “ Now?” ‘‘No—after dark. That will be the best time.” ‘* How much is there in it?” ‘You can name your price—anything reason- able.” ‘“* Well, say five hundred.” “Tt isa bargain. Make no botch, nor let any one know where you fetch the child.” ‘¢-Ye can depend on me!” Landers declared. **T ain’t no fool.” a At about the same time that Eben Selden de- arted from Landers’s tent, Savoy and Sardon Selden left their home, for a stroll up the gulch. Both were scrupulously attired, and although the day was warm and pleasant, they were well wrapped. As they sauntered along young Selden said: ‘“ Well, what is it you have to tell me so im- portant, sister?’ “What we have been led to believe, is true:— we are not the children of Eben Selden, but, in- stead, of a rough overgrown ruffian who calls himself Bollivar Bullwhack.” _. ‘¢ How do you know this to be true?” ‘“‘ By overhearing a conversation between Sel- den and this giant. The latter is going to ex- pose the fact that we are not Selden’s children. Oh! it seems as if I would rather die than suffer the humilfation. How the Clarksons will gloat over our fall!” ‘Curse it, I know_they will. to pick with Leroy Clarkson!” “ What about?” “He is getting entirely too thick with Placer Poll!” ‘“ What do you see in that girl, to fancy?” ‘““A great deal, or else I should not have mar—” “* What? about?” The young man flushed and looked guilty. ‘* Curse the luck, I am always putting my foot init. I suppose you might as well know the truth. Polly is my wife! “Oh! Sardon!” ‘“‘Tt's true, my dear sister—a bitter truth, that cannot be dodged.” ‘Explain. Tell me all.” ‘‘ It happened when I was at Harvard. A crowd of us sophs made the acquaintance of a number of girls ome to a female seminary in a neighboring town. Iwas struck with this ‘Polly Prescott, and, like a fool, married her, [ repented :the next minute after doing so and tried to buy her off, but it was no use. She dis- appeared, finally, and I thought I was rid of her, but when I returned home, here, I found her here in advance of me. Only by keeping her well supplied with money have I been able to keep her quiet.” ‘* This is terrible.” *‘ Worse than that. But in time I may con- clude to own her, although I do not believe she cares for me. At all events no one else shall have her!” At this point they rounded an abrupt bend in the gulch, and came face to face with Leroy and Bertie Clarkson, who had also been out for a stroll, and were returning. A sudden determination seemed to seize Sar- don Selden, for he came to a halt directly in young Clarkson’s path. ‘* See here. mv friend!” he said, importantly, “Dye gota little advice for you to digest; I don’t want to do you personal injury, but I wish to warn you that if I see vou paying Placer fen any further attentions there will be trou- e. ” I’ve got a bone Sardon, what are you talking ‘* Indeed!” young Clarkson cried, his face flushing. ‘‘By what authority do you find it convenient to order me, I should like to know!” ‘Tt matters not—I’ve warned you, and you had better heed what I say.” ‘*T should be a very peacticg! fool to do any- thing of the kind. If I want to speak or even make love to Placer Poll, I shall do so without asking your permission.” ‘* You will do so at your peril!” ‘* Bah! do you think a Clarkson is afraid of a Selden?” ‘Tl make you afraid, if you say Jack Robin- son!” the young graduate cried, now worked up into a passion. I’ll have you know that I’ve in- tended giving you a good thrashing this long time. you puppy!” ‘Do it now, you mongrel baboon ” This was enough. With an mfuriated snarl, not unlike that of some st, Sardon sprung forward and struck Clarkson in the face. C2 a ee eee ES ee eS eee Se ee eae a ee — eee Although staggered, the latter kept upon his feet, and then they clinched in a deadly strug- gle, whereat Savoy ran forward and began to belabor Leroy; but she, in an instant, was fiercely attacked by Bertie, and thus it was a fierce struggle of brother and sister against bro- ther and sister. a was it destined to end without fatal re- sults. There were savage cries, the report of wea- pons in the hands of the two men. Almost simultaneously with six successive shots, all four fell to the earth, The first two shots, by chance, had killed the young women—the other four ended the careers of both young men, When the people, alarmed by the cries and shots, gathered at the spot, it was to behold a sight that filled all minds with horror—the story of which made the most tragic record in the an- nals of Hunki-Dori’s vivid history. From Landers’s tent Eben Selden went direct- ly to the Cremonia, During the day the establishment was but lit- tle frequented, and when the mine-owner enter- ed he found but few people at the tables. Circe was not present, but soon came in, and at Selden’s gesture came and seated herself at the table-where he was sitting. ‘* What is it?’ she asked. “To you need to ask that? she said, gazin sharply at her.“ I have come for my answer.’ ‘“So soon! Why, it’s less than a week since you proposed to me.” ‘It matters not! Iam going to leave Hunki- Dori as soon as I can complete arrangements,” “ Why?” “‘ Because it is unsafe for me here.” ‘“‘Tndeed? Have you enemies?” ‘* More than you imagine. Circe, I love you; I have told you that before; I do not know you except as the masked woman you are. I am con- tent to take you without regard to your past, Will you marry me?” ‘**T am not prepared to say, Mr. Selden. Mar- riage is a grave subject for consideration.” “But with me you would be happy. Ihave richesand you need never want for anything money can secure.” ‘* Bah! riches are nepine: T have all the money T need. The fact is. sir, I do not love you. Were Jtomarry you, Ishould never care anything personally for you.” “ Are you sure?) “Perfectly. The only man I ever loved did not reciprocate my affection, and my heart lit- erally turned to stone after that.” ‘* Whom did you love?” ‘* Your bitter enemy!” Selden started. “Who?” he ejaculated. _ ‘“The lover of the woman you married, and deserted!” ‘* Sealskin Sam!” ‘¢ The same!” ‘¢-Yet you caused his arrest last night.” “Certainly. I would have killed him, -had I not been afraid of hanging for it.” Selden regarded her, a fierce light in his eyes, ‘* Tell me,” he said—** were you the wife of the man you came to Hunki-Dori with?” ‘* Why do you ask?” ‘** Out of idle curiosity.” “Twas Jack Dean’s wife. It wasn’t a love affair, no more than my union with you would be. It was merely a matter of business.” ‘‘ Well, are you going to give mea decisive answer?” ‘““Not just now! I must have time to con- sider.” + ‘Nonsense! You must certainly know your own mind!” ‘‘ T don’t so far as concerns this matter, Come around to-night and I will give you my answer. Don’t have any hopes, however, for they will be useless, I fear.” “T trust not. I am certainly your equal, and we could retire from active life and live in peace, Sav comfort for the remainder of our ays.” “7 am not so sure of that. But I will give the matter what consideration it deserves.” Ebenezer Selden arose, his face rigid in its expression of combined apprehension and pas- sion. : “If you don’t marry me,” he growled, Pll betray something you don’t think I know,” “Will you?” - ; A steely glitter entered her eyes, ‘* Yes, I will!” ‘* And what may that be?” - a “The fact that the captain of the notorious f \
