Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 728) (1891 07 07)
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LT om QS a 2 Ea Dest am SS il aS July 4,180. re oie mel Tt en | Pst Entered as Second Class Matter at the N ep Post Office. ae. Copyright 1891, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, _ $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS. Price, No. 728, a Year. No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents. Vol XX VITK, Th Il SANE AY \\' AN \\ Ivan, the Man of Iron. The Romance of the Curious Case at Coffin Camp. BY EDWARD. L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ DEADWOOD DICK” NOVELS, ETO. CHAPTEK I. SCENE AT COFFIN CAMP, * Tue lone horseman drew rein, and stood gaz- ing with horror at the scene before him, * NZ He had just rounded a point of rocks, which ee ast iy Bs —- . F ____.__] .” shut off Coffin Camp from the rest of tli@ valley, THAT'S THE STUFF!” THE HORSEMAN SHOUTED, WHEN HE HAD EMPTIED HIS REVOLVERS when the terrible sight burst upon his view, INTO THE FIGURE, AND HE DREW RKIN, A quarter of a mile distant, with its housed
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ever, the grim expression of bis face faded into | me and on coming up to the fire he circled around se seen a card, and on that card, in letters bold | >> “DEADWOOD DICK.” ‘That's the stuff!” the horseman shouted, when | this, that @en is ranged along the rocky wallasif backing 1p against it to stand defiantly at bay, was Coffin , Camp, with its broad ‘‘ playground” infront. | And it was there on that “ playground ”—as | it was locally called, that the awful scene was being enacted, The borseman had heard loud shouting, even before he rounded the point of rocks, and had bastened forward to learn the cause, with the result shown, For the moment it seemed to de- prive bim of power of action. First to catcb his eye had been a huge fire, and then, round the fire, the citizens dancing like so many wild Indians, or worse, shouting and screaming with all the power of their lungs. And banging over the fire, supported by three poles joined at the top, was a human form! ‘* Tne demons!” the horseman gasped. ‘* What can shee be up to? I must take a-hand in this thing. If that poor devil isn’t already roasted, he soon will be, Ill see what is going on here.” And with that be put spurs to his horse and dashed across the open toward the camp, with the speed of the wind. He had revolvers in hand now, and by the de- termined expression of his face it was plain that he would not hesitate to use them, if necessity compelled, Ere he had gone half the distance across, how- a smile, his purpose changed with the expression, and around it, emptying his weapons ivto the figure on the poles, shouting and yelling with ~\ the loudest, When half-way from the point of rocks to the e, the horseman had made a discovery. It as not a human, but a figure in effigy; and, hen he had come nearer still, on the breast nd black, the name: he had emptied his revolvers into the figure, and he drew rein. ‘ I) wondered what in all crea- tion you could be up to, but when I caught sight of that-uame, that explained it all, If there is a man On the face Of the earth who deserves just adwnod .Dick! And sooner f Tater he is botind to Come to it; tock” All the ‘shouting hail now ceased, and the rough, villainous-looking men were gaping at the pew-comer, some with hands on their wea- ons. ‘* An’ who in thunder mought you be, stran- ger?” one ferocious-looking fellow demanded. **T am Iron Ivan,” was the response; ‘‘ some- times called Ivan, the Man of Iron.” “Don’t reckon as we ever heerd of yer, mister.” : ‘* Maybe not, gentlemen, and that’s your loss. Now let me inquire if Iam at the place called Coffin Camp?” ‘ That’s whar you be, mister,” the ferocious- looking individual assured, ‘‘ An’ seein’ as you ar’,” be added, ‘‘ what’s yer business hyar?” be horseman had been quietly reloading his revolvers while he put the question and received answer, and now thrusting the weapons into his pelt -he slipped from the saddle and extended his n He of the ferocious appearance gave his own —the offer was so hearty and uureserved, and the stranger shook it warmly, at the same time making reply. “T’m here in search of kindred_ spirits,” he deciared. ‘1 bave heard of Coffin Camp as the toughest. spot on earth, and I think it will suit, metoaT. Besides, I have got to keep out of the grip of the law, and it has hit me that this is about the best sort of a camp for me to locate in, That is, provided you are willing to harbor me, What do you say?” There was a good deal of low growling around and many dark looks were cast upon the stran- ger. ** Et wull hev ter be as ther boys say,” he of the ferocious looks returned. ‘t We wull have ter debate on ther question afore we gives yer a %cided answer,” ! “‘ All right, go into a committee of the whole and talk it over; and at the same time, if you can give me somethingito eat, 1’! fortify myself: with I’m as hungry as a famisbed coyote,” “Yer kin git all yer wants, sich as et ar’, right over thar at ther Bob-tail Flush,” indicat- ing a miserable saloon, the best the camp afford- ed. ‘Go ahead, an’ we wull take your case on- der ’sideration an’ see what’s ter be done about et. Weis mighty ’tic’lar ’bout our sasiety hyar, as you kin bet.” “Ves, I can well believe that,” with a look around at the villainous crew. ‘‘ You seem to! Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. be quite a select circles I like the appearance of you, and if you conelude to back me up, I can augh defiance at the law and all its jackals, But don’t let me try to influence you one bit, I'll go and feed, and you just think the matter over, giving me the benefit of the doubt, if any comes up.” j With that he turned away in the direction of the saloon, leading his horse, the whole crowd gazing after him. = And just here a word or two about this Coffio amp. It was the one dark spot in the county in which we find it, a place into which no officer had ever yet ventured and come out alive, Its denizens, almost to a man, were bad, and it made its boast that no honest man was allowed to stay there, Such, when they strayed into the place, were robbed and turned away with a warning—that was generally heeded—not to come again, _ Let such strangers once fall under suspicion as being offivers or detectives, bowever, and the chances were about nine to one against their ever getting away. Coffin Camp closed over them, in a way known only to itself, and that was the last of them. And there had been more than one or two such instances, too. The mayor, so-called, ot the camp, was one ‘* Terrible Thomas,” the same ferocious-looking customer who has been casually introduced. He was head of the bad gang, now that a greater than he, one ‘‘Guerril'a Jake,” had ‘‘ passed in his chips” aud “shuffled off the scene. And this same ‘* Thomas the Terrible” was scarcely second to what his predecessor had been. ‘‘ What do yer think of ther cuss?’ the Ter- rible Thomas inquired. ‘* Bt bits me hard in ther stummik!” answer- ed one man, “ thet he ar’ a durn spy, that’s how et bits me.” ** Bet yer life on’t!” echoed many more, ‘* Never heerd o’ no Ivan o’ Iron, or whatever et war thet be called hisself, in me life,” one added. ‘‘T *gree with yer,” declared the Terrible. “We hev got ter size him up well, boyees, afore we let’s him git a foothold byar, an’ that’s what’s ther matter, you bet,” You bevetar!” | { By this time the heat} had caused the effigy to take fire, and seeing it, the wiid denizens of tue camp began again tu whoop and yell,’resuming their dance. ** Dance, you gentle kittens, dance!’ scream- ed Terrible Thomas, ‘‘Go inter et, heel an’ toe! Git down on one fut and-up on t’other so quick thet yer won’t tech ther ground more’n three times out o’ five! Go inter et, I say! Whoop! Whoo-00-c0p! Yow-ow-ow-wow |” And into it they went, with all the energy they could muster into their moving legs, whooping, yelling, swearing, and firing their weapons at the fast consuming effigy on the les. “Go inter et! Go inter et!” screamed the mayor. ‘This don’t begin ter ’spress ther fun et wull be if we git our grip onter ther real Deadwood Richard! No! No! Neer! We'll tie him up by his toes, stick bim full o’ pine spliuters, an’ then tetch bim off like ary torch! bh! we’Jl make,bim sick of ther job he done fer poor Jake, or I’m a liar!” And the echoing shout made the: air tremble with its vibrations, The effigy dropped from the poles into the flames, was soon consumed, and the crowd turn- ed away toward the Bob-tail Flush. In the mean time the lone borseman had en- tered that establishment, leaving his horse just outside, and made inquiry of the proprietor con- a some satisfying filling for his mner self, / He was welcomed, and in a brief time the best of the house was before him—‘* such as it was,” as the mayor had said. ‘The proprietor, as villainous looking as any of the rest, inquired of the stranger who he was and what had brought him there, and the an- swer was the same as had been given the others. ‘* By the way,” the stranger presently inquired in turn, ‘‘ what is thére?. What bas that accursed Deadwood Dick } been doing to your good citizens, that makes them get up on their hind legs and howl like this? What has he been up to? ‘““Tf ther boyees git their grip onter him oncet,” was the response, ‘‘ he will most likely find out, They'll cut bim up piecemeal an’ feed him to ther cats,” ‘But, what has he done?” the Bien ie” itl sisted, “Done! What ain’t he done, you'd better ask! He hev been ther death o’ ther best man i this camp ever knowed, that’s what. Guerrilly Jake fell by his band, an’ ther boyees means ter syuare ther ‘count with bim,” ‘That's the idea, is it? ThenI am just in time for the ball. Jam against this Deadwood Dick, tooth and nail, and if your people will take me in with them, Vii make every effortI can to- ward giving them all the revenge they can ask for. And it will do me to see that fellow in their hands, too. "ll mention it to your mayor, I guess,” ‘*But they won't listen to et,” the proprietor of the ‘“‘ shebang” prophesied. ‘* They is mighty s’picious of strangers. You will have ter prove who you'be, anyhow, afore they’ll’low ye ter stay byar.” **Ts that so?” “You bet et ar’! But, hyar they comes. straigbt fer ther shebang, an’ by ther looks o things I reckons they is comin’ ter see Y qn ‘All right; let’em come. I don’t @sk any favor of them, only that they'll let me finish my meal, I don’t suppose they are rough on astran- ger are they? At any rate notso rough as that, hope,” The crowd was drawing near, and the loud murmur of voices could be plainly heard. The war-dance they bad been executing had worked them into an almost frenzy, and woe to this stranger if their suspicion fell upon bim. Nearer they came, at arapid walk, and into the saloon bounded Thomas the Terrible, others pressing at his back, And in m one hand ar weapons, They all glared around, and seeing where the stranger was, advanced toward him. ‘Stranger, look byar,” the Terrible thunder-, ‘“* All right; I’m looking,” was the quiet re- sponse, ‘“‘Tben hearken ter what I hev got. ter say: You wanted us ter go inter a mittee of ther whole, or words to them effect, an’ give you tiet="~ benefit of ther doubt, ez you called et. Now, that’s what we hev done, an’ ther general opine seems ter be that you is a cussed spy; an’, what’s more, that you is Deadwood Dick! What has yer got ter say ter that ar’?” , There was a wicked gleam in the eyes of the © silent, weapons drawn, ‘ questioner, and his men stood by, grim an& CHAPTER IL, A DARING PROPOSITION. y THE accused man laughed heartily, and win the utmost freedom. me ‘That is the richest joke yet,” he declared. ‘What in all creation ever put it into your heads that J am Deadwood Dick? This beats anything I ever expected to run up against. Hal ha! ba!” ; “Oh, yer kin laugh,” he was told, “but et. ain’t no durn joke, you kin bet on that, Kin you prove thet you ain’t Deadwood Dick?” “Can you prove that | am? My question ig about as fair as yours, I guess,” He spoke with easy carelessness. " ‘Et ain’t no matter o’ proof wi’ us,” was the retort, “S’picion is enough fer us, an’ ef that poh cleared away, then we does somethin’ se, f “But you promised to give me the benefit of the doubt. How isit that you @ here and jum on me so quick? Ycu don’t give a fel- ow half a show for bis money. How about it” “That's jest it. You wanted the benefit o¢ ther doubt, an’ yer has gotit. We basa doubt, an’ & mighty hefty one, too, that you ain’t jest on th yer claims ter bbe, au) you is goin’ ter t ther benefit of it, you Det. ; “Well, that’s a te deal, anyhow, Let me get away with this grub, however, gentlemen, and then I’ll talk to you.” ‘ He had kept right on eating, and his cool. hess seemed to puzzle them, Sat reall “ All right, fill yer locker,” the ringlead® gave permission, ‘‘and then amble out to th front, whar you'll find ther court assembled.’* With that, Thomas the Terrible wheeled 4 a made his way out, the others following bim uif % til only the proprietor and the stranger Te all the uproar about out | mai , s mo «What did I tell yer?” the proprietor ob~ served. er ** You seemed to hit it about right,” the stran. — ger, responded. “But, you can’t blame them for being careful, I don tanyhow.” He went on with bis eating, coolly, taking no pains to burry himself, and when be had y done, went to the door with easy quite-at-home. — ness, picking bis teeth. One glance without was enough to show him that everything had changed. The fire som distance off was now burning low, and not
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‘ “ - - . p- j - ; t f : i. he | sembled before the saloon door. ¥ only a f RE a as : rson was ‘near it. The great crowd was as- - There on the *‘ playground” was made up a seat for Judge Lynch, after the usual style, and ‘around that the crowd .was ranged, keeping parrow opening from the.saloon door to the front of the judge’s/Seat. And all seemed to be waiting in patient’Silence, —— —. “Hullo, thar ye be, hey?” the Terrible called Sout, when the stranger appeared. ‘ Amble Tigkt on out hya¥, an’ we'll try your case with as migeh soonness as we kin., You'll git a fair hearin’, but it will be A trial wi'dut any frills an’ trimmin "s an’ . Come right on an’ face ther «music, taiste es fs But the s horse, ; __. Where is my horse?” be demanded. “It ye sw ull; - was inform«é ther critter fer damages?“ See?” . ; “Hal ha! ha! ystranger lauched, ‘‘ that a pretty cute game,dath me if itisn’t. I like at? It would make me proiid to be at ‘the head of just such a band as you would make ae ? ye r ~~ r : | \ ; ont a i up. But, I suppose youfAre waiting. for me, andj Px) “the opeding in the crowd to the front. * Wull, stranger,” Thomas ,the Terrible then spoke, *‘ hyar you is, an’ now we wull perceed with ther biz in hand, You is on trial, fu’st, ter see whether you is or is not Deadwood Dick, Then in ther second place, ter see if you is a proper sort o’ critter ter be ‘lowed ter remain hyar an be one of us.” “ All right: I guess I can stand that, sir.” ‘©Ther hull crowd will be yer jury,” the judge went “on, “‘so you kin count on havin’ ther fairest sort of a’ hearin’, I reckon’s yer will plead yer own case, seein’ as yer has no liar ter talk fer ye.” : ‘* Oh, yes, I'll talk for myself,” was the easy response, ‘Let her slide, now, and the best side to win.” 2 " ) ~ ‘¢Wull, then answer to ther fu’st count, Be you Deadwood Dick, or be younot? — “*Onuwhat grounds do you. charge that I am won't detain you any longer.” — hae Mma saying, be stepped i through x ull, on ther grounds o’ general s’picion, We happens ter know thet he are in this part of ther country.” i ‘* Well, that is pretty wide, that’s certain. Now let me ask if my coming here had anything - it that would make you think me a spy : ¢ “That’s ther wu’st retort. ‘You kim sailin’ in hyar onder full steam, an’ when you seen what-we was up to, you chipped in on our side ter oncet,” as ‘* Well, bless your hearts, citizens, what would you expect me todo? Would I come in here with a whoop anda yell and try to clean you out? I rather think not, if I had any regard for my health: and most assuredly not when I came here to go out of sight.” . “Jest et ergain, pilgrim. You have acted erbout ez et would be expected Deadwood Dick would act. We have heard of his caperin’s up north hyar a bg 2 whar he passed himself off for one of our kind; got into one of the best bands that ever rode ther trail an’ then finally scooped ’em allin, We ain’t takin’ none o’ that in.ours, not if we know it,” “And I can’t blame you, either. But how a you going to prove that Iam theman you claim ‘ “ We ain’t goin’ ter try ter prove ét, anyhow not very hard. Et ar’ fer you ter prove thet you ain’t him, an’ef ye can’t do that— Wull, veit will be bad fer ye, that’s all,” ** Have any of you ever seen this Deadwood Dick?” * Nary one of us.” “Then that’s bad for me, to begin with, Sorry you haven’t some here who have seen him, for that would clear me.” This remark seemed to have the right ef- fect, as.the keen eyes of this ‘Iron Ivan” dis- covered, as he looked around at the faces about m. “Would yer be willin’ asked the mayor. “T wouldn't ask for anything better,” was the Tesponse, ‘ That would settle it, right quick, if you could take the word of the man to whom ‘you left the matter. It’s rough on me, and that’s the fact.” . | ““Wull, say, look ’e bhyar, stranger, be you ter stand that test?” Deadwood . u | a |) then some loose money. ‘ ful of rings, earrings, etc. — fellows, the more I-gee of you, do you kiow haul,” fixe of all,” was the | i wk, Jr.’s, Disguise. willin’ ter hev us s’arch ye, an’ see what yer has aboard, and we'll go out to the trail and take got erbout yer clothes?” | toll. After that I don’t think there will be an ‘Perfectly willing,” was the ready answer. | question of doubt in your mind. What do you *Let.one man come forward and go through | say to the proposition? How does it strike me, It will be somethin’ new in my line, ter | you?” have somebody-go through me.” | ‘“*That’s jest ther cheese!” cried the Terrible, ‘* All right, then, let’s have yer weepin’s, an’ | ‘‘ You do that ’ar, an’ we won’t ax fer nothin’ we'}l— furder in ther way o’ proof.” **Ob, come, now!” the stranger protested; ‘It’s a bargain, then, ‘I'll show you how **it was bad enough to be taken for Deadwood | Iron Ivan does the ‘ hold up’ act.” Dick, but I hope you won’t take me for a gilly : besides. I will keep bold of my pops, if it’s all the same to you. I make it a rule never to part with thereunder any circumstances,” CHAPTER II, COFFIN CAMP, PAST AND PRESENT, : * Bug 'tha ar don’t show a heap o’ confidence THIS seemed to end the trail, and settled the in us.7 Ses matter for the time being at any rate. “As somes your own ip me.” The crowd greeted the arrangement with ‘““Wull, mebby you is right, anyhow. Step | shouts of approval, and the stranger was thar, Jonah, an’ see what ther gent has got | eam, received. For a time his hand was in ut him.” _ | eager demand for shaking. One’ 6f the rascally crew stepped to the fore| Thomas the Terrible, however, had not left and proceeded with the business in hand, Iron | his seat, and pretty soon he onee more pounded Ivan offering no objection, “with his beel upon the box upon which bis chair First appeared a watch, then a pocketbook, | rested, calling the crowd to order. After tbat other Iron Ivan gave him attention immediately, “pockets were investigated. Came then a band- | and the others followed bis lead. ‘*My last haul,” the stranger carelessly re- marked. ‘It didn’t pan very heavy, you see, . You'll find some more here in this pocket, Mr, Jonah. Don’t miss any of ’em, for I’m perfectly willing to show up.” ° Some more jewelry was forthcoming, then a :. f : Si spor amma, te ON we Ss ones Peay oe Bemipenatee ‘les. | take my spurs M4 The next and last pocket, so far asthe searcher | hear what I’m chirpin’?” Z “ knew, brought to light something that was a You are quite correct,’ was the ready, surprise to thenrall.. At first it had the appear- | response, “In fact, I wouldn’t. want to take bong onde dee simply a little roll of black silk, | “eae hae rs pac adh Ke" a ke yd man ied with a string. than I am. you m of any use to you , Such it was, of a truth, but it was more, be- | make me lieutenant, or something of that sort.” be Upon opening it, a silken mask fell out “Waal, we'll talk about that later on; but nd dropped to the ground. Tis was picked up | now, hyar is ther second p’iut on ther docket, “aod handed to the judge, as all the other articles | namely, ter wit: Ef yer goes ter try on any a ae “id Hie o4 other object was then spread out | meg Rag ~s he fo isd oo agate M : , wull be de yer, an’ jest a ick It was a loose silk cloak, evidently intended | ye kin wink yer peeper; 80 don’t yer fail ter to cover'the upper part of the wearer as he sat | remember that,” ee os pee on his horse, and was, as said, black, This was “That is all right, and I’m willing. If you enough of itself to occasion a showing of in- . ines : terest; but there was something more yet. Upon | pop me over, that’s all, You can’t ask any- Be, RS Ai of this cloak, in letters worked in mine go oe owt tide’ be Age , was the name: . urther that you want to have inser in the “ ; agreement? Any further clause you want to TRON IVAN.” stick in? If there is, don’t be backward about oo ae: if ,risoner he was, looked pei oy ee ee are done, I want smilingly on. say a word or two for my side, e ““Wull, I ber durn!” the judge ‘* No, I reckon that’s erbout all,” the Terrible “ What does yer think of et, boyees? replied. ‘ On this piece of work, howsumderer, = Ee ee look tt ther «ooh hev guv et tous | Pil en a we Bo le Hae ther es = ’ straig’ asse! ona we kin see what sort o’ stuff you is made of. Py “4 a do Rye fer a earn fact,” agreed the sa A ther one time T’ll be mee I kin cover e errible, “ But et won’t do ter be too hasty | with a pop, yer means us fair, yer can’t offer Seat coe ter him. That’s what J has ter no ee acphrec Yer ae ony that we is up ter fer, snuff, an’ that yer can’t fool us, nary a time, “Take plenty of time about it, | baggie 8 | Ther proof of ther puddin’ is ther eatin’, an’ spoke Iron Ivan. ‘* 1 don’t want to force myself : that’s ther test well give yer.” upon you if you don’t want me, but I would like ‘* Rating me, eh?” Well, eat away; you'll find = cast lg with you for a little while, | cat a to a turn, “4 as ee of a Sobing or my own good. pudding you ever kelped devour. But, jokin “‘ That’s fair talk, but et, ar’ nothin’ only taik, | aside, keep your ‘on me, as I have "said ~ 2 an’ talk is ther cheapest thing on ther market, | ready, and if you find me up to any piece of pa Sag foes — roved thet you ain't ses pees ~~ re re t » the line ; ug me, u w ck,an' you hasn’t prov nd now for what I bave to say. en we go rong 8 LaF aie yer claim. ~ What is goin’ ter og yr - be dypenee { on» a at the erbout e ead of the for the time. at’s under- _ “That is for you to say, Mr, Mayor. Look at | stood. I want you to pick nine of your t the thing square and fair, and then make up men for the jobs and let every man have a rifle, your mind, I didn’t come here and yank out | There’s notbing so full of persuasion 8s a grim this disguise of cloak and mask, trying to force | rifle.” Bibi it upon you that Iam whatI claim to be. If I had, you might bave said Deadwood Dick would be likely to do just,that sort of trick.” “Yas, I opine we w’u’d, stranger; an’ all that ain’t sayin’ that he wouldn’t act et out jest as you ar’ doin’.” ** Exactly; and I see I shall have to give you further and better proof of what I am, I don’t blame you for being cautious, not a bit; I rath- er like to see it; it will be all the better for me if you do allow me to come in with you. Now, suppose I can put you onto a rich lay, where you can rake in a pile as easy as rolling off a log, how will that bit you?” “Ef yer does thet ar’,” answered the Terrible, “we won't ask nothin’ else of yer, onless it ar ter lead us in ther business an’in that way prove what ver claims. That will be ther stuff, hey, fellers?” “ That’s what et wull!” was the ready shout. © ‘‘ Then it’s a bargain,” the new-comer agreed. “*T happen to know that there is a special stage coming down to Pond Lily this very afternoon, with a lot of the stockholders of the Lily Mine which I want ter call your attention, galoots. An’ ther fu’st on ther docket ar’ this, ter wit: We don’t accept this byar stranger as our cap- ting—not by a neck full we don’t, not yet.” ‘** No, in course not,” was agreed. ; ejaculated. “Haw! baw! haw! You is right, every time. Et shall be jest ez you say. We kin’see thet you has been thar before.” “Very well. Now, there is a certain narrow spot in the canyon through which the stage must pass, We will be there to hold it up.. There’s a place where there is only room for a wagon to get through, and then the canyon suddenly widens to forty feet or more. That’s the spot for us. We'll let the stage get just through the choke, and then we'll hold it up and go through it in the latest approved style. And right here is the one point that I want well understood: There is to be no killing unless we are forced in- to it to defend our lives, Iron Ivan has been called the ‘gentleman road-agent,’ and I can’t allow my reputation to be sullied, you know, Ha! ha! ba!” . : ‘* An’ I don’t see ez we kin offer no kick ter them tarms,” averred the Terrible. ‘ Et looks ez if iy means ter give us a fair deal all around.” : “And soI do, But I’m not doing it for noth- ing, mind you. When I have given you the i, i. —_ ww | Et ar’ all right, an’ et ar’ all understood,” . the judge spoke, ‘‘ but thar is some }ints ter catch me up to any business that isn’t square, © *
