Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 534) (1887 10 18)
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NISTH EDITION. ~ rata ee: md Leal lll = ee — ay ‘2 oy NdaalaltaaltallstalalLala Li “a BR ; \ é ’ ©) \W/ x ly =) : fs N y NT \Y [ rT | | oD) A SMA WE WA Pix : haw i] October 18, 1887, f Newt aan Sra wineibe iene — rr Oui emo i Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Mail Rates. $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, Price, Vol. XXT, a Year. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents. No. 584, 58533 We 7 eee, Ee ~ ga i Vee J HU Nt iN mv SSS The Way of the Transpressor BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF “ DEADWOOD DICK,” NOVELS, ETC., ETO, CHAPTER I. OLD SLY SLATER. THE classic Western “ city ” of Red Dog, New Mexico Territory, was in a turmoil of excite- ment and commotion. Since first the town had been_ started, the oldest inhabitant could not r@ member of its people being so generally arouseti, The cause of this excitement was a brutal murde?, the author of which was unknown, It was in the second month of the year, and SSNS oS le >= SSS a. ae ee the town was alive with strangers of various ‘* BY HEAVEN! DEADWOOD DICK!” SUDDENLY UTTERED A VOICE FRO! nationalities and types of character, SOMEWHERE NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE SALOON, Some were going to strike out to work upon
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Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. ee —_— the cattle-ranges below, others were to go to work in the mines, above, or go off on prospect- ing tours through the range, while not a few in- tended to hang around Red Dog, and live by their wits. These, as may be surmised, were mostly gamblers, and sharpers. Red Dog, considering its size, is about as live- ly a town as there is in Arizona, During the winter and spring, if has an ex- tensive floating population, and lots of money is left there; consequently, it is a sort of an Elysian Field for the nimble-fingered card-sharp, and the equally expert pickpocket. The mines contribute a regular flow of pards who cannot rest until they’ve ‘ blowed in’ their last dollar on games or ‘ booze’; the cowboys would die of ennui if they missed their periodi- cal monthly spree; then, there are cattle-buyers with fat wallets, and men who have come to the sunny clime in search of homes, all of whom contribute to wake Red Dog a red-hot and ram- pant resort, , One of the most popular and respected, as well as’ one of the most wealthy men of Red Dog, was Alonzo Jsrael, the banker and broker, He was a Hebrew, but a genial, accommoda- Te man, and was esteemed by all who knew tim. He did not exactly do a regular banking busi- ness, but exchanged paper money for gold, and took sums of money for safe-keeping, charging a percentage forthe same. He had the only: burglar-proof safe in the town, and made quite a respectable income out of this business alone, Israel was a bachelor, and lived in the little board office, where he carried on his business. Although no one knew positively, it was gen- erally understood that he was very rich. If a tenderfoot struck the town of Red Dog, without the price of a mealin his wallet, Israel would invariably go down in his pocket and help the poor ‘‘ cuss” out; and it was these little acts of charity that made him popular. | Several days before that which opens our story, a syndicate of cattle-men had struck the town of Red Dog, and, at the advice of the sheriff, had made a large deposit of money with Israel, for safe-keeping, until they should want ; to use it. ' his, with various other amounts which he had on band, made the Jew the custodian of a good-sized fortune of other people’s money—a responsibility that many another a man would not have cared to shoulder, for as in most far Western towns Red Dog had a plentiful supply of tough characters, and it was by no means fi safe for a man to have any considerable sum of money about his clothes, after dark, - And, now, this morning, the people of Red Dog were thrown into a state of great excite- ment, by the discovery of the murder, The earliest citizen abroad was a man named Grady, whe, in passing Israel’s office, saw that the door was wide open, Suspecting that all was not right, he turned back, 2ntered the office, and there found the Jew lying in a pool of blood—dead! Grady immediately sounded an alarm, and soon had the whole town aroused, and the ma- Jority of them congregated about the Jew’s office. ) When it was further discovered that the safe had been opened, and robbed of everything of value, the excitement became unprecedented, o had committed the double crime? Here was a question that found expression on every hand, but which no one could answer, There were plenty of ruffians in the place, who were none tco good to commit such a crime, but no clew to the identity of the murderer had ’ been left behind; so who was to be suspected? This was a matter which the sheriff, Bill Booth, and the syndicate of capitalists, discussed in all its different lights, but without coming to te any definite conclusion. iy Booth knew the pedigree of nearly every local tn crook in the town, and, after a private inspec- 9 = tion, came to the conclusion that none of them O ! had had a hand in the murder and robbery. ~ On the other hand, there was a Jarge influx of strangers in camp, of various stations in life, and it was not improbable that there were one or more of the lot who had been connected with : the tragedy. This theory was further strengthened by the fact that the safe had undoubtedly been opened by an expert, there being no marks to indicate that the heavy door had been forced open. hae After the sheriff had expressed his opinion to fi ’ 9 syndicate and a number of others’ who had ; en heavy losers, a resolution was proposed and -dopted, offering five hundred dollars reward, re Jor the reclamation of the stolen property, and *. ORE an additional like sum for the capture of the . ‘ othe, on -pie x Pita Py abs.” wie 3 le tial ite. ! safe-robber, or robbers, to which a few of Isra- el’s friends added another five huudred for the capture and conviction of the murderer, All day long the streets of Red Dog were thronged with a crowd of restless, excited and revengeful people, and the outlook for the mur- derer, should he be found, was exceedingly du- bious. But, that he would be found, was also exceed- ingly doubtful. reason enough for him never to be seen again in that vicinity. The syndicate, and a few other losers, held consultation, nearly all day, in an upper room of the Arizona Hotel, whgre, liberally supplied with wines and liquors, they awaited the inves- tigdtions that were being prosecuted by the sheriff. Among the lot was aman named, or who gave his name as, Abram Audley. He claimed to be a New York broker, and averred et he was out six thousand dollars by the rob- ery. He was a stout indvidual, with a huge reddish beard, and hair to match, and taking into con- sideration the fact that he was not very well dressed, he looked more like an Indiana hoosier than a metropolitan speculator, Late in the afternoon there came a knock up- on the door of the room occupied by the consult- ing committee, and upon the door being opened, a seedy-looking individual walked in. Yes, not alone was he seedy in appearance, but he looked decidedly like a bummer. He was of a good figure, but his garments were loose, ill-fitting, patched and greasy. He wore a thick, yellowish beard, with hair to match, and the fiery hue of what of his visage was to be seen, proclaimed that beyond doubt he was addicted to excessive use of strong drink. A badly wrecked white plug hat was crushed down upon his head; six dangerous-looking re- volvers gave a bristling aspect to his belt, and in his right hand he carried a heavy cane, which was a serviceable weapon, in itself. As soonas Fresident Lawrence of the syndi- cate opened the door, this uncomely individual stalked into the room, without invitation, and plumped himself down into a chair, with a snort of relief. Lawrence closed the door, and turned to the new-comer: **' Well, sir,” he demanded, ‘‘ who are you, and what do you want here?” ‘* Me ?” queried the bummer, with a sort of lear. ‘*Why, I tho’t I'd jest drop in an’ see if I couldn’t make a dicker for the job!” “The job? What job do you mean, sir?” \‘* Why about ther murder an’ robbery bizness. When I struck ther town to-day, I see’d all ther reward papers stuck up round, an’ my han’s got to itchin’ ter fondle them ’ar shekels, an’ so I tho’t [’d mazurky up here and see ef T couldn’t corral the ‘evga ‘*Humph! What do you know about the murder or robbery?’ ‘** Nary a bit, ’cept I heerd ’em talkin’ "bout it, round town,” “Then, how on earth do you, a greenhorn, expect to beable to ferret out the mystery of this crime?” ‘*Greenhorn, hey? Lookee heer, stranger, I reckon you don’t know who you’re talkin’ to, do er? ee Well, can’t say that I do, and don’t know as Icareto, Judging by appearances, I should not estimate you to be a person of much account!” ‘*Shouldn’t, hey? Waal, neow, thar’s whar yer plum off yer kerbase. Guess ye never heerd of Old Sly Slater, the Premier Sleuth?” ‘* Never!” ** Waal, I’m he, an’ I don’t take no back pew fer any detective in the land! Yer noddle o’ memory must be off on a strike, or ye wu’d recomember of heerin’ uv at least some o’ my exploits!” ‘I never heard of any of them, nor of you, either!” Lawrence replied, coldly, ‘‘and as for you being a detective, my opinion is that about the only thing you can detect, is bad.whisky!” ' ‘Ye don’t mean it?” ** Most assuredly !” * An’ yer think I ain’t what I represented? Ye take me fer an impostor?” ‘*T must confess that I do.” ‘** And I, too,” spoke up Abram Audley. “Oh! you do, do yer?” and the uncouth de- tective turned his gaze upon the New Yorker. ‘‘ Who in thunder are you, I’d like to know, ou red-whiskered galoot? Fer a chaw of ter- ker, ['d waltz over thar and spit in yer eye. Tm a bad man from Jumpin’-off Place, I am, and I eat a fricasseed lunk like,you fer breakfast ev'ry mornin’, Ef ye doubt et, jest spit on yer That he had secured at least | twenty thousand dollars’ worth of plunder was | A ‘hands and come fer me, and see how quick I'll make a mummy out o’ you.” And springing to his feet, the Premier Sleuth struck a pugilistic attitude. President Lawrence likewise arose to his feet. ‘See here, my man, this won’t do,” he de- clared, emphatically. ‘‘We can’t be annoyed by any such business as this; and, what’s more, | we won't, We don’t know you, and don’t want to have anything todo with you. If you area detective, why, go about your business, and fer- | ret out the murderer. If you succeed, you will receive the rewards. So now, have the kind- ness to take your departure, and don’t intrude | upon us again,” ‘Ye don't say?” ‘Yes, I do say it, arid I mean it!” “*Sposin’ I ain’t ready to go?” ‘* In that case, I presume there are enough of us to throw you out!” ‘*Reckon ye’r’ off thar. But Dll go, jest the same, since ye say so. But, as fur brick-beard over thar, lve sized him up fer a skin, and he’ll bear watchin’?” And with this declaration, Sly Slater turned and stalked from the room. CHAPTER IT. A STARTLING WAGER. THE Jockey Saloon was one of the popular resorts of Red Dog, at the time of which we write, for that class of male bipeds who were won't to indulge in ‘ booze,” or had any par- ticular fancy for the fascinating sport of ‘* buck- ing the tiger.” The place in itself was quite attractively fit- ted up, and its big patronage brought in a small-sized mint of money to the coffers of its proprietor, Pat Kelly. Moreover, Red Dog had, for several years, maintained a reputation of harboring a square, and the men who laid a fortune upon the turn of a card, as the saying goes, were not a few. The night following the murder of Alonzo Is- rael found the Jockey filled with a large au- dience of sporting men, combined with a sprink- ling of business men, who had dropped in to pass away a social hour or two. The tables were all running at full blast, es- pecially the poker games, which took the prefer- ence to faro and roulette. At one table an exceedingly lively game of poker was in session, where, besides the banker, several other parties were playing—among the number, President Lawrence, of the Eastern Syndicate of Capitalists, Abram Audley, Sheriff Bill Booth, Hair Trigger, a noted pistol-shot and bad-mau-in-general, and a rather dandified but good-and-courageous looking young man of some three or four and twenty years of age. He was sportively dressed, wore good jewel- ry, and with an intelligent countenance, bright brown eyes, and sunny hair and mustache, was a decidedly attractive-looking person, — The game was a hundred-dollar limit, and judging by the pile of chips in front of him, Hair Trigger was largely ahead. Another peculiar fact about this individual was, that he alone of the half-dozen players, had a revolver lying upon the table at his right hand, cocked and ready for use, The game progressed for over an hour, with little ree said by any one, although every one but Hair Trigger was losing steadily. He seem- ed to have the phenomenal luck of not losing a pot, although, to all appearances, the dealing was perfectly square. Finally the banker declared himself out of the game, although he still acted as banker. He was soon followed by the sixth man, and almost immediately was followed by President Lawrence, ‘ . Abram Audley hung out for awhile longer until he had dropped about five hundred dollars, = when he too dectared quits. Hair-Trigger then turned to the sport. ** Done, pardner?” he queried, ‘By no means. I’ve afew hundreds more, and if I lose °em, I’ve some diamonds!” _ Hair-Trigger’s eyes sparkled, greedily, for he . had already noticed that the jewels worn by the sport were of considerable value, — § “All right, pardner!” he said. ‘‘ You're = | 7 game, and I like to play with a game man. So, if you lose you mustn’t kick, By the way, if you’ve no objections, ’d hke your name. always makes it pleasanter for one toknow who one is playing with!” rik’ ‘*My name is Jolly Jobnson,” was the brief oa reply; and there the conversation dropped, and = the game went on, two-handed. But luck did not change, for ral fog ‘won steadily, and at last Jolly Johnson lost “4 last dollar, ney » ae — 2 ie
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PAP FA AP USP St Deadwoo Nevertheless, he did not seem to feel the least disconcerted, for he deliberately removed all the jewelry from his person, and laid it upon the table. : ‘““Now, who willmake meadecent offer for the lot?’ he demanded, in a cool, calculating tone. ‘The stones are all perfect, and cost me a round sum of money.” The jewelry then underwent the inspection of Lawrence, Audley and Hair Trigger, “Pll give you a hundred dollars for the lot!” Lawrence said. “You are too liberal to live long!” was John- son’s sarcastic retort. “Pll give two hundred!” was Audley’s offer, ** Tt’s every cent they’re worth!” ‘““What will you give?” Johnson demanded, turning to Hair Trigger. “Do you intend to play me with the money you get for them?” ** You bet!” ‘‘ Well, in that case, in order to let you get some of your money back, I can see five hun- dred dollars in them!” Johnson was about to accept the offer, when a hand reached over his shoulder and seized the jewels, vy. bile a voice exclaimed: ‘‘ Hold yer hosses, partner! Maybe I kin do a little better than that!” The speaker was no one else than Old Sly Slater, the self-declared Premier Sleuth. Jolly Johnson turned upon him angrily. ‘ Well, [liswear you’ve got a cargo of cheek,’ he declared, evidently not fancying the detec- tive’s external appearance. ‘Give me those jewels!” “Tut! tut! don’t get sassy, young man,” was Slater’s complacent answer. ‘1 jest want ter appraise the value of these gewgaws, fer I’m aconnoissewer in diamonds. [ve worn better’n these myself, tho’ [ dosay et. Ill give yer their full value—eight hundred!” “They’re yours,” Johnson said, quickly. ** Produce your lucre.” Without further remark the Premier thrust the jewelry into one capacious pocket of his - trowsers, while, from another, he drew a large “ ie -— o RG": yy . aA i : F ae \ ~ grasp, for he lost pot after pot, until »wad of greenbacks, and counted out the sum of his offer in one-hundred-dollar bills upon the table. “There ye aire, young man!” he said, ‘‘an’ ef you’ve got half ther grit yer dad had before you, yowll sailin and skin the socks off’m the chap wi the pop.” “Have a care, sit, how you refer. to me,” Hair Trigger cried, scowlingly. ‘The pop you see here has killed better men than you are, [’m a dead shot, and my name is Hair Trigger.” ‘Sho! ye don’t say,” retorted Slater. ** Why, gol durn it, Mr. Hairy Trigger, I wouldn’t be afeard ter bet ten cents to a tarant’ler, thet ye can’t bit a sheap’s pelt tacked ag’in’ a barn door! Howsomever, go ahead with yer game, an’ if ye beat young Jobnson, Pll give ye a chance to show what kind o’ a shot ye aire, sure’s my name is Old Sly Slater!” Hair Trigger made no response, and the game recommenced, — However, during the playing, Jolly Johnson turned and addressed Old Sly, who was an in- terested looker-on. ‘* Excuse me, sir,” Jolly: said, ‘but you made nar a to my father. ‘What’ do you know of mi? $s More than you do yourself, I opine, me ? . ‘“ When did you see him last?” “Less than a month ago. But go on with your keerds, Lots o’ time fer you to talk of the old man arter you win back some of the money ' you've lost.” Jolly nodded, and turned his attention fully to the game, eg But ill-fate seemed to hold him in an icy Hair Trig- ger held the whole eight hundred dollars, He then arose from the table, with rather a ghastly attempt at a smile, and was abou to leave the room, when Old Sly grasped him by tne shoulder, and said: ‘*Hold up, young man! Don’t go off an’ butt yer brains out. Jest wait a bit, and I'll win your money back for you.” nn ‘* You will? Pshaw, no one can win against that devil’s luck.” _ “But I kin, ye kno’!” the Premier Sleuth de- declared. ‘‘ You i hold yer hosses, and Pl prove to you that I ein’t gassin’.” The uncouth beter @ then stepped forward to icin table, from which Hair Trigger had not yet risen. a { So you're some on the shute, aire ye, part- ner?” Old Sly queried. | edly, and gave orders that ‘* None better, with a revolver, around these ere parts!” the gambler replied, proudly. ‘* Thet’s sayin’ a good deal, by thunder, Kin ye snuff a candle?” ** Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, at forty paces, sir. Have done it!” DPve even shot the eye-winkers off a mule, at a hundred yards, and never hurt the mule,” “Phew! That’s the biggest lie ve heard since Jonah swallowed the whale. Say, now, supposin’ I was to stand at fifty—could ye send a bullet plum through the center of my heart, or in other words the spot where the pulsation is always the strongest.” ‘*T reckon I could!” “Tl bet ye can’t!” “* What!” ‘“*T say, I bet ye can’t put a bullet plum through my heart, in the center. For instance, I will illustrate: Dll take this ace of hearts from the table, and place it upon my breast, un- derneath my shirt, so that the ace spot rests di- rectly over the pulsating spot of my heart, ‘‘I will then button up my shirt, and give youa chance to put a bullet through my heart, ai fifty paces, and bet you one thousand dollars against what you won from Jolly Johnson, that you can’t do it, In order to win, you must pass the bullet directly through the ace spot in the card, and into 8 heart. If you lose you must give back to Johnson what you won from him, Now, sir, aire it a bargain, or not?” ~ ‘*Bah! what are you givin’ me?” Hair Trig- ger growled, ‘D’ye think ye can stuff me up wi’ sech a fake that you dare stand the trial?” **1’m you’re man, as soon as ther bet aire set- tled. I’ma gamecock from Jumpin’-Off Place, and you kin bet I never purposes anything I’m afeard to back up!” “Well, then, one thing is sure. Youve got suthin’ besides the card over yer heart, to pre- vent the bullet from entering it!” ‘*Nothing. As proof of this, after. you have fired, I will expose my breast so you can all see that I neither wear mail, a shield, or any other protection except the ordinary clothing you see on me at the present minnit!” The crowd which had grown dense, exchanged glances of utter amazement. They were dum- founded, that any man should so foolishly tempt certain death, Hair Trigger seemed no less astonished than the audience at large. ‘* And you mean to tell me you mean busi- ness, and will bet me one thousand to the three I won from Johnson?” he demanded, ‘That you can’t put a bullet ito my heart through the ace-spot of hearts, yes /” ‘Then, I’m your man, Put up your money in Pat Kelly’s hands!” This was immediately done, after which.the proprietor ordered that every door and window of the saloon be locked! CHAPTER III. THE TERRIBLE TEST—OLD SLY UNMASKED, NEVER in the history of Red Dog had a more excited assemblage been packed together, than the audience now assembled within the walls of the Jockey Saloon, While there were plenty who were eager to witness the novel tragedy there were some who were loud in their protests against the act, pro- viding, as he claimed, the Premier detective wore no shield to arrest the deadly bullet, But, Old Sly Slater only laughed, good-natur- ‘the crowd get to either side of the room, leaving ‘a lane and the ends clear. This was done, and then both the detective and the dead-shot approached the table. “ All is in readiness!” Slater said, coolly, ‘‘and there is no use of waiting, or keepin’ our ristocratik audience in suspense, There is an ace of hearts, Take it, and make some plain pecu- liar mark upon it, by which you will know it when you see it again. I will then place the ace spot directly over my heart, measure off twenty paces, and count twenty, whereupon I am to let my upraised hand fall to my side. At this signal, you are to fire. But it is to be un- derstood that you are to treat me honorably, and not attempt to shoot me anywhere else, than directly through the heart!” ‘Exactly. Ido not seek your life, but, since you have drawn me into the scrape, I mean to See it through, and shall go strictly in accor- dance with your directions!” “ Very well, sir, that is all I can ask of you!” Sly replied. _ Hair Trigger then made a mark upon the ace of spades, after which the detective placed it in his bosom, and buttoned up his shirt, Bidding Hair Trigger get ready, he then de- ‘replied Jolly Johnson, d Dick’s Death unt. 3 liberately paced off the agreed distance, and turning once more faced, what to the crowd, seemed certain death. \ He was entirely self-possessed, and seemed to be devoid of fear. As for Hair Trigger, he drew and cocked one of his revolvers, and when Sly upraised his arm, the dead-shot of Red Dog took deliberate aim, He was noted far and wide, as a man of steady nerve, who had made some of the won- drous pistol-shots with which he was ace credited. But, as he faced Old Slater, the keen-eyed ones of the audience noticed that his hand was unsteady, aud that fact gave them a thrill of horror! A strange scene it was—a terrible moment of suspense, during which the crowd scarce drew & breath, for very feur of diverting the attention of the actors in the singular drama, Then— ae detective’s afm dropped quickly to his side! At almost that instant Hair Trigger fired and the report of his weapon rung like a knell of doom, through the room. Every eye centered upon the Premier Sleuth, He was seen to reel and stagger in a vain at- tempt to keep’ his equilibrium. He was seen to thrust his hand into his bosom and draw forth a card, and drop it. Then he fell like a log to the floor, insensible. Among the first to reach his side were Jolly Johnson and Hair Trigger. The former knelt down and tore open the detective’s shirt, while the latter picked up the playing-card, It was the same card he had given the adven- turous Aetective, and, sure enough, the red ace- spot in the center had been punctured by a bul- let or some other round instrument, As for Sly Slater, no bullet had penetrated his breast, at all, the only sign that he had been pat, being a faint red spot directly over the eart. Nor could any trace be found of any shield or plate that had stayed the force of the bullet. ‘*Ts he dead—is he killed?” were the cries that came in a chorus from the crowd. ‘*No! he is not hurt at all—only stunned!” ‘Back! Stop crowding around, you fools! Give the man a chance to breathe, and he will soon be all right!” “But what stopped the bullet?” urged the crowd, , ‘¢ That’s more than I can tell you. There is no sign of mail, shield or plate that could have arrested the ball, The only evidence that the man was hit is a red spot over the heart. Blood, even, has not been drawn, nor is the skin abraded.” ‘¢ Pshaw! et’s all a humbug!” yelled a miner. “ Hair Trigger fired a blank cartridge!” ‘*Yowre a liar!” cried Hair Trigger, holding the punctured card so all could see it. ‘I hit “a mark plum, and heer’s the ticket that proves i While the crowd were staring in amazement at the unmistakable evidence that a bullet really had been fired, Old Sly opened his eyes, and sprung nimbly to bis feet, bis countenance ex- panded into a broad grin. _ ‘Whew! that air bullet come nigh makin’ me fergit whether [ was afoot or on horseback, darm me ef it didn’t! Wonder whar the pesky thing went to, anyhow?” He shock his garments several times, when, lo, and behold! the bullet rolled out of one of his trowsers’ le pon the floor, “Hal ha! Thar she am, an’ not even flat- tened!” the Premier cried, holding the leaden death-messenger up in plain view betweem his thumb and forefinger. ‘‘Ye see, me gentle galoots, ef thar had been anything bus my tough old heart to stop the bullet, et would have been flattened like’a pancake, Ah! I see; the keerd here war hit true, sure enuff, Hair Trigger, old socks, you’re a corker, and no mis- take. Thar’s no flies on yer aim. I say, boys, s’pose we all unite in moistening our meat- swallowers.” The crowd gave a cheer, and made a precipi- tate rush for the bar, to get first place. It would be a “cold day” indeed, when they refused an invitation to drink. ‘*Hold up here!” Hair Trigger cried, adv ing close to Old Sly, his face clouded with a sullen expression, ‘I acknowledge that you did as you bragged, and in some wa ed us all. How you did it I don’t pretend to know. But, there was some deviltry about it, or you'd be adead man. There is one you have got deceived me in, however; and I think I can prove it to your satisfaction.”
