Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 634) (1889 09 17)
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$2.50 a Year. | The True Hoartsaf Red-Lye Roost. A Romance of the Colorado Ranges. BY “ BUCKSKIN SAM,” (Maj. Sam S. Hall,) AUTHOR OF “ LITTLE LONE STAR,” “‘ OLD ROCKY’s ‘ROYEES,’” ‘‘ THE DAISY FROM DEN- VER,” ETC., ETO., ETC. Oe DTRR LT THE SHADOW ON THE HEARTH, “You may call me silly and superstitious, and I presume I am all that and more, but I cannot shake off the presentiment I have had ever since father set out on such a wild jour- ney.” The speaker was a young girl, and decidedly i ith oy \ a) AO) —ee ie \P hy ee \ op iY Thy N perenne WEN . ie pee NN » Sy WEE WO FRE. we. x or, v eS a) ar e L.SRA=Go SN |! Dl ca 9 2 i gl Copyright 18% a cADLA gitp Apgma, aod ~ oa elit September 17, 1899, “Rie WOE ee TT TP = +; ttt ==S $i CZ EE 7™M"|_|L gaa a eT) = ANE, »\ Yi, ON HANDS AND KNEES THE WANT SCOUT AND HIS UTE PARD CAREFULLY SCRUTINIZED EVERY INCH OF THE GROUND. ~
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2 fair to look upon—a beautiful blonde, with abun- dant tresses of rich golden hair, and a well-de- veloped though petite form, ** That is nothing new, Della,” was the reply of her brother. ‘‘ You have been haunted with it, ever since those black shadows first fell upon us, j * You are right, Dashiell. From the day that papa first intimated his intention of taking those men into co-partnership, I have been in a con- stant state of the must painful apprehension.” ** Oh, nonsense, Della!” ** Tt is not nonsense, and you know it, Dash, You, yourself, opposed the arrangement from the firs, and far more openly than I did, You never believed in William Black, or John either; and—” **Less now than over, sis.” ** Just what | have imagined, [ cannot but think, somehow, that the lucky speculations into which these men led papa were but a trap, or at least baits to one; and the trap itself is. at Pocketville, and is known as—” ‘The Flusb-Hand Mine.” ** Precisely.” ** What a wise little sister itis!” said Dashiell Darington, half-mockingly; but there was a troubled expression on bis facejas he spoke, They were the only children of David Daring- ton, these two; and were, as we arn introduced to them, the sole occupants of their beautiful frontier home. Dashiell was now uineteen years of age, and was universally known as “Dash,” more from his daring and dashing character than as a mereabbreviation. He was a strikingly handsoine young fellow of medium stature, muscular, and quick in motion. Young as he was, Dash Darington was an ex- perienced camper and mountain roamer, when- ever it was possible for him to indulge in such a life; never being happier ‘than when hunting in the mountains, or speeding over the plain, mounted on his favorite horse, His sister was.but sixteen, arid bas been al- ready described. Their mother had been, for some years dead. A brother of David Darington, named Dud- ley, was generally an inmate of the household, but he was somewhat eccentric, of a most re- tiring disposition, and was generally accounted a mere cipher, Their home, as bas been-said, was a happy and beautiful one; but, had their happiness in it been uninterrupted, we should not have been ealled upon to write their history. But a dark cloud hovered over the lives of the brother and sister, and also over that of their now absent father, who had been fated to form friendly and business relations with those whose aim it was to ruin him and his, The business partners of David Darington, to whom allusion has been made, were two brothers named John and William Black, the latter of whom had accompanied him on his trip to Pocketville, “Why did papa decide to dispose of his third of the mine?” inquired Della. **Saunders and Brooks, the men in charge, who own the remaining two thirds, wrote, offer- ing fifty thousand dollars for his share.” ‘* Which he originally purchased for twenty- five thousand, did he not?” ** Just so.” “Thon why was it necessary that he should go to Pocketville?” ** Oh, they have another investment ready for him, You know how credulous poor father is, It seems the Blacks have had an offer of an interest in two marvelously rich mines, for one hundred thousand dollars—an additional fifty thousand, you see—” * And he takes that amount with him?” The anxious look on Della Darington’s face now became one of alarm. ** No, he has sent that by his bankers, through the Express Company, to Pocketville.” *And Bill Black persisted in going with papa?” * Oh, father was very glad to have him.” ‘“T wish you had gone, Dash.” ‘Thank you. I did really want to go, on more than one account, but father decided that I had better remain in Denver with you and Uncle Dudley.” The young girl was silent for some moments. At last she spoke: *“T would not have been afraid to remain here.” ** Not then, rbaps, but now?” * Nor now, Dash.’ **T am giad of that, Della, for—-” * You think of going to Pocketville? You are eerie, as [I am, that something is ong SS ee nee ee. SSS eS ee eee SA ee ee SS ae eee ibs Cache Carl, the Chico Giant. “Tam, Della; but I fear to leave you while John Black remains in the office, and when he knows that I have set out after father—” ‘* But he need not.” ** He will, however.” “ Not at all, Dash, You go hunting go often, and are away in fact a great part of the time on one pretense or another, that he will suspect nothing.” ‘*T fear he may. But. neyer mind; I'll give out that 1 am on a lone hunt; and so, by the way, lam.” ‘** But what has decided you so suddenly?” ‘*T will tell you, Della, I picked up in the office this morning a slip of paper whicb had ev- idently escaped John Blaek’s notiee, aad which contirms our worst fears.” . "Oh; Dash! Is it s trap, then?” ** Yes; the Blacks are what we have feared from the first, and Saunders und Brooks, fath- er’s partners in the Flush-Hand, are but tools and paid agents of theirs,” vf Aud the mine? ** An old worked-out affair, you may depend. As for the proposed fresh investment in the other two, Iam convinced they exist only on paper!” ella Darington sunk into a chair. She had apprehended the worst, and yet, as it ever happens, was unprepared for it when it vame, ‘“* Tf you should be too late,” she said at length, “T shall not be too late,” was the confident reply. CHAPTER II. THE SERPENT IN EDEN. Worps cannot describe the anxiety of Della Darington after being informed by her brother of their father’s danger, and when the young man had hastily set out to his rescue. And, torturing, indeed, must have been the emotions of Dashiell] himself, from the moment he learned, beyond a doubt, the object of Bill Black in.allur- ing his father to Pocketville. Fi addition to this, Dash was tormented in mind, on account of being forced to leave his sister with no protector iar their simple- minded uncle; for both he and Della feared that Jobn Black would, in some manner, to them un- expected and unprepared for, commit some vil- lainous deed. Dash teared for his sister’s safety, ond Della feared for herself. And their fears were not groundless, as, in spite of their gloomy apprehensions, they strove to convince themselves. The home of the Daringtons, in the suburbs of Denver, was an elegant and luxurious one. Na- ture had done much, and wealth more, to make it so. Long rows of noble trees, with flowers, arbors, walks, and rustic seats, dotted the grounds; and amid them stood a substantial and well-appoint- ed mansion. There were but three servants in the estab- lishment; a man who acted as hostler and gar- dener, a. female cook, and a young woman named Fliorette Forbes, who attended to the chamber work, as well as assisting Miss Daring- ton in plain sewing and a general superintend- ence of household affairs. With none of these, except Florette, shall we have aught to do, and she had not been very long in her present situation, She was but lit- tle older than Della, and was also somewhat of a beauty, although just the opposite of her young mistress in complexion, being a bright and sparkling brunette. Attractive though Florette Forbes was in ap- esau yet, did one see her when in one of 1er fits of temper, he would be filled with aver- sion; so treacherous and veugeful were ber every glance and expression. But, Florette took good care to guard against this, when in the presence of any member of her employer's family. She was, in reality, the daughter of Mr. Darington’s partner, William Black. Her mother, long since dead, had been a Mexicah woman, The Daringtons, of course, knew nothing of this. The girl had been commanded by her fa- ther to enter the sérvice of David Darington and to actasaspy for him; and this she had done from the first. She cordially hated her young mistress, al- though Della was far from suspecting the fact, When Florette Forbes first went to the Dar- ingtons’, she began by detesting the whole household; but she soon became very fond of Dashiell, eventually loving him with all the pas- sionate nature of her mother’s race, Yet she betrayed nothing of this, but rather gave the object of her infatuation reason to believe she disliked bim. Had Bill Black known of Florette’s love for Dash, his plans might have been changed; for the one redeeming quality in his depraved na- ture was his affection for his daughter. Through this young girl’s eavesdropping, Dash Dare’s destination became.known to Jobn Black. When the youth had intimated to his sister the great peril of their father, Florette was secreted in the adjoining apartment and heard every word that was spoken. lt had been impossible for her to escape from her concealment until Dash had prepared for his journey, and, for the second time, had rushed into his sister’s presence to take leave of her. Then, as soon as ‘possible, she stole from the house and hastened to the counting-rooin, a heavy vail concoalivg her faco. John Black recognized her, however, and in- vited her into his private office; well knowing that something of importance had happened at the Daringtous’, or Florette would not have come to report, Ashis brother was absent, playing the great game that was to enrich them both, John natu- rally suspected that the visit of his niece had some bearing on their plot, He began to fear that something had gone wrong with the delectable Bill, yet this seemed preposterous. Closing the door of the office, after he had followed Florette inside, he ex- claimed impatiently: ** In the. fiend’s name, girl, what brings you here? Speak out, and to the point!” ‘Dash Dare has Jeft Denver,” she replied, “Well, what if he bas?” ‘* Uncle John, you are very careless.” ‘Don’t uncle me! It is dangerous! We can- not be too cautious. Now, Florette, forget for a moment that you are a woman, and tell me, in a few plain words, what you mean!” “You received a letter recently from those Flush-Hand Mine men, at Pocketville?” ‘Yes, We receive letters from them fre- quently.” ‘Your last letter was intended to be private. Yet you did not read what was written on an inclosed slip—something that was more impor- tant, I suspect, than the letter itself.” ‘The mischief!” ‘“ Just so. You threw the envelope under your desk, and in it was a paper which explain- ed father’s object’ in taking Mr. Darington to Pocketville.” The naturally swarthy face of John Black be- came positively hideous, **Speak out!” he almost yelled. ‘*‘ How do you know this?” ‘** Dash found the envelope, and read the in- closure, which it seems you had failed to notice. He has told Della, and has set out in haste -for Pocketville. What are we to do?” Florette actually wrung her hands in an agony of anxiety. Johu Black seemed to be paralyzed. af length, by a great effort, he recovered him- sels. He then spoke in a hoarse voice of concen- trated fury and desperate resolve: ** Curses on that brat! He'll frustrate all our plans yet, I'll bet my life! * They can't complete the sale of the mine be- fore to-morrow, and old Darrington’s money will reach them to-night by the Express. Curse the luck, I say! But, never mind, Bill will find a way to work the racket, and win yet. “You don’t mean that they will kil. Dash Dare?” Florette was off her guard when she put this question, in her excitement, Like a flash the truth darted through John Black’s niind, and guided his answer. He now knew that this niece of his was in love with young Darington, and that she would sacrifice all else for that loye—for such was her nature, Then came a new inspiration. By bringing about a union between Dash and Florette, fifty thousand dollars more—for that amount had the young man inherited from his mother—would be gained! There were, clearly, other games to play, if William should by any chance fail in ‘the one they had now on hand. John mentally cursed himself for his careless- , ness. Both loss and exposure seemed imminent, But he hesitated notin answering the ques- tion of his niece. It would not admit of hesita- tion, ‘Kill the boy? Why, of course not! There will be no occasion for that, But your father >,
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' Get everything ready that’we require, will never again return to Denver, He cannot after this,” John Black knew very well by the manner and expression of Florette, that, were he to say Dashiell Darington must be ut out of the way, she would herself ride off dinect to Pocketville to prevent it. “Neither can I remain here,” he continued, “You and I must get out of this, and the com- ing darkness must sighal our start, Can you be ready, Florette?” The girl knew that this meant going to join her father, who might be in danger, and also to meet Dash; and she was eager to go. ‘Ves, yes,” she replied, quickly; ‘Pll get ready at once!” ‘‘ But we are not to go alone, Florette, There ig some one else, and it is our only chance, Della Darington goes with us, and it must be by force, of course! “Til get a trusty man to assist. We'll tie up the gardener and the cook, and take the bi ambulance and two horses. As for old Dud. ley— ‘* Fe is not at home.” ‘*So much the better. You must give Della an opiate, for we want»no fuss of any kind, eturn | at once! ‘‘T shall close the store and leave everything here as it is, for I want no suspicions as to the truth until we are far from here,” John Black thougkt of Dash, but feared to speak of him again before Florette. There was a murderous expression upon his | face. The next moment his precious nieceglided out, She was gone on her outrageous mission, CHAPTER Tit. A STARTLING SIGHT, Joun Buacg hastened to prepare for flight, collecting all the money due the firm that he eould possibly secure without exciting suspicion, He also secured the services of aman who had formerly belonged to their outlaw gang, and who had drifted to Denver. This was a low-browed, evil-faced Mexican, who had been known among his brutal asso- ci tes in the mountains as Don Diablo. And devilish in the extreme was his character, as well as his appearance. He was rejoiced at the Pigeper’ of returning to the mountains, and the wiess life which was a second nature to him. Johu Black had given him his directions in re- gard to the abduction of Della Darington. He had vowed that her fortuné, and that of her brother, should be his by some means. He would keep the maiden captive until she would gladly take such measures as would enable him with safety to himself to secure the fifty thou- sand dollars which she held in her own name and subject to her order. He believed, too, that he could, through his niece, get possession of Dash’s fortune; although he had no plan, as yet,in his mind, to effect ‘this, He must first meet Bill, and then they could ht together... Aud Flo ; Mohn Black ea noticed her expression when young Darington’s name was mentioned, and she had caught the murderous tone of voice her uncle had used when last speaking of Dash Dare; and she knew, upon reflection, that her father would not hesitate to kill the youth if he came in his way or attempted to thwart bim, She vowed that she would prevent this. She was soon in her apartment once more, without ber absence having been detected. Della Dariugton was too much worried about her \father for aught else to occupy her thoughts. “Ger state of mind was favorable to Florette, who e ‘ow busied herself in preparing for the coming & viight journey. anShe succeeded, also, in drugging the cup of Bi which she brought her young mistress, but +y the time John Black and Don Diablo Hehed the house, Della was in a sound sleep, seemhe hostler was "knocked senseless, bound and He xed, and the cook treated in like manner, fatteron the horses and ambulance were ready, jolly fanwhile, Florette and John Black had been run tceking the rooms and collecting all such and tobles as could be put in small compass. All a delay was made, for time was valuable, heartediablo knew the country like a book, and he His ed they could reach the near vicinity of and getville bataes daylight, Tight, fla Darington, in a death-like stupor, was Pri “ed out and placed upon a blanket couch in ambulance. {orette occupied the back seat, and John f R P : x nti. § - Cache Carl _the Chico i ica alesis ——— SSE See ee | Black, having a slouch bat pulled low down upon his forehead, seated himself with the Mexi- can driver, after ‘first seeing that the doors of the house were fastened. The hostler and cook were left bound in the barn, and Black secured also the gate which led into the street. It was then dark, Don Diablo bad been directed to follow a trail that was little used, and which although rough would save many miles of travel. Thus it happened that when David Darington was in great distress of mind at Red-Kye Roost, fearing robbery and murder, and while his son was fast approaching Pocketville, the daughter and sister was being hurried toward the same point, in a senseless condition, and in the power of merciless foes, And, when the startling events were happen- ing on the rocky mountain shelf, when Dash Dare was gazing spell-bound at the same, and when Bill Black was meeting his doom at the hand of the miners—while all this was trans- piriog, John Black was hurrying his uncon- scious captive toward Pocketville, It was near morning, however, before the ambulance reached a point within’ a half-mile of the town, and for at least five miles Don Diablo had’ been forced to follow the stage road. But as they knew the stage had passed through Pocketville, and thence down the range the previous evening, they did not have any idea of danger from being observed by driver or passengers, John Black knew that did they meet any one, the ambulance and horses would attract particu- lar attention, and this he wished to avoid, In- deed, it woul’ 1 be extremely dangerous to be dis- covered, and lead any who might pursue, on the direct trail to Overtake them. Besides, should Dasb find his father, and reveal the plot, the two might start back ‘toward Denver , an ia passing recognize their horses and vehicle, uch a discovery would be certain death, The moon shone brightly, and upon reaching a point one mile from the town, Don Diablo, at the tbidding of his employer, turned the team from the road, further from the foot of the range. They then proceeded parallel with the same, amid the scattering mesquites, at a suffi- cient distance from tbe stage road to escape ob- servation from the same, ‘Drive down abreast of the town,” said Black; “we'll secure the team, and then reconnoiter. We must find Bill, or else Saunders and Brooks, at once, © ‘onfound that. brs at, Dash! If he’s upset our plot, Pll torture him!” The Mexican obeyed, holding the horses at a slow pace. Florette was now asleep, John Black was destined to find his brother much sooner than he expected. But, what a discovery it was tio be! The Fates, it would almost seem, were direct- ing. the course taken by Don Diablo. — + he bright rays of the moon now rendered the shades darker and more somber by contrast. It was a wild, weird scene to their west, and above the mesquites, which never grow tall, The serrated peaks of the range here, black a ink where shaded by projecting rocks from the moon, and the clumps of cacti, growing here and there where nothing else would grow, these seemed like huge beasts at the entrance of their dens. Both the Mexican and his master seemed gloomily impressed by the somber scene, and neither of them spoke a word, Ina little while, however, the horses’ ears pricked forward, and they gave half-suppressed snor ‘ts. ‘“The beasts scent the town,” said Black, in a cautious tone, but more like a question. “The town is not ahead, senor,” returned the Greaser, guardedly and suspiciously, a Then, in the fiend’s name, what alarms them? Jerk up it you think— Just then’ there came a startling interruption to the speech of John Black. The Mexican was turning around a thick motte of mesquites, to head the horses toward the town; thus to ‘prove in what direction the mwa had scented that which had alarmed them. In an instant the superb steeds gathered all their strength, sprung high in air to the left, with terrific snorts, and snapping the pole short off; as, bounding away, they jerked Don Diablo, who held tight to the reins, from his seat, send- ing him through the air, The Greaser str uck a swaying object. He instantly recognized its character, as he was hurled against it. Don Diablo gave vent to his terror by a shriek, and then struck at the pendent mass; the blow causing it to sway back and forth, as he feil in a senseless heap beneath it, mye ee he, The ambulance, having been forced against the under branches of the mesquites, was pow concealed from view, except in front, But what of Jobn Black? For the time, the horses bad hid that which had terrified them from his view. It was only for an instant, however. Soon the eyes of the swarthy miscreant be- came fixed upon it, in unspeakable horror, For a moment, he saw that swa ing form— the form of a man, hanging by fhe neck, the nope being attached to a limb above! ‘hen Black gave out a gurgling unearthly groan, and fell from his seat to the earth, With a heavy, sudden sound, he struck, and there he lay senseless, while be ond, beneath that horrible corpse, lay Don Diablo, also as de- void of sense as the cadaver which slowly swayed over him, and nearly touched bis face. And no wonder was it that John Black had fainted, for, in that hideous form, in that fear- fully contorted face, he recognized his brother, Bill Black! Passing strange had it been, that Don Diablo had guided the hor-es directly toward it, He and his employer had been seeking William Black, and they had found Kim! From the interior of the vehicle there bad come no cry, a8 was to have been éxpected— But, there were good reasons, Florette Forbes had been forced violently forward by the sud- den halt of the horses, her head striking the camp-chest, rendering ‘her unconscious; while Della, for tunately for her, still remained under the influence of the power ful drug her treacher- ous maid bad administered, Had not the men of Pocketville been, at that hour, asleep from their fatigue and the deep potations of the evening previous, the hapless maiden might then have been rescued and re- stored to her father and brother, now also sleep- ing soundly in the Red-Eye Roost, which was within plain view from the side of the mesquite motte opposite the ambulance, But the cruel fates had ordained otherwise. CHAPTER IV. AMONG THE POCKETVILLIANS, It was not only the children of David Daring- ton who bad warned him against his business partners from the start. Every one in Denver seemed suspicious of them, Adventurers they certainly were, Nobody knew where they had resided for any length of time. They themselves asserted that they had led roaming lives in the mountain mines; and, as they were well acquainted with mining mat- ters generally, this was not doubted, The real character of the Blacks was black, indeed, In reality they had been mountain bandits in New Mexico. But this was some time ago. Nearly all of tbeir band had been disposed of by Judge Lynch, and the hopeful pair had been obliged to seek ‘green fields and pastures new.” These they fixed upon in more civilized regions, with a view of committing robberies in another way, They had begun by selecting Darington as their aokive: and they had, as will be shown, a well-formed plot to ruin him. The mine at Pocketville, ‘“ Mush-Hand,” was indeed almost worthless; and the firm that claimed to own two-thirds of the same was a bogus one. The prospect, also, of a profitable investment for the credulous vic- tim’s hundred thousand dollars was even more a delusion and a snare Yet Darington was enchanted, Everything was carried out precisely as the Blacks coun- seled, and William Black and David Darington made the trip on hor seback. Arriving in Pocketville, it was not long before the ‘* crookedness ” of Black and bis two agents, Brooks and Saunders, was made apparent to the citizens of that burg. The former was recog- nized by one whom he had robbed, and left for dead, in his ** road-agent ” days, This man was DOW a recluse, living near the old mine, and known among the “‘citz” as ‘Mountain Misery.” His one pard was a rene- gade Indian, Ugalala, also known as *‘ Red-E ~ and through him the hermit was enabl work out his vengeance upon his old foe, The plot of Bill Black to throw his partner down the shaft of the old niine failed, That fate was reserved for bis tools, the os- tensible owners of the ‘ Flush-Hand,” Black fled, when he saw that his real char- acter was known, but was captured by Ufalala, and brought back to the burg, which he had so recently entered in company with his intended victim, and with all the airs of a man of wealth and consequence, The excitement in Pocketville, which centered known as the
