Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 622) (1889 06 25)
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i rt Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Mail Rates. $2.50 a Year. No. 622. s) » \ cS \ WUMMA NU Nl WL yf IY YY pp) ) The Queer Air at Tombstone. BY LIEUT. A, K. SIMS, AUTHOR OF ‘'TOM-CAT AND PARD,” ‘* SAFFRON SOL,” “‘ HAPPY HANS,” ‘‘ THE SILVER SPORT,” ETC., ETC., ETC. CHAPTER I, THE TARANTULA OF TOMBSTONE. A wiry Indian pony was trotting briskly along a dusty trail a short distance from the famous mining-town of Tombstone. It was in the earlier and wilder days of that town, when men’s heads were turned by reports of marvel- ous silver discoveries, and the trails were crowd- ed with eager fortune-hunters. The rider of the pony was not of this class. He was dressed in cowboy garb, and there was nothing in his air to betoken the half- (na! Pt tn Copyright 1889, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, WORR-So SO | ae WW « Gon | | _ SX Calming AN PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. Price, 5 Cents. ay | ht! \ 9 June 25, 1889. ol, XXIV. i) y Yi Mtnayp “ YAH—YAH—YAH! BE YOU MARSA TOM-CAT?’ A FIGURE, THE STRANGEST HE HAD EVER SEEN, DROPPED FROM THE LIMBS OF A TREE,
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a. 2 Texas Tom-cat’s Triad. = crazed silver-seeker. His face was intelligent, but not handsome. His eyes revealed his cbar- acter. They were bright and penetrating, and indicative of a curious combination of * cool courage and precipitate recklessness. What would first attract the beholder, how- ever, was his cap. It was a singular affair, made of gray catskin, with the mounted head serving as a visor, and the tail curling about dike a plume. In fact, the rider was none other than the cele- brated border character, ouce a cowboy, and now known. throughort Silverland. as the Texas Tom-cat.” After a little he drew the pony down to a walk, took a letter from an inner pocket of his coat, and read it over slowly and carefully. “Sharp as a steel-trap, Pendergast is, but I s’pose he can’t get his rope ever the horns o’ this thing he calls an ‘affair.’ So he sends fer the Tom-cat. Didn’t "low I’d ever have to redeem that promise. But, hyer I am, claws an’ all, ready fer bizness. It makes me feel good to wear this ole cap ag’in. Molly don’t want me to wear it any more, but I jist have to, in a case like this, Wouldn’t meet no luck ef I didn’t. I do hope, though, fer her sake, that thar won't be nothin’ ser’us happen!” His voice softened, and he became silent and thoughtful. ; The letter, dated at Tombstone, ran as fol- OWS: ““My Dear Tom-catT:— * When I visited you at your home in Silver City, in return for certain favors you made me a promise. I little thought how soon I would ask you to redeem it. Tam mixed upin an affair now that calls for immediate unraveling. If any one can doit, you are the man. Come at once, that justice may be done to an innocent and injured party. * Your friend, JULIAN PENDERGAST.”’ ‘‘ Yah—yah=yah! Be you Marsa Tom-cat?” A figure, the strangest he had ever seen, drop- ped fromthe limbs of a tree that overhung the trail, and planted itself in his pathway. The pony snorted and attempted to, wheel about, and the Tom-cat’s hand involuntarily sought his weapons. The figure was that of a negro, with a hideous black face and wide red lips. At first glance he looked squat and short, with disproportionately long arms and legs. A further scrutiny cor- rected the impression. He was of the average hight, but his body was ball-like and preter- pon ent opt large, making his arms and legs seem extremely long and thin by comparison. The Tom-cat’s hands left his weapons, and he thrust the letter into his pocket. ~ ‘* Who air icing? what d’ye want?” ke asked, not exactly liking the appearance of the negro. “* You ’most skeered this bronc’ into a fit!” ‘* Hel he! he!” came from the wide, red lips. “Dat hoss ama skeery creeter, to be sho’! you Mawster Tom-cat He advanced, as he spoke. ‘Yes! That air’s my handle,” “I knowed you, boss, by yo’ cap. Dis am a quah country we got out yeh! You de Tom- eat ’caSe you w’a’dot cap. An’ I'se de Tomb- stone Tarant’la ‘case I look like a big, black spideh. Missy call me so, anyhow!” ‘*T allus did hate tarant’lys!” muttered the Tom-cat, under his breath. ‘‘An’ ef he don’t look like one o’ them pesky, red-mouthed spiders, then I never seen one!” ‘* Missy want you teh call an’ see her, She lib in de fu’st w’ite house at de aidge ob town. Little squah house, look lack’t migh’ a bahn! But, ’fain’t no bahn. She wants to ‘vise wid this Madame Dumar know that he was coming? And, how did she know anything about “ the affair” which had brought him to Tombstone. He knew almost nothing’ about it, himself. In answer to the queries came the suggestion that she must be in the confidence of Pendergast. Perhaps she was his friend and ally. He might even find Pendergast at her residence. ‘“You gwine go?” questioned the negro, who was watching him intently. “Yes,” replied the Tom-cat, roused from his reverie. ‘‘I ‘low I might’s well. But, mind you, ef they’s any tricks played, thar’ll be a dead nig round hyer. The Téxas Tom-cat’ll come fer ye with claws a-stickin’ out, an’ eyes a-shinin’| Ye never heered me howl, I reck- on?’ He stared fiercely at ‘‘ the nig,” and gave ut- terance to a series of most discordant yow]s. The Tarantula, with a yell of terror, bounded into the bushes and disappeared. Seeing that the darky did not intend to re- turn, the cowboy touched up his pony, and rode on, laughing. In alittle while he caught sight of the square white house which Madame Dumar’s strange messenger bad described, and, recalling the ap- pearance of that individual, a queer thrill shot through bim, The Tom-cat was very far from being a cow- ard. Butitis one thing to confront an open and known danger, and quite another to ad- vance upon one that is masked in the garb of secrecy and mystery. His recklessness impelled him, however, as it usually did on important occasions, “Hang the thing!” he exclaimed. ‘‘I ain’t afeard of it, I ain’t, whatever it is! Ef thar’s any galoot in. that shanty a-settin’ up a job on me I'll down ’im. An’ I ain’t afeard 0’ a woman,” A flush came to his cheeks, ‘‘That is, not o’ a fightin’ woman! But one 0’ these soft, purty, purry women gits away with me. I’ve been married to Molly a-goin’ on two year, come nex’ round-up, an’ I’m *most as skeery of a petticoat as I ever was!” To divert bis thoughts, he drew out his wea- pons, examined them, and clicked the cylin- ders around to see that they were in working order. The house was now at hand. Dropping a re- volver into each side-pocket of his coat, to have them ready in case of surprise, he dismounted, hitched the pony, and walked leisurely up to the building. It was a square, ugly structure, and looked as if it might some day have been used as a mine building. There was ho garden attached to it, no beds of flowers, nor anything to relieve it of its plainness, and lend attraction to its sur- roundings. Still the place appeared to be occupied, There were cheap curtains at the two staring windows, and the grass-plot in front of the door had been recently trampled. The Tom-cat noticed all these things, and they did not bestow a sense of security. But he had gone too far to retreat, even if bis curiosity and recklessness would have per- mitted him to. Boldly ascending the steps, he rapped loudly on the door, and grasped the han- dles of the revolvers in his pockets, as he awaited the answer to his summons, He heard a quick movement and a sound of shuffling feet. Then the door opened and he stood face to face with a lady, heavily vailed and dressed in black. ‘‘H’m! Mornin’!” said the cowboy, clearing his throat and almost at a loss for words. ‘‘ I’m the Texas Tom-cat! I seen yer spider—i mean nervous horror, springing back. ‘‘It gives me the creeps!” ‘“ Why, I supposed you were a lover of cats, judging by the name!” she said, in ber low voice, ‘‘] am, ma’am, sometimes! But not at this identical minute!” For the time his superstitious fears quite over- came his natural bashfulness. It was such an eerie, uncanny place! “The Tarantula told you to come here!” she contitued. ‘He leaped out of a tree across the ridge there, and delivered my message. I saw him, just as I saw you when you left Silver City. You have come to assist Julian Pendergast. c) imagines he is called upon to fight the battles of what he terms outraged and injured innocence. He don’t know what way to turn; and so he sends for you. “Take my advice: If you aid him it will re- sult in your death !” The Tom-cat was so 4ounded that he knew not what to say, ‘“How dye know?” he at last managed to stammer. ‘ Air you ’quainted with the gen’le- man?” Then, emboldened by the sound of his own voice: ‘* Why sh’u’d I b’leeve it? Mebbe it’s like that air yarn *bout seein’ me in Silver City. I couldn’t swaller that, ye know! Not while my head-piece is in good workin’ order. Beggin’ of yer pardon fer sayin’ so, ma’am!" ‘‘Son of mortal!” she cried, drawing herself up, tragically. ‘‘Do you doubt the words of Madame Dumar, the prophetess, the reader of stars, the revealer of past and future events? Know, then, that I am the seventh daughter of aseventh daughter, and that the verystars in their courses whisper to me the secrets of man- kind. Come, look here!” She clutched him by the arm and led him un- resistingly in front of the leaping green flame. Just before him wasa mirror-like surface of water. ‘* Look into that pool and tell me what you see?” The cowboy strained his eyes into the crystal depths, Then, started back with a cry of horror. What he saw seemed a picture of himself, stretched on the ground in the agonies of death. ‘* Behold your fate, if you pursue the course you have marked out. The horoscope tells me you will pursue it, and that that will be your end, The stars whispered to me to warn you! I have done so, but I much fear you will not heed it, I can see no chance for you_unless you, this hour, turn back upon your trail.” The gpwboy could bear ne more. With a wild howl, hearted from the room and from the house. As he mounted bis pony he realized that the sweat was streaming from every pore and that he was trembling violently. CHAPTER II. TOM-CAT’S TRIAD. For 2 moment the Tom-Cat hesitated as to the course he should pursue. But the clear sunlight drove out of his brain the horror of the greenish mists from which he had fled; and the old dar- ing and recklessness returned. The white light of noonday is a wonderful dispeller of super- stiticus fears. ‘‘ Hanged ef I’ll go back!” he declared, setting his teeth firmly. ‘‘ I’d be’shamed of myself the longest day I lived. That biznessis all fol-de-rol. Thar’ can’t be nothin’ in it, fer all it’s so queer and skeery. Wonder who she is? Mebbe Pend- ergast kin tell me!” e set spur to the pony and dashed down the trail and into thé town, scarcely daring to look His manner and actions showed that they were lovers ; ou bout dish yeh bizness what you ’gaged in, | yer T’rant’ly down the trail and 1—” back at the little white house for fear his cour- he know what you done come foh, an’ she want “Come in!” she replied, in a low, soft voice. | age might wane. - see you "bout hit.” “J knew you wouldcome. My horoscopesnever | It was no difficult matter to find Pendergast’s “What does she want?” demanded the Tom-| fail me, I saw yon from here when you left | office, for it was on the main street and a gilt : ‘ cat, who feared a trap, ‘‘ What’s her name?” Silver City and I made up my mind I would | sign swung over the door, ' ‘¢ Her shuah ‘nuff name I don’ know!” repli speak to you.” The young lawyer responded to his rap, the negro, with a’deferential bow. ‘‘Call her- ** That's a jie!” thought the Tom-cat, as he “Ah!” he cried, extending a hand warmly. De se’f Madame Dumab. Berry ’portant lady, I] stuffed the catskin cap down on top of one of ‘Its Tom-cat! Come in! We were just speak- tie kin tell you !” : the revolvers, and proceeded to follow her. | ing of you!” ‘ Ta “ Does she know a young lawyer whose name’s | ‘‘ She couldn’t do that, cause Silver City’s many Then the cowbow saw that there was a lady 9 iM are Pendergast?” a long mile from hyer, an’ thar’s mountains | in the office. NY 27 ; ‘Spec’ not! Case why she on’y come to dis | atween!” ‘‘T’d ruther not!” backing away, ‘Ill put es heme bad place las’ week. But, she know you, an’| She led the way into a darkened room; and, | up my pony, and then we'll talk.” ; if now yo’name. Look cross mountains, in big | while the Tom-cat was fingering ls weapons in He was gone before Pendergast could explain. hed Be lookin’-glass, missy did, an’ she see you comin’, | momentary expectation of some mysterious at- “ He'll be back in a little while!” the youn ey on dat’ab hoss. So she say to me: ‘ T’rant’ly! |/tack, she proceeded to illuminate the apartment lawyer observed, with a smile, as he re-enter - i" yeh comes de Tom-cat, ou go out an’ meet | by igniting a curious compound that gave out a | the office. ‘ As brave as a lion, but bashful to oe Ey Xim, An’ you tell him be sbo’ an’ come to see | sickly, greenish glare. timidity in the presence of ladies.” a: 3 iN me. Bizness berry p’tickleh. Ef he don’ come, An ewl with a rattlesnake in its talons, both “Perhaps I'd better go, then!” with an amused van UP dis affaih what he’s ‘gaged in is sho’ boun’ to | stuffed, stood on a sort of mantle; and a black | look. - fail!” cat, very much alive, purred at and rubbed the “Not at all! He must meet you. I want to ee J The cowboy—as I shall term him—was mysti- | feet of the cowboy. interest him in your behalf and your presence § if fied. His curiosity was excited, too. How did “ Quss the thing!” he yelled, in a kind of | will aid in that as much as my words.” rm eS
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And they seemed well adapted to each other. She was slight and fair, with a pleasant but not strictly beautiful face. It had im it, how- ever, the beauty of intelligence and purity. On the other hand he was tall, dark and muscular, It was almost a half-hour before the Tom- cat returned. Then, he did not come directly to the office, but hovered about the corner oppo- site, as if uncertain what to do, Pendergast went across to him, spoke a few wvords and took him by the arm. When they entered, the cowboy made a great effort to appear nonchalant, but 1t was a signal failure. “Allow me to present you to Miss Devore!” said Pendergast, anxious to relieve his friend’s embarrassment. ‘* Miss Devore, the Texas Tom- eat! Tom-Cat, this is Miss Dell Devore, the young lady I mentioned as needing your assis- tance,” The Tom-cat could not remember that a young lady had been mentioned, but he thrust his cap into one of his capacious pockets, sunk into a chair and said nothing. “* Now that we’re acquainted let’s get to busi- ness!” Pendergast suggested, with professional briskness. ‘' Just in, I suppose, and nothing to recount in the way of adventures?” This set the cowboy’s tongue to going; and, with many uneasy sbiftings, he related what had befallen him. His hearers were puzzled and astonished. “‘T’ve heard there isa fortune-teller in town, but, I didn’t know she lived there. I thought the building was unoccupied. You didn’t get to see her face?” ‘* No!” replied the Tom-cat, **T suppose the Tarantula, as he calls bimself, isonly a deformed negro,” continued Pender- gast. ‘* But, that woman’s knowledge surpasses belief. How she discovered the facts mentioned rather gets me. I never told asoul, expect Miss Devore,” ** And you may be sure I didn’t repeat it!” asserted the young lady, earnestly. ** But, what about the grean fire an’ the pictur’ in the water?” questioned the cowboy, haunted by the mysterious affair. “The fire is easy enough, Some compound that gives out a greenish light in burning. And the other is base trickery. Of course it’s impos- sible for any one to foretell the future.” ‘“Of course!” repeated the cowboy, as if not at all sure of it. ‘* Why, you don’t mean to let that scare you into going back on your promise?” The tone, the implied doubt of his plighted word, settled it, After that, the cowboy sternly pa the mysterious affair behind him and set his ace in the direction of what he conceived to be his duty. ‘*Pardon me! I ought to have known you wouldn’t think of such a thing! * And, now, let me lay before you the business in hand. I will preface it by confessing that I don’t know what to do. : ‘*To begin with: Silas Taulbee is in possession of mining property which belongs to Miss De- vore. Her father, David Devore, owned the Phoenix Mine, near this place, and Taulbee was his foreman. Mr. Devore died, some three months since, and Taulbee entered into S sion under a will which we believe to be forged, but which we cannot prove to be, ** The difiiculty is that we cannot establish the fact that this young lady is Devore’s daughter, or that he was David Devore. Here he passed under the name of Thomas Templeton. ‘* He was forced to leave the East for a crime he never really committed, and here he assumed the name of Templeton to conceal his identity. He accumulated wealth, and held it ip the name of ep na He corresponded with his daugh- ter in that name, ** When she learned of his death she came here with letters and papers which would have proved all these things. Believing Taulbee an honest man, she went to him and laid the papers before him, peg he would relinquish possession as soon as he learned the truth. He seized upon the one and turned her into the street, brand- ing ner as a crank. ‘When she threatened to make him trouble he denied that he bad taken any papers from her, and had her locked up on a charge of luna- cy. “The skunk!” howled the Tom-cat, unable to control himself longer, ‘‘ Ef I’d’a’ been ’round hyer "bout then he’d ’a’ heerd some cat-music that he wouldn’t fergit in a hurry.” “No doubt!” asserted Pendergast, ‘‘I wish you had been.” The Eisiefal look that the young woman cast upon the cowboy, at this expression of synipa- Texas Tom-cat’s Triad. thy, caused him to collapse and listen with mute attentiou to the continuance of the story. ‘* In committing ber to prison he doubtless set a trap for her, which, in her terror and distress, she fell into all too readily. On the very first night the door of her cell was left slightly ajar. Believing it an oversight on the part of the jail- er, and that if she remained she would undoubt- edly be committed to an insane asylum, she slip- ped out of the cell, and without much difficulty escaped from the place, ‘** In doing this, of course, she acted unwisely and played into the hands of her enemies. She would have been released when brought up for examination, But she did not think so, and fled, “The next day the body of a woman was found in the hills. I suppose it was the body of some poor creature who. had become lost, and perished. The body was brought to town, iden- tified by Taulbee and some of his tools as that of Miss Tecate. and buried, ‘“ A day of wandering gave Miss Devore time for cooler reflection, and she returned, deter- mined to begin a legal fight for her rights. ‘*She came to me; and when I examined into the case [ found it hadn’t a leg to stand on. You see, the coroner’s jury had decided her dead. Taulbee and his tools stood ready to swear that the body buried was that of Miss Devore; and I couldn’t find a person to testify that it wasn’t, or even to identify her. “I might have brought witnesses from the East for that purpose. But even to establish that fact would not win the case. If I could prove that she is David Devore’s daughter, I could not prove that David Devore was Thomas Templeton. Taulbee had possession of that evi- dence, and ere this has, no doubt, destroyed it.” The indignation of the henest cowboy was great. He knew that the story was true, The face of the lady before him showed that she was incapable of so great a falsehood, ** Now, we'll return to the Tarantula of Tomb- stone and the mysterious prophetess!” proceeded Pendergast, noting, with great satisfection, the effect of his words, ‘‘Is it not plain that some- body has reason for wishing you to return to Silver City, without looking into this affair? This fortune-teller said the stars warned her to order you to do so, and that a terrible death would befall you if you did not. That’s bosh, of course! “*In my opinion, she is in the employ of Taul- bee. He discovered in some way that I had sent for you; aud, fearing the result, got ber to work upon your superstitious fears with a lot of flum- mery and fire-works, helieving it would drive you from the trail. Most cowboys are super stitious, you know; and he didn’t think you would prove an exception to the rule. ‘As for the Tarantula, no doubt he is the woman’s negro servant.” The Tom-cat was flattered; and the explana- tion was. so clear that it swept from his mind the last vestige of doubt. “I’m with ye!” he cried, extending his hand, enthusiastically. ‘‘?’m with ye; claws an’ all, Jest tell me what you want and [ll go fer that air Taulbee hot!” ‘“‘T knew you would!” witha grateful pressure of the hand. ‘‘ Allow me to thank you for Miss Devore, as well asfor myself, But, you forget. You are to find the trail. I confessed at the out- set that J didn’t know what todo. We, both of us, place ourselves under your guidance, You must show us the way out.” The cowboy stared. ‘*Yes; you are the leader. We are i followers. Or, if you like it better, we will call ourselves equals, " ' “The Tom-cat’s Triad! That expresses it.” ‘Shake ag’in!” said the cowboy. ‘‘I ain’t a- keerin’ fer a name, but I’m with you both tothe bitter end. Ef thar ain’t a way to git at this hyer Taulbee, why we'll make one!” The young lady left the office soon after, but Pendergast and the Tom-cat remained there the greater part of the day planning and plotting and outlining their proposed work. And through it all, wholly unknown to them, the Tarantula of Tombstone, like a great, black spider, was crouched among some barrels be- neath the rear window, apparently sunning him- self and sleeping away the hot hours of the af- ternoon. CHAPTER IIl, INTO THE DEPTHS. In accordance with the plans outlined, the cowboy sought for and obtained work at the Phoenix Mine. If Silas Taulbee suspected him, no sign of it was manifested, unless the fact that the Tom-cat was placed at very hard labor can be considered such a manifestation. When two days had passed and the cowboy had accomplished nothing, Julian Pendergast determined to pay a visit tou the mysterious wo- man who claimed to possess clairvoyant powers, He was firmly convinced that sbe was in Taul- bee’s confidence, and hoped_to Jearn something that he could turn to Miss Devore’s benefit. The cowboy was at the Phwnix Mine when Pendergast made this resolve, and he did not think it necessary to delay a day in order to ac- quaint him with it. It might have been better for Pendergast had he done so, Arming himself to be prepared against treachery, he set out for thehous.. A few min- utes’ brisk walking brought bim to it, It was in the condition which the Tom-cat had de- scribed: apparently deserted, but occupancy shown by the curtained windows and the trampled grass-plot, A couple of young women, of the lower classes evidently, slipped out and away by a \side-path, as be advanced. Doubtless they were foolish and superstitious creatures,who, baving encoun- tered trouble, had visited the pretended prophet- ess for the purpose of having the impenetrable future po to them. Pendergast was rather ashamed to be seen there, and shrunk behind a scrubby tree to es- cape observation. When they disappeared he again advanced, and knocked at the heavy door, It was opened in the course of a few moments by the prophetess herself, heavily vailed and dressed in black, as the Tom-cat had seen her. Pendergast scrutinized her closely as he en- tered, but that vail was a Chinese wall of seclu- sion. There was no penetrating it. As for the Tarantula, be was nowhere to be seen. ‘A secluded place you have here!” he ven- tured, for the purpose of hearing her talk. He hoped he might detect some familiar accent in her voice. ‘ Yes,” she replied, simply. quiet,” ‘*'You have not been here long?” questioningly. ‘*T supposed the house unoccupied, uatil the other day. Your name is new, too. Dumar, I believe? Madame Dumar?” For some reason she did not lead bim into the darkened chamber, but into a little box-like ante-room, At least that was what he took it to be. There was some drapery about the corners of the walls; and it was a singular-locking place, be acknowledged, even for an ante-room. He could not resist the feeling that it was some- thing of a cage. But this passed away as she sa‘ down opposite and began to answer bis ques- tions. ‘Yes; thatis my name. I am quite a stran- ger here. Have been here but little over a bat a I suppose you came to have your fortune ** You cannot tell it!” he declared, leaning back in his chair and eying her closely, ‘‘ That is a power given to no one,” ‘* So they all thirk, until I prove it!” with a musical laugh, ‘‘ In the first place, your name’s Julian Pendergast, and you are a lawyer.” ‘“*A fact not very difficult to discover!” was the quick retort. “Perhaps not. Most of them come here to consult me about love affairs. You are in love, but you did not come for that purpose.” ** Pray, what did I come for, then?” His mental query was: “How does she know whether I’m in love or not? I haven’t even told the Tom-cat that!” ‘You came to see if you could discover any- thing that would assist you in a certain case, as which your client is your sweetheart. You are leagued with an ex-cowboy, known as the Texas Tom-cat. Your sweetheart’s name is Dell De- vore, You three have combined to accomplish a certain purpese; and you call yourselves the ‘Tom-cat’s Triad!’ Is it not so?” The statements were startling, and revealed a wonderful knowledge. He could not understand bow she had gained it, and was resolved not to believe her pretended miraculous powers. His amazement was plainly revealed in his eyes, “Still a doubter!” she cried, laughingly. “I see that I will bave to tell more. Then, per- haps, you will believe that it is as easy to reveal the future as to call up a past which I can have had no opportunity of penetrating,” With this she plunged into a detailed account of all that was said in the young lawyer’s office at the Tom-cat’s first visit. **'You go beyond me!” he confessed, awed and mystified in spite of himself. ‘1 don’t know how you gained your information. Of course I can't believe that you discovered it in the way “It is very 4 f l
