Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 646) (1889 12 10)
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—— oe ares SS = : = : } Fe blallallallalallallallallsl| Satie 9 _¥ é Sa o Y/® [>| (P(e RR a | pe m4 ' ~~ \ ee > | > Wale a ) IS | a ep ees A T_T Y 2 dix ers : — 3 cS rT ee et __. ORR NT ™ 3 y — NS (ttt Vn a tL Fi FT Tt HH a i es ll Dl LE Aca \tal ST\\ Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Mail Rates. Copyright 1889, by BEADLM AND ADAMS, = December 10 188%, $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, Price, No. 646. a Year. No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents. Vol. XXV. A Romance of the Yellowstone. | 5S SSN \ ASSN | oR, : The Grand Corral at Cross-Noteh, l] BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS, AUTHOR OF THE ‘‘ TEXAS TOM-CAT” STORIES, ‘ pIEDAD BARNACLE,” “HAPPY HANS,” “CAPTAIN CACTUS,” “THE SILVER SPORT,” ETC., ETC. CHAPTER I, A HOT PURSUIT. ‘> SS * Hoop-La! Go-o-long ! Stop, you red ras- G ZN | Cee eal, or I'll make a sieve of your greasy blanket!” : < ia Yi All| Wp Zy YY Aiea Dane bent forward in show ole, swung ttt: Yy gs By Uj LM YW YY, y his revolver menacingly, and addressed his ox- ==. YitthxdM@Ml. LM / clamations alternately to his horse avd to the THERE WAS SCARCELY TIME FOR THOUGHT. ON THE IMPULSE OF THE MOMENT GID GAVE villainous-looking half-breed he was pursuing, It was ‘an aggravating case,and Dane wag A GREAT SHOUT, RAISED HIS REVOLVER AND FIRED.
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ed i“ 2 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. Ps hot with anger. His saddle, the joy of his life and the poe of his eye, was being ridden and con- taminated by a mongrel red-skin, He had expected to encounter thieves, In fact, the wholesale stealing of cattle in the Bit- ter Creek country was the immediate cause of his presence there. Such audacious thieving! And, then, the object stolen! His brain whirled with its tide of indignation. And wellit might, While taking a noonday siesta beneath a clump of trees in the rear of the ranch-house, his saddle serving as a pillow, ‘the half-breed had quietly slipped it from be- neath his head, tossed it on a pony and rode off with it! It was a costly, silver-mounted miracle of the saddler’s art, and Dane highly prized it. In this respect he wasa true cowboy. Its absence awakened him, and when he realized that it was one his surprise was great. He knew it had een stolen, for the Bitter, Creek Ranch lay within the borders of the Crow country, and these half-vagabond Indians were notorious as petty thieves. Ale ran at once for his pony, that was picketed near, quickly saddled and bridled it and hurried out of the grove. As he cleared the timber he caught sight of the thief, a Blackfoot balf-blood who had been lounging about the ranch all day. When he ohaaaed Dane, and realized that he was being pursued, he spurred his pony into its fastest gait and headed for the hills, among which lay the Crow village. Dane gave a great shout, as he noticed the maneuver, and thundered in headlong chase, The Blackfoot thumped his steed mercilessly, looking backward from time to time in a fright- ened way. He was, in a manner, a homeless outcast. For certain reasons he had left the tribe of his mother and taken up his abode with the Crows. ‘The Crows only tolerated him in a half-hearted way, for there was no love lost be- tween them and the Blackfeet; and the half- breed had few friends among the whites, .There- fore, he had every reason to fear the vengeance of the cowboy, should he be overtaken. As Dane drew near, however, shouting his commands and threats, the look of fear on the Blackfoot’s face changed to one of dogged reso- lution. He loosened and drew his revolver from beneath the folds of his blanket. It was a rusty affair, but capable of execution; and the fa- miliar click, 2s he drew back the hanimer, added to his courage. Dane saw the movement, and as the Blackfoot turned in the saddle, with the weapon half lifted, the cowboy’s lasso shot through the air, tearing the revolver from the clinched, brown hand. Then, with a few quickened bounds, his pony leaped to cne side of the other, “You red villain!” the cowboy howled, lean- ing over and twining the fingers of his right hand in the blanket at the Indian’s throat, *‘You would shoot a fellow for trying to get back his own, would you?” The muscular grip tightened and the Indian was hurled to the ground, Dane reined in almost instantly, leaped from his saddle, and faced the discomfited half-breed. The latter’s pony, bearing the precious saddle, stopped whena few rods away and began to graze. Tbe fact did not increase the Indian’s good humor, for wken he fell, he had hoped the cowboy would be led on in its pursuit. **T ought to crack your head for this,” cried Dane, but I'll let you down easy, if you'll just answer a few questions.” The Indian only grunted. He was in no mood for talking, The jarof the fall had bruised him somewhat and shaken the breath out of him. ‘“‘T know you,” Dane continued. ‘‘ You’re Blackfoot Joe, and there ain’t a bigger thief in this region. ‘You hang up with the Crows, I understand, but Pye an idea you know a good deal about a different set than the Crows,” The half-breed grunted again and turned away his face. “Don’t want to talk, eh? Then, I suppose, T’ll have to make you.” He drew hisrevolver and twirled the cylinder around in a suggestive way. ‘“ What want?” Joe asked, sulkily, “You're a thief, Joe, or you wouldn’t have hooked that saddle, Then you tried to shoot me, and that’s attempted murder. You know what we do with thieves and murderers out here, If I take you back to the ranch, the boys will string you up in short order; and if the Crows choose to make a muss about it, the cowboys "Il clean out the village.” _ Elsce tons Joe shrugged his shoulders, indiffer- v entlv. ‘One thief is mighty apt to know the business of other thieves,” putting the revolver in its place and assuming a conciliatory air. ‘‘So, I take it you know something about the cattle- stealing that’s worrying the Bitter Creek ranch- men. Spit it out, and TPll never say a word about this little affair.” ** Don’t know nothin’,” Joe declared, ** Come, that won’t do!”’ running bis fingers im- atiently through his pony’s silky mane. ‘“ Bill Santen lost more than five hundred cows the past season, and otherranchmen in proportion. Not a hoof of ’em can be traced. They couldn’t fly away; and they didn’t tumble down a ledge, for I’ve searched the country over. If you'll tell me who got away with’em, I'll give you the saddle you tried to steal, It’s worth a hundred and fifty dollars,” The half-breed’s eyes sparkled covetously. ‘* Was it your friends, the Crows? You don’t owe them anything, Joe, according to all ac- counts,” The covetous look changed toa scowl at the recollection of the many Bee's insults the Crows bad heaped on him, evertheless, Joe main- tained an obstinate silence. ‘* Maybe it was whites,” Dane went on, watch- ing every expression in the moody face of the squatting Blackfoot. “If it was, and you'll show me their hiding-place, I'll throw this pony in with the saddle. Don’t be ina hurry to say no. It’s the best pony and saddle in the whole Yellowstone country.” ‘*Me poor Injun,” Joe whined. make fool of poor Injun.” ‘* You're afraid I won’t doit? Well, I'll trust you, Joe, further than you will me. Tell me who stole the cattle and where I can find ’em, and you can take the saddle and pony with you now. Only remember, if the thieves ain’t where you say they are, I'll be hot on your trail as soon as I get back.” **Poor Injun don’t know nothin’!” Joe per- sisted. And from this position he could not be shaken, although Dane promised and stormed by turns for a full half-hour, “Call up your pony and clear out of here!” the angry cowboy exclaimed at last. ‘‘ You're a lying scoundrel, and I know it.” The Indian lazily turned his head and then gave utterance to a call which brought the pony quickly to his side. The cowboy approached the animal, loosened the cinches, and tossed the silver-mounted saddle across the withers of his own steed. ‘«There’s your brute. Now pick up your re- volver and skedaddle! If you attempt to use it, though, I'll put a hole through you.” The half-breed’s eyes glittered angrily, but he obeyed without a protest. Without a backward glance, he mountea and rode away toward the Crow village. ‘ : “*T expect I’m a fool for letting him off so easy !” Dane exclaimed, half-aloud, as he watch- ed the single feather which nodded above the head of the disappeuring Blackfoot. ‘ But I make more by it than by uselessly corraling him,’ ** Cowboy CHAPTER II. THE MAD HERMIT. Wuen the Blackfoot’s nodding feather had disappeared in a gully, Gideon Dane mounted and turned his pony’s head toward the ranch, As he did so he guve a start of surprise. Be- fore him stood as singular a being as he had ever beheld. ‘The stranger, who seemed to have risen out of the earth, was a tall, gaunt and white-haired man. An air of wildness hovered about him, and skone from his deeply-sunken black eyes. Moccasins were on his feet, a badger-skin cap surmounted his tangled and snowy locks, and his clothing, which was of tanned and untanned skins, seemed of his own make and fashioning. His arms were folded across the, muzzle of a long rifle, and a look of questioning melancholy rested on his face. A stronger contrast than that presented by the two men would be difficult to find. The cowboy was in the vigor of young manhood, and the buoyant alertuess of youth was revealed in every action, , That the stranger had taken him so unawares nettled him. ‘A regular hermit-looking cuss,” he decided, and sonal as a March hare, or I miss my guess, I to how he managed to slip on me that way The other now approached, with the long rifle thrown into the hollow of his arm. When within a few feet he bent forward. ‘*No; it ain’t him!” he muttered, himself as he looked into Dane’s face. him!” speaking to “Tt ain’t —_—_—_——— Sees ‘* Who might you be searching for, pardner?” Dane asked, startled in spite of himself. The stranger straightened up, as if suddenly recalled to his surroundings. ‘* Hh? My name’s Featherstone, Joel Feather- stone; and I’m huntin’ fer him. I don’t know his name, but I'll know his face if I ever see it, Yes; jes’ as it looked in the flame an’ smoke of that night, .I reckon you never had your heart burnt out, stranger? Mine was, then! An’ the tears I ort to have shed have filled its place sence, an’ turned to a stone,” ‘*Hadn’t you better go up to the ranch with me?” Dane questioned, now fully convinced that the man was mad, ‘‘ We've got a nice place up there, and we’ll treat you well.” Featherstond again folded his arms over the muzzle of bis rifle, and shook his head, “Not till I find him, stranger. There ain’t apy rest or peace fer me till then. As fer the ranch, ’ve been there, Not at the house, but around it. I tvok alook at the men, but he wasn’t among ’em,” His eye rested inquiringly on the saddle strung across the pony’s withers, Apparently he had noticed it for the first time. ‘*[ just overtook a sneaking red who was making off with it,” Dane explained. “Yes, I saw him. He went by me while I was layin’ among the rocks over there. There were Injuns that night, too. Maby Ill have to foller him.” ‘* Better come to the ranch!” Dane urged. ‘No, I couldn’t! There ain’t been a roof over my head sence that night, I live in the caves an’ rocks. Houses an’ men make me think of snakes an’ their dens. There’s nothin’ true an’ comfortin’ like the rocks an’ the blue sky. My heart goes back to tears sometimes, when I lay awake of nights an’ talk to them.” The cowboy was touched by the simple pathos of the statement. “Tf you’il come with me, Featherstone, I'll help you find the chap you’re hunting. I’m try- ing to Jook up a lot of scaly fellows, and may we'll find your map among them.” A sudden hope lighted the eyes of the mad hermit. But it died away as quickly asit had come, ‘*No; I must make the hunt alone. You look well, but I couldn’t trust you!” As he said it, a half-growl showed his set teeth. Then he tossed the rifle into the hollow of his arm, turned abruptly, and stalked away. “Mad ain’t no name for it,” Dane asserted, urging his horse forward. ‘‘ There rever was a worse one out of the asylum. Queer how peo- ple go off sometimes on a tack like that. “* Jeems’s rivers!” The exclamation was drawn from him by a volley of shots and a chorus of yells. They came froma valley, half a mile to his right, He instantly wheeled his horse in that direction. No more shots were heard, but the yells con- tinued, and when he reached the summit of the intervening rise the exciting cause became ap- parent. A dozen cowboys were spurring in hot chase after half that number of well-mounted men, The cowboys were from the Bitter Creek Ranch. A score of partially stampeded cattle were scat- tering over the valley, and from this Dane knew that the pursued men were cattile-thieves, He reddened with indignation as this know]- edge was thrust upon him, And it humiliated as well asangered him. He had come to the Bitter Creek country for the purpose of pre- venting just such operations; yet here the thieves had cut out a bunch of cattle under his very nose! And they might have made off with them in safety if the cowboys had not come unexpectedly upon them, Dane gave his pony free rein, drew his re- volver, and added his shouts to those of the others. 7 It was a wild, mad run, over a rocky and broken country, where a false step might pre- cipitate a rider to his death. But neither the pursuers nor the pursued heeded this, It was plain from the start that the cowboys’ ponies were no matches for those ridden by the cattle brigands, Dane’s pony, however, wasre- markably fast, and he soon found himself lead- ing the chase, When two miles had been covered he was 80 far in advance of the others that it seemed folly for him to continue on. Should he overtake the thieves he could not cope with them ne pela omcg ed. Nevertheless, he spurred forward as furi- ously as ever, impelled by the thought that he might thus be led to the secret hiding-place of the pests of the plains, A mile further the pursued shifted their course, and a rocky wall soon hid them from view,
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Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. 3 When Dane drew near the point where they had vanished a bullet hurtled past his head, fired from the angle of the wall. ‘““They have made a stand!” he ejaculated, crowding his laboring pony into the encroaching bushes. ‘‘ Now, if the boys were only here!” But, the ‘‘ boys” were far behind, and so scat- tered he could not hope to mass them very soon, Finally, after much vain arsed he rode back along the trail, re-entered the bushes and ap- proached the wall from a different direction, ‘‘They’re gone!” he cried, when he could see into the pass and valley beyond it. It was true. The shot had been part of a clever ruse designed to cover the retreat of the fugitives. While he was making the detour they had passed from sight, ‘“That’s what I call mean!” he asserted, ad- miring the shrewdness of the scheme notwith- standing the fact that it bad pean baffled his hopes. ‘‘ But, maybe the rascals have hid themselves and their horses somewhere in the bushes?” This was a possibility and he examined his weapons carefully as he galloped forward fora survey. Neither men nor horses were to beseen; and by the time he had finished the search the foremost cowboy rode up. The others arrived at irregular intervals, and when they were all gathered in the pass a syste- matic search was commenced. But, nothing came of it. Openings led in all directions from the valley toward the mountains, and the ground was so stony and hard that the hoof-prints of the horses could not be followed. “We'll have to giveit up,” confessed Dane, despairingly, after an hour’s hard work. ‘One might as well try to trail a flock of birds,” Then the signal was given and the weary and discomfited cowboys turned their jaded ponies homeward, CHAPTER ITI. A LOVE AFFAIR. Bru STAPLES, the owner of the Bitter Creek Ranch, was lazily whipping his big boots when Gideon Dane entered his room on the afternoon of the following day. The ranchman was a bearded six-footer and a typical old-time cattle- man. He had evidently been in a brown study, for be looked up in an absent way as Dane stalked in. “ Hain’t found out anything yit, I reckon?” he questioned. ‘Them cussed cattle-thieves air nigh about worrying the life out of me.” ‘ Nothing for certain,” Detective Gid replied, seating himself in a careless attitude. “ But I’ve been hammering at a theory, and I think there’s something in it. Yesterday’s work con- vinced me that we can’t hope to trail those fel- lows. So, we'll have to go at it in some other way.” Staples looked at him keenly and nodded. “*T couldn’t squeeze anything out of Blackfoot Joe, but I’m satisfied he knows the whole secret. He lives with the Crows. There are said to be vast valleys beyond the Crow country. Still, nobody seems to know for certain what there is back there,” ** But no one can git through the mountains in that direction. There ain’t any passes, so the cowboys say; an’ it stands to reason the thieves couldn’t drive the cattle over the rocks,” ‘Good, as far as it goes. But, because a pass has never been found don’t prove that there are none, This morning I went out to the valley where the thieves disappeared, and after hunt- ing around an hour or two stumbled onto a can- on that seemed to offer something. I followed t up till it ended in a kind of pocket. A narrow ledge led from this. Cattle couldn’t be driven along the ledge, but the thieves may have escaped that way, and I intend to investigate it. ‘TI want to go over to Conner’s first, though. Old man Conner has tramped about this country a eves deal in his trading business, and may be able to tell me sometbing.” Staples smiled, } ** Air you sure, now, it ain’t his daughter you want to git to tell you somethin’? That's a nice gal, Gid, an’ I don’t blame you; but I do hope you wont ‘low her to rope ye tell Pk git this cattle bizness settled. Bizness fore folley, allus, my boy, Remember that, an’ you have my blessin’,” . Gideon flushed, stammered, and again spoke of the cattle-thieves. ; “Hit hard, eh? Yes, them fellers air p’izen critters! it you a Sorrel ’em anldanny A the thanks an e of every ranchman along the Yallerstone.” as **T’'ll do it sooner or later,” the cowboy assert- ed, determinedly. ‘*‘ You know the old saying: ‘The pitcher that goes often to the well gets broke at last.’” ‘** An’ the feller that goes often to Conner’s will git roped at last.” ‘You didn’t let me finish my statement!” with an attempt at a smile. ‘“‘The point I wanted to make was, the rustlers can’t keep up their thieving and not get caught. They’re certain to leave some kind of a trail, sooner or later.” ‘¢Do you know, I think them Crows air mixed up in it?” Staples asserted, stretching out his long o ““They’re a lazy, sneakin’, stealin’ set, an’ I, fer one, wouldn’t put nothin’ past ’em. A geniwine, no-count Crow is the meanest vag- abone on the face of this hyer earth, I do be- lieve they'd sell their totems fer a drink, an’ a Crow thinks a blame sight more of his totem than he does of his squaw or his boss,” ““T’ve thought the same. But ain’t they too cowardly to run such risks?” ‘Not if they was backed by a set of p’izen whites. The Blackfoot, you said, acted hke he knowed a good deal, If the Crows air into it, of course they couldn’t very well keep it from him. If they ain’t into it, he wouldn’t be apt to know anything of the bizness.” ** f guess I didn’t say anything to you about the queer fellowI had a talk with yesterday?” Dane questioned, as a sudden recollection of the Mad Hermit came to bim. ‘He called himself Featherstone, and ig the oddest chap I’ve yet struck in these regions,” “I’ve heard o° him,” admitted Staples, after the cowboy had given a hurried account of Featherstone’s appearance and actions. ‘‘ But, I didn’t know he was in this section. He’s crazy as a loon, I guess, an’s been that way fer years. I never quite heard the straight of his story. He lived north, somewhere, it seems, an’ one night his shanty was burnt and his wife killed er carried off. He’s been huntin’ fer the feller that done it ever sence, Likely the scoundrel’s dead; but I suppose Featherstone ‘ll go on hunt- in? him till he’s dead too,” “T ought to have known my sudden suspicion was foolish,” Dane averred, toying thoughtfully with his wide-brimmed hat, The ranchman stared, ‘¢'The idea came to me that he might be one of the thieves and playing a part,” the cowboy explained. ‘‘No, He’s jes’ what he seems to be, jedgin’ from all reports.” ‘Well, ’m glad of it!” Gideon declared, rising to depart. ‘‘It won’t hurt me to believe i! man could play so base a game.” e went from the house to tbe horse-corral, and, a little later, rode away in the direction of the hills, The Bitter Creek Ranch consisted of a vast extent of river, valley, mesa and mountain, and encroached on the territory of the Crows, which lay to the northwest. The village of the Crows was situated on the opposite side of the divide, and the cabin of Hank Conner, the Indian ieee nestled in a gorge in the intervening hills. The cowboy had spoken the truth when he said he hoped to learn something from Conner. Conner, as a trader in furs and pelts, was on terms of intimacy with the Indians, and would robably know something of the movements of lackfoot Joe. He might also know something about the vast valley which rumor located be- yond the Crow village, As Staples suspected, however, the main object of the Cowboy Detec- tive’s visit was to see pretty Nellie Conner. When he reached the gorge, he hitched bis pony under the sheltering trees and walked up the little bridle-path leading to the cabin. The home of the Conners was an unpretentious affair, but its exterior and interior showed that a woman presided over it. ae A momentary glimpse of an open window re- vealed a rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed girl seated near it, busily sewing, Then Dane omy 'ing from behind thescreening bushes, lifted his big, white hat and bowed. ‘“‘Gid Dane, you like to’a’ scared me to death!” she exclaimed, as his shadow fell across the win- ow. The startled flush on her cheeks added to her beauty. ‘ , * I beg pardon, then,” he said; and advanced as she tossed aside ber work and hurried to greet m. The smile that bad driven away the flush showed that the handsome young cowboy held ber heart in his keeping. “Nobody around, [ guess!” he said, kissing her as he stepped across the threshold, ‘If there was you wouldn't dare to do that /” ‘and I will manage to get it. she declared, giving him e chair and retreating to her position by the window. ** Probably not, but I’d be tempted to, just the same. Where’s your father?” ** Gone to the Crow village,” ** Well, ’'m both glad and sorry. I wanted to see him, but 1 wanted to see you more, I wish, while he’s over there, he’d round up a certain rascal known as Blackfoot Joe. The fellow tried to steal my saddle, yesterday.” “Do yon know, Gid,” poising her needle in mid-air, ‘I’ve always said that Indian was a thief!” **So you know him?” “Know him? Why, he’s been here many a time. Father’s well-acquainted with him, and brings him over to meals, now and then,” ‘*Well, if you know so much, maybe you know something about Featherstone, the Mad Hermit?” **No,” she replied, shaking her head nega- tively. ‘“‘1’m very glad father isn’t here,” she declared, speaking very earnestly, a little later. ‘““Why?” Dane questioned, drawing his chair close to hers, as she cast down her eyes in a troubled way. ‘You've heard of Donald Know]ton?” “The rich cattle-king, who lives a dozen miles or so down the river?” “Yea?” “‘T know something of him, He belongs to the cattlemen’s league, I’m working for.” ‘*T didn’t know that, Anyway, he’s no friend of yours, He spoke to father about me, last week; and has been to see me twice, since that time.” Her face colored from embarrassment, ‘*7 think I understand you,” returned Dane, taking one of her bands in his, ‘* Knowlton’s got a gilded cage in Denver or sonie such place, I suppose, and wants a bird for it, And he bas chosen a bird that don’t want to go. In fact, one that bas promised to go somewhere else,” og blushed as she unresistingly yielded her mand, ‘* That isn’t the worst, Gid. Father has mad@ promises to him forme. He is taken with the idea that Knowlton is rich and insists that I must marry him. I told him I wouldn't, and be— She began to sob and could not complete tha sentence. Dane placed his arm about her and kiased her again, ‘* And what?” ‘*He declared that you must not come herr a ei that if you did he wovid shoot you oy sight. ‘* Your father said that?” “Yes, Gid ; and, from the way he looked, I fear he will do it.” ‘* He will be home this evening, I suppose?” ‘Yes, but you mustn’t stay to meet him, Gid. I could never forgive myself if anything should happen to either of you. And father has sucha temper, when aroused! You must not try tosee me again until [tell youyoumay, Youcan leave a letter for me once a week at Staples’s ranch, At the same time I will leave one there for you. That’s as much as we’]l dare to do at present.” Dane was inclined to demur to this arrange- ment, but pretty Nellie Conner was firm. *“Now you must go,” she announced, “It won’t do {~* you to stay any longer. I wouldn't have it known that you were here this after- noon, for anything.” “Another kiss, then, sweetheart!” assuming an air of levity, ‘‘ and remember, “*T'll be true to my love, if my love’ll be true to me !’ ” And singing this line of an old love-song, he retreated through the doorway, and wa ked slowly down the narrow path to the point where he had hitched his horse. CHAPTER IV. SHOT FROM AMBUSH, Neue Conner watched ber lover until his form was hidden by the trees, Tears were in her eyes when she turned again to the window and attempted to resume her work. Her ac- quaintance with Gideon Dane had not been of long duration, butit had ripened into perfect love; and when her father commanded her to dismiss bim in favor of Knowlton, it aroused in her an unwonted feeling of rebellion. Until then she had never deceived him nor resisted his wishes, Her thoughts were troubled oues, as she me- chanically plied her needle. She had disobedi- ently arranged for a clandestine correspondence. Besides, knowing her father as well as she did,
