Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 558) (1888 04 03)
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SECONL EDITION. xX SG . « | ao \ Copyright, 1888, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Mail Rates. $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BRADLE AND ADAMS Price, Vol. XXII. a Year. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. ; 5 Cents. No. 558. SSanyw ay)! * ; . \ ‘ AK ay} i| WOM’ Wag Nit YY) N\\\\\eaeeg ed ‘Thirteen. — BY ARTHUR C. GRISSOM, AUTHOR oF “ LITTLE | FOXFOOT, THE GOLD BOWIE KID, ETC., ETC, CHAPTER I. A VISITOR TO.THE CAMP. TENDERFOOT! What a strange name fora But in the days of which I write, when Arizona was far more wild and unsettled than it is at the present time, many wer: the stran THE ON-COMING RIDER WAS SOON NEAR ENOUGH FOR THEM TO DISTINGUISH HIS FEATURES, names given to those towns, which, like Tende AND THEN HIS NAME WAS UTTERED IN ACCENTS OF SURPRISE, foot, ‘ sprung up in a night.”
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2 The Sure Shot Pards. The camp—Tenderfoot was nothing more than a camp—had originally been founded by a young prospector, fresh fron the States; he had discovered gold there, staked out his claim and erected his shanty. He had little more than done this, however, when Mountain George, with a dozen compan- ion desperadoes at his back, rode up to the cabir. one night, dragged the young owner from his bed and hanged bim to a convenient tree. The desperadoes at once took possession of the place as their own, laid out claims and roughly marked off the town. Gold proved to be no scarce article, and ina short time the inhabitants of the camp number- ed seventy-five or a hundred souls. It can readily be imagined that it was not a very delectable crowd that gathered there. Coming as they did from all parts of the South- west, they composed one of the motliest collect- ions of humans ever found in the confines of a town, Officers there were none, and the bowie and the revolver were the only authorities re- spected. Mountain George and his roughs never organ- ized a Sunday school in Tenderfoot. On the contrary, they soon gave the town the name of being as hard a place as there was in the terri- tory. They ran things to suit themselves, and their ways were wild and wicked ways. The shot to kill, and they bought bad whisky with gold that was not always honestly got. Ere long a graveyard was well under way down the val- ley, where were planted more than a few victims of their deadly six-shooters, By all means the most popular resort in the town, and the one favored by the roughest class, was the big saloon and gaming-den run by Mountain George himself, called, ana very ap- propriately, the ‘' Pickpocket.” This was the place where the working miners had their pock- ets picked of their hard-earned dust. It was accomplished by a gambling lay-out or two, which brought into the pockets of George, and a number of his associates, a constant stream of the camp’s gold. Such was the state of affairs when, one even- ing just at dusk, there drew rein on the out- skirts of the camp a stranger of remarkable appearance. He had descended the trail which led northeast into the mountains, and he paused as if to take a survey of the camp. He was above the medium hight, and com- pactly built, with skin fair and smooth, hair and mustache dark and long, and eyes black as an Indian’s. He wore the costume of an ideal sport, His sombrero was of gray shade, his boots high-topped and light, and his jacket and breeches, of some dark, rich material, were close-fitting and handsomely trimmed. In his belt were beautifully mounted weapons. Handsome, strangely handsome, was Tender- foot’s visitor, and likewise the powerful black steed that be bestrode. Whence had he come? What was his mission?—Questions no man but himself could answer. ‘“*T should say Tenderfoot makes no great pea to style,” he remarked inaudibly, as e noted the rough shanties, located without re- gard to uniformity of position. ‘‘‘ That is, if this is Tenderfoot, and I am quite certain it is. This is Mountain George’s new stronghold. Things are ow here now, but I wonder if the lace won’ stirred up before the moon grows ark! Ah!” A man, bronzed and broad-shouldered and of form like an athlete, had stepped from the cabin nearest the trail and stood regarding the stranger with some surprise. As the latter’s eyes fell upon him he spoke to bm horse, and in a moment was by the citizen’s oor. “ Evenin’,” was the latter's reply to the stranger’s salutation. ‘‘On yer way ter ther royal suburb ov Tucson? Then hyer’s thet iden- tical saints’ abode.” “Yes, I want to visit Tenderfoot,” responded the rider. ‘‘I1 was just taking in the classic features of the town. I notice all is quiet, Is it possible Tenderfoot has become religious ?” The big miner smiled at the idea. “It’s early. stranger, Don’t judge ther boys too quick: give ’emachance, They’ll be full ov p’izen by miinight and ready ter keep up ther record. It would insult ther pesky gang ter call ’em religious,” “T’l] not insult them.” siniled the sport. “ By Re way, I suppose you're a pard of Mountain orge The brow of the bronzed rough grew black. ‘*Wal, no,” was the answer; ‘ Mountain rge an’ me never nitched, ner never will, fer They call me Rough Rube, but by Geo thet, Ss sg SSS SS SN thunder! I never war rough enough ter suit ther taste ov this yer’ camp’s boss.” The visitor pondered a moment in silence over these words, as if they had made an impression upon bim, when, suddenly, Rough Rube step- ped forward and laid his na heavily upon the stranger’s leg. ‘** See hyer!” he exclaimed, and bis eyes glow- ed with anger, ‘* you may be a friend ov Moun- tain George’s, fer all 1 know, but since you’ve called up ther subject you kin have my frank opinion ov him, free of charge. Thar’s not a more sneakin’ galoot in ther kentry than thet same Mountain George, I say it! He deals in a kind ov coin that will be returned ter bim some day in a way he will despise. Thar’s a number ov us down on him. Why, it ain’t been a week me an’ three pards laid Poker Ike away with one ov Mountain George’s bullets in bis life-box, He war a good feller, but he liked poker too well, He lost his money an’ his life at ther Pickpocket. But be ain’t ther only one thet’s traveled thet road. You've doubtless heard ov ther way bizness is done byer, stranger?” ‘“* The town has a bad name,” was the reply. **T should judge Mountain George was a g¢ subject for a Regulators’ picnic,” “Thar never war a better,” grated Rough Rube. ‘‘ He'll figger in such a picnic one day, By Jupiter, stranger! I’m his enemy, tooth an’ toe-nail, an’ I long fer ther day when Tender- foot willbe rid ov him. You kin tell him ef yer’ a mind ter. I’m not afraid ov him ner ther rest ov ther gang.” The rough removed bis hand and stepped back, and before the visitor could speak, con- tinued: ‘Ride on inter ther camp ef yer want ter see ther sights. You'll find ther gophers’ nest straight ahead,” and with that the brawny Rube turned abruptly and re-entered his cabin. The sport started his horse forward, ‘*There’s a man I will have use for,” he mur- mured. ‘I might have gotsome information about him, but the chances are the miner knew nothing. I'll find the ‘ gophers’ nest’.” On, straight into the heart of the camp he rode, while the shades of night were falling fast about him. His keen eyes took note of every- thing as he advanced. At the same time the expression of his face told that he was thinking deeply, and it appeared that his thoughts were not pleasant ones, for often his brows would contract and his eyes burn fiercely. Finally he drew his steed to a halt, dismount- ed, and hitched him in the rear of a deserted cabin; then he continued his way on foot. A few moments’ walk took him to the door of what seemed to be the largest building in the place, and which was situated in the very center of the collection of cabins, He halted and looked in, for the door was open, as it was the warm season of the year, Ip the room, which was well-lighted, were nearly a score of bronze-faced roughs, loitering about from the number ea haired stranger, ‘* Well, as I came here to get acquainsad, guess I'l) go in.” moment later the loafers of the Pickpocket greeting of the stranger, as the glan crowd were leveled at him, ‘*T see no red ribbons in the crow I take it Tenderfoot has never signed the p .” he continued. ‘Jf you'll name your favorite medicine, we'll drink to our better acquaint- nce.” He walked straight up to the bar as he spoke, and threw down a heavy gold coin before the men in attendance, This was the signal for a general movement on the part of the bystanders, for it was under- stood that no man ever gave an invitation to drink in Tenderfoot without having it promptly accepted, and every man of them went forward to drink to their ‘ better acquaintance,” “Yer hits us whar ther wool grows shortest,” said one, as he edged up, ‘* We take ther pure, straight Rocky Mountain tanglehuf, without seasonin’, we do, Sorry thar’s not more ov ther boys byer ter imbibe with yer, but ther truth is, it’s too early in ther evenin’ fur ther most ov em “Tm right in supposing this is Tenderfoot, am I not?” queried the ed as the bartender was uring out the drinks. ‘‘ These parts are new me, as I’m just down from the New Mexico mines.” “Yas, this ar’ ther angels’ roost known as Tenderfut,” was the reply of the rough, “ It’s a —— ee a o been now nigh six months since Mountain George an’ a few ov us fellers found gold hyer an’ staked out claims, This place is Mountain George’s lay- out, called ther Pickpocket.” ‘*Not a bad name, I should say, for a gambling place,” smiled the stranger. ‘* Well, boys, here’s to Tenderfvot and— Captain Sure Shot !” Did a half-dozen men start on hearing that name? lt seemed so; but the glasses were emp- tied in short order, CHAPTER II. THE PICKPOCKET. “You is squar’, pard, an’ Tenderfoot ar’ proud ov yer visit,” said be who had Labesk pox been speaking, as the glasses were returned to the bar with sighs of satisfaction, ‘‘That’s a fact, Bowie Joe,” echoed a man at his elbow; ‘‘Cap’n Sure Shot hez acted white.” But, there were some in the rough crowd who did not nod or speak assent to these opinions, and they were those who had seemed to start when the sport had mentioned his name. The latter only smiled ina queer way as he p ied: ‘** Perhaps you will not think so when you have known me longer, But, Bowie Joe, 1 wish a word with you in private. Where can we retire to for a few mor ents?” ‘**Foller me, cap’n, to ther table yonder in ther corner. We kin talk thar without listeners,” He led the way as he ceased speaking to the part of the room mentioned, which was deserted, and where they were soon seated face to face, with the rough table between them. Captain Sure Shot sat with his back to the wall, and with his face toward the dark, shirt-sleeved men with whom he bad just drank, This was prob- ably by design, but Bowie Joe never suspected it re He was regarded by the keen-eyed sport a moment before either broke the silence. ‘““ Wal, let loose yer word-flipper,” said the rough, rather uneasily, for he did not like to be gazed at by this man, whose presence there, he was beginning to think, might mean more than was at first supposed, ‘ , Captain Sure Shot leaned forward with his elbows on the table and responded in a low one: ‘*T merely wanted to ask you some questions about Tenderfoot. You will answer them?” ‘““Why, I guess so, stranger, bein’s it’s you. An’I reckon I can do it ez well’s any man in camp, ez I war one ov ther first thet struck pay- dirt hyer.” “First,” came the question, in an off-hand manner, “who is the leading man of the place?” Bowie Joe grinned. “ Any idjit in ther Nugget kentry could tell ye thet; it’s Mountain George. An’ speakin’ further, ther second best man is a feller ov about ther size an’ figger ov yours truly, Bowie- Knife Joe!” ; The captain did not continue bis questions for a minute; he was quietly taking note of the ma- neuvers of an evil-browed rough at the opposite side of the room, though not appearing to do so. The man was speaking in a low, quick tone toa number of his companions gathered near him, Soon he ceased, and glancing threateningly at the stranger sport, he walked toward the door and quitted the saloon. The men who had been listening to him looked suspiciously at Bowie Joe’s companion, but they only saw him talking unconcernedly to the camp’s ‘ second best man,” with eyes that roved everywhere except toward them. ‘Mountain George is the leading man, eh?” re- ted Captain Sure Shot. after the short si- fae . ‘Ts he in the room?” *‘No; though he'll be here afore long, to run his little game ov win-an’-lose over thar. Do yer want ter make bis acquaintance?” “Yes, for as I intend to stay in or near Ten- derfoot for awhile, 1 want to know the le here. You say you were in the gang tbat he led to this place about six months ago?” “Yas, cap’n; I war ther second man ter stake out a claim.” ‘“‘ How many were in the band?” — ‘* Thar war jest twelve, not countin’ Mountain o.” Again there was a short silence, as if the questioner’s mind had momentarily gone off on some other topic, or he was reflecting prepara- tory to another and more important question. Finally he said in a pleasant way: “You fellows came from the Silver Range country, I believe?” Bowie Joe started, as he answered. ‘* No, Pard Sure Shot; we come trom Miner's
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Fork, which had played out. Mountain George had once saw signs ov gold hyer whar Tender- foot now stands; so he led ther way hyer, an’, sure enough, we found ther yailer stuff. Ov course, arter thet it warn’t long afore there war a town hyer.” Again there was a pause as Captain Sure Shot looked thoughtfully about the room. wie sf he turned his eyes full upon the rough, and gave him a scrutiny which the fel- low did not understand, and which made him feel strangely uncomfortable. He was already beginning to mistrust this handsome but keen-eyed stranger, from his very appearance and manner, and especially from bis last question. And, somehow, wie Joe became impressed with the idea that this was not the first time he bad seen the peculiar flash of those dark and dangerous-looking eyes; but, it was only an impression; be could not remember where the instance had occurred and he put the thought aside. The next question was startling, and certainly to Seen te ~ at became of the man you found here ?” The Tenderfoot rough again started, while his eyes evaded for an instant those whicb regarded him so steadily. But, quickly, his self-posses sion returned, and he responded, with every show of earnestness: “We found no man byer, cap’n; us thirteen war ther first men thet ever camped hyer, ez far ez I know; at least, thar war nary a sign ov a human when we come. Every man in ther “— will tell yer thet, pard.” ‘*Then every man in ther camp will lie /” was tie response in low, fierce tones. Don't I know why this town has the name of Tenderfoot ? A tenderfoot was found here. Yes, there was a man here, and he was dealt with foully, for which the so-called founders of this town will have toanswer. Be quiet, Bowie Joe; the time has not yet come for a disturbance!” Bowie Joe had drawn back in anger and amazement, with one hand clutching the edge of the table and the other moving threateningly toward his belt. ‘ve come to Tenderfoot to-night for a pur- se,” Captain Sure Shot went on, transfixing im with his penetrating gaze, ‘‘and that is, to tell you that justice is near at hand—that a cer- tain murder and theft shall soon be terribly avenged, I prepare you for it, that you will know what it means when itcomes. It may not come all at once—it may be slow, but it will be sure—it will be ey. The thirteen ruffians that hanged a man here six months ago are marked men from this night. Tell your pards what I say, Bowie Joe; tell them they are doomed—that the vengeance of a just Heaven is close upon them and will overtake them. Tell Mountain George all this—that, though we have never met we are deadly enemies, There—keep your seat or you’re a dead man! I’ve gota revolver under the table leveled at your heart!” Bowie-Knife Joe was a desperate man when aroused, and he had made a movement as if to leap to his feet and draw a weapun; but at this last warning he resumed his seat and relinquisb- ed his weapon with alacrity. He realized that before him was a daring and inflexible man, who meant every word that fell from his lips, He had dealt with such men be- fore, and well enough knew that they were worse than hot coals to handle. Therefore, he thought it best to listen and heed, for he doubted not the truth that he was covered, as the sport did have one arm extended beneath the table, But he was filled with fierce rage, “ Ye'r’ a darned idjit ter talk an’ act this way in Tenderfut!” he exclaimed. ‘‘Sech threats is death, hyer!” 2 “Death to you, if you attract the attention of your pards there!” was the stern warning. ‘Wait until I’m gone, Joe, before you tell the peers a of m them—tell Mountain especially.” Just then, at the soaed be a voice, Taste Joe turned his head, and the — followed his gaze, and saw enter the saloon the evil-browed rough who had left some time before, preceded by a stalwart and villainous-looking tough who walk- ed in with the air of a proprietor. Bowie Joe turned to his companion with a look of triumph: ‘**Thar’s Mountain George—tell him what yer kim hyer for—if ye dare!” He received no response. Sure Shot was watching the movements of the man called the leader of the camp; but at the same time, he could see every act of the man he covered, at the opposite side of the table. Mountain George questioned in a low tone the men who lounged about near the bar, He was mission here, Then tell a The Sure Shot Pards. answered by looks and gestures toward the cor- ner where sat the sport and Bowie Joe. The eyes of the two—Captain Sure Shot and Mountain George—met in a searching, steady gaze for a moment; then the king-pin of the camp strode forward directly toward the stran- ger. The long-haired sport coolly kept his seat, his right hand stiJl beneath the table, while the other hand remained carelessly resting on the rough boards, and the midnight eyes fearlessly surveyed the mountain desperado, as he ap- proached and halted but a few steps away. The number of men in the room had increased rapidly in the last few moments, -and they all crowded forward, expecting that some sort of trouble would take place. And they were not disappointed. CHAPTER IIL. OLD FOES, A POWERFULLY-BUILT man was Mountain George, and heavily armed, as was every man in the room, He looked the desperado that he was, and his face wore an expression not pleas- ant to behold. Especially was he dark and for- bidding as he advanced and halted by the side of the table, and laid his horny hand upon Bowie Joe’s shoulder, ~) They tell me a man from ther Silver Range is hyer,” be said, addressing his pard and look- ing him in the face. “Heavens! Not from the Silver Range!” ejaculated Bowie Joe, ‘Thar sets a man from ther New Mexico mines; he’s ther only stranger hyer!’ fs Wal, he’s from ther old battle-ground,” replied Mountain George, never looking toward the subject of his words, who, of course, heard everything that was said, as it was intended. “Yer didn’t recognize him, er yer wouldn’t be talkin’ with him in this fashion. He’s not from ther New Mexico mines—he's byer from ther old Silver Range, an’ fer a purpose, I know this much—he’s ther deadly enemy ov ther camp!” Bowie Joe knew this, too—that he was a foe to the Tenderfoot pards—but the news that he was from the Silver Range was startling to the whole crowd, Neither he nor Mountain George glanced to- ward the sport, but they were conscious that his position was unchanged, that he was coolly and silently listening to their conversation. Joe also knew that the revolver still covered him, though unseen by any, and that a too free use of words might cost him bis life. And he was wise and discreet enough to withhold what had passed between Captain Sure Shot and him- self, for he had been warned not to divulge it until the captain was gone. “No, * gol George, I hain‘t recognized him,” he said, affecting perfect unconsciousness, ‘““Yer say he’s from the Silver Range, but I never saw his face afore.” ‘*That was because he kept it masked.” “Jerusalem! Masked Dan?” Bowie Joe ex- claimed “Thet’s him, Bowie Knife!” was the quick’ response, ‘‘Hé’s took off ther mask, an’ changed his name, an’ come hyer no doubt ter finish ther work begun thar—at ther Silver Range? But Whisky Jack an’ some ov ther boys hed heard ov ther change, an’ when he called himself Captain Sure Shot he give himself dead away. Captain Sure Shot war Masked Dan ther Champion Regulator, once, the foe ov ther Bowlder Band!” With his last words Mountain George looked straight at the sport, who returned his gaze with interest. “You've come ter ther tigers’ den, Masked Dan,” the big rough went on, addressing his enemy, “‘fer we're all men-tigers hyer. We run like curs from ther Silver Range, but what’s left ov ther Bowlder Band, little ez it is, is worth more hyer than ther hull band war thar!” “Well, that wasn’t much!” Captain Sure Shot smiled; ‘‘ it wasn’t, if you're a specimen of it. You accuse me of being Masked Dan; what is your proof of that?” ountain George uttered an oath. ‘* We don’t need no proof,” he replied, fiercely ; ‘* Whisky Jack heard thet Masked Dan had turned himself inter Captain Sure Shot, an’ you don’t deny it! Ef it war proof we wanted, them eyes ov yourn would furnish it. I would hev recognized yer anywhere by them: I don’t see how yer fooled Bowie Joe, Yer bein’ hyer is not sech a surprise, fer we’ve rather heen look- in’ fer yer since Tenderfoot started, Ov course yer’ve come ter finish what was begun in ther Silver Range. But ye’r’ a fool ter come—we'll eee eee sssssss...:.5Gvcl].. qq QX'._cj»_J\ a carry ther war ter kingdom come this time. Thar’ll be no runnin’, unless it’s on your side.” Captain Sure Shot seemed the coolest man in the crowd, which had increased to at least two- score. He had not moved from bis seat, and his face was as calm as ever. But there was a dan- gerous light in his midnight eyes, which told of his indomitable spirit. The sport was in a trap; behind him and or either side was the wa!l, and before him, block ing his only avenue of escape, were Mountain George and the men who were ready to do bis bidding. But he was not in the least daunted; he had been in tight places before, and had ai- ways escaped unscathed. *““You think you know, then, the man whose face you never saw?” he said to Mountain George. ‘ Well, so be it; but I will tell you one thing—this is not Masked Dan; Masked Dan and his business with the Bowlder Band was left in the Silver Range. Captain Sure Shot is here, on different business from what you think. Bowie Joe will tell you what itis, It’s not the old fight renewed, but it’s a new one be- ” ‘““An’ ther Masked Reguletors--are they hyer?” ‘No; the Masked Regulators were also left in the Silver Range; the Sure Shot Pards are here.” There were thirteen men at least in the sound of his voice who understood his meaning, and and the same thirteen involuntarily quaked at his words, Had they not cause? They had dealt with this man before, when he was known to men as Masked Dan, and when he was captain of the Masked Regulators—men whose very name was a terror to desperadoes in the Silver Range. They, the remnants of the Bowlder Band of road-agents, had fled from him there, to escape total annibilation at his bands. Now he bad fol- lowed them to Tenderfoot as Captain Sure Shot, and with his old Regulators, the Sure Shot Pards, at bis back. Is it to be wondered at that their bronze cheeks paled at the intelligence? His had been a mer- ciless war against the Bowlder Band, and over half of them had been hanged in the name of the law. They—the thirteen—had survived— had escaped him once; but would they again? Mountain George was at a loss for words for a moment after the sport’s startling declaration. A hunted look came intu his eyes as‘he drew back before the burning gaze of those orbs he knew so well, He had said that Captain Sure Shot and his band had been expected, but their coming, just the same, was a terrible surprise. In a moment, however he was bimself again, and his face grew dark with passion. ‘Ther Sure Shot Pards hev come ter Tender- foot ter die!” be almost hissed, bending forward suddenly toward the sport. ‘ Whether it’s ther old fight er a new one, we’ve run fer ther last time, an’ will fight ter ther last man! °"Tain’t only ther thirteen ov ther Silver Range thet are hyer—thar’s at least forty ov us now, an’ we’re worse ner lions ter tackle! Some ov us hev got a big grudge ter settle, an’ ther work ov ven- geance fer ther old Bowlder pards we sw’ar ter make terrible! We'll begin it hyer an’ now! You’ve walked inter ther trap, Sure Shot Dan— you warn’t expectin’ ter be recognized, when er took ther fatal step that brought yer hyer. But, yer'll feel ther claws ov ther tigers ter- night, ez we swcre yer should ef yer ever come!” trong words—words that most men in sucb a place would quail before; but not so the fearless rt. PThe interior of the Pickpocket presented a wild scene. Neither Captain Sure Shot nor Bowie Joe had left their seats, and the former faced with steady nerves the mad men who had him cornered, ; Only an instant ela ere he replied, and bis words were sharp and ringing: ‘‘Pye been in wild dens before, Mountain George, but the tiger’s claws have never clutch- ed me! I’ve sworn with the Sure Shot Pards to wipe out the Marked Thirteen, and I shall live with them to do it! We care not for the forty— it’s the Thirteen for the crime of six months ago; thirteen men are marked for death and twice forty men-tigers could not prevent the blow of vengeance falling! Stand aside, men; that I may reach the door!” He made an imperative motion with the hand visible above the table, and his expression was stern and threatening. Some of them moved, but others crowded for- ward in ‘their places, and they were the men from the Silver Range There was a look of triumph on the face of