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Pp Xx in the principal hostelry of the town, and which went by the suggestive appellation of * Red-Eye Roost,” was at its height—David Darington being also missing from the burg—when Dash, arriving from Denver on his mission, galloped up to the hotel. The chief actor there was a young giant, hail- ing from Chico, and calling himself Cache Carl, who was now lording it in high style, ina ‘‘ jam- boree.” Cache Carl was a recent arrival, and was universally known to be ‘square and white,” Dashiell Darington told his story, and all started with him on the search, It was not long before the now thoroughly terrified dupe of Bill Black was found, where he lay concealed, the poor man not knowing what fate might yet await him, and brought back to the town. The “ citz” had only waited for this, before executing their unanimous sen- tence upon Black. The villain had short shrift, Mountain Misery, one of his earliest victims, was the willing executioner. An examination of the papers found in the office of the Flush-Hand Mine revealed the en- tire plot. Besides this, William Black had been recognized by more than one, at the last, as an ex-bandit chief, ‘* No crookeder piece o’ double distilled cussed- ness this side o’ New Mex’,” said Cache Carl, “than what yer hes jist strung up, pards. I knowed ther cuss, but ’twar by another handle, though fer thet matter be hed slathers o’ them, I reckon Black, ther one picked up last, fitted ther posy es well es ther next, an’ war a good one ter go off by. ‘* Ef thar’s any one on top o’ dust an’ kickin’, what kiu come anywar nigh this yere fresh- choked cuss in crookedness, hit’s a brother what he owned somewhar, an’ not far off neither, | don’t reckon, When yer kills a rattler, hit’s mate air bound ter be somewhar near. **T come cl’ar from Chico in s’arch o’ ther or’nary kiotes, an’ I'll keep it up till I finds Vother.” It was decided accordingly, that Cache Carl, with Mountain Misery, should accompany the Daringtons to Denver, and secure John Black; the father and brotber being not a little anxious in regard to Della’s safety. And well they might, when we reflect that she had been left, almost unprotected, in the near vicinity of the twin brother of Bill Black! CHAPTER V. AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE, Wen David Darington and Bill Black alighted from their horses opposite Red-Eye Roost, on their arrival in Pocketville, the latter recognized the hostler as one of his former out-~ law band, named Dick Dirk. This cognomen he had gained from carrying in his belt, instead of the usual bowie, a Jony and sharp-pointed Spanish dirk, Black had been greatly surprised and at first alarmed, at this meeting; but he had both bribed and threatened Dick, and had then en- tered the hotel without the mutual recognition having been observed by any one, Afterward, this worthy had been induced to take the horses of the two travelers from the @table to a thicket, when the pair had set out Secretly for the old mine. But the fright of Dick Dirk was great when he saw, later on, the bringing in of Black, and then of Darington, from the mountain. And, when he saw his old leader hanged by the miners, he fled in terror to the rocks, and up the side of the range; for he feared that the mob would believe him to have been in league with Black, on account of his having gotten out the horses secretly, not even saying anything of it to Crystal Charley, the bartender. Dick knew the crowd would either hang him on the spot, or else thrash him half to death, and then order him to “git” from the burg. Consequently he ‘ got,” before the miners had returned from the hanging. _ Up aniid the rocks he secreted himself, listen- ing to the sounds of the carouse that had fol- lowed the ‘‘ Lynch picnic,” and trembling lest search might be made for him. Thus he re- mained until the town became quiet. He then decided that, as all were undoubtedly asleep, he would skirmish around on a tour of inspection. He was almost dying for a drink of whisky, but he knew it would endanger his life to enter the hotel. No sooner had Dick reached the base of the range, by stealthy movements, than an unac- countable desire seized him to gaze once more on the form and face of his old bandit leader, Cache Carl, the Chico Gia nt. Bill Black. A horrible fascinafion seemed to take possession of him when once he had passed beyond the stable, and he could not look in any direction except toward the point where he knew the corpse of his former captain was hanging from a gigantic mesquite. When concealed among the rocks, and just previous to starting from the same, he had heard, or fancied he heard, sounds in the direc- tion of the gallows tree. This fact impressed him with feelings of superstitious horror, for his nerves were by this time decidedly shaky, and he could account for these sounds but in one way, He half believed that Satan had come, and carried Bill Black bodily away! He had often heard that this was a way his sooty Majesty had in such special cases, At all events, he made up his mind that he must know if Black’s body was still there. Should he find it gone, Dick Dirk resolved that henceforth he would not be tempted, on any consideration, to become mixed up in any ‘‘ crooked ” business, No longer did he pay any attention to what might be behind him, He seemed to forget that he was in danger of meeting the same fate with which Black had been overwhelmed, All his interest and attention were fixed ahead, in horrible anticipation; every sense be- ing strained to catch the slightest sound, and to detect the slightest object that belonged not to nature. As he approached the motte, east of which was the ambulance, and south the corpse still hanging, with Don Diablo and John Black on the ground beneath it, the “blood seemed to congeal in horror in the veins of Dick Dirk. He knew that his sense of hearing had not de- ceived him this time. Whose the corpse might be, he knew not and cared not; but he felt sure that the body of Bill Black lay on the ground near him. What was best for him to do? Should he seek to restore his old captain, and convey him toa place of hiding, it was prob- able that the latter would either blame him for the treatment he had received, or force him to aid in his vengeance upon the men of Pocket- ville, Dick was greatly demoralized in mind and nerve. He resolved to creep around the east side of the motte, and stealthily reconnoiter. But bare- ly had he turned the end of the group of mes- quites, when to his fresh horror, a huge black mass seemed to project from the motte, the char- acter of which was a mystery. This was the ambulance, He heard a groan proceeding from it. While he stood gazing with distended eyes at the dark object so near him, Dick beheld, stag- gering around it, and coming toward him, what he fully believed to be Bill Black him- self, This was more than his shattered nerves could stand. With a loud cry, he fell on his face be- fore John Black, the twin brother of the man who was hanging dead so near them. John had revived, and staggered toward the wagon, having heard a groan from one of the females. At that very moment, the Mexican, who had also recovered and detected the approach of a stranger, sprung upon Dick with uplifted knife; but before it could descend, John Black clutched the Greaser’s arm, and said hoarsely: ‘* Hold, Don Diablo! I know that face, I be- lieve he came to cut poor Bill down,and thought me his ghost!” ‘* Santissima Maria !” exclaimed the Mexican. **T¢ is Dick Dirk!” ‘*So it is, and I am glad of it! We need help now, if ever. The hell-hounds who hang- ed my brother shall pay dearly for this night’s work!” Don Diablo poured some water upon the head of Dick, and soon saw him revive. When John Black had regained bis senses, the first thing he beheld was the slowly swaying corpse of his brother. He knew then that all was lost. Dash Dare and his father still lived, and the youth bad brought Bill to the gallows! Bill had been the leading spirit of the two, and the surviving brotber could but swear an impotent oath of vengeance. For revenge upon the Daringtons he would henceforth live. John saw that Don Diablo had vanished, but he believed the Greaser to be searching for the borses. This, he knew, was useless. They must now basten into the recesses of the range and secrete themselves, or they would be discovered and lynched at once. John Black felt that he held a terrible venge- ance in his hands. He had now in his power the sole daughter of the house and heart of the Daringtons. When Dick Dirk recovered consciousness he at once agreed to guide them to a retreat safe from discovery. His own terror was little less than theirs, Had he known of the resemblance of the her- mit, Mountain Misery, to Bill Black, he would have thought John to be the former, when he first saw him staggering around the ambulance; but as he had not remained long enough in Pocketville to witness the last exciting scenes of the previous evening, he had never seen the mountain recluse. Florette Forbes was soon awake and in her right mind, and the trio quickly explained mat- ters to her, as far as was necessary. Jobn Black had forbidden the others to mention to the girl that her father had been hanged, or to allow her to see the body banging to the mesquite. The first words spoken by Florette expressed the greatest apprehension, ‘Tn Heaven’s name, what has happened? Un- cle John, where are you?” All was dark, at this time, in the ambu- lance. The men stood beside the conveyance, having torn open the canvas cover, ‘‘T am here, Florette,” said her uncle; “ but make no noise whatever, for we are but a short distance from Pocketville, and discovery means death to me. ‘*We have met with an accident, and must abandon the ambulance, The horses have rum away. Gather up all the necessary wearing ap- parel that you can carry without inconvenience, and give this man a load. ‘‘ He is a friend of mine, and of your father, from down the range.” John Black indicated Dick Dirk as he spoke, ** But I do not understand—” Thus began Florette. ‘“‘There isno time for further explanations, If we linger we are lost. You can accompany Dick, Don Diablo will carry our captive. You must have given her an overdose, for she is still under the influence of the opiate.” Florette was thoroughly frightened. She threw blankets and clothing into the arms of the Mexican, who was not a little puzzled and bewildered. Black had told.Dick nothing of the fact that the captive maiden was the daughter of David Darington; and he soon found an opportanity, of cautioning his niece and Don Diablo against, betraying the relationship,.for he was not with- out fear, under the circumstances, that his old oe: might yet desert them. he Greaser wrapped a blanket around the insensible form of poor Della, and followed Dick and Florette; the former leading the party northward, and in such a manner as to prevent. the daughter from discovering the corpse of her father dangling from the tree, Securing as much food as it was possible for him to carry, John Black hastened after Dick Dirk, who was leading them by a circuitous route to the trail up along the ledge; having in death of Bill’s tools, Saunders and Brooks, a8 & hiding-place, He reasoned that this would be about the last place in which the men of Pocketville would think of searching for them, The recky shelf would not betray their pass- age across it. Plenty of ‘‘sign” of their pres- ence had been left near the motte of mesquites; but, should Darington and big son start on their return to Denver before the discovery of the am- bulance, there was no one in the town who could possibly know to whom it belonged, It would be a mystery to Pocketville—a mys tery deep and puzzling. This was what Dick thought, and his explang tion of it to John Black and the Mexican ¥ lieved them greatly. The ex-bandit knew all the chambers passages of the old mine, and he led the fr tives to one of the former, in which a co was at once made ready, composed of blankets they had brought, and the still un scious Della Darington laid thereon. Bidding Florette remain with their cap her uncle, after Dick Dirk had arranged : torches to light up the cave-chamber, bade, Diablo and Dick follow him. f coral John Black had resolved torisk his hy need be, in securing the body of his brother, We will merely state here, that, with the , of his confederates, John brought Bill’s corp toa branching passage of the mine, and there placed it tem cone Before daylight, the three men had also suc- mind the old shaft, near the scene of the WagiC qe “ = .t ifs» rf ceeded in conveying the camp-chest, and the /—
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y | | | baggage of the two maidens, to the cave. Then, preatly fatigued, they partook of a cold lunch; and the men lay down to sleep, Florette keeping guard. Dick Dirk slept but a short time, however. _ » /He then arose, went to the end of the shaft, and ; | ; there, secreted on the shelf, watched keenly the scene below, and gazed suspiciously down the shelf toward the town. CHAPTER VI, THE DISCOVERY, BRIGHT and early on the morning that fol- lowed the events related, four horsemen left the town, and rode leisurely up the stage-trail. Tne party consisted of the Daringtons, father and son, Cache Carl, and Bentley Bowen, alias ** Mountain Misery.” The last mentioned was really, as had been stated, almost exactly alike in form and feature to the Blacks, having escaped being hanged for Bill Black, the previous evening, only by the timely arrival of Ugalala the Ute, bringing with him the real criminal. David Darington had not yet recovered from the terror and excitement of the night. He was pale and wild-eyed, and plainly, great anxiety was preying upon his mind; and this was to be detected, al 30, in the face of his son, Dash Dare. This was in regard to the safety of Della, It was possible that a presentiment of the true state of affairs ruled their minds, At any rate, they had good reason to distrust John Black, whom they had left in Denver, His perfidious character had been made plain enough to them. What would have been their state of mind, had they known that their darling had, but a few hours previous, been taken over that same road, drugged to insensibility; and that, in the same state, she still lay in a gloomy cave- chamber, up the range? What would have been the emotions of Dash Dare, as he gazed up tothat rocky shelf from the foot-hills, and explained to the others, how he had seen bis father, the Indian and Mountain Misery, whom he har supposed to be Bill Black, and also the bodies of Brooks and Saunders as they lay upon the rocky projection—what would have been his feelings, bad he known that er were now gazing upon the black spot which marked the entrance to the old shaft within which Della was held a captive by the brother of the very miscreant whom they had hunted to ‘death? And this dread truth was soon to be made known to them, 5 It seemed impossible for John Black to have accomplished any villainy during their short absence. He could not know of the defeat and death which had overtaken his brother. He certainly bad been firm in the belief that Bill would work the plot successfully If the departure of Dashiell Darington be- came known to John, which was doubtful, the latter would not dream that the youth had gone to Pocketville. There would not seem to have been any occasion for his going. Jobn Black would consider it impossible for Dash to become aware of the intentions of “sill; he therefore, would suspect nothing, and would not think of plotting against the peace and safety of Della Darington. Thus both the father and son had argued; and yet, for all that, they were greatly worried, although neither of then: betrayed his appre- hensions to the other. They had refused to accompany Cache Carl to the mesquite, to ascertain if the corpse of Bill Black bad been molested, They had no desire to look again upon the revolting spectacle. =As all were in haste, both Cache Carl and Yountain Misery bad kept on north, up by the Me of the range, with the Daringtons, In this May they had made a great mistake, for other- “ise they would have discovered the ambulance, and would have known the sad truth earlier, Bat we will now speak of Cache Carl; last, but not least—at any rate, in stature. He was a young man of gigantic form, and seemingly strong in proportion, He had blue eyes and long wavy hair, the fatter somewhat sunburnt, as was also his jolly face, He was the kind of man that dogs run to at first sight, upon whom babes smile, and to whom they hold out their hands. All other men i:new him, at sight, to be noble- hearted, and as honest as the day was long. His face was boyish, and beaming with fun and good will to all; but, quick as a flash of light, its expression could change, and he would become a very lion in wrath, filled with venge- Fe . st RS pia ag Cache Carl, the Chico Giant. ful fury at the wrongs inflicted upon the in- nocent and helpless by bad men, He was especially noted for hunting down criminals, and was the dreaded enemy of the ‘* crooked.” All this was for the good of society, and to promote justice; not with any expecta- tion of reward. Such was the Chico giant. All had drawn rein at the very point where Dash Dare had seen the terrible tab- leau the previous night, on his way to Pocket- ville from Denver. David Darington shuddered, as he gazed up the perpendicular side of the gulch wall, down which he had so miraculously escaped being hurled. ‘* His war a tip-top night fur Col’rado an’ fur yeou, too, Mister Darin’ton,” burst out Cache Carl; ‘‘ fur yeou escaped bein’ rubbed out, got yer money O. K., an’ we~’uns strung up a limb ther crookedest cuss ever tramped ther dirt o’ this hyer territory! ‘*He warn’t fittin’ fur ter breathe God’s pure atmospear, he warn’t! His heart, ef he hed any bleed-mersheen, war es black es ther name he wore last. He war called ther ‘ Devil o’ ther Divide,’ down range, a few years back; an’ ef ther devil ain’t got a clutch onter him now, then I don’t see the use o’ keepin’ a devil nohow, “T say, Mount’iu Mis’ry, whar’d Mister Dar- in’ton be now, ef it bedn’t been fur yeou an’ thet white red-skin?’ Why, smashed all up on yun- der rocks; fur nobuddy would ha’ knowed whar ye’d skuted to, an’ Black would ha’ levanted down ther range wi’ ther boodle.” ‘You forget that I was in the programme,” said Mountain Misery. ‘‘ Had it not been for Ugalala, [, too, would bea mangled corpse on yon projection,” ‘““CGome ter recomember ther hull sarcum- stance, thet would ha’ been ther case,” agreed Yar], ‘* When one comes ter take all ther cus- sedness 0’ thet Bill Black inter consideration, he warn’t human. He war wuss nor a blood- suckin', scalp-clawin’ ’Pache, fur they war brung up ter it an’ never hed no civerlizin’. I jist feel like I cu’d flop my wings an’ crow, when I think we gut ther best o’ ther black skunk! ‘““We'd orter planted bim, pards. His car- kiss’1]_ p’ison ther air, cl’ar up an’ down ther range!” As if suddenly recalling their haste, and ex- periencing anew the anxiety they bad cast aside for a moment, Dash Dare and his father had re- turned toward the stage trail, Dick Dirk had stolen out to the shelf, from the old mine, as Las been mentioned, for the very purpose of ascertaining if Darington and his son—he having heard Dash spoken of, had indeed known of his arrival at Pocketville— would return that morning to Denver, He had waited long and, observing no one, had returned into the shaft, where he remained for some time, It so happened that our four friends turned from the stage road to view the scene of the last night’s tragedy at the very time that Dick was within the mine; the latter not returning to his post of observation until the quartette of horse- men had ridden back to the road and passed up the same a considerable distance, Had the ex-outlaw remained he would have been dumfounded, if not filled with the most superstitious terror, He would, perhaps, have believed that all four were ghosts, for Mountain Misery, to his vision, would have been Bill Black and no other. We shall see, later on, whether the absence of Dick Dirk from his lookout was to be favorable to our friends or their enemies. After reaching the stage-road the four eques- trians galloped toward Denver; the father and son riding side by side in the fead, Cache Carl and Beutley Bowen, alias ‘* Mountain Misery,” brought up the rear, there being some distance between the two couples. The pair who rode behind kept up a running conversation, the principal subject being the oc- currences of the night, and the connection of Mountain Misery with Bill Black in years past, when the latter had robbed him of his all, and + agp shot him, leaving bim for dead near Santa e, Something like three miles had they traveled since leaving Pocketville, when suddenly Dash Dare halted and leaned over in his saddle, his eyes fixed intently on the road. He was silent for amoment; ther he cried out in apparent anguish: **Oh, this is too much! Oh, Della, Della! why did I leave you unprotected?” ‘Wor God’s sake, what is the matter with ou, Dashiell?” implored his father, spurring up eside him, “This night has been too much for you, my 5 ‘boy, and. you had a terrible gallop of it yester- day. Dash turned his face, pale as that of the dead, toward his father. There was a pitying expres- siop mingled with his evident agony. Then he sprung to the ground, throwing the reins to his parent, and sunk upon his hands and knees in the dust of the road. Cache Carl and Bentley ,Bowen spurred up rapidly, not knowing what to think of the youth’s singular actions, ‘*Lord love yer, leetle pard! What hev struck yer?” Thus exclaimed the giant mountaineer, His companion gazed first at Dash and then at Darington in great perplexity. The youth noticed them not, He arose quickly and ran a few paces up the road, sinking again to the earth, and scanning it closely. “ He’s found ‘sign’ thet sorter makes him wilt,” asserted Carl; ‘‘ but what in thunder kin be up now?’ They were not left long in suspense, however, for young Darington, with a shrill yell of ven- geance, bounded back beside his horse, and into his saddle, whirling his steed about and facing toward Pocketville, One more pitying look he gave at his father, The young man’s face was stamped with anguish unspeakable, Then he cried out; ‘* Back to Pocketville, pards! John Black is not in Denver. He has stolen my sister and car- ried her down the range! Follow me, to rescue and revenge!” Had not Mountain 'Misery spurred up beside David Darington at that moment, the poor man would have fallen from his horse, at the terrible assertion of his son. 5 ‘* How does yer know this?’ demanded Cache Jarl, ‘*T know the trail of our ambulance!” yelled Dash, frantically. ‘On to revenge and rescue!” Dash Dare drove deep his spurs, bis horse fly- ing like an arrow from the bow, down the road; the youth bent over in his saddle, his keen eyes seeking the stamp on the road of the mark he had, snavidentiatie, in an idle moment, cut on a tire of the wagon. Dash, in bis dread anxiety for Della, his con- science upbraiding bim for leaving her in Den- ver, had forgotten his poor father; but Moun- tain Misery Jed the horse of the old man, en- couraging him by well chosen words, But David Darington scarcely heard him, He was almost stunned when the dread import of the discovery made by his son was fully re- alized, Cache Carl galloped headlong after Dash Dare, all speeding back to Pocketville, the town from which they had set out less than an hour before, : ss Seetibtnkdat at ~~ CHAPTER VII, TURNING BACK FOR GOOD LUCK, Tr was a very easy matter to follow the trail of the ‘ambulance, as the dew that fell on the evening previous had dampened the dust, caus- ing the wheels to leave a well-defined impression ; and, as our friends had kept in.a horse trail that led alongside of the road, that of the ambulance bad not been marred in the least. Before passing half*'the distance between the point at which Dash had made his startling dis- covery and the town, strong evidence was not wanting to prove that the young man had been correct as far as regarded the ambulance of his father having passed over the stage-road to Pocketville, or possibly further down the range, during the night, ‘ This proof was detected by Cache Carl, and it was neither more nor less than the pair of noble black horses, which were observed among the scattering mesquites to the east of the road, The animals had recovered from their fright, and were now cropping the mesquite beans from such limbs as they could reach; their heads be- ing checked up preventing them from grazing. * Look yunder, leetle pard!” cried Cache Carl. “What d’yer make o’ thet pa’r o’ nags in har- ness? I reckon we'd better ’vestergate.” Without a word, although the giant moun- taineer saw the youth start and clutch his hand around the butt of his rovolver, Dash Darington turved bis horse toward the pair of blacks point- ed out by Car‘. Both reached the mesquites at nearly the same time, the steeds saluting each other. A single glance proved to the riders that the horses before them had been driven terribly during the past night, for their coats were coy- ANA