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roof that ] am one of you, and ready to stand by you, then I want you to take me into your band and stand by me, * An’ we'll do that, if yer proves yerself all wool an’ full width.” ‘‘ That’s enough said, then. Now here’s another inf: I don’t know how well fixed this party will be, mind you, but whatever we get, I don’t want any of it. Y, among yourselves. Now, if you can find any fault with my offer, all around, let me know what it is.” This last carried the crowd. A general shout of approval went up, and Thomas the Terrible sprung down and grasped the stranger’s hand. “‘You 1s a chief, you is, an’ I know et!” he cried, ‘ Hyar’s ther hand of what sez so, too, Boyees, ef this byar feller don’t pan out rich, then I’m a liar.” “Bet yer life on’t!” echoed Jonah. ‘Ef he don’t prove bis worth, then yer kin hang me erlong with him, that’s all. An’ as fer his bein’ Deadwood Dick— Well, et are pooty plain thet he ain't nothin’ more’n what he claims,” **Go slow, boys, go slow,” the stranger cau- tioned, smiling. ‘‘ Don’t think I’m too good till I have given you the proof, Don't let it slip eos mind that Deadwood Dick might come and play just such a role as this, as you thought at first.” But the more the stranger said the more he rose in favor. He was taken in with open arms now, and was told that the whole camp was his to do with as he pleased. : ** All right,” he agreed, ‘‘ T’'ll take advantage of your offer. I’ll make myself at home, and get acquainted with the boys, And, by the way, there is still any doubt in your minds concern- ing me, just appoint two of your men to watch me. You are welcome to do it if you want to; it won't worry me any.” ** No, that ’ar ain’t a tall necessary,” declared the Terrible. ‘‘ Thereyesof ther bull durn camp will be on yer anyhow, an’ ther isn’t a galoot among us what ain’t true blue. No, sir, that ain’t needed er'tall.. But, come erlong, an’ let’s imbibe some p’izen while we wait, Thar’s noth- fn’ kin prove a man’s caliber like tanglefoot, every time, an’ef you kin swoller yer p’izen straight, that will_go along ways to’rds settin’ ye right in ther eyes of ther—” “~ Just hold upright. there,” Iron Ivan inter- rupted, raising a finger. ‘If my caliber has to be gauged by thatstandard, I won’t pass, I shut down on that sort of thing some months ago, slick and clean, You couldn’t get a drop of it down my neck if you paid me forit. And just here I want to say one word more: I want you to select your nine men here and now, and if one of them touches a drop of your ‘ p'izen’ before the time is up for us to start, it is no go, and I'll draw out. I never go out on the trail with men who are not entirely clear headed. What do you say?” “Wull I ber durn!” gasped the Terrible. *‘ This hyar ar’ somethin’ new, etar’. Youseems ter be quite a saint, stranger.” *€Can’t help what I seem; that’s my platform, every time, and I’m on it hard with both feet. Do you agree to what I’ve said? If you don’t, then it’s no go, that’s all, unless you want to go fit alone.” “* Yas, durn et, we'll do ez yer asks, fer this oncet, anyhow. But you drat’s a ha’r too fine, you does, Thar war Gorrilly Jake, he wouldn’t mever go out on ther road onless he had his b’iler more’n half full, an’ he was no slouch, you bet!” ‘And where is he now? Perhapsif he had kept his head a little more clear, and his nerves more steady, be wouldn’t have got dosed. You may think about it what you please, but with me it is business first, always, After that, then you can fill your skins just as full as you want to,” “Bt ar’ no use kickin’,” remarked Jonah, * You fellers of ther nine hev got ter go dry till after ther stage racket. As fer me, Terrible Tommy, you kin please count me out of that, I couldn't never stand et ter fast solong. Et would nigh erbout play me-ont, an’ you know I ain’t very strong, No, I opine I'll hev ter be excused,” This raised a laugh among the villainous crowd, and Jonah was readily excused, as he ae a man who would not have been selected any- Ow, Thomas the Terrible lost no time in raising his required number of picked men out of the forty or more present, and after pledging them not to touch a drop of the burtful, the crowd broke up. fron Ivan made the request that his horse be shown the best care the camp was able to bestow, and that having been pledged by Thomas the Terrible, who gave the order forthwith, these ou just take it and share it | a Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. two and others repaired to the Bob-tail Flush, the only public resort the camp boasted. There, in bis quiet way, Ivan, the Man of Iron, told something more about himself than he bad told hitherto, He was from Arizona, he ex- plained, where he had won such a reputation that everybody desired his acquaintance, espe- cially the officers, and as they bad pressed their attentions upon him to the last degree, he had thought it the proper thing to get up and get out. And along with that story went any number of reminiscences of hairbreadth escapes, all of which were strictly true, too, the only difference being that the narrator was putting himself in the other fellow’s place in most of them, In return, Terrible Thomas told much about himself and Coffin Camp. The camp, it seemed, in the first instance, had belonged to some miners*who had struck paying pavning in the creek on the opposite side of the “a playground,” as the flat was called. bese miners had put up most of the shanties, and bad named the place Harsstice Flats, owing to the curving of the rocky wall against which the buildings were backed, And there they held forth, defending their camp against all comers until after the rich find at Pond Lily. There, soon, was opened a mine that proved a staying success, and Pond Lily was speedily a young city. Panning in the creek at Horse- shoe Flats was too tame” in comparison with the gilded reports that came from Pond Lily from time to time, and finally the miners packed up their tools and deserted their claim for the newer sensation, It would have been well enough for them, perhaps, if they had made their move earlier, but as it was they found no employment await- ing them when they reached their destination. The mine at Pond Lily was paying big wages for common labor, but it was well supplied, and there was no opening for the new-comers.. They jamboreed around the ycung city until their money was spent, when they set out to return to the creek to reopen business at the old stand at Horseshoe Flats, In the mean time, the usual thing to follow a rich strike, a band of road-agents had appeared near Pond Lily, and were making it a matter of money or life to all travelers to and from that place, And when these honest miners got back tome, whai was their disgust to find that, their camp had been taken possession of by the out- laws, who refused to give it up. And they were able to hold the place, too, having every advan- tage, and hold it they did. There was a fight, in which the miners got the worst of it, leaving several of their number to make the starting of a cernetery there, and the rest withdrew to seek pastures new, The out- laws had not outnumbered them greatly, but they had had the advantage of position, and that was everything, These outlaws, of which Terrible Thomas boasted that he had been one, renamed the place, calling it Coffin Camp, and there they had remained to the present. It was a place of refuge for villains for whom bonest society had no further use, except to grace the “ business end” of a rope at a “ hanging-bee;” and they had gathered there, one by one, till at last there were forty or more of them. Thomas bad been second in command, and, as said, after the taking off of the leader, Guerrilla Jake, he had stepped into first place. The camp was the plague-spot of all that country, and two or three times it had been attacked, but always with defeat for the besiegers, and after each vic- tory the outlaws had become worse than before, And such was the situation at the time of our romance, CHAPTER IV. EXPLAINS A MYSTERY, THE city of Pond Lily was a different sort of place. It was a city of the usual mining-camp style, but on a scale of more than usual magnitude. It had several payiug mines, of which the first, oldest and best was the “ old original” of the camp, the Lily Mine. This mine alone employed close upon a hun- dred hands, and the aggregate of the others made up several hundred more, Hence there was a population that numbered nearly a thou- sand souls, And it was a wide-awake, ‘‘ whooper-up” city of its kind, too. It boasted more modern im- provements to the square inch than any other spot of its size witbin a hundred miles, More than that, it made the boast that it was the wickedest place within the same limits, |= Coffin Camp excepted. That, it was admitted, | ha was a degree worse, ; lik When Pond Lily would no longer permit a ; rascally knave to remain within its boundaries, the only harbor of refuge known was Coffin 2 Camp, and thither th® said rascally knave gen- | gp, erally repaired in all haste, provided he escaped | ¢o the rope af Pond Lily, which was not always, } But there are kinds and degrees of wickedness, ; : he owever, here were these two Gamp&, within | w a dozen miles of each other, and with all her 71 population, Pond Lily, to this time, bad been un=9 jo} able to crush Coffin Camp out of existence, ou As stat2d, it had been attempted on several occasions, but always with defe t for the attack- | oy ing party, owing to the impregnable position Of | wa, the outlaw camp, With its modest half bun- | 5, ; dred, it was in position to set_an army af defi- | oy; ance, almost. There was no known way of get- | ¢,,, ting at it, except from the front, and once let ag the attacking force appear on the ‘“ play-} pp, ground,” and the defenders could pick them off 71 at will, Once the attempt had been made at | gio. starving the rascals out, aud the valley was blockaded for a whole week, but during that time these very knaves,, under their Jeader made a raid on Pond Rite one night and.carried off provisions enough to last them six 1 = By what means they bad left Ccffin Camp ana returned, was unknown, but the fact was there, and was not to be disputed. Since then, the camp had been allowed to exist for the ‘hest,,of reasons, that Pond Lily did not know how/te deal with it. say One night recently the stage to Ponds Lily, and later than usual, had been held up by the ‘out- | 4 w, law_band—or rather, the attempt had been} yj;,, made to hold it up—but searcely soover bad the |p order been given to stop, than there was a flash | ¢;,) and report from the top of the old hearse, the | 4, leader of the band toppled out of his saddle, 8 | cur passenger grabbee the ribbons cut of the hands | pp, of the driver, and away the stage went spin- P ning, while a shout of defiance was sent back in|... these words: wis “Take that as a reminder that Deadwood },,,,, Dick is around, you devils!” ory The Outlaws firedetter.the stage, of a Pt soon as they could recover from their asionish- ther ment, but their bullets lodged in the baggage} p behind, or flew harmlessly by. tite Tre man laid low on this occasion was none} gag] other than Guerrilla Jake, and no wonder that) aprj Coffin Camp had a score to settle. with Dead-| — yy wood Dick, and that the worst of fates would be} 5.4, his should he chance to fall into their hands, at ¢ ‘Now, strange as it may seem, nothing bad mot been seen of Deadwood Dick at Pond Lily,” That! aij, he had been on the stage that night, noone ques- 5 tioned. The driver swore to it with all ve-jj, , hemence, and extolled the manner in which he that had laid out the outlaw chief and hustled the stage) pj, along out of their hands; but that was as far an ry he could tell anything, i Dea It had been a terrible dark night, this night) «5 | of that occurrence, so dark that the driver bad) of . been unable to see the trail ahead, further thau fo re his lamps shone and whem he rode into thecamp| —« he was amazed to find that bis passenger on top had disappeared! He had spoken to him not two} « minutes before, as they came out into sight of Pond Lily, but when the stage drew up hefore the leading hotel the passenger was missing! Siuce that hour nothing had been seen of him, so far as the citizens of the camp knew. It had been much commented upon at first, but Ina) «: busy place like Pond Lily a thing soon becomes ‘you old, and so it was with this. was The Mayor of Pond Lily was one Howland! ayy. Kentway, who also, was manager of the LIX fast Mine, and bead of affairs generally, Off. | He wase man of fifty, stern of face and manner, myst and ruled things with a hand of iron in his own ter way. , 6] A recent robbery of a shipment of bullion) pay, from the Lily, just previous to the death of the foun outlaw chief, had put bim upon his muscle, 80) ther to say, and he bad made a vow that Coffin Camp) tiat must be wiped out, bere But, how it was to be done—that was what) anq puzzled him. 1t was not easy to find _men willing to attack the rascals in their lair. Each man seemed to:set too high a value upon his personal safety for that, so the next best. thing the mayor could do was to offer a reward of so much per head for every outlaw brought to him. Nor had even this the desired effect, con ie rx “ ; Say here your man a here’ “ 1 cried help to ta Men’ + ¢ None
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yt ee ¥ . . |had been brought, to date, and it did not appear ‘| likely that any would be captured. ‘| In truth, no one seemed anxious to take the » |}matter in hand. Those who had nothing to lose, t | gured little, while those who had, thought it far easier to administer the ounce of prevention than to have resort to the pound of cure. '. And so matters rested. ’ Kentway bad counted much upon Deadwood Dick, as he publicly declared, after his killing of ’ | the dreaded Guerrilla Jake, but as days passed > band nothing was seen of him, it was the public > | verdict that he had become frightened at what he had done and bad taken himself quietly mae * | Whether this was true or not, it was certainly *} believed strongly enough, and the good name of _ | our Lion-hearted Richard suffered considerably. ‘)}> Finally came a day, this day of which the Opening of our romance treats, when the mayor | was more than usually concerned about the state of affairs,, For, be it known, the killing of the ‘ outlaw chief had roused the band to the greatest *| fury, and all sorts of evil had been declared against the city by the new leader, Terrible Thomas. Warning notices had been found in the camp b signed by that worthy, declaring war to the S| knife, and death the worst for Deadwood Dick, “if he cotild be ‘got hold of. So, as can be seen, -Kentway’s uneasiness was not without founda- ves, when we make known that on this day he , | expected a special stage bearing a party of the stockholders of the mine with which he was con- »4 mected, ; &| He appeared to be more nervous and fussy * | than he had ever been on any othef occasion. | “Confound that man, Deadwood Dick!” he complained, ‘* What did he want to come here > }and stir up this hornets’ nest for, and then slink ~ |away and leave us tostand theresult? Confound 2) him, I say!” ©! Batthis confounding dil not alter the situa- tion any. The stage with the stockholders was | coming, aud something ought to be done to jn- *isure its safe arrival. But was it necessary? © That was where the thing hinged now, ‘| Precaution had been taken already. This |-was not a regular stage day at the camp, and it , | wasnot at all likely that the outlaws could know of its coming, It did not seem possible webat they.cont ow anything-abevt it. This Pwas tee View taken of it by those with whom ez ‘manager consulted, ; ©) But this did not seem to remove Kentway’s |} uneasiness, and he detlared that he should not ©| feel settled in mind until the stage had safely t) arrived, — | It was alongia the afternoon that a horseman ©! rode into the town. He was a man of thirty, j}at a guess, rather good-looking, and was well t mounted. His left arm was bandaged and in a ‘ 8. Drawing rein in front of the leading hotel, “ihe made inquiry for Howland Kentway, and ®| that gentleman happening to be on hand, made ©! himself known. ; _ “Tam Richard M, Bristol, better known as Deadwood Dick, Jr.,” the stranger informed. | **T have heard that 1 am considered something ‘\of.a coward here in this camp, and have come 4) fo remove the stain from my name if I can.” P| ‘Hal the devil!” ejaculated the mayor. P| “No, I beg your pardon,” said the stranger; ©) «* T didn’t say so.” ; f “ But J did!” the mayor snapped, ‘ And I ©) say it again—the devil! Whathas brought you here, after all this delay? Why didn’t you show a rearmit in the first place, after killing that ¢) man?” “| “‘ What has brought me here now, I bave told you. Why I didn’t come then, I will explain, I | was hit in the arm by a bullet, though I told the “| driver [ wasn’t hit, and finally growing Nan ‘ ~ Just when the stage entered the valley, I toppl _/off, and that was the last I knew till I found 's| myself in a camp twenty miles from here,” s ~6“* The deuce you'say !” “Exactly, Isuppose I wandered there—must *| have wandered there, for they tell me I was found on the street, the following morning, and | there I have been since, resting up. Hearing ‘|that I am considered something of a coward .| here, as I said, [ thought I would call around )and show myself. What manner of welcome am [ going to get from you seeing that I am i here?” ~| ‘Why, a good one, of course,” the mayor (cried, ‘* Under the circumstances you could not : og Rtg happened. We're ready and willing Gb ar back anything that has been said; eb, nen 7] ‘ ©) “That we are,” was enough, then.” The new-comer ac- ee ee nt hss 1 ainda aM ne ¥ ght Se wwe ey) wal” heh nn + bea ba a cepted, and he slipped out of the saddle. “It was my intention to come here and lend you a hand in this affair of yours, but this misfortune overtook me, so I am out of the race for the time being. But my arm will be well again one of | these days, and then we'll try a hack at our brave gentlemen of the road.” “‘Tt was a misfortune indeed, and an unfor- tunate affair for us, for the killing of their chief roused the band like a nest of vipers, and they say they are going to make this city suffer for ‘* We'll see about that, one of these days,” re- marked the young man, Leaving his horse in the care of a man whom the mayor told to take charge of it, the new- comer followed the mayor into the house, and the news soon spread that the famous Deadwood Dick was in town, ; Deadwood Dick was no stranger there, by re- putation, A case he had recently handled, further north, had been the sensation cf the day only a briet while before, and everybody was eager to get a sight at him. Within an hour he was like a per- son on exbibition, at the hotel where he had registered. Kentway, in the presence of a group, told him about the expected arrival of the special stage, and of the concern he felt for its safety, He asked the opinion of the lion of the hour as to what ought to be done, but as by that time it had grown too late to do anything, all that could be said was that it would have to be waited for. There was nothing else to do, so the time was watched eagerly by those most concerned, and by the hour when the coming stage was certain- ly considered due there was a great crowd wait- ing and watching for it. But another hour dragged by, and it had not yet appeared, and Kentway, unable to stand it longer, ordered a dozen men to set out to meet it. In a short time they were off, CHAPTER V. — HOLDING UP THE STAGE, In the mean time what of that special stage? | Setting out early in the cay froma railroad point, the afternoon saw it lumbering along on the home-stretch to its destination, It carried a dozen passengers, all told, one of) whom was a womar, Except the woman, it was one party, a com- pany of stockholder pf the Lily Mine at Pond uy, , The woman was a stranger to them all, She had been onthe train with them, from fur- ther west, and learning at the railroad point tbat they were going on by special stage, had begged permission to accompany them, This at first. was refused, but as the regular stage did not leave until the next day, and she would have to wait over a day at the rail- road, permission was finally given; so she was one of the party, and her presence went to make up the round dozen mentioned, The driver was a. veteran of the line. ‘His name was Zeke Fieldmg, better known as Squint-eye Zeke, owing to a defect in one of his organs of sights. He was a hearty, whole- soaled fellow, full to running over with stories and reminiscences of the trail. Chief among tke passengers was one Dombey Vadge, who held the office of president of the mine, He was a solid-looking man of sixty, rugged as a bear, and tre life of the party, The others were wen of the usual assortment, all evidently well fixed in the way financial, The woman was a plainly dressed little body, good looking, and with a pair of keen, fear- less eyes, She had some baggage, and carried a peculiar-looking bag—rather box—supported from her shoulder by a strap, This little box, leather-covered, was an object of much curiosity anaong the other passengers, but as they could not very well ask anything concerning it, and as the Jady did not volun- teer any information, their curiosity was not satisfied. . She was pleasant company, but with ladylike dignity and reserve that could not be disregard- ed, And she was treated with all respect and courtesy by the gentlemen, several of whom were old enough to be her father, with years to spare, It was, altogether, a pleasant company. The afternoon was waning when the stage en- tered a long, dismal canyon, at the other end of which, as the driver promised, they should find their destination. ‘* Waal,” the driver remarked, ‘ considerin’ that ther train was better’n a hour late, we ain’t done so bad, Nightfall orter fiud us thar, I sh’u’d