Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 738) (1891 09 15)
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z= eae SE I). NY Ee J ALR FT PAE _ = — a —— ren a — a The Mysterious Disappearance at Manitou Springs. A ROMANCE OF COLORADO. AD ‘| a Wy aif iil | | ty i) | I} BY J. C. COWDRICK, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ BROADWAY BILLY ” NOVELS, ETC. CHAPTER I. SKINNY’S TIGHT SQUEEZE, \\ ; =f } = = ‘““SWEETPERTATERS! Ha, ha, ha! A stuffed \\\ \¥ —— )| || | toad in tights! Skinny, you are the prize freak .\ = =——14 = and that’s the fact. Ha, ha, ha!” f Broadway Billy, Skinny, his partner, and == - their old friend, Roger the Rover. —— i = .— f ———— . jp It was on the afternoon of a perfect summer BILLY HAD A WEAPON IN EACH HAND TO KEEP ORDER IN THE VILLAINOUS LINE— , «day, and the trio had halted on a plateau above PREITY ORA WALKING JOYOUSLY AT HIS SIDE, een “ LE
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es ‘ evs ae a Broadway Billy’s Curious Case. with Skinny, as he had declared, it was no ‘“*Wecan’ttell, She went out for a ride, late in | one,” BS laughing matter. He could hardly draw a full | the afternoon, and hasn’t been seen since,” * All right, Skinny, I won't.” oie : breath so close was the pressure, ““That’s passin’ strange, I allow,” Roger re- ** Honest, now?” ie ; * Ain’t you sorry you started to get fat?” ask- | marked, thoughtfully, ‘“* Honest Injun, every time. Selah!” ae ed Billy. ‘*Now if you hadremained thin, like “Tt is getting to be more than that,” averred “All right, then I’li go. Roger, you heard tke avalley. Down in the valley lay a railroad, and not far away was a village. They had passed Pike’s Peak, though as yet hardly from under its shadow, and were on the last stretch of their journey to Denver. It had been ‘‘ overland” all the way from Santa Fe— “overland” as distinguished from railroad travel. Billy and the old ranger were enjoying a hearty laugh at Skinny’s expense, Skinny, by the way, was ‘‘skinny ” no longer, He had rounded out until be was now plainly heavier than Billy! Aud it was a remarkable That much done, the old ranger and Billy tried to peel tbe close-fitting garments from Skinny’s arms and legs, Butit was no use;it could not be done, Billy laughed till he was almost too weak to pull, and as Skinny could not brace himself to resist the strain anyhow, some other means had to be resurted to, **Reckon I'll have ter cut it off,” remarked the old ranger, ‘**T don’t care if you do,” declared Skinny. “Get it off somehow, that’s all I ask now.” ‘* Yes, skin him, Rover,” urged Billy. ‘* That's He'll look nice soon, I should think. If you see any youm woman, don’t fail to inquire.” B ‘*' We won’t,” Billy promised. And then the three horsemen went on. ‘*Seems sort of queer, don’t it?” Billy observe ed, when they had gone, ‘* Some accident must bave bappened to the young woman. But, Skinny, that don’t help you any, does it? “Not a bit,” Skinny growled. ‘‘ Peel the rest of this confounded skin off o’ me, Roger, and then one of you will have to go and get mea new rig, down there at the camp.” And come clear back up here with it?” questioned Billy. ‘Sa-ay, my gay an’ festive change. No one would have taken him to be | the only way to do it, I guess, a the same person. Skinny, as he had been, was | goiag into Denver.” spindleshanks—I mean mountain of flesh, that al gone—gone forever, and in bis stead was this ** But I tell you I’m not going into Denver, or | is rather rough on us, don’t you think so? Be fat youth! What a transmogrification! anywhere else, this way,” the ‘‘ lean” lieutenant | What's the matter with your going down with . But, the cause of the mirth? insistel. us?” Ss It will be remembered that, before setting out ‘*Then what will you do?” Billy demanded to ‘* What! the way I am?” oh from the scene of their last recorded adventures, | know. “Exactly.” x it had been necessary for Skinny to supply him- ‘Pll stay here in the hills till you go and get ‘It wouldn’t do it! I wouldn’t do it, Billy, not ™ self with new clothes, He had been taking on | me asuit, that’s what,” was the emphatic deci- | if—” 9 flesh so rapidly, since his sickness, that the old | sion. “Oh, pshaw! You seem to grow miodest as | ones would no longer fit, and a change was im- The ranger hadset at work with his knife, and | you grow bigger. You'll die of it, if you don’t aa perative, Skinny was about half ‘‘skinned,” when the | look out, I remember the time you walked the oe. But, the supply at Wind Canyon Camp had | horses neighed, and, a moment latter, boof- | streets of San Francisco dressed in a crazy quilt, es been limited, and the only sort to be had wasa | strokes were heard, and now you object to entering this modest ar. suit of buckskin—so-called, and with that the “Give mea blanket!” cried Skinny. ‘ Give | little camp in a blanket, But, then you are ‘s fastidious Skinny was forced to be content until | mea blanket, quick! Somebody is coming !” visible now, and of course that makes a differ- ee he could reach a larger base of supplies. Billy sprung to obey, but before he could get | ence,” earn ‘ a \ Now, however, something had happened. tne blanket unbuckled from bebind the saddle P A little bi si nc gg the them of our a satan cut ae horsemen were at hand. , CHAPTER II, ier * story there bad been a shower, and the travel- ‘be three friends had stopped on something o . = aes | 2, ers all had got pretty thoroughly soaked. a plateau, as stated, shoves railroad, and these AN UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY. ce They had little minded that, at the time, but | horsemen had come from the direction of the BrLuy’s remark caused the old ranger to _ in the drying that: followed it was discovered | mentioned village, At sight of the party on the smile, while Skinny looked at his partner with i, that Skinny’s “buckskin” suit was sbrinking, | plateau they drew rein sharply, and one de- something of an injured air, a and finally it was becoming far too tight for | manded: **T was in hopes,” he observed, “that if I ie comfort! ‘* Who are you, strangers?” ever did get fat, Billy, you would let up on your a ’ At last Skinny had drawn rein, declaring he ‘Guess you have hit it right,” responded | eternal harping about my thinness, but it seems eae could gc nc further, and vowing that he would | Billy. you can’t, When do you think you can give me a ge nc further until he found relief, ‘* What do you say?” a rest?” a Billy had been teasing him not a little, and at ** You said—who are you, strangers; and I *‘ Bless your honest littlh—I mean your honest, ie this point he broke out with the words quoted, say, that’s it, Weare strangers, I guess,” big fat heart, Skinny, who is saying a word “Oh, you can laugh,” snapped Skinny, ‘ but ‘*Oh! I know that. But where do you hail | about your being thin? I’m sure I didn’t, and I i it is nc laughing matter for me.” from?” | leave it to Rover if I did. I was merely sayin’ bet “Yd ruther opine not, my son,” remarked the ‘* We're latterly from down the range,” spoke | that you are visible now. Should think you . old ranger, ‘‘ You look to be in somethin’ of a | up the old ranger, would take it as a compliment,” og fix, an’ that’s the truth.” . Skinny had made haste to get behind his horse ‘* Compliment your grandmother!” ‘om ‘* The Sa a fix he was ever in,” declared | and out of sight, but could not hide himself com- ‘*As for giving you a rest—well, you came » ae Billy. ‘‘Why, that suit fits you tighter than | pletely. mighty close to taking a long rest, Skinny, and aes your own skin, little one, Best fit you ever had in your life, if you did have fits when you was a goslin of three years’ growth,” ** It fits just so tight that something has got to be done, and no fooling,” cried Skinny. ‘ You will have to cut it off from me, if nothing else will do.” ** Can’t you unbutton it?’ asked Billy, ‘* Not a button,” It was true. The material had shrunk wonder- fully, and Skinny was filling it as full asa peach filis its skin, ‘* We'll have to cut the buttons off, I reckon,” decided the ranger. ‘‘ Kin ye git down off yer hoss, my son?” “Tt don’t believe I can,” Skinny responded. **T don’t believe I can move.” ‘*Then we'll have to help you down. Lend a hand, Billy!” | Billy dismounted, and together they lifted Skinny out of the saddle and to the ground. And then Billy went off into another fit of laughter at sight of him. Billy had well de- scribed him in calling him a “ stuffed toad.” Old Roger laughed too—could not help it; but you were, this suit might shrink all it could and yet you would have lots of room in it, I tell you, Skinny, there are advantages in being thin, after all, ou never can—” ‘* Oh, dry up!” Skinny exclaimed impatiently. “Tf you are going to do anything for me, do it, for I can’t stand this,” **'You won’t have to stand it long,” Billy Of these new-comers, the spokesman was a man of good presence and quick, abrupt ad- dress, He was dark, and was clad in a business suit of dark cloth. His companions had the appearance of miners, ‘** And how long have you been here?” ‘*Not more than a quarter of an hour. We stopped to help my thin partner here let out his laces,” assured the New York representative, ap Billy jerked his thumb in the direction of kinny, The man was evidently puzzled to understand what was meant. ** We was caught in ther rain, yer see,” ex- plained the old ranger, ‘‘ an’ as ther youngster’s wash-leather sort 0’ closed up on him, we had ter stop an’ skin him, as it war.” t this they all laughed, but the spokesman was soon serious again, ‘““We are out in search of a young woman who has been missing from Manitou since last night. Haven’t seen anything of her, have ou? ‘* Not a sign,” responded Billy. ‘* Lost in the hills?” queried the old ranger. the stranger. “She knew all the trails around Manitou, and I don’t see how she could get lost. It is highly mysterious,” ‘* Has the horse been seen since?” asked Billy. “No; it has not come back, If it had, we re think there had been an accident of some ind, ‘** But, couldn’t ther track of ther critter be only for me and old Rover here I guess you would be sleeping under the sod to-day. Give you arest, Skinny? Not while we can keep you with us we won’t, so don’t ask us. But, to get back to the start; you are using us rather rough, after all we have done for you.” ‘“T know, Billy; but how would you like to go down there with no clothes on you? It isn’t pleasant, I can tell you,” ‘No, I suppose it isn’t, Skinny; but then, you can wrap yourself all up in the blanket.” ‘“* And the minute we get there you will begin to make fun of me,” seo Skinny, how can you think so mean of me ‘*T know you only too well.” “Well, Skinny, I'll tell you what I'll do; if you'll go down with us, in a blanket, and so save us the trouble of coming back here, | promise you that I won’t say one word about your thin-' ness,” ‘* But, you'll switch off and pretend that Iam an elephant in size, the same as you have been doing lately. That will be as bad as the other. I just don’t want you to say a word about either bargain.” **T did, my son.” “ And if be breaks it I want you to help me give bim a lickin’, that’s all.” “You ought to be pretty near big enough to do that without any help, by this time, Skinny.” “*Now, there you go, a’ready!” “Tt wasn’t in the bargain that I was to begin 4 laughed, “‘ And there’s no use doing anything, | follered?” questioned the old ranger, ‘* Seems | to keep still till we got down to the town, Skin.” ‘4 j for if you leave it alone a little while it will do | ter me it mought a’ been, if any of ye knowed ‘You won’t keep still then,” a Md itself, Something will have to bu’st pretty soon, | how.” “Oh, yes I will, Let me have free rein all 3 og Skinoy.” ‘* Yes, it was followed, and was plainly seen | the way down, and when we enter the camp I'll 9 a Roger Watts had now got his knife ready, | for a time, but there came a rain that washed it | close up like a clam, and you won’t hear fat or as a and applied its keen edge to the threads that | out before it could be taken up this morning.” lean out of me once. We must be moving.” 4 By held a button. “*T seu, Waal, it are sort o’ queer, I allow. While this was going on, Billy bad been un- Bi, a Instantly there was a little “ bop! as the | Who wasthe gal?” folding a blanket, and now handing it to & m button flew off, and Skinny’s form filled out the ‘Her name is Ora Bridgefield, and the family | Skinny, that young gentleman put it about his ee: 7 extra room immediatoly, Then another and | are summering at Manitou. It is driving the | fat form. y * another followed, till all the connecting buttons | girl's mother almost crazy.” ‘* There!” cried Billy. ‘‘ How much better do vi ae had been removed. _ “ Should think it would,” echoed Billy. ‘‘ Hope | you want than that?” 7. 4 This gave some relief, The suit was now | you'll find her soon, .fe and sound.” “Tt sartainly covers ye, my son,” assured “iN 3 wide apart in front, and could not have been| ‘So do I. There area hundred out hunting | Rover. brought together again by any means, for her, and something ought to be hear of her, ““T suppose it will have to do ae can get
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better,” Skinny unwillingly admitted. ‘* I sha’n’t freeze in it, that’s sure.” “No, I opine not, sech a day as this,” agreed Rover. An’ now, my sons,” he added, ‘‘ I have a thought which I will lay before ye fer action as it were, Are ye ready fer the question?” ‘Yes, let ’er slide,” cried Billy. “Tt is this heur: It looks terme ter be a shorter cut to ther town down thar through this sort o’ gully heur on our right, than what it be ter foller on ’round ther trail. Thar ain’t much of a path, but it looks ter be plain sailin’. I am in favor of goin’ this way.” ‘© And so am I!” Skinny affirmed. ‘* We cer- tainly won’t meet any one this way, an’ [ don’t want to see anybody till I get clothes on,” **1’m willin’,” assented Billy. ‘‘ What is good enough for the majority is generally good enough for me, and I’m not kicking, Lead the way, Rover, and we'll be right along with you.” * All right; mount your critters, my sons, and we'll amble,” Skinny was helped into the saddle, his blanket being too cumbersome for him to mount without help, and when Billy had vaulted into his saddle they set out. Roger the Rover led the way, turning aside from the main trail and descending into the wooded gully he had mentioned, which had the appearance of leading more directly to the village. For some distance it was qnite steep and rough, but finally the slope was ofa more favorable nature, and the footing better. They were now upon a grassy terrace, so to call it, under the shadow of a gigantic wall of rock, and over them and all around was the cool, grateful wood. It was an inviting spot. Skinny, with his bare legs gleaming as they hung from under the blanket, took off his hat and offered a remark to the effect that he would like to stay right there all day. Bully, however, suggested that he would probably get hungry, whieh brought Skinny to realize that he was hungry. And forthwith, he fished up a piece of dried meat from a saddle pocket and began to munch at it as they rode on. They were still going down, down under the shadow of the rocky wall and into the deep shades of the wood, when presently they were brought to an abrupt halt by an ejaculation of surprise from the old ranger, who was walking ahead as a sort of path-finder for the occasion. “Smoke o’ Gittysburg!” he cried out. “What is it, Rover?” asked Billy, reining up short. “You jest come on heur an’ see,” was the response, in excited tone. illy and Skinny thereupon rode forward to learn what discovery had been made. Some bowlders and fragments of rock had obstructed their view, but in a moment these were passed, and they saw what it was that had occasioned the old ranger the exclamation of surprise. At his feet lay a dead horse, with saddle and bridle on the carcass, ** What do you make of it?” asked Billy. For answer, the old man pointed silently to the saddle, “Sweet pertaters!” Billy exclaimed. ‘It’sa woman’s side-saddle!” “That’s jest what it are, my son,” the old ranger affirmed, ‘Yer is quick to see ther pint. “Then you think it’s the horse that young woman rode—the one that’s missing—the one the man told us about? Maybe you’re right!” **T believe that’s jest it, my son.” ** But, how came it here?” asked Skinny. The old ranger pointed up toward the top of the sheer wall.. ** Fell down there!” Skinny exclaimed. * Ondoubtedly, my son, Thar’s no tracks ‘round heur, but up ther’ is some broken bushes. An’ ther way ther critter lays is proof enough.” “You're right,” admitted Billy, ‘But, if this ts the girl’s horse, where is she ? That's the question that is humming in the public think- box just now. Pards, there’s a mystery here, ifdbat gal has disappeared, as the man said.” _ ** It puzzles me I allow,” the old ranger mused. **Tf she fell with the critter, she’d orter be heur, fer it’s a fall that would mean sartair death, J don’t onderstand it, nohow. What is your think _ about it, my son?” “*T don’t know what to think,” answered Billy, “Don’t yer think it looks iike ugly business— foul play?” *©Do you think so?” “Yes, I do, fer a certainty.” es aa sort of foul play do you think it has _ “Ha! there ye bas got me, my son. I don’t Broadway Billy’s Curious Case. p’tend ter know, nor yet even to offer a ’spect~ able guess; but, I don’t b’lieve a fine critter like this one ever fell over thar of its own will—not a bit ov it!” ‘** And you don’t think the rider fell with the horse, eh?” **Can’t, my son, can’t think so. If she had, she’d been killed; that’s all there is of it, an’ as she ain’t here that settles that,” ‘‘ Here’s another p’izen diffixilty that wants to be straightened out, Skinny, sure’s you’re born,” cried Billy. ‘‘ Here’s a chance for us to get in our fine work once more as the matchless detec- tives from the Orient,” * Right, my son, I believe you are!” the old ranger excitedly urged. ‘I'd like ter know the truth of this business; my heart is right in it an’ bekase a young girl is the sufferer.” ** But, we’ve got no time to stop and monkey with it, that’s sure,” put in Skinny. ‘We want to move on toward Denver,” ‘*T don’t know how it is going to be, Skinny,” added Billy, thoughtfully, ‘I feel the fever coming on, and if it gets to raging you know what the result will be. There will be no hold- ing me.” “* Maybe some of Roger’s weed will be good for that kind of fever as well as for the kind I had. You had better let him mix you up a gallon or two, and take it without delay. You don’t want to go poking your nose into this mat- ter, and you may regret it if you do, as thar’s a hundred people already on it and you hav’nt been asked for your invaluable services,” ‘Wet blanket again, eh, Skinny? But it won’t do any good, I feel that fever creeping through my veins more and more every second, and I’m afraid it will have torun its course, Skinny, I don’t see how I can go on, and not know the secret of this dead horse and lost gal mystery. It would be a blank page in my history, and one that would worry me into an early grave.” ** And I'd sartainly like to know more about it myself,” supported the Rover, ‘** Yes; and maybe poke your nose into a nest of vipers and get stung to death for your pains. We'd better go right on to Denver, and attend to our own business and not monkey with what don’t concern us.” ‘*And leave the fair heroine to the tender merey of her foes?’ cried Billy, ina dramatic way. ‘*Never! Sink or swim, live or die, sur- vive or perish, give me liberty or give me death, and more of it;—I’m going to try to get at the facts in this case, my gay an’ festive little—big, I mean—pard!” ‘Phen you'll have to go it alone.” *“Not so, You and Roger are going to help me, We’re going to take hold of this case and jerk the fuzz right off the tail of the beast, you bet. If thisis the horse of that missing girl, don’t ye see We are the finders of the first clew to the mystery, and we’re going to work it for all it’s worth, What do you say to that lay-out, Rover, my venerable Ajax?” ‘*l’m with ye, my son, with my gun loaded fer bar. If this heur is ther critter of ther missing young woman, we are on ther trail, that’s sartain. ‘ Let’s take a closter look around, an’ see what’s ter be seen.” CHAPTER ITI, ROUGH ON SKINNY, SKINNY was thus made the cff horse in the team of three. He had either to cast his vote with the majority, or be counted out, But we know Skinny pretty well by this time. While he was ever ready to dissuade Billy from meddling with cases of this sort, he was gener- ally as ready to lend aid when he found it use- less tu Oppose, ‘Well, if both of you are against me,” he re- marked, ‘‘ I suppose it won’t look polite for me to stay out, so [’m with you. You have done the fair thing by me, lately, and I can’t hold back when there’s danger to be faced, I’m with you, and we will see what is to be found out.” _““Nobly spoken!” exclaimed Billy, clapping his hands in applause, ‘‘ You are a brave and noble youth, Skinny, pard, and I’m proud of you! Your personal danger will be greater than ever before, yet you do not hold back on that account. You are a partner to be proud of, Skinny.” ‘You say a danger will be greater?” repeat- ed the ‘*lean” lieutenant, wonderingly. ‘Yes; greater than ever before,” Billy in- sisted, **T don’t see how that can be.” “It is plain enough. You weigh as much again as you used to, and of course there is more of you. When you were thin the per- centage of chances of your being hit by a stray bullet was small indeed, but row that you are so. muck bigger—” ‘Oh, you shut up, and let’s see what Rover is finding.” Billy laughed, and they turned their attention to the horse, which the old ranger was examin- ing. ¢ ** Well, what do you make of it?” Billy asked, ‘Some things is plain enough,” was the re-; sponse, ** Dead hoss, f’rinstance,” suggested Skinny. Billy looked at him reprovingly. ‘Skinny, you should take care,” he cautioned. “There is danger of a relapse, if you are too careless, Your brain won’t stand such severe drains as that. You must not doitagain, This ain’t Wall street, ye know, fer puts an’ calls,” **-Yes; that’s one of ther plainest facts,” the Rover assumed. ‘* Ther critter is dead enough beyond all question, But heur’s ther rest of ther items that I sift out at first scoutin’ around, Ther critter was rode by a woman,” “‘ The saddle proves that.” ‘*Sartainly, No man in his right mind would Fit up onto one of them things ter ride a hoss, hen, ther next item, ther hoss hasn’t been dead more’n twenty-four hours at ther most. Thatis a straw in ther direction of ther clusion thet it maybe was the critter rode by ther missin’ gal,” “Struck oil again, Rover!” exclaimed Billy. ‘*- You are a detective, sure. I guess I'll take off my hat to you aud let you take command of our company.’ “Bon t be too fast about doin’ that,” the old man made response. ‘ I am about at ther eend of my string now, an’ 1’ll turn ther bull business over ter you. I merely want ter mention jest one more item that these heur old eyes of mine lights upon as I gaze around, an’ that are this: Ther critter was pushed over from ther ledge up thar, an’ that by main force, too.” ‘*How do you know that?’ demanded Billy, wonderingly. ‘Plain enough, my son. Jest step this side an’ cast your optic heur.” Billy and Skinny both stepped around to that side of the dead animal, and looked where the old man was pointing, There, on the side of the dead horse, was the bloody imprint of a man’s hand, wbere it had evidently been placed with force, the fingers be- ing imprinted wide apart and distinct. “Sweet pertaters!’ ejaculated Billy, at the sight, ‘‘ there’s a mystery here as big as a house and barn together, and [ know it, My fever is away up now, Skinny, and there’s no stopping it. We have got to know more about this curi- ous case,” ‘*T agree with you, my son,” rejoined the old ranger, eagerly. ‘‘I am like you to a sartain extent in that respeck. When I strike a curious trail I allus want ter know what manner o’ crit- ter has been along that way, an’ I most gen’ly find out, too, afore 1 drop it,” “Tvs just. that way, here,” returned Billy. ‘* Here is blood, and we want to know all about that blood. We must know where it came from, that’s all, Was the girl murdered, think you, Roger? Give us your prognostic.” ‘*Hard ter tell. Somebody was burt, that’s sartain. Blood don’t flow onless there’s a bleed- hole made first.” “T guess you're right,” Billy coincided, “But, we won't find out anything by standiag here,” remarked Skinny. ‘‘ Let’s be on our way to the town. I want some clothes, whether the mystery is ever solved or not. (’m no Indian, to go about togged out in a blanket,” : af Skinny. f doff my hat to you,” cried Billy, taking off his head covering and putting it under bis arm, at the same time making a bow. ** Jewels of wisdom are continually dropping from your lips. If we don’t go on wo won’t get there, that’s certain. Let’s go on, Roger, by all means,” “Yes, my son, sartainly; but what about these trappin’s?” . ‘* Better leave them right here, hadn’t we?” suggested Billy. ‘*T thought mebby you’d want to take ther saddle an’ bridle along with ye to ther camp, as proof of our story.” _ “T looked at itin just the other light,” Billy argued. ‘I thought we'd better keep still until we had had time to look around a hittle on the quiet, If we carry the saddle to town we will have to tell our story at sight, and that may be the very means that will knock us out of learn- ing the truth.” ; ‘You are right, my son, you are right, I never thought of it in that light. We will leave it right beur.” ‘“* But, we must take note of everything about g
