Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 499) (1887 02 15)
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EZ AWK \ %y YF x eZ Yj, LLLP y | j ye . AW Nm a aa Th Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Mai! Rates. 2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS i Vol. XX. . mere) Bae a Year. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. ae eects alalalal/Z : February 15, 1887 5 Cents. MMT TT IN A LITTLE CABIN A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG GIRL LOOKED FONDLY YrT P TYINGLY IN O A PAIR OF SIGHTLESS EYES, WHILE NEAR AT HAND STOOD THE ONE-EYED SPORT TO WHOSK DEVOTION ALL OWED £0 MUCB, The Gil Protegee of Red Flash, A Story of the Old Fatality Mine, BY T. C. HARBAUGH, AUTHOR OF “ FELIX FOX,” ‘‘ TEXAS TRUMP;” ‘* BUCKSKIN DETECTIVE,” ‘‘ CIty SLEUTHS,” ETC., ETC. CHAPTER I. ONE OF SIX, Rep Fass Crry had not had a genuine sen- sation since its founding deep in the Colorado mountains. This was strange, for many of its citizens were not of the gentlest nature, and very few belonged to the fairer sex. About one hundred houses formed the stirring camp which communicated with the outside
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y 2 world through Dolores, a mining city larger than Red Flash, and but ten miles from an arm of the Union Pacific. A stage made weekly trips between Red Flash | and Dolores, starting from the former place and coming back to it, which was the home of the | owner of the line, Tha distance was twenty-five miles, and | twenty-five miles of as rough a country as any | one wished to see. | Sometimes the stage would go down to Dolores | with a full complement of passengers and return with zone at all, and sometimes this order of things would be reve Whenever Red Flash had a consignment of gold for the outer world, the stage would con- | tain six good-looking, dark-faced fellows in big | hats, armed to the teeth and on the clert. These men were known as the Gold Guard, and their aspect told that it would not be safe for road-agenis to attempt to stop the stage that carried them. Up to the opening of our story the stage had never been attacked, but the men of Red Flash did not abate their vigilance on this account; the Guard always accompanied the precious eargo to Dolores and left it not until they saw it in safe hands, lt was an early morning in the late summer when Red Flash City’s first real sensation came, and in the following startling manner. Daylight was just breaking over the camp when the piercing cry of a young girl thrilled the air, and the first man to rush from a cabin saw her throw berself upon the body of a man, who lay face downward on the ground in the dust of the main street. In a little while the girl, who was a beautiful creature of seventeen, was surrounded by a dozen startled men, and a pair of big kindly hands lifted her gently from the man in the r oad. “He is dead! don’t you see?” exclaimed the girl, pointing to the ** He has been killed by some assassin, Look! I have not removed the knife that did the work!” It was then discovered that the girl had made a terrible discovery, for the man on the ground carried a large dagger in his back. Another discovery was made when the dagger was examined. The handle was wrapped with rice paper which, when unrolled, was found to bear a mystifying sentence of three words: * One of six.” come. The m Adnan was the girl’s guardian, a arson. Ct Babette, though nobody believed name. e had been one of the ‘‘ city,” and was the nabob » point of wealth and position. fth owner of a mine which had ame of Old Fatality Mine, for all been killed in some ; the girl Finette were much at- wpe another. He did not pretend to and when anybody spoke of her he always said that she was the ; who was dead. h mysterious the mysterious killing threw igh state of excitement. bout the omg No strar and when men came together, a score 0 to clash. dagger was examined and re-examined. an almost straight blade of seven inches, and an iron bili with a polished hand-guurd. There was nothing about it to suggest a solu- tion of the puzzle, only all agreed that the weap- on to nobody in the camp. Babette was nob known to have any enemies; but then the fatal mine had lately passed into his bands, and certain citizens shook their heads when they said that nobody would be allowed to hold Old Patality in peace. Tt Was high noon on the same day when the ge Polled in from Dolores.in a cloud of dust almost hid driver, steeds and vehicle, The driver was a youth of eighteen; hand- some with his brilliant black eyes and well-cut features. He was not very large for his age, but he was by no means dwarfish. He was called Chickadee wherever he was known, and his control over the powerful horses, that made the stage spin over the mountain trail, was quite wonderful. All people trusted him, and more than once Dolores had tried to get him on the line that ran from there to the radlroad. The stage on this occasion had two passengers, Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sp ort. and when Chickadee drew up in front of the two-story, weather-boarded building that went by the name of hotel, he leaped from his seat and opened the door to assist his passengers out. The first person to emerge was a man about forty-five. He was somewhat of a dandy in | appearance, as he was scrupulously attired, and wore his mustache waxed like a Frenchman. His hands were incased in a pair of skin-fitting | brown gloves which he had worn all the way from Dolores, and the moment he stepped nimbly from the stage, several spectators marked him down for a sharp of the first water. The next passenger was the representative of a race of people who were not very welcome in Red Flash City. He was a Chinaman, apparently fifty years old, and was attired in half-civilized garments which gave him a rather odd appearance. The two passengers did not seem to be ac- quainted, and the dandyich man evidently held the Celestial in contempt. John did not notice the scowl which greeted his appearance, but quietly proceeded to fish out his luggage from under the seat—a small black box almost square, with brass orna- ments at the top corners, Of course no Chinaman would be permitted to become a guest at the Beelzebub Hotel; therefore he would have to seek accommoda- tions among the few Celestials who inhabited the lower part of the town, The American was escorted into the Beelzebub by its proprietor, while the Chinaman was left to take care of himself. “You've come back in time for the funeral,” announced a gaunt-looking man, tapping the boy driver on the arm. “ What funeral?” “Why, don’t you know#—of course you don’t, How should you?’ and the man smiled as he said: ‘* Babette is dead |” The boy started and gave the speaker a look of unbelief. *¢ Who killed him?” he asked. The thin man laughed as if he could not help it. ‘¢ How do you know he was killed ?” “‘The fatal mine!” exclaimed the boy. bette is the fifth owner, you know?” The man nodded. ‘Tell me all about it, Gaunt, while I put the horses away. Tell me everything.” * For the next ten minutes Chickadee was doing two things at the same time, —* the horses Fron listening to all Gaunt George knew about the ; He did fen interrupt the narrator once, but let him relate the story in his quaint way while he leaned against the stable door with folded arms. “Tt’s almost killed Finette, the poor thing,” said the talker. ‘‘She war wrapped up in Ba- bette and he in her. If we had some of them sharps who hunt out mysteries in the big cities, mebbe we'd get ter know more about our puzzle. It’s sure death for any one ter own Old Fatality. Nobody ’ll want ter claim it now.” Chickadee’s eyes gave a sudden flash at Gaunt George’s remark. ** What do they talk of doing with the mine?” “c Ba- he asked. “They talk o’ lettin’ it be,” answered the tough. ‘‘‘I’ve heered Rico Rob say be wouldn’t touch it for all creation, and that man war raised on sund, yer know, Chickadee?” “T know him,” replied the boy driver. ‘‘ But, the mine is not going to remain without an owner.” “Who'll take it?” “Twill” Gaunt George’s hand rose in protest, ‘““We won’t let you,” he cried. ‘*We don’t want you ter be ther sixth an’ last owner o’ Old Fatality.” ‘You can consider me such from this moment. T will take on of the mine before night but [ continue to drive between Red Flash and Dolores all the same. You say that Babette’s body is in his cabin?” ‘Yes, we took it thar, of course.” * And Finette, too?’ “ An’ Finette’s thar, in course.” A few moments later Chickadee entered a large weather-boarded cabin near the middle of the camp, and down into the face of a young girl whose eyes showed traces of long weeping. In one corner of the room lay the sheeted figure of Babette. Chickadee did not go to it, but drew the girl into a small adjoining apartment and said: This shall be my work!” ““ What do you mean?” exclaimed Finette. ‘“*T am going to solve the mystery of this mur- der! In the first place, 1 am going to proclaim myself owner of Old Fatality, and, next, I in- tend to find the person who dealt the blow last night!” The girl drew back with a tremor and looked him in the face. ‘¢- You know the document Babette found in the mine when he took possession of it?” she cried. “Yes, I do!” ‘¢ He is the fifth owner killed. The paper said that when the sixth owner had fallen, the mine would revert to its original owners.” ‘“They are the assassins!” exclaimed the boy driver. ‘“*I hear that none of the sports or miners want to claim the mine, therefore I shall, Before night I will proclaim myself pro- prietor from the porch of the Beelzebub Hotel!” And his eyes glowed as he made the announce- ment, CHAPTER It. THE MAN IN KIDS. In the meantime one of the passengers of Chickadee’s stage had been formally installed as a guest of the Beelzebub Hotel. He was the passenger in kids and registered himself as Captain Ringbolt. He had said, furthermore, that he had come almost direct from Denver where be was one of the officers of the Great Denver Gold Union, an organization which was to assist in bringing out the metallic resources of the mountains. Captain Ringbolt had ‘‘a slick tongue and good address, and Yuba Monte, the proprietor of the Beelzebub, did not doubt that he was en- tertaining a very great man. “Monte affected to have heard something about the Gold Union when, to be plain, he Lad never heard of its existence, and every now and then Ringbolt would smile at Yuba’s nods of ap- proval. The Beelzebub was not a very roomy hostelry, but the best apartment in it was at once set apart for the grandee’s use, and he was escorted to it by the proprietor himself. “Have you a man here named Rico Rob?” asked Ringbolt. “‘T should say we have!” exclaimed Yuba. ““Everybody’s heard o’ Rico Bob, Friend 0’ yours?” ‘“No, [have merely heard of him, and my business here will naturally bring us together. Can you send bim up?” “Certainly. Do you want him now?” “Tf you can find him.” Eager to obey, the landlord made quick time down the rough stairs, and in less than five min- utes’ time had found Rico Bob. Captain Ringbolt’s — baggage was a small leathern valise which he had taken to his room with him, and which had not been out of bis sight for a moment. ‘When the landlord had left he opened the valise and thrust his hand intoits depths as if to satisfy himself that a certain article wes safe, for a sat- isfactory smile overspread his face and he closed the receptacle withasnap. » “Til take mea little while to get down to business, but when I do, Red Flash will open her eyes!” he ejaculated, glancing out of the window from which he could see a smal! portion of the camp and the mountains beyond. ‘ It’s about time for my agent to get his work in again. He will report when he comes. Ah! the landlord has found Rob, already!” At that moment there were footsteps on the stairs. Ringbolt fixed two shining eyes on the door, which the of were approaching, and when the door opened and revealed aman whose burly figure almost filled it, he could not keep back an exclamation of pleasure, “The ‘‘ best man” of Red Flash stood before oe, ei his dark-brown pantaloons buried in the tops of his boots, and in a new, open jacket, whose front wore a lot of new braid with a plen- tiful sprinkling of silver threed, Rico Rob was as handsome as he was big. His rounded face had a large black mustache, the ends of which, unlike Ringbolt’s, had never known wax; his eyes were a derk bezel and full - —— mea while his hands had fingers that 00) sitively dangerous. Ringbolt leaned back in his chair with his va- lise very close to it, and scrutinized his vis- itor’s face. Rico Rob closing the door took a step toward the guest and held ovt his hand. . George! you're still on duty, I see!” ejac- ulated Ringbolt. “Did you see me come in * Yes. “* And you knew me?” “Not at first.. I did not look for you in a
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——$——— bandbox lay-out!” And Rico Rob glanced at the captain’s make-up. A smile flitted across Ringbolt’s face. “What kind of a game did you give Monte and the boys!” ‘“‘The Great Gold Union scheme!” was the reply. RY told him we were going to develop the re sources of Colorado. Ha, hal so we are when we get to work! You saw my companion?” “The Celestial? Yes, Is he thesame old yel- low-skin?” “Ak Sin, with his eye-teeth cut!” laughed Captain Ringbolt, ““ I thought I knew him by the old leer he used tocarry. Well, how goes it?” The guest. leaned back again and thrust his thumbs into the armholes of his elegant vest, “Tm getting kind of tired of the game. It seems to drag,” he answered. ' ““Tt was lively enough here last night.” **In what way?” “* The fifth man died!” i. ous Ringbolt almost left his chair; his thumbs jumped from his vest, andhe darted toward ico Rob with a cry. ** Babette?” be cried, * Babette!” was the response. *“When was he found?” *‘ This morning, in front of his own house.” *¢ Killed in the usual way?” “Yes, only this time the dagger went in at the back. The bit of rice paper was wound around the handle with the usual inscription, * One of six,’ on it.” Captain Ringbolt was silent for a moment. ** What will be done now?” he asked, Rico Rob shook his head, “Don’t you know who will step into Babette’s shoes?” queried the hotel’s guest. ‘* No, nor does anybody else.” “ Ain’t there one man in Red Flash City brave enough te try it?” “That remaitis to be seen, though I think they are willing to let Babette be the last tian. Some of the boys have been bantering mé to claim the mine, but I’ve told ’em that my hands were too full of other work; besides,” here Rico Rob paused and leaned toward the intensely interest- ed man in the chair, ‘‘ besides, captain, it would- n’t do for me to assume the pressure.” ““Of course it wouldn't,” assented Ringbolt. ** We don’t want any nonsense of this kind out of you, Rob. Some fool. will be dazzled .by the prospects of Old Fatality Mine, and will be will- ing to risk it, What does Red Flash think about Babette’s taking off?” “Tt is the camp’s first real puzzle. ‘You know the other four men were made away with before Red Flash had a bona fide existence. Babette was the fifth owner of the Fatality, though the first oné in the ‘history of this.camp. Yes, sir, Red Flash has a deep mystery—entirely too deep for any head in it,’ ana Rico Rob laughed derisive- Wet “Then I have arrived at an important mo- ment,” observed. the other. ‘‘At a very important one,” was the an- swer, ** What will become of the girl—Finette, you eall her, eh?” ‘* Oh, the camp will probabl adopt her, un- ess some fellow phe a liking to her.” ‘*Ts she pretty “‘As a mountain flower! She has come out wonderfully within tho last year.” “Td like to see her,” exclaimed Ringbolt, twirling his mustache as if he stood before a . toilet mirror. “I have an eye for beauty, you- know,” and he smiled complavently. nhl ‘But you want to confine yourself strictly to business here.” “Certainly I shall, Remember, I am_the eneral locating agent of the Great Denver Gold nion. “By Jericho! that sounds well!” ejaculated Rico. “ There’s just enough of it to catch the seraphs of Red Flash,” and Ringbolt caught up the va- lise and opened it on his lap, 7 Tbrusting one hand into it, he drew out'a buckskin packet about ten inchesinlength, “i did not forget you, you see,” he observed, extending the object, which the big sport took and hid in an inner pocket of bis laced jacket, “Tam glad to get: te the end at last,” he re- marked, as ho shut the valise. “I shall call a meeting of the principal citizens of Red Flash at this hotel whenever you think it advisable, and then I'll proceed to divulge the schemes of tke Great Denver Gold Union ina wa. that'll make them a!i Vanderbilts in their minds’ eye.” A noise of voices in the street below arrested further Speech. Captain Ringbolt, glancing Single Sight, from the window, noticed signs of a commotion | ee I’m interested in Chickadee, though he doesn’t below. A number of men were moying toward | know it.” the hotel porch in evident excitement. ‘** In what way?” she asked, ‘Somebody is talking from, the-porch!” ex-| ‘‘ Never mind!” he proceeded. ‘I don’t want claimed the captain. him to embark on a scheme like this. He pro- In an instant the hand of the big sport threw poses to solve the mystery of Babette’s death, up the sash, and the two men listened, and this | eh?” is what they heard: ** He has said so.” > “Men of Red Flesh, I have a word with you! ‘He must leave that to older people. I say all, Babette has been killed because he was pro- | so, \—u must talk him out of it.’ prietor of Old Fatality Mine. The legend is ‘*T cannot; I feel sure he won’t listen to me,” that six owners shall die, and then the mine will ‘* Have you tried him?” pass into the hands of those to whom it right- ‘* No, but I know I would fail.” fully belongs. The proprietorship of the mine Single Sight looked disappointed. ended with Babette’s death. Is there a man “Where is he now?” among you who wants to run it? If there is, ** At home, I suppose.” jet hina speak out, here and now!” “‘ By Jupiter! I’m going to try it!” he decided, ‘* Who is that person?” asked Ringbolt. “Tt is inviting death. He'll have a leagne to ‘‘ Chickadee, the young whip who brought | fight, and one cf the most desperate and detér- you up from Dolores,” was the answer. mined leagues cver organized in the West.” ‘“* That boy?” sneered the captain. ‘* Why, he “Then, you know—” isn’t a handful! But, surely, he doesn’t intend “Not. very much, Finette, my child; but M encugh to be sure that Chickadee must keep out of this business!” was the interruption; and, ere she could say more, Single Sight had vanished. Night had fallen over Red Flash and Babette was sleeping under the newly disturbed sod of the mountain-side cemetery. The camp was comparatively still, but there were several groups of men on the porch of the Beelzebub, and Captain Ringbolt was talking with half a dozen in the bar-room, While he was not unfolding the gigantic schemes of the Great Denver Gold Union, he was throwing out some hints of its immensity, and had suggested that a meeting had best held when the camp had settled down over Ba- bette’s assassination. Rico was not to be seen, and Single Sight merely Glanced at the animated scene on the he One-Eyed Sport. Hig There he goes again. Listen!” interrupted ico, “ Then, as you all hold your peace, I now pro- claim myself owner and proprietor of Old Fatality Mine, to keep, work and defend it to the best of my ability!” A deafening shout succeeded these words, and the two at the window saw a dozen sombreros rise above the roof of the porch, ‘““The young secamp doesn’t mean that!” “Every word of it!” was the reply. “ He is grit to the backbone!” CHAPTER ITI, SINGLE SIGHT. Rep FuasH had a new mine proprietor, Chickadee, the bright-eyed young stage driver. The citizens of the mountain camp would | Beelzebub’s porch as he passed on his way to have advised him against taking possession of | Chickadee’s quarters. the fatal property ; but he would not have re- “I don’t like ‘im. Too much style for Red ceded if they had volunteered any advice of the in at a singular time, too, Flash, an’ he pic Kids, an’ wax on his mustache. I say ag’in, I don’t like ’im. Why didn’t he stay in his band box?” muttered Single Sight, ashe hurried along, and a few minutes later he reached a small house from whose single window gleamed the light of a lamp. ’ Without knocking, he walked boldly in, to discover that Chickadee had_a visitor, for a full-grown man turned upon him, and Si Sight stood face to face with Rico Rob, e giant of Red Flash colcred when he saw who had come in, and a quick Jook passed be- tween him and the boy, oe Sai to Single Sight, Flas J kind, The day was on the decline when a placard was placed over the entrance to the dangerous mine, and Chickadee had taken formal posses- sion. The mystery of Babette’s death still was the talk of the camp; but all agreed that he was a victim of vengeance. At nightfall the body was buried where a few mounds marked the last resting-place of some of the late residents of Flash. J The girl was thus left alone; but she was by no means friendless. More than a score of big brown-shirted fellows, with long hair and rough garments came down to the cabin to assure her of their protection. ; Finette thanked them all, and dismissed them with a heart full of gratitude. Chickadee spoke pleasantly for no man was better known in Ked Flash than the ve ge Sport. He never and Her quarrel, but for all that, he was cool and iarless, and the single orb could flash the fires.6f two when Among them was one who lingered—a man | occasion required, - ate s about . thirty-five, rather, handsome, though | “You've just cropees in, in time,” remarked he had but one eye, the right—and that was as | Rico; “you can add your © to. mine. 2) keen as an. eagle's. dee Pp He was called Single Sight, though his true name was Saul Singley. This, man was somewhat dandyish in his dress, inasmuch as he affected a good deal of silver braid, He never wore bis pants in his boots, but kept them about his heels, and his bette's > that lef t paudy jacket was set off by two rows of shiny | much o’ Chickadee hyer; an’ the uttons, each, of which bore his initials, “S. $,” | the stage” eer pag ty. a. had never been. very intimate | The fos broke into a merry Ja with Babette. There seemed to be a coldness| ‘TI can’t go back, gentlemen,™ Be between the two men; but now he lingered in | ‘* The die is cast! I am owner and prop a Finette’s presence with his one eye fixed upon | Old Fatality, and your advice and her, will be useless.” ea ’ “The boy has taken up the mine, I hear? | _ “Then, you must take the consequences!” cried observed the man whose voice was really melo-| Rob. “I have done all I can. I have ron this matter before you in every light. paced think the hand that defends the mine will spare you on account of your youth, you will tind your mistake to your everlasting sorrow.” “Thank you.” Rico was seen to bite his lip. “ You.can turn him,” he exclaimed, looking at Sree Sight. “He wants notoriety; he intends to be come famous at the e Gia “Not so!” and in a moment Chickadee was on his feet and facing the sport. ‘I want jus- ; tice, and Flash wants vengeance!” he cried. ‘* The blood of Babette and that of the few men — who preceded him calls for justice.” oes “Well, a boy can’t obtain it,” was the quick retort. ‘‘ What I have done is for your dn good. Red Flash doesn’t want to see you fol- low Babette, who paid for the ownership of the fatal mine with his life. Beware! You need- n’t waste your breath on him, Single Sight. He wants to cash his chine death’s counter. Let him do it!” and Rico , as if in disgust, left the room. ous. **’'Yes, so he announced.” ‘Does he want to be the sixth ? ‘** He is not anxious for that distinction—” “ Then, let him stick to his whip!” interrupted Single Sight. “‘ Assure as he lives, he is al- r marked!” ~ you cannot make him recede,” assured Finette, confidently. ‘**T heard him at the hotel: He shows more it than judgment. Thar ain’t a man ip h braye enough to take Babette’s place, What is the mine, anyhow? During the past year it didn’t yield much.” ‘Nota great deal.” ' : ** Tt is n> honor to own it,” Single Sight went on, ‘‘ Chickadee had better keep on the read.” “Be intends to.” ‘“‘ And give the killer a chance to present him with the iren-handled dagger somewhar *twixt Flash and Dolores?’ Finette did not reply. “Look hyer!” suddenly exclaimed the man; As od aia we
