Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 49) (1878 07 02)
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as tea Thea ce Nell alle — rls Copyrighted in 1878, by BEADLE AND ADAMS. Yok: Ss. BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLI No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. Omaha Oll, THE MASKED TERROR; oR, Deadwood Dick in Danger. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF “DEADWOOD DICK,” ‘‘CLOVEN HOOF,”’ “DOUBLE DAGGERS,”’ ‘‘ BUFFALO BEN,”’ ETC., ETC. CHAPTER IL DEL NORTE!—THE WONDERFUL EL GAMIN. Dew Norte! The Monaco of America. The liveliest little town of its size in Southern Col- orado. It is situated upon the south bank of the Rio Grande river, near where it turns out of the San Louis valley from its eastward course, and runs nearly direct south through New Mexico, It was only started a few om ago, in consequence of ein the Overland route to the kies, and is not much of a place—probably contains between nine hundred and a thousand souls—with a class of citizens made up of all national- ities, nearly, although Spanish blood predominates. Not much of a place for com- merece is this Del Norte, nor is gold to be found within fift miles of the leon Yet it undeniably a fast, lively place. Constant emigration into the Rockies, which are fast be- coming settled, sustains Del Norte, in a measure, while its gambling repute attracts ad- venturers and rascals in large numbers. Its population is of this restless type, who are ever wandering from place to place, seeing what there is to see. These Del Norteans are not naturally inhospitable to stran- gers, but among the gambling fraternity, who at times rule the town, there is a rufflanly set of bummers, and herders from the immense cattle ranches that abound upon the fifty-by-twenty-mile prairie im- mediately back of the little town, who are brutish and cruel; reckless devils :who shoot and kill often upon little or no provocation. ‘ From Del Norte, which stands y upon a river bluff, a utiful view of. the herding prairies, as they stretch in gentle billows away toward the filmy mountains, whose hoary peaks are snow- capped the year around, can be obtained. Here are dwel- lings—mostly haciendas or Mexican farm-houses; there, reat herds of cattle are graz- ng. These black masses upon the prairie, which are herds belonging to different parties, may be seen dotted down like groves or patches of timber in the distance. A uliarl wild and interesting life is this a The town is rather prettily laid out, with a few streets, and maybe a hundred dwel- lings, some of which are gener- ally unoccupied, And you need not be surprised to find a SHERS, ih Y A a at a at DANS | et i! il N Mi AN 5 Cents. No. 49. gambling den in each of these tenanted habita- tions. For women gamble in Del Norte as well as in Mo- naco, and some of the black-eyed Spanish girls are adepts at cards, and at winning hearts. But the main resort of this town, of which the world knows so little, is the “Oriental Palace,” a noble structure of Mexican build, artistically finished and richly furnished, with only one floor and a bal- cony up near the awning roof, where two bands dis- course music the whole day and part of the night, a decoy to draw unsuspecting strangers into the mas- ter gambling-room of Western America, There was but one floor, but upon this floor and in under the roof far above, you could pack away half a dozen average buildings. Imagine a tiled floor as smooth and evenly-laid as aglass surface, three hundred feet long by two hund- red wide, and fitted with luxurious chairs and sofas of Mexican manufacture, marble-top card, faro and keno tables, with occupa ar ng appliances, and long bars behind which all kinds of drinks from champagne to Taos whisky are kept, dispensed, and DEADWOOD DICK DECOYED carried by Mexican girls, in short dresses, blue stock- i and red slippers. m above come softly-modulated strains of be- witching music, below. are gracious, fascinating senoritas; the average man needs but to step inside this palace, and he is a “‘ goner,”’ so long as his cash holds out. Evening is the time when the excitement at the ‘ Oriental” waxes. the hottest, when all the population of the town, save those who may chance to be anti-gamblers or have “private snaps” of their own, are out to witness the sport, and mayhap take a hand. Faro, keno, roulette, billiards and pool, besides ordinary games from eucher to dominoes and check- ers, are Fen bee here, so that a visitor can have no excuse for not playing but a blank refusal, if he knows aught of any game at all. And skilled game- sters, too, are two-thirds of these Del Norteans, while not behind them rank these rough cattle- herders of the San Luis valley. It was one evening at the beginning of December —, the close of Del Norte’s nearly perpetual sum- mer. The night was breathless and sultry, with only a very faint breeze fanning up from the sullen, dark waters of the murmuring Rio Grande, as it swept by through its channel to the far-away : The Orien Palace was nevertheless crowded—crowd- ed with men of rough, and men of dashing appearance; women whom dissipated life had wrecked of their personal charms, and women and maid- ens who had but recently launched forth into this gay, wildly-reckless existence. Sirens, too, are some of these sionate, black-eyed Span- h women; more than love- able when not crossed, but very devils, when their ire is aroused. All the tables were full, to- night, and many were there strolling about through the t building, some alone and istrustful, and others in com- ey. with fascinating senor- tas, or gay Cavaliers. A great colonization caravan -had that day stopped in Del Norte, to remain;a week for repairs and to stock up, and to this was ow- ing the fact of such a spree attendance at the Orient There was a table at which resided _a;man naméed Cap- in Bill Monte, who challeng- ed the world at that simple but interesting game, dominoes—a game, by the way, which you are not likely to find-in the general gambling den. But this Capt. Monte was an expert, and his little game won him nearly as much as other “peelers” won from higher games. He had a sys- tem of gambling by dominoes which I have seen in but one lace East, and that was in hiladelphia. Before the game commenc- ed, you. were.to buy twenty dollars’ worth of round ivory checks, if fora small game; or if it was; to be-a:‘‘full tilt,” which is more epnerally Rey. ed, three hundred dollars’ worth. These checks are num- bered 5, 10, 15 and 20: there- fore, on a deposit of three hundred dollars, you receive a given number of these checks,
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2 Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. and deposit them in the drawer on your side of the table. Your spoons has a like number, and the de- nomination of each check is supposed to represent so many dollars. The game then commences, and as in the regular game o dominoes, ou each have five dominoes. In the event that ‘double six” is not drawn, and your opponent has the next est double, which is “five,” he sets it, and counts en, and = are required to give him one of your ‘ten’ checks. In a few moments, it may chance that you make fifteen or twenty, and receive that number’s worth of checks from your contestant. In case he blocks the game, which is one of the “points ’’ of it, and you are obliged to draw the re- maining blocks, whatever the count be upon those dominoes, be it seen a saa oh or eighty, —_ are to give to him in checks, which is fat in his lar- der, he being the banker and you having to pay him for more checks, in case you another game, This game in Del Norte they, call elotre, In Philadel- ae t is more simplified and less exciting, three ollars’ stake more generally taking the piace of MThis description mag’ posstbl interesting t is description hg ve resting to some of my readers, and is destined in the future to gain in ob i pean Soe a fair and honest gambling game, with few ehances to cheat in it. Captain Monte was a large, smooth-faced man, dark in complexion, with a low, beetling forehead piercing black eyes, and a habitual expression of evil cunning worn upon his face. Next to Wild Bill Hickox, he was conceded to be the best revolver- shot. upon the “middle” border, and not unlike Wild Bill,* once he learned of his master-accomplishments in that line, and that the people feared him, he made a ruffian of himself at every i! rtunity. Around Monte’s eloire table this evening, a crowd had collected, watching the wonderful game of luck and science. Monte sat upon his side of the table, coolly winning the game at every deal, and fleecing an impetuous Southern P Ns a member of the caravan by the way, out of his last shilling. The man played straight- forward and unhesitat..zly; he had made ten thou- sand dollars at his game, and what if he did lose oc- casionally? He could soon win back. At last the Southerner arose from the table, a des- perate i gb poston upon his haggard face—a wild leam. in eyes, that strong drink had rendered loodshot. “You have robbed me of my last penny, you devil!” he hissed, between his clenched teeth, “ but T've not had enough yet. I'll rob my wife of her money and stake it, but what I will get back that which I have lost. Then, if I win, I'll put a bullet through your skull!”’ Monte ‘smiled, and nodded, as the youth, whose creole blood had been fired, shook his fist and strode away. an Pook-out for a suicide directly!” he laughed, mly. “Any gentleman got confidence enough in dominoistic abilities to take a game?” “There is! a voice immediately replied, and a young man of handsome figure and stately carriage, pushed forward through the crowd. ‘I have just cleaned out the heaviest faro bank in the establish- ment, and if you've got any money to lose, now is your chance to lose it!” And the stranger folded his arms across his chest and gazed coolly at Bill Monte. No one had seen him in Del Norte before; that he was a stranger was certain, when Bill Monte knew him not. face was a bronzed but handsome one, with bold, regular features, and an eye of as coo and unwavering as could well be. His , worn long, in under a Spanish herder’s hat, fell in waves over his shoulders, and he wore a slight mustache and imperial. His attire was Ameri although a Spanish serape, f with a chain of pure gold, was worn over his athletic shoulders. “And you think you can clean me out just as easily as you cleaned out the faro bank, eh?” Bill Monte chuckled, as he dexterously mixed the dom- inoes. ‘Do you understand the e we play?” “ Perfectly, sir,’’ the other replied, eountitin out a number of bills from a huge wallet. ‘My name is El Gamin, if you want to know with whom you are to play.” rs Gamin deposited three hundred dollars upon the stack-board at one end of the table, and Monte covered it, after which a package of checks was dealt El Gamin, and the same number retained by Monte. ame then began. Monte sat the double-six, per rule, and El Gamin six-tray, which counted fifteen, for which he receiv- ed ivories. Six bouts were played, with the most game on Monte’s side, but Sion El Gamin blocked it upon deuces, and Monte was forced to rake in the undrawn dominoes. Therefore, El Gamin got the game-count, and his own de money, with checks enought for “ second horse.’ checks are redeemed for their face value at the end of the game. Once more the bones were shuffled, and played, and again El Gamin blocked the game upon op- he and received a heavy count, which put out The ame, besides leaving him with over three hund- red dollars’ worth of checks, above investment. These he retained for a new game. And, amid applause, he won the game, at the end * we Bill a pene 5 story ang upon the stage, and now that he 1s rhaps is best not to haul him over the fire, but the western border never knew of a man that more deserved a | rope and the limb, than he, despite the fact that he made several seouts, before he became what he was, when Jack McCall avenged his brother’s death, in Deadwood—a dissolute bravo and cut-throat, of which he got two hundred dollars’ worth of checks cashed, aside from enough to continue. Again the game began. ain heawon! Not only once, but ten times; ten straight games, at the end of which he came off twenty-five hundred dollars ahead of investment. Bill Monte was by this time furious with rage at his ill-luck. “ Youare a devil!’ he cried; ‘ you have infatuated these bones. But you shall either lose or win all. have eight thousand dollars in the Denver Bank, and it is the last I have in the world, for you've cleaned me; and I'll bet that eight thousand dollars I win the next game!”’ “T accept!” said El Gamin, almost unconcernedly. CHAPTER I. THE HOME OF THE HARRISES.—A STRANGE MESSAGE. Great excitement now prevailed. The news spread like wildfire through the palace ambling-house; crowds surged around the eoire ble; all other ae were suspended, and the gam- bling-tables loaded down with eager men and wo- men, who wished ore a glimpse of this wonderful domino-monarch, Gamin, who was to play Bill Monte for all he was worth, And half a hundred of Bill Monte’s backers, who were herdsmen and of the most rufflanly type of men, stood close at hand, ready to “climb” this new light in the gaming arena, should Bill Monte give the word, And as many or more Del Norteans stood, with hands resting upon revolvers, ready to back El Gam- in, if necessary, for Bill Monte was hated and feared = all, and the Del Norteans held a grudge against him worth bi age ye So that, from standpoints, the situation within that great gaslit edifice, looked peculiarly interest- ing, “ine bands upon the balcony far above were play- ing in concert a grand operatic melody; a strange hushed murmur ran riot; everybody was breathless- ly oS ee Bill Monte was going to stake his last dollar against the same amount put up by this unknown, handsome El Gamin, that he would win the game! Eight thousand dollars! A comfortable fortune, and though it was above the regular line of betting in Del Norte, at Monaco it would ofttimes be considered an insignificant sum, where | cheng fortunes are risked upon a single game of chance, As the — was of so large a figure, no checks were purchased on deposit money; Monte gratuitous- ly furnished these, and the game began. And the game ran: Monte led with double-five, making ten; El] Gamin blank-five—also ten; Monte six-five; E] Gamin blank- six; Monte drew eight dominoes, and played tray- five; and so ran the game, El Gamin event blocking the game on blanks, Monte swore like a trooper, and as if to intimidate his opponent, drew a six-shooter and laid it upon the table. El Gamin stared a moment; then re this performance, his revolver being a heavy Derrin- ger, of large bore. “Guess you meant shoot, didn’t you?” he said, laying his own, already cocked, ‘Guess you'll find out!’ Bill Monte Lees, sullenly, glancing at the check he had written, to see that no one had disturbed it, ‘ Go on.” Lf = ed and Monte won. Eac fifty to go, now; game, two hundred. And they played—and Monte won! With a yell of delight he made a grab for the stakes, but his coun- tenace instantly came in contact with the muzzle of El Gamin’s revolver. “Hold!” El Gamin cried, sternly. ‘Those stakes are not yours. You have cheated! Look, gentle- men—a four deuce played upon the double-six, does not make fifteen. Nor can we call this a game; so we will play over!” The crowd saw the mistake now, and Bill Monte. saw that his attempt to cheat had been in vain, The dominoes were ed, and the e finished, HA ee aan ivan ay * ahend ° ar upon own ame bone, he seized his revolver hag Pos to cover Monte who was utNo taney games!" the victor. cried, grimly o fancy games e rc ree the stakes, and stowing them away in 3 pocket, ‘I won fairly!” “You're a liar and a cheat!” Monte roared, with a frightful curse. “I'll give half o’ my share ter ther man that ’ll shoot dead, boys. Hurra!” With an answering yell the he: en anne for- ward toward the strange gambler expert. But, at the same time the Del Norteans made a rush upon them, and there in that Oriental Palace took place a bloody affray, which the men of Del Norte won, only because of superiority of numbers. And when the battle was over, and a dozen dead and dying lay stretched out upon the blood-stained floor, it was found that El Gamin was gone. Bill Monte and his herders, though thoroug whipped, were none the less boastful and defian and held their own in the Palace. Ready were these rouse —— pyr eg their Lenny J — fmm with or a large percentage of them feared him, by right of a secret’ which we shall develop in the progress of our story. Bitter was the tment then, among them to find that El Gamin escaped, for not only did they wish to avenge the death of their fallen com- rades, but to re-establish Bill Monte in business again, him his money. Down the beautiful San Luis valley, about ten miles from Del Norte, and u Grande, was a pretty little homestead, consisting of an ancient Mexican hacienda, built of adobes, and a and number offout-buildings, all set down upon a prairie- gag +2 n the banks of the Rio | plot of green, which was guarded on three sides by a white picket fence, and sloped gently down to the water's e rolled mile after mile of Back es the buildi | gentle, undulating prairie, a large portion of it de- ! voted to stock grazing, while here and there were patches of and corn, showing that agriculture was not neglected. Upon these herding-plains, each man has his own individual tract, generally square in shape, with each corner marked off with a pole; and it means war to tres upon those grounds belonging to another, even if only stepping across a line, unless you have a passageway ee for. Thus, in the Luis valley, lanterns are hoisted upon the tops of these claim-marking poles, of vari- ous colors of light, eeeeatice * strange appearance if seen upon a particularly dark night, or in a clear one. Two men and a of well-trained Mexican ref herd dogs are all that-is generally required to watc a herd, one change going on at noon and coming off at —, and vice versa. The dogs soon learn the limits allowed for grazing, and n few directions to keep the herds within their proper bounds. The principal foes of the herders of the San Luis valley are the few strolling, wandering Indians who still haunt Southern Colorado, being for the most part vagabond Navajoes. The homestead we have described was handsome- ly located, in sight of Del Norte—indeed, there were no neighbors nearer, except one family further down the valley, the larger share of the herders living fur- ther inland, And to this uestered spot, by Rio Grande Del Norte’s murmuring waters, Edward Harris had come, when in his balloon he had sailed away from Hureka, up in Idaho. It is useless, perhaps, to tell the reader of this Li- BRARY who Edward Harris is, for as Deadwood Dick he is now well known to many thousands of readers. Deadwood Dick, the prince of road-agents, once; but now a reformed man, leading the honest life o cattle-herder. Once when still a road-agent, he had come down into this valley, hearing of its great beauty and fu- ture wealth. He had seen this old Mexican hacien- da with its accompanying six hundred acres, and Sages it for a Bong: and now with his loved and oving wife and boy, he had taken possession of it, leading a quiet life, with servants enough to do the work in the house and upon the stock lands; for Dick was annually receiving handsome profits from a gold mine in the Black and could afford to live luxuriously, One pleasant sunny afternoon, a few days after the event last narrated, the happy little group were gathered under the trees upon the lawn in front of the hacienda, which sloped gently to the water's age It was a beautiful day for December—just such a day as we have in our Eastern States in July or A t, for Del Norte and the San Luis are almost in the tropics, it would seem. No winter ever as- sails them until January, if at all, and lasts but a couple of months. Overhead the sky was clear and blue, while the sun shone down scorchingly, its in- tense heat only relieved by the gentle breeze blow- ing over the prairies from the white-capped moun- ns in the h distance. Trees were 8 green in company with the vel- vety grass, and the birds yet sung joyous songs among the foliage, while — rfumed flowers, and towering cactuses adorned the lawn. a the scene was charming and eee th all the beauties of the land in rivalry with the stateli- ness of the Rio Grande as it moved murmuring by. Deadwood Dick had thrown himself upon the lawn, while Leone sat in a huge ‘bamboo chair in front of him, her gaze resting upon his handsome face and form lovingly. Little Dick, but a few months old, was upon the ion near by, crowing loudly as the birds sung, and oye up his heels in babyish delight. * Ani ow like you new home, darling?’ young Harris asked, taking his cigarette from be- ween his lips. “Like it?’ Leone repeated, glancing about her, half . “Tlike it more than I can tell, dear Eddie. I like it anywhere, where you are!’’ “And home would be no home without you, my peerless, Here, in this beautiful home, if the world will leave me alone, I can end my days in peace and bliss with you, my darling; and hunger not for the old wild life.” “Ah! but how I fear this beautiful home will not long hold us both, Prince,’’ the girl-wife replied, sad- ly. “Something seems to tell me that we are to again experience trouble—that we are going to be parted — perhaps forever.” * Pooh you have the blues a little over something that has not gone right. What is it, pet?’ and he drew her down ide him on the soft carpet of grass. “No I know of yet, dear husband,” she re- ae. on, fondly in his arms. ‘But I got to sane what. if we should be separated, when we are so ? “Tt woul be a bitter blow, indeed, my peerless, but we will not think of such a thing. Here we have all that heart can desire, except neighbors, which are few and far between, and of rather an undesir- able guality. I don’t know about that family down the rfver, as I have not yet penetrated that into the valley, And, Leone, I feel that we need appre- hend no r—not even discovery, from our ene- mies, for a long time to come. tion is not coming from the North, but from the tA “Ah! Eddie, you know not what moment that Edith Stone may come, for she is your life-long | = Do you really believe that she is crazy, ear te