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Texas Tom-cat’s Triad. you claim, Pardon me, please, for the doubt. erhaps I ought to believe it, but my educa- tion is against such athing. It’s impossible; and we'll not argue the point.” A sort of fear had also mixed itself with this awe and mystification. This woman, whom he believed to be leagued with Silas Taulbee, had penetrated the secrets of the recent past, What was to hinder her from continuing it? The Triad would be forced to work at a terrible dis- advantage if their plans were to become, as soon as matured, the property of their enemies. They could never thwart Taulbee, in that event. ‘“Why do you wear a vail?’ he asked, with sudden energy. The query annoyed her. “An ungentlemanly question!” she asserted. ‘*Because I choose to. I am told there is no law against it.” He had been listening closely to every word, but could detect nothing familiar in her voice. But that was not strange. He was acquainted with but few of the women of Tombstone. And besides, the fortune-teller might have come from a distance. “No! I suppose not!” replying to her asser- tion. ‘‘ But the question was prompted by a very natural curiosity.” ‘IT suppose you came to have your fortune ' told?” questioningly, “Well! yes! I reckon I might as well!’ “One dollar, please, I always demand the fee in advance.” ‘“*So this is not a charitable institution?” with a light laugh, as he extracted a dollar from his purse, “Quite the contrary. Itis not best for peo- ple to look into the future. If they will, I make them pay for the privilege. Your hand, please!” She dropped the dollar into the pocket of her black dress, and began to examine the palm of his extenced hand. *‘T thought the victim looked into a pool, or something of the sort!” with an amused smile. ““Ah! The Tom-cat told you that! Anda gruesome sight he saw. You shall look soon, if you wish,” Then, bending over the palm: “‘T would rather not tell you, sir, what I see here!” Her tones chilled him. “Oh, go on!” he cried, with an attempt at bravery. ‘‘ You have the fee, and I can stand it. But don't draw the lines too black!” **T see,” she said, holding the hand away from her and staring at is fixedly, ‘‘a man in the last stages of starvation. e is wasted, emaci- ated, famine-stricken. The skin clings to his bones like cracking leather; his clothes are torn into wie and his hollow eyes burn with the fierce glare of insanity. And around and over him, as he lies helpless, swarm legions of rats, ready to devour him as soon as the breath leaves his body. That man is Julian Pender- gast!” She cast the hand fron: her and arose. “Oh, it was terrible. Let me prepare the magic pool. Maybe it will reveal some way of escape. Pendergast, scarcely able to control his un- strung nerves, leaned heavily back in his seat, as she turned to leave the little, box-like room, To his surprise and alarm, she was no sooner out of the place than the door Clanged to and locked and the room commenced to sink, Down, down, it went, with dizzy swiftness, ‘* Ha! ha! ha!” came the voice of this female fiend. ‘* You will believe the prophetess, Julian Pendergast, when the rats gather to gnaw your bones!” Then he knew that an elevator-like arrange- ment was carrying him into the depths of some abandoned mining-shaft. Springing to his feet he rushed to the drapery- concealed corners. In one of them was a speed- ing chain cable. But he found he could not stop the descent of the cage by means of it. He was powerless! Then his cries rung loud and wild; and, in his desperation, he beat his fists against the hard- wood walls until they were lacerated and bleed- ing. And still the cage descended into the un- known and terrible depths! ee CHAPTER IV. A DISGUSTED TOM-CAT, “Tats hyer bizness don’t suit me a-tall/” muttered the Tom-cat, with some warmth, as he —— his face and walked away, in the cool c) gair. He had just come into the outer life and light from the depths of the mine | where he had been breaking his back and ex- hausting his strength handling heavy ore. “*T wasn’t cut out for a miner! pedes an’ ropin’ steers and brandin’ mavericks an’ sich is my best holt. Ef I hadn’t gone into this thing with ny eyes wide open, I'd pull up my picket-pin an’ light ont. Minin’s a dog’s work, an’ no mistake! ** An’, besides, I ain’t doin’ no good. can’t do no good down in that dark hole. An’ I An’ when Icome up I’m so tuckered an’ beat out that I ain’t got no life to do the shadder trick with, I couldn’t give a good healthy ‘meow’ to save me. Ilike to goat things a-screechin’ and chargin’! That’s my way. An’ it’s the on’y way to’complish anything. But you can’t do that hyer. Thar’s nothin’ to screech an’ charge at!” ' The Tom-cat’s disgust was deep and genuine, For five days he had toiled in the gloom and darkness, hoping that he might learn something from the miners regarding Taulbee, or the late David Devore. From appearances he might go on toiling there forever and be none the wiser on those points, The miners knew nothing; or, if they did, they also knew how to keep that knowledge. It was very discouraging; and the Tom-cat was quite at his wits’ ends, At Pendergast’s re- quest he had undertaken to unravel the tissue of crime and falsehood with which Taulbee had screened himself. It was the Tom-cat’s theory that the papers taken from Dell Devore were stillin existence; and he hoped to obtain some clew {o lead him to them. In default of this he believed it possible to implicate Taulbee in some crime that would drive him toa confession of this offense to shield himself from punishment for the other. This belief was founded on a theory that did credit to the Tom-cat’s discernment, Few men leap at once into gigantic crimes. The great crimes are approached by a long gradation of lesser offenses. The baseness that prompted him to the wrong against Dell Devore, was the legitimate result of other wrongs committed. If one or more of these could be discovered and traced to him he would doubtless surrender the property to its rightful owner to escape ex- posure, The plan wasa good one. He had applied for and obtained work, so that he might be near Taulbee. And had been sent into the bowels of the earth, where he scarcely ever saw or heard of him, ‘““This byer bizness don’t suit me a-tall /” he repeated. ‘‘I can’t make no headway. I’ve a good mind to march right into Taulbee’s office, poke a pistol under his nose and make him own up to this bit o’ devilment. I may have to yit! An’ when I do show my claws I'll purceed to rip his black skin in ruther a lively way, ef he don’t talk straight, ‘*Hello! Thar’s the Tarant’ly! he snoopin’ ’round fer, I wonder?” The negro was dodging from point to point, but whether he was following the cowboy or not the latter could not tell. He might not have known of the Tarantula’s proximity, if the swollen, rounded body had not leaped across a bar of light that came from the window of a miner’s cottage. The Tom-cat slipped his hands upon his weapons and walked on, apparently unconscious of the negro’s presence. “* Another critter doin’ the shadder trick. An’ this time it’s me that’s bein’ shaddered. Makes a feller feel kind o’ squeamish an’ onsart’in; like follerin’a stampede an’ expectin’ to be pitched onto yer head every minnit. A shadder bein’ shaddered! Now, what d’ye s’pose he wants? Should think he wouldn’t keer to come near me ag’in, the way he run when I screeched.” But for some time he saw no more of the Tombstone Tarantula. Making his way into the busier portion of the town, he turned toward Pendergast’s office. To his surprise, the young lawyer was absent. This he could not understand, for Pendergast had made an appointment to meet him there on that evening and at that hour. ‘“Never knowed the young chap to be late afore,” mused the Tom-cat, seating himself on the steps. But the minutes passed, and Pendergast did not come, Then the Tom-cat became alarmed, and sought for him at his boarding-house. He re- called the shadowy figure that had been, ap- ees, following him, and the memory rought unpleasant suggestions. Perhaps Pen- dergast had been waylaid by the Tarantula and slain! The young lawyer had been very posi- tive in the belief that the negro was one of Now, what’s Chasin’ stam- Taulbee’s tools. And if the Tarantula had slain Pendergast, might he not be following the cow- boy with similar intentions? he Tom-cat glared about in the gloom as he thought of this. ‘“‘Ef he shows his black head hyerabouts V’ll purceed to punkcher it,” he gritted. ‘I’ve stepped on t’rant’lys afore to-day, an’ he'll find that my foot ain’t growed any lighter, Whether it’s human er animile, thar’s allus p’izen mean- ness in a t’rant’ly!” The information gained at the young lawyer's boarding-houss was not quieting. ‘* He hasn’t been seen for three days!” said the proprietor, ‘‘and no one seems to know what has become of him. He told nobody be was going. I have become somewhat alarmed about it ‘’Tain’t like Pendergast to puckachee ’thout sayin’ a word to his friends,” declared the Tom-cat. ‘ Thar’s dirt hyer—heaps of it! An? it’s my solemn belief that he’s been put out o’ the way by a certain dark-complected chap that I ain’t ready to name yit.” ‘*.You surprise me,” exclaimed the proprietor, ‘“Who could have cause for putting him out of the way, as you express it?” The Tom-cat was not ready to explain the grounds of his opinion, ‘“*T kin o’ny say it’s my solemn belief!” he de- clared, and backed away to prevent, further questioning. Pendergast might be somewhere in town, he thought. So he made a tour of the saloons and business houses, returning finally to the office, ‘“*Thar’s on’y one other place!” he mused. ‘An’ shorely he wouldn’t stay thar, when he knows ’at I’m waitin’ fer him. I'll call on Miss Devore; an’ ef he ain’t with her, I'l] know cer- tain he’s been killed er sperited away.” And this was the answer that came to his questioning, when he asked for that young Jady: “‘ Miss Devore? Why, we haven’t any warble idea what’s become of he ly disappeared.” The Tom-cat was staggered, He could ‘not understand it. Was it possible that Pendergast and his sweetheart had both been slain? It seemed too horrible for belief! Just then he noticed the Tombstone Tarantula writhing toward him through the shrubbery. The cowboy had left the house and was stand- ing, a few rods away, in the shadows of some trees. There could be.no doubt that the negro was advancing upon him. Stepping behind the trunk of one of the trees, the Tom-cat drew his weapons and awaited the black’s a 4 etn r. She has mysterious- Then he leaped out upon the Tarantula, screaming: ‘* Whoop! Mariar! Sp’t! sp’t! sp’t! mee-ow- ow! It was the Tom-cat’s well-know war-cry. CHAPTER V. A SUGGESTIVE PICTURE. THE second day after Pendergast’s disappear- ance from the public view, Miss Dell Devore was sitting at the window of her room, on the round floor, staring dreamily into the garden. er mind was pre-occupied and ill at ease, Julian Pendergast had t phages to call on her the previous evening, and had failed to keep his promise, Consequently she was filled with gloomy forebodings. She had no thought of a disappearance, Her forebodings were only such as all lovers have when the course of true love meets, or appears to meet, with an obstruction. She wondered if she had said or done anything to give offense, And when, after a mental review of her words and acts, she decided she had not, she was ready to pout her red lips and cry from sheer yex- ation. She tried to fix her mind on the book she was pretending to read. Finding this impossible, she again turned to the window, ' At this juncture a paper pellet sailed into the room, struck the ceiling and fell at her feet. She picked it up and untwisted it, It was a sheet of note-paper, and there was writing on it. Before reading the words she ran to the win- dow to see who had thrown it. Noone was in sight. Then she spread the paper upon her lap, smootbed out the wrinkles and read: “To Miss Driu Devors:— “Your lover, Julian Pendergast, called on me esterday. While here he was taken suddenly i] , eis avery sick man indeed; and, as he asks for Sa aes a a pa oy note, and req tila im, A very startling communication, delivered in a very startling way. : : ar > »
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Texas Tom-cat’s Triad. 5 her nerveless fingers. Her first impulse was to hurry at once to the residence’ of Madame Dumar. This was checked by the hong that the communication might be false. f true, why had it been delivered in so strange and surreptitious a manner? At this, a great fear came over her. Her lover bad said tbat the fortune-teller was cer- tainly an ally of Taulbee’s. Probably this note was designed to lead her into a trap. But, on the other hand, the statement offered a complete explanation of the cause of Pender- gast’s failure to keep his appointment. He was not given to such lapses. If sick at Madame Dumar’s residence, of course he could not come. And he was calling for her in his flights of delirium, That brought the argument to an abrupt close, She would go! No matter what the dan- ger, she could not slight such a summons. He must be there! No one could pen so cruel a falsehood. She would be on the alert; and if a trap was intended she would use her good, sound sense to keep out cf it. She had little fear that personal violence would be attempted; what she thought of was an effort to deprive her temporarily of liberty. Having reached a decision she got ready, with much trembling aad haste, to carry it out. As she was almost a stranger to the landlady, and quite so to the guests of the house, she did not think it best to confide to them the contents of the note or tell them where she was going. In this she displayed the disposition that had led her to seek out Taulbee and lay the precious paper before him without first consulting an at- torney as to the course to pursue, A walk of fifteen or twenty minutes brought her in front of tbe fortune-teller’s residence. She recognized it easily from the Tom-cat’s description; and her heart beat painfully, as she approached the door. The prophetess was evidently waiting for her; for the door was opened almost as soon as she an- nounced her presence by rapping. ‘Ah! Step in, please!” with a bending of the vailed head, And she led the way along the narrow hall; ushering the young lady into the darkened chamber. Instantly the greenish glare shot out, giving to everything an unnatural and ghastly color. Miss Devore looked about the apartment in an awed way, noting the owl and snake, and the black cat that purred and rubbed about the feet of its mistress. But nowhere did she see anything of her lover, Julian Pendergast. “Where is the—the gentleman?” she stam- mered, ‘ Madame Dumar wheeled around and stared at her as if 1m surprise. ‘‘The gentleman? I don’t know that I un- derstand you, miss! Perhaps you mean my negro servant, whom I have dubbed the Taran- tula of Tombstone.” Dell Devore was overwhelmed with astonish- ment, ‘* Why, you wrote to me, did you not, request- ing me to come here? The note stated that Mr. Julian Pendergast, the attorney, was lying ill at this house, and that he wished to see me.” The prophetess gasped her amazement. ‘* There is some mistake!” she declared. ‘ Let me see the note. I never wrote it.” Miss Devore passed it over for her inspection, It was difficult to read by that dazzing, green light, but Madame Dumar accomplished it finally. “T never wrote it!” she asserted. ‘It’s a base forgery. And that’s what brought you here? I supposed, of course, you came to have your fortune told.” The young lady’s distress was painfully ap- parent. She knew not what to do—what to think. Was this woman deceiving her? If she was, what motive inspired the deceit? “Tamat a loss to account for this imposi- tion!” continued Madame Dumar. ‘‘ Your—I mean Mr. aed ga was here the day before yesterday. I told his fortune for him. But he is not here now. I pledge you my word upon that. If you disbelieve me, you are at liberty to search the house.” Dell Devore declared that she had no wish to do that. And then woman-like gave way to a flood of hysterical weeping. “Come! Come! This will never do!” urged the prophetess. ‘‘ Dry your tears and let me tell your fortune. I will not charge you anything, considering the circumstances which brought you here, 1f your lover—for I perceive that he is your lover—is above ground I can trace bin; and if he is under ground I can follow him there.” Ld She gave a quick cry, and the paper fell from The young lady looked up, quickly, the tears shining in ber eyes. ‘“* You have a kind voice!” she said. ‘‘ And, “oh! I so want to know about him. But you can’t tell me that way. Indeed youcan’t! Tl not believe it. It’s silly and unreasonable!” Madame Dumar only laughed at this bold ex- pression. ** Let me tell your fortune, and then you can believe it or not, as you choose.” * But if can tell that, why didn’t you know what I came for, and that 1 had the letter, without questioning me?” ‘* Still a doubter! A hopeless one, I fear. Why, my dear child, I don’t pretend to know at all times what’s going on in the world. It’s only when I place myself in proper condition, and the influences are right. Then I can tell what lies behind and before any particular per- son.” ‘* Well, I won’t believe it, no matter what you say!” with a laugh that was altogether forced, doubtful and hysterical, ‘‘I can’t, you see. It’s too preposterous. The future is known only to God!’ There was a solemnity about the last sentence that evidently struck disagreeably on the ears of the madame. She shuddered a little, and drew the vail closer about her face. ‘* We'll not discuss that!” hastily. ‘‘ You see, we couldn’t agree, and discussion would be use- less. Shall 1 read your hand, or will you take a look into the pool? Now that the test came, the young lady drew back, almost affrighted, **Do you suppose it is wicked? It seems like mockery, or tempting fate. I hope you won’t show me anything horrible, like you did the Tom-cat!” ‘*So you know about that? I suppose the cowboy will tell of it to every one be meets, Well, it will bea good advertisment. Do you wish to look into the pool?” Dell Devore was about to refuse and leave the house, She really had no faith in the woman’s pretended powers. But there is a mysterious fascination in even the pretense of looking into the future. She could not resist the spell, “Come!” was the imperious command. ‘I can see that you prefer to look into the pool. I call it my magic looking-glass, And a magic glass it is, as you will be forced to con- fess!’ She grasped the hand of the shrinking girl, and drew her toward, that baleful, leaping flame. ‘*There!” she cried, pointing with extended finger at the glassy surface. ‘‘ Behold your fate!” Miss Devore gave one quick glance, and reeled backward with a startled cry. Beneath the placid waters she saw a picture that was terrible, and, if she had known it, sig- nificant. She saw herself, gaunt and hollow- cheeked, clasped in the arms of a starving and dying man. And that man was Julian Pender- ast. en Come away!” cried the stony-hearted fiend. ‘The picture is too much for you!” She saw that the young'woman was on the point of fainting. But no relenting came to her. She dragged the almost helpless girl from that chamber of horrors into the little, cage-like structure to which Pendergast had been conducted. ‘*You are weak, That room is not quieting to unstrung nerves, Thisisbetter. Now, if you will remain herea moment, I will fetch you some water.” She bounded, away; and, as she did so, the heavy door clanged to, and the cage began its downward movement, CHAPTER VI. A STRUGGLE IN THE DARK, Tue Tarantula of Tombstone went down under the Tom-cat’s sudden assault. He had not an- ticipated such a screeching onset. ‘* Now, what air ye follerin’ me fer?’ demand- ed the Tom-cat, glaring fiercely into the black face that was upturned to the starlight, ‘I’ve a good mind to claw ye into ribbons. You'd make nice ones, I "low, fer mournin’ purposes,” He tightened bis grip on the negro’s throat, bringing a gurgling and wheezing sound from between the red lips and causing the long legs to twist convulsively. “Ob! Oh! Foh goodness sake, boss, lef up a minit!” the negro howled, when the grasp was relaxed. ‘I didn’t mean nuffin’; ’deed I didn’t! 1 jes’ wanted teh speak wid you,” “A likely yarr!” growled the Tom-cat, allow- ing the Tarantula to rise to a sitting posture. ‘*Don’t begin by tellin’ lies, er I'll plug ye, shore!” The negro gave another howl, and repeated his protestations. ‘* Whar’s Julian Pendergast?” with a signifi- cant movement of therevolver. ‘‘Spit it out lively !” ‘** Dat ’ar lawyer gemman what hab office on de main street? Sho’, boss, 1 cyain’t tell you dat! Ef you shoot me, I couldn’t!” ** An’ whar’s Miss Dell Devore?” ‘*Hain’t ‘quainted wid no ladies ’roun’ heah, ’cep’n Madame Dumah. You in’tainin’ me wid foolishness, I see!” The red lips expanded in an attempted laugh. ‘*Tt’?s my solemn belief that you put ’em both out o’ the way; an’ that you was follerin’ me fer the same purpose. Ef I was jest positive on them p’ints, ’d put a ball squar’ through you.” The threat caused the negro to tremble vio- lently, and hastily repeat bis denials, “Then, what wuz you follerin’ me fe: ?” “T wanted teh speak wid you, boss. Deh madame sent me. She say, ‘Tell de Tom-cat dat ef he’ll come to me I kin tell ’im whab his frien’ is.’ Dem’s de berry words, sho’, An’ so I been creepin’ roun’ an’ creepin’ roun’ tryin’ teh git to speak wid you on de subjec’.” The cowboy scarcely knew what to make of the statement. ‘* Why didn’t you come up to me like a man an’ say so? Yes: an’a minit ago you said you didn’t know anything about Pendergast. How’s that?” But the negro was a ae fellow. ‘* Hit’s de troof! . I do’ know nuffin’ ’bout him; an’ I do’ wan’ teh know. De madame say yo frien’. Mayby hit’s some ‘un else what she done speak about. She don’s’plain her intendments teh a nigger like me.” ‘“‘An’ so you slipped onto me because you didn’t know who this hyer madame meant,” “No, boss! Don’ bounce off’n de han’le dat way. I’se afeard to walk aroun’ dish yeh town. De boys flip stones an’ holler at me, an’ say: ‘Smash de spideh!’ So I creep roun’ tryin’ to speak wid you private.” There was an airof pleading in the negro’s voice; and the Tom-cat, somewhat ashamed of his threats, lowered his revolver. The negro gave evidence of his gratitude in an expansive grin. ‘* Now, you ac’ lack a gemman. You skeered me powerful—'tic’lar’ when you jump at me wid dat screechifyin’, Dat soun’ lack a caty- mount wkat done los’ hits cubs.” The Tom-cat gloried in his screeching abili- ties, and the comparison pleased him. **T don’t know ef I ought to let you goer not!” he said. ‘But I will; an’ resk it. Ef you’ve been a-yarnin’, though, Vl diskiver it, an’ it'll be the wuss fer ye. Remember that. The next time, I'll claw as well as screeck |” ‘““Tnanky, boss! Thanky! An’ don’ fergit what I tol’ you’, ef you wanter heah from yo’ frien’!” The Tarantula evidently interpreted the cow- boy’s words as a release; for he backed behind a tree, and, with a sudden spring, disappeared in the gloom. ** Now, hyer’s fer it!” the Tom-cat exclaimed, “Tm a-goin’ smack into that fortune-teller’s house.. Though, blamed ef I know what I'll do when I git thar. Ef she was on’y a man, I’d know mighty quick. But you’ve got to handle a female critter kind o’ tender like er she'll faint. °"T'won’t do to stick a pistol at her like I did the spider. ’ ‘‘T don’t fancy the thinga bit. How should she know ’bout the young chap ’less she’s had a hand in puttin’ him out 0’ the way. Maby she’ll try the same gameon yours truly. Ef she does, she'll find she’s got a buckin’ broncho at the end of her rope.” He was uneasy; but the promise that he should gain information by paying the madame a visit drew him on, He rather wished, as he left the town behind him and struck out toward the fortune-teller’s residence, that he had forced the Tarantula to accompany him. By keeping the latter covered with a revolver he might have been able to dic- tate terms, or at least secure his own safety. There was no help for it now; and he tram on, with eyes and ears strained to catch the faint warning of peril. He half-expected that be would be waylaid en route; but he reached the house without noting anything to excite his apprehension. t was dark beneath the shadow of the build- ing; and no friendly light gleamed from the windows. Not asound toindicate that there was life behind the gloomy walls. are OEE
