Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 730) (1891 07 21)
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XY YY XN MA WMA \ \ WAM LAN 17 Va aa i KT Kl Kl il Ut Kl lS EL SN ___Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y., Post Office. Copyright 1891, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, wee Ss July 21, 1891. , 2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS. Price, No. 730. . & Oot: Vol. XX1X, | Vy \ > avanti yi \ }) ee The Crooked Game at Coffin City. AUTHOR OF ‘ VIOLET VANE” SERIES, “ DAISY DARE,” ‘‘OLD BOMBSHELL,” ‘* WILD VUL- CAN,” ‘* THE DIAMOND SPORT,” ETO, CHAPTER I, TWO VERDICTS. A MOUNTAIN tribunal by toreblight, A dozen men were gathered close beside a minar’s small cabin that had been built near a swift-flowing creek, ‘The most of them were rough, uncouth-appearing fellows, with long hair, bushy beards and features hardened by wind, weather and wild life. One of them, however, was smoothly shaven, ‘*OOME HERE, MY LAD! I SAY YOU ARE NOT GUILTY! THAT IS VIOLET VANE’S VERDICT!”
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2 and wore clerical-appearing clothes, but whose face was as hard as those of his companions, although it was now drawn into a look of dis- tressed sadness, The word ‘‘ hypocrite” was written on his countenance. Surronnded by the men was a pale-faced boy not over sixteen years of age—a roughly-dressed but attractive lad, with a frank, almost girlish, face. There was a light of fear in his eyes as he gazed at the stern-looking men who hemmed him in and on whose belted weapons the flaring torchlights glinted, He turned appealingly to- ward the dark-clothed man, but with an expres- sion of helpless sorrow, that individual dropped Lis head in a despairing manner, vailing his eyes with his thick, black eyebrows, One of the men, a fat, greasy, Jiquor-branded individual, lifted above the others by the box which was his tribunal, now arose to his feet, his manner being quite pompous and his air more .ridiculous than dignified, although be plainly tried to appear asif he felt a great re- ponsibility resting on his shoulders, When he spoke it was in a voice that sounded like the gurgling of a very hoarse bull-frog. ‘* Peller-citizens of Coffin City,” he croaked, with a broad sweep of one short arm, ‘' | bev listened impartially ter ther evvydence in this yere case, feelin’ thoroughly detarmined ter see jestice done ter ther extremest limit, let ther chips fall whar they will. I will not deny thet I wuz somewhat favorably impressed by ther *pearance of ther accused, a mere boy charged with ther grave and awful crime of murder ! I will not deny that, feller-citizens, fer I bev er tender heart in my buzzum; but as the evvy- dence hes piled up afore me, I hev crushed back. ther feelin’ thet w’u’d thwart the mechanism of ther law, an’ I hev determined ter do my juty even though my own brother stood ther crimynal at ther Lar. ‘‘Tuar is leetle need of goin’ all over ther evvydence thet has been presented, feller-citizens, -so I will simply tetch on ther main p’ints, Ther hour is gittin’ merged torruds midnight an’ we hev already spent vallyble time in gittin’at ther plain an’ unvarnished facts of ther case, “ Feller-citizens of Coffin City: You wuz all familiar with ther figger of Ole Luckless, ther galoot w’at builded this yere cabin an’ worked ther placer in ther crick, You all know he wuz an ornery, uo-’count critter as didn’t ’mount ter shucks, but fer all thet he wuz er human bein’, an’ it falls ter our juty ter see thet bis death 1s propperly avenged, ‘*Ther pris’ner at ther bar, oh my country- men, kem ter these parts a few short weeks ago an’ foun’ er home with Ole Luckless, who allus wuz er reg’ler soft-hearted old fool thet’d divvy hafe he hed with ther cuss thet seemed ter want it poorty bad. But leetle did ther ole man know w’at a viper he wuz takin’ to his buzzum in this sdft-’pearin’ kid! Leetle did be think ther ban’ of ther one he hed fed w’v’d strike him down! ** Sometime doorin’ ther day thet heg jest past Ole Luckless wuz murdered—foully ‘sassynated, feller-citizens! Both Lank Ike an’ Sweet Jim saw his body layin’ stark an’ stiff jest inside ther door thac; you, my comrades, bev seen ther blood on ther floor. Whar ther body hes gone no critter kin say, ’less it is this yere boy, an’ he won't tell. It is likely he hes secreted it, ter kiver ther traces of hisonnateral crime, Though young in years, an’ with ther face of inner- cence, he seems ter be ole in sin, ‘* Although we mus’ admit ther evvydence is mainly circumventional, pards of Coffin City, it is also very black erg’in’ ther kid, He tells er rayther pecool’ar yarn ’bout bein’ skeered out, an’ tryin’ ter git erway frum these parts, but ther story is soflumsy thet it won’t hole watter fer shucks, Thar is no doubt but thet he wuz fleein’, like ther guilty critter that he is—fleein’ fram ther scene of his most horrerfyin’ crime! “This grief shaken galoot,” and the eloquent orator waved a hand toward the now sobbing man in black, “is ther unforternate uncle of this wretched and misguided youth, Fer some time he hes bin huntiu’ in vain fer ther boy, an’ now he has foun’ him, only ter bev his heart torn by ther awful fac’s of ther crime with which ther boy’s han’s are stained. We pity this unlucky uncle of a youthful crimmynal— ‘we pity him frum ther bottom of our tender heart. ~ “Out in this yere wile lan’ jestice an’ punish- mint swiftly follers conviecshun fer a crime, This court is ther court of Jedge Lynch, an’ I am ther admiaisterer of jestice. I hev heerd ther evvydence, an’ arriv’at a decision. Is thar ary derned reason why I sh’u’dn’t announce ther verdic’? Ef ary one knows cause, let him now yoop her out ur ferever arter bole his (peace,” Violet Vane’s Verdict. The man in black slowly arose, still holding his handkerchief to his eyes, Ina choked and broken voice he began to’speak, but without glancing at the pale-faced, despairing lad. ‘** Brothers,” he snuffled, ‘‘ for many long and weary years I have been a faithful servant-of thé Lord, reproving sinners and trying to turn the wayward to the path that leads to eternal salvation—the straight and narrow path, I have passed through many trials and sore afflic- tions, but never did I dream the Lord would see fit to place such a crushing burden on my weak shoulders as now rests there, Never did I dream He would see fit to permit one of my own ‘kin to stain bis hands with buman blood, It is a cross heavy to bear, still I praise His blessed name!” For a moment the speaker paused, seeming choked by the intensity of his emotions, Soon he went on again, falteringly: “It may be useless for me to again ask leniency for this wayward child of sin, yet I must do so, even though I feel justice should have its course, [tis a ter-terrible th-thing for one so young to be cut down like the grass, and to perish like the bub-beasts of the field. Look on him witb pup-pity, oh my brothers, and con- sider his (sob) tender years! I shall be crushed —by the terrible thought—thought that lake of eternal fire of which we are told—in the Book of Books, Ob, have mercy (sob) upon this way- | war! one—this erring child! He knew not what | be did—Father in Heaven, he knew not what he } did! Scarcely out of short clothes, he (sob) has stained—his bands—with—” Here the speaker broke down entirely and gave up the attempt. ‘Tt is useless,” declared the ‘‘ judge.” ‘The boy’s crime is too great fer pardon. He must suffer ther penalty, an’ now I will pernounce ther verdic’: ‘* Wallace Kenton, this yere court hes foun’ you guilty of murder in ther fu’st degree, an’ I do hereby pernounce, accordin’ to power duly di- vested in me, thet you are GUILTY, an’ you shell be immediately at once’t an’ without loss of time hung by ther neck tell you are dead, dead,.dead! So mote it be.” There was a stir, a murmur, and the rough men reached out eager hands to grasp their in- tended victim, th» trembling, helpless boy. And then— “ Hold! The man whs lays hands on that boy dies !” , Clear and distinct came the ringing words, The roughs whee'ed with exclamations of dis- may, their hands falling toward their weapons. Within the circle of torcblights stood a man in whose hands gleamed cocked and Jeveled re- volvers. From head to foot he was dressed in black, the sombrero on his head, looped at one side and fastened by a knot of fresh mountain \ violets, being the same color as his finely-fitting velvet suit. His hands were incased in black kid gloves. The man was of medium height, but a perfect picture of physical perfection, His face was stern, his mustache coal black, as also were his flashing eyes. ; Oaths of dismay came from the lips of Judge Lynch’s ruffianly gang, and involuntarily they shrunk before the muzzles of the weapons which never quivered a hair in the hands of the daunt- less stranger, ‘Hands off your barkers, or eat hot lead!” cried the velvet dandy. ‘‘ I mean old business!” The hands of the toughs fell from their half- drawn revolvers, i “That is right,” slightly bowed the one who held the drop. ‘1am not the man to be fooled with, for I had rather shoot than talk any time. / “You are a gay crowd of cuckoos, and I have you all spotted. I bave been listening to this trial from the outskirts, waiting for the roper time to chip in, For some reason, you have taken this contemptible way to get rid of a friendless boy. I imagine you are hired as- sassins of that black-clothed, smooth-faced scoundrel who claims to be the boy’s uncle. I have the two-faced hypocrite marked and he may see more of me, ‘““Come here, my lad! I say you are not guilty! That is Violet Vane’s verdict.” » The boy already had left that circle and_bur- ried to the side of his new friend, while Violet Vane—as the stranger had called himself—still kept his revolvers trained on the ruffianly Bang. The daring man spoke a few words to the lad, who immediately hurried round the corner of the cabin and disappeared. Y A few moments later the sound of retreating hoofbeats came to the ears of the men, and they knew their prey had escaped them for the time. “You showed excellent judgment, gentle- _— men,” came somewhat sneeringly from Violet Vane’s lips, You were a dozen to one, but £ had a shot for every man—and I never miss! Still I had no desire to take the blood of this gang on my hands, even though it would have been a great service to this part of the country and Coffin City in particuiar, If you lay a score against me, you will be apt to see me in Coffin City later on, **T will now bid you good-evening.” Then, still keeping them covered, he backed round thecorner and disappeared, CHAPTER II. BIRDS OF A FEATHER, ONE day, nearly two months after the events related in the foregoing chapter, Adam Jayne, the clerical hypocrite of the smooth face and black clothes, was slowly walking down the main street of the little mining-camp known as Coffin City. Although there was, as usual, a sanctimonious air about the man, his face wore an unusually sour expression, the corners of his mouth being drawn a trifle lower than was cus- tomary. Plainly Adam was in anything but a pleasant mood, Coffin City was not a very large town, and Jayne soon paused in front of a small building, over the dour of which hung a sign bearing the following inscription: * ELIAS SLINK, Attorney-at-Law.” The ** Rev.” Adam stood meditating for several moments, as if undecided about entering. At, length he muttered; “The man will want money, but I desire in- formation. Confound bim! he is a regular blood-sucker! But he served me well in the past —he found the girl, then he found the boy, The girl is disposed of, and the boy would have been but for that infernal imp who dared interfere at such a confoundedly inopportune moment, Hang him! City, but he has not shown his head here, Stink says he has men on track of both Violet Vane and the boy, but I can never tell when Slink tells the truth and when he lies, He has a new story for me every time I see him; and it is always money, money, money. He must think I’m made of money. But when I am successful, as I will be in the end, it will be worth all my trouble and expenditure, ‘*T believe Lawyer Slink will have for my ear to-day.” He advanced to the door and pushed his way into the building. Immediately on stepping in from the street, he found himself in a sma}!y~ square room, meagerly furnished, theg ist prominent article of furniture being a*large, flat-topped table, upon which were spread a mess of manuscripts and newspapers, together with two or three legal-looking books, one of the latter being open. As Adam entered, the only inmate of the room was sitting with his chair tilted back and his heels resting fairly in the middls of the open book on the table, while the fragrant smoke of a fine cigar he was idly puffing, filled the place. The instant the occupant of the room saw who his visitor was, his chair was righted and his heels came down withathump, Inanother mo- ment he was on his feet, smiling blandly, bow- ing Rona d and extending a thin, bony and, “ AN!” he exclaimed, rolling the cigar be- tween his lips and allowing it to settle in the left corner of his mouth, ‘It ismy highly-esteemed friend and client, the Reverend Adam Jayne! am glad, to see you, sir—beartily glad! I was just thinking of you as you entered,” ‘The Lord knows I do not doubt it,” was the reply, as Jayne touched the hand of the oily lawyer. ‘But [ sadly fear your thoughts were more of my pocketbook than of myself. Ah, hum! Such is the way of this greedy world, They seek after silver and gold, but forget to lay up riches in Heaven, which rust cannot cor- rupt and which fadeth not away.” omething like a scow! showed on the lawyer's face for an instant, but it quickly vanished, and he smiled as blandly as before, rubbing his bony hands together and rolling the cigar to the other corner of his mouth. ‘ “Plenty of time for that, sir,” he bowed, ‘* Meantime, I have to rustle after a little of the corruptible wealth. All the same, it is a very small amount 1 manage to secure.” “Small! Why, Slink! I have done nothing but fork over money to you since I first engaged you to assist me in searching for my beloved nephew and niece!” a ‘““And do you think I have put it allinmy He said we shou!d see him in Coffin , will go in and see what new tale .
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pocket, sir? Have I not regularly showed you a statement of expenses, which revealed where the money went? I have taken cura that it should be expended in a judicious manuer, This business has cost—” “You are quite right, Brother Slink, it has cost,” ‘But sit down, sir, sit down,” and the oily lawyer hastened to place a broken-backed chair for his visitor. ‘* We can talk much more com- fortably while sitting than standing. You must be thirsty?’ and with clasped hands and forward bent body, Slink was a veritable hu- man interrogation point, The ** Rev.” Jayne slowly clearad his throat. ‘*To tell the truth, I am somewhat thirsty,” he confessed. The lawyer hastened to a small closet and quickly brought outa bottle of liquor and two glasses, placeing them on the tabe, Then he sat down opposite his caller, '*T believe the Bible says something about a little wine being good for the stomach’s sake?” observed Slink, ** You are right, Brother Slink, such a declar- ation is to be found in the Good Book, uttered by one of the wise men of God. Mind you, [ do not counsel over-indulgence in stimulating drink, but a little is sometimes very invigorating and beneficial.” * Right you are! Help yourself, parson.” Jayne poured out a brimming glass, lifted it to the light and observed its color with a criti- cal eye, ‘It’s the prime article,” assured the lawyer, as he turned out about a third of a glass, ‘‘ It cost money.” The glasses clinked and the wanes disappeared. Adam Jayne smacked his lips and looked askance at the bottle. ‘* Prime stuff, eh?” from Slink, *¢ Yes; and that is what surprises me. How the dey—Dutch can you afford to drink such liquor and smoke such cigars? Why, when I picked you up, you were nothing but a common tramp with scarce a shirt to your back! Your con- dition has changed, and I think [ understand how it comes about. Your practice—” ‘*My practice has been exceedingly good of late, dear sir,” Slink bastened to say, puffing nervously at his cigar. ‘‘I have done excel- lently well since coming to Coffin City, I assura you, ‘* But I never see any one except myself en- tering or leaving this den.” **Tt is not probable you watch the door all the time, dear sir,” expostulated Elias, growing more and more nervous, changing the cigar in his mouth several times, ** However, it.is business I wish to speak to you about, That is why I was thinking of you.” Deliberately Adam again filled his glass. Slink turned out a small amount, and once more the glasses touched, “T trust you can tell me of success this time— success ina positive degree,. I am tired of being hung on the verge of success, but waiting in vain for what you have repeatedly promised. Tamaman of much patience and long suffer- ing, but there is a limit to my endurance.” Slink suddenly bent forward, resting bis hands on the table and looking his visitor sharply in the face, ** Can you complain of the manner in which I have served you?” he demanded, speaking as smoothly as ever, an insinuating smile creeping around the corners of his gash-like mouth, ‘* Did T not find the girl for you, and did 1 not find the boy? Idid more than, that—I put up the little job—at your suggestion—which would have rid you of the kid but for the interference of that fellow who caJls himself Violet Vane, You in- a you would like to get rid of the boy, and— The “‘ Rev.” Adam held up his hands in hor- ror, as he hastened to interrupt the speaker, “My dear brother, can it be that you have thus deceived yourself? Ysur words fill my soul with amazement and righteous indignation! Such terrible thoughts never entered my heart. When I saw thesnareinto which my dear nephew had fallen through his greed for the gold of his benefactor, my heart was torn with anguish. I pleaded with those stern men to relinquish their purpose, but all to no avail. But for the inter- ference of this Violet Vane—confound--no, bless him !—the r boy would have been cruelly hanged. His young life would bave been ex- tinguished like that of a flower crushed beneath a remorseless foot.” Slink smiled, craftily. " _“*Your money placed the boy in that posi- tion,” he asserted. ‘‘ It certainly cost so i to hire those men and to arrange the e an ee ee Violet Vane’s Verdict. but you came down liberally, I found two fel- lows who had a grudge a a Old Luckless, and they disposed of him, I also found—” But Adam would bave started to his feet, ‘*T cannot listen to this!” heexclaimed, ‘If you have made such a wicked use of the money | gave you, Brother Slink, [ trust.you will not distress me by telling me of it. This will cause me to spend many long hours in penitence and prayer.” For the third time he filled his glass. Slink turned out a small amount, as he had done be- fore. Holding up the glass, the lawyer closed one eye and squinted knowingly across the brim with the other. ‘*T fancy we understand each other pretty well, parson,” he observed, removing his cigar from his mouth, ‘‘ Here is success to your plans,” The glasses clinked again and they swallowed the liquor. “Ab!” exclaimed Jayne, again smacking his lips. ‘‘ That warms the heart in a man’s bosom, It gives a Christian a sort of feeling of love and pity for his sinful fellow-men. The Apostle was right in saying a little wine is good for the stomach’s sake, Pla what is the business you wish to speak of? ‘Tt is of the boy, of course.” **Have you found bim? The last time I was here, you felt sure you had a positive clew to his whereabouts — you said some of your men had at him toSanta Fe. How did that turn out The lawyer shook his bead, ‘*It was time wasted,” he confessed. ‘I re- gret to say it, my dear sir, but it was time and money wasted.” ‘ a Jayne smote the table with his clinched and, * That is what I thought,” he almost snarled, his face being absolutely repulsive for the time. ‘*You have been making a fool of yourself and me too, Slink! You have been wasting the money I have giveu you! I am done dealing with you, sir! Do you hear? I am done deal- ing with you!” : Still Slink smiled, and still he rubbed his bon hands together. “You are getting excited, parson,” came smoothly from his tongue. ‘* There is no reason for it, I am—” **Reason!” snapped Adam, turning out an- other glass and dashing it off—‘treason! Will you talk to me of reason? Oh, you make me tired, Slink! Ihave played bank for you long enough; now I am done!” ** My dear sir,” purred Elias, not in the least ruffled, ‘‘I am sure you will change your mind when you hear what I have to tell you. You are drinking too much, parson, and the liquor is going to your head,” Jayne was on the point of turning out another glassful, but be relinquished his purpose and set- tled back into his chair, twisting his face into a mass of sour knots, *“Tf you have anything to tell me, Brother Slink,” he said, with an attempt at dignity, “I trust you will make it known. I have no time to waste in the follies of this life. It was the im- mortal Longfellow who said ‘ life is real.and life is earnest.’ There is work—hic!—in the vast vineyard of the world for all to do.” ** Well, this is not the Pace to preach a ser- mon, parson, This time lam going to tell you a thing Iam positive of: We are on track of the boy at last,” ** Same old thing—same story!” * But there is no mistake this time. The very man who saved bim from the trap your money set, boldly appeared in Coffin City to-day.” “What” **Tt is the truth,” smoothly smiled the crafty lawyer. ‘ Violet Vane was in this town to-day !” —— CHAPTER III. FATHER AND SON, THE ‘ Rev.” Adam started to his feet as if in alarm, but immediately sunk back into the chair, reaching nervously for the bottle and turning out another brimming glass, his hand shaking so he spilled some while doing this. Rolling the cigar far down into the left corner of his mouth and half-closing his small, foxy eyes, Lawyer Slink closely watched the effect of his words upon his elient, the smile changing to something like a look of contempt as he noted the man’s emotion, | Jayne tossed off the liquor at a gulp, not even waiting for his companion to accompany him with the usual teaspoonful he drank at one time, Setting down the glass, his hand shaking as he did so, he muttered: “The devil!” “Eh? came quickly from the lawyer’s lips. ‘““That is an unusual expression for you, my dear friend.” **T was simply finishing aloud a sentence I began in my mind,” Adam explained. ‘‘ What I said in full wash—hic!—that I had rather see most any one than thish Violet Vane, even the EvilOne. Shee?” The effect of the liquor was becoming very no- ticeable upon the reverend gentleman. His face was flushed, and his words somewhat thickly spoken, Slink rubbed his hands with satisfac- tion and chuckled softly. ‘“Now, my dear sir, that is the last thing I would expect to hear from your lips,” declared the oily lawyer, giving the cigar another roll from left to right in his mouth, ‘* With a single exception, I hed yather see this Violet Vane just now than any other person I know of,” ‘* Who is the exception?” : ‘© The boy.” ‘* Well, why are you sho delighted to see thish Violet Vane?” ‘* Wasily explained, dear sir, easily explained. It is quite certain Violet Vane aided the boy in escaping from us. We have spoken of that be- fore. The kid could not have avoided us alone and got away without leaving a trace behind. You have said as much yourself before now, sir. ‘* Believe I have, Brother Slink. Go on.” ‘* Well, if this man in velvet aided the boy to escape, it is quite probable he knows where the kid is at the present time. Isn’t that so?” ** Jesht like’s not,” , “By watching Vane, we may find the boy, Savvy?” Adam leaned forward on the table and ex- tended his hand, which was promptly accepted by his crafty tool. “* Brother Slink, you’re—hic!—a shewel!” as- serted the reverend rascal, ‘‘ You would be an ornament and a pillar of the church! You should come into the fold before it ish everlastingly too date, and shpend the resht of your days in work- ing in the shervice of the Lord. In your—bic! —preshent occupation you are chasti g our pearls before swine. Brother Stink, gf eel for you—I do, and in the quiet schanctity of the closet you shall have my prayers, Yesh, you shall, my dear brother in shin, yesh you shall!” ‘Many thanks, dear sir,” purred Slink, once more settling back in the chair and apparently alloog the cigar to ro]) of its own accord across his mouth. ‘* But business is business, and we are talking business just now, "not religion. There will be lots of time for the lat- ter after we are through with this little job— and I fancy we will have need enough of it. We shall be fortunateif we can secure enough of the simon-pure article to save us from an eternal roast,” Jayne shrugged his shoulders, You talk strangely, Brother Sinks sane ly, strangely! Scarce can I undershtand the meaning of the words you utter, I surely am only doing my schober duty—hic!—trying to find the schildren of my dead brother Saul.” ‘“How much money did your dead brother Saul leave them?” Adam straightened up as stiff as a ramrod, “* Money, shir!” he said, with dignity. ‘My brother was comparatively a poor man. But what are these things to you? Thish is none of the business for which I engaged you, shir,” “Certainly not, certainly not,” Slink has- tened to say, as he rubbed his hands together, nervously. ‘Of course I understand there is some powerful incitive that leads you to relent- lessly search for this boy.” _ “Affection, shir, affection! This heart—” lacing his left‘band in the vicinity of his right ung—'‘ thish heart beats with love for all the hum—the humble creatures of earth, That being the cashe, Brother Slink, why should it not beat with redoubled affection for thoshe of my own kin! I would gather the poor home- less ones under the shadow of—hic—my wing. Shee?” “Oh, cert. It is very plain—as plain and clear as mud, hope and trust your love for this boy will not be thwarted. By the way, what became of the girl?” Adam started nervously and glanced about, as if fearful of eavesdroppers, then he de- liberately winked at his foxy tool, as he replied: ‘¢She is shafe, I ’shure you, Brother Shlink— I have taken the tenderesht eare of the little darling.” E What a villainous, borrible smile crept snake- like across the face of the old hypocrite! Even