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—— Soe Dick nodded his head slowly, as he re- “IT do, Leone—I can believe nothing else, for I do not think she was so evil of heart, before.” “Oh! but you cannot tell. She may have been, without your knowledge. Women always bear the best appearance on the outside, you know;”’ with a sly nudge. ‘ Besides, there were both her uncle and =a of a villainous turn, which may have affected er ” ** Possibly,” Dick replied, gazing thoughtfully at the — a ‘** And, dear, who is that strange female horseman T saw spurring over the plain, this morning, from my chamber window?” ‘Eh? you saw her, then? Well, the herders call her the Prairie Patrol—Lestie, her name is. But I cannot make head nor tail out of it, ' be dashed, Strange occupation for a young woman, to be roam- me he the plains, without apparent object.” t this juncture there were footsteps heard, and a wiry little old man, accompanied by a billy-goat, of the ugliest of countenances, came striding up, from the prairie, rifle in hand. : He was clad in a hunting-suit of buckskin, with be — — ——— ee —} = we bare no c recognizing our friend of bygone days, Old ‘Avetanche. Both Dick and Leone smiled their welcome, as the veteran Annihilator approached, and caught little Master Dick up in his arms, and tossed him u Florent oniohtiatale Sised: goalveals Semin orence e ru ously ns legs, and shook his sledge-hammer Reoe, txenadene displeasure that his master should take a new pet. “Be still, Flor’nce, ye dasted ornery old critter; behave yerself, afore I giv’ ye ther condoocive end o my number eleven ide. Durnedest old beast is that goat, sir, thet Ovyer war death ter grass, I’m tellin’ ye. Why, thar war ther time, up in Nevada; at Carson City, when I war 4 re ter court up the Widder Washi n—one 0’ e's flock. That pesky goat woulda’t hev it, ertall, sir. He'd jest cum an’ ram his rammifications ag’in’ ther side o’ ther house, ontel ye’d suppose an ‘arthquake hed rolled over, Great hysterical ham-bone! he got so mad one night when I war se kisses out 0’ ther widder, thet wi’ a beller he cum tearin’ right pers windy, - tat —_ eeneraly< gt ‘* Yes, a great goa and a great master, replied Dick, with an amused smile. ‘A well- matched team.’’ “Where have you been, to-day, uncle?” asked Leone, for that was what she and Dick often called the old scout, he seemed so near to them; ‘‘ roaming on the plains, I suppose?’ “Yas, out a-tryin’ my new ben Car tee but he ain’t no seech anymile as my old dence Corde- liar war, I tell you. Prudence ked sling off a shoe an’ hit a red wi’ the utmost sang ye ever see’d. By way, Dickey, boyee, here's a queer little message thet ther they call the Prairie Patrol, sent ter ye thru yer ‘umble servant;’’ and the wenn after ee oe fumb i ~ poc produced an env message, an - ed it to Deadwood Dick, “ Hello! what does this mean?’’ the ex-Prince ex- claimed, in surprise, as he tore. the wrapper. “Leone, what do you suspect? See, it is airecteh me—Deadwood Ay Leone w white, instantly, for she believed that a terrible blow was impending. @ message as follows: “Deadwood Dick, you are in deadly danger. You need counsel, which I cannot give you On paper. Keep out of Del Norte; = have two hund ene- mies there, and among herders. Meet me down the river, at the ruined to-night, at moon- pt a or a Parrou!” . CHAPTER II. THE SPECTACLE IN THE GLADE—“‘THE ARKANSAS. : TOOTHPICK.” THAT night was beautiful in the extreme, in the picturesque mountains and on the prairies eof Navajoes, in some les up the San Luis valley from the e tract of timber ex- from the river which sullenly through the center of the valley, across a southern grazing pees finally So ecnenge Gg the mountains, miles the ce, timber seemed to form a sort of across the valley, and from its dark, y taken the name of Black ; oods. r was about - ne ae by sweuty ong, and after passing ug! v con- tinued on toward its a mass of 7. the banks of been ; the 8 ish settlers first inv. gold. "twas in every sense of the word a gh old place. : It was "igh ahd irrogulatly built ‘ia mer curi- ous. ‘and wings; the were away, and a matted mass of wild vin erum! mass es nearly hid from view the semblance of a habitation. The doors given over’ to a of rg c su G ithal kingdom as had no better habisation, been a handsome place, for crumbling sta’ sus | Arkan the massed foliage, and serpentine graveled walks led ‘Jocupelaara ‘cumstan an’ choked Omaha O11. down across it to the gurgling, waters of the Rio Grande, a few rods away. And on this night the soaring full moon up in the dome of heaven, threw a ghastly flood of light down upon the ruins, and te a tragic scene In the de- serted glade. No—not dese , for in its center stands a tree with outspreading branches, and to one of these a dark object is suspended by means of a stout rope. As we approach nearer, we are able, by aid of the flood of weird moonlight, to define this tbe and make it out to be the body of a man, hung by the neck, Surely the scene is in unison with the surround: ings, for everything about the ruins reminds one of the dead and the dead past; and the river murmurs a weird requiem, The stillness is profound, until, when the moon reaches a point almost directly over- head, there are sounds of horse’s feet heard close at hand, and half a dozen coyotes sneak out from the hacienda, and into the wood. Then, after considerable noise, and a number of rather broad exp: dignation, a horseman ressions of in emerged suddenly into the glade. Apnescatly astonished to find himself out of the timber tangle, he leaned back in the saddle and pulled with all his strength upon the reins, succeeding final- ly in bringi steed, a very ugly-tempered and one Wines re She ‘tices i t, witha peculiar bt oa-r-r!” the stranger sung out, witha nasal twang, as he succeeded. in wine og Mei beast to.a standstill—‘‘ whoa-r-r, ye ungod t, while we take in a comprehensive view o’ ther surround- ings.’ Hy EE pair were this stranger and his mule— as odd in appearance as one is often likely to meet on the Overland trail. The man was a seven-footer if he was an inch in hight, and as lank and gaunt as a prairie-wolf after a severe winter, Evidently there was not a spare pound of flesh about him, and if he had been accus- med to good living, it had in no way affected him as to ag sep e was rather illy proportioned, too, for the longest portion of his person was his legs, his trunk or body being strangely dwarfed, and Ree long and crane-like. Upon this latter was oe a head almost ae hard oy = that 8 ba ordinary m covere a straggling matte shock of lain that fell half-way down to his waist. His arms were equally long with his legs; and his face was covered to the eyes with a red shaggy beard, which almost touched belt. His eyes were black and etic, and shaded by a broad-brim herder’s hat, with the rim turned down; while his re- maining habiliments consisted of a suit of corduroy, and top-boots. In his belt he carried both revolvers kai and lasso, while a handsome rifle was slung a ry This ‘ ge reel man ” A strange, he was lu sat astride the mule, an of exceeding muli aspect, and oaly countenance, and undersized, at that, to that mt which made it necessary for the rider to lock his long legs under the animal's belly, to keep them from . A fact it was that he could sit in the sad and walk upon the und, of such exceeding were those thills of his, ““Whoa-r-r!”” repeated this strange individual, for the third time, though the mule was stationary for the time being—‘ whoa-a-r-r, consarn ye, an’ let yer lord-an’-master make an observatory .o’ thes leetle Hullo! darn my old sow’s last litter o’ pigs! what in all creat’on aire thet hangin’ ter yander limb—a man? Aire this a graveyard or seminary, ther great Toothpick o’ Arkansas hes stumbled inter —a sort o’ cr whar anshent Aztecs hang aa Holy sulphurous fires of anshent ee 4 the reins, the Arkansas Toothpick drop- bee aera oe mie hae Ww. e spectacle moo: "s head without any trouble, 6 suspended body, over the m parseeve a feller human in them distressed cir- I sw’ar. Cotched ther disease, , if inter angelicky, _ Wonder who he is—w’ether he is a Toothpick, a Jayhawker, or a Gopher? Trim-b’ilt sort uv a’coon; young an’ ‘and- sum, too. ‘Spect I don’t know nothin’ about how he slid off, ner ‘tain’t none o° my bizness; yet I do like ter make my mark in ther world, Don’t expect et would be no harm, nuther. Judith, ye old beast, cum hayr, wi’ my writin’ materials, w’ile I write thes poor cuss’s obituary.” According to orders, the mule came forward, to the giant's side, but casta suspicious eye at the co) swinging in the breeze. "Bho! ye needn't be sk old at thet scare- crow!"’ the Toothpick assu as he to write u some r, ‘' Ye've seen wuss nor thet, in yer ifctime, I tell ye.” Busily_Wwrote this uncouth man from Ar and at length he finished and_pinned which was penned upon half a sheet of f pa- St, am large, 8) praying jeitets, upon oe clothi gf uspe : en he a grim Sucka, ‘and contemplated his work with evi- EO ; : ‘t much stumps 0” writin’, thet ain't!” he remarked, addressing the-arowsing mule, “ but et’s lain an homely, Y se? like ther biograp! uv et. arn't learnt much them days I went ter schule in SAW} payed old sledge and seven up, most 0’ ther time, Guess we've done about ther extent 0’ our pile, Judith, so \o 1ni¢ht as well mog along.” “4 the notice, | snakes. ‘8 Saying which the eccentric ranger spread _his legs a , and the gery animal aimefl between them, and Toothpick sat down into the saddle with- out any ado, ** Now, g’lang, ye beast, an’ none o’ yer paces biz- ness, fer we’re goin’ ter reach Del Norte ter-night, or ~ bu’st ther b’iler!”’ And away trotted the little mule, with his ludicrous burden, across the glade. Soon they were out of sight in the wood, and things in that lonely glade once more resumed their hostly a ce. ‘he moon still showered down its whitish, spectral light, a rising breeze moaned through the k Woods, an owl hooted within the ruined hacienda, and the river moved by, with its sullen, monotonous murmur. With the departure of the midnight traveler, the coyotes sneaked back to their haunts in the ruins, and howled their disgust upon the night. But what was this m the strange individual had left upon the body of the unlucky young man, oer he might be, who had been lynched in the e? e The an ge was lit up by the light of the weird moon, and revealed the following words, written in rude serawls: “Jem Surrat Murry, Eskwire, ther ‘original’ Toothpick frum Arkansas, desires ter annownce thet he found this corpuss n’ ter a limb, an’ render- ed a coroner's verdick 0’ died o’ a tightness in ther weazand, Take warning, ye sinners, for ef ther original Toothpick fram Arkansaw ever gits aclutch at ye, ye’re bound ter shake hands wi’ a devil. “Yours trooly, Jem Murray.” agon train containing the colonizationists, had camped just out of Del Norte, on the western side of the town and upon the river bank. The caravan was a large one, containing in all a hundred “ schooners,” drawn by oxen, a large stud of horses, and about si families, mostly from Pennsylvania and New York. Among this strong band the males and the females were about evenly divided, a portion of each of a marriageable age, while the remainder were the possessors of families, Naturally there was a great egg among the young men, which, during the long journey of the caravan, had in more than one instance led into a quarrel and fight, though the lat- ter was generally secretly conducted. On the day that the caravan camped without the town, those belonging to it were visited by a number of curious Del Norteans, and not a few decoys were offered to induce the young men and maidens into the town, and to that den of wholesale and retail robbery by ecards, the Oriental. But there were two of the young men who did not go. They refused all solicitations, and after dark that evening, met upon the prairie, outside of the town, Both were handsome young fellows of two-and- byenty ears, well-built and Ut te nag arta ow | and t names were respectiv: edwood Arlington. Fred m was the a a of the two, and a more general favorite. = od rents were wealthy, and he had traveled in the West before—it was he, in fact, who had located the new colony which the caravan were about to start. Dean Redwood was_a good fellow in his way, but one of those whom you have to get thoroughly used to, ere you can say that you like them. ° He was a native of Montana, he stated; had a the train only a few days’ travel beyond Del orte, bere the expressed intention of making one of the colony. y ‘And these two young men now met ‘upon the dark rairie, and confronted’ each other, with savage ooks and drawn revolvers. “At last we are alone, Dean wood!" Arlington cried in a stern ringing voice, that betray- ed how intense was his bitternéss and hatred— “alone and safely out of hearing, where no One will interfere,” : : “T believe so,” Redwood assented, with a nod and a glance about. “Your invitation out here was at first a matter of surprise, but after due reflection; I concluded if was caused by your jealousy toward me for Ls dong, Mel few words to say to’ your*affianced, Miss Ada Belldon.” if “That for one reason, you dog. You have instilled poison into her mind, or infaiuafed her, the devil only knows which.’ Do not think J Beg Se you, sir, for I do.’ We have mét before.” “Yes, we have met_before,” Redwood replied, , “and the recollections I‘have of you, are none too pleasing, I assure Oo When I think of the | ou enticed from me, and betrayed to death, I felt like catching you by the throat and choking the life out of you. es “No doubt you joined the train for some such a 1” sneered ‘on. “No matter about my i in joining the cara- van,” replied Redwood. “Isaw the lovely girl you were to entrap, as ycu would have entrapped Re Lor dint confess, ward ee ot Soar Past now, er of history, and to look out for you as shé would for “Yes, I know you did, and by so doing, made it necessary for me to call ; id “What do you want?” ¥ Boe “ Your life—and you want mine!” “No, I no desire in that direction THe great he r will be time enough to ave ae yeas Sa area oe : want yours, ¢ would have you Hie.” “Very If you will risk your life in bf om kill me, your fate be upon your own head. it be revolvers?” -
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A Beadle’ “Yes; as well end the work with them as any other weapons!” Then there in the first light of the moon that was shoving her forehead over the horizon, the two foes ne ge off a proper distance, and took their places. ‘*We will count in concert, and fire at the word three. Are you ready?’ from Redwood. Perfectly!’ Arlington replied, as with a trem- bling hand he raised a revolver on a line with his face, which was deathly pale. “ All right then—one?”” In whic mg panes wie P “ Two!” from t ns ringing voices. Then came—“ Three! Fire!” A CHAPTER IV. THE PRAIRIE PATROL. Great was the surprise of Deadwood Dick, at the contents of the strange moare Old Avalanche had brought him, coming as it did from the mysterious Patrol of the Prairies. And he had company in his wonderment, for the great Annihilator and Leone shared it with him. “What can it mean? Who does it signify—this word, enemies? Can it be that my old foes from Deadwood have trailed me, even here?” the young ex-road mt said, gazing thoughtfully at the ape “ Or is this some trap to et, me to death? heaven! I'd giveadeal to have riddle solved. What kind of a looking female, Alva?” “Great ham-bone thet lyzed old Joner wi’ electricity! I hain’t ther least ijeer, Dickey, my b’yee. ‘d her, ter be sure, but she war about forty yards off, an’ a-sailin’ along like a veritable thunderstarm o’ demolition, an’ afore I got ready ter screw oF in onter her, she war sumwhars else. Beauchifully shaped, however, an’ et’s likely thet she’s ther persessor of a scientific p’ysiogno- m ,? What! you were not nearer than forty yards to her, an yet you say she sent this message with you!” “Zebulom Zack, yes!’’ and the old man laid back upon the , and for the space of several minutes was con with laughter. “So she did, but ye orter see’d her. She tuk a bow an’ arrer from her belt, an’ takin’ aim, sir, fer an actooal fact, wi’out breakin’ ther corner off’m ther ten commandments, she stuck thet arrer plum inter ther tail o’ Anna Dickinson, my new ’oss. Moses in ther scriptural bull-rushes! ye orter seen thet poor anamile, then, Dickey—ye jest orter see’d her! Ham-bone frum ther w’ale thet old Joner stowed away! she jest give a yell like a bloodthirsty Comanche, or a Settin’ an’ fainted clean away —fact, by gracious. An’I found thes yere m e tied ter ther tale o’ ther arrer. Zebulom Zackaria- her! ef thet hed been old Prudence Cordeliar, now, she wouldn’t ’a’ fainted—oh! no. She'd jest slung a east iron hoss-shoe at that Prairie Gadder, in most skientific fashion. See’d her shampoo the sculp of a noble red devil up in Montana, once, en thet man- ner. But, I’m tellin’ e thar’s heaps o’ virtue an’ l'arnin’ about Anna Dickinson * ther fac’ thet Prudence Cordeliar war ther likeliest beast thet ever figgered in ther historical evolutions o’ ther great Annihilation—ther great boreal disease o’ these se- questered northern longytoads and lattytudes, ef we want ter know it. ‘Anna kin brush a fly off’m her left ear wi’ her right ’un, in astonishin’ style, an’ when ye cum ter in’ wi’ a mad Texan steer, w’at’s got astray from herd, she’s thar, bet yer pile on that.” “Oh! Dick!” Leone exclaimed, “I fear that, as I said, our home is to be broken "hater we are to be se . Don’t go to meet this strange woman, w designs you know not!” “Ah! my dear, but I must go. If I were to let this warning a> unheeded, it might be the means of the death o; of us. Noll , but well pre- pared to let Greek meet Greek. Av. che, will you order my horse, please?” MR Wynnnse'd ‘yee. But let me advise ye ter take grea ‘boreal disease along wi’ ye. thar's heeps o’ fun in ther Annihilation, ef thar is but two re members; an’ ef thar’s ty o’ Injun ter in ate ther great devastatin’ inter—” “No, scout, you had best remain here, and guard Leone and my boy, for there is no foretelling what may happen, at any moment. We are alone and in a land of strangers, and undesirable ones, too, for -Mexican cattle-herders are but a band -ruffians—men who'd as soon fight as “ All right, b'yee; I'll stay and do guard duty, an’ happens, you can calcylate that Ava- lanche didn’t go down wi’out fightin’ fer your dar- lin’s!”’ and then the Annihilator turned away, wi ing a suspicious moisture out of the corner of his eyes. For he loved the Harrises, did that grim old veteran, whose life had been given_ up to border- battle—they were nearer to his rough but kind old heart than others had ever been, he felt he could willingly shed his last drop of blood in their cause. After he had gone, Deadwood Dick arose, and moodily to and fro across the la his brows itted, and a sigh occasionally esca; his lips; while, with Master Dick in her arms, Leone sat upon wo oe watching ber handsome prince, with proud, tearful pare. Deadwood Dick was half undecided what to do. He had some doubts as_to this strange woman, Prairie Patrol; suspicions that all might not be meant well for him would force themselves upon him. Yet she ht be a friend, and by some way have learn- ed of ger that was threatening him, and wished to apprise him of it. ese were the two phases of the matter, he con- templated. At last he turned to Leone, none of the moody ex- pression gone from his brow. “Cheer up, little woman, and trust in Avalanche to protect you while I am gone. He will do it as | well as I could, if not better. The ride is but six miles, and I may not be gone over three hours. Adieu, now!”’ He bent over and kissed her and the babe re- peatedly; then vaulted upon the back of a hand- some black horse which a peon had brought, and was | dashing away,waving his hat back in farewell parting. The sun was just sinking upon the of the horizon, and he knew it would close on to night ere he reached the ruined ranch, so he urged steed into a gallop, and dashed on over the prairie, keeping near to the river shore. A splendid»rider he was; road-agent life in the Black Hills had perfected him in the art of equestri- anism, if it can be justly termed an art, and he sat the saddle with a grace rarely equaled. Not stiff, but in a swinging, easy motion peculiar to the horse- man of the western prairies, An Eastern equestrian will, on first seeing their Western brothers ride, be considerably amused, no doubt, at the motions in saddle; but, put the West against the world for wild, reckless an ul riding. Deadwood Dick pushed steadily on, not allowing his well-bottomed animal to leave a gallop for the | first three miles of the journey. Then, as he perceiv- ed that he could make the Black Woods ere night fell, he drew rein to a walk, and allowed his noble | steed to profit by the cool breeze that was wafting | over the billo rairie. The sun had half sunk out of sight below a horizon of green and yellow; the last rays of gold were shooting over the beautiful landscape, and as Dead- wood Dick glanced around him, a glow of enthusi- asm swept over his features. “Tis grand!” he mused—“ grand beyond even my appreciation of the beautiful. Such a noble location for comfortable homes; how happy I and Leone mt be, here, if my foes would only keep away! curse them; I believe they intend to hunt me down to death. But, ere long x ence and endurance will cease to be a virtue, an shall be driven back into that old, wild life—the past which has so bitter a ating. But surely a great Master will not allow that; he will avert the necessity of retrogression, and—and—” Here he fell off into a fit of musing, and for some | time, apparently, was unconscious of all that was going on around him. ‘ pe then he aroused, and urged his horse on ‘aster. Night’s somber shadows were thickening rapidly when he came into the immediate neighborhood o the wood. Only for the moon that was rising out of an eastern prairie billow, the darkness would have been intense. As he neared the forest, Deadwood Dick drew his revolvers from their holsters, and _ fresh cartridges in the cylinders, and turned is knife to a handy position, for he knew not how soon he might have occasion to use one or both. Then he urged his horse forward to the edge of the wood, and dismounted. Securing the milimnen so that he could not wander away, he stepped stealthily into the timber, and made his way toward the ruin- ed hacienda—not boldly, but cautiously, with all his senses upon the alert for danger. He meant to prevent a surprise, if possible. Every few steps he paused to listen, and peercd sharply around him, at every object which he thought might dissolve intoa human form. The spectral moonlight sifting down through the tree-tops cast shadows, and the young man was several times fooled in believing these to be ambushed enemies. At last, after full half an hour of stealthy prowling he reached the glade in front of the hacienda, an paused on the edge. Before him was the old ruin, looking weird and hostly; but that ghastly sight which the Arkansas oothpick had seen, later in that same night, was not suspended from the limb of the tree. Deadwood Dick did not go boldly out in the >. It was not because he lacked the courage to do so but because he preferred to remain under cover, and watch what t ired, And after an hour of watching, without reward, he was put in the way of making a discovery. There came the tramp of a horse’s feet, and the mysterious female Patrol of the Prairies rode into the glade, upon the back of a powerful black steed, a near mate to the one Deadwood Dick had left out on the edge of the wood and prairie. In her arm and y cess across her saddle-bow, the Patro carried a heavy burden. This Deadwood Dick had no difficulty in making out as a man’s body, and anatural curiosity possess- ed him to know the meaning of these a | movements of this strange woman. That she was beautiful he could easily perceive, for the | moonlight shone full in her face, as she drew rein—in a face of remarkably-perfect cast, each feature being ype chiseled as though by the artist’s hand. e@ eyes were large and wild in ex- pression, and hair of the hue of the unburred chest- nut swept over her shoulders, meee contoured and hala - * bap Nd medium hight, she looked very pretty, w e silvery moo shedding a nore radiance over her, She was attired in a gown of some brownish stuff, while a vail was made to answer the purpose of a covering upon her head, “By Jove!” Deadwood Dick commented, thought- fully, from his retreat, ‘she is at least a handsome woman, and there is mystery about her. I wonder who is that man she carries, and what the row is, generally?” His questions were soon answered. The Prairie Patrol drew rein in under the tree where, late, hung the corpse, and glanced around | her, cautiously. | s Half-Dime Library. ane hed out of the glade. —a “T am alone,” she said, in a tone loud enough that her words were audible to the watcher in the edge of the glade. “El Gamin did not fall into te trap I laid for him, because he is a coward. He my writing, no doubt, and like a shy fox, he has kept within'his hole, But, it will not avail him. Bill Monte and the Prairie League owe him a grudge, and Wild Lestie will be revenged through them, who kneel at her shrine, as heathen worship before their Thus fiercely ke the beautiful Patrol; then with a start she fixed her gaze upon the face of the man she had carried in her arms. ‘*Ha! why should I complain? I have one of those who put the blight upon my life, and though another killed him, I have his body. Fred Arlington, even though you are dead—dead and cold, never more to return to life—I hate =, I hate you! Truly Dean Redwood sent the bullet through his brain, and I would love him for it, but that I have another work to perform. El Gamin has dared to come back but he shall not escape the avenging hand of Wild Lestie—ha! ha! no; he and his wife and child shall die!” In his hiding, Deadwood Dick started violently, as the latter part of her speech was heard, and a sud- den faintness assailed him. “My God!" he gasped, as a sudden thought flashed across his brain, ‘can it be that it is 1] whom she mistakes for this El Gamin? By heaven! I believe I have solved the mystery. She has decoyed me here, to murder me, and while lam here, this Bill Monte and the ‘ Prairie League’ of whom she ks, are ory ‘ my home and slaughtering my wife and c ” An awful horror seized upon the ex-road-agent, and for the space of several moments, he was too appalled to move or speak. ut in the meantime the strange woman, Prairie Patrol, was speaking: “Yes, they shall all dic, curse them, to avenge the ruined life of Wild Lestie. El Gamin dead, there are but two more to follow ere the record of ven- goance is complete. Ha! ha! Fred Arlington, you, e basest villain of the lot, dead first, but not by my hand. Dean Redwood should have died just the same as you, but he was . He must follow, also. Ha! I will lynch Arlington even tho’ he is no longer of the living and cannot feel the tor- ure.”? Her resolve was apparent, She held the y evenly balanced across the horse’s neck, and then uncoiled a long lasso from about the saddle-bow. One end she dextrously formed into a slipping noose, and shirred about the neck of the corpse; then she tossed the other over the nearest limb above her. It went over and eame down, and then with a dis- play of considerable strength, she drew the dead colonist up into mid-air, and fastened the rope about his arm-pits, so that he was securely hung. “Ha! ha! there you are, Fred Arlington, an illus- tration of the just end of such as follow in your footsteps, through life. You are the first to head Fooee list of Lestie’s vengeance, but by no means the t!"° Then, upon sudden impulse, apparently, she the urs into her animal's flanks, and | golden idols!” But Deadwood Dick had - trouble was occurring there! CHAPTER V. A NIGHT OF DEATH. Arter the de ure of Deadwood Dick, Old Ava- lanche joined me Harris upon the lawn, where she still sat, weeping softly over her babe. “Cheer up, my little leddy!” the grim veteran said, comfortingly, ‘for thar’s allus a calm after er squall, they say. Great ham-bone thet dislocated ther jaw of old Joner! w’at ye cryin’ at how? Cryin’ are a bad habit, I've hearn tell. It d u one’s bl and wharever a tear 0’ salt brine f. onter a bi o’ grass, that eyedentycal blade ar’ de- vastated asef by a contagious disease. Knew a gal- leon one’t, pritty as a picter, who cried her eyes out and had ter it blind ther rest of her natteral days, fer weepin’ after a lost set o’ false teeth—like ther man thet bought a case o’ chip hats; thort ther wasn't any more ever goin’ ter be - **Oh! you are kind, sir, in your attempts to cheer, but I cannot help weeping, for I have a premonition of danger; an awful fear assails me, that Ree Fae er than we t, surrounds us. Oh! Dick! why did _— go? We shall never meet again!" “Tut! tut?’ hed the Annihilator, but, with less joviality than Cesore, for somehow he had become of this strange foreboding—‘ tut! tut! child; don’t ery ernutber bit. I'll warrant Dickey’ll cum back, He’s not ther boy ter desert a friend long, when it is possible to help if. Cum inter ther ? i oo in ther won't feel so lone- ouse, ma'am, and 1 And the Annihila- Leon in their wake. She had resolved to hope for the best, though she could but feel that Dick had gone into danger—perh death. She went e hacienda, which was furnished after a fastidious Spanish taste, and betook herself tothe parlor overlooking the at prairies, where the sounds of boisterous laughter announced that Avalanche and master Dick had preceded her, She found the old scout trotting the child upon his knee, and singing, laughing and whistling, alternate- —.