opine. That be, ef we don’t git beld up.” ‘““And what do you mean by that?” asked Dombey Fudge, who was taking bis turn on the | box—an honor they had been sharing from time totime. ‘‘A meeting with gentlemen of the road, such as you have been telling us about, £ suppose.” ‘You hev hit et, right on ther head,” the driver assented. ‘‘Thar’s one of ther wu’st bands ’twixt here an’ Pond Lily that yer ever heerd on, An’ ef they does hold us up, fer ther luv o’ goodness don’t try ter fight ’em, or et wull be death to ther hull kit an’ caboodle of us.” This word of warning was passed along, and for a time the conversation was on the subject of road-agents in general, and those of this trail in particular. But as time passed and nothing was seen of them, and they were finally within ten miles of - | their destination, it began to be a matter of con+, gratulation that they were going to get through’ untouched, : 197, ‘¢ Et don’t do ter crow too ’arly in ther morn- in’,” warned Squint-eye. ‘‘ We ain’t out of ther woods yet. Still, thar is less miles ahead than ther’ be ahind us, an’ thar’s somethin’ in that, But this hyar canyon is ther place ter look fer ther cusses, ef we is ter meet ’em er tall.” They were now ina very narrow part of the canyon, and ahead, a short distance, could be seen a portion where it abruptly widened. aa As the driver ceased speaking, the stage one ae ed into this wider part, and asit did so, suddenly came the ringing order: : ‘* Hands up, there! or take pills!” - “Whoa!” the driver promptly responded, clappivg ou the break and pulling-up hard on the ribbons, Meets The stage was brought toa stop inthe shortest kind of order, and there, ahead of and around it, were discovered balf a score of masked men, @ save one with grim rifles presented. The exception was the man whose horse block- ed the trail immediately ahead, gi In bis hands gleamed a pair of dangerous re- volvers, and it was he who had given the orcer to stop, oe Ss Re He was masked, like the rest, but there was more to say of bim. He wore a loose black cloak,. as it seemed to be, and on the breast of it was the name— “TRON IVAN.” This, in plain letters of white, was the most striking thing about his whole i arene Evi- dently his name; it was too plain to be mistaken for avything else, Nie ‘“ Hyar we is!” sung out the driver, putting up his hands as soon as the stage had been brought toastop. ‘* What is yer pleasure, Mister Lron Ivan? I see that’s ther name yer carries, though I reckon you is a stranger hyarabouts.” ‘* Hands up, every one, and keep them up, that’s the first and vital thing,” the leader of the band answered. ‘ We must ask you to pay toll, ‘if you please, gentlemen. You can’t find any objection to a simple request like that, I am sure, Get down and out of there, every soul of you, and no delay about it,” “This is an outrage!” stormed Dombey Fudge, ‘* You ought to be hanged, every one of you. This is high-handed robbery; nothing short of it!” lron Ivan laughed, : ; “That is what some are uncharitable enough to term it,” he admitted, ‘‘ But, be moving, gentlemen, or the worse for you. And han up, every one, or it will be death fer you, and surer still if you resist, Come now, hustle /” “That's what’s ther matter,” chipped in an« other of the band, no other than Thomas the Terrible, ‘‘ These hyar rifles is jest itchin’ ter puke lead at yer, an’ ef thar ain’t some movin* ov your part mighty quick, they’ll do et, too,” “Come, folks, we'll bave ter obey ther call,” observed the driver, as he proceeded to get down-himself. ‘* They holds ther best hand, an*® thar’s no use 0’ cur kickin’ over ther traces. Et won't do no good. Might ez well git down an’ ante out our leetle boodles.” * And mind that you keep your hands well up.” cautioned Iron Ivan. ; Blastering and complaining, the passengers proceeded to get down and out, and last of all came the little lady. ; At sight of her Iron Ivan might bave been noticed to start. That he recognized ber was not to be doubted. His start might bave been noticed, we say, but it was not, ‘* Ha! a lady among the rest, eb?” he observed, The woman was looking at him with strange interest, her face pale and her lips compressed, Perhaps she thought she recognized the voicel ‘Yes, a lady with us,” retorted the mine- president. “If there is a spark of manhood about you, you will spare her any sbare in your
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: = , ee i a rhe pte od ‘intended robbery. presently spoke. I suppose that is a meaning- less word to you, however.” ‘* Which proves that you do not know Iron Ivan,” was the response. ‘‘I have been called the gentleman road-agent, and I make it a point never to rob women, if they are sensible enough to buy off, amd my terms are not heavy. But, more of that later. Now we will proceed to relieve you of whatever valuables you hap- pen to have about you, gentlemen, Collector, do your duty.” he driver and passengers were out in line, with hands up, and one of the outlaws now ad- vanced to the head of the line and proceeded to “go through” his man, putting everything into a bandy bag at his side, _ The little woman was the last in the row, hold- ing her hands up like the rest, and her eyes were still fixed upon [ron Ivan, The “collector” did his work rapidly and thoroughly, and soon came to the end of the line, except the lady. “Stop there,” [ron Ivan ordered. ‘I will attend to the lady myself. Come back to your place, now, while that fat party removes his ts. He did not pan out quite fat enough to satisfy me.” One of the passengers was a rather stout per- sonage, and this remark was aimed at him. ‘* Me?” he interrogated. **Yes, you!” was the answer. ‘Off with your boots, and lively about it!” “Tt is an outrage!” the fat party stormed. a It is—” . “*Can’t help what it is,” was the interruption; “Soff with them! Down with you in the dirt, and off with them!” Protest was useless, and so the man had to obey. Down he got, and off came the boots, after considerable puffing, ana there was the rest of his personal effects, snugly bid away. **T thought so,” Iron lvanlaughed. ‘‘ Gather it ga vemiggd and let the gentleman resume his foot-gear. Now if any of the rest of yow are holding anything back, you had better disgorge. Fa is your last chance, you kuow, so don’t re- use, One or two others brought out articles that vhad been cleverly concealed, to the amusement of the outlaws, and when all had been taken in, the leader of th woman, ; ‘@‘* Now, fair lady,” said he, ‘I will give you the conditions upon which you are to go free, That is, that you will give me a kiss,” The outlaws laughed heartily at this proposal. *‘Never!” the lady exclaimed, with greatest indignation. “Take whatever of value you may find ou may person. — I will not purchase ex- emption at such a price!” ‘*Nobly spoken!” exclaimed Dombey Fudge. ** Still, lady,” he added, “‘if you carry much of value about you, I would say give the kiss and solsave your bacon—er, hem! I mean your valu- ables.” ““T carry nothing so valuable as my honor, sir,” was the scorching retort, ‘‘I scorn sucha proposal as this rascal has made. Take my ‘money and simple jewelry, sir,” to Iron Ivan, “but do not attempt to take any liberty with me. If you do, it will not be well for you.” ‘Ha! ha! ha!” the outlaw chief laughed. “* You are quite a novelty in the way of calico, my pretty lady. Now I would prize a kiss more in anything else you might have offer. ands well up, gentlemen, or these rifles will speak! I say I would prize the kiss, lady, and I hope you will reconsider your determination. It is getting off che s “If it is cheap, then you don’t wantit. Come, rob me if you will, but don’t attempt anything wore.” _ **No; kiss or no kiss, I will not rob you,” the outlaw declared. “I admire your spirit too much for that. And besides, the gentleman road-agent can’t afford to let his reputation suffer. But I would like to say something to you, in private, if I may.” ‘*T do not want you to come any nearer to me than you are!” was the excited response. ‘‘I do not want to hear what you havetosay. Rob me, and then let us go on our way. I will not have you come a step nearer, if 1 have to give my life to keep you off,” ‘here was a pause, and all waited anxiously “ to see what the outlaw would do about it. It might prove a critical moment for all con- cerned, _ CHAPTER VI. : SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT, “‘ Tuts is altogetber unreasonable,” Iron Ivan ‘* We have it in our power to carry you off, if we would, lady—” « titans en — 2 « band addressed himself to the | rag | that's: al: **No you haven't, either!” “What's that?” ‘*T say you haven’t it in your power to carry me off,” the lady repeated, ‘* What’s the reason we baven’t? How would you hinder us, if we set about doing it?” “T would kill myself sooner than be taken into captivity by you, and you could not hinder me, unless you killed me, instead.” ‘* Well, you are nervy, and no mistake! But, listen to reason, Here I am disposed to treat you with the utmost consideration. I won't rob you, [ will even give up my demand for the kiss, but speak to you I must.” ae speak to me openly, in the hearing of ‘No; it must be in private.” ‘Then you willnot speak to meatall. I will kill you if you attempt it, so be warned, I will kill either myself or you.”. ‘* And you mean what you say?’ “T certainly do,” That little woman was admired by all. Such a showing of cool nerve from so small a body had uever before been witnessed by any of them, perhaps. ** But, whatI would say concerns you great- ly,” Iron Ivan persisted. ‘‘ Half a minute’s talk will be sufficient to tellit. Grant me this, and I promise that not a finger will I lay on you. Nor will I utter one word that need cause you a blush, Iam sineere in what I say.” ; He spoke now in all earnestness, and his voice was slightly changed from what it had been. The’ woman’s face was changing color, and she was staring at him with eyes at their widest, Surely she recognized that voice, ** And what if I refuse?” she inquired. ‘¢Tn that case not only will I kiss you, but I'll allow every man of my band to do the same.” This again caused the rascals to laugh. ‘““Yer kin refuse an’ welome, lady,” spoke Thomas the Terrible. ‘Et ar’ a long while sence we has had a taste o’ horey, et ar’, an’ I fer ore wouldn’t object to et.” In a measure the tables had been turned. **On your word of honor, then, you will not attempt to touch me, but will only speak to me?” the woman asked, ‘*1 promise you that,” was the nse, “Give me half a minute’s talk with you, and Leek, ava all lL will demand, After that you and your friends may goon.” — ’ “Then fer ther luv o’ goodness let him chin to yer fer ther half minunit,” put in Squint-eye, the driver. “Ef yer don’t, we won't git through ter-night. What he'll say to yer can’t kill, that’s sure, an’ yer has got et on yer own tarms, almost,” “Very well, then, I give to me,” the woman conceded, “Allright. You advance half way to me, and I will move forward and meet you, and your friends can see all that takes place. The woman promptly advanced, still bolding her bands up, shoulder high, and Iron Ivan rode forward and met her, nd when they met, he leaned far over in the saddle and whispered to her. immediately she gave a great Start, and springing back, looked at bim with a face as pale as death. Only a moment this, and she advanced again and willingly listened to what the outlaw bad to say. yA he had said, he detained her only half a minute, when he straightened up, and with a wave of the hand dismissed ber. She turned away immediately, her face still le, and resumed her place in the line. What ad been said to her, no une could guess, Immediately the outlaw backed away, saying: “You see Iron Ivan is a man of his word, I am the gentleman road-agent, and my word is as good as my bond, and a good deal better, for my bond wouldn’t be taken. No matter about that, however, Now yon ma grims, and be on your way. And when you get to Pond Lily, just give my best respects to the worthy citizens there, and say that Iron Ivan ou leave to speak from Arizona is going tocake a hand against them, If they want to make anything out of it, let them come on,” With that, the passengers were allowed to get aboard the stage again, and were soon ready to start. : -“ You shall pay for this, you rascals!” declared Dombey Fudge, who had never ceased to com- plain. ‘You shall smart for this outrage, if there is any Jaw in this wild land.” “Plenty of law,” assured the outlaw, ‘‘ but it’s hefty to handle, as maybe you will find. But, you have nocause to enmplain. You have got plenty of the filthy stuff in the Lily Mine, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. bundle in, pil- | ‘outlaw had tu say-te-her,. a and you can spare the little we have taken from ‘Well, we're off,” cried the driver, when all was ready, ‘‘Give the word, and rl show ye how mighty soon I kin dust out o’ hyar.” ‘* Well, then, go,” the chief pro tem. gave pers — mission. be ‘hie ‘‘ An’ be glad that you're alive,” calied out | Terrible,Thomas. ‘An’, by ther way,”head- ded, ‘‘ ef yer hears anything of a galoot at ther city by name o’ Deadwood Dick, tell him we et death ter him, jest as soon as we kin grab. him, ‘* Yes, my especial regards to him, if he is there,” quickly putin Iron Ivan, “Tell him that Iron Ivan is still on deck, and that hesends defiance. If he wants me very bad, let hin come and take me. He will get the warmest re- ception he ever got. And to you, fair lady, my _ love !” The driver’s whip had cracked, and the stage now whirled on its way. , For a few moments the outlaws stood gaz- ing after it idly, and then with wild laughter | they pressed around Iron Ivan, eager to ghiter his hand. ity, Let us, for the preseut, follow the stage. os ‘* What does yer think of that?’ asked the driver, when they had got beyond hearing of the — rascals, r ““T think it a confounded outrage!” cried the 4" mine president. ‘The nest of vipers shall h 4) wiped out, if I have to resort to the L “oe army to have it done. I won’t brook this with- cut making a fuss,” —o. ‘* Hope yer won't, but fer ther he they _ has got ’cidedly ther best of it. hey has got — all yer collateral, But, say,” in a lower tone, ‘*T wonder what he had ter say ter ther gal? Did yer notice how et {seemed ter give her a ~ jump, ez et war?” sheep ‘Yes, I noticed that, and it puzzled me. It struck me that he must have recognized her, and that he is some one she has known, I’m going to ask her.” , Leaning over toward the window, he called: “Hey, Stokes!” \ ihe ** Hello!” came a response from within, “What do you think of the West?” with a cst oo ; laugh. : ** Dast the West!” was the snappy replyoay “Well, say, ask the lady what jt as a her, if she ist tell. We are rather curious ‘to & here.” ¥ os We * Silence for a few moments, and then the same _ voice called out: So ‘She declines to say, but hints that it was |. would not mention under any ~- re by ONE. i a from pie: wally face “ ho alban , sent ont to meet what’s the matter,” was the reply. is tur’bly anxious about rou.” ‘A pity you didn’t come a little snap 5 e boss . Rah is a the mine president, =. ‘“* Why, hev yer been in trouble?” _ . “Have we? We have been skinned th tons!” é “Ther dickens! Then ther boss - y fer nothin’. Ob, but won't he tale 0D whey. he hears 0 this!” __ Me gee * And it will be time for him to take on, too, - If this band isn’t wiped out in one week, we shall have no further use for bitty ae think. The horsemen turned, after a few ™ ; talk, and the stage followed hale loud the, camp, \ 4 ae) dae "When they appeared in the valley it was night, or very nearly so, and eg rye O ‘ps ablaze with lights.. A great crowd Wasin fron, of the hotel, reds a. The gs was rushed in with a &° show ik of speed and ie and when it drew up. in front of tne hotel, the first man to the front Was - Howland Kentway, who threw en the door. ) “ Here at last, are you?” he greeted. Me “Yes, here at last, with barely Our lives,” re~— sponded Fudge, fm the boss ” 7 : )
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| “ With barely your lives! Curse it! you don’t mean to say you have been gone through, do ou “Waal, that’s erbout ther size of et, a hee We chipped in the driver. ‘‘ We got ther hold-up and clean-out in ther wu’st kind 0’ way.” Kentway went on like a crazy man, while the |) passengers alighted, and led the mine president | off in the direction of the hotel, loudly declaring | what he would do, and that without delay. _ ** We'll clean them out,” he cried, “‘ if it takes every man, woman and child of Pond Lily to do it. aiid This was a sensation, this robbery of the jal, and it was more of a sensation to learn j + a new chief was in the band, Iron Ivan. ‘Tron Ivan!” exclaimed the stranger, when he heard the name. ; ; ) » “Ther same,” assured the driver. |. “Then he is my man,” wasthecry, ‘I will ' have him, if I have to wade in blood to take m. ; ** An’ who mought you be?” was asked. “*T am Deadwood Dick, Jr.” ‘Ther dickens! Then I has word for ye. er outlaw sent his special regards ter you, an’ sent you a invite ter come an’ take him, ef yer ' Wants him.” ‘“‘ And it’s one that I'll accept,” the wounded man declared. ‘‘I am hot upon his trail, and _ he won't ae me for long. There will be a ' of reckoning, when 1 get hold of him.” ws. Who do you say you are, sir?” asked the wo- man tip hed alighted. ~The name was repeated, and the woman gave bim @ Searching look, The expression of her wasa puzzling one. ter on, when this lady had registered, tho who felt curiosity enough to look, saw t pegnanie was set down as Madge Marble, ncisco,. s. 2 CHAPTER VII. we ELECTING A NEW CAPTAIN. To return to the outlaws, after tieir bloodless . victory in their uodertaking. t _“ Youis ther chief, you is, by durn!” cried Thomas the Terrible, as he pumped away at Tron Ivan’s hand. _“I thought I could prove my wortb to you,” “Ivan laughed. ‘‘ But, this was only child’s play. _ The easiest job I have inal while.” OE Rut et mightn Se facile, yer bada't had ei%@r back ye up,” putin one of the band. “Ob, of course not; ladmit that. You are - good mea, every one of you, andI am proud of you. Now let’s get back to your camp. ‘** That’s ther ticket,” agreed Terrible Thomas. “We hev got a pile of collateral ter divvy. ,» Must be a couple o’ thousand, at ther least. ‘Dirn good streak o’ luck!” _. ** And it’s all yours, as I have said,” remarked Tron [van. ‘I don’t want any share in it, That was the arrangement, and I’m willing to live up toit. Ididn’t expect we would get enough to pay us for the trouble.” c “Et ar’ all ther better thet we hev,” declared Thomas surnamed Terrible. ‘‘We wull give you ther jolliest old toast you ever heerd on, when we gits back to ther camp, an’ don’t ye __ disremember et, uther. Durn me ef I don’t < feel like nommynatin’ you fer captain.” “Ob, don’t be in a hurry about that,” Ivan sed over. .‘' I’m satisfied with a less impor- if it is all the same to you. And now, 1omas, | turn the men over to you. I’ve b eed todo, and you seem satisfied my work, so now let’s going. We're ith the trail for the present,” ~ *"An’ et would be a durn, bog what wasn’t satisfied,” the Terrible declared. ‘“ Yas, come ‘on, boyees, an’ wel] amble. For’d, now, an’ we'll soon put distance abind us, Ding dong dast et, Iron Ivan, but you is ther cussedest cuss thet Lever met in mo life, you is! 1 can’t git _ over ther way yer done et, But, say, why in _ turaation didn’t yer kiss ther gal?” _“That’s ther question,” another chimed in. ‘ beg! missed ther best part of et, or I’m a ° Dp ° ? ** An’ say, What was et yer said to ther dame!” asked Thomas, ‘Et war lettin’ ber off too durn cheap, @t war; onless yer knowed her, an’ had other reasons,” “That was just it,” Ivan admitted. ‘She was a lady I have known, and I had the satis- faction of telling her who I am, so that she could have something to think about for awbile.” “Ha, that war it, hey? Sort o’ love affair in the days gone by, I reckons, Waal, that’s your business, an’ none 0’ ours, so we'll not meddle any more witb it. I wanted ter see ther fun o’ -your kissin’ ber, thougb— Haw! haw! haw!” “ . er <A, mane ees ee ee ‘Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise, “It might have made trouble,” the young stranger explained. ‘She is full of spirit, and might have kept her threat and killed herself. | I thought it best to let well enough alone, We'll let that drop, however. And now for the pe to see how much of a haul we have made They had started on, but now they increased their speed, and little more wassaid on the —_— When they arrived at Coffin Camp they dash- ed in upon the “‘ playground” with a whoop and a yell, ron lvan and Terrible Thomas leading. t was nearly dark, and the home guard rush- ed out tike hornets out of a nest, arined to the teeth and ready to offer fight, and this circum- stance told Iron Ivan something important, By it he saw that an attacking party, coming at night, or at any other time, for that matter, might overcome the men of Coffin Camp, if the force was great evough. And he resolved to mention it to Terrible Thomas as soon as he could, Seeing who they were, the home guard joined in the shout, and as soon as the returning con- querors drew rein, gathered around to learn the result of their raid upon the stage. And that result made known, there was a wild cheering that made the surrounding rocky walls ring. And then immediately, their probation over, the men who had been out rushed to the saloon to do harm to their bodies by imbibing freely of the vile stuff there on tap. Iron Ivan called Thomas the Terrible aside, after he—said Thomas—had “ wet his whistle,” andsaid: | ‘**There’s something I want to call your atten- tion to, and thatrightaway. Isee danger ahead for thiscamp. I want to tell you of it.” ‘* Tuer dickeus yer do!” was the exclamation, " Spit her out, then, Let’s hear it, although I can’t see how et ar’, Why, man, we could al- most defy ther reg’lar army, byar.” “Yes, I know, if you took it in time; but just suppose we had been enemies when we Pushed in here, with a hundred men at our backs; we could have cleaved out the place in five minutes, I tell you it won’t do,” Thomas the Terrible scratched his head. “We never thort of et in that light,” he ad- mitted. ‘ We has allus expected ter have notice enough, and we kin git under shelter an’ pepper ’em in half ther time et takes ter git hyar from ther p’int o’ rucks,.. But I allow you is. right, ef et had been az you says,” “Of course I’m right, and as long as I am here I want better protection,” ** What would you say orter be done, then?” ‘Have outposts to guard the approach, day and night.” “We does have ’em, 0’ nights, but never thort et was necessary ter hev ’em in ther daytime.” But you see itis, Why, a hundred mounted men from Pond Lily might sweep in here some time, when you were not expecting it, and they'd make you sick in a short time, t tell you. 4 “Yas, but yer see they dassen’t try et on. We has been too many fer em two or three times, an’ they is afeerd of us, You couldn’t git ’em ter go fer us in that’ar way, an’ I’m ettin’ on et, Thar’s no danger of the’r tryin’ et on.” “I don’t know about that. You see, this Deadwood Dick is around, and if you believe the stories you hear about bim, he would be just the man to propose such a thing. Besides this robbery will make Pond Lily wild, aud when Deadwood Dick learns that Jron lvan is with you, he will be after us red-hot.” ‘*-You talks sound sense, every time, yer does, Say, will yer take ther lead of ther camp, ef I’ll nommynate yer?” ; “Ob, no; I didn’t come here for anything of that sort.” ‘*But I wants yer to, Yer see et ar’ like this. Ther boyees all looks up ter me, ’cause Ive got ther name, but ter be honest with yer, Iain’t got ther bead fer plannin’. That was Gorrilly’s great holt, when he was sober.” ** And when be wag drunk he was worse than nobody. A drunken man bas got no business to be at the head of anything, e you in the habit of taking aboard more than you can con-’ veniently carry?” ‘**T must own thet I am, sometimes,” “ Well, if that is the case, and you really want me to take the lead of your band, I am willing, if the meu are.” ‘“‘That’s there cheese, skippers an’ all, I'll call a meetin’ ter oncet, an’ see what ther ver- dick wull be; but I knows a’ready, jest ez well ez I know me name,” os Thomas tbe Terrible was as good as bis word, a ee ee ee eee Getting up on the end of the bar—they were in the saloon—he called the wild crowd to order. “I wants yer ’tention,” he cried. “I has a proppyzition ter unfold to yer. I wants ther senty mints of ther crowd on what I’m goin’ ter say. Yer all knows thet Iron Ivan ar’ ther right sort of stuff, don’t yer.” ‘ Bet i life ont!” was the wild cry. ‘* Wull, he hey called my *tention to ther fack that this hyar camp ain’t ez safe from attack ez we hev allus supposed et ter be. He have spot- ted a weak p’int, an’ hey showed et tome. Now what more proof does we want thet he ar’ ther right sort of man ter tie to?” “«That’s all ther proof anybody could ask!” ‘‘ But what’s ther weak spot yer tells of?” That was explained by Iron Ivan himself, in about the words we have quoted, It was received by the crowd with much satis- faction. The truth of it could not be denied, and every word was approved. The outposts for the night, by the way, had been sent to their places, so there was nothing to look after for, the present, and a full meet- ing was in attendance at the Bob-tail. “ An’ that’s what I says,” voiced the Terrible. * Ary galoot what wull come hyar an’ take sich interest in our affairs, is ter be trusted. Now, boyees, I am in favor of resignin’ my ce in favor of Iron Ivan, He hev said he'll take et, ef you ar’ willin’.” 