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6 ered with dry foam; and the harness was also in a filthy condition, from the dust and perspira- tion. The wagon-pole, or about two-thirds of the same, still remained fast to the harness, and had cut and bruised the animals in their mad run since their fright, * Thank God!” burst from Dash Dare; a deep feeling of relief being strongly manifested. **'What’s up wi’ yer, Dash? What d’yer mean? Does yer know ther nags? An’ ef so, why air yer glad to find ’erm in thet fix? ‘Hit ’pears es though somebuddy got burted when they smashed things an’ stompeded.” “Cache Carl,” said’ the young man, ‘‘ those are our horses, I knew | was right all the time, but there is proof positiye that will» convince father and allof you, Don’t you see why Iam rejoiced? ** Those animals were hitched to my father’s ambulance. John Black stole the outfit to carry away my sister, and, as the horses wrecked the vehicle, of course the villain cannot continue on down the range, You see, then, we have a short trail before us. ** We'll rescue Della-—I swear it!—and hang ee by the side of his demon brother ili! At that instant, David Darington and Bentley Bowen reached the scene, and the former recog- nized his horses. Up to this time he had hoped that Dash had been mistaken, He was now bewildered. It had not seemed to him possible that John Black could have abducted Della,» For that matter, there were as yét no proofs that such was the case. It was only suspicion, though well founded, Black would not have stolen, the team and ambulance, except for the purpose of carrying Miss Darington away. From the fact that the “outfit” had been stolen from the stables at the mansion, if would seem that the scoundrel had gone in and taken complete possession. It was very certain that me one else could have taken the horse and vehi- e. There was little doubt in the minds of the father and brother that their Joved one had been abducted. Yet they still strove to think other- wise, The horses were quickly stripped of their har- ness by the young mountaineer, and allowed free range; the harness being hung upon a tree, David Darington and his son could not. keep their eyes off them. Had those steeds borne their darling from her home? And, if so, had she been injured when the animals had wrecked the vehicle, and ran away? Then, what could it have been that had oc- casioned their fright? They were not easily startled. Such were the thoughts that simultaneously agitated the minds of Dashiell Darington and his father. ‘Mountain Misery, otherwise Bentley Bowen, had listened to every word that was spoken, but ke said nothing. He had Jeft his hermit life behind him, and new hopes and fresh im- pulses were now ruling him, But a few hours of this changed life bad.beled, and the con- trast caused him to think he must have been insane while living alone in caves, or in his hut in the mountain range above Pocketville, But little time was spent with the horses, All felt that every moment was precious. Cache Car! glanced pityingly at the old man and his son, as he sprung into his saddle, It was, indeed, a case to create sympathy in the breast of any true man; and both Carl and Bowen were infuriated to a terrible extent -against John Black, who, it seemed, must be equally as depraved a miscreant as bis brothers, But was poor Della Darington now in that wretch’s power? This remained to be proved. Dash Dare had changed from mad action to apathetic silence. At last, the young Chico giant called out to him: “Take up ther trail, boyee! Thar’s no time fer ter throw away. We'll git some more sign” afore soon, Ef yer sis hev bin tuck by Join Black, we'll skin ther cuss alive! ‘Git fer ther road, an’ ther trail! Ole man” —tbis to the elder Darington—‘‘don’t go fer soa igre sevens Linge or ata _ biz lrag. race up, an’ kee erself ready fer ter claw John Black!” su * Before Carl bad ceased speaking, all, had re- turned to the road, when Dash, at a gallop, took _ up the trail, ‘On they rode in silence, with determination ti and resolve plainly imprinted upon their set Cache Carl, the Chico Giant. features. Nearly to the town they galloped, be- fore the trail of the ambulance left the road, and upon the grass showed less ‘‘ sign,” although it was still easily followed. When all at length realized that the team had been headed directly toward the spot where Bill Black had been hanged, they were completely nonplused, for it really seemed asif John Black had gotten word of the fate of his brother, But a second thought proved this to be impossible, Still, it was passing strange that one brother should be thus led, by mere chance, directly to the corpse of the other. The wrecking of the wagon had been providential, if Della had been in reality wit it. This they all decided; and they began feel that the fates were favoring the unfortunate maiden. Then, upon the minds of all, except David Darington, as they drew near to the fatal mes- quite, flashed an explanation of the fright of the horses and the wreck of the ambulance, It had been the suspended corpse of Bill Black swaving. in the breeze. This indicated, if not proved, that the occu- pants of the vehicle, although it had been guided directly to the scene of the execution, could have known nothing of it previously. Indeed, it was absurd to suppose that they could have done so, This being the case, the occupants of the con- veyance must have been even more appalled and startled than the horses, Great would be John Black’s desire for re- venge now. So our four friends concluded. ‘Thar hit be!” exclaimed Cache Carl, ‘ Hit war a short trail, an’ ’m powerful glad of it. By Dash, pull up, an’ Pll gin’ a yell fer Uga- ala, ‘‘ What do you want of the Indian now?” in- quired the young man, ** What ther red can’t nose out in ther way 0’ sign, ain’t wo’th knowin’. Le’s all glide off, slide ter dirt an’ tie our critters,” Agreeably to the giant’s proposition, all dis- mounted, leaving their horses at some distance from the motte of mesquites. They did not wish to ride near the scene—thus, perhaps, gesbrogheg “sign” that would be of great service. They had halted at the northeast of the motte, and could see plainly the front of Red-Eye Roost; and, at the very moment they glanced toward the town, Ugalala, the Ute strode out from the door of the just-mentioned hostelry. The Indian. flashed one sweeping glance around. The sun had arisen, but so late had the citi- zens been up the past night, and so fatiguing had been their exertions in searching for Bill Black and his intended victim, Darington, to say nothing of deep potations which had in- duced somnolency, that all had slept much later than was usual with them. i As the Ute appeared, the watchers noticed that he had an entirely new rig; his buckskin breeches, red shirt, and even his hat—which last was furnished with fresh feathers—having been resented to him by his white pard, Mountain isery, previous to the departure of the latter with his friends for Denver. A revolver and bowie were in his belt—pre- sents from .David ‘Darington—and a fine pair of high-topped boots from Dash, The valuable services rendered by Ugalala in securing Bill Black had been duly recognized. Altogether Red-Eye, as reconstructed, pre- sented quite a respectable appearance in com- parison with what had been his for many moons past; that is, of a ragged and besotted bummer. Not the least remarkable, however, was the plainly evidenced fact that he was now sober, clear-headed, and clear-eyed. “Dang my duds!” exclaimed Quche Carl; “‘ fer ther Lord’s sake, look et thet red! Ill bet my butes he hain’t b’isted a drap o’ p’ison this hyer mornin’.” The Chico giant then cleared his throat, and shot out a far-reaching and terrific war-whoop, that echoed and re-echoed afar up the range, through chasm and cleft, gorge and cavern. Instantly a horde of miners rushed out of Red- Eve Roost, and from shanties here and there, while Ugalala strode directly toward the spot where stood the quartette of returned travelers, _ Proudly the red chief marched up to the grou in which were Mountain Misery and Cache Carl, whom he so mucli respected, With the exception of a joyous Jight in his eyes, the Indian’s stoical face betrayed no sur- prise or emotion, although he must have been not a little astonished. ‘“* How, how, how-dy?” he said, extending his —_—— glad see. Heap glad white hands. ‘“ Ugalala brothers come back The young mountaineer pointed to the desert- ed ambulance ‘‘Dang ef yer doesn’t seem ter sleep sound — hyer, Ugalala! Lord love yer, we’uns struck a ar a) hot trail, an’ thar’s ther eend on it, ‘“‘Thar’s more hellishness scattered ’roun? — Pocketville than yer hes come up with till yit, an’ we-’uns needs another lasso, Bill Black air 9 lonesome, an’ his brother hev come ter keep him company. ‘*Savey, Ugalala? ‘‘Jist put yer peepers ter work et extra biz, an’ study out ther ‘sign’ over thar with a few fleetin’ periuds.” The indian said not a word. i He was evidently alarmed at finding thatan 6% ambulance had been so near, and that some dark doings had apparently been going on with- out his having been aware of it. The miners, as soon as their surprise had sub- — sided, rushed out en masse to ascertain what had brought the four horsemen back so soon to the urg. By a single sweeping gesture Carl directed their gaze to the spot where the horses were tied, at the same time calling out: ‘“ Wait a bit, boyees, ontil ther red an’ yer most ’bedient finds out what’s up yunder! I tell yer, pards o’ Pocketville, thar’s more fun ahead, er I’m ther boss liar o’ Col’rado, an’ don’t yer fergit it!” ar The citizens bad paused while the Chico giant _ was speaking, re | would have given a wild cheer, but the expression upon the faces of the other three men betrayed to them that some- thing important and most serious, if not tragic, had occurred—something out of the common, 4 indeed, to thus have caused their return, ; Then they crowded around the trio, every- ‘ thing being explained by Dash Dare, while ~ Cache Carl and Ugalala searched in and about the ambulance, j a Y CHAPTER VIII, te THE UTE ON TH. TRAIL, THE men of the mines were astounded at the intelligence in regard to the brother of the man they had hanged. : Tt seemed so strange and mysterious, that ® | Jobn Black, who had been left in Denver, should have arrived so soon after the tragic end of bis) brother, and bring with him the ambulanceand horses of that brother’s intended victim. Espe- cially amazing was it, for the reason thatit had = been clearly impossible for John to haveheard from Bill, of But Mountain Misery suggested that John Black had no doubt arranged with Bill pre- viously to meet him, after David Darington had been robbed and murdered, and that he was to bring with him Darington’s daughter. This seemed very reasonable, and Dash Dare bimself — thought that probably there had been such an | agreement, MEG Ae Some remarked that there was no proof that — Miss Darington had been in the vebicle, nor But these, judged cor- John Black either, for that matter. were soon satisfied that Dash had rectly in the matter. wR LE A signal from Carl to the youth, now caused © him to hasten to the ambulance. Wes 1 F He had been on thorns, so to speak, since |. reaching the scene of the wreck; but he had known that his friends would progress better without him, as both were experienced trailers, — ) | At once Dash hastened to the sideof CacheCarl, = and the Indian joined them. ae SS “* Keep sort 0’ shady fer a minute, Dash,” di- rected Carl. ‘‘ Yer war kerrect es ’gards ther cuss, John Black, fer ther corpus 0’ Bill hey bin tuck away! es ‘Hit won’t do ter tell ther boyees jist They'll be rearin’ tearin’ mad, an’ ki much rumpus, Gaze yunder, Ther rope war — cut clean off. Jobn Black ain’t by hisself, nei- — ther. =, “Waal, Ugalala, what does ther sign tell yer?” ; re The Indian had been busy, gliding here and there around the vebicle and the'scene of the ex- ecution, as well as examining the interior of 1 ambulsues. ! payee Dash Dare was very pale, and his Pi ‘ i were drawn with an agony Which cause iG r great grief to witness, , The young man bad been confident that had been abducted, that Jolin Black bad, f in charge of the stolen ambulance; but, each , proof of the truth of his worst apprehensions in- | creased his agony of mind. — mat 2) i" “ Look!” said the Ute, pointing down b the ambulance, ‘*Got heavy box. Make
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Cache Carl, the Chico Giant. in dirt when take out wagon. Ugalala see heap ‘sign.’ Somany men here”—extending three fingers. ‘“‘So many white squaws”—two fin- 1's. ‘ Blest ef yer ain’t es keen es a bowie-blade, Ugalala,” said Carl. ‘‘ How in ther dickens dyer find out so much ina flicker o’ minutes? hat d’yer think, Dash?” The face of young Darington expressed the ) | greatest astonishment. He had not the slightest idea who the 'other two men could be, or who the second female ! was. There could be no doubt that one of them was Della. ; Had he entertained but the slightest hope to the contrary, it would now have been dissipated, ce coloring. which Dash knew to be his sister’s, and also a gold breast-pin which had become de- tached with it. ‘White squaw in*wagon,” asserted the sayv- | age. ‘* When horses jump quick, get head hurt. ' Blood in wagon, see!’ Dash set his teeth hard at these words. Har- rowing pictures passed in panoramic array be- fore his mind’s eye; his sister being the central figure in the imagined views. He felt that he must be up aud doing, or his brain would burst. The mental worry, through which the youth had already gone, had unfitted him for this new and unexpected mind torture in regard to the | sister he so idolized. 4 ‘Great Goliah! I can’t stand tbis byer biz no longer,” burst out Cache Carl. ‘‘ Now, Dash, don’t yer gofer to worrit, or yer’ll tangle my head-gear. Ill tear ther hull range open ter find yer leetle sister. I will, so help me Bob! ‘het cuss, Jobn Black, ain’t a-goin’ ter win his game, no more’n Bill did his’n. But I shall bu’st plum open ef we~’uns don’t drap onter ther trail purty soon. Whar d’yer s’pose they glided . to, Ugalala?” ‘* Hide in rocks. No have much time go far, We find. Then Jobn Black get bang too.” ‘* Bet yer hull systematics ther cuss’ll dangle, an’ thet high up, too, Ef we kin find ther corpus, we'll tie’em together, an’ gin’ John a slow trip over ther range, *Le’s circle ther bull biz. Tl start hyer, goin’ ’roun’ ther motte, an’ yeou creep ‘long this side. Dash kin take a peep inter ther wagon. Yer mought diskiver somethin’, boyee.” The crowd of miners kept their places, carefully watching the giant scout and his Ute pard, as, on hands and. knees, they scrutinized every inch of ground around the abandoned am- bulance. Suddenly the Indian sprung erect, with a yell of exultation, and, extending arm and finger, inted toward the range, at a location above | he town, saying: : ‘‘ Trail lead that way. Ugalala he find.” - ) bed ye Se ee ee He then ran swiftly past the crowd of men, and directly toward the base of the range; but, before reaching the bordering bushes, he stopped and examined the ground again. Soon he ap- red to have regained the trail, for he passed on to the verge of the mingled trees, shrubbery and vines that grew amid the stones and big bowlders. ~x,,. a stood there a moment, and then plunged jiito. the thicket. Ere long, however, he reap- red, circling his arm above his head, and with a small piece of bright-colored cloth in his a and. ai ‘ Dash Dave had watched the chief with a fixed gaze, knowing how much depended upon him. Carl -had arisen, as soon as his red pard yelled, and stood with his arms folded, he also follow- ing Ugalala with his eyes. Indeed, the gaze of the crowd was riveted upon the red trailer. ‘When the latter appeared, as has been stated, Pash bounded toward him, as did also Carl. The Ute passed the shred of cloth to young Dar- ngton, saying: a ; a Find pi ih, Wiite squaw wear. Mebbe Dash Dare sister.” : a Great heavens!” exclaimed the young man; “the villain bas got Florette also! At least r Della is not alone in her dread extremity.” “Then yer knows ther caliker?” interrogated the giant. “ Yos, this isa piece of the dress worn by my sister’s maid, We're on the trail now. Noth- ing can keep me from my vengeance: f Hold on, Dash! Don’t be too speedy, Ther - poyees hev waited with patience, an’ they must know ther hull biz.” Carl then turned toward the crowd, and > led out: zs eat Saris 0’ Pocketville! We-’uns salerwated \ Bill Black Jast night, fer tryin’ ter wipe out an’ \rob Mister Darin’ton, who war brunged hyer by for the Indian produced a gay ribbon of curious | ther cuss a-purpose, Saunders an’ Brooks bein’ in cahoots wi’ Black. ‘*Now, I tells yer, Bill’s brother John _ stoled ther nags an’ amberlance o’ Mister Darin’ton, et Denver, an’ stole his darter an’ her waitin’ gal; fotchin’’em fer ter meet Bill, I reckon, They comed up ter whar Bill’s corpus war a-hangin’, an’ tha’r critters took skeer, snapped ther Poe, an’ stompeded, makin’ bit onpossible fer John Black ter go on down range. ‘* Pards, thar’s two young an’ innercent gals up’mong ther rocks somewhar, John Black havin’ captervated ’em. Now, what we~uns hes gut ter do air ter snake ther cuss bald-headed, an’ save ther caliker. ‘“We hes bin insulted. John Black hes throwed mud in our faces, Look et thet mes- quite. Ther cuss hey tuck the corpus o’ his | brother ’way from ther men o’ ther mines,” Cache Car] tore off a chew of tobacco from a plug, which he jerked viciously from his pouch. A loud yell burst from the mob, No greater insult could have been put upon them, as a community, than to cut down a criminal whom they bad dispatched, Vengeful whoops and fierce ejaculations shot from their lips, At that moment the Indian gave a signal and pointed up the stage trail. All turned quickly and bcheld a horseman approaching at break- neck speed; the animal being flecked with foam, wild-eyed, and evidently uncontrollable, The rider was hatless and his head was tald, All were amazed. David Darington, broken in spirit, and over- whelmed with the avalanche of misery that bad come upon him, had seated himself at the foot of a tree, the very picture of hopeless despair, But the loud whoop of the Indian attracted him, and looking up, he beheld the horseman, At first, the sight of the new-comer seemed to render Darington powerless to speak or move, but as the horse drew nearer, and the old man’s eyes rested upon the animal, he staggered to his feet, ‘*Stop him!” he cried. ‘‘ Stop that horse! That’s my r brother, Dudley. Dash, where are you? Here’s your uncle! Oh, what is to come upon us next?” But, Dash Dare had also recognized his sim- ple-minded relative, and was also dumfounded; for he knew Dudley bad never before bestrode a horse in his life, nor ever traveled a mile alone. ‘*Spread out, pards, an’ stop ther critter! Thet cuss hed orter be kep’inacage, Jist look, boyees—jist look! Hyer he comes, on a light- nin’ stampede, Ho’s bringin’ his own telegraph from Denver, ’bout ther Black biz. Ho’ll bu’st we-uns all up!” And a most singular spectacle Dudley Dar- ington presented, sure enough; for he clutched the saddle-horn with one hand and a mass of the borse’s mane with the other; the bridle reins flying tree, as were the stirrups. Poor Dudley’s eyes were protruding, his cheeks were hollow, and as pale as death. He was the very personi- fication of abject terror, and the horse seemed nearly as much frightened as bis rider, Straight toward the crowd, which now formed asemicircle, the animal dashed; and all be- lieved that, did they stop him, the man would be hurled over his neck. “Sing ther mounting sockdolager, pards!” yelled Carl; * Pll cotch him on ther fly!” And sing the men of the mines did; but, such a song! Whoops, yells, shrieks and screams came from every throat; while all leaped up and down, and a shower of hats was shied at the head of the terrified horse, Up in air the animal bounded, and then land- ed firm on braced hoofs, stationary, but trem- bling in every nerve, Dudley Darington was skot through the air, like a projectile from a catapult; but Carl, with the most correct calculation, placed him- self at such a distance directly in front of the horse, as deftly to catch Dudley, when he knew the great momentum of the man would be lessened sufficiently for him to stand the shock. Deftly the giant caught him, erying out, as he did so— ‘* How-dy, Mister Darin’ton? We're all glad ye’re come. Hyer ye air, direck from Denver, on ther Shoo-fly buzz! Ten fleetin’ periuds fer *freshmints, an’ yer needs ’em, an’ needs’em bad, ‘* Keep cool, er yer ha’r’ll never grow ag’in, Dang my duds, ef ther ’Paches hain’t gin’ him ther keenest scalpin’ I ever see’d !” The cheers of the crowd prevented the greater art of Carl’s greeting to the stranger from eing heard; and it was just as well, for the giant would not have cared to have Dash or his father hear him, 7 CHAPTER IX. A BAD SPECTACLE, JOHN BLACK had not the remotest idea when he cautioned Dick Dirk and Don Diablo against betraying the fact to Florette that -her father had met an ignominions deatu, that the girl had observed their whispering, or had caught a word uttered by them, But Florette was very keen-witted. She was naturally watchful and suspicious of all with whom she became associated. And when, on such an expedition as this upon which she had, with such little preparation, been forced, she was bent upon knowing everything that trans- pired, however trivial, Besides, she knew that ber uncle, John Black, had not the executive ability necessary for desperate enterprises, that he had always been guided, and indeed. governed, by ber father. Therefore it was that she feared disaster, and it came sooner than expected, in the wrecking of the ambulance, which was something for which she could not account. It seemed very strange to Florette that two men could not con- trola pair of horses; and she could not under- stand how, or why, the team had been allowed to escape. The hasty explanation of her uncle—a fabrica- tion of his—did not satisfy her. She bad, for some time, been rendered sense- less by the shock, as she was hurled against the camp chest with considerable force, and she knew nothing of the fright which John and Don Diablo bad experienced. That some mystery was connected with the accident, she was positive. When she regained her senses a strange man was present, and Florette had a strong suspicion that he was in some way connected with the wrecking of the ambulance. Yet it seemed ab- surd that her uncle could be friendly with this Dick Dirk, had such been the case, The girl had understood, from what was said, that Dick belonged in Pocketville; yet, when she questioned him in regard to her father and Dash Dare, he had asserted that he knew noth- ing of either of them, His speech and manner, however, convinced her that the man was tryiug to deceive her, When Florette Forbes, in her sly manner, had watched, and listened, and cast furtive glances at the three men, previous to their departure from the ambulance, she detected her uncle, when he spoke to the others in regard to their bemg careful not to speak of the tragic end of his brother. She caught the words—‘ Florette must not know it.” But Florette determined that she would know So lamella it was that they were keeping from er. She feared that her father bad been defeated in his scheme to secure the money of David Darington. She had no idea of any plot of his beyond that. She had not dreamed that Bill Black intended to murder his partner, Her father, she now imagined, must have been forced to flee from Pocketville, or otherwise John would have found some means of commu- nicating with him. Florette could get no satisfaction from any of the men as to what Was going on in the town, although she was confident they must know if anything unusual had happened. She was greatly worried, also, when she thought of Dash Dare, Well she knew that, did the young man dis- cover her relationship to William Black, and that she had been a party to the abduction of his sister, he would hate and abhor her. In this state of mind was Florette Forbes in the cave-chamber, where she had been left in charge of Della Darington, while the men re- turned to the ambulance for more of such articles as were necessary for their comfert, By this time she had become extremely anxious about Della, who remained in a semi-comatose condition as at the first. In a little time, however, she merged from this lethargic state into a natural sleep, Florette had always hated the rich and petted girl, for being her superior in education and social station. Besides this, she knew that the beauty of Della Darington was of a more refined type than her own, She was painfully conscious that her blood was tainted with a Mexican mixture, and that her father, although a pure-blooded Cau- casian, was not only swarthy and coarse in fea- ture, but was a murderous outlaw, and was now living under an assumed name, Indeed, Florette herself had so many sur- names that she knew not which of them belonged by right to her. mee