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i Texas Tom-cat’s Triad. He drew and cocked a revolver; and, with the butt of it, sea on the door. He rapped twice before a shuffling sound showed that the sum- mons had been heard, Then, the flame of a lamp pierced the darkness; and a little later the door was opened. The fortune-teller stood before him, holding the light above her head and staring at him through her heavy vail. ‘*Evenin’, ma’am!” he said, removing his cat- skin cap with his left hand, and holding the re- volver down out of view with hisright. ‘‘ Yer nigger said as how you wanted to see me ag’in. ‘Why, it’s the Tom-cat! It’s so dark I could hardly make you out. Certainly; comein. I sent the Tarantula after you a good while ago. I thought he had missed you, perhaps; or that you didn’t intend to come.” *‘No; I don’t keer to come in, ma’am! Thank- in’ ye jest the same. You kin say it tome hyer. [I’ve got a ’p’intment back to town that’s power- ful pressin’.” She laughed in his face. ““Why, Tom-cat, I didn’t suppose you would ever be afraid of a woman!” ‘No more I ain’t!” protested the cowboy. ‘Oh, but you are! Remember, I’m a fortune- teller, and I can read your thoughts as well as tell fortunes. You are afraid of me.” ‘‘ Hanged ef I am!” cried the nettled cowboy, striding into the room. I'll prove it. I ain’t the kind that shows the white feather. Lead on to yer snake room. But remember that I’m watchin’ ye. Ef ye kin tell other things, ye ought to know that I won’t stand any nonsense.” She started toward the box-like room; then changed her mind and led the way to the apart- ment containing the pool. The cowhoy noticed her hesitation. He could not understand it, but it made him more wary and watchful. He had slipped the cocked revolver into his right coat pocket; but his hand still clasped it. His beloved cap he did not suffer to go out of his left hand. ‘“* What’s come o’ Pendergast?” he demanded, not designing to notice the chair to which she waved him. “He is in very great distress!” she answered. ** Look into the r= it “Blamed ef I do. I looked into it onc’t too often, a’ready. Couldn't sleep fer two nights after. Ef ye know anything say it. Ef ye don’t I'm a-goin’.” The Tom-cat imagined he heard soft footsteps in anadjoining room, and it did not tend to make him tractable. His suspicions were con- stantly increasing. A premonition of danger settled upon him. “Talk,” he cried, “‘er Tl bolt. Ef ye know anything, say it. Where’s Pendergast? That's what I come fer.” Again he heard those soft footsteps. < Tack into the pool,” she urged. tell you all.” : Instead of obeying, he drew his revolver and backed through the doorway into the hall, which was also illuminated by that leaping green flame, She hurried after him. “Stop!” she commanded. ‘*What do you mean? Put up that pistol. If you must leave in this silly way, leave by the proper entrance, You're backing right into my bed-chamber.” He was really doing nothing of the kind, but the statement had the desired effect. He re- coiled, and for a moment lost his watchfulness, “This way,”she said. ‘If you will go, go out at the side entrance. I haven’tany patience with you. I sent for you with the best of mo- tives. I intended to truly reveal to you the present whereabouts of Mr. Pendergast, and also of his sweetheart, Dell Devore. But your foolish suspicions have robbed you of your wits, and you won’t listen to anything. Here, go out this way!” And she flung open the door leading into the cage; but the Tom-cat remembered that she had started toward that on his entrance, and the act deepened his distrust. “Not by a jugful!” he yelled. ‘‘I go out the way I come in!” And he backed toward what he believed to be the front entrance. Madame Dumar gave a hysterical scream, and pointed toward the room they had just va- cated. The Tom-cat’s eyes involuntarily fol- lowed hers. He saw nothing. But the next in- stant he heard the swish of a rope, and a noose dropped over his shoulders, pinioning his arms to his sides. Then he was jerked from his feet, his revolver went spinning across the hallway, and he found himself enga ina deadly struggle with the Tombstone Tarantula. At the same time the door of the room closed, shutting out the green Tt will light, and plunging everything into the deepest gloom. ‘“*Whoop!” he yelled, roused to tremendous exertions, ‘‘Tom-cass ag’in’ T’rant’lys! IW smash ye, ye black spider. Mee-ee-ow-ow!” CHAPTER VII. A TERRIBLE SITUATION, Drtt DrvoRE became almost wild with ter- ror as the cage descended into the darkness, bearing her with it. She had not dreamed of treachery, when Mad- ame Dumar hurried away, saying that she was going for water. Even now she could scarcely realize what had happened. After a descent of perhaps a hundred feet, the cage stopped, with a jolt, and the door swung outward, apparently of its own accord. But she could see nothing. The air seemed freer and purer, however. While she was still filled with wonder and fear, she heard a quick step and some one rushed toward her, crying: “Oh, my own darling Dell! You here in this horrible place? Stay there! I am coming!” But the warning came too late. Witha quick spring she had leaped from the cage, attracted by his voice, Then the door closed and the elevator began to ascend. He sprung at it, as if he would hold it by main force. But it hurled him against a rocky projection; and he fell, half-fainting, at Dell’s | feet. All this was very mysterious and strange; | and she bent above him, thioking that surely she must bedreaming. She would awaken soon to find the sun shining and the birds singing in the old, familiar way. But he aroused almost immediately and spoke to her, and she knew it was not a dream. “Ob, if I had only been bere wen the cage descended!” he moanea. ‘They might have drawn us up ignorantly, and then I would have fought a way to daylight. But it’s too late! Too late! It will not descend again—unless they entrap the Tom-cat. I didn’t dream of its com- ing down this time. **Ob, my darling! That you should be con- signed to such a fate!” e drew her to him, shuddering as he did so. She tried to say something that would com- fort him, but found her own grief so great that she could not. ‘*Tt seems ages since I descended into this living tomb!” he continued, his calmness re- turning somewhat. ‘‘ You know what it is, I suppose! Itisa deserted mine. That car was doubtless used once for drawing up ore. It has been transformed into an elevator-like room, and arranged in some way to work as it now does. ‘“*T have explored the mine as far as I dare go. It is nothing but a series of galleries, lead- ing no one can tell where. I thought at first there must be an opening that could be easily found, for you notice the air seems rather fresh. But I can’t discover anything of the kind. I am almost convinced there isn’t any, or they wouldn’t have placed us here.” He spoke in the weary, desponding tone of a man who has lost hope. ‘* But the car!” she exclaimed, clinging to him as if shefeared he might melt away into tbe darkness. “There is a chance—if it descends with the Tom-cat., A slender one; but still a chance. We might crowd into it, and tius be drawn to the room above. I have thonght it over; but the hope is so slight that I fear we must discard it. Though in a frenzy a while ago, I leaped at it, as a drowning man might leap at a straw. ‘“You see, the trouble is, they control the machinery that raises and lowers the cage. If we should enter it, they might not raise it, In fact, would not; for I am sure they can, hear every movement that is made within it.” Then he told her how he had been entrapped; and she related her own experience. *¢ And I have only been down here forty-eight hours!” he said, when she had told him the day of the week and the time of day. ‘‘ It doesn’t seem possible. How the hours have dragged! And I have been busy, too, searching for an outlet. But there is none. A geries of never- ending galleries. I feared to go too far lest I might not be able to find my way back. It would be terrible, with both of us in here and lost from each other.” He clasped her hand; and she was startled to find how thin his fingers were, ‘* Mental torture exhausts more rapidly than hunger and thirst!” he declared, answering her startled questions. ‘‘ And Iam suffering from all three, now. It has been fifty hours since I tasted food or drink; and I have suffered a life- time of agony. ‘* But do not weep. If it is God’s will that we die here, let us be thankful that we can die to- gether.” She had not yet reached that state of resigna- tion; and her lamentations were heart-rending. He endeavored tocomfort her; but his honesty would not permit him to hold out false hopes. ‘If they do not trap the Tom-cat as they did us, we may escape!” he said, ‘‘He is an honest and faithful fellow, and will not quickly give up the search. If he knew we were here, I would have little fear. He would rescue us, if he had to organize a band and raze the house to its foundations. But he does not know we are here; and I do not see how he is to discover the fact, unless he is sent down in the car as we were,” It was hard for Dell to give up all hope of ever again seeing the bright sunlight, which was at that moment, she knew, flooding the streets of Tombstone. To be dragged from the warmth and color of the beautiful world above, and be consigned to a torturing, lingering death in the gloomy galleries of that deserted mine. The picture she had seen in the pool projected itself into the future and became a haunting horror. Her mind groped forward, counting the minutes, the hours, the days—until the end. Then she prayed that it might come speedily, if it must come. She knew now that the pretended fortune- teller was some base creature, the tool of Silas Taulbee. [t could not be otherwise, for Taulbee | was the only person who could wish her out of the way. And Pendergast must suffer because he had championed her cause! : At last she started to her feet. Pendergast was sitting by her, his head a on his breast, his every attitude denot- ing the deepest dejection. She had become ac- customed to the darkness, and could now make out his appearance, as he sat there. ‘Light and air get into this mine in some way!” she exclaimed, her energies becoming aroused, ‘‘There must be an entrance some- where besides the shaft. Wecan feel that the air is comparatively fresh, and there must be light, or we could not see at all. I can make out the shape of my hands. If no light entered, we could see nothing, no matter how long we re- 4 mained in the dark.” Pendergast lifted his head, but did not speak, ‘*T can’t stand it to remain here, Julian, with- out making an effort to escape! We are bound to perish here.” ‘“ What would you do?” he asked. “Anything! Sothat it seems we are doing something. Explore the galleries! One at a time. There must be a way out.” “T have explored them!” he declared. ‘“ If we go too far we cannot return to the shaft.” Weakness had sapped his courage. When first he found himself in the mine he had like- wise been all fire and energy. “What matters it if we cannot find our way back here?” she argued. ‘‘ We cannot escape by this shaft. We might as well die in one placeas another. But I feelsure that some good-fortune will guide us.” Her hopeful words inspired in him something of her spirit. ‘*Pm willing to try!” he announced, stagger- ing to his feet, 3 With joy she hailed the declaration, It was like a new lease of life, As he stood trembling- ly by her she began to realize how weak he was, and slipped a hand through his arm in an en- couraging way. ‘* Now what direction?” she asked. “T tried those galleries leading straight away,” was the reply. ‘‘ They branched until 1 had to give it up.” ‘“‘ One is as good as another, I suppose,” draw- ing him forward. ‘* Let us try this. And pray Heaven that it may lead us out of this terrible place!” With a sincere heart he echoed her words; and together they set forward. It was a seemingly interminable walk. They went from one branching gallery into another; on, until they lost all idea of time, distance and location. For all they knew to the contrary they might be traversing the same galleries over and over again. At last Dell sunk down with a moan of despair; and Pendergast crouched disconsolate- ly by her side. ; ; Hunger and thirst were gnawing, wolf-like, at his vitals. Such terrible cravings he had never known, His mouth and throat were parm and blistered, and his lips cracked and bleeding. Worst of all, touches of delirium came at times. ad a —-
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DS te 3 5 a : And when he slept, in a restless, tossing way, his dreams were filled with feastings and he seemed laving his parched body in cooling lakes of crystal clearness. Then he would awake to the terrible hunger, thirst and darkness, Dell Devore did not suffer so much in that way. He had been in there two days and nights before she came. But her mental torture and her weariness were crushing. When she sunk down she almost believed she was dying. She crept nearer to Pendergast, placed her hands in his, and strained her eyes to see his features. But the darkness was too great, Then, she kissed him again and again, passionately. “Dell!” he said, aroused by her kisses, ‘T believe my time has come. I can’t last a great deal longer. If you were not with me I would be tempted to hurry matters by the suicide’s route. But, you have saved me from that. Put your arms about me: and if we must die, let us die together. And may the Lord look down in mercy on our souls.” She complied with the request, trembling and weeping; and, as she did so, wafted to Heaven a prayer as sincere and earnest as ever came from the beart of mortal. CHAPTER VIII. A SURPRISE, Wao shall say that her prayer was not an- swered, A shuffling sound came out of the gloom, and a big, brown bear poked his nose around an angle of the gallery. Dimly-defined he seemed of monstrous size; and his eyes gleamed balefully. Dell gave an involuntary shriek, causing Pendergast to lift his head, in a questioning wer Whereat the bear growled horribly. his drew another shriek from ker, and Pendergast, catching sight of the bear fired at it, scarcely realizing what he was doing. The bear growled again, and made off. “Follow him!” cried Pendergast, now fully aroused. ‘‘ That was a foolish shot. He may save us!” He leaped to his feet, strengthened by this new hope; and burried after the bear, fairly dragging Dell along with him. “Hurry !’ he urged. ‘‘ We must not let him getaway. He came in here; and we’ll go out. if we follow him, We can crawl through any aperture that he can. Oh, Dell! We're saved! saved!” He was almost wild with the thought. As for Dell she was scarcely less excited, now that she realized what the appearance of the bear meant for them. And she hastened along at her lover’s side, hardly daring to speak. She had suddenly lost all fear of the brute. Under ordinary circumstances she would have fled from a bear with horror. Now she was filled with apprebension lest the creature might dis- tance them and leave them again alone. The bear shuffled along, growling in a menac- ing way, when they pressed him closely. Some- times he would bolt around an angle or into a new passage, and they would be compelled to stop to determine the way he had gone. Then they would run, knowing that life depended on their speed, until they came up with bim once more. ) Tt was by a long and devious route that he led them. But, they scarcely realized it. So ex- cited were they, and so strengthened by hope, they forgot the flight of time and gave no heed to pain and weariness. ud then, like the glimmer of a far-off star, they saw a point of white light. “Saved! Saved! Oh, Dell, we are saved!” Pendergast shouted, hysterically, And Dell Devore felt the tears dropping from her own cheeks, while a prayer of gratitude welled up in her heart. Ay! they were saved. That ungainly brown bear had led them back to life and happiness. The point of light grew brighter and larger. Soon they could make out quite plainly the shaggy form of their brute guide. Then they could discern the features of each other. Pendergast was wild with detight. His hol- low cheeks were glowing with joy, and his suf- fused eyes shone gratefully. He kept up an in- cessant chatter. But Dell’s happiness was too deep for words. _ Suddenly the light was blotted out. ** The bear is crawling through the entrance!” ‘* Hooray! Now for lib- shouted Pendergast. oy r @ dashed forward, almost dragging his sweetheart from her feet. The light came again; the bear was gone; and, they were crawling through the marrow aperture. It was a tunnel-like. place, hollowed out by some wild animal. Perhaps by the bear. In another instant they were beneath the deep- blue vault of heaven, now radiant with the glory of the rising sun. Then Pendergast’s strength deserted him, and he reeled and fell fainting. The country about was strange to Dell.) She had never been there before. As far as she could judge by appearances they might be hun- dreds of miles from the town of Tombstone, But she had no time to waste in conjecture. Her lover demanded her immediate attention. There was*ho water near; and she was quite at aloss whatto do. Nevertheless she knelt by him and began to chafe his wrists and hands. The fainting fit was fortunately of short du- ration. He revived, and sat up—staring”at her in a strange way out of his deeply-sunken eyes, He was emaciated and feverish; his eyes blue- lidded, with dark circles beneath them; and his whole appearance indicative of the greatest mental and: physical exhaustion. “Ts it you, Dell?’ as his eyes took on @ look of recognition and memory. ‘“ Yes! Thank God, we are saved! Saved!” Then, as he tried to stagger to bis feet: ** Oh, if I only had some water!” She was thinking the same. Not only water for her lover, but for herself. She began to realize how very, very thirsty she was. ‘* Why, how long were we in there together?’ she questioned, with an air of mystification. ‘* When I called on Madame Dumar it was al- most noon! And now the sun is rising! A night has passed! It appears impossible!” ‘**It seems to me it has been a month!” he, de- clared, steadying himself on his feet with her assistance. ‘I felt strong as an ox while chas- ing that bear. Now I’m as weak asa cbild,” ‘“*Tt was the strength of excitement,” she an- swered. ‘‘ You are hardly able to stand. Rest against that bowlder, while [ go in search of water. There must be some near, - A. creek; spring, or something. I'll have to use your hat as a pail.” : She tried to smile in a cheery way; and tak- ing the hat, hastened off in search of the life- giviag fluid. She glanced about to see if the bear was in the vicinity. ‘*Tt wouldn’t be nice to have the beast guide me to safety, just to make a meal off of me!” and she shuddered. But the bear had disappeared, The search was a long one, for the country thereabout was dry and rocky. But at last she found a tiny pool, formed by water. oozing through a clayey soil. It was quite cool; as the sun -had not yet searched it out with his hot rays. illing the hat half-fullshe hurried back to where she had left Pendergast sitting against the bowlder. Not, however, before she had satisfied her own cravings. How the eyes of the fever-parched max, shone when they fell upon that dripping hat, “Snatch- ing it from her-he buried kis face in the water and. drank greedily, scarcely stopping to breathe. ‘*You must be careful, Julian!” she ‘urged, drawing the hataway. “I, as your pbysician, command you to moderation. That is enough, now. After a little you can drink more,” The water brought strength and life to him. To her surprise he soon got upon his ‘feet with- out assistance. ‘* Now, if we had something to eat!” ke said, glaring about through the shrubbery. ‘‘I feel like a new man, even as itis. That water has done me a world of good. Where do you sup- pose we are?” “T was just thinking of that! The country is unfamiliar. I think, though, the town cannot be far. Across that ridge, probably.” “Yes,” reflectively, ‘it must be. “We have crossed the ridge by going under it. How we are to get into town puzzles me, There don’t appear to be any trails hereabouts.” ** We can’t!” she replied. ‘* Not until we are both stronger!” “Which we're not liable to be, unless we can find something to eat.” - ~The words gave her an idea. Without saying anything to raise hopes thet might be blasted, she tripped away. Within half an hour she re- turned with a y sora of berries, which she ha found on some low-growing bushes. { Together they devoured them; Julian eating with the greediness of a half-starved man. . When they were finished, he felt so much bet- ter that he accompanied heron a short walk to see if he could not bring down something more substantial with his revolver. He succeeded in shooting a couple of moun- tain quails. He had matches in a metallic case; and while Dell prepared the quails, he kindlec a fire. No meat ever tasted better than the flesh of those quails, broiled over a bed of hot coals on the ends of sharpened sticks, Then they climbed toward the top of the ridge, hoping to see Tombstone just beyond it, Pendergast’s strength was not equal to the task, however, The increasing heat of thesun affected his head; and they bad to halt and remain in a clump of bushes until near sunset. As theair became cooler they pushed on again, with slow and weary feet; and, just as darkness settled down, they raached the low summit and looked off on the twinkling lights of the town, The sight inspired them with renewed cours age, and they went on, halting occasionally, and by nine o'clock were in the streets of Tomb- stone. Hailing a passing vehicle, they were conveyed to Pendergast’s boarding-house; and from that Dell was driven to her own. As soon as Pendergast had done full justice to the supper placed before him he asked that the Texas Tom-cat might be sent to him. ‘*He is not, in town!” was the startling in- formation that was brought, after almost an hour’s anxious waiting. ** Not in town?” “So it seems, sir!” deciared the messenger, ‘* He called for you here, I’m told, sometime this evening. Finding that you were gone, he went away; and not long ago he was seen walk- ing toward the northern trail. I’ve been to his lodgings, and all over town, and I can’t find him, Pendergast had not told what had befallen himself and his sweetheart. He had evaded questions, believing the time not ripe for ex- planations, Now he saw that he must unbosom bimself. He was satisfied the Town-cat had been induced to visit the fortune-teller’s resi- dence. Probably the faithful fellow was now in the depths of the mine—or dead! Urged by this thought he told the messenger how he bad been entrapped, together with his sweetheart: how they had escaped; and of the peril he believed the Tom-cat to he in, ‘“* And you want men?” questioned the mes- senger, ‘*Yes! A half-dozen reliable fellows! And warrants for the arrest of the fortune-teller and her servant.” His strength and vigor were rapidly return- ing; this new excitement also lent strength and spurred him on; and while the messenger was gathering the men he wént into town and pro- cured warrants for the arrest of Madame Dumar and the Tombstone Tarantula. CHAPTER IX. TO.THE RESCUE. He had scarcely done so, when the man ap- peared, with four or five rough-looking miners at his heels. Pendergast explained to them the situation, offered to pay them liberally for their services, and then led the way out of town, ‘*Remember there’s to be no shooting, unless it becomes absolutely necessary, to save life!” he explained, as they neared the house. He was about to say more, when a series of screeches came to their ears. **That’s the Tom-cat!” he cried, drawing his weapons and darting forward, entirely forget- ful of his weakened condition. His foliowers imitated him. A few bounds brought them to the heavy door. One of the miners hurled his burly frame unceremoniously against it. .It flew open, and they tumbled into the dark hallway. Pandemonium seemed let loose there in the darkness, The screeches_ of the Tom-cat were answered by the labored breathing of the Tarantula, as he sought to gain the better of his nimble foe. The rescuing party could do nothing in the gloom. Pendergast shouted his encouragement to the cowboy and rake a match on the wall. At the same instant the door at the opposite end opened, flooding the hall with that blinding, green flame, and the prophetess leaped to the negro’s assistance. A quick blow, and then sbe half-dragged the Tarantula into the elevator. The door closed with a vicious snap. And before Pendergast and his men realized what had occurred, the fortune-teller and her servant were speeding down the shaft. “Stop the thing!” yelled Pendergast, at the a