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Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. aes ae eet MESSER SNA Se Single Sight, as the door closed. «He has his blood up,” and Chickadee walked to the wmdow as if to follow the sport with a look. Single Sight watched the boy in silence, and with a good deal of interest, “Tf I can’t persuade him,” ran his thoughts, ‘“‘T’ve got to do another thing—watch him like a hawk, become his body-guard, and stand be- tween him and the silent slayer. Chickadee turned from the window. “Don’t let me have to repulse your argu- ments, too, Single Sight,” he cried, stepping forward. ‘‘ Leave everything unsaid. Than you I have no better friend in Red Flash, but I am determined to fight the league whohas made the ownership of Old Fatality fatal to five men. I believe I found a slight clew to-night.” ‘In the camp?” demanded Single Sight. ‘Right here m Red Flash!” Then the boy lowered his voice as his band closed on one of the sport’s arms, “There is a man lying on the ground at the door. He is playing spy for somebody.” In an instant the One-Eyed Sport’s hand moved to his belt, but Chickadee checked it there. “Let him be!” continued the boy. ‘“ He is only serving his master, and I don’t want him to know that I suspect anything.” “ Let me see him!” was Single Sight’s demand, and he went to the window. “Thar’s nobody thar now,” he answered, com- ing back to the boy. Chickadee went to the window himself. “Tt is true. The spy is gone. Never mind; T have marked him. If I am a boy, the Mine League will discover that it has no boy’s fight on its hands!” % Chickadee seemed to increase in stature in the ; light of the cabin lamp. ‘Go in!” cried Single Sight. ‘*‘ Draw on me for whatever you need—muscle, advice or trig- er. ‘*T don’t think I'll need you,” laughed the boy, “bet if I do, I'll remember.” q A figure glided without noise from the shadow of the cabin; the spy had beard the compact! CHAPTER IV. FINETTE SURPRISES RINGBOLT. aned back in his chair and look- srate in the face. b I could talk him out of it,” the med. ‘I left him in Single Sight’s AI ne AWAY, but I guess he’ll fare ngle Sight?” who is one of the perma- Red Flash. nan? What is he like?” inlike the common run o’ men,” Rob, with a smile. ‘* You start want to run across a one-eyed it this fellow?—go on!” with a minute description of t which Ringbolt looked re- 6 your one-eyed sport isn’t the nt to meet,” he said. “I'll take Single Sight the first oppor- bout how many days shall we let ela “T leave it to you.” “And I am anxious to get down to business, Ws, although I’m fixed to stay here any len Hg of time. You seeI didn’t expect to reach Red . Flash on_the heels of this excitement,” and : ees Ringbolt smiled. ‘But, [ can’ work -._ my Gold Union racket while I wait. Who'd have ml thought that a boy would step into Babette’s shoes?” When does the stage go back to Dolores?” a tty for three days unless on special ser- woos “Can't there be a special service? If you don’t want to go, another penegts can be - furnished,” sugge Ringbolt. — © Would Pg ike to have it go back early as ' to-morrow!” fd you could arrange it so.” en minutes later Sy mag Ringbolt occupied | a seat on the porch of the Beelzebub Hotel. att He no longer had a group of men about him; he was all alone, and one of the best cigars to ’ be obtai in Red Flash was sending white <— hw late) 5 Nes ow Fase Se | Red Flash!” bis thoughts ran, | late for a call. Babette’s chest,” remarked the girl. full of strange things, and here is a packet marked for you.” and Ringbolt, who was looking, saw him take a small package from the girl’s hand. lamps that lit up the room, and her graceful figure and handsome face were plainly observed by the man on the porch, ejaculation. glided toward the door. Yuba Monte. with the closest rake in existence, an’ not find her match.” “Rico is on the flare to-night,” remarked smoke-wreaths above his head, and while he | puffed away, his heels against one of the square | porch pillars, he looked like a person decidedly | at peace with the world. “I'd like to see the girl—Babette’s legacy to | To-morrow will do.” At that moment some one stepped upon the porch, and the captain stared in amazement, It was Finette! The girl walked straight into the hotel, and | in a moment the captain heard her voice as she | spoke of Yuba Monte. Captain Ringbolt was all ears in a moment. ‘| have just finished looking aa S619 ‘For me, Finette?” exclaimed the landlord, Finette stood in the bright light of the two Captein Ringbolt could not suppress a mental Almost unconsciously he left his chair and He saw no one but Finette; Yube Monte and the packet from the dead were already forgot- ten. ‘t Mebbe I'd better not open this here,” smiled the landlord, glancing at the package. think I will. “*T don’t Ah! come in, captain!” Yuba Monte had glanced toward the door whvre, as a matter of course, he saw the attrac- tive figure of his est. The captain did not wait for another invita- tion, but came forward, and the next moment doffed his hat cavalierly to Finette. The girl had not seen him since his arrival in Red Fash, but at the first look she recoiled with a s‘art, and her cheeks lost color. ‘*T did not expect to encounter an angel in Red Flesh!” exclaimed Ringbolt, with his eyes fastened on the girl. ‘*She’s the boss one o’ Colorado!” laughed “You might rake this globe ‘‘T believe it!” cried Ringbolt, as he took a step toward Finette whose amazement seemed to increase with her inspection. ‘‘ They tell me that you were Babette’s ward?” “Tam his ward still!” returned the girl. ‘Tam sorry he had to lose his life, but you will never lack for friends. Please number me ane them.” ‘* Who are you?” “My name _ is Ringbolt—Ca, tain Redfield Ringbolt, of Denver,” and as he uttered the name with a good deal of pomposity, he drew his figure proudly up in & manner that made Finette smile, “Very well; it you want to be my friend 1 cannot prevent you,” asserted the girl. “I did not come hither on a hunt for friends. You can look at your packet whenever it suits you, Monte. I shall now return home.” Ringbolt stepped back to let Finette pass out, but in doing so he reached the door. The beauty of Red Flash she orpped upon the porch he touched her arm. | “Will you permit me to accompany you to your cabin?” he asked erent aaa . Finette turned upon him with a half-indignant flash in her eyes, but all at ouce it disappeared, and a roguish look took its place. “If you wish,” she replied, moving off at the same time, and then she added with a laugh: “Oh! I believe I found something in his chest which concerns you.” The man’s answer was a stare, but his quick wit came to his rescue, and expressing a desire to see that ‘‘ something,” he found himself walk- ing away at Finette’s side, The walk to the girl’s cabin home did not oc- cupy much time, and Captain Ringbolt thought he had scored the first point in a new game when he found himself beneath the roof. Finette went direct toa rather large chest that stood against the wall, and unlocked it with a key which she took from her ket. he Denver man watched her with the eye of ahawk. She had’ something to show him; but, what was it? During the next few seconds the captain rapid- ly reviewed his life; he tried to fix the identity of the man called Babette, but the longer he tried, the deeper grew the og ee Finette turned from the chest, from the depths of which she had drawn a little pack larger than her well- shaped hand, \ i out, and as age not at once. “This is it, though it may not concern you, after ail,” the girl exclaimed, pausing at the table. ‘‘ When youtold me your name was Red- “but itis rather | field Ringbolt, I thought of this.” The man from Denver was already leaning forward, and Finette’s nimble fingers were re- moving a cord from the packet. ‘+ In Satan’s name, what is it?” mentally ejacu- lated the now excited man, while the girl work- ed at the cord. The work was quickly finished, and when she had removed some heavy brown paper, some- thing dropped upon the table. “Jt is a miniature, you see!” the girl cried, looking into the almost colorless face of Ring- bolt. ‘I can’t say that it much resembles you, but a sharp instrument has written something acro-s the top—see!” The Denverite made no reply, for at that mo- ment Finette held the daguerreotype in such a position that he read this inscription: ‘(+ ReprreLp ’—My Worst ENEMY!” _ The girl could not fail to notice the consterna- tion caused by the old likeness, which Spey ow eda man in full, mining costume, as if he had stepped from the sbaft into the rooms of a mountain artist. Ringbolt reached out his hand for the picture, but Finette drew.it back. “Tt belongs to me since Bahette !eft me every- thing not addressed to any one,” she exclaimed. ‘*T don’t see much resemblance between you and the picture, but I must keep it.” The man looked disappointed. ‘‘ Where did Babette get that picture?’ he asked. ‘¢T don’t know.” “ What good will it ever do you, Finette?” ‘* None, perhaps.” ‘Then, let me relieve you of it. It is the like- ness of a man I have been looking for for some time. You do not know that Babette scratched the legend on the tin?” ““T do not.” “Who has seen the picture since Babette’s death?” ‘No person but myself.” “Pll give you twenty dollars for it.” The girl drew back. “ T am not at want’s door!” she exclaimed, in- dignantly. ‘This picture remains where it is. Five thousand dollars wouldn’t buy it!” “ All right!” cried Ringbelt; ‘‘t 2 person whe calls me ‘ field’ lies!—lies!—lies! CHAPTER V. CHICKADEE ON DEOK. Caprain RINGBOLT’S face was very red; his eyes seemed to blaze with passion, he glared ti- gerishly at the daguerrotype in Finette’s hand, and for a moment he seemed about to snatch it from her na 8 nae Leck am = that ar “a on, pointing at the picture. re is the person who calls me * Redfield?” es Finette shook her head. ‘““T don’t think anybody has accused you,” she replied. ‘J am not going to make the charge. This oe does not concern me.” “Yet you won't part with it?” “*T will not.” ‘“* You have nothing else to show me?” “ Nothing else,” was the echo, Ringbolt got up and walked backward to the door. His eyes were still fastened on the picture. : ‘“We may meet again,” he said, at the door. “ You will remember that that is the likeness of a man whom [ have been bunting some time. I *corwgag pag co it being found in Babette’s chest. is is a little mystery which may neve be solved. Good-night!” “i inetd ‘“*Good-night!” returned Finette. “Tt looks like him, for all he said,” she mut- tered. ‘‘I am not certain that Babette scratch- ed the name ‘ Redfield’ across the plate: and he told me at the hotel that his name was ‘ Redfield Ringbolt.’” Finette’s home grew silent as she studied the portrait, and was so absorbed in it that the opening of the door did not disturb her. Somebody came in, somebody whom she did not see, for her back was turned toward the en- trance. Suddenly a hand swooped down over her face like an eagle’s . It seized the picture like the talons of the bird of prey, and Finette sprung away with a wild cry, as it was snatched from her hands: “That is wy property!” she exclaimed, wheel- eee.
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Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. 5 ing upon the thief. ‘‘ I did not think you would | The Chinaman was stillreluctant to withdraw, come back—” she confronted was not Captain Ringbolt, but a | but Captain Ringbolt’s actions repulsed him. The girl stopped abruptly, for the person whom | All at once the man from Denver turned and walked away, and a moment later Ah Sin bound- hee Bg mm Celestial—a perfect stranger to | ed off and was lost among the cabins. ner. He was the incarnation of a yellow devil while he stood between her and the door, con- fronted by the insulted girl. ¥ ‘¢ Master and man, is it?” cried/Finette, going toward the heathen, ‘Hand back the picture, you yellow-skin scoundrel.” : But the Celestial’s eyes devilishly dared Finette to attempt a seizure. ; *“*Me no givee back picture,” he grinned. ** Girl no takee, either.” ‘“Where did you come from?’ she asked. ** Who are you?” **Me allee Chinee,” was the retort. ** But you don’t belong here. You came to Red Flash with Captain Rine bolt.” : The heathen shook his head with emphasis. ** Captain Ringbolt me not know,” the China- man declared. : i “The picture you have just concealed in your bosom gives the lie to your words.” ** Does ’Mellican girl say Ah Sin lie?” “Yes, if you say you don’t know Captain Ringbolt!” was the brave response. ‘‘ The mas- ter has just left; the man—the tool—has come! A sight of the portrait threw the captain into a rage. If you keep it, Red Flash will soon be- come too hot for you and the man you serve.” Ah Sin’s yellow face was pushed forward like the face of a puma on the eve of a spring, when Finette, quickly stepping backward, threw her band up to a small shelf fixed to the wall, and a small dagger was in her grasp, with an ebony handle, about which Finette’s fingers wound yr “Girl show fightee!” laughed the Chinaman, showing his teeth, but at the same time shrink- ing nearer the door. *Go!” commmanded Finette, sternly. ‘‘ You llute the house! Take the picture to ‘ Red- eld.’ Begone!” The Celestial showed his teeth again and put his hand on the latch. “Girl no get tocut Ab Sin!” and with a laugh on his ugly lips he was gone, The abruptness of his departure startled Fin- ette; and she did not see him join aman who was waiting for him half-way between the cabin and the Beelzebub Hotel, and where the shad- ows of Red Flash were deepest. “Tt took you a long time,” ti the man, out of humor. ‘ You did not have to choke the mountain angel, eh?” ‘““No. Girl want to fight, though,” was the reply, ani Ah Sin took something from beneath is coat. * Ah! you did not fail! Thank fortune! She resisted, eh?” The Celestial nodded. “ Did she threaten?” **She sail she’d make Red Flashee too hotee for us.” “She did, eh?’ and Ringbolt glanced toward Finette’s cabin. j ‘*The girl will make it too hot for you if she takes a notion.” Ah Sin seemed to draw back; he did not relish the remark, ‘“You’ve already performed an invaluable service and can afford t to withdraw,” continued the Denver sport. ‘I can swear my way out of all connection with you, Ah Sin; but they don’t like Ch n here, and one word from the girl would put all Red Flash on you. Don't you see?” The Celestial did not speak. «So you’ve got to go!” Ringbolt decided. “(Where me go?” ** Snywhere, so you are within call if we want ou. You must run off to-night—right away. ury your brass-tipped box, or take it along, just as you like.” ‘Will cap’n stay here? ‘Yes; I must stay. Everything is at stake.” “Girl may talk about you?” “Tet her!” cried oo venomously; ‘‘T have Rico with me, and he is a mountain here. The boy who drove us up from Dolores has taken possession of Old Fatality Mine.” ‘“*- Yes; boy much foolee!” grinned Ah Sin. ‘“‘Right you are! But we must part. If all goes well, and by heavens! it sball not go other- wise, you will be the richest Chinaman in America. Now, make yourself scarce. You've rendered me an invaluable service to-night, I am not the man who forgets. The sixth owner of serie isa boy—not a <9 ! pane won't last long, e agent en equipped. Now go, ‘Ab Sin. Good-by.” ; Bs / Ringbolt went back to the Beelzebub whose porch was now quite deserted. The reception room was in almost the same condition, but as heentered the latter, Yuba Monte came forward with a twinkle in his eye, “You made the girl a good visit!” ejaculated the host gleefully. ‘‘Isn’t she a daisy, captain? hat a sensation a man could make with her in the right place! We've all wondered a thou- sand times where Babette picked ber up. She’s ther luck o’ Red Flash an’-— Hello!” Captain Ringbolt knew that somebody had entered the hotel, and when he turned toward the door he saw the handsome figure of Chicka- dee, the whip prince of the stage line. His eyes were already fixed on the captain. ‘*What’s up now?” cried Yuba, and then he moved his hand toward the Denverite. ‘‘ You know your old passenger, Chickadee?” ‘Yes, and I’m here to see him,” answered the boy, coming forward. ** Ah! captain, I will trouble you for the pic- ture which was taken from Finette a little while ago!” Ringbolt lost color and started back. ‘“What picture?” he cried, affecting ignor- ance. ‘‘The likeness of ‘ Redfield’ which was found in Bahette’s chest, and afterward stolen by the Chinaman!” returned the boy, with decision. ‘By Jupiter! do you mean to link me to a yellow thief?” demanded the Denverite. ‘*T mean to say that the picture passed from the thief’s possession into yours!” was the retort. ‘* Let me have the portrait—” “Dl crush you first!” was the interruption, and Captain Ringbolt advanced with clinched hands. “Your quartz mill isn’t big enough for that!” laughed ickadee, and the next moment he stepped into the middle of the room and coolly leveled a revolver at the Denver sport. ‘* Shall I have the picture?” he asked, CHAPTER VI, A REVELATION. Yusa Monte started toward the boy whip with a ay ‘You don’t want to play road-agent with my guests!” he exclaimed, throwing u his hands, ‘Captain Ringbolt has to be treated like a gen- tleman—” ‘ ‘* He will be when he acts like one!” interrupt- ed Chickadee. . “Tm merely asking you, Mister Sport, for Finette’s property,” he went on. ‘‘I know that the Chinese thief who robbed her turned the roperty over to you. A denial won’t help mat- rs, captain, Hand it over, I say! Or some- thing will happen!” The merece agent of the Great Gold Union weil realized that the boy had the upper hand, and also knew the danger of further delay in acceding to the demand, so he brought forth the picture, while in his eyes was the gleam of bit- ter hatred, : “Take it, you young robber!” he_ hissed, throwing the _- spitefuily at Chickadee. ‘To-morrow it may belong to Captain Ring- bolt.” ; Chickadee deftly hy ne the prize and smiled defiantly in the sport’s face. “ By Jove! I didn’t know they robbed people right in your hotel,” continued Ringbolt, turnin upon the landlord. ‘If this is the style in Re Flash, Pl hunt another town,” “‘T would if I was in your place, captain,” suggested Chickadee, still holding his revolver. “Red Flash can — a — oh ee other nle’s property. t, good-night to yuu, cap- ers SSieadh Geienuies to you!” And the daring boy bowed himself out of the room, and pro- ceeded to his own cabin, at once. “Tam going to examine my booty!” he de- cided as he dropped into a chair at the table on which burned his lamp. ‘‘Finette merely said that she-had been rebbed of a picture by a Chinaman, and I caught the fellow as he was leaving Red Flash and made him confess that he gave the prize to Captain Ringbolt. Thy Celestial was the one who came with him from Dolores. The pair appeared to be strangers, but several times I heard them exchange fa- miliar sentences in the stage. Ah! Captain Ringbolt! there is one person in Red Flash who believes that you are more than an agent of the Great Denver Gold Union!” For the next few minutes Chickadee studied boc td ag the cabin, and went straight to the zebub. the portrait intently. | | | } ‘“*T believe I will dissect it!” he suddenly ex- claimed. ‘‘ The mountain artist has put it up after the usual manner. Ah! there seems to be some paper between the plate and its back!” During the next minute Chicksdee’s fingers worked rapidly and he was rewarded by find- ing a piece of paper nicely folded, as if some hand had deposited it there for safe-keeping. Unfolding this paper, his eyes caught sight of writing, which he read in silence. It was evident from the expression that brightened the boy’s face that the discovery was of importance, and when he reached the end of the manuscript he read the following: “TO THE WORLD! “This picture represents ‘ Redfield,’ one of the coolest villains on the face of the globe. His record is that he was born in San Francisco when it was littie more than a camp; he grew up among the roughs and toughs of the mines, where he gradu- atedininfamy. He has bad forty names, but ‘ Red- field’ is the one his mother gave Lim, and to it he sometimes returns. He carries on his je ft shoulder a tattoo-mark, which united him to a secret order of scoundrels in Northern California. He was their chief for three years; they plundered golc-can ps, robbed miners, and, it is believed. even murcered. The Brotherhood of the Mystic Mark was broken up some years ago, and the members scattered. But the oaths they took bound them together for life, and * Redfield’ finds one every now and then. “This man is my eternal foe, and, while I have some courage, he is the ouly person I fear. This is | the only picture of him I have ever seen. He never dreams that it is in my possession. I would be hunted down for it; he would not hesitate to kill to get it back, for there are people who want to get even with the old chief of the Mystic Clan. *IThave reasons for believing that the owners of the fatal mine who have died before me felt the dazger of a member of that organization. 