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4 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective, she feared for Dane’s life should they chance to meet that evening. An hour later, when her father staggered to the door, the blood trickling from an ugly wound on his head and crimsoning his garments, her worst fears sprung full-armed upon her. Why, what is the matter?” she asked tremb- ling as she hurried to meet him, ** That cussed Gid Dane!” he growled, sinking limply to a seat on the door-sill, ** He’s done me up I’m afeard.” Then, in answer to her questioning exclama- tions: ‘* He laid for me in a thicket, down the gorge. I was comin’ along, when he shot me same as be would a kiote. The ball cut through there,” tapping his head, ‘‘ an’ I went down like a house a-fallin’, I didn’t know anything fer nigh a minit. But, when I did come ’round, I seen him makin’ off as if the devil was after him,” **Oh, it couldn’t have been Gid!” Nellie de- clared, wringing ber hands in a helpless way. ‘*He wasn’t on that trail.” “ Eh ? He looked at her closely, a sudden suspicion aroused in his mind, ‘* He was hyer this afternoon, was he?” She paled, and trembled more violently than before. ** No lies, Nell! I can see from your looks that he’s been hyer ag’in. An’ this is what comes of it. He laid for me while he was mad, thinkin’ if the ole man was out of the way, he wouldn’t have any furder trouble in corraling the gal,” “We'll not talk about it, father, for I won't believe he did it. Come into the house, please, and let me bandage your head, It’s been bleed- ing terribly.” “You won't believe it, eh?’ he snarled, stag- gering to bis feet and following her into the room. ‘That’s purty tough, Nell. An’ to your own father!” ‘Oh, I can’t believe it!” she moaned. ‘I don’t mean to dispute your word. But you must have been mistaken. Some one else fired at you. It wasn’t Gid Dane.” She placed a chair for him, then hurriedly tore some strips of old muslin and rolled them into bandages, “But I seen him!” he asserted, doggedly, as she applied these, ‘‘And he pulled on me for keeps. Look at that bullet-hole, will ye? An inch to the right an’ I'd ’a’ been a dead man.” Her fingers moved deftly, while he talked, and the bandages were soon in place. Protesta- tions of Dane’s innocence seemed useless, “* Hark ye, Nell! You told him he couldn’t come ag’in, I reckon?” His form was half concealed in the deepening shadows, and his face looked ghoulish as it peered from beneath the bandages. ‘* For the present, yes!” trimming a lamp pre- paratory to lighting it. “I told him what you said, Ididn’t mean to say anything about his being here, but you guessed it; and besides, it proves to me he never fired that shot. He went down the east trail.” ‘*Proves fiddlesticks! Why, Nell, do you suppose hé’d be fool enough to let you know what he meant todo? Of course he went down the east trail, but, then he slipped across to the other.” ** But he couldn’t get his horse across,” she in- sisted, ‘“Who said he had a hoss?’ wit! impatient emphasis. ‘I’m shore [ didn’t.” ** But I thought—” ‘** Yes, bein’ bound an’ determined not to be- lieve me, you're likely to think ’most anything.” He seldom spoke to her so harshly and the words fell with crushing weight. But she strove to bear up bravely as she arranged the table for the evening meal. Conner watched her craftily, an evil light in his eyes, The story he had told was partly true and partly false. He had been shot from am- bush, but he had not seen the would-be assassin. He had hoped by asserting that Dane was the miscreant, to turn Nellie against her lover. He had failed and it angered him, Although a rough, Indian trader, partially uncivilized by his wild life, he had, so far as Nellie could remember, always treated her with kindness and consideration, She believed that, in his rude way, he loved her; and she returned this love with obedience and filial respect. Their wishes had seldom clashed, but now she had set herself in array against him and dis- cord was the result. * You're acting sillier than I ever knew you to, Nell!” he ventured, breaking the silence. ** This Gid Dane’s nothin’ but a common cow- boy an’ not fit fer you, anyway. I can’t for the life of me see whatever made ye take sicha fancy tohim, Now, there’s Knowlton. He’s a smarter man’n Dane, better lookin’ to my no- tion, an’s wu’th a mint o’ money. An’ he thiaks more o’ you, Nell, a good ’eal, than he does of his thousands er of his big cattle-ranch, ’Most any gal in the West would snap at him jes’ like a trout at a fly.” To his great disappointment, she did not reply. “Yer old dad can’t live forever, Nell, I’m a-feelin’ purty shaky, lately, an’ this bullet-mark may be a plaguey sight worse’n it looks, If I should go sudden, at any time, it?}d be a com- fort to me to know you was well fixed. That’s why I’m anxious to have ye married to Knowl- ton. It’s a pity ye’ve took a fancy to this Gid Dane. He's too young and coltish to make any woman a good husband, an’ too everlastin’ pore to support a wife, if he bad one.” “*T can’t marry Knowlton, father,” she pro- tested. ‘‘ His presence is unendurable to me; and, besides, he is twice my age.” ** He’s old enough to have some sense, Nell. That’s more to the p’int. An’ there’s another thing. My Injun tradin’s been a losin’ bizness fer more’n a year, The last lot o’ pelts I sent down the river didn’t pay the expense of the trip. What’s to’come of us, if this season’s as bad, is more’n I can tell. “Per a good while it’s been touch an’ go with me to git enough fer us to eat an’ some clo’es fer you. l’ve never said nothin’ about it till now, knowin’ it would make you feel bad an’ could do no good. If ye marry Knowlton it'll be per- vidin’ a good home fer you an’ me fer the rest o’ our lives.” ‘* And you want to sell me in that way, fa- ther!” The girl’s face flamed with indignation, The next instant she threw herself into a chair by the window and began to sob like a child. “Tut, tut, Nelt!” in an alarmed and agitated voice, ‘‘ What'd I say to make you drop down that way?” It would have been difficult for her to explain the cause, A flood of memories had quenched the hot fire of her anger. There was the time wken he had nursed her through a lingering fever, He had tenderly carried:her home on his back when the colt threw her and twisted her ankle. Dozens of times he had brought her trinkets and presents from trading-posts, beaded moccasins and Indian finery from the Crows and Blackfeet, and more valuable articles of wearing apparel from the far cities of civiliza- ten And, besides, she owed him a daughter's ove. ‘““Give me time to think it over, father,” she pleaded. ‘‘ Don’t hurry me, and it may be I can do as you say. I didn’t know we were sv poor. I would do anything to help you. But that! How can [I ever do that?” A pleased grin spread over Conner’s face. ““Have yer way, Nell. [ won’t push ye. I knowed all the time ‘that you was a gal that wouldn’t disobey her dad. Wewon’t talk any more about it to-night. My head’s thumpin’ fit to split; an’ I guess I'll have to lay down an’ let the supper go. I’m afeard this wound’s goin’ to prove a serious affair,” Then with another pleased grin and a sidelong glance at the bowed head, he stumbled into the adjoining room, which was his sleeping apart- ment, CHAPTER V. IN MID-AIR, THREE days later, the Cowboy Detective had another consultation with Bill Staples, and at its conclusion started for the gorge he had discoy- ered while searching for the cattle-thieves. Staples had offered to send a number of cow- boys with him, but Dane insisted on going alone. ‘‘Tean get along better by myself,” he had said. ‘‘If I find out anything I can come back for the cowboys. A crowd would only interfere with work, now. I'vean idea I'll have todoa lot of close hiding. Andone can do that easier than twenty.” ‘ ‘“P’raps you're right,” Staples assented, wav- ing him an adieu as he galloped away, Gideon knew that a difficult undertaking lay before him. To traila band of desperate men to their secret haunts required courage, discre- tion and fortitude, And at the end of the trail hot fighting might occur. For this he was well prepared, being superbly mounted and heavily armed, In addition, his trusty-lasso was coiled at the silver-plated saddle-bow, “*Tf I could only see Nell!” he muttered, half- tempted to ride by Conner’s cabin on the way. But he had promised to refrain from calling on her until she sent him word, and he dared not break that promise, ‘“‘Tf Conner wasn’t her father, I'd call him an old chump. I suppose he thinks I’m staying away because I’m afraid of bim. Well, he never was more mistaken in his life. And that scoun- drel, Knowlton! If I should give him a drag at the heels of my pony it might put some sense in- to his swelled head. Money isn’t everything, though a good many people seem to think so,” A ride of two or three hours brought him to the timber-shaded gorge. A half-blind trail wound among the scrub at its bottom. Evident- ly it had been traversed at some time, but whether by man or beast was hard to say. ‘Two chances to one I’ll fetch up against a grizzly,” thought Dane, as his pony slowly pick- ed its way along the difficult route. ‘‘A nasty place for a brush with Bruin. Old fellow, it shag take some lively scratching to get out of ere, He patted the pony’s neck, and looked anx- iously ahead. But no grizzly was encountered, and after a long and toilsome scramble they reached the arroya-like end of the gorge. Here the Cowboy Detective dismounted, and taking the bridle-rein in his hand, carefully led the pony up the steepincline. It was twenty feet to the narrow ledge above, which, viewed from below, seemed almost inaccessible to a horse. But Dane’s mountain-bred pony was sure-footed and could climb like a goat; and after a vigorous effort, during which stones and pebbles fell in showers, it stood panting and trembling on the firm rock, ‘Good boy!” said Dane, stroxing the arched neck. ‘‘I knew you could make it. I am sure other horses have been up here, and you can go where any of them can.” The pony rubbed his velvety nose against bis master’s arm as if he understood the compli- ment. Then the cowboy swung himself again into the saddle, and the animal moved forward along the narrow pathway. A grand, but bewildering extent of wild mountain scenery opened before the cowboy as be ascended higher and higher. Castle-like cliffs, battlemented and scarred, outlined them- selves here and there, Vast canyons seamed the rocks, and peaks towered skyward from the ver- tebra of the range. The greater portion of the ledge he was tra- versing hung outward from the face of the mountain, the shale beneath it having been worn away by time and the elements. Thus it formed a table-like shelf, overhanging a precipitous canyon. The opposite wall of the canyon pre- sented an almost perpendicular face of granite, At some points, however, it was broken, and lined with trees, “This will take me not far from the Crow vil- lage,” thought Cowboy Gid, as he noted the trend of the canyon. ‘That helps to support Staples’s opinion. Those Crows are a rascally lot, sure. The thieves couldn’t hide the cattle in the village, though. If there isa valley beyond ] shall have to think they know something about the stealing. I almost wish I had placed Black- foot Joe under arrest. I might have squeezed some information out of him by taking him to the ranch.” The ledge was becoming exceedingly narrow, and the pony moved with great care and delib- eration, as if knowing the danger of a slip or mis-step. At a point where the ledge swung around a bend, it sniffed the air suspiciously, and came to a full stop, “Hullo! What now?” closely scanning the narrow path, and also the bottom of the canyon. The ledge had a decidedly dangerous slope, but be believed the pony could pass it in safety, The bottom of the canyon seemed a smooth sur- face of grayish, white rock, ‘*A bad place to fall from, eb, my boy? But you will not fall, Youve gone ’round worse places.” : Then he touched the pony lightly with the spur and urged it on, The animal trembled, advanced a few steps, fand then gave a great bound as if to clear some obstruction. As it came down its feet slipped from under it and it shot into space. Then Dane felt himself falling with a swift rush into the canyon. A thrill of terror, such as he had never known, seized him and choked the cry that welled to his lips. The next instant the pony struck; but the shock which Dane expected did not occur, APO ibe What had seemed the grayish white of a rocky bottom proved to be the crusted coating on the surface of an alkali sink. Into this the pony had fallen feet-foremost, with a slushing, sucking sound, filling the air with a perfect
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a Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. 5 shower of the gluey mud. Its weight and the force of the fall sunk it at once to its mid-sides; and its instantaneous and frantic struggles only served to sink it deeper. ‘ The down-rush through the air and the jolt took away Cowboy Gid’s breath. Fora moment he was confused, and scarcely knew what had happened. .Then his wits came back, and the full peril of his position was forced upon him. The pony was sinking deeper at every move- ment, and it was plain it could never escape from the grip of the tenacious mud. He looked about appealingly. There was no sign of either human or animal life. On one side, the side from which he had fallen, the wall inclined toward and above him, and terminated in the rocky point over which wound the ledge. On the opposite side the perpendicular wail was broken and jagged and supported a growth of bushy trees. The canyon was not wide, and as his eye lighted on the projecting finger of rock above, a sudden hope came to him. He had partially drawn his feet out of the ooze, but his limbs were still submerged almost to the tops of his boots. With great difficulty he succeeded in ex- tricating them. Then he planted the mud- bedaubed boots in the seat of the saddle, stead- ied himself with his hands, and carefully arose to a standing position. The pony still struggled, but its movements were feebler; and as it turned its head toward him the cowboy fancied that there lay in its eyes a look of almost human despair. ** Steady, old boy!” he cried encouragingly. ** Maybe if I can get my weight off your back, you can make it after all.” As he said it, he drew his knife and cut the viata from the saddle-bow Then he coiled it with deft quickness, balanced himself firmly and cautiously, and hurled the noose at the rock above. The motion caused the pony to recommence its efforts to escape and almost tumbled Gid into the ecoze. But the noose caught, and he was able to steady himself by a downward pull on the rope. The point was about thirty feet above him, but asthe rope wasan unusually long one he had plenty of slack, Again drawing his knife, he severed the two girths of the saddle; and stepping lightly to the pony’s haunches, lifted the saddle from its back, Then he passed the end of the rope beneath the saddle, gave ita turn or hitch about the horn, and tied it tothe ropeas high upas he could reach, Thus he bad formed asort of loop or awine, in which the saddle sat as if on a horse’s ack, The poor pony had been plunging all the while, dipping its nose occasionally into the suffocating mass, and sinking itself steadily to its death. As soon as the saddle was properly secured Daneclimbed carefully into it. Hehad fastened it as high as he could reach and could now stretch ou his legs without thrusting his feet into the alkali. “Try it again!” be shouted to the pony. ‘ Get ap there! Hoop-la! Go-o-long!” Thus encouraged, the poor brute made another desperate surge, rising half out of the mud in its tremendous effort; then it fell exhausted. An- other struggle, feebler than the last, served only to hasten its submergence, Then, as the mud mounted over its back, it ceased all movement and quickly sunk from sight. ** Poor pony!” whispered the Cowboy Detec- tive, with lips tremulous and cheeks blanched. “You made a gallant fight, anyway. You knew more than I did. If I hadn’t been a fool I would never have tried to force you around that bend.” CHAPTER VI. A DESPERATE SITUATION. He looked about him and then at the rock above. ~ “If I was a monkey, Or @ sailor, I might climb this ro But climbing isn’t a cowboy’s best hold. I will have to find some other ia if I ever get out of this,” His movements had set the saddle to oscilla- ting. ; ‘* Now, there’s an idea,” measuring the width of the canyon with hiseye. ‘‘ Maybe 1 canswing myself to the other side!” ; ’ He rose toastanding position, with his feet resting firmly in the seat of the saddle; and, holding tightly to the rope with bis hands, he be- gan the pumping motion used by 4 Swinger. As he did so a pebble fell from the rock above, and with a gasp of dismay he desisted. “ That won’t do!” speaking in a busky, hollow voice, sla ‘lJ pull the noose off the rock and go into the alkali,” bere was great danger of that, for the noose had slipped a little and displaced the pebble. But after another survey of his surroundings he was convinced that his only chance of escape lay in swinging himself into the bushes on the oppo- site side. “If I could but get a foot against the wall at my back, I believe I could make it,” he mutter- ed. ‘‘ But there’s therub. Itis half as far to that side as it is to the other.” He again commenced the pumping motion, closely watching the noose above as he did so. It did not slip this time; and as his courage arose he swung himself ont boldly. ‘*T have got to make it! It’s life or death with me, now.” he motion increased until the rope and sad- dle described the curve of a gigantic pendulum. Then Dane’s foot touched the wall at his back; and, exerting all his strength, he propelled the swing with bird-like speed through the air, There was a rasping sound as the noose left the rock, torn from its place by the outward pull of the rope. But the momentum of the swinger was so great that he was hurled with stunning force among the clefts where the bushes were growing. The saddle served to break the force of the fall, though he was considerably bruised and shaken up. ‘No bones broke, anyway, and I’m safe from that villainous hole. My! But I’m shaking like a leaf, I wouldn’t go through that again for the best ranch on the Yellowstone.” Then, glancing at the ledge above: “*T wonder what made the pony act so queer! He ought to have gone ’round that bend, easy. He jumped just as if he’d been struck by a rat- tler. Dll have to look into that. First place, though, I must see how to get out of here, or if I can getout at all.” The trees grew at irregular intervals along the precipitous wall, and he made a careful esti- mate of their distances from each other, and marked the points where the ascents seemed the easiest, Gid then dragged the saddle to a place where it could not be seen from the ledge, and covered it with leaves and boughs to protect it from sun and dew and screen it from the gaze of any prowling animal. Having performed this to his satisfaction, the cowboy gathered up his lasso and made his way to a location favorable for a cast. Here he hurled the noose over a projecting bowlder, and by planting his feet in the niches of the wall managed to drag himself up toit. In the same manner he reached an overhanging bush; and from that worked by slow degrees tothe top of the precipice. Another ledge ran along here, far ‘above the one he had followed, however. It led in the same direction and he had little doubt it would serve his purpose equally as well. But ho wish- ed to examine the place from which the pony had fallen; and after moving along it for a half-mile, he found a series of terraces and again descend- ed into the canyon, the bed of which at that point was bard and firm. Here the difficult feat of mounting to the op- posite, low-lying ledge presented itself, but Gid accomplished it after much hard work, and then made bis way back to the perilous bend. “ Soap !” The exclamation followed a cry of astonish- ment. The angle of the trail was covered witha thick coating of dirty, rock-colored soft soap! Over it had been strewn a mass of pebbles and shale, giving it a very deceptive appearance, The pony had scented the soap, and, when urged forward, had tried to leap it, but bad fallen short, and so, been hurled to its death. Furrows in the soapy surface showed where its feet had slipped anJ plowed their way to the edge of the precipice, That’s as mean a trick as [ ever saw,” Cow- boy Gid asserted. ‘The work of a regular devil. The man that would do that would do anything. The thieves must have knowed I was following them, and fixed that as a trap,” He peered down into the alkali sink, the sur- face of which was still muddy-looking at the point where the pony had gone down, **T wonder if any other fellow ever went over there?” : j Dane started as he asked himself the question. He was not the first who had tried to trail the cattle-thieves to their lair. Several well-known cowboys of the Yellowstone had attempted it and never been heard of afterward, He shud- dered as he recalled the names of these men, and looked again into the place which was prob- ably their common grave, and which came so near being bis. A wild cry, which ended in a burst of cackling laughter, aroused and startled him, Looking in the direction from whence it came, he saw Featherstone peering at him from a rift in the rocks, As he looked, the face was withdrawn, and, a moment later, the gaunt form of the her- mit came into view. ‘* Found it, did ye?” he asked, the ghost of a smile flitting across his seamed visage. ‘‘ Ye’re bound to find it ef ye follow that trail. Irun oy it yisterday. Slicker’n b’ar’s’ile, hain’t it? He had nimbly gained the cowboy’s side, and was looking down on the soapy ledge. “Where did you come from?’ Dane stam- mered, a dark suspicion crossing his mind, “From evelywhur, nighabouts,” declared the strange madman, who, singularly enough, seemed in a talkative mood. “ You might as well ask the wind or the birds, Dve been up an’ down, up an’ down, on the earth an’ in the air, I could tell ye better where I hain’t been.” ‘* Maybe you know who put that there, then?” “The Injuns, mebbe. I’ve seen a pile of ’em in the last two days. Er it might ’a’ been him |” ““Then you don’t really know?” looking the hermit squarely in the eyes, “* How should I? I come down this way after I met you. Let’s see; when was that? as it last week, er yisterday? 1 come down here, as I say, an’ when I got to this place I climbed around it over the rocks, jes’ as I was doin’ ’while ago when I heered you talkin’.” ** And you are on your way back, then?” “Yes; frum the Crow village, an’ frum the rock gateway that leads to the canyon which no man can cross. There’s a smoke tother side of it an’ a valley. I seen the smoke from the hills, back here, an’ tried to git to it, but the canyon was in the way. Then I went to the Crow vil- lage.” ane stared at Featherstone, wondering if the latter’s statements were entitled to credence, or were merely the emanations of an unhinged brain. What did he mean by the rocky gate- way, the impassable canyon, and the mysterious sinoke? ‘* And what did you find at the village?” ‘* He wasn’t there!” shaking bis head sadly. ‘No; I s’pose not. But you found some- thing?” ‘Yes, one thing. No Crow ever goes int» the enchanted valley. That’s what they call it, whur the smoke rises. No Crow except the medicine-man. He goes to make totems and charms. How he goes no onecantell, I can fly, sometimes, but 1 couldn’t fly across the can- yon which no man can cross,” “T tell you what,” said Dane, speaking, as he hoped, in a tone to win the confidence of the Mad Hermit. ‘I’m going into that valley. If you'll show me the way to it, we'll manage to cross the canyon, somehow or other. Who knows? Maybe the map you're hunting for is there. So, you see, while you are helping me I'll be helping you.” “Not now!” with a decided shake of the head, ‘*T must look for him there.” He pointed a lean finger along the trail which Dane had lately traversed, “He is not in the Crow village. He is notin the enchanted valley. Was it in my dreams I seen him? Whur was it? Oh, my God, whur was it?” He pressed a hand to his brow and stared about in a wild and bewildered way. . ‘* He can’t be back there!” said Dane, sooth- ingly. ‘‘Show me the way to the enchanted valley.” ‘** But I seen him! unhappy man, : Thea, as he again became quiet: “Straight abead! Straight ahead! Up the canyon! The rock gateway, the black gorge, the enchanted valley!” - The old, flerce wildness was shaking him again; the harsh, cackling laugh broke again from his lips; and, with a swing of his long rifle, he wheeled abruptly and fled up the precipitous slope. I seen him!” screamed tha CHAPTER VII. A SCHEMING TRIO, LATE in the evening of the day on which the Cattle-Range Detective had his second meeting with the Mad Hermit, Donald Knowlton, accom- panied by Blackfoot Joe, approached the cabin of Hank Conner. Nellie was displeased as well as startled when she saw them. Conner was away, and shoso detested and feared Knowlton that she never liked to meet him during her father’s absence, That he was accomnanied by Blackfoot Joe did not serve to raise Knowlton in her estimation