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Violet Vane’s Verdict. Slink, the crafty, was stirred by a momentary feeling of repulsion for the man whose money had lifted him from the gutter. After a few moments, Adam broke into a cackling laugh, tipped his silk hat back on his head and called for a cigar, **T believe I will schmoke, Brother Shlink,” he said. The lawyer hastened to set out a box of cigars, ““T should have offered them before, but you have always declined previously, saying you did not use the weed,” he apologized. ‘*Tha’s all ri’,” assured Adam, selecting one and thrusting the wrong end into his mouth, while he vainly tried to light the wrong end of a match. ‘‘ Useter schmoke, Shlinky, useter schmoke when I—hic—wash one of the boysh, y’know, I tell you, Shlinky, I wash a good one —hic! Cunfound thish ma’ch!” “Try the other end, sir.” ‘No, I won’t try t’other end! ma’cb,” After considerable trouble, Adam succeeded pi lighting the cigar, having changed ends fin- aly, “Well, now we will go on wish our bushi- ness,” he said. ‘‘Jesht lemme know what you propose to do anyhow, Brother Shlink.” ‘*T propose to watch Violet Vane,” oes all tt.” **To do this, I must put two new men on his track,” ** Yesh,” “Tt will cost money.” ** Cer-hic!—cert !” **T shall need some more.” ‘Bout how much you want?” Slink hesitated, being afraid to ask for too large a sum. He bad succeeded in getting Jayne into the very condition he desired, but, from past experience, he knew there was such a thing as overstepping the limit, Gimme ’nother ‘* Hain’t got mush ready monish,” declared Bem “Got ter go—hic!—light, Brother D . The lawyer seized a pencil and paper and pre- tended to figure rapidly for a few moments, Finally, he paused with his head canted on one side and his half-smoked cigar pointing ceiling- ward from the upper corner of his mouth. ** How much?” impatiently demanded Jayne, ** Well,” replied the lawyer, slowly, ‘‘I need five hundred, but I may be able to squeeze along for a couple of weeks on four but four is the very lowest figure.” Adam drew forth his pocketbook and counted out the sum of four hundred dollars, ‘*There you hash it,” pushing the bills toward Slink’s itching fingers. ‘‘ And ‘tha’s the lasht you'll get “lesht it ’mounts to something,” “*T shall surely make it amount to something,” declared the wily lawyer. A few momets later, Adam Jayne left the office, When he was gone, Slink executed some- thing like a war-dance in the middle of the room, restraining his desire to whoop with delight, “Struck him again!” he snickered, triumph- age waving the Lag over his head. ‘‘ Had to fill the old dog to do it, but I hit him just the game, I will be able to weara silk hat soon! Ha, ha, ha! what a pie! I have bled the old rascal in great shape, and if I can play the cards right, I will continue to bleed him, [am inno great hurry about finding the boy, for I knowa good snap when I strike it, and I never had such another one, When he refuses to pod over any more, then I will hustle to find the kid and get that reward. Oh, he, he, he!” He danced around the floor once more, and kicked the broken-backed chair across the room, where it struck the wall and fell in a splintered wreck, ** Soft, soft!” he muttered, _ ‘t Chain up, Elias! You have ruined a chair and you cannot afford to buy another elegant easy to take its place. You don’t want to lay out more sem. than is necessary in this God-forsaken hole, hen this bit of business blows over, Elias Slink, attorney - at-law, will fold up his wigwam, like the noble red-man, and silently sneak away. Coffin City will know him no more forever. Yea, verily; so mote it be!” : With his silk hat tipped far back on his head, his bands thrust into his pockets, and the cigar pong upward from one corner of bis mouth, Adam e made his way unsteadily down the street. He had taken a final drink before leav- ing Slink’s office, and the result was that i 27 fed around him seemed decidedly shaky. i “Blesh my eyesh!” he gurgled, speaking softly to himself, ‘‘ I never notished b’fore that thish schtreet wash—hic!—sho confounded crook- ed. Crookedesth schtreet I ever shaw, tha’s The citizens of the place who happened to see him paused and stared at the singular sight, for never before had the ‘t Rev.” Adam appeared on the street in that deplorable condition. ‘Mull aser b’iled owl!” gurglad ‘* Judge” Ben- jamin Hogg. ‘ Parson's bin hittin’ ther bottle, 1 reckon.” Hogg was the corpulent and greasy Judge Lynch of the torchlight tribunal, the intended result of which had been defeated by Violet Vane, ‘* It wu’d do him good ef some one ’d hit him with er yood heavy club an’ knock him sense- less!” snorted Old Daddy Duzenberry, a recent comer in Coffin City, Hogg instantly turned on the tall, lank old man, ‘Do ye know thet gent?’ demanded the judge,” ‘* Mebbe so; mebbe not, Who is he?” “ Thet is ther Reverend Adam Jayne.” ‘Ye don’t say! Waal, waal! I tuck him fer Adam fool,” and the old man chuckled at his own pun, Jayne continued his way along the street till he came to a small cabin not far from the out- skirts. Turning up to this, he pushed it open and entered, thickly humming; “ We won't go home till morning, We won't go home till morning, We won't go home till morning, Till daylight doesh appear.” ‘Well, I sthwear!” The exclamation came from an individual who was swinging in a hammock suspended within the room Adam had entered. And that individual was a youth of about niaeteon, dress- ed in a decidedly ‘‘loud” suit of clothes. He was adecidedly insipid-looking young man, the downy mustache he was trying to raise on his upper lip adding none to his manliness, ie Adam entered, he started up in the ham- mock and adjusted an eyeglass to survey Elias Slink’s client. ‘Hullo, Jonash,” greeted Jayne. ‘‘Sho you are taking things comfortable, my—hic—boysh! Well, tha’s ri’—tha’s all ri’.” ‘ei Well, I sthwear!” repeated Jonas, drawl- i ngly. Adam steadied himself with his feet wide apart, pulling vainly at a cigar, which had gone out while he was singing. ‘Don’t schwear, my son,” he admonished, with great vity, ‘* Don’t schwear, for it ish wicked. You know, Jonash, I have alwaysh been very careful to—-hic!—bring you up in the way you schould go. I have tried to inculcate in your youthful mind the—hic!—prinschipalsh of virtue and morality. I have felt a heay *sponshibility reshting on my shouldersh, have prayed for you in public an’ in the closhet, I have—” ‘You have been makin yourthelf, old man,” drawl as he sunk back in the hammock and cigarette, ‘‘ Why, you’re half-shot!” Adam looked shocked, “Why will you—hic!—continue to ushe schlang?’ he demanded, with attempted sever- ity. ‘‘I hash done my besht to insthruct you in the folly of the pernacious habit, but all my efforts sheem to be wasted—hic! Ob, Jonash, Jonash! I hash ts many weary nights pray- ing for you, my shon!” ‘Thay,” lisped Jonas, ‘‘ come off your pearch, w! You make me tired!” Adam began to snuffle and sob, at the same time fishing in his pocket for a handkerchief and dropping his cigar as he did so, ‘* This ish moré than I can schtand!” he blub- bered, ‘‘Oh, my shon, my shon! that I should ever come to thish!” ‘““Well, I thould think you would feel athamed,” asserted the youth, languidly breath- ing the smoke of the cigarette through his nos- trils. ‘*T am athamed of you. You talk tome about dwinking, and here you are dwunk!” Adam suddenly braced up and glared at the boy. u Who ’sh drunk?” be demanded, “You are, paw; dwunk ath an owl!” *© Jonash !” “Tt ith a fact, old man.” ** Jonash,—hic!—I am astonished!” “Tho am I,” Zs “To think you should shay such a thing of your father!” ‘“* Stwait goods, paw.” Once more Adam began to snuffle as he swayed to and fro, ‘Don’t you think you had better lay down and cool off, paw?’ drawled the youth in the hammock, ‘ a weglar fool of the respectful son, lighted a To this Adam growled a negative rely. “You'll be off your pinth in a thort time, guy.” *¢T hash only—hic!—been taking shumshin for my throat,” mumbled the elder Jayne. ‘ Jesht one littlesh sch waller.” **Tt mutbt have been awful pwowerful.” **T think it wash drugged,” gurgled Adam, ¥ I thuppothe you would like the hammock, aw? ** Well,—hem!—I might find it comfortable— hie !—for a schort time, Jonash,” The youth arose with evident reluctance, ** Allow me to athitht you, guv.” 5 yoret out!” exclaimed the elder. ‘* I’sh al} a He staggered toward the hammock, but made a miscalculation and fell headlong over it, striking on his head and literally driving his silk hat over his ears, With a groan, he col- lapsed in a heap on the floor. Jonas laughed, heartlessly. A ‘* Weg’lar jag the old man hath got on,” he ob- served, as he bentover his fallen parent. ‘“* Hi, guv! rout up!” But Adam made no attempt to rise. ** Knocked clean out!” chuckled the youth, as he dragged the silk hat from his father’s head and held it up for inspection. ‘“‘Thereth a ten-dollar thilk hat gone to the deuth,” he added, ‘‘ I weckon the old gent won't be able to thay much to me after thith,” He tried to lift his parent into the hammock, but found the task too great for his puny strength, so he dragged the now snoring man into a corner and left him there. “ He'll never know the differenth till he waketh up,” grinned Jonas, returning to the hammock, CHAPTER IV. SLINK FINDS AN ALLY, Exzas Siine was still dancing and chuckling when his office door was softly opened and a man slid silently into the room. Indeed, he en- tered so silently that he was well within the room before the lawyer was aware of his pres- nce. “ Buenos dios, senor.” At this greeting Slink stop his dancing with a suddenness somewhat ridiculous, and im: mediately began to bow, smile and rub his hands together, ‘ Ah, sir! good. day, sir. Did you speak to me, sir?” ** Si, senoc,” The new-comer was apparently a Mexican, judging from his fanciful dress and dark face, to say nothing of the fact that he bad thus far spoken in Spanish. ; : “What can I do for you, sir?” inquired Law- yer Slink. { The man glanced around the room, as if to make gure no other persons were present, then replied: ‘I came to make some inquiries, senor.” “ Anything I can do for you I will willingly do—at regular rates,” smiled Blias, ‘‘Have a chair, sir, have a chair. By accident I fell over my other one and slightly damaged it,” indicat- ing the wreck of the one he bad kicked against the wall. ‘‘In doing so, I hurt a pet corn, and ve dancing with the pain when you entered, The Mexican smiled and accepted the proffered chair, as the lawyer seated himself on the flat- top table, : Smoke?” and Elias offered the cigars, The visitor shook his head. “Not those, senor,” was the ees Beg- ging your pardon for declining, I will smoke a cigarette, f you do not object.” Oh, certainly not, certainly not!” assured the lawyer, selecting a fresh cigar for himself. ‘“‘ Every man to his own taste, One’s meat, an- other’s poison.” The Mexican swiftly rolled a cigarette and lighted it. : ‘Now, senor, we will speak of business.” The lawyer, having lighted his cigar, rolled it into the left corner of bis mouth, replying: ‘“‘O, K, Drive ahead, sir.” “ First, I will say my name is Juan Pacheco, — and I have come to these parts for the purpose of revenge, As you propenr know, my people seldom forget an injury. hen we have been wronged, there is nothing we desire so much as revenge,”.. : ‘ Bg lawyer shrugged his shoulders and nod- “ey saw a man leave this office a few moments ** Great Scott!” exclaimed Elias, nearly drop- ping his cigar in his surprise. ‘‘ You don t mean eT —— = t
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as a A o- 2 —— - 2a ee ee * - to say you are looking for revenge on Adam Jayne for some injury he has done you?” uan Pacheco shook bis head. ‘*T am afraid [ have come at this matterin an awkward fashion,” he said, speaking surprising- p pure English. ‘‘Itis pot that man on whom seek revenge, but if I have been informed rightly, that man is connected with the case, I have been told he is searching for a boy—a rela- tive of his. Was that ccrrect?” ‘Possibly so, possibly so,” and the lawyer slowly rubbed his hands together, while he studied the face of bis visitor as if seeking to discover just what the man was coming at. Juan smiled, ; ‘*T understand your suspicions,” he declared; **and [ see in what an awkward manner I have aroused them. ButI tell you the truth, senor, when I say the man who recently left this office is not the man on whom I seek revenge, The oue I am after isan enemy of his, Perbaps you know of him?” ‘*T can tell, if you will kindly mention the in- dividual’s name, dear sir,” ‘* He is known as Violet Vane.” To say Elias was startled and surprised would be expressing it mildly; but he concealed bis emotion to a great extent, simply rolling the cigar into the other corner of his mouth and blowing out a vast cloud of smoke at the same time. ** 1t seems to me as if I have heard of the fel- low,” he finally admitted, ‘*A dangerous man he is,” asserted the Mexi- cau. “ Would you object telling me your grievance against him?’ smoothly inquired Slink, Juan hesitated a moment, closely scanning the lawyer’s face before he spoke, “T think [ can trust you,” he finally said, “ I shall not tell you anything you can use against me, though I hardly think you would take such an advantage.” **Most assuredly not, most assuredly not!” Elias hastened to say, smoothly rubbing his bony hands together. ‘* You can trust me fully, freely.” ** Let it be enough to say I belonged to a band of men of whom the leader was a beautiful American lady. What the men were or why they were organized it makes little difference, We all respected and admired our leader, for she was as daring as fair. But she was stern, None of us dared make love to her,-though many were eager to do so." Among others, I worshiped he~ secretly; [ would have given up my life for her. And she—she loved this man known as Violet Vane !” The final words were uttered in a tone that nearly lifted the lawyer from the table and so startled him that he dropped his cigar, caught it asit fell and clapped the lighted end into his mouth. With a yell of pain, astonishment and disgust, Elias leaped into the air, ejecting the cigar fairly into the face of the amazed Mexican. The moment his feet struck the floor, the lawyer started on arun around the room, thrusting his burned tongue out into the cool air, and cry- ing: ** Wow! Google-oogle-cogle-oo!” It was evident he was swearing in an un- restrained manner, but ashe kept his tongue thrust out, his words all sounded the same and might have been a choice phrase from the Hot- tentot language for all his auditor could tell, Catehing up the bottle of liquor, the unlucky man took several big swallow® but the fiery stuff nearly strangled him and he fell to cough- ing in an alarming manner, rubbing his throat with his hands, while bis eyes bulged out like huge buttons. ** Madre de Dios!” gasped the Mexican. ‘“The man is mad!—he is having a fit! I will all assistance!” He started for the door, but the lawyer caught him before he could get it open. Hold on—all right!” hespluttered. ‘‘ Burned tongue on dad-blanked cigar!” He soon succeeded in making Juan under- stand, and led the Mexican back to his seat, vict.usly stamping on the cigar, which lay on the floor where if had fallen; When he was quite sure the lawyer was not deranged, Juan continued: “* As Isaid, the woman I loved, loved this vel- vet American. That was enough to make me hate bim! But be cared nothing for her, and that made me hate hima thousand times more fiercely. In truth, he scorned her, and she was fair as the flowers! Still, when she knew he eared nothing for her, she continued to love him. I will not tell you all the wretched story, senor; let it be enough to say he was the direct { Violet Vane’s Verdict. cause of her death—the cause of the death of the one I loved! I still love ber in Heaven, for one so beautiful must go there! I swore to have re- venge on him, but simply his death will not sat- isfy me, I have been where I could slay him several times, but I held my hand, waiting for a greater revenge. It will come! it will come!” **But how does this concern me?’ inquired Slink, slowly rubbing his hands together and half-closing bis eyes. ‘‘ Iam sure I hardly un- derstand why you have come to me with this story, sir.” ** That is not difficult to explain. I have been tracking this velyet American, and I have seen him witha boy. I heard that the one who left this office a short time ago is looking for a boy supposed to be in the hands of Violet Vane. I came to you to learn if this is true.” “Tf it is, can you tell us where the boy is now?” The Mexican shook his head. **T did know till a short time ago. Till then, the boy and the American were living in an old hut far up among the mountains,” ‘Till how long ago?” ** About a week, Then I think they discov- ered [ was watching the but. In one night they disappeared. I have followed the American here; I know not where the boy is,” ‘But you think you could find bim?” **T do, if it would injure Violet Vane,” “Well, it will, sir, if will! You will be strik- ing a direct blow for vengeance, and be aiding us at the same time, If you find out where the boy is, come directly to me, and be sure you tell no one else. I will pay you one hundred dollars if you are able to give me information that will lead to the securing of the boy. Is it a bar- gain? ‘* Si, senor,” Their hands met. CHAPTER V. DADDY DUZENBERRY’S “GAL.” AS has already been stated, the lank, angular old fellow known as Daddy Duzenberry, was a recent comer in Coffin City. He was a queer genius who seemed to care for nobody, and he had an odd, comical way of saying the most commonplace things, He would give a ludicrous twist to expressions, which would not have rais- ed a smile had they been uttered by any ove else, His wit was of that nameless character which itis impossible to express in cold type, and bis homely face and figure seemed to re- double the humor of everything he said. In appearance he was more of a Down-East Yankee than a Westerner, Daddy Duzenberry did not come alone to Coffin City, With him came a girl, of whom he always spoke of as “‘my gal.” She had blue eyes end short curly hair, being really pretty, despite the questionable style of her garments. She seemed a bit shy and awkward, but there was a merry twinkle in her blue eyes that told of a hidden fountain of fun, “Good gal ’s ever breathed, Liz is,” asserted tbe old man, proudly, ‘She hain’t no cuckoo, but she allus stan’s by ther oleman, Some fel- lers may think she’s old ernongh to hev a beau. Wal, ef I ketch any of ’em snoopin’ roun’ whar she is an’ playin’ soft, Pll leave the impression of my han’ on ther part of his breeches thet gits ther most wear an’ tear w’en he’s settin’ down.” The accommodations in Ccflin City were of a decidedly limited nature, and after examining the cabin built by Old Luckless, which stood about a mile down the creek, Daddy made in- quiries concerning it. He was told the place was haunted by the spirit of the original owner, who had been murdered there, “Git eout!” grinned the old man, ‘‘Sperrits! Fush? I hev never seen nosperrits thet I keered fer, egcept liquid sperrits, an’ I guess mebbe I do care more fer them than I'd oughter, Wat IT want ter know is; Who owns thet shanty?” On being toid that there was no living person who had a claim upon it, Daddy straightway eae upeed his intention of moving into the ut, ‘** Haow about thet placer thar in ther crick?” he inquired. “Waal,” said Sweet Jim, one of the tough characters of Coffin City, ‘“ef you begin ter work thet an’ sticks ter it, you’ll do better’n I think, One feller tried it sence Old Luckless i Pod a out, but he said he c’u’dn’t earn his salt, “Wal, Pll try it,” nodded Daddy. ‘ Thar’s suthin’ in ther Bible about try never bein’ beat. I hain’t wealthy, an’ [ hev got ter do suthin’ ter git chuck fer me an’ Liz,” So he moved into the cabin and set up house- keeping with the utensils left by the former rr a : eee es, owner of the place, which, strange to say, had not been stolen, It was shortly after this that Jonas Jayne joined his father in Coffin City, the elder Jayne having come to the place alone originally, Although Jonas was an insipid fellow, he prided himself on being something of a ladies’ man, and, having heard of Lizzie Duzenberry, ° he exerted himself enough to walk down to the cabin beside the creek, hoping to catch a glimpse of the girl whom all Coffin City pronounced ‘ta stunner,” Jonas was even more successful than he had dared hope, for, as he was sauntering slowly along, swinging his cane and smoking a ciga- rette, he suddenly came face to face with Daddy Duzenberry’s ‘‘ gal.” Liz started back with a cry of alarm, and seemed on the point of run- ning away, but, as he lifted his hat and bowed very low, the dude hastened to say: ‘*T beg your pawdon, I weally do! I twusth you will not be alawmed, fair damthel, I would not hawm you for the world, I athure you.” Liz looked puzzled and amused, It was pos- sible she bad never before met a creature of ex- actly that sort, and she inspected it with curios- ity.. Jonas was flattered by the thought that he bad made an instant impression, and he bowed again, more effusively than at first, pressing one hand on his bosom over his heart, ‘““Thith ith a gweat pleathure,” he declared, ‘*T theartbly dweamed of meeting a young lad of thuch pwepothething appearance in thit wild thection of the countwy—I weally didn’t.” Liz turned away to bide a smile, * Allow me tointwoduthe mythelf,” continued Jonas, feeling fora card, ‘‘Good gwathuth! EL have forgotten my cawds!” He seemed really distressed, ‘Never mind the keerds, mister,” said Liz, ** Daddy don’t ‘low me to play keerds,” ‘* Baw Jove!” Then Jonas removed his cigarette from bis mouth, buo the vacuum was instantly filled by the head of his cane, and, standing thus, he stared at Liz with increasing admiration, ** Deothed pritty giri!” he muttered, removin the cane. ‘* Dethidedly chawming! Thith it equal to the fwind of a gold mine! Blue eyes, weal yellow hair, wed lips! Ob, yum!” Jonas was allowing his emotions to quite carry him away, ‘*What did ye say, sir?” asked Liz, who had not caugbt all et the young man’s words, ‘* Was ye*’speakin’ of uy?” \ “*] wath, i don’t dare wepeat it for fear you might—aw—be offended.” At this Liz fired up. “So you was makin’ sport of me, was ye?” she cried, advancing toward him, with her hands tightly clinched and her eyes flashing. ‘* Now, if there is any one thing I won’t stan’ it’s thet, mister, You've got ter take it back!” As she advanced, Jonas retreated in amaze+ ment, gasping: “My gwathuth! Sheis a weg’lar thpit-fire! I wath not thaying anything of the kind, I athure you, Mith—Mith— Ugh!” The final exclamation came from bis lips as one of his feet struck against a stone and he sat down on the ground with more force than grace, nearly biting his tongue in two as he did so, ‘‘Ow-wow!” he moaned, dropping his cane and cigarette and pressing bis hands to the sides of his face, ‘I believe Iam killed—I do, baw Jove!” Liz stopped and pressed her hands to her sides, being convulsed with laughter at sight of the discomfiture of the would-be masher. ** Fa, ha, ba!” she laughed, the sound ringing out like merry music, ‘If you will come here, Pll help ye up, mister.’ ‘Taint anything to lawf at!” was Jonas’s indignant assertion. ‘ anything funny about it!” ** Tt is all in ther way x look at a thing, mis- ter. If you was me an’ I was you, I guess you'd jest come nigh to splittin’. I’m giad you hap- pened along, fer 1 hain’t hed so much funina week, and I was gittin’ kind of lonesome,” ‘ Jouvas struggled to his feet, looking very red in the face, ‘“*T weckon the joke ith on me thith time,” he finally confessed, brushing the dirt from his pantaloons, ‘I don’t know ath I weally blame you for lav fing, but you are thuch a chawmin girl, ye know, it did cut me up dweadtul, athure youl wath not thaying anything un- complimentary to you, dear mith, In fact—” edging closer to her and giving her a heart- breaking look—‘‘ you are thuch a beautiful girl that I am quithe smitten by your chawms, Your eyeth are of the heavenly blue; your lipths—” ‘“Harged if I can thee.
