Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 537) (1887 11 08)
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THIRD EDITION, sl Y F re Bork alcalclllllen halle! Halle ‘ 3 gill a A j “i a \ We = S (a! a lL Z MOEA EP LTS {1 a al Co Te emery sl ial | ‘ma! lit it UP Vt a Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Mail Rates. Copyright, 1887 and 1888, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, Price, Vol, XXT, a Year, No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents. No. 537. Ht] HUTT HT a sf | aa ami ll ee aN Win Hk | | il i VAHL H WH } | | | \ ASSO NSS Sr Gs x SS = \r Zz as A d . AN LZ sta Cn, Against Desperate Odds, TALE OF IDAHO. = SS = (1 "Hf / = APA BY JOHN W. OSKON, HATH AUTHOR OF “ THE RIVAL H GIANTS OF NOWHAR,” CACTUS BURR, THE MAN FROM HARD LUCK,” ETO, HHUA CHAPTER I. THE TRAGEDY AND THE TRAIL. Ir was an autumnal midnight, unusually dark and dreary. high wind was sweeping down the rough and winding trail between the swiftly- Sowing Hittite river and the bases of the towering hills, The howling of a wolf on the broken plain ; ; beyond the river, the occasional hooting of an ‘+ WHO BHOS? WHO BIDS? A MIS’ABUL THOUSAN’ FUR THET PURTY ORITTER! WAUGH!” owl sweeping through space, the faint chirping
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2 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. and piping of countless insects, the wind’s shrill whistle, the river’s soft and musical ripple— parts of Nature’s grand voice, one and all— alone broke the dismal nocturnal quietude, and robbed the narrow trail of the weirdness and grimness locked in brooding and midnight si- lence, A horse and rider, "their blended outlines just discernible under t.e pall of darkness, crept slowly along the trail-—a spectral Centaur, whose movements were marked by just a sus- picion of the sound of falling hoofs. Onward, at a siow, unvarying gait, stole the shade; onward, until the trail veered outward to the water’s edge, to round a protruding spur in the range. ‘ Then halted—a smothered imprecation ac- companying the action, An iron hand had closed upon the nostrils of the silent steed, while against the face of its rider were focused the rays of a dark lantern! From each side of the trail a man in mask had glided forward, and the cocked revolver of each bore full upon the breast of the horseman. Muscular-looking fellows, disguised beyond recognition, they were, and the cold gleam in their eyes was as pitiless as death. > A moment sped by in silence unbroken save by the restless champing of the horse; then a light, sardonic laugh rippled from the lips of the men in the saddle, ‘* Now here’s a pretty go!” he coolly ob- served, in the most matter-of-fact tone imagin- able. ‘Say, hain’t you galoots barkin’ up the wrong tree?” The leader of the masked trio chuckled. ‘Nary a time!” he declared, positively. “A bluff won’t work in this leetle game. You’re our timber, an’ we’re goin’ ter peel ye! Eh, lads?” ‘* Bet yer pile!” promptty avowed his fellows. “Fact is, major, we’ve bin expectin’ yo’ fer a week past,” continued the man with the lan- tern, a deal of satisfaction manifesting itself in his voice, ‘‘Kin ye see on t/other side o’ ther knot-hole?” The horseman slowly shook his head, a puz- zled expression appearing on his handsome face, The three road-agents laughed outright. ‘“Mebbe ye hain’t Major Cool, ov ther Gold Bug,” suggested the leader, ironically. ‘“ An’ ye hev’n’t muffled yer critter’s hoofs ter slide by unheerd,” chimed ’in the outlaw on the left. ** An’ T reckon we hain’t got ye lined,” added the third, The horseman stared at the three men in un- disguised amazement a moment, then leaned back in the saddle and uttered a mellow laugh. “Drunk or crazy,” he muttered, his voice just audible, a peculiar smile parting his mus- tached lips. ‘‘ In either event I must not cross them in tbeir mad whims,” “‘ Sensible,” tersely said the outlaw leader, with a crisp nod. ‘ An’ now, major, a word to ther p’int. “Ther Gold Bug, ther new gambling-hell, aire advertised ter yr work on ther suckers an’ chumps ov ther Canyon ter-morrow night. ‘In a live camp like Chispa Canyon, up thar, it takes dust—heaps ov it—ter keep ther keerds turnin’, An’ we kalkilate yer pockets aire purty well lined with ther yellow stuff!” ‘* And that’s some more of your business!” crisply returned the horseman, not the slightest trace of alarm or annoyance noticeable in voice or bearing. ‘* Jes’ so,” complacently affirmed the ruffian, a broad grin crinkling the close-fitting folds of his mask. ‘ Fact aire, major, ye don’t seem ter ketch onto who we be.” ‘Oh, yes, I do!” the horseman protested, his big blue eyes scintillating suspiciously. ‘‘ And re make it confoundedly warm for you, too, but you’ve gou me foul,” “That's allright, We aire not toll-takers ov ther common cloth,” went on the ruffian, assum- ing an air of injured innocence, and paying not the slightest heed to the significant assurance, In fact, we aire agents of Captain Trackless, ther Terror ov ther Trail. Dust we’ aire after, an’ dust we'll hev! Resist, an’ thar’s yer grave!” and a curt inclination of his head indicated the river, “ Agents of Captain Trackless!” echoed Major i ‘ ool. “That’s wot I said!” doggedly iterated the outlaw, ‘4nd lied / The redoubtable Trackless has no hand in this matter! {na word, you are the birelings of High-Card Hank, the Faro King, of Chispa Canyon!” Not loudly, or with bluster, but in a cold, deadly monotone, the bold words fairly shot from betweén the white, even teeth of the im- periled sport. Bracing his feet firmly, as if to resist a des- perate attack, the leader of the outlaw trio drew a hard breath, The effect upon his companions was equally marked. But the looked-for resistance did not follow. On the contrary, Majof Cool sat quite at ease in his saddle, his arms slightly akimbo, his jeweled hands resting lightly upon his hips, with the long, tapering fingers doubled under. His cold, white face wore a faint smile, the real signifi- cance of which was revealed only by the wicked sparkle in bis eyes, ‘Yes, sir, you lied,” he reiterated. ‘ And now, listen to a little plain talk. ‘*T am Major Cool—I don’t go back on that. It’s a good handle, and a clean one, compared with some I can call to mind—that of Bunco Ben, for instance. Do—” A howl of rage from the ruffian with the lan- tern interrupted the sport. ‘* Hear that, pards!” he grated, his eyes gleam- ing viciously through the twin apertures of his mask, as he released the borse’s nostrils and clapped his hand upon one of the revolver-butts protruding from his girdle. ‘‘ It’s ther river fer ther cuss now, even ef ‘ve do resk a taste of Jedge—” **Slow and easy, friend Benjy,” interpolated Major Cool, his quiet, incisive voice clear and distinct above the husky mumblings of themad- dened road-agent; ‘‘don’t crowd the mourners; there’s time to settle up this little affair in de- cent style, even if the river beside us is to be the Styx of my journey. ‘As the matter stands, we pretty nearly understand each other. You ducks want what good, solid coin of the realm I may chance to ane upon my unfortunate person. Well, take at! A swift outward fling of the major’s hands gave emphasis to the last word; more than that, for the glittering length of a small revol- ver appeared in each, while the sharp, spiteful cracking of the pair of trusty weapons com- pletely drowned the even strains of his voice. So dexterously, so swiftly executed was the mapeuver, that the road-agent on either side fell back lifeless ere he could realize the true import of the turn affairs were taking! nd at the very instant the long white fingers of the major performed their deadly work, the rowels of his Mexican spurs urged forward his well-trained steed, dashing the leader of the cukiar trio in a senseless’ heap on the rocky trail. The lantern fell with a splash into the waters of the stream, and over the strange scene the pall of darkness resumed its sway. Again the Centaur shade stole noiselessly for- wied along the trail, heading straight for the twinkling lights of Chispa Canyon. “Dye heur; gal? Head up, an’ face ther gang, or—” A menacing gleam in the small, bloodshot ificant uplifting of his Be fr of the ge a si i clawish hand, filled the hiatus with an emphasis more brutal than words could have conveyed. There was an uneasy shifting of the crowd; here and there a toil-stained hand dropped to a belted weapon. ““Come—you, Red Joaquin! No more of that, or something will drop—quick and hard!” icily enunciated a low, clear voice, the signifi- cant tapping of a revolver-butt orton gg a the warning words. ‘‘ Don’t forget that this is the House of Gold, the resort of white men all wool and a yard wide, “Use my tables for slave blocks—sell that helpless girl, if you will; but roughly touch a hair of that glorious head, and Chispa Canyon will no longer know your presence!” A stifled oath, a snort of disgust; then— ‘“‘Neow, how d’ye git in, chippie? Hevn’t hurted ther purty critter a cent’s wu’th, hev I?” and, as be spoke, Red Joaquin turned savagely upon the sport, his, villainous face aglow wit wrath, ‘‘Jes’ keep yer peer winery paws off them thar tools. too, less ye mean biz! Naow, I'm a-talkin’, High-Card—a-chockin’ aout hoss- sense! Twig?” Y The gambler nodded nonchalantly, a faint smile, indescribably sardonic, parting his thin lips. Red Joaquin felt a strange chill creep over his massive form; just a thought of the color fled from the little of his face visible. His arms seemed to hang limp at his sides. The spectators silently drew back. The smile of High-Card Hank was accounted deadlier than the fabled Upas-tree. The eyes of the two men met in a steady | lare—those of the rough, small and bdlack, ied with the dull a of intense rage; the | sport’s, now blue, then gray, and all-in-all singularly cat-like, cold, clear and piercing, In marked contrast were the two belligerents, as they stood weapons in hand. | Scarcely more than five-feet-five was High- | Card Hank, and agile rather than muscular; bis ' short, black hair lay close to the skull in crisp little ringlets; his face was smooth and hand- some, but at all times cold, aud as white almost as a block of marble, the natura) pallor bemg only hightened by the jetty blackness of his mustaches and imperial. He was attired in a full-dress suit, and a gir- dle of richly-worked blue silk supported a pair of elegant-looking ** tools.” As for Red Joaquin—six-feet-six did not ex- ceed his altitude. His aspect was one of extrenie repulsiveness, From soles to arm-pits his great form was a model of symmetry. There all shapeliness ended and hideousness began. Shoul- ders, back and chest were gnarled and twisted, as if by some awful accident, setting his short, thick neck awry, and bringing his face around almost over the left shoulder. And such a face! Covered with a matted ee of sandy red whiskers befouled with to- acco-juice, it was simply brutish. The nose of rubicund hue bespoke habits most bibulous. The eyes were deep-set, small and black, and above the low, retreating forehead was a mass of long, tangled red hair. A suit of tattered buckskin bid the nakedness of this repulsive wretch. Upon his head was a sort of turban of wolfskin, ornamented with waving eagle-plumes. At his back hung a Win- chester rifle, which was reinforced by the pair of sixes in bis hands. Of High-Card Hank, the camp knew but little; of Red Joaquin it knew less. The fcrmer had ‘struck the camp” at the twilight hour one evening three months before —coming no one knew whence—with his finances at the low ebb cf a lone silver dollar. Ragged and hun though he was, yet with light step and s ive mien he had headed direct for the Eureka ni 5 the biggest bank in Chispa Canyon—and by an almost fabulous run of luck had ‘ bu’sted ’er wide open, an’ laid Gentleman George out cold,” as the Canyonites expressed it ever after. No name beyond that of ‘‘Hank” had the nervy adventurer vouchsafed the denizens of the camp. Upon the high-card he had laid his heaviest wagers, and so in their free-and-easy way they had prefixed to his name the title of his favorite card. - The Eureka Shades was now the House of Gold, Gentleman George, the proprietor of the former, had gone the way of all flesh—had de- parted this life in strict accordance with the pe- culiar code of the isolated gold-camp. Detected in an attempt to work a “ brace” on that event- ful night, he bad fallen before the deadly revolv: ers of the ragged adventurer. Always cool and collected, ever as ready for a fight as for a frolic, with never a word of him- self, of his past or his future, High-Card Hank in the three months immediately preceding the opening of my romance had worked out for him- self the distinction of being. with possibly one exception, the worst man ip the camp, And that exception was Joaquin. Loud-mouthed, abusive, vile in appearance and in manner, the deformed giant was the ter- ror of thecamp. Then, too, he was something of a mystery. Gold he had in plenty, and when he appeared in camp, bent upon one of his peri- odical ‘‘ tears,” the yellow god went right and left most lavishly. Invariably be came and went between two days—a fact which had teu w av oud of idle speculation and to a general supposition that, somewhere back in the hills, be bad struck a rich lead of the virgin metal, and was secretly working it for all it was worth. From the day the giant had first set foot in Chispa Canyon, he had, to use the vernacular, ‘played a lone hand,” and played it well, too, Foes he had in generous numbers, but of friends not one, fi This particular night on which the herculean desperado is introduced to the reader, he had suddenly appeared in camp with the girl, whom he at once conducted to the House of Gold, and offered for sale to the highest bidder. A high-banded proceeding, even for this roughest and most lawless of Idaho’s gold-camps and, but for High-Card Hank, the ruffian woul have suffered vigorous punishment long ere eve the preliminaries of the atrocious barter h been arranged. 4 Realizing this full well—knowing mae im a en ee —————————————E———————————————E——————————E— ee 2
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Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 3 ~~ ‘Chispa Can7von he bad not a friend to be depend- ed upon—Red Jouquin mentally his folly 1» baviug invoked the anger of High-Card Hank at xo inoppertune a time. An odd shrug of his misshapen shoulders; a swilt, restless flashing of his deep-set eyes over the motley throng: a singular twitching of bis tacial muscles; then a Jaugh, singularly soft an purrmg, yet indescribably chilling, rippled : lowly turough the tangled meshes of his mus- taches, ‘* Pizen, hain’t we, pard?” he muttered, the words marked with a series of deep chuckles, * Reckon we c’u’d eat each other an’ not hafe try—but we won’t!” And, to the intense surprise of the assembled Canyonites, he with a swift, easy motion return- ed his weapons to his belt. At this unexpected, but none the less diplo- matic turn of affairs, the sport of the House of ke vowed with studied grace, and answered airily: ‘* As sensible as ugly!” A moment he looked straight into the burning black eyes of the crippled Hercules, his own dotlike orbs filled with a greenish glint, boding ill to the latter, then quietly put up his revol- vers, and in colu, hard'strains continued: ““A truce to senseless horse-play, Joaquin. ‘Who or what this girl is—whether your kith or kin, or a stolen mountain beauty—is nothing to me. You have brought her here to find a buyer, Confine yourself strictly to that business, and remember that the briefer the time you tarry here the better for your health.” Returning stare for stare, gazing straight into ithe dilated pupils of the gambler, the giant ut- tered a hoarse laugh, barren of wirth—a vehicle of contempt, simply and purely. ‘ Kyrect, ole hoss—jes’ es yer say, and not es I keer a durn fer it eyther!" he enunciated, in- solently. ‘* Bizness fu’st—pleasure a’ter! ’Tain't ther last hour ov ther night, and thar’s another sun a’ter to-morrow’s!” Then a short, curt nod, and he turned to the crowd, crying: **Neow, who bids? Who bids? Hyar’s ther dainty critter fer sale, galoots, and ther biggest roll plucks ther prize; jes’ es ‘she stan’s—ther boss rosybud ov ther Canyon, ther brightest ¢hispa 2v ther pocket! Who bids?) Who bids?” In hoarse, chuckling accents at first, with an ex)ression of savage defiance upon his distorted face, then louder and with increasing clearness and vehemeuce, and in tones betraying just a Spice of malignant joy, spoke Red Joaquin. Silence, breathless, but of brief ‘duration, en- sued, Then came the chink-chink of gold coins, hastily poured out upon the hard deal table, and in an eager, excited voice the words: ** Hyar ! Cimarron Jack offers $500!” The ice was broken. An electric thrill seemed to yg bape he the ne Bid after bid was made in swift succession, until the first had ‘doubled his offer. nraserned Then a brief lull—a quietude almost unbroken, save by deep-drawn ‘breathing and the restless shuffling of feet. t Unnoticed, a slender, boyish form glided into the place. } The cowering girl shot a covert glance at the brawny, repulsive-looking ruffian, Cimarron Jack. Her eyes encountered his burning gaze, and with a shudder she crouched yet lower upon the table, shivering in every fiber. Then again the voice of Red Joaquin arose, wild and fierce. ‘Who bids? Who bids? Cuss ye fer fools! Dern an’ double-dern ye, I say!’ A mis’abul thousan’ fur thet purty critter! Waugh !” Scarcely bad the strains of disgust died away when High-Card Hank enunciated, coldly and distinctly: Let him bid who ‘“‘ Fifteen hundred dollars} may, the girl shall be mine!” A stifled snarl of rage, a took of black, un- utterable hatred, and Cimarron Jack strode swiftly out of the House of Gold, A flush of triumph appeared on the face of the gZambler—a look of dismay upon that of the ¢erippled Hercules. High-Card Hank’s only for- midable rival had withdrawn from the ‘race, The fair prize was as good as won. ‘Goin’ at fifteen byndred! A cussed shame! Who bids? Ther last chance, so help me! Twitter, chickies—twitter quick, or never!” roared Red Joaquin, madly, “Fifteen bundred an’ goin’— oin’— : a T’other word, an’ youre gone !” chipped in a crisp, fresh young voice, in cool, snapping accents, “‘Isay, Cap'n Trackless, at ther best I kin figger it out, you’re my meat! so hands up, or by ther blue ethereal! I’li swat ye a few right whar ye liye!” His cavernous mouth agape, bis beady black eyes protuberant with sudden astonishment and rage, the giant desperado—for the moment a picture of discomfiture—stared down at the deadly steel tubes 1eveled at his heart, then on beyond at the smooth and boyish but bitterly determined face of the speaker. CHAPTER II. FIGHTING FRANK, THE FEATHERWEIGHT, ACCUSTOMED to wild and stirring scenes though they were, the habitues of the House of Gold stood as if spell-bound—motionless, speechless, for the nonce, seemingly unwilling to credit the evidence of their eyes. Truly, it was a striking picture! Confronting the gigantic bully and desperado, a self-cocking ‘‘ six” in each hand, was a youth of eighteen—a mere stripling, yet one whose pee expressive face, bore the indelible impress of courage and daring bordering close upon the reckless, A lithe, supple form, clad in an od yet har- monious admixture of the garb of a prairie cougar and that of a border sport; booted and spurred, with a belt of arms at his middle and a inchester at hisback. Not above five-feet-four in hight, but broad of shoulder, full-chested and trim-waisted; shapely as to limbs, with hands and feet that a lady might well have envied; a fine head, from which the hair descended to the shoulders in long, wavy tresses of gold; forehead broad, high and full; eyes of hazel, large and brilliant; nose of purest Grecian mold; mouth large, with clearly-cut red lips and sound white teeth, and a firm, square chin. All in all, a ppeagg ind handsome youth—a boy in years, a man in deeds. An_ indescribable expression mantling his bestial visage, Red Joaquin stared down into the boy’s flashing bazel aves a full minute, then, with a characteristic oath, ejaculated: “Eh, thar, sonny! bain’t ve jest a little keer- less with them thar tools? "Pears es ef—” “Pears as if I hold ther a cut in the youtb, nonchalantly. ‘‘ Ye’ve tried buckin’ ag’in’ rank ther Featherweight, an’ run on a snag— that’s all! But ye’re ther marked keerd in ther pack jest now, Cap’n Trackless, Wilt!” High-Card Hank stared. A shade of annoy- ance crossed his face. “ Fighting Frank Bayne, the Featherweight,” he exclaimed, the name slipping involuntarily from him, And at the same juncture the crouching girl raised her head to stare wildly at the handsome youth, then slip from the table to a stand on the floor, her pallid but beautiful face bearing a look of relief inexpressible. ‘*But ov course ye wilt,” continued the youth, not heeding either the words of High-Card Hank or the action of the girl. ‘‘ Just now ye caiu’t even twinkle yer starry eyes ’thout riskin’a compound fracture, “Ter quit foolishin’ an’ git right down ter biz, cap’n, thar’s a few questions I want ter ask ye an’ I expect answers so chockful ov solid, gospel truth thet three or four ov’em ’u’d freight a Conestoga. Ketch on? ‘Tn course, ye know all about the quiet leetle eircus thet rascally ole snoozer, Bunco Ben, an’ yer Tigers ov ther Trail hed with Carleton Os- man’s outfit back in ther BigGap. Ye know, too, thet cer gang succeeded in gettin’ off with ther gal, Miss Aurela. “Wot [ want ter know is, fu’st ov all, who put up ther job ov holdin’ up ther outfit? You didn’t do it on your own hook—the light warn’t wu’th ther candle. ‘““Thet’s question Number 1. Nowy, assert yerself, cap’n, an’ see thet ye ante a hunk ov solid truth.” The giant desperado stood stock-still, his mouth agape, his beady black eyes opened to their widest extent. His expression was that of one hopelessly nonplused. CY hyar, sonny, s’ ye guv me suthin’ easy,” he growled, his deep tones full of disgust. ‘Dern an’ double-dern me, ef I know ufot ye’re drivin’ at, ‘*Fu’st, ’m cused ov bein’ thet cantankerous critter, Cap’n Trackless; an’ then, atop ov thet, I’m ‘cused ov doing up ther outfit ov a pilgrim I never heerd tell on! No, sir-ee, hossfly! cain’t answer yer question—an’ [L wwdnt ef I eud. Jest—” “Stop, thar!” broke in the Featherweight, almost savagely. ‘“‘’Tain’t no use ter lie! Ye’ve hed a chaince ter clear yer record, ow—” The irascible strain ceased abruptly; a mur- mur of surprise ‘or wonder went up from the throng, ‘ Fighting Frank, crouching slightly, had, with scarcely a perceptible effort thrown a somer- set, planking his heels fully and squarely against the forehead of Red Joaquin, hurling the brawny ruffian to the floor in a senseless heap, So entirely unexpected, so dexterously execut- ed was the feat, that not a man in the room could have lifted even so much as a finger in time to have prevented it. Alighting with the suppleness of a panther, the young athlete, making a single bound, reacbed the side of the girl. Another instant, and he had whirled, rather than carried, her from the table to the wall, and stood before her, facing High-Card Hank and his fellow canyon- ites, his hazel eyes aglow, his lips parted in a careless smile, his revolvers on a dead level, with the hammers trembling upon a poise under the steady pressure of his long, tapering fingers against the triggers. ‘*Try conclusions, shall we, gents?” he queried lightly, yet with a certain metallic sort of ring in the smooth easy tones. ‘ As fer thet "—with a swift inclination of his head toward the sense- less giant—‘ ther less said either way, p’rhaps ther better. On’y this from me: He is Cap’n Trackless, ther noted road-agent, ** But, ef eny ov ye feel onhappy over it, ther ball hes bin started. Will ye keep it rollin’? Down grade—no trouble ter make it hump it- self! Just in time, that masterly retreat to. the wall; and the cool, devil-may-care words of the Featherweight, backed with the easy handling of his tools, was exactly the thing needed just then. Otherwise, bis career would have ended right there, and with it all hope and brightness have been blotted from the future of Aurelia Osman. For, from the throng beyond High-Card Hank, more than one pair of ugly, bloodshot eyes had glared with wolfish fury at the dash- ing, reckless youth—more than one deadly “six” been drawn to end his existence, But, it is one thing to shoot a man in the back, an- other to court death in the muzzles of weapons up and ready. ‘No mining-camp in all the West is free of its quota of bad men; and vineee Canyon’s deni- zens were little better than the offscourings of the older camps. While there were men good and true among them, yet for the sake of peace they shielded the light of their virtues with the cloak of secrecy. The crisply-uttered words of the Feather- weight, pregnant with defiance, but wholly de- void of even so much asa trace of bluster or braggadocio, had scarcely ceased, when High- Card Hank shifted Se rapeny' then laughed—a soft, pleasant sound, yet as deadly at that junc- ture as an adder’s hiss. There were those in the House of Gold to whom it expressed, as plainly as if uttered in so many words: ‘ Kil): the whelp; but let the deed be secret,” “If we must smite each other, let it be fair and open, is all Jask,” continued the Feather- weight, as if divining the gambler’s very thoughts. Then, reflectively: ‘Tho’ jest why thar sh’u’d be a ruction I cain’t see,” ‘Nor I; for if you’ve aught against that bruised and battered mass of flesh, Red Joaquin, you are the friend of every honest man in the ‘coy al swiftly avowed High-Card Hank, mov- ing forward a trifle, an unctuous smile upon his usually cold, impassive countenance. ‘ And if he is really Captain Trackless, the mountain bandit, as you bave charged, Iam equally sure that he has ‘held up’ bis last victim; for wild as is Chispa Canyon, the common law of the Territory has faithful representatives in our coustabulary—not to mention good Judge Lyncb.” : Fightin a lowered his revolvers, but warily held one in readiness for a snap-shot from the hip. He knew full well the unsavor reputation of the Canyonites—that fair words might cloak dark pu . Crafty as the sport of the House of Gold might be, the young plains- man was his match in subtlety. ‘““Ther young lady kin doubtless prove ther truth ov w’at Pve said,” the latter remarked, carelessly, yet with bis piercing hazel eyes look- ing straight into the treacherous orbs of the gambler, ; “That I can,” promptly affirmed the girl, over the shoulder of her fearless young protec- tor. ‘*The big fellow on the floor is assured) the leader of the band who attacked my father outfit this morning, although he was not with them at the time,” High-Card Hank bowed effusively, and said; “Your lightest word, lady, would be amply sufficient to convict the scoundrel of any crime, in our eyes, even though he had been our warm , est friend.
