Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 797) (1892 11 01)
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sa. Mi | mal | rf Tia ML? (SSS ea Ws 31 HU A Waa Vanes Ras Gap ee %. Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y, "Post Office, Copyrighted 18%, i BEADLE AND ADAMS, $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY, BEADLE AND “ADAMS, itis - No. 797. a Year. No. 8 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK, 5 Cents. Vol XXXL ‘ mu oy | | vail \) }i{ }| | | mu ¥. HOW ELI GOT THERE. A Romance of King John’s Death-Trap, BY ED. L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF ‘“‘ DEADWOOD DICK” NOVELS, ETC, itl tll we | In eeu CHAPTER I. KING JOHN'S RAID. THE camp of Rope Walk was wrapt in slum- ber, and the peaceful moon, at her full, was shedding a radiance of light upon the scene, It was as light as day, to employ the figure, save where the cabins and shanties cast their shadows, and where the frowning heights across Longa made the depths of the latter inky THE YELL ELI LET OUT WAS ALMOST EARSPLITIING,
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= Eas he Acie re ~ The chain bridge was in the shadow of these towering bluffs, for the moon was at that angle which carried the break of the defile over the bridge, making one single band of hght across the dismal chasm and showing its rugged sides for a little depth, Here in the shadow at the bridge stood the night watchman, guarding the only way that gave entrance to the camp. Rope Walk was peculiarly situated. Upon a level plateau some acres ip extent and nearly horseshoe in shape, it was inclosed for fully two- thirds of its cirele by a steep rocky wall. The remaining part fronted upon the chasm mentioned, which was spanned by a single bridge, the only meaus of ingress or egress the carp had, or could have, It would have been altogether a place uninhabitable but for an im- mense and néyer-failing spring near the rear center. The bridge mentioned faced a defile which bad scarcely a foothold of frontage, as compared with the opposite level, and which ran a devious course until it came out upon the distant levels and finally struck into a regular trail down amon. the foot-hills, where, twice a week, a stage passed, and where an occasional passenger for R ype Walk was dropped. A strange name for a camp, do you say? Rope Walk had a bistory, and bad been named in commemoration of an event attending its discovery. A party of prospectors making their way up thrcugh the defile, and coming to the end where the chasm yawned at their feet, gazed scrutiniz- ingly across upon the broad plateau, and believed they had struck a “ likely” spot. And their eagerness was al! the greater to in- vestigate when there was found to be absolutely no means of getting across the chasm, It was to them a sort of * promised land,” this isolated plateau, but one which, like Moses of old, they might not enter, How were they to get over? {t was the youth of the party who solved the problem, If any man there could throw a lasso, he de- elared, and fix it firmly around a shoulder df rock which he pointed out, be would walk the lasso to the other side and so render possible a rope bridge! his was taken for a joke, at first, but the young man meant it, and as there did not ap- pear to be any other way, that plan was at last put to vote and it was decided to take the young man at his word and try it. But, they had no lasso, and no ropes for a bridge. Allthat, however, was minor to the main project, These could be procured, with little delay. So, while the otbers went into camp in the foot-hills one of the party took the back trail to the nearest settlement to procure the things needed, ; He camo back at the expected time, and the venture was made, A strong-armed expert cast the lasso, and after a few trials, the slip noose finally coiled around the shoulder cf rock and settled there securely, The other end was then made fast and the light line drawn taut, when the young man, removing his boots, walked safely and quickly to the other side, ¢ Continued cheering from his companions greeted the success of his daring performance when he was safe on the opposite ledge, for they had been almost holding their breath in their anxiety as they watched his quick-step progress, The work of constructing the tem- porary rope bridge was then begun, and when all bad crosssed they began their prospecting. A rich strike was made, they settled down to stay, and after canvassing awhile for a name for their camp, finatly decided to call it that which we have designated. The camp grew and prospered; a heavy wire rope bridge was at length constructed, one capa- ble of bearing teams and wagons safely across; then a young city began to spring up. And the prosperity continued without a drawback until came the interruption which our tale must re- |. late, One night the camp was surprised by a band of rascals who made a foray upon it, carrying off everything of value they could get away with, and who, when they were ready to depart, awakened the sleeping citizens with their wild yells, and when they bad crossed the bridge, cut er cast loose the ropes and anchorages—a hot fire of revolvers being exchanged the while. On that occasion several were killed and wounded on both sides, and as pursuit was im- possible the robbers got away, } Another bridge was begun at once, this time of chain-cables instead ot wire ropes, and after its completion the camp settled down in a sense b ie wat se | ee of security, for it was bardly probable, they thought, that another raid would be made. But in this they were mistaken, Not many weeks had passed when it was tried again in the same manner, and in the same manner carried out; but, in this instance, when the rascals sought to sever the cables, to prevent pursuit they met with a balk, and the enraged citizens dashed across and attacked them, That time only a mere handful of the marauders got away, among thera their Jeader, and nearly all of the booty was retaken, But the leader swore he would return and take dear re- venge for the loss he had suffered. After that a guardsman was stationed at the bridge every night, to give warning of any approach, and there at his post we find him on this moonlight night of which we write, Several mouths had passed since the last foray, but nothing further bad been beard from ** King Jotn,” as the ringleader of the brigands was called, and perbaps the watchman was growing a little less vigilant than he had been at first. Be that as it may, he remained apparently oblivious to the presence of a darker shadow which was creeping stealthily toward bim across the bridge. Tbe watchman was not asleep, but, leaning upon his rifle, was seemingly lost in reverie. Nearer, and nearer still, crept the dark shadow behind him, j Finally it was near enough almost to touch him, when it rose up, resolving itself into a man. At that instant the guardsman wheeled sud- denly, apparently having felt the presence near him, for certainly no sound had been made to rouse bim;and in thesame instant his foe sprung upon him, One fierce hand clutched his throat; there was a flash of steelin the dim light, and tbe next moment the guardsman was sent headlong into the yawning chasm! No outcry had been made, or scarcely a sound that could be heard a dozen paces away, and, his terrible business done, the assassin hastened back the way he had come. The camp slumbered on in fancied security. Ina few minutes a line of black forms ap- peared at the bridge and began to cross, men on foot and men on horseback, the horses having their hoofs heavily muffled that they might not be heard, Crossing the bridge, these fellows divided into two covnspanies and proceeded to surround the the camp. There must have been a hundred of them at least. Finally the last one had crossed aud all disappeared from sight, Then followed an interval during which noth- ing was seen or heard of them. But it was not for long. Soon a wild chorus of wilder yells arose on every hand, accompanied by a scattered volley of shots, and out into full view sprung men and horses. They were now unmuffled, and the trampin of shod feet and thunder of hoofs served to ad to the confusion that had ensued, Men were pouring from every cabin and shanty in baste— each with weapons in hand, Down upon them charged the invaders, closing in on every side save that nearest the bridge, shooting down the citizens with less compunction than a band of wild Sioux might have shown. The yelling, the firing, commingled with tbe groans of the wounded and dying made the night hideous, and it required only a few moments of such work to throw the camp into complete pinic, _ There was a mad rush for tbe bridge, the only side left open and the only avenue of escape, but a man dropped at every step and they who reached the bridge unbarmed were few. In five minutes it was all over and the invaders were in possession of the camp, while the right- ful owners were dead, dying, or dispersed. Only afew of the desperadoes had been cut down, and the rest were jubilant over their sue- cess, A wild cheer went up, as the circle closed in between the buildings and the bridge, Just then a woman’s wild scream was Heard, in the direction of the buildings, ‘* Mather!” was the call. ‘' Father! Where are you, father? Wretches! May the curse of Heaven rest upon you if you killed my father!” The outlaws had Jooked round at the first cry, and there in the moonlight they saw a girl, her bair in wild disorder, her eyes dilated with fear and horror, yet beautiful in spite of all, In response to her cry a man among the wounded raised himself up and with an effort shouted: “* They hounds! chance, way!” have done fer me, Roxy, the hell- Make for the bridge; it is your only Kill the first man that’ blocks your Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture. Already the girl was running toward tho direction of the well-known voice, fear lend- ing wings to her flight, and as sbe ran she called: ** No, no! There is no escape, father! Kill me with your own hand, rather than leave me to my fate bere!” ** Not much, me purty lass!” cried one man, and be dashed out to intercept her flight, There was a flash, with the crack of a weapon, and he was tumbled out of the saddle, while the girl ran on without a pause. ‘* Stop her!” ordered the leader of the band, King John himself. ‘*'Ten dollars to the man who takes her and brings ber to me!” There was instantly a dash, the weapon in the girl’s band spoke spitefully two or three times, and then she was surrsunded and overcome, ‘‘ Kill me, father; kill me, kill me!” the girl screamed, ‘Can't you kill me? Junius! Junius! Ob God! is he, too, dead? Is there not some friendly hand to send a bullet through my beart?” Another among the wounded, apparently just recovering consciousness, raised himself at the piercing cry, and witb an effort sprang to his feet, Near bim stood the horse whose saddle the girl had so recently emptied, and he Jaid hold upon the rein and chmbed to its back, His efforts, together with the urgency of the demand, had restored him out of his stunned state, and with a revolver tightly gripped in his right hand be dashed forward with a yell straight at the band, with a mad resolve to at- tempt the impossible. A shout of defiance greeted his coming, half a hundred of empty revolvers clicked, two or three weapons ‘‘ barked,” and a bullet stinging his horse, the animal turned and dashed madly across the bridge, carrying the unwilling rider away from certain death. CHAPTER. IT, WAS IT PROVIDENTIAL? A MANona mule was making his way slowly along over a well-worn trail, pipergeer at peace with himself and all the rest of mankind, He was, judging him by his face alone, a oung man not many years exceeding thirty. t was a bold, fearless face, with a pair of dark, magnetic eyes, and was one to be called good- looking. But if it came.to judging him by his dress as wel], then he became almost a nondescript, for his garments were a size too large for him, were ragged where they were” not patched, and be- longed to a style which might be said to have an- tedated the *‘ old lang syne.” He was whistling a snatch of some popular air as he rode along, and danger seemed to be far from his mind. Of a sudden he stopped his whistling, and hitching around in his saddle looked back along the trail over which he had just come, Some sound bad caught his quick ears, : At first nothing was to be seen, but the man drew rein and waited, and presently around a far distant bend came a horseman almost com- pletely enveloped in a cloud of dust, ““T thought I was not mistaken,” the man on the mule said tohimself, ‘ My ears donot often play me tricks, Whoever that fellow is he is in a hurry, and I guess Pll draw back here and wait for bim to come up. It may be acrazy Sioux on my trail, for what I know.” With that he backed his mule a little off the trail and waited, The horseman came on, and presently the man on the mule could make out what manner of man he was, } That the horse was almost jaded was plain, The man was bareheaded and barefooted, and had on no clothes save shirt and trowsers, There was blood on his face, into which the dust had settled, making him hardly recognizable as a white. The man on the mule, taking all this in as the fellow drew nearer, looked again toward the distant bend, expecting to see pursuers dash out into sight; his hand sought a weapon and he prepared to lend a helping hand, But, as no one appeared, be was puzzled. ** What can have happened tq the fellow?” he asked himself, ‘‘He has been in a scratch of some sort, that is plain, but he seems to be in no particular danger just now, Maybe he is crazy. I think I'll stop bim and satisfy my curiosity.” Touching the mule he moved out to the middle of the trail again, and the mad rider being then at hand, shouted: **Whoap! your horse a breath!” At sound of the voice the man on the horse Hold on, there, friend, and give *; gave a start, drew up on the rein with the Me is % be ue Sy wi. i a5 ‘ ~~ i ie Ee a aa 2325 ray AI
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a - 3 same movement, and the panting horse gladly stopped. ‘* What's your haste?” the man on the mule in- quired. ‘‘ Where do you come from? Where are you going? What sort of scrimmage have you been in? You look as though you have been having a set-to with the Sioux,” “ Worse than that, sir,” was the response, **King Jobn, the outlaw, and his band, de. scended upon our camp last night and did a wholesale massacre. I’m about the only one to get away alive, so far as I know, and I’m riding to the nearest town to get upa party to wipe him out.” The man on the mule gave vent to a low, sig- nificant whistle, ** Where was your camp?” he asked. “Up there in the range, place called Rope Walk,” ** Never beard of the place, wiped you all out?” * Yes; 1 don’t believe half a dozen got away; I don’t know of one, But, I must push on,” *¢ You'll gain time, pard, by stopping right here and giving that beast an bour’s rest, He'll drop with you if you urge him five miles further. Besides, I want to hear all about this affair; I may be able to help you.” ‘**T suppose you are right; but, my God! how can I stop when the woman I love is in the power of such devils?” ** Your wife?” ‘No; buta girl whom I hoped to make my wife.” * That’s rather rough, I admit, but you can’t gain anything by trying to do the impossible, Everything depends on your horse, and you must spare the brute,” This the man knew, had known it before, but be bad been pushing on and on in the hope that the animal might bold out. He now dropped the rein and slid from the saddle, something like a groan escaping bim, eps you badly hurt?” asked the man on the mule, ‘*No; it’s nothing but a bullet-cut on the scalp. It laid me out for a minute or so when I got it, and it has bled pretty freely, but it’s mothing.” ‘* What's your name?” ** Junius Belland,” ‘Well, tell me your story, and, asI said, I tmay be able to help you,” ‘* How can you help me? What can one man do against such a horde of such diabolical wretches? 1 believe there are a hundred of them.” 4 ‘‘ No matter; let me have the particulars, any- ow.” ** Well, I may as well do that, for now I can only see how nearly done up my horse really is, and it will help kill the timé while he gets his wind,” The man took a seat upon a little billock by the wayside, and began his story, giving first a brief aketch of Rope Walk and its warfare against King John and his band. ‘Jim Bonhame was mayor of the camp,” he marrated, ‘and his daughter Roxaline, or Roxy, is the girl cf whom I spoltte. No better or ‘truer girl ever lived, Would to God that I could have killed her, rather than to leave her with those devils! But, if they harm one hair of her head they’ll rue it—oh, they’ll rue it! **'You see, the camp turned in last night as misual, with one man on guard at the bridge, and everybody went to bed to sleep. It must have deen some time after midnight when we were wakened by the wildest shouting and shooting imaginable, and every man jumped into his breeches and weapons and got out to defend the amp. But, it was too late. ‘* Somehow the hellions had done away with the man at the bridge, and had got across, and when we got ont they opened fire on us and hot us down like dogs. I must have got my ‘dose pretty early in the fight, and I couldn’t have been senseless long, but when I came to it was about over. I heard Jim shoutin’ to Roxy, as though I was dreaming, telling her to escape by the bridge. Then she answered, saying there was no escape, and asking him to kill her, : “That brought me back to what was going -on, and when the girl began to call me, begging me to kill her, I came to mvself with a rush, I roused up, found a horse—this same brute—right near me, and I got hold of him and got into the saddle, I could see at a glance thera was no hope to rescue Roxy and escape with her, ‘80 I made up my mind to kill her and die with ber. I dashed at them with that in- tention, but I can see now how mad it was, If their weapons had been loaded they would And you say they Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture. LS TET eI have riddled me before [’d taken the second leap. ‘** As it was, they all tried to shoot, but most of their guns were empty and only a few went off, and one of the bullets taking the horse in the flank there, be wheeled about and carried me over the bridge and into the defile in spite of myself, and so it comes that [ am here. My resolve, as I said, was to kill the girl, and then to give up my lifefighting. Well, [stopped the horse, finally, and turned back to the edge of the rift, where, in the deep shadow, I could see without being seen, They had disarmed Roxy and were taking her away, and the distance was too great for me to fire then, ; ** Besides, I had changed my mind, I believed that Provi‘ence bad bad a hand in my escape, and that I had a work to do. Perhaps if I hastened for help I might be able to get back and rescue her before barm had come to her. At any rate I might be in time to find the devils still there and so avenge their monstrous crime, To make another effort then to rescue her would have been to invite certain death, for undoubted- ly every man of them had reloaded his weapons, With regard to effecting her escape through death it was the same; they would have laid me out before I could come near her. Not only, then, cid my change of mind determine my ac- tion, but the impossible was in the way. I start- ed, and I have not stopped once till now,” ‘Truly, the sons of Hell!” tha man on the mule vented his feelings, ‘‘ They deserve the worst that can befall them, I'll take a hand in this game, Mr, Belland.” ‘* But, what can you do?” the other asked, **P]l go there to that camp, if you can direct me the way, and Ill try to defend that girl until you can get back with help.” ** Are you mad?” ‘* Not more so than usual, I guess,” ‘‘TIn heaven’s name, then, who and what are you, to propose such a step?” ‘Well, my rame is Richard M. Bristol, but I am better known as Deadwood Dick, Junior,” The other evidently recognized the name, for he gave a start upon hearing it, but for a4 moment he could only sit and stare at the Prince of Detectives. Suddenly he sprung up, and stepping forward, seized Dick’s hand and pressed it warmly. ‘‘T bave heard of you, Deadwood Dick,” he said, ‘and now I am sure Providence sent me here, No other man inthe world would dare do what you have just propesed,” *‘ Nonsense!” waived Dick. ‘I have been in bad places before, Be that as it may I am go- ing to Rope Walk, and if your sweetheart is still alive lll do my best to defend her, in some way or other, or to aid ber to escape. I shall have to be governed by circumstances.” ‘But, suppose you are recognized—” 4 Dick answered that with a shrug of his shoul- ers, “Tt will be death to you—certain and cruel death!” the other added, ‘‘ No, you bad better aid me in getting a force. And yet, Roxy—” “That is the point, The girl is there in that den of wolves without a single protector, and that is where I am wanted, ifanywhere, Yes, I'll go there, come what may of it, my friend, that is my duty, now,” **God be your protector, then, Deadwood Dick—true beart and brave soul that you are, God be with you!” **T believe he will