Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 804) (1892 12 20)
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4 a allel mone’ < ww \ < .— casino {O88 Go Ane WS. air Tannin ema rir “} ml ial ie qf “cA Entere das Becond Cc lass Matter at the New York. N. 7 ‘Post oftlee. N Copy righted 1892, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, Sue ae a _December 2 m0, 1882, 4 $2. 50 PUBLISHED © Ww WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS. Price, No. 804, a Year. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK, 5 Cents. Vol. XXXI, nee NSN al 001 ek ll mm re < ve pa | ue eye f Wy hy 5 SS 4 . u," J A Story of the Pan Handle of Idaho, BY OLL COOMES, AUTHOR OF “ HIGHLAND HARRY,” ‘‘KIT BANDY 3 RATTLED,” ‘* WHIP KING JOE,” ETC., ETO, 2 CHAPTER IL. RED NOTCH CAMP. Rep NotTcH was a mining-camp in the north- east corner of the Pan Handle of Idaho. It had sprung into existence shortly after the Cour = D’Alene Mountain gold excitement had turned | = : We penanayy one 2a the tide of fortune-hunters in that direction. —————_—________— = oe At first it promised well, and in a few brief ———— Se aan Bree ——————— or Ss oe days it numbered a population 0 NIBR REG) bw 0) tre ee en a ed 7s fae ee ee ea wt ia! hundred, Fifty or sixty cabins and *‘ shacks” 7 Sf nk + tee es eer sprung up like magic along the red bluffs that ‘puT HER THAR, MY LORD JOMN JOS¥Pa!” EXCLAIMED DAN, RISING AND EXTENDING HIS HAND, ‘
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SS ii ott Ret iy a Cceur ; - n af eye ae Pa . D’Alene Dan, the Mountain Guide, _ skirted the lovely vale through which dashed a sparkling mountain stream. The most pretentious building—and of course the most important in any mining-camp—in Red Notch, was that known by the suggestive and euphonious name of ‘*‘ The Fodder Corral.” It was a hotel, saloon and gambling-house all in one, and in the flush days of the place did a lively business. The proprietor, Hank Kline, had once been a cowboy on theplainsof Southern Colorado. He was a tall, swarthy-faced, dark-eyed man of forty-five, in whose veins one would mistrust was a trace of Spanish blood. He was regarded as a genial host, and his place was made doubly attractive by the presence of his daughter, Roxana. ‘' Roxy,” asshe was generally called, was a young woman of twenty, with a sylph- like form, dark hair, and black-blue eyes, and a face of bewitching beauty. But, more attract- ive than face and form, was her charming, vi- vacious spirit, During the flush days of Red Notch, Roxy assisted her father at the bar. Men were then wont to linger in her presence and listen to her ‘ musical voice, bask in her smiles and gulp down the fiery liquid that her hands had placed for them. To have Roxy wait upon them was a coveted honor, and her presence there, as a mat- ter of course, was the source of considerable ex- tra revenue, Of which fact Hank Kline was not ignorant. He knew the weakness of man in the presence of a bandsome woman, and so he, in his cupidity, encouraged his dark-eyed daugh- ter in all her little s and guiles by which men were attracted to the bar. But Roxy’s accomplishments were not alone those of a bar-maid. She could entertain in the parlor like a princess. With both rifle and pistol she was an expert, and in horsemanship she was skillful and daring. But, with all these shé was a heartless flirt. She trampled upon the hearts of men with as little mercy as- her father bled their pocket- books. In fact, all the geniality of The Fodder Corral was but the thinnest veneering which would readily have been penetrated but for the fascinating smiles and witchery of that dark- eyed houri of the Notch. Ths Fodder Corral had a big run during the flush days of Red Notch. But these were few. Within six months after the first cabin had been erected, not over twenty men remained in the camp. The placers had almost played out, and the miners had sought new fields. But among the few remaining were Hank Kline and his daughter, who were satisfied new discoveries would be made and The; Fodder Corral again flourish as of yore. A score or two of China- men came in and took the place of the desert- ing miners, and, by working over the ‘‘ tailings,” made fair wagers some of which went into the till of Kline’s bar. And now that there was nobody left in cam susceptible to Roxy’s smiles, she seldom attend- ed bar, but almost daily rode away into the hills, or over to the cabin of Hermit Paul, on the shores of Lake Kaniksu, despite the dangers from outlaws and roving bands of outlaw In- dians that were constantly prowling through the mountains, Twice a week she rode over to the North Pa- cific Railway, some fifteen miles distant, and brought the mail for the camp, for the regular mail service had been discontinued, and there was no travel between the railroad and camp except an occasional party of tourists, an! Kline’s supply wagon, which made the trip once a month. ’ This was the condition of Red Notch when we introduce the reader to the place, one August evening, when the usually quiet camp was stirred into a little ripple of excitement by the arrival of a stranger who registered at ‘‘ The Corra]” as Harry West, of Portland, Oregon. Harry West was a young man of perhaps five-and-twenty years, of prepossessing appear- ance and fine address. He was well