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4 Broadway Billy’s Curious Case. & it, so’s we can describe it to a dot,” assumed Skinny. ‘*More words of wisdom,” “Skinny your brain keeps pace with your body. Well take a careful inventory of every- thing. Roger, you just see how many ears the beast has, will you?” ‘*Say, do you want me to kick a hole in you?” cried Skinny, in evident anger. ‘*Sweet pertaters! No!” Billy hastily de- murred. fs Well, then, don’t be so funny over what I assented Billy. say.” But, it was all in fun, of course, and the trio fell to making mental memoranda of the dead horse and its trappings. It was soon done, and as they turned away, Billy said: ‘“*T guess we can give a pretty straight de- scription of that animal, if it is necessary or convenient to do so. And now, Rover, my veteran, it will fall to you to remember the lace, so that you can lead us back to it again if necessary.” ** And I can do that with ease,” the old ranger assured, ‘‘I haven’t tramped all these years for nothing. Ill remember the spot all right, never fear.” ‘Then, Skinny, we’ll boost you into the saddle and be on our way. We have business on hand now,’ They resumed their way, the ranger leading as before, on foot. Following the dry bed of what had once per- haps been a stream, a walk of some forty min- utes brought them out into the valley, and the village was before them not a great distance away. It had been down hill all the way from the int where they had left the plateau, and now ooking back they could see the plateau, and also that the main trail was considerably longer than the way by which they had come, They rode forward across the grassy flat, crossed the railroad, and pretty soon struck jnto a road on the other side leading into the set- tlement. Skinny now drew his bare legs up under the blanket as far as be could, and drew it tighter about him, “It’s rather rough on you, to have to go into town in this style, Skinny,” Billy re- marked. He could not help smiling, for Skinny did present a ridiculous appearance, ‘*T wish it was you,” was Skinny’s response, be then you would know how nice it is, 1 don’t want any of your fooling now, Billy, about my being lean or fat, and I want clothes just as soon as we can get them,” **- You have my word for it,” Billy reminded. **'You will not hear lean or fat from my lips, and we'll fix you out as soon as we can. Brace up, now, my pletboric pard, and ride into town with dignity becoming your station in life. You must bear in mind that folks can see you now.” They rode on, with Roger walking beside Billy, and ere long entered the village. It was a small place, of modern fashion, and not unlike any eastern town so far as immediate peeeereee were concerned, here was the railroad station, a number of houses, a store, a small church and other build- ings. lt might have been a model village trans- planted from anywhere in New England. To the store the trio directed their steps, and Billy there dismounted and entered. In a moment he came cut, and smilingly an- nounced: “It's all right, Skinny; fhey can fit you out here. Mind, now, and don’t let the boys see your stockings when we lift you down.” “Don’t have so much to say with your tongue,” Skinny snapped, as he prepared to dis- mount, ‘Help me down and let me get out of sight as soonasIcan, I don’t want to be made a show of.” Billy and the old ranger laughed, while they helped bim down, and as soon as his feet touched the ground Skinny ran for the store. Billy was grinning from ear to ear, as though sometbing tickled him wonderfully, and he nudged the ranger. The reins had been thrown over convenient posts, and they now followed Skinny into the store. Across the street was the hotel, with a number of loungers in front, and only a short distance away the railroad station, and Skinny was eager to get out of sight as speedily as ible. p the two steps he leaped, his bare legs flash- ing at every stride, and as he reached the door he threw all restraint and plunged into the CARAT, MS 8 aE PE i aro Pie os eta MESO eae | welcome hiding-place, his blanket flowing with innocent and charming negligee. But he was no sooner in than a series of screams greeted his ears, and he found that he had run almost into the midst of a bevy of young ladies who were standing ata counter, and with a startled groan he clutched his blan- ket and drew it about him. Billy and the old ranger, just at the door, could not repress their laughter, while the proprietor of the store looked on amazed, Billy bad played Skinny rather a rough joke, and Skinny, looking daggers at his impressible pard, dodged out of sight, while the young ladies, over their first shock, were giggling, over the comical ocurrence, CHAPTER IV. A NEW ACTOR APPEARS, THE proprietor of the store was a Dutchman. He stood with bands uplifted, at loss at first to know what to say or do. Dignity would not allow him to laugh, as he wanted to do, so with an effort he put on the most borrible expression be could summon, “Wat you means by coming into mine store in sooch disgraceful style as dot?’ he demanded, severely. ‘* Dot vas von nice fashion to come into the bresence of ladies mit, now vasn’t id?” ** Keep cool, Dutchy !” pag at Billy, ‘‘and don’t get excited about it. ou know I asked you if you had any men’s clothing for sale, and when you said you had, I told you I had a pard who was badly in need of some; and then you told me to bring him right in. Isn’t that cor- rect?” ** Yaw, dot vas so; but—” “There isn’t room for any but in the mat- ter,” Billy persisted, ‘‘ You told me to bring him right in, and I did so, and you can’t blame anybody but yourself. But, bless you, isn’t he rigged out in a blanket so that you can’t see much of him but his ears? What are you kick- ing about? I guess the ladies have got over their scare; eh, girls?” ‘* We'll get over the shock, I guese,” one of the girls made bold to respond, ‘*fO course you will!” declared Billy, with all confidence, ‘‘ I remember the first time I kissed my sweetheart—I haven’t got any now, you understand; she went off and married another fellow after I had fattened her on ice cream for a whole season. I remember the first time I kissed her. She made a terrible fuss abont it, got right e on her dignity and dared me to do itagain, Il didit again, promptly. I wouldn’t be bantered, you see, Then she got real mad, and dared me todo it only just once more and she’d tell her pa. Idid it again; and by that time she was beginning to see how nice it was, and she didn’t make any more fuss,” The storekeeper grinned from ear to ear, and the girls snickered and giggled among them- selves, while from behind some boxes and barrels Skinny was glaring at Billy with fire in his eye. '*Why didn’t you tell me there was ladies here?” he demanded. ‘‘I wouldn’t ’a’ come in here this way for anything.” * But, here you are,” laughed Billy, ‘‘ and the agony is over and no harm done, Goon and wait on the ladies, Dutchy, and when you get done with them you can see what you can do for my partner. Don’t hurry yourselves on our ac- count, girls, but go right on and buy your rib- bons and things, You mustn’t mind Skinny, and don’t cast your eyes bis way too often, for be is as bashful as can be, You can see that he is blushing like a red pepper. Take your time— Hello! what have we here?” é' There was a post-office in the store, and whil speaking, Billy had been looking around sharply. His eye had fallen upon something that de- manded further investigation, and it was that which caused him to exclaim. On one end of the store-counter was the cabi- net of post-boxes, and upon that was hung a printed notice of reward. Billy advanced to it quickly and read it aloud. It was worded as follows: “REWARD! ‘** & reward of two hundred dollars will be paid to any person who will furnish information that will lead to the discovery of the whereabouts of Miss Ora Bridgefield, who has been missing from Manitou Springs since late on the afternoon of the 20th in- stant. Any information, no matter how trifling, will be thankfully received and liberally paid for, Call on or address, ** PHARAOH BRIDGEFIELD Manitou Springs, Col.” Under this was a description of the young wo- man, as well as of the horse she had rida. The description of the horse tallied exactly with the dead one they had found. Beyond doubt they had stumbled upon a clew to the mystery ! As Billy finished reading this poster, the young women left the store, whereat the young peripatetic detective turned his attention to the wants of his partner. ‘* Now, Dutchy,” be said, ‘‘ let’s see what sort of rig you can fit this young gentleman out with. ‘Trot out the very best you have got, and gladden his eyes for once, e is tired of the style he is now wearing. Jt is too primitive to suit his taste. Come along, Skinny.” The proprietor led the way to the rear of the store, where the clothing was in stock, ** Now, led me see,” meditated the Dutchman, rubbing his fat chin, ‘*‘Maype [ have von suit vat will yust suit you, young mans. Id vas a regular wild West style. Id vasa chenuine puck- skin suit, mit—” ** No, you don’t!” protested Skinny. ** Wat vas dot you say?” asked the Dutchman. ‘“*T say I don’t want any more buckskin suite,” Skinny declared, “ I had one, and that’s what’s the matter with me now.” Billy explained, and the Dutchman laughed, He insisted that his was the real thing and would not shrink, but Skinny would have nothing more to do with buckskin, Finally fthe “lean” lieutenant was fitted out in a respectable manner, though not exactly to his liking, and the trio left the store, ‘* Wal, my son, whar to now?” inquired the old ranger, “T think we'll cast anchor right here,” an- swered Billy. ‘‘ Let’s go over and see what sort of a hotel this is.” **Do you mean to stay here to-night?” asked Skinny. “I think so, Alderman Skinny, but can’t say yet. Weare going into this mysterious Manitou case, you know,” Taking the bridles from over the post, the lads led their horses across to the hotel, where they secured them again in like manner and entered the establishment, It was a hotel of the usual type, although an improvement, of course, upon the usual hostelry of the mining-camps, Billy took it upon himself to attend to the business, and in a few moments they were booked and their horses were taken away to be cared for. That having been gotten through with, the trio took seats on the piazza to discuss the situation, with a view to determining what should be done concerning their discovery. Before they bad time for that, however, a rough-looking fellow came along and accosted them. He had come from the direction of the rail- road station near at hand, and it was plain that he had come with a purpose, **Sa-ay!” he saluted, as he stopped in front of the piazza and braced himself in a straddling fashion. He was not by any means an inviting speci- men. He looked like a played-out gambler, He had a long, drooping mustache, wore a broad hat, and his suit of black was gray and seedy with long wear. ‘* Well, say it,” Billy promptly invited, * Are you ther fellers what came up the road thar, a spell ago?” the man asked. ‘““We came that way,” Billy assured, ‘and I guess it was about a spell or a spell and a half ago.” ar Don’t you try to be funny with me, sonny,” the fellow warned, showing his teeth. ‘I am Pinon Pete, and them what knows me best is the most civil.” “Well, what is it you want to know? Any- thing we can do for you? Shall be happy to serve you, if it is anything in the way of honest sy ee ‘ Billy noticed that the man looked at him sharply at that, “What do you mean now?’ the man de- manded, “Just what I said,” Billy answered, “I couldn’t make it plainer if I tried a week.” “‘Then you mean to throw out ther hint that Pinon Pete does have doings that are not exact- ly honest, Is that it?” . ‘“‘T haven’t said anything of the kind.” “ But you might as well have said it, all the same.” “* And maybe I wovld have come close to the dot if Ih But, we are wasting our wind. What do you want with us?” ‘I’ve a notion to show you what I want with you,” was the angry snarl, ‘‘ You are too fresh with that tongue of yours. For a cent I'd step up there and pull your ear for you.” “1 wouldn’t want you to try it on, for % Dp
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aid own sake,” retorted Billy, smiling as he spoke, ‘* Why, confound your impudence! Do you mean to insult me, and then defy me in the bar- gain? Young feller, you don’t know me.” ‘*No; and, what’s more, I don’t want to,” Billy retorted, now with something of earnest- ness in bis tone. ‘‘If you don’t want anything, go on about your business,” The man looked at Billyin a puzzled way. Evidently the New York delegate was something new in his experience. ‘¢Tf it wasn’t for making myself tired,” he drawled, ‘‘I would step up there and teach you manners just for once in your life, any- how,” ‘© You bet it will make you tired, if you try it on,” Billy returned, fearlessly, ‘‘Now if you want anything, say so; if you don’t, then amble on. You are making us weary.” ‘** Pshaw! what am I thinking about? You are only a kid, and Pinon Pete can have no words with a kid. [ should be laughed atif I did. I was going to ask you what way you came when you came here, Did you come up the trail?” ** You would have saved lots of breath, if you had come right out with that in the first place,” returned Billy. ‘‘ No, we didn’t come up the trail very far, as-we only struck into ita little distance down. Wecame from across the other side of the flats there. Why, what do you want to know for?” Billy had noted that the fellow seemed to have to keen interest in tne matter. CHAPTER V. BILLY’S MUSCLE TESTED. THE fellow took a good survey of the trio he- fore replying. ** You might have found that out long ago, if you had had less tongue,” he soon rejoined, ‘Seeing that I am only a kid, you must allow for that,” said Billy. ‘‘ But, [ have answered your question, and if you don’t want to answer mine, amble along.” ‘* Blazes, boy, you tempt me to give your nose a twist! But, I mustn’t forget myself.” ‘*No, don’t. You won't forgery it, if you try that on, you bet.” The fellow gave a sniff of disgust, and dis- missed the point with a wave of the hand, ** What I was coming at,” he said, ‘‘ was this: Iam expecting a pard to meet me here, and he ought to have been here yesterday. You didn’t see anything of him, did you?” “That's hard to tell, responded Billy, **Of course, unless [ describe him. He looks something like me, You can tell by that whether you have met him or not.” Mr. Pinon Pete, it seemed, could drop his broad Western vernacular at will. ‘“We haven’t seen him,” declared Billy, promptly. ‘“* He was comin’ from that way, and I thought maybe youhad, Youdidn’t come down through ther gully, did you?” ** W here’s the gully?” asked Billy. ““Over there where you see that dark line of woods,” pointing. ** Why, there isn’t any trail through there, is there?’ Billy still questioned, ‘“ No; but I thought I saw you heading from that way.” ‘We did come across from about that direc- tion, I guess. But, don’t let us detain you, Mr. Pete,” * Dast you, young feller, but you will keep on till you tempt me too far! That’s as good as savin’ I’m to go on about my business,” ** An’ take keer that he don’t tempt ye too fur, stranger,” here put in the old guide. “It might be a surprise fur ye if ye was to ondertake ter tone him down, Yer don’t know him,” With another sniff, Mr. Pinon Pete went on his way, evidently in earnest in thinking it be- neath his dignity to get up a qaarrel with a beardless youth, Billy looked after him keenly, and shook his bead as he turned something over in mind, “There’s something baek of this,” he mut- tered, ‘* Yer think so?” queried the old guide. ‘*T do, and that’s the fact, He don’t ask us questions for nothing.” ‘* What do you suspect?” asked Skinny. **T don’t know. A thought has hit me hard in the place where I live, though,” ** And what is it?” ‘*T believe that fellow wanted to know whether we came down through that gully or not. What was his reason for it? Has he gotsome secret in there that he don’t want discovered?” Broadway Billy’s Curious Case, _ “Great ginger! You don’t think he had a hand in pushing that horse over in the hole, do you?” demanded Skinny, ‘‘ or that, maybe, he is the one who has made away with the young woman?” “* But,” struck in the old ranger, ‘tI can’t agree with ye on that ground, my sons. If he was guilty of havin’ a hand in it, wouldn’t he be likely to keep very still about is and say nothin’? It pears to me so, anyhow. But, it does Jook queer.” ‘*That is a failin’ that all rascals have,” averred Billy. ‘*The man who bas done a crime is his own detective, in seven cases out of ten, Give him lots of rope, and he’ll be bound ter hang himself. Now, there may be nothin’ in this, and there may be a good deal in it, It is our business to keep an eye on Mr. Pinon Pete,” ‘** And that’s what we’ll do,” concluded Skin- ny, with awakening interest. ‘‘‘There is every chance In the world that this ugly-looking cus- tomer is the very one who knows all about the case. He would never suspect us of being detectives, you know, and couldn’t see the harm in asking a simple question or two, to find out whether we had discovered the carcass of the horse,” “Bully for you!” exclaimed Billy, clapping his hand upon Skinny’s plump leg. ‘* Your brain is expanding as your body swells, There is notbing plainer than that Mr, Pinon Peter has been a sharper in his best days, and he didn’t come here with that question without some ob- ject in view. And even if it isn’t as we suspect, it will do no harm to watch him a little.” “T agree with ye, my son,” acquiesced the veteran, ‘* Well, let us drop this and turn back to the first chapter, as it were,” proposed Billy. ‘* Let us look at the case just as we were going to do before Mr, Peter put in his piper,” ** Lead off, then,” said Skinny, ‘Well, Pil do it, my gay and festive roly- poly. To begin with, there is a missing young lady who is conspicuous for ber goneness at Manitou Springs. Her dad, asI take the hon- orable Pharaoh to be, offers a reward for infor- mation concerning ber. We happen to have a clew, in the shape of a dead horse, and it hits me that it is our duty to go down into Egypt-—-I mean Manitou—and see old Pharaoh,” ‘¢ That’s about the proper thing to do, I should say,” admitted the lieutenant. ‘Don’t see any question of doubt about it, Skin. We have stumbled upon the find, and it is ours to sell, Wemay as well scoop in that little two hundred by the way as not, And, maybe, we will get into the thivg and work up ths case in fine style. Anyhow, it is worth the trying.” ‘*And when will we set out for Manitou? How far is it over there?” ‘* Tt ain’t more’n twenty or twenty-five miles,” spoke up fbe ranger. “ And I think we'll go there to-night, Skinny, you and me,” ‘‘ I have been running this matter through my think-box, and Ive about figured out a plan,” ‘Well, what is it?” “ We'll go down to Manitou by train, We'll leave our horses here, in the care of Roger, if he will stay—” ch aon as you say, my son,” the old man reed, ‘“ Well, then, you can stay here nominally to look out for the horses, but more particularly to look after Pinon Pete. I guess you understand Rover.” “‘T opine I do, my son, You want me to keep half an eye on the animiles, and about an eye and half on that p’izen critter. Icando that, you bet! And if thar’s ary a tooth out of his main cog, (ll find whar it’s missin’.” ‘Bully for you! I guess you'lldo, That is settled, then, ou and I are to go to Manitou, Skinny, leaving the Rover here. We will at- tend to that end of the combination while he looks after this end. And after we have seen old Pharaoh, Roger, we will send him to you if he wants to go where the horse is,” ‘* Pll be on hand, ’round the hotel heur,” “Settled then, Come on, and we’ll go over to the station and ask about the trains,” “Yes; but you don’t get me away from here till I have had my supper,” Skinny gave notice, **T am as hungry as though I hadn’t had a meal in a week,” “ All right, hungry one, we'll have supper be- fore we go, if it can be done iv time t> catch the train, If it can’t, you’ll have to fast till we get there, for we must hustle.” _* Well, come on, then, and we’ll see how much time we have got.” They rose and were about to descend the front steps, when they were suddenly confronted by about tho worst-looking specimen of humanity they had seen since their arrival, e was a fellow of homely visage, ragged, dirty-looking generally, He appeared to be about half-drunk, his watery eyes were pale with alcohol, and his tangle of hair and beard was seemingly saturated with it. But he wasa powerful man, or ought to have been, judging by his size, ‘* Hillo!” he hiccoughed, ‘‘ what has we heur?” “Only a couple of innocent tenderfooters,” explained Billy. ‘*Tenderfeet, hey? Waal, now, it does me eyes good ter look on sech. Saay, I wants yer ter come and treat me. What do yer say ter that?” 5 ‘*Can’t do it,” answered Billy. ‘‘Weare ina hurry.” * But, it won’t take ye long to stop half an hour, sonny, an’ you don’t know how r’ale dry I ” “Can't help it if you are as dry asa hot air pump, we can’t stop to treat you now, and I don’t, know that we would do it if we had all day.’ ** Yer don’t, hey?” ‘*'That’s it, precisely, hey!” ‘¢ We'll have ter see about that. When El Paso Mike asks a feller ter go up and ante, said feller ’most allus goes right up an’ does it,” ‘* But he won’t do it this time,” assured Billy. “We have something else on band besides treat- ing bummers like you to coffin nails, Get out of the way, now, or you'll get upset.” “Upset! Me? Haw, haw, haw! Why,sonny, er can’t never ’a’ heerd tell of Hl Paso Mike, ’m ther wu’st pea in ther pod, by long odds, I’m a bad man from over yan, and don’t ye for- get it. D’ye see that ’ar saloon down thar?” ** Yes, I see it.” ‘¢ Waal, yer bas got ter go right down thar an’ fill me up wi’ benzine. If yer don’t, thar is like- ly ter be a rumpus right heur an’ now. What do ye say to that? Now be keerful how ye say yer say, fer ’m a rousin’ terror, I tell ye. Um sich a snorter that they couldn’t find a place big enough ter name me after, so I jest took on ther name of ther county,” ‘* Have you bad your say?” and the New York representative looked the disgust he felt. ‘* Yas, that’s my say,” was the retort. ‘‘ Now you had better be keerful, sonny, better be keer- ful. ** And if you knows when you are well off,” supplemented the old ranger, ‘‘ you had better be keerful yerself, You'll swear you've been hit wi’ dynamite if ther lad goes off,’ The bum gave a snort of disdain. ‘“ Well, as you have had your say,” rejoined Billy, ‘‘ jest lend ear to my chirp, if you please, I’m not going to any saloon with you, and I’m not going to treat you. And now, if you are not ovt of the way in about ten seconds, I will turn you up and put your nose in the sand,” ‘*Haw, haw, haw! Why, you ding-dasted youny rattletrap, Pll take you up in one hand ? ’ But, he didn’t have opportunity for carrying out the threat he was going to make, Billy “went for” bim, caught hold, doubled him over avd had bim standing on his head before he knew it, And, not only that, but he rubbed bim around, mussed him up, wiped the road with him—to the amusement of all observers, and then with a parting kick allowed him to go. CHAPTER VI. PINON PETE’S PIPING, ‘“'TrHat’s the kind of a young rattletrap Jam!” Broadway Billy exclaimed at the finish. A roar of laughter went up from tho grou of observers, and Mr, El Paso Mike flounder around in the dust like a chicken with its head off, If so big, great and important that nothing short of the whole county bad been able to provide him with a name, he now had one—and that was ‘‘ Mud.” ‘Tf you want any more, come right up and take it,” Billy invited. “If you want to take me up, catch right on and begin. This may be your last chance, so don’t fail to improve the opportunity.” By this time the fellow was getting upon his feet again, With a wild snarl he reached for a weapon but before he could draw, Billy had the “‘ drop * on him, “*T am with you there, too,” Billy cried. “If you want any of that,] am in. AndIam as handy on the shoot asIam with my muscles, too. rey ae!