2 “ But it is an Honor I don’t seek, mind you,” Ivan putin. “It was proposed to me by your captain himself, Isn’t that so, Mr. Terrible?” ‘Yas, them’s ther facks of ther case. Et war all my doin’,” Thomas admitted, ‘* An’ we want yer, you bet we does!” sung out a voice, Said one man: “Ef ther capting ar’ willin’, we’d orter be, that’s sartain.” . “* Wull, ez many as is in favor of et, jest sing out,” the Terrible put to the test. There was the beginning of a wild shout of approval, and the motion would have been car- ried, but one voice louder than all the rest called a halt, ; ie ‘* Hol on, thar!” the voice bellowed, ‘I offers’. a mandymint ter that ’ar moshun, I does, EF . moves thet if ther candydate kin stand Thomas ther Turrible on his herd, in a friendly tussle, then he hey ther post o’ benor.” ' This. was received with wildest enthusiast). If you hold to that,” spoke Ivan, “I am not likely to win the place, for I see your captain is a bigger man than I am,” “Et don’t matter,” the man insisted. ‘‘ You is called ther Man-of Iron, an’ I opines thar must be a reason fer callin’ yer so. bat dyer say to et?” : “Well, Iam We if your captain is, seeing — that you insist upon it.” ““Bet ver life we does! What der you say, Torrible?”’ ““Wull, I'll try et on wi’ him, jest fer cod, but I wants bim ter bave ther posto’ capting jest ther same. I may have ther best o’ bim on mus- cle, but I know be holds ther best band on brain,” ** All right, jest ez yer plenses erbout that, but we wants ter see er leetle fun ez we goes erlong. Git ready fur et, now.” Saige So get ready they did, Iron Ivan and this other,and presently they were up face to face for a friendly wrestle, , ’ It was to be taken all in good part, and the best two out of three was to decide it, ‘ The men of Ccffin Camp well knew what their chief could do, andexpected that he would soon stand this stranger on his head, but still there was a reasonable doubt. y And it was that dcubt that made it interest- ing. They were all ready, as said, and at the word from him called Jonah, at it they were to go. And on the outcome of that wrestle was to rest the new cbief’s laurels, ‘‘Wull, ef yer is both ready,” spoke Jonah, T}] Jet er slide.” ** All ready,” answered they both. ‘““Then hyar goes; One, a two, an’ a three, Git thar Eli!” CHAPTER VIII. THE RESULT.—WAR EXPECTED, Ar the word, the two sprung at it, : It was to bea ‘‘catch as catch can” affair, and the first catch seemed to be all in favor of Thomas. / There was a brief struggle, and then presently down went Iron Ivan, under a force cf muscle which, apparently, he could not resist, And this was wildly cheered, as would bave been the. case anyhow. **T told you so,” Ivan remarked, as he got up
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> itp — pn areas BRE an ee heron Soe Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. again. ‘I guess 1 am not a match for your captain here. But he bad a better hold than I intend to let him get again, We'll see how it will go this time. [’m ready, sir, if you are.” — ‘““Dm all ready an waitin’” was the response, “an’ ef you kin dump me oncet out of ther three, I'll treat ther house. I’m ther king pin of this hyer camp, on a try ©’ muscle, an’ et wull take a hefty lift; ter upsof me, you bet. Now then, come for me, an’ let’s see what you kin do.” ae” They sprung together again, and this time seemed to get locked on a more even footing. There was apparently no advantage for one or the other, and for some seconds there was hard straining on both sides for the master Suddenly something happened, Trot Ivan seemed to let himself out an extra notch or two, as it was expressed, and up went the Terrible with his heels higher than bis head, At this the crowd cheered again. Straight up, and still up, did Iron Ivan raise ‘him, until he stood under him and had him wedged against the low ceiling, **T guess it’s my fall this time,” ke coolly observed, without any sign of effort. ‘‘ What shall I do with him? I don’t want to burt him, you know, so I'll have to handle bim gently.” * Dump him!” * Dump bim!” That was the cry from every side. ‘“¢-Yes, dump me, ef yer is gain’ ter,” the Ter- rible requested. ‘* Et ar’ no pleasant sitty wation ter be in.” “ All right, dumped you are, then,” and with that the man of iron brought his antagonist down and laid him out upon his back with as much ease as possible, “JT ber gol darn ef you ain’t wuss’n iron,” Thomas remarked, when he got up. ‘‘ You is steel, you is, an’ cold spring steel at that, How in ther dickens did yer do et, anyhow?” ** Well, Thad a hold more to my liking, that time,” was the reply. ‘‘ I am not a boaster, but I am not called the Man of Iron without reason, T can lift a pretty good weight, when I get at it in right sbape.” ‘*T should say so, an’ [ don’t reckon et ar’ necessary ter try that other round, do you, fellers?” ‘* Yas, yas! Ther other, by all means!” ** But this oue ought to offset two of ’em,” “F6 don’t mattergwe must have ther other ne; an! that settles it.” And the way the rough crowd ¢lamored for it, proved that it must be put to the final test. ; : The two men faced each other once more, an this time it could be seen that Thomas the Ter- rible fully meant to do the best he could. And so he did. He was willing to see this new-comer take his place as captain of the band, but he bad the human weakness of not wanting to see him excel himself in muscular strength. LF was @ pause, and again they caught te) This time, as at first, the Terrible seemed to pet the better hold, but it was speedily made of ittle use to him, Tron Ivan seemed to let out a wonderful show- ing of strength that he had been holding in re serve, and after a turn or two Terrible Thomas was standing on his bead, with nothing to sup- port him. Half a second he balanced there, and then over he went with a crash, but one that was scarcely heard amidst the shouting. **That’s ther style!” cried the fellow who had proposed this thing. ‘‘That’s what I like ter see. Now you is capting of our band, Mister Iron lvan, an’ we is mighty proud of yer, too!” ** An’ et ar’ ther Turrible’s treat!” another re- minded. ‘We won’t fergit that part of et, hey, fellers?” ** Wull, we ruther reckons not.” ‘Yas, et ar’ my treat, an’ 1am willin’ ter do et,” Thomas said, as lie gathered himself up. *T am beat, an’ I know et. Iron Ivan ar’ a better man nor me, an’ I am proud ter own et, Nommynate yer p’izen, galoots.” This the “ galoots” did not hesitate todo, and for a time the lightning dispenser was kept busy, Tron Ivan was acknowledged captain of the | camp, now, and he took hold of matters with a business hand. Making Terrible Thomas second in command, he directed him to appoint suitable watches fur day and night duty. That was quickly done, and the camp was to be guarded by reliable outposts, whose hours of duty were to be only four out of the twenty-four, so that there could be no excuse for sleeping on duty. Jron Ivan was admitted to bea man of iron, indeed, and the men felt his power from the moment of his taking hold as captain, “your fate, which is sure to fall. Finally he left the saloon, in company with | Thomas the Terrible, whose cabin he was to share, and the crowd was left to do their own pleasure, When they came to that cabin, however, and bad made a light, a surprise awaited them, There on the outlaw’s table, written in chalk, was this message: “To THE CAPTAIN OF THE Hosts at Corrrn Camp, “* GREETING :— ‘Kno vy yc by these presents that I, Deadwood Dick, Jr., have been in your midst this night, and that you are doomed. Within ten days every moth- er’s son of you will be under arrest. As for Iron Ivan, te)l him for me that his days are numbered. Tam after you, so look out forme, Make ready for This is no idle warning. You are doomed, as you deserve to be.” ‘What is this hyar?’ cried the Terrible, at sight of it. ‘* Just what I want to know,” responded Ivan. And be read it aloud, ‘*Great stars!” exclaimed Thomas, ‘‘ hev thet ’ar cuss been hyer? We'd better scour ther camp, an’ mebby w2’ll git him.” ; ‘“ Tittle hope of it, If he bas been here, and this certainly proves it, he bas taken care to get away again. But it will dono harm to try it, What did I tell you about taking care?” ‘An’ this hyar proves thet you war right, ‘We'll be onour guard night an’ day, an’ et will puzzle ’em ter git at us.” ‘*So my days are numbered, are they, Dead- wood Dick? Well, I suppose they are, but it will not be for you to make them longer or shorter. Your threats don’t scare Tron. Ivan greatly.” ‘‘No, ner me uther,” boasted the Terrible, ‘* Let us oncet git our grip onter him, an’ ef we don’t put him whar we had his effygy, you kin pot me thar. We’ll toast ther fat out of him, you kin bet,” They went out, and the alarm was given. Needless to say it stirred up the camp, and put a damper to further foolishness for that night, A search was made, but to no effect, and when finally the camp retired, it was with a feeling of strange insecurity in each breast, Coffin Camp had been considered impregna- ble, and so it was, almost, with proper manage- ment, bué on this occasion its denizens felt little | comfort in that thought. But if it felt that way upon. retiring, how was it next morning, when a far greater cause for uneasiness was discovered, Another find was made, that put the first to the blush. It was a startler. On the door of every cabin were chalked the names of the inmates, and each name was given a number, aie Wid Under the names were written the words— ** Soon to be gathered in, so take fair warning. **Deapwoop Dick, JR.” The first discoverer raised the cry that brought other denizens out, and on finding that every zabin was similarly scored, there was a terrible scene. i Some of the less brave were for leaving at once, and trying to make their escape while they might, but the majority laughed at this, saying they would stay and see it to the end. The guardsmen were called to account, but they declared that no one had passed their line, either in or out, ‘Kin et be possible that kivered ther other way?” So questioned one man. ‘“What other way?’ demanded Iron Ivan, im- mediately. of getting here,” “We haven't told yer everything yet,” an- swered Thomas the Terrible. ‘‘We have an- other way o’ gettin’ in an’ out when et ar’ ne- cessary ter use it,” f “The deuce you ‘have! Then you are all right.” } ther cuss hey dis- “You bet. Et ain’t so handy as this way,, but et wull do purty well in a pinch.” Iron Ivan did not ask to be shown it, He turned his sttention to things that were more immediately important, “Two men must be placed to guard that way, and that at once,” be declared, ‘If itis known to our enemy, it will be a good plan to lay a trap for bim there, I should say.” “ Bet yer life!” agreed the Terrible. ‘TI don’t see how he kin know that way, fer et ar’ one thet wouldn’t never be guessed, but et won’t be amiss ter bave it under our eye,” ‘** And there’s another thing,” Tron Ivan went on. ‘ We must prepare for an attack. There is no telling what minute one will be made, and we must bave every weapon in the camp ‘** T thought there was only one way’ loaded and ready for use. We must see to this without delay.” ‘] My i i "¥ tr ba oy! **Et shell be done, by mighty! D’yer hear; galoots? Bring out every gun, pistol an’ sich that yer kin find, an’ clean ’em up fer busi- ness. An’ then bave ’em all in yer Cabins, ready fer instant use, right whar ye kin lay yer paws onto ’em, Thar’s a spot o’ blood on ther moon,” These directions were carried out without de- lay, Iron Ivan lending a helping hand, and he was really the busiest man of them all, In a couple of bours all was made ready, and the outlaws rested upon their oars, so to say. ‘Now let ’em come,” said the Terrible, in a satisfied way. ‘' An’ ef they do, ef we don’t give ’em tber, wuss dose they have ever got,” — _ “ You can say that,” supported Iron Iyan, ‘I feel as safe bere as though we head a fort to de- fend ourselves in, Let them come if they are spoiling for a fracas. Dead wood Dick a thing or two.” iG “T should smile like ary kangaroo ef we couldn't.” So matters rested for the time being. Another excitement was in store, however. About an hour later the outposts came runnin: in excited and out of breath, declaring that ‘all Pond Lily was coming to wipe them out. That there was a furore then goes without. saying. the men into the cabins that were to be u: I guess we can show — the defense, and in less than twerty-..minutes — everything was in readiness to receive their enemies, Nota scul was in sight on the ‘ play- ground,” and the camp might be supposed either dead, asleep or deserted, = CHAPTER IX. bi THE CHIEFTAINS EXCHANGE GREHETI THIS was the outeccme of the turn | Pond Lily bad taken, The more Howlan it, the more enraged he bad béccme, until finally he “ sware in his wrath” that Cc flin Camp must be cleaned out, rad ley: Flea eG And haying wi to this fixed determination, — * he took counsel with Deadwood Dick as to the — best means of gét bated at length in one way and another, ffairs at Kentway bad thou bt of ae f Iron Ivan took things in hand, hustled — tting at it. And it was de-— There was no getting around the fact: that : Coffin Camp was ina positien to defend itself, by, oper sacar and that. it could met-be, take aT except at great cost to the par rattackisBok that reason it was decided to blockade the and try once more tostarveitout, © This time, it was argued, a better watch could be kept at home, and if the outlaws tried their former trick, they could be caught, And th seemed reasonable enovgh, So it was deter- | mined upon, and at an early bour the following morning a force of forty men set out under ~ command of the wounded detective, ; And this foree it was that caused such con- sternation at C fin Camp when their approach go a heap on bis geveralship.” “Tf he is at the head of it,” declared Iron Ivan, “vou can be sure that be has got some scheme on foot. And when he moves, YOU Can look out for a surprise, that is certain, 1 wy Le fins onter him, he will be in a pecooliar fix, an’ you kin tell yer neighbors that I SF ws. Weill roast him, jest ezsure as ther sun shines. Crack: but et would do me good ter have my gri afer - know ae ‘or éf mp ‘i / enough about the man to assure you thet be-< isp don’t work in ordinary ways, always. “© claim to be any smarter than other folk, has ways of bis own that are sometimes pecuuar, to sav the least,” pte “Waal, that ar’ all right, but ef we git our on him, an’ avenge ther death of Gorrilly’ Ji ke, t ceeeee
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- Now you is a man oO’ some brain, Iron Ivan, an’ ‘I want you ter see ef that very thing can’t. be ‘brought about. Kt wull be one stroke fer us an’ two fer yerself, yer see.” '. ‘We'll see what can be done. ' att} But I'm going out there and see what is going on.” ie -“ You'd best have a keer how yer shows yer- self.” FA ee But I don’t intend to show myself,” *“ How then wull yer go?” “Ti hug the wall. I want you and about a dozen men to come behind me, at a distance of a ‘couple of rods or so, so as to defend re in case ‘they try to capture me, If Deadwood Dick is in command, he won’t shoot me; he’d rather have Vea be me alive.” cearks, “3 ‘ “Good ernough; I’m yor primrose fer that ‘ eg Git ready, an’ ll bave ther men on hand, So the Terrible went out, and when Iron Ivan appeared, masied, and with his peculiar cloak on, he found him with his picked dozen, ready to accompany him. ._. - “J see you are ready,” Ivan remarked. “Yas, you bet.” r ‘* Well, come along after me, and if they try to scoop me in, don’t hesitate about cutting them down, And take care not to plug me in mis- take,” - a "You kin trust us fer that. Lead on, an’ thy we'll be after yer, an’ you bet we'll stand at yer cK back till yer belly caves in, too, Thar’s no “,) coward blood in us, ef I do say et myself,” gee Tecan believe that. Well, bere goes.” tH. “So. the Man of Iron set off at a rapid stride, keeping close to the wall, and heading for the point of rocks, And after him marched the men, in open order; ready to carry out his directions in event of its becoming necessary for them to do so. They were a grim, villainous, hard - looking crew. [il would it fare with Deadwood Dick, if they _-ence got bold of bim, and it hardly seemed ~ . gredible that he had really venture! into their denon the previous night, tae proof to the con- “trary notwithstanding. But it would not be i well for him to come again, as all declared, - Tron Ivan moved steadily forward until the ‘| point of rocks was reached. / There he stopped, and removing his hat, peered »eautionsly around, taking a good survey of the Scene beyOtide. i. ae “Reon he had evidently satisfied himself, he drew Baek and motioned for his lieutenant and ~~ ‘the men to approach, and they advanced and joined him. ; ‘* What ar’ et like?” questioned the Terrible. “They have laid siege to us, and no doubt bf about it,” was the answer. / |‘ & How many be thar of ’°em?” es “Fifty, at aguess. Take a look at them.” bud The Terrible poked his head around the cor- mer and surveyed the scene as [van had done. _. “That’s what they means, sure as shootin’,” he agreed. ‘They has their line clear across ther open, an’ a mouse couldn’t git through.” ‘‘ And it looks like the work of Deadwood Dick. I guess I'll step out and hail them, and ‘ive them a word of defiance. It won’t do any Barto let them know that we know they are there,” “Tat That's so; but be keerful they don’t plug Aline ie “ Better show a flag o’ truce,” suggested one man, ‘f Moe | lea ' “Think I will do that,” T 2 t aloft, 8 lello!” he called out. The attention of the other camp was drawn at once, and it could be seen that excitement pre- m if ) ol agreed. ‘“ They a we penton likely to disregard that, and it will be Ui Je: DORM Ae: ‘ * . Ta a handkerchief from his pocket, he Pe | aa upon the rifla of one of bis men, and pt bole t + amen out into plain sight, | = - v 4 : fii, et aL wes pamto d along, and presently came a man who had one arm in oy \ * Se y op Nea Iron Ivan called vea flag of truce flying, and I sregard that, Thought per- re to see me alive and well.” 1 glad to see you alive and well, 6s the response, ‘It shows me y is ready for me, I find you in , as usual, and, as you see, we are Dea | preparing to starve you out. You had better surrender,” ‘“*Ha! ha! ha!” was the defiant laugh, ‘I rather guess not, my jolly detective. If you want us, come and take us. You will get the warmest reception you ever got in your life. And you can’t starve us out, eituer, for we have enough provision on hand to last us half a ear, ‘“*T know you are lying when you say that,” was the retort. ‘‘I sized up your camp last night. But I didn’t suppose you would surren- der, No matter, you hold out a little while, and the first you know I will have the whole nest of you, big and little together. Just tell your men that Deadwood Dick says so. What did you want to say to us—avnything impor- tant?” ‘Yes, something important,” was the re- sponse. “I want to say to you that Jam cap- tain of this band now, and that I defy you and allthe force you can bring with you. And I want to tell you that if wecapture you, as we intend to do if we can, you will wish you had never been born.” ‘‘Tcan laugh at all that, Iron Ivan. ‘You know me well enough to know that I don’t scare, Slink back into your rat’s hole, and remain there till I am ready to drag you out. And it wort be a great while, either.” “All right, we will await your pleasure, but devil help the first man of you who shows his nose around this point of rocks.” ** You bet!” approved Thomas the Terrible, in low tone. ‘‘ Give et to’em, Iron Ivan.” “Itis neediess to warn us of that,” was the returning shout. ‘Don’t teke us for fools, When we make a move it will be one that will surprise you.” “ All right; but what’s the matter with your arm?” **Oh, nothing, only a pill I laid out your other captain. back with interest,” ‘* Take care the next one you get doesn’t strike nearer home, that’s all. And now good-by for the present. See youlater, Ta, ta!” ‘“Yes, you shall see me later, [ promise you that,” was the responding shout. ‘* Ha! ha! ha!” And with that wild, defiant langh, Irom Ivan drew back behind the protecting corners=——- “That will let them know that. we are ready for them,” he observed, ‘‘ It will do them good to let them see that we are wide awake.” “Yas, you bet it will. An’right here an’ now, Iron Ivan, we wants ter tender ter you our most humble ’polegy.” ‘* Your apology?