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Mountain George, for he felt that at last his dread foe was at his mercy. For years he had longed for this very time, and now it was come! But for the moment he had forgotten the nature of the man he was dealing with, Seeing that his command was uot to be obey- ed, Sure Shot suddenly leaped from his chair, and then with a cat-like spring landed with his feet upon the table. The following instant his arms were extended, each hand clutching a glistening revolver; there was a rapid succession of flashes and reports, a fearful shuttering of glass, and the room was wrapped in darkness! His movements had been so sudden and umex- ted that the ruffian band had been power- ess tc intercept him ere his work was accom- plished, They had lost in surprise the moment for action, but, when they found themselves in ee there was a general rush toward the table, Several shots were fired; then the utmost con- fusion followed. Every man took his neighbor to be the escaping sport, and they grasped and fought and held each other accordingly. Wild cries, occasional shots, oaths and the sounds of scuffling were heard in all parts of the room. When at last a hight was produced a dreadful scene was presented, but withal a ludicrous one, Several men were prostrate on the floor with the knees of pards planted upon them, while others were engaged in desperate struggles; many had received bruises in the melee, and one had been wounded by a bullet. The light quickly brought an end to the confu- sion; the mistakes were discovered and things were restored to order. Mountain George scrutinized every face in the room, and a fierce imprecation escaped his lips when he saw that the foe was gone! The succeeding moment a man staggered into the saloon, with the blood from a wound on the head covering his face. He halted before the Tenderfoot pards, and Mountain George uttered an exclamation of surprise: ‘Whisky Jack!” ‘* Yaa; cap’n,” was the reply of the discomfit- ed rough, ‘I’ve been intermate with Sure Shot Dan ag’in.” ‘*Whar is he now?” was the quick question. **Gone—escaped! Slipped through our fin- gers like the devil thet he is! He’s clean out ov ther camp by this time.” ** An’ did he lay yer out?” ‘Wal, kinder,’ was the grim retort. “Ther minit ther lamps war shot out I made fer ther window thar, thinkin’ he would try ter git out thar instead ov at ther door, an’ 1 war right, I recognized ther Champion Regulator by ther way he come ag’in’ me, an’ my hand closed on his throat. But, he seemed ter be a giant in strength, fer he wrenched himself away in a wink, at ther same time bringin’ his shooter down on my head with all his might. He knocked me clean out ov ther shanty, an’ jum over meas I fell; then he shinned it down ther trai! in ther dark.” There was a prolonged curse fromthe Pick- pocket roughs at being so outwitted, and then a prolonged drink at the bar followed, as balm for their wounded feelin After this, Bowie-Knife Joe proceeded to make known to his pards what passed between himself and the esca sport. war renewed, but a new It was not the ol one begun! —— CHAPTER IV. THE CABIN IN THE GULCH. THe morning suv had just arisen above the eastern horizon, and was gilding the mountain- tops with its golden flood of light, Nature was fresh and sweet from the night’s repose, and the gentle breeze of the dawn was cool and bracing. Well up among the mountains, in a secluded and fertile spot, and near a crystal stream that galloped merrily downward to the plain, was camped a number of hardy and fearless-looking men, There were ten in the party all told, and they were up With the morning sun, attending to the handsome horses that were picketed near, and cooking their fragrant morning meal. Among the number, as handsome and as richly dressed as on the night before, was Ca tain Sure Shot. When I say this, it can readily imagined who are his stalwart asso- ciates; they are the Sure Shot Pards—the old Masked Regulators of the Silver Range, the de- stroyers of the lawless Bowlder Band. The Sure Shot Pards. The men, with the exception of the leader, | “How many have they gathered around were dressed similarly in dark, serviceable suits, and armed to the teeth. Their movements were indicative of superior strength and activ- ity. When tbe breakfast of wild meat, bread and coffee had been dispatched, the captain equip- pes the noble horse that he had ridden to enderfoot, and mounted, preparatory to leav- ing the camp. ““[ go to the cabin in the gulch, Lieutenant Dodge,” said the long neleee sport in parting, **to make a report of my visit last night to the wolves camp. Remain here in quiet; 1 shall return ere noon.” Lieutenant Dodge bowed, and Captain Sure Shot turned his horse’s head and rode away down the mountain-side, He followed the Tenderfoot trail until it branched to the left, leading in an easterly di- rection. Taking the branch road, an hour’s gallop took him to th the bottom of which the rays of the sun had not yet that day penetrated. The ground was sterile and rocky, and being little worn, showed that it was traveled over b. few. The sides were high and uneven and half- covered with moss and stunted bushes. The captain rode into the gulch without a mo- ment’s pauss, and followed its sinuous course for quite a distance. ; Finally he turned off from the main gulch into a branch one, up which he rode at a steady gait for a short time, and then be came in sight of the ‘‘ cabin in the gulch,” It was asmall but substantial building, of logs and hewn boards, and seemed to have been erect- ed quite recently. It was built well back under an overhanging ledge of rocks, and near it, from these rocks, a tiny stream of crystal water spurted, ap imnny By beautiful spring. Captain Sure Shot rode up to the door, which stood open, and then a smile lit up bis face as the figure of a young girl appeared on the thres- hold to meet him, She was the last creature one would expect to see in that wild region of gold aud revolvers. That she was pretty, a glance sufficed to tell. She seemed to be about nineteen, and her fa- tures were regular and fair, with eyes and mouth tbat were slightly inclined to an expression of firmness. Her eyes and hair were nut-brown in color. Her form was rounded and graceful, yore clothed in adress that was plain but well- tting. A smile of recognition lit up her fine face'as the handsome sport rode up, ** Ah, captain, is it you?’ she asked, ‘‘ I heard the clatter of your horse’s hoofs, and knew not who it could be so early in the day. Please dis- mount.” *-T will, for I have news for you,” the captain replied, and he at once lea to the ground, is horse was left standing unbitched, for, well trained as he was, there was no danger of his wandering beyond his master’s call. - “Your father is not bere,” he said, half-inter- rogatively, as he reached the door and glanced into the cabin. ‘* No,” was the pn hy **he left a short while ago with his gun, saying that he wished to se- cure some fresh game, Come in, Captain Dan, and tell me what you have learned, for I am anxious,” Png accepted the chair which she placed for im, The cabin was of two rooms, and comfortably furnished. The furniture was rough bnt sub- stantial, and everything was neat and in order, lainly giving evidence of a tasteful feminine and. The girl took her seat near the captain as he said: “The fight has commenced, Clara. I went to Tenderfoot last nis and found out the Jay of the land. I found that there were thirteen in the band headed by Mountain George, the lead- er of the old tg of the Silver Range, that rode up to Jobn Wilkes’s cabin on a night six months ago. The town is planted on bis claim without a doubt, and the gold they use was dis- covered by him, and is, therefore, rightfully yours. I found the Thirteen there, none of them, rather strange to say, having been killed since the town started. I told them they were marked men, and that the crime committed six months ago would be avenged.” A look that was a commingling of sadness and hardness had settled on the face of the girl as he was speaking. Her eyes were bright with deep feeling as she ed her visitor with keen interest, taking in every word that he spoke. e entrance of a lonely-looking gulch, to | them?” she asked; ‘‘ and are they of the same desperate character?” ‘*T should say there are seventy-five or eighty men in the camp, trom what I lave learned; but I tbink half of them at least are law-abiding and honest, as Mountain George himself intimated. It is generally supposed thi.t the Thirteen were the original founders of the town, so the others do not know that they are handling stolen gold.” ‘*There is no doubt that my poor brother was murdered, then?” ‘“No, Clara; I think the report that reached me accidentally, in the Silver Range, and which I at cence sent to your father and your- sally, was entirely true,” Captain Sure Shot re- plied. a There was a short silence, and then he con- inued: ‘Poor John! Heaven knows I wish the report was false!” ‘* How long was it before he came here that you saw him?” Clara asked, with downcast eyes, * You told me once, perbaps, but I have forgot- ten; and the subject is so dear to me I must know all concerning it.” ‘*Not more than a month,” was the answer. ‘When he left you in Texas, chance brought him to the Silver Range, where I saw him and at once recognized him, although we bad not met in so many years. He did not stay lon with me, for he was in quest of a fortune an impatient to be on the move. He was full of hope when he left me, starting off alone. well equipped and well armed. That was the last I heard of him until a flying rumor informed me of his death.” ** And I am thankful that you at once notified us, With a fixed determination father and I have come here for justice, and with your kind help, captain, we shall bave it.” “Tam truly glad to be of aid to you, Clara,” said the Regulator, in a sincere tone. ‘' This cabin, which tue Sure Shot Paris erected for you, will serve as your home, while we shall se- cure for you the gold discovered by your bro- ther and which is yours. At the same time, as organized Regulators, we sball strike blows for vengeance that will rid Arizona cf thirteen of its most desperate characters, It may be a long fight, but it will bea bitter and deadly one. With right on our side we are bound to win. The old asked Regulators handled many of their band as lawless and desperate as they, and the Sure- Shot Pards are equal to every emergency.” ‘‘ Pursue your own course, Dan,” said the fair girl, ‘‘ father and I trust all to you, and what- ever we gain will be through you and your noble ‘ Pards.’? But you must ve careful, or you will lose your lives; will not the majority of the tuwn fight for Mountain George and what they may call their own right?” ‘Tt will be impossible to tell that at present.” responded Captain Sure Shot. ‘TI shall pick out those of the better class and win them over to our side, and then the odds will not be so reat. I saw the Thirteen last-night, and I now every one of them.” “ Did they not recognize you?” “Yes, they did, somewhat to my surprise, for I was always masked in the Silver Range, #8 was my whole band, for we found it better for Regu lators to be so. But some two or three of them had heard of my becoming Captain Sure Shot, avd they at once knew me,” “And certainly, hating you as they do for breaking up their band, they did not let you go free quietly?” “Well, no,” the Regulator smiled; ‘‘ they had me, in fact, cornered, but I played the old trick on them of shooting out the lights, and in the darkness and copfusion easily esca But, Clara,” he continued, rising, ‘‘ I must leave, for time is precious and there is much to be done. Ah! there is your father.” Through the open door at that moment they saw approaching ® man who bore @ gun on his shoulder and some small game in bis hand, James Wilkes “as a medium-sized man, with erect figure and kindly though time-saddened face, for the loss of his fondly loved wife and son had told heavily upon bim. His beard and hair were prematurely gray. but he was by no means infirm. A minute later he was greeting Captain Sure Shot cordially. eed, Dan, you are not leaving?” he ex- claimed. ‘‘I bad hardly expected you, or 1 would have remained at the cabin, You brought us news?” “Yes, Mr, Wilkes,” the captain responded; “Tcame toreport my trip to Tenderfoot last night. Clara will tell you that everything was found as 2xpected. And now I will be off.” Se a ne —A — er a ie enidinn ianiietete te ame ood a “ii %
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Sah Pet we He " i SA es glad ter see me, + lng “= rin So syns + Ii titnodichanaaneaedeabeainmeaeptentl They insisted on his remaining longer, but bidding them a cheery good-morning, he mount- pa 4g waiting ph and galloped down the ec 4 CHAPTER V. BRAZEN BILL, As was before remarked, the camp of the Sure Shot Pards was in a secluded spot on the mountain-side, a place remarkably well adapted by nature to just this use. Bebind it, and on one side, arose great insurmountable cliffs, while on the other side was the ragged edge of a frowning chasm, whose waters seethed and moaned far below. From out the rocks and be- tween the camp and the chasm ran the little stream before mentioned, rollicking noisily along on its downward course, and eventually tumbling into the chasm in great silvery show- ers. The camp was thus accessible from but one point, the nt, making it indeed a desirable spot for the pen it was now serving. Be- ing fertile and of ample size, and ata hight to command a good view of the country before it, it was the one place in the Nugget country suit- able for the camp of the Sure Shot Pards. A few hours after the departure of the cap- tain, and shortly before noon, an individual stood on an eminence overlooking the camp sur- veying the scene with interest. Quite a dis- tance lay between the two points, more than a pe mar and his view of things was not over plain. He was a person whose figure would excite at- tention anywhere, for he was almost a giant in stature, and heavy throughout. To gaze at him one would give him credit for enormous strength, Indeed he was a peculiar specimen of humanity. His face was covered with sandy, unkempt beard, which met his long, coarse hair athisears. From out this barbigerous growth shone his big, bloodshot eyes—villainous-looking ve they were, and cunning, too, There was a short, blood-red scar on his nose and’ upper lip which much enhanced the unprepossessing ap- rance of his face. His clothes were in keeping with bimself, Worn and dirty, it was evident that they had befriended him for many a day without the much needed attention. He possessed in the way of arms a savage-looking knife, which graced his belt in handy reach. Bag and bag- gage he appeared to be without. om the elevated spot upon which he stood he could see the movements of the Sure Shot Pards as they lounged abcut the camp, passing the time away as best they knew how, while he, on the other hand, was scarcely visible as he stood near a iarge bowlder which shielded pis body. It seemed that he had climbed to that high point to take observations, for bis discovery of the camp be geen eminently satisfactory, and he surveyed it with all the eyes he had. The distance was so great, however, that with the naked eye he could distinguish litile saye the forms of the men and horses. But trom his ex- ression it was evident that he knew the mean- ing of what he saw and that his knowledge was pleasing to him, 3 ‘* Brazen Bill never misses a guess!” he ex- claimed, addressing himself, as he leaned on the rock and allowed his big eyes to take in the scene, ‘ Brazen Bill, ther cyclone oy ther Silver Range, miss a mark? Nay-o, by ther ghouls ov Tophet! Things are jest ez I expected ter find ‘em, when I started from ther Silver Range kentry fer ther new pastures ter renew ther old sports. Thar’s ther camp ov ther pesky Regula- tors, ez sure ez I’m a laughter-lipped rose ov Kilkenny! GreatJosh 0’ hornual I hev arrivy’ on ther scene, me noble, panting heart. I, ther eat Brazen William, duke ov seventeen king- oms,amcome, Iam now nigh unto Tender- foot an’ Mounting George, who mebbe won't be Also ter Masked Daniel, fer _ whose sake I shook cher Silver Range once fer an unlimited period. But them things are all in the past, an’ thar is now new biz afore ther house. Hyer comes ther double-action bracer.” The giant drew up from the cavernous depths of one of his pockets a well-known kind of bot- _ tie, and held it up before his eyes. His face fell as he looked at it, for but a few drops of its precious contents remained, He contemplated it a moment in mournful! silence, ‘Great biyankidanks!” he ejaculated at last. * So little ez thet? It must hev leaked out in me pocket. Nay-o—not thet, er me iron-clad heart would be consumed with grief. Some danged 5° ‘thief stcle it while I war sleepin’ on ther trail _ das’ night. Ghouls o’ Tophet! me appetizer is «= beat *% ers pe ees =) UGE : beens : E . ec re 4 > 4 The Sure Shot Pards. gone, an’ Tenderfoot afar off! But down she goes!” And up went the bottle with its neck in his mouth, retaining that position until the last drop of its contents was exhausted. Then, with a half-drawn sigh of satisfaction, he dropped the glass vessel on the rocks, where it was shattered in pieces. ‘Ther las’ drink afore Tenderfut is reached,” he soliloquized; ‘“‘ ther las’ sup afore I git ter Mounting George’s burg. Whar thet place is I don’t jest know at present, but straight on I reckon is ther way. My glorious blue blood is leapin’ ter sight ther town.” e glanced all about him to get bis bearings, as if locating. the town where he expected to see Mountain George. He stood in a picturesque spot on the mountain, a few miles northeast of enderfoot. Below him, in the beautiful and fertile valley, wound a dimly outlined trail, which he had left for this high point to take ob- servations. ‘“*Pve jest got ter continure thet trail ter git ter ther Tenderhuf town,” was his conclusion; ““Tve jest got ter foller thet a little longer ter find Mounting George an’ what’s left ov ther old ang. But, strange ter say, dang my blue blood, . ‘ye got a hankerin’ ter see me old pard, Masked Daniel. Thet’s ile from ther can. Thar’s so many pleasant reckerlections connected with us two, o [remember our parting? Wal, some- what! It war a jolly occasion fer everybody except Brazen Billie. I war playin’ ther spy fer ther Bowlders, an’ doin’ it great, when ther Regs got onter me. Daniel war inclined ter hev ther regulation neck-tie picnic, an’ it war only by me givin’ ther stronghold away thet he let up on this ijee. Then it war thet he give mea short, fleetin’ spell ter grow scarce, ter hie my- self out ov ther Silver Range kentry. Which, by ther great hiyankideabe, 1 did. Ner I didn’t show apne *D. ez we agreed, until he war safely gone. hen they told me thet he an’ ther Sure Shot Pards, ther old Regs, hed come ter ther Nugget kentry ter renew ther old sport with Mounting George, who also hed ter vacate ther Silver Range when ther Regs got onter ther stronghold. Then it war thet me steel-clad heart panted fer ther old companions, an’ I journeyed down hyer. I’m not certain Mount- ing George will welcome me, but I’ve got ter be a great humpin’ grizzly from ther great North Pole, a bad man proud ov me record, an’ ef he seeks ter settle up old scores he’ll hev ter chaw me up, fur an’ all, Dang my blue blood, I love peace, but when [ git riled I make ther mount- ings tremble an’ belch forth sassage! I’ve seen ther old ocean double up an’ heave with ther colic when I war ina bad humor. Mebbe Sure Shot Dan don’t know thet. I’ve a lively hank- erin’ ter see ther lovely sinner an’ his black- faced devils. 