be!” ‘Then I will press on, raise as large a com- tepy 08 I can, and get back as quickly as pos- sible, "Yes, do that, You must spare your horse, though. You will lose him unless you do, would offer to exchange with you, but that ani- mal would be recognized by the band,” “Tl do the best I can, Maybe I'll find a chance to effect an exchange for a fresh oné—” ‘‘ Have you money?” Dick interrupted, ** No, but—” ‘“‘ Here, then,” bringing to light a wad of bills from some part of his ragged raiment, ‘ take this. Buy at any price the first fresh horse you see, and press on. I will try to hold the fort until you arrive, Now, direct me the way!” CHAPTER III. DOINGS AT ROPE WALK, Ir was an hour after the merciless massacre when we louk again upon the scene at Rope Walk. j ; Nothing of the awful crime remained, save dark stains here and there on the ground, Every body had been removed, the convenient gorge baving no doubt proved a handy grave for al r The outlaws were assembled on the open space between the buildings and the bridge, their horses having been put away, and their leader, King John, was about to addressthem, He was mounted upon a box in the center of his admir- ing horde of flends, and the brilliant moonlight was over all, An evil-looking band it was, There was congregated every stamp of villain to be found in the wild Southwest, ruffians of every grade, Nearly all bore the imprint of rum and riot, the leader being no exception, though he was a young man and one who, under favorable con- ditions, might bave been called good-looking, King John was an outlaw who was disclaimed alike by the States and Mexico, but the worst punishment either country had been able to in- flict, thus far, had been to drive him across the border line. A price was upon his head in both countries, but tbe man was feared not only along the border but in camps far inland, ** Well, my good boys,” he said, looking over his band from his position on the box, ‘' we fixed them, didn’t we!” ** That’s w’ot!” was the responsive shout. ‘And now this camp of Rope Walk is ours, You all know tbe history of the place, for I have told you. Isworel would come back and wipe them out, and I have done it. Now, I nominate myself for mayor. Who is going to vote for me?” He was immediately elected by wild acclaim, “That settles it,” said the chief. ‘‘?m going to rule, too, you can bet!” he added, ‘* My word is going to be the law, and the first galoot to go contrary tolaw will get a bullet. You all know me well enough to understand that [ mean what lsay. We are going to settle right here and hold the fort.” Cheering greeted that announcement, ‘We can do it,” King Jobn went on, ‘ We could hold the place against an army. We’ll work the mine and make our stake, and when we are done we'll light out the same as wo have lighted in,” ‘““What ef they bring ther sojers and cut off ther trail?” questioned one fellow who foresaw that possibility. ‘‘We don’t care if they do,” the leader de- clared. ‘That bole down there has an outlet somewheres, and if worst comes to worst we can make a rope ladder and get out that way be- tween two days. There’s one thing that must be done, thougb, and that right away.” ** And what’s that?” ‘The bridge must be cut loose from the other side and a drawbridge made of it. If these fellows had done that they would have blocked my game, but I guess they hadn’t thought of it, e can'do it, but we may bave to tear down a building to get the timber to doit with, Then we can Jaugh at them if they come to oust us, Oh! I bave a bead on my shoulders, my fine fellows!” The cheering attested their belief in the state- ment, “ And then we have got another trump card in hand,” tbe chief went on tosay, ‘ the best one of all.” ** What's that?” “ The girl.” ‘* Hooray! That’sso, King John knows what he’s doin’, you bet!” “Yes, I know what I’m doing, boys. Let them come for us if they want to, and we'll put her in the front ranks, They won’t want to kill her, and so we'll have the bulge on ’em bad,” ‘But, who is ter have the gal?” one miserable- looking wretch asked, ‘Are we goin’ ter draw lots— The revolver of the chief spoke, and the fellow fell dead in his tracks! “There's your chance!” King Jobn said grim- ly. ‘Pitch him over the edge there, boys. He ought to have known the Wild Rose was mine, without question. I have only put him out of his misery, for be was ’most dead, anyhow. Does anvbody else want a chance?”, Evidently no one else did, “Yes, Vl take care of the Wild Rose,” the king announced, as he put away his weapon. “Did you disarm her and tie her bands so that she can’t harm herself?” “ Yes,” “ All right, then, She will keep till morning, when I'll have an interview with her and see how she feels about becoming the Queen of Kin John! Ha! ha! Now we must see about the ae terations at the bridge.” The moon was by this time shining directly down upon the bridge, so that they could see to work, and under the directions of one man who had been a machinist, the task was undertaken,
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the chief of the band remaining upon the ground to oversee it. Thus they busied themselves until the descend- ing moon withdrew its light, when they threw themselves upon the ground near the bridge and slept. When daylight dawned the preparatory work atthe bridge was found to have progressed so far that it was believed the structure could be finisbed before noon, and preparations were made to push it forward. Tools of all kinds were found, and everything needful, and after a basty breekfast the ruffians set at work with a will, They realized that, to a certain extent, their safety depended upon speed, It was immediately after breakfast that King John paid a visit to the cabin which was pointed out to him as the one where the Wild Rose had been lodged for the night, The door had been secured on the outside, and as she had been left with her hands bound it was pretty, certain that she had been safely kept. King John unfastened the door, threw it open, and stepped boldly in, with a swaggering air, but suddenly stopped short, as thoroughly sur- prised a rascal as could well be imagined. On the opposite side of the room stood the girl, not only free, but with a rifle to her sboulder, s0 aimed that the inhuman brute looked straight into its threatening tube, Thunder!” he ejaculated, ‘* Point that thing some other way, girl!” ‘* Murderer,” was the response, ‘if you move a hand before I give you leave, Pll drop you where you stand.’ King John laughed lightly. » “Well, pretty one,” he said, ‘* you do seem to hold the best band, that’s the fact, What can I do to give you pleasure?” ** Monster! As if there could be pleasure in this world for me. But, I will tell you what you can do, what you shall do, Lead me out from here, across the bridge, and away. Refuse, and you die now!” * But, miss, the bridge—” ** T will hearken to no excuse, Turn about and lead the way at once. And at the first word or signal to your men, you shall fall. I am a des- rate woman, and | will not hesitate to shoot, o you hear what I say?” Roxy Bonhame, little more than a child in aon, had suddenly grown to a woman in mind, Her attitude became even more threatening as she spoke, and the wretch before her grew pale in spite of his iron nerves, ‘** Impossible,” he said quickly, ‘‘ for the bridge is down,” “The bridge down!” in an accent of dismay. ** Exactly. There is no means of crossing the rift at presént, no matter how willing I might be to serve you.” The girl’s face betrayed the despair she felt, but her rifle still covered the man before her in a dangerous way, and her fingers toyed with the trigger. ** You are telling me the truth?’ she insisted. “T am,” was the answer. ‘‘You can step here to the door and see for yourself that it is ** And give you the chance to overcome me? I'll take your word for it, and there is but one thing for me to do now, and that is to carry out my first intention.” ‘And what was that?” ** To kill you, murderer of my father! and then to shoot myself.” **Don’t be too hasty, miss, You have not i xp a a chance to explain the object of my visit, ** Well, I give you the chance now. You have one minute to live.” Salas, . The outlaw was still pale, but he nerved him- self to the task before him, that of dissuading the girl from her purpose, ** Tell me how you got free, and where you got that rifle,” he parleyed, . “That does not matter, and you only waste ecious time by asking such questions, If you ve anything to say, say it quick.” ‘Well, I have this tosay: I came here with the intention of setting 7 at liberty and giv- ing you the freedom of the camp, and it will ea ae to the man who offers you harm or in- Bult The girl’s face softened a little, ** How can I believe you?” she asked. “T can prove it to you,” was the reply, “I do not make war against women, You are per- fectly safe here, and when that bridge has been replaced ke shall be allowed to take your leave, i swear it.” shes ee oo ee J - ' Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture, ** When will it be done?” ‘* By noon,” “Very weil; sit down there by the door and we will wait for it. I can keep you covered during that time, and when it is done you can lead me across in the way I first directed. Your men will come to find you, when you remain bere too long, and you can then tell them what the arrangement is,” Every word had the ring of deadly purpose, and the brigand felt that he was badly cornered. ‘Very well,” he said quietly; ‘SI see that I must obey.” He sat down on the seat indicated, and the girl seating herself on her side of the room, the long wait was commenced. In about an hour a man camo to find King Jobn, and entered with the observation that he supposed tho chief was finding it so pleasant there that he hated to tear himself away. At sight of the rifle, though, he paled, and took in the situation at once, The chief told him of the plan, that he was to conduct the girl over the bridge as soon as it was ready, and ordered that no man should interfere with the girl. But, at the same time he managed to make a signal to the man which Roxy did not notice. CHAPTER IV. KING JOHN'S FORT, Roxy BonuaME held the best hand in the cane, and she knew it, but she did not know ow to play to her own best interests. Delay was dangerous, as she ought to have known. True, if the bridge was down there was no escape from the plateau, but now that King John’s unpleasant dilemma was known to his men she might have expected interference on their part. Remaining in the cabin she could not tell what was going on without. She should have marched her prisoner out to the edge of the gorge, and there kept him under cover till the bridge was ready. That would have been to ex- pose herself to a shot, of course, but she pre- ferred death to remaining there, An hour passed, another, and yet two more, and still the girl kept the man under the steady cover of her rifle, ‘King John was fuming like a caged lion, but there did not reem to be any help for him. That deadly rifle, with the girl’s finger eternally on the trigger, was a constant menace, Several times he had tried to divert her atten- tion, but she was equal to him eack time. Once several men had come near the door, where they stopped to talk in low tones, but the girl directed King Jobn to order them away, and he had to do so, much as it went against the grain. Meanwhile the work at the bridge had been going steadily on, as could be heard from the cabin. Finally the noise of the tools ceased, and a cheer was heard. About the same time some one without called to the outlaw chief to apprise him of the fact that the bridge was done. ‘*-You hear?” spoke the determined girl. ‘‘ Get up, now, face around, and conduct me straight out and across. If you so much as turn your bead or make a sign with either hand, Pll drop ou. . ‘“*There’s no use kicking when the joker is trump,” King John growled. He obeyed the order, got upon bis feet and turned to the door, and the Wild Rose placed the nose of her rifle against the back of his neck, = that manner they started to leave the cabin. King Jobn stepped out, and in the same in- stant a stick struck the girl’s rifle underueath with force, knocking the muzzle high in the air, and it went off, At the same time men sprung upon her from each side of the door, where they had been lying in wait, and she was speedily rendered a pa er prisoner once more, after all her pluck an tience. ‘“* Ha! ba! ha!” the outlaw chief laughed. ** How do you feel now, you wildcat! will square accounts with you for this forenoon’s business, you bet,” “What shall we do with her?’ asked his en. ‘*-You had better kill me, and that at once,” cried the girl. ‘lf you do not, I will do it myself the first chance I get. I am desperate,” *Ha! bal I care little how desperate you are,” declared the chief, ‘I’m going to make you my wife when [ get time, and you'll be queen of this band, as I am king.” ‘* Never!” -.18 **- You can’t help yourself, my lady.” m ‘*T will show you. Death will take me out 0 your hated power.” ‘* We are not going to leave you any means of killing yourself, though. Lam going to search you while my men search this cabin, and we won’t leave you.so much as a pin,” “Tf there is no other way, I'll hold my | breath till it kills me.” “Ha! ha! ha! You are welcome to try that on, if you want to, Ithink you will give it up. Besides, that lover of yours will surely come back to rescue you, if he got off.” . The girl started, as if wondering if this mam could read her thoughts. That had been her main hope, that Junius bad got away alive and that he would come back again and rescue her, She knew he bad not run away willingly, leaving her to her fate, for she ha seen him trying madly to check the horse; but, having; been carried beyond reach, she understood full well how impossible it had been for him to re— turn with any hope, But she knew, if alive, be had hastened for help, and upon that she had builded her only h ope. ‘He will not return, unless at the head of a detachment of soldiers to wipe you off from the face of the earth,” she responded defiantly. * He knows well that he will only find me dead —that I will take my life with my own hand, somehow—anyhow, And my blood be on your heads!” ‘*That does not trouble us, A little more or less is of no moment. But, you are standing in your own light, for I did not mean to leave you with your hands tied. I have no desire to be too rough with you. Better promise that you: will not do anything rash, and I'll leave your hands free so that you can attend to your wants. We don’t intend to starve you, and you have not had breakfast yet.” The girl was sullenly silent. To have her hands free was what she wanted. She could do nothing with them tied. King John directed his men to make a thor- ough search of the cabin and remove everything with which the girl could possibly herm herself, and while that was being done he searched her rson. er Ation his men, he searched the interior of the cabin himself, and satisfied at last, ordered the: girl returned. ‘‘ There you are,my sweet Wild Rose,” hesaid, ‘and if you want to kill yourself by holding your breath, go ahead; you will not find any other means. I'l send you something to eat and drink at once,” They locked the door upon her and went away. Roxy was glad enough to be alone, for she was well-nigh exhausted with ber long and try- ing vigil, and throwing herself upon the floor she wept aloud, ‘That ar’ gal is goin’ to keep her word, King Jobu,” one of the horde made remark as the chief and his men moved away from the cabin. cae kin see et in her off eye that she means ‘* I'm afraid she will attempt it,” the cbief admitted. ‘‘ And that will be bad, for she’s our trump eard, or will be if we’re attacked,” ** Can't ye play a cute dodge on her?” cc How ? ‘‘ Make her think she’s gota friend in th 1 amp.” of Paon't see how you would do that. She knows mighty well she hasn’t, and that’s the end of it.” ‘¢Don’t know "bout that ar’, Et don’t take much ter kindle hope when a feller is in a tight box. §S’pose ye drop a sort of note in to her on ther sly, tellin’ her to brace up, or somethin’ like et? *¢ Duff, you have struck it!” cried the chief. ‘¢ 11 try that trick right off and see what wilk come of it.” ‘ This fellow, ‘* Duff,” was King John’s lieu- tenant, and was about the.only one who ever ventured to offer his chief any advice. ng John knew bis worth, ; Accordingly, the ringleader of the horde pen- ciled a note on a scrap of paper, and one of the. rascals was sent to make a hole in the roof and so drop it to the imprisoned girl. That note was none too svon to accomplish its: urpose, F Believing now that all hope was lost, the: Wild Rose was preparing to take her life, She was tearing strips from the bottom of ber skirt with which to hang herself, for death was preferable ten times over to life with these murderers; when a noise on the roof claimed her attention. . . ale t ¢ ¥ Hab ye “a ae ip TePrug » vii 4 ahs Cid mage hh oD I alias tae a bit a a. PY 3 Ve a eee th Rie eee £4 2 ~~ fa 2b se 9 ee we - = Soo 7 vo 4 > A aie fo Fy ee tie > ee
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Oe eS ee ee ee eee } : : ; | — ~ Deadw work of deadly intent. There was a scraping, chipping sound for a few moments, and then aray of light could be seen through an opening that had been made, Wondering what it could mean, the girl watched it breathlessly. The light was soon shut out, then something white appeared through the hole, and the next moment a piece of paper came fluttering down, **1t must bea friend!” she exclaimed under her breath, ‘*But, he will surely be discovered there.” As soon as the paper fell she had it, mote, She read with eager haste: “Keep your courage and strength. <A friend is fiere to help youif he can Donot despair. If you @et this and will try to hold out, give me the signal by three raps.” There was no address and no signature, but she believed she recognized the writing, ** It is Junius!” she told herself. She tore the note up and pushed it through a siege in the floor, and then gave the requifed signal, There wasa similar response from the roof, followed by the same noise that had at first drawn her attention, and next she heard the man leap lightly to the ground at the rear of the cabin, ‘* Yes,” she said to herself, ‘‘now I will live. Af Junius is here be will kill me rather than see me come toharm. I know I can trust him, and may God protect him from harm himself, Half an hour more and I would have been beyond earthly reach, for my resolve was taken.” When the rascally tool of the chief dropped to the ground, he ran ligbtly away and joined his umaster, “ Well?’ King John interrogated, “She bit,” was the response, ‘‘She gev ther sign, rigbt up in prime order.” ‘“Ha!l hal ha! That wasa pretty clever idea of yours, Duff. She'll keep now ‘till we get things in running order here. How is the bridge?” ‘lt works to a charm, Come and see et.” They went over to the edge of the*chasm, where the bridge was, and where a big frame- work had been erected to support the draw. The bridge was down and in place, and a crowd of men was on it to test its strength, It was as strong as it had been before, And not- ing that, King Jobu ordered it raised, Two men set about the work, and in afew seconds the further end of the bridge was swung wp and the chasm was impassable, ‘*How is et?’ demanded the master of con- struction. ‘It is immense,’ was the chief’s approval. “* Now we are safe from attack,” **'You ar’ right, and we could hold the hull United States Army at bay here, We hev come ter stay, I sh’u’d opine.” The bridge was left drawn up, and dinner was the next thing in order with the villainous crew. After that was over they set down to the business of living. The cabins and shanties were disposed of by Jot, a proprietor was appointed for the one hotel of the camp, and likewise the saloon, store, and other interests, Tbe chief reserved for himself the management of the mine, Before night théy were quite at home, and the camp looked as orderly and law-abiding as any that could be mentioned, It was a CHAPTER V. A COMPACT FOR MUTUAL VANTAGE, Tue stage from Rock Rift to Whoop-Up had three passengers to set down at the junction ae the by-trail led up to the camp of Rope Valk. It was late in the afternoon when the stage reached that point, and by the time the passen- gers could walk from there to the camp it must Le pretty near night, for it was quite a distance, One of the passengers mentioned was a wo- man, two were men. The woman was oa trim little body, not bad- Jooking, but she had red hair and avery pointed mose, That she was no “‘tenderfoot” was plain from her dress and manner. She was about twenty-two years old, at a guess, was plain and serviceably dressed, and hal no, baggage except a little bag which she carried in her hand, She had already shown “ she was quite able to take care of Number ‘One, One of the men mentioned was riding inside, «and he was a tenderfoot of the very tenderest sort, He was a dude. His name was Darby | ood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture, 5 She looked up and listened, pausing in her Sutcliffe, and he was “ doing” the West, alone, He had tried to modify his dress to suit his sur- roundings, but he looked scared under his big hat and seemed lost without a cane-hsad to suck, The other man was a passenger cn cop. He was a Westerner, and to the manner born. About thirty years of age, be had the bronzed complexion peculiar to the Southwest, and was clad in accordance, He was not bad-looking, but there was an unpleasant glitter about his eyes. *When the stage stopped at the junction this man was the first on the ground, ** Jest: open the door, will ye, pardner?” called out the driver, ‘'Thar’s a couple inside fer ther same place,” ‘‘Two more for Rope Walk?” queried the man, in surprise. ‘Yas; and one of them a woman, goin’ to have company up thar, pard, keer of ther gal,” The man opened the door while tho driver was speaking, and the dude was the first to step out, to the evident surprise of the Westerner, ‘* Hello!” he exclaimed, ‘* You going to Rope Walk?’ ‘Yes, sir,” was the response, ‘‘I heard back at the last station what a very peculiar place it is, and as lam doing the West [ must not miss CAL ‘*My advice to the likesof you is to stick close to the main trail,” was the laconic obser- vation. ‘ But et’s no funeral of mine, I reckon. Step out of ther way and let the lady out.” The dude had ‘.topped short to bear what the man had to say, and had forgotten the woman for the instamt. At this reminder he jumped aside, doffed his big hat ina clumsy fashion, and said: ‘*T beg your pardon, lady. This rough fellow addressed me, and I quite forgot I was standing in your way.” ‘*Oh! that’s all right,” said the woman, as she lent her hand to the Westerner and sprung out, ‘Andif you willtake a word of advice from me you will speak of every man as a gen- tleman, whether he wears his pants in his boots or not,” At that the dude looked horrified, and the Other passengers laughed, ** All out an’ clear?” asked the driver. ‘* Yes; go on with your hearse,” responded the Westerner. ‘““ Wal, take keer of yerself, pard, and take keer of ther gal,” ther driver rejoined, and he gathered in his reins and cracked his whip and the stage went lumbering and clanking on its way. No sooner had the stage gonethan the dude looked lonesome. ** Bless me!” be ejaculated, ‘‘ What a horrible country itis to be sure, Do you know the way to that camp, my friend?” That to the Westerner, ‘‘Never was thar in my life, pard,” was the response, ‘Hey you beon there before, lady?” ** Never, sir.” ‘**Good heavens!” cried the frightened dude, “Then we are lost. I supposed the camp would be in sight from the place where the stage stopped. Here is nothing but a howling wilderness!” Py woman and the Westerner iavghed at im. “T don’t call et lost very bad,” the latter observed, ‘‘The trail is plain enough, ain’t et?. This is the main trail, and of course this nd must be the one to Rope Walk. Let's lope off. He started as he spoke, the little woman right rf him, aud the dude was left to stare after em, It took him but a moment, however, to make out that “lope off” must be synonymous with “ start forward,” and he ran after them ana caught up, ** Your pardon, lady,” he said, ** but will you permit me to carry your bag?” te bad a grip of his own to lug along, but that did not stand in the way of his being properly courteous, “Thanks, I don’t care if you do,” was the prompt acceptance, and the little woman made an immediate surrender of the article in ques- tion. She and the Westerner then walked on to- gether, while the dude plodded after them with the baggae, ‘¢ What’s your handle, pard?” the woman pre- sently asked of her companion, ‘*Penn Haycross,” was the answer. * What's your own call-by, ef it ain’t askin’ too much?” You ar’ Take ' then to ask a question, ‘““My name is Francesca Travis. It seems we are both strangers at the place we are head- ing for.” ’ Yes; but I guess we'll be able to hold up our end,” ‘**T don’t bave much doubt about that.” Both laughed lightly, and for a time their con- versation was of no moment to our story, The dude had little to say, except now and He was clearly ‘‘ not in it.” But be was useful in his way. By the time they had gone half the distance the girl and Haycross bad become quite well-ac- quainted. “Might a fellow ask what it is takes you to such an out-of-the-way place as Rope Walk?” Haycross presently inquired, in an easy way, ‘A fellow might ask, but might not find out?’ was the saucy response. ‘Then it’s none of his business,” the West- erner accepted. “*T won’t be rough on you, though,” the girl repented, “I have got business there with a fellow named Junius Belland,” ** Junius Belland?”’ **That’s what I said.” “* He is the very chap J am going to see,” Francesca Travis looked at him in a sur- prised and inquiring way. ‘What is your business with him?’ she blunt- ly asked, ‘Well, now, I don’t know about tellin’ you that. What is Belland to you anyhow?” ‘*T think we'd better talk straight and to the point, Mr. Haycross, so 1 will tell you. He is the man I love.” Whew!” ‘** What makes you whistle?” **J’m afraid you and | ain’t going to get along so friendly »8 we have been, that’s all,” ‘Why not?’ ‘Well, you say Junius Belland is the man ae love; he is the manl1 hate. Iam going to tope Walk to settle a little score witb$him, ** Tt does look as if we must book borns, that’s the fact,” said the young woman, quite calmly. You can count on it that I won’t stand by and see Junius Belland burt,” * Not to be expected you would,” “No; I’m for bim and against you, straight out, They talked in the straightforward Western style; no beating about the bush with them, ‘‘What’s between you and bim?” the girl added, “A gal.” “Hol is that so? Say, Mr. Haycross, I don’t know but what you and I might work together in this racket.” “Why?” ‘Because it’s most likely that same you call ber, that ’m going gunning for, ‘*' The devil!” ‘“¢That’s what I call her in my mind.” “But you are mistaken, badly. Roxy Bon- hame is a little angel.” ‘* That’s ber!” the young woman exclaimed. “That’s the bussy’s name! She’s the game I’m after,” “Then there’s plenty of reason why you and Ican’t neighbor any more, miss. I won't hear Roxy called any such names as that, and—” “© Well, Pll keep my opinion more to myself, Bat, asI was going to say about our working this thing together, I’ve got nothing against you, and I don’t see that you can have anything against me,” ‘* Well, that’s so,” **Andif we can work it so as to part my fel- low from your girl, isn’t that all we're after anyhow?” ** Tt wasn’t quite all I was after,” * Nor I; but we'll call quits on that. If you get the girl and I get Junius, won't that be enoug :4 No use our going for each other’s yj gal, as Jl, I spose we can agree cn that,” Hay- cross decided. ‘'I had my mind all made up to lay Bolland out, though,” * And I was going to spoil that— But, I ‘reed not to call any more names, I believe. Now, you promise to. do no harm to Junius Belland aud Tl pledge myself not to barm your Roxy.” } “ Well, Dildo that.” “Then put it there,” frankly offering her hand. ‘If we can’t be real good friends we needn’t be soes, and if we pull together I think we'll get there,” * J don’t see why we shouldn’t, unless—” ** Unless what?” . It that’s “They have got married already. “Tf that’s the case we must part them, some- the case, this ’greement of ours is off,”
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sss acai) Readion sae il ROR a RS We caer S'S As > aes Are i Fog Se) he Se as : ; Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture, -. how,” you mean, ‘‘ But, [ don’t expect to find it that way. They’ve only just got engaged.” ‘* How did you know about that?” ‘* Junius wrote and told me, You see, he and I have corresponded, and [ loved him hard. He wasn’t bad ‘stuck on me, though, it seems, and when he got engaged he said it was about time for as to quit writin’, But, he didn’t know me, And so they talked on, comparing notes, but bringing out nothiog further of importance to us, and the dude walking along behind them was a wondering listever to it all; and finally as day was closing, they came to the place of their destination. CHAPTER VI. ENTERING THE SPIDER’S PARLOR. Berore the advent of King John and his horde, Rope Walk had been ‘no slouch” of a camp. Anyhow, that was the way it was described when a stranger asked what sort of place it was. And those few words covered the ground pretty well, readily conveying to the average mind that it was a lively and growing “ city.” “There was a hotel, the ‘‘ No-Name,” that was ‘no slouch,” and there was.the *‘ Rooster Saloon,” the most popular resort the camp boasted, and that was certainly ‘‘ no slouch,” Taken altogether, that expressive phrase fitted the camp pretty well, and was accepted as legal tender, And after the massacre the brigands were of the opinion that they had made ‘no slouch” of a strike, They had found the camp well provisioned, well-armed and ammuuitioned, and best of all, from their point of view, there was a goodly stock of whisky on hand. King John’s second in command, the fellow called Duff, had been put in charge of the hotel, while a great, giant bullwhacker of a fellow, known among them as ‘* Mauler Mose,” had been put in authority over the saloon. The outlaw chief had reserved for himself the office of mayor, und likewise that of manager of the mine, as has been mentioned. The girl prisoner, the Wild Rose, as they called her, had not been allowed to want for food and drink. As good a dinner had been given her as the best coo in the band could' prepare, and bein hungry enough, she had partaken of it liberally. She was still kept a close prisoner in the cabin, but not bound, and she might bave taken her life easily, in spite of all their precautions, had she not been deceived by that note, Believing that her lover was near her, she had something to live for now, and would do ashe had requested in his note. She believed he would rescue her if possible, and that accom- plished, they together could work to bring about the avenging of the great wrong. t was well along in ths afternoon, when the rusb of business was over with him, that King Jobn paid her another visit, He opened the door and walked boldly in as before. , After the search that had been made he knew it was impossible that the girl could have got hold of another weapon. “Well, my Wild Rose,” he greeted, ‘how do I find you by this time?” “ Unhappy enough,” was the sullen response. “It is not my will that you should be that way. I see you have not kept the threat you made that you would take your life.” No response, “* How was that? Did you find it rather bard to hold your breath so long? I thought you would, The fact is, you are too young and pretty to die. I was sure you would not kill yourself.” “*T have maie up my mind to live, if I can.” “‘Ha! that is right. Dead folks are not of much account, and are only in the way any- how.” ; The girl shivered as his cold words fell upon her unwilling ears, and she recalled the horrors of the previous night. “Yes, I am going to live,” she ted, grimly. ‘And if chance ever offers I shal not hesitate to avenge the death of ay father at your hands. If you have anything tosay to me, say it and begone,” ‘That is hardly a fair way to treat your pro- tector, my, lady. Only for me you would now be dead *¢ Better that I were so!” “Or worse, I was going to add. Now, I will tell you what I have to say to you, I am going to give youa fair offer, I want you for my wife, and [ will give you twenty-four hours in which to decide whether you will marry me willingly or not.” ‘*T do not need twenty-four seconds to answer that, monster!” ‘*That does not matter, aud it matters little whether you are willing or not, I’ll make you mine, anyhow, I only wanted to give youa chance to think it over. Here I amruler of this camp, with every man of them to answer my beck aud call, and you, as my queen, will have the same power—” ‘*Gol” she cried, pointing to the door, her lithe figure drawn to its full height. ‘‘ Go, mur- derer!” The chief laughed lightly as he watched her. “That's very good,” he said. ‘* You'll do honor to your queenly station. Yes, Vil go, and you may have the time I named to think it over, Willing or not, I make you my bride to- morrow night.” He backed out through the door, secured it carefully, and went his way, Undoubtedly he would have been less willing to grant this respite to the unhappy girl, but his band needed the check of his strong arm upon them, They were inclined to drink too liberally, and were not disposed to accept as willingly as they should have done the laws he had laid down for them. They were required to puy for all they got. It was for this reason that big Mauler Mose had been set to preside over the saloon. The men feared him, and he was the man for the lace. ¥ The chief had divided the spoils of the camp as equitably as he could, and after that division, the way he expressed it, each tub would be re- quired to stand upon its own bottom. If any man among them went broke, he would have todo the best he could. A fair rate of wages was to be paid to each one, according to the kind of work he performed, but the profits of everything was to go to the chief, who set himself up as king in fact. At the end of the year, though, he promised another division amoung them, As though such a place could exist the twelfth part of a year! f John the King had no idea of anything of the sort, however. He had other plans in view for his own ends, It was later still when his attention’ was call- ed to the fact that some travelers had arrived at the bridge on the other side of the gorge, who desired to cross and enter the camp. At this announcement there was every indica- tion of a general stampede in the direction of the bridge, but the chief checked it. “Don’t give yourselves away!” he cried. ‘* Lat every man attend to his business, Ill see to this matter myself, I know better than you what’s required,” . With that be accompanied the man back to the bridge. Men bad been appointed to watch at the bridge night and day, two at a time, and it was one of those who had brought the word. When King John came to the bridge he found two men and a woman on the other side. These were, needless to say, Francesca Travis, Penn i Haycross, and Darby Sutcliffe the dude, ‘*Hello!” the chief greeted. ‘‘ Who are you?” ‘‘Travelers,” answered Haycross, shortly. * We want to get across,” ‘* All right, lower the bridge, men, and we'll take them in. We have to be careful here, strangers,” **T should think so, by the looks of things,” said Haycross, ‘*- Yes, You see, we have bad a brush with outlaws aud Indians two or three times, and we took this plan to keep out unwelcome, visi- tors. The men here have orders to let nobody in till they report,” p Haycross was looking keenly. around, and did not really fancy the aspect of things. The outlaw chief saw this, and as though he could read the man’s thoughts he went on to say: ’ ‘*We had quite a fight with a band last night, and as soon as we had got rid of them we set to work at the bridge. You can see it has been put up in a hurry.” By this time the bridge had been lowered to place, and the young woman was half-way across it, followed by the dude, Against his better judgment Haycross fol- lowed them, As soon as they were over, the bridge was drawn up again, and King John led the way to the hotel, ‘“ Where is Mayor Bonhame?” Haycross ask; ed, as they set out. ‘*He is away just now,” was the answer, ‘Tam acting as mayor in his place till he gets back again,” ‘Ts his daughter with him?” **No; she is here, but she isn’t very well, | J take it you have been bere before, eb?’ ‘“*Never before. What’s the matter with Roxy?” The outlaw chief looked relieved when he found the fellow had never been in the camp before, He would be less likely to note the changes. ‘**Oh she’s only laid up with a cold, or some thing of that sort,” he made reply to the ques- tion. ‘*And where is Junius Belland?” asked the young woman, ‘*He is away with Bonhame,” was the an-~ swer given, They were then at the hotel, and King John led the way into the place, saying as he did so: ‘*Here’s our hotel, strangers, where you will be cared for to the best of our ability. Mr. Duff, the proprietor, will attend to your wants,” With a wave of hishand and a wink at his worthy helper, tie passed them over to him. The “hotel” was only a very small affair, with only one entrance and that directly into the bar-room, though there was no bar there, The saloon had a monopoly in that line, ‘The young woman went forward at once to the desk, while the dude stood and stered around him, evidently wishing bim:self e,sewhere, Haycross was keener in his observations thap either, and the outlaw chief saw it. The Westerner was taking notes of the vil~ lainous faces around bim, There was not a single exception to the rule. Every one bore the stamp of rum and crime, ‘© What a terribie place!” the dude ejaculated. ‘*1t’s just so terrible that ?m going to make my stay mighty short,” cried Haycross, ith his words he made display of a revol- ver, ‘‘Why, what’s the matter, stranger?’ called out Duff. ‘*Oh! there’s notbing the matter, only I think Tl do my business at once and be going.” The young woman had turned in alarm at this, and for the first time seemed to realize the class of men by which they were surrounded, and she moved toward the door. Just then Haycross ‘felt a cold revolver tube pressed against the back of his neck, the "dude the same, and the young woman was no excep- tion, Their hands were ordered up, and in half a minute they had been disarmed, CHAPTER VII. DESPERATELY STRAITENED. “Pon me word!” exclaimed Darby Sutcliffe, the dude. ‘I never received such treatment be- fore in all my life!” ‘What does it mean?” cried Francesca Tra-. vis, in some alarm, ‘Has the camp turned into a band of outlaws? Mr. Haycross, what does it mean?” ‘It means that we are in a trap,” growled the young Westerner, ‘I had my suspicion that all was not right when we crossed that bridge, There has been trouble here,” The rascals around them were laughing now. “An ye want to look out thar ain’t more trouble,” warned Duff, “I reckon we’ll treat ye wellef ye ar’ civil to us,” ‘“¢ Who is head of this camp?” demanded Hay cross, ‘“T am acting mayor, sir, as I told you,” said King John, with a bow of mock politeness, ‘Weill, what do you intend to do with us?” asked the young woman. ‘We ar’ in need o' wives byer, fer one thing,” declared*Duff, with a coarse laugh, The young woman paled, } “You ueedn’t count me in it,” she said,, firmly. ; “We may as well have this thin and now,” spoke Haycross, determinedly, ‘* Yow have got the bulge on us, bad.” ‘Bt looks like et,” laughed Landlord Duff. ‘““And that being the case, we can’t demand any terms. But, there is no reason why you shouldn’t deal fair with us, for I don’t suppose» you are hankering to. kill us, are you?” “Not at all,” assured King John. / ‘* Well, then, there’s only one thing you cam do,” * What's that?” ‘Take what wealth we happen to have about us and let us go,” ’ Seeing the bad dilemma into which he had fallen, the Westerner was glad to ask only his life, out here> is en ? os 4 LW Hoss at) 4 A | Raglan ay ie ORS « CES. Bey LB eh a By. 9 ‘a oe (se: oon) ay! e mil es i