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Violet Vane’s Verdict, “Hello, hello, heur!” exclaimed the voice of Daddy Duzenberry, as the old man suddenly appeared on the scene and clutched Jonas by the collar, ‘*‘ What does this mean? Whatare you sayin’ to my gal? I’ve gi’n due notiss I w’u’dn’t hey no fellers snoopin’ roun’ heur an’ thet I’d spank ’em ef I ketched ’em, Young man, you’ll hev ter take yer bitters.” The next moment Jonas was bent over the ‘old fellow’s knee and Daddy’s hand was doing its duty. Jonas squawked and kicked like a school-boy, but the old man continued deliberate- ly about his purpose till he was satisfied with the extent of the punishment. Then he picked up the dude’s hat and cane, placed them in bis hands and started him toward Coffin City. ‘‘ Arter this I guess you'll steer c’ar of my gal,” chuckled Daddy, as he watched Jonas’s retreating form, “ One doset oughter be ernough.” At a safe distance, the discomfited masher turned and shook his clinched fist at the one who had heaped such an indignity upon him, **Ob, how could you, Daddy!” laughed Liz. ** He was such jolly fun!” CHAPTER VI. TWO TENDERFEET, ONE day the stage brought two tenderfeet in- to Coffin City. One was a young man of about twenty-five, the other a boy of uncertain age, apparently not more than seventeen, and he looked younger than that, These two seemed to be strangers, and although they occasionally exchanged glances as if de- sirous of making each other’s acquaintance, neither ventured to address the other. Indeed, the boy was scarcely heard to utter a word to any of his fellow-passengers; but the young man conversed freely with several, making eager inquiries about Coffin City and its inhabi- tants. ** Poorty bad place fer tenderfeet, I’ve heern tell,” suddenly observed one rough-looking fel- low, who up to this point had seemed strangely moody and silent. ‘‘Man’s got ter be able ter shoot at ther drop of ther hat thar. It’s er good plan ter lay mighty quiet an’ sing low in sech a place. I don’t reckon they’ll be arter straddjiu’ ed Lark, but you hed best keep yer eyes skinned, young man.” The speaker was attired in the mud-coated garments of a miner, and a mass of bushy red beard covered his face nearly to his eyes, fron MG he probably derived the name of Red ark. ’ ‘* Many thanks,” smiled the older of the two tenderfeet. ‘‘J am aware I carry the stamp of the East upon my person, but I assure you I have knocked about in the West a bit of late, and I have learned the value of discretion.” At this the red-bearded miner only grunted, but several times the young man noticed he was staring wonderingly and in a puzzled manner at the boy, Once he slowly shook his head, as if there was something about the lad’s appearance he could not understand, Coffin City was finally reached, and of the passengers who stopped there were the two tenderfeet and Red Lark. The young man scowled a little as he saw the red-bearded fellow following him into the hotel, and the scowl deepened when he observed the miner was keep- ing his eyes on the boy. ithin the hotel, the boy approached the register, wrote his name, paid his bill for three daysin advance, then asked to be shown toa room, His only piece of baggage was a small, closely-packed grip. ‘*Shown ter yer room!” gasped the long- haired clerk. ‘‘ Wal, I sw’ar! Wat d’yer take this howtel fer? Hyer’s yer tag hitched ter ther key ter yer room, an’ ther number is on ther tag. You goup ther stairs an’ find a number thet’ll fit thet number thar, unlock ther door, walk right in an’ make yerself ter home. Savvy?” The boy nodded and started for the stairs. Then, as the second tenderfoot was signing his name, the clerk stared after the first, muttering contemptuously: “Showed ter his room! Wonder what he takes this howtel fer? Showed—ter—his—room ! Waugh!” - The name which the bo | st : had written was **Timothy Stiles,” and after it bad added **Ciaremont, N. H.” ‘ The second tenderfoot signed as ‘‘ Leon Forest, Lawrence, Mass.” He did not ask to be shown to his room, but accepted a tagged key, and made for the stairs, not having uttered a word, Red Lark leaned over the dirt register and slowly spelled out the names just written. He ‘was so long about this that the clerk became im- i patient and asked him if he was going to stop there. At this the miner settled back and stared so hard at the pompous employee that the impatient individual was quite confused and muttered an apology about having business and being in a burry, The man of the red beard made no reply, but accepted the pen and wrote the title by which he was known, scrawling the name in letters which would have put John Hancock to shame, It was nearly an hour after this that Leon Forest appeared before the register, and, by offering the clerk a good cigar, which was promptly accepted, sought to draw the autocrat into conversation about Coffin City. Although the clerk looked upon tenderfeet with unutter- able contempt, be finally thawed beneath the in- fluence of the cigar and deigned to answer some of the young man’s questions. Forest’s questions were asked in a rambling, off-hand manner, as if they came from the merest idle curiosity, but, in truth, there was a purpose behind it all. ‘* Yep, Coffin City’s great place,” assured the clerk, blowing out huge puffs of fragrant smoke, * Boun’ ter boom. No rocket business, but it’s climbin’ all ther time, bet yer boots! Now, thar’s Deadwater Bar, she went up on er night—liter- ally whooped her up in no time. Ev’rybody went wild—people rushed—great boom, They ‘lowed Deadwater war boun’ ter rake ther rag off ther bush. Some of ther Coffin City galoots got ther fever an’ scooted off, head up an’ tail in ther air. But they kem back, you bet! Big boom—went bu’st, Thet’s ther bull of it. Hain’t nuthin’ thar now, Coffin City keeps crawlin’, but she'll git thar with botb feet.” This did not seem to greatly interest Forest, and he asked: **T suppose you keep track of nearly every- body who comes to this place?” ‘Wal, now, w’at makes ye s’pose thet?” ‘*T judged from your appearance that you are a man of excellent memory and keen obser- vation,” 34 Wal, you didn’t git thet very fur out of ther way. **] thought not.” “You do know suthin’, pard, ef you are a tenderfut.” Leon Forest laughed. ‘* Many thanks, I wonder if you remember the name of Wallace Kenyon?” The clerk-wrinkled his forehead and seemed in deep thought for several moments, but he finally shook his head, ‘* Don’t seem ter ’member ary critter by thet handle,” he confessed. ‘* W’at fur lookin’ galoot wuz he?” ‘* A boy—nothing but a mere boy,” ** How long ergo wuz he hyer?”- ‘* Well, I cannot say as to that. Infact, Iam not positive he has been here at all, He was known to be in this part of the country, and I am trying to get trace of him.” * Twarn’t more’n ay’ar ergo he wuz hyer, ‘“*No, If he was hereat all, it was some time within the past six montbs.” *«Travelin’ erlone?” ** Yes, sir.” “*Tenderfut?” “c Yes,” ‘* Hain’t bin no kid hyer thet’ll answer thet description—’cept it’s thet one as kem same time you did on ther hearse ter-day, Kenyon warn’t theriname he signed, but ye can’t tell much by sech leetle things as thet.” Forest shook his head. ‘¢ That is not the boy.” **T ‘low you hey seen this kid you are huntin’ arter?” “ce No,” ‘“*No? Wal, then you mus’ be familiar with ther one as kem in ter-day?” ‘“ Wrong again. He was simply a fellow-pas- senger.” ‘* Then how in blazes do you know ’tain’t ther one you are lookin’ arter?” Leon did not seem to like these questions of the clerk, so he attempted to turn the conver- sation into a different channel; but there was one point on which the autocrat was determined to express an opinion. Leaning on_ the little counter, he winked one eye knowingly, obsery- ing in a stage whisper: ‘Say, pard, I low you are one of them thar detectives?” Forest laughed and shook bis head. ‘*You are ’way off,” he declared. a detective.” The clerk looked ciepunnted and doubtful, seeming uncertain whether to believe the state- ment or not, **T am not “ That is straight,” Leon assured. ‘I do not care to have thé impression get out that I am a detective, for I am not,” ** Wal, I don’t usually make sech a wild shot, Ef you wuz one of them, I wus goin’ ter tell ye ter keep it mighty shy, fer thet kind hain’t loved in Coffin City. e see, thar are lots of galoots hyer thet hev lighted outer other places fer cer- tun reasons an’ 1t makes ’em mighty narvous fer er detective critter ter come nosin’ roun’,” ““T understand. They need not have any alarm on my account. My only business is to look out for this boy known as Wallace Ken- yon, ‘** By smoke!” “What is it?” ** [ve just thunk! kid!” ‘* Who? What?” “Thar wuz er boy hyer bout two months ergo but be didn’t hang roun’ town much. He stopped down ther crick with an ole cuss they called Ole Luckless,” Leon instantly became highly interested. ‘*Naw we are getting at something!” he ex- claimed. ‘‘ What about the boy—what can you tell me? Where is he now?” ‘*Gone ter Glory, I reckon, pard.” ‘* What! What do you mean by that?” ‘Ef he wuz any relation of yourn, you'll hey ter putt op monrnin’.” ** How is that?” “Ole Luckless wuz killed—~murdered; boy wuz caught, then some of ther fellers went down thar an’ Jedge Lynch held a court.” ‘‘Great God! You don’t mean to say the boy was banged for murder?” ‘‘ Wal, pard, he hain’t bin seen roun’ this yere town sence then.” Leon seemed dazed. ‘*Ts the search to end this way?” he muttered. ‘Great heavens! Are you sure the lad was hanged?” ‘“Nop. Jedge Lynch don’t usually tell tales, All I kin say is thet he hain’t showed up in Cof- fin City sence ther night arter Ole Luckless wuz murdered. Thar are several galoots in this place as c’u’d tell ye more of it then I kin, but I reckon you'll find them dumb as clams.” ‘* Wallace Kenyon never committed a mur- der.” ‘* How do you know, pard? never saw the kid,” ‘‘Tt makes no difference how I know; 1 know! If he was lynched, that was murder, and it shall not go unavenged!” ‘* Hush up thet kind of talk, you fool!” ex- claimed the clerk, looking hastily around to see if any one had overbeard the hot-headed young man’s words. ‘' Ef you feel thet way, you don’t want to yoop her out in thet style, ur you'll wake up some mornin’ an’ find yerself dead, It’s mighty dangerous ter talk on a high key in Cof- fin City. Sing low an’ wait fer yer chance, [ tell you this, young feller, because I hev kinder tooken a likin’ ter ye, though I can’t say jest why I sb’u’d.” ‘Many thanks, I will not forget your kind intentions, Have another cigar?” The clerk accepted the cigar, and Leon walked slowly away, turning to ascend the stairs, When he was gone, another stranger in Coffin City came forward and examined the register, asking the name of the young man who had been talking with the clerk, : Five minutes later, this person was rappin at the door of room Number 9, Leon Forest’s voice asked who was there, and the one who had rapped replied» Iam Violet Vane, and I have come to tell I'll bet thet wuz ther very You say that you you something of Wallace Kenyon.’ / CHAPTER VII. VANE GIVES LEON SOME POINTS, INSTANTLY the door was opened, and into the room walked the Velvet Sport, Violet Vane. In every way a dandy, yet in no way effemi- nate, he was truly a handsome man, although upon his face rested a faint look of sadness, which might have been caused by some past sorrow, f ‘“*T trust you will pardon this unceremonious call,” said the man in velvet. ‘I happened to overhear some of your conversation with the clerk, and so I made bold to come up, thinking I might possibly be able to tell you something of interest concerning the boy for whom you are searching.” Leon closed the door. . ‘ “Tf you can tell me anything of Wallace Kenyon, you shall have my heartiest thanks for your trouble,” he asserted, placing a chair for his visitor, : L ? : 1 ain wr ov rae LTE LEAN | OS LLM RE BE ae LRN TY. PR ESS OUTER ETS » ot
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. Vane accepted the chair, removing his dark sombrero and placing it on the table, thus re- vealing a finely-shaped head, thatched by a mass of dark, curling bair. ‘Well, if happens I know something of the lad,” said the Velvet Sport. ‘* But, unfortunate- ly, I know nothing of you, sir.” Leon flushed and looked surprised. “ What do you mean?” he demanded, a trifle haughtily. ** Just what I said,” was the cool reply; ‘‘ no more, no less, I know nothing of your purpose in searching for Wallace Kenyon. You seem to have the face of an honest man, I will admit that, but one cannot always judge by appear- ances. I hope you will not take offense at my plain words, I speak exactly what I mean, and that is much better than to beat around the bush. Although it may seem rather blunt at first, it is the best way of coming to an under- standing.” Leon laughed, shortly. ‘You say you -know nothing of me and my purpose in searching for Wallace Kenyon; in return, 1 can say I know nothing of you and your purpose in coming to this room. That puts us on equal footing, and we are exactly where we were before we started.” ‘At that rate we will not get ahead very fast,” confessed Vane, ‘It is plain I shall have to take some things at a venture. But I sup- pose there is no doubt about your being a friend to the boy?” ‘* Not the least. I am surely his friend.” “Yet I heard you tell the clerk you had never met him,” * You did.” A | scarcely understand how this friendship comes about. “* Then it is one of the things you will have to take by faith,” half-laughed ths tenderfoot. ‘TI give you my word of honor, but I absolutely de- cline to explain.” Vane wrinkled his brows a little, but said: ‘*T suppose we shall have to make the best of the situation, so I will go ahead, believing you ure the boy’s friend. In return, | will say [am also his friend, All the same, he has enemies, and bitter enemies they are.” *“You say he has enemies, Then is Wallace ri ho still living?” ‘a e is,”? ~**This is good news, indeed! The clerk gave me the impression he had been lynched,” ‘Tt is no fault of his enemies he was not,” ** He escaped—?” ** With assistance.” ‘And he truly was accused of murder?” “ Yes,” ° lt was a put-up job?” **You have struck the truth. sought to put him out of the way.” _‘‘ And this old miner with whom the boy was living—what of him?” “Now you have asked me a hard one, He was said to have been murdered, and two men swore they saw and examined his dead body, yet that body had vanished at the time of the trial and was not to be found, To be sure, the men who took that oath are two of the worst rascals who ever breathed, There were blood- stains on the floor of the cabin, and these, with the evidence of the two rascally witnesses and the purchased verdict of the villainous judge, were sufficient to convict the unfortunate lad.” ** But you think—” **T do not know what to think about Old Luck- less. The man may have been in the game against the boy, but from what I have been able to learn, he was a rather kind-hearted, shiftless old fellow who was never known to harm any one, He took the boy inand gave him a home when there was no other place for the unfor- tunate lad to go. It hardly seems asif he was a man to go into a plot against Wallace Kenyon’s life, and yet—” ts What?” “* Money will tempt the best of the human ee and Old Luckless was far from being of the est. ‘* Tf he was in the plot—” _ “Tf he was in the plot, it is probable he was induced to get out of these parts and leave the boy behind. Then the blood-stains were ar- ranged, the evidence of the two ruffians was laid out, the boy was frightened into an attempt to leave this vicinity, but captured while he was getting away. That was enough. The trial was short, and he was pronounced guilty,” ip Yet, he escaped?” ‘He did, with the assistance of a person who appeared upon the scene just as he was being dragged to his doom. ‘This person held the crowd covered with cocked revolvers, while His enemies Wallace got away on the back of his new friend’s horse,” ** And who was this friend?” Vane smiled, slightly. “It was you!” cried Leon, springing to his feet. ‘‘ You saved Wallace Kenyon’s life!” ‘* You are right.” Forest grasped Vane’s hand and shook it warmly, ** You're a brick!” he exclaimed, is the boy now?’ ‘* He is safe,” “That is pleasant information, but it is not just the answer I desire,” ‘*Tt will have to satisfy you.” ‘Why, how is that?” ‘*The boy prefers to keep in the background for the present.” ‘* But he cannot wish to hide from his friends,” ** Possibly not,” ‘* And I am bis friend.” “IT have heard you say so, but you must re- member I have had no proof save your word, Still, if I was certain, I could not tell you where he is till I obtained his consent, for I have pledged myself to keep his whereabouts a se- cret. Leon looked disappointed. ‘If he knew the truth, he would hasten here at once,” he muttered. ** Possibly so,” admitted Vane. ‘The best thing you can do is to tell me the truth, which I will repeat to the boy, That should bring about a meeting as soon as you desire.” ; But the young tenderfoot hesitated, a look of suspicion stealing across his face, What if this velvet dandy had been lying to him—what if Vane was an enemy working for a hidden pur- pore? Doubts and fears crowded thick upon im. “It is not so much myself,” he murmured, half-turning away; ‘‘but [ must be careful, Were I— No, I will not take the risk.” The final words were uttered loud enough for Vane to hear. The Sport bowed, quietly. ‘** Do as you choose,” he suid. ‘If you prefer to hold back anything, you certainly have a right todo so, I cannot blame you for your caution. In fact, caution iscommendable. That is one thing that keeps me from telling you what you desire. By keeping silent you willnot barm me, for I am only an outsider in this game. Still, I rendered a verdict of not guilty for the boy, and I am going to stand by him till 1 prove my verdict correct. He will come outatthe top of the heap, for all of his enemies,” ‘* His enemies—who are they?” “The principal one is as great a villain as ever disgraced the calling of a clergyman! He is a smooth-faced hypocrite who calls himself Adam Jayne.” As Vane uttered this name, he heard a sudden stir and a sound like a gasp coming from be- yond a board partition which separated the room he was in from the one adjoining. He looked inquiringly at Forest, but the young man appeared not to have beard the sounds, _ “So it is that whelp!” cried Leon, ‘ Where is he now?” **'You speak as if you knew him,” PS Ido, Anyway, I know enough of im ‘You do not like him?” Leon made a gesture of repugnance, ‘ He is one of the greatest rascals unhanged!” Well, we can agree on that point,” ‘“* Where is he?” “ He is here in Coffin City.” Once more Vane fancied he heard a rustle and & gasp In an adjoining room. ‘* And his son?” asked Leon, ‘*Ts also here,” ‘He is a chip of the old block. Those two men should be behind iron bars—and by heav- ens! they shall go there yet!” The young man was excitedly pacing the floor. Vane watched bim closely, nodding with satisfaction, plainly pleased by the honest indig- nation and hatred so freely expressed by the tenderfoot, “Well,” and the Velvet Sport arose, ‘‘I do not see as I can tell you anything further of in- terest, so I will leave you.” Forest wheeled with outstretched hand. ‘Accept my thanks for your favor,” came earnestly from his lips. ‘I appreciate it, no matter how IT may have appeared. When the time comes for you to understand my position, if it ever does, you will know why I could not meet you more openly. I am sure you area friend to be cultivated.” Vane smiled in bis winning way. The apologies should not be all on one side,” he observed. ‘ We have both held something in ‘¢ But where reserve, but I gave the boy my word I would not betray him, Until I have his consent, I can tell you nothing further of him, Meantime, if you need a friend, Violet Vane may be around to take a stand at your side.” As he passed out into the corridor, the Velvet Sport glanced at the door of the room from which had come the strange sounds he had noticed. It bore the figure 8. Descending the stairs, Vane once more ap- proached and examined the register, He found room Number 8 was assigned to Timothy Stiles, CHAPTER VIII. A PRECIOUS PAIR, Tre ‘* Rev.” Adam Jayne awoke in a decided- ly unpleasant mood. At first he seemed dazed, and when he started up to look around, his head swam and was pervaded by such pains that he sunk back, uttering a groan. ‘* Hello, paw!” drawled Jonas, entering the cabin at that moment, ‘Tho you are coming awound? Well, it ith about time, faw you sthlept the biggest pawt of the day, baw Jove!” ‘*Oh, my head, my head!” groaned Jayne the elder. “Feelth good, don’t it, paw!” and Jonas struck an attitude in the middle of the floor, his everlasting cigarette being held between his thin lips, ‘as usual, ‘I have been there mythelf, old man, and I know all about it,” ‘** My head will split!” ‘Well, you came very near sthplitting it, guy. ‘You fell ovah the hammawk and thpoiled your hat. Taking that with the jag you carried, thould think your head would ache.” Adam sat up with his head against the wall and glared at his disrespectful son. He was a pitiful-looking object, and Jonas broke into a snickering laugh, ‘* You ought to have your picture taken now, paw—you had, baw Jove! You pwethent a werry impothing athpect! Ob, my gwathuth, guv! I nevah thaw you look tho widiculoutb!” * Jonas!” snarled the parent, ‘*'Yoeth, thir.” “Do you dare to talk to me in this manner? The Lord knows I have had trouble enotgh and Ihave borne with you with the fortitude of a saint. But there is a limit even to the endur- ance of a Christian,” ‘*Oh, you make me tired, paw!” Adam fairly frothed with anger. Indeed, his rage was so great he could only splutter, fail- ing to utter the wrathful words which surged to his lips, f ‘* Don’t sthwear, paw,” entreated Jonas, with mock solicitude, ‘That wath what you thaid tome. Keep your temper, guv.” Finally the angry man managed to snarl: ‘* Bring me some water!” With aggravating deliberation, his son obeyed the order, and Adam drank greedily, ‘‘ There, that makes me feel better,” be as- serted. ‘‘Help me up, Jonas, you ungrateful rascal!” The son gave his parent a helping band, and Adam struggled to his feet. “T was drugged!” he growled, as he hung on the youth’s shoulder, still feeling giddy. ‘TI tell you I was drugged! Do you hear?” ‘** Yeth, thir.” ‘**T wonder if I bave been robbed.” Adam felt for his pocketbook and opened it, After an examination, he fairly shouted: “T have—I have been robbed! I knew it! I was drugged and robbed!” Jonas began to look alarmed, ‘ ‘* Why, your money ith there!” he said, ‘** Four hundred dollars are gone!” snarled the “ Rev,” Adam, the discovery dispelling his gid- diness so he was able to execute a first-class imi- tation of an Indian war-dance, “Do you hear that, you wortbless dog? Four hundred dol- lars! “1 have been robbed |” ‘““ Why didn’t the thief take the whole of it, w?” “Blanked if I know; but I do know a clean four hundred are missing!” ‘Where did you get the dwink?” “ At Slink’s. Ob, that rascally lawyer! I be- lieve he was the one who robbed me!” ‘More likely you gave him the cawsh for thomething, paw. Jutht sthop and think,” Adam did s0, and finally succeeded in recall- ing the fact that he had given the lawyer the monev in a business transaction. ‘‘But the infernal scoundrel drugged the liquor, so as to get it out of me!” be protested, “‘T would not have given bim more than balf that sum if I had been sober, He has had too much money already.” t
