Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 665) (1890 04 22)
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y= rm Vinal ea A DIM b2"Entered at the Post Office at New York, at Second Class Mail Rates. Copyright 1890, by BEADLE AND ADAMS April 22, 1890, No. 665. $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS. Price, a Year. No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents. Vol. XXVI. A\\\ \ \\ fil emul ali T Hil mi AH Il i) if N Warbling Willan’ Home Run, BY LIEUT, A. K. SIMS. CHAPTER I. AT THE DOUBLE DAGGER. “Tw a red hot, roaring cowboy, and my name is Jolly Jerry; * Thave chased the festive steer on many a plain; Spite of copia sage and cactus, I love the rolling rairie, As the tarry sailor loves the raging main. With a spangled sky for coverlet, a saddle for my pillow. I’ve camped where blizzards rour and sand-dunes And by treacherous lake and river brink, where nods e leafy willow. Lhave fought, and drunk the alkali that slays.
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ee Jolly Jeremiah. “Raging reds, arrayed for battle, Frightened, charging Texas cattle, On the grassy slopes of memory arise; But I downed them all, with neatness, Took life's bitter with its sweetness; And I strive to rope good fortune as it flies.”” The singer, a small, but compactly-built man, was striding easily down the trail leading to- ward the bunk-houses: of the Dcuble Dagger Ranch. The Double Dagger, so named from its brand, which resembled that character, [4], was situated on the plains, midway between the towas of Cactus Eroeaitig and Plains City; and the singer had come up from the former place that day, on the mail stage, having alight- ed from the stage at the combined store and post-office only a few moments before, Within a stone’s throw of the post-office was the ranch-house; and when the stago had been drawn up with a flourish of the driver’s whip, and the solitary passenger got out, he at once became the cynosure of two pairs of bright eyes, which peeped at him from one of the ranch-house windows, The eyes—one pair of which was brown and the other blue—were the property of two hand- some young women; and as they laughed and commented—the young women not the eyes—a third pair, greenish-gray in color was added to the group. These belonged to a dashing young Irishman, of sturdy physique and soldierly car- riage, who had beenhalf-reclining in an easy- chair and watching the pretty picture framed in the window. “There, he’s singing!” exclaimed the possessor of the brown eyes, as the passenger turned into the well-beaten trail, ‘‘ Hark! what a splendid tenor!” Clearly and sweetly the tones floated to them, though the words were only half distinguishable, ‘Some coarse drinking song!” sneered the Trishman, the very faintest trace of Lrogue ob- servable in his speech, ‘* Numbers of these cow- boys are good singers.” The evident admiration evinced for the singer seemed to irritate bim. ‘* Not jealous, [ hope?” and the blue eyes met the greenish-gray, smilingly. The young frishman bit his lip. ‘“‘Tf he was nota very ordinary sort of cow- boy, I might be! As itis, I don’t see any cause for jealousy. I was just marveling what you could find of interest about the fellow.” ““There! You’redrawning the song with your chatter!” and the brown eyes flashed. ‘'I want to hear what he’s singing about.” The wish was not destined to be gratified, for, extra horses having been hooked on and the stage being again in readiness, the driver twir!- ed his lash till it brought forth a succession of pistol-like reports, and with a rumble and roar and a cloud of dust, the coach bearing Uncle Sam’s mail-bags was off and away. Be- fore the confusion consequent thereupon had subsided, the song had ended and the singer had vanished, All unconscious of the attention thus centered upon himself, the stranger, after a question or two to the Jehu on the box, had turned his face toward the corrals, stables and bunk-houses of the ranch, singing, penapa for his own amuse- ment. It was a not unhandso.ne face, lighted with intelligence, and indicative of energy and decision of character, As for the stranger himself, he was a little past thirty, dressed in cowboy garb, even in the awkward, high-heeled riding-boots, which usual- ly give a cowboy a clumsy appearance when on his feet. A brown mustache shaded his upper lip, and a lock of short, brown hair show- a beneath the big, white hat which was pushed well back from his forehead, A perforated walking-stick made from the woody stalk of a species of giant cactus swung in bis right hand, and in his left he carried a bundle—presumably of clothing. As he was passing one of the bunk-houses, go- ing toward another, the door of which was open, he was assailed by a rough outburst of laughter. The song was at once hushed; and the singer turned toward the room from which the laughter bad issued, Ge was about to knock, when the door was swung open by a tall, black-bearded giant. ‘Oh, ’twas you doin’ that singin’, hey?’ and the voice showed that the questioner was also the laugher. With the words, the giant gave him a scowl full of menace. “T thought I'd meet you some day, an’ git “That you’re mistaken in your man!” was the stranger’s calm reply, as he met the fierce gaze of the other, ‘‘I never saw you before, to my certain knowledge,” The giant almost blocked the door; but, look- ing beyond, the singer saw a balf dozen cowboys surrounding a rough table strewn with playing cards, They were evidently enjoying the situa- tion hugely, for they were almost bursting with suppressed merriment, He reddened perceptibly, for the sight was not conducive to coolness and equanimity. It indicated that these rough cowboys, led on by the black-bearded giant, had taken it into their reckless heads to make game of him. The angry flash of the eyes faded almost in- stantly, however, and was replaced by a merry twinkle, “You take me for a tenderfoot, I see! A gentle infant from the effete East, who has never heard the thunder of a stampede nor the music of cracking revolvers, It must be my ele- gant raiment which has caused the error.” He looked himself over, shifted the stick to the hand containing the bundle, and ran the other up and down his garments, much as a lady would sample silks in a dry-goods establish- ment, ‘Yes, it must be my clothing. It can’t be anything else, Well, if you'll answer a few questions, or let me past, Pll promise to reform, as soon as my last foreman sobers up and pays me off.” The giant seemed puzzled by the change of demeanor and the roa y wit displayed by the stranger, ‘* W’ot’s yer name?” he growled, “Don’t know me? Why, I thought every- body knew me! 1’m Jolly Jeremiah, the play- ful prairie dog from Gopherville, and I wander- ed the plains ever since 1 wasa purp, Don’tknow me? Law, suz!” The statement was greeted by a snicker from within that fairly set the giant wild. “You air, hey?” and a bard and muscular hand was reached out to grasp the “ prairie-dog ” by the neck, ‘* Well, I’m Placer Jim, the Cali- forny Grizzly, an’ if I git my grip onto ye Pll do ye up in jist about three shakes!’ But the muscular hand only pawed the empty air, for the stranger ducked, and before the giant could recover his equilibrium Jolly Jeremiah had darted by bim and gained the center of the room, where he stood, with his right hand half uplifted. The situation was altogether so ludicrous and provocative of merriment that the cowboys about the table stamped their feet and howled with delight. The giant was forthe moment nonplused. He had sized up the stranger as a tenderfoot, and had thought to amuse himself and scare the other by bluster and threat, but, behold! the tables were apparently being turned on him. “ Any way you want it, pardner!” shouted Jeremiah, dropping his bundle and stick, and teetering up and down, as he elevated his left hand to a defensive position. ‘‘ Bare knuckles loves, go-as-you-please wrestling, a ring and arquis of Queensbury rules, anything to ac- commodate you! Why, dost thou hesitate, my noble Goth Again the cowboys howled. “ Blast my eyes, if I don’t jam ye through the floor!” Placer Jim exclaimed, diving wildly for- ward. “I'll pulverize ye into mince-meat! ru—” What else he would do was not made clear, for the sentence was suddenly terminated, While striving to grapple with the stranger, the latter writhed sidewise like a serpent, and, with a quick grip and a deft twist, threw the giant sprawling to the floor, where he lay for an instant considerably shaken and half-dazed, Before he kad recovered, Jeremiah was in his old position, and again teetering up and down like a trim game chicken preparing to fighta clumsy shanghai. This time Placer Jim approached with more caution, for he had been brought to a sudden realization of the fact that he was dealing with a master of the art of self-defense. A sense of humiliation and the cowboys’ shrieks of laugh- ter, however, drove him to recklessness; and after. one or two futile attempts to grasp his agile antagonist, he made another rush, aiming to bear the cther down and overthrow him by sheer weight and strength. It resulted as before, though neither he nor the laughing cowboys could tell just how the | little man had accomplished it. “What kind of a feller air ye, anyhow?” the even wi’ ye fer the little hig played me up | giant roared, as he raised himself on his elbow at Plains City last month! that, hey?” hat d’ye say to | and stared at: the stranger, “Pll bet a season’s wages ye can’t do that again!” “Don’t doit, You'd lose. I'll not be hard on you, though, Toe the mark again and we'll try a fair wrestle. You couldn’t be expected to understand that little twist, seeing that you’d never run across it before.” He was smiling in such a jolly, genial way that the gathering anger of Placer Jim was par- tially dissipated. No man likes to be beaten in a contest, and in that respect Piacer Jim was very human. He believed if he could once grip the stranger, his enormous strength and bear- like hug would effectually prevent the use of those back-and-leg-breaking twists and give bim such an advantage that the result of the strug- gle could not be in doubt, Thus believing, he again got on his feet and approached his comparatively diminutive ad- versary. The latter allowed him to advance until with- in reaching distance. Then, with bowed head, Jeremiah darted forward, clutching the giant about the middle, and locking a sinewy leg about the giant’s brawny calf. “Oh, I’ve got ye!” Placer Jim shouted, ex- ultantly. ‘I’ve got ye now, an’ don’t ye fergit it!” At the same time he wound his long arms about the other and tightened them until it seemed the latter’s ribs would be crushed in, But, his exultation was short-lived. That locked leg drew him suddenly from his feet, the bulky body was bent backward like a straining oak struck by a whirlwind, and he came to the floor with the crash of a falling Eiffel Tower. f The shock broke the grip he had obtained on Jeremiah’s body; and when the lithe stranger buried his iron fingers in the brawny throat, Placer Jim, knowing that he had been fairly beaten, shouted: “You kin git up; Iain’t no hog! Ye done me up fa’r an’ squar’, an’ I ain’t the man to hold sich as that ag’in’ any one.” Thus assured, Jeremiah released his grip on the throat, and the beaten giant scrambled to his feet. ‘ Shake!” he cried extending a hand, as soon as he was steady on his, legs, ‘‘ You’re a good un, and if ever ye’re in trouble an’ need a frien’ to stan’ by ye, don’t fergit my post-office ad- dress, will ye? The way you kin handle them flippers, though, I don’t know that ye’d ever haye much occasion for assistance,” “T hope my post-office address may be the same as yours,” Jolly Jeremiah returned, coolly holding up his hand and inspecting the fingers which the giant had almost squeezed to a pulp. “Will you introduce me to your foreman, please, I want a job.” CHAPTER II. TWO FAIR WOMEN, ‘“‘SHE’s up at the house!” said Placer, with a grin, “She?” “Yes; we don’t have no common truck for foreman of the Double Dagger, but one w’ot wears silks an’ all sort o’ female flip-flaps, an’ as purty as a photygraft, into the bargain. Lem- me interduce ye tothe boys, fu’st, an’ then Vl teace So Mai wi? ye. West did ye say yer eis “‘ Jeremiah Jackson—Jolly Jeremiah!” When the series of introductions had been gone through with in a manner to thoroughly satisfy the giant, he led the way from the bunk- house, with Jeremiah at his heels, and turned up the dusky trail which the Jatter had so re- cently descended, pie “There’s the place,” said Placer, pointing a knuckly forefinger at the building. “ You'll find her ahint them walls, Ill stev into the post-office while ye’re a-cbinnin’ ber. Luck to ye, fer we're a-needin’ men like you jist now.” Jeremiah was scarcely prepared for the vision of femalo loveliness which broke upon him when he was admitted to an audience with Miss Madge Farrington, the controller of the destiny of the Double ‘Dag: er Ranch, She was the brown-eyed beauty whe han watched his movements and lis- tened to his singing from the window. Pearl, her blue-eyed sister, was in the audi- ence-room at the time of his visit, as was also the stalwart young Irishman, who was presented as Captain Philip Gaston, lately of the United States Army. “Yes, we're needing men now, Mr, Jackson,” Madge had said, in in reply to his interrogatory. ‘Perhaps we can give you aplace, My late foreman treated me rather shabbily, quitting my service in a pique, and taking some of the men with him, I presume you are thoroughly acquainted with ranch sr eh eremiah bowed an assent,
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** Since he went away, I have had charge of af- fairs, and the cowboys, 1 believe,call me the fore- Jady,” and she laughed merrily. ‘I had charge though, more or less, even when he was here. Pearl and I have always lived on the plains, Our father, whv wasacattleman, died two years ago. Our brother attends to the store, and so Pearl and I look after the business of the ranch,” Jeremiah scarcely heard the story, though he seemed to be paying great attention. The truth is, her beauty had so strongly impressed itself on him that he was fascinated, and his senses were lulled into a state of dreamy rapture, her words taking on the character of soothing and far-away music. She did not know this, and talked on, appar- ently pleased to have some one with whom she could converse, aside from her every-day com- panions, Pearl joined in occasionally, but Gaston sat with lips half-parted in scorn, an uneasy look on his face, tugging savagely at his fierce, black mustache, If ramor among the cowboys could be trusted, the young Irishman was a successful suitor for the hand of the blue-eyed beauty. He had come to the ranch, indeed, in a way that was quite romantic and well calculated to touch the heart of a woman of Pear'’s peculiar mentality. His home was said to be in Denver, and while en route in the mail stage from Cactus Crossing to Plains City he fell sick of mountain fever, So sick that he was put off at the Double Dagger Ranch, Here he was given the best of attention, the Farringtons and the kind-hearted cowboys vying witb each other in their good offices. His illness was of considerable duration, and bis convalescence protracted, Through it all Pear! was his almost constant attendant, and his recovery, so the rumor ran, was followed by their engagement. There was much reason to believe this last true, for he still tarried at the ranch, and his attitude toward Pearl appeared that of an accepted lover, His bearing proclaimed that he had been a soldier, and the statement he had made whea left at the ranch was that he was for some years a captain in theregular army, stationed at vari- ous points in the West. hen Jolly Jeremiah had secured the assur- ance that bis services would be acceptable on the Double Dagger Ranch, he retreated, in some confusion and with the air of a man who is just emerging from a dream. He felt that he had never been so awkward and tongue-tied since arriving at the age of responsibility, and was anxious to get away from the presence of a woman who could thus influ- ence him. Tm a fool!” he ejaculated, fiercely, ‘‘ What is there about the girl to throw me off my pegs in that way? I’ve seen plenty of pretty women in mytime, Still, she is uncommonly handsome, I don’t remember ever having seen a handsomer. And I suppose, too, that my silly actions made her think me an awful booby, with hardly enough sense to say yes or no, when questioned. Serves me right, though. “Heigh-ho! I’m afraid I’m getting to be sen- timenta!. And after all these years! Yes, and when l’ve something more important to think about than pretty woman and love. “Love! Bah! Ill have none of it!” It was much easier to say this, however, than it was to banish from his mind the vision which persisted in haunting him, and when he returned the greetings of Placer Jim, and replied to that worthy’s queries, it was very evident that his mind was not on the subject of the conversa- tion. When Jolly Jeremiah had quitted the ranch- house, the young Irishman gave his ‘black mus- tache a fiercer tug than usual. With the tug the brows contracted, as if there were some mysterious connection between them and the jetty mustache, “T think you committed a great error, Miss Farrington, in employing that fellow, if I may be permitted a suggestion.” “Why, pray?” and Madge gave Gaston a look of surprise, “I’m likely to be wrong, of course,” with an air of great gravity and wisdom, “ but there was something in his appearance that prepos- sessed me against him. What, I hardly know. I'm almost sure, though, that I’ve seen that face before. And the circumstances surround- ing it when I saw it were not favorable, either.” e hesitated and glanced at Pearl, as if de- siring her moral support before going on, Madge noted the glance, and was not particu- leased thereat. tever is on your mind, Captain Gaston, lar] “ Jolly Jeremiah. speak it out. [hope you have no reason to beat about the bush in our presence.” “Certainly not. _ I had a sudden doubt of the propriety of expressing my thoughts at all. I may be wholly mistaken, and do the fellow a great injustice,” Madge noted the repetition of the obnoxious word ‘* fellow,” but allowed him to continue. **Tt’s no news to you when | state that there have been many robberies recently, and in this vicinity, of the mail-stage. We have all been ained and chagrined because of them. The atest occurred only the week before Jast, They have brought this section and this stage line into very bad odor, and have given to the outer world the impression that the country lying be- tween Cactus Crossing and Plains City is ten- anted by as desperate a set of cut-throats as the world ever saw. “ Thinking of that, the other thought came to me that this fellow might be one of the band that has been holding up the stages, and was perhaps seeking employment here for a purpose, And when that dim memory of the time when T saw a face, if not the same, at least very simi- lar in appearance—and that face in a prisoner’s dock and on trial for highway robbery—when that came to me, I was overhelmed by a feeling that in employing him you were committing a great mistake.” Pear! shivered and gave a little shriek as Gas- ton slowly and impressively counted out the words, but Madge seemed in no way dismayed by the ominous information, “T think you are wrong, captain, Allow me that privilege, please. I’m a pretty good jadge of the buman face divine, and there are no such words as “‘ thief” and ‘“‘ robber” written on the gentleman’s countenance—for he may be a gen- tleman, te only a cowboy. “*Don’t understand that I mean to accuse him of being either!” Gaston hastily exclaimed. ‘I was afraid you might jump to that conclusion, and that was whyI hesitated. I don’t know anything about him, He may be as open and honest as the day.” The tones implied a belief that he was not, but that the speaker would not be so unchuari- table as to put the belief into words, ‘* Whatever he is he surely has a kind heart,” Pearl laughingly averred. ‘He permitted Madge to do all the talking; a pleasure she hasn’t enjoyed for lo! these many days,” ‘A little diffident in the presence of so much beauty,” and Madge echoed back the laugh. “As far as silence goes, though, I noticed that the captain held his own pretty well. It was nip and tuck between the two as to which could be mummest and grummest. I’m not sure but the captain succeeded. He certainly tried hard enough.” ‘*No doubt I was wrong,” said Gaston. ‘ For- get what I have said, and we'll think no more about it.” Then with the air of a man who has done his duty amid adverse circumstances, he took up thi and strolled out into the.bright sun- ight. CHAPTER IIT. RAID OF THE ROAD-AGENTS, THE overthrow, im bloodless and friendly con- test, of the black-bearded giant, Placer Jim, by the new cowboy, Jolly Jeremiah; and the good- humored way in which Placer bad accepted his defeat, was the talk of the ranch for a week or more, and served to gain for Jeremiah a kindly and cordial reception. Friends and adherents flocked around him, the strongest and most loyal being Placer Jim himself, ‘* Hain’t nobody likes a man better’n I do; an’ he’s a man, ever’ inch of him,” Placer frequent! remarked, in explanation of his conduct. “ He downed me fa’r an’ squar’, an’ I don’t hold no sich ag’in’ anybody, you hear me? Hain’t nary ’*nother man on the ranch w’ot kin do it, though,” ending his declaration with a challenging sur- vey of the crowd, In spite of Gaston’s lugubrious statements, Jeremiah gained such favor at the ranch-house that at the end of two weeks be was sent to Cac- tus Crossing. by Miss Farrington herself, on an errand requiring considerable skill and judg- ment—the’ said errand being no less than the negotiation of the sale of some cattle which were almost ready for the market, Gaston scowled at this—scowled more blackly than usual, if that were possible—but kept his thoughts to himself, fearing to venture any more semi-prophesies, for the more he prophesied ae greater grew the influence of the new cow- uy aes if { should declare I know him to be a thief, Miss Farrington would at once ap- 3 point him foreman of the whole outfit,” he growled, in uneasy self-communion, ‘Of all the strange’ things of this life, women and their ways are the strangest, One can no more tell what a woman will do, under stated circum- stances, than he can tell which way the wind will be blowing to-morrow,” All of which went to show that Captain Philip Gaston was much dissatisfied with the a esd of affairs at the Double Dagger. aving performed bis mission, Jolly Jeremiah took the first stage out, wishing to return as quickly as possible. This stage chanced to have a night run, changing horses at the ranch at about four o’clock, in the morning. Besides Jeremiah, there were two other pas- sengers, both bound for Plains City; one being a stout and fussy little man, and the other on the order of the genus dude; and, no sooner had the stage started on its long journey than they be- gan to talk of the dreadful robberies which had been recently committed on the route. Their talk was rather annoying to the cowboy, who would have preferred to meditate uninter- roptedly on the many charms of the young wo- man who had seen fit to trust him with so im- portant a commission. He had, as he believed, negotiated the sale very satisfactorily. She would be pleased, he knew, with the terms wrung from the close-grained cattle-buyer; and the thought was so pleasant that he liked to turn it over and over and view it from every imaginable hg He still told bimself that his feeling for the young lady was only that of admiration and warm friendship, That it must be no more. That, under present circumstances, love was a toy he could not afford to play with. Nevertheless, his thoughts continued to turn again and again to the bright face and warm browr eyes, which, on the day he had first seen them, had held so much fascination for him. In this frame of mind, it is not to be wondered at that the fearful talk of the dude and the fussy, little man jarred on his feelings. It was as bad as that detestable old habit of the an- cients of bringing a gbastly and grinning skele- ton into the midst of the cheer and joviality of the feast. **T)-do you think there is-aw-weally any dan- ger?’ the dude gasped, turning at last to Jere- miah. ‘ Donchuknow, I truly wish I hadn't started on this jou’ney!” “Shoul?n’t be surprised!” Jeremiah replied, sure that he wished the other had never started. “The road-agents are rather bad ont this way, They killed a young fellow from Boston, only last week,” It was too dark to see the look with which this was received by the dude, but Jeremiah imagined it and Jaughed softly to himself, ‘* Did the young chap have any money?” tha fussy man questioned, evidently holding wealth above even human life. “Not certain about that!” was the dry an- swer. ‘*He was a fool if he did. J never carry money with me, or only enough to pay my actual expenses.” * You’vea gold-ticker, though, and you might as well prepare to give it up. Cheyenne Rock isn’t more than a mile ahead of us, now, and there’s where the gentlemanly toll-takers usu- ally congregate.” The fussy man gavea despairing snort, and hauling out his watch, stuffed it carefully into a niche beneath the seat, In spite of his prediction, Jolly Jeremiah had no idea that the road-agents were even then ly- ing in wait for them in the black shadow of the rock, and in the blacker shadows of the gorge which ran nearits base. Such was, however, the case; and when the driver gave the horses an extra cut on rounding the dangerous bend, the masked figure of the road-agent leader step- ped into the middle of the trail, and with leveled Winchester ordered him to halt. So peremptory seemed the command, and so full of threatening menace was the voice in which it was delivered, that the scared driver almost threw himself backward from the box in his frantic efforts to obey. Then, out of the shadows, stepped a half-score of armed men, and surrounded the hapless stage, “Hands up, and tumble out of there!” the leader shouted. ‘* Tumble out, every one of you. We haven't any time for foolishness. And, re- member, that the first one that touches a wea- pon gets a bullet through him.” Tt was useless to argue against this sort of logic, The driver descended first, with hands elevated, having doubtless become thoroughly familiar with the trick from much practice, Jeremiah followed; and, then, with many groans