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7 { y is i +o." ~ < ¢ a Y Et ear ee =F: - ee. or ee Se ——s m oo = toy, 7" ’ 7 a 7's 6 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. . © SA, fo Te 1 I AY Sa aid a ail Fe ia bh Bl Ae Se Te ee for, since hearing Dane’s story of the attempted theft of the saddle, she had regarded the half- breed as an irresponsible and dangerous charac- ter. ‘*Good-evening,” said Knowlton, lifting his heavy hat and howing politely, Nellie returned the greeting, addressing the Indian rather than the ranchman; at which Joe grinned broadly and Knowlton frowned. ** Will you come into the house, or would you prefer chairs out there?” pushing a couple of chairs toward the door. **Injun set outside an’ smoke!” was Joe's | red handkerchief, and with sudden resolution moved toward the door. Joe was still pulling at his queer-looking pipe, but he knocked the ashes from it and arose when Knowlton ap- peared. A moment later Hank Conner joined them, and the trio walked into the grove beyond ear- shot of the house. The sun had set, but its light still colored the sky and made surrounding objects easily dis- tinguishable. **Set down,” said Conner, pointing to a log. ** Wasn’t lookin’ for you this evenin’, but you’re prompt answer; and he produced a pipe and jes’ as welcome,” plumped himself down on the doorstep, “Your father isn’t at home, I see!” and Knowlton’s eyes swept the room, as he halted confusedly. “Hm! Yes; I believe I'll come i He stepped by the chairs, turned one of them about and occupied it, and placed his big hat on the floor at bis side. He wasa man of middle age, with some pre- tensions to education; but a coarse and sensual nature was revealed in his burly form and heavy, red face, ‘“T suppose you'll be here for supper, Mr. Knowlton?’ and Nellie balanced a fork across her forefinger as if weighing the amount that would whee gid be required to fill the capacious stomachs of the two men. Knowlton had been twisting uneasily, and the girl’s manner did not tend to restore his equa- nimity. “Hm! Yes, That is, no! I—I don’t think we'll stay for supper. Anyway, you needn’t can anything. I just wanted to see your ather, and—and—have a short talk with you, Miss Nellie.” At this she took a seat near the window and folded her hands in her lap, in a manner that was very demure and precise, but terribly exas- perating to the enamored ranchman. ‘** Curse the girl!” muttered Knowlton, under his breath, ‘ She’s trying herself this evening. If she’s ever Mrs, Knowlton, I’ll teach her bet- ter manners than that,” Then aloud: **T reckon you haven’t forgot, Miss Nellie, what I spoke about t’other night?’ **Was it the waterfall down the canyon?” tapping her foot and arching her brows, inno- cently. **No!” roared Knowlton, unable to restrain himself. ‘You know what I mean, Nellie Con- ner. “Then it was the grizzly which Cinnamon Jake roped last week out on the-mesa ?” ** See here, Nellie!” the leonine roar softening into a dove-like.coo, ‘‘ You can’t make me mad if you want to; I’ve made up my mind to that, And there ain’t any need of us fighting shy of each other or quarreling. I want you for a wife. That’s the plain English of it. I don’t know how to mix my talk up with sugar and honey, Jike some men; but you'll find me as straight as any Of ’em. And if I do say it my- self, Pd make as good a husband.” The girl busied herself with folding and un- folding the hem of her apron, but said not a word in et ** Most girls set great store by money and the fine things it will buy,” plunging on in a sort of fever of recklessness and haste. “If you're that kind 1 can promise yon every thing you'll care for. Your father knows how well I’m fixed, financially. You can live on the ranch, - if you’d like it better, you can live in a’ city. “Youre very kind, Mr. Knowlton, and I ought to be grateful, I know; but you said you’d give me plenty of time to think it over, and you haven’t given mea week. And— There! I hear father coming, bungry as a wolf as he al- ways is, and pe 4a isn’t ready.” onald Knowlton also heard the crunchin footsteps on the gravelly hillside and smothe an oath in his big beard, as Nellie, with undis- guised relief, Rogar a hurried preparation for the evening meal. He was picking up his hat with the thought of going out to meet Conner, when the latter ed him from the doorway: “Hello! Hello! Glad to see ye, Gittin’ along handsome, I see, Glad you’re enjoyin’ yourself, I am so!” He extended his hand to Knowlton, and gave Nellie a questicning glance, “Tf was just on the point of walking out,” said Knowlton, picking up and sume at his hat. ‘Mise Nellie is commencing to heat up og Stove and l’ve no doubt it’ll be cooler out- Then he wiped his flaminz face with a big, a nr The two white men sat down on the log, but Blackfoot Joe squatted upon the grass before them in true Indian fashion. ‘We didn’t expect to come this evening,” Knowlton declared, again mopping his face, ‘* But Joe came in from Cross-Notch this after- noon, and I took a sudden notion to ride over.” ‘** Nothin’ new at Cross-Notch?”’ addressing the question to the half-breed. Joe grunted a negative, but did not deign to lift his eyes from the ground. ‘*Ask an Injun when you want to hear the news! They’ll tell ye the hull p’ticklars at the fu’st jump.” He pushed the hat back from his bandaged nese as if the wound were heated and pained im. ‘There isn’t much to tell,” Knowlton averred. “ Everything’s safe and going on about as usual, If there had been anything out of the common run, some of the boys would have sent a letter,” ‘* Yes, I s’poseso, An’ about the gal, Knowl- ton? She don’t seem to take to you. Women air rum critters. She’d ruther have a cowboy *thout a cent than arich cattleman, Women ain’t only rum critters, but they’re fools,” “Too much talk, talk!” growled Joe. ‘“ Injun no talk so much when’um want squaw. Squaw not like that way.” Knowlton laughed in his disagreeable fashion, ** You may be a philusopher, Joe, about Injun matters, but I can’t consider you good authority on a point like this.” “Tm sorry,” Conner declared. ‘But hang it, man, what can Ido? She don’t fancy ye, that’s a fact; though I’ve counted yer dollars over an’ over ag’in before her, an’ run t’other feller down fer all I was wu’th. A man don’t like to go much furder’n that with his own daughter.” There was an underlying meaning in the tone and Knowlton caught it. ‘* That is, unless the pay is bigger?” bh Edzackly! A heap sight bigger’n ye’ve put it yit. You're a good ketch, Knowlton. There ain’t a better along the Yallerstone. But that don’t help me any, onless ye come down han’ some with the ducats,” ‘*T thought a bargain was a bargain!” snarled the ranchman, "So itis; an’ I’ve kerried ont my part. I didn’t agree to do anything but argy the case. An’ if I hain’t argied longer an’ harder’n any Philadeiphy lawyer then I hain’t said a word.” ‘* Well, how much do you want for doing the thing up in the right shape?” “Double the figgers. That, with what I’ve got at Cross-Notch, "Il jes’ about fix me up to sult, } ‘* And what’ll you do to earn that amount?” “Tl put the gal where Gid Dane won’t git to see her in a hurry, an’ where you can shine around her as much as you like,” ** And what if she still refuses?” ‘“oTain’t at all likely. If Dane’s kep’ away she won’t hold out ag’iv’ ye more’n two er three months at the furdest. I hain’t never had much to do with women, but I think I understand ’em. Anyway, I understand Nell.” "The money’s yours if the scheme wins,” agreed Knowlton. “Tvl win. I ain’t at all afeard o’ that. Le’s see! This is a Chuesday. ‘T’ll send Joe to Cross-Notch with her nex’ Sunday.” ** Joe's black eyes sparkled strangely in the semi-gloom, : ‘*Me take um,” he declared, as if aroused to sudden interest, ‘*Yes; I knowed you would. An’ if I can make it handy Pll send ’em sooner,” addressing the last to Knowlton.” “For a plan like that, Cross Notch is the rene place,” the ranchman assented. ‘‘And, as said, if it works the cash is yours.” Joe was sniffing the air and rubbing his stomach suggestively, “Now, that the thing’s fixed, won’t you come an’ have some supper? I can see that Joe’s as bungry as if he was a giniwine Crow.” Conner got up from the log as he extended the invitation, ‘“*No,” Knowlton asserted. “I want to get: ! | back to the ranch right away; and Joe must go a with me, for there’s a little matter I want -him to attend to,” The half-breed scowled and followed Know!- ton somewhat reluctantly toward the trail. In another moment they were gone; and Hank Connor, his brain filled with wicked scheming, turned slowly toward the house, CHAPTER VIII. A COUNTER-STROKE, CONNER ate his supper in silence and retired early to brood over the plans he had outlined, The next morning he assumed an air of great dejection and sat for along time on the door- step moodily smoking his pipe. Nellie could not. fail to notice his manner, and questioned him concerning it. “Tm jes’ nigh about troubled to death,” he replied, ‘‘ As I tol’ ye t’other night it’s been clost rubbin’ with me fer a yearer more, An’ now, Bill Staples has gone into the fur-buyin” bizness. “IT never tol you about the row I had with Staples last spring. I’lowed you’d worry over it an’ so kep’ it to myself,” Nellie’s sympathy was aroused and she drew her chair into the doorway near him. *“*You see, it was this way,” he continued, pleased by the movement, ‘* There was a deer got in among a bunch of Staples’s cattle. I shot at it and killed a steer. Some of the cow- boys told Staples what I’d done, an’ he was rarin’ mad. Said I was a thief and a vagabone an’ accused me of shootin’ the steer a-purpose to make beef out o’ it. Frum that time to this he hain’t give me no peace, ‘Las’ month, after makin’ a good bargain with a Crow Injun, I was blame fool enough to give the reda drink. Staples found it out an? sent word to the rev’nue officers, an they’re comin’ fer me hot an’ heavy. You know, I s’pose, what it means to sell er give liquor to an Injun, The Gover’ment is dead ag’in’ it: though it’s done ever’ day in these mountains an’ nothin’ at all thought about it by anybody. If Staples hadn’t been mad at me he’d never thought o’ reportin’ such a thing. ‘“‘Knowlton heerd about it an’ that’s what brought him over las’ night. He tol’ me about it when we went into the thicket. I tell ye, Nell, Knowlton’s the best friend I’ve got; an’ it hg me to think you can’t set any store by im. “He said the Gover’ment officers would git hyer some time nex’ week, P’intedly, it’s m opinion—though he didn’t seem to dream o’ sich a thing—there’s one o’ them hyer, now.” He gave her a sidelong glance as he made the statement. ‘“*O’ course I know you won’t believe it, but that identical chap is Gid Dane,” ‘* No, I won’t believe it!” with a decided shake of her head, “‘T knowed you wouldn’t, but it’s true, jes’ the same, If not, what makes him go _snoopin’? *round the country as sly as a weasel huptin? ducks, That hain’t cowboy style, Nell, that hain’t.” The girl flushed, guiltily. She knew that Gideon was looking for a band of cattle-thieves, but he had warned her not to mention the fact to aby one—not even to her father, To the uninitiated be was represented as one of Staples’s cowboys. But as Knowlton belonged to the ranchman’s league which had employedthe cow- boy detective, Nellie thought it likely the ranch- rari had revealed Dane’s true character te her ather. ‘“‘T am certain he isn’t what you think bim,” she declared. ‘‘If he goes snooping about, as you say,that very fact proves he isn’t looking for you, He knows where tw find you at any time.” ‘¢ Yes,” Conner confessed, not having a reply ready for this argument. ‘* That sounds reason- able. But I tell ye, Nell, that feller hain’t a straight cowboy, I’m not sayin’ this to set ye ag’in’ him, ner to boost along Knowlton, but be- cause it’s true.” ‘Im very sorry, father,” placing her hand gently on his shoulder, “TI know you didn’t mean any wrong when you gave the liquor to the Indian. Maybe if you tell the officers just how it was, they’ll overlook it.” . “That shows ye don’t know anything about ‘em, Nell. They’re a reg’lar set of bloodhounds when they git aftera man. No; it wouldn’t do to try to explain, I'll jes’ cut sticks fore they come. “‘ An’ that brings me to what I want to say to you. Did ever tell ye anything about Cross- Notch? [ guess I never did, Well, it’s a purty place, an’ ye’d like it. I’m goin’ tosend ye there X F aN Bee
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i Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective, 7 nex’ Sunday, with Joe. Til go ahead an’ fix things an’ make ’em comfortable. *‘ At Cross-Notch I can snap ey fingers at the rev’nue, and at Bill Staples an’ all his cowboys, They’ll not find me there in a hurry; an’ as fer buyin’ furs the chances’ll be better there than hyer. A sudden suspicion came to the girl as she listened. *¢ Where is this Cross-Notch, father? I never heard you speak of it before.” Conner hesitated and toyed with his pipe, ‘* Well, it’s hard to tell ye edzactly the way. It’s across them,” poiuting with his pipe to the mountain spur. ‘Tener fi 9n miles, maybe. There’s a sort of blind t) «leadin’ toit. Joe knows the way, so you won’t have any trouble on that pint.” The directions were most indefinite, Nellie said as much, and he went more carefully into details. ““Tt’s a place that can’t be got at very easy?” ‘* Not easy enough for the rev’nue men to fol- low me. I’m choosin’ it fer that, mostly; though, as I said, it’ll be a better place fer my bizness than hyer, ** Be sure.ye don’t fergit the time. Nex’ Sun- day. You’d better gether up all the little traps ye keer for, an’ P’ll send er take them over be- fore we go.” He arose as if to indicate that the interview was at an end; and, Nellie, taking the hint, returned to her work, In a little while Hank Conner went away, as was his daily custom. He luoked in at her as he passed the door and was pleased at the quiet manner in which she went about her tasks, But could he have read the thoughts that surged through her brain he would not have been so self-satisfied and content, He had no idea that she was watching him from the window as he rode away. When he sp out of sight a gratified smile overspread her ace, “T think 1 understand you, father,” she whis- pered, as she hurried to finish her work. ‘* You are teacbing me bad tricks, I don’t know how many times you have tried to fool me, lately. And you're at itagain, You didn’t use todo that; or, if you did, I never found itout It causes me to play at the same game,” A pained look had replaced the smile. ‘Pm sorry I can’t believe you as I did once. I’m awfuliy afraid those stories about the deer, and the liquor, and the revenue officers are just stories, I know the deer story is, for if it wasn’t ld have heard something about it, long ago, That surely was made up since you had that talk with Knowlton, “T think I see through your little plans, This Cross-Notch is some out-of-the-way place that nobody ever goes tu, and where it’ll be hard work for Gid to find me, Tl be bound, that’s one of Knowlton’s schemes, Well, [ think I’m as sharp as Knowlton, and Ill see if [ can't checkmate him.” When the housework was finished she drew some writing material from a drawer of the home-made bureau and hastily scribbled a note to Dane. In it she detailed her suspicions and described, with minute exactness, the route to Cross-Notch, as it had been given her by her father. “Now, if he basn’t fuoled me on that, too!” reading the letter over when it was finished. “That’s the trouble! I'll have to add a post- script, I guess, saying that it’s across the moun- tains, anyway; and if he can’t find that trail he | must come by some other! She had such faith in Dane that she believed he could find Cross-Notch, no matter in what ob- scure valley it was located, When the postscript was written, she folded the letter and, placing if in her pocket, she care- fully pinned it there. Then, after some further preparations, she hastenod to the log stable. onner kept two ponies there, one for bimself and one for Nellie, Hers was in its stall, and she proceeded to saddle and bridle it with the same nervons haste, This done, she ascended a slight prominence and satisfied herself that her father had really departed. She then led the pony out of the stable and rode away down the east trail. When she gained the level land, more than an hour later, she headed the animal toward Staples’s Ranch. Staples looked somewhat astonished when she rode up to the door of the ranch-house and asked i _ for Gideon Dane. ** Blest if | know where he is at this minute,” he declared, staring in surprise at ber flushed face and then at the panting pony. ‘‘ He went away yisterday morning on a little bizness trip, an’ lowed he didn’t know jes’ when he'd git back, They hain’t nothin’ the matter over your way, is they?” *No-o! That is, nothing in particular. I wanted to see him, that’s all. I was afraid he mightn’t be here, and so wrote this. Give it to him as soon as he comes, please,” She produced the letter and handed it to Staples. ‘* Yes, certainly; and that ’mindsme, There’s a letter hyer for you, You kind o’ rattled me, I guess, when you ridup. Anyway, I'd’a’ clean fergot itif ye hadn’t give me this.” 6 retreated precipitately after making this statement, but soon reappeared with Gideon’s letter. ‘* Thank you,” she said, blushing as she took it and placed it in the pocket where the other had been. ‘* Sharp as a steel-trap an’ purty as a yearlin’ heifer!” Staples muttered, gazing after her ad- miringly as she rode away. ‘If 1 was a few years younger an’ a dozen times han’somer, hanged if I wouldn’t try to cut Gid Dane out,” CHAPTER IX, INDIAN TREACHERY. DARK thoughts stirred in the brain of the Blackfoot as he strode silently down the trail after Knowlton, The thoughts had been aroused by Conner’s statement that he would send Joe as Nellie’s escort to CrossNotch, Beneath the half-breed’s stoical demeanor there slumbered a heart of tempest and fire. For a long time he had looked with a favoring eye on the trader’s daughter; and circumstances seemed at last bent on peocing her in his power, Knowlton was s% accustomed to Joe’s silence and reserve that he paid no attention to it; and when they reached their ponies, he mounted and rode on in advance, the Indian following with the quiet submission of a captive. Joe had a regard for Conner that was mingled with a wholesome fear. None had better oppor- tunities for becoming thoroughly acquainted with the scheming trader, He knew his life- history and the particulars of the thousand dark deeds tnat stained it. Yet he had never thought + using the power which this knowledge gave nim, He had known Nellie and had seen her fre- dra almost from the days of her infancy, nly recently, however, had his thoughts taken an amorous turn, All at once, as it saemed to him, the laugbing, hoydenish girl bad become a beautiful woman, He had never dared hint his desires to any one, and even strove to repress and banish them from his mind. Now they had leaped bounds aud he gladly gave them free rein and reveled in the fancies which they conjured, The occasion to put his desires into effect also appeared opportune, Far away to the north- ward lay the country of the Blackfeet. His mother was there; and he believed he would be gladly welcomed by the tribe, notwithstanding the fact that be had apparently deserted them for the Crows. They were the enemies of the Crows, and by giving them valuable informa- tion, and pretending he had gone among the Crows = for the purpose of obtaining it, he was satisfied he could regain their favor, | There were certain circumstances which would doubtless render it impossible for Conner to attempt any extended search or pursuit, They would at least hold him in check for a time, during which the Blackfoot could make good his escape with the girl, As her escort, the half- breed would not be suspected for two or three days; or if any doubts should arise in Conner’s mind they would be temporarily allayed by the thought that Nellie and the half-breed had prob- ably lost their way, ‘ Such were some of the ideas that seethed in the Indian’s mind. So occupied with them was he that he forgot the distance traversed or the lapse of time, and was considerably astonished when Knowlton turned into the familiar trail that led to the corral, ; ** Just turn the ponies in there,” ordered the ranchman, dismounting and giving his bridle- rein to Joe. ‘You'll find some cold grub in the kitchen and you can sleep in the bunk- room,” “What want with me?” Joe asked, referring to the statement which Knowlton had made to Conner. . “Bh? Oh, I just said that because 1 knew Nellie didn’t care to see us again, It’s not al- ways best to worry a woman when she shows her dislike so plain. You'll want to go to the Village to-morrow, of course, and you can roll out in the morning as soon as you like, without waiting for me,” The half-breed grumbled some unintelligible eee ee neste SS SS SSS Se se st seeps tase sentences as he led the ponies to the corral. Evi- dently he did not like being played with in that fashion, And, besides, he had lost a warm sup- per, and that meant much tobim. Altogether the circumstances tended to increase the hatred of Knowlton that was growing in his breast, That night, while surrounded with cowboys in the bunk-house and pretending to be a sleeping, he matured a plan which he thought would accomplish bis purpose, It was simply to turn Nellie against Fae father and influence her in his own favor by a combination of true and lying statements, So taken up was he with the idea, that he mounted his pony before daylight and started for tne Conner cabin. Tha distance was con- siderable, and when he reached the cabin he found it deserted. He was much puzzled at this, for he had fully expected to find Nellie at home, But he got out of the difficulty, in true Indian fashion, by carefully trailing the girl’s pony, which, as he knew, hada split in one hoof. He had almost reached the plain and was rid- ing slowly along with his head bent forward and his eyes scanning the earth, when he was aroused by a low, gurgling chuckle. He drew himseif up quickly, with a firm grasp on the bridle-rein, A long-barreled rifle was pointed at him over a rock, and behind it was the Mad Hermit, a queer grin on his face, ‘““ Thera was reds there, too,” the latter cried, as he lowered the breech of the rifle. ‘‘I didn’t know but ye mou’t’a’ been one of ’em, an’ so thought I’d stop ye an’ see,” The Blackfoot had not been at the Crow vil- lage when Featherstone visited it, and so had never heard of him, But be perceived at once that there was something wrong with the man’s mind, and attempted to conciliate him witha broad smile, “Me Joe!” he exclaimed. ‘‘Me heap good Injun, What ’um great hunter want?” ‘* Blood!” said Featherstone, in a fierce voice, “ His blood! hha blood!” and he tossed the rifle into the hollow of his arm and advanced was: ssa Joe qua cowardice, ‘Whur is he?” stopping short and glowering. ““Tsaw you with him, Let me see! Was it y.isterday, or years ago?” “Never see Injun with anybody!” Joe de- clared, slowly backing the pony from the ap- parently dangerous vicinity. ‘“‘Yes, I seen you with him. think when it was.” The Mad Hermit eed a hand to his head as if striving to recall some old memory; and Joe, taking advantage of this momentary ab- straction, spurred the pony past him and fled wildly down the trail. He did not once look back till he had reached the plain; and even then, judging by the wa he urged the pony on, he was fearful that a ball from the long rifle might reach him, Suddenly - pulled in. In his fright and baste he had entirely forgotten the business in which he was engaged. Then he commenced to search for the lost trail; but before he had spent much time at this he saw Nellie Conner riding toward him from the direction of Staples’s ranch. She seemed anxious to avoid him, but he rode in a direction to intercept her, ‘**Good-morning,” she said, with her usual politeness, as they came face to face. ‘* Glad to see’um!” Joe answered, with a grin, “‘Injun been up to cabin, Hank, him gone, Gal, him gone, too.” **So you wanted to see us?” He bobbed his head in a decided affirmative, ‘* Joe want to see gal, Nell, Yes. Want to have heap big talk.” ‘* Let us ride on, then,” she urged. ‘‘ You can iell me what you have to say as we go along,” ““Say him here!” Joe asserted, glancing ap- prehensively toward the mountain trail, “ Big cattleman Knowlton want Nell fer squaw. Sil- ver-saddle cowboy want Nell fer him squaw. Hank no like cowboy; like Knowlton,” A surprised and questioning look came into: the girl’s eyes, ‘¢ What are you driving at, Joe?” ‘Hank say a take Nell to Cross-Notch,” the half-breed went on, eking out his words with a multiplicity of signs, ‘‘ Knowlton say so, too, Last night, supper-time, \ , ‘* Joe want supper, heap bad,” sawing his hand across his stomach. ‘“Cattlemar say no, an’ take Injun away. Injuncome back sun-up; an’ here,” ‘Yes, Joe; I know all that. thing else you want to tell me. ed visibly, for he was inclined to But I can’t There’s some- What is it?”