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“a ‘*But you speak of your father’s outfit having been attacked—” ‘*Permit me ter explain,” the Featherweight Leone interpolated. *’ Week ago I was hired ter guide ther outfit ov Mr. Carleton Osman from ‘Golden City ter ther camp ov Nowhar. Ther party was made up ov Osman, his darter hyar, myself an’ a darky know. as Belzy Golightly. We reached ther Big Gap down ther trail last night, an’ de- cided ter make camp thar. Jest afore daylight we war attacked, ther annimiles stampeded an’ Miss Aurelia hyar stolen. all in ther twinklin’ ov an eye, “Golightly-war standin’ guard at ther time fer we knowed we war cluss upon ther stampin’ ground ov Cap’n Trackless an’ his Tigers ov ther Trail; but ther bedizzened hellyons war too much for ther coon, an’ they smote us hard, the’ I did skotch Bunco Ben, ther gang’s leften- ant—skotched ’im bad; but he got off. ‘““Wren we kem ter figger ‘out ther damage a’ter ther scrimmage, we found thet Miss Osman hed bin: captured, ther nigger an’ ther rest ov ther stock stampeded, But as soon as day broke Osman an’ myself lifted ther trail ov ther var- lets an’ held it so cluss thet we hole’ ’em jest afore sunset. An’ wile 1 hustled down inter camp a’ter help, he’s bin keepin’ his eye on ther ‘Tigers’ lay-out. “Yo kin imagine my s’prise at findin’ Miss Osman hyar; we war dead sart?in she’d bin car- ried ter Cap’n Trackless’s lair.” ‘¢ And so I was,” declared the girl quickly. ‘“When we reached the camp up in the hills, about an hour before sunset, Bunco Ben was given a note by the sentry in charge of the place. The result was that with two picked men he left camp, after having given orders that I was to be taken at once to Captain Trackless.” ‘* And that order was obeyed?” quered High- Card Hank. ‘* Tt was.” ** And so you are sure that this senseless clod is none other than the redoubtable Trackless?” ‘Quite sure; he is the person’ to whom I was taken by the agent of Bunco Ben.” ‘“Was the captain at the camp?” further in- quired the sport. “*No—yes! I hardly know,” and the girl paused, a puzzled expression stealing over ber face. ‘I was blindfolded, and, while we walked a considerable distance, it seemed to me that we had been going in a circle. When the bandage was taken from my eyes, we were in a large cavern, and before us was a man whose face was concealed by a mask. The place was so dark that I could just distinguish his outlines, ‘‘ When the agent of Bunco Ben had departed, the masked outlaw attempted to question me concerning my past life, and other things. Nat- urally, I refused to reply to his questions, and after a few minutes my eyes were again ban- daged and we left the cavern. *“ After a walk of two hours or more, the outlaw announced that we had reached the out- skirts of Chispa Canyon, and, after cautioning mé to keep a still tongue, uncovered my eyes and removed his mask,’ : “Then, to my mind, it is settled beyond a per- adventure that the fellow is really and truly the notorious mountain bandit,” declared High- Card Hank, without a moment’s hesitation, when Aurelia Osman had ended. ‘“* And now, my dear young lady, permit me to conduct you to quarters more befitting one of your sex than is this rude place,” Her face flushing slightly, Aurelia Osman coyly placed her hand upon the arm of the Featherweight, and responded: “Put yourself to no inconvenience on my account. This gentleman—Mr. Bayne—will act as my escort.” Acqniescing, with his accustomed grace and ease, to this decision of the girl, but mentally cursing the dangerously handsome young guide, the gambler went on to say: *« Before you go, Miss Osman, [ trust you will rmit me to offer an explanation of certain Phings that have happened here in the past hour, for Ido not wish to have you regard me as an utter barbarian. In the absence of Marshal Buckshot from the camp, it was an impossibility. to check the high-handed proceed- ings of Red Joaquin, or Captain Trackless, save by force of arms—and then he would have slain you rather than have yielded you up. Knowing this I was from the first determined i buy—or, better, ransom—you from his vyil- in— A sudden uproar abruptly checked the utter- ance of further words. Several of the more curious of the roughs and Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. ps Ie assembled in the gambling-hell had athered around the prostrate form of Red oaquin. At the point where the hiatus occur- red in the speech of High-Card Hank, the giant outlaw had suddenly and without an instant’s — sprung to his feet, gripping in each hand a leveled weapon, and sending bevk pell- mell the astounded throng. But, strangest and most startling of all, the long, matted beard and the shock of red hair had fallen from his face and head, revealing the strange, homely and deeply-bronzed features of a man of five-and-fifty years! A moment, the sport of the Houseof Gold stood like oné electrified. ‘*One thousand dollars for him, dead or alive!” he shouted, suddenly springing for- ward, ‘* Kill him!” ‘Rah fur Jedge Lynch hg ‘¢ Hang ther dorg!’ And a full score other such shouts went up, filling the gambling-hell with wildest confu- sion, “Stand back! don't crowd me, ye hounds! One at a time, an’ ’ll take a regiment of sech as ye!” enunciated the imperiled giant, in slow, steady accents, his black eyes flashing, the muzzles of his revolvers shifting so that they covered each and all of the clamorers for his blood. Meanwhile, Fighting Frank had remained like one dazed, starmg hard at the partially metamorphosed giant; but as the latter ceased speaking, the youth clutched the arm of his fair companion, and in a voice low and hoarse ex- claimed; ‘* By ther Lord ov Israel! I know that voice —I know that face! It is—itis— By heavens! it is Old Buckeye—an’ a whiter man never drew a bead!” Aud, as if for the time totally oblivious of all else than the danger menacing the giant, the Featherweight sprung forward, drawing his weapons and shouting: ** Back—back! all ov ye! Captain Trackless!” “ Right, gamecock; and, because he is not Captain Trackless, he must die!” came in deep, powerful tones from the doorway, as, across the threshold, strode a masked man of herculean build, carrying in each hand a cocked “ six,” up and ready. ‘* Know ye, that J am Captain Trackless, the Terror of the Trail, and with my Tigers I am here for blood!” True enough; following like shadows in his footprints came a full half-score men, each and all masked and heavily armed! Upon this sudden and wholly unexpected ap- rance of the notorious freebooter and his followers, there was scarcely a man in the House of Gold but felt a thrill akin to terror. The Tigers of the Trail, as the outlaw clan had come to be known in the brief time they had made their headquarters in the camp’s vicinity, were noted as the most to be dreaded of mountain banditti. There were those among the denizens of Chispa Canyon who had often predicted a de- scent just such as the present one; and, now that it had come, the wilder and more reckless characters of the camp, who had scoffed at the ‘idea as absurd, stood to all appearances dazed and stupefied in the face of their peril. High-Card Hank alone of the Canyonites wit- nessed the advent of the robber band with un- wavering composure, His white face wore an icy smile—a smile that boded a coming storm. Seareely had the Giant Freebooter and his men halted in a half-circle just within the door, covering with their weapons all within the House of Gold, when the nervy little gambler, advancing a trifle, nodded shortly, and .in tones of utter contempt demanded: “‘ What is it you fellows want?” Captain Trackless laughed—an odd, unpleas- ant sound, dry and harsh. ‘Don’t know what it is we don’t want,” he This man is not replied. ‘* But just now there are three things + ich we want worse than we do all things else, “ce Well, go on.” “First, this girl here.” “Ah! Go on.” ‘¢Then this cursed man-hunter who has been masquerading as Captain Trackless, Old Buck- eye—or the Sierra Sleuth, as he is better known. want him, above all.” The deep tones of the freebooter chief fairly rankled with ferocity, and his dark orbs blazed fitfully through the eyelets of his mask as he bent upon Joaquin a steadfast stare, The gambler started. For a fleeting instant his expression was that of one confronted by an apparition. "a detective—the Sierra Sleuth! Pshaw! Go on! The last two words were in a hard, strained, unnatural voice. The others were barely audible, Under circumstances a trifle less trying, it would have been apparent to all that the sport of the House of Gold had become strangely illat ease at the mention of. the presence of a detective by Captain Trackless.” ‘* Last of all, every ounce of yellow dust that can be raked up in Chispa Cunyon,” concluded the giant robber. ‘* And is that all?” in a far-fetched attempt at jocularity. ‘That 1s all,” grimly. ‘* And what if we resist?” ‘¢ We'll turn the camp into a boneyard.” Again High-Card Hank started sharply, the evil smile dying on his white face, and stared straight ahead, his cat-like eyes fixed on the doorway beyond the Tigers of the Trail. And, what was yet more remarkable, Fight- ing Frank, Aurelia Osman and Old Buckeye, at the same instant peered hard in the direction of the door, each and all betraying signs of uneasi- ness, “* Merciful heavens ! we are lost ? The words burst from the lips of Aurelia Os- man with a harsh, gasping sound, ending in a wild shriek. Her face as colorless as ashes, her magnificent: black eyes filled with a light akin tc terror, she reeled blindly, then flung her hands aloft and fell to the floor in a dead faint. Ere her startling words were fully uttered High-Card Hank, whose eyes had not wavered in their fixed stare, flung his revolvers to a dead level and fired once—twice—thrice, with light- ning-like swiftness. A sardonic laugh was the answer; then came the words: ‘Don’t waste your powder, dear brother; you will need it for foes far worse than I! ‘¢ But what means this strange scene? Can it be that the fabled Greeks have wet and the tug of war ison, or— Furies! itis my old friend, that paragon of virtue, Captain Trackless! “ Now, ‘lay on Macduff.’” There could be no mistaking that cold, clear voice, The speaker was Major Cool, the lone rider of the trail. He stood, just, within the shades of the House of Gold, a self-cocking re- volver in each jeweled hand, a half-smile upon his mustached lips, a strange light scintillating in his big blue eyes. With the last word, one of his weapons cracked. Ere the report bad died away, it was swallowed up in the dull, heavy roar of a volley, The lights of the gambling-hell flickered, then expired, leaving the place as black as Erebus and filled with the grim horrors of a bloody hand-to-hand conflict. CHAPTER TIL THE GIANT SPY OF PILGRIM’S PATH, LITTLE more than a mere pocket in the giant hills was the site ot Chispa Canyon, the camp being perched on a V-shaped bench, or terrace, near the base of a towering crag, at the inter- section of two converging canyons, known to the old-seekers as the ‘ Pilgrim’s Path” and the ‘ Devil’s Lane,” respectively. Down eack of these gorges rushed a narrow stream to a confluence immediately below the camp, whence rolled a small river to the south- ward through the rock-walled pass formed by the union of the canyons. Up this pass, wound a narrow, tortuous trail, crossing over a bridge of timber the Pilgrim’s Path, entering Chispa Canyon and ending at the doorway of a large rambling frame struc- ture, the sign-board of which announced; ‘‘ PEG-LEG PETE'S LAY-OUT! “BAR AND BOAXHD, “ Drop in. Bet Yur Shirt Unkle Peg Wul Treat Yur Rite!” Adjoining Peg-Leg Pete’s Lay-out on the north was the long, flat-roofed building occupied by the saloon and gambling-hell known as the House of Gold, while facing the latter and not more than a dozen paces distant a rival concern had been thrown up, with the announcement that it would be called the Gold Bug, and would be open for business as soon as the proprietor bad arrived. \ Beyond these three institutions, on the gradu- ally widening terrace were a Considerable num- ber of tents and slab shanties, while in the shadow of the rising rocks at the northern boundary of the camp were several wicky-u Saloons, dance-ha. and gambling-h a ee
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‘abounded, and, as has been intimated in the foregoing chapters, the denizens of the camp, considered collectively, were a ‘* hard crowd.” At an early hour of the day preceding the night on which Major Coo! made his appearance in Chispa Canyon, High-Card Hank mizht have been seen in the doorway of the House of Gold, roughly garbed and armed with a Winchester, revolvers and bowie-knife, as if intent on a scramble for game ameng the wooded fastnesses of the surrounding crags. After a quiet but thoroughly searching survey of his surroundings, he sallied forth, crossing the bridge over the turbulent, rushing waters and laying his course to the northwest along the eastern side of the Pilgrim’s Path. A thousand yards from the camp, at an abrupt bend in his winding pathway, the crafty sport ensconced himself snugly behind a bowlder whence, for full twenty minutes, he scanne with cat-like patience all that was visible of the distance he had just traversed. No sign of life—no trace of a shadow on his trail could he discover, and with a grim smile he resumed his way. Another thousand yards, and again he halted, going through precisely the same maneuvers with like fruitless results. ** Oh, it’s a thousand to one that this haunting fear of mine is groundless,” he assured himself, as he turned into # narrow ravine running at right angles to the great gorge. ‘“‘We have been too cautious for even the most patient and cunning detective spy, and I haven’t the re- motest doubt that our plot will be a golden suc- cess!” Yet subtle aw was the sport of the House of Gold, he was at that moment overmatched by the superior artfulness of the unseen enemy at whom he had just hinted, : Far up on the opposite side of the Pilgrim’s Path a spur, or arm, of barren rock—in shape not unlike a huge dormer-window, save that its top was A sy fromm the face of the ac- clivity, directly cpposite to the mouth of the rav- ine into which the gambler had turned. At the outer edge of the table-like top of this elevated projection, lying face downward, was a man—a gigantic fellow—provided with a pow- erful poeket telescope, through which he was noting each move of High-Card Hank. Emboldened by a feeling of perfect security, the gambler pushed rapidly up the ravine for a distance of three or four hundred yards, when his further progress was checked by a wall of solid rock. Then forth fron. a niche in the walls of the natural cul-de-sac stepped a man—an exact counterpart of the giant spy of Pilgrim’s Path; a man of HercuJean build and evil visage—in brief, the mountain tramp and vagabond, Red Joaquin! But, strongly enough, the distortion of neck and sboulders, which so horribly marred the symmetry of his appearance when he appeared in Chispa Canyon, was not now apparent. * Hello! hello! itis you, captain!” ejaculated High-Card Hank, repressing a nervous start at i sudden appearance of the red-headed Her- cules, “Ob! yes,” sneered the latter. ‘I’ve been in waiting « half-hour. Lope I havea’t burried ou! : ‘‘ Not at all," coolly retorted the gambler, as he sought a seat commanding a view of the Jength of the ravine, ‘But, I say, captain— what is that flashing in the sun’s rays, up yon- der, on the side of Pilgrim’s Path?” Red Joaquin stared upward a moment, then uttered an oath. ‘Oh! a Gatling gun—the sabers of a cavalry company, or something of tbhe*sort, I reckon,” he replied, with a gesture of Impatience. Then, abruptly: “A runner from Bunco Ben reached camp at daybreak.” The gambler started to his feet. “ Then—” ‘““* We have met the enemy, and they are ours,’ to use a familiar quotation,” continued Red J ps ge watching his unscrupulous confrere much as a cat watcbes a mouse. Bunco Ben and a picked party of seven have for three days been lying in wait at the Big Gap for ae Osman’s outfit, At daybreak the blow ell. ** They secured the girl?” “* Yes—that is, it is reasonable to suppose they did. As soon as the outfit made camp at the » Gap, Ben sent back Monte Jack, saying the at- tack would be made an hour before day.” “Why the delay?” An ugly smile crossed the face of the giant. ** Bunco Ben is a gentleman with a long head,” he affirmed, by way of reply. ‘It seems that he r ized in Osman’s guide one Fighting Frank, a tery eg nag known from the Rio Grande to the Red River of the North as a bad citizen to monkey with. Naturally, Ben ar- ranged the attack to catch the young gentleman napping, if possible.” esuming his seat, High-Card Hank beat an impatient tattoo on the rock with his fin- gers, **T don’t fee] easy in the matter, at all,” he de- clared. ‘‘How many were in the Osman party?” ‘* Four—the girl and three men.” “ Oh! that is better. ly have failed.” «They did not fail—they never do,” quietly affirmed the giant, ‘** You will bring the girl into camp to-night?” Red Joaquin uttered a mocking laugh. ‘*Oh! yes, certainly—after the stipulations of our compact have been fully complied with,” he said, ‘‘I suppose you came with your pockets lined?” **1 cam assure you I did nothing of the kind,” responded the gambler, a prewéting smile just showing on his white face. ‘I can’t think of honor in connection with thieves, Deliver the goods and the dustis yours,” A dark scowl betrayed the ill-humor of the Your Tigers would hard- giant. ‘“* Fetch the girl into Chispa Canyon and there turn her over to you! See here, Paul Parker- ton, do you consider me a fool—a blooming idiot? Pll admit they’re a bad lot down in the Canyon, but don’t you get it into your head that they'd submit to that a moment! No—” **Don’t make an ass of yourself, Red,” inter- rupted the gambler in silken tones, a greenish glint in his treacherous, cat-like orbs, as he lifted his long forefinger warningly; ‘‘ and don’t you mention any names, Just bring the girl to the House of Gold to-night, and offer her to the highest bidder. No one yet dreams that Red Joaquin and Captain Trackless are one and the same, and after to-night the-dual character is useless, By this means yeu will get your coin— I shall pull the wool ever many a pair sbarp eyes. : ‘You mean to—” ‘*T mean to buy the girl her liberty!” **Obo! oho!” uttered the giant musingly. ‘My sxull is thicker than yours, but I see your game now, Be it as you say; but remember—a sign of treachery, and your life shall pay the forfeit,” ‘* Look to yourself,” coolly retorted the gam- bler, with a scornful wave of his hand. ‘ And while you are at it, don’t forget the good health of Major Cool.” A curt nod from Red Joaquin, and then the two men separated, the gambler retracing bis steps down the ravine, while the giant disap- peared within the niche from which he had step- ped to meet his we A crafty smile lit up the face of High-Card Hank. eoccupied with his villainous plots into his subtle brain there crept no second thought of the suspicious fiash be had noted on the opposite slope of the Pilgrim’s Path—the gleam of the sun’s rays upon the telescope of the giant spy. . Meanwhile, Red Joaquin, or Captain Track- less, his red-bearded face convulsed with rage now that he was free from observation, peered forth from the niche at his retreating confrere, and uttered a savage anathema, **Curse you, Paul Parkerton,” be enunciated in low, deep tones, shaking his clinched hand at the receding gambler, “Curse you! you are playing your hand well in this game for beauty and ducats, but you are playing to lose. ‘Go on—capture the fancy of this unsuspect- ing girl, marry her—and find yourself foiled! ‘Oho! you are deep, and em are erafty, and youare handsome, but in this royal game in which hearts are to be the trumps and the stakes countless thousands, you have met your match and your ruin ina hunted wretch whom you would use as cat’s-paw to rake your golden acorns from the fire! “Go on! go on, Paul Parkerton, with your plotting and your scheming, but the hoarded wealth of Ezra, the Miser, is not for you nor the bride you seek! Ah, no! ah, no! “It is for one fairer, who with it shall be mine /” A hoarse, chuckling, laugh, indescribably chilling, followed the impetuous and at times almost incoherent words, and with a strange glow in the depths of his usually slumbrous black eyes the giant desperado glared around ere Lyte Mei? ve en, abruptly stooping, he grasped the edge flat stone, which he drew aside, re- of a large Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 5 vealing a dark cavernous opening, A stron ladder Jed into the gloomy depths below, and, securing a foothold on its rungs, the giant out- law lowered the stone carefully into place, A narrow, rock-walled passage sloped down- ward some fifty feet from the foot of the ladder, then turned at right angles and led out into a large, dry cavern ere the giant outlaw halted, his brows knit in thought. A gloomy place, at first glance, yet one which had been rendered passably comfortable, in a rude way, as a habitation, was this cavern, At one side was a couch of skins, while twenty feet beyond, on a terrace just outside the cave, a burly negro was busily engaged over a camp- fire, filling the place with the appetizing odors of coffee and broiling steaks. This terrace overlooked a picturesque, circu- lar basin, some five or six acres in extent, and dotted with a half-dozen dingy tents. A con- siderable number of horses roamed here and there, cropping the scant grass, About the tents lounged a dozen men, On every hand arose towering walls with here and there a clump of undergrowth to break their bleakness, There was no visible outlet to the basin. It was a natural pocket, The cavern and the basin were the respective headquarters of Captain Trackless and his Tigers of the Trail, For full five minutes the outlaw chief stared down at the pebbly floor in moody silence, his face set and stern, his great hands tightly clinch- ed. Then he strode across the cavern toa dark recess, w: once he appeared a moment later, clothed in : nent suit,of buckskin, but with his red beard missing and the upper half of his face concealed by a dark mask, “Lark! A pint of coffee, black and strong and hot,” and the giant sunk wearily upon the edge of the couch. The black cook quickly obeyed the peremp- tory order and brought the steaming coffee, — After swallowing the beverage, the captain hastily scrawled a message on a page torn from a memorandum-book, which he handed to the negro, saying: é “ Take this to Ugly Upton. Tell him it is to be given to Bunco Ben as soon as he arrives in camp.. And, mind you, Lark, I am not to be disturbed under any ordinary circumstances until the boys get in from.the Big Gap racket. Do you understand?” The black nodded, and, with the message, left the cavern, dropping, as he passed out, a heavy curtain across the rope on the terrace, Alone, Captain Trackless threw himself on the pile of skins. His appearance was that of a man greatly exhausted, and within five minutes he had sunk into a deep sleep, For hours he lay almost as one dead, then awoke with a start, quivering in every fiber, his deep-set eyes fixed with a light akin to borror, while a cold sweat exuded in great drops from his forehead. ** Only a dream—but the third time!” he mut- tered, in a hoarse voice, as be struggled to bis feet’ and glared into the shadows of the sur- rounding recesses, his broad palms nestling close upon the butts of his belted weapons. ‘* And he came, as before, trailing me step by step as the sleuth-hound trails his prey.” Utterly unnerved, he struck a match and lighted a rude lamp, the garish light from which, while serving partially to dispel the gloom of the cavern, only deepened the darkness of the many bran hing passages, Then striding to the curtained outlet, he slightly pushed aside the hanging folds and peered forth, “Night is near at hand,” he observed, speak- ing aloud, ‘“Bunco Ben should be here with the girl at any moment now. After that. one bold stroke, and the way to the ducats of Ezra, the Miser, is clear; for I shall take this girl to the House of Gold, and there, as Red Joaquin offer her for sale to the highest bidder, Pan Parkerton will fall into my well-laid trap, to forever after curse bis blind folly. Now to don ae eauite, for the hour is drawing near,” ropping the curtain into place, the outlaw chief turned and strode back into the cavern, where he secured the lamp and retreated to the recess in which he bad divested himself of beerd and wig, ‘ When he reappeared, it was not as Captain Trackless, The terribly twisted shoulders and neck, the inflamed face and mottled red beard, were those of Red Joaquin, Replacing the lamp on the narrow stone ledge or shelf, the giant desperado was startled bya significant cough directly behind him. Swiftly he wheeled, his hands upon his re- volvers.