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2 ae ree a So EES Tribunal of Ten is none other than Mademoiselle of the Cremonia!” ‘Ban! Til dare you to do that!” she hissed, ** You, as well as I, belong to the order, and so does your son. Youare too shrewd a villain to do anything so dangerous as that '” CHAPTER XIV. REUNITED. CoLONEL MAURICE CLARKSON was locking up his office for the night when be heard hurried footsteps, and gave a careless glance around to see who was passing. * An ejaculation of astonishment escaped his lips; he sprung forward and caught the passing person by the arm, ** Sadie! Good Heaven! can it be possible?” he cried. The person was a young woman, poorly clad, pale and wan—a mere wreck of evident former beauty. Great suffering and mental torture had left traces both on her face and figure—stil) it was Sadie, whom Lieutenant Lar- ry Lee had abducted from Crystal Lake more than a year before.” She gave vent to a frightened cry and tried to escape, but the colonel held her as in a grasp of iron, ‘Sadie, don’t you know me? Be quiet. your friend—Bartley Bryant!” She gave him a quick; searching glance, and then burst into tears. “Oh! let me go—please let me. go!” she i . ‘“Idid not want to meet Tam She ceased to sob, but it- was with evident re- luctance that she accompanied him, When they were seated in the mine-owner’s parlor, a few moments later, Colonel Clarkson took her hand in his, tenderly, and looked pity- ingly into her sad, wan face. ‘ Sadie,” he said, in a kindly tone, ‘‘ I want you to be frank with me, and tell me all, I have an inkling of the truth, but am still in the dark. I found you one bleak winter’s night, and took you tomy home. I brought you back to life, and—grew to love you.., ie, I knew your life to be shrouded in a mystery, but I felt. satisfied I should eventually have you for my wife. Tell me, Sadie, and tell me candidly, why did you fly with Larry Lee?” ‘Fly with him, sir?) Oh! can it be possible you do not know differently from that?’ ‘Only by the words you have just uttered. Explain, Ipray of you.” ; : “*T was abducted, sir. Ever sinée that night, so long ago, I have been @ prisoner in a lonely mountain cave—the prisoner of Larry Lee. But for a chance opportunity, two nights ago, to €s- cape, I would probably have lived and died there. He had sworn never to set me free until I married him.” ‘‘ By Heaven, this outrage shall not pass un- avenged, I never suspected but what you had elo with him,” . ae Bryant, I have a question to ask of ou / “T anticipate what it is, Your child still lives!” “God be praised! But why did you tell me different, when you saved my life?” - ‘‘T thought, all things considered, it were bet- ter you should believe it dead. I gave it toa kind hunter, and afterward to your brother.” There was a brief silence, and then the colonel ke again: Pe Sadie, since the one above has granted that we should meet again, I want to know all. Luther Lee was your husband!” ** Yes, How did you know?” “‘T found a partly-directed envelope in your room, bearing his name. Tell me about it, Sadie Bartley Bryant, as we shall henceforth call this Bent, and a few to. hunt your villainous hus- ban ether they have or not I do not know. It may surprise you to know that, once ; ® is a SEE eee ee ——— eee before, when I was years younger than now, this same Luther Lee cheated me of a bride, by murdering her!” ‘**T was told so by Walter Bent.” ‘Ha! how knew he anything aboutit? Inev- er knew him.” ‘* He learned, I believe, from the daughter of Leonora, whom he became acquainted with.” ‘** Did he tell you more?” ““No. Larry Lee did, however. He told me that instead of being a single man, as I had be- lieved, you were married, and had two grown-up children.” ‘** This is partly true,” Bartley Bryant admit- ted. ‘‘I married a woman who proved in every way my inferior, and, after bearing me my children, went utterly to the bad. Thus was a cloud put upon their lives. I placed them in an Eastern school, and it is, only, since coming here, as Colonel Clarkson, that I have had them with me,” ‘* How strange are the events of a lifetime!” Sadie murmured. ‘‘ It seems as if we were born for sin and trouble.” ‘* Very true, my dear. And now that ourtwo lives have known so much sorrow, Sadie, why should we not try to seek for more peace and com- fort in the future? Don’t you think you could be happy with me, Sadie, as my wife?” “Were it eer lot to be so blessed, Mr. Bryant, I should consider myself very, very happy. But, you know it cannot be. If, as you say, my mar- riage to Luther Lee was a legal one, I am then his wife and cannot wed you, nor any one.” “True, but you can easily get.a divorce. And, too, Luther Lee is, probably, at the further cor- ner of the earth.” ‘Oh! .no, sir. . He is here in Hunki-Dori !” ‘“‘ What! Luther Lee, here? Impossible!” “Tt is, nevertheless, a fact. I learned the fact from Larry , who.is his nephew. Luther Lee goes, here, under the assumed name of Sel- den—Ebenezer Selden!” ‘“‘ By Heaven, I believe you are right, although it never occurred to me before. Selden cheated me out of a portion of my mining interest here, and since then we have never been on s in terms. -Oh, why did I not know this long ago? He arose and paced the floor, a desperate ex- pression upon his face, and a gleam in his eyes, that boded no good to Eben Selden. Sadie grew pale, for she divined the thoughts that were passing through his mind. ‘*Oh, sir, I trust you will not do anything rash!” she pleaded, clasping her hands and look- ing at him appealingly, ‘* Though Eben Selden bas wronged us both, no good can come of at- tacking him.” ‘* Perhaps not. He shall come toa settlement, however, which sball free you, and provide for your child, But, let that matter drop now. You are to remain here, and become mine, as soon as it can be satisfactorily and legally arranged. “*T will hunt up my daughter, make all known to her, and you can rest assured that you will re- ceive a hearty welcome. Assoon as I can eom- municate with your brother I will have your child restored to you, and it shall share our.home with us, the same as if it were our own.” ‘*Oh, you are too kind. What have I ever done to merit this treatment at your hands?” ‘** You have won my affection, and that is all- sufficient to warrant my warmest devotion to your future happiness, my peerless one!” he said raising her hand to his lips. ‘Sh! is that you, Nick?” A figure, wrapped in a dark cloak, stepped from the dark shadow of a cabin, and toward two persons who had paused a few paces away. ‘‘ Yo? jest done bet it’s me!” was the answer, ‘Can’ ef I ain’t done off my ker-base, your voice am frummiliar. Is it you, Marse Sam?” ‘“-You bet! alive and kicking, though but for Hero I wouldn’t be here to tell youof it. Isthat you, Jakey?” “Dot vas me ! the German responded, ‘Ve vas yoost vorrying apoud you, Skealskin.” “So? Well, you can dissipate all fears, for I’m here, and here for business, Have you got my papers, Nick?” ‘“« Bet I has, Honey!” “Good! It was well I left them with you, or they would likely have been destroyed when I was captured, I suppose you've heard of the trouble [’ve had, and there is a reward offered for me?” : itary Pe hr ‘¢ Reckon dar is—suffin’ like five hundred thou- sand dollars!” - te ‘‘Humph! I never knew I was a person of so much value before. But.it don’t matter. I’ve got the game in my own hands, now. There’s. work to be done to-night, boys, for ’'m going to en ” collar onto the Tribunal of ay Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. eee « 1c ‘* Golly, boss, I done guess dat will take more> dan dar is ob us!” ‘** And there will be more—plenty of help. I have just left the camp of a compauy of cavalry’ a mile from here; who are fresh from a success- ful raid on the mountain stronghold. When I am ready for them, they will pounce down upon this camp and gobble up the prey!” ‘** But how you vas goin’ to find oud who der prey vas?” Jakey asked, doubtfully. ‘*T think I can work that part of it all right!” Sam assumed. ‘‘ Let me see. The first person I want to see is Placer Poll!” ‘** And, my dear sir, what might you want of Placer Poll?” a triumphant voice demanded. They wheeled quickly to behold Lieutenant Larry Lee confronting them, a sardonic smile upon his countenance. In his grasp were a pair of cocked revolvers. ‘“‘T don’t think you are over anxious to see Placer Poll just yet, are you?” he added, mali- ciously. enemas ae CHAPTER XV. THE SPARKLER PUTS IN HIS WORK, ‘¢ WELL, since you have honored us with your obnoxious presence, Larry Lee, I dare say we are not in so much of a hurry!” Sealskin Sam replied, none the less composed for the surprise.. ‘‘T presume this evening finds you well, Mister Outlaw?” ‘* Never was in better trim!” Lee assured, blandly. ‘‘In fact, I feel in really exuberant: spirits since I have so opportunely dropped upon you, My finances are rather at low ebb, at present, and I don’t know of any other person IT would be more pleased to make five hundred dol- lars off from than from your charming self.” ‘Indeed! Tam delighted to hear it. But, as: it chances, you haven't acquired the requisite capital yet. Hero though you be, you have- n’t scored your point!” Sharply did the Sparkler utter the word ‘“« Hero,” but finished the sentence in his ordinary tone. Little did Larry Lee reckon what sort of a. man he had to cope with, nor the significance of the