/ What for?” ** Why, fer ther wrong we done yer when yer fu’st kem ter camp yesterday. We took you fer Deadwood Dick, yer knows,” ‘*Oh, don’t mention that. It was a mistake you were likely to make anyhow, and you can’t too careful, you know. It shows that you are not asleep, and that a fraud couldn’t be worked on you. t “Wull, we takes et back, anyhow, We has now had all ther proof we wants thet you ar’ ther genoowine article, with ther stamp mark still on yer. We has ther consait that we knows ther genoowine when we sees et, an’ ef we gits tooken in et wull be our own fault, an’ we won't kick.” ‘* That’s a sensible view to take of it. If you get fooled, when you are sober and have your eyes open, then you hadn't ought to kick. But, now let’s get back to the camp, and see what else can be done to strengtben our lines, You have pot the night 1 will pay that “You say you have another way out of here?” questioned firs Ivan, then. “You bet we has!” was the exclamation. **Come, an’ we'll show et to yer at oncet, an’ see what yer tbjnks of et.” i All right, I will, and to-night I may have oc- casion to use it. Deadwood Dick has been here and has Written his defiance on our doors; I ae, think Jron Ivan will return the compli- ment, ‘itl This was greeted with wild approval, and Thomas the Terrible led the way to show the other ns of communication with the outer world. CHAPTER X. INQUIRY FOR DEADWOOD DICK. NEAR the middle of the camp, yet back nearly to the wall, was a well. It bad been dug taere the first time the camp dwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. | eo een had been under siege, when it was death to go to the creek for water. ; ga 8 As the camp was on a flat, it was reasonable to suppose that water would be found at no very great depth, and so the pent-up outlaws, almost — in despair, then, had begun to dig forit. § _ They went down some twenty feet or more, witbout auy sign of water, and were in some- | thing of despair, when suddenly a surprisin; thing bappened to them, Tbe bottom dropped out of their well, and the diggers were deposited some feet below, in astream of running water, Fortunately it was not deep, and was running — sluggishly, and no harm wasdone. In fact, it was a blessing to them, and proved a blessing in more ways than one, later on. The men were hauled out, a supply of water was taken, and after that the men set about ex- ploting their find. A ladder was made, and half a dozen of them went down. ey had torches, and were gone a consider- able time, When they returned they bad good news to report, They had found something of a cavern down below, and following it, had found a way out. They held the best hand, after all! And this was the secret of the matter. Iron Ivan wondered where the entrance to the way of escape could be, He had had his eyes well about him, had made a search for itin a quiet way, and was puzzled to know, When Thomas the Terrible led the way, with a rope ladder on bis arm, he was puzzled all the more, He imagined it must be through a hole under some one of the several sbanties, What was his surprise, then, to be led direct to the camp’s well, which he had never thought of in connection with the secret, ** You don’t mean to tell me that you get out this way?” he said, ‘Waal, I reckons we does, then!” laughed the Terrible. ** But, how do you get'ou1? Where does the well lead to? This is a plan that could never be suspected, Ha, ha, ha! Déadwood Dick, we can laugh defiance at you!” ; ‘*T should cough up a couple o’ cats ef we couldn't,” Thomas a d. ‘* Why, et would puzzle ther Olid Boy himself ter guess ther — An’ yer see that ’ar cabin thar bides ét - secret, fromrther other side. pose,” He was then given the story of the means of escape, how it had been discovered, etc, And when the story bad been told, Thomas the Ter- ee invited him to go down and »e for him- self, inf To this Iron Ivan agreed, fi «ly, and he and the Terrible went down, bem.\ag torches, The ladder was of sufficient’ iength to lower them to the water, and they stepped off into the bed of the underground creek, ‘** Now then, right this hyar way,” conducted Thomas, ‘‘ an’ we'll soon be goin’ through one of ther dandiest caverns yer ever sot eyes on in yer life. Follow me, an’ don’t be afeerd,” ‘* Little danger of my being afraid, I think,” was the cheerful response, Thomas led the way, and a wild, awe inspir- ing way it was, For’ a distance they followed the bed of the creek, then came toa place where the cavern broadened, and here they left the creek and walked alongside of it, t And here was one of the grandest sights eve seen, in its line. The top and sides cf the cavern were covered with gleaming stalactites, which flashed and glinted under the ‘torchlight as though composed of diamonds, => But this by the way. They pressed on, keep- ing to the course of the creek, and finally light was seen ahead. “Thar is daylight,” spoke Terrible Thomas, then, ‘‘ an’ we'll soon be out,” **T wonder this cavern has never been dis- covered from the other side.” “Yer won’t, when yer sees ther hull of et.” Finally the opening was reached, and the roar of a falls greeted their ears as they came to it. ' Here the creek rolled lazily out, suddenly to start into life as it went over the ledge and dashed itself below a bundred feet or more. 4 Tron Ivan looked out and down, Below the falls, half the distance down, was a ledge, from which escape looked possible. ‘* Now yer sees bow et ar’,” spoke his guide, ** We has a ladder hyar, an’ we lets if down, an’ down we goes.” . He threw arope-ladder over while speaking, and laid hold upon it to descend, telling Ivan to follow him. “It would bea bad joke to find the ladder Et war put thar on pur-
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ee cide ee eee ‘“*Wull, Pil go with yer, ez fur as ther trail AT THE ROYAL PRINCESS, leads to ther main trail, an’ thar Pl) wait till THE remainder of that day at Coffin Camp doh yer comes beck, Then yer won’t make no mis- | passed quietly. and noted the golden stream that was pouyving take.” No attack was made on the camp by the be- | into her coffers. And she noted Iron Ivan as he “Just the thing, We'll have it understood so.” | sieging party, and there was no indication that | approached. Sh eaees That settled, after a further look around, apd | any would be made. Not far from ber, at one of the small tables, — further explanations on the part of the Terrible, Night came on, and when the outposts bad | with one of the mentioned enticingly arrayed they setyout on the back track to Coffin Camp. | been stationed, and every precaution against | girls beside him, sat the flashily dressed man with was quiet there, when they arrived, and | surprise had been taken, Iron Ivan arnounced | mustache and imperial who had that afternoon leaving them for the present, let us turn a little | his intention of going to the city of Pend Lily. | made inquiry for Deadwood Dick, , of our attention to Pond Lily, where we have *T want to show them that Iron Ivan is as He, too, noticed the approach of the stran er, passing interest, and where exciting scenes are | good aman as Deadwood Dick, every day in the | and glanced immediately at the Queen of Diamonds, feeling like a queen indeed, per vii? as she surveyed this den of iniquity, ai keeee Sd - » 10 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. ——— = ; J pulled up when we wanted to get back, the lat- “‘T can believe that. May I ask a question or It was something after nine when Iron Iyan ter remarked, two?” walked boldly into the Princess Royal. z “Thar’s a way of gettin’ around that, too,” ‘“ Why, certainly.” There was now a different scene from what was the reply. ‘*Have you heard of a man called Deadwood | we saw awhile ago. L3 ** And how is it?” Dick as being around here?” To begin with, the place was now ablaze with | _ ** Yer see ther top byarar’ open fer a distance ‘*T have; he is here now, or not right in the |} lights, and a band was dispensing the latest pop- — back, an’ et ain’t very high.” camp, perbaps, but has his headquarters here at | ular airs. Yes,” present.” In the far end of the long room was a stage, i) **Wull, thar’s a trailas leads around to et, ‘You know who and what he is, of course.” upon which two seantily attired young women an’ all that has ter be done is ter go around, ‘““A fearless detective, if all said of him is | were giving a song and dance exhibition to an : elimb up, an’ then drop in.” true.” admiring audience. ‘ **T see; but why isn’t that used altogether?” “Yes: allof that. Have you seen him?” Nearer the front were gaming tables, well fill- * “Et most allus is, daytimes, but o’ nights et ‘Yes; I have, sir.” ed with eager, feverisu devotees of that sort of : ar’ safe enough ter leave ther ladder down.” ~ “Do you think he will be in your place, to- | amusement, while the foreground was occupied k ' Tron Ivan was posting himself upon every | night?” by the gorgeously appointed bars, i particular. ‘It is very hkely that he will, if he is in town Between the bars and the gaming-tables were They descended the ladder, and the guide led | at all. My place is the main attraction, I am | numerous drinking tables, and the same occupied © the way to a point where the camp of Pond | proud to say.” the space beyond nearer the stage. A great { f Lily could be seen from the ledge, **I donot doubt your word. Its appearance | crowd was present, and moving about among qi “ Thar she be,” he remarked, ‘‘ an’ you bet et | proves it. Now if Iam here, and this man | these tables, and elsewhere, were enticingly ar- ’ war a surprise to em ther night we galoots went | comes in, will you do me the favor to point him | rayed girls of varying degrees of good looks, an’ robbed ’em of feed enough fer a month or | out to me,” n sucha place as this, a stranger attracted more,” ‘** You intend him harm?” little notice upon entering, unless be did some- — “T can well imagine it, and it will be a sur- **'No, not at all.” thing out of the usual todraw attention upon ey to them to-morrow morning, when they “Very well, then, I will do what you re- | himself, ; d the mark of Iron Ivan around their city | quest.” : Nothing of this sort did Iron Ivan, but ad- walls, sotosay. Let’s go on, and you can show The stranger expressed his thanks, and pres- | vanced down the room with cool and leisurely me the trail.” ently went out. Who and what was het What | air, bis handsome face wearing its half smile, “*T war thinkin’ about that,” was the answer. | was his business with Deadwood Dick? and his keen eyes taking in everything that was “ ** We mought be seen. Tell yer what is better. to be seen, If you is bent on goin’ thar ter-night, why—” CHAPTER XI On the right of the room, half-way down and “* And I am, if all is quiet at the camp.” - opposite the gaminy-tables, sat the Queen of shortly to take place. week,” he declared, ‘‘It won’t do for them to | monds, as if toinquireif this was the man he The leading saloon of Pond Lily was the | have the laugh on us, pards, nct by any means. | desired to find, , * Royal Princess.” When they awake to-morrow morning they will | The wcman understood the meaning of bis | a _ It wasa palace in its way, and was managed | find our defiance written all over their town.” glance, and sbook her head in the negative, by a woman, one ‘Queen of Diamonds,” so ‘¢ That's ther proper tune!” coincided Thomas, The man looked disappointed. Evidently he had taken this to te bis man. Tron Ivan came on, glanced at the man at the table, and on to the Queen of Diamonds, and thence tethe gaming. 4 ae Giving a little attention to that, fora tose utes, be moved on toward ‘the where a | handsome girl bad just appeared to rendera = 7» ~ song, ani sat down at a vacant table, “4 He had taken a seat witb his back to the wall, where be could not cnly see what was going on upon the stage, but bad a full view of alithe © rest of the room as well, And soonafter he had taken hisseat one of the girl waitersapproached. “What will you have, Charlie?” she asked, smiling. ‘You baven’t guessed right,” was the re- sponse. ‘*My name isn’t Charlie, by several de- grees, You may bring a‘bottle of wine, how- ever, if you will sit down and drink it when it is brougtt.” “Tl do that, you bet!” was the exclamation, and away the girl tripped, evidently well pleased with the strike she bad made, F “Fie ina ot The witie was soon before them, with glasses, | ~ and she proceeded to pour it out. , ‘“* Hold on,” checked Ivan, when one glass had been filled, “Don’t pour any forme”, i ““Not pour any for you!? in the greatest ~ amazement. Alo ate ree “So I seid. I don’t indulge in that sort of | thing any more. If you will think, you wil) re- | member that I ordered iton condition that you | would drink it yourself.” less you want to,” } ae ' “ All right, pourit, if itis better for your busi- ness, and then if you do not object we'll talka | ~ little. Iam astranger ory J ho, era ier? but you can give me a good deal of mformation, . But what shall I call you? A girl without &. he name is a poor piece of furniture.” The woman laughed. ty i “Rather, I should smile,” she responded. “You may cell me Daisy, Ar dl am a daisy, - too, you bet!” she exclaimed, archly, a |} wink, ‘And as for inforination, Pm as of | it as Tam of fun, and I’m as full of fun a “aS ) Iean be, And now what amI tocallyou,since | . you say that your name isn’t lie,” \); “a * Gall me Charlie, as that is the seemed to think would fit me,” was | : c-. —-galed. surnamed Terrible, ‘‘ Go, an’ good luck go with 3 ~~ $Ge was a woman of between thirty and forty, | yer, An’ ef yer kin see Deadwood Dick one in point of years, with well-preserved_appear- | Letter, do et,’ : ance and stately carriage. “T will, be sure of that. But, about your She was rather large of m, used a super- | going with me to the end of the trail—your ae ead of paint and powder, and displayed a | piace is here. Another man can go with me t _ wealth in diamonds that was simply amazing. | just as well, any one who is well acquainted Her appearance told ber story, and she was one | with the trail,” of the best own characters of the * city.” “ Jest what I war thinkin’ erbout before you Her palaé.: was one of the several ‘ wicked” | mentidned et. It won't do fer loth of us ter he spots of the cup, and was a favorite resort for | absent ter oncet, that’s sure, an’ et ar’ je-tez 1 who wantéd to see the “elephant,” that } sure thet J ain’t ther one ter go ter Pond Lily. fabled animal of uawritten fame. Now hyar is Jonah, who knows ther trail all the reader remember what Deadwood | right, an’ he will be jest ther one.” was, when in its glory? ‘*Very well, then, you and I for it, Jonah, 1 Let him picture this camp of Pond Lily on the | don’t suppose you are the same Jonah who same scale, and he will have it in mind as it | swallowed the whale, but you look like a pretty was, honest outlaw, on the whole, so Vl take you,” What the * Metropolitan ” was to Deadwood, ‘¢ Honest!” exclaimed Jonah. ‘I’m ther that was the ‘‘ Princess Royal” to Pond Lity. It | most honestest boss-thief you ever sot eyes on, was all the imagination can picture, and maybe | Iam, ‘You'll find that I’m ther r’ale prime ar- ‘a more. Pen description is uncalled for. ticle, and ther best jedge o’ poor whisk in ther “Ar el On this afternoon all was quiet within its | hull durn bills.” walls, “And that reminds me, Thomas,” said Iron Night was the time when it held its bigh revel, | Ivan, ‘‘ tbat ttere must be no drinking here. apd when the “‘ elepbant” was on exhibition. Every man must be as sober as a judge, ready } : Tne *‘ Queen of Diamonds” bad just come in, | to defend our camp if an attack is mad«.” } having slept all thé forenoon and baving just ‘Trust me ter see ter that,” promised the Ter- bad dinner at this late hour at the hotel. rible. ‘ Thar’ll be no drinkin’, that I ‘sure yer. She was looking around her domain, giving | Not ef Terrible Thomas is any good, an’ he orders here and there where things were not to | thinks he ar’,” | her liking, and was seeing that everything was That point was insisted upon by the new cap- being put in order for the night’s business. tain of the bard, whoevidently bad the well- While she was thus engaged, a rather flashily- | being of the camp at heart, and when other de- dressed man entered, looking idly around. tails had beeu arranged, Iron Ivan and bis man 31 He was not a bad-looking man by any means, | Jonah set out. was perbaps thirty-five years old, had mustache Descending the well, they went through the and imperial, and sported considerable jewelry. | cavern in the ranner before described, descend- The quick eye of the Queen of Diamonds soon ; ed again to the trail at the falls, and thence on caught sight of him, and she gave him a nod of | in the direction of Pond Lily until they came welcome, aithough he was a stranger to ber and | out upon the main trail, where a halt was called. had never, to her knowing, been in her place be- * And here is where you are to wait for me, “i > oe cia fas P ada yt Ivan questioned. 4 rs e responded to the greeting, and advanced, her identic spot, ’cordin’ ter program, »“*A gay palace you have here, madam,” he | Jonab assured, ie ier . poke, ‘Very well, then, here I will leave you, “Tt is asleep now,” was the smiling answer. | Don’t get into trouble, and don’t fail to hail me ““Tf you want to see it alive, drop in at ten or | if [ go by when I return,” f eleven to-night.” ** Yours to ther boots,” Jonah responded. ‘I “T can imagine all that,” was the rejoin- | ain’t ther same Jonah of ther whale story, but I der, ‘‘I am not new to such places, I assure | weigh jest as many ounces to ther pound, an’ I'll you, By the way, you know everybody here, I | det on et, You kin pend on me,” — a ‘suppose. y } Jonah was something of a great talker, but ‘Oh, no; Ido not claim that distinction. Still, | Iron Ivan cut bim short on this occasion, and there are not many faces unknown to me,” was soon on bis way to Pond Lily, j ; Bee =e ee
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4 , *‘Now don’t look around when I ask you this question, as that will give it away; but do you * know who that man is over there by the table near the Queen of Diamonds?” - *©¥You mean the one with the girl in red with him?’ ‘“ Exactly.” “Give it up. He’s a stranger here, same as you are, He’s been here an hour or more, and seems quite stuck on Rosy.” “ Have you ever heard of Deadwood Dick?” - 4 Yes;"ne’s in the camp, or was,” “ This isn’t he, then,” ““Oh, no; nary. Dickey is younger, better looking, and has one arm in the hospital at. resent.” ** Disabled is around, night?” ** Another man who wants to see Deadwood Dick, are you?” Tron Ivan looked at her questioningly. ‘¢ What do you mean by that?” he asked. “Why, the stranger over there with Rosy, asked Queen of Diamonds about him this after- noon.” “* About whom!” “ Deadwood Dick, of course.” ** The deuce he did,” and Ivan looked across at the stranger with renewed interest. ‘‘I wonder what he can want with him,” . A PWnever tell you. I was in here this after- eh? I wanted to see him, if he Do you think he will be in here to- es _4~w=g00n when he came in, and I heard him ask EF BP a ee Queen if she would point him out to him, if he came in this eveuing, and she said she would.” “Perhaps, then, they mistook me for him, when I entered, for [ noticed that the woman - gave him a slight negative nod.” - ** Likely enough, if she did that.” * And you don’t know who he is,” ““Nary, as I said before.” “* Well, perhaps we shall see when Deadwood +:.<-Pick comes in, if he does come in. I hope he means him well, that’s all.” ‘* Then you are Dick’s friend, I take it,” “Oh, yes, sure,” with a smile that was a puzzle to the girl. She did not know how to take such a smile as it was, Tron Ivan was looking in the direction of the ..... front, just now, and entered as he spoke a _— young man with hisarminasling. It was the whom he lad been asking, Deadwood _~ “Hello! perbaps this fellow is he,” he re- marked, by “« Yes, that’s him,” said the girl, with a glance around, * But how is it you don’t know him, if you're bis friend” “It is not uncommon for a man to have friends he bas never seen,” Ivan responded. And he watched the wounded man’s approach, oe What was to come of a meeting such as this! he was. te a | - man who . per * he k CHAPTER XII. TROUBLE ON THE TAPIS, THE man sauntered down toward the center of the room: with careless 2ase, Known there, much attention was turned to him as soon as he was noticed, and many eyes were upon him with keen curiosity. th a reputation such as his, Deadwood Dick ‘was a man to draw just such attention, wher- ever he made himself known, His recent doings further north, and now his having killed Guer- Trilla Jake, lionized him. Tren Ivan had his eyes upon him, as said, and 80 paying attention to the Queen of Jian $ and the stranger who bad made in- quiry of her concerning Deadwood Dick, _ The Queen noted the glances turned toward the front, and _ was had entered, _ With a glance at the man at the table near cher, she gave him a signal that bis man bad come. y The stranger bad quickly looked, and seeing the man indicated, rose from the table, ck to follow them, saw who it “Why, be’s wounded!” Iron Ivan heard him - exclaim. ‘Yes, a bullet in his arm, received the night illed Guerrilla Jake the outlaw,” the woman answered. , Her reply was not in tones loud enough for ‘Ivan to hear, but be saw that the wounded man bad heard what the stranger bad said, He turned him glance upon his immediately. _ There was no Sign of recognition iv the look he gave him, but rather an expression of sur- prise upon his fece. _ He came steadily on, turning his attention to the gaming-tables as he drew near to them, and Diao | giving no further thought to the spoken converning his wound. » ‘ Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. Rosy, the girl inred, had risen at the same time the stranger did, greatly surprised, no doubt, at his sudden move, and stood just bebind him, Iron Ivan was observing everything. He saw a look upon the stranger’s face that boded ill for Deadwood Dick, Hastily paying nis score, be took abrupt leave of his Daisy and moved out toward the center of the room. As the wounded but lionized hero came on, the stranger moved out to meet him, and presently planted himself right in front of him, demand- ing: ** Are you Deadwood Dick?” ‘That is what I am called, sir,” was the easy response. ~ ‘*T’m glad you own it, for I have got a bone to pick with you, and I’m sorry you’re wound- ed ‘* A bone to pick with me, eh?’ repeated the lion, not at all frightened. ‘‘I don’t know you, and can’t imagine what your ‘bone’ can be, as you call it. Still, you need not let my wounded arm make any difference.” Spoken like Deadwood Dick, truly, **But it does make a difference. Were it not for that, I would give you a cut in the face that would make you hot for a fight. As it is, I can’t strike you.” ‘‘But who are you? Where does your pain seem to lie?” ‘Who aml? Who but the brother of a man whom you sent to prison for twenty years! You have got to answer to me for that, if not now, then at some other time. I can wait for your arm to get well.” Iron Ivan was moving near them, and now the attention of the whole room was upon them, The Queen of Diamonds had left her place, and now touched the stranger upon the arm, Her manner was fall of tigerish resolve, **You told me that you meant this man no harm,” she reminded, **Neitber do I, any more harm than he de- serves,” was the response, ‘**'You deceived me, and I demand that you drop this quarrel at once, in my establishment.” ‘*No harm shall be done your establishment, madam,” was the rejoinder, ‘‘The man is in no shape to defend himself, so for the present I must let the matter drop.” “But J do not let itdrop, not by any Wears,” { the wouvded man spoke up, ‘You have ad- dressed me in a manner that you must answer for, If I sent your brother to prison for twenty years, you ought to join him,” ** You offer that as an insult!” “If you want to take itso. If I am wounded, I can still shoot, and if you want anything of me, let us go out and settle it—twenty paces,” ** No; Pll wait for your arm,” was the retort, “and then we’ll have it out at a shorter range. In the mean time, take that as a reminder to keep your blood boiling, so you will be in the right trim,” ; _With tbat, he reached out, quickly, and gave his wounded enemy a stinging slap on the cheek, . Quick as a wink the man’s well arm shot out. aimed at the ruffian’s nose, but the blow was neatly parried, and the rascal laughed. You will have to wait till your arm gets well,” he sneered, ‘and then it will give me satisfaction to do you up,as the boys say. You have the name of being something of a terror, but if you are you do not prove it with that crack,” ** [ll skow you about that,” was the fierce re- tort. ‘“ Wounded as Lam, I am pot going to stand ree abuse tamely. Look out for your- self. I will whip you with one arm, or take a whipping, just as it happ’ns.” And the man stepped forward, with arm ready to begin, when l:on Ivan took a hand in the affair. - ‘*Pardou my interrupting, gentlemen,” he spoke, ‘“‘ but I have a word to say before this goes any further, Are you Deadwood Dick, ¢ “Yes, I am Deadwood Dick,” the wounded man answered, “Very well, then, I am a man.whom you know, and yet who is unknown to you just now. You are inno condition to fight, or even defend yourself. Allow me to take up your cause against this cur.” ‘Have a eare,” cried the stranger, ‘or