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pre rrr ¥ r See Sa “ OE Oe Ee ae Ne ee ee eS ee 5 re Water, considerably diminished Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. ** Oross-Notch bad place. there. there.” *¢ And you think I ought to stay away?” Joa not like gal go Bad cattleman there. Heap bad man ‘*Silver-saddle ’way over there,” pointing a | pony ever managed to get over it at all. brown finger to the northward. ‘Joe see hin yisterday. Him say, Nell come; Joe bring ’um, Joe bring ’um Sunday when Cross-Notch.’ The girl’s surprise was increasing every mo- ment. : ‘You mean that Dane sent for me?’ looking distrustfully at the half-breed. ‘‘ And you think Td better go with you there, Sunday, instead of going to Cross-Notch? Is that it, Joe?” The pleased Blackfoot nodded. “‘ And what does he want with me?” ‘* Him po say!” Joe answered, not quite pre- ared for the question, ‘‘Silver-saddle heap d hurt. Him at tepee over there, Say Joe bring ’um gal there. Cattleman Knowlton no let Injun tell last night. Take Injun ’way fear him tell. Joe come back tell, sun-up. Joe take *um gal when Sunday Cross-Notch. No can take *um sooner.” The disjointed sentences were hurled from his lips like solid shot from a siege-gun. ** Are you telling me the truth, Joe?” she de- manded, looking bim squarely in the eyes, ‘‘ White gal him same as brother!” he assert- ed, solemnly. ‘*Injun no speak crooked to bim brother.” The half-breed could not help revealing his personal interest, while making this assertion. “You are lying to me, Joe!” she declared, with stinging directness, ‘‘I can see it in your face. No, I won’t go with you into the moun- tuins; and I won’t go with you to Cross-Notch!” She drew the pony sbarply to one side, as she made this declaration, so that the half-breed could not grasp the bridle rein if such were his intentions; and, giving the animal a sharp cut, dashed with all speed from the spot, ‘A look of terrible rage overspread the Black- foot’s face. ‘Squaw him fool!” he growled, shaking his clinched hand at the flying girl. ‘*’Um see Injun Joe bimeby.” CHAPTER X. CROW MEDICINE, | “ Now, I wonder how much of his story I can safely believe?” - Cowboy Gid looked after the vanishing her- mitina puzzled, mystified way. ‘* How much of that is truth, and how much of it originated in his crazy brain? It sounds _ mighty like the imaginings of a lunatic, The rock gateway, the mysterious smoke, the en- chanted valley! I’m sure I never heard of any of them before.” He stared up and down the trail and into the alkali sink, as if to assure himself he was not dreaming. Then, slowly and thoughtfully, he began to retrace his way, moving up thecanyon in the direction pointed out by Featherstone, As his nerves became quiet he began to feel the pangs of hunger, and the weariness resulting from his recent tremendous exertions, His can- téen of water and a small quantity of food had been attached to the saddle, and he now had them with him. So hesoughta sheltered nook at the side of the trail and proceeded to satisfy his cravings. He fully intended to go on when this had been done, but he was so weighted by a sense of lan- guor that he decided to rest awhile. The result was that he fell asleep and slept for hours, When he woke the stars were shining, “Great Scott!” the Range Detective exclaim- ed, starting to his feet. ‘“‘‘Thisisa fine lay-out for a nee. in my business. I wonder what time it is? He drew a match from a metallic case, scratch- ed it and looked at his watch. ‘*Close on to midnight! And I can’t doa thing till morning. I might move along the trail, but the chances are about ten to one I'd slip into some hole or other.” He took a seat on a rock and watched the stars to pass away the time, hoping he could see better as he became accustomed to the darkness, and could proceed on his way, But, though the gloom lifted somewhat, it did not become suffi- ciently light to permit traveling with any de- gree of safety.’ “Stuck for all night!” he groaned, ‘ Justmy luck. Well, I might as well make the best of it. Tm as sore and stiff as a work-horse, and this forced rest may be the best tking that could ith this philosophic reflection be returned to his stony couch and again drifted into slumber. he next morning he finished his canteen of his supply of spppen me, after all.” ' | DE Oe A EE EE ESS eee food, and much strengthened and refreshed, continued his tramp along the ledge. The way became very broken and difficult, after a time, and he wondered much ae 6 was not sure that any pony had ever gone that way, but such haa been his theory, and he was disinclined to abandon it, Finally the ledge dipped downward and ended in the canyon. This made walking easier. There were holes at intervals, One of these contained water, and from it he refilled his can- teen. He lost much time in following deceptive side- passages; but, just before noon, he came to what he felt sure was the rocky gateway mentioned by the Mad Hermit. Here the canyon ended in a sandy plateau. To the left frowned the pre- cipitous mountain-slopes, To the right, a well- defined trail wound away in what he believed to be the direction of the Indian village. In front, and two or three hundred yards distant, was the gateway of rock. The little plateau ended there ina wall of granite. But there was an opening through it, and the passage followed a line as straight as if it had been hewn by the band of man. The sides of this singular hall- way arose cl foreman and at its further end he could see the blue of the sky. ‘““Yes, I’m sure that’s it,” mused Gid, ‘*Featherstone’s story must have been true, after all. Now for the mysterious big the impassable canyon and all the rest of it. I sup- pose they’re beyond the gateway, if they’re at all. Straight ahead, Yes, that’s what he said, straight ahead.” In a few minutes he was within the hall-way. For some distance the floor was sandy, like the plateau. Further along the sand disappeared, and the way became rough and choked with bowlders. Dane clambered around and over these, keep- ing his eye fixed on the bit of blue sky ahead. This was united to the sunshine above him by what seemed a broad, blue band. A half-hour’s laborious work carried him through the gateway. It ended in another plateau. This plateau was rocky instead of sandy, and across its center yawned a deep chasm, This chasm was not wide, as the cowboy dis- covered when he came up toit. Butit was far too wide to be leaped, and its walls were far too steep and smooth for any one to climb up or down them. There seemed absolutely no way of crossing it, and it extended on either hand beyond the reach of the cowboy’s vision, The plateau seemed the termination of that spur of the mountain range, for cna it the stony slopes dipped away into a valley that ap- peared to be limitless in extent. ‘The old chap is right side up again!” Dane exclaimed, with a sort of grim satisfaction. ‘* Maybe Im wrong in calling him crazy. This is surely his ‘canyon that no man Can cross,’ And if that isn’t an enchanted valley, it at least looks pretty enough to be one.” ‘‘ Hullo!’ There’s the smoke, too, as I’m a liv- ing man! That rascally medicine-man is doubt- less feeding his fire again. If he gets across bere, I don’t see why other people can’t.” A thin, vapory column lifted itself from be- hind a fringe of trees, a mile or more away. Believing the medicine-man was somewhere near that ascending column, Dane came to the natural conclusion that he must have crossed the chasm at a point not far distant, And where the medicine-man had crossed he could cross. So he began a hurried but careful search for this place. : There was pinnacle-like rocks and giant bowl- ders along the chasm edge, but these did vot much impede his movements; and he quickly extended his search a considerable distance In either direction. But it was barren of results, There was no point at which it seemed even a deer could leap across. “‘He continued the search throughout the afternoon; and it was night when he returned to the rock gateway, tired, dejected, and in no very good bumor with himself. i *“Confound it!” the Cowboy Detective mut- tered, as he tried to compose himself for sleep, ‘“*T didn’t expect all the hermit’s statements to prove true. But that certainly seems a chasm that no man can cross, How the medicine- man gets over it, if he ever does, is a puzzler. If 1t wasn’t for the smoke I’d think it never bad been crossed by any one.” For along time he tossed and fretted, but finally fell asleep. He was aroused in the early hours of the morning by a most singular medley of sounds, The noises appeared to come from the other end of the rock gateway ‘* What’s broke loose, now?” He sat bolt upright and instinctively drew his revolver, There was a low, monotonous drumming mingled with shrieks and cries and a Babel o animal and bird calls. Occasionally a wild and piercing yell arose above the confusion. The cowboy had not the faintest idea of what it meant, ‘*That beats my time!” he muttered, scram- bling to his feet. ‘‘ Sounds like all the birds and beasts in creation were having aconcert. Ill have to look into it.” He cautiously advanced through the almost impenetrable gloom of the tunnel-like place, In spite of his precautions he stumbled occasionally over the bowlders, to the great detriment of his temper and hisshins. The way became compara dbind easy, however, when he reach the sand, The sounds were becoming louder and plainer, but they were as mystifying as at first. As he advanced he thought he could distin- guish human voices, The yells that continued to rise certainly came from the throats of sav- ages; and that monotonous, doleful drumming was as certainly made by savage hands. The light of a fire penetrated the passage, and dark shadows flitted fantastically across it, This quickened his curiosity and hastened his speed, and he soon reached a point where he could see what was occurring. Such a scene he had never beheld, A small fire was flickering on the edge of the sandy plateau, sufficient to light up the place ina ghostly, uncertain way. In the center of the plateau lay a stalwart and almost naked Indian, and around him circled and howled at least a score of paint-bedaubed Crows, ie Tney were led by a gaudily-attired individual whom Dane guessed to be the medicine-man of the tribe, He was dressed even more fantas- tically than his followers; there was a more liberal smearing of vermilion and ocher; a greater array of feathers, beads, bear-claws and porcupine- quills. His movements were ungraceful and jerky, a sort of chant issued from his lips, and from time to time he waved a medicine-bag toward the man on the ground The others imitated his example, but they varied the chant with yells and screeches, and imitations of the notes of birds and the cries of animals, Outside of this whirling circle was another circle of seated figures. These added to the din by beating rapidly, and without regard to time, on rudely-fasbioned drums, ; For a time Dane stared, not knowing what it meant, Then it dawned on him that the man lying on the ground was sick; and that the Crows, believing him to be possessed of a demon or evil spirit, were endeavoring to exorcise it, with the aid of their medicine-man. ‘* All that racket’s enough to kill a well man!” he thought, as he looked and wondered, ‘Td about as soon have real demons around me as those fellows. Any sensible demon, if he should meet one of them, would take to the woods and stay there forever,” The ed dawn was fast breaking above the eastern hills, and Dane saw that the incanta- tions of the medicine-man were about to end. The howlers had howled themselves hoarse, and the drummers had drummed the strength out of their arms. 5 ’ Suddenly the medicine-man elevated his | totem-bag above his head, gave a shout, and the dancing ceased, Then the sick man was picked up by bis friends and borne up the trail toward the Grow village. The other Crows followed in solemn procession. All but the medicine-man, Ho remained bebizd as if he had otber work to | perform, ‘ When the procession was out of sight he turned into the rock gateway and burried by Dane, passing so near that the latter could have toucbed bim with bis hand. 'tNow for the impassable canyon and the mysterious smoke!” the cowboy muttered, as be © followed after, a . CHAPTER XI, sage ENTRAPPED, ALTHOUGH the light was breaking along the sky overhead, it was still very dark in therocky — passage, The medicine-man seemed not tomind this, however, and hurried on as if the way — were perfectly familiar to bim, So rapidly did — be move that it required the utmost exertion on — Dane’s part to keep up with bim, and at the same time avoid the pitfalls and bowlders made difficult the route, ‘ae fateh
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- -ease when the bod steam-engine!” the cowboy “A regular ) growled, as he slipped and stumbled along in the medicine-man’s wake. ‘If he don’t hear me I shall certainly think he’s deaf. Should think he would be, after the noise of that per- formance.” At this rate of progress it did not take them long to reach the further end of the passage. Here the medicine-man stepped boldly out on the plateau. The increasing light outlined him distinctly. Dane feared to follow, because of this, and watched his movements from the shelter of the rocks, ‘“Now, we’ll see what we'll see! The fellow hasn’t any wings, that’s certain, and if he can get across that chasm I ought to be able to do the same, ’ ‘“‘Hullo!” He ain’t surely going to try to jump from the top of that rock?” The medicine-man had advanced to a peculiar- ly shaped rock that in a measure overhung the chasm, and seemed on the point of clambering to its apex. ‘* By the great Sam Patch, what a jump that would be! If he does it, he ought to try Niagara, and make his fortune,” Dane was so excited that he almost forgot his customary prudence and caution, Slowly and carefully the medicine-man clam- bered toward the top of the rock, creeping along on his hands and knees as he approached the summit. Then, to Dane’s intense surprise, the rock began to tip with a slow and gradual move- ment, It tipped more and more, as the medicine- man crawled on, and finally dipped gracefully and with a rocking motion until the apex rested on the opposite bank of the canyon, Thus it formed a bridge, from which the Indian leaped lightly to the earth, When his weight had been removed from it, the top reascended, with the same slow motion until it occupied its old posi- tion. ‘‘Well, that just knocks everything I ever heard of!” the cowboy declared, staring open- mouthed at the mysterious stone, The medicine-man bad disappeared among the low-growing bushes, Dane scarcely knew whether to follow him or not, but finally ven- tured out of his hiding-place and decided to at- tempt it. ‘“* Here goes, anyway!” looking to see that his revolver and lasso were all right. ‘“‘I’d feela good deal easier, though, if 1 knew just how we're to get back. One thing’s certain, the rock can’t be reached from that side! I reckon though, the old howler knows his business, and has a way of getting back that’s just as easy as his way of getting over. He's evidently made the trip before, and I flatter myself I ¢an go wherever he can.” __ With these reflections, the cowboy hastened to the base of the rock, anxious to cross before the medicine-man had gone so far that it would be difficult to follow him. His curiosity would not allow him to pass on, however, witbout first giving the rock a careful inspection, It was of the type known as a rocking stone, of which several have been found in various parts of the world. Nature apparently in an odd freak, had so balanced it in its rounded and rocky bed that any slight weight was all that was necessary to destroy its equilibrium and set it to oscillating in aremarkable way. A greater weight threw the center of gravity outside the base and careened the top, As it was poised over the chasm and inclined in a manner across it, it of course dipped toward the opposite side; and as the weight was increased, as would be the y ofa man approached the apex, the center of gravity was thrown further than ever from the base, and the stone, with an easy, gliding motion, fell across the chasm. When the weight was removed it resumed its upright pos tion. Dane, who was a fairly well-read man, had some knowledge of the _properties of a rocking stone, and so was quick to understand and <. eoipeire the qualities of this one, _But he had no time for an extended examina- tion or study of it; and clambered a its sides, as he had seen the medicine-man do, It gescend- ed with his weight, and he soon stood on the further side of the chasm. He could not be sure that the Indian had not seen him while he was on top of the rock, but he was compelled to trust that to the good fortune which generally attended him. Itseemed quite probable, how- ever, that he had not been seen, for the medi- cine-man had gone straight on; and having no icion that he was being followed, would not be likely to keep any close watch in his rear. Having gained the opposite side, the cipgi hurried away in the direction taken by the red- skin, The gray dawn had changed into the flush of early sunrise; and, as Dane looked to- ward the fringe of trees where he had seen the mysterious s.noke on the day previous, he was surprised to see it still ascending. He was puz- zled to account for this, knowing that the medi- cine-man could not have had time to reach the trees and kindle the fire, * Right again, old hermit!” be thought, as he moved swiftly, but cautiously, forward. ‘ll be forced tothe conclusion, pretty soon, that your head-piece is a better one than mine, and that you ain’t half as crazy as you act, You called this the enchanted valley; and that is what itis. A smoke coming from a fire that don’t need anything to keep it going! It’sequal to the rocking stone,” As the tight increased he advanced with more care than ever, He believed he was on the eve of great and important disooveries and it would never do to jeopardize them by heedlessness, He had not seen the medicine-man, however, since the latter had disappeared in the bushes, It was important that he should keep pace with him, and, believing the Indian had made straight for the towering smoke, Dane set out for that point without stopping to search for a trail. A walk of a half-hour brought him to the trees. Through these he made his way, in the same pe iar cs manner, and soon stood at their further edge. ere he was greeted with a surprise fully as great as any he had experienced on that event- ful morning, The ascending column was not composed of smoke at all, but of steamy vapor. This vapor arose from a small mud geyser, The geyser was bowl-shaped, and in its center seeth- ed and bubbled a mass of liquid mud that gave off offensive odors, and was apparently highly heated, The medicine-man was standing near the geyser, and was tossing into it masses of earth and hardened mud, These quickly choked up the geyser’s throat, stopping the bubbling and bissing and preventing the ascent of vapor, When this had been accomplished the medi- cine-man retired a short distance, ‘as if to watch the effect. He bad scarcely done so when the choking substances were hurled high into the air, with a dul! rumbling report, and the vapor rolled upward in dense and sulpburous folds.” ‘¢That’s some more of his hocus-pocus!” Dane asserted, as be croucbed and stared wondering- ly. “A finale to the conjuring performance, likely, He’s a long-headed chap, if he is a Crow, The fellows at the village will see this, and it will greatly add to the scamp’s reputation asa big medicine.” The wily rascal did not seem to he through with his performance yet, for he again ap- proached the seething geyser, This time he produced a totem-bag of dressed deerskin, curi- ously striped and ornamented. Into it he thrust some of the odorous geyser mud and a few peb- bles, and then carefully sewed it up. ‘¢T reckon that’s a charm to help out in the cure of the sick man. I’ve heard of the like. But I always understocd that the totem-bags were filled with snakes’ teeth and other truck like that. But it only goes to show that there’s one medicine-man at least awake in his own jn- terest. Snakes’ teeth are hard to get, some- times, and mud and stones will do just as well, if one only thinks so, “There he goes, on the back track, and I must follow him if I expect to get out of here as easy as [ got in.” The medicine-man was moving toward the mountain, but this time at a more leisurely pace, and the cowboy had little difficulty in keeping him in sight. The sun had risen by this time, and its rays drove the shadows from the valley and tipped the peaks with fire. hen the medicine-man reached the chasm, Dane was creeping through the bushes only a few feet behind him, balf-fearful that the- In- dian would vanish and leave him ignorant of the means used in recrossing. : The medicine-man halted opposite the rock- ing stone, and gave a low whistle. In answer to it, Blackfoot Joe hurried out of the rock gate- way. He had evidently been awaiting this sig- nal, for, when he reached the stone, he clam- bored up it without hesitation or a word of in- struction. “So, Joe is the old chap’s ally!” thought Dane, his astonishment passing all bounds. ‘¢ What next, 1 wonder?” The stone was dipping and rocking under Joe’s weight, and as he neared the top it again descended and bridged the chasm, Then the Medicine-man leaped upon it; and, as the two scrambled feet foremost toward the other side, Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. 9 it swung asif ona pivot and once more lifted its head in air, “Trapped!” gritted the cowboy, bis astonish- ment changing into something like fear, as they leaped down and hastened toward the dark pass- age, ‘*That puts mein a bad fix, sure; for I don’t believe I can ever cross that chasm with- out help,” CHAPTER XII. ‘““HE LIVES THERE!” NELLIE CONNER was much frightened at the words of the Blackfoot, Sbe bad never liked him, but this was the first time he had given her cause for fear. ** No, I won’t go with him to Cross-Notch, or anywhere else!” she repeated, as she urged the pony on, looking back now and then to seeif Joe was following. ‘And I shall tell father that he isn’t tocome on the place again. Of course he was lying, for I’m sure Gid didn’t go in that direction.” Here she remembered the letter and, checking the speed of the pony, she took it from her pocket and read it. ** Just as I thought!” she declared, a flush suf- fusing her cheeks. ‘He didn’t go that way at all, That Blackfoot’sa treacherous dog, and Pll never speak to him again.” She tucked the letter again into her pocket; and, as_she rode slowly on, her courage came back. Her life in the wilderness had taught her fearlessness and self-reliance. She was as skilled in the use of the rifle and revolver as Hank Conner himself, and could ride a balf-wild pony with the ti and ease of acowboy. Hence she felt fully competent to take care of and de- fend herself, should occasion arise, Sbe had now reached the beginning of the mountain trail, and the pony trotted briskly along the screened and shadowy defile, Sudden- ly there sounded the whirr of a rattlesnake be- neath its feet, and it shot forward like a sped arrow. Nellie, who had dropped the rein on its neck and was lost in thought, was hurled heavily to the ground, striking with a force that pro- duced unconsciousness, When she recovered, a few moments later, and looked about in a dazed way, she was greeted by a strange sight. The Mad Hermit was pulveriz- ing the head of the snake beneath his moccasined beel. Nellie had never seen him before, but recog- nized him from Dane’s description; and, having an instinctive fear of crazy people, she drew back in a startled way and attempted to rise. The movement attracted Featherstone’s atten- tion. He immediately removed his heel from the squirming mass, came toward her, and bowed, with unexpected politeness, ‘*Not bad burt, eh?’ was the queer chuckle, ‘*]’s most afraid you was, But I killed bim.” He waved his hand toward the rattlesnake, Nellie bastened to assure him that she was not injured in the least, ** Young bones don’t break easy,” he declared after an awkward pause. ‘I know that'd jes? ‘a’ cracked my head open, fer it splits once in a while, anyway. You live ’round hyer, some- Yeres, I’low? Too bad yer hoss went off that way.” “Oh, I can walk,” she asserted, steadying herself against a rock as she climbed to her feet. ‘‘T live just up there, about a mile.” A strange expression came to Featherstone’s face, as be followed the direction of her pointing finger. Nellie noticed it, and wondered at it, ** Pve jes’ been up that way. Wasn’t nobody to home, though.” ‘No; father’s gone to the Crow village and I’ve been over to the Bitter Creek Ranch,” ‘*H-hm! Pity we can’t ketch yer hoss. You Nl haf to hoof it; an’ I ’xpect I’d better go ‘long with ye, fer ye don’t seem over an’ above steady on yer feet.” . he girl did not greatly relish the idea of his companionship, but there was such evident kind- ness and sincerity in his voice and eyes vhat she could not reject the offer. There was nothing of the madman in his appearance or actions. ‘“«Tf you please,” accepting the extended arm with a boldness that surprised even berself. ‘* No doubt I'll bave a big hunt for Jeff, He’s an un- gallant rascal or he wouldn’t have deserted me that way.” : “So he is. So he is,” And the hermit in- dulged in another of his curious chuckles, ‘* He's a scamp of the first water, Id trade ‘im off fer an Injun cayuse, if he plays them tricks very often. “Oh, I don’t know that Jeff is to blame!” she laughed, ‘The rattler scared him. He’s gen- ae. as gentle asa dog. I do hope he wasn’t it.
