Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 498) (1887 02 08)
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| SF IA NERA ttt i TLL Let hl tic ae Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. ¥., at Second Class Mail Rates. Copyright, 1887, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, February 8, 1887. $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS Price, 4 Vol. XX, a Year. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. f 5 Cents. No. 498. i aie. Bi «| Marti CAPTAIN ONAME'S. MISSION BY JNO. W. OSBON, AUTHOR OF ‘THE RIVAL GIANTS OF NOWHAR,” “THE DIAMOND HOOK,” “YANKEE VIDOCQ’S DI8- COVERY,” ETC., ETO. PROLOGUE. 3 “YoUuR SON W.S MURD KED! ““Hysr comes ther hearse, pards; an’ from ther ugly way Old Buck bridger aire slingin’ ther lash, I jedge an’ asseverate thet he hes hed a Greco-Roman tussle *ith Biudso’s Band ag’in!_ Eb, Limerick?” “Dot vos so, I ped you!” excitedly replied the host of Limerick’s Palace, ‘tot Pridger vas hoompin’ himselluf some, py chiminetti!’ And with like expressions the half-score loungers about the doorway of the hostelry’s bar-room eager. BS === = = =| lycrowded forward as the stage-coach came toa “ GEE jae aes halt a few paces distant. AT GOD! CAN THIS BE YOU, CARLOTTA DANE, YOU THE ROAD-AGENT CHIEF?” Then, as a dozen rapid queries rung out, o lithe,
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svar form dropped lightly to the ground from be- side the driver on tne box—the formof a ruddy- faced, blue-eyed youth near his nineteenth summer capa dressed in a neat suit of gray, his t encircled with a b: lt of arms. ‘“*Ig Major Axfell here?” Not loudly spoken, but enunciated so clearly and distinctly that the words seemed to ring above the clamoring voices; so fearlessand yet 80 quiet and unob.rusive, in 1one, that to a man those of the camp's denizens present turned and stared curious- ly at the youth. I left the majur in his office but amoment ago, my lsd,” quickly responded a tall powerf:.!-looking fellow—no less x personage thanSaul jemple, the ma shalof thecamp. ‘Yon smell building. just vis ble in the twilight, is the place.” T en turning to the veteran on the box, the speak- er continued: S ** You ran afoul of Bludso’s toll- takers, Buck?”’ The drive: uttered a grim chuckle. a Ww “'Twar the gang w’at run afoul ov us / “Say goloots, slap yer hunk ov bone and muskle slidin’ fer the major’s of- fice, will ye? “quint keerfully an’ take his measure _ ’ A zame-cock of purest : train aire that same lad!’ * A ténde foot, Buck?” bs **A live-coal, fresh from Brimstone, pard!”’ 4 ** His han’le?”’ . ** Rollo Axfell, the major’s son!” ‘“* But the toll-ta ers, bridger—what of them?’’ in- terposed Saul Temple. : “Humph! Nothin’ ov quinsequence, Pard Saul We kem through onteched this trip. out thar’s cold meat at ihe big bend on ihe trail: Lordee! how that pesky kid can han’le a p'ar ov sixes, pards!” “*Subdue your feelings until you have piven us an tt trifle impatiently, ‘Es ef | war not!” sniffei Bridger disdainfully. ** Don’t be so offishus, .aul Temple. Cain’t ec: rk m>- his: “ Left Golconda this mornin’ ith one passe’ser— youn’ Axfell Everything war sere:e until we reached ther big bend, late this a’terno Dy wen srg an’ his men jumped ther outfit in reg'lation style. Thar war on’y one thing ter do—hol’ up! An’ that war w’ot I tried ter do, w’en, quicker ’n flas :- lightnin’, su’thin’ cold bumped up ag’in my head an’ thet haydoogia ov wil’-cats, young Axfell, sez, fa sharp an’ quick: ‘e “You whip an’ pull throuzh, Buck Bridger, or yer cabeza’s a sieve!’ *“ An’ ith that he began ter ae lead at ther gang ’itb his other six, a m .n drop; in’ ai each shot an’ faster ’n ye c’u’d count! “Tork ov appearances deccivin’! Gents, thet bread-an’-’lasses kid aire jest a whirlvgust ov de’th —a compressed cyclone ov deestruction, or I’m the meanest liar in Nabob’s Bar! He—” ** You laid whip, I suppose, Buck?’’ quietly broke in Saul Temple. -) “Yas, I laid whip,” snorted Bridger. ‘* W’ot ye : s’pose I did? EfI sat still, et war sure de’th; ef I a A run, et meant a chaince fer life. An’ putt yer stack how!” marshal, “Wich same war more then Bludso’s men did,” declared the driver, with a sudden relaxation of bis facial muscles. ‘Ha! ha! Saul Temple! Wish ye c’u'd ’a’ see’d et! Fu’st on ther right, then ter ther left, an’ then straight ahead. all quicker’n ther play ov a rattler’s tongue, ther p’izen kid socked his lead home, fer keeps. An’ he won ther bluff, too, fer Bludso an’ his men got back /ast, Tork ov vigilantes! He! he! Saul!” : : **Vigilantes!’’ echoed a beavy base voice, from di- rectly behind the marshal. ‘A good thing, gentle- men, as a rule, in this country. But in the present instance their usefulness is impaired by the Saek-o'- —— propensities of these festive knights of the way.” true for you, Idaho!’ exclaimed Saul Temple. half-turning to face the bearded giant who had spoken, ‘ But, emboldened by continued success, they will overst«p the mark some day, and then the trees of the Golconda trail will bear fruit hideous to see.” A few words more, then the —* for the supper hour 0 and. And so came Rollo Axfell, the mine-owner’s son, into Nabob's Bar. Right weeks have glided by, maturing budding spring into biooming summer, The scene is Nabob’s Bar; the twil again at hand, and about the doorway of Limerick’s alace lounge the self-same group of idlers who wit- nessed the advent of Rolo Axfell. The stalwart form of Saul Temple alone is missing, the camp was at Peis 38 iy a; at his middle, his eyes sparkle feverishly, and on his mobile face is an expression of mae, concern, _ A strange hush holds sway over the group—a hush _ which is suddenly broken by a rapid beating of iron- shod hoofs and the dull rumbling of wheels far down the winding trail upon which all eyes are fixed. : “She comes at last!” utters the bearded giant, his tones strangely unnatural, as he turns hoarse almost fiercely toward the slender, blue-eyed man. he hour is | 3. wie ee Ey 9 SO real Bu Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. ‘Wie! Axfell! Put off that death’s-head look! Your cub's all right—a round thousand backs the opin- ion! No word is vouchsafed in response, Major Axfell mechanically makes his way through the gathering crowd, then halts to await the approach of the stage. On comes the ramshackle vehicle, Old Buck Bridg- Pa plying his whip relentlessly. As he rounds up be- ore into the pallid face of Major Axfell, then turns his ' leaden-hued visage to the man beside him upon the ‘Nay, nary!” giving his arms a tragical fling, | box, a sound akin to a smothered imprecatio.u ac- companying the action. Axfell peers sharply up at the man beside Bridger, - Ms is you, Saul Temple?” he demands, huskily. “ es. , “Where is—”’ ‘* Your son is dead—”’ \ * Dead—Saul!”’ imerick’s Palace, he casts one swift look down | Involuntarily Bravo Brice shrunk back a. trifl«, for pe was a menacing ring in the swiftly-uttered words. At the same instant, with the abruptness of thought, the bold sport, dropping to his knees, wiih his left hand caught up the poncho and enveloped his head in its folds, Simultaneously, and before the surprised Serpent could lift even a finger, his re- volver—its muzzle in what seemed to a simple tuft of dry grass—cracked once, twice, thrice, in rapid succession, and up from the ground shot a broad sheet of flame, hiding him from view, In the briefest measurable space of time the sultry air became charged with a peculiar thick white smoke, which arly eushrouded both the hunters and the bunted, “ Perdition! | an’ break fer ther mustang!” cried Bravo Brice, *“ Dead, my friend! He was enticed awa: from | Golconda this morning, by members of Bludso’s | Band, and murdered!” eepers on yender little | account of the fight,’ urged the marshal, justa | self entirely. Now, le’s see—et happened "bout like | i | clear cut features, aud long, crisply-curling hair of From lip and chin swept, respec: | a: down thet I han’led ther ribbons ther best I knowed | * And pulled through unharmed,” commented the | group of idlers dis- | A pale, slender, blue-eyed man, of years beyond fif- ' ty, the oe of the absent marshal; bis hands t to tlessly with the butts of the weapons banging | | } jett CHAPTER I. STRANGELY MET. Tue reckless sport was cornered—driven at bay | like a bunted beast. Yet there was no sign of flinch- ing. His head was thrown back paced and defiantiy. his broad chest expanded, and in his black eyes was a light very like tne angry, lurid glow of smoldering coals. : : A full balf-score deadly steel tubes stared him bitter smile revealing his strong white teeth. bis athletic form in bold relief against the wall of gray rock, his left hand hanging carelessly a' his side, his right claspicg the butt of an elegantly-mounted, but | straight in the face; but he stood calm and cool, a | serviceable-looking revolver at jul] cock and leveled. | In hight, he was perhaps a trifle under six feet; his shoulders were broad and shapely; his chest was full and well-rounded. Titanic strength and catlike agility lay in the mold of his arms, trunk and Jimbs Of princely poise was his head, with delicate yet blackness, tively, a dainty mustache and imperial. His eyes were large and intensely black; his face was a deep olive tint. At a glance it was apparent from both attire and bearing that this man at bay was a border sport. hoarsely, coughing and sneezing, as he rapidly emptied the chambers of his revolvers at the spot’ where he had last seen Perdido, the sport. Then, high above the rattling dischorge of fire- arms, a derisive, taunting yell rung out, followed “2 the rapid clarter of hoofs, and down the narrow val- ley swept the fleetfooted mustang with Perdido bending low in the saddle. A howl of wolfish anger escaped the chief of the desperadoes. “Jump fer ther horses!’’ he shouted, savagely, as the smoke-cloud lifted until the escaping we rt was vi-ible, ‘* Mount an’ a’ter ther slip sy coms, 20t foot! W-"ll git ‘im yet—ther mustang hes bin hard ridden an’ aire no match for our horses!” An even as he spoke he led the way, In grim silence the Serpents followed, and a mo- ment later the entire band was mounted and cours- ing down the valley in swift pursuit of the bat-d sport. Far in advance, through the narrow, tortuous length of the fastness. and out from the gathering shadows of the foothills into the broad yellow sun- light of a broad plain thundered Perdido, his face grim and determined. “We aire fainin’, pards!” cried Brice, sav- agely, as he and his foll: wers l+ft the foothills and flashed across the level of the plain. ‘‘Ther powcer-trick ov ther derned cuss won't sarve hima cent’s wu’th! Ther svn aire settin’. but afore night comes on we'll finish the sleuth-hound forever. Then, ho! fer fresh fields and greater pastures, | Whar no more we’jl see ther crimson sign ov ther He looked it from the cro’n of his broad. white | sombrero to the soles of his dusty patent-leather | boots. He was well armed, too, for belted to his waist were a second revolver and a bowie-knife, while across his shoulders hung a “ inchester rifle. hand an’ ther sarpent!” No word of response came from the Serpents of Cimarron; but there was a sharp clicking, as of strong teeth shut viciously together, and their evil eyes flushed madly. With one accord, the long ' rowels of their Mexican spurs were driven vet deep- And, looking at him, is would instantly occur to | all that, the dashing sport was completely master | of the “tools,” At the feet of the man at bay lay a poncho upon which, apparently, he had been recliuing, and a dozen paces distant a clean-limbed mustang, saddled and ready for flight, leisurely cropped the scant mountain herbage. “S’prised, hain’t ye, Perdido?’ exclaimed the leader of the armed and desperate-looking group confrenting the sport. bis coarse toves vibrating with malicious exultarion, “If so, pot agreeably,”” was the cool retort. ‘“*T suppose, Bravo Brice, thet ye an’ ther Serpents ov Cimarron aire hyar ter levy toll?” “Prezactly, Perdido—prezactly,” guffawed the rough, in mock mirth. ‘All thet kems to our net for the first time in | bis mustang. er into the reeking flanks of the jaded horses. Perdido seemd fully aware of his peril, for he cast frequent glances over his shoulder, “They are creeping up fast.” he at last muttered, he chase applying the spur to “On, Fl-etfoot! on for another hour, | ill night hides us from our foes, when we'll turn and unseen strike back blow for blow.” Carefully he examined his wea , set, determined expression mentling his dark face, , it could be read at a glance that the Serpents ox aire fish; an’ yet, we hain’t follered yer fer ail these | his Winchester; reeled and toppled headlong from miles for plunder alone, Perdido,” “No, I kinder think not.” observed the entrapped man, his red lips curling grimly. “No,’’ Bravo Brice continned. “* We knows thet ye hes gold, Perdido Fernandez; but not all yer yaller dus: c’u’d’a’ drawed ther Serpents ov Cim- arron so far out ov their way.” The dark sport uttered a soft laugh. irene he po yi Poi Serpents oy Cimarron aire es lazy a pack ov thieves an’ cut-throat i ea kin boast!” ie ag ‘Lazy, yas; but in s’arch ov revenge tirele Perdido,” retorted the Bravo. “Et pan at life we wants wuss than yer money, We hain't fergot thet a week ago ye putt ther Vigilantes ov rranca ag’in’ us, an’ thet half our men war killed. We swore then ter hev revenge. W’en we diskivered ther yer was on our trail, we putt up thes hyar leetle job; and, sport, I kalkilate that yeJaire purty | armed with a repeating rifle. nigh cornered. ‘Now will ye kindly drop_yer gilt-edged toy, or must we stan’ an’see ye suffer from a bad lead p’ison?”’ , And a mad light flamed up in the eyes of the burly desperado, ; Perdido laughed carelessly. A close observer woul have noticed that his broad breast iy hed a trifle, and that bis muscles cont tigerish leep, i dana ais: ag “Taint Fest as comfortable hyar esI e’u’d like ter hey it,” he admitted, his black eye; in wickedly; “but don't f-ra holy minute iF is tapes er addled brain that I am goin’ ter drop my tools, Bravo gia ms “Yer view ov the present state ov affairs aire kinder biased—lop-sided. Can't ye see thet this hyar leetle peacemaker Prints Straight fer yer cabeza? an’ can’t ye kalkilate from thet thet: ni chainces aire thet ef ye.try yer riddlin’ game yell trot at my side in the race over ther range? “Ther deck hes bin packed _g*in' me in this game ter ther death; but ef ther hands aire all full an’ re- volvers trumps, ply / Perdido Fernandez will swing his keerds fer all they aire wu’th!” case Ov | Cimarron had pitted themselves against a man of nerve. 4 On across the mustang; on, unt Cra kf The report of a rifle rung out sharply, to be caught up in a thousand snapping, cracking echoes in the distant ) ills, and the dashing sport, Bs jug prassy plain swept the spirited the saddle. with the blood trickling in a crimson stream across his forehead. Uttering a snort of alarm, the well-trained mus- tang galloped away a few yards, then halted, wheeled and came trotting back to the side of the stricken sport. Brice and his men. startled, apparently, by the shot, abrupt'y reined in their prancing steeds, and for a moment sat as motionless a8 SO Many graven images, in sharp relief against the golden splendor 3 nea wstern horizon, looking askance at one an- other. “Pards, who fired that shot?’ muttered the out- Jaw chief uneasily. Then. as if in answer. up from the rank grass of the prairie a hundred yards beyond Perdido arose @ man—a short, rather slenderly-built fellow, repul- sive in appearance, clad in ragged buckskin, and Stowly, and with a shambling gait, the assassin vidapaiee strode toward his victim the rays of the setting sun lighting up with startling effect his hideous face. “ Ther Devil!” and Bravo Brice abruptly wheeled his horse. “Turn, pards—turn and fly, for it aire Walki Death, ther Leper—ther outcast ov ther plains!” he cried, in suppressed tones, “‘ Ef Perdido, ther sport, et lives, it aire only ter suffer death through alt his ) e. fer thet fiend in human shape hes marked him er rey!” : Obeyit ig, with one accord, the Cimarron brigands spurred swiftly away, followed by & taunting yell from the man who had robbed them of their victim, Advancing until he was within a dozen paces of the stricken sport, Walking Death started convul- sively, then halted’ dropping the butt of his rige to the ground and clasping his hands over. the muzzle to support his trembling form. As revealed by the last rays of the more repellent could hardly be conceived, Apparently a finely-formed man originally, be had fallen a prey to leprosy; and now bis form was We aire tricked, pards! Fire—fire! ns, and from the sun, a being -_ he ° TS. Pe rane ie - _- va ee tot aoe
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" - shrunken and wasted, his hair gone, and his nose al- most eaten away, while his face and neck were swollen to abnormal proportions and thickly cov- ered with scaling bulbous excrescences. And the iarge hands clasped over the muzzle of the rifle also cloquently bespoke the ravages vf the dread disorder, for joints were missing from several of the long and strangely thick fingers. Until the sun had dipped behind the her’zon and the Serpents of Cimarron wer: far away, the ghastly wretch stood, weak and treinbling, his blue eyes, filled with an expression of keen regret, fixed steadily upon the pallid, bloodstained face of Per- dido Fernandez. Then the leper started and eagerly glided forward, only to halt and glare ahead. as if expecting each moment to note in the sport signs of returning ani- mation. : And his exvectations were realized; for, present- ly, a violent shudder ran through che form of Per- dido, who the next instant sprung half erect and glared savagely around A fervent exclamation escaped the tongue of Walking Death. Dashing the trickling blood from his eyes, the wounded sport clapped his hands upon the revol- vers in his belt. “Thet war a coward's shot, Bravo Brice!’’ he gritted madly, the lurid glow in his dark eyes deep- ening. ‘“‘Cuss ye! whar aire ye?—sneaked off like a cowardly coyote? Ef ye want me dad,I am hyar, an’ game ter ther last!"’ “Peace, Perdido!’ cried Walking Death, in a voice soft and musical, strangely at variance with his external appearance, as he advanced a trifle. “Bravo Brice and the Serpents of Cimarron have fled. We are alone upon the plain.” The handsome sport started as if shot. A strange, clearly perceptible shiver ran through his stalivart form, and his face grew yet whiter. ‘*Great God! that voice!’ he ejaculated, his tones accentuated with sudden agony, and again dashing the mist of blood from his eyes, he stared at the leper. Who aire ye man?’ he demanded hoarsely. * Where «is the voice that recalls Carlotta Dane an’ ther dead past? Speak. wretch! or by heavens! I'll choke ther truth from yer throat!” And with a wolfish cry he flung himself straight at the prairie outcasc. CHAPTER IT, THE SENTINEL OF THE PLAIN. Perpipo’s face expressed disagreeable surprise and fearful expectancy, as well as rage, as he sprung toward Walking Death, the Leper. , : * Back, Perdido Fernandez—back!" cried the out- cast, in warning tones, his voice wholly changed, as he retreated precipitately. ‘To approach or touch me is to bring upon yourself a fate ten thousand times more terrible than the grave, for lam Walk ing Death, the L«per!”’ “Hal ye speak ther truth!’’ excleimed the sport, abruptly halting, then drawing back in disgust. “L saw ye not, for the blood from this cussed wound hed blinded me! ; “ But what do ye byar—yow, whose haunts aire in ‘ther mounta n fastnesses west ov Cimarron?” “What do ! hyar?” repeated the leper, a hollow mirthless Jaugh joining with the words. * Ask ye ot the dead my mission, Perdido, for far more apt to tell ye are they than i. “Suffice it, that where go Bravo Brice and the Serpents of Cimarron, (here have I work to do,” “As hev |!’ gritted the sport involuntarily, the hammers of his weapons half raising under a sudden ‘pressure of his thumbs. “And red work, too,” observed the leper, catching ‘the other’s low spoken words. “ How know ye thet? Perdido demanded suspi- -ciously, * As I !now many things,” was the quick reply, * You are not what you seem, Perdido. You are nor a Cuban, nor were your curling locks and mustache always of the hue of the raven’s wing, nor your skin of olive tint, for you are playing a dual part! The sport’s black eyes flashed dangerously, and ‘his revolvers swept to a level. e demanded angrily: ““What mean ye, leper?” “Exactly what I say,” replied Walking Death, his hollow laugh again’ jarring forth unpleasantly. * Back, Perdido, and ‘put up your weapons; for, Ishma:lite though Tt am, with my hand against every man, and the hands of all men against me, yet we two should be friends, for we are striving for & common purpose—vengeance against the Serpents of Cimarron!”’ Mechanically, the dark sport returned his revolv- ers to his belt. “True—even aS 4 pair ov trays an’ plenty of sand beats three aces 4n’ @ peir oy weak knees,” he muttered, The prairie outcast continued, “But hark ye, Percido—the very air ye breathe = luted with - stench of my dread disorder. ‘Take warning, and go! The sanmh added swift assent. Pooning his som- brers and catching up his Winchester, he vaulted ; into the saddle. a re right; and I am off, Walking Death—off ter ther gold-camps ov southwestern Colorado, whar go Pravo Brice an’ bis road-agent band,” he said. te pi before we part, thar aire one question I would ask, Who fired ther shot ‘thet dropped me from ther dle? onthe leper shuddered, and his eyes sought the d. ert was I,” he admitted reluctantly. Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. 3 A mocking ae, escaped Perdido. ‘* And yet. ’we Walking Death started as if stung, stepping for- | ana tantalizing, as he brought his knees sha wo sh'u’d be friends!’ he sneered. | against the sides of his horse, causing the well- ; trained animal to siuk down in the rank grass. “If ward a pace, his hands raised appeaiingly and his | you are so infernally anxious to find out just whoI eyes glo wing with a strange light. “You wrong me, Perdido!’’ he said, his faltering tones betraying emotion. ‘‘ You were directly be- tween me and the setting sun; in its glare my eyes deceived me into the belief that you were a foe. But that which caused the mistake also rendered my aim defective, so that you escaped with but a sealp-wound. “And my presence here doubtless saved your life, for when | left the cover of the grass Bravo Brice and his men turned and fled.” *P’rhaps IT do owe ye somethin’—anyway, we'll let the matter pass.” muttered Perdido, ungra- ciously. * Ther Sarpents c’u’d ’a’ run me down, fer my mustang war jaded; true, some oy ther devils w'u’d ’a’ bin fixed fer ther last procession, but who w’u'd ’a’ mourned a'ter me? ‘ ‘* Yas. we’il call t! er matver a draw, leper, an’ I’ll be off, fer my camp to-night must be in yonder foot- hil's. So, now, adieu, an’ may yer future be hap- pier than yer past, Senor Walking Death!’’ In the tones of the reckless sport was a tinge of bitter mockery, “Farewell, Perdido, and may Juck attend you!” responded the outcast of the prairie, a scarcely no- ticeable tremor causing his musical tones to vi- brate. Doffing his sombrero, Perdido wheeled, and with a free use of the spur urged his jaded horse toward the distant hills at a furious gallop. Long and earnestly, with a look of intense pain in his dark eyes, the Sore wretch gazed after the rapidly receding horseman. ‘Handsome as ever, despite his complete dis- guise—handsome, but faithless. and as cold and cruel as the grave,” he muttered, turning away, as one in Gespair, as horse and rider vanished over the crest of a swell in the plain. ‘““My God! must I longer endure this ceaseless agony? Each time our paths cross I grow weak, and waver in my purpose, Am I longer equal to be terrible task before me, or must I miserably fail? “Fail? No! no! I will be strong and enduring— will avenge My wrongs—zvi/l live and follow the trail to the bitter end, to wrest from the face of the Villain who woul rob meand mine of happiness and peace the mask of hypocrisy, exp-se his guilt and punish him for bis dark and deadly work!” Slowly at first, and low, in accents of bitterest despair, but with voice gradually rising until it run through the gathering twilight of the prairie with the weird effect of a banshee’s wail, spoke the leper, his eyes filling with a strange and terrible glow, each fiber of his wasted form thrilling anew with life and a mad strength. And his horribly mutilated right hand was lifted to Heaven, asif to invoke the Divine Being to wit- ness the registration of a vow of vengeance! Fearful in its intensity, the wild outburst was of brief duration. With the abruptness of “‘one with a mind dis- eased,” the outcast lapsed into utter quiemess. Darting piercing glances hither and thither across the darkening plain, he stood ogre-like for a mo- ment, then placed his fingers upon his lips and uttered a sharp whistle, ’ Scarcely had the shrill sound died away, when upon the grim silence broke the dull thud of a horse’s hoofs, and straight to the side of Walking Death galloped a powerful black steed, closely fol- lowed by two gaunt bloodhounds. * Aha! my dumb friends, you are here, prompt to do your master’s bidding, and faithful unto death!” he muttered, his voice womanly in its softness and tenderness, as he caressed the three animals in turn. ; Only a moment was he silent, then again he spoke his tones taking on the acidity of a sharply -uttered command, : ‘“ Back, Pluto—back! Be off with you, and bring up Hydrusa and Hydrabad.” Whatever the significance of the words, the larger of the sagacious hounds seemed to understand, for with a low whine it crouched down, writhing as if under the lash, then suddenly wheeled and with its quivering muzzle close to the earth darted off along the back trail. Now for the trail again, and vengeance!’ mut- oar eine Death, as the gaunt brute’ shot be- 4 hen Quickly leashing the remaining hound, the leper, with agility strangely at variance with his previous labored and painful movements, at a bound seated himself in the saddle, Then off over the plain he rode at a slow pace un- til the bloodhound had lifted the trail of the Ser- pents of Cimarron, then coursed swiftly to the east- wey as if bent upon overtaking the road-agent For hours he spurred onward through the dark- ness. his deep-set eyes glowing strangely—onward, unti] the dead calm of midnight rested upon the plain, when with startling distinctness, in a hoarse voice, came the challenge: * Halt! or ye’re buzzards’ bait)" “ Hallo—hallo!” ejaculated the leper, reining in with an abruptness that sent his horse back upon its haunches. “ “ho the deuce are you, that stops me at this hour in the middle of the prairie?” “That hain’t ther Soeeica a’ tall,” was the swiftly uttered response. t aire fer ye ter give an ac- count ov yerself; an’ don’t ver beat about ther ware nuther, fer lead aire pesky cheap ‘round hyar st now,” “Oho! oho!" cried Wa*king Death, his voice sbril} am, come and see.” The bold challenge was accepted as promptly as given; for, with a jingle of spurs, the sentinel of the | plain rode forward, looming up like a gigantic cen- taur ip the Cimmerian gloom. Crouching upon the back of his prostrate horse, his dark eyes glowing vividly, Walking Deuth raised his hand, moving ft slowly at. first, but with ever- increasing swiitness, in a cirele ubove his head, pro- | ducing a sharp, sibilant hiss, Nearer rode the sentry, wholly unconscious of the nature of the peril in his path—nearer, until. when almost beside his crouching foe, the warning biss reached his hearing, causing him to draw abrupt rein. With an eerie, blood-chilling screech, the leper sprung erect. At the same instant, bis right arm described a sharp, forward sweep, the next moment to be drawn swiftly back. A yell of terror welled up from the sentry’s lips, then died away in a hollow gurgle, as if smothered by_the gripe of a giant hand upon his throttle, One fleeting second he sat bolt upright in the sad- dle, quivering in every fiber, bis tongue protruding and his hands tearing desperately at his throat, then reeled and toppled head-first to the earth, CHAPTER III. A GHASTLY FIND, HAtinG, just as twilgot merged into darkness. beside a narrow stream flowing through a secluded dell back in the foot-hills, Perdido Fernandez wearily flung bimself from the saddle and relieved his sadly- jaded mustang of his trappings. There was a peculiar expression on the face of the handsome sport as he lariated the animal cut to graze, and in the performance of his camp routine, e moved with the slow. methodical manner of one whose mind is fully prececupied. At the head of the rock-walled glen, a natural basin of considerable depth had formed in the chan- nel of the brawling stream, After a plunge into its cooling waters, Perdido dressed the scalp-wound made by the leper’s bullet, then filled and lit a pipe, and reclining at full length upon the poncho, gave himself up to meditation. His encounter with Walking Death was yet fresh in his mind, and as he recalled each detail of the strange meeting, he shifted and turned uneasily. “Jt is deuced singular that the phanton Fas per- sists in rising up in connection with this affair,” le mused, balf-aloud, his voice freed to a great extent of the peculiar dialect of the plains, ‘ I: was pre- cisely tates years the fifth day of this month since 1] heard the voice of sweet Carlotta Dane for the last time; and yet, to-day when Walking Death, the Leper, spoke, I could have sworn the tones were hers, “Oh! I have it—his voice was ihe intangible link between the pee and the present, for at the time it pierced one through and through, like tle thrust of a dull knife, tearing old wounds agape and crowding in upon my dazed brain a flood of bitter recollec- tions. ‘*A strange, weird being is the leper, and were time less precious [I would be tempted to bound bim down and wrest from him the grim secret of his life. The Serpents of Cimarron do well to hold him in super- stitious horror and dread; for I suspect that he alone of living men knows the true significance of the crimson sigt of that hand and the serpent, the mys- he: pees of the insatiate destroyer of the road-agent nd, “But behe the unknown slayer—be be man or devil—1 owe him my life. Twice has he crossed my patb, rendering me a signal service each time, And yet, Lhate and loathe him as I would the Evil One.” And thus communing with himself, Perdido lay until his pipe was exhausted, then wrapped himself in the folds of his poncho and with bis Winchester 43 a pillow quickly sunk into alight and dreamless sleep. The first streak of dawn had scarcely shot athwart the eastern horizon when he was again astir, his dark brow knitted inthought. After a second plunge into the basin, and a frugal meal from the contents of a small bag hanging to his saddle, he saw that his weapons were in good condition, mx unted, and just at sunrise rode out of the foothills and across the Plain toward the peu at which he had encountered Walking Death, the Leper. Seeking the exact spot where the outcast of the prairies had stood during their brief parley. the sport dismounted and knelt to examine the hard earth. ‘The grass is trampled and broken, and that alone is left. to show that he stood here,” he muttered, a moment Jater, springing to his feet and biting his lip in vexation, ‘By Heaven! loathsome as he is, he so vividly recalls certain events that I am temp'ed to the belief that Walking Death and Carlotta Dane are one and the same person /° The look mantling Perdido’s dark face as the above words hissed sharply through bis set teeth and rigid, lips was simply indescribable. ‘Ha! what is this?” he ejaculated the next mo- ment. ‘The marks of horses’ hoofs, sharp and. clearly defined! Can it be that the Serpents have re- turned to wreak yengeance upon the outcast for rob- bing them of their prey? iis dusky face growing yet darker. his black axes kincling with a fiery gleam, the sport, grasping his bridle rein with his I*ft hand, with his right whip- ped a revolver. fom dis. nels and davies a searobiug. suspicious glance € pare expanse, then furtied and with a muttered imprecation bent his gaze upon the trail. ee ase aaa