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Re Se me ee yg pe, he ey a lai ae Cy ES a eee eee Se ia | Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. Y combined, and before the astonished crowd:| Henry Hastings. ing?’ : stood a young man of not much over twenty- ‘And this Hastings—what of him?” Jolly *“*T should say so. It gives mea better in- , | ri two—a handsome fellow, with a clear-cut, pleas- | asked, huskily. sight into the character of the man we have to Fs ant face, keen and brilliant eyes, a graceful “* Well, I a told you nearly all I can, | deal with,” Jolly returned. ‘‘I reckon be hit $ mustache of slight growth, and aclosely-cropped | They escaped and fled. As soon as liberated, I | the nail on the head when he christened himself mt head of hair. started out upon what I appropriately named | ‘ King of Rogues,’ eb?” ! lt was indeed an unexpected revelation, and | ‘Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt,’ and not until I “Right you are. He is a king of rogues, and : so taken aback were the spectators that, for a | have succeeded in running Hastings to earth | no mistake about it. And this letter proves moment they uttered not a sound. will that treilend. Within the past few weeks | that it was he who robbed and murdered the ‘* By Heaven! it’s Deadwood Dick !” I have fancied I was not far from my _ foe; in- | old Jew, Alonzo Israel!” : ae Suddenly a voice uttered this cry from some- | tuition taught meso. But, I bad no idea that ‘Just so. Well, what’s to be done?” 4 where near the entrance to the saloon Hastings was in Red Dog 1% ‘* Nothing can be done until morning. Then, C The undisguised young man started violently “Ts he? Ishe?” Jolly cried, excitedly, spring- | we shall have to pick up the trail as best we : at sound of the voice, and though evidently | ing to his feet. can, So let’s turn in and get some rest, for the f much surprised, he quickly found use of his} ‘Yes, The voice that cried ‘By Heaven! it | death-hunt may be a long and tedious chase.” i tongue. is Deadwood Dick!’ belonged to no other person Securely locking their door, and closing the “Yes!” he shouted, ‘‘I am Deadwood Dick | than Hank Hastings. That is why I offered the | transom over it, they retired for the night. i the detective, and I'll give five hundred dollars | reward for his capture!” Dick was not long in falling asleep, but, not for the capture of the man who uttered my “Then, for heaven’s sake, come! Why sit | so with Jolly, for it was long past midnight ere a! ino??? . : op name? : ; there when we ought to be moving? he fell off into a doze. ) The crowd immediately surged toward the ‘Sit down. Wecan do nothing in this dark Dick slept soundly, but just how long he had door, and then followed a crashing of glass, in- | night. We have no means of knowing where | slept, he could not tell, when he was suddenly termingled with curses and the cry: the man is stopping, or what name he goes un- | aroused by a yell, and sat bold upright in bed. ‘* He’s escaped!” der. We must wait until morning before we ‘* What in thunder’s the matter?’ he demand- The crowd was so dense before him, that it | can successfully make a move. Even now he | ed, rubbing his eyes, after which he perceived x was useless for Deadwood Dick to attempt to | may be miles away, but I doubtit. Finding | Jolly was out of bed, and pacing the floor, ex~ og reach the door. that I am really after him, he would more | citedly. % So he turned to find Jolly Johnson standing | naturally set a trap for me, rather than run the The candle, which had not been extinguished, mr by his side. risk of my following him to the ends of the | dimly lit up the scene. 1 “ Ah! is it you, Johnson? Did you get your | earth, as I threatened todo. No fool is Henry ‘Come! come! what’s the matter?’ Dick re- : money?” Hastings!” peated. ‘* Have you got the jim-jams, Jolly, or ‘** You bet!” was the reply, ‘‘ but the posses- “Maybe not, but it galls my spirit to think | what ails you?) Who the blazes uttered that sion of if once more is no circumstance to the | we must remain here in idleness when he is very | unearthly yell?” } surprises of this night. By the way, here’s your | likely making his escape.” ‘¢ Guess it was me!” Jolly replied, with chat- a thousand, Thanks, a millions time, for winning | “ rf know how you feel, and can assure you | tering teeth. ‘‘What I saw was enough to mine back, at the peril of your life!” that you feel no worse about the matter than I | make any one yell, after being woke out of a . . Dick smiled, do! In the morning we will set busily to work, eae a ‘*No peril, at all!” he replied. ‘In fact, I | and we will not be Jong in striking a clew, I ‘‘ What did you see? Explain vourself!” 7 rather enjoyed the astonishment of the natives.” | fancy. . Even if Hastings has succeeded in mak- ‘““Do you see yonder?” and J ony. pointed to Se ‘* Rather risky enjoyment, I should say. And | ing his escape, I shall not consider myself; the transom over the door which was wide , a so you are really Deadwood Dick?” baffled, for I have sworn to hound him down to | open. : . “Deadwood Dick, Jr., rather. My predeces- | death, and shall do so. I never break my word! | Dick gph out of bed with an exclamation, . sor is unfortunately dead.” Are you with me, Johnson, or do you propose ‘* Well, what of it?” he demanded. ‘Exactly. I knew that, and have often heard | to go it alone?” ‘“‘Enough!” Jolly growled. ‘‘I was aroused j of youand your exploits. By Jove! Im glad “Tm with you, heart and hand!” Jolly re- | from my slumber by a noise, and looking to- 2 to know you, for if stories of you are half-way | plied, emphatically. ‘‘ We'll pard together at ward the transom, I saw it was open, anda F true, you are a fellow after my own heart. | least until vengeance is ours! And, as I have man’s head was er a into the room, as , But, tell me, how did you contrive to miracu- | not registered at the hotel, I suppose we might | was a man’s hand, which clutched a revolver, i lously escape being killed? And tell me, too, | as well bunk in, tegether.” And, sucha face! It wore the most diabolical : about 5 Me dad, whom you seem to know, and To this Dick Bristol had no objections, and, | and revengeful expression that, one’s mind y whom I have not seen in a long time!” accordingly, it was so arranged, could conceive! ‘ss “Well, if we can get out by the side-door, They chatted until_a late hour, and were ‘“*T was so startled that I could not repress a onder, we'll go around to my room, at the | about to retire, when Dick made the discovery | yell, at which the face and revolver disappeared. otel; we'll then open a bottle of wine, and have | that during their conversation, a letter had | Jerusalem! If I h d not awakened as I did, achat. I am glad to have met you, too, for | been tucked in under the door. one or maybe both of us would have been mur- i i - your father commissioned me to find you, and He instantly seized and opened it, and what | dered!” 2 4 when you know all, it may be you'll find it a | he read was as follows, and caused him an ex- “A lucky thing, then, that you did awaken!” matter of choice to double up with me, in aseri- | clamation which brought Jolly quickly to his | Dick said, grimly. ‘‘Do you think you would hs ous undertaking. Come, let’s go!” side. recognize the face, if you were to see it again?” bs As they crossed the room, toward the side- “Rep Dog, May —, 188-. CT did recognize it!” 4‘ door, they, passed Hair Trigger, whose dark | “pr. Sry Sater alias ‘ . “‘ The deuce you did!” a visage wore an expression of triumph, Deapwoop Dick: t “Yes, It was the face of one of the men I 4 “Tl see you, in the morning!” Dick said, | “Dear Srr:— was playing poker with to-night!” } significantly, and passed on. “Thanks to the exposure of your identity, to- ‘Which one? Hair Trigger?” * ‘hey had no difficulty in making their exit nent La on my guard, and ere this reaches you! «No, The man whom they called Abram by the side-door, : wT was & great surprise tome to learn that you | Audley!” : Dick had been foughtful enough to bring | wore really alive, and on my trail, , Phew!” and Dick gave vent to a prolonged ! along his disguise, and when they were outside “T supposed and hoped that you were really dead, | whistle. “I had a vague suspicion had met f ’ of the Jockey Saloon he put it on again, in order | on the island in Sylvan Lake, but it appears not, that man somewhere else than in Red Dog; and 1 to be able to go to bis room at the hotel, with- “T have not forgotten your threat to yct live to | now, I am sure of it!” : - out any questions being asked. * hunt me down to death, at % me tell you you are ‘« How do you mean?” q Within five minutes they were comfortably | 0 2 Wild goose chase. ° save money, without | «T mean that the man you just saw was none . i ick? F limit, and Ican evade you easily. So you might as f ria, | at, ape F ensconced in Dick’s room, with a bottle of wine | well zive up all nope of ever capturing me, and go | Other than our mutual foe in disguise. ( at their disposal, about your own business. : + Henry Hastings?” of “Now, first tell me of the old gent,” Jolly “*] gould have killed you, easily, before leaving ‘* Henry Hastings.” a urged, after th. y had lit their pipes. Red Dog, and thus forever ridded myself of all dan- ‘* What causes you to think that?” pli ‘That will be the hardest job of all,” Dick / aed f paral However, 1, Preterre not to stain “Intuition, combined Pe be ne ag! I ‘ i answered, gravely. ‘‘ Are you prepared to hear | ™Y panes again, wr gt hated the man from the first time I saw to- ‘ 4 the worst?—to hear a tale of fee that will sateen homie se & Laas be pe ge bd © ee day in the hotel. Intuition rarely fails me.” . thrill you with fiercest indignation, and steel | sity of laying a trap for you, that will result in your “Well, what’s to be done?” : a your heart with undying desire for bitterest | death, A word to the wise is sufficient. ‘‘ We will dress and go down-stairs, and see if ) a vengeance?” ° ‘Express to the people of Red Dog my kindest | any such man as Henry Hastings or Abram y « wes! yes?" Jobnson said, bowing his bead. peck irs errand Day aha ei tone aeonld Audley is registered bere.” , Bi ¢ I know what you would say. The old man is | Oo and Lever meet again. as stokers of the eternal | _, They lost no time m dressing, and, glancing red nearly his last words to me were to tell you “ i They went down-stairs, and found the hotel Hi should I meet you, that he died game, and it i reat ad ng rk. office pals and superintended by a sleepy clerk. a na was his hope, that shpuld it be your fate to meet OURS ee “We would like to look at your register,” — | ast his trials, you would do the same. Now, do not Henry Hastings, Dick said, ‘to see if you have a man stopping y = ae way, but listen attentively, for what I “King of Rogues. | here named Abram Audley.” ng ll you will fill you more with a desire of re-| “P. 8. Give my sympathetic regards to your ‘The gentleman has been stopping here for a 2 ue venge than with grief!” newly acquired friend, Johnson.” few days, but has just left,” the clerk replied. i# Dick. tala Wines a trqareabetiitaniin sedi 9 fea & «About tes OF fifteen minutes, I reckon.” | & pe ck then went on to narrs ) ma i-,| * See “ wood Dick’ ucks,.” Half- n or isk y dents connected with the terrible death of poor | Dime Library No.320, "5S P “How did he go? > ** And what is that,pray, my Christian friend?” Sly asked, coolly. “This! was the reply, and thrusting his hand quickly forward, Hair Trigger seized hold of detective’s beard, and gave it an upward jerk. The result was startling. Off came a false beard, mustache and wig, all ‘¢Yes, Johnson, you have guessed it, and old Job Johnson.* He told of their oo ae nab to Sylvan Lake; of their visit to the island; of their capture by the infamous Owls; of Job's awful death at the whipping-post; and of his— ** Dick’s "—own rescue, and oath of vengeance. He narrated all the details necessary to give Jolly a full idea of the suffering they had un- dergone, at the hands of the human fiend, urnace, I trust we meet on friendly terms. ‘* With best wishes for your personal welfare, CHAPTER IV. OFF ON THE DEATH HUNT. JOLLY JOHNSON had finished reading the let- ter, almost as soon as Dick himself, and then the two pards stared at each other inquiringly. ‘¢ Well, how’s your think?’ Dick finally de- manded. ‘‘Ain’t that about the cheekiest com- munication you ever had the pleasure of perus- at his watch, agi saw that it was the darkest hour before the dawn—tbree o'clock,
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————— So a you this as a friendly warning. Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. **On horseback.” ‘* Did he say where he was going?” **No. Iasked him where he was off for so early, and he told me it was none of my busi- ness, adding that he should probably be back here again, ‘when the flowers bloomed in the spring time, tra-la-la!’ That settled me.” “Did you notice whether he went alone or not?” **He was accompanied by a vailed lady, whom he registered as his daughter.” Dick turned to the page where the arch vil- lain had registered, and there found the name of “ ABRAM DupLtEy & DAUGHTER, San Francisco.” “Did you notice which route they took? , Dick asked of the clerk. ‘No; I paid no further attention to ‘them, after they left the office, though it struck me they were in a mighty hurry to get off.” As there was nothing more to be learned of the clerk, Dick and Jolly went out on the piazza, | It had been raining during the night, and the | darkness was intense, ‘** We can’t do any more till it’s lighter,” Dick said. ‘* I'd like to know what trail they took on leaving Red Dog, for we might be able to over- haul them before they got far.” ** You are satisfied, then, that Abram Audley is realiy Henry Hastings?” ‘** Beyond the shadow of a doubt.” ** But who is the vailed woman the clerk men- | tioned?” ‘“*‘A woman of mystery, who accompanies | Hastings wherever he goes, She is known as Sylvan, and is, in some strange way, so firmly | held in his power that she dares not break away | from him!” | “They were registered as from San Fran- | cisco; perhaps they have started for there?” } “Nix! They would be more likely to go in an | 0° posite direction, to throw me off scent!” Daylight at lastcame, and as soon as it did, | the two man-hunters examined the ground in front of the Arizona Hotel, from which point | three trails branched off in different directions. But, there were numerous horse-tracks lead- ing in each direction, and there was no means of ! telling which way Audley had gone. As soon as he could find the hotel proprietor, | Dick made known his profession, and a few of | ‘the particulars of his search for Audley, and re- | quested permission to inspect the rooms the , Audley party had occupied. This was grasted, and Dick and Jolly pro- | ceeded to examine the apartments, That which Sylvan had evidently occupied, | was neat and tidy, but not so with the other room, Everything was tumbled about in con- | fusion, and the floor was littered with scraps of | paper, _ These Dick submitted to a critical examina- | i, but made nothing out of them. While he was thus engaged, Jolly found a . rudely sketched map of New Mexico and Ari- zona, With trails, towns, a few important camps and the railroad systems marked out by pencil. At Rad Dog, a star was made with a red encil, and at Yucca, on the Atlantic and acific R, R., a trail in a somewhat zig-zag fash- ion, was outlined with red pencil, with figures on either side as if denoting the distances. Dick studied this over for awhile, and then arose. | ‘*'You were right!” he said.. “How do you mean?” queried Jolly. “ Why, in this respect. Our game had started | from here for Yucca, on the A, & P. route. From there, without a doubt, they intend to | strike for Frisco. No time must be lost. The | chase must now begin, with a vim!” | “Right you are!” Jolly declared, “Tho sooner we're off the better I will be suitea |» | Before they could start, an outfit had to be | procured, consisting of good horses, blankets, | trappings, rifles, ammunition and provender, | and so much time was consumed in perfecting | these preparations, that it was high noon ere they were ready to start, as they were about to do when the landlord handed Dick a letter, which had been left at the office, he stated, by a stranger, Eagerly Dick opened it. ‘Tt was written in a masterly hand, and was | to the point, Jt ran as follows: “Dgeapwoop Dick:—Your preparations to follow the Hastingses, have been watched, and 1 warn you not to attempt to do it. ~If you do, you will only run yourselves into the jaws of death! “jam one sho is in position to know, and give * BLACKTHORN.”’ | | at all!” Jolly suggested, dubiously. Dick laughed defiantly, as he tore the note into bits, and driving the spurs into their horses, he and Jolly rode away, bound for Yucca! CHAPTER V. A QUIET CAPTURE. Some days later, after a rapid but tedious journey, we find our two friends in Yucca. Yucca is an odd little place, on the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, and although for-the most py its people are civilized, a great many who ounge about the camp are not civilized—half- breeds, lazy red-skins, and equally worthless white loafers. Until the railroad went through, the camp did not amount to a pinch of snuff; but, after that advent, the town soon became quite a sizable | village. When Dick and Jolly reached the place, they | put up at the most respectable-looking of the town hotels, and being pretty well fagged out, they first regaled themselves with a substantial dinner and poe took a nap, from which they awoke greatly refreshed, and prepared for busi- ness. They first took a look over the town to “size up” itand its inhabitants, and the impression formed, was not very favorable, for they were eyed curiously by the loungers about the street, | who all seemed to regard Dick and Jolly, who were well dressed, with genuine envy or dis- trust. ‘**f reckon this is not the sort of camp Hank Hastings would care to stay in, for any length of time,” Dick remarked, as he and Jolly saun- tered back toward the hotel, ‘“*These mugs lounging around the corners, are none too good todo any kind of mischief, you can bet, and they all stand in together!” ‘**Shouldn’t wonder if you were right,” Jolly assented, ‘I don’t think I should care to stop over night here, myself, with any amount of money about nie.” “Well, we'll make inquiries of the hotel man, and if we can’t find out anything from him we'll tackle the station agent. It may be that Hastings arrived here in time to catch a train, and did not seek a hotel, at all. “ And, if may be they did not come to Yucca “ve felt we were on a wild goose chase, all along, but said nothing.” ‘*On the contrary, I am perfectly satisfied that we are on the right trail,” Dick declared, | “Tt won’t take us long to find out, atall events.” They first examined the hotel register, but found no one registered answering to the descrip- tion of father and daughter, or man and wife. In fact, the two man-hunters were the only ones whose names had been entered upon the books for several day. The hotel Graseietor was next questioned, but he was gruff, and_ knew nothing of any parties having arived in Yucca, answering to the de- scription of Hastings or Sylvan. Then the friends visited the railway station, which they found in charge of a genial individ- ual, named Sykes, who, in answer to Dick’s in- terrogation, responded : “ Yes, sir; the parties you inquire for pur- chased tickets and left by the last train, which passed here at nine A, M.” ‘* Where did they purchase their tickets for?” Sykes hesitated a moment before answering, “*T don’t know that I have a right to answer that question,” he said finally, ‘since I was re- quested not to give any information on the mat- ter.” ‘Indeed? Well, sir, I shall have to demand a truthful answer,” Dick said, coolly, ‘*By what right do you make the demand?” Sykes asked, uneasily, “ By this right!” Dick replied, exhibiting his detective-badge, “Iam an officer of the law, and it is your duty to give me such information as you possess. These people were- fugitives from justice, and for you to try to cover their - would make you as good as their accom- plice.’ ‘“Oh! certainly. I understand that. The man bought four tickets, two of which were for Albuquerque, and two for ’Frisco,” ** He took the train for ’Frisco?” “Yes. The train does not stop here, except on signal. He paid me twenty dollars to signal the train, and fifty additional to say that, he and his companion had gone to Albuquerque)” ‘* What is the next principal stop to the west- ward?” , ‘* Barstow.” *““Might he not have stopped off there, in or- der to catch a train for Albuquerque?” Possibly. I am inclined to think, however, that they were headed for ’Frisco,” ‘““When does the next west-bound train stop, or rather, pass here?” ** At midnight.” “Very well. Thank you, for your informa- tion,” and Dick and Jolly went back to the hotel and seated themselves upon the a “Well, we're distanced, so far,” Dick con- fessed. ‘‘Our game will reach ’Frisco a long time ahead of us, that’s sure, All we can do, at present, is to sit and suck our thumbs,” “Yes, Hastings holds the winning hand, so far,” Jolly assented, ‘I have my doubts if we ever overtake the cuss,” **Pshaw! Never give up that way. We've only fairly begun the chase, Wait till we get to ’Frisco, and we will have a better opportu- nity to play our cards,” “T hope so. I haven't much relish for stay- ing in this place, till midnight,-even, It’s a tough gang of citizens we are surrounded by.” “No doubt about that, but if we mind our P’s and Q’s, and have nothing to say to them, I allow we will come out all right.” The remainder of the day dragged away slowly, and at last the shades of night enveloped the town, During the afternoon Dick made some in- quiries of the hotel proprietor in regard to who constituted the ruling Semen of the town, and was informed that there were two factions, so far as the ‘‘ tough” element was concerned—one being headed by Booze Bill, and the other by Ginger Green, ; He also learned that Booze Bill’s gang was much the superior in numbers and fighting qualifications, having “licked” the opposition crowd several times, ‘ A quiet idea had struck the ingenious detec- tive, and he proceeded to put it into execution, He had Booze Bill pointed out, and leaving Jolly, walked over to where/ William was lean- ing agaiust the side of a cabin. “How dye dof” ventured the stranger. “Are you the illustrious chaw-’em-up, whom they call Booze Bill, around these parts?” . ‘“Waal, I allow thet’s jest who I am!” was the reply. ‘Who are you, an’ what d’ye want wi’ me—/fight ?” . fe ** Nixee fight!” Dick replied, quickly. ‘DoI look like a pilgrim as could stand up before a modern slug-master like you? Well, I guese not; excuse me. I am a stanch friend and admirer of men of your physical prowess, how- ever, and I thought I'd come over and see if ‘you didn’t want to buy a couple of horses,” ’ chean? Me and my pardner take to the rail road, from here, and as we can’t take our horses aiong, I wanted to see if I couldn’t sell em.” **Can’t sell ’em to me!” William growled, ‘*T haven’t even got the price of a drink,” ‘Sho! you don’t say! Why, come up to the hotel, and we'll have a smile, I ain’t very well heeled, myself, but can’t see a feller go hungry for a drink.” As a matter of course, Booze Bill made no ob- jections to this invitation, and be and Dick sauntered away toward the hotel. *Reckon you'll have a mighty hard time o° disposin’ uv_yer hosses, in this camp,” Bill ob- served. ‘‘Money’s about es skeerce here as gold-eagles on a dead man’s eyes!” “So I should judge. 1 suppose you could find use for the horses, tho’, if you had ’em?” “Waal, f reckon, I[ could supply the rail- road with ties, and make a good livin’!” “Jest so. Well, Pl tell you what TPldo, I don’t like the looks of that other gang of fellers, headed by Ginger Green, and bein’s we're stran- gers, I suspect they’re planning some mischief against us. I don’t want to get into trouble, and if you and your gang will stand in solid for us, we'll give you our horses, free gratis!” _ “‘ By thunder, it’s a bargain!” Booze Bill de- clared, heartily, at the same time thrusting forth his horny hand. ‘‘I see yvou’re the clear quill, and ef thet Green gang attempts to molest you, we'll pitch into ’em, and make ’em feel mighty sick, you can bet! When dye purpose to take the train?” * At midnight, to-night!” “Allright! We'll see that ye git a good send- off, me boyee!” Dick accordingly ‘‘set em up” for the ruffian deader, several times, after which that worthy hurried away to the bosom of his gang, with a quart bottle of whisky under each arm, to ace quaint them of his new equine acquisitions. ‘ “IT think I have obviated all danger for the resent,” Dick said when he had communicated is arrangements to young Johnson. ‘ Booze Bill and his gang will stand im with us, in case the other faction makes any attempt to molest us. Shortly after, they sought the room that had Ry R iF ae