single emphatic utterance, A dark object moved stealthily out from the shadow of the nearest cabin, approaching the. renegade lieutenant in the rear. It was the great shaggy mastiff who had saved the Sparkler’s life in the mountain cave—a brute of wonderful intelligence 0, seemingly, com= prehended every order anfMeed ef his master, ‘“* Ha, ha!” the renegade officer retorted. “If you think I haven’t got you, vou’re off your reckoning! You've got to go with me, or Ilr drop ye where you'stand, you Government Sey Oh, I know you. You would play the detective would you? I guess not, any more. We will cook your goose for you, you hound! So, right about face and march, or “ll plug you where you stand!” ' “Will you? Whata Hero! Take him!” The detective spoke sharply, and instantly the dog leaped through the air. He struck the lieu- pan and knocked him sprawling to the ound, er Then Sealskin Sam was upon him, and Nick and Jakey, each grasping an arm, wrenched his pistols from his grasp. i ‘*Dat’s number one, for shuah!” cried Nick, dancing around like a boy. , ‘I'll cut your throat, nigger!” gritted the dis- comfited lieutenant. ‘* TU—” Sam’s hand was on his throat. It closed with a vise-like grip, and the words ended in a gasp. ‘You'll do no more throat-cutting, you vile scoundrel. You and your Satan’s crew have got to hang like dogs—do ye hear?” . The man was pee enough now. He seemed to realize that all was lost, and was utterly un- nerved, He was tightly bound, gagged, and then borne out of the camp to a spot at a safe distance, where he would not be discovered. Nick was left to guard him, while the Sparkler and his companion turned their footsteps back arte the spot where the capture had beex effected. oe they unexpectedly encountered Placer oll. “You are the very person I wish to see!" Sealskin Sam said. *“I’ve got work for you. You can be of great service to me, Will you are pour co-operation?” n what?’ al ee “Breaking up the Tribunalof Ten.” 4» “* You bet! You can count on me every time, t is it you require?” +14 hae te Well, Pve got to do some cg work. out all of my plavs. Do you think Salem Sphinx is connected with the gang?” : —
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= — a 14 ‘* Tt has several times occurred to me that such might be the case.” ‘* Well, I want you to decoy bim here so we can capture him. I will then force him to tell all he knows. OncelI get bim in band he will either tell or die!” and the Sparkler spoke with fierce decision. ‘* He may be suspicious and not come,” ‘Well, we can but try. Go ahead, at any rate, and we’ll see the result.” Placer Poll accordingly took her departure, but soon returned. ‘*T have sent Salem a note to meet me here,” she announced, Sealskin Sam and Jakey accordingly retired ‘behind a cabin. Ten minutes passed ; then footsteps were heard, and Salem Sphinx, the gambler, stood before the girl sport. ‘*'You sent for me?’ he said, suspiciously, “** What do vou want?” **T wanted to tell you that I—I—” ‘Ah! you have changed your mind?” “Yes. I haveconcluded to—to make you my prisoner!” and he found himself suddenly look- ing into the muzzle of a cocked revolver. ‘* Budge an inch, or make the least outcry, and you area dead man. Up with your hands in- stanter.” He obeyed with a inuttered curse, What is the meaning of this nonsense?” he demanded, fiercely. “*Tt means, Mr. Sphinx, that you are fob- bled!” Sealskin Sain explained, stepping for- forward, ‘‘ The fact is, we're goin’ ter pull in as pretty a leetle haul of first-water rascals ter- night as were ever caught, an’ not wishin’ ter find ye in bad company, we concluded to take -you first. With your kind permission we will bind you, so you won’t go astray.” ‘* Curse you, [ know nothing about the out- Jaws. 1 protest against this outrage.” ‘* Et won’t do youa particle of good, Salem. We ain’t goin’ to hurt ye. We want ye ter give us a few pointers in regard to ther personnel of the organization, an’ appear ag’in’’em at the trial, for all o’ which the Government will, no doubt, be duly appreciative by granting you a ardon! Will ye now let me bind ye? or shall olly have to quiet you wi’ an extract of lead, which aire very soothin’ to the brain,” “*Go ahead. It’s nothin’ you'll make by this. I don’t know anything about the outlaw gang.” ‘* How George Washington would blush for ou, if he were here wi’ his hatchet,” the Spark- er said, as he and Jakey securely bound the gambler’s hands behind his back, ‘‘ There, now, you march down the gulch a short distance. There we’ll start a fire to toast your feet a little, ‘believing that heat applied to the lower ex- tremities is conducive to relaxation of the jaws.” Sam explained. ‘* Ye needn’t mind tryiag that—I’ll cave bet,” the gambler cried out hastily. ‘“ d’ye want to know?? ‘ ‘Ab! now you’re getting down more like it. Where is the local rendezvous of the gang?” ‘*In the cellar, under the Cremonia,” ‘Ah! How is it reached?’ \ ‘“By rear door opening into a back ante- room.” ** Who is the captain of the gang?” ‘* Mademoiselle Circe,” ‘Hal I thought as much! Who are the others—the principal ones first?” “The original ten members were Circe, Eben Selden, George Miles, Henry Cortello, Lije Lan- ders, Phil Philips, and myself and three others, now dead. Later, Sardon Selden and Larry ou hat . Lee were admitted, and a branch FAaae Mess bed in the mountains, commanded by Doe Devere.” ‘**How many members are there now in Hunki-Dori, besides those you have mentioned?” ** About a dozen.” He then gave the names, Sealskin Sam, now fully advised, soon had all - his plans matured for the nocturnal attack. -He then sent Jakey Schwackhammer to notify the soldiers to join him as soon as possible, ‘Ebenezer Selden, alias Luther Lee, sat in his private room, an ominous scowl upon his wor- ried face as he brooded over the past and present of his sinful career. “‘ Something seems to tell me that matters are narrowing down,” he muttered, “‘That Bull- whack was pretty near right when he insinuated that my reel of rope was nearly unwound. I’ve a premonition that there will be a smash-up of the band that will betray the members to death,. [ll swear they shall not catch me init, I will fly. Ihave money enough to carry me through _ this life, by throwing away the mine. Yonder .safe contains two hundred and fifty thousand (ee Oe, a re I Rt a en Ee Ee et ee Te ee ee ee = i Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. dollars, all in greenbacks, and what more do I want?” “‘ None, Ill swear, onless ye aire a darned fool!” a voice cried, and the mine-owner uttered an oath when -he saw the giant, Bollivar Bull- whack, standing just within the room, with a revolver in his grasp. ‘You hyer?” he gasped. ** Waal, I should say I am—I, Bollivar Bull- whack, ther bumstifferous bouncer from Bullion. Laire heer, beloved Lute—ga-loot—an’ I’m arter spondulics! Ther’s goin’ ter be ther divil raised in this town ter-night, an’ hyer’s w’ot aire goin’ ter slope while tier’ is time, you bet! Before [ go, I want yer leetle wad!” **'You’ll not get a cent!” “Tf you don’t open that safe fer me, ll riddle ye wi’ bullets,” the giant declared, savagely. ‘* You shall not have the mouey.” ‘‘Then hyer ye go. One! two—” He was about to utter ‘‘ three,” and fire, when another pistol-report was heard and the giant staggered, clutched at the region of his heart, and fell to the floor, dead. At the same instant another person stepped into the room. It was Mademoiselle Circe! CHAPTER XVI. THE VILLAIN’S COIL OF CORDAGE UNWOUND, ‘* You here?” he gasped. ‘* Your arrival was opportune,” ** Do you think so?” Circe cried, in a strange voice. ‘‘I suppose you would have allowed him to shoot you, rather than to hand over the money?” ‘**No, no! I was about to cry for quarter.” “Oh! were you? I suppose, then, if I were to demand your money, you would give it over without a murmur!” He did not answer her. , ‘*T don’t want the money,” she said, with a bitter laugh. ‘‘It belongs to your deserted wife and ebild, They shall have it!” ‘* They shall not!” he gritted, fiercely. **'You will find out! They are legally your heirs, and after your death you. won’t be likely to binder them fram obtaining their rights,” ‘*T am not dead yet!” “You are hovering near the grim portals, however, Luther Lee, I have come here for one sole and only purpose. Do you know what it is? ‘* How should I know? Who are you?” ‘Your bitterest