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Facing him, a devilish smile on his bronzed face, bis black eyes glowing with a wicked light, was no Jess a personage than the giant spy of Pilgrio’s Path! In eavh hand was a revolver, the hammers | oscillating threateningly, the muzzles bearing directly upon the heart of the entrapped road- agent! The Herculean sy was the first to break the oppressive silence, is tones were low, yet so cold and penetrating that his auditor sbivered. ** Don’t stir, cap’n—I'd hate ter waste a ca’t- ridge,” he said, his eyes fairly chilling Captain Trackless, so full of deadly menace was their hateful st -re. ‘“‘That dream—the Sierra Sleuth!” the latter gasped, involuntarily shrmking back. “Ye know what brings me hyar?” The road-agent essayed to speak, but his tongue failed Lim He simply shook his head in the negative. The denial added fuel to the flame of the giant spy’s wrath. His glowing black eyes <indled with a sudden blaze of rage. ** Ye don’t know eh?’ he grated, forcing the words with-an ,effort. ‘‘ Ye’ve forgotten ther past, I s’pose—thet ye ever war Ezra Grim- shaw!” “* Forget nothing!” doggedly protested Ca tain Trackless, a sudden drooping of his eyelids concealing a crafty glitter deep in his piercing orbs. ‘*l remember only too well Eylan Buck! A thousand times have | cursed the day I lifted my hand against—” ‘No more ov thet—yer soul aire black enuff *thout sech useless lies es thet!’ sharply inter- rupted the spy, moving forward a trifle. “A thief may repent at the eleventh bour—you, never! e hain’t built thet way, Ezra Grim- shaw. Yer father’s blood aire in yer veins!” Despite himself, the road-agent shuddered. The voice of the man before him bespoke piti- less hatred. ‘Buta truce to ther past—let us deal with ther present,” continued the giant spy, the strains of his voice changing not a particle. “Ye know thet 1 hed sworn ther oath, Ezra Grimshaw—es they died so shall ther light ov er mis’abel life go out. But, not now—not yar; ye aire in disguise; ye mean mischief ter one who has never harmed ye—a young gal, who by law has fallen heir ter thet which ye vainly reddened yer hands with blood ter se- cure—ther fortune ov Ezra, ther Miser. ‘* Wer years ther authorities hev s’arched for her, high an’ low, an’ all thet time ye hev kept trace ov her, knowin’ thet Carleton Osman, or meen Peter Dauthett, dare not present his arter as the heiress, lest he suffer fur ther crime you committed, waitin’ fur ther time ter come when she ¢’u’d claim her own—claim it, an es yer wife! ‘* But thet day will never come, ye red-hand- ed destroyer—never, Wile ye hev bin trackin’ down this helpless gal, I’ve bin keepin’ tab on you, No mova of yoursor ov Paul Parkerton er old-titve ally, hes bin too deep fer me, i now jest how ther game stands—how many pints ye’ve scored, an’ how many tricks ye must | take ter win, * An’ from this hour until ther end ov ther | | game ther real Cap’n Trackless will be seen no more, I, Old Buckeye, shall take his place and play his hand !” re the giant spy had ceased speaking, with a mighty’ bound he covered the space between himself and the road-agent chief. The next in- stant the latter lay unconscious on the cavern floor, stricken down with a blow that would have felled an ox. CHAPTER IV. GREEK MEETS GREEK, Tur House of Gold bid fair to become a house of death, For a full minute following the volley which so effectually extinguished the lights of the place, naught could be heard but curses and roans, and the mad hurrying and skurrying of ooted feet across the rough floor, Then a shrill, penetrating whistle rung out, clear and distinct above the uproar; there was a wild, irresistible rush for the door, and the cries within were superseded by a series of trium- ; phant yells from the streets of the camp, | “ Steady, pagdanrenay now! Don’t waste your | wder!” cautioned High-Card Hank, in tones tinctly audible and recognizable throughout the longroom. ‘‘ The road-agents have gone— let us count the cost!” Even as he spoke, the iron-nerved little " bler, springin , upon a taro table, struck a match, and lig a lamp. His ‘’ heelers,” taking their cue from his words, | Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. ———— had busied themselves in a like manner, and, as a result, within two minutes after the cessation of the firing, the House of Gold was sufficiently well lighted to enable the surviving participants in the affray to note the results of the unexpect- ed descent of Captain Trackless and his men. High-Card Hank, unscathed by lead or steel, hastily surveyed his surroundings, then with a eer oath, dropped lightly from the table. Not without cost had been that fearful strug- gle, brief as was its duration. Three men— Canyonites, one and all—lay lifeless, while the floor ran red with the blood of the wounded. And that the road-agents had accomplished the full measure of their nefarious work was plainly evident. Old Buckeye and Aurelia Osman had disap- peared—spirited away, in all likelibood, by the ruthless outlaws; nor was the young guide, Fighting Frank, anywhere to be seen. mm too, the money-drawers of the faro- tables, and of the bar, at one side of the room, ae been broken open and rifled of every dol- ar. ‘Curse the lung-legged pirate!” savagely itted the gambler, as he noted in detail the destruction wrought. ‘Such a go-down as this, if often repeated, would break the biggest bank in existence.” ‘* A hard knock, hoss-fly! a hard knock! Had you taken a friendly one, however, instead of throwing your end around at random, we might ’a’ floored thet gangling tough, Who knows? But don’t fret a-teething. Next—” An oath, a snarl of rage, broke in on the taunting, malicious strains, and the sport of the House of Gold dashed forward, his bands seek- ing the weapons’in his belt, his cat-like eyes distorted and ablaze with murderous fury. “ Now, don’t—dow’t, I pray you! You forget yourself—one short acquaintance won’t permit such familiarity !” Then—only a laugh, but infinitely more maddening, then a blow; and High-Card Hank reeled back, the picture of commingled rage and chagrin! For facing him, and not more than three feet distant, bis elbows resting carelessly upon the end of the bar, gripping in each hand a weapon —the identical tools used with such deadly ef- fect beside the river a short while before— stood Major Cool, a half-earnest, half-jesting expression on his face, a laughing light in his blue eyes, a smile of blended contempt and amusement parting his thin red lips. * And this is the way you welcome a stranger in camp!” he continued, not only scanning the livid face of the sport, but covertly watching each move of the restless Canyonite beyond. “Pon my soul! it’s a playful way, but not cal- culated to tech the festive tenderfoot in his vital spot—bis ket; but, for a professional brother— Reminds me, that does, that in view of the present troubled condition of your affairs I have been inexcusably careless in not intro- ducing myself! ‘Major G. Washington Cool, I am, of the new shebang—the Gold Bug. A thousand apologies, dear boy, for having unwittingly rifled your eider down! ‘“‘Gentlemen, I believe nominations come next in the order of business. Jobn Barleycorn the choice, by acclamation? Barkeep’, the thirsty are with you. Will you do me the honor?” This last, with right hand extended, to High- Card Hank. ‘ Lightly uttered throughout, but tin with just a suspicion of ete: had been his words; and, as the throng pushed toward the bar, Major Gool with a swift movement had re- turned bis revolvers to bis belt, then carelessly thrust his left hand into the side pocket of bis loose velvet jacket ere proffering the right to his fellow gambler. An instant; the sport of the House of Gold, a wolfish sniile parting his lips, stared at him as if doubting his sanity; then, a crafty glitter in his cat-like orbs, his left hand resting snugly upon a revolver in his belt, he extended his right hand to meet that of the major, and step- ped forward—only to stumble awkwardly over an overturned stool! Simultaneously there came a sharp report, a bitter, snarling curse from aera ank, a sardonic Jaugh from Major Cool! Then a panvther-like leap, and the latter had his back to the wall, his revolvers up and cover- ing the startled crowd, “Once for all—is it peace, or war?” he de- manded, his voice cold and ringing. ‘If itiis my you want, don’t beac the devil around the stump, but say the word, You, High-Card Hank—you it is lam talking to—after you, the others!” The little gambler, having recovered hie equilibrium, stood staring down at the revolver clutched in his left band, apparently oblivious: to all else, an expression bordering consterna- tion plainly noticeable on his pallid face. At the words of the stranger sport, he started as if stung, thrust the weapon into bis belt, and, with a swift, covert glance at the faces of the Canyonites atthe bar, turned slowly to meet the bold challenge—to meet it with an urbane smile! ‘““War? No,I thank you, major; it will be ce first, last and all the time, if you please!” e replied, extending his hand as coolly as if nothing had saomeana to mar the serenity of the occasion. ‘* Weare strangers—why should we be foes?” An odd smile crossed the face of Major Cool. ‘¢Teue—why should we?” be returned, agaim putting away his weapons, ‘ That awkward misstep of yours, resulting in the pulling of a ‘ six,’ smacked of a hostile move, and hence my’ shot, aimed to cripple the action of your re- volver. But—accidents will occur, you know.” Then the hands of the two men met, not with the hearty grasp of friends, but barely touch- ing, as if each knew he was crossing palms with a deadly, secret foe. “A deuced fine shot it was, too, though my hand got the benefit of a dozen spotters from | your bullet,” observed High-Card Hank, with @ rueful look, ashe held up to view the injured member. ‘Only barked a little, you see; but the first sensation was far from pleasant. ‘“ However, major, no blame can attach to you in the matter—it was my own cursed awk- wardness; I was rattled by the unexpected ap- pearance of Captain Trackless auu his Tigers, and, with all my boasted coolness, was foo. enough to completely lose my head. ‘Then, too, at first wlance, you bore such a striking resemblance to an old enemy of mine that I was morally sure it was shoot or be shot: but with the light full on your. face, 1 van see: that you are not he, and— Well, suppose we drown the whole miserable affair?” , ‘‘ With all my heart,” readily acquiesced the stranger sport, with an airy nod. And arm-in-arm the two men walked over to the bar, High-Card Hank mentally vowing the reckless adventurer should not live to witness the rising of another sun, Major Cool covertly alert for a sign of treachery—both outwardly smiling and wholly at ease, And that it was diamond cut diamond, was shown in a startling manner ere the night's dark pall lifted before the sun of the coming day. “Hello! hello! Is the Old Scratch to pay— or bas the gentleman vulgarly known as Jim Jams captured the outfit? ‘Pon me soul! it must be one or the other—perhaps both!” Major Cool again, He stood just within the door of Peg-Leg Pete’s Lay-out, a cynical smile on his handsome face, his eyes sparkling suspi- ciously. ; ; The rapidly filling bar-room was in a turmoil of excitement, and ‘‘ Uncle Peg,” as mine host of the hostelry was popularly known, was the central figure of the hubbub. ; : In his accustomed place . behind the bar, bis usually rubicund visage all aglow, his gray eyes snapping furiously, be stood, for once since his appearance in the Canyon roused from apathy bordering stupidity. 3 ; On a narrow shelf immediately bebind him lay a Winchester rifle, while the broad girdle about his Falstaffian middle fairly bristled with side-arms. And to this latter fact could be attributed no little of the prevailing confusion; for it wasa decided innovation, in that never before had the jovial boniface appeared in public in better array. Then, too, it smacked of the ridicnlous, as it was current report that Peg-Leg Pete wasn’t much of a marksman—the poorest in the camp, in fact, sofar as was known, But, in pinning their faith to mere hearsay, the Canyonites, the sequel showed, were *‘ going it blind.” Yer needn’t laugh, pards; et aire gospel I aire slingin’ ye—thet’s w’ot!” he vociferated, as Major Cool pushed through the rough throng and secured a position near the end of the bar. ‘‘ Ye kin snicker at these hyar tools an’ be derned ter ye; but I’m goin’ ter use ’em—see ef I don’t!” “ You! Ye c’u’dn’t hit ther side ov a barn — Jess ye war shet up inside!” came a voice from the crowd, whereat there was a gen laugh. ‘But, hones'ly, Pete—w’at on airth hes
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ee a ee ee Se ee bruck loose, anyhow? They tell me es how Cap’n Trackless didn’t fergit yer place ter- night. Ef—” ‘Thet’s wat! "Nuff sed, Sol! Ther berderned hellyun tried ter kidnap my durter !” and Pete Grattan’s podgy fist descended with thunderous force upon the bar, causing bottles and glasses to dance and jingle to the verge of demolition. ‘* Kidnap yer gal!” The exclamation burst simultaneously from a half-score throats, and as many bronzed hands involuntarily sought revolver butts. ‘““Thet’s w’at! Fill up, everybody, an’ [ll orate ther sarcumstances. Eh, stranger—cigar? Say, Gold-Bug sport, hain’t ye? Good ‘nuff; shake-~I ev hearn ov ye ter-night. Reckon ye'll do, too,” And, supplying the wants of Major Cool, the exci boniface gulped down a glass of raw whisky, then with renewed uimbleness of tongue Jaunched forth: ** Kt’s a derned shame, gen’lemen, thet a DO leetle gal sh’u‘d be picked up es a victim fer sech a bandy-shanked, up-ended sarpent oy sin an’ deception es that ‘ar mountain thief, Cap’n Trackiess; but secb war ther case, an’ ef my gal Leola hedn’t ’a’ bin a ginuine chip off ov her pairental pap—w’ich same is me—she’d ’a’ bin toted off this night. Thet’s w’ot! **See ther blood on ther floor? Wal, w’en ther rumpus bruck out at High-Card Hank’s place, like a ‘rip-roarin’ ole fool, I piked out, cur’us es a Yankee ter see ther fracas, leavin’ ther Lay-out in ther han’s ov my leetle gal. * An’? wen I got back, w’at did I find? Two ov Cap’n Trackless’s kiotes kickin’ their list, drilled thro’ an’ thro’! .An’ ther gal stood right hyar, carm es a May mornin’, her guns still a-smokin’! “Thet’s w’at, gen’lemen! Wile I war out, two ov ther masked devils hed sneaked in an’ tried ter steal Leola—on’y ter hey their lights snuffed out quicken flash-lightning! Jes’—” “Three cheers fer ther gal—Leola, ther queen—” Crack—crack! The two reports stung sibil- antly through the bar-room, checking the bel- lowing words of the tough-and wringing from him a bow] of pain. “* You, Cimarron Jack!—dare you utter my daughter’s name again, and your life—not your ears—shall pay the forfeit! Go, and never again cross the threshold of Peter Grattan!” Thus spoke Uncle Peg, his voice loud and strained with intense passion, as the smoke curled lazily up from the muzzles of his weapons, The crowd parted mght and left. Simultane- ously, Cimarron Jack shot out the door, his dusky face distorted with rage and pain, a tiny ey pie of blool trickling down ms side of his ead, ““ We'll declare thet pint settled thout further argyment,” grimly uttered ‘the boniface, the wrathful glow leaving his countenance with the hurried departure of the rough. ‘’Tain’t often I bubble over ‘ith bile, but—ye all understand ther sarcumstances? Ov course. “Now ter get at this hyar leetle matter I started ter tell ye about. Cap’n Trackless failed in his attempt ag’in’ me an’ mine ter- night. I shall go’im one better, ef et takes my other laig! At daybreak, ’ith a picked party, I’m goin’ on ther war-path; an’ w’en we meet ther fight will be Jedge Lynch versus ther Tigers ov ther Trail! Thet’s w’ot!” A buzz of excitement followed Uncle Peg’s warlike declaration, “Say the word, old man, and I am ‘with you,” said Major Cool, quietly, “I owe this Captain Trackless one, and it mightn’t be a bad idea to join forces,” “Putt ’er thar, pard!” and Grattan enthusi- astically extended his broad palm. Then with a mysterious look he lowered his voice and went on hurriedly; ‘‘ Make an excuse jest soon es ye kin an’ go through ther hall ter ther second door, an’ thar knock twice. I’m puttin’ my trust in ye esa white man, now, My darter wishes ter see ye!” A The adventurer repressed a slight start, and benta quick, half-suspicious at Grattan’s honest and without apparent hesitation he replied: *T will go, and at once.” Leaving the bar-room, he strode along the rude » pausing at the second door, where in accordance with the landlord’s instructions he rapped twice, A moment, then his quick ear detected the faint i, of feminine garments. A key clicked in the lock, and the door swung open, Major Cool stood spell-bound. Could this radiant being confronting him have aught in common with burly, uncouth Peter Grattan, the landlord of the Lay-out? Old Buckeye, the § “You are Major Cool?” *T am Major Cool, Miss Grattan,” and the bewildered sport awkwardly, lifted his hat. “Walk in; be seated—I will detain you but a moment,” said the landlord’s daughter earnest- ly, and as Major Cool complied she closed the oor. ‘You have enemies in Chispa Canyon?” “It is my fate, lady, to make enemies wher- ever I go.” The next instant the adventurer bit his lip in vexation, A look of suspicion—almost of alarm—had crossed the face of Leola Grattan, Her dark eyes dilated a trifle. With a strange quiver in her sweet voice, she said: ‘‘ Make enemies? You must be a de—” “A free-lance, Miss Grattan,” cut in the major with an easy bow. ‘ Here to-day, there to-morrow—pretty near white, and fairly over- flowing with the milk of human kindness, And itis my misfortune, in helping the weaker, to incur the enmity of the stronger.” “True,” assented the girl; “I have seen enough of mining-camp life to understand that such may often be the case. “But in the present instance, your enemies are not of the class you mention, They are men inimical to you because of the prominence you are likely to assume in the practice of—of— your profession, sball I call it?” ‘Profession be it,” and the sport smiled blandly. ‘Well, the gambler known as High-Card Hank is the arch-spirit among these parties, and, at his instigation, it has been decreed that you must die!” An odd smile curled the a of the adven- turer. His blue eyes narrowly yet unobtru- sively swept the pallid face of the girl. “* How know you this?” he asked. Mu overheard the plot between Cimarron Jack and—” Leola Grattan paused abruptly, bending her head in a listening attitude. “T was sure I heard a stealthy step in the hall,” she observed, a peculiar lightsparkling in her dark eyes. Just then came a sbarp rap. Crossing the room, the landlorad’s dewatior opened the door. The lights in the hallway bad been extinguished. On the threshold stood a masked man! Major Cool leaped to his feet, his hands drop- ping to his weapons, Too late; a strong arm encircled the waist of the girl, lifting her swiftly through the door- way. At the same instant a round missile, with hissing fuse attached, hurtled through: space, straight at the breast of the sport. A swift rush of. feet along the hall, a piercing scream, and then a terrific explosion shook the building! CHAPTER V. BUNCO BEN SCORES A POINT, ‘* MERCIFUL heavens! we are lost!” With the ringing forth of that wild cry from the lips of Aurelia Osman, Fighting Frank, the young guide, swung around like one electrified— only to see his fair protegee drop inert and senseless on the rough floor. Apparently oblivious of all else that was tran- spiring around him—of High-Card Hank’s rapid firing, and the nonchalant utterances of Major Cool—of the Canyonites’ portentous mutterings, and the leveled weapons of the Tigers of the Trail—conscious only of the distress of the girl, the Featherweight darted to her side, deter- mined to rescue her—to fight a way through his surrounding perils, even at the risk of death. Lifting Miss Osman from the floor, and su ponting her with his right arm, the young guide astily surveyed his surroundings. The next instant the sharp crack of Major Cool’s weapon rung through the -room, to be swiftly followed by the volley which left the jll-starred place enshrouded in the blackest gloom. | é But, brief as had been the time left the daunt- less youth in which to choose his course, he had noted well his surroundings, and tie pall of darkness was an aid rather than a detriment to his plans. That escape by the entrance in front was im- possible, had been appurent ata glance, Only one other avenue offered itself—a narrow door at the rear of the room; and toward this Fight- ing Frank stole with catlike tread, his quick e1T noting each varying phase of the conflict raging in the gloom behind him, Had he not been burdened with the respon- sibility of getting Aurelia Osman safely away, nothing just. then could have yielded him a ierra Shadow. 7 greater degree of satisfaction than to have turn- ed and joined hands with the redoubtable Old Suenaee against the notorious Captain Track- ess For these two, the giant ranger and the Featherweight, were sworn friends—had battled side by side on more than one eventful occasion against their common foes, outlaws and red- skins, Then, too, the evil eye of road-agent chief had fallen covetously upon Aurelia Osman—a fact in itself amply sufficient to arouse the deadliest enmity of the girl’s devoted champion. And, vividly recalling in the brief space of time occupied in traversing the distance to the rear door, the startling words uttered by bis protegee at sight of Major Cool, Fighting Frank mentally set it down that this handsome ad- venturer, too, was in some way inimical to Carleton Osman and bis daughter—a conclusion which instantly put the major beyond the pall of the young guide’s friendship. Arrived at the door the Featherweight halted, bending his head to listen. A stealthy footfall at a few paces distant proved the precaution well taken. He had been followed. Qvickly but stealthily his hand sought the fastenings of the door—a heavy wooden bar, resting in strong sockets; but tug as he might at the barricade, yield it would not, Meanwiile the pantherish footfalls drew dan- gerously near, and it was apparent that no fewer than four men were groping about in search of the Featherweight ana his fair charge, and that each and all were making the door their objective point, Fighting Frank realized that there was not an instant’s time to lose. These fellows could have but one object ia com’, upon him—mur- der, and the abduction of Miss Osman, Gliding a short distance away from the door, the young scout deposited his helpless burden on the floor, close against the wall. Then he turned, each hand clasping the butt of a heavy revolver, a fierce sparkle in his bright haze) eyes boding iil to the assassins of the Canyom Locating his enemies as nearly as possible in the darkness, the Featherweight swiftly glided forward, The next moment a heavy, dull re- port rang out, clear and distinct above the firing at the opposite end of the room, _A stifled oath, the sound of a body falling heavily to the floor, and then— Crack—crack—crack! A regular fusilade of pistol-shots, as the young guide whirled hither and thither—now here, then there: and, ere the smoke had ceased to curl from the muzzles of his revolvers, he had retreated as silently as he had advanced, Again his hands sought the bar. A mighty effort, and it yielded, allowing the door to swing inward upon its hinges. ‘‘Quick—pards! quick !—fer ther—ther—” The broken utterance ended in a hollow, gur- gling sound, faint but chilling. The warning of the wounded assassin had been checked by death! Yet, a swift rush of feet followed, showing that the survivors were on the alert, and des- perately in earnest, Followed, but too late! A dark shade loomed up in the doorway—Fighting Frank,with Aurelia Osman clasped in his arms! For the briefest measurable space of time, the yotng guide stood at an equipoiss, then shot out with a long leap from the solid threshold, to whirl downward with fearful velcecity through space—down—down—the terrible descent ending with a sullen splash far below! ‘Great God! by death swift an’ sure they hev escaped us!” grated a cold, hard voice. ** Rustle, ards, an’ dump thet stiff back thar inter ther evil’s Whirlfool arter em, then close an’ bar ther door, fer mum's ther word—wwon’t do fer ther boss ter know how we failed!” ; ‘* Drat it! it’s Yellow Dan w’ot’s got his fit ov sickness this time,” cautiously declared a second of the foiled assassins. ‘Lay a-helt, pards, an’ quick—Cimarron Jack’s right. Dern me, ef I want, enny hornets’ nest a-buzzin’ "bout my ears! A buddling together of the shadowy forms—a swift, silent march to the open door; then the corpse of Yellow Dan hurtled down into the yawning abyss beyond the threshold, The door noiselessly closed, the bar dropped back into its socket, and the assassms skurried away in the darkness, leaving unsolved the mystery sur- rounding the fate of the gallant Featherweight and his protegee, Shift we now the scene from Chispa Canyon’s confines to that lonesome spot on the river trail