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4 Jolly Jeremiah. ‘and contortions came the dude, who expected to \be murdered, and the fussy man, who thought \that being robbed was worse than death. * All out? Get in a row, there! Kecollect |that I’ve got my eyes on you.” The threat seemed also a command, for at the | words, two of the road-agents began to search ithe passengers, wbile two more turned their at- tention to the mail-pouches and the interior of |the coach. The pouckes were ruthlessly ripped ‘open, and the registered mail and such other let- |ters as seemed of possible value extracted. The ‘interior of the stage apparently yielded nothing. Of the passengers, the dude suffered most, for he hada goodly sum of money secreted on his person. Jeremiah and the fussy man scarcely paid for the plucking. “ Egad! they didn’t get my watch!” the fussy man exclaimed triumphantly, when the robbers had disappeared and they were again on their wey. “ Only fools carry money with them,” hen he darted a scornful look at the crushed dude, who only groaned in answer, On arriving at the Double Dagger, the outrage was at once reported, and’a pursuit organized. To Jeremiah’s disgust, the Irishman assumed command of the pursuing party. At his orders, Jeremiah took the post of guide, The orders were no sooner given,showever, than they were recalled; and a time-consuming dis- cussion of the probable route the road-agents bad taken was begun, Day was at hand, and Jeremiah felt that if they expected to accomplish anything, the pur- suit should be commenced in earnest and at once, He said as much to Gaston, but received ee a sneer for bis pains, hey started at last, however, and on reach- ing Cheyenne Rock closely searched the earth thereabout for hoofprints. As none were found, Jeremiah suggested that the road-agents might still be concealed in the gorge, which was thick- ly grown with stunted trees and screening bushes, But Gaston insisted that the robbers must have fled toward Plains City—that it was foolish to expect to find them still in the gorge, and led the party northward at a rapid gait. No trail was struck between Cheyenne Rock and Plains City, and when they reached the lat- ter place, none of its inhabitants knew anything more of the raid than what had been communi- cated by the driver of the mail stage. ‘* We've been chasing thistle-down!” Jeremiah growled, as he rode at the side of Piacer Jim, on the return trip. ‘‘ For all the good we’ve accom- lished, we might just as well have stayed at ome, He had lost the jolly mood which was his usual characteristic, and seemed vexed and generally out of sorts, “ Jist wot I says!” the giant agreed. ‘‘I b’lieve the skunks war in that gorge, jist as you said. Cap Gaston’s as heady as a wild broncho, though, and when he gits an idee sot, he hangs to it jist like a dog to a root.” \ Jeremiah seemed about to venture some other observation on the subject, but he checked him- self, and hastened to change the subject. CHAPTER IV. YOUNG FARRINGTON, “* May I be switched!” It seemed an odd exclamation, in a country where switches, unless manufactured ones, were ences as rarely seen as the proverbial hens’ Frank Farrington stood, lamp in hand, by the open door of a safe, which the makers, for a high figure, bad warranted to be absolutely fire and burglar-proof. The open door seemed to testify more strongly than words that, whatever might be its fira-defying qualities, it could not resist the lock-picking expertness of an accomplished safe-b’ er. *¢ Cleaned out, slick as an onion! And while I was lying there, too, snoring like a sea-horse. The fellow was a good one, to go through the concern like that and never wake me.” He glanced from the bed where he had been sleeping, to the open safe, measured the distance with his eye, and puckered bis lips in a low whistle. He was a well-built, sturdy youth of sixteen or thereabout, and his scanty night-clothing re- ‘vealed limbs and arms that for muscular devel- x would have done no discredit to a trained a . “Tl have to call in Jeremiah, and see what he thinks about it,” he muttered, bending for- ward to assure himself that the burglar had really made a clean sweep. “ Better leave it just as it is, I suppose, he takes a look at it. He’s as sharp as a cactus spine, and maybe can tell how the thing was done and give an idea as to who done it.” In the days that had slipped so quickly by, Frank Farrington and Jolly Jeremiah had be- come warm and fast friends, The latter ad- mired the youth for his lovable and open dis- ,osition, and Farrington was drawn toward Sereuriah by that strange and subtle influence which the jolly cowboy seemed to exercise on almost every one who came within the circle of his acquaintance, There were other ties, also, serving to bind them together, Young Farrington disliked Philip Gaston, and in no sense could Jeremiab be said to be an admirer of the dashing Irish tain, taston slept at the store with young Farring- ton, however; and the latter, being a gentleman, treated him with kindness and consideration, in spite of his intense dislike. On the night in question Gaston was absent at Cactus Crossing, and Farrington had remained at the store, never dreaming of burglars, and least of all anticipating that one could open the safe and extract its contents without arousing him. “Yes, Dll have to call in Jeremiah, and let him take a look atit, before speaking of the robbery to any one else,” and he set the lamp on the store counter, and began to slip hurriedly into bis clothing, He found the cowboy asleep in his cot at one of the bunk-houses. ‘‘ Wake up!” he whispered, giving the sleeper a shake, Then, as Jeremiah opened bis eyes and looked about ina bewildered way, Farrington ig softly to the door, placed his fingers on his ape to indicate that silence was desirable, and beck- oned Jeremiah to follow him, ‘What's the matter?” the cowboy whispered, when they were together in the shadows of the buildings. ‘‘ Haven’t run across a ghost or a road-agent? That whisper of yours startled me like a fire alarm.” “Just so it didn’t startle any one else! I haven’t struck a road-agent, but a road-agent has struck me pretty heavy. Come along and T'}l show you.” Without further explanation he led the way at a brisk gait,and when the store-room was ane pointed silently to the open and rifled safe ca The cowboy took in the situation ata glance; out walking over to the safe, examined it criti- cally. “You're sure you locked it last night?” look- ing into the face of Farrington, who was bend- ing over him, ** Positive, the recollection of that slip scared me so never forgot it since,” ‘Besides yourself, who understand the com- bination?” with that same keen look, ‘“Nobody, That is nobody but Madge and, Pearl, I told it to them, one day, and showed %m how the thing worked. I suppose they’ve forgot all about it, though, before now.” “Well,” rising from his survey, ‘‘ this was done by some one who knows the combination. It was simply unlocked, just as you would un- lock it, and then the money was taken.” Farrington stared. ** You’re sure?” * As sure as I can be of anything. I never forgot that but once, and Ive That safe was never touched by a tool of any kind,” “ But I don’t see how that can be!” * Perhaps not; but it’s true,” ““ Why, Madge or Pearl wouldn’t—” ‘Of course not. I don’t mean to iutimate that they know anything about it, any more than I mean to intimate that you do, I’m simply stating facts, which any expert will bear me outin, That safe, as I say, was never touched by a burglar’s tool.” Young Farrington ran his fingers through his hair, in a bewildered way. “There isn’t any way, I suppose, by which any one could obtain the secret of the combina- tion? Did you ever keep it ona slip of paper, to assist your memory or for any other pur- “Why, yes; I did that when I first got the safe!” the puzzled young fellow replied. “ And that was how long ago?” ** About four months.” “ And yon destroyed that slip, soon after?” Again he ran his fingers through his hair, as if to recall this unconsidered trifle by a vigorous manipulation of his scalp. **] really don’t know. I must have done so, though I can’t remember anything about it.” dif not destroyed it might, if not dis- turbed by other hands, still be lying in the money drawer under the counter; for I presume: that’s where you kept it?” * T suppose it might!” and Farrington slipped behind the counter, with the lamp, to tke & peep into the drawer. ‘Tt isn’t there, now, at any rate.” ‘Certainly not. It was taken, according to my guess, by the man who went through the safe to-night.” The youth could do nothing but stare stupidly at his cross-examiner, ‘* Where is Gaston?” ‘* He hasn’t been home since day before yes- terday.” ‘* Still at Cactus Crossing, is he?” Then, bending forward and sinking his voice to a whisper: ‘Do you know, I believe that scamp is at. the bottom of this? If my guess is correct, he’s at Cactus Crossing for a purpose, and that purpose is to fend suspicion from him and start the peo- ple here on a wrong scent.” This statement of the cowboy’s was the most surprising of all, Startling, in fact, to Frank Farrington, who would never have thought of connecting Phiip Gaston with the robbery of the safe. “You are hardly prepared to believe it, eh? Perhaps 1 spoke too soon, I have good reason, though, for my suspicion.” ‘**You must be mistaken!” Farrington in- sisted, ‘‘ Think of Pearl.” “J have thought of her!” gravely, ‘“‘IfI am correct, the sooner he is unmasked the better for her, and the better for all of us.” He deliberately closed the door of the safe, laced a chair for Frank, and drew up another For himself, “We might as well talk it over, seeing that I’ve gone so far. I’ve suspected Gaston almost from the first. After the robbery of the stage my suspicions took on the form of certainty. You remember he had charge of the pursuit, or rather the pretended pursuit, for it was nothing more, . The way he conducted that was of itself enough to convince any observing man that he isan ally of the men who have been doing the robbing around here-lately. “T know what you would say,” as Frank opened bis lips to interrupt. ‘‘ He was not here when the work of the road-agents commenced, That is true. He may bave been connected with them then or he may have joined them since. It doesn’t matter. {Lam satisfied he is their friend and ally, and perhaps more, “ He purposely led the pursuing party astray that morning, _I saw it, but dared not say any- thing, even if I had been so inclined. His ac- tions, though, convicted him, as far as I am concerned. And now, having obtained the combination and planned this burglary, as I be- lieve, he has gone to Cactus Crossing to avert suspicion from himself.” __ rank, having no very kiadly feeling for the absent man, was yet unwilling to judge him hastily, and sat for a long time turning over in his mind the arguments advanced by the cow- boy. t Strange that you should bring almost the same charges against each other,” he said, at last. ‘The first time Gaston saw you he warned Madge be en you, saying he more than half-believed you belonged to the road- agent band, and had come here for the pu of being better able to carry ont your plans. “Did he say that?’ and Jeremiah’s face toolz on a gratified look, much to the young man’s as- tonishment. F ‘* Of course none of us believed him right.” “T hope not, I’m sure. T’m glad, es i that he made the charge. To my judgment, it’s another link in the chain of evidence. He could have no good reason for thinking that of me, when he had never seen me before; and it goes to prove that he was fearful suspicion might turn against some one for acts committed, or to be committed, and he thought to take time by the forelock and give said suspicion a little ank in the direction he wished it to go. Who Sacwe but he may have some such idea as that I had ventured here to spy him out?” — Farrington again indulged in a long silence. “T believe you are right,” he declared, when he spoke, ‘*He has attempted to cheat me at cards several times, and a man who will do that is not above doing worse.” It was Jeremiah’s turn to be astonished. « And he has been teaching you card playing? And has been cheating you, you say?” “Trying to cheat me!” “The principle attempts rob ceeds in commi' know of this?” is as bad as the man who suc- — ng the crime, Do your isthe same, The man who a ¢ SB ge quowrest chaaeepammia
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4) oe Se ae BO as Jolly Jeremiah. 5 Farrington looked guilty, and hung his head, ‘*No; and I don’t want them to know of it.” “1 sha’n’t mention it. My advice is this: Shut up the safe; say nothing about the robbery; keep your own counsel, and watch Philip Gas- ton as closely asif you knew him to be the guilty party! Take my word for it, be knows more about this affair than he would be willing to confess, If we’re wary and cautious, we can expose the whole thing, by and by.” CHAPTER V. CRUSHING A CONSPIRACY. Wits all his good humor, his free and easy manner, his abundant wit, his sparkling songs, Jeremiah found a class among the cowboys whom he could not approach, He had made it his special study to gain the good will of all, to have tuem for friends and confidants, to be one of them in reality as well as in name, but he was soon made conscious that, as far as these men were concerned, he had signally failed, They were not a numerous class, less than six in number, but among so small a body of men, the number was sufficiently large to make its influence felt in various ways. The Double Dagger was one of the largest ranches on the plains, but, except in special times, required ouly a small force to do its work. Itis the way with most ranches, where cattle are not attempt- ed to he held within limited boundaries by line- riders, The leader of these malcontents—for they were a shirking, restless lot—was a vicious and ignorant cowboy known as Curly. He was Placer Jim’s particular object of aversion. More than once be andthe black-bearded giant had come tothe point of blows, and the result was that Curly held Placer in considerable dread. * Tt’s a sing’lar thing to me,” Placer remarked, one day, to Jeremiah, in speaking of Carly and his cronies, ‘‘ that them fellers sh’u’d take sich a fancy to Cap Gaston. Hang me, if I kin under- stand that atall, They’re as thick as fleas ona mangy dog, an’ whenever that blasted Irisbman winks they’re ready to nod.” Jeremiah had noticed the same thing, and had his own theory to account for it, though he was not yet ready to reveal it to Placer, ‘*Tt’s as you say,” he replied, shoving his hat back on his forehead and speaking in his custom- ary jovial and hearty tones. ‘‘ Nodoubt there'll be cards out for a wedding, soon, between Curly and Gaston. It seems to be a case of true love, without the little jolts which are said to be a necessary accompaniment of that blissful condition. I hope they'll not forget us, when they extend their invitations.” ““They’re married, already, if meanness kin tie people together,” Placer growled. ‘‘ Gaston and Curly has more little love chats, off to the’r- selves, than any six men ’u’d seem to have any occasion fer. An’ they ain’t no good in ’em, take my word fer it.” “And I suppose you’ve noticed that after each of these love chats Curly is glummer than usual—something very singular, for on ordinary eceasions he’s about as glum as men get to be and live. If he don’t die of bilious fever, one of these days, it will be because an extra accumu- lation of bile has no perceptible effect on bis constitution.” The giant laughed, and remarked that the probabilities were that Curly’s career would be cut short witha bullet or a rope before the bile bad a chance to get in its work, The effect of the ‘‘love chats” mentioned, be- came more and more perceptible as the days The time for the spring round-up was approaching; and, asa foreman would have to be selected to take charge of that, it became whispered about that Jeremiah was an aspirant for the place. The good-humored cowboy had never thought of aspiring to the position. His first thought was that Placer Jim or some of his friends had started the rumor, hoping in that way to direct attention to him as an available man, and thus secure for him tbe place, But, on questioning Placer about it, be discovered that the rumor was being circulated by the allies of Curly, with the evident intention of arousing and fostering a jealousy against him. $ : “ That Gaston is a long-headed devil,” he mut- tered, when Placer had departed. ‘*He don’t know exactly what to make of me; but, to be on the safe side, is determined to run me off the place. Failing in that, he probably thinks to so weaken my influence among the men as to make me virtually powerless to work him harm, Well, I won't go!” It soon became apparent that something _ sterner than a mere effort to stir up bad feeling “4 against Jeremiah was on foot, Curly’s men be- gan to stare askance whenever they passed him; and in their communications with nim developed into an uncivil lot of dogs, Only their fear of his prowess kept them from open and flagrant insults. ; After that first conversation, Placer had been diligent in his efforts to discover the secret of the trouble, He could not hope to iearn any- thing from Curly, himself, but instructed a friend, who was on speaking terms with Curly’s allies, to keep his eyes and ears open for indica- tions of mischief, As a result the secrets of the plotters were laid bare, and as soon as he under- stood Curly’s plans, he proceeded to communi- cate them to Jeremiah, “They say you're turnin’ the Farringtons, both gals and boy, ag’in ’em, an’ that you’re sot on becomin’ foreman o’ the round-up, which they'll be teetotally dashed if youshall, They’ve be’n hyer longer’n you, an’ so think they’vea better right hyer than you, an’ propose to show it, Jest tip the word, thouzh, that you r’aly want to be foreman, an’ I'll show ’em who's stronger hyer, Curly er Placer Jim.” ** Not at all, though I’m obliged to you for the kindness and honor. I haven’t any desire to be foreman, and if they had a thimbleful of brains they’d know it.” ** Which they ain’t!” sententiously. ‘No doubt you understand that Curly is only a tool in this business, Gaston is the real leader.” ‘I’ve s'picioned as much. They ain’t no good in that Gaston; an’ if the Farringtons could on’y be made to see it, it’u’d be better for *em in the end.” “What do they intend to do?’ and Jeremiah looked earnestly at his big friend, “T hadn’t got to that yit. While they hain’t had the grit to spit it right out, they’ve been hintin’ ’round, in av underminin’ way, that you’re hand in glove with them blasted road- agents, an’ that it’s a disgrace to "low you to stay hyer any longer. “So, they've fixed up a plan to git rid o’ you. When it’s to be done I don’t know—couldn’t find out, But, they’re a-goin’to take ye out some night, whip ye half to death wi’ quirts, brand ye in the hand to show that ye’re a thief, an’ then turn you loose—wi’ the understandin’ that if ye come back they'll hang ye to the tail ofa broncho an’ let him go.” A red light glowed in the cowboy’s eyes, as he listened to the ominous words, ‘So that's their game, is it? Ill try to be ready for the gentlemen, when they endeavor to carry their lovely scheme into effect.” ‘Count me in at the circus!” Placer exclaim- ed, warmly. ‘T know, of course, that I can rely on you, Placer. You're a gentleman, every ick of ou! ‘“Which makes me about the heftiest one in this country,” with a smiling survey of his her- culean proportions, ; At this, the old smile came back to Jeremiah’s ace, “Keep absolutely mum on the subject, will ou? I don’t want them to know I have an ink- ing of their intentions,” Then they separated, Placer to visit a neigh- boring ranch and Jolly Jeremiah to resume his routine work on the place, The knowledge that such a dastardly outrage was contemplated was not the pleasantest thing to pear around in one’s breast, It was too much like anticipating a stab in the back on some dark night, without knowing when or from whence the stab would come, Still, the cowboy, if he felt any uneasiness, managed to conceal the feeling woaderfully well; and Curly and his pals never guessed that he had been rnin acquainted with the full details of the ot. He even thought he could discover a soft- ening in their attitude toward him; ‘and decided that they probably regarded him as the cat does the mouse which it expects to crush and destroy when the time and mood wills. Gaston, having satisfactorily arranged his plans, was seen with the conspirators less than formerly, Much of the time be remained in the house, conversing with Madge and Pearl, or lounged about the store and post-office, to Frank’s ill-concealed disgust. To Jeremiah, when the chanced to meet, he was even respectful, and al most cordial. Well prepared as the latter was, the bolt de- Scended when he Jeast e ted. The very quiet- ness of Curly and bis men had a lulling effect, and a considerable lapse of time having occur- red, he drifted into carelessness, One evening, after dark, and wnile Placer Jim and most of Jeremiah’s friends were de- tained tilla late hour on the range, Curly stalked silently and ominously into the bunk-room, where Jeremiah was sitting, reading a paper, Curly’s pals stalked as silently after him, their bands thrust carelessly into their pockets, holding their weapons in readiness, The cowboy, understanding that the long an- ticipated time had come, tossed the paper on the cot, and looked up with an air of smiling serenity. ‘“*What can I do for you, gentlemen?” glanc- ing from one to the other, “From your atti- tude, 1 judge you have paid me acall on busi- ness of importance,” “ Right ye air, me noble dook!” Curly snarled, ** we've come for ye, an’ we mean to have ye,” at the same time attempting to draw his re- volver, The apparently unprepared and defenseless cowboy was too quick for him, however, Be- fore Curly could get his hands out of his pockets, he found himself covered by a deadly derringer, held in Jeremiah’s right band, while another, held in his left, threatened Curly’s adherents, “You can have me, or as much of me as I choose to give, which is as much lead as these cannons will carry.” Curly’s pals, not expecting so prompt a defi- ance, tuinbled back ward over each other, in their haste to get out of the range of the murderous- looking weapon, while Curly paled perceptibly, and seemed also on the point of flight. ** Come on!” exclaimed Jeremiah, with a sar- donic laugh, ‘‘ You’ve set on this egg for a long time, and now you might as well batch it. The chicken may die of neglect, if the process is ere pan longer.” ‘You've got the drop!” Curly protested, en down yer weepons, an’ I'll fight ye my- self. “T admire a brave man, Curly, but you wouldn’t doit, Every one of your rascals would pitch into me at the same time. It don’t do to trust men of your kidney.” “T said I'd do ye up,” Curly howled, ‘ an’ blast me, if youll gimme a show, I'll do it.” ““Why this sudden thirst for gore, Curly?” looking at bim calmly over the derringer barrel. **-You’re a sneakin’ kyote!” the rascal scream- ed, driven to wildness by bis exaspération. ‘*-You’ve been turnin’ the forelady, an’ all the rest o’ the Farrington crew at Fae us, hopin’ to git to be foreman o’ the reund-up,” ‘* Which place I presume you wish to fill?” ** An’ besides you’re one of these tarnal road- agents, into the barg’in!” “ Whieh is the lie of a dirty dog—as you are “ Put down ae weepons!” Curly shouted, dancing up and down in his excitement, and fairly livid with rage, ‘ Put down yer weepons, and ‘11 whale the life outen you, that’s what Pll “You and all four of your men put .your weapons in that box, revolvers, knives and everything, and I'll follow suit; then I'll accept your offer—not otherwise.” The box referred to was a stout, iron-bound affair, almost burglar-proof, which one of tha cowboys of the ranch used as a receptacle for his clothing. There was a key in the lock. Five men against one! The odds wereso great that Curly pitched his knife and revolver into the box and directed his men to do likewise, He knew he could not cope with Jeremiah, single- handed, bat counted on the aid of his pals to assist him in “‘ doing the cowboy gf ‘““Now, come away from the box, and Dll place my tools in there and lock it.” ‘*No you don’t!” the rascal shouted, thinking be was about to be entrapped. ‘Gimme yer weepons and I'll put ’em in fer ye!” The reply was a menacing gesture with the deadly derringer, that caused the disarmed ruftian to recoil, Then, without lowering his weapons, Jeremiah stepped to the box, and attempted to turn the key with his knee, Failing in this he placed one of the derringers on the top of the box, and, b threatening Curly with the other, held the pac = bay until he could lock the box and extract the key. “Now, [ve got you!” he exclaimed, again taking up the weapon, and rising to a standing posture, ‘“*A man would be an egregious ass who would trust any of you with a ten cent aay further than be could see you. You came ere to whip, and degrade, and perhaps murder me, and in meeting such a seseiaian 4 crewI feel justified in using every advantage that may be obtainable. I’ve got you where [ want you, now, and I mean to keep you there.” Curly’s men, on coming into the room, in order INA