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4 " “Yes, a detachment of the road-agents have made a wide detour, so as to approach this spot from the eastward, with the intention of surprising and wip- ing out the leper,”’ he gritted. ** They must have discovered that his shot was not fatal and that l escaped; and yet, 1 have seen no sign of Lape 3 ev nem upon any trail, nor do I see anywhere indications that a struggle occurred be- tween them and the leper. They came with a force sufficiently strong to tackle us both, too, for there were just six horses in the party. “On the whole, I don’t like the appearaace of things, Imust keep on my guard; forif the Ser- nts really returned to slay the Lag and learn my ate, Iam subject to a disagreeable surprise or an ambush at any m>ment. * And vaulting lightly into the sadcle, Perdido, with a wary eye upon bis surroundings, rode eastward along the trail until he had reached the spot where the horse and hounds of Walking Death had lain con- cealed in the tall grass. : There, with a crisp ejaculation, the sport drew rein and again dismounted, closely examining the earth ancl th broken grass **Oho! the outcast was not afoot, as I pe aye he observed. ‘‘Here his horse lay concealed, and from this point came the shot that so nearly ended my Career. “*Here, too, is the trail of the six Serpents, ap- roaching from the eastward. If the leper yet ives, he is somewhere to the west or north, and be- oe the two factions of Bravo Brice'’s outlaw and, “ By Heaven! leprous outcast and scourge though he is—be his identity real or assumed—he shall not fall a victim to the red-handed clan while I can keep the saddle or liff a weapon. “Twice has he stepped between me and death, Now I shall take the trail, to rescue him, if living, to avenge him, if dead.” And hesitating not an instant, Perdido mounted, turned, and spurred along the trail te the point of its convergence with that left by the Serpents of Cimarron the night before, when they fled so pre- cipitately from the dread outcast of the prairie, hen the sport halted long enough to examine closely the blending of the trails, and to satisfy himself that his conjectures were probably correct, “This last trail is some hours older than the first,’’ he mused as he prepared to remount. * From this point on I must guard even more closely against an ambush, for now that Bravo Brice and his men know that I am yet alive, they will at once suspect that [ am on their trail, and leave no stone unturned in an effort to entrap me.” And, scouring the wide expanse of plain, the reckless sport urged his mustang along at a swift race, his dark face grim and set, his restless black eyes gleaming ominously. Dark and bitter, too, were the thoughts erowding in upon the quick brain of Perdido, and anon his keen, white teeth sunk into his nether lip until the blood trickled forth in a slender red stream). At such times his broad breast rose and fell with strong emotion. For hours he rode ouward. The suu had almost reached the meridian, when be suddenly drew rein and dismounted, just beyond rifle-shot of a small motte through which the trail led. “If in wait, the devils are there!” he gritted, look- ing closely to his weapons, ‘In such case, it will be no ress matter to reach the place undetected. And at best it is a risky proceeding, for the odds are all — a@ man’s getting back here with a whole ‘*But the play must be made, or the other side will jump in and capture the winning trick I will follow the trail right into the grove, for tbat is the course they will least expect me to take, if they are there and have discovered my approach.” And sinking down into the rank grass, Perdido erept swiftly forward upon all-fours, reaching the edge of the motte in an incredibly short time. The silence ofdeath breoded over the timber clump—a stillness eloquent of danger and death in the lone solitude, The motte was almost free of undergrowth, the ter part of the space among the dwarfed trees g carpeted with a luxuriant growth of grass, No sign of life was visible; but on every side were indications that the ade had the night before been the camping-place of the Serpents of Cimarron, for the grass was trampled and crushed, and in many laces cropped short by the borses of the outlaw fad. while under the trees was yet standing a wickiup. or brush shelter, At sight of this last object, a puzzled expression flitted over the dark face of Perdido, “Humph!” he exclaimed, “has Bravo Brice ge deticate of late, and dainty, or has some hap- ess woman fallen into his villainous clutches? “Great God! dolt that lam! The wickiup proves that my suspicions were correct—that Walking Death, the Leper, is none other than the lost Carlot- ta Dane, in deep disguise; and she is now a captive in the hands of her most deadly foes, Bravo Brice and his men, the paid mipions of Harold Chetwynd, the arch-conspirator|!"’ As the swiftly enunciated words fell from the tongue of Perdido, he staggered rather than stepped from the friendly shelter of the tree behind which he had been ensconced. For a moment he reeled blindly; then his long, tapering fingers fastened in a firm gripe around the ponseed butts of his re- volvers, and, apparently oblivious to all sense of fear, with a series of eager, tigerish leaps he reached the side of the wickiup. Burning with eagerness though he was, to thrust aside the brush and learn the secret of the wickiup, if secret it possessed, Perdido felt a strange hesi- Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. tancy, a nervous dread, stealing over him and hoid- me P in check. t he was not the man to falter ina formed, even though almost certain upon its execution. The dashing sport was a strange character—such a one that is but seldom encountered—in many ways an odd genius, in some a remarkable prone & the parlance of tne “wild and woolly West,” “a game- cock, with plenty of crow and lots of gall, and a craw chock-full of sand." Conquering the feelings that held him in abeyance, he raised his foot and sent it crashing through the side of the frail shelter. With a quick glance around, the sport ae to nt pees and peered through the aperture into the wickiup, Toatentty a ghastly pallor overspread his face, and he sprung erect, with the exclamation: “By heavens! the wickiup has an occupant, and that occupant ts a corpse!” CHAPTER IV. CACTUS BURR, ESQUIRE, OF HARD LUCK. Tat Perdido Fernandez, the reckless sport, was terribly agitated by the discovery he had just made was plainly evident, for the exclamation above re- corded came from his lips in low, intense accents, while his aspect was that of a man brought abruptly face to face with an object of especial and chilling horror, “Yes, the wickiup has an occupant, and that occu- pant is a corpse,” he mechanically repeated, as he stared fixedly through the hole in the side of the brush shelter, “And thal crpse bears the mawk or the Destroyer ! ‘Great God! will his red work never cease?” Conquering his agitation, Perdido knelt and gazed stead ly through the apertu.e at the face of the corpse —at the Destroyer’s mark, a serpent writhing in the iron grasp of a gauntle\ed hand, impr ssed 1n blood-red upon the waxen forehead. “He was a Serpent of Cimarron, and so deserved his fate,” uttered the sport, suddenly springing to his feet and beginning a restless walk to and fro. “T will call up Fleetfoot, and here in this grove rest him an hour, while I put the dead outlaw beneath the sod, ForI must bury him, Serpent though he was. In life, we were foes; but now, death has stepped in, and enmity between us has ceased.” ummoning the well-trained animal with a pecu- liar call, Perdido lariated it in the mfpst luxuriant of the grass, then again turned to the wickiup. Quickly tearing away the end of the shelter, he grasped the dead outlaw by the shoulders and drew him forth. A stalwart man, gray and grizzled, had been the Serpent—full six feet in hight, broad-sbouldered, and of wondrous muscular development, are at his distorted face, protruding eyes and lolling tongue showed tliat his end had been most terrible, There were no bloodstains—no marks of violence on his person; but, infinitely more startling, around his hairy throat ran a slen ler, bluish line—the mark of a strungler’s cord! With a shiver of disgust, Perdido drew away. Sinking upon his knees, he with his bowie-knife be- gan the task of scooping out a shallow grave. When he had ended, naught but a mound of fresh earth was left to mark the grim tragedy of the motte. Then, after a rigid but fruitless search of the in- terior of the wickiup, the sport again mounted and with a hard set face spurred away to the northward —the trail running almost at right angles with its former course. All through the long afternoon—in the fierce glare of the sun, he rode, never for an instant faltering, though he and his steed each betrayed signs of weariness, There was yet an hour of sunlght when he reached a narrow pass in the foothills, through which the trail ran, ‘*Somewhere back in these hills Bravo Brice and his men are encamped for the night,” he muttered, halting. ‘‘Their horses must. be terribly jaded, for the trail has been gradually freshening until now it is but little more than an hour old. “{ must find cover for Fleetfoot, then creep for- ward and get the bearings of the outlaw-camp, for I am determined to learn before Lay is gone if my suspicions are correct—if Carlotta Dane is alive and by some strange fatality a captive in the hands of her foes.” Only a moment Perdido hesitated, then pushed — yet cautiously into the — A few minutes sufficed to discover the shelter de- sired—a deep and narrow ravine cutting into the wes:ern side of the gloomy pass. Two hundred yards ie the ravine the sport dis- mounted and tethered the mustang, then hurried back and carefully obliterated his trail, That precautionary measure completed, he at once scaled the precipitous wall of the e to the sparsely-wooded hights, then took his bearings and pushed forward, laying his course parallel to that of the trail in the depths below. The way was rough and tortuous—even more so than the spert had suspected. Huge rocks and bow!l- ders, and great thickets of undergrowth, so blocked the path at times, that he was tempted to descend to the pass and push boldly and rapidly along the trail, trusting to luck as much as to such care as could be exercised to avoid discovery by the Serpent of Ci- marron. Then, too, the long, cool shadows of approaching night were creeping steadily up the face of the acclivity, warning the bold adventurer that he had remaining but little time in which to carry out his which to meet and overcome the ob- stacles in his path, urpose once eath hinged And yet, he disliked to abandon bis first formed ; Mlan, for he urgently desired to gain a point whence ae could look down airectly into the canip of his oes, “They can’t be far up the pass,” he muttered, as he picked his way through one of the thickets; “and while thisis a rough road to travel, | prefer its scratches and bruises, with its secrecy, 1o the smoother way of the pass and the risk of discovery. “Hello! hello! Now, what in the world can this mean?” The sport had struggled through the intricacies of the thicket, and now stood in a comparatively opea space. MHlis face bore a startled Jook, and his attitude as well as his words betrayed intense surprise; and justly, too, for directly before him, upon a stake driven into the hard earth, floated a white handker- chief—a dainty, filmy affair, the property of a mem- ber of the gentler sex, and fresh anc fragrant with: the odor of white roses! “What mystery is this?’ continued Perdido, clinching his hands and peering about as if he would pierce every nook and cranny of the sur- rounding jungle. ‘Can this be some devilisb trap? That bit of lace was not placed there without a pur- pose,’ A moment of hesitancy; then, as if satisfied that he was alone upon the hight, he strode forward and deliberately plucked the handkerchief from its rest- ingplece. s he shook out its delicate folds, a-bit of crum- pled white paper. dropped to the ground P “White roses!’ uttered the sport, involuntarily, detecting the faint perfume as he stooped to secure’ the paper. ‘* Carlotta Dane was passionately fond of that flower—a strange coincidence, truly. Good heavens! Everything tends to confirm my sus- picions, Ay, here is proof, almost, that she is alive and in the hands of the merciless Serpents of Cimar- ron, for here upon the corner of this handkerchief are her initials, ‘C. D.’” The words_ burst forth in low, intense tones, vibrating with various emotions. Half-crowshiag. his face growing white and drawn, he stared with. glowing, burning eyes at the letters worked in the bit of lace, For the moment, he seemed totally oblivious of bis surroundings, and of the fact that at any instant a bullet from some lurking member of the outlaw band might i\hrow him forever off the trail. At lenge he thrust the handkerchief into a pocket of his loose velvet jacket, and slowly smoothed out the folds of the rape. Then, again, as his eyes swept over the paper, he uttered a low, stifled cry of surprise, for there. traced in firm, round characters, in pencil, were the words: “Perpipo Frernanpez:—If you value your life,. turn your back to this trail, and leave the Serpents of Cimarron and their unknown chief to their work of pillage and plunder, for border justice will over- take them. Death, vow, if, unheeding this, you con- tinue, ‘“Watkine DEATH, THE LEPER.’ Uttering a harsh exclamation, partaking strongly of the nature of the snarl of an enraged tiger, the sport flung aside the warning missive and ; round it to shreds beneath his booted heel. iat “Curse him! curse him for a meddling fool!’ he cried madly, his hands dropping intuitively upon the butts of his ready revolvers. “Not while so much as a drop of blood r mains to animate m body will I falter. Until the end is reached I wilt not heave the trail!”’ And striding quickly across the open space, he hurried onward, his face dark and lowering, and his black eyes gleam fiercely, His blood seemed to surge through bis veins with the consuming heat of molten metal; and that his brain was crowded with conflicting thoughts was, at a glance, apparent. ‘How came the handkerchief in the hands of that leprous outcast?” be gritted aloud, the words slip- ping through bis set teeth with a peculiarly d agreeable hiss. ‘‘Did he pick it up on the trail we both are following, or did it come into his possession by other means?” , + “Wal, pilgrim, I can’t answer thet thar riddle! inter:upted a voice, in which there was just a sus- icion of mockery; ‘but ye bet yer old patent- orkete ye’u better— “ Whoa, thar! han’s up an’ empty, Te durned can-° tankerous critter, or yell wake up in kingdom-eome ’ith a shaft bored plum’ center thro’ yer cabeza! “Now ye do heer me rustle—me, Cactus Burr, Esquire, ov Hard Luck!” In cool, crisp, yet measured accents came the words, emphasized by the sharp click-click of a re- volver suddenly swung to a level, as forth from the shelter of a large bowider directly into the path of Perdido, the sport, slipped a Woet remarkable-look- ing personage. Aman of uncertain age, of slender, well-knit form, ra‘her under the medium in higit, and clad in broadcloth of fine texture and fashionable cut, with — linen, a silk hat and highly-polished s. His head was small, and of habitually defiant ise, crowned with curling iron-gray locks reach. ng to his shoulders; and veer as fresh and ay, in hue as a schoolboy’s. Was Of a strong and decided mold, indisputably handsome, and lit up by ig of large, dark-blue eyes, Cold, clear and finaly ng. In his shirt-front sparkled a diamond of rare size and brilliancy. thoy tareny Ee sawe of what ean eee i death-trap, but outwardly calm and nonchalant,
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-cold but significant smile. 4 ; ulctly but with evident reluctance lified his hands hont he butts of the revolvers he had been about to draw and flung them up, palms outward and ig ‘Ye hev called; Ishow my hand. Now what?” he icily enunciated. “That depends, gentle critter, that depends,” softly cooed the see who had so abruptly in- troduced himself as Cactus Burr, Esquire, o ard Luck, as, keeping the muzzl- of his “ six’’ on a line with the head of the entrapped sport, he with his left hand drew from his kets a silk handkerchief and spread it upon a projection of the bowlder, pre- paratory to seating himself. J **Depends—upon what?” angrily gritted Perdido, as his captor sunk languidly upon the improvised seat, A strange smile flitted across the handsome face of Cactus Burr, Esquire. ‘Wal, now ye hev me,” he frankly admitted. ‘**Mebbe upon nothin’ a’ tall, fer ye look like a white man; an’ ef ye aire sech, thar is no bone ov conten- tion betwixt ye an’ me. * But, say. stranger, ye’re a heap too mercurial fer yer own peace an’ quiet—ye’re goin’ ter slip a cog in yer mental gear some of these hyar fine days an’ “salivate yerself.”’ The sport uttered an exclamation of impatience and disgust. * Confine yerself ter business,” he growled. “ Ther sun aire ’most out ov sight, an’ I hev work ter do afore night ” Cactus Burr, Esquire, nodded shortly, and the half-mocking expression fled from his face, to be in- stantlv r-placed by a look of grim determination. Arising from the bowlder, hs advanced a pace, his brilliant blue eyes flaming with a peculiar lurid light, and, over his leveled revolver, in a hard, cold voice demanded: “Stranger, do ye belong ter ther outfit in camp below, just around ther bend in ther pass? “Speak quick an’ tell ther truth, fer by ther Lord -ov Israel! yer life depends upon yer answer!” CHAPTER V. A WEIRD RESCUE. At the query, Perdido uttered a sneering laugh. “T sh’u’d think ye’d know ’thout askin’,”’ he re- torted bitterly. Ashght frown gathered on the smooth brow of the man in broadcloth, and his tapering fore-finger played menacingly on the trigger of his leveled weapon. “Ye mean by thet—” “ Jest w’at ye kin make out of it,’’ broke in Per dido. ‘Stiffen yer knees an’ hump yer back inter an interrogation p'int—then uncurl yerself fer yer ains. Ye hold ther drop, an’ so kin help yerself er w’at leetle dust I’ve got, mebbe, but who an’ wat I am aire my own affair—not yours, ye thievin’ shark!” The sport from Hard Luck bowed with icy-cold- ness. ‘*T hev no wish ter pry inter your affairs,’’ he pro- tested, bis eyes glowing strangely. ‘I simply wish ter know if |! am ter regard ye as a friend or a foe? Onder:tand, time is as precious with me as with you. ed ther last time—do ye travel with the outfit be- ow?’ There was a deadly threat in the words and the bearing of Cactus Burr—vhe hammer of his revolver fairly trembling in the balance, requiring but a hair's weight to burl death’s leaden messenger through the brain of the reckless sport; yet the lips of the latter remained silent, curling slightly with a For a moment the ominous quiet hel” sway; then again over the face of the man from Hard Luck swept a change of expression, 48 Startling as sud- den, All trace of anger and sternness vanished, as un- -der ®& magician’s wand; the reddy, boyish face clothed itself in a winning smile, and the deep-blue eyes twinkled roguishly. + “Sport, ye’re a dandy ov ther jimmiest kind oy ther James order,”’ be cried, deftly lowering the hammer of his revolver and returning the weapon to its pocket. “Will yeshake? Aire we friends?” “Not ef ther court knows herself—an’ I kalkilate she does,” uttered Perdido gruffly, as he clapped his hands upon the butts of his weapons. “I hain’t ther style ov galoot w’at crosses palms wit!a thiev- inz shark who hes backed water before a little show oy sound. ; “Now, ef ye hev &n ounce ov grit in yer p'izen kar- ease, draw an’ defend yerself, for one of us must die, | D'ye heer? Scorning to take any advantage of the manin broadcloth. Perdido had refrained from drawing his weapons, thoug? his hands reste lightly upon them in such a wav that it would be utterly impossible for is opponent to again catch the * drop.” T at the dark-faced sport was thoroughly earnest in his determination to precipitate a death-struggle however, was apparent at” glance. The veins stcod out like whipeord on his dusky forehead; hard lines appeared around his mouth, and the peculiar reddish sparkle of his black eyes betrayed a rage born ¢f deep-rooted hatred. . ; “Yes you or I must die ri ht hyar,” he continued, his fiery never for an instant leaving the grad- ually widening blue eves of Cactus Burr, “ An’ ye know why it is so—thet ther outfit in camp b low aire my deadiiest foes; thet ye aire no more s Burr, of Hard Luck, than ye aire the man in ther moon; thet ye aire the one man in all ther world whom I have cause ter hate most—Harold Chet- ~wynd, alias Captain Redblade, chief of ther road- mts known as ther Serpents ov Cimarron!” is brilliant blue eyes opened to the:r fullest ex- Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. 5 tent, his face the picture of astonishment—real or mock—his red lips pursed into a knot, Cactus Burr, Esquire, stood like a graven image until the bitter enunciations of Perdido had ceased, then gave vent to his pent-up feelings in a keen, penetrating whistle, * Am I awake or dreamin’? Aire ther cuss a mad- man or a fool?’ he exclaimed, his voice just audivle, tr wearily resumed his seat upon the handker- cnet, The next instant, ere the hot words trembling upon the lips of Perdido Fernandez could find utter- once, as if in answer to the sharp whistle of the man in broadcloth, six men, led by Bravo Brice, broke from the cover of the ee jungle and witha swift rush closed in upon the dark-faced sport. | Taken completely by surprise by the skillfully planned and adroitly executed maneuver, Perdido stood irresolute for a single instant, then, just as the Serpents threw themselves upon him, Pere volver from his belt, flung up his hand and fired three shots in swift succession straight at the smiling face of the man from Hard Luck. “Take thet—an’ thet—an’ thet, ye cringin’, slimy | cuss!’’ he gritted savagely, as he emptied the cham- | bers of his weapon. ‘*Cuss ye! ye played yer game ‘ith a cunnin’ hand—an’ /1s¢ /” The last word was marked witha high degree of fierce exultation, for at the last crack of the revol- ver, Cactus Burr, Esquire, had thrown up his hands and with a hoarse cry toppled backward over the ie rt wi of the great bowlder, rithing desperate'y in the grasp of the road- agents, disarmed before he could turn his ready weapons against them, Perdido was quickly over- powered and securely bound. The noosed end of a lariat was then thrown over his head and drawn tightly around his neck. — *Hyar, you, Blunt Bill an’ Sweetsie Smith, an’ you, Poker Pete, grab a holt ov this hyar rope an’ tow ther critter down ter hey i cried Bravo Brice, dealing Perdido a sharp blow across the face. “Ther rest ov us ‘llfoller arter we've looked about him,” with a significant nod toward the bowlder be- hind woich Cactus Burr, Esquire, was supposed to be lying cold in death. ‘An’ treat ther galumphin’ critter gently, Bill, fer his feelin’s aire — hurted,”’ added one of the re- maining trio, as Blunt Bill and his companions started down the s eep with Perdido. The devilish suggestion embodied in the carelessly uttered words was not lost upon the ruffian as the Tr sport soon learned to bis cost. _ Twilight was fast mantling the face of the decliv- ity and steadily multiplying the difficulties to be «n- | countered in making the descent, Blunt Bill with the end of the lariat wound around his right wrist, led the way, followed by Perdido, w ile Sweetsie Smith and Poker Pete brought up the rear. The last named ruffians hed stopped by the way long enough to secure heavy, thorny cudgels, with which they frequently belabored the captive sport, interlarding their blows with foul and tives, Utterly belpless, half-choked by the savage jerks and pulls of Blunt Bill’s strong arm, bruised and ! bleeding from the merciless blows of the thorny } itter invec- clubs, Perdido yy gee blindly along the roug and narrow trail, his white teeth shut firmly to- g: ther, his half-closed eyes glaring balefully with intense, unutterable rage. Not the slightest ie did he vouchsafe the mock- ing taunts and jeers of his brutal captors; but every fiber of his form quivered in mute protest against the outrageous treatment he was being subjected to, and men ally he registered a vow of vengeance against the trio, death to one and all, if he escaped! The distance to the bottom of the pass was not greater than three hundred yards, yet so toilsome was the way that the better part of an hour was consumed in descending. hat point reached, Blunt Bill and his party , up the pass with in- creased rapidity, toward the camp spoken of by Cactus Burr, y Between the lofty walls everything was enshroud- edin Cimmerian gloom, Perdido tugged savagely at the pinions confining his wrists; he felt that, once free of them, his escape would be assured; but they had been knotted with a cunning band and resisted bis stoutest efforts. On throuch the pass stalked the four men, the phantom outlines of the stalwart fo:m of each bare- y visible to the other members of the group; on, until, rounding an abrupt bend in the rocky wall, they came in view of asmall camp-fire a hundred | yards ahead, e At the same instant, a sibilant hiss sounded through the brooding silence. A singular swishing | noise, ending with a dull thud, followed, and Blunt Bill sunk down, quivering in the throes of | death. | cu Scarcely had the form of the outlaw touched the ) earth, when a garish blue light emanating from some unseen source, flared i dispelling the dark- ness for yards around, and almost blinding Perdido. me his two tormentors, Sweetair Smith and Poker | ‘ete. Then up from the earth beside the lifeless form of | the stricken Serpent arose a ghastly skeleton. With / a peculiarly seme. jerking motion, the horrible | thing strode forward, each step being accompanied | with the rattle of bones and the clanking of a chain. | For a moment the two road-agents stood and star- ' edat the grisly object, with starting eyeballs, then turned, dropped t eir drawn reyolyers, and with short, gasping cries of alarm fled down the pass as if pursued by a thousand demons, Burdido Fernandez remained as if rooted to the Spot, powerless to move hand or foot. As suddenly, almost, as it bad flag’ ed wp, the un- rena} it ag aS Notte «abe nas Naa Fe > —_ = earthly light died out, and the skeleton form disap- peared. Then, under cover of the darkness—inten- sified and filled with a weird horror by the stiange oceurrence—a strong hand was placed upon the shoulder of the dazed sport. A moment it rested there, until the noosed lariat had been lifted from his neck, then slipped deftly down his arm to the pinions confining his wrists. Under the keen edge of a knife the thongs parted, and Perdido was " with a belt of arms in his hands! “ Go, and at once,”’ exclaimed the mysterious res cuer, in a low and hollow voice. ‘The camp yonder is astir, andin your present condition you cannot meet your foes. You will find your horse at the end of the pass.” Strangely weak and trembling, the sport turned and without a word strode rapidly away, urged on by the shouts and yells of the aroused and alarmed camp For oy | an hour he hurried along, his hands rest- ing upon the butts of the revolvers provided by his strange deliverer, momentarily expecting to encoun- ter the two Serpents known as Sweetsie Smith and Poker Pete. The rapid walk through the cool, damp pass went far to allay his feverish condition, and all traces of his recent alarm disappeared. Arrived at the edge of the plain, he halted and peered keenly around in the dim light of the stars. A few yards distant was a horse, moving restlessly to and fro, and as the sport espied the animal his lips parted and he muttered; “TItis Fleetfoot. Again do I owe my life to Walk- ing Death, the Leper, for this is his work and his alone, “ Now, I will heed his warning and leave the trail of the Serpents of Cimarron; for, wounded as I am, 7 would be foolhardiness to attempt to cope with nem. “TI will hasten on to the chain of mining-camps they are planning to work, and there lie in wait to accomplish their destruction.” And moving forward, Perdido caught the bridle- rein, male: stroked the neck cf the black steed a moment, then placed his foot in the stirrup ready for mounting. At exactly the same instant, asimilar performance was being gone through with on the opposite side of the horse, by a tall, gaunt, evil-looking road-agent. The two men arose in the stirrups simultaneously, each in blissful ignorance of the other's presence until their heads collided with a force that brought to the eyes of each a myriad of twinkling, darting stars. Reeling blindly for a moment, each rallied and grasped the saddle with fierce tenacity, then stared at the other through the darkness with savage in- tentness. The recognition was mutual. “Poker Pete! by ther Rockies!” crisply ejaculated Perdido, whipping a revclver from his belt, * Yas, ye cussed hoss-thief! it’s Poker Pete!”’ re- torted the outlaw, following the sport’s example. “Now. w’ot aire ye goin’ ter do about it?’ “Kill yel’’ was the grim response, as back to the mind of the sport flashed a recollection of the brutal treatment he had endured at the hands of the man before him. CHAPTER VIL. THE FACE BEHIND THE MASK. Anp then, there on the plain, in the black shadows of the foot-bills began the strangest struggle in the remarkable career of the reckless sport. It was man against man; and, aside from physical conditions, the odds were even. Equally surprised by the sudden encounter, each with his foot in a stirrup, his left hand erasping the saddle, his right the butt of a heavy revolver, to whom the victory would fall was a question, Under the presence of the hated outlaw. Perdido felt all weakness and pain vanish. His blood tingled with flerce heat, Every fiber seemed to throb with new life and strength. “Yas, Poker Pete, 1'm goin’ ter hev yer life!” ke swiftly enunciated, as his revolver swept up to alevel with the face of his foe. ‘I swore it with each blow ye cuv mea bit ago. Now die!” There had been no cessation of action upon the part of the sport as he uttered the above words. Tie muzzle of his revolver stared the outlaw full between the »yes, his long index finger pressing sharply against the trigger and as the intense, deadly strains of his voice abruptly ceased, a blinding red flash followed, lighting up for an instant the face of each, as a heavy dual report crashed out, sending & thousand echoes ringing up the yawning pass. Then came a wild commotion. in which were blended | the plunging and snorting of the alarmed horse, the sound of heavy blows and deep grvans and fierce rses. “Dern ve, fer a—mean cuss!"’ panted a harsh voice recognizable as that of Poker Pete. ‘* Ye thort—ter ~~ «t—on me then, didn’»—ye? Two—kin han’le eerds in—thet gamc, ye mis’abul—hoss— Ow/” The interjection came in the shape of an inarticy- I-te cry of agony—just such a sound as the thrust of a keen knife would wring from the lips of a man The bullets from the revolvers had not been the means of injury to either of the desperate combat- ants, although fired at such murderously close ran that the burning powder had left its mark upon the eyebrows and mustaches ef both. Each had been prepared for a shot from his antagonist, Just as Perdido trigger. his weapon was knocked from his Poon by the swiftly ascending barrel of the outlaw’s revolver—both ‘‘ tools” exploding in mid- air, directly above and between the heads of the two men, then falling to the ground. Thus they clinched across the saddle, each using his h JNA | veers eis ~ hw moe F
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6 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. with brutal force as a battering-ram to dash into the other’s face, and startling the frightened horse at a mad gallop directly up the pass. In this emergency Perdido had succeeded in drawing his knife, and with a downward stroke driven it deep into the out- law’s shoulder. A snariing, raging cry from Poker Pete succeeded the - p of pain, and. careening re A as the black steed thundered on, he clawed savagely at the face and throat cf his foe, finally enmeshing his fingers deep in the long black hair of the gamely struggiing sport, and jerking forward the dark face until it = a fairand open mark for his own thick skull. “Satan take yean’ yer knife, Perdido Fernandez!” he screamed, mad with the excruciating torture of the long blade set firmly in the bones of his shoulder —too firmly to be withdrawn by the sport. ‘Take et—take et! Kt’s yer gruel, ef it aire wu’ss nur burn- in’ brimstun’!”’ Warned by the sav. clutch in his hair, that bis face was in danger of being battered out of all sem- blance of anything human with the bullet head of Poker Pete, the sport, with a deft movement fasten- ed the long, supple fingers of his right hand in a re- lentless gripe upon the throttle of the outlaw, ‘hus checkmating most effectually the latter’s devilish purpose. “Sizzle gently, ye meat fer devil’s broth!’’ rasp- ingly uttered Perdido, as the clincbed hands of the maddened and thoroughly desperate outlaw pulled and tugged at his long locks. ‘‘ Fer each ha’r I'll hev a drop ov yer heari’s blood!” A retort of an equally lurid character was trembl- ing upon the quivering lips of Poker Pete; but, ere he could give it articulation, a deafening outburst of yells and whoops rung through the confines of the narrow pass, and the horse, shivering in every limb, shied sharply, and a ed in the midst of a — of light shed by a half-score of flaming tor- es! Bold, stout of heart, though he was, Perdido was conscious of asense of almost utter dismay as a swift glance at the surrounding faces forced him to a realization of the bitter fact that he was at last completely at the mercy of the lawless Serpents of Cimarron! But, bad as he knew his predicament to be, the dashing sport was not the man to yield without a struggle. After that first wild outburst upon the part of the road-agents,a moment of silence, broken only by an occasional snort of alarm from the black mus- tang, ensued, and both Perdido and Poker Pete, salther for an instant relaxing his hold upon the other, scanned, so faras possible, the visages brought pow prominence by the light of the flickering tor- ches. * A highly tragic repetition of the Kilkenny cats’ affair, truly!’ sneered a cold, clear voice, from the inner ranks of the Serpents. At the words, a palpable change swept over the bloody face of Perdido, and with strange precision his burning black eyes instantly singled out the speaker. A small man, compared to his brawny fellows; <r and compactly built, narrow across the shoulders perhaps, but full and unusually well de- veloped as to chest; arms and legs of perfect form, and hands and feet small and shapely. His clothing was of serviceable gray corduroy, the loose jacket unbuttoned, revealing a ruffled shirt front of snowy whiteness, in the center of which blazed and glittered a costly diamond. Knotted high about his throat was a fancy silk ’kerchief. His long nut-brown hair was covered by a white som- brero, the crown encircied with the stuffed skin of a prairie rattler, the head and tail lapping in front and held in place by a small? ed dagger ! Of his face, nothing could be seen, for from brow to chin swept the folds of a soft silken mask, a dead black in color. Through the eyelets in the facial shield gleamed a pair of large dark orbs. All this, the sport noted at a single, sweeping glance, and it required no further information to apprise lim of the fact that the sneering speaker was no less a personage than the redoubtable Cap- tain Redblade, chief of the Serpents! Then the eyes of the two men met—those of the sport blazing with hate, the chief’s expressive of conrempt more than aught else. * Oho! oho!” cried the latter, with just the slight- est s :ow of increased interest. ‘lt isthat meddling Free Lance, Perdido Fernandez; and our worthy Poker Pete is.the oak bough by which the flowing locks of the mddern Absalom have come to grief!’ The voice of the road-agent chief served to break the semblance of a truce between the two half- mounted foes, for they at once renewed the mad struggle the bony, clawish fingers of Poker Pete gouging deep into the scalp of the cornered sport, the latter's relentless grip in turn shutting down on the hairy throat cf the outlaw with such tenacity as almost to choke off his power of utterance, Then followed a surging forward on the part of the Serpents, as though to interfere and bring the brutal combat to a close; but if such was their de- sign. it was not _to be carried into effect, for Cap- Redblade’s hands dropped swiftly to the gleam- ing aed butis of the revolvers in bis silken girdle, and. his voice clear and metallic, he cried: “Hold! Let no one attempt to interfere, for it is a fair fight, man against man! “If Poker Pete slays the sport, well and good; if ‘ the sport kills Pete, so much the better, for the loafer isn’t worth his feed—he's a nuisance of the first water. If he affords us a few minutes’ amuse- ment now, it’ll be more than he ever did for the band before!” Bold words, truly, and strange, in the face of the | taking on a squealing sound from the very intensity fact that Poker Pete had long: been held up as a paragon of virtue and valor—as virtue and valor go n an outlaw camp! Almost before the chief had ceased, angry mut- terings and incoherent expressions of dissatisfac- tion began to arise on all sides, accompanied with desultory threats to do this and to do that—threats which might go for much or for little, according to the caliber of the man who would chance the initia- tive in an attempt to carry them into execution. A stee!y glitter appeared in the dark eyes of Cap- tain Redblade as the full porcent of the rebellious mutterings flashed upon him; but there was ro change in his easy, careless attitude, save that his slender white hands seemed to close just a thought more firmly around the gold-bound butts of his weapons. ‘* Ev’s a derned shame, pards--thet’s w’at et aire!” gratingly uttered a strained voice, easily recognized y the Serpents as that of Poker Pete’s bosom friend and colleague, Sweetsie Smith. ‘‘ Cuss et all! ef thet dark-faced critter hain’t fanged an’ made ter bite et off short, Pete’s fixed fer saltin’! Squar’ deal? Wal, I sh’u’d cackle t’other way! Ther sport's hol’in’ ther age, wn’ puttin’in his biggest licks ter raise Pete right out ov ther game! Deal yersclves a han’, say I, an’ swig hard ter bu’st ther snap!” These hurried words brought matters to a focus, for there was an instant massing of men immedi- ately bebind Smith, all with weapons drawn, and eager to hurl themselves forward and wrest from the sport the terrible victory that seemed within his grasp Then—a lithe form flashed through the murky light, and Captain Redblade, his back almost against the straugely-burdened mustang, his eyes glowing redly, his revolvers leveled, with the hammers fair- ly on a balance, sturdily faced the faction of mal- contents, and in a shrill, incisive voice warned them back, erying: **Stop, gents, right where you are! Don’t forget that yours truly is chief here, and that I shall run this funeral to suit myself. I'd hate to have it to do, but the first kicker who tries to jump traces’ll wake up with a mineral shaft in hissystem! You hear me! You know me!” Not louder than was necessary, wholly devoil of rant or bluster, charged with deadly earnestness, and ina tone that spoke volumes in the way of de- termination, the words fell with weighty force upon the outlaws, sending them back in a cluster around their would-be leader, Sweetsie Smith. Baffled for the moment, that worthy entered into a hurried whispered consultation with those of the erpents nearest him. Suet Meanwhile, under guise of continuing the struggle with Poker Pete, Perdido was preparing to make a bold stroke for liberty—and revenge! His teeth hard-set to repress even the slightest groan at the excruciating pain produced by Poker Pete’s tugging, twitching grip? in his hair, bis eyes half-elosed and gleaming with a crafty light, his long fingers shut mercilessly on the throttle of the fast-weakening outlaw, listening covertly but keen- ly to the stormy passage between Captain Redblade and his men, tie sport, exercising due care that Poker Pete should not discover the move, slyly worked his left hand down toward the remaining revolver-butt protruding from his belt. A fine tool, almost forgot en in the intensity of the strange struggle—six chambers, each with i s leaden messenger peeping forth. ready at the will cf its master to snuff out the Jight of human life. At the very instant Perdido’s hand closed around the weapon, Poker Pete intuitively shot a swift glance downward, discovering the action and in- stantly eres its full import. Desperate before, doubly desperate now, that death swift and sure seemed to to stare him in the face, the outlaw, his empurpled visage paling even under the grasp of the iron hand at his throat, loosed his hold on the 1 ng locks of the sport, with a violent twist of his head wrenched himself free, and at theriskof broken neck dropped backward to the ground, uttering as he fell, in harsh, gasping tones, the warning: ‘* Look out, pards! look out! Ther cuss is heeled, devil br°ile im!” ‘* Yes, gents, heeled an’ ready fer a leetle healthy blood-lettin’!” quickly added. Perdido, his eyes emitting a vivid, mocking glare, as, seating himself firmly in the saddle, he leveled bis revolver at full cock, Warned by Poker Pete’s gasping cry, Captain Redblade wheeled sharply around, his hands thrown up and back until the muzzle of his weapons almost rested upon his shoulders, ready to be flung forward for a quick and deadly snap-shot. Too late! A sardonic laugh from the sport. a flash, areport, and the chief of the road-agents spun blind- ly ’round and ‘round, th n dropped in an inert beap. And as be fell, the black mask fluttered up from his face, exposing for a single instant. to the keen eyes of Perdido, the strong, clear-cut features of Cactus Burr, Esquire, of Hard Luck! 1 this. from the moment the frightened and doubly-burdened mustang came to a halt in the Serpents’ midst until the fall of the chief, in the merest fraction of the time it takes to tell it. a CHAPTER VII. THE SEVERED LARIAT. “He's slayed ther chief!’ tingly Sweetsie Smith, his red-bearded’ face Gflame with rage, as Captain Redblade sunk down. _ ‘*Didn’t I know et was a-comin’ an’ try ter stop et_by slappin’ brakes on ther dirty cuss?” he howled, his voice of bis pent-up fury. “ 2 bles! The heavy detonation of a revolver filled the hiatus, and Sweetsie Smith cropped his weapon and er am both hands to his shaggy head. : “Ye aire marked, gentle laddy-buck—only marked!” cried Perdido mockingly,as he wheeled the mustang to speed down the pass. “when next we meet—”’ A dark coil sped hissing over the heads of the out- laws. settling finally around the body _of the sport and pinioning his arms to his sides. ~ Which is hyar an’ now!’’ broke ina harsh and pepe voice, as, keeping the lariat taut, Bravo Brice worked his wa forward. ‘“ Reckon ye’d most forgot thar wus sic a pussones me, critter! Didn’t count on me chip- in’ in and scoopin’ ther pot! But all ther same, I Enow'd from ther fu’st that I were goin’ ter do ye, even ef I didn’t risk sp’ilin’ my game a-talkin’! “Now, s’pose ye climb down out ov that saddle, fore a few inches cv hungry steel or spelters ov lead gets a chaince ter help ye along!” His mocking words to Sweetsie Smith frozen om his lips, Perdido made a fruitles effort to throw off the tightening coil. Wholly unexpected, coming at amoment when the way seemed open for escape, the sudden turn of affairs dazed him, rendered him almost incapable of thou ht or action. : ragged nearly from the sad“le by Bravo Brice’s steady tug- ging at te lariat, at times on the verge of beinz un- seated by the restless movemen s of the mustang, the «port felt that it was useless l unger to struggle avainst adverse fate. Then, at the ve y moment when the star of hope had sunk the lowest, Captain Redblace suuggled to his feet, his dark eyes glowing recly. ‘ At sight of the cvief alive and apparently but lit- tle the worse for the bullet from his revolver, a feel- ing of intense rage flashed over Perdido, rousing him from his apathy an‘ instilling into him a burning de- sire to escape and to carry to a complete con.um- mation his work of vengeance, ’ “Shoot him, ae shoot ’im afore he kin work anuther brace on ther gang, ther di ty cuss!” grated weetsie Smith, gingerly applying’a sadly sciled *kerchief to the little that remained cf the lobe of his leftear. “Orturn ’im loose at me, Cap, till FI wipes bim out! Reckon he’s spiled my purty mug from now till the toot ov ole Gabe’s trump; ‘sides,, look a Pete, thar—odds he never gits up! Ef I on y hed a chaince. “Ye'd cut yer lucky, jest es ye did once afore ter- night!’ sneered Heavo Brice, half-turning to face the 1ed-bearded desperado. “Jest hol’ that bell- wether clapper o’ yourn till I give it lief ter wag, or off goes thet other ear, ye bow-legy: d traud!” Listening coldly to the werds of hi, lieutenant, Captain Redblaié turned his eyes from the face of the sport to a critical thoug: :e mingly careless survey of tne surrounding rvad-agents, F All with weapons drawn, their eyes glowing and rugged faces expectant, under the shadowy lie! t of the torches (hey lent force and form tothe grotesque scent —a sen: worthy the pencil of a Dore in its in- describable wildness and weirdness. Before Bric : had ceased speaking, a rasping snore was heard, and Poker Pete st. ugeled to a sitting pos- ture 'is face fai ly convulsed with rage, 1.is hands. groping biindly at his belt as if in search of u wea- pon. The rext irstant, so quickly that the act could not be prevented, his revolver was drawn, :aised, and fired point-blank at the heart of the sport. A sudden reelin , swaying motion ont part of the latter prece ied the fla h sm repo:t by the frae- tion of asecond. Then--how was it? ‘The lariat. pees tumbli g Bravo Brice backward in a way far eneath the dignity of so lordly a ruffian, while Per- dido, just a leg and an arm showing above the sad- dle, with a sharp thrust and jangle of bis Mexican spurs urged the mustang swiftly outof the circle of light and at a bre kneck run on d wn the pass! “Out of the pan, and out of the ) re!’ uttered Captain Redblade, as he sent shct after + hot at the fleeing captive Then hu'riedly ash» returned his weapons to his belt, ‘No use to waste your ] pards—he's out of range! Biice remount half yo men and see if you can‘trun him down. If not, strike our trail and follow hot-foot. We'll break camp in an hour. And turning, the masked chief strode away up the pass. * ; “ Ye heer thet. galoots!” cried Bravo Brice sh ly. ** You, mith, drop yer dancin’-master airs an help pore Pete byar inter camp. An’ you. an’ you, an’ you”—with a jerking inclination of his head to each man addressed, until six men had been told off —'‘straddle hoss an’ foller me. We'll fetch Mister Free Lance ter & rope's end, or bu’st our Dilers a- tryin’ ter get %im thar! t With more or less of growling and cursing, the men singled out for the pursuit of Perdido turned away and hurriedly selected the fleetest horses from the number ridden down the pass, then held them- elves in readiness for orders fr. m the lieutena1 t of the band. : Sweetsie Smith, still fuming, and cursing like a trooper—a perfect vessel of wrath and indignation —assisted Poker Pete to bis fect and helped him toward the camp, ; Meanwhile, Brice, with a torch held aloft in his left hand, and his right grasping the severed end of the lariat, stared with beetling brow and moody face at the latter object, his expression one of doubt and indecision, *“Cain’t see through et, durned ef I kin!” he muttered, uneasily turning the end of the rope in fingers. ‘I was jest ready to take m le oath that Poker Pete's bullet snapped ther t in too, but ther cut aire too clean ferthet. No, et must ‘a’ been done ‘ith a knife—but where? Not ther
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u - Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. | 7 sport’s, fer his’n were dug deep in Pete’s shoulder; not Pete's, for his’n were gone from his belt. an *sides he c’u’dn’t ’a’ done et thar on ther ground. * Et were all right w’en ther noose went over ther rt’s head. Now, who cut et? Thar was no one h enuff, butther— Hell's furies! c’u’d he ’a’ done “Men aire ready—hyar'’s yer hoss, leftenant!’’ uttered a gruff voice at Brice’s side, abrupfly break- ing in upon his soliloquy, and causing him to start like cne detected in the perpetration of some overt ac’ t. Throwing aside the torch, Bravo Brice sprung into the saddle and spurred swiftly down the { uss at the head of his men, his mind trying to gras), a reason- able solution to the puzzling enigma, Touching softly. yet with the bitterness of a mock- ing devil plainly palpable in the mellow sound, as the storm of yells and curses went up from the out- laws at his unexpected and almost marvelous escape; bending low to avoid the rain of lead that hurtled and stung through the intense darkness of the pass, at times coming Sangercusly near; plying spur and using voice tourge on the gallant mustang; until far beyond range, Perdido gave no thought to the perils which the deep gloom of bis pathway might conceal. nce out of reach of the lead of his maddened toes, however, he resumed an upright position in the saddle and reduced the speed of his horse to a walk, muttering: * All depends uron you, now, noble Fleetfoot, so let slow and careful be the word until we are out of the darkness of this cursed place, away from its traps and pitfalls, “After this night’s adventures with the Serpents, Iam more than content to go, and leave them to make their way to the mining-camps unwatched by me. “There is but one thing that makes me even in the least reluctant to tear myself from the red trail for the present—the lace handkerchief. If I but fully understood how it came into the leper’s hands! Can it be possible that there is a valid foundation for these wild vagaries that so continually haunt me, or are they but the children of a disordered imagina- tion, bred by the dying confession of the villain Bob Murty, at Santa Fe? “At times Iam tempted to set that confession down as naugbt but the ravings of a dying man; again, as a deliberately -concocted lie on the part of the moribund, to awake in moa certain interest in him and thus insure him a chance to escape should his wounds not prove fatal. ; “But, in either event, there was a grain of truth at least in his statements, for Ifound in the Barranca region this outlaw band, the Serpents of Cimarron, ust as he said [| would, and that too just in time to eal them a heavy blow before they decamped for the gold-fields of Colorado to carry into effect some fresh schems of villainy, “But, so far asI was concerned personally, that sortie against them was a signal failure, for the man I most desired to meet, Captain Redblade, cither was not present or successfully eluded the eyes of self and the Vigilantes. ‘Then again, just when T was beginning to doubt the truth of the confession, that part of it relating to Carlotta Dane was brougt vividly to mind by my meeting with ‘Valking Death, the Leper, there n the plain; and _ his voice, as if calling back the vail of ears, recalled and brought into Eceainence the ost girl, thus throwing a ray of doubtful light upon the most enigmatical of Murty’s utterances, “The only conclusion I can reach is if Murty meant that Carlotta Daneis yet alive, and here in the West, then she and the leper are one and the same, incredible as it may seem. Such being the ease, can no longer have reason to believe that she is a captive in the hands of Harold Chet- wynd or Captain Reijblade. On the contrary, she is at liberty and working against that vil- Jain to avenge her wrongs, a3 only a Woman of her peculiar talent and temperament can work, She it was who left the handkerchief and the warn- ing nove: who, with her stage-learned arts, played upon the superstitious fears of Blunt Bill and his two colleagues, and effected my release, She—Hark}! was that a hoof stroke?” Reining in abruptly, leaning forward in the sad- dle, peering sharply through the darkness, Perdido drew Lis hand back and forth across his brow, as if to clear the cobwebs from his brain, then with every sense on the alert, listened for a repetition of the sound which had broken in upon his musings. And it came, from far down the pass. faint and indistinct—the gradually receding beat of iron-shod hoofs, 5 “But one, and that one moving as if led,” decided Perdido, pusbing onward. *-Tt may bea road-agent, or Carlotta! Who knows? Heavens! I’d deliver up haif of everything I own to meet her free of all dis- guise! Even yet my pulses quicken as her glorious face rises up like a vision from the dead past. Could the black work of that day be undone! Car- lotta!—Carlotta! 