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SroMAvay Billy's Curious Case ee The fellow let go of his weapon, and turned away with a growl, * You have picked up a young tarrantler this time, El Paso, fer sure,” some one sung out, “Jest as I told him he would,” averred the old ranger. ‘That ’ar lad are a snortin’ terror when ye wake him up toit. He’s a bad piece o’ stuff ter monkey with, an’ I’m tellin’ ye.” ‘Maybe he won’t be so fresh another time,” muttered Billy, putting away his revolver. *“T ought to have served him a good deal worse.” He went on his way toward the station then, Skinny and the old ranger following—the bum- mer at the same time, and not sodrunk as he had at first pretended, making his way in the direction of the saloon, When he entered the place, he advanced straight to a table where Pinon Pete was seated, and in a tone of commingled anger and disgust, exclaimed: ** Jest look at me, will yer!” Pinon Pete glanced up quickly. ‘* What the dickens has happened ye?” he de- manded, in astonishment, ‘* What hashappened me? I’ve been mauled around by a cantankerous spiral spring o’ chain lightnin’, that’s what!” ‘* [should say ye had, by the looks of ye. Did the whole three of ’em pitch onto you and do you up like that? It was mighty rough on you, and I guess you have earned your five.” ‘* Harned my five? Dve earned a tenner if T’ve earned a cent.” ‘¢Then you polished the kid off in good shape, did you? That was right, and here’s your five— that’s what I agreed to pay you.” Mr, El Paso took the bill. ‘*T don’t know asI done much polishin’,” he remarked, ‘but Icarried out my part of ther *¢reement, so this hyar money is mine by right. T done most of my polisbin’ in ther road on my back.” ‘*What do you mean? What are you gittin’ at? Did they all jump onto you before you had time to punch the young rooster?” ‘*Waal, hardly, Fact is, that same young rooster done it all hisself.” “ What!” “Tt are a fact.” ** You don’t mean tosay that that boy whip- d you!” ‘* Mebby not jest that, but he was ther cause of my bein’ in ther state ye see, I don’t want no more medicine of that sort,” ‘* See here, Paso, tell me just what happened, without any more fooling around, Did that boy really do you upin this way, and all alone at that? I can’t believe it, [ swear I can’t.” **Can’t hardly believe it myself, Pete, but it’s ther fact jest ther same. I ’greed ter go and lick him fer five dollars. I went, and I opened on him in a way ter lead him inter a muss. I led him. But ther fu’st I knowed I was all mussed up myself,” ** And the others didn’t help him?’ ‘Not abit. Hedoneit all hisself. He nipped on like a flash, and ther next thing I knowed I was standin’ on my left ear. Then things went swimmin’ around fer a space 0’ half a minnit or so, till finally I got a lifter behind that sent me skatin’ off on ther pring of me nose, plowin’ up ther road as I went. tell ye that rooster is a terror.” Some fellows had followed the bummer into the room, and they were laughing at him as he made his humble confession, ** But why didn’t you shoot him?’ demanded ete. At that the new-comers laughed more hearty than ever. ‘Why didn’t I shoot him? Bless ye, I did try ter draw a popper ter give him a scare, but he had me covered afore I could get half-way thar. If you don’t think he is a snorter, go an’ try him yerself, that’s all,” ‘But, you haven’t earned that five,” Pinon Pete complained. He spoke in low tones so that others might not hear. Perhaps he did not want it known that he bad had anything to do with the fracas,” “*'d like ter know what’s ther reason If I didn’t,” retorted the used-up Mr. Ei Paso Mike. **T done what I greed ter do, an’ that was ter tackle him. I wouldn’t do it ergain fer a twenty, an’ that is gospel truth, every time.” “Well, keep it, but keep still about my giv- ing it to you. Where is the young Sullivan now?” ** He loped off in the direction of the station, him an’ bis pards. Don’t know whether they is goin’ off by train or not,” ** And you don’t care, either, eh?” **That’s about it. 1 have had all I want out i ES | of him, His caliber is too big fer my ammer- nition, yer see.” ‘*The old one said he was something on his muscle, but I didn’t take much stock in it. Pll walk over that way and find out about ’em, See that you say nothing.” These last remarks had been exchanged in low tones, Pinon Pete got up and passed out of the saloon any the crowd gave its attention to teasing El ‘aso, In the mean time Billy and his “ pards” had entered the station and had gained the infor- mation they desired concerning the trains, There was a train leaving about five o’clock that made connection at Colorado Springs for Manitou, and it was the last train of the day. ‘““And that’s the one we'll take, Skinny,” Billy decided, when they turned away with their information. ‘‘‘And there is just about tine enough for you to feed up, if you can find anything to eat.” ‘Pll find it, unless there is a famine in the place,” Skinny declared. ‘There may be one, after you have filled up,” Billy jokingly retorted. ‘‘ You are the greatest eater [eversaw. If you don’t choke off you are going to be as big as the Bowery Fat Woman before you know it.” ** Can’t help it, Billy, I am hungry, and have got to eat.” ‘‘Sweet pertaters! Skinny, it can’t be you, can it? To look at you now, and to think what you have been, almost makes me believe there must be a mistake somewhere, Ha, ha, ha! What a time there will be when we get home, if you continue to hold your own. You'll be a different looking chicken from what you were in the picture you sent home from Santa Fe.” Talking along that line, they made their way back to the hotel. As they came there they met Pinon Pete, on his way to the station, and he eyed Billy narrowly. The young waytarer from Gotbam met his gaze fearlessly, and the man evidently saw that be was not so boyish as he had at first taken him to be, ‘* But then, EK] Paso has soaked in rum so long that there is no strength left in him,” the fellow mused, when they had passed, ‘‘ It wouldn’t do for the lad to tackle a man like me.” When he reacted the station he went into the office and saluted the agent in a familiar way. ‘** Hello, Jimmie,” he cried. ** Same to you, Pinon,” was the agreeable re- sponse. ‘*- You seem to be taking life easy.” ‘*Same as yourself, Drop onto a chair and hold it down.” The rusty-looking sharp did so, and elevated his feet to a corner of the desk in front of him, ‘* Might as well take it easy as any other how, in a place like this. By the way, Jimmie, did you have two boys and a man in here a few minutes ago?” ‘“‘There were two young fellows, not exactly boys, and an old man in here only a little while ago, if you mean them,” ‘“*They’re the ones, no doubt. to tellin’ me what they wanted?” ‘* Why, no; they asked about trains to Mani- tou.” . Pinon Pete looked concerned. ‘To Manitou, eh?” ‘*Yes, Have ae got your eye on them?” ‘“That’s what [have, It strikes me that they are not as straight as they might be, and ’m going to look and see what they’re up to.” ‘“*T thought they looked like pretty decent sort of fellows, that keen-eyed one especially. By the way, I just heard he upset El Paso only a little while ago. Any truth in it?” “Lots of it, or seems to be, for I didn’t wit- ness it, Paso thought be could work him for a drink, I believe, but the lad pitched in and stood him on his head,, Paso looked as though he bad been wrestling with a cyclone.” ‘“*Ha, ha, ha! He must be on his muscle, But, what do you think is crooked about the part 7g ‘¢They ride mighty good horses, the lads, I mean,” ‘* Don’t think they stole ’em?” ‘Like as not.” ‘* Might be hard to prove.” ‘*Maybe it would. Did they say whether they was going to Manitou or not?” ‘‘- Yes; they are going to take the next train down.” ‘*Good enough. I'llhang around here and see them off, I guess, I feel sure they are working a game of some sort,” ‘* And if they are, you want to be in it, eh? Ha, ha! Well, you know what you are doing, Any objection I guess, and I know you have cut your toy teeth,” In like strain they chatted on, till it was near- ing train-time, when Pinon went out to the platform to watch for his suspects. What in- terest had he in them? Was it as Billy had surmised? Or was it as the fellow himself had told the agent? CHAPTER VII. SOME INTERESTING MOVES, In the mean time Broadway Billy had assisted Skinny to find something to eat, and the ex-thin partner had filled up. He was a good while doing it, and in fact was not quite done when Billy cut him off with the assertion that they had not a moment to spare if they wanted to catch the train, whereupon Skinny stopped, but with a lock of regret at the tem pting morsels yet on the board. ““T hate to give up,” be complained. “It’s the nearest thing to a square meal I have had in three days. I feel better than I did, though,” ‘* Sweet pertaters!” cried Billy. ‘‘ You want to leave them something for the regular supper, Skinny. You would eat everything in the house, if you had your way about it. Come along.” Billy had taken a little of the supper himself, hut his appetite was nothing as compared with Skinny’s. Roger the Rover went with them to the sta- tion, where they found Pinon Pete walking up and down the platform as though he in- tended taking the train when it came, and was in:patient, Billy stepped in and bought tickets, and when he came out, withdrew to the end of the plat- form to talk with his partners. Pinon Pete watched them narrowly, while he pretended not to be doing so, but he could not de- ceive Billy. The latter had his eyes about him, too, and with better success than the other fellow, Billy could watch without letting Pinon Pete know that he was doing so. ‘¢T tell you what it is, pards,” Billy observed, presently, ‘there is something in this matter, some way or other. If it’s not as we suspected, then it’s some other how. Dou’t turn your heads, but keep your eyes on me,” ** All right,” said Skinny, ‘‘ we'll Go that; but what have you got hold of now?” ‘Why, that Pinon Pete has his eye on us, for good or evil, and is watching us like a cat would watch a mouse.” ‘¢ All ther good it will do him,” put in the oJd ranger. ‘*’And he thinks he’s smart enough to watch us without our knowing it,” Billy added. ‘ He makes me tired.” In saying this, Billy was holding out the tickets he had bought and was pointing at them with his finger, as though making some remark concerning them. It was a deception that worked perfectly. ‘¢*1)1 keep my eye on bim a little when you are gone,” promised the old ranyer. ‘‘If thar’s any- thing crooked about him, you bet I'll be aweer of it. “Yes, watch him,” Billy advised. ‘‘ This end of thestring is yours, for the present, and you want to take care that it gets into no tangles that you can’t pick out with your wits.” of I shall do ther best I can, my son, be sure 0’ that, Ina few minutes more the train was at hand, and with a parting shake with their old friend, Billy and Skinny got aboard, Pinon Pete watched still, and evidently won- dered at the old man’s not accompanying them, But to him he gave little attention. His mind was centered upon the two young men, He watched them till the train started, but not once did he catch the eye of Broadway Billy, though he was watched in turn. ‘“‘Going to Manitou, are, they?” Pinon Pete muttered, when the train had gone, ‘I'd risk high on a weak hand to know what their busi- ness is, But, it won’t do to take any chances, I'll telegraph to Milo and put him onto it!” With that resolve, he stepped hastily into the telegraph office. : ‘“ What ther dern do you mean?” questioned the old ranger, under his breath. ‘ 1 opine PIL take a sly look an’ see, No sooner do ther train go, than this galoot slides inter ther telegraph office. If thar’s any monkeyin’ goin’ ter be done, don’t fergit ter count yer uncle in.” Roger the Rover, so saying, entered the wait- ing room and moved near the open ticket-win- dow. ‘‘T want to use the telegraph, Jimmie,” he heard Pinon Pete saying. a a SR —* —_—vvSPn— < ~~ ~~
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Broadway Billy’s Curious Case. *¢ All right, fill out your message and I'll rattle it off for you,” was the response. **T want to reach a fellow at Manitou before the train gets there! Can you promise to do that for me?” ‘¢Think I can, and safe enough, if the string don’t break,” * All right, I am going to use a cipher, so you want to take care that it is not misunderstood at the other end.” **Ob, Vl take care of that; but what do you know about ciphers?” ‘‘*Hal ha! Pinon Pete may know several things more than folks give him credit for, Jimmie, I happen to know this one thing, any- how. Don’t bother me, now, till I get it in shape.” ‘*No, I won’t, for I guess you will want to buckle your mind to it.” There was just a touch of sarcasm in that, The old ranger had taken it all in, and it in- terested him. ‘“Wants ter git a telegraff ter Manitou afore ther train gits thar, do he? I wonder what ther pizen is afoot, anyhow. Mister Peters, I ruther think ’ll have ter gauge my sight ter cover you an’ see what you’re up to,” Roger had ventured to take a peep in at the window. The agent and operator was attending to his various duties, and the seedy gambler was busily engaged writing at the message desk, Passengers and others were moving away from the station, and it was soon almost deserted. Some minutes passed, and then Pinon Pete’s voice was heard again. ‘*Here you heve it,” he said. ‘ The letters are plain enough for you, but of course you can’t make out the meaning. Send it as it is, and you'll have it all right. Can’t make a mistake,” ‘Tf you’re so afraid of it, maybe you had bet- ter send it yourself,” the agent recommended half in joke and half in irritation. ‘‘ Perhaps I might catch on to your deep cipher, and so get at your secret, What do you think about it?” *T can do that, too, if necessary,” was the quiet answer. ‘I spent six years at the key be- fore I drifted West.” ‘* The deuce you did!” **Fact, I have read your clickers here many a day when I’ve dropped in to see you in a friendly way.” “That beats my time. I never thought of such a thing, Why didn’t you tell me before?” ‘*T have found it a good secret to keep as long as possible, I wouldn’t have let itout now, only that you bantered me.” ‘Well, go ahead and send it yourself, and prove your claim. There’s your chance, now, while the wire is still. If you're telling the truth, you know the call.” ‘* Well, I suppose I’ll have to prove it to you, so here goes,” This talk had drawn the old ranger to the ticket-window, and seeing him, the agent in- quired what he wanted. : Pinon Pete glanced up quickly, and seeing who it was, a dark look came upon his face. Old Roger saw that he was in for it, but be was equal to the occasion. ‘* What is ther price ter Denver?” he inquired. He was promptly informed, ‘¢ An’ what time do ther train go?” he further questioned. The last one had gone, except a night-train, so he decided not to wait around for that. He turned away from the window, winking bis eye at animaginary ‘‘ partner,” to show how shrewdly he had got out of that, and the agent turned attention to Pinon Pete. The latter was rattling away at the key, and proving the truth of his claim to being a telegrapher, His call was preesuy answered, when he proceeded to send his rather lengthy message. At last it was done, and Pinon Pete rose from the chair with a laugh. “You thought I couldn’t do it,” he cried. **No matter, it isdone, and now I will settle the score, In case an answer should come, will you get it to me soon as you can?” These trifling details were soon settled, and Pinon Pete left the office. On the platform was the old ranger, but he had been there scarcely a second, having just cag out the door. 6 had been listening eagerly, hoping to catch something by which he could profit, but nothing of that nature had been dropped, so he was none the wiser, Pinon Pete spoke to him as he came out, ia young pards has left ye, I see,” he sald, ‘* Yas, so they has,” was the response. ‘* Thoy took a run down ter Manitou.” ‘* Went on business, I s’pose, eh? Mebby only ter take a climb up Pike's, however. But, that don’t matter,” He had dropped into his dialect again. **Oh, yas, on business, in course,” was the re- sponse, “Then they’re done with your services as guide, are they? You was askin’ ther fare ter Denver.” “It ain’t so much that. Thought I mought take a run up thar while I waited, that’s all, Mebby they won’t be back fer some days,” **Oh, Isee, Well, so-long, old man.” **So-long, pard.” But the look the old ranger sent after him had little of ‘* pard-like ” affection in it, ‘* Wanted ter quiz me some, did he?’ he mut- tered, ‘Little good mought it do him, fer I’m ther wu’st liar in ther Rockies, when I wants ter be,” Rover allowed the man to get some distance ahead, and then made his way in the direction of the hotel. ‘**T should like ter know what was in that mes- sage,” he said to himself. ‘‘I’d give somethin’ ter know, too, I'd ask ther feller at ther office, but that wouldn’t do no good, seein’ as he don’t know no more’n I do,” The old ranger’s concern’ was for the lads, both of whom he had ‘come to regard with the keenest affection. But he was not the only one interested in the cipher message, o sooner had Pinon Pete got out of sight from the office, than the agent took the message from the hook and looked at it, ‘*T wonder what this means, anyhow?” he mused. ‘* There’s something up, for Pinon Pete is not the man to monkey with a thing there is nothing in, Wonder what the key to it is, But, hang it, I have figured out ciphers many a time, and this is a long one and ought to be got at easy. Ill tackle it and see, anyhow. The vow- els in it will appear oftener than the other let- ters, and [ll soon arrange them, and then J’/l have it. 1t will be a good joke on Pete; he’s so smart. Ha, ha, ha!” CHAPTER VIII. SOMETHING LITTLE EXPECTED, MEANWHILE Billy and Skinny were rolling along toward their destination. Whether they had hold of a great case or not, of course they could not know, What they did know was, that they had some information re- garding the missing young woman. It was their business to see Mr. Pharaoh Bridgefield and tell him of the discovery they had made, What would follow that, remained to be seen. Perhaps there all interest in the case, for them, would end. Perhaps not, if Billy could do anything toward solving the mystery. The ride was not a long one. In due time the train reached Colorado Springs, where a change was made, and in =the twenty minutes they were at their destina- jon. It was about seven o’clock in the evening when they stepped off the car at the station, and their first and immediate discovery was that they had landed in a decidedly pretty place. Will a word concerning Manitou be out of order? It bas been called the summer resort ideal. It isa picturesque village in a beautiful valley at the foot of Pike’s Peak, abounding in hotels and pretty cottages. Through it dashed the happy and flashing Fountain que Bouille. Each season it is thronged with people of wealtb and fashion, not only of Colorado but of the East as well. As the lads ‘alighted from the train, a man stepped forward toward them, as if about to speak, but did not do so, After a swift glance around at the village and its encircling mountains, taking note as men- tioned of the beauty of the place, Billy let his eyes rest upon this man near him. He found him to be a man of thirty or there- abouts, not a bad-looking fellow, but not well dressed, His clothes had a seedy look, as his face had a hungry expression, as though Fortune was not smiling upon bim just then. He looked like a man out of luck. As Billy’s eyes met his, the man asked: ** Are you Mr. Whippletop, sir?” ‘*’'m happy to say I’m not,” was Billy’s assur- ance, “ How is that?” the man further asked, won- deringly. _ ‘I don’t like fhe name,” Billy declared, smil- ing. ‘*Oh, I see.” The man had stepped back a little while speak- ing, out of the way of the other passengers, and in responding Billy bad drawn aside with him. ‘* And now that you have asked me a ques- tion,” Billy immediately followed, ‘let me ask one.” ‘‘Bire right ahead,” the man invited. “TI don’t see anybody else who looks as if he might be Whippletop,.” He had been watching the other passengers as they alighted. ‘*T gness he didn’t come,” suggested Billy. ‘¢Can you tell me where Mr. Bridgefield is to be found? Do you know such a person?” ‘* What, Pharaoh Bridgefield?” ‘* Wxactly.” ‘* Everybody knows him, Do you want to see him?” ‘““Yes; that’s what has brought me here, Where does he hang out?” “Dm going right to his place now. Fact is, I work for him. See that fine cottage over there? That’s his place.” ‘‘Then. if you are going that way, we'll amble right along with you.” “T am, so come along. Maybe you have brought some word about his missing daughter, If you have, you will be a welcome visitor I telf ou! ‘* Well, that’s what brought us here,” Billy acknowledged, “What have you discovered?” ‘“That’s what I want to see Mr. Bridgefield for, to tell him.” ‘“*Oh, I didn’t mean to pump you; but you see we are all so anxious abou the young lady,” ‘*No harm done, But, let’s be moving.” ‘** Certainly.” With one more look around, the man led the way toward the center of the village, The man’s manner had become decidedly friendly immediately upon his hearing that Billy wanted to see Mr. Bridgefield, and more so when he declared he brought some word of the missing young woman. ‘“*Where do you come from?” the man asked, as they went along. Billy. named the station from where he had just come, ‘Over there, eh?” the man commented. ‘Yes, And I see the interest in the missing lady is as great there as here, if possible,” ‘* No doubt about it, The old man has offered a reward for information concerning her, Did you see the notice posted over there?” * Oh, Me ‘* Well, you may come in for the reward,” ‘* We don’t care so much about that, if we can be useful in helping unwind the snarl of mystery, What’s your opinion of the case?” “7 don’t know. I think she’s met with some accident in some wild place.” ‘‘ Your two statements don’t buckle together well, but that don’t matter. You may be right in ae Gap that, but I don’t agree with you.” ‘* What do you think?” *¢ Foul play.” “ What makes you think that?” ‘* Something I’ve discovered. But, you'll hear all about it in good time,” ““T can wait, Mr, Bridgefield will no doubt tell me all about it as soon as you have told him.” ‘Hope he will, Hello! there isa man I have seen before, to day; who is he?” The man looked in the direction indicated, and Billy fancied that he gavea slight start as he caught sight of the person. It wasa man on horseback, cantering along on a jaded animal, and none other than vhe Jead- er of the three men who had that day met Billy and his ‘‘ pards” up on the mountain plateau, At first be was coming toward them, but turn- ed abruptly off as Billy drew attention to him, and made his — in the direction of the cottage that had been pointed out as Mr. Bridgefield’s, ‘‘T guess you know him,” Billy immediately added to his question. ‘* Why?” asked their companion, “You showed it when you looked. Who is he?” “Why, his name is Oscar Danton. He is Miss Bridgefield’s lover.” ‘“‘ That’s it, is it? I guess he’s heading for the cottage, I’ll be in time to meet him there if we step lively.” “Yes; but the chances are that_he won’t find the old man at home just now. I think he’s at the stable looking after his sick horse, He was there when [ went to the station, and it won’t be but a step out of the way to find out.” ‘* And where’s the stable?” ‘ Right this way. Come on, and we may find him there.” The man turned abruptly from the board