1 think i could strike up ther old friendship by tellin’ them I hed reformed, Thar’s ther camp over thar, jest ez I expected ter see it, an’ Mounting George is not fur off. S‘posin’ [ could git in with Dan an’ George both; by yankidanks! thet would suit me, an’ thar would be good times ag’in fer Brazen Wil- liam. Dang it, ’m ez dry ez a box ov bran. my Ringdon fer a good sup of tanglebuf.” is hand involuntarily went down into his pocket in search of the coveted bottle, but only a soul-saddening emptiness rewarded his quest. ““Sech is life in great cities,” be mourned. "My rich blue blood turns green with envy when I think ov ther old drinks in ther Silver Range. Ther only way out ov ther difficulty is ter git ter ther Tenderfeet’s roost, I see thet, unless Masked Daniel hez a spare drop. So ther best thing I kin do is ter be movin’.” He took a last look at the camp in the distance and then left the bowlder and made his way down tbe incline to the trail below. Back a short distance end to the left of the trail, hitched in some undergrowth that nearly concealed its form, was_a fair-looking steed which had borne Brazen Bill on his journey. The giant led forward the horse and mounted him, and spurred away toward Tenderfoot, bis buge and ungainly proportions causing him to cut a most unenviable figure. e took note of his surroundings as be ad- vanced, and finally when he came to the rough th that led up to the camp which be had sighted shortly before, be turned his horse into it. He had evidently made up his mind to face all dangers and pay Masked Dan and his pards a visit. *“* Now, me noble beart,” he muttered, *‘ we'll see what effect ther appearance ov a gent with gengine blue blood will bev on ther natives, ’m a-thinkin’, by gravy, thar’ll be some sur- prise, but whether it'll be pleasant er not ’m unable ter say.” He boldly urged the horse up the rocky, un- even trail, keeping his eyes and ears open as he advanced. Ere long he received a sharp command to halt, which he promptly obeyed. A man step- ped out from behind a tree with a repeating- rifle in his hands, **Thunder! Brazen Bill!” he ejaculated. The giant grinned cheerfully. ‘*The same, me lovely chromo. You remem- ber me, I see.” ‘* Well, yes,” was the reply of the guard; ‘I was with Masked Dan when he interviewed you on the propriety of clearing yourself out of the Silver Range.” ‘Wal, I cleared, an’ I’m byer, in ther Nugget kentry, an’ thought I would call around an’ see me old acquaintances, Yer may bev been pres- ent when Daniel an’ I las’ parted, but since yer fergot yer mask ter-day, 1 don’t recognize yer. Is Danie] ter home?” , The giant was perfectly easy in his situation and spoke with grave assurance. His brazen effrontery bad probably given him his name. *“*Cap’n Sure Shot is not hyer,” said the old Regulator, who stood directly in the- path, with his rifle half-raised. ‘‘ What do you want?” “Wal, [ jest thought I’d like ter see ther boys once more, ez war passin’, An’—yer hev’n’t got an extra bottle ov ther old Silver Range dew, bev yer?” “Nary a drop, Brazen. It’s not allowed in the camp. Idon’t think the boys want ter see you. You had better make yourself scarce around byer.” “T ain’t ready ter go yet,” was the complacent response of the giant. ‘I’ve reformed since we rted, an’ am anxious ter git under good in- ovence. If Dan ain’t byerI kin wait till he comes, an’ we'll talk over ther ola times. Lead me inter ther camp er let me go on alone.” ‘*Tll do neither. If you want ter see the boys I'll bring them here.” The next minute the man uttered a sbrill whistlé, and the Sure Shot Pards soon came hastening down the trail in a body. ‘ Brazen Bill and the guard were not in sight of the camp, the view being obstructed by the un- even ground and the undergrowth, The few hundred yards intervening were quickly cleared by those who answered the call, avd almost before Bill realized it, he was the center of a group of mountain men, whose deeds had made their very name a dread to border law-breakers, He was somewhat disturbed in spirit at the unexpected ings. and probably regretted his action in approaching thecamp. But the name which be bore was by no means misap- plied, and be continued to wear a bold face. The men without exception r nized bim. “This is Mountain George’s old spy ov the Silver Range,” said the guard, “the one we granted unlimited leave ov absence to about a year ago, He says he wants to see you fellers an’ Cap’n Sure Shot. He also seems very anx- ious to inspect the camp.” “Ghouls oy Tophet!” exclaimed the giant, as he looked from his seat on his horse into the faces of the darkly-clothed men about him, “I ain’t no spy, pards; don’t think thet. I war only payin’ yer a little friendly visit, ter see, mebbe, if yer hed a drop ov ther good old washee-w in ther camp. Ive reformed since thet little affair in ther Silver Range, an’ thet’s ile from ther can. I’m now one ov ther original hoary-headed saints ov Arizone. Moun- tain George an’ me don’t speak ez we pom by an’ dang my blue blood, I’m a gem ov t first water. I kin be ov any service ter you gents, I’m ready ter te called on, ef only fer ther sake ov old acquaintance.” ‘*We don’t need ycur services, Brazen Bill,” said Lieutenant Dodge, who had been among the first to arrive on the scene, ‘*Nor we haven’t forgotten you in the least. We can see ou have reformed by yer changed appearance,” e continued, ironically; ‘‘ you look like a very ideal saint. Cap'n Sure Shot ain't here, and we want no visitors, especially you. Ive sized you up as the same old cunning tough who vamosed the Silver Range a year ago by request. You may hev to do the same thing by ther Nugget country !” These were not pleasant words of welcome to Brazen Bil], but he preserved the same outward equanimity, as he replied: “lm not disposed to argue ther point, gents. I’m ther simon pure an’ unaduiterated, an’ if thar’s no royal welcome fer me bhyer, I’!] leave yer in peace, I wanted ter see Masked Dan. er Cap’n Sure Shot, ez yer call bim now, Lut if he ain’t ter home I'll go. Much oblige. Thet little
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occasion in ther Silver Range on which I figgered so prominently made a man ov me, by ther great hiyankidanks, an’ I never intrude myself on anybody. Ef yer ever wanta favor don’t hesitate ter caJlon me. Good-day.” He was about to turn his horse from the spot when Lieutenant Dodge grasped the bridle. “Don’t go for a minute, William,” he ex- claimed, ‘‘ when we'll give you a start in the most approved fashion. We’re too appreciative hyer to let ycu go off this quietly. e’ll send you down the mountain in a style that will make you remember yer visit. just want to sbow you our appreciation of yer ind visit and kind offers!” Unpleasant for the gentleman of blue blood, CHAPTER VI, A ROUGH RIDE, A MAN whose eyes were as black as an In- dian’s and who wore the rich dress of a sport, drew his black steed to a halt beside a trail that ran through a valley. No sooner had the ani- mal halted than he bent forward in a listening attitude, and the sound of rapidly approaching hoofs fell upon his ear, coming from the direc- tion in which he was going. It was easy to reeognize the handsome captain who was on his return from the ‘cabin in the gulch. The sun was high in the heavens, shining bright and warm, Like a statue he sat his horse for a moment, studying the sound which had assailed his ears and which was growing louder each instant. Owing to intervening clumps of undergrowth and timber he could not see the approaching animal—there was but one, he knew—and he could not determine if it bore arider, At its resent rate of speed, however, it would soon eantr into view. Captain Sure Shot spurred his black horse forward into a thicket beside the trail, which effectually concealed man and beast from view. Then with his hand near a weapon he awaited the appearance of the oncoming animal. He had not long to wait. Scarcely had he entered the thicket befure he saw a small cloud of dust, and soon the borse came into sight. It was at full speed, and had a rider—a man of huge proportions and an aggressive stock of hair, and beard, and dressed in the rough garb of a miner. The keen eyes of Sure Shot Dan scanned his features and then an exclamation burst from the je ‘** Brazen Bill!” What was more startling, however, a fact that was ascertained when the wild horseman drew near, was that he was bound to the saddle with tough ropes, his hands tied at his back leaving him powerless to control his maddene animal! Was this the way the Sure Shot Pards had rid their camp of an unwelcome guest? It was an old trick in the wild border land. One acquainted with it would know at once that if that saddle could have been raised, a sharp thorn would have been disclosed which goaded the horse forward at every move. The natural consequence of such a torture was that the ani- mal would plunge ahead until stopped or ex- ha usted, Brazen Bill, this border Cossack, bad a white face and an expression in: keeping with his wild situation, The sequel of his visit to those men who could read him for what he was, despite bis professions of friendship, was doubtless not very gratifying to the giant. He wasin fora forced ride which might terminate it was impossi- os to tell how, perbaps most disastrously to im, Mad howls of rage and fear fell from bis lips as his wild steed plunged over the rough trail, and he tried in vain to burst asunder the ropes which bound him, Captain Sure Shot took in the situation at once, and a grim smile played over his features, “The devil is getting his due,” he muttered. The rt was not seen by the giant as his furious animal dashed by within twenty feet of the Regulator. The captain had no intention of stopping the mad rider. He knew Brazen Bill of old, and doubted not that he was receiving a lesson well- deserved, ‘‘That’s not the first time he's left a place with the assistance of others,” he remarked, as ja after the retreating rider. ‘It is pretty certain that he will leave this world yet with assistance. He’s a man who would make Arizona better Dy paring in his checks, He’s been in some devilment to-day, perhaps at the Don’t think for | a minute that we think you an infernal spy; we | | / ' 55 ew (i The camp, serts.” Lieutenant Dodge had told Brazen Bill that they were going to send him out of their pres- ence in a way that would cause him to remember his visit, and this was the way. The giant was known of yore, they bad not forgotten his career in the Silver Range, and they desired to rid themselves of him for good and all, They had no faith in bis so-called reformation, and they did not propose to be taken in by a minion of Mountain George who bore the char- acter of a desperado and spy. They had no room for bim in their camp, and they wished to impress the fact upon his mind, that they might never be troubled with another visit; and they were doubtless eminently successful in the carry- ing out of their intentions. The giant was at the mercy of his maddened horse, and he could but endure his punishment and curse the authors of it. And while Captain Sure Shot turned his animal again into the trail, and continued toward the camp on the mountain, he, Brazen Bill, the man of blue blood, was suffering a hard ride over the rough valley, on the back of an infuriated animal that was taking him he knew not whither. He cursed the thought that had taken him in- to the camp of his old enemies. and resolved on some means of revenge for their treatment. Filled with rage, he longed for the end to come, But the end was not near at hand, The horse would never stop until exhausted or checked by force, and there was small hope of the latter being accomplished. It was destined to be a long ride for the Silver Range spy. When he came to the place where the trail forked, his horse kept the main road—the one to the right. On, on it dashed, goaded always by that sharp instrument of torture that was pressed into its back at every plunge. The foam began to fleck its sides and its breathing was distinctly audible. But on, on, wild with pain it went. Several miles were thus left in the rear. To Brazen Bill it seemed te ride would never end, Finally the trail again entered the mountains and up, up the rocky ascent snorted and plunged the tortured anima]. Then on, over very rough ground, and down the opposite side at a break- neck speed that almost jolted the breath from the giant’s body. It was the trail which Captain Sure Shot fol- lowed when he entered Tenderfoot the night before, and ere long the rider caught sight of the town ahead of him. This was not exactly the way he had antici- pated entering Tenderfoot, which he took the place to be, but the sight of it raised his hopes, for it was more than possible that there his fear- ful ride would be brought to an end, Some half-dozen men who stood near the cabins on the trail that entered the town from the northeast, were somewhat astonished when a foam-covered horse, bearing a giant rider bound to its back, came tearing down the moun- tain toward Tenderfoot. They watched its approach in silence and with eager interest. hey wore the rough dress of miners, and their revolvers were in handy reach, as if at any moment they might be called upon to defend themselves, They seemed to have been engaged in conver- sation before the disturbance occurred. Moun- tain George was among the number, and they stood a short distance from the Pickpocket, whose door, as usual, stood invitingly open. The on-coming rider was soon near enough for them to distinguish his features, and then his name was uttered in accents of surprise. Brazen Bill was not gagged and he yelled lustily for aid as soon as he was within speaking distance of the men of 'Tenderfoot. They were motionless with surprise at first, be as the horse drew near they sprung into ac- ion. Mountain George gave a quick command, the men Jeaped back on each side of the trail, and when the animal came within reach strong hands suddenly gras the swinging bridle- rein and after a short struggle brought him to a standstill. Quickly the torturing instrument was removed from beneath the saddle, when the tired beast soon subsided, Brazen Bill’s bonds were cut, and his long, hard ride was at an end. He was sore and realy jolie! up, but one of ba + sa produced a flask in which he soon found relief, : ** Angels ov Tartarus!” he exclaimed, when he could get his breath. ‘‘ Thct’s ther worst shaken and the boys are giving him his de. od a" up ever experienced in ther Nugget ete OF ites feel like a mass ovruins. Dang my blue blood, I’m purty near a wreck. Cuss ther pictur’s ov them devils! I’m a bad man proud ov me record an’ I'll ketch even ef it takes till Joshua gits out his old horn ag’in. I’m a white elefant, I am, an’ a terror when I’m riled! Another drink, pard, ov thet tulip salve, I war ez dryeza peck o’ dust,” Brazen Bill took another long draw from the flask, while the men who had befriended him re- garded him with interest. When he was again in condition to talk he greeted Mountain George and the others, ex- pressing at gg his obligations for their as- sistance. The former and two of the others, Whisky Jack and Brazos Pete, were his old pards of the Bowlder Band whom he had be- trayed to the Regulators, and their greeting was. not a very cordial one, as the giunt was at once aware, . But he affected not to notice it, and as they said ro. bing about it just then he did not men- tion it himself. “Whar in thunder did you FA from?” queried Mountain George. ‘‘Is this Thee way yer hev taken ter travelin’!” ““Nay-o, I don’t travel this way much,” re- y tier pe the giant rough, ‘tI ginerally go by electricity. But ther Sure Shot Pards hev got a perticular patent on this style ov travelin’, an’ they insisted on my adoptin’ ther custom. Darn the’r pictur’s!” ‘*So yer hev been visitin’ ther Sure Shot Pards?” said the king-pin of the camp. **T diskivered the’r camp on my way ter Tenderfut,” Brazen Bill replied, ‘‘ an’ concluded ter pay! ’em a little visit, an’ see the’r make-up. an’ soon, Ther welcome they give me warn’t very pleasant, you bet, cap’n; they begun ter dig up ther hatchet ez soon ez they saw me, They called up our little misunderstanding im ther Silver Range a year ago, an’ then come ter ther conclusion thet I might ez well hur»p my- self out ov ther distric’, So they devised this means ov tortur’, an’in spite ov my arguin’ an” swearin’, they sent me on this critter a-goin” down ther mountain. He got sech a start thet. he couldn’t stop till jest a minit ago,” The giant again had recourse to the bottle, after which he continued: ‘Yer see, cap’n, when I went back ter ther Silver Range after you an’ ther Masked Regu- lators left they told me yer hed come ter ther Nugget kentry, an’ thet ther Regs war doin” bizness hyer under ther beautiful name ov ther Sure Shot Pards, an’ thet Masked Dan hed come ter be Captain Sure Shot. Then an’ thar ther camp ov the Pards this mornin’, an’ ez said, made ’em a little visit; an’ dang my cast- iron liver, this thet yer saw war ther result. They don’t appreciate a gent with genuine blue blood. They didn’t know thet I’m an untamed grizzly jest from ther open Polar Seas, by ther great hiyankidanks, Thet’s ile from ther can. ('m yer etarnal slave, Mountain, fer seme tan- glehuf.” “Wal, we'll go up ter ther Pickpocket, I never expected ter see yer ap’in after ther cussed Regs run us out of ther Silver Range, nor I didn’t want ter much, Ef ther boys hed got hold ov yer about thet time they’d hev organ- ized a first-class funeral in yer tehalf, Ez it is, we hain’t much hostile no more, an’ ef yer pledge erself ter fight fer Tenderfut, yer’ welcome yer. “711 do thet!” said Brazen Bill, as the party walked toward the Pickpocket. dander riz, an’ I’m cravin’ Sure Shot gore, I’m a bad man, proud ov merecord, Ef thet hoss he. 'n’t stuc been now? He’d’a’ killed himself an’ me ter boot, Gimme ther drinks, Mountain, an’ by ther ghouls ov Tophet! I’m yourn!” CHAPTER VII. WARNING AND DEFIANCE. Tenderfoot the next morning. He made his appearance from a back room of the Pickpocket just as the sky began to grow rosy in the east, The night after his sudden advent into the him, for, filled with the camp ‘ red-eye,’ he had indul in every boast and antic known to when a superabundance of liquor caused bim to no longer want to disturb the town but to craw] off and sleep. The sleep lasted until daybreak, when he arose. I war Voge of a bankerin’ ter see yer, an” — be pards with yer ag’in, so I set out. I seen “Tye got me — ter ther trail whar would I hev — BRAZEN BILt was the first man astir in town had been a gloriously hilarious one for — bim, threatening his foes, the Sure Shot Pards, with all manner of dire evils, and only desisting ete en ene ey a Si Nl a a * "4 _ oe “Gj ~ RS Tg SP PEPE ae ee yp ae 4 4 rt r ae ’
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| \ i a = . F with the desire to refill himself with his favor- ite ome early the first thing which attracted his attention was a large paper tacked up on the door of the Pickpocket in a conspicuous way, It was a piece of white r about the size of a half-sheet of common fool’scap, and was cov- ered with writing. In the giant’s present state of mind he was not apt to draw any important conclusions from the appearance of things, but it dawned upon his mind that this poster certainly meant some- thing. He was not an adept at comprehending or decipering written intelligence, and after a few moments spent in fruitless study of the characters, he drew off in disgu t. But he suspicioned that it was something of importance, and he resolved to bring Movntain George and others there who could read, and de- termine its meaning. Accordingly he gave vent to a few character- istic yells that would have made an Indian collapse with envy. The denizens of Tenderfoot, roused thus sud- denly from their slumbers, soon began tv show themselves at the doors of the shanties in the neighborhood. They were used to noises, early and late, wild drunken whoops and the like, but there was something in those loud yells of Brazen Bill’s which told them that something was wanted, and they consequently sprung from their cots into the street, as it were, with the inevitable revolver in hand. Mountain George was among the first to make his appearance, and in a moment, surrounded by a crowd that was rapidly increasing, he was reading the contents of the suggestive paper that was tacked to the door of his own establishment. _ ‘This is what it read: *“ NOTICE, “ To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: ‘ Be it known that this town of Tenderfoot was never founded by Mountain George and bis asso- ciates, as they claim, but by one whom they foully murdered for its possession, they, nor any other citizens of this place, have a right to a foot of the grouud on which the principal part of Tenderfoos now stands, nor to any of the gold taken therefrom, It is lawfully and justly the property of the father and tne sister of the murder- ed prosp-ctor, and it is the intention of the Sure Shot Pards tv evforce their claim and bring the guilty parties to justice. ‘* Mountain George and twelve of his well-known associates here, who committed this crime, are the remainder of a band of outlaws known as the Bowlder and, who formerly operated in the Silver Range country. They escaped the halter only by fleeing to this place. “Now be it further known that the Sure Shot Pards do not wish to war upon those who are inno- cent of wrong-doing in occupying this ground, or who honestly desire to make reparation for their wrong to their rightful owners; therefore, those citizens who know their own good and who will help to bring Mountain George and his murderous asso- ciates to justice, will meet in the mountains when the mon rises to-night, on the trail thit leals northeast from the camp. Toalisuch. who faithful! serve the Sure Shot Pards in the execution of their plans, a just and suitable reward is promised. All others will be considered enemies and they should beware! Signed * CAPTAIN Sure SHoT.” Mountain George’s brow grew black as he read, and when be had finished, a savage oath came through his teeth. Brazen Bill stood just behind him, and around them a large crowd bad collected, each one striving to master the contents of this startling communication. ‘“‘Thet’s ther dirtiest job ever put up on a decent town!” hissed the king-pin of the moun- tain roughs. ‘*Ther Sure Shot Pards will git ther sneakin’ lie crammed down the’r throats! Whar’d it come from, Brazen Bill? Who put it thar, an’ when?” : “Phet’s more’n I know, cap’n,” replied the giant, who did not yet know its contents. “ [t war Starin’ me in ther face thar when I come around ter try ter gitadrink. Dang it, Mount- ing, read it to us, What does ther dockyment say?” +f It Says war ter ther knife!” was the mad reply. ‘Ther Sure Shot Pards hev put up a job ter clean out ther town, ter run us out ez they did in ther Silver Range; but Mountain e sometimes wins in a fight! Captain Sare Shot and his pards hev come hyer ter die! They follered us hyer with droppers in hand ter finish ther work begun in ther Silver Range; but it’s ther biggest job ever undertook in ther