enemy on earth!” and she leveled the revolver, which had been instrumen- talin taking Bullwhack’s life, at the mine-owner. ‘** Now, sir, do you know who I am?” She tore the mask from her face, and stood gazing at him with flashing eyes. ‘ A beautiful face was hers, indeed, but in its expression of bitter passion, now, it was a tiger- ish sort of beauty, “ ‘* Great God! where have I seen that face be- fore? Who are you, woman? Speak!” ‘“‘T am Beatrice, the daughter of Leonora, whom you foully murdered. I have waited all these years to avenge my mother’s death, and the time has at last arrived. Your life shall pay ,the forfeit of your ruffianly crime, years ago! She took deliberate aim at him and fired—not once, bat six times in succession, and until he had pitched from his chair to the floor, bleeding and lifeless, Then with a mad laugh, she turned and fied from the house, Her life mission of vengeance had been com- pleted. Luther Leehad paid the penalty of bis crimes, so far as this world was concerned. Elijah Landers, the Vigilante of Hunki-Dori, entered the Cremonia Saloon at precisely nine o'clock, | He had come to fulfill his agreement with Eben Selden, little suspecting that, at that mo- pir the mine-owner lay stark and stiff in eath. Thede, the Gnome, had not ceased to be a cu- riosity, He sat at_a table, holding little Ruth on his knee, and allowed the crowd to stare at him or drop money into the tin cup at their pleasure, Landers spied him, and strode up to bim, ‘See hyer, my Christyun friend, I wanter know whose child that aire you bev got?” he said. ge ‘‘Tt’s my child!” was the prompt and fearless answer. ‘‘ What business is it of yours whose child it is?” pre “Waal, T'll mughyy-qmek show ye what biz- ness it iso’ mine, I’m theragent o’ ther Society fer ther Purtection o’ Chil’ren in this town, and - , a a | I hes orders to take that gal away from ye, as ye bev stolen it.” . “Tt willtake a somewhat bulkier man than you to do it!” the masked man cried. ‘ The child belongs to me, and I intend to keep her.” ‘*Not much ye won’t! Orders is orders! Ef ye don’t give it up, Pll shoot you!” He drew a revolver and cocked it; but before he could use it, it was wrenched from his hand, and he received a blow beside the head that laid him out senseless, ** Sealskin Sam!” came achorus of cries, and weapons were drawn. It was the Sparkler, attired as he had been ! the previous evening, who had knocked Lije Landers down, ‘‘ Ay! Sealskin Sam!” he cried. ‘‘ What are you going to do about it?” ‘We're goin’ to riddle ye, ef ye don’t surren- der!” yelled back several, “Stop! Do not dare to fire upon this man!” a stranyer cried, stepping- forward—the same heavy-bearded party who had watched the Sparkle so keenly the night before, ‘I forbid i¢ 0? ‘¢ An’ who aire you?” yelled back the crowd, ‘*T, gentlemen, am the Governor of Washing- ton Territory, and this Sealskin Sam, as he calls himself, is under my protection. He is one of our most trusted detectives!” Sam turned to the dignitary and bowed. “Thank you, governor, but I am not in need of your protection in this instance. This place is surrounded by a full company of cavalry, and any one attempting to leave here without my permission will be shot down!” He then gave a sbarp whistle, and a dozen soldiers filed into the room, ‘What is the meaning of this?” Circe loudly exclaimed, sweeping forward. ‘Tt means that I want you and the rest of your confederates!” the Sparkler replied. ‘* You have no other choice but to surrender. Sphinx has given you all vp, and you are cornered. Resistance can only bring you death!” ‘Then death it shall be! Boys, fight your way out!” With a yell the ruffians began firing, but it was a futile attempt. The soldiers picked them off with terrible precision, until there was a cry for quarter and a surrender. But little remains to be added to our tale. The breaking up of the desperado band cleared the vicinity of its outlaw element, and that rich region was opened to peaceful settlement and vigorous development, The Gnome, when unmasked, as unmask he did after the downfall of the Tribunal was as- sured, proved to be Gerald Southwell, the brother of Sadie. The disguise had been as- sumed the better to expedite his mission, which was to search for Eben Selden, or Luther Lee, and for lost Sadie. At the governor’s orders, the cavalry set out the next day for the capital, os with them such survivors of the fight as Salem Sphinx charged with béing members of the band. Heavy sentences were imposed at their trials —Mile. Circe alone escaping, by some hocus- pocus that quite baffled the authorities, Gerald Southwell was reunited to his sister, ~ = Bryant mansion, s claim was filed by Sadie to Luther Lee’s wealth, and it was allowed; and in due time, after a period of mourning, Bartley Bryant took her for his wife. After seeing his sister happily settled, Gerald Southwell went East, and is still there, engaged in a lucrative business. Sealskin Sam found his former love for Sadie overshadowed by a stronger and prouder affec- tion for the spirited and much-wronged Placer Poll, and when their acquaintance became more life, and consented to be his wife. , They still continue prominent detective-lights in the far Northwest, where they have a justly- acquired fame as the ‘‘ Sparklers,” Larry Lee was tried with the other prisoners, and by court-martial wes sentenced with them U.S. Army in disgrace. 4) Nicodemus Slamtang wedded big Suse, the Seldens’ servant, and Jakey Schwackhammer saloon being left without an owner, Jakey was and under his honest sway it soon ceased to be rendezvous for the roughs and toughs of | mine, And as Circe has not ** put inan ap ance,” Jakey still ‘holds the fort,” = 4 and little Ruth took up her future home in the © intimate, Polly told him the story of her past — to State’s Prison, and was alsoexpelled fromthe runs the Cremonia, at Hunki-Dori, Theelegant — installed as host by suggestion of Sealskin Sam, __ a be | SS ES ES ee ee re rn ee é " iW “wen ae ed 4 LP ‘ ou ae x — ‘et 7 } ) f yt ‘ L fray Ri Tr? os ee * ae Ty 4, ‘wal f fe P * ant " fr er: *' * ry . a bt | Xe a : Ji ys! \ er ; : 4 ” iy \ ll ae? ie fui Wy >) fe be : ¥ i ‘ - x I, #6 Sf
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BEADLES*HALF-DIME*LIBRARY. = Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers, | : BY OLL COOMES, 5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew, 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. $1 Keen-Knife, the Prince of the Prairies. 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 58 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 74 Hawk-eye Harry the Young Trapper Ranger. 88 Rollo, the Boy Kanger. 184 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. 148 Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter. 146 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 158 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. 168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger, 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain, 202 Prospect Pete ; or, The Young Outlaw Hunters, 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps. 21K Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger. 248 The Disgulsed Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger. 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger, 272 Minkeskin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. 800 The Sky Demon; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger, BsS4 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero, 409 Hercules; wr, Dick, the Boy Ranger. A1T Webfoot Mose, the Tramp Detective. Baby Sam, the Boy Giant of the Yellowstone. 444 Little Buckskin, tne Young Prairie Centaur, 457 Wingedfoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul. 468 Tamarac Tom, the oie Bre pper Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic, 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. 562 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper, 652 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance, 661 Old Kit Bandy’s Deliverance. 