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» 7 shes Ray ee ~ 9 fe + a OSS eee 8 Texas Tom-cat’s Triad. same time hurrying to the prostrate cowboy, who lay as if dead. The prophetess had struck with some blunt in- strument, and the blow, falling upon the Tom- cat’s head had rendered him senseless, While Pendergast was determining this, the men were searching for some means by which they could stop the descending elevator. They finally discovered the lever that controlled it; but, before they did so, the cage reached the bottom of the shaft and its occupants escaped into the mine. Pendergast was attempting the cowboy’s re- storation. The wound was in the nature of a contusion. He bathed it in cold water and bound it up with his own handkerchief. The water seemed to possess revivifying power, The cowboy stirred uneasily, and opened his eyes. Then he felt of his bruised head, and sat p. ‘* Great guv’ner!” he cried, staring into Pen- dergast’s face. ‘‘So ‘twas you that bu’sted through the door an’ told me to look chipper, aw’ plug ’im? A p’izen T’rant’ly got away with a Tom-cat. Well, I never!” Pendergast did not stay to answer questions. He hurried off to examine the peculiar machin- ery by which the elevator was controlled. It was an ingenious arrangement, working on the principle of the balance. When the cage de- scended, the weights were drawn up, and vice versa. The additional weight of a person or ee in the cage would cause it to descend, ut/to draw it up, loaded, a winch was neces- sary. It was empty now, and it came up quite readily. ** Tumble in there, some of you!” commanded Pendergast. ‘‘Not all! Some must stay here to draw us up again. I’m going after that precious pair. They can’t have got far from the bottom of the shaft, And they won’t dare to go far for fear of getting lost.” He turned, to see the Tom-cat at his elbow, the well-worn catskin cap pressed down on the bandaged head. es So, they went down thar?” cried the cow- boy. ‘‘An’ that’s where she wanted to send me, ‘“* And would have done so, if we hadn’t come justin time. Tumble in! [ll be glad to have you go’long, if you feel able.” “Oh, I'm all right!” with a tug at the cap to make sure that it was in place, ‘“‘ Tom-cats ag’in’ Tarant’lys! I’m with ye. I want to git even with that chap fer the love-lick he give me. That was a sneakin’ trick.” Pendergast shouted a command and the cage dropped into the depths with startling swift- ness. Like tumblin’ down a well, that air!” ex- claimed the irrepressible cowboy, as the cage brought up at the bottom, with something of a erash. ‘* Don’t know’s [ hanker much after that style o’ travelin’.” He leaped out as soon as the door was open, only to find himself in a darkness as dense as the traditional glooin of Egypt. “There! I forgot a light!” cried Pendergast. ** A most inexcusable blunder!” ** Hyer’s one!’ said one of the men, producing and lighting a miner’s lantern. The Tom-cat led the search, for it was not his nature to remain in the rear when there was ex- citement and danger. But they could discover nothing. The woman and the negro had disap- peared completely. Pendergast was somewhat disappointed as they gathered again about the shaft, Yet, when everything is taken into considera- tion, he had no good reason for being so. Placed in similar circumstances, he would have fled into the gloomy galleries, as the fugitives had probably done. ! They re-entered the cage, and were drawn up, It was now past midnight. Pendergast was be- coming faint and weak. He would not leave, - however, until the house had been subjected to a = search. He hoped to find something to implicate Taulbee, n this he was disappointed. The “ mysteri- ous” room held nothing that was really mys- terious. The green flame was produced by the ignition of some peculiar preparation. In the miraculous pool was a hand-painted picture, showing “‘ Tom-cat’s Triad” in the last stages of starvation. It was rather artistically done, and served to show that the pretended prophetess was something of an artist. “* But how’d she git tbat fu’st pictur’?”’ asked the Tom-cat, staring in great amazemens at the one before him. ‘‘She c’u’d paint this ’cause she’d seen us all. But when she showed the fu’st *un, she’d never see’d me, I’m confident.” ** That’s something you can’t be confident of,” asserted Pendergast, ‘* You’ve never seen this woman’s face, remember. If you should, you might recognize her instantly.” On the way back te town, he related to the Tom-cat the adventures of himself and Miss Dell Devore, to the cowboy’s great astonish- ment, ‘* There’s one thing we can do,” he announced, before dismissing and paying his followers, ‘* We've left two men at the house. There’s also an opening just across the divide. In the morning I want to post two men there. The fugitives will try to escape at oneof those places. They will never remain in that hole and starve—unless they get bewtkdered and lost!” He was really too tired to explain further, and, as soon as tbey were gone, he bade the Tom-cat good-night, and sought his boarding- house. The next day he piloted the two mento the place where he and Dell bad escaped from the mine, and gave instructions that one or the other was to remain on guardall the time. It was possible that the fortune-teller and her ne- ro servant had already escaped by that exit. Bat he did not think it at all probable. It was very unlikely that they knew of it, and there was little chance of the bear appearing to them as he had done to the despairing lovers, The Tom-cat returned to his work in the Phenix Mine, and affairs resumed their normal condition. The watchers at the house, and those at the hole emerging on the slope, were alert and vigi- lant, But the days passed, and their eager eyes remained unrewarded by a glimpse of the Taran- tula or of his vailed mistress. CHAPIER X. MYSTERIOUS MOVEMENTS, WHEN a week had passed without develop- ment of any sort, Pendergast dismissed the watchers. He, however, requested the Torm-cat to occupy one of the rooms of the house as a sleeping apartment; and this the cowboy did. ‘*T am satisfied,” he said, explaining his motives to the Tom-cat, ‘‘ that they will never find the exit on the slope. . It may be that there is another way of egress. And it’s barely pos- sible that they are still in the mine, and alive. You see, they may have been prepared for something of the kind. Ifso, they will stay there until the excitement dies away, or, until their food and water is exhausted, and then they will try to come out. In any event, if they escape or have escaped, itis quite likely they will visit the house. There are articles of value and clothing there; and they will not wish to abandon thém. If they make such a visit they are almost sure to go there at night, to avoid observation. ‘* You can be ready for them; and by dint of a surprise I think you can capture them,” The cowboy expressed an eager’ desire to try it at any rate. “Tf want to git a whack at that T’ran’tly. I wouldn’t ax nothin’ better’n fer him to come nosin’ around thar in the dark!” ‘And there's another thing!” Pendergast continued. ‘“‘ The house belongs to Silas Taul- bee! I discovered that by searching the records. It may be that the old mine connects in some way with the new one, Any way it makes it certain that Taulbee knew all about those people and that they were working in his interest, If you can find an opportunity while down in the Phoenix Mine, investigate the matter a little; and learn, if possible, if there is a chamber connecting the two mines, ** And above all do not let Taulbee know you are to sleepin the house. He may order you out of it; or the warning he would thus receive might make your watching of no avail. The house is in an isolated position and that is in favor of secrecy ; you will have no trouble about keeping the knowledge of your movements to yourself.” The first night the Tom-cat remained there, he searched the house thoroughly. He was rewarded by no new. discoveries, ‘The elevator cage was at the bottom of the shaft. Pender- gast had instructed the watchers to leave it there, in the hope that the fugitives might as- cend by it, The Tom-cat did not alter its position, They migkt come up by it, yet. For bis sleeping apartment he chose a little room, across the hall, almost opposite the elevator, The door of this he left sligbtly ajar; so that the faintest sound would reach and arouse him, Two or three nights passed in a very quiet way. He left the house always before dawn / lowed, with senses alert an and returned toitafter dark, Nothing occurred to reward bis vigilance. But one night be was awakened by, he scarce- ly knew what. It was well on toward morning. For some time he lay still, listening. He cout hear the wind whistling outside as it chafed against the eaves and angles of the house. Then, after a time, in the lulls of the wind, the noise of light footsteps. e He got up quietly—he had only removed his cap and boots on retiring—and stepped softly to the door, his weapons in readiness, The sounds came from the chamber at the further end of the hall, Some one was moving about in there, Then he noticed that the elevator cage had been raised. The sound of that was what had awakened him, probably. : The steps were very light. Yet the intruder moved about briskly enough, as if he had no fear of a surprise, The Tom-cat’s first impulse was to give his war-cry and rush upon the person, depending upon the surprise to aid in the capture. Then the open cage gave him another and better idea, It was plain that the intruder had ascended by it; and, no doubt, he would retire in the same way. Why not follow, or rather accompany him? It might result in valuable revelations, To think was to act, with the Tom-cat. He slipped his beloved cap over his ears,.and in his stockinged feet, crept softly into the elevator, The drapery at its corners was almost invaluable now, ithin its folds he secreted himself, and quietly awaited the return of the prowler. He believed that the individual was Tarantu- la. But he could not be sure of it, for the whole house was plunged in the deepest gloom. He drew his conclusion from the peculiar sounds made by the footfalls. They were soft, but ac. companied by a jar, showing the person to be of a heavy frame. The footsteps of the woman would have sounded very differently. ‘* Well, hyer’s a go!” he soliloquized, as he crouched in eager expectancy. ‘‘ Never had a idee that l’'d want to cage myself up with that air spider! But min ferit. Ef he noses me out, thar’ll be a lively scrimmage, ’tany rate. I'd like to meet im on squar’, fa’r fightin’-groun’, and I don’t know but this ’u’d fill the bill. Thar’s room enough in hyer, an’ not any too much, an’ no one could jump in an’ sp’ile the fun. “* Don’t know as I'd keer ef he did diskiver me ef’t wasn’t fer doin’ the sbadder trick! ‘*T low, now, he’s got a den dewn thar some- eres, an’ prob’ly the fortune-teller’s down thar. Wouldn’t it be a picnic ef I could s’prise an’ rope ’em both, after findin’ out their secrits? ‘*T s’pose he’s getherin’ up a lot o’ vittles; fer I thought I heerd some dishes ¢latter. It a’most makes me narvous, waitin’ hyer fer him this-a- way!” He had not much longer to wait. The foot- steps were even then approaching the elevator. The Tom-cat almost held his breath, so great was his anxiety, The footsteps came on; then the gloom intensified, and he knew that the prowler was standing in the doorway of the cage. or a little while the man seemed searching for something. ‘*Gr-reat Joshway!” gasped the Tom-cat, nerving himself. ‘‘1 do b’leeve he’s a-goin’ to strike a light!” But the man was only feeling for the lever that controlled the elevator. Then the door closed, and the cage began to descend. It was a decidedly novel and thrilling experi- ence for the cowboy. Within arm’s-length of a deadiy enemy whose identity wasonly suspected, aud descending with bim into the bowels of the earth. The cage descended with a rapidity that-was evidently startling to the man; and he felt about in the corners for the chain cable. With this he checked the descent—a thing Pendergast had not been able to do through ignorance of know- ing how. As the man was feeling among the drapery, the Tom-cat stood in instant expectation of dis- covery. The sweat started from every pore; he set his teeth firinly, and braced himself for the conflict that must follow. His bands opened and closed with convulsive energy, and that wild and startling ‘‘ meow” formed on bis lips, The fellow muttered something, as the speed of the cage lessened. What it was the Tom-cat could not make out. But whatever the man’s ideas as to the cause of the quick descent, he never suspected that there was another person in the cage. As soon as it touched the bottom of the shaft the door was pushed open and the man step out into the gloom. Instantly the Tom-cat fol- foot-falls as light °
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<4 Ne. ene Dt bs as the descent of autumn leaves. He fully real- ized the double peril in so doing. He might walk into a trap; or, escaping that, might never be able to retrace his way to the shaft, ‘Go it, ye crawlin’, creepin’ spider!” he mut- tered, as he slipped forward. ‘‘The Tom-cat’s after ye, green-eyed and hot-footed. Ef ye git away frum him now, ye'll have to fly.” All the time, while listening to the retreating footsteps, he was mentally estimating the dis- tance and direction traversed. He noted every angle, and even counted the number of steps which he took. All at once the fellow stopped and ignited a match. As he did so, the cowboy shrunk against the wall. The feeble flame showed that the Tom-cat was right in his conjectures. The prowler was the Tombstone Tarantula. Then the Tom-cat saw that the negro had a bunch of papers in one hand, and it was quickly evident wby he had struck the match. He glanced hurriedly through the pepers; then, as the match seemed on the point of expiring, he applied it to them, and with a sort of gloating joy, saw them consumed. All but one. That fluttered to the ground un- noticed by him, The Tom-cat saw it, however, and made up his mind to possess it as soon as the Tarantula moved on, Then the flames died out, making the dark- ness ten-fold more intense than before, if that were possible. Again the Tarantula retreated, and the Tom- eat followed. He had marked the spot where the paper fell, and found it without much trouble. But he lost some time, and hurried uickly on, lest he should lose the guiding ootsteps, which were very faint. Before he had regained the distance lost, a door opened, apparently in the solid wall. There appeared to be a lighted room beyond it, for the light streamed through into the dark- ness of the mine, Then the door closed, and the Tarantula had vanished. For a moment the cowboy was staggered by this unexpected revelation. “Jest fer all the worl’ like a man goin’ home,” he declared. ‘‘ The door opens, the light pours out; then it’s dark, and he’s gone! That throws my calc’lations flatter’n a roped steer. An’ I s’pose the fortune-teller’s ahind that wall, too.” He hurried up to it, felt it over carefully, and even ventured to sound it timidly; but he discovered nothing. There was no sign of an opening. Nothing, apparently, but the rugged rock, just as it ha mn left by the blasts and the miners’ picks, 4 ‘* Beats me! What’ll Pendergast say when I tell ’im that? He’ll think Idremp it! But, no, he can’t, fer hyer’s the paper. Now, I wonder what’s init. I’d give a small forckin to’a’ got them that the spider burnt.” He searched his pockets for a match, but he eould find none, and, after studying the situa- tion a little while, he began to retrace his way, slowly and carefully, counting his steps, When he had turned the requisite number of angles and counted out the steps, he began a search for the door of the cage. After much fumbling along the walls, he found it, and pro- ceeded to draw up the cage by pulling down- ward on the iren cable that passed through it. Then he sent it down again, so that the Tarantula would have no cause for suspicion, should he return. He could scarcely wait to gain his room and light a candle, so great was his anxiety to know what was contained in the paper which the negro had inadvertently dropped. When he had lighted the candle and deciphered the writing, his features assumed a look of the most intense astonishment. The bit of paper was a letter written in an Eastern city, and in- troducing Miss Dell Devore to Silas Taulbee, of Tombstone. ‘* An’ them that the spider burnt was the very writin’s that she put into Taulbee’s han’s when she fu’st come hyer!” exclaimed the Tom-cat, greatly excited. CHAPTER XI. A TICKLED TOM-CAT. His astonishment gave way to gratification. “Yes, an’ that nails this hyer bizness right squar’ down onto Taulbee, hat’s this paper doin’ inthis hyer house ef he ain’t in cahoots with the fortupe-teller an’ the spider? Plainer’n print, that is! “ An’ so the young feller was right. A sort of fight o’ three ag’in’ three. Ef we're a triad, I reckon they’re another’n. Triads ag’in Triads! Tom-cats ag’in’ Tarant’lys!” Texas Tom-cat’s Triad. The recollection of his combat with the latter drew a cat-like growl from his lips. ‘*T must see Pendergast ’bout this! No work fer the undersigned to-day. I'll tell old Taulbee will he please excuse me on account o’ p’ticklar an’ pressin’ bizness, An’ ef that won’t be the truth then ’ma liar. This hyer’s bizness that jest can’t wait!” There was a faint glow in the East, indicative of approaching day. He slipped the precious letter into one of his pockets, drew on his boots, and left the house. In the course of a half-hour he was closeted with Pendergast, in the latter’s room. “What d’ye think o’ that?’ demanded the Tom-cat, handing over the letter, with a grin, ‘“ Why, where did you get it?’ Pendergast asked, as he glanced down the lines. ‘*That’s what I came to tell you ’bout!” And with a prefacing series of chuckles, the Tom-cat plunged into his story. Naturally it surprised Pendergast quite as much as the discoveries had surprised the nar- rator. ‘* Beats all, don’t it?” the cowboy questioned, in conclusion. ‘‘ I was never done up in my life asI was when that hole opened and the fire- light, er whatever it was, flashed out into the mine.” ‘* Rather singular!” the young man confessed. ** And the letter proves that I was rigbt in my surmises. Taulbee believed we had ceased our watch; and sent the negro to destroy the pa- pers. They were there at the time of our raid, and the suddenness with which we came gave them no time to carry them off. Doubtless the negro took them into the mine before burning them, for fear that the light might betray him, if he destroyed them in the house. ‘* What I can’t understand, though, is, why he laced them in the fortune teller’s possession. t would have been more reasonable for him to have destroyed them in the first place, or kept them himself.” ‘The rope’s got too many kinks in it fer me to unravel!” declared the Tom-cat. ‘‘I move ’at we take a wheen 0’ fellers, go back to the ole mine an’ bu’st down the door which the T’rant’ly went through. That’ll show the hull thing up at one’t. We kin nab the spider, an’ the wo- man, too, ef she’s thar, an’ make ’em own up to the devilment they’re into. We kin gita cinch onto ole Taulbee that-a-way that will make ’im squirm.” The cowboy’s eyes shone with enthusiasm. ‘*Do you know, I believe that secret door opens into the basement of Taulbee’s residence?” said Pendergast, thoughtfully. ‘‘ ve been studying the directions you took in following that darky, and the number of steps you went. T really believe it would bring one right under Taulbee’s house.” ‘‘So much the better!” cried the Ton-cat. ‘““Ef we kin round ’em up in Taulbee’s own house, that'll be jest the very identical thing. Yo see, we’ve got warrants fer their arrest; an’ we kin take ’°em wharever we kin find’em. Ef the T’rant’ly leads us to Taulbee’s house, we'll go in. An’ ef he’s in thar, we'll drag him out before these other men. Then when he con- fesses to his devilment, it will make the thing so strong—tie Taulbee up so, ye know—that he jest can’t wriggle.” : The Tom-cat, in imagination, could even then see the deed accomplished. ‘‘ Perhaps it will work!” said Pendergast. ‘I want to think it over q little. Come to my office in about an hour. In the mean time look up your men, get a good breakfast, and send word to Taulbee that you'll not be able to work to-day,” ‘Tell him I’m feverish?” queried the cowboy, taking up his cap. ‘It wouldn’t be any lie!” was the laughing response. ‘‘ Your eyes are shining like stars,” When the Tom-cat was gone, Pendergast got ready for the proposed undertaking. Then, after breakfast, he sent a message to Dell De- vore, and sauntered down the street to his office. The business of the day had commenced, The stores and saloons were open; and the streets were filled with loungers, and with workmen hurrying to their work, It was a busy scene, and typical of the hurrying, bustling, driving life of the mining-towns, It was too early to expect clients: and, after sweeping and dusting the little office—he em- ployed no_office-boy—he set'down to await the coming of Miss Devore, for whom he bad sent. She came in a’short time, excited and ex- pectant, not knowing what to make of. this early and peremptory summons, At the same time the cowboy appeared, his SS SS SSS cap tucked under bis arm, and his face flushing, as he saw the young lady. “Sit down, Tom-cat, while I tell Miss Devore of your discoveries,” said Pendergast. **One of the very papers I gave Taulbee!” she cried, beaming upon the cowboy, after reading the letter and bearing the explanations. ‘‘Tom- cat, you are invaluable! This is almost too good for belief!” ** Don’t, miss,” he protested, twisting uneasily. He feared she was about to cover him with a profusion of thanks. ‘‘It’s nothin’. Id ’a’ done the same fer any other pore creeter. I mean lady! Pardon me fer the mistake.” ‘““We are all poor creatures!” Pendergast declared, coming to bis assistance. *Yes;‘i ‘low we air!” taking the cap from under his arm, and endeavoring to fan him- self with it. ‘‘My! but this air room’s hot. It’s cause it’s so little, I s*pose. I don’t see how any man kin stand it to be shet up in a house all the time. *Twould naterally roast me. I'd ruther be a lizard an’ fry my grease out onto the hot bowlders.” ‘‘And you propose to go into the mine?” questioned Dell of Pendergast, smiling in spite of herself. ‘Yes! The Tom-cat thinks it the best plan. We want a voteof the Triad. What do you sa 797) **Me?) Why, I say yes; if y jae believe you can accomplish anything—and will promise to be careful!” ** Hooray!” shouted the Tom-cat, pleased into momentary self-forgetfulness. He was about to give vent to a joyful ‘‘meow,” also, but recollected himself in time to thrust the catskin cap into his mouth and hold it back. ‘Deed, miss, you’re a trump!” he declared, not able to withbo’d all expression. ‘* You’ve got a backbone, you have. I like to see a per- son with some sand in their craw.” It was Miss Devore’s turn to blush and cough; and Pendergast deftly changed the conversation into a new channel, ‘‘T reckon the men air a-waitin’ fer us!” said the Tcm-cat, after a few minutes of uneasy silence. ‘I tol’’em we’d meet ’em jest beyond town,” ‘Tn that case we’d better be going!’ Pender- gast replied. Dell Devore took the hint and departed, and the men shortly left the office for the rendez- vous. The cowboy had collected the men who had already served Pendergast so faithfully; and it required but a few words to place them in pos- session of all that it was necessary for them to know. They succeeded in reaching the house without attracting attention; and at once prepared for the contemplated movement. Arms were ex- amined and got in readiness, sledges produced, and Janterns lighted. Then two men were left to work the winch, and the others were lowered down the shaft. The Tom-cat, as guide, placed himself at the head of the little party. , ‘Keep as quiet as ye kin!” he cautioned. “That air spider mou’t be in hyer somewhar; an’ ef so, he could make it int’restin’ fer us.” The caution brought a sudden cessation of the talking that was irritating him, ‘* Couldn’t hear yer years with sich a gabble as that a-goin’ on!” he muttered. ‘‘Some men —smart men—ain’t jest naterly got enough sense to walk around with when they’re trailin’, A nice job of it, they'd make, in a Injun country.” He could hardly control his disgust. ‘* Now, forrard!” be commanded. ‘Walk like leaves a-drappin’, keep yer mouths tight, an’ foller me, Ef 1 ain’t plum fergot my jogerfy lesson, I kin take ye right thar!” Then he proceeded, counting the steps taken and the angles and bends passed, ‘“‘'Thar it is!” he said, after a long walk, dur- ing which he had not spoken a word. ‘ Thar’s the wall. I’m certain of it! But if they ever was a door, it’s shorely growed over.” He flashed the light over the jagged wall. Not a break, not a seam, was anywhere visible. ‘You are sure this is the place?’ questioned Pendergast. ‘* Well, lIthought Iwas. But that wall don’t look like it. Can’t see nothin’ like a door. Hardly possible to have a door without the jints a-showin’!” ‘‘ Utterly impossible!” Pendergast declared. Tbe Tom-cat was running bis fingers overs the rough surface. Then he tapped the wall” i¢ softly, with the butt of one of his revolvers. ‘J reckon I’m off!” he confessed, with a lugu- brious laugh. ‘‘I’d’a’swore I was goin’ right,