mountains ov Arizona! Read it out loud. ae an’ let ther boys see what a sneakin’ it is. Bowie Knife Joe read it aloud, slowly and That consequently | a ; ate rs wie ee ek wees : The Sure Shot Pards. with difficulty, for though the handwriting was fairly good, his reading powers were so infre- he must necessarily and to accomplish his desi rams? he all and stand upon the threshold. quently called into use tuat he could not readily | stepped forward in the full view of exercise them. He had barely finished the reading to the ex- cited roughs when Mountain George exclaimed: ‘* Thar’s my answer ter ther Sure Shot Pards!” and be sunk a twelve-inch bowie through the center of the paper and deep into the boards of the door. ‘‘ War ter ther knife it is!” Then the door of the Pickpocket was thrown open, and the crowd, foremost among whom was Brazen Bill, gatuered around the bar to “licker up,” as the irrepressiole giant sug- gested. The notice from the Sure Shot Pards, which had been pinned up in the most conspicuous place in the camp by some silent and unknown and during the early hours just preceding the dawn, naturally threw the town into a state of excitement. Every person in the camp sought the Pick- pocket, and those who were capable read and re-read Captain Sure Shot’s significant procla- mation. It was discussed by groups of men in all parts of the camp. As the morning advanced it was noticeable that a division of the inbabitants was taking place—the rough desperadoes of Moun- | tain George’s stamp were collected around that worthy and his establishment, while the better class of citizens were congregated in other parts of the camp, not cpenly holding alocf from the others, but by natural ins.inct withdrawing from their rough society. Work was almost entirely suspended by the miners, aud there was little activity in the mountain town except at the bar of the Pick- pocket, Thus the day wore on and night came and spread her somber mantle over the land of geld. he stars came out in all their glory, and re- lieved the darkness in a great measure. Mountain George had his spies at work. He had recognized the fact at the outset that an in- voluntary division of the camp was going on, but 1t did not startle him, for it was nothing more than he had expected. He knew that among the more honest class he had many silent ene- mies, who now that a favorable time was come would not hesitate to turn against him, and who, as soon as they were aieuted of the strength and pond ag of the Sure Shot Pards, would readily end their aid and influence to the Regulators’ cause. Of course, there were some whose opinion was not shaped either way. These, by mingling with Mountain George’s minions and hearing their bold words, soon concluded that, whichever side was right, it was better for them tostand by Mountain George. Under the cover of darixness the d rado was better able to carry on bis work and make his plans, Spies were busy throughout the camp, and a number were stationed on the outskirts to see that no one entered the place unobserved. One of these was Brazos Pete, and he stood where the camp was entered by the trail from the northeast, He had not occupied the position long ere he heard the tramp of. a horse, which was approach- ing. fic leaned against the dark logs of a cabin ia a listening attitude and waited. The animal came nearer and nearer, its iron- shod hoofs giving out a metallic ring as they came down in regular tattoo upon the hard trail. At last it was quite near and Brazos Pete could see the outline of the rider, He appeared to be an old man of medium sta- ture, astride a large and well-proportioned steed, both strangers to the camp. The spy made no attempt to stop him, but kept his position and was passed unobserved, The horse was reined into a walk, seemingly in the observance of caution. Brazos Pete followed the horseman silently, determined to see what bis visit meant, He was led toward the center of the camp. In the course of a few minutes the visitor dis- mounted, secured his horse to a convenient scrnb-oak, and proceeded on foot. He went on, glancing from side to side. evi- dently not in fear but in an inspection of the vamp. While he did not court discovery he did not appear to care for it, and proceeded boldly until he came to the Pickpocket. Near the door he halted and glanced in. Nearly two-score of men were in the room, en- gaced in drinking and conversation, Then the paper pinned to the door with a twelve-inch bowie caught his attention, and he moved closer to read it. The door was open, C—O perused the notice with interest. His appearance caused some surprise to the Tenderfaot roughs, but they made no demon- stration, only watched bim curiously as he read. When he had finished, he stepped back in a matter-of-fact way, and continued on through the camp. The more Brazos Pete watched him the more he became convinced that he was making a gen- eral inspection of the town. He finally turned to the right and made almost a complete circle of the principal part of the ‘burg,’ and after quite a while, during which time Brazos Pete kept him well in sight, he made his way back to his horse and remounted. He had taken a com- plete survey of the mountain town, and was now ready to ride from it undisturbed. He might be a spy of the Sure Shot Pards, for all Brazos Pete knew. It*might be much to their interest to detain him in the camp. It was a pleasant surprise when he suddenly encountered Mountain George, returning to the Pickpocket from a cabin in the vicinity. He hastily laid the matter before tho chief desperado, ‘Let ‘im go without a challenge,” was the reply; ‘‘but get your hoss an’ foller *im ter his den. He’s no friend ov ther camp.” Shortly after James Wilkes rode cut of Ten- derfoot, after bis bold inspection of the place; he was followed by Brazos Pete, one of the Marked Thirteen, who was also mounted and arm:d, CHAPTER VIII. A COMPACT ON THE MOUNTAIN TRAIL, Two score of dark, shirt-sleeved men stood ou a mountain trail when the moon a silvery bemi- sphere, came up two hours later. They were in the mountainous district that intervened between Tenderfoot and tke valley to the northeast. They were the men of Tenderfcot who had come there in response to the message from the Sure Shot Pards which had been found that morning on the door of the Pickpocket. They bad not come ina body. They had in most instances stolen up one by one and two by two, as if they had not dared to make their intentions known to their neighbors, for fear they belonged to the enemy. e Once together they represented fully one-half of the citizens of Tenderfoot, and were indeed a formidable body, armed to the teeth as they were, They watched the train to the northeast and conversed in low tones, Having their attention in this direction they failed to notice the almost silent approach of a body of mounted men whose animals’ hoofs were muffled, from the direction of Tenderfoot. The riders were quite near before they were heard and challenged: ‘* Who’s thar?’ accompanied by the click, click of a weapon. ‘*Captain Sure Shot and his Pards,” was the reply. ‘* Are you friends or foes?” An instant’s pause, asif in deliberation, and then the Tenderfoot man answered: ** Friends.” The ten horsemen rode up to within a few feet of the fearless mountain men, Captein Sure Shot, who bad been recognized by his voice, was inthe van, They were darkly habited, es usual, and rode spirited dark borses. ‘* You are the honest men of the Nugget coun- try, I presume,” said the Champion Regulator, ‘‘here in answer to the notice Lieutenant Dodge pasted to the door of the Pickpocket ac an early hour this morning. I am glad to see so many bere, You will lose nothing by coming. All of you read the notice?” ** Read it er heard it read, cap’n,” was the re- ply of the former speaker. ““Isn’t this Rough Rube?” asked the captain, as he bent-forward toward the tall mountaineer, who stood slightly in advance of hix comrades, ‘* Yas, thet’s me.” The Regulator extended his hand, which was by the other. ‘* We hate the same man, I know; that makes us friends,” saia Captain Sure Shot. “‘ Well, what did you think of the notice?” “We took it ter be ther straight thing, but we should like ter know. ov course, ther per- ticulers ov ther game afore we take a hand. War all yer said in thet ther truth?” “Every word of it.” ‘* Mountain George said thet it war a lie an’a put-up job on ther camp.” ' “That makes no difference; it’s the truth,
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‘dispute by gettin’ ther drop, , “Thet looks like bizness, ust the same, if he does say it,” said Captain ure Shot, ‘‘If you were in the Pickpocket night before last you know it was the truth. The town was called Tenderfoot because it was founded by a tenderfoot. How did he receive my communication?” ‘*He pinned it in position with a twelve-inch bowie an’ a very mad oath,” “That means defiance.” *¢ An’ he’s got together his forces—ther toughs he kin depend on ter fight at his back an’ sw’ars thar’ll be a buzzards’ feast ef ther Sure Shot Pards come in pistol range ov ther camp.” ‘The Sure Shot Pards have been in Tender- foot to-night, and there was no buzzards’ feast; unless it might be the carcass of an infernal spy whom we found on the outskirts, and whom we knew as Wildcat in the Silver Range. We were there looking over the battle-ground,” There was some wonderment among the Ten- derfoot roughs at the boldness of these men. ** Wildcat was one of the Marked Thirteen,” Captaim Dan went gn. ‘‘ He’s No. 1 of our ven- geance. The Sure Shot Pards will be a terror to their foes hereafter,” ** We've heerd ov ther Masked Regulators,” said Rough Rube, ‘‘ through a man who struck ther camp yesterday, an’ who can’t talk enough when full ov red-eye. His name is Brazen Bill. Puttin’ ever’thing tergether thet we hev heerd in ther last few days, we bev come ter ther con- clusion thet things are about ez yer say; eh, boys?” There was an assenting murmur. **Only we didn’t quite understand thet bit ov yer information about ther killin’ ov ther feller who diskivered Tenderfoot. We've thought all ther time thet Mountain George founded ther place. He hez always said thet, an’ we hed no reason ter disbelieve him.” ‘* Well, it’s a lie. The town was discovered by a — prospector, a tenderfoot, whose claim, I am satisfied, took in the richest ground of the place, He had no more than erected his shanty and got out a few pounds of dust, when Mountain George and a dozen others rode up and stretched him to a tree in the most brutal manner. Then they took possession and have grown rich off of you fellows, Thet’s the true story. The young man’s father and sister have the rights of his claim after his death, and the Sure Shot Pards have undertaken to secure them, Now, to all of you who faithfully assist us, I have the authority to promise you that you will lose nothing.” The mines will be developed and you will be given work at good wages. e will make a respectable and decent town out of Tenderfoct, with no such characters as Moun- tain George, Bowie Joe and others in it, What do you say?” he citizens of the mountain town expressed their satisfaction, ‘* Thet suits us,” said Rough Rube. ‘ We're tired ov livin’ under ther rule oy sech a man ez Mountain George, an’ I reckon it’d be a picnic fer us ter see ’im git his deserts, Ther crack ov ther six-shooter or ther yell ov some drunken devil hez seldom ceased ter ring in our ears. Thar’s a healthy graveyard down in ther valley, an’, strange ter say, not one oy ther dead thar is ov Mountain George’s stamp; nearly every r sinner thet we buried thar war a good an’ onest citizen, passed in his life-checks by mixin’ tov freely with men only too eager ter settle a Then thar’s not a man among us, | reckon, who hasn’t lost a Et part ov hisearnin’s in ther Pickpocket. Don’t we know that it’s a skin game run thar by Mountain George? We diskivered it some time ago, but it proved death ter mention it, ez Sober Sam an’ others could testify ef they war resur- rected, “This hez been ther state ov affairs in Ten- derfoot, We hev never hed any flush times, an’ we hev never seen a female in ther camp. We might hev sbook ther place, but gold seemed purty plenty, which warn’t the case ever’whar, an’ we hev been stayin’ along, anyhow till we heard ov a new find. “Yer might put ther case ter vote, Captain Sure Shot, Ef ther rest ov ther boys think ye’r’ right an’ hev my opinion thev’ll vote ter join yer. But ef they think yer story a fraud, an’ want ter back ter Mountain rge, they'll go st it. Put it ter vote!” ' “Put it ter vote!” repeated several, and the captain said: ‘Those of you who will join the Sure Shot Pards in bringing Mountain George and bis desperado associates to justice, and in restoring the Tenderfoot claim to its proper owners, your hands,” , Every right band in the party went up. sai Rough Rube, Mil ‘© Good!” exclaimed Captain Sure Shot. ‘‘ Now raise your six-shooters and swear,” Again two-score right hands went up, this time with heavy revolvers in their clasp. ‘* We sw’ar!” was uttered in deep tones, ‘¢ Thet means through fire an’ smoke,” Rough Rube remarked. ‘‘ We hain’t no angels, we hain’t, but we’ve got sume idears about right an’ wrong. This means reform in Tenderfoot—and war. It means ’nihilation ter Mountain George, It means revenge fer Sober Sam, Poker Ike, an’ others who died with their hoots on. You kin count on us, Captain Sure Shot. I’ve looked inter ther face ov every pard hyer, an’ I know ’em ter be ther straight ticket. Jest give us yer orders,” Captain Dan did not reply fora moment. He hesitated, as if forming some plan in his mind, He and the Pards at his back still sat erect in their saddles, but a few feet intervening between them and the rough men who were their newly- formed allies, The moon was slowly climbing up in the heavens, and its rays lent a wildly picturesque aspect to the scene. Not far distant, so near that the grotesque shadows cast by the crowd fell upon him, a man lay outstretched, noting all that was taking place. No need to tell you who he was, That he wasa spy of Mountaiu George you guess at once, and guess aright, It was Bowie Joe, a man about as desperate as Mountain George himself. The Champion Regulator paused only a mo- ment, and then said: “* Go back to Tenderfoot for the present. Ycu may be called to-night, and you may not. The call will bea peculiar whistle, and it means pre- pare to shoot. Let everything be quiet until the proper time comes. Then we'll let ther blows of vengeance fall.” * Thar’ll be wild times in ther Sodom ov ther Southwest,” said Rough Rube, ‘Many an old grudge’ll hev a settlement. We'll listen fer ther whistle, cap’n, an’ be ready ter shoot at ther nex’ minnit. Ain't thet rigbt, pards?” There was a subdued exclamation that meant ves” from the rough but honest mountaineers, ‘Well, that’s all,” said the Champion Regu- lator, as he started his horse forward, followed by hismen. ‘‘ We understand each other now; and the marked men of Tenderfoot will under- stand us soon, and it will be a very unpleasant understanding.” The men stood back on the trail to allow the horsemen to pass. Captain Sure Shot waved his hand to Rough Rube, and the muffled steeds moved away over the trail. f ‘““Wal, we go back ter Mountain George’s stronghold,” said Rough Rube. ‘‘ We sneaked up byer one by one, not sure whether another pard war comin’ er not, but we’ll go back sboul- der ter shoulder. For’ard, march!” And the bronzed and stalwart fellows descend- ed the mountain trail, and fearlessly re-entered the town they had sworn to help clear of its ruling spirit and nearly two-score of his asso- ciates, Bowie-Knife Joe, the spy, was not far in their rear, CHAPTER IX, DEADLY WORK, Apout the time the strange oath was being taken in the mountains, Brazen Bill was passing a cabin in the southern outskirts of Tenderfoot on his way toward the Pickpocket, when he came _— adark form outstretched upon the round, The giant bent over it in surprise, and on close inspection of the features, aided by the light of the moon, he discovered that it was the body of Wildcat, who had been stationed there as guard, What at first escaped his eyes, but what a lit- tle later he saw, was a small piece of paper pin- ned to the breast of the dead man, bearing some aa tihng § Brazen Biil could not account for the mys- terious death of this man, whom he had seen leave the Pickpocket in this direction not long before, The chance discovery was a rather startling one to the giant,and fora litile time he was 3 aap what to do, There was not the least spark of life in the body, he knew that. Already it was stark and cold, and he could see the deep wound, which had proved fatal, in the breast, After a mor at’s cogitation Brazen Bill gath- ered up the body in bis muscular arms and strode with it toward the Pickpocket, He was possessed of more than ord strength, and his burden caused bim but exertion, + ee Arriving at the door of the notorious resort he went straight into the room and deposited his lifeless pard on one of the rough deal tables. Instantly a crowd gathered around and there were exclamations of angry amazement when the face and form were recognized, ** Who done it?” was asked with curses, ‘*Thet’s more’n I’m ready ter state,” was Brazen Bill’s reply. ‘‘i run onter ther body is near some pard’s cabin down hyer, an’ it war ; lyin’ jest ez it is now.” | Then the paper pinned to the breast was i aud it was snatched up and held to the igbt. Tbree words were written upon it, in the same ao hand which had written the notice still adorn- a f ing the door, with its answer, a twelve-inch : fh bowie, striking through the center. The words were, ‘‘ The Sure Shot Pards.” Mountain George gave vent to his feelings in several mad oaths, ‘““Thet answers ther question,” he grated, ‘*They hev opened ther ball by ringin’ in a cold deck on Wildcat. By Jerusalem! tbar’ll be vengeance fer this!” is words were echoed by the crowd, ‘Tt hain’t been long sence he left hyer,” said one. ‘* No, an’ ther devils must ’a’ been hyer in ther camp an’ vd bg Wildcat on guard, war a Satan’s trick!” ‘““War it is!” exclaimed Brazen Bill. ‘“ By ther ghouls o’ Tophet! Ther next time they come they'll git ther deadliest reception ever given, er [’m no gent ov blue blood!” ‘Weve sworn ter stand by ther old camp an’ each other. Nearly forty ov us hev taken ther: oath, an’ we’re worse ner mountain lions! Won't certain ov our foes feel ther terrible claws? What ef forty traitors an’ sneaks hev shook ther dust ov ther camp from the'r feet an’ stolen u ther mountain ter meet Cap’n Sure Shot? It means death ter them!” ** Wildcat—shell we bury ’im now?” “Yes; two er three ov you fellers carry ‘im down ther vailey an’ put some sod over ’im.” The body was gathered up and carried back into the moonlight and down to the little grave- yard not far distant, where, with the assistance of a shovel, a shallow grave was dug and Wild- cat laid away, with muttered oaths of ven- geance. Then the sod was replaced and the trio of grave-diggers returned to the Pickpocket. t A few minutes later Bowie-Knife Joe entered | the place. vi 2, “Back, eh?” said Mountain George, who was vat perched on a seat behind the har, indulging in frequent potations of such liquor as bis place poor) ‘*What did yer see an’ hear on ther oa a trail! er “Gimme a good pull at a bottle first,” was the ef response, as the bar was reached. A bottle was given him, and while the crowd gathered around, he invigorated himself with an ample supply. : ** What aed I see an’ hear?” said Bowie Joe, as Be | he set the bottle down with a satisfied air. as “Wal, ther first thing after I got a position ae b whar I could diskiver things without bein’seen, l saw ther dozen kiotes o’ Tenderfut who war * thar ahead ov me. They kept a-increasin’ as ; ther fellers would sneak up, ez if they war goin’ ter rob a hen-roost. More an’ more come, until, = = by a rougb count, thar war about two-score. vF Rough Rube war ther pertickerler gamecock cov ra? B ther occasion. Yer should hey seen ther pious bre gophers ez they stood thar a-cussin’ Mountain George an’ his ways, an’ at thersame time keep- | in’ the’r droppers half drawed ez if afraid ever’ ry minit ther same Mountain George would pounce fa. 8 down on ’em fer turnin’ the’r backs on ther | camp,” ’ Pigs, oe “Didn't ther Sure Shot Pards show up?” ‘“‘- Yas, a little later. They come from Tender- } fut, an’ I heard ther cap’n say be hed laid outa mete *tarnal spy. Did yer find Wildcat?” ‘Brazen Bill’ found him,” replied Mountain George. ‘He war cold an’ stiff, Wesworeter = } hev vengeance!” : es “Vengeance we'll hev!” grated Bowie Joe. ae “ Pore Wildcat! we hed been pards fer five year. — /- Whar is he?—Id like ter see bim.” d ‘He's been put ander gound.” Bes “ All right, ef it war decent, boys. Wildcat war squar’ when he war alive an’ be’s got ter hev ahs a straight deal now he’s dead. Cap’n Sure Shot ‘ said he war No. 1 ov his vengeance. We'll try an’ see ef he ain’t ther raly one, I come near shootin’ ther mean kiote ez he set on bis hoss aw’ told oy layin’ out Wildcat. But I knew they