1 loved you—love you yet—shall love you till the grave be wide to hide me for- ever from the cruel bloocdhounds whom I dare not turn and rend!” Aviolent shudder swept over his strong frame. Raising his hands, he pressed his strangely throbbing temples, while his eyes burned with ‘a liar phospporescent glow. Then. his voice changing oe oa softness to metallic harshness, he con ued, saving: * But whats fool am ]to talk of love! Bahi1 lost all belief. all faith, in that absurd, mythica) fever years ago. If Carlotta Dane does five-—-and there is every reason to believe she does, andis here among the hills, when we meetit shall be simply as friends long ei orig Sma more. For I doubt not that she too long since outlived all sentimental foolishness, * Still, did I not know of old how simply able she is to care for herself in this gameof death, I would be far less willing to ride away and leave ber to fight it out alone. Alone! One weak woman against a score bloodthirsty devils!” Again his hands went up, pressing his temples as if he feared they would burst; and again that vio- lent shudder crept up and down his form, leaving him pale and speechless. With head bowed low, his hands hanging listlessly at his side, he left the sagacious mustang to pick its way through the gloomy pass. Arriv: d at the edge of the prairie stretching away to the east and north, after aglance at the stars he mechanically laid his course toward the latter point of the compass, and pressed bis steed into a sharp lope. And anon, during that long night-ride across the grassy plain, there floated back to the keen ears of the sport that suspicious sound he had first heard in pass—the dull hoof-beats of a rapidiy-moving n0rse. ~ T e first streak of dawn across the distant eastern horizon found him miles from the scene of his des- perate encounter with the Cimarron bandits, bolt upright ia the saddle, dashing forward at a sharp run, his eyes and face xflame with passion, Leading him by a hundred yards was a horseman clad in gray—shadowy, ghost-like—just visible in the dim, uncertain light. Straight toward the north rode the pursued, sit- ting the saddie stiffly, the reins hanging idly across tie pommel. Not once did he look to right or left or rear; his dark eyes seemed fixed on the far distant horizon in a dull, hopeless stare. But for his voice, urging on his horse, the spectral rider might have been a corpse, ; On thundered Perdido, his spurs dripping red, until the dark pail lifted from the plain before the sun’s first ruddy rays; on, his black eyes flaming with a strange fire, his revolver gripped in his right hand, every nerve tingling with a wild, fierce joy. “Tt is he!” he muttered, again and ag in, as the | distance between him and the fleeing horseman de- creased by gradual, almost imperceptible degrees. “Tt is he! But how came he here? I[left him in the pass, and yet— Ha! he is bound to his horse! his hands are at his back!” Another jangle of the spurs, a mighty bound, a swift rush on the part of the black .austang, and Perdido shot alongside his flying foe. Another sec- ond, and bis iron grasp was upon the idly-flapping reins checking both steeds with a suddenness that sent them back upon their haunches. A swift glance at the serpent-encircled sombrero, at the black mask of the bound rider, and the mad sport shouted. “Devil: This is all—more—than I could have asked !’’ Simple in themselves, the words ter spent a tragic significance; but one man should ride away from that lonely spot in the plain, and the one remaining would be food for the coyotes and the vultures! The large, expressive, dark eyes of the road-agent chief fixed themselves upon the face of Perdido in an intense, burning stare. The lower edge of the mask fluttered as if he were about to speak; then he shrunk back, and the words remained unttered, The blood had receded from the ytd face, bringing into repulsive prominence the dark brui-es and blood-stains, His eyes shone with a dull, red glow. An icy smile, far deadlier than the blackest of scowls, revealed his sharp, white teeth, and im arted to his curling lips a cruel, wolfish look. Slowly and deliberately, as if to prolong an exquisite pleasure, he raised his revolver to a level with Cap- tuin Redblade’s heart, “The game has changed, and it is my a ana your say, Harold Chetwynd!” he cried.” © f any- thing you can say will lighten your burden of deceit and treachery, speak! You have but a moment of time! One look at that handsome face of yours, then—” and Perdido gleaned forward and plucked aside the mask. One swift glance at the handsome but terribly drawn and heggard face thus revealed, and the sport sharply drew back, dronping his weapon, and ina hoarse, strained voice, exclaimed: “Great God! Can this be you, Carlotta Dane—you, the road-agent chief?’ CHAPTER VIII. CAPTAIN NONAME AND HIS NONENTITIES. **ROAD-AGENTS? Wal, no, strawnger—not on my run thar hain’t eny, an’ hain’t bin since ther Vigil- autes went thro’ Bluuso’s Band, nigh onter six months ago, They was a pesky set, an’ more’n one pore devil ketched his last fit ov sickness a-buckin’ agin ‘em w'ile they worked this trail, They ‘u’d hold up ther ole huss once a week reg’lar.” It got to be a chestnut, I suppose? Did the pas- sengers never resist 9? ps Wal, Treckon ef ye was ter git down an’ look, ye'd find a few ”’—with a chuckle—“‘ jest a few, min’ ye, ov ther ear-marks ov ther toll-takers on this nyer dear ole vehiket Ther galoots war derned lib ral ‘ith theyre lead; an’ ther passengers fer ther most part war ther cits ov ther Bar—hustlers, every one ov ‘em. Et war wuss nor Kilkenny cats.’ And blowing a mouthful of smoke out of his wide nostrils, Buck Bridger, relic of the old Overland. knocked the ashes from his cheroot, and, @ reflect- ive look on his bronzed, beardless face. skillful flecked a fiy from the ear of his off-leader with his long whip-lash. : “Yas, them war gay times on ther trai: betwixt r Golconda and Nabob's Bar,” he continued, darting a JNA swift, sidelong glance at the face of his outside pas benger. “Ef—” ‘*So you have said before,” broke in the soft, pur- ring voice of the man on the box, asif he had grown weary of the subject, or was not desirous of hearing any detailed account of the deviltry of Bludso’s cut- throats. ‘‘We must be nearing Nabob’s Bar, Buck?” ‘Th’ huss ‘pears ter be movin'—cain't say "bout ther Bar!” sniffed the manipulator of the ribbons, plainly nettled at the thinly-vailed imsolence of bis volunteer conipanion. “Ef ther camp aire whar et war last trip, et aire *bout five miles down ther trail; ef et’s—” The remainder of the reply was cut short by the heavy report of a Winchester, Then, out from the dense undergrowth on the west sideof the trail, a ‘“‘six” at full cock in each hand, leaped a man—a slight, wiry fellow, of ath- letic build, clad in gray corduroy, his face hidden behind a black silk mask, and his head covered with a white sombrero, around which was coiled the stuffed skin of a prairie rattler transfixei by a blood-rec dagger} ‘*Down brakes, and round up, Jehu! or coil your next lash in Kingdom Come!” cried the personage, in cold, ringing tones, halting in the middle of the narr.w trail, his revolvers elevated to bear — the two men upon the box. “And you /”—addressing the outside passenger—“ up with your hands. palms out and empty, or I reckon you'll wilt as if you’d been hit by a full-grown thunderbolt! No foolish- ness. gentlemen, but business, first, last, and all the time!”’ Old’ Buck Bridger needed no second invitation to dfaw rein. Already | is horses were far back upon tneir haunches. The rifie-shot from the bush was enough—he wanted no hint more forcible. It was hold up or die!” As for the outside passenger, the odd smile which a moment before had curled bis mustached lips died away. A strange flush crept into his pallid face, a gieam of tigerish cagerncss into his large black eyes. His hands seemed to creep toward his belted weapons; a moment of hesitancy, then they were raised, empty. “*Sensible—both of you!”? commented the masked toll-gatherer, just a tinge of irony in his smooth, well-modulate! tones, as bis eyes met tho e of the passenger on the box, with a st ady, unswerving stare. ‘“ Now, pod genial Jehu, shout it down to the perple of your old hearse that ee Noname, of Nowuere, and his band of Nonentities are in com- plete possession of the road and the o tfit, and that with us it is simply a question of their gold-dust or their lives!” Little need that Old Buck Bridger convey the sum and substance of the cool, iron-nerved toll-taker’s words to the inside passengers. The shot and the sudden stoppage of the coach lad given them an inkling as the true state of affairs without and before the road-agent’s pointed request was ended a door in the side of the remarkable vehicle opened with a violent bag, and the upper half of a more than ordinarily lank form was thrown into view, to be as quickly withdrawn. “ Road-agents! by the Lord Harry!” ejaculated a sharp, irascible voice, while the speaker made a dive into his wide boot-tops, fetching up a pair of ancient French dueling pistcls, ‘A dozen of ’em at lea and al) in masks! Draw, gentlemen, and defen these ladies and yourselves, If we must—” “Now, I cain’t see but one—dern my cats ef 1 kin!” was interpreted in a wheezy sort of tone, from the opposite side of the coach. ‘“ Bin a-lookin ever since that shot, too. Ther ‘hang’ skeert ye wen ye opened ther door so suddent, Doc. Cool down an’ draw et sortermild. An’ fer he’ving’s sake, utt away them popguns, ef ye aire hungry ter see abob’s Bar this night. Ther bri sh aire full ov ther cusses, an’ w’en yer give et out thet ye aire on ther shoot, big, w’y ye jest saw yer own Jaig off—that’s all! They w'u’dn’t leave a smell ov us!” “Wrong ‘here, my hearty !"’ cried Captain Noname, catching the hurriedly-spoken words as he strode f.rward, ** We'd increave the smell, until the coy- otes and the buzzards had got in their work,”’ Then, raisiny his voice just a trifle, and instilling into it an autboritative ring: “Lieutenant Naught. you and Mr. Nihil come for- ward. “ Lieutenant Nothing, hold your men in readiness to riddle the old hearse from boot to box at the first sign of resistance.” At the giving of the first command. two cloaked and cowled figures appeared from the roadside, and moved forward with an eacy, gliding motion. Their long, loose black clocks effectually concealed the cov /ovr of their forms, but it was gel that they were below the mecium in altitude, of sl nder build, and v: sted with cathke agility. “Mr. Naught, take my place, and stand ready to ut a quietus upon any move of the gents on the ox. “Aad you, Nihil—station yourself on the off-side of the hearse, and don’t hesitate to drill any one who offers to resist.” The two cloaked figures glided silently into posi- Goh and the chief strode to the open door of the stage “A thousand pardons, ladies and gentlemen, for this interruption of your journey,” he exclaimed, bowing low, his tones filled with mock regret, his glowing eyes scanning with critical closeness the faces of the half dozen passengers within, ‘ Believe me, I deeply deplore being compelled to request each of you to step down and disgorge; but at the same time, mind you, at the first move tow re- sistance or escape, some of you will find the ‘hearse’ of the vernacular a bearse in realitv!”
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83 Smooth, unruffled, carelessly-uttered, the silken accents trenchant with bitter force, the words were fraught with siznificance that seemed to quell even the most belligerently inclined of the luckiess in- siders.”’ * Oh! Lawd! we aire in fer et!’ exclaimed the owner of the whcezy voice, a short, bulky-looking fellow, clad in the free-and-easy style of ihe genuine mining-camp bum, “ W’y, oh! w’y did I go an’ do et?” he continued, half-aloud, his tones indescribably doteful, **L didn’t want to, and Iwish I bedn’t; an’ I .’w’dn't—no, not even fer ther Kingpin ov Nabob’s Bar hisself. ef et hedn’t bin fer ie7 purty blue eyes! Dang my buttons! I mought ’a' knowed he'd light on me hot-foot fu’st ov ther lay-out, eny—” A hasty rustle of feminine skirts, then: ‘** Now, calm yourself, Mr. Jolly—p:ay dot” swift- ly interjected a clear, young voice, as a slender, jiant form swung forward and a daintil) “gloved Eand dropped pat against the pursed-up lips of the fleshy passenger. ‘Be quiet, and I am quite cer- tain that you will not be harmed; let your tongue run on, ane o T am equally sure you will suffer! The threatening import of the words was ap- parent enough to have been readily comprehended by a man of far less mental acuteness than this fleshy specimen of the ge.us bum, As it was, Nicholas Jolly’s little beady black eyes stared down into the beautiful face so te mptingly near his own empurpled visage—cown into the clear, blue orbs of the girl, reading there an expression half-warning, half-beseeching. An instant thus, then his bulky form swung back until his mouth was free of the clinging hand. A swift, sidelong glance straight into the «yes of the road-agent, vhen: “Taint thet—’cain’t thet, my dear Miss Axfell! Only wish et wus! W’at need fer ole Nick Jolly ter be skeered fer bis mortal corperosity? Nary need} Et’s to’ Aer, miss—w'at ef ther cuss sh u’d—” Libis second hiatus ia the specch cf the fat passen- ger was filled in with a sort of chokin’, gasping sound—an inarticulate expression either of fear or astonishment, for Miss Axfell had thrown herself forward, almost upon his Falstaffian middle, thus binging her queenly head into such close proximity to his shaggy pow that her lips almost touched his ear. “ You mean to betray me, Nicholas Jolly! ‘*Not another word, or you die!” Clear and distinct, swiftly spoken, and yet in tones so low that none save the one addressed could hear, the words sent an unmistakable shiver through the forin of Jolly. Intuitively, his gaze dropped to the daintily-gloved hand resting upon his broad chest and hidden from the view of his fellow-occuvants «f the stage by the slender, clinging form—looked down into the muz- zie of a cocked derringer held by that hand, and instantly realized that Miss Axfell was in deadly earnest, ‘* Nay, pay, Pauline; I'll betray thee not!’ quoth he, in melodramatic but guarded accents, his eyes again covertly eh to meet the flashi:g orbs of Captain Noname. ‘Dern my cats! Gal, ye hed orter know ole Nick Jolly better than that, Jestsay ther words, an’ I'll p‘int ther masked _ hellyon’s toes upward, so that ther sunflowers an’ ther lilies may nestle over his grave! Et aire jes! like sech a cuss ter go thro’ secl a mis’abal-lookin’ Orph»nt es m — an’ ef he do, et aire a cold day fer ther Great Mogul!” “Come, now,” broke in the smooth tones of the road-agent chief, as he deftly raised the muzzle of his revolver until it bore full upon the head of the fat passenger; “step down and out—you first, my noble Romeo of the heavy jowl, if thy loving Juliet will suffer thee to depart her warm embrace for the nonce. Quick, for time is money. To daily lenger would be to cast pearls before swine,” Impelled, through motives most powerful, to her strange conduct, Miss Axfell, at the insolent words, sprung erect and confronted Captain Noname, her tee eyes burning vividly, h r face deathiy in its pallor but for the hectic glow in each delicately- rounded cheek. A slight swaying of her Jithe form, a sudden en- twining of her hands and wrists, then ber arms shot out, and a brace of derringers, cocked and ready for instant use, covered the breast of the waiting toll-taker, That a tragedy was imminent none could doubt, The slightest pressure upon the slender triggers of Miss Axfell’s leveled weapons meant death swift and sure to Captain Noname, The occupants ,of the stage literally “ held their breath.” A leaden ball through the heart of the outlaw meant death to them! Undaunted, Captain Noname stood quite still. his brillian’ dark eyes fixed upon the face of the mad- dened girl in a gaze of strange intentness., A moment thus; then Miss Axfell’s lips moved, as if she were about to speak. The words, trembling upon the verge of utterance, were never spoken - A doleful groan from Old Nick Jolly, a sudden uivering and swaying of his short, bulky form, then his almost unnaturally long arms deftly shot out. inclosing the girl in a bear-like hug, while his grimy palms closed firmly around the leveled bk ng in such a way as to preveut the hammers alling. “ Hate ter do et, miss—I sw’ar I do!” he gurgled, apologetically, his covertly roving eyes quickly not- ing the look of relief upon the faces of the other pass ngers. “ W’at kin we do? Thav’s whole hay- doogans Ov ther varlets in ther bresh, an’ they'd ficht like wil’cats ef we ever teched their chief. Ht’s simply our gold-dust or our lives, an’ et aire moughty leetle ov eyther we hey ter lose, Calm yer- self, rotss, fer— (Great he’vings!” | j Little won er that the rough uttered the exclama- tion, for, with oue swift, terrified glance over her shoulder into the florid face of her captor, Miss Ax- fell had fallen back, inert and apparently lifeless in his arms, “The brutes!’ sharply uttered a clear, feminine voice from the rear of the coach, a sudden blaze of passion marring the natural mellowness and rich- ness of the tones, ‘‘And this, too, in the land ruled wy, the Strong band of the Vigilantes and good Judge yoo)! Had the blade of an assassin been plunged hilt- deep into his back, Captain Noname could scarcely have been more startled than by that voice. lastantly his eyes sought out the face of the speaker—a woman of age anywhere from twenty- five to thirty, of fine form, and garbed in a neat gray traveling costume; a brunette of rare beauty and perfection of feature, yet whose face bore the unmis!akable indices of strength and decision. Her eyes, large and of midnight darkness, fairly blazed a3 they glared unwaveringiy into the orbs of or ! | hend hof der deal. An’ say, you, Jimmy Fresh—hif | dat hain’t henough, w’ot’s der limit?” : | Diamond Dick, as the speaker had brusquely in- ' troduced himself, was the oddity in that Mecca of oddities. A hunchback, just below the average hight | of man, with an abnormally full and well-rounded chest; hands and wrists white and slender, the iong, | tapering fingers ablaze with precious stones; tace pale and effeminate, with regular features, and adorned by long, gracefully-curling mustaches of golden brown; eyes dark aud piercing, and overhung by shaggy brows; hair, abundant, long and wavy, and covered by a glossy silk tie tipped jauntily over one eye; attir: of broadcloth, with immaculate linen a row of dismond studs twinkling in the snowy shirt | front; not 2 weapon visible, yet not a man present but would have sworn he was armed cap-v-pte—all in | all, a man who could charm or repel at will, and one with whom no reader of human nature would care to chance a quarrel; for there was that in the seem- ingly insipid face which at once denoted desperate | courage and treacherous cunning. the outlaw; her soft white hands rested upon the | butts of a pair of elegant weapons, balf-drawn from their resting-place in her girdle, and just visible through the meshes of a light wrap, As if suddenly confronted by one risen from the grave, stood Captain Noname, drinking in every feature of her anger-distorted yet beautiful face; then. as her eyes shifted to the strange symbol upon his white sombrero, he quickly stepped back, just a pace, bowing crisply, while a soft and musi- cal, but peculiarly irritating ripple of laughter nese him. “Beg pardon, madam—madam— Which is it now?— Dene or Axfell, or something else?” At this from the outlaw, bringing the woman half to her feet either in anger or consternation, the dark genius whom Nicholas Jolly had addressed as * Doe,” sprung up, bubbling over with wrath. * Don’t answer if yuu don't care to!” qui-tly went on Captain Noname, scarcely deigning tie bellicose Doc Skaggs a glance. ‘What's in a pame, any- how? Whethrr maid or wife—Dane or Axfell— I'll Jay a thousand you’re the same gay galas of yore, “And permit me to remark, Carlotta, that the ‘land ruled by the strong hand of the Vigilantes and good Judge Lynch,’ is not likely to continue a popu- | lar and pleasant summer resor, for gentiemen of a certain sort ’’—significantly touching the symbol Koc his sombrero, ‘Is the hint sufficient, or must talk?” That this shaft from the redoubtable Noname was not delivered at random, was instantly attested by its peculiar effect upon the woman, Her color did not change, nor her eyes falter in their hateful stare; but a deadly tremor seemed to have seized | upon her, and, as if greatly azainst her will, she sunk back upon the seat—terrified, speechless! For a fleeting moment, a strange silence hung | Then came a slight shuffling of | over the scene, ‘ raw-hide boots; a peculiar bitching and wriggling of me lank form, and Doc Skaggs opened his lips to speak, Opened them, then stopped—his lower jaw fallen, his odd-looking eyes fa | bulging from their sock- | ets, an expression of deep seated consternation frozen upon his cadaverous visage, “Correct, Skaggs—you’re wise beyond your day and generation!’ coldly uttered Captain Noname, his finger playing lightly against the delicate trigger of his revolver. the muzzle of which had been shifted to stare the lank rough straight between the eyes. | ‘You may speak once, and die, or hold your clapper and live to repent of any number of such games as | ycu and your gang have attempted to work to-day. * But this foolishness bas gone on long enough— five minutes have I wasted in this exchange of chin- music, time that cannot be recalled from the past. ** Now step down and out, one and all of you—yow first, Skages. * And remember, any attempt to resist will be the death-warrant of one and all!”’ Utterly cowed the gangling rough obeyed the com- | mani, CHAPTER IX. A STORM BREWING IN NABOB'S BAR. “ ‘Oop-LA! Jane! Der ole gal win four times han’ turns hup soda hon der new deal! ’Ot stuff! ha slug she win hagain!”’ Couched in the cockney dialect, rising high, in ac- cents of seeming excitement above the varied sounds of revelry, the outburst provoked a ripple. of laugh- ter and focused upon the speaker the eyes of the three-score men thronged around the gaming-tables and at the bar in Idaho’s Eldorado. Even Elegant Fitz Jim, the d/ase manipulator of the silver box at the first of the row of three faro tables, paused, wih his finger upon the “soda” ready to slip it aside, and stared across the table, bis cold blue eyes Opened wide in wonder, real or con- summately simulated, “T don’t know—the windows are closed, but the door is open,” he uttered musingly, his voice soft and purring, yet, distinctly audible, his lips curling in a peculiar smile. his big blue eyes staring straight up into the face of the cockney gamester. * There's no breeze to-night—it must have wings!” And Elegant Fitz Jim followed the words with a jeering laugh. “Gentle sports, hI ham Diamond Dick, der one han’ honly! My money whispers!” crisply enunci- ated the man across the table, supporting his weight upon his hands and leaning forward until his face was within a foot of the dealer's. “ Fifty dollars hon der queen to winder slug han’ hit’s winnin’s ter stand hopen hon der card to der ’Ot stuff! hoe ’er down fer ’Anner | Again the peculiarly irritating laugh of Elegant Fitz Jim, the particularly “bad” man of Nabob’s Bar, rippled forth, as the cockney accents of Diamond Dick ceased. “And so you are the— Now, my dear friend Richard, for heaven’s sake draw back to your own side of the table; don’t encroach upon the narrow space allotted to me. I'm no hog, believe me, but— but—-er—it must be confessed that your breath is not exactly attar of roses, Richard! Now don't—” “No matter bas to that!” shortly returned the | cockney, his quick eyes noting the expectant faces of the ¢Growd around the table. ‘‘I know yer game, Jimmy—tork till cock-crow, han’ ye won’t rattle me! Wit’s my first night hin Nabch’s Bar, han’ hI come hexpectin’ ha’ rough row ter hoe. but hit’s business first, then pleasvre, with yours truly. Run hout der keerds; w’en der game’s ended—then, Jimmy, we'll see who's der boss Maverick on this range! Satisfactory?” regs *Quite—I accept the chellenge in the spirit, in which it is given,” coolly replied Elegant Fitz Jim, settling into an easy position in bis cushioned chair. “The limit to-night is. in cash, $7,000—in checks, any amount you've a mind to put down, “ And now, my dear Richard, trot out ycur horses —‘Lay on, Macduff, end damned be be who first cries! ‘ Hold! enough!’ ”’ An icy smile parting his mustached lips, just enough to reveal bis sharp white teeth. the bunch- | back seated himself atthe table. A ceft motion of his right hand, and upon the queen lay twenty golden slugs, A buzz of admiration went up from the denizens | of the Eldorado. “Pards, he aire a fightin’ cock with spurs full- grown!” (jaculated a short, squat ruffian, with ches Hw shoulders and matted. tangled hair and eard of fiery red, standing directly behind the, stranver-sport, his husky tones expressive of a high | degree of admiration, | “A high-roller, too, Sweetsie, or I’m ugly es sin!”’ was the prompt rejoinder, from a lark, villainous- looking fellow beside the first ek | | “Cain’t tell me—Fi z Jeems’l! look like ther ruins | ov an Egyptian mummy by ther time he’s through | with this hyar leettle racket?” | A quick up-lifting of bis blue eyes, a steady look | into the faces of the two men, and the dealer, with an inclination of head toward the bar, said: : The poison dispensary is to your rear, gents—if you're talking *o wet your whistles. Drink, if you can | bridle your tongues long—”’ The ‘rest of the sentence was wasted. for, with alacrit’ truly remarkable, the two ruffians had | headed for the ber. _ ‘You seem (o have a fair conception of the mean- | ing of any quotation from the bard, judging from | the size oF your stack on the queen.”’ he continued, addressing Diamond Dick. ‘ Or probably you deem | the first blow half the battle,” with @ sneer. abe hunchback laughed—a dry, mirthless sort of sound, “Not if ft bis der kind hof ‘blow * delivered by you, Jimmy Fresh, three ‘undred ban’ sixty-five days hin der year,” he returned. *‘ Han’ spéakin’ | hof quotationg—there bis hanother that fits this festive hoecasion,” “Tt is what?” Smilingly coldly, a triumphant flash—spiced with just a suspicion of deadly malignancy—in his dark eyes, Diamond Dick bent forward, and in low, in- | tense tones. strangely like the purring of a cat, yet rankling with virulent bitterness, hissed: “+ Felt hath no fury l kev von ans orned ll” A slight start, a shiver as of one touched in a vital part, and the blood receded from the handsome face of Elegant Fitz Jim, A nervous twirl of his dark mustache, ® swift lance around to assure himself that the words of iamond Dick had reached his ears alone, then his luridly glowing blue eyes sought the evil, gloating face of the hunchback, A moment of silence, unbroken save by the deep breathing of the two men, then: “The game is made, gentlemen—the cards are about to turn. You can’t win unless you bet,” Hard, cold, even-toned, the stereotyped words fell almost mechanically from the tongue of the faro- dealer. Even to those but slizbtly “cquainted with Elegant Fitz Jim. and the imperturbahle coolness which bad always characterized his conduct in such affairs, it was obvious that the aullously-uttered sentence from Diamond Dick—enigmatical’ as to its | a plication though it was bad reached a yvulner- a | e point in the dashing sport’s vaunted armor of | Self-control. And even as the nimble fingers of the knight of