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o~ ~ aaa EE ma at which ata Cool an hour before had met and defeated Bunco Ben and his outlaw pards. Silence once more brvoded over the uncanny spot, unbroken save by the swash and swirl] of the river’s wavelets—by the restless soughing of the wind, Near the water’s edge lay three figures, grim ard bloodstained, shrouded m durkness. The one to the right and tue one to the left were rigil in death; but the central form writhed and twisted in silent agony. ‘“* Be Tin purgatory?” he muttered fiercely, in a weak, scarcely audible voice, ‘ Cain't be thet; fer, Bunco Ben, ye hev bin too tough a galoot ter git even _a ghost ov a chaince fer a stop-over on ther road ter Satan’s kingdom! “No! no! yo aire yit hangin’ on ter ther aidge ov ther land ov ther livin’—an’ 1 reckon ye aire not so fur gone but w’ot ye’ll make a dosp’rit rustle ter git back on ter life's terra firma. “But ef I hain’t in purgatory, whar be [7 Le’me— Kerrect, fu’st time! Rid down by Major Cool, ov the Gold Bug, I war; an’ a thousand ter one Mex an’ Dan war swatted fer *tarnal keeps by ther smooth cuss, fer now L mind thet he fired twice, jest as his hoss’s feet lifted the breath out ov me.” An oath gave a vicious tone to the last words of the wounded outlaw, and with something of an effort he raised himself upon his elbow, to grope about in search of his whilom allies, ‘*Yaas, they hes passed in their cuecks,” he continued, as his hand encountered first one and then the other of the lifeless bodies. ‘* An’ ef [ ’members right, thet same Major Cool aire no slouch—he played et on us purty durn fine, an’ no mistake, ‘* Then he rid off ’ith a hull hide, too!” Faint as was the voice in which these words were uttered, its strains were expressive of both disgust and chagrin. Assuming a rene posture, Bunco Ben for a full minute blinked moodily across the phos- phorescent wavelets, his shaggy brows knitted, striving to collect his scattere | thoughts, Then forth from one of his pockets he drew a flask of liquor, and after a copious draught, scrambled to his feet, ‘*Reckon et mought be jest es well ter scoop in w’ot leetle dust [ kin findon Dan an’ Mex,” he'soliloquized, as he steadied himself. ‘* Arter thet—wal, mebbe et hain’t too late yit ter over- haul ther major, an’ turn our Waterloo inter a s’prise party. Ef ther hosses—” The sentence ended with an oath, and the out- law plunged abruptly into the undergrowth fringing the base of the hill. A moment’s re- connoissance proved that the animals had not been molested, and he reappeared and set to work at the ghoulish task of strioping his dead pards of their weapons and revolvers, Scarcely bad Bunco Ben completed this oper- ation, when a faint but regular plashing of the water, out near the middle of the stream, and a short distance above him, attracted his atten- tion. Instantly the outlaw was alert and on his guard. Sinking flat upon his breast, he peered steadily across the water, A dark object, not unlike the head and shoul- ders of aman, was just visible above the sur- face, moving slowly down-stream, *A galoot from Chispa Canyon, most likely,” mentally decided Bunco Ben, bis hand instinctively secking one of the weapons in his girdle. ‘* Thet’s it—a galoot from ther Canyon. Chock full an’ tumbled inter ther river, may- hap. Sech bein’ ther case, an’ this bein’ the fu’st spot below ther camp at w’ich he e’u’d leave ther drink, w’y, w’ot more nateral then thet he sh’u’d— By gum! here he kems, sure enuff :” The Trail Tiser had spoken trulf. The man in the water was now heading for the bank. ‘He aire eyther hurted, or hes a load ter kerry.” mentally continued Buneco Ben, as the slow, labored plashing drew nearer, ‘ All ther same, w’ot kems ter my net ter-night aire fish. He will strike ther shore not ten feet above hyar, an’— “Ha! He hesa woman on his arm!” And the outlaw almost sprung erect in his ex- citement. * By ther Lord ov Israel! Bunco Benjy, now play yer hand keerful, an’ ye may score a ten- strike,” he muttered, curbing himself. “A man an’ a woman driftin’ down from Chispa Canyon means—w’ot? A weazel-skin ov vargin dust, mebbe! Who knows?” Whereupon, with a subdued chuckle, the Trai] Tiger seemed to shrink yet closer to the earth, his eyes glowing with a hateful light, his hands nestling close upon the butts of his Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. a weapons, his entire being thrilled with wolfish eugerness at the prospect for plunder. *Thar! he’s struck svoal water, an’ is wadin’ ashore,” Bunco Ben averred, a moment later. ‘*Jist a minute, an’ he'll be on dry land, b’gosh !” rue enough; andas the foot of the man from the river pressed the rough trail, his voice—low and husky, as if weakened by prolonged exer- tion—broke the grim silence, saying: “Thank Heaven! danger of death by the river is past, Rella, dear. It uow remains for us to get back to the camp yonder as quickly as possible.” Then, in a clear, feminine voice: ** But Captain Trackless and the outlaws, Frank—" * Are no doubt well out of Chispa Canyon before this, Rela. AsTI have told you, a deadly fight was waging in the House of Galg@ at the moment I sprung with you from the rear door of the gambling-house into the river, Such a struggle could be but brief, and have but one en ling—the swift retreat of the outlaws when their object had been obtained,” The lurking Trail Tiger started as if stabbed. * Fightin’ Frank! by the great horn spoon!” he gritted, his yellow fangs almost meeting in his nether lip. ‘* An’ ther gal—who kin she be? Aurelia Osman, fer a forty dollar bill! Sw’thin’ wrong, somewhar, but whar?” “Wbaire a ticklish job ’ith that game-cock ter buck ag’in’, but et aire dead sart’in now thet I must snare ther pair ov ’em!” Fighting Frank—the man from the river was nons other—resumed: ‘* We are on the Canyon trail, and it is quite likely that Captain Trackless and bis men are now between us and the camp. We will push forward cautiously, The trail is bordered with dense undergrowth on the billside, and at a mo- ment’s notice we can conceal ourselves until the Tigers have passed us. * T am particularly anxious to reach the camp with you as soon as possible, so as to convey to your father intelligence of your escape. To- morrow, if he sees fit, an expedition can be sent against the secret stronghold of the Trail Tigers.” A sound suggestive of an osculatory caress followed the words, then an exchange of ten- derly-uttered sentences, Whatever may have been the perils of the youthful pair, it was quite apparent that a new and sweet joy had crept into their lives during the brief while they had been swept onward by the river’s mad current, Dripping wet, chilled through and through, they, arm-in-arm, set off at a sharp walk up the trail, beading for the distant ‘lights of Chispa Canyon. A dozen paces—then the Featherweight stag- gered, dropped to his knees, then upon his face, stricken sensele-s by a heavy blow from the butt of Bunco Ben’s revolver. The next instant Aurelia Osman was strug- gling desperately in the grasp of her outlaw foe, CHAPTER VI. A STARTLING DISCOVERY. ‘* Hang:—The bridge, and at once. _ “Uaery Upron.” A crumpled bit of paper bearing the above words found its way into the slender palm of the Faro King of yy Canyon just as he parted company with Major Cool at the bar of the House of Gold. 1 Surreptitiously delivered, the message was covertly scanned, then torn into minute shreds, “Ugly Upton!” ejaculated High-Card Hank, inaudibly, a strange look creeping over his white face, * I must meet him atonce. The ras- cal would never venture here did he not have something of importance to communicate. He came alone, too, for he was not with the chief's rty. A Se here, another there, to the attaches of the place, then the gambler turned and strode out into the streets of the camp, Straightway he laid his course toward the rude bridge over Pilgrim’s Path, moving swiftly, yet fully alert for lurkiug danger, his hands upun the weapons protruding from his silken sasb, Arrived midway of the bridge, he halted, ut- tering a sound in exact, imitation of the chirping of a cricket. A full minute passed in silence. Then a dark shade crept out from the blacker shadows hang- ing over the bases of the towering rocks, The next instant the gambler’s signal was answered. “Tt is you, Up?” queried High-Card Hank, in a guarded voice. ‘Yaas; come on!” was the impatient re- sponse, ‘You sent for me?” continued the gambler, halting face to face with bis villvinous ally. “J putt ther note in yer fist at yer place; I hain’t forgot ther ole dogs, Hank; an’ when our trails crossed a week ago, an’! promised ter keep eyes and ears open, "t wa’n’t jest talk. Putt ’er thar, pard"” There was a dogged earnestness in the man’s heavy, husky tones. The gambler winced under the pressure of his strong hand, *? Bout this hyar gal matter, Hank,” wept on Ugly Upton, abruptly. ‘‘ Ye bev struck ther wrong lead.” “The wrong lead? How?” ‘‘- Ye seek ther heiress ov Ezra, the Miser?” * Yes,” ‘‘ Ter marry her ducats?”’ ** Just so,” “Now, I aire a tuff pill, Pard Hank—Ugly by name an’ ugly by nater, too; but I aire squeamish on this hyer one leetle pint. How- sumever, ef ye r’ally méan ter marry ther—” “*T do—positively !” ‘‘ Ducats or no ducats?” ** Wxactly.”’ ‘* Bekase yer love the gal?” “Yes,” “Putt er thar, pard! Ye'aire on ther road up hill! Glad yer beart aire got on ther gal as well as yer head on ber dust, fer sech bein’ ther, case | aire with ye till ther knot aire tied, ‘* But ye will marry‘ther gal fer herself alone, fer ov lucre she hes none!” ‘‘Ha! what is that?’ and High-Card Hank started violently. ** Aurelia Osr. an aire not ther heiress ov Ezra, ther Miser, es yer bev bin led ter suppose, coolly averred Ugly Upton, inwardly chuckling at the ill-concealed chagrin and discomfiture of his ally. An oath slipped from between the hard-set teeth of the gambler. ‘** Curse it! you are toying with me now, Up! Have a care, or I may forget that we are friends. You—” ‘*Kasy, Paul Parkerton! Don’t excite yer- self,” cut in the Trail Tiger, unabashed, ‘ List- en ter w’at I hey ter say, an’ mebbe— Wal, yell jest transfer yer deep-sot affections ter heiress No, 2, I reckon! Red Joaquin, or Cap’n Trackless, aire, es ye may know, nope other than Ezra Grimshaw, ther nephew ov Ezra, ther Miser.” “Yes, I know.” ho ** An’, through him ye war led ter b’lieve thet ther darter ov Carleton Osman war ther heiress ov. ther Miser?” ' “Tt was through him, I have kept tab on ther girl and her father for upward of a year. By merest chance they ventured into this conn- try, and to better my chances of winning the girl, I paid her uncle, Captain Trackless, a good round sum to abduct ber, Curse it! The scheme was by on 9 fine as silk, when that meddling oung fool, Fighting Frank, the guide, waltzed in and spoiled the combination!” A sound closely allied to a chuckle escaped Ugly Upton at the conclusion ot the gambler’s testily-utiered words, ‘*Pard Hank, ve hev bin played fer a sucker,” he averred, without tbe slightest hesitancy. ‘‘fizra Grimshaw aire no more ther uncle oy Aurelia Osman than [ be—an’ he knows et!” The sport of the House of Gold started sharp- Vi What mean you?” he demanded, “ You war told thet this hyar Osman gal war rally Louise Dauthett?” “ es,” ‘Then don’t cuss the Featherweight fer block- in’ yer game, but rather thank ’im. Aurelia Osman aire no more Louise Dauthett than she aire Queen Vic, Ther chief lied.” ae Lied 1” ** Exactly; Louise Dauthett, ther real heiress, aire hyar in Chispa Canyon—an’ bes bin since ther earliest dxy ov ther camp" ** Impossible!” ‘True as gospel, I tell ye! She aire known as Leola Grattan, ther landlord’s darter!” There was a positive ring in the tones of Ugly Upton that carried conviction direct to his hearer, ‘But how know you all this?” the latter de- manded, after a moment’s silence. The Trail Tiger laughed softly. ‘* You an’ | be friends, Pard Hank,” he re- ’ pied. ‘*T promised ter keep my ears open, an’ hev done it, Ther captain hes a way ov bab- bling in his sleep, Understand?” Yes; but go on—what have you learned?” ‘Jest. this—thet Ezra Grimshaw, ther with Paul Parkerton, killed Ezra the Miser, ther uncle oy ther fu’st, fer his money—w'ich
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i brother-in-law ov ther Miser, war s’pected ov there crime, an’ thet ’pearances war so strong ag’in’ him thet he fled atween two days ‘ith his only child, a gal, to whom it hes been since Ciecorane ther money ov old Ezra war left by will. ‘*T learned more—thet. Ezra Grimshaw an’ Paul Parkerton had connived ter throw s’picion upon Dauthett, an’ thet both soon arterward dis- appeared—goin’ none knew whar. *T learned, too, that Ezra Grimshaw by mere chance stumbled upon Dauthett an’ his darter, an’ agin begun plottin’? fer ther fortune, Then, at ther eleventh hour, Paul Parkerton’pears on ther scene as han’som an’ as devilish as ever, ter shy his castor inter ther ring, an’ Grimshaw, fearin’ thet his old-time pard may eucher him in ther game fer gold, trumps up a tale in w'ich he makes Aurelia Osman appear as Louise Dou- thett, an’ so draws Parkerton off on a blind **T learned even more than this. Eylan Buck, ther half-brother of Ezra Grimshaw, bed taken an oath ter avenge ther death ov ther miser, au’ war only bidin’ his time. He, too, hed fallen into ther belief thet Aurelia, Osman war Louise Dautbett. Some time this afternoon he entered ther ciief’s quarters, gyanpemerod ther captain, disguised himself as Red Joaquin, an’ with ther girl went ter ther House ov Gold. W’at hap- pened thar ye know. Grimshaw succeeded in raisin’ an alarm, an’ with a strong party putt out hot-foot fer ther camp. ‘*But he failed ter bag his game; an’, Pard Hank, { reckon thet somewhar hyar in Chispa Canyon ye hev{ther wu’st foe a mortal man c’u’d ev. **Now ye know why I ventured inter ther camp an’ hed ye come byar.” The gambler drew a hard breath. “Tt is a favor that [ shall not soon forget, Up,” he declared. ‘* With that nan here, and on my trail, I shall know no rest. ‘*Up, he must die!” Hardened wretch though he was, Ugly Upton could not repress a slight shiver at tue coldly- saneered words of the sport of the House of Gold, ‘* He must die,” reiterated) High-Card Hank. **T felt that he and I were mortal foes the mo- ment he entered my place to-night, although he came disguised as Red Joaquin, ‘* But this mother of the heiress—are you sure that Leola Grattan is none other than Louise Dauthett?” ‘* Positive,” returned the Trail Tiger. “ Not only hev I heerd Grimshaw say so much, but I, too, knew Peter Dauthett ov old; an’, though he aire greatly changed, he an’ Peg-Leg Pete aire one an’ ther same.” ’ The gambler gnawed his lip in savage vexa- tion. ** What a fool I have been!” he exclaimed, bit- terly. *‘‘I could have won Leola Grattan had [ tried; now it is too late for fair means!” ‘One thing more, Pard Hank, an’ then I must be off fer camp afore ther chief s’pects that all bhi right ‘ith yours truly,” continued Ugly Upton, i Et aire about this hyar Major Cool I want ter a Ye—” * Hal Major Cool!’ brusquely interjected the gambler. “If you know aught of him, speak!” ‘“* [ know only this—he aire not w’ot be seems. He hain’t no more ther George Washington Cool pag ter open up ther Gold Bug than you or e! “ee He is—” ; ** A detective spy, leagued ith Eylan Buck,” quietly finished the Trail Tiger,” : ‘‘ The devil and Tom Walker!” * Jest sech a team, Pard Hank. ** But oa I hev ne aa Say, an’ I am off fer camp. Ef thar’sennything new ter report, ter- morrow at this hour, rl bP h song a aii As he ceased speaking, the Trail Tiger turned and glided away in the darkness. . “One bumper al! around, boys, and then it is business, for I’ve work for you—red work—to ‘do before the light of another day.” In the slowest of measured accents, ye with ‘the tone of one who had no time to flitter away, — the Faro King of Chispa Canyon, bis cat- ke orbs fairly scorching the bronzed faces of his two ‘auditors with the intense fierceness of his gaze. Cimarron Jack and an ugly, beetling-browed ruffian, known by the accurately descriptive title of Tough Teddy, were these two latter par- ties. The trio were seated at a,poker-table in the private apartment of High-Card Hank—a littse snuggery located directly above the bar of Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 9 same they failed ter git; thet Peter Dauthett a | the House of Gold and reached only by a secret Stairway. immediately upon his return from his confer- ence with Ugly Upton, the gambler had sought out these two of his villainous tools and con- ducted them to this hidden retreat. At the significant declaration of his chief, Tough Teddy paused in the act of helping him- self to a liberal potution of whisky from a bottle on the table, and stared hard at his confreres, a nok of mock astonishment on his round, red ace, ‘“*Work?—red work?” “* Thet means—w’ot?” **Guv yer tongue a chaince ter cool,” growled Cimarron Jack, with an oath, ‘Ef ther cap’n hes dug up ther hatchet, (11 be bound he’ll lay down ther map ov ther campaign in a jiffy.” ‘*Oh! in course!” assented “Teddy, blandly, just a trace of a grin lurking about the corners of his well-developed mouth, ‘An’I reckon ef thar’s a chaince offered ter turn an honest penny we're ther galoots ter work ther leetle trick, too.” *There’s no question on that point,” High- Card Hank dryly observed, ‘‘ But punish your liquor, boys, and give me your undivided atten- tion. We must understand each other thor- oughly, for the wrinkle to be worked is a desper- ate one, requiring not only the fiery courage to be derived froma brief communion with John Barleycorn, but steady nerves and cool heads as well, ** We are listenin’, chief,” and Cimarron Jack settled down with bis elbows upon the edge of the table, his head craned forward in readi- ness to drink in the most cautiously-uttered word. ‘ An’ yer voice’ll be music ter our ears, fer times is mighty hard,” chinned in Tough Teddy, with a doleful sigh. ‘““T’ve a yellow liniug for your pockets, never fear,” quoth the gambler, his cruel eyes seemin to read the brace of ruffians through an through, ** You have seen this Major Cool?” Cimarron Jack and bis ally started sharply dismay plainly depicted on their evil faces, an the latter exclaimed: ‘Ther new sport! We hes, an’a hard hogs ter carry he aire, too!” “No doubt; but with two against one you should be able to snuff his candle, and that, too, without much risk, See here,” and abruptly leaving the table, High-Card Hank crossed the ‘oom, to bring forth from its receptacle a small right metallic object of spherical form. It needed no second glance to tell the ruffians at the table the nature of the glistening sphere; for, at sight of its short pendent fuse, both in- stantly realized the portent of the gambler’s plot against the stranger-sport. ““Oho! I guess we kin take ther trick!” ex- claimed Cimarron Jack, chuckling evilly. Tough Teddy remained quiet, a half-fearful expression on his face. A devilish light sparkling in his eyes, a mahg- nant smile curling his thin lips, High-Card Hank held up to view the deadly missile, saying: “Tt holds within its narrow walls the power to destroy a dozen lives, a dozen times over! This Major Cool may be one man in a thousand, but let him stand in the pathway of a missile such as this, and his race is run! “He must die to-night—within the hour! His presence here bodes ill to all within Chispa Canyon. He is not what he seems, He is an accursed detective spy!” The sport of the ead of Gold kad spoken in strains cold and hard, bis wicked eyes lighting up with a tigerish glare, When he concluded, both of his hirelings had sprung to their feet, their faces betraying every evidence of deep- seated alarm, “A detective!” uttered Tough Teddy, ** Yes, a detective!” High-Card Hank enunci- ated, ‘‘and be is not alone. Before the break of day he will be joined by otbers, They are pi | ing that Silver City job, and they are hot on the trail |” At this significant declaration, Cimarron Jack and his pard stared blankly at each other, utteriy dig): Truly, the "arch-plotter was playing his part with consummate skill! A moment only the two sat motionless; then their hands met in @ strong clasp above the rough deal table. The die was cast! ‘Tt is well,” observed the sport of the Hou of Gold, noting the action, ‘A few words with you, and then—to work!” And, resuming his seat, the gambler carefully laid the bomb upon the table, then with his voice lowered to a whisper spoke rapidly for y five minutes. he repeated, At the expiration of that time the two rufflang took their departure, carrying with them the murderous missile, Left to himself, a startling change swept over High Card Hank. His ever-pallid face grew ghastly in its white- ness, And a look of absolute misery usurped the mad glow in his eyes. He seemed to shiver in every fiber! ‘“*lamacoward!” hemuttered, staring around uneasily. ‘‘At the eleventh hour—at the mo- ment of all others when I must need a cool head and desperate courage, I am a woman in weakness! ** But, no—it cannot be! Success is mine, and this weakness is but the reaction of my over- wronght nerves, ‘**Cimarron Jack and his pard are stirred to desperation by wi cleverly-concocted story. Poor fools! my neck, not theirs, was in danger of the halter! ** But they will carry out my red work, to the letter, and abduct the Dine Lola, the heiress of Ezra, the Miser, Here’s to fresh courage, and to success, and then I must be off to the rendezvous!” And hastily draining a glass of raw whisky, the sport of the House of Gola extinguished the light and left the secret apartment, CHAPTER VII. THE DESPERADOES’ DOOM. WHEN the dashing free-lance, Major Cool, left the. bar-room of the Lay-out to meet the landlord’s daughter, his movements were par- rowly watched by eyes other than those of bon- est Peter Grattan—eyes in whose depths lurked a gleam boding murder! or mingling with well-assumed carelessness with the throng—so near the bold adventurer, in fact, that he heard every word passing be- tween him and Peg-Leg Pete—was no less a personage than High-Card Hank’s hired assas- sin, Tough Teddy. The ruffian and his ally, Cimarron Jack, had proceeded direct from the secret apartment of the House of Gold to the bar-room of the Lay- out, intent on sighting their victim, then hound- ing him to death, Just in time they were, too, for Major Cool entered the place, but a moment in advance of them, having just finished a leisurely stroll through the confines of the camp. Desperadoes of the most brutish order were these two hired assassins—specimens of the lowest stratum of the gold-camp, Work—delve for the ** yellow god ” they would not, but for the virgin metal they stood ready to stain their souls with any crime, bowever black and foul, Had High-Card Hank bunted the wide West over, two creatures better suited to his purpose could not have been found. So long as no depth of cunning, no high degree of courage, no extra mental or physical exertion, was a re- apiremens necessary to success, they fitted the eed precisely. Of the two, Tough Teddy was by far the more dangerous man. He was quieter, more secretive, No warning ever preceded a blow from his hand. He witnessed the discomfiture of his ally at toe hands of bluff old Peter Grattan with a certain degree of satisfaction, He felt safer, more at ease, in the mapping-out of his dastardly work with Cimarron Jack out of the way for the time being. No sooner had Major Cool departed in ac- cordance with the brief eae given him by Peg-Leg Pete, than Tough Teddy sauntered out into the street of the camp. yal | familiar with the interior arran ments of the Lay-out, the ruffian had instantly decided upon a plan of action. At the southwest corner of the ees he was rejoined by Cimarron Jack, who had been lying in wait; and, after a brief conference, both stole silently along in the dark shadow of the south wall of the rambling structure, to a side door within a few paces of the verge of Devil’s Lane, Here they halted, and Tough Teddy rapped thrice upon the door, bis knuckles striking the wood softly and producing a sound once heard not easily forgotten. A moment; then a wicket in the door opened and a pair of gleaming black eyes peered orth, * Madri de Dios! is it you, Carrajo?’ de- manded a rich femnine voice of strongly-mark- ed Mexican accent. The desperado replied; ‘*Carrajo, Inez. Now hasten, for I would see you. Titently, the wicket closed, and in the merest fraction of time the door swung slightly open and the woman glided out. ,