670 Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer, 680 Dauntless Dan, the Freelance, or, Old Kit Bandy in Arcadia, BY BUOKSKIN SAM (Major Sam, 8. Mall.) 284 Old Rocky s ** Boyees; or, Benito, the Horse-Breaker 246 Giant George; or, The Ang’l of the Range, 275 Arizona Jack ; or, Giant George’s Pard. 297 The Tarantula of Taos; or, Giant George’s Revenge, ‘B07 The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. B18 Ker-whoop, Ker-whoo; or, The Tarantula of Taos, S27 Creeping Cat, the Caddo; or, The Red and White Pards. B82 Frio Fred; or, The Tonkaway’s Trust. B44 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. B49 Wild Wolf; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front. 857 The Ranch Ratders; or, The Siege of Fort Pargatory, $64 Snap-Shot, the Boy Kanger, B75 Chiota, the Oreek; or, The Three Thunderbolts. B81 Bandera Bill; or. Frio Frank to the Front. B92 Romeo and the Reda; or, The Beleaguered Ranch. 404 Little Lariat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 414 The Daisy from Denver. 427 The Three Tratlers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage. 442 Bluff Bill; or, The Lynx of the Leona. 455 Little Lone Star: or, The Belle of the Cibolo, 684 Cache Carl, the Chico Giart . RY PHILIP 8. WARNE. 67 Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 Captamn Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game, 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat, 219 Despard, the Duelist ; or, The Mountain Vempires, B88 A Tough Boy; or, The Dwarf’s Revenge. R68 Little Nawnaie 3 or, The Outcasts of the Glen, BIR Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. B88 Little Cnr) or, Caught in His Own Trap, 401 Little Shoo- ixé or, A Race for a Ranch, 408 Little Leather-Breeches ; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse, 481 Little Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the olines. 480 Three Jolly Parda. 517 Jim Gladden’s phe tel? 527 The Jolly Pards to the Reseue, , 547 Sandy Andy3 or, A Good Man Down, $56 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. 574 Old Weasel-top, the Man with the Dogs, 598 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. 599 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport, 618 Billy Blazes; or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. | 685 Oklahoma Hi, the Blae-Coat Scout, €48 Happy Harry’s Big Find. 664 Cheeky Charley, the Special. BY EDWARD WILLETT. EPs Aaa Scott, the Steamboat Boy. 199 Featherweight the Boy Champion of the Muskingum, 228 Ozark Alf; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws. _ 282 The Typo Detective ; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp, 295 Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quartzville, B11 The ei eg, | Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp, 822 Nemo, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon’s Vendetta. ‘840 Clip the Contortionist: or, The Montana Vigilantes, BY JO PIERCE. 415 The Vagubond Detectives on Bowery Bole Hoon. e etectly or, Bower. . AES Motapur Bob, the Street-Bey Detective.” 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow; or, Luke’s Legacy. A472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective. 504 Five Points Phil. 509 Jack Jaggers, the Butcher Boy Detective. 16 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerie. 526 North River Naty, the Pier Detective, 588 Wrestling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward. 541 Jeff Flicker. the Stable Boy Detective. 551 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow. 559 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective, 569 Brooklyn Ren, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective. ‘avement Pete the Secret Sifter, 588 Jack-o-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector, ROR Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer, 614 Whistling Jacob, the Detective’s Ala, >t Buck Bumblebee; the Harlem Hummer, 89 Sunrise Saul, the Express-Train Ferret, 649 Gamin Bob the Bowery Badger: or, Scooping a Slippery Set. 658 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. Ppery 688 Saltpeter Sol, the New York Navigator, 694 Spicy Jim, the Only One of His Kind 706 Tom Thistle, the Road-House Detective. BY J. W. OSBON. eS A BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl. 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. ZY Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 288 Joe Buck of Angela and His Buoy Pard. 447 New York Nat, A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling, 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 498 Taos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hal!-Breed Detective. 5618 Cool Colorado in New York. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE. 86 meney Rock the Man from Texas. 90 The Dread Rider}; or, The Texan Duelist. 99 The Tiger of Taos; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel, 115 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock's Doom, 181 The Golden Hand; or, Dandy Rock to the Rescue, 164 Dandy Rock’s Pledge}; or, Hunted to Death. 178 Dandy Rock’s Rival; or, The Haunted Maid of Taos, BY CAPT. J. F. ©. ADAMS, 84 Oregon Sol; of, Nick Whiffles’s Boy Spy. 46 Glass-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 54 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. 56 Nick Whitiles’a Pet; or, In The Valley of Death, 60 The White Indian; or, The Scovt of the Yellowstone, 70 Old Zip’s Cabin; or, The Greenhorn In the Woods, 81 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Buckram }; or, Bess, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and Ils Peta; or, The Wild Huntres 251 Light-house Lige? or, Osceola, the Firebrand, 257 The Lost Hunters; or, The Underground Camp, 288 The Scalp King; or, The Human Thunderbolt, BY ROGER STARBUCK. 25 The Boy Captain; or, The Pirate’s Daughter. 114 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Junk, the Old Tar, 259 The Golden Harpoon; or, Lost Among the Floes, 848 Fire-Heela; or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow. 854 Big Horn Ike, the HL Tramp; or, The Odd Pards, 861 The Phantom Light-house. 870 Breaker Ben, the Reef-Runner, BY WILLIAM R EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank; or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pards BY C. DUNNING CLARK, 185 Captain Pauly or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains. 280 The Yankee Kajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef. BY GEORGE C. JENKRS, 486 Git Thar Owney the Unknown, 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor, 5S1 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. BPS Flute, the Singer Detective, 608 The Pitcher Detective’s Foll; or, Dan’s Double Play. 616 The Ocean Detectives or. The Last Cruise of the Black Boar. 681i The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussel. BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR OU, 8. A. 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker. 194 Buffalo Bills Bet; or, The Gambler Guide. BY WM. G. PATTEN, 489 Tho Diamond Sport; or, The Double Face of Bed Rock. 519 Captain Mystery ; or, Five in One. 881 Dale) ware the Sport from Denver, 587 Old Gombshell, the Ranger Detective, 604 Iron Fern, the Man of Fire. 619 The Boy Tramp Detective; or, The Double Grip Witness 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Spon. 641 Dismal Dave’s Dandy Pard. 651 Bound Boy Frank, the Young Amateur Detective 66% Violet Vane’s Victory. 682 Wild Vulcan, the Lone-Range Rider, 69R Violet and Daisy, the Posy Pards. 705 Violet Vane’s Vow; or, The Cratty Deteetive’s Craft, BY MAJOR E. L. 8ST. VRAIN, 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit, = 801 Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince. 888 Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette, 852 ‘ombatone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “ Sand.” 859 Duranyro Dave, the Young Champion Wrestler. 871 Kingbolt Ohris, the Yung Hard-Shell Detective, 880 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide. 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountain Mail-Line, BY EDWARD 8. ELLIS, 6 Bill Biddon, Trapper. 8 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of the Frontier, © Nat Todds; or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. ‘rne Frontier Angel. The Boy Miners; or, The Enchanted Island, The Hunted Hunter} or, The Strange Horseman, The Half-Blood; or, The Panther of the Platina. The Huge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man, BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON, 278 The Three Trappers; or, The Mountain Monster, 288 Indian Joe; or, me White Spirit of the Hills, BY CAPT. MARK WILTON, 256 Young Kentuck;: or, The Red Lasso. 