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en en ee ce LP ik re ee We ee EE nee ee ee tl mean” eee 8 Broadway Billy’s Curious Case. ee stent netics A ial rn walk and ertered upon a narrower way, Billy and Skinny following, There had been nothing to arouse suspicion in their minds. I{t was ail so natural in occur- rence, one thing with another, that there could not be avy suspicion awakened, That the first man of whom they happened to make inquiry concerning Mr. Bridgefield should be one of the gentleman’s servants, was nothing strange. It was only a coincidence, and not at all a striking one. They continued talking, as they passed along, and in a little time were upon the outskirts of the village, ‘* Where the dickens is that stable?” Billy now demanded. ‘* Right there,” was the answer, pointing. The building indicated had the appearance of a stable, and was only a short distance away. Leading the way across a vacant piece of ground, the man approuched it, and as they came near be observed: ‘* Yes, I guess he is here yet; this side door is unlocked, That opens into his private room in the stable. You see the chain is down,” ‘* Well, find out if he is here,” directed Billy, with slight impatience, ‘* Yes, I will, You can remain out here if you want to—or, better still, come right in with me. Do just as you please,” ‘We'll wait here,” decided Biliy, stopping a few feet from the door, All right.” The man entered the building by the side door that he had previously indicated, and presently the lads heard him call out within: ‘** Bob, is Mr. Bridgefield thare yet?” Yes,” was the answer from the rear part of the place. **Tell him here’s two young fellows want to seehim, They say they have some information for him,” There was a moment of silence, and then the response Came, ‘* He says bring ’em right in.” Another pause, and the door opened. ‘Yes, he’s here,” they were told. ‘*He says for you to come right in,” Having heard all for themselves, and having no shadow of suspicion—how was it possible to have/—the young men stepped forward, As they did so, the man in the door drew back to let them enter, and in another moment they had passed into the building, But no sooner were they within, than a remarkable thing hap- pened, Heavy hands fell upon their shoulders, the cold tubes cf grim revolvers were pressed against their temples, the door swung shut be- hind them quickly, and a voice hissed into their ears: ‘** Don’t speak or move, or you die!” They were in a trap. Billy was almost too surprised to speak any- how, and as for Skinny, he was for the moment too frightened. ‘*Mind what’s told ye,” the voice warned, ‘* Don’t try no fool game, or we’ll bore ye quick, You are our mutton. It’s no use your tryin’ to get out, fer we has got ther bulge on ye. Ga an’ bind ’em, boys. If they utters a peep, want ye ter bore ’em, an’ bore ’em fer keeps, D’ye hear?” CHAPTER 1X. FAS£ IN THE TOILS, Bruuy and his partner were in a fix, and it anon the lads greatly to guess what it meant. hey could not understand it. The situation flashed through Billy’s mind like lightning. It was reviewed in a second, almost, and in every detail. But the explana- tion was not forthcoming. Why he had been thus entrapped did not appear. ** Will you allow me to whisper my littlo pro- test against this sort of thing?” Billy asked, in low tone, as soon as he could find his tongue, “We don’t want to hear anything out of you at all,” answered the man who had been the means of their sabe into the trouble, ‘ All you have got to do is to keep as still as you can; we'll do the rest,” Resistance was not to be thought of. _ Billy and Skinny had had enough experience in the West to know that the revolver is usually the best trump, Already they were being bound, and the grim revolvers were still pressing against their tem- les in a way that was not to be disregarded. he man who has been there knows how it is himself, “Yes; but I can’t keep still—couldn’t if I tried,” urged Billy. to know what the reason is for this, Handle us gently, please, for we don’t mean to be unruly. ou don’t know what good boys we are,” ** An’ you had better be right up in your good behavior now,” spoke one of the rough fellows. ‘*Tbhat’s what we always try to be up in,” re- sponded Billy. ‘If there isanything more than another that we pride ourselves on, it is our be- havior.” It evidently puzzled the men not a little to see how cool Billy was under the circumstances. He seemed to be taking it all as a matter of course, and did not appear to be particularly anxious about the outcome, But that was only the outward appearance. He was troubled enough in his secret mind. Presently the fellows had bound him and Skinny to their satisfaction, and Skinny had been gagged as well, The little room in which they were was semi- dark, but becoming accustomed to it now, the lads saw that they were in the power of three men, Not more than a minute had passed since they entered the door, for the men had worked rapid- ly and well, and now the prisoners were pushed down upon a seat by one of the walls. The men stood in front of them, ‘* Now, my lad, look here,” spoke the one who had been their decoy, “We're looking,” responded Billy, ‘‘ but we can’t see much, Take that just as you please, too, ‘The fellows evidently have some nerve,” spoke that rascal, turning to his associates in evil. ‘‘ This one don’t seem to know fear.” ‘*Nary a fear,” assured Billy. ‘‘ But, all the same, I would like to know what all this means, before the procession goes any further. What have we been brought here and made prisoners for?” ‘* That’s just what we want to get out of you,” was the return. ‘*‘We want to ask you some questions before we gag you.” ** And see to it that ye don’t talk no louder than ye are talkin’ now, too,” warned another, with wea on still in hand, ‘*Oh, Pll attend to that part of it,” assured Billy. ‘‘ You'll never ketch me tryin’ to ring in a trump when I’ve got to foller suit—suits me better to foller, ye see. Do ye foller me?” ‘You'll be follered with a club, if ye don’t shut up.” “* How can I say anything, if I’ve got to shut up? : ‘‘See here, answer my questions,” cried the ecoy. ‘** You baven’t asked me any yet, mister,” ‘*-You don’t give me any chance. Hold your tongue for a second. What was it brought you to Manitou?” ‘Sweet pertaters!” Billy exclaimed, ‘ but that’s a healthy old question, Why, I'd be ’shamed to ask that of the infant class, The train brought us here.” **Confound you, no fooling, or Ill kick a lung out of you!” ‘That would be a terrible thing todo to a fellow,” Billy remarked, “Then why don’t you answer my question?” **T thought I did.” **Confound you, I want to know what, busi- ness brought you here.” ** Well, fhe ought to know that already,” said Billy. ‘‘ If you don’t, depend on it you know all you will fiad out.” a You know something about that missing irl, ‘* Maybe I do; maybe I don’t.” “That is what brought you here, anyhow. Now we want you to tell us what you know. If you don’t it won’t be well for you,” «Then it won’t be well for me, I suppose, for you’ll get nothing out of me, You have played me a dirty trick, and [Pll not forget it in a hurry. Maybe you'll live long enough to regret ‘* We'll live longer than you are likely to, if you are not careful. I want to tell you that you are in a bad box, and that if you don’t get out of it it will be your own fault-—” ‘* Bet your life on that!” Billy interrupted. “Don’t think there’s any escape for you. I mean that if you get out of our hands it will de- pend how you behave, yourselves, Now if you will come to terms and tell us what we want to knew, we will arrange to let you off easy, as soon as we are safe ourselves,” ‘* What do you want me to Go?” “Well, we want you to show your hand and let us know all you can about this missing girl.” ‘‘ Is it the reward you are after?” *T am a fellow that is | ulways on the lookout for reasons, and I’d like ; **Ha! You make a close guess, after the reward,” ‘** Pll give you the price of the reward, if you will let me and my pard go,” Billy promised. shy Maybe you have gotit about your clothes now. ‘* You’re welcome to all you find in my pock- ets. Ill sell out for ten dollars cash.” ‘That's too dear, when we can take it for noth- ing. We will attend to that lateron. Are you going to tell us what we want to know?” *Y hardly think I will,” drawled Billy. ‘* You have picked up the wrong man this time, my hearty, and if you don’t find it out so before you get done with me, I miss my guess,” ** And maybe you will find that Milo Jarvis is no fool, too, before we part company,” was the retort. ‘‘That’s your name, eh? Well, I hope so, Mr. Jarvis,” “Tf you knew everything, you would see what aninny you were to come here to Manitou to rake in @ reward that no one is likely ever to handle,” ‘* We found a Manitou too many, as it were, eh?” punned Billy. ‘*Maybe you know what you are talking about.” “Tf doubt it,” Billy laughed, “Yes; andsodol. Well, if you don’t mean to tell us, we will gag you like your pard and leave you here alone to think overit. Maybe in the morning you will beready to change your mind, ‘* Go ahead, if you want to,” Billy invited, * All right, boys, serve bim the same,” Jarvis ordered. ‘* We'll give him time to cool off, Ha, ha, ha! You fell into our hands as slick,as grease, my bantams, You little thought that I was laying at the station for you, did you? Ha, ha, ha!” “What's that?” demanded Billy, jerking his head away from the gag for the moment. ** You say you were laying for us?” **'You bet I was. Ha, ha, ba! That will be something for you to thinkover, Put it into his mouth, boys,” Billy would have liked to carry the talk fur- ther, then, but the gag was now forced upon him and speech was cut off. ‘* Shall we disarm’em an’ go through ’em?” one of the men asked, **'No; we huven’t time to fool away now,” was the answer, ‘‘ Let’s be going, if you’re sure they are secure.” ** No gittin’ away, you bet,” was the response. **'Then come on,” ‘*'Yes; but we don’t want to leave ’em here, Milo, This is tvo close to ther outside. They might find some way of makin’ a noise.” ‘*Hal that’s so. Bring’em on in here, and they can make all the noise they like.” e opened another door, disclosing a still dark- er place beyond, and stepped within, The other two men took up first Billy and car- ried him in, Jaying him on the floor, and then Skinny to keep him company. “There, that is what 1 meant to do with them and it slipped my mind,” Jarvis declared. wt have an idea that we shall find them here when we core for them in the morning. Ha, ha, ba!’ Joking coarsely among themselves, the three withdrew, closing and fastening the doors after them, Broadway Billy’s mind wasinawhirl. Need- less to say Skinny’s was no better in that re- spect. If ever the ‘‘pards” wanted the use of their tongues, it was now. Billy tried bard to guess what it all meant. — | He could not believe the man had spoken the truth in saying he had been watching for them at the station, It looked more reasonable that Yes; 'weare © it was a scheme to get information from him and Skinny and so get first chance at the re- — ward that was offered, But thought after thought came into mind to baffle a decision one way or the other, Looking it all over, it did appear as though it ' : "2 had been pre-arranged. There had been Jarvis at the station, and Billy remembered how he had stepped car, Then, too, when they had been brought to this stable—for a stable it was, but not now used as such, evidently—there confederates had been ready to belp in the deception. ie Certainly it did look as though it was as the man declared, But, to all that, was the offset- could have known of their coming? By what meaus had they been able to get bold of the lads? - intention? Had this Milo Jarvis followed them Vie Hine question, how was it possible that these men ~ forward to- ward him and Skiany when they got out of the ~
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ra) * t oh oe ae gare aes eh A * is = yy & fi a ew eel “ Lo ae! > ae all the way on the train? Ha! that must be it, as Billy was forced to conclude. He thought of no other way, but even that idea was puzzling. CHAPTER X. SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS, WHEN Milo Jarvis left the stable, with his two companions, it was to stroll off in the direc- tion of the bills as they talked. What their conversation was need not be dwelt upon at length, Finally, when it was growing dark, they returned, and Milo alone went to the stable to see how the prisoners were coming on, He found them as he had expected, securely bound, There was little chance for their get- ting away, for the men had done their work well, In order to see them he had to light a lantern, and be found Billy and bis lean—rather fat— partner looking blue enough. ‘* Well, how do you like it?” he asked. Billy’s flashing eyes answered. ‘*Tf I thought you would tell me anything, I would take that gag out of your mouth. Would you do it?” Billy nodded that he would. **Yes; and maybe you’d do more, Maybe hor would let a yell out of you that would ring belp. If you did that, by George they would find you dead when they got here. You wouldn’t yell but once,” Billy muttered something, but gagged as he iss. be might as well not have made any sound at all. Still, it served his purpose, It made his enemy comer to know what it was he had tried to say. Billy wanted to talk, ‘* What's that you say?” the fellow demanded, Billy grunted some more. **Confound you, Ill remove that thing for a minute, but don’t you dare to make a sound fouder than I’m speaking now. If you do Vl drive this knife into you, clear to the handle.” As he uttered the threat he drew a knife, and mare paocecdes to remove the gag. ‘* You want me to tell you something, do you,” Billy immediately exclaimed, ‘‘I can do that, ou bet. I can teil you that if I get out of here °’m going to make it hot for you, and don’t you forget it!” ‘Getting tired of saving here, are you? Well, I don’t blame you. aybe by morning ou will be ready to tell us what we want to os and then we’ll see about letting you go.” ‘*When you get ready, eh? I’m no chicken, What you get out of me won’t give you fever on the brain.” ‘Starving here for awhile may give you a fever of some sort, though.” There was a groan from Skinny. ‘Sweet pertaters!” Billy exclaimed, ‘you have done it now, for sure.” ‘** Done what? What do you mean?” ‘You see this partner of mine—plain enough to be seen, nowadays.” **T see him, of course,”’ ‘* Well, speaking about fevers and starving brought the groan from him that you just beard, That fellow used to be the thinnest boy you ever saw—fact. He was so thin that his clothes was the most there was of him. A short time ago he had mountain-fever, and from that time he has been laying on flesh at the rate of a pounda day. And hungry—whew! Well, if you keep him twelve hours without anything to eat, you will have a dead boy on your hands, that’s all.” ‘‘ Then he is likely to die, unless you make up your mind to tell what I want to know.” “Then I’m afraid he'll have to die.” ‘“* Maybe be will think different, when he gets pretty hungry. Ill get it out of him.” “Try him, if you think you can, He's con- siderable fat, but he weighs more ounces to the pound than ever, now, and he’s got sand,” ‘* Now, see here,” spoke the man, more confi- dentially, “‘ ’ve come back here alone to have a - private chat with you, If you'll disclose what you know, and take me in with you, we’ll dump the other fellows and get the reward ourselves. What do you say? We can work that nicely.” ‘*You must see a good deal of green in my eye,” was Billy’s response. ‘‘ Don’t take me for a fool altogether, please, It hurts my feel- ings more thanI can tell. I guess you and I understand each other pretty well, Anyhow, I have tried to make you understand me, Once let me get out, and if I don’t put the sweater on you I'ma gilly. You'll be sorry you med- dled with me.” ** But maybe you won’t get out.” **That is for you to look out for. This is your nS, Broadway Billy’s Curious Case. inning. You had better make it a teller while you can, that’s all.” With a snort of disgust at his poor success with Billy, the man sprung upon him and forced the gag into place again. ‘* There, curse you!” he cried. ‘‘ Lie here and rot, if you waut to.” vies J the helpless lad a kick, then, he put out the lantern and went out, securing the doors as before, ‘* No getting anything out of him,” he growl- ed to himself, as he went off in the direction of the busy part of the town. ‘' But, it don’t mat- ter. All we want of him is to keep him where he is for the present,” Going on, he entered the main streets leisure- ly, and ere long was at a telegraph office, where he wrote a message to be sent, Meanwhile, the man whom Billy had seen and recognized while on his way to the trap into which he had fallen, had gone on to the Bridge- field cottage, and there dismounted, Before he could open the gate to enter the well-kept grounds, a woman came running down toward him from the house. ‘**Tell me you have found my darling,” she wildly cried, ‘‘ Tell me, at least, Oscar Danton, that you have learned something concerning her. This awful uncertainty is driving me mad!” ‘“*Would to God that I could tell you some- thing, Mrs. Bridgefield,” was the sorrowful re- sponse, ‘* Then you have not found her—have learned nothing—nothing !” ‘Not a thiug. Iam almost discouraged and heartbroken.” ‘* What can bave become of her, Oscar?” ** Ab! would that I knew,” ‘* But, she must be found—must be found, Oscar Danton! How can you remain idle a single moment—you who profess to love her so well? ‘* There, there, dear Mrs, Bridgefield,” spoke the young man, soothingly, ‘‘do not take cn so, for it will only result in ill for yourself. You know we are doing all that can be done—” ‘““No, [ do not know it, Oscar Danton. - If you have not found my child, why are you here? hy i do you come without her? Why do ou—” ‘* Mrs, Bridgefield, under any other circum- stances I should resent your insinuations, but I know it is only your grief that re speak so. My eyes have not closed since Ora disap- peared, and I have been almost fifteen hours in the saddle. No man coald work harder than I have worked, and—” ‘And you will lie down and sleep, as Mr. Bridgefield is doing, I suppose. Deep must be your grief!” The poor woman was not to be held account- able for her words, under the terrible strain that her uerves bad been put to. Still, Oscar Danton could not help feeling net- tled, and it was only by great effort that be could hold back a sharp rejoinder. He was worn out, body and mind, “Tf Mr. Bridgefield is sleeping, gathering strength for another effort, it is a proof of his good sense,” was what he said, ‘It would be better for you if you could follow the example, Mrs. Bridgefield.” _ He had entered the gate, and they were walk- ing toward the house. “Sleep! J!” the almost distracted mother cried, “How could I sleep, and the fate of my child unknown? Iconsider it almost brutal in Mr. Bridgefield to sleep at such a time!” ‘* Woman can stand more than man, of this sort of thing, madam,” Danton responded. ‘‘Mr, Bridgefield’s grief is as great as your own, but he has not the nerve force you have, and at his age has had to succumb to what nature demands, Woman can to a certain extent disregard these things and live upon her nerve force— But, here comes Mr. Bridgefield himself!” : A man of fifty or so just then made his ap- pearance on the porch, and advanced to meet them, He was stout, his hair and beard were mixed with gray, and he had now a worn look that evidently was new to him. And his brow grew heavy as he caught the expression on the faces of the others, ‘* No news yet?” he demanded, ‘None whatever, sir,” answered Danton, mS ‘Where have you been? Have you been in the saddle all this time?” “Yes; I have scarcely been out of it since daylight.” ** You must be nearly dead.” ‘Tam pretty well fagged out, but it will not do to stop yet—at any rate not as long as I can keep going at all. Have you telegraphed to dpe? point?” “Yes; everywhere, of reward as well,” ‘*T know; I sawsome of them at various places around. How many men have come in to report?” ‘Quite a few, but there are many still out, Come in, though, for I have something to say to you in private. Sarah, you will excuse us?” Mrs, Bridgefield turned pale to the lips, “You have heard something!” she cried. ‘You have learned something that you want to keep from me! You shall not keep anything Gomes must know the worst.” ‘“*T have heard nothing whatever of Ora, be- lieve me,” Mr, Bridgefield said earnestly. “I want to speak to Oscar upon another matter en- tirely. Come, sir: Mrs, Bridgefield will excuse ’ With that Pharaoh Bridgefield turned and en- tered the house, and when he had taken polite leave of Mrs. Bridgefield, Danton followed him, *¢ Close the door,” Bridgefield said, when Dan- ton followed him into a room, The young man did so, and the two sat down, Danton waiting for Mr. Bridgefield to speak, ** Oscar,” he presently said, in low tone, “ you had a rival for Ora’s hand before we came out here.” ‘¢-You mean Meredith Paynes.” ‘*Exactly. Now do you think he is the kind of man to have done anything of this sort? That is, do you think he can bave stolen Ora?” Danton grew white. ‘‘T do not want to think so,” he answered, “I would not want to stake my life on his honor, but I can hardly believe bim a knave outright, But, why do you mention him?” ** Because he is here in Manitou. I saw bim this afternoon. Now I have not mentioned this thought to a soul but you, and I leave it for you to deal with. 1 know you will get at the truth of the suspicion.” ‘* Trust me for that.” CHAPTER XI, OTHER MOVES MADE HERE. To return to Roger the Rover, at the village where Billy and Skinny had taken leave of him, When he returned to the hotel, after the train had gone, he fell to musing over the situation, and it troubled him not a little, ‘*T should like ter know what was in that message,” he kept repeating to himself, ‘I'd give somethin’ ter know, too, Blame me if I kin rest easy, fer I’m sure there is a nigger in ther fence somewhere.” Such was the burden of his thinking, and he could seem to get no further. After supper he moped around, as though at loss what to do with himself, and finally weut off to the saloon. This, he had come to know, was the resort of all the rough characters in the place, and there Pinon Pete seemed to make his headquarters, He half-hoped that he might be able to learn something. When he entered he discovered Pinon Pete and El Paso Mike in conversation at a table half-way down the room. Moving in their direction, he was enabled to get a seat just behind them, He was unobserved by either of them, too, and was thus enabled to overhear what they were talking about, " ‘* But yer hasn’t told me what it was ye sot me onto the feller fer,” El Paso was saying, T thought I did.” “* But yer didn’t, jest ther same.” ‘¢ Well, I'll tell you now, then,” Pinon offered. * And I wapt ther facts of it, mind yer,” in- sisted E! Paso, “T wouldn’t give you anything else, You see, I had spoken to the fellow, and he gaye me some of bis tongue. Now if it had been a man I would have followed him then and there, but it wasn’t. I conldn’t lower myself to fight with a boy, and so I thought I’d let you try it for y : me, ‘** Well, it lowered me, an’ that’s the truth,” E! Paso declared, grimly. ‘I was lowered be- fore I knowed what had apie tome, An’ I guess it would have been ther same with you, too. I tell yer that feller is jest sot on muin- springs, he is an’ when ye touch ther meme ther fun begins, I’d like ter see you tackle him, Bet it would be all you’d want ter do.” “Bah! What do you take me for? But, I wouldn’t hook horns with him, for I would be laughed at. Id like to know, though, what took them to Manitou.” And I’ve sent out notices