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6 to take Jeremiah at greater disadvantage, had closed the door behind them; and this it was now impossible to open, without drawing on them- selves, as they believed, the fire of those uner- ring derringers, Such a chorus of curses as ascended from their lips when they perceived how cleverly they had been trapped! “T onght to shoo: you down, one at a time!” cried Jeremiah, noting, with great satisfaction, their fear-stricken faces. ‘And I may do it, too, if you tempt metoofar, I’m just in the mood.” At that instant the trampling of a horse’s feet was heard on the outside, and the gruff voice of Placer Jim raised in song. “Hello, Placer!” Jeremiah shouted. ‘I’ve got a lot of coyotes corraled in here. Watch the door, will you, and shoos the first one that tries to break out?” The giant was heard to give a snort of sur- prise, and a moment later he poked his head cau- tiously through the door, shoving a big, navy revolver in front of him. ‘‘ Which one shall I plug fu’st?”’ he questioned, when he understood the situation. “*Get some rope and tie them, Placer!” the cowboy commanded. ‘ T’ll hold them with these little tools, while you hunt the rope.” For reply, the giant pulled his riata from the saddle of his horse, which was standing near tise door, and whipping out a big bowie, began to cut the riata into short lengths. “Hate to waste sich good material on sich wu'thless skunks!” he growled, ‘‘But you're the boss o’ the drive to-day, an’ hyer it goes,” Curly and his pals were wriggling and twist- ing, hoping against hope that something would turn up tu let them out of their humiliating posi- tion, et they offered no resistance when Placer roceeded to tie them, believing that death would ‘ollow should they make trouble now, Within five minutes from the time of Placer’s coming, they were standing in a row against the wall, bound hand and foot, cowed, sheepish, crestfallen, and as miserable-looking a set of herders as was ever seen. They had come for wool and got shorn ina way most beautiful to behold, and Jolly Jere- miah enjoyed tbe situation hugely. CHAPTER VI. CUPID’S ARROW. THE men who had been with Placer on the range that day, and Who had been delayed by some trivial incident, now appeared upon the scene, and being admitted to the bunk-room, stared with undisguised amazement at the row of bound figures along the wall. **They tried to do up our good-natured friend hyer,” Placer hastily explained; and then told the story of the attempted outrage, as be had re- ceiyed it from Jeremiab’s lips. 1e cowboys were all warm friends of Placer and Jeremiah, and as they listened to the story, and were made aware of the dastardly plot which it had been the intention of Curly’s men to carry out, their indignation broke all bounds, Had it not been for the restraining influence of Jeremiah, they would have given the rascals a taste of the medicine prepared for the jolly cow- A As it was, they made Curly sign a written statement of the causes which had actuated him; and then, witha solemn warning, released bim and his humiliated tools, and told them to go about their business, and to beware how they attempted any such humorous tricks again. Glad enough were the scoundrels to escape so easily; for, considering the character of their | offense, they anticipated only the severest and | most degrading punishment. Of course they carried the news to their cro- nies; and through Gaston, an exaggerated and unfavorable account came to the ears of Madge Farrington. In consequence of this, Jeremiah found bim- self summoned to app2ar before that lady, the following morning, to answer to the part he had taken in the affair, for Gaston had made her egret the ee: C at is this I hear concerning you, Mr. Jackson?” she demanded, when J peste had re- sponded to her summons, There was a heightened color in her face, and through anger or suppressed excitement her eyes shone like jewels, Jeremiah, likely to be mis- frened as he feared, could not resist the spell of er wondrous beauty; and the threatening ar- row, which had for some time been apparently entangled on the bow-string of the coy little archer, was driven home, The confused cowboy flushed and stammered, became hot and cold by turns, and found himself unable to say a word. Jolly Jeremiah, **T understand that you and Placer, with some others, took Curly and his friends unawares, in the bunk-room, tied them up and submitted them to all sorts of indignities,” “Which is not true, Miss Farrington. You are mistaken. I—I mean to say, y—you have been misinformed!” the poor fellow stammered, shifting uneasily under her glance. “You held them with a pistol, while Placer tied them up, did you not?” ‘* But we had abundant cause!” he protested. “No one can have cause to treat any of my men that way!” she declared, imperiously, ‘* You must understand that, Mr, Jackson. Such un- gentlemanly conduct cannot be permitted on this ranch.” His face burned with humiliation. **Tf IT could only make you understand just how it was!” “ An expanation is not necessary, I have heard the entirestory. I only wanted to tell you that such conduct will not be permitted.” With a wave of the band, she dismissed him, and he stumbled blindly through the door, curs- ing himself for his stupidity, and telling bimself at the same time that be had never beheld so lovely a creature as this imperious ranch queen. **T don’t deserve any better treatment at her hands!” he asserted, as he stood once more in the open air, ‘I really baven’t enough sense to get around with. To become as tongue-tied as a wooden image, and sit there like a bumpona log, when a few words well spoken would have taken me nicely through the snarl! Jeremiah Jackson, you ought to go and butt your few brains out against the walls of one of the bunk-houses!” In this self-accusing mood, he walked slowly toward the store, scarcely knowing which way he was going, and caring less. He was aroused by a hearty hail from Frank. “What's the matter, now, Jeremiah? You look as grumpy as an eel out of water! And after get- ting away with those fellows so beautifully last night! Placer has told me all about it. Fie! Fie! We'll have to take away your title of ‘ Jolly,’ and give it to some one more deserving.” “) wish to heaven you would!” Jeremiah growled. “Come! What’s the matter? I’ve heard Placer’s version of the affair, Step into the store and give me yours, I haven’t been as much interested in anything for an age.” “Tf the Fool-killer has reported for duty this morning, tell him his services are pressingly demanded by a fellow of about my size, will you?” and Jeremiah, his arm having been grasped by young Farrington, suffered himself to be led into the room, “I'm certain if any man deserves to be knocked on the head for idiocy, it’s me! Some one, Gaston I presume, gave Madge a distorted account of the affair, and when she summoned me to answer for the part I had taken, I took my scolding without’ saying a word,” ** A fool you are, then!” giving him a strange and comprehensive look, ‘* Haven’t been drink- ing anything to upset you so?” There was a mischievous twinkle in the young man’s eyes, for he knew full well that Jeremiah was not a drinking man. Then, by easy stages, he drew the humiliated and disheartened cowboy on to a recital of the events of the previous pight and a minute ac- count of what had passed between him and Miss Farrington that morning. “Madge does have a crushing way about her!” he observed, discreetly. ‘‘She rattles the best of ’em when she gets on her high horse and goes into the lecture business, I’ve known Pla- cer to wilt like a collar at a Fcurth of July sweating bee.” Jeremiah gave him a grateful glance. “T think I know how to handle ber, though. Tll straighten this thing out, or ’'m a double- headed Dutchman! See if I don’t! If it wasn’t for that infernal Gaston, I could count on Pearl’s assistance. But he’s got her so blinded that she can’t tell white from black any more when she sees it.” Jeremiah protested that he must attempt nothing of the kind, but the young man was o durate. “Right is right, you see! And it would be far from right to let Madge remain in ignorance of the true state of affairs. I’m bound to tell her, if not for your sake, then for the sake of Placer and the-'rest of the boys, She'll come down as soon as she understands how matters really are, for there isn’ta better-hearted woman in the world than Madge. And you may rest assured that I'll see she gets the story straight, “ve been watching Gaston, as you told me to, and I know you're correct in your estimate of the fellow. He’sa scoundrel, if there ever was one, and this is only another proof of it. I wish Pearl would bounce him, or he’d go away from here, or that bis borse would tumble and break the rascal’s leg or neck. Anything, so he wouldn’t be always hanging around the store. I never liked the fellow very well, and the more I see of him the less that liking grows. “Tt would have beep a jolly go, if he had been with Curly’s crowd. It would have tickled me so, I should have been inclined to donate a quarter’s cancellation of the post-oflice—five dollars more or less—to purposes of charity, or for the benefit of the heathen of New York City.” He was rattling on at this rate, when, with a final protest, Jeremiah took his‘departure, CHAPTER VII. IN A FIT OF PIQUE. THE account which Frank hastened to give to Madge did not have the effect on that lady which the ardent youth had imagined it would. She had seen Jolly Jeremiah emerge from the store; and when her brother proceeded to en- lighten her further upon the subject, giving his narrative a decided twistin favor of the cow- . boy, she immediately jumped to the conclusion that the latter had induced Frank to intercede in his behalf. Further than this, Frank, in his ingenuous artlessness, dilated strongly on the supposed rivalry for the foremanship which rumor said existed between Jeremiah and Gaston; and gave that as one of the reasons why Curly’s men had attacked the former, “T don’t really suppose Jeremiah wants to be foreman,” Frank had asserted, ‘* But if there is any one on this ranch who is capable of as- suming the place, and doing justice to it, that man is Jeremiah Jackson.” ‘‘A great friend of yours, I see. I presume you are not to be paid anything for pleading his cause so eloquently?” with a smile and a quick glance. ‘You deserve something, I am sure.” Frank reddened; and, when he went away, having performed his self-imposed mission very clumsily, he left the impression firmly fixed in his sister’s mind that Jeremiah was ambitious for the honors of the foremanship, and that the whole trouble had grown out of that, “ He’s presuming altogether too much!” she uted. “He's a nice fellow, in many respects, ut it will do him good,I think, to take him down a peg or two!” Then, in a fit of pique, she summoned Gaston, who had never done an hour’s work on the ranch, and appointed him to the position of as- sistant foreman, retaining the coveted place herself, When Jeremiah heard of it he smiled grimly, but kept his thoughts locked in his own breast. Not so with Placer Jim, who became as an thereat as a blustering turkey cock at the shak- ing of a red rag. Out of the feeling thus engendered grew a strange rivalry—a_ rivalry for the foremanship of the coming round-up, in which the principals, Gaston and Jolly Jeremiah, seemed: to take no part nor interest. The seeming was real on the part of Jeremiah, who bad a no wish to occupy the position; but on the part of Gaston it was only seeming. He longed for the place, not for the honor it woold confer, but for the power and influence it would give into his hands, As the round-up was almost at hand, new men were being added to the ranch force. Placer led the fight on behalf of his friend Jeremiah, and Curly on behalf of Gaston; an whenever a new man put in an appearance he was besieged by these two worthies, and given no rest until he had committed himself to one side or the other, While this singular contest was raging most fiercely, the people of the Double Dagger were startled by another stage nape he south- bound mail stage, heavily loaded with passen- gers, more than half of whom were U. S, troopers in disguise, had been held up on the open plains, near the Double Dagger ranch, and robbed The troopers, who were raw recruits, had be- come panic-stricken when the fierce robber band streamed from the shadows and the darkness, and surrounded the stage with gleaming rifles, Their leader tried to rally them to a resistance, but received a bullet for bis pains; and the others ranged themselves in line at the word of command, and lifted their hands heavenward as meekly as if they had never thought of making astand. And when the stage again bore them onward, they were minus their bayoneted mus- — kets, their shining Colts, and their belted cartridge-boxes, which the road-agents ha@ — greedily seized on as legitimate spoils of war, ete as =
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ee ee 2 ee SS ee — Jolly Jeremiah. 7 When the report reached the Double Dagger, Jolly Jeremiah and Placer Jim immediately organized the cowboys, or such of them as they could trust, and took the trail in pursuit of the daring rascals, The soldiers having recovered somewhat from their fright, now that the ex- citing cause was vanishing on the swiftest horse- flesh procurable, offered their services to Placer, But as they were unarmed, the offer was de- clined, no doubt to the troopers’ great relief, Day was beginning to break feebly, when the point at which the outrage lad been committed was gained. But there was sufficient light to make the trail discernible. The best trailers were placed in the lead, and the chase began with vigor and earnestness, There was a stretch of broken, gully-filled country, ten or twelve miles distant, and it was at once evident the outlaws were making for that, hoping to baffle pursuit, should any be made, amid the rugged and rocky defiles, When the sun was high enough to enable them to look ahead, they were chagrined by the dis- covery that the road-agents had already gained the defiles, This greatly complicated matters, for should the rascals have time to separate and thoroughly conceal themselves, the chances of running them to earth would be greatly les- sened, They found, when the broken country was gained, that the robbers had separated into, - bands of twos and threes, This compelled the pursuers to do likewise. One of the hardest and flintiest of the trails was taken up by Jere- miah and Placer Jim; and, wken instructions had been given to the others, and a common rendezvous appointed, they urged their horses along this trail at the best gait possible, At first, so mixed together and dim were the hoof-prints, they could not determine the exact number they were following. But the trail touching softer ground atone point, they dis- covered that only two fleeing men were repre- sented by it. There was not a better trailer in the West than Placer Jin. He had lived all his life on the border; having gained his appellation in the lacer diggings of the early California days, He had trailed road-agents and savages on the lains andin the mountains; and was still as keen of eye as a youth of sixteen. Suddenly, on rounding a bend, they beheld their quarry. The outlaws had evidently stopped to rest, and been concealed in a bushy glen, where sand plums and dwarf elms bad found a precarious footing. On seeing their porsuere they dashed from their temporary iding-place. Oneof them wheeled in his sal- dle and sent a shower of pistol-balls perilously near their trackers; which act was responded to by Placer in a hearty way. “T cut purty clost to them scoundrels, if I didn’t hit ’em!” he exclaimed, grimly, digging his big spurs against the flanks.of bis pony, a movement which Jeremiah imitated, The outlaws had vanished almost instantly around a bend. There they had separated, as Placer found on arriving at the spot. ** We'll have to do the same,” and Jeremiah smiled grimly. ‘*‘ We have the best horses, I think, and are crowding them too close to suit their thieving majesties. They’ll lay for us, likely, and if we aren’t extra cautious they'll bring us down. Well, good-by, if we should never see each other again!” He pressed the horny hand of the black- bearded giant, and without another word turned up one of the narrow defiles. Placer, with a parting wave of his hand, took the other trail, and pushed his horse merciless- ly. Scanning the ground closely, he began to iscover here and there tell-tale drops of blood, showing thst one of his bullets had taken effect, or that the hunted man had been previously wounded and his hurts were beginning to bleed afresh. After almost an hour’s hard riding, in mo- mentary expectation of a shot from ambush, he again came in sight of the outlaw’s horse. The animal was standing by the side of the trail, with head drooped and evidently greatly ex- hausted. Placer could not understand the situation, If the road-agent were lying in wait for him, he would surely take pains to keep the animal con- cealed as well as bimself, Puzzled and fearful of treachery he dis- mounted, tied his steed in an angle of the wall, and, taking a circuitous route, advanced to- ward the point where the outlaw’s horse was standing, creeping from rock to rock and keep- ing himself as well screened as the nature of the ground would permit, Op reaching a commanding position, he saw the road-agent lying prone on the ground, either dead or dying. Appearances indicated that he had fallen from his horse through sheer weak- ness and loss of blood; and as the astonished cowboy looked and stared he saw a crimson pool at the man’s side. Instantly all thought of enmity left the heart of Placer Jim. The outlaw became only a brother, suffering and in distress, He had not come out to fight a helpless man, outlaw though he be. Leaving his place of concealment, he bounded down the rocky slope, and soon stood at the side of the wounded man, for he quickly per- ceived that the road-agent was not dead. As he looked into the latter’s face, and noticed the filmy eye which indicated approaching dissolu- tion, he started back with a cry of astonishment. The dying man was a cowboy from a neighbor- ing ranch, and was well-known to him, “Ts it you, Placer?’ the poor fellow question- ed, staring upward and feebly attempting to lift his head. ‘I’m a goner, Placer! [ve got it at last!” He placed a palm on the wound in his side from which the blood was still freely flowing. It had been bandaged, but the crimson tide had soaked through the strips of torn clothing, and bathed his body in gore, “What does this mean, Sandy?” Placer cried, bending down and trying to stanch the flow, ‘Pd a’ never shot at ye, in the world, if I'd ’a’ had any sort 0’ idee it was you!” ‘oT wan't you, Placer, as did it!” Sandy groaned, ‘‘’I'was one o’ them sogers. One of ’em shot me an’ I plugged him back, afore we could corral’em, 'That’s why we stopped back thar awhile ago, when you come onto us, _ I was bleedin’ powerful; an’ we stopped to fix the bandiges,” He paused, and lay so still and white that Placer thought he had breathed his last.” ** Didn’t expect to see me, I reckon?” opening ing his eyes, after a bit. ‘‘I’m done for, Placer, an’ I want to make a clean breast while I kin, Mebbe I'll stan’ a better show, then, ’fore the Foreman o’ the Big Ranch up thar!” and he turned his failing glance heavenward, “It’s a little comfort to think that He knows us an’ jedges us more mercifully than men do, You rec’lect He saved the dyin’ thief, Placer; an’ that’s whet Iam, A dyin’ thief!” He clasped his hands as if in prayer; and Placer, kneeling by his side, felt the softening tears fiow down his own face. “Tve been a hard ’un, Placer, an’ a sneak into the barg’in; fer while you thought me the clean an’ white article 1 was a thief an’ a road- agent. Inever had much show, though, to be anything else, an’ mebbe He’ll figger that into the pay-roll to my account. I hopes an’ prays He will, for thar’s a terrible sight o’ black fig- gers on t’other side the sheet.” “T knows He will!” Placer groaned, ‘‘He will, if ye ask Kim strong an’ earnest. I heard a parson say onc’t that we'd be jedged lovin'ly, an’ a’cordin’ to our chances,” Sandy smiled tranquilly, apparently much comforted. “m a-goin’ fast, an’ mus’ say what I’ve got to say quick. Idon’t want to bring any other fellers to sorrer an’ misery, but it’s pressin’ bard on me that I mus’ make @ clean breast, Thar’s a lot o’’em into the bizness, an’ I knows it ’u’d be better fer "em when they come to this, if they was driv’ outen it now.” Then, laboredly and in husky tones, he named the men of the variousnches who were mem- bers of the road-agent organization, stating that Curly and his followers were among the most prominent, and that the chief of the band was none other than Captain Philip Gaston. Placer listened with feelings of surprise and ain, 4 When the confession had ended, Sandy clasped his hands across his breast, fixed his filmy eyes on the blue arch above him, and passed calmly into that sleep which, on this earth, knows no awakening. CHAPTER VIII. BACK TO THE RANCH. For a few moments Placer Jim stood sorrow- fully above the dead road-agent, much troubled in mind, and uncertain what todo, The man’s confession had grieved, while it astonished him; and now that the task of re-telling the con- demnatory story had fallen on him, be was much exercised, fearing it would be thought a concocted yarn, designed to injure his enemy, Curly. If only others had been present to hear the confession. “T'll haf to see Jeremiah, fu’st!” he concluded, speaking his thoughts aloud. ‘*Mebbe he kin say what I’d best do, I know, though, that it?ll be thought I made: the hull thing up out 0’ my own head, Law! Law! To think of it! Gaston the king-pin o’ the hull caboodle! I knowed he was a p'ison dog; but that jist lays me clean out,” He scratched his head in momentary uncer- tainty, then drew a dirty, red handkerchief from one of his pockets, fastened it to a stick, and Fn the stick in a crevice by the dead man’s s$1de, ‘“‘T ‘low that'll keep away the coyotes fer awhile. If he was aroad-agent, he was whiter’n most of ’em; an’ we'll want to take him home an’ bury him in proper style.” He then tethered the outlaw’s horse to a neigh- boring bush, and walked abstractedly up the trail to where he had left hisown steed, A little later he was spurring on the backward track. When he reached the point where the trails divided he followed the one taken by Jolly Jere- miah; and a half-hour later saw that individual returning, apparently jaded, dejected, and un- successful in his quest, The latter saw at a glance that Placer was bubbling over with unuttered information, ‘What is it?” he queried. ‘You didn’t get your man?” he smile faded from his face as Placer hur- riedly communicated his surprising bit of in- telligence, ‘“Pve known it all along,” the cowboy assert- ed. ‘Not in so positive a way, but suflicientl positive to convince me, As you say, though, if we tell it, it will be thought a scheme of ours to injure Gaston and Curly. It’sa great pity the other boys were not along to hear what Sandy said,” Placer was almost as surprised by the fact that Jeremiah bad previously guessed the truth as he had been by Sandy’s confession. For bim- self, he had never dreamed of such a thing, though he had long been convinced that Gaston and Curly were vile enough to commit any of- fense, “T won't feel at I’m a-doin’ right by Sandy, unless [ say somethin’ about the thing!” Placer Jim uneasily exclaimed, “ Well, you’ve told me, Placer, That will do for the present. I hope the time will soon come when you'll be at liberty to tell it to all the world, ‘That time will not be so very long de- layed, or 1 greatly miss my guess. Events have been rushing toward it at race-horse speed late- ” He then proceeded to tell Placer about the robbery of the safe at the Double Dagger store. “Sandy’s story, you see, makes it reasonably certain that that robbery was committed by members of this same band; and by whom so likely as Gaston himself, assisted perhaps by Curly. This raid on the stage is not their last one, take my word for that. They’ve been at it a good while, and never been caught, or even suspected until recently. What is there to in- duce them to stop their work. Absolutely no- thing, for they have little to fear from the few troops which are from time to time sent against them. Itmay even be that some of the troops are their allies, and that they are given warning when to expect them,” They bad been jogging along in the direction of the rendezvous as they talked, When they reached it, many of the cowboys were already gathered there, and listened with unfeigned astonishment to the story that Placer had to tell. Hedid not inform them of the fact tbat Sandy was still alive when he came up with him, nor of the latter’s confession. On these points he was discreetly silent. But the discov- ery that Sandy, a cowboy well known to them all, was a member of the bloodthirsty band they had been chasing, was surprise enough for one day. It had such a suspicious look also—for the re- flection naturally came that if one cowboy was implicated others might be—that they could not resist staring at each other in a dubious way, and wondering who would be the next to be re- vealed as a traitor and a scoundrel. None of them, with the single exception of Placer Jim, had come up with a man of the pur- sned party, and when all were gathered, they turned upon the back track, and, under the black giant’s euidance, rode away to the point where Sandy’s body was lying, The handkerchief vas still fluttering, as Placer had left it, and the riderless horse neighed shrilly at the end of his tether when they came in sight. The body had not been disturbed by bird nor beast; but lay with sightless eyes staring sky- ward as they gathered about it.