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been assigned them, in order to make some necessary preparations for their trip to San Francisco, and while so engaged, Dick chanced ‘to slip his hand into the side-pocket of his coat, when to his unutterable surprise, he found that it contained a letter, which proved to be sealed, and directed to himself! How came it there? That was.certainly a mystery, for Dick was ositive it was not there a couple of hours be- ore. “Well, this beats my time,” he muttered. “Have you heen playing a joke on me, Jolly?” **Nary a joke,” Jolly assured. *‘ I didn’t put the letter in your vocket, and don’t know who did. Open it.” Deadwood Dick didso, and uttered an excla- mation of astonishment, as he read tae follow- ing: i ‘**Hools that you are, ke*p on, and you will come to an untimely ending of your career, as I predicted | “ BLACKTHORN,’ ‘The deuce! that chap is then, indeed, on our trail,” Dick exclaimed. ‘‘ Unknown to us, he must be constantly near us, watching for a chance to strike us the fatal blow.” ‘** But who 7s Blackthorn?” growled Jolly. “You know just as much about it as I do,” Dick confessed. ‘‘ For my part, I haven’t the least idea who he is, except that he is most like- ly some villain detailed by Hastings to watch and fellow us, until the right chance comes to put us out of the way. We must keep a sharper outlook for the fellow, and nail him, if we catch him dogging us.” About ten minutes later there came a knock upon the door, upon opening which, Dick found the landlord standing outside. ' “S’cuse me, sir,” the host said, rather apolo- getically, ‘‘ but thar’s a man down-stairs who wants to see ye.” ‘¢ 4 man to see me?” echoed Dick. his name?” ‘*Dunno, sir. He didn’t say. An odd-lookin’ old jizger, tho’, who said he wanted to see Deadwood Dick. I told him there wasn’t no sech party bere, but he argued there was, and said you sometimes signed yourself Richard Bristol, Then I reeognized who yer was, an’ come up to tell you.” “Tl bet its my old side partner, Old Ava- lanche,” Dick said, addressing Jolly. ‘* He has a great habit of turning up when and where least expected. Come, we will go down and see if it is the old terror.” ‘* What is They accordingly hurried down-stairs, the’ Jandlord bringing up the rear. As they emerged from the stairway into the office, they suddenly found themselves surround- ed by_a dozen ruffians, all of whom grasped cocked revolvers, which were leveled at the two man-hunters, ‘* Throw up your hands, or we'll riddle ye!” came the authoritative command, and seeing no way out of the dilemma, as resistance was plain- ly useless, Dick and Jolly obeyed. Their feet were then quickly bound, and their wrists pinioned behind their backs, and they were prisoners, as neatly captured as any one could wish, Dick made no resistance, nor uttered an protestation whatever, until he was bound, when he turned fiercely upon the leader of the gang, who was the burly ruffian, Ginger Grean, and consequently the rival cf Bill Booze! ~ CHAPTER VI. ; LYNCHED! ** Now, sir!” Dick cried, sternly, ‘‘ I want to know the cause of this outrage—why you have mad> us prisoners, when we have done nothing whatever.to merit such an act?” “Oh! ye hain’t done nothin’, hey?” roared Green, with asnort. ‘Waal, now, we ruther opine ye have, me pair of bucks, an’ you’ve got ter take the consequences, I’m Ginger Green, ther constable o’ this heer town, ef ye want to know it, an’ you kin bet I don’t let no bloody @imes go unpunished around this precinct!” ** Bloody crimes?’ echoed Deadwood Dick. “What do you mean? [ don’t comprehend!” Ye don’t, hey? Waal, we do. Ye'r’ a pair o’ murderers an’ robbers, an’ ther speerit o' Johuny Sykes calls fer vengeance. Judge Lynch néver showed his virtues on this town before; but, by the eternal, he shali have an airing to-night?’ “* What do you mean, sir, by charging us with being robbers and murderers?” Dick demanded, fiercely, “Cause ye aire!” vociferated Green. ‘ Ye went to ther depot an’ murdered Johnny Sykes, ‘Deadwood Dick’s money there was, An’ now, we’re goin’ ter in- vite ye toa lynch picnic, Eh, boys?” “ Ay! ay!” came the stentorian answer. ‘This is false—infernally false!” cried Dick, his anger at boiling point. ‘‘ Neither myself nor companion has any knowledge of the crime you mention, nor are wein the least guilty of any wrong-doing, since coming to this camp. In the name of the law, sir, I demand that we be released at once!” : ‘* fn ther name o’ ther law, hey?” “Yes, in the name of the law! Iama United States detective, and this accusation on your part is both preposterous, and a gross insult!” ‘**Can’t help what you say; ye can’t close my eye up, fer a cent. One of ye killed Johnny Sykes, an’ we’re goin’ ter lynch the both o’ ye, in order ter hit the right party. ’Tain’t no use 0 yer tryin’ ter lie out 0’ ther job, fer et won’t help yer case a whit. Johnny Sykes lays over in the station, wi’ his throat cut from ear ter ear, an’ one 0’ you two cusses did ther job. I see’d ye when ye come ter town, an’ at once sot down on yeras pesky bad characters. ter ther boys, ‘ Pll keep my eyes on them tellers an’ see what deviltry they’re up to.’ And so I did. ““T see’ you two cusses go ter the depot, but didn’t ’spect ye war up to murder, an’ didn’t know nothin’ about the crime till a bit ago, when a feller come and told me that he had seen ye commit ther crime, and all about et!” “This is alla diabolical lie, and a plot to get rid of us!” Dick cried, by this time fairly fren- zied with rage. ‘Show methe man «bo makes this infamous charge, that I may mark him down in my memory, for if I ever get free, oh! but wowt I make him suffer for this accursed falsehood!” ‘* Yowll never git free—needn’t trouble your- self about that, in the least!” Ginger declared, grimly. ‘‘ Heer’s the feller that see’d yer com- mit ther crime, Hedidn’t dare tell of it at first, for fear he would be suspected, but finally con- cluded to make a clean breast of it, and ‘betray you into the hands of justice!” As the constable finished speaking, a man stepped forward. He wasa medium-sized in- dividual, fairly well dressed, and wore a sweep- | ing black beard, and long, shaggy hair of the | same hue. Little of his face could be seen, except around the eyes, for a slouch hat was pulled down over his forehead, There was much about his general appearance that was sinister and suspicious to Dick’s keen apprebension, He stared coolly at Deadwood Dick with his | peering little eyes, his arms folded across his reast, ** So you’re the wretch who has lied to these people, in accusing me and my companions of a crime we never had a hand in, are you?” Dick demanded. ‘*Tam the man who, by mere accident, saw you, sir, individually, commit a cold-blooded murder,” was the cool reply. **Tt’s false! You area diabolical liar, curse you!” ‘** Nothing of the sort. I know nothing of you, nor would I have any object in preferring a false charge against you.” ‘‘Of course not,” chimed in Ginger Green, ‘* Tell the boys here how ye come to witness the murder.” ‘ ‘* Well, there’s not much to tell. I came u the railroad afoot from Powell to-day, and naa just reached the end of your depot, when my at- tention was attracted by loud and angry words cn the inside, followed by a sound like some heavy object falling on the floor, Suspecting all was not right, I stole to a window, and peer- ed in, and at what I saw I was | terally horror- struck, for, lying upon the floor, in a pool of blood, was a young man, with his throat cut, while, bending over him, was another young man, grasping an ugly-looking knife, from which the blood was dripping. A third man was rifling the safe of money and papers. ‘**T was so horrified at what { saw, that I slunk away, and secreted myself in a clump of bushes, where I could think the matter over without being seen. At first I did not know what to do, if knew I was a total stranger in the camp, and was afraid if I made known the tragedy, the crime would be laid tome. It took a great deal of deliberation before I finally came to the conclusion to make a clean breast of the matter to the constable.” “And do you dare, sir, to state that either I or my companion were in any way connected with the murder?” Dick demanded, endeavoring to burst asunder the cords that bound his wrists the station-agent, an’ robbed the place of what . together. Death Hunt. Sez I | **T do mean to say just that,” the alleged wit- ness to the crime answered. ‘‘ Without perjur- ing myself, [can solemnly swear that you are the man I saw bending over the prostrate man with the reeking knife in your grasp, while your companion is the same person who was rifling the safe.” | ‘© What a hellish lie!” Dick exclaimed. ‘* Your name, liar, that I may never forget you!” “ Well, if you want to m9 me fresh in your memory, my name is Harry Suydam,” the man replied. ‘Then hear me swear, Harry Suydam, alias Satan, that, just so sure as I ever get free, Pl have your lifein payment for this wrong you have done me! Do you hear?” *T hear,” Suydam smiled, ‘‘ but your threat is of no account, for you’re going to pay the penalty of your crime ere this night passes, or you can call me a liar!” “That remains to be seen!” Dick retorted, grimly. “I am a Government officer, and if | any harm comes to me, the people of this town will wish they had never been born! Another thing, sir, let me tell you: I am not the least deceived in you. It was you who murdered the station-ugent, in order to get me into trouble, and you are the sneaking cur who-has been sending me threatening messages, under the name of Blackthorn, You are a murderer, and ! | oner you are, don’t make a move, pretty soon, | | the cringing tool of the King of Rascals, Henry Hastings!” Suydam started, but uvtered a harsh, discord- ant laugh. ‘Oh! well!” he said, ‘it don’t matter who I am, so far asyouareconcerned. I saw you com~ mit the murder, and if these people whose pris- to string you up, I'll take the liberty of shooting you, myself!” **No ye don’t!” spoke up Ginger Green, “ We're goin’ ter conduct this heer funeral our- | selves, an’ don’t want no furin’ interference. | Boys, two or three vo’ ye go an’ build a bonfire | near the big oak tree, so as to light up the scene, an’ some one else get a couple o’ lariats long enough an’ strong enough for the purpose they’re to be used for!” Several of the crowd hurried away, after which the others regaled themselves at the bar, keeping a good watch that the prisoners did not escape, which it was impossible for them to do, as their feet were too tightly bound together to | prevent their walking, ‘¢ Well! things look mighty dangerous!” Jolly ‘Do you suppose they really mean concluded. to hang us?” ‘That is their intention, without a doubt!” . Dick responded; ‘ but, don’t give up, in despair. | I have hopes Booze Bill will come to our aid when he learns what is going on. If not, why our chances are slim. lve faced death more times than ten, and always escaped, and I can’t believe my luck has deserted me yet. However, if worst comes to worst, why we can do no less than die game!” * Right you are, cue,” Jolly assured, In five minutes a man entered the hotel with two lassoes, and one end of each of these was made into a slipping noose, and shirred about the prisoners’ necks, The other men svon came in and announced that the bonfire was started, I too have hopes of a res- “Hurrah! Then all’s in readiness for the exe- cution —ther first neck-tie party ever held in Yucea! Come! carry ther prisoners to the tree, boyees, an’ all as wants to shall have a pull at the rope!” cried Green. The men gave a cheer, at this, and the pris- onere were seized bodily, and carried from the hotel. : Not far away stood a big oak tree, with wide- spreading branches, near which a bonfire blazed brightly, lighting up that part of the settle~ ment, . To this tree the prisoners were borne, and once more stood upon their feet. The disengaged ends of the lariats were then tossed over a strong limb, and when they fell on the other side, were seized by a dozen pairs of hands, and drawn taut. ; All was thus in readiness for the execution, ‘** Now, then, ye murderin’ villains, I allow ye begin to comprehend what sort of a predica- ment yer heartless crime bas fetched ye to!” Ginger Green said, confronting the prisoners. “Hev ye got anything to say, before ye’r’ launched into eternity?” “ Nothing, caren that we are innocent of the, crime we are charged. with!” Dick replied, ‘and if we are lynched, a most nee double. murder is on your heads, and our dying curse will follow you through life!” << Jt z ee Pes
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“Bah! What do we care for your curse!” replied Green. ‘‘ Et’s like chaff on the wind, If youve got any prayers ter ask, or any mes- sages ter leave, yer’d better be quick about et, for I shall give the boys ther signal to pull, ina couple of minutes!” Dick had turned to Jolly, who had grown very pale. ‘* Cheer up, pard,” he said. ‘I reckon it’s all up wi’ us; but remember how game your poor old father was, and don’t let it be said that his son broke the record!” Jolly nodded, slowly, but made no reply. Dick then turned fiercely upon Harry Suy- dam, who stood near at hand. **As for you, you inhuman, lying wretch!” he cried, ‘‘ you are a fit associate fer the man you work for, and I suppose it will be a source of great gratification to you to see two innocent victims of your diabolical lies meet an untimely and unnatural death. But, you shall see us die like men, without an outcry!” ; Suydam shrugged his shoulders, and smiled, disagreeably, but made no reply. He turned, however, and said something to Green, in an undertone. The latter at once drew his'knife, and severed the bonds that confined the prisoners’ feet. “Thar!” he said, witha grim chuckle. ‘ Ef ye won't squeal, Vl guarantee you'll show us what ye kin do, in the kicking line!” Then turning to his ruffianly companions, he said; **Get ready, boys! they go!” There was an instant of breathless silence, then— ** One /” A brief pause, followed by— “ Two!’ Both Dick and young Johnson were very pale, but upon either face was an expression of great firmness and undying resolve. “THREE !? A wild yell burst from the lips of the ruffians, and the two prisoners were drawn up into mid- air, suspended and dangling by their necks. Shall we draw the curtain? No! for the scene is not yet ended. Hark! There is a roaring of rifle-shots, a whizzing of bullets, and the ropes suspending the prisoners are severed just above their heads, and they drop upon their feet, while several of the rut- fians fall, mortally wounded, On dropping upon their feet, Dick and Jolly seemed moved by one thought, for realizing that their feet were free, they fled, of one accord into the darkness. For them, it had indeed been a narrow escape! CHAPTER VII. IN ’FRISCO—PICKING UP THE TRAIL, E by side the escaped man-hunters ran, until at least two miles separated them from the village of Yucca, when they slackened up toa walk, for both were pretty well winded, They had taken the railroad track as their route, and having a solid footing underneath them, had been able to cover the distance, in a comparatsvely short space of time. Neither spoke @ word, until they slackened their speed, when Jolly Johnson drew a long breath of relief, “By gee-whittaker! but that was a narrow ns ta from death!” he exclaimed, “Youre a-shoutin’, now!” Dick assented, with a shrug of the shoulders, “TI thought my- self that we were ticketed through for the next world! That fellow, Booze Bill, was as good as his word, anyhow, and the sacrifice of our horses, to him, was the means of saving our When I count three, up ' lives.” \ a ¥ ‘ i) ‘ h Na 7% 4 . i ert fog a ‘s 4 tf ot be ey Ry } be % ; S . ae a Be | a tad! ‘* Yes, I guess you are right. But, what are we to do, now? How are we to get our hands free?” “ By turning our backs to each other, we can, no doubt, manage to untie one or the other’s bonds. We can try it, at all events!” The plan was put into execution, and worked admirably, for in a brief time the friends had the use of their hands, once more. **T suppose there is nothing left for us to do but trudge along the railroad until we are over- taken by the midnight train, which can’t be far away, now!” Dick said, as they resumed their journey. “It’s lucky they did not rob us of our money, and concealed weapons.” ‘You're rigat. Do you think the train will stop for us?” “T don’t know, I shall signal it, at all events, and if they don’t stop, why, we'll have to tramp on until we strike sorne other station, where we can get a ticket for to-morrow’s train!” Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. Shortly after midnight they heard the Express ** Well, do you see that, over yonder?’ and he train approaching, and with a lighted torch made out of an old newspaper, Dick made a frantic endeavor to signal the train; but his sig- nals were unheeded, and the engine and cars shot past,and the roar of the wheels upon the iron rails soon died away in the distance, ‘* Well, that’s mean, I’m blamed if it ain’t!” Dick growled. ‘‘ All there is for uS& to do, is to travel by shank’s team.” The prospect was not encotiraging, to say the best. The stations on the railroad, were few and far between, and there was no telling when they would strike a place were trains stopped, regu- larly. It was late the next afternoon, when they ar- rived at Powell’s Station, to learn that only the forenoon train, (which had passed them) stop- ped at that point, They were also informed they would have to go on to the Needles, where westward trains stopped for meals, if they wished to get through tickets for ’Frisco, So, after a brief rest, they purchased a couple of Indian ponies, and set out tor The Needles, We will pass over the tedious journey, as it was unattended by any incident worthy of special mention. Early the next morning, they reached the wild forest town known as The Needles, and, just in time, to, to catch the morning train for Barstow, whence they ran straight ficcah to San Francisco. _ When they arrived in the city of the Golden Gates, they were, as may be surmised, pretty well tired out, but, despite this fact, they took no time for rest, but began an immediate and systematic canvass of the hotel registers of the city. In only one instance did they find an entry rae the registers that attracted their special notice, This was at a second-rate hotel, on Bush street, where ‘* Doctor Jas, Dixey and daughter,” were registered, nquiry, however, revealed the fact that Dixey and daughter had only remained over one night, and had taken their departure the following morning. The two detectives then tried the banks, and inquired if Henry Hastings was known at any of them, Yes, several of the banks were acquainted with Mr. Hastings, but not recently, nor could they tell whether he was in the city or not, The last bank visited, panned out better than the rest, although Dick had to show his badge before he could obtain any courtesy or informa- tion. ‘Yes, we are acquainted with Mr. Hastings, and have been for a number of yevrs,” one of the directors said. ‘* Has he been here, lately?” Dick asked. ‘Yes, He dropped in as soon as the bank was open, yesterday, and drew out the balance of his account with us, saying that bis health was poor, and that he intended to travel.” ** Pid he say whither he was bound?” ‘*T believe he mentioned something about vis- iting Australia!” ‘* How much money did he draw on you for?” * Some ten thousand dollars.” “Was there a woman with him, when he came?” ‘7 think not, although he may have had a companion, waiting in the hack, outside,” Does Hastings. own any property, bere, in San Francisco?” *¢T think not, at present,” “Do you think he is in town, yet, or could you direct me to aay one who would be able to give me more definite data concerning bis move- ments?” ‘Well, no, I don’t know of any one who could give you better information than I have given you. Providing he had nothing to delay him, should presume he sailed on the steamer that started yesterday for Melbourne!” So, as there was nothing more to learn in that direction, Dick and Jolly left the bank, ** We're not off the trail by any means, yet!” Dick declared, ‘It they’ve gone to Australia, why, we will follow them by the next boat.” hey were sauntering along one of the prin- cival streets, discussing plans for the future, when Dick stopped stock-still, and uttered an exclamation! “Why, what’s the matter?” queried Jolly. “Matter! Why you’ve heard me speak of pe the negro, who was with your father and e, at Sylvan Lake??? - ‘ Yes,” pointed across the street, where a dudishly- attired colored man was walking along some dis- tance in advance of them—strutting along as sn Naat as though he were some great mon- arch, : je Yes, I see him!” Jolly assented. ‘‘ What of it? ‘*That is the same chap who was with us on Sylvan Island, and who escaped the dogs,” “Indeed! Why don’t you go speak to him?” «Come! we will. I wonder what he’s doing here in ‘Frisco in all those gaudy togs? Looks as if he’d struck it rich quite recently.” They crossed the street, and hurrying for- ward, soon overhauled the colored gent, where- upon Dick clapped his hand familiarly upon his shoulder, ‘Hello, Nick, old boy!” he cried. ‘* What in the world brings you out here in ’Frisco?” Nicodemus Noodle, for it was indeed he, wheeled abruptly and surveyed the two man- hunters, with a haughty stare. He was dressed in an elegant suit of clothes, with silk hat and patent-leather shoes to corre- spond, in addition to which be wore a costly dia- mond ring and scarf-pin, and carried a mas-ive gold-Readed cane. In fact, though decidedly homely in face, he was a stylish a looking ‘‘coon” as one could wish to see. But not the slightest trace of recognition was expressed upon his black face as he faced the man-hunters, ‘* Beg parding, sab, but I guess you hab made a mistake!” he+said in answer to Dick’s hearty salutation. ‘¢ Well, I guess not /” Dick declared. ‘ What sort ofa game are you trying to give us, any- how? You're Nicodemus Noodle, who was with me and Old Job Johnson oyer in Oregon at Sylvan Lake.” ‘Deed, sab, but you’re pow’ful in de wrong, sah. Nebber in Oregon in all my life, sah, nor my name ain’t Nicodemus Noodle, either,” ‘* What in thunder is your name, then?” ‘¢My name is Charles Augustus Rufus Sukey, sah, at your service. I am a gentleman of leisure.” *¢ Yes, vou look it!” Dick replied. ‘* But it so ‘happens, Mr. Sukey, that you can’t shut my eye Pd know you if I was to meet you at the equator, Come, now, tell the truth and shaine the devil. You're Nick Noodle.” ‘*No, sah, You're dead wrong, fo’ shuah,” ‘But, [say no/ All your protestations can- not convince me to the contrary. Why, look at that half decapitated ear of yours. The island bloodhounds did that the night you es- caped from the Owls. Oh! you know me, Nick, me boy, and there’s no use of your denyyng it.” “T don’t kno’ no sich a thing. Dat is a un- trufe,sah. I don’t kno’ nuffin’ bout no blood- hounds, nor no nuffin’ ’bout you. Nebber see’d youb befo"h in my life. Howebber, you’se spishus characters, an’ ef you don’ glong off, an’ luff dis colored gentleman alone, he'll call a policeman, and hab you both arrested.” Then, turning, Nicodemus strode haughtily away, leaving the two man-hunters staring after him. “Well, may I be kicked to death with mules if that don’t take the cake!” Dick ejaculated, scratching his head, and both looking and feel- ing decidedly nonplused. “Guess you made a mistake, didn’t you?” Jolly inquired. : “ Certainly not!” was the quick response. “That black chap is the same coon who,was with your father and me at Sylvan Lake, No power on earth could convince me to the cons trary, so positive I am!” “Phen, why the denial?” “That’s a question. There is certainly some reason for it.” “ ‘‘ Perhaps he doesn’t want to recognize you, because he’s togged up so gay. Some of these darks are mighty big feeling when they’ye got good clothes on their backs!” “ Yes, but vonder nigger has a stronger reason than that. His being here and his stubborn de- nial, arouses a suspicion in my mind that he is some way connected with our Hastings case.” “ Pshaw !” “Ol! I may be wrong, but it behooves us to investigate every clew, thoroughly, for you know we’ve got a shrewd fish to angle after, Now, I'll go down along the harbor front, and find what steamships have left here recently, and who were their passengers. In the mean time you were to dog tbe footsteps of yonder coon and see where he goes to, Here is a set of up, for a cent, false whiskers, Put them on assoon as you have an opportunity, and above all, don’t lose sight