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———— 10 re ST SSE att INN Broadway Billy’s Curious Case. >» ‘*Thar’s two ways ter find out.” ** How are they?” **One is, ter wait till they come back, an’ then bone ’em; the other is, ter go down thar an’ find out.” ** And there may bea third. “You wait here with me a little while.” ** All right; but yer must set ’em up ergain.” That one idea seemed to be all the bummer cared about anyhow, to get what drink he could out of his patron. Some vile stuff was called for, and when it was brought the bummer’s share was not long in disappearing. Wedded to it, as it were, it was all he lived for. The old ranger listened to their talk for a considerable time, laying hold upon every point he could, but there was little in it of interest to our story, so let us pass it over. Old Roger was thinking about returning to the hotel, when he caught sight of another per- son in whom he felt an interest. This personage was the railroad-agent, who had just come in. He was looking around, as if in search of some one, “Tl bet he’s got a answer fer this heur galoot,” thought the ranger. ‘‘T’ll wait an’ see what about it.” But he was mistaken, or soon made up his mind that he was, for while the man clearly saw Pinon Pete, he was looking still further. Roger sat somewhat out of sight behind the others, but soon the agent’s eye caught sight of him, a look of recognition came upon his face, and he motioned to him in a sly way, ** Durn if he don’t seem ter want me,” the old man said to himself, ‘‘ Pll foller an’ see what’s in it, anybow.” The railroad man had turned immediately and gone out, and to all save a few it appeared as though he had not found the person for whom he was looking. When Roger the Rover got outside, he found the man awaiting him near the door, and he im- mediately said: “T have been looking all over for you, old man. I want to have a talk with you on the quiet.” y Lookin’ fer me? Wal, heur I be, so say yer say. ‘Let’s walk out this way. I think I have something that will interest you, and we don’t want to be overheard.” ** Lead right on, an’ I’m with ye. Mind that there’s no foolin’ with me, for ’m a bad man to monkey with. But, then, I don’t look fer any- thing o’ that sort.” You needn’t, for ’m square. I want to talk about those young pards of yours who went down to Manitou to-night.” ‘What about 'em?” **T rather liked that one you called Billy.” “You bet. I’d like ter see ther man what wouldn’t likehim, He’sas good as gold, he is,” **T don’t doubt it. Yes, I like him, and I think Ican do him a good turn and I’m going to doit. I’m afraid those young fellows are in danger.” Old Roger stopped short. ‘*' What makes ye think that?” he demanded. “ That’s what ’m going to tell you. That lad made an enemy of Pinon Pete,” **T know he did; but we think Pete had it in for him anyhow, so it couldn’t be helped.” ‘*T suppose not. _ But, do you know that Pete sent a message to Manitou about as soon as the train had gone?’ ‘Yas, blast him! An’ he sent it in Dutch, or some other furren langwidge that nobody else could make head or tail of. Id give a dollar ter know what was in that message.” ** Well, I know what was in it,” “Yer do? I was goin’ ter ask you, but I didn’t s’pose it would be any use, an’ more so as you couldn’t read it no more norI could. How did yer make it out?’ “It was in cipher, and I went for it and studied out the key.” “Yer don’t tell! But what did it say?” **T have it in my pocket, but wecan’t read it here in the dark. That don’t matter, however, for Ihave it in my head as well, Working it out word by word, you see I couldn’t help re- membering it, It was addressed to a fellow named Milo Jarvis, at Manitou, and the wording was about like this: ‘Danger ahead, Think some discovery made, and word being taken to the old man. Look out for two young fellows on seven o’clock train, both beardless and boy- ish looking. Capture them if it costs a leg, and make the black-haired one tell what he knows. Don’t let them get to theold man. Make sure of them, Send for meif you think it necessary,’ “There, that was about it, and I guess I’ve got it word for woré, You see your friends are in something of a dangerous fix,” * Battle o’ Gittysburg! I should think so! Say, I’m a thousan’ times obleeg ter you, young man, and I think Tl set out fer there ter wunst,” **T wouldn’t do that.” “Yer wouldn’t?” “cc No,” “Why not?” ‘* Because you can do more for them by watch- ing Pete, and if he is called there, you can fellow him right to them,” ‘* But s’pose they sends for him in ther night, an’ he gives me ther slip.” “They can’t get word to him till I open the office in the moruing, now, and you can be on hand then. But—” He did not finish, ‘* But,—and what else, pard?” ‘““T was going to suggest stepping over to the station now, do run in sometimes before going to bed, If there is a message, the fellow at the other end may hear me on the wire and send it,” a age She knows what you is talkin’ about; Idon’t, But, if thar is any way of gettin’ ther hip-lock onto this dirty business, 1 want ter git i ? ‘We'll walk over there, anyhow.” And they set out at once, ‘*T don’t understand what it is* all about,” the agent observed, ‘‘ but it is plain enough that these pards of yours are going to Manitou with some information that Pete does not want to have reach the ears of the person he calls the ‘old man,’” ‘*Bet your hat on that; and Billy’s guess wasn’c fur wrong, as now I kin see plain enougb, If J kin trust ye, [ll put ye onto it.” ‘“*T guess you can, after what I’ve told you, don’t you think so?” ‘Wal, I opine I kin. This heur Pete has had a,hand in ther takin’ off of that young woman what’s missin’ from Manitou, an’ he knows that we have got onto somethin’ about it.” ‘*The Harry you say! He’s none too good for it, but I didn’t think he was in that. Come on, and we'll trick bim if it can be done,” So talking, they soon reached the station, where the agent hurriedly ‘‘ cut in” the instru- ments, They began rattling immediately, and for some seconds he listened to them attentively. Presently he touched the key and struck off some meaningless dots and dashes, finally giving the signature of his station, At once, then, a call began to sound, Ha!” he exclained, ‘* ve got a bite, sure, old man. We'll see what it is in one minute,” Getting hold of pen and paper, he ** answered,” and immediately a message began to be ticked, which he set Gown upon the paper, word for word as it was spelled out in the mystic charac- ters of the wire, Finally it was dove and signed for, and then dashing down the pen the young man ex- claimed: ‘*This is it, the answer to the one Pete sent. See, it is in cipher, and the words are a jumble of nothing. But, wait, and Jet me apply the little joker to it, and we shall see what we'll see. Taking the first ressage from his pocket, and taking note of numbers he had placed over each letter in it, he began working out this new one by the same rule, It was only a few minutes’ work, and finally he straightened up with an exclamation of satisfaction. CHAPTER XII. ROGER TAKES THE TRAIL. “Wart bas yer found?” the old ranger queried. ‘‘We were not wrong in our guess,” was the answer. ‘‘ Your pards are in trouble, sure enough,” ‘* What does ther message say?” “lt is from the fellow Pete sent his message to, this man Milo Jarvis. Hesays he has got the lads dead to rights, and that they have not seen the old man. He wants Pete to come there at once,” ‘* That’s how ther thing stands, be it? Wal, now, they don’t want to ferget ter count their uncle in, you bet.” ‘* A good deal may depend on you, old man,” **T knows it, my son, an’ I’m ready ter tackle it, What are ye goin’ terdo with ther mes- ge? “Well, now, see here: I like that pard of ours, as I have told you already. And I don’t ike Pete, never did, though I have never had words with him, I’m going to cast my vote on your side, and help you to get those lads ont of the hole they are in.” ‘‘Bully fer you! That’s ther kind of talk I like ter hear. If yer means it, what would you say is ther best thing to be done?” ‘Don’t donbt that I mean it. My action ought to be proof of that, Have you any plan?” ‘* My plan is ter amble to Manitou, ter see if I can’t balk these skunks,” ‘“‘That’s a good idea, but a poor plan unless you go at it right.” ‘* What d’ye mean?” ‘* Suppose you go to Manitou, how will you find these lads? Itis not likely that you could find them at all, and you would not know this man Jarvis from Adam’s brother-in-law,” ** That’s so, that’s so,” ‘* Well, now, hear my idea on that point.” ‘* Let’s hear it, by all means, I don’t reckon I'm a detective.” “ Nor am I one, but it seems to me that this,is about the best thing to be done under the cir- cumstances: I will go and deliver this message to Pete, and you follow me, but keep out of sight. Then, from that time, do not take your eyes off the man for a second, He may take his horse and set out for Manitou, and if he does that, your only hope will lie in following him.” “Smoke o’ Gittysburg! but ye have bit it right on ther head ther first crack, That is jest what [’ll do, you bet.” ‘* Have you a horse?” ‘*No; and don’t want none. My legs is hoss enough fer me. Reckon I kin keep pace wit. him as fast as he is likely ter travel,’ ‘‘ That is for you to look out for, Well, let’s go over,” “I'm with yer.” The operator put out the light, and they set out for the saloon. On the way the old ranger stopped at the hotel, to say to the proprietor that he might be absent a day or two, and directing him to give the horses the best of care till the return of him- self and friends. When they came near the saloon they stopped. ‘* Now,” spoke the agent,” I will go im alone, and you can watch through a window. You can make up your mind how he takes the mes- sage.” *¢ Let’s step to the windy, an’ see if he are still ” ‘*That’s a good idea.” They approached one of the windows and looked in. Their man was still there, talking with El Paso, ‘* Yas, thar he be,” whispered the old ranger. ‘‘Now you go in, an’ lll stay right here an’ keep my eye on him.” ‘*Very well. Don’t lose sight of him, or you may lose him.” With that the younger man turned away and entered the saloon, looked around for a mo- ment as though he had no real knowledge Pinon Pete was there, and seeing him, went forward to where he sat, ** Hello, Jimmie, what now?” Pete greeted. ‘* Answer to your message,” was the reply, and he delivered it. ‘Ha! this is good!” Pete exclaimed. ‘‘ How did you happen to get it so late?” ‘That explains it,” was the response; ‘‘ hap- pened to. Went into the office a little while ago, and rattling the key a moment, got a bite. You know how it is.” ** You bet.” Pete had now opened the message, and was studying it out. ‘Good enough!” he presently exclaimed. “This brings me good news, Jimmie, and much obliged to you. I’ve been fishing for a certain pointer, and now I’ve got it. Dll have torun down to Manitou to-morrow.” ‘¢ Glad to hear it, if it means good luck for you,” observed the agent. ‘ Your cipher is a sticker to receive by ear; I’d rather bave words I can understand, and then I can be sure of mak- ing no mistake. It must be something highly important, that you have to use cipher.” “Tl tell you, Jim; it’s something we don’t want any one at Manitou to know about, you see, When 1 come back I'll tell you all about it.” ‘*Oh, it’s none of my business; I didn’t hint that 1 wanted to know, Well, good-night, old fellow.” *“Good-night, Jimmie. more another time.” With that playful response, and a wave of the hand, the seedy gambler allowed the agent to take leave, and he turned again to El Paso. The old ranger, near the window, was observ- ing all that took place, See you again some *y youn the n’ 1 ioe ¥ ad tale ee 2 am Ua i j oe { H) t. F if ie a we s\ gee a oa i; oe.’ t nS ? a i <2
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» When the railroad man came out he passed around to where Roger stood, and observed: “Well, he’s got it, and if I don’t miss my uess he means to set out for Manitou be- ween suns, Keep your eye on him well, old man.” ** Don’t be afeerd on that score,my son. If he means harm to them ar’ two boys o’ mine, he’ll find me a sticker in his wool, an’ don’t ferget it. I have my eye on him, an’ thar it will stay.” A word or two more, and they parted. Roger retained his place at the window, and allowed nothing to escape his notice, Pinon Pete and El Paso Mike talked for a lit- tle while, and finally Pete acted as though he wanted to break away. At first it did not seem easy to do, for the bummer stuck closer than a brother, but finally, when a bottle of the popular poison had been provided for his use, Pete was rid of him, H immediately out, and then it was that the old ranger took up the trail in earn- est. Pinon’s first move was to go to the hotel. He hung around there for a little time, speak- ing to one or two, but never a word concerning his business in hand. The old man never lost sight of him, and was successful in keeping out of sight himself at the same time. And so they kept it up till the hour was quite late, At last Pinon Pete went in the direction of the lower end of the village, and there entered a stable, Ina few minutes he came forth with a horse, saddled and bridled, and mounting, rode silently away to the south, After him went a shadow, as tireless as though that shadow were his very own. It was Roger the Rover, and hard it would be for the rascal to shake him off. But then he had no suspicion that he was being followed, and least of all by a man on foot. That was the last thing he would have thought of. For the present we take our leave of them. After the interview with Mr. Bridgefield, to change for a moment, Oscar Danton left the cottage and made his way to one of the fashion- able hotels. _He was well known at the Springs by this time, and had the entrance everywhere. But this was the hotel where he was stopping, so he was particularly at home here. When he went in he stepped immediately to the office. The clerk spoke to him, and Danton making some remark in response, turned his attention to the ledger. **When did this person come here?” he’ pres- ently asked, indicating a name, It was the name of Meredith Paynes, ‘Yesterday forenoon,” was the response, as soon as the clerk had looked. And he mentioned his room, “Strange that I have not seen him. I know the gentleman, and have only just learned of his arrival, Where does he keep himself?” ee by, he has been around to-day quite a little. ou are the one who has been off. By the way, any news of the missing young lady? “Not a thing.” “Strange,” “More than strange, But, this man, where did he keep himself yesterday? I was not away then, and [ saw nothing of him,” “Well, maybe there was something peculiar about his actions, but I don’t know that there was, He might have met a friend and have been taken charge of fora time. I can’t say.” ** What do you mean?” a why, the man was not seen here, to my knowledge, after be registered, till some time this forenoon. Hedid not occupy his room,” Danton was thoughtful. _ Tt does look peculiar,” be remarked. ‘“ But, is the gentleman in bis room at present?” “I think he is, I will send up and ascer- tain—” ‘Tt is not necessary, I can knock at his door asI goup. Much obliged to you.” A usual response, which Danton did not wait to listen to, and in a moment he was at the door of the room occupied by the man who had been his rival, . He knocked, and the door was opened by a young man of about his own age, good-looking and rather stylishly dressed. And at sight of Danton, his face flushed painfully, * Oscar Danton ne exclaimed. ** As you see, Meredith Paynes,” was the re- onse, ‘‘ May I come in?” Yes; since you ask the privilege; but not as a friend. I do not forget that you are my hated rival,” ‘You are frank about it, anyhow,” remarked Danton, as he entered and helped himself toa chair, ‘‘And I am glad you mentioned that, for it is of that very thing I want to speak,” ““Very well, say whatever you have to say. I will listen to you. But first let me ask you a question, for you are the one most likely to know, Has anything yet been learned concern- ing Miss Bridgefield? ou will pardon my ask- ing you, but under the circumstances I think you can do that readily enough.” CHAPTER XIII, A WILL AND A WAY, DANTON looked his rival in the eyes square- ly for some seconds before replying to his in- quiry, Paynes met the stare boldly, and awaited. ‘*] will answer that, and frankly, if you will first answer me one question in like manner,” Danton presently spoke. ‘“* Ask your question,” Paynes invited. ‘* What brought you here to Manitou?” “The same that brought you here, undoubt- edly. I came here to make one more effort to win Ora Bridgefield’s hand.” ‘It isenough. No; nothing has been heard of her, and my errand here was to find out whether or not you could have had a hand in her disappearances,” ‘*T! Danton, I’ve a mind to floor you!” ‘Two can play at that game,” ‘*Why7 would you suspect such a thing of me?” “Wearerivals, I have been accepted, and you are left, Asa last resort, a man in that situ- ation might steal the object of his love and try to force himself upon her, That is the whole of it, right out plain,” “And hang your impudence! What right have you to suspect so foul a thing of me? What can lead you to it? You tempt me to atrike you,” ‘*Don’t do it, Keep cool, and let’s face it without high words. You came to this hotel yesterday forenoon, From that time till this morning your whereabouts is surrounded with mystery. During tbat time Miss Bridgefield disappeared.” Meredith Paynes was thoughtful. “There is something in that,” he presently acknowledged, ‘1 can readily understand your suspicion, _I might suspect you under like cir- cumstances, But, Oscar, I swear to you that I know nothing whatever about the young wo- man. And if I could by any means solve the mystery, believe me I would doit. What more can I say?” ‘* Tell me where you were yesterday and last night, and I’}] be satisfied,” **Kasily told, and as easily proved, if neces- sary. I fellia with young Warde about as soon as I arrived, and you know what chums we used tu be, Nothing would do but I must spend the day and night with him at his hotel. I was there, and nowhere else, and I have told you the truth,” “Very well. I accept it as such, and apvlo- gize. I believe you.” _** And that leaves us just what we were—hated rivals. I have no love for you, Danton, and if I can win that prize from you, I am going to do i ‘* Tf you had all the honor you ought to have, being a gentleman, you would accept your fate and have done with it, Ora Bridgefield is my promised wife, and if you attempt to come be- tween us you will regret it, that’s all.” And Danton wheeled sharply and went out, shutting the door forcibly and cutting off what- ever retort was being made, No soouer was he out of the room than Paynes smiled, ‘Thinks J have stolen the girl, eh?” he said to himself, ‘‘He had a nerve, to come here and tell me so to my face, anyhow, Well, let him find her, and if there is no other way open I may resort to that. Ha, ha, ha!” There was something free and easy about his manner, and lighting a cigar, he sat down at an open windew to enjoy the wholesome air, _ And in thé mean time Oscar Danton was mak- ing his way back again to the Bridgefield cot- age, le was nearly tired out, but he could not stop while anything could be done, By this time Mrs, Bridgefield was wild in hys- terics, and had been taken to her room and was detained there under the care of her servants and a doctor, Pharaoh Bridgefield was pacing to and fro in the hall, eagerly awaiting the return of his pros- ctive son-in-law, and the young man’s step ad no more than sounded on the steps than the door was opened. Broadway Billy’s Curious Case, — SS SSS SS ae 11 “¢ Well?” That was the eager inquiry, and it expressed everything. ‘* Nothing,” was the answer as brief, Danton entered and they went into a room, where the young man told all about the inter- view he had had, ‘* Then you don’t believe he had anything to do with it,” **T do not believe he had,” was the answer, ‘* Whatin the name of Heaven is going to be done?” * Everything has been done that can be, You have no word yet?” ‘*No, Men have been coming in évery little while, but the report is always thesame, My wife is nearly crazy, and I shall go mad if our child is not found soon.” ‘“‘ And I am almost in despair. I am going now to the telegraph office, and I will induce the operator to keep it open all night at any cost. I believe I will spend the night there, catching what sleep I can till daylight. ‘* And in the mean time my daughter may be in the hands of vile ruffians— My God! Dan- ton, I can’t stand this awful strain!” ‘Ts there anything you can suggest?” ‘Not a thing. We have done everything.” A brief consultation, and Danton went away, leaving Mr. Bridgefield still pacing the hall, But, what of Broadway Billy and Skinny, since we saw them last, after the visit of Milo Jarvis for the fast time, as related? When Jarvis went out, after gagging Billy and giving him a parting kick, as shown, he thought he was leaving him as he had found him in all respects, but he was somewhat mis- taken. The moment the gag had been forced partly into his mouth, Billy had shut his teeth down upon it hard, and the result was that it was not more than half as tight as it bad been in the first place. In his haste Jarvis had noticed nothing of this trick. : He had pulled the thing tight enough in tying it, but Billy’s teeth had been the means of hold- ing it, tt was not so slack, however, that Billy found it easy torid himself of it, for he had to work long and hard before he got it out of his mouth, In his twisting about he finally came into contact with a sharp nail that protruded through the side of the board partition, and this proved his best friend in the emergency. But in the mean time a couple of hours had elapsed, and it was getting well on into the evening. That nail found, Billy hooked the gag upon it, with care, and by giving a steady, careful pull, soon had it out of his mouth, ‘¢‘ Sweet pertaters!” he ejaculated in whisper, “but I thought I'd never get it out, loose as it was. Now the next thing is something else. Are you alive, Skinny?” 4 groan answered bim, Skinny bad made a few efforts at getting free, but had given upin despair, and for an hour not a move or sound had been heard in his direction. ‘* Ail right, fat one,” Billy tried to cheer. ‘I have got my tongue free, and that is a big step in the rlght direction. There’s hope for us yet, you bet! Roll over here and let mo try my teeth on that gag of yours,” Skinny rolled, ‘‘T hadn’t heard a move out of you in so long that I was afraid you must have starved to death,” Billy joked. ‘t And I suppose you are mighty near to it, Skin, and that’s the fact, TP’) bet you have lost ten pounds this night,” Skinny gave vent to some grunts of impa- tience, and Billy, wiggling around till his teeth came into contact with the gag, set at work, It took a considerable time, but at last it was accomplished, and Skinny, too, had the use of his tongue, “Great ginger!” he exclaimed, thickly, ‘‘ my jaws are’most paralyzed. IfIT’d had to keep that thing in my mouth all night, it would ’a’ killed me.” ‘‘Haven’t any doubt about it, pard. With that thing there, you couldn’t get in any bread or meat, and twelve hours without the staff of life would settle you. But, if your jaws are stiff, just limber them by trying to untiemy hands, I’m tired out.” So, throwing himself over upon his face, ay roceeded to rest while Skinny set at work wit is teeth. Now that the way had been opened, Skinny was more than willing to do bis part, and set to work with a will to free the hands of his patron saint, But it was hard work, doubtful work, and