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8 Jolly Jeremiah. ea “Hitt, ee ae Oe RE el i ee en ooo ——E—E~E~LoeEoEoeeeeooeeeeeee—eeeeeeeeee $49 For a few minutes they stood silently, or hov- ered about, speaking in the low tones men in- voluntarily use when in the presence of the great mystery, Death. Then they slung some blunkets between two of the ponies, deposited the body gently thereon, covered it from sight, and took their solemn way bomeward, It was noon when the ranch was gained, and their appearance with the body of Sandy created a decided commotion. A thousand questions were asked and repeated, but Placer guarded his secret well, and told only the portion of the story which he had previously revealed to the cowboys of the pursuing party. Gaston looked and questioned among the rest, his dark face revealing nothing of his secret thoughts, Not for a moment did his customary coolness desert him, A slight pallor gathered for an instant in Curly’s face, but it passed al- most as quickly as it had come, and from thence- pion he stood the ordeal equally as well as his chief, Jeremiah and Placer watched for some indica- tions of guilt, and once or twice felt that they discovered them; but if such indications there were they were too slight to attract any atten- tion from eyes not sharpened by a knowledge of the truth, **T had some hope they might do or say some- thing to call the suspicions of the crowd to them,” Jeremiah said in an aside to his bigcbum, “ But they’re too shrewd to do anything like that, I’ve been watching Gaston’s face, and it has no more expression or feeling init than if it were an oyster. The man absolutely has no heart, or else is an adept at concealing its throbbings, Ifyou will notice that smile on his’ face, now, you will see that it has in it about as much warmth asthe smile of a stone image.” Placer had noticed it, and said as much, “ If twa’n’t fer this confounded jealousy ’tween you an’ Gaston, un’’tween me an’ Curly, I’d give the hull thing away this minute. As’tis, I'm bound to keep my jaws shet, an’ see that: feller smile an’ smile like the keeper of a clothin’ shop, an’ do nothin’ to stop it.” “There isno jealousy between me and Gas- ton,” and the jolly cowboy’s laughter broke through like a rift of sunlight, in spite of the time and the occasion. ‘ That’s all imagination on your part, and on the part of some others. Perhaps Gaston wants to be foreman, but I as- sure you I don’t. Mysoleambition is to get him by the hip, for the little tragedy and comedy he has been playing. Ill do it, too, if I’m given time enough, “A great pity, isn’t it, that he should be able to deceive Pearl the way he has?” ** An’ Miss Madge!” Placer interjected, ‘Yes; and Madge, Though it’s Pearl who is likely to suffer most from his villainous schem- ing. I tell you, Placer, we must never let that love affair get so far along that it cannot be stopped except by the divorce courts. A better girl than Pearl, one more true and tender-heart- ed, never lived; and it hurts me to see her in the toils of such a scamp.” “‘ Set up the pins fer beatin’ him, an’ I'll stan’ by ye,” Placer whispered, “That Pll do, you may depend on it, if we don’t succeed in rounding him up on this other business. I’m not afraid, though, but what we'll get bim on that, before the game is played to a finish.” Placer announced that hesincerely hoped they would; and, then, other cowboys joining them, ied whispered conversation was brought to an end. That afternoon, the dead road-agent was taken to the ranch to which he belonged; and the fol- lowing day was given decent burial at the hands of the men he had so basely deceived, Gaston and Curly, with their tools, were in attendance; but not a word was uttered to show they ha eere than a passing interest in the dead man’s ate, CHAPTER IX. A STARTLING FIND. Tue Farringtons were not in attendance upon the funeral of Sandy. Almost all the cowboys being away, Madge and Pearl felt it incumbent on them to remain at home, and Frank’s duties forced him to be at the post-office on the arrival of the daily mail, Most of the ranch force, to- gether with Jeremiah and Placer Jim, Gaston and Curly, tarried at the neighboring ranch to which the pow had been conveyed until after the burial on the following day. They had arisen in such haste on the morning of the robbery that they had no time to put their cots and the bunk-room to rights, and in the at- tendant burry and excitement these duties were overlooked on their return. Hence it came about that Pearl paid a visit to the bunk-rooms on the morning of the funeral to do this neglect- ed work, It was a very uncommon thing for her to do, but a very natural thing when all the circum- stances are taken into consideration. Being by nature kind-hearted and thoughtful for the good of others, it occurred to her that it would be a pleasant surprise for the men, when they return- ed tired and weary from their long ride, to find the distasteful work of sweeping out the bunk- rooms and preparing the cots already done. With a song on Ker lips, but a pain at her heart for the cowboy who had betrayed his trust and perished so miserably, she went out to the bunk-houses and began her self-imposed task. She looked as fair and sweet as a lily, in her neat calico working-dress and gingham apron, with a kerchief bound turban fashion about her abundant, brown hair. She was the complete complement of her dark- haired and dark-eyed sister, who had more tact, discernment, business genius and graciousness, but who could not be more sweet and lovable. When the rooms had been made as clean as pains-taking sweeping could make them, she turned her attention to the cots arranged along the walls. These needed airing, and as she gathered up the bed-clothing and pillows, a half dozen gold chains, a watch and a small bundle of letters weré exposed, She started, for the articles were beneath the pillow of Jolly Jeremiah’s cot, and the letters. as a glance showed, were directed to herself and Madge. , For a moment she stood, with the pillows in her arms, spellbound and stupefied by the awful suggestion which that vision.conjured up. The letters had evidently been opened and read, for the ends of the envelopes were torn off. “Oh, dear!” she gasped. ‘‘What can this mean? What are those letters doing here? And that watch and those chains! It’s very strange! I mustcall Madge!” In every moment of uncertainty and distress Madge was her refuge and her tower of strength. Without her stronger sister she felt lost in times of trial and perplexity. Madge, with her clear head and ready wit, could make crooked paths straight, and face lions of doubt and difficulty ; and where Pearl was won't to stray with dubious gait, Madge walked wita a decisive and firm step. Dropping tke bundle of pillows upon the near- est cot, she hastened to the house to confer with Madge regarding this startling find, ‘\ And they were under Jeremiah’s pillow?’ Madge questioned, with whitening lips, as she listened to Pearl’s story of the discovered arti- cles, ‘‘ You are sure of that?” “T haven’t disturbed them,” Pearl asserted, ‘““Gome and see for yourself. I can’t imagine what it means. Surely—surely—” and she wrung her hands in a distressed way, «Let us not jump atconclusions!” said Madge, very white, buf very calmly and composedly, “Tl go with you,” She hastily tied her bonnet-strings beneath her chin; and, closing the door after her, left ‘ the house with Madge. “ Let’s call Frank!” she suggested, as they were passing near the store, She was evidently fighting the hideous sug- gestions which were constantly arising in her mind, and hoping that eit aet dt to explain away the discovery. Frank was fer- tile of resources, and might beable to give valuable suggestions, or even account for the presence of the articles in that particular place, His face was eloquently expressive of aston- ishment and indignation, when the news had been communicated to him. “‘Tt’s a trick!” he asserted. put them there!” Madge gave him a grateful look, “Some one has done it, hoping they would be found, to his disgrace and injury. io you sup- pose they were taken from the mail stage at the time of the robbery?” ‘Tm sure I don’t know!” Pearl fluttered. ‘It looks very much that way.” “Thieves are getting to be altogether too plentiful here,” locking the store door after him and placing the key in his pocket, If it keeps up, we'll have to call on Jadge Lynch.” He really bad no thougbts of invoking the aid of the unreliable and eccentric jocee, but he was annoyed beyond measure, and chose to ex- press himself in that irritable way. : When the bunk-room had been gained and en- tered, Pearl] pointed silently to the accusing ar- ticles lying. exposed to view by the removal of the pillow. * Jeremiah never ng would occur | ‘Tt has a bad look, that’s a fact!” and Frank dubiously shook bis head, ‘I never expected to find anything of the kind in this bunk-house, and especially under that pillow. But,” with a sigh, ‘‘ we ought to be prepared for anything, since the death of Sandy. No one would have dreamed that be belonged to the road-agent band; and, yet, bis death proves him to have been a member. There is no telling but what this ranch may be harboring others.” Madge was examining the letters disclosed, and looking at the watch and chains. “These letters must have been in the mail that was robbed, The dates and post-marks show that. And I suppose this watch and the chains were taken from some of the passengers. I don’t know what to think or say.” She handed Pearl her letters and glanced through her own to see if there had been any in- closures, “Tt looks black,” Frank confessed, frowning. “Most awfully black. If I was called on to judge, not knowing anything about the man, 1 should say that’ he had taken things from the stage that night, placed them under bis pillow, and has forgotten them, or felt seoure in the be- lief that no one would bother his cot, “Tt looks reasonable, Every cowboy attends to his own cot, and the chances are that any- thing placed that way beneath one of the pillows would be as safe as if hid in a Bible, Not one cowboy in a hundred would ever disturb them or even think of looking there. “Jeremiah has been busy as @ bee ever since the robbery, almost; and, if he really put them there, he has postponed hiding them more se- curely until he should have more leisure, They would have been safe enongh, too, if Pearl hadn’t taken it into her head, this morning, to do the cowboys a favor.” ‘“‘ May not some one have placed them there, for a purpose, you know?’ and Pearl looked u from the letter she was scanning. “It’s dread- ful to think that Jeremiah may have done it. He has always seemed such a jolly, gentlemanly fellow, so different from the average.” ; “Always an excuse for some one!” and Frank affected a smile, ‘*One may count on you! TP been thinking the same thing. I can’t think he did it, even though the proof seems so con- clusive. What bothers me is, if any one put them there for the purpose of throwing sus- picion on» him, how would they know the ar- ticles would be discovered?” Tbe query was altogether too much for Pearl. “T have a certain gentleman in my mind’s eye who might, do such a thing, if he thought anything was to come of it,” giving Pearl a keen look, which the latter, however, did not notice, ‘For a number of reasons, I won't name him, He might do it, Isay, if he thought the thing would be found.” Madge. glanced at him inquiringly, but Frank’s face gave no hint of the individual suspected, “ You see, asI said before, if Sandy was one of those light-fingered gentlemen who have been bothering us so much of late, it isn’t unreason- able to suppose that gthers of/the same stripe may be on this ranch. In fact, I am pretty cer- tain some of them are; though I wouldn’t men- tion names, now, “Tf that. is so, might not these fellows have done this, as Pearl has suggested? {have men- tioned the only objection to the theory.” “Tet me think over it awhile,” said Madge, placing a hand to her forehead, ‘‘ Bring all the things into the house, Pearl, and say nothing about the matter until I have come to some decision.” , Then, with an agitation which plainly betray- ed itself, she walked slowly and thoughtfully the house. CHAPTER X. A WOMAN’S HEART, AN hour later, she emerged from her seclu- sion, and bent her steps toward -the little store room, i It had been an hour of self-questioning, doubt and distrust. Distrust of her own self, and doubt as to the course she should pursue. It had also held for her more of distress'than any similar pericn within her recollection. The fear that eremiah might really be as guilty as circum- stances seemed to indicate had touched and stung her strangely. She immediately cast the fear aside, however, asan unworthy one, which did gross injustice toan honorable man; for, amid all her self- communings, the one belief rose like a rock from a stormy sea; the belief, ay, the conviction, that the jolly cowboy was as true to the right as } the needle to the pole star, ee DN iy ot fae "RA Po i a me oly pmtimgcmty ae Se ah ie SH erass —-
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Be ee RS Beye? epee ar) Jolly Jeremiah. —— Why, then, had she raised Philip Gaston to the second position within her gift, and by doing so snubbed the man in whom she so strongly be- lieved? She could find no adequate answer to her own question, It is possible the reader may have some ink- ling of the truth, Beaten back into the most hidden recesses of her heart, smothered, denied and concealed from ber own self, wasa spark of that fire which our first akirby plucked from the skies when the world was young. The fire of true love, And there it smoldered, refusing to die, Madge denied this to herself, asshe would have denied it to the world. She realized that she felt a strauge interest in this cowboy, who had come among them, friendless and unknown, and . with no other recommedation than a bright and pleasant face and a perennial cheeriness of manner. She felt convinced that he was no ordinary cowboy, and wondered often what had caused him to adopt so wild and rough a life, when his evident education fitted him for something higher and better. And, in their conversations, she had been piqued many times because he did not reveal the secret. which she felt must lie around his past. The reason for her singular interest, she told herself, was because he was so different trom the ordinary run of cowboys; because of his bland cheeriness and his bright face; because of the mystery that clung about him; because of— she knew not what—but love was not admitted to the category. In this stress of mind she had labored on the problem presented by the finding of the articles under the pillow in the’ bunk-room until her head ached and her ideas almost refused to flow; and the conclusions she had reached were so un- stable and inconclusive that she placed little re- liance in them. . Only of one thing was she assured: Jolly Jeremiah, in spite of appearances, was innocent, of the crimes of robbery and treachery thus seemingly laid at his door, Ordinarily she felt strong enough to work out her conclusions without the aid of another; now she sought Frank, for solace and relief from her thoughts as much as for assistance, She felt comforted, on entering the store-room, to notice that her brother’s face wore a look that must be nearly allied to the expression on her own. The troublesome affair had also been harassing him. ** Made anything out of the muddle?” he asked, as she advanced to the desk where he was stand- ing. “*HangedifIcan! It seems the fellow is guilty, from the evidence, but I don’t believe a word of it.” : “Tam glad!” in atone so thankful and fer- vent that Frank was almost startled, “Glad I didn’t convict him without a trial, eh? Well, I did come mighty near it, I’m afraid, at first,” He smiled up at her ina way to suggest he pase than half-guessed the true state of her eart, “The point before the court is, what are we going to do?” ; ‘* hoped you might be able to suggest.” Frank scratched his ge head in perplex- ity. It was not Madge’s habit to thrust respon- sibilities on his young shoulders, and he felt un- equal to the sudded emergency, **S'pose I ride out to meet him on his return and tell him all about it? How’d that do? He isn’t guilty, I know, and maybe he can clear up the thing.” Frank was thinking of the mysterious robbery of the safe, which secret, because of Jeremiah’s injunction, he had not yet committed to his sister. The secret was easily kept, for the amount stolen wassmall; and, though the kee ing of it had so far resulted in nothing, the talk on the morning of the robbery had given him a high opinion of Jeremiah’s shrewdness and saga- city. “Just as you say,” she replied, willing to adopt any plan, since all her own seemed worth- less, ‘If you really think that’s the best, I’m satisfied for you to try it. Pve thought and thought until my head throbsas if it would split, and I can’t decide on anything.” Frank did not give her time to change her sudden mood, but hurried from the store and, mounted on a fast horse, was soon speeding in the direction from which he expected Jeremiah to come, He did not maintain the swift gait for any great distance, however; and when a mile from gi drew the horse down into a sober walk. **No use hurrying,” he cogitated. “I’m too far for Madge to recall me, if she should take a sudden notion to do so, And, in her present mood, she would have done that, ten chances to one, if I had loitered around long enough to give her time. She’s a queer girl, at times, Madge is, He looked quizzically at his horse’s ears, as he gave expression to the thought, and his expres- sive eyes took on the look they had worn when he glanced up at his sister in the store in that suggestive way. * Well, he’s a nice fellow, if he is only a cow- boy, and I more than half hope I’m right about it. Heigh-ho!” and he looked off over the smooth expanse in the direction from ‘which the cowboys were to return. ‘* Nearly noon,” he said, looking at his watch. ‘* They’re on their way, I suppose, for the funeral was to be at ten. Well, ’ve got plenty of time, as the other mail won’t be in till four o’clock.” A half-hour later, a dust-cloud on the horizon announced that the cowboys were on their way back to'the home ranch. Seeing this, Frank again put spurs to his horse, Ou meeting the party he was disappointed to find that Jeremiah was not among them. He was on the point of making some inquiry as to the cause, but checked himself and rode on. ‘“ They might guess,” he said, ‘* Especially if it isa plot against Jeremiah, and any of them are into it. I wish I had told Madge to say nothing about it till I came back.” An hour later he encountered Placer Jim and Jeremiah, who, for some reason, had remained at the ranch after the others bad departed. “Pve something to say to you,” Frank ob- served to Jeremiah, after greetings had been ex- changed, at the same time casting a questioning glance at Placer Jim, “That's all right,” Jeremiah replied, compre- hending the meaning of the glance, ‘ Placer and [ understand each other pretty well, now, and there’s no necessity for keeping anything from him.” Thus reassured, Frank told of the discovery of the morning, and of bis talk with Madge. The jolly cowboy was evidently much touched e8 this mark of Madge’s good will and friend- ship. of hope I can soon do something to show that your confidence is not em gm I think I can, too; for, if ’'m not greatly misled, matters are working toward a crisis that will astonish some people.” ; Then, without further preliminaries, he asked Placer to detail to young Farrington the infor- mation revealed in the confession of the dying road-agent. The robbery of the safe, which was now made known to Placer Jim for the first time, with other events of more recent date, had partially prepared Frank for the disclosures. “T wish I had told Madge to say nothing about the find till my return,” he growled. “She don’t suspect that Irishman in the least; and, I'll be bound, will tell him as soon as he gets home.” “Tt’s too late now,” Jeremiah remarked, smiling with philosophical cheerfulness. ‘It would have been better. If the news of the find is spread, and Gaston will be in only too big. a burry to spread it, it will weaken me among the men whom I want to retain as friends, There may even be an attempt to cripple me by bringing about my arrest. Men have been ar- rested on less grounds,” 9 He rode on for a time in silence, debating what course he should pursue. “We'll not cross féhces till we come to them. Whatever is before me is before me, and Pll meet it like a man.” CHAPTER XI, A GRATUITOUS INSULT. On arriving at the Double Dagger and min- gling with the men, Jolly Jeremiah was a ably disappointed to find that no rumor of the discovery of the stolen articles had been spread abroad. Matters were as they had been before the robbery; and the cowboys soon at = into the old routine, his especials friends cling- ing to him as closely as ever, and Curly and his pals avoiding him in the old way, Thinking the matter over, he came to the con- clusion that he ought to call on Madge and thank her for the discreet silence sbe had main- tained; and, in pursuance of this conclusion, took his way one morning to the ranch-house, On being admitted into the cozy parlor—the Double Dagger ranch-house, under the control of Madge, resembled a city residence in many of its appointments—he was greeted with a pleasant smile by the ranch queen, who asked to what she was indebted for the honor of the call, : “T thought you might guess,” and Jeremiah shifted uneasily, as his glance met hers. ‘‘It’s of thé finding of the articles in my cot in the bunk-room of which I came to speak, I came to thank you for withholding judgment until it could be determined whether or not I am guilty of the charge apparently laid at my door.” He became reassured as he went on, and, en- couraged by her kindly stnile, said much mors than he had thought of saying when he came to the house. “The circumstantial evidence is against me, and the discovery could have been greatly turned to my injury. I had no right to expect you to keep silent, and wish to thank you ‘with all my heart for having done so,” ‘* What men are pleased to call a womanly in- stinct told me you could not be guilty!” with a heightening of color as she gave utterance to the words. ‘Trusting to that instinct, I had a talk with Pearl, and we agreed to say nothing of the circumstance to any one,” The emphasig on the words any one, said as plainly as spoken language that Captain Philip Gaston was included in the list of those who were to be kept in ignorance of the find, - yy I thank you !” bowing as he arose to quit the room. ‘ You sball have abundant justification for the course you have pursued, in the near future. I know who the guilty parties are, but am not at liberty to reveal their names now. But’you shall know soon, and know so certainly that there cannot be the shadow of a doubt,” Then he stepped upon the outer landing descended the short flight of steps, and passed from her sight, leaving ber staring into space in a way that would bave puzzled bim had he seen it, Previous interviews with Madge had given as much pain as pleasure. In this the pleasure had been almost wholly unalloyed; and as he walked away, thoughtfully and with bowed head, he went over, in imagination, the conference just closed, and strove to recall the tones of the ranch queen’s voice, together with her attitude and manner when she assured him of her faith in his innocence, He had been heretofore fighting the passion that moved within him and cried aloud for ut- terance, fighting it as a man will fight who feels tbat ruin treads upon that passion’s beels, Now he gave himself up to the enjoyment of its con- templation, seeking to look no further than the present, and seemingly careless of what the end might be. He knew it was a perilous mood, but he pushed the prospective peril behind him, and reveled in the golden vistas thus suddenly opened to his intoxicated vision, The suspicion that there migh be a road-agent or road-agents in the employment of the Double Dagger, inasmuch as there had been proven to be one on a neighboring ranch, strengthened as the days went by. No other robbery bad been committed, but the conclusion was so natural a one that it provoked constant comment, the comment gradually crystallizing the suspicion into a belief. 3 Jolly Jeremiah was not aware, however, that muzh of the suspicion was being directed against eee until informed of the fact by Placer im. . “They're a-huntin’ fer somebody to lay the thing onto, an’ Gaston’s men is a-workin’ the thing so’s it may seem you’re one o’ the agents. Gaston hain’t said nothin’ himself, o’ course, but he’s .got Curly an’ bis chums to waggin’ the’r tongues like wind-driv’ thistles, and I’m afeard they'll burt ye ’mong some o’ the lighter-headed of the fellers,” Jeremiah looked grave, *¢ What does he expect to accomplish by it?” “Can't say. I’m jist a-givin’ you the fac’s; you'll have to do the figgerin’, Somethin’ scaly, though, [ll warrant.” Thus warned, Jeremiah kept his eyes and ears wide open; and in the course of the day stumbled on many little evidences of the truth of Placer’s statement, The unique rivalry for the foremanship of the round-up also went on apace, Curly and Placer Jim frequently coming to the point of blows in behalf of their respective champions, It seemed taken for granted by the cowboys that Gaston or Jeremiah would certainly bo selected; and the wagers began to run high that Gaston would be the successful man, inasmuch as he appeared, because of his recent elevation, to be firmly fixed in the good graces of the ranch queen, ¥ From all this Jeremiah beld aloof, thongh it was known that Gaston was active in his own