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i would ketch me afore I could git away, an’ so postponed ther job till ther next time I could git my peepers on mi? ‘ ; _ ** They crawled inter ther town like thieves an’ we didn’t know they war hyer, er ther would hev been ther promised buzzard feast.” ‘‘ Ther bosses war muffled, Mountain. Then yer krow the’r old tricks ov ther Silver Range. Cap’n Sure Shot went on ter say about his story like thet on ther paper thar, an’ called ’em ther ‘honest men ov Tenderfut.’ Ther hull scheme is ter run us out ov ther camp an’ take possession themselves. Thet’s ther head an’ tail ov ther bizness, cap’n. Masked Dan wants ter repeat ther old game, but we’ve run ther last time. ** Rough Rube shot off bis mouth about ther camp an’ Mountain George, an’ ther end ov it all war thet ther bull crowd swore ter help ther Sure Shot Pards in wipin’ us out. Then, headed by Rough Rube, they marched down ther trail inter ther town ez if it belonged ter them. They’re hyer now, waitin’ fer ther whistle thet means ter shoot.” ‘* They seem ter ferget thet we hev ther dead- liest six-shooters in ther Territory!” exclaimed Mountain George. ‘‘Thar’s death fer traitors!” ‘¢ Whar’d ther Sure Shot Pards go ter?” asked Whisky Jack. ‘They didn’t come back ter camp?” ‘*No; they went to’ard whar Brazen Bill says the’r camp is. Thar war ten ov ’em, ther same crowd thet hunted down ther Bowlder Band, only they didn’t bev on no masks.” “They didn’t set no time ter charge on ther town?” a No.” ‘Yer say thar war about forty at Rough Rube’s back?” “ Thet’s about it.” “Then thar’s fifty ov ’em—ag’in’ us forty,” remarked Mountain George. ‘‘ Fifty wolves ag’in’ forty tigers. We'll see who comes out ahead in ther fight fer Tenderfut. I reckon— Thar’s a hoss!” The Pickpocket roughs started at the sound of approaching hoofs, and their bronze hands sought the ready revolvers. It was a time when every sound was sus- picious of danger to them. Ina moment they became aware that there was but one animal, approaching from the northeast. Mountain George left the bar and sprung to the door, followed by the others. The horse was coming on ata rapid pace, It was soon near enough for those in the doorway to recognize its rider as Brazos Pete. Brazos Pete did not hold the reins, but was clinging to the saddle with an air of desperation. He reeled from side to side with the motion of the horse, and it seemed that it was only by the greatest effort that he kept his seat, The animal was slackenirg its speed, as it was nearing home, .and when it came up Moun- tain George grasped the bits and brought it toa standstill. Brazos Pete, wild-eyed and bloody, fell over into the arms of his pards. They uttered mad oaths when they saw his condition, saw that he was desperately wounded with a bullet in his breast, Leaving the horse to go its way, they carried him tenderly into the Pickpocket, and deposited him on the table where the body of Wildcat had rested shortly before. Whisky was poured down his throat, and his shirt was torn open and the wound dressed the best the rough hands knew how.. It was some time before the wounded despera- do could speak. Finally he partially regained his strength, and was able to look intelligently into the eyes of his pards and answer their questions. ‘‘How war it, Mountain? Well,” he said, huskily, ‘I follered thet old sinner ter bis den, ez yer told me, He never stopped er turned his head till he got in sight ov a cabin in Buzzard Ich, Then it seemed he caught on some way thet he war bein’ follered, and all at once thar war a flash a little ahead ov mean’I got this bullet hyer in ther breast, I managed ter keep my seat ez my hoss wheeled an’ tore over ther back trail, Ther critter never checked up till he got hyer, Back yonder in ther mountains ten men war sittin’ on the’r hosses, five on each side ov ther trail. They must hev been ther Champion tors. They didn’t say a word er move, but jest let my hoss come on. So hyer I am, Mountain, with a bullet in my life-box. I'm done trailin’ fer a time.” Brazos Pete was done trailing for all time. Before the sun rose and set again he founda bed beside Wildcat. o The Sure Shot Pards, CHAPTER X, A ROUGH VISITOR. A TYPICAL desperado of those wild days and of that wild region was Mountain George. Pos- sessed of navural intelligence above the usual of his kind, he combined with it a love of lawless- ness and evil-doing that was as deep-rooted as his soul. He was troubled with no conscientious scruples, and he was never so much in his ele- ment as when the leading spirit of a number of characters whose desperateness was only over- shadowed when compared to his own. No sooner was the terrible Bowlder Band broken up, than here he was again, surrounded by men who were ready to obey his commands as long as they could lift a six-shooter. While Mountain George was bold, even reck- less, he had something of the cunning nature of an Indian, and would not hesitate to strike an — an underhand blow; especially when thereby it was a means of gratification to him- self, by bringing into his possession something he coveted, After hearing Brazos Pete’sstory his scheming brain was set to work, and he revolved over and over in bis mind what he bad heard, He endeavored to learn more of the particu- lars from the wounded trailer, but he was too near to death’s door to answer intelligibly. Soon after, Mountain George left the Pick- pocket and entered a small cabin but a few steps away. He closed the door behind him and then struck a match, for the room was in darkness, The light revealed a rudely-furnished apart- ment, with a table in one corner on which sat a tallow dip. This rude candle the rough proceeded to light. Then, from a well-concealed crevice in the floor, just beneath the table, he drew forth a small packet of letters and papers. **Cap’n Sure Shot would probably like ter hev them,” he muttered, as he held them up. ‘ But ther Champion Regulator will never git ‘em. They’re fer nobody’s eyes but mine.” He drew a stool which did service for a chair up to the light, and opened the packet before him on the table. The papers were simply tied together with a slender buckskin thong. he first that was opened was the penciled boundaries of a claim, and the signature of Jobn Wilkes was at the bottom. ‘“Thet’s ther all-important dockyment,” said the desperado, with a grim chuckle. ‘* Cap’n Sure Shot’s fingers would itch ter git hold ov it ef he knew ov its existence, It’s ther claim thet takes in ther richest vein ov Tenderfut. But thet ain’t what I’m interested in now.” _ He sorted the papers through his fingers as if in search of some particular one. The remainder were nearly all letters, mostly written in a neat feminine hand, but a few were in the cramped hand of a man. One of the for- mer, whose conclusion was exposed, read, ** Your loving sister, Clara,” Mountain George did not stop to read them. He bad done that before, and he was now searching for an envelo which contained something heavier than a sheet of note-paper. It took in all but a moment to find it, and, in- serting his fingers, the desperado drew forth a picsceraph of card size. Before him was the likeness of a beautiful gir], perhaps eighteen years of age, with fair features and firm mouth and eyes, and long wavy hair. Beneath it,on the margin of the it were written two words—Sister Clara”—in the band which had written the record of the claim and signed ‘* John Wilkes” in the first paper. The eyes of Mountain George glistened as he pay at the face and form of the picture before im. ‘* Thar’s ther beauty fer me,” he exclaimed in admiration, ‘‘She’s ‘prettier than a hundred diamonds! She’s worth ber weight in ther best nuggets in Arizone! [d give my interest in kingdom come ter find ther original of thet pic- tur’. Let me see—let’s think ov a few things ag’in. Cap’n Sure Shct says Tenderfut belongs ter ther father an’ sister of ther galoot we found hyer six months ago, an’ thet he’s lookin’ arter thet claim. These letters hver are from ther same old man and his purty Clara, sent ter Tucson, We hed a visitor ter-night, an old man an’ Brazos Pete says thar’s a cabin in Buzzard Gulch. What's ter hinder ther old man bein’ father Wilkes? An’ Clara, ther Texas flower— ain’t she with her dad? Thet cabin warn’t thar a while back, Ain’t it nateral thet Cap’n Sure Shot would bring ther two hyer, set up thet shanty fer’em, an’ then go ter work ter run us out? By Jerusalem! ther thing’s worth in- vestigatin’.” He left the pictures and papers on the table, and walked up and down the apartment as a man laboring under excitement. ‘“What ef ther beauty’s hyer—in reach?” ho continued, suddenly, all his thoughts on the new and absorbing subject. The bare possibility of her being in the Nug- get country made him confident that it was the case, ‘* Ten ter one she’s mine ef she’s hyer. Thar’s one way ter find out—go ter Buzzard Gulch. An’ thar’s whar I'm goin’! Ef I could captur’ her, it’d be ther worst blow I could give ter my foes!” Just then he stopped in his tracks as if struck by a bullet. There was a footstep on the out- side, and then came a Joud rap at the door, as if from the butt of a revolver. Angered by the interruption, Mountain George sprung to the door, his hand involuntarily drop- ping on a weapon. For the moment he had forgotten the picture and the papers on the table by the candle. With an oath he drew back the door, and then his weapon was jerked from his belt. But although Mountain George was quick, he was not quick enough. He was pounced upon by a man in every sense as much of an athlete as himself—a man with long black bair and glittering eyes, and clad in the rich dress of a sport! The desperado of the camp was not prepared for the assault, and he was bandled with a grip of steel. Ere scarce a thought, except the instant rec- ognition of the intruder, could rush through his brain, the terrible grasp on his throat was re- laxed and he was hurled headlong across the room into a corner, He had hardly touched the floor, in a half- dazed condition, when those vise-like hands again assailed him and a knee was planted on his chest. He was totally at the mercy of the Champion Regulator. ‘“*Y sometimes come back when unexpected!” exclaimed the captain. ‘‘I want to warn you against Buzzard Gulch. Don’t you see what Brazos Pete got? Steer clear of the place if you don’t want to be turned into carrion!” The fierce words brought tbe disconcerted des- perado to his senses. But he was so pinned to the floor thet he could not even struggle. “The walls have ears and eyes, Mountain, don’t forget that!” Captain Sure Shot went on, ‘*So when you discuss yer plans and look over papers, don’t do it in the light of a candle where the walls, can hear and see! Again let me tell you, there’s death at Buzzard Gulch, the instant you strike the place. You must stay in Tenderfoot and fight awhile before your final moment comes, And this isa last warn- ing; I’ve given it ina way you'll understand and remember!” The big rough felt his weapons being drawn from his belt, and the revolver he still beld was jerked from his hand, Then the knee was re- moved and he was free to get y - He sprung to bis feet as the Champion Regu- lator backed across the room, and depositing the weapons on the table, coolly picked = the picture and the papers in their stead, and placed them in his pocket. Mountain George uttered a mad oath and made a move forward. But he drew back when he fouud bimself looking into the muzzle of a frowning six-shooter. ‘Never mind, Mountain, Tl take ’em,” said the Indian-eyed sport. ‘‘The record of the claim that ‘ takes in the richest vein of Tender- foot’ is exactly what I went. My fingers bave really itched to get hold of it. P'll take the pic- ture and the letters also. Theyre what you found in this room, when Jobn Wilkes was taken from it and hung. Yes, this is the identical cabin, I feel cert: in, You'll get pay for it all, Mountain George; the Sure Shot Pards have sworn it!” He spoke almost softly, but bis midnight eyes glowed like coals. Their look cowed Mountain Geore more than the revolver, which, neverthe- less, he knew to be deadly. He stood in his tracks without a word but with clinched teeth as bis old foe backed toward the door, and finally stood for a moment on the threshold, ‘Remember the warning to keep your dis- tance from Buzzard Gulch and the cabin Brazos Pete told you of! I'll visit you again soon.” A bow anda provoking cool smile accompa- nied his last words, and Captain Sure Shot step- ped out into the moonlight. : Mountain George bounded across the room to the table, seized a revolver, and the next mo : <S e
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Te wie 4: ment was on the outside of the cabin gazing in every direction for his late visitor. But he was nowhere in sight. CHAPTER XI. STARTLING EVENTS, Tue big desperado boiled with rage at the rough handling he had received and the loss of the important packet of papers: At that moment, with his revolver cocked and ready, it was his purpose to ‘‘shoot on sight”— to perforate his foe the moment he was seen. Bat the long-haired captain had left as sud- denly as he bad appeared to Mountain George, Failing to see him in any direction, the mad rough bounded toward the Pickpocket, and a huge spring took him into the middle of the room. ‘“*Draw yer droppers an’ seour ther camp!” he exclaimed to his pards, ‘*Cap’n Sure Shot is hyer, an’ likely his bull gang! Shoot on sight! Down ever’ black devil yer see!” e leaped back out the door, and his bronzed associates followed him, their hands gripping their ready six-shooters and threatening oaths issuing from their lips. With searching eyes they started away in every direction, each man bent on obeying the mandates to the letter. The Pickpocket for the moment was deserted, Even the barkeeper, Slow Sandy, had left bis post and was standing in front of the rough building with a weapon in his hand. Suddenly he felt a pair of heavy hands on his shoulders, and the next instant be found himself at full length ou the ground with a pair of glit- tering eyes above his face. Then he received a blow on the head from the butt of a revolver that made him unconscious for several minutes, He was not aware that half a score of dark and active men had entered the room that he had just left, and that a bold deed was being performed therein. During the brief interval that elapsed before the return of his senses the Pickpocket was the scene of a wild and tragic event. © > Only a moment was absorbed in its execution, and then the men vacated the place and disap- peared sileutly and quickly. Wild times were those in Tenderfoot. Later, when Slow Sandy came back to con- sciousness, he staggered to his feet, his brain still confused from the blow he had received. He entered the door of the saloon, and then his face grew white, his eyes bulged out and a yell of terror burst from his throat, Suspended from one of the high cross-beams of the cabin, by a noose that encircled his neck, was Whisky Jack! He was black in the face and dead, with a pa- r on his breast bearing the word ‘*t Vengeance” in large letters, On the table, with his glassy eyes staring up- ward, was Brazos Pete. His trip to Blizzard Gulch had cost bim his life. The scene was too much for the nerves of the affrighted barkeeper, and bounding from the cabin he gave a few lusty yells, which soon had the desired effect. A dozen men came running back to the place. Slow Sandy pointed toward the door, and the mountain roughs were soon across the thres- hold, They beheld the spectacle that was there pre- sented with exclamations of amaz*ment and fury. In the few minutes of their absence, scouring the outskirts of the camp, those whom they were hunting had entered their very stronghold and performed th's deed of vengeance and defiance. Terrible in their nature were the results of the visits of the Sure Shot Pards, Mountain George raised his- revolver, and a flash and a report succeeded the movement. The rope with which Whisky Jack was suspended —< in twain, cut by the bullet, and the body ell to the floor, from which it was taken up and placed by the side cf Brazos Pete, Many more had returned to the spot by this time, attracted by the yells and the shot. They all reported non-success in their search for Cap- tain Sure Shot and his Pards, That they were in the camp this deadly work evidenced, but they had been discovered by no one, Another and a more systematic search was conducted by Mountain George, with a like re- sult, And the two-score of stalwart roughs who had tramped all over the camp with cocked weapons and dark threats were compelled to re- turn to their notorious resort empty-handed and defeated. _ Meanwhile, one character was not troubling The he moe PEAR te) pa, Pag Bet Wmconie, # himself with the affairs of the camp, but was leaving it and the wild deeds being enacted in its confines far to his rear. The giant who bestrode a clean-limbed horse, which was going eastward at a leisurely gait over the mee grass of Nugget Valley, was Brazen Bill. Where was he going? Hear his own words as he urges his animal onward: ‘* Bowie Joe hez told me thet ther Tucson trail leads through Buzzard Gulch. Whar is ther Tucsoa trail? It seems ter me, by ther great hiyankidanks, thet when I war takin’ that ’tar- nul ride over ther trail ter Tenderbuf I come ter a place whar ther trail forked. My hoss went ter ther right, Why can’t ther left way be ther Tucson trail? Jest at present, dang my blue blood, I want ter git ter Buzzard Gulch, I bain’t acquainted much with this kentry, but Pll git thar ef I kin find ther trail. Thar’sa cabin thar thet didn’t use ter be thar, Brazos Pete says, an’ Cap’n Sure Shot writes me thet be is winnin’ a claim fer a dadandadarter, I kinder think it war ther dad thet paid bis re- spects ter Tenderhuf; also ter Brazos, Now ef thet’s ther dad, whar’s ther darter? Mebbe she’s at ther cabin in Buzzard Gulch.” Strange to say, the same thought which had occurred to Mountain George had developed in the usually thick and whisky-muddled brain of Brazen Bill. These two were probably the poy ones who had suspected the truth. Mountain George had stated his determination to go to Buzzard Gulch and inspect the cabin and its inmates, but had een prevented by an unexpected visit. Brazen Bill had resolved on the same thing, and stealing out of the camp at what was perhaps a remark- ably opportune time for bim, he was now fairly on his way in search of the supposed female at Buzzard Gulch, ‘*Mebbe I’m wrong, mebbe I’m right,” con- tinued the desperado. ‘But ther cyclone ov ther Silver Range never misses a guess! I’m a- thinkin’ thar’s a bird ov paradise at Buzzard Gulch. It’s good-day, Mounting George, ef I it her. She'll be worth more than ther bull ugget kentry, Thaings are gittin’? warm in Tendertut jest now, an’—wal, thar’s Tucson. Me an’ ther Nugget ros? could quietly pass on ter Tucson, an’ leave Tenderfut an’ Sure Shot ter kill each other ez they please.” he giant was a desperado as evil as Moun- tain George him elf, and had in his nature the same traitorous instincts of the savage. He had sold himself to Mountain George, but at the thought of being able to make such a capture as a girl he had turned his back on the chief desperado, If he should discover such a prize he was the one to make the most of it, even at the expense of Mountain George, The quality of allegiance he did not possess, The moon was well up and the stars shone brilliantly, so that the night was fairly light, The giant urged bis horse on over the valley for a considerable time before he came to the forking of the trail, He kept tothe right—which was inleed the qapaon trail and which led through Buzzard ulch, Persisting in his course for an hour, he reach- ed the entrance to the gulch, which was lonely looking enough, He silowaal his horse to continue in a walk wae he kept close watch ahead of him for the cabin, é He saw where the gulch brancbed, but he kept on in the main way until he became con- vinced that he was wrong, and then turning back be took the right direction, and soon be- held the little log house. / One of the front windows was dark, but through the curtain of the other a faint light was visible, showing that the occupant or occu- pants were still awake. The question now was to find whether or not the girl was an inmate of the cabin. Just how to do this was a poser to the big Arizonian, but finally a bold plan struck him as being feasible. He secured his horse in the shadows of the gulch, and himself keeping well in the dark, he advanced toward the house. When within a hundred feet of the door, he eee up a rock the size of a goose-egg and urled it with all his strength at the house, True to its aim, it struck the door with a re- sounding thwack, sending a shiver over the whole building. A moment ,ater the blow was repeated with av even larger rock. If boldness would accomplish his purpose, Brazen Bill was sure to succeed. mT Pout Tarr? x z “ ar: aid cg de Ear’ a/R Remenes ae Sure Shot Pards. — elt ‘* Thet'll stir em up inside, er I’m no laughin? eee a“ ged. ARS ig eye ; rose ov Kilkenny!” he chuckled. ‘Ther old man will rush out with a big sixer ter see what's ther matter, Ef he only will!” . The desperado drew his buge revolver and waited in silence. Several moments passed and no one appeared at the door. ‘* Why don’t ther old skunk come out?” mut- tered the waiting rough. ‘‘ Ther minit he does, T’ll hey vengeance fer Brazos Pete. Ill cl’ar this b’utiful territory ov one pestiferous old sinner. I reckon I’) hev ter stir him out, ef I do nothin’ else ter-night.” Another heavy rock was projected against the door with all the force of the giant’s arm. But it had scarcely struck when there was a flash and a report, and a brilet whistled start- lingly close to his head. The old man of the cabin was not the fool to expose bimself toa night attack! he shot had been sent from a loophole near the dark window. Surprised that he had been seen in the dark shadows of the cliff and that his plan to draw the old man from the cabin had so signally failed, Brazen Bill was ata loss for an instant how to act, But suddenly a ruse flashed through his mind that promised success, He threw up his hands and fell to the ground. d If it was not too dark for the keen eyes in the cabin to see him throw the rock it was not too dark for them to witness this last act. The ruse was successful. The door opened and James Wilkes came out, with a revolver in his right band. , He started toward the prostrate form of the giant, but at that moment the latter suddenly sat up, and leveling his weapon, pulled the trig- ger! Tt was a dastardly shot, and James Wilkes staggered and fell at the door of his cabin! CHAPTER XII. A BRAVE GIRL. THERE was no shamming on the part of the old man. The bullet from the assassin’s weapon bad hit the mark intended. The desperado went forward with an oath of satisfaction. ‘“Now fer ther mountain beauty!” he ex- claimed. ‘*Oh, ef she’s only hyer!” He quickly covered the distance to the cabin, passing without notice the outstretched body of the cabin’s owner. Eagerly pushing open the door with one hand while he held his revolver in readiness with the other, he saw that the room was in darkness; but at the moment of his entrance the door con- seers the two rooms of the cabin was opened, admitting astream of light. And there in the doorway stood such a vision of Ic veliness that Brews Bill was dumb with admiration and de- ight. a Who was it, father?’ asked the girl = prehensively, mistaking the dark form of the rough for her father. ‘Brazen Bill ov Tenderfut!” exclaimed the desperado, as he strode toward the girl. “I’m a gent with genuine blue blood!” he gave an exclamation of fear and started back, She attempted to shut the door and ex- clude the unwelcome guest, but he was too quick for her—his huge hand caught it ere it could close and she was shoved backward as if she were an infant. Clara shrunk into an opposite corner of the room as the burly ruffian came in and coolly seated bimself on a chair, He was completely lost in bold admiration, “Yer pared than 2]l ther diamonds in ther universe!” he broke out, ‘‘ Ther fairest flower thet ever blossomed in old Arizone! Ob, me noble heart, I am ready ter whoop with delight. T hev found an angel, dropped from ther skies— in fact, a lovely bird ov paradize,er I’m no ny The rough paused, but did not for a moment remove his eyes from the fair peing he bad dis- covered in Buzzard Gulch, - She advanced a step toward him with indig- nant eyes. “What do you want bere?” she said. “ You, me angel!” was the reply, “I want yous an’ by ther great humpin’ hiyankidanks! ’m goin’ ter hev yer. Thet’s ile from ther can. I’m a ban’some knight known ez Sir Royal, an’ I hev come ter rescue yer from this awful rison, I shell take yer ter toer most kind an’ “The giant's t ad into a would-be e giant’s face spread into a would-be engag- ing art, but the firl did not fail to see the demon in his eyes, .