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‘Ha! Carrajo! you have a friend?” “A friend, Inez. But step hither,” and Tough Teddy glided toward the verge of the oles. he woman followed. A strong hand roughly clutched her throat effectually shutting off the power of utterance, A long, cruel blade fiashed downward through the black shadows, to sink to the hilt in her quivering bosom! A faint splashing of the waters at the bottom of Devil’s Lane, and the damning deed was consummated! The next moment Tough Toddy rejoined Cimarron Jack, ‘“ Ther coast aire cl’ar?” asked the latter. “Clear,” was the curt reply. ‘‘ Now follow me, an’ see thet ye aire ready fer hot work at close quarters.” Cautiously pushing open the door, the two men silently entered the apartment from which the woman Inez had been enticed to meet her death, ; Opposite them was an open door, leading ei the hallway running the length of the 108, ’ In the hall the two assassins halted a moment. ‘* Now comes ther tick’lish part ov ther job,” observed Tough Teddy softly, as he carefully noted his surroundings. ‘‘Ther major an’ ther landlord’s darter aire in ther second room back ov ther bar, We must get ther gal in our han’s, then down ther sport ’ith ther bomb. ‘*Putt out ther light,” Jack, w’ile I fasten ther door at ther front end ov ther hall, then stan’ ready ter cl’ar ther way fer me.” Each man quietly performed the part assigned him, then the two met before the door of the room in which was Major Cool. ‘Slip on your mask,” advised Cimarron Jack, in a whisper. “If anything goes wrong, we don't want ter stretch hemp ef we kin dodge ther halter.” ‘** Kerrect,” assented Tough Teddy. ‘‘ Aireye res a ¥6 dy! ‘I’ve lighted ther fuse!” “Then hyar goes!” and the desperado rapped sharply on the door. The sound of light footsteps within, then it swung open, revealing Leola Grattan on the threshold! Instantly the strong arm of Tough Teddy en- circled her waist, lifting her bodily from the floor. At the same juncture, Cimarron Jack hurled the bomb straight at the breast of Major Cool! “Quick now!” sharply uttered Tough Teddy, as a pens scream broke from the lips of the landlord’s daughter. ‘‘ We mus’—” A terrific explosion filled the hiatus, almost hurling the fleeing assassins from their feet. The next instant they reached the deserted apartment of the woman Inez. ‘* Fasten the hall docr a’ter ye!” fairly hissed Tough Teddy, as he bounded swiftly toward the side entrance, his broad palm closed firmly over the mouth of his captive. Outside the building they halted a moment, then glided swiftly toward the bridge over Pil- grim’s Path, laying the course along the brink of Devil’s Lane, Two minutes later and they were beyond the confines of the camp, skulking like hunted beasts in the black shadows of the rocks, It needed no second glance to tell them that Chispa Canyon was fully aroused—that, if de- tected and captured, even swift-handed Judge Lynch would be too slow to mete out to them their doom! Armed men were beginning to dart hither and thither through the street of the camp, while in and about the Lay-out all was commo- tion. ‘*Go ye back thar, Jack,” said Tough Teddy. ‘Ef ye rustle, ye’ve time. Twon’t do fer ther two ov us ter be missed, I'll take ther gap up ter ther cave.” “Cain’t see et!” growled the ruffian surlily. ** Cain’t ye see thet I’m marked ‘ith ther bullets ov Peg- Pete? They'd hop onto me, fu’st ard “One ov us must go back,” declared Tough Teddy. ‘‘’Twon’t do fer us both ter be away from camp—you know why !” “ Bekase we must_keep an eye on ther boss!” averred Cimarron Jack, with a sort of grim chuckle, ‘* But et won’t be me as does et” “Then take ther gal,” ‘° Pll do it.” The ruffian pat out his hands as if to receive the captive. The next instant he felt a keen, prickling sensation in his left side, 10 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. It needed no words to tell him that he had pense yet” b ted, lightly to **Cuss ye!” he swaying slightly to one side, io we aire Marie ther same game! Who wins} Even as he spoke, his keen blade sunk to the bilt in the throat of his fellow-desperado. Tough Teddy had been overmatched. He sunk to the ground, with the life-blood gushing in : crimson torrent from his mouth and nos- trils. Meanwhile, no cry—no sound, however slight —escaped Leola Grattan. ‘* Swooned, by all thet’s good!” muttered Cim- arron Jack, as he bent over his helpless captive. ‘*Sech bein’ ther case, Dll relieve Teddy ov w’at leetle stuff he may hev. A’ter thet, Pll putt him whar he putt ther woman Inez!” But it was destined that the desperado should not carry out the above programme, The sound of rapid footsteps on the bridge caused him to start guiltily. Catching up the irl, he skulked stealthily away in the darkness, ying his course to the northeast along the eastern side of Pilgrim’s Path, as had High- Card Hank the morning before. Rough was the way—in the intense gloom utterly impossible to one less familiar with his surroundings than was Cimarron Jack, And at the best that desperado’s progress was slow, for his wounds, as well as the weight of the girl, told fast upon his strength: Ata point directly opposite the camp across the canyon, Cimarron Jack turned aside, and, passing a dense network of vines, entered the mouth of a small gully. Here he deposited Leola Grattan on the ground, pinioning her wrists and inserting a rude pag between her jaws, and then seated himself on a rock for a breathing-spell. Scarcely had he settled into a comfortable posture, however, when a fresh commotion in the camp below caused him to start erect in alarm. ‘* Good God!” he ejaculated, as he thrust aside the curtain of vines and peered forth. ‘“ Ther camp is afire |” True enough; the frame structures known as the Lay-out and the House of Gold were a mass of seething flame! “Ther bomb did et!” Cimarron Jack mut- tered as he glared down half-stupefied. ‘* They aire fightin’ ther fire. Poor fools! they might es well try ter level ther Rockies!” “But I must up an’ on ter ther cave, fer by St. Jago! this’ hyar spot aire es bright es day!” and the desperado turned to lift his captive from the ground. Leola Grattan was gone! Cimarron Jack stood astounded. “Hell’s furies! w’at means this?” he gasped, staring blankly around. The foliage overhanging the southern side of the gully rustled crisply. A slight, willowy form confronted the assassin, ee ae the weapons from his belt ere he could lift a hand! “Tt means you arein ther wrong pew, you festive old ouclaw!” responded a clear young voice, back of whose whimsical accent there was a world of deadly significance, ‘‘ Reckon ye’ve as good as poked yer head inter ther lion’s mouth! ‘* An’ jest consider yerself a corpse, Cimarron Jack, fer I hev spotted yer work—an’ ['m goin’ ter sock ye full ov lead!” Astounded before, stricken almost dumb now that the muzzles of his own weapons were star- ing him inthe face, the entrapped desperado could only find power to gasp: ““Cuss me! E? it hain’t ther Featherweight!” CHAPTER VIII. THE SABLE KNIGHT ERRANT. A MILE eastward from Chispa Canyon, in a narrow pass running almost parallel to Pilgrim’s Path, a man strode dating to and fro, sentry- like, in the intense gloom, his head bowed down as if in well-vigh hopeless despair. A man beyond middle age, tall and spare, with features strongly marked. His garb was of well-worn corduroy, with black slouch hat and high-topped boots, A belt of arms encircled his middle, and across the hollow of his arm rested a trusty Winchester, For hours had he thus paced to and fro, anon pausing to listen, only to resume his restless walk with an impatient imprecation, ‘‘Can it be that Frank has deserted me?” he muttered, for perhaps the hundredth time, as he halted in the Stygian gloom under the east- ern wall of the . ‘IT cannot believe it! He isa brave youth—one whose every impulse is honorable—a fast friend and a fair foe! “No! something bas occurred to detain him. Never would he desert me here, with my help- less child in the clutches of that merciless ma- rauder, Captain Trackless. ‘““No! no! Frank will return, for my eyes have ferreted out his secret—that a cry of dis- tress from may daughter’s lips would pierce his heart as deeply as mine—that he loves, and 1s loved in return, ‘* But may he not come too late? That is the thought goading me to madness! Maybap— “Hark! that was a footstep!” and the lone sentinel] of the pass was instantly on the alert, his rifle thrown forward, his finger restiug light- ly against the trigger. ‘** Halt! Who comes there?” The challenge rung forth clear and sharp, yet in guarded tones. A brief silence, then a broad chuckle, follow- ed. by the words: “De Lor’ bress me! ef ’tain’t Mars’ Osman dis bressed minute! An’ he doesn’t know de ole man, er-he-be! he-he! er-r!” ‘*Belzy! by heavens!” and there wasa strain of undisguised joy in the voice of Carleton Os- man. ‘Yes, sah—hit am ole Belzy Golightly, Mars’ Carleton, an’ hit am a fac’ dat I am monst’us glad dis heah cullud pusson hab foun’ hisse’f— deed I is, chile!” The next instant Carleton Osman clasped hands with his black henchman... Rude and un- lettered though the latter was, his companion- ship just then was most desirable. ark as was the place, the outlines of Golight- ly’s form could be discerned, In hight he was not above five feet; his shoulders were of great breadth and thickness, and his arms of unusual length. It was obvious at a glance that he pos- sessed the strength of a Hercules, Then, too, he was thoroughly armed, and Os- man knew that he was master of his weapons, ‘* But wha’s Frank, Mars’ Osman?” “He left here at sunset, going to Chispa Canyon to secure help, that we could makea descent upon the outlaw camp up the pass and rescue Miss Aurelia,” was the reply. ‘‘ At day- break this morning we struck the trail of the gang who attacked us, and we followed it until we discovered their lair. ‘*But where have you been? How came it that you allowed us to be taken by surprise this morning?” “Dat wus a poh’ful cu’us sahcumstance,” mused Belzy, reflectively. ‘‘ Yo’ see, Mars’ Osman, hit wah not dis chile’s fault dat de camp wah s’prised. No, sah! ’Long jes’ ’foh day- light, ole Belzy beah sumthin’ Tittle way up de Gap dat didn’t hab jes’ de right soun’, an’ so he mozeys off kinder quiet like ter ’sciver what hit wah ah. ‘*Den dat man Bunco Ben pounce down on de camp, stampede de stock an’ ’tole off Miss ’Relia *foh ole Belzy say ‘Jack Robinson.’ Yes, sah, hit wah jes’ dat quick! ** But, Mars’ Osman, dis heah ole ’coon kotch on ter de trail ob Bunco Ben, an’ follah hit right home. Yes, sah! ‘Den, jes’ soon as night kem, Belzy slide down inter Cap’n Trackless’s camp an’ try fer ter kotch a look at de young misses, An—” ‘““You saw my child there?’ swiftly inter- rogated Carleton Osman, catching the arm of his dusky companion, his breath, coming hard and fast. “Woh de Lor’, I jes’ did, Mars’ Osman,” as hastily averred Golightly. ‘‘ Dar am a cave up in de rocks t’other side ob de basin, an’ dat am whar Miss ’Relia wah took. ‘*But when ole Belzy reached dat p’int, de leetle gal wah missin’, an’ Cap’in Trackless wah ca n’on wuss nur Ole Nick hisse’f. From all dis chile c’u’d heah, ‘peared es ef some one had done stole de young misses an’ toted her off ter Cbhispa Canyon.” : Carleton Osman breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Could it have been Frank?’ he muttered, ‘But, no! that would have heen impossible, Good heavens! my poor darlin, may have fallen from bad hands into worse!” “Dunno ‘bout dat,” crisply observed Belzy Golightly, ‘‘ de big road-agent said bit wah Ole Buckeye, the Sierra’ Sleuth, whut hed stolen de gal. Knyway, dey mos’ all straddled hoss an’ rode out ov de basin.” “ Rode out of the basin? Youare sure, Belzy” ‘6 -Yes, sah!” ‘¢ Phen there must be another hidden outlet from the place, for not a soul bas passed here in full five hours.” “Dar am two , Mars’ Osman—one ter go in, tother ter go out,” said the African, quietly. “Dey go in on dis one, an’ out on t’other. ‘“‘But es soon es I foun’ dar wah no use ter
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stay in de camp.eny longer, I made tracks foh hheah, foh I s’pected ter fin’ yo’ an’ Mais’ Frank roun’ heah somewhar. Dey s’prised de camp on ole Belzy, but I reckon dat gen’men foxed ’em right home, Mars’ Osman!” . There was a degree of pride in the tones of the sable scout which did not escape Carleton Osman. If tothe neglect or carelessness of the former was due the disastrous surprise at Big Gap he had at least done his best in atonement. : You have done well, my faithful fellow,” said Osman. ‘The question now is, shall we await Frank here, or make our way across the hills to Chispa Canyon? Of—” ** Hist!” satnly cautioned Belzy. ‘‘ Sunthin’ comin’—git bac gin’ de wall!” ‘* lt’s either Frank with a strong party, or the road-agents returning,” Carleton Osman mut- tered the next moment, as the rapid hoofstrokes | of a number of horses rung out sharp and Clear | through the narrow pass. ‘‘From the bold manuer in which they approach, I would judge they were the latter.” *“Kewrect!” softly assented Belzy. ‘‘ Heah a 4 come!” ven as the black spoke, the night-riders reached a point in the pass directly opposite them. At the same instant a harsh oath rung | out, ‘*Tmps ov Satan! ther guide hes escaped us!” roared a hoarse voice. ‘ Halt, pards—we must look inter this!” “ Fighting Frank escaped, you say?” ‘* His saddle aire empty, cap’n.” ** And the other captives?” ** Aire byar, hard an’ fast.” “Then, Bunco Ben, take half the men and | scour the pass for the Featherweight. He is un- armed, and more dead than alive, With prompt action, you can likely recapture him before he can reach Chispa Canyon.” And as the lieutenant of the Trail Tigers rap- | idly told off the required number of men, Cap- | tain Trackless and the remainder, with the cap- | tives in their midst, rode on up the gorge. Then, in accordance with a sharply-uttered order of Bunco Ben, seven of the road-agents | dismounted to make a close search among the nooks and crevices in the abrupt walls of the pass, while he and the two remaining headed down the trail at a rapid gait. ‘* We must get out of here,” uttered Carleton Osman, in the ear of his dusky companion. **Frank has been captured, and escaped, it seema, and they could as well search for a needle in a haystack as to attempt to find him, ‘With us it is different. We must separate, Return to this spot in an hour.” To this Belzy Golightly murmured a low as- sent, and they at once glided away in opposite | directions—Carleton Osman laying his course down the pass. Ten minutes passed in silence, unbroken save by the signals of the prowling road-agents. Then there suddenly arose the sounds of adespe- rate hand to-hand struggle, closely followed ox a sharp, triumphant yell. ‘““Hyar, pards! I hev got ’im!” answered a stentorian voice. ‘ Hulkin’ under ther rocks, but I fotched him. Jes— Hell’s furies! ’Tain’t ther guide |” At the higbt of the commotion which ensued, Belzy Golightly dropped safely from the shel- tering branches of a dwarfed tree three hundred yards up the gorge, his eyes glowing like livid coals, his breath coming in short, hard gasps. ‘* Mars’ Osman done walked into de midst ob de Philistines, dead sart’in!” he gritted, ‘‘ I’se wine ter save him, or blow a hole cl’ar frew aon pesky road-agents!” And tightening his belt, Golightly, with a cocked revolver in either hand, sped down the pass with a series of long, pantherish leaps. CHAPTER IX, MAJOR COOL SHOWS HIS HAND, NEVER had death more swift, sure and terri- ble confronted tbe da bing adventurer, Major Cool, than at the moment he stood in the path- way of the bomb hurled by Cimarron Jack, A dastardly attack, shutting off by its swift- ness, as well as by the weapon employed, every means of defense; yet the quick-witted sport, warned by the significant words of Leola Grat- tan, realized his peril, intuitively divined its nature. : And with Major Cool, to think was to act. Throwing up his hands from the butts of his revolvers, he deftly caught she hissing missile, and with a hasty fling of his right hand, lodged ° behind a heavy trunk standing opposite to the oor. A sudden crouching, a sharp spring, and the next instant—just as the bomb exploded—he | away.” | kiver! | ried search of the rear part of the hostelry, re- was snugly ensconced in the corner formed by a wardrobe built against the wall. Stunned by the frightful force of the explo- sive, Major Cool reeled blindly for a momen then rallied, and with drawn weapons bound through the smoke, dust and debris toward the hallway, intent on pursuing the abductors of Leola Grattan. Just as he reached the doorway, the door lead- ing from the hall into the bar-room gave way, and Peg-Leg Pete, followed by a half-score deni- zens of the place, crowded swiftly upon the ad- venturer. ‘** Ha! byar he aire!” roared the landlord ex- citedly, as be grappled Major Cool in the semi- gloom.of the hallway. ‘‘ You devil! whar’s my darter?” ‘*Gone—follow me!” laconically utterad the sport, shaking off burly Pete Grattan as he would a child. ‘‘T women in mask carried her The teeth of Peg-Leg Pete shot together with asharp click. Brushing Major-Cool aside, be bounded down the hallway to the door of the apartment of the woman Inez, “Open, Inez—quick!” he wrenched vainly at the knob, There was no respouse. The next instant the door went down before his sturdy shoulders, The room was deserted. The half-open outer door showed that the abductors of Leola Grat- tan had made good their escape from the build- ing. Old Pete Grattan halted, uttering a sound be- tween a curse and a groan. In his mingled rage and dismay he beat a restless tattoo on the hard, barren floor with the end of his wooden leg. “ A’ter ‘em, boyees!” he gritted. ‘A thou- sand dollars ter ther man w’ot runs ’em ter Scour ther camp! Er ye find ’em, Major, will ye lead ther roared, as he Jedge Lynch— boyees?” This last sentence was lost to the ears ad- dressed. Already the stranger-sport was in the gloom beyond the doorway at the head of a half- dozea adventurous spirits, As the last of the Canyonites skurried out into the darkness eager to capture the bold abdug- tors, and lay claim to the reward, Peg-Leg Pete closed and barred the door; then, after a hur traced his steps to the bar-room, There he secured his Winchester, closed the place, and sallied out into the streets of the camp. A rod from his dvorway he was halted by a wild series of whoops and yells, and the next in- stant four men, burly, broad-shouldered fellows, rounded the corner of the building, dragging in their midst a captive. ‘* Fvar’s one ov ther sharks!” declared a sten- torian voice, ‘' Reckon he’li never skulk in ther dark eny more!” ‘Rah fer Jedge Lymch!” * Wot’s he did ’ith ther gal?” ‘A rope, Peg-Leg—he must stretch hemp!” And a score other such cries, mingled m wild confusion, revealed the temper of the crowd, A dark tragedy was imminent. “Hold, men! Let slow and sure be the word!” cried Major Cool, in steady, authoritative tones, as he pushed his way through the ranks of the gathering throng. ‘In this matter we must make no mistake, ‘*Now, who have you here?” ‘One ov ther devils, Pll be bound!” savagely gritt-d the landlord, peering sharply at the face of the captive, ‘Take a squint, major, an’ see ef he be one ov ther cusses,” “Your double, major—as like as lire can be!” uttered a soft, purring voice, almost in the ad- venturer’s ear. ‘* Which is Major Cool, is al- most a question!” ‘No question at all, my dear fellow,” declared the captive with a laugb, in which there was a trace of mockery. ‘Under that name I hold tbe belt against all comers. If—” Ending with a startled oath, the speaker flung his hands aloft. Glittering steel manacles en- circled his wrists, “ Your quesiey isanswered, High-Card Hank —Major G. Washington Coo] is before you!” coldly uttered the stranger-sport, as he turn to face the gamblér. “I only borrowed the title for a few short hours. In a camp like Chispa Canyon, two Major Cools couldn’t exist long without a collision—and it came even sooner than I had anticipated, ‘“My cup of happiness is full almost to over- flowing, One stroke more— You—” : But High-Card Hank was game—gliding hith- er and thither through the throng, bis marble- like face whiter than ever, his breath coursing ' lee Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. p Ne in short, sharp hisses, the pupils of his cruel, cat-like eyes distending with consternatiou! Close upon his trail followed the stranger- sport, leaving the captive in the custody of Peg- Leg Pete. ““Ugly Upton was right—he is not Major Cool, but a cursed sleuth hound, leagved with Eyian Buck in his scheme for vengeance,” gritted the Faro King, as he sought the shadows and ushed toward the bridge across Pilgrim’s Path. ‘{ must fly the camp, for it is death to remain. Once free in these hilis with the heiress of Ezra, the Miser, in my power, I can langh at danger. She is worth a king’s ransom, tor if it comes to the worst I shall hold her as a hostage—as the price of my liberty!” Across the bridge, the fleeing zambler halted. and looked back. A shadow was on his trail, but he saw it not. All was commotion in the streets of the camp. Its denizens seemed fired with some fresh excite- ment, ‘The sleuth-hound has made himself known,” muttered Hank, turning and seeking the tor- tuous pathway taken by Cimarron Jack and his captive, ‘‘ So long, Chispa Canyon!” e strode rapidly ahead, yet with such stealth as to create scarcely a sound. The Nemesis- like shadow followed him, step by step, with unerring precision, patient and tireless, High-Card Hank was doomed! Onward he pushed, looking neither to the right nor to the left, his head bared, bis evil brain busy with his precious future, Suddenly he started, and with a muttered oath sunk to the ground. He had reached a point almost opposite the camp. The trail before him was a glare of lurid light! ‘¢ The bomb has done its! work—the Lay-out is in flames!” he muttered, staring down into Chispa Canyon. ‘So be it! While they fight fire Fan safe from pursuit, The gully is but a few rods distant—let me once reach it, and the way to the cave is.clear.” lat upon his face, he dragged himself slowly along the tortuous way, anon peering down into the camp or to the rear over his shoulder, Five minutes rolled by. Tben he deftly part- ed the curtain of vines and with a gliding, ser- pentine motion entered the narrow gulch into which Cimarron Jack had disappeared a skort while before. “ Jack!” A dark form seated upon a narrow ledge in the side of the gully slipped down to a standing posture, confronting the intruder, * Hank?” : The gambler breathed a sigh. of relief, . Did you get the girl?” “ Yas, Cap, I got ther gal!” ‘She is here?” ‘Yas, Cap, she is hyar!” : Something in the voice of the speaker seemed to create in High-Card Hank a feeling of uneasi- ness. With an upward fling of his hand, he parted the mass of foliage vailing the place. ‘“ Ha! you are not—” “Too late, Cap! I’ve got you!” An oath slipped from between the hard-set. teeth of the gambler. A brace of * sixes” stared him in the face. He was trapped! A light footfall, a ripping, tearing sound—and the curtain of vines abruptly parted, flooding the place with light. In the aperture stood a slender, sinewy form, a glittering weapon raised in each band. ‘‘ Rasy, now—both of you!” enunciated a cool, quiet. voice—the voice of the stranper-sport, the bogus Major Cool. ‘* The quiver of an eyelash may let slip the dogs of war!” The shadow had materialized, The race of High-Card Hunk was run! ‘“T pass!” he minttered, disconsolately, as he vedaant te empty bands, ‘I hold neither ace, face nor trump! The game 1s yours.” ‘We'll divide the spoils, Detective Dan Gl- bert!” uttered a crisp young voice—that of the second occupant of the gully. ‘ Reckon be was my meat!” ‘And you are—” “Fighting Frank, the Featherweight!” High-Card Hank gritted his teeth in silent: rage. CHAPTER X, CAPLrAIN TRACKLESS BAFFLED. ““EyLAN BUCK, your doom is sealed! You have looked your last on earth, for here in this cavern you must die!” The speaker was the redoubtable Captain Trackless—the party addressed, Old Buckeye. ** Die, Ezra Grimshaw? Wal, mebbe, "Twon’t do, ye know, ter kalkilate foo cluss on that ’are- p’int—sarkumstances alter cases!”