270 Blizzard Bens or, The Riot at Keno Camp. 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfvot. BY BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG, 89 Ialand Jim: or, The Pet of the Family, 91 The Captain of the Club; or. The Rival Athletes, 101 Jack Harkaway in New York. BY MAJOR ITENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-8cout, 806 Neck-Tie Ned; or, The Dug-Out Parda. 846 Rapier Raphael: or, The Swordsmen of Zacatecas, 891 Kid-Glove Kit, the Dandy of the Rockies, 206 The Mad. Man-Hunter’ cr The Goiden Gulch M e Mad } -Hunter; or, “ 1} 505 Powell’s Pard¢ or, The Dueukimnsa Giant. ree BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER. 15 The Sea-Cat: or, The Witch of Darien, 29 The Dumb Page's or, The Doge’s Daughter. 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 150 Lance and Lasxso 3; or, The Children of the Chaco. \ 154 The Sword Hunters; or, The Land ofthe Elephant Riders, 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise. 200 The Boy Bedoutns; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance, 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine, 249 Milo Romer np tinny neLe or, Round waht e's ey The. ‘amer ; or, The I f "i at pee Neke the Demon Rider. are soa Yung: ‘California Joe’* War Trail. - eee SSS SSS SSS SSS SSS BY JOSEPH E, BADGER, JR. j 2 Yellowstone Jack; or, The rey er. wy 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Hurricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 119 Mustang Sam }; or, The King of the Plains, p 186 Night-lLinwk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, i Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Glant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy, 168 Deadly Masks or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trallera; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 The Boy Parda; or, Dainty Lance Unmasks, 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca Wolf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League, , 885 Old Double Fist; or, ‘the Strange Guide 4 855 The King of the Woods: or, Daniel Boone’s Laat Trail, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Trafler, 677 Chineapin Dan’s Second Tratl. 688 Chincapin Dan’s Home Stretch. 698 Old Crazy, the Man Without a Head. ft 708 Light-Heart Lute’s Legacy. ' BY W. J. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brotherhood ; or, The Twelve Avengers, 66 inate Handy or, A Life for a Life. 72 Mad Tom Weatern, the Texan Ranger, 887 Ben Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Scoop, BY JACK FARRAGUT, 815 Ned, the Cabin Boy. B20 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper. BY LIEUT. H. D. PERRY, U. 8S. N. 176 The Boy Runaway; or, The Buccaneer of the Bay, 180 The Sea Trailer; or, A Vow Well Kept. 192 Oaptain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point, BY COL, A. F. HOLT, 899 Black Buckskin; or, The Masked Men of Death Canyon, 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King. 485 Littie Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods, B28 The Dandy sport; or, The King Pin Consptrator, 678 Ralph Renwood, the Lightning Express Detective, 691 Headlight Harry’s Haul, BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. 78 Blue Dieks or, The Yellow Chiet’s Vengeance. 87 The Land Pirates; or, The League of Devil’s Island, 187 The Melpless Hands or, Backwoods Retributton. 289 The Gold-seeker Guide? or, The Lout Mountain, "BY FREDERICK DEWEY 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shots, 478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective. 542 The Canyon Parda. r : f a BY ARTHUR ©, GRISSOM, 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowle Kid. 558 The Sure-Shot Parda, 621 Truthful James, the “ Pecooliar’? Man, BY LIEUT. A. K, SIMS, 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock, 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 4 576 The Silver Sport. ! 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow ‘ 5S9 Tom-Cat and Pardy or, The Dead Set at Silver City. : t 601 Happy Hana, the Dutch Vidocg. U 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules, 622 Texas Tom-Cat’s Triad > f P| 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Task. { 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumph; or, Black Ivan’s Great Combine, : : 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. 657 Warbling William, the Mountain Mountebank, : 665 Jolly Jeremiahy the Plains Detective, 4 676 Signal Sam, the Lookout Scout. ‘ 689 Billy. the Gypsy Spy. ; 699 Siraple Sim, the Broncho Buster, ; 712 The Mesmerist Sport; or, The Mystified Detective, i MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORA, 4 The Wild-Horse Munters. By Capt. Mayne Reid and P| Frederick Whittaker. . 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Ny 12 Gulliver’s Travels. By Dean Swift, \ ’ 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 3 iy! 16 Robinson Orusoe,. (27 [i lustrationa,) 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages. | 22 fi Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crasoe. By Juan wer wis. 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the a Carribees, By 8S. W. Pierce. 4 86 The Boy Clowns; or, The Arena Queen. By F 8, Finn. z 88 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. a4 51 The Boy Rifiess or, The Underground Camp, By A. C. Irons, Nag 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Misaissipp). vi By Lieut,-Col. Hazeltine. tS 98 Robin Hood, the Untiawed Ear): or, The Merry Men of Green- i wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve, a 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain H) Hamilton Holmes. ; | 112 The Mad Hunters or, !he Cave of Death. By Burton Saxe. - 124 ‘Tippy, the Texany or, The Young Champion, By George | epson. > ‘ 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By se ~ Harry Cavendish. . 148 Sharp Sam ae The Adventures of a Friendless Boy. By J. Alexander Patten. 227 Dusky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- 4 lowstone. By Edward Emerson, ii 261 Fergus Fearnaught the New Y irk Boy. By @. L. Alken, ws 266 Killb’ar, nee blag or, Davy Crockett’s Crooked ‘Trail, A By Ensign ©. D. . . aot 298 Ted Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Mald ot the Cliff, -, By Captain Comstock. . ) wy 817 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville, By Lieu- "~ tenant Alfred Thorne. ji } ; y?| 828 The Sky Detective; or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Honor, MUS! By Maior Mickey Free. mn 850 Red Ralph, the River Rovers or, The Brother's Re- 3 venge. By Ned Buntline. \ i mo 865 Baltimore Ren the Bootblack Detective. By A. P, Morris, | 874 Gold-Dust Tom; or, Ben’s Double Match, ., G H, Morse, vr 876 California Joe’s First Trail. By Colonel) Thomag enue) | over Monstery. . rs 418 Billy Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By FS. Winthrop, i ye 47% The Black Ship. By John 8, Warner, oy Gonianche Dick and His Three Invincibles, By , { : enry J. Thomas. we re 582 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest, BY eee 552 Ariel the Athlete, By David Druid. RRA," A 585 Will Waters, the Boy Ferret.. By H. Enton, 4 Ave 682 The Dead Detective’s Double. By Gerald Carlton — £8 A New issue Every Tuesday. ye hae bag a ‘Library ts for sale by | 8, fi Oa code Holi DRee EEE A a rosint of ts ea eee. cae BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, /. ie, 4 iowa 98 William Street, New Wiek, Oe oh wh | ache Sen MRED 1 * Ae sas, =y ae . on * hy '* te of v nN nt Ce an ( w) x oh + Me oi f ‘ im AI A oes