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ta iis ‘ nt, iy Reape Ty per em X ae ‘J — ‘ ey ar ay 2 10 6 ah iy RDS STN a Seems like I’m wrong, though. Le’s go back and try it over.” To this Pengergast consented, believing that they were wasting time there. So they re- treated, winding here and there, and counting their footsteps. When they had stepped off the proper num- ber, the cowboy stopped and uttered an excla- mation of astonishment, “Boys, we're lost! We've took the wrong passe’ somewhar. Blamed ef I know whar. bis ought to bring us to the cage. But they ain’t no cage hyer! On’y these windin’ galleries goin’ on forever an’ ever!” Pendergast gave a startled cry. From bitter experience he knew what it was to be lost in the depths of that gloomy mine. Slowly and sadly they retraced their way, andcame again toa wall. But whether it was tne same wall or another, they could not tell. Starting again they measured off the requisite distance, bringing up as before in the apparently endless galleries. “T give it up!” the cowboy confessed, his face blanching. ‘* We're lost; and I reckon we'll stay hyer tell we starve—er go crazy y CHAPTER XII. TOM-CAT, AS A SHADOW. AurnouGH the Tom-cat said this, and feared the worst, he had no intention of submitting to so terrible a fate without a struggle. He again retraced his way, or attempted to—for he could not be sure of any route after missing the first. Having reached the wall, they set out in an- other direction, at a venture, and were soon stumbling among broken bowlders and debris. All the avenues in that direction were choked with mine refuse, which had been cast in there to save the labor of hoisting it to the “dump.” “ We are accomplishing nothing in this way!” Pendergast declared. “ Let’s go back a short distance and see if we can rouse our men by shouting.” The suggestion was eagerly seized upon; when they were gathered in a circle they fired a volley from their revolvers; and then shouted with all the strength of their lungs. “That ought to wake somebody !” asserted the Tom-cat, grimly. “I thought I heerd the walls a-crackin’. Mebbe it’ll fetch the spider!” In a short time they fired another volley and again shouted. To their great joy there was an answering shout; and in the distance they beheld a waving lanzern. The distressed men became almost hysterical when they saw that tiny speck of light; and hurried toward it with cries of child- ish delight. Hearing their cries the man came toward them, He was one cf those left at the winch. He had heard the shots and calls, and not knowing what tomake of them had descended to invest- igate, The other had remained at the winch to pull him up quickly, in case of need. In coming toward them, he had advanced but a little way from the shaft; and the men knew by that that they had been hopelessly lost when within speaking distance of it. ‘It’s my opinion that this mine is not a large affair, at all!” Pendergast asserted, when re- flection succeeded to the pleasure and excite- ment of rescue. We've seen though how easy it is to get lost in it. When I was lost here be- fore, with Miss Devore, we came out on the op- posite slope. If we had had the strength, we could have climbed to this side in an hour or less, rough and bad as the route is, “'The dump pile beyond the house is not large. It is overgrown with weeds, now, and looks like a portion of the original hill. Still, there’s a great deal of dump refuse stowed away in those passages below. I would really like to know if Dell and I went ’round and ’round through the same galleries. It looks like it!” Now that they were safe, the Tom-cat was anxious to plunge once more into the search for the concealed door through which the Tarantula had disappeared. But the others refused to venture into the bewildering depths! “Why the thing kin be fixed easy enough, sot we can’t git lost!” he argued. “Let one 0’ the men stay at the shaft and holler one’t in awhile, er fire off his pistol. That'll lead us back. The thing kin be worked han’some !” But the men shook their heads. Pendergast, even, did not care to urge them. The cowboy’s jan seemed sensible and feasible; but he knew ow easy it was to get lost down there. “Tt might do no good, evenif we could find the door!” he said to the Tom-cat, in extenua- tion of his passive opposition. “‘ Our shouting and firing probably gave warning to the woman Seer ana ee BO ar |e” 2 ee Texas Tom-cat’s Triad. and her servant: We'd better try some other course, probably.” “ We could go to Taulbee’s an’ make a bold sarch!” the Tom-cat suggested, loth to give up his plans. ‘““And bring trouble on our heads likely, if we didn’t find them there!” The cowboy subsided. In his opinion a bold game was always & winning one. But he was out-voted, and manfully acquiesced. After their return to town, he announced to Pendergast that he intended to quit work in the Phoenix Mine, “T hain’t doin’ any yearthly good down thar, an’ so I ‘low I'll quit!” “Why, you’re not going to drop the entire business?’ with questioning surprise. “No! ButI’m a-goin’ to turn shadder. A reg’lar creepin’, crawlin’ shadder. Keep it up, day an’ night, till I run somethin’ down. It’s the on’y way. Thar’s bushels 0 dirt goin’ on; an’ it kin be got at in that way likely. It seems the best chance, anyhow, an’ low to try it,” In accordance with this plan, the Tom-cat severed his connection with the Phoenix Mine. But he by no means ceased his visits to it. He ingratiated himself with the night watchman, and prowled about the works at all hours of the night. But he discovered nothing there. He was more successful in the efforts directed at the Taulbee residence, The success came about through a desperate determination, ar- rived at after much cogitation over the nature of the proposed act, This act was no less than the entrance of the house itself, under cover of the darkness, Any one less reckless than the cowboy would not have harbored the temptation for a moment, “] reckon it °wd put me in a mighty bad light ef I shed git ketched!” he soliloquized. “3Pwould be counted burglin’, I s’pose, an’ the jseople out this way don’t take kindly to burglin’. But, then, why sh’u’d I git ketched? ‘Pve been figgerin’ that the woman an’ her darky’sin that house. Maby they ain’t, The on’y way I know of to find out isto go in thar an’ see; er ruther hear, fer I cale’late I'll not git in an’ outo’ that house "thout ’tractin’ atten- tion.” Usually he went to Pendergast with his schemes. But with this one he did not. He fearéd Pendergast would oppose it, and insist that it was too risky. He waited only until it was fairly dark before venturing to put the plan into execution. The earliness of the hour added to the difficulties, but he feared he could not accomplish anything if delayed until later. He hoped to find the for- tune-teller or the Tarantula moving about, or talking. His only object was to determine if they were in the house. Taulbee kept but one servant—an Irish girl, and the cowboy had feared to question her. It was a warm evening, and the front door was left open after dark, to allow the air to circulate freely. Hence he had no difficulty in gaining an entrance. But when he stood, in his bare feet, in the unligbted hall, he was quite at a loss what step to take next. There were voices in the room at the end of this hall. Jt was lighted, too, for the rays of the lamp came through a little transom and fell upon the ceiling overhead. He crept softly up to the door of this room; but he could distin- guish neither voices nor words, Nor could be see anything by peering through the key-hole. “4° sneakin’ bizness!” he muttered. {SEG makes me feel mean enough to go off an’ hang myself, The idee o’ the Tom-cat a-pryin’ aroun’ into men’s private houses, Ef the case wasn’t so desprit I'd say twas ’most as bad as hoss-stealin’. But what kin a feller do? This hyer scoundrel Taulbee has got a lot o’ property that don’t be- long to him, Seems like the law can’t tech bim the way things is, He’s cunnin’ as a fox; and i reckon "taint no harm to put cunnin’ ag’in’ cun- nin’, ef the cause is good enough to jestify it.” Thus quieting his conscience, he listened again; with the same lack of success. There was a door op2ning from the hall into another room; and into this room he slipped, hoping for better luck. Again he was disappointed. ‘As he was about to leave this room, the door at the end of the hall opened; and a man came out. He believed it was Taulbee, although he did not get to see him, The man passed into the yard and presumably on into the street. The movement left the Tom-cat in a predica- ment. The door entering the room from which the man bad emerged remained open and the hall was flooded with light, making it impossi- ble for the cowboy to retreat that way. Ng ee E The door by which the Tom-cat had entered the side room was also slightly ajar. Through it a bum of voices came to him; but, as before, he could not recognize them. “Trapped, by ginger I he growled. ‘‘] can’t go neither forrards nor back’ards, I’d give’most anything to know who that is a-talkin’. Maby it’s the lady o’ the house an’ the sarvant; an’ maby it’s the identical critters I’m after. This is jest too aggervatin’ f On glancing about in the semi-gloom, he dis- covered a window through which he believed he could escape, if pressed. This discovery quieted him; and he concluded to stay in the house awhile longer. For an hour or more he remained there, hear- ing voices and fcotsteps in the other room. Then the sounds ceased, some one passed through the hall, closed the doors, and the house seemed given over to darkness and quiet. The Tom-cat stole softly into the hall, scarce- ly knowing what course now to take, when the door of that back room again opened, and out of the flood of light walked the Tombstone Tar- antula. It was so unexpected that the cowboy was taken completely by surprise. The Tarantula seemed scarcely less astonished. He recovered, however, before the Tom-cat could get out his weapons. A glance served to show that the room from which the negro had come was now wholly un- occupied. “Put away dem dah shootin’-irons, Misteh Tom-cat!” he cried, as the latter’s hands went to his revolvers. ‘‘ Ef you ‘temp’ to shoot dish yeh chile, he squall out powerful foh Mawster aulbee come an’ larrup you. = What you pokin’ yo’ nose th’u dish yeh house foh, anyhow? Dat’s a mighty mean trick—sneakin’ th’u a gemman’s house! I’se s’prised at you! ‘Deed I am!” The coolness of the negro’s manner irritated. the cowboy. He did not like to be placed in the wrong by this fugitive from justice. ‘“‘T thought you was in the mine!” he stam- mered, with difficulty controlling his wrath. The negro gave vent toa contortion of laugh- ter. “Yah! yah! ‘You fine off’sehs, you an’ Mis- teh Pendehgast am! Fines’ kin’! ou think I gwine stay in dat ’ah mine jes’ lack a skeered possum? But come dis way & minit. I wanter speak wid you, now you heah. We wake up de folkses talkin’ !” He turned to the room from which he had just come; and the Tom-cat, scarcely knowing whether to retreat or advance, followed, It was not a large room, but it was comforta- bly furnished. A hand-lamp stood on a table near the center, and by its light the cowboy studied the features of the negro in momentary expectation of treachery. ut the latter had no notion of attempting anything of the kind, or of resorting to vio- lence. The cowboy was too well armed, and altogether too alers to make an offensive move- ment safe. “Now, I wanter ax you some questions,” he said, backing toward a curtained wall or en- trance at the opposite side of the room. “Why you come heah, in de fu’st place?” “] don’t know that that’s any of yer biz- ness!” replied the cowboy, regaining his cool- ness, “Yah! yah! Peppeb an’ fiah, jes’ lack de obehseah on de ole plantation when I was a boy! You needn’t min’ answeh dese heah queschins less’n you wanter.” ape cowboy knew not what reply to make to this. “T know wkat mek you come! You come foh dis berry nigger! Lemme tole you, now, you'll nebber git him! Nebber! You do’ know me, I see, Misteh Tom-cat! I’se been hoo-dooed er somepin’ by de mist’ess, so dat I cyan’t be tooken. ‘¢T know you been lookin’ foh me. Lackwise ron been th’u’ de mine lookin’ foh her. You n heah an’ yondeh, an’ all ’roun’, los’, an’ fin’ yo’se’f ag’in; an’ you worrit yo’se’f gre’t deal wid speckylatin’ what come o’ dese yeh folkses, An’ all de time de T’rant’ly watch- a ” he cowboy twisted uneasily. _ “How much o’ that air yarn did you make up in your woolly head?” ‘ fe he negro laughed, as if the question did not disturb him. “7 know yo’ intendments. De_ young ‘oman an’ young gemman down-town fillin’ you wid nonsense an’ gittin’ you to poke dat catskin cap into trouble.” r The cowboy became interested, and coolly took a chair. You git , ae
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a AS ee 4 “Dat’s right an’ comf’able!” seating himself also. ‘‘ Now we kin talk lack two ole frien’s. I been wantin’ speak wid you dis good while. Been wantin’ to form you dat you bettah drop dis yeh bizness,” ‘Why so?” demanded the cowboy, amazed at his own coolness and at the negro’s audacity. “Why d’ye think I'd better drap it?” *%Ca’se! Best ob reasons! I heah Mistah Taulbee say dat ef cert’in, p’tickler men what was now pesterin’ him wid foolishness, an’ stir- rin’ up ructications ’g’in’ him didn’t quit hit, den he’d see dat dey went away some’eres an’ nebber got back. You is one ob dem men!” There was a sepulchral earnestness in the words, and the cowboy shuddered in spite of himself. ‘**An’ mo’. You can’t "complish nuffin’! Dish yeh prop’ty b’longs to Misteh Taulbee. He say so! Yo’ friends is playin’ wid you. I don’ wanter injuh a man what hab family to suppo’t him. But min’ my word. Min’ hit! De T’ran t’ly o’ Tombstone is gittin’ ready to leap. When he do, he hit de Tom-cat fu’st man. Misteh Taulbee is gre’t frien’ o’ mine. He look afteh me. He pay me. When he say leap, den 1 leap!” “Two kin play at that game!” cried the cow- boy, endeavoring to appear unruffled. “Tl be a-leapin’, too, bout that time. Ef that’s all you've got to say, I guess I'll go, Much obleeg- ed fer not jumpin’ onto me an’ causin’ a fight. T’ll remember it in your favor. It was a sneak- in’ trick crawlin’ in hyer; an’ I calc’late 111 not do it ag’in.” He was about to rise, when the negro inter- rupted him, ** Mighty sorry you won't gib up dish yeh biz- ness. Study ’bout hit. Now, ’'m gwine.” He drew back his hand as if to hurl some- thing, and vanished. The Tom-cat hurried to the had been standing, Seemingl peared bebind the curtains, the room with another. But the Tarantula was not init. He had disappeared completely and almost instantaneously. “*Guess I’d better git out o’ hyer!’ he mutter- lace where he e had disap- ‘hese connected ed. ‘He may be bid some’eres, and take a no- tion to shoot at me. Or he may ’rouse the house!” He slipped quietly into the hall, and from thence hastened into the street. : CHAPTER XIIL A PAIR OF WARNINGS, As the Tom-cat burried from the house he be- tame aware of a painful, pricking sensation in his breast. An examination showed that his clothing had been perforated by a tiny gold dageer, bearing a skull and cross-bones on its ilt. His amazement was great. Then he recalled the quick, throwing motion given by the Taran- tula just before disappearing. The tiny dagger had been burled at that moment, It was plain that the negro had not tried to kill him. The dagger was too small, the blade being barely long enough to pass through the clothing and scratch the skin. Doubtless it was intended asa warning. The negro could have fired a shot or thrown a heavier dagger \with equal ease. The thought was a startling and disquieting one. Such evidence of deadly skill was quite unex- pected. And the coolness of the negro’s threat was not calculated to make the cowboy feel more comfortable. What did the Tarantula mean by saying that he was almost ready to me? he Tom-cat, however, was not given to long azing at the perilous side of any affair. Still ess of one in which his heart had become en- gaged and his pride aroused. ‘Let him leap, ef he wants to!” he gritted. “He'll find me ready, I never backed down rit fruma plain duty, jest because thar was ikely to be danger in the trail. Queer, though, how the feller acted to-night. I can’t squar’ly understand it. He could ’a’ drowned me prob- ‘ly, as easy as to ’a’ throwed this thing. * Great Gov’ner!” He started as if stung. The pricked point in his breast still pained slightly; and the startling thought ial Siete that perhaps the dagger-point was poisoned. Then his imagination evoked strange thrills and stinging sensations, and he trembled from head este heerd o’ sech things!” he wh ve heerd 0’ sec ngs!” he whispered. “Some o’ the Injun tribes knows hoe ta ti ir arrers with p’izen: an’ a scratch, it’s said, will killa man. ‘Pears tome the thing’s be- ginnin’ to burn now!” Texas Tom-cat’s Triad. He started on with quickened steps, deter- mined to call on Pendergast and have him make an examination of the injury. Then, if danger was anticipated, a physician could be called. Pendergast was uot at his lodgings, and the cowboy sought the home of Dell Devore, con- vinced that he would find the young lawyer there. He was not mistaken; and a little later was ushered into the parlor, where Pendergast was sitting with his sweetheart. By this time, however, the pricking sensa- tions had ceased somewhat—his imagination having cooled down—and he was almost ashamed of his recent fears. The young people had been conferring quite earnestly, and appeared to be rather annoyed and perplexed. ‘Come in!” cried Pendergast heartily. ‘¢ We've been thinking of sending for you.” ‘* Glad to know it!” said the Tom-cat, placing his cap on a chair and sitting on it. He feared his sudden intrusion might not be pleasing. ‘* Pve had an adventoor to-night that knocks the persimmons!” His interest in the subject almost cured him for the time of his timidity. ‘“*See that!” and he tossed the dagger to Pendergast. ‘‘Come out into the hal] a minit. I want you to look at somethin’,” The young man arose and followed him. The hall was lighted; and, standing beneath the reflecting lamp, the Tom-cat bared his breast and showed the tiny wound. ‘‘The gold dagger done that! D’ye think it’s swellin’ any? 1 don’t want you to laugh at me; but I’ve been afeard the thing was p’izened.” Pendergast carefully examined the scratch, and said that no swelling was visible. ‘* Now, what does it all mean?” he questioned. “The Tarantula throwed it!” ‘‘The Tarantula! Comeintothe parlor. This is something I want Dell to hear about.” In vain the cowboy demurred. Pendergast insisted, and they returned to the parlor. ‘* Well, the spider throwed that thing at me, an’ it went through mycoat, I made shore I was p’izened by it!” And with this asa preliminary, the Tom-cat related his adventures of the night. ‘* And you talked with the Tarantula face to face in that manner? It equals Dell’s experi- ence, ‘* Yes; you are not alone in having a story to tell!” she exclaimed with attempted cheerful- ness. ‘‘ And while mine hasn’t any tragic ele- ments in it, itis almost as startling. At any rate, the experience was startling enough! “T was sitting bythe window, there, with the sash hoisted, shortly after dark, The cool night air was pleasant, and I never thought any one might venture intothe garden. I hadn’t lighted the lamp yet. ‘* Suddenly a man came out of the shrubbery, and walked toward the house. [ supposed he was one of the servants, and paid little attention tohim. But he came right up to the window, to my great surprise, Then I saw it was a negro. “7 was startled then, and was on the point of screaming out. But he made a motion and said: ‘** Missy Devo’, I wanter speak wid you jes’ a minit!’ “Oh, I can’t imitate his dialect!” laughing. ** So Pll tell it in my own words. “Well, he stated that you two were following him and his mistress, with the intention of caus- ing their arrest, Also that we three were leagued against Silas Taulbee. “Then herraised his hands and darted at me such a look as I’ll never forget. I can hear bim yet; and see his eyes shine, just as they shone there in the darkness, And he said that if Pen- dergast didn’t drop this affair it would result in murder, That he, the Tarantula of Tombstone, was getting ready toleap—whatever that meant ene that the leap would be Pendergast’s death- signal, ‘Tt terrifies me to re I can’t describe them. lignant!” She covered her face with her hands, as if to shut out the terrible sight, _‘*The scoundrel!” sputtered the cowboy. ‘ He must ’a’ jest come from hyer when I met him. Ef I’d knowed he’d been skeerin’ you tnat-a-way I'd shorely been tempted to plug him!” Pendergast was evidently annoyed and un- tit. And his looks! hey were fiendish! Ma- easy. oF He must be brave to venture on the streets when he knows my men are watching for him!” ‘* Brave as a ’Pache!” deelared the cowboy. **T saw that when we had our little confab in 1l the back room. He didn’t seem a mite afeard o’ my weepin. My ’pinion is, he’s a dangerous nigger. He’ll be apt to prove hisseif a ‘ t’rant’ly ” shore enough.” “‘Oh, I don’t know what to think!” Dell de- clared. ‘‘I don’t know what to advise. Per- haps we’d better do as he says: drop the matter right where itis. We're not making any head- way; and he may try to put his threats into execution, That negro is a fiend. I could see that quite readily, in his eyes!” ‘‘Nary time!” exclaimed the cowboy. 4im leap, an’ be hanged. inch.” ‘‘ The Tom-cat is right!” Pendergast asserted. ‘*T don’t think we ought to entertain the thought of retreat fora moment. ‘These very ae prove to me that we are making headway. If we were not, why should our movements annoy Taulbee? We are gaining ground. He fears we will yet overthrow him. So he sends this tool to utter threats in hope of terrifying us into dropping the matter.” ‘* My sentiments!” cried the cowboy. ‘‘ You’re a-talkin’! He’s a-gittin’ skeered. An’ we kin skeer him wuss to-morrer—er to-night, fer that matter. Gether yer men, take yer warrants an” drag this fortune-teller an’ her darky out 0” thar. It kin be done. Then we'll be able to make ‘em talk. They'll talk lively, ef they think they kin git away by doin’ of it; and what they say’ll be mighty likely to go hard ag’in’ Taul- bee.” ‘But you forget!” Pendergast interrupted, “You stated just a bit ago that the Tarantula disappeared almost before your very eyes. Won't he be able to repeat the trick if we go after him?” The cowboy’s jaw dropped. forgotten that. ‘* What air we to do, then?” he questioned. “Drop the matter, please!” pleaded Dell. “The more I think of that negro, the more I believe his threats mean deadly peril to both of you. I could never forgive myself if anything serious was to occur. It’s only selfishness that has prompted me to urge you this far. I much prefer that Taulbee should keep the property than that you should risk your lives further ip trying to dispossess him.” Her manner distressed both her lover and the Tom-cat, ‘* Don’t, please!” the latter protested. ‘ You turn my blood to water. e’re men, miss, I hopes! An’ men never turns their backs on a a duty. That T’rant’ly’s a p’izen critter, like- y- But we'll keep our eyes open, I don’t think *at the danger is anyways ser’us!” Pendergast expressed himself in a similar strain. ‘Come, come, Dell! Pluck up a little cour- e! At this moment you are hardly the brave little woman I am accustomed to seeing. That negro’s appearance, and the threats, have made You will be yourself again in the morning, I have no doubt! ** And now,” turning to the Tom cat, ‘* what course had we better pursue?” “*T don’t know anything better than to jest keep up the shadder business. That is, ef you think we’d better hold off about raiding Taul- bee’s house. To-morrer night, ef all goes well, I'll crawl into his cellar, an’ see ef I kin find the door that leads, as we spoke, into the mine. I may be able to make some other dis- coveries, too. Onexpected, like to-night, you know!” As delay seemed best, this plan was finally agreed on. and a little later the Tom-cat with- drew, leaving the lovers to discuss the events of the evening at their leisure. CHAPTER XIV. THE TARANTULA LEAPS, THe Tarantula of Tombstone evidently changed his mind on some material points. Per- haps the cowboy’s undaunted manner under threats brought about the change. At any rate, he did not wait to see if the warnings given would be heeded, but prepared at once for the ““Jeap” hinted at. The Tom-cat had not been one from the little parlor of Dell’s lodging- eal ten minutes, when the Tarantula ad- vanced along the trail leading toward it, accom- nied by a number of masked men. ‘“* Mawster Taulbee say we slip down heah, an’ wait foh dat man,” he whispered, dropping into the grass a_couple of hundred yards from the house. “He berry p’tick’lar in his awdehs!” “Yes, dura him! He’s pertick’ler about a good many things. I don’t like this hyer biz- ness any too well; an’ ef be hadn’t tol’ me it jes” had to be done, blamed ef I'd ’a’ come!” “ Let I don’t back nary He had quite you unduly nervous, that’s all! aa