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It was very gloomy, tiresome and lonely in that rock-bound apartment, with a sleeping cap- tive; and Florette resolved that she would in- 7 Se the underground retreat in the vicinity of the cave, if no further. To make sure of finding Della there when she returned, she bound the poor girl’s wrists and ankles with a silken sash, which she cut in two for that purpose. Before, however, she had made up her mind to this, John Black and his two men had returned with the trunk and camp- chest from the ambulance, and she could not un- derstand why they had again gone from the Trauge in the same direction. Taking a torch, ber former suspicions being brought to mind; she determined to crouch in one of the passages, and listen to the men when they again returned. In the darkness she could reach the cave-chamber without being observed by them, Florette first made herself familiar with the winding passage from the cave to the main shaft of the old mine, leaving a torch midway. Then, behind an abrupt bend in the passage she crouched, awaiting developments. Ere long she heard the trio coming along the outer shelf, They entered the shaft, which was perfectly dark, and Florette knew by their tread that two 2s oe were carrying a heavy burden of some kind, What could it be? There had been nothing left in the ambulance of any weight, or indeed that was worth bring- ing to the cave. Vhat were Don Diablo and Dick Dirk bear- ing between them, and why did they endeavor to move noiselessly and speak in such suppressed whispers? They did not enter the passage that led to the cave-chamber, but turned into another to the right of .it, and there John Black ignited a pine torch, and all passed cautiously along the pas- sage, Florette rushed to the entrance and peered intoand along it. She caught a flitting view of two men carrying a burden, but as one walked behind the other, she could not for the life of her, tell what it was. Fearing that Dick and the Mexican would at ‘once return and discover her, the young girl ‘hastened back to the cave in which she had left Della. She unbound the wrists and ankles of the captive, and then, seating herself on the couch, awaited the appearance of the men, But she had resolved that on the first oppor- tunity she would again repair to that passage, and ascertain what it was that had been so stealthily deposited there. Florette felt a strange and unaccountable fas- cination drawing her toward that gloomy natu- ral corridor, down which the three men had so slowly marched, and her blood chilled, while a feeling akin to horror took possession of her as she thought of the mysterious burden. Yet she could not account for this feeling, and had not the slightest idea what the character of the thing thus conveyed could be, Soon John Black, Don Diablo, and Dick Dirk entered the cave, and at once threw themselves upon blankets, with a lunch in their hands. is they ate quickly, and then seemed to drop into a deep sleep. . Florette had sunk prostrate and feigned slum- ber when they came in, thinking some words might be spoken by them which would throw light on the oe hpi § or inform her as to what fad taken place in Pocketville, But not a syl- Jable was spoken. : This impressed the girl greatly, and increased her suspicions that something was wrong—that something of great importance to herself had occurred, of which they knew, but were with- holding it, for some reason, from her, She soon became aware that Dick Dirk was restless, and evidently far from being asleep. She, therefore, feared to begin expan ng the | passage. But,in a little time, Dick arose and passed out of the cave-chamber. Quickly and silently Florette followed, guided by his torch, But she was disappointed, He did not turn into the passage she so much wished to inspect; but, as he pomet it, he shud- dered, and quickened his gait. This she could not help noticing, He advanced to the entrance of the shaft, threw down his torch, and went out into the open air, All was darkness where Florette now found herself; only one brigbt spot ahead revealing the locality of the mouth of the shaft. The girl was in a perilous position! She felt uncertain about regaining the cham- Cache Carl, the Chico Gi sa - “ ant. orn nn NE, SURE HS ber in the darkness, but she nevertheless made | all was wild, and strange, and terrible, around the attempt and succeeded, She then knew that she could find her way back again. She knew, too, that her opportunity had arrived, Dick Dirk had placed himself on guard, through anxiety for their safety. Of this she felt confident. Procuring a number of matches and a pine- knot, Florette retraced ber steps, soon reaching again the point from which she had so recently turned back. She could see the gray glow which showed the entrance to the shaft, and she knew very nearly where the passage was located which she so wished to inspect. Feeling along the wall, she soon reached it, and entered; but she feared to light the torch until she had gone some dis- tance, lest Dick should detect it, Slowly she proceeded, her delicate hands being bruised, as she nervously felt her way aiong. Wishing to make sure that Dick Dirk would not know of her presence, she continued on in the darkness, Suddenly her foot struck agasnst some object which lay in the passage, and which was more yielding than the rock, Florette felt confident that she had found the burden that Don Diablo and Dick had brought into the shaft, She stooped, and groped with her hands, and felt clothing! But, there was something within that cloth- ing—something that was cold to the touch, and hard, and rigid! The young girl was, for a time, almost para- lyzed with dread. Sbe could not so much as breathe, as her warm hand came in contact with the clammy face of a buman being! She knew it was a corpse. There she knelt by it in the darkness, ‘With trembling fingers she at last struck a match against the rock; turning her back upon the dread thing for which she had been in search. Her face was ashen, and her eyes were filled with a strange and unnatural light. The maiden ignited the torch, and then, with great difficulty, gained her feet, still trembling. She waited until the flame burned brightly, and while thus waiting, a perfect picture of mingled terror and resolve was presented. It was a great display of nerve. eat she turned about in her tracks, o human being would ever wish to look up- on sucha sight, It was one that once seen, would never, until death, be forgotten, There, outstretched before her, touching the very feet of Florette Forbes, was the face of her strangled father, hideous in death! It was a sight too revolting and horrible for even a stranger to look upon. What, then, must it have been to a young girl, and she the daughter of the dead? Alone, with a flickering torch, in that subter- ranean passage, far from the light of day and God’s fresh air—-there stood the wretched Flor- ette, looking down upon that fearful thing! She s as if transformed to stone, rigid, and to all appearance hfeless; not a breath pass- ing her colorless lips, and with her eyes fixed in an awful stare upon the sightless ones of her sire! The wonder was that she ever breathed again, that another pulsation ever stirred her breast, But her agony had not ended. At length, with asbriek that tore through the brain of every one in that lonely cave, and of Dick Dirk standing upon the rocky shelf— paralyzing all with the most unaccountable hor- ror—Florette Forbes fell forward upon the cold corpse of the man who gave her being, as de- devoid of sense as the dead! The torch went out. All was dark as the grave. Appallingly that awful shriek echoed and re: echoed through the passages, caverns, and shafts, like the wail of lost souls in Hades! CHAPTER X. CONSTERNATION IN CAMP, As that fearful sound smote upon their ears, John Black and the Mexican sprung to their feet, from a deep sleep, ’ What could it mean? Of one thing they felt certain, The cry had come from some one in mortal terror. Della Darington also, for the first time since she had fallen asleep in her Denver home, opened her eyes. To describe the poor girl’s terror would be impossible. m her aceful home she had been trans- ees ported into the very bowels of the earth: and ' not caught his words, és ee and above her! She knew by her feelings, and by the scent of the drug upou her clothing, that she had been given u powerful opiate, 3 By whom, was a mystery; and for what pur- poses, as well. But when the maiden saw and recognized John Black, she then knew that the author of the out- rage was before her, Della shuddered from head to foot, The abductor must, she felt, have been assisted by some person whom she had trusted, This, was evident. But now, where was she? And what would be the end of all this? Where were her father und Dash? What would be their feelings, when they re- turned to Denver, and found her gone? But, would they ever return? It seemed tothe poor girl but too probabl that Bill Black had been successful, and that ajl this had been planned before bis departure. Where was she now? Near Pocketville it was more than likely, for Jobn Black would seek to meet Bill at that point, The two men were evidently terror-stricken at the wild cry that had aroused her, At length, however, they perceived that their captive had been awakened, ‘John, at once, spoke: “Tie her fast,” he said to Don Diablo; ‘‘ and you, Della Darington, make no outcry, or Vl strangle you on the spot!” The terrified maiden closed her eyes, while the Greaser, in obedience to orders, bound her, and then cast her rudely back upon the couch of blankets, There was no time to waste. “Santa Maria!” exclaimed the Mexican; ‘Senorita Floritaisnot here. She it must have been that gave the shriek. John Black stared at the speaker, in open- mouthed horror and alarm. He did not know positively, but he had strong suspicious as to who it was, and what had occa- sioned it. Florette must have discovered her father’s corpse. This Jechn decided at once; although he had not deemed it possible for her to find it, or even that she could find her way to the entrance to the shaft. Just then Dick Dirk made his appearance, He stood for an instant, as if trying to speak, but no sound escaped his lips, ‘¢Get a torch, and be quick about. it!” ordered Black, ‘' The girl has found her dead father— — I’m positive of it! ‘Where have you been, Dick? I swear I did not miss Florette, or you either!” ‘‘ ve been on watch at the shelf,” he an- swered; ‘and I never heard such a cry in all my life. I’m all ina cold perspiration now.” ** Lead on!” ordered John, impatiently, ‘* It is simply awful that she sbould have found the body, if she has. She’s a sly one, and must have observed us bringing itinto the shaft. But I know, she could never have imagined what it was. ‘Poor Bill! But we'll avenge him.” Don Diablo followed his employer and Bick Dirk, and the hopeful trio soon reached the horrid scene, Their theory, they found to be the correct one, There lay, Florette, upon her father’s corpse! ““T never want to see such a sight again,” said John, Dick; ‘‘it knocks me blind! ‘¢T reckon you'd better have told her, in the first place, It couldn’t have been kept from her very long anyway. She knew Bill too well to believe he’d stay hid from her. was alive, she’d expect to see him,” ‘* Tt would bave been better, Dick. now. But it is too late for regrets. lew. she'd kick up a big rumpus, and perhaps be the means in that way of betraying us into ' hands of those devils in Pocketville. ‘* We’re in a tight box here as it is. up, Dick, and take her back to the cave. Then — return here. We must move poor Bill once more. Florette must not be allowed to see him again, ; | Dick obeyed, Don Diablo lighting his way to the cave-chamber, a Poor Della was by this time wide awake, an She now believed that Florette bad been ab- it was with joy that she recognized her mai ducted like herself, had attempted to escape, and had given that fearful scream on being recap- tured. . Bh eteedy When John Black had spoken of his niece to f Don Diablo, it was in a low _ and Della ha i a x eal ve ni ey _ ithe at I see that i ba} 1 the Lifther |
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: ‘| Dick and the Greaser again withdrew. They rejoined their leader, and the body of ’ | Bill k was removed to a narrower and more ht winding passage. The three then returned to he chamber. ) Florette remained unconscious, and John was - giad of it. 2 5 He drew his two confederates aside, out of the -} hearing of Della Darington, for consultation. | Then he spoke; >] ‘£*Pards, we are now like so many rats in a hole, and the men at the foot of the range would hang us all if they corraled us. If they dis- -} covered us, they would smoke us out were it not ‘} for the girls. “ *TJpon them depend our lives if we remain, and I don’t propose to run and leave—not by a large majority. —} _ *There’s big money in that Darington girl. | {fher father and brother could be wiped out— and both of them are in Pocketville now, I reckon—I could run a racket that would rake in a pile for us, ‘Poor Bill got beat in his game, about it, Dick! _} since we met.” ‘i Dick Dirk related all that he knew in connec- tion with the death of Black’s unprincipled agents, the arrival of Dash Dare in the burg, the hunt that followed, and the subsequent | hanging of Bill, John Black was furious. i How the citizens had obtained their informa- sy tion concerning his brother’s plot was a mys- tery. John could not understand how it had Ee happened that Saunders and Brooks lost their ' lives, and the ex-bandit knew nothing of the Tell me all We have kad no time for talk - part that had been taken in the affair by Moun- |) tain Misery and Ugalala, the Ute. | ~ Well, let the past go,” said Black at lengtk. ‘| “We go in now for safety, and later for re- venge and money. _ |. “Now that Florette knows her father is dead, ' | Wil play a game, leaving Dash Dare out as a | money-making project. We'll have that young | cuss’s life! B __ * Blorette, the little fool, isin love with him, ~~ Ym positive; but I'll make her believe he was _ the direct means of having her father hanged. | Which, indeed, he was; for, had he remained $ _ in Denver everything would have gone on O. K. - \ “Young Darington knows nothing of the rl’s relationship to Bill and me; and she can ‘decoy him here, on the pretense of taking him to his sister, representing to him that she and Della have been abducted by me. Then we'll have him foul. ; ‘‘ Perhaps we can corral the old man also in the same way. If so, we'll wipe both out. So much by way of revenge. \ Then down range we'll go, and torture this -Darington girl until she signs an order on her bankers in our favor, or in some such way at all events we'll pot her money into our hands, 71] work all that when this biz is over, and - done wi F ea ag /Dick, do you think they can find us ¥] And do you reckon that old cuss and his ye gone back to Denver?” Lwouldn’t hang out here long, John, if I jought they would find us. You can just bet Tat, old man! hey’d make short work of yours ie if ey - they | would, Yes, they’d hang me right there, with- | Retion None of that in mine, if you please, nabbed me—you’d better believe t ] ig ‘or Joseph! AT Sane “Astothe old man and Dash, my opinion is yl go back home right off. It stands to ason, you see, after finding poor Bill out that y wouldn’t consider the gal safe in Denver, ywhere else where you were—don’t you fi. But everything depends on whether they "| find that mpalance or not, before they start. & _ If they do, of course theyll know at once that | you took the team; and they'll suspect you have et the i oy, ece of calico along too, even if we left no ign” last night. ; ‘There is a cute Indian in the town, a boss er, and he'll work things fine for them. He | mayrun in on us here, but I'll keep a watch, and drop him sure, y “Tt’s an easy place to defend—that’s one n our favor—but we can’t take to the | with the calico.” ai‘an seize that red-skin!” said Black, “You'll have to watch closely, Dick, n't miss putting lead in his brain if he m Diablo can keep guard when you want some inside, It won’t do to run any risks, 7 the racket I mentioned, on Florette. A G onl a Cache Carl, a —— —_— - ~ 2 ~ ; " tw ; , _ ys! Dick Dirk went back to his post, but while absent he had lost the chance of seeing a man very closely resembling the Black brothers in appearance, e saw, however, the four borsemen when they halted, examined the road, and then, turn- ing, galloped back to Pocketville fe knew, from the gigantic size of one, that he must be Cache Car], and he was pretty con- fident that the youth with the party was Dash Dare, It was evident, also, that they had dis- covered the trail of the ambulance, Dick signaled Don Diablo, and informed the Mexican of what he bad seen. They then entered the old mine, to report to Jobn Black. 2 CHAPTER, XI, UNCLE DUDLEY’S DISTRESS. Bots David Darington and his son reached the side of Cache Carl a minute after the giant had caught the strangely-arrived brother of the first-mentioned man in his arms, when the sim- ple and terrified Dudley Darington had been hurled over the head of his gigantic steed. Had not Dudley been a very diminutive speci- men of humanity, the Chico giant, strong and muscular though he was, would not have been able to preserve his equilibrium, As it was, he received quite a shock. This last feat of the poor man appeared to be the “last feather,” for he lay in Carl’s arms, limp and lifeless, The powerful young man held him as a mother would her child, regarding him with a pitying look. “Don’t fret, pards,”.he said to the brother and nephew as they rushed up, their faces expressing their alarm and anxiety. Don’t worrit yourselves, He’s only sorter wilted, but he'll fotch roun’ O. K,, presently, Thar ain’t a bone broke, nor a ha’r turned criss-cross. But he an’ that critter would ha’ gone plum through ther range, ef we-’uns hedn’t bin hyer!” ‘‘Tn the name of all that’s wonderful!” ex- claimed Dash Dare, ‘‘how did Uncle Dudley happen this way? He was never known even to mount a horse before.” ‘*Hecame to inform us about poor Della,” said David Darington, sadly. ‘Poor fellow! how he must have suffered! Surely he cannot be dead?” The miners had gathered around the Daring- tons, and Carl reassured the relatives of poor Dudley, and gave one of his characteristic lec- tures on patience. Dash felt the words deeply, and knew that they were not out of place, He extended his hand, saying: ‘Don’t think, Carl, that we are not thankful for all you and these gentlemen have done for us? We can never express our thanks, But, remember we have been called upon to suffer one terrible wrong and anxiety after another, The last, the tearing of my sister from her home by the miscreant, John Black, has nearly pros- trated my father, and to see my uncle in this state, adds to our wretchedness.” ‘““T don’t wonder, boyee,” returned Carl; ‘““ve’ve hed a heap fer ter buck agin’ 0’ late, But, all this gab we’uns air gittin’ off, won’t resky yer leetle sis, Pards 0’ Pocketville, we'll soon start another man-hunt, an’ we'll fotich down our game, an’ then hang it up fer ter dry, ef we has ter t’ar ther hull range open! ‘“No sich hellyun es Bill Black’s brother shell brag thet he beat the men o’ Pocketville, an’ tuck a leetle gal right past ther burg—not much! Somebody fotch some bug-juice!” A loud yell from the crowd told how eager they were to search for John Black, The Indian and Mountain Misery had mys- teriously disappeared, but all were confident that they were searching for the trail beyond the trees, up the side of the range, Whisky was now brought from Red-Eye Roost, and poured over the head and into the mouth of Dudley Darington. The old man soon opened his eyes, but there was a strange expres- sion in them, He appeared almost like an in- sane person, When he caught sight of his brother and Dash, however, there seemed to be a more natural appearance, and he began to speak, but in a hoarse and disjointed manner: ‘Della —John Black — ambulance — gone— came—tell David—” There was nothing more that had any sense in it, although the poor old man raved almost continually, and wrung bis hands. ‘* Poor fellow! Poor Dudley!” said his brother, ‘He almost worshiped Della, and never seemed happy except when in her presence. Do you think he will regain his menta] balance, Dash?” omen “T certainly hope he will, father. But, you had best remain here, and attend to him, ou cannot be any assistance in the search; just the opposite, indeed, for you will binder us, I must at once find Ugalala and Mountain Mis- er ‘Pid if Ye’re givin’ him solid boss sense, Dash,” agreed Carl, ‘‘T’ll tote yer uncle ter Red-Eye Roost, and then I’m ready ter go gunnin’ arter John Black. But I won’t shoot ter kill, an’ cheat ther rope, an’ ther boyees outen the’r fun, So saying Carl bore the old man to the hotel, and: uP to « chamber that Crystal Charley allotted for his use. David Darington remained to care for his unfortunate brother, for he real- ized that he was in no fit condition, either mentally or physically, to roani the range in quest of his lost daughter and her cowardly ab- ductor, After placing Dudley upon a couch, Carl rushed down-stairs, calling owt: “Four fingers fer ter brace me, Charley! Igut only a flicker o’ sleep last night, but I reckon I kin stand ther riffle.” ‘*T wish I could go with you,” said the bar- keeper. ‘‘ You ant the boys are having all the fun, It’s dull for me, though,” ‘Don’t fret, Charles,” returned the giant. ‘* When we-uns freeze onter John Black, we’ll fotch him right hyer, an’ hev, a jubilee with him. We won’t string him up suddint like—not much! We'll tie ther rope ’round his neck, an’ stake him ter ther post yunder, “Won't we just make him git down on his marrerbones, an’ beg us fer ter hang him up, outen his misery? Wa/’al, I shu’d strangle ef we don’t!” “You'll have to catch your fish before you fry it, Carl,” said Charley, laughing. ** An’ thet’s jist what I’m goin’ fer ter do right now,” was the reply, as be bounded to the door; yelling to the crowd of miners, who, for once in their lives, had neglected topatronize the bar of Red-Eye Roost: “Oh, ya-as! Oh, ya-as! All ther hull caboodle o’ ye! Come in lively, an’ errigate yer in- *ards, Then we'll scatter, an climb fer John Black.” A loud cheer for Cache Carl resounded, and a grand rush was made into the hostelry. All drank af the giant’s expense, and some provided themselves with bottles. Then, out they poured into the street headed by Carl, and proceeded at once to the point where the Indian had found the shred that had been torn, by the thorns, from Florette’s dress. Carl gave asignal for the Indian, but there was no response, ‘*T take it, ther red air nosin’ up ’mong ther rocks wi’ Mounting Misery,” he suggested ; ‘‘ an’, ards, I motions we divides iter squads, ome of us mought happen ter strike some- thin’ thet’ll talk plain regardin’ thet skunk, er ther caliker, which’ll ’mount ter ther same thing. “Ef my ueey. does, why let fly a sbot from shooter. ber leetle party air holed, we knows, dead sure; fer they couldn’t proceed fur wi’ ther gals, Yer kin jist gamble onter that.” All agreed, and the giant organized parties of half a dozen each, sending them out in different directions. This done, he himself started from the last place at which Ugalala bad found trace of those of whom he was in search; and as there was no trail on the rocky path above the trees and bushes, he studied the lay of the land, cal- culating in his mind which portion of the moun- tain route would be most likely to be taken by men so situated. If was plainly to be seen in the face of the huge mountaineer, that he was greatly puz- zled by the secret departure of Bentley Bowen and the Indian, He well knew, however, that they had acted thus for good and sufficient reasons; as, alone, they could moye silently, and with all their senses on the alert; which would be impossible if others were with them, He bad himself deserted the crowd for the same reason; but he hoped to discover Ugalala and “Mountain Misery, if together, or one of them if apart. The spur of the range, at the extreme point of which, where it terminated at the big gulch and where the winding shelf Jed past the old mine, was the hiding-place which Dick Dirk had selected for Black and the captives. It had every appearance of being a safe and secure one, - It was an extensive ridge of rock, jutting out from the main range, but in a quartering man- rer; the range running north and south, and the ridge, or spur, breaking from if in a north- easterly direction. It was nearly a mile from jason e the terminus of the ridge, above the big gulch. ‘9 7 + |