you will have a cavse of your own to attend to, I allow no man to call me a cur or any other name. For a single penny I would knock you off your pins, Tkisis no affair of yours, and you want to keep out of it.” “Knock me off my pins, would you? Ivan sneered, ‘* Let me know when you begin tu co 11 it, coward, And coward you are. No other would strike a wounded man.” wat The Queen of Diamonds had taken steps to have the men put out, or at any rate to separate them, but by the time she got her forces to- gether the crowd was too great for them to do anything. And that was just the kind of a crowd that had rather see the difficulty to the end, than to have it nipped in the bud. The men shouldered up closely, and refused to make way, so the chances were tbat the trouble would have to be settled by the three men concerned. “You seem to want to get yourself into trouble,” cried the stranger. ‘‘Teare little whether I do or not,” was the response. ‘* You can’t impose on this wounded man when I am around.” — ** And who the deuce are you?” ** A match for you, I fancy.” ‘We'll see about that, curse you!” “ All right, whenever you. please. May I. make your cause my own, while I am about it, sir?’ to the wounded man, “Tt is asking too much,” was the response, “Tam not afraid of him, and he can no more than whip me anyhow, I will show him that Deadwood Dick is no coward, in spite of report.” “And whip you he probably would, sir, dis- abled as you are, Step back, and let me polish him cff. “You seem to speak as though you are sure you Can do it,” the stranger sneered, ‘‘T have that much conceit for you to knock out. of me, anyhow,” Iron Ivan declared, ‘*Come for me, now, and let me see »what you are made of.” **Gentlemen!” the Queen of Diamonds con- tinued to cry out, ‘‘Gentlemen! This must go no further! I will not bave such scenes here in my palace! I forbid it. You must desist and withdraw to the s reet!” She did not want such scenes, that was true, but they were of almost nightly occurrence in her gilded den of iniquity. Quite often she could 7 the storm before it burst, and get the belligerents outside, but quite as often she could not, and the trouble was settled there, So, little atterltion was paid to ber just. xe, to keep her men from interfering toric ; bo uth **T'll show you what I am made of,” the stria- ger retorted, ‘1 don’t know who you are, and don’t care, Ill show you that you can’t frighten Idaho Jo, and don’t you forget it!” ‘*Ha! so you.are Idaho Jo, are you? Glad to know you. Perbaps we shall become better ac- quainted before we leave Pond Lily. I hope so, anyhow,” ‘* What do you mean by that, curse you?” “Just what I say, of course, I’m going to introduce myself to you now in a way that will mark a begiuning, Are you ready?” ‘* Yes, I am ready.” ; “*Then look out. Where will you have it?” | * Right there!” With the word, his arm shot out, intending to take Ivan squarely on the jaw, but the blow was warded off easily. ‘* That is a tunny ago to hit a man,” Iron Ivan taunted. “If I bit you there I am not likely to do you much damage, I fancy, See how you like it here,” There was a feint, the stranger warded, and before he could recover again, the intended blow followed. Ivan’s fist caught him on the chest with a tap that made him stagger. ‘*T don’t want to spoil your beauty for you,” Ivan remarked, ‘‘ or I would bave let you have it on the nose, Maybe a few like that will show you that you have taken hold of the wrong pig this time, What do you think about it?” — The stranger was too enraged to answer, He was white to the lips, and his eyes gleamed murderously. With a snarl, he sprung forward, aelivering two quick, peer blows, first with one fist an then with the other, Both were turne? aside with the utmost ease, and Iron Ivan stood there laughing at him, while the crowd gave a round of applause, For the crowd it was the best kind of sport, CHAPTER XIII, PECULIAR HAPPENINGS. Tpano Jo was not an unknown character altogether, There were men in that room who had heard of bim, one of whom, by the way, was Dead- wood Dick. Not only bad he beard of him, but he wasa man whom he wanted. With the others who
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Deadwood Dic ‘of ‘him, be had heard little good of gst he was a blackleg of low degree. thé moment Idaho Jo was thoroughly Such neat and easy sparring as this was some- thing he was not accustomed to, Something of an artist himself, in the fistic way, he did not know what to make of this, * You will do, stranger,” remarked the wound- ed Deadwood Dick, ‘I eouldn’t doit any more neatly myself, and in truth not half so well. Go for him, and give him a gentle reminder for me while you are about it,” “‘ He will not do it again,” declared Idaho Jo, boastingly. ‘I see be 1s a little better posted in the art than I thought be was. Til try you again, my fine fellow, and see what you will make of it. Now put up your dukes, and Ill settle for you in short order.” **Tf you can,” remarked Ivan, smiling. Idaho Jo advanced, sparring his ablest, and ‘fora few moments there was as neat an exbibi- tion as is rarely seen. ,; Then came a moment when there was an open- ing, straight for Ivan’s nose, and it was an op- portunity too good to be missed. Idaho Jo’s arm shot out with lightning quickness, But that opening proved to have been a trap —a delusion and a snare, as it were. It disap- peared even quicker than the blow, and the blow was turned aside, almost taking Jo off his feet. It was asurprise again. It did not end there, however, for when the force of the blow had carried Jo around, side to his opponent, Ivan:caught him by the neck and seat and pitched him bodily over the heads of the crowd, where he fell sprawling in the most undignified way that can be imagined, The crowd cheered, to a man. ** Who are you, stranger?’ was the shout that was raised. — l ‘‘A better man than [ am, at present, at any rate,” declared Deadwood Dick the wounded. “But no better man than Deadwood Dick, when hé is in good order, of that I assure you, gentlemen,” Ivan declared. There was no time to say more. The crowd moved back from where the fallen Idaho Jo had dropped, and he was scrambling tos feet, cursing in’ his rage. 2 ou Will never do that dirty trick to any othe? man!” he’ ¢ried. ‘Curse you! Pwiltent your heart out!” . And rushing forward, he drew a knife as he came, But he stopped, for into the hands of Iron Ivan leaped two revolvers, at full cock, ‘* Better hold up there, and go slow !” he quick- ly warned, “If you don’t, there will be a fu- neral in thé near future.” E ‘Curse you!” the enraged man cried again. ** My quarrel was not with you, but now I chal- lenge you to come out and meet me with revol- vers at thirty steps, and if I don’t settle with you [ll take what you give me,” “Do you want to commit suicide?” Iron Ivan asked, “That is a coward’s bluff,” was the retort, ‘I dare you to come out and face me!” i “A coward’s bluff, is it?’ repeated Ivan. **Do you see that top row of bottles on the most distant shelf over the bar there? Well, keep your eye on it for the space of five ' seconds.” : : The bottles in question were fancy bar bottles, with glass stoppers with ornamental tops. They were a long pistol range distant, and not very large tar ‘but were in good light, and Ivan raised One of his weapons and pointed at them, There was a sharp report, and one of the glass stoppers was shattered. Then another report, and another top leaped into a thousand frag- ments. Yet another, and the third stopper was demolished. Another still, with similar result, And so on, until five had been broken straight, ** Are you satisfied now?” Ivan asked. ‘‘If not, come on, and I will pick off some of your vest buttons,” “Curses upon you!” the baffled Idaho Jo hiss- ed, as he turned and walked to the rear of the room. “I may get a chance to square the ac- count with you, And when I do—’ He did not finish the threat, ‘*When you do,” completed Ivan, ‘you will probably find me ready for you,” “T beg of you, sir, stop this awful business in my place!” cried the Queen of Diamonds, almost hoarse with her protestations. my Polece; if you keep on,” *It is all over, so far as I am concerned, madam,” spoke Ivan, politely. ‘ Say how much damage I have wrought, and I will pay the score with pleasure. The pistol practices were well worth the cost, I do not doubt.” *©¥cu will ruin. & 4 A BJ Se FORA Ss 8 es ** 4 hundred dollars will no more than repair guise again, the damage,” the Queen declared. ‘“*And here is the sum,” said Ivan, handing | over a bill. ‘* I consider myself fortunate to get off so well.” “You are a gentleman,” the woman flattered, as she received the money. The height of the excitement had now been reached and passed, as it seemed, and the crowd | began to break away, osy, the girl in red, had deserted her dis- graced companion of the hour, but Daisy, the one who had made the acquaintance of Iron Ivan, pressed forward to congratulate him. | But Ivan evidently had no further use for | her, so she got no encouragement. And _ be- sides, many were demanding to know who Ivan was, ‘* You all seem eager to know who I am,” he responded, finally. ‘‘ When Iam ready to take my leave, and that will be shortly, I will tell you. For the present, Deadwood Dick, a word with you,” ‘As many words as you want, in a friendly way,” the wounded man responded, ‘‘ Shall we take a seat?’ ‘* No; I can tell you standing. I shall meet vou again, ere long, when we will settle a mat- ter of business we have between us. I have helped you out of this trouble to reserve you for mysel f,” The wounded man looked surprised. *T fail to understand what you mean,” was his response. ** Well, you cannot fail to understand this: : You want to look out sharp for this man Idaho | Jo. He means you barm, and is none too good to stab you in the back, I can say no more,” ‘But, who are you?” ) ‘* As f am about going now, I do not mind tell- ing you that,” was the answer, He did not tell, however, at any rate not yet, but worked his way nearer to the door, keeping his eyes well about him, ‘* Well, who are you? the wounded man again | demanded, : street, half-way from the den of the Queen of | Diamonds to the Jeading hotel, was found the body of a man with a cruel knife-thrust in his” , breast. The body was still warm, and the deed must have been done within the hour—in fact, since daylight. Andon the breast of this dead man was a card,.on which was penciled: ‘By the hand of Ivan, Man of Iron.” sa CHAPTER XIV. A THRILLING SURPRISE, THE dead man was a stranger. said they bad seen him about town on the pre~ vious evening. Andif Pond Lily had been in a furor over the finding of the placards left by Iron Ivan, much more so now at this finding of bloody Mayor Kentway rose work done by his hand, re) a a3 nd a ; At firet-ao~ The body of the dead tran had been taken up ~~” and laid out in a Vacant shed, to be, iden*ie during the day, if possible, ie The strange woman, Madge Marble, seemed to have interest in it in some way, that is—in the crime. ‘She viewed the body, but without any sign that she recognized it, but she hngered around the shed for some time, and after that, was seen wandering from place to place about the camp, seemingly aimlessly, A close observer would have noted, perbaps, — that her movements were in accord with those of Idaho Jo. Butif watebing bim, it wasdone so skillfully that he was none the wiser, As for him, Idaho Jo, he made bimself fre and easy about the camp, hoping that the would be a success and that Iron Ivan would be | brought in for banging ,: os In that event, be declared bis intention of doing a little pistol practice at his yas it swung. “th He bad viewed the body, too, but like others, did not know tbe man. ier The stockholders of ‘the Lily Mine gathered at the company’s office, some time after breakfast, and there awaited the outcome of the batile a Coffin Camp, That affair, by the way, was the great event cf the year, and it required all the best efforts of — the leading men of the home guard to keep the | town from being Ceserted, y : pts Everybody wanted to go out into the valley bebind the besiegers, at the point of rocks, and there witness the struggle, or what they could see of it, keeping out of danger thehseanrm ¢ And many did go, too, Sern, haa As it was pointed out, however, that it was oy leaving the camp open to attack, in ease the out- laws, taking advantage of their secret means of egress, saw fit to make such a counter move, all who had family or property to defend, re- mained. And they were in sufficient number. for defense, Wiebe At Coffin Camp, to ehange the seeve to that delectable spot, the morning sun bad found things about as usual. tg th mar Iron Ivan and the Terrible were up bi ht and early, and presently they set out to— point of rocks to reconnoiter, And the under protection, as before, Tea When they peered around, a strang met their gaze. A board fence—for wan better name for it, about four feet |
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a breastworks. - But a second look showed that it could not be ‘intended for that. It was but a frail affair, n and would afford little or no protection against bullets. What it was intended for was a puzzle. Men were busily at work behind it, as could be seen, but what they were doing could not be % conjectured. oS f ‘© What in ther dickins be they doin’ thar?” 4 demanded Thomas the Terrible. _ | You will have to tell me,” responded Iron % Ivan. oe how * But what on ’arth kin them ’ar boards be at tet fur? Et can’t be thet they looks fer us ter ‘ tackle ’em, kin et?” | . that is going on, and you may look for a sur- | ‘prise, after they get ready. Deadwood Dick is te up to some sort of game.” ; ** Waal, cuss him, let him tinker away, ef he wants ter, I opine thet we don’t kéer a conti- nental gum-drop fer him. Ef he looks fur us ter come out hyar ter do battle, he’s mistaken, that’s all.” : _ “T think Tl bail him again, and ask him ~ what he’s up to,” ““{ wish yer would, be gum, Et worries me, _ @t do, ter have sich a puzzle on ther brain.” is (he Iron Ivan prepared his flag of truce, as on the | other occasion, and stepped boldly furth from | gbelter, calling out: “joe, =“ FHello-oo!” + pe---Work stopped at the enemy’s camp, and the shout came back. “What are you up to over there?” Ivan _ shouted his question. ‘‘ What kind of monkey- work do you call that ‘i ‘‘ That’s ther cheese,” applauded the Terrible. 7 Make all ther fun of ’em yer wants ter. We | don’t _keer two cusses an’ a half fer em, we ts a ' don’t.” Kei | ‘The wounded leader of the besiegers, his arm . ek in its sling, stepped around into sight, he also } ‘bearing a white rag of truce, |}. “Are you going to surrender?” he called out. yy Ro! “Not by a batful!” cried Iron Ivan, ‘‘ What | do you take us for, anyhow?” ies! - We take you fora precious set of rascals, ; if < 3 that’s what, and if you don’t come out of your .\— hole and give yourselves up by ten o’clock, you | ~~ will hear something drop.” — ey 2 M4 hat ” an. ‘duet. ——“seexyou catry out your threats, and not do so much talking aboutit. If you can get us out, do it, that’s all, But what is that thing you ' | have got there? What do you call it? Have ) . you named it yet”. ) “That's it! That's ther stuff!” ) $0 chuckled Thomas the Terrible, from his Nace, “You will learn what we have got here, at ten o’clock, if. you have not come 5 terms by that time, You are warned.” oe PR Again did Ivan send back a laugh of defi- | ance, and after some further exchange of words "he withdrew around the point. J don’t know what it can be,” he said to the ‘Terrible, ‘‘ but 1 am afraid they have got a sur- prise of some kind in store for us.. We must be on the lookout for it, or we may get dumped.” ~s “ Dou’t we hold the best hand, though?’ ques- ‘ttoned Thomas, ‘* Don’tsee what et kin be the has gotlaid by fer us, Anyhow, I reckon we wu make ’em sweat ef they gits too close to our pop- _}~. pers. Let em conie an’ try et on, ef they don’t believe it, An’ let us oncet git holt o that Deadwood Dick, an’—wm !” “ Bat we baven’t got him yet, and I tell you what it is [ am anxious about that ner sangied ‘notion they are making out there. I'll teil you ‘| what, Thomas, we must have that ladder all in i order} and be ready to get out as fast as we can, | if they come forus in a way we think we can’t ‘ it ‘will do no harm to be prepared.” « & Jest soy an’ I grees with yer on that. Ther ladder shell be ready fer biz, you bet.” And so it was arranged, as soon as they reach- ed the buildings once more, It was better to be ready than to be left in the lurch, as Thomas The nen were told to be ready to set out for a raid on Pond Lily, if it was thought best to ‘inake it, when the attack was over, if one was --made.and they drove the enemy back. . This arrangement tickled them all, and so verything rested while time rolled on toward hour of ten, an hour that was awaited with good deal of anxiety by the two leaders— Thomas the Terrible, who was getting ryous Over the matter, . be hour was at hand, —— Deadwood Dick; Jr.’ ‘ Te SL EME oa ee ay re te ee ree thirty feet long, had been erected, apparently as ‘No; it can’t be that. It issome secret work ‘hand,” Iron lvan admitted, freely. ‘© won’t mention this to the men, but nutes later and the wounded Dead- ee wood Dick appeared at the point of rocks with a flag of truce. Tron Ivan stepped out into sight, demanding to know what was wanted, and at the same time ordering his men not to fire under any circum- stances as long as the flag was there. ‘* Are you going to come out and give your- selves up?” was the demand. ‘*Do you take us for fools?” was the retort, ‘¢Tf you don’t surrender you will probably re- rret it,” was the warning. ‘* We'll take the chances of that,’ was the de- fiance, ‘‘Do your worst, and be careful that you don’t get into our hands.” The man withdrew, and for a few minutes all was still. ‘What kin be comin’?” questioned the Ter- rible, ‘* We will probably soon see,” said Ivan. Presently a loud, ringing shout was heard, and then into sight around the corner came the besiegers, and in their midst was the mysterious frame of wood, now Icoking to be on wheels, There appeared to be a hundred men in the line, most of whom were behind the board breast- works, as it was now taken to be, and they swung around facing the camp and_ there stopped. It was at too long range for firing to be very effective, and it was naturally thought they were preparing for a rush, ‘That's their idee!” cried the Terrible, ‘‘ They means ter come fer us with a big swoop, keepin’ behind that thing fer protection. Haw! haw! haw! That’s erbout ther weakest thing I ever did see, If this ar’ a sample o’ Deadwood Dick, he don’t amount ter shucks, an’ that’s my candid opine o’ him, Let ’em come, an’ ef we don’t most everlastin’ly knock—” But there he stopped, his jaw dropped, and his eyes fairly bulged. The framework of boards had suddenly drop- ped, ane there, exposed to plain view, were half a dozen cannons! ‘* Great Scott!” ejaculated Iron Ivan, ‘* what are we going todonow? A broadside from them will wipe us out as clean as canbe, Wemustn’t let them give us a dose of that medicine, Ter- rible,” ; ** Howlin’ heathen! No! Whar on ‘arth did they git cannons from? What in ther dickens is goin’ ter be done? Must we surrender? Et won't do tor fire at ’em! Can’t yer.stop/em, Tit . , 5 bron “Iva All the rascals were fairly trembling in their boots, now, and badly scared indeed. It was a surprise such as they had not looked or. At that moment, the cannons having been ranged, Deadwood Dick appeared with his flag of truce again. Tron Ivan lost no time in getting out to respond to it. It would not do to fool now, as the Terri- ble earnestly urged. He wanted the best terms possible, j The nest of outlaws awaited with feverish anxiety the outcome of this the last conference between the chieftains. What the outcome would be none could say, as it was all one-sided now, or seemed to be. CHAPTER XY, ' SURPRISES ALL AROUND, “ Waar do you think about it now?” the cap- tain of the attacking party hailed. ‘*We have to admit that you hold the best **We don’t want any of that sort of stuff, if you please.” ‘‘ Well, then, what are you going to do about it? Will you lay down your arms and surren- der, and come out here and give yourselves up as our prisoners? That’s the only thing to be done,” ‘What terms will you give us?” Ivan asked. **We don’t propose to give ourselves up to be hanged, not by a good deal. If you will give us our lives, we will think about surrender. Otherwise, I think we'll die fighting, and I guess we can make it a serious job for some of you be- fore we are done.” “ Well, Pil tell you what we'll do,” the wound- Deadwood Dick shouted back. ‘‘ We will pod the life of every man but you, Iron Ivan. ou are game, and you most swing! The others will be let off as easy as the law will allow, short of death. What do you say to this? This is the only ‘terms you will get, so think it over. It isdeath to you, anyhow,” ‘All right; give us fifteen minutes to consult about it, and then we'll give you our answer,” “Tido it, At the end of that time we open fire on you,” Ses MBS ery Pye Out came Thomas the Terrible. “‘ We don’t want no fifteen minutes,” he shou s, Disguise. 13 ed. ‘‘ We gives up, we does, an’ we’s comin’ out thar now.” ‘ ¢ And he started, with his men filing after him but they did not proceed far. The revolvers of Ivan the Man of iron checked him and them. “* You cur!” Ivan hissed, give me up to be hanged, when the offer for your own safety is made? If you take another step I'll drop you in your tracks.” , ‘** But ef ar’ every man fer himself,” the Terri- ble doggedly muttered. ‘‘ They means ter hang you, anyhow, as he has said, an’ thar’s no use our bein’ killed when et won’t help you a bit.” ‘*You infernal cowardly traitor and whelp!” Ivan stormed. ‘This shows the sort of man you are, Get back there, or I’ll drive lead through you! We'll take the fifteen minutes. and use it in getting out by the secret way.” “Thunder!” Thomas exclaimed. ‘'Thet ar’ slipped my mind! Them cannons knocked everything clear out o’ my head. Come, an’? let’s go with a run.” ‘** Not so fast,” Ivan ordered. ‘‘ I am captain of this band, and I mean to be obeyed. The first man who refuses, dies! Ill shout back and. tell them we’ll consider for a few minutes and. then: let them know. Then we'll move back out of sight ia a leisurely way and begin to get tt, ‘“ Waal, all right; do that.” So Ivan called out to the attacking chieftain: ‘“That question isn’t settled, quite. We'll consider it ten minutes and let you know,” “ Allright; but you had better make the ten minutes short,” was the response. ‘‘ You are fooling away time there,” Iron Ivan turned, ordering the men to go be- fore him, and all retreated to the shelter of the buildings and there made all baste to the well. “Now,” directed Ivan, ‘‘down you go, one man atatime. You have got everything you want, I suppose, so there’s no need for delay, and delay is mighty dangerous, I can tell you, “Yas, yas, let’s git down thar jest ez soon’s we kip,” urged the Terrible, ‘‘I wull go fu’st, an’ thi@y rest kin foller me—” “Hold your team a little,” interrupted Ivan. ‘7 am going to be the last, and you will stay with me here and go down ahead of me, Your life is worth no more than mine.” . “That’s what's ona matter,” oerees Sonnh,, to..which ne others gave assentiug voics. “Et ain’t e8 fair fer you ter git eub-oF ther way fu’st, Turrible, an’ yer is a hog ter want ter do et, Let somebody humbler go fu’st— me, f’rinstance,” ‘* All right, Jonah, you lead the way,” di- rected Ivan, ‘‘and the others will follow as fast as possible, Soon as one is down, let an- other start, and it won't take us long to get out of range.” Jonah lost no time about getting below ground and as soon as he was near the bottom of the lad- der Ivan told another man to start. In this manner they were fast disappearing,, but at the same time the attacking party were speeding across the ‘‘ playground” toward the buildings, weapons in hand, the cannons being left behind, About a third of the cutlaws had got down the ladder, when, ‘suddenly, came a great~yell, rigkt in their midst, and there was an order for them to put up their bands or be shot down. They were surrounded by grim rifles on every side, and there was nothing left but surrender, so Iron Ivan put up his hands without a protest. ‘It is all up, Terrible,” he remarked. ‘‘ Up with them, They have played us a trick that. we ought to have expected.” ; ““Cuss ther luck, yas!” cried Thomas. ‘We had orter kept watch of ’em, but I never oncet. thort of et,” ‘“‘ Bind them, every one,” Deadwood Dick or- dered, “and if one resists, shoot him as you would a coyote.” This direction was promptly obeyed, and not one of the rascals offered to resist, In a brief time ali were disarmed and bound with their hands behind their backs, And yet | nothing had been heard from those who had gone down the well. Now, however, the wounded Deadwood Dick stepped to the well and called down, asking if all was right. And the answer came back ‘that everything was, and two men were directed to man the windlass, _ Thomas.the Terrible looked on in utter be~ wilderment, as these two men lent their strength to the windlass, wondering what could be com- ing up, and what was his surprise to seeove of bis raseally crew presently appear, bound and gagged, and disarmed like himself. fi ron Ivan looked on with a peculiar sinile, a. smile that was hard to understand then, ~~. ‘“Do you mean to |