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: q 2 ee} - 12 Pinioned hand and foot, the giant spy lay flat on his back in the center of the cave overlooking the basin retreat of the Trail Tige s. That he had been subjected to rough, even brutal treat- ment was obvious at a glance. His clothing ‘was torn to shreds; clots of blood and numerous dark brtises lent to his face a peculiarly grisly look, A single candle on the narrow stone ledge be- hind the chief of the outlaws partially dispelled the gloom of the place, On the couch of skins at one side reclined Aurelia Osman, securely bound. In a degree, the raid of the Trail Tigers had been successful. Not only had they captured Old Buckeye and recaptured the girl, but they had also rifled the coffers of the House of Gold of their yellow treasures. Little cared Captain Trackless what action the enraged Canyonites might take in retaliation, One stroke more, and he and his followers could shift their scene of operations and put themselves pp hi the reach of vengeance. hat stroke was the abduction of Leola Grat- tan. Foiled in his first attempt to secure the girl, Captuin Trackless was only the more de- termined to carry out his fell design, and to that end five picked men had been sent back to the gold-camp immediately after he had en- countered Bunco Ben and his captives on the ‘Silver trail, Monte Jack, a desperado of unusual cunning, was at the head of the detachment, and the out- jaw chief hadn’t the least doubt that the at- tempt would be crowned with a full measure of success. And yet it was with difficulty that he curbed his impatience after his arrival in the basin. ‘The escape of the Featherweight was by no means reassuring, and when an hour later Bunco Ben rode into camp, empty-handed and with three empty saddles, and reported twoor more hostile strangers in the pass, the chief lost all self-restraint, and after a torrent of profanit hastened up to the cavern to assure himself that his remaining captives were being properly guarded, Ugly Upton was the sentry on duty, and when Captain Trackless entered the cave he scat: betook himself to the ledge out- s.ae, Glaring down at the discolored face of his half-brother, the chief, in tones fairly seething with passion, gave utterance to that terrible declaration: “Eylan Buck, your doom is sealed! You have looked your last on earth, for here in this cavern you must die!” The nonchalant retort of Old"Buckeye did not fall short of its purpose, A startled look crept into the face of the road-agent, and he swept a swift glance around the dark recesses of the lace, : ar Ho! hot” chuckled Eylan Buck, with ap- parent satisfaction. ‘‘Ther guilty shall flee, when no man pursueth!” i ‘*Hold your tongue—or you may lose it,” uttered Captain Trackless, or Ezra Grimshaw, @ mad light dancing in his wicked black eyes, **T did not come here to trifle with you, but to warn you of your fate. ; “For years you have hung upon my trail, hounding me from point to point, seeking to visit your vengeance upon me for Paul Parker- ton’s dark deed—for he, not I, murdered Ezra, the Miser!” , The blood receded from the bronzed face of Old Buckeye, and his half-closed eyes, filled ‘with a peculiarly intense, lurid light, xed them- selves in a malevolent stare on the face of Ezra Grimshaw. ** You devil! ye might die ’ith thet lie on yer lips afore I c’u’d see a mo'sel ov truth in it!” he slowly enunciated, each word seeming to cost him @ powerful effort. ‘‘ We aire ther children ov one mother; you war born ten years later than I, an’ under a lucky star; you hev hed ther advantages ov book-l’srnin’ an’ sjch, while I know only ther forest, ther plain an’ ther camp. But on ther mountain top an’ in ther valley, in ther woods an’ on tber runnin’ streams, I hev read Nature’s book—larned ter know ther good from ther bad, guilt from inno- cence! “You aire a devil unhung, Ezra Grimshaw! Et aire useless ter sbift ia burden ov guilt ter ther shoulders ov Paul Parkerton, bad as he aire, fer I hev tracked ye step by step an’ with links stronger than steel fastened ther raurder ov our uncle’on ye! “An’I can’t forget thet ther knife which Peeved ther miser’s heart did not stop thar. It ed our mother!” “Stop!” burst forth Grimshaw, petulantly. Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. ‘Your ravings are but the vaporing of a mad- reached the passage just as Belzy Golightly, the man. I had no hand in the deed—am innocent of its awful consequences!” ‘*’U mph!” sneeringly ejaculated Old Buckeye. ““T spose ye didn’t kidnap ther gal hyar, ter marry her an’ get ther money ov yer uncle?” ‘*T don’t know what you mean.” “Oh! in course not! Don’t know thar aire sech a pusson as Carleton Osman, an’ thet his real name aire Peter Dauthett, do you?’ Never entered yer head thet this hyar gal war Osman’s darter—or Louise Dauthett—and that by ther will ov ther Miser she aire his heiress, did it?” **T don’t know anything of the kind,” pro- tested Grimshaw, a crafty gleam appearing in his averted eyes. ‘‘It is preposterous to speak of Osman and Dauthett as one, Even the girl will say as much.” * P'rhaps she—” ‘You aire wanted below, cap’n—at once!” interrupted Ugly Upton, suddenly appearing at the cavern entrance, a perturbed Took on his evil visage. The chief of the Trail Tigers started uneasily. bi a word he turned and strode out of the place. Ugly Upton seated himself just within the cave, his back to the entrance. ‘‘ Good riddance!” muttered Old Buckeye, as the footfalls of the giant outlaw died away. The mountain detective was in a bad box, and he knewit. Escape was out of the ques- tion so long as the sentry wason duty. Yet he was of asanguine temperament, and hoped for the best. He was troubled more for the girl than for himself. He gazed curiously at her pure oval face. A sudden thrill shot through his aching fibers. Her black eyes, twinkling like stars in the dull semi-gloom, were fixed on some objeet beyond Ugly Upton, Her expression was one of breath- less suspense—of intense hope! Old Buckeye closed one eye reflectively. What could Aurelia Osman have seen? Some- thing betokening a speedy rescue, the mountain detective concluded, and his eyes again sought her face. But the long lashes concealed her ag orbs—her visage was marble in its pallor! The ensuing moment was one almost of tor- ture to Eylan Buck. A single glance at Ugly Upton would have revealed the cause of the girl’s strange agitation; but, were the sentry menaced, the action, mayhap, would warn him of his peril and defeat the movement afloat for the rescue of the captives. Ere this thought had taken definite shape in the brain of the detective, his doubts were set at rest. A dull blow, the sound of a falling body, and into the cavern leaped Carleton Osman, eclcsely followed by Belzy Golightly—each with cocked revolvers in hand! ‘* Father!” exclaimed the fair captive. ‘“‘ Here, my child,. with faithful Belzy, to take you from this place,” tenderly replied Carleton Osman, as he severed her pinions and lifted her to her feet, ‘* Belzy— hom have we here?” ‘* A frien’, I s’pect, Mars’ Osman,” the black returned, as he oo his keen knife to the last of the thongs coufining Eylan Buck. ‘‘ Anyhow, he am no frien’ ob de outlaws,” “A friend ter honest men—a foe ter all oth- ers,” the detective averred, as he scrambled to his feet. ‘‘ But we cain’t discuss sech leetle pints now—we must work ef we expect ter git away from hyar ’ith hull hides,” “Tl agree with you there,” said Carleton Os- man, closely scanning the recesses of the cavern, as the detective gli ed toward the silent form of Ugly Upton. ‘* There must be an outlet to this place hesides the one leading to the basin.” ‘‘ Yer surmise aire kerrect; thar’s a passage leadin’ up thro’ ther rocks,” returned Old Buck- eye, as he coolly possessed himself of the weap- ons of the dead sentry. ‘‘In ten minutes we ken be out ov— Hark!” The word of warning came sharply, and even as he spoke, the detective aokewad the party to retire to one of the numerous passages. The next instant he bounded swiftly after them, his weapons drawn and ready for action. “Quick!—ther chief an’ a number ov his men aire near at hand!” be announced, guarded- ly. ‘ Foller me! Wemust reach ther Jadder leadin’ above afore they enter ther cave, or we aire lost!” Little need to urge the fugitive to quicken their steps, With flying feet they skurried to- ward the ladder, reaching it not a moment too soon, for as Old eee 4 mounted the bottom rung the deep voice of Captain Trackless rung through the place in notes of alarm. But, the giant outlaw was too late. He last of the escaping quartette, disappeared through the opening at the top of the cave, And then,.as a meansof effectually cutting off immediate pursuit, Old Buckeye grasped the end of the Jadder and deftly drew it out of cave. ‘¢ Oho!” he chuckled, as he threw the ladder aside and replaced the stone over the opening, ‘¢ Afore ther Trail Tigers git out ov thar we'll be in Chispa Canyon. ll in all, we've hed mighty slim chainces—but byar we aire!” “ An’ thar ye stay—dead or alive—jes’ es ye want it!” interpolated a hoarse but triumphant Yan *¢-Ye’re o’ny out ov ther fryin’ pan inter re!” Confronting Eylan and his companions, and searcely three paces distant, were four men— desperate-looking fellows and thoroughly armed, “Who are you? What do you mean?” testily demanded Carleton Osman, ““Thet I am Monte Jack, leftenant ov ther Trail Tigers!” was the significant response. CHAPTER XI. THE GRIM MESSENGER, NEVER in all his eventful career had High- Card Hank felt so utterly crestfallen as at the moment he stood silent and helpless under the muzzles of the weapons in the hands of the bogus Major Cool and Frank, the Feather- weight. There wasn’t even a fighting chance remain- ing. He was cornered, and his only alternative was to yield. The next moment he was securely manacled. Then Frank and the detective warmly shook hands. ** What success, Detective Gilbert?” queried the former. ‘‘Best in the world,” uttered the detective, with alight laugh. ‘‘ Not twenty minutes ago right down in rey Canyon, I met the real and original Major G, Washington Cool.” ‘Indeed! You—” “Same iix!” Detective Gilbert replied, nod- ding significantly at the irons on the wrists of the entrapped guirbler. ‘‘ Just as easy, too!” ‘‘Mebbe you can fix this one in the same way,” suggested Frank, parting the foliage at his side and revealing Cimarron Jack, bound hand and foot. **Can’t see the necessity,” the detective aver- red, dryly. ‘* But where is that fellow’s cap- tive—Miss Grattan?” ‘¢ Here, major,” and Leola Grattan stepped into view, extending her hand. ‘* You escaped uninjured?” “Uninjured, Miss Grattan—thanks to your timely warning of a moment before. In fact, the only real harm resulting from the dastard- ly attack was the shattering and firing of the building. ‘* And that is overbalanced by the fact that we have secured the arch-plotter, High-Card Hank, and his tools--Cimarron Jack here one. Another lies dead by the bridge. “ Have you been harmed?” “Only frightened,” and the girl’s dark eyes fell under the detective’s warm gaze, “We had best go down into the Canyon,” suggested the Featherweight. ‘‘ Miss Osman has again fallen into the bands of Captain Trackless, and her rescue should by all means be effected at an early moment.” The young guide’s lapse from the border dialect did not escape the detective. ‘*Tagree witb you,” he returned. ‘* The af- fair iis serious and demands immediate atten- tion. High-Card Hank and Cimarron Jack were handeuffed together, then turned over to the Featherweight, Detective Gilbert with Leola Grattan brougbt up the rear, } The flames were yet at their hight when the five crossed the bridge into Chispa Canyon. As luck would have it, Peg-Leg Pete was the first man the detective and bis companions en- countered. ; With a hoarse whoop of joy, the landlord stumped forward and clasped his daughter ip a bear-like embrace. The next instant there was 4 sudden swaying and surging of the crowd, portending an out- break of some kind. Ere even keen-eyed De- tective Gilbert could realize its nature, five men broke away from the throng and swiftl hurled themselves upon Peter Grattan and his daughter. : The struggle which ensued was of the briefest possible duration. Before either the detective or the Featherweight could lift a hand to thwart thed does, Peg-Leg Pete lay gasping on the ground, the life-blood gushing in a crimson tide ate 7 eee
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-_-— ~~ Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shad Ow. 13 from a murderous knife-wound in his back, while Leola Grattan, in the midst of her five cap- tors, was being hurried toward the bridge! 4 Quick ! shouted Dan Gilbert, springing after the daring outlaws, a revolver in each hand. * After thuse devils, for they must not escape!” ‘*Foller—an’ ther gal’s life shall pay fer it!” came back from the bridge in fierce, menacing tones. ‘I speak for Captain Trackless, ther Trail Tiger!” Captain Trackless! Dan Gilbert halved, a feeling akin to despair tearing at his heart. He knew the threat was no empty one—that a move just then on the part of her friends might end the life of Leola Grattan! ‘*Easy, Dan—we'll get ’em yet!” uttered Fighting Frank, at his side, ‘Look to your captives and the landlord there—I’!] arrange for pursuit,” and turning, he glided away, At a glance it was obvious that the seal of death was upon the brow of Peter Grattan as he lay gaspmg on arude cot in one of Chispa Canyon’s cabins, At his side, ministering to his wants with the tenderness of a woman, was Detective Gilbert. Just without the door was a strong posse of the camp’s denizens, all armed tothe teeth, under command of the Featherweight. The latter entered the cabin. His voice was scarcely above a whisper as he uttered the word: + Dan)? ‘* Leaving his patient a moment, the detective approached the guide, his face wearing an ex- pression of unutterable gravity. ‘** How is he?” queried Frank, with an inclina- pee of his head indicating the wounded land- lord, ‘Failing fast,” was the guarded response. You are ready to take the trail?” ‘Yes, with twenty men at my command. At one stroke we will rescué the two girls and wipe the Trail Tigers from the face of the earth, or ourselves fall. ‘*We watched the course taken by the mur- derous wretches, and will trail them with dogs, They have but a few minutes the start.” *T would that I could join you; but while my heart is with you, my duty is here—ard here I must stay. May success attend you!” The hands of the two men met ina warm clasp. In that moment the Featherweight real- ized that Detective Gilbert had given his heart and his happiness into the keeping of Leola Grat- tan ; ‘** Have no fear—I will bring her back, Dan,” _he uttered softly. Then the two men separated—Fighting Frank to take his place at the head of his little com- mand, the detective turning to the couch of Peter Grattan. ‘* Hello! major, is it you?” gasped the latter, peeing his eyes and staring up into the face of the detective, as he felt the latter’s cool hand upon his forehead. ‘*Good! You are a white man, major; and now that the game is closed and my checks are called in, I must say to you what I have said to no other living man. ‘“*T am sure you will not betray my confidence, and certain that you will see justice done my child—for she will be rescued, major—I feel it, I know it!” ‘* She will be rescued,” repeated the detective. “Yes, I am sure of it,” meekly declared the moribund, a feverish sparkle appearing in his gray eyes. “But I am failing, major, and must speak quickly, or never, ‘In northeastern Kentucky, some years ago, a most fearful murder was committed, one Ezra Grimshaw—better known as Ezra the Miser— being the victim. It had long been supposed that the miser kept large sums of money con- cealed about his premises, and as was natural, it was assumed that this wealth was the motive. “‘ But such was not the case. “The crime, committed in the dead of night was a most mysterious one, and only a rigid and thorough search on the part of che authori- ties brought tolightaclew. | ‘*And that clew was a knife—the weapon with which the miser had been almost literally hacked to pieces, 1t was of peculiar form, and was known to belong to one Peter Dauthett, a brother-in-law of the miser. “Then, too, the two men were known to be on bad terms, and as a result of the finding of the blood-stained blade Dauthett was straight- way set. down as the murderer, “He fled—taking with him his only child, a and punishment for a crime whidh he had not committed-—of which he was wholly innocent. ‘*In all these wanderings his child clung to him, never questioning him as to tue future or concerning the past—ignorant of the real cause of his restlessness, of the haunting fear weigh- ing upon him, ** And in these years she developed froma delicate child into robust womanhood—as good and pure as beautiful. If—” A crimson tide welled from the pre lips of the moribund, for the moment checking utter- ance, Then, with what seemed a supreme ef- fort, he rallied, and in quick, sharp tunes ex- claimed: ‘*Major, your hand, Jam Peter Dauthett— Leola is my daughter. I am dying now, but on my person you will find the—’ Again his voice failed, His head fell back. He was dying. The detective bent over him, clasping his hand. Dauthett’s eyes opened slightly and rested on the anxious, pitying face above him. His lips moved, and he muttered: ‘Swear it, major—you will—take Leo—” A gasp, a ghastly rattle deep in his throat, rH the low voice failed. Peter Dauthett was dead! CHAP!IER XII, A TRYING ORDEAL, ‘“ Yas, sir-ee! Iam Monte Jack, an’ es I kin figger et out I hold ther winnin’ hand,” reiter- ated the lieutenant of the Trail Tigers, after a moment of profound silence, as he stood con- fronting Old Buckeye and his companions at the mouth of the alcove in the rocks, ‘‘ Ther on’y question now aire, do ye see ther p’int?” we oh! we kin see ther p’int fast enuff!” grimly averred the giantspy. ‘‘But ef I onderstand ther matter, ther’s more’n one prong ter ther dilemmur. °Tain’t a sure thing which side’ll hold ther agein ther leetle deefickulty a-brewin’.” “True as gospel, ye old sinner—every word of it!” declared a voice in the darkness beyond Monte Jack and his followers. ‘' Count us in, fer we’re as famished fer a scrimmage as a hoy- doogan of starved wildcats!” ‘ The clicking of numerous revolver locks ac- companied the warlike declaration. ‘* Thet’s Fightin’ Frank, fer a billion dollars in gold!” ejaculated Old Buckeye, fairly quiver- ing with delight. Startled beyond measure, Monte Jack uttered an oath. He was between two fires, ‘* Rasy, now!” cautioned the Featherweight, a menacing ring noticeable in his smooth tones, ‘* You're covered—every mother’s son of you. You are our meat, an’ saltpeter won’t keep you from spoiling if you attempt to move a step in any direction.” **-You bet it won’t!” chimed in the mountain detective, ‘‘ Better throw up your hand, Monte Jack—we’ve got ther dead sinch on ye!” outlaw, ‘ Ther fal from camp’s right hyar, an’ ye dar’n’t fire—she’s no more lead-proof than I ““Yes—but you haven’t got the girl from hieoe Canyon,” «esd returned the Feather- weight. ‘I fixed that some minutesago. She’s half-way to camp ere this,” A howl of rage escaped the Trail Tiger. His captive was indeed missing, and with her one of his men, At the same instant, Carleton Osman gently, yet quickly pushed his daughter out of range— sheltering her in a dark niche in the walls, ‘* Drop !” hissed Old Buckeye. —throw your lead well up.” Not a breath too soon, that sharply, yet cau- tiously, uttered warning, for, with a yell which echoed and re-echoed among the rocks, Monte Jack flung himself into the alcove, a stream of fire leaping from the muzzle of each weapon, his eyes blazing fitfully, his sharp ea teeth almost meeting through his nether ip. Flung himself forward—to drop in a lifeless heap, a ball from the unerring “six” of the giant spy through his brain, — Nor was that all. A series of flashes ran along the Featherweight’s line—a sharp, crasb- ing sound, a yell,an oath,a groan—a deadly volley from Old Buckeye and his companions, and the vengeful struggle was ended, Monte Jack and his zen bad chosen between Judge Lynch and instant death—the latter had been their pertion. ** Tt’s a-comin’ -_. as the footsteps of Carleton Osman and Belzy Golightly, with the former’s daughter and Leola Grattan, died away down the ravine, ‘“We kin sorter drop in an’ take ’em by s’prise,” ‘*Ther quicker ther better,” declared one of the Canyonites, ‘‘Seems ter me they bev bin let monkey ’round long ‘nuff. An’ then we kem up ter clean ’em out.” And so it was quickly decided that the attack should be made, entering the cabin by means of the ladder. After a brief reconnoissance, Old Buckeye announced that the wayewas clear. Then the ladder was lowered, and one after another of the strong posse descended into the lair of Cap- tain Trackless They found the cavern deserted, but the out- law stronghold below was in a turmoil of ex- citement, ‘* Makin’ ready fer another swoop down onter Chispa Canyon,” muttered the giant spy, wrath- fully. ‘* Look ter yer weepons, pards, an’ foller in Injun file. We'll guv ther blasted thieves a fit ov sickness,” Accordingly the determined men filed stealth- ily downward, and out across the pocket, and, undetected, ranged themselves with leveled wea- pons directly across the pathway of the outlaw clan. ‘“ We ain’t a minute too soon,” observed the Featherweight, taking his stand beside the giants. ‘‘ They’re mounted,” ‘t An’ hyar they come,” as cautiously returned Old Buckeye. ‘Steady, lads, an’ at ther chirp ov a cricket, fire!” The next moment the signal was given, Cap- tain Trackless and his men were at close range. A sharp volley, a triumphant shout, and the ambuscading party dashed forward to a hand- to-hand struggle with their startled foes, In less than the time it takes to describe it, the struggle was ended; the mountain bandits were literally wiped out. And foremost among the slain the victors came upon the body of Captain Trackless, or Ezra Gimshaw, his beart pierced with a pistol-ball. ; The vow of Eylan Buck had been terribly ful- led. CHAPTER XIII, JUDGE LYNCH’S COURT. Over Chispa Canyon a strange hush held sway. Massed ina hollow square on the princi- pal ‘street of the camp, their faces grim and stern in the dull, red glow of all that remained of the Lay-out and the House of Gold, stond the denizens of the place, intent on the proceedings of the court of Judge Lynch, For that terrible tribunal was in session, To the right of the center of the hollow square, mounted upon the head of an empty barrel, was no less a personage than Old Buckeye, the giant spy. Before him, securely manacled, were High- Card Hank, Major Cool and Cimarron Jack, under guard of four brawny fellows with drawn revolvers. Facing this party were Fighting Frank, Detective Gilbert and Carleton Osman, ‘Paul Parkerton, alias High-Card Hank, se aire charged, first, ‘ith bein’ an accomplice n ther murder ov one Ezra Grimshaw, known also es Ezra, ther Miser, sum years ago in Kain- tuck: second, ‘ith havin’ instigated one Captain Trackless ter make an attack on ther train ov Carleton Osman, et eer: thet his darter mought be stolen; third, ’ith havin’ putt up a like job on Detective Dan Gilbert, under the be- lief thet he was Major Cool, murder bein’ ther object; fourth, ‘ith havin’, arter findin’ thet Aurelia Osman war not ther gal ye sought— ther heiress ov Ezra, ther Miser—putt up a sec- ond job ter slay Gilbert at ther Lay-out, an’ ab- duct Leola Grattan, otherwise Louise Dauthett, ther real heiress; an’ etcetery, etcetery, yer many Offenses bein’ too numerous ter mention in detail, W’ot hev yo got ter say fer yerself?” And as Old Buckeye concluded, he looked steadily into the cruel, catlike orbs of the cap- tive gambler. ‘1 ain't saying a word,” was the cold re- nse. ‘*Breath is too precious just now to idly waste it,” : “True! Es presidin’ officer ov this court, I sentence ye ter be hanged by ther neck till ye aire deader’n a mackerel, Ther only pity aire thet ye hev'n’t a neck fer each crime, ‘Now, Major George Washington Cool, your case aire naixt on ther docket. eaire charged ith a multitude ov offenses, chief amorg which daughter. For years he roamed hither and ty thither, seeking the wilder and more remote out- “*Reckon ther naixt thing, now thet her, gals ane eet ra skirts of civilization—ever dreading capture aire out ov ther way, aire ter guv ther Tigers a leetie tussle,” observed Old Buckeye, is an attempt npon ther life ov Aurelia Osman, bekase she refused an, offer OV marriage from ye. W'ot defense do ye offer?” “T wasn’t. born a fool!” curtly observed the