1 have seen the trail of one of its men in Red Flash ee but as yet ‘Redfield’ has not appeared. He will come some day. Jf you find this, Finette, beware of the man! “*In the end, I call the curses of Heaven down upon this man ‘ Redfield.’ He knows fifty disguises. fle knows the old members of the Mystic Mark wherever he sees them, I believe he has come to Red before this. I see his hand in the deadly guardianship of Old Fatality Mine. Let the man who comes after me beware! He will be the sixth and the last. BAvette.”’ The reader may imagine Chickadee’s theughts when he reached the end of this startling paper. ronneversl moments he did not seem to breathe at all. . ; ‘ “This is a fortune-senit. clew!” he exclaimed. “T am now on the trail, and the hand } stretched Babette dead before his é¢abin s feel the operations of vengeance! I need ; tell Finette all this, I will not show the paper to Single mo fee He.is not the cool Head I want. So ‘ Redfield’ carries a mark on pbbay shoulder, eh? Now, who is bis friend in Red Whom did he pick up for one of the Brothe r- hood here? Babette died bef is Chinaman came. It was their hands to have done the deed! I y hand well from this hour. Ba) on my guard, believe he has clew. Promulgate your big gold tain Ringbclt. I know Phat e “ once chief of the Mystic Mark!” Chickadee hid ‘tant paper dagnerrotype on his , but 1 : too soon, for a light rap fell aga bis di and he opened it to find himself face face w: Rico Rob. + a The boy whip could not suppress a start at sight of the giant si “Twas hyer aw remarked Rico to-morrow?” ‘% ‘* To-morrow?” I just came up to-day.” ** Yes, but I want to go down all the same,” Rico was captain of the Gold Guard which always went to Dolores when a large amount of dust was taken down, and sometimes he went alone to transact business for the mines, “If you must go I can serve you,” assented the voung stage-~driver. “Then we go,” was the cb g's “Have the horses ready by sun-up,” and he departed as qui-tly as he had come. . “This is sudden—it is strange!” concluded Chickadee, ‘‘ He saw me awhile ago, but never said thet be must go down to Dolores. Is it possible that—” the boy broke his own sentence as if 9 startling thought had struck bim. ‘‘ We I will watch you, Rico Rob. You need no know that the boy who handles the lines to- bat: morrow will use his eyes on you at.the same time! ae There was a sparkle in Rico’s eyes when he a ou warn’t in,” Pol to Dolores ago an’ **Can you go AA, | 4 UA
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6 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Spo rt. ““Whar's: Captain Ringbolt, your guest?” he asked of Yuba behind the bar. . “In his room; but, hold on!” cried th bi mountain landlord, as the big confederate start- 4 ed toward the stairs, ‘* Do you know that the 4 young rat who drives the stage has played road- i agent hyer ter-night.” : ** On whom?” “On my guest from Denver.” Rob waited to hear no more, but ran up the narrow steps that led to Captain Ringbolt’s chamber and burst into the room with a sharp **Hello!” : But, he stopped as if he had come suddenly to the edge of a precipice, and stared at an object at his feet. ‘*Great God! itis ther chief!” exclaimed Rob, The captain was lying on his face with his arms outstretched. ‘The lamp was burning on the table. Rico Rob seized the body and turned it over. It was, indeed, the body of Captain Ringbolt, and the face was almost black, Neer by lay his valise, open and robbed! CHAPTER VII. BETRAYED BY A RING. Tum finding of Captain Ringbolt insensible, if not dead, seemed to paralyze the giant of Red Flash City. 4 Instinctively he looked up and out of the window above the sloping roof of the hotel porch, The lower sash was not shut down securely, and one of the panes was broken, Rico knew thet the man from Denver had been surprised an attacked by some one who had got the best of him, The rifled valise—the one the captain had brought from Dolores—seemed to show _ the main motive of the attack; but the Red Flash sport put every thought aside in his efforts to get Ringbolt back to life. This was a task of no small dimensions with the limited means at bis command; but after awhile he succeeded, and the Denverite regained consciousness. - And the question which the big sport put, to get at asolution of the mystery, brought a flash of rage back to Captain Ringbolt’s eyes. “ Well, in the first place, | was robbed!” re- ported RingDolt. ‘That young tiger who drives » stage played robber.in this very house; he something valuable from me.” From the valiss there?” asked Rico Rob, cing at the empty bag on the floor. No! the second Satan did that!” growled > captai The boy robbed me of a picture » one the Camp Folly artist took disbanded as a brotherhood, The Babette’s hands; it passed’ from tte’s possession. I went down to. , then I sent Ah Sin, who:sue- , the boy you call Chickadee at the muzzle of his drop- oa ie youngster had backbone!” he ut, who came after the boy you on the floor choked black?” vy,” was the answer. ‘‘ When I ter the young robber-devil went e, I was pounced upon by some n the room—a man with a black od the whole of his face. Jehu! ke an eagle’s claws, and I b’lieve that was all I saw blazing in mission was robbery, too, for Hin t pointed to the valise. vi ing?” asked Rico Rob. mk he found what he wanted,” and for the first time during the interview the a — from Denver smiled, “Of course I fought ie ea tiger as far as was able; but with eagle- ~ claw hands to help bim, he got the black call on me. Did Yuba Monte, the proprietor of this devil’s den, say any thing about his departure?” ve “No.” is “Ah! look there!” cried Ringholt, leaning : toward | . window. “There was no glass broken when he came. He went out hy the roof. It is no drop from the porch to the ground. Of course Yuba Monte did not see nim if he went that way. Don’t you see how it ist The boy and the man work together. One robs with a leveled revolver; the other dons a mask and chokes!” _ Ringbolt pg up the valise at this rnoment, and thrust his hand into its depths. “Teg make an inventory of what he left,” ‘he exclaimed, looking up, at. Rico Rob, and he began to bring various th ngo to light. ee Hello!’ what is this?—a ring, by Jupiter!” and Ringbolt was holding a man’s ring between | thumb and finger; a gold ring it was, with a polished nugget for a crest. “Great heavens! did you fish that from your valise?” cried Rico Rob, ‘*T found it nowhere else! It never belonged tome, The devil in the mask left it behind to let me get even with him!” Rico was staring at the ring. “ This man was a fool!” he exclaimed. ‘* What man!” ‘« Why, the man who left the ring. Had but one eye you say?” ‘*T saw but one, but then his hand was at my throat you know. Do-you know him?” “Well, if [ don’t, he doesn’t know himself.” “ Who is he?” ““We call him Single Sight for there can’t be another ring like this in the country. But, leave him tome, Youwdon’t want to see him. And now to business: The young proprietor takes me down to Dolores to-morrow.’ ‘¢ Ho! tomorrow! You've made thearrange- ments, eh?” “*T have.” “Then I came to Red Flash in good time to close the business up.” “Tt would have been closed if you had not come,” answered the other. ‘“ Now nothing about this night attack. You must be the agent of the Great’ Denver Gold Union until we get further along in the game.” ‘‘T comprehend; so work the cards as you see best.” Rico Rob now returned to the bar-room where Yuba Monte was still alone. “You don’t want to give the Beelzebub a bad reputation by circulating Chickadee’s attack on your guest,” began the giant. “J was thinking about that.” ‘Keep it to yourself,” continued Rob. ‘* The boy will say nothing. The packet which he took from Captain Ringbolt is of no conse- uence, ‘« Chickadee. was:entirely too fresh.” ‘Yes, grinned the big tough, and then he added: ‘* Remember! You lose the most profit- able guest you ever had if you spread the doings of this night.” ‘*Mum’s the word for a thousand!” averred Yuba Monte, and. Rico Rob walked from the Beelzebub. “So a new man takes a hand,” he ejaculated when he found himself in the starlight, ‘*My one-eyed friend, Single Sight, tosses an unex- pected card upon the board. It means some- thing, and it means, too, that he shall not play another hand, Vil just kee Fl upon him and send an expressive look into bis: one optic.” The giant of Red Flash City was soom at the door of a cabin not unlike the many by which it was surrounded, ; A light dimly burning on the interior but half revealed the scanty furniture: but it showed Rico Rob the figure that reclined on the cot against one of the walls. “fT won’t bandy words with him!” mentally ejaculated the giant as he caught the wooden lateh and opened the door. The next moment the man on the cot got up and Rico stood face to face with the one-eyed man of Red Flash City. Single Sight picked up the lamp and held it forward to see who his visitor was. “Ho! itis you!” he exclaimed, and then he laughed. ‘‘ I couldn’t get Chickadee out o’ the notion o’ holdin’ Old Fatality—” ‘Let him take it!” interrupted Rob; “TI am here to say that you don’t want to choke people who come peaceably to Red Flash!” The change on Single Sight’s countenance was swift and wonderful, He replaced the lamp on the table. Wigs ‘** How do you know I did it?” ke asked, now perfectly cool. The giant smiled. “You left your nugget-mounted ring in the valise.” “T had better have left it at home, eh?” he suggested. “You had better have stayed at home your- self! Remember! no more of this work!” and Rob strode toward the door, but did not reach it ere the hand of the one-eyed man fell like a hammer upon the giant’s shoulder. “T have heard you—now hear me!” he cried as Rico wheeled. ‘‘The man whom I _ choked came here on most peculiar business. He is no more the agent of the Great Gold Union than I em his Satanic Majesty. Captain Ringbolt, as he calls himself, is the old ‘ Redfield’ of the Brotherhood of the Mystic Mark; and I choked him because— use—” Single Sight threw Rice Rob toward the door at his last pause, and then finished: 4 12 2 pee bins aes oa 4 5 “I choked him because I, of all men living, had a right to drive my fingers behind his. weasand! [Iam liable to stand on the porch of the Beelzebub to-morrow asd read his pedigree to assembled Red Flash.” ‘-Tf you dare!” cried the mountain giant. ‘Captain Ringbolt has his rights as well as other men. If you attempt to expose him, you will drop in your bootsasdead as a herring! Thar! and Rico Rob passed out, *¢Mebbe I had better go a little slow,” mut- tered Single Sight. ‘‘ This isdangerous ground!” CHAPTER VILLI, IN DOLORES. THe next morning the earliest risers of the mountain “ city ” saw Chickadee hitching up his stage team. It will be remembered that he had agreed to take Rico Rob to Dolores, and true to his prom- ise, the boy was getting ready for departure. Just as he finished the barnessing up, the gient of Red Flash made his appearance, and Chickadee, lines in hand, climbed nimbly to. his seat. “ All ready!” exclaimed Rico Rob. “Off we are, boy. Let the steeds enjoy themselves this morning. They want a race with time.” The next minute the whip cracked over the heads of the leaders, and the stage rattled away. As it passed in front of the Beelzetub Hotel, its solitary passenger threw a quick glance ata certain window above the porch. He must have caught sight of a face there, for he smiled, nodded end waved his hand, ere the four strong horses whisked him past the building. All the time there was a wicked gleam in Rico Rob’s eyes. He threw himself back in one corner of the vehicle and drew forth a cigar which he lit, and fre away like a person who enjoyed the weed. Every now and them he heard Chickadee speak to the restive horses, and the cracks of his whip would echo in the defiles through which. the stage rolled with no abatement. of its mo- tion. When nearly one-half the distance between Red Flash and Dolores had been left behind, ~e Rob left his corner and shouted to the boy whip. “Make room forme. I’mcoming up to get sniff of fresh air.” “Come along!” the young driver sent back to the sport, and im a little. while the giant was at Chickadee’s side om the driver's seat. “Don’t you get tired o’ this?’ asked Rico, Rob. : “ Tired of what?” answered the boy, with a puzzled look. a : “Why, tired 0’ drivin’ over this old route. It’s always Dolores to Red Flash, or Red Flash to Dolores!” Chickadee smiled. , “ It’s got to be a second life to me,” he replied. “ Besides, Captain Rob, what else could I dof” “A good deal if you want to quit the road, I tell you, Chickadee, you ought to be some- whar else.” “Tn Frisco?” “Not exactly.” “T rather like this life, and I like Red Flash,, too; but they’ve got to illing men there. be~- cause they hold property.” ©; This unexpected allusion to Babette’s assassi~ nation made the big passenger start. © And you have stepped into Babette’s shoes!” exclaimed Rico Rob, after a moment’s: silence. ““ Somebody had to.” “But not you,” the giant sport; went on. “ Thar’s nothing in Old Fatality Mine for any- body. Itnever benefited Babette; ithasorphan- ed’ Finette and—” Rico Rob stopped and looked away. ““ Why don’t you goon?” queried Chickadee, smiling in the gian ’s face. ‘““Well. By Jove! boy, it willsend you after Babette!” was the response. “* You are the sixth owner, and the document which was found. in the mine says thar shall be: six then— something else!” Chickadee cracked his whip over the heads of of the horses before he replied. , He knew that Rico Rob was’ already on fami- liar terms with Captain Ringbolt, the man from Denver; he had seen them together at the hotel,, and, ashe drove past that: way every morning, he had caught a glimpse of Ringbolt’s face at. the window. 3 He was certain, therefore, that there was a commonilink between the fortunes of these two m en. Since Babette’s death he had not played de
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Single Sight, the One-Eyed S tective for nothing; he had recovered the por-| cleared his throat with a draught of Dolores trait which Ah Sin the Chinese thief had snatch- ed from Finette, and the paper behind it had settled the identity of Captain Ringholt. Rico Rob’s sudden determination to go to Dolores had mystified the stage detective; but he was beginning to get at the truth. The giant was going to make a final effort to get him out of somebody’s way. ‘ These thoughts evolved themselves rapidly in Chickadee’s mind. “‘T have taken the chances,” he suddenly said to Rico Rob. ‘If am the sixth owner of Old Fatality. Let the infamous assassin who struck Babette down try his iron-handled dagger on me! **You don’t want to court death,” ejaculated Rico Rov. ‘ You don’t want to deprive Finette of her best friend.” The boy started. All Red Flash knew that he was the girl’s best friend next to Babette, but Babette was dead, and he (Chickadee) had stepped forward and taken possession of the property which had cost the eccentric miner his life. “ Look at this matter in a sensible light!” sud- denly exclaimed Rico Rob, believing that his last words had produced an impression. ‘ The girl loves you, Chickadee, She looks to you for protection, though all Red Flash is ready to stand by her through thick and thin. If you will throw up your claims to the fatal mine and keep a tight grip on the stage lines, we'll thwart the Jeague whose daggers guard Old Fatal- ity. ant boy turned and looked into the speaker’s ce “Or, if you want to sell out and locate else- whar, you kin finda buyer before sundown,” continued Rico Rob. “I prefer things as they are,” remarked Chickadee, “I don’t want to sell out, neither do I want to give up Old Fatality.” The giant of Red Flash bit his lips under the dark mustache that drooped over them, and his eyes sent a meaning glance through their heavy brows at the boy. “Then must take the consequences!” he cried. ‘Il have tried to draw ycu out o’ the vortex but you will keepin it. I tell you that Finette’s best friend is hunted by the keenest dagger in existence!” ** How do you know?” *“* Ask the tour men who went before Babette; ask Babette himself! lve fr’ enough of the mountain air for a spell. Pll go down to my corner, ‘‘ And the next moment Rico Rob had left the seat and was helping himself down to the agen el place again. & ‘“* He will go to the end blinded!” he grated. **T'd have given a good deal if he had kept out of Babette’s shoes. Ilike theboy. Confound it, why can’t something be done? Why didn’t Captain Ringboit keep away? And the China- man, toot He expects to hear of something peing done before the stage goes back to Red Flash. Curse the old gang that made the Cali- fornia mountains its resort years ago! Well, after all, he’s almost a man. I guess I'll have to do my part.” The = was moving on with Dolores getting nearer and nearer, Rico Rob had settled back into his corner again, and Chickadee was keeping the horses in the mountain road. At last the stage reached an eminence from which Dolores could be seen ‘nestling in the valley. It was still some miles away: Rico Rob gazed upon the scene in silence, but all at once he put his hand to his bosom as if to convince himself that some hidden object was still there. “Tf it wasn’t for one thing, I'd leave the game!” he muttered. ‘‘Thank heaven! this is to be the last play. If thar had to be another, by Jupiter, I'd tell him to make it himself!” An hour later Chickadee was driving the four- in-hand into Dolores. It was a warm, dusty day and the steeds were enveloped in dense clouds which almost hid them. ‘“* Where do you want to stop, captain?” shout- ed the boy whip down to Rico Rob, “Tn the square.” ’ A minute afterward Chickadee’s ‘‘whoam brought the horses to a halt, and Rico Rob sprung to the door. _ “T want to go back to-morrow,” he said look- ing up at the boy. “Bring the stage to the door of the Bodie “Iouse at six in the morning.” Chickadee nodded and let the herses walk to the stables which he patronized. Rico Rob vanished almost instantly, but in a little while he turned up at a bar where he liquor, The stage was let standin the sun while the horses were sheltered, and when their wants had been attended to, Chickadee walked away. Ten minutes later a part of the ceiling of the vebicle seemed to drop out, but it did not fall to the floor. The opening thus made was large enough to let out the body of a good sized man, and all at once an object of this sort dropped through it. ‘“Shake me for dice! if I don’t feel like I’ve been in a wine press for six months!” ejaculated the man as he fell exhausted upon one of