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‘hot corner down below, 8 Violet Vane’s Verdict. ‘* Well, I think he hath had enough,” agreed Jonas, Adam sunk into a chair, pressing his hands to his throbbing head. ‘““You are a pretty bird to let your poor old father lay on the floor!” he snapped, wishing to change the subject. ‘* There I was curled up in that corner like a dog!” **T twied to get you into the hammawk, paw, but you wath too heavy.” ‘* Well, you are a weak, puny thing, anyway! Why can’t you be a man, Jovas?” ‘* You made me what I am, guv.” oo you think of are cigarettes and pretty girls.’ “Two doothed good things! By the way, aw, I bave sthwuck a doothed fine-looking girl eah,” Eh?’ exclaimed Adam, instantly becoming interested. “Is that so? I don’t believe I have seen her! Who is she?” ‘* Her name ithn’t werry refined, but she ith a lulu. Her name ith Mith Duthenberry, and she _ hath got the meaneth old dad I ever thaw; but she ith a bwick, baw Jove!” **Duzenberry!” snorted Adam, in supreme disgust. ‘‘Sbe must be the ‘gal’ I have heard that old long-legged vagabond telling about. Ob, yes, sbe must be a brick! Ill bet she is red- headed and freckle-faced !” ‘** That ith where you are w’ong, old boy. She itha weg’lar daithy! But I bad an encounter with the old cuth, and, baw Jove! he vewy nearly got the betht of me, ye know!” ‘** How did you get away—run?” “ Wun—me wun! No, thir! £ thook my cane in hith face and told him I would bweak it ovah neh jnead if he touched me. That fwightened im, ‘ Adam looked incredulous, but Jonas insisted that be spoke the truth. , **T mutht have thone amuthement, if 1 am going to sthay in thith howible hole,” declared the youth. ‘* When are you going to get your handth on that couthin of mine?” ‘* Well, I can’t say,” confessed Adam, “ Slink has promised so much, and made so many fail- ‘ures, that I am not sure of anything. We are having & heap of trouble over this busi- ness, **It would have been better if you had let me theen the girl and twied to marwy her.” ‘* But we would have secured only half of the property in that manner. I did not let you see the girl because she was pretty, and I knew you would make a fool of yourself over her, She was so unfortunate as to fall overboard in the Missis- sippi. onas winked, knowingly. “*Yoth, werry bad affair, baw Jove! But ye know I heard you mubtterwing in your sthleep one night, paw.” The elder Jayne turned pale, and uttered nN that sounded suspiciously like an oath, Jonas calmly continued: ‘** You mutht have made a znithtake when you puthed her overboard, paw, It wath—” ** Jonas!” thundered Adam, his face growing still whiter. ‘' Be careful what you say, sir! Men mutter ’most anything in their dreams,” “They thometimeth mutter thingth they wish they hadn’t,” was the young dandy’s insinuating retort, ‘‘ It ithn’t any uthe faw you to sthquirm, guy, I am onto you.’ At this, Adam turned on another tack, hold- ing up his hands with a pretense of holy horror. ‘Oh, Heavenly Father! my son, my son!” he moaned. ‘' That you should think such wicked thoughts of your own father! I have tried to bring you up as a Christian parent should—the Lord knows [ bave—but I fear the crown of my efforts and prayers will be failure. I fear it! I fear it!” “Oh, thay, old boy! hadn’t you bettah let up on that kind of sthuff? I am getting too old to sthwallow it, ye know. I weckon you are a sthly old rat, paw.” The elder man drew down the corners of his mooth and knotted his face into a look of un- mtterable sadness, “Tn these degenerated days even one’s own son suspects him,” came solemnly from bis lips, as he slowly shook his head, ‘Jonas, if you ever become as worthy a man as your father—” “*T sthall sthand a good chance of getting a Oh, don’t pweach any more to me, old man! I am tired and thick of tho much guff!” And, lighting another cigarette, Jonas flung himself into the hammock, advising his father to 5 his head to soak in a bucket of water. Vith another half-expressed oath, the older man followed the advice, ae nn CHAPTER IX, RED LARK IS PUZZLED, THe Mexican, Juan Pacheco, was given the duty of trailing and shadowing Violet Vane. Slink suggested be have an assistant, offering to furnish one, but Juan protested he could do much better alone, ‘““Tf you give me an assistant, senor, I, shall have to watch him as much as I do this vel- vet American, for the chances are the man will drink, and no one who drinks and allows liquor to dull bis senses is a match for Violet Vane, The task will be much easier if you let me have it all to myself.” He easily brought the lawyer to the same opinion. ** But, my dear sir,” cautioned Slink, ‘t even if you have a good chance to get revenge on Violet Vane by knifing him in the back, you must not do so unless you are positive you can lay your bands on the boy. Make sure of. the boy first, then you may do what you please with the Velvet Sport.” ** Si, senor; I understand. I have not any care to kill this man too quickly. That would be too small revenge. Do you know Violet Vane, senor?’ “Know bim?” ‘* Si, know his face.” ** Well, I have never seen him but twice, dear sir. To be sure, I made no study ef bis features on those occasions, but one cannot easily mis- take his manner of dress,” ‘*That is true, but he is very shrewd in the way of disguises. Do youthink you would know bim in disguise?” The lawyer was obliged to confess he might not. ‘* Well, it matters little,” fell from Juan’s lips. ‘* J would know the dog in any disguise! Ab-a!l Car-r-ramba! He shall not escape my vengeance!” The Mexican and Slink finally left the office together. ‘¢T will hunt up the boys and put you on good footing with them. If I did not, you might work at cross-purposes, and we cannot afford any of that business, Time is money, dear sir, and time wasted is movey thrown away.” So, in company, they sought out ‘‘ Judge” Benjamin Hogg, finding him hanging over a bar, fat, greasy and half-intoxicated. ‘““Ah! I’m derned glad ter see yer, pard!” gurgled the ‘‘ judge,” extending a pudgy hand and grasping that of the Mexican, ‘So you’re lookin’ arter ther cuss called Vierlet Vane, am ye? Wal, aJl ve got ter say is thet he’s er mighty bad man ur else they lie *bout him, Hev heerd he is in town, but I saw ther galoot once’t, an’ [ don’t keer ’bout seein’ him erg’in. Thet is, Tdon’t keer ’boutit less he’s tied han’ an’ fut an’ is a pris’ner up fer trial afore me, W'u’d I like ter hey bim thar? Wal, I sh’u’d cough upaclam! Ef I hed him thar, his chance of ’scapin’ ther rope ’d be mighty slim, you bet! ‘You cannot tell me anything of the velvet American,” declared Juan. ‘‘ I do believe he is in league with el diablo! Bullet or steel do not seem to barm him, But Juan is relentless; he will not know rest till the dog lies dead at his feet, First, I would have him in my power— I would make him cringe and beg for his life—f would scorn him, spit on him! You know noth- ing of the fire in my heart.” : His manner was so fierce and his eyes fixed on them so strangely that they involuntarily shrunk back before bim. ‘* Holy smoke!” croaked Hogg, “I don’t want to get you arter me, pard!”. Juan smiled, bitterly, his yellow hand caress- ing his dark mustache and imperial for a mo- ment, “ It is the way of my people,” he said. ‘* We Jove with all our heart and soul; we hate as fiercely as we seem to love. A great passion consumes us,” At this moment Lank Ike and Sweet Jim en- tered the saloon together, ther appearance be- ing hailed by an exclamation of delight from Elias Slink, ‘‘We were looking for you, gentlemen,” de-* clared the oily lawyer, rolling a half-smoked cigar across bis mouth. ‘‘ Fortune has made it unnecessary to look further.” } Introductions followed, after which Juan in- vited them all to have a drink at his expense, something they were not loth to do, “‘ Hyer’s luck ter ye in downin’ Vierlet Vane,” mumbled Hogg, as he lifted his brimming glass, Juan was evidently a light drinker, for he barely tasted of the liquor. r “Tt once I get started, there is no stopping me,” he said, in explanation. ‘I have to use caution about drinking. When my vengeance is complete, I will drink as long and as muck as the best of you.” “Pll go ye on thet, ef you'll pay fer ther stuff,” promptly declared the ‘‘ judge.” ‘* An’ ef I don’t drink ye off yer feet, I’m er liar!” ‘* You will find the job no small one, senor.” A short time later, Juan left them, Later in the day, the Mexican made his way | down the creek to Daddy Duzenberry’s cabin, Liz was sitting in the open doorway, and she was startled when Juan suddenly appeared be- fore her, ** Buenos dios, senorita,” and the fellow bowed low), sombrero in hand. ‘‘ A beautiful picture you make, Are you alone?” Liz looked somewhat alarmed, ‘* Daddy bain’t so fur away but he kin hear me yoop,” she answered, ‘ You’d hest git out, fer be don’t like ter hey fellers roun’ hyer. He's awfully ugly, is Daddy.” “* Him do not fear,” was Juan’s boastful declaration. ‘‘I kave no fear of any Ameri- can.” ‘“Wal, now, you must be a reg’ler hero,” came somewhat sarcastically from the girl’s lips. ; The Mexican drew himself up proudly. ‘¢ Juan has passed through many dangers,” he asserted. ‘*To him they are as nothing. He has no fear of one old man.” ** T guess you never saw my dad,” “Si, senorita; I saw him in Coffin City to- day. They told me he had a daughter—one fair as the wild flower.’ I was interested, and her I came to see, I have found her.” ‘Oh, you talk like a poet, and you are nuth- in’ but a Greaser!” At this Juan scowled. i ) ‘‘ There is Spanish biood in my veins,” was his assertion, ‘* Ts thet so?” ‘“*Tt is true,” 3 : ‘«T don’t s’pose thet’s liable ter cause any dis- turbance in Spain, is it?” ; The man looked puzzled. ‘*T may not understand you,” he “T think you may be laughing at me,’ The girl’s eyes twinkled. “Oh, you’re too s’picious! But say, don’t you think you’d best git?” “ce V b ” P *¢ Daddy will hear voices and be comin’ roun’,” “Let him come,” : ‘“‘ He don’t like ter hev fellers come snoupin’ roun’ hyer. It’s strictly ’g’inst his principles.” ‘Why does he not like 1t?” ‘‘Oh, he says I hain’t old enough ter heva feller, I don’t’gree with him on that p’int.” ‘Nor dol, senorita. It is not rigbt for him to hide such a rare flower. I would not endure it of him,” ‘Oh, I don’t care about no fellers!” protested Liz. ‘¢You have not the chance to see them, If you did—well, something might happen, Quien sabe?” (Who knows?) At this the girl giggled and shrugged her shoulders. ‘*‘ What kin you mean?” she asked, “Why, you might get married.” “Oh, no, no! | hain’t never goin’ ter do thet, I’m jest alwus goin’ ter live with Daddy an’ look arter him.’ The Mexican smiled, knowingly. : ‘‘Many of them do talk that way,” he said; ** but they do not mean it.” At this Liz fired u p somewhat, ‘* Now, look hyer!” she cried, her eyes flashing; ‘do you mean to say I lie? I won’t stan’ thet, mister! If thet’s wat you mean, Pm goin’ ter puncb you in theeye!” And she clinched her fists, menacingly. ee Juan hastened to apologize, ‘Wal, if ye didn’t mean thet it’s all right,” said the girl, ‘* But you want ter be kinder keerful wat ye say. I hain’t ther gal ter stan’ any vonsense, even from a good-lookin’ feller like you,” : ‘Gracias — mil gracias! (thanks — many thanks.) If anything I do say that is not right, my apology shall be that Iam not speaking in my own language,” : “Wal, I s’pose you kin crawl out of it thet confessed, ? way. But say, you’re a putty sharp-’pearin’ feller. W’at fer did you want ter go be yee a Greaser!” Again Juan’s face darkened, but he replied; ““T could not help my birth, senorita; it is something we cannot control. But am I any the worse for it?” ‘* Wal, Daddy’d never consent fer me ter hey anythin’ ter dq with a Greaser nohow.” a
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Violet Vane’s 9 “Why need you tell him? eagerly asked | aout of my grip, and at ther same timeI lost my | While he was thus occupied, ‘‘ Judge” Benja- uan. . ** Oh, I have to tell him everything!” **- You need not,” ** He'd be shore ter find it out.” ** Not if you were discreet, Ob, senorita! If I thought you could care for me, I would do anything for you! For you my life I would lay down! You I have only seen a short time ago but in my heart I feel something my tongue cannot describe!” ‘Phen to the surprise of the laughing girl, he caught ber band and fell on bis knees, ** Senorita,” he cried, ‘‘ for you I would pass through fire and flood! Nothing should daunt me! Of no man would I fear! I will—” ** Wal, I will be derned{” Daddy Duzenberry appeared at this juncture, the exclamation coming from his lips, and in a moment he had Juan by the collar, ** A consarned Greaser!” snorted the old man, snapping the Mexican wooer to his feet, while Liz clapped her hands and broke into a peal of laughter. ‘‘ Tryin’ ter spark my gal! Wal, may I be kicked ter Glory by a muel!” But, as he lifted his foot to administer a furious kick upon a certain portion of Juan’s anatomy, the fellow suddenly squirmed aside. Up went Daddy Duzenberry’s foot, and at the same instant Juan kicked the old man’s other foot from beneath him. With a chud and a grunt, the irate old fellow struck fairly on his back, The Mexican’s hand fell on the hagt of a knife, but even as the weapon flashed in his grasp, Liz’s voice rung out clear and stern; ** Hold on thar! DPve got ther drop!” A. revolver gleamed in her hand, the muzzle being turned full on Juan Pacheco, ** Carajo!” * Git!” cried the girl. ‘‘ Git afore I bore ye!” The Mexican hesitated but a moment, then he thrust the knife into its sheath, doffed his som- brero, bowad low, saying: ** Adios hasta la mananda, alma mia!” (Farewell till to-morrow, my dear.) Then he turned and retreated with all the grace of a conqueror. Daddy Duzenberry sat up and stared after Juan, bis hand on a revolver and a:comical look of disgust marking his face, “Wal, may I be chawed up!” he gasped. “ I’d liké ter run a tunnel in his system, but I hain’t shootis’ abmo man’s back, How in thunder an’ guns did it happen, any old how? That is a question I’d like ter hev answered.” ‘**He downed you, Daddy,” said Liz, putting up ber revolver, ‘¢ He never done it!” laa the old man, doggedly. ‘I ee *yer s’pose I’d let an ornery no-’count Greaser down me? Wal, | sh’a’d howl! I tell ye I slipped! But Pil see thet critter erg’in an’ take it out of bis hide. I didn’t git much of a look at ther varmint, but 1 thought he looked like somebody Vd seen afore,” “*T thought so myself, Daddy.” While they were talking the matter over, the miner known as Red Lark approached, ‘Hello, folkses,” he saluted, ‘+ W’at’s hap- pened thet tickled thet Greaser so?” Daddy Duzenberry regarded the miner sus- piciously a moment, then demanded: ‘* Wat Greaser, pard?? ‘* Ther one I jest met,” ‘* Did he ’pear tickled?” “Tickled! He wuz jest snortin’ with laffiin’.” “‘ Thet settles it!” snapped Daddy, * Stranger, look in my off eye.” - ‘* Waal?” ‘““W'at d’yer see?” ‘© Not much of anythin’.” ‘‘Thar’s blood thar!” nodded the lank imly. “By ther great horn spoon, lood thar!” ‘* Ther Greaser—” “Is my mutton! He wa3 laffin’ cause I slipped an’ felldown, D’yer see thet gal” miner, thar’s ‘* Wal, I caught ther o’nery yaller-skin makin? love to her!” * W'at did ye do?” **T lit onter his collar, pard,” ““Thet wuz right. Greaser hain’t no right ter make love ter a decent gal.” And Red Lark gered at Liz asif he saw something that puzzled him. The girl also seemed puzzled, for she was re- garding the red-bearded miner closely, Daddy uzenberry saw nothing of this, being too much worked up by recent events. ‘Ther varmint was like a greased eel,” de- clared the lank miner, ‘‘ Somehow he slipped 2 - - i aoe Gels 4 sah > bh ) 4 7 ert ro ys hiss be Ce es t= oD. tere ae footin’ an’ flopped down onter my back,” ** Wal, I sw’ar!” ** Fac’, pard.” Wat follered?” ** Ther yaller-skin’d knifed me ef ’tadn’t bin fer my gal thar. She jest yanked out a pop an’ kivered him,” Once more Red Lark gazed in a puzzled man- ver at the girl. “She mus’ be a cuckoo!” he said. “Wal, she hain’t no slouch,” was Daddy’s proud declaration, At this Liz thrust her thumb into her mouth and looked abashed, “Wal, ef you've got thet Greaser down on ye, you want to look out right peert,” **T guess you’re right,” ‘** How long you bin stoppin’ hyer?” asked the red-bearded miner, changing the subject, ** Some little time,” was the vague answer. “A right good bit?” Daddy grunted. “You hain’t thinkin’ of puttin’ in a claim fer these belongin’s, be ye?” he suspiciously in- quired, ** Wal, not jest yit; though they do say you hain’t ther rightful owner.” ‘** Who says so?” ‘Ob, I heerd it in Coffin City,” “Wal, they talk too much thar, Ther feller as built this shanty’s dead. Hain’t nobody ever durst work ther claim sense, but I hain’t feerd of spooks,” *» Nop?” ** Not by er long chalk.” ‘*T don’t s’pose you hev ever seen any sence yon kem hyer?” “Fit I had, Vd hurted it.” te How 9” ‘¢ Wal, I ginerally kerry a gun.” * You'd shoot?” pe ‘* Now you’re shoutin’.” ** But ye can’t hurt spooks,” ‘* Wal, critters as is playin’ spooks soraetimes git hurted,” At this Red Lark only nodded, while he looked around as if inspecting the lay of the land. ‘*Thinkin’ of playin’ spook?” inquired Daddy Duzenberry, with a grin, The red beard started, **Ob, no!” he protested, ‘I wuz jest lookin’ roun’ Wal, ll hev ter bid ye good-day, pard. (ot ter crawl back ter town, Look out fer ther Grenser.” 1 And once more giving Liz a searching look, Red Lark turned away, The lank miner stood watching bis retreating figure, a queer look on his wrinkled old face, “'Wuazn’t thinkin’ of playin’ spook, eh?” be muttered, witha grim smile, ‘ Mebbe not; but Vil bet you wuz!” When he was beyond earshot, Red Lark growled: ** Thet man’s too derned sharp! Tumbled ter my leetle game, fu’st pop. Ther ghost business won't work, Got. ter try some other way ter git persession of thet claim, I don’t keer *bout gittin’ filled with bullets, an’ I reckon he’d keep his word an’ shoot, ‘* But thet gal—she sticks me! Seems like I’d seen her afore, but I can’t jest place her, She looks like— But she can’t be. I sw’ar, I’m puzzled |” CHAPTER 'X, . PLOTTERS AT WORK, THAT day, as the dusky twilight of evening was gathering, Juan Pacheco entered the office of Elias Slink, The lawyer was sitting in bis favorite position, a cigar in his mouth and his feet on the table, . ‘ Ah!” he exclaimed, rubbing his hands to- gether, and he saw who bis visitor was, ‘* Have a chair, dear sir, I have just got in a new lot to-day, Had to purchase them second-hand, but they are better than no seats, I assure you. am glad tosee you, Is it news, sir—is it good news?” ity ‘No, senor; unfortunately I cannot say it is, I thought I would tell you. It must be the vel- vet American has left the place.” ‘* How is that?” : “{ have been unable to find a trace of him since I saw you, He has vanished.” Down came Slink’s heels. “Is that so?’ he exclaimed, ‘Well, now, that is bad luck! I wonder what bas become of him?” ‘That no one seems able tosay. He is gone, that is all I can learn.” his information put Elias in anything but a pleasant mood, still his oily manner did not van- ish, In a mild way, he uttered several oaths, _ ee — —_—-—-,- Vvwvmwowrnrnrnrororeroreaeaeaeae I rr min Hogg came puffing and gurgling into the room. ‘Struck it, Elias!” he croaked—* struck it!” “* Struck what? I trust, dear sir, it is some- thing agreeable, for 1 do not care to hear any- thing more of a disagreeable sort at present.” “Wal, if this don’t tickle ye, you’l! never be tickled.” What is it, sir?” Ther kid hes bin found !” Both Slink and the Mexican leaped to their eet. “The kid?” echoed Elias, in excitement, ‘ Not the boy we are after?” ‘Ther very same leetlo rat.” ‘Who found him?” “Your humble sarvent hed thet honor, though it’s er derned wonder thet he wuzu’t foun’ afore, He hes bin in town sence ther stage arriv’ yes- terday.” ‘* He came on the hearse?” “< Yep.” ; ere any of the boys on hand when it cama in? ‘* Not thet I knows of.” “‘ That explains how he escaped observation,” ‘*T reckon,” ‘* Where is he, judge?” * At ther howtel,” ** Stopping there?” ‘Yep; got er room, Stiles,” Juan uttered a low exclamation, while Elias Slink forgot his dignity for a time and danced gleefully around the office, Suddenly he stopped, exclaiming: “But soft, soft! There is work to be done, The Reverend Adam Jayne cannot have dis- Registered as Timothy have come to me with tbe information, The time bas not arrived for the boy toappear. He must be kept in the background. | Elias, with schemes thy head should teem! If the boy is immediately forked over, we shall lose. our grip on the goose that lays the golden egg, If we secure him and keep him in the background, we can still squeeze the dollars out of Adam, Ha, ha! I have a scheme!” Juan had sunk into his seat again, but he was watching and listening with apparent in- terest, “* Judge,” and Slink halted in his wild dance, “go thou straightway out and bring in Lank Ike and Sweet Jim. I have a use for them.” The judge” immediately departed, but with- in twenty miuutes he returned, accompanied by the two toughs, Although it bad grown quite dark within the lawyer's office, Slink had not produced a light, ‘Tt is quite unnecessary,” he asserted, as he made the door secure to prevent intrusion, ‘I have no curtain to the window, anda light would betray us to a one who paused to look in, We can talk aa well in the dark.” ‘* An’ I reckon ther most of us look as well in ther dark as we do any time,” gurgled Hogg. Tho five men gathered around the Fqoare table. ; ** Now ther fu’st thing is—w’at?” inquired Lank Ike. ‘ W’at’s in ther wind?” ae The explanation was made that the boy for whom they had been watching had walked into the trap at last, } ‘Now, gentlemen,” purred Slink, and they, could hear bim rubbing his hands together, ‘how are we to get our hands on this boy with- out raising a rumpus?” pert **Masy enough,” was Hogg’s gurgling reply. “From the register I ’arned he hed room Num- ber 8, an’ thet room kin be reached frum ther ruff of ther lean-to, Ike an’ Jim kin creep in thar ter-nigbt an’ choke ther kid quiet, then they kin kerry him off ter any place they want ter,” a ‘*Senors,” broke in the quiet voice of Juan, “T trast you will give me a chance to take a part,” ; ‘* Course we will, ef ye want it.” a a3 l do,” ; “Then you can accompany Ike and Jim,” de- cided Slink, ‘ for Lam in favor of carrying out the judge’s little scheme. But where shall the boy be taken to when we have him?” right,” declared Sweet Jim. “ 'Tain’t more’n three miles outer town either.” ‘** What : it?” E , ‘* A small cave, ‘Good! Take him there and watch him closely, for there is money in his skin, I have this job, I you shall be well paid for vr ey eer ey covered the presence of this boy, else he would | *Tknow a safe place whar be will keep all — paid you fellows well for Anas past services, and | ‘ eave — everything to your good judgment, Do not be- Pa Ly m2 *