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10 Jolly Jeremiah. | interests, mingling more freely and cordially with the cowboys than he had ever done, in his efforts to gain adherents, One day, while Gaston was standing near the gate of the big corral, conversing in low tones with a group of cronies, Jeremiah passed by and was greeted with a low and irritating hiss, The insult, uncalled for and gratuitous as it was, stung him to the quick; end, with a swift movement, he turned and looked the scowling cowboys full in the face, “T thought I heard the hissing of a viper,” he averred, trembfing with momentary agitation. “Oh, it was you, was it?’ as Gaston flushed under the stare. ‘‘I presume, then, you had a cause for it?” ‘One who hasn’t any more discretion than to hide his stolen plunder under his bunk-pillow shouldn’t ask such a question!” with a sneering attempt at bravado, now that he thought him- self in for it. The insulted man turned red and white by turns, then calmed himself by an effort, and dropped his hands carelessly into the pockets of his coat, “And you dare to make such a charge, you who placed the stolen articlesthere? For, if you hadn't placed them there, you wouldn’t know anything about it. * Know, then, that [ brand you asa liar and a scoundrel!” **Take your hands off your pistols, and meet me like a man!” said Gaston, driven to despera- tion by this unexpected fling, ‘‘ You are a thief, and a member of the band of road-agents, L have said it, and refuse to take it back,” “Certainly!” and Jeremiah smiled with deadly calmness. ‘I assure you I’m extremely willing to accommodate you. I willeven lend you one of these little tools to do me up with. There aren’t any better in the West.” His hands came out of his pockets, and in one was a shining derringer. He knew Gaston would not accept the weapon, but feared treachery should he altogether release his hold on them, “Thank you!” and Gast6n bowed with mock politeness, ‘* You are very kind! I prefer my own weapons, however. That little tool might not work so well for me as for you.” “As yousay. I’m not particular, Anything to suit you. Pick your man, step off ten paces, and fire at the word of command. That’s fair, I’m sure, for I guess you own all these fellows, and none of them would care to cut the cards to specially suit me.” There was a business-like promptness in the jolly cowboy’s methods that was anything but pleasing to the Irishman, who was inwardly trembling at the unexpected result of his insult. He considered himself a good shot, but he had heard something of Jeremiah’s readiness with those deadly derringers, and the lightning swiftness with which one had been drawn was not reassuring. He saw no way, however, to honorably re- treat from the quarrel he had so wantonly pro- voked, Should he back down at that stage of the proceedings, as he was much inclined to, he would lose thé influence and respect of these tools, and that he had worked long and hard to gain. ‘“‘Which is it?? Jeremiah questioned. ‘‘A fight or a crawfish? Time’s worth something, even in this country!” ‘Bicht!” gnated the Irishman, the blood re- ceding from his face, ashe braced himself for the ordeal, Then, speaking to one of the men, he drew and cocked his revolver, and began to count off the paces, At that mom-nt Madge, who had been’ out for a dash on her favorite pony, galloped into view from behind the concealing bunk houses, She took in the situation at a glance, and, zeeing her horse in between the belligerents, cried: “Fie! Fie! What does this mean? . Mr. Jackson, Mr. Gaston, I’m ashamed of you! Drop those weapons, or leave the ranch in- stantly!” Her face flamed with indignation; her queen- ly form dilated and her nostrils quivered, as she gave the stern command. Jeremiah was covered with confusion. *“As you say!” he stammered, dropping the derringer back into his pocket. ‘‘ Your com- mands are law.” ‘*My wishes shouli be law, also, to men who ae oo the honor of the Double Dagger. Ranch; and neither of you can be ignorant of the fact that fighting is not tolerated here.” The cowboy bowed his head. **Promise me that you will drop this matter, both of you, or I shall be compelled to place you under arrest to keep the peace!” The color in her face and the glow in her eyes made her divinely beautiful. *“*T promise!” was Jeremiah’s solemn re- joinder. ‘I have no excuse to offer, except under trial, my temper got the better of my judgment. It shall not occur again.” Then, as Gaston gaveasimilar promise, the cowboy walked slowly away, chagrined and mortified beyond measure, He felt degraded in Madge’s estimation; and would have given worlds, bad he possessed them, to be able to re- call the events of the last half-hour. Gaston’s wanton insult still rankled in his breast, however, and added to the uncomforta- ble feelings which distracted him. It was plain that the Irishman was making headway among the men, or he would never have ventured to operly hiss him and accuse him so boldly of be- ing a member of the road-agent band. As bad become his custom in distress, he car- ried his wounded pride and his uneasy fears to the big giant, Placer Jim, The latter was thoroughly indignant; and declared that bine’ must beat Gaston for the honors of the round- up foremanship, if they expected to regain their footing and succeed in exposing the cunning knave, “JT think you are right, Placer; though I never could see it that way before. It seemed too much like self-seeking. But if it is placed in the light of a necessity, and [ really believe it has reached that poiat, 1 am willing to lay by the little pride I have felt on the subject.” “Tf you only would!” the giant implored, “Tt will help you most wonderful, gittin’ that nosish; an’ the boys won’t be so ’tarnal easy to e led away by that lying Irishman, It will give you influence, you see; an’ w’ot you say’ll have backin’ an’ weight.” “Tl do it, Placer!” Jeremiah asserted. “Point out the way, and I'll walk therein,” CHAPTER XII. PLACER, JIM’S DISCOVERY. PLACER JIM, being by instinct something of a night-hawk, was prowling about the ranch at an unseemly early hour, a few mornings later, when his attention wasattracted by the sounds of voices in conversation. The voices were sub- dued; and, coming from the point they did, an angle of a sod wall at one end of the corral, to his aroused imagination they seemed full of the suspicion of mystery. The stars were still twinkling brightly, for the day had not yet begun to break in the east, “Wot kin that. mean, I wonder?” he whis- pered, craning his long neck forward. He forgot that his own prowlings might seern equally suspicious to a casual on-looker; and that others had as much right to be astir at that time as he had. ‘* Some devilment, P’ll be boun’!” He flattened himself to the earth, and writhed forward, passing through the corral and ap- proaching the wall from the opposite side, As he drew near the wall, the voices became more distinct, and he could now and then make out a word, ‘Gaston an’ Curly, as I’m a sinner!” hoe gasped, hugging the ground still more closely, “No good when them two snakes go to puttin’ the’r heads together. ‘Nothin’ but p’ison kin come outen a rattler’s tooth,” Then the name of Jeremiah floated to him in the same curiosity-inspiring tones, and he agaia writhed forward, unwilling to lose a sentence of a conversation which might beso full of bad im- port to his friend. He at length gained the angle on the opposite side of the wall; and, through a crevice formed by the falling away of a piece of sod, was able to look out on the plotting pair. They were Gaston and Curly, sure enough, as the faint starlight showed; and they were sit- ting with heads bent as closely together as the heads of lovers, when the hour grows late and the lamp burns low, “Tt must be done!” Gaston was saying, in an argumentative tone,. ‘‘ I’ve thought the matter over, and there isn’t any other way. I don’t like the idea any better than you do. ‘You see, if we don’t do something pretty soon, he will have us by the heels, I think I’ve sized up the gentleman pretty well, and his pres- ence here means our ruin, unless we down him before he can strike.” ‘*But the young ladies!” Curly protested. “Tf hadn’t been fer you gittin’ into that con- founded racket with him! They’ll s’picion somethin’ to one’t, ef he sh’n’dn’t turn up some mornin’, An’ you an’ me ’u’d be the very fu’st fellers they’d clap the’r peepers onto, too, ! . There’s whar the trouble comes _in. Ef’t could be done up sly-like, so’s no ’un ’u’d have a idee as to who done it, I wouldn’t *bject. But, hang me, ef I like to put my neck into a sling!” ‘*Tt’s already in, if it is not done; and not only yours, but the necks of all of us, And, my word for it, we'll feel the rope tighten before we expect it. The trouble with you, Curly, is that you don’t want to do the job.’ “Well, I hain’t ‘specially ‘hankerin’ for the honor!” the rascal confessed, ‘‘ The chap’s too plaguey handy with them blame derringers to make the venture healthy. ’Pears tome you might ondertake hit. Ye c’u’d make up fer the pistol-shot you didn’t git to give him the t/other day. Gaston gave a low chuckle to hide his annoy- ance, Instead of taking the bait thus deftly thrown, be again began to insist on the great importance of having the ‘‘ work ” done prompt- ] i Eyery minute he’s allowed to go around, the whole band is in jeopardy. We come mighty nigh getting it the other time, for I believe he had those soldiers placed in the stage that night, having discovered in some way that we intended to make araid. If the men had had as much grit as their captain they’d have laid out more than Sandy, 1 can tell you. “We may not fare so well, next time.” “Ef you'd ’a’ be’n along with us that night mebbe Sandy wouldn’t ha’ got it!” and Curly’s tones held something of a discontented growl, ‘*Tt seems to me youre inclined to be uncom- monly ugly to-night, Curly, and without any good reason, If you men don’t want to obey my orders, all you bave to do is to say so, and I'll take myself off and see how you get along with your own contriving. I'll warrant you’d be rounded up in less than a month.” The impliced threat silenced the man, “Tf 1 had been with you that night,” mak- ing the most of his sudden advantage, ‘ it would have been likely to create el sats for, when the news of the fight and robbery carie, I would have been found absent, As it was, Trolled placidly out of my bed, with that young fool, Frank, and no one thought of connecting me with the raid, “Te I do the head-work for the band, the rest of you ought to be willing to bear the brunt of work. Of course I could have pre- tended absence on good grounds, just as you fellows claimed to be out on the range, But I didn’t choose to, Curly, and I hope you will not intimate again that I had anything to do with bringing about Sandy’s death, It was all the work of that hot-headed captain; and if you had done him justice you would have slain him in his tracks for it. It would bave taught others to beware of rousing the dare-devil spirit of the band,” “Howm I to git at Jeremiah? said Curly, somewhat softened. “Put a knife into his back some dark night, if nothing better offers. I may be able to find a way that will throw suspicion on some one else, All I want, now, is to know if you'll undertake ae work. Agree to that, and Ill prepare the ans, = Placer Jim breathed very hard and clutched his revolver convulsively, as the heartless ques- tion was propounded, Moré than once the temptation had been strong on bim torush upon the plotting scoundrels, and Jay about him ina way to produce a couple of broken, heads if nothing else, But he bad learned self-control of his pard, Jeremiah, and checked the impulse, “T b’lieve I could capter them ’fore they’d know what was onto ’em,” he declared, in men- tal self-communion. “If I’d jump onto ’em from the top o’ that wall, they’d be skeered nighabout into fits anyhow.” But he reflected that if he did so, and should succeed in taking them, he would have no proof save his unsupported word to warrant their being held; and Gaston’s word was likely to goas far as his own, The effort would be twisted against him, He would be made to seem the guilty party; and Jeremiah would per- haps be involved, from the fact that these men were his well-known enemies and Placer his special friend. : “No, "twor’t do!” and Placer ground his teeth impotently. ‘‘It do hurt me, though, to hear a pair 0’ rattlers singin’ away like that, an’ me not be akle to put my heel on the’r heads, Makes me feel that life air nighabout a failure,” Curly, who had been sittings for a few mo- ments with his head bowed in thought, began to speak again, and Placer was once more all ears and attention. “T spose I'll have to agree to it, though I don’t mind sayin’ I don’t like the job a bit, a
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Jolly Jeremiah, 11 you’!l do the plannin’, and stan’ by me good an’ strong, Ill lay the feller out er make a balk in the tryin’.” “No balk; but T’ll stand by you to the last. ‘You may depend on that. I couldn’t afford to do otherwise, you see,” Curly did not see, but he bowed his head in the affirmative, **T ought to have done the fellow up the other evening, in spite of Madge’s orders,” with an air of boasting. “Ef ye cud!” “T could have done it, I assure you. Blast him! He crosses my trail at every turn. He's worked into the confidence of that young fool ofa Frank, and has completely poisoned the young scamp against me,” The tone was so bitter that Curly looked up in astonishment. “Struck ye hard! Must be somethin’ wuss’n turnin’ Frank ag’in’ ye, then!” The cowboy was a good judge of the motives that moved his master; and comprehended Gaston’s devious thoughts better than ‘the latter ever suspected. “What do you mean by that, Curly?’ with an ominous growl, **T dunno as I mean anything much,” ‘Yes, youdid. Your words showed it. You meant that he must be influencing Madge and Pearl against me. I understood you. Well, he bas; and Id like to have his heart’s blcod for it, Frank isso taken up with the scoundrel he can’t see any harm in auything he does, and defends him against everybody. “ And, thinking that way, he has managed to communicate some of the poison to Pearl, She was as wax in my hands, once, and now she —she—I can’t do anything with her.” “Hain’t bounced ye?” and there was a sug- gestion of humor in the way the query was pro- pounded, “No; that is, not exactly. She seems to be turning, though, toward thisinfernal Jeremiah.” ‘*Ye'r’ off there, pardner! Pearl ain’t doin’ nothin’ o’ the kind. But, blast my eyes, ef I don’t believe the young missusis, Ido b’lieve she’s a-gittin’ to the p’int that ef he s’wd takea notion to shine up to ‘her she’d tumble right plump into his arms, same’s a sand plum drops outen a tree when ye shake it.” ‘You make use of youreyes, Curly, I observe! I wonder you didn’t look a little further and notice that he has taken a notion to shine up to her, as you so admirably put it. And there’s where the trouble lies for allof us. He must be put out of the way. If he isn’t, we'd better all pull out of here, and the sooner the better. e had arisen;and Curly following his ex- ample, they strolled away toward the bunk- houses, leaving Placer Jim to cogitate on what he had heard. CHAPTER XIII. KING OF THE ROUND-UP, MapDGH FARRINGTON almost cried from vexa- tion and nervousness, as she gave the reins of her pony into the hands of a cowboy and took her way toward the house, on the evening of the memorable quarrel between Jeremiah and Gas- nD. **T wouldn’t have thought it of him /” was her petulant soliloquy. ‘‘I thought he would have more respect for my wishes and commands.” Then, being a woman, she ascended to her room, threw herself into a chair, and enjoyed a good cry. * Tt would serve them right to send them both away!" she exclaimed, looking up and drying her eyes on a dainty bit of linen and lace which she called a handkerchief, ‘‘ They deserve noth- ing better. “ He did look crushed, though, when [ spoke so sharply,” smiling through the traces of tears which still glistened on her dark lashes. ‘ Pye no doubt he was terribly provoked. Captain Gas- ton can provoke a saint, when he tries. I am well aware of that, for he has provoked me al- most beyond endurance, more than once.” She laughed a hysterical little laugh, and Blanced at her reflection in the long mirror hang- g@ against the opposite wall. “No doubt I looked like a fright, when I rode down on them that way, with my hair flying and my face aflame, Well, I don’t care: they shouldn’t have tried me so, knowing, as they do, that Pye got such a temper!” With this philosophical reflection, she went in search of Pearl; and spent an hour with her in discussing the event in all its phases, Seeing Jeremiah, the next day, she was pained by the sober and even serious look which rested ‘on his face, usually so pleasant in its expression, The pain was not lessened by observing that he earefully avoided her, remaining closely with the cowboys, a thing not usual with him, She said nothing of this to any one, although she thought of it a great deal, and was much more troubled about it than she would have been willing to confess, A few days later she called Frank into the lit- tle parlor where she was in the habit of giving audience to any one who desired to see her on matters of business or otherwise, ‘The round-up begins next week, I believe?” she questioned, when he had tumbled carelessly into one of the upholstered chairs, * Yes!” and Frank nodded, ** We'll have to send our men out under a fore- man, of course, to join the men from the other ranches, We'll need a good man, and a reliable one; one who will look carefully after the cattle after they have been cut out from the general bunch, and see that the calves of the Double Dagger are not gobbled as mavericks by the other ranches,” Again Frank nodded, but in a more interested manner, “* As this ranch hasn’t anything more reliable than a ‘forelady,’ and asa ‘ forelady’ can’t very well be expected to take the field in that way, I'll have to select some one for the work; and that’s why I called you in.” Frank nodded again, and in a manner still more interested. “T thought you might help me with your sug- gestions, for I’m free to say I don’t know what to do.” “* Appoint Jeremiah!” said Frank, with blunt directness, ‘*T don’t like to take the responsibility of ap- pointing any one, Tve been thinking of leaving the whole thing to the cowboys, themselves, No doubt they would make a good selection?” The last. sentence was a query; and Frank looked at her keenly before replying. “T think they would. In fact, I haven't any doubt of it. If left toa vote of the cowboys it would be a close race between Jeremiah and Placer Jim, and either would be perfectly re- liable,” ‘Then, I'll do it!” and she dismissed him with a smile, “Jeremiah and Placer Jim!” she muttered when he had departed. “ Well, Placer Jim will be certain to throw his influence to Jeremiah!” The next evening, when the cowboys were gathered in the largest bunk-room, laughing and talking, the day’s work being done and supper over, she astonished them somewhat by walking into their midst and calling for order, ‘* Order it is!” said Placer, rising and bowing, “Tl punch the head of the fu’st galoot w’ot be- gins a racket,” “All are here, I presume?” flushing as ber gaze wandered over the apartment. All were not there, but the deliaquents were speedily gathered, “The general round-up for this region begins on Monday of next week, On that day we will start what cattle we bave begn holding here, to the railway for shipment; and, as all our other cattle are out of the range, it will be necessary to send a good force to the round-up, The work is to be laid out and organized at the Diamond Ranch, on Blue Run; though most of the pre- liminaries have been already attended to, as you must have noticed, if you have seen any recent number of the Stock Journal. “When our cattle have all been collected, they are to be brought here for the branding of the increase, and for the cutting out of such as are in marketable condition, The supervision of the work should be in the hands of a man who will attend promptly to everything; and who, understanding his duties, will carry them out faithfully, and without the need of supervision. He should, also, be a man who can command your respect, and secure obedience to his orders without the necessity of resorting to anything savoring to harsh measures. ‘‘ With a special view to the last, I have de- cided to permit you to choose your own foreman for the trip, believing that you will recognize the qualities Thayve mentioned as quickly as I should myself.” A cheer greeted the announcement; and, when she sat down, there was much loud whispering and a general bustle of confusion. “The boys,” said Placer, undoubling his tall form, ‘*has ast me to inkwire how they’re to do the choosin’?” “By ballot, I suppose, That would seem to be the fairest way for all concerned. T have prepared a sufficient number of plain slips of white paper, Please distribute them, Placer, and see that each man has one. Here are some pencils, also. Pass them around, ‘* Bach man will write on his ballot the name of the one he wishes for foreman. Then the ballots will be collected and counted by a com- mittee,” Before she bad finished, Placer had taken the papers and was distributing them, together with the pencils, amid a noisy uproar of calls, whis- perings and shuffling of feet. Jeremiah was in the room, as she knew, hav- ing seen him when she entered; but she did not deign to turn her eyes in his direction, fearing a look might disclose the game she was playing. “Will Mr. Strothers and Mr. June be so kind as to act as tellers?’ she asked, turning toward the cowboys named. Strothers and June stated they would be only too pleased to obey her commands, Whereupon a couple of big, white hats were handed to them, and all things heing in readiness, they began to collect the ballots, with much alacrity and many pleasing comments as the twisted bits of paper began to rain in the hats, Then, as they sat down to decipher the cramped and half-illegible chirograpky, and score the names, as the latter were called off, on the big sheet of rege, which Miss Farrington had given them, a silence that was almost painful settled over the expectant little group. ** The score is as follers,” said Strothers, rising and giving a premonitory cough. ‘“ They wus one ballot ‘teak, an’ one ballot w’ich we couldn’t make head ner tail out of, Barrin’ them, the score’is as follers: ‘** Jeremire Jackson, nine votes; Cap’n Philup Gaston, six votes; Jeems Magnus, otherwise Placer Jim, two votes.” He sat down amid a roar of applause that shook the building, and to which the stentorian voice and ponderous heels of Placer Jim added. not a little. Before it had ended, Madge was out of the room, and hurrying, with face uncomfortably warm despite the coolness of the evening air, to- ward the shelter and seclusion of her own room. ** Speech! Speech!” Placer howled, when the roar had somewhat subsided, feeling that the occasion demanded something in that line, if any occasion ever did. And the entire circle of cowboys taking up thecry, in true American style, Jeremiah reluctantly got upon his legs, As hedid sohis eyes encountered Gaston’s, which held in their evil depths a scowl that was devilish in its fiendish ferocity. “1 can only thank you for the honor you have so unexpectedly conferred on me, and assure you that my earnest endeavor will be to show that your confideuce bas not been misplaced,” He sat down, with these few words, and Placer and bis cronies again endangered the floor with their heels, and imperiled their lungs with their vociferous shoutings; while Gaston and Curly, hot with wrath, abruptly quitted the room, CHAPTER XIV. MYSTERIOUS MOVEMENTS, As foreman of the Double Dagger contingent, in the round-up that was to be, certain necessary arrangements and duties devolved upon Jere- miah, and these he attempted to look after the next day, At almost every turn he met the ill- concealed contempt and hatred of Gaston’s tools: but he opposed their treacherous enmity onl with open smiling, and mapped out the wor without apparently heeding. their mutinous spirit. PPhe last foreman bad occupied a little room, set apart from the general bunk-rooms, Jere- mich, as bis temporary successor, hesitated about following his example, thinking it savored of pretended superiority, and that it might be better to mingle more freely with the men, inas- much as he had so cy Afgan one be them, Placer Jim ©; this strongly, “DT won't never do!” he declared, “If ye’r’ go- in? to be foreman, even fer a little time, be fore- man. Them’s my sentiments! The boys will think a heap sight more of ye. I’ve see’d it tried; an’ the fellers that was too blame common an’ familyer with the’r men, giner’ly got in- to trouble with the same chaps they was so werful frien’ly with. Men don’t expect an? don’t want the’r bosses to be jist the same as they air, They want to look up to them; an if they can’t look up to them, it allus ends in the’r lookin’ down on them, “Kerry yerself straight, give yer orders as if you expected them to be obeyed, let the boys see that you onderstand yer bizness, an’ you won’t have no trouble, But if you sleep with ’em, an’ 'sociate with ’em jist in the same old