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ease and confidence. the silver box slipped aside the “soda,” revealing first the tray of spades. then the queen of diamonds, his white face bore a perplexed look, while through his brain ran strange, wild thoughts. “Did hl ’ear some ’un mention Dame Fortune's fickle smile, hor did my hears deceive me?’ ex- claimed the hunchback, complacently, as Elegant Fitz Jim with a series of graceful motions swept down the golden stake and co ae upon the queen a double stack of yellow checks. *“ Honly ha turn hout hof der box, han’ hup comes der Dame hof ~<a hotherwise Fortune, peart ban’ chip- per re "Ot stuff! let ‘er roll, me noble Bob-royal—let ‘er roll!’ His BErOng, white teeth biting savagely into his | i oised over the silver | nether lip; his long fingers box, in readiness to make the turn; his face set with savage determination, Elegant itz Jim sat bolt bag in his chair, his madly -glowing eyes sweeping restlessly over the lay-out, then up into the faces of the surroundivg throng, and on beyond, to meet the dark orbs of no less a personage than Idaho, the giant proprietor of the Eldorado. A magnetic Jook, fraught with intense signifi- | cance, And that exchange of glances, though of the briefest duration, seemed to imbue the dealer with Again, in the same dead monotone, his voice rung out: ‘*Once more, to win or lose, gentlemen! O your weasel-skins and roll out the dust! you is the royal road to—”’ ‘You are wanted at the bar, Jim—at once,’’ in- terpolated a deep base voice, as the heavy hand of Idaho a upon the sboulder of the dashing sport, ‘Vil hangle the tiger for the boys until you return,”* A bitter imprecation from the hunchback, as Elegant Fitz Jim arose—a look of blackest maligni- ty, flashed into the face of Idaho, then—bhow was it accomplished? In the hands of Diamond Dick were a brace of revolvers—thoroughly elegant and re- liable tools, gold-mounted, and cf the double-action patent—the frowning muzzles covering the banker and his deal: r! ‘Don't move, gents, or attempt to draw—you'll sleep side by side to-morrow in the Nabob’s Bar necropolis, if you do!” fiercely enunciated the mad- dened hunchback, his eyes assuming a dead, glass loo« in his extreme rage, his elbows sinking until they rested upon the green cloth of the table, and the hammers of his weapons springing back and trembling on a poise, from the reckless pressure of his fingers against tle triggers. * Well! well! well!” slowly ejaculated Tdaho, the giant gambler, arching bis black brows in simulated astonishment, ‘‘ What is the matter with you son- ny ?—found a bent pin in your seat, or is it only a sudden attack of colic? Barkeep’—”’ raising his voice, “a lump of sugar and some paregoric!” A ripple of laughter from the crowd; then a sud- nup efore den parting, right and left, leaving the three men in in undisputed possession of the field. “Matter henough!” savagely gritted Diamond Dick, a dull red gleam intensifying the glassy ap- pearance of his eyes. “Jf Nabob’s Bar can show nothing better hin der shape hof men than you, Sbanghai, han’ your puppet, Elegant Fiz Jim; she *ad best ’aul down ‘er colors, has ba baug-hup camp! Bah! ’e ’u'd run from ‘is shadow, hof ha moonlit night!” with a swift inclination of his had toward the dealer. “Tf you have reference to my leaving the table—” “ Struck ‘er plumb-center, didn’t you?” interrupt- ed the hunchback, with a sneer. “Man hagainst man—cards first, then weapons—was der hagree- ment, n’ai—” Tt will be kept, to the letter!” broke in Elegant Fitz Jim, impatiently, ‘t Have the kincness to keep your eyes upon the _ until my return, and—you shall have your fill, never fear, in any way you want it. L presume that our mutual friend, Idaho, will stand good for my return,” “Till the heavens fall,”’ quoth the giant. “Satisfactory,” cuitly u'tered the hunchback, lowering his weapons, With a bow of mock courtesy, Elegant Fitz Jim turned and strode away, followed by the eyes of Idaho and the hunchback, until his athletic form was lost to view in the darkness without the coor, Then the eyes of the two men met in a look of deep significance, An evil smile wreathed the heavy, sensual lips of the giant gambler. A swift, sweeping glance up and down the long room, until his eyes rested upon two men—one a short, squat, heavily-built fellow, the other tall and lank and both from their faces villains of the mean- est and most despicable type, a A word passed between the two, as they noticed Idaho's eyes xed upon them, and ‘an expression of expectancy settled upon their evil faces, The giant turned bis head and stared out the door, Whether it was a hint to the ewo desperadoes that their pres- ence in the Eldorado was not desirable, or a prear- ranged signal, they at once left the place, nemerging from the saloon and gambling-hell, Elegant Fitz Jim had been confronted by atall well- built form, almost the counterpart of self, but more roughly dressed. “It is you, Hank?” cautiously uttered the sport, halting in the darkness. ij be truly, Jim,” was the response, “ Anything wanting “Yes; but let us get out into the open. It has gone into proverb tbat walls have cars—a saw that don’t hold water if it won’r apply to the Eldorado,” Silently the two men withdrew to a Safe distance, halting in the bleak shadow of a stunted tree. “You have seen the hunchback stranger, Hank?” "Seas ‘He came when?” | _ “ You have me there. When he came, or whence, | I know not,” was the reply, with a shrug of the ' shoulders that was lost in the darkness. “I saw him | first in the Eldorado, just now,” | “As did I, He is not what he seems, Hank; he isin deep and artful disguise. Whether his de- | formity isreal or pretended | can’t say; but that his | character—a cockney gambler—is assumed, I am satisfied. Asa general thing, he carries the dialect to a nicety; but at times, when excited, a sentence will slip out as straight as a ramrod, without the | slightest mixing of the h’s,”’ * You suspect his object to be—” “* Murder—myself the victim !"* ’ Elegant Fitz Jim uttered the words carelessly, as ' if: ot at all troubled or annoyed by the unpleasant suspicion. ‘“ A hired assassin?’’ inquired Hank in a startled but guarded voice, ‘*No—one_ striking from motives of revenge, I {pases for he must have come in with Old Buck few minutes ago, of my presence in Nahob’s Bar.”’ “You are wrong in the latter part of your surmise, at least; for the hearse from Golconda bas not yet made its appearance, late as it is,”’ quickly rejoined Hank. ‘But a few minutes ago I passed Major Ax- fell on his way to Limerick’s Palace, pale wit ety.’ ° ‘A low whistle escaped Elegant Fitz Jim. « He feai's the cause of delay has been road-agents or—'’ “Foul play from the Darnley crew,” quietly supplied Hank, ‘‘Rufus Darnley had cause to suspect that, if Miss Axfell reached Nabob’s Bar in safety, io- morrow would see his last claim upon the Great Mogu! vanish.” “Tsee! I see!” uttered Elegant Fitz Jim, musing- ly. ‘*linsisted ail along that it was the hight of folly for the major to send his daughter alone upon so hazardous en errand, * To come back to this other matter, Henk. Since we have no means of determiniag tbe time of the arrival in. camp of this hunchback, Diamond Dick, it is more than Bel as he is in disguise, that one of the principals of the Great Mogul affair has dropped onto our game andset up a job against me. ‘*But, whether the assassin is working for himself or another, he has recognized me, and betrayed the fact that he is cognizant of certain thingsin my past —among others, that unfortunate affair in Cincin- nati, in which that dashing adventuress, Lisette Cremola, was & prominent actcr. “Indeed, from certain words he let fall, and from his eyes and facial expression, I could for a moment have taken my Bible oath that Lisette Cremola and Diamond Dick were one and the same person!” * Tmpossible!” ejaculated Hank. “Yes, the idea was most absurd,” admitte] the dealer in a tone that almost contradicted his words. * But the rascal has spotted me, and in turn I want his every move piped. Given half a chance, he'll block our game. See the lads, Hauk. at once, and set the machine a-going. Then, if the dashing Richard betrays an alarming degree of precocity, he will awake some fine morn to find himself transport- ed, body and boots, over the range into our private Institution of Detention.” Full of grim satisfaction were the tones of Elegant Fitz Jim. “It shall be as you say,” said Hank, slowly. “ And the surveillance shall begin at once, too; furif the hunchback is in the pay of a factor in the Great Mo- gul affuir, lam greatly mistaken if the attempt to as- sassinate you is not made during the fight he has challenged: you to make after your sitting at cards, “ And I have a word of advice to offer, Jim. You are the challenged party; and, as such, to you falls the choice of weapons, the naming of place and con- ditions. Let the tools be revolvers; this open, the scene; the conditions such as suit you best.’ “My idea, exactly,’ promptly returned Elegant Fitz Jim, ‘Of course, the duel will be fought to- night, if the marshal can be gotten ot of the way long enough to prevent his sticking an official finger in the pie, But I shall name the hour when the great harvest moon is at its hight, for by its mellow raJiance I can easily wing (be hunchback at fifty paces, “Then, too. such an arrangement will enable you and the lads to keep your eyes upon the te and block any attempt at foul play. You “Hark! what is that sound?” _And with the exclamation both men assumed a listening attitude, “It is the hearse, rounding up at Limerick’s Palace,” said Hank, after a moment's silence, * Per- bape, after all, Old Buck and his precious freight ulled through unmolested.” “TI don’t know,” returned Elegant Fitz Jim. his voice, even more than his words, betraying doubt. “You say Rufus Darnley had an inkling of the nature of Miss Axfell’s errand to Goleonda. If so. the odds are about _nine-and-ninety to one that the hearse nas be n rifle '.” “ Miss Axfell is a shrewd girl,’’ suggested Hank. “True; but Darnley is no less so, However, an hour will put an end to our doubts, In the mean time, there is much to do.” Moving nearer his companion and sinking his voice to a whisper, Elegant Fitz Jim spoke rapidly and earnestly. At the expiration of ten minutes, the two men lefc the shadow of the tree, and walked slowly toward the Eldorado. Watchful as they were, two figures—one tall and vidge r to-night, and was therefore ignorant, until a | anxi- | —————————————— ee a | Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. o lank, the other heavy and powerful—glided away in the darkness, undetected. “Let us hasten—Diamond Dick will fret himself into a fever of impatience at my absence, brief as it has been,” said Elega.t Fitz Jim, with a care- less laugh, whererpap they quickened their steps. Arrived at the Eldorado, they crossed the thres- hold, to enter upon the second scene in the mad- dest, wildest night ever known in Nabob's Bai! CHAPTER X. THE MAN FROM HARD LUCK AGAIN. ‘“Rosp-acents! Now don’t mention et—sech gen- try as Bludso’s Band aren't a sarcumstance, I tell ye! Jest wait till I Jubricates!!” A strange hush followed, holding full sway in the long, rudely-furnished apartment, Tne tables had been deserted. That portion of the’camp’s populace present was literally packed in a dense throng before the bar, confronting a tall, gangling, roughly-clad specimen of humanity stand- ing face outward, his elbows resting carelessly upon the rail ef the bar,a glass of raw whisky in his right hand, his stogy-clad feet planted wide apart, his sombrero pushed well back upon his tan- gled gray locks, and his honest weather-beaten face aglow with excitement. “Old Buck Kridger, by the Lord Harry !’’ ejacu- lated Elegant Fitz Jim, in an undertone, as the high, cracked voice died awayin a hollow gurgle peculiar to the old Overlander’s process of lubri- cation,” * Barkee laigs an’ all! “Ter git back ter ther subjec’ in han’, pards, et aire jest as I tells ye—thar’s toll-takers on ther Gol- conda trail, sich cusses as c’u’d lay Bludso’s Baad cold an’ not ha’f try, eyther! Dang my regermen- tal buttons! ef ever 1 see—” ‘*Down brakes. Back—keep your toes on the straight and narrow liné,” tersely broke in the deep tones of Idaho, the giant gamb er. This, in view of Buck's well-known tendency to exaggerate, produced a general laugh and at once put the waiting crowd ot ease. Deigning Idaho but a freezing stare, the garrulous prince of the ribbons calmiy continued: ‘*Bur I'll asseverate w’at ther galumplin’ cusses did—a‘ter wich overgrown lummoxes in glass houses kin throw their stones— ef they kin!” A significant cough, a Frenchy shrug cf his mas- sive shoulders, and the giant stared hard at Old Buck Bridger, an evil light dancing in bis babitual- ly half-closed black eyes, asmile, half-mocking, half- incredulous, lending an unusually disagreeable ex- pression to his heavily-whiskered face. “Wren ther | uss was bowlin’ along, ‘tout five mile back,’’ Buck went on, * a Winchester cracked in ther bushes ‘longside, an’ ovt inter ther trail hopped a cur’us critter in black mask. a ‘six’ grabbed in each paw, ore lookin’ powerful anxious ter fix a gen'leman ‘bout my build fer plantin,” t‘other likewise squintin’ ” in a way kalkilated ter make ther tendertoot on ther box yearn fer ther land o’ his nativity. **Down haat yelled ther feller in ther road— jes’ es you sed it a minute ago, Idaho, on’y more savage-like-—an’ I reckoned es how I bed no time t_rargie ther matter, an’ so jes’ rounded up. “Then out ov ther bresh piled two more ov ther irates, an’ held ther two ov us on ther box under iver, wile Cap’n Ni e, as ther boss robber told us war his name, sidled up ter ther huss ter tech ther pilgrims inside. ** An? Lordee! w’at a job he did! ‘Thar war Major Oxfell’s darter, a gal givin’ ther han’dle ov Priscilla Twoheart, an’ four galootse— Nicholas Jolly, Doctor Skaggs Sweetwater Smith and Peter Peasly—on board, an’I reckon ther toll- taker made a heavy haul from ther row kicked up by sart’in ones ov ther party. ** But thet warn’t a sarcumstance ter w’at follered, “ A’ter ther pilgrinis hed bin cleaned out, w’at did this hyar berderned rozd-agent do, but go ter_ work an’ han’euff Jolly an’ Skaggs, an’ Smith an’ Peasly together, an’ then snap a pa’r ov bracelets ov ther same pat’ern onter Miss Priscilla Tiveheosl |” Delivered with all the unction and impressivenes that Bridger could command, the startling state ment set the listening crowd agape. anged *nuther ov ther same sort, tarant’ler “The hinfernal villain! “E shculd he ” without merey!’’ gritted Diamond Lick, the hunch- back, a strange glow in his ciead black eycs, This sentiment was instantly seconced by balf a hundred voices, ’ ‘P'r'aps,” sententiously uttered Oid Buck Brid- ger, with a dubious tcss of his grizzled locks. “TLeastwise, "twas a rough deal ter ring in on sech a purty, harmless-lookin’ critter as ther gal. ‘Wal, a’ter_he hed ther five ov ’em securely ironed, Cap’n Noname bundkd’em ell back inter ther huss, an’ closed an’ fastened ther door, Then he out ‘ith a pencil an’ paper, an’ writ a_ note, wich same he passed up ter me, 8a in’ es how f war ter deliver it an* ther people inside ter Marshal Saul Temple, hyar in Nabob’s Far.” A second burst of wondering exclamations; then Idaho. with a palpable sneer, asked: “And did you carry out the instructions of this dasbing high way thief. Certain Noneme?” Overpowering contempt vicible in every linea- ment of bis bronzed. wrinkled face, Old 1 ock, seort- ing with disgust, retorted: “T hain’t on ther w'tness stand yit, Mr Idaho; an’ T kin unfold any o’ertrue tale ‘thout help! “ Barkeep—'nuther ov ther same sort, on'y & le-tle less corn-juice an’ a bit more terant’ler laig, ef ye please.” Then, as if satisfied that the rebuke administered
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1 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. to the gambler had been sufficiently crushing, Bridger again faced the crowd, and took up the threads of his startling narrative. “This hyar Cap’n Noname was a jim-dandy, in his ee peculiar way, sure’s ye’re all a foot high, s. ‘‘He was a smallish man, an’ so well disguised thet I mought stan’ face-to-face ‘ith him hyar an’ pot know him. “Ther most remarkable thing bout him was his sombrero—a livht one, ’round w’ich was ther stuffed skin ov a prairie rattler, held in place by a small red dagger. ‘*“T noticed thet, partic’lar. “ Wal. a’ter handin’ me ther dockyment fer Saul Temple he stepped back, kinder bowed, an’ wished us good luck inter camp, but advised thet we look out fer snigs ahear |” And leaving his auditors to make the most of his impressiveness, tue narrator solemnly raised his beaded glass and allowed the villainous decoction within to trickle slowly down his throat. ‘**Pears ter me es ef ye don’t keep jest ther stuff ye hed orter, Idaho,” he gram vied. setting down the glass, with a wry face. “No matter as to that, just now,” lightly returned the proprietor of tie Eldorado. ‘* Go abead with your latest.” * Let me ask, fu’st, ef Saul Temple aire present,”’ said Bridger, roving his eyes over the crowd, “I hev hyar the message, an’ it aire important.” “The marshal hain’t hyar,”’ spoke up a voice in the crowd. “But ye kin look fer him at eny min- ute.”’ “Then, ter get back ter my yarn. Cap’n Noname an’ his men slid back inter ther bush, an’ with ther | unfortunate critters inSide cavortin, at a rate thet threatened ter raise ther roof ov ther huss, we laid on whip fer Nabob’s Bar. ‘*Ther trail aire rough et thet p’int, an’ et took all my eyes ter pilot the machine. opened out ag’in, I turned ter ask. ther tenderfoot on the box w’y he kept so still. ““Ther seat war empty—he war gone! “T sized the matter up putty quick, He hed bin in on ther hold-up game. an’ hed dropped off abind ter slide back an’ j’ine his pards. ‘en ther trail | this may prove to be,”’ observed the latter, as Saul | Temple smoothed the sadly-crumpled bit of paper. | Then, as the redoubtable marshal ran his cold |! gray eyes over the m e,a hush fell upon the restless crowd. To the right of Bridger stood Idaho and the hunchback side by side, the former with bis arms folded carelessly across his massive chest, his | face bearing a strangely-mocking smile, the latter | with a cruel, sneering expression upon his sinister visage: to the left, on the outskirts of the crowd and oy within the doorway, were Elegant Fitz Jim | and his friend Hank, each quiet and expectant, fully on the alert. ** An odd chick in his brood, this Captain Noname seems to be,” commented Temple, as he finished his ; erusal of the message. ‘‘ From Major Axfell and is daughter I have heard the full particulars oi the capture and robbers of the stage, and I must con- fess that to the best of my knowledge the case stands without a parallel. : _ “The impudence of the rascal is simply astound- ing. * Listen, and I will read you his remarkable mis- | sive, which relates wholly to the five victims whom he handcuffed, and who were afterward kidnapped from the stage by the Serpents of Cimarron,” Amid a profound silence, the agent of the Jaw read as follows: : “* Saunt Tempie, MARSHAL oF Nasos’s Bar:— “* Herewith, per Buck Bridger, | send, for deliver- | ance into your cuséody, five red handed criminals, | vere Carlotta Dane, alias Lisette Cremola, alias Captain Redblade, a/ias Priscilla Trueheart, the chief of the notorious New Mexican outlaw band, known as the Serpents of Cimarron; and Sweetwater Smith, Peter Peaslee, Nicholas Jolly and Doctor Skaggs, ail members of the said band. ‘** May the court of good Judge Lynch decree that they be hung high as Ranian, for such a fate they truly deserve. CapraIn NoNAME,’” “Now you have heard what this embodiment of | | | nerve—this outlaw chief—has to say,’ uttered the ‘But, et ther same time, I looked ter see thet ther | galoots inther huss was safe, fer I c’u’dn’t take chainces on w’a/ ther tenderfoot mought hev done, ‘*Puzzled my head an’ a’ mighty sight, did these hyar two or three leetle sarcumstances, an’ I reckon I wasn’t es watchful es I sh’u’d ’a’ bin; least- | ways, "bout a mile an’ a half further on, in roundin’ ther sharp curve under ther Hangin’ Rock, w’at d’d we do but run upslap-bang ag’in’ a barricade thrown up acrost the trail! * An’ over that barricade p’irted a ha’f-score Win- chesters, grupped by as many gents ov ther high- way—Greasers, neegers an’ low-down white trash, seéch fellers as ’u’d make ther boss chick ov ther pit y’arn fer a roost on & barn top ov a dark night! “°*Most afore I knowed et, ther hosses war back on ther ha’nches, w’ile a dozen more ov ther cusses war a-swarmin’ over ther huss. *““An’ Lordez/ w’ot a howl went up w’en they opened ther door ov ther old vehike an’ see’d ther lay-out inside! ‘Et didn’t take ther gents long ter find ther meat in ther pot hed bin scooped by ther galoot stylin’ hisself Cap’n Noname, an’ then ther air «as blue, “ Ther huil cargo inside war filed out an’ s’arched, a’ter which ther linin’ ov ther stage war ripped ter pieces, ther seats torn out, an’ even ther’ runnin’- gear an’ ther harness looked a'ter without raisin’ a red. * hot ov the matter war thet Miss Axfell war bundled back inter ther huss, wile ther toll-takeis, *ith a cuss-word or two et yours truly, put off in ther bush ‘ith ther other five passe’gers, leaving me ter git over ther barricade ther best I c’u’d. ** Now comes ther queer part ov ther hull business —Cap’n Noname wore about his sombrero, as I hev told you, the stuffed skin ov a pararie rattler, fixed in place by a red dagger; now each one ov this sec- oat band. whom their leader interduced as the Sar- nts ov Cimarron, bore edzactly ther same sign!” Old Buck Bridger paused a moment, apparently to note the effect of his strange reveiation. Then, as no one vouchsafed a remark or a comment, he went on: ** And now ye know all thar aire ter know—unless ye putt a’ter ther cusses an’ run them down—not sech a hard matter, sence they're ’most likely but a few miles vack. ; “W’en et came ter gitting rid ov ther barricade, ae Axtell cut an’ worked right alongside Old uck— “ Hallo! hallo! hyar’s {ther major now, an’ with him old Saul Temple!” “Right you are, my hearty!” promptly returned one of the two men who had jus entered the door of the Eldorado. ‘* Speak of the Old Boy,’ ete. “Major Axfell informs me that you have a mes- sage for me, Bridger.” “Thev thetsame, Saul Temple, though them ow- dashus hellyons, ther Sarpents ov Cimarron, actin’ on a pointer from ther cusses in ther huss, s’arched me from crown ter heel, then reckoned | hed drop- pedet. Hyar et aire.” And plucking one of his trusty ‘‘ sixes” from his broad leathern belt, Bridger gingerly extracted a twisted wisp of paper from the long barrel, and passed it to Marshal Temple, who had pusbed his way enone the crowd, closely followed by Major Axfell. “ “A quick wit that prompted you to conceal it there, Buck, for truly it would be a man Of ivon nerve who would care to look into the muzzle of such a tvol, even for a document far more important than | hearse left Goleonda, they knew when and where to | J | ment of intense silence followed the delivery of the marshal, as he carefully placed the bit of paper in his wallet, ‘‘ What do you think of it?” ‘*7 think that the scoundrel’s arrest of the five assengers is an outrage that must aot be allowed o go unpunished !”’ quickly declared a harsh, sibilant voice, immediately behind Temple and Major Ax- fell. ‘From all that . have heard of the matter, the most plausibl+ theory that I can conceive is, that Captain Noname and bis crew and the Serpents of Cimarron are all one, and that long before the strike. ‘*And more—I believe that the capture of the stage was a pootless affair, and that they knew from the start that such would be the case, but acted in erion to plans cunningly concocted by men of igh standing in Nabob’s Bar!” These words, accentuated with venomous bitter- | ness, and plainly intended for Major Axfell and Saul Temple, created a pronounced sensafion, almost drowning the powerful voice of the giant gambler as | he cried: “My sentiments exactly, Rufus Darnley, though / we two are not the best of friends. And I wi!lgoa step further—the entire plot was hatched to create a sort of public sympathy for a certain unfortunate individual whose name, for the sake of politeness, I | will omit, and as an opening wedge to a stay in | the foreclosure proceedings impending against the | , Great Mozul Mine!” Then came a sudden surging of the crowd, accom- panied by all sorts: of sounds from scornful hisses | to deep-breathed curses- a sudden pairing-off. a division into two factions—the recognized elements | of the omar His pale-blue eyes filled with an ominots glitter, a | hectic flush in each white, shrunken cheek, his thin | nostrils dilated and quivering, his slight, attenuated form erect and rigid and for the moment imbued | with savage strength, his hands resting upon the solid butts of his half-drawn revolvers. Major Ax- fell wheeled, with a fierce imprecation, from Idaho | to Rufus Darnley. “ Seoundrel! you—” “Steady, now, Axfell!’” broke in sturdy Saul Temple in a tone of expostulation, as his strong hand fell lightly but firmly upon the shoulder of his friend. ‘“ Remember, /o« your own sake, that this is neither the time nor the place for a settlement of certain vexed questions between yourself and that— gentleman—there.” And as the old marshal spoke his cold, clear gray eyes were fixed in a steady, wondering, piercing sort of stare upon the heavy and sensual yet unde- niably handsome face of Rufus Darnley, noting at once the gleam of triumph in his large, slightly- protuberant black orbs, and the cruel, malicious smile upon his full red lips, ‘Remember, Axfell,”” Temple continued, “that no matter what may be said, the facts remain the | same; remember, that while we parley here we are losing time that should be devoted to organizing a arty to go at break of day in pursuit of Captain oname, to wrest from him his ill-gotten spoils.” | Then, ere another word could be spoken on either | side, a tall, athletic-looking fellow, whose clothing, | though of fine texture, was torn and covered wit dust and dirt. roughly jostled his way through the outer ranks of the crowd and with a bound planted himself before the open doorway, a weapon in each — hand. “Ho! thar! marshal!” he cried sharply, bis keen black eyes quickly singling out the tall form of Saul Temple. ‘* Ye speak oy Captain Noname, the out- law! Do yer duty, an’ by the Lord ov Israel! re shall hev him, an’not acent ter pay, fer thar he stands—ther cuss ‘ith ther bright blue eyes an’ long gray ha’r—ter ror right thar—dressed in black, ‘ith ther diamond in his shirt-front, an’ high silk hatt That aire ther man! - Captain Redblade, ov ther Sarpents ov Cimarron!” A shifting of the crowd; a wild commotion; a sharp rattling, as of a hundred hands dropped swift- ly upon belted weapons. Then a dark form shot out from the ranks of the crowd, as if hurled from a catapult alighting with back squarely against the wall, blue eyes glittering, and revolvers out and up, ready for action quick and deadly! “Perdido Fernandez, yu lie! Iam no more Cap- tain Redbiade, ov the Serpents ov Cimarron, than air old Saul Temple thar! “Gents ov Nabob’s Bar, permit me—-Iam plain, onvarnished, unpretenti us Cactus Burr, Esq., ov | Hard Luck! Shall I kem to ye, or will ye kem an’ take me?’ CHAPTER XI. A VILLAIN’S PROPOSITION. Wir the utmost coolness spoke the man from ° Hard Luck, slowly, deliberately, his smooth voice | expressive neither of fear nor of anger, while his face betrayed no sign of any unusual degree of | exvitement. On tve contrary, his round red lips wore just a suspicion of a smile, as if he looked upon the entire matter as being of the nature of a stupendous joke. But by far the greater number of the “ Barbarians —as the citizens of the older and rival camp of Golconda were wont to term the denizens of Nabob’s Bar—were by no means deceived by the careless. attitude of this free-and-easy individual thus sudden- | ly_and dramatically brought into prominence. Intuitively, they felt that in this slight, smiling fellow, Cactus Burr, Esq., they bad run upon a cus- tomer dangerous to ‘“‘fool” with—a peculiar yet renounced, type of the “bad man from ’way ack.” The fearless flash of the bright blue eyes, that strangely soft and gentle smile, the easy poise of the slender, well-knit form. the rock-like steadiness of the hands gripping the brace of fine self-cocking re- volvers—all these things were possessed of a signifi- cance which they had cause to know, and learned to respect. Then, too, the inactivity of Major Axfell, Saut Temple, Rufus Darnley, Idaho and Elegant Fitz Jim —the leading lights of the camp—went far to hold the body of the motley crowd in check. Therefore, it is not to be wondered at that a mo- Feats couched challenge of the man from Hard uck, A slight movement upon the part of Old Buck Bridger—a writhing and twisting of his lank form, until he was seated upon the bar—then: ‘Galumphin’ stars! et’s me outside } asse’ger, or I'm a Rocky Mountain goat!’ he gasped, staring hard at the man in the doorway, a look of blankest incredulity upon his honest face. ‘Now, Pard Per- | dido, aire I drunk or crazy, or hes ye swapped togs: 4th some bummer ov ther Bar?” “Thev follered ¢i:t cussed sharp over rocks an’ through bresh,” hotly retorted the sport, kis eyes flaming with rage, as he indicated Burr with a swift inclination of bis head. ‘‘ Marshal, do yer duthy, fer thar stands yer man—Captain Redblade, otherwise Captain Noname! I kin sw’ar et, ferlI dro ped off ther stage, follered his trail till Icame upon his camp, ena toeeed his steps right inter Nabob’s Bar} A mellow laugh rippled softly from the lips of the man from Hard Luck, breakingin upon Perdido’s impassioned utterances and causing him to stop with teeth hard shut ‘ ‘*My dear Perdido, ter ag et mildly ye aire a won- derful romancer—or, es ther French say, mebbe et’s only rats in yer garret Who knows? Et eny rate, et’s absurd ter talk ov my bein’ Captain Redblade, ov ther Sarpents ov Cimarron! Can't ye see thar hain’t a man hyar who believes et? Ther galoots ov Nabob’s Bar aire level-headed sinners}! hy! thar hain’t a man ov ’em lifted a finger sence / intro- duced myself!” And again the mocking laugh of Cactus Burr, Esq., rung out, together with his sneering words stinging many to the quick. But there was something—per- haps the lack of a leader to lead the rush, or, again, the mute but effective persuasion in the frowning muzzles playing first here, then there, upon the crowd—which held the restless “ Bar.arians” in check. ‘Permit me to say, Mr, Burr, that we are by far too fair-minded to adjudge you, or even to attempt to arrest or detain you, upon so serious @ charge, when the accusation has been made by a perfect stranger—one, too, who seems inimical to you,” said Rufus Darnley. in an unctuous tone 4&5 he lifted his soft white bands from the gold butts of his weapons and strode forward, a peculiar smile upon his face. * At all events, the arrest cannot be made within the walls of the Eldorado.” chimed in the giant gam- bler, with a defiant glance at Saul Temple and his: friend, Major Axfell. *I should say nay /”” added Elegant Fitz Jim, cast- ing a swift searching look at the face of his employ- | er, then fixing his eyes in.an intent stare upon the | livid countenance of Perdido Fernandez, ‘If there is agrudge between the galoots. let them wait until he moon rises and then g0 Out and have it out in regulation style. If they wipe out each other, then with the carrion of the Honorable Diamond Diek the professional mourners Of the camp shouid have ma- terial enough to enable them to squeeze out a flood of tears of volume Sufficient to allay the present drouth, Verily good may come of all evil!”