the side seats of the stage. “I always thought a fellow could squeeze into the place where they store the gold dust they haul to Dolores: but Jericho jin- x0! I don’t want another ride like that! Ididn’t 1ear much o’ importance comin’ down, but some- thin’s goin’ to be done! I kin see double some- times if I have got but one optic. I must not read Captain Ringbolt’s pedigree to Red Flash; oh, no! Rico Rob says I’d drop in my boots if if did that. Well, Captain Rico, we'll see what will illuminate the future.” The man who had made the trip from Red Flash City to Dolores in the false top of Chicka- dee’s stage was our old acquaintance Single Sight; and when his limbs had recovered their old elasticity, he watched his opportunity and dropped slyly from the vehicle, If anybody saw him Single Sight did not know t. it. He haa discarded his laced garments with the double row of buttons, and now wore a greenish patch over his lost eye, something which he did not do in Red Flash. Not long afterward, the One-Eyed Sport en- tered a small house near the square and shut the door carefully behind him. ‘Who is there?” asked a voice, for the interior of the cabin was almost dark, despite the fact that it was full day without. Single sight answered the inquiry by a quick stride forward, and in a moment he stood beside aman in an arm-chair. “Tt is 1, colonel,” ejaculated the Red Fiash sport. “Ah! Single Sight!” cried the man, putting up his hand and grasping the sport’s arm. ‘* How are things at Red Flash?” ‘““They’re baa enough. Babette is dead, ‘ Red field’ has come, and they are deep in the game!” The man in the chair let slip an ejaculation of surprise, and his fingers tightened on Single Sight’s arm. “Td give a million for my eyes, now!” he cried. “Never mind ’em, colonel. Ive got one, and that’s enough,” was the answer, CHAPTER IX. THE ONE EYE AT WORK, THE man in the arm-chair was handsome but blind, and as Single Sight leaned over him and looked into his face, a light of fierceness lit u his single orb, and his hands elosed cony sivly. “Retribution is a long time gettin’ byer, but I reckon she’s about arrived,” muttered the Red Flash sport. “So Babette is dead!” said the blind man with r§ gs ate mage he beg hos, me “egpepel of atali ine, eh, Single Si “The fifth one.” x4 ms * Who has taken his place?” * The boy, Chickadee.” a lips of the blind man were parted by a smile. “Then the sixth man is a boy!” he langhed. ‘Only in years, colonel.” ** Maybe so, Single Sight. What brought you to Dolores?” ‘*A little business, colonel. The bo comin’ down. The boy an’ Rico Rob,” added. The blind man leaned back in his chair and said nothing for a few moments. “ Single Sight, ain’t there some kind of a trap to be sprung?” he suddenly asked. “ce Yes ‘* When?” “To-night, I think.” “Where?” ** Tm Dolores.” “ **And you are on the ground! A thousand thanks! Let me take your hand, old fellow,” and the One-Eyed Sport put his hand where the _— man could press it fervently, which he i ‘**T would like to have ‘ Redfield’ planted be- fore me,” he went on. ‘** For this Ihave kept up my spirits in dark- ness all these years,” was he port. “The time will come, colonel,” exclaimed Single Sight. “‘P’'m an imp o’ Tartarus, if it isn’t here now'” “Don’t deceive me, You know how I have waited.” “* fT know it all, colonel,” ““Are you sure this is the original ‘ Red- field?” “Tam.” “Then let the mills of vengeance grind,” sent the blind man through clinched teeth, ** Good-by, colonel,” ejaculated the Red Flash rt. ‘*I will be here again before mornin.” ‘‘ You'll find me on hand. Make no false play. I need you more than ever now.” Single Sight looked fixedly at the man for sev- eral minutes before he withdrew, and when the closing of the door announced his departure, the occupant of the chair leaned toward a stand at his right and opened a drawer, ‘* I]t may come sooner than one thinks—who knows?” he exclaimed, as he took out somethin and concealed it in his bosom. ‘tWhenI had my faithful eyes I was Nanton Noxx, the best known man in the gold paradise of the great Northwest. Now I am blind, and, to Dolores, I am Colonel Spring, who lost his eyesight by a secret disease. Whatalie! What an example of double-dealing! But the end will justify the means. Iwill one day, and before long, Single Sight says, stand face to face with the author of | it all, will never more see the child whose face I barely saw before she left me, but I ma feel her in my arms; I may hear her voice. Single Sight says I shall. But, best of all, he says 1 shall make all things even! Thank fortune for that, for then I can be Nanton Noxx once more, The presence of this man was not widely known in Dolores. He had come quietly to the place between two days, several years prior to the opening of our story. i Single Sight had brought him from Denver, and had placed him in the little house which he! seldom left. Beyond a young girl who attended to his wants, Nanton Noxx had few friends in Dolores, certainly no confidants. om } Rico Rob knew he was there, but Chickadee and the One-Eyed Sport were frequent visitcrs. Night came down upon the Colorado town shortly after etry Sight left the blind man. The One-Eyed Sport was almost as well known in Dolores as in Red Flash, but the change a dress, with the green patch over the lost eye, bac rendered him unrecognizable to his acquaint- ances. When he left Nanton Noxx he walked down to the public house called Bedie’s Hotel. ue Bodie’s not only provided its guests with he comforts of the inner man, but it looked to their passions, for a large room on the upper floor was provided with gaming: tables and devices of every description. r rate e Single Sight sauntered into the hotel like a man who had a good deal of leisure Ompis hands, and passed up to one of the ~ Beyord this apartment was a provided with a counter and the of a bar, of here?” ejaculated Single Sight, fixing his eyes upon the person betons hime ‘He was in Red Flash last mght. He came on with Captain Ringbolt, but be is here now,” ; person was Ah Sin, the Celestial, the ras cal who had despoiled Finette of the picture of * Redfield,’ as we have witnessed. Dolores did not object to Chinamen so long as they behaved themselves and spent their meney freelv. Some of Captain Bodie’s best customers were ‘‘ pigtails,” and this class were always wel- come at the tables of his gaming-room. Ab Sin had made a quick trip from Red Mast if he had walked, but he did not bear any evi —— of having done 60. wr Tu Seer ae sparkling, showing no signs of his arr Chickadee, who had forced him to confess that he was Captain Ringboit’s tool. iY From the moment that he saw the Chinaman Single Sight kept his one eye upon him. “The fellow isn’t hyer to play,” ejaculat: @& the sport. ‘* He is looking for somehody whom) he expected to find in thisroom. Aha, he see him now!” sey ad At that moment somebody entered at the door withir a fev’ inches oi the — elbow, and as that person passe@ down room toward the S Celestial, he saw Rico Rob of Red Flash,
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8 Tn an instant Ab Sin’s eyes got a quick flash, and told Single Sight that he had found the man it for whom he had been looking. “Two friends in the same game,” murmured the Oue-Eyed Sport as he watched them covertly. | “Jf the one in Red Flash war hyar, thar’d be | three of a kind. Ho! going to sample some more Dolores death-juice, eh?’ And be walked forward, following the twain into the little har. a As Single Sight was the last man Rico Rob looked for in Dolores, the sport was not subject- ed to an inspection, so he edged carelessly up to Ab Sin along the counter. “When did you get in?” asked Rico Rob, ‘While ago.” “ You came alone?” The Chinaman nodded and smiled. “The Old Harry was to pay after you left last night.” ‘““Whatee happened?” “The captain got choked, nothing more,” “‘ erinned the giant. ‘Boy do it, eh?’ asked the Celestial, as his eyes flashed. “ No; but never mind who did that job; we'll take up that choker’s case a little further on in the game, The boy is here.” Ah Sin started visibly, for Rico Rob had 4 genuinely surprised him. “ He brought me down to-day,” the Red Flash iy giant went on. ‘‘ The captain is impatient.” Ab Sin nodded and his almond eyes twinkled. “This is no place for conference,” and Rico Rob lowered his voice, but Single Sight still heard. ‘‘ Where boy now?” asked the Celestial. ‘Where we can lay bands on him,” was the answer. ‘ Now, dash down your blood-stirrer and come with me, The sixth man is to be dealt with!” Ah Sin clutched the glass en the counter and | threw back his head, as bo carried the liquor toward his lips. Ashe didso he caught his first glirapse of Single Sight who. seeing that there was nothing more to hear, bad just turned away. - Quicker of sight than the giant, the Chinaman - saw something familiar in the One-Eyed Sporv’s outlines. _- ** Who that man?” he exclaimed with a look at _ -Rico Rob. _.. -‘The giant turned but saw nobody, for Single Sight bad passed into the gaming-room, and was - mingling with its denizens. _ “+ Ah Sin appeared to be very easily satisfied for he did not follow up-his inquiry, but followed _ Rieo Rob down the aisle flanked with tables, _ thence to the floor below and out into the street. If either of the pair had looked Lack they would seen a fearless sure-footed man at their , but why should they expect Single Sight Dolores at that time? There was near the stables where Chickadee gt his oushtia Beem motel called the Belvidere, —— ly | the goal of the ed toward the Belvidere. ( eee eherincs play 0’ the to-night!” mentally ejacu- i Gpark didn’t expect to peared on the porch of the : ‘ioment later he opened the door ‘“Where is Chickadee Je Sight. “Tn his room asleep.” ‘Well, Lam his friend and bedfellow. You can go back to your cot, Dado Dan. I can find _ “The One-Eyed Sport crossed the room, opened ' a door and went u 8. Two mint ward he entered a small ee whose only lig t was that which came in at the window from the helf-moon in t cA bed stood against the wall, but it was not B enn e Sight looked at the cot for a few seconds and then shook his head; but instead of leaving the room he drew a revolver and leaned agaiust the wall near the window. Sin CHAPTER X. THE SECRET OF OLD FATALITY. Let us go back to Red Flash, back to the man who had come to the camp as Captain Ringbolt of the Great Gold Union, a scheme which we can say here fictitious one in his own brain. He awoke the morning after his severe chok- ing by the masked assailant with the effects of it still with him. Despite Kico Rob’s advice he felt like hunting up the owner of the gold ring, but_when he re- flected that Rob was going to Dolores that morning, he concluded to postpone the encoun- ter. As we already know, he saw the stage depart with Rico Rob for its only passenger, and then with a satisfied smile at the corners of his mouth, he went down to a Red Flash breakfast which, with some of Yuba Monte’s whisky, made him feel like his old self again. Having thus treated himself, Captain Ring- bolt sauntered from the Beelzebub with a cigar between his teeth. He met a number of men who touched their hats to him, for the rumor that he was a great man witha gigantic scheme had got abroad, and Red Flash was at all times ready to rush into anything that promised to increase its wealth. Of one of the men he met Captain Ringbolt in- quired the way to the fatal mine, and the miner-tough volunteered to show him. There was @ get of eagerness in the cap- tain’s eyes and tions abcut the mine, about the men who had died before Babette because they had held it, about its yield and its legends. He was told that Red Flash took but little stock in the worth of ‘Old Fatality,” that it had been worked to death before Babette took it, and so forth. Tro shaft was reached, and the man pointed Captain Ringbo’t to the heavy windlass that stood over the opening, with the rope and bucket that huny below it. “Ts the shuft deep?” “No. Thar’s a ladder along the wall—see?” answered the man. The Denverite gazed down the staft some minutes in silence. Attached to the ponderous frame of the der- rick was Chickadee’s claim as proprietor of the mine. A smile twinkled in the captain’s eyes as he read it. ‘ ‘*T believe I’ll go down,” he remarked. “‘Thar’s nothin’ to prevent ye,” was the an- swer. ‘‘ You'll find lights on a shelf at the bot- tom of the sbaft. Thar’s no water in the mine; it’s as dry as the Dolores trail.” The man from Denver thanked his guide as he moved off, and the next minute he was alone at the shaft of tbe fatal mine. “Pye been wanting to get back here for ears!” he ejaculated, ‘‘ By Jove! I am near he biggest bonanza of my life, and with a good report from Rico Rob, the whole thing will drop into my hands, Ill go down and see how it looks.” Captain Ringvols swung himself over the edze of the shaft, caught the ladder firmly, and began to descend, “This is better than being chased by a one- eyed demon!” he chuckled. “‘It is better than being robbed by a boy, too, ha! ha!” He was not long reaching the solid ground at the bottom of the sbaft. There was a dim light there, but not enough to let him do without a better one. He remembered the miner’s words, and searched for the mine lamp until he found it. Lighting it, he drew back from the sbaft and took a piece of paper from his bosom, ‘“‘T’ve got to get the kang o’ this bonanza be- fore I can go ahead!” he exclaimed, as he spread the paper out on his knee and began to examine it intently. It contained a diagram which looked like a labyrinth, it had so many dark lines, and here and there were figures and little arrows which seemed connected. ““T puess T can master this place!” Captain Ringbolt cried, getting up, ‘They don’t take much stock in the value of Old Fatality in Red Flash. The fools! that is because they don’t know anything about it.” A few moments later the man from Denver was exploring the mine with the lamp he had found at the bottom of the sbaft. Every now and then he would throw the light against the walls and inspect themfcr a minute, — then he would push on again into some new cor- i aa P ‘ sos gle Sight, the One-Eyed ©port. had no existence save a | e plied the native with ques- | ridor with a low ceiling, or through a chamber of considerable dimen-ions. There were some evidences of gold wherever | he went, but they were not strong enough to at- | tract a good miner. | Old Fatality Mine had been opened long be- fore the building of Red Flash, but by whom? No manin the gold *‘ city ” piet«nded to know! | At last Captain Ringbolt reacbed a small apartment which appeared to have but cne cut- | let, the one by which he hud reached it. ‘* This is the key to the secret!” he ejaculated. : “ Babette may have stood here a thousand times, _ but be never discovered the truth.” The Denverite looked at his chart once more and nodded approval of his course. The floor of the cavern was littered with | Spray of rock as they bad fallen from the pick. n two of the corners there were little heaps of stones. Captain Ringbolt went to one of these. His eyes had a wild, greedy glitter now. He hung the lamp upon a sharp rock above his head and removed the stones with his hands. After awhile he came to the ficor of the cavern; then, with his feet, he pushed the dirt aside and brought to light an iron ring! ‘** The fools never found this!” he cried, ‘* This scheme beats the Munchausen stories about the rei Denver Gold Union; it Coes, by Jupi- or! Captain Ringbolt got a good grip cn the rusty ring and pulled away till a door in the ground _ opened and revealed a dark passage. “This is the El Dorado that has cost a dozen lives, and which will cost ancther befcre to- morrow night!” he cried. ‘this is wealth it- self. And it is all mine, if I say so!” He took the lamp down and made its light | penetrate the opening. It seemed quite deep, but the light could not reveal the bottom. Nobody has followed me, “T am all alone. for Red Flash takes no stock in Old Fatality ha, ha, ha!” laughed the sport from Denver, en then he deliberately lowered himeelf into the opening with the mine lamp hanging from his arm. | He dropped but did not fall far, and when he alighted he stooped and crawled through a low passage for some distance. After a while he could stard erect again and the lamp revealed a chamber with rough walls and a hard floor. Captain Ringbolt walked toa — certain corner and kicked the earth away. Anotber iron ring! This time a display of his strength did not bring to }ght another trap, but it produced a small box bound with iron which he lifted from the ground with some difficulty. The lid came off with a growl and with eyes that seemed to blaze, the Denverite held the lamp over the box. : It was nearly filled with dark locking nuggets of all shapes. ‘*They haven’t been touched since we went pg he cried. ‘* This is the gold chamber of the biggest bonanza under ground. By Jupi- ter! a mine like this is worth guarding for years with the dagger. Ah! here is the document we left behind—the one that centains the names of the six original discoverers. True itis that na- ture had made these underground chambers. but _we deyelcped them. The Pretherhcod of tbe Mystie Mark stumbled upon this El Doredo... a. me see _ ia s he. e he tooka tin tube from amcng 2 the nuggets‘and drew forth a roll of } eper. oe _In the light of the lemp he saw some writing signed by six names, all in poor chirogre; by. — ** Where are they now?” ee exclaimed. ‘ Let me sce: Tiger Tom—dead! Bocmerang BPill— teak bs acgges ener oe Solid Sam— ost—probably dead. ico Rob, living ¢ ‘Redfield’—here!” Om: AES Captain Ringlolt called the roll to the end, then replaced the paper inthe tube, shut the box and dropped it back into the opening. “This is worth waiting and fighting tor!” ha ejaculated as he replaced the earth until no traces of the treasure remained. “’ve got nothing to do now but to goback andspin yrins on the porch of the Beelzebub till Rico Rob comes back. Then we'll show the one-eyed rob- ber that he can’t throttle‘ Redfield’ and ex: ape. After this the wind-up of the big gold game!’ Captain Ring! It turned back and the follow- ing moment be was moving toward the main shaft. But he had to emerge from the secret opening where he had lifted the door with the iron ring, pearene could walk straight to the mouth of e mine,