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too hasty; wait till the camp is quiet before you make a move. Do not fail, for your lives!” ** Trust us, boss,” chuckled Ike, ‘‘ We know our biz, an’ we'll git thar with both feet.” Little did the plotters dream their conversa- tion had been overheard by a hated enemy. CHAPTER XI, ANOTHER PUZZLED MAN. AFTER immersing his head in the bucket of cold water and drying it on a towel that had seen arduous duty since it was washed the last time, Adam Jayne placed a soft felt hat on his head and left the cabin. Proceeding to the hotel, he ate quite a hearty meal, after which he started for a walk in the Open air. Tbe sun was well down behind the western peaks.and evening was approaching. By chance, Adam turned his steps down the ereek, Walking slowly along, he mused on the situation, muttering his thoughts aloud, ; ** Such confounded luck is disgusting! Just as success was reacbed the game was blocked for the time. I succeeded in disposing of the girl, but the boy still lives and keeps beyond my clutch, ** What a fool Brother Saul was to leave his wealth to those brats! When his wife left him, she took the children with her, and he never saw them afterwards up to his very death, He tried to keep track of his wife and the children, but failed, and when he died, he did not know if they were living. The property was to go tothe children if they were living; were they dead, it fell to Jonasand myself. ‘¢ Sincerely hoping the kids were dead, 1 start- ed out to trace them. I found the mother was dead, but the children were still living, though separated. I found the girl first and was taking her with mg to Memphis when she accidentally fell overboard from the steamer and was dorwn- ed, There wasa young fool who jumped over after her, but neither was recovered. They perished together. ‘* Then | tracked down the boy, and found him living down here with the miner known as Old Lueckless. The miner had enemies who were willing to put anend tohis existence, and my money easily set a trap which the boy fell into, There seemed no way of escape, and he would have followed the gir), but for the interference of that fellow known as Violet Vane. He got the boy off, and has managed to keep him con- cealed ever since, ** But Tam not a man to stop ot trifles, had I been, I should have given it up as a bad job long ago, Now Lam determined to win. When tiis boy is found, the whole affair will be terminated in a short time,” Thus muttering aloud of his crooked schemes, the hypocritical rascal sauntered along. When fairly beyond the limit of the town, he had pro- duced and lighted a cigar, and he was enjoying a smoke, Adam continued down tbe stream till he came to where Daddy Duzenberry was industriously rocking the cradle, working the placer origini- nally discovered by Old Luckless, ‘“*T say, you,” called Jayne, after he had watched the old man for some time, — Daddy looked up, and, seeing who addressed him, something like a look of contempt passed over his face, ** Wal?” * How much can you make a day at that?’ ‘¢ Something less than a thousan’ dollars,” ‘‘T should imagine so,” snapped Adam, “TIT knew that.” a if ye knew ser much, w’at made ye ax me “T thought I would receive a civil answer, old man,” ‘Seems like you’re mighty int’rusted in my business,” “It is not that, but I have always had a de- ‘sire to know about how much a man cap make in that way.” ‘Sho! Think we're paid by ther day?” “Ob, no; I understand you get what you wash out. But Iam curious to know how much that is.” ** Sometimes it’s more; sometimes it’s less,” Adam scowled. ‘*-You are an ill-mannered old curmudgeon!” Daddy deliberately turned wound and stared at Jayne, his bands on his hips and his arms akimbo, There was a twinkle of mingled anger and mirth in his keen eyes, * Dunno but I'll hev ter do it,” he finally said, ‘spitting on his hands and rubbing them together, **Do what?” “Give ye a spankin’, same as I did thet no- brained son of yourn.” a “Try it, if you dare!” cried Adam, retreat- ing several steps, his hand going back toward his hip-pocket. ‘¢ You don’t mean ter say you’d shoot?” “*T certainly would.” “Wal, you’re a bigger fool then I thought. W’y, looker yere!” Quick as thought, Daddy snapped out a revol- ver and covered Jayne, who turned very pale, and dodged as if to get out of range. ‘“Take yer ban’ off thet barker!” sternly commanded the old miner. ‘Lively thar, ur Pll run a tunnel in yeranatomy! I mean ole business,” Adam immediately released his grasp on his own weapon, quickiy crying: ** Hold on, bold on! I did not mean anything! Can’t you stand a little sport, old man?” Daddy laughed, shortly. “Oh, yep; I’m a great boy fer sport,” he as- serted, ‘‘But you see I’m mighty fly. . They doa’t git ther yank on ther ole gent very oftun, you bet, So yon wuz in fun?” ‘* Of course I was.” ‘* Waal, its mighty danger’us, I once knew a feller thet reached fer his hankerchook; t?other feller thought he wuz goin’ fer his gun, so he pulled an’ fired. They foun’ out arterwards thet ther fu’st one didn’t hey no gun, So he—” ‘** Daddy, supper is ready.” Liz came dancing through the dusky shadows of the gathering twilight, but paused with a low exclamation, ‘finding berself face to face with Adam Jayne. At sound of the girl’s voice, the bogus clergyman gave a great start and mut- tered something like an oath of dismay or feur, ** Great God! / Adam Jayne gasped the words, as he stared atthe girl’s face like a man fascinated, His own features were transformed by an expression of genuine horror, And Liz seemed scarcely less moved. She shrunk from the man, as if in deadly fear, then, turning quickly, she fled toward the cabin. Adam Jayne started to follow, but Daddy Duzenberry’s band checked him, Pointing to- ward Coffin City, the old miner uttered one word: “ce Git my ‘*But that girl! ae GIT !? The revolver in the old. man’s hands em- phasized his words, Jayne saw the uselessness of making any talk, and like one dazed, he stag- gered away. Daddy Duzenberry stood watch- ing him till his form was lost in the shadows, For considerable Cistance Jayne walked along his legs shaking under him and his teeth chat- tering. At length, he exclaimed, brokenly: “The dead cannot return to life! Sbe was drowned in the river! But that girl had her voice! It was a most remarkable resemblance, It A impossible that Jennie Kenyon escaped, and yet— He did not finish the sentence, If was quite dark when he reached town, Entering the cabin, he found Jonas swinging in the hammock, a lighted lamp illuminating the room, At sight of his father’s face the younger rascal exclaimed; ‘¢Bow Jove! you are white ath a theet! You look like you bad theen a ghotht?” ‘* And 1 feel as if I had,” confessed the shaken man. She is—” CHAPTER XII. TROUBLE IN THE JIM DANDY SALOON, “‘THe Jim Dandy” was the principal saloon of Coffin City, and into that resort Leon Forest made bis way on the second evening after his arrival in town, Red Lark was within the 5 5 and promptly approached the* tender- oot. ‘* Hello, pard,” saluted the miner, ‘ Lookin’ round over ther town?” Leon nodded, ‘** Lookin’ arter anything in pertwickerler?” ‘Oh, no; only seeking to pass away the time.” ** Come in fer a drink?” ‘*T do not drink.” ‘Is thet so? Don’t reckon ye hev got any wings sproutin’? You must be a little better’n common peoples!” <% Leon scarcely liked the man’s manner, still he had no care to make the red-bearded fellow his enemy, and, by the ‘‘balmy” smell of Lark’s breath, it was evident he bad been drinking. “Not at all,” was his quiet reply, oF am just a common, every-day sort of fellow. Does it make me any the less a man because I do not drink?” “Not er derned bit!” heartily replied the red- bearded miner, extending bis hand, which was promptly accepted hy the young man, ‘Ef ; cn eee nee ee ee eT ee a ee eee ee es ee ee ee you stick ter thet, youll kem out all right in ther eend, an’ be er derned sight better off nor them as guzzles ther cussid stuff. I take a drap now an’ then, but I know I am er blamed fool fer doin’ of it. It hes made me er shiftless, no- count sort of a critter, an’ it may be ther death of me yit,” Why don’t you put on the brakes—chain up? ‘Waal, I’m allus tellin’ myself I will, but I dunno as I ever shell. Thet’s ther way w’en a feller gits ter turnin’ down ther stuff. He’s allus promisin’ hisself he’s goin’ ter make a break putty soon, an he means it, but he never gits ter do it. It’s allus some tiwe in ther future. An’so he goes it tell be gits ter seein’ snakes. Wen er man gits thet fur, thar hain’t much show fer him, boy. His goose is purt’ nigh cooked, fer his huJl system’s all outer kil- ter, an’ he hain’t in no shape ter live like other people. He’s got ter hev fire-water ter es his- self braced, an’ ginerally he swills tell he kicks ther bucket, Ther pesky p’ison’s all right in its place, but it’s stuff thet can’t be kep’in its place. Thet’s w’at’s ther matter with the ole- fashioned lady we call Hannah!” “You would make quite a+ temperance-lec- urer, Lark.” ‘Dunno but I w’u’d. Never thort of thet afore. I might try thet business. Reckon’ Pd be as bones’ as most of ther crittersas go yoopin’ roun’ ther country ter shout an yowl on ther platform en’ take a nip behin’ ther door some- wbar. I’ve allus made a failure at ev’ry thing I’ve tried, p’r’aps I kin come out top of ther heap as a temperance crank, Who knows? Boy, your suggestion may mean my forchune!” Leon joined in the man’s hearty laugh. “Do you know Adam Jayne?” inquired the younger man. : : ‘¢ Waal, I sh’u’d shout! I hain’t bin hyer but one hull day an’ part of another, but |’ve got ther run of the place an’ ther people purt’ derned well. Adam Jayne is ther biggest blamed two-faced skunk that ever purtended ter be pious!” “T do not know the man by sight, but I heartily agree with you, If there is a more dastardly hypocrite on the face of the earth, the world must be unfortunate, in’eed!” ‘‘You say you don’t know him?” ‘¢ Not by sight.” ** Waal, you must hev heerd of him?” ‘*T should say so.” ** Waal, now look at me! coward? No! Still,in your ear I would whisker ther fatal words; Zam! Sad an’ turrible as it may seem ter you, my brave young frien’, lama pore, miser’ble coward! I know it, an’ it fills all my soul with a feelin’ of disgust an’ loatbin’ fer Red Lark! J bev enemies hyer in Coffin’ City, an’ Adam Jayne is one’of ’em, cuss him! Ef I wuz not a coward, I'd meet ’em like a man! But I don’t durst—{ don’t durst!” Leon was surprised by the man’s singular manner and words, and he began to understand that Red Lark bad not come to Coffin City in a time of idle roaming. The miner had a purpose in visiting the can ; “Tf Adam Jayne is your enemy, then you and I should surely be the best friends im- aginable, for he is mine. We should form a combine against bim,” “ Right, lad, right!” “Ts ita go?” *¢-You bet!” f “We will stick by each other through thick and thin, and in everything we will work against Adam Jayne?” “ee Yep.” ‘* But you must let up drinking, if you want to becomé my pard.” **T'll do it, tenderfut.” “That settles it! Your hand, Lark!” Again their hands met in a firm grasp, “This is ther combine thet’ll down ole Adam,” chuckled the red-bearded jfellow. ‘ Anyhow, he’s fet two enemies in this yere camp.” “He has more than two. There is yet another of whom I knuw.” ** Who's thet?” “* A sport who calls himself Violet Vane.” “‘ T’ve heerd of ther feller. Ef ther yarns they tell of him are true, he’s er terror on trucks.” A ‘“‘T have heard as much,” ‘Ever see him?” ‘* Yes,” ** Lately?” “Yes,” “Whar?” -‘* He was at the hotel yesterday.” “Then he is in this town?” ae Yes,” “Ef thet’s so, we're ap’ ter see him in hyer 2 Do T look likea
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| ia ; NXT f ae c s id A { O14 = ris md _ Say, looker hyer, Jonas, are we in it?” ad Aw?” “Hain’t ye goin’ ter set ’em up?” The-young man’s nose curled somewhat con- temptuously, as he surveyed the fat and greasy individual before him, ‘* What thould I thet ’em up for?” he asked. ‘* Fer yer ole dad’s sake,” replied the ‘‘ judge,” scowling. ‘* This hain’tno place fer you ter be too mighty fine, We’re onter thet dad of yourn with both feet, Jest now he’s our frien’, but ef you don’t treat—- Waal, we know how ter talk.” : Jonas turned yery red and muttered something ike an oath, then he said>~ “Why, tbhirs, if you are fwiends of me vaw’s, 1 thurely will tweat.” ‘*[T knowed it,” chuckled Hogg. whisk’, barkeep’.” Lank Ike aud Sweet Jim also took whisky. The ice having been broken in this manner, Jonas indulged freely, his tongue swiftly becom- ing loosened. ‘‘T thay,” he cried, tipping his silk hat far back on his head, and leaning agairst the bar, while he lighted a fresh cigarette with the still burning stub of the one just smoked, ** lm a pretty good feller, baw Jove!” ‘“ Thet’s a fac’,” nodded * Judge” Hogg. ““ Nobody’d ever s’pect it ter look at ye, but you bain’t bafe bad.” ‘* T’yve got the wocks, too,” boasted the shallow- brained fop. ‘Paw, he ponieth up, ye know. I’m going to fall wight into a big fortune pretty thoon. When I git ,it, I will make the fur fly. I will dwive a team of my own, then, baw Jove!” ; I i “Its a sure thing, is it?” asked the “ judge,” winking at one of bis companions. owe. I thould thmile!” was Jonas’s reply. “ Paw ith a shawp one, you can bet on that, He knowth hith buithness, evwy time.” ** He looks it.” take ‘‘ He don’t like to have medwink,” the shallow youth continued. ‘* But he cawn’t help it verwy “ Straight well. He thometimeth taketh a thmile him- thelf.”’ “Ts thet so?” “Thure, He liketh it ath well ath the west of uth.” : “ But how ’bout thet forchune?”” ‘Oh, that ith all wight! We are thure to get there, ye know.’ . “That settles my last doubt!” softly exclaim- ed Leon Forest, who had been eagerly listening to the young man’s words. “J am sure now Adam ayne is the double-faced villain I took him to be,” es. “Then you know suthin’ ’bout thet forchune business?” spoke Red Lark. * Perhaps.” : i - “Crooked game ther ole cuss is onto? “You have hit it.” ‘* ‘You are meanin’ ter block it?” Tf I can,” ‘“* Pm yer pard; Pll holp yer.” Jonas continued his boasting talk, till suddenly Adam Jayne entered the saloon. “ Hello!” cried the young man, aw !” With his face drawn into a look of deepest sorrow, Adam advanced toward bis wayward son, ‘* Jonas,” came solemnly from his lips, ‘t only the Lord knows how it wrings my paternal heart to see you in such a place as this! It is with difficulty [ can restrain my tears,” ** How did you happen to come in, paw?” ‘*T was looking for you, my son,” “That ith a gweat guy, guy. came in faw a thmile, old man?” ** Jonas!” ‘*Veth, thir.” ‘*“You have been drinking! You must come away with me atonce, I shall spend the night in humiliation and prayer.” ‘*Oh, cheeth it, paw! That wacket ith play- ed out, ye know!” Adam’s hand fell on his son’s shoulder, ** Come” he said, sternly. ** Don’t be in thuch a wush, paw. and we'll have a dwink together,” The elder Jayne seemed on the point of bursting into tears, ‘Oh, that I should have lived to see this!” he moaned, ‘*The Lord has seen fit to send a heavy affliction upon me, and [ trust he wiil give sme strength to bear it likea good Chris- tian. “You thould have a thmile to bwace you up, guy.” ** You know I never touch the demon’s drink, my son. Come; I will stay in this place of sin no longer.” “Well, jutht dwink,” But Adam would not wait. He insisted on leading Jonas away, which made the young man quite angry. As they were passing toward the door, Jonas tried to break from his father’s restraining hand. In this he succeeded, but he stumbled in an awkward manner and fell against Leon Forest, “There ish Weckon you Hold on wait till I have one more who, with Red Lark, was standing a short’ distance from the door. Instead of apologizing, he uttered a snarl of rage and struck at Leon with his cane, But he did not hit the young man, Springing aside, Leon caught the cane and wrenched it from its owner’s hand. ** Have a care what you are doing!” he sternly cried, For a moment Jonas was too astounded to speak, then he began to remove his coat, crying: “Baw Jove! Iwill thow you manerth, ye know!” ‘*A fight! a fight!” The crowd surged toward the point of trouble, eager to witness the fun, ** Hold on!” cried Adam Jayne, springing for- ward, ‘*I cannot allow this! Hold on, I say!” ‘“Sthand back, paw, and hold my coat,” said Jonas. ‘‘I have been inthulted, and by gwa- thuth! I am going to lick the impwudent w’etch that did it! That ith the kind of a hair-pin I am!” CHAPTER XITi. VIOLET VANE ON HAND, JONAS really meant to fight. He had absorb- ed enough liquor to give bim a fictitious cour- age, and just then he imagined he was the match for any man on legs. Adam really tried to prevent the encounter, but the crowd was delighted at the prospect, and he was hustled aside in an unceremonious manner, / ; Deliberately Jonas removed his coat, passing it to a spectator to hold. , ‘* Come, thir!” he cried, as he saw Leon was making no preparations. ‘* lam going to panch your eye, thir.” Forest contemptuously tossed the cane on _ floor at the feet of the slightly intoxicated ude, “You had better take your father’s advice and go home,” he declared. “Ob, I had, had I!” squawked Jonas, fla ping his arms very much as if they were a pair of wings. “ You think tho,doyou! Well, thir, I will go home after I have bwoken your nothe, Get off your coat, thir!” “You'll hev ter fight ther fool, lad,” muttered Red Lark. ‘Jest strip an’ go fer him. Knock ther packin’ outer his skin, ef you love me!” “You commenced this,” protested Leon, ‘“Had you not stumbled against me and then tried to strike me with your cane, it would have been all right, Ido not want to fight with ‘* Well, you have got to do tho, jutht the thame, Iam going to thow you where you be- long, thir.” ‘It is plain you are not where you belong. If you were, you would not be here.” “Tth that tho? Where would I be?” **Tn an asylum for idiots,” At this Jonas uttered a squealing howl and made arush for Leon, The tenderfoot seemed quite unprepared, but he met the charge with- out quailing. Jonas struck out with both fists, one after the other, and the blows were neatly parried, then— Smack-smack ! With his open hands, Forest had slapped the furious dandy on both cheeks, **Oh-o-o! Good gwathuth!” Clinging to his tingling cheeks, Jonas danced about in a lively manner, his gyrations eliciting bursts of wild laughter from the spectators, “ Brace up, Tall Hat!” ‘‘Go for him again, Cigarettes!” ** Hit him in the same place!” Red Lark was delighted, ‘** Good boy!” ne exclaimed, slapping his hands together, ‘* I'll resk you, pard!” ‘“You hain’t done, are ye, Jonas?” inquired “ Judge” Hogg, anxiously, ‘*No, Iam not!” snapped the dude. “If you felloth will keep sthill and mind your buithneth, I will attend to thith job!” “ Well, w’at are ye doin’ now?” “T am only wethting.” ‘You get tired easy!” Jonas turned toward Leon, who was quietly regarding bim, bis hands hanging in a natural position-by his sides, ‘*T thpose you think you are thmart!” Leon’s reply was asmile, ** Well, lL am going to thow you thome points,” boasted the coxcomb, ‘‘I wath only fooling that time,” “Ditto.” Deliberately Jonas removed his cuffs and roll- ed up his sleeves, displaying a very ordinary pair of arms, “Thith meanth that I am going to annihilate you,” he declared, Having made these arrangements, he cau- tiously approached bis opponent, standing on guard in a boxing attitude. But Leon did not even raise hishands, Observing this, Jonas fan- cied he saw a chance to end the battle with a few sharp strokes, and. he let himself out. Once more he met with a surprising set-back, Leon dodged his blows'and gave him a crack on the jaw that sent him staggering back into the arms of ‘‘ Judge” Hogg, who prevented him from falling limply to the floor, Goodneth gwathuth!” Jonas faintly gasped the words, staring up- ward at the ceiling. ‘*T thought a piece of the woof had fallen in,” he explained, ‘* Wbat did he stwike me with?” ‘* Nothing but his fist, pard.” “Oh, come off It wath a club, baw Jove!” “*T reckon not,” “Well, it wath! I weckon I know a club when it bits me, I am not going to fight any more, ye know, if he don’t fight fair. I cawn't afford to have me jaw bwoken with a club,” It was with great difficulty he was convinced he had been struck by nothing but Leon Forest’s te knuckles, Even then he insisted it was not air, _ “TI wath not weady,” he asserted ‘‘ Thith jumping on a feller when be ith not pwepared, ith too thin,” “He will most prob’ly wait tell you are ready next time.” “I gueth I don’t want to fight any more,” But, on being urged not to give it up in that way, he decided to try it again, ° \ *Thith time [ will thwash the wascal,” he as- serted, A Slowly and deliberately he crept toward Leon, in whose ear Red Lark hoarsely whispered: ‘*Plug him one on the nose this time, pard! Make him see stars!” ~ Jonas was shy; experience had taught him he had not tackled an easy job. ‘* Jutht you come at me once,” he entreated, “Tl therve hag the thame ath you did me, Jutht you make a wush once,” “* Well,” smiled Leon, ‘if that is what you are waiting for, here goes,” Then he sprung at Jonas with a promptness which made it impossible for the coxcomb to avoid him, Jonas struck out at Leon’s face, but wasted the blow on empty air. The following moment the stroke was returned, and ‘the ten- — \ ~