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eo eee ee Eee oe ak a — ; —— : See RA Pon eens ee ety prvi tee aa Pia ae 2 i aaa dal teat - ; é See e: x eee Ace, Pe Pome en cs a we’ eee ee a, i ‘ “jee. hie. anne a i Brazen Bill glared at her a moment, angered : at being held at bay, and then with a quick | ter-night, you bet!” thet lily ov ther valley. Ef I’m not mistaken py R tas movement reached forward and roughly caaght | _ ‘‘ Give me ther perticklers, Mountain, “urged | yer promised it, an’ I'm gittin’ jeipatient > me, boi ea her arm. He attempted to wrench the revolver | Bowie Joe, ‘“Tartarus! I didn’t know there “All right,” replied Mountain George with a + ae from her prep: but the weapon was discharged | war a gal in ther Nugget kentry. course | laugh. ‘* Yer shall see ther Rocky Mountain Pc hr, and blinded by the powder and struck by the | she’s from ‘Tucson? hat’s ther rest oy ther | belle—ther Queen ov Tenderfoot. hev no de- a bullet, the ruffian reeled backward and fell | story?” sire ter go back on my promise, Come on hyer a *“¢ You will leave this moment, sir,” she ‘aid, “Cor my father will make you repent it.” ‘*No, hardly, me daisy,” chuckled the moun- tain rough, “Yer dad won't do thet, Didn’t yer hear two shots?” ‘““Two shots? They were his.” ‘Only one war--ther other war mine. dad took a fast trail ter Tartarus!” Yer The startled girl studied him a moment in | fear and doubt. And then tbe truth flashed upon her and her face grew white. ‘You villain!” she uttered, through clinched teeth—‘ you villain! Go this instant! How dare you come into this cabin?” Summoning all her energy, she drew herself erect and spoke in a commanding voice. **T hev come fer you,” was the complacent re- sponse. ‘* Yer will hev ter go withme, ma gent ov blue blood, lam. I want yer ter cheer my lonely hours. Yer will come, me darlin’?” ‘* No, never, you brute!” and again she stepped toward him, her eyes blazing. ‘‘ Back to your den, you coward! you murderer! You will pay for this night’s work! If you have killed my father, Captain Sure Shot will terribly avenge the deed.” “We'll not speak ter ther cap’n about it. You've heard that ignorance is bliss, so we'll let ther a a Regulator enjoy a big dose ov bliss. By Tophet! he’ll never know it, I reckon. I don’t perpose ter pay ’im a visit, er even go in his direction, Ive got different plans, me daisy. We'll give ther nugget kentry ther shake alto- gether; we'll quietly take ther trail ter Tucson, almost due east, an’ directly away from yer loved Cap’n Sure Shot. e kin reach Tucson by mornin’, mebbe afore. What's ther gold ov Tenderfut when yer kin hey a fine home in Tuc- son? Ter Tucson we'll go!” He arose and went toward the girl with out- stretched arm. She gave a slight cry of fear, and then ex- claimed, resolutely : ‘Back! Don’t dare to touch me!” He laughed mockingly. “‘Touch yer—when ye’r’ mine? I must hev a sweet kiss from them rosy red lips ov yourn!” Clara, the Texas flower, was in danger. She was alone and unprotected, and Brazen Bill felt that he had ber at his mercy, ~ But she would not tamely submit. During the years spent in the Southwest she had learned the use of weapons, and a small, silver-mounted re- volver had long been one of her prized posses- sions. She had instinctively retreated toward the shelf in the corner where it lay when the unwel- come guest first entered. Now, as he advanced upon her with evil eyes, she snatched it from its position and presen it at his breast when he was scarcely an arm’s length away. een Bill halted at her sharp command, “As sure as I live I will shoot!” she warned, firmly. ‘* Will you go? He only looked pleased. ‘““By ther ghouls ov Tophet!” he ejaculated, “ver git purtier an’ purtier! Dang my blue blood, ye’r’ sweeter ner any dozen pictur’s, It’s er look thet’s got ther drop on me, my moun- in flower, an’ not thet toy; I don’t care noth- in’ fer thet. Yer make sech a purty pictur’ ez yer stand thar thet, by thunder! I’m head an’ years in love with yer! Ye’r’ ther champion rose fer me. It was ther brightest thouglt ov me life thet brought me ter Buzzard Gulch ter- night. What would Mountain George give ter be hyer? Come, come, me Arizona prize—” “Another step, demon of Tenderfoot, and I will pull the trigger!” cried the desperate girl. ‘This revolver is self-acting. Leave me alive or stay here dead. Never shall a touch me!” An oath dropped from the bearded lips of the desperado, e was growing angry at her con- tinued resistance, “Oh, yer’ a little tigress now, but Tl tame yer!” he sent through bis teeth. ‘‘ In Tucson yer’ll be ez mild an’ lovin’ ez a lamb, Are yer goin’ ter put down ther dropper?” For answer Clara raised the silver-mounted weapon the fifth of an inch. Her face was white but firm, and her eyes told that she was ready to shoot in self-protection. heavily to the floor! The brave girl had saved herself at the last moment. : ’ She was too frightened at first to realize the The Sure Shot Pards. situation, but when the smoke cleared away and she saw that Brazen Bill had really been shot she drew a long breath of relief. in Arizona,” she said. my poor father. I must find him.” She slipped into her pocket the weapon which | had been of such good service to ber, and hasten- ing from the room, soon came upon the body of her father. ‘*Oh, father!” she cried, falling on her knees beside him, ‘‘are you dead? Speak to me!” She looked into his face, ghastly and bloody, and sobbed convulsively. Calming herself after ‘a short time, she | brought some water from the spring and tender- | 7 — his face and bathed the wound on his | ead, She did not think he was dead. She thought | his heart beat faintly. ‘*T must bave aid—I cannot save bim alone!” | she murmured. ‘If I could only get him into | the cabin to his bed I know I could nurse him back to life. If Dan were only here. He must come—he is needed here, I must ride to him and bring him!” Truly the poor girl was in need of aid, with the body of a giant rough lying in her room, and her father, her only friend and protector within miles, dying on the hard ground of Buz- zard Gulch. Fully aware that the only way she could hope | for assistance was by riding to the camp of Captain Sure Shot, she did-not hesitate long ere proceeding to action. First bringing from the house a soft cushion | and placing it under her father’s head, and | placing a damp cloth on his wound, she made |} some hasty preparations with regard to her own | rson, knowing full well what a difficult journey she had before her. She realized the dangers to be incurred in traversing alone the country of the Arizona desperados, but with her spirit of determination | once aroused she was ready to undertake | any venture to bring relief to her wounded | father. Some hundred yards up the gulch, on a fer- tile tract of ground, a couple of good horses | were picketed—the animals her father and her- self had ridden to the Nugget country in com- pany with the Sure Shot Pards. aking her way to the grazing-ground, the best of the steeds was soon caparisoned ready for the journey. Two minutes later, brave Clara Wilkes was riding at a dangerous speed through tke uncer- | tain shadows of Buzzard Gulch, with a pale, | hard-set face, that was never turned to the right | nor to the left. Ah, if the fair Texas flower had known what | was before her! CEAPTER XIIL DEATH TO TRAITORS. Rap! rap! rap! ** Come, wake up hyer, Bowie Joe! Wake up, Isay! I’ve got ther purtiest prize in ther Rockies ter show yer.” *‘Dast it!” growled the voice of Bowie Joe inside the cabin; ‘‘ wake a feller up jest ez he’s | struck a ten-inch vein ov ther yailler ore in dreamland! Who’s thar?” ‘* Me—Mountain George. Come out, Bowie, an’ lll show yer somethin’ ter make yer eyes sparkle. Better ner a ten-inch vein ov gold!’ A moment later the door of the cabin opened, and Bowie Joe made his appearance. ‘Hello, Mountain! What’s up? I thought yer an’ ther hull camp long since asleep.” “ Hevn’t closed eye ter-night, Bowie. On ther contrary, I’ve made ther biggest strike ov the What d’yer think I’ve got thar in my century. cabin?” Bowie Joe expressed his total ignorance, ¢ piece ov caliker, Bowie—a gal, by Jeru- salem!” The ‘*second best man” looked his astonish- ment. ‘*Tt’s ile from ther can, ez Brazen Bill would say,’’ Mountain George went on enthusiastically. ‘““T war so happy over ther find [ hed ter come an’ tell yer. Tenderfoot holds ther trump card Mountain George began at the first and told -him of the letters and picture found in the cabin of the young discoverer of Tenderfoot, and of the circumstances which had led him to conclude le 11 that James Wilkes and his daughter. Clara Wilkes, were probably in the Nugget country. Of his determination to go to Buzzard Gulch to “Tf I have killed him it makes one villain less | investigate and of Captain Sure Shot’s visit ‘* And perhaps avenged which prevented his immediate departure. ‘“‘ His warnin’ not ter go near ther gulch made it plainer than ever ter me thet ther gal war thar. Ef ther darned galoot thought fer a minit thet I wouldn’t go fer sech a prize jest because he said ‘nay’ he’s a bigger fool than he used ter ““Some time arter ther boys hed Jeft tker Pickpocket, arter swearin’ vengeance over Bra- zos an’ Wildcat, I tuk ter hossan’ made fur Buz- zard Gulch. No matter ef I didn’t take ther re- ulation trail, aa’ kep’ ter ther south, I made ugget Valley in comfort’ble time, an’ was soon goin’ direct ter ther beauty’s abode. ‘‘ Wal, Bowie, shoot me fer a spring chicken ef I didn’t meet ther gal face ter face on ther trail, she a-comin’ west’ard like ther Old Boy hisself. Stop’er? You bet! She showed fight, an’ by Jerusalem! I’ve got one lock ov hair less than I hed when I started from hyer. _It war clipped slick an’ clean by a bullet. But I disarmed ther little prickly pear, an’ brougbt’er byer. We come back ther same route [ went, fer i warn’t anxious ter meet ther Pards, an’ she’s in ther cabin over thar now. She’s still got ther tiger in her eyes, but I'll tame’er, an’ thet purty quick. I tell yer it war a ten-strike, Joe. Not only got ther gal but a good hoss! Tenderfoot hes got ther drop on ther Sure Shot Pards now!” The two stood in the soft moonlight before Bowie-Knife Joe’s cabin while he listened with eager interest to the recital. “ But what war she doin’ in Nugget Valley?” he queried. ‘*'Thet’s more’n I know, unless she war comin? ter meet me!” laughed the boss desperado. **She wouldn’t tell. whar she war goin’.” “Yer say she’s purty, Mountain?” “ Purty ?—wal, I should whistle—” ‘“Ye’r’ goin’? ter keep’er byer in ther camp, ov course?” “Yas; shell be Queen ov Tenderfoot.” “Tt seems ter me ye’r’ about right in sayin‘ we've got ther drop on ther Pards,” asserted the man of the bowie. ‘It’s ther worst blow we | could deal Sure Shot Dan. We kin dictate terms an’ make him come ter them by usin’ ther gal. yphe’s ther richest pay-dirt in ther terri- tory. ‘“Thet’s possible, but I’ve got another plan,” replied Mountain George, thoughtfully. ‘* We might bring Cap'n Sure Shot ter terms by threatenin’ ther gal, an’ then ag’in we mightn’t; I fancy we’d hev a durned circus a-doin’ it. I tell yer, Bowie Joe, thar’s never goin’ ter he ce fer ther Bowlder Band while Masked Dan ives. Thar’s not room in ther territory fer him | an’ me. We’ll never be able ter git a good sleep till we’ve wiped him entirely out ov existence. Thet’s ther reason I say we can’t make bindin’ terms with ther gal—ther only terms I'll agree ter is death ter ther Sure Shot Pards! Ther gal will do ter make us fight—we could fight worse ner forty catamounts with her at stake!” ry Then what are yer plans?’ was the ques- on. ‘‘ Brazen Bill hes told us about ther camp ov ther Regulators; we know whar they hev ter travel ter come ter Tenderfoct, an’ we know thet ez soon ez it’s dark ter-morrow they’l] make fer ther camp. Why can’t we lay fer’em on ther trail, an’ at one blow clean out ther var- mints ov Satan? Twenty shots would empty every saddle, sure. We've got ter strike er we'll git struck. Thar’s three ov ther Thirteen thet come ter Tenderfoot already gone, What d’yer think ov ther idee, Bowie Joe?” ‘‘ Wal, I say good, cap’n,” was the response. ‘“‘T war thinkin’ ter-night thet ef we stay hyer always on ther defense we’re goin’ ter die like rats. We may sw’ar ter hev vengeance, but by thunder! we’ve got ter act, an’ in a way ter supprise our foes! Ef we do ez yer say I be- lieve we’re bound ter hev success. Be car’ful in gittin’ in position an’ ther thing’s done—we kin drop every ’tarnal mother’s son ov ’em!” or some time longer the two desperadoes conversed and laid plans at the door of the cabin, when Bowie Joe said suddenly: ‘*See hyer, cap’n, I want ter see thet prize— with me.” Side by side the two went toward the first cabin ever erected in the town, | Within Mountain George’s dwelling a light
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held a prisoner, The fair girl reclined upon the rough couch, anc her eyes were damp and her cheeks tear- stained, She arose when sounds at the door indicated | that some one was about to enter. ‘*Can it be a friend?’ she murmured—* no, it cannot be—I have no friends here.” Still with a faint hope she watched for the ap- pearance of the visitor, ‘* Found again, by Tophet!” were the first words that fell on her ear. They were immedi- ately followed through the doorway by the burly figure of a giant rough who had dark spots of blood on bis shirt and a large handkerchief tied around his head. Brazen Bill! ** Left me in Buzzard Gulch cabin, eh?” he said with a malicious grin. ‘‘My blossum, come! Ym on hand a ag’in, an’ thar’s no time fer words. We'll go ter Tucson yet!” ‘ He went toward her and she shrunk from im, ** Come; nofoolin’ thistime. Yer little rascal, yer cheated me once ter-night, an’ but fer bevin’ genuine blue blood I wouldn’t be here now, [ staggered out ov the cabin jest ez you went flyin’ down the gulch. I follered ez quick ez possible, an’ saw yer meetin’ with Mountain’ George. So we all come ter Tenderfut, By Tophet, girl! er’ mine now fer sure. It’s Lt a Mounting eorge an’ Tenderfut, I’ve got my hoss waitin’ an’ we go ter Tucson ez fast ez he kin travel. Come!” The desperado unceremuniously seized the re- sisting girl in his arms, clasping his hand over her mouth just in time to prevent a scream, She was but a baby in his grasp, and her strug- gles were of no consequence, He bore her in triun:ph to the door. ‘¢ Tucson—Tucson it is!” escaped his lips. ** When Mounting comes ther cage will be ompsy I’m a playin’ a big game au’ I'll eucher the Nug- get pards ter-night!” Brazen Bill falsified. He was not ten paces from the door when two stalwart men loomed up directly in his path, and the voice of Mountain George rung out madly. ‘* Drop ’er, yer sneakin’ kiote! By heavens! yer’ve sealed yerdoom! Drop ther Nugget prize, Brazen Bill!” Brazen Bill did not lose his head. He con- tinued right on, holding the girl before him, so that, although the two roughs who barred his path extended glistening weapons, they dare not sboot for fear of injuring the girl. The giant also managed to whip out his revol- ver with one hand and hold it in a menacing manner, His coolness and strength were wonderful, “*T drop nothin’!” be flashed to his old pards, ** Move ter ther left, _ two, er I'll bore yer with bullets, By Tophet! I mean it, Mounting! Tl shoot ef yer don't stand aside, I hold ther winnin’ cards jest now, an’ I mean ter sweep clean ther boards!” With a grated oath the king-pin of the camp and his pard bhesitatingly stepped to one side, and Brazen Bill walked past, keeping his burden and his revolver in the position in which they did the most good. Finally he was backing away from them, and a chained lions, the Tendertoot pards glared at him. + ‘‘T’m never comin’ back, Mounting!” was the giant’s parting shot. ‘‘Me an’ ther Arizona flower are goin’away. Far’well!” All at once Mountain George and Bowie Joe rted ge! pat so suddenly that for an instant razen Bill was nonplused, The two dodged in different directions and were out of sight in a twinkling. The giant was alarmed, and replacing his weapon in his belt, ran with all his speed along the trail which formed the one street of Tender- foot. Presently he came to a horse, and with a rude warning to the girl to maintain silence, he laced her upon the animal and quickly un- oosed the bitch-strap, He made a mistake in pacers Hes girl would calmly wait for him to mount behind her and carry her far te the possible reach of friends. Clara Wilkes was made of different metal, No sooner had the giant released his hold of her than she ones from the horse on the oppo- site side from her enemy and ran for her life. Brazen Bill gave vent to a thunderous oath, It was the last utterance of bis life. “Death ter traitors!” suddenly rung out on ‘the night-air in Mountain George’s coarse, mad tones, burned dimly, and Clara, the Texas flower, was | Clara?” James Wilkes groaned and raised his hand to es ar shot, and Brazen Bill sunk to the ground under | his horse's feet. | Clara was fleeing—whither? Anywhere to es- ec from her dread captors. he lamb was loose in the wolves’ den! | She heard rapid, heavy steps behind her, and | just as she would have fallen, two dark, rough | arms were thrown around her, and she was | lifted from her feet. CHAPTER XIV. IN NUGGET VALLEY, CAPTAIN SURE SHOT, the Champion Regula- tor of Arizona, bent over a rude but comforta- ble bed on which lay James Wilkes. He had ridden up to thecabin in Buzzard | Gulch a moment before, just as the rays of the morning sun first began peeping into the place A low ‘‘come in,” uttered with an effort, bad been the response to bis knock, and he had en- tered, tobe surprised to find the owner of the cabin pale and wounded on the couch, with no sign of the presence of his fair daughter. ‘What does this mean?” was the quick ques- tion, as he looked down upon the pain-contract- ed features upturned to him in recognition and welcome. ‘* Who has been here, and where is his head. ‘It was done last nigh —I don’t know who by. Clara was carried off, I suppose.” ‘But tell me all—all the particulars, Mr, Wilkes, By heavens! I'll take the trail to the rescue at once.” Too weak to rise, and almost too weak to talk, the old man with difficulty told his story. ‘* The first of it all was, I went to Tenderfoot last evening to inspect the camp, to see what the property appeared like that we had come here to secure, Although I made sure I was not fol- lowed, when almost home I became aware of the presence of a pursuer, It ok a shot at his dark form and turned him back. But the mis- — had been done—the cabin had been discoy- ered. ** A few hours later the door was assailed with rocks, evidently in expectation of my rushing outside to shoot the disturber, I was too wise for that, and stationed myself at the loop-hole there and caught sight of the enemy in the dark shadows of the cliff. He fell when I shot, and thinking I was safe in then showing myself, went out. But bis fall was a strategy; he sprung up the moment I stepped into the moonlight, ap- rare unhurt, and I got a bullet in the ea “Who was the night wolf?—the cowardly assassin?” _ ‘*T don’t know, A man of large figure.” ** And did you know nothing after you were shot?” “Not a thing. I fell in froutof the door, and knew nothing for I don’t know how long. When I came to my senses I found a cushion under my head and a cloth on my wound, shuw- ing that some one bad been kind tome, [ man- aged to crawl in here to my bed, and I found that Clara was gone. I fear that she is in trouble, Dan, The man whoshot me must have earried her off. Great God! If I bad known this, I never would have left Texas! May I be forgiven!” Captain Sure Shot’s teeth closed like a steel- trap. , **T will have her back unbarmed, or I will | make the Nugget country a dark and bloody ground,” he oe me the suffering father, ‘* By my life! Vl bave vengeance fer every hair of her head that is injured. I’m off on the trail at once. I know full well who is at the bottom of this—Mountain George of the Silver Range! Woe to him!” He went on: ‘You don’t know the exact time that the wolf came?” ‘*No—it was before midnight; neither Clara nor I had retired.” “They've bours the start, but so much the worse for the wolf! It was a bad night’s busi- ness, as will be found out!” The mad Pard turned his eyes away from the pale face a short time, busy with speculations | and plans. Then suddenly he turned again to the old an. ‘Five minutes to doctoring you, and then— to Tenderfoot! I can do much to heal wounds - — as make them, Ab! It was a bad shet. m The Champion Regulator may have been a) The words were immediately followed by a on ee practicing surgeon in his time; certainly be un-- derstood the work of bandaging a bad wound on the head, ‘*' You will live long to love your daughter, is my opinion,” he said, when the job was accom- plished. ‘‘ Remain quiet and I think you will not be seriously ill. And now—good-by. You have your weapon tbere—shoot if you are mo- lested. I will find your daughter!” A dozen resolute steps took the Arizona Regu- lator to his horse, and springing to the saddle, he was away at a rattling speed. He was aroused if a man ever was aroused. He had been keeping a watchful eye on Buz- zard Gulch, but visiting the cabin this morn- ing without the slightest intimation cf the bad work there the night before, be had been more than surprised to learn the state of affairs, and the news had been a heavy blow to him, He made straight for Tenderfoot, for be felt that there the girl had been taken if kidnapped by Mountain George or any of bis minions, He never drew rein until stopped near the western edge of Nugget Valley by the sound of a sudden shot some distance ahead, ata point .where the trail ran through a small timbered district, ‘That was not meant for me,” he concluded after a moment spent in a listening attitude. I am sure I hear horses going the other way. “I will ride on and investigate. Presently bis animal shied at the body ofa man lying across the trail. ‘Rough Rube, by the eternal!” be ejaculated. ‘* Some imp from Satan’s Paradise has shot him, Pay fer it he shall.” e spoke to bis horse and dashed ahead. Once free of the timber and not far in advance he be- held a rough he knew in an instant, riding one horse and leading another. He was pursuing his way leisurely, until he beard the rattle of hoofs bebind him and turning, recognized the chief of Regulators. Then he plied the spurs ove dashed ahead at the top of his animal’s speed. The dark-haired Regulator was bent on an- other stroke for vengeance, and his coal-black steed gained at every bound, : He knew Rough Rube’s assassin to be Pistol Matt, one of the Marked Thirteen, and one of the worst characters that escaped the halter in the Silver Range. ‘* Hyer’s fer vengeance!” the mad sport sud- denly called out, raising bis weapon. ‘The work goes on, and you’ve placed yourself next on the list, Pistol Matt!” The Tenderfoot desperado answered with a defiant oath. He drewin his horse, and clutch- ing his revolver, attempted to turn and drop bis foe. But Captain Sure Shot’s finger was at the trigger, and following bis shot Pistol Matt tumbled from his saddle. ‘*One more stroke in the interest of justice,” said the victor Lah ig fe “He 1s down for good, but what of Rough Rube?” He turned his horse and soon was bending over his Tenderfoot ally, The rough was only wounded, and ere long was in a condition to talk. Pistol Matt’s bullet bad fortunately done little more than stun him, “T avenged the shot,” said the Champion Regulator. ‘ Pistol Matt peid dearly for his cowardly work. How was it?” ‘* A sneakin’ ambush,” was the reply. ‘‘ I war ridin’ through hyer an’ war dropped without a moment’s Warnin’.” ; The big miner staggered to his feet and sup- ported himself against a tree. Captain Sure Shot remounted his horse. “JT will go and try to ketch your animal,” he ‘said, turning ngain to the wounded man; then suddenly: “ What is it, Rough Rube? Your eyes say you know semething.” “ Right ye are, pard. I war follerin’ this trail ter find yer.” “Out with it then, I’m on the trail that permits of no unnecessary delays, I’ve started to beard the lion in his den!” “Are yer buntin’ caliker, cap’n!” vertured the rough. “You bet! What do you know?” Rough Rube came a step nearer his handsome captain with a proud smile on bis frce, **She’s found, can’n,” he responded, The Champion Regulator laned forward in his saddle and his hand clutched like a vise Rough Rube’s shoulder. ‘Tell me what yon know,” he commanded. * All right—but thunder, cap’n! thet’s my shoulder. Ease up a little. Ov course yer want ther news an’ yer shell hev it; but thet grip ov yours would paralyze a bull.” ‘ Captain Sure Shot relinquished the rough Se +) as eae