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, Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. ‘** Here I am!” he cried, when he reached the trap-door, and placing his shoulders against it, he raised it with little difficulty. The next instant a shrili cry saluted his ears, and the captain caught a glimpse of a figure in the light of a lamp. ‘Great God! what is this?” In a second he was out of the opening and his eyes, dilated with wonder and horror, saw before them the frightened face of the beauty of Red Flash—Finette ! ‘ The girl was no less astuished than the cap- ain, She had been looking at the door in the round, when, lo! it opened, and the face of the enverite came into view! “You have tracked me!” cried Ringbolt, as he pounced upon the breatbless girl like a hawk. **'You have turned spy! You think I am ‘ Red- field’ of the picture! No, my she-ferret, you don’t get away!” Finette drew back, but too late; the clutch of Captain Ringbolt was at her arm; his eyes seem- ed about to leap from his head, “I know it now! Youare ‘ Redfield’!” cried the girl. The Denverite broke into a derisive laugh. *“*T am more than ‘ Redfield.’ I am Satan in Colorado!” he exclaimed. Half an hour later Captain Ringbolt sat in the midst of a crowd on the porch of the Beelzebub, and his theme was the Great Denver Gold Union. Not far away was Babette’s little cabin, but it was empty, like a robbed nest! ‘ CHAPTER XI. A CELESTIAL IN A TRAP. “THEY'RE a little slow, but they'll get hyer, on started for this place; I’ll bet my head on 1 7 Single Sight muttered these words while he waited beside the window of Chickadee’s room at the Saints’ Rest in Dolores. As we know, he did not find the Boy Whip in bed, but instead of leaving the room on hunt of him, be had resolved to wait for certain parties whom he believed to be on their way thither. The One-Eyed Sport of Red Flash was keenly on the alert. He had seen enough of Rico Rob and Ab Sin in Dolores that night, had heard enough of their conversation to keep him at the window, re- volver in hand, and reacy for an emergency. It was some time after Single Sight’s arrival when there was a slight noise on the roof of the porch upon which the window looked. The sport did not move nor look out, but a smile appeared on his sallow face. “At last!” he mentally ejaculated. ‘* Which one will come first?" For some moments the sound was not repeat- ed; then it again assailed Single Sight’s ears, and a figure et the window blotted out the moon- ht on the wall. he following minute the lower sash crept up without noise, and the one eye saw the head that was thrust inside. “The advance guard is a celestial one!” mur- mured the sport. ‘Come on into the trap, my yaller heathen; the nest is occupied, but not by the bird you’re looking for.” The figure at the window continued to adyance by degrees, and in a little while Ah Sin, the Chinaman, dropped to the floor of Chickadee’s room. ; He did not see the grinning man beside the ere for his shadow did not fall upon the wall. **T guess Captain Rob isn’t comin’ up!” ejacu- lated Single Sight, for there was no longer any noise on the roof. Ah Sin was entirely in the room, and his somewhat grotesque shadow fell across the couch and against na aly # A.l at once the ash sport stepped quick- ly toward the Celestial; his right bast as Lifted above his head, and the next second it descended like a hand of doom. “Not a word! You’ve made your own tra you miserable yaller fraud!” hissed Single Sight in Ah Sin’s ears. The Chinaman was thunderstruck, and seemed to lose all vestiges of color as he looked into the sport’s face. ‘““What is that lying slong P hed sleeve thar? Hold it up!” continued Single Sight. Ah Sin hesitated, , “Hold it up, I say, or by Jupiter! Tl paint the wall with your brains!” ; Slowly the Chinaman’s hand came up, and something was seen to glitter in it. “Aha! A heart hunter!” ejaculated Single i ‘ ‘ Sight, as his eyes fastened their gaze upon a | ( long-bladed knife about whose hilt were wound the yellow fingers of the Chinese assassin. ‘* You were lookin’ for Chickadee, I presume. Well, come forward and do your work. Now or never!” The One-Eyed Sport dragged Ah Sin toward the bed, and laughed in his face when he showed him that it was empty. Ah Sin showed his chagrin in a disappointed look, and the Red Flash sport. heard him grind his teeth. ; ‘“*T'll take the knife,” continued Single Sight reaching for the dagger which the Celestial mechanically drew back, but he clutched his wrist and gave it such a wrench that Ah Sin uttered a cry of pain and let the’dagger fall to the floor. A look of discovery came from the sport's eyes when he saw the blade quivering in the spot of moonlight where it had fallen, and a moment later he forced Ah Sin back over the bed and | let his hand slip to his yellow throat. ‘* Where did you leave Rico Rob?” asked Sin- gle Sight. Ah Sin was inclined to be stubborn. ‘** 1f you think you can afford to play mum in this game, go ahead,” the One-Eyed Sport went | on. ** Tam somewhat famous for merciless plays | when my opponents act mulish. Where is the | captain?” ‘* Down below.” ‘* At the porch?” “ce Yes.” ‘**'You were goin’ to use your dagger on Chick- adee?” : Ah Sin did not reply. “The proof of your intent was lying along your sleeve awhile ago,” continued Single Sight. **T will go down and deliver your report to the captain,’ The Celestial started. * You’d rather deliver it yourself, I see,” smiled the sport. ‘‘ You will stay where you are. Maybe Chickadee will drop in upon you.” The Chinaman was completely in the sport’s ower, and within the next five minutes he was ashed to the bedpost, and gagged in an efficient manner, Tire darted from his eyes when he saw Single Sight step back with the intention of ‘eaving him there, but he could dono more than lock. The man from Red Flash did hot withdraw until he saw that his captive was well secured. ““The web has caught the spider,” grinned Single Sight, as he opened the door, and then Ah Sin was the only occupant of the room where he had expected to deprive the fatal mine of its sixth and last owner. He did not disturb Dado Dan sleeping at his post behind the counter in the lower room, but passed on tip-toe to the porch, and disappeared. ‘* Now for the giant,” he murmured, when he felt the wind in his face and heard the laugh of some night owls in a den near by. ‘‘ Where is my pee Rico Rob? Ah, here we are, old fel- ow } ] The man at the pillar heard the door open; he | must have seen the figure that tripped forward. | At any rate, he saw it soon, for Single Sight | halted at the edge of the porch and leaned a ward with triumph in his solitary eye. Rico Rob drew back. ‘Hello! Captain Rob!” ejaculated the Red | Flash sport, and then the giant saw who it was. | *You?—I thought you were in the old camp!” | MNe Pm hyer,” end Single Sigh | ‘No, I’m hyer,” sn ingle Sight jum } from the porch and covered the distance gueeen } them with a single stride. ‘‘I have just left | your friend Ah Sin. He didn’t find the person | he war lookin’ for. J happened to be in the | room instead o’ Chickadee,” ) “You?” ‘Why not?” Rico Rob threw a glance up at the window | above the porch. I ait “Oh, he won't come down just yet, captain,” | smiled Single Sight, and then he laid his left hand on the giant’s arm. ‘‘ Let us go an’ hunt Chickadee. P think I know whar to find him. Thar’s another place he visits sometimes,” “Td rather see you!” came through Rico Rob’s teeth, and his look gave his words a start- ling emphasis. ingle Sight straightened and drew back. “Shall it be alone?” he asked, l /and his shoulders were broad and massive, | contest!” he muttered. ' “Yes. This isour fight,” was the answer. ‘* Well, I am at your service,” exclaimed the ar ba ‘* Whither shall we go?” “There is an empty house within a stone’s : throw of the Saints’ 1rd “Tt will do.” Once more Rico Rob looked up at the window, and then lowered his gaze to the door by which Single Sight bad left the hotel. ‘*Come! the sooner the better!” he exclaimed, wheeling about, ‘‘I see you have tracked me from Red Flash. You have probably killed the Chinese. Well, he was no chum of mine!” “* Redfield took some stock in him, eh?’ smiled Single Sight. ‘‘ Well, Redfield can have him, if he wants that kind of pards., I ought to have finished the yellow rat when I had him in my hands.” The two men were walking from the little hotel; they were watching each other like a pair of rival hawks. Rico Rob towered a head above Single Sight, he possessed one-half of the desperate spore agility, he could easily master him. But Single ‘Sight seemed to doubt Captain Rob’s ability to win the contest. ‘* This is the house,” said the Red Flash giant, halting before a small house, and turning upon the man who had kept at his side. “Ts it empty?” ** Yes. Besides, Dolores has branded it as be- ing haunted,” and Rico Rob with a sarcastic laugh kicked the door open and waved Single Sig t inside. he interior of the house was dark, and the small amount of moonlight that entered when the door was open did not dissipate the gloom. The two men entered at nearly the same mo- ment, and one of Rico Rob’s hands caught the ' door and shut it. Single Sight stepped back till his heel touched the foot of an unseen well. ‘* One eye is as goodas two in here!” he ejacu- lated to himself. ‘‘Captain Rob hasn’t the ad- vantage of me in that respect. And then he drew the dagger he had taken from the China-° ~ man and waited, He knew that a duel in the dark was nota’ new thing to the man who faced him somewhere _ between the walls of the empty house. ‘ If stories related often at the giant had fcught more than one such duel, and in every instance with success, -< ‘‘ By Jove! what is this fight for?’ suddenly exclaimed a voice in the darkness. Va “You me ee to know. ‘You proposed it,” ar swered the One-Eyed Sport. ‘Yes. Itis to put an end to your tra What kind of a weapon do you hold?” “*T have the iron-bandled r I fo along Ah Sin’s sleeve awbileago. It would p duce a sensation in Red Flash if I should driv it into the door of the Beelzebub, for a da just like it has killed the five proprietors of Fatality Mine!” i ‘* Then, you think—” Z “Tthink nothing. J know /” Sight. A moment’s ._ Bt eee er at a Flash were true, © arf then the voice of Car Rob came through the ~~ daraness and eta ae ae “ie ‘*T have a bowie just as "itsaid. ‘‘ Get ready! The fight is on, Th mah goes asinglo Raxht ceepped toteslaealy to thoi lt ingle Sight step noise to the right, and go hari Shocensuess blade. genes ‘The blind colonel’s future depends on this CHAPTER XII. HOT WORK. It was Single Sight’s first duel in the dark and between four walls, ‘ There was something thrilling in the meeting; he had followed Rico Rob from Red Flash, he had already connected him with Captain Ring- bolt, and since the iron-handled dagger had fall- en into his hands, another thought had flashed across his mind. ey For several minutes after Rico. Rob's last words, the silence of the dark house was not broken. 8 i If a light could have been flashed into the room, it would have showed the two men, stand- ing face to face a short distance apart, the right hand of each about the hilt of a bowie, and ready for the duel. 1 at once a rap sounded on the door, one, — two, three times it struck. : “Didn't I tell you this house was haunted” laughed the Red Flash giant. “This is the ghost. He always knocks before he comes in,” - The last rap died away, and then the door, te o¥ a. : Tie lea » ae we
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10 without a sound. which had creaked when Rico Rob opened it, Sa his eyes were still riveted upon the One- A puff of night air came in, but no figure was | to be seen. Despite his*coolness, Single Sight felt a shiver steal along his bones, and the mountain giant drew back and fixed his wondering eyes on the door. Neither of the duelists spoke. The door swinging back left the entrance clear and the One-Eyed Sport glancing out saw the stars. Why didn’t Rico Rob shut the door and de- clare the duelon? He could touch it by putting out his hand, This thought was in Single Sight's brain when somebody came in. No noise accompanied the visitor, but both men knew that they were not the only tenants of the cabin. “Tt is the ghost!” mentally ejaculated the one- eyed tough as he shrunk to the wall at his back. “Great heavens! 1 did not expect a character of this kind to interfere in this game.” Aided by the starlight Single Sight could see a form between him and Rico Rob. It was tall and ghostilike, but it had the shape of a woman. “In God’s name, what is this?’ cried Rico Rob. “I’ve heard of haunted cabins, but this is the first one I ever found, It is nearer Single es than me. What is going to be the end of “T am the Queen of Death!” said a sepulchral voice, and two long white hands were lifted be- tween the mountain foes. “By Jupiter! I believe it,” exclaimed the iant. ‘I don’t fightin a den of spirits. Je- ane my bones are packed in ice now. We -* must hunt another field, Single Sight.” Rico Rob went toward the door with bis last word; he did not look whether the One-Eyed Sport was at his heels. To get beyond the precincts of that cabin _. ‘was enough for him. ‘- .A& cold sweat stood on his brow when he found himself in the starlight once more, He had te clutch his bowie anew to hold it. A smile stole over his face however when he looked around and found Single Sight at his * yay The face of the One-Eyed Sport had suddenly + lesee white, and his ‘single orb had a frighten- K “You can’t stand ghosts, I see?’ cried Rico avs “Ne more than you can,” was the answer. 6 Red Flash giant threw a look toward the et us get away from here,” he ejaculated. ere ee another place—if you want to 5,” he added looking into Single Sight’s ~ oo * ee 70 »", replied the sport. “ You ee "So 1 did; but who thought a spirit would 2 wi ' j me Sigh Bene bic Pest “ at mM» g to brace up first,” continu ico ro shall step into Bodie’s a moment. fter that ae conclusions again.” ‘he giant started off watched and followed by e rbed Sport. ' Th ccna ioe ‘to fight now,” mut- . she Sight. ‘He has another scheme in * mead. ne tore 7 a Rob did not stop until the porch of e’s famous hotel was reached. “Will you go in?’ he suddenly asked turning - _uponthe One-Eyed. No. I will wait for you here,” was the re- sponse and the giant passed into the place. He walked st ight to the little room edictnias the faro hall on the second floor, but w he turned from the counter he did not go out by the same door. me On the contrary he passed below by another ray, y one which took him into the street but not on the side of the house occupied by Single Sight. “There might be a mistake. I can’t afford to risk it,” he ejaculated. ‘The ghost of the haunted came in in the nick of time all. B guy event, the youngster will come back to Flash. Then there will be ne misplay, Ah Sin will not be sent ahead to show bis hand. This one man is in the way. He will always be while he lives, Ah! he is still es here!” ‘This last ejaculation was called forth by see- ing the figure of Single Sight in front of the hotel as he waited for the man who had gone in te chase the ghost-fright away with a glass of _— Blowly Ricc Rob drew a silver-mounted six- Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. ny “T ouess PU transfer my hand to Red Flash!” he said through his as the revolver crept up until it covered the unsuspecting sport. All at once the night echoes were disturbed by the sharp crack of the sport's revolver, and with it the man in front of the hotel threw up his hands and pitched forward.” Rico Rob saw him strike one of the wooden pillars of the porch with a dull thud, then, with a laugh, be turned on his heel and walked away. Looking back over his shoulder he saw no excitement caused by the cowardly shot. Pistol-shots were too common in Dolores to disturb any one, ‘‘ That is better than the knifein a dark cabin,” exclaimed the Red Flash giant. ‘It is one of the best. plays the captain has ever had on his side. Now let the boy miner-king come back. He will find things held by strong hands. There is no Single Sight to come between with his one demon eye!” Rico Rob walked down the narrow street till he reached a cabin at whose door he knocked. ‘‘Gome in!” said two voices at once, and he found himself before a man and a woman play- ing cards at a small table. “ Ah! Captain Rob o’ Red Flash!” exclaimed the man. ‘Make room for him, Susie—” ‘No, not tonight, Mondragon,” interrupted the giant. ‘I want a horse.” “You can have anything I have,” was the re- Ply. “A horse, eh, Captain Rob?” he man got up. “Ts it for a long ride?” he went on. “To Red Flash.” “Then youshall have Benito,” and Mondragon went out. A few minutes later his bearded face appeared at the door. “The horse, captain,” he exclaimed. ‘ Benito the First—the horse with the electric hoofs.” Rico Rob waved the woman good-night and joined the man in the starlight. Mondragon was holding the lines of a dark —_ with a magnificent neck and agile imbs. ! In a moment the Red Flash giant was in the saddle, “Pll come back rich enough to buy a thousand horses,” he laughed leaning toward the Dolores sport, “Not like Benito!” cried Mondragon. ‘‘ His hoofs are worth two thousand a piece!” ‘Oh, I'll be rich enough to give ten thousand for each of them!” and Rico Rob touched the horse with one of the spurs and went off like a rocket, He took the nearest cut to the Red Flash trail, and found it near town. Then away he dashed over the mountain road, not rough there for it was wid. and dusty, and the horse carried him along at a gait that eee to take him to Red Flash in a short in e. “What will the captain say? cried Rico Rob. ‘“ He'll grow] a little at first, but when I report in full, he will be anxious for the play against the boy. Ah Sin found nothing m the room over the porch. Yes, he did! he found Single Sight, and that was quite enough, I think!” Rico Rob was galloping over the mountain trail when a man emer from Bodie’s Hotel and stopped suddenly over a figure lying at the foot of the porch. In a moment he was stooping over the body of Single Sight, and the next minute a dozen = stood rons 3 ‘ingle Sight in his flashy garments and gilt buttons was well known ti Doldeee, but om blood-bespattered unconscious man on the porch was not recognized. “The man is dead!” said some one. “Shot in his boots!” was the reply. “*He gasped then—I'll swear he did!” “Great heavens! I know that man!” and a boy pean forward till he stood over the Red Flash sport. The crowd stared at the young speaker who seemed greatly interested in the man lying full length on the porch. Dolores knew him as Chickadee, the boy whip of the Red Flash and Dolores stage line. “T see through the whole thing,” mentally murmured the . “They came together— Single Sight and Rico Rob. “I wonder what has become of the Red Flash giant.” Within the next twenty minutes Chickadee’s ood luck and shrewdness had discovered one fhin —that Captain Rob bad gone back to Red on Mondragon’s horse Benito. ** That is enough!” cried the young owner of Old Fatality. ‘* Where that man and Captain Ringbolt are, I must be!” The sports of Dolores were surprised to see the young whip harness his sturdy team to the stage where it stood in the starlight. As he mounted to the box and gathered up the lines, the crowd gave him a_ hearty cheer. The next moment the old vehicle was on the road again. It had one passenger. CHAPTER XIII. RICO ROB REPORTS. An Stn, the Celestial, was left bound and gagged in the little room at the Saints’ Rest, to be discovered by the proprietor some time after Chickadee’s departure. The Chinaman at first refused to give any ac- count of his adventure, but, when threatened with punishment by half a dozen of the toughs of Delaien, he admitted just enough to secure prompt banishment, so that, while the boy whip was dashing over the trail toward Red Flash, Ah Sin was conducted to the edge of the mining- town and told to make himself scarce. He was vindictive; he wanted revenge for the treatment he had received, and when he turned his back on Dolores, it was with a threat on his lips and with flashing eyes. In the mean time, Chickadee was urging the horses to their best over the trail that stretched between the two mountain camps. The boy knew that Rico Rob was far ahead, mounted on the fastest horse in Dolores, and that the sure-footed animal would take him swiftly to Red Flash. The base attempt on Single Sight’s life pro- claimed its author, and the boy miner had to put very few things together to feel assured that the Red Flach giant was playing a desperate game of death and gold for the man who had come from Denver to make a bold strike. On, on went the stage! Its one passenger was a man who occupied the forward end of the vehicle, He wore a bandage around his head, and un- der the wide brim of his dark-gray sombrero. At times he looked like a person sound asleep, but every now and then he would start and look out at the wild country through which he was being carried. _ He could see the tall.trees and the lofty rocks in the starlight, and whenever the stage struc a comparatively smooth streak of trail and in- creased its speed, a smile of satisfaction would appear at bis lips. “ He didn’t bargain for this!’ Chickadee’s passenger ejaculated more than once. ‘‘He would change his tactics a little if he knew that Lam on the old trail with my face turned to- ward Red Flash.” ‘How are you down there?” suddenly rung out the voice of the boy on the box. “ All right!” laughed the passenger. “Weare making splendid time. We'll run into Red Flash before any of the boys are up.” “That's just when I want tostrike it,” was the response.“ Captain Rob thinks he is havin’ it all his own way, but wait till I throw down my trumps. Ah! it was kuife and trigger to- night. A ghost broke up the duel in the cabin, ard good luck spoiled his sbot.” Rico Rob was far ahead of the stage that four strong borses pulled over the trail. He had allowed Benito to slacken his gaita little, but still he was going at a good gallop to- ward Red Flash. : “J didn’t want to finish the sixth proprietor because he was Chickadee, but I would have fared better if I had not sent Ah Sin to the play 1” he muttered. “That accursed Chinaman let Single Sight frighten him out of all his nerve. Why didn’t he use the knife he carried along his sleeve? By va sak I hope he’s been disabled forever! The Celestial is Captain Ringholt’s choice. His first ag Soe Red Flash failed; the boy got the better otf him there; now, Single Sight beats him in Dolores. I will have no more Celestial business in this game!” It was still dark when Rico Reb rode Benito into Red Flash, Daylight was not far away, but no signs of it were at hand, and the mountain giant cantered slowly throvgh the streets, stirring the dam dust which prevented his steed’s hoofs from send- ing forth any sound. He rode straight to the porch of Yuba Mcnte’s up at Captain Ring- famous hotel, and glancec bolt’s window with a curious smile. “Sleepin’ the sleep o’ the innocent!” ejaculat- ed Rico Rob. ‘My dear captain, I don’t like to disturb your dreamless slumbers, but I’m eager ——