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i Mt ow ts. : Veatiwood Dick’s Death Hunt, of the nigger. If you learn anything worth oO: report to the Grand Pacific at supper ime, The pard detectives then separated, Dick turn- ing down a side street, towaid the harbor. e first visited the offices of several Australian steamship lines, but learned that only one ship hed sailed, the day previous, that being bound for the port of Melbourne. The passenger list was placed at his disposal for inspection, and there he found registered, ** Doctor Jas. Dixey and daughter.” “That settles that /” he muttered. ‘‘ Hastings and Sylvan have gone to Australia, and again I ain baffled, But, it won’t be for long!” In leaving the Australian piers, he found out by overhearing a conversation between two ‘longshoremen, that a steamer of the Pacific Mail Line had left ’Frisco for New York, the preced- ing day. This aroused the detective at once, and he rea that office, and asked to see the passenger ist. Greatly to his surprise, he found registered there, the names as follows: *H. Henry Hastings, Miss Letha La Verde, San Francisco,” * For New York.” ‘Well, that knocks my other calculations silly,” Dick mused, ‘‘I don't know what to makeof it. I have felt confident that the Doctor Dixey was my man. But, it appears not. Hum! bum! I must reflect over this matter.” By inquiry, he found that no steamer would start for New York for several days; so he went back to the hotel, to await the result of Jolly Johnson’s investigations, Finally, as Johnson did not put in an appear- ance, Dick once more sought the hotel where “*Dixey and daughter” had been registered. Calling the landlord aside, and making known his profession, he requested a personal descrip- tion of Dixey and his companion. ‘Oh, they were ordinary-looking people,” was the reply, ‘‘ The only partie’lar thing I noticed abont ’em was that the gal was darna- tion good-looking, and the man had red whis- kers. lt rather struck me, however, that the whiskers didn’t sprout out of his own hide, But, of course, it wa’n’t none of my business, you know, and so I didn’t say nothin’,” Dick went back to the hotel in deep thought. ‘* Hastings and Dixey were one and the same arty, without a doubt,” hedecided. ‘* But how is it that Hastings sailed for New York and Dixey for Australia? By Jove! there’s some crookedness here, after all, and I’m half in- clined to believe that thesa steamship registra- tions were a blind to throw me off the track, and that Hastings is still here in ’Frisco. He could well afford to expend a couple of hundred dollars to send me on a false trail!” When he reached the hotel he was handed a telegram, which proved to be from Johnson, and read as follows: “Have traced party to fine suburban residence, 0.—,-—— street. It appears he belongs there. * JOLLY.” CHAPTER VIIL, TRAPPED. THERE was nothing in the telegram that im- pressed Deadwood Dick as being of any consid- erable importance, so he shoved it carelessly into his pocket and lounged around the hotel, awaiting Jolly’s return. But the afternoon wore away, and no Jolly put in an appearance, After supper Dick grew really impatient. **Confound it, 1 wonder what is keeping him so long? Can it be he bas stumbled upon some important clew, and is seeking to run it out? If $0, ten to one he will get himself into a trap, for he hain’t cut out for much of a success in the ~ detective line.” Remembering that they would most likely need some clever disguises, he concluded to make an evening shopping tour, trusting by the time he returned to find Johnson at the hotel. He was gone some tree hours, and in that time succeeded in making several excellent pur- chases of disguises. Among other things, he hired a room near the hotel, aud had these disguises taken there, so that he could there transmogripby himseif without any one being the wiser for it. He then returned to the hotel, quite satisfied with his evenimg’s work, but not satisfied to Jearn that Johnson had not put in an appear- ance. Ts: was already ten o’clock, and Dick could see no reason why his partner should not have re- turned long before, Eleven o'clock came, and then twelve! But no Jolly. Dick was seriously alarmed by this time, and hiring a cab, he directed the driver to drive him to No, —, street, to drive slowly past the place, and then turn around and fetch ‘him back to the city. [ This was done, . When the cab, after passing through many beautiful streets, neared its destination, the driver called Dick’s attention to the house he wished to see. It proved to be a large modern villa set down upon a beautiful, liberally-shaded, sloping lawn, surrounded by a fine hedge. In the rear were stables and other outbuildings, and a glance showed that it was the home of a man who possessed good taste, combined with wealth. The house was dark and silent, the occupants probably being in bed. Two large dogs lounging upon the piazza were the only signs of life about the premises, The presence of the dogs alone satisfied Dick that Jolly was not lounging around the prem- ises, so he ordered the cabby to drive bim back to the hotel. He scarcely expected that he would find young Johnson there, and consequently was not disap- pointed when he did not, As little could be done before morning, ha finally retired for the remainder of the night; but his brain was too active for sleep, and as soon as it came daylight he arose and dressed. After breakfast he set about forming plans, and concluded to pay another visit to the vicini- ty of the villa, where Jolly seemed to have mys- teriously disappeared, “For,” Dick concluded, ‘*Iam certain that Jolly’s visit to the vicinity of that house has had something to do with the disappearance.” According he went to the room he had en- gaged, and very effectively ‘‘made up” for a new character. When he reappeared upon the street, he was clad ina red shirt, dirty blue overalls, and bro- gans, witha ragged felt hat upon his head. He also wore a readish wig, and a pair of whiskers to match, of the *‘ Galway sluggers” order, and these, together with his mustache cropped close, and a few dextrous touches of a penciling brush, ave him the appearance of a genuine ‘t Mike,’ just over. : Another thing in his favor—he was a good mimic of the various dialects. He started for the suburbs at once, carrying a pick.and shovel upon his shoulder, and no one would have suspected but what he was an ordi- nary day laborer. p Tn due time he came in sight of his destina- ion, The villa and its grounds looked doubly at- tractive by daylight, and it was indeed a beau- tiful home, one of many such in the far-away estern metropolis, A stone sidewalk ran along the outside of the hedge, leading to an archway, where there were two iron gates. When he reached this point he found a hired man fastening a silver-plated name-plate to the gate, while an old man, ou the inside, was look- ia, and superintending the job. ngraved upon the plate, was the name: “Dr. D. James.” The man on the other side of the gate pos- sessed rather a large figure, but was, evidently over sixty years of age, His face was bearded nearly to bis eyes, and both his hair and beard, were snowy white. He was (lressed in an old-fashion broadcloth suit, with a plug hat to match, and supported himself with the aid of a hook-top cane, As he reached the gate, Dick stopped and watched the labors of the hired man with what was meant to represent idle curiosity, at the sane time whistling a few notes of an Trish jig. tt Well, sir, what do you want?” inquired the old man, in a deep, resonant voice, which, it oc- curred to Dick, was ill befitting to his age. **Phat do I want, is it?” returned Dick. “ Faith, it’s nothin’ I want, cept it be wurruk, whisky, an’ money. I was jist afther watchin’ the mon, there, that’s all.” > ‘*Do you work around here, sir?” ‘* Howly mothers, no. It’s jist arrived from sian ‘*Tt’s not so much the ambition phat’s trou- blin’ me, scr, as the imptiness ov my stoomick, Bedad, ye wouldn’t b’lave it, at all, but it’s been, twice twinty-four hours, since I had a bite to eat! ‘*TIndeed? Well, that’s bad. name, and what can you do, sir?” “What is my name? Well, sor, I reckon it’s Dennis O’Killegin, at yer sarvice; an’ as fer ‘phat can { do? bedad, I kin ate, sleep an’ drink !” ‘No doubt, no doubt of that, sir. But, you look like an able-bodied fellow, capable of work, if you are only watched. I want a good fellow to mind the Jawn and garden, and perhaps you would fill the bill. How much do you expecta day, sir?” “Two dollars a day, sir, wid conditions, yer honor.” ‘Two dollars a day? Nonsense! A dollar is all I can pay!” “All right! Shure, Vd jist as lief worruk for a dollar a day, as for two, providin’ the condi- tions are all right.” ‘“ What conditions do you refer to?” ‘* Well, sor, in the first place, where do I ate, in the dinin’-room, wid de family, or with tha cook?” ‘* In the kitchen, of course!” ** An’ who be the cook—-a Sweed, a nagur, or a Eyetalian?” “Neither! She is Irish, like yourself!” ‘* Arrah! that’s the kind! VIl have a mash forninst her, the first day, before breakfast. An’ where do I slape, sor?” ‘* With my negro valet!” ‘Phat! me shlape wid the loikes av a nagur? Niver, sor, niver! Yez kin kape your job, sor. T don’t moind sleepin’ wid the pigs, sor, on a pinch, but wid a nagur cr an Eyetalian—niver! niver |” “*Oh! well, then you can sleep on a blanket in the hay loft, over the stable, How will that suit you?” ‘Shure, that'll do.” 4A Come in, then, and I’ll show you what to ao, Dick obeyed, and was conducted to the rear of the villa, where he was set to work hoeing in the garden. ‘“* Remember, you are not to approach the house without you’re summoned,” were amon the last orders given him, as the old man turn and hobbled away. ; And Dick went to work; but it was odd busi- ness to him, being the first time he had wielded an agricultural implement in many years. **7 don’t think I'll farm it more than the day out,” he muttered. ‘‘ Somehow, it’s a little out of my line, and I can’t see as I’m goin’ to find pe anything about Jolly while 'm working ere, The carriage and horse-barn were only a little way off, and in the doorway, during the entire day, sat an ill-favored looking fellow, who was probably either coachman or stable- man. He was dark-complexioned, with black eyes hair and mustache, and an ugly expression of countenance that added to his unfavorable ap- pearance. All day long he sat upon a stool in the door- way, and watched ** Dennis” at bis labors, ex- cept’ on several occasions when Doctor James came out and conversed with him. That their conversation was relative to him- self, Dick felt certain, and it caused many strange thoughts to enter his mind, ‘‘Ts possible that the old man is Hastings in disguise,” he muttered, ‘‘ but, if he is, his dis- guise is most perfect, and be is an admirable actor. Ov the whole, I’m not inclined t> believe that he is Hastings. It don’t seem to me the rascal, with so many crimes on his head, would dare settle down here in ’Frisco. But, what bothers me is, what has become of Jolly?” Before leaving the hotel he had left a note there for Jolly, so that he would get it, in case he should return during Dick’s absence, and know where Dick had gone, At noon the cook brought Dick out a bowl of bread and milk, and informed him that that was all he would get until supper-time. There being over @ quart of the however, and a plentiful supply of bread, Dennis O’Killegin bad no fault to find. By five in the afternoon he had the entire gar- den boed over in good shape. Then the stable hand motioned for him to ap- What is your Australia Tam, an’ sthartin’ for the counthry | proach. in search of wurruk!” ‘* Well, it is commendable that you are am- bitious to get work, instead of loafing aroun the city, in idleness.” ‘* Well, Pat, you’ve done well,” he said, ina cordial tone, ‘‘and you needn’t do any more to- day, except I want you to help me get some oats out the bin pretty soon. Pretty tired, eh?” lacteal fluid, N — an “J : s ®
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. | | ! ** Faith, an’ I am that!” Dick replied. “Ohi well, you’ll have a soft snap hereafter. Yow’re the sort as will suit the old man. He’s a cranky sort of a fellow, but, once ye git on the right side of him, he’s a good man to work for, and will give you all you’re worth.” **Does he own this illigant place?’ Dick in- quired, with all apparent earnestness, ‘* You bet, and lots more besides. He’s rich as Croesus, they say.” * Got any childhren?” ‘*Nary chick nor child—no one but himself, an’ the hired help.” ‘*Waith, an’ did yez see a well-dressed young man up this way, yesterday, a-lookin’ for a job?” Dick inquired. ‘**No ‘There was no one around here inquir- in’ for work.” They chatted awhile longer, and then the stableman said: ‘*Pve got to get some oats out of the granary, for the horses, and if you'll help me fill a couple of bags, Vil give yea cigar, and some prime old wine I snuck out of the cellar, I stand in with the cook, an’ it’s a cold day when I get left for what I want to drink.” Accordingly, they entered the main barn, a gloomy looking place. In one corner, was a great bin, some eight feet square, by six in hight, and built of planks, The top was covered by a heavy door, which could be raised with the aid of a pulley and rope, After the stableman, who gave his name as Jacl Hurd, had raised the lid, he said: “Give me your foot, now, and i'll boost you into the bin. You'll find a half-bushel measure there, and you can hand me out the oats, while I fill the bags!” ‘*T don’t know about that, begorra!” Dick re- plied. ‘‘ How am I to get out of the bin, shure, when 1 get in it?’ ‘Pooh! that’s easy enough. The bin’s half full of oats, and you can get out easier than you can get in. Be careful, tho’, There’s a bottle of wine in one corner. Hand it outfirst.” Not doubting but what all was right, Dick gave his foot to Hurd, and was boosted to a sit- ting position, on the upper edge of the bin. The interior of the bin was dark, and Dick was deliberating whether or not he better jump into it, when he received a violent push that sent him tumbling down into the big box, and even as he fell he heard the door of the bin slam down, and he knew he was trapped. Down! down! he went, not to the level of the barn floor, but clear to the basement, bottom, where he landed square upon his feet. A prisoner was he, once more, and there rush- ed upcn him the unpleasant realization that not only was he once more in the toils, but at the mercy of. his bitterest enemy, Henry Hastings! For that Doctor James and Hastings were one and the same persons, there was no longerva reason to doubt. And that Jack Hurd was Blacktborn, seemed equally probable. Vas this, at last, to be his tomb? Dick was wondering this, when he wasstartled by a voice, close at hand! CHAPTER IX, OUT AND OFF. LittL® wonder Dick was startled at the sound of the voice, when, surrounded hy the most im- yenetrable gloom, he had little expectation of earing a voice so close at hand. *¢ Well! who are you?” was the demand. Dick uttered an exclamation of astonishment, for he recognized the voice, ‘Good heaven, is that you, Jolly?” he ejacu- ted. at? You bet! Is it you, Dick?” “You can copper your cards it is!” * Are you bound?” “* Nary bind!” ‘ “Then, strike a match, if you’ve got one, and release me of these ropes!” Dick, fortunately, had a good supply of matches, and soon, by aid of a brief light, had his pard free of the bonds. ** How in the blazes do you come here?” Jolly demand_d, grasping his friend warmly by the hand, ‘* You tell me, first, how you come to be here, and then Pll tell you my experience.” ‘‘ Well, it won't take long to tell you what I know about it!” Jolly laughed, ‘I tracked the nigger as far as the villa, without discovery, asl supposed. Just then I encountered a mes- senger boy, and sent \ou a telegram, as I con- cluded to hang around the neighborhood for awhile, in hopes I could secure some further points, After a while, I got so blamed thirsty Nee eee ee ee that I couldn’t stand itany longer, and ven- tured as far as the back door of the villa, and asked for a drink of water. ‘‘Tt was arash thing to do, I know, but I was so dry that I was nearly choking. The boss of the house was in the kitchen—a gray- bearded old cuss—and after sizing me up pretty sharp, he gave me a colored goblet, and told me to go wrastle the pump, ‘**Not suspecting any mischief, I went and did so. The water was deliciously cool, and I drank two glasses. I know I did this, and that is all I do know. Wben [ returned to conscious- ness, I found myself in this dismal pen, bound hand and foot. What sort of a place is it, any- how?” “T allow it was originally built for a gran- ary,” Dick replied, ‘‘ but there don’t seem to be any graininit now—not even grains of com- mon sense, or else [ wouldn’t be bere.” He then went on and narrated his experiences, since he last had seen Jolly. “ Well, we’re ina bad way,” the latter con- fessed. ‘‘ Light some matches, and let's see what our chances are of getting out.” This was done, anda hasty examination of the place was made, The sides of the bin were built of matched, two-inch plank, and the cor- ners were mortised, : The floor was of heavy flag-stone. The door or lid at the top of the granary, was fully sixteen feet above the bottom. There was alsoasmall door at the bottom, but this was securely fastened on the outside, Plainly, ‘hey were ina prison of extraordi- nary strength, There was a ventilator at the top which let in a meager supply of air. “Well,” Dick said, when the matches had gone out, “ Pye got into a good many scrapes, but none where 1 more deserved to be kicked than in the present instance. If P’d had the sense of a catfish ’d have known I was ventur- ing into a trap. But, here we are, and I don’t see as there is any use of crying over spilt milk!” ‘** Then, you don’t see any chance of our get- ting out?’ ‘There is only one chance that I can see!” Dick replied, ** And, what is that?” ‘* Dig out—cut our way out, with our knives!” ‘*T have no knife, Mine was taken from me, as was the jewelry you sold me back and what money | had!” ® “That’s bad!” Dick said, ‘‘ However, I have a couple of thousand dollars about me, and that will carry us a good ways if we succeed in mak- ing our escape. But, it will take a good while to cut a hole of sufficient size to admit of our getting out.” ‘“'That’s so. But, that seems our only salva- tion. Do you think Hastings will vacate the villa?” f ; “Ves. What Iam afraid of is that he will take the boat which leaves for A.ustralia, to- morrow, at four o’clock. If it isin our power, we must escape from here before that time.” ‘Then, let’s set to work at once, We will take turns at the work so as to progress fast. Is your knife sharp?” “You bet. I never carry dull tools, except those that bark and bite!” Dick accordingly set to work, with a will, at cutting his way out, He soon had made enough splinters so that Jolly built a little fire out of them, on the stone bottom. This produced enough light to see to work by. For hours the two men took turns at working, and, at last, bad one wide plank cut in two, Another similar cut, and the dismembered portion of the plank could be forced outward, without much trouble, ‘¢So, after a shortrest, the work was resumed, the chips and splinters serving to keep the tiny fire a-going; and several hours later the other slit was cub across the hard plank. Then, both Dick and Jolly united in giving the disconnected piece a fearful kick, and were rewarded by seeing the plank go flying out into the basement, leaving a large aperture through which the two friends at once crawled out of the bin, into the basement. Here another difficulty was encountered. The doors of the basement were locked. It did not, take long, however, son Dick to pry off the fastenings and soon after, they es- caped from the barn, and were free! Consulting his watch, he found they had been all night and the better part of the day, in effect- ing their escape. t was already two o’clock, Pp. M! Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. and the shutters tightly closed, and there were no signs of life, about the premises. ‘“*They’ve gone, you bet!” Dick averred, ‘and, ten to one they’re now on board the Austrailian steamship; so, no time is to be lost!” ** You're right!” Jolly rephed, ‘ If they get away this time, we shall indeed be baffled!’ They hastened to the nearest street car, and started for Dick’s disguise room, When they reached this, they disguised them- selves—Dick as a U. 8S. lientenant, regular army, with uniform, blonde wig, side-whiskers, and heavy mustache; while Joily made up as the officer’s colored servant. Each character was well taken, each outfit was complete in every detail, and secure as a disguise, Dick made a dashing-looking lieutenant, while Jolly’s make-up as an African gent was perfectly natural, When they were all fixed, and the other dis- guises had been hurried into a large sachel, the two man-hunters started, post haste, for the steamship dock, When they reached the steamship office, a great disappointment greeted the two avengers, The second Australian steamer of the week had left a half hour before, and was now only dimly visible to the naked eye, far down the barbor, owing to a slight fog. Hastily looking over the passenger list, Dick found ‘‘Henry Haskins” and ‘ Letha Love” registered as among the passengers. “They’ve goue!”’ he said, to Jolly, “ but not so far yet, to escape our vengeance. Let’s see if we can’t bire a tug, to run down and over- take them?” A search was hastily made. And at last one man was found, who agreed to put them aboard the Gallant, for one hundred and fifty dollars. Dick quickly accepted the offer, and while the tug was getting ready, he purchased tickets to Melbourne, for Jolly and himself, Tn half an hour, they were off. The tug was called the Daisy, and deserved the name, for it sped through the waters ata rapid rate of speed, and soon San Francisco began to grow dim in the distance. : * Then, as night settled down, the city disap- peared from view altogether, Luckily the moon came up, full and bright, oe lit up the dancing waves with beautiful effect, ft was after midnight ére the Gallant was overtaken, and Dick and Jolly received on board, There were few other than the crew on deck, and the majority of the passengers were none the wiser for the arrival of the young man- hunters. Down in his state-room, Henry Hastings would not have slept so undisturbedly, it is probable, if he had known that his two sworn and deadly enemies were so near at hand, Dick and Jolly were assigned a state-room to- gether, and not long they remained out of their bunks, for both were greatly fatigued. They could but congratulate each other, how- ever, that they had succeeded in thus far out- witting their enemy, after all. CHAPTER X. THE VERY MAN AND WOMAN, Ir is perhaps unnecessary for us to say that both Dick and Jolly slept soundly; and when they awoke the next morning, dressed, and weat on deck, they felt greatly retreshed, . The Gallant was well out to sea, by this time, and although the morning was clear and sunny, the American shore was only faintly visible in the distance. y The Gallant was one of the largest steamships plying on Western water's, and had been especial- ly built, and admirably equipped for the accom- modation of an extensive passenger traffic, Everywhere about the vessel scrupulous clean- liness was a noticeable feature, while the majority of the crew were sturdy, good-looking fellows, who seemed to take a pride in keeping themselves looking respectable. ’ As yet, neither Dick por Jolly had experienced the least feeling of sea-sickness, although they- found several miserable-looking passengers 0} deck, who had evidently been contributing their ** quota ” of experience to the care of the sad sea waves. Neither Dick nor Jolly had ever been on salt water before, and they thoroughly enjoyed the change. ** Well, here we are!” Dick said, as they seated themselves on the lee side of the ship, *‘ bound As Dick had predicted, the villa was locked, 'for a strange land we know nothing about, ‘ \ Ae a ste “