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12 many times the now fleshy lieutenant had to stop and rest while he caught his breath for fur- ther efforts. But he did not give up. Tired at last of trying to undo the knots that he could not get hold of with any degree of satis- faction, he set about chewing the cords off, doing it with a hearty will. And this proved the right thing. In less than half an hour longer the first cord was cut. From that point it was easier, and soon after that Billy had the use of his bands, “Skinny, you’re a jewel!” he cried. “I’m almost dead, that’s what I am,” was the weak response, ‘*Get out! There’s plenty of life in you yet. Now we have got the bulge on ’em, and if we don’t make things hum you can kick me,” ‘* We ain’t out of the woods yet.” ‘*'No; but we have got where we can see the clearing ahead, and if we ain’t soon over the fence it will be funny. Here, let me set you free, my gay and festive grub annibilator.” ith his knife Billy speedily cut Skinny’s bonds, and then his own, and they felt like new fellows, ** And now to get out of here,” urged Skinny, ** Don’t let’s get caught again if we can help it. If you had listened to me, Billy, we wouldn’t have got into this fix.” “T agree with ye, Skin; but it’s no use your throwing that up tome now. I had the fever, and when I have the fever there is no use your talking to me, not a bit o’ use,” ** But I hope you’ve had enough now, and that ‘you'll drop the case and get out while we can.” ‘‘Drop it! Not by a good deal. Why, we have just got the right start, and I’m ’shamed of ye to think you’d say dropit. Nixey! We are oin’ to see it out now, Skinny, if it takes the air off.” ‘* But, they'll kill us, and—” ‘* Still croakin’, eh? More wet blanket to throw on me, have you? You might as well save your breath, I tell you. Here we are, free and armed, and with our boots on. If we couldn’t make it hot for them I’d like to know why, that’s all. Let them come and see us now, Skinny, and see what a ruction there will be.” ‘** But, let’s get out.” * There’s sense in that, pard, and I’m with you. Tf you haven’t fattened too much since we came in I guess the door will be big enough for you, so we'll try that way first. Look sharp, now, and ‘see if you can see in the dark.” CHAPTER XIV, COMING TO A FOCUS, THE lads were now free, so far as the use of limbs was concerned, but they were none the less prisoners, They knew the doors were locked, and there might be considerable of trouble for them yet before they could get out. But they felt that over bad the best of the situation now. hey were armed, and should their captors re- turn to pay them another visit they would meet with a warm reception. Inr nse to Billy’s remark, Skinny said he thought they would have to do their seeing by the sense of feel, and that they set about doing. They tried the door, and it was locked, as “gin?! had known before, rom there they groped around the wall in different directions, tili finally an exclamation escaped Billy. ‘Sweet pertaters!” he cried, in a whisper. ‘Skinny, bere’s the lantern. Funny we didn’t think of that,” ‘*¢ But it won't do to light it, Billy.” * Why not?” ‘The light might be seen, and we’d get into trouble.” ** Would, eh? Skinny, if anybody comes fuol- ing around here now the trouble won’t be one- sided, you bet.” “Then you’re goin’ to light it?” ‘Sure, if I can find anything to lightit with.” There was a moment of silence, while Billy searched his pockets, and then the flash of a match dispelled the darkness, The lantern was lighted, and the two pards looked at each other and then around at their prison cell, And they found it a tighter place than they had thought. ** It looks asif it had been built on purpose for a jail,” suggested Skinny. ‘**Reckon it has been a lock-up for feed and grain,” Billy guessed. ‘‘ Anyhow, it is a bad place to get out of.” as I’m afraid you’re right, But, what time is Billy glanced at his watcb. ‘*Sweet pertaters!” he exclaimed. ter one!” “Its af- Waa 7 , <2 : ae, at faa ('s , P ‘igeyer p- .S ARS a r- «Ae a ‘ ay So aoe 5 . . hia ap Git Tia ty Tecate Meira gE = ee ‘¢ So it was; and Roger the veteran had been nearly two hours on the trail following Pinon Pete toward Manitou. ‘““Who would have thought it!” Osage Skinny. ‘But, we was a good while gettin’ free, and I was so hungry that I knowed it must be gettin on.” ‘That bread locker of yours is no good as a clock any more,” declared Billy. “It is like a Windaberry—forever running down, But, how are we going to get out of this box, Skinny?” “*T don’t believe we are going to get out in a hurry, and that’s the truth.” “Tt looks that way, but it won’t do to be idle.” “Why not settle down here till they come to visit us again, then get the drop on them before they know it.” “We'll do that if there is no other way. But, you see, we might drop asleep while we waited, and they would have the bulge on us. It won't do to fall asleep for a minute, fat They looked around their den with careful search, There was but the one door, and that looked to be a very heavy one, to judge by the array of clinched nails that showed on the inner side, At one end was a large feed-box, lined with zinc throughout. At the other end were stored some stable tools of the ordinary sort. Besides these there were some boxes, all empty, and thatywas about all, It looked like a desperate undertaking. ‘Billy was quick to take in the situation asa whole, and to find whatever chances presented themselves, ‘*T don’t see but one thing todo, Skin,” he re- marked. ** And what’s that?” ‘*'To cut through the door with our knives.” “That will take us till daylight, and it will be work for nothing, The fellows will get back before we are done,” ‘*T don’t know about that. It will take some time, of course, but if we get out an hour be- fore daylight it will be a big thing for us. Then we can disguise and go to work.” “Well, we'll try it anyhow, if you say so.” “« And that’s what I do say.’ Finding a place for the lantern, where they could have the best of its light upon their work, the oe gripped their knives and went at it with a will. They had decided to cut the lock cut bodily. At first it had been their thought to make simply a hole through which to put a hand to reach the lock upon the outside, But as they could not be sure they would find the key in it, it might be labor in vain. By this plun, once the hole was through the door must open, provided that the one lock was the only fastening that held it. And upon this plan they set at work, and an hour later found them still at it, though blisters were beginning to appear on their hands, and their arms were aching terribly. ‘* 'm about ready to give up,” Skinny finally declared. ‘* Never say die!” cheered Billy. ‘‘ Now that we have done so much, it would be foolish to give up. Half an hour more and we'll be through.” ‘*T know; but I am about crippled.” ‘* Well, take a rest, then. e are in each other’s way, anyhow, now. [ll try it alone for a time.” This Skinny was willing to do, Though he was well again, and had more flesh than he had ever had, yet he had not fully re- gained his strength. Billy worked on, steadily, and finally success crowned bis efforts. With a blow of his fist he sent the block flying away on the other side, and the door swung open. ‘We have got thar, Eli!” he cried, ‘ Bully for you!” exclaimed Skinny. ‘Only for you it wouldn’t been done, Now we'll get out, sure,” “You bet we will!” cried Billy, ‘even if we have to cut through another door to do it. Vl take a look around, and then we'll put out the light.” He stepped out and took a survey of the other apartment, ‘*Tvs all right,” he announced. ‘ Here’s a window, and if we can’t get out by that we don’t deserve to get out at all.” Taking his bearings carefully, he put out the light, and Skinny followed his lead to the win- dow. They found it fastened, but it was only with a nail over the top, which was soon removed, and ; ae eee Ee pear Dyan ge. Soe a Pip te pt epi ‘Broadway Billy’s Curious Case. \ the cool night air was joyously received as it rushed in upon them when the window was raised, ‘* Now for a box,” exclaimed Billy, and he set about getting it. ° Placing the box under the window, he told Skinny to go first, and as soon as he was out, Billy followed and the window was closed. ‘*Give me your hand!” Billy cried in delight, “Tf that wasn’t well done, then I never had a grandmother, that’s all.” ‘* Tt was a lucky escape, and that’s so,” Skinny agreed, ‘* Andnow don’t you think we had bet- ter draw out and leave the thing alone—” ‘* Lucky escape! lJuck had nothin’ to do with it, Skin. It was pluck and bard labor, that’s what it was, And as to giving it up—nary a time. We have got to have ourinning now.’ While they were talking, debating what had better be their next move, they fancied they heard voices, and a hasty look around revealed the shadowy forms of several men approaching and they had just time enough to dodge around the building before they were discovered, ‘* Sweet pertaters! but that was aclose shave,” whispered Billy. ‘‘ I'll bet it’s our enemies com- ing to pay us another visit. Won’t there bea time when they find us gone!” ‘“‘ And there’ll be more of a time if they dis- cover us here,” warned Skinny. ‘* We had bet- ter slope off in this other direction.” ‘*Not any, pard. We may hear something that will do our ears good, We will stay and see itout if it costs a tooth and abutton. We are into this game now to win, you bet.” The men came forward at a rapid stride, and there were four of them, This the lads made out as they peered around the corner of the building to take in the situa- tion, It was light enough to see forms distinctly, but not to recognize the features, unless very near by, and then not perfectly. The men came on to the door, where they stopped, and as one fumbled with a key to find the lock he was heard to observe: “This is where they are, Pete, and you bet they’re safe enough,” ‘Did you put ’em in the tight room?” was asked, ‘¢ You bet,” was the response, ‘*Then they are safe, e’ll soon make them talk, now.” The door was now opened, and they passed in, And as they did so another dark form crept stealthily out of the darkness, and came for- ward, ‘Sweet pertaters!” whispered Billy, ‘‘ thicker and more of it!” ‘* He’s a spy after ’em, sure,” Skinny guessed, At that moment camea howl from within. The escape had been discovered, There were raving and swearing, and the man who had been called Pete went on like a crazy man. “Hang me fer a herring if I don’t know that voice!” Billy suddenly whispered to his partner. “Tf it isn’t Pinon Pete I’m a p’izen pirate! Skinny, it is gettin’ mighty interestin’.” ‘‘That’s who it is, sure,” Skinny agreed. And with the next breath added the warning, ‘* Look out!” The fifth person, the one who had come to the door after the others bad entered, had dodged back from the door now, and was coming toward the corner where the lads were. Discovery was certain, and with a quick move Billy had his revolvers in hand, ready to get the best of the situation. He and Skinny drew back a yard or so, and the man jumped around the corner and stopped. It was darker there, and his only object was plainly to keep out of sight. He had been none too soon, either, for at the same moment the others came out of the stable, still cursing. ‘“‘ What is goin’ to be done?” one was heard to question. ‘““The game is up,” declared the one called Pete, “ hese fellows have given us the slip, and our only plan of safety is to get out.” ‘Too bad we didn’t kill them at sight,” mut- tered the one who had decoyed the lads into*the trap. ‘‘ They will have the best of it, now, if they have a mind to pushit. Do you think they will, Pete?” CHAPTER XV. TRACKED TO THE SECRET. ‘““Prre” prefaced his reply with a string of curses, ** Of course they will!” was what he finally led up to. ‘* Wasn’t they comiog here to see the old man anyhow?” any youn nm the Ve
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“Yes; but maybe they will scare off, seeing the fix they got into, lll bet they are a mile fron here, in the direction of Denver, I think we'd better hold out and see,” “And get bagged, eh? Not anyin mine, I know when the chance is to be risked and when not, you bet. We have got to slope, and that settles it. Curse it! you couldn’t have secured the fellows half as well as you claim you did, or they would be here,” * Ask the others if we didn’t,” was the retort, | “Tt is a puzzle how they got loose. I could swear they didn’t do it without help.” ** All the more reason, then, for our dusting out while we can. But, we had better do our talkin; inside.” Their talk ceased instantly, and they disap- peared into the building. . * Smoke o’ Gittysburg!”’ whispered the man at the corner, “but they is a p’izen Jot, sure enough, I wonder whar them boyees is?” Billy recognized the voice and words instant- ly, as did Skinny, and a thrill of delight passed through them both, It was their old friend, Roger the Rover! How had he come there? But a second’s thought made it clear to Billy. He must have followed Pinon Pete, It was highly desirable that the lads should make their presence known to the old ranger, but it was a risky thing to do, for it was likely to bring abou$ some word or sound that would arouse those within. Billy was scarcely two yards from him, and he chirped like a cricket to draw attention. The ranger turned his head immediately, and as he did so Billy whispered: **Is that you, Rover?” **Thaok ther Lord!” was the hearty response, in like cautious whisper, Billy lowered the weapon he had lifted almost into tbe old man’s face, as an extra precaution to silence, and the pair grasped hands, Explanations were exchanged in a few hur- riedly whispered words, and then Billy re- marked: ‘* Now, we must hear what these men have to say. ‘“‘We mustn’t let them get out of our sight, and if they give us any clew to work on, we must go to work with a will.” ‘*P’m with yer, lad, boots an’ spurs, I have trotted an’ tramped all ther way heur, an’ I don’t want to have that work fer nothin’, We must capture ther skunks if it is in ther blood.” ** And we will, too, or they will capture us,” was the grim response. ‘‘Come, we must bear all we can.” Their talk had been in the most guarded tones, and now they left the end of the building where they had taken refuge, and drew near the door and window, Each of them had his weapons ready in hand, and it would have been a bad triangle for the rascals to have run up against in the dark. The three friends had now the best hand in the game. The ranger anf Skinny stopped at the win- dow, while Billy crept on to the door, which had. been left slightly open. Their enemies were in the inner room, and a just lighted the lantern, leaving its light very ow, **Curse them, see here!” Billy heard Milo Jarvis mutter. ‘‘See how they have cut their, way out, will you!” “What! didn’t you disarm them?” Pinon Pete demanded. ‘* No; we had to hurry, and as we tied them up so well we didn’t dream of it being neces- sary.” @And you see now how well you tied them. I thought you knew better than that, Milo.” “And so did I. But, there is no use crying over spilled milk, you know.” “Well, what is going to be done?” “We have got to give it up and get out, that’s the only safe thing,” ** But, we may be running away from a shadow. Hadn't we better wait and see if the lads are around to-morrow? I rather think the have dusted out before this, and that we'll never see them again.” “You may be right, but we don’t know it,” “Then you are willing to throw up the whole job?” “Yes, and glad ter do it, too. I tell you it has got too hot for comfort.” “But, what about the fair one?” ‘© We'll have to let her go,” “* And not try the game at all?” “Not with me in it, you bet! It has got too hot, and I want a cooler clime just as soon as I can find one.” ** And how will you let her go?” Milo persist- ed. ‘‘Set her free and let her find her way home the best she can?” Broadway Billy’s ‘*T don’t see any other way, do you?” **T think I do.” ‘What is it?” ‘* Well, I happen to know those lads haven't been gone Jong from here. If we had been less than half an hour earlier, we would have caught them,” ‘Ha! how do you know that?” “ That's what l’d like to know, too,” thought Pilly, as he listened, ‘* Hasy enough,” answered Jarvis. ‘‘ When I took up the lantern to light it, it was warm ‘“The deuce you say! Then the lads can’t be a long ways off, after all,” ‘‘But they are gone, none the less. Now, what I was going to say is this: If we set out right away, we won’t be seen, and we can take the fair one off further yet, and still carry out our designs.” ** That's not bad; but I tell you it is a heavier case than I ever dreamed it was going to be.” “Notaing risked, nothin’ had,” commented Jarvis. They talked on until two things were plain enough to Billy and his backers, One was, that these rascals knew where Miss Bridgefield was. The other, that they were afraid to make any move in the matter,” But their talk was so guarded, whether by chance or design, that it was hard to get ata correct understanding of the case by means of it. “Well, whatever we do, must be decided on now,” Jarvis finally urged. “‘That’s ther fact of it,” agreed the minor rascals, ** And as you are the boss, Pete, it is for you to say,” Jarvis finished, ‘*Do you think we could make it work?” What work?” “Taking her off further and holding her longer,” “Why not? The biggest risk has already been run, and we ought to have pay for it all.” ‘* But, it ought to be done now, while the thing is at white heat,” ‘* And we dare not try it. No; let’s wait. It won’t cost us much to hold off a little, and we can take care she don’t get away from us,” ‘* Well, it must be done before daylight, and there’s not a minute to be lost. The hills will swarm as soon as itis light. Let’s be about it. Wecan find some other place for the present.” ‘*There’s no time to be lost, We must move now. And we’d better go on foot, for horses might draw attention. Come,” hey were heard to move, and the three pearcpers withdrew around the building with all aste. Soon the four schemers emerged, and went off the way they had come, walking rapidly. As soon as prudent, after them stalked the de- tective trio, The secret would soon be theirs, if they were successful in following without being discover- ed. The scoundrels passed silently through the village, out along one of the roads beyond, and so on and into the hills, and like shadows fol- lowed their foes. It is unnecessary to dwell upon the details of the keen tracking the old ranger and his younger pards were called upon to do, nor the incidents by the way. The end finally came, after a walk of over two hours’ duration. The last part of the way, a mile or more, had been over a rugged, unbroken side hill, where there was neither trail nor sign of trail. And the destination proved to be a rude cabin away over on the other side from the main trail, where no one would have expected to find such a thing, At this cabin the four villains stopped and knocked. Billy and his pards had stopped at a safe dis- tance, behind some rocks, for daylight was just breaking. ; Presently there was a response from within the cabin, a few words were exchanged, the door was opened and the men filed in. And at once then Billy and his help advanced, Gaining the end of the cabin, they listened, weapons in hand. * What is it ye want?” asked a woman’s voice, bye and squeaky. ‘‘ What has brung ye so arly ‘We've got to move,” answered Pinon Pete. “It ain’t safe hereany longer, and we've got to hunt new quarters,” “You are purty ’arly,” the cracked voice piped, “but you ain’t ‘arly enough fer that, t is gettin’ daylight, ye see, Yer will have ter lay low here till dark comes again.” “Would it be safe, Milo?” Pete questioned. Curious Case. er 13 “Safer than to try it, now that it’s coming light,” was the reply. ‘Well, then, stay here till dark it is,” Pete decided. ** And ’m not sorry, for ’m played out,’ ‘“Same here,” declared Milo, ‘‘ We'll drop right down and sleep, Selina, old gal, and you can bave somethin’ to eat when we wake up.” Suddenly another voice was heard, a sweet, womanly voice, but one ir greatest sorrow. ‘*Oh, men—if men you are,” it cried, ‘* have mercy on me and let me go, I beg of you. If your object be gain, I will pay you a thousand dollars tor my liberty. I wil) mail the money in cash to any address you choose to give me,” ‘“‘That’s ther talk!” exclaimed one of the minor rascals, “She'll have ter add a couple o’ hundred extra fer this bullet she guv me,” another voice growled, sleepily. ‘**It won’t do,” Pinon Pete decided. ‘*The old man wouldn’t allow it, and he’d only use the letter as a decoy, No; we ain’t so green as that. We'llattend toit in our own time and way, miss,” The gir) urged her offer, vowing that she would certainly do as sbe promised, but it was of no use, and she was soon ordered to keep still that the ruffians might sleep. CHAPTER XVI. RESCUE AND REWARD, BROADWAY BILuy, Skinny and the old ranger withdrew to a distance to bold a council of war. Now, they knew, had come the decisive mo- ment, or hour, Upon them would depend every- thing. And they were determined not to fail, They were tbe only ones wo had got at the secret, and it was theirown by right of discov- ery. What they wanted was to make a com- plete case of it without any help whatever, And this they would have to do now, since the whole matter rested upon themselves, “111 tell you what it is, pards,” spoke Billy, “it is going to be touch and go, when we make our move, and the best side will win. But we will have the advantage on our side, even if they do have numbere on theirs,” ‘*Right you be, thar,” admitted the veteran, ‘¢ They will be asleep in ten minutes, or less, an’ then will be our time to scoop ’em in. It will do me good ter git ’em dead to rights, too, after ther p’izen deeds they have been guilty of. We must not fail, Billy.” *‘ Sweet pertaters, no!” **T believe the fever is gettin’ hold of me, too, now,” Skinny bad to confess, ‘I want to have a band in this when the time comes,” ‘*There’s no flies on you, Skinny, when it comes to the pinch,” complimented Billy. ‘‘ You sba!l do your share, and get satisfaction for your long fast, you bet.” ‘“But, what is your plan, my son?” asked the old man. “That’s jest what I am tryin’ to rake up out of the chaff in my think box,” Billy de- clared, scratching his head. ‘If my top-piece was only filled with brain instead of mush, life might have more charms for me than it has. The others smiled and waited. “‘T'll tell you what,” Billy finally announced. “We'll draw as near to the cabin as we can— take our stand right at one end of it. There we'll wait tillitis broad daylight, sothat we can see what we’re doing. By that time they will all be as sound asleep as the dead. Then, when it is so light that we can’t make any mistakes, and can’t be fooled, we’ll pounce in upon ’em and take ’em or kill ’em.” ‘*That’s jest ther plan,” the old man agreed. ‘But we wants ter know jest what part each one is ter play.” : ‘* Well, Skinny and I will cover em and drop ’em, too, if need be; and you can attend tomak- ing prisoners of ’em.” “Good enough; that fills ther hull pan right u 7 Tooktne well to their weapons, they advanc- ed stealthily to the end of the cabin and there waited. Nothing was heard, save snoring and the occasional sob of the young woman who was held prisoner in so mean a place, and the time passed rapidly. ; When it was quite daylight, then Billy gave the signal to move. Like one they advanced silently to the door, and Billy tried it. It was unfastened, and he opened it a little, Tkat done, he stopped to see that the others were ready at his back, and throwing the door open wide, he bounded whoop. into the room with a.