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a il Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. Captain Ringbolt made no reply, though there | had all these things nicely arranged when 1 | was a meanful look in his eyes, was here last, but they have been disturbed. |_ “* Well, we'll have to let her go,” he said at | Ah! Captain Ringbolt, are you still after Red- | last. ‘*She isnot between us and the bonanza. | field’s picture?” She believes Iam the ‘ Redfield’ whose picture The young detective looked into the chest for | Babette held; but that knowledge will not balk | a while, but did not remove any thing, then he us.” closed it and got up. “In the first place, become of Finette!” he ejaculated. sence at this time savors of foul play. first man I meet-— Hello! Tucson Tony!” Chickadee was at the open door of the cabm and the man whom he had saltited stopped sud- to get rid of the information that puffs me out. | Ah! bere we are!” He left the saddle and led the horse to one of the pillars vf the porch, then crossed it easily and entere:l the house. Captain Rob knew where to find Captain Ringbolt, for te went straight. to the stair, and ascended to the room occupied by the man from denver. He tound. the door locked. I want to know what has *“ Her ab- The “* Not in her hands!” was the answer. **Tn whose, then?” ‘In the boy’s if we let him go on which we do ‘Guarded against any more visits from. Singie | not intend doing!” spoke Rico Rob through his Sight, eh!” he laughed, and then he rapped | teeth. ‘‘ Hehas been playing detective ever since lightly until.a footstep approached the door. ' Babette died. Ho measured certain foot tracks ——- Rico Rob’s voice was enough to open the door | in a.moment, and he found himself face, to face with a thoroughly astonished man. ‘* Back already?” exclaimed Captain Ringbolt, as he stared at his visitor. ‘*I didn’t think that old stage—” ** The stage is in Dolores!” interrupted Rob. ** What bas bappened here?” Captain Ringbolt’s eyes glittered. *DPve got. Red Flash mterested in the Gold Union scheme,” he said, with a grin. “If it wasn’t for the other scheme, I believe I could bankrupt, Red Flash in a few days. I’ve been down. into * Old Fatality.’” * Alone, of course?” ‘* Alone,” was the reply, though the man from Denver seemed to start at the question. “Tt is all there yet, captain?” “Yes, had to» study the diagram a little, but I soon mastered it. Now, what have you done?” Captain pine was anxious to hear Rico Rob’s report, He know what had taken the Red Flasi giant to Dolores as Chickadee’s passenger, and ths man’s prompt return told. him that the business had been successful, “Well. I did some work, but the boy still | handles the lines,” he began. Captain. Ringbolt. uttered an exclamation of digpppoiniinan , “ if What other work could you do?” he cried. “ Chicka:lee is the sixth proprietor of the great b ; ‘“ f know that.” “Hoe is the one person between us and the rize.” “Where was another person,” replied Rico Rob, ‘‘and a personas dangerous as the boy. Well, I dealt with him.” Ringbolt was puzzled, “Dve kept my hands off of the man called Single Sight, though I still hold the ring he left here when he choked me,” he said. ‘‘I haven’t seen him all day.” “T should say not!” laughed Rico Rob. “He went down to Dolores.” ; ; “That one-eyed strangler?” ejaculated Ring- t. “ Yes.” “ On. your trail, eh?” “ Why didn’t you show him the ‘ hand’ that wins under all circumstances?” “*Mebbe I did, captain,” Captain Ringbolt sprung forward as he gave vent to an ejaculation of joy. “Ah! you have done me a favor!” he ex- claimed. ‘‘T feel the effects of his grip at this moment, You found him in Dolores, on your trail, of course; you turned hunter yourself and showed him a play that has avenged me!” “‘T saw him throw up his hands and pitch for- ward like you’ve seen men do in your time, cap- tain,” smiled Rico Rob. The Denverite nodded and looked at the man before him. : He knew what the words meant. “ After that,” be said, “ you thought best to come to Red Flash?” “Yes. With the one-eyed interferer out 0’ the way, the boy will not be hard tohandle. Single Sight knew that you.are Redfield?” The knowledge did him no good!” cried Ring- bolt ‘‘T believe that the boy knows it, too,” “ Ana the girl, Finette,” nodded the man from Denver. ‘But she bas disappeared. I should have told you before, perhaps.” Rico Rob gave Captain Ringbolt a singular but. a searching look. : « Finette gone?” he cried. ‘‘ What does it 9 n ‘** T don’t know.” . ““ What does Red Flash think?” ; ‘Red Flash is of one opinion, and that is that she has gone over to Wildcat City where Babette had a mine. . -“ Babette sold that minea week before he died, and Finette knew of the sale,” exclaimed Rico Rob. ‘If the girl is missin’, she has not gone to ‘Wildcat City. — I found the box with the nuggets. TI /| in the dust where the body was found; he has not, been idle a moment since the tragedy.” wep ys we Ringbolt raised his clinched hand and struck the table at his right. ‘* We don’t want any young lynxes after us!” | he cried, ‘‘ There istoo much at. stake. The | sixth owner of ‘Old Fatality’ must lose his pile He will come back to | within forty-eight hours! Red Flash, you say?” ‘He is here now!” Rico Rob stepped to the window and listened. He heard a heavy vehicle passin front of the pricy he had heard it too often not to know what it was, Chickadee was taking his team to the stables a short distance from the hotel, and just as Rico Rob turned to the Denver sport to confirm. his | own ejaculation, the stage door opened and its | one passenger slipped out and darted away. “You know the programme!” he shouted to | the boy detective. “ We’ve got to play a solid | game together!” CHAPTER XIV. CHICKADEER’S NEW MOVE. gee not. long after these events till day- light. | Captain Ringbolt did not like the idea of Chickadee, the boy miner, coming back to Red | Flash, but what he could not help he had to put up with. As for the young proprietor of Old Fatality | Red Flash miner with a. grin, | Mine, he unharnessed his horses with more than his usual agility, and his first visit had been. to his own cabin, which had not been. disturhed during his absence. While the morning was yet fresh, he saw Ringbolt enjoying a cigar on the porch of the Beelzebub. The man from Denver looked very contented, even if hedid not feel exactly at his ease, Chickadee had come back—so had Rico Rob, and this latter fact softened the captain’s disap- pointment. “That man is playing as cool a game as was ever played in Colorado,” ejaculated Chickadee, while he surveyed Ringbolt. ‘He is certainly the ‘Redfield’? mentioned by Babette in the document found behind the daguerrotype, but here he masquerades. as the agent of the Great Denver Gold Union, which exists only in his fer- tile brain. We have connected Rico Rob with that schemer. ' I know that they were acquaint- ed before they met one another here the other day. It is strange that Captain Ringbolt should drop into Red Flash so soon after the knife took Babette’s life. Did he know the work was to be done? Ah, my old chief of the Mystic Mark! Something startling will salute you before you’re many hours older if certain plans don’t miscarry |” For some time the kidded Denverite continued to enjoy his cigar in meditation, when he threw it away and retired into the hotel. Red Flash was astir when he sought the porch again, and he was soon greeting some new ac- quaintances with a pleasant smile, which he knew how to manipulate to his own advantage. Chickadee strolled down to Finette’s home a short time after sighting Captain Ringbolt on the porch. The boy whi appearance ; hah since his return. ; A few knocks at Finetite’s door elicited no re- sponse, then Chickadee lifted the catch and went knew nothing of the girl's dis- ad seen no citizen of Red Flash ~. Dn. The bright sunlight of a new day streamed in at the window, but Babette’s young ward was | tain Ringbolt’s big bonanza ter an extent not on hand to greet him. There were evidences that the cabin had not | time. and not very long ago, either, when Ca been occupied for some time. ‘“‘ What does this mean?” cried Chickadee as |-bubble should stay two hours in Red he stood in the middle of the room and took in his surroundings. ‘* Finette—Finette, where are you?” Of course there was no response, and sudden- ly catching sight of the miner’s chest Chickadee crossed the room and threw back the lid. ‘*This chest has been lately searched and not by Finette either!” he exclaimed. “ Finette ble! and Ill pose as a Colorado nabob from the bo ee of our initiation!” And ; oe and inserted his thumbs into denly, stared. at him for a moment and then came forward. ‘* Finette’s given you ther slip, eh?” cried the “She served us. all the same trick.” ‘* Where is she?” ‘* We've an idea she’s gone ter Wildcat City ter look arter ther mine Babette bad thar.” “The one he sold before he was killed!” ex- c’aimed Chickadee, quickly. ‘*‘ When did Fin- ette go?” “Yesterday.” ‘Who saw. her leave?’ ‘** Nobody an’ thet’s What kind o’ puzzles us, Didn’t she leave any word behind thet you kin find?” ‘* No. clew at all,” and the boy smiled faintly, **So Red Flash has concluded that she has gone- to Wildcat?” ** Pretty much so.” “Come in here, ony.” The miner who was dark of face, broad shoul- dered and considered not very industrious en- tered the girl’s cabin—the first time for him— and dropped into the chair the boy pushed to- ward bim. One of Tony’s occupations was to loaf about the Beelzebub, and he was called in derision. Yuba Monte’s Silent Partner a name to which, good-natured as he was, he did not object. / ‘*Hoe’s the great man from Denver comin, on?” asked Chickadee when Tucson Tony batt taken the chir. ‘Ho! the man at the Beslzebub?” ; “ Yes.” hag att ‘* Well, he’s a cute one,” laughed Tony “Go- = | in’ to make us all millionaires, you see!” and 38 the Silent Partner drew one of his lower lids . _ down and grinned. one ‘** Has he developed his scheme?” asked the boy, — “ Only enough of it ter make Red Flash iteh all over,” was the response. ‘‘By glory!it’sthe most gigantic thing onice. Why, my en: 2 shares in Old Calamity may be worth as | : thousands in a’ few weeks, and—Jupiter! I cai explain all the grandeur of that wonderful bul An’ he talks itso glib, too. We're ter into the Great Denver Gold Union next wee a the qapy leaned bees manner supremely ridiculous, armpits a or “Who are his dupes, Tony?” y asked the boy. ae ‘‘ Dupes, eh?” cried. the Silent Partner, affect~ _ ing surprise. , ' £F “ His visitors, then.” cet ire “Ah! that’s better! He had one very early this morning—just a while before daylight” ~ Bee pod big iin. iio : ? “ae * Rico 5 1appened | , an’ [ saw \ Rico ride up ter ther Beelzebub on a horse that doesn’t b’long hyer. He left the animil porch and went in ter consult with Ringbolt.” ; y ‘* How do you know with him?” é ap oh ‘* Because [ saw two people at ther window oF ther captain’s room shortly after.” ; Chickadee did not start, “ He seen.ed to bave expected something of this kind and Tony’s information had only confirmed a guess. ‘*Captain Rico went to Dolores with you, didn’t he?’ asked the Silent Partner, suddenly turning questioner, “ Yes ’ a “Td like ter know what fetched him back on astrange hoss! He may be interested in oe makes hum quick and anxious; but 1 know ther tain Ringbolt swore that no man with i Chickadee smiled. Sra “ Ah! you’ve heard the same boast too!” ejac- ulated Tony. , ‘a “Forty times,” laughed the boy; but his face suddenly grew serious. “Ts there one man in Red Flash who does not think that Finette has gone to Wildcat?” he asked.
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~ 12 ““T guess not,” was the answer. ‘Captain Ringbolt seems to take a good deal of interest in | Finette. He was the first person to discover that she was not at home. He dropped in to see her.” ** When?” Sos 8 SS |) me * Yesterday.” ] Chickadee thought instantly of the condition of 3 the chest’s contents, and his eyes got a new light. am ‘Very anxious, if see, captain,” he murmured. sta “Where is the Denver gold-agent now?” 7 “At the Beelzebub, I presume. He’s made cla Yuba Monte’s place his headquarters, an’ he’s oul to be found there at all hours.” 1 ‘““Has he said anything about Old Fatality, SOr my new pro erty?” I ‘He looked into it yesterday to pass away me time, he says,” replied Tony. “Jingle Johnny or + ‘saw him crawl out 0’ the shaft, an’ he told on 4 ther porch last night that it might have re- eye sources in reserve. Mebbe you'd better join “G ther ‘ Union,’ Chickadee, What’s driving stage thi: ter bein’ a nabob? An’ then think o’ Babette!” 4 “T never forget him, Tony!” and Chickadee for. Jeaned forward and clutched the loafer’s arm. I “The hand that deprived Finette of a protector of ¢ will feel the stroke of vengeance before long.” 9 ‘*V'd like ter see you find it!” and Tucson Rol Tony gave a derisive laugh. is t “Tt may be nearer than you think,” was the Sig: reply; ‘but never mind. I believe I'll look this after Captain Ringbolt now,” and the boy de- “ tective started on. vok “Do you want ter invest?’ demanded the Si- twe lent Partner. pa ‘Yes, but not in the bubble he is blowing for 1aa your amusement. Captain Ringbolt is a bigger OSt fraud than his gold scheme!” * mus “You don’t want ter tell him that.” Res “T may,” was the quiet response. ‘I give you athousand thanks for your information, ony.” ces ons 0’ which you will repeat to ther Den- verite, I hope; in a way ter compromise me?” . “«». “Certainly not.” “When Chickadee left Finette’s cabin with “. Tony, he walked toward the hotel. “While the clear day was not far advanced, ‘the porch had a number of occupants, big fel- _* ows who loved a hard seat to a pick in the . * mines, _. Chickadee looked in vain for Rico Rob, but - notso for the man from Denver, for Ringbolt -Jeaned back in bis chair blowing rings of smoke _ * “toward the rafters, while he discussed in glow- ing language the gigantic scheme which had iY By set one half of Red Flash wild. . Hedid not see Chickadee until he .tepped upon the porch, and the boy’s sudden appearance ca a break in one of the captain’s most elo- ent sentences, } - In an instant the eyes of man and boy met. Can I see you a moment, captain?” asked Chickadee, advancing until he laid his finger on @ Denverite’s arm, - *T am here,” was the reply. But my business is private. I won’t detain ge" ~ The Denver sport tilted his chair forward and gov ups yi mae Come this way,” he said, “ We will goto my t nm %, ” : Captain Ringbolt led Chickadee into his sec- » ond-story q rs, and turned to confront his visitor only to see a sparkle in the young detec- ve’s ey: é ae _** I want to know where Finette is!” exclaimed ee. ickadee. Cat ae . aes -C PER XV. * BOMBSHELLS AT THE BEELZEBUB. “You want to know where Finnette is, eh?” - echoed Captain Ringbolt, ap ing thunder- struck by the boy’s demand. ‘Don’t you think ‘you’ve come to the wrong intelligence office?” and the Denverite chuckled as if be had said a ie 4 good things by Si’ Chickadee was not abashed, although he now pee) well knew that he confronted ‘ Redfield,” the to ris old chief of the Brotherhood of the Mystic Mark. haunt “ T know you don’t keep an eg, ek office,” after. replied ibe hey: “but for all that, I ask you for come Finette.” ne mi Ringbolt, seeing that he had not intimidated — will ¢ ‘front, ~~ there _ ** T don’t know where Finette is!” he declared. Nae “That is all,” answered Chickadee, stepping — back,..“* T only wanted an answer, yes or no.” He went tothe door followed by Ringbolt’s ad “ey 4 * You ‘* Hold on!” exclaimed the Denverite. think I know where the girl is.” _ “T have not said so,” the boy calmly returned. oa -have to take thingsin hand myself. Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. ** Well, you don’t want to!” was the threaten- | on, his voice getting more volume as he pro- ing retort. ‘*I am here on business, and I don’t intend to be interviewed or interrupted by—by a boy!” ** All right, captain,” smiled the young whip of the stage line. ‘‘ You can attend to the busi- ness that is connected with your Denver gold bubble. If you find eny suckers in Red Flash take them in. Good-morning!” and before the sport from Denver could detain the agile boy, he was gone, “Why didn’t Rico do his duty in Dolores?” exclaimed Ringbolt glaring through the open door at the figure of Chickadee tripping down stairs. ‘‘He intrusted it to Ah Sin_and of course the Celestial Greaser failed. By Jove! VIL The girl, eh? How did he get it into his head that I know any thing about the angel of Red Flash? The camp says she’s gone to Wildcat City, and,” with a laugh, ‘‘ the camp ought to know!” Chickadee had alrendy disappeared, and when he had calmed down, Ringbolt went’ below to join the loungers of the porch, whom he had left a few minutes before. As he walked toward the crowd with a lighted cigar between his teeth, and showing no signs of his late passion, Rico stepped upon the porch, and, at a nod from him Kingbolt turned back into the bar-room, “The devil's ter pay,” arnounced Rob as he appeared in the doorway. ‘‘The stage fetched the one-eyed galoot back from Dolores.” The Denverite started. **T thought—” he began. “T thought so, too,” interposed the giant; “* but you know it was done in the starlight, an’ them kind o’ shots ain’t certain. The man is hyar with a bandage about his head and venge- ance in the only eye the Indians left him, years ago. We've got to resort to peremptory meas- ures, now, captain. Ar’ you ready?” Ringbolt laid his hand on Rico Rob’s arm. “Do you mean that I must be ‘ Redfield’ again?” he asked. ‘* Just that and no flinchin’.” A moment's silence followed the reply. “Then, I’m ready!” And the man from Den- ver exhibited the butts of two revolvers on his person: ‘I can be ‘ Redfield’ in the twinklin of ‘aneye. Ihave more than one-half of R Flash with me now. ‘You can sway the rest. What is the programme?” “Simply this: Single Sight is to be shot on sight, After him, the sixth owner of the fatal mine! He was here, eh?” “He just went away. He wanted to know what had become of Finette; just as if I knew,” and Captain Ringbolt laughed, sardonically. ‘*You told him, of course,” exclaimed Rico Rob. *T sent him off no wiser than when he came.” ‘© We make the big bold play for the unmined millions before sundown, captain.” ‘* Call on me at any time.’ ‘The time is now. Come!” And Bob led the way to the porch. Captain Ringbolt was not far behind. “T heard a voice just now that must be si- lenced!” muttered the giant, as the two passed through the bar-room door. ‘* Keep your eyes open. The sinyle-sighted Satan can’t be far away.” As the twain reached the porch, several voices sung out: ‘** Hyer’s Cap’n Ringbolt!” ** And there is the man whose bullet plowed a furrow over 3 ear!” cried the one-eyed man, as his hand went up and covered Rico Rob. The toughs of Red Flash saw the quick move- ment made by the giant’s hand; they knew what it meant. “Gentlemen of Red Flash, that man won’t shoot till ’m through,” continued Single Sight. ‘*He wants to bear me as much as youdo, Last night bis bullet tumbled me against the porch 0’ Bodie’s Hotel, in Dolores, He came hyer on Mondragon’s horse, Benito. He consulted with Captain Ringbolt before daylight, The captain there will confirm it, Whet brought Rico Rob back to Red Flash so suddenly? Why, bless you, gentlemen, he was afraid that bis share in Old Fatality needed attention.” : “That's enough!” shouted Rico Rob, “A lie ’s a lie at all times! Stan‘ back «nd let me show the one-eyed eel o’ Red Flash—” | ceeded. ‘*The livin’ shareholders of ‘ Old Fatality’ stand thar in ther persons of. Rico Rob an’ ‘ Redfield’ Ringbolt, the chief an’ the assassin!” Ringbolt uttered an oath and sprung forward. *“‘T want to shoot the lie through the liar’s heart!” he exclaimed. ‘ I am Ringbolt of Den- ver!” ‘“‘* Redfield’ of Shasta!” repeated Single Sight. ‘Gentlemen, if you will examine ‘the shoulders of those men you will find the tattoo of the Mystic Brotherhood.” “Then, what are you?” roared the man from Denver. A smile of triumph overspread the face of the One-Eyed Sport. ‘‘Behold what I am!” he exclaimed as his hands went up to his bosom,and as he threw back his figure he tore open his shirt for all the crowd to see. 'P ‘“‘T am one of the two living representatives of the little gold-camp which, years ago, nestled among the shades of Shasta!” he went on as the occupants of the porch stared at a mass of scars on the man’s breast. ‘1 belonged to Happy Gulch City. Iam one of the ni men who felt the vengeance and the merciless Ceviltry of the Brotherhood of the Mystic Mark. You came down upon us in the night, and when you -vent away Happy Gulch City existed only in smok- ing ruins. Three men out of the :ixteen hada spark of life left. They crawled together and swore to bide their time if they lived. One of the three died a short time ago; he fell hecause he had the courage to claim Old Fatality Mine— because he was Babette! I am another of the heaven-spared trio of Happy Gulcb City. The third man will be seen by-and-by.” ‘*Whar’s Baron Munchausen?’ rung out the voice of Rico Rob, as he glanced over the breath- less toughs on the porch. ‘‘ This story discounts anything he ever told. By Jupiter! captain. this even beats your Great Denver Gold Union!” and he turned to the man from Denver with a sar- costic laugh. The one eye of the Red Flash sport was seen to scintillate with indignation. “Rico Rob,” he cried, ‘‘may laugh down the massacre of Happy Gulch City, but there is a proof which he dare not smile at!” At that moment the figure of a boy leaped nimbly upon the porch behind Single Sight and pushed bis way to the front. ‘*T can produce the proof of their last crime!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ Here are twoiron-handled dag- gers, One killed Babette; the other came from Denver with Captain Ringbolt. They are ex- actly alike, you see, gentlemen. Now look at the sole of Rico Rob’s left boot. It bas thirteen iron nails in one side; the right sole has but seven! The man who wore those boots the night Babette died committed the crime. He left his marks in the dust; the footsteps have been measured and the nails counted. The Chinese assassin is not here to complete the trio. Single Sight left him last night bound to a bed-post in the Saints’ Rest at Dolores. Chickadee did not step back when he had completed his accusation, but kept his position and looked at the two men. What would they do? The face of Captain Ringbolt was crimson, while on Rico Rob’s = 9 sat a sneering smile, The crowd held back, but the excitement was intense. “T am the sixth and last proprietor of Old Fatality Mine‘” suddenly cried Chickadee. “TI accuse thosemen of murder! Let them be tried!” CHAPTER XVI TWO LIONS AT BAY. CAPTAIN RINGROLT looked at the stern crowd which now pressed him almost to the weather- boarding, and burst intoa laugh. “T call that man ‘Redfield’ of the Mystic Mark!” added Single Sight, again covering the Denverite with his finger. ‘‘ The person at his right, who has been Rico Rob to Red Flash, had another name when the brotherhood swooped down upon Happy Gulch City. lf those men are innocent, they shall go free. I can bring from Dolores within twelve hours a man who can identify Captain Ringbolt by his voice, thongh he has not seen him since the destruc- “That thar’s no ghost in this camp, eh?” tion of our little camp among the mountains.” langhed Single Sight without stirring. “Tf will put an end to this, gentlemen. the two men thar is the blood of Babette!” The crowd started in evident astonishment, On the hands of | sport. ‘“Produce your witness!” cried the Denver “‘T proclaim that this is a conspiracy to break the power of the Great Gold Union.” ‘The Great Gold Imposture!” corrected Sin- “That slick lookin’ kidded sport, who has | gle Sight; then he turned upon the crowd, to de- been fillin’ field,’ once hood of the Mystic Mark!” Single Sight went ou with his gold scheme, is * Red- | nown as the head of the Brother- by the laws of Red Flash, mand that the captain and his partner be tricd “Not now. We protest!” exclaimed the man " ‘9 4 , © Pb