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{ ! a Oe ee ee —— The truth was, now that he had had time to look well around him, he recognized several of the rascals, and knew them for what they were, ** And let you go and bring a force to wipe us out?” ‘We are not in position to stand on terms,” responded Haycross. ‘‘ We'll agree to go away and stay away. Wecan’t do any better than that.” “Bit might do, fer you two galoots,” spoke up Duff, ** but we will keep ther gal,” *¢]]] bet you woun’t,” chipped in the spirited young woman, ‘I'll jump into the canyon first.” “ 1m talking for all three of us,” said Haycross. “Tf one goes all go. If one stays we all stay, and the first one who offers insult to this young woman has got to do it over my dead body. Haw! haw!” laughed Duff, ‘“ Et won’ take more’n half-a-dozen shots ter lay you out,’ ‘* But, for fear that wouldn’t do et we could pitch in half-a-dozen more,” another fellow added, “© You won’t kill us, though?” cried the dude, **That would be terrible, you know,” This raised a loud laugh, ‘You have heard my say,” added Haycross fearlessly. ‘“*T think we'll hold you all,” decided King John. ‘Maybe you'll want to join us when you come to know us better. You'll be allowed to go where you please, except out toward the rift, You can buy what you want, if you have got the necessary.” ‘*Then you intend to keep us here?” **That’s what 1 said,” ** But, don’t ye know, it’s against the law!” cried the dude, ‘© ]’m all the law there is here just now,” de- clared the chief, ‘* You will be safe if you carry yourselves straight.” “What are we going todo, Mr. Haycrosa?” asked the young woman. ‘“*We haven’t any choice, now,” was the re- sponse. ‘*The only thing we can do is to stick together,” **T think the lady had better take a room here at the hotel as she intended,” suggested the out- law chief. ‘* Where is Miss Bonhame?” Francesca asked. **She isin a cabin here,” answered the chief, “ Whatis the matter with my lodging with her?” **Company might not be bad forher, Per- haps she’d be glad to have you,” *€-You said she is sick?” “‘T guess she hasn’t got anything that she won’t get well of, The fact is, she is locked up just now,” *“*And you said Bonhame and Belland had both gone away?” questioned Haycross. He feared -what had happened, judging by what he saw all around, “* Yes, they have gone away and are not likely to come back,” the chief admitted, **You don’t mean to say you have killed Junius Belland, do you?” cried the young woman, ** Bless you, you don’t take us for murderers, do you?” responded the rascal, At that bis evil horde sounded another laugh. By this time a big crowd of them was pres- ent, Haycross recognized the uselessness of further debate. ‘* Well, we can’t do better than to take your offer,” he said, ‘* We'll stay and bebave our- selves, it being understood that we are not to be harmed till we have made up our minds about joining you.” ** That’s ther idee!” cried Duff. “That is understood,” King Jobn affirmed. ‘Keep away from the canyon out there, and don’t try any tricks, and you'll be safe, If vou try any dodges, you will probably be shot, for I won’t stand accountable for what my men may do. You can get lodging here when you want to retire.” ** Horrible!” gasped the dude, “ Why did I ever come here?” “*T sive it up,”. laughed the chief, ‘Well, let’s make the best of it,” said Hay- cross, with as cheerful an air as he could assume. ““We accept the terms, mayor, Landlord, we want something to eat, anyhow, whether we are Pere or uot, Can you fit ug out with sup- per “T opine we kin scare up somethin’ fer ye to a on. Have ye got ther dudads to ante fer et “Yes, I guess we can scare up enough to pay for =,” was the response, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture, ** All right, come into ther next room hyer and squat round ther board, and I'll see to ye.” He indicated a door on the other side of the room, and the three unfortunates passed out into an adjoining room which served the pur- pose of dining-room. When they bad gone King John gave some orders to his men concerning them, and went out. The prisoners took seats at the table, and Hay- cross said in low tone: ‘* We are in a tight box here, and we have got to keep stiff upper lips if we ever expect to get out of it.” ‘You are right,” agreed the young woman, ‘*It looks as if they have cleaned oat the citi- zens and taken possession themselves,” ‘“That’s it,” agreed Haycross, ‘* And they are likely to clean us out, too.” “Do you think they’ll kill us?” gasped the dude, ‘* They'll do it.as sure as fun, if they take the notion, I wouldn’t give a big pile for our lives, i wanted to tell you what my plan is going to be, unless I see reason to change it.” What is it?’ asked the girl, eagerly, 1m going to pretend to join them to-mor- row, if there is no other way, and so try to res- cue Roxy if I can.” ‘And what had we better do?” asked tho dude. “T think you had better not offer to do that, but remain as docile as a lamb and do whatever they tell you todo, You are a tenderfoot, and they wouldn’t want you anyhow. Maybe they’ll make a cook of you, or dishwasher, or something of that sort,” “ Horrible! Horrible!” “But, you had better submit to it, as I said, for it’s your only hope of ever getting out alive, “ And what about me?’ asked the young wo- man, “tT want to make a bargain with you,” an- swered the Westerner. “ Whatis it” They were interrupted by the coming in of their host with sometbing for them to eat. “Pll tell you,” said Haycross, when he had gone, “If you will help me to rescue Roxy Dll do my best to get you out at the same time,” “Tildoit, Whuat’s the plan?” “Well, when I offer to join them it will be on one condition, and that is that you are to be my wife, On that condition you will join, too, ‘They would object to that, I am afraid.” * Maybe so, but they might not, Andif they didn’t, we could play off till we got the chance to slip out of their hands, or else hold out till help comes, for 2 am sure they are looking for an attack,” ““There don’t seem to be any other way, that I can see.” **¥t is the only hope, and a slim one at that, It means life or death for us, and we mustn’t be squeamish,” ** You'll find that I’m nervy, if it comes toa inch, ar I can well believe that, So, it is understood, And, if they take me at my offer, you can pre- tend to marry me,” Pl do it.” **And vou’ll keep your word about not doing harm to Roxy” “é Sure,” “Allright. Ask them to Jock you up with her, for tbe night, and that may be safety for both of you,” ** Do you think they have killed Belland?” * Tm afraid they have.” **T wish { knew it for sure,” “Why, what would you do” ‘I'd avenge him, somehow, if I lost my life the next minute,” “*You couldnt do it, We haven't the ghost of a show against them that way. Our only hold lies in deceiving them.” They carried on their conversation in low tones while they ate, laying their plans, and when they had done returned to the other room again and fearlessly mingled with the crowd, They had been there but a few minutes. when thero was excitement without, CHAPTER VIII. DEADWOOD DICK DRCPS DOWN, By this time it was growing dark, Many lights bad been lighted about the camp, and iv a brief tirne all would be needed, for twi- light in such a place was @ delusion, The excitement was in the shouting and run- ning to and fro on the part of some of the camp’s mongrel denizens, aud the cause did not “J at once appear, It seemed that no one knew just what was the matter, ‘““What’s all this about?” demanded King John, appearing at the botel, “That's what we want ter know,” responded one of his men, ‘‘ Mebby it’s sometbin’ wrong over at ther bridge,” The chiet of the brigand horde made haste to put bimself where a view in the direction of the bridge was commanded, When he gained that point he saw a man run- ning toward the camp with a lantern in hand, Undoubtedly be was one of the guardsmen, At the same time there arose a voice across the chasm, shouting; “ Hillo! HAillo! Hillo! Whar on airth ar? ve, citizens? What’s the matter. with all? Everybody crazy drunk? Hillo! Hillo! Hino “It’s somebody on the other side wanting to get across,” said the leader to those around bim, * Allr gbt; let bim in,” said one man. ‘t He’l§ be one more lamb fer us to fleece,” “T must know something about bim first, though,” said King John, By this time the fellow with the lantern was coming up, ‘*Whar’s King John?” he demanced, “Right here,” was the response, ‘ What's up? ‘“*Thar’s a galoot on t’other side what is bel- lerin’ ter come over, What d’ye say to es?” * Who is he?” ‘Don’t know his handle; says he’s a traveler,” ‘We'd better tell him to keep right on travel- ing, then, I think,” **But, he may be worth takin’ in,” was sug- gested. ‘‘We don’t want ter throw away ther chance fer a haul,” ‘¢17]] go down there and see what he is,” the chief decided. He led the way with the man carrying the lantern, and in a few moments they were at the bridge. There were two lanterns there, each watchman having one, and by the light they furnished the outlines of a horseman could be distingulsbed on the opposite side of the gorge, The man, whoever he was, had shouted once or twice more, Penn Haycross, Miss Travis, and Darby Sut- cliffe had followed the crowd out of the botel, and they whispered together about the matter, They heard the shouting, and the stranger’s words could be plainly made out, at that dis- tance, ‘* It is some poor devil who, like us, is going to get into the trap, sure,” observed the young woman, in a whisper, ‘*Hadn’t we better warn him?” asked the dude, ‘* And get shot for it?’ Haycross suggested, ‘* Bat, we could shout to him, you know, and so turn him back, As to our tate, I suppose that is fixed upon avyhow, so it will make no difference,” ‘*Tt will make a big difference in the time, though, They would probably drop the man in his tracks who tried it on,” ‘*Do you think they are really so bad?” *)’m surprised that Iam alive yet,” declared Haycross, with grim humor, ‘*Goodness! How perfectly horrible they are, to be sure, I wish I were miles and miles away.” sut, to give our attention to the scene at tho bridge. ‘* Who are you?” called out the mayor of the upsorped camp. ‘““Whoam I? Bless yer honest souls, citizens, I answer to ther name of Eli Betts,” came back the response, ‘‘1’m Eli Betts; every chance I gets, my whistle I wets; or that is to say I do when [ ain’tsufferin’ with chronic infvammation of ther esopbagus, which same is ther matter with me now,” The ruffians laughed at bis quaint saying ‘and his jolly way of saying it, ‘Where are you from?” asked the chief, “Plague taka me if I know where 1 did start from, pow,” was the response, ‘I set out about twenty-five years ago, avd been on ther go ever since, Me an’ my old mule Cunningham have been on ther move fer many “Well, then, what’s your business?” ** Bless yer honest souls, citizens, how mighty pertickler ye are! Why, 1’m as handy at one thing as another, I’m a jack of all trades, but I do jest as little work as I kin, you bet, I take ther stand that ther world owes mea Jivin’, and I put myself to as little trouble as possible to get it, ‘*Then what brought you here?” ““My old he-haw, this byer old mule Cun-
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~~ Sige fg ningham; mebby you kin see him ef ye look sharp,” ** And you want to come over here?” ‘‘ Well, I should say so. Et looks bomelike an’ cheerful over thar. Out here it is as dry an’ barren as a shadderless Sahara,” ** Are you alone?” * “No; haven’t I told Pg that my old mule Cunningbam is along? He isoneand a half, and 1’m half a one, and that niakes two of us, Oh! old Eli Betts, his living gets, and pays his debts, an’ down be sets, his whistle wets— That is ter say, when he ain’t sufferin’ as aforesaid. Yo see, I called for somethin’ strong tother day, and they gev me a glass o° sulphuricacid. I tell ye, pards, et almost took ther skin off as et went down, an’ I haven’t felt quite well sence.” This brought out a roar of laughter, for now quite a crowd had gathered on the other side, ‘But, what’s ther reason?” the man with the mule asked, wonderingly ‘‘ Why ar’ ye sbut in tsar so mighty select? Ar’ ye "fraid some- body will come along and carry ye off? Ef that’s the case, don’t think et of Eli Betts. Vill bet I'm as honest as ary a man of ye, when I’m asleep, All ye hey got ter do is ter keep an eye on me, an’ | won’t steal anything that I can’t get away “with, you bet. Ola Eli Betts, be never frets, but allus gets there every time with his boots on. Whoop! That’s the sort of a screechin’ cattymount I am, every time. But say, ar’ ye goin’ ter keep me out byer all night?” ' King John was debating whether to let him enter the camp or not. “T tell ye what,” the new-comer added: “Take me in, an’ then ef ye don’t like my ’pear- ance, turn me out again. Ali I want is some- thin’ to eat and a place to sleep, anybow,” “Pll bet he’s a harmless old cuss,” said one of King Jokn’s men. ** And mebby has a boodle is bis clothes that would do us good,” said another. * An’ we kin quick do him up, anyhow, ef he don’t pan out,’cordin’ to what we expect.” bd Pell, well let him across,” decided the King. ‘Stand ready with your guns though in case any trick is behind this,” P The bridge was then lowered, and the man on the mulecame over, ** Waal, I be blowed{” be exclaimed, when he had crossed, and he stood and watched the raising of the bridge again. ‘‘ Ef that ain’t a cute trick I wouldn’t say so, Is et a guard %'in’ Injuns, pards?” ‘‘Tt?s a guard against anything on legs,” an- swered King John, ‘‘We are a select people here, and we don’t admit every body.” “That's jest the sort o’ company I like to fall into, By the way, have ye got a local irrigatin’ shop ’round hyer?” “You bet,” was the shout, ‘*Ther Rooster Saloon is open fer biz, Wedon’t deal in any- thing ez strong as acid, though. Wo expect every traveler who crosses ther bridge ter set em up. “That's what I was goin’ ter p’ » good citizens,” the man on the mule declared, ‘‘ Lead the way to this temple o’ Bacchus o’ yourn, and [’ll treat the crowd if et takes every cent I can scare up in my old clothes, even if I have to pawn my old bat ter fill up ther meas- ure. I’m Eli Betts, who never lets ther good old vets go dry when I have the stuff to ante; that’s the kind of a pickled tarrantler J am! Lead on and I’jl do the rigbt thing by ye,” The hilarious crowd led the way, and in a lit- tle while the yured into the Rooster Saloon. _ Here was Mauler Mose behind the bar, hav- ing considerable of rum, bis own bad kind, in his ‘“‘tank” and looking about as ugly as a Malay pirate, The stranger followed the crowd in, still mounted upon his mule.} ‘Fo? on thar! sung out Mauler. ‘‘ What d’ye mean by comin’ in hyer on that critter?” ‘ What do I mean?’ was the retort. ‘‘ Why, I mean ter treat the bu] camp, onean’ all; that’s what I mean: yourself included, ef ye can hold any more. An’as fer Cunningham, my mule hyo", he ges too.” *“* Wal, he don’t go byer you bet!” cried Mauler, in vicious mood. : ‘ili bet be does, then,” declared the stran- ni ‘* Come, now, old man, bow much will you et “Tl bet ef you don’t git him out of hyer Pll pitch him out, an’ you after him.” “ Ha! ha! hal tail out.” “ Fol’ on, Mose!” others cried. ‘Don’t bo rough on him, an’ all,” “*T don’t keer what he is goin’ ter do,” snarled . the Mauler, tis face purple with anger at being Why, you couldn’t pitch his He’s goin’ to set ’em up fer one ’ thus defied. ‘*Ef he don’t git that mule out 0’ hyer in one second I’!l bounce ’em both!” ** Slow, old man, slow, slow!” the man on the mule cautioned. ‘Don’t git us riled up, fer ef ye do thar’s no knowin’ wbar et will end. Cun- ningham is a whole jug o’ disaster when he gits a-goin’, an’ 1’m a little lump o’ dynamite when ye set me off, I beg of ye take et easy.” ; But the giant b’ar-bruiser was coming around from bebind the counter, now, and 1t was plain that be meant business, He was a brute who had to have a fight of some kind about every so often or he was not happy, and it bad been a long time since he had had a regular set-to. ‘*Come down off’n thar!” he cried. ‘‘ Lead that ar’ mule out o’ hyer, or Vil take ye down an’ rub ye on ther floor till I blister ye all over. Do ye hear me? I’m yaupin’ at you.” ‘*Sa-ay,” drawled the man on the mule, look- ing at him calmly, ‘* what’s the matter wi’ you, anyhow? Do ye git taken this way often? Is et ketchin’?? You had better be keerful about rilin? me up. I’m Eli Betts, an’ when mad [ gets, you bet, my pets, I nat’rally lecs myself loose in a way that’s reckless, When I’m get- tin’ mad I allus holler, an’ I feel myself gettin’ that way now. Wayough-vough-ough!” The yell Eli let out was almost earsplitting. CHAPTER TX, DICK ON HIS MUSCLE. Tum man on the mule was a peculiar charac- ter. He had on a flimsy slouch bat, and his head and face presented one greattangle of bair and beard, as though he had not seen comb, brush or scissors in a dog’s age. Then his clothing was ragged and patcbed and a size too big for bim. His stogy boots were worn at the toes and down at the heel, He was dirty, too, looking as though be and soap and water were strangers. He was a hard-looking customer, about as tough a specimen as the worst of those around bim, As he gave vent to that yell be brandished bis arms, and the mule frisked up a little, too, shaking its head and flirting its tail, ‘Don’t come near me!” the mancried. ‘I kem in hyer as peaceful as a kitten, but 1 feel myself gettin’ riled up to a degree that ain’t safe. Better shy off old man, and let me cool down,” ** Tl] cool ye down, blast ye!” cried the giant; “ll help ye to git out of yer passion, me scarecrow! ITll tame ye so’s ye won't know ye ever bad speeret enough in yer bul! kerkiss to say sic! to a dog.” * Wayough-yough-ough-gh |” So the ragged stranger screamed again, and this time be appeared to grow decidedly ex- cited, and the mule the same, The mav pawed and clawed with his arms and legs, while the mule increased its ontics, now springing clear from the floor in a playful way, seemingly, but greatly excited. “Pll show ye!” cried the rum dispenser; ** I'll have ye out of yer duds in jest one—” “Take keer!” cried the man on the mule, “Take keer! Cunningham is gettin’ riled, too, an’ ef be gets to flirtin’ his heels around hyer he’ll demolish the hull shebang in about two minutes! Better keep clear from him, boys, and you'd better call off this big booby— Hal! ook out! The mule had suddenly kicked with one hind leg in a way that fairly made a crack like that of a whip, And it badn’t missed the giant by more thana foot, either. ‘‘ Don’t hold me responsible,” the man on the mule cried. ‘‘ You all know thatI kem in hyer as gentle asa lamb, with ther best of intentions, an’ I was sot on by this hooby—” ‘You dare ter call me that name twicet|” cried the big bruiser, ‘‘Vll take ¢t out of yer hide, sea ef I don’t! An’ then ef tbhar’s any movey in ver rags we’ll treat ourselves anybow. Hey, boys?” There were somo of the giant’s followers, those who stood mostin awe of kim, who agreed to this, ‘* Don’t count yer chicks till ther shells hev crackod,” enjoined the stranger. ‘‘ I hev warn- ed ye, an’ now ef ye come ter grief et’s yer own fault, Ain’t Iright, my good citizens?” ‘*'Yas, you ar’ right,” shouted those who had been eager for the treat. King John had come in with the rest, but he held his peace. He had a reason for doing this, He knew what a desperate man the giant was when Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture. S a i fully roused, and that he might even attack him in bis blindness, In which cage, it would be necessary to shoot the man down, and he wasa fellow he did not eare to lose from his band, And, as this new- comer, was nothing to bim anyhow, he let the bullwbacker bave his way, But, the Mauler was not having his own way exactly. In trying to get at the man on the mule he could not seem to keep out of reach ‘of the animal’s heels, The mule kept turning and prancing around, and every now and then be would let out a hoof with the suddenness of a flash, and the giant had all be could do to keep out of range. The man let out another wild yell more terrible than any yet. The mule jumped clear of the floor and came down with a force that made the building quiver, ‘* Better keep him away,” the rider warned. ‘*Ef ye haven’ta coroner and a coffin handy, keep him off, ‘I’m gettin’ that mad that thar’s nothin’ kin hold me ef I get one degree madder!” ‘* Hyer’s what kin hold ye, right byer!” yelled the bullwhacker. ‘‘ Let me oncet git holt of ye, an’ V’ll show ye ef ican’t! Come down off?’n that ar’ ornery mule an’ see bow quick Pl shine up ther fioor with ye! Only let me get in, an’ I?ll pitch you an’ ther mule out together!” ‘Do ye hear?” cried the rider, ‘‘ Hear what he says, good citizens? If I git down thar an’ give him what he wants, will ye see thet et’s a fair scratch?” ‘his tickled the crowd at once, ‘* Yes!” was shouted, “Yes! Yes!” “ Allright, ’lldo et. I’m Eli Betts, an? ma stem-winder of ther latest pattern. I didn’t come byer to fight, but to treat an’ be peace- able, but ve been sot on, an’ now I’m goin’ to sot back again, All ask is fair play, an’ ef I don’t make a mess of this hyer big brayin’ booby then Pll give ye my head fer soup.” ‘Come on!” shouted Mauler, ‘* i] *tend ter vou first an’ then ther mule. I want ye ter know that when I say a mule don’t go et don’t go,” ** But, this one is goin’ all the time. don’t believe it, let hivr get a crack at ye— ‘*Come down hyer an’ let me git a crack at you, an’ see ef you won't go—” ‘Yas, down an’ at bins!” * We'll see fair play!” ‘ Best man on top! ‘* No favor to either!” “'That’s, all I want,” asseverated Mr. Betts, “That's all Lask, Look out fer ther mule when T light off, an’ see that he don’t demolish ther hull ranch, Now I’m fer ye, ycu big galoot!” With that, and a yell that was simply terrible, the man sprung straight up from the saddle and came down upon his feet, directly in front of the saloon-keeper, The latter was a full head the taller, and it looked as though he would make short work of the daring new-comer, “Now DPve got ye!” he cried, as he reached out to grip the muleteer, But, be did not succeed, Mr, Batts knocked his ponderous arm away with a quick, sharp stroke, and the next instant grappled with him, There was a brief struggle, when up went the legs of the Mauler, almost hitting the ceiling, moo ya he came upon his bead with a terrible thud, ‘‘ Where have ye got me?” cried the stranger. “Come an’show me where! I’m ready fer ye now, an’ ef ye don’t watch out Vl spread ye all over the floor ’fore ve er’ ’ware of et!” Another wild yell followed, The crowd was amazed and more, Here was a surprise for them such as they had never dreamed of, They had seen the best men in cheir band tackle the Mauier, but not one of them, or for that matter any two together, had ever been able to overcome him. Yet, he was downed at last by this vagabond stranger, King Jobn gave vent to an ejaculation of sur- prise. ** Pl] show ye whar I’ve got ye!” bellowed the bruised bruiser, ‘‘‘ P’}l eat ye up, fer that trick! Ye took me foul or ye zouldn’t never ‘a’ done et!” He was scrambling up with all haste as he blurted out his vengeful threats. ‘Mind I don’t take ye fou) ag’in, then,” warned the stranger. ‘Ye ar’ gettin’ me warmed up now, and thar’s no tellin’ whar PIL eri Don’t run up ergainst me too hard, that’s au, aid If you ?