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et ny " oe Cesk ne ¥ e. Ps a. aa a A Va aes hee ‘he ree |e Ss 4 r Bis er ae ae, > ae x } oie bp » fin a ,! & 7 , lg Li + oe < rot " ‘ae 5 - yom ry al » Se 5 Trl) Li a 10 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. They were moving slowly up the trail, now; and as she rattled on in her girlish way, the Mad Hermit looked at her closely and question- ingly. a Ye don’t talk *xactly like most of the other folks out hyer. More p’ticklarin your way of speakin’, Don’t jes’ roll yer words out anyhow and ever’how, like t’others,” The tones evinced a questioning curiosity, **Do you think so?’ queried Nellie, flattered by the compliment. ‘‘ It’s a wonder to me that I talk so any one can understand, for I hear al- most as much of Crow and Blackfoot as of Eng- lish. I haven’t had much chance, but I’ve tried to make the most of it, Father taught me to read; and two years ago, he left me with a fam- ily in Virginia City, while he made a long trip to the North and to the States, I don’t know just where he did go, but he was away nearly a year, When he came back we moved here. ‘* A band of Crows had come from further up the country and pitched their village over yon- der, and he wanted to be near them to trade, ‘*The people in Virginia City were very good to me and taught me almost all I know, as far as education goes. They had plenty of books; and when I came away they gave me all I could bring with me. I have kept up my studies since, and have made a great,effort to put into practice what I learned while with them, I didn’t learn a great deal, but it doesn’t take much to make a showing out here,” Featherstone had been listening intently and almostly reverently. “Ye areasmart girl,” he declared, bobbing his head impressively. ‘‘ Don’t ’low I ever see a smarter. er pap ought to be proud of ye,” The igs smiled, She was beginning to feel perfectly at ease in the company of this queer individual. ‘ ‘Perhaps he is. I think he sets more store, though, by a good meal. You see I can cook, , Mr.— ‘*Weatherstone! Ah, I didn’t tell you my name, It’s Joel Featherstone; and an odd dog Joel is, I don’t live anywhur. The ground the air, the water are all the same to me, i walk, ginerally. But, sometimes I can fly an’ swim.” They had reached a point from which the cabin was visible, and an air of wildness settled upon him as he looked toward it. His talk, which had been so rational, verged on the in- coherent. Nellie’s hand trembled on his arm as she no- ticed this, ‘* Yes, Pm a bird sometimes, and sometimes a fish, When I meet him I'll be a snake.” He abruptly withdrew his arm; and Nellie, looking up, saw that his nostrils were dilating and es form quivering with suppressed excite- ment. Her involantary cry of alarm served to quiet him and bring him back to things present. ‘You needn’t be afeard o’ me, little one,” he assured her, drawing a deep breath as if to still his trembling nerves, ‘I wouldn’t hurt a hair e’ your purty head fer the worl’. But, when I meet him, as I shall some day! Ab-h!” He forced out his breath with a rasping sound, and wheeled as if to go. ‘*Yes, [ shall meet him, an’ the time is not faraway. He can’t escape me; and you may tell him so, my dear, for he lives there !” With this, he swung his long rifle, leaped into the bushes and disappeared, CHAPTER XIII, ON THE BRINK OF THE GEYSER, NELLI@ was greatly startled by this sudden change in the hermit’s demeanor, and his de- sertion of her came as a relief. His strange statement had also frightened her. What did he mean by it? ‘* He has got some wild idea in his head,” she thought, as she hastened up the path toward the cabin, ‘I wonder if he has any clear notion of what it is himself?” Over and over she repeated the final words of the hermit, endeavoring to discover their hid- den meaning. As she did soher fears increased. She knew that maniacs are subject to sudden and dangerous hallucinations, in which, with- out cause, they turn against their nearest and best friends and regard them as deadly ene- mies, No doubt, in the present instance, the sight of the cabin nestling in the gorge bad been suffi- ciently exciting to disturb the balance of Featherstone’s diseased mind, and plant in it murderous thoughts against Connor, “Oh, dear—I’m afraid there’ll be trouble come of this. He can’t have any real enmit against father, but if he thinks he has it will amount to the same thing. It scares me when I think how carelessly I walked along with him. He might have taken it into his head to brain me with that long rifle. When she reached home she climbed to tho top of the ridge back of the house and surveyed both trails as far as she could see, Noone was to be seen on either. The hermit had completely vanished, and although she looked long and earnestly up the trail toward the Crow village, she had no real expectation that her father would be returning. ‘* He won’t be home till night, and there’s no way to get him word before he comes. If that mad fellow should meet him I don’t know what mightn’t happen.” Her features became drawn as a sudden recol- lection chilled her, ‘Yes, it must have been him! I’m sure father never really knew who it was that shot him. He tried to make me thinkit was Gid, but he didn’t believe that, or he wouldn’t have dropped the subject like he did. That was a yarn made up for the purpose of helping Knowlton, ‘*FReatherstone was no doubt lying in the bushes when father came down the trail, and the notion suddenly came into his head that this was an enemy he ought to put out of the way. And so he shot him, Yes, I’m surethat was the way of it.” ' She was Yi troubled as she descended from the ridge and entered the cabin. Here her thoughts tended toward melancholy, and, as a reliof, she decided to go in search of the pony. Most of the afternoon was spent in thissearch, but the pony could not be found, and when she returned, she was exhausted and faint from fatigue and hunger, Contrary to her expectations Conner did not come home that night. She would have thought little of this, ordinarily. He was frequently absent for days together—days which she im- proved by study and reading—but this unex- pected detention, combined with the hermit’s threat, brought her much dread and uneasiness, The next morning she found Jeff at the door of the stable, eager to get in. ** You rascal, you!” she cried, patting his neck affectionately. ‘* You’ve broken your bridle- rein, and worried me half to death. I was afraid you’d been struck by a rattler.” She led him into the stable, removed the sad- dle and bridle, and fed him liberally. Then she climbed the ridge again, and took another sur- vey of the trails, Along in the afternoon she mounted the pony and rode for some distance up the trail leading to the Crow village. At every bend she half ex- pected to come upon the lifeless body of her father. She would have continued on into the village, but she knew her father would be offend- ed at her for so doing. He had always told her the Crows werea bad lot and she must keep away from them. And besides, should she visit the village she would be forced to return home in the night. On this trip, and the one she had made in search of the pony, she carried her little rifle, not knowing but she might be called on at any moment to defend herself against Featherstone or Blackfoot Joe. She had feared Joe would return to the cabin and annoy her with a repetition of his lying stories. Conner still remaining away, she resolved, the next morning, to make a second visit to the Bit- ter Creek Ranch. There might be a letter for her from Dane, if he had not returned: or Sta- ples might know something concerning the whereabouts of her father, ‘“* I hate to do it,” she thought, flushing slight- ly. “But I’m certainly justified. I'll surely go crazy if I stay bere this way.” She took her little rifle with her, as had be- come her custom, but sho saw neither the hermit nor the half-breed; and the journey to and from the ranch was wholly devoid of exciting incident, No word had been received from Dane since his departure, and Staples could tell her nothing of her father. That evening Hank Connerreturned. In re- ply to her questions he said he had been at Cross- Notch getting things in readiness for the remov- al there, and had been unavoidably detained. Then, while he smoked his pipe, and she prepared supper, she told him of her talk with Blackfoot Joe and of the queer statement made by Feather- stone, _The half-breed’s treachery evidently irritated im, ‘* He’s a lyin’ scoundrel!” he snarled. ‘' There bez pel ab aS ain’t a word o’ truth in anything he said. I can’t see fer the worl’ what he’s drivin’ at, He knows better, though, than to cross my path,” Then, after a moment’s thought: ‘He must ’a’ been drunk, Likely he got some liquor from the cowhoys up at Knowlton’s, Why, Neil, that Injun wouldn’t dare to chip in where my intrusts are concerned. He knows me too well fer that—a long sight too well; and though I can’t tell ye jes’ how, his intrusts air my in- trusts, He was proceeding to give other reasons why , the Blackfoot +zould not venture to work against him, when Nellie interrupted with the story of the Mad Hermit, As he listened to her his pipe dropped from his parted lips and a scared look came into his eyes, ‘“* What sort of a lookin’ feller was he, Nell?’ he questioned, in a shaky voice. The girl described Featherstone’s appearance as minutely as she could. ‘* Why, you ain’t afraid of him, are you, eich as she noticed the ashen pallor of his ace, He attempted to laugb, as he picked the pipe from the floor. ‘“N-no! Can’t say that I am. But from all accounts this Featherstone’s wuss’n a blind rat- tler. Ye can’t never tell when he’s goin’ to strike er where he’s goin’ to strike, If he’s tuck a notion ag’in’ me he’ll be apt to reach fer me sooner er later.” He was slowly recovering his equanimity. “He may go off an’ never bother me at all, but I don’t think it’s good jedgment to resk it. I’ve already made arrangements to send ye to Cross-Notch, Sunday. Ye say ye won’t go with Joe; an’ if we start in the mornin’ that'll only make ita day sooner. . ‘*T ain’t a mite afeard but what ye’d be jes’ as safe with Joe as with me, but when a woman’s set she’s set. An’ besides, I'll feel better away from hyer; fer, sence you’ve tol’ me bout him, Sr most sure it was Featherstone give me this, He tapped the half-healed wound on his head. “And you told me, father, that Gid did it!” Nellie exclaimed, in a reproachful voice. ’ Hank Conner was disconcerted only for a mo- ment, “T thought so, then,” he brazenly asserted. “T didn’t git a good look at him, ye know, an’ I was dead shore it was Dane. But I know, now, it wasn’t. "Twas this other chap; an’ he'll lay fer me ag’in, in the same way.” The fears engendered by her story of the Mad Hermit so preyed on bim that he had no appe- tite for the excellent supper she placed before him. ‘“‘ We'll start bright and early,” he said, shov- ing back bis chair after a pretense of eating. “ Git together what things we can carry; them that ye’ll need most, It’s a rough trail we’ve got to foller, an’ we’ll have to leave the ponies till another time.” Then he retreated to his bedroom to think over this last startling revelation at his leisure. He awoke Nellie long before day and an- nounced that it was time to begin the journey. After a hasty breakfast had been prepared and eaten, he brought the bridles and saddles from the stable and placed them, with other valuable articles, in the cabin, “lve turned the ponies loose,” he explained. “We'll have to take a short cut acrost the mountains. I'l] come back, after we git settled, an’ fetch °em by avother way, Nothbin’ll burt ’em hyer, an’ they’ll git along fu’st rate, for there’s plenty o’ grass an’ water.” He picked up the largest of the two bundles, ~ gave the other to Nellie, and securely locked the house as they left it. Then he added to bis bur- den by taking an ax, and led the way up the Crow village trail. They were two miles from the cabin when day broke, but Conner still beld on his way at the same quick gait until Nellie declared she must stop and rest. The entire forenoon was spent in making a wide detour around the Crow village, © to the northward. Many rests were indulged in, yet, notwithstanding this, Nellie was thoroughly tired out when they again turned ~ west and gouth and reached the apparently im- passable chasm. 2 On its edge they halted for their noonday lunch, They were a mile or two north of the Crow village, and at a point that was wild and grand beyond description. An immense peak towered near them, and the country all about was of the most broken and rugged character. As Nellie looked it over, she wondered how they i had ever managed toreach the place atall. In truth she could not have done so bad not Conner es ee ce at
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assisted and almost carried her in many in- stances, ‘There surely can’t be a wilder place in these mountains,” she thought, a chill of apprehen- sion striking through her. ‘‘ 1’m afraid Gid can never follow us. It don’t look as if a human being had ever been here before, Father has reasons for choosing this route that he keeps from me. I’ve thought all the time it was be- cause of Gid. Maybe there’s something more than that.” When Conner had satisfied his hunger and rested awhile, he picked up the ax and ap- proached a tall tree that was growing in a cleft of rock near the chasm. It was the only tall tree along the mountain slope. He attacked it with the ax, and after fifteen minutes’ brisk work, felled it across the chasm in such a way as to form a bridge. ‘*Come!” he said, picking up bis bundle, ‘‘ We can cross now. I happened to know of this tree, If it hadn’t been hyer, we’d ’a’ had nigh about a week’s walk to git into the valley over there. I went ’round ona hoss before, an’ you know how long it took me to git back,” The tree was a strong one, yet it seemed a dizzy bridge on which to cross, and Nellie almost shuddered as she looked at it, [ll help ye,” Conner assured, taking her by the hand. ‘‘Stick to me, an’ ye can’t fall if ye want to.” Nellie half-closed ber eyes and clung to him during the giddy passage, When they were over, Conner looked at the bridge as if tempted to cut it away. But he evidently decided not to, and descended into the valley with Nellie at his heels, Two hours later they came in sight of the grove of trees with the column of vapor rising behind them; and a further walk of half an hour took them through the grove. When they reached the brink of the mud geyser, Conner threw down his burdens and de- clared that he intended to rest. Nellie followed his example, for she was almost exhausted and glad of a little respite. The geyser greatly excited her curiosity and she plied her father with innumerable questions concerning it and the valley which they had en- tered. While they were thus talking a wild cry came from the grove behind them; and, almost in a moment the Mad Hermit rushed forth and precipitated himself upon Conner, A terrific struggle followed. Conner fought like a lion at bay; but, as neither had any wea- pons iu his hands it became a contest of brawn and muscle, Featherstone seemed unusually strong for a man of his years, but Conner, by a deft movement, threw him. Nellie, as soon as the fighting commenced, ran down the valley, screaming hysterically for help. Then, realizing that none could come, she turn- ed and stared spellbound at the struggling men. As she did so, Conner lifted the Mad Hermit above his head, and seemed on the point of hurl- ing him into the steaming geyser, CHAPTER XIV, AT BAY, GimmEon Dans stared helplessly at the medi- cine-mean and Blackfoot Joe, as they disappear- ed in the rock passage. “T never was caught slicker, I wanted to into the valley ; and now that I’m in it I want to get out and can’t. The question is, what's to be done?” i ‘ He rubbed his nose reflectively and again stared at the tunnel-like gateway. “That old rascal will not be likely to come back till the Crows have another hoodoo, and there’s no telling when that willbe. I might lay for him and jump onto the rock when he crosses again, But, hang it! there ain't any- thing along the caasm big enough to hide a gopher, If I tried to reach him from here, he'd tip the rock back and i’d be worse off than ever.” t There was indeed little satisfaction to be ex- tracted from any view of the situation, Had it not been for these thoughts of how he was to re- gain the mountains, he would have proceeded at once toan exploration of the valley and been glad of the opportunity of so doing. He had started out to search for the valley that was said to lie beyond the Crow village; and now the pleasure of finding it had been changed to ap- prehension. ‘Well, there’s no use stewing over it,” was his philosophical reflection, ‘‘ Here I am, and Pve got to make the most of it. There’s bound to be another way out of this place, and I'll find it if it takes a month, The Yellowstone points up this way, and probably penetrates the valley some- where, IfI find it Ican follow it till it takes Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective, me out. It’s strange the ranchmen and cowboys don’t know any more about this country than they do. They are satisfied with their grass- lands, and never seem to think of looking any further.” He crawled out of the bushes, climbed to the tep of an adjacent ridge and looked carefully over the country and along the black line of the chasm, He was rewarded by no new discovery, and descended in a rather dejected mood, **Oh, ho! I wonder what Nell’s doing. I’ve no doubt she’d be worried if she knew what kind of a box I’ve got into. I hope Ill get out be- fore she has had any cause to get uneasy.” Then he began to retrace his way, slowly and thoughtfully, toward the mud geyser. , He was beginning to feel the pangs of hunger. He had emptied his canteen the night before, and now, on examining his pockets, he found only a few fragments of food remaining. These he ate as he walked on; at the same time keeping a sharp lookout for a pool or spring, Some distance below the geyser he found a hole where a brackish overflow had collected and cooled, The stuff was not very palatable, but he drank a quantity of it and filled his can- teen. ‘** Now, if [ only had some eatables to take the taste out of my mouth, I’d feel like a new man, But I haven’t, so what’s the use\” He threw himself Gown on the grass and endeavored to outline some course of procedure. While lying there a rabbit hopped out of the bushes, not far away, and lifted itself inquisi- bay on its hind feet. “Surveying the magi oer,” muttered Dane, as he watched it, ‘‘ Rabbit steak wouldn’t go bad, now,” He cautiously drew and cocked his revolver, “Tf I only dared I could tumble that; fellow over as nice as you please. But that confound- ed medicinc-man might hear me and take it into his head to make trouble. No doubt he thinks he owns this place. But, pshaw! let him make, I don’t know that I ought to be afraid of him.” The rabbit had dropped to its fore feet and seemed on the point of moving away. _The temptation was too great to be resisted. Dane bowled it over with a well-directed shot; and the next instant it was kicking in his hand and he was on his way back to the geyser. Here he dressed it, and roasted it to a turn over wood collected from the grove. He beliey- ed the shot had not been heard and trusted to the steam of the geyser to conceal the smoke of the fire. He had no salt, but his hunger made the rab- bit extremely Le ine When he had finished it he carefully gathered up and concealed the charred sticks; and then pushed on into the un- known and expanding valley before him. As he advanced it seemed ‘to widen and stretch away illimitably. Although he did not know it, he was on the confines of that wonderful region now known as the Yellowstone Park, *¢ Looks as if it meant to take in all creation, hereabouts!” he exclaimed, as be plodded on. ‘‘ There are dozens of ways of getting into and out of this place, if a fellow only knew where to find them, It’s foolish to think the rock gate- way isthe only path leading to it, The medi- cine-eman may think so, and may make the Crows believe so; but I know better.” He soon began to come on an abundance of game animals, They were comparatively tame, too, as if they had not been hunted a great deal. About noon he managed to approach and shoot a black-tailed fawn, and thus secured a supply of meat sufficient for a long tramp. The valley was intersected here and there by ridges and groves, and in many places partook of the character of both plain and mountain. In a bunch of trees at the base of a long slope he found a spring of pure and delicions water. It bubbled from beneath a rock, and ran away in a tiny rivulet which was lost in the sands below. ; Here he made his noonday balt, and indulged in a brief nap. When he awoke he was sur- prised to see several cows sucking the water from the rivulet a few yards below. A herd of cattle was grazing further down. “he very ones!” he exclaimed, half rising and slapping his knee, The brands ef the cows were plainly visible, ‘The Bitter Creek brand, as [’m a sinner!” was the comment. ‘The stolen cattle are in this valley, sure. How the thieves got them here, I don’t know, but here they are; or at least a part of them. That whole herd wouldn’t account for half that are missing.” He got up and sauntered toward the animals for a closer examination, After assuring bim- self that they were certainly Staples’s cows, he ti visited the herd: Most of these were also cows, many of them with calves at their sides, The Bitter Creek brand was noticeably promi- nent, but several other ranches were represent- ed. The steers and young cattle bore a brand that was wholly unfamiliar to him, ‘“‘The scamps are smart!” he ejaculated, as he noted this. ‘‘Those are the increase of the herd, They wouldn’t dare to offer the other cattle in any market, but with that brand on them they might run them off somewhere and sell them, That explains why cows only are stolen, The rascals don’t try to sell the cows; but as soon as the calves are old enougb they slap that brand on ’em and turn them into cash. It’s about as slick a trick as I ever stum- bled onto.” He circled the herd and closely examined al- most every animal, and found an abundance of proof confirmatory of his theory. ‘* Now, if Ican only run across the thieves, Tll count this an extry good day’s work! There’s not much chance of that, though. It may be they don’t stay in this valley at all; but just come here when ey want to round-up and cut out for market, Still, the cattle are rather tame for that. They’d be wilder if they only saw a man once or twice a year. ““T wonder if the old medicine-man knows anything about this? It’s hard to say, He’sa sly dog, and I wouldn’t put it past him, Any- how, I'll have to thank him for showing me the way in here, and then cooping me up so that I had to make a search.” He went back to the spring, filled his canteen and put the venison in shape for carrying, and pushed on into the valley in an aimless manner, During the afternoon he saw other bunches of cattle, branded in the same way, but he saw no sign of human presence. Several times he ascended considerable elevations and closely scanned the surrounding country. From ap- pearances he might go on forever without find- ey ge outlet from the place. e had followed no general direction, but had gone here and there as fancy dictated, and when night came he calculated he was about a dozen miles due west of the rock gateway. **T ain’t doing any good at this,” be muttere as he sought out a place tosleep. ‘‘ I believe ni take the back track in the morning, I know where the cattle are now. If I can just get out of here, [ll bring a band of cowboys, and we’ll rout the fellows out, if it takes a month,” Ths idea was firmly fixed in his mind by morning. ‘¢-Yes, Pll go back to the chasm! It’s not se mountainous on this side, and it'll be easier te make a search along it, It’s bound to end some- where. If I go on in this direction, it’ll take me a month to get back to the Bitter Creek Ranch, if I do get out.” After breakfasting he ascended a high ridge and made another careful survey of the country. Nothing was revealed by it, and when he de- scended he set out on his return trip, He walked briskly, and by ten o’clock had covered the greater part of the distance to the warner ; ‘ uddenly, in coming around the rocky spur of a ridge, be heard a succession of shots and a chorus of cries. The sounds came from some point beyond an extensive grove, a half-mile away. “Hullo! what can be the row?’ Dane ques- tioned, drawing his revolver and hurrying in that direction. ‘‘ Sounds like the cattle-thieves may be having a high old fight among them- selves. I hope it ain’tno worse, If it’s just dog eat dog, the world will be the better off when ube job’s finished.” He ran at his best gait, hastened by the oc- casional shot that now and then broke the quiet, and soon reached the grove. As he emerged on the opposite side a strange sight met his gaze. In a rocky hollow, two or three hundred yaré& away, were two men and a pack-mule, A hug? bunch of what seemed to be canvas lay on th ground between two trees, The trees were low and about twenty or thirty feet apart. As Dane looked, each of the men seized an end of rope fastened tothe canvas and scrambled with it up a tree, Then, in a few moments, they leaped down, leaving the ropes hooked in some way to the trees, One of the ends ap- peared to pass through a small pulley and hung to the ground. To it the mule was quickly hitched, and as he walked away the rope be- tween the trees tighcened and a huge bunch of canvas was drawn into the air. “It’s a balloon!” he exclaimed, rubbing his: eyes. ‘*How it got here, and who those fel- lows are, though, stumps me.” rie