Page 14
Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. Up the prisoners were brought, one after an- other, each securely bound, showing that a trap of some sort had been laid in the cavern below. . * What in thunder an’ blazes does et mean?” cried Thomas the Terrible, as be glared furiously around, ‘*Thar’s a durn traitor in ther camp, an’ I know et!” “Tt means that Deadwood Dick has been too many for you,” the wounded man made answer, ‘You thought you were clever here, but you have been outdone in the neatest kind of way, as you shall presently see.” When the last prisoner had been pulled out of the well, up the ladder came Mayor Howland Kentway of Pond Lily, followed by a great num- ber of his fellow citizens. And when all were out, three cheers for Deadwood Dick was _ posed, and the cheering was done with a will. ‘* And now for the triumphant march to Pond Lily,” spoke the mayor. ‘‘ But first, sack this den of everything worth taking away, boys, and then we'll set fire to it, and wipe it out for all time.” With a whoop the men sprung to this task, and pretty soou the cabins and shanties were ; peo in flames, In ashort time Coffin Camp wou d be a thing of the past, and would be no more savein legend, _ When the buildings were all burning thor- oughly, the march to Pond Lily was begun headed by Major Kentway and the wounde Deadwood Dick, the prisoners being in guarded line, single file, with toot Ivan at the head and Terrible Thomas next, the man Jonah bringing up the rear. When they set out across the ‘‘ playground,” the line of cannons looked upon the crowd with aspect grim and deadly, but on nearer approach they seemed to dwindle into insignificance, and **T am she who, in San Francisco, was known as Kodak Kate,” was the clear and ringing re- sponse, ‘‘Now I am the proud wife of Detec- tive Richard Bristo)], better known to you as Deadwood Dick, Jr.” CHAPTER XVI. TRIUMPHANT EXPOSE, THIS was a surprise indeed, ‘¢ Your wife!” was t! e cry, as one man turned to the wounded Deadwood Dick. ‘*No; not my wife,” was the response to that “but the wife of the real Deadwood Dick. I am merely playing that role for a purpose.” Here was another and still greater surprise for mary, ‘*Then who in thunder is the real Deadwood Dick?” cried Thomas the Terrible, fired with im- patience. ‘‘ Fer ther luv of goodness p’int him out to us, will yer, so’s wekin gaze on ther cuss.” ‘* Tf he will kindly step to the front, I will in- troduce him,” was the ye Tesponse. To the amazement of the outlaws and many others, Ivan, the Man of Iron, stepped forward to the front, and was immediately released. ‘*Gentlemen, one and all,” spoke the wounded man, ‘“‘let me introduce Deadwood Dick, Jr., the thoroughbred detective of the country at large. He will now speak for himself,” ‘** Cusses upon cusses on yer!” screamed Thomas the Terrible, ‘‘Then et war you, all ther time, what war runnin’ us inter this hole, war et? Ef I bad ther use o’ my hands, wi’ a weepin’ in me fist oncet, I’d bore ye, you bet!” ‘*] have no doubt about it, my pretty fellow,” Deadwood Dick the genuine responded, with his grim smile. “ As it is, you will bave to forego finally, when they were reached, they resolved ( the pleasure.” into mere dummies of wood, painted to look like real instruments of deadly warfare! And at this discovery the rage of Terrible Thomas knew no bounds. Ivan, the Man of Iron, seemed to take ifphilo- woes. and as a matter of course. ith many a jest and jibe, the men of Pond Lily kicked them as they passed, and the pro- cession continued on its way, wildly cheering. The eutry into Pond Lily was something to be prewt..of. The whole crowd of the victorious arty wassinging, shouting, waving hats, firing weapons, etc., and the entire camp turned out to welcome them, Into the square in front of the leading botel, and other important huildings, the prisoners were led, with Iron Ivan in conspicuous place, and there they were halted, under guard. And forthwith a place was arranged for Judge Lynch to sit, to give them immediate trial. While this was being done, Idaho Jo pressed to the front, ‘Ha! we have got you, my friend, have we?” addressing himself to IronIvan. — **[ don’t know what part we had in it,” was the sarcastic retort. “I didn’t see you at the front, that is certain.” “No matter, I am here now, and I want to fight you, if these citizens will free you and give me the chance. I'll settle accounts with you for last night.” ‘* Let me put in a word hero, Idaho Jo, if you please,” spoke up the wounded Deadwood Dick, presenting a revolver at the fellow’s head. * You are my prisoner, under charge of robbery and murder.” ‘Robbery! Murder! What—” ** Exactly so. You are wanted for robbery at @ place over in Washington, and you are the murderer of—” “T am no murderer!” was the cry, and the man’s face was like death itself. ‘I def to prove it! Whom have I murdered? explain that.” ‘You are the murderer of the man found dead here this morning. Ob! you may start, but we have the sige dead to rights against you. Men lay bold upon him!” “This is a foul lie!” the man cried, as he struggled with the men who had nabbed him as he was trying to draw a weapon. ‘ You can’t rove it! Wasn’t it done by the outlaw, Iron van, this cuss you have here?” ‘No, sir, it was not,” spoke a woman’s voice, and the woman, Madge Marble, stepped to the fore. ‘‘It was done by you, and here is the proof of it!” She held out a photograph, one which pictured the fellow in the very act of stabbing the un- known man! It was proof that could not be disputed, and Tee back, the fellow gasped: fA . oO are you? How came you by this pic- ‘ome, you Kodak Kate had stepped forward, and her right hand was held in Dick’s left as he spoke. She, his wife, it was, proud, happy and smiling; the same Kodak Kate whom previous stories in- troduced, “Yes, gentlemen of Pond Lily,” Dick spoke, when Thomas the Terrible had been silenced, ‘* I am Deadwood Dick. And now explanations are in order. Some time agol received word from your mayor here to come down and and try my hand at cleaning out the nest of vipers at Coffin Camp. 1 came here in disguise, had a confer- ence with Mr, Kentway, and went away again, At that time we arranged all our plans of action, as far as possible, and you have seen the result. ‘On the night when I shot Guerrilla Jake, I was coming here to begin the campaign. That sudden attack on the stage, and what followed, changed my plans somewhat. I dropped down from the stage just as it came into the camp, and held another secret interview with Mr. Kent- way. I took leave of the camp, and finally came this man to play my part to impose upon you and these outlaws while I was taking the risk of invading their den to learn their secret, How that has worked you have all witnessed, ‘** That special stage with the stockholders of the mine was a part of the plan, Those gentle- men were all in the secret, and the robbery was no surprise tc them, The only one to whom it was a surprise was my wife here, and it was a greater surprise to me to find her aboard, Her mother having died, she tells me she put her property into the bands of an agent for sale and set out to find me at once. Sho wrote me that she was coming, but her letter never reached me. This expl points that you can now fully understand. I spoke to her, there at the scene of the robbery, teliing her in brief what was go- ing on. ‘‘ Later I had an interview with her here at your hotel, when she volunteered to do all she could in the present case. And she has lent ma- terial help this gentleman who has been passing for myself. His wounded arm, as I need not tell you, now that he hascast off the bandage, was only a sham to support the story he had to tell. We rather pride ourselves that we have done a clever stroke, Whether you agree with us or not, can make no difference in that respect. Mayor Kentway, your nest of vipers bas been cleaned out and broken up for- ever, and here are the serpents. Do with them as you will. There are some other points to be cleared up, to satisfy the public mind, but I will let some one else speak now,” Wild cheering greeted his closing words. ‘* Let me say a word or two, please,” spoke u Kodak Kate, as soon as she could make herself heard, ‘* You want to know how I came by this picture that proves so positively that Iron Tyan did not kill the stranger. I had my camera with me, and at a very early hourthis mo 1 at the wiadow of my room, I was preparing take a view, when suddenly, just as I was ready, these two men appeared on the street, and this one drew a knife. There was a briet struggle, and seeing that murder was intended, and having no weapon in hand, I took a snap shot at the critical moment, and this picture is the result,” Again did wild cheering make the valley ring with its many echoes, ““ After the deed bad been done,” Kate re- sumed, ‘‘ I knew I could do nothing by raising an alarm, except to frighten away the mur- derer, so I finished the picture and shadowed the man, tosee that he did not getaway. If he had started to leave town, I would have arrested him, Aftur the deed had been done, asI started to say, the murderer took a card from his pocket, wrote upon it hurriedly, and dropped it upon the breast of his victim, leaving it there, ndoubtedly the notices aiound the camp pur- porting to be the work of Iron Ivan, put the thought into his head, together with his desire for revenge for what he received last night.” ‘*And about those notices,” Deadwood Dick took up the thread again, ‘‘my man here put them up. And those at Coffin Camp, my good friend Thomas, IJ am the person who wrote them, You see I was in position to know what I was talking about. Ha! hi! You were neatly taken in.” ‘Yas, cuss ye!” was the ‘grated response, ‘an’ l’m only sorry we didn’t burn ‘ye at ther stake on s’picion. Ill never be fooled. again, you bet! Et war a mighty dirty piece of busixc= > ness, anyhow,” j **You think so? Well, now, when a disease is desperate the remedy has to be suited for the especial case under consideration. This was the prescription for your case. And as for its be- ing a mean trick—was it to be compared with the murders you and your cut-throats have com- mitted there at CoffinCamp? Or was it any worse than the cowardly way in which you would have given yourself up, when you thought your life was to be spared, when mine was posi- a of demanded?’ Bah! you miserable pole- ; é ca Mayor Kentway at once proceeded to cpen court. He gave the rascals a fair hearing, and charged them according to their deserts. Several were held on the charge of murder, and all on that of robbery, ee Pond Lily was t06 far advanced in civilization to allow Judge Lynch to mete out justice to the rascals, though that was the sentiment of a big proportion of the crowd, so they were taken un- der strong escort to the nearest county seat, where they were putin jail. Bayh That finally they came to the end they sever- ally deserved, need not be dwelt upon here, Idaho Jo went with them, under charges that made his fate assured. The man whom be had murdered had been a partner of his in other crimes, and one who. had a hold upon him, Threatening exposure, Jo had promptly used the knife upon him, never thinking that he would be caught in such a way, — or in fact in any way, after his ruse to put the - charge all upon Iron Ivan. iO a ON There was a meeting of the stockholders of the Lily Mine, together with the leading citizens o the camp, and Deadwood Dick was bandsomely rewarded for his services, a fair pro ee of which be immediately : over to the man wi had played his part at such a risk to him- self. : This man was a citizen of another camp, a aere fellow with whom Dick had come in con- tac Pond Lily went crazy over the victory, All that day and nearly all night a great celebration was kept up. Many of the good citizshs got pretty well ‘‘ corned,” and the “‘ city ” was paint- ed red, figuratively. Deadwood Dick and his bride, of course, were = the stars of the occasion. The camp could not do enough in their honor, and gaping crowds | watched them at every opportunity; but they took things quietly at the hotel. A couple of weeks they remained at Pond x Lily, and at the endof that time, after arousing | ~~ ball given in their honor, they took their leave, | the good wishes of a host of friends going with them, . 4 And so for the present, we must take leave of them, but to meet them again under circum- stances startlingly novel, to say the least, THE END.
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aes | Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers, BEADLE'’S« H ALF-])IME*[_IBRARY. BY OLL COOMES., Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. he Dumb Spy- 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. 81 Keen-Knife, the Prince of the Prairies. 41 Lasso Jacks the Young Mustanger. 53 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 74 Hawk-eye pets the Young Trapper Ranger. _ 88 Rollo, the Boy Ranger. 134 Sure Shot Seth, the boy Rifleman, 148 Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 638 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon, 168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Murricane, the Boy Captain. 202 Prospect Pete ; or, Tle Young Outlaw Hunters, 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps. 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Witdtre, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger, 248 The Disguised Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger, 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger, 272 Minkekin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. : B00 The Sky Demon; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger, BS4 Whip-King Joe, the Bov Ranchero. 409 hercules; »r, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 41? Webfoot Mose, the Tramp Detective. aby Sam, the Boy Giant of the Yellowstone. 444 Little Buckskin, tne Young Prairie Centaur. 457 Wingedtoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul, 468 Tamarac Tom, the Big Tregper Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic. 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. &62 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. 652 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance, 1 Old Kit Bandy’s Deliverance. Ane Pro: Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. 680 Dauntless Dan, the Freelance, or, Old Kit Bandy in Arcadia, BY BUOKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8, Hall.) 284 Old Rocky « ** Boyees; or, Benito, tne Horse-Breaker «846 Glant George; or, The Ang’l of the Range. ' 275 Arizona Jack 3 or, Giant George’s Pard. 297 The Tarantulg of Taos ; or, Giant George’s Revenge. 807 The Strange Paras or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. ' B18 Ker-whoop, Ker-whoo; or, The Tarantula of Taos, 27 Oreeping Bat, the Caddo; or, The Red and White Pards, 882 Frio red ¢ or, Th 844 The Fighting Trio: or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. - 849 Wild Wolf; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front, ' 857 The Ranch Ralders: or, The Siege of Fort Pargatory, is ay &nap-Shot, the Boy Kanger. 4 B75 Chiota, the Creek 3 or, The Three Thunderbolts. : B81 Bandera Billy or. Frio Frank to the Front. B92 Romeo and the Reda; or, The Beleaguered Ranch. 203 Attic Lariat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 1 ~~ . e Tonkaway’s Trust, : a he Dalsy from Denver, 427 The Three Tratlers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage. 442 Bluff BUll; or, The Lynx of the Leona, 455 Little Lone Star: or, The Belle of the Cibolo, 684 Cache Carl, the Chico Giant . \BY PHILLE.s. Wana ~— ; ther Joe; or, Old tleanake, the Charmer. 155 ye ne eel or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game. 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat. 219 Deapard, the Duelist; oz, The Mountain Vempires. 888 A Tough Boy; or, The Dwart’s Revenge. 68 Little Fornado} or, The Outcasts of the Glen. 7B Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. B88 Little Oh-my ¢ or, Caught in His Own Trap, 401 Little Shoo-Fly3 or, A Race for a Ranch, 408 Little Leather-Breeches ; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse, 481 Little Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the olines. 480 Three Jolly Pards, G17 Jim Gladden’s Deputy. 627 The Jolly Pards to the Rescue. 547 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down, BSG Lariat Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. 574 Old Weansel-top, the Man with the Dogs, 98 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. 9 Jim Dandy the x ange zery or, The Skeleton’s ACY. y lest the Blue-Coat Scout, 7 ‘a Big Find. ey, the Special. BY EPWARD WILLETT. A cott, the Steamboat Boy. ios ee relaht the Boy Champion of the Maskingnm, 228 Ozark Alf; or Featherweight Among the Outlaws. ‘282 The Typo etective 3 or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp, & Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quartzville, . B11 The Roving Sport; or, The Pride of Chackaluck Camp. 822 Nemo, the ‘De tive; or, Kit Kenyon’s Vendetta, 840 Clip the Contortionist; or, The Montana Vigilantes. BY JO PIERCE, o’? the Bowery : or, The Prince of Mulberry Street. ais The Vagabond Detective; wey Bob’s Boom, hil. . J era, the Butcher Boy Detective. ie ied an or. Five Points Phil’s Menagerte. 7 #26 North River Nat, the Pier Detective. 5 Wreastline Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward, 541 Jeff Flicker. the Stable Boy Detective. 651 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow. 669 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. } 569 Brooklyn Ren, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, 5 577 Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter, vy 588 Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector. } | 8OR ide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer. _ 614 Whiatling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid. Ne uek Bambieher, the — ae unrise Saul, the Express-Train Ferret. min Bob, the Shuey Badger; or, Scooping s Sippery Set. 658 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. 7 Raltpeter Sol, the New York Navigator. 94 Spley Jim, the Only One of His Kind Tom Thistle, the Road-House Detective BY J. W. OSBON. The Rival Glants of Nowhar’s ©: * in the Man from Hard Luck. uekeye, the Sierra Shadow. wder Phil, the Boy Miner. iy Dorrit, the Veteran Detective. tle Li htning’s Le y Paul, the Boy pector. e; or, The Mystery oftme Island. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl. 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 79 Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 288 Joe Buck of Angels and His Buy Pard. 447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling, 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 498 Taos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hal!-Breed Detective. 518 Cool Colorade in New York. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE, 86 Dandy Rock the Man from Texas. reud Rider; or, The Texan Duelist. 9 Tiger of Tuos; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel. & The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock’s Doom. 81 The Golden Hand; or, Dandy Rock to the Reseue, 64 Dandy Kock’s Pledge; or, Hunted to Death. 78 Dandy Rock’s Rival; or, The Haunted Maid of Taos. BY CAPT. J. F. ©. ADAMS, 84 Wregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffles’s Boy Spy. 46 Glasa-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 54 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. 566 Nick Whifies’s Pet; or, Ir The Valley of Death, 60 The White Indian; or, The Scovt of the Yellowstone TO Old Zip’s Cabin; or, The Greenhorn in the Woods, 831 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Buckram ; or, Bess, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and Hi« Peta; or, The Wild Huntre 251 Light-house Lige: or, Osceola, the Firebrand, 257 The Loat Munters; or, The Underground Camp, 288 The Scalp King: or, The Homan Thunderpolt, BY ROGER STARBUCK, 25 The Boy Captain; or, The Pirate’s Daughter. 114 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Jonk. the Old Tar. 259 The Golden Harpoon ; or, Lost Among the Floes. 848 Fire-Heela; or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow. 854 Big Horn Ike, the Hill Tramp; or, The Odd Pards, 861 The Phantom Light-house. 870 Breaker Ben, the Reef-Runner. BY WILLIAM R EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke}; or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank; or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pard+ RY ©. 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 C, JENKS, 455 Git Thar OQwney the Unknown, 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor. 581 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective, 59S Flute, the Singer Detective, 608 The Pitcher Detective’s Foil; or, Dan’s Double Play. 616 The Ocean Detective: or. The Last Cruise of the Black Boar, 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussel. BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR U. 8. A 191 Buffale Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker. 194 Buffalo R1l’s Bet; or, The Gambler Guide, RY WM. G. PATTEN. 489 The Diamond Spars s or, The Double Face of Bed Rock. 519 Captain Mystery ; or, Five in One, 8581 Dalwy ware the Sport from Denver. 5ST Old Bombshell, the Ranger Detective, 604 Iron Fern, the Man otf Fire, 619 The Boy Tramp Detective; or, The Double Grip Witness 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Spon. oat shay paves Beant aped. oun oy Frank, the Young Amateur Detective 668 Violet Vane’s Victory. . 682 Wild Vulean, the Lone-Range Rider, 69% Violet and Datsy, the Posy Parde, 705 Violet Vane’s Vow; or, The Cratty Deteetive’s Craft. BY MAJOR E, L. 8T, VRAIN. 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit, 801 Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince. 8838 Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Horse 852 Bombatone Tom. the Arizona Boy of Sand.” 859 Durango Dave, the Young Chamvion Wrestler, 1 Kingbolt Chris, the Yung Hard-Shell Detective. 