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ra - for a saint. f 12 Se ay ae Ba eee Vane’s Verdict. ‘derfoot’s hard fist landed on the dandy’s nose, bringing a howl from the victim’s lips and a gush of claret from bis nasal organ, ** Oh-o-o!” howled Jonas. ‘‘I am murdered, ye know!” At this instant Adam Jayne succeeded in fore- ing his way into the ring, and seeing the blood on his son’s face and hearing Jonas’s cries, he fancied his offspring had been stabbed. Witha snarl of fury, be snatched out a revolver and leaped toward Leon Forest, intent on discharg- ing the weapon at such short range that there would be no chance of making a miss and drop- ping the wrong man But Adam Jayne’s ; deadly purpose was never accomplished, A second figure leaped into the circle, the toe of a patent-leather boot sent the revolver spin- ming over the heads of the spectators, and a cool voice cried: ‘* Hold a little on here! Violet Vane will take a band, if you please!” CHAPTER XIV, A DEADLOCK. Ir was the Velvet Sport himself, fresh, smiling and handsome. He was on hand 4 and he bad made his presence known after the vigorous manner which usually characterized his move- ments. As the weapon was kicked from his fingers, Adam Jayne started back with an exclamation of surprise and dismay. * Judge” Benjamin Hogg gurgled in a chok- ing manner, white the hands of the two toughs, Lank Le and Sweet Ji im, fell upon the butts of ready weapons, “This is no killing affair, pards,” smiled Violet Vane, ‘ So far it has been a fair fight, and the best man has won, What is the use of making a mess of it all by vane asticker! Slow and easy, geutlemen!” **Confound you!” snarled the elder Jayne, *¢ What right have you to interfere?” ‘The right of a man who delights in seeing fair play,” bowed the Sport. ‘You were a trifle hasty, sir, and about to do a thing you might afterward regret—though I am not so sure about that,” ‘* This fellow has stabbed my son!” ‘Stabbed him with a good hard fist—yes. He did it very prettily too. I really admire Pe manner in which he attended to that little ob ** My boy is bleeding—” ** At the nose. His loss of the crimson fluid will not be very serious, I fancy. It surely can- not be as weakening as those villainous cigar- ettes he smokes. Those things will rob a pretty good man of wnat manhood he may possess, scarcely wonder he proved anything but a match for this young man here,” Adam made the discovery that Jonas was not ‘seriously injured, but this did not seem to ap- pease his anger. He had been humiliated be- fore the crowd, and Jonas had received a whip- ping. Those things were too much for human nature to bear, “This affair did not concern you; you had no business to interfere in—” “TI simply prevented you from committing another com cai 4Sdam ** Anot ~ anal * That is what I said.” “ What. do you mean?” The face of the sanctimonious raseal had turn- ed very pale, and some of the spectators ob- served his hands shook a little. ‘*T fancied my meaning was plain,” ‘Tt is not,” ** Do you wish me to make it plainer?” **T certainly do,” “Then you wish me to speak « the past—yon would have me mention a little job you performed on a certain Mississippi River boat, el?” But Adam Jayne did not make an immediate reply. In truth, he was too alarmed/and as- tounded to do so, “You do not seem very anxious for me to mention these things,” smiled Violet Vane. “There is no need of. mentioning them now; you will have to answer for your crimes soon enough.” The blood rushed to the schemer’s face and he shook his clinched hands at the Sport, ‘You cur!” he snarled, ‘* Your insinuations fairly took away my br eath for atime, I can | gtand a great deal of abuse, for Il am a humble servant of the Lord; but this is almost too much Sir, I know not what you mean by your insulting words!” “T suppose mys and I do not wonder at it. eoeeen Ee If I were in your place—which, thank Heaven, I am not!—I’should not want to understand any- thing of the kind. If I stood in your boots, I should want to forget the past.” This only made Adam more angry. ‘** How dare you heap such insults upon me!” he spluttered. ‘* You shall pay dearly for it!” Then he turned to the crowd, crying: ‘Down him!—down that fool!” Hogg and his pals seemed ready to obey the command, but a pair of gleaming weapons flash- ed in the hands of the Velvet Sport, and his voice sounded stern and clear: ‘Hold hard! I will sink a shaft in the first man who tries it!” ** And I willservé the same sauce to his pard!” declared Leon Forest, stepping to the side of the man who had befriended him, his right hand filled by the butt of a business-like revolver. “‘Reckon Tl hev ter chip injthar,” observed Red Lark, as he also produced a pair of self- cocking revolvers and ranged himself at Vane’s side. “How do you critters like ther looks of this gang! Think you'll straddle us ter once’t without stoppin’ ter ax our permit?” The toughs drew back with exclamations of rage and dismay. ‘* They don’t seem ter like it wu’th er cent,” laughed the red-bearded miner, But Adam Jayne was not ready to back down. He urged the ruffianly gang to stand by him, several of Ike and Jim’s friends having shown an inclination to take sides against the Velvet Sport and his friends, ‘* Let ’em come,” growled Lark. ‘‘ We three are purt? nigh enough fer the hull o’nery gang.” ‘* We can make it pleasant for them,” smiled Vane, seeming in no way concerned by the om- inous manner of the scowling toughs. ‘* You critters better keep out of this yere muss,” said ‘‘ Judge” Hogg, speaking to Leon and Lark, ‘ You kin git out now without ary bit of trouble, but thet derned galoot in velvet bs hes got ter come under.” ‘his caused Vane to laugh. nia seem to be the mutton you are looking af- ter now.’ © You bet! You are ther very critter we hey been wantin’ ter git our claws onter.” at Well, you have not got your claws there et, ‘ Jest as good, You can’t ’scape us,” ‘* Ts that so?” **1’m shoutin’.” ‘* Well, let me tell you something: you and pards will do mighty wellif they escape me, I am after your rotten gang with a split stick, andI am not going to let up till 1 ruin the crooked game that sleek hypocrite there is try- ing to play.” Jayne actually squirmed beneath these scath- ing words, * You daring emissary of Satan!” he grated. ‘Tt is not fair to apply your own especial title to any one else,” was the instant retort. ‘You are a villain!” “I can return the compliment—with inter- est.” ‘You are the dastard who stole away my dear nephew.” Ry am the person who saved him from your machinations,” Js Ha! he has confessed it! He is a kidnap- r! ‘¢ Better than a murderer!” ‘* Where have you hidden my dear nephew?” ‘*So he is dear? 1 have no doubt of it. He has already cost you considerable money, and before you succeed in killing him—as you oe to do—he will cost you more, ‘“* Answer my question!” ‘“* What if [ decline?” ‘You shall be forced to answer,” “T am a mighty bard horse to drive,” ‘¢-You had better tell where ther kid is,” was Hog ’s gurgling declaration. PNow, what do you want with him?” * He is s charged with murder; he killed Old Luckless,” ** And you were the well-paid wretch who pro- nounced him guilty. You were the Judge Lynch of the occasion. J was there, and I rendered an- other verdict—not guilty! That was right, and the’ time will come when the boy shall stand free and clear of the wretched net which the money of a contemptible uncle caused to be set for his unsuspecting feet! It will yet be shown that my verdict was the true one.’ VEE tell where the boy is?” Jayne again demand “ No y “Then we'll make you NL With a smile, Vane displayed the revolvers, «That is much easier said than done,” **-You will not be fool enough to resist this crowd?” Tt is plain you do not know me,” ‘* Tt will be suicide on your part.” ‘That is where you makoa big mistake, [ am very handy with the pops, and, if I were quite alone, I could thin out your gang ina wonderful manner.” ** An’ he hain’t erlone,” putin Red Lark. ‘* Me an’ my pard is standin’ ter his back tell ther cows ccme home,” ‘‘ Fools!” hissed Adam Jayne. ‘ You will only share his fate,” ‘*Thet won’t be hard.” ‘¢ These friends of mine do not seem to be easily frightened,” laughed the Sport. ‘‘ Things do not work exactly. as you would like them to, do they, Adam?” Once more Jayne turned to the crowd and urged them to attack the three defiant men, and once more Vane and his companions stood ready for the onset. ‘* We will have to shoot for business if they try to jump us, ” came calmly/from the velvet dandy’s lips. ‘*‘ But I trust we will be able to bluff them off. If they docome for us, the affair is sure to have a serious termination. It may mean the rope for us, so if you want to get out while there is time—” ‘*Now, hole on, pard!” broke in Red Lark, ‘““Wat fer kind of stuff d’ye take us? D’yer s’pose we’d slump back on_ ye arter you stepped in ter help Leon byer? al, you must think we're mighty mean goods!” “TY beg your pardon, I suppose the row is as much yours as mine,” ** Now you’re shoutin’!” ‘Then we will hang together.” ‘iif we hang a-tall, we will.” At this moment, apparently in a distant part of the room, a voice cried: “The velvet American cannot escape his doom! Juan the Merciless is on his track!” ‘Great thutter!” spluttered Lark, ‘‘Who wuz thet?” Vane smiled, ‘Only a deluded Mexican who has been fol- lowing me around,” was his reply. ‘‘ He hasnot the courage to faco melikea man, I care noth- Ing for him,” ** Dern ther Greasers!” growled Lark. ‘* They are ther wu’st! I’d keer more fer them then fer any other kind of er critter, fer one never knows w’en they'll stick him in ther back,” By this time Jayne had succeeded in firing the toughs till they seemed on the verge of l year ing themselves upon the three men who them so boldly. ‘* Better make your wills, pards,” fell from the lips of the Velvet Sport, as the hammers of his handsome self-acting revolvers were seen to rise somewhat from the pressure of his fin- gers on the triggers. ‘‘ You will never have another chance after you come at us.” ‘+ Solid hoss sense,” assured Red Lark, ‘‘ You will find us er mighty big doset ter swaller with- out reasin’.” hat’s ther raow heur, anyhaow?” inquired a drawling voice, as the long arms of Old Dadd Duzenberry made a path through the crow a & thar’s any fun, I’d like ter come inter ther ame. Reaching the center, he surveyed the situa- tion, then prompt y stepped to the side of Violet Vane and his friends, ‘Guess I'll hev ter fall in with ther weaker side,” he grinned, ‘*Thet may show a lack of od hoss-sense on my part, but I can’t help it, ’m allus makin’ er fool of myself. When [ wuz a boy they said I wuz the dangdest blockhead in Harmony. Thet woz whar I wuz brung up, It’s *~way daown in Maine, whar they raise pine stumps an’ cider,” While he was saying this he was also deliber- ately feeling around in his pockets, as if search- ing for something he could not readily find. “ Gosh blast it?” he mumbled, But, after a time, a grin ape ead over his coun- tenance. ** Found ’em!” he declared, with an odd-twist of his head, ‘I allus fergit ‘wat pocket [ kerr: %m in. Sometimes it is kinder onbandy wen want ’em in er hurry, then, erg’in, ’tain’t ser bad. Feller stopped me an’ axed fer my money ur my gizzard oncet, I fished all raound my glshs fer my puss, but arter a w’ile [ found these He produced a pair of heavy reyolvers, and deliberately cocked them. ‘“He looked s’prised like w’en I tuck ’em aout,” chuckled Daddy, in bis odd way. ‘* But wen I shot a hole right through his liver, so big thet you could kick a dog through it, he wuz a great deal more s’prised. He concluded he did- 7 , Ss i. ct t 4 re ol ae | y ‘ ae: lina! \ x i. A 2 be q . 4 ri ‘ te 2 4,
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¢ * 5 { a ? \; » J a y y i ; ‘ 4 " ‘ | y f $ * t ‘ } et ¥ ay ry b + i» j ah > % eae y M 3 % [ 4 rh ¥ f ! “ , Cog ¢ * A 2) ve A " a yo. a ; the astonished tough at the door. Violet Vane’s Verdict. n’t keer so much fer my money arter all, an’ I hev beerd he laid right daown thar whar I met him an’ died. I can’tsay it is true, fer I didn’t %end ther funeral. It wuz an oversight on my part, an’ I hev allus regretted it. I oughter hev went as chief mourner.” ‘‘Satan has many friends!” muttered Adam Jayne, as he saw this new addition to the force of the hated enemy. ‘““Thet?s so, by Judas!” agreed Daddy Duzen- berry. ‘An’ ef ther Ole Feller hain’t got you on ther list, it’s a big oversight on his part,” It was plain the toughs were filled with dis- may at this new addition to the force opposing them, They seemed far from ready to attack Violet Vane aud his friends. Again Jayne urged them on, but this time his words were wasted. ‘Taint no good,” gurgled Hogg. ‘Ther boys won't butt erg’in’ all thet gang. Thet Vierlet Vane is er boly howler with a gun, an’ I low Ole Duzenberry hain’t ser slow as he looks, As fer Reddy an’ ther kid, they’d count some. Ef ther boys tried ter down ther crowd, thar’d be ther wu’st ruction you ever saw, an’ jest like- ly’s not Sl be ther fu’st ter be socked with a lead pill.” This caused Adam to turn pale and lose some of his ardor. ** But are we going to let them get away?” he asked, helplessly. ‘** Don’t see no way out of it.” Jayne was furious. When he saw Violet Vane, he had hoped to overpower the Sport and force from his lips a confession of the wherea- bouts of the missing boy; but now such a course seemed out of the question, ‘“ May the Lord give us strength to overcome the minions of the Evil One!” murmured the two-faced hypocrite. ‘It ith not a go, paw,” put in Jonas, who had succeeded in checking the flow of blood from his nose, ‘** You may ath well give it up and help me out of thith blawsted plathe.” ** Had you not come to this den of infamy, my son, all would have been well,” ‘Oh, give uth a west. I am not going to sthand any more of that sthuff,ye know!” Adam produced bis handkerchief and wiped away an imaginary tear. Ms heart has been wrung with anguish,” be sobbed. ‘It is a terrible thing to consider the wickedness and sin there is in this small world. For all of the efforts of the servants of the em iniquity,.seems.on the increase. Ah, um Jonas passed his arm through that of his father, ** Come, paw.” Then they made their way toward the door, and left the saloon together. Sweet Jim fol- lowed them, and just outside, Adam turned toward the tough, saying in a low voice: “Go back and watch Violet Vane! Find out where that boy is and help me get possession of him and I will pay you five hundred dollars!” Then the two Jaynes went onward, leaving ** Five hundred dollars !” he gas S All thet ter fine ther kid! Great mors I know whar ther kid is now |!” CHAPTER XV. HOT WORK AT HAND, Tue departure of the Jaynes was the signal for hostile demonstrations to end, The toughs turned toward the bar, and the four men who had braved their intended attack were left to themselvss. “Wal,” ned Daddy Du , “this seoms ter be ther eend of ther fun, Thar wasn’t much to it,” he added, r tfully. “Your appearance frightened them off,” jest- ed Vane, “Wal, I dunno’s I wonder,” was the reply. ‘*T guess I look bad ernough ter skeer most any- body. I’m gal-danged glad I wuz roun’ ter take er han’.” ‘* Well, your aid came in very Sroyorriata, They were on the point of coming at us when you chipped.” é: ** Looked that way.” +‘ We should have been in hot water soon.” ‘Then I sp’iled a good raow?” “ e ” 8. * Jest my luck! I chipped in ’specting’ ter hev some fun.” 3 “You are always looking after fun, Daddy.” “You bet yer I be, pard! I’m detarmined ter go fer all ther fun I kin git outer this life.” oid Well, I fancy the fun is not over, by any ** Haow’s thet?” x ‘*T think there will be hot work somewhere in Coffin City or its suburbs before morning.” ‘* Wat makes ye think so?” ‘*T have good reasons.” “ Are you goin’ ter take er han’?” ‘1 shall try to be around.” ** Can’t ye let us in?” ‘* Well, it is possible, I should be pleased if you will hold yourselves ready to aid me in case of emergency.” ‘* We will do that,” declared Leon Forest, ‘*T am ready to do what I can for you, for you saved my life. Adam Jayne would have taken me by surprise when there was no weapon in my hand, I thank you for the prompt manner in which you disarmed him.” ‘*T was delighted at having an opportunity to balk that hypocritical wretch, His schemes will all come to naught in the end, and he will receive the just reward of his crooked work,” ** T hope so,” “Tf I could only rove he was at the bottom of the murder of Old Luckless, I would soon wind up his career, If I had proof of that, I would not wait for his tools to goon with the work they have planned; but, as i cannot prove it, L must give them rope enough to bang them- selves and their master, When they have fully insnared themselves, then I will crush them,” ‘*T hope you'll need help ter do ther crushin’ act. I want ter git er finger inter ther pie,” ** An’ so do I,” declared Red Lark, **T would not object to having a hand,” as- serted Leon. “‘Tf I only had absolute proof of one crime I know this Jayne committed, I would soon have him dangling at the end of a rope,” asserted ane, ** Was it that of which you charged him?” “ Yes,” ‘sThen you believe the man truly capable of murder?” ‘*T believe he would stop at nothing to gain his ends,” ‘€ And I think so, too.” ** But haow about thet Greaser?” asked Daddy Duzenberry. ‘I hev seen ther critter. He actually tried ter make love ter my gal, b’gosh! I knowed bis voice soon’s I heerd him yoop, He'll be knifin’ you, pard,” ‘*T shall have to take my chances,” was Vane’s quiet reply. ‘‘ If the fellow would meet me like a man—” “But he won't, he won’t!” Daddy snapped, ‘‘ Don’t [ know suthin’ of ther critters? ied ter make love ter my gal! Foun’ bim daown on his knees, with her han’ in his! Woosh! Ikem nigh faintin’!” * What did you do?” “Do? You bet I lit on his neck!” “Wat follered?” grinned Red Lark, who was well acquainted with the facts, ** Wal,” said Daddy, slowly, “I kinder slip- ped an’ fell daown. Ther p'ison skunk wuz goin’ ter knife me, but Liz she kivered him with a pops an’ tole bim ter slide out. He slid,” ‘An’ I wuz ther feller thet saw him like he hed struck a reg’ler picnic.” ** Gal-dang bim!” “Juan is bad medicine,” said Vane, ‘t You had better keep him from your girl, Daddy. He is quite a masher.” “Wal, I'll mash him ef I ever ketch him snoopin’ aroun’ again!” f “You may give bim one for me,” said Vane. “ But I will have to leave you folks to attend to some business 1 have on band.” “Got ter go?” “ Yes,” “Kem up an’ hey er drink,” invited Red rk, Vane declined. “here is one point I want you to remember,” said the Sport. ‘It isthis: if any one touches their forehead with the forefingér of their left hand and speaks the word ‘caution,’ he is my friend. Do you understand?” “You bet!” ’ Well, remember that. No matter who it is, if he gives you that signal, he is my friend.” ** Correct,” dy k out for hot work.” “ We ‘ Ru He left them and turned toward the door. They watched him till he passed out of the sa- oon, s, a Flere er man as ever drored breath!” as- ser addy Duzenberry. ee believe you are neht,” said Leon Forest, adel | like him better the more I see of him.” Outside the saloon Vane paused and mused for several minutes, scarcely aware he was being watched ss a pair of glittering eyes. ‘*Yes, there is hot work ahead!” muttered amy > eee “ts a eee be 3: Vane. “I almost fancy to-night will see the termination of the crooked game. If my plans do not go amiss, Adam Jayne will meet with a crushing defeat, His trusted tools have been playing to suck as much money out of him as possible, and they would continue the snap; but {shall ruin all their plans, I bave deceived them even more successfully than I hoped, I want to catch one of them in such a position that I can make him acknowledge my verdict wasa just one. That is the chief thing 1 have been playing for.” He walked slowly away. Ata certain distance a skulking figure crept through the darkness io his footsteps, He was being shadowed, By whom? ‘Was it Juan Pacheco? Vane did not long remain unconscious of the fact that he was being dogged, but he made no sign of discovering that was the case. Calmly he continued on his way, seeming quite absorb- ed by his thoughts, The shadower did not dream he bad been detected. The Velvet Sport passed beyond the corner of a building, and the one who was following bim hurried forward, fearful of losing the man in the darkness, He rusbed straight upon a trap, for as he pass- ed the corner of the cabin the heavy butt of a revolver crashed down upon his head, knocking him senseless, “T fancy that willkeep you quiet for a time,” observed Violet Vane, as he put up his revolver and walked serenely away into the darkness, CHAPTER XVI. AT SLINK’S OFFICE. ApAM JAYNE assisted bis son to stagger through the darkness to the cabin where they were stopping, and stagger Jonas did, for, the. excitement of the fight being over, the liquor he had swallowed began to affect his legs, It also made its presence known by his speech, “Snocked him out ’f ’tadn’t—hic!—been f” you, paw,” the youth thickly protested, ‘“T wath, gug-gug-goin’ t’? hit—hic!—him in eye, I wath.” “Oh, yes!” sneered Adam, “I know alk about it! Jonas, you made a fool of yourself —a blooming fool!” ‘* Oh, paw!” ** Oh, rats!” “ That ith—hic!—schlang, paw.” ‘“ Well, your actions are enough to make me fall from grace and talk slang! Sbut up now and come along. Oh, Lord! that I should ever come to this! Here I am, a devoted parent, helping home a drunken son!” “ Ain’s hawf tho dwunk—biec!—ath you wath thith mawnin’, paw.” “Shut up and coms along!” So Adam aided Jonas into the cabin and, yi bi much difficulty, deposited him in the ham-~ mock, “You can lay there till you sleep off the jag,” said the elder Jayne, ‘Ob, Jonas, Jonas! you will have an awful head in the morning!” ‘“You—hic!—sthpeak frawm thpewience. tl es the brilliant youth, as he settled imself and closed his eyes. “ Night, ol’ boy.” Adam surveyed the picture with unutterable disgust, and at that moment, perhaps, he re- alized he was in truth responsible for the dis- ful condition of his boy. He had tried to ide his: true nature from his son, but the youth had been able to see through the sham and pretense, and he was simply imitating his parent’s example. With something like a n, the plotter © paused outside, turned and left the cabin. and muttered: . , ‘Old man Duzenberry is in Coffin City; now would he an excellent time to get hold of that girl. I must see Slink and find out what he can do,” He hurried toward Lawyer Slink’s office, There was no light in the office and the door was fast, but Adam gave a peculiar rap and was immediately admitted, Ah, is it you, my dear sir?” purred the voice of the oily lawyer. | ‘‘ I was scarcely looking for a visit from you at this time, Remain sir, while I make the door secure, and 1 will con- duct you to a seat, There it is, and here you are, Bit right down,” ‘*T have come on im nt business,” Jayne immediately began. “ It is something that must. be attended to at once.” dy To-night” sd “ es. $ ro vail “Ts it possible, dear sir!” a , i < iy oa tea bn a ia bs be 4 iet,/ *., / 4