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ly, to it, like some great overgrown schoolboy. He seemed to have found a new realization of life and comfort, in caring for and amusing the babe of his friend. Perhaps it was because a — old age was fast nearing him toward his second childhood. But, brave old veteran, whose heart was as pure as crystal, though hidden under a rough uncouth covering, he'll have to die—as we all shall have to contribute our mite toward paying off the great eternal debt. But when dies one from our midst, whose goodness to his friends and devotion to his country have been a sole object in his life, we mourn that loss, even though we be but strangers. And little did the Annihilator or Leone dream of the near approach of death, as he played with Leone’s child—Deadwood Dick; both of whom he regarded as his grandchildren, and loved according- Little either of them thought of danger as such a close neighbor, until it came. Leone first discovered it—a glowing red light out upon the prairie, too low for one of the poled-claim landmarks, and yet a light shining with such bril- liancy as to reflect tt the moonlit sky, appa- rently growi in size. She called "the i tor’s attention to it, with a startled scream. “Look! look! see yonder light upon the prairie? What does it mean? Oh! heaven, can it mean that our enemies have—”’ She paused and watched the face of the old scout for her answer. He stood jus’ without the window, and On asa fix- edly at the lizhi, his eyes reaching forth with nearly as much strength as in their yout: At first the expression upon his face was indiffer- ent, but it gradually became so grim, that she was forced to arouse him, so frightened she grew. “Oh! tell me—tell me; is it danger?” “ Slathers an’ haydoogins of it! My, gal, ef I ain't mistaken, thar’s deviltry afoot, and I'll bet my old hat on it. Thet perarie aire ajire, off yonder, in a holler, an’ ye ken‘t see it so good; but wait till she boils over ther hill, an’ ye'll observe how she’ll come 8 ad toward us!’ “Oh! merciful heaven! is this true? Oh! what shall we do? Let's flee, while the fire is yet at a dis- tance!" Leone cried, rh Dickie to her breast. “Yas, I opine et would a good ijee, onless ther devil's imps, whoever nag f aire, hev surrounded ther ranch, in w’ich case we'll hev ter fight like a Span- ish bull, You take the kid and go down to ther river bank, while I hunt up thet old boat and launch it. Ef we can’t get out o’ thes deeficulty, I'm hanged . The liek . eth rairi reflecting la 6 light upon the pi © was r and larger against the starlit sky, castin, the illu- mination of the moon in a shade. A brisk breeze was blowing in toward the hacienda from the moun- tain, and as soon as the fire crept up out of the bil- low, it had a smooth dry plain of two miles extent to the farm-house, This distance the mad flames could soon py Seer and then the outbuildings around the ienda would fall a prey to the fire, Leone, in accordance with Avalanche’s orders, hurried at once down across the lawn to the banks of the Rio Grande, only pausing for a few wraps as she through the house, But it was a fatal action on her part! In the meantime, Avalanche left the hacienda by a rear door, and stroe toward the commodious barn, against one end of which leaned a large flatboat. evidently long gone into disuse, although it was still stanch and stout. It had occurred to the old man upon instant thought, that this was the very thing they must use if they hoped to make their escape. The river was wide and deep envugh for the navi- gation of so shallow a boat, and they could on the swift current reach Del Norte much quicker than b: horse, and stand less chance of discovery by their unknown ene Tearing aside the vines that had grown upon the boat, he was about to attempt to draz it toward the river, when he heard a shout, and saw three men mg around the corner of the barn, with drawn pis- 3. “Thar the old badger is; shoot him down!” yelled one, firing even as he spoke, and before the Annihi- lator could draw a weapon. The bullet took effect in the old man’s chest, and he dropped upon one knee with a pitiful moan. He knew by the sensation of that wound, and the blood that spurted from it, that his hours on earth must be numbered, with a leaden mark. But, hero to the v of death, as he was, he was not vanquished, but drew a revolver in either hand, and waved them in defiance over his head, a wild triumphant expression upon his a, stubbly, sun- burnt face. Had the old hero caught a glimpse of the t future? pe rar lied,and then his 1 “‘ Keep off!” he ye and then his revolvers crack- ed spitefully, pads two of the border ruffians went down. But the next instant a band of half a score swarmed around from behind the barn, and upon them did the brave old scout fire, until his last cart- ridge was gone, and a fifth bullet in his body caused him to crap teek, in exhaustion and insensible. Poor days of usefulness—were they over? ting up the of himself the mea kne r and per eath —death to his loved ones; for had not Prairie Pa- would descend nm the ranch, and destroy those whom they aooeed to be On—on Deadwood Dick urged his animal, at the top of its speed—on—on, over prairie hill and prai- rie valley, sparing neither spur nor lash! He bent forward in the saddle, his eyes riveted up- on the course ahead of him, and upon the flames that were now leaping heavenward, and any eed fiercely toward his prairie home. The whole plain was now as light as day; the heavens reflected a lurid light, and great mountain-clouds of black smoke and cinders swept through the air. A terri- ble horror assailed the ying horsemen. as, when he was yet three miles away, he saw the awful fiery spectacle ingulf his pretty home—saw the barn and outbuildings ignite and add to the conflagration. The hacienda was outwardly imperishable, being built of well-laid adobes. ; Were Leone, Avalanche and his babe in this awful hell of fire—or had they escaped? This was the tor- turing question, and it fairly maddened him when he remembe Leone’s entreaties for him to re- main—maddened him, when his thoughts centered nen the mysterious Prairie Patrol, and her infernal ecoy. de HEE flew the black steed whose fleetness of foot aroused the ex-road-agent’s enthusiasm, even under the circumstances of the trying hour, for every leap took him half a length nearer. On—on, closer and closer the wild horseman draws to the track of the flames, then he jerks his steed back upon its haunches, suddenly, as an apparition rises out of the grass, just ahead of him—a wild- looking, hatless man, with blood-besmeared garb. “Great God! is that you, Avalanche, old boy?” burst from Deadwood Dick’s lips; but the next in- stant the figure " as —went down in the grass again, out of sight. With an exclamation, and a misgiving in his heart, Harris threw himself off his horse, and ran forward. He found the old Annihilator stretched upon the Fround, just where he had fallen, with very little of e in In some unaccountable way the brave old hero had crawled out of the track of the fire, in time to escape a fiery death. Deadwood Dick knel by his side, and clasped one of the veteran’s horny old palms in his own. “My God, Avalanche, this is awful!’’ he gasped, as he noted by the aid of the light of the fire the awful grayish pallor that was stealing over the old man’s features. ‘Are you very badly wounded, dear friend?” A faint smile payed about the old scout’s mouth, for a moment; then he slowly opener his eyes. “Yes, ’m done for sure, Dickey, b’yee, an’ no mustake,’’ was the faint reply. ‘‘They cum onter me too fast, an’ I couldn't play a trump every time, ag’in’ their deal. They put five bullets inter me, an’ I’m gittin’ too old ter stan’ more’n three at one time, e kno’. Guess thes aire ther Annihilation’s last rail tergether, ontil ther great eternal ’un. Some- how, I’ve hed a notion ever sence we cum frum ther nor’, thet these war onhealthy lattytudes an’ longy- toads fer me; an’ then, bu’stin’ ther great A: - tion, in leavin’ Prudence up at Eureka kinder seem- ed ter wear onter me, fer we’d bin friends so long, an’ et appeared like one o’ us hed made a vacancy, by death. Nor,I don’t think I'd ‘a’ come, Dickey, b’yee, only thet I c’u’dn’t b’ar ter leave thet little baby o’ yourn, It seemed ter hev a holt onter me, by its innocence and purity w’at couldn't be broke. Poor little boy; God took the old man, and the babe too, to keep him company!” “What! Merciful God! do not tell me my child is dead!’’ Deadwood Dick cried, reeling back, blinded by tears which had come as he watched the old hero fast sinking away. “Yes, b’yee; it’s hard, I kno’; but et's better’n ef he war to grow up an’ sin. He'll be a little angel. I hope I’m going ter see him ag’in, Dickey; 1 don’t think God will refuse me admission ter his kingdom, although I hev been a pretty rough customer, an give ther everlastin’ send-off ter heaps o’ red-skins an ere as warn’t fit ter peopleize thes beautiful “Have no fears, old friend, but die with faith in Jesus!” was young Harris’s hoarse reply. “ But, tell me of my wife and child, I pray, ere it is too late, Alva!’’ “Yes!” the old martyr replied, dreamily, rubbing the clammy sweat from his forehead, “I'll try ter, tho’ thar ain’t much wind left in me, any more! Ther baby is dead. I fainted, after the heathen herders shot me, but cum to jest as ther fire war cummin’ cluss. My thoughts instantly went ter Leone an’ yer boy, an’ I staggered aroun’ ther house ter ther lawn. found ’em both—ther babe dead, an’ Leone frightfully wounded—lyin’ on ther river bank. She prayed me ter take the babe and fetch it out o’ ther track o’ ther fire, an’ then ef I c’u’d do Re ter cum back fer her. I fetched ther leetle angel, Dick, but, God forgive me, I hadn't ther strength ter go back fer yer wife!” Here the old man broke down both with grief and exhaustion, and tears coursed down his furrowed cheeks; while Deadwood Dick with bowed head ws as aaeee: seldom weep—wept —_ a heart full of g an ay erp gm such as only the of loved ones by death can be felt. Presently the Annihilator summoned all his strength and ke again, though his words were gas and y audible: : e had water for a choice frum the flam b pee ree a better death, at least. You'll x ack yonder where I laid to rest. Good-by, Dickey, don’t grieve but trust in Jesus and—and—avenge us! God will help you doit. Can ye pray, boyee? apne beth the de ors hana He bon gr e ero's in his - ereon Dik raised his face to the lurid fire-lit heaven above, and prayed with all his soul and voice— orayed for those loved ones who were dead and ying, and for life, strength and help to avenge their fates. An earnest, eloquent Parts touching and itifully sweet, in memory of the dead. When he nished, and gazed at the old man, life’s last pulses were just ebbing out! CHAPTER VIL HAWK HARRINGTON’S RIDE.—OMAHA OLL. Back to Del Norte’s city of gambling we will go some two weeks after the events last narrated, an witness a scene among strange characters, who are to take an active part in our story. The home of the Harringtons was situated on the eastern side of Del Norte and upon the bank of the river, near where it debouches from the San Luis valley and ruches due southward. The Harringtons were an Eastern family, natives of New Hampshire, who had come into this country among the earliest of the settlers, and took up land then belonging the Government, upon which they had settled, and now had, in addition to an excellent herding-ranch, a well-tilled farm, and a beautiful home, in the grim old Spanish hacienda, rambling and odd-shaped, which had stood by the river side, ere they came. There were five of the family, two sons, one daughter, and the parents, both hard-working, hon- ag? ap ee of mature age. e daughter, Ella, was a young lady of nineteen, very pretty, as the word goes, with a face in which purity om goodness shone, and a form that was pleasingly modeled. She was the pride of her parents, and esteemed by all who knew her. Of the two sons, one was christened Hawk and the other Philip. The former received his name for his sharpness of glance, when yet but a boy. He was now a man of iy (ena ten | oars, strong and stalwart, with a thorough knowledge o the prairie and herding, and all the matters apper- taining thereto; was a great favorite among the rough herders, and was rather the “boss” of the family. He Rnd ro’ and sometimes brutal—had no re- oo for cloth, as the word goes, and was little at ome. Somehow, he had but few friends among the few intelligent and refined i ne of Del Norte and its surroundings. It had m whispered that he was not allas good as he might be, but whether there bagel ad truth in this rumor, we shall soon endeavor to show. Philip was a decided opposite of his brother, in nearly every particular. He was more op re of build, and less rough and eteciey, and his temperament was mild and affa- le. He was universally admired, for he was as brave as a lion, and was one who would not screen the ilty, even though guilt existed in his own family. fie believed in the word “‘ justice,” and in seeing jus- tice enforced, under all circumstances. He, with his father, tilled the farm, as a general thing, while Hawk was away looking after the herds upon the prairie. One evening toward the middle of December, when a cold, raw north wind was bl in across the plain, Hawk m came ri madly in toward the hacien upon the back of his ited charger, whieh was ed with foam. of a long, hard ride. There was & savage, desperate ex- ression upon the face of the rider—a face that was k and cruel, with fierce black eyes, hair, and heavy sweeping mustache—an expression of rage and of defiance, as occasionally he would glance over his shoulder at a group of a dozen horsemen that were psn te hag in rear. Masked, and graceful riders were men, and mounted upon well-bot- tomed as was evidenced by the fact that they kept about the same distance from the fugitive, whose horse was reputed the fastest in the valley, without gaining or losing. Young n was wounded in half a dozen places, and blood spurted from these wounds at every jolt; but he was a man of indomitable will and ru constitution, which was all that kept him in the saddle, “Curses on the hounds of Satan!” he raved, as he geaend the cruel Spanish spurs dee into the anks of his nobly-striving animal. “ Rocket, on, or we are lost! another bullet like those last two will drop me, if put in the same neighborhood. Fu- ries take the accursed gang who can they be?” On! on! dashed the handsome brown racer over the yielding turf, and on came the gpm with occasionally giving a yell of command, which, though the words were inaudible, Hawk knew were orders for him to halt. But this he would not have done, had death con- fronted him on ev side, and reckless was he of irit. He would rather be shot from the flying c he had often said, than to be taken a pris- oner. On—on! the hacienda was yet a mile away; he could see its glimmering — in the early evening —knew that there were ng hands and willing hearts within the grim adobe walls of the old hom that would sally forth to fight for him, co he but give them warning. Bang! crack! came the report of two rifles, and a bullet whizzed by each side of his head. “Ha! ha!” the fugitive cried, with a shout of de- flance; ‘that kind of news from the returning board is the style that suitsme. How I wsuid like to return my compliments, but the devils cut me off ere I could to horse and reach my weapons. On—on —on, Rocket!" the noble steed was doing the It seemed as tho very utmost within power, but every yell of the
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. Pek GE EAR UNE SED ASL ERE EAA aan oats eee sh ea ages eee a Ta ae ae aunt eee aS ne NS 5S qj ee os 6 herder seemed to urge him to greater efforts. And on they went through the raw chill night—the first foreshadow of coming winter in this land of beanty rp | on, every leap bringing the fugitive nearer to safety. Ping! again a rifle cracked, and a flash lit up the gathering acy while a bullet sped on its deadly mission, hit the flying fugitive, and he was forced to hang to the pommel of his Mexican saddle to keep from being shook off. A yell of triumph again rung out from the pur- suers. On—on—on! the last mile shortened rapidly, and with a great leap the noble steed of Hawk Harring- ton sprung over the five feet stone wall that encircled the haotends, and fell dead, when the goal was reached. For the pursuers had come to a halt after observ- ing the leap of the gallant steed, and after a short consultation among themselves, turned back in the direction whenee they had come, and galloped leisurely “iol Evidently they had concluded that the danger of besieging the hacienda was too great for them to incur, with so small a force. Hawk Harrington had escaped death at the hands of these strange prairie rovers, but little more could be said. He was well pierced with bullets, and only a man of his strong constitution could ever have passed through the ordeal and lived. But the care of an affectionate mother and sister; and a proper course of nursing soon brought him around, and though sore and lamed, he was in the saddle sean in two days. But his t, and the cause thereof, he was reticent. Perhaps he did not know the cause; per- haps he had only a gs eee of it; anyhow, he would not converse on the subject; would simply utter a curse and turn away when allusion was made to his wild ride for life. On the following evening, we lead the gentle reader once more into that notorious den of gambling, the Oriental Palace, of Del Norte. The place was well-filled as usual, with the ‘ites’ of Del Norte, and a few strangers from a coloniza- tion caravan that had stop) at the outskirts for the night. In consequence of the coolness of the evening, the bands occupied the floor instead of the t balco- nies, overhead, and wild strains of d tful music were wafted through the immense auditorium. Gay ladies and polished villains were here; rough bullying herders from the plains, and occasionally a miner or hunter from the Rockies or the lains; a waeeee collection as viewed under the light of the ill chandeliers, onte presided at the eloire table, as usual, and the faro, and keno games were in full blast. New sports had recently n added to the attrac- tions at a a as open oe — rizes, and jumpin oxing, and target shoo’ “ cad the Wheel of Fortane man had also found a stall in the Fe oe y palace wherein to let the man of = risk all, and stand a chance of winning— or losing. Around this game, if a game it can be justly called, which possesses its peculiar fascination, as well as other games, were collected a ——_ group of men, some strangers, a few habitues of the Palace, and a share made up of herdsmen from the valley. ae were lg a os wees wt on each beginning at one, and running up as as 48; each cae retailed at five dollars, with fifty dol- lars in the which left ten dollars to the manager of the en rise at each whirl of the wheel, and fifty dollars the lucky holder of the card whose number wins. Of course the banker is constantly in pocket, and in good humor, which invariably reflects largely up- on the crowd. The game-wheel had been Pateaeemes ype od foran hour, with ready sale for the cards, and a young man lou g —— the railing had been watching it, narrowly, without venturing anything. He was of medium hight of western men, straight and iron-cast in every limb, with broad shoulders, and _ of chest; and was attired in a well-fitting suit. of black cloth, with top boots and slouch som- brero. In a belt at his waist he carried revolvers, knife and lasso, and a full mask screened his face from view. ** Another sale, gentlemen; here’s your chance to — a chance, and here’s where you chance upon fortunes, by luck. Who'll have this card, whose peenbene are 13, 14, 15, eg tM ——_ neve a Sure to gg Soy . No cheating in game. gentlemen; all’s fair and honestly conducted. You can see for yourself where the wheel stops—what number halts before the fortune-giving finger. Don’t be scared because you have lost once, pilgrims; I ran this machine in the Black Hills three months, and know of a fellow who lost a thousand dollars a bm and won two. Perseverance wins the crown. Sold again and got the tin. Only one more card un- whccnignnens it is—who'll have—9, 10, 11, 12—who wani : “Tl take it!’ announced the masked man, laying down a five-dollar bill, and pradvingtibe card. “And around she goes!’’ sung the game-keeper, and the wheel was given a vigorous whirl; buzzing swiftly at: first, but settling down slowly, and stop- ber, Sabin number ten under the finger. ; “Keep the card again,’ announced the winner, receiving the pool, and shoving out another V. Again the wheel revolved, and again he won, the finger inting to 11. 2 ter change for luck, young man!” cried the gamesman, co along and scoo up all the — upon the board. ‘Who'll have ’em, gentle- men?’ Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. “Hey; hello! put my card back here!” cried the ever rested on. L’arn ter take a feller o’ yer size, gentleman in mask. “If you know when it’s ou healt y for you, you won't take up my keerds till I tell you to! And the individual in question held a cocked six- shooter in his white hand. **Come, shove it back here, or [’lk put you in a funeral way!” A murmur of surprise ran through the audience, and with a growl the clerk threw down the card ain, and received the awaiting note in aan ‘* Bet your life ye-won’t make on thet card ag n!” he leered. ‘* No one man can’t run this game!” “ Don’t be so sure about that, my gay knight!’ was the cool reply. ‘‘See here!” and the yon pene man of cheek wrote on the blank side of the card, in a graceful hand, ‘‘There’s my business sign gentlemen—Omaha Oll. Mebbe ye never heard of me, down in this country? “Up in Omaha, you'll find my autograph written on every deck of keerds in ther city—Omaha OH, the Masked Terror—the imitator of George Washington, who never told a falsehood—the man that stood on his head on the top of the spire o’ Trinity Church! That’s the style of a sunflower you'll find me. Sum- times you'll see I’ve got a savage fit—caused by memories of past wron. n’ then ye’d better keep out of my way, or blood ‘ll be spilt. Go on, old hoss; don’t let me interrupt the bizness;” and the stran- er took a cigar from his lips, which were reached rough an aperture in the brown mask, and blew out a tremendous cloud of perfumed smoke. Around the gamekeeper whirled the wheel, spite- fully, and when the finger pointed to the winning number, it was 14. Omaha Oll gave vent to a queer little laugh, as he beheld the result. ‘See here!” he said, again raising his revolver “T’min for havin’ this bizness fair. Pilgrims, the wheel’s loaded heavily, on one side, which makes et stop at 9, 10, 11, or 12, if not whirled too hard. The rim of the wheel on the lower side, there, is hollow. “* And then in that hollow space, I'll wager my life inst a cent you'll find a greater or less quantity of ballast, probably buckshot. I’ve been watching here, fer an hour, ere I an playing!” Frightful curses escaped the lips of the four vil- lains who managed things behind the counter, and they whipped out their revolvers, in a business-like manner. “Shoot away! plug it straight at me for all you’re worth, you rascals!” cried Omaha Oll, “but first just put in your mind that I’ve sixty picked men, every one of them dead-shots, who only await my private signal ter rush inter this caboose and bu'st this gambling business and its votaries all into the middle of next week. If you don’t believe it, just fire off one of your lead- rs, and I’m_ bettin’ you'll see lively business in this shebang, in short order. Go ahead with your funeral, if you want ter git onter your ear, because I exposed fraud!” And restoring his revolver to his belt, the young bravo stood facing his enemies, with folded arms and form erect—daring them to begin what he had promised should be a lively affray. CHAPTER VIL. BATTLE.—‘‘ TOOTHPICK *’ VS, ATTACK.—AND NOTICES, Tue manipulators of the ‘‘ wheel of fortune” hesi- tated at firing upon the young Nebraskain—hesitat- ed, for they noted the ominous glitter of the black eyes that shone through the holes in his mask—hesi- tated, because of a rumor that was floating about to the effect that this Omaha Oll and his band had been seen a pam the valley, and were rough-look- ing customers to handle. ose gathered outside the ring offered the Bravo no molestation, for they were not too dumb to see that this quarrel, or what threatened to be a quarrel had been made as much in their behalf as in that of the masked stranger, and it would be more than treacherous for them to interfere. Yet there was one brawny border-giant among the crowd, immense and muscular of trunk and limb, standing six-foot-six in his boots, who seemed to take it upon himself to exert his energies in behalf of the gamesters, for he elbowed his way through the crowd, and slapped his great human paw down upon Omaha Oll’s shoulder, with a force that made the yous man flinch. A man less upon his guard than e constantly was, would have gone down. “ Hillo!” the giant roared, a terrible ression upon his great unshaven, stubbly face—‘ Hillo! ye young jackanapes. What d’ye say?” ‘*T say, keep yer paws to home!” replied he from Omaha, quickly squir out of the other’s grasp, and dealing him a deft blow in the pit of the stom- pin bee ge doubled Mr. Bully up like a jack-knife. “That’s what I say, you big, ove wn elephant; —— it in yer pouch an’ smoke it fer terbac’!” roar like that from a small-sized lion escaped the ant, and with arms outstretched and eyes glaring, rushed upon the youth as if he would annihila But at this instant there was a timely intervention which was probably the luckiest thing that coul have happened for the Masked Bravo, as he stood a small chance of victory in a war-hug with the burly bully of Del Norte—Old Jim Duffer was his name, and = was the undisputable ‘‘ boss’ wherever he roamed. For at this juncture, when the t sprung for- ward, intent upon crushing his sstoumppttos crowd parted, an iron-like hand seized him by the collar, ‘and he was jerked back upon the eae enough to cause him to forget all of his past ory. “Thaire!”’ exclaimed a voice, and the whole of the attacking individual forced a e into the ring, which had been formed—“ thaire ye be, pilgrim, jes' as ’ansum a whipped rooster as ther eyes of man GIANTS’ DUFFER.—THE next time, won’t ye—sumthin’ o’ my stature an’ fig- ger, fer instance!” Bruised and enraged, Duffer crawled back to his feet, and eyed the new-comer, savagely. * Jem Murray!” he growled. “The Arkansas Toothpick!” assented the other, politely raising his hat. ‘‘Et seems ye ain’t fergot yer old friend, Jimsy, in ther days that hev dissolved nter atmosphere, sence we war rivals up"in Little Yucatan, in Catamount Gulch. Apparently yer memory hesn't suffered a collapse!” “You ter—!” leered old Duffer, naming a place notoriously remarkable for its torrid temperature. “Guess I don’t owe ye nuthin’, do I? Reckon ye stuck yer finger inter ther ’rong pie, ye long-geared baboon!” “Sho! ye ain’t got over yer bad habit 0’ callin’ bad names, yit, Jimsy !"’ commented the seven-foot Toothpick, glancing scornfully down at_his adver- sary. “‘ Ner hain’t growed none, either. Ye’rea Lilli- putian banty, Jimsy—a reg’lar leetle barkin’ w’iffet, w'at never bites, onless he ken snap at sum smaller fry than himself. W’y Jimsy, w’at ever stunted yer growth? Ye’re no more’n a mouthful!” ‘““When a hog possesses sech a gol durned trap like yourn!” retorted Duffer, angrily, ‘Don’t com- pare birds wi’ beasts!”’ ‘Oh! o’ course not, Jimsy—especially, birds w’at wears white feather!” “Hey! w'at ye say?” bellowed the other, begin- ning to prance about like an excited colt. ‘* Whar’s ther man thet durst on Bony) Duffer ever showed ther white feather. ar’s thet ornery galoot? Show him ter mé, thet I may manufacture him inter koyote fodder!’ “Ye needn't luck fer, Jimsy—ye needn’t travel across ther continent ter discover thet festive nymph beloved Minnesoty Gopher!’’ spoke the man from Arkansas, grimly, ‘fer he’s hayr, in ther blood-an’ flesh—Jem Murray, Toothpick and traveler!” “ You/—you durst call me white-featherite, ye durned, long-geared Barnum’s What-is-it? ou durst tell me I’m a go her an’ a white-featherite?”’ “Solemnly, respectfully, feelingly and humanely, dear Jims ry 1 do announce thet I durst!” ‘Then, I'm goin’ ter smash ye—stomp ye, punch ye, an’ mutilate ye ontil ye can’t stand a one!” cried he Del Norte bully, and drawing himself together, he made a violent lunge at the Toothpick. They met—they clinched in a grasp of hatred—a hug of death. oth were men of cast-iron strength, with each muscle properly developed—men whose build and constitution fit them for battle, and men who were in their highest element when engaged ina pitched combat, They clinched, and then the contest of strength and resolve began, amid much excitement. Nearly all games were thrown up, andthe votaries thereof swarmed around, endeavoring to get a peep into the ring where the two giants were battling. The two bands struck up a lively air, peculiar to the Spanish bull-fighting arenas; lights were turned higher; an intense silence prevailed, only broken by the scuffl- * of the two men. lenched close to each other in a bear-like hug, they weaved to and fro, using all the feints in their power to trip one another, and thus bring the struggle to the floor, Although the Arkansas Toothpick was full half a foot taller than old Duffer, he was essed of but little, if any more strength—in fact the two were as nearly equal in this t as you could have found. Murray was long of limb and neck, and short of trunk, while Duffer was just the 2 4 Sg i short thick limbs, as hard as rock, long y,anca bull-like neck. Back and forward weaved the two men, locked vise-like in each other’s embrace; now lurching heav- to one side; now dragging each other fiercely; ng, tripping and feinting; it was a marvelous sight to see two such giants baffle each other, when both were infuriated. “Oh! ye pizen ood ne he beastly human rhinos- cerhoss!”’ roared the Toothpick, as Duffer lodged a cleverly-aimed squirt of tobacco oe: in his face and eyes. “Tl show ye, ye reptyle—ye ungodly son ov a gopher! Spit in my face will ye? Frurrah!” and the man from Arkansas bent down and ee one of the Del Nortean’s huge ears between his sharp teeth, and buried those f. into the flesh, until the smaller t was forced to how] outright from pain, * Oh! howl, will ye—howl!”’ roared Toothpick, re- ae his hold long enough to give vent to his over- loaded stock of feelings, “I like ter heer it; et’s sweet music in my ears. Oh! ye vampire—ye sneak- in’ grasshopper! wait tel I eit warmed up, an’ I'll show ye ther kind o’ shinplasters they e down in old Arkansas. No remonetization thar, I’m tel- lin’ ye; no anti-silver thar; no nothin’ thar but men ° sterling squalifications |!’ ck, forward, sidewise, they lurched, the Toothpick’s tongue vibrating incessantly in com- creme with his body. Duffer was mum,” for t all his attention to ‘tend to his “ knit- ting,” and prevent being thrown to the floor. As the case stood now, nether could do the other any material But once the hug was broken, there p to be eyes and broken on one side or the other. And this was what ba breathless, excited crowd were eagerly watching or. Omaha Oll, who had been in a measure the cause of all this disturbance, stood by the counter in the same on of cool indifference he had occupied aes enjoying the tussle full as much as any of o pion hearty aan Meta ene Tite tad na 4 voice. want any help, just call on me.’ i