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= 10 Cache Carl made his way over the ridge, by easy passage, and not far from the junction of the same with the range, He knew that one of the men who, the Indian had asserted, was in company with Black, was familiar with the mountains in the vicinity of Pocketville, Had this not been the case, the party would have proceeded further down, or up range, before seeing a biding-place, That they had a guide was evident, and that they had passed up the range, so near to the town, would have been proof positive of this to Cache Carl, even without Ugalala’s assertion, Nor was he without strong suspicions, as to who the man who had guided John Black was; for, he knew that the hostler of Red-Eye Roost had skipped the tovru, with the one idea of self- reservation, And well he might, for there ad been abundant evidence that he had been aiding and abetting Bill Black, in the latter’s plot torob and murder David Darington. Consequently, Cache Carl was thoroughly satisfied in his own mind, that Dick Dirk was now with John Black, And, as Dick bad, at one time, been engaged in the mines, and had prospected the range, un- til getting ‘‘ flat broke” through his protracted spreeing, before taking the position of hostler in Pocketville, be must, of course, have known every hole in the mountains in that vicinity. Carl was not nearly so well posted, but he be- lieved that on the opposite side of the ridge there must be caverns; and, as a man stationed high- er up than the ridge, on the range, could com- mand a view of all who might approach, easily signaling toa sentinel at the place of hiding, he could not doubt that it was a very favorable lo- eality to search. He had purposely directed all of the miners further south, Then, with watchfu:ness and care, sweeping the heights and all the surroundings with keen gaze, to catch sight or sign of Ugalala or Moun- tain Misery, the young giant proceeded on his way. ut we must know what became of Ugalala and Mountain Misery, the two who were most likely of any to find sign or trace of those for whom they were searching; for, as both wera acquainted with the vicinity, and were at home in the mountains, but little could escape their scrutiny. ae: CHAPTER XII. LOVE TO HATRED TURNED. We will nowinform the reader of the true state of affairs in connection with the disappear- ance of Mountain Misery and the Ute chief, They had departed separately. Both, with the same object in their minds, had reasoned that they had a better chance of success in their search if they set out singly. Mountain Misery took the same route that Carl afterward decided upon, and when he reached the other side of the ridge, started up along the base of the same toward the = gulch and the old mine, although he had little hope of gaining intelligence of the missing maidens. Ugalala, however, had, since losing the trail, been pondering deeply, even when there was great excitement around him. He was satisfied that the missing hostler was with John Black, and he knew that one of the females had been carried in the arms of some one; for he detected where the man had seated himself to rest, the print of the girl’s fest being visible in the soft ground alongside. From this, the Indian was strengthened in his belief that the party had gone along the east side of the ridge; for he was certain that the man could not pass over it with the captive maiden in his arms, Knowing that one of the females had been injured in the ambulance, Ugalala came tc the conclusion that she was in- sensible, or the man would not be carrying her. He had not spoken of this to the others, for he had noticed how Dash Dare had been distressed when he discovered it; but, at once, he decided that the only way in which the party could pro- ceed was on the shelf that led to the old mine, incumbered as they were, Along this shelf, then, he stole, with all the stealthy caution of hisrace; examining the rocky way closely, to detect the slightest “ sign ” that might have been left by those whom he so wished to find. The Indian had felt great sympathy for David Darington, and had come to regard Dash Dare very highly, althongh knowing the yonth such a short time. He would have liked to have tor- tured John Black to death, after the manner of his people. ee me It may be seen, therefore, that the abductor had a terrible and merciless enemy on his trail, and that Della Darington had a friend who would risk his life to save her. But, as we know, Ugalala was incurring great danger, in returning to the old mine; ds Dick Dirk or Don Diablo, one or the other, would be watching for him. However, their eyes must be keen and watchful indeed, to catch a view of the red trailer before he knew of their presence, Thus it was, that Cache Carl, Mountain Mis- ery and Ugalala, were all pointed toward the old mine; for the former, upon finding no fayor- able covert or trace of John Black’s party be- tween the main range and the commencement of the ridge, made his way out, and was seen from a distance by Dash Dare, who hastened in the same direction, But, before following up our friends, who are thus approaching the disused shaft, which each, as he recalls the existence of it, believes to be the hiding-place of those for whom he is in search, we must detail what had occurred therein. We refer, now, to the plan proposed by John Black to Don Diablo and Dick Dirk, concerning the sending of Florette to lure David Darington, or his son, or both, to the old mine—the miscreant intending to take their lives, in revenge for the hanging of his brother. After the consultation of the trio, they re- turned to the couch, and carried Florette into an adjoining cavern, forming another couch for her, and at last succeeding in bringing her out of ber swoon, Ina dazed manner, she gazed wonder- ing at the three men before her; not, at first, re- calling the near past. John Black waited not for her to realize the truth, but spoke at once. ‘* Now, Florette,” be said, in an impressive voice, ‘‘do not make any fuss. We could not tell you the true state of affairs, lest in your anguish you might betray us. ‘* Weare in great danger. You know that those devils in Pocketville accomplished your father’s death?’ Then the maiden sprung to a sitting posture, clasping her hands tightly together. The fearful sight that had met her eyes in that narrow passage was reproduced vividly before her. She groaned aloud, and shuddered in every nerve. “There, Florette,” continued her uncle; ‘ [I know it was terrible, but we concealed the fact from you for your goo?, as well as for our own, Now be yourself, my girl! ** Brace up, and remember what we have to do. We have sworn that vengeance shall be ours, and you must aid us. **Who but Dash Dare is responsible for your father’s defeat and death? He found that ac- cursed letter, and reached here in time to have my poor brother dragged by a hooting crowd to a tree, and hanged like a dog! ‘Dash Dare and his father are in Pocketville now, and they do not know that you were even acquainted with Bill and me—much less that you are his daughter. They will believe you, when you tell them that you were abducted with Della, “*Do so, and you can lead them to her rescue, Then we will settle with them, Yes, we will avenge your father! Will you do this, Florette? If so, the game must be played at once; for those infernal miners may run in on us at any moment.” Florette Forbes gazed at her uncle, She seemed to have banished all grief, and an- guish, and horror. She appeared to have been instantly trans- formed from a grieving girl to an avenging tigress. In her fury, no trace was there of her witehing brunette beauty. She was almost hideous, Don Diablo and Dick Dirk actually shrunk away from the couch on, which she was seated, the former muttering his invariable ejacula- tion: ‘* Santa Maria!” Jobn Black saw that he had won the game. His eyes glared exultantly. As he ceased speaking, Florette sprung to her feet, and hissed: “Show me the trail—the rocky sheif by which we came here! It leads to Pocketville, and re- venge! Ill go! ‘711 weave a net around Dashiell Darington that will strangle him, as he did my poor father! Yes, we will be. avenged, Uncle John, even though they kill us afterward.” ‘*Good!” exclaimed Black. ‘‘ Now, Florette, you are yourself. Come! Everything depends upon quick movements. If we linger, revenge is lost, and we are lost. “Shall we get a wrap and hat for you?” : cs — . ra ’ oe re st a a S.C en rare a on act Cache Carl, the Chico Giant. | | | \ % ‘No, Ihave escaped without them, it will look better to be without. I could hardly be expected to make a toilet before escaping from such a gang. Ha! hal ha! I have not lost my wits entirely, you see,” . Wild and unnatural were the girl’s voice and manner, and the men stared at her as if in doubt as to her being competent to perform the task they bad laid out forher. But they had no thought of detaining her. Indeed they knew that to attempt to control her would be worse than useless, j The wonder was that the brain of the passion- ate creature had not been forever unbalanced by the shock she had experienced. With her mother’s race, it is but a step from burning love to burning hate; and the blood of her Mexican mother ruled Florette at that me ment, if not at all times. f Dick Dirk led the way to the entrance of t old mine, avd, without a word in reply to b hurried directions and caution, the girl procee ed along the shelf, which wound down the e& side of the ridge with a gradual descent. 1 This was after Dick had reported to Jo Black his glimpse of the four horsemen on th stage-road, and their hasty return to Pocket- ville. When the citizens were congregated at the east. end of the line of shanties, after the dis- covery of the ambulance, and also when Dud- ley Darington arrived in such headlong haste, Florette Forbes was secreted in the thicket, near where Ugalala had discovered a rag uf her dress. There she crouched until the Indian stole along the shelf trail toward the old mine, when she _Fovctten greatly enraged and concern- ed; following after the red-skin, as she feared he would discover their hiding-place, and be- bh the party to the men of the mines, ad she caught a sight of Mountain Misery, she would have rushed from her place of con- cealment, believing teyond a doubt that it was her father, But this was not to be, It has been mentioned that Dudley Daring- ton was placed upon a couch ina cbamber of Red-Eye Roost, and his brother David left.fo care for him. But the old man’s mind was filled with whirl of thoughts in connection with Della, whom he almost idolized; and, with insane cun- ning, he resolved to escape from David, and to” search for his darling. This was easy. to do, David Darington, now utterly prostrated, bad fallen asleep in his chair; and Dudley succeed= ed in getting out of the room, stealing unob- served from the hostelry, and gaining the thicket in which Florette had but a short time previous been hidden. The old man was bare-headed, Indeed, he had lost his hat between Denver and Pocket- ville, during his terrible ride. 5 His coat had also been removed, and, in this condition, he started out on his insane search far the niece he so loved. Thus he wandered up the shelf that led to the old mine, he being close behind Florette, and she following Ugalala. CHAPTER XIII. CONFUSION IN THE CAVERN, UGALALA was confident of reaching the clump of trees without detection, but he was obliged to proceed with caution, guarding against being seen by any one who might possibly have been stationed to guard against surprise or dis- covery. Between the trees and the entrance to the shaft was a clear space, which could not be passed without discovery from the thicket just opposite the arched entrance. To these trees the Indian made bis way, and, passing through them, gained a covert on the other side which commanded a view of the shelf, The thicket he now watched keenly, The first. object in human form that met his view was none other than Mountain Misery. He walked directly to the thicket, and, as he came near, Dick Dirk stepped out from it and | asked: ‘Where have you been, John?” It was plain that Dick had mistaken Bentley Bowen for John Black. th Ugalala was about to rush out and join his white brother, when he saw the latter fell the ex-bandit senseless with a blow from his revol- ver, He then heard a rustling sound close be hind him, and, to his further astonishment, be- held the latest arrival at Pocketville, the poor, crazed Dudley Darington, and tem times mone insane than ever! ‘9 The savage was perplexed. He shot one glance toward the mine, / | : | : np ?
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Cach There lay Diek Dirk, outstretched and still, but Mountain Misery was gone! '. For once in his life the Ute chief stood in his _ tracks, utterly at a loss what move to make. The crazed old man, who had been coming di- rectly toward him, now swerved aside and shot ‘out upon the shelf, following the same at a rapid run, bounding over the body of Dick and con- tinuing on around the point of the ridge, when he disappeared from view. / Just then, out from the shelf dashed a man whom Ugalala at first believed to be Mountain ~ Misery, but tbe next moment he felt it must be John Black. All was silent on the shelf. Jobn Black darted suspiciocs glances down the declivity and up toward the point of the ridge. He appeared bewildered. Then again was the Indian startled by low ! words in his rear, and, glancing back, he per- a4 ceived David Darington passing through the clump of trees, while a young girl, with piercing black eyes, and long, raven hair hanging in wild abandon, walked by his side. er hand was in his, and his face was beaming with great \..£ joy, as the maiden spoke to him in low and rapid tones. | avid had awakened and, missing his unfor- . tunate brother, had set out to look for him, . Florette was leading the confiding man to his ‘death, although he fondly believed she was con- ducting him to his daughter Della! Red-Eye knew not who this young girl was, but she seemed to be a friend of Darington. She must, he imagined, be one of the captured white squaws. How she had escaped, and why she was con- ducting the old man in that dangerous direc- 1 tion, was a mystery too deep for the red-man. But then, everything of late bad puzzled him. He now looked toward the place where Dick Dirk’s body had lain, and saw that it also had vanished. Turning around, he perceived that Darington and the maiden had disappeared in the old mine. Not strange was it that Ugalala was bewil- dered by the sudden and unaccountable changes which thus took place before bis eyes. He be- gan to think that he had been mistaken in sup- posing he was concerned in the rescue of the young squaws and the capture of John Black— that his occupation was gone. Black, before making himself invisible, had ’ removed the unconscious Dick Dirk; and while r= doing so, had caught a glimpse of his niece, in } company with David Darington. Florette had fulfilled her mission in part. Filled with fiendish exultation, John dashed into the mine. He knew that Florette would ‘lead Darington direct to the cave, where he had 'butafew minutes pvevious left Della, bound and gagged, and where Don Diablo lay, sleep- ing soundly. Phe villain had counted upon torturing both father and daughter to the very soul. He would . show his old partner what he had done, would profess to be penitent, and would ask to he per- ‘Initted to Jead a new life and an honorable one, ‘far away from Denver, .. Then, when he had seen Della and her father Aer together once more, he would tear her frohim, avd brutally bind and gag her; keep- ingon Diablo at hand, to prevent the father’s inference. He would then bear the maiden ‘ another cave-chamber and leave her there, wh? he gave his former partner the choice of / geval deaths by torture, his triumph, the wretch quite forgot the cious circumstances connected with his bh tg found Dick Dirk lying senseless at his “hem thought now suddenly returned to jurb him. 2 ; e hurried back to\the chamber, feeling his wiy 2s he went, he cave had been lighted up by wax can- dies, brought in in the camp chest from Den- ver; Black having prepared for a possible halt, ata cavern down therange. In a few moments he was by the couch, on which he had left poor Della Darington, fast bound. >) She was no longer there! ohn. gave a sweeping glance on every side The Mexican lay in the same position, breathing heavily, and evidently in a deep * f ni knew that Don Diablo bad not been awake, ‘and therefore could know know nothing of the disa arance of the captive. ‘He felt confident that she could not make her escape. She must be somewhere near at hand, Art, in what way had she liberated herself? ee ghoor thong the couch, There were neither 1 anv | | ~ ghnor thongs upon it! as very strange. Black was furious. He knew there was no time to search for e Carl, the Chico Giant. li he sought, and he paused, But his patience was not long taxed, for soon Black passed out, al- Della, as, each instant, he expected the entrance ; though the recluse, on account of the darkness, of Florette and her victim. The next minute, the girl appeared. She spoke in a guarded tone, “Come! We have reached the place. Darington, where are you?” No answer came, The girl gazed behind her in a troubled man- ner. At length she spoke again: ‘* Pass me a torch!’ With a murmured curse, John complied. Florette darted back into the passage, and ran even to the entrance of the mine, her uncle fol- lowing. She had held David Darington’s hand, but a few paces from the cave-chamber, when he had stumbled; but the way being then clear ahead, she‘had kept on. He had disappeared, most suddenly and mys- teriously. Florette could not understand it. “ Ten thousand furies! What does this mean, Florette?” Black cried out, running up beside her. ‘*Where is Darington? I saw him with you,.on the shelf below here.” “Yes, you saw him, and [ held his hand, and led him to within a few paces of the chamber, but he has vanished. Come! We must find him.” *Plorette,” was the reply, ‘‘ there apg'others in these passages besides our party T° letp Della but a few minutes ago, and a too ha disappeared, She could not have got away tin- assisted.” . Florette Forbes was speechless, in her amaze- ment. They returned to the subterranean apart- ment, and John aroused Don Diablo from his slumbers, By this time the girl had become a perfect fury. She cried out: “They are, both of them, near at hand! They must be. I secured them both for you, and if three men cannot guard a weak girl, they had better go to herding sheep. I’ve lost one, but you can easily find him. I go now for the other. Ill have Dash Dare here before night, I have sworn to avenge the death of my poor father, Let the men of Pocketville be- ware! ‘*Wher I’m through with the Daringtons, Pll attend to them! All who were concerned in causing the death of William Black shall dearly rue it. I swear it, by all that I love, or expect to love, while life lasts!” Before John Black could utter a word in re- monstrance—for he felt that they had all, and more than they could do, to guard their own lives, Florette had glided away in the dark passage, toward the entrance to the shaft, Down the shelf she again went, her eyes blaz- ing, and causing Ugalala to be more surprised and bewildered than ever. W hat had she done with Darington? Why bad she not brought him and his daugh- ter out from the mine, as he had believed was her intent, and where was she now going? Such were the questionings that flashed through the mind of the Ute chief, It was little wonder that he was forced to think he had put his foot into a bag of mystery, and into which he was sinking, even to the depth of uselessness, as far as assisting in the capture of John Black was concerned, et, the Indian did not think it advisable to enter the mine alone, as he believed he would be shot like a dog, as soon as he appeared at the entrance. He, therefore, decided to wait patiently for at least one more act in the drama—one more startling transformation, or change of scene and character, The red-man would, no doubt, had he known anything of theatricals, have decided that there were a few who were playing many parts, and too many utility people. CHAPTER XIV. MOUNTAIN MISERY TO THE FRONT, THE suspicion, which had been Bentley Bowen’s from the first, namely, that John Black’s party were secreted in the old mine, had become cer- tainty, and he resolved to take advantage of his resemblance to the Blacks, to overcome the sen- tinel, and thus gain admittance to the passages, which were al! more or less familiar to him, He, therefore, walked boldly to the thicket, and was successful, as we have seen, in accom- plishing his purpose, He soon found himself in the dark labyrinth of passages, The sound of John Black’s footsteps warned Mountain Misery that he was near those whom Mr, knew not who it was. He knew, however, that an opportunity bad been left open for bim; so he glided instantly to the entrance of the cave, but without making any noise. Glancing within, he was rejoiced beyond measure upon seeing a maiden, lying upon a pile of blankets, in one corner of the chamber, He felt positive that Della Darington was before him. He was greatly relieved, also, to perceive that the only occupant of the apartment was a Mexi- can, and he was asleep. Mountain Misery wasted not a moment, but stole toward the couch. He had for the time being, lost sight of the fact of his strong resem- blance to John Black, and was consequently not prepared for the look of horror in the eyes of the young girl. She believed that it was her captor, and shud- dered when she saw the knife in his hand, Had she not been gagged, she would have screamed in her terror, as the glittering blade was thrust toward her, Deila closed her eyes, but soon she felt that the thongs which bound her were being severed. She was, then, to be spared, but for how long? It was probable that her abductor meant now to remove her tosome more secure portion of this subterranean labyrinth. Fortunate was it for them both, that Mountain Misery cut the cords first, and not the gag; indeed it was providential, for the other would have been th more natural thing to do, The increased pallor of the poor girl now gave Bentley Bowen an inkling of the true state of affairs. She thought him to be John Black, and she was now in terror of her life! He bent close to her ear, and whispered, in a kindly manner: “My poor girl, lam not John Black. Iam our friend, and the friend of your father and »xrother, who are now searching for you, I will set you free, and save you from that miscreant. Do not speak, when I remove the gag, or we are both lost !”- Della opened her eyes, filled with wonder, She was dumfounded, She still felt convinced that John Black was before her. She believed not a word that he had spoken, but felt that be only intended to re- move her beyond all chance of Florette’s finding her. She would have cried out when freed from the gag, had she not feared that he would, in that case, kill her at once. She therefore allowed him to conduct her from the cave, simply be- cause she could not help herself, Yet she felt, upon second thought, that it would be a relief to get away from the ing Greaser, whose presence had so terrified er, Thus was Della Darington taken from the yower of John Black, by one who had risked is life in so doing; and, all the while, the un- happy girl was mistaken as to his identity. Greatly grieved and burt in his feelings was Bentley Bowen; for he knew that, jp the maid- en’s eyes, he was her cowardly persecutor, But he could not, under the circumstances, think this strange or unnatural, ’ He could only hope that it would soon be in his power to prove to Della how much she had, in her imagination, wronged bim, Putting the cord and gag in_his pocket, and catching up a pair of blankets, Mountain Misery led the trembling girl along a passage still fur- ther into the bowels of the ridge. Finally he halted, and arranging the blankets in a secluded corner for her to recline upon, be said: ‘““T see, Miss Darington, that you still mis- take me, and that it is useless for me to ossure you to the contrary of what you are convinced of; but, I trust it will soon be in my power to prove thatI am not Jobn Black, or any one connected with that detestable wretch, ‘Only trust in me, and I will return you in safety to your father and brother, Black and his Mexican will be furicus, and will search for you, but you will be safe here, ak ‘* Will you please tell me where your maid is, who was taken away from your home with ou?” * she at Black,” said Della, pleadingly, ‘for God’s sake, leave me! Torture tne not with your words or presence! You are an excellent actor, but you cannot deceive me, Teke me to my father and brother, and I will forgive you everything.” Shaking his head sadly, Bentley Bowen stole away without another word,