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12 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. Then another shot rung out, and be sawa third man defending a narrow pass that led to the hollow from the north! CHAPTER XV. ‘UP IN A BALLOON,” THE big balloon was now suspended between the two trees, its wrinkled folds swaying slight- ly in the freshening breeze, and its lower end touching the ground. The men, who were rush- ing about like mad, soon produced a number of stakes andan iron-headed mallet. The stakes were driven in a circle around the mouth of the balloon, slanting outward; and to them the bal- joon was anchored with stout cables, ‘* They surely can’t be cattle-thieves,” thought Dane, as he watched them closely, ‘‘ More likely the cattle-thieves have been chasing them. if so, I ought to bear a hand.” He started forth impulsively and hurried to- ward the men. Ther saw him as he left the timber; and, stop- ping their work, stared at him with evident sus- picion. The cowboy elevated his hands, to show his friendly intentions, and hastened up to them at a lively run, ‘* Excuse me,” he Swap oee “T saw you from over there and thought, from the looks of things, that you were in trouble.” They glanced at each other inquiringly and sharply eyed him before replying: “So you don’t belong to that crowd of vil- jains back yonder? They chased us a mile or more, and shot all our pack-mules but this one. if we bad a few of Uncle Sam’s troopers we'd quickly teach ’em a lesson.” The speaker scowled as he looked toward the pass, ‘* We haven’t time for explanations,” he con tinued. ‘‘ We’re going to try to get out of here in this balloon. It’s only a hot-air concern, but maybe it’ll answer our purpose. If you’d like to help us, run up there and assist Jim in hold- ing the rascals in check. “But, naa Do you know any way out of this hole? If you do, we'll let the balloon busi- ness slide.” “There ain’ any way out in this direction; and to tell the truth, I don’t know of any way oat atall. There’s a big chasm over there that cuts us off from the mountains,” “Then help Jim, while we get a fire to going under this thing, We'll be in bad shape if those fellows break through the pass,” Dane drew his revolver and started off at full run; while the two men began to collect fuel ct arrange it beneath the mouth of the bal- oon. “Now, if this fellow, Jim, should take it into his head that I’m one of the other chaps and have flanked him, he’ll be mighty apt to pull on me,” thought the cowboy, as he neared the pass, But t#é man had seen Dane while the latter was taiking to his comrades near the balloon. “Your pards sent me,” Dane explained, as he dropped down at the man’s side. ‘Having a hot time, eh?” The man’s reply was interrupted by a shower of balls that just then came hurtling through the pass, The defenders returned the fire, working their revolvers as rapidly as possible. ** Cattle-thieves!” said Jim, peering above the bowlders in the direction of theenemy. ‘ That’s what we took’em to be. There’s a dozen of ‘them, or more. They jumped onto us abouta mile back; and we had a lively run for it, I tell you. None of us were hurt, but they laid out our ponies and pack-mules, We got only one of the pack-mules through; but as luck would have it, it was the one that carried the bal- loon.” The balls were again singing through the pass; and be stopped to return the fire. When ‘he once more dropped behind tbe bowlder there was a questioning look on his face. Dane inter- preted it as personal to himself; and hastily ac- counted for his presence there, “We're Government surveyors,” said the man, peering above the rock as the Cowboy De- tective finished his recital. ‘* We were sent out from Washington to make an exploration of ‘tais country. And it’s a wonderful country, I tell you, Some remarkable stories kave been Teceived about it, but the balf wasn’t told or dreamed of, It’s just filled with strange scenery. There isn’t its equal on the continent.” ‘How did you get into it?” queried the cow- boy, rattling out a volley of shots. ‘We came _ in from the north and east, through the Blackfoot country. There are plenty of wavs of getting in, and only the fear of Indians has kept the world from knowing all about this section long ago. We've been travel- ing around a monthor more, and have managed to see a good deal of it in that time. Two of our mules were loaded down with specimens; but 1 suppose we'll lose them and all the records we've kept, ‘““We came prepared for almost any kind of work. That?’s why we brought the balloon, We've only used it once or twice, but it’s a sub- stantial affair for a hot-air balloon, You see, we didn’t know but there might be inaccessible places we’d want to look into, and by using it as a captive balloon we could view them from above. ‘* When those scoundrels downed our animals we made a break for this pass, thinking we might be able to hold them here until the bal- loon could be got ready. It surprises me wh they don’t charge. They keep slinging the lead, though, but not a one of them has ventured to show himself.” “Do you know, I’ve been thinking of that!” said Dane, glancing uneasily toward the inflat- ing balloon. ‘‘ It’s my opinion they’re working a flank movement, and will catch us in the rear, pretty soon, The firing isn’t as lively as it was when I first got here, Likely there’s only one or two of them doing the shooting, while the others are crawling around the ridge.” “No doubt you are right!” and the surveyor looked grave. ‘ But, if they’ll bold off another five minutes, we can snap our fingers at them.” A brisk breeze had set in from the west, and the balloon was swaying and bobbing at a great rate, in spite of the steadying rope and the stout cables, A hot fire was flaming under the gaping mouth, filling the envelope with super- heated air; and this fire the two men were in- dustriously feeding with sticks of dry wood, Near them lay the basket or car, ready to be hauled into place when the balloon was in con- dition for ascension. The balloon was rapidly expanding; and as they looked at it a shrill whistle cut the air, The surveyor started and smiled. ‘They are about ready. That’s the signal for us tocomein. Of course you'll want to goalong; and the basket’s big enough to hold an extra man. Now, we’ll give’em a whirl, and thenrun for it.” They fired a few shots in quick succession, joined in a defiant yell, and started for the tug- ging balloon as fast as their legs could carry them, Almost at thesame moment the flanking party of cattle-tkieves burst around a spur of the ridge half a mile away. They were mounted, and lashed their ponies furiously as soon as they had left their place of concealment, **Let’em come!” panted the surveyor, as he raced at the cowboy’s side, ‘‘If wecan beat ’em by two minutes, and keep out of gun-shot, we'll be safe enough. The top hamper of the balloon’s already been cut loose, and there wont be much delay in starting.” The men had kicked the fire away and were dragging the basket into position, as they came u . Ps Rear a hand, there!” shouted the one who seemed tobe the leader. ‘‘Cut two of those cables on the other side, will you? Lively, or they may fil] the bag ful! of holes with their rifle- balls! Ease off those others, Steady, so; there. Hold her at that.!” . Dane’s companion sprung to obey, and man- ipulated the ropes in accordance with the direc- tions of his chief. The others were equally ac- tive, and soon the gigantic envelope was strain- ing at three lengthened cables, and threatening at every surge to tear the firmly driven stakes from the earth. “Into it!” came the command, and the chief pointed to the basket that was being raked about on the ground, ‘Stir yourselves; theyll be reaching for us in another minute.” Dane clambered into the basket, The sur- veyors crowded in with him, Then the cables cables were severed and the balloon shot into the air, The basket was lifted from the ground with a terrible jerk and narrowly missed striking among the branches of ono of the trees. “ Now yell, you devils, if it’Ildo you any good!’ cried the chief, shaking his fist angrily at the still distant horsemen. ‘ Yell till you split your throats; you can’t hurt us now.” The balloon had mounted rapidly and was al- ready several] hundred feet above the earth, It still shot upward with amazing velocity. To Dane, however, it seemed that the earth was re- ceding and the landscape rushing with marvelous speed toward the west. ‘The old mule takes it easy,” laughed one of the men. _‘‘ He has gone to grazing just as if the murderers of his brethren were’n’t coming down the slope like a lot of howling Apaches,” ‘*There are the other fellows,” asserted the chief, pointing to the opposite side of the ridge, which now appeared to lie almost beneath them, Tbey were the ones that bad been left to keep up a fusilade at the pass. There were three of them; and though they looked like small chil- dren, they were distinctly visible. ‘*T imagine I can see their open mouths,” de- clared Dane, smiling at the fancy. ‘‘ They cer- tainly see us; and those other fellows must feel so badly sold that they’ll want to go off some- where and hide.” CHAPTER XVI, OVER THE MOUNTAIN WALL, As the balloon continued to ascend, a grand pancrama was spread out beneath them. Pur- ple mountains were piled cn almost every hand; and the wonderland of the Yellowstone, with its streams and valleys, its timber and hills, stretched away beyond the reach of their vision. They were now above the mountain wall that had thus far barred the valley from tke ranch- men of the eastern plains, The impassable chasm seemed merely a black line extending for many miles along the mountain slope. The clustering tepees of the Crow village seemed a huddled group of gigantic ant-hills, The leader of the party drew from a leathern case a strong field-glass and leveled it at the tepees. ‘Take a look,” he said, handing the glass to the Cowboy Detective. The cowboy was glad of the opportunity, and soon had the Crow village within the field of vision. ‘They see us!” he cried, excitedly. ‘‘ They are staring at us and running about in a ridicu- lous way. Probably they think they have dis- covered some new species of bird.” Then he focused the glass on the hazy hills which held the cabin of Hank Conner. He could make out the cabin, but could see no one moving about it. Then, after viewing the ranch country, be passed the glass to one of the surveyors, who was eager for a look. ‘‘T’'m afraid we'll have trouble in landing,” said the chief, speaking in gravetones, ‘* These hot-air balloons don’t stay up very long, and we will begin to descend in a few minutes, The air in the envelope must be cooling rapidly. And when we do go down, we'll be apt to go down lively!” Another look at.the landscape convinced Dane that the balloon was already beginning to settle slowly toward the earth.” ‘“ We'll be likely to get some bones broke, if we strike among the rocks!” he asserted, ‘‘ How high are we?” ‘Perhaps half a wile, It’s hard to tell with- out an instrument. That wall isa comparatively low one, yet we didn’t have much room to spare when we cleared its crest. We're settling now; but if the breeze holds out, we may make the edge of the plain.” Five minutes later there could be no doubt they were setting toward the earth at a rapid rate. The basket contained, among other things, a grapnel and stout line;' and these were now arranged and allowed to trail from the car. “Tf that catches on anything it'll fetch us up like a roped steer!” Dane remarked in a dubious way. ‘‘I don’t think I’d care about ballooning, as a regular business.” ‘¢1t/s like a bad habit,” was the reply. ‘It’s generally a good deal easier to start it than it is to stop. But we'll not worry, yet. We got away from those scamps nicely; and we may make a landing just as easily.” The wind was now becoming broken by the mountain barrier, and came in gusts and fitful puffs, But the breeze, such as it was, still swept them in an easterly direction; and the chances of making a safe descent increased. But it was soon evident they would not reach the open country. As the air in the envelope cooled the balloon fell very rapidly. They had passed over the wildest and rockiest portion of the range and were approaching the timber-filled gorges and broken lands. ‘* Hold hard!” cried the leader, as the swaying grapnel barely missed entanglement in the branches of a tall tree. “If we strike here it will go rough with us.” ‘ He began hauling is on the grapnel line to prevent the threatened disaster, When the trees were cleared, he paid it out again; and all awaited, with strained musclesand tense nerves, the impending shock. But it was not as severe as expected. The grove served to further still the wind; and when the grapnel struck and caught among the bowl- i f
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a <0 es NR en — ee nae ders, the balloon careened like a gigantic kite, and then settled to the earth. The passengers were bumped and bruised considerably but no serious hurts were received. ‘‘ Almost better than could be expected!” ex- claimed the chief, as he scrambled to his feet, having leaped from the basket before it touched the rocks. ‘‘I thought once she was going to come down like a meteor.” The others, who were tangled up in the ropes and half-smothered in the flattened envelope, now crawled out, one by one, pleased to find the breath still in their bodies. ‘¢T’d rather ride a bucking broncho, any day, thanthatthing!” growled Dane. ‘‘If abroncho Pitches you, you haven’t got so far to fall.” *s And if you’d been riding one, the cattle- thieves would have gobbled you. Come! I haven’t learned how you got in there, yet, nor what you were doing there.” The leader reclined against a bowlder as if too worn to think of any further movement. ‘* There wasn’t any time left for story telling,” and Dane smiled. ‘I explained matters to Jim, there, while we were lying at the pass.” Then he recounted his adventures at length, for the benefit of the entire party. ‘* Well, you know us!” said the leader, had given his name as Stuart Carlton. ‘As a matter of course we’re mighty anxious to get the things we were forced to leave back there, There’s a lot of valuable apparatus and speci- mens among the packs, as well as our journals and camping outfit, Our expedition will prac- tically be a failure if we lose them.” “Tve een thinking you’d want them,” was Dane’s mtu.ing rejoinder. ‘‘ You had no idea those fellows were there, I suppose, until they attacked you?” ** Never dreamed of such a thing. We’d seen a lot of cattle, though; and as we’d heard of no ranches, we naturally came to the conclusion that they were driven in there by cattle-thieves. When the fellows came for us like a lot of bald hornets, and without cause, we knew we were right. They would not have jumped onto us in that way if they’d been honest men,” ‘““T was going to propose that we combine against them,” the cowboy averred. ‘‘ The great trouble is, we don’t know where they’re located, and it may take a long hunt to find them. But now that I know they’re in there I’ll never stop till I drive them out and get back the cattle, | You may not care for so long or big 2 job.” “That will depend, of course. We want to move eastward as soon as wecan. But we're willing to spend a reasonable amount of time in assisting you.” **We can get plenty of ponies and cowboys at the Bitter Creek Ranch, but we can’t take the ponies into the valley. 1f your balloon would carry ponies, now!” ‘oT would be a great. thing!” laughing at the idea. ‘“‘If we could just drop a company of mounted cowbvys in among those fellows, how they would run!” ‘But we can take the cowboys, if not the ponies. Not in the balloon, but in the way I went. Then, if nothing better suggests, we can organize a systematic search of the valley.” It was now considerably past noon, for they had been talking a long time, and they were be- ginning to feel hungry. But they bad left all their provisions in the valley; and, since leav- ing it, they had seen nothing in the way of ame. ‘‘Tt’s a long ways to this ranch, you say, and I never like to walk on an empty stomach!’ de- murred Stanley, the third member of the explor- ing party. «NG: I shouldn’t think any kind of stomach would make good pavement,” laughed Jim Grimes, the pass defender. “Do you think we can find this place again?” questioned the chief, moving toward the col- lapsed balloon, ‘ We'll bave to roll this up and stow it away somewhere, and come back after it when we have demolished the light-fingered gentlemen we have been talking about.” The envelope was folded and rolled in accord- ance with his instructions, and thrust, with the basket and other belongings, into an opening between the rocks, Stones were placed so as to conceal the opening; and the party, with Dane in the lead, set out on the long journey to the Bitter Creek Ranch. The way was very rough, and the most of the afternoon was consumed in getting out of the hills. “They made good progress when they reached the plain, but night came down while they were yet a considerable distance from their destination. The fatigues of the day and their hunger were telling on them so severely that they began to Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. 13 \ | think they would be compelled to camp on the plain and wait for morning, when a light from | the ranch house gleamed across the level expanse like a star and cheered them to renewed efforts. It was late when the Cowboy Detective’s vig- orous raps aroused Bill Staples from his slum- bers. ‘¢ Hey!” he yelled, in answer to the summons. Then, as he recognized Dane’s voice: ‘Yes, yes, ’m comin’, Been lookin’ fer ye ever’ hour. Was jes’ beginnin’ to think you'd been gobbled.” He swung the door open and appeared, lamp in hand, Mutual introductions and hand-shakings fol- lowed; and after that, abundance of cold eata- bles was placed before the hungry men. While Dane was yet eating, the ranchman caught his eye and beckoned to him. “She fetched it over,” he said, with a grin, producing and delivering Nellie’s letter when he had drawn Dane aside, ‘‘ She was back ag’in, to-day, inquirm’ about ye, and looked worrited to death when I tol’ her you hadn’t got in,” CHAPTER XVII. ON TO GROSS-NOTCH, ‘Tats Cross-Notch must be somewhere in the valley,” mused Dane, as he read and re-read the letter. ‘* Though why Conner should select that as a residence puzzles me. Well, we'll be mov- ing in that direction bright and early to-mor- row, and I’ll try to see Nellie before we come back.” Bill Staples was much interested in the story told by Dane and the surveyors, ** Ye can have every cowboy on the ranch, an’ myself throwed in,” he agreed. ‘* The skunks have nigh about ruined the cattle bizness fer the last two er three year. I’ve been thinkin’ a fel- ler’s a fool fer tryin’ to run a ranch this fur up- country. What with the stealin’ and raids of Injuns an’ thieves, an’ the long distance to mar- ket, it’s a pesky and worritin’ bizness all ’round, If we clear the thieves out o’ that valley, maybe a feller can sleep, nights.” Before daybreak Dane had selected his men— a dozen fearless and cool-headed cowboys—and with Staples and the surveyors set out for the gorge leading to the ledge. hey were mounted on Staples’s best cow-ponies, and reached the head of the gorge about sunrise. ‘¢ We'd better turn the ponies loose here,” ex- plained Dane, running his eye along the narrow ledge above. ‘‘ My little experience shows me it’s useless to try to take ponies over that. We might get them along, after a fashion, but we'll make better time on foot ” Accordingly the saddles and bridles were re- moved from the ponies and concealed among the bushes. As for the animals, it was believed they would return to the ranch of their own ac- ord. ‘‘ There will be a mighty gathering of saddles and bridles,” the cowboy remarked, as he direct- ed the concealment of the articles. ‘‘ That is, if we get back in condition to want such things. I’ve got a saddle and bridle of my own up by the alkali sink that I’d hate to lose.” Several axes and a number of tent sledges had been brought from the ranch, and when the journey was recommenced these were taken along. Their intended use was made plain when the party reached the soapy bend. “Featherstone got around this point without much trouble: but he could climb like a moun- tain sheep. We'll have to clear a way here if we expect to cross,” Dane had planned how this was to be done, so no time was lost in commencing the work. As many men as could work abreast were ordered to advance as far along the ledge as possible, These attacked the soapy surface with the sledges and ax-heads, beating and scraping it away until the rough rock below was revealed. They worked rapidly for a few minutes, then crawled back and their places were taken by others, These were in turn relieved, and the task pushed with the greatest energy. Hours went by, however, before the soapy surface was sufficiently cleared away to permit their passage. “A” devil’s work, that was,” growled sturdy Bill Staples. ‘‘ I’ve heerd o’ lots 0’ p’izen mean- ness, but that jes’ lays it over all. The feller that done it ought to be chucked into the sink hisself.” The cowboys were equally indignant, and had the perpetrator of the deed fallen into their hands just then, he would have been shown hittle mercy. It was high noon when they reached the point where the ledge dipped into the canyon; and here they halted to rest and eat their dinner. Es tsi soles mie iii St i LT « “‘Thalf look for a fight at the chasm,” the cowboy detective stated to Staples, when they were ready to resume the advance. ‘‘ We can cross only by way of the rocking stone; and they could scarcely find a better place to make a stand. Concealed among the bushes and rocks beyond, three or four men could almost hold an army at bay. I’m hoping they’ll not suspect our coming.” ** Don’t see why they should,” the ranchman averred, ‘‘ They hain’t reely had any cause to think you’ve been in the valley.” ‘““No; but they may think tbe surveyors were looking for them. Anyway, the fact that the latter were joined by a fourth man will be likely to make them suspicious. But they may rest secure in the thought that we can’t easily get at them.” Progress up the canyon was comparatively free from difficulty, and they soon reached the sandy plateau in front of the rock gateway. There were no evidences that the Crows had been there since the memorable morning whem Dane bad witnessed the medicine-dance. On arriving at the chasm Dane was much re- lieved to find that the cattle-thieves had posted no force there, “They can’t know we're coming,” was his: comment. ‘‘And that gives us a big advan- tage. Now, if we only knew where they are, so. we could move on ’em at once!” ‘*Shouldn’t be s’prised if we find they’ve skipped!” Staples declared, ‘‘ There’s one satis- faction, though, they hain’t had time to git away with the cattle, Dane clambered 4 the rocking stone, half fearful even yet that he might be fired on from the opposite side; and when he was safely across Staples followed him, Two cowboys were ordered to remain there to tip down the stone when the party should re- turn, Then the others followed Dane and the ranchman; and the march into the valley com- menced, When the edge of the grove was gained the were startled by a wild yell. The yell was fol- lowed by the noise of a struggle and a woman’s scream, The sounds seemed to come from a point near the geyser. ‘*Some devilment afoot!” cried Dane, draw- ing his revolver and hurrying forward at a quick run, movements which were imitated by every member of the party. The scream had brought startling suggestions. Cross-Notch must lie somewhere in that valley; and, although Nellie’s letter had stated she would not go to that point until Sunday,[{there wae a possibility that Conner had changed his plans. The Cowboy Detective reached the further side of the grove to behold the Indian trader lift the Mad Herinit as if to hurl him into the geyser. He did not see Nellie, for she was screened from his sight by intervening bushes, There was scarcely time for thought. On the impulse of the moment Gid gave 4 great shout, raised his revolver and fired. At this Conner dropped the hermit heavily to the earth and precipitately fled. ‘‘There’s other fellers after me!” be asserted, ashe gained Nellie’s side. ‘‘ We've got to dig out of this. The rascal had caught a glimpse of tke party and knew who they were; but he had reasons for not revealing the fact to Nellie. He grasped her band and half dragged her with him as he rushed on. The fright and consequent nervousness, com-~- bined with fatigues already undergone, bad ex- hausted her strength; and when he saw she could go no further, he lifted her in bis strong arms and carried her as he might bave done a child. ‘“There’s some ponies over hyer,” he puffed, setting ber on her feet when they had gained a sheltered locality, ‘‘I put ’em hyer day ’fore yisterday, thinkin’ they'd help us after our walk, an’ now they'll come mighty handy. Set down there an’ rest, while I go after ’em,.” She was only too glad to comply; and in a lit- tle while he came back with two ponies, which were bridled but not saddled. But, Nellie was an expert horsewoman, and could ride almost as well without a saddle as with one. Urged om by her fears, she asked no questions, and they were soon flying from the spot, When Dane reached the geyser he paid no beed to the unconscions hermit, but hastened in pursuit of Conner. The Jatter baffled him, how- ever, by a change of course; and while looking: . for the trail the Mad Hermit dashed by like an unleashed bloodhound. Featherstone’s eyes were glued to the ground, his hair floated wildly in the wind, and his lips