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man’s shoulder, but his look was still a com- mand. ‘*T hev this ter say,” Rough Rube went on to inform the Regulator, ‘Ther gal is in Tender- foot—in good hanas, There was a pistol-shot near my cabin las’ night, an’ though I’m not often disturbed by sech a customary thing I buckled on my shooters an’ went out ter see what | could see. Knock me out fer a white- livered catamount, cap’n, ef I didn’t observe a gal a-runnin’ fer her life, an’ Bowie Joe after her. I war too astonished ter move fer a little, fer I thonght there warn’t a female this side ov Tucson, much less in Tenderfut. Bowie Joe caught her in a jiffy: an’ then he an’ Mountain George took her ter Mountain’s cabin. The shot I hed heard had been fired by Mountain, an’ hed laid out Brazen Bill fer keeps!” ‘‘But how came the girl there?” interrupted the captain. ‘Who took her from Buzzard Gulch?” ‘Pll give yer ther story,” said Rough Rube, and he related all that bad occurred to Clara Wilkes from the moment of the attavk of Brazon Bill to the time of her incarceration by Moun- tain George and Bowie Joe, ‘*How do you know all this? You say the girl is safe—where is she?” ‘Jes’ a minit, cap’n,” replied the Tender- footer. ‘‘ Yer see, when I saw ther gal taken ter Mountain George's cabin I thought thar must be somethin’ wrong, ez she hed been tryin’ ter escape from them. §S», arter while, when Mountain weut off ter roost, leavin’ Bowie Joe ter guard ther gal’s cabin, me an’ one ov my pe had round ter investigate. A good lick on ther head with a sixer laid out the guard, an’ we went in ter ther little gal. She war in a dead faint whea we found her. We took her ter my cabin an’ I made her comfort’ble, Two ov us then watched ther ranch all night, When morn- in’ come she war all right, an’ she told me ther bull story ov ber comin’ ter Tenderfut. She wanted me ter go ter you an’ bring Se thar, ter take her back ter her father. So I[ started, an’ hyer I am.” ‘But Clara, the girl—you say she is safe now?” ‘‘Thar are nearly eighty good six-shooters in Tenderfut thet says she is, Ther pards thet swore on ther trail las’ night ter stand by yer meant every word ov it, Sure Shot.” ‘‘What is the state of affairs in the camp? Does Mountain George mean to fight for the irl?” aD He don’t know what’s become on her. He war ready ter shoot Bowie Joe fer lettin’ her git away, an’ he don’t know who got her no more’n ther boss. They OV course are inclined ter think you are ther one thet got her. Moun- tain is b’ilin’ mad. Ther camp is quiet, my = a-hangin’ round ready ter fight fer ther uty ef she’s diskivered. Tharare half a dozen watchin’ her cabin on ther quiet, an’ ther first man thet opens her door will drop like a beef, ‘* Ther boys are more’n anxious ter hear thet whistle,” Rough Rube continued. ‘‘ Major Hank one ov ther best pards thet swore on ther trai las’ night, war found dead on bis cabin floor this mornin’. I epactin thet my cabin war vis- ited sometime durin’ ther night by ther same as- eassin, but 1 warn’t ter home, which ar’ good fer ther assassin. I suppose it was Pistol Matt, who laid fer me ter-day. We're sp’ilin’ fer ther ball ter open, cap’n.” Say ome Sure Shot grasped the big miner by the hand. “ Your talk is good!” he exclaimed, “ Thank God the gir] is all right! You have my eternal gratitude, Rube. You will have reward for all this. Let's go to her at once.” Rube hesitated, and dropped his eyes for a moment. “Pye been thinkin’, cap’n;” he said, “ thet maybe it wouldn’t be fer ther best ter take ther gal away in ther light ov day. Thar’s liable ter ) ras: Boy yer know, maybe a fight. which might break up a scheme thet Mountain George hez on foot fer ter-night. He an’ his crowd mean ter waylay ther Pards on ther trail in ther mountains as ye’r’ comin’ ter Tenderfut, ez they know yer will be ez soon ez it is night. Thar’ll be enough bullets ter down ew’ry Pard ther first round. We're not asleep in Tenderfut, an’ we learned ov ther job this mornin’. Considerin’ this is what made me say not ter stir up ther toughs ter-day by goin’ inter ther camp @n’ ex- pose ther gal by takin’ her away, but let ’em go ahead with the’r little game. Ef they leave ther camp, it will be a trap fer the’r own doom, cap’n; can’t yer see thet?” Rube spoke rapidly and earnestly, It was clear that he was not lacking in allegiance to those whom he had sworn to support. The Su e Shot Pards. 1d \ Captain Sure Shot was thoughtful for a mo ment. ‘* You are quite right, Rube,” he said at last. ‘*T shal) not provoke a scrimmage in Tenderfoot to-day by exposing the Texas flower to the Satan’s own crowd. I'll send one of the Pards to spend the day at Buzzard Gulch. I only hope this—that Mountain George and his forty despe- radoes will be fools enough to leave their camp to-night and lay in ambush for us on the moun- tain trail. If they do, the work of vengeance will go on by the wholesale!” CHAPTER XV. TWO SHOTS AND A LIE. As on the day preceding, the daylight hours witnessed the reign of quiet and order in Ten- derfoot, The friends of Mountain George spent the time at the Pickpocket, which place was gen- erally avoided by their sworn enemies, Rough Rube’s friends, _Few words were exchanged by the two fac- tions, By this time the men were so open in their movements that it was known which side every man in the camp favored. Many tigerish looks were given and received on both sides, but no disturbance occurred, al though it was evident that such a state of affairs could not long exist in the camp where men were so ready to settle their differences with the revolver. Matters might be precipitat- ed at any time with dire results, The crisis could not be bee off, The death of Major Hank at once aroused the righteous indignation of the honest men of the camp, and it was only with difficulty, stirred up as they already were, that thev restrained themselves from seeking satisfaction at once, That Major Hank met his death at the instiga- tion of Mountain George was a foregone con- clusion. But they swallowed their rage and resent- ment, and contented themselves with watching and waiting for the moment when they should be called upon to avenge their wrongs, as well as the wrongs of otbers. The door of Rough Rubhe’s cabin did not stand open during any part of the day. and there never was a moment. passed that a number of Rough Rube’s friends were not in easy pistol range of the cabin. secretly guarding it. Mountain George was the most dissatisfied man in the Nugget country. The “ theft” of tho gir], by the Sure Shot Pards, as he thought, made life very bitter to him that day. He did a ag deal of drinking and swearing. t was early in the afternoon when the des- perado might have been observed leaning against the logs of a cabin on the northeastern outskirts of Tenderfoot, Captain Sure Shot had been seen to enter the town, and the rough was awaiting his return. The Champion Regulator had visited Rube’s cabin as he thought undiscovered, but the sharp eyes of one of Mountain George’s spies had been upon him. The boss of the camp had been drinking more than was good for his nerves, but that be had not lost confidence in his ability to shoot was shown by the fact that bis hand continued to rest on the butt of a big revolver in his belt, He stood about fifty yards from Rube’s abode, behind the last cabin to be passed in lp Pe Tenderfoot. He watched witb interest the door where the Regulator was expected to make bis exit, but— With no less interest was Mountain George himself being watched! > “I'll show ther champion galoot of the Rockies thet he can’t enter this camp in open day at bis own sweet will ez ef he war ther owner, an’ never git a sixer shoved inter his face,” muttered the desperado. ‘‘ By Jerusalem! when he rides from tbet cabin he rides ter his death! He an’ Rough Rube hed better hold the’r consultations somewhar else. I allow no noonday parades in Tenderfoot, unless, by thunder, it’s a funeral! I intended ter shoot ther boss kiote in ther mountains by moonlivht, but [ kin do thet job now by sunlight. an’ "tend ter his pards ter- night.” An hour passed and the big Arizonian grew impatient. “* Why don’t the Champion come?” be growled. ‘* By Satan! [’m anxious ter settle mv bill with him. I want ter pay off old scores an’ all inter- est with one good .44 shot, Hang me fer an Apache ef [ don’t believ - he’s concluded ter be- gin housekeepin’ hyer!” ““T'l] not keep you waiting any longer!” all at once fell on the lurking desperado’s ear. ‘ By George. Mountain! You’re made of patience!” The Tenderfoot had just time to turn half - > — een ————————————— eee aa round when he was seized from behind by the neck and left arm in a grip that made him writhe with pain. He felt his feet leave the ground and he was jerked up like a sack of oats and thrown across the neck of a horse whose rider laughed aloud as he held him helpless before him. The animal started off at a gallop, his muffled noofs making scarcely a sound as they struck the trail. “Tt's a little trick we have—Vulean and I,” said the triumphant Regulator as the gold camp was left rapidly behind. ‘* You forgot, Moun- tain, that Rough Rube’s cabin has a back door, and that his stable is not two feet from it. Did hes expect to see horse and rider come out the ront door? There’s nothing like a little sur- prise, you know. Ride into the mountains a piece with me, will you? There’s splendid scenery ahead.” Mountain George was notclear in his own mind what he would do, but the prospects were that be would accept the invitation and ride into the mountains with bis foe, A struggling bope passed through his mind that Bowls Joe or some of his pards would see his danger and rescue bim by a timely builet; but the black steed of the Regulator traveled at a fast gait, and the haunts of the desperadces were being left in the rear, so that the chance of any intervention was becoming poorer each instant, The would-be assassin was in a most uncom- fortable position. Lying across the neck of the horse the traveling was exceedingly rough, and besides, his neck was stil] in that terrible clutch he had cause to know so well. His captor gave a merciless Jaugh and tightened bis grip when he made an effort to free himself. The rough was decidedly hors de combat, and be soon ceased to struggle, But his mind was active with plans to turn the tables when a chauce should be presented. Up into the mountains dashed the ebony charger with its double burden—the two deadly enemies. Captain Sure Shot ceased to talk, and on his handsome face settled an expression that would have made strong men tremble, as be sur- veyed the rongh, ungainly form of his captive foe. The look was one of undying hatred, and boded 111 to toe one at whom it was directed. Finally the horse was drawn to a halt, and Mountain George felt the steel-likc fingers re- moved from his neck, He was allowed to fall to the ground, and he experienced a rich sense of relief, Then, with every faculty recovered, bis right band went to his belt, but the weapon sought was notinits place. It had been dex- terously extracted during the ride. The Arizovian Regulator watched his move-~ ment with orbs that seemed to penetrate his in- most thoughts. His attempt to use a weapon was met witha glance that spoke a menace as plain as words, ‘‘Tll do the shooting!” came suddenly from the man on the borse, ‘‘ Note that you are at my mercy, Mountain George. Jf I will, the Marked Thirteen will forever lose their chief to- day. Marked Thirteen? By Heaven! you're not marked, Mountain, only in mind--you_ bear no marks to show that your day is set. You shall be marked!—when you lie in wait to assassinate the Champion Regulator it will cost you dear!” The mountain giant’s face all at once turned ashy pale, as succeeding the mad words a six- shooter came to a leve] with bis bead. ; One instant of terrible suspense, and then two shots were quickly delivered, and the desperado staggered back with a cry like some wild beast. There was a bullet hole through each ear! ‘* Marked—and well done!” followed the shots in victorious tones, ‘‘ You will never forget me now, Mountain, or that you are marked for ven- geance. Your ears will be constant reminders tbat your doom is near.” The Champion Regulator seemed to be proud of the work: of bis unerring hand. Into Mountain George’s eyes came a look of fear and dread—well assumed. He seemed to lose his self-control and quake as does a dog in the presence of a stern master, ‘Yep’ jmposin’ on a man thet means peace ter day, Cap’n Sure Shot,” he said, as he came nearer to horse and rider, ‘ Yer hev not given me a chance ter k afore, I waited fer yer in Tenderfut ter hev a truce an’ make tarms ov surrender with yer. By heaven! yer’ve marked me fer life jest at ther moment when I war ready ter throw down my shooters an’ ask yer mercy. Hawes given no reply, except a look be could not fathom. “Pye concluded thar’s no use ter keep upa one-sided fight any longer,” be went on, ‘* an’
Page 14
a tier Pards* hev agreed ter knuckle under. We made a big scoop an’ got ther gal las’ night, but she war gone when ther sun rose, an’ we are ready ter cave in disgust. We had ter give in in ther Silver Range, an’ we'll hev ter give in hyer. Three ov ther old boys bev passed in the’r chips, au’ things are gittin’ too warm fer ther rest ov us. We want ter belt our shooters fer good, cap’n. We'll give up Tenderfut an’ leave, er work in ther mines ef ther proper machinery is put in. ** lt are my plan ter bev ther Sure Shot Parcds meet ther ten pards ov ther old Silver Range byer in ther mountains ter night when ther moon comes up, ez yer met Rough Rube an’ some ov ther boys las’ night, an’ we'll come ter tarms. In ther mean time, yer kin decide on ther tarms fer peace, an’ we’ll meet yer fa’r an’ uar’.” aa all appearances Mountain George spoke with all the sincerity of the proverbial ‘* Gospel sharp.” Captain Sure Shot well understood the rough’s words, after what he had been told by Rough Rube earlier in the day; but not by word or smile did he show a doubt of the giant’s honesty, On the contrary, the latter felt certain that his proposition ha been favorably received, ‘You have og dees wonderfully,” said the Regulator. ‘‘ You have sworn to fight me to the death.” “Don’t mention it, cap’n. We've come ter our senses. Thar’s no use buckin’ ag’in ther old Masked Regerlators. Three ov ther pards are gone alread y—” “Four, Mountain,” was the interruption. ** Pistol Mott died in Nugget Valley to-day.” ‘* Wal, four gone, an’ it’s only a question ov a short time when we will al get picked off. Thar’s fifty on yer side ter less’n forty ov us, an’ sech a fight is not healthy fer us, you bet. Now ter night ther nine ov us will come hyer—” ‘* Where will your other thirty pards be?” “In ther camp, o’ course. They are willin’ ter foller any tarms thet we make.” “ Well, the Sure Shot Pards will be on band here to-night,” said Captain Sure Shot, evident- ly falling in with the whole plan, much to the rough’s inward delight, ‘I'll dictate the terms then. Now, remember, this is square business,” “Sartain, Pard Cap'n. Mountain George will do whatever he agrees,” ‘* It?s settled then,” concluded the champion, «*-You can go back to the camp, Mountain. The big mountaineer did not wait for further words, but turned his bloody face toward the town at the foot of the mountain trail and strode away. bis Thar’s nothin’ like a lie well told, after all!” escaped his lips ere he was ten yards away. *“‘Thet lie means vengeance fer ther devil shots thet hev sp’iled my beauty!” CHAPTER XVI. THE WORK OF VENGEANCE, In the soft summer twilight twenty-five typi- cal Arizonian desperadoes stood on the far out- skirts of Tenderfoot, with their backs toward the camp. Mountain George was giving some final instructions to a man who was on the point of turning back. ** Thar’s shang pen left . Mee ay , an’ they’re ter keep the’r eyes peeled, don’t fergit thet! Watch Rough Rube an’ his pards like hawks an’ shoot ther furst man thet attempts ter leave ther town. We don’t want nothin’ ter do with thet gang ter-night. We'll clean out the Sure Shot Pards, an’ then Rough Rube an’ about forty kiotes like him will come in fer a settlement. By Judas! ther closer they stick ter the’r shanties ter-night ther better it will be fer them! They’ve got ter lay low on this oc- casion, an’ it’s ther duty ov ther fifteen ter see thet they do, Go back ter ther Pickpocket now, an’ see thet thar’s guards in every part ov ther camp. Ef yer blunder, by Jerusalem! yer’ll never see ther sun rise!” The boss of Tenderfoot turned toward the mountains and at the word the twenty-four be- gan their march. They did not appear as if they were bent on a mission of ce, Their belts might have been taken for small arsenals, and an observer would have remarked that the band looked more like . hey were going forth to battle than to surren- er, The nine who remained of the Marked Thir- teen were in the advance, They were going to fulfill their appointment to meet the Sure Shot Pards in the mountains when the moon rose, but, contrary to agreement, they were accom- panied by fifteen stalwart toughs, who looked able to cope with an equal number of men of any ability. The Sure Shot Pards. This was Mountain George’s plan to dispatch | to leave the Nugget country as far behind as his relentless enemies at one telling stroke. He had attended to every detail most carefully and he believed that to-night Tenderfoot bullets would be successful in compassing the death of the Sure Shot Pards. The men of Terderfoot had left the camp in the quietest manner possible, stealing out one by one and congregating in an isolated cabin, and when they turned toward the mountains. as darkness fell, with oaths on their lips and revol- vers in their hands, they felt confident that their plans and their movements were unknown to any enemy. They walked Se ng t wasting as little time as ssible. Mountain George addressed his pards in mad tones as they advanced, ‘*We swore ter Cap’n Sure Shot thet ther Masked Regulators hed come ter ther Nugget kentry ter die,” he sent over bis shoulders. *‘ an’ ter-night we'll keep thet oath, Ef they hit this trail ter-night they’ll be turned inter a wolves’ feast in ther time a cat winks. Thet means good times again in Tenderfoot, with a queen wu'th all ther wealth in ther territory. We shell hev no failin’ ter-night, pards. When we think ov ther queen we kin hit ther mark twelve times out ov a dozen. My ears are ina sling, but eye an’ hand kin be depended on yet, Jehu! we'll hev a good while ter wait till ther moon rises; but ther Pards may be along at any time, an’ it are our biziness ter be on hand, Sooner er later tbar’ll be some rough work in these mountains ter-night.” The Tenderfoot desperado spoke with perfect truth—there would indeed be some rough work in these mountains to-night. But the tide was to take a different turn from what he expected, The men of Camp Tenderfoot never made a greater mistake than to quit their stronghold tor the mountains, when they had for enemies men of such wonderful faculties as the Sure Shot Pards. They should have known that the Champion Regulator was not one to be en- trapped in such a way, except by accident. He knew the nature of Arizona desperadoes too well to believe that they had all at once decided upon an unconditional surrender, And the Marked Thirteen especially should bave known the man well enough to realize that the only terms possible would be death to them, for the champions of the right had sworn to have their lives in the interests of justice. Mountain George, however, was taking every proceane He was entering the mountains ours in advance of the meeting time, in antici- pation of any early trips which the enemy might make to Tenderfoot, and he lacked neitber arms nor men for a complete and instant annibilation of the ten the moment they appeared in range, if nothing disastrous occurred to prevent. At the meeting-point the deadly ambush was prepared, Mountain George had planned for every emergency, the original design being, if the Pards did not pass before the hour appoint- ed, for the Marked Thirteen to present them- selves in an attitude of surrender, and while engaging the Regulators in discussion of the terms, the concealed men, at a signal, to fire a round. which was expected to empty every saddle. But ah! *‘ the best laid plans of mice and men aft gang egley.” hile the two dozen desperadoes of Tender- foot waited with unabated patience and eager- ness for the hour that was destined to witness one of the wildest scenes in the history of Ari- zona, movements were ou foot which would have caused Mountain Geo to instantly de- sert the place of ambush had be known of them. Captain Sure Shot was master of every point of the situation. He had determined that the work of this night should be the great final stroke in the work of vengeance, Rough Rube had his orders, and he was not the man to fail at the critical moment. The pale moon at last came up, and its silvery beams were soon dispelling the shades in the recesses of the Arizona Mountains. Ere long eight dark men, who sat astride dark steeds in a a mile northeast of the Tenderfoot am- ush, were joined by a ninth man, who said; “Ther pigeon’s in ther trap, ready to be sprung and brought down, cap’n.” “ Rough Rube—” “‘_and twenty pards are waitin’ for ther whistle, in oo range ov Mountain i” ‘Then all is ready for the last move, Noth- ing could have been more successful than we have been thus far to-night, Lieutenant Dodge and the two Tenderfoot pards have doubtless long since reached Buzzard Gulch with Clara, and I dare say the ten men who escaped our bul- lets in the camp two hours ago are endeavoring possible at this moment. e have now the simple task of administering justice to the worst crowd of roughs in the Southwest, The cards for the game are in hand, let us play well and sweep tbe boards clean.” Horses whose hoofs are muffled make little noise, and when Captain Sure Shot gave the word, the dark band moved forward like threat- ening specters, Twenty minutes later Rough Rube and twenty broad-shouldered achletes of bis own stripe, who were waiting silently on the rock-walled trai) between Tenderfoot and the mountain ambush, responded with eager exclamations to a shrill, culiar whistle that awoke the echoes for miles. heir buge revolvers were drawn and the men went forward to the fray ov the quickstep. They had taken but a few noiseless strides when their weapons were raised and a score of bullets were poured into the places of concealment of their ambushed foes, The shots were answered by wild cries, and the toughs of Tenderfoot sprung erect to meet the unexpected assault. At that moment the deadly surprise was made complete by the appearance from the opposite direction of a band of riders who were instantly recognized. They charged down upon the des- peradoes with a thrilling yell of triumpb, and each crack of their weapons wrought a link in the great chain of vengeance. The shots with which the minions of Satan replied were few and ineffective, and the shout of defiance and hatred which they attempted to raise died away into one of dismay and terror, as they fled precipitately. But the enemy seemed to be ever owliete! There was no evad- ing the Sure Shot Pards, and the effort to escape in most cases was fruitless. Mountain George, the king of desperadoes, was overtaken in bis flight by a detaining hand which jerked him from his feet to the neck of a horse in a manner he bad experienced once be- fore. He knew at once that he was at the mercy of that terrible Regulator. ‘*There’s no escape for the varmint of Ari- zona!” was hissed in his ear. ‘* Vengeance de- mands your venomous and wortbless life!” Rough hands assisted him to the ground, a noose was adjusted around his neck, and he was swung up to the limb of a tree even as he had swung up the innocent owner of Tenderfoot’s gold. Thus the last scene in the wild mountain tragedy was ended, Captain Sure Shot bad no difficulty in proving that James Wilkes and his daughter were the rs of the richest portion of Tenderfoot and the property was at once pl°ced in their control, Mr. Wilkes, under the skillful care of his de- voted daughter soon recovered, and was able to conduct the sale of most of the property. One mine which he retained yielded handsomely, and when, in the course of a few months, after amply repaying the men who had so nobly es- sused his cause, be departed for his old home in Texas in company with his daughter and Captain Sure Shot, he left Rough Rube iu abso- lute control. Dan Darkley—Captain Sure Shot—bad known the Wilkes comand in former years, before bis roving tendency had taken bim into the wilds of Arizona, and his attachment for the beautiful Clara, and bers for him, was but a revival of their old affection, Dan turned over the captaincy of the brave Pards to Lieutenant Dodge, and they were long the terror of the law-breakers of the Southwest. The old captain was now ready to settle down and en joy the love and wifely attentions of one of the fairest flowers of Texas, and they live to- day blessed in all their relations of life. Bowie-Knife Joe and the remainder of the notorious Marked Thirteen were victims of avenging bullets on the night of that disastrous ambush, and the element they typified was never afterward an Obnoxious feature of the storied mountain camp. Brazen Bill, the giant of ‘* blue blood,” forever postponed his trip to Tucson, for he lost his life at the bands of the man to whom he was trai- tor. Tenderfoot, peaceful and prosperous, is not called Tenderfoot now on the maps, but man of its citizens, prominent among whom is Roug! Rube, can well remember when it was known as Mountain George’s camp, and the chief of desperadoes and bis associates were 0 ela by just retribution. THE END,