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12 eS Soe The fellow was evidently angered at the idea Se having a negro placed in command over nim. ‘‘ What's the young feller done, anyhow? I ain’t heerd the story, yit,” growled another. ‘“‘Inimy o’ de boss!” answered the Tarantula, «* Dat’s all I knows. He don’ s’plain bis ’tentions an’ ’siderations to dis chile no mo’n he do to de res’. He give awdehs an’ I cyarry ‘um out. His awdehs an’ corrections *bout dis young man verry p’inted too!” ‘Well, what war they? He didn’t have time to tell me anything sca’cely. Said to do as you said, An’ that the chap wuz to be put out o’ the way.” “Corrections was to hide heab an’ nab him wen he come out’n dat house. Den you-’uns ‘was to cyarry him to de ole mine—down into de mine, you on’erstan’—an’ w’en de s’plosion comes you is to hang ’im!” ** Explosion !” ‘Yah! yah! Mawse Taulbee not tell you *bout dat s’plosion? Dat mighty cur’us.” ‘‘ He didn’t have time to tell usanything!” the fellow growled, disliking exceedingly to take his knowledge at second-hand from this de- tested negro. ‘“‘He was in aterrible hurry, an’ hustled us off hyer as fast as we could go.” The Tarantula chuckled. “‘ Well, dat s’plosion make a mighty ruction, now, I tell you! Mawse Taulbee say dish yeah Tom-cat hatter be put out’n de way, Do’ know wy; but Mawse Taulbee sesso, an’ dat’s "nuff fo’ me! Dish yeah Tom-cat, he sleep in de little wite house obeh de ole mine, De little house what got dat ’ah quah h’istin’’sheen in bit, You recommembers dat house, I ’low?” “Yes: o’ course we do, Go on! Don’t stop to tell us how the house looks an’ what all it’s got in it.” ““Yab! yah! You in berry big hurry mighty suddent, ‘pears tome! Well, de Tom-cat lib in dat ’ah house. Leas’wise he sleep in bit. I gwine put giant powdeh cahterges in dat house, when de Tom-cat sleepin’, an’ blow him cl’ah into de iliments!” The men shuddered, hardened as they were. “Did Taulbee tell you to do that?” **T> be sho! An’ w’en you heah dat s’plosion you mus’ pull de young chap up by de naik.” ‘+ But ain’t there some danger that it "ll knock in the roof of the mine?’ one of the men asked of another. “Oh, L reckon not, We'll have to resk it. It’s most tob deep down there ter that.” ‘“Why didn’t the boss have us rake in the Tom-cat as we're to do this fellow?” questioned the first speaker, again addressing the Taran- Him feared to!” was the chuckling answer. ‘De Tom-cat pow’ful fighter w'en he git his dandeh up. An’ he_ squall jes’ like a fightin’ Tom-cat, sho’ nuff. He wake de town, dat man would, w’en he git to screech- ifyin’ dat way. An’ he sart’in kill somebody. But dat s’plosion fix im so he cyain’ do nuffin’, Jes’ sail away, sail away, tell he hit de moon— biff! Nobody know what made _ de s’plosion. Nobody killed but de Tom-cat. Mighty fin’, dat plan o’ Mawse Taulbee’s! Fines’ kin?!” He gave a low whistle, as he ceased, and sunk to the ground out of sight. The front door of the house had opened, and Pendergast stepped out into the starlight. One of the villains grasped a riata which lay by his side, and putit in shape for a throw, Without a thought of peril, Pendergast emerged into the trail and came toward them, at a slow saunter. He was just leaving the shaped of the woman he loved, and doubtless iis mind was filled with tender memories and fond auticipations. The boarding-house stood back from any thoroughfare; and this trail wound through the grass and sage-brush to .le street. Near tho street the men lay in waiting. With bowed head and hat pulled over his eyes, Pendergast came on, passed the point where the scoundrels were crouching, and was about to turn toward his lodgings. Then the riata swept through the air, the noose settled over his shoulders and about his arms and body, and he was jerked heavily backward. At the same instant the men leaped upon bim with leveled weapons. The surprise was stunning in its completeness; and before he fairly realized what had befallen him, the Tarantula was astride his body, with one sinewy black hand clutching his throat. ‘¢ What is the meaning of this?” he demanded, when the grip was relaxed somewhat and he could collect bis wits sufficiently to frame the question. For reply two of the men leaped to the negro’s cried the Tarantula, sternly. up de trail an’ ’gin foh to trabble. mouth, please!” the fellow asserted, brutally. to have the town brought down onto us. got a little bizness transaction to tend to with you; an’ we don’t propose to hev it interfered negro. ‘ We ain’ gwine stan’ no speechifyin Texas Tom-cat’s Triad. assistance, and Pendergast’s hands were bound tight and fast. Then he was lifted to his feet. “No queschins, now, you Misteh Pendergast **P int yo’ nose We ain’ got .” no time fob s’plainications, we ain’! ‘But I want to know what your intentions are!” he exclaimed. He struggled and seemed on the point of screaming out. “Yah! Yah! Lake a buckin’ muel, jes’ foh all de worl’! Trabble on, now, an’ while we gwine mebbe I kin fin’ time to tell you.” Pendergast was becoming calmer. He saw that struggles were useless, and any attempt to bring assistance would probably result in his death. He was convinced that their inten- tions were deadly, but he hoped to be able to foil them in some way, if time enough was given. “‘T submit!” he said, as one of the men ad- vanced with a gag. ‘Don’t put that in my “ Well, we will, now, ef you go to gawpin’!” ‘We ain’t a-goin’ We've with,” ° ‘“‘T have submitted. Isn’t that enough?” “Go ‘long wid you, then!” commanded the b] 1” bere was no help for it, and Pendergast start- ed along the trail in the direction indicated, his captors closing about him. lor some time the advance was like a solemn and stately march, in which not a word was ut- tered. Then Pendergast broke out again with ques- tions. “Why did you rope me? And what do you mean to do with me?” They were leaving the town, now, and the negro seemed willing to answer. “What we gwine do wid you; Misteh Pendehgast? Why, we gwine ’muse ourse’ves wid you, to be sho’. We gwine practice see how much yo’ naik "ll stretch ’fo’ it break smack off. Yab! yah!” There was a depth of suggestive and horrible malignity in the words and tones, “You mean that you intend to hang me?” he said, endeavoring to nerve himself for the worst. ‘It is what I expected.” “Gwine take you into de mine!” chuckled the negro. ‘ Nice, cool place, dat ole mine is, Fines’ kind. Frien’s cyain’ uebber fin’ you; an’ so won’t hab any cause teh worry "bout you. Jes’ be a man missin’. Man missin’ mos’ eber’ day in dish yeah country. Pow’ful sight er strangeh’s aroun’ yeah. Road-agen’s, hoss- stealehs, an’ sich lack! Hones’ men sca’ce lack hens” teef. Man missin’ don’ count foh nuffin’ yeah!” He seemed to derive a sort of malicious sat- isfaction in thus holding before the bound man the terrors and helplessness of his situation. Pendergast became silent. He knew, now, that he was in the power of men as heartless as fiends. Why question them, and thus furnish opportunity for taunts and gibes a Soon the little building above the mine came into view. It was dark and deserted, and searcely discernible from the black back-ground of hill and dump-pile. Into this building he was led. Then one of the men produced and lighted a dark lantern. It was the first opportunity he had had of observing them. But the observation revealed little. With the exception of the Tarantula, they were all heavily masked. He stood, bold and defiant, with face uncovered, and a wicked smile hovering about his red lips. ‘One mo’ word o’ 'struction!” he said, as the men were about to step into the cage with the prisoner. ‘‘ Don’t fo’git dat s’plosion. An’ L done change my min’ some ’bout hit. W’en you yeah dat s’plosion you wait jes’ a hour foh me, ’F I don’ come in a hour go ahead wid whut I tole you. You on’erstan’?” “What does he mean by that explosion?” Pendergast questioned. “You'll learn soon enough!” was the unsat- isfactory answer. : Then, the Tarantula being assured that his orders were fully comprehended and would be obey the cage slowly descended into the dark shaft. CHAPTER XV. THE EXPLOSION, Tu Tom-cat, as he walked away from the house, was not altogether pleased with the programme mapped out. And the more he ee ee eEeeOOTOeeeeQ®@® oo } ee. Seat) S.,. Soa pondered the situation the more he was dis- pleased. He had suggested an immediate ad- vance. Delay was not well suited to his dispo- sition, He wanted to end the struggle by one quick and crushing blow. “ Bluff is my idee!” he whispered. ‘‘ Bluff is allus the way to win. Ef you ain’t got cards enough in a game o’ this kind, rake in the pot with a pistol. We've been shilly-sballyin’, shi ly- shallyin’, and ’complishin’ nothin’.” In this frame of mind he strolled about, pon dering the subject and trying to reach some definite conclusion or evolve a better plan than any yet suggested. Finally he started back. “ Pm goin’ to insist on perceedin’ at onc’t!” he growled. ‘‘ They’re there to-night—the nigger, Taulbee an’ alll Mebby they won’t be to- morrer |” As he drew near the house, he saw a group of men marching slowly and solemnly up the trail. They seemed to have a prisoner in their midst. He could not be sure of that, however, owing to the darkness. He did not dream that the prisoner might be Pendergast. Still it was a matter demanding investigation. Very likely some innocent man had fallen into the hands of a crazy mob, The Tom-cat had seen too much of the erratic and irresponsible doings of Judge Lynch, to fancy them. So he crept quietly along in the rear of the party, straining bis eyes and ears to little pur- se, He could hear the sounds of voices, but could not distinguish the words uttered. When they turned toward the mine building his amazement was great. ‘Takin’ the chap to my boardin’ house. I'd like to whisper into their ears that that’s a pri- vate hotel, with on’y ’commodations fer one. But mebbe they wouldn’t take kindly to it, I must see this thing through.” Then, for the first time, he reco; nized the culiar dialect of the Tarantula, The latter ad ineautiously lifted his voice, so that it came distinctly to the Tom-cat. , “Jingo! That’s the niggerf An’ I do believe he’s captered Pendergast. They was near that air boardin’-house when I fu’st seen’em, Yes, sir; they grabbed the young feller as he was leavin’—an’ they’re bent on murder, I’m satis- fied, Now, what kin I do to sp’ile their little picnic?” It was a question not easily answered, The men were entering the house with their prisoner, and, for a moment, the Tom-cat was on the point of giving utterance to his war-cry and charging with all his impetuous recklessness, He knew it might be suicidal, but even with that knowledge he could scarcely restrain himself. He muttered a half-score of low ‘‘ meows,” his fingers played convulsively with his weapons, and his glaring eyes seemed to shoot fire. “No,” he whispered, drawing in his breath, with a great sigh. ‘I mustn’t! It'd ruin everything. But I’d give a cool hundred ef I could scream jest onc’t, It hurts me to stan’ hyer jes’ a-drawin’ my claws in an’ out an’ afeard to use’em. Law! couldn’t I down one ©’ them fellers purty, now? I’m’most a notion to, anyway, resk er no resk. Mebbe I could stampede ’em!” The light, which one of the men produced, re- vealed everything clearly: the bound man, the masked faces, and the spider-like form of the Tombstone Tarantula. Then the outer door was closed, and the Tom-cat stood in the darkness. Creeping up to the door he peeped through the key-hole, and could thus see all that trans- vired. i Ef they propose to bang the young feller Pll make a break anyhow. Cricky! They’re goin’ to take him into the mine. Now, what's that fur? They could hang ’im byer as’ well as thar! I’m bound to foller.” He stopped bis anxious mutterings. The Tarantula was addressing the masked men, and instructing them to bang the prisoner if he did not appear within an hour after the explosion. The cowboy could not comprebend his entire meaning. But he drew a great breath of re- lief, Pendergast was not to be hung at once, An hour would elapse. No explosion had yet occurred; and the hanging was not to take place until an hour after the explosion. “That's all hunk!” he solilequized. “Ef I don’t git the boy out o’ their clutches inside of an hour, I'll go into the granger bizness fer the balance o’ my nateral days, I will so! Dll fol- ler em, an’ sometbin’s boun’ to turn up in our favor inside of an hour.” The cage descended into the depths, leaving the Tarantula standing ia the hall. For a mo- ment the cowboy could not tell what had be- come of the negro. But the latter quickly pro- duced and lighted another lantern,
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gy I -__- For several minutes the Tarantula remained in the hall, as if uncertaia what course to pur- sue, and the cowboy watched him through the key-hole. ‘Drat him! I can’t do nothin’, long’s he stays thar! Ef I was close enough I’d like to unch him on the head. I ‘low, though, that ’m safe while I keep him in sight, They’re not to hang Penderfast tell he comes. Ef he don’t come’thin an hour after the explosion, up the boy goes, What kind of an explosion d’ye calc’late he meant?” Tae black shifted his position, placed the light so it could not be seen from the outside, and came to the door behind which the cowboy was standing. The latter withdrew into the shad- ows, uncertain whether to leap upon the negro or not, should he appear, But, the Tarantula did not come out at that moment. He simply flattened his nose against the lock and peered through the key-hole out to- ward the trail. Then he walked back, entered the room at the further end of the hall and fora time disappeared. The Tom-cat could hear him all the while, though he could not imagine what he was do- ing. Fup to some devilment, I'll be boun’!” was the uneasy command. “I don’t much like to stand hyer waitin’ this-a-way. Mebbe they’ve ot the young feller harnessed afore now. “But Faon't hardly know what to do. Can't git by that spider very easy, ’thout him diskiverin’ me; an’ I s’pose that'd sp'ile ever’thing. He'd sing out to the fellers below; I’d have a fight onto my hands; and afore I could git cl’ar of it the young man’d be deader’n a bu’sted minin’- camp.” He drew his revolvers, half-tempted to slip to one of the windows and shoot the darky when he again appeared; but the creature came into the hall, at that moment, and the Tom-cat dropped the bya back into place, This time the Tarantula advanced to the door and opened it. Then he closed it softly bebind him and stepped out into the darkness, ** Blamed ef 1 don’t b’lieve he’s a-waitin’ fer me!” the cowboy whispered excitedly, as he crouched in the shadows. ‘ He’s a-waitin’ fer me to come home, Then he ’lows to nab me while I’m asleep. He’s aslick’un! Told me to- night he’d hol’ off awhile, jest. to throw me off my guard. An’at the same time was gittin’ ready to pounce onto both o’ us. I reckon this is what he calls his leap!” : His excitement became so great, at this san that he could hardly contain himself in quie e Tarantula, after hearkening a_ little, turned and walked along the building, in the heavy shadows. ‘In doing so he cmanel within arm’s leagth of the croucbing cowboy. The temptation, to one of the latter’s tempera- ment, was simply irresistible. With a startling howl, cat-like and terrifying, he launched bim- self at the negro’s back, The assault was so unexpected that the Tar- antula went down beneath it. Then the Tom- cat grappled with him, with terrible fury. With the advantage of a surprise, his agility was more than a match for the negro’s strength. With a quick and powerful blow he stunned him into partial insensibility; then tied him with a stout cord which he fished from the crown of the big, catskin cap. The Tarantula speedily recovered conscious- hess and sat up, blinking at the Tom-cat like an owl. He did not offer to renew his struggles. “Why you do dis yah?” he asked, as if as- tounded at the outrage. “TI shouldn’t thiuk you'd need to ask, seein’’t you was waitin’ fer me an’ cale’latin’ to do mea good deal wuss trick,” The negro stared. No use in playin’ sweet innocence, thar ain’t. *Twon’t do you any good. I’m up to yer little scheme. Pendergast is down in the mine, now, with a lot o’ men, and you thought you’d capter me an’ take me down thar, too, “Then you'd have a double hangin’. Er, it may be, you in- tended to blow me up with the house after I went to sleep.” The Tarantula’s surprise was now enuine, “Oh, lve been a-watchin’ ye an a-listenin’, too. I follered ye plum from town; an’I know purty near all about what ye’r’ up to.” The negro subsided with a groan. “Youll oan wuss’n that ef ye don’t talk here’d them men take Pender- “* Inteh de mine!” “‘K’rect! An’ they intend tohang’im, Well, they'll be apt to wait a may while before they hear that explosion. I ‘low to leave you trussed Texas Tom-cat’s Triad. up hyer tell Icome back. I’m goin’ into that mine, you understand! An’ thar? be a few of them chaps less’n they air now, afore another hour. I’d ought to kill you, by rights) You may git away and make trouble.” The negro began to quake and beg. “‘Shet up, er I'll be tempted to do it, shore, You’re noma too p’izen mean to live. A man that'll call hisself a t’rant’ly ought to be smashed, same asef he reely was one o’ them black spiders, shore ’nough.” He was working as he talked, and now slipped a gag into the negro’s moutb. “That'll keep you from callin’ out an’ lettin’ any one know you’re byer. Now, I’m goin’. Ef you’re wise you'll keep quiet tell 1 come back, Strainin’ "Il only draw the knots tighter.” He turned away, listened a few moments to the negro’s heavy breathing, and then entered the house. He had no sooner done so than the Tarantula slipped the bonds from his wrists, and began to tug at the choking and suffocating gag. The negro had resorted to an old trick, but one that can only be worked successfully after long practice. When bound he had distended the muscles of his wrists and arms, thus making them much larger than they naturally were. On again assuming their normal size, the cords fell loosely about them; and as his hands were small Be ach with the size of his wrists, it was no difficult feat to slip the nooses over them. As soon as the gag was removed, he drew a knife and cut the cords from hisankles. Then he hurried to the door and peeped into the hall, The Tom-cat was in the bed-room, evidently preparing for a descent into the mine. With a smothered cry of joy, the negro slip- ped around the house, hoisted a window and crept into the room at the rear of the hall. The door was slightly ajar; and the rays of the lan- tern coming through the opening, showed a terranes of giant powder cartridges heaped up- on the floor, At this moment the Tom-cat came out of the room, entered the cage, which had been raised for the accommodation of the negro, and got ready to descend into the depths, “Die! Die! hissed the Tarantula, applying a match to a shortened fuse, and leaping backward through a window, Then as the fuse sputtered and hissed, he ran for his life through the dark- ness, “Well, byer goes!” exclaimed the cowboy grimly, as the cage began to descend. ‘“ Now, we'll see what we'll see!” The motion of the machinery drowned the sputtering of the fuse. Then— A terrific explosion shook the earth, and the Tom-cat knew no more. CHAPTER XVL IN THE MINE. PENDERGAST as he descended with his captors into the mine, determined to make a bold dash for liberty, if the shadow of a chance offered, With astart of a hundred feet, and the protec- tion of a rocky angle it would be impossible for them to retake him or even stop his ight witha buliet. He preferred to trust himself to the labyrinthine passages and mt of starvation and thirst, to dying like a felon at the end of a ro Te was a desperate resolve. Bound as he was, he could do little to aid himself should he suc- ceed in getting away. But he was given no opportunity to put his plans into execution. en the cage reached the bottom of the shaft, one of the men advanc- ed, carrying the lantern. The others closed — him and moved forward with him in their midst, They advanced for some distance along the galleries, and finally stopped where a lacing beam overhead seemed to offer what they want- ed, ‘As good as we kin find!” said the man with the lantern, who had assumed tho functions of leader. ‘ An’ it’s fur enough from the shaft to keep that explosion frum knockin’ us eendways. I on’y hopes the nigger’ll git killed a-touchin’ the thing off.” There was & universal assent, ‘The ideer 0’ Taulbee a-puttin’ sich a critter as that over men like us! White men! It’s enough to make a feller strike ag’in’ the hull thing.” ; A ie oe occurred to Pendergast, as he lis- tened to these growling comments. These men were evidently working for money. They were thoroughly Ma ho Would it not be pos- sible to outbid Taulbee and purchase a release? “How much would it be worth to you to let 13 —e_e me go?” he asked, looking at them sharply. ‘* Name the sum, a reasonable one, and perhaps I can pay it.” The leader gazed at him curiously before re- plying. + What'll ye give?” “** Alla man hath will he give in exchange for his life!’ ” he answered, lowly and earnestly. The fellow beckoned his comrades to one side, and conferred with them, **Can’t do it!” he said, returning, Pendergast’s hopes had risen considerably,, . and this was a bitter blow. “Why not?” eagerly. ‘I will make it worth your while. What do you say to a thousand dollars apiece? It would push me to raise such a sum, but I can do it, I think, by borrowing, A thousand dollars is no smal] sum of money,” “Can’t do it,” the man repeated, though bis. eyes shone covetously. ‘I don’t mind sayin’— fer ye’ll never have a chance to tell it—that we'd like to. But we don’t dare, That’s the trouble, rdner! We don’t dare. Our lives wouldn’t wu’th shucks,” ‘“‘Why not!” Pendergast persisted. “I cam protect you from Taulbee, if he’s the one you're afraid of. If released, I'll have him by the heels in a little while, and he'll bave all he can do to look out for himself, without bothering you. Think of it again! A thousand dollars apiece! And I'll use my influence to get any prosecutious dismissed that may be brought against you.” ‘You don’t know Taulbee!” declared the man. “* Nobody ’round hyer knows him like I do. He’s a devil, I tell you. A regular devil. He . knows enough to hang ever’ one o’ us fellers, ef he was minded to spit it out. An’ that’s what he’d do, ef we sh’u’d Tet you go. He’d have us bung, ef he had to be hung alongside o’ us fer doin’ it. That’s Taulbee!” The fellow shuddered, and looked over his shoulder in a furtive way, as if he half-expected to see Taulbee at his elbow. Pendergast repeated his offers, increased the amount, and used all his powers of persuasion to induce them to release him. It was in vain. They would do nothing. ‘IT suppose you intend to hang me?” he said at last, despairingly. Yes! That’s what the orders calls fer!” in the most matter-of-fact way imaginable. ‘The nigger bas orders to lay out yer pardner, the Tom-cat. Then he’s to come down yer’ an’ see that we do this job up right.” “You spoke of an explosion?” questioningly. ““That’s the way he’s to kill the Tom-cat. Blow up the house, with him init, And.” look— ing at his watch by the light of the lantern, “it’s a-tickin’ “long toward the time. The Tom cat will turn in about midnight, likely. Then it will take a half an hour fer him to git quieted down so’t it'll be safe fer the T’rant’ly to tech off the ca’tridges!” He cl his watch nonchalantly, and turned to his comrades. Pendergast had now lost all hope. It was ter~ rible to thus stand there, waiting for the sound of an explosion that was to hurl a friend to. death, and to realize that he himself must speed~ ily follow that friend. His brain swam with the tide of despairing reflections that poured through it. He thought of his childhood, his youth, and his manhood, old home circle so far away, and the many warm and true friends of the long ago. Then his mind returned to the Tombstone and pres- ent. How ha longed to see Dell Devore, his sweet heart, if only for one brief, fleeting moment, He would like to kiss her lips, look into her clear eyes, and say good-by, He realized that the minutes were > ing, and tried to compose himself for the inev- itable. He turned his thoughts heavenward and Godward, and gained strength and composure- from the effort. Suddenly the very walls of the mine were shaken. The wild, rough men turned ashy pale and trembled. It seemed the rocking shock of an earthquake. Then to their ears came the dull and muffled boom of the explosion, “*T suppose the Tom-cat is dead!” Pendergast soliloquized, awed and horrified. “ Poor fellow! A braver and more generous heart never beat But why should I mourn for him? My time will come next!” Ph Must ’a’ used a ton 0’ powder!” exclaimed e leader, with an attempt at laughter, which was an utter and dismal failure. ‘I thought the rocks was comin’ down on us, shore!” Ne one replied, and he relapsed into a grim. and expectant silence. Of the loving faces around the.