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a wy 14 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. were drawn apart by a fierce frenzy. After him streamed Staples, the surveyors and the cowboys. Dane joined the pursuit, scarcely knowing ‘what it would lead to. He wondered why Con- ner should run away in that manner, and if the screaming woman was really Nellie. His mind was crowded with conjectures that only served to confuse and distress him, Featherstone quickly distanced the foremost; and Dane, seeing they could not keep pace with him, ran to the top of a ridge to gain some idea of the course to be follow From this point he saw the mounted fugitives. They were bear- ing in toward the hills; and as his gaze roved in advance of them he thought he detected a thin column of smoke rising against the rocky back- ground, As he turned to descend the ridge he caught sight of the hermit, who had struck the trail of the ponies and was following them swiftly and unerringly. ‘« There'll be bloody work if that hermi: comes up with them,” he declared, when he rejoined the party. ‘*I’d like to know where Conner got those ponies.” This was made plain a few minutes after, when aband of ponies, with saddle-marks on their backs, were discovered feeding peacefully in a little hollow. They seemed tired and hun- gry, and acted as if they had been ridden re- cently. At Dane’s suggestion they were surrounded and a sufficient number caught to mount the en- tire party. Neither saddles nor bridles were to be found, but the cowboys supplied the deficiency in part by cutting their riatas into suitable lengths and knotting them into halters. ‘*Now to diskiver what all this quareness means!” cried Bill Staples, digging bis spurs into the pony’s flanksand leading the way after the Mad Hermit. CHAPTER XVIII. CORRALED! ‘Wr, if the hermit hasn’t straddled the old pack-mule!” The exclamation burst from Dane’s lips as the party reached the open country. Hank and Nellie Conner were not visible, but the hermit, mounted on the surveyors’ pack- mule, was speeding along as if he had themin full sight. Their faster ponies overhauled and passed the mule. Then Dane placed himself at the head of the cowboys and led the way along the dimly defined trail. A glance backward, however, showed that Featherstone managed to keep very closely in their wake. A half-hour of this hot and rapid work brought them to the top of a long and timber- fringed rise. *“Corraled, by the great horned steers of Texas!" cried Bill Staples, as he looked down the opposite slope. ‘* We’ve got the hull b’ilin’ of ’em: Hank Conner, cattle-thieves, an’ all! Hank’s shorely one of ’em,er he wouldn’t be a-puttin’ fer their shanties like a loaded bee makin’ fer home.” The shrewd ranchman, who had never held a good opinion of Conner, was correct in his sur- mise, A strange fate seemed driving the pre- tended fur-trader to hisdoom. It might never have been shown that he was the chief of the Cross-Notch cattle-thieves had it vot been for his fears of the hermit and his attempt to carry out an unscrupulous plot against Nellie. There were two cabinsin a bushy hollow, ata point where a gorge from the hills intersected a ravine. Conner and Nellie were nearing these cabins. The pursuers could see that he was swinging his hat in a frantic way. Doubtless he was also shouting words of warning, for a number of men were swarming out of the houses and bustling about as if preparing for a defense. The excited cowboys gave them little time for preparation, With a chorus of yells they thun- dered down the oe The thieves disappeared as si approached, ‘© We don’t want a fight if we can get out of it,” said Dane, thinking of Nellie. ‘‘The girl might be killed. Ill ride out and see if we can’t have a conference.” He tore a small branch from a tree, affixed his handkerchief to it, and advanced, waving it above his head. Evidently the thieves did not care to tempo- rize, for when he came within rifle-range, he was ted with a shower of balls. **Come back!” bawled Staples. ‘They'll jes’ nacherly riddle ye. They’re sp’ilin’ fer a fight, an’ you bet we're jes’ the boys to ’comerdate em, ‘** But the girl!” protested Dane, riding back when he saw he could accomplish nothing. ** Hank Conner "Il look out fer her!” Further objections were useless; and, as the cowboys were eager for the fray, an advance was ordered, At Staples’s suggestion the force was divided, one party being led by the ranchman and the other by Dane. They were to approach the cabins from differ- ent directions; and, as they separated to execute the maneuver, Featherstone dashed up on the pack-mule and joined Staples’s party. The position of the Cross-Notch cabins was favorable for defense, but it also rendered them easy of approach; and, shielded by the scrub, the assailants were quite near before the de- fenders could use their weapons to any advan- tage, Here the assaulting forces dismounted, tied their ponies to bushes, and made a mad rash for the doors. Several fell before the doors were reached and brokenin. Then the outlaws, real- izing that the day was lost, tried to escape by the windows. Blackfoot Joe was among them; and he, with Hank Conner, dragged Nellie through one of the windows, and hurried with her toward the concealment of the brush, The men were fired on as they ran, and Dane and Featherstone rushed in pursuit. As he reached the line of bushes Conner fell. Nellie, who had no knowledge of why they were attacked, or who the pursuers were, knelt screaming at his side. The half-breed rudely grasped her, his eyes flaming with an evil light, and dragged her on. She attempted a resist- ance, Then he wrenched at her so roughly that her clothing was torn from her right arm and shoulder, and she fell fainting. Featherstone saw the action, and when his gaze fellon the exposed arm and shoulder he stopped as if stupefied, cried aloud and sunk down at her side. Dane was sorely puzzled at this, and after fir- ing a couple of shots at the vanishing half-breed, turned back to Nellie, He was amazed to see on the upper part of her arm, a livid scar dis- figuring the white skin. It looked like an im- perfectly branded F, She came out of ber swoon at the same mo- ment, and seeing Dane, called his name. Asshe struggled to her feet she noticed the torn condi- tion of her dress, and blushing redly, replaced the sleeve and secured it with pins. Then she remembered that Conner had been shot, and turned from Dane to kneel at his side, Conner was conscious, but there was a look of death in his eyes. ‘‘Carry me into the cabin,” he whispered. ve got something [ want to say.” The fight was over. Severalof the cattle- thieves had been slain, some had escaped, but the larger number had been taken, and were bound and helpless prisoners. These were held in one of the cabins, and into the cther Conner was borne. It was a strange story he had to tell—the con- fession of a life given fover to evil—and as his hearers hung on his feeble words they almost forgot the strange circumstances surrounding them, His sentences were disconnected, his ideas sometimes chaotic, for he was near death, Thrown into a few words his statements were as follows: Years ago he had been a squaw man among the Blackfeet, and became almost as much un- civilized and brutal as the Blackfeet themselves. The half-breed, Blackfoot Joe, was his son, born to him at that time, He accompanied the Blackfeet on many of their forays against the whites, On one cf these expeditions they devastated the home of Joel k’oatherstone, a ranchman of the northern plains, Veatherstone’s wife and son were killed and he himself left for dead. Through the whim of a chief, Featherstone’s daughter, at that time only about three years of ags, was carried away. Conner adopted the daughter, and in time formed a genuine fatherly attachment for her. A year later he tired of his Blackfoot wife and her savage people and left them, taking the child with him. He moved further south and became a fur-trader, trafficking principally with the Crows; but he kept up a desultory communication with the Blackfeet Featherstone, whose mind had been unbal- anced by his misfortune, became a Nemesis on his trail, and forced him to frequent changes of abode, Conner, in his wanderings, discovered the mysterious valley and explored a portion of it, Then he drew around him a few wild spirits— among them Blackfoot Joe—now a young man began to prey upon the herds of tha Yel- The valley guarded their —and lowstone ranchmen. eee eee secret, and by driving the increase of the herds into the Mormon country the nefarious business was made extremely profitable, Their secret was threatened, however, when a small band of Crows moved into the vicinity, Conner was acquainted with these Crows, and by means of a rude knowledge of medicine bad sreviously effected some cures among them. y deceptive practices he increased the reputa- tion thus gained, and was made the chief of their medicine-men, Having gained this position he made them be- lieve that the valley was haunted by demons, and that the cbasm was put there by the Great Spirit to keep the Crows from entering it and suffering death. An accident revealed to him the properties of the rocking stone; and he was thus able to further enhance his reputation for miraculous powers, The cattle stolen were driven into the valley through a secret pass, a number of miles to the soutbward, This pass, and the ledge trail, were the only routes by which tbe valley could be gained from the direction of the ranch country. The thieves had on several occasions made nar- row escapes by taking their ponies along the ledge. After such escapes the perilous bend over the alkali sink was covered with soap; and more than one adventurous cowboy had, by this means, been hurled to death. As Conner concluded his story his eyes turned toward the door in a strange way, Featherstone had entered without attracting attention and had been a listener to all that was said. His manner was so changed that all were at once aware that his intellect was no longer clouded, ‘*Rorgive me!” Conner whispered, huskily, as his face whitened in death, * As God ismy judge, I do! Oh, my daughter, my daughter!” e opened his arms and Nellie rushed into them, sobbing. It was revealed later that the livid scar on Nellie’s arm had been caused by a hot branding- iron in the hands of her little brother, They had been playing, he as a cowboy and she as the herd, and in a spirit of juvenile thoughtlessness he * had heated his father’s branding-iron and thrust it against her arm. There is little else to tell. The surveyors recovered their records and property, and soon after returned to Washing- ton where the reports of their discoveries created much comment. Blackfoot Joe was never again seen in that section. Donald Knowlton, the ranchman, was implicated by the captured cattle-thieves; and, with them, served a long term as a convicted criminal, Gideon Dane, with pretty Nellie as his wife, settled down as a Yellowstone ranchman, and Joel Featherstone, during the remaining years of his life, made their home his—a happy and contented man. THE END. Beadle’s Dime Library. BY FRANCIS JOHNSON. 25 The Gold Guide; or, Steel Arm, Regulator. 26 The Death Track; or, The Mountain Outlaws. 123 Alapaha the Squaw; or, The Border Renegades 124 Assowaum the Avenger; or, The Doom of the Destroyer. 135 The Bush Ranger: or, The Half-Breed Rajah. 136 The Outlaw Hunter; or, The Bush Ranger. 1388 The Border Bandit; or, The Horse Thief’s Trail BY COL. THOMAS H. MONSTERY, 82 Iron Wrist, the Swordmaster. 126 The Demon Duelist; or, The League of Steel. 143 The Czar’s Spy; or, The Nihilist League. 150 El Rubio Bravo, King of the Swordsmen. 157 Mourad, the Mameluke; or, The Three Sword- masters, 169 Corporal Cannon, the Man of Forty Duels. 236 Champion Sam; or, The Monarchs of the Show 262 Fighting Tom, the Terror of the Toughs. 382 Spring-Heel Jack: or, The Masked Mystery, BY MAJOR DANGERFIELD BURR, 92 Buffalo Bill, the Buckskin King. - 117 Dashing Dandy; or, The Hotspur of the Hills, 142 Captain Crimson, the Man of the Iron Face. 156 Velvet Face, the Border Bravo, 175 Wild Bill’s Trump Card; or, The Indian Heiress, 185 The Phantom Mazeppa; or, The Hyena. 448 Hark Kenton, the tor. A new issue every Wednesday. Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by all op > Newsdealers, ten cents per COPY. or sent by mail receipt of twelve cents each. BEADLE & AD Publishers, 98 William Street, New York,
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| BY PHILIP 5S. WARNE. 67 Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 275 Captain Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game, 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat. 219 Despard, the Duelist; or, The Mountain Vempires. 888 A Tough Boy; or, The Dwarf’s Revenge. 868 Little Tornado; or, The Outcasts of the Glen, 878 Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. 888 Little Oh-my 3 or, Caught in His Own Trap, 401 Little Shoo-F ly ; or, A Race fora Ranch, 408 Little Leather-Breeches ; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse. 481 Little Ah Sin; or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the alines. 480 Three Jolly Pards. 617 Jim Gladden’s Deputy. 6527 The Jolly Pards to the Rescue. 647 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down, 556 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. 574 Old Weasel-top, the Man with the Dogs, 598 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. 5699 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport, 618 Billy Blazes; or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. BY. CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER, 1 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Page or, The Doge’s Daughter. 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 150 Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. 154 The Sword Munters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise to the Open Polar Sea. 200 e Boy Bedouins 3 or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance, 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine. 249 Milo Romer, the Animal King; or, The Round the World Wanderer. 265 The Tiger Tamer} or, The League of the Jungle. $81 Black Nick, the Demon Rider. 895 California Joe’s War Trail, BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8, Hall.) 284 Old Rocky 8 *“*Boyeess or, Benito, the Young Horse- reaker. 246 Glant George; or, The Ang’! of the Range. 275 Arizona Jack}; or, Giant George’s Pard. 297 The Tarantula of Taos; or, Giant George’s Revenge. 807 The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. 818 Ker-whoop, Ker-whoo; or, The Tarantula of Taos, 627 Oreeping Vat, the Caddo; or, The Red and White Pards, 882 Frio Fred: or, The Tonkaway’s Trust. 844 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. 849 Wild Wolf; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front, 857 The Ranch Raiders: or, The Siege of Fort Pargatory. 864 Snap-Shot, the Boy Ranger. 875 Chieta, the Oreek; or, The Three Thunderbolts. 881 Bandera Bill; or. Frio Frank to the Front. 892 Romeo and the Reds}; or, The Beleaguered Ranch, 404 Little Lariat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 414 The Daisy from Denver. 42? The Three Trallers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage, 442 Bluff Bill; or, The Lynx of the Leona. 455 Little Lone Star; or, The Belle of the Cibolo, BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Asa Scott, the Steamboat Boy. 199 Featherweight the Boy Champion of the Muskingum, 223 Ozark Alf’; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws, 282 The Typo Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. 295 Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quartzyville. 811 The Roving Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp, 822 Nemo, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon’s Vendetta, 840 Clip the Contortionist; or, The Montana Vigilantes, BY J, 0. COWDRIOK. 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. 869 Shasta, the Gold King}; or, For Seven Years Dead. 120 The Detective’s Apprentice 3 or, A Boy Without a Name. 24 OCibuta John; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 89 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout, £67 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo, 606 Redlight Ralph, the Prince of the Road, 614 Broadway Billy’s Boodle. 524 The Engineer Detective. 536 Broadway Billy’s ‘ Difikilty.” 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 557 Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. 671 Air-Line Luke the Young Engineer. 579 The Chimney Spy; or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party. 592 The Boy Pinkerton. 605 William 0’ Broadway; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. 615 Fighting Harry, the Chief of Chained Cyclone. BY JO PIERCE. 897 Bob o’ the Bowery ; or, The Prince of Mulberry Street 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom. 452 Hotspur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow; or, Luke’s Legacy. 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective. 604 Five Points Phil. 509 Jack Jagger, the Butcher Boy Detective, 516 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerie, 526 North River N at, the Pier Detective. 688 Wreatling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward. 541 Jeff Flicker. the Stable Boy Detective, op Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow. 559 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective, 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective. 577 Pavement Pete, the Secret Sifter, 588 Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector, €OR Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer, 614 Whistling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid, 628 Buck Bumblebee, the Harlen Hummer, | BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID, 78 Blue Dick: or, The Yellow Chiefs Vengeance, ay a Tard bi rates i or, 5 eee Island. Helpless Hand; or, : ution. 289 The Gold-secker Guide: or, The Lost Mountain. BY MAJOR HENRY B. STODDARD, Ex.-8cout, 80 x The Dug-Out Pards. B48 ay Md Ay "or, The Swordsmen of Zacatecas, Boh Heid Glove Ele coer BaZa or Te si King -Glove and Par , i 406 The Mad Man-Hunter; or, The Mystery of Golden Gulch. 605 Powell’s Pards or, The One-Armed Giant. BY HARRY 8T. GEORGE. 8 the Ranger. Batted Ralph ag ak ee of Kentucky. ory ; or, Pandy Ellis’s eg! ale Davy '$ or, The Trail of the Border Wolf, , 166 Hickory H Bolas Wels 178 Thunderbolt per-Brigade’s Bay 3 or, The T ‘omy or, the BEADLE’S«H ALF- DIME*[_ IBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Hach Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers, BY ALBERT W,. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl. 26 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 7% Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 288 Joe Buck of Angels and His Boy Pard. % New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling, 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 498 Taos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hal!-Breed Detective, 518 Cool Colorado in New York. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE, 86 Dandy Rock the Man from Texas. 90 The Dread Rider; or, The Texan Duelist, 99 The Tiger of Tuos; or, Dandy Rock’s AngeL 115 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock’s Doom. 181 The Golden Hand; or, Dandy Rock to the Rescues, 164 Dandy Kock’s Pledge; or, Hunted to Death. 178 Dandy Rock’s Rival; or, The Haunted Maid of Taos, BY CAPT. J. F. ©. ADAMS, 84 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiftles’s Boy Spy. 46 Glass-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 54 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. 56 Nick Whiffies’s Pet; or, In The Valley of Death, 60 The White Indian; or, The Scovt of the Yellowstone, 70 Old pee iy Cabin; or, The Greenhorn in the Woods, 81 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Bueckram ; or, Bess, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and His Pets; or, The Wild Huntress, 251 Light-house Lige; or, Osceola, the Firebrand. 257 The Lost Hunters; or, The Underground Camp, 288 The Sealp King; or, The Human Thunderbolt. 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-Heela; or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow, 854 Big Horn Ike, the Hill Tramp; or, The Odd Pards, 861 The Phantom Light-house. 870 Breaker Ben, the Reef-Runner. BY WILLIAM Rk. 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 Desmond; or, The Gambler’s Big Gane, BY JAMES L. BOWEN 107 One-Eyed Sim; or, The Abandoned Forest Home. 110 The Black Steed of the Prairies. A Story of Texas. BY ©. DUNNING CLARK, 185 Captain Paul; or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains. 280 The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Sheroef, BY GEORGE O, JENKS. 485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor, 5S1 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. 598 Flute, the Singer Detective, 608 Zee EF itener Detective’s Fotl; or, Double Curve Dan’s Youble 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 Thirteen. 194 Buffalo Bill's Bet; or, The Gambler Guide. BY OMARLES E. LASALLE, 50 Burt Bunker, the Trapper. 52 The White Buffalo. A Tale of the Northwest, BY JOUN J. MARSHALL, 40 Roving Ben. A Story ofa Young American, 97 The Outlaw Brothers; or, The Captive of the Harpes, BY WM. G PATTEN, 489 The Diamond Sport; or, The Double Face of Bed Rock 519 Captain Mystery ; or, Five in One, 881 Daisy Dare the Sport from Denver. B87 Old Bombshell, the Ranger Detective. 604 Iron Fern, the Man ot Fire. 619 The Boy Tramp Detective; or, The Double Grip Witness. BY MAJOR E. L. 8ST. VRAIN, 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit. 801 Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince, 888 Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette, 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of Sand,” 859 Duranzo Dave, the Young Jhamvion Wrestler. 871 Kingbolt Chria, the Young Hard-Shell Detective, 880 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide. 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountuin Mail-Line. BY EDWARD 8. ELLIS. 6 Bill Biddon, Trapper. 