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Kt a \ 0 ws Re Broadway Billy’s Curious Case, Immediately every man there was awake and springing to his feet, but it was too late to avail them anything, for Billy and his pards had them covered. ‘‘Up with your hands, every one of you!” the young terror to evil-doers cried, his voice ring- ing like a bugle sounding the charge, ‘* The first man who resists, goes down!” ** Bet yer life on’t!” echoed the old ranger. ‘*Up with ’em, an’ no foolin’ about 1t!” I aches to shoot, I do! It took the cowardly wretches but a moment to see that it would be useless for tiem to resist, and their hands went up, every one. ‘That shows your good sense,” said Billy. ** Now keep them there, or a lump of lead will find a tender spot in you before you can wink your eye.. This is our inning, and we're going to get there if it costs blood to do it.” The old ranger had his cords already prepared and was speedily at the work assigned to him, and in about one minute all four of the detest- able rogues were securely bound. Then the same was done for the woman who had been keeping guard over the prisoner. On a bunk in one corner was a fifth man, who_had one arm all bandaged up, but he made no offer to resist, and was taken care of last of all. During this time there had been wild curs- ing from them all, mingled with fervent thanks for deliverance on the part of Ora Bridgefield, It was a signa] victory for Broadway Billy and bis allies, and the lad’s heart beat bigh with exultation, ** Ha, ha, ha!” he laughed, when they bad all been secured, ‘what do you think about it, now, Pinon Peter? You picked up arough razor when you tackled Broadway Billy. When he gets his work in he shaves awful close!” Pinon Pete had turned a sickly yellow, and his jaw dropped, ** Not Broadway Billy?’ he hoarsely gasped. “That's my name on week days,” was the re- sponse of the jubilant lad, ‘*Then we give right up,” Pete muttered, de- spairingly. ‘I have heard of you.” ‘*T don’t see what else you can do,” declared Billy. ‘‘ You had better give up as prisoners than give up the ghost, I opine. Have you got ’em secure, Rover?” “You bet, my son, They is good fer ten years apiece,” The prisoners were taken out of the cabin, dis- armed, and arranged in line, all tied together. Ora.Bridgefield, a young and pretty girl, had come forth, and had placed herself under Billy’s protection, thanking him over and over again, In due time they set out for Manitou, the old ranger leading the way, Skinny coming next at the bead offthe file of prisoners, and Billy bring- ing up the rear. At the head of the line was Pinon Pete, and next to him was Milo Jarvis, with tne others following, the wounded man and the old hag bringing up the end of the villainous procession. And Billy had a weapon in each hand to keep order in the villainous line, pretty Ora walk- ing joyously at his side. t was a toilsome march, for all were exceed- ingly tired, but finally they entered the village of their destination and turned their weary steps in the direction of the Bridgefield cottage. Not far bad they gone along the street when Miss Bridgefield was recognized, and a shout was raised, and by the time the Bridgefield cot- tage was reached a great crowd was with them. r.and Mrs, Bridgefield, with their guests and servaats, hearing the great cheering, were in the yard, and in a few moments the lost daugh- ter was in her mother’s arms, Everybody was trying to talk at once, and it was a considerable time before head or tail could be understood of the situation. The one great fact, at first, was enough—that Ora Bridgefield had been found alive and well, But, finally, Broadway Billy was called on to tell his story, aud he did so, going over the points as we have seen them worked out, in a matter-of-fact way, without anything of credit to himself, When he had done, loud cheering occupied the next two or three minutes, He had done a clever thing, and all praise was due to him and his stanch allies. The young lady, in telling her part of it, ex- plained that she had been met on the trail on the afternoon of her disappearance by five masked men. They orde her to dismount, and she refused, and when they sprung at ber, she fired her revolver, bitting one of them in the arm. But she was speedily overcome, made a prisoner, and. her horse was pushed over the edge of the trail to the depths below, where it was found, The blood-mark on its side was made by the hand of the wounded man, She was taken to the old cabin from which Billy and his pards had rescued her, and there put under the keeping of the old woman, who guarded carefully against her escape. No harm | had been done her, other than the terrible dis- tress to her mind and the strain upon ber nerves, | But she was almost ill, and as soon as she bad | told ber story her mother took her into the house, weeping over her for very joy. Next came the confession of Pinon Pete. Being in the hardest sort of luck, as he ex- pressed it, the idea had come to him and Milo Jarvis to abduct Miss Bridgefield and hold ber torransom, They carried out their plan, so far as the abduction went, but the great excitement it raised immediately, and the prompt and de- termined action taken by Mr. Bridgefield, so frightened them tbat they had dared to make no further move, though they were preparing tudo so when Broadway Billy rap couater to Pinon Pete and alarmed him in the manner set forth, and not without cause, as the worthies now re- alized. That there was an exciting time at Manitou goes without saying. Broadway Silly and his partners came in for a grand ovation. and were the heroes of the bour, Mr. Bridgefield took them into bis home, and there feasted them to Skinny’s entire delight and keenest satisfaction. Then he rewarded them generously for the great service they had ren- dered, The dastards, hardly necessary to say, were dealt with promptly. Officers took charge of them, and there was a fair prospect of their spending a considerable time in prison. Oscar Dauton was the happiest man in the whole county, if possible, and he could not do enongh to show Billy how he appreciated what he nati done, In his great delight he sought out Meredith Paynes, and humbly apologized to bim for the suspicion be had entertained against him, and his rival accepted it in good spirit and gener- ously forgave. That day and night Billy and his allies re- mained at Manitou, and on the following morn- ing took train for the point where they they had left their horses, and where they were heartily welcomed by the railroad pgent who had given them such help in their work, And a more delighted man than that same agent it would bave been hard to find. That the bero of it all was Broadway Billy, of whom he had read, he could hardly believe, but Billy succeeded in convincing him of the truth of it before they parted. Remaining one day at that place, on the following morning the trio set out for Denver. ** That's the sort of pippins we are,” Billy re- marked to his companions, when once more upon their way. ‘‘ With you and Roger here to back me, I’m ready to tackle any sort of a case, Oh, we are on deck yet, my gay and festive dumpling, and our banner is flung to the breeze ou the side of the afflicted and them as needs help in the tussle with villainy. Whoop!” and his voice would have done credit to a Pawnee hair-lifter, **T wonder what sort of a cOnsarned diffikilty is awaiting us at Denver, anyhow?” mused Skin- ny. ‘“ Billy’s got ’em mighty bad, that’s sure, and that means business!” Billy’s only answer was: pe Whoop! Whoop!” THE END. Beadle's Dime Library. BY CAPTAIN MARK WILTON. 323 Hotspur Hugh; or, The Banded Brothers. 311 Heavy Hand; or, The Marked Men. 805 Silver-Plated Sol, the Montana Rover. 291 Horseshoe Hank, the Man of Big Luck, 285 Lightning Bolt, the Canyon Terror. 276 Texas Chick. the Southwest Detective. 271 Stonefist, of Big Nugget Bend. 266 Leopard Luke. the King of Horse-Thieves. 263 Lron-Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destroyer. 258 Bullet Head, the Colorado Bravo. 245 Barranca Bill, the Revolver Champion 237 Long-Haired Max; or, The Black Lea p 227 Buckshot Ben, the Man-Hunter of Idaho, 223 Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain, 219 The Scorpion Brothers; or, Mad Tom's Mission, 202 Cactus Jack, the Giant Guide. 194 Don Sombrero, the California Road Gent. 176 Lady Jaguar, the Robber Queen, ns BY WILLIAM R. EYSTER. 634 Old Handcart's Big Dump. 622 The All Around Sports. 603 Desert Alf, the Man With the Cougar. 590 Gentle Jack, the High Roller from Humbug. 578 Seven Shot Steve, the Sport with a Smile. 568 [he Dude Detective. 558 Hurrah Harry, the High Horse from Halcyon, 549 Belsnazzar Brick, the Bailiff of Blue Blazes. 533 Oregon. the Sport With aSear. 525 Fresh Frank, the Derringer Daisy. 503 The Dude from Denver. 478 Pinnacle Pete; or. The Fool from Way Back, 459 Major Sunshine, the Man of Three Lives. 429 Hair Trigger Tom of Red Bend, 402 Snapshot Sam; or, The Angels’ Flat Racket. 396 The Piper Detective; or, The Gilt Edge Gang. 375 Royal George, the Taree in One. 356 Thr-e Handsome Sports; or, The Combination, 344 Double Shot Dave of the Left Hand. 338 Derringer Dick, the Man with the Drop. 300 A Sport ip Spectacles; or, Bad Time at Bunco, 268 Magic Mike, the Man of Frills 229 Captain Cutsleeve; or, The Little Sport. 214 The Two Cool Sports; or, Gertie of the Gulch. 192 The Lightning Sport. 182 Hands Up; or, The Knights of the Canyon. 160 Soft Hand, Sharp; or, The Man with the Sand. 145 Pistol Pards; or, The Silent Sport from Cinnabar BY SAM 8S, HALL—‘** Buckskin Sam,’ 511 Paint Pete, the Prairie Patrol. 871 Gold Buttons; or, The Up Range Pards 858 The Prince of Pan Out. 342 Blanco Bill, the Mustang Monarch, 328 King Kent; or, The Bandits of the Bason. 822 The Crimson Coyotes; or, Nita, the Nemesis 309 Raybold, the Rattling Ranger. 301 Bowlder Bill; or, The Man from Taos, 293 Stampede Steve; or, The Doom of the Double. 287 Dandy Dave and his Horse, White Stocking. 282 The Merciless Marauders; or, Carl’s Revenge. 273 Mountain Mose, the Gorge Outlaw. 269 The Bayou Bravo; or, The Terrible Trail. 264 The Crooked Three. 256 Double Dan, the Dastard; or, The Pirates. 250 The Rough Riders; or, Sharp Eye, the Scourge, 244 Merciless Mart, the Man Tiger of Missouri. 239 The Terrible Trio; or, The Angel of the Army, 225 Rocky Mountain Al; or, The Waif of the Range, 221 Desperate Duke, the Guadaloupe ‘‘ Galoot.” 217 The Serpent of El Paso; or, Frontier Frank. 212 The Brazos Tigers: or, ‘he Minute Men. 204 Big Foot Wallace, the King of the Lariat. 199 Diamcnd Dick, the Dandy from Denver. 195 The Lone Star Gambler; or, Magnolia’s Maid. 191 The Terrible Tonkaway; or, Old Rocky’s Pards. 186 The Black Bravo; or, The Tonkaway’s Triumph. 178 Dark Dashwood, the Desperate. 90 Wild Will, the Mad Ranchero. 3 Kit Carson, Jr., the Crack Shot. BY GEORGE C. JENKS, 572 Jaunty Joe, the Jockey Detective, 554 Mad Sharp, the Rustler. 588 Rube Rocket, the Tent Detective. 526 Death-Grip, the Tenderfoot Detective, 507 The Drummer Detective. 432 The Giant Horseman. e 898 Sleepless Eye, the Pacific Detective. MISCELLANEOUS. 566 The Dauntless Detec:ive: or, The Daughter Avenger. By Tom W. King. 842 The Ocean Drift; or, The Fight for Two Lives. By A, F. Holt. 534 Green Mountain Joe: or, The Counterfeiter’s Cave. By Marmaduke Dey. 518 Royal Richard, the Thoroughbred. By J. W. sbon, 410 Sarah Brown, Detective. By K. F. Fill. 866 The Telegraph Detective. By George H. Morse. 353 Bart Brennan; or, The King of Straight Flush, By John Cuthbert. 850 Flash. Falcon, Society Detective. By W. J. Cobb. 312 Kinkfoot Karl, tbe Mountain Scourge. By Mor- ris Redwing. 275 The Smuggler Cutter. By J. D. Conroy. 261 Black Sam, the Prairie Thunderbolt. By Col. Jo Yards. 190 The Three Guardsmen. By Alexander Dumas. 179 Conrad, the Convict. By Prof. Gildersleeve, 166 Owlet, the Robber Prince. By S. R. Urban. 158 The Doomed Dozen. By Dr. Frank Powell 152 Captain Ironnerve, the Counterfeiter Chief. 146 The Doctor Detective. By George Lemuel. 144 The Hunchback of Notre Dame. By Victor Hugo, 140 The Three Spaniards. By Geo. Walker. 133 Rody the Rover. By William Carteton. 125 The Blacksmith Outlaw. By H. Ainsworth. 110 The Silent Rifleman, By H. W. Herbert. 102 The Masked Band. By George L. Aiken. 78 The Mysterious Spy. By Arthur M. Grainger. 76 The Queen’s Musketeers. By George Albany. 68 The Fighting Trapper. cA J. F.C, Adams. 60 Wide Awake, the Robber King. By F. Dumont, 32 B’hoys of Yale: or, The Scrapes of Collegians, 11 Midshipman Easy. By Captain Marryatt. 10 Vidocq, the French Police Spy. By himself, 9 Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover. 6 Wildcat Bob. By Edward I.. Wheeler. A new issue every Wednesday. Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by all Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of twelve cents each. BEADLE & ADAMS, Pubusners, 98 William street, New York. eS hae ro!