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if a 7 f , we wanted to go back!” **T should say so,” Jolly replied. ‘‘ As for me, I’m in no hurry to go back, lve always yearned for an ocean trip, but hardly expected such an opportunity as this would come to hand. Ven- geance and pleasure, don’t generally travel hand in hand. I wonder when we shall see our enemy?” “Hard tosay. He may keep to his recom the entire voyage. This is not probable, however, for I believe he is positive he has successfully eluded us, and that we are even now prisoners in the granary, back in ’Frisco. It he is satis- fied he is safe beyond our reach, he will no doubt be on deck to-day.” ‘tT hope so. I want to beable to draw one sure bead on the inhuman wretch, and that will settle him.” ‘* No, no, you must not seek to satisfy your revenge, yet awhile,” Dick protested, decisive- ] “You must wait until you are on shore. Remember we are on board a steamship, now, and if you were to use a weapon you would be put in irons for the remainder of the voyage, and eventually be turned over to the Australian authorities!” “Then, must we remain idle, all the way, when my very spirit cries for vengeance?” Jolly cried half angrily. “That’s what we must do!” was Deadwood Dick’s reply. ‘* But, [ tell you it is impossible. Do you sup- pose I can live through this journey and know that the man who put my father to such a terri- ble death, is within reach of my avenging hand? No, sir! Pl have his life, if I die for it the next instant!” * Well, [ have warned you!” Dick said, stern- ly, ‘and now, I command you to make no at- tempt on Hastings’s life, before we are on Aus- tralian soil, If you are wise, you will heed me!” ‘You command me, sir?” cried Jolly, angrily. “By what right, or power, do you command me, I'd like to know? Iam my own master, Pl have you know, sir.” “That may all be, but I would prevent you from committing an act, while aboard this boat, for which you would be the greatest sufferer, in the long run.” “You'd prevent me, would you? Well, just let me tell you that you can’t doit! DP’m not bound to obey your wishes, and if I see fit to kill the murderer of my father, I shall do so!” ‘Oh, well, do as you please, then!” Dick said, his own anger rising. “If you’re fool enou®h to attempt so rash an act, you forfeit my friend- ship, and if you get into trouble, you must take the consequences, and not depend upon me to help you out.” ** A fig for your friendship, and that for your assistance!” Jolly cried, snapping his thumb and forefinger, contemptuously. He then arose, and stalked away to the fore part of the ship. 7 ag gazed after him with rather an anxious ‘*T do believe the fellow is out of his head,” he mused. ‘‘I hope to goodness he won’t be foolish enough to create any disturbance on board, for if he does, it will only be the worse for both of us.” Trusting Jolly would soon get over his huff, Dick paid no more attention to him, but went below, and got his breakfast, Afterward, he procured a book from the 8 library, and went up on deck again, where he seated himself ina shady place, and spent the forenoon in smoking and reading. The day was a most beautiful one, with a soft breeze and sky of azure blue, and the water be- ing very smooth, the steamship plowed along at a good rate of speed. Toward noon, the ship's captain, a genial- looking fellow, approached the * lieutenant.” “ How’s this?’ he asked, pleasantly. ‘ Your servant has requested that he shall be trans- ferred to steerage passige. I thought before doing so, ’'d come and speak to you about it, ‘Thank you,” Dick said. ‘‘ Jasper does get a little cranky once in a while over a trifle. Cer- tainly, if he prefers the steerage to my state- room, let him have his choice. I dare say he will be glad to come back again, in due time.” “You can rest assured of that,” the captain replied, with a laugh, ‘for egy av steerage passengers there are no less than sixteen mothers with squalling babies, en route for Sydney.” He turned away then, chuckling to himself, , “T think Jolly is getting the worst of it,” Dick smiled, as he resumed reading. Early in the afternoon, Hastings came on Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. ! We're too far out, I reckon, to wade ashore, if | He was no longer in disguise, and though his face was s.noothly shaven, Dick knew him inan instant. He was dressed in a plain broadcloth suit, and carried a gold-headed cane. His face was pale and somewhat haggard, and there was a hunted look about his eyes. After strolling about the deck for a while and scrutinizing the passengers, he took a seat not far from Dick, whom he regarded inquiringly. Directly he moved a few seats nearer. “ Going to Australia, sir?’ he inquired. **T am,” Dick replied, , ‘ You belong to the U. 8. Army, I take it?” ' ‘Well, no, not any longer. I am from New York, and bound for the interior of Australia, where I have extensive mining interests!” ** Ah! just so. I suppose New York is a great city, from what Ihave heard?” “Tt is the city of the world, in my estimation. Ever been there?” ‘*No, but, after visiting Australia and Lon- don, I think of going there. I suppose a man of means would find plenty of ovportunities to start into a profitable business there?” “Ob! certainly. A man with money can make money there.” Dick then picked up his book and resumed reading, as a hint that he did not want to con- verse any longer, and Hastings evidently took the hint, for he arose and walked away. Soon after, he went below, and that was the last Dick saw of him that day. Night came on—a night just warm enough to be pleasant, and such passengers as were not sea-sick, thronged upon deck. But, Henry Hastings was not among them. Deadwood Dick eagerly scanned the faces of those near him, but saw no one he knew—until a woman, dressed in black, and wearing a heavy crape vail, came and sat down within a few feet of bim. Then, a strange thrill passed through him, and his heart beat faster. Could it be—was it indeed Sylvan, whom he last had seen on the island in Sylvan Lake, Southern Oregon, when sbe had kissed bim good-by, and told him that she loved him? The strange sensation caused by this vailed woman’s proximity to him, compelled him to believe that she it was indeed! Her graceful figure and small white hands were like Sylvan’s, but ber face—he could not see that on account of the vail. Both were Seated in the stern of the boat, and there were but few in the vicinity. The lady paid no attention to Dick, but gazed silently toward thé American shores, now lost to view in the distance. Dick watched her, and once or twice fancied he saw her give a sigh. : ‘* Blame me if I know whether to speak to her or not,” he mused. ‘‘I am almost certain it is Sylvan, but, if it should not be, I’'d be in a deuce of a fix!” He hesitated for some time, weighing care- fully what would probably be the result should he make a blunder. At last, however, he decided to run the risk, and uttered, in a low tone, the single word: “ Sylvan)” He saw her start violently, and turn her face toward him. Evidently she was gazing at him through the meshes of her vail. Then, she leaned forward, toward him. ‘Did you address me, sir?” she inquired, in a slightly unsteady voice. ‘Tl believe I did,” Dick replied. Lady Sylvan, of the Sylvan Island!” ‘** How do you know?” was the quick interrog- atory. ‘‘Whoare you? Ihave never met you before!” “Oh! yes youhave. Not long ago we parted “You are under very extraordinary circumstances)’ She started, violently. ‘* What! you—you are not Mr. Bristol?” ‘*The very identical Richard!” ““Thank Heaven! They told me you were dead!” ** Who told you?” “ He did. ou know who I mean!” There was a silence of a few seconds; then Sylvan quickly arose, s* I must not be seen talking with you,” she said. ‘‘He would kill me. I will go below and see if it is safe for me to be up here!” ‘** You will come back?” “Tf possible, If not, I will see you at another time!” She turned then, and glided away. Dick watched her until she had disappeared, and then turned his gaze once more out upon the beauteous, tranquil, moonlit ocean, ‘“A human enigma! A woman of mystery, and yet, tho’ faithful to a demon, she loves me!” was the thought that kept passing through his mind, . CHAPTER XI. SYLVAN’S STORY. SYLVAN came back rather sooner than Dick had expected, and drew her camp-stool up close to his. ‘*T guess all is safe for the present,” she said, throwing back her vail, and ri vealing to his ad- miring gaze, her fair, teautiful face, lit up gloriously by the rival effects of the moonlight, and her lustrous brown eyes. ‘‘ He has been drinking hard all the day, and is now sleeping off the effects of his debauch!” ‘You refer to Hastings?’ Dick asked. ac Yes. ” ‘* Where are the negro and Blackthorn?” ‘* They are in the forward part of the boat, as steerage passengers!” “You are bound for Melbourne, eh?” ‘‘T suppose so, Oh! Mr. Bristol, are you go- ing to kill him?” ** Well, that’s rather a hard question to an- swer,” Dick replied. ‘‘ So far as 1 am concerned, I do not propose to molest him, as long as we are on board this ship, no matter what I may do afterward. But, lam not the only avenger on board.” ‘‘No? Who else is there?” “ Jolly Johnson, son of OJd Job, whom Hast- ings whipped to death. Jolly has sworn to avenge his father’s death, and I sha’n’t be sur- prised if he does it, before we touch land, If he does, it will take the responsibility off my shoulders.” ‘¢ Then, if he is to be killed at all, I hope John- son will do the job!” Sylvan said, ‘‘although I should prefer that the crime be left undone!” * “Why so?” ‘¢ Because murder is a terrible thing!” “Very true! But the killing of that infernal wretch could scarcely be called murder. It should be better termed a well-deserved retribu- tion. Look at the black record of this king of rogues, as it pleases him to style bimself. If ever a man deservei hanging, he does.” ‘* But, why not arrest him, and let the law deal with him?” ‘* Justice is too tardy. You seem to take somewhat of an interest in his welfare?” ‘No, I do not, in the least. How much I loathe and abhor the very presence of the man no one can ever know. Still, my very soul re- volts at the thought of murder!” ‘* You would rather continue under this mys- terious bondage, than have Henry Hastings killed?” ‘*Rather than have him killed by you—yes!” “ Sylvan?” ‘Mr. Bristol?” ‘*Do you remember when we last met, that you told me that you loved me?” And Dick took her fair white hands in his own. ‘*-Ye-s! 1 did tell you so, and—” “Did you tell me the truth?” “*T don’t know as [ had any reason for telling an untruth!” was the frank response, while a pretty rose tint stole into her cheeks. ‘‘ I never expected to see you again in this world, or per- haps I should not have spoken as I did.” “You promised me, too, Sylvan, that, if ever we were to meet again, you woukd lay before me the story of your life, thus clearing away the gt may surrounds you.” “Yes, I know I did, but it was in a weak mo- ment I did so. I beg, sir, that you will not press me to comply with my promise.” ‘ Why not?? ‘or good reasons; what I would have to tell you would be better left untold!” ‘**T do not see how that is,” “Maybe not. But, if you were to hear all, you would turn away from me, and despise me, and then!—then, I should be indeed without a friend on the face of the earth!” she said, bury- ing her face in her hands. ™ “Sylvan, do not say that,. Nothing you could tell me of vour past could change my re- spect for you, for I f ull well realize that you are martyring yourself toa terrible thraldom, rather than tell of the cause of your suffering. Con- fide in me, and T’ll stand by you!” ‘Will you? Ob! you are so good that Tam almost afraid to sit here, in your presence, lest I contaminate you! But, J will tell you my story, and will try to steel myself to the scorn you will have for me, after you have heard it. ns ‘** The particulars I have to give you, of my — ree early life, are very meager, and not interesting, — ' - ei c=, ie
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Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. 11 I was found in the streets of San Francisco, when a toddling infant, by an old rag-picker, named Paro Patch. “No one knew me, nor did any one ever claim me, and so Paro, miser though he was, adopted me as his own. ““He reared me after his own style of living, and what little education I got, other than by bitter experience, I picked up on the streets, or at night-schools, ** When I reached the age of fourteen, ragged though I was, I was voted good-looking, and had numbers of would-be beaux. By this time Old Paro was getting too old to pick rags, and as I had higher ideas, I started a newspaper stand on a street corner. It paid, too, for all the young men patronized me liberally, and I did a thriving business. ‘¢ Among others who became my patrons, was a well-to-do broker, named Henry Hastings. He was old enough to be my father, but was stylish, and nice looking. He seemed to be at- tracted by my good looks, and sometimes bought all my papers, in addition to which he sometimes gave me little sums of money, and trinkets. **Unsuspicious of his evil designs, I grew to think a good deal of him. ‘““One day, after supplying me with good clothes, he induced me to go carriage-riding. During that ride, he told me that Old Paro had an immense fortune concealed in tie hovel where we lived, and he told me if I would help him to secure tuat fortune, he would give me half, we to elope together, get married, and go to the great city of New York, and there live in the greatest magnificence, with servants, horses and carriages, and everything that mortal heart could desire. “*T think the villain had me under a spell, for what, with all the grand pictures portrayed by him, [ had not the power to resist him, and promised to become a partner to his schemes, “* He, the devil, or some other evil spirit, had ssession of me, for when he ordered, I obeyed, ike a well-trained servant. ‘* When be gave me wuat he said wasa strong sleeping potion, I put it in Old Paro’s tea, one evening, as Hastings had directed; then, with my evil genius, after the old miser was asleep, we ransacked the hovel together. ‘** We looked everywhere, but found nothing, and Hastings went away, ina towering rage. Oh! was I not glad, when he was gone, that we had found_no money? Indeed I was! Whata good girl I would be, in the future, I said to myself, : “But, my joy was destined to turn to utter- most horror and grief, for when, after I had put things to rights, I tried to arouse Paro, | discovered that [ was a murderess! The old man was stone dead, and fearfully distorted and swollen. “Good God! I can never get that awful scene from my memory. [ saw the result of my folly, and realized the awful position I was placed in, and that my only salvation was to fly, and seek concealment among strangers. I did not seem to realize, though, that such a course would fasten the evidence all the stronger against me. *T had managed to save up a few dollars, and with this to aid me, I fled to San Diego, where I rocured a situation at housework, It was not ong, however, ere I was found by Henry Hast- ings, who came, armed with papers containing offers of five hundred dollars for my capture, and also a personal description of me. Of course, I was nearly crazed by this, and Hast- ings pretended to manifest great sympathy for me, and after making brags of all the riches he ssessed, declared his love for me, and offered ‘marry me, assuring me he would protect me from the long-reaching arm of the law, ** Being only fifteen years old, I naturally re- fused, but when he threatened to give me up to the law, I knew that I had but one choice, and I consented!” f j ‘* What? you really married that wretch?” Dick exclaimed. é “ Yes, I did! It was my only chance to evade the gallows; for in those days, the laws of *Frisco were more unmerciful to crimnals than now. ‘Well, we were no more than married when ‘I was informed by Hastings that, forever after, T could consider myself his slave and menial, and that if I dared to disobey him in the slight- est, he would unbesitatingly hand me over to the hangman. He also told me that it had been - discovered that old Paro’s fortune was in a San - Francisco bank, together with the last will and testament, which made me heiress to all his. - wealth when I should become twenty-one. ‘Well, we traveled through the different Ter- | while on board the Gallant, and I hope you will } ritories until over a year and a half ago, when the counterfeiting plant was established on Syl- van Lake Island, and I was forced to play the role of queen. That is all. I have told you everything, except the torture and abuse I have undergone. I could scarcely find words ade- quate to express what I have suffered, both men- tally and physicaliy. I know you will despise, abhor me, but I cannot help it!” ** Par from it, Sylvan. f have all along be- lieved you to be the victim of circumstances over which you had no control, and now I know it; and realizing how you have suffered and martyred yourself, my respect for you has only increased,” **Oh! bless you for those words!” she said, in a husky tone, while tears glistened in her eyes, “*T never knew what it was to have a true friend before, except in you and old Paro. I feel so happy!” ‘*T hope far greater happiness may be in store for you in the future,” Dick said, gently press- ing her hands in his. ‘‘ For I swear that, ere a month passes over our heads, this yoke that binds you to Henry Hastings shall be rent asunder! ** Ay, more: you shall be vindicated of all blame for the death of Paro Patch, and stand forth before the world a free and innocent woman!” ‘Oh! that it could only be as you say! But it cannot—no, no! it can never be!” ‘‘Tt can be! Before Henry Hastings meets his doom, he shall make reparation for the great wrong he has done you by clearing you of all guilt. To this I swear; and then, and only then, will Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt be at an end!” “*O! thank you! thank you, sir! If it were only in my power to repay you for your kind- ness!’ “Speak not of payment now. At another time, under different circumstances, I may claim my reward!” Dick replied, drawing her quickly to him, and imprinting a kiss upon her forehead. ‘‘ But you have not told me what your name is.” ‘‘How am I to do so, when I do not even know myself what my real name is, nor who my parents were? Paro named me Polly Patch!” “Well, Dll call you Sylvan, which is much prettier, When are you of age?” ** Two months from to-day.” ‘Will Hastings, or rather, would he if living, return to Frisco and claim your fortune?” ‘*T presume so.” : ‘* Well, you can rest easy that_be will never set foot in Cahfornia again. When any one presents a claim for the Patch fortune, if shall be you!” hi They conversed a short time longer, then Syl- van went belgw decks, one of the happiest women on the great ship Gallant. CHAPTER XII, ‘4s MAN OVERBOARD!” _ THE next day, was a duplicate of the preced- ing one, with lovely sunny sky, and a brisk breeze that filled the sails of “a Gallant, and caused her to scud along like a thing of life, in- creasing upon the speed furnished by the great engines. Dick was up, during the early morning hours, and after a hearty breakfast, went upon deck. During the forenoon, he sent for Jolly, who, after some delay, made his appearance. “Well, what do you want?” he demanded, surlily. “Sit down, and I will tell you!” Dick re- plied, After Jolly became seated, Dick went on and related his interview with Sylvan, and the story she had told him, concerning her life, ‘Now, you see!” Dick said, in conclusion, ‘it igs necessary that a paper should be forced from Hastings, vindicating Sylvan from all re- sponsibility for Paro’s death, before a blow is struck. Were you to kill Hastings, before this paper can be obtained, the stain of guilt must always necessarily rest upon Sylvan’s name, nor can she come into possession of her fortune. Understand?” Jolly nodded. ** Yes, But, how do you expect to get such a paper?” ; “Leave that to my ingenuity. Promise to make no attempt upon Hastings’s life and I will give you then free privilege of avenging your father’s, murder, anc propose to do the wind-up of the game!” considered my intention of killing Hastings, Sak hag me for flaring up, the way I did, yester- ay.’ “Of course I will. I knew you would think better of it, when you had time to consider, Now, [ll tell you my plans: I have had a talk already, with Hastings, and I am satisfied he does not recognize me in this disguise, nor sus- pect wholam, Iam aware that he is fond of gambling, and before this boat touches at Mel- bourne, | propose to win away every dollar the villain has, so that, when he arrives in port, he will be penniless, with starvation staring him in the face. It will then be impossible for him to escape from the city, and, as a result, I shall corner him, and at the pisto!’s point, demand from him the paper exonerating Sylvan from alk guilt, with the proviso that, if he makes a clean, confession, according to my directions, I will forego my threat upon his life, and cease to pur- sue him. I think he will jump at the opportun- ity. After 1 am through with him, you cam have your chance!” “Very well! That suits me,” Jolly assented, ‘*and you can bet I shall be very near at hand, too, when you are through with him!” Thus the two young men once more were on amicable terms. It was hard on to noon when Hastings came on deck, He was dim-eyed, and haggard, and looked as though he had had a tough time of it, during the night. Not long after he came up, Dick sauntered over to where he was standing. ‘*Good-morning!” the ‘lieutenant’ saluted, pleasantly. ‘‘ Have a cigar!” “Thanks!” accepting it. ‘*'You look @ little blue this fine morning,” Dick continued, ‘‘Had a touch of seasick- ness?” ‘*No, I haven’t, though more’s the wonder, for I’m not at home on the water. These sea voyages are confoundedly monotonous, when there’s nothing to amuse one’s self with, excepts to sit and stare at the everlasting waste of waters. Would you believeit, | made a canvas. of the whole gents’ cabin, and couldn’t scare up aman to playa game of poker; couldn’t even fivd one with gumption enough to tackle me at eucher.” * £*Tndeed! board.” “Well, Ishould say so. sir?” “Oh! once ina while I dip ina little, when there is anything worth while to play for. I’m not a successful meets but Targue if a fellow don’t enjoy himself as he goes along he loses the best half of living.” te * “ Yes, that’s so—that’s so. What do you say, lieutenant, if we try a few hands, just to pass away the time?” : Japital idea,” Dick decided, ‘‘ Have you cards?’ ‘*T have that.” ‘* Well, get them, while I order wine, and join me in my state-room, where things will be quiet. 1 dislike playing in public.” “So do I.” They accordingly went below, and in five minutes were seated at a table in Dick’s state- room, with the cards and plenty of wine at command, for Dick meant that his man should not go thirsty. ‘*Whatshall the game be?’ Hastings asked, after he had partaken of a brimming glass of Old Port. ** On, make it something worth while,” Dick re- plied; ‘‘say a hundred dollar ante and thousand dollar limit, that is, if you can stand that much?” ‘¢Oh! Tean stand twenty times that much!” was the reply. ‘It shall be as you propose.” And so the play began. All the afternoon the two men sat at the table and played, with varying luck. At one time Dick was down to his last five bundred dollars; : F There must be a pious crowd on Do you ever play, then his luck changed, and he won pot after pot. . in succession, When the supper call sounded, he arose from the table, six thousand dollars the winner, “ Quite a haul!” he remarked. ** Never mind,” Hastings replied, with stoical coolness. ‘‘I’m not broke yet, by a long shot, and you'll find me the gamest man you ever met, We'll try it over again, and either I'll break you before we reach Melbourne, or youll break me.” “Allright! That?s a bargain.” And after agreeing to a continuation of the will explain to you how I | game, in the evening, the two went to supper. | Sylvan was at the table, but never onco “Certainly I promise. I have already re- | glanced at the man sheloyed, nor did Dick more than give her a passing notice. Hastings noticed this fact, and looked puz-