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way of retort, the hunchback contented him- self with a crisp nod and a significant smile. “A truce to this nonsense, gentiemen,” said Saul Temple. sternly. ‘Since Idaho has decreed that the arrest shall not take place in the E/dorado, I shall not bring on a conflict by attempting it. or not the man is guilty of the crime with which he is charged I know not; but until he is proven inno- cent Ishall look upon him as Captain Redblade, or Noname. “Tf he attempts to hold s cret communication with any one while in the Eldorado, he shall be shot ens when he leaves the place, arrest awaits im. “Major, let us go; I wish to see you in private.” And the two men strode moodily out of the place, accompanied wd Perdido Fernandez. In the starlight the three men laid their course to- ward the northern confines of the camp. Halting a hundred paces from the Eldorado, in a broad glare of light from a saloon window, the mar- shal smoothed out acrumpled bit of paper, and read the following, scrawled thereon in pencil: “Saut Tempie:—If you are the friend of Major Axfell in his unequal struggle against the Kingpin and his minions, you will make no attempt to arrest the man styling himself Cactus Burr, Esq. Keep iam a surveillance if you will, but leave him at iberty.’ ‘“‘Humpb! anonymous!” sententiously muttered | the marshal, dropping the strange message into his cavacious wallet. Meanwhile Perdido, too, was perusing a document of the same nature. It ran thus: “PeRDIDO FernanDEz:—Your cause is the hight of folly. Leave Cactus Burr to his own devices, — the camp, or exercise the greatest caution, for already a plot ison foot which promises death to you. WALkInG DeatH, THE LEPER.” “Great God! ‘hat man here!’’ ejaculated the sport, starting back asif confronted by some hideous ap- ariticn. ‘* Now, indeed, must I be on my guard, or his words of warning are never vain!” A moment of unbroken silence had followed the exit of Major Axfell, Saul Temple, and Perdido Fer- nandez from the Eldorado, the eyes of the crowd noting each move, however slight, of the man from Hard Luck, He remained with his back to the wall, a ready weapon in each hand, an odd ftwinklein his bright blue eye, the cool, almost insolent smile upon his ruddy, boyish face deepening, if varying at all. “ Heigho!” he at length aoulated, his tone one of mock sclera. ‘*What a plight is this! ‘Tis for liberty. sweet liberty I pine!’ Then Idaho, the giant gambler. strode forward, a brace of heavy self-cocking revolvers in his hands, and faced the expectant crowd. * Now listen, gents, for | am about to warble busi- ness,”’ he slowly enunciated, as his half-closed eyes swept over the array of faces ‘You have heard the stranger here accused of being a wolf in sheep’s clothing, or something of the sort, “J deny the assertion, and defy our worthy mar- shal to find proof that will convict this man Burr. *“ Who made the charge agains: him? An avowed enemy, who, for all we know to the contrary, may himself be Redblade the « utlaw! “ The tru h is simply this, gentlemen: “QGactus Burr is inimical to tne interests of Ax- fell, Temple & Co. in their arurete to retain pos- session of the Great Mogul Mine; and, knowing eney have plotted to remove him by deliberate murder! “A strong statement, my friends, but the proof of its truth is found in Saul Temple's command to his followers: ‘If he attempts to hold pay com- munication with any one while in the Eldorado, he shall be shot down; when he leaves the place, arrest awaits him,’ ‘Is it not true that be must remain as motionless | as @ block of stone, not daring to move, even to | gyre hicencte up, lest his purpose be willfully miscon- 8 lead? A “But for once the plotters of the Great Mogul have been too cunning by far; and, instead of con- | cealing their object, have made it plain. “Were there any reason to believe Cactus Burr guilty of the crime with which he is charged, I would be among the foremost to aemand that due punishment be meted out to him, “J am authorized by our friend here, Rufus Darn- ley, to state thas, if his espionage of Mr. Burr be ted, he himself will stand responsible for any monetary loss or infraction of tue laws that may result, , “Isn’t the proposition fair enough» And as he ceased. Idaho looked complacently over the motley assemblage, then turned his gaze upon the tranquil face of the man from Hard Luck. A moment of intense silence followed, Elegant Fitz Jim moved restlessly behind the two arch conspirators, eager to act, yet held in abey- ance by the knowledge that his every move was being narrowly watched. is eyes met those of smooth, even tones said: “Fair? Perfectly not object to such terms. Is it not so. gents?” The murmur of dissatisfaction welling up from the li “ the pempabel's stanch followers pale vom. lete’ rowne: an assenting roar from the Kingpin faction, which, headed by Rufus Darnley Whether | as an excuse for filling his cabeza full of | his ally Hank, ina stealthy | glance. Then the latter glided forward, and in ) ! Saul Temple himself could | Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. 11 and the giant gambler, surged forward and densely | surrounded the man from Hard Luck. | —ten thousand down, the remaining half in five | months, secured by mortgage on the premises. | Amoment, Then a sudden swaying to and fro of | | the end of the five months the tenderfoot would be the inner ranks of the crowd; a shuffling of feet, the sharp bang of a door violently closed, and Cac- tus Burr, Esq., was lost to the gaze of the Barites, “T am truly glad to find myself in such congenial | company, for [assure you, my dear sirs, that it is | More than mere relief-~it is genuine pleasure—to throw off the vesture for the nonce and appear ia his proper person!” And the man from Hard Luck laughed lightly as his big blue eyes stared quizzically into the faces of the two men seated opposite to him at the _table— Rufus Darnley, the so-called Kingpin of Nabob’s Bar, and Idaho, the giant gambler! “Cactus Purri—an odd name that,’’ observed Darniey, exhaling a cloud of smoke from his pursed- up lips, after which very deliberate proceeding he allowed an insinuating smile to steal across his brutishly-handsome face. “I fear that you have been a sad dog, Cactus—that, in common with a large percentage of the camp’s population, you have past, the cognomen bestowed upon you in the bap- tismal rite.” “Who knows?” quoth the man from Hard Luck, carelessly, as he lit afresh cigar. ‘* But, seriously, it is the only handle I answer to. My genealogy is so brief that I can scarcely refrain from giving it, “Five years ago a party of gold-hunters, crossing a desert plain in New M-xico, came upon the ap- peryeay lifeless form of a man lying in the cacti. nvestigation proved that the fellow was alive, with a good chance of recovery, if cared for.” “ And you are the man?” interrogated Idaho, “T am the man,’’ was the reply. ‘ But for the life of me, I couldn't tell »ho I was, or whence I came; so one of the party, in a whimsical mood dubbed me Cactus Burr, Esq., of Hard Luck, and the appellation has clung to me more tenaciously than any other /v7rr I ever encountere 1.” “A strange yarn, with the additional merit of brevity,” dryly commented Darnley. ‘ But tell us, Burr, were you ever before in Nabob's Bar?” ‘*Nay—aud with an hour’s start out of the camp, I'll hie me hence forever; for I give it out straight and solid, gents, that one experience like this of to-nighcis enough for me,”’ “On the whole, i am sorry to hear of your deter- mination to leave,” said Darnley, flecking an ash- flake from his broadcloth coat. ‘* You are a man of sand, Cactus Burr, and such men are in demand just now, at their own price, provided they are not over-scrupulous as to their duties."’ Figuratively speaking, the man from Hard Luck pricked up his ears. ‘* Perhaps I could be induced to tarry yet awhile,” he suggested lightly. a strange, half-mocking smile creeping over his ruddy face. Rufus Darnley stared curiously across the table, just a trace of suspicion visible in his expression. “Well, we will see,’’ he uttered, coldly. ‘That ou may understand what would be required of you, will give you the present status of affairs in Na- tobe Bar, and point out wherein my interests are at stake. “Whether or not you accept my proposition, I went it understood that all passing between us is in strict confidence; violate that confidence, and—well, the Captain Noname of tve Golconda trail never again shall eat or drink, for he shall start at once upon his dreary pilgrimage across the river Styx!” ‘*A cheerless prospect for the genial captain, truly,” murmured the man from Hard Luck, his blue eyes opening wide. ‘‘ But for the life of me, gents, I can’t see what that galoot has to do with the case in hand!” “We understand that,” uttered Darnley, with a significant smile. “That we dol” supplemented Idaho, winking furiously. ‘‘ No use stump, Cactus. me boy! May luck go with you in handing Axfell’s ducats!”’ | §tarine at the two sanity, the man from little laugh. his voice jow and mocking. from the celestial sphere, you fellows would have me an imp of darkness!” A cynical nod, and Rufus Darnley went on: “This camp, christened Nabob’s Bar, from the supposed richness of its mines, is divided into two factions, numerically almost equal, each of which has a recognized head or leader—Major Axfell pend one of these enviable luminaries, myself the ‘The split is of recent origin, and came about im this wise: _ ‘Until six months ago I owned the two principal mines of the camp—the Kingpin and the Great | Mogul; but. discovering that the latter was a losing investment, | disposed of it to a tenderfoot of limit- ed means—Major Axfell], ‘No matter ‘Sto the means used to accomplish the sale; suffice it. thar the price was a good round one, even for the indications in sight.” ‘From which T am toinfer that the mine was salted?” queried the man from Hard Luck, with the utmost coolness. | “Nothing of the sort, my dear sir.” curtly return- | ed the Kingpin. ‘*‘ No such means were resorted to Oo beat the devil around a | lotters as if he doubted their | ard Luck uttered a malicious | ! disgusted with his minin ‘Naturally, | suspected nothing else than that at experience and let the property go by default. n the contrary, he asso- ciated with himself men of experience in such mat- ters, and now I find, through spies in my employ, | that by the sale I lost countless thousands; for deep my real personnel, as—well, as Cactus Burr, Esq., in | in the drift new ‘leads’ have been struck—richer far in yellow wealth than any ever pictured even in my wildest dreams.” ‘Isee! Isee! You wish to regain the mine!” ex claimed Cactus Burr, Esq., a thrill of excitement noticeable in his usually steady tones. ‘“ But why not foreclose the mortgage? The last payment | must be a month overdue.” laid upon a shelf, somewhere in the dim and musty | | stantly suggested to me a plot whereb ‘So it is; but the scheming devils have discovered. —or claim to have done so—a flaw in my title to the property, and I am forced to await the decision of the courts before I can push the matter to an issue. “But Iam morally sure that they anticipate a deci- sion adverse to their in erests, for in the stage from Golconda, to-day, was a package containing $10,000, for the final payment on the Great Mogul.” “Then a kind Providence has decreed that this re- doubtable Captain Noname be the instrument by which your ends are served!” ejaculated the man from Hard Luck, with an ill-concealed sneer. ‘*Leaving Providence out of the question, it was & fortunate thing for me that the toll takers made their appearance on the Golconda trail to-day, for this $id, is the last shot in Major Axfell’s locker,'” observed Darnley complacently. ** And it was a lucky chance too, that led to your being accused of being Captain Noname, for it in- y I might poy ascertain exactly what Axfell and his party are doing in the matter. “T have soid that the camp is divided into two ro one siding with Axfell, the other with my- self, ‘* Now, what I want you to do is to make yourself solid with the Axfe!l crew, and this is how I propose for es to do it: ‘*T will provide you with a roll containing $10,000: | An hour hence, you will go to Major Axfell s quar- ters at Limerick’s Palace, and request an interview, You will state that you are Cactus Burr. or whom- soever you please; that while in Goleonda, you overheard a plot to ‘hold up’ the hearse at a certain point on the trail to Nabob’s Bar; that you con- cluded to checkmate the robbery by making a lime- ly descent upon the stage; that you accomplished your plan; that you have called to deliver up to him the $10,000; and so on and so forth, with an end to gaining his good-will a: d confidence. “Ere you can leave the room, a sudden descent of masked men will be made, overpowering the two of you, and making way with the lucre, but leaving: you high in the graces of the major. ‘*No matter if wa wipe out one or two of the fellows—a little blood spilled will put you the higher in Axfell’s es imation. ‘‘Now, what say you? Will $1,000 tempt you to work the racket?’ And the plotter paused, eagerly awaiting an an- ; Swer. | canle Cactus Burr, Esquire, sat quite still for a moment, artrange glow in his blue eyes, a peculiar smile parting his red lips. Then he said: * Your plot is wonderfully true to life, Rufus. Darnley, But there is one thing you Af ony lade the agents of Saul Temple and leave the: Eldorado?” : “Pooh!” ejaculated the Kingpin ‘‘How did you get up here? Trust me to get you through the Temple Ines unmolested. Come, now—give us your | answer.” “ Re it so, if you will have it that way,” he said, | * Were I a saint direct: | The man from Hard Luck slowly arose, a look of resolve upon his boyish face, *“*My answer is, that— ” Crack—crack—crack! A perfect fusilade of pistcl-shots rung out down- stairs, cutting short his words, and bringing the two plotters to their feet with alarm plainly depicted upon their faces. CHAPTER XII. THE SILENT TONGUES’ MISSION. SrrvaTe in a wild, rough section of Colorado, and having direct communicetion with the outer world over the Golconda trail onl), Nabob’s Bar was a typical gold-camp, both in appearance and in the character of her teu-score denizens, Slab shanties and canvas tcnts, here a dug-out and there a wickiup—the first fcr the prosperous, the last for the poverty-ridden—stucding the banks of a slow. sluggish stream dotting the narrow level, ‘and perched upon the abrupt slope of the foot-hill to effect a sale. Axfell bought the Great Mogul | ) with his eyes open, and recent developments go to prove that he builded even better than he knew. | “Twenty thousand dollars was the purchase price on eliher side, without the slightest semblance of regularity orregard to street-lines, were the habita- tions of the nomadic gold-seekers. _ Centrally located, but upon opposite banks of the stream, were the Eldorado and Limerick’s Palace, dnt am gambling-hall and hestclry, respectively— arge barn-like structures, in the erection of which architectural talent had by no means been lavishly- employed, yet institutions to which the eyes of the- average Barite turned with pride; for, in the ver- nacular of the region, ““W’ile they warn’t es harn- sum’ es brownstun’ an’ marble, still they war good enough fer ther geloots ov Nabob’s Bar. an’ at ther same timelaid ’way Over enything ov ther kind in ther foothills.” And an odd lot were these same Barites—m’n,. good, bad and indifferent, with the prepondersr: largely in favor of the second class named. e two principal mines of the camp—the Great:
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ti i Cs ANE BRP 0 RAE AN EGS 12 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Mogul and the Kingpin—afforded employment at fair wages to all who chose to accept it, Many there were, however, who preferred delving for the yellow god * on their own hook,” and yet others who toiled uot at all, but depended wholly upon their wits. The feeling of bitter strife and rivalry existing be- tween Major Axfell, of the Great Mogul, and Rufus | Darnley, of the Kingpin, had extended to the em- ployees of each, and as a result fights of more orless | consequence were of daily occurrence So'much for the camp, and the state of affairs ex- isting therein. A few is Beier to the dual attack upon the “+ hearse ’ of Old Buck Bridger, there had appeared in Nabob’s Bar, late one afternoon,a squad of six men—bur'ly, rough-looking fellows, afoot, but rather well-clad and armed to the teeth, and purporting to be gold seekers. ho they were, or whence they came, proved too much even for the most pen, inquisitive of the Barites, for they held themselves aloof, and, when by chance thrown into contact with the denizens of the camp, were close-mouthed unto surliness. And s > it came about that these mysterious stran- rs were dubbed “ The Silent Tongues, ov No Man's amp,” and the quaint appellation bid fair to stick. These Silent Tongues had pitched their camp and thrown up alarge wickiup in an isolated spotin the southwest quarter of Nabob’s Bar, directly upon the bank of the creek and above a large, deep pool. For two or three days the new-comers and their frail habitation were kept under a suspicious sur- veillauce by the denizens of the Bar, without regard to faction or clan. Fully aware that their every move was under jealous eyes, the Silent Tongues took things quite coolly, staying clese by their quar- ‘ters, save a detail of two, who each morning appear- ed at the general store, run in connection with Lim- erick’s Palace, and purchased the day’s supplies, paying therefor in virgin dust. hen, just as it had begun, the watchfulness ceas- ed, and the Silent Tongues settled down to plot their deviltry unmolested, For they were in the gold-camp upon a mission of wrong-doing—to accomplish a deed bold, vet dark and terrible. At about the hour Perdido Fernandez so suddenly appeared at the Eldorado, two men approached the wickiup of the Silent Tongues, coming from the di- rection of the Goleonda trail, and were met with the challenge: “Hold, perds! Give an account ov yerselves!” In tones guarded hut stern and menacing, came the words. from a man sitting upon the creek bank, di- rectly before the entrance to the shel er, and in the lurid glow from his short black pipe gleamed a pair of reyolvers drawn and leveled, Instantly came the response: “ We aire stranzers—friends ter honest men, foes ter all others!” The sentry lowered his weapons, thrust them into his pie pea removed his pipe from his mouth, say- calmly: *Ter east ther latch-string ov the honest miner aire allers out. Ye wiil find friends inside,.”’ With an exclamation expressive of satisfaction, the foremost of the two men lifted the blanket serv- ing as a door to the wickiup, and glided inside, leaving his companion with the sentry. On the interior of the dimly-lighted shelter, seated at opposite sides of a high, flat rock, were two men, a pack of cards and a bottle before them. * Parson Paul, fer half ther world!”’ At the deep-toned voice, the two men sprung to their feet. “Bravo Brice !"’ they exclaimed, in a breath. “Yas, Bravo Brice, pards—tired, hungry, paved out from A to Izzard, but ready fer work thet romises ducats,”’ was the response of the redoubta- Bie outlaw, as he sunk wearily beside the rock. Not a whit le-s ugly. nor ashade cleaner or neater in appearance than when last we saw him, was the iron-nerved lieuteaant of the Serpents of Cimarron, His swarthy face was beaded with perspiration ne a was breathing hard, as if from an arduous walk. Luck. | day ’thout wordfrom him. An’ we c’u’d afford ter | forestalled us in gittin’ ther major’s dust, we war * Whar’s ther band?” queried the outlaw addressed , as Parson Paul, resuming his seat and pushing the bottle toward bis leader. “In ther brush, a mile back,” returned Bravo Brice, after a liberal potation. ‘‘Whar’s t’other boyees?” te : “Ye passed Jim Murty es ye kem in, I reckon. Jaques, theré Thug, aire doin’ time ont’other side, High-Card Hank an’ ther Gypsy Gent aire up at ther Bar, layin’ ther ropes fer ther swipe. An’ Leatherskin—” ashort nod at his companion at | cards completed the sentence. * Have ye seen ther captain?” , “No’ Bravo Brice laughed—a grating, rasping sound by | no means pleasant to hear. “Then keep out ov his way till ye’ve su’thin’ good fer his ears” he advised. “Things hev gone rough wait, fer w’en Old Nick Jolly, Doc Skaggs, Sweetsie Smith an’ Poker Pete—ther four boss deviltry- hatehers ov ther band—war sent on ter Nabob’s Bar —-we all know’d thet ther game bein’ played war fer high stakes.” “*Ter steal a gal!’’ sniffed Leatherskin. ‘“* Yes, ter abduct Major Axfeil’s darter, fer whose ransom $10,000 w’u’d bev ter be paid,’’calmly con- tinued Bravo Brice. ‘* An’—” ‘We laid thar in ther brush, a-waitin’, fer three mortal weeks, w’en we c’u’d ‘a’ swooped down on ther camp et any time an’ snucked ther gal off atween two days, jes’ es we did ther kid afore, et Golconda,” broke in Leatherskin, irritably, a scowl | on his cadaverous face as he restlessly shuffled the pack of cards. “So we all thought, until after Parson Paul hyer and you fellers had packed traps fer Nabob’s Bar,” retorted the outlaw lieutenant, with an evil smile. ‘Ef the mere stealin’ ov ther gal war all, we c’u'd ‘a’ hiked her off through ther brush ter-day, fer she war plum-center‘in our grasp.” Parson Paul started sharpt ‘“*Ther Sarpents held up ther hearse ter-day?”’ he queried, “Es ter thet—TI'll tell ye later,” replied Bravo Brice. ‘An’ you gerloots set yer teeth on yer tongues an’ keep quiet, fer I heva good deal ter say. “Ther day a'ter you fel'ers left Golconda, a | female critter callin’ herself Priscilla | sweet youn Trueheart kem a-sailin’ inter our camp, an’ asked fer Mr. Brice. **An’ thet female war Captain Redblade, in dis- guise. “Wat he said that day putt a diffrent light on ther natur’ ov our doin’s. ‘Stead ov workin’ fera $10 000 ransom, we war booked fer ther biggest strike one reord! ** Ye see et war jest like this: Ther Sarpents war not goin’ et on they’re own hook, but war a-fightin’ az’in’ one gold-bag, an’ fer another!” *“Snow-capp'd Rockies! I see ther game—we aire fer Rufe Darnley, ov ther Kingpin Mine, ag’in’ Maje Axfvil, ov ther Great Mogal!” excitedly ex- claimed Parson Paul. * Prezactly,” assented Bruce. “Darnley wishes ter crush out Axfell an’ regain possession ov ther Great Mogul Mine. an’ he hes set ther Sarpents ter | work ter do the fu'st act on ther programme. “Ter do this, ther Sarpents w’u’d hev ter devise ways an’ means ter squeeze from Axfell eyery dol lar he c’u’d raise with which ter make ther last payment on the Great Mogul. “Captain Redblade’s first idear war ter kidnap ther gal an’ break ther old man by extortin’ ransom money. sent on ter worm ther way inter his good graces an’ get ther lay ov ther land. A’ter thet, you fellers jwar sent hyar fer ter be in readiness ter yank her out ov camp es soon es ther dust kem fer ther pay- ment. ‘* But sarcumstances altered ther case, fer Jolly found thet on a sart’in day ther gal herself was ter go ter Golconda an’ fetch ther lucre,”’ “An’ ef we c’u’d get ther coin by hol’in’ up ther hearse, thar’ war ho need ter kidnap ther gal,” ob- served Parson Paul. ** Jes’ so,” acquiesced the lieutenant, ‘ An’ ther day before ther gal war due in Golconda, Old Nick an’ his pards showed up at ther camp, an’ ther hull thing war mapped out. So w’en Miss Axfell started fer Nabob Bar with ther stuff, she hed fer feller- pater gery Priscilla Trueheart. an’ them four rattile- rained old sianers, Uld Nick & Co, “Ther captain hed it all arranged fer ther Sar- ents to hold up ther stage ata sart’in p’int. Old Nick war ter gain possession ov ther wealth, an’ he war ter be ther fu’st one held up; thcn ef things went wrong, we e’u’d cut our lucky quick. ‘Oh, et war all jest es scrumptious es everything c’u'd be, an’ ther dust war jest es good es in our han’s, when out from ther roadside, *ithin a mile ov ther spot named by ther captain, pops a toll-taker, dressed fer all ther world like a ginuine Cimarron Sarpent, vith his guns up in proper style, an’ stops ther hearse es ef a bolt ov lightnin’ hed bit et. * An’ ther gang war so dead sure that everything war straight, thet, fore they c’u’d diskiver thet ther ' galoot in ther rond war not theyre man, Old Nick guy et away thet he hed secured ther dust! “ An’ ter cut ther matter short, ‘fore thcy c’u’d } decide w’at ter do, this cool gen’leman ov ther high- | way, Captain Noname, riddles ther entire party, ith ther dainty cuss ter-day, an’ ye bet he airein a | rage.”’ “Gone rough? How, pard?” The outlaw lieutenant was silent a moment, “Ter answer thet question, I'l] hev ter go back an’ look over this Axfell job from ther time we tackied it.’ he at length replied, ‘ Ye know, Parson Pau! how we left New Mexico ’thout ther captain. an’ el we got worl ter push fer Golconda, lickety- split. done a’ter we got thar.” “Lay in ther brush an’ waited—thet war all!’’ in- terpolated the outlaw Leatherskin—a shrill, piping sort. of voice “ Rignt,” assented Bravo Brice; “but ther captain war et work, ther same, an’ we never puttina An’ lL reckon et aire not new ter ye w’at we | / : | from Ok theyre weasel skins, an’ then plays ther measliest trick ov all—hau'cufts ther Sarpents in ther hearse, Priscilla Trueheart included!” “Han'cuffed ther gang!’’ chorused the two out- laws. starting up in mingled amazement and con- sternation, “That's w'at I said,’ coolly continued the villain Brice, ‘*Han'cuffed ther five ov them, then sent ther hearse onward, giving Bridger a note ov some kind fer ther Marshal ov Nabob’s Bar.”’ “Ther deuce!” Leatherskin ejaculated in un- mistakable alarm. ‘“‘Sech bein’ ther case, T’ll bid ther camp good-by ter wonst!” “Drop, an’ keep quict. or ye’ll not git far away ‘fore su’thin’ else goes off—su'thin’ thet] overtake ye!” uttered Brice, sternly, as he plucked a revolver from his belt and laid it upon the stone. “Ther pris’ners ner ther message never reache marshal an’ so he kin know nothin’ sart’in. Fer when ther hearse reached ther sharp bend in ther trail whar we had bin stationed, we reskied Red- blade an’ his men, an’ no amount ov s‘archin’ brought ther note ter light. Lridger must ‘a’ lost et. *“w'en we found that this Captain Noname hed Buck Bridger down, ov every cunce i An’ so Old Nick Jolly an’ his pards war | | : | } } fer takin’ bis daughter, then an’ thar. but Redblade war ag’in’ et, es sech a move w’u’d interfere with his plans. ‘We rustled back ter our camp in ther bresh, an’ succeeded in gittin’ ther irons off ther boys. Dis- guisin’ themselves, they putt out fer ther Par. “On ther way, they war met by a messenger from Darnley, sayin’ ef ther hearse hed not yit bin tackled, ter Jay in wait an’ secure ther gal with ther dust Ther bird havin’ slipped through our fingers, all ther captain c’u’d do war ter send ther mes- senger on ter our camp, with orders ter me ter join yon ‘ui an’ fer us ter be reddy fer work at his signa. ** Darnley hes diskivered thet ther movements ov himself and his ally, Idaho, aire bein’ piped by a spy in ther employ ov Axfell—one Elegant Fitz Jim, a faro-dealer at .her Eldorado. To night, this galoot aire ter be putt out ov ther way, sech a ruction bein’ created as will draw ther hull camp, an’ so leave ther coast clear fer kidnappin’ ov ther gal. “Ther time set aire w’en ther moon aire an hour high. Ef everything aire in readiness, we hed bet- ter—”’ Suddenly pausing in the middle of the sentence. the outlaw raised his hand to betoken silence, then bent his head in an attitude of listening. “ Rire-arms!”’ he enunciated, bis eyes filling wit! > fitful glow. ‘Ther circus has opened, an’ ther ti: fer ction is at hand. Come, pards! look ter ; we’pons an’ le’s ter work!”’ CHAPTER XIII A RAY OF LIGHT. Tur wild ejaculation uttered by Perdido Fernandez as he finished reading the me sage of warning from the mysterious Walking Death did not escape the ears of Saul Temple and Major Axfell. Starting guiltily, the two men exchanged glances, “To what man do yon have reference?” inquired Temple, turning to Perdido. A iook of annoyance shot athwart the sport’s dark fac . A moment he hesitated, then thrust the crum- pled paper into the marshal’s hand. ‘*- Read that,”’ he muttered, curtly. Temple complied. then compared the message with that addressed to him, “Written by the same hand,” he avowed, ‘* Who is this Walking Death, Senor—Senor—” Perdido hesitated strang. ly a moment, then said: **Call me Axfell—Leonidas Axfell,” The major started as f stung. Staring hard at the imperturbabl: face of the sport through the murky lizht, he shrunk back coldly. ** Axfell—Leonidas Axfell!” he repeated mechan- ically. “Phat is what L said,” utter d Perdido, by way of iteration. ‘ Leonidas Axf*ll the black sheep of the family, and late of the Ohio Penitentiary.” His voice was full cf bitterness. “ We are brothers,’’ said Major Axfell, quietly. ‘** Brothers be it.’ The hands of the two men met in a strong clasp, yg) Saul Temple looked on in wide-eyed won- er. A few words from Major Axfell. and the marshal and Perdido were on a friendly footing. ‘But who is this Walking Death?’ repeated Tem- ple, during a lull in the brief conversation, The sport rela'ed what he knew of the leper, “ All this reminds me that I, too, was the recipient of a secretly delivered message while at the Eldora- do,” suddenly spoke up Major Axfell; and, drawing a piece of paper from his pocket. he smoothed the ae from it and in the dim light of the window read; * Mason AxFreti.:—Return to your room at the Palace, and there await a glad surprise. | “Tt bears the signature ef Elegant Fitz Jim,” he added, * and therefore is as good as gold.” A few words more, and then the party separated, with a mutual understanding as '0 their later ac- tions, Perjido returning to Idaho’s Eldorado, while the owner of the Great Mogul with Saul Temple hastened toward Limerick’s Palace, When Perdido crossed the threshold cf the gam- bling bell, the man from Hard Luck was nowhere visible: a perfect quiet hung over the interior cf the place, broken at intervals by a chuckle of satisfac- tion, again by @ mutiered curse. from the crowd about the faro-table whereat s: t Elegant Fitz Jim. it required no second glance from the trained eyes of the spert to determine that a game for heavy stakes was in Ta The deserted bar—the very quietude of the place, bespoke as much, Skirting the throng, Perdido at length reached a point whence he pushed his way through to a posi- tion at the dealer’s left, Es Reached that position just as Elegant Fitz Jin wearily laid aside the silver box and in a cold, monotonous voice announced: “Gents, the bank's bu’sted—the game's ended? Our misshapen friend, Diamond D.ck, has sueceed- ed where a thousand others have failed!” The black eyes of the hunchback glittered ner- vously. His keen white teeth shut together with a sharp click, * , *Iu’st your dust, then your life—” A grating. snarling ery, from Perdido broke in poe the deadly strains of the hunchback’s voice, is dark face aflame with Tage, his great black orbs fairly glowing, the reckless sport sprung nimm- bly upon the table, @ polished weapon in each and. “Curse you for cowardly dogs!” he gritted, in- stantly sinvling out tWo men immediatel behind Diamond Dick—one tall and gangling, other