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14 Violet Vane’s Verdict. ‘Tt must be possible, Slink. Not only must it be attended to to-night, but not a minute must be lost,” “Tt surely must be important. be, dear sir?” ** You know the old fellow who calls himself Daddy Duzenberry?” ** Surely.” ‘You know he has a girl? Well, I have taken a fancy to that girl,” There was a pause, as if the lawyer was too surprised to speak, and during that pause Adam distinctly heard the suppressed but gurgling breathing of a third person within the room. Giving vent to an exclamation of anger and fear, the sleek hypocrite leaped to his feet and caught Elias Slink by the throat, holding the amazed lawyer helpless in his chair. “You treacherous dog!” snarled Jayne. ‘‘ So you are playing a double game! I have caught ** Hold on! hold on!” cried Slink, ‘‘ What are you upto? Whatdo you mean?” ‘* You know well enough what I mean! There is a third person in this room!” Ts that all, dear sir?” ‘““That’s enough! You have some one here tooverhear my taJk! You have sold me out!” ‘That is where you make a big error, and you have unnecessarily alarmed yourself and your humble servant, E. Slink, Esq.” **Do you deny it? 1 heard the man breath- ing. He is sitting at the right-hand end of the ‘What can it table.” “That is true.” “Then you confess?” ** That there is a man there—yes,” “Oh, w’at yer makin’ all this fuss fer?” gur- led a familiar voice. ‘‘Ireckon I’m in this usiness with ther rest of ye, ur my name hain’t Ben Hogg.” It was the ** judge.” ‘Why didn’t you say he was here? indig- nantly demanded Jayne, as he sunk panting in- to a chair. “You did not give me time, dear sir,” cooed Slink, ‘‘ You plunged into business at once, and I thought it could do no harm for the iv hear what you had to say.” ‘** What is he in here for?” ‘Came in ter tell Slink ’bout ther sad fair over in ther Jim Dandy,” was Hogg’s reply. *“°T wuz too bad we wuzn’t able ter down thet velvet sbarp,” ““T have put a dog on his trail. But this other business, We cannot lose ary time.” “ What can you want of old Duzenberry’s girl, dear sir?” softly inquired the lawyer. “That makes no difference. It is enough that I want her and want her bad, More than that, I will pay to get ber.” “ Thet soun’s right,” mumbled Hogg. ** But I scarcely understand how the riffle is going to be made,” protested the cautious law- yer. ‘* Rasily enough,” said Adam. ‘* Duzenberry is in town and the girl must be alone. Three or four of the men can slip down to the cabin and carry her off.” “That might not be so easy; she is something of a spit-fire.” “lt could be done if you were with them, Slink. You are great at imitating another man’s voice. After you knock at the door, she will ask who is there, then you can imitate Duzenberry’s voice when you reply. She will immediately unfasten the door, and the rest will be easy.” ‘“*T berlieve it kin be worked, Pard Slink,” as- serted ‘‘ Judge” Hogg. ‘* But where are the boys to go? Jim, Ikeand the Greaser are off on another lay. We might exe of the others, but they are not very rusty. “Then do not try them,” hastily put inJayne, ** Why are not you two enough? I will remain behind to watch Duzenberry.” - An’ so keep whar yer neck is safe,” chuckled ogg. * Will you do it?’ impatiently demanded Adam, ‘* How much are you willing to pay?” “T will give you a hundred dollars apiece, if you are successful,’ ** Not enough.” ** Two hundred each, then—not another cent. You are to take her to some place where she can be sately kept till I am ready to take her away. What do yousay? Speak quick!” “It is a bargain,” declared the lawyer. ** We'll scoop her,” gurgled ‘‘ Judge” Benja- min. The three sealed the crooked compact with a handshake in the darkness, CHAPTER XVII. THE LAST DEAL, }'Rom Slink’s office Adam Jayne hurried to- ward the Jim Dandy Saloon, his hired tools hav- ing started for the cabin down the creek. As he was walking along he was startled by hearing the sound of a low groan, which came from near the wall of a low cabin. He halted, his hand seeking the pocket in which he always carried a ready revolver, ‘** Who is there?” he demanded. Once more he beard the groan, and again he repeated the question, A figure partially arose in the darkness. and the voice of Sweet Jim replied: “* Tt’s only me—Jim Cobb.” Adam’s hand fell from the butt of the revolver and he instantly approached the figure. ‘* What is the matter with you?” he demanded, ‘Are you drunk?” “Not much!” moaned Jim. ‘ All ther same, I hev got an awful head on me,” ‘*Well, then what is the trouble with you?” “Ts thet you, Jayne? Then [ll tell ye how it happened. Ye see, I wuz follerin’ thet velvet sharp as you wanted me ter, I reckon ther ga- loot must hev tumbled, fer w’en I rounded thar corner of this yere cabin, sutaoin’ drapped on my head. I jest laid right down hyer, an’ hyer I’ve stayed ever sence,” Adam uttered a snarl, ‘Then you let Violet Vane get away from you?” “se Ye 9 “Fool! I told ha to find the boy and I would pay you well, If you had been sharp enough to follow the sport, he would have led you to the boy.” ° ‘“* Thar wuzn’t ary need of thet anyhow. I know whar the kid is.” In another instant Jayne had the tough by the shoulder, ‘What do you say?” he hoarsely demanded. ** Don’t lie to me, man! What do you mean?” ‘* It’s straight goods, ‘boss; I know whar ther kid is, sure pop. ** Where is he?” ‘““Stoppin’ hyer in town at ther howtel.” At first Jayne could not believe the man was not attempting to play a joke on him, but Jim finally convinced the chief plotter that he was in sober earnest. Great was Adam’s anger when he learned bow Slink had sought to keep all knawledge of the boy’s presence from him, ““Thave paid that foxy wretch well to serve me!” he snarled; ‘‘and now he would play a double game on me that he might bleed me still further! I will beat him at his own trick!” ** An’ I'l] holp ye, boss, ef ther’s money in it,” eagerly assured Sweet Jim. ‘* Well, there 7s money in it; but how can you aid me?” ‘*Thet’ll be easy. Ye see, Slink hes planned ter scoop ther kid ter-night an’ take him ter a cave I knows on. I an’ Ike an’ a Greaser are goin’ ter do ther job arter it gits quiet-like. ‘W’en it is all done, one of us "Il hev ter stay in ther cave an’ watch ther kid. [ll work it so they’ll leave me, See?” “Yes; but [ want to get hold of this boy to- night. I am not willing to lose more time, How can it be worked?” Jim remained in thought a moment, then re- plied: ‘**Do you know where the split rock is?” iT Yes, ” e . ‘Wal, you go thar an’ lay low. W’en we kerry ther kid ter ther cave, we shell pass thar, You kin. foller, but you want ter be mighty sly *bout it so Ike ur ther Greaser won’t ketch on, W’en you see us go through a mess of bush thet sets right up ag’in’ ther foot of a puppindiculer wall of stun you kin know we hev gone inter ther cave. Then you jest keep hid tell [ke an’ ther Greaser goes erway. Arter they hev, I’ll kem out an’ whistle; then you kin show up an’ I'll take ye ter ther kid.” Adam readily agreed to this plan, guts for- getting he had promised to watch Daddy Duzen- berry while Slink and Hogg captured the old man’s “gal.” At last the arch-rascal began to believe the end of the game was close at hand; success was about to crown his schemes. He assisted Sweet Jim to bis feet. At first the tough was so dizzy he could only stand by clinging to his companion, but the feeling swift- ly passed. ‘* Now, I'am all right fer biz,” he declared, **Remember that you are goin’ ter pay me five hundred dollars, an’? I want ye ter bev ther money with ye w’en ye come ter ther cave.” ** You need not worry about that. I have the , ee a ee eee eee a eee eee eee ee five hundred in my pocket, and plenty more to keep it company.” ‘*Then you git ter ther Split Rock an’ lay low. Don’t ye git narvous ef ye don’t see nuth- in’ fer two ur three hours, fer we'll shorely be erlong afore mornin’, Jest you keep cool an’ foller arter we pass.” They separated, Jayne immediately making his way toward the Split Rock, which was near- ly a mile out of town. Reaching the rock, the hypocritical villain threw himself down beside it to await the coming of the kidnappers, Slowly the minutes passed into hours, The moon finally arose, but the sky was overcast by a flying scud which made the light of the ‘*Queen of the Night” rather fitful and uncer- tain. In the shadow of the riven rock Adam Jayne crouched and waited, straining his ears and eyes. At least two hours passed after he arrived there before he saw a buman being. Suddenly he heard a cat-like footstep, and, peering from his place of concealment, he de- tected the figure of a man approaching. The man was moving toward Coffin City in- stead of from the town, so he could not be one of the three who were to capture the boy. There was something suggestive of the sneak about the almost noiseless manner in which the pedestrian moved along, and from this pecu- liarity Adam immediately recognized the pedes- trian. It was the oily lawyer, Slink. Jayne was seized by wonder at the presence of the man, Why was he there, and where was the ‘‘ judge?” Slink hurried on and vanished in the direction ef the town, é ‘““Go on!” softly snarled Jayne, shaking his clinched hand toward the spot where the lawyer was last seen. ‘‘Go on, you blood-sucker! You will never get anything more out of me, I do not believe that girl of Duzenberry’s can possitly be Jennie Som oy or truly Jennie ayne. It was nothing but an accidental re- semblance. When I have finished the boy the game will be ended.” ; Another hour passed. Adam was beginning to become wildly im- patient when he heard low voices, and, a mo- ment later, shadowy figures were seen advancing from the direction of the town, The man be- side the rock crouched lower. Three men passed the rock, two of whom were bearing what seemed to be the inanimate body of a third, They were the two toughs, Ike and Jim, and the Mexican, Juan, The inanimate figure was the boy tenderfoot, Timothy Stiles. Adam did not wait for them to get very far away before he arose and crept along after them. Had he waited a few seconds longer he would have made a startling discovery. The kidnappers were being shadowed by a small party of men! These shadowers were startled when Adam appeared, and they were compelled to follow Jayne and trust that he would not lose sight of the ones they were after, The party consisted of Daddy Duzenberry, Red Lark and Leon Forest, As Jayne took considerable precaution against _ being detected by Sweet Jim’s companions, those who were following him found it no easy job to keep him in view. : ‘*He dodges like a jack-rabbit!” whisyered Red Lark in disgust. nS : ‘“‘ He'll give us ther slip ef we hain’t keerful,” asserted Daddy. For a considerable distance they were able to follow the chief rascal of the crooked game, but, quite unconsciously, he finally gave them the slip. i Didn’t I say so!” growled Daddy, disgusted- ly, when they were certain that Jayne had in- deed passed beyond their vision and there seemed no hope of getting sight of him again, ‘¢Naow what are we goin’ ter do?” *** Ax me sutbin’ easy,” retorted Red Lark, Leon was greatly excited when he realized they were quite off the track. _ For a Jong time the three continued to search, although it seemed time wasted; but finally, of a sudden they came face to face with two men, They were Lank Ike and Juan Pacheco! It was difficult to tell which was the most as- tonished of the five men, but Daddy Duzenberry succeeded in getting the drop on the tough and the Mexican. . “‘Hands up, you critters!” he commanded, in a business-like manner, ‘“ Be lively, ur swaller lead!” ~ >~ 4 v
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ey fl 4 J A$ i ai PX Pg Pw ee CHAPTER XVIII. THE END OF THE GAME. INSTANTLY Juan Pacheco lifted his left hand and touched his forehead with his fore-finger, saying: ** Caution |” It was the signal of which Violet Vane had spoken! Any one who gave it was to be recog- nized as his friend] “ Wat's thet mean?” snorted Daddy Duzen- berry. ‘* You hain’t no friend of ther Velvet Sharp!” ‘*Tbat is where you are wrong!” was Juan’s cool reply. ‘‘ We are the best of friends,” ‘* But you are arter bis gizzard!” ‘*That is all a trick, senor; it was played to blind the eyes of his foes.” It was hard for the three men to understand this, but-Juan aided them in making lke secure, although that ruffian raved and stormed in a furious manner, berating himself for trusting a treacherous Greaser, When the tough was fast, Juan said: ‘*T will now lead you to the cave, senors. I fancy you will find a surprise there, There are two captives, instead of one!” *“ Two! Who is the other?” Juan explained it was Doddy’s girl. Slink and Hogg had succeeded in capturing Liz, and, the ‘‘ judge” knowing about the cave, she was taken there, Hogg was left to guard her, while Slink returned to town, Cautiously the four men approached the vicinity of the cave, having left Ike in a helpless condition where he was captured. As they came out close to the mouth of the cave, they were amazed to see two madly battling figures Jocked fast in each other’s grasp, : Only a moment they paused, but as _ they rushed forward, the contesting men reeled and fell to the ground. There the battle continued till they were torn apart, Then our friends saw they were Sweet Jim and Adam Jayne! ‘*He would have robbed me,” gasped Jayne, who had been badly cut by a knife in the ruffian’s hand, ‘‘ He saw my money, then he tried to get itall, Five hundred was not enough.” Sweet Jim was disarmed and bound. ** Don’t believe thar’s ary need of trussin’? up this one,” was Daddy Duzenberry’s observation, after he had hastily examined Adam Jayne’s in- uries. " 2 The chief villain was Sipe wounded, Within the cave “Judge” Hogg was found guarding the captives, but be was easily made a prisoner. There was no small amouat of surprise when the boy and girl! prisoners were found in each other’s arms, as if tbey had been acquainted all their lives, Jayne and Sweet Jim were brought into the cave, the former being placed with his back against the wall, where the flaring torchlight would reveal to his eyes ail before him. His face was very white, and he was rapidly grow- ing weaker, «Adam Jayne,” said Juan Pacheco, solemnly, your last hour has come; you are fatally wounded, and in a dying condition at tunis moment, This is the true reward of crime.” Jayne’s lips moved, but he uttered no sound. ‘ Before you,” continued Juan, “ you see the boy and girl against whom you piotted—chil- dren of your own brother, though I do not wouder their mother resumed her own name of Kenton after leaving ber husband, You tried to kill the girl—you buried her into the Missis- sippi. This young man,”—pointing to Leon Forest—“ plunged in after her, and by almost a miracle, both were saved by a floating timber, ‘* They tracked you here to Coffin City. They came together, but as strangers, Jennie Kenyon being in the disguise of a boy and registering as ‘Timothy Styles. She is two years older than her brother Wallace, but, in bey’s clothes, look- ed so much like him that your tools were de- ceived and thought her the boy. ‘““The boy whom you would have destroyed was saved by Violet Vane and given into the care of a friend, Daddy Duzenberry here. Wal- lace adopted the disguise of a girl, and as such, he looked so mucb like his sister that even you were puzzled and startled, There they are, and when they exchange clothes, they will be prop- erly attired.” ; Jayne did not seem greatly surprised by this revelation, although it is probable bis in- juries accounted for his failure to show emotion. Being given a swallow of liquor from a flask Daddy Duzenberry carried, he said, faintly: ‘*T was so near success—I thought! And now —my God—I am dying! But I will have re- vebge on the wretch who destroyed my life! \ Verdict. He it was who killed Old Luckless, paid for the job, but he struck the blow and fired the shot which ended the old miner’s life, For it he should hang.” ** He shell hang fer snuffin’ you out, pardner,” assured Red Lark; ‘‘ but as Ole Luckless ain’t dead, we can’t swing bim fer thet!” Ola Luckless not dead?” **Not by er jug-full! J am Ole Luckless !” Off came the wass of false red hair and beard which had covered his bead and face, and the unlucky miner stood revealed! ‘“* Waal, may I be kicked!” cried Daddy Du- zenberry, ‘I hev been an’ went an’ jumped a livin’ man’s claim!” ‘*Sure as shootin’, pard!” laughed Old Luck- less, ‘I thought of tryin’ ter skeer ye erway by playin’ spook, but I kind of reckoned I didn’t keer ter be shot full of holes, like a sieve.” ‘*But thar’s one thing 1 don’t understan’,” confessed Daddy. ‘‘ Hyer’s this Greaser, an’ ef I don’t smell a rat ’bout bim, I’m er Chinaman. They’s suthin’ ’tarnal natteral ‘bout his voice, an’ ef he wuz bleached, I believe be would look like somebody I hev seen b’fore.” You are right,” laughed Juan. ‘When I get to some water, and where I can shift my clothes, I will make a slight alteration in my My money appearance. Off comes this imperial now.” ‘**An thet makes a big change. Great Scott! it is—” Is was indeed the Velvet Sport, With the aid of his ventriloquial powers, he had played a won- derful double game, which had enabled him to become familiar with the plots of those he was seeking to defeat, and thus aid in their final overthrow. So well bad he played his part, that neither Daddy Duzenberry or ‘ Liz” had sus- pected him, It was little wonder he laughed after Daddy caught him making love to the dis- guised boy, Adam Jayne died from the wounds he had received, and when they learned the truth, the citizens of Coffin City quickly disposed of the man’s murderer, a tree on the outskirts of the town serving as a gallows, Lank Ike succeded in bursting the cords which held him, and he at once carried the news of disaster to Elias Slink. Neither of the two were afterward seen in Coffin City, “Judge” Benjamin Hogg was tarred and feathered, then ridden out of town on a decided- ly knotty rail. He also disappeared, Jonas Jayne was not molested, for he was not considered responsible for any of his father’s acts, Wallace and Jennie Kenyon, with Leon For- est as a companion, went East, and the children did not find it difficult to establisa their right to their father’s property. About a year after this, Violet Vanereceived a beautiful wedding card which bore the names of Leon and Jennie, . Daddy Duzenberry left Coffin City with the Velvet Sport, willinglv giving up the claim to its rightful owner, Old Luckless, Again the daring Sport struck out to wan- der whither fancy led him, Always, brave, noble and manly, loving right, detesting wrong, ready to spill his life-blood in defending the weak and oppressed, may we not hope to meet him again? , THE END. ** Violet Vane!” Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. BY WM. G. PATTEN. 489 The Diamond Sport; or, The Double’ Face of Bed Rock, ear Captain mystery ; or, Five in One, S81 Daley Ware the Sport trom Denver. 5ST Old ihombshell, the Ranger Detective, 604 Tron Fern, the Man ot Fire. : 619 The Boy Tramp Detectives or, The Double Grip Witness 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Spory 641 Dismal Dave’s Dandy Pard. 651 Bound Boy Frank, the Young Amateur Detective 665 Violet Vane’s Victory. 682 Wild Vulcan, the Lone-Range Rider, 69R Violet and Daisy, the Posy Paris. % 705 Violet Vane’s Vow; or 1 he Cratty Detective’s Craft. BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS, 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock. 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 576 The Silver Sport. 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With » Shadow’ 589 Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dead Setat Silver City, 601 Happy Hans, the Dutch Kisoag. 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules, 6 Pexas Tom-Cat’s Triad 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Task. z 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumph; or, Black Ivan’s Great Combine, 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. 657 Warbling William, the Mountain Mountebank, 665 Jolly Jeremiahy the Plains Detective. 676 Signal Sam, the Lookout Scout. 689 Billy the Gypsy Spy. 699 Staple Sim, ‘the Broncho Buster. 712 The Mesmerist Sport; or, The Mystified Detective. - f BY OLL COOMES, 5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. } 81 Keen-Kulfe, the Prince of the Prairies. 4l Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 5S The order King; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 74 Hawk-eye Harry the Young Trapper Ranger. 83 Rollo, the Boy Ranger. 184 Sure Shot Seth, the boy Rifleman, 148 Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter. 146 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 158 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. 168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. R02 Prospect Pete: or, The Young Outlaw Hunters, 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps, 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. Dashing Dilek: or, Trapper Tom's Caatle, Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad, 288 The Parson Detective: or, The Lite Ranger, The Disgulsed Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger, Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger, Minkakin Mikey the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the oy Spy. 3800 The Sky Demon; or, Kainbolt, the Ranger, 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 409 Nereules; vr, Dick, the Boy Ranger. AIT Webfoot Mose, the Tramp Detective. 422 Baby Sam, the Boy Giant of the Yellowstone, 444 Little Buckakin, the Young Prairie Centaur, 457 Wingedfoot Fredy or, Old Polar Saul. Tamarae Tom, the Big Trapper Boy, Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic, Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. 