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f ; it 14 Texas Tom-cat’s Triad. Pendergast was in no mood for idle words, He believed he was doomed, and was endeavor- ing to prepare himself to meet his fate like a man and a hero. All too soon the hour passed. ‘*Time’s up!” announced the leader, again examining his watch by the light of the lan- tern. ‘*The Tarant’ly ain’t come, an’ bis orders was ef he didn’t come in an hour, fer us to go abead,” The others arose, like hyenas scenting prey. ‘Air ye ready?’ he demanded, advancing toward Pendergast, and flashing the light in his face, ‘* Quite ready!” was the low response. ‘* Remember, ’tain’t our wish!” said the scoun- drel, apologetically, as he deftly adjusted the noose of the riata about Pendergast’s neck. The other end of the rope had previously been passed over the beam above, ** Anything to say ?” the fellow questioned. ** Nothing!” the young man replied, endeavor- ing to commit his soul to his Maker. ‘If you will murder me, have it over with!” “Up with him!” came the stern command; and Pendergast, spasmodically struggling, was lifted from his feet by the noose. CHAPTER XVII. A HOWLING TOM-CAT. How long the Tom-cat remained insensible he aid not know. When he recovered conscious- ness he sat up in the dark and tried to recall his position and what had transpired. His head still roared from the effects of the tremendous report and concussion. “The T’rant’ly’s blowed up the house!” he de- clared, as recollection dawned. ‘‘ How he done it, though, gits me! Ue must ’a’ had help. Somebody ontied him, An’ hyer [ am, half- way down the shaft, 1 s’pose, and stuck. An’ Pendergast—” He scrambled to his feet and groped about in the darkness, to see if the cage was so jammed that it could not be moved. He leaped up and down in it, pulled at the cable, and exhausted every device calculated to startit. It refused to budge. “Stuck!” he exclaimed. ‘Jest as I thought. Can’t git down ner up. That explosion has bulged the walls someway.” But, the Tom-cat was not ready to surrender to despair. Drawing his strong sheath-knife, he knelt down and carefully sounded the floor of the cage. cue, bee’ at the point where the iron cable pas through, he attacked the planking with impetuousenergy. Tocut through the bottom of the cage seemed a tedious and al- most hopeless task, but his life, and perhaps Pendergast’s, depended on its accomplishment. He did not know how long a time had ela since the explosion. Perhaps hours! If so, Pen- dergast was, no doubt, dead. Impelled by these thoughts he worked away, ceaselessly but carefully, in the deep gloom of the cage. He knew that he must be cautious. An overstrain, a snapping of the keen blade, would consign him to a lingering and hormble death. Slowly the hole through which the cablo d was widened and iengthened. The air from the mine came up in feeble waves, Then, when he could get his hands through the aper- ture, he twisted at the boards with almost sav- age vigor. They bent under the strain, Leap- ing to his feet, he stamped heavily with his heels, and the board that had been cut into cracked and groaned under the blows, But it held fast; and he was forced to again attack it with the knife. The sweat rolled from him, as he worked, But he heeded it not. The seconds ran into minutes, and the minutes fled, fleet-winged, He was gaining, however! The tiny chips and splinters flew ina shower. At times he heaved with his bands and stamped with his feet; and accomplishing nothing, attacked the boards again with the knife, His progress was slow, painfully slow, but it was progress. Finally he cut entirely through one of the boards; and by leaping up and down on it, split away a section. He uttered a cry of delight, as he did so, ‘* Hooray! I’m gittin’ thar. I’m bound to git out o’ this hole, sooner er later. Now, ef I on’y knowed Pendergast was still in the land o’ the livin’!” The thought drove him to a renewal of his. energetic efforts. ; It seemed to him an age almost, since he first attacked the floor of the cage. In reality the time was comparatively short. He had worked furiously and feverishly ; as was attested by the knife-blade, which had fairly become hot under his rapid manipulations. After splitting away that section, he attacked the remainder of the board and soon had the satisfaction of wrenching it from its place. ‘“‘Like a rat in a box!” he muttered, as he began on the next plank. ‘‘ Makes me think o’ an ole, brown rat gnawin’ away at midnight. An’, like the rat, I’ll gnaw through, ef I on’y keep at it long enough!” His courage had never failed him, Even when the task seemed most hopeless he had cut and hacked away, without a thought of giving p. The removal of a plank gave him more room in which to work; and the keen blade, propelled by his muscular hands, ate into the heavy plank- ing like a saw. Soon he was able to split off another section, and a little later he wrenched out the entire board. They were narrow, however, and he could not yet force his body through the open- ing. After ten minates more of hard and exhaust- ing labor, he removed another board, and a lit- tle later, another. ‘‘ There!” he exclaimed, exulanttly, when this had been accomplished. ‘‘ The way’s open. Now to git into the mine! [ hope the young chap’s still alive, though I’m much afeard he ain’t. Seems to me I’ve been workin’ hyer more’n an hour, an’ it may be sev’ral sence the explosion.” He thrust the knife into its sheath, leaned over the opening, and explored the place below with his hands, He believed there were other cables, but he could only find the one that passed through the cage, ‘*T can’t stay hyer any longer to find ’em, A minit may mean a good ’eal right now!” With this he swung his body through the hole, wound his Jegs around the cable, and prepared for the descent, He used great caution in doing this. It was possible that the men who had descended with Pendergast were at the bottom of the shaft. If so, they would makeshort work of him when he appeared, Grasping the cable with his hands, he com- menced to slide down it, slowly and carefully, not knowing what obstruction he might encoun- ter, or what he might find at the bottom, It was difficult to cling to tbe stiff cable, but he had a firm and muscular grip, and bis en- twined legs seemed possessed of prehensile powers, Thus, alternately sliding and stopping to listen, he arrived at the bottom at last. As he drew himself erect be realized for the first time how greatly exhausted he was. His limbs fairly trembled beneath him, the perspi- ration covered him, and he was so weak he could scarcely rise. ‘* Now, to see if the young feller’s alive!” he whispered, paying no heed to this feeling, and moving toward the door of the cage. This he pushed open, and peered intothe mine, Al] was gloom and silence, A great fear came over him. He had expect- ed to find the men near by, with their prisoner, if he found them at all, He moved out into the mine, and listened. Then he pushed on, uncertain what route to take. Suddenly, in turning an angle, he caught the far away gleam ofalantern. There were figures of men around it, Drawing his revolvers he crept softly for- ward, “It’s them!” with an exultant thrill. ‘‘ An’ the young feller’s all right yit! But I do b’leeve they’re gittin’ ready to hang 'im. Git yer claws ready!” The ominous, cat-like growls, which it seemed impossible for him to restrain in times of peril and excitement, were now issuing from his lips, His eyes blazed; and his fingers worked convul- sively over the trigger of his revolver. He writhed forward, sinuous and terrible, like a panther preparing to leap upon its prey. His eehaustion was forgotten, Then, as he drew near, he heard the command of the leader, saw the rope tighten and beheld Pendergast swinging in mid-air. At that his war-cry rung through the gloomy chambers with startling and paralyzing distinct- ness: ‘“ Whoop! Mariar! Mee-ow! Sp’t, sp’t, sp’t! Mee-ee-ow-ow !” And, at the same time, his revolvers spouted flame. The leader and one other went down, and the remainder, with yells of fright, darted away, as if a legion of howling fiends was after end th ks, as th endergast dro ‘to the rocks, as the rope fell trom the cropped the men. The Tom-cat by him, screaming his cat-calls, and firing at every leap. But, he did not follow the fugi- tives. After a few bounds he turned back, and bent over Pendergast. ‘* Worth a dozen dead men!” he cried, placing his hand over the heart of the insensible man, “ll carry him away, so that if any o’ them fellers comes back they'll not trouble us. I don’t ‘low they’ll come back, though; fer I never seen men run like they did.” ‘““As fer them chaps,” referring to the men slain, ‘they'll do well enough hyer, I reckon, They died while tryin’ to murder a man, an’ this mine is a good enough grave fersich. Ef they’s any ruction raised ’bout it by the off’sers [ kin pilot the gen’lemen down hbyer and show ’em what the critters was up to.” He was not idle while talking. He had slip- ped the noose from Pendergast’s neck; and now proceeded to drag him to a place of greater se- curity. In doing this he recalled the ease with which he bad lost his bearings on a previous occasion; and went in the direction of the shaft. Having placed Pendergast in a comfortable position, the cowboy returned for the lantern, which the men had left behind in their flight. Then he applied himself to the young man’s re- storation with such success that the latter soon opened his eyes and attempted to sit up. ‘* Ruther a close call!” declared the Tom-cat, beamingly. Pendergast rubbed his bruised throat and at- tempted to speak. After several efforts he re- gained his utterance. ““Too close altogether for comfort!” he re- ed, ‘*T suppose I owe my rescue to you. That has become of tbe rascals?” “Two of ’em’s a-lyin’ over yonder!” jerking his thumb in the direction. ‘‘ T’other ones skip- ped ina powerful hurry. I calc’late they’re a- runnin’ yit. I give two er three yawps and opened on ’em with my shooters, an’ they jest flew.” “T hated to do it!” the Tom-cat went on, “but if was them er you, an’ I figgered that you was wu’th a regiment o’ sich cattle!” “It is a serious thing, Tom. Human life is too preeious to be recklessly sacrificed, but they certainly deserved their fate, if ever men did.” ‘*Hellow!” the cewboy exclaimed, staring through the darkness. ‘‘ They’re a-comin’ back, I do believe, what’s left of ’em! An’ they’ve got another Jantern! Reckon\ we’d better git away from byer. I’m clean beat out, and don’t keer to git in another fight, ef I kin help it.” Pendergast twisted around and surveyed the advancing light. ‘Tt can’t be!” he asserted. ‘* They wouldn’t return in that bold open way.” The Tom-cat had been staring like one dum- founded. All at once he leaped to his feet and made the rocky passage ring with his whoops and cat-calls, “We're saved!” he yelled, ‘It’s a gang 0’ our own men comin’ after us. How they got in hyer, though, puzzles me! An’ bow did they know we was hyer an’ needin’ help?” ‘““Thank Heaven!” Pendergast exclaimed, rising to his feet with the cowboy’s aid. “I was afraid we’d have trouble in getting out of this accursed place. I suppose the house and elevator were destroyed by the explosion.” The rescuing y came straight on, when they heard the Tom-cat’s cries; and were now whooping a chorus of encouragement. ‘Hyer we air!” he yelled, in reply. ‘* Chip- per an’ spry as young medder-larks!” CHAPTER XVIII. CONCLUSION, THE rescuing party, as stated by the cowboy, was composed of the miners which Pendergast had in bisemploy. They had gained the mine by way of Taulbee’s house, The door through which the Tom-cat had seen the Tarantula dis- appear, led, as Pendergast supposed, into the basement of Taulbee’s residence. “Now, come on!” one of the men exclaimed, assoon as this had been explained. ‘ You’re wanted powerful. The whole town’s aroused. Sich another blow-up as that was, was never heerd of, The little mine building is spread all over the county.” ** One thing at a time!” Pendergast protested. “ How did you know we were in here?” “Come on! Yeu'll diskiver quick enough, Ain’t got time to talk now.” With this unsatisfactory statement, he led the wav toward the door that opened beneath Taul- bee’s house. Tom and one of the miners assisted Pendergast, and with their aid he got along quite easily. “You want to be careful that you don’t get lost!” the young man warned, ‘ D’ve been lost in bere twice, and don’t care for a third experience of that kind”
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‘* Never fear o’ that!” the man assured. rections given to us war so plain, that a blind man could foller’em. This place ain’t nigh so big down hyer as it ’pears. you jes’ went round and round, likely. This hole’s a good deal in a’pearance like an aban- doned coal mine. run ever’ which way, and they jes’ follered ’em, blastin’ an’ drillin’ ontell the ore played out.” A brisk walk brought them to the wall in which the door was set. It was now open, and they passed readily into the basement. rom that they emerged by a stairway into the room above. * Thunder!” exclaimed the Tom-cat, in some excitement. ‘This is the very room the Tar- ant’ly dodged into last night, when he disap- peared in that air queer way. He went through this hole into the cellar. An’ from thar he could go into the mine. That ruther gits me!” A glad ery from Dell interrupted bim, She rushed into the room and greeted the party— and especially Pendergast—in an almost hyster- ical way. ‘*T suppose you know?” she said in answer to their looks of surprise. “ Know?’ cried Pendergast. ‘‘We don’t know anything! And these grinning sinners won't enlighten us. Will you please explain? Who sent them to our rescue? nd why do we find you here?” **T supposed they had told you. No doubt they wanted to make the surprise the greater. But, we haven’t much time to talk, The Tarantula of Tombstone is Silas Taulbee himself! And I believe he isdying. He was crushed by a great stone that was hurled upon him as he ran, after firing the fuse that pro- duced the explosion.” Pendergast and the cowboy were too greatly astounded to speak, **Tt seems almost impossible, does it not? But, itisso. The explosion aroused the town: and, when Taulbee, in his negro disguise, was found, he was senseless. Some one reported that he was Taulbee’s servant and he was carried to this house. Taulbee, of course, could not be found, and soon after he was brought in, dead, as it seemed, Mrs, Taulbee disappeared. No one knows where she is now.” “* And she was—” Pendergast ventured. “She was the pretended fortune-teller. Taul- bee has confessed all. The excitement caused by his confession was something phenomenal, for no one had suspected him of such villainy. ***He believes the Tom-cat is dead—that he was killed by the explosion, but he thought you might be alive, for he told his men to wait a cer- tain time for you. Assvon as they discovered how to get into the mine, these men hurried away, boping to be in time.’ Her agitated manner showed how she had suf- fered during their absence. ‘* Let’s go at once to Taulbee!” Pendergast ur- ged, “He may havesome communication for us. Dell piloted them into the quiet little room where the dying man lay, e raised himself slightly as they entered, and his pinched features showed the signs of coming dissolution, The rolls of clothing worn to give the rounded ap- nee to his body, had m removed; as had also the black coloring from his face and hands. He could speak only with the greatest diffi- culty, because of weakness and the injuries to his chest. *T am glad to see that you both escaped!” he declared, with a wan smile, ‘I will not have to go to my Maker with your blood on my soul. I hope you will forgive me. I have tried to ask God todo so. It is best that I fail- ed asIdid, I see it, now, as I face death, “T have only a few words! My time is short. The woman who, I learn, has fled, was not m lawful wife, but if she should be taken, {I as that you deal kindly with her. Itis the only request I have to make. I have already made a confession that will restore to Miss Devore her property. It was put in writing by an attorney. ‘My fate, I trust, will be a warning to other evil-doers. If I had not inaugurated a warfare upon youl might have been able to hold the property, in spite of all your efforts. But my alarm led me to acts that brought about my own downfall. The hand of God was in it. [was fighting against an unsleeping justice, It is the way with criminals. They are ever blindly digging the pits they are them- selves to fall into.” He again craved their pardon. And on re- ceiving assurance that it was freely granted, closed eyes wearily. “ Dis When you got lost | The metal veins seemed to ! Texas Tom-cat’s Triad. 8 SE A IS RE SST TE EEE SES CSET TR ES ES eS ee ae a Se SS SE SS SORE RS Se ee And so | | 185 Captain Paul; or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains. They stood there, silently watching. quietly did his spirit take its flight, that they were only made aware of the change, by the | peaceful expression that came to his counte- nance, ‘‘Let us not judge him!” said Pendergast softly. ‘*He is with the Great Judge, who never commits errors as we do!” The Phcenix Mine became the property of Mrs. Julian Pendergast. For, even before the neces- sary legal formalities were complied with, she was united in marriage to Pendergast the attorney, and for aught I know to the contrary they may still be living in Tombstone. As for the fugitive, who had been Madame Dumar, the alleged fortune-teller, and Taulbee’s professed wife, she was never again heard of by the people of that section, The men who fled from the cowboy, in the depths of the deserted mine, were cap tured, as they attempted to leave it, and were duly pun- ished for their several crimes, The Tom-cat, with a well-filled purse and the plaudits of his fellow-men, returned to his home in Silver City. That he was ready to sally forth at short notice in pursuit of human birds of prey we can well believe—seeing that he was never so happy as when uttering in the moment of greatest danger his war-cry— ** Whoop! ariar! Mee-ow! Sp’t, sp’t! Mee- ee-0w-ow |” THE END, Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS, 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock. 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 576 The Silver Sport. 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow. 589 Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dead Set at Silver City. 601 sper Mans, the Dutch Vidocq; or, Red-Hot Times at tound-Up. BY MAJOR E. L. ST. VRAIN, 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit. 801 Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Kube, the Vigilante Prince. 838 Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette, 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “Sand.” 859 Durango Pave, the Young Chany ion Wrestler. 871 Kingbolt Chris, the Young Hard-Shell Detective. 880 Avalanche AM, the Foothills Guide. 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountain Mail-Line. BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Asa Scott, the Steamboat Boy. 199 Featherweight the Boy Champion of the Muskingum, 228 Ozark Alf; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws. 282 The Typo Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. 295 Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quartzville. S811 The Seving Nneres or, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp, B22 Nemo, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon's Vendetta. 840 Clip the Contortionist; or, The Montana Vigilantes. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER, 15 The Sea-Wat; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Page; or, The Doge’s Daughter. 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 150 Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. 154 The Sword Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise to the Open Polar Sea. 200 © Boy Bedoutins; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance, 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine. 249 Milo Romer, the Animal King; or, The Round the World Wanderer. 265 The Tiger Tamer}; or, The League of the Jungle, 881 Black Nick, the Demon Rider. 895 California Joe’s War Trail. BY J, ©. COWDRIOK. 860 Silver-Maals, the Man of Mystery. 86” Shasta, the Gold King}; or, For Seven Years Dead, r he Detective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without a ame. 424 Cibuta John: or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 9 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 506 Redli ht Ralph, the Prince of the Road. Broa Iway Billy’s Boodle, 524 The Engineer Detective. 586 Ereedwey Billy’s ‘ Diftikilty.” 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 557 Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. 571 Air-Line Luke ‘the oung Engineer, 579 The Chimney Spy; or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party, 592 The Boy Pinkerton. 605 William 0’ Broadway; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning, BY BUOKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8. Hall.) 284 O14 Beoky 8 **Boyeess or, Benito, the Young Horse- Breaker. 246 Glant George; or, The Ang’l of the Range. 275 Arizona Jack ; or, Giant Geoiee’s Pard. or 297 The Tarantula of weet} or, Giant George’s Revenge. 