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Omaha Oll. “Oh! I'll squeeze him!’ replied the Arkansas mother was getting old andinfirm. Ella wasa man, giving an extra = on of strength about the until that unlucky individual gave a T'll show him circus-tricks enough ter stock a hippodrome!”’ At last the bully made a misstep, Murray eer or him on it, and both went down to the floor with a erash. Fortunately for him, Duffer’s head struck hard enough to render hiin momentarily insensible; otherwise countenance would probably have un- dergone the customary battering, which the Arkan- sas man kindly dispensed with, when he saw that his adversary was done with. But he instantly rose to his feet, and glanced around at the sea of faces, with a broad grin. “Hurra! three cheers for the Arkansas Tooth- pick!’ cried Omaha Oll, springing boldly on ‘ap of a table, and waving his slouch hat. ‘Hip! hip!” and three long cheers rose from the t surging crowd for the long-legged, lanky, ludicrous man from Arkansas. In the tumult some overjoyed individual emptied the contents of his six-shooters coumagweatyy, cones a loud roar to go echoing through the great building. Omaha Oll uttered a curse upon this action, and clenched his hands about a pair of pistol-butts. “Fly! fly!” he yelled, his stern, clear voice reach- ing every corner of the Palace, ‘Some accursed fool, by firing off that revolver, has signaled for my men, the Black Avengers. Fly! fly! all you that would save your lives, for it will be useless for you ac ane ith i agile | into midnight air, th en, with an e leap e Masked Terror went like a rocket over the heads of the electrified assemblage, struck the door, bounded through an open casement, and was gone. And with his de a motley crowd, number- ing upwesd of a hundred black-clad, masked horse- me urst into the great gambling pouace, through windows, doors, and every accessible ground en- trance, and from their revolvers came flash after flash, report after report, until a pandemonium of nolens prevailed, and the room was clouded with smoke. Screams of affright from the females and fearful curses from the Del Norteans arose on either side; dead and dying were lying under foot; in haste the as hurled chairs and tables aside, and the ights were extinguished, leaving darkness reigning reme. his proved the salvation of those within the o- hall, to a large extent, for under cover of kness they were able to escape, and but very few of the Black Avengers’ bullets made a count. In five minutes after the lights were extinguished not a soul of the living were within the Palace, for the outlaws had also taken their de re. That was the first direct attack by prairie rovers that Del Norte’s inhabitants had ever experienced, although affrays and other ruffianly melees among the herders were common occurrences, And after that aS terrible dread of the Mask- ed Terror and his k Avengers prevailed in the little city by Rio Grande’s sullen ‘waters. were afraid to stir out after dark, for fear of en- co the scourge, and the gambling Palace was not nearly as full as usual. The Del Norteans kept more within their own doors, and the herders invariably went and came in squads, for they feared the outlaw alliance full more than the gamblers, for they had cause. Upon prey line-pole of the valley hortine plains, for miles in either direction, was pasted a printed notice, couched in the following words: “Notice: To all whom it may concern! “he late fire upon the prairie, which destroyed t « old El Gamin ranch, and outbuil was aiteuced by a massacre, at the said ranch, thr-e—an old man, Bu a mother and her bab: , were’ .3 victims. This crime was Coaaniteed by the Prai .e League, a band of herders, who ed , are bound by oath to work together, sin .or each other, mur- der for each other, and die for each other. Each of the thirty herders and rufflans belonging to said , all of whom were concerned in this latest outrage upon innocent herders and settlers, are marked, and we the Avengers and tors of the Rio Grande del Norte, shall do our duty, until every dog gn bes tubes ne a re given: ptain onte, 0 Duffer, Dresden La Monte, Hawk ton, and Hank Murdock. The names of the others are all eg | and each shall meet his fate. The Red Cross, w 'y the hand of the Black Avengers. Omaua OLL.”’ o wonder then that there was a own hes dread emong the herders, and also among ones of Del Norte’s citizens, for some there were of them who were connected with the ‘Prairie League.’ Just below the above notice was invariably posted an- other notice, of less importance to some, and of more to others. in a big aS It was a sprawling and con- tained the following: d, “Wantep: Information of a man calkylated ter abound in these ‘ere immeget vicinity, whose callin’ aire thet uv a gambler—war one time a nant in Cortina’s band—and whose name aire El , or sum sich like. Would like ter see this interestin’ in- Coreituas fer about six minnie an’ ereive as on important bizness. Address or up:—Jem Murray, Arkansas Toothpick: To be continued!” taste of evidences of a woman's hand in the work. And pretty Miss Ella was the mistress now, for her / | girl, free-spirited, well-educated, and well-liked; in- deed, she two lovers who had already declared their passion for her. These were Dean Redwood and a young dark-faced gentleman named Cyril Duane, who was surrounded in a film of mystery. With him Ella met in secret, they having a trysting- lace on the shore of the river. an Redwood came the hacienda,frequently, was well-liked by the fami- ly, with one exception, and it was believed that he was to become the future husband of the young belle of the valley, for as such Miss Harrington been tedly acknowledged. he one exception mentioned was the young herd- er, Hawk Harrington. For some reason, he seemed to bear the suitor of his sister a strong enmity. Why, or whence began this hatred, was a secret between the two men—a secret which was not soon to de divulged through their instrumentality. A few nights after the raid upon the Oriental Pa- lace by Omaha Oll and his men, Dean Redwood gal- loped down to the farm-house on his favorite charger. a powerful-spirited gray, and dismounting entered the parlor, where Miss lla was usually waiting for him on the evenings of his visits. But she was not in the parlor, to-night, and think- ing she had just stepped out for a moment, he seated himself to await her return. “TIT must have an answer, to-night, sure!” he mused, staring at the fire, that shone in the grate— the first fire heralding the approach of winter. ‘‘ She can decide the matter—must decide it, for I care not to stay here, after seeing that Prairie Patrol. That she is the same one—ah! there can be no mistake! Alive and as beautiful as ever, but, alas! insane! Would to God Fred Ari n had completed the work he ! It would have saved her all this suffering. How she ever escaped death when he ane her from that cliff to the gulch bottom, a undred feet below, I can never imagine.” At this juncture there was an audible footstep, and Hawk Harrington came striding into the room. Redwood instantly arose from his seat upon the sofa, and the gaze of the two men met, un ly. nee evidently had not expected to find his ony there, for he started, then muttered an oath. “Where is Ella?’’ he demanded, fly. “T do not know,’’ Redwood replied, watching the herder, narrowly. ‘She has doubtlessly stepped out somewhere, and will soon return.” “ And you are waiting for her?” “ I am,”’ *“ What for?” ‘None of your business, sir. I came to talk with re | her—not you.” “Oh! you needn't give us any of your slack!" he wled k, fiercely. ‘I’m boss of this ranch, and or two bits I’d tumble you out.” “Oh! would your” retorted Redwood, as fiercely as hisenemy. ‘‘ Maybe it would be healthy for you to try it. You will find me no saint, I'll warrant you. Jf you begin the battle, I shall strike to kill!” rington growled some muttered imprecation, and by ed forward, with a long, dangerous-looking knife in his grasp. The villain meant murder. But Redwood was not to be cut down without a sti le. He had roughed it in the early part of his life in the mines; was a Hercules in strength, a mas- | ter in all athletic sports, and a dangerous man to meet with knife or pistol. He was now, however, as you might say, at the mercy of his ani nist, for he was unarmed, while in addition to his knife, Hawk Harrington carried a small arsenal of revolvers in his belt. But Redwood was on the watch for him as he came rushing forward, and clenching the upraised arm of the which a the knife, he threw his other arm about waist, and tripped him to the oor. Both men went down together, and in the fall Red- wood received an ugly cut in the breast from the knife. But in an instant more he had the blade in his a “Now, beg, curse you!"’ he cried, holding the young herder down as easily as tho h he had been ababy. “Beg, and promise to mend your ways, or Pi Lpiange this knife into your heart. You know I hold the power to hang — and I marvel that you dare to provoke me, lest | exert it.” “Tl not ; nor will I tell you that which you wish to know!” the herder re savagely. “What do you mean? t is there you know that would benefit me, had I the possession of that knowledge ?” Redwood demanded. “Bah! don’t think I’m a fool because I’ve got you down upon the enemy list, ew Thought no one knew why you came to Norte, didn’t you? _ there's eng you ye a mistake. — —_v of your coming, lo , and closed up the holes, like ground-mice do. in the winter. You may search a lifetime, and you'll not find the place you seek— the peedocunen teen of the Prairie League!’ Redw: started, and a grim expression settled upon his face, “You are mistaken!” he ventured. **'You lie—I am not mistaken!” Hawk Harrington poo triumphantly. ‘“‘ You are Dean pened Sew Cass Cameron, the ex-Governmen Spy. Oh! you needn't f astonishment, mee 708 needn't attempt to leave Del Norte, for you be met by a of gentlemen, who will boost you half-way up to a limb, and hold you there by the aid of a tow st until a reaction occurs and your t flies away.’ vgolres don’t say!”’ “You'll find out, if you attempt to sneak out and — sel vabiding citien mh iw ganteshon & on and you'll be all right!” fd “Humph! ‘U guarantee, yousay. Perhaps you are one of tie: rieeleadiers of this Prairie League. whose existence it is my purpose to break up. ought to arrest you!” “All correct; arrest if you think it will be a healthy undertaking. I’m mighty sure you'd not take me far, ere you'd wish you'd left me here.”’ “T shall Jet you go at present!’’ Cass Cameron said, first disarming his enemy, and then allowing him to rise to his feet. ‘I have other work to per- form, ere I am ready for you—work which I s push with a will. Ionly lack afew more points of compass, ere I can put my tools where I want them, and execute my work in triumph.” Then bowing, the ex-Government Spy turned on his heel and quitted the hacienda, leaving Hawk Harrington standing in the center of the parlor, swearing at the ease with which his enemy had mas- tered him. The Government Spy hurried from the yard that encircled the hacien and down toward the tree- fringed river, for here he perceived his horse had wandered, in cropping the her . He reached the animal, and was about to vault into the saddle, when the sound of voices reached his ear, and he uned and aes. a bye 3 not far away, and n low conversation, yet the ex- one of the speakers as Harrin “of 9 Curiosity and burning jealousy tempted the man to creep forward, and act as an eav r—jeal- ousy, because he dearly loved the young belle of the valley, and because she had dec she loved no one but him. And did this not look suspicious? Decidedly so, the Spy thought, when he os upon a bluff near the edge of the water, and looking down beheld the object of his choice sitting side by side, in a boat that rocked upon a sh eddy, with a dark-faced man with mustache and impe- rial, in whose embrace she was closely clasped. Cameron started violently, and for several mo- ments could but remain motionless—struck dumb with astonishment, He could not believe his eyes—it seemed a mock- ing dream, when he remembered how only the even- ing before he had told her of his passion for her, and she had innocently declared the same for him. And yet, here she was, in the arms and receiving the caresses of another, as if she had never known the existence of another lover. As if aware of the presence of a spectator, the two lovers in the boat lowered their tone so that their words were inaudible at any distance, and only the painful, regretful satisfaction of watching them, was left theSpy. Yet he held his position. The moon came up and showered athe down through open in the forest branch wreath- ed the twain in the boat ina ies gold and white. Still they were conve wey, a ntly con- tent to be near each other—n leettul that the night was striding on toward another da a At last, however, the man released the girl from his embrace, and seizing an oar, whirled the boat back against the shore where it had first rested, previous to being converted into a lover’s tryst. He next assisted the valley belle to the dry ground, and then paused, taking her hand in his. “ Adios, senorita, and may this short interview have Plt the same degree of pleasure it has me. ost"? Then he turned, as if about to stride away, and— "The barly herdumeat’ hin’ ston percei e ly stolen un ved. and stood glaring fiercely at the ‘galley pair, each of his hands griping a coc revolver. a Ave he eg edt ina eae, what e meaning 0 icht meeting. Iam Somanghrte i “Oh! Hawk, do not harm him!” entreated the irl, clinging Y thy her lover. ‘This is Cyril “Evil ge ’ sneered the brother. “ Your pro- fessed lover no doubt, until he has yf - ed you for his devilish purpose; then it will be dif- ferent. Whoa! up, thar, my gay Lothario! Don’t be in so much of a hurry to take fenve.” “ Well, sir, what can I do for you?” Duaneasked, turning back and facing his enemy. “Though I am unarmed, I am neither afraid of you nor any of your style. What do you want?” ‘I want ter know what Ata doin’ out here with our bordering upon mid- “Then, my reply is that it is none of your busi- Duane Heclared, coolly. ‘ou the is lady’s father, answer would be erent; ‘ou’ve no business to ask!”’ ““Hain’t I? Mebbe ye don’t know whol am! I’m Hawk F nm, and I can’shoot. No doubt you ean do ditto. In that event I'll lend you one of my revolvers. That’s the quickest way to settle a matter of this kind.” stig Sontaen Sm, Kind rant ee Sone ae and wan ur life, I am no shot with the Fevotver! find my life a | SY Dore the better Thess 7 mu \ under!" suddenly ejacu- lated the herdsman, and he lea astonishment. The bright ee the countenance of the other, for first startling discovery to the herder. * You devil, you're El Gamin !” ely. “Pshaw! don’t be deceived.” “Neither Iam. You are El luckiest. ” Gamin, the e gambler in Colorado, and a traitor to th
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} | . i : rn og ne ne ee ene ie RE eee ~ a 8 ‘‘T am not able to make a denial to fit each of those accusations!’ El Gamin replied, coolly. F ** And there is no need that you should. You must fight, or I will shoot you in your tracks. The League will ee money for your head!” ‘ Y should hens, f Though a deserter, they have suffered no betrayal by me!’ ‘* You lie! Cameron on track. Here! will you take it?” And the herder extended a choice of his two hand- some revolvers. El Gamin bowed, and accepted the heavier of the pair. . He was averse to shooting when avoidable, but he saw that there was no hope for it now, The proper distance was faoer off, and the two men took their places. Poor Ella had sunk upon the ground, a little ways off, and was weeping violently. To her it seemed nothing less than murder, this indie But the duel was destined not to take place, for at this juncture, Cass Cameron, the ex-Spy, dashed for- ward between the two adversaries, with a sharp cry. “Hold!” he commanded, fiercely. ‘No fighting, here. I'll settle this business, if te please. Haw Harrington, take your faithless sister and return to your hacienda. Ill ‘tend to this notorious sharp!” Harrington put up his revolver, and turned to obey. Strange it was, but the man held a dread of the ex-Government Spy—was awed into submission in his presence, Yet Cunning Cass Cameron, as he was known among the frontier border-ruffians, had few as bitter enemies as this Hawk Harrington; who, arousing his sister, pupposted her upon his strong arm, and they made their way tow the hacienda. When they reached it, and disappeared from view, the Spy turned upon—not El Gamin, but nothing! The card-sh. had as suddenly and mysteriously disappeared as though he had been swallowed up in the earth! Evidently, he was a coward! . CHAPTER IX. THE MASKED TERROR EQUALS HIS NAME.—THE PLOT OF bg — ang ee! ON arr. 4 wn the following an emigrant train passe through Del Norte. They were bound for Santa Sina, further up the valley, where they proposed to go into winter quarters, and wait the coming of spring, before contin ther journey, There were but four wagons, and the caravan was evidently rather a poverty-stricken one. But an hour’s halt was made in Del Norte; then the train continued on over the well-beaten trail through the beautiful valley—the trail over which more emigration to the Rockies had passed than by most any other route. Three miles out from Del Norte, while the wagons were hidden from view in the hollow of a prairie wave, they were surprised by a band of masked horsemen, who rode down and surrounded them without an instant’s notice. There were fifty of them, at least, mounted upon powerful animals, and armed with polished-barrel Ar oy ow oie a desperate-looki men, generally, who had roughed it upon the border all their lives. In advance was the ed Terror of the valley— Omaha Oll, the young Regulator, both of which he was. The emigrants were about to defend themselves and open a battle, but the clear voice of Omaha Oll, vinging out like a bugle, bade them desist. * Hold! fire not, unless you would seal your own doom!”’ he cried, ‘‘for we mean you noharm. We simply come for the traitor-v who is trying to escape his doom by going with you. Haul him out and deliver him up, and [ll guarantee you no trouble will be nece . La Mort—D en La Mort, one of the ringleaders of the Prairie League, is the man I want, sir!” , “There is no such man in our caravan, sir!’’ stout- ly averred one of the emigrants, “I kin give ye all er names of our party, ef ye like; we’re all from one town in Iowa.” ‘‘Bah! you cannot deceive me, old man. The fel- low is known to be secreted in one of your four wagons. The sooner you haul him out the better it be for you.” " “Tn our wagons? Impossible, sir!” “Quite possible, old man, although you may not be aware of the fact. Is not the last vehicle, yon- der, a store-wagon?”’ “Tt is, though I don’t see how you guessed it, as all the sides are closed down,’’ was the reply. “T knew it all the same, however,” ol assured. “Be kind enough to take a Poe into that hs ba and you will no doubt find the man we want—the double-dyed villain and ruffian you are harboring.” “All right, sir. If there is such a party in our company, unknown, and he is such a villain as ou t, you are welcome to him, despite the fact that inne akboetty, in demanding him is questionable.”’ ‘Not at all questionable, sir. We are a band of Avengers and rs, W t the ruf- fianism of this border!” Omaha Oll answered, un- hesitatingly. ‘‘ The Prairie e is composed of a gang of herders, who prey mereloesly themse L have been one of the sufferers, and my men with Without a word the settlers left their wagons, : yw ed to the rear Ph rg LY Sraren | 6 ‘exan, containing mainly the baggage of the caravan, the other wagons carrying the emigrants and their families. _ Jabez Hendricks, the supervisor of the little You it was who first put Cunning Cass | caravan, was a gruff but honest old farmer, and it was not his purpose to shelter a fugitive scoun- drel be it even from death. So he headed his com- panions, and they advanced upon the ‘hind wagon, which was driven by the fat Texan, named Sam. Omaha Oll and his men were drawn up on their horses on the left side of the train, awaiting the deliverance of a subject whom it was their inten- tion to punish with death, as a retribution for his numberless crimes. But, ere the covers at the rear or front end of the “schooner” could be raised, there was a suc- cession of sharp pistol reports, and Hendricks and _ of his companions fell backward badly wound- ed. The tiger in his cage had clawed at his enemies. But this did not deter the other men from doing their duty; they leaped forward, tore aside the canvas Ce a and hauled the stowaway out upon the ground. Omaha Oll rode forward, a triumphant laugh breaking from his masked lips. “Ha! ha! didn’t I tell you? There is the outlaw of half a score of bruta] border outrages, gentlemen!” he cried. ‘‘Dresden La Mort is his name, and a worse character is hard to find. Knights of Ven- geance, you see the vile wretch who has struck each of —_ a blow or more through the agency of the Prairie zue. Take him and do your duty.” The Avengers rode forward, and dismounted, a number of them seizing the unlucky La Mort, and securely binding him. Then he was borne off toa lone prairie tree, but a few yards distant, and pre- poms ogy were made for final launching into eternity. A rope of good, stout material was shirred about his neck, and the remaining end thrown over a branch overhead. Then he was raised to a standin tion, and a dozen hands seized the pulling end o e fatal halter. But they did not “boost” him, these Prairie Avengers, but waited until Omaha Oli addressed the doomed outlaw, as appeared to be his desire. ee at at La Mort a moment in silence, the young Masked Terror spoke: “ Dresden La Mort, you are about to pay the pen- alty of your crimes!” he said, sternly. ‘ You have thrown away the life that God gave you—wasted your worth and manliness, until you are a low, de- ed wretch, of the vilest order. Your career has n one of unblushing crime, and crime, too, of the most repulsive character. In this day of discussion on the gee ge of there being such a place as hell, it is not for me to say as to your fate after death; but I should not care to stand in your tracks, Therefore it behooves you to repent—to ask forgive- ness of your God ere it is too late. Also, I want you to tell me of the location of the stronghold of the League, and if you know aught of the wife of my— of Deadwood Dick?” “Tl tell you nothing!” wled La Mort, fiercely. “You cannot turn me into a traitor; I'll betray no secret of the League; so go and lynch me as soon as you can. Iam not afraid to die.’ “Then it will be so much the easier for you!’’ Oll said, grimly, waving his hand to the executioners. “Up with him, boys!” There was a lo pull and a strong pull at the rope, and Dresden La Mort was swinging in mid-air. — upon the prairies of San Luis er. through a gd the wandering waters of Rio Grande el Norte. Night, in December, with the warmth of late spring—with the soft balmy breezes and sounds of nature peculiar to the time—to the hour. Rolling down from the herding-plains comes the baw! of cat- tle, and the blare of trumpets; on the plains, over which an impenetrable gloom has fallen, faintl gleam the “line” lamps perched upon their signal- posts, like diminutive light-houses scattered upon an ocean’s wavy @ se. Birds of night are in the air, and send up their weird noises; two persons are out upon the prairie, enveloped in the gloom, engaged in unguarded conversation. ne & man, tall and brawny and evil of face and feature, roughly dressed, and armed to the teeth, with belt weapons and rifle. The other was a woman, attired in a trailing white wrapper, while over her head was a filmy mass of silken lace-work. She was very beautiful, both in face and form, and stood close to the man, one arm resting lovingly over the bowed head of a superb shag stallion, and the remaining hand grasping a e. It wente strange tableau, in the gloom of the com- e woman was speaking. “You have the messages, now, so take your de- paren and bear them to your chief. Tell him that tie, the Prairie Patrol, fell into on of them by chance, and sends them to the e, that there may be a haul made.”’ “Very well, my . Iwill o our orders, at onc’ there ee word to tees our chief ?”’ ‘None, Pedrillo; give him the dispatch, and tell him that Prairie Patrol a — The man bow um turni when Lestie called him back. Pepalaet “Ho! Pedrillo; I have something to ask you ere ou go. The chief has a new woman in his strong- old, I hear?” seme ehinin the aitoiee Penn ee hae tas negative. * e sharply—“tell me the truth of the matter, or I’ wel So what are the consequences of a Queen of the Plains. Who is gus woman?”’ Pedrillo hesitated to answer the question. Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. | | Hesitated until he felt the muzzle of Prairie Pa- trol’s revolver against his heart; then he answered: “There is a woman, 4 on but I was told to keep the news from you!” he sa d, my. “Ha! you were to have secrets from me, too, eh? And the chief, also! Curses on you, both! Who is this woman in the stronghold?” “IT know not, ma'am. The chief brought her, but I do not know where from. He calls her Drooping Lil ¥ Prairie Patrol gave utterance to a wild strange _ “Drooping Lily! Ha! ha! ha! what a silly name! The chief is evidently in love. Tell him that Lestie wants to see him.” “Very well, my lady!"’ and the messenger turned upon his heel and stalked away into the gloom. Prairie Patrol then sprung into the saddle, aud dash- ed off upon her horse in a different direction. “The chief has forgotten me in the presence of another?” she muttered, fiercely. ‘‘ That is the way with men;—to my utter ruin, I have found them false and deceitful. Oh! how I hate them, and yet I yearn for a different life than this. Who will take me, sin-stained, as I am?”’ Pedrillo the courier of the Prairie League started off upon his return to the stronghold, without sus- pecting that he was observed. But such, however, was the case. Not a dozen = from the spot where occurred the interview tween the Prairie Patrol and the messenger, was crouching in the deep grass that grew in a damp buffalo-bed, a horse anda man. Both lay perfectly quiet during the conversation of the twain, the man eagerly listening to catch every word. Then when Pedrillo and Lestie separated and started off in dif- ferent directions, the man rose cautiously to his feet, and bade his sagacious animal to do likewise. “Now, Clipper, we are upon the scent!’ the spy muttered, patting the black upon his arching neck, and then vaulting into the saddle. We have but to follow the messenger to find out what is up.” The speaker was the Masked Terror! Like a cope of the night he had stolen up and overheard he conversation of the female Patrol and the mes- senger, which was of a nature to lead him to ou that something of importance was on the tapis, which concerned the Prairie League. Accordingly, with no thought of fear, the young Regulator set off in pursuit of the messenger—not in hot pursuit, but in a creeping, stealthy pursuit, his s moving along with the care ess of a cat. “On, Clipper, old boy! Hug him close, but don’t give him warning of your coming, If I can get close enough to cast a lasso over him, I mean to learn the contents of those dispatches he is bearing.” But, it was a delicate job to approach sufficiently near to achieve a success, without being discovered by the messenger, who could easily escape by plung- ing into the tall prairie grass, and crawling away. On the Masked Terror urged his faithful steed, and the animal seemed to understand that speed and caution were required of it. But Pedrillo was wide awake, and the flash of a istol and the singing of a bullet, warned Omaha ll that he had been discovered. But in that flash he had caught a Fane sd of the messenger’s form only a few oan ahead, and quickly drawing his re- volver, he discharged three barrels in rapid succes- on. The result was more than e ted. There was a t yell of sata. 4 and the sound of a hea to the ground; then, on riding on, the tor found his victim outstretched in the ass. oie dismounted and bent over the man, and found that he was dead. One of the bullets had entered his ear, another through his left side, plowing into his heart, and producing instant death. A short search discovered the ares Pedrillo had received from Prairie Patrol. ere were two dif- ferent documents, the first reading as follows: ‘* CoIEF oF Prarriz Leacue:—La miners’ train from ht Bigs will rey raf nm ne, st ar row n amount of go eir possession; sO your best lay for it. Lestix.” ’ The other paper read as follows: “Pass forty-fifth line-pole; twenty horse-lengths due south-west; hell below; heaven Zbove!™ =.) Which ended that strange communication. “Tt’s a clew to the har, eyes of the Prairie League!’’ muttered Omaha Oli, grimly. “Iam on the scent at last, and must pursue it.”’ Leaving the messenger | B where he had fallen, he sprung upon Clipper’s back, and dashed away, CHAPTER X. FIGHTING RUFFIANS, OMAHA OLL, as the reader may already have guess- ed, was no less a person than the ex- -agent, Deadwood Dick, whom we left by the side of the dy- ing Annihilator. e ended his uaintance, there, rather abrupt- ly. Let us go back for a moment, and review past, since then. Lea Old Avalanche lying, as he supposed, stark and stiff in death, the ce of the Road turn. ed toward the ruins of his cosey home, to procure Fore wank not eave he epOL without iviSe te ‘or he would not leave Spo} ow e old scout a decent burial. red an oath of vengeance be- fore —an oath to avenge his triple loss, though
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Omaha Ol. the consummation of that vengeance absorbed the remainder of his natural life, He went back then and laid the babe beside the scout, after which he retraced his steps toward the ruined hacienda, in search of a shovel or spade, with which to dig a grave. After wandering about for half an hour, in the black track left by the fire, he found the implements required, and hastened back upon the prairie to per- form his last ghastly labor for the dead. But — was his astonishment on arriving at the spot where he had left the bodies, to find that they had both niga ae disappeared! Gone, but where? They were nowhere in the immediate neighbor- hood, as a close search proved; yet they were gone, and the question was where and how?—a question that Deadwood Dick could not answer. Had the sneaking coyotes come and dragaed them away, or had the Prairie League dragged them off to bn igiehe more indignities upon their persons? e thought was maddening to Deadwood Dick. yet he was powerless to help himself. He could only curse the fate that had ever pursued him. At last when morning was near at hand, he turn- ed his back upon the ruined hacienda, and strode away. For twenty-eight hours, he. prowled about in the vicinity of Del Norte, without food or rest. Then he fell in with a band of valley settlers, who, under the titles of ‘‘ Avengers ” and ‘* Regulators,’ were 0) pee a campaign against the ‘‘ Prairie League,’ and they had chosen him their leader, well knowing of his dauntlessness from report. Thus, under the name of Omaha Ol], and in deep disguise, the former pond nee of Black Hills noto- riety, had become a Regulator. In his new comrades he found a set of men who had nearly all received injury at the hands of the valley CuAWE: and were er to revenge them- selves; men who were inured to border warfare and would face death a hundred fold to accomplish their aims. And they found in Omaha Oll, as we shall still con- tinue to call him, a leader who was brave and darin, to a fault; who never shirked duty at the approac of danger; who held as little fear of his fellow-men as a giant would of a pigmy; And thus having shown how Deadwood Dick be- came a ator chief, we will resume the thread of our narrative, and pursue it to the end, with as little digression as possible. We left Omaha Oll dashing away across the rairie, after obtaining the dispatches from the out- aw messenger, Pedrillo. “The den of this League of Evil must be twenty horse’s lengths from the forty-fifth line-pole!”’ he muttered, as he sped along, sitting in his saddle as though bound there; “or else what is the meaning of message? I would give a half-year of my life to be able to pounce in upon those outlaws, and show them what is the iain pag of a wronged man. But, the idea of following up this clew must now be dispelled. Here is another duty—to get to- gether | men, and prepare to aid this train of miners. year ago I should have been as willing to have relieved them of their spoils as I am now to as- sist them.” He rode swiftly on through the moonlit night, for that luminary had just raised its face above the hor- izon, looking puilty at its own tardiness in : His horse he had recently purchased of an old Spaniard, who was finishing training him for the circus, and a handsome beast he was, with black glossy coat and limbs like polished steel, together with an arching neck and flowing mane. Broad of chest and thin of flank he was a fleet traveler as Omaha Oll had proven on more than one occasion. And yet he was to be given another chance, for a wild piercing cry welled up piteo upon the night—a woman’s scream, fraught wi keenest terror and in tion It reached the ears of Omaha OIL, and in an instant he was all attention. His head was bent forward, and his piercing gaze swept the moonlit prairies. Then about a mile away, he caught an indistinct view of a flying horse and rider, but was not able to identify the same. “It’s a woman in trouble at least!” he mutte gathering the reins tighter, and throwing his fee out of the stirrups. ‘Now, Clipper, away, and let it not be said that you or your master hesitated to strike in the defense of awoman. Away!” And off at the Masked Terror’s command bounded the black charger, at a wild rate of speed, with head stretched out on an even with its back, and mane and tail streaming back fully. vo — Ae ye oe with the horse, his motion and graceful movement corresponding ex- actly with that of the steed. as. On—on; it took but.a few moments to rove that they were gaining, alth h the fugitive’s horse was one of no ordinary and endurance. And a dark scowl was upon the face of the fugitive, as he noted how rapidly his pursuer was gaining. “Curse the luck!” he growled, gazing alternately toward the on-coming Masked Terror, and into the fair white face of the captive he carried in his arms, ‘that fellow is bound to overhaul me, and give me trouble. I wish I had left the girl in her home; women have ever been a curse to me, yet I cannot let them alone. And that ing is Omaha Oll the Masked Terror, too. What can he want of me?” What, indeed, but to rescue a female captive, whose yds appealed to his heart and hearing. “On r! We are gaining as one wave gains upon another in the surf" Oniaha Oll said, urging on his noble c rT. hat and mask were now off and in the e-bags; his handsome face was illuminated with a glow of pleasurable excitement; | his dark magnetic eyes gleamed sharply, and his | long hair blew back in a cloud upon the night breeze. In his hand he held coiled a lasso ready for instant use, one end of it being secured to his saddle-bow. Nearer and nearer he drew to the fugitive, Clipper seeming to realize just what was req of him. On—on; the thud, thud of horse’s feet beat a strange tattoo upon the prairie sod; the late moon looked down serenely; the stars twinkled im heaven's mighty dome; the prairie-dogs barked; birds ut- tered shrill cries at being distur from their peace- ful slumbers; on dashed the pursued and the pur- suer; animal spirits were at rivalry, while those of the two men were hopeful and defiant. But closer—closer they grew—both men could see each other distinctly, now; both were somewhat amazed, for the resemblance between them was startling. Deadwood Dick’s cast of countenance was A ey each, and in form they were not unlike. Omaha Oll instantly made up his mind as to the oy | of the fugitive. It was the El Gamin, at whom the Prairie League had struck, when they killed Avalanche, Leone, and the babe, and destroyed his preay home upon the banks of the Rio Grande Del oO El Gamin, the great Gambler Prince. On—on—nearer, until Clipper’s nose was brushed by the tail of the fugitive’s horse—then Omaha Oll spoke, “Hold! Why continue this race, sir gambler? Already I have run you down; it will require but the work of a moment to unseat you from your lai by using my lasso. So you may as well pull n ” ‘What do you want?’ El Gamin demanded, turn- ing in his dle, fiercely. ‘‘ Why have you dogged me in this way?” ‘* Because a woman’s scream pealed to my manly nature, and called me to the reseue!’? Omaha Oll re- plied, pond: ‘You seem to be a kidnapper as well as gambler, according to this bundle; and the young ief of the Regulators laid his hand upon he bundle El Gamin carried, for he was now close enough to enable him to do so. ‘I demand an ex- planation!” “ By what right, pray?” “Tn the name of the ‘ es and Avengers,’ sir gambler. I am Omaha Oll, the Masked Terror; or, = stchiata Dick, the reformed ex-road-agent, as you like!” El Gamin uttered an exclamation of surprise, and drew rein abruptly. ** You Deadwood Dick!” he repeated, in astonish- ment; “you the Black Hills -agent?”’ “*T was; yes!” ‘Then you are my enemy.” ‘“*T presume so!” with that old peculiar laugh. ‘I am most every one’s enemy, that finds it convenient to make me so. Don’t know that I havea true friend ving, dawn in this country, unless perchance there may be some of the aforesaid among my band. In what way have I encroached upon your good 2 “You killed my brother, Fred Audley; Is un- dertake to avenge him!” El Gamin aia bitterly. “ Ah!” Omaha Oll started. ‘‘ You were his brother, eh?’ Then his memory went back to those days in the wild, strange life in the Black Hills, and a lonely, pesoase feeling assailed him. ‘Fred Audley was a r)’ ‘A traitor! Bah! he was not more of a traitor than yon. You are a traitor to your country and to your ‘ellow-men, and deserve nothing more than a good sae limb with a rope and your neck attached to i ” “Ah! do you really think so? We won't dispute about that, for no matter what my t has been, my present I am ge to improve. You say you are my enemy. do you any to do, that you may work off the strength of your tower- ion? e will fignt if you dare. Do you know how to use the knife?” ‘** Well, providing you set a plate of uncut venison before me, I migh be able to dle one end of such an instrument!” the Regulator replied, with a cool composure that annoyed the gambler. ‘But if you say razor, razor itis!” And out of the saddle the young man vaulted. tied S all I assist your charge to the ground, sir gam- ler?”’ “You may lay her upon the grass until we settle this matter!” af Gamin assented — up his captive, who was bound hand and foot We will fight in the saddle!” ee i mo ear as aap other!” nS = plied, e girl upon the grass, an t- ning bbw severing her bonds. ‘Now, mise in an undertone, ‘“‘ when we fier to fighting, briskly, you creep away, at a safe tance, and then put for home, wherever that is.” “T have no home. I am alone in this strange coun- try—a 1 alone!” was the whispered reply. A sharp exclamation from + Gamin at this junc- ture called the egy lesen’ attention. ‘Look! look!” the gambler exclaimed, excitedly, Rent. = up the valley, which was flooded with moon- “We are between enemies all around. Yonder come the Prairie League outlaws; we have the choice of racing fifteen straight miles for shelter, or fighting. Which shall it be? We cannot afford to be enemies, now; we must join our forces!” “As you like. I bear you no ill-will, except for abduc this maiden. “No! we'll not run. Dis- mount, and make your animal lie down. We can a Reingion epeatog aie ae sy eae bate a ™m. re e, and m ere, good for thirty-four shots.”’’ ~ El Gamin sccondingly dismounted, and at a word his horse as well as that of Omaha Oll, lay out- stretched upon the ground; then the two men crouched behind their respective barricades, and awaited the attack of the ruffian herders and out- laws who composed the Prairie League. Oll had taken care to draw the young maiden to his shelter, and now that he had time to gaze at her, he perceived that she was rather comely of face and form—evidently a child of western culture—for she was not yet sixteen. A glance at her; then the young Regulator turned = attention to the danger that was coming up in ront. Of the horsemen there were at least thirty, all; mee with rifles, who carried “arms,” as they| 2. Ahead of them, barking and quarreling among themselves, were a pack of Texan cattle-dogs*— and Omaha Oll uttered an exclamation fraught with doubt, as he beheld them. He knew them to be savage and stubborn in bat- tle—knew they were more be feared than the human wolves behind them. “What is it?” El] Gamin asked, laying his revol- vers before him, and grasping his repeating rifle, firmly. ‘You think we—” “Will have business to attend to, if we want to get out of this alive!’ Omaha Oll replied, grimly. ‘There are twelve dogs that must die first, and then nearly three times that number of outlaws to follow. Get ready! One, two, three!” Then the two defenders’ rifles rung out spite- fully, and though the distance was against them, two of the dogs went down. But, still, with wild exultant yells the outlaws came rushing on. Now, they were but five hun- dred yards away! CHAPTER XI. FIGHTING BRUTES.—THE MINERS’ CAMP. ’ Ox—on they came like a charging army, their ex ulting yells making strange echoes resound over the rolling expanse of prairie, upon which the old moon threw a pale, sickly radiance. Yet light enough was there to enable things to be seen distinctly at some distance, and Omaha Olland El Gamin, the Gambler Prince, could see the savage jubilance expressed in the hard, grim faces of the oncoming outlaws. “Ready! Fire again! We must not lose a mo- ment, or we are d men, and subject to a horrible fate, ten times worse than ordin death!’’ the young Regulator cried, again bringing his rifle to . “See! they are drawing rein and setting on the dogs to do the work of destruction, while they look on and laugh. Ready, comrade. One! two! make your bullets count, and send them in quick succession! three and fire /”’ It was indeed as Oll had said. The outlaws had drawn rein just out of close rifle- shot, and while they sat in their saddles, were setting on the savage calvorties,t or cattle-dogs. And the brutes knew just what was expected of them, apparently, for they came on, howling and barking, and a over which was to be in at the death, first. At Omaha’s word “ fire,” both his gun and that of El Gamin rung forth, sharply, and unerring were the bullets, for two of the remaining eight dogs went to the ground, lifeless; yet on came the rest nearer and nearer at every leap—in two minutes they would be tery savage and ferocious, thirsting for human One monster brute in the lead seemed to be the commander of the gang, and he was apparently im- — for six times did Omaha Oli fire at him, n quick succession, but without effect. On the fierce brute came, his eyes gleaming, and froth drip- ping from his distended jaws. “ By heaven, comrade, bullets are wasted on that beast!’ the yo Chief of Regulators cried, desper- ately. “‘ We must pick off the remaining ones.” Crack! crack! rung both rifles and pistols, and echo after echo rung over the prairie with weird re- sult. And when the last bullets of the two men were spent, there were yet three of the angered brutes to contend with—three, and they were not thirty yards away. With brute’s perseverance, they were bound not ve up till the last. ** Quick! P ae knife! It is our last resort!” Omaha Oll cried, drawing his own trusty blade, and brac- ing back preparatory against the onsla ‘ht. “Stand on _ guard, and strike as you value life!” Gamin nodded. He, too, was on the guard, with his hunting-knife clenched between his teeth, and - hands free to clutch the enemy on ap- roac : On they came, side by side—the big leader, and two well matching him in size and strength. Three or four more leaps, and they would be upon the de- fenders. A yell of triumph arose from the throats of the outlaws, and they lashed their horses nearer, that they might watch the death-struggles. For, t one the loss of a herd of dogs was a heavy ru one, the anly-tastes of the outlaws were ap- peased by watching the suffering of an enemy—a sort of compensation for their loss. Ready, E] Gamin?”’ Omaha asked, without turn- ing his head. His black, magnetic eyes were rivet- upon the big dog; he was to exert his powers of mesm over the brute. But to no avail. He could not catch the howling animal's eye. “Ready!” El Gamin had just time to say; then came the onslaught. With roars not unlike those of an infant lion, the *Cross between bull-dog and bloodhound. Ex- =— herders, but ferocious and unmanageable, at es t Apache Indian name for large canines.
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LO Beadle’ s Half-Dime Sonne fT OE SEO three dogs leaped upon the horses, as ee lay fo and then anon] El Gamin and the young dl The largest one singled out Omaha, while his two companions attacked the gambler. But one soon withdrew, and get his nose to the papas aie away with a series of howls fearful to hear struck upon the trail of Emily, the gam- bler’s captive, who, becoming terrified, had crept awa, unnoticed by the two men. help her!” Oll muttered, as at_a glance he comprehended how matters stood. “Her life is in imminent jeopardy, and how can we aid her now?”’ He turned and hurled off the savage brute from him with all his force, but on it came again, with cree blazing and jaws distended. Braced back and watchful, the Masked Terror re- ceived him, and deep his knife sunk into the back of the monster’s neck. With almost a human shriek, the d fell back, and bled out his life upon the moonlit plain. Omaha Oll then darted a glance at the gambler, and perceived that the dog was getting the worst of it. “Fl Gamin is all right; ha! the other dog has found the girl. I must off to her rescue!” And the next moment Omaha Oll had sp pre — t ey r—on like the ightning flash!’’ cried Omaha, as he Paty heard piteous cries ahead of him, in which direction the ron had gone. ‘The brute will tear her to pieces ere I can reach her!” The captive had run nearly a mile from the battle- ground, and by the time the young tor had cachet her side, the ferocious calvortie had torn her rs nearly up, that life had become extinct. It was a rightful, ghastly sight, as viewed under the Hens of the pale moon, and a sensation of unut- terable horror swept over Omaha as he beheld the terrible destruction. It was beyond even his nerves of steel. wis pa content og the eran yroug oe e! e mang co , and sprung fiercely at the throat of the Reg ator’s horse. But that saga- cious animal had had its early training, and received it thoroughly, too, and craning forward its handsome neck, ht the yelping blood-hound by the back of the neck with its s rong, white teeth. With a chuckle Omaha Ol] came to Clipper’s as- sistance, and dispatched the ferocious brute, and hurled it to the ground. Then he glanced around him for the first time since his flight. The outlaws had divided into two parties; one of these was coming hotly on in pur- suit of himself, and the other was after El Gamin, who had gotten rid of his canine foe, mounted his horse, and was sco’ away, southward. Those in pursuit of Omaha Oll were now igo down, de and he saw that they meant to i boas or alive. This resolved him 0 his With a last shuddering ena at the corpse of the 1, he headed Clipper north-west, toward Del | orte, and “ tucked” on the spurs. Then he threw himself alongside, like an and rode thus, which prevented his being hae by 4 outlaws. But soon a new calamity came. There were loud rifle reports in his rear, and a bul- | let struck noble Clipper in the flank, plowing a deep wound. Instantly the r animal began to go —— and Omaha Oll saw =! regret, that he must on upon something else than horseflesh to ext from the maplig bares it Patting the limpi orse kindly, he spurred him faster; then drop off in the grass, and crept rap- idly out of the track of the Seorvaching horsemen. ut his action had been observed by the sharp- aaet members of the League, as was evidenced by a ) | | Ret aie! | E ' two score in count. Careful examination was made, to which the noble animal pny submitted, and Omaha was overjoyed to that his favorite steed was not seriously injured. Indeed, the animal seemed greatly "palioved when the bullet was extracted, and once more ready for business. “We heard you call, captain!’ said Fawdon, the lieutenant in command, ‘“‘and made haste this way, for we felt you were not the one to summon as- sistance unless it was absolutely necessary.’ ‘You were abroad, then, lieutenant?” ‘Yes. Went over to Del Norte, but found all een on Not much attraction’ at the Palace, to-night!” g Probably not. The Del Norteans are lying low, in waiting for the fat miners’ train that comes into ee valley, to-morrow. And, my hearties, it must our duty to see that train safely through to Del Norte, for between here and there lies danger for them, that has death in it!” “ Halt y’ Clear and stern the challenge of the sentry rung out, and ominous rifle clicks were there to back the command. It looked as if the little band of masked horsemen who had stopped at the edge of a little glade in the heart of a prairie motte, were not too welcome re at the darkest hour of the night before day Thirty or forty there were of these statue-like, black-clothed, black-masked riders, mounted upon thoroughbred animals, and armed with weapons of superior worth. ond whence came the sen od ein challenge, in the lovely little hemlock fring lade, a dozen phn were corraled, and here ona there were fires burning low, and casting a faint flicker- ing ht upon the scene. in the b blue western heavens the e listless pas hung as though feebly nded in mid-air. Around the camp-fires in the glade were stretched the forms of perhaps a dozen men; the women of the ee ie were quartered within the canvas-covered ooners,”’ no doubt, for the nights were growing chill and yes “Halt!” Clear and decisive the boon ime Pegs. out, and the horsemen who were follo e lead o the Masked Terror, drew instant n. Judging from the speaker’s tone of voice, he was no ama- teur at be ee he order for the new-comer to halt. “Halt it is!’ Omaha Oll returned, grimly. “‘ What- ” We ithe ~ oad- ts k e’ll have you and your road-agen eep a pro- per distance, ir. Deadwood Dick!’ was the re- tort. “ You cannot play Black Hills games down | ere The ex-road-agent leader of the Del Norte Regu- lators uttered an exclamation of astonishment. What did this mean? Who was in the miners’ caravan that had known him in the Black Hills? The voice was unfamiliar, and for the life of him, Dead- poe a8 or Omaha, could not tell who was the you that knows aught of Deadwood es he » décnensted; after a moment’s reflection. ““My name is Dore. Guess you do not know me; nevertheless I was in Deadwood during your notori- ous reign, and recognized you by your voice the mo- | ment you spoke. So, sir road-agent, you may as well go elsewhere for plunder, for you cannot have ours. “ Nor * we want it, sir sentry. You mistake our Iam Omaha Oll, and these are my men— We are not road-agents, but tors, and having warning of your coming, we | have come to cffer you our services as protectors orus of triumphant yells, and tai win carefully | above and over the tops nes the perceived Boog the y were spreading rounding ‘Ha! curse them; are bound to haul me in, if possi Poor Clippe mrhed they not wounded him, could have ibook! or tinal atthem. As it is, mat- terslook rather dubious. Confound it, why didn’t I think of this before. I believe the sound carry!” upon his back in the grass he hastily se ed from his belt a small silver bugle, artisticall pe toes wane ld mountings, and set with arene grass, he and sur- Deadwood Cit; the tube to his lips, - blew a the ine - consternation the outlaws stop to the quavering reverberations, while SS leader felt glass the surrounding country with his powerful Soon he uttered a whoop of defiance, for emer to the east he beheld a large band of Regulators loom up over the crest of a prairie billow, Le pee was brightly bathed in yellow moonlight, and coming srocning Core to the assistance of their leader. cass the pd fh wheeled their greatly outnum- these brethren 0 IL. gras, and went their way, re iol over their ‘‘ much big” joke. oothpick avowed that it was the fact of Avalandlie’ s having no ears that had caused the oke; and the A a was positive that the Nava- oes had taken Peco t them, because of the Ar- ansas man’s ill “proportions; from which word Loy yo to wee e twain were in reality mad O88 was somewhat alike, ties had roamed toge Avalanche had an object and a mission to fulfill.