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“Pil run cl’ar through ye!” bellowed Mr, “Mauler, ‘I’m goin’ ter tear ye clean apart an’ feed ye to ther dogs! I’m goin’—” “ An’ thar ye go!” Mr. Betts had given him a tap on the proboscis ‘that sent him reeling back into the crowd. The outlaw horde cheered madly at that. It made little difference to them which man got the better of it, so long as they had the fun, But, then, there was a good part of the crowd who were really glad to see the Mauler ‘done up” at last, and it made no difference who did it. ‘The stranger was already a favorite with these, * Sock et to him!” cried one. ‘*To him up brown fer keeps!” ‘You ar’ a chief, stranger!” These cries and many more greeted Mr, Betts’s yerformance, ©] told him what would happen,” the stranger cried, ‘‘He has roused ther sleepin’ tiger in me, an’ he must take the cornpsekences. Come an’ se9 me agaia, you big-mouthec brawler, you! an’ see me send ye to ther floor qnicker’n quick, Hyer’s old Samson ready fer ye,” shaking his right fist, ‘‘an’ hyer’s Goliar ready ter back him up,” brandishing his left. The mule, the while, was standing by as docile as a lamb, “Tm a-comin’s” the bullwhacker bellowed. **7’n goin’ ter have yer hfe this time! That’s ther second time ye hev took, me foul, an’ I ain’t goin’ ter stand et, you bet! Look out fer yer- salf, now!” He had drawn an ugly-looking knife, and he came witha rush, There were first jeers at the giant’s weak plea of another foul, and then cries of warning to the stranger, : Mr, Betts did not appear to be particularly alarmed, He stood his ground firmly, looking not unlike a lion with his bushy and tangled hair and beard, On came the Mauler, and as he came closer he jifted his knife to strike his foe to the ground, But once again he met with a mishap that balked his plan. Perhaps it was another foul. The stranger made a movement that rivaled the lightning for quickness, and the man’s knife was sent flying out of his hand and he grabbed his wrist and fairly bellowed with pain. But not much time was given him for that, for the stranger was not done with him, Grabbing his shoulder, Mr. Betts wheeled him around and gave him a lifting kick, Everybody was wild, and that was too much for Mr. Mauler to stand. He whipped outa revolver as he turned, but before he could bring it to bear the stranger was upon him, and he was lifted up bodily and sent crashing against the rear end of the building, " There was a crash, and the Mauler went through, carrying half of the end of the shanty with him, CHAPTER X, STANDING THE CLOSE TEST. THE crowd was now too amazed to cheer the performance, ‘‘T warned him,” cried Mr, Betts, ‘“‘ but he wouldn’t leave me alone, I told him what would happen,” ‘“* Who in the name of wonders are you, any- how?” asked King John, ‘*)’'m Eli Betts, who never gets—left if he can help it,” was the prompt response, ‘‘ If you val- ly ther life of that giant, you had better call bim off now. If he tries his popper on me Vl! most prob’ly fix him out.” “Go around and gather the Manler up,” or- dered the chief, speaking to seme of his men. *“‘ Disarm him, and tell himI say this thing must be dropped for the present.” The bullwhacker coald be heard bellowing worse than a buffalo bull, and several men ran to carry out the chief's orders, They found the fellow on his back, kicking | wildly to get bimself untangled out of the wreck, and he was swearing like the fabled trooper, or worse, Half a dozen seized bim at once, ostensibly for the purpose of helping bim, but as soon as they had hold upon him they disarmed him. He was then lifted up and helped out. lf he had raved before he raved more then, ‘Give me my guns till I pepper bim!” be cried, “‘Let me pive bim what »eis wantin’. I didn’t set out ter fight ther man an’ ther mule together, anyhow, See what ther blame mule has done, will ye?” This brought a howl of laughter. } Desperate told; ‘‘that’s whar ther stranger pitched yo through ther house.” * Git out!” cried the bullwhacker, ‘ Thar ain’t no man livin’ could do that ’ar leetle trick, Ef he done et, let him try et again, that’s all. Whar is he? Iam goin’ ter—” ‘* King John says you ain’t ter do nothin’ to him,” he was interrupted, ** An’ who’s goin’ ter stop me, I’d like ter know?” “ We ar’, that’s who!” Some five or six of them held on to him like grim death, in spite of his struggles, and he had to submit, In the mean time King John had been talking with the stranger, ‘*P}] see that Mose don’t trouble you again, just now,” he said, ‘ You will have to look out for him pretty sharp afterward, though,” ‘An’ I reckon I kin do that, boss. Ef he havkers fer any more ye might as well let him come an’ git a full dose while he is about et. No more trouble ter do a whole job than half a one,” ‘¢ No, I don’t want him killed.” ‘Then cage him up, that’s all. Ef he tries on any more of sech business wi’ me, lll sallyvate him ina way he won't git over. I’m Eli Betts, an’ when I gets right up an’ sweats, I never lets up till ve done ther proper caper by ther galoot what roused me,” ‘* Do you mean to say that is your real name?” the chiet asked. ‘* My real name?” queried Mr, Betts, wonder- ingly. ‘*1t couldn’s be any more real, I reckon, It’s ther name my daddy wore, and my grand- dad afore him, It’s a family nome, is Eu; and Betts has been sung in song an’ story fer ages, If thar’s one thing more than another that the Bettses pride themselves upon, it’s the family name! My own name? Well, [ reckon 1 own it, some!” “T bad a notion that you might be in dis- uise,” At that the crowd became silent, and many a hand fell upon a weapon, ‘‘Ha! ha! ha!” Mr, Betts laughed, full, round and naturally. ‘' Mein disguise—me ? Wull, l don’t know bow I’d goabout et. Meta man the other day I hadn’t seen in a dozen years, and then only seer him Jong enough ter ante when he called at ther pint of a guy; an’ he sez, sez he: ‘ Hello, Betts! you look as nat’ral as life.’” ‘That is ajl right, but that’s your story, We want proof of it,” ‘Proof of et? How in ther world do ye ex- pect me ter {prove et to ye? Et can’t be done, onless thar is somebody hyer what knows me,” ‘¢ Ts all that hair and whiskers your own?” “ Wull, Ireckon nobody e-se ain’t got no claim ontoet, pard. Mioe? Wull, if persession fer a score or more 0’ years counts fer anything, I reckon I hev got some title to my own ha’r,” ‘*T meant, is it false or natural?” ‘False! A Betts with false hair! Pard, et’s plain that you don’t know ther Bettses, My granddad had most of his when he died, and my daddy had more’n I’ve got, an’ J don’t reckon I'll be bald this season. False? False ha’r on a Betts? Ha! ba! ha! Look byer.” With that Mr. Betts took off his hat and yanked at his hair in a way that ought to have convinced anybody, and his beard the same, ‘* Nothing false about me, you bet!” ‘Well, that’s proof enough,” said the chief, ‘but I had a suspicion, I have never heard of but one other man witb strength anything like ours, ane Didn’t take me for Samson, did ye?” “No; bat I did take you for Deadwood Dick, Junior.” Mr, Betts looked around in a sort of appre- | hensive way at that, and when he spoke it was in a lower tone. ‘** Ye don’t mean ter say he is around hyar, do you?” he asked in alarm. ‘* No; but he might be, I have been expect- ing ‘to see bim, sooner or later, and wanted to make bis acquaintance when be arrived, The way you handled Mauler Mose made me sus- picious,” “Ym glad he hain’t byer,” said Mr, Betts, in a relieved tone, ‘I ain’t at all eager to fall in i wi? him, He’s too tarnal soon on ther shoot,” ‘* Not after you, is he?’ the chief asked, **Wuoll, be has had me tough ter corral for some time, tc own to the truth, an’ as I’m in- nercent of ther charge 1 don’t want ter git into no trouble. See?” ‘* We begin to see, What's the charge against you?” ‘*T don’t mind tellin’? ye, but ye onderstand that ’'m innocent, That is ter be taken wi’out ** Why, tober mule didn’t do that,” he was , question,” Venture, © ** Certainly.” ** Well, ye see, a hoss got missin’ from a ean p whar I’d been ‘stoppin’, an’ it so happened that it went missin’ on the same night that I made my depart. I didn’t know nothin’ about et, Next day I had a hoss fer sale at another camp, an’ sold et, an’ about that time down conea committee an’sez I'd stole ther brute, I was innercent, but ter save argymint I lit out, an’ they haven’t tried me yet,” ‘* And where did you get the horse you sold?” ‘* Well, er—ye see, that was one my brother left to me when he died.” There was a roar of Jaughter at that, ** And Deadwood Dick had a hand in running you down, had he?” * Wull, 1 heerd be was after me, an’ I haven’t been waitin’? Jong -in a place to see, Not that I’m ’feerd of bim, bein’ innocent; but et’s inconvenient to attend these hyer petty trials, ye see,” The horde laughed wildly. ** Did you ever hear of King John?” the chief asked, ‘Yes, IT bev heerd of bim,” Mr, Betts an- swered, ** but ye needn’t ask me no questions ‘bout Kim, I don’t know nothin’, aw’ ef I did I wouldn’t tell, King Jobn never done nothin’ ter me,” ‘¢ Well, 7am King Jobn.” * You 2?) Git out!” ‘Not at all, sir. It is as I tell you. How would you like to join my band of bully boys?” * Say, kin ye prove what ye say, pard?” “Of course I can prove it, Ask these men who I am. Am I not King Jobn, my fine fel- lows?” ‘“That’s who ye ar’, you bet!” ‘*Wull, I ber blowed!” cried Mr. Betts, He flung his hat down upon the floor with force, “Ter think thet I should fall in wi’? you so onexpected like, Doe ye know, I hev .been wantin’ ter strike your trail ever since Dead- wood Dick sot out on mine? Td like ter pitch my lot wi’ yours.” “Do you mean that?” ‘Course I mean et! I did steal ther hoss, boys.” There was another laugh at that, and just then the Mauler was led in, “Let me at bim!” be cried. ‘'Turn out ther mule, but let me finish my work with ther galoot. I badn’t half begun,” ‘* You'd better call it done,” advised the chief, ‘This man has done you up, Mose, and you know it. He wants to be one of us, and you and he together will make a bully team,” The bullwhacker stared at the stranger, “ But, one of us has got ter be boss,” he de- murred, ‘““And I guess he bas proved bimself your master,” laughed King John, ‘‘Wasn't et the mule that sent me through ther end of ther shebang?” the Mauler asked, Another laugh at that lame excuse, “Of course it wasn’t,” said the chief. “ It was the stranger. He is too big for you, even if he is the smaller, You had better own up beat,” There were goodZand sufficient reasons why Mauler Mose could not go against the will of his chief, so he pulled in his horns--so to ys ** Waal, ef he’s to be one of us, of course thar’s no use kickin’ any more, I opine,” hesaid, ‘* We'll try a friendly bout some o’ these days, though, ter see Who is best man,” ‘* Hyer’s my band, then,” said Mr. Betts, ex- tending. ‘*)’m jest as easy ter cool off as I am ter rile up, an’? a word or two like that puts me all right, Ef you ain’t got nothin’ ’g’in’ me I ain’t got nothin’ ’g’in’ you, and this makes et all right. Ther mule kin be led out, now,” The cause of all the trouble, the mule, was still as meek and gentle as it could be, and it was hard to believe that it had recently been so full of fire, A man took hold of the bridle rather gingerly to lead it away, and the animal went with him tamely. [t was then that Mr, Betts repeated his offer to treat, He aid not have to call the second time, for every man present was ready at once, and the treat was accepted, When it was over the stranger had to go through his clothes several times to scare out the amount to settle the score, but the de- mand was finally met in full and he was voted a chief. Little they knew of the man they were harbor- ing. The disguise was a good one, but any ae me ee
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Teeny ia NERA eae ace ~ a“ slight accident might betray it, and then what chance would Deadwood Dick stand in such a den of vipers? He held his life in bis hands here, truly CHAPTER XI. THE DUDE PROPOSES A PLAN, ALL this excitement, very naturally, had drawn attention away from the three prisoners, Haycross, Sutcliffe, and the young lady. They had followed the crowd out of the hotel at the time when the stranger was letting him- self be heard on the other side of the gorge, and little attention had been paid to them since, Watching from a place where they could com- mand a view of the bridge, they had witnessed the coming of the man on the mule, and had seen him conducted to the saloon. ‘** Who can the fellow be?’ questioned the young woman, ‘* Some unfortunate like ourselves, no doubt,” suggested the dude, “Or else one of their own band playing a blind,” amended the Westerner. “ Anybow, he is taking the crowd,” observed the young woman. ‘ It would be a good chance for us to try toescape,” ** But you'll not find me trying it on, after what he said,” declared the Westerner, ‘* No doubt some are on the watch. Anyhow, the bridge would balk us, No, there is no use try- ing it yet.” ‘Then what shall we do?” ** It’s a good chance to scout around and see if we can’t find out where the girlis a prisoner.” “You are right. We will do that,” ** And, if possible, lay bold of a weapon or two.” **Shall we ever get out of here?” sighed the dude. “I only wish I had stayed with the stage,” “Or at home,” added the young woman, ‘Yes, or at home, you are right,” the dude accepted, ** Well, as no one is giving us much attention,” said Haycross, ‘‘ let’s do what I proposed. Let’s see if we can find Roxy.” * Lead the way,” sigbed the young woman, “(ll keep my word witb you, though J’d much rather find Junius Bellanca, But, I fear it is all over with bim,” ** Yes, I am afraid it is.” They walked down the street in company, and they were not molested, at first, every man they met being in haste to get to the Rooster Saloon, Presently, though, they met four fellows who were about half drunk, and who stopped them at once, Not only so, but they covered them with their weapons and ordered their bands up, ‘Whar ye goin’?” demande’ one, ** Your chief has given us the freedom of the camp,” answered Haycross, sharply, ‘‘and we are going where we please,” ‘*Ho! ho} Ye ar’, hey? Waal, now, s’pose ye ante up what change ye happen to have fore ye gv any furder.” “If you rob us we'll report it to the chief,” Haveross declared, {* What d’ye s’pose we care fer that? Ef ve say much, we'll drop ye an’ chuck ye over ther ledge with ther restof’em, Nobody hyer would mourn fer ye.” “Well, you hold the best hand,” Haycross admitted, One of the four put away his weapon and searched their pockets, and when they went on their valuables had changed hands, ““ They have got us ina tight fix, sure enough,” said Haycross, ‘I take it that this bas been by the orders of the chief, for now they have us iu a worse fix than before, We can’t buy any- thing.” ‘“*Never mind, we are alive yet,” said the young woman, with remarkable coolness, ** But there’s little telling bow long we will be,” sighed the dude, ** Now, about finding the girl,” reminded Hay- cross, ‘* Almost everybody is at the saloon, where they seem: to be having a high time over something. Suppose we knock at every cabin till we find her,” “* The only way, I guess,” saia the young wo- man, “* And with the chances of finding somebody else first,” put in the dude, “* Yes, it’s the only way I see just now,” Hay- cross went on, ‘‘and we'd better be about it while we can,” Jost then they had come to a cabin, and it was the one where Roxy Bonhame was impris- ‘* And we may as well begin right bere,” said Francesca. They stepped to the door and Haycross knock- ed lightly. ‘* Who's there?” a woman’s voice asked. ** Are you Roxy?’ Haycross inquired. ‘* Yes; is it Junius?” “Well, hardly; but it’s a friend just the same,” ‘Then who are you?” ** Penn Haycross.” ** And was it you sent me the note?” “No. What sort of note was it?” ‘One from a friend, I think it was from Junius, Have you seen him?’ ‘“‘Thank Heaven!” exclaimed Francesca, ‘That is proof that heis aiive, He may be here in this camp even now,” ** Who are you?’ Roxy demanded, **T am one who loved Junius Belland before you knew him,” was the sharp retort, ‘Then if: you love him,” said Roxy, “ find him and guard him from danger.” ‘* How about me?” spoke Haycross, **T do not suppose I can ask you to help protect him,” “Hardly, unless you will accept now the offer I have made you before, and say you will marry me.” “*T will never do that. You may as well leave me here. In fact, I do not see how you can do anything for me, anyhow.” ‘* Every friend counts in a time like this,” ** But, you are both my foes,” spoke the girl within. ‘One would rob me of my promised husband, while the other would rob him of me, I do not want your help unless it be given unconditional,” ‘*We are working together for your good,” declared Haycross, ** And how so, pray?” “Well, Miss uvis and myself have good reasop to distrust and work against each other, but we agreed upon a compromise. She came here to scratch your eyes out, moreor less, and tT came bere to settle a score with Belland. When we found out how it stood, she agreed not to harm you if I would not harm Belland, and so we settled it. I want you; she wants Junius.” ‘*If that is the situation, do not belp me further. You, Penn Haycross, certainly can not have your desire,” ** But, this is foolish, Roxy, when your life is in danger.” ‘They can kill me but once.¥ ‘* But they can kill you hard that one time, as the saying is,” ‘‘ No matter,” * Ts life of no value to you?” asked Francesca, ‘*Not with my father and Junius dead, or the one dead and the other lost to me,” was the sad- dened reply. ‘“*T inteuded asking to be shut up there with you, to bear you company,” Francesca made known. ‘¢-You had better not.” 6 Why? ‘* Because we are not frienas, ana cannot be friends,” ‘*But I am willing to do you a friendly turn all the same, if you will let me,” "Yes; you have zome to rob me of wy lover, and you offer me life with nothing to live for, No; go your way and leave me to my fate,” * All right, that settles it,” "And do you say the same to me?” asked Haycross, do,” ** Remember, though, I will not allow Belland to have you if [I am refused. I am either for him or against him,” And you make us foes to each other, and both foes to your happiness,” reminded Fran- cesca, ** Better so, ness, anyhow,” The trio draw away from the door to consult, “What is going to be done about it?” asked Haycross, ‘That's what gets away with me,” responded the young woman, ‘“* It certainly looks as if you can’t be of much uss to me in the game,” ‘* And that being the case, you don’t feel dis- posed to help me any. I guess our compact is broke.” ** And as soon as we say that we are foes,” “We can’t neighbor together any longer, I opine.” ** Still, badn’t we better keep from open war- fare? If you will still hold to your promise not to harm Roxy I'll stick to my bargain not to try to hurt Helland,” You bring me no hope or bappi- Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture” ag rr setae ~ ‘* We can do that, I suppose.” ** Would you allow me to put ina word of advice to both of you?” bere spoke up the dude, They could barely see one another in the dim light, for tae moon had not yet appeared, ‘Yes, chip in,” Haycross invited. ‘Well, my word of advice is just this: You two area pretty likely couple, and I think you would make a good match. Why don’t you drop the other couple, where you don’t seem to have much of a chance anyhow, and make a go of it yourselves?” ‘* Hardly,” said Haycross, ‘* Never!” cried the young woman, ‘*That settles it, then,” declared the dude. ** Tr was an idea that came to me, and I thought if might work, Then you could all work to- gether with the one object of getting away, and 1 could help you,” ‘¢T see,” said Haycross, ‘*One stroke for us and two for yourself, Pretty good, but it can’t be done, ‘* Of course it can’t be done,” added the young woman decisively, ‘*T have nothing more to say, then, as if it must be each one for himself,” It was then that thegreat crash at the salcon was heard, and their attention was drawn that way. Bonleshiiic is going on,” spoke Haycross. “We might not miss anything by going there to learn what it is all about,” ‘*Bince we cannot do any good here,” added the young woman? “Even were it possible to: rescue this girl and find Junius, what could we: dv? We are about as belpless as we can be.” So, they went to the saloon, where they wit- nessed what took place after the bullwhacker was hurled through the rear of the shanty, as has been told. It looks: CHAPTER XI, DICK FINDS FAVOR, DraDWwoop Dick bad been keeping his eyes well about him, and had noted the coming in of the young woman, He had asked himself at once the question —could this be Miss Bonbame? and at once: decided against it. She did not tally with the impression Belland’s remarks had given him of Roxy. He had noted, too, Haycross and Sutcliffe, and that they were not of the outlaw band, That the three were acquainted was plain, but he could not decide just what their ac- quaintauce amounted to. It would bardly do, yet, to give any person a hint that he was not: what hé seemed, After the treat was over and the score settled, Dick turned in the direction of the young woman, ani, as though seeing her for the first time, ex- claimed: ‘* Hillo! Bless me heart ef byar ain’t a purty” leetle gal wi’ red hair an’ a cute leetle nose wi’ a. Mint to et. Who is ther lady, mayor? Is et Mrs, King John? J allus bow to ladies,” He doffed his hat as he spoke and bowed pro-- foundly. . The ruffians around bim laughed, and the young lady fired up indignantly at. his re- marks, Strange as it is, no matter how much red hair and a tilt nose are sung and praised, no woman possessing these charms likes to be re- minded of it. ‘““No, sir, f am not Mrs, King John, nor Mrs, Anybody,” Francesca snapped at him. ‘And I don’t thank you for passing remarks upon my appearance, either,” “My!” ejaculated Dick. ‘ Ain’t she spunky, though! But, mayor, you'll allus find spuvk with red hair an’ a tipped nose.” He put bis hand before his mouth, and meant that remark for an aside, It was loud enough to be heard hy every- body, though, and again the ruffianly horde laugbed. Dick had an object in view, He wanted to learn all he could about these: three. ‘*See here,” spoke up Haycross, “if yow can’t speak less offensively about this lady, you had better keep your head shut.” Dick was Id to believe this was the woman’s husband or lover. ‘* Bless your honest soul, pard,” he cried, I wouldn’t hurt her feelin’s fer ther world! IfT bave said anything out of ther way I take et all back, I beg yer pardon, lady.” He bowed again. we young woman snubbed him as he deserv-- ed. ‘“* Won't you interdoose me, mayor?’ Dick = | }