880 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide, 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mount«in Mail-Line. BY EPWARD 8, ELLIS, 6 Bill Biddon, hang «oa 8 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of the Frontier. © Nat Todd}; or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. TYrne Frontier Angel. : 98 The Boy Miners; or, The Enchanted Island. 182 The Hunted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman. ser The Half-Blood; or, The Panther of the Plains. 71 The Huge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man, BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON, 278 The Three Tra raz or, The Mountsin Monster. 288 Indian Joe; or, The White Spirit of the Hills. BY CAPT. MARK WILTON. 256 Young Kentuck: or, The Red Lasso. 270 Blizzard Ben; or, The Riot at Keno Camp. 6 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot. BY BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG. 89 Taland Jim: or, The Pet of the Family. 91 The Captain of the Club: or. The Rival Athletes. 101 Jack Narkaway in New York. BY MAJOR NENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-8cout, 806 Neck-Tie Ned: or, The Dog-Out Pards. 846 Rapier Raphael; or, The Swordamen of Zacatecas, 891 Kid-Glove Kit, the Dandy of the Rockies. 898 Kid-Glove Kit and Pard: or, The Gold King. 406 The Mad Man-Hunter: or, The Golden Gulch Mystery. 505 Powell’s Pard; or, The One-Armed Giant. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER. 15 The Sea-Cat: or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Page; or, The Doge’s Denghter. 48 Diek Darling, the Pony Express Rider. + ance and Lasso: or, The Children of the Chaco. 159 The Lost Captain: or, 5 r Jabez Coffin’s 200 The Boy Redouina;: lt The Brothers of the Plumed Lance, 14 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine. ox Tent omer the Animal King; or, Round the World, * Tamer}; or, The League ungle, 1 Black Nick, the Demon Rider. ‘ 95 California Joe's War Trail. : The Sword Munters; mane Land of the Biehent Riders, BY JOSEPH E, BADGER, JR. 2 Yellowstone 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-tinwk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul: or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue, 160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire, 184 The Boy Trailers ; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path. 208 The Boy Parda; or, Dainty Lance Unmasks, 211 Crooked Cule, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca Wolf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League, 885 Old Double Fist; or, The Strange Guide 855 The King of the Woods: or Daniel bvone’s Laat Trail, 9 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Traller. 677 Chineapin Dan’s Second Trail. 688 Chincapin Ban’s Home Stretch. 698 Old Crazy, the Man Without a Head. 708 Light-HMeurt Lute’s Legacy. BY W. J. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brotherhood; or, The Twelve Avengers, 66 Single Mand; or, A Life fora Life. 72 Mad Tom Western, the 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 LIFUT. H. D. PERRY, U. 8. N. 176 The Boy Runaway; or, The Buccaneer of the Bay, 180 The Sea Traller; or, A Vow Well Kept. 192 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery) of Montauk Point. BY COL, A, F. HOLT, 899 Black Buckakin: or, The Masked Men of Death Canyom. 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King. 485 Littie Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods. B28 The Dandy sport; or, The King Pin Conspirator 678 Ralph Renwood, the Lightning Express Detective. 691 Headlight Harry’s Haul. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. 78 Blue Dick; or, The Yellow Chief's Vengeance. 87 The Land Pirates; or, The League of Devil's Island, 187 The Helpless Hand; or, Backwoods Retribution, 289 The Gold-seeker Guide: or, The Lost Mountain, "BY FREDERICK DEWEY 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shote, 478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective. 542 The Canyon Parda. 4 BY ARTHUR C, GRISSOM. 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowie Kid. 558 The Sure-Shet Parda, 621 Truthful James, the “ Pecooliar’? Man. BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS. 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock, 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 576 The Silyer Sport. ; a 6S8 Saffron Sol, th: Man With a Shadow PLN a ‘Tom-Cat_and Pard; or, The Dead Sot at Silver City. 601 ante | Hana, the Dutel 'Vidocg. = . 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Horcales, 622 Texas Tom-Cat’s Triad 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Task. flliam, the Mountain Mountebank, 665 Jolly werematane the Plains Detective. — —_ Scout. 689 Billy the * . 9s Simple Sim, ‘he Brouehe Buster. 12 The Mesmerlist Sport; or, The Mystified Detective, MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS. 4 The Wild-Horse Hunters. By Capt. Mayne Reid and Frederick Whittaker. 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen. 12 Gulliver’s Travels. By Dean Swift, 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe. (27 Illustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Sailor, His Seven Voyages. 22 t dom) Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe, By Juana wis. ’ t 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribees. By 8. W. Pierce. H 86 The Boy Clown} or, The Arena Queen. By F 8, Finn. 88 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 61 The Boy Izifler; or. The per arre Camp. By A.C. Irons, 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi. By Lieut.-Col. Hazeltine. 98 Robin Hood, the Outlawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Green- wood. tk elas Gildersleeve. 105 Old Ru the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. i 112 The Mad Hunter; or, 'heCaye of Death. By Saxe. 124 Tippy, the Texan; or, The Young Champion. George jepson. (yi Sin 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold, By Harry Cavendish. . 148 Sharp Sam; or, The Adventures of s Friendless Boy. By J. Alexander Patten. 227 Dusky Darrell, bby -xailbel The Green Ranger of the Yel- lowatone, By Edward D. | 261 Fe « Fearnaught the New Y irk Boy. By G, L, Alken. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; °r, Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trail. By Ensign C. D, Warren, 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid ot the Cliff. By Captain Comstock. 817 Peacock Pete. the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Lieu- tenant Alired Thorne. 828 The Sky Detective; or, 4 Boy’s Fight for Life and Honors. By Maior Mickey Free. j 850 Ked Ralph, the River Rovers or, The Brother's Re ~ venge, By Ned Buntline, 865 Baltimore Ren the Bootblack Detective. 874 Gold-Duat Toms or, Ben’s Double Match, G@ H. Morse. / 876 Callfornia Joe’s First Trail, By Colonel Thomas, Hoyer Monstery. / 418 Biily Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By F.'S, Winthrop. 475 The Black oe By John S Warner, . j Comanche Pick and Hite Three Invinefbles. 7 Henry J. Thomas, { 582 T Duk Edwin Brooke Forrest. ; £ee eel es ee 585 Will Waters, the Boy Ferret, By H, Enton. } 682 The Dead Betective’s Double. By Gerald Carly A New Issue Every Tuesday. 2 The Half-Dime ceeenz is for sale by ail newsdealers, five tents per copy, or sent by mall on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York, A. P, Moria, {
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BEADLES*H ALF-DIME*] IBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers, BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. ‘ Deatiwood Dick Novels. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince ot the Road. 20 Deadwood Dick's Detiances or, Double Dagger. 28 Deadwood Dick in Visgutses or, Buffalo Ben. 85 Deadwood Dick in His Castle. 42 Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza; 64 The ysantom Miner, 49 Deadwood Dick in Danger; or, Omaha Oli. . 5&7 Dendwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 78 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity ¢ ne, the Heroine, 77 Deadwood Dick’s Last Act: or, Corduroy Charlie. 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. 104 Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, The Double Cross Sign. 109 Deadwood Dick as Detective. 129 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. 188 Deadwood Dick’s Home Base; or, Blonde Bill. 149 Deadwood Dick’s Big Strikes or, A Game of Gold. 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the Road. 201 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill's Jezebel. 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Adventure, 217 Deadwood Diek’s Dead Deal. p 221 Deadwood Dick’s Death-Plant. 282 Gold-Dust Dick. A Romance of Ronghs and Toughs, 268 Deadwood Dick’s Divide; or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. 265 Deadwood Dick’s Death Tr ; 809 Deadwood Dick’s Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. B2L Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats S47 Deadwood Dick’s Ducats; or, Days in the Digaings. 851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, The Terriblo Vendetta, 862 Deadwood Dick's | e 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead - *a Dinmond Big Round-Up. Jr.’s, Racket at Claim 1 dr.’s, Corral; or, Bozeman Bi dr.’s, Dog Detective. Dick. Jdr., In Deadwood, od Dick, Jr.’s, Compact. ee Dee we puhep tenes. ek, Jr.'s, as. 8 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deliverance, “SLS Deadwood Dick, Jr..s, Protegee. 22 Deadwood drs, Three. 529 Deadwooa dr.’s, Danger Ducks, dr.’s; Death Hunt, Fey exas. ‘dr., the Wild West Vi peadwced Wisk Sr. to Gothen “k, Jr., in Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Boston. 567 saaw ood ed : se ~ Falindelphias : adwoo +s dr., in cage. 578 Deadwood Dick. Jr., Afloat, 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Denver. 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Decree, Be bectcort goes $s 's Peoeennts Bn e 4 ek, -, at Cone sland, 606 Deadwood Dick, Jrs, Leadville Lay, 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Detroft, 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Cincinnati. 624 Vendwood Dick, Jr,, fa Novaga, ‘ 6.0 Deadwoed Dick, dr., in No Mow’ Land owr™ “26 Veadwoett Dick, Jr.. After the Queer, 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Buffaio, i : - 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Chase Across the Continent 654 Dendwood Dick, dr., Among the Smugglers. 660 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Lusurance Case. 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back in the Mines. 672 Deadwood Dick, Jr., tu Durango; or, “ Gathered In.” 78 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Dixcovery; or, Found « Fortune, Jr.'s. Dazzle. soe Re Jr.'s. Dollars, > 700 Deadwood Di 22 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Do ¥ .69 Gel Detective. 80 R or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 finer; or, Rosebyd Rob on Hand, enrance. 118 Jack Moyle the Young Speculator. 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detectiyo, Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport. 125. Bonanza Bill, Miner. 188 Bossa Bob the King of Bootblacksa, 141 ‘Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 45 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. 61 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. f Nic 2 1 i] z & The Boy Dnelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf, Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Smuggier. he Sea-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. The Hussar Captain ; or, The Hermit of Hell Gate. Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter, 4: Gold Plume ; or, Buffulo Bill, the Pony Express Rider, 216 Bison BILL, the Prince of the Reins; or, Buffalo Bill’s Pluck. 222 Grit, the Bravo Sport; or, The Woman Trailer, 229 Crimson Kate; or, The Cowboy’s Triumph, 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 245 Merle, the Middy ; or, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midshipman flutineer; or, Brandt, the Buccaneer. 264 The Floating leather: or, Merle Monte’s Treasure. 269 The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned, 276 Merle Monte’s Orulse; or, “ The Gold Ship ” Chase, 280 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, Penar!, the Pirate’s Bride 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merlo Monte’s Pledge. 2587 Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Shot Dandy or, Benito, the Boy Bugler, 808 Keno Kits cr, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double. 814 The Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Trall, 877 Bonodel, the Boy Rover; or, The Flagiess Schooner, 688 The Indfan Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island, 88ST Warpath WII, the Boy Phantom. 898 Seawalf, the Boy Lieutenant. 402 Isodor, the Young Conapirator; or, The Fatal League, 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild YVachtamans or, The War-Cloua’s Cruise. 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. F 488 A Cabin Boy’s Lucky or, The Corsair. 487 The Sea Raider. 441 The Ocean Firefly ¢ or, A Middy’s Vengeance, 446 HUaphazard Narry + or, The Scapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard Will; or, ‘Phe Boy Ferret ot New York. 454 Wizard Wiil’s Street Scouts. 462 The Born Gulde? or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer. 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster. 474 Florays 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 Back Taylor, King 02 the Cowboys. ‘608 The Reyal Middy : or, The Shark and the Sea Cat. 507 The Hunted Midshipman, 511 The Outlawed Middy. 520 Buckskin Bill, the Comanche Shadow, 525 Brothers in Buckskin, 580 The Buckskin Bowers, 585 The Bue skin Rovers. 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder of the Rio, 5645 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte, ; 550 Lafitte’s Legacy; or. The Avenging Son, 555 The Creole Corsair. 560 Pawnee BIII, the Prairie Shadower. 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. 570 Camille, the Card Queen. 575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective, 580 The Outcast Cadets or, The False Detectivo, 686 The Buckskin Avenger. 591 Delmonte, the Young Sea Rover. 597 The Young Texan Detective. 602 The Vagabond of the Wines. 607 The Reyer Pecectivero, Reno Kit’s Champions, 617 ratoh, thy Don t.Bhof Sconts or, The Rio Raiders. 644 The Hercules HighWay mun, 650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Kider Detective; or, Buffalo Bill’s Boy Para. 656 Butterfly Billy’s Man Hunt. 662 Butterfly Billy’« Bonanza. 668 The Buccaneer Midshipman. 674 The Wizard Saflor; or, Rea Ralph, the Rover. 679 The Sea Shadower; or, The Freebooter’s Legacy. 686 Orlando, the Ocean Free Flag; or, The Tarnished Name, 692 The Rival Sharps; or, Redfern, the Secret Service Scout. 697 The Scarlet Sombrero; or, The Sharp from Texas, 702 Blue Jacket Bill; or, The Red Hat Rangers’ Red Hot Racket 207 The Red Sombrero Rangers; or, Redfern’s Last Trail BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm. F. Cody), 4 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 4 19 The Phantom Spy nor, The Pilot of the Prairie. 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout. t 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover, 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust, BY CHARLES MORRIS, the Boy Detecty Ky : Bose y. a “3 or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective, ks or, The Hero in Rags. wt Re the Baotttack Devestinat 118 Will & 7 Wil Ww the Thoroughbred... } 52 Black Ress, Will Wilisre's Racer, ne y srry, the Harbor Police Boy, ep Wun Wedars oe ets, iene, the ro . he Bnd \ A Tube Card; or, Will Wildfire Wine and Loses, Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. ; ? Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, : 88 The Hidden Wand: or, Wi!) Wildfire’s Revenge. — 187 Fred Halyard, the Life Bont Boy; or, The Smugglers, 189 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed ; or, Bob Kockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective, 220 Tom Tanner}; or, Thy Black Sheep of the Flock, 225 Sam Charcon 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 Chicago. 262 The Young Sharps; or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail, 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’s Joby or, The Young Detectire. 298 The Water-Hound: or, The Young Thoroughored. 805 Dashaway, of Dakota; or, A Western Lad in Quaker City, 824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 43 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective, 858 The Reporter-Detective?: or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, B67 Wide-Awake Joe: or, A Boy ofthe Times. _ 879 vareye the Leveler;: or. The Bloods of the Boulevard, etty J the River-Rat Detective. 423 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective, 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagabond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, peteer or, Entombed Alive, 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. B01 Hoots, the Bor Fit Too Sh he Sh oots, the Boy Fireman: or, Teo Sharp for the Sharper, b66 The Sceret Service 7" 1 1 or, A Lamb Among Wolves, 627 Tom Bruce of Arkananas or, The Wolfin the Fold, 655 Plucky Paul, the Roy Speculator. ; 667 Bob and Sam, the Dalsy Detectives. a 209 The Curbstone Detective; or, Harry Hale’s Big Beat. oy Detective. 4 BY J, ©. COWDRICK. r3| 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. : 869 Shauta, the Gold King; or, For Seven Years Dead. f 420 The rretective’s Apprentice ; or, A Boy Without a Name, 424 Cibuta Jonn; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar,” 5 9 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 7 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. . Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. Redlight Ralph the Prince of the Road, by Broadway Billy’s Boodle. 524 The Engineer Detective. 586 Hroadway Billy’s *Dittikilty.” 48 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 7 Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. . ee renignag Pe: Young Engineer, a : The Chimney Spy; or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party, The Boy Pinkerton. J Hs é > William 0 Broadway; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. Fighting Marry the Chief of Chained Cyclone, Broadway Biliy’s Dead Act. ‘ Barebrek Beth, the Centaur of the Circle.” Typewriter Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward. Moonlight Morguny, the *f Pizencst ’? Man of Ante Bas, Broadway Billy Abroad. & Brondway Billy's Best; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest, rf Broadway Billy in Clover. Broadway Billy in. Texas. ; roadway Billy’s Brand, LM 711 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe. BY T. Cc. HARBAUGH, Nick_o* the Night 3° or, The Boy Spy ot '76. The Hidden Lodge} or The Littl Hunter. Nightingale Nat; or, The Forest Captains, Dandy Jack or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Traits Kit Harefoot the Wood-Howk. Midnight Jack ¢ or, The Boy Trapper. Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen. Kiowa Charley the White Mustunger. Judge Lynchy drei or, The Boy Vigilante. > Gold Trigger, Wie Bports r, The Girl Avenger. Tornado Toms? or, Injon Jack From Red Core, 88 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. Arkansaw ; or, The Quevn of Fate's Revenge, 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. | 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Tovknot’s Crusade, 281 Plucky Phil; or. Rosen, the Re! Jezebel. 241 Bill Bravo; or, Tie Kkhughs of the Rockies. 255 Captain Apoli-+, we Kiyg-Pin of Bowles, i Shi its 267 The Buckskin Detective, oe as : 279 Old Winch; or, ‘The Buckskin Desperadovs, 294 Dynamite Dan; or, The Bowie Blade of pope: 802 The Mountain Detectives er, The Trigger Bar| 816 Old Eclipse, Trump Card of Arizona. = 826 The Ten. Pards; or, The Terror of Take-Notice, 886 Bie Benson: or, Tie Queen pf the Lasso. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Ked Thainderbolt’s Secret, B56 Cool Sam and Pard ; om The Terrible Six. 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. BS6 Captain Cutlass; or, The B ccaneer’s Girl Foe. ; 896 Rough Rob: or, The Twin Champions of Blue Blazes, 411 The Silken Enaso: or, The Rose of Ranch Robin, 18 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter, 425 Texas Tramp, tho Border Rattler. 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox. 445 The City Vamptres; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon, 461 One Agen! we di noon tho Last Maa of Keno Bar 470 The Ba¥ Siadete: elit Parts Min tie # AT? The Execgisior Sport; or, fhe Vrashington Spotter, 499 Single Sight, the Oov-Byed Sport. 502 Branded Ben, the Night erret.” f 512 Dodger Dick, the Wiiarl-Spy Detective, — 621 Dodger Dick’s Best Dodge. 528 Fox and Faicon, the vase Shadows. 588 Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret. 548 Thodaer Pick’« Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, — 558 Dodger Dick’s Desperate Case. — { B68 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidoeq. 678 The Two Shadows. * BS Dodger Dick's Drop. 594A Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. i ‘ oe Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony SHarp on Guard. | 626 The Champion Pard«. : 687 Dick Doan, the Dock Bov Detective. 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp. ) 658 Rilly Bantam, the Boy Beagle. ht 671 \ Jersey ded, the Bow Mustler: or, Shadowing the Shade 2 685 Happy fneh, the Boy Mus'cian Detective. payed 701 Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. nleg As —— ee RAKKGSSHOS Mew HER CCAST ER >. Zz At rT LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. | 718 Carl, the Mad Cowboy; or, The Lariat Queen. | By Col, Prentiss ingralam, 714 Old Misery, the M Motntain League, By Win. GO. Patten. A ‘ : 1b Wide Awake Len, the Quaker City Ferret; or, Caging the Cormorants. By T. CoHarkuaugh : Le 716 Deadwoud Dick, dr.’4, Still Wunts. or. The Second Round in Sam Francises. By Edward L. Wheeler,” TIT Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin; oy Move-on Grand fateh, By Jo Pierce, ; from Missourls ory “he Myatery of the « Secret. Py doseph E.Badger, Jr, 719 Pawnee BiH’« Pledge; or, The Cowboy Kidnapper, Be fy Col. Prentiss Ingraham. . , 720 Broadway Billy’s Full Hands or, The Gamin Detece tive’s Donble Snap at Santa Pe, By 1. C, Cowdrick, Bully. Mikio J/718 Licht-Heurt Lute’« Last, Trafl; or, The Gold Craters 221 Maverick Moke, the Arizona Detective; or, The Wizard of A g Urkos Pass, By Wil Lisenbee. 222 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’&, Dominoes: or, The, Rival Campe , of the Northern Border. By Edward L, Wheeler. 728 Silverblade, the Shoshone; or, The Border Reag!ns - Secret Miaelin. By Jos. EB. Badger, Jr. f 2 _ 724 Violet Vane Venjreance; or, The Wipe-Ont at White: Water. By William G. Patten, 725 Daring Dick, Pawnee Bill's Pard; or, The Red Cayalry — Ruids “By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 226 Dennis Duff, the Brown Sport’ Kid; or, The Covers and ‘ Blinds of Getham. By Jo Pierce. Pea Se 727 Headiteht Harry's Stren; ‘ory Mad. Madge, the Outlaw 1 4 Fy Holt. neen. 1b ot, 728 Deadwood Bick, Jr.'s Disgulse: or, Tyan, the Man of : Iron, By Rdward L. Wheel eles —" - ote 729 Silverblade, the Half-Blood’ or. The Border Beagle at Bay. : Ry Jou, FE. Badger, Jr. Z8O Violet Vanes Verdlets or, The Crooked Gawe at Coffin % he Clty. Ry Wm. G. Patten. 781 Ruth Redmond, the Girl Shadower; or. ‘The Rivats $6 Buekskin, By Col. ntiss Ingraham. Reaily July 28. Hof wie m* 782 Daisy Dell, she Pavement Detective: or, Trapping Big Gams or , akon ell: x ¥ ccu m- By T. C. Harbaugh. Ready August 4. . itp a fe A New Taste Every Tuesday. — Th f- e Library ts for ante by all ‘newsde cents ver af Fe ened tourntor aordaua each, il BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publish 98 William Street, New f / e