807 The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. 818 Ber. w MOOR. Ker-whoo} or, The Tarantula of Taos. 827 Oreeping Cat, the Caddo; or, The Red and White Pards. 882 Frio Fred: or, The Tonkaway’s Trast. B44 ane Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. py ek te Ort ots ne weet Wallace to the Front. 5 e Rane alders; or, The Siege of Fort Pargatory. 864 Snap-Shot, the Boy Ranger, oe 875 Chiota, the Creek; or, The Three Thunderbolts. 881 Bandera Bill; or. Frio Frank to the Front. 892 Romeo and the Reds; or, The Beleaguered Ranch. 404 Little Lariat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. $f The Bat pe ponrer os The ree Tratlers; or, Old Rocky on the Ram 442 Bluff Bill; or, The Lynx of the Leona, 455 Little Lone Star; or, The Belle of the Cibolo, 15 BY C. DUNNING CLARK. 280 The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef. BY CAPT. MARK WILTON, | 256 Young Kentuck; or, The Red Lasso. 270 Blizzard Ben; or, The Riot at Keno Camp. 256 Josh, the Boy Tenderfvot. BY LIEUT. H. D. PERRY, U0. 8, N. 6 The Boy Runaway; or, The Buccaneer of the Bay. 0 The Sea Trailer; or, A Vow Well Kept. 2 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point. BY HARRY HAZARD. 828 Arkansaw Jack; or, The Scourge of the Mines. 829 Red-Skin Tomy or, The Demon’s Trail. 842 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw, 17 18 19 ‘BY WILLIAM PR. EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank; or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pards BY BRACEBRIDGE NEMYNG. 89 Island Jim; or, The Pet of the Family. 91 The Captain of the Club; or. The Rival Athletes. 101 Jack Harkaway in New York. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. 78 Blue Dick; or, The Yellow Chief's Vengeance. 87 The Land Pirates: or, The League of Devil’s Island. , 187 The Helpless Hand; or, Backwoods Retribution. 289 The Gold-seeker Guide; or, The Lost Mountain. BY EDWARD 8. ELLIS. 6 Bill Biddon, Trapper. 8 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of the Frontier, 10 Nat Todd; or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. 2: rne Frontier Angel. 98 The Boy Miners; or, The Enchanted Island. 182 The Hunted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman. 254 The Half-Blood; or, The Panther of the Plains. 271 The HMuge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE. {86 Dandy Rock the Man from Texas. 90 The Dread Rider}; or, The Texan Duelist, 99 The Tiger of Taos; or, Dandy Rock’s AngeL 115 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock’s Doom, 181 The Golden Hand; or, Dandy Rock to the Rescue, 164 Dandy Reck’s Pledge; or, Hunted to Death. 178 Dandy Rock’s Riv ali or, The Haunted Maid of Taoss BY HARRY 8T. GEORGE. 80 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, the Ranger. 44 Rattling Rube; or, The Nighthawks of Kentucky, “59 Old Hickory ; or, Pandy Ellis’s Scalp. 108 Daring Davy ; or, The Trail of the Border Wolf. 166 Hickory eng oer, The Trapper-Brigade’s Spy. 172 Thunderbolt Tom; or, the Wolf-Herder. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl, | 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 7% Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 288 Joe Buck of Angels ana His Boy Pard. 447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling. 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 498 Taos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hall-Breed Detective. 515 Cool Colorado in New York. MISOELLANEOUS AUTHORS. 4 The Wild-Horse Hunters. By Capt. Mayne Reid and Frederick Whittaker. 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver’s Travels. By Dean swift. 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe. (21 Illustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven oysee, 22 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Croace. By Juan Lewis. 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribees. By S. W. Pierce. 86 The Boy Clown; or, The Queen ofthe Arena. By Frank S, Finn. 88 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 61 — Boy Rifles; or, The Underground Camp, By Archie + irons. 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi. By Lieut.-Col. Hazeltine. 98 Robin Hood, the Uutlawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Green- wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve. 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Munter; or, The Cave of Death. By Burton Saxe. 124 Tippy, the Texan; or, The Young Champion. By George eeson. #28 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish. 148 Sharp Sam; or, The Adventures of a Friendless Boy. By J, Alexander Patten. 227 Dusky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- lowstone. By Edward Emerson. 261 Forays Fearnaught the New York Boy. By George L. en. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; or, Davy Crockett’s Crooked TralL By Ensign C, D. Warren, 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Cliff. By Captain Comstock. 817 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Lieu- tenant Alired Thorne. 828 The Sky Wbe*ective; or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Honoss. By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Ked Ralph, the River Rovers or, The Brother’s Re- venge. By Ned Buntline. 865 Baltimore Ben the Bootblack Detective. By A. P. Morris. 874 Gold-Dust Tom; or, Ben’s Double Match. “By George H. Moree. 876 California Joe’s First Trail, By Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monstery. 418 Biily Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By F, S. Winthrop. 75 The Black Ship. By John S, Wavner. Comanche Dick and His Three Invinciblea By Henry J. Thomas. 528 Wizard-Arm, the Dandy sy By Arthur F, Holt, 582 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest. 552 Ariel the Athlete. By David Druid. 585 Will Waters, the Boy Ferret. By H. Enton. A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library is for sale by all newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York.
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Published Every Tuesday. BEADLE’S« H ALF-])IME*[ IBRARY. Each Issue Complete and Sold at tne Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novels. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Double Daggers + or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance, 28 Buffalo Ben; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise, S35 Wilda Ivan, the Boy Clande Duval. 42 Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza, 49 Omaha Oll; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger. 57 Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 78 Deadwood Dick on Deck? or, Calamity Jane, the Heroine. 77 Corduroy Charlie; or, Deadwood Dick’s Last Act, 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. 104 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Double Cross Sign. 109 Deadwood Dick as Detective. 129 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s Gulch. 188 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base. 149 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike. 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the Road. 201 The Black Hills Jezebel; or, Deadwood Dick’s Ward. 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Ad- venture. 217 Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand. 221 Sugar-Coated Sam; or, The Black Gown. 282 Gold-Dust Dick. A Romance of Rough; and Toughs, 268 Deadwood Dick’s Divide; or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. 268 Deadwood Dick’s Death Trall. 809 Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Jregon. 821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. 847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducata; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- cings. 851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta, 862 Deadwood Dick’s Claim; or, The Fairy Face of Faro ate. 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City. 410 Deadwood Dick’s Diamonds ; or, The Mystery of Joan Porter. 421 Deadwood Dick in New Vork3 or, A “ Cute Care,” 480 Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand. 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 448 Nickel-Plate Ned; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Defiance. 458 Sunflower Sam, of Shasta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Full Hand. 459 Flush Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Ronnd- Up. 465 Philo Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Racket at Claim 10. 471 Bozeman Bill; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Corral. A476 Humboldt Harry, the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Dog Detective. AS1 Moll Mystery; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in Deadwood. 491 Prince Pitatol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Compact. 496 Monte Cristo, Jr.: or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Inheritance. 500 Deadwood Dick’s Dlgglngs s or, Dr. Death-Grip’s Swoop. 508 Deadwood Dick’s« Deliverance. 515 Deadwood Dick’s Protegee. 522 Deadwood Dick’s Three. 529 Deadwood Dick's Danger Ducks, 584 Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt, 589 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Texas. 544 Deadwood Dick, dr. the Wild West Vidocg. 549 Deadwood Dick on Mis Mettle. 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick in Boston. 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Philadetphia. 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Chicago. 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr. Afloat. 5S4 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Denver, 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr's, Decree. 595 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Beelzebub’s Basin, 600 Deadwood Dick Jr. at Coney Island. 606 Deadwood Dick Jr’s Leadville Lay; or, Bristol and Bncket’s Hoom, Other Novels by E. L., Wheeler. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon. 82 Bob Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot. ' 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York. 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, ' BS Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn BIlls or, The Red Rifle Team ' 69 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter; or, The Boy Detective, 80 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. | 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand. {88 Pheto rere Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance. 92 Canada Chet ; or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp, 96 Watch-Eye ; or, Arabs and Angels of a Great City, 118 Jack Moyle the Young Speculator. 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 21 Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport. 25 Bonanza Bill, Miner, 188 Bo«a ob the King of Bootblacks, 141 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent, 145 bot Ferret, the New York Detective; or, Boss Bob's Bosa Job. 161 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 177 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps, 181 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo, e 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter, 226 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 286 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator. 244 Slerva Sam, the Frontier Ferret, 24% Sierra Sam's Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 25% Sierra Sam’s Pard; or, The Ange! o! Big Vista, 258 Sierra Saim’s Seven}; or, The Stolen Bride. 278 Jumbo Joe, the boy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs, 277 Denver Dol . the Detective Queen. 281 Denver Doll's Victory. 255 Denver Doll's Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza, 291 Turk, the Boy Ferret. 6 Denver Doll’s Drift; or, The Road Queen. 299 A No. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. $08 ’Liza Jane, the Girl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. R25 Kelley, Hickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia. 880 Little Qu!ck-Shot; or, The Dead Face of Daggersville, B84 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner. 889 Kungaroo Kit’« Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood. 858 First-Class Fred, the Gent from Gopher. 865 Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherer ; or, The Lottery of Life 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize. 878 Nabob Ned; or, The Secret of Slab City. B82 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, BS5 Yreka Jim’s« Joker; or, The Rivals of Red Nose. 889 Bleyele Ben; or. The Lion of Lightning Lode, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam. 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Hat Harry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam Slabaldes, the Beggar-Boy Detective. 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher. 486 Seulskin Sam, the Sparkier. | B6T Wide-Awake J BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 WII Somers, the Bor Detective. 122 Phil Mardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Picayune P’cte; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective, 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Black Beas, Will Wildfire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. 162 Will Wildfire in the Woods. 165 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. 170 A Trump Card; or, Wil! Wildfire Wine and Loses, 174 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. 179 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, 188 The Hidden Htand; or, Wil) Wildfire’s Revenge. 187 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, 189 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed ; or, Bob Rockett’s Fight for Life. 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Tom Tanner; or, The Black Sheep ot the Flock. 25 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky, 2835 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two ** Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. 252 Dick Dashaway ; or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. 262 The Young Sharps: or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-Hound; or, The Young Thoroughbred. 805 Dashaway, of Dakota; or, A Western Lad in the Quaker City. 824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, oe; or, A Boy of the Times. 879 Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Firelly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier. 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret, 456 Billy Brick, the Jotly Vagabond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive. 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman ; or, Too Sharp for the Sharper 566 The Secret service Boy Detective. 596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. BY OLL COOMES, 5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. 81 Keen-Knife, the Prince of the Prairies. 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger 68 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 74 Hawk-eye Harry the Young Trapper Ringer. 88 Rollo, the Roy Ranger. $4 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. 8 Scar-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter 6 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 3 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon, 8 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. 202 Prospect Pete ; or, The Young Outlaw Hunters. 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps. 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger, 248 The Disgulsed Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger, 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. 272 Minkakin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. 800 The Sky Demon j¢ or, Rainbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 409 Hercules; or, Dick, the Boy Ranger. A417 Webfoot Mone, the Tramp Detective, 422 Baby Sam, the Boy Gixnt of the Yellowstone, 444 Little Buckakin, tne Young Prairie Centaur, 457 Wingedfoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul, 468 Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic, 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan, 562 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. BY T. ©, HARBAUGH, 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, Th~ Boy Spy of "76. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Little Hunter. 47 Nightingale Nat; or, Tne Forest Captains, 64 Dand ack; or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trali. 82 Kit Harefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jack ; or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 128 Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lynch, Jr.; or, The Boy Vigilante. 155 Gold Trigger, the Sport; or, The Girl Avenger, 169 Tornado Tomy or, Injun Jack From Red Core, 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 198 Arkansaw ; or, The Queen of Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Tonknot’s Crusade. 281 Plucky Phil; or, Rosa, the Rei Jezebel. 241 Bill Bravo; or, The Roughs of the Rockies, 255 Captain Apoliv, the King-Pin of Bowie. 267 The Buckskin Detective. 279 Old Winch; or, The Buckskin Deaperadoes. 294 Dynamite Dan; or, The Bowle Blade of Cochetopa. 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully, 816 Old Eelipae, Trump Card of Arizona, 826 The Ten Parda;: or, The Terror of Take-Notice. 886 Big Benson; or, The Queen of the Lasso. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Red Thanderbolt’s Secret. BSG Cool Sam und Pards ov The Terrible Six. 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 886 Captain Cutlass; or, The Boccaneer’s Girl Foe. 896 Rough Rob; or, The Twin Champions of Blue Blazes. All The Silken Lasso; or, The Rose of Ranch Robin. 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. 425 Texas Trump. the Border Rattler. 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox. 445 The City Vampires; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon. 461 One Against Fifty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar. 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. 477 The Exceisior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter. 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. 502 Branded oe the Night Ferret. 512 Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective. 521 Dodger Dick’s Beast Dodge. aes 3 and Faleon, the oy Shadows. odger Dick, the Dock Ferret. 548 Dodger Dick’s Double ; or, The Rival Boy Detectives. 558 Dodger Dick’s Desperate Case. 568 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidocq. 578 The Two Shadows. 582 Dodger Dick’s Drop. 594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. eee aie ed BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 7 The Flying Yankee}; or, The Ocean Outcast. 17 Ralph Roy, the Boy Buceancer; or. The Fugitive Yacht. 24 Diamond Dirk; or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 62 The Shadow Ship}; or, The Rival Lieutenants, 76 The Boy Dnelist; or, The Craise of the Sea-Wolf, 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Smugyier. 111 The Sea-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116 The Hussar Capt ain 3 or, Nhe Hermit ot Hell Gate, 197 Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter, 204 Gold Plume; or, The Kid-Glove Sport. 216 Bison BULL, the Prince of the Reins, 222 Grit, the Bravo Sport 3 or, The Woman Trailer, 229 Crimeaon Kate; or, The Cowboy’s Triumph, 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 245 Merle, the Middy io, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midshipman J 264 ee 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. Pearl, the Pirate's Bride, 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 287 Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Siot Dandy ; or, Benito, the Boy Bugler, $08 Keno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double. $14 thon Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Long rall. 877 Bonodel, the Boy Rover; or, The Flagless Schooner. 888 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island, 887 Warpath WIL, the Boy Phantom. 898 Seawalf, the Boy Lieutenant. 402 Iaodor, the Young Conapirator; or, The Fatal League. 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild Vachtamany; or, The War-Cloua’s Cruise, 429 Duncan Dare, the boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy's Luck; or, Tie Corsair. 487 The Sea Raider. 441 The Ocean Firefly ; or, A Middy’s Vengeance. 446 Haphazard Harry; or, The Scapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferret of New York. 454 Wizard WIIl’s Street Scouts, 462 The Born Gulde; or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster. 474 Flora; or, Wizard Will's Vagabond Pard. 488 Ferreta Afloat: or, Wizard Will’s Last Case, AST Nevada Ned, the Revolver Kanger. 495 Arizona Joe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 497 Back Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy; or, The Shark and the Sea Cat, 507 The Hunted Midshipman, 511 The Outlawed Middy. 520 Buckskin BIA, the Comanche Shadow. 525 Brothers in Buckskin, 580 The Buckskin Bowers. 585 The Bue skin Rovers. 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder of the Rio, 545 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte. 550 Lalfitte’s Legacy: or. The Avenging Son. 555 The Creole Corsair. 560 Pawnee Bill, the Prairie Shadower. 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. 570 Camille, the Card Queen. 575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective, 580 The Outcast Cadet; or, Tle False Detective, 586 The Buckskin Avenger. 591 Delmonte, the Young Sea Rover. bv? The Young Texan Detective. 602 The Vagabond of the Mines. 607 The Rover Detective; or, Keno Kit’s Champions, BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm, F. Cody) 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie. 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout, 68 Border Robin Hoody; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Faney Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust, LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 608 The Pitcher Detective’s Fotl; or, Double Curve Dan's Double Play. By Geo, C. Jenks. 609 Bolly Dorrit, the Veteran Detective; or, Little Lightning’s Invinei*les. By John W. Osbon. 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sherp on Guard. By T. C. Harbaugh, 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules; or, The Tussle at Table Mountain. By Lieut, A. K. Sims. 612 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Detroit; or, Turning the Tables on Satan. By Edward L. Wheeler. 618 Billy Blazes; or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. By P.S. Warne. 614 Whistling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid; or, The Queer Com- bination. y Jo Pierce. 615 Fighting Harry, the Chief of Chained Cyclone; or, The Heathen Chinee’s Mission. By J. C. Cowdrick. 616 The Ocean Detective: or, The Last Cruise of the Black Bear By Geo. ©. Jenks. 617 Ralph, the Dead-Shot Scout; or, The Raiders and the Red Riders of the Kio. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Cincinnatt; or, The Clineher Campaign. By Ed. L. Wheeler. ! 619 The Boy Tramp Detective; or, The Double Grip Witness, By Wm. G. Patten : é 620 Little Lightning’s League; or, The Mystery of the Island. By John W. Oshon. : 621 Truthful James, the “Pecooliar” Man; or, The Spoiler Dispoiled. By A. C. Grissow. 622 Texas Tom-Cat’s Triad; or, The Queer Affair at Tomb- stone. Bv Lieut. A. K. Sire, 628 Ruck Bumblebee, the Harlem Wummer; or, The Old Captain's Moving Miracle. By o Pierce. 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Nevada; or, The Preacher ot Pokerville. By E. L. Wheeler. 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Trailer; or, The Hero of the Crater. By Jos, E. Badger, Jr. 626 The Champion Pards«; or, The Lucifer of Silver Bar. By T. C. Harbaugh. Keady July 23. 627 Tom Bruce of Arkansas; or, The Wolfin the Fold. By Charles Morris. Ready July 30, 628 Broadway Billy's Dead Act; or, The League of the Sworn Seven. By J.C. Cowdrick. Ready August 6. 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Sport; or, The Jubilee of Jacktown, By Wm. G, Patten. Ready Auguat 13. 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in No Man’s Land; or, Golconda, the Gladiator, By Ed. L. Wheeler. Ready August 20. A New Iasue Every Tuesday. The Half- Dime Library is for sale by all newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street New York, futineer ; or, Brandt, the Buccaneer. fhe ao = . ‘eh eed rae Snare a x. en . ' a ~ : eR a> —~ re — * 2a ane Saas o a! th Bs i: | y rh me! ee f AIS ee” . 4 et a ‘? ae