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12 way, there’ll be a mutinous ruction long fore the round-up’s over.” Jeremiah had had much experience with men, and knew that the big giant spoke the truth. The general can be as friendly as he pleases with the private in the ranks, but he must not doff his dignity or the private will secretly scorn him and contemn his actions. : The slights of Gaston’s adherents pressed home the truth of this observation; and, accepting Placer’s advice, Jeremiah took possession of the foreman’s room, and resolved to be king of the round-up in truth as well as in name. This action led to results which came near be- ing fatal. Gaston and Curly believed that Miss Farring- ton, in instituting the selection of a round-up foreman by ballot, had worked out a plot in favor of Jeremiah; a plot, too, which had been well understood and perhaps planned by the lat- ter. And the belief did not tend to equanimity or easiness of mind. By it they were more than ever convinced of the necessity of ridding the world of a person so obnoxious; and accordingly began to cast about for some plan which would enable them to carry out their purpose without special peril to their own precidus necks. The occupation of this room by Jeremiah gave ‘them the coveted opportunity. Placer Jim, waking very early on the follow- ing morning, thrust his nose into the air and be- gan to sniff like a pointer dog when the scent of game floats to his nostrils, He occupied a bunk in the room nearest the house where the new foreman was sleeping; only a thin, board partition, in fact, separating the apartments, “Dog my eats! That’s cur’us!” and again he waved his protuberant nose in the air. ‘ Never smelt nothin’ like that afore. ’Tain’t likker, nor ’tain’ta fire, More like’s if « drug ‘store had bu’sted an’ was a-runnin’ to waste.”. Then, another wave of the big proboscis, “1 do b'lieve hit’s the identical stuff w’ot Stumpy Jack was give when his leg was took off by them city sawbones. Where it’s a-comin’ frum, though, gits me. Hain’t nobody hyer needin’ any truck like that!” He was out of his bunk and donning his cloth- ing even while speaking. When dressed, he slipped to the door, deter- mined to investigate the cause of the mysterious odor; but on emerging into the open air it was no longer observable, Aslight movement in the room of the fore- man, however, caught his quick ear, and ad- vancing cautiously to the wall, he bent forward in a listening attitude. As he did so, the door of the room was softly ‘opened, and two men came out, bearing a heavy burden, The burden resembled some object tied HP in a large gunny sack; and the bearers ‘walked as quietly as if treading on eggs. As they had emerged from Jeremiah’s room, Placer’s first impulse was to open fire on them. ‘This was followed by a desire to witness what ‘they intended to do with the article stolen, for he thought them members of the road-agent band who had been raiding the jolly cowboy’s mew apartment. A hasty glance into the room and at the bunk convinced him that Jeremiah was sleeping the slumber of the tired and weary, if not of the just; and, keeping well to the rear, he crept for- ‘ward in the wake of the supposed thieves, chuckling quietly as he imagined Jeremiah’s anger and chagrin when the latter should dis- cover that he had been robbed so neatly. **Must ha’ stole bis trunk, an’ it loaded with gol’ dollars!” he observed, as the men placed the burden on the ground and halted for a moment’s rest, ‘‘They can’t be goin’ fur, if the things already gittin’ too heavy fer ’em. I'd give a good ‘eal, now, to gita ip at the’r faces, an’ nd out who they air, I'll bet a hoss’at one on %em’s Curly.” Again the figures, rendered i)l-defined by the darkness, moved forward, carrying the bag and its contents between them; and again Placer Jim crept like a shadow in their wake. They were moving in the direction of the store, and when they reached it they again stopped and placed the load on the ground. A sign-post, with a pair of broad urms,' an- nouncing that the place was a general store and post-office, stood by the wooden awning; and to the top of this one of the men climbed with the agility of a monkey. If the big giant had not been unusually stupid that morning he would have guessed the truth long before, but he had so completely imbibed ‘the idea that the men were.engaged in robbery, the never looked further for the cause of their Jolly Jeremiah, mysterious movements. Now, however, he be- gan to have an inkling of what was really pass- ing before him, He rubbed his eyes with a big, bony fist, to assure himself that he saw correctly, when the man slid down from the post, leaving something strangely resembling a rope dangling from one of the arms, ‘*Bu’st me!” he whispered. ‘‘ They—they ain’t shborely goin’ to hang the thing up there! Must be somethin’ more’n a trunk, then in that *tarnal big coffee-sack! B’ ginger, hit mus’ bea man |” His big revolver came out, swiftly but noise- lessly; and as a noose had now been fastened about one end of the bag, and the scoundrels were beginning to heave op the rope, he gave a terrific shout and bounded forward, firing as he ran. The effect was electrical. The rope was dropped instantly, the two men taking to their heels, disappeared around the building, and were swallowed up in the gloom. As they van- ished one of them fell heavily, but was up again; and Placer, running forward, could hear the fellow’s eloquent profanity, as he scrambled after his comrade, On bending over the bag to sever the rope, the odor that had attracted his attention in the bunk-room again assailed his nostrils, “‘Chlur’form!” be gasped, spreading open the mouth of the bag. Then, looking down at the face so dimly re- vealed, he started back with a cry of amaze- ment: ‘* Hit’s Jeremiah!” * He was down on his knees, tearing away the imprisoning bag. Plucking open the shirt of the apparently dead man, he began to chafe the arms and body. ‘T mus’ git ’im to the house!” he'cried, fever- ish with fear, ‘I'm ’most afeard he’s done fer, Cuss the villains! I think I know ’em; an’ I'll git even with ’em fer this, if I hang fer it!” The shout and the shots had aroused the ranch, and the cowboys were now tumbling from the bunk-rooms, and calling anxiously to each other, while lights were seen to gleam from the windows of the house, “This way!” roared Placer, making a speak- ing-trumpet of his hands, and directing it to- ward the excited cowboys, ‘This way; I’m needin’ help, powerful!” As he did so, he turned to see Philip Gaston at his elbow. : ** What’s up?” inquired Gaston, ‘I tumbled out ahead of Frank, and came here as quick as my legs could carry me, I presume Frank’s awake by this time, and will be along directly.” “Up?” sneered Placer. “I sh’wdn’t reely think you’d need to ast, seein’ that you know already.” ‘What do you mean?” and the Irishman re- coiled a step. “That you’re a sneakin’, murderin’ villain!” the giant returned in a low tone, ‘No use try- in’ to make me think you didn’t bave a hand in this; and if he’s dead—mind me, if he’s dead— I'll have yer heart’s blood fer it, if I haf to hunt ye to the ends o’ the earth.” The manner and words were of such deadly portent that Gaston was for the moment ren- dered speechless, and before he could recover the use of his tongue, the cowboys were at hand, Among them limped Curly, growling loudly that he had twisted his ankle in getting out of the saddle the previous evening, arid could hard- ly walk because of it, ‘*1t'll be yer neck next time, I sincerely hopes!” Placer muttered under his breath, as he began to answer the queries poured on him. ‘* Help me tote him into the house!” he com- manded, rather’sternly, ‘*Some men’u’d talk all night, Ill tell ye all I know about it, after awhile. He may die while we're. foolin’ away time hyer, chinnin’.” Thus ordered, willing hands helped to assist the unconscious foreman into the house, where Madge had sent word he was to be conveyed. CHAPTER XV. COOL CAPTAIN GASTON. “BrRInG him right in here!’ commanded Madge, who, with Pearl, was ina flutter of ex- cited fear. ‘* Place him on the bed there. It’s chloroform, you say? Then get some water; quick!” ‘ The instructions were hastily obeyed; and ef- forts at once commenced for reviving the man from his death-like state. , While these were in progress, the cowboy who had brought the gunny sack to the house, chanc- ing to glance again at it, noticed a piece of or age sticking to it. The paper was fastened With a pin; and as he bent over it curiously he was hor- rified at the words written thereon. “See hyer, fellers,” he cried. ‘ What does this mean?” Those not immediately engaged in the efforts at restoration, Gaston being of the number, gath- ered about the questioner, who pointed, open- mouthed, at the bit of writing: “The work of the road-agents. our cause beware!”’ The gazers stared at each other, in a bewil- dered way, as they read the ominous words, “The work of the road-agents!” said one, “Traitors! Cause!” “ He must be one of them,” and Gaston’s in- sinuating voice took up the subject. ‘It can’t mean anything else. And they’ve intended to ut him out of the way. thinking he meant to betray them, This looks bed, boys; better keep shady about it, though, till you know for cer- tain. Well! Well! Who would have thought it?” “T think Pll take charge of that bit of writin’;” and a cowboy who was known to be friendly to Jeremiah unpinned the slip and coolly thrust it into his pocket. ‘* 1 wouldn’t ha’ thought it, neither!” The words were accompanied by a glance at Gaston, which the latter did not at all like. He was about to reply, when gratified mur- murs from the other side of the room indicated that the foreman was returning to conscious- ness, and checked his words, ‘“*Whoop! He’s wu’th twenty dead men yit!” shouted Placer, proceeding to execute a horn- pipe. in the delirium of his delight. ‘Wuss’n the seven sleepers, though, to wake up!” as he again looked at the form on the bed, Jeremiah was muttering incoherently and staring about, evidently not quite comprehend- ing his position, * Comin’ round, eh?” the big giant questioned, with a beaming smile. ‘‘Thbat’s right! Don’t worrit yerself, though. Take yer time fer it, Time’s wu’th money now, if’t ever is. Time, an’ warter!” ‘““Where am I?” said Jeremiah, half-rising and endeavoring to climb out of the bed, ‘‘Somebody must have hit me, My head spins like a top. “Tl bit ye, if ye don’t lay there till you git acquainted with yerself ag’in!” and Placer, with words so rude, restrained him with a touch as gentle as a woman’s. Now that the worst was over, most of the cowboys wended their way back to the bunk- houses, discussing the mysterious affair in all its phases; and an hour later, just as dawn was be-~ ginning to streak the east, Placer Jim assisted Jeremiah to return to his own room, He did not leave the place until sure his pard needed no further attention. Then he was an- gered at seeing Philip Gaston advancing as if to call on the recovered foreman. “Ye needn’t go in there!” and Placer’s words were big with hatred and contempt. ‘’Cansa why, I’m looking after him jist now; an’, as bis nuss, ferbid it!” “Oh, you do? And if I should say, I'll go anybow?” “Why, ye wouldn’t never git through the door, that’s all.” Gaston sneered, but showed his good sense by stopping where he was, “There hain’t any sort 0’ use o’ you an’ me shilly-shallyin’ about, Gaston! I onderstan’ you purty well; an’ if you hain’t acquainted with me, I'll purceed to give ye an interduction. You was one o’ the skunks w’ot done that dirty biz- ness las’ night, an’ I hain’t a mite afeared to say Let all traitors to 80. “Tf vou have any call to go in there, tell me w'ot itis, an’ ’'ll go wi’ ye. Otherwise ye stay out. Cool as ice in August!” and again that su- perzilious sneer disfigured his countenance, ‘Pll bave to ask you what you mean, I sup- ” “ Shouldn’t think you’d need, after w’ot I said to you this mornin’, to say nothing of jist now!” “You mean to charge that I tried to murder Mr, Jackson!’ “That’s w’ot I'd call it. Mebbe you've got soft words w’ot’d sound better an’ mean. the same thing. If you have, you kin use’em, I call it murder.” Gaston laughed in a low, harsh way. “T thought, from what was contained on the slip, that it was the work of road-agents!” K’rect! I agrees wi’ ye, there! "Twas road- agents; an’ which their names is Gaston an? urly. That cussid chlur’form waked me up, an’ I follered clean frum hyer to the post over
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eee Jolly Jeremiah, 13 =e _o-—A4O<@0__V0é@mDWO-}|—FAPFeTu_pv7#T#]!_Nn”D—-——eBbNbN——@Nwmee@ooqOQ=oooomomoaeauauaqnqnq=nsS=$=$~$=$mssmppppapoO0DWMND ew there, an’ would ha’ put some chunks of lead into both o’ ye, if t’d ’a’ been a little lighter.” ‘What an ingenious fellow you are, my dear Placer, You astonish me, really. You ought to go into the detective business,” he big giant breathed very hard at this sally; and, with an angry scowl, dropped his hand to the revolver flapping against his hip, “There! ‘There! Don’t let your angry pas- sions rise. Shooting, at human targets, is tabooed on this ranch, you know,” Then, as the scow! passed: *©You do me too much credit! It isn’t hard- ly fair, Placer, to lay all the devilment that’s dine in this neck of the woods, at the door of ad ama Even the devil isn’t as black as he’s in . ‘‘Some on ’em’s a good deal blacker, ’cordin’ tomy count. An I said, ’tain’t no use you an’ me shilly-shallyin’. You had a hand in that bizness, an’ I know it, Av’ knowin’ which, I tell eg not to go into that door.” “‘T should think you’d be afraid I might chlo- roform you, where you stand, Placer; you think so highly of my accomplishments, Tis as you say, though, since you have appointed yourself Mr. Jackson’s especial guardian and champion, I merely intended to make a friendly call, and congratulate him on his narrow escape. But another time will do, as well, Ta ta, my dear Placer!” And he strolled leisurely away, leaving the giant grinding his teeth in rage. CHAPTER XVI. WEAVING A NET. JOLLY JEREMIAH, when he had fully recover- ed from the effects of the choking received and the chloroform administered, had a quiet little talk with Placer, in the seclusion of the fore- man’s room, “Well have to move against the enemy, Placer, He’s getting over bold. I didn’t really think he would attempt anything so murderous, even after what you heard the other night. But, in spite of his pretended coolness, he’s bad- ly frightened, and his fear is making him des- perate. **You know the men on the different ranches whom it will do to trust?” Placer nodded assent. “Have them meet us in the dry gully, five miles north of here, on Thursday night, will you? I don’t care for a large number. The main point is to get such as you can fully trust; an4 to do that it will be well to’avoid any who are on terms of special friendship with the mem- bers of the road-agent band.” He looked at the other questioningly. ‘J kin do it, I think,” Placer replied, inter- preting the look. “Unless you know that a man is all right, don’t say a word to him. We can’t afford to take any risks. Now, you can go; and say to the boys that I’ve sent you to make some ar- Tangements for the round-up,” With these injunctions fixed in his mind, lacer Jim repaired to the horse corral, selected @ pony, and was soon on his way, The ranches were Widely scattered; but the pony was a tough little beast and stood up to the work so well that the ranches were all visited in due time, and on the afternoon of the day fixed for the meeting, Placer was again at home. He was in an especial good humor, for the work had been accomplished in a manner to completely satisfy him, He had a number of acquaintances at the different ranches, and these, and these only, had he approached, They were honorable fellows, all of them, and hated the band that was bringing disgrace on the sec- tion quite as much as Placer did himself, Hence, when the big giant explained the nature of his errand, and told what had been revealed to him by the dying cowboy, Sandy, they agreed to meet him and the Double Dagger foreman on the night and at the place appointed. rf Fy be there, twenty on ’em, and men at ye kin tie to!” was bis confidential and confident assertion. ‘Pye worked, in my time, alongside of ever’ one of ’em, They’re fellers at kin ride an’ shoot, too, an’ wouldn’t be a mite skeery, it’t phould some to a stan’ up st Spl eremiah repaid him with a complimenta look and a silent pressure of the band, : ie The night was a moonless one, and promised to be cloudy and dark, as the two, with four trusty followers, rode northward toward the gully. They had left the ranch one ata time, and sccretly, for fear of attracting the attention of some of Gaston’s satellites, and thus endanger- ing the success of the enterprise. But, once out on the traekless prairie with their destination unknown, they had little fear that they could be successfully followed even were their absence noted. « “The only trouble,” and Jeremiah smiled, ‘‘is that Gaston, with his slick tomgue might suc- ceed in making some believe that we constitute the road-agent band, and have slipped out ona raiding expedition. He’s quite equal to the suc- cessful performance of the task.” Placer Jim and the others agreed with him, with earnest asseverations; and again. they rode on at a swinging gallop, the hoofs of the ponies sinking into the moss-like buffalo-grass sod and making very little noise, At this rate, it did not take long to reach the dry guliy, which, notwithstanding its shining, sandy bottom, was sometimes the conduit of a mighty flood. here they found a half-dozen cowboys al- ready congregated, who had ridden in from the nearest ranch; and, as the night wore on, the full complement of twenty, gathered. As they came in, in groups of twos and threes, they were met and welcomed by Placer and Jeremiah, and introduced to such as they were not already acquainted with, the latter being a very inconsequential number, On being informed that all were there who had been notified, Jeremiah arose and introduced tbe subject uppermost on every mind; and, ufter relating the facts already detailed to them by Placer, spoke of the object of the meeting. “Tt is a matter in which our honor as cowboys and upright citizens is at stake, Itis such men as these who have brought the word cowboy in- to undeserved repute for evil, and caused the people of the East, who know nothing about us, to regard us a set of unbung villains whose only delight is outrage and murder, ‘¢Tt becomes us, therefore, to purify our ranks of these men who are bringing odium on our good name; and the only way to do that is to stamp this organization out, root and branch, by the iron heel of the law, I would bea poor adviser, if I should urge the use of any instru- ments except such as the laws of the land place in our‘hands. They are adequate for every pur- pose, if we will only make a right use of them. «“ WhatI have to advise, then, is this: The men who are members of this orginization are well known to us through the confession of Sandy, made to our friend and pard, Placer Jim, a man whom we know to be truthful and reliable. We have the names of these men;and know where to place our hands on them, at any mo- ment. ‘* Hence, I propose that on Saturday night of this week, these men be seized, and conveyed to the jail at Plains City, under a guard sufficient- ly strong for the purpose, and there legally charged with the offense they have committed. “Tf the seizures are made suddenly, there will be little difficulty in taking them all; and, if the fear-stricken are made to understand that the entire band has been betrayed and_ arrested, some of them will doubtless break down and make snch confessions as will result in the con- viction of all.” His words were greeted with murmurs of ap- proval; and, seeing their minds were in accord with his, he went on, elaborating and explain- ing the plans he had previously thought out. “To accomplish this result 1t will be necessary for the men representing any particular ranch to call to their assistance such of their comrades as they can rely on, together with the proprietor and foreman if deemed best; and then in a body and under one leader arrest such members of the road-agent band asmay be on that particular ranch, pst pepe precautions are taken, every mem- ber of the band can be in custody within thirty minutes after the hour agreed upon for the commencement of the work, Thus no alarm can be spread, and none of them efin escape, “Now, if our mutual friend, Placer, will call out the names of the men, grouping them to- gether in ranches, I shall be much obliged,” Thus commanded, Placer Jim called off the names of those present; and, after a little talk to each group, Jeremiah placed the hour for the arrests at ten o'clock on the coming Saturday night, and enjoined'the members of each group to caution and promptness, F It was long after the hour of midnight, when the conference ended, and the men filed silently out into the darkness and disappeared in the direction of their homes, Jeremiah was much elated over the success of this preliminary work, and confidently predicted that the road-agent band would receive its death-blow at the hour agreed on for the ar- “Tf these men are all trusty—and I’m con- vinced they are—those fellows can’t escape us. I tell you, Placer, we’ve got the clinch om them!” ‘* There'll be a powerful sight o’ kickin’, too, when we go to tighten it!” and the giant laughed at the thought engendered by the comparison. ** Buckin’ bronchos won’t be nowhere?’’ ‘* And we'll hope there will be some squealing, as well as kicking. If we can only scare two or three into giving the whole thing away, it will save us much trouble; for I needn’t remind you that, otherwise, the entire proof lies on you. You’ra the only one who has ever heard any- thing.” me Other people might, if they didn’t lay in bed so ’tarnal late of mornin’s!” the giant retorted, with a good-humored chuckle, Thus, on their homeward journey, they built roseate castles; only to have the same tumble in ruins about their ears the next day. Early on the morrow, Captain Philip Gaston announced his intention of going to Denver, stating he would not return until the morning of the day of the round-up. *‘Curse the luck!” Jeremiah fumed, when he learned it, ‘‘ Can it be be bas heard something? If I was sure he had, I’d arrest him this in- stant.” Placer Jim, while equally chagrined, was cer- tain Gaston had heard nothing of the contem- plated arrests. ‘“‘He can’t have!” was his conclusive argu- ment, ‘* He or some of his tools may have dogged us last night!” asserted Jeremiah. ‘‘If they did, they’ll all get away.” The uncertainty was too great, however, for him to venture on the arrest of the gallant captain; and the latter left the place on the first stage. his action necessitated the partial undoing of the work of the previous night; for, should the other arrests be made, Gaston would take the alarm, and thus the principal fish break through the meshes of the net. . So, Placer Jim was compelled to repeat his visits to the ranches; and matters were forced - remain in abeyance until Gaston should re~ urn, CHAPTER XVII. THE GREAT ROUND-UP, Gaston returned that Monday morning as he had said he would, and Jolly Jeremiah drew a Jong breath of relief in consequence. The plans so carefully laid could not, appar- ently, be put into execution until after the great round-up; and Jeremiah, with the cow- boys of the Double Dagger—Captain : Gastor among the number—repaired to the appointed place to meet the forces from the other ranches. Territory had been previously assigned to each force; and, after some consultation, the work was begun. Jeremiah’s party was to beat a portion of country more than a hundred miles in extent, and lying between two creeks, known respec- tively as Mud Run and ‘Little Injun;’ and drive all the cattle found in that belt to a cer- tain point, to which the other cattle would also be driven, and where they would be separated according to their respective brands, The task occupied more than two weeks of time; for every valley in the entire extent had to be visited. It was accomplished in due course, however; and, with the big herd thus gathered, he started for the rendezvous, Gaston had been very quiet and undemonstra-~ tive ap the trip, to the foreman’s no in- considerable surprise, He had expected trouble from him, and perbare treachery, and had watched him as the wary chicken watches the circling hawk, It may be that this constant surveillance pre- vented the Irishman from peg any schemes into effect, always provided he had any scbemes primed for the purpose. Be that as it may, he was as docile and tractable as che most inoffen- sive cowboy. there, rarely speaking to Curly or any of the latter’s pals, and seemingly intent only on serving the man who had been placed in command over him, His manners ought to have been reassuring to the foreman, but they were not; and the latter, without being able to explain why, felt as if con- stantly walking above a slumbering volcano, The rendezvous was reached, after a long and toilsome drive. Many of the other parties had arrived with their respective bunches of cattle, and the others got in within a few days. Then the work of “ cutting out,” or separatin was commenced. This occupied another week, at the end of which, all things being in readiness, and the herd of the Double Dagger bunched, | .
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14 Jolly Jeremiah. Jeremiah and his little force started for the home ranch, The cattle being jaded from the long drives and [the chasing they had been subjected to in the “cutting out” process, very slow progress was madé; and another week had almost van- ished into the past, before the outer limits of their own range was reached, Here, one dark and gusty night, fell the long- expected blow. & Secause of the ugly weather a “dry” camp " had been made, It was ten miles to the next watering place; which, by getting an early start, they expected to reach by the middle of the fol- lowing forenoon, As the cattle had been watered about six or eight hours before, no trouble was anticipated from this early going into camp. They were, however, rendered very restless by the un- favorable atmospheric conditions, and many hours elapsed before they would lie down. In consequence, a strong guard was thrown about them, under the leadership of Placer Jim, It was cold, disagreeable and monotonous work for Placer and bismen, but they performed it without a murmur, for a cowboy does not ex- t to be swung through life on downy pillows, While Placer was thus riding slowly about the herd, droning out a song to soothe the rest- less animals—or rather shouting it, for shouting was necessary to make his voice heard above the roar of the wind—the herd was struck with a sudden commotion, The experienced cowboy saw that a stampede was imminent, The other cowboys were sta- tioned at various places about the big bunch, Knowing he could not make these hear, he rode quickly up and down his beat, singing and call- ing in a vain endeavor to quiet the scared brutes. It was so dark he could not see what the trouble was, “Tf we was in an Injun country, I should say they was bein’ stampeded by the ’tarnal red- skins,” he muttered, ‘‘ Mus’ ‘Ma buffler wolves got amongst’em,fer there hain’t no Injuns about hyer!” His efforts wore wholly ineffectual, The strange commotion increased, and within a few moments from its commencement the entire ‘herd was rushing away toward the south, the eee of their hoofs resembling the roar of a cy- clone. Jeremiah dashed up to Placer’s side at almost the same instant, ‘* What started them?” he shouted. “ Don’t know!” the cowboy bellowed. Then he jabbed the spurs mercilessly against his pony’s flanks, and was away like a shot in their wake, It was a wild, reckless, perilous chase, The maddened animals streamed on like a rushing tornado, and at their sides and behind them rode the cowboys, striving to obtain sufficient con- trol over them to make them “mill,” or bunch and run in a circle until they had worn out their pgp n the darkness and amid the excitement it ‘was impossible to tell that Gaston and Curly and their allies were not with the party. “Tm afraid they'll run till they kill them- selves!” Jeremiah shouted, as his pathway chanced to cross Placer’s, ‘*Can’t help it if they do!” bellowed the giant, “*Hain’t see’a Curly or Gaston, have ye? Them fellers is sogerin’, I do b’lieve! Can’trun acrost ‘em nowhere!” The question brought unpleasant suggestions to the foreman’s mind. Why should these men wish to “soldier?” as Placer had expressed it. And at such a time above all others? Two answers suggested to the questions: They hoped the herd would escape, and the dis- grace of it be thrown on Jeremiah’s shoulders, Or they had been the prime cause of the stam- pede, and expecied to make an attack and slay the foreman amid the confusion. Either theory was sufficiently disagreeable, and after giving the matter much anxious thought, he again sought Placer Jim, It was difficult to talk intelligibly, but as they raced forward side by side, he managed to com- municate his fears to the giant. “Il speak to the boys,” said Placer, “ an? if anything o’ the kind should be in the wind, we'll be ready fer it.” After that the cowboys kept closer together. They did not cease their efforts to control the cattle, however; and iv the gray of the early morning, when near the notorious Cheyenne Rock, they began to think they would at last accomplish their purpose, for the cattle were rapidly reaching the point of exhaustion, and fatigue is a great conqueror. Then, out of the semi-darkness, seeming to come from tbe somber shadows of the gorge, rushed a band of masked men, and as they came, they threw the cattle again into confusion by their yells and shots, They had eviden\ly expected to find the cow- boys wholly unprepared, and thus secure an easy victory, but they were woefully mistaken. ** Let the critters go!” yelled Placer, reining in, an example which Jeremiah and the cowboys imitated. ‘‘ We've got wuss’n a stampede on our han’s, er I’m mightily mistaken.” The charging and yelling road-azents were al- most on them, now; and the cowboys, wrought to a pitch of frenzy by the loss of the cattle, were nothing loth for the impending figbt. It is not my intention to describe the combat in detail, It wasashort and bloody one. One of the cowboys was killed, and three or four were injured more or less severely, The road- agents suffered even more. Of the six compos- ing the force, two were slain and the others so badly wonnded that only one escaped. When the masks were removed from the faces of the captured men, one of them was found to be Captain Philip Gaston, and another, the vil- lainous Curly. CHAPTER XVIII. A RASCAL EXPOSED. GASTON, rendered reckless and desperate by defeat and exposure, railed on his captors in the most bitter terms. All the animosity of his vin- dictive nature seemed suddenly aroused, and the stream of defiant abuse and profanity which poured from his lips revealed the innate de- | egy of his heart in all its hideous ugliness, éhad given free rein to the worst passions of his soul, and they bad utterly wrecked and de- stroyed every good thought and aspiration, Such of the cowboys as had passed through the fight uninjured were sent on after the frightened cattle, while the others, with Jere- miah and Placer, formed an escort for the cap- tured men, and conducted them to the ranch. Here Gaston’s bitter raillery again broke forth; and on the head of the tender-hearted girl who had believed in him, and whom he had so basely and cruelly deceived, he poured the vials of his fiercest wrath—so lost was he to all sense of honor or shame, Fearing the members of the road-agent band who were stationed at other ranches might hear of the defeat and arrest of their leader, Jere- miah gathered what force he could and set out to compass their eapture. In this he was so successful that all but three of the scoundrels were in the toils before the end of the week. Then came the revelation of the fact, which the observant reader has doubtless long since guessed, that Jolly Jeremiah was not all he had seemed. That, in fact, he was none other than ‘“*Warbling William,” the famous detective, and that fe had sought employment on the Double Dagger for the sole purpose of exposing and breaking up the band of scoundrels who had so long made that section their head- quarters, He had been sent there by the United States Secret Service Bureau, and how well he ac- as his mission this story has essayed to tell. However, something more had come of his visit to the Double Dagger than the mere weed- ing out of a despicable band of rascals, “There is a destiny that shapes our ends, Rough hew them as we may. and that destiny bad led him to the feet of a woman who combined such charms of mind and person that he had unconsciously, almost, be- come her willing worshiper and pliant slave, That woman was Madge Farrington, the ranch queen, Now that his innocence had been established, and his honor and integrity made clear as day, he felt free to approach her on the subject that constantly lay uppermost in bis heart; and this he did on his return from Plains City, where the prisoners had been conveyed. Her raanner had for some time convinced him that Madge held for him a feeling warmer and stronger than that of mere friendship; yet, when the time came to test this, he found himself al- most as helpless and wordless as when he had first seen her. “T—I must speak, Miss Farrington,” he ex- claimed, after talking in an aimless way, on every imaginable subject, for a full half-hour. ‘*T shall never know rest nor peace, if I do not, Madge, dearest, you must have guessed my se- cret, long’ago. My looks, my actions, have told you! I love you more than you can ever realize or know; more than life itself!” He seized her hand, which was feverishly warm; and, when she did not resist, drew her to his breast in a fond embrace, ‘© Speak!” he whispered, have not loved in vain.” She turned her starry eyes toward him, in a reassuring way; and, on her red, ripe lips, he placed love’s first, pure kiss, This bright picture, full of joy and hope, had its contratype. In the gloomy prison at Plains City, awaiting trial for the high crimes of rob- bery and murder, were Gaston and Curly, and the other members of the road-agent band. The momentous day arrived at last; and Joll Jeremiah—or William Ware, to give bim his true name—succeeded, with the host of w:tnesses he had gathered, in proving the guilt of every member of the gang. More than that: it was shown that Philip Gaston had never been a captain in the army, but had been a private in the ranks, and had ignominiously deserted his post in time of danger—and that the stain of desertion had never been removed from his name, Pearl, who at one time had imagined herself in love with the scoundrel, had been so overwhelm- ed by the revelations of his deceit and treachery, and by the coarse raillery he bad heaped on her innocent head, that her kindly feelings for him had changed to loathing and disgust. , And when, with his subordinates, he was convicted of the crimes charged against him, and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment, she received the news with remarkable firmness and equa- nimity, realizing that her life had escaped the imminent peril of shipwreck. y Two years later she met and married a man every way worthy of her; and has since lived a life remarkable for its quiet and happy contentment, The nuptials of Jeremiah and Madge were not so long delayed. The great trial, with its attendant excite- ment and worry, had scarcely ended, when the news went abroad over the vast extent of sur- rounding plains that the successful detective and the beautiful ranch queen were to be united in marriage. And when the twinkling lights in the big ranch-house, on the eventful evening, an- nounced that all was in readiness, they drew to the place the ranchmen and the cowboys of the entire region, That was a wedding long to be remembered. There was music, there was dancing, there was gayety ;and, when the hours grew late, a feast to touch a cowboy’s heart was spread in the long dining-hall, : There was no bappier man present, with the sible exception of the bridegroom, than the Evens giant, Placer Jim. How he roared and ‘¢ haw-hawed, ” how he cracked time-worn jokes at the expense of himself and every one else, how he laughed and cried by turns, surpasses the author’s powers of telling! And, now, with a further word, we must leave “Tell me that I em. The detective, abandoning his old-time calling assumed sole charge of the great and powerfu Double Dagger Ranch, Frank became his part- ner in course of time; and, as Placer Jim is their foreman, I know the reader will join in wishing them long lives and unending prosperity. THE END. DIME DIALOGUES AND SPEAKERS FOR SCHOOL EXHIBITIONS AND HOME ENTERTAINMENTS. Dialogues, Nos. 1 to 87 inclusive. 15 to % popu- lar dialogues and dramas in each book. Each vol- ume 100 pages 12mo, Speakers, Nos. 1 to 2% inclusive. Each speaker 100 pages 12mo, containing from 50 to %5 pieces, YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERIES, Dime Book of Winter Sports. Dime Book of Summer Athletic Sports Dime Gents’ Letter Writer. Dime Book of Etiquette, Dime Book of Verses. Dime Book of Dreams. Dime Fortune Teller, Dime Ladies’ Letter Writer. Dime Lovers’ Casket. Dime Ball-Room Companion. Dime Book of 100 Games. Dime Chess Instructor, Dime Book of Beauty, = The above books are sold by newsdealers everywhere, or will be sent, post-paid, to ary ad- dress, on receipt of price, ten cents each, BErapLe anp Apams, Publishers, 98 William st., N. Y. piles. Sa dear a dls
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7 o c et BEADLE'’S« H ALF- DIME* LIBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Hach Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, BY PHILIP 8. WARNE, 67 Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer 175 Waptain Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game, 198 Captain Masks or, Patent-Leather Joo’s Defeat. 219 Deapard, the Duelist; or, The Mountain Vompires, 888 A Tough Boy; or, The Dwartf’s Revenge. 868 Little Tornado}; or, The Outcasts.of the Glen. OTB Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. 658 Little Oh-my ¢ or, Caught in His Own Trap, 401 Little & »-F ly 3 or, A Race for a Ranch, 408 Little Leather-Ure ex; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse. 481 Little Ah Sin; or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the slines, 480 Three Jolly Parda. 617 Jim Gladden’s Deputy. 627 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, 698 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. 599 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport. 618 Billy Blazes; or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. 685 Oklahoma Hi, the Blue-Coat Scout, 648 Mappy Marry’s Big Find. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER, 15 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 Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Ridera, 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Craise to the Open Polar Sea. 200 e Boy Bedoutns; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance, 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine, 249 Milo Roemer, the Animal King; or, The Round the World The Tiger Tam The L f the Jungl 265 The er Tamer; or, The League of the Jungle. $81 Blnek Nick, the Demon Rider. a. 895 California Joe’s War Trail. BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8, Hall.) 284 wipe Rocky's ‘*Boyeos; or, Benito, the Young Horse jreaker, 246 Giant 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 eerie el Ker-whoo} or, The Tarantula of Taos. 827 Creeping Cat, 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. 5% The Ranch Ralders; or, The Siege of Fort Pargatory. 864 Snap-Shot, the Boy Ranger, 875 Chiota, 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 Dalay from Denver. 427 The Three Trailers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage, 442 Bluff Bill; or, The Lynx of the Leona. 55 Little Lone Star: or, The Belle of the Cibolo, 684 Cache Carl, the Chico Glant BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Asa Scott, the Steamboat Boy. 199 Featherweight the Boy Champion of the Muskingum, 228 Ozark Alt; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws. 282 The Typo Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp, 295 Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quartzville. B11 The Roving Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp, B22 Nemo, the Detectives or, Kit Kenyon’s Vendetta, 840 Clip the Contortionist; or, The Montana Vigilantes, BY J, ©. COWDRIOK, 8 r-Mask, the Man of Mystery. ieee = Me the Gold King}; or, For Seven Years Dead. 420 The Detective’s Apprentices or, A Boy Without » Name. 424 Olbuia John: or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 439 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout, 467 Diaco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 490 Broadway Billy. the Bootblack Bravo, 606 Redlight Ralph, the Prince of the Road, 514 Broadway Bi Iva Boodle. 524 The Engineer Detective. 588 Broadway Billy’s ‘DiMkilty.” 8 Mart, the Nicht Express Detective. 557 Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. 571 Alr-Line Luke the Young Engineer, 579 The Chimney Spy; ©T, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party. 592 The Boy Pinkerton. 605 William 0’ Broadway3 0, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning, 615 Fighting Harry the Chief of Chained Cyclone. 628 Broadway Riliy’s Dead Act. 640 Bareback Beth, the Centaur of the Circle, 647 Typewriter Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward, BY JO PIERCE, 897 Bob o’ the Bower r, The Prince of Mulberry Street. 415 pee Vagabond Detectives oF, Bowery Bob's Boom, dae The Lawyers Shear y on Lake's Leguey 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Hote-King. : a4 ae Pes stamne Ferryman Detective, G09 Jack Jaggers, the Butcher Boy Detective, Big Lartaryaet aera bil eset No = » the Pier Detective. 588 Wrestling Rex, seus of the Sixth Ward, Bat Nick Nettles the Boy Shady. 559 Harlem t % > dack, 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. GOR Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer, 614 Whiatling Jacob, the Detective’s aid, 628 Buck Bumblebee, the Harlem Hummer. 689 Sunrise Saul, the Es rain Ferret, 649 Gamin Bob, the Bowery Badger; or, Scooping a Slippery Set. BY MAJOR HENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-Scout, 806 Neck-Tie Ned; or, The Dug-Out Pards, 846 Rapler Raphael; or, The Swordemen of Zacatecas, 891 Kid-Glove Kit, the Dandy of the Rockies, 898 Kid-Glove Kit and Pard; oF, The Gold King, 406 The Mad Man-Hunters ©, The Mystery of Golden nleh. 505 Powell’s Pard; or, The One-Armed Giant, BY wo. G, PATTEN, 489 The Diamond Sport; or, The Double Face of Bea Bat Gaptain Myster, vr on Five in One. Rock, 587 ota gf Dare the Sport from Denver. 1d Bombshell, the Ranger Detective. O04 Tron Fern, ioe Mt 4 {Fi Sg ret) Tie hg Tramp Detectives or, The Double Grtp Witness 641 olet Vane, the Velvet Sport. smal Dave's Dandy Pard BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes of a Bowory Girl, 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 7% Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 288 Joe Buck of Angels and Ilis Bey Pard. 447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Fowndling, 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 498 T'nos Ted, toe Arizonn Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hall-Breed Detective, 515 Cool Colorado in New York. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE, 86 Dandy Rock the Man from Texas. 90 ‘The Dread Rider; or, The Texan Duellat. 99 The Tiger of Taos; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel 115 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock’s Doom. 1BL The Golden Hand; or, Dandy Rock to the Reseue, 164 Dandy Rock’s Pledge; or, Hunted to Death, 178 Dandy Rock’s Rival; or, The tiaunted Maid of Taos, BY CAP1. J. F, ©, ADAMS. 84 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffles’s Boy Spy: 46 Glass-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 54 Ned Hazel, the B ‘rapper. 56 Nick Whiltlles’s 53 or, Ir The Valley of Death. 60 The White Indian; or, The Scovt of the Yellowstone, 70 Old Zip’ Cabin; vor, The Greenhorn in the Woods. 81 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Buckram }j or, Boas, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and Ilis Pets; or, The Wild Huntress. 