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ae ta\iM 1 Cactus ! " Me Ene ee Rea ae : ‘ ; Fe EEE ES * . , » ai! < , Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. squat and powerful-looking, with thick, matted red bair and beard. “ Curse you!” he repeat: d savagely, his revolvers leaping to a level, with hammers poised. ‘*Do you when you dragged me at a rope’s eno—forced me to submit to treatment such as a Digger Indian would scarcely give a dog?” Poker Pete—the gangling rough was none other— fumbled _nerveusly at the weapons he dared not draw. His crafty little eyes avoided meeting the verous face crept a sickly yellow tiat, “Durn et! fang ‘im, Sweetsie, or we is gone coons,” he articulated in a husky whisper, with a swift side glance at the empurpled visage of bis equally villainous confrer-. ‘‘Cap’n kin do nothin’ H —Fitz Jim hes got ‘im lined!” Certain it was that the strong white hands of Elegant Fitz Jim gripped the butt of a pair of ‘*sixes,’ the muzzles of which stared the hunch- back, Diamond Dick, full in the face! The cold smile just visible on the curling red lips of the dealer, as well as the baleful expression of Perdido, warned the throng that a dual vendetta of f the deadliest kind would be forever settled within " the minute, and it parted right and left, the ad- | herents of Major Axfell forming in one line, those \ of the owner of the Kingpin in the other. { At the very instant the division took place, Saul Temple and Old Buck Bridger, accompanied by Hank, the Jealer’s friend, entered the Eldorado. Ere the three men could get asecond glance at the thrilling scene presented, a number of shots rung out rapidly and the lights of the place flittered fit- fully and expired. Simul'aneously, a stream of fire leaped from each of Perdido’s wei pons, ana 1 oker Pete and tweet- water Smith with reamy 94, revolvers reeled and fell, one across the other, the blood trickling from a bul- let-hole in the forehead of each! bie & the reckless sport had wiped out his score. “Rally fer ther Kingpin. pards! Down with ther Great Mogul!” abcatet a stentorian voice, the flash and crack of a revolver accompanying each word. The single spark needed to explode the mine of i pent-up wrath between the rival factions of the gold- camp had beeu supplie :! The incestant cracking of firearms, the clashing of opposing blades, the yells and curses of the maddened roughs, the groans and cries of the wounced and dying, made the darkened ‘ gambling-hell a place of grim horror! | : Unseen, the door at the bottom of the stairway aaa Py leading to the a ment overbead opened cautious- , permitting the giant gambler and Rufus Darn- Jey, and with them the man from Hard Luck to ; nter. to 2 Jdaho and the mine-owner readily grasped the sit- uation—knew that the factional fight they had schemed to bring about was “on ’ at last and wag- ete ing with relentless fury, thy “Now is your time to escape from the place un- . molested,”’ uttered the giant, his mouth close to the ear of Cactus Burr, Esq. “Darnley anda few of | the boys will follow you at once, to carry out the abel, Rufe?”’ , : * At once,” replied the owner of the Kingpin. ‘I = ee will get the lads together immediately.” As he finished, poe: glided stealthily away. * Be off—the sooner the better,” urged Idaho, as 7 the man from Hard Luck seemed to_ hesitate, a Ag ine is fixed—you have the roll in your 4 i ag nal sharp, or Rufe will reach Limerick’s $ in advance of you.” :, a ane moment, dear sir.” uttered Burr, his voice strangely soft and pone - yet spiced with a suspi- - of “ There is Just one question I must i naa menace, “i ask. i ‘“‘T have heard it said Major Axfell had a son. Is it true?" “True? Yes; and a wild young fellow he was— knowing no fear, and daring unto recklessness. ; ‘*But that is neither here nor there; for he died rt with bis boots on, full five months ago, in the wilds southwest of Qolorado. And it wasmyhand that struck the blow, for he stood ia my way. Yes, the whelp is dead.” , There was a ring of pitiless exultation in Idaho's deep base voice, “ You lee ! ” “if t The giant gambler sprung back, chilled throug and through by the iitonse, ceadly strains of the voice in which the two words were uttered—appalled by the mad glow in the big blue eyes fairly burning in his bearded face}! The right arm of the mau from Hard Luck was raised aloft, his hand swinging around and ‘round, in a circle with ever increasing swiftness, produciag ilant, hissing sound. - Pr asand furies!” gasped the gambler. hi: great hands dropping swiftly to his belted weapons. e— “Can this The pend of Cactus Burr shot forward in a sharp cirele, to be as swiftly drawn back, the movement ucing a sudden sound, as of a heavy blow. and wringing from the giant @ gurgling; half stifled “a guivering in every fiber, Idaho reeled blindly to fro, tearing desperately at his bearded throat. each instant growing Weaker and weaker until ie ped in an inert heap on the bloody floor. terrible glow in the eyes of the man from Hard til they shone recly in the dark- ness, while a scream of elfish «ielight broke from his iy ae ee 1g high above the uproar of the awful con- An instant h Paeties over the lifeless form of the giant, then sprung erect, turned and glided silently out of the ‘ Onward Ee plunged 4 the starlight, apparently at remember the nigbt on the mountain-side, devils, | burning gaze of the sport, while over his cada- | | ly wail he flung up his hands and dropped 1n a sense- | ) a lg | ’ “ veo igner random, A few paces from the Eldorado he stag- gered and came near falling. The intense, lurid | glow in his big blue eyes rapidly faded and grew | dim, while a strange tremor seemed to shake his well-krit form. Steadying himself, he again pushed forward, a powerful effort marking eacb step. A dozen yards, then he halted, turning round and round like one utterly bewildered. A sudden dash of color relieved the deathlike pal- ler of his strangely drawn and distorted visage. His facial muscles relaxed, and with a low, unearth- | less heap. CHAPTER XIV. CAPTAIN NONAME AGAIN, Tar great harvest moon was just lifting her full, round face above the crests; f tbe hills environing | the Colorado gold-camp of Nabob’s Bar. pouring through a window in the east side of Limerick’s | Palace a flood of yellow light and rendering the beliway on the sccond floor almost as bright as ay.’ Midway of the hall, clustered befor» a half-open door straining eye and ear to grasp every detail of | the scene transpiring within, were a half score of men, i F Rough-looking fellows, masked, and with weapons | rawn. The very silence of the group presaged a deed of violence. The room into which they peered was a large square spariment, plainly furnished, and lighted | by an oil lamp upon a rough table opposite to | the door. | Each end of the apartment was cut off by a heavy | chintz curtain, reaching almost to the ceiling. } Seated at the table, with his back to the door, was | Major Axfell. : Confronting him was no less a personage than the | mysterious road- gent, Captain Nonsme! | The dark orbs of the robber-chief gleamed coldly through the eyelets of his mask. His arms were folded across his chest, carelessly enough so far as appearance went, but each hand clasped the butt of heavy revolver. “Tf you have aught to say be quick about it,” Ax- fell was saying. at the moment the men bein | without the door, ‘‘ You have intimated that you are the man who held up the bearse this afternoon. If you are really and truly Captain Noname, cease | beating “the devil around the stump and say as much,” The road agent laughed lightly. “Major, | reckon you and the baldbeaded truth are weil-nigh utter strangers,”. he observed, in the coolest way imaginable. “I have told you, not in just so many words, perhaps, but yet very plainly, that [have the somewhat dubious honor of being identical with the boss highwayman of the season, Captain Noname, Got a Bible?” And with the query tie tolltaker lowered his hands and calmly helped himself to a chair * Confound your insufferable insolence!”’ exclaim- ed Axfell, starting to his feet. ‘I don’t take a par- ticle of stock in your cock-and-bull yarn. In fact, | Ithink you’re a fraud, and I've a great mind to | pitch you out the window!” * And * what's the matter with the door?’’ quoted | Captain Noname. in a drawling t ne! ‘It isa rare old chestnut, major; but one good turn deserves an- other, you know. f “But a word in seriousness, major. Sit down and let’s talk business. It may bore you terribly, but it will stand you in hand just $10,000, to a supper, And here's the stuff to back the assertion,” As Captain Noname ceased he flung upon the | table a thin packet, brani ye wrapped with paper. A strange tremor coursed through Major Axfell’s : slender form. Utterly unnerved, ap) arently, he dropped into his chair and crew the package toward im “Count it now, if you wish ” cautioned the masked outlaw, “I'll geet it j 0k." Then, as Axfell tore 0: € wrappers and looked through the wealth of bank bills revealed, he went on: “Of course, you regard me as acommon high- way thief, major, and, until I have explained how the lucre came to fall into my hands, no protesta- tions can convince you to the contrary, “First, let me set myself before you in my proper person, After that, perhaps my tongue will wag more easily.” Even as he spoke, Ca tain Noname removed bis mask and sombrero, allowing a mags cf curling, iron-zray hair to descend *lmost to his shonlders, and revealing the ruddy, clear-cut face of Cactus | Burr, Esq., of Hard Luck! You recognize me.I see,” he observed, with an | inclination of his head. “Now ge! at the bottom facts of this much mixed and very remarkable affair. / “For something like two weeks past 1 have been in the neighboring gold-camp of Goleonda, While there I ran across an old acquaintance jin the person of Bolly Darrit, of Denver, a member of the Rocky 4 Mountain Detective Association. . “ Ab! you know the gentleman? I judged as much. “Well, he was in disguise—had been for months t. With a fellow-detective, posing as Nickolas olly and Doctor Skaggs. respectively, e had work- ed his way into the good graces of a band of cut- throats known hereabouts as Bludso’s Band, an’ further south, as the Serpents of Cimarron. ** Tt seemed that, some months before, this band had entrapped and murdered a oung iellow near Goleonda—the son of some well-to-do mine-owner ' ons, here in these hills, ahd the two detectives had beer employed to bring the murderers to justice. - “Your son, yousay? Axfell «asthe name, I be- 1eve. * Well. Dorrit managed to see me yesterday, and pus me onto a little job, set up by this same outlaw band, to hold up the hearse between Golconda and. Nabob’s Bar, and relieve your daughter of the pack- et here before us, “He asked me tostep in and make off with the booty, and there it is, “So much for the present, major. In the near future | have anotber and more cheering word /or your ear,” As he ended, Cactus Purr arose, “Stay!” cried Major Axfell, spripging up *You—” A swift rush of feet drowned the rest of the sen- tence, as into theroom trooped the men from the hallway. “Tt was a neat trick you played, Cactus Burr, but. he laughs best who laughs last!’ enunciated a cold, hard voice, above the clicking «f a half scure weap- **Hands up or die. you hounds! Booty and beauty is our motto to vie t}" Thus brought to bay, Major Axfel] and his myst: - rious visitor flung up their hands in compliance with the pointed command, “The game is up—the play isended: Ring dowm | the curtain!’ cried the man from Hard Luck, an. odd smile curling his red lips a mocking light dancing in his big blue eyes. A peculiar rustling sound followed, and the heavy chintz curtain across each end of the room fell te the floor, disclosing two files of ten men each, head- ed by Doctur Skaggs and Nicholas Jolly and all. armed with leveled Winchesters! At the same instant, the door closed softly, and the bolt clicked as a key turned in the lock ; without! *“S’rend«r! ye blasted thieves, or ye’ll crowd ther range a-climbin’ over!’’ shouted Old Nick Jolly, his rubicund visage all aglow. , To a man, the entraj ped roughs * wilted.” Nota. thought of resistance entered their herds. Death, too swift and sure, stared them in the face. “A thousand curses upon you, Axfell, for you: have triumphed” savagely grated the Jeader of the band, tearing aside his mask and disclosing the rage- distorted features of Rufus Darnley, the owner cf the Kingpin. * But in the hour of your triumph, let me tell yow that the struggle for the Great Mogul Mine has cost ou even more dearly than you have dreamed, for by that fight you sacrificed the life of your son!”’ Major Axfell shuddered. The smile upon the face of Cactus Burr, Esq., the: man from Hard Luck, deepened. Poising his hands, he took off the wig of gray locks, and stood revealed a youth of twenty. og in and done for Rufus!’ he cooed& softly. Major Axfell turned like one electrified. Rollo!” “ Father }’’ The task of disarming and securing the prisoners’ had just been completed when the muffi:d tread of eight slowiy-moyving men, divided into two equah partics, each of which bore a human form, rung through the hallway. Straight to the open door of Major Axfell’s apart- ment strode the new-comers, ond through, to de- posit on the floor their groaning burdens, No second glance was needed to establish the identity of the stricken men. They were Perdido Fernandez and Elegant Fitz: Jim. The hue of death was upen the face of each. At sight of the two men, agroan of anguish welled: up from the lips of Major Axfell. Sinking upon his knees between them, he exclaimed: “Leonidas! Jim!” That was all, but there was a world of pity in the broken voice, Turning his head until] his blue eyes rested full upon the face of the owner of the Great Mogul, the faro dealer, with a faint smile, said: * Let it be Jim for the last time, major, * Know me now, as you should have known me from the initial move of t'is mad game—as the brother of your dead wife—Harold Chetwynd!” * Harold Chetwynd!” ejaculated Axfell. “The cursed hound!" groated Perdido, writhing desperately to raise himself. Rollo Axfell moved forward, saying: “Hold! There should be no enmity between you ani Harold Chetwynd, Leonidas Axfell. A few words, and you will acknowledge that I am right. “You loved the same woman—an adventuress— | knowing her as Lisette Cremola. the other as Car- lotta Dane, When her bold game for gold was ended, by an artful intrigue she “hiaeian about a bitter po na between yo:: two, who had been bcsom riends, then fled to her outlaw husband, Rufus a OO ible!” idas Axfell * Impossible!” gasped Leonidas Axfell. “Tt is true as fo fi !” avowed Elegant Fitz Jim in faint tones. * en too late, I discovered her true character—discovered that she had entrapped you into the commission of a felony. Resolved to hunt her down to answer for her blighting work, I followed her West, but lost the trail, and finally establ'shed myself on a ranch down in New Mexico. The look of incredulity fled from Perdido’s face. The hands of the two men met in a feeble clasp. . Then Ge rning to Major Axfell, Harold Chetwynd a tow words more andIam d It only rc- “A few one, mains for me to explain why I have been here in dis-
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Se 14 “Five months ago, a trifle more or less, while, with a friend and my two Hindoo servants, on a hunting expedition in the wilds beyond Golconda, I one day came upon an apparently lifeless form upon the verge of a swift stream. “The face lat once recognized as that of Rollo Axfell. Branded upon his forehead was a crimson serpent—the mark of the Serpents of Cimarron, of whom I had heard much. “ Wondering how he came there—I knew naught of your prese..ce in Nabob’s Bar—I resuscitated him, to find that his vast was well-nigh a blank, that his mental state was one bordering on insanity. “Conveying him to my raneo, 1 nursed him back to life, and gleaned from his broken murmurings that while in Golconda he had overheard two men plotting against you, and that, whi'e attempting to get a glimpse of their faces, he had been set upon and knocked senseless ere he couid recognize his assailants, * But through his dazed brain seemed to run the idea that Leonidas and Rufus Darnley were the men, * Leaving Rollo at the ranch, with Hank Hamilton I hastened here, to stumble, bilndly, into a realiza- tion of the true state of affairs existing between you and Rufus Darnley. “Concealing my identity, I ingratiated myself ‘partially into the confidence of the rascal, and by means known to ourselves, kept you posted as to — of his artful tricks to regain the Great Mogul fine. “To-night, when Cactus Burr made his appear- ance at the Eldorado, l instantly recognized him as your son, and saw the light of reason in his clear lue eyes, “The very disguise he wore revealed his identity, for it was one of my stage costumes of former yeors.”’ * And in good stead your stage paraphernalia has stood me,"’ said Rollo Axfell, breaking the brief sileace following Chetwyad’s words, “The make-up of the leper and of the skeleton of fire passed me unharmed through many a trying ordeal, to some of which Uncle Leonidas can testify ‘Shortly after your departure from the ranch, I began to mend rapidly. Two months ago, with ily rusa and Hydrabad, I took the trail of the Ser- pents of Cimarron, resolved to avenge the injury iluflicted upon me, and to hunt down the plotters who were seeking my father’s ru‘n.” ‘But what of Carlotta Dane?’’ queried Perdido, in tremulous tones. “She is none other than the Captain Redblade, who so nearly hounded you todeath. I first learned as much from Bolly Darrit, to whom I owe not a little of my success. Through him,I was enabled to enter the outlaw camp on several occasions. The nizht you were caught in the canyon, Darrit and myself had succeeded in capturing the woman, and had her in concealment down near the edge of the lain. Disguised as the genuine Captain Redblade, stood between you and Bravo Brice at the time his lariat parted and you rode away. And speaking of that reminds me that my scalp yet bears the mark of one or morc »f your bullets, “In some way, the Dane woman succeeded in es- taping from the two Hindoos who had her in tharge, and fled across the plain, Thus it was that bey met her, and that she was enabled to make you lieve she had been a captive in the hands of the Serpents and was then escaping in the dress of the captain. She—” ° She, too, false! The last hope is gone!” and with the low, muttered words the soul of the reck- less sport winged its flight. CHAPTER XV. CONCLUSION, Jupecr Lyncu had been sated. Over the hills and into the camp straggled a long line of men, all re- counting the events of rgd rer few hours, or specu- lating as to the future of Nabob’s Bar, now that it was rid of its bad element, In the van were Saul Temple and Bolly Darrit and his partner. Darrit was saying: ‘Look to it that that harum-scarum young devil, Rollo Axfell, doesn’t strangle and brand half the camp before he is placed in the hands of a skilled surgeon, Saul. That wound in his head may result in anything, or nothing.” The marshal shrugged his shoulders. “ There’s a method in his madness,” he observed, dryly. .‘*So long as he employs the cord of the East Indian thug nst such men as Idaho, the world will be none the worse off, * But, seriously, I think the quiet life of the camp will bring him around all right. “ Hello! hello! what have we here?” “Speak of the Old Boy!” ques Darrit, cs Rollo Axfell stepped into view from behind a jutting rock, “* What brings you here, me laddy-buck?”’ “This,” and as the youth spoke he half-pushed, half-dragged from the shadow of the rock the form of Diamond Dick, the hunchback. The three men stared at the lad, nonplused. “You fail to py og the gentleman? Well, were the t removed from his face, the wig from his head, and the artfully contrived hump from between his shoulders, he would stand before you as Captain Redblade, of the Serpents of Cimarron, or as Carlot- ta Dane, or rueheart—just as you might choose to call him, or her.’’ “ No t he ‘é 1 Rivccod unis do hunchback, « at all,’’ coldly avow € pseudo hunc * The boy speaks the truth, 1 am one and all of the | = he has named, and as wicked as sin to oot. * But, little good will the knowledge do you, for even now I am beyond the reach of your venge- ance!”’ The misguided creature tottered as she spoke, a crimson froth exudin c mouth, her face gleaming white and cold in the moonkght, AAS aa by the Rockies!” exclaimed Saul Tem- Even so; the woman soon dropped to the ground, and writhing a few momentsin agony soon reposed in the stillness of death. A few words, then the end. From that day forth, Nabob’s Bar was noted as one of the most orderly Bi ery gold-camps in all southern Colorado, ith the mad struggle at Idaho's Eldorado, the spirit of strife and contention ceased to exist. In a secluded spot in the south of the campasmall stone slab maris the resting-place of Leonidas Ax- fell, better known in these pages as Perdido Fernan- dez, the escaped felon, But, Harold Chetwynd recovered from his wounds, from the corners of her | Hard Luck. severe as they seemed, and with his East Indian ser- | vants returned to his ranch, Of late, he has return: ed to his first love, the stage, and is to-day a foot- light favorite. is friend, Hank Hamilton, remained in the gold- camp—enslaved by the blue eyes of the major’s daughter. The Great Mogul and the Kin member of the firm being our youn wholly recovered from the effects of his terrible ex- perience with the Serpents of Cimarron. With the breaking-up of the outlaw clan, the crimson sign of the hand and the serpent ceased to be seen. To the honest miners of the camp, it was for months the source of a deal of solid satisfaction to recall the fact that the “Silent Tongues” formed the majority of the crime-stained party who “ went over the range via Judge Lynch’s halter,” that moonlit night noted as the most eventful in the his- tory of Nabob Bar, THE END, BEADLE AND ADAMS’ STANDARD DIME PUBLICATIONS Speakers. Each volume contains 100 large pages, printed from clear, open type, comprising the best collec. tion of Dialogues, Dramas and Recitations. The Dime Speakers embrace twenty-four volumes viz.: 1, American Speaker, 15, Komikal Speaker. 2. National Speaker. 16. Youth’s § cer. 3. Patriotic Speaker. 7. Eloquent Speaker. 4, Comic Speaker. 18, Hai Columbia Speak- 5. Elocutionist. er. 6. Humorous Speaker. 19, Serio-Comie Speaker, 7. Standard Speaker. 20. Select Speaker, 8. Stump Speaker. 21, Funny Sveaker. 9, Juvenile Speaker. 22, Jolly Speaker. 10, Spread- le Speaker | 23. Dialect Speaker, 11, Dime Debeter ‘“s 24. Recitations and Read - 12, Exhibition Speaker. | 13. School Speaker. 14, Ludicrous Speaker. These books are replete with choice pieces for the School-room, the Exhibition, for Homes, etc. 75 to 100 Declamations and Recitations in each book. ings. 25. Burlesque Speaker. Dialogues. The Dime Dialogues, each volume 100 pages, em brace thirty-two books, viz.: Dialogues No, One, Dialogues No. Eighteen. Dialogues No. Two. Dialogues No. Nineteen. Dialogues No, Three. |Dialogues No. Twenty. Dialogues No, Four, Dialogues No, Twenty-one. Dialogues No, Five, Dialogues No. Twenty-two, Dialogues No, Six. Dialogues No, Twenty-three. Dialogues No, Seven, Dialogues No, Twenty-four. Dialogues No. Eight, Dialogues No, Twenty-five. Dialogues No. Nine, Dialogues No. Twenty-six, Dialogues No. Ten, Dialogues No, Twenty-seven, Dialogues No. Eleven. |Dialogues No, Twenty-eight. Dialogues No. Twelve. |Dialogues No. Twenty-nine. Dialogues No. Thirteen, |Dialogues No. Thirty. Dialogues No. Fourteen. |Dialogues No. Thirty-one. Dialogues No. Fifteen, |Dialogues No. Thirty-two. Dialogues No. Sixteen. |Dialogues No. Thirty-three. Dialogues No.Seventeen 15 to 25 Dialogues and Dramas in each book. 2 The above books are sold by newsdealers everywhere, or will be sent, post-paid, to any ad- dress, on receipt of price, ten cents each. BmapLy 4ND Apams, Publishers, 98 William st., N. Y. in became the | property of Axfell, Temple & Axfell, the last-named | Send, Sar | 121. Cinnamon cee Girl Sport; or, The ER LPOLT eae Edward L. Wheeler’s Deadwood Dick Novels Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. 1. Deadwood Dick; or, The Black Rider of the Black Hills. 20. The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance. 28, Buffalo Ben; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise, 35, Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval; or, The Brotherhood of Death, ] 42, The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza. ; 49, Omaha Oll:; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger. 57. Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 73. Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane, the Heroine of Whoo one 77. Corduroy Charlie; or, The Last Act of Dead- wood Dick. 100. Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for rehab 104, Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, The Sign of the Double Cross. Deadwood Dick as Detective. Golden Idol of Mount Rosa. ; 129. Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s Gulch, j 138. Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base 149. A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike. 156. Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party. 195. Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the Road. 201. The Black Hills Jezebel; or, Deadwood Dick’s Ward. 205. Deadwood Dick’s Doom; Jane’s Last Adventure. 217. Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand; or, Gypsy Jack from Jimtown. or, Calamity 221. Sugar Coated Sam; or, The Black Gownsof " Grim Gulch. 232. Gold-Dust Dick. 263. Deadwood Dick’s Divide; or, The Spirit of Swaimp Lake. 268. Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail; or, From Ocean to Ocean, 309. Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. $21. Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of _ Phantom Fiats, 847, Deadwood Dick’s Ducats; or, Rainy Days in the Diggings, 351. Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta. 362, Deadwood Dick’s Claim; or, The Fairy Face of Faro Flats, 405, Deadwood Dick in Dead City. 410, Deadwood Dick’s Diamonds; or, The Mys- tery of Joan Porter. i 421, Deadwood Dick in New York; or, A Cute se, 430. Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand. 448, Deadwood Dick, Jr.; or, The Sign of the Crimson Crescent. 448, Nickel-Plate Ned; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Defiance. 453. Sunflower Sam, of Shasta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Full Hand. 459, Flush Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Round-up. 465. Philo Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Racket at Claim No. 10. 471, Bozeman Bill of Big Brace; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Corral. 476. Humboldt Harry, the Hurricane; or, Dead- wood Dick Jr’s Dog Detective. 481. Moll Mystery; or, Deadwood Dick Jr in Deadwood. 486. Prince Pistol; or, Deadwood Dick Jets 4\ Compact. e above are for sale by all newelesiaaly five cents a copy, or sent by mail on receipt 81x cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Pusrisnene, 98 William Street, New York,
Page 15