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For” “ae ae —_——-~ from Denver. ‘We want to see the blind wit- nes: that man speaks of.” ‘‘Very well! Heshall come,” assured the One- Eyed Sport as he turned away. “You know why he demands the colonel’s presence here,” remarked Single Sight to Chicka- dee when the two met in the boy’s cabin a short time after the accusation. ‘““They want time—time for a coup,” was the answer, to which the One-Eyed Sport nodded. Captain Ringbolt and Rico Rob had already ledged the pards of Red Flash that they would e ready for trial when the missing witness came. Ten minutes later they were in the Denverite’s room in the Hotel Beelzebub. “Two thunderbolts,” remarked Ringbolt with a malicious smile, “From a clear sky, too!” was the response; then folding his arms, he asked: “Well, what now?” ‘We have twelve hours of grace?’ “So it seems now,” “ Single Sight has gone for the witness?” ‘* He has just departed.” ‘- Who is the witness?” ‘¢ The blind man of Dolores.” ‘‘T never heard of him. What is his name?” Rico Rob shook his head, “T never troubled myself enough about him to get at his name,” ““T can see that the big bonanza is at the end of our fingers,” Ringbolt went on. ‘‘I see, too, that the sixth man is about to trump our best ‘hand. ’ ‘ ‘ff you give up like a girl he will do nothing else!” growled Rob. “ Don’t. you see that our twelve hours may be twelve years?” “ How so?” . “Single Phe is likely to run across Ah Sin in Dolores. He baffled the Celestial at the little hotel; I think he even choked him. The China- man will pay the one-eyed rascal hack!” “That is a risk,” decided Ringbolt. ‘ We must make the best of our twelve hours. The boy stays behind. We arenot prisoners here?” ‘I don’t understand it that way. Ry hea- vens! they dare not pen Rico Rob up in the hotel of a camp he helped to found! ‘ihe boy’s eyes are as sharp as a fox’s. He counted the nails in 4 boots, and has the iron-handled dag- er, too er Yes, the one Single Sight took from Ah Sin.” ‘‘ Red Flash is against us.” “But we have twelve hours. Remember this!” Rob walked to the window and looked out. The morning ssed and the sun was high in the heavens. ere was no stir on the streets as far as could be observed, but the sloping roof beneath the window prevented Rico Rob from seeing the occupants of the porch, and he won- ered if they were discussing the events which had just taken place. , Ringbolt had thrown himself back in the cum- bersome chair and was eying the man at the window. ; All at once Rob wheeled upon the Denverite. “Where is Finette?—you know!” Ringbolt was inclined to smile. - “Come! No nonsense with me!” continued the giant. ‘“‘Finette never did me a wrong in all her life.” he went on. ‘She couldn’t help being Babette’s ward. You have played a game against. the girl?’ “Tt was fort the big stake if I have!” was the ‘““T caught her playing spy.” “In Old Fatality.” '“ And you—vou did what” “tT left her there!” “Dead?” “Great Cesar, no, She deserved death though. Red Flash thinks she has gone to Wild- cat City!” and Captain Ringbolt aughed as at a g joke, but his confederate drew back; there was no smile on his set and stern face. “What are you going to do? asked the man from Denver, uneasily, *‘ Something for the good of both of us.” «Remember we have twelve hours. Don’t do parting hastily. The time will not be up be- fore midnight.’ ; “T forget nothing,” and Rob vanished, to ap- pear, a few moments later, in the bar-room, He came to a halt at the scene that met his gaze. A dozen men stood and sat around in the lace, something unusual for that hour of the y; and Rob knew that he was a prisoner un- el guard. Choking back the passion that filled his breast, he ae toward the door, and stepped out upon the porch. : : _Three men with revolvers cocked, in their belts, leancd against the pillars. | | admit. yed Sport. 13 | ‘“ Tiemmed in like a wounded wolf!” he bad to ** A week ago I war a king among these | meu. To-day they are wonderin’ if I will squirm | in the noose. y Jupiter! there shall be no noose !—not for Rico Rob!” The giant glanced up at the sun as if to calcu- late how long a time would intervene between then and night; then, without a word to the stern, statue-like guards on the porch, he walked back into the hotel. “The boy proprietor of ‘Old Fatality’ holds the big hand!” he nittered. He tramped up-stairs again, and walked into Ringbolt’s presence, ‘*Red Flash is on “You can show your whenever you wish,” The man from Denver left his chair with a fierce exclamation, and drew two polished six- shooters. ‘* Pll show it now!” he cried. ‘Don’t be a fool, captain!” warned Rico, ar- resting him at the door, -“‘Wait at least till night.” The Denverite went back to his chair with a growl. uard!” he announced. ast hand as ‘ Redfield’ CHAPTER XVII. IN AT THE DEATH. It was a long day for Red Flash, long to the two men cooped ™ in the Beelzebub, and long to the stern-faced fellows who were on guard. The day wore slowly away, and as night came the citizens began to look anxiously pale the Dolores trail. Single Sight had departed for Dolores after the blind witness, and had reached his destina- tion in safety toward sundown. The Dolores people were surprised to see the vehicle rattle into the camp with somebody, not Chickadee, on the box, px: i when the One-Eyed Sport asked for fresh horses, their surprise changed to amazement. Single Sight went straight to the modest little cabin occupied by the man called Colonel Spring by the miners. ** Well, colonel, ther time has come!” exclaim- ed the messenger. ‘* Thank Heaven!” was the earnest ejaculation. ‘* Where is the man?” ‘** At Red Flash.” ‘** And I must go there?” “Yes, at once. I came for you.” * The blind man sprung up and held out his and. ‘Lead the way, Single Sight!” he went on. ‘* And you have corraled the prince of devils for met Ah! I have not endured my darkness for nothing!” In a little while the Red Flash sport was lead- ing the blind to the stage. oxx walked with an agile step. Having seen the blind witness in the vehicle, the sport entered the stables where stood the fresh horses he had bargained for. The interior of the buildings was full of sha- dows, and Single Sight moved among them in his dealings with the team. _,All at once something struck him from behind like a leaping bloodhound, and the next moment an arm encircled his neck. Single Sight started back and clutched madly 03 the band that tried. to bury itself in his roa‘. ** None of this, now!” he cried. back ter Red i his atigels!” And breaking his assailant’s grip, he clutched the would-be assassin with the fury of a mad- dened tiger. ‘What have I caught?” he cried, dragging his prize to the door. ‘‘ Aha! I thought so. Tryin’ ter git even for the trap I set for you at the Saints’ Rest, eh?’ and Single Sight held at arm’s length the passion-distorted face of Ah Sin, the Celestial. Five minutes later the sport tossed something human-shaped into the stage, and it landed at the blind man’s feet. ““Thar’s company for ye, colonel,” laughed Saul, “ He’s harmless, though. Sin, ‘ Red- field’s” last assassin in a yellow skin!” The Chinaman, securely bound, lay at the bottom of the vehicle, when it started out of Dolores behind a restive team that was destined to make marvelous time over the rough moun- tain road, Single Signt knew how to handle the team, and the strong horses seemed to share his im- patience. At theend of a few hours they dashed into Red Flash as fresh almost as when they left Dolores. ; “Single Sight is back!” exclaimed one ot two **T am goin’ Flash in spite o’ the Imp and all { SSS Sts Sg men who occupied a small room, and his glance went swiftly to several revolvers which occu- pied a small table in the light of a lamp. “* Tf wonder if he found—” The sentence was not finisbed, for the stage stopped in front of the building, and several men sprung to it from the porch below. There was a confused bum of voices, and then the man who had spoken in the upver room said to his companion: ‘The blind witness is here!” “By Jove! I'd like to see him first!” was the reply, and the next moment a voice came up the stairs to the room: ‘** Gentlemen, will you come down Two minutes more and the two men entered the bar-room, around the sides of which stood forty armed men. It was the court of Red Flash. Against the counter leaned the man Single Sight had brought from Dolores. Near by stood the One-Eyed Sport himself, and at his elbow Chickadee, the boy detective. Ringbolt and Rob halted in the middle of the room, and look around tie court. ‘Bring forward the Celestial!” said a voice, Im two men appecred, with Ah Sin between: them. ‘* Heavens!” mentally ejaculated the captain, “They have caught the yellow pard.” For the next five minutes the breathless court listened to a wild story of crime and scheming from the Chine man’s lips. Fear of death had loosened his tongue, and he had betrayed “ Redfield” and his giant pard of the old mystic Lrotherhood. Then a man started from the counter and! threw up his hand. ‘* Show me this villain of villains!” he cried. “ Stand me face to face with the robber of my —__. eyes! Iam Nanton Noxx, the Alcalde of Happy ulch City. I am the father of Finette, placed the girl in Babette’s care when 1 though I was dying, and I never let him know of my recovery, for I feared that the presence of my child would cause me to forget that I lived for vengeance,” : After these startling words came the evidence against Rico Rob, the damaging testimony of the nails in his shoes, the silent speech of ‘the two iron-handled daggers exactly alike. = | All this, coupled to Ah Sin’s declaration that the giant of Red Flash had killed Babette, that he same hand had deprived Old Fatality of all its owners, that the Great Denver Union was merely a blind to cover the big’ for the final possession of the fatal mine, bri a quick and stern verdict from that stern ¢ t was of course—death ! ‘ With the utterance of the verdict Rico a tempted to draw a revolver, but a dozen watch- ful miners seized him. At the same time his Sompesdext was secured and pushed toward the blind witness, who. gave vent to a long pent up cry of joy as his ha touched the doomed wretch. t “ At last ‘Redfield! This hour has_bee worth living for! The blind Alcalde of Happy Gulch has found his man!” is PEL next day the sun rose proudly over Red i ash, rt Sy In a little cabin a beautiful young girl looked kindly, yet pityi , into a pairof sightless eyes, while near a nd i the One-Eyed port ot whose devotion all owed so much, _ It was Finette whose prison had been revealed by a man who would plotno more for the big = failed, thanks to Single Sight e scheme iled, thanks to Single ee as and Chickadee, tho bop ebie of Red sh. The sixth owner of the fatal minc, which had been so terribly ed by. the iron-handled daggers of the brotherhood, was still in pore eS- sion, and bid fair to become Chickadee the bo- nanza prince. It was afterward discovered that “the ghost ” which had come between Rico and Single Sight, in the cabin at Dolores, was an insane woman whose movements were mysterious, and whose history was unknown. , Zz With the two pards ended the Great Denver Gold Union, which never had any existence e3 cepting in the fertii braine of ‘‘ Redfield” Ring- bolt . Red Flash still exists and its young nahob is: Chickadee, whose pretty wife is the Finette of our mountain romance. 4 Saul Singley is sti!l ‘on deck.” and his com stant charge is a blind man. on whom he lav ishes his rough but noble affection. They are inseparable pards whom everybody in Red Flash, delights to gras bh the hend, THE END. ‘
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SS Ee Oa Oe OOO ee cam crear A[MERI(AN stony rarer eee o~ pris eet bina ao eh LL DP I aun an ae ae am cae ae Always Pure! Published | in America! Wm. R. Eyster, to . LTRS poten ; aera stay | SSSOSO SOS OSS SIS OSS SOSSOSSOSO SSIS SSS OTS ar Serene tenter-messtietneariown i tetera eer on eee ee Nana aan anand : do i ) | fl \ / a ee | sit eras - an | . T CS ee Always Strong! 5x ee: 3S \ eh elscdaalaceatal cla ( . xg =~ Always Fs I ) We 2 \ 5 ( J wens pate cp gif me rr rawe , vet ori. © ee — wc = = Its hae of Sanaa aici Unrivaled! = = sor Almost all of whom write exclusively for its publishers—embrace the following popular authors: ott ' Col, Prentiss Ingraham, Col. WN. Z. C. Judson (Ned Buntline), Ol! Coomes, Rai q Albert W. Aiken, Hon. Wm. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), Ckarles Morris, A, Joseph EH. Badger, Jr., Major Dangerfield Burr, Philip 8S. Warne, a the Capt. Fred Whittaker, Major Sam S. Wall (Buckskin Sam), voi Edward L. Wheeler, J. ©. Cowdrick, Edward Willett, 4 bar T. C. Harbaugh, Eben EH, Rexford, Frank Triplett, Wm. S. Gidley, K. F. Mill, Al. W. Crowell, i. S. Keller, Wm. H. Manning, H. HM. Johnson, Henri Montcalm, Jo Pierce, Weldon J. Cobb, e* give to ete., ete, —__-—_++-—_— SOLD BY ALL NEWSDEALERS. A. F. Holi, = Published ab the Following Rates: == For Four Months, - - - - - - - $1.00 DEPARTMENTS answering all the needs, and adding to the PeOnah em r Mn Lah Ai oth al da es nints BOR: i general interest and usefulness of, the strictly popular Two Oopies for One Year - - - - - 5.00 journal, THE BANNER WEEKLY is the paper of all | Simgle'Oopies, - - - - = - = = G cents, | others for good reading and entertainment. 98 WILLIAM ST, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers NEW YORK, Fae ‘aa _ IN ALL THE ‘ INTERESTING AND ATTRACTIVE FIELDS OF Border, Interior, and Wild West Romance— Adveniure, Exploration, and Sport— Life on the Great Plains— Life on the Ranches— Life in the Mines— . Life in the Wilderness— City Life Character, Courts and Ways— Detective and ‘Shadow’ Revelations— Stories of the Great Deep, etc. = Hence, each and every number overflows with the most interesting and exciting matter, while in its several SPECIAL ee ee ee
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BY PHILIP 8. WARNE. 6? Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 Captain Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game. 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat. 219 Pespard, the Duelist; or, The Mountain Vemplres, 888 A Tough Boy; or, The Dwarf’s Revenge. 868 Little Tornado} or, The Outcasts of the Glen. 878 Little Jingo}; or, the Queer Pard. 888 Little Oh-my ; or, Caught in His Own Trap, 401 Little Shoo-Fly3 or, A Rece for s Raneh. 408 Little Leather-Breeches; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse. 481 Little Ah Sin; er, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the Mines. 480 Three Jolly Pards, BY OAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER. 15 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Page; or, The Doge’s Daughter. 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 150 Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. 154 The Sword Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise to the Open Polar Sea, 200 The Boy Bedouins; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance, 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine. 249 Milo Romer, the Animal King; or, The/Round the World Wanderer. 265 The Tiger Tamer}; or, The League of the Jungle. 881 Black Nick, the Demon Rider. 895 California Joe’s War Trail. BY BUOKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8. Hall.) 284 Old Rocky’s ‘ Boyees;” or, Benito, the Young Horse- Breaker. 246 Giant George} or, The Ang’l of the Range. 275 Arizona Jack ; or, Giant George’s Pard. 297 The Tarantula of Taos; or, Giant George’s Revenge. 807 Tho Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. 818 Ker-whoop, Ker-whoo} or, The Tarantula of Taos. 827 Creeping Cat, the Caddo; or, The Red and White Pards. 882 Frio Fred; or, The Tonkaway’s Trust. 644 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. 849 Wild Wolf; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front. 857 The Ranch Ralders; or, The Siege of Fort Purgatory. $64 Snap-Shot, the Boy Ranger. 875 Chiota, the Creek; or, The Three Thunderbolts. 881 Bandera Bill; or, Frio Frank to the Front. 892 Romeo and the Reds; or, The Beleaguered Raneh. 404 Little Lariat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 414 The Dalsy from Denver, 427 The Three Trailers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage, 442 Bluff Bill; or, The Lynx of the Leona. 455 Little Lone Star; or, The Belle of the Cibola, BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Asa Scott, the Steamboat Boy. 199 Featherweight, the Boy Champion of the Muskingum. 228 Ozark Alf; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws. 282 The Typo Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. 295 Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quartsville. 811 The Roving Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp. 822 Nemo, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon's Vendetta. 840 Clip, the Contortionist; or, The Montana Vigilantes. BY J, ©. COWDRIOK. 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. 869 Shasta, the Gold King} or, For Seven Years Dead. 420 Fhe. Detective’s Apprentices or, A Boy Without a» 424 Cibuta Johny; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 489 Bandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Brave. BY JO PIERCE. 897 Bob o’ the Bowery} or, The Prince of Mulberry Street. 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom. 452 Hotspur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow; or, Luke’s Legney. 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective, BY OAPT. MARK WILTON. 256 Young Kentuck} or, The Red Lasso. 270 Blizzard Ben; or, The Riot at Keno Camp, 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID, 78 Blue Dick: or, The Yellow Chief's Vengeance. 87 The Land Pirates} or, The League of Devil's Island. 187 The Helpless Hand; or, Backwoods Retribution, 289 The Gold-secker Guide} or, The Lost Mountain. BY BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG, 89 Island Jim; or, The Pet of the Family. 91 The Captain of the Club; or, The Rival Athletes. 401 Jack Harkaway in New York. BY CAPT. J. F. 0. ADAMS. 84 Oregon Sol} or, Nick Whiffies’s Boy Spy. 46 Glnas-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 54 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. 56 Nick Whifties’s Pet; or, In 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 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Buckram; or, Bess, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and His Peta; or, The Wild Huntress. 251 Light-honse Lige} or, Osceola, the Firebrand. 257 The Lost Wuntera; or, The Underground Camp. 288 The Scalp King}; or, The Human Thundervolt. BY ROGER STARBUCK. 25 The Boy Captain; or, The Pirate’s Daughter. 114 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Junk, the Old Tar. 259 The Golden Harpoon; or, Lost Among the Floes. 848 Fire-licels; or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow. 854 Big Horn Ike, the Hill Tramp; or, The Odd Pards, 861 The Phantom Light-house, 870 Breaker Ben, the Reef-Runner. BY WILLIAM R, EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank}; or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pards. BY COLONEL DELLE SARA. 108 The Lion of the Seay or, The Vailed Lady, 186 Ceol Desmond; or, The Gambler's Big Game. BY MARRY S8T.' GEORGE. 80 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, the Ranger. 44 Rattling Rube; or, The Nighthawks of Kentucky. 59 Old MHickory; or, Pandy Ellia’s Sealp. 108 Daring Davy; or, The Trail of the Border Wolf. 166 Mickory Harry ; or, The Trapper-Brigade’s Spy. 172 Thunderbolt Tom; or, the Wolf-Herder. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE. 86 Dandy Rock, the Man from Texas, 90 The Dread Rider; or, The Texan Duelist, 99 The Tiger of Taos; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel 115 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock’s Doom, 181 The Golden Mand; or, Dandy Rock to the Rescue 164 Dandy Rock's Pledge; or, Hunted to Death. 