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_— — re Sadiechetcnisesialanetete er hekeaece etapa 12 oe So CREE Oats cl | zled, for Sylvan’s pretty face attracted much attention from the other male passengers seated at the table. Dick did so, Two thousand dollars was in the pot. | ‘Now, if 1 show you that I hold the winning After supper, Dick went on deck and smoked | hand, the pot is mine, I suppose?’ Hastings a cigar, and while there, he heard a great com- motion, forward, and cries of: ‘A fight! a fight!” Something told him that Jolly Johnson was | in some way concerned in the rumpus, and a few bounds brought him to the scene of the trouble, just as a cry went up, of— ‘Man overboard! map overboard!” It was several minutes, owing to the crowded state of the fore part of the vessel, ere Dick could find out what the trouble: was, By this time, the man who had gone over- board, had been hauled up on deck, and proved to be no oné else but Jolly Johnson! Two other participants in the melee, had been handcuffed by the vessel officers, and were taken below. They were no other personages than Nick Noodle, and Jack Hurd alias Blackthorn, ‘* Your servant came near getting a watery grave,” the ship’s captain said, tappmg Dick on | the shoulder, “Why, what was the matter?” “Oh! the tough and the other negro, whom I have had put in irons, are a hard crowd, I’ve noticed they have been trying to pick a quarrel with your servant, all day, and warned them to desist. But they didn’t appear to pay any at- tention to my orders, and a bit azo, 1 saw the white fellow step up and slap Jasper, as you call him, in the face, ‘Jasper promptly retaliated, by knocking down both the white tough and the other negro, In doing so, however, he slipped and fell, and then they both pounced upon him, and threw him overboard, ‘‘Tsaw the whole affair, and quickly threw . Jasper a life-line, which he had the presence of nind to seize, and in that way his life was saved!” ** What will you do with the two assailants?” “Keap them in irons until we reach Mel- bourne, and then turn them over to the authori- ties,” As soon as Dick could reach Jolly, he hurried him off to his state-room, and from among the assortment of disguises, a fair suit was selected, ard donned, ‘*T thought I was a goner, for sure,” he said, ‘but I guess I’ve got some o’ your cat luck, Dick,” ‘* Why were you tackled?’ “*T don’t know, unless it was because they. dis- covered that I was not a genuine black, and suspected whol was, I gave ’em two sockdola- gers, right from the shoulder, that they wort soon forget, anyhow.” “Well, they'll not bother you again, while we're on shipboard,” Dick informed his pard, ‘* for the captain has had them putinirons, I haven’t seen either of them coabhe to Hastings, and so, if they had any suspicions, I don’t think they communicated them to him!” Later in the evening, Dick and Hastings met in the former’s compartment, and the second bout at poker was soon under way. - CHAPTER XIII, THE WINNING HAND, THE. good ship Gallant bowled along right merrily over the waves of the Pacific, encoun- tering nothing but fair weather from the time she left Frisco, until she sighted Melbourne. It was after dark, when she entered Melbourne Harbor, and dropped anchor, to await the com- ing of morning before steaming up to her pier. At the Same time the anchor was sent a-spin- ning, Deadwood Dick and Henry Hastings sat at the table in the former’s state-room, playing what was destined to be their last game of poker, ‘together, ** There ismy last thousand dollars!” Hastings | said, grimly, as he slapped several bank-notes down upon the table. ‘If you win that, you beat me out of the last cent I have, in the world!” ** Sorry for you,” Dick replied, complacently, “*but 1 believe it was your own proposition that ‘we should play until one or the other was broke, owas it not?” ‘* Yes, so it was, see. My luck may change. Deal the cards and -we'll make our bets before we look at our hands. . , ashore to-night! But, I ain’t broke yet, you | i | i ! i | observed, | ‘* Exactly. What have you got?” Hastings turned his cards over, ‘* Three sixes!” he exclaimed, triumphantly. ' Very good!” Dick said, coolly, ‘* but not | good enough. I have a royal flush!” | “ That’s good, but does not win\” ‘** How do you make that out?” ‘* Because I hold the winning hand!” ‘*T fail to see it, sir.” j ‘‘Then, maybe you see it now!” the villain hissed, and, with lightning quickness, he pro- duced a cocked six-shooter, and Jeveled at Dick’s heart. ‘* Deadwood Dick, you’ve played well, but ost, and now, you die like the dog you are! The next instant, there was a ringing report of the weapon. Dick Bristol partly arose from his chair, with a gasp, but sunk back again, and thence tum- bled to the floor, insensible. ‘At last!” Hastings gritted, as he left his seat, and hurried around to where the detective lay as motionless as a log.» ‘I gave him timely warning, and no one is to blame for his death but himself! 1 must get the money, and then leave the steamer at once. It won't do for me toremain here until morning, under any cir- cumstances!” He quickly rifled his victim’s pockets, of everything valuable, and then, placing the weapon he had fired. in close proximity to Dick’s right hand, he gathered up the cards, and slipped quietly frega the state-room, to his own compartment. Owing to the aoise consequent upon lowering of the anchor, the report of the pistol-shot evi- dently bad not attracted any attention, | in fifteen minutes more both Hastings and Sylvan were on deck, the latter heavily vailed. pep pechitg the captain, Hastings said: ** We would like to go ashore to-night, sir.” ‘‘Impossible,” the captain replied. ‘ No pas- sengers will be landed before to-morrow.” ‘* But this is a matter of greatest importance,” the king of rogues assured. ‘This young lady, my niece, wassome time ago left a large for- tune, payable to her providing she laid claim to it within a certain length of time. We have ex- perienced much delay in getting to this country, andif my niece does not get to Melbourne in time to lay claim to the money, to-night, be- fore a o’clock, she forfeits the entire for- tune ‘* Well, that’s _bad, sure enough!” the captain declared, ‘‘ but I reckon youll have to wait till the health officers comes aboard, which, most likely, won’t be until morning. (It’s against rules to land passengers until @hey are in- spected.” _ “But, I tell you, we must go ashore!” Hast- ings declared, working himself into a passion. ‘* If we stay here until morning we will be the loser by ten thousand pounds, See here! you can give me a voucher to give to the health officer, that we are all O. K., and that will settle the whole matter. Put us ashore and I'll give you five hundred dollars!” ‘* Impossible, sir, Can’t do it.” ** Pil give you a thousand, then!” The captain scratched his head and whistled. A thousand dollars was a big sum of money, in his estimation, After deliberating a moment he went and spoke to the first mate, Finally he returned and said: “Well, it’s a risky piece of business to at- tempt, but, as your business ashore is so urgent, Vil try and accommodate you. So let’s have the money.” Hastings paid over the money without a mur- mur. Only too glad was he to get off that vessel had the cost been twice as much. By the captain’s orders a boat was lowered and manned, and a few minutes later Hastings and Sylvan were being rowed rapidly ashore. — Joily Johnson saw the departure as he stood leaning against the rail on the upper deck. * By gracious! What does this mean?” he muttered. ‘I thought no passengers were to go I must see if Dick knows of this!” He hurried to the deck below but could find no trace of Dick. and so descended to the state- You are a card sharp, but I feel that I shall | room, where he found his pard lying. his full «win, this time!” Dick dealt the cards, five to Hastings and five -to himself, ‘* Now, then,” said Hastings, s oving forward shis money, ‘* there’s my money up. Cover it!” length upon the floor, apparently hfeless. With a ery of horror jolly knelt beside his pard and tore open his shirt. _ There was a small discolored spot over the heart, but Jolly could find no bullet wound, Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. Placing his ear over the heart he found that it still beat, but very fast. Quickly procuring some water he dashed it into Dick’s face. The result was that Dick speedily opened his eyes, and then, after passing his hand across his forehead, sevéral times, he staggered to his feet. “Another close shave!” he said, pressing his hand in the region of his heart, ‘‘ What is the matter?” Jolly asked, anxiously. * Did you accidentally shoot yourself?” * Accidentally shoot myself? Well, I should say not. I was playing a wind-up game of poker with Hastings, and had won his last dol- lar, when he drew a bead on me, and let drive straight at my beart. The bullet rendered me unconscious, and— Yes, by thunder, the rascal has rifled my pockets of every cent of money I had!” ‘“* Worse than that!” Jolly replied, “for our game has flown. They just left the vessel for the shore.” . ‘* Thunderation!” “Tis true, That’s why I came to find you, to see if you knew anything about it. But, Dick, for the love of goodness, pray explain to me one thing that isa mystery.” ** What is that?” * How is it, that any one can blaze away at your heart without killing you?” Dick smiled. ‘* Oh! it’s a little contrivance of my own,” he said, ‘* being a rubber and silk-inflated saucer, | which I wear over the region of my heart. This saucer is inflated with compressed air, and ac- cordingly, when the bullet strikes the saucer, it does not penetrate, if the shot is square in front; it simply rebounds without doing any damage, more than the shock it gives. When the bullet strikes the pad or saucer, it forces out the air around therim, The saucer is held in place by two rubber strings. When the air escapes, the saucer suddenly contracts to about the size of a silver dollar, This contraction breaks one of the slight rubber strings, and the saucer is thence drawn across my breast, either to one armpit or the other.” ‘Well, by Jove! you’re a brick. Who elsein the world but you could ever have conceived such a thing.” ; . ‘*Well, I don’t know about that, but I do know the contrivance has been the means of saving my life several times. But, we must not stand idle here. If Hastings has gone ashore we must give chase, Did Sylvan accompany im? captain, I wish to be taken ashore at once,” Dick said. ‘Impossible, sir. We can land no passengers to-night, sir.” ‘** But, you must. You have already sent two ashore, and [ demand that the same privilege be accorded to me and my valet,” ‘Yes, sah! we demand, sah, dat de same earings be concorded us!” put in Jolly, pomp- ously. ‘Sorry, sir, but I cannot accommodate you. It was only on account of a matter of life and death that I allowed those passengers to go ashore.” ‘*A matter of life and death, eh? Well, I should say so. Do you know that you have baffled the law, sir? That man when ashore isa fugitive from justice. Before leaving this ship he made an attempt upon my life, and suc- ceeded in robbing me of over twenty thousand dollars.” ‘* The deuce you say.” “*T am telling you the truth. Iam a United States detective, and I demand to be put ashore.” ‘*Can’t do it, sir. I have already imperiled my position by allowing those people to go ashore before the health- officer boarded us.” ‘* But, I tell you we must go ashore!” *Can’t help it. You can’t go, unless you swim, I shall not land another passenger, to- night, and that settles that!” and with a digni- fied strut; the captain turned away. | Dick was literally ‘‘ hopping mad,” and so | was Jolly, but, that was about all the good it | did them. “ This is infernally provoking!” Dick growled. Hastings will have full twelve hours the start of | us, before we land!” ‘¢That’s so,” Jolly replied, ‘‘but, that ain’t Yes,” ‘Then, come.” They hastened on deck and sought out the | the worst drawback: We have no money, even | when we do get on shore.” : ‘Oh! Pil attend to that. Lhavea couple of unset diamonds with me, that will sell at sight, ee i
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It’s the vexation of I sup- for a thousand dollars. waiting here, all night, that’s my burt. pose there’s no help for it, however!” Nor was there. The boat that had taken Hastings and Sylvan ashore, returned, and was reboisted to its crane, Dick and Jolly sat ou deck all night, feeling anything but comfortable over the fact that they had again suffered defeat, when their game was within their easy grasp. After undergoing quarantine inspection, the next morning the Gallant raised anchor, about ten o’clock, and steamed along through the har- bor, to her pier, where she discharged her cargo of human freight. CHAPTER XIV. SYLVAN IN A NEW ROLE, A MELBOURNE morning paper contained the following paragraph: “MURDER!! ‘* PATROL-OFFICER HAYES FATALLY STABBED; ASSASSIN ESCAPES! “Shortly after sunset, last evening, the steamship, Gallant, from ’Frisco, anchored off Quarantine, to await the customary sanitary and custom inspection, before coming to her pier. ‘Later in the evening, one of the sbip’s boats landed two passengers on thé pier, and returned to the ship, The passengers landed, were a smooth-faced, well-dressed elderly man, and a black-clad woman, who was heavily vailed. ** As the couple were about to leave the pier, they were intercepted by Officer Hayes, who politely informed them that he should have to take them into custody, until the Gallant bad passed inspection the next day. ** At this the male passenger grew furious, and drawing a knife, he plunged it in the officer’s breast, Then, he and his companion fled, each taking a different direction. “It was quite dark, at the time the tragedy occurred, and there were comparatively few persons in the vicinity of the pier; so the strange couple had no difficulty in making their ren ‘When Hayes’s body was found by officer Keogh life was extinct. An alarm was imme- diately sent out, and ina short time every offi- cer on the force was on the lookout for the murderer. Up to the hour of going to press no tidings of an arrest have been received,” When the passengers of the Gallant arrived in Melbourne, they found the people of the city in a very excited state of mind, It did not take Dick and Jolly long to find out what the cause of the commotion was, and they scarcely felt surprised when they found that Hastings had added another to his list of crimes, 4 J Well, you can bet it will go tough with our man, if he falls into the bands of these Austra- lians, for their ways and methods are somewhat similar to those of our wild West people. So Sylvan went one way and Hastings the other, eh? Well, I’m glad of that. I hope the girl has cut loose from that accursed villain for good,” Dick said. | During that day the two friends wandered aimlessly about the quaint Australian metrop- olis, with nothing to do but to see what was to be seen. } i Where to look for either Sylvan or Hastings, of course they did not know, and there was nothing to do but await the investigation of the lice. . Before leaving the Gallant Jolly had, by the use of an alkaline soap, washed the black stains from his face and hands, and resumed his better attire, so that he now looked like himself once more. Dick had likewise undisguised himself, Puring the day they visited several jewelry stores, and finally Dick succeeded in disposing of his diamonds advantageously, receiving for them the comfortable sum of fifteen hundred dollars, which, in fact, they were well worth. Everybody in Melbourne was greatly exer- cised over the murder of Officer Hayes, and it was evident the police and local detectives were doing their best to run down the murderer, During the afternoon Dick paid a visit to the chief of police, and, introducing bimself, was cordially received, To the chief he gave a detailed account of what he knew about Hastings’s infamous career, and it proved to be data which the chief highly appreciated. < ** Qh! we'll nab the rascal before many hours nave elapsed,” the official assured, ‘and if we do, you can rest assured we'll make short work Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. of him. My force is composed of as wide-awake a set of men as ever did police duty, and they are familiar with every haunt in the city. Hayes was one of my most valuable men, and you can rest assured that no effort will be spared to hunt down the assassin.” ** Do you think he is still in the city.” ‘*T haven’t a doubt of it, The outlying patrol squads were the first of all to be notified to look out for him, I am certain he could not have eluded their vigilance. He has most likely taken refuge in some of the lower quarters of the city.” “Have you offered a reward for his cap- ture?” ‘* Yes; one hundred pounds. If I find it ne- cessary, the city authorities will increase it.” After chatting for a considerable length of time, Dick took his departure, receiving a cor- dial invitation to call again. That day passed, and several others followed, without any new developments being made, Each day Dick and Jolly wandered around the city. in hopes of finding some clew to Hastings’s whereabouts, but each day they were unsuccessful, Gradually public interest in the case began to lag, but the policemen were vigilant and watch- ful—ceaselessly on the alert. In the mean time, after a shott delay, during which the captain of the Gallant was fined a thousand dollars, and discharged, the before- mentioned steamship started for ’Frisco. The captain returned with her, but it was only as a passenger. Blackthorn and Nicodemus Noodle, who had been turned over to the Melbourne authorities, were fined and sentenced to five days’ imprison- ment, Luckily, they had the money to pay their fines, or they would have got a much lon- ger term. On the fifth of their stayin Melbourne, Dick and Jolly were treated to a surprise. It came in the shape of an enyelope directed to ‘* Mr. Richard Bristol,” at the hotel where they were stopping. Strangest of all, the envelope bore the post- mark of Adelaide. “ A clew at last, ’ll wager!” Dick said, “ for the directions are ina female hand, and who else can this be from, but Sylvan?” With great eagerness he tore open the envel- ope, and took out—a card. A card, and nothing more, containing thé fol- lowing, printed in red ink: , “DE LONG’S CONSOLIDATEL CONTINENTAL CIRCUS ADELAIDE. Apmit OnE!” “Well, now, what does this mean?” Dick de- manded, staring at Jolly in astonishment. ““Who in blazes could have sent me this? I don’t know any one in Adelaide no more than I know the man in the moon, and I’m sure I don’t know him.” Jolly laughed. ‘““T see it all,” he said. ‘Your lady love is anchored in a circus, in Adelaide, and not wish- ing to say so in so many words, has sent you the ticket as a pointer!” ** But, what would she be doing in a circus ?” “ Blest if [ know. What do you say—shall we go to Adelaide and find out? ‘* Both of us must not leave here. Blackthorn and Nick are out of jail to-day, you know, and their every movement must be watched. By that method we are most likely to stumble upon the hiding-place of Hank Hastings!” ‘*Oh! very well, then; P’ll stay behind,” Jolly replied. “T had nearly forgotten that two is company, Where three isa crowd. Of course, I should awfully hate to be present when you next meet your sweetheart!” ‘¢Oh! dry up!” Dick retorted. ‘t Noone has intimated that she is my sweetheart!” Resolved to solve the meaning of the card, Dick took the very next train for Adelaide, where he arrived in time for the evening per- formance. A He found the circus to be a concern that di- vided its time each yeur between Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, and a few other less import- ant towns. It was, in reality, a mixture of every day circus and vaudeville performance, there being no pretensions of a menagerie, except a few snakes, monkeys. and a fat woman in the inevitable ‘‘ museum.” Procuring a programme, Dick Bristol entered the tent, and succeeded in getting a front seat. The performance commenced with a crash of alleged music from brazen-throated instruments and the ‘‘ grande entree” of gayly caparisoned 13 men and women on horseback. Then came a painful spell of tumbling, leaping, and other acrobatic exercises. Consulting his programme, Dick saw that the principal event cf the evening was a high-wire walking act, viz: ‘“ ExTrRA:—SpPecIAL ENGAGEMENT—FOR A FEW NIGHTS ONLY. MADEMOISELLE LEONORA! Tun QUEEN OF THE SLACK Wrre, Who, without balance-pole, walks a slack wire sus- pended Fifteen Feet above the ground!” ‘“*T wonder if Mademoiselle Leonora is Syl- van?” Dick mused, ‘1 see no other act on the bill that she would be likely to take part in.” At Jast the acrobats took a rest, and ’mid a blare of music, Mile. Leonora, attired in tinseled skirts and tights, bounded out into the ring. A regular little fairy, she looked, and while the crowd cheered ber vociferously, Dick saw that she was indeed Sylvan! Seizing a rope, she was drawn up to the lofty perch, attached to a center-pole, The tent boasted of two center-poles, some: twenty feet apart, and at an elevation of fully fifteen feet, the wire was stretched from one pole to the other. Atter the band had softened its blatant strains, in a measure, Sylvan put out one dainty foot ane tried the wire, which proved to be quite slack. Then, kissing her finger-tips to the audience, her second foot followed the first, and she stoo suspended in mid-air, with nothing but the swaying wire to keep her there. Then, slowly, carefully, she advanced, step by step, maintaining her balance by the move- ments of her arms, At times the wire swaved fearfully, and the audience held their breath, fearful lest she lose her eles and be precipitated to the ground, Across the wire she walked, and then back- ward to the perch, ber starting-point. Then she was lowered to the ground, and, kissing her hand to the audience, left the arena. amid a thunder of applause, Just before the performance ended, an usher handed a letter to Dick. Opening it, he read the following: “Dear Mr. BristoL:—Did I surprise you? I hope T pleased you, rather. I am doing well here, and shall remain until you have fulfilled your mission, and are ready to také me back to ’Friseo. Iam sorry I cannot see you personally, but I cannot, When you are ready to leave Australia, you can come forme. Hoping you are well, I remain, * Affectionately yours, Syivan.’” “Pp, §.—Hastings is hiding somewhere in Mel- bourne, but I do not know where. Thave cut loose from the monster, forever. Ifound out that be had 1obbed you of over twenty thousand dollars, and I ot fifteen of it away from him without his knowing: it. You shall have itwhen next we meet, I hope it will not be long. SyLvan.’ “Pp. S. No, 2.—When you come for me, if you ever do, ask only for Mile, Leonora. That is the only name I go under here, sat ~ Mh So Dick was forced to go back to Melbourne without an interview. It caused him no little regret, for, despite the unfavorable story of her past life, he was daily growing to think more: and more of her, CHAPTER XV. THE END OF THE HUNT. When Dick arrived back in Melbourne, he found Jolly anxiously awaiting his arrival, ‘“ Well, what’s the news?” was asked, after they had shaken hands, ‘Well, I think I’ve tracked the wolf to his lair!” Jolly replied. ‘I am not certain, but in- dications point that way. How did you come ” “ Well, all told, ’m about nine dollars out!” “What? Didn’t you see your charmer?” “Tsaw Sylvan, but didn’t get a chance to speak to her. She’s doing the slack-wire act. She sent me a note, however, saying that Hast- ings was lying in hiding, somewhere here, but she didn’t know where. She also wrote that she had recovered fifteen thousand of what he robbed me of, But, let’s hear of your move- ments?” ‘Well, I got onto the trail of Blackthorn and the nigger, soon after they were let out of jail, and tracked them to a cheap hotel in the slums. I was made up as a suspender-selling Sheeney, -_ so, after they had registered, I registered, '“T heard Blackthorn say to the nigger: Well. you go and find if he’s there, as the note says, an’ then come and tell me, an’ I’ll go an’ make | ;