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then asked, appealing to King John. ‘I take et these byer three don’t rightly belong ter your family.” “You are right,” the outlaw chief admitted, ‘They are strangers, like yourself, and only came here a little while ahead of you. We have given them the freedom of the camp, with the privilege of joining us if they want to.” ‘* That’s ther way of et, hey? Your wife, sir, I take et?” This to Haycross, ‘* No, sir,” was the short answer. ‘Perhaps yours?” to the dude, “Thave not the honor,” was the dude’s re- sponse, ‘*!m nobody’s wife,” snapped the fiery young lady, sharply. ‘“‘I’m single, and my name is Francesca Travis; daughter of. Tom Travis of Tombstone,” : * That’s straight as a string,” said Dick. “If there’s anything [ like.-more ’n another in a wo- man it’s straight talk, That lets us understand jest who an’ what ye are, an’ thar can’t be no mistake, I like ter git acquainted wi’ folks,” *T want to ask you, King John, where I am to lodge to-night,” the young woman spoke, turning to the chief. “Why, I told you to procure a room at the hotel,” was the response. ‘* But, [have been robbed, and have no money to pay with.” ** Robbed?” “ Yes,” ‘Yes; four of your men set upon us a few minutes ago and cleaned us out,” explained Haycross, “Pll see about that,” King John declared. ‘“* But, no matter, you go to Duff at the hotel, lady, and tell him pee give you the best room there,” “*That’s ther way ter talk,” cried Mr. Betts, ‘*T allus like ter see ther right thing ‘done by ladies, King John, and ef I’m ‘lected ter be ove of ye I'll stand up fer ther wimmin, every time.” ‘*'That’s what we all do,” ‘Glad ter hear et, I take et this lady is ther only woman ia ther camp,” ‘* No, we have one other.” ** Your wife?” “‘Nobody’s wife yet, but Iintend to wed her to-morrow.” Dick noticed that Haycross gave a start, and that his hands clinched together convulsively. ‘*Ho! thar’s gvuin’ ter be a weddin’, hey?” Dick cried. ‘‘ That’s ther stuff. I will be byer to dance, you bet on that. Who is ther bride that’s ter be?” * She’s the daughter of the former mayor, sir. Her name is Roxy Bonhame, I believe,” “Then you haven’t knowed her long, I take et. No matter; quick courtsbip is ther best. Et don’t give ye no time ter discover faults, an’ repent of yer choice, I was married oncet my- eel.” “You. bet, Met ther gal one week and was married the next. Lived with her till the next week,” ‘Rather a short time,” “Til tell ye how et was: [ bought a load of wood and a sawbuck, and I sez, sez I: ‘ Mariar, thar’s a little job fer ye to do ’tween times,’” * And that was all?” “That was all Jsaid, She said somethin’, an’ that was the last [ seen of her.” Sa pirate crew laughed at his nonsensical story. ‘May I be allowed to put in a word here?” asked Penn Haycross, He spoke to the chief, “Certainly; two if you like,” “IT want to say that I have made up my mind to join with you if you'll have me,” “ Hal you have been quick to come to terms.” “I didn’t see any other way. You have dis- armed me, your men have robbed me, and I’m in a tight place.” ‘Well, there wasn’t much choice, that’s a fact.” ‘T have figured that out. But, if I join you it has got to be on condition, And if that is granted, this young lady will cast ber lot with mine,” “Well, what’s the condition?” “That you allow me to marry her and have her for my own,” “Ho? on right thar,” bere put in Mauler Mose. “TI reckon I’m second in command hyer, and I come in fer second choice of ther two gals.” ** You will take her over my dead body if you et her,” cried Haycross, ‘Et won’t be any trouble ter do that ’ar.” ** And you'll find ine dead when you get me,” declared the girl. ‘‘I have the power to kill myself in an instant in a way you know nothing about,” She was talking for effect. ‘** And you can bet she’d keep ber word,” said Ha ycross, Deadwood Dick saw which side he was re- quired to favor, and he chipped in promptly. **In all sech matters, pards,” he said, ‘‘ l am in favor of ther best-lookin’ man, an’ in this byer case et’s sartainly this feller.” He indicated Haycross. “Tt is that way or no way,” Haycross flatly announced, ‘If you won’t take us atour terms you can go ahead and dc your worst, You can only kill me, and the lady can kill herself in spite of you.” ‘* Dll fight et out wi’ ye,” proposed the Mauler, ‘*What’s the use, You might win, for you are a bigger man than I, but that wouldw’t help your case any, as the lady hes told you,” ‘* I'd take chances on that,” ‘Well, we won't do it that way. Besides, I am not proposing this thing to you, but to your chief. What do you say to it, King Jobn?” ‘Tt shall be as you propose,” the chief de- clared, Mauler Mose began to bellow at omce, but King John drew a revolver upon him. ** Not a word out of you,” he cried, “ or down you go. I’m boss here yet, as you will find,” “That being the case,” said Haycrose, * I'ma going with the lady to the hotel, and Ill sleep before her door to-night. I suppose there is no use my asking for my weapons beck,” ‘* Not to-night. You can do what you propose, but we'll settle the business in full to-morrow, Nobody will molest you or the lady to-nigit.” ‘All right.” * And whet about me?” asked the dude. “Et hiss me you ar’ a tenderfoot, ain’t ye?” spoke up Mr. Betts, ‘““That’s what they call me, sir,” was the re- sponse. ‘“Tender as cen be,” assured King John, “I don’t know what to do with him. He is harm- less, though, and will keep over.” ‘¢ Wher’s he from?’ asked Dick, ‘*He was ouly a passenger. He’s out seeing the sights, and he is seeing all he wants of them, Came up here by chance, as I understand it,” ‘“* And I should like the chance to get away again,” Mr. Sutcliffe declared, ‘1f I had known what a perfectly horrible place it is I assure you 1 would never bave come,” “King Jobn,” cried Dick, ‘I want a favor.” “ What is it?” ‘*T don’t ask either one of the'gals, but I would like ter have this hyer lad fer my lackey. What do ye say ” ‘Do you mean that?” “Why, cert! Ill make him take keer of Cun- ningbem, my Mule, and wait on me all day. Ob! I tell ye the Bettses ain't no slonches, an’ a body servant will be jest ther cheese. An’, fer your amusement, Vil make him Varn ter ride ther mule,” ‘* Well, take him,” said the chief. “I don’t care what you do with him. I guess he wasa fit subject for the canyon ont there anyhow, Yes, take him and make him useful, if you can, But, mind you, one and all, you are only on parole for the night, and you will bave to be careful how you conduct yourselves, To-mor- row I'll see about taking you into the band.” CHAPTER XIII. THAT NIGHT OF PERIL. DEADWOOD Dick was satisfied in some re- spects; in others he was not. He had passed the first ordeal, and had escaped detection, But, it was now ‘night. Would he stand the test by daylight# , ‘Tbat was a question. He had taken much care with his disguise, to have it as perfect as possible, but he knew he had shrewd foes to fight against, Still, be was satisfied that he had stood well the first close test, and also that he had made so favorable an impression on the band, He was satisfied, too, with what he bad learned regarding Roxy Bonbame. He had reason to believe that she was still safe from harm, and that she had yet some hours of respite, In other things he was not so well satisfied, He had not learned where the girl was; he had no immediate prospect of being able to strike a blow in favor of ber and her lover; in fact, he had some doubts about being able to ac- complish much, And it was no wonder he felt doubtful. Here he was, in the midst of a den of vipers, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture, | it emer aoe oe and once let his true character be known and he» would stand little chance for bis life, But, we know Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the West. He was not easily discouraged, and: did not go to meet trouble half way. He had a work to accowplish here, and everything de- pended upon his own efforts, Penn Huycress and Francesca left the saloon: in a few minutes, going to the hotel. Sutcliffe, the dude, remained, of course, He was eying his ‘‘ master” with a good deal of apprehension, and when, after the young: woman had gone out, Mr, Betts approached him, he drew back, **Come,” said Dick, “thar’s po use your kickin’ over ther traces, young feller, I have bargained for you an’ you ar’ my property, Step out hyer an’ let’s git a good look at ye,” Laying bold of the fellow’s shoulder, be drew him out to tle center of the room, where he pro- ceeded to inspect him critically. *€ A likely lookin’ lad,” he observed, ‘I think ye will do, young feller. I like yer looks. I think I kin break ye in so’s ye will, be of some» use ter me, Saay, kin ye dance?” * N—no, sir; on me word of honor, sir, I can’t.” ‘“ WAl, let’s see ye try. Now, ketch on and shuffle out a jig to this tune,” With that Mr. Betts began to whistle, at the» same time clapping his hands on kis knee, giving a lively dance air. ‘¢Goodmees!” the dude ejaculated, ‘I can’t do it, don’t ye know. I never danced in me life.” “ Then et’s time ye did,” he was told, “Yas, dance right up now,” ordered Dick, ‘for Vil have ter make ye doet. I don’t stand no foolin’.” ‘* But, I can’t, really I can’t—” “Somebody lend me a revolver fer jest one» minute,” requested Dick, ‘tan’ Ill see ef he won’t *bey his master.” ‘“Why, are you not armed?’ asked King: Jobn, ‘“ Armed? What would I be armed fer? I’m fisted, wi’ Samson an’ Goliar,” exhibiting his fists, ‘‘ an’ that’s allther arms I need, Et wou’t do fer me ter use one o’ them on this frail feller,, though, fer if 1 did he’d never git up again,” ae Well, here’s a revolver.” King John handed him a weapon as he spoke, ** Now, sir, you dance,” Dick ordered the aude.. ‘*No matter how good or how bad ye do et, jest dance fer all yow’re worth,” He aimed the revolver at the fellow’s head,, and whistled again, Mr, Sutcliffe danced, to the best of his ability, and that was of the worst order, Everybody Jaughed, and Mr. Betts was called a bully good fellow, Not a man among them but was ready to» welcome him into the band, “ That’s right,” he said when he allowed the dude to stop. “Allus obey on sight when I speak, an’ et will save trouble, Dll make @ handy man of you before I part with ye,” ‘* But, you don’t mean to keep me here?” “Well, 1 reckon. 1 have cast my lot with: this band, and you will have to check in your lot» wi’ mine, or get a worse fate,’ During the next half-hour Dick made a good deal of fun for the crowd, with the dude as the object of it all, and finally be took leave and went to the hotel where he had something to eat, He kept the dade right with him, and made bim stand behind his chair while he ate, There wes a chance while he was at the table for Dick to speak to the young man, ‘You are in a bad situation here,” he re~ marked in a low tore, Sutchffe started, The change in Dick’s manuer of speaking, his dropping of the dialect, proved that he was not what he seemed. Dick. had studied the fellow, and knew he could trust bim. ‘T certainly am,” the dude responded, with the same caution, ‘¢ Well, I want to help you, but you will have- to play a pretty hard role if you expect to get out of here alive. By telling you this I am put- ting my life into your hands. If you betray me it will be death for both of us,” “ Trust me,” “That’s what I’m doing, question of you.” Well?” ‘**Do you know where that young woman is! The one called Roxy, I mean.” “6 Yes.” ** Where?” I wanted to ask a “
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Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture, ‘Third cabin down, on this side the street.” “Good. Lhave got to get a word with her this night. Mind, nota hint that [.am not what Jseem, And, to play the thing out 1 shall have “to use you pretty bard,” “IT don’t care, Vl stand anything, if there ‘is a chance of getting out of bere,” Dick asked several questions, and as a resu®: he soon bad in his possession all the dude knew about Haycross, the young woman of the red hair, and others, ‘ne meal over, Dick returned to the bar-room, lis servant carrying his hat for bim, ‘Tuat is right, Samule,” Mr. Betts said, as he received bis hat, ‘‘ You sca, l bave given hiro a new name, pards; Samule, teer servant o Kili, That's right, Samule, an’ now you kin -git down an’ wipe ther dust from my boots, Have you a ban’kercher in yer pocket?” ‘* Yes, sir.” ‘‘Then do et with that, s0’s not ter sp’il ther leather.” The crowd laughed loudly, particularly Mr, Duff the landlord, and the dude got down upon his knees and did as directed, Eli Betts was growing in favor all the time, He made the dude dance again for the en- jjoyment of the crowd, then made him sing a “song, and he himself made fun enough to satisfy vany reasonable demands, He had an object init ali, it was to keep the attemtion of the rascally horde drawn to something, and so have them occupied, thus to insure the more the safety of their prisoners, Frequent trips were made to the saloon, where Eli was liberal with his money, always ‘Managing to rake together enough out of his ragged clothes to pay for the treats he ordered. But at last sleep was the order of things. Midnight bad come, the moon was kigh, and the tired denizens were beginning to drop away to woo the sweet restorer, Finally Dick and his man bunked down upon the narrow apology for a piazza to the hotel, Mr, Betts making his dude surrender his person fora pillow, and in a little whiie they were snor- ing. But, Deadwood Dick did not sleep, He was waiting for the moon to godown, when he had some work to do, Simple as that work was, he must do it un- seen, No suspicion must attach to him if he would carry his ends, Finally the moon went down, and not a sound “was to be heard in the camp. ‘the bridge, and it was very doubtful if even "they were awake, Dick’s pijlow, the unhappy dude, was asleep, But, Dick had whispered his plan to him, so be left him without any hesitation when the time for action came, If he awoke he would remain quiet and await bis master’s return. When it was quite dark again, and it was the ‘darkest hour, that before dawn, Dick stole softly from the piazza and made off in the direction of “0 cabin where Roxy Bonhame was imprison- “ed, He bad been keeping guard over the cabin all night, really. Arriving there, he knocked very lightly upon at goals thardly hoping that he would be weara, But, he was. There was a sound of steps ‘within, and the next moment there came a whis- ypered voice from just within the door, ‘* Who is there?” was asked, **A friend,” answered Dick, ‘Is it you, Junius?” “ce No.” . ‘‘Ts it Penn Haycross?” “ce No. v ** Toen, who?” ** Listen; [ama friend of Junius Belland, I cave come here-to protect you till he can bring help. Ihavea plan to suggest to you, and one ‘which you must carry out to the very letter.” ** You have only to name it, sir.” ‘*'You must pretend that you are crazy.” ** Crazy ?? _ “Yes, You have had great trouble; you are ‘in great danger; you must pretend that it bas turned your mind. When they come to you at daylight you must laugh and sing, and go on as ped # crazy person can. It may be your only ‘ ope ~ ‘ What have I to hope in that?” “They will be less likely to molest you, and you will have more freedom, no doubt.” . L will do it,” “ That is right. You will not know me, but I “will be watching over you. Do nothing rash, "When I want to make myself know to you I rae f Not a soul was astir, unless the guardsmen at ig m i. & 4 Sages met : will speak the word diamond. No one will he likely to speak the same word to you. That is all. I go.” CHAPTER XIV. THE EARLY MORNING ATTACK, AT a very early hour the camp was awakened by something very out of the usual, for sucha camp as it was then, A woman was heard singing, loudly, almost wildly. And ths singing came from the direc- tion of the cabin in which the wild Rose of Rope Walk was imprisoned. Eti Betts roused up on the hotel piazza just as King Joan came out the door, and the chief laugled as he noted the unique way in wich Mr, Betts bad beon making use of his servant. fi anew sort of pillow, Mr. Boats,” he sala, ‘““Samule is goin’ ter make a gocd servant,” was tay responss, ‘ But, chief, 1am wonderin’ what all that singin’ is about.” ‘Tas is what I want to know myself. It must be my affianced bride, for the voice is in that direction, Come on,if you want to, and we'll soom see.” ‘*Dia with ya,” said Dick, ‘‘Samule, you stay kyer till your master gits back, Ef you would be a good servant ye must be *bedient,” The dude sat down on the step to wait, King John led the way into the cabin where Roxy was, and unlocked tbe door, Tio girl was standing in the middle of the floor, waving ser arms and singing as loudly as seo could raise her voice, Her hair was down, and there was a wild look in ker kandsome eyes, ““Taunder!” ejaculated the outlaw. ‘‘ She’s gone mad!” Tae girl looked at the intruders, and stopping her singiuy, broke intoa merry peal of laughter, ** Wad ez she kin be!” cried Mr. Botts, draw- ing back, ‘ Amything but a crazy gal!” ‘* What's to be done with ber?” ‘Diamond! how should I know?” cried the ragged Betts, He noticed that the girl gave bim a sweeping glance as he spoke that word, ‘“*T should say not ter harm a hair of her head, taough,” he added, ‘ Kt’s the worst kind o’ luck ter harm crazy folks, Better use ber mighty gentle like,” “This is too bad,” the chief of the ruffian band mused, ‘‘Now I’m dished of making her my bride as intended. Nobody would want to marry a crazy woman, I guess,” “Ruther not, I opine. I should say ter— But, then, et ain’t fer me ter offer advice ter ou— ‘*No matter, out with it.” **T was goin’ to say, turn her loose and Jet her roam around, Kv’s possible thet she may come all right.” The girl was now singing again, and the two men turued away and retraced their steps to the hotel, leaving the door open, Toere King Jobun said to his men: “Tat girl has gone clean mad, We'll Jot her bave the liberty of the camp, Don’t a man of you speak to her, only see that she don’t come to harm, Pass the word around.” About that time the girl came out of the Sea and shecame singing and dancing up the street, It would have been laughable had it not been so very vitiable, That the men did not laugh, though, was more owing to their fear of their chief, for their hearts were incapable of anything like pity, Penn Hayeross came out of the hotel just then, accompanied by Francesca, and at sight of the Wild Rose, he cried: “You wolves! See what your work here has done!” He pointed at the girl, and at once started out to meet her, evidently to befriend ber. “* Hold on, there!” ordered King Jobn, sharp- ye Haycross turned his head to find himself covered with a revolver, ** Come right back here, or I'll drop you,” the chief ordered. ‘‘ Don’t you go near that girl.” With a snarl Haycross turned back, “That remark of yours shows us what is in your mind,” the chief said, ‘I guess you won’t make a good member of our band,” ‘tT should say not!” echoed Deadwood Dick. For his own sake he had to side in with the chief in bis opinion, ** And I’m going to lock you up for safe-keep- ing,” King John added. ‘ Your declaration of last night was only a sham.” ** Shows for itself,” agreed Dick, i ‘* Men, take him and lock him up in the cabin there, and see to it that he don’t get away.” Haycross was seized, and in spite of his strug- gles was taken away and confined in the cabin the chief had pointed out, ‘“*Do ye see that ’ar; Samule?” Dick asked, turning to his dude, ‘*Tbet will be your fate, sure, ef ye don’t carry yerself straight an’ keep yer nose clean,” ‘*T see,” the dude answered. ** And you take warning by it yourself, sir,” said the chief, ‘*I have no reason to doubt you yet, but if reason appears I'll serve you the same, or worse.” ““T won’t squeal,” was the calm _ response, ‘* All | ask is a fair chance ter show ye my true colors. I won’t ask ter be Jet into ther band till ye ar’ sure of me, and ef ye have any doubts about me, fire me out.” ‘* Well probably do better than that.” “What? | “ Hang you.” “Hal ba! ba! Wal, that might save ther sheriff a job one o’ these days; I dunno,” Meanwhile the Wild Rose had gone on up the street till she came to the cabin where she had lived with ber father, and there she entered, still sirging. The men who had slept there were up and out now, King John had been watching her, and pro- posed going down that way to see what she would do. Dick went with him, and they found the girl lighting a fire, preparatory to getting break- fast, It was a sight that ought to have moved the outlaw’s heart to pity, for it appeared that she was thinking of ber dead father, Even Dick wondered if sbe was not mad, in- deed, instead of only pretending. * Let her go abead,” suid King John, unfeel- ingly. ‘‘Tll bet she can cook a better meal than any man I've got, and when she’s done I'll take breakfast with her,” Dick laughed, and pretended to take it as a huge joke. He felt more like taking the villain by the throat then and there, but be knew too well that would only bring disaster upon them all. King John asked Dick to stay, too, so they sat down, The girl moved around at ber work, singing as she went, and sometimes laughing wildly, and at last a tempting repast was ready. The outlaw chief and the Prince of Detectives sat down, and while they ate they talked, Several times the girl addressed King John as ber father, urging more of the food upon bim, They were about done when a great shouting was heard without, accompanied by a discharge of weapons, “An attack!” cried the chief, springing up and rushing out. Deadwood Dick was not surprised, except hoy help had come sooner than he had looked or it, : Turning to the girl. he uttered the word ** diamond ” again, and receiving a nod of re- cognition from her, followed King John, As soon as they were out of the cabin they had a view of the drawbridge, There on the other side of the gorge, in the morning sunlight, was a company of mounted men, extending back into the defile as far as could be seen, +“ Trapped ! “T didn’t look for them so soon. laid to give them the slip myself, but here they are. Eli Betts, bere is the chance for you to prove what you are worth,” fisiee “* And Eli Betts be will!” cried Dick. The men from the bridge were running in, and the whole camp was wild with excitement. **Samule!” called Dick, as they ran to {the hotel, ‘¢ Yes, sir,” and the dude ran to join him, “ Keep right near me, now, if you vally your life,” ‘* Yes, sir.” ey : “Tf you don’t 111 kill you, and if you do your worthless kerkiss may save me from bein’ killed, Bee?” “ -Y—yes, sir,” : ‘ But in the next breath Dick whispered to 1m, “‘T want you near meso can direct you what todo, Upon you may depend a life!” To the dude’s credit be it said that he was not a coward at heart, when it came to the pinch, and he knew his life depended upon his obe- dience, A man on the other side of the gorge was now waving a flag of truce and shouting. cried the outlaw chief, I had my plans © Sens eee Sey