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and so, evidently, had the ‘ original” Toothpick. But what it was no one would ever learn, by waiting for enlightenment from him, personally. : He was uncommunicative in matters relating to his business in the San Luis valley; Avalanche more than once suspected him of being more than he ap- pat but what? This was the question which even e could not answer. Deadwood Dick he had neither seen nor heard from since the night of the massacre; not evena suspicion that Omaha Oll, the dreaded Masked. Ter- ror, and Deadwood Dick were identical, ever enter- ed the old Annihilator’s head. The question of how they were ever to get free, now, was not one of plain solution. Certain it was that neither of the ners had strength sufficient to burst their bonds, which left it impossible to es- cape, until they had some assistance. - ell, my mnger-sontal pill o’ fizzic, w’at aire yer views on remainin’ hayr all night?’ Avalanche at last questioned, rolling over toward Mr. Jem Mur- ray, the Toothpick. ‘‘ ’Spect you needn't be nohow afeard o’ wolves, fur they’d scorn ter whet their chins on sich an ornery galoot as you.” ig ‘*See hayr, ye runt, aire ye not thru wi’ yer blar- ney?” was the reply. ‘‘Fer my part I feel more like chawin’ ye up fer fodder, than talkin’ so long about et. Jest roll over hayr, an’ let me utilize ye ter sum good purpuss!”’ : “Wait til I get free, an’ Pll: come fer you like a rip-roarin’ tornader o’ terrificossity—like a three- geared meteor o’ fizzican’ demoralation an’ destruc- heh Ay frum ther Aunty’s Podes,’’ Avalanche re- plied. ** Ye’re a durned old hog!”’ from Toothpick. “ And, ye’re a long-legged camel-giraffe, from out o’ civilization,’ assured Alva. Then silence again reigned. But only for afew minutes. Shrilly over the prairies, wafted on the wings of the evening breeze, came a strange sound—not the lowing of a cow, the bleat of a sheep, nor the cry of a human, but the peculiar ‘ ba-a-a’’ of a goat. Yes, there could be no mistake about this, and it caused raga to struggle quickly up to a sitting pos- ure “Hooray! Great carniverous ham-bone that as- saulted ther Adam’s-apple ov old Joner!”’ he cried, triumphantly. ‘‘ Et aire my right bower, Florence Night-in-a-gale, a-comin’ ter my iy Oh! ye on- gainly, Donen iny statue, how d'ye like ther eydea 0’ partin’ t appat devastatin’ eppydemic, now? Hayr, Florence! Hayr, Florence! Cum quick, ye dasted ornery beast, an’ extricate yer master frum a consarned diffikilty.”’ “Ye needn’t crow, old rooster!’ growled Tooth- = grimly. ‘“* P’r’aps I kin hire yer pard ter sot me ree ol “Ho! ho! guess not, Wait till ye see my pard’s genealogy, or whatever ye call it, an’ ye’ll re Poem a chap w’at ain’t easily led aside frum ther path o’ se an’ religyun, inter that o’ sin an’ contamina- on.”’ And Florence was soon forthcoming, but not alone for the eecentric and wonderfully educated animal was dogging at the heels of a man, who, at a first lance, Avalanche could have sworn was Deadwood ck, But instead of Dick, it was El Gamin, the Gambler nce. “Hello! what's the matter heré? You fellows a pear in somewhat of a dilemma!’ he exclaimed, coming forward, while Florence sprung joyfully to her old master’s side, and whisked her stubby tail in manifestation of her unprecedented pleasure. ‘‘ Ha! by heaven! you, Jem Murray?” “At yer sarvice!’’ the Toothpick said. ‘‘ Jem Murray, sheriff of Golden City, an’ ther original Ar- kansas Toothpick.” A dark scowl covered El Gamin’s face. “Well, ~s have eet tee ~~ — ae e ex nothing else, under the circum- stances, wher do you want?” ‘* My daughter, and your life!’ Murray answered, fiercely, ‘‘ else Lshedn’t hev sought ye. Whar's the gal, first?” El Gamin threw pears pew the grass, and for several moments stared at the ground. “The poor child is dead!’’ he replied, at last brushing a tear from his eye, at the a a of some painful memory. ‘She died a month after we left Golden City, of her old complaint, heart-disease, and I saw that she had proper interment,” The lanky sheriff groaned aloud, “T expec thet w’en I couldn’t heer o’ her bein’ along wi’ yer!” he said, bitterly. ‘Durn ye, ef I ever git my claws onter yer weasand, ye'll think et’s time ye "d accounts on yearth."” “You shouldn't blame me, So much, as I was not all to ie apa the gambler : mae “You oer to sanction our marriage and happiness, and so we had to elope and take our chances. Had Blossom lived, we should ever have been happy together.” Murray softened a little at this. “Mebbe, you wasn’t all cross-ways,’’ he allowed. thought; , ‘t but, bein’s I’ve chased ye so fur, I ken’t let you, alone wi'out fightin’ on thet score. *T won't long ter tell which is the best feller, an’ that'll end it.” : ‘“* We won’t fight now!’’ El Gamin replied, hastily. “IT have other work to do; and, by the way, it was ong 2 “yoy eccentric goat that I was attracted here. So Tl bid you -evenin’.’’ And the gambler was about to turn away. But Avalanche made haste to call him back, for game yet sand the —_ —< is *Isay, you , don’t get inter such a persper- ation, ter depart. Rh hass tad refecdon on yer phyz- zical consti generally ; asides, et’s dangerous. Actoolly know’d a man, onc’t, who worked in a Omaha O11. rder he worked full that she bu'sted up, ontirely. Fact, accordin’ ter ther new kind of a Testament. Tharfore, nevyer git in a hurry when ye kin do a feller a good turn. Jest release me, an’ as long as ther great devastatin’ ep- pydemic wafts like boreal fizzic thr’u’ these latty- a ag mh Sang ei ye. a Tipped about ther aby elerphant, hyar, * honey-lip sugar-re- finery. He ain’t no good on earth.” “Then ye ain’t pards, eh?” “Nary a time!” quickly objected the “ original” Arkansas Toothpick with a sniff of disdain. “ Ye don’t s’pose I'd ‘sociate wi’ sich a humbley, ornery ae oye? Id die sooner!” El Gamin turned without a word and severed Av- alanche’s bonds; then strode rapidly away into the es that had densely thickened over the prairie. hither he was bound was a secret to himself. Avalanche arose to his feet with a triumphant | chuckle, and approaching, bent over the reclining Toothpick, a broad grin upon his features. “*Good-by, my honey-li my gorgeous blooming | fmf <upandonbes -b § | til noon, or thereabouts, Omaha Oll did not confine ot ny Mgt fizzic an’ sugar-coated a ag by. ate ter leave yer, very much, as ther leaf sed ter ther tree, in autumn, but ther best o’ friends must rt. Hope yer won’t cotch ther distemper, layin’ ere, or thet ther wolves won't git ye!”’ “ Ba-a-al ba-a-a!l’’ Murray mocked. “Very good, Jemsy, but old Flor’nce, heer, can thet President Grant heerd it way in Washington. Adieu! au revoir until we meet some otlier time.” And whistling to his goat, the eccentric Annihilator turned on his heel, and strode away over the prairie in one direction where lay Del Norte’s twinkling ights. e limped considerably yet from his wounds, and A ai his progress was necessarily somewhat slow. Not ten minutes after the Annihilator had gone, Jem Murray coolly burst apart his bonds, and spring- ing to his feet, hurried swiftly on in pursuit, CHAPTER XIII. THE TRAIL PESTS.—TRUCE AND DEFIANCE. Tue sentry led the way forward into the glade, shouting for those in camp to awake, as he did so, and behind him Omaha Ol! and his men followed on horseback, And a wild-looking set of fellows they were, too, and black masks, and the sleepy-headed miners regarded them with suspicion, until the man, Dore, assured them that all was right, and safe. The men rekindled the camp-fires, and began to show a hospitable disposition, by setting forth food and drink, while the females of the caravan peered distrustfully from the canvas-coverings of the long in the mines, they were none too eager to make the acquaintance of the almost world-notorious Dead- wood Dick, who as road-agent, dare-devil and gal- lant, had no equal in the wide West. ile the miners were ae aring food for them, Omaha and his men betook themselves to one side and stretched themselves out for an hour's sleep of which all were in gore need. At the end of that time, they were awakened, and summoned to the repast, which, though humble, was most refreshing- ly tempting. After the meal had been atched, Boss Breck, the commander-in-charge of the carav made his appearance, and was introduced to the Regulators and Omaha, their youthful commander, With the “captain,” as Breck was called, Omaha had a long, pleasant chat. He found the man to be well-educated and intelli- gent, for all his rough miner’s exterior, and dialect. As a miner, he was of course in favor with the favor- ite law of J pn Lynch; believed that no punishment was too good for outlawry and rufflanism, and hoped that the Government would take active measures to exterminate every tramp, communist, and ruffian on the face of the earth. He was married and had a remarkably pretty daughter—a young maiden of seventeen summers, admiring. Omaha received an introduction to her, but tried to avoid her as much as possible, for, when in the resence of females, his mind would go back to his e with Leone—to his happy prospects, and how bitterly they had been blighted—frostbitten in the very springtime of their youthful existence, and then he would become sullen and gloomy. Ah! how that boy-man often wished for the old life they had lived, ere the first blow had been struck at their happiness, by the coming of Edith Stone. He was a road-agent then, to be sure, and not only ea the laws of God and man, but run- ning h. neck into constant peril; still, those days at his “ Castle ’’ in the Black Hills were the happiest of his whole life—such an eventful life, too, since then. Thoughts like these were running in mind, as he sat in the e of the glade, with his eyes upturn- ed to the blue sky, where morning’s light was just breaking—the heaven, where he felt sure Leone and his baby boy had long ere this found a glorious sal- vation, and an everlasting home. . He found solace in thinking that both were at peace up there. Sometimes he wondered if he were worthy of a place there, too. And in such moments bitter memories would chase away tender ones, and instead of grace his wild spirit yearned for ven- geance. Vengeance / ay, the craving came back this mem- ory-bringing morning, with tenfold greater strength beat it, you bet. Once she bl’atted so dasted hard | } cluss b’ilding, an’ he got ter _ ratin’, and ther sweat generated steam, an’ ther ha ther more steam war made, ontel ther buildin’ got so | amount, and he was na’ | bin ten yeer in ther mines, and | said, seriously. ‘* A feller don’t know w’at ther value | lers. Panned it all out, 11 than ever before, and it seemed to him he was given a giant’s strength and courage to grapple with foes —to strike as he had never struck before. The sun was rising beautifully in the cold, crisp west, and the air was gradually growing keener, when one of his men came to inform him that the caravan was ready to move. So rising he accompanied the messenger back to camp. Captain Breck had arranged everything prepara- tory Tor a start. Instead of riding in the 2 gh. icin’ they had done heretofore, the women were mounted | upon the Regulators’ horses, while Omaha and his men were to conceal themselves inside the schooners, | where they were to remain until the attack of the Prairie League, when they could open up their con- cealed battery, with disastrous effect upon the foe. re ae with assignment to positions, the caravan left the motte and toiled along slowly over the prairie, toward its next destination. Del Norte lay some twenty-five miles in the distance, yet Breck had strong hopes of being able to push into the town by ten o’clock that evening. As he expected no encounter with the ruffilans un- himself or men wholly to the wagons, but they all took exercise in the open air. Omaha rode ah with Captain Breck and his daughter, and chatted with them. In this way he learned that there was really a larger amount of golden treasure in the train than even the League had knowledge of; for since the death of Prairie Pistol’s messenger, he was not cer- tain if the League had been advised of the coming of the miners’ train. Breck had a large per cent, of the aggregate urally anxious. “Ye see, I shedn’t keer ter lose it, seein’s I’ve in’ fer’t,”” he 0’ stuff is till he goes ter s’archin’ and diggin fer’t; then he finds out, I tell ye. Never struck any bi nuggets w’at made me rich in a day, like some fel- rain fer grain.” ** And such as you! would hesitate the most to plun- der, if I was in the road-agent line again,’’ Omaha Oll replied. “ During the period of my reign in the | Black Hills, I always made it a practice to lay the most for them who mined their gold only to drink and gamble it away. I calculated I might as well | have it as they, and also that I was in one sense do- | ing good by keeping hell-fire from their li with their picturesque herder habits, slouch hats, | had . if we ess gold and less whisky, we would have more honest, sober men.”’ “Very truly spoken, sir. Whisky and money in the overplus, are the curses of our country ‘ Do away with the whisky, and make no more money, and you will see a satisfactory change in affairs. | Ha! are not those our enemies, now?” rakish schooners. Used as they were to rough life | : ; | | | | whom no one could re The miner pointed to where the head of horse and horseman were just disappearing from view behind a prairie swell, some two miles ahead. Not one man out of ten would have noticed the important fact, at such a distance. “Tt is either the whole band there behind the hill, or else a spy posted to give w of the coming of the train,’’ Omaha replied, bringing his glass to bear, but without effect. “T will soon ascertain, bowerey for ere. to eft ps op is a on — her than any other within the scope of two and from there I can see, and = te aid to ropecd in the event of danger. For if the are there, | we may as well keep right on, until they make the attack. This will disarm any suspicion they may ~—s that you oe Lah ete Senarhabiiie tales saying, the handsome yo r whee: hog back to the rear of the train; stan 'y for instant duty were the miners, at the word of warning. “Keep your weapons out of view, but have them where you can grab them in an instant, boys!” was the encouraging cry of the Masked Terror, for mask- ed was the young avenger, and a grim-looking rider, lish to meet as a foe. Then, with a word of warning to his own men, he his horse and galloped panos’ swiftly away over the prairie toward the the very impersonation of health, and a gay viva- | cious little creature, whom no one could see without | illow he had indicated to Captain Breck, which was the highest point in that vicinity for observation. Eagerly those from the train watched the oe, ful equestrian, until he reached the summit; | then all held their breath in.suspense while he swept | by m | upon the ground, and were seen to be crawling off agin the eastward oy men 28 with his clear eagle-eye. _ They saw him look long and earnestly; then, as if c, both horse and rider became prostrated t . “Tt means danger, fellers!’’ cried Boss Brec wheeling and riding back along the train. ‘Stan ter execute my orders, at er minnit’s notice!’ Omaha and his s ious and well-trained animal soon crawled entirely off of the summit, and Omaha then rose to his feet and ran around in a circle; then pointed toward the halted caravan, which looked odd and pict ue, away down in the valley. The next minute he ih ordered Clipper up, was upon his back, and dashing down the slope. “Thet move tells us ter co our wagons, an’ prepare fer battle!” cried Breck, as he watched the y Regulator, anxiously. “See! here he comes, now, like a thunder-gust. To wo men! lively, now, and the wagons inter a . Unhitch ther mules, quicker’n ye ever did, afore!” The commands were obeyed, with alacrity. The miners knew that they were working to save their gold, and also their vex; and they sprung to work with a will. It was but the work of a few moments to the long white-covered schooners into a circle unhitch the draught-horses and mules and them inside the circle. Within this space the ers and
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12 of them, well mounted, and at a glance, would have been pronounced reckless fighters, for their rough devil-may-care grace in the saddle, was ad- mirable, and among the cattle herdsmen of the far West you will inevitably find a pretty hard set of customers to handle. ““We’ve got work before us, J tell you!’ Omaha declared, jumping Clipper over into the corral, and then proceeding from one wagon to another to give his men courage. ‘' You’ve got to fight like sons-of- guns, or you'll get licked like blazes. Somake every shot empty a saddle, and if the rascals get too close, use your revolvers, as you well know how. Don’t ve up while there’s an ounce of blood in your bodies shed in the defense of the train!" Then, Omaha leaped over into the corral, where miners, and their families and the horses were all crowded in. Breck ‘stood with rifle in hand, watch- ing the approaching ruffian band, anxiously. “You are too crowded in here!” Oll cried, in the situation at a glance. ‘ Here!’ and he ra’ up a wagon-tongue—“ drive out my horses, and let them shift for themselves; I'll risk their going far!” The Regulators’ animals were accordingly all ap reclosed. This left more driven out, and the e inclosure, and made it bet- fighting room within ter, altogether. In the meantime the outlaws were seen to be coming madly on, at the best speed of their wiry mustangs, and in their lead rode the eoire man of Del Norte, Bill Monte, and the mysterious Prairie Patrol, whose connection with the outlaws made her a repulsive object, even though she was beautiful in face and form, That Wild Bill Monte was commander-in-chief of the League, Omaha had not a doubt, now, and re- solved was the young leader of the Regulators to destroy both the e and its chief. Just out of gunshot the outlaw-herders came to a halt, while Wild Bill and Prairie Patrol rode forward, with white rags held aloft on the muzzles of their rifles, for a truce. “Shall we let them approach?” asked Boss Breck, taraiog to the Masked Terror. ‘Not close enough to learn ry hpag Oll replied, La ing upon Clipper’s back. ‘I'll go out and hear tl say.” And laying his trusty Evans’s rifle across his sad- dle-bow, the daring ex-road-agent rode fearless forth be ase the prairie, unaccompanied, and eviden ly careless as to the consequences, He hastened hi; horse, however, for he cared not to have the two truce-bearers approach near enough to discover the slitted canvas sides of the ‘‘schoon- ers,” lest they suspect the presence of a concealed battery. Wild. Bill nodded, and drew rein as Omaha ap- proached, then spoke: “Are youin toe! of yonder train, young feller?” he demanded, grufily. “ At present, Iam. Why do you ask, sir gambler and robber?” the Masked Terror answered. “ Because, I wanted ter see the gineral in com- mand!” the outlaw said, with a chuckle, as he thought, no doubt, of the easy victory in store for “We're the Prairie League o’ ther San Luis valley, as ye’ve doubtless heerd of, an’ we demand an un- conditional surrender of yer train, as toll fer passage over our exclusive route!” “Humph! is this all you come out here to say?” sneered Omaha, incontempt. “If it is you may as well paddle right along back, for we'll not surrender no more’n we'll cut our heads off.”’ “But, hold! You hain’t no idear o’ how we'll slaughter ye, an’ git the gold besides, if ye don’t cave!” Monte protested. ‘* We’re five dozen ten, ter one dozen o’ you, an’ et’ll take about ten minnits fer us ter wipe every mother’s son of ye out o’ exist- ce. * “All right! Go ahead and wipe as much as you please. We're ready to receive you with open arms!” retorted the Regulator, wheeling his animal and gal- loping back toward camp. onte cursed furiously, and he and Prairie Patrol rode back to the outlaws’ lines, where a short con- sultation was held. Evidently they were a little sus- icious; but soon it was re: mt that their greed for gold ha | overmastered their fears, for with loud cries, they spurred their horses on to do the opening A battle was now a certainty ! CHAPTER XIV. GREEK MEETS GREEK.—LURKING DANGER. On came the enemy at full tilt, presenting rather an omg aspect. Omaha OJl had resumed his position within the corral, and stood among the miners, cheering them with words and example. Nearer and nearer came the ruffian herders, until they were within easy gun- shot; then, at a blare from Omaha’s silver trumpet, the miners, twelve in number, opened up with a deadly volley that emptied as many saddles as shots were fired But, evidently such a defense the outlaws had a prehended, for they renewed their cries of triumph, and urged their m harder, while th in a rattling volley upon the train. This more harm to the lators in the wagons, than to the miners behind them, for several of the former were wounded more or less severely. But a out of their two-score was left to retali- ate with a deadly fusilade, which, to the utter con- sternation of the herders, swept full half of their front men away, and utter confusion reigned. Among those who fell was Wild Bill Monte, and seeing him go down, Prairie Patrol quickly galloped to the front, and in Spanish rallied the men about her, and they came on with drawn revolvers. See- ing which Omaha gave the ringing order: ‘Revolvers all! Courage, comrades; there are only thirty more!” Revolvers were drawn, and the moment range was pp a volley from either side tore like electric ail through the air, oe some damage to the mi- meres and emptying several more of the outlaws’ sad- es. Seeing which they whirled about and beat a pre- aptate retreat, for the distance of half a mile, when they halted and dismounted, evidently for a rest, “Very well done!’ commented Omaha, as Captain i advanced with beaming face and extended and, “I apprehended more loss on our side. How many are wounded of our party, lieutenant?” addressi the Regulator who had just completed an exami- nation of the wagons. “Only two seriously, and six aight, captain,” was the reply. ‘ None of the lot are unable to ride!” “Good! then we'll take leave of the train, present- ly, if yonder roughs clear out, which I believe is their intention.”’ ‘“‘T find that our loss has not been as severe as ours,” said Breck. “ Altogether, it has been what call a lucky termination of a battle against odds. You Son's think they'll attack us again then, young man?’ “T can better answer that question after awhile!” Omaha replied, grimly. ‘‘ Never put any fixed con- struction upon what are the intentions of a villain. and you'll avoid disappointment. Two-thirds o those unhorsed men are but slightly wounded, and will be ready for work inside of a week.” “Then why not make a charge and wipe ’em out, fer good?” “No! I will not strike a man when he is down. Only ruffians and savages do that. Let them go; we will finish this job soon. Hitch up your horses and get the train in motion. Lieutenant, i may catch our horses, and we will ride on to Del Norte with the train. I think we have little to fear from yon human coyotes, ‘twixt here and there!” Accordingly the miners set to work and the draught horses to the wagons, Omaha Oll’s horses were caught, and in half an hour the caravan was again toiling away over the dun prairie. At a safe distance the League, in its depletion of numbers followed. Perhaps a score of the disabled outlaws had been remounted, and sent off southward by east, to their stronghold. Wild Bill Monte was with the party who were fol- lowing the train, he and Prairie Patrol riding in ad- vance. The ruffian had been only slightly stunned by the bullet, and was now among the fiercest of those who pursued the miners’ caravan, their object being to obtain booty and rerenges Omaha Oll and a division of his Regulators rode in advance of the train, while another division brought = the rear. And Pia poking L poceNasiy Fic ue spectacl ey all mov: ong ugh the cold December's stiecaron sunlight. As he wished to make Del Norte before campin for the night, Captain Breck had the train pus steadily on and as rapidly as the nature of the route would admit, The following outlaws kept on about the same dis- tance, making no attempt at further molestation— indeed, it would have been foolhardiness to nave made an attack where there were now more of those with = train, than of the League, who were in fight- t " Wish I hed a gud howitzer!’’ Breck said, riding ahead and joining Omaha, ‘an’ I’d soon scatter them dog, in’ devils in | seprcnapincy shape. Once served wi’ light artillery in the war, an’ hev an’ ideal ken sp'ile a few o’ them lunkies, ‘andsum. What do you me they’re followin’ us for?” on’t know, unless they’ve another recruit of in Del Norte, and intend to attack you again. 