Page 14
——- = 14 Dead wood Dick’s Death H came back, half an hour later, ‘ Yas, he’s dar,’ he said, ‘’bout haff skeered todeath.’ ‘‘ Black- thorn then left the hotel, and was gone over an hour, and when he returned, I overheard him say to the darky: ‘Yes, I found him, but he swears he has no money, and is starving for want of food. I told him we’d give him till to- night, an’ ef he didn’t produce, then, we’d give him up to the law, @ was near scared to death,’ “That was the result of the first day’s dis- covery,” said Jolly, in conclusion, ‘* except taat last night I traced Blackthorn to the hallway door of a rickety old tenement-house, on Melon street, one of the toughest streets in the Chinese quarter. In fact, the street was such a fearful looking place, that I skipped out, and concluded to wait your return!” “Well, we'll take a turn around that way, after dinner!” Dick decided. That afternoon, two perambulating Jewish peddlers made their way into the slums of the } city, and paused for a drink, at the Humming Bird Hotel, a most disreputable looking place. Both looked pretty much alike, spoke in Ger- man-English and while one’s stock in trade con- sisted of suspenders, the other vended a cheap line of socks, ** Socks, shendlemen!” he would ery— “Socks, sixpence a pair, Varranted to fit; Der longer you wears dem Der t’icker dey get!” - After a slight indulgence in sour wine, at the hotel, Isaac and Abraham took their departure. ‘Did you see Blackthorn?” inquired Isaac, who was Jolly Johnson. " ‘¢ Mine frient, I saw him!” Dick replied. ‘* All I want, now, is to locate the tenement-house. To-night, after Blackthorn’s visit there, Pll call on Mr. Henry Hastings, myself.” They passed through Melon street, and Joliy pointed out the rickety tenement, in question. Then, the two man-hunters returned to their hotel quarters. Toward dark, Deadwood Dick, in his Jewish disguise, once more made his appearance in the vicinity of the tenement, selling socks. This time he was alone, and having reduced his goods to the astonishing low price of two pair for six- pence, he had no difficulty in finding plenty of purchasers. This fact did not prevent him from keeping a close watch on the open stairway, leading to the I upper stories of the tenement. ust as he bad sold out, and when it was very dark, Blackthorn came along, and mcunted the stairway, when, like a flitting shadow, the Jew dogged his footsteps and saw him enter a small \ apartment on the attic floor. bY There was no door to the room, and no furni- ture except a stool, upon which a candle was oes. | and an old straw mattress in one cor- ner, Upon thig aman lay ina half reclining attitude —a wild-eyed, haggard wretch, the : wreck of a once fine-looking person. ‘BR He was none other than Henry Hastings, * : but, ah! so changed from his former self. He seemed to shrink back closer into the cor- ner, as Blackthorn entered the room. ‘* Well!” the latter seid, ina gruff voice, ‘*I have come for your final answer, old man, I’ve ot tired of running here, and now, are you go- ing to come to time, or not?” ‘Blackthorn, as God is my witness, I have nota ical !’ was thereply. ‘‘ You can search i ~ me, if you like, but you will find I’m telling you the truth!” i} ‘*Bah! you can’t lie tome. The gal didn’t steal it all from you!” i ‘‘ Every dollar, or else I lost it in making my ay Mig : ‘* That's a likely story. Come, are you going , | to pony up?” “‘Tcannot, Have mercy, Blackthorn, have mercy!” ‘* Bah! I ain’t in the mercy line. Once more, and for the last time, shell out!” Hastings made no reply, but bowed his face in his hands, and groaned aloud. ‘Won't come up, hey?’ roared Blackthorn. “Then the police will! Before the night is over you will languish in a murderer’s dungeon!” bi and with this threat he stalked from the attic. r Crouching close under cover, Dick waited q until the villain had gone down-stairs, then walked into Hastings’s presence, his arms folded across his breast, and his face stern and un- itying. f P Hastings gave a horrified gasp at sight of m, ” “Henry Hastings!” the avenger said, “I am Sues Ee ~ ee et ———— | a Rig ST nae terms with him!” The nigger went away, and here. I see that, without my aid, you have come, step by step, nearer and nearer to your doom. But I have not come here to carry out my oath of vengeance, so you need not tremble, All I want of you is for you to sign this paper, which places the crime of the murder of Paro Patch upon your own shoulders, and clears Syl- van of all complicity and guilt in that act. After you have signed it, my business with you is done!” ‘* What!” Hastings gasped, eagerly; ‘‘do you mean that if I will sign the paper, you will no longer seek my life?” ** Exactly!” ‘Then, let me see the paper. a chance for me yet!” He clutched the paper Dick handed him, as a drowning man might grasp for a straw. Dick had drawn up the paper so it would, when signed, free Sylvan of all guilt or connec- tion with the crime whatsoever. With eager eyes the doomed man scanned each word, and seemed to drink in its full mean- ing. inally he said: ‘Swear that you will never molest me again, and I will sign it.” “Thero is no necessity of swearing. My word is suffieient.” ‘** And you give it?” “ do ” There may be “Very well. Give me a pencil” “* Here is a self-inking pen. That will answer better.” Hastings took the pen. His hand was trembling violently, but, with an effort, he managed to indite hissignature and | return the paper and pencil to Dick. ** Will that do?” he asked. ‘Yes, that is satisfactory.” And Dick turned to go. ** Hold on!” Hastings cried. ‘ Tell me of Sy!- van. Do you know where she is?” ‘*Miles from here, -You will never see hor again.” ‘*Nor do I want to,” was the bit*~ ‘“*And Honora, my daughter. Do jou «10.7 aught of her?” “TIT do not!” Without further words, Dick departed, and i eas the tenement, he hurried away to the otel. ' On reaching it, Jolly met him expectantly. ‘* Well?” he demanded, ‘* what luck?” ‘**T found my man!” ‘* Where?” ** Tn the tenement attic floor!” Did you get the paper?” es. ‘ ng part of the hunt is ended?” es: ** And mine soon will be!” Jolly said, his face growing stern, and he turned abruptly and dis- appeared. ick lounged about the office of the hotel, and awaited his return. It was fully an hour ere Jolly made his re- appearance, and Dick saw at once that some- thing had gone wrong ** Well?” he interrogated. ** Too late!” Jolly said, dropping into a chair. ‘The police got there before I did, and took Hastings into custody!” ‘“* Ah! then the law will deal with him, and your bands are unstained.” ‘True. But no law will ever touch him!” ‘* Why not?” ‘* Because he is dead!” . ad?” ‘*Yes, As they dragged him oy to the jail, the poor guilty wretch died of sheer ter- ror “Tt is better thus!” Dick said. ‘It ought to be satisfaction enough for us that our chase is at an end!” / ‘Several days later, an Australian steamer started for San Francisco. cy ge its passengers were Deadwood Dick, Jolly Johnson and Sylvan. The weather was fair, and the trip was made in due time. During the voyage Jolly and Sylvan became fast friends, and were so much in each other’s society, that Dick could but accept it as a fore- gone conclusion that he was literally out-of the race for the pennant—that his chances of secur- | ing Sylvan were two to one in Jolly’s favor—to which he did not dissent. Now that the helpless girl had a sure protector, the detective felt no oer responsibility in the matter, and was con- ent. NY Arriving in San Francisco, Dick fonnd a tele- unt. | gram awaiting him, demanding his early pres- | ence in the city of Galveston, Texas, | So, leaving Jolly tosettle up Sylvan’s matters, | Richard, Junior, set out for the Gulf City, to | participate-in a new and most exciting drama, THE END. | BEADLE AND ADAMS’ STANDARD DIME PUBLICATIONS Speakers. | Eachevolume contains 100 large pages, printed from clear, open type, comprising the best collece : | tion of Dialogues, Dramas and Recitations. The Dime Speakers embrace twenty-five volumes viz.: 1. American Speaker, 15. Komikal Speaker. 2, National Speaker. 16, Youth’s Speaker. - 3. Patriotic Speaker. 17. Eloquent Speaker, 4, Comic Speaker. 18. Hail Columbia Speak- 5. Elocutionist. er. 6. Humorous Speaker. 19, Serio-Comic Speaker, 7. Standard Speaker. 20. Select 2 a 8, Stump Speaker, 21. Funny Speaker. . Jolly Speaker, 23, Dialect Speaker. 24. Recitations and Read- ings. | 25. Burlesque Speaker, . Juvenile Speaker. . Spread-Eagle Speaker . Dime Debater. . Exhibition Speaker. . School Speaker. | . Tudicrous Speaker, ; _ These books are replete with choice pieces for the School-room, the Exhibition, for Homes, ete. 75 to 100 Declamations and Recitations in each book. Pak ek pet et ow or Dialogues. | The Dime Dialogues, each volume 100 pages, em- | brace thirty-four books, viz.: ! . ve Dialogues No. One. Dialogues No. Wighteen, Dialogues No. Two. Dialogues No. Nineteen. Dialogues No. Three. Dialogues No. Twenty. 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Dramas and Readings. 164 12mo Pages. 20 Cents. { For Schools, Parlors, Entertainments and the Am ateur Stage, comprising Original Minor Dramas, Comedy, Farce, Dress Pieces, Humorous Dialogue and Burlesque, by noted writers; and Recitations and dings, new : standard, of the greatest celebrity and interest. Edited by Prof. A. M. Russell, Bee ‘A DIME HAND-BOOKS. a Lives of Great Americans. 1.—George Washington, | VIII.—Israel Putnam. re TI.-—John Paul Jones. X.—Tecumseh, se % T.—MadAnthonyWayne | XI.—Abraham Lincoln, a IV.—Ethan Allen, XII.—Pontiac. V.—Marquis de Lafayette | XIII.—Ulysses S. Grant, iy Hand-Books of Games. Handbook ef Summer Sports. Book of Crequet. Yachting and Rowing, y Chess Instructor. Riding and Driving. Baia Cricket and Football Book of Pedestrianism. “ae Guide to Swimming. ; Cua, ' Handbook of Winter Sports—Skating, ete, ah Y 4 a Young People’s Series. 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Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete a ~~ BEADLE’S«H ALF- DIME# [_ IBRARY. ud Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. BY PHILIP 8S. WARNE, 67 Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Kattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 Capvam Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game, 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leether Joe’s Defeat. 219 Dexpard, the Duelist; cr, The Mountain Vempires. B88 A Vough Boy ; or, The Dwart’s Revenge. B68 Little Tornado; or, The Outcasts of the Glen, B78 Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. 8SS Little Oh-my 3 or, Caught in His Own Trap, 401 Little Shoo-F ly; or, A Race for a Ranch. 408 Little Leather-Breeches ; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse, 481 Little Ah Sin; or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the olines, 480 Three Jolly Pards. 517 Jim Gladden’s Deputy. 527 The Jolly Pards to the Rescue, 547 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down, 556 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. 574 Cld Weasel-top, the Man with the Dogs, 5938 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. 599 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport. 618 Billy Blazes; or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. 685 Oklahoma Hi, the Blue-Coat Scout. 648 Happy Harry’s Big Find. _ 664 Cheeky Charley, the Special. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER, 15 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Page; or, The Doge’s Daughter. 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 150 Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. 154 The Sword Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise. 200 The Boy Bedoutns; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance, 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine. 249 Milo Romer, the Animal King; or, Round the World. 265 The Tiger Tumer ; or, The League of the Jungle. 881 Black Nick, the Demon Rider. 895 California Joe’s War Trall. BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8, Mall.) 284 Old Rocky's “* Boyees; or, Benito, the Horse-Breaker. 246 Glant George; or, The Ang’! of the Range. 2 5 Arizona Jack; or, Giant George’s Pard. The Tarantula of Taos; or, Giant George’s Revenge. The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. 8 Rer-w hoop, Ker-whoo; or, The Tarantula of Taos, 27 Oreeping Oat, the Caddo}; or, The Red and White Pards. Frio Fredy or, The Tonkaway’s Trust. Bi4 fhe Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. 649 Wild Wolf; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front. B57 The Ranch Raiders; or, The Siege of Fort Pargatory. B64 Snap-Shot, the Boy Kanger, BTS Chiota, the Creek3 or, The Three Thunderbolts. BSL Bandera Bill; or. Frio Frank to the Front. B92 Romeo and the Reds; or, The Beleaguered Ranch. 404 Little Lariat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. ane ae marey a mye qaavers = The Three Traflers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage, 442 Bluff Bills or, The Lynx of the totan bi 455 Little Lone Star: or. The Belle of the Cibolo, 684 Cache Carl, the Chico Giant BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Asa Scott, the Steamboat Boy. 199 Featherweight the Boy Champton of the Muskingum, 228 Ozark Alf’; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws, 282°rhe Typo Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. 295 Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quartzville. B1l The Reving Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp, p23 Newo, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon’s Vendetta, Clip the Contortionist; or, The Montana Vigilantes, BY J, OC, COWDRIOK, Dude. 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Brayo. 506 Redlight Ral h, the Prince of the Road. 514 Broadway Billy’s Boodle. 524 The Engineer Detective. 5836 Broadway Billy’s ‘ Ditlikilty.” 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 557 Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. Be mir tine aoa hen Young Engineer. e mney Sp Broad Billy’: ise-Party. 592 The Boy Pinkerton. ’ roadway Billy’s Surprise-Party am roadway The Boy De 1 I . G15 Fighting Harry. the Chict of Gkained Cyclonee 6258 Broadway Bil Se Dead Act, Barebrek Beth, the Centaur of the Circle. net i pews ster Dilly, bape ge pone Ward. § oonlight Morgan, the“ P it”? NV . 669 Broadway Billy Abroad, 2” °f Ante Bar BY JO PIEROE, B97 Bob o’ the Bowery ; or, The Prince of Mul 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery hon deahgaa 452 Hotspur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective, 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow; or, Luke’s Legacy, 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective, 504 Five Points Phil. 509 Jack Jaggers, the Butcher Boy Detective, 516 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerie, 526 North River Naty, the Pier Detective, 5838 Wrestling Rex, the Pride of the Sixth Ward, 5411 Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective, 551 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow. 559 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. 69 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, b ; yas Pavement Pete | the Secret Sifter. 186 1z2 _ 649 8 Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector. GOR Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer. 614 Whistling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid. 6283 Buck Bumblebee, the Harlen Hummer, 689 pret ee the Express-Train — re on ms amin Bob, the Bowery Badger; or, Scooping & ppery Set. 658 Sky-Roeket Rob, the Life-Saver. BY MAJOR HENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-Scout. 806 Neck-Tie Ned Th -Out Pards. 846 Rapler Raphael :'or, The vay bay BY HARRY 8ST. GEORGE. 80 Roaring Ralph Rockw the Ranger. 44 Kattling Rubes on The Nigthovke af Gentucky, 59 Old Hickory ; or, Pandy Ellis’s Scalp. ¢ Hickory my ; on The Trail of the Border Wolt cko arry} or, The Tra Brigade’ 3 ‘hunderbolt ‘omy; or, the Cit Herder, 5 1 a ~ at 4a val 2 4 “a 2 : bi Py : fudiias DB RAoe ee i Oe ae ee BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl. 76 Abe Coll, the Crow-Killer. 79 Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 288 Joe Buck of Angels and His Boy Pard. 447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 4538 New England Nick ; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling, 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince, 498 ‘nos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hal!l-Breed Detective, 518 Cool Colorado in New York. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE, 86 Dandy Rock the Man from Texas. 90 The Dread Rider; or, The Texan Duelist. 99 The Tiger of Tuo; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel. 15 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock’s Doom. 81 The Golden Hand; or, Dandy Rock to the Rescue, 64 Dandy Rock’s Pledge; or, Hunted to Death. 78 Dandy Kock’s Kival; or, ‘The liaunted Maid of Taos, BY CAPT. J. F. ©. ADAMS, 84 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffles’s Boy Spy. 46 Glass-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 54 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. 56 Nick Whilties’s Pet; or, In The Valley of Death. 60 The White Indian; or, The Scovt of the Yellowstone, ZO Old Zip’s Cabin; or, The Greenhorn in the Woods. S81 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Bueckram ; or, Bess, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and His Pets; or, The Wild Huntress. 251 Light-house Lie; or, Osceola, the Firebrand. 257 The Lost Munters; or, The Underground Camp. 288 The Sealp King; or, The Human Thunderpolt. BY ROGER STARBUCK. 25 The Boy Captain; or, The Pirate’s Daughter. 114 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Junk, the Old Tar. 259 The Golden Harpoon : or, Lost Among the Floes. 848 Fire-Heela; or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow. 854 Big Horn Ike, the Hill Tramp; or, The Odd Pards, 861 The Phantom Light-house. 870 Breaker Ben, the Reef-Runner. BY WILLIAM ©t. EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank; or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pards BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, 108 The Lion of the Sen; or, The Vailed Lady. 186 Cool Desmond; or, The Gambler’s Big Game. BY JAMES L. BOWEN 107 One-Eyed Sim: or, The Abandoned Forest Home, 110 The Black Steed of the Prairies. A Story of Texas, BY ©. DUNNING CLARK. 185 Captain Paul; or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains. 280 The Yankee Kajuh; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef, BY GEORGE C. JENKS, 485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown, are,? 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor. 581 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective, 598 Flute, the Singer Detective, 608 The Pitcher Detective’s Fol); or, Dan’s Double Play. 616 The Ocean Detective; or, The Last Cruise of the Black Bear, BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR U, 8, A. 191 Buffalo Tilly, the Boy Bullwhacker. 194 Bullaio Liisa Bets; or, The Gambler Guide, LY CHARLES E. LASALLE, 50 Gurt Bunker, the Trapper. 562 The White Bulfalo. A Tale of the Northwest BY JOUN J. MARSHALL, 40 Roving Ben. A Story of a Young American, 97 The Outlaw Brothers; or, The Captive of the Harpes. BY WM. G,. PATTEN, 489 The Diamond Sports or, The Double Face of Bed Rock. 519 Captain oMystery ; or, Five In One, 581 Daisy ware the Sport from Denver. 587 Old Bombshell, the Ranger Detective. $19 The Hoy Tramp Detecth TheD ‘he Boy Tramp Detective: or, The Double Gri 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Spon. : p Witean 641 Dismal Dave’s Dandy Pard, 651 Bound Boy Frank, the Young Amateur Detective. 668 Violet Vane’s Victory. BY MAJOR E, L. 8T. VRAIN, 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit. 801 Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince. 888 Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette, 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “Sand,” : 859 Duranyro Dave, the Young Chany ion Wrestler. 871 Kingbolt Chris, the Young Hard-Shell Detective. 880 Avalanche Alf, tho Foothills Guide. 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountain Mail-Line. BY EDWARD 8. ELLIS. 6 Bill Biddon, Trapper. 8 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of the Frontier, 10 Nat Todd; or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. 2 ‘xne Frontier Angel. 98 The Boy Miners; or, The Enchanted Island. 182 The Hunted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman, 254 The Half-Blood; or, The Panther of the Plains, 271 The Muge Ilunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man, BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON, 278 The Three Trap) era; or, The Mountain Monater, 288 Indian Joe; or, The White Spirit of the Hills, BY FRANK DUMONT, 120 The Branded Hand; or, The Man of Mystery. 127 Wild-Fire, the Boss of the Road. 140 Blue Blazes; or, The Break o’ Day Bo 171 Ebony Dan; or, The Rival eeaneae ys of Rosky Bar. 185 Evil Eye; or, The Vultures of the Rio Grande, BY CAPT. MARK WILTON, aoe bp Semrueles a tie Red Lasso, zard Benj or, The Riot at K. p * 256 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot. "™? BY BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG. Of Whe Ohetein atthe Oia ae © Captain o ec or, Th 101 Jack Markaway in NewYork. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. 78 Blue Dick: or, The Yellow Chief's V ; 187 ane psd Etrates or, The League o Devil's Island, elpless Iiand; or, oods Retribution, 289 The Gold-seeker Gulde? or, The Lost Mountain. ‘ 817 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville, BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR, 2 Vellowstone Jack; or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat. 65 Hurrileane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 119 Mustang Sam; or, The King of the Plains. 