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§a . u We call upon you to surrender,” he was in- formed. ‘‘If you do not do so, we are prepared to blow you up.” You can blow and be blamed!” the outlaw shouted back defiantly. ‘‘If you do you will kill a good many prisouers in these cabins, men and women together,” “Tf you will surrender the prisoners to us un- harmed,” a condition was offered, *‘ we will give you a chance,” ** Never! Go ahead and do your worst.” With that the outlaw walked back defiantly to the shelter of the cabins, and there called bis men together for a consultation. At the head of the attacking party rode Junius Belland, baggard and well-nigh exhausted, and a groan of disappointment had escaped him when he reached the bridge and found it raised. He and his followers had swept through the defile, intending to cross the bridge on the run and take the camp by surprise, Here they were, helpless, The camp could bold out against them forever, if they could procure food andamunition, That would be the only question with them, The only hope, besides, was that Deadwood Dick was there, and that he had not been detected. If there, and free, some help could certainly be looked for from him. A signal had been arranged between Balland and Dick, by which Dick was to be known. , He was to appear without a coat, with his right arm bare to the shoulder. It had been thoroughly understood, and a man of such appearance was not to be shot if it came to a fight, Belland and his meu looked in vain for such a person. He was not to be seen, and the young man’s heart almost failed him. CHAPTER XV. DICK’S DOUBTFUL DODGE. Kina Joan, as said, bad callad his men to- gether for a council. He called for his man Duff, that worthy being his second in command, and_as soon as he appeared the chief demanded: ** Duff, what is going to be done here?” “ Fight em!” was the prompt response, ‘* We have got ther best hand, by ther long odds.” ‘*That’s what's ther matter!” cried Mr. Betts, * We'll fight ’em, tooth an’ nail, you bet! Hyer’s what's with ye, every time!” He flung off his ragged coat as he shouted. His right arm, displaying several scars, was found to be naked to the shoulder, . Around his waist was a belt, but no weapons were in it, Hewas, it seemed unarmed, save forthe weapons Nature had given him. His arm well bespoke the wonderful strength he had displayed. “Yas, ’'m with ye!” he yelled, brandishing bis fists. ‘* Hyer’s old Samson,” flourishing his right fist, ‘tan’ hyer’s old Goliar,” displaying his left. ‘Only let me git into ther crowd an’ git inter motion, an’ see ef thar ain’t a clean swath mowed out afore ye can say boo!” ““But, you couldn’t do anything without weapons,” reminded the chief. ‘* Weapons or not, I’m with ye!” was the re- joinder. ‘‘I don’t ask ye to trust me armed ef ye don’t want ter,” “We'llarm you. Find hima brace of good revolvers, men, And now, what is your opinion about them, Bett’s? What had we better do? Let’s see what sort of general you’d make.” ‘* Why, bless yer dear soul,” cried Eli, ‘* I don’t want ter be offerin’ advice, even ef ye do ask et. And, as fer bein’ a general, I don’t lay claim ter nothin’ of ther kind.” ‘“‘ But, 1 demand to hear what you'd suggest.” ‘Wal, ef ye put et that way I can’t 'bject, I opine. Tnar’s one of two ways ter tackle ther job. ** And how are they?” ‘“ Wal, we ar’ hyer an’ they ar’ out thar; we kin stay hyer an’ let ’em do ther wu’st they kin, Otherwise, we kin get our force to- gether, charge right out thar an’ tackle ’em an’ run ’em off. But, that would mean loss to your band,” __ * Anybody.could see those plans. Can’t you invent something in the way of strategy?” Mr, Betts scratched bis head. “I don’t know bout that ’ar,” he said, never run much in ther family, I reckon.” “Well, try it.” Just then came a volley of shots from across the chasm, “Hear that ’ar!” cried Betts, ‘‘ Wait till I tell em what I think of ’em, an’ then I'll try ter git holt o’ some idee,” “ Et King Jobn went out to hear what he had to | \ y — t, ” whet 18 4 , ca ea Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture. He rushed out from shelter, brandishing his bare arm and shouting: ‘* What d’ye mean by et, ye low-lived cow- ards, ye? hat good will et do ye? Ye kin stay thar an’ shoot all day, an’ ye couldn't never hita man. Wait till we open fire on ye, an’ then see.” 4 There came another volley at that, and Eli dodged back to cover with haste, * You’re a fool!” cried King John, ‘ They might have plugged you, if they had tried hard, Tbat was a foolish trick.” **Couldn’t help it, and a miss isas good as a mile, anyhow.” ** Well, what do you suggest?” “Of course ye want me ter speak right out plump, don’t ye?” ‘* To be sure.” ‘Wal, then, we have got ther best hand now. We kin hold out as long as we kin scare upa bit to eat. We're good fer a couple o’ months, countin’ on ther hosses fer grub when et con @3 to et.” ‘* Exactly.” “On tother hand, them fellers has got ther hull world outside of ’em, an’ kin hold ther fort forever, In the long run wear’ in ther wu'st box.” ‘¢ Yes, curse the luck!” ‘“‘That bein’ ther case, I’d say make ’em give ye ther best terms ye kin an’so git out afore they git a bigger force ’gainst ye.” ** But, how force the terms?’ ‘Threaten ter kill ther gals ef they don’t do what ye demand,” ‘Betts, put it there!” cried the chicf. ‘I see you are with us in good earnest, Come in here till we talk this thing in private.” They shook hands, and entered the cabin which they were standing near, “T hadn’t any idea they could get a force here 80 quick,” the chief declared. ‘* My plan was to get what wealth was to be found here and then light out and leave my mez to stand the storm. See?” “ I see,” “The crowd has got to be a little bigger than I can handle, and I was going to shake them. Now, you have got a level head, and if you and Ican get off we may as well do it. If they bring ® cannon here we are gone up, sure. That is, unless we put the prisoners to the front.” ‘Pll tell ye,” Dick suggested, ‘‘ I don’t think ye had better cut loose from yer men till yo git well out of ther woods. Ye might need ’em, And fer ther love ov mercy don’t let ’em find out ther trick ye meant ter serve ’em,” ‘All right. But, something has got to be If you can’t suggest anything, I'll try it myself.” ‘““Wal, hyer’s a modest idee, ef ye think et would work.” ‘* What is it?” ‘‘Let’s git all ther prisoners together, an’ march ’em out to ther front, an’ thar declare that we'll burn ’em alive ef they don’t git out of ther defile an’ leave ther way open fer us,’” ‘But, they'll demand some terms in returns.” ““Tbey’ll demand the prisoners, of course, We'll promise to leave 'em here, so they can come an’ get ’em,.” ‘* Tt won’t do,” “Why? “They would follow us up and attack us.” ‘“Mebby they would, but I bet we have got ther most men, It’s my idee ter deal with ’em *fore they get any more,” “You are right, Well, let’s go and get the crazy girl and make use of her. I have reason to believe her lover is at the head of that com- any.” “That s0? That’s bufly! He won’t see her hurt, an’ we'll make him come to our own terms, You are a chief, King Jobn, an’ et will do mo proud ter serve ye, I’m with ye,” } fk see determined upon, they went outside again, Peers King John ordered his men to assemble, ready for fight, bebind the shelter of the cabins and shanties, and he anc Betts went to the cabin where the crazy girl had been left, The dude went with them, sticking close to Dick, as he had been ordered to do. Needless to say they went the rear way, keep- ing well under cover. : The Wild Rose was still heard singing and laughing by turns as they drew near, and Dick wondered whether she bad really gone mad, The other young woman had dropped out of sight, suddenly, and Dick had not seen her for some minutes, He asked the chief if he had seen her, and he had not, It was supposed she had taken shelter somewhere, i — —————— ————— —— — —————————— S ‘ Hillo, Diamond, still warblin’, are ye?” cried) Dick, as he and the chief entered the cabin, ‘* Have you seen my papa?” the girl asked, ‘*T guess your par is all rigbt, miss,” was the» response, The girl laughed wildly, and the next mo- ment resumed her singing, If not crazy in fact,. she was playing the role well. Now had come the time for the Detective. Prince to show bis hand, He bad decided bs a a desperate dodge, and nothing but the coole-t nerve could carry it out. His own life and the: lives of the prisoners depended on him, So far he had been playing his cards with skill—doubly so, for be had led the outlaw chief to believe he bimself was ruling bis own move- ments, His one desire had been to bring him to- a situation like this, though the attack had been. made earlier than he had figured on, ** Well, let’s take the girl and go out with her,, and see what they have to say,” King Jobn pro-- posed, ‘“‘ All right!” assented Mr, Betts, and he step-- ped forward as if to lay a hand on her. Instead of that, though, his arm shot out and a revolver was under King Jobn’s nose, ** Make one sound,” he cried, ‘‘and you are a. dead man!” With an oath the chief sprung aside and crew his own weapon; but his wonderful quickness: did not serve him, Deadwood Dick’s left fist: was quicker still, and when it shot out King John dropped senseless to the floor, A des-- perate undertaking was begu" ! “Thank Heaven!” ejaculated the Wild Rose, **Then you are not mad?” asked Dick, ‘** Of course not!” ‘““You played it so well that I almost feared. you were. Now, much of the success of my lan must depend on you and Mr, Sutcliffe, . ere, and we must make haste.” ** Only tell us what to do.” “Well, you retire to the other apartment: there, while Mr, Sutcliffe makes an exchange of clothes with this knave, Then, when I have touched up his disguise a little we'll be ready.” The girl obeyed quickly. ‘“ And now we'll make haste, urged Dick to- the dude, ‘I guess you can put on this fellow’s clothes right over your own, for he is a trifle larger than you, ry it, anyhow, Then Vil bind him and cover bim with a blanket, Make all the haste you can.” The outlaw was speedily disrobed, and as speedily bound and gagged, and thus rendered. helpless, a blanket was thrown over him, By the time that was done the dude had clad. himself in his attire, asd with help from Dick, was soon so disguised that he could ‘‘ pass mus-- ter,” at a distance, as the brigand chief, Dick then spoke of his plan to his two assist-- ants, and together they left the cabin and ad-- vauced out into the open, when the supposed! King John waved a flag of_truce, and the firing: ceased, They were of course in sight of the entire band, but the trick was not suspected, They) had seen them enter the cabin together, and to-' gether they came out, If thoy remarked the absence of the dude they perhaps supposed he; Ee left behind, while the parley was being! e CHAPTER XVI. RETRIBUTION IN PART, HALF-way from the cabins to the bridge they; proceeded, each with a hand on an arm of the, girl, who wes still pretending crazy, singing as’ she went, and there iy 2 stopped. ‘The supposed King John carried the flag of” truce, while the bared arm of the pretending Mr. Betts was the next most conspicuous object. From what they had heard of the conversa~-. tion between Betts and King John, the outlaws understood something of what was about to be done, and seving that the truce was observed, they came out from shelter to hear what wag. said, Deadwood Dick, imitating the voice of King John to the best of his ability, addressed the men across the chasm, From where the outlaws were they could not. tell but that it was the outlaw chief speaking. ‘6 Hello, there!” was called. ss What is the word?” came the res : ‘s We are willing to compromise this thing,” was shouted back, ** How?” *¢ 1f you will retire and allow us to leave here, we will surrender the prisoners to you.” 5 * And if not, what then?” ** This girl shall be burned at the stake before your very eyes,” was the grim response,
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14 At that the outlaws set up a shout of ap- yproval, Deadwood Dick gave a signal to Junius Bel- dand, and the offer was accepted, ‘Very well; we'll do. that!” came back the answer. ‘‘ Deliver all the prisoners to us, and you shall go out.” Dick bad not forgotten Haycross and. the young woman whom he had befriended, He would not leave the camp without them. “All right!” he answered back, ‘‘ We have three or four prisoners, and we'll send them over to you. ou must retire into the defile while we Jower the bridge, We take no chances,” ** We'll do that,” Dick’s signals gave the cue to the response, Speaking then to the dude, Dick left him there with the Wild Rose while he walked boldly back to the crowd, ‘* What’s ter be done?” asked Duff. “‘Ther chief says Jet me have the prisoners, that ’ar man and ther young woman, and for all of ye to stand ready ter charge ef ther enemy attempts to come over ther bridge,” At that moment a shout was heard, and Aookiag, Dick and the others saw Penn Haycross avd Francesca Travis running in the direction vf the bridge. The young woman had been taking advan- ‘tage of the excitement to release Haycross ‘from his unpleasant dilemma, res They hev got out, by tarnel!” cried Mauler “Mose, ‘Wal, let ’em go,” said Dick. ‘‘ They ar’ *only goin’ in ther right direction, anyhow,’ ere was what might have proved a bad mis- hap for Dick, had it not been for the prompt action of the Wild Rose, ; eee them coming, she said quickly to Sut- Cliffe: ‘See! those two haveescaped! If you do not stop them it will prove to the rascals that you are not King John, Draw your revolver and -order them to stop where they are,” Dick had given bis man a weapor at the »cabin, The dude well understood the peril and did as directed. “Stop!” he cried, ‘‘ Hands up, or you drop!” Taking him to be King John, Haycross and his companion stopped at once, with their hands up. Their hearts had sunk in despair; but, the next moment, their spirits rose again, when the Wild Rose said: ‘““We are friends, and are planning to es- -cape. Do not let those devils suspect other- wise. Keep your hands up and stand where you are,” Haycross now saw the deception, and recog- nized Sutcliffe, “‘Ther captain has brought ’em to time, you bet,” cried Duff, woen he saw the runaways stopped. ‘‘They can’t fool ther captain very much. You won’t have no trouble takin’ ’em out thar, Betts.” “No, et seems not, Wal, Dll go back an’ see what next is on ther program, an’ [’ll let ye know. Stand ready ter charge ef yer chief calls on ye, an’ ef ye do, jest give ’em p’tic’lar fits, But, [ guess thar won’t be ’casion, for your cap- tain has got ther best hand,” So leaving them, Dick strode back to the place where the others were waiting his coming. They turned and faced the defile across the gorge, ** Hillo, over thar!” called out Dick. “ Hillo!” ‘Here are the prisoners. You retire out of ‘Tange, now, and we'll set them across, and then you have got to draw away and let us goin ce,” “ That is understood,” “Very well; go /” The men on the other side of the rift drew ‘back into the defile, and were soon lost to sight, and Dick and those withhim advanced toward the bridge. The guardsmen there had deserted their posts, of course, so there was no one to interfere with their lowering the bridge. But, it must be'the work of huste, now, for discovery meant -death, They bad advanced part way to the bridge, from where they had been standing, when a voice from the rear hailed them. It was the voice of Duff, King John’s second. They stopped and looked back, “Weill, what is it, Duff? Dick called out, “making it appear that it was the dude who “spoke, “ * Are ye crazy, King John?” **T guess not,’ Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture. & $$ ‘* Yo must be,” «“ Why?” ‘Ter let them ‘ar prisoners go, Don’t ye know et’s ther only holt we have got on ’em? They'll blow us up wi’ dynamite soon’s they git them. “Oh! I guess not, Duff; we will have some- thing to say about that, you know. They caught us bad, worse than! thought they would, and this is the best chance for us to get out, be- fore they bring more men,” They started for the bridge again, Those in the rear were seen to consulf fora moment, and some of them ran out toward the bridge, evidently to dissuade their chief from his purpose, ** Dick and his companions reached the bridge and began lowering it with all haste. ‘* Hold on thar!” ordered Mauler Mose, ‘We have got somethin’ ter say about this hyer!” added Duff, ‘* Turn upon them.and present your revolver,” Dick ordered the dude, He obeyed, and Dick shouted: “Stop! The first man to take another step, drops! Tl have you know that King John is still captain here!’ The bridge was now nearly down, ‘** Blazes!” shouted Mauler Mose, ‘Er ain’t King Jobn er tall! At ’em, pards, an’ stop em | The bridge touched, and the chasm was spanned! ‘Over with you,” cried Dick, ‘Run ahead, and tell the company to charge as soon as you are safe.” “* But, you—” ** Never mind moe.” Dick had turned, revolvers in hand, and at once opened fire upon the pursuers, Down went the Mauler, down went Duff, and yet another fell before the others took the hint and turned back, Three out of five of them had dropped. But now the main body set up a howl, seeing what had taken place, and they charged with a whoop. Dick looked around. The prisoners were safe across the bfidge, and were disappearing into the defile, The Prince of the West had noted well the construction of the bridge, and saw that by cutting one main stay it would be impossible to raise it again. Casting about bim swiftly, he espied an ax, and sprung and took it up. The hungry horde was coming, firing as they came, but Dick heeded not their bullets yet. Leaping back again, where the timbers of the framework of the draw partly protected him, he applied the ax, and a tew strokes of its keen Blade severed the stay and the bridge was a fixture, Bounding over the bridge, then, Dick stopped long enough to empty his revolvers at the com- ing foe, when he turned and ran along the de- file, On came the outlaws, those mounted in the lead, and in a minute more, or less, their hoofs thundered on the bridge, But, they never crossed, The sudden shock caused the bridge to move, it gave a lurch, and then, with a crash, it went down into the chasm, carrying a third of the borde wlth it, Many besijes those on the bridge were carried down, being unatle to stop the pressure from be- hind, and before the last victim of the calamity was claimed nearly a full half of the outlaw band had met their doom! The remainder set up a how! of despair. There they were, like rats in a trap, all escape cut off, and now without a leader, Deadwood Dick stopped running when he heard the crash at the bridge. *¢ A just retribution has come upon them,” he said to bimself, ‘* Never before was I in sucha den of vipers. My life was not worth a pinch of snuff, Lut my doubtful dodge has been a suc- cess,” He waited, and in due time heard the horse- men returning, and when they came up he stopped them and told them of what had hap- pened. The outlaws were imprisoned, and the aven- gers were shut off from further attack for the present, CHAPTER XVII. A PLACE OF THE PAST, THE rescuers, guided now by Deadwood Dick, went on to the edge of the rift, where they poured a volley into the outlaws, causing them to with- draw in baste to the shelter of the buildings, ‘* What's to be done now?” asked the leader of the rescue band, ‘Let them stay there for the present,” an- swered Dick, ‘‘There is no escape for them, for they can never span this break without help from this side,” ‘* Unless they have a Junius Belland among them to walk a rope,” said one, ‘* Even so, there is no chance for them to catch a rope to this side. No, we will withdraw, and leave them while a report is sent to the authori- ties,” So, turning, they went back, and soon came to the place where the recent prisoners were awaiting them, Junius Belland was there, with the Wild Rose clasped in his arms. A little way off stood Penn Haycross, talking earnestly with Francesca Travis, and as the crowd oame up they turned hand in hand, ‘*Myr, Bolland,” spoke Haycross, ‘‘ I haye some- thing to say to you,” ‘* Very well, sir, say it,” was the response, ‘‘Tcame to Rope, Walk for the purpose of fighting you for the hand of, Roxy Bonbame, and this young lady came at the same time for the purpose of disputing with her the right to your favor.” “ Yes?” “Yes, But, now we have changed our minds, I have found in Miss Travis the ideal of a brave little wife, and it seems something about me has struck her favorably, so we have made a hitch of it, You are welcome to Roxy.” ‘*This is a pleasant surprise, certainly,” re- sponded Belland. ‘' I wish you all happiness, ” **The same to you, Junius,” spoke up Fran- cesca. ‘‘I thought you filled my eye, but I have found one who fills it better. Roxy, you are welcome to him, I am satisfied.” “Tt is better so,” said the sorrowing Wild Rose, simply. “And I,” cried Darby Sutcliffe, the dis- guised dude, ‘I am proud of my work. It was I who first suggested this thing, and I see my suggestion has been adopted, Seems Provi- dence led me this way. have had honor enough for one trip, and I’ be glud now to take the home trail,” ‘* Had enough of the West?” he was asked, “All I want. I never thought, when I set out, that I should play the role of a great outlaw, or that 1 should make myself useful to the renowned Deadwood Dick, of whom I had heard a great deal.” He removed his superfluous clothing, then, and appeared in his own proper attire. After a rest the party took the back trail, leaving a few of their number to see that the outlaws did not by any chance get away, and in due time reached the larger town. There a sheriff’s posse was properly organized, and with Deadwood Dick at the head‘a second visit was paid the outlaw den. This time King John was found in command, He had been discovered and released, He came out with a flag of truce, and Dead- wood Dick hailed him, ‘t Will you surrender?” asked Dick. ** Who are you?” was the demand, **T am called Deadwood Dick, Junior.” * Are you the man who tricked me here?” “Tf you mean Eli Betts, 1 must own the corn,” ** Then I want to fight you, and the best man to wiv. If I win, I am ‘to go free; if you win, then you take us all.” “There is no reason why I should stake my life against yours that way,” said Dick, ‘‘and I refuse to do if. You must surrender uncon- ditionally, or—” ‘Then, take this!” At that the rascal drew a revolver and fired, but the shot missed, The next instant he fell, his body riddled by more than a score of rifle bullets. The remainder of the band surrendered, Jay- ing down their arms and coming to the front at once, and in due time means were established by which they were taken across the rift, They were a bad lot, and were duly dealt with, An attempt was made to recover the bodies from the gorge, but it was found infeasible, so they were left there in one common gr:.ve ; and Rope Walk Camp was never reoccupied, tur the next spring found a large section of the over- banging cliff gone. It had toppled over, almost crushing out of sight all the buildings below, and so litterinjz the plateau as to render it wholly untenantable; so it was never reclaimed, and to this day is known as King John’s Death-tra that everybody seems ouly too willing to avoi : THE END. =