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12 All was now silent and dark as a tomb around her, but the maiden felt relieved to be thus alone, though it was there in the very depths of the range, With all that she firmly resolved that she would not remain there. John Black should not find his victim when he returned, Della lingered not, but felt her way to the wall of the cave, and thence along the same, until she found the exit, through which sbe passed, and groped along the rough passages; stepping with caution, as she thus went on further and further from the entrance to the mine, It was, truly, a terrible situation for a tender maiden, reared in luxury, and surrounded by loving friends all her life. Never before had she been called upon to endure the slightest hard- ship. Fragile in form, and of an exceedingly sensitive disposition, she could not have been more deplorably placed. Yet, she showed remarkable strength of will and hopefulness, as well as fortitude and deter- mination, in her dread journey through the gloomy passages of that old mine. But we leave Della, nothwithstanding she is thus situated, and follow Mountain Misery. The latter, after leaving the girl whom he had res- cued, hastened again toward the same point at which he had awaited an opportunity to inspect the cave chamber which John Black had just left. He arrived just in time to detect the return of Black, and much surprised was he that the wretch raised no alarm when he discovered—as he must have done at once—the absence of his captive. But John’s silence was soon accounted for. He had heard the approach of the others, and the voice of a female, who seemed to be guiding some one, Bowen surmised that this must be the girl, Florette; and, from the fact that she was just free, it was but too evident that she must be in league with Black, This suspicion soon became a certainty, for he presently reard her ad- dress the man she was escorting, as Mr. Dar- ington, Mountain Misery had left Pocketville before David Darington had been placed in charge of his brother Dudley, and consequently he believed him to be now in search of his daughter. In- stantly he decided that Florette was leading the old man into a trap; pretending to be guiding him, for the purpose of releasing Della, There could be Jittle doubt of this. John Black had just passed into the cave, and his niece was conducting Darington to the same point. The wily and vindictive girl was leading her old employer like a lamb to the slaughter, and he was walking kindly to his doom! Bentley Bowen was satisfied of this. Stationing himself near the entrance, and trusting that Providence would favor him, he now took advantage of a stumble of Darington, which caused the latter to lose his grasp of the hand of Florette. He clutched the old man, placing one hand over his mouth to prevent, if possible, any outcry. He thus drew him into a narrow side passage, and hurried him along the same as rapidly as possible, at the same time whispering in his ear: “Tam Mountain Misery. You were being led to your death, David Darington! That girlisa tool of Black’s, and was sent out by him to lure You into his power. ‘*Come with me, and as silently as you can, T have saved your daughter, and will take you to her,” Darington had, when first seized, believed that he was doomed. He was now reassured, however, for be knew that Bowen was not one who would deceive him, and that everything he said in regard to Florette Forbes and her venge- ful object must be as he represented it, Nothing further was spoken by either. Bentley Bowen conducted the old man toa safe distance, when he bade him be seated, and remain quiet unti] he returned, as he must, if possible, ascertain what would be John Black’s intentions upon being thus baffled, and having his plans thwarted. There was not sufficient time to conduct Dar- ington to the spot where his daughter had been left, the recluse fearing he might, should he do 80, lose the chance of securing John Black and the Mexican, by getting entirely off the trail of the miscreants, For, since Della Darington had been so mys- teriously taken from hiin, Black would of course know that there were others in the old mine who were all working toward his capture; and he would, in consequence, hasten with his allies to a safer refuge. Cache Carl, the Chico Giant. . | 4 clearing the shrubbery; but Carl at once arose, | tioned CHAPTER XV. wt THE MEETING IN THE MINE, : A LIGHT bad begun to break upon Bentley | boyish face, ’ Bowen. He now saw that Florette must have Directly into those arms went Dudley, being been placed in the Darington housebold as a spy | caught as dexterously as on the former occasion, 4 om by the Blacks. ‘Hyer we air ag’in, Mister Darin’ton, num-/ ~ He knew, also, that John Black was not aware | ber two! Hit ’pears we're ter be brunged inter ~ © that be was still alive, and that Florette could | cluss ’quaintance purty frequint an’ often, ~ not know of the existence of a man so like in ap- | Playin’ ther same ole racket, eb? pearance to both her father and uncle. ‘Spect me ter tote yer back ter Red-Eye He therefore made up his mind to give them | Roost, an’ put yer in yer leetle bed ag’in, does both a fright if opportunity offered. yer? Wa’al, I should puke ef [ did! But I If Florette succeeded in luring Dash Dare into | don’t reckon ye’ll go on another rampage ontil I the «nine, Mountain Misery was confident of | lets yer loose. ‘ : P being able to prevent any harm being done bim. ‘Lay thar—right thar—Mister Darin’ton! He had already rescued Della, and prevented | I'll take another squint et yer, later.” 4 her fatber from falling into Black’s merciless | While thus speaking, Cache Carl had bound © hands. On this much he could congratulate | Dudley, hand and foot; but not so as to hurt the his brawny hands and arms extended, and blended pity and amusement visible upon his himself, | old man in any way. When Florette rushed from the shaft with the He then left him reclining on some dry bunch- avowed intention of enticing Dash Dare to his | grass,and strode on his way; for he feared he death, and John Black, with Don Diablo, bad | migbt have lost valuable time. f | vowed to scour all the passages and recover The preseuce of the Indian on the east side of ~ | a their captives, then Bowen knew that there was | the ridge was unknown to the Chico giant. So no time to lose, he went on his way alone. He started forward, but not far had he gone, Dash Dare, having been unable to catch a _ when he received a terrible shock; for he beheld | view of his huge friend, made his way to the 4% the hideous corpse of Bill Black lying upon a | top of the ridge, along which he crawled, keep- 7 projection of rock quite near him, ing watch of the trail on the shelf at each side, Up to that time he had supposed that John Jt was much rougher traveling on the ridge, had buried the body of his brother when he had | and Dash made but slow progress. : first borne it away; but the horrid thing was Soon, to his surprise, he came upon the form here, plainly before him. The hermit at once | of a man, apparently dead. He lay beside a resolved that he would make use of it. clump of bushes, He felt confident that by this time John Filled witb wonder and concern, the youth y Black and the Mexican must have left the cave. | made bis way down, and was greatly startled / Shouldering the corpse, Mountain Misery | when he saw his uncle Dudley, whom he had began making his way slowly and cautiously | left, safe and under guard, at the hotel. back as he hail come. He succeeded in reaching Stranger still, the old man was bound! the chamber without coming in collision with Dash refrained from unloosing him, for he any one. Going in, he found it vacant, as he | knew that poor Dudley must be insane. : } had expected. He quickly relieved himself of Remembering that Cache Carl was in ad- his gbastly burden, placing it upon the couch so | vance, young Darington was not long in con- ; recently occupied by Della Darington. jecturing the truth; and he felt that Carl must | ‘ Covering the body up to the neck with | bave good reasons for hurrying on to the old blankets, he placed it in a position indicating | mine, or he would not thus bave left the de- repose, spreading a handkerchief over the face. | mented old man. his done, Mountain Misery withdrew. Knowing, too, that Dudley was better off in But all this time we have lost sight of Carl | this way, and being himself nearly wild with and Dash Dare, whom we left as they set out | anxiety on his sister’s account, the young man upon the same route, or nearly so, as Bentley | sped back along the ridge, to his former position, | Bowen, and with apparently the same object— | He knew that, if anything occurred on the shelf namely, that of inspecting the mine. Dash was some distance in the rear of Carl, ; pet when we last saw them, and was endeavoring To his intense joy and relief, the first livin to overtake him, thing perceived by him was Florette, his sister’s The ridge was covered with projections and | maid! | } trail, he would, from such coign of vantage, detect it at once, irregularities, and the scattering cedars and This’ was, to.Dash, an important discovery, cacti afforded them the shelter necessary to pro- He then felt assured that he would find and ceeding secretly to their destination. rescue Della. The Chico giant was crouching behind a Florette Forbes was in a rueful state, being small clump of bushes, when he fancied he heard | hatless, and her hair flying wildly. The young the approach of some one. He was not mis-| man had no doubt that she had just escaped taken. from Jobn Black, : He was most certainly astounded, however, She saw Dash, and beckoned him to the shelf when he recognized the party who approached, | trail. She flushed and paled by turns, ruled as Dudley Darington. first by love, and then by hate. But a short time previous, Carl had borne Dash Dare had never paid the slightest atten-— this old man, almost helpless and his mind wan- | tion to Florette when at home, but he had al- dering, into Red-Eye Roost, and there left him ' ways thought her pretty; and now, all untidy in charge of his brother, And here hesaw him, | as she was,she seemed to him more beautiful coming, ina reckless race, leaping over every | than ever. — aoe obstruction, and with an expression on his face He was himself, handsome and graceful, ijtiq” that was painful to witness, ing and brave. a | It was a mystery bow he had escaped, and, He was, withal, warm-hearted and impu he more so, how he had found the trail along the What was the result? ee | He ran directly to the side of the young ty], and threw his arms around her. wy shelf, following the same past the entrance to the old mine. More now than reviously did the young ‘Oh, Florette!” be cried; “thank Godjou © giant suspect that John Black’s party must be | are safe! When did you escape from «bn ~ there in covert; for be attributed the demoral- | Black, and where is my poor sister?” Nee oe 2 ized condition of poor Dudley to his having been The words came hastily, impulsively, and’m | seen and pursued by the enemy of his house. pressively. j Carl knew that it would be little short of a Florette trembled in his arms, \ . miracle if Dudley Darington escaped death by Every nerve and muscle, every fiber in ei f falling over some precipice, or into some rent in | being, quivered with a passion that was goi the rocks, if he went on as he was going, for | deep. \ : f any distance, He decided to capture him. Her face was the pallor of death, I This, he felt would be a mercy. She could not speak. ; ] ‘* 1 didn’t s’pose,” he muttered, in soliloquy, She couid not look in the face of the man shi ¢ “Yd hev ter cotch yer again on ther fly, ole | had so madly loved, and whom she had sworn t 7] man; but hyer ye come, jist a-hummin’! lead to bis death. : oe ‘Why in ther name o’ sense, didn’t yer stop | ‘Poor Florette!” said Dash, pityingly aut Q fer ’freshments, es I tole yer, et Red-Eye Roost? | apologetically. ‘‘I am too rough, too hasty, tog r Dang ef I ever see sich a famblv fer gittin’ in- | inconsiderate!” . .. a V¢ ter trouble giner’ly es these Darin’tons, all He partly released her hold, but the girl stillp 1 ’eeptin’ Dash; an’ he’ll go plum lunified ef things ! clung to him. & C don’t come ’roun’ squar’ purty soon!” ‘‘-You have suffered greatly,” he continueé h Dudley Darington was now near the clump of | ‘That is plain to be seen, But Jobn Blag” . bushes, which were but breast high, and not | shall pay dearly for this! 4 more than two yards in width, **Can you, will you lead me to Della? Ha Ab The giant was concealed by the foliage. you the strength, Florette?” ae The old man made a terrific leap into the air, ad time that Dashiell Darington *3c5 is sister, the words pierced Flore?»
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Cache Carl, the Chico Giant, a knife. Hers was a love—if such it could be called—that would allow no other affection to come between it and its object. She was a thorough Mexican at heart. For some seconds hate would surge in her brain, and then love would banish it. At length she pointed toward the cave, ** Della is there,” she said, She Eigped weakness, that she might have his Support. His arms were, for the first, perhaps for the last time, around her, Was she leading him to the doom that awaited him at John Black’s hands? Would love or hate conquer, at the moment of all moments in the life of Dash Dare? CHAPTER XVI, WHAT NEXT? MATIERS were becoming somewhat compli- cated on both sides, Poor Della Darington, left alonein the dark- ness, wandered on and on, into the far depths of the old mine. Surely her ‘guardian angel must _ have guided her footsteps; for she eventually discovered a faint glow, which increased as she me ueorcred and she soon knew that she had found a way to the outer world. Hastening forward, she saw that a rough and somewhat tunnel-like passage led out from the mine by a steep ascent. On she went, until she reached the opening, through which she crawled, and, the next mo- ment, the bright sun blazed down upon her golden hair! Then she looked around her. She saw that she was in a small basin, a mass of loose rocks on every side, Up she climbed, and, it so chanced, on the east side, She stood on the very top of the ridge! Gazing downward, she saw, some distance be- * low, the trail along the rocky shelf, And she saw more than that, At first she imagined she must be dreaming, and she drew her fingers over her eyes, closing ~-the lids, and again opening them. Then she knew that the scene was real. Far below, walking side by side, Della Dar- ington saw her brother Dash and Florette Forbes, his arm sup 4 pape the maiden’s form! Florette, then, had in some way escaped, and was now "evidently guiding Dash to the rescue of herself, They would both be killed—it was almost cer- tain—by John Black! They were going to their death, and for her sake! Thus thought Della, and she was about to shriek aloud to them, when she beheld the form of an Indian, knife in hand, gliding through the . low bushes along the shelf, and disappearing in the large clump of pines, through which, ina minute more, Dash and Florette must pass, coe strove to cry out, but her emotions were too deep, and her anguish too overpowering, A deathly faintness came over her, and her phate the wall of the basin relaxed ; but, ust she was about to fall back upon the jrough rocks, Cache Carl sprung over the south yi caught her in bis strong arms! my soul!” he chuckled ; “of I ain't boss o’ ther catch biz, an’ ther bull Darin’- ambly know it, Ireckon. Pore leetle gal! Dash’s sister, sure es shootin’, Hit’s luck y hh wilted, fer I sw’ar I don’t believe I c’u’d p brass enough fer ter gaze et her, ef she ter put her peepers on me, ang my duds ef she didn’t crawl outen ridge! She’s ’scaped from John Black out ther help o’ any of us, But Pl jist nder fer ter vestigate furder. Thar’s funny if goin’ on, I reckon, an’ I hain’t bin mixed up "fn it es much es I orter bin.” hus soliloquizing, and holding Della on one ard}, the Chico giant ¢ limbed out from the basin. Then, taking her carefully in his arms, he descended the west side of the ridge, in his excitement seeing nothing of Dash Dare and Florette. Having reached the shelf, Carl was in a quan- dary “1g to proceed, and extremely anxious in regard to the prolonged fainting-fit of his fair Acharge. He well knew that, while in this posi- tion, he must avoid coming up with John Black, or either of his confederates, for they would have greatly the advantage over him, and would stand a good chance to recapture Della. He seated himself upon a rock to think over \his peculiar and perplexing position. 4 urther on it will be seen that Cache Carl, Mvithstanding the way in which he was situ- 9 concluded to continue on to the mine, and hand in the game. will now, however, return to Dash Dare O ae th Neen ee EE ITE EREETE IE PETE E TET ToS It was quite natural that the young man should feel much sympathy for the trials and terrors which Florette had been, as he fos soi forced to undergo. He was also thankful above everything to her for guiding bim to his sister, and he could not but admire her courage and the cunning she had displayed in escaping from her captor, is manner and words, therefore, to Florette, were in consonance with these feelings, and so it was that this strange girl’s love was, for the time, master of her vengeance, But few words, however, passed between them, They were so near their de stination, and there was such necessity for caution and silence, that little was said. The maiden insisted that she could guide Dash directly to the cave in which his sister was se- creted, and, if it occurred to him that, such be- ing the case, she might herself have released her, he did not betray the thought, Ugalala had decided to pass down the shaft a short distance from the clump of pines, and watch the proceedings of Florette, for the Ute was more puzzled than be had ever been on any trail, and could not understand why the white squaww had taken David Darington into the mine and left him there, In the Indian’s way of thinking the two ought to have reappeared with Della. But, instead, he saw Dash Dare hasten down the ridge and meet Florette, the pair then start- lng up the shelf toward the old mine, fad there been any doubts in the mind of the red-man as to the girl’s being in league with John Black, the way in which Dash met her would have banished them. Ogalala was confident that everything was working well; yet, he returned in a secret man- ner to the grove of pines, there taking up his old position, from which he could view the en- trance to the underground chambers, He had not been there more than two or three minutes, when he saw Dick Dirk spring Jfrom the bushes into the old mine. When the savage saw that the hostler had re- covered from the blow which Mountain Misery had struck him, he became very anxious; for he saw that Florette’s plan to release Della would be frustrated by Dick. Having come to this conclusion, Red-Eye de- cided that the time for him to act had arrived; and, without waiting for the adveuc of Dash and his fair companion, he, with knife in one hand and revolver in the other, rushed up to the shelf, and into the sbaft. But, at the very moment the Ute thus darted into the dark passage, there came a series of the most piercing shrieks echoing through the cav- erns! These sounds reached the ears of Dash Dare and Florette Forbes, on the east side of the ridge, and also of Cache Carl on the west; but the latter was some distance further around the point of the ridge than were Dash and his wily escort, The Indian had not gotten beyond the glow of daylight on his way inside the mine, when he was suddenly made aware of the presence of Mountain Misery by a peculiar, low signal; and the next moment the bermit, dragging David Darington along, met hisred pard. The three then rushed out of the cave, in the full flare of the sunlight. Darington was pale asa corpse, having evi- dently been frightened nearly out of his wits. But, before a word could be spoken, Dash Dare and Florette sprung out from among the pines; the youth, with a ery of relief and no lit- tle surprise, bounding toward his father, leav- ing Florette, who stood gazing at Bentley Bowen in bewildered astonishment. She believed him, so strong was the resem- blance, to be John Black, who, here and in her presence, was liberating the very man whom she thought be had recaptured in the cavern! And then, to her further surprise and fury, she perceived a gigantic man—a stranger to her— dart around the point of rocks toward the group, who would have yelled in their joy, had not the supposed John Black given a cautionary signal to prevent it. These last arrivals, as of course the reader knows, were Cache Carl and Della Darington— the latter still in a swoon, Mountain Misery bade ali remain near the entrance of the mine, declaring that he would shoot the first who followed bim. Then he darted back into the gloomy passage, first, however, ordering Ugalala to climb to the top of the ridge and signal the scattered miners by wa are from his revolver, fired in quick suc- Florette stood like a statue. —— Sees Sree hico Glanteya" 0 hae ee The scene, as far as her uncle—for so she still thought him—was concerned, was a complete my yeery. Had John Black, then, after all, repented and given up all his plans and intentions—cast aside all thoughts even of revenge? The question was one which the young girl might put to herself, but could not answer, David Darington "clasped his daughter in his arms, aud seated himself, while Dash was tr y- ing to assure himself that Della, as Cache Carl asserted, bad only fainted. As for the latter, he jerked out his revolvers and stood ready for business, It was probable that be was the only one present who had a correct idea of what Moun- tain Misery intended, for he stepped to the west side of the entrance, and motioned to Dash Dare to go the east. There was no time to question each other. All felt that something serious was about to td er the end of the Black drama was not ar off. The Indian’s signal sounded startlingly, the shots rolling along the je Yange in wild echoes, CHAPTER | XVII. THE FACE OF THE DEAD, IN the depths of the old mine, Mountain Mis- ery had lost all patience, waiting for the return of Jobn Black and the Mexican from their search through the caverns and passages for Della and her father; and be made his way to the passage in which he had left David, finding him there in the same position, the poor man having been too terrified to move, Leaving Darington with a few encouraging words, the recluse proceeced on to the chamber to which he had conducted Della. He called the maiden’s name, but there was no answer, He then struck a match, and, to his conster- nation, found the cavern to be empty. He was almost in despair, Bentley Bowen knew that the girl had believed him to be Jobn Black, aud that dread- lng bis return, she bad stolen away in terror, ever before had the hermit so deeply regret- ted his singular resemblance, not even when he had been mistaken for Bill Black, and bad come so near being hanged. He now felt that it would be useless to Ligh for Della. She might be found by Black; and if so ho would rescue her. The first thing now to be done, was to conduct her father from the cave. He, therefore, hastened back, and led Darington toward the exit from the mine, Before reaching the main passage, however, he heard John Black and Don Diablo conversing, and cursing in their baffled rage. They were making their way to the cave- chamber. He then heard a third man rush up, and de- mand of Black why he bad knocked him sense- less. Mountain Misery felt that this must be the sentinel, who had recovered. His employer denied the charge, pronouncing Dick Dirk crazy. Hastening on to the exit, and meeting Uga- lala, as has been recorded, . our three Frtrarls yassed out upon the shelf, to be astounded and illed with relief at beholding Dash Dave, Cache Carl and Della Darington. The shrieks of horror, that followed this, were sufficient to inform Mountain Misery that Black and his followers had entered the cave, and there bad come upon the horrible corpse of Bill Black, lying upon the couch so recently occupied by Della! Bowen resolved to take advantage of their fright at once. Hence his action in the case; his warning none to follow him. Eve long he was near the cave-chamber, from which pro- ceeded furious curses. The recluse knew that Jobn Black had planted himself at the exit, pistol in band, and was prev enting Don Diablo and Dick Dirk from fleeing in terror from the mine, “Satan burn you for a pair of idiots!” the listener heard Black biss at them. ‘* You know well enough that this is not the work of spirits. There is some gne in the mine, I admit; and he has guided the girl and her ‘father to some se- cret cave, but we will find them yet. ‘There can be but one, or we should have been attacked openly. He broaght poor Bill’s body here to scare us, but .t don’t scare me worth a cent. You fellows may walk on the other side, and Ill carry the corpse out of here alone. Then, I reckon, you'll get over your in- fernal scare, ‘71 shoot you if you try topass me! You started in with me, and you've got to stick. You hear me? I mean biz every time!” Mountain Misery could hear the cautious foot-