186 Night-llawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trailers ; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 The Boy Pards; or, Dainty Lance Unmaske, 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca W olf’; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Riders or, The Horse-Thieves’ League. 885 Old Double Fist; or, ‘The Strange Guide 855 ‘The King of the Woods: or. antel Koone’s Last Trail, 4419 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Trailer. BY W. J. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brotherhood ; or, The Twelve Avengers, 66 Single Hand or, A Life for a Life, 72 Mad Tom Western, the Texan Ranger, 887 Ben Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Scoop. BY JACK FARRAGUT., 815 Ned, the Cabin Boy. ; B20 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper. BY LIEUT. H. D. PERRY, U. 8S. N. 176 The Boy Runaway; or, The Buccaneer of the Bay, 180 The Sea Trailer; or, A Vow Well Kept. 192 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point, BY MARRY HWAZARD. 828 Arkansaw Jack; or, The Scourge of the Mines. 829 Red-Skin Toms or, The Demon’s Trail, $42 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw, BY COL. A, F. MOLT, 899 Black Buckskin; or, The Masked Men of Death Canyon, . 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King. 485 Little Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods. BY J. W. OSBON, 469 The Rival Giants of Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck, 587 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner. 609 Bolly Dorrit, the Veteran Detective. 620 Little Lightning's League; or, The Myatery oftne Island. 688 Plucky Paul, the Boy Prospector. BY FREDERICK DEWEY. 18 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shota. & 478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective. 542 The Canyon Parda, BY ARTHUR ©. GRISSOM, 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowle Kid, 5658 The Sure-Shot Parda, 621 Truthful James, the “ Pecooliar” Man, BY LIEUT, A. K. SIMS, 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock, 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 576 The Silver Sport. 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow. 589 Tom-Cat and Pardy or, The Dead Set at Silver City, 601 Happy Mana, the Dutch Vidoeg. 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules, 622 Texas Tom-Cat’s Triad. 681 Tom Cat's Terrible Task, 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumph; or, Black Ivan’s Great Combine. 646 ads Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective, 657 Warbling William, the Mountain Mountebank, 665 Jolly Jeremiah, the Plains Detective, . MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS. 4 The Wild-Horse Munters. By Capt. Mayne Reid and ° pte bbe \ ventures of Baron Munchausen 12 (aliiver's Travels, By Dean Swift, i 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp, 16 Robinson Orusoe, (27 Ilustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages. 22 ‘The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crasoe. By Juan Lewis, 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribees, By 8S, W. Pierce, 86 The Boy Clowns or, The Arena Queen. By F §, Finn. 88 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 51 The Boy Rives; or, The Underground Camp, By A. C, Irons, 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi, By Lieut.-Col, Hazeltine. 98 Robin Mood, the Outlawed Ear); or, The Merry Men of Groen- wood. By Prof, Gildersleeve. 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. \ 112 The Mad Hunter; or, ‘he Cave of Death. By Burton Saxe, 124 Mppy, the Texan; or, The Young Champion. By George Gleeson. 128 The Young X sixetom s or, The Pirate's Stronghold. By Harry Caven . 148 ghase Sam 3 or, The Adventures of a Friendleas Boy, By J. Alexander Patten. 227 Dusky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yol- lowstone. By Edward Emerson, 261 Fergus Fearnaught the New York Boy. By G, L. Aiken, 266 Kil rar, oie we de; or, Davy Crockett’s Crooked ‘I'rall. By Ens . D. Warren, 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, Tho Maid ot the cum. By Captain Comstock. emp pays Ye aati By Lieu- retives or — Be finior Mickey Free. . 7 ya Fight for Life and Honot, 850 Red Ralph, the River Rover; or, The Brother’s Re- venge. By m4 era iiincs 65 Baltimore Ren the Bootbla tective, gra Gold-Dust Toms; or, Ben’s Douhle ep + A. P. Morris. 876 California Joe's First Trail. By Colonel Thomas 418 Billy Tombchell the Clit Climhe Winthro La e 4t5 The Black Bhip. By John8 Wen Comanche Dick and His Three Invincibles. By Ges Wi innrd-Avm, the Dandy Sport, By Arthur ¥. Hol, 582 The Cowboy Duke. By dwin Brooke Forrest. 552 Ariel the Athlete, By David Droid. 585 Will Waters, the Boy Ferret. By H. Enton. 682 The Dead Detective’s Double. By Gerald Cariton A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library is for sale by all newsdealers, five cents por copy, or sent by mail on recerpt or six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishera, 98 William Street, New York, te
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: BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, Deadwood Dick Novela. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Deadwood Dick’s Defiance; or, Double Daggers. 28 Deadwood Dick in Disguise; or, Bullaio Ben. 85 Wilda Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. 42 Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza; or, The Phantom Miner. 49 Deadwood Dick in Danger; or, Omaha Oll, BT Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar, 78 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or. Calamity Jane, the Heroine, Vz Deadwood Dick's Last Act; or, Corduroy Charlie. 100 Deadwood Dick In Leadville, 104 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Double Cross Sign, 109 Deadwood Dick as Detective. 129 Deadwood Dick's Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. 188 Deadwood Dick’s Home Base; or, Blonde Bill. 149 Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike; or, A Game of Gold, 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party, 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dreamy; or, The Rivals of the Road, 201 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill’s Jezebel. 205 Deadwood Dick's Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Adventure, 217 Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand, 221 Sugar-Coated Sam} or, The Black Gown. 282 Gold-Duat Dick. A Romance of Roughsand Toughs, 268 Deadwood Dick’s Divide; or, The Spirt of Swamp Lake, 268 Deadwood Dick’s Death Trall., 809 Deadwood Dick’s Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. 821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats, 847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducats; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- gings. 851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta. 862 Dendwood Dick’s Claim. 405 Deadwood Dick In Dead City. 410 Deadwood Dick’s Diamonds, 421 Deadwood Dick in New York; or, A “ Cute Care.” 480 Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand. 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr's, Defiance; or, Nickel-Plate Ned, 458 Deadwood Dick, dr’s, Full Hand. 459 Deadwood Dick, Jr’s, Bie Round-Up. 465 Deadwood Dick, Jr’s. Racket at Claim 10, ATL Deadwood Dick, Jr’s. Corral; or, Bozeman Bill. 476 Dendwood Dick, Jr's. Dog Detective. 481 Deadwood Dick, Jr, in Dendw ood; or, Moll Mystery. 491 Deadwood Dick, Jr's. Compact 496 Deadwood Dick, Jr's. Inheritance, 5600 Deadwood Dick's Diguings 5 or, Dr. Death-Grip’s Swoop. 508 Dendwood Dick's Deliverance. 5615 Deadwood Dick's Protegec,. 522 Deadwood Dick’s Three, 529 Deadwood Dick's Danger Ducka, 584 Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt, 589 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Texas. 544 Deadwood Dick, Jr. the Wild West Vidoeq, 549 Deadwood Dick on Ilis Mettle. 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Gotham, 661 Deadwood Dick in Boston, 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Philadelphia, 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Chicago, 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr. Aflont. 584 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Denver, 5690 Dendwood Dick, Jr’s. Decree, 595 Dendwood Dick Jr. In Beelzebub’s Basin, 600 Deadwood Dick Jr. at Coney Island. 606 Deadwood Dick Jr’s Leadville Lay. 612 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Detroit. 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Cincinuatl. 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Nevada. 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in No Man’s Land, 686 Deadwood Dick, Jr. After the Queer, 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Buffalo. 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr’s. Chase Across the Continent, 654 Deadwood Dick, Jr. Among the Smugglers, 660 Deadwood Dick, Jr’s, Insurance Case, 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr. Back in the Mines, 672 Deadwood Dick, Jr, in Durango}; or, “ Gathered In.” Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon, 82 Bob Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot. 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York. 45D Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Sill; or, The Red Rifle Team, 69 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter; or, The Boy Detective. 80 Rosebud Rob 1 ugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner} or, Rosebud Rob on Hand. 88 Phetograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance, 92 Canada Chet ; or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp, 96 Watch-Eyes or, Arubs und Angels ofa Great City. 8 Jacek Hoyle the Young Speculator. Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport. Detective Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport. Bonanza Bill, Miner. Boas Bob the King of Bootblacks, Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps, 1 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo, 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter, 226 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 286 Apollo Till, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator. 244 Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. 248 Sierra Sam’s Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints. 258 Sierra Sam’s Pard; or, The Angel of Big Vista, 258 Sierra Sam’s Seven; or, The Stolen Bride, 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs, 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen, 281 Denver Doll's Victory. : 255 Denver Doll’ Decoy ; or, Little Bill’s Bonanza. 291 Turk the Boy Ferret. 296 Denver Doll’s Dritt; or, The Road Queen, 299 A No, 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. £08 ’Liza Jane, the “irl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. 825 Kelley, Hickey & Co.,, the Detectives of Philadelphia. B80 Little Quick-Shot; or, The Dead Face of Daggersville. 884 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner, 889 Kangaroo Kit’s Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood. B58 First-Class Fred, the Gent trom Gopher, 868 Vreka Jim, the Gold-Gathererys or, The Life Lottery. 872 Yreka dJim’s Prize. 878 Nabob Neds or, The Secret of Slab City. -_ wen ‘ wee eS rors gum ce BNA PRK ‘882 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, 885 Yreka Jim’s Joker}; or, The Rivals of Red Nose, 889 Bicycle Ben; or. The Lion of Lightning Lode, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Hat Marry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam Slabsldea, the Beggar-Boy Detective, 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives, 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher, 486 Sealekin Sam, the Sparkler, ~ BEADLE’S* HALF-DIME+ | IBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Conplete and Sold at the U BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGHRAMAM, 7 The Flying Vankee; or, The Ocean Outcast. 17 Ralph Roy, the Boy Buccancer; or. The Fugitive Yacht, 24 Diamond Dirk; or, The ) y of the Yellowstone, 62 The Shadow Ship; or, The Rival Lieutenants. 7S The Boy Duelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf, 102 Dick Dend-Eye, the Boy Smugyier. 111 The Sea-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116 The Hussar Captain 3 or, ‘The Hermit ot Hell Gate, 197 Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter, 204 Gold Plume 3 or, The Kid-Glove Sport. 216 Bison Bill, the Prince of the Reina. 222 Grit, the Brave Sport; or, The Woman Trailer, 229 Crimson Kate 3 or, The Cowboy’s Triamph, 2837 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 245 Merle, the Middy 3; or, The Freelance Heir, 250 The Midshipman Mutineer 3 or, Brandt, the Buccaneer, 264 The Floating F eather; cr, Merle Monte’s Treasure. 269 The Gold Ship 3 or, Merle, the Condemned. 276 Merle Monte’s Crulse; or, “The Gold Ship ” Chase, 280 Merle Monte’s Fate ; or, Pear), the Pirate’s Bride, 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 287 Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Shot Dandy ;¢ or, Benito, the Boy Bugler. 808 Keno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double, $14 The Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Trail. BIT Bonodel, the Bey Kover; or, The Flagless Schooner, 688 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island, 887 Warpath WIL, the Boy Phantom, $98 Seawalf, the Boy Lieutenant. 402 Isodor, the Young Consptrator 3 or, The Fatal League, 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild Vachtamany or, The War-Cloua’s Cruise, 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy’s Luck; or, The Corsair. i877 The Sea Raider. 441 The Ocean Firefly 3 or, A Middy’s Vengeance. 446 Iaphazard heal 3 or, The Scapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard Wills or, The Boy Ferret of New York. 454 Wizard WIlPs Street Scouts, 462 The Born Guide; or, The Salior Boy Wanderer, } 4658 Neptune N the Boy Coaster. 4AT4 Floras; or, zard Will’s Vagabond Pard. 488 Ferrets Afloat; or, Wizard Will’s Last Case. 4ST Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger. 495 Arizona Joe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 497 Buck Taylor, King ot the Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy ¢ or, The Shark and the Sea Cat, 507 The Ilunted ert Chapen 511 The Outlawed Middy. 520 Buckskin BIL, the Comanche Shadow, 525 Brothers in Buckskin. 530 The Buckskin Bowers. 535 The Buc skin Rovers, 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marander of the Rio. 545 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte. 550 Lafitte’s Legacy; or. The Avenging Son. 5655 The Creole Corsair. 560 Pawnee BI, the Prairie Shadower. 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. 570 Camille, the Card Queen. 575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective. 580. The Outcast Cadet; or, ‘The False Detective. 586 The Buckskin Avenger. “Bb9L Delmonte, the Young Sea Rover. 597 The Young Texan Detective, 602 The Vagabond of the Mines. 607 The Rover_Detective; or, Keno Kit’s Champtions. 61% Ralph, the Dead-Shot Scout; or, The Rio Raiders. 644 The Hercules Highwayman. 650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Rider Detective; or, Buffalo Bill’s Boy Para. 656 Butterfly Biliy’s Man Hunt. 662 Buttertly Billy’« Bonanza, 668 The Buccaneer Midshipman, BY BUFFALO BILL (Hen. Wm, F. Cody). 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy t or, The Pilot of the Prairie. 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout. 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 168 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust, BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 WII! Somers, the Boy Detective, 122 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Pleayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 180 Detective Dick 3 or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Black Ress, Will Wildfire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. 162 Will Wildfire in the Woods, 165 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. __. , 170 A ‘Trump Card 3 or, Wil! Wildfire Wins and Loses, 174 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. 179 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, 188 The Hidden Wand; or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. 187 Fred Walyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, 189 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed; or, Bob Kockett’s Fight for Life. 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King, 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Tom Tanner}; or, The Black Sheep of the Flock. 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky. 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two * Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. 252 Dick Dashaway ¢ or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. 262 The Young Sharps: or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice, 289 Jolly Jinva Job 3 or, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-HMound3 or, The Young Thoroughored. 805 Dashaway, of Dakotas or, A Western Lad in Quaker City, $24 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Goy of the Times. ; 879 Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods ot the Boulevard. 408 Firetly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier. 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagavond, 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive, 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, 5666 The Secret Service Boy Detective. 596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. 627 Tom Bruce of Arkansan; or, The Wolf in the Fold. 655 Plucky Paul, the Boy Speculator. 667 Bob and Sam, the Daisy Detectives. Iniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers, BY OLL COOMES. > Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. The Dumb Spy. Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. Keen-Knife, the Prince of the Prairies, Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. The Border King}; or, The Secret Foe. Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. Hawk-eye Harry the Young Trapper Ranger,? Rollo, the Boy Ranger. Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman, 148 Scar-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter, 146 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 158 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. 168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger, 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 2 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. 202 Prospect Pete ; or, The Young Outlaw Hunters, ) 208 The Roy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps. 218 Viger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Yeung Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger. 248 Vhe Disguised Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. 272 Minkskin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. 800 The Sky Demon 3 or, Ruinbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 409 Hercules; or, Dick, the Boy Ranger, 417 Webfoot Mose, the Tramp Detective. 422 Baby Sam, the Boy Giant o! the Yellowstone. 444 Little Buckakin, tne Young Prairie Centaur. 457 Wingedfoot Fred or, Old Polar Saul, 468 Tamarac Tom, the Big raprer Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic, 2 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. 562 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. 2 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance, 661 Old Kit Bandy’s Deliverance. 670 Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. BY T, CO, HARBAUGH. 28 Nick o’ the Nights; or, The Boy Spy of ’76. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Littl Hunter. 47 Nightingale Nat; or, Toe Forest Captains, ‘ 64 Dandy Jack; or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trali, | 82 Kit HWarefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jack 3 or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Froaty, the Guide; or, The White Queen. 128 Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lynch, #r.i or, The Boy Vigtiante. 155 Gold Tr er, the afer or, The Girl Avengers 169 Tornado Tom; or, fajun Jack From Red Cores 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 198 Arkansaw 3 or, The Queen of Fate’s Revenges 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Tovknot’s Crusade. 281 Plueky Phil; or, Rosa, the Rei Jezebel. 241 Bill Bravo; or, The Roughs of the Rockies, 255 Captain Apolic, tne King-Pin of Bowle, 267 The Buckskin Detective. 279 Old Winchs or, The Buckskin Desperadoes. 294 Dynamite Dan; or, The Bowle Blade of Gochetopa, 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully. . 816 Old Eclipse, Trump Card of Arizona, 826 The Ten Pards; or, The Terror o! Take-Notice. 886 Big Benson; or, The Queen of the Lasso. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Red Thunderbolt’s Secret, 856 Cool Sam and Par’; or The Terrible Six. 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 886 Captain Cutlass or, | be Brccaneer’s Girl Foe. 896 Rough Rob; or, The Twin Champions of Blue Blazes. All The Silken Lasso; or, The Rose of Ranch Robin. 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. 425 Texas Trump. the Border Rattler, 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox. 445 The City Vampires; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon, 461 One Against Fifty 3 or, The Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt, AT? The Exceisior Sports or, The Washington Spotter. 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. 612 Dodger Diek, the Wharf-Spy Detective. 521 Dodger Dick’s Best Dodge. 528 Fox and Falcon, mn papery ta pthtig 588 Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret. 548 Dodner Dick’s Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, | 558 Dodger Dick’s Desperate Case. 568 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidocq. 578 The Two Shadows. 582 Dodger Dick’s Drop. B94 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard, 626 The Champion Parda. 687 Dick Doan, the Dock Boy Detective. 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp. 658 Billy Bantam, the Boy Beagle. 671 Jersey Jed, the Boy Hustler; or, Shadowing the Shadower. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 678 Ralph Renwood, the Lightning Express Detective. By A. F. Holt. , 674 The Wizard Sailor; or, Red Ralph, the Rover. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 1 ; 675 Broadway Billy's Bests or, Beating San Francisco's Finest. By J. C. Cowdrick. 676 Signal Sam, the Lookout Scout; or, The Tussle at the Big Fonanza. By Lieut. A. K. Sims. 677 Chineapin Ban’s Second Trail; or, The Baffled Black Hawk’s Fate. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr. p 678 Deadwood Dick, Jr’s., Discovery; or, Found a Bor‘ une, By Edward L. Wheeler. ‘ 679 The Sen Shadowers or, The Freebooter’s Legacy. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 680 Dauntless Dan, the Freelance; or, Old Kit Bandy in Arcadia, By Ol} Coom s. ) 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussel; or, None Curve Dan’s Dead Ball. By George C. Jenks. 682 Wild Vulcan, the Lone-Ranger Rider, By Wm. G,. Patten. 688 Saltpeter Sol, the New York Nayigator; or, The Unseen Fnemy. By Jo Pierce. 684 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Dazzle; or, The Nemesia of Nutmeg Bonanza, By Edward L. Wheeler. : 685 Wappy Hugh, the Boy Musician Detective; or, Breaking the Eureka Spider’s Web. By T. C. Harbaugh. 686 Orlando, the Ocean eres Flag; or, The Tarnished Name, By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, 687 Broadway Billy in Clover; of, The Ruction at Lake Tulare. By J. C. Cowdrick, x 688 Chincapin Dan’s Wome &tretch; or, The Conspirators of No Man’s at a Jos, E. Badger, Jr. Ready Septe r 30. r t 689 Billy, the Gypsy Spy: or., Working Out the Myatery o Two Lives. By 1 sac bys 3 3% K. Sims. Ready October 7. A New Iasue Every Tuesday. The Half. Dime Library 1s for ante by all newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BE. ADAMS, Publishers, easier 3 Witla Street, New ¥ ANT ase hse ge A npohis “Pe = he