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+ BEADLE’S« H ALF- DIME« LIBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers, BY PHILIP 8. WARNE. 6T Patent-Leather Joe: or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 Capruin Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game, 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat. 219 Despard, the Duellat; or, The Mountain Vempires, 888 A ‘Tough Boy; or, The Dwart’s Revenge. 868 Little ee A or, The Outcasts of the Glen. 87S Lictie Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. B88 Little Oh-my 3 or, Caught in His Own Trap, 401 Little Shoo- ly or, A Race for a Ranch, 408 Little Leather-Breeches ; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse, A481 Little Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the olines. 480 Three Jolly Parda. 517 Jim Gladden’s Deputy. 527 The Jolly Pards to the Rescue. 647 Sandy Andy} or, A Good Man Down, 656 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER. he Sea-Cats or, The Witch of Darien, 4 The Dumb Page; or, The Doge’s Daughter. Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider, Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. The Sword Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 59 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise to the nm Polar Sea. 200 e Boy Bedoutna; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance. 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine. 249 Milo Romer, the Animal King; or, The Round the World hh ah T eae. 3 : 65 The Tiger Tamer; or, The ue of the Jungle. oat Black Nick, the Demon Rider. — . 895 California Joe's War Trall. BY BUCKSKIN 8AM (Major Sam. 8. Hall.) 284 Old Rocky’s *‘ Boyees;” or, Benito, the Young Horse- Breaker. ; 246 Giant George; or, The Ang’! of the Range, 275 Arizona Jack ; or, Giant George's Pard, 297 The Tarantula of Taon; or, Giant George’s Revenge. 807 The Strange Pard ; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt, 818 Ker-whoop, Ker-whoo; or, The Tarantula of Taos, 827 Creeping Vat, the Unddo 5 or, The Red and White Pards. B82 Frio Wrredt or, The Ténkaway’s Trust, 844 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. 849 - Wild Wolf; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front, B57 The Ranch Ralders: or, The Siege of Fort Purgatory. 864 Snap-Shot, the Boy Ranger, 875 Chieta, the Creek: or, The Three Thunderbolts. 881 Bandera BIL; or. Frio Frank to the Front, R92 Romeo and the Reds; or, The Beleaguered Ranch. 404 Little Lariat; or, Peca» Pete's Big Rampage. 414 The Dalsy from Denver. 427 The Three Traflers; or, Old Rocky on the Ram : 442 Bluff Bills or, The Lynx of the Leona. pag 455 Little Lone Star; or, The Belle of the Cibolo, BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Aan Scott, the Steamboat Boy, 199 Featherweight the Boy Champton of the Muskingum. 228 Ozark Alf’; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws. 282 The Typo Detective ; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. 295 Feurlesa Phil; or, The King of Quartzville. BIL The Reving Sport; er, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp, B22 Nemo, the Detective; or, Kit Ronen’ Vendetta, 840 Clip, the Contortionist; or, The Montana Vigilantes, BY J, C. COWPRICK, 860 Silver-Maak, the Man of Mystery. ; BOY Shasta, the Gold King} or, For Seven Years Bead, 420 7Re Detective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without a ame, 424 Cibuta John; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar, 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 490 Broedway Bill . the Bootblack Bravo, HOG Redlight Ralph, the Prince othe 514 Broadway Billy's Boodle. 524 The Engineer Detective 586 Broadway Billy's ¢« Difikilty.” 548 Marty the Night xpress Detective. 557 Broadway Billy’s Death Racket BY JO PIERCE. 97 Bob o” the Bowery ; or, The Prince of Malberry Stieet iis The Vagabond Detectives or, Bowery Bob’s Boom, 452 Hotepur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 60 The Lawyer's Shadow ; or, Luke’s Legacy. $8 Jann tue Young Peres aes 494 erly ole tn Phil. erryman Detective. BY CAPT. MARK wiILTon, 256 Young Kentuck: oT The Red Lasso, 270 Blizz or, The Riot at Keno Camp 256 J ooh, the Noy Tenderfoot. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE Rep, Ft Bing Dicks or, The Yellow Chiefs Vengeance, he Land teas or, The League o i's Island. 18 The Nel ies Poe pp Back woods v7 2; 289 The “seeker Guide ¢ or, The Lost Mountain, BY MAJOR MENRY B. STODDARD, Ex.scout, 806 Neck-Tle Ned oT Out Pards, apter Ra Rasa: Pe Nae ts baat of Zacatecas, Bh Klacclers Elvana Barat Sota nag 56 an rt , The Go 406 The Mad Man-Hunter; or, The Mystery of Golden Gulch. 505 Powell’s Pard; or, The One. Armed Giant BY BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG. 89 Island Jim; or, The Pet of the Family. he Captain of th a at Jap Lea tb or ‘The Tlvad Aidan BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl, 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. ZY Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 258 Joe Buck of Angels and His Boy Pard. 447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nick; or, ‘he Fortunes of a Foundling, 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prinee. 498 T'nos Ted, toe Arizonn Sport. 510 Cooi Colorado, the Hal!-Breed Detective. 515 Cool Colorade in New York. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE. 86 ay | Rock the Man from Texas, 90 ‘The Drend Rider; or, The Texan Duelist. 99 The Tiger of Tuos; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel. 115 The Mad Miner: or, Dandy Rock’s Doom, 18t The Golden Hand; or, Dandy Rock to the Rescue, 164 Dandy Reck’s Pledge; or, Hunted to Death, 178 Dandy Rock’s Rival; or, The !:aunted Maid of Taos. BY CAP1., J. F. C. ADAMS. 84 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffles’s Boy Spy. 46 Glass-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 54 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. 56 Nick Whiffies’s Pets or, Ir The Valley of Death. 60 The White Indian; or, The Scout of the Yellowstone, 70 Old Zip’s Cabin; or, The Greenhorn in the Woods, 81 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Buekram }; or, Bess, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and Mia Petas or, The Wild Huntress. 251 Light-house Lige 3; or, Osceola, the Firebrand.’ 257 The Lost Hunters; or, The Underground Camp. 288 The Scalp King: «r, The Human Thunderbolt. RY ROGER STARBUCK, 25 The Boy Captain; or, The Pirate’s Daughter. 114 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Junk. the Old Tar. 25 The Golden Harpoon: or, Lost Among the Floes. 848 Fire-Weels; or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow. 854 Big Horn Ike, the Hill Tramp; or, The Odd Pards, 861 The Phantom Light-house. 870 Breaker Ben, the Reef-Runner, BY WILLIAM *. EYSTER, 190 Dandy Parke; or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank; a Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pards, BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, 108 The Lion of the Sea; or, The Vatled Lady. 186 Cool Desmond; or, The Gambler's Big Game BY TARRY 8ST. GEORGE, 80 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, the Ranger. 44 Rattling Rube; or, The Nighthawks o Kentucky, 5Y Old Hickory ; or, Pandy Ellis’s Scalp, 108 Daring Davy ; or, The Trail of the Horder Wolf, 166 Hickory Harry 3 or, The Trapper-Brigade’s Spy, 172 Thunderbolt Tom: or, the Wolt-Herder BY JAMES L. BOWEN 107 One-Eyed Sim: or, The Abandoned Forest Home. 110 The Black Steed of the Prairies, A Story of Texas. BY C, DUNNING CLARE, 185 Captain Paul; or, The Boy Spy_ of the Mountains, 280 The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Suereet. BY GEORGE C. JENKS, 485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown, 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor. BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR, U. 8. A. 191 Ruffale Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker; or, The Doomed rteen. 194 Buffalo Bill's Bet; or, The Gambler Guide. BY CHARLES E£. LASALLE. 50 Burt Bunker, the Trapper. 52 The White Buffalo. A Tale of the Northwest BY JONN J. MARSHALL, 40 Roving Ben, A Story of a Young American, 97 The Outlaw Brothers; or, The Captive of the Harpes. BY WM. G. PATTEN, 489 The Diamond Sport: or, The Double F 519 Sartats Myste ae, ve in One, ace of Bod Rock 881 Dalsy Dare, the Sport from Denver, BY MAJOR E. L. 8T. VRAIN, 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit. 01 Leadville Niek, the Boy Sport. 12 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince, 88 Brimstone Rob, 2nd His Lightning Horse Quartette Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “ Sand.” soe Durance teaves the Vo ane Shan sion Wrestlers 871 Kingbolt Chris, the Young Hard-sh BO pee ne AM, the Foothills ‘Guide a 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountiin Mail-Line, BY EDWARD 8. ELLIS. Bill Biddon, Trapper. Seth Jones; or, The Captives of tne Frontier, 10 Nat Todd}; or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. 21 The Frontier Angel. 98 The Roy Miners; or, The Enchanted Island. 2 The lunted Hunter B54 The Half-Iloods or, th: Price atthe tiene 271 The Huge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man, BY MAJOR LEWI8 W. CARSON. Three Trappers; or, Th tain Monster, aus AS Joe; or, the White Boivit of abe Hille: ; BY W. J. HAMILTON. 68 The Red Brotherhood; or. The Twelve Avengers 66 Staats Hand; or, A Life for a Life. 72 Mad Tem Western, the Texan Ranger. 887 Ben Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Scoop, BY JACK FARRAGOT. 815 Ned, the Cabin Boy. 820 The Seu Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper. BY FRANK DUMONT. 120 The Branded Hand; or, The Man of Mystery. 127 Wild-Fire, the B-ss of the Road. P 140 Blue Blazes; or, The Break 0’ Day Boys of Rosky Baz» 171 Ebony Dany; or, The Rival Leagues. 185 Evil Eve; or. The Vultures of the Rio Grande, BY LIFUT. H. D. PERRY, U. ss, N. 176 The Boy Runaway; or. The Buccaneer of the Bay, 180 The Sea Trailer: or, A Vow Well Kept. 192 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point. BY HARRY HAZARD. 828 Arkansaw Jack; or, The Scourge of the Mines, 829 Red-Skin Tom; or, The Demon’s Trail. 842 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw, BY COL, A. F. HOLT. 899 Black Buckskin; or, The Masked Men of Death Canyoa. 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King. 485Little Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods, BY J. W. OSBON. 469 The Rival Giants of Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Lack. BRT @ld Ruckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner, BY FREDERICK DEWEY. 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shots, 478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective. 642 The Canyon Pards. BY ARTHUR C. GRISSOM. 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowie Kid, 558 The Sure-Shot Pards, BY LIEUT. A. K, SIMS, 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock. 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-Horse Hunters, By Capt. Mayne Reid and Frederick Whittaker. 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen. 12 Gulliver’s Travels, By Dean owift, 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe. (27 Illustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Sallor. His Seven Voyages. 22 Fee Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe, By Juan 8. se The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribevs, By S, W. Pierce. 86 Fe Boy Clown; or, The Queen of the Arena, By Frank 5. nn. 88S Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 51 The Boy Rifles; or, The Underground Camp. By Archie C, Irons. 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebeoters of the Mississippi By Lieut.-Col. Hazeltine. 98 Robin Hood, the Vutlawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Green- wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve. 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captalr Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Hunter; or, The Cave of Death. By Burton Saxe 124 Tippy. the Texan; or, The Young Champion. By Georg jer son. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish. 48 8h 8 » The Adven tures of a Friendless 'e safe aletecon agai 227 Dusky Darrell, Tra lowstone. By Edward 261 Fergus Fearnaught the New York Boy. By George L. er. \ 266 Ki"'lb’ar, the Guide; °r, Davy Grockett's Creoxed Trale. By Ensign ©, D. Warren. 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyea Trapper; or, The Maid of the Cla. By Captain Comstock. cock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville. Liew BT coc iiired Thorne. By B28 The Sky Ibetective; or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Hong By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Red Ralph, the River Rovers or, The Brother's Re venge. By Ned Bun tline, 865 Baltimore Ben the Bootblack Detective. By A. P. Morrig, 874 Gold-Dust Tom; or, Ben’s Double Matcl,, By George HL orse, 876 California Joe’s First Trail. By Colonel Thome oyer Monstery. 418 Billy Bombshell, the CliffClimber. By F, 8. Winthrop, 475 The Black Ship. By John 8, Warner. 484 Comanche Pick and His Three Invincible, By Henry J. Thomas. 528 Wizard-Arm, the Dandy Sport, By Arthur F. Holt, 582 The Cowboy Duke, Ry Edwin Breoke Forrest, 552 Ariel, the Athlete. By David Druid. A New Isaue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library i» for sale by ait newsdentes Gay cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishera, 98 William Strect. New Yosh, : or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- recon.
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aS FE Pe Pe Otte ES “ Z Apr BEADLE’S*H ALF- [)IME*[_IBRARY, Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at tne Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novela, 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Double Daggers} or, Deadwood Dick's Defiance, 28 Buttale Ben; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise. 85 Wilda Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. 42 Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza, 49 Omaha Ol; or, Deadwood Bick in Danger, 5i Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar, 2 Deadwood Dick on Deck} or, Calamity Jane, the Heroine, 7? Corduroy Charlie; or, Deadwood Dick's Last Act 190 Deadwood Dick in Leadville, 104 Deadwood Dick’« Device; or, the Double Cross Sign. 109 Deadwood Dick aa Detective. 129 Bosdweed Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s uich. 188 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick's Home Base, 149 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike, 156 Deadwood Bick of Deadwood} or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’« Dreamy; or, The Rivuls of the Rond. 201 The Black Hilla Jezebel; or, Deadwood D ck’s Ward. 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doem; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Ad- venture. 217 Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand 221 Sugar-Ceated Sam; or, The Black Gown. 282 Gold-Dust Diek. A Romance of Rough. and Toughs, 268 Deadwood Dick’s Divide ; or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. 268 Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail. 809 Deadwood Dick’s Big Weal; or, The Gold Brick of regon, 821 Deadwood Dick’s« Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. 847 Deadwood Dick’s Mucats; or, Raicy Days in the Dig- ginga, 851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta, B62 Beatweed Dick’s Claim; or, The Fairy Face of Faro | ‘lute. 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City. 410 Deadweed Dick’s Diamonds; or, The Mystery of Joan orter. 421 Deadwood Dick in New Vork; or, A “ Cate Care,” 480 Deadwood Dick’s Duat; or, The Chained Hand, 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 448 Nickel-Plate Ned; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Defiance. 458 aeapewer Sam, o! Shasta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Full and, 459 Flush Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Ronnd- | De 465 Philo Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Racket at Claim 10. 471 Bozeman Bill; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Corral, 476 Humboldt Marry, the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Rog Detective. 481 Moll Mystery; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in Deadwood, 491 Prince Pistol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Compact. € Monte Cristo, Jr.t or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Inheritance. 500 Deadwood Dick’s Diggings ; or, Dr. Death-Grip’s Swoop. 508 Deadweod Dick's Deliverance. 5615 Deadwood Dick’s Protegee, 522 Deadwood Dick’s Three. 529 Deadwood Dick's Danger Pucks, 584 Deadwood Dick’s Death unt. 589 Deadwood Dick Jr., in Texas, 544 Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidoeq. 549 Deadwood Dick on His Mettle, 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick in Boston, 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadelphia, Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon. 82 Bob Woolf or, The Girl Dead-Shot, 89 Death-Fuace, Detective; or, Life in New York. 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team, 69 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter; or, The Boy Detective, 80 Rosebud Rob i vugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Idyl, the irl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand, 88 Phet Si a Phils or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance, 92 Canada Chet 3 or, Ol Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. 96 Watch-Eye; or, Arabs und Angels of a Great City. is Jack Moyle the Young Speculator. 7 Gils-Edged Dick, the Sp ort Detective 21 Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport, 25 Bonanza Bill, Miner. 88 Kosa Kob the King of Bootblacks, Al Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. Qenteia Ferret, the New York Detective; or, Boss Bob’s 88 JOD. 1 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 7 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps. 1 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo. 9 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. F 8 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter, 6 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp or, The Arab Detective. 286 Apollo Rin, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator, 244 Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. 248 Sierra Sam’s Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sierra Sam’s Pard; or, The Ange of Big Vista. 258 Sicrra Sam’s Seyeny or, The Stolen Bride. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Bey Patrol or, The Rival Heirs, QTT Denver Doll, the Detective Queen. 281 Denver Doll’« Victory. 2S Denver Doll’ Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza, iJ om 296 Denver Doll's Brith; or, The Road Queen. 299 A No, 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. 808 ’Liza Jane, the Girl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. 825 Kelley, Hickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia. B80 Little Qu'ck-Shot; or, The Dead Face of Daggeraville. 884 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner, 889 Kangaroo Kit’« Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood, B58 First-Class Fred, | he Gent trom Gopher 865 Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherers or, The Lottery of Life 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize. 878 Nabob Ned} or, The Secret of Slab City. BS2 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, £85 Yreka Jim’s Joker; or, The Rivals of Red Nose. 889 Bicycle Ben; or. The Lion of Lightning Lode, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Wat Harry, the Base Ball Detective. 426 Sam Slabaldes, ... BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 7 The Flytng Vankee; or, The Ocean Outcast, 17 Ralph Roy, the Boy Buccan-er; or, The Fugitive Yacht, 24 Diamond Dirks or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 62 The Shadow Ship; or, The Rival Lieutenants, 75 The Boy Duelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf, 02 Dick Dend-Eye, the Boy Smuggier. 11 The Sen-Devil 3 or, The Midshipman’s Legacy, 16 The Hussar Captain or, ‘The Hermit of Hell Gate. 97 Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter, 04 Gold Plume ; or, The Kid-Glove Sport 16 Bison BILL, the Prince of the Reins, 222 Grit, the Bravo Sport; or, The Woman Trailer, 229 Crimson Kate 3 er, The Cowboy's Triumph. 287 Lone Star, the a Bs Captain. 245 Merle, the Middy H or, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midshipman Mutineer } or, Brandt, te Buecaneer, 264 - pe Floating Feather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure siand. 269 The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned. 276 Merle Monte’s Cruise; or, The Chase of “The Gold Ship. 280 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, Pear!, the Pirate's Bride. 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 287 Billy Blue-Fyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Siiot Dandy ; or, Bemto, the Buy Bugler. 808 heno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double. 4 814 E Yer | Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Long rail, 877 Bonodel, the Boy Rover; or, The Flagiess Schooner. BS8 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island. | 887 Warpath WILL, the Boy Phaxtom, acs Foawrent he Be Lieutenant. me 12 Inodor, the Young Conspirator; or, The Fatal League 407 The Boy Insurgent; or. the Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild Yachtamany or, The War-Clouu’s Cruise, 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy’s Luck; or, The Corsair. 487 The Sean Raider. 441 The Oceun Firefly 5 or, A Middy’s Vergeance. 446 Haphazard Harry : or, The Scapegrace of the Sea. 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferre. of New York. 454 Wizard WiILI’« Street Scouts, 462 The Born Guide; or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer, 465 Neptune Ned, the boy Conster, 474 Floras or, Wizard Will’s Vagabond Pard. 488 Ferrets Afloat; or, Wizard Wi)!’s Last Case, 487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger, 495 Arizona Joe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 497 Buck Taylor, King of thy Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy ; or, The Shark and the Sea Cat. 507 The Hunted Midshipman, 5611 The Outlawed Middy, 520 Buckskin BIL, the Comanche Shadow. 525 Brothers in Buckskin. 530 The Buckskin Bowers. 585 The Rue skin Rovers. 540 Cx, tain Ku-Klux, the Marauder of the Ris, 545 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte. 550 Lafitte’s Legacy: or. The Avenging Son, 5655 The Creele Corsair. 560 Pawnee Bill, the Prairie Shadower. 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR, 2 Yellowstone Jack; or, The Trapper. 48 Black Jehn, the Road-Agent: or. Tle Outlaw’s Retreat. 65 Hurricane Wills or, Mustang Sam and His Pard. 19 Mustang Sam 3 or, The King of the Plains, 86 Night-Hawk Kits or, The Daughter of the Ranch. 44 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 61 Panther Paul: or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue, 160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 68 Deadly Dash ¢ or, Fighting Fire with Fire. be The Boy Tratlers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 21 8 $1 1 1 1 1 1 8 The Boy Pards; or, Dainty Lance Unmaske, 1 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City, 10 The Rarranca Wolf or, The Beautiful Decoy. 9 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League. B85 Old Double Fist; or, The Strange Guide, y rts The King of the Wooda«: or Damei Boone’s Last Trai) 9 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. B70 Camille, the Card Queen. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham, 571 Alr-Line Luke, the Young Engineer. By J. C. Cowdrick, 572 Dendwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago. By E. L. Wheeler. 578 The Twe Shadows. By T. C. Harbaugh. 574 Old W eanel-top, the Man with the Dogs. By P. 8. Warne. 575 nee: Surgeon-Scout Detective. By Colonel Prentier ngraham,. 576 The Silver Sport, By Lieut. A. K. Sime, 577 Pavement Pete,’ the Secret Sifter. By Jo Pierce. 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Aflont. By Edward L. Wheeler. 579 The Chimney Spy; or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party. Ry J. C. Cowdrick. 580 The Outeast Cadets or, The False Detective. By Col- Prentiss Ingraham. 581 papble-Curve Ban, the Pitcher Detective. By George C- enks. 582 Dodger Dick’s Drop. By T. C, Harbaugh. 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With » Shadow. By Lient, A. K, Sims. 584 Dendwood Dick, Jr., in Denver. _ By Ed. L, Wheeler. 585 Will Waters, the Bov Ferret, By H.Enton. BSG The Buckekin Avenger, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 5ST Old Bombshell, the Ranger Detective. By Wm, G. Patten. BSS Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector, By Jo Pierce, 589 Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dead Set at Silver City. By Lieut, A. K. Sims 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr's, Decree. By E. L, Wheeler. 591 Delmontes the Young Sea-Rover. By Col. P Ingraham. 592 The Boy Pinkerton. By J.C. Cowdrick. 598 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. By P. 8. Warne. 594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective, By T. C. Harbaugn, 595 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Beelzebub’s Basin. By E. L. Wheeler, Rendy December 18, 596 Jimmy the Kids or A Lamb Among Wolves. By Chas. Morris. Ready December 25. 597 The Young Texan Detective, By Col. P. Ingraham. eady January 1. 598 Flute, the Singer Detective, By Geo, C, Jenks. Ready January 8. ‘ 599 Jim Dandy, the No-Name Sport. By P- 8. Warne, Ready January 15. 600 Deadwood Dick Jr. at Coney Island. By Edward L. Wheeler, Ready January 29, A New Inaue Every Tuesday, The Half-Dime Library is for sale by all newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on recetpt of slx cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York, —— ee a eae