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BY OLL COOMES, > Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. The Dumb Spy. Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. Keen-Knife, the Prince of the Prairies. Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 1 Wawk-eye Harry the Young Trapper Ranger. 3 Rollo, the Boy Ranger. Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. Scar-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter Silver Star, the Boy Knight. Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon, Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 482 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. 202 Prospect Pete; or, fhe Young Outlaw Hunters, 208 The Bey Mercules: or, The Prairie Tramps. 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 238 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger, 248 The Disyulsed Guide 3 or, Wild Raven, the Ranger. 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger, 272 Minkskin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. B00 The Sky Demon; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger, 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero, 409 hercules; vr, Dick, the Boy Ranger. Al? Webtoot Mose, the Tramp Detective. 422 Baby Sam, the Boy Giant of the Yellowstone. 4 4 4 4 -_ = Fmt meee gr = Ie pe OS HeToVOuD OCW =o LeKnne =_* 7 Wingedtoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul. 8 Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 78 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic. 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. 562 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. G52 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance, 661 Old Kit Bandy’s Deliverance. 670 Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. 680 Dauntless Dan, the Freelance, or, Old Kit Bandy in Arcadia, BY BUOKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. & Hall.) 284 Old Rocky #** Boyees; or, Benito, the Horse-Broaker 246 Glant Qeorge; or, The Ang’! of the Range. 275 Arizona Jack 3 or, Giant George’s Pard. 297 The Tarantula of Taos; or, Giant George’s Revenge, B07 The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. B18 Ker-whoop, Ker-whoo; or, The Tarantula of Taos, B27 Creeping Cat, the Caddo; or, The Red and White Pares £82 Frio Fred; or, The Tonkaway’s Trust. $44 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. 849 Wild Wolf; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front. $57 The Ranch Raltders; or, The Siege of Fort Pargatory. 864 Snap-Shot, the Boy Kanger. BID Chiota, the Creek ; or, The Three Thunderbolts. 8S1 Bandera Bill; or. Frio Frank to the Front, £92 Romeo and the Reds; or, The Beleaguered Ranch, 404 Little Lartat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 414 The Dalasy from Denver, 427 The Three Trailers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage 442 Bluff Will; or, The Lynx of the Leona. 455 Little Lone Star: or, The Belle of the Cibolo. 684 Cache Carl, the Chico Giant. RY PHILIP 8S. WARNE. 6T Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 Gapraim Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game, 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat. 219 Despard, the Duellats cr, The Mountain Vompires. 888 A Tough Boy ; or, The Dwarf’s Revenge. 868 Little Tornado; or, The Outcasts of the Glen. BTR Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. BSS Little Oh-my 3 or, Caught in His Own Trap, 401 Little Shoo-F ly; or, A Race fora Ranch, 408 Little Leather-Breeches ; or, Old Jumbo’sC 481 Little Ah Siny or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the sines. 480 Three Jolly Parda, 617 Jim Gladden’s Deputy. 527 The Jolly Pards to the Rescue. 5AZ Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down, 656 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast fora Life. 574 Old Weaxel-top, the Man with the Dogs, 698 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. 599 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport. 618 Billy Blazes; or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. 685 Oklahoma HA, the Blue-Coat Scout. 648 WUappy Warry’s Big Find. 664 Cheeky Charley, the Special. BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Asa Scott, the Steamboat Boy. 199 Featherweight the Boy Champlon of the Muskingum, 223 Ozark All’; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws. 282 The Typo Detective ; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. 295 Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quartzville. 811 The Roving Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp, 822 Nemo, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon’s Vendetta. 840 Clip the Contortiontat; or, Tha Montana Vigilantes. BY JO PIEROR, 897 Rob o’ the Bowery; or, The Prince of Mulberry Street. 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom, 452 Wotapur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 460 The Lawyer's Shadow ; or, Luke’s Legacy. 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. _ 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective, 5604 Five Points Phil. 509 Jack Jaggera, the Butcher Boy Detective, 516 Tartar Tims; or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerie. 526 North River Nat, the Pier Detective. 535 Wrestling Rex, the Pride of the Sixth Ward. 641 Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective. 551 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow. 659 Warlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, 577 Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter, 588 Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector, GOR Wide-Awanke Bert, the Street-Steerer, 614 Whistling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid, 628 Buck Bumblebee, the Harlem Hummer, 689 Sunrise Saul, the Express-Truin Ferret. 649 Gamin Bob, the Bowery Badger; or, Scooping a Slippery Set, 658 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. 688 Saltpeter Sol, the New York Navigator, 694 Spicy Jim, the Only One of His Kind. 706 Tom Thistle, the Road-House Detective. T1Z Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. 726 Dennis Duff, the Brown Sport’s Kid. BY J. W. OSBON. 469 The Rival Giants of Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. 5387 Old paige Ay the Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner. cle Richart ty par ae. ss story oftne Jalind ning’s @ island. 688 Plucky Paul, the Boy Frospecter, eoviatg BEADLE’S«H ALF-])IME« [| IBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl. 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 7Y Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 288 Joe Buck of Angels and Hts Buy Pard. 447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling, 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 498 ‘Taos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hall-Breed Detective. 518 Cool Colorado in New York. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE, 86 Dandy Rock the Man from Texas. 90 The Drend Rider; or, The Texan Duelist. BY GEORGE ©. JENKS. 485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor, 581 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. 598 Flute, tne Singer Detective. 608 The Pitcher Detective’s Foil; or, Dan’s Double Play, 616 The Ocean Detective: or. The Last Cruise ofthe Black Bear, 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussel. BY J, ©. COWDRIOK, 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. 869 Shasta, the Gold King; or, For Seven Years Dead, 420 The Betective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without » Name, 424 Cibuta Jonny; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout, 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo, 606 Redlight Ralph the Prince of the Road, 514 Broadway Billy’s Boodle. 524 The Engineer Detective. 5686 Broadway Billy’s ‘ Difikilty.” 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 557 Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. 671 Air-Line Luke the Young Engineer. 579 The Chimney Spy}; or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party. 592 The Boy Pinkerton. 605 William 0’ Broadway; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. 615 Fighting Warry — the Chief of Chained Cyclone. 628 Broadway Billy’s Dead Act. 640 Barebse«k Beth, the Centaur of the Circle, 647 Typewriter Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward. 659 Moonlight Morgan, the * Pizenest ’? Man of Ante Bas 669 Broadway Billy Abroad. 675 Brondway Billy’s Best; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest. 687 Broadway Billy tn Clover, 696 Brondway Billy_iIn_Texaa. 708 Broaaway Billy’s Brand. 711 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe. 720 Broadway Billy’s Full Mand, BY FREDERICK DEWEY 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shots, 478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective. 542 The Canyon Parda, BY ARTHUR C. GRISSOM, 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowie Kid, 558 The Sure-Shot Parda, 621 Truthful James, the “ Pecooliar” Man, BY MAJOR E. L. 8ST. VRAIN, 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit. 801 Lendville Nick, the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince. 888 Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette, 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “Sand.” 859 Durauyro Dave, the Youny Chamyvion Wrestler, 871 Kingbolt Chris, the Young Hard-Shell Detective. 880 Avalanche ALf, the Foothills Guide, 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountain Mail-Line. BY EDWARD 8, ELLIS, 6 Bill Biddon, Tian, 8 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of the Frontier, 30 Nat Todds: or, The Fate of the Sloux Captive. 2 ‘rne Frontier Angel. 93 The Boy Minera: or, The Enchanted Island. 182 The Munted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman, 254 iv he Walf-Blood 3 or, The Panther of the Plains. 271 The Muge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man. BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON, 278 The Three Trappers; or, The Mountain Monster 288 Indian Joe; or, res White Spirit of the Hills. BY CAPT, MARK WILTON, 256 Young Kentucky; or, The Red Lasso. 270 Blizzard Ben; or, The Riot at Keno Camp. 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot. . BY BRACEBRIDGE NEMYNG, 89 Island Jim; or, The Pet of the Family. .91 The Captain of the Club; or. The Rival Athletes, 101 Jack Narkaway in New York. BY MAJOR NENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-Scout. 806 Neck-Tie Ned3 or, The Dug-Out Pards. 846 Rapler Raphael; or, The Swordsmen of Zacatecas, 891 Kid-Glove Kit, the Dandy of the Rockies, 898 Kid-Glove Kit and Pard; or, The Gold King, - 406 The Mad Man-Munter: or, The Golden Gulch Mystery. 505 Powell’s Pardy or, The One-Armed Giant. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER, 15 The Sea-Cat;: or, The Witch of Darien, 29 The Dumb Page; or, The Doge’s Daughter, 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. © Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco, 154 The Sword Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 159 The Lost Oaptain ; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise, 200 The Boy Bedoutins; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Jance, 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine. 249 Milo Romer the Animal King; or, Round the World, 265 The Tiger Tamer; or, The League of the Jungle. 881 Black N&ek, the Demon Rider. 895 California Joe's War Trall. BY COL. A. F. NOLT. 899 Black Buckakin: or, The Masked Men of Death Canyon, 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King. sg “iy 485 Littie Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods. S28 The Dandy gport; or, The King Pin Conspirator. 678 Ralph Renwood, the Lightning Express Detective, 691 Headlight Harry's Haul. 27 Weadlight Marry’s Siren. BY JOSEPH E, BADGER, JR, 2 Yellowstone Jack; or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent,; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat 65 Murrtcane BLL or, Mustang Sam and fits Pard, 119 Muatang Sam} or, The King of the Plains. 186 Night-tiawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul: or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Glant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire, 184 The Boy Traltlers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path 208 The Boy Pards«; or, Dainty Lance Unmaska, 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City, 810 The Barranca Wolf’; or, The Beautiful Decoy, 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League, 885 Old Double Fist; or, The Strange Guide 855 The King of the Weods: or Danie! Boone’s Last Trail 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Trafler. 677 Chineapin Dan's Second Trail, 688 Chincapin Dan's Home Stretch. 698 Old Crazy, the Man Without a Head. TOS Light-HWeart Lute’s Legacy. 71S Light-Heart Lute’s Last Trail. 728 Silverblade, the Shoshone, BY W. J. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brotherhood ; or, The Twelve Avengers. 66 Single Handy; or, A Life fora Life, 72 Mad Tom Weatern, the Texan Ranger, 887 Ben Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Scoop, BY JACK FARRAGUT, 815 Ned, the Cabin Boy. 820 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper. BY LIEUT. H. D. PERRY, U. 8. N. 176 The Boy Runaway; or, The Buccaneer of the Bay, 180 The Sea Traller; or, A Yow Wel! Kept. 192 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. 7S Blue Dicks or, The Yellow Chief's Vengeance. ST The Land Pirates; or, The League of Devil's Island, 87 The Helpless Hinnds or, Backwoods Retribution. 289 The Gold-secker Guide? or, The Lost Mountain, BY WILLIAY R EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Franky or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pards BY ©. DUNNING CLARK, 185 Captain Paul; or, The Boy Spy of the Mountaina, 280 The Yankee Kajah3; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef, BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR U.S, A, 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker. 194 Buffalo BIW s Bet; or, The Gambler Guide. BY LIEUT, A. K. SIMS, 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock. 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 576 The Silver Sport. 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow 5S9 Tom-Ont and Pardy or, The Dead Set at Silver City. 601 Happy Hans, the Duteh Vidoce 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules. 622 Texas Tom-Cat’s Trind 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Task, 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumph; or. Bleck Dan's Great Combine, 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range svetective. 657 Warbling William, the Mountain Mountebank, 665 Jolly Jereminhy the Plains Detective. 676 Signal Sam, the Lookout Scout. 689 Billy the Gypsy Spy. 699 Sbaple Stm, the Broneho Buster, 712 The Mesmerist Sport; or, The Mystified Detective, MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-Tlorse NWunters. By Capt. Mayne Rela and Frederick Whittaker. 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 2 Gulliver's Travels. By Dean Swift, 4A Aladding or, The Wondertul Lamp, 6& Robinson Crusoe, (27 I lustrations.) & Sindbad the Sailor, His Seven Voyages. 2 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crosoe, By Juan Lewls. 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribees. By 8, W. Pierce. 86 The Boy Clown, or, The Arena Queen. By F 8, Finn. BS Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 61 The Boy Rit'es; or. The Underground Camp. By A.C. Irons. 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi. By Lient.-Col, Hazeltine. 98 Robin Ifood, the Outlawed Ear); or, The Merry Men of Green- wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve, 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Ilunter; or, }heCave of Death. By Burton Saxe. 124 Tippy, the Texan; or, The Young Champion. By George siePaon. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish, 148 Sharp Samy or, The Adventures of a Friendless Boy. By J, Alexander Patten. 227 Dusky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Ye)- lowstone, By Edward Emerson, 261 Fergus Fearnaught the New Y ork Boy. By G. L, Alken. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; or, Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trail, By Ensign C, D. Warren. 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid ot the Cliff, By Captain Comstock. 817 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville, By Lieu- tenant 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 Re- venge. By Ned Buntline. ' 865 Baltimore Ren the Bootblack Detective. By A, P. Morris. 874 Gold-Duat Tomt or, Ben’s Douhla Match, By @ H. Morse. 876 Cailfornia Joe’s First Trail, By Colonel Thomas Hover Monastery. 418 Billy Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By F, 8. Winthrop. 475 The Black Ship. By JohnS Warner. 484 Comanche Dick and His Three Invinelblea. By Henry J. Thomas. 582 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest. 552 Artel the Athlete. By David Druid. 585 Will Waters, the Bov Ferret, By H. Enton. 682 The Dond etective’s Double. By Gerald Carlton. 21 Maverick Mese, the Arizona Detective; or, The Wizard of Urkos Pass. By Will Lisenbee, A New issue Every Tuesday. The. Half-Dime Library is for sale by ail newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMA, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York,
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BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novels. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road, 20 Deadwood Dick’s Defiance; or, Double Daggers. 74 ponawocs oo ce cer Ay Buifaly Ben + Deadwooc ek in « Castle. 42 Deadwood Dick’s Bonar 3 or, The .«antom Miner. 49 Deadwood Dick in Dang ¢ or, Omaha Oll. 57 Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar, 78 Dendwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity 4 ine, the Heroine, so% | ate tee Bike neat er or, Corduroy Charlie, U eadwood ck in Leadville. aoe anew eos ta ines fee; or, The Double Cross Sign. endwood ck as Detective. 129 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. 188 Deadwood Dick’« Home Base; or, Blonde Bill. 149 Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike; or, A Game of Gold, 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dreamy or, The Rivals of the Road. 201 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill's Jezebel. ate gonewoed meee nor re ey Jane’s Adventure. 217 Deadwood ek’s Dead Deal. 221 Deadwood Dick’s Death-Plant. 282 Gold-Dust Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Toughs, aes ep het A pivides or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. end woo ck’s Dea rall, 809 Deadwood Dick’s Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. 821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats B47 Deadwood Dick’« Ducatas; or, Days in the Diggings. prt enewecs pron mempenced s or, The Terrible Vendetta, eud woo ck’s Claim, 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City, 410 Deadwood Dick’s Dinmonda, 421 Deadwood Dick in New York; or, A “ Cute Case,” byt ena woee cep adh sheuc or, The Chained Hand, ead woot ck, Jr. 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Defiance. 458 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Full Hand. 459 Deadwoed Dick, Jr.’s, Big Round-Up. 465 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Racket at Claim 10, as6 penewees pe? are ao Bi roy a Bill. ecndwoo ak, I.’ By 0 etective, rie peadweed Dick, ort - Desdn ood, Jendwoo g 4 Jom pact. 496 Deadwood Inheritance, 600 Deadwood Dick, dr.’s, Diggings. 65608 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Deliverance, 615 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Protegee. 622 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’«, Three. 629 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Danger Ducka, 44 pratwoes picks ie pete Hunt. endwood ck, Jr., in Texas. 544 Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidocg 549 Deadwood Dick, Jr., on His Mettle. 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Gotham, 5661 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Boston. 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Phi elphta. 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago, 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Afloat. HS4 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Denver, 5690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Decree, 595 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Beclzebub’s Basin, rr44 onerors lt oa gr at Comer Esiawa endwood ck, Jr.’s, Leadville Lay. 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Detroit. ¥. 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Cincinuatt. 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Nevada, 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in No Man’s« Land, 686 Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer. G42 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Buffalo, . 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Chase Across the Continent 654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Among the Smugglers. 660 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Insurance Case, 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back in the Mines, 672 Deadwood Dick, Jr., (n Durango; or, “ Gathered In.” rH Deadwood Pek? wre? a a or, Found a Fortune, : eadwood ck, Jr.’a. Davzle. 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s. Dollars. 695 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Danger Divide. 700 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Drop. 704 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. aie peneweee picks on wr te ae 6 Deadwoo ek, Jr.’a, St unt. 722 Deadwood Dick, dr.’s, Dominoes, 728 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. BY CHARLES MORRIS. 118 WIll Somers, the Boy Detective. 122 Phil Hardy; the Boss Boy. 126 Picayune Pete ; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective, 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Black Beas, Will Wildfire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. 162 Will Wildfire in the Wooda, 165 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. 170 A Trump Card; or, Will Wildfire Wins and Loses, 174 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. 179 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner. 188 The Hidden Hand; or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. 187 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. 220 Tom Tanner} or, The Black Sheep of the Flock. 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky, 285 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two “ Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang, 252 Dick Dashaway : or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. 262 The Young Sharps: or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail. 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’« Job; or, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-Hound; or, The Young Thoroughored. £05 Dashaway, of Daketa; or, A Western Lad in Quaker City, 824 Ralph Rendy, the Hote) Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, B67 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times, 879 Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Firetly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Fingers or, The Entrapped Cashier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. A482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagavond. AGG Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive. A479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, 6&6 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 Detectives or, Harry Hale’s Big Boat, Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon. 82 Bob Woolf’; or, The Girl Dead-Shot. 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York, 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 583 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Bey I i 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red k 69 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter; or, The Boy Detective, 80 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand. 88 Phetograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance, 92 Canada Chet ; or, Old Anuconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp, Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport. 5 Bonanza Bill, Miner. 8 Boss Bob the King of Bootblacks, 1 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 5 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. z 1 1 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Spert Detective New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. Nobby Nick of Nevadnj; or, The Sierras Scamps, Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo. 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective, 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter, 226 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 286 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator. 244 Sierra Sam, tho Frontier Ferret. 248 Slerra Sam’s Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sierra Sam’s Pardy; or, The Angel of Big Vista. 258 Sierra Sam’s Sevens or, The Stolen Bride. 278 Jumbo Joe, the boy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs, 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen. 2S1 Denver Doll’s Victory. 285 Denver Doll's Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza, 291 Turk the Boy Ferret. 296 Denver Doll's Driit: or. The Road Queen, 299 A No. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. £08 ’Liza Jane, the Girl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. 825 Kelley, Hickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia, B80 Little Qu!ck-Shoet; or, The Dead Face of Daggersville, 884 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner, 889 Kangaroo Kit’ Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood. 858 First-Class Fred, the Gent from Gopher. 868 Vreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherery or, The Life Lottery, 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize. 878 Nabob Ned; or, The Secret of Slab City. 882 Cool Kit. the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, 885 Yreka Jim’s Joker}; or, The Rivals of Red Nose, $89 Bicycle Ben; or. The Lion of Lightning Lode, Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Hat Harry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam Slabaides, the Beggar-Boy Detective, 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives, 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher, 436 Seulskin Sam, the Sparkler. RY T. C. HARBAUGH, 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of ’76. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Little Hunter, 47 Nightingale Nat; or, Toe Forest Captains, 64 Dandy Jacks or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trali. 82 Kit Harefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jack ; or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Froaty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 128 Ktowa Charley the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lynch Jr: or, The Boy Vigilante. x Gold Trigger, the ya er, The Girl Avenger. 69 Tornado Tom; or, Injun Jack From Red Core, §S Ned Temple, the Border Boy. § Arkansaw ¢ or, The Queen of Fute’s Revenge. 0? Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 15 Captain Bullet; or, Little Topknot’s Crusade, 81 Plucky Phil; or, Rosa, the Rei Jezebel. Al Bill Bravo; or, The Roughs of the Rockies, 55 Captain Apoli«, tne King-Pin of Bowle, 7 The Iuckskin Detective. 279 Old Winch; or, The Suckskin Desperadoes, 294 Dynamite Dan; or, The Bowie Blade of Gochetopa, 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully. 816 Old Eclipae, Trump Card of Arizona, 826 The Ten Purds; or, The Terror of Take-Notice. 886 Rle Benson; or, The Queen of the Lasso. 845 Pitilesas Matt; or, Ked Thunderbolt’s Secret, B56 Cool Sam und Pardy or The Terrible Six, 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 886 Captain Cutlass; or, the B ccaneer’s Girl Foe, 896 Rough Rob: or, The win Champions of Blue Blazes, 411 The Silken Lasao; or, The Rose of Rauch 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 Againat Fifty; or, Uhe Last Man of Keno Bar. 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. A’? The Exceisior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter. 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. 502 Rranded Ben, the Night ferret. 612 Dodger Dick, the Whart-Spy Detective, 621 Dodger Dick’s Best Dodge. 528 Fox and Faicon, the Bowery Shadows, 588 Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret. 548 Dodger Dick’s Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, 558 Dodger Dick’s Desperate Case. 568 Dodger Dick. the Boy Vidoeq, 578 The Two Shadows. 582 Dodger Dick’s Drop. 594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony 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 Shadowen 685 Happy Hugs the Boy Musician Detective. TOL Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. 815 Wide Awake Len, the Quaker City Ferret. — i BUS 0S SW 0 et BY WM. G. PATTEN. 489 The IMamond Sport: or, The Double Face of Bed Rovk. 519 Captain Mystery ; or, Five in One. $81 Datey ware the Sport from Denver. 587 Old Bombshell, the Ranger Detective. 604 Iron Fern, the Man of Fire. 619 The Boy Tramp Detective; or, The Double Grip Witness 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Sport. 641 Dismal Dave’« Dandy Pard. 651 Bound Boy Frank, the Young Amateur Detective 66% Vialet Vane’s« Victory. 682 Wild Vulcan, the Lone-Range Rider, 69R Violet and Daisy, the Posy Pards. 705 Violet Vane’s Vow; or, The Crafty Detective’s Craft. 714 Old Misery, the Man from Missouri. 724 Violet Vane’s Vengeance. BEADLE’S« H ALF- DIME« LIBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, ? The Flying Vankee; or, The Ocean Outcast. 17 Ralph Roy, the Boy Buccaneer; or, The Fugitive Yacht. 24 Diamond Dirk 3 or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 62 The Shadow Ship; or, The Rival Lieutenanta, 75 The Boy Dnelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf, 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Smuggier. 111 The Sea-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116. The Hussar Captain ; or, The Hermit of Hell Gate. 197 Little Grits; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter. 204 Gold Plumes or, Buffalo Bill, the Pony Express Rider. 216 Bison BAU, the Prince of the Reins; or, Butte Bill’sa Pluck, 222 Grit, the Bravo Sport; or, The Woman Trailer. 229 Crimson Kate}; or, The Cowboy’s Triumph, 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 245 Merle, the Middy 3; or, The Freelance Heir, 250 The Midshipman Mutineer ; or, Brandt, the Buccaneer. 264 The Floating F eather; 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’« Fate; or, Pearl, the Pirate’s Bride, 284 The Sean Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 2S7 Billy Blue-Eyea, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Shot Dandy ; or, Benito, the Boy Bugler, 808 Keno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double. 814 The Mysterious Marauder}; or, The Boy Bugler’s Trail, 877 Bonodel, the Buy Rover; or, The Flagless Schooner, 888 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island, BST Warpath WILL, the Boy Phantom. $98 Seawalf, the Boy Lieutenant, 402 Isedor, the Young Consptirator; or, The Fatal League. 407 The Boy Inaurgenty; or, The Cuban Vendetta, 412 The Wild Vachtamany; or, The War-Cloud’s Cruise. 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy’s Luck; or, The Corsair. 487 The Sea Ralder. 441 The Ocean Firefly ; or, A Middy’s Veng¢ance. 446 Haphazard Harry; or, Toe Scapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferret of New York. 454 Wizard Will’s Street Scouts, 462 The Born Guide; or, The Saiior Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster. AT4 Flora; or, Wizard Will’s Vagabond Pard. 488 Ferrets Afloat; or, Wizard Will’s Last Case, 487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Kanger. 495 Arizona doe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack, 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy; or, The Shark and the Sea Cat, 5607 The Hunted Midshipman, 611 The Outlawed Middy. 520 Buckskin Bill, the Comanche Shadow, 525 Brothers ir Buckskin. 580 The Buckskin Bowers. 585 The Bue. akin Rovers. 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder ot the Rh, 645 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte. 550 Lafitte’s Legacy; or. The Avenging Son, 555 The Creole Corsair. 560 Pawnee BIUll, the Prairie Shadower. 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. 570 Camille, the Card Queen, 675 The Surgeon-Seout Detective, 580 The Outenst Cadet; or, The False Detective, 586 The Buckskin Avenger. 591 Delmonte. the Young Sea-Rover. 597 The Young Texan Detective. 602 The Vagabond of the Mines. 607 The Rover Detective; or, Keno Kit’s Champions, 617 Ralph, the Dead-Shot Scout; or, The Rio Raiders, 644 The Hercules Highwayman, .650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Kider Detective; or, Buffalo Bill’s Boy Para. 656 Butterfly Billy’s Man Wunt. 662 Buttertly Billy’s Bonanza, 668 The Buccaneer Midshipman. 674 The Wizard Sailor; or, Red Ralph, the Rover. 679 The Sea Shadowery or, The Freebooter’s Legacy. 686 Orlando, the Ocean Free Flag; or, The Tarnished Name, 692 The Rival Sharpe; or, Redfern, the Secret Service Scout, 697 The Scarlet Sombrero; or, The Sharp from Texas, 202 Blue Jacket Bill; or, ‘The Red Hat Rangers’ Red Hot Racket 207 The Red Sombrero Rangers; or, Redfern’s Last Trail, 718 Carl, the Mad Cowboy; or, The Lariat Queen, 219 Pawnee Bill’a Pledge; or, The Cowboy Kidnappers %25 Daring Dick, Pawnee Bill’s Pard; or, The Red Cavalry Raid. BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm. F. Cody). 8 Kanaas Kings or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie. 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout, 68 Border Robin Hood} or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’a Truat. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 229 Silverblade, the Half-Blood; or, The Border Beagle at Bay, By Jos, E. Badger, Jr. 780 Violet Vane’s Verdiet; or, The Crooked Game at Coffin City. By Wm. G. Patten. 781 Ruth Redmond, the Girl Shadower; or, The Rivals in Buckskin. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 782 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, 284 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Deal: or, The All- Around Surprise. By Edward L. Wheeler. 785 Broadway Billy’s Business; or, Waking Up Wind Can- yon Camp. By !. C, Cowdrick. 786 Larry, the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Side. By Ge rye C. Jenks. %87 Buck Taylor, the Comanche’s Captive; or, Buckskin Sam to the Rescue. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 788 Broadway Billy’s Curtous Case; or, The Mysterious Disappearance at Manitou Springs. By J. C. Cowdrick. 789 Silverblade, the Hostile, or, The Border Beagle’s Ghost Trail, By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Ready September 22. 740 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deathwatch; or, The Moving Mystery at Mexican Mustang. By Edward L, Wheeler, Ready September 29. A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half- Dime Library 1s 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.