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READLE’S* H ALF- DIME* | IBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. BY EDWARD L. WHITEELER. Deadwood Dick Novela Ll Deadwood Dick, the Prince ot the Road. G20 Deadwood Dick’s Defiance; or, Double Daggers. 28 Deadwood Dick in Disgulse; or, Buflal, Ben 85 Deadwood Dick in His Casile. 42 Deadwood Dick’s Bonanzaj or, The santom Miner. AY Deadwood Dick in Danger; or, Omaha Oll. | 5¢ Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar, 78 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity 4 ne, the Heroine, TZ Deadwood Dick’s Last Act: or, Corduroy Charlie. 400 Deadwood Dick In Leadville. 104 Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, The Double Cross Sign. ‘LOY Deadwood Dick as Detective. 129 Deudwood Dick’s« Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. 188 Deadwood Dick’s Home Base; or, Blonde Bill. 149 Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike; or, A Game of Gold. 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dreamy; or, The Rivals of the Road. ‘BOL Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill’s Jezebel, 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Adventure. 217 Deadwood Dick’s Dead Deal 221 Deadwood Dick's Deatk-Plant. QS2.Celd-Dust Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Toughs, 268 Deadweod Dick’s Divides or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. 26S Deadwood Dick’s Death Trall. B09 Deadwood Dick’s Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon, B21 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen: or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats B47 Deadwood Dick’s Ducata; or, Days in the Diggings. BS1 Deadweod Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Veadetta, B62 Deudweod Dick’s Claim. 405 Deadwood Dick In Dead City. 410 Deadweod Dick’s Diamonds. 421 Deadwood Dick In New York; or, A “Cute Case.” 480 Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand, 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr. A448 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Defiance. 458 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Pull Hand. 459 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Big Round-Up. 465 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Raeket at Claim 10, ATL Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Cerral; or, Bozeman BilL 476 Deadwood Diwk, Jr.’s, Dox Detective. 451 Deadwood Dick. Jr., In Deadwood. ADL Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Compact. 496 Deadwood Dick. Jr.'s, Luheritanece, H00 Deadwoed Dick, Jrs, Diggings. 608 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deliverance, 615 Deadwoed Dick, Jr.'s, Protegee. 22 Deaiwood Dick, Jr.'s, Three. 529 Dendwood Dick, Jdr.’s, Danger Ducks, 584 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death Hunt. BSY Deadwood Dick, Jr., tn Texas, 644 Deadwood Dick, Jdr., the Wild West Vidoog 649 Deadwood Dick, Jr., on Mis Mettle. B54 Deadwood Dick, Jr., tn Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Boston, 567 Deadweod Dick, Jr., in Philadelphia, 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., tn Chicago, 578% Dendwood Dick, Jr., Afloat. h84 Dendwood Dick, Jr., in Denver, 690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Decree, 595 Dendwood Dick, Jr., in Beelzebub’s Basin. 600 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Coney Island, 606 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’s, Leadville Lay. 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Detroit. $18 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Cincinnatl. 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Nevada, 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in No Man’s Land, 486 Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer, #42 Dendwood Dick, Jr., tn Buffalo. G48 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Chase Across the Continent $54 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Among the Smugglers. G60 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Insurance Case, 466 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back tn the Mines, €72 Deadwood Dick, Jr., (nun Durango; or, “ Gathered In.” 678 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Discovery; or, Found a Fortune. G84 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s. Dazzle. 690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s. Dollars, 695 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Danger Divide, 7T00 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Drop. TOA Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. 710 Dendwood Dick, Jr., In San Franclaco, T16 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Still Hunt, T22 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dominoes, T28 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disgutae, 7B4 Deadwoed Dick, Jr.’s, Double Deal 740 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deathwatch, "AT Dendwood Dick, dr.’a, Doublet. 752 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deathblow. 58 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Strait. 4 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Lone Hand, 70 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s; Deteat. 76 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Resurrection, 82 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dark Days, + ee BY J. 0. COWDRICK, Broadway Billy Novels. 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 514 Broadway Billy’s Boodle. 586 Broadway Billy’s ‘ Dittikilty.” Bb? Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. B79 Broadway Billy’s Surprise Party, G05 Broadway Billys or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. G28 Broadway Billy’s Dead Act. £69 Broadway Billy Abroad, : 2h Broadway Billy’s Best; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest. 687 Broadway Billy tn Clover, $96 Broadway Billy in Texas. 708 Broadway Billy’s Brands ‘211 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe. 720 Broadway Billy’s Full Hand, 7835 Broadway Billy’s Business, 788 Rroadway Billy’« Curious Case. 758 Broadway Billy in Denver. 262 Broadway Buly’s Bargain. 69 Broadway Billy, the Retriever Detective, > Broadway Billy's Shadow Chase. 88 Broadway Billy’s Beagles. Other Novels by J. 0. Cowdrick, 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. R69 Shasta, the Gold King; or, For Seven Years Dead, 420 The Delective’a Apprentice: or, A Boy W ithout a Name. 424 Cibuta Jonn; or, Rai-Hot Times at Ante Bar, -489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 506 Redlight Ralph the Prince of the Road. 524 The Engineer Detective. 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 571 Air-Line Luke the Young Engineer. 592 The Boy Pinkerton. 615 Fighting Harry the Chief of Chained Cyclone, 640 Bareback Beth, the Centaur of the Circle, 647 Typewrlter Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward. 659 Moonlight Mérane, the «¢ Pizenest ’ Man of Ante Bar. Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon. B82 Bob Woolf: or, The Girl Dead-Shot, BY Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York. 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 55 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix, 61 Buckhorn Bills or, The Red Rifle Team 69 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter; or, The Boy Detective, 80 Rosebud Robs? or, Nug Ned, the Knight 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand, 8S Phetograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob's Reappearance, 92 Canada Chet 3 or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp, 5 Watch-Eyo 3 or, Arabs and Angels of a Great City Jack Hoyle the Young Speculator, Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 21 Clunamon Chip, the Girl Sport. Bonanza Bill, Miner. Bose Bob the King of Bootblacka Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. Captain Ferret, the New York Detectivo. New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scampa, Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo. Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective, Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter, 226 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 286 J yllo BIL, tho Trail Tornado. 0 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator, 1 Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. 2458 Sierra Sams Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 253 Sierra Saw’s Parad; or, The Ange! of Big Vista, 258 Sterra Sam’s Seveny or, The Stolen Bride, 27B Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol; or, The Rival Hetra, 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen. 2S1 Denver Doll's Victory, 245 Denver Doll's Decoy ¢ or. Litvle Bill’s Bonanza. 2901 Turk the Boy Ferret. £96 Denver Doll's Drift; or, The Road Queen. 209 A No. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. £08 ’Liza Jane, the Girl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. B25 Kelley, Hickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia. B80 Little Quiek-Shot; or, The Dead Face of Daggeraville, 884 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner, 889 Kangaroo Kit’« Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood. BHS First-Class Fred, the Gent trom Gopher. 868 Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherers or, The Life Lottery, 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize, 87S Nabob Ned sy or, The Secret of Slab City. BS2 Cool Kit, the King of Kida; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, B85 Yreka Jim's Joker}; or, The Rivals of Red Nose. 889 Bicyele Beng or. The Lion of Lightning Lode, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Mat Harry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam Slabsides, the Beggar-Boy Detective, 484 Jim Benk and Pal, Private Detectives. 488 Santa Ie Sal, the Slasher. 486 Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. RS Pe eh ed Pia sPwwe < Sito lim rlics ~ Sem ein ~ . we RY T. ©. WARBAUGH., 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of 76. BT The Widden Lodge; or The Little Hunter, AT Nightingale Nat; or, Tne Forest Captains, 64 Dandy Jacks or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Traly, 82 Kit Maretoot the Wood-Hawk. 9A Midnight Jack 3 or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Froaty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 128 Kiowa Charley, the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lynch Jr. or, The Boy Vigilante. 165 Gold Trigger, the Sports er, The Girl Avenger. 169 Ternado Tomy or, Injun Jack From Red Core, 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy, 198 Arkansnaw ; or, The Queen of Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Topknot’s Crusade, 231 Plucky Phils or, Rosa, the Rel Jezebel, 241 Bill Bravo; or, The Roughs of the Rockies, 255 Captain Apolic, the King-Pin of Bowle. 267 The isuckaskin Detective, 279 Old Winch s or, The Buckskin Deaneradoes. 294 Dynamite Dany or, The Bowie Blade of Gochetopa. 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully, 816 Old Eclipse, Tromp Card of Arizona, $26 The Ten Pards?: or, The Terror of Take-Notice. B86 Rie Benson; or, The Queen of the Larso. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Red Thunderbolt’s Secret. BS Cool Sam and Parl: or The Terrible Six. £66 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 856 Captain Cutlass or, ihe B ccaneer’s Girl Foo, 896 Rongh Rob; or, The twin Champions of Blue Blazes, 411 The Silken Lasso: or, The Rose of Ranch Robin, 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter, 425 Texas Trump, the Border Rattler. 486 Phil fln«wh, the New York Fox. 445 The City Vamplres; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon, 461 (ne Against Fifty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox's Hunt, 477 The Exceisior Sport: or, The Washington Spotter. 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport, 502 Branded Ben, the Nicht Ferret. 512 Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective. 521 Dodger Dick's Best Dodge. 528 Fox snd Faicon, the Bowery Shadows. 5B8 Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret. bas Dodger Dick’s Douwble., or, The Rival Boy Detectives. 558 Dodeecr Dick's Desperate Case. 568 Dodger Diek, the Boy Vidocq. 573 The Two Shadows. 582 Dodger Dick’s Drop. 594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shar! Tony Sharp on Guard, 626 Vhe Champion Par‘. 687 Dick Donan, the Dock Bov Detective. 645 Kit, the Payement Sharp. 655 Billy Bantam, the Boy Beng! 671 Jersey Jed, the Rov Hustler, or, Shadowing the Shadower. 685 Happy Tug, the Boy Musician Detective. 701 Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. 715 Wide Awake Len, the Quaker City Ferret. %82 Daisy Dell, the Pavement Detective; or, Trapping Biz Game, 742 Billy Winks, the Bell Boy Detective, 754 Billy Winks, the Boss Boy Shadow, 768 Eagle Ned, the Boy on Guard, 780 Tonkaway Tom, the Red Wizard. BY BUFFALO BILL (ion. Wm. F. Cody), 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Righ’ Hand, 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie. 55 Deadly-Eye, th Unknown Scout. 68 Border Robin Woody or, Th Pratrle Rover. 158 Faney Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’ Trost, BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, ? The Flying Vankees or, The Ocean Ontenat. 17 Kalph Roy, the Boy Buceancer; or, The Fugitive Yacht. 24 Diamond Dirk 3 or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone. 62 The Skadow Ship; or, The Rival Lientenants. 75 Vhe Boy Duelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea- Wolf, 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Smugyier. 111 The Sea-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116 The Hussar Captain: or, The Heimit of Hell Gate, 19T Little Grit, the Wild Rider; or, The Stock-Tender’s Daughter. 204 Buffalo BLL, the Pony Express Rider, 216 Bison BALI, the Prince of the Reina; or, Buffalo Bill’s Pluck. 222 Grit, the Bravo Sports; or, The Woman Trailer. V2Y Crimson Kate, the Girl Trailer, 237 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain; or, The Mysterious Ranchero 245 Merle, tho Middy 3 or, The Helr of an Ocean Freelance. 250 The Midshipman Mutineer 3 or, Brandt, the Buccaneer, 264 The Floating Feather: or, Merle Monte’s Treasure. 269 The Gold Skip; vr, Merle, the Condemned. R76 Merle Monte’s Crulse; or,“ The Gold Ship” Chase, 2850 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, The Pirate's Pride. 284 Merle Monte’s Pledge; or, The Sea Marauder. 2ST Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover. 804 The Dead Snot Dandy ; or, Benito, the Boy Bugler, $08 Dead Shot Dandy’s Double, 814 The Mysteortons Marauders; or, The Boy Bugler’s Trail. 8TT Bonodel, tae Buoy Kover; or, The Flagless Schooner. BS3 Pee Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island. BST Warpath WILL the Traitor Guide; or, The Boy Phantom, S08 Seawall, the boy Lieutenant; or, The Red Clasped Hands, 402 Laodor, the Young Consplrator; or, The Fatal League. 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, Tho Cuban Vendetta, 412 The Wild Vachtamany or, The War-Cloua’s Cruise, 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 Captain Carl, the Corsair; or, A Cablo Boy’s Luck. AST The Sea Ralder: or, The Hawks of the Hook. 4A1 ‘Che Ocean Firefly ¢ or, A Middy’s Vengeance. 446 Waphazard Harry; or, The Scapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard WIL, the Wonder Worker, 454 Wizard Will's Street Scouts. 462 The Born Guldcy or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster. 474 Wizard Will's Vagabond Pard, 488 Wizard WIII's Last Case; or, Ferrets Afloat. AST Nevada Ned, the Revolver Kanger 495 Arizena doe, the Boy Pard of Toxas Jack. AYT Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 508 ‘he Royal Middy ¢ or, The Shark and the Sea Cat. 507 The Hunted Midshipman; or, The Young Sea Ranger, 511 he Outlaw Middy; or, The Young Patriot Sea Ranger. 520 Buckskin BILL, the Comanche Shadow, 525 Brothers in Bucksking or, The Tangled Tratls In Texas, 530 The Buckskin Bowers. 585 The Bues skin Roverss or, The Prairie Fugitive, 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder or the Rio, 5645 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Latitte, 550 Lalitte’s Legacy: or. The Avenging Son. 555 The Creole Corsair; or, The Golden Wings of the Gulf. 560 Pawnee BIT, the Prairie Shadower, 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. 570 Camille, the Card Queen; or, The Skeleton Trall. 575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective, 580 The Outcast Cadet; or, The False Detective. 586 The Buckskin Avenger}; or, Pawnee Bill's Pledge. 591 Delmonte. the Young Sea Rover; or, The Avengzing Sallor. 57 The Young Texan Detective; or, The Black Bravos, 602 The Vagabond of the Mines, ‘ 607 The Rover Detectives or, Keno Kit’s Champtona. 617 Ralph, the Dead-Shot Scout; or, The Kio Raiders, 644 Butterfly Billy’s Debut. 650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Rider Detectives or, Buffalo Bill’s Boy Para, 656 Butterfly Billy’«s Man Wunt. 662 Butterfly Billy's Bonanza. 668 The Buccaneer Midshipman; or, The Sea Rover's Ruse. 674 The Wizard Saflor; or, Red Ralph, the Rover, 67) The Sea Shadower;y or, The Freebooter’s Legacy, $86 Orlando, the Ocean F ag; or, The Tarnished Name, 692 The Rival Sharps; or, Redfern, the Secret Service Scout. 697 The Scarlet Sombrero; or, The Sharp from Texas, 702 Blue Jacket Bill; or, The Red Hat Rangers’ Red Hot Racket 207 The Read Sombrero Rangers; or, Redfern’s Last Trail, 718 Carl, the Mad Cowboy; or, The Lariat Queen, 719 Pawnee Bills Pledge; or, The Cowboy Kidnapper’s Doom, 225 Daring Dick, Pawnee Bill's Pard; or, The Red Cavalry Raid, 781 Ruth Redmond, the Girl Shadower, 87 Buck Taylor, the Comanche’s Captive. T48 Buck Taylor's Boys; or, The Red Riders of the Rio Grande, RAG Dashing Charlie; or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s First Trail. 256 Dashing Charlte’s Destiny; or, The Renegade’s Captive. 760 Dashing Charltfe’«skPawnee Pard, 66 Dashing Charile, the Rescuer, 272 Dick Doom’s Death-Grip; or, The Detective by Destiny. 77 Dick Doom’s Destiny; or, The River Blackleg’s Terror, 284 Dick Doom, the Death-Grip Detective. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. #85 Lone Mand Joe, the Committee of One; or, The Spook Steed of the Stone Corral, By Lient, A, K, Sima, 786 Broadway Billy’s Team; or, Th Detective Combine’s Big Pall. By J. C, Cowdrick, ; 87 Deadwood Dick, Jr.» Defied; or, The Prince of Pistol Pocket. By Kgward L, Wheeler, 788 Dick Doom in Boston; or, A Man of Many Maska. By Col, Prentiss Ingrabam. 89 Sam Sheridan, the Secret Service Special; or, The Jamboree at arly Bird Bar, By Wm, G, Patten, 790 Broadway Billy’s Brigade; or, The Case of the Dead Alive. By J. C. Cowdriek. 791 Kit Bandy Rattled; or, The Infant Glaut. By Oi] Coomes, 792 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Device; or, The Tus- sle with Satan. Be Edward L, Wheeler. 798 Dick Doom In Chicago; or, The Ferret of the Golde Fetters, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 794 Hendlight Marry’s Hunt; or, The Railroad Parda’ Tough Jun in Satanw’s Camp. By Col. A, F. Holt. 795 Kit Bendy In Rea Ruin; or, The Young Whirlwind of the Hills. By Oli Coomes. , 796 Broadway Billy’s Queer Request; or, Sifting tho Santvoord Secret. By J. C, Cowdrick. Y9T Dendwood Dick, Jr’.s, Desperate Venture. By Edward L. Wheeler, 79% Dick Doom In the Witd West, By Col. P, Ingraham, 799 Kit Bandy’s Big Rustle. By Ol} Coomes. 800 Rroadway Billy Baffled, By J.C. Cowdrick. 801 Kent Kirby, the High-Kicker from Killbuck, | By Lieut. A. K, Sims, 802 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Diamond Diee. By Edward L. Wheeler. Ready December 6, 808 Dick Doom in Washington. By Col. P. Ingraham. Ready December 13. A New Tasue Every Tuesday. The Half- Dime Library !s for ante by all newsdealers, five centa per copy, or sent by mail on recelpt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York.
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ant Pye } i [tse iY _ Deadwood Dick in New York. 30 Peeonecs Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained and, 3 Deadwood Dick, Jr.; or, The Sign of the Crimson Crescent, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Defiance; or, Nickle- Plate Ned. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Full Hand; or, Sun- flower Sam of Shasta. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Big Round-up; or Flush Fan, the Ferret. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Racket at Claim 10, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Corral; or, Bozeman Bill of Big Brace, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dog Detective; or, Humboldt Harry, the Hurricane. Deadwood Lick, Jr., in Deadwood; or, Moll Mystery. 491 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Compact; or, Prince Pistol, the King of the West. 496 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Inheritance; or, Monte Cristo, Jr. 500 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Diggings; or, Doctor Death Grip’s Swoop. 508 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deliverance 515 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Protege; or, Baby Bess, the Girl Gold Miner. 522 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Three. 529 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Danger Ducks; or, The Owls of Oregon, 534 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death Hunt; or, The Way of the Transgressor. 539 Deadwood Dick, Jr,, in Texas; or, The Ghouls of Galveston. 544 Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidocq; or, Leonora, the Locator. 549 Deadwood Dick, Jr.,on His Mettle; or, Cap- tain Crimson-Cowl, the Road Raider. 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Gotham; or, Un- raveling a Twisted Skein, 561 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Boston; or, The Cool Case. 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadelphia; or, The Wild West Detective among the Crooks, 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago; or, The Anarchist’s Daughter. 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Afloat; or, The Prisoner of the Weird Isles. 584 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Denver. or, Cool Kate, the Queen of Crooks, 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Decree; The Prince of Purgatory Pass, 595 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Beelzebub’s Basin; or, The Old Man of Mount Mab. 600 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Coney Island 606 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Leadville Lay; or, Bristol and Bucket’s Boom, 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Detroit; or, Turning the Tables on Satan. 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Cincinnati; or, The Clincher Campaign. 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Nevada; or, The Preacher of Pokerville. 630 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in No Man’s Land. 636 Deadwood Dick, Jr. After the Queer; or, Sawdust Sam’s Last Green Game. 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Buffalo; or, 4-11-44. 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Chase across the Con- tinent; or, A Race for a Ruthless Rogue, 654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Among the Smugglers. 660 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Insurance Case, 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back in the Mines. or, 672 Deadwood Dick, Jr., ** Gathered In.” 678 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Discovery. in Durango; or, 684 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dazzle; The Nemesis of Nutmeg Bonanza. 690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dollars; or, The Hummingbird of Honeysuckle. 695 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Danger Divide; or, Devstonings Dead Secret. 700 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Drop; or, The So- journ at Satan’s Spring. %04 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-pot; or, Mak~ ing Crooked Things Straight, 710 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in San Francisco; or, Kodak Kate, the Suap-Shot. %16 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt; or, The Second Round in San Francisco, 222 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s. Dominoes; or, The Rival Camps of the Northern Border. 728 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise; or, Ivan, the Man of Iron. %34 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’*, Double Deal; or, The All-Around Surprise, 740 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deathwatch; or, The Moving Mystery at Mexican Mustang. 747 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Doublet; or, The Tandem Team of Teddy’s Tailings, %52 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deathblow; or, The Little Circus at Last Chance, %58 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Strait, 764 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Lone Hand, 770 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Defeat. 776 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Resurrection, 782 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dark Days. 787 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Defied. 792 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Device, 79% Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture, or, Iscues to Follow: %98 Dick Doom in the Wild West; or, The Army Captain’s Crime, By Col. P. Ingraham, Ready November 8tb, 799 Kit Bandy’s Big Rustle; or, The Old Detec- tive’s Adjutant. By Oli Coomes, Ready November 15th, For sale by all newsdealers at five cents per copy, or sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York.