562 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. 652 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance, 661 Old Kit Bandy’s Deliverance. 670 Norway Nels, the Ble Boy Mountaineer. 680 Dauntless Dan, the Freelance, or Old Kit Bandy in Arcadia, BY PHILIP 8. WARNE, 6T Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, thCharmer. 175 Caprain Arizona ; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game, Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Defeat. Despard, the Dueliat; cr, The Mountain Vompires, 888 A Tough Boy 5 or, The Dwarf’s Revenge. 868 Little Tornado $ or, The Outeasts of the Glen, BIR Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard, BSR Little Oh-my 3 or, Caught in His Own Trap, 401 Little Shoo Fly or, A Race for a Ranch, 408 Little Lenther-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 Parda, 517 Jim Gladden’s Deputy. 527 The Jolly Parda to the Rescue, 547 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down, 5656 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. 574 Old Weaxel-top, the Man with the Dogs, 598 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. 5699 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport. 618 Billy Blazens; or, The Skeleton’s Legacy, 685 Okinhoma Hil, the Blue-Coat Scout, 648 Happy HNarry’s Big Find, 664 Cheeky Charley, the Special, BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, Tho Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl. 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer, 7) Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 268 Joe Luck of Angels and His Boy Pard. 447 New York Nat, A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling, 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince, 498 Taos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hall-Breed Detective, \ BIS Cool Colorado In New York. j MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORA, 4 The Wild-Norsc Munters, By Capt. Mayno Rela and Frederick Whittaker, 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver’s Travels. By Dean swift, 14 Aladding or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe, (27 Ilustrations,) 18 Sindbad the Sailor, His Seven Voyages. 22 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe, By Jaan Lewis. 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribees. By S. W. Pierce, 86 The Boy Clowns or, The Arena Queen. By F 8, Finn. 8S Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. f 61 The Roy Rifles; or. The Underground Camp, By A. ©. Trona, 95 The Rival Rovera; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi. By Lieut.-Col, Hazeltine, 98 Robtu Hood, the Vutiawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Greon- wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve. 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain 112 ree ea Ves ¢ Desib, . By Berton Bixe ec Ma unter; or, | he Cave of Death, urton ‘ 124 Tippy, the Texany or, The Young Champion, By George epson. ; f 128 The Young Privateers or, The Pirate’s Stronghold, By Harry Caventish. 148 Rharp Samy or, The Adventures of a Friendlesa Boy, By J. Alexander Patten. 227 Dusky Darrell, Trapper; or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- lowstone, By Edward Emerson. 261 Fergus Fearnaught the New Y irk Boy, % G. L, Alken. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; %r, Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trall. By Ensign C. D, Warren. 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Cliff. By Captain Comstock. 817 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville, By Lieu- tenant Alfred Thorne. B28 The Sky Detectives or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Honor. By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Red Ralph, the River Rovers or, The Brother's Ree venge. By Ned Buntline, , B65 Baltimore Ren the Bootblack Detective. By A. P, Morris. B74 Gold-Duat Toms: or, Ben’s Double Match. G H. Moree, 876 Californian Joe’s First Trail, By Colonel Thomas Hever Monastery. ae Pp hy Seno “~ oid cin 4 F. 8. Winthrop. ‘he ne ° iv dobn arner, 484 Comanche Dick and His Three Invinetbles, By enry J. Thomas. ‘) 582 The Cowboy Duke, By Edwin Brooke Forrest, 552 Ariel the Athlete. By David Droid. 585 Will Waters, the Bov Forret.. By H. Enton. 682 The Doad Detective’s Double. By Gerald Carlton, f A New issue Every Tuesday. “ The Half-Dime Library {» for sale by ail newsdealers, five centa per copy, or sent by mall on receipt of slx cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers; |) 98 William Street, New York, |/
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Published Every Tuesday CS BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novels. 1 Deadwood. Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Deadwood, Dick’s Defiance; or, Double Daggers. 28 Deadwood Dick In Disguise; or, Buffal, Ben 85 Deadwood Dick in His Caatle. Dick’s Bonanzay or, The .uantom Miner. Dick in Danger; or, Omana Oll, Dick’sa Eugles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar, 42 Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood 7B Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity ¢ ine, the Heroine. 77 Deadwood Dick’s Last Acti or, Cordurvy Charlie. 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. 104 Deadwood Dick’s Devices 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 Strike; or, A Game of Gold. Dick of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party. Dick’s Dreamy or, The Rivals of the Road. Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill’s Jezebel. Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Adventure. Dick’s Dead Deal. Dick’s Death-Plant, Dick. A Romance of Rotyhs and Tougha, + Dick’s Divide ; or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. Dick’s Death Trail. Dick’s Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flata Dick’s Ducata; or, Days in the Diggings. Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Dendwood R17 Deadwood 221 Deadwood 282 Gold-Duat 268 Deadwood 2RGS\ Deadwood B09 ‘Deadwood $21 Deadwood 247 Deadwood 851 Deadwood 862 Deadwood 405 Deadwood 410 Deadwood 421 Deadwood 480 Deadwood 445 Deadwood 448 Deadwood 458 Deadwood 459 Deadwood 465 Deadwood A771 Deadwood A7Z6 Deadwood 4851 Deadwood ANT Deadwood 496 Deadwood 600 Deadwood 5608 Deadwood 615 Deadwood 522 Deadwood 529 Deadwooa 584 Deadwood 539 Deadwood 544 Deadwood 5AY Deadwood 554 Deadwood 561 Deadwood Dick’s Claim, Dick in Dead City. Dick’s Diamonds, Dick in New York; or, A “ Cute Case,” Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand. Dick, Jr. Dick, Jr.’s, Deflance. Dick. . Dick, Dick, Dick, J Dick, Dick, Dick, Dick, Dick, Dick, Dick, Jr’, Full Hand. Big Round-Up. Racket at Claim 10, Corral; or, Bozeman Bill. Dow Detective. Jr., In Deadwood, Jr.’s, Compact. Jr.’s, Jr, Inheritance. Diggtngs. Deliverance. Protegee. Dick, Jr.’a, Three. Dick, Jr.’s, Danger Ducka. Dick, Jr.’a Death Hunt, Dick, Jr., in Texas, Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidocg Dick, Jr., on ilis Mettle. Dist’ dr.. in Hentene, cK, re, itt oston, 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadetphla, 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago, 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Afloat. BS4 Deadwood Dick, Jr,, in Denver. 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Decree, 595 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Beelzebub’s Basin, 600 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Coney Island. 606 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Leadville Lay.,’ 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Detrolt. ty 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Cincinnatl. 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Nevada, °680. Deadwood Dick, Jr., in No Man’s Land. 686 Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer. 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Buffalo. $35 Papd wood Pick? CA hg Chase 1 ae Sousinent wo ek, Jes Amon © ugglers. 660 Dead woot Diek, Jr.’s, woobahes Case 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back In the Mines, 672 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Durango; or, “ Gathered In.” rth peenwees ot 0 it Discovery; or, Found a Fortune. eadw oo ck, a, Dazzle, 690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dollars, 695 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Danger Divide, 700 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Drop. Z04 Dendwood Dick, Jr., at Juck-Pot. 710 Deadsfood Dick, Jr., in San Francisco. 716 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt, 222 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dominoes, 728 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. BY CHARLES MORRIS, 1] Somers, the Boy Detective, Mardy, the Boss Boy. ray Une Pate’ or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective, eetive Dick; or, The Hero in Raga, some Harry, the Bootblack Detective, iit Wildf the Thoroughbred. k Beas, Will Wildfire’s Racer. Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. Ba nice eae e, the ro! i A te vs er, Will Wiidtire Wins and Loses. Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of Now York, Bob pocket the Bank Runner, 8 The Hidden Hand; or, Wi!) Wildfire’s Revenge. “487 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, 189 Bob Rockett}; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed; or, Bob Kockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. Lom Tanner}; or, The Black Sheep of the Flock. ae Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky, 8S Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy, The Two * Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang, 262 Dick Dashaway ; or, A Dakota Boy in eg 1262 The Young Sharps: or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trall, 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 2S9 Jolly Jim’s Jobs or, Tho Young Detective. 298 The Water-Hound; or, The Young Thoroughored. 205 Dashaway, of Dakota; or, A Western Lad in Quaker City, B24 Ralph Ready, the Hote) Boy Detective. $41 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’s Blismard, BET Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times, 879 Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Firefly Jack, the River-Rat Detective, 428 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrappod Cashier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagavond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive. 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, 566 The Secret Service Boy Detective. 596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. 627 Tom Bruce of Arkansas; or, The Wolf in the Fold. 655 Plucky Paul, the Boy Speculator. 667 Bob and Sam, the Daisy Detectives. 709 The Curbstone Detective; or, Harry Hale’s Big Beat. t 5 0 4 9 Diek Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta, BEADLE'S«H ALF- DIME« LIBRARY. Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. Cloven Woof, the Buffalo Demon. 82 Bob Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot Death-Faece, Detective; or, Life in New York. 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix, 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team 69 Gold’ Rifle, the Sharpshooter; or, The Boy Detective. 80 Rosebud Rob; or, ears! Ned, the Knight 84 Idyl, the Girl Miners or, Rosebud Rob on Hand, 88 Phetograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance, 92 Ounada Chet 5 or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp, 96 W rg aR pl 3 or, Arabs nnd Angels of a Great City. 118 Jack Hoyle the Young Speculator. 117 Ghit-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 3121 Cianamon Chip, the Girl Sport. 125 Bonanza BIL, Miner. 188 Boas Bob the King of Bootblacks, 141 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 145 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. 161 New York Nell, the Goy-Girl Detective, 177 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps, 181 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo, 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter. Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab Detectiva, Apollo BAD, the Trai! Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator. Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. Sterra Sam’s Seeret; or, The Bloody Footprints, Sierra Sum’s Pard; or, The Angel of Big Vista, Slerra Sain’s Seven 3 or, The Stolen Bride. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs, Denver Doll, the Detective Queen, Denver Doll’« Victory. ' 285 Denver Doll’« Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza. Turk the Boy Ferret. Denver Doll's Drift; or. The Road Queen. A No. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. 808 ’Liza Jane, the Girl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. Kelley, Hickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia. Little Quick-Shot ; or, The Dead Face of Daggersyille, Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miuver, Kangaroo Kit’« Racket. Manhattan Mike, tle Bowery Blood, First-Class Fred, the Gent trom Gopher. Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherer; or, The Life Lottery, Yreka Jim’s Prize. Nabob Neds}; or, The Serret of Slab City, Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, 5 Yreka Jim’s Joker; or, The Rivals of Red Nose, § Bleyele Ben; or. The Lion of Lightning Lode, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam. 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Wat Harry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam Slabsides, the Beggar-Boy Detective, 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives, 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher. 486 Sealskin Saw, the Sparkier. BY T. O, HARBAUGH, 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of ’76. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Little Hunter, 47 Nightingale N ats or, Tne Forest Captains. 64 Dandy Jack; or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trai. S82 Kit Harefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight saok 5 or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 128 Kiowa Charley the W bite Mustanger. 189 Judge Lynch Jr: or, The Boy Vigilante. 155 Gold Trigger, the eperss er, The Gir] Avenger, 169 Tornado Tom} or, Injvn Jack From Red Core, 188 Ned Temple, the Bord Boy, : 198 Arkanaaw ¢ or, The Quy 0 of Fate’s Revenge, 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Guld Hunter, 215 Captain Bullet; or, Littl Topknot’s Crueade, 281 Plucky Phil; or, Rosa, the Rei Jezebel, 241 Bill Bravo; or, Tne Rougha of the Rockies. 255 Captain Apoliv, tne King-Pin of Bowie, 267 The Buckskin Detective. 279 Old Winch; or, The Buckskin Desperadoes. 294 Dynamite Dan; or, The Bowie Blade of Gochetopa, 802 The Mountain Detective: or, The Trigger Bar Bully, 816 Old Eclipse, Trump Card of Arizona, 826 The Ten Parda; or, The Terror of Take-Notice. 886 Big Benson; or, The Queen of the Lasso, 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Ked Thunderbolt’s Secret. 656 Cool “am und Pards or The Terrible Six. B66 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective, 886 Captain Cutlass; or, ‘Ihe Brecaneer’s Girl Foe. 896.Rough Rob; or, The {wim Champions of Blue Blazes, 411 The Milken Lasso; or, The Rose of Ranch Robin, 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. 425 Texas Trump. the Border Rattler. 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox. , 445 The City Vampires; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon, 461 One Againet Fifty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Roy Shadow: or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. 477 The Exceisior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter. 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport, 502 Branded Ren, the Night Ferret. 512 Dodger Dick. the Wiurl-Spy Detective, 621 Dodger Dick’s Rest Dodge. 528 Fox and Falcon, the 'onery Shadows, 588 Dodger Dich, the lock Ferret, y 548 Dodger Dick’s Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, 5658 Dodger Dick’« Desperate Case, 568 Dodger Dick, the Roy Vidoeqg. 5678 The Two Shadows, 582 Dodger Dick’s Drop. 594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard, 626 The Champion Parda, 687 Dick Doan, the Dock Boy Detective. 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp. 658 Billy Bantam, the Boy Beagle. 671 Jersey Jed, the Boy Hustler; or, Shadowing the Shadower. 685 Happy Musk the Boy Musician Detective, 701 Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. 15 Wide Awake Len, the Quaker City Ferret, BY WM. G. PATTEN. 489 The Diamond Sport; or, The Double Faee of Bod Rock, 519 Captain Mystery ; or, Five in One. 581 Daisy Hare the Sport from Denver. 587 Old Bombshell, the Ranger Detective, 604 Tron Fern, the Man of Fire. 619 The Boy Tramp Detective; or, The Double Grip Witness 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Sport. 641 Diamal Dave’s Dandy Pard. 651 Bound Boy Frank, the Young Amateur Detective 66% Violet Vane’s Victory. 682 Wild Vulcan, the Lone-Range Rider, 692 Violet and Daisy, the Posy Pards, 705 Violet, Vane’s Vow; or, The Crafty Detective’s Craft, 714 Old Misery, the Man from Missouri, %R4 Violet Vane’s Vengeance. { | BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, @ The Flying Yankees or,"The Ocean Outcast, 17 Ralph Roy, the boy Buccan-er; or, The Fugitive Yacht, 24 Diamond Dirk ; or, Mystery of the Yellowstone. 62 The Shadow Ship; The Rival Lieutenants. 75 Lhe Boy Dnelist; Che Cruise of the Sea-Wolf. 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Sivugyier. 111 The Sea-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy, 116 The Uussar Captiain ; or, The Hermit of Hell Gate, 197 Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter. 204 Gold Plume; or, Butfilo Bill, the Pony Express Rider, 216 Bison BULL, the Prince of the Reins; or, Butinto Bill’s Pluck, 222 Grit, the Brave Sport; or, The Wowan Trailer, 220 Orimson Kate 3 or, The Cowboy's Triumph, 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 245 Merle, the Middy 3 or, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midshipman Mutineer; or, Brandt, the Buccaneer. 264 The Floating Feather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure, 269 The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned, 276 Merle Monte’s Cruise; or,‘ The Gold Ship” Chase, 280 Merle Monte’s Fate ; or. Pearl, the Pirate’sa Bride, 284 The Sean Marauder’; ér, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 287 Lilly Blue-Eyea, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Siiot Dandy ; or, Benito, the Boy Bugler, 808 keno Kit; or, Dend Shot Dandy’s Double. 814 Vhe Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Trail, 877 Bonodel, the Buy Rever; or, The Flagless Schooner, S88 The Indian Pilot; «t, The Search for Pirate Island, B87 Warpath WIL, the Boy Phantom. 898 Seawall, the Boy Lientenant. 402 Isodor, the Young Conspirator ; or, The Fatal League 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild Yachtaman; or, ‘The War-Cloud’s Cruise 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 485 A Cabin Boy’« Luck; or, Tie Corsair. 487 The Sea Raider. 441 The Ocenn Firefly ¢ or, A Middy’s Vengeance. 446 Haphazard Tye: 3; or, Tne Scapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferret of New York, 454 Wizard WIIl's Street Scouts. 462 The Born Guide; or, The Saiior Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster, 474 Flora; or, Wizard Will’s Vagabond Pard. 488 Ferrets Affioat: or, Wizard Will’s Last Case, 487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Kanger 495 Arizona doe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 407 Buck Taylor, Kine of the Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy 3; 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. 5380 The Buckskin Bowers, 585 The Buc: skin Rovers. 6540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marander of the Rio, 545 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte. 550 Lalitte’s Legacy; or. The Avenging Son. 555 The Creole Corsair. 560 Pawnee BI, the Prairie Shadower. 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. 570 Camille, the Card Queen. 575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective, 580 The Outcast Cadet; or, The False Detective, 586 The Buckskin Avenger. 591 Delmonte, the Young Sea-Rover. 57 The Young Texan Detective. 602 The Vagabond ofthe Mines, 607 The Rover Detective; or, Keno Kit’s Champtions, 617 kalph, the Dead-Shot Scouts or, The Rio Raiders. 644 The Hercules Highwaymun. 650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Rider Detective; or, Buffalo Biil’s Boy Para. 656 Butterfly Billy’s Man Hunt, 662 Butterfly Billy’s Bonanza. 668 The Buccancer Midshipman. 674 The Wizard Sailor; or, Red Ralph, the Rover, 679 The Sen Shadower; or, The Freebooter’s Legacy. 686 Orlando, the Ocean Free Flag; or, Tue Tarnished Name, 692 The Rival Sharps; or, Redfern, the Secret Service Scout, 697 The Scarlet Sombrero; or, The Sharp from Texas. 702 Blue Jacket BAN or, The Red Hat Rangers’ Red Hot Racket. 70? The Red Sombrero Rangers; or, Redfern’s Last Trail 718 Carl, the Mad Cowboy; or, The Lariat Queen. 719 Pawnee Bill’s Pledge; or, The Cowboy Kidnapper. 725 Daring Diek, Pawnes Bill's Pard; or, Thé Red Cayalry Raid, BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm. F. Cody). 8 Kanans King; or, The Rod Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie, 65 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Seout. 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Faney Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’ Trast, LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 729 Silverblade, the Half-Blood; or, The Border Beagle at Bay, By Jos, E. Badger, Jr. 780 Violet Vane'’s Verdict; or, The Crooked Game at Coffim City. By Wm. G. Patten. 281 Ruth Redmond, the Girl Shadower; or, The Rivals in Buckskin, By Col, Prentiss Ingraham, 282 Daisy Dell, the Pavement Detective; or, Trapping Big Game. By T. C, Harbaugh. 288 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector; or, Unearthing the Cavern League, By Lieut. A. K. Sims, 784 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Deals or, The All- Around Surprise. By Edward L. Wheeler. Ready August 13, 786 Broadway Billy's Business; or, Waking Up Wind Can- yon Camp. By |. C, Cowdrick. Ready August 26. %86 Larry, the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Side, By George C. Jenks, Ready September 1. A New Iasue Every Tucsday. The Half- Dime Library {5 for sale by all newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York,