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14 steps of the affrighted pair, as they obeyed. Then he heard the slight sounds made by John Black, when he removed the body of his brother, which he brought nearer and nearer his place of concealment, at length placing it almost at his feet. The recluse bent low, and caught the right arm of the corpse, slapping the clammy hand directly in the face of John Black; knowing, by the heavy breathing of the latter, just where to aim the stroke, A fierce oath shot out from the startled mis- creant. He sprung erect, and stumbled back- ward ,against the rock wall, his teeth chat- tering, **The devil and all his imps are surely in this accursed hole!” lie muttered, He turned, and started back rapidly toward the cave-chamber. That he did not strike a match, proved to Bowen that he was terribl frightened. With noiseless steps, the latter fol- lowed bim. Black staggered into the cave, and the ejacu- lations of Don Diablo and Dick Dirk proved that he showed plainly the terrible shock he had received. But Mountain Misery allowed no time for explanations. He was resolved to make one last move. With arms hanging limp, form stiff and erect, eyes protruding, and tongue lolling out, he stalked, ghost-like, into the dimly-lighted cham- ber, where stood. Dick and the Mexican, gazing at John Black! The three pairs of horror-filled eyes were turned upon the intruder, to be doubly filled with superstitious terror. They stood, as if suddenly petrified; their blood frozen in their veins, and they rendered incapable of movement or of giving vent to their horror in shrieks, At length, the dread spell upon them all was broken; and, with fearful yells that one would think might arouse the dead, they rushed fran- tically trom the cave, and from that awful presence, John Black seemed even more ter- rified, more anxious to reach the open air, than the cowardly Vick Dirk, or the superstitious Don Diablo. It so happened that the Mexican and Dick ran against each other in the dark passage, Black being ahead in the race, and both fell di- rectly upon the real corpse, which lay at the en- trance to a side passage. They each one could feel the ice-cold hands and face. Then such gurgling and horrible sounds as broke from the lips of the pair were seldom heard, They crawled away, staggered to their feet, and ran out of the mine. The scene that followed beggared descrip- tion. Those on the outside, with the exception of Cache Carl, were astonished, not only at the voluntary exit of the outlaws, but to behold them in such abject terror. And who could imagine the emotions of those who rushed from the mine, when they saw, standing in front of them, the maiden they had he)d captive, and the father and brother they had sworn to slay? But even the strange tableau before them could not banish the horrors they had just left behind, Those whom they now beheld could know nothing of the scenes in the mine. They feared not the leveled revolvers of the avengers. On both sides of the entrance, and for some yards beyond, were collected the men of the mines, their faces betraying their fury, and their determination to punish the plotters and abduc- tors by death! But the three men appeared not to realize this, They seemed not to notice, except by a glance, that others were so near, whose presence they might well dread, Instead they whirled about,and gazed back , into the arched and gloomy entrance of the old mine, from which they had just darted, only to be again stricken dumb with increased supersti- tious terror. For, on the inner side of the entrance, and leaning against the stune wall, was the corpse of Bill Black, in a semi-recumbent'position; while, seated against the opposite wall was Mountain Misery, who, acting as when in the cave cham- ber, bad almost the appearance of the real corpse! When the wretched trio bad been allowed suf- ficient time to fasten their eyes upon this dread spectacle, the hermit sprung to his feet and rushed at them, Never did men bound backward more quickly, gather their strength, whirl, and spring wildly away; the fact that they had stood but a few ‘Cache Carl, the Chico Giant. feet from the edge of the gulch wall having been unnoticed, or unconsidered by them. When they realized it, it was too late. The mad force with which they had made the start in the extremity of their terror, it was now beyond their power to counteract. With terrific shrieks, they shot out, and over the awful height! But, the same instant, the rattling reports of full a hundred revolvers sounded on the air, and the three miscreants went down into the great chasm, riddled with lead. CHAPTER XVIII, A FLASH OF FURY, Kinp reader, there is little more to be told in connection with’ the abduction and rescue of Della Darington, and the defeat of the final treacherous and dastardly plot of the Black brothers. It had chanced that, when Ugalala shot off the signal for the miners toinform them that the party they were in search of had been found, the crowd were already in the vicinity of the old mine, They bad become discouraged in their march, collected together, and decided that as no one had seen Cache Carl, Dash Dare, Mountain Misery, or Red-Eye, these men must have gone north, to search the ridge. This bronght to their minds, the old shaft, as a probable hiding-place for Black and those who were with him; and all concluded, at once, to go up the shelf-trail. This they had done, when the signal sounded; and they then rushed, at full speed, reaching the end of the ridge in time to witness the singular but effective ruse of Mountain Misery, forcing the outlaws from their stronghold, But Bentley Bcwen had not thought of such an ending to his plot to frighten the miscreants. What he behaved was, that they would rush out and be captured by those who would punish them as they deserved. However, it was well; for the maddened mob of miners would have hangéd all three of them, and they bad certainly suffered sufficient men- tal torture already. Besides, their career of crime was at ap end. As for Florette Forbes, she stood like one transformed to stone. She had expected, pre- vious to the leaping off from the height of the trio, that all would be lynched, and sbe knew there was noescape for them, She was rejoiced, therefore, that John Black had cheated the mob to that extent. Florette knew that Mountain Misery had been in the cave—that it must bave been he who had stolen Darington from her in the passage, and afterward released Della. Consequently he must have heard her words and those of John Black, and therefore knew their relationship. He would know, too, that she had decoyed the elder Darington, and would decoy his son to death, There was, then, no hope for her! As for any further thought of Dash Dare, that was preposterous. She would now banish love forever, and nurse revenge, She would avenge the death of her father and uncle—ay, even to the slaying of the youth who had won her heart. Thus resolved, and seeing an opening for possible escape, and a further work of ven- geance, Florette Forbes, as the last revolver shots echoed in the range above, sprung to the entrance of the mine, drawing a pistol as she ran, Once there, she faced about, leveled her weapon, and fired at Dash Dare, wko fell to the earth! ‘““Men of Pocketville!” she yelled; ‘I am Florette the Fury, the daughter of William Black, and the niece of John, both of whom you have hunted to their death! ‘*Thave sworn to avenge them, and this shot has begun the work. Follow meif you dare! Death to all who enter the old mine! ““T love Dashiell Darington, and that proves how merciless I am—how determined to carry out my oath, ‘* Pll see you later. You'll have to remember with dread Florette the Fury!” Before any one of the spectators had moved in his tracks, the infuriated girl had disappeared in the dark bowels of the ridge, her taunting and vengeful laugh sounding fiendish amid the caverns and passages. Notwithstanding her threats, many rushed into the shaft, procured torches, and searched until discouraged; but not a trace could be found of Bill Black’s daughter, Dash Dare was, however, but slightly hurt, the bullet having merely glanced on his skull. Of course everybody, with the exception of Mountain Misery, was astonished, But there | was little delay at the shelf, as all were nearly © famished, and greatly fatigued as well, 4 Della Darington had recovered, while her yil- — lainous abductor and his allies had gone to an- swer for that and the many more devlish crimes they had previously committed. } Cache Carl brought poor Dudley Darington © from the spot at which he had left the unfortus 9 nate old man securely bound. He was now much more collected in mind, and was greatly delighted when he beheld his niece, beginnin rapidly to regain all the sense that he ever had. Our friends then all proceeded down the shelf and toward the town, Dash and his father as- sisting Della, while Carl conducted Dudley— Mountain Misery and Ugalala taking the lead. Tbe miners lingered behind long enough to burl the corpse of Bill Black over the height in« to the great gulch, where the mangled remains” of his brother, with those of Don Diablo and. Dick Dirk lay in a confused mass; all having decided that such a bad lot were not worthy of any rites of sepulture. The Indian sped on in advance when near the town, and gave the glad tidings to Crystal Charley, who at once had accommodations pre- pared for the unexpected but truly weleome fe- male guest, whose presence in Pocketville was considered a great and long to be remembered honor, And a grand entree it was. A number of the miners, baving sped, helter- skelter, past those who have figured as our principal eharacters, and formed a long line op- posite Red-Eye Roost, gave three rousing cheers of welcome to Della, “The Darling of the Divide,” as the golden- haired maiden was escorted, between her father and brother, into the hotel, Cache Carl, as was to have been expected, took charge of the crowd, and made himself re- sponsible for the several “ irrigates” that were deemed necessary to put all in trim. But Mountain Misery was the lion of the hour, and he was now called upon to explain all that had taken place in the mine; indeed, explana- tions were in order, all around between those who had providentially led in that direction in their search, Various were the theories as to where Florette had secreted herself, and many speculations were indulged in, as to whether she would be heard from again; some expressing the belief that she would keep her oath, and scatter | *“cussedness” generally into Pocketville—per- haps giving the Darington family, after their return to Denver, good reasons for regretting that she had not flung herself over into the gulch, with her hopeful uncle and his followers. The bodies of Brooks and Saunders were ** nlanted” with scant ceremony, The horses, with their harness, and the pole of the ambulance, were brought into town, and the | entire outfit put in shape for travel; the Daring- | tons leaving for their home on the following day, but not without a good ‘ send-off” from the men of the mines. A more relieved and thankful party never, it is probable, started on their homeward: way.? than the reunited quartette, taking with ther seri Seep Cache Carl, and Ugalsiz 3m Ute. David Dudley and Della occupied rear of the ambulance, Mountain Misery and red pard being seated in front; the latter tal charge of the team, while Dash Dare anid) Chico giant galloped in the lead, And good reasons had the Daringtons, and ali, for thankfulness that they had esca) the vengeful plots of the Black brothers. - not one was there of the family, after all knowledge each had gained from the other, } did not at times recall the tigerish look that ette Forbes had cast at them before she spr into the old mine, and tlie vow of vengeat’ she there and then recorded. It may be that, in the near future, some 6 will be able to explain why Floretts, the Fur could not be found; and may detail events th. occurred in her attempts to fulfill her wild oa of revenge, : There are others, whom we know, who ct scarcely fail to figure in sucha narrative; . their interest in the unhappy girl, to sey n- thing of motives of self-preservation, would, all likelihood, lead them to something mo than mere curiosity in regard to her moy ments, , Chief among such, we may see that no ‘hunter o’ crooked humans,” Cache Carl ‘ Chico, and those who leagued themselves w him to put down outlawry and bad white 5“ generally—Ugalala the Ute, Bentley BYs alias Mountain Misery, and Dash Dare. >? THE END, | ~ ie Bog ae ASE ona =e ~~ J 2k at —_—_ et el Py a oe a td bal pet ed bel Pee ers “SUP fS-Lloia tel PA
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BEADLE'S« H ALF- DIME* LIBRARY. 1 very Tuesday. \ Hach Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. BY PHILIP 8. WARNE, atent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. Japtain Arizona ; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game. ‘aptain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat. ‘eapard, the Duelist; or, The Mountain Vompires, |. Tough Boy}; or, The Dwar!’s Revenge. Little Tornado; or, The Outcasts of the Glen. Little Jingro; or, the Queer Pard. Little Ok-my j or, Caught in His Own Trap, Little Shoo-F ly i or, A Race for a Ranch. Little Leather-Breeches; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse. le Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood, rado Kate, A Tale of the olines. ee Jolly Parda, Gladden's Deputy. Jolly Purds to the Rescue. dy Andy; or, A Good Man Down, Brint Lils or, The Cast for a Life. nd Weasel-top, the Man with the Dogs, ao Keen Slem, the Ranch Imp. 599 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport. b1% Billy Biazes; or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER, 25 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Pages or, The Doye’s Daughter. 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. in) Vanee aud Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco, ibd The Sword Munters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 59 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise to the ' Open Polar Sea. 00 The Boy Bedoutins; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance, 14 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine. {49 Milo Romer, the Animal King; or, The Round the World ; Wanderer. BOS The Bilger Tamer} or, The League of the Jungle. | bi Blac ick, the Demon Rider. 1395 California Joe’s War Trall. } BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8, Hall.) O!d Rocky's **Boyeess; or, Benito, the Young Horse- Sreaker. fant George}; or, The Ang’! of the Range. rizona Jack}; or, Giant George’s Pard. The Tarantula of Taos; or, Giant George’s Revenge, “? The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. is Ber whoop, Ker-whoo}; or, The Tarantula of Taos. ing Cat, the Caddo; or, The Red and White Pards, reo s ay ; or, mi Tonkaway’s Trust. 2 eK ting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. Lal Wild Wolf; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front. y Py The Ranch Raiders, or, The Siege of Fort Pargatory, 64 Bnap-Shet, the Boy Ranger. eet Chiota, the Creek; or, The Three Thunderbolts, 81 Bandera Bill; or, Frio Frank to the Front, WPS Romeo and the Reds; or, The Beleaguered Ranch, ’ stttle Larlat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. a14 ‘The Daisy from Denver. ‘ot The Three Tratlers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage, Bluff Bill; or, The Lynx of the Leona. ‘96 Little Lone Star; or, The Belle of the Cibolo, . BY EDWARD WILLETT. /yht Asa Scott, the Steambont Boy. ia ) Featherweight the Boy Champion of the Muskingum, ( S88 Ozark Alt’; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws, ) Sua The Typo Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. epg Feurless Phils or, The King of Quurteville. : The Roving Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp, 2 Nemo, the Rcteatives or, Kit Kenyon's Vendetta, >) Clip the Contortionist; or, The Montana Vigilantes. BY J, 0. COWDRIOK. ) &ilver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. Shasta, the Gold King; or, For Seven Years Dead, 0 The Petective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without a Name, 2 Cibuta John; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. & Sandy Sam, the Street Scout, be Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. Redlieht Ralph, the Prince of the Road, Broadway Bill y’a Boodle. The Engineer Detective. roadway Billy’s ‘Difikilty.” art, the Night Express Detective. Srondway Billy’s Peath Racket. ir-Line Luke the Young Engineer. e Chimney Spy: or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party. e Boy Pinkerton. Jiliam 0’ Broadway; or,\The Boy Detoctive’s Big Inning. ghitars Uarry, the Chief\ of Chained Cyclone, BY JO PIERCE. ow the Bowery ;/or, The Prince of Mulberry Street he Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom, Hotspur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. The vawyer'’s Shadow; or, Luke’s Legaey, Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective. \ Mve Points Phil. nek Jagger, the Butcher Boy Detective. irtar Tim; or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerie, orth River N at, the Pier Detective. Wrestling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward, eff Flicker. the Stable Boy Detective. Mitek Nettie, the Boy Shadow. Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. BR ooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, vyement Pete, the Secret Sifter, \ek-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector, ide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer. Phistling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid. ck Bumblebee, the Harlem Hummer. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. 4 feck; or, The Yellow Chief's Vengeance. ley Pirates or, The League of Devil’s Island, e Helpless Hand; or, Backwoods Retribution. e Gold-seeker Guide ; or, The Lost Mountain. MAJOR HENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-Scout. “Tle Neds or, The Dug-Out Pards. no a bel F} or, The Swordemen of Zacatecas, love Kit, the Dandy of the Rockies. i-Glove Kit and Pard; or, The Gold King. p Mad MatcHunter 3 or, The Mystery of Golden Soll’s Pardg or, The One-Armed Giant, BY HARRY &8T. GEORGE. d, the R . fin ies ry Rone Ni Abawks of Kentucky. 7 1 pilin, ube3 or, The Night RU cory: (+4 Pandy Eltis’s cog a Vy + or, The Trail of the Border Wolf. Pry 3 or, The Trapper-Brigade’s Spy. bolt Tomy or, the Wolf-Herder. 7 * > No Double Numbers. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl, Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 9 Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 288 Joe Buck of Angels and His Boy Pard. 447 New York Nat, A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling. 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 4938 Taos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hall-Breed Detective. 518 Cool Colorado in New York, BY GEVURGE WALDO BROWNE, 86 Dand Rock the Man from Texas. 90 The Dread Rider 3 oy, The Texan Qusiist. 99 The Tiger of Taos? or, Dandy Roc k's Angel. 15 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Kock’s Doom, 1 18 16 17 1 The Golden Hand} or, Dandy Rock to the Rescue, 4 Dandy Rock’s Pledge; or, Hunted to Death, 8 Dandy Rock’s Rival; or, The Haunted Maid of Taos, BY CAPT. J, F. ©. ADAMS, 84 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffles’s Boy Spy 46 Giuass-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 54 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. 66 Nick Whitiles’s Pet; or, In The Valley of Death, 60 The White Indian; or, The Scovt of the Yellowstone, 70 Old Zip’s Cabin; or, The Greenhorn in the Woods, 81 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Buckram; or, Bess, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and His Peta; or, The Wild Huntress. 251 Went house Lige; or, Osceola, the Firebrand, 257 The Lost Hunters; or, The Underground Camp. 288 The Scalp King 3 or, The Human Thunderpolt. BY ROGER STARBUOK. 25 The Boy Captain; or, The Pirate’s Daughter. 114 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Junk, the Old Tar. 259 The Golden Harpoon; or, Lost Among the Floes, 848 Fire-Heels; or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow. 854 Big Horn Ike, the Hill Tramp; or, The Odd Parda, 861 The Phantom Light-house. 870 Breaker Ben, the Reef-Runner, BY WILLIAW R. EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank}; or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pards BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, 108 The Lion of the Sea; or, The Vailed Lady. 186 Cool Deamond ; or, The Gambler's Big Game, BY JAMES L, BOWEN % 107 One-Eyed Sim; or, The Abandoned Forest Home. 110 The Black Steed of the Prairies, A Story of Texas, BY, C. DUNNING CLARK. 185 Captain Paul; or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains, 280 The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef, BY GEORGE ©. JENKS. 485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown, 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor, BSL Double-Ourve Dan, the Pitcher SYS Ebute, toc Singer Detective, 605 | ot 8 psa Detective’s Foil; or, Double Carve Dan's Jouble Play. 616 The Ocean Detective; or, The Last Cruise of the Black Bear, BY CAPT, ALFRED B. TAYLOR U. 8. A. 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker; or, The Doomed lirteen. 194 Buffalo Bill's Bet; or, The Gambler Guide. BY CHARLES E. LASALLE. 