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BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, Deadwood Dick Novels, 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Deadwood Dick’s Defiance; or, Double Daggers. +4 peadmaek ee = eanees, ots Buffal, Ben. + Deadwoo ek in s Castle. 42 Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza; or, The .santom Miner. 49 Deadwood Dick in Danger; or, Omaha Oll. 57 Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 78 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or. Calamity 4 ‘ne, the Heroine. 100 ee Heer — Pett or, Corduroy Charlie. eadwoo ek in Leadville. BS Een wee de anes — oo The Double Cross Sign. endwoo ck as Detective. 129 Deadwood Dick's Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. 188 Deadwood Dick's Home Base; or, Blonde Bill. 149 Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike; or, A Game of Gold. 156 Deadwood Dick ef Deadwood: or, The Picked Party, 195 Deadwood Diek’s« Dream ; or, The Rivals of the Road. 201 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill’s Jezebel. +t poe weed picks ome A paleniy Jane’s Adventure. endwout ck’s Den eal. 221 Deadwood Dick’s Death-Plant. 282 Gold-Dust Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Toughs, eas oy adhe oe ta Bev ite laos Spirit of Swamp Lake. endwoo ¢k’s Death Trail, 809 Deadwood Dick’s Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. 821 Deadwoed Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. 847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducata; or, Days in the Diggings. 851 Deadwood Dick Sentencedys or, ‘The Terrible Vendetta, 862 Deadwood Dick’s Claim, ood Dick in Dead City. Dick’s Dinmonda, Dick in New York; or, A “Cute Case,” rte soe | r| or Dust; or, The Chained Hand, ead woo ick, Jr. 448 Deadweoed Dick, Jr.’s, Definnee. 453 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Full Hand. 459 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Bly Round-Up. 465 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Racket at Claim 10. 471 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’k, Corral; or, Bozeman Bill. 45s Bendvecd Dick, St! in Deadwoed. as ” . 491 Deadwood Dick, Jr.«, Compact. 496 Deadwood Disk Jr.'s, ipheritanee. ck, Jr.'s, ngs. 608 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deliverance. 515 Deadresd Dick, Jr.'s, Protegee. 522 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Ge. 529 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Danger Ducka Set Beira eee woo ck, dra, in Texas, 544 Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidoeg Bae Deadwood Dick: Yr) in Gothaime en ck "9 i. 561 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Bosten: Set Bestused bites gr: fe gemeecto ead woo ek, Jr., in cago. 578 Deadwood Dick. Jr., Afloat. &S4 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Denver. 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Decree. — ; 595 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Beelzebub’s Basin, 600 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Coney Island, 606 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Leadville Lay. 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Detroit. aif bectrecd. pie Sr; it Greate en U eK * Ney . 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in No Man’s Land, 686 Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer, 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Buffalo. 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Chase Across the Continen 654 Deadwood Dick, J Fe» Among the Smugglers. 660 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Insurance Caxe, G¢2 Deadwood Dick, 31.2 (a Duranget ons Gai “Kes . o33 Boadweos, Dick, pio oearerys or, Found a Fortune, oad WO: ek, dr.’s. Dazzle. 690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s. Dollars. oes pe bee Dick? ba af Arent’ Divide. " wo y PT.’ By ‘OD. 704 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. 710 Deadwood Dick, Jr, in San Franclaco, Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler, 410 Dend 45 Old Avalane “or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand. ot Huckhorn Bin; . ograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s pepgpenranea’ Lt 125. Bonanza Bill, Miner. ise Hosa Hob the King of Bootblacks. 1 Solid om the Boy Road-Agent. 1 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 177 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps, 1 Wild Frank, the Bockskin Bravo. 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective, 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventril a6 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab 286 Apollo TAN, the Trail Tornado. a4 uist Hunter, etective, Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator, Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. Sierra Sam’s Secret ; or, The Bloody Footprints, a8 Sierra Sam’s Pard; or. Tbe Angel o! Big Vista, 258 Sierra Sam’s Seven; or, The Stolen Bride. 278 Jumbo J oe, the Boy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs, 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen, 281 Denver Doll's Victory. , & Denver Doll’« Decoy § or. Little Bill’s Bonanza, Boy Ferret. or, The Road Queen, or, The Dead Face of Daggersyille, 884 Kangaroo or, The Mysterious Miner. 9 pet aarp Kit’s Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood, 858 Firat-Clasa Fred, the Gent trom Gopher. . 8 Vreka dim, the Gold-Gatherers or, The Life Lottery, Ste Neher Neat Fer he Secret of Sinb City. BSZ Cool Kit, the King*of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance. & 5 Nek Jim’s Joker 3 or, The Rivals of Red Nose, a4 ae agen ce ane ae h Nerry Night Watch Det rictive. Fe as a ‘ ike Bogen ev Detective, vate Detectives, B67 Wide-Awnke Joe; or, A Boy oft 879 Larry, the Leveler? ¢r. The Bloods ot the Boulevard, 408 Fliretly Jnek, the River-Rat Detective. — BEADLE’S« H ALF- DIME* LIBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, @ The Flying Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcast. 17 Ralph Roy, the Boy Buccancer; or. The Fugitive Yacht. 24 Diamond Dirk 3 or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 62 The Shadow Ship; or, The Rival Lieutenants, 75 The Boy Duelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf. 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Srouggier. 111 The Sen-Devil 3 or, The Midshipman’s Legacy, 116 The Hussar Captain ; or, ‘Ihe Hermit of Hell Gate, 197 Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter. 204 Gold Plume}; or, Buffalo Bill, she Pony Express Rider. 216 Bison BALL, the Prince of the Reins; or, Buttdo Bill’s Pluck. 222 Grit, the Bravo Sport; or, The Woman Trailer, 229 Crimson Kate; or, The Cowboy’s Triumph, 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 245 Merle, the Middy ; or, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midshipman Mutineer ; or, Brandt, the Buccaneer. 264 The Floating F eather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure, 269 The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned. 276 Merle Monte’s Cruise; or, * The Gold Ship '? Chase, 280 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, Pearl, the Pirate's Bride, 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 287 Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande, 804 The Dead Shot Dandy ; or, Benito, the Boy Bugler, 808 Keno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Donble. 814 The Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Trail, 877 Bonodel, the Buy Rover}; or, The Flagless Schooner, 888 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island, 887 Warpath WII, the Boy Phantom, 898 Seawall, the Boy Lientenant. 402 Isodor, the Young Comspivaters or, The Fatal League, 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild Vachtaman; or, The War-Cloua’s Cruise. 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy's Luck; or, Tie Corsair. 487 The Sea Raider. 441 The 9cean Firefly ; or, A Middy’s Vengeance. 446 Haphazard Harry ; or, Tne Scapegrace of the Sea, 450° Wizard W4Ull: or, The Boy Ferret of New York, 454 Wizard Will's Street Scouta. ‘ 462 The Born Gulde; or, The Saiior Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster. 474 Flora}; or, Wizard Wili’s Vagabond Pard. 488 Ferrets Afloat; or, Wizard Will's Last Case, 487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger. 495 Arizona doe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack, 497 Buck Taylors King of the Cowboys. 508 The ore Middy ¢ or, The Shark and the Ses Cat ret The Nunted Midshipman. 511 The Outlawed Middy. 520 Buckskin Bill, the Comanche Shadow, 525 Brothers in Buckskin. 5380 The Buckskin Bowers. 585 The Bue skin Rovers, 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marander ot the Rio,) 545 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte. 550 Lafitte’s Legacy; or. The Avenging Son. 555 The Creole Corsair, 560 Pawnee BI, the Prairie Shadower. 565 Kent Kin m, the Card King. » the Card Queen, | 575 The Surgeon-Scoat Detective. 580 The Outcast Cadet; or, The False Detective 586 The Buckskin Avenger. 591 Delmonte, the Young Sea Rover. 