Sel BY PHILIP & WARNE, 44 Patent-Lenther Joe; «, Old Rattlesnake 275 Captam Arizona, or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game, mt = pa ~ lam £ eo > - = ad c - 4 = e i?) c € g 2. 480 Three Jolly Pards, ut ive Gladden’s Peputy. 2% The Jolly Purds to the Rescues, 7 , > rate BY OAPTAIN FRED. WOITTAKER. Sea-Oat; or, The Witch of Darien. Dumb Page or, The Doge’s Daughter. Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 0 : eee fans 3 or, The Ba pa ne om wor unters ¢ or, e Land of the Elephant Riders, 59 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabes Coffin’s Cralee to the ’ nm Pular Sea, ; © Boy Bedoutnsy or, The Brothers of the Piamed Lancs, elfgang, the Robber of the Rhine, 249 a Romer, the Animal King; or, The Round the Workd ancderer. 265 The Tiger Tamer or, The Le of the J §3} Black Nick, the Demon Rider, “ie hinged % California Joe’s War Trall, -_ cies i BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam, &, Mall.) 284 Old Rocky’e “ Boyees 4” or, Benito, the Young Horse- reaker, 246 Giant Georges or, The Ang’! of the Range, 275 Arizona Jack ¢ or, Giant George’s Pard. 897 The Tarantula of Taos or, Giant George’s Revenge. 807 The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Bunt, | etal ag Ker-whooy3 or, The Tarantula of Taos. 3 B2z Creeping Cat, ‘ 882 Frio ate SA tte eine oe Na eer 392 Romeo and the Reds¢ or, The Beleaguered Raneh. ae ie 404 Little Lariat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage, se Fie 414 ane Dalsy from Denver. Pa 427 The Three Tratlerss or, Old Rocky on the Rampage patho ici arene abe hte mr. b a Ca a BY EDWARD WILLETT. A67 Asa Scott, the Steamboat Boy, 199 Featherweight, the Boy Champion of the M 228 Ozark Alf; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws. 282 The Typo Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy 295 Fearless Phils or, The King of Quarteville. $11 The Reving Sport; or, The Pride of Chnckalnck 822 nae, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon’s Vendetta. 840 Clip, the Contortionists or, The Montana Vigilantes. BY J, ©. COWDRICK. 860 Sitver-Mask, the Man of Mystery, 869 Shastay the Gold King 3 or, For Seven Years Dead. 420 The Detective’s Apprentices or, A Boy Without a ame. ss AVA Cibuta Johny or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bas. : $9 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout, 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 490 Broadway Billy. the Bootblack Bravo, 506 Redlight Ralph, the Prince of the Road, 514 Broadway Silly’s Boodle. 524 The Engineer Detectives 586 Broadway Billy’s ‘ Diflikilty.” BY JO PIERCE, 897 Bob o’ the Bowery ¢ of, The Prince of 415 The Vagabond Detectives or, Bowery Bowe 452 Hotepur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective, 460 The Lawyer's Shadow} or, Luke’s Legacy, 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman De 504 Five Points Phil. 509 Jack Ja; mers, the Butcher Boy Detective, 516 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerts, 526 North River Nat, the Pier Detective. 388 Wrestling Rex, the Pride of the Sixth Ward. 641 Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detestive. Street. BY CAPT, MARK WILTON, - 256 Young Kentueks or, The Red Lasso. 270 Blizzard Beng or, Th Keno C ‘amp 286 Rue the Boy ‘Tendorfact BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REDD. Blue Dick or, The Yellow Chiefs Ven he Land Pirates; or, The League of Devil's laland. lelpless Hand}; or, Backwoods Retribution The Ocik cocker Guides cn Tienes Moantata. ‘BY MAsor MENRY B. STODDARD, Fx. , B06 Neck. Tie Ned; or, The Dog-Ont Pards, Me ppier Bapnecl or, The Swordamén of Zacatecas, AG-Glove 1? ft, the Dandy of the Rockies, ; d-Glove Kit and Pard; or, The Gold Ring, Mad Man-Hunter; or, The Mystery of e Powells Parad or, The One-Armed Giant, BY BRACERRIDGE HEMYN@, i aoa * - M ay) he ee Oe ee $F ae eer eer * é . FP ——Ss#BEADLE’S* HALF-DIMEs | IBRARY. Published: Roery Tuesday, Hach Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. ” BY ALBERT W. AIKEN. Fh BY W. J. HAMILTON, 1 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes of & Bowery Girl. 68 The Red Brotherhood } or, The Twelve Avengem, 6 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer, 79 Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 268 Joe Buck of Angels and His Boy Pard. = New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nick; or, ‘The Fortunes of s Foundling. 464 Nimble Rick, the Circus Prince. 493 Taos Ted, tae Arizona Sport, 510 Cool Colorado, the Hall. Breed Detecttve. 615 Cool Colorado in New York. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE. 86 Dandy Roeks the Man from Texas. BY The Drend Hidery 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 Handy or, Dandy Rock to the Resens. 164 Dandy Rock’s Pledgey or, Hunted to Death. 178 Dandy Rock’s Rival; or, The |'aunted Maid of Tass. BY CAPT, J. F, ©. ADAMS, 84 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffies’s Boy Spy, 46 Glasa-Eye, the Great Shot of the West, 54 Ned Haze}, the Boy Trapper. 56 Nick Whifiles’a Pet; or, [rn The Valley of Death. 60 The White Indian; or, The Scout of the Yellowstone. 70 Old Zip’s Cabing or, The Greenhorn in the Woods 81 Siehtiioe Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Buekram ; or, Bess, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and Wia Pets; or, The Wild Huntress. 251 Licht-house Lice; or, Osceola, the Firebrand. 7 The Lost Hunters; or, The Underground Camp, 288 The Scalp King 3 or, The Human Thunderpvolt, BY ROGER STARBUCK. 25 The Roy Captains or, The Pirate’s Daughter. 114 The Black Schooner? or, Jib Jonk, the Old Tar. 259 The Golden Harpoon? or, Lost Among the Floss. 848 Fire-Heela; or, Old Skinfll:t, the Death-Shadow. 854 Big Horn Ike, the Htll Trampy or, The Odd Pards. 861 The Phantom Licht-house. 870 Breaker Ben, the Reef-Runner, RY WILLIAM R. EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Franky or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, 108 The Lion of the Seay or, The Vailed Lady. 186 Cool Desmond ; or, The Gambler’s Big Game. BY HARRY 8ST, GEORGE. 80 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, tho Ranger. 44 Rattling Rube; or, The Nighthawks of Kantecky, ’ 59 Old Hickory; or, Pandy ©llis’s Scalp. 108 Daring Davy; or, The Trai of the | ae Wolt, 166 Hickory Warryy or, The Tra er-Brigade’e Spy 172 Thunderbolt Tomy, or, the Wolf-Herder. BY JAMES L. BOWEN 107 One-Eyed Sim: or, The Abandoned Forest Home. 110 The Black Steed of the Prairies, A Story of Texas. BY C. DUNNING CLARK, 185 Captain Paul; or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains, 280 The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Bhereed. BY GEORGE 0. JENKS. 485 Git Thar Owney, the Unknown, 492 Git Thar 0 ‘% Pled 618 The reality | oo Mh er BY OAPT. ALFRED B, TAYLOR, U. & A. 191 Buffale Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker; oz, The Doomed 194 Buffalo Bill’s Bets or, The Gambler Guide, BY CHARLES E. LASALLE. Burt Bunker, the Trapper. The White Buffalo. A Tale of the Northwest. BY JOWUN J. MARSHALL, Po Foving Ben, A Story of a Young American, Outlaw Brothers; or, The Captive of the Harpes. BY WM. G. PATTEN. 489 The Di d Sports or, The Double Face of Rock. 519 Ca tain et ity or, five in One, me 631 Dalsy Dare, the Sport from Denver. BY MAJOR E, L. 8ST. VRAIS. 298 Rahcho Pedro, the nat B01 Leadville Nick, the Boy Sent 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince, 888 Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Horse 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “ Sand.” B59 Duransro Dave, thy Youn (‘hee n \ restler, 871 Kingbolt Chris, the Young Hard-Shell 880 Avalanche Alf, th. Jaguar Joe, tte Meee Guide. BY EPWARD s, ELLIS. § Reth Boneay or, The Gn e ones; or, The Captives of the Fro 10 Nat Todd} or, The Fate of ntier, gt The Frontier knoe the Stonx Captive. e hoy nere; or, En 182 The Hunted Hunters or, The bad telend. The Half-Blood 3 or, The Panther ‘of the orem aa 271 The Huge Hunter or, The Steam Prat Me a BY MAJOR LEW?e w. CARSON. Tr 7 5 jo . BS Race Teresina age 86 Single Hand} or, A Life for a Life. %2 Mad Tom Western, the Texan Ranger. 887 Bem Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Scoop BY JACK FARRAGODT. S15 Ned, the Cabin Boy. 86@ The Sea Sorceress, o1, The Boy Shiggm BY FRANK DUMONT, 282@ The Branded Handy ot, The Man of Mymttn,. 127 WHld-Fire, the Boss of the Rosa 140 Blue Blazes; or, The Break o Day Boys of Rosky May 171 Ebony Dany or, The Rivat Leagues. 185 Evil Eves or, The Vultares of the Rio Granda, BY LIEUT. H. D.. PERRY, OU. 8S, B. 176 The Boy Runaway} or, The Buccaneer of the Bag, 180 The Sea Trailer; or, A Vow Well Kept, 292 Captain Kits or, The Mystery of Montank Potat, BY HARRY IMAZARD., 888 Arkansaw Jack ; or, The Scourge of the Mines. 829 Red-Skin Tomy or, The Demon’s Trail. 842 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw, BY COL. A. F, HOLT, 899 Black Buckskin; or, The Masked Men of Death Canyon. 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King. 435 Little Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods BY J. W. OSBON,. 468 The Rival Giants of Nowhar’. 428 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Lack, S8T Olé Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow, BY FREDERICK DEWEY. $16 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shews 475 Tangemund, the Desert Detective. ° $42 The Canyon Parda. MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, © Pea eRe Maetars By Cot Mame Ste ® Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 49 Gulliver’s Travels. By Dean Swift, 24 Aladdin: or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe. (21 Tlustrationa.) 18 Sindbad the Sailor, His Seven Voyages. 22 The Bea Serpents or, The Boy Robinson Crasce, By Juan 88 The Ocean Bloodhound or, The Red Pirates of me Carribees, By S. W. Pierce. 86 The Boy Clowns or, The Queen of the Arena, By 2/1 nn. 88 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 51 The Bey Rifles; or, The Ondergrennd Camp. By Arehis ~ ir s 95 The Rival Roversy or, ‘che Freebooters of the Missiestpp:. By Lieut.-Col. Hazeltine, 98 Robin Hood, the Outlawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Green wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve, 105 Old Rube. the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive, By Captain Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Hunters or, The Cave of Death. By Barton Saxe. 124 Tippy, the Texans or, The Young Champion. By Goorgs erson. 128 The Young Privateers or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish. 148 Sharp § The Ad ; ‘ Alasanday Patios’ . ventures of s Friendless Boy, By ¢. R27 Dusky D nh, T Bey ea a ee: em Mae ao me 261 Fergus Fearnaught, the New York Boy. By George lL. en. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; or, Davy Crockett’'e Crooked Trail. By Ensign C. D. Warren, 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Ci, By Captain Coinstock. 817 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Kéew tenant Alfred Thorne. 828 The Sky Ie‘tectives or, A Boy's Fight for Life and Honor, By Maior Mickey Free. Red Ralph, the River Rey The Beotber’s = venge. By Ned Bun¢line, bah z 865 Baltimore Ben, the Bootbiack Detective, 9°: P. Morty. 874 Gold-Dust Tom; or, Ben’s Double Mate. By George Hi. 876 California Joe’s First Trail. By Colome: Thotess Hoyer Monstery. 418 Billy Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By 8, 8, Wintymy, 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowie Kid. By Arthur ©, Getuowm, 475 The Black Ship, By John 8. Warmer, 484 Comanche Dick and His Three Invinelblea, 4y Henry J. Thomas. 528 Wizard-Arm, the Dandy Sport. By Arthar ¥. Hout, S82 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest, A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Halt-Dime Library 1 tor ‘ale Dy afl newadeniens, sents per copy, or sent by mati on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMR, Publishers : ¥8 William Street, Hew Youd : OM gee PMPRS NERS eas iv . we Ate J)
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PC Se STO ee DO BEADLE’S« H ALF- [JJIME* | JBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. BY EDWARD L, WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novela. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Double Daggers}; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance, 28 Buffalo Ben; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise, 8S Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. 42 Phantom Miner}; or, Deadwood Dick's Bonanza, 49 Omaha Ol; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger. &:. Deadwood Dicks Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 73 VDendwood Dick on Deck; or. Calamity Jane, the Heroine, | Z Corduroy Charlie; or, Veadwood Dick’s Last Act. ! 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. | 104 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Double Cross Sign, ' 109 Deadwood Dick aa Detective. 129 Deadwood Dick's Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s | Gulch. 188 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base. 149 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike. 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party. | 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivuls of the Road. | 201 The Black Hills Jezebel; or, Deadwood Dick’s Ward. 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Ad- venture, 217 Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand. 221 Sugar-Coated Sam ¢ or, ‘Me Black Gown. | 282 Gold-Dust Dick. A Romance of Rough: and Toughs, 268 Deadwood Dick’s Divides or, The Spir.t of Swamp Lake. 265 Deadwood Dick’s Death Ares. 809 Deadwood Dick’s Big Veal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. 821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. 847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducats; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- gings. 851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta. 862 Deadwood Dick’sa Claim; or, The Fairy Face of Faro F late. 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City. 410 Beadweed Dick’s Diamonds; or, The Mystery of Joan wrter, 421 Deadwood Dick in New Vork; or, A “Cute Case,” 480 Deadwood Dick’s Duat; «r, ‘fie Chained Hand, 445 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 448 Nickel-Plate Ned; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Defiance. 458 Sunflower Sam, of Shasta; or, Deniwood Dick Jr’s Ful Hand, 459 Flush Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Je’s Big Ronnd- Up. 465 Philo Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Racket at Claim WO. 471 Bozeman Bill; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Corral. 476 Humboldt Marry, the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Die’ Jr's Dog Detective. 481 Moll Mystery; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in, Deadwood, 491 Prince Pistol, the King of the West; or, Deadwo i Dick Jr’s Compact. 496 Monte Cristo, Jr.; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Inheritance, 500 Deadwood Dick's Digeinus 3 or, Dr. Death-Grip’s Swoop. 5608 Deadwood Dick’s Deliverance, 515 Deadwood Dick’s Protegee. 522 Deadwood Dick’s Three. 5629 Deadwood Dick’s Danger Ducks, 544 Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt, 589 Deadwood Dick Jr., in Texas, 644 Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidoeg. Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon. 82 Bob Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot, 89 Death-Fuce, Detective; or, Life in New York. 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand. 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team. 69 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter; or, The Boy Detective. 80 Rosebud Hob ugget Ned, the Knight, 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner}; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand, 88 .Phetograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reap enrance, 92 Canada Chet ; or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. 96 Watch-Eye; or, Arabs ind Angels of a Great City, 118 Jack Moyle the Young Sneculator, 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 1 Ciunamon Chip, the Girl Sport. 125 Bonanza Bill, Miner. ¥88 Kose ob the King of Bootblacks, 141 Solld Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 145 Cantata Ferret, the New York Detective; or, Boss Bob’s ons Job. 161 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 177 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scampa, 181 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Brayo, 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The bres be Hunter, 226 Snoozer, the Buy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 286 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator. 244 Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. 248 Sierra Sam’s Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sierra Sam’s Pard ; or, The Angel ot Big Vista, 258 Sierra Saim’s Sevens or, The Stolen Bride. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs, 277 Denver Doll . the Detective Queen, 281 Denver Doll's Victory. 255 Denver Doll’« Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza. 291 Turk, the Boy Ferret. 296 Denver Doll’« Drift; or, The Road Queen. 299 A No. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. $08 ’Liza Jane, th Girl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. $25 Kelley, Hickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia. B80 Little Qu! ck-Shot 3 or, The Dead Face of Daggeraville. 884 Kanguroo Kit; or, Tho Mysterious Miner, 889 Kangaroo Kit’s Racket. $45 Manhattan Mike, tho Bowery Blood, 858 Firat-Claas Fred, she Gent from Gopher, 868 Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherer or, The Lottery of Life 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize. 878 Nabob Ned; or, The Secret of Slab City. B82 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, 85 Yreka Jim's Joker$ or, The Rivals of Red Nose, 89 Bleycle Ben; or. The Lion of Lightning Lode, 94 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective, 416 High Mat Harry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam Slabaides, the Beggar-Boy Detective, 484 Jim Benak and Pal, Private Detectives. 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher. 456 Seulskin Sam, the Sparkier, BY BUFFALO BILL (ion, Wm. F. Cody), 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy or, The Pilot of the Prairie, 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout, 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Faney Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust, BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 7 The Flying Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcast, 17 Ralph Keo » the Boy Buccancer; or, The Fugitive Yacht. 24 Diamond Dirk i The Mystery of the Yellowstone. 62 The Shadow Ship}; or, The Rival Lieutenants. 75 The Boy dnellst; or, The Cruise of the Sea- Wolf, 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Smuggier. * 111i The Seu-Devil 3 or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116 The Hussar Captain3 or, lhe Hermit of Hell Gate. 197 Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter. 204 Gold Plume; or, The Kid-Glove Sport, \°216 Bison BILL, the Prince of the Reins, 222 Grit, the Bravo Sport; or, The Woman Trailer, 229 Crimson Kate3 or, The Cowboy's Triumph. 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain, 245 Merle, the Middy 1m The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midshipman Mutineer; or, Brandt, the Buccaneer, 264 fee Floating Feather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure siand, 269 The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned, 276 Merlo Monte’s Cruise; or, The Chase of “The Gold Ship.” 280 Merle Monte’s Fate}; or, Pearl, the Pirate’s Bride. 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 287 Billy Blue-Eyesx, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Shot Dandy ; or, Benito, the Boy Bugler. 808 Keno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double. 814 The Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Long Vrail. 877 Bonodel, the Boy Rover; or, The Flagless Schooner, B88 The Indian Pilots or, The Search for Pirate Island. 887 Warpath WAAL, the Boy Phantom, 898 Seawalt, the Koy Lieutenant, 402 Isodor, the Young Conspirator 3 or, The Fatal League, 407 The aii Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild Yachtamans; or, The War-Clouu’s Cruise, 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy’s Luck; or, The Corsair. 487 The Sea Raider. 441 The Ocean Firefly ; or, A Middy’s Vergeance. 446 Haphuazard ererry 3 or, The Scapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard Wills or, The Boy Ferret of New York. 454 Wizard WiIIl’« Street Scouta, 462 The Born Guide; or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Conster. 474 Flora; or, Wizard Will's Vagabond Pard. 488 Ferrets Afloat; or, Wizard Will's Last Case. 487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Kanger, 495 Arizona doe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack, 497 Buck Taylor, King of thy Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy ; or, The Shark and the Sea Cat. 507 The Hunted Midshipman, 5611 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 Marauder of the Ria 545 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte. BY CIARLES MORRIS, 18 Will Somers, the Boy Detective. 22 Vhil Mardy, the Boss Boy. 26 Picayune ete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective, 80 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. 42 Mandsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 47 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 52 Black Less, Will Wildtire’s Racer. 57 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. 62 Will Wildfire in the Wooda, 65 Billy Baggage. the Railroad Boy. 70 A Trump Card; or, Will Wildfire Wins and Loses. 74 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. 7% Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, 88 The Hidden Hand + or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. 87 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers. 89 Bob Roekett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed ; or, Bob Rockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Tom Tanner; or, The Black Sheep ot 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 Boy in Chicago, 262 The Young Sharps; or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-Hound; or, The Young Thoroughbred. 805 Dashaweys of Dakota; or, A Western Lad in the Quaker sity. 824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective ; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizeard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe} or, A Boy of the Times. 8zyv jerry. the Leveler; or, Thé Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Firefly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier. 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invineible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagabond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive, 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty, 488 Wild Dick Racket, 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman ; or, Too Sharp for the Sharper. BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR, 2 Yellowstone Jack; or, The Trapper, 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat. 65 Hurricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 119 Mustang Sam 3; or, The King of the Plains, 186 Night-Hawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch. 144 Dainty Lance the Bey Sport. 151 Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Resene. 160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path. 208 The Boy Pards; or, Dainty Lance Unmaske. 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. 855 The King of the Wooda: or Dame Boone’s Last Trail, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. BY OLL COOMES, 5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew, 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide, 81 Keen-Rnitie, the Prince of the Prairies, 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 58 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, 34 Young Ranger Spy, 74 Hawk-eye Marry the Young Trapper Ringer. 88 Rollo, the Boy Ranger. 184 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. 148 Scar-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter. 146 Silver Star, the Roy Knight, 158 Eagle k it, the Boy Demon. 168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger, 178 Old Solitary, the Hlernit Trapper. 182 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. 202 Preapect Pete ; or, The Sina Outlaw Hunters. 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps. 218 Viger Tom, the Texas Terror, 224 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 22K Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detectives or dee Little Ranger. 248 The Dianguised Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Ranges 260 Dare-Deylil Dan, the Young Prairie Rauger. 272 Minkakin Mike, tle Boy Sharpshooter, 290 Little Foxfire, tle Boy Spy. 80@ ‘The Sky Demon ; or, Rafnbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero, 409 Hercules; or, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 417 Webfoot Moxe, the Tran) Detective. 422 Daby Sam, the Boy Ginnt of the Yellowstone, le Buckakin, the Young Prairie Centaur, 457 Wingedtoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul, 468 Tamarnae ‘Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic, 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. BY T, ©. HARBAUGH. Nick o’ the Night}; or, The Boy Spy of ’76. The Widden Lodge}; or The Littl. Hunter. Nightingale Nat3 or, Toe Forest Captains, Dand aek 3 or, The Outlaws of the gon T Kit Harefoot the Wood-Hawk. Midnight Jack ; or, The Boy Trapper. Old Froaty, the Guide; or, The White Queen. Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. Judge Lynch, Jr.t or, The Boy Vivijante, Gold Trigger, the Sport; or, The Girl Avenger. Tornado Tomy or, Injun Jack From Red Core. 8 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 8% Arkansaw ¢ or, The Quen of Fate’s Revenge, 1? Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 5 Captain Bullet; or, Little Topknot’s Crusade, 81 Plucky Phil; or, Rosa, the Re! Jezebel. 41 Bill Bravos or, The Roughs of the Rockies. 255 Captain Apoll-, the King-Pin of Bowle. 267 The Buckskin Detective. 279 Old Winch; or, The Buckskin Desperadoes. 294 Dynamite bans or, The Bowle Blade of Cochetopa. 802 The Mountain Detective: or, The Trigger Bar Bull» 816 Old Eclipse, Trump Card of Arizona, 826 The Ten Pards eer The Terror at Take-Notice. 886 Big Benson; or, The Queen of the Lasso, 845 Pitilesas Matt; ov, Red Thunderbolt’s Secret. BRE Cool Sam und Par’; o- The Terrible Six, 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 886 Captain Cutlass: or, the Brecaneer’s Girl Fi 896 Rough Rob; or, The | win Champions of Blue 411 The Sitken Lasso; or, The Rose of Ranch Ro 418 Felix Fox. the Boy Spotter. 425 Texas Trump, the Border Rattler, 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox. 445 The City Vampires; or, Red Rolfe’s Pigeon. 461 One Againat Fifty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bax, 470 The Roy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. 477 The Excelsior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter. 499 Ringle Sight, the One-Lyed Sport. 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. 512 Dodger Dick, the Whurf-Spy Detective. 521 Dodger Dick’s Best Dodge. bee nox and Fico pe Repay Shadows. 588 Dodger Dicks the Dock Ferret. 548 Dodger Dick's Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. cw 3.) SSECLAAR itt ttt SeEaoax sac wwe ~ lasea, 549 Deadwood 550 Lastte’s Legacy: or. Th ™. 551 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shador nll Jo Pierce. , the Athlete. By the bes ine Dick's Desperate Case. By T. C, Harbaugh. B54 Deadwood Dick, Jr-, in Gotham, By E, L. Wheeler. 555 The Creole Corsair. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 556 Lariat Lily ot. The Cast fora Life. By Philip S, Warne. 557 Broadway Billy’* Death Racket. By J. C. Cowdriek.. BBS The Sure-Shot Pards. By Arthur C. Grisson. 559 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective, By Jo Pierce. 560 Pawnee Bill, the Pirie Shadower, By Col. P. Ingraham, 561 Deadwood Dick in Boston, By Edward L. Wheeler. 562 Blundering Baall, the Hermit Boy Trapper. By Ol! Coomes,, 568 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidocq, By T, C. Har’ augh. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner, By John W. Osbon. 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 566 The Secret Service Boy Detective. By Charlex Motris* 567 Deafweod Dick, Jr., in Philadetphia. Bv Edward 1, eeler. 568 The Dandy of Dodge. By Lieut. A- K- Sims. 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective. by Jo erce, 570 Camille, the Card Queen, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, Ready June 26, 571 Air-Line Luke, the Young Engineer. By J. C. Cowdrick, y July 3. : 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chieago. By E. L. Wheeler. Ready July 10. A New Issue Beery Sueetay. The Half-Dim rary {@ for sale by all newsdealers, five- eente per ro) wank beat on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New Yorks.