50 Bart Bunker, the Trapper. Bb2 The White Buffalo. A Tale of the Northwest BY JOHN J. MARSHALL, 40 Roving Ben._ A Story of a Young American, 97 The Outlaw Brothers; or, The Captive of the Harper, BY WM. G, PATTEN. A489 The Diamond Sports or, The Double Face of Bed Rock 519 Captain Mystery ; or, Five in One, BR1 Dalay Pare the Sport trom Denver, BST Old Bombshell, the Ranger Dotective. G04 Lron Fern, the Man ot Fire. 619 The Boy Tramp Detective; or, The Double Grip Witness, BY MAJOR E. L. ST. VRAIN, 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit, 801 Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince, 888 Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette, 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of * Sand,” B59 Durango Dave, the Youns Conn ion Wrestler, B71 Kingbolt Chris, the Young Hard-Shell Detective, 880 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide, 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountain Mail-Line, BY EDWARD 8. ELLIS. 6 Bill Biddon, Trapper, 8 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of the Frontier. 430 Nat Todd: or, The Fate of the Sloux Captive, 2y 'rne Frontier Angel. 98 The Boy Miners; or, The Enchanted Island. 182 The Hunted Hunters or, The Strange Horseman, « 254 The Half-Blood; or, The Panther of the Plains, 271 The Huge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairle Man. BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON, 278 The Three Tra pores or, The Mountain Monster, 285 Indian Joe; or, LS 1e White Spirit of the Hills, BY FRANK DUMONT. 120 The Branded Hand; or, The Man of Mystery. 127 Wild-Fire, the Boss of the Road. 140 Rilue Blazes; or, The Break o’ Day Boys of Rosky Bar. 171 Ebony Dany; or, The Rival Leagues. 185 Evil Eye; or, The Vultures of the Rio Grande, BY CAPT. MARK WILTON, 256 Young Kentuck; or, The Red Lasso. 270 Blizzard Ben; or, The Riot at Keno Camp, 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot. BY BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG. 89 Taland Jim: or, The Pet of the Family. 91 The Captain of the Club; or, The Rival Athletes, 101 Jack Harkaway in New York, Detective, BY JOSEPH E, BADGER, JR, 2 Vellowstone Jacky; or, The Trap ner, 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Murricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 119 M msstang Sam $5 or, The King of the Plains, 186 Night-llawk Kit or, ‘he Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash} or, Fighting Fire with Fire, 184 The Boy Trallers 3 or, Dainty Lance onghe War-Path, 208 The Boy Parday or, Dainty Lance Unmapks. 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca W olf ; or, The Beautifys Decoy, 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thie®ga’ League, B85 Old Double Fist; or, Tho Strange Guige 855 The King of the Woods? or Danie! 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Trailer. BY W. J. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brotherhood; or, The Twelve Avengers, 66 Single Handy; or, A Life for a Life. 72 Mad Tom W eatern, the Texan Ranger. 887 Ben Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Scoop, BY JACK FARRAGUT., 815 Ned, the Cabin Boy. S20 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper, BY LIEUT. H. D. PERRY, U. 8. N. 1 176 The Boy Runaway}; or, The Buccaneer of the Bay. 180 The Sea Trailer; or, A Vow Well Kept. 192 Oaptain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point, BY HARRY HAZARD. 828 Arkansaw Jack; or, The Scourge of the Mines, 829 Red-Skin Tom} or, The Demon’s Trail, 842 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw, BY COL. A. F. HOLT. 899 Black Buckakin; or, The Masked Men of Death Canyon, 419 Kenneth, the Kuife-King. 485 Little Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods. BY J. W. OSBON. 469 The Rival Giants of Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck, BRT Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner, 609 Bolly Dorrit, the Veteran Detective. 620 Littic Lightning's League; or, The Mystery of the Island. BY FREDERIOK DEWEY. 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shote. ATS Tangemund, the Desert Detective. 542 The Canyon Pards, BY ARTHUR C. GRISSOM. 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowle Kid. 558 The Sure-Shot Pards. 621 fruthful James, the “ Pecoollar” Man. BY LIEUT, A. K, SIMA. 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock. BGS The Dandy of Dodge. 576 The Silver Sport. BS8 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow B89 Tom-Cat and Pard; ar, The Dead Set at Silver City. 601 Happy Hana, the Dutch Vidoog. 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules. 622 Texas Tom-Cat’s Triad. MISOELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-Morse Hunters, By Capt. Mayne Reid and Frederick Whittaker. 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver’s Travels. By Dean Swift. 14 Alndding or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe, (27 Illustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Satlor., His Seven Voyages. 22 phe Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe, By Juan wis, 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribees, By 8S, W. Pierce, 86 ane Roy Olown; or, The Queen of the Arena, By Frank >. nn. BS Ned Wylde, the Bey Scout. By Texas Jack. 61 The Boy Rides; or, The Underground Camp, By Archio , trons. 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippt. By Lieut.-Col, Hazeltine. 98 Robin Hood, the Uutlawed Earl; or, The Merry Mon 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 Gleraon. 128 The Young Privatcer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish. 148 Sharp Samy 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 Fergus Fearnaught the New Y srk Boy. | BY G, L. Alken. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; or, Davy Crockett’s rooked Trail. By Ensign C. D. Warren. 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Clim, By Captain Comstock, 317 Peacock Pete, the tenant Alired Thorne. 828 The Sky Detectives or, A Boy's Fight for Life and Honos, By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Red Ralph, the River Rover} or, The Brother’s Re- venge. By Ned Buntline, _ 865 Baltimore Ben the Bootblack Detective. By A. P. Morria, 874 Gold-Dust Tomy; or, Ben’s Double Match, By George H. Morve, 876 Californta Joe's Firat Trail, By Colone]) Thomas By F. 8. Winthrop. Hoyer Monstery. 4 418 Billy Bombshell, the Cliff Clim*er, ?h The Black Ship. By John 8S Warner. & The Black lak and Mis Three invinetbles, By Henry J. Thomas. S28 Wizard-Arm, the Dendy meee: By Arthur F. Holt, B82 The Cowboy Duke. By tdwin Brooke Forrest, BS Ariel the Athlete. By David Denid, 685 Will Waters, the Bov Ferret, By H, Enton. A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Walf-Dime Library |* for sale by all newsdealors, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of alx cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMB, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York, Lively Lad from Leadville, By Lieu-
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BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, Deadwood Dick Novela. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick's Defiance, $ Buffalo Bens; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise. B85 Wilda Ivan, the Boy Clande Duval, 42 Phautom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza, AY “uualna Oil: or. Deadwood Dick in Danger. ST Deadweak Pioh's Kngles s or, The Pards 6f Flood Bar. TB Pendwo jd Diek on Deek; of. 2) 7? Corduroy Charties or, Deadv 100 Deadwouw Dick nm Leadville. 104 Dendwoed f Dick's Device; or, The Double Crose Sign 109 Dendwood Dick an Detective. 129 Ment wood Dick's Donbte; cr, The “host ef Gorgor’s Guleh. 188 Blonde Bilt porn Deadwood Dick’s Home Base. 149 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike. 166 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the Road. 201 The Blick Hills Jezebel; or, Deadwood Dick’s Ward, 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom er, Calamity Jane’s Last Ad- venture. 217 Captain Crack-Shot, the Gir) Brigand. 221 Sugar-Coated Sam; or, The Black Gown. 282 Gold-Duat Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Tougha, 268 Deadwood Dick’s Divide; or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. 268 Deadwood Dick’s Death TraflL B09 Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oreyon, 821 Deadwood Dick's Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. $47 Dendwood Dick's Ducats; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- cine 2. 851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta. 562 Deadwood Dick's Clatm. 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City. 410 Deadwood Dick’s Diamonda, 421 Deadwood Dick in New Yorks or, A “Cute Case,” 480 Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand, 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 448 Nickel-Plate Nedj or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Defiance. 458 Suntffower Sam, of Shasta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Fall Hand, 459 Flush Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Ronnd- Up. 465 E hile Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Racket at Claim 10, 471 Bozeman Bill; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’a Corral. 476 Humboldt Marry the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Dog Detective, 481 Moll Mystery; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in Dendwood. 491 Prince Pistol, he Kiger of Hie West; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’a Compact. 496 Monte Cristo, Jr.z or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Inheritance. 500 Deadwood Dick's Diggings; or, Dr. Death-Grip's Swoop. 508 Deadwood Dick's Deliy erance, 515 Deadwood Dick’s Protegee. 522 Deadwood Dick's Three. 529 Deadwood Dick’s Danger Ducks, 684 Deandwood Dick’s Death Hunt, 589 Deadwood Dick Jr, in Texas. 544 Deadwood Dick, Jr. the Wild West Vidocq. 549 Dendwood Dick on Mla Mettle. 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick In Boston. 567 Deadwood Dick, dr. in Philadelphia, 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Chicago, , 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr. Atlont. 584 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, 612 Deadwood Dick Jr. In Detroit. 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Cincinnatl. 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Nevada. 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, 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bill: The Red Rifle Team. 6Y Gold Rifle, the 5! hooter; or, The Boy Detective, 80 Rosebud Reb: or, et Ned, the Knight. 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rogebud Rob on Hand. 88 Plictograph PAIL; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance, 92 Canada Chet 3 or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp, #6 Wateh-Eye; or, Aroba.and Angela of a Great City, Jack Hoyle the Young Speculator. A Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport. Bonanza Bill, Miner. Boas Bob the King of Bootblackas, Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. Captain Ferret, the New York Detective; or, Boas Bob’s elt ibd deed 2 Ot rece oss Job. New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. Nobby Nick of Nevaday or, The Sierras Scamps, 81 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Brayo, 09 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. 18 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloguist Hunter. 26 Snoozer, the Buy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 286 Apollo BIL, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator. 244 Sferra Sam, tho Frontier Ferret, 24% Slerra Sam’s Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Slerra Sam's Pard; or, [he Angel of Big Vista, 255 Sierra Sam's Seven; or, The Stolen Bride, 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs, 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen, 281 Denver Doll's Victory. 255 Denver Doll's Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza, 291 Turk, the Boy Ferret. 206 Denver Doll's Drift; or. The Road Queen. 299 A No, 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. 808 ’Liza Jane, the Sirl Miner; or, the Tron-Nerved Sport, 825 Keiley, Mickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia, 880 Little Qu’ck-Shot; or, The Dead Face of Daggersville. B84 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miuer. 889 Kangaroo Kit’s Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood. B58 First-Class Fred, the Gent from Gopher. 865 ¥ yous Jim, the Gold-Gatherer s or, The Lottery of site. 872 Yreka Jim's Prize. 87S Nabob Neds; ov, The Secret of Slab City, Bs2 Cool Kit. the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, BSS Vreka Jim’s Joker}; or, The Rivals of Red Nose, #80 Bicycle Ben; or. The Lion of Lightning Lode, B94 yaks Jim of Yuba Dam, 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Mat Harry, the Base Ball Detective. 6 Sam Slabsides, the Beggar-Boy Detective. 434 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives, 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher. 456 Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. AIS Cl ee ss + BEADLE’S*H ALF- DIME« [_ IBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 Will Somers, the Boy Detective. 122 Phil Hardy, the Boss Buy. 126 Picayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective, 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rage. 142 Handsome Harry, the Boothlack Detective, 147 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 52 Black Beas, Will Wildtire’s Racet, 57 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy, 62 Will Wildiire in the Woods. 6S Billy Bageawe, the Ruilroad Boy. fv A Trump Card; or, Wil! Witdsre Wins and Loses. 74. Bob Rockwit } or, Miyteries o\New York, 79 Bob Rock Mptyehe Bank Ruy “ ws 88 The Hid@ern’h und; or, WU Avildfirs Revenge. ST Fred Hatyoard, the Life ior or, The Suuggiers, 89 Bob Roekett; or, Vdven to ue Wall 96 Shadowed ; or, Bob Kockett’s bight @ Lafa, 206. Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Te ner; or, The Liack Sheep of the Flock, 22h arcoal ‘tie Preminm Darky. 23 adow Sam, the Messenger Boy, mee et ee 242 The Two * Blovds ”; or, Shenandoah Bil! and His Gang. 252 Dick Dashaway ¢ or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. 262 ‘The Young Shurps: or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail. 274 Jolly Jluaty the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jin’ Job; or, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-Hound; or, The Young Thoroughbred. 805 Dashuway, of Dakota; or, A Western Lad in the- Quaker City. 824 Ralph Ready, the Hote) Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, - 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. 879 Larry, the Levelers or, The Bloods of the Boulevad. 408 Firelly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger; or, The En 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret, 456 Billy Brick, he Jolly Vagabond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive, 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket. »d Cashier, 501 Boots, the Boy Firemans or, Too Sharp for the Sharper. 566 The Seerct 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. $1 Keen-Kuife, the Prince of the Prairies. 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 5S The Border King; or. The ret Foe ZL Delaware Dick, the Your nger Spy. 74 Mawk-eye Warry the Young Trapper Runger, 88 Rollo, the Boy Ranger. 184 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. 148 Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter 146 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 158 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. 168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Littl Hurricane, the Boy Captain, 202 Prospect Pete ¢ 0, Lhe Young Outlaw Huntera, 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Trampe, 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom's Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger. 248 The Disguised Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Raoger, 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger, . 272 Minkskin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, tke Boy Spy. 800 The Sky Demon ; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 409 Hercules; or, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 417 Webtoot Mose, the Tramp Detective, 422 Baby Sam, the Boy Giunt of the Yellowstone. 444 Little Buckskin, tne Young Prairie Centaur. 457 Wingedfoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul. 468 Tamerae 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, The Boy Spy of 76, 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Littl Hunter. A7 Nightingale Nat; «or, Tne Forest Captains, 64 Dandy Jack; or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trait, S82 Kit Harefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jack 3 or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 128 Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lyne, Jr. or, The Boy Vigiiante. 155 Gold Trigger, the Sport; or, The Girl Avenger, 169 Tornado Toms; or, Injun Jack From Red Core, 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 198 Arkansaw ; or, The Quen of Fate’s Revenge. 20? Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Tonknot’s Crusade. 231 Plucky Phils or, Rosa, the Ret Jezebel, 241 BIN Bravo; ox, The Roughs of the Rockies. 255 Captain Apolic, the King-Pin of Bowie. 267 The Buckskin Detective. 279 Old Winches or, The Buckskin Desperadoes, 294 Dynamilie Dany; or, The Bowie Blade of @ochetopa. 802 The Mountain Detective: #16 Old Eclinae, Trump Card of Arizona, 826 The Veuw Pardes: or, The” Terror of Tuke-Notice. 836 Big Penddn; or, The Queen of the Larso. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Red Thundersolt’s Secret. 356 Cool Sam und Par’; or The Terrible Six. 866 Velvet Feat, the Indian Detective. 886 Captain Cutlass: or, | he Beccuneer’s Girl Foe. 896 Rough Rob? or, The (win Champions of Blue Blazes, 411 The Sitken Lasso; or, The Rose of Ranch Robin, 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. 425 Texas Trump. the Border Rattler, 486 Phil Flash, tie New York Fox. 445 The City Vamptres; or, Red Rolfe’s Pigeon. 461.One Agat¥et Pitty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Boy-*bace wy or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. AT? The Exceistor Sport; or, The Washington Spctter. 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. _ 512 Dodger Dick, the Wiiart-Spy Detective. 521 Dodger Dick’s Best Dodke. 528 Fox and Faleon, the Bowery Shadows. 588 Dodger 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 Vidoeq. 578 The Two Shadows, 582 Dodger Dick’s Drop. 594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective, 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sherp on Guard, = _ The Trigger Bar Bully. as all were nearly i as well, No Double Numhile her vil-— ‘gone to an- ish crimes | BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 7 The Flying Yankee}; or, The Ocean Outcast. axing 17 Ralph —. the Boy Buccaneer; or, The Fugitive Y,GNLOrtue 24 Diamond Dirk or, The Mystery of the Yelloyry Yas now 62 The Shadow Ship’; or, The Rival Lieutenantyg 3 oatl 75 The Boy Dnellst; or, The Cruise of the Searyy, , BPCAUY 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Smuggter. me sinning 111 The Sea-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legacyity % ver had 116 The Mussar Captain j or, The Hermit o! HalP ha ~ iy j Little Grit or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender's Daug’Minhe shelf ‘ role lume; or, The Kid-Glove Sport, 216 Bison BIL, the Prince of the Reins. s father as- 222 Grit, the Bravo Sport 3 or, The Woman Trai!) Dudley— 229 Crimson Kates or, The Cowboy’s Triumph. y+ the lead. 237 Lone Star, tp Cowboy Captain. M h to 245 Serle, the Midday 3 or, The Freelance Heir. enoug z 260 The Midxbipman Mutincer: or, Brandt, the Pheight in«. 264 The Floating esther; ov, Merle Monte’s Trem ying + sland, 269 The Gold Ships or, Merle, the Condemned. and. 276 aterie Monte’s Cruise; or, The Chase of “The Goltin Ship.’ ' f 280 Merle Monte’s Fate ; or, Pearl, the Pirate’s Bride, 0 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 287 Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. +} 804 The Dead Shot Dandy ¢; or, Benito, the Buy Bugler. whe 808 Keno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double. ~ystal 814 7 Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler's Lo: pre- > rail. ast 87? Bonodel, the Boy Rover; or, The Flagless Schooner, 4 fe- 888 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island, was 887 Warpath WII, the Boy Phantom, 898 Seawalf, the Boy Lieutenant. ered 402 Isodor, the Young Conspirator; or, The Fatal Lea: 407 The Boy Insurgert; or, The Cuban Vendetta, , 412 The Wild Vachtsman; or, The War-Cloua’s Cruise. \ 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. _ ter- 488 A Cabin Boy’s Luck; or, The Corsair. our 487 The Sea Raider. 441 The Ocean Firefly; or, A Middy’s Vengeance. 11ne OD- 446 Maphazard Harry ; or, The Scapegrace of the Sea, 450 Winard Wills ur Tie Boy Ferrelot New York. 1S Cheers 454 Wizard Will's Street Scouts. 462 The Born Guide; or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer, ~ “den- 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster, th 474 Flora; or, Wizard Will’s Vagabond Pard, er 488 Ferrets Afloat: or, Wizard Will's Last Case. AST Nevada Ned, the Revoiver Ranger. sted 495 Arizona Joe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 3 ’ 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. re- 508 The Royal Middy; or, The Shark and the Sea Cat . vere 507 The Hunted Midshipman, | 511 The Outlawed Middy. | 520 Buckskin BI, the Comanche Shadow, jour, 525° Brothers in Buckskin. that 580 The Buckskin Bowers. “7 M 585 The Buetskin Rovers. f 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder ot the Rio, 545 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte. 550 Lafitte’s Legacy; or. The Avenging Son, Chat 555 The Creole Corsair. 560 Pawnee BIL, the Prairie Shadower, 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. 570 Camille, the Card Queen. 575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective. 580 The Outcast Cadet; or, The False Detective, 586 The Buckskin Avenger. ce atte" —per- their | 2 etting | & 591 Delmonte, the Young Sea-Rover. ato the 597 The Young Texan Detective. owers. 602 The Vagabond of the Mines, *» were 607 The Rover Detectives or, Keno Kit’s Champions. 617 Ralph, the Dead-Shot Scout; or, The Raiders ad dole of Red Riders of the Rio. 2 and the BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm. F. Cody tlowhes 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. off ” from 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie, 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unkrown Scout. F never, it 68 Border Robin Hooft; or, The Prairie Rover. ward way 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The 7 rooner2 with the “oa LATEST AND NEW ISStno. a po an 626 The Champion Pards; or, The Lucifer of SP Wey ta T. C. Harbaugh. % 627 Tom Bruce of Arkansas; or, The Wolf? / nd) Charles Morris. ; 628 Broadw ny Billy’s Dead Act; or, % y Os, Sworn Seven. By J.C. Cowdrick, A“ + escai 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Sport; or, The Jubb of Jaoktg By Wm, G, Patten. % 3 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in No Man’s Landi or, Gteot allt the Gladiator, By Ed, L. Wheeler, ler, \i 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Task; or, The Cowboy Dweaat Fi Ns Own Case. By Lieut. A. K. Sims, She spr 682 The Dead Detective’s Double. By Gamay angeaty! 688 Plucky Paul, the Boy bg pos r; or, The Deweguies 4 perado’s Last Innings. By J. W. Osbon ‘i ‘ Ib 684 Cache Carl, the Chico Giant, or, The True Héiee ) me . Eye Roost. By Buckskin Sam, je 6 K ur, 685 Oklahoma IM, the Blue-Coat Scout; or, The DBétn,. 2 ents th Battle, By P.S. Warne wild oa 686 Deadwood Dick, or. Swe the veer} (dra 5 sL green Gu y By BE. L. Wheeler, : am’s Last Green Game y E. heoler, who ci rative; 68% Dick Doan, the Dock Boy Detective; or, Lynx # 4+ By T. C. Harbaugh, nny y 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumph; or, Black Tvan’s Great Counts to sey D Lieut. A. K. Sims. 4, would, 689 Sunrise Saul, the Express-Train Ferret, By Jo. athing mo ” Ready October 22. 640 Bareback Beth, the Centaur of the Circle » her moy Cowdrick, Ready October 29, that t e , at nou A New Tasue Every Tue’ § 19 Carl fro The Half- Dime Library is tor slep* ¢G~siaselves wi cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt o” ~ es white <=" BEADLE AND 7Bentley | BYS, 98 Ww Jash Dare. 4