597 The Young Texan Detective. 602 The Vagabond of the Minex. 607 The Rover Detective; or, Keno Kit’s Champions, 617 Ralph, the Dead-Shot Scouts or, The Rio Raiders, 644 The Hercules Highwaymun, ‘ 650 oreers y Billy, the Pony Kider Detective; or, Buffalo ’s Boy Para, 656 Butterfly Billy’«s Man Hunt. 662 Butterfly Billy’ onanza, ‘s 668 The Buecaneer ! lachipman. 674 The zard Sailor; or, Red Ralph, the Rover. 679 The Sea Shadower; or, The Freedooter’s Legacy. +4 Tite: TM enaey Free Biome on Tie Hecuian es nore. P val, r or, Redfern, th cret Service Scout, 697 The’ arace Rombrora} or, The Sharp from Texas, tp 702 Blue Jacket Bill; or, ip Red Hat Rangers’ Red Hot Racket 707 The Red Sombrero Rangers; or, Redforn’s Last Trail, BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm. F. Cody), 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy! or, The Pilot of the Prairie. 55 beadly-Eye, the Unknown Sceut. 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trus' BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 WIll Somers, the Boy Detective, 126 Plenyune Petes on Nic he Dog De cayune Pete}; or codemus, the tective. 180 Detective Dick} or, The Hero in Rage. . 142 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Black Besa, Will Wildfire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. 162 Will Wildfire in the Woods. 165 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. 170 A Trump Card; or, Will Wildfire Wins and Loses, 174 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. 179 Bob Roekett, the Bank Runner, 188 The Hidden Hand; or, Wil) Wildfire’s Revenge. 187 Fred Halyard, the Lite Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers. 189 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed; or, Bob Kockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Netective, 220 Tom Tanner; or, The Blick Sheep of the Flock. 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky, 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy, 242 The Two * Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang, 252 Dick Dashaway? or, A Dakota Bay in Chicago. 262 The Young Sharps: or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail, 274 Jolly J the Detective Apprentice, 289 Jolly Jinv’s Job; or. The Young Detective, 298 The Water-Hound: or, The Young Thoroughored. 805 Dashaway, of Dakotas or, A Western Lad in Quaker City, 824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective, baer 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagationd Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; on, Ered. Fives’ Blizzard, the Times. 428% The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier. ae prem Re er. t paiehontc ob ; cible Log the Pinkerto rret. 6 yh ceri the abile Vaahned r y “AW 479 Detective Dod = or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty, ld Dick Racket. Ree an ri 501 Roots the Boy Fireman t or, Too Sharp for the Sh bRE Tho aeeret hereto Boy Meteetive.. ; ¥ ; sbtin 5964 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. } 627 Tom iruce ot Arkananst or, The ee the Fold. ¢ 4 '. ser iy and dni hs Day tat was sits 09 The Curbstone Detectives or, Harry Hale’s Big Beat. ! “, es BY J, ©. COWDRIOK, 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. 869 Shasta, the Gold King}; or, For Seven Years Dead. 420 The Detective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Withou: a Name. 424 Cibuta John; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 439 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Bisco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 506 Redlight Ralph, the Prince of the Road. 514 Broadway Billy’s Boodle. 524 The Engineer Detective. Broadway Billy’s ‘ Diftikilty.” Mart, the Night Express Detective. Broadway Billy’« Peath Racket. Air-Line Luke the Young Engineer, 579 The Chimney Spy; or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party. 592 The Boy Pinkerton. William 0’ Broadway; or, The Boy Detective's Big uning, 615 Fighting Her? the Chief of Chained Cyclone, Broadway Billy’s Dead Act. 640 Barebsrek Beth, the Centaur of the Circle. Typewsiner Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward. 659 Moonlight Morgan, the *‘ Pizenest ”’? Man of Ante Bar, 669 Broadway Billy Abroad. / 675 Broadway Billy’s Best; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest. 687 Broadway Billy in Clover. Broadway Billy tin Texas. Broadway Billy’« Brand. 711 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe. BY T. ©. HARBAUGH. 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of '76. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Litt) Hunter. 7 Nightingale apred or, Tne Forest Captains, 64 Dand Teak 3 or, The Ontlaws of the Oregon Trait. Be mtn The Bt Midnight Jack ; or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old east, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 128 Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. 189 Judy e Lynch, Jr.z or, The Boy Vigilante, 155 Gold T r, the Sport; er, The Girl Avenger. 169 Tornado Tomy or, Injun Jack From Red Core. 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 198 Arkansaw } or, The Queen of Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter, 215 Captain Bullet ; or, Little Topknot’s Crusade, 281 Plucky Phil; or, Rosa, the Rei Jezebel. 241 Bill Bravos; or, Tne Roughs of the Rockies. 255 Captain Apoli«; we King-Pin of Bowle. 267 The buckskin Detective. 279 Old Winch ys or, The Buckskin Desperadoes, 294 Dynamite Dan; or, The Bowle Blade of Gochetopa. | 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully. 816 Ola Eclipse, Trump Card of Arizona, 826 The Ten Pards; or, The Terror of Take-Notice. 886 Big Benson; or, The Queen of the Lasso. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Ked Thunderbolt’s Secret. 856 Cool Sam and Pard; or The Terrible Six. 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 886 Captain Cutlass; or, The Brecuneer’s Girl Foo. 896 Rough Rob; or, The Twin Champions of Blue Blazes, 411 The Silken Lasso; or, The Rose of Ranch Robin, 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. : 425 Texas Trump, the Border Rattler. 486 Pill Klan, the New York Fox. 445 The City Vampires; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon. +) 461 One Against Fifty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Roy Shadew ; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. Psi 477 The Exceisior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter, 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret, 512 Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective. 621 Dodger Dick’s Beat Dodge. 528 Fox and Faicon, the Bowery Shadows, 588 Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret. — 548 Dodger Dick’s Double; or, The Rival Boy Dotectives, 558 Dodeer Dick’a Desperate Case. 568 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidocq. 578 The Two Shadows. 582 Dodger Dick’s Drop. 594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. un 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard. 626 The Champion Pards, : 687 Dick Doan, the Dock Boy Detective. 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp. 658 Billy Bantam, the Boy Beagle. wate 671 Jersey Jed, the Boy Hustler; or, Shadowing the Shadower, 685 Happy Hugh, the Boy-Musician Detective. 701 Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 718 Carl, the Mad Cowboy; or, The Lariat Queen, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. ‘ 714 Old Misery, the Man from Missouri; or, The Mystery of the Mountain League. By Wm. G. Patten. i 215 Wide Awake Wen, the Quaker City Ferret; or, Caging the Cormorants, By T.C, Harbaugh. dwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Munt; or, The Second re Reed in San Francisco. By Edward L, Wheeler. © ~: 217% Moxautto Jack, the Hustler Gamin; or, Move-on Mike's Grand Catch, By Jo Pierce. — : Ready April 21, ° ] = 218 Light-Heart Lute’s Last Trail; or, The Gold Crater’s tie Servet. Pydoaeph E. Badger, Jr. oe 2 ’ vat TT) Ready Apri] 288. ©") @ : 719 Pawnee Bill’« Pledge; or, The Cowboy Kidnapper, By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. Ready May 5. wits ‘ é A New Issue Every Tuesday... -,.. The Half- Dime Library 1s for sale by al! newsdealers, five centa per copy, or sent by mail on receipt ot mx cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, ' 98 William Street, New York. ’ . x - ee —