178 Dandy Rock’s Rival; or, The |iaunted Maid of Taos. BY JAMES L. BOWEN. 107 One-Eyed Sim; or, The Abandoned Forest Heme. 110 The Black Steed of the Prairies, A Story of Texas. BY ©. DUNNING CLARKE, 185 Captain Paul; or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains. 280 The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef. BY GEORGE 0. JENKS, 485 Git Thar Owney, the Unknown. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. BY OAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR, U. 8. A. 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker; or, The Doomed Thirteen. 194 Buffalo Bill's Bet; or, The Gambler Guide, BY CHARLES E. LASALLE. 50 Burt Bunker, the Trapper. 52 The White Buffalo. A Tale ef the Northwest. BY JOIN J. MARSHALL. 40 Roving Ben. A Story of a Young American, 97 The Outlaw Brothers; or, The Captive of the Harpes. BY MAJOR E. L. ST. VRAEN, 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit. 801 Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince. 888 Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette. 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “ Sand,” 859 Durango Dave, the Younye Champion Wrestler. 871 Kingbolt Chris, the Young Hard-Shell Detective, 880 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide. 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mount.in Mail-Ling, BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON, 278 The Three Trappers; or, The Mountain Monster, 288 Indian Joe; or, The White Spirit of the Hills, BY W. J. HAMILTON, 63 The Red Brotherhood} or, The Twelve Avengess, 66 Single Hand; or, A Life fora Life 72 Mad Tom Western, the Texan Ranger. 887 Bem Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Seoop. BY JACK FARRAGUT. 815 Ned, the Cabin Boy. 820 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper. BY FRANK DUMONT. 120 The Branded Mand ; or, The Man of Mystery. 127 Wild-Fire, the Boss of the Road. 140 Blue Blazes; or, The Break o’ Day Boys of Rocky Bar. 171 Ebony Dan; or, The Rival Leagues. 185 Evil Eye; or, The Vultures of the Rio Grande, BY LIEUT. H. D. PERRY, U. 8. N. 176 The Boy Runaway; or, The Buecancer of the Bay. 180 The Sea Trailer}; or, A Vow Well Kept. 192 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point. BY MAJOR NENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-Scout. 806 Neck-Tie Ned; or, The Dug-Ont Pards. 846 Rapier Raphael; or, The Swordemen of Zacatecas. 891 Kid-Glove Kit, the Dandy of the Rockies. 898 Kid-Glove Kit and Pard; or, The Gold King. 406 The Mad Man-Hunter; or, The Mystery of Golden ulch. BY HARRY HAZARD. 828 Arkansaw Jack; or, The Scourge of the Mines, 829 Red-Skin Toms or, The Demon’s Trail. 842 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw. : BY COL. A. F. HOLT. aap 899 Black Buckskin; or, The Masked Man of Death Canyon, 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King, } bs 485 Little Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods. a Fhe BY J. W. OSBON. 469 The Rival Giants of Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. BY FREDERICK DEWEY. 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifie-Shete. 478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective. MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS 4 The Wild-Horse Hunters, By Capt. Mayne Ral Frederick Whittaker. 9 Adventures of Baron Munchansen. 12 Gulliver’s Travels. By Dean swift, 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe. (27 I!lustrations.) ae | 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages. - 22 The Sea Serpent; or, Tie Boy Robinson Crusoe. By w . 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates o Carribees, By S, W. Pierce. 86 The Boy Clown; or, The Queen of the Arena, By | 8. Finn. 88 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 61 The Boy Rifles; or, The Underground Camp. By . irons. 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters By Lieut.-Col. Fe we ; ah ic , 98 Robin Hood, the Outlawed Earl; or, The Merry Men off wood. By Pat. Glgenlesre » The Merry baste 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Hunter; or, The Cave of Death. By Burton 124 Tippy, the Texan} or, The Young Champion. By G Glesson. 128 The Young Privateer} or, The Pirate’s Stronghold Harry Cavenilah. : My 148 Sharp Sam} or, The Adventures of a Friendless Boy. Alexander Patten. a i , 227 Dusky Darrell, Tra or, The Green Ranger of th lowstone. By Edward Dn. . : 261 Fergus Fearnaught, the New York Boy. By G , en. 266 Kilib’ar, the Guide; or, Davy Crockett’s Crooked By Eneign c. D. Warrcas® - 298 Ned Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid By Captain Comstock. 817 Pencock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville. tenant Alfred Thorne. 828 The Sky Detectives or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and F By Major Mickey Free. I he River Revers or, The Broth O50 Red Be eel eae 1% 865 Baltimore Ben, the Bootblack Detective. By A. P. 874 gas-oen Tomy or, Ben’s Double Match, By Geor oree, 876 California Joe’s First Trail. By Colone! Hoyer Monstery. 418 Billy Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By F. 8. Winth 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowie Kid, By Arthur 0. G 475 The Black Ship. By John S. Warner, 484 Comanche Dick and His Three Invinelble Henry J. Thomas. : ws he D1 4 8 The Double of Bed 489 ? ¢,Diamond Sports er, Face of Bed Rock. A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library ‘s for sale by a1! nowsdealers, five cents per eopy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, : 98 William Street, New York, 7
Page 16
BEADLE'’S BY EDWARD L, WHEELER. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Double Daggers or, Deadwood Dick’s Deliance, 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon. 28 Buffalo Ben; or, Dealwood Dick in Disguise. 82 Bob Woolf’; or, The Girl Dead-Shot, 85 Wila Lvan, the Boy Claude Duval. 89 Death-Fuace, Detective; or, Life in New York. 42 Phantom Miner}; or, Deadwood Dick’s bonanza, 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 49 Omaha O11; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger. 53 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix, 57 Deadwood Dick's Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar, 61 Buckhorn Billy or, The Red Rifle Team, 69 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter; or, Fhe boy Detective, 78 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or. Calamity Jane, the Heroine, 7? Corduroy Charlie 3 or, Deadwood Dick’s Last Act 80 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, th» Knight. 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand, 88 Phetegraph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance, 92 Canada Chet 3 or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp, 96 Watch-Eye; or, Arabs und Angels of a Great City. 100 Deadwood Dick in Lendville, 104 Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, ‘the Double Cross Sign. 109 Deadwood Dick as Detcctive. 118 Jack Moyle _the Young Speculator, 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sp rt Detective, 121 Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport. 125 Bonanza Bill, Miner. 129 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s ulch, 188 Boas Bob the King of Bootblacks. 188 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Diek’s Home Base. 141 Solid Sam, the Boy Rond-Agent. 145 a oa Ferret, the New York Detective; or, Boss Bob’s 088 JOO. 49 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike, 56 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party, ot New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Deketive. T7 Nobby Nick of Nevada} or, The Sierras Scamps. 181 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo. 195 Deadwood Dick’« Dream; or, The Riv» ls of the Rond. 201 The Black Hills Jezebel; or, Deadwood D ck’s Ward, 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom} or, Calamity Jane’s Last Ad- venture, 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. 213 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter, 217 Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand. 221 Sugar-Coated Sam ¢ or, The Blac Gown. 224 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 23:2 Gold-Duast Dick, A Romance of Roughs and Toughs, 286 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the xouns Gladiator. 244 Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. 24% Slerra Sam’s Seeret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 25% Sierra Sam’s Pard; or, The Anget ot Big Vista. “258 Sierra Saim’s Seven} or, The Stolen Bride, 6% Deadwood Dick's wav ide yw; The Spir.t of Swamp Lake. 268 Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail. “7B Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs, 2¢7 Denver Doll, the Detoctive Queen, 281 Denver Doll’s Victory. 2X5 Denver Doll’s Decoy 3 or. Little Bill’s Bonansa, 201 Turk, the Boy Ferret. - 296 Denver Doll’s Drift; or, The Road Queen. 209 A No. 1, the Dasbing Toll-Taker. 808 "Liza Jane, the Sirl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. Peadwood Dick’s Big Veal; or, The Gold Brick of ick’s Dozen} or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. & Company, the Sleuths of Philadelphia. B50 Little Quiek-s ots or, The Dead Face of Daggersville, 8% 4 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miuer, 889 Kangaroo Kit’s Racket. ft Manhattan Mike, the bowery Blood, ; Deadwood Dick’s Ducats; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- ginys. «BBL Dendwood Dick Sentenecd; er, the Terrible Vendetta. Sed Firat-Clags Fred, the Gent trom opher. $62 Deadwood Dick’s Claim; or, The Fairy Face of Faro 4 Filate, «B68 ao Jim, the Gold-Gatherer} or, The Lottery of F ya" Prize. Ned or, The Secret of Slab City. ‘ool e King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, ‘reka Jim’s Jo ; or, The Rivals of Red Nose, m @ Lion of Lightning Lede. $94 Yreka Jha of Yuba Dam. A % ey Base Bal! Detective. ‘ew York; or, “ A Cute Caco.” Boy Detective. 3 or, The Chained Hand, , Private Detectives. ¢ Slasher, Neat Deadwood Dick Jr’s Defiance. of Shasta; or, Deadwood Diek Jr’s Full 471 Bozeman Bill 476 Humboldt Me Dog Detective. — ~e 4 Moll Mystery; or, Dendwood Disk Jr. in Deadwood. Sealskin Sam, the Sparkier. Sap Pistol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick ‘s Compact. | Monte Uristo, Jr.t or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Inheritance, BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm. F. Cody) 8 Kansas Kings or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy! or, The oe of the Prairie. 65 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scou ; 6% Border Robin Hood ; or, The Prairie Rover, 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust, BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. 2 Yellowstone Jack 4 or, The fing - oy 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, § 6 Murcleane Bills or, Mustang Sar and His Pard. TL) Jtuatang Sam 3 or, The King of the Plains, 186 Night e awk Kits or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. D3! Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue, 0 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in J.opardy. Dash; ighting Fire with Fire. 203 ‘The Bo 211 Crooked Cale, ’ ti ee 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. ' BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM. 7 The Flying Vunkee; or, The Ocean Onteast. 17 Ralph Roy, the oy Buccan-er; or The Fugitive Yacht. 24 Diamond Dirks or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone. 62 The Shadow Ship; or. The Rival Lieutenants. 75 The Boy Dnelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf, 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Siiucgier. 11' The Sen-Devils or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116 The Nussar Captaing or, he Hermit of Hell Gate. YT Litthe Grits or, Bessie, the Stock-Tenuder’s Daughter. 204 Gold Plume 3 or, The Kid-Glove Sport, 2°6 Siseon BAUll, the Prince of the Reins. Grit, the Bravo Sport; or, The Woman Trailer. 229 Crimxon Rates or, The Cowboy’s Triumph, 28T Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 245 Merle, the Middy ¢ or, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midshipman M utineer; or, Brandt, the Buccaneer. 264 rhe Floating Feather; or, Merle Isluna. 26° The Gold Ship}; or, Merle, the Condemned. 276 Merle Monte’s Cruise; or, The Chase of “The Gold Shi ” 280 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, Pearl, the Pirnte’s Bride, 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 27 Hilly Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Shot Dandy; or, Benito. the Boy Bugler. BOS Keno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double, 814 The Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Long Monte’s Treasure Vrail. B77 Bonodel, the Boy Rover; or, The Flegless Schooner. 858% Toe Indina Pilots or, The Search for Pirate Island. B8S7 Warpath W Ell, the Boy Phantom, BY8B Seawall, the lioy Lieutenant, 412 Ix dor, the Young Conspirator; or, The Fatal League, 407 The Boy Iusurwent¢ or. The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild \} ucht«iman; or, The War-Clous’s Cruise. 429 Duncan Bare, tie Poy Retuvee, 488 A Cabin Boy's Luck; or, The Corsair. ABT The Ben Raider. 441 Vhe Ocean Firefly 5 or, A Middy’s Ve: geance. 446 Waphazard Harry; or, The Scapegrace of the Sea. 450 Wizard WHT: or, The Boy Ferre of New York. 454 “trard VU UPs Street Scouta. 462 ‘The Born Guide; or The Sailor Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Ned, tre Voy Conster. 474 Ploras or Wizard Will's Voentond Pard. 488 Ferret« Afflonts or, Wozard Will’s Last Case. 4ST Nevada Ned, the Revolver Kanger, 495 Artvroen toe the Bey Purd of Texas Jack. 407 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. BY CUARLES MORRIS, 118 WILl Somers, the Boy Detective, 122 Phil Mardy, the Boss Boy, 126 Picaynane Pcte 3 or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective, 186 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 WILL Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Black Beas, Will Wildfire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy, 162 WIll Wildfire in the Wooda, 165 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. 170 A Trump Card; or, Will Wildfire Wine and Loses, 174 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. 179 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, 188 The Hidden Handy or, Wil) Wildfire’s Revenge. 187 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, 189 Bob Rockett} or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed 5 or, Bob Rockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Tom Panner; or, The Black Sheep ot the Floek. 25 Sam Chareoal the Prewiam Darky. 255 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two “ Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. 252 Dick Dashaway 3 or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago, 262 UVhe Young Sleuths} 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 Pashaweys of Dakotas or, A Western Lad in the Quaker ity. 824 Ralph Rendy, the Hote) Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 85 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’s Bliseard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times, 879 Larry, the Leveler; or, The 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 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret, 466 Billy Brick, the Jotly Vagabond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive, 47% Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty, 488 Wild Dick Racket, BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Betectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl. 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer; or, The Great Fighting Man of the West 79 Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 288 Joe Buck of Angels and His Boy Pard. 447 New York Nat. A Tile of Tricks and Traps in Gotham. 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes ef a Foundling. 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince, 498 Taos Ted, tne Arizona Sport. BY EDWARD 8. ELLIS, 6 Billi Biddon, Trapper. 8 Seth Jonesy or, The Captives of the Frontier. 10 Nat Todd} or, The Fate of the Sloux Captive. 21 The Frontier Angel. 98 The Boy Miners; or, The Enchanted Island. 182 The Hunted Hunters or, The Strange Horseman, 254 The Half-Blood; or, The Panther of the Platns. 271 The Huge Hunter ; or, The Steam Prairie Man, LIBRARY. BY OLL COOMES, & Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. 81 Keen-Knife, the Prince of the Prairies. 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. BS The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 74 Wawk-eye Harry, the Young Trapper Ranger. 88 Rollo, the Boy Ranger. 184 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. 148 Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter. 146 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 158 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. 168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger, 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. 202 Prospect Pete; or, The Young Outlaw Hunters, 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps. 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dicks or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 238 The Parson Petectives or, The Little Ranger, 24% The Dixguised Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger, 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. 272 Minkshkin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. 800 The Sky Demony or, Rainbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 409 Hercules; or, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 417 Webfoot Moxe, the Tramp Detective. 422 Baby Sam, the Boy Giant of the Yellowstone, 444 Little Buckskin, toe Young Prairie Centaur 457 Wingedfoot Fred; or, Old Polar Savi. 468 Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Ej. dela 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. BY T. C. HARBAUGIL 28 Nick o the Night; or, Th» Boy Spy of ‘76. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Littl Hunter. 47 Nightingale Nat; or, The Forest Captains, 64 Dandy Jack; or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trali, 82 Kit Harefout the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jacks or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Froaty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 128 Kiowa Charley the White Mostanger. 189 Judge Lynch, Jr.t or, The Boy Vizilante. 155 Gold Trigmer, the Sport; or, The Girl Avenger 169 Tornado Toms; or, Injun Jack From Red Core, 18S Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 198 Arkansaw 3 or, The Que n of Fate’s Revenge, 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Guild Hunter. 215 Captain Bullets or, Little Topknot’s Crusade. 231 Plucky PhIl¢ or, Rosa, the Rei Jezebel. 241 RI Bravo; or, The Roughs of the Rockies. 255 Captain Apelle, tae King-Pin of Bowie. 267 The Buckskin Detective. 279 Ola Winch +, The Buckskin Desperadoes. 294 Dynamite Dang or, The Bowie Biade of Cochetopa. 802 The Mountain Detectives or, The Trigger Bar Bolly, 816 O14 Eclipse, Trump Curd of Arizona, 826 The Ten Pards; or, The Terror of Take-Notica, 886 Big Benson, or, The Queen of the Lasso. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Red Thunderhol:’s Secret, $56 Cool Sam und Pards o- The Terrible Six. 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 886 Captain Cutlass; or, The Buccaneer’s Girl Foes. 896 Rough Rob; or, The Twin Champions of Blue Blazes, A411 The Silken Lasso; °F, The Rove of Rauci: Robin. 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter, 426 Texas Trump, the Border Rattler, 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox. 445 The City Sleuths} or, Red Rolfe's Pigeon. 461 One Against Fifty; or, The Last Man of Kene Bar. 47® The Boy Shadow ; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt, A7T The Excelsior Sport}; or, The Washington Spotter 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 496 Arizona Joe, the Boy Pard of Texas Jack. By Col. Prentisa Ingraham. * 6 Monte Cristo, Jr, , ; 49 By Edward Le Wheel, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Inheritance, 497 Puck Teves King of the Cowboys. By Colonel Prentiss 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. By J. W. Os>on. 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. By T. C. Harbaugh. 500 Deadwood Dick's Diggt fi wings; or, Doctor Death-Grip’s Swoop. By Edward L. Wineler” Ready Feb. 29. . 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman : or, Too Sharp for the Sha By Charles Moria. Ready March 3 aid stp 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret; or, The Octopus League of New York. By T, C, Warbansh Ready March 8. 508 The Royal Middy ; or, The, Sherk and the Sea Cat, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. Ready Maureh 15, 504 Five Points Phil, the Pavement Prince; or, Caught in Spider’s Web. By ‘Jo Pierce. Ready March 22. 7 ee A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library 's for sale by all newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents ench, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William: Street. N w York,