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14 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. : ee —— —" “T deny the charge,” promptly answered | 56 Taw InpIAN Mazeppa. By Albert W. Aiken.... 10c | 168 Winp Brix, THE Piston Drap-Suor. By Col. hang ’em high, Ther fu’st tree beyond ther brid ide” 77 Tae FResH or Frisco. By Albert W. Aiken.. 10c | 188 PHanrom Mazeppa. Major Dangerfield Burr. 10¢ ridge will do. 78 Toe Mysterious Spy. By A. M. Grainger.... 10¢ | 189 Witp Briy’s Gop Tram. By P. Ingraham. 10¢ pe: en eg By cg ere rg ala > ves os he | 199 Tur THREE Guannsnen, By Alex. pumas ape With a wild yell the Canyonites surged out of MAN or NERVE. i eg arne...... | 191 Tue TérriB.e TonKAway, By Buckskin. 3am. 10¢ camp and the terrible decree of Judge Lynch 81 Tae Human TiceR. - Aiken, .... 10¢ | 192 Tue Ligntnina Sport. By Wm. R. Eyster. 10¢ : Major Cool. 57 Tue Sitenr Hunter. by Percy B.St. John... 10c | Prentiss Ingraham...) - 6.5 vs dieses. 0c } “Oh! ye do? Carleton Osman, will ye tell 58 Stnver Knire. By Dr. J. H. Robinson... ... - 10c | 169 Corporat Cannon. By Col. Monstery...... 10c ij th + wat k bout th ml tter!” 59 Tae Man yrom Texas. By Albert W. Aiken. 10c | 170 Swemer Wriu1aM. By Jos, E. Badger, Jr. 10¢ : CX CORDY N85. PE SEO WRKRIY BOSE: Te 60 Wink Awake. Ry Frank Dumont........... , 10e | 171 Triage Dick, THE MAN or THE IRON Hear, { ccna have simply this to say,” returned Osman. | 61 Caprain Szawars, By Ned Buntline..........10e | By PhilipS. Warne, naa. 10c ) The attempt was made at Golden City, and, | 62 Loya, Heart. By Gustave Aimard,........ 10¢ | 172 THe Buack Pate. By Col. Ingraham.... 10¢ ; when ,thwarted, the prisoner swore to accom- | 63 Tae Wincep WHALE. By Albert W. Aiken.... 10c | 173 CaLirornia Jonn. By Atbert W. Aiken...... 10¢ slish his desi sooner or later. Accordingly 64 Dovs.LE Sient. By Jos. #, Badger, Jr. ...... 10¢ | 174 PHanrom Knients. By Capt. F. Whittaker.. 10c ' Py j employed etective Gilbert here, and bis | 65 Tue Rep Rasan. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker. 10e | 175 W1tp Bru’s Trump Carp, By Major Burr. 10¢ 4 friend, the Featherweight, to take charge of | 66 Tae Specter Bargue. By Capt. Mayne Reid... 10c | 176 Lapy Jaguar. By Capt.Mark Wilton... 10¢ ;- | q 2 ’, 83 & d e th 67 Tue Boy Jockey. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr... 10e | 177 Don Drasio. By Col. PrentissIngraham. 10¢ the case—the first to hunt down the wretch, the | ¢3 Tue FienTina TRAPPER, By J. F. C. Adams.. 10c | 178 DARK Dasawceop. By Major 8. 8. Hall. 10¢ second to act as guide until we had reached our | 69 Toe bus Captamn. By Capt. F. Whittaker. 10c | 179 CoNRAD, THE Convict. Prof. 8. Gildersleeve, 10c } , destination. Major Cool is guilty of the offense, | 70 Hyprasap. By Dr. J. H. Robinson. . -..++ 10¢ | 180 OLp °49. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.. ... 10¢ \ ; as charged.” 71 Caprarin Coot Buape. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.. 10c | 181 Tae Scarter Scnoonrer. By Col. Ingraham. 10c ‘‘ Halter No. 2!” crisply uttered Old Buckeye, | 72 THe PHantom Hanp. By Albert W. Aiken... 10e | 182 Hanps Up. By Wm. R. Fyster v4» 200 } ‘‘ Bs fer ye, Cimarron Jack, I sentence ye ter 73 Tae Knicur or THE Rep Cross. By Dr. J. 183 GILBERT, THE Gomez. By C. Dunning Clark. 10¢ | i Eaton tial hark nat fat vo ¢ H, Robinson. ... Sp Ane MeN eer ae 10c | 184 Tae OceAN Vampire. By Col. P. Ingraham. 10c ang ‘ithout trial. ar’s no chaince fer ye ter | 74 CapraIn OF THE Riries. Capt. Mayne Reid.. 10¢ | 185 Man Sprper. By A, P. Morris .. neat, 100 git ther benefit-ov a doubt—ye aire too well | 75 Genrimman George, By Albert W. Aiken... 10c | 188 Taz BLACK BRAVO, By Buckskin Sam.... 10¢ known, So, now, for’ard ‘ith "em, boyees, an’ | 76 THe Quexn’s Muskererrs. By Geo. Albany.. 10¢ | 187 ‘Tae Drarn’s-Heap Crirassiers. Whittaker, 10c . 82 Iron Wrist. By Col. Thomas H. Monstery.. 10c | 198 Tame Manin Rep. Ry Capt. F. Whittaker. 10e ‘was carried out to the letter! 83 Gotp Butter Sport. By Buffalo Bill .-.. 10¢e | 494 Dor 1 olalaeg By Cantal Mark ‘ flton - 10e &4 Huntep Down, By Albert W. Aiken ....... 10c | 195 Tae LoneSrar GaMBLER. By Buckskin Sam. 10e . Little more needs to be told. 85 THE CreTan Rover. By Col. P. Ingraham .. 10c | 196 La Marmoset. By Albert W. Aiken... .... 10¢ : Upon the person of Peg-Leg Pete were found 86 THE Bia Hunter. Author of “Silent Hunter.” 1c | 197 RevotveR Ros. By Joseph E. Bedger, Jr... 10c documents establishing his identity and remov- a a reno peer ae ae [oes a ah be aoe pias Ea nae Fi Ingraham. ue ; S t : 14 GEORGE. By Jos . Badger, Jr....... | 199 DraAMonpd Dick. By Buckskin Sam. 1 ing forever all doubt that he was innocent of | 89 Tue Preare Price. By Col, P.Ingrabam.... 10c | 990 ‘Tue RIFLE Biweeee. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 10¢ the murder of Ezra, the Miser, 90 Wino Witt, By Buckskin Sam.......... ... 10¢ | 201 Tem Prrate or THE PLAcERS. By Badger. 10c In due course of time, Carleton Osman and | 91 Tam Winnine Oar. By Albert W. Aiken. .. 10c | 902 Gacrus Jack. By Captain Mark Wilton. F300 his daughter, together with the Featherweight | 92 BurratoBm.. By Major Dangerfield Burr .. 10c | 903 Tue Dovstm Detective. By A. W. Aiken.: 10c { and Belzy Golightly, journeyed on to the rs oa Dick ag dep By ani ee een ha 204 Bie Foor WALLACE, By Buekekin Sam “i 10¢ ; 3 5 REELANCE, THE DUCCANEER. Dy ingraham . 205 Tur GAMBLER Prrate. By Col. P, Ingraham. 1 nai os 2hietng ot, Se, Cte ee AZHORT, THE AXMAN. By Anthony B. Morris, 10c 206 One Eve. THE CANNONEER. By W hittaker.. 10¢ aS poo eke so sce : ase. | 96 DousLe Dearu. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker. . 10c | 997 Orp Harp Heap. By Philip 8. Warne... ... 10¢ The young guide, won from his nomadic life | 97 Bronze Jack. By Albert W. Aiken .. « 10¢ | 908 Taa Wurre Cuter. By Capt. Mayne Reid.. 10c by the dark eyes of Aurelia Osman, eventually | 98 Tue Rock Riper. By Capt. F. Whittaker... 10c | 999 Buck Faruey. l’y Edward Willett.... ... 10¢ secured an interest in the mining property of | 99 Tue Grant Rirtemay, By Oll Coomes .. .. 10¢ | 910 Buccanren Bess. By Prentiss Inrraham .. 10¢ his former employer. There we leave him. 100 THE FRENCH Spy. By A. P. Morris......... 10¢ | 911 Tae Unknown Sport Fy Capt. Whittaker. 10¢e Louise Dauthett, together with Detective Gil- | 101 TH Man’From New York. By A.W. Aiken. 10c | 92 Tnx Brazos Tigers By Buckskin Sam.. . 10¢ . | . 102 Taz Maskep Banp. By George L. Aiken ... 10¢ | 913 Tue “ ar Tram. By Captain Mayne Reid.. 10¢ be ag aoe pe i ip Bet oa eae 103 Merur, tHE Mutinger. Col. P. Ingraham.. 10c 214 THe Two Coot Sports, By Wm. R. Eyster. 16c Uy) See sat establishing her | 494 Monrezuma, THE Mercivess. By Ingraham. 10c | 915 Parson Jim. By Captain Fred. Whittaker. 1Cc claim to the heritage of Ezra, the Miser. ith- | 105 Dan Brown or Denver. By Jos. E Badger., 10¢ - : - 216 Tue CorSATR PLANTER. By Col. Ingraham. 10¢ ina year the heiress and the dashing officer | 106 Shamus O’Brren. By Col. Delle Sara... 10¢ | 917 THE SERPENT OF EL Paso By Buekskin Sam. 10¢ | were made one by the bonds of wedlock. 107 Ricnarp TaLnor or Cinnabar. By Aiken, 0c | 218 Tar Wiurp Huntress. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 10e Old Buckeye shortly afterward returned to | 108 Tae Duke or Diamonps. By Fred. Whittaker, 10c | 919 ‘THe Scorpion BroTHEeRS. By Capt. Wilton. 10¢ the reat md West, ph hae he yet roams, a 109 CapraIn Kyp. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham . 10c } 999 Tye SprecteR YacutT. By Col. P. Ingraham, 10e “ ‘ * 110 THe Sirent RirteMan By H. W. Herbert . 10¢ | 99 rE. By BuckskinSam.. ... 10e friend to the righteous, a terror to the evil-doer. | 31; Tae Smuaater Caprain. By Ned Buntline.| 10c | joe Nakina Fete V By Edward Willett... 10c THE END. 112 Jox PHenix, Private Derective. Hy Aiken, 10c | 993 Ganyon Dave. By Captain Mark Wilton . 1c 113 THe Sea Supper. By Prof. J. H. Ingraham. 10c 114 THe GENTLEMAN FROM Pikr. By P. S. Warne 10¢ | 995 Rocky Mountain AL. By Buckskin Sam... 10c 5 s - 115 THe SevereD Hrap. Bv Capt. F. Whittaker, 10¢ | 2296 Map Hussars. By Captain Fred. Whittaker. 10c } 1 Beadle S Dime Librar 116 Buack Piume, THE DEVIL oF THESEA, By Col. | 2997 RucksHot Ben. By Captain Mark Wilton. 10¢ y. P, Ingraham rials vee i 10c | 998 Tae Maroon. By Capt. Mayne Reid....... 10¢ 117 Dasuine Danpy. By Major Dangerfield Burr. 10c | 999 Gaprars CurstEEVE. By William R. Eyster. 10c 224 Buack Brarp. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.. 10c : 118 THe Bureuar CapTain. By J. H. Ingraham. 10c 2 G DuTrcHmMAN oF 1880, By Capt. 1A Harp Crown. By Philip S. Warne........... 10¢ | 119 ALanama Joz, By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.... 10c We EM gg A Seat if ‘y 100 2 Tax DarE-Devit, By Col, P. In am..... - 10c | 120 Tue Texan Spy. By Newton M. Curtis. . 10c | 93) THe Kin Guove Miner. By Col. Ingraham. 10¢ 8 Krr Carson, Jk. By Buckskin Sam........... 10¢ | 121 Toe Sea Caper. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 10c | 999 Opnson Oxx, THE MAN or Iron. By Isaac 4 Tue Kipnaprer. By Phili ) 8. Warne... \«.- - 10¢ | 122 Savi SabpeRDAY. By Ned Buntline eine 1% Hawks, Ex-Detective. .. ..... : 10¢ | 5 Tue Fire Frenps. By Bis PS ON TIE SS sire os oh4-0cpe 10¢ | 123 ALAPAHA, THE Squaw. By Francis Johnson. 10c 228 Tue OLD Boy or TompsTonr. By Joseph E. | 6 aes Bos, udey pc edin et ethic yc ee ae | i rsa THE ser ry in ig ty Pian a Badger, Jr ghte nae bdee: nite . 10e 7 Deatu-NotTcnH, . nes., HE BLACKSMITH OutLAW. By H. Ainsworth. 10c THe HUNTERS’ i . May y 8 Tae Heapiess HoRseMAN. By Mayne Reid... 10c | 195 Tam Demon DuzLtst, By Col. ©, H. Monstery, 10e | $95 Pop Linwrener ae un oe Cone By 9 Hanpy Anpy. By Samuel Lover.,...... ..... 10¢ | 127 Son Scort, THE MASKED Miner. By Badger. 10c | Colonel Prentiss Ingraham Baby _- ISSN A 0c 10 Vivocg, THE FreNcH Ponice Spy. By himself. 10¢ | 128 Taz CHevanier Corsatr. By the author of 236 Cuamprion Sam. By Col. Thos. H. Monstery. 10¢ 11 Mipsaipman Easy, By Capt. Maryatt _ .... 10¢ “Merle, the Mutineer,” _. Ba 237 Lona-Harrep Max. By Capt. Mark Wilton.. 10¢ 1? Tue Deata-SHot. B Capt. Mayne Reid... . 10c | 129 Missrssrppr Moss. By Edward Willett Naan! 10e 288 Hank Hovunp. By A. -. Morvis.. . .... 10e | 18 Parnaway. By Dr. J, H. Robinson.. ... «... 1U¢ | 180 Caprarn Vorcano. By Albert W. Aiken..... 10¢ | 929 THe TeRRIELE TRIO. By Buckskin Sam.... 10¢ | 14 THAYENDANEGEA, THE ScourcE. Ned Buntline. 10c | 131 Buoxsxry Sam. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham... 10c¢ 20 A Coot HEAD. By Isaac Hawks.. ..... 10¢ 15 Tus Tiger Stayer. By Gustave Aimard,... . 10c | 132 Nemo, Kina or raz TRAMPS. By Capt. Fred. 241 SprrrTRE SAUL. Jos. E. Padger, Jr..... 10e 16 THe Wurre Wizarp, By Ned Buntline..,..... 10c Whittaker comic. e600) Snes. weee. sseee 10C | 949 THE Foa DEVIL. ’y Capt. Fred. Whittaker. 10¢ | 17% Niaursuape. By Dr. J, H. Robinson......... 10c | 133 Ropy, THe Rover. _ By William Carleton.... 10¢ | 943 Tye Prrarm SHARP. Py Buffalo Bill... ... 10e i 18 Toe Sea Banvrt. By Ned Buntline..,.... .. - 10¢ | 134 Darxim Dan, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 10¢ | 944 Mercrurss Mart. Py Yuckskin Sam. ...... 10c 19 Rep Cepar, By Gustave Aimard........... 1U¢ | 135 Taz Bush Ranger, By Francis Johnson.... 10¢ | 945 ParRanca Fru. Py Capt. Mark Wilton 10c t ; | iF 20 Tum Banpir ar Bay. By Gustave Aimard... 10c | 136 Tae OvrLAw-Hunter. By Francis Johnson, 10¢ 246 QUEEN Hrirn. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 10¢ : 21 Tor Traprer’s DavanTerR. Gustave Aimard . 10¢ | 137 Lona BEARD, THE Giant Spy. By OllCoomes, 10c | 947 Arricator Ig. By Capt. Fred, Whittaker. 10¢ , 22 Wurretaw., By Dr. J. H. Robinson .... .. - 10¢ | 138 THe Borper Banvrrs, By Francis Johnson. lve ; 948 Montana Nav. Py Edward Willett. . 10e 23 THe Rep Warrior, By Ned Buntline ...... . 10¢ | 139 Frre-Eye, THE Sea Hyena. By Ingraham 10c | 949 Erepaanr Tom. Fy Jes. BE. Padger. Jr... 10c 3 24 'I'ne Prarrre FLower. By Gustave Aimard., 10c | 140 Tae THREE SPANIARDS. By George Walker.. 10c | 950 Tae Rovan RIDERS. Py Puckskin Sam. .. 10¢ | 25 Tun Gowp Guipg. By Francis Johnson, ....., 10¢ | 141 Equinox Tom. By Joseph FE. Badger, Jr.... 10¢ | 951 TiaeR Dick vs. IRON Drsparp. By Werne. 10¢ f 26 Tae Deara Track. By Francis Johnson ..., 10¢ | 142 Caprarn Crimson. By Major Dangerfield Burr 10¢ | 959 Tur Wai STREET PLOop. By A. W. Aiken. 10¢ ; 27 Tue Seorrer Derecrive. By Albert W.Aiken., 10c | 143 Tae Czar’s Spy. By ‘Thos. H. Monstery.... 10¢ | 953 A Yanxre COSSACK. By Capt. F. Whittaker. 10¢ 28 THREE-FINGERED Jack, Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 10¢ | 144 Huncupack or NorrRE-Dame. Victor Hugo.. 10¢ | 954 Giant Jake. Fy Newton M. Curtis. = eles 99 Tiaer Dick, THE Faro Kina, P.S. Warne , 10¢ | 145 Piston Parps. By Wm. R. Fyster.. ..... 10¢ | 255 Tue PrratTe Priest, By Col. P. Ingrabam, 10¢ Pie” 30 GosprL Grorar. By Joseph EF, Badger, Jr . 10c | 148 Tae Docror Detective. By George Lemuel 10c | 256 DousLE DAN. THE Dastarp. Buckskin Sam. 10c 31 Tue New York SHARP. By Albert W. Aiken., 10e | 147 Gotp Spur. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.... 10¢ | 957 Dyarn-TRAP Diaernes. Py Jos. E. l'adger. 10c $2 B’noys of YALE. By John D. Vose ... ... .. 10¢ | 148 Onn-ArmEpD ALF. By Ol] Coomes . 10¢ | 958 Buiter Heap. By Captair’ Mark Wilton 10c 38 OvertanD Kir. By Albert W. Aiken... ... . 10¢ | 1149 Toe Borprr Ririzs. By Gustave Aimard.. 10¢ | 959 Gpriass AND Gross. By Col. P. Ingraham, 10¢ #4 Rocky Mounrarn Ros. By Albert W, Aiken.. 10¢ | 150 Ex Rusto Bravo, THE Kine or THE SwoRD- 260 Tue M’skeD Mystrry. By A. P. Morris.... 10¢e 85 Kenruck, THe Sport. By Ajbert W. Aiken.. 10¢ MEN, By Col. Thomas Hoyer Monstery. .. . 10¢ , 961 Brack Sam. By Colonel Jo Yards........... 10¢ ’ $6 Inzun Dick. By Albert W. Aiken .......... - 10¢ | 151 Toe Frernooters. By Gustave Aimard.... 10¢ | 999 FientINe Tom. By Col. T. H. Monstery...... 10¢ 37 Hirt, tax Huncnsack. By J. H. Robinson.... 10¢ | 152 Capratn Ironnerve. By Marmaduke Dey . lvc | 959 Tpon-ARMEp ABE. By Capt. Mark Wilton... 10¢ 38 Vetvs7 Hanp. By Alvert W. Aiken. 3 10¢ | 153 Tae Waite Scatprr. By Gustave Aimard. 10c a4 THE CROOKED THREE. By Buckskin Sam... 10¢ 39 THe Russtan Spy. By Frederick Whittaker. 19¢ | 154 Joaquin, THE SappLe Kine. Br J. EK. Badger. 10¢ | 565 Ory DovniE-Sworp. By Capt. F. Whittaker, 10¢ 40 Tur Lona Harrep ‘ Parps.’ J. E. Badger, Jr.. 10¢ | 155 Tum Corsarr Queen. By Col. P. Ingraham, 10c | 966 Lroparp Luxr. By Captain Mark Wilfon.. 10¢ } 41 Goto Dan. By Albert W. Aiken, ......... 10c | 156 Verver Face. By Major Dangerfield Burr. 10c | 997 Tyr Warre Squaw. By Capt. Mayne Reid. 10¢ 4 42 Tae CALIFoRNIA Dersctive. A. W. Aiken.... 10c | 157 Mourap, THE MamELUKE. By Col. Thomas | 268 Maaic Mice. By William R. Eyster... ... 10c ' 4% DaxoTa Dan. By Ol) Coomes : eee . 10¢ Hoyer Monstery ....... Baa Ae oat ot - 10¢ | 969 Tae Bayou Bravo. By Buckskin Sam 10¢ ' 44 Ord Dan Rackpack, By Oli Coomes.....,.. . 10c | 158 THz DooMED Dozen, By/Dr. Frank Powell... 10c | 270 Anpros, THE FREE Rover. By Ned Buntline, 10e ie 45 Oup Buiw’s Eye. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr...... 10c | 159 Rep Rupieer, By Capt. Fred’k Whittaker., 10c | 271 Sronerist, oF Big Nueget BEND. By Capt. M 46 Bowre-KnireE Ben. By Ol) Coomes ......... - 10¢c | 160 Sorr Hanp, SHarp. By William R. Eyster.. 10c | Mark Wilton .. early ts 10¢ : 47 Pacrric Pete. By Jos E.'Badger, JY.......... 10¢c | 161 Toe Woxves OF New York. By A.W. Aiken, 16c | 272 Sera Siocum. By Captain Fred. Whittaker. 10¢ ie 48 IpAno Tom. By Ol] Coomes, —_—«._... .z.. .., 10c | 162 Taz Map Martner, By Col. P. Ingraham. 10¢ | 973 Mounrars Mosr. By Buckskin Sam......... 10¢ i 49 Toe Wour Demon. By Albert W. Aiken..... « 10¢ | 163 Bey Brion, THE TRAPPER CapraIn; or, Rep- Aveo t very Wednesda Y 50 Jack Rappit, By Jos. E. Badger. Jr ..-.. . 10¢ PATH, THE AVENGER, By Dr. J. H. Robinson, 10c 8bUE eUETY pitches A 51 Rep Ror, tHe Boy Roso-Acrnr. Oll Coomes,, 10¢e | 164 THe Kina’s Foot. By C.D. Clark _..... 10¢ Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by all 52 Mage emia on oe oa CORY Bip ae « Se kere — 7 JOaguIN, THE Rp ee By hy B, Badger, 10¢ | Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by mail om 53 SrrveR Sam. By Col. Delle Sara,............ x § OwLeT, THE ROBBER PRINCE. y Septimus ° uo 54 AtwAys on Hanp. By Philip S. Warne..... . 10¢ ea Se rh Oi aD 23 Fo ee ; alt receipt of twelve cents each. BEADLE & ADAMS, j ie 45 Tax ScaALP Hunters. By Capt. Mayne Reid... 10c | 167 Taz Man ow Steet. By A. P. Morris,...... 10¢ | Publishers, 98 William street, New York, i
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BEADLE'S# H ALF- DIME* LIBRARY. ‘py piasnan Poen-y Pueaiay, Hach Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, No Doukle Numbers. SY PHILIP 6 WAKNE, 4x Fatent-Leoutber Joe, #, Old Rattlesnake, toe Commuen. 47%G Vaprenin 2 rizona , or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game, 708 Captain Mask, or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat, 21) Bespuard, the buellots or, The Mountaic, Yempiren. 858 A Tough Boy 4 or, The Dwar!’s Revenge, — 868 Little Yornados or, The Outcasts of tha Bien, BTS Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. $85 Little Oh-my 4 or, Canmat in His Own Trap, 401 Little Shoo-F ly 4 or, A Race for a Ranch 408 Little LeatherBreeches $ or, Old Jumbo'® On. 481 Little Ath Sing or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the alines. 480 Three Jolly Parda. 217 he Gladden’s Deputy. % ho Jolly Pards to the Resena, BY OAPTAIN FRED, WOITTARER, iS Sea-Cats %. The Witch of Darien, 29 Dumb Pa at or, The Doge’s Dangnter. 48 Darling, the Pony Express Rider 150 Lance aad Lasso; or, The Children of the Chace 164 The Sword Munters; or, The Land of the Elephacs Bagern, 459 The Lost Captain 3 or, Skipper Jabea Coflin’s Crates 40 tne Open Polar Sea, B00 The Boy Bedoutnas or, The Brothers of the Piomea Lancs, 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine ear Mile Romer, the Anima! King; of, The Rooms toe Worsa vanderer, 26% The Tiger Tamer, or, The League of the Jungte, 1 Black Nick. the Denes Rider. Sd i California Joe’s War Trail BY BUOKSKIN SAM (Major Sam, 6. Haii,) £251 01d Rocky’s * Boyees 4” or, Benito, the Young Horse- Breaker. 246 Glant George, or, The Ang’l of the Range, 275 Arizona Jack ¢ or, Giant George’s Pard. B07 The Taruntula of Tavny or, Glant George’s Revenge, B07 The Strange VPard; or, Little Bon’s Death Bunt, 818 Ker-whoop, Ker-w oni or, The Tarantula of Taos G27 Oreeping Cat, the Caddo; or, The Red and White Pards, 82 Frio Fred; or, The Tonkaway’s Trust, 644 The Fighting Trio or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. eee The R bent LI dina eg to the Front. a he Rane nideras or, The Si of Fort Paryator; 864 Srap-Shot, the Boy Ranger. at _— BTS Chiota, the Creek ¢ or, The Three Tounderdolu. 881 Bandera Bill; or Frio Frank to the Front 892 Romeo and the Reda, or, The Beleaguered Rawk. 404 Little Lariat or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 427 The Three Trutlers; or, Old R. e Three Truatlers; or, ocky on the Rampage 442 Bluff BNI; or, The Lynx of the teak 455 Little Lone Star; or, The Belle of the Ctbots. BY EDWARD WILLETT, iS? Aan Scott, the Steamboat Boy, 199 Featherwelirht, the Boy Champton of the Moakin 228 Ozark Alf or, Featherweight Among the Outlnwe. 2X2 The Typo Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. 295 Feurless Phils or, The King of Quarteville, Sit The Roving Sports or, The Pride of Chackainck Game, 822 Nemo, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon'® Vendetta. Olip, the Contortionists or, Tho Montans ¥igiaawa, BY J. C. COWDRIOK, 660 Sitver-Masks the Man of Mystery, BEY Shasta che Gold King ¢ or, For Seven Years Dead. azo ‘The Detective’s Apprentices or, A Boy Without a ame. 424 Cibuta Johny or, Red-Hot Times at ( yee Bar, 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Seout, 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Nude 4 roadway Billy, the Bootblack Brave, 506 Redlt ht Ralph, the Pe of the Road, rondway Billy’« Boodle. 624 The + afar Detectives 686 Broadway Billy’s ‘ Difikilty.” BY JO PIERCE. 897 Bob o’ the Bowery 3 or, The Prince of MeMberry Girost, 415 The Vagabond Relectivet or, Bowery Bobs Bove. 452 lotepur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 40 The Lawyer's Shadow; or, Luke’s Legacy. rey Zauney Joey the Young Horse-King. u m, tective, 504 bod rons Phi.” eran Pm BO ack daggers, the Butcher Bo tective. 516 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Prive. Menagerie. 526 North River Nat, the Pier Detective. 688 Wrestling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward, 641 Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detestive, BY OAPT. MARK witren, B56 Young Kentucks or, The Red Lasgo, 270 Blizzard Bens or, The Riot at Keno Camp, 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot, BY CAPTAIN MAYNE Rive, 78 Blue Dicks or, The Yellow Chiefs Vengeance, 7 The Land rates or, The League of Devil's lalerd, 187 The Helpless Hand ¢ or, Backwoods Retributios, &89 The Gold-seeker Guide} or, The Lost Mounteie, BY MAJOR MENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-Bnomg, es Neck-Tte Ned, or, The Dug-Out Pards, BY Ba fer Raphael; or, The Swordsmen of Zacatecas, BPS Rt ‘Glove Kit, the Dandy of the Rockies, 406 ' \d-Glove Kit and Pard; or, The Gold King, ake Mad Man-Hunter; or, The Mystery et ®obtens >, WS Powell's Para; or, The One-Armed Giant BY BRAOCERRIDEE WEMY RE. 89 Valand Fim: cr, The Pei of tue Famfly. 1 The Oaptein of the ¢ . \ piven 4 Jack Harkaway ‘tae vo aos BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 81 The Two Detectives, or, Tho Fortunes of a Bowary Giri. 6 Abe Colt, the Crow Killer, ZP Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 268 Joe Buck of Angels and His Boy Pard, 447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps ia Gotham, 458 New England Nicky or, The Fortunes of « Fouudling. 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince, 498 Taos Ted, toe Arisonn Bport, 510 Cool Colorado, the Hall-Breed Detective, 515 Cool Colorado in New York. RY GEORGE WALDO BROWSE. 86 Dandy Rock, the Man from Texas, 90 The Dread Lider or, Tho Texan Duelist. 09 The Tiger of Tuoat or, Dandy Rock’s Ange 415 The Mad Miner: or, Dandy Rock's Doom. 181 The Golden Handy or, Dandy Rock to the Ressas. 164 Dandy Rock's Pledge or, Hunted to Death, 478 Dandy Rock’s Rivals or, The |\nunted Maté of Tew, BY CAPT, J. F, O, ADAMS, 84 Oregon Sols or, Nick Whifles’s Boy Spy. 46 Glasa- Eye, the Great Shot of the West, 54 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. 56 Nick Whiffless Pets or, Tr The Valley of Dont. 60 The White Indian; or, The Scout of thy Yellowstome, TO Old Zip’s Cabing or, The Greenhorn tn the Woods, 81 Lichtning Jo, the Terror ot the Prairie. 85 Buck Buekram 34 or, Beas, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and Wis Petas or, The Wild Hontress. 251 Light-house Liges or, Osceola, the Firebrand 57 The Loat Hunterss oe Underground Camp. 2 288 The Scalp Kings or, The Human Thunderooss, BY ROGER STARBUCK 2% The Boy Captains or, The Pirate’s Danghter, 114 The Rlack Schooners or, Jib Jnnk, the Old Tar. 259 The Golden Harpoont or, Loat Among the Floes, 848 Fire-Weelat or, Old Skinfivt, the Death-Shadow, 854 Rig Norn Ike, the Wl] Tramps or, The Odd Parts, 861 The Phantom Licht-house. 