1 Norte you know, has very few res laws or law-makers, and though there is probably a few hon- est souls in the place, the evil element tly over- balances the good. Gonsequentl a lawless state of affairs exists, as would be natural in any place where the eo is controlled by ruffians.’ “Then you consider it unsafe to enter the town?” Breck demanded, in alarm and anxiety. “No, not exactly. Not that the inhabitants as a general are too good to hesitate at the commission of any crime, but Ido not think molestation would be given your train, except by the outlaws, for the simple reason that the Del Norteans stand in awe of threatened invasion from the ome militia to suppress the high-handed gambling and whisky dis- ulling which is going on there.” ms Del Norte illicit. distilleries, eh?’’ “So lunderstand, But that isnothing. Compar- atively few of the Western towns of note that do not bare. these in secret operation—some of them y-” Thus they conve while the afternoon wore away. Atsunset Del orte lay in sight, in the dis- tance, but it was yet nine or ten es away, and there were no on which the wagons c drawn ray idly. which made it promise to be well to- ward naitnig t ere they reached the town. Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. Lea affairs at the train in charge of his lieuten- ant, Om: Oll started on ahead at a sharp gallop. It was his purpose to visit Del Norte, and see how the land lay, then ride back and report. He was not im- pressed with these Del Norteans in a favorable light, and he had more apprehensions of d Tr at the town than he had betrayed to Captain Breck. At full speed he dashed along over the prairie, through the dying sunlight, his thoughts scarcely reverting to the nature of his errand, for in such moments as these only one person occupied his thoughts, and that person—Leone. “Leone! Ah! what would he not have given to have her back again, as in the old days when the were so happy? But she was in heaven, now, wit her little baby boy; both were certainly better off than — living here below on the sinful earth. On—on, he galloped, and at last entered Del Norte, unmasked, for thus he was not recognized as Omaha Oll, the Masked Terror. First of all he went to the gambling den known as the Oriental Palace. Here he found a strange de- sertion, only a few of the habitues beies present, and these were strolling idly about. fe) playing was om, on, and the p a deserted and un- inviting appearance. To avoid suspicion, the young Regulator sauntered through the great apartment; and finally he invited the nema ed to start up the keno game, which was done with alacrity, for business never had been more slack. Accordingly several bouts were played, Omaha, with his habitual luck, winning every time. Then when tired of the sport, he arose and sauntered ou < the building, a perplexed expression upon his ‘ace. “Tam puzzled!’ he muttered, when he was alone. “The is strangely deserted, and I can put no other construction on the fact than that these absent gamblers are laying for the approaching miners’ train. Confound it, I wish I knew what to do.” Springing into the saddle, he galloped to the west- ern side of the town, looking off toward the caravan. It was now out of sight, probably hidden in the depth of a prairie wave. “T see no other way than to let them come up. Better to fight it out here in town than to take the chances of an open prairie attack, in Stygian dark- ness;” for the sky was now overcast with somber clouds, and the night promised to be one of intense blackness. ‘I had the counsel of Old Ava- lanche, just about now. His old head had an over- stock of ingenuity in it, and I think he could see the way through.” “Great ham-bone thet exorcised ther hog-gobblin’ uv old Joner! Moses who became famuss fer his bull-rushin’ proclivities!’’ exclaimed a familiar voice, close at hand; “ef all ye want aire Avalanche—ther t devastatin’ disease o’ ther peraries—wh = = thet awesum ruffle uv a hurricane, an’ j’int, an 3 And from the bushes, close at hand, emerged the veteran Annihilator, sure enough! followed by his eccentric companion, the goat. Omaha Oll started, violently, and his face assumed an incredulous ex- pression as he beheld the old scout. ** You/ Avalanche!” he exclaimed—‘“ you, alive? I thought you dead.” “Yas, I calkylate so; but all ther same—ther old contagious eppydemic ain’t gone over the dam, yet. Ham-bone that sanctified Joner, no/” **But how, in the name of all that is wonderful, does it come that you ave alive?” Omaha demanded, with increasing amazement. ‘‘ When I left you, to in search of tools with which to dig your ve, I lieved you gone—quite dead. When I re ed some one or something had removed your body and that of my child.” “Yas; et war the Perarer Patrol, or whatever-ye- call-her. She tuk us ter ther ruined haciender in ther Black Woods, an’ berry’d ther babe, w’ile she nursed me back ter life. 0 why; she never even spoke ter me, ter song which ner t’other. Arter I war well enuff ters en my id was really dead, too, eh?” “Oh! yes; r lettle cherubim got salivated wi’ thet kerried off Leone. Poor mee = ol ~ - reply. His ma “ight wih he ne upon the ground; ark, reve one from them, and flickeringl illuminated dusky countenance. 4 For several moments he remained in silence; then he related his experience since the night of the mas- sacre, includi late defense of the miners’ car- avan, against the attack of the ruffian herders, and his present mission to Del Norte. “Yas, I argue ye'll hev troubulous times ter git thet kerryvan thru, ef they’ve got much gold aboard. Ham-bone thet petrified old Joner! Why these fel- lers ’d run sixteen miles er minnit, now, ter git a smell o’ ther ginn: e ariferous.”’ : : ‘Well, if there is to be more battle, here’s what is going to take a hand in it!” Omaha said, ey ‘ = mood is all right for battle, and so I shall “ An’ thes great destructive comet 0’ contagion, too. Moses o° bull-rush notoriety! Wait till ther great Annihilation gits ter runnin’, nicely, an’ ye’ll see fun—haydoodles uv et,I tell ye. ar’s old Prudence absent, ter be sure, but wi’ two sich con- solidated wren as Florence Night-in-a-gale an’ \ durned ef things ain’t a-goin’ ter “Can I depend upon you to assist me in gettin this train salely through beyond Del Norte? After that they will not need our protection.” “Yas, Dickey, my posey, ye can, ter ther end, as ——— eee ee ¥ *
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Omaha Oll. ther muskeeter sed ter ther new hotel boarder—as old Florence Night-in-a-gale sed ter a Yankton judge, when she give him a whack wi’ her he’d-gear.’ “Very well. You remain here, and keep a watch upon the town, while I ride back to the rain, and report. Look out for us toward midnight, and let us know if there are any hostile demonstrations.”’ Saying which Omaha gallo back to the train which by this time had gained a couple of miles in their slow travel, rendered doubly slow by the dark- ness, and by caution necessary. “Well, what are the prospects?’ demanded Breck, as the Regulator rode up, after a swift ride from the valley town. “Doubtful!” Omaha replied, briefly. ‘“‘ Be pre- parent? fight, anyhow. Are the outlaws still dog- “Yes. They are not far behind; only the dark- ness hides ming from view.” en, we may expec’ work, before the night is through!” was the reply as the young Re tor rode on to join his men at the rear of the t m And the caravan toiled on, until Del Norte lay just in front—gloomy and silent. CHAPTER XV. THE GAMBLER’S TRAIL OF BLOOD, At this same hour of the caravan’s approach to Del Norte, something was occurring at the home- stead of the ns, worthy of mention, and though the characters are eet 4 incidental to the story, whose basis is the strange life-history of Dead- wood Dick, we will here narrate them. In the grand old Spanish lor of the hacienda, three persons were gathered. Two were men; the third pretty Ella Har: n. She was neatly attir- ed, and clutched in one a Spanish guitar, on which she had evidently just been playing. All three were in a standing attitude; the two, El Gamin and Ella, had evidently just arisen upon the entrance of the third party, who was no other than the ex-Government Spy, Cass Cameron, ba eae with me ie Pweg? the the Bp . 1ere was an evil exp: on upon the 8s face as he stood and gazed at the two lovers for such the two were—and a glitter in his bold, black eyes which meant a menace. El Gamin flushed a trifle, and the lady of his choice ierWell!” Cameron said, at last, ye a eron , at dwelli htl inter tively upon the opening word, «this poke mutually interes’ , doesn’t it? How long had your billing and cooing been going on? Pray, Miss Har- rington, be sea’ and do not let me interrupt your singing.” his hat upon a stand, Cameron betook t more unpleasant And himself to a seat, upon an ottoman. Ella sunk back upon a sofa; El Gamin still remained si , his gaze turned fle upon the Government Spy. “Sit down; do not tire yourself, in addition to urself !’’ Cameron said, with a . “Youremind me of Booth’s Ham- let, where he beholds the ghost.”” il Gamin took a step nearer. ‘“Leave the room!’ he commanded, hoarsely, pointing toward the door. ‘Leave! Go!” “Oh! no, not yet, beloved friend. I have not interviewed my sweet lady friend, here, If your presence is obnoxious you may step out!” “Curse you!”’ El Gamin cried; ‘why do you come here? Go,I say! Yon lady is my betrothed wife. You have no claim upon her, Go, or I will cut your black heart out, and give it to the dogs!” “Oh! is that so? You are getting belligerent, eh? Don’t sling my poor heart at the dogs, for I want the cats to have it.” Berney Ba Spy was using his best efforts to madden the of | Gamtiers. El Gamin did not reply, but drew from his belt a pair of pistols, one of which he handed to Cameron. “Oh! don't fight! don’t fight! you will be killed!” Ella, rushing se in between them, franti- cally. “Get out of the way!” El Gamin cried, fiercely. = wane eed affair in peat sad ~~ “Ho ve a chance to which she loves best cried eron. ‘The Bx ® will with- ‘LW, * involuntarily the eyes of the two men turned upon lla, Harrington. he ew — Grane ho. A “IT choose Mr. Redw ” was the girl’s reply, as she advanced toward the Spy. “I thonghe cared for you, but I like him better!” ‘*But you shall not have him, you deceitful cat!” the Spaniard hissed, his face flaming i OU have trifled with my affection; you might better have played with a tiger! Stand ready, sir rival. You oon only have the senora if you win her by my ea Cameron saw that the Gambler Prince was dee in earnest; and a maddened Spaniard is perhaps ply rs of > sagen men. A at oe So the nodded, and examin: S revolver, He found it all right, and then faced the bler. “One! two! three!’ El Gamin counted, and then fired, as did Cameron, instantly, Both bullets pierced fleshy parts of the contestants’ bodies, causing pain- ful but not rous wounds. Again the pistols came to a level, and a flash and sharp double gs oe echoed through the room. This ore bi vyscpiw = >»pped n one gs eo not pistols Vopr ogre: ae odes et Bang again the w ns of death out their spiteful wa and while i darted back at S ting un ee rae Cameron sunk back upon the floo A shriek of terror burst from the {ips of Ella Har- rington, as she saw the Spy fall, and saw El Gamin turn upon her, with a glare of demoniac joy in his eyes. ‘Keep back, monster!’’ she gasped, retreating to- ward the door. “‘Ha!l ha! I have you now, and you shall be mine, willingly or unwillingly, you eilbress.* you mean to battle for your rights?” for Ella Har- rington had seized two rapiers from a rack, and fling- ing one to the gambler, stood with the other in her grasp, her face white but resolute, and her bearing | | wen he’s ive me a | admirable, “Yes, if you are not a coward you will cane for my liberty, you ruffian!’’ she cried, stern- ly. El Gamin seized the blade with a vile curse. ‘**I'll cut your head from ‘your body!’’ he growled, What! do | 13 Gamin muttered a curse, and dropped flat in the ‘ass. erThe horseman drew rein, and the gambler heard him dismount. ’ “Whoa-r-r, Judith, ye onmannerly beast, till I in- vestigate thet noise I heerd. Durn my old sow’s last litter o’ pigs, but I’m sure I see sumthin’ move, just ahead. An’ who sez ther great notorious Tooth- pick ain’t a-goin’ ter look ter these night-prowlers, w’at endanger ther safety ov a man’s constytuchin’, ravlin’. Hello, thar! whar aire ye, ye ornery cuss? Better scratch up out’en the grass, | I’m tellin’ ye, fer ef ther great original Jem Murray, | from Arkansas, should put one o’ his number twenty- | Seven hoofs onter ye, ye’d think an elephant trod on savagely. ‘‘Instead of a fawn, you seem to be a | young tigress!” He made a lunge and a thrust, which were dex- trously parried; then the young woman gave him a terrible rap by the side of the head, which caused him to reel back dizzily. But he recovered his equi- librium in an instant, and again rushed forward. This time his thrust was not rightly parried, and as a co) uence Ella received a cut in the left thigh which laid open the flesh an inch deep. With a cry she retreated a few steps, but the Spaniard followed her, perseveringly, a wild, terrible | light in his eyes. “You ruffian!”’ she d. ‘You she wretch!” he taunted. Then he made another deadly thrust, which with the skill of an experienced swordsman she parried, and laid his left arm bare to the bone. With a how] of eee pain and rage, he came on once more, like an infuriated bull of the arena leaps at the tormenting matadore. He made a thrust, and she attempted to parry, but he caught her blade at a fault with his own, and hurled it from her grasp. The next instant his own blade was buried to the hilt through her heart, and | she fell back to the floor, dead! Withdra his sword, the wretch staggered back aghast at his sickening crime; but with an iron will he the next moment mastered himself, and a low chuckli png cocaped him. “She thought to take me at a disadvantage with this blade, and kill meto avenge yon Government Spy!” he muttered, wiping away the aay Fer from his brow; “ but I was too much for her, though it is ten years since last I fought with a sword. Then my father was at the of end my blade, and fell. et bac arr a e lea ack in sur, , asa young man, stal- wart and athletic, leaped into the room, and snatch- ed up the blade that the El Gamin had hurled from poor Ella’s grasp. It was Philip Trartingtot the younger of the two brothers, who had witnessed the last of the conflict, through an open casement, and had hastened to his sister’s relief, only to arrive too late. “Villain! hell-hound!” he cried, rushing at the blood-blinded bler, and a fierce thrust. But, Lot-headed, and unmindful, he reckoned with- out his host, for El Gamin threw himself instantly upon F en began a hot, furious contest, of thrusting, parrying, and feinting. s E] Gamin was an expert, and it took but a moment to prove that Fhilip rrington had had thorough education in sword exercise. Both men were of prodigious muscular strength, and consequently, it was but natural that the con- test should be an equal one. But, it could not last forever. Both men fought, imbued with potent fury. Steel clashed ag t steel, and the breath of the two combatants came in gasps. “ Quarter!”’ at last articulated Phili ee, reeling back against the wall, and bleeding m half a dozen wounds—“ enough!” “Oh! no; you need a little more!” the victori- ous gambler cried, rushing on. “O your life will pay the forfeit for the good blood I have lost."’ He made a thrust, fiercely, when Harrington was too weak to parry it, and ran the young farmer straight through the heart. Then the ce of Del Norte’s gamblers turned and fled from the hacie out upon the prairie. He cared not to participate another contest right away, until he had e to collect strength, for he had not esca without severe wounds, from which he had enough blood to weaken “Curses!’’ he muttered as he moved along to- ward Del Norte, over the intensely dark pi e— ‘‘T am a murderer, now, and yet I could not help it. I could not have let that Spy lived to the senora; she and her brother placed th lives at my disposal. Ugh! bad work, but there is yet some satisfaction, for now I am heart free again— all are enemies; 1 have not a friend on earth, that I know of. These were the mutterings of the criminal, as he pach ee as fast as his weakened limbs would Del Norte lay only & short distance away; here he had found a retreat wherein he could hide, and re- cuperate. But he was destined not to escape so Upon the prairie the darkness was perfectly in. a re) tense—in sui that the line-pole on the h were invisible those oe Del Norte were faintly perceptible, but not A horseman was riding over the prairie, in a rude, boisterous voice, a rollicking moun r’s song. As he came closely after gambler, El * Devil. | the sounds of his footste e. Then the eccentric and mysterious long-geared in- dividual from Arkansas gan thrashing about in the grass, while he whistled a lively border-dance tun e. “Yes, ye’d better roll out, ye sneak!’’ he continu- ed, after a few moments of diligent search, “‘or Tl set ther pre afire, and thet’ll raise ye, onless ye kin crawl inter a ie repeal hole. Lord, I'll lam- baste ye, if ever I git my carniverous yg t8 he er Know ye’re in the thar, sum’ an’ t pin’ John ers, T'll find ye if et takes till er bu’st 0’ doom. Kent foolish wi’ a small-sized voleaner, like me, I tell ye.” Nearer and nearer came the Toothpick to where El Gamin was. standing; the gambler risen to his feet with drawn revolver. “Halt!” he cried, at last, when the Arkansas man was only a few feet away, which fact he — by , for as yet the gloom was too deep for penetration. ‘Don’t come astep further, or I'll blow the top of your head off.” “Oh! ye will, will ye?” came back the answer, and evidently Toothpick had come to a halt, “ Ye'll blow ther “hole top o’ my head off, will ye? I wish I ked cum an’ hug ye oncet, fer ter show my appre- shiation uv yer philanthropic offer, ye black plum. If ye want ter kiss ther paw uv an Amerykan Vessu- vious, just cum up an’ let me onter ye. I’m Jem Murray, ther t Toothpick o’ Arkansas—an absolute terror ter ther hoss-thieves an’ mconshiners _ thet gelorious State. Shute, ye Babalonian! ute!” And the next moment a great bulky body came shooting meteor-like through the air, and El Gamin could not leap aside quick enough to avoid being struck, and knocked to the und. The next mo- ment the two men had clinched in a desperate bat- tle-hug, for the Toothpick had now reco, his bitterest foe in the gambler, and he bent all his ener- gies in the attempt to crush the life out of his adver- But it was a vain attempt. El Gamin seemed lite- rally boneless—he squirmed about; over and over rolled the two men, without a word, but their gleam- ing eyes expressing the rancor in their bosoms, to- ward each other. El Gamin was nearly equal in strength to the Toothpick, despite the latter’s giant proportions, and he worked like a beaver for the victory. Over and over, strain, twist, jerk they went, and at last the bler broke loose. Then with the ness of a fightning-flash—with that swift dexterity peculiar to a iard, the villain whipped a knife from his belt, an asa ‘a it once! twice! thrice into the giant’s breast. Murray sunk back, without a groan, and the twice-double murderer sprung to his feet with a wild cry. ** Vieto ain! Furies, I believe I am wing mad for b !” and he laughed demoniacally.’ On toward Del Norte he ae his hat off, his long hair waving in the breeze, appearance truly more that of a madman than asane person, On—on he rushed, ose Sh into the town, yelling and brandish- his gl g knife. e wanted a victim. And that victim was lacking. CHAPTER XVI. SOMETHING NOT EXPECTED.—CONCLUSION. A DEATHLIKE stillness reigned over the town, as the caravan entered the prairie main street, on which were the few saloons and stores. Not a soul was seen abroad in the streets, and all was dark and ap- sta ey tch side, for you are “Look s! wa’ on every side, perhaps Mice or Alt two fires of death!’? Omaha Oll cried along the line. “Guns ready! hearts brave! fire not until you are fired upon!” * Listen! heaven! we are lost!” cried Boss Breck, excitedly. “See! militia! They are in front, in the rear, and all around us!” It was even so! A company of soldiery, with rat- tling boyonets, were down the street to- ward them; a company of mounted cavalry was bringing up the rear; while out of houses along the street issued more armed blue-coats, with triumph- ant cries. : The train came to a halt, at Omaha Oll’s peremp- tory order, and both miners and tors grasped ther guns; but this was useless, of course, for the militia outnumbered them three or four to one. “Tn God’s name, what does this mean?’ demand- ed Breck, in great excitement. ‘Why are we thus sto. by the soldiers, and in this place?” “We have yet that to learn!’ Omaha Oll replied. “There is a screw loose, somewhere, and if we re- main silent, I have no doubt we shall soon learn the reason.” Silence was accordingly ao eg throughout the train—all, as it were, were waiting to hear their sen- tence pronounced. ? : The soldiers ali came to a standstill, with “ order- ed arms,” at a stern ringing command, while the