8 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of the Frontier, 30 Nat Todd; or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. @x ‘rne Frontier Angel. 98 The Boy Miners; or, The Enchanted Island. 182 The Hunted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman, 254 The Half-Blood; or, The Panther of the Plains, 271 The Huge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man, BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON, The Three Trappers; or, The Mountain Monster, Sus Indian Joe; or, The White Spirit of the Hills, BY FRANK DUMONT, Branded Hand; or, The Man of Mystery. 30 Wita-Fire, the Boss of the Road. tas 140 Blue Blazes; or, The Break o’ Day Boys of Rosky Bar. 171 Ebony Dan; or, The Rival Leagues. 185 Evil Eye: °: The Vultures of the Rio Grande, BY OAPT. MARK WILTON. 2 > 4 Kentuck; or, The Red Lasso. 270 Blizzard Ben; or, The Riot at Keno Camp. 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot, BY BRACERRIDGE HEMYNG, 89 Ialand Jim: or, The Pet of the Family. 91 The Oaptain of the Club; or, The Rival Athletes. 101 Jack Harkaway in New York. BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. 2 Vellowstone Jack; or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 WMurricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 119 Mustang Bam 5 The King of the Plains, 186 Night-llawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue, 160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy, 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trailers ; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 The Boy Parda; or, Dainty Lance Unmasks, 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca W olf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider}; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League, 885 Old Double Fist; or, The Strange Guide 855 The King of the Woods: or, Daniel Boone's Last Tra, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Tratler, BY W. J. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brotherhood} or, The Twelve Avengers, 66 Single Hand; or, A Life for a Life. 72 Mad Tom Weatern, the Texan Ranger. 887 Ben Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Scoop. BY JAOK FARRAGUT. 815 Ned, the Cabin Boy. 820 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper. BY LIEUT. H. D. PERRY, U. 8. N. 176 The Boy Runaway; or, The Buccaneer of the Bay. 180 The Sea Trailer; or, A Vow Well Kept. 192 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point. BY HARRY HAZARD. 828 Arkansaw Jack; or, The Scourge of the Mines. 829 Red-Skin Tomy or, The Demon’s Trail. 842 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw, BY COL. A. F, HOLT. 899 Black Buckskin; or, The Masked Mon of Death Canyea, 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King. 485 Little Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods, BY J. W. OSBON, 469 The Rival Glants of Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck, 587 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner. 609 Bolly Dorrit, the Veteran Detective. 620 Little Lightning’s League; or, The Mystery of the Islem4, BY FREDERICK DEWEY. 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shots. 478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective. 5642 The Canyon Parda, BY ARTHUR ©. GRISSOM, 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowie Kid. 558 The Sure-Shot Parda, 621 Truthful James, the “ Pecooliar” Man. BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS, 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock. 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 576 The Silver Sport. 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow. 56S9 Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dead Set at Silver City. 601 Happy Hana, the Dutch Vidoegq,. 611 Bildnd Barnacle, the Detective Hercules, 622 Texas Tom-Cat’s Triad. MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-Horse Munters. By Capt. Mayne Reid ané Frederick Whittaker. 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver’s Travels, By Dean Swift. 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe, (27 Illustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages. 22 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinsox Crusoe, By Juan Lewis, 88 The Ocean Bloodhoundys or, The Red Pirates of the Carribees, By 8, W. Pierce. 86 2 Boy Clown; or, The Queen ofthe Arena, By Frank > nn. BS Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 61 The Boy Rides; or, The Underground Camp. By Archie ~ Lrons. 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebootera of the Mississippi, By Lieut.-Col. Hazeltine, 98 Robin Hood, the Outlawed Ear); or, The Merry Men of Green- wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve, 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Iunter; or, The Caye of Death. By Burton Saxe, 124 Tippy, the Texan}; or, The Young Champion, By George eraon. 128 The Young Privateers or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By arry Cavendish. 148 Sharp Sam 3 or, The Adventures of a Friondleas Boy. By J, exander Patten. 227 Dusky Darrell, Tre per: Os The Green Ranger of the Yel- owstone. By Edward Eme ° 261 F ught the New Y rk Boy. By G. L, Aiken, 266 Killrar, the Gu des", Davy Crocketi’s Crooked Trail, By Ensign C. D, Warren. 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Mald of the Cl Cc tock. 817 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Lieu tenant Alfred Thorne. ‘ 828 The Sky. peteeye' or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Honos, By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Ked Talph, the Elver Rovers or, The Brothers Rev venge. By Ne un tline, Itimore Ben the Bootblack Detective, By A, P, Morrit. see Balj-Dust Tomy or, Ben’s Double Match, by George H. i Morre. 876 California Joc’s First Trail, By Colonel Thomas Foret Ho wbsahell, the Cliff Climter, By F. 8. Winthrop. BI ombahe i mer, . 8. 418 The Black Ship. By John 8 Warner. 484 Comanche Dick and His Three Invinctbles, By Henry J. Thomas. 528 Wizard-Arm, the Dandy § By Arther F. Holt, 582 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Forrest. B52 Ariel the Athlete. By David Druid. 585 Will Waters, the Boy Ferret. By H. Enton. A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library is for sale by all newsdealers, dvo cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York,
Page 16
Soo Se BY EDWARD L, WHEELER, Deadwood Dick Novels, 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Double Daggers Lore Deadwood Dick’s Defiance, 28 Buffalo Ken; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise, 85 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval, 42 Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza, 49 Omaha Ol; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger. 57 Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Parda of Flood Bar. 78 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane, the Heroine, 7 Corduroy Charlie 3 or, Deadwood Dick’s Last Act, 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. 104 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Double Cross Sign. 109 Deadwood Dick as Detective. 129 Ronan ced Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s gulch. 188 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base. 149 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike. 166 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood}; or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dreamy; or, The Rivuls of the Road. 201 The Black Hilla Jezebel; or, Deadwood Dick’s Ward. 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Ad- venture, 217 Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand. 221 Sugar-Coated Sam; or, The Black Gown. 282 Gold-Dust Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Toughs, 268 Deadwood Dick’s Divides or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake, 268 Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail. 809 Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of regon. 821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. 847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducats; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- inga. 851 Ronaweek Diek Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta, 862 Deadwood Dick’s Claim. 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City. 410 Deadwood Dick’s Diamonds. 421 Deadwood Dick in New York; or, A “Cute Case.” 480 Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand. 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 448 Nickel-Plate Ned; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Defiance. 458 a Sam, 0! Shasta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Full and. 459 Flush Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Ronnd- Up. 465 Phitlo Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Racket at Claim 10, 471 Bozeman Bill; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Corral. 476 Wumboidt Harry the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Dog Detective. 481 Moll Mystery; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in Deadwood. 491 Prince Pistol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’a Compact. A496 Monte Cristo, Jr.: or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Inheritance. 500 Deadwood Dick’s Digginges or, Dr, Death-Grip’s Swoop. 508 Deadwood Dick’s Deliverance. 515 Deadwood Dick’s Protegee. 522 Deadwood Dick’s Three. 529 Deadwood Dick’s Danger Ducks, 644 Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. 589 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Texas. 544 Deadwood Dick, Jr. the Wild West Vidocq. 549 Deadwood Dick on His Mettle. 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick in Boston. 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Philadelphia, 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Chicago, 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr. Afloat. 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 Cincinnati, 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; or, The Red Rifle Team. ! 69 Gold Rifle, the Gharpehooter, or, The Boy Detective, 80 Rosebud Rob or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand. 88 Phetograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappenrance. 92 Canada OL ct; or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Ball’s Camp, 96 Wateh-Eyey or, Arabs und Angels of a Great City. 118 Jack Moyle the Young Speculator. 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 141 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 145 Captain ry Boas Job. 161 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 17? Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps, 181 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo, 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective, | 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter. 226 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 286 Apollo BIll, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyelone Kit, the Young Gladiator. 244 Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. 248 Sierra Sam's Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sierra Sum’s Pard; or, [be Ange! of Big Vista. 258 Sierra Sam’s Sevens or, The Stolen Bride. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Koy 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. 4, the Dashing Toll-Taker, $08 ’Liza Jane, the irl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. 825 Kelley, Hickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia, 880 Little Quick-Shot; or, The Dead Face of Daggeraville, 884 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner. S89 Kangaroo Kit’s Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood. 858 First-Class Fred, the Gent from Gopher. 868 mroke Jim, the Gold-Gatherer 3 or, The Lottery of 3 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize. 878 Nabob Ned; 0r, Tlie Secret of Slab City. B82 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, 885 Yreka Jim’s Joker? or, The Rivals of Red Nose, 889 Bicyele Ben; or. The Lion of Lightning Lode, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Hat Harry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam Sliabat the Beggar toy Detective. 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher. 486 Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. bs BEADLE’S* H ALF- DIME* LIBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at tne Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. BY CHARLES MORRIS, 18 WIL Somers, the Boy Detective. 22 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy. 6 Picayune Pete 3 or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 0 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. 2 Ilandsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 7 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 2 Black Bess, Will Wildfire’s Racer. 7 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. 2 Will Wildiire in the Woods, > Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. > A Trump Card ; or, Will Wildfire Wins and Loses, Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York, > Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, 8 The Hidden Hand; or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. 7 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, 189 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed ; or, Bob Kockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 0 Tom Tanner; or, The Black Sheep of the Flock, 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky. 255 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two * Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. 252 Dick Dashaway ; or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. 262 The Young Sharps? or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail, 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The Young Detective. 208 The Water-Mound; or, The Young Thoroughbred. 805 Dashaway, of Dakota; or, A Western Lad in the Quaker ity. 824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective ; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. 87Y ares the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Firefly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost winger § or, The Entrapped Cashier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagabond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive. 479 Detective Dodge ; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty, 488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Boots, the Boy Firemans or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, 566 The Secret “ervice Boy Detective. 596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves, BY OLL COOMES, 5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. 81 Keen-Knilfe, the Prince of the Prairies. Al Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 68 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 74 Hawk-eye Harry the Young Tiapper R-nger, 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 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. 202 Prospect Pete ; or, The Young Outlaw Hunters, 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps. 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger, 248 The Disguised Gulde 3; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger. 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. 272 Minkskin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. 800 The Sky Demon 3; or, Ruinbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 409 Hercules; or, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 417 Webfoot Moke, the Tramp Detective. 422 Baby Sam, the Boy Giant of the Yellowstone, 444 Little Buckskin, tne Young Prairie Centaur, A57 Wingedfoot Fred; or. Old Polar Saul, 468 Tamarne ‘Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. A778 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic, 482 Stonewall Bob, tlie Boy Trojan. 562 Birndering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. BY T. ©. HARBAUGH. 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of 776. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Little Hunter, 47 Nightingale Nats or, Toe Forest Captains, 64 Dandy Jack; or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trail. 82 Kit Warefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jack 3 or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 128 Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lynch, Jr.i or, The Boy Vigilante. 155 Gold Trigger, the Sport; or, The Girl Avenger. 169 Tornado Tom; or, Injun Jack From Red Core, 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy, 198 Arkansaw ; or, The Quern of Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Topknot’s Crusade, 281 Plucky Phil; or. Rosa, the Rei Jezebel. 241 Bill Bravo; or, The Roughs of the Rockies, 255 Captain Apoli:, we King-Pin of Bowie. 267 The Buckskin Detective, 279 Old Winch; or, The Buckskin Desperadoes. 294 Dynamite Dan; or, The Bowie Blade of Gochetopa. 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Buily. 816 Old Eclipse, Trump Card of Arizona, 826 The Ten Pards: or, The Terror of Take-Notice, 886 Ble Benson; vr, The Queen of the Lasso. 845 Pitileas Matt; or, Red Thunderbolt’s Secret, 856 Cool Sam and Par’; or The Terrible Six. 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 886 Captain Cutlass ¢ or, ) he Be ccaneer’s Girl Foe. 896 Rough Robs: or, The {win Champions of Blue Blazes, A411 The Silken basso; or, The Rose of Ranch Robin. 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. 425 Texas Trump, tie Border Rattler. 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox, 445 The City Vampires; or, Red Rolfe’s Pigeon. 461 One Against Fifty; ov, ‘The Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. Av? The Exceisior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter, 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport, 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. 512 Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective. 521 Dodger Dick’s Best Dodke. 528 Fox and Falcon, the Bowery Shadows, B88 Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret. 548 Dodger Dick’a Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, 5658 Dodger Dick’s Desperate Case. 568 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidocq, 578 The Two Shadows. 582 pedger Dick’s Drop. 594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard, ey Soe ' ada ight a! heehee. “eigen sci 5 ie) ali i, lie’ a 4 ‘ dy u BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, ? The Flying Yankee} or, The Ocean Outcast. % Ralph Roy, the Boy Buccancer; or, The Fugitive Yacht, 4 Diamond Dirk he The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 62 The Shadow Ship; or, The Rival Lieutenants. 75 The Boy Dnelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf, 02 Dick Deas the Boy Smuggier. 1L The Sea-Devils or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 16 The Ilussar Captats 3 or, he Hermit of Hell Gate, 97 Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter, 04 Gold Plume; or, The Kid-Glove Sport, 216 Bison BIII, the Prince of the Reins, 222 Grit, the Bravo Sport or, The Woman Trailer, 229 Crimson Kate; or, The Cowboy’s Triumph, 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 245 Merle, the Middy ; or, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midshipman Mutineer; or, Brandt, the Buccaneer. 264 ene Floating Feather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure sland. 269 The Gold Ship ; or, Merle, the Condemned. 276 merle Monte’s Cruise; or, The Chase of “The Gold > hip. 280 Merle Monte’s Fate ; or, Pearl, the Pirate’s Bride, 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 287 Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande, 804 The Dead Shot Dandy ; or, Benito, the Boy Bugler, 808 Keno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double. 814 ame Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Long rail. 877 Bonodel, the Boy Rover} or, The Flagless Schooner, 888 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island, 887 Warpath WILL, the Boy Phantom. $98 Seawalf, the Boy Lieutenant. 402 Isodor, the Young Conspiraters or, The Fatal League. 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild Yachtamans or, The War-Cloua’s Cruise, 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy’s Luck; or, The Corsair. 487 The Sea Raider. 441 The Ocean Firefly 3 or, A Middy’s Vengeance, 446 Maphazard Harry; or, The Scapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard WII: or, The Boy Ferret of New York. 454 Wizard Will's Street Scouts, A462 The Born Guide; or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster, A474 Flora; or, Wizard Will’s Vagabond Pard, 488 Ferrets Afloat: or, Wizard WiIl’s Last Case, 487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger. 495 Arizona doe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 497 Buck Taylors King of the Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy ¢ or, The Shark and the Sea Cat, 507 The Hunted Midshipman. 511 The Outlawed Middy. 520 Buckskin Bill, the Comanche Shadow. 525 Brothers in Buckskin. 580 The Buckskin Bowers. 585 The Bue skin Rovers. 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marander ot the Rio, 545 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte. 550 Lafitte’s Legacy; or. The Avenging Son. 555 The Creole Corsair. 560 Pawnee Bill, the Prairie Shadower, 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. 570 Camille, the Card Queen. 575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective. 580 The Outenst Cadets; or, The False Detective, 586 The Buckskin Avenger. 591 Delmonte. tie Young Sea Rover. 597 The Young Texan Detective. 602 The Vagabond of the Mines. 607 The Rover Detective; or, Keno Kit’s Champions, | 617 Ralph, the Denad-Shot Scouts or, The Raiders and the Red Riders of the Kio, BY BUFFALO BILL (Hen. Wm, F, Cody), 8 Kanaas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie. 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout, 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover, ; 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’a Trust, LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 626 ane Chenspiqe Pards; or, The Lucifer of Silver Bar, By . C, Harbaagh. 627 Tom Bruce of Arkansas; or, The Wolfin the Fold. By Charles Morris. 628 Broadway Billy’s Dead Acts or, The League of the Sworn Seven. By J.C, Cowdrick. 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Sport; or, The Jubilee of Jacktown. By Wm. G. Patten. 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in No Man’a Land; or, Golconda, the Gladiator, By Ed. L. Wheeler. 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Task; or, The Cowboy Detective's Own Case. By Lieut, A. K. Sima, 682 The Dead Detective’s Double. By Gerald Carlton. 688 Plucky Paul, the Boy Extepestor) or, The Deadwood Des- perado’s Last Innings. By J. W. Osbon 684 Cache Carl, the Chico Glant, or, The True Hearts of Red Eye Roost. By Buckskin Sam. 685 Oklahoma Hi, the Blue-Coat Scout; or, The Boomer’s Last Battle. By P. S, Warne 686 Deadwood Dick, Jr. After the Queer; or, Sawdust Sani’s Last Green Gime. By E, L. Wheeler. 687 Dick Doan, the Dock Boy Detective. By T. C. Harbaugh. 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumph; or, Black Ivan’s Great Combine, By Lieut. A. K, Sims, 689 Sunrise Saul, the Express-Train Ferret. By Jo. Pierce. 640 Bareback Beth, the Centaur of the Circle, By J, C, Cowdrick. 641 Dismal Dave’s Dandy Pard; or, The Clew to Captain Claw. By Wm. G, Patten. 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Buffalo; or, 4-11-44, By Edward L. Wheeler. 648 Happy Harry’s Big Find; or, The Beautiful Jexebel’s Last Stake. By P. S. Warne. ‘ 644 The Hercules Wighwayman; or, The Mounted Minera of the Overland. By Colonel P. Ingraham. 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp. By T. C. Harbaugh. 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Rango Detective; or, The Grand Corral at Cross-Notch. By Lieut, A. K. Sims. Ready Dee. 10. 647 Typewriter Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward; or, Amateur De- tective against Professional. By J. C. Cowdrick. Ready Dec. 17, 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr’s., Chase Across the ‘Contle nent. By Edward L, Wheeier. Ready Dec, 24, 649 Gamin Bob, the Bowery Badger; or, Seooping « Slippery Set, By Jo Pierce. Ready Dec. 31. A New Iasue Every Tuesday. The Half- Dime Library 's for sale by all newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of aix cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York, 1 1 i 1 2