870 Breaker Ken, the Reef-Runner, RY WILLIAM &. EYSTER, 190 Pandy Darke, or, The Tigers of High Pine, 210 Faro Frank or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down BY COLONEL DELLE SAKA, 108 The Lion of the Seay; or, The Vailed Lady, 186 CUcol Deamond; or, The Gambler’s Big Gama BY TARRY ST, GEORGR 80 Roaring Kaloh Kockwood, tne Range 44 at ee. Rube; or, The Nighthawks of Kentacky, BY Old Wickory 3 or, Pandy Ellie's Scalp. 2108 Daring Davy ¢ or, The Trail of the Border Wott, 166 Hickory Warry 4 or, The Trapper-Rrigade’» Bpw 172 Thunderbolt Tomy or, the Wolf-Herder. RY JAMES L. BOWEN LOT One-Eyed Sim or, The Abandoned Forest fome. 110 The Black Steed of the Prairies, A Story of Toons BY OC. DUNNING OLARK. 185 Captain Pants or, The Boy Spy_ of the Mountalsa, 280 The Yankee Rajahs or, The Fate of the Black Bhereet, RY GEORGE O, JENKS. ory git Ther Gorney,, the Datnown. sit 618 The amen Setter: he fis BY OAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR, U, & & A971 Huffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker; or, Tee Doomed ON. 194 Buffalo Bill's Bets or, The Gambier Guide, BY CHARLES E. LASALLE. Hurt Bunker, tne Tra a The White Buffalo. A Tale of the Northweet. BW JOIN J, MARSITALL. 4@ Roving Ben. A Story of a ¥ American. OT The Outlaw Brothers} or, The Captive of the Rarpes. BY WM. G, PATTEN, 469 The Diamond & The Double Face w Sock. 619 Captain Myaier Foon Weck One. oe $81 Dalsy Dare, che Sport from Denver. BY MAJOR E. L. 8T. VRAD, B98 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit. 801 Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince, $88 Brimstone Rob, and His Lightning Horse 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of * Sang.” BOY xt reat oh eth Youn oh 1) reetler 871 Kingbolt Chris, the Young Hard-Shell Detective B80 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide, B80 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountiin Mall-Ling, BY EDWALKD 8, ELLIS, » @ BM Bid ton, Trapper. & Seth Jones; or, The Captives ot the 10 Nat Todd: or, The Fate of the Sioux z The Frontier Angel}. 8 The Roy Miners: m, The Ynchante 182 The Hunted Hunters or, The Byanenttepis 254 The Halt-Bloods or, Tha Panther of the Pinatas. 271 The Huge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Maa. Frontier, Cuntive. BW WASOR LEWTs Ww. Camn@r, 87S ‘Phe Three ‘Crapperss or, xh Nwousoer or, p Mi i 'e 958 Undiau Joe} oF, ree White Bpiris of the Ha. poe nn npn a BY W. J. HAMILTON, @8 The Ked Breotherhood ; or, The Twelve Avenpan, 84 Single Hand, >, A Life fora Life T® Mad Tom Western, the Texan Ranger, 887 Bes Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Sooep RY JAOK FARRAGUT, S16 Ned, the Cabin Koy. Wat Ke Bee Borcoreas, on, The Boy Ohtppte. BY FRANK DUMONT, 32% The Branded Hund, 1, The Man of Myra. 187 Wild-F ire, the Boos of the Rosa, 240 Blue Blazes, or, The Break » Day Boys w Breky 471 Ebony Dany or, The Rivai Leagues. 38S Evil Evey or, The Voltures of the Rio Granda. BY LIEUT. H. D. PERRY, U, 8. B, 276 The Boy Runaway} or, The Buecanser of the Bap 480 The Sea Trailer; », A Yow Wel) Kept, 29% Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montaak Pout, BY HARRY HAZARD, 685 Arkansaw Jacky; or, Tho Scourge of the Mines B2y Red-Skin Tomy or, The Demon's Trail. 842 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack. the Owtem, BY COL. A. &. HOLT, 2909 Black Buckskin, or, The Masked Mon of Deate Gangem, 418 Kenneth, the Knife-King. 48& Little Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods BY J. W. OSBON, 449 The Rival Giants of Nowhar’. 474 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Lock, BY Old Kuekeye, the Sierre Shadow. BY FREDERICK pewter. 828 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Riftle-Saew 478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective, 849 The Canyon Parda. MISCELLANEOUS ACTHORG, © The Wild Horse Ilunters, By Capt. Merw time ws: ¢ Adventures of Baron Munchausen. b® Gulliver’s Travels. By Dear Swift 34 Aladains or, The Wonderful Lamp. RE Robinson Orusve. (2t Ulustrations,; A® Sindbad the Sailor. His Sever Toyages 22 bons Sea Serpent) %, The Boy Robinsom Organ Sp toon y wis, 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; , The Ket (iw Carribwes, By 8. W. Pierce “ ae The Boy Olowns or, The Queer m the Aroms, ty 0. nk nn. , 8B Ned Wylde, the Boy Booxt. By Tex Jack 51 ‘The Boy Rifless or, Une Ondergrannd Camp. Bp Arta. 3. rent, BS The Rival Roverny or, ha Fresbooters of the Milaciaaipy’. By Lieut.-Col, Hazeltine, Robin Hood, the Outlawed Kart: or, Th warn * wood, By Prof. Gildersleeve, 5 or, The Merry Wien of Greer, 106 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captives. Sy Copiate Hamilton Holmes, 11% The Mad Hunter; or, The Cave of Death By Burton Saxe, WA Tippy, the Texany or, The Young Ceampwoa, By Goomy Peon, 128 The Young Privateert or, The Pirate's Btrongholé, 9 Harry Cavendish, 248 Sharp Samy or, The Adventares of & Friendlies Boy, My 2 Alexander Patton, B87 Dusky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Greoe Ranger of the Pui. watone, By Edward Rmerson, 261 Fergus Fearnaught, the New York Boy By George iy Aiken. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; or, Davy Crocketi+ Crooket Tretl By Ensign C. D. Warren, 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Mebé at the Cité By Captain Comtock, 817 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from taetvilie By tenant Alfred Thorne ‘been 888 The Sky Ibe*ectlvey or, A Boy's Pgh? So Life and Biron, By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Red Ralph, the River Revers or * Boohers ey wenge. By Ned Bunsline, 865 Baltimore Ben, the Boothiack Detective, 2¥ 4.» waren era Gold-Dust Tom, or, Ben's Double Moesoh, Dy Geurey Me torte. 876 California Joe's Firat Trail, By Cotoew tira oyer Monstery. 418 Billy Bombshell, the Ci Omer. By ¥ 4. Wien 440 Little Foxfoot, the Goia Bowie Kia, By aging: L- Gebwamt 475 The Black Ship, By Joon 8, Waynes 484 Comanche Dick and is Three Inviectblag &S Henry J. Thoms. $22 Wizard-Arm, the Danay Sport. Ay Arthat # Fon 65% The Cowboy Dake By Kawir Brooke Boro, A New laane Every Tacaday The Walt-Dime Livrury ie tor “ale fF 8 ee redemtom Or sate per opr. OF sent by mati on recelpt of slx Cena wReB. BYAPLE AND ADAMS, Pwd uarm k dp William Btrest, b,. <r ®
Page 16
om f - BEADLE'’S*H ALF- JJIME* LIBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers, BY EDWARD L, WHEELER, Deadwood Dick Novela, 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road, 20 Double Dagwers or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance, 28 Buffalo Ben; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise, 65 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. 42 Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick's Bonanza, 49 Omaha Ol: or, Deadwood Dick in Danger, & Dendwood Dick's Eagles; or, The Pardes of Flood Bar, 78 Dendwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity, Jane, the Heroine, TZ Corduroy Chartic 3 or, Deadwood Dick’s Last Act, 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville, 104 Deadwood Dick's Device: or, The Double Cross Sign. 109 Deudwood Dick as Detective. 129 Deudwood Dick's Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s Gulch. 188% Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base. 149 A Gume of Gold or, Deadwood Dick's Big Strike. 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood}; or, The Picked Party, 195 Dendwood Dick’s Dream; or, the Rivils of the Road, 201 The Black Hilla Jezebel; or, Deadwood Dick’s Ward, 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity June’s Last Ad- venture, 717 Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand. #21 Sugar-Coated Sam; or, The Bluck Gown, 252 Gold-Dust Dick, A Romunce of Rough. and Toughs, 268 Deadwood Dick's Divides or, The Spir.t of Swamp Lake. 2G Dendwood Dick’s Death Trail. B09 Deadwood Dick’s Big Veal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon, 821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. B47 Dendwood Dick’s Ducats; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- gins. B51 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta. 562 feeb ood Dick’s Claim; or, The Fairy Face of Faro i late. 405 Deadwood Dick tn Dead City, 410 poadweor Dick’s Diamonds ; or, The Mystery of Joan urter. 421 VDeadwood Dick in New Yorks or, A “ Cute Case,” 430 Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand, 418 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 4:18 Nickel-Plate Nedj or, Deadwood Dick Jr’a Defiance. 45% aeEney er Sam, of Shusta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s' Full and, 459 Flush Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Ronnd- Up. 465 Phitto Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Racket at Claim 10. A771 Bézeman Bill; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Corral, 476 Humboldt Harry, the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Dog Detective, 481 Moll Mystery; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in Deadwood. 491 Prince Pistol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Compact. ; 496 Monte Cristo, Jr.: or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Inheritance, 500 Deadwood Dick’s Digrings 3 or, Dr. Death-Grip’s Swoop, 508 Deadwood Dick’s Deliverance, 515 Deadwood Dick’s Protegee, 522 Deadwood Dick’s Three. 529 Deadwood Dick’s Danger Ducks, BS4 Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. 539 Deadwood Dick Jr., in Texans, 544 Deadwood Dick, Jdr., the Wild West Vidoeq. Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon, 82 Bob Woollt’; or, The Girl Déad-Shot. 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York. 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bills or, The Red Rifle Team. 69 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter; or, The Boy Detective, 80 Rosebud Rob? or, Nugget Ned, the Kitght. 84 Idyll, the Girl Miner 3 or, Rosebud Rob on Hand. 88 Phctograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance. 92 Canada Chet 3 or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Byll’s Camp. 96 Watch-Eye 3 or, Arabs and Angels of « Great City, 18 Jack Moyle the Young Specalator. 7 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 1 Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport. % Bonanza Bill, Miner. 8 Boss Bob the King of Bootblacks. 1 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. & Depuie Ferret, the New York Detective; or, Boss Bob’s ‘ons Job. 1 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 7 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps. 81 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo, 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective, 218 Fritz to the Fronts or, The Ventriloquist Hunter, 226 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 286 Apollo BIN, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator, -_ Na PRawWH 1 1 1 i . 1 1 1 1 1 ‘244 Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. 248 Sierra Bam’s Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sierra Sam’s Pard; or, The Ange! of Big Vista, 258 Sierra Sam’s Seven; or, The Stolen Bride. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Koy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs, 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen, 251 Denver Doll's Victory. BN5 Denver Doll's Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza, 291 Turk, the Boy Ferret. 296 Denver Doll’s Drift; or. The Road Queen. 209 A No, 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker, 808 ’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 Daggeraville, 884 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miuer. 889 Kangaroo Kit’« Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood, 8538 First-Class Fred, the Gent from Gopher, 86S Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherer; or, The Lottery of aife 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize. 878 Nabob Ned; or, The Secret of Slab City, BA2 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, B85 Yreka Jim’s Joker} or, rhe 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 Wigh Wat Marry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam Slabsaides, the Beggar-Boy Detective. 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 435 Santa Fe 4al, the Slasher, 456 Seulskin Sam, the Sparkler. BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon, Wm, F. Cody), 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy? or, The Pilot of the Prairie. 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout, 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado} or, The Trapper’s Trust, BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 7 The Flytng Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcast, 7 Ralph Roy, the Boy Buccancer; or, The Fugitive Yacht, Diamond Dirk Lon The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 62 The Shadow Ship}; or, The Rival Lieutenants, » 75 The Boy Duellat; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf. 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Sinuggier. 111 The Sen-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116 The Hussar Captains or, be Hermit of Hell Gate, 197 Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter. 204 Gold Plume}; or, The Kid-Glove Sport, 216 Bison BAL, the Prince of the Reins. 222 Grit, the bravo Sports; or, The Woman Trailer. 229 Crimson Kate; or, The Cowboy's Triumph. 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Vaptain. 245 Merle, the Middy 3 or, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midshipman Mutineer ; or, Brandt, the Buccaneer, 264 nee Floating Feather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure sland. 269 The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned. 276 Merlo Monte’s Cruise; or, The Chase of “The Gold Ship. 280 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, Pearl, the Pirnte’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 3 or, Benito, the Boy Bugler. 808 Keno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Donble. $14 ae Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Long rail. 77 Bonodel, the Boy Rover; or, The Flagless Schooner. 858 The Indian Pilot; or, TheSearch for Pirate Island, 88ST Warpath WII, the Boy Phantom, 898 Seawall, the Boy Lieutenant. 402 Isodor, the Young Conaptirator; or, The Fatal League. 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild Vachtamany or, The War-Clouu’s Crulee, 429 Dunean Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy’s Luck; or, Tne Corsair. 487 The Sea Raider. 441 The Ocean Firefly ; or, A Middy’s Vengeance. 446 Uaphazard Ft Aer y 3 or, The Seapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferret of New York. 454 Wizard WiIII’s Street Scouts. 462 The Born Guide; or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Ned, tle Boy Conster. 474 Flora; or, Wizard Will’s Vagabond Pard. 488 Ferrets Afloat; or, Wizard Wil)’s Last Case, 487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Kauger. 495 Arizona Joe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack, 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy¢ or, The Shark and the Sea Cat, 507 The Hunted oj LL cman 611 The Outlawed Middy. 5620 Buckskin BIL, the Comanche Shadow, 525 Brothers in Buckskin. 5630 The Buckskin Bowers. 585 The Bue skin Rovers, 5640 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder of the Rio. 646 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte, BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 Will Somers, the Boy Detective, 122 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Picayune Vete ; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Handsome Harry, the Boothlack Detective, 147 WIUll Wildfire, the Thoroughbred, 152 Black Resa, Wi!] Wildtire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. 162 Will Wildfire in the Woods, 165 Billy Bugwage, the Railroad Boy. 170 A Trump Card; or, Wil) Wildfire Wins and Loses, 174 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York, 1 Bob Rockett, the Bank Ranner, 188 The Hidden Hand j or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. 187 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, 18% Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed ; or, Bob Rockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Pavwd, 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. 2724 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jims Job; or, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-Mound; or, The Young Thoroughbred. 805 Dashaway, of Dakota; or, A Western Lad in the Quaker sity. 824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. 879 Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard; 408 Firelly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, tha Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagabond, 466 Wide-Awake Jerry; Detective; or, Entombed Alive. 479 Detective Dodges or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty, 488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman ; or, Too Sharp for the Sharper. ” > BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. 2 Yellowstone Jack; or, The Trapper, 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat. 65 Hurricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 119 Mustang Sam; or, The King of the Plains, 186 Night-Hawk 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 Glant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash}; or, Fighting Fire with Fire, 184 The Boy Trallers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 The Boy Pards; or, Dainty Lance Unmasks, 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City, 810 The Barranca Wolf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League, 885 Old Double Fist; or, The Strange Guide. 855 The King of the Woods: or Daniel Boone’s Last Trail, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. BY OLL COOMES. & Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. 81 Keen-Knife, the Prince of the Prairies, 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 58 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 74 Hawk-eye Miirry the Young Trapper Ranger, 88 Rollo, the Boy Ranger. 184 Sure Shot Seth, th- Boy hifleman. 148 &ear-Face Saul, tie Silent Hunter. 146 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 158 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. 168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. 202 Prospect Pete 3 or, The Young Outlaw Hunters, 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps. 218 ‘Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror, 224 Dashing Dick; or, ‘Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger. 248 The Disguised Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger, 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger, 272 Minkakin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. 800 The Sky Demon}; or, Rafubolt, 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 of the Yellowstone, 444 Little Buckskin, toe Young Prairie Centaur, 457 Wingedfoot Fred 3 or, Old Polar Saul. AGS Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic, 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan, BY T. C. HARBAUGH, 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, Th» Boy Spy of 776. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Litth Hunter. 47 Nightingale Nat; or, Tne Forest Captains. 64 Dandy Jack 3 or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trai. 82 Kit Harefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jack 3 or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Frosty, the Guide: or, The White Queen. 128 Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lynch, Jr.s or, The Boy Vieilante. 155 Gold Trigger, the Sport; or, The Girl Avenger 169 Tornado Tomy or, [njun Jack From Red Core, 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. TPS Arkansnaw ; or, The Que n ot Fate’s Revenge, 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Topknot’s Crusades 281 Plucky Phil; or, Rosa, the Re Jezebel. 241 BI Bravo; or, Te Roughs of the Rockies. 255 Captain Apoll , the King-Pin of Bowie, 267 The Buckskin Detective. 279 Old Winehs or, The Buckskin Desperadoes. 294 Dynanilie Dan: or, The Bowle Blaae of Cochetopa. 802 The Mountain Detective: or, The Trigger Bar Bully, 816 Old Eclipac, Trump Curd of Arizona, $26 The Ten Pards; or. The Terror of Take-Notice. 886 Big Benson: or, The Queen of the La so, 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Red Thunderbol'’s Secret. BSE Coal Sam ood Car's; o The Terrible Six. 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 8X6 Captain Cutlass; or, ‘lie B ccuneer’s Girl Foe, 896 Rough Robs: or, The ! win Champions of Blue Plazes, 411 The Silken Lasso; or, The Rose of Ranch Robin, 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. 425 Texas Trump, the Border Rattler. A86 Phil Flash, the New York Fox. 445 The City Vam tress or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon. 461 One Against Fifty; or, ‘Uhe Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. 477 The Excelaior Sport; or, Tie Washington Spotter, 499 Single Sight, the One-Eved Sport. 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. 512 Dodeer Dick, the Whnrf-Spy Detective. 521 Dodger Dick’s Best Dodge. 528 Fox and Falcon, the Bowery Shadows. B88 Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret. : 2 548 Dodger Dick’s Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. : actua, the Chaparral Cock, By Liens. A. K. Sima, 54 kay ry ir os A Good Man Down. By P. 8S. Warne, 548 Mart, the Ninht Express Detective. By J. C. Cowdrick. 549 Deadwood Dick on His Mettle. By E. L. Wheeler. 650 Lafitte’s Legacy; or. The Avenging Son. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. Bb1 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow. By Jo Pierce. B52 Arfel, the Athlete. By David Druid. B58 Dodger Dick's Desperate Case. By T. C. Harbangh. bb4 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Gotham, By E. L. Wheeler. 555 The Creole Coraalr. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. B56 Lariat Lil; or. The Cast fora Life. By Philip & Warne. bb? Rroadway Billy’s Death Racket. By J, C. Cow driek.. 55S The Sure-Shot Pards, By Arthur C. Grissom, 559 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. By Jo Pierce. 560 Pawnee Bill, the Prairie Shadower. By Col, P. Ingraham, 561 Deadwood Dick in Boston. By Edward 1. Wheeler, B62 Rlundering Basll, the Hermit Boy Trapper. By Oll Coomes, 568 Dodger Diek, the Boy Vidocq. By T, C. Har augh, 564 Powder Phil) the Boy Miner, Ry John W. Osbon, 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. 568 The Secret Service Boy Petective. By Charles Morris, 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadelphia, By Edward L, Wheeler, 588. The Dandy of Dodge. By Lieut. A. K. Sims. 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective. By Jo Pierce. 570 Camille, the Card Queen. By Col. Prentles Ingraham. B71 Air-Line Luke, the Young Engineer, By J. C, Cowdrick, 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicaro, By E. L. Wheeler, B28 The Twe Shadows. _By T. C. Harbaugh. Ready July 17, B74 Old Weasel-top, the Man with the Dogs. By P. 8. Ware, Ready July 24, : 575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective, By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. Ready July 41. 576 The Silver Sport. By Lieut. A, K. Sims. Ready Angust 7. 577 Pavement Pete, the Secret Sifter, By Jo Pierce. Ready August 15. 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Afloat. By Edward L, Wheeler. Ready August 22. A New Iasue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library is for sale by all newsdea'e », five cents per copy or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMA, Publishers, 98 William Street, New ¥