251 Light-house Lige; or, Osceola, the Firebrand, 257 The Loat Hunters; or, The Underground Camp. 288 The Scalp King}; or, The Human Thunderpolt. BY ROGER STARBUOK, 25 The Boy Captain; The Pirate’s Daughter. 114 The Black Schoone or, Jib Junk, the Old Tar. 259 The Golden Harpo or, Loat Among the Floes, 848 Fire-Heels: or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow. 854 Big Horn Ike, the Hill Tramp; or, The Odd Pards, B61 The Phantom Licht-house, 870 Breaker Ben, the Reef-Runner, BY WILLIAM !’. EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank; or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Parde BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, 108 The Lion of the Sea; or, The Vailed Lady, 186 Cool Desmond; or, The Gambler's Big Game, BY JAMES L. BOWEN 107 One-Eyed Sim; or, Tho Abandoned Forest Home, 110 The Black Steed of the Prairies, A Story of Texas, BY 0. DUNNING CLARK, 185 Captain Paul; or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains. 280 The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef. BY GEORGE ©. JENKS, 485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown, 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor. 581 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. 598 Flute, the Singer Detective, 608 The Saroher Detective’s Foll; or, Double Curve Dan’s ouble 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, 194 Buffalo Bill's Bet; or, The Gambler Guide, BY CHARLES EF. LASALLE, 50 Burt Bunker, the Trapper. 52 The White Buffalo. A Tale of the Northwest BY JOHN J. MARSHALL, 40 Roving Ben. _ A Story of a Young American, 97 The Outlaw Brothers; or, The Captive of the Harpes, BY HARRY S8T. GEORGE, 80 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, the Ranger. 44 Rattling Rube; or, The Nighthawks of Kentucky, 5Y Old Hickory ; or, Pandy Ellie’s Scalp, 108 Daring Davy ; or, The Trail of the Border Wolf, 166 Hiekory Harry ; or, The Trapper Brigade’ Spy. 172 Thunderbolt Tom; or, the Wolf-Herder_ BY MAJOR EF. 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 Quartetto, 852 Tombatone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “Sand,” B59 Duranvo Dave, the Youny Chanu ion Wrestler. 871 Kingbolt Chris, the Young Hard-Shell Detective. B80 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide. 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountuin Mail-Line, BY EDWARD 8, ELLIS, Bill Biddon, Trapper. Seth Jones; or, The Captives of the Frontion Nat Todd} or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. 1 ‘rne Frontier Angel. 98 The Boy Miners; of, The Enchanted Island, 182 The Munted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman, 254 The Half-Blood; or, The Panther of the Plains. 271 The Huge Hunter ; or, The Steam Prairle Man, BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON, Three Trappers; or, The Mountain Monater, 4% Hag ee Joet ot ne White Spirit of the Hills, yan BY FRANK DUMONT. ded Wand; or, The M f Mystery. ise ne aries the Boss of the Road. privat i th 140 Blue Blazes; or, The Break o’ Day Boys of Rosky Bar. 171 Ebony Dan; 0, The Rival Leagues, 185 Evil Eye; 0: The Vultures of the Rio Grande. BY OAPT. MARK WILTON, tuck; or, The Red Lasso. 256 Youngs Keni cr, The Riot at Keno Camp: 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot. BY BRACEBRIDGE NHEMYNG. , The Pet of the Family. ot The Cantata ‘of the Club ir The Rival Athletes, 101 Jack Narkaway in New York. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. 78 Bi -or, The Yellow Chief's Vengeance, 8' There Pirates : or, The League of Devil’s Island 187 The Helpless Hand; or, Backwoods Retribution, 289 The Gold-seeker Guide ¢ or, The Lost Mountain, ‘ No Double Numbers. BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. 2 Vellowatone Jack; or, The Trapper, 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Hurricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 119 Mustang Sam ¢ or, The King of the Plains. 186 Night-lnawk Kits; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 141 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 Tratlers ; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 'The Boy Pards; or, Dainty Lance Unmaska, 211 Orooked Oale, 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 Danwei Boone’s Last Trall, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Trailer. BY W. J. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brotherhood ; or, The Twelve Avengers, 66 Single Hand; or, A Life for a Life. 72 Mad Tom Weatern, te Texan Ranger, 887 Ben Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Scoop, BY JACK FARRAGOUT. 815 Ned, the Cabin Boy. 820 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper. BY LIEUT. Ht. 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 Pointy BY HARRY HAZARD. 828 Arkansaw Jack; or, The Scourge of the Mines. 829 Red-Skin ties or, The Demon's Trail, $42 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw, BY COL, A. F. HOLT. 899 Black Buekakin; or, The Masked Men of Death Canyom 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 trom Hard Luck, HBT Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner. 609 Bolly Dorrit, the ‘ n Detective. 620 Little Lightning’s League; or, The Mystery ofthe Island 688 Plucky Paul, the Boy Prospector. BY FREDERICK DEWEY. 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shots, 478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective. 542 The Canyon Pards. BY ARTHUR C, GRISSOM, 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowie Kid, 558 The Sure-Shot Pards. 621 Truthful James, the “Pecooliar” Man, BY LIEUT, A. K. SIMS. 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock. 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 5%6 The Silver Sport. as ces ee Pie ial a Shadow Ss ‘om-Cat_an ard; or, The Dead Set at Silver 5 601 Ha Le | Hana, the Dutch Vidoeq. Cos 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules. 622 Texas Tom-Cat’s Triad. 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Task, 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumph; or, Black Ivan’s Great Combine, 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective, MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-Horse Munters. By Capt. Mayne Reid and Frederick Whittaker. 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver’s Travels, By Dean Swift, 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe, (27 Ilvstrations.) 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages. 22 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe, By Juan wis. Ocean Bloodhound The Red Pira’ ne By A Pe ee eee 86 ae Boy Clown; or, The Queen ofthe Arena, By Frank in . Finn. 88 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 61 The Boy Ries; or, The Underground Camp. By Archie “» Lrons. 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the 5 By Lieut.-Col, Hazeltine. Minty 98 Robin Hood, the Outlawed Ear); or, The Merry Men of Green- wood, By Prof. Gilderaleove. 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. “ 112 The Mad Hunter; or, ‘lhe Cave of Death, By Burton Saxe, 124 Tippy, the Texan; or, The Young Champion. By George er bon. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold, By Harry Cavendish. 148 Sharp Sam; or, The Adventures of a Friendless Boy, By J, Alexander Patten, Q27 Dusky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- lowatone. By Edward Emerson. 261 Vergus Fearnaught the New York Boy. ByG. L, Alken, 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; 1, Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trail By Ensign C. D. Warren, 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Cliff, By Captain Comatock. 817 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville, By Lieu tenant Alfred Thorne. 828 The Sky Detectives or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Honos, By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Red Ralph, the River Rovers or, The Brother’s Re 865 Tevtime n Lae rpbothlack Delsetive. ‘By A. hak taltimore Ben the ack Detective. By A, P, Morris, 874 Gold-Duso Toms or, Ben’s Double Match. “By George He Moree. 876 California Joe’s First Trail, By Colonel Thomas 418 Tain Homtbahell, the Clif Clim*er. By F. S, Winthrope Rill ombahell, the Clim*er. By F.S. 425 The Black Siitp. By Joba 8 Warmer 484 Comanche Dick and His Three Invinetbles By Henry J. Thomas, 828 Wizard-Arm, the Dandy Sport, By Arthur F. Holt, B82 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest. B52 Ariel the Athlete. By David Druid, BSS Will Waters, the Bov Ferret, By H. Enton. 682 The Dead Detective’s Double. By Gerald Carlton, A New Issue Every Tuesdaye The Half-Dime Library is for sale by all newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mat on recerpt of alx cents each, BEADLE AND APAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street,.New York
Page 16
BEADLE'S*H ALF-])IME* LIBRARY. Published. Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. — ———— — BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, Deadwood Dick Novels. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance, 28 Buffalo Ben} or, Deadwood Dick in Diaguise, 85 Wilda 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 Pards 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 Deteotive. 129 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s Gulch. 188 Blonde Bill; or, D wood Dick’s Home Base, » A Game of Gold , Deadwood Dick’s Big § Deadwood Dick of De ood; or, T icked Party. 5 Deadwood Dick’s Dre 3 or, The Rivals of the Road. The Black Hills Jezebel; or, Deadwood Dick’s Ward. 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Ad- venture. Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand. 1 Sugar-Coated Sam; or, The Black Gown. Gold-Dust Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Toughs, Deadwood Dick’s Divide; or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail. Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. Deadwood Dick’s Ducata; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- ginga. Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta. Deadwood Dick’s Claim. Deadwood Dick in Dead City. Deadwood Dick’s Diamonds, Deadwood Dick in New York; or, A “Cute Case.” Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand. Deadwood Dick, Jr. Nickel-Plate Ned; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Defiance. Sunflower Sam, of Shasta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’a Full and, Flush Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Ronnd- Up. Ehilo Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Racket at Naim 10, nan Bills or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Corral. boldt Harry the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Dog Detective. Moll Mystery; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in Deadwood. Prince Pistol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Compact. Monte Cristo, Jr. or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Inheritance. Deadwood Dick’s Diggings 3 or, Dr. Death-Grip’s Swoop. Deadwood Dick’s Deliverance. 5b Deadwood Dick’s Protegee. Deadwood Dick’s Three. Deadwood Dick's Danger Ducks, Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. Deadwood Dick Jr, in Texas. Deadwood Dick, dr. the Wild West Vidocq, Deadwood Dick on Mis Mettle. Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Gotham, Deadwood Dick tn Boston, Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Philadelphia, Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Chicago, Deadwood Dick, Jr. Afloat. Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Denver. Deadwood Dick, Jr's. Decree. > Deadwood Dick Jr. in Beelzebub’s Basin, Deadwood Dick Jr..at Coney Island. Deadwood Dick Jr’s Leadville Lay. Deadwood Dick Jr. in Detroit. 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Cincinnati. 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr, in Nevada. 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in No Man’s Land. 686 dwood Dick, Jr. After the Queer. 642 Dendwood Dick, Jr. in Buffalo. 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr’s. Chase Across the Continent. 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 Ayal she; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand. 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team. 69 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter; or, The Boy Detective, 80 Rosebud Roby or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand, 88 Phetograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance, 92 Ganuda Chet 3 or, Old Anaconda In Sitting Bull’s Camp, 96 Watch-Eye; or, Arabs and Angels of a Great City, 118 Jack Moyle the Young Speculator, 117 Giit-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 121 Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport. 125 Bonanza Bill, Miner, 488 Rosa Bob the King of Bootblacks 141 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 145 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. 161 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 177 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 Ventril Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab 286 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator. 244 Sierra Sam, tho Frontier Ferret. 248 Sierra Sam's Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 255 Sierra 8 # Pard; or, The Angel of Big Vista, 258 Sicrra Sam’s Seven; or, The Stolen Bride, 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol; or. The Rival Heirs, 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen. 81 Denver Poll’« Victory, 85 Denver Doll's Decoy § or. Little Bill’s Bonanza, . 291 Turk, the Boy Ferret. 96 Denver Doll’s Drilt; or, The Road Queen, % A No. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. $08 ’Liza Jane, the Sirl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. B25 Kelley, Mickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia, B80 Little Quick-Shot; or, The Dead Face of Daggeraville, 884 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner. a Poneerce Kits Racket. 48 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood, B58 First-Class Fred, the Gent from Gopher. 868 Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherers or, The Lottery of uist Hunter, etective, sO ang tectives ‘e Sal, the Slasher. kin Sam, the Sparkler. BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM. 7 The Flying Yankee} or, The Ocean Outcast, 7 Ralph Roy, the Boy Buccancer; or, The Fugitive Yacht, 24 Diamond Dirk: or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, * 62 The Shadow Ship; or, The Rival Lieutenants, The Boy Dnelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf, Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Smuggier. The Sea-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legaty. The Hussar Captain 3; or, The Hermit of Hell Gate, Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter. 04 Gold Plume; or, The Kid-¢ Sport. 216 Bison BAll, 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 M erle, the Middy 3 or, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midshipman Mutineers or, Brandt, the Buccaneer, 264 ae 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 Ship.’ 280 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, Pearl, the Pirate's Bride, 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 287 Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Shot Dandy; or, Benito, the Boy Bugler, 808 Keno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double. 814 7a Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Long Trail, 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 Conspirator}; or, The Fatal League, 407 The Boy Insurgents or, The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild Yachtamany; or, The War-Cloud’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 Waphazard Marty 5 or, The Scapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferret of New York. 454 Wizard Will’s Street Scouts, 462 The Born Gulde; o allor Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster. 474 Flora; or, Wizard Will’s Vagabond Pard. 488 Ferrets Afloat; or, Wizard Will’s Last Case. 487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger. 495 Arizona doe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy; or, The Shark and the Sea Cat, 507 The Hunted Midshipman, 511 The Outlawed Middy. 520 Buckskin Bill, the Comanche Shadow, 525 Brothers in Buckskin. 580 The Buck Sowers, 585 The Bue Rovers. 540 Captain lux, the Marauder of the Rie, 545 Lientenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte. 550 Lafitte’s Legacy: or. The Avenging Son. 555 The Creole Corsair. 560 Pawnee BU, the Prairie Shadower, 565 Kent Kingdon Card King. 570 Camille, the . by Detective, 5680 The Outcnat or, The False Detective, 5S6 The Buckskin Avenger. 591 Delmonte, the Young Sen Rover. 597 The Young Texan Detective. 602 The Vagabond oft'the Mines. 607 The Rover Detective; or, Keno Kit’s Champions. h, the Dead ot Scouts or, The Raiders and the 644 The Hercules Highwayman, BY BUFFALO BILL (Hen. Wm. F. Cody), 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy: or, ‘Ihe Pilot of the Prairle, 55 Deadly-Eye, the Barnet Scout, 68 Border Robin Hoods or, The Prairie Rover, 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust, BY CHARLES MORRIS, 1183 WII! Somers, the Boy Detective, 122 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Picayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective, 180 Detective Dick}; or, The Hero in Rags, 2 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, WIL Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. Black Besa, Will Wildfire’s Racer. Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. Will Wildfire in the Woods. Billy Baggame, the Railroad Boy. A Trump Card or, Will Wildfire Wins and Loses. Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York, Bob Roekett, the Bank Runner, The Hidden Handy or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, 9 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 96 Shadowed ; or, Bob Kockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Tom Tanner} or, The Black Sheep of the Flock. 25 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky. 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 ‘The Two © Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. 252 Dick Dashaway?: or, A Dakota Boy in ie 262 The Young Sharps: or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-Hound;}; or, The Young Thoroughbred, 805 Dashaway, of Dakota} or, A Western Lad in the Quaker * City, z 2 = 2 1s 0 4 9 bs z 1 4 5 5 6: 6 z z z & 8 8 rs pk pk jk hk hf kd, 824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective, 858 The Reporter-Detective ; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. 879 Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Firetly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger}; or, The Entrapped Cashier. 428 Fred Fiyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagavond, 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive, 479 Detective Dodge}; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty, 488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman : or, Too Sharp for the Sharper. 566 The Secret Service Boy Detective. 596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. 627 Tom Bruce of Arkansas; or, The Wolfin the Fold. BY OLL COOMES. 5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. 81 Keen-Knife, the Prince of the Prairies, 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. Hawk-eye Harry the Young Trapper Ranger, Rollo, the Boy Ranger. Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman, Scar-Face Saul, tle Silent Hunter, Silver Star, the Boy Knight. Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. Little Texas, the Young Mustanger, 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain, 202 Prospect Pete ; or, The tint Outlaw Hunters. 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps. 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. The Parson Detectives or, The Little Ranger. The Disguised Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Range», PDare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. Minkakin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter, Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. The Sky Demon ; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger. Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero, fercules; or, Dick, the Boy Ranger. Webfoot Mose, the Tramp Detective. Baby Sam, the Boy Giant of the Yellowstone. Little Buckskin, tne Young Prairie Centaur, Wingedfoot Fred}; or, Old Polar Saul. Tamarac ‘Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic, Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan, Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. BY T. ©, HARBAUGH. 28 Nick o’ the Night}; or, The Boy Spy of '76. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Little Hunter. , 47 Nightingale Nat or, Tne Forest Captains, , 64 Dand nek; or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trali. 82 Kit Warefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jack ; or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 128 Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lynch, Jr. or, The Boy Vigilante. 155 Gold Trigger, the Sport; or, The Girl Avenger, Tornado Tom; or, Injun Jack From Red Core, 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. 425 Texas crump. the Border Rattler. 486 Phil Flaah, the New York Fox. 445 The City Vamptres; or, Red Rolfe’s Pigeon. 461 One Against Fifty ; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox's Hunt. 477 The Exceisior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter. 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. 502 Branded Ben, the Night ferret. 512 Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective. 521 Dodger! Dick’s Best Dodge. oH Fox and Falco, ne Howérs Shadows. Dedger Dick, the Dock Ferret, 548 Dodger Dick's Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, 558 Dodeer Dick’s Deaperate Case, 568 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidocq. 578 The Two Shadows. 582 Dodger Dick’s Drop. 594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard, 626 The Champion Pards. 687 Dick Doan, the Dock Boy Detective. 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp. ‘LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Rider Detective; or, Buffw_, Bill’s Boy Pard. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 651 Bound Boy Frank, the Young Amateur Detective, b ym. G, Patten. 652 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance. By Ol] Coomes. 658 Billy Bantam, the Boy Beagle. By T. C. Harbaugh. 654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Among the Smugglers. Edward L. Wheeler : 655 Plucky Paul, the Boy Speculator, By © barles Morris. 656 Butterfly aoe Man Hunt. By Col. P. Ingraham, 657 Warbling Wt liam, the Mocatain Mountebank, By Lieut. A. K. Sims, re 658 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver; or, The Storm-Waif of Giant’s Boot. By Jo Pierce. 659 Moonlight Morgan, the ‘ Pizenest ? Man of Ante Bar; or, Cibuta John’s Champion Chase. By J. C. Cowdrick. 660 Dendwood Dick, Jr’s., Insurance Case. By Edward L Wheeler, 661 Old Kit Bandy’s Deliverance; ot, Banner Ben, the Wildfire of the Prairies. By Oll Coomes. 662 Butterfly Billy’s Bonanza; or, The Spectre Soldier of the Overland, By Col, P. Ingraham. 66% Violet Vane’s Victory; or, The Jaspar City Clean Ont_ By Wm. G, Patten. Cheeky Charley, the Special; or, The Life Racket, at 664 leeks Ridge, , PS. Warne, % Jolly Jeremiah, the Plains Detective; or, Warbling Wil- A Mipreta Elcom enc By Lieut. A. K. Sims, Ready April 22, Dendwood Dick, Ir., Back in the Mines or, The — Mountain, pean ‘Double Game. By Edward L. W heeler. Ready April 29. A New Iasue Every Tuesday. The Half. Dime Library {s for asle by all newsdealers, five sents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York, By