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“ \ ’ { } | 4 \ 14 Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. cavalry also drew rein. Then the same command- ing voice was heard, again: Hello! there; train ahoy!” “Well, what’s wanted?’ demanded Breck, from his position on one of the wagons, ‘‘ Why in thunder do you thus stop an honest miners’ caravan?” “ By that par} vested in us by the Government to apprehend and arrest all those engaged in the production and transportation of illicit whisky!’ was “You have forty barrels of’ the Sit, gen Shire! gia untaxed whisky in your so-called ‘honest miners’ train’, and we command you to surrender, or take the consequences of a charge. Also, we want the yo desperado you are harboring, with the delu- sion that he is a Regulator, he having allied himself with a band of roughs of that order. His name is Omaha Oll, alias Deadwood Dick!” As may well be ined, these words caused a sensation among those in the train. An exclamation of hearty indignation escaped the miners, at the sus- picion of their being sraeeiors of illicit whisky. And the Regulators uttered a wl, as the wor against their leader issued from the officer's lips. * Your charge is insultin’, you durned blue-coated loafer!’ shouted Breck, from the wagon-top, ‘‘ and if I had you here, I’d durned soon break your head. Thar’s not half the whisky in this train thar is in er big et, an’ T’ll give a thousan’ in pure dust f you nd a gallon o’ juice about our traps.”’ “What? Is it possible that you deny having il- licit liquors in your wagons, sir?” shouted the officer. “Can we have made so great a mistake?”’ “Reckon ye hev, fer sure,’’ returned Breck. ** Leastwise, ye won't find no juice in this kerryvan. We're goin’ ter camp fer a couple o’ days, hayr in town, an’ ef ye'll wait till daylight, ye can examine our wagons. “From where do P hiss hail, sir miner?” “From Danb plit, in ther Rockies, ef it’s any °’ your bizness. "n thar now, nigh six year.” Well, there is something strange here, indeed!’’ said the officer, leaving his command, and ridin, close to the train. *“‘ name is Fullerton, and is my business to look to this whisky business. I received warning to meet a smuggling train here, to-night, and thus, if we have made a mistake, you see how it is. But we know that Deadwood Dick is with you, and we demand his surrender. His Regu- lators we do not want. They have, in reality, done the San Luis valley a service by wari the Prairie League, and also praise is due eadwood Dick for his evident reformation, But his work up at Deadwood was too criminal to allow of his going about a free man, and it is our duty as soldiers to arrest him, acco’ to law!” “T’ve nothin’ ter say about that!” Boss Breck re- plied, “ only that he saved our lives an’ money, an’ ef he wants muscle an’ backbone ter defend _hisself with, we'd be brutes not ter stick by him. Ye'd bet- ter cl’ar out an’ let ther young feller alone, ossifer, fer he’ll make ye trubble afore you git him!” “Nol ee a no sage id ‘Pace eX] response, ina clear, ringing voice, ‘I'll not impe the rest of you by resistance, but will surrender / Come forw: sir officer, if you want me?” Don’t surrender! We'll stand by you with our lives!’’ cried both miners and Regulators, in a voice. ‘* You'll only be strung up if you surrender!” ‘Let ’em string!’ was the reckless reply, ‘I’ve nothing to live for. My wife and child have both been innocently murdered, and there is nothing to make life desirable, If I t anything, it is that I shall be unable to assist in the extermination of the ruffians of the Prairie League!” Colonel Fullerton now rode up, accompanied by half a dozen dismounted privates, and, true to his promise, Omaha delivered himself, and was hand- cuffed, Then, after bidding adieu to the Regulators and miners, he was marched away to the camp of the military, which was pitched on the prairie, south of the town. The soldiers followed, and so did the caravan, the miners going into camp not far from that of the military, for not one was there among the miners or Regulators who was Jess than inter- ested in the welfare of Deadwood Dick. To them he had endeared himself by his gentle- manly bearing, courage and skill; that he must die seemed a shame—an outrage. And they meant to be with him at the last, Omaha was thrown into a tent by himself, and left alone; but a cordon of rds were set around his prison, without, for Colonel Fullerton was bound that the dare-devil of the Black Hills should not es- cope Lat as he had many times escaped his captors the 4 Dick was not down-hearted, but took thi coolly. He sat in his prison, now, whistling a song that had been a favorite with Leone, and reflecting upon what was to come. In the morning, he calculated, a court-martial on Ob be given him, and he would be convicted, and shot. He thought of Avalanche, and wondered where the old scout was keeping himself. Surely if he were in Del Norte, he must have been attracted by the confusion, and learned of his capture. For a coun of hours Dick lay thus, his mind busied with the and present; then he dropped off into a 80’ sleep, for he was much fatigued. When he awoke it was with a start. A cold hand had touched his face, and aroused him. Who could it be? Within the tent all was Stygean darkness. Outside was heard the monotonous p of the sentinels, “"Sh/” cautioned a voice, in a shrill whisper; “make no noise. I am a friend, come to save you. Iam El Gamin.” ‘“Why have you come here?’ Dick demanded, rais- ing himself to a sitting posture. ‘I donot want to escape. Your effort is useless}”’ “What! do. you mean to say you do not care for life and goume Y that you will refuse to escape from certain death, when I have periled my life in — behalf?” the Spaniard demanded, in astonish- ment, “Ay! I mean just that!’’ was the firm reply of the prisoner. ‘I want to die. 1am weary of this hunt- ed life. For the last two years I have been an out- cast upon the face of the earth. I have no home, now, nor friends here upon earth, and I do not care to stay. Up in the keeping of God I have a darli wife and child, andI hope for a place with them, I can die now!” El Gamin was strangeiy affected. He sat beside the prisoner, buried in deep thought. “T wish that I might pops for a place up there with you!” he replied, ‘‘ but I am too irretrievably bad. Then you won't accept of liberty?” **No, thanking you all the same.” “Well, then, good-by. I admired you and that is why I ventured here. If die you be brave, and remember that, base wretch and murderer though he is, you have a friend in KE] Gamin.” : Then the gambler glided away, and that was the last Deadwood Dick ever saw of him. Without difficulty El Gamin managed to escape from the prison-tent, and wended his way along over the prairie. His head was bowed, and he was reflecting upon the odd determination of Deadwood Dick. It certainly was a.most eccentric freak. For half an hour he wandered along; then sudden- ly, ere he had any warning of Gerect, he was fierce- ly attacked by a half-dozen burly herders, whose or: weapons were knives. e first faint tinges of dawn peccemiy the east, gaye the gambler an idea who they were, for a short istance away Prairie Patrol sa horse, urging on her ‘‘ tools,’’ Leaping back with the agility of a ther, El Gamin drew his revolvers, and fired. Down went two of his assailants at first fire. Again he fired; one fell; the other unerring bullet sped along and ierced the breast of the mysterious Prairie Patrol. ith a dying scream she sunk from the saddle to the ground, and becoming frightened, her horse dashed wildly away over the prairie. Two more foes had the Spaniard, pressing him so hard that he could not use his revolver. Becoming desperate, as he saw that certain death was_in- evitable, unless he could make a break, he clubbed the revolver, and bapied i fiercely at the head of one of the herders, while at the same instant he took a backward am and leaped upon the other. dee flying missile elled the one railed like a log to e ground. Tearing the knife from the hand of the other, with strength prodigious, the gambler buried it into be outlaw’s heart, and thus ended the unequal con- st An hour later, just when the cold December sun arose gloriously from out its eastern bed, El Gamin suprosched a soli inland from the Rio Grande, and whose wide-spread- ing branches looked cheerful, Goaer the shelterof these he sat himself upon the ,and busied himself in cleaning his weapons, which, of late, had done him such dreadful service, a and desperate the gambler was looking, from his wild, bloody night's work; blood was smeared upon his face and upon his garments, = he was suffering from many wounds and from atigue. - forgive me!” he murmured, staring thought- fully heavenward. “I wish I ‘ht hope tor a p up. there, where Deadwood Dick is so confident of going, on his execution. But it is not for such as me.” From among the branches of the tree, overhead, there descended a noosed rope and fell about the neck of the doomed gambler, He started violently. and attempted to throw off the thing, but it shirred quickly tighter, a choking sensation attacked him, and he was drawn bodily up into mid-air. As le “iad up the papi 9: Ka pena! end of the rope, which was over a stou , came ually downward, until he touched the ground. ore nbs, dangled the body of the gam er, with life by this bas peerk p choked oath A im, reeiit F8 4 or e strange ent. He woun the slack rope about the toot of the cottonwood, and then, r giving a contemptuous glance at the unfortunate victim o: ch-law, he turned his foot- steps in the direction of Del Norte. And this individual who had suspended the Gam- bler Prince six feet above ferra firma, with a rope about his neck, was no Jess a personage than the ec- centric Arkansas Toothpick. In the early morning follo Deadwood Dick was led forth ard of soldiers, to the plaza, which was in e center of the town. Here the military and townspeople were all assembled, to witness the merely formal trial of the daring ex-outlaw, ous eyes were bent upon the young man, for some signs of agitation were apprehended, but in this all were disappointed. Not a tremor over Harris's face, as he was placed upon the wit- ness stand, confronted by the multitude; but he smiled and put out one released hand, as there was a parting in the crowd, and old Avalanche came up, followed by his goat. ae Lenct ay thet Joner suayred on 1" was oe old scout’s greatly surp exclamation. Moses who at ther rushes and bulls didsw’ar. How? Which how did ye git inter this tarnal predicka- ment, boyee?”’ Deadwood Dick laughed one of his peculiar expres- sive little laughs. “Well, I got caug!:t ty these law-abiding emissa- El Gamin’s visit, m his tent, by a — eI —— — " a upon her white | cottonwood which stood miles | ries of Uncle Sam, Alva, and they made bold to as- sert that they wanted me, which assertion I could not gainsay; so, accordingly, I gave up, and let ’em take me into custody!” “Which showed what a durn blasted fule ye aire. Great Jerusalumm! I wouldn’t ’a’ thort it uv you!” “ But, you know, old friend, that I have nothing to live for. The faster pass the days, the more I want to be with Leone and my boy.” “Oh! ye'll git thar, no doubt!” Avalanche replied, grimly, *‘ef ye let these durned scullions hev their way erbout it, Let me jest put a lively flea inter yer organs o’ hearing.” eying which, the Annihilator whispered a few words in the prisoner’s ear, that caused him to start violently, an w white. “Not dead—Leone not dead, you say?” he gasped, a wild, joyful, hopeful light shining from his eyes. “T sed et, I reckon!" the veteran scout replied; ‘leastwise, thes ’ere paper luks ruther suspiciously like it. Read,” and he held a small strip of paper up so that Dick could see, These were the words inscribed: ‘Am a prisoner—for God’s sake, rescue me from a horrible captivity. My captor’s name is Hawk Harrington, Search for me in the Black Hills, whither he is taking me, Leone Harris.” “Oh! heaven, I am to die, leaving her a prisoner!” Deadwood Dick groaned. * Don’t be ter sure o’ thet, Dickey, boy. Thar’s many a slip ’twixt the tarantler juice an’ ther lip.uv an absorber 0’ moisture, as hes often been proyen, an’ *tain’t sworn to thet ye’re bound ter swing, yet. An’ ef ye do, I'll find yer wife, an’ take gude keer o’ her. Great ham-bone, yes. But, good-by, now, fer them soldiers aire lukin’ at me as ef I war a hoss- thief, instead uv a devastatin’ eppydemic o’ ther peraries. Good-by, an’ keep yer 1 Beh ag And giving Dick a warm han e, the scout turned away and vanished in the crowd. The trial was as quick as it was decisive. The Prairie court found aha Oll to be Deadwood Dick, and as Deadwood Dick had richly merited death a hundred times, he was now bear a ordered to be shot. The sentence, as pronoun by Fullerton was: “T sentence you to death one hour hence. You shall be shot by six long-range rifles, in the hands of my sharp-shooters, at a ce of two hundred yards.” With these words the trial was ended, and the crowd grecuaby dispersed, evidently greatly leased nA e idea of this long-range practice on a uman y. oe was taken back to his prison-tent, and left one. There chanced to be an 6x-chaplain with the com- mand, and he ‘visited the prisoner and offered conso- lation, which Dick gratefully accepted. It seemed strange to him to preparing for eternity. An hour ago he had bg at the prospect of meeting Leone; now that she was living, he yearned to live, but if was too late. His sentence had been passed and he would have no chance to escape. Death stared him in the face, and he could but meet it. But, naturally, he wondered where Old Avalanche was all this time. What mischief was old King of Rangers planning? That he was staying in the background without some purpose Dick was un to think, and a strong hope arose in his breast that perhaps the old scout was p for his escape. But this hope was dissipated, when the soldiers came to lead out to hi ecution, Nothing, now, thought he, could save him'from death. He was led through camp, and two hundred yards out wu the keen wintry prairie, where astake had been driven, upon the edge of a rushing little tribu- tary creek, which a mile below flowed into the Rio Grande del Norte. To this stake he was firmly lashed with strong cords, “T am sorry for you, Phe 3 man!” Colonel Ful- “Tt is a pity to See a young ? nker after pan] re- IT were to come to life after you end my days, I should ust mean encuge to drop you 2 rot the list of the a, ‘*T guess you won’t do any one harm e autre of the col- ro ereapg Dick was left alone, tied to the stake, while the soldiers and the colonel retired to the shoot- RS Cre RE ARSE dpi e they were ng er, & u- man form crawled from the stream at Diek's back, and a familiar voice exclaimed: * ces cheat eg Dickey, boyee! I'll hey ye out 0’ this, ‘rec ” Creeping into the tall grass at the back of the pris- oner, the old Annihilator gave the cord a or two and Dick was free! Sinking to the ground, he rolled into the stream, Avalanche on the lead, and an instant later they crept into the bushes on the nd side of the stream, and almost the first warning the soldiers had, was, when on ban = Nesaead at pe shrill yell of defi- ance, they saw spurring away, madly, over the “4 ie. Soon they passed wholly from view. Omaha Oll, and the ex-road-agent, Deadwood Dick, ont the at souioal Pao A : ache, Gisappeat es. and neverm ey seen in country 0: e Rio Grande del Norte. isk THE END, -
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Contents of No. 1. Whoa, Emma eaten Ten minutes M9 oamathe Boo the i ny ravers Key rs ke grec, e tha’ ve’s "e man ie pr greet ove. “Twixt two stools ges the um 1s 3 eg al do My ey presey _— Jonney, Faanieiten « bal ben Whoa, Zinma yp been & version), Auld syne, rane a malew she’s sleeping, They borrow, but never in” Sweet by and by, Leng can't have a beau? Holl out! hea’ cotto The uw! a a thee, Pull i down our vest, Rhi o vine Dharley Whe “will care for r inother now? French and Eng Juliana Jones, Barbara h Lord Love Billy Larkin. Contents of No, 2. Captain Cuff, You make me la to fly, thin, Babylon is *falion, The flelds of home, Dandy Pat A cushla gal mochree, ce Robinson Grusce, One by one they crossed the ohn hin ‘Chinaman, The s Lins which it’s done, Commeentemontns The five pens ae Jimmy’s wool Gentle Jennie ray, I'm looking at you now, I know when I’ve eno George Somsengeane M eown, The merry wido ae A ecg light guard, 1¢ pride of again, Shall we ever meet You get more Teeter ded every que creckeman's chant, lS Uncle wy Up and The heated C Within a mile of Rockab (janes The cone ats tear e BO. 8 , Vv = lonely since my. mother Pull down the bl What were all Be orid without Thee ou Ene highway, The ‘Os and the Me’s, ones ‘or bright smilie a2 haunts me boro’, May the Beside the sweet Shannon. Je Beadle’s Contents of No 3. The Gainsboro’ hat, map cae Montrose, I do feel so whats loose, Is there any such place? Ce od, cackle, an O’L; Bawas hn bar a nice young man, Human nature, Billy Grimes, the rover, Sing! si Terrance Mu atdoon, The summer Ay love, eee runaway mare, ter Gray, ed of the wild moor, Song of = eCOmnOntve, Foes iter Aa kiss, Our army care navy of bl The beef a A nd ap in de cold The timid awkw: nice, Mine host! mine host! come, etc. pee be haf ng for you at, etc. God bless the Slittle church, etc. geyy. a flower there, 1g agughty, but it it’s nice, love my native land, Canipbells are comin’, blue, When the flowers fall asleep, Wake! Di — The brave ol Yankee ship, and a Yankee crew, Camptown races, Why? have my loved ones gone? netomat song, rain aur a 88 may, f° shillelat, spr re know each other there? Good- ohn, Old folks at home, Father Me settle the bill, Whis it softly, the chi id of uanita, Never despair, Contents of Ao 4, J Morgan Ah ineeeetny George, The king of tumpee Proedway oT ae preter > witch, king back, Par excellence, Few po Row, In her = Mitte pee ” we laid her, Iam waiting, Essie dear, You never the water, etc. “T cannot sing the old songs,” perings 0 The old oaken bucket which h in the well, youn “Put the bra oon Rory 0 Quocre Gray, Old Rosin the Beau, po — old ngish gentleman, The fine fing Sia irises Las pene ntle and gro “There's nothing succeeds like The mocking bird, The stylish servant girl, Star-spangled banner, euk was a lady, h regiment, Ridin’ in a railroad keer, paring old stick, Bob Ridley. Contents of No. 5. mt strike ay with a feather, un The star Bt leads to thee, Flow gently, sweet Afton, The household clock, ome to the ole gum ’ tree, ping, I dreamed, lov “ Oar laddie’s dead, Jem, Sh = uttercups an es, wae Rosa! “te Annie Lauri Call her beck and kiss her, *Tilda Horn, "Twas like a spirit’s sigh, Bessy was a sailor’s bride, My heart's in the Highlands, Jocky hat and feather, Say, bird of summer, Jeannette and Jeannot, *Twas rank and fame, Silver moonlight sea, Isle of beaut ty “ Sparkli per Heidesick,” No one to love. He led her to the altar, Come where the moonbeams, etc. The belle of the ball, The sweets sunny smile, etc. Ship an My dear old mother, Be sure you’re right, etc. oodman spare that tree, Ten o’clock; or, remember, etc. My eye and betty Martin, rd of Bunker Hill, Kate Kearney. Answer to Kate Kearney, e sea "s burial, Since Terry aod ag the gang, I never refuse, The old man’s go’ YA Lord Bateman _ fair Sophia, To the love of my youth, etc. Eulalie, Don’t marry your mother-in-law, True blue, and seventy-two, A thousand a — Twenty years ag Rather too “ heavy ” for me. Be ‘Kind to thy fatherand mother, Gentle Annie, “Strike the iron while it’s hot.” pentane, of No. 6. gt ae is hero a bold,” Keep on kiss bye nn to go home to mamma! ey a@ man when he’s down, Nelly ray, es stars are softly gleam- Mulcahy’ 8 home Miss Malony’s ball “A lock of my mother’s hair,” Alas! my love’s away, pp ae the mountain, scamp,” Answer to a thousand a year, Ben Bolt, — Poor old alaze, "Malley, Song ie ot Manthe Li per } aban —— gy Swee ie black The litte lacksmith, Aide om le on the ocean wave, Rock me to sleep, mother, Clear the ae that little maid- Dent mother, I’ve come home to anit n’s ball, Don’t you dare to kiss me, Joe! Ne merry hours! T wish 1 I was in Dixie's land, be only been down to the The mi 1 that’s ou! ny did, fd ea die . nigan’s wake, is, 1 Unsophisticated a Novey aha’ Poor J uney, ane! Beautiful dres love eis stl still the still the same, Merry tittle viia ore Boy ~ee ee auburn vn bait) Eva ea <j Ge. ate, writ Mee) the elie hair, Victorias 7 Castles in the air, The female smuggler, Kind and true. Half-Dime Singer's Library. F? FIFTY OR MORE SONGS IN EACH ISSUE. Contents of No. 7. 2 poly < og Fomeeney, thing in surf, That's the style for me, boys, Little diamond dewdrop, was a Welshman, Take this letter to my mother, Like a Turk! Never push a man because he’s going down the hill, America, American vocal melody, The blonde that never 7 Tassels on the boo! a Begs a blonde, big sunflower, Dat’ 's der a of mans I am, Uncle Sam’s farm, Remember you have children of your own. He knows how to do it, Winter—sleigh-bell song, What is ~~ without a mother, preseng sats Bear it like a man, The rollicking rams, Grease the griddle. birdie, Dar- “Pulling , hard against the} Whisk The i Sulligan guard Pretty little primrose, Ente, you’ll be true to me, The blue and the STAY I hold the winning hand Take your coat up to your The: cit Ik old folks are Oh, George! Renetinal: George! Oh! I’m going home, The little ones at home, Wait for the wagon, The belle of Pleasure bay, Every inch a sailor, Would you if you were me? —— ane, Speak to me, s 2 lok to bg Ste trade and be true, rH he “remember you in my pray- Marriage bells, Senta blow. the fire, Come, maiden, with me, eentents of No. 8. ri toy iy fie ht = a 8) ou nies tvaly ieee? Pp pvith with the lark in the morning, Awtfully ay. ee. sit by my side, little dar- The didate f¢ 2s san, cal ate = Ola Str ei Joe, 8, eee roe Zz widow, The ttle 6 ones asleep, back to Erin, 5 Z - Pat Roach at the play, Willie, we have missed you Woe = chee blossoms are white in 8) kind! Sree a sew be more cider, e dear e shsenabok, My ow idtag star own, m There Ag no ap hare in t ; Jordan Jo Sty gal iva hard road to travel, Ont ene Long Branch, rolling Whes, Brown comes The $ Tish emi ‘t’s lament, ball, old n tee as he and sw “Oh weusa. i ee’ a bird!” latedete He isn Don’t give marrying man, Unhappy Jeremiah, come Bopbin’ around, gee hundred years, ose dark eyes, Isn’t he a darling? Sold by all newsdealers, five cents each; or sent, post-paid, to any addr, on receipt of six cents per copy. BEADLE & ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, N. Y Contents of No, 9. Shy young girl; or, Du-da, da. Dear old words, t os Toraing oa bal saning on a balcon, Echoes, lerk 1 ck e was clerk in a can Write to me often, dar pr Esa Up in a ballon, Fat Mickey, I’ll meet you on Broadw: The Hills of New Englan Dermot Astore, The Pope he leads a happy life, Katy Di i The gitt on e wire, Your pocket-book is your, etc. De ole corn mill, a arene Polyw k! I hear ee 2 sing, ne bell for, e Brother, the bate, Wen ¢ the Meal are sing ag rhe’, old it we foved lo Not before Pa, dear, — Katie Lee and ‘Willie Gray, The bashful 7-35 a _— corner in your The fella that looks like me, Will a monke —— a tree? “De bad Bob “Up atree!” Come home, nabs Chickabiddy, The bird song, Lora Vale, pan pet te ad rest, e old farm de light of oe Playing in the hay, Shells of the oce: The old play ground. BEADLE’S Half-Dime Library. 1 Deadwood Dick, 2 Yellowstone Jack, 8 Kansas King, f The Wild- i horse Hunters, ifn é Bill Biddon, trai =. 7 The gt dar Yankee 8 Seth J - 9 The Adve 2 ze peeeee 5 FE y E : vegeaege Pq Fu 93 robe Pi ase E PnSeeseeeResEEENED ata H eB Use 3 See ne Y : 50 Burt Bunker, 1§1 The toy Riles, | 82 The White Buffalo,
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BEADLE’'S HALF-BIME LIBRARY. Every one of them “ Live’ Stories by *‘ Live®» Authors. Each number a Complete Novel, at the extraordinary price of a HALF-DIME,. 14 spit) oT DEADWOOD DICK. 1 Deadwood Dick, THe Prince oF THE Roap. By Edward L. Wheeler. Yellowstone Jack; or, THr TRAPPER OF THE ENCHANTED Grounp. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr., author of “ Pacific Pete,” etc. Kansas Hing: or, THE Rep RicutT Hanp. By Buffalo Bill (Hon. Wm. F. Cody). The Wild-Horse Hunters. By Capt. Mayne Reid and Capt. Frederick Whittaker. 5 Vagabond Joe; THr Youna WaAnvDER- ING Jew. By Oll Coomes. 6 Bill Biddon, Sempper 3 or, LIFE IN THE Nortuwest. By Edward §. Ellis. 4q The Flying Yankee ; or, Tuk OcEAN Outcast. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. ae, Seth Jones; or, THE CAPTIVES OF, THE Frontier. By Edward §. Ellis. 9 The Adventures of Baron Mun- chausen. Nat Todd; or, THe Fate or THE Stoux Caprive. By Edward §. Ellis. 1 1 The Two Detectives; or, THE Fortunes oF A Bowery Grau. By Albert W. Aiken, author of ‘‘ The Spotter Detective,’’ ete. i an WAS ‘ ) BUFFALO BEN.—No. 28. Ai / 12 Gulliver’s Travels. A Voyage to Lilliput, and a Voyage to Brobdingnag. 1 3 The Dumb Spy. author of ‘*‘ Vagabond Joe,”’ etc. Aladdin; or, THE WonprRFUL Lamp, The Sea-Cat; or, Tae WitcH or Darien, By Capt. Frederick Whittaker. 1 Robinson Crusoe. His Life and Surprising Adventures, (27 illustrations.) : LT? Ralph Roy, The Boy Bucca- neer; or, THe Fueitive Yacut, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 1 & Sindbad the Sailor. His seven voy- ages. From the Arabian Nights. 19 The Phantom Spy; or, Tar Por OF THE Prarrig. By Buffalo Bill. woop Dick’s Deriance, By Edward L. | Wheeler, author of ‘‘ Deadwood Dick.” | Qi Frontier Angel. Kentucky Rangers’ Life. | Ellis, author of ‘*Seth Jones,”’ ete. | 22 The Sea Serpent; or, Tur Bor Rosrinson Crusor. By Col. Juan Lewis. 23 Nick o’ the Night: or, THe Boy Spy or 76. By T. C. Harbaugh. A Romance of By Edward §. Diamond Dirk: or, THe Mystery OF THE YELLOWSTONE. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, author of ‘‘ The Flying Yankee,”’ etc. DavuGHTER. By Roger Starbuck. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Demon. By Edward L. Wheeler Q7 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. By Oll Coomes, QR Buffalo Ben, the Prince of the Pistol: or, Dkapwoop DIcK IN Disevuise. By Edward L. Wheeler 29 The Dumb Page; or, THe DOGx’s DavucuHTer. By pt. F. Whittaker. Roaring Ralph Rockwood, THE RecKLESS RANGER. By Harry St. George. Keen-Knife, Prairies. By Oll Coomes. or, THe Gtrt Drap-SHor. By Edward L. Wheeler, author of “ Deadwood Dick,” etc., ete. 33 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, THE RED PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEES, By Samuel W. Pierce, author of ‘‘The Boy Detective,” etc., etc. 34 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Wuirruks’ Boy Spy. By Capt. J. F. C, Adams. Wild Ivan, Tur Boy CLAupE DuvAt; or, THE BroTHerHoop or Deatu. Dead- wood Dick Romance.No. 4. By Edward L. Wheeler. 36 The Boy Clown; or, THz QUEEN oF THE ARENA. By Frank S. Finn. 3 yf The Hidden Lodge; or, TuE Litrtx HonTer OF THE ADIRONDACKS. By T. C. Harbaugh, author of “ Nick o’ the Night,” ete. 38 Ned Wylde, Tur Boy Scour: ’ By Texas Jack. 39 Death-Face, the Detective; or, Lire AND Love in New York... By ‘Ed- word L. Wheeler. 40 Roving Ben. A story of a Young American who wanted to see the world. By John J. Marshall. Al Lasso Jack, THz Youna MustanG- ER. By Ol] Coomes. 42 The Phaztom Miner: or. DrEap- woop Dick’s Bonanza. By Ed. Li. Wheeler, Trail. 44. Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. A Story of the Overland By Capt: F. Whittaker. Rattlinge Rube: or, Tar NIGHT- By Oll. Coomes,. 2 5 The Boy Captain: or, Tue Prrate’s | 32 Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian: | HAWKS OF Kentucky. By Harry St. George. | 20 The Double Daggers; or, Drap- | ANTELOPE ABE.—NO;) 27, 4 5 Old Avalanche, the Great An- nihilator: or, THE Giri BRIGAND. By Edward L. Wheeler. Ready June 4th. 46 Glass Eye, the Great Shot of the West. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams, Nightingale Nat: or, Tux Forest 47 Cutie By T. C. Harbaugh. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr,, 49 Omaha Oll, the Masked Terror. By Edward L. Wheeler. Burt Bunker. By Charles E. La- salle. Ready July 9th. The Boy Rifles. By Archie ©. Tron. Ready July 16th. | 52 The White Buffalo. By Charles | oO THE PRINCE OF THE | ' 5 E. Lasalle. Ready July 28d. A new issue every week. | he Half-Dime Library is for sale by al, | ‘Newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE & ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York. ROBINSON CRUSOE.—No. 16.