equip with a hunter’s outfit, and the natural infer- ence was that he was a city man taking an * outing ” for recreation. f That evening he was called upon by the white miners and bummers left in camp, and politely informed that they made it a social custom to take a drink at the expense of all new- comers, Harry was not slow to take so broad a hint, so hastened to comply with the custom of the drowsy camp. . Young West met Miss Roxana soon after his arrival, and it was clear to ooserving ones that her pretty face and witching manners had made quite ar impression upon him, This appeared to be all the more certain when, day after day, he lingered at Red Notch, spending much of his i — time in Roxy’s company, and seeming to forget all else. However this may have impressed the miners, and whatever were the facts in the case, no one —not even Roxy—succeeded in finding out the particular object of the young man’s visit there. This proved somewhat perplexing to Hank Kline and his friends, and the result was that a committee of two, Zack Hunn and Bill Hohn, called upon him one evening in his room, and requested him to give an account of himself and his business there, ‘“*T hope you are not afraid I will steal your camp?” Harry replied, a little irritated by the request, “That’s not answerin’ our question,” Hohn retorted. ‘‘We wants to know your business bere, and we’ve a right to know.” ‘*Oh, certainly, certainly,” responded West. ‘1 am here to meet a friend, aud he and I are going on a hunt,” ‘*“ Who are you expectin’?’ demanded Hohn. ‘* Dan Baker.” ‘What, the Grizzly-Killer they calls Coeur D’Alene Dan?” ‘*'Yes, Coeur D’Alene Dan. I wrote him to meet me here the day I arrived, and I expect him any hour.” ‘* Wal, mebby that’s so, and mebby it ar’n’i,” growled Hohn, as the two left the room. A grim smile played about tne lips of Harry West as the committee departed. ‘* They’re getting suspicious of me,” he mused; col che if there’s anything wrong about this camp The next evening, after Harry had eaten his supper and retired to his room, he found a note therein notifying him he must leave the camp inside of twenty-four hours or take the conse- quences. He saw now that matters were growing seri- ous. He resolved to see Roxy and show her the note. He found her alone in the lighted parlor. He handed her the warning. She read it over, Harry watching her closely asshe did so, He saw a look of surprise and pain pass over her face. It was an opportune moment for the young man,for the fact is, Harry West had fallen desperately in love with the beautiful irl, and he embraced that time to declare the act to her in impassioned words, Roxy appeared profoundly surprised, yet it was a surprise that seemed fraught with pleas- ure. For a moment she sat silent, unable to speak; but her hesitation was to Harry full of hope and his heart took courage. 7 she raised her dark eyes to her lover’s, and, with tremulous lips and voice full of ardent joy, said: ‘Harry, [have known you but a few brief days, yet in that time I have learned to—” he did not finish the sentence, for, at this moment, the door leading into the bar-room was flung open, and the giant form of a young man, clad ina hunter’s garb, was ushered into the room by Landlord Kline, It was Harry’s expected friend, Coeur D’ Alene Dan, the Young Bear-Hunter. CHAPTER II. AN ASSASSIN’s SHOT. ANXIOUSLY as Harry West had, for days, awaited the coming of his friend, Coeur D’Alene Dan, he sorely regretted his coming when he did—at the moment when the very words that were to decide his future happiness were form- ing upon the lips of the lovely Roxana Kline— words that were never uttered because of that abrupt entrance, As the door swung open, the maiden quickly arose to her feet, her face assuming its natural composure in an instant. As for Harry, he sat still, the very picture of confusion and surprise, ** Hello, old boy!” burst from the lips of Coeur D’Alene Dan, 4s his eyes fell upon the face of his young friend; ‘I’ve got around at last. How are you, Harry, anyhow?” : ‘*Well as usual, Dan, my fine fellow!” re- sponded Harry, rising and grasping his friend’s hand. ‘‘ You look natural as an old shoe, but still you’re , balay 5 You'll be a man after awhile, boy, if you keepon. But, Mr. Baker, I ie the pleasure of introducing you to Miss ne. Dan, with doffed hat, bowed politely to the young lady, at the same time observing: “T did regret keepin’ Harry West waitin’ here, Miss Kline, but from appearances he’s not been lonesome, and probably wishes I’d never come. Harry’s a great ladies’-man,” Coeur D’Alene Dan was a young Hercules in stature, standing fully six feet in his moccasins, Broad-shouldered, deep-chested, with a large, well-saaped head set upon a stout, muscular neck, he was a noble specimen of manhood, And yet, he was but a beardless boy, being scarcely twenty years of age. As a tiunter in the Coeur D’Alene Mountains he had won his sobriquet, and a fame second to none in all that wild region; and for his upright character, his kind heart and jolly spirit, he was loved and respected; for his invincible courage, he was admired as an ideal mountaineer; and youth of heroic mold, Roxy Kline retired shortly after the younger hunter came in, leaving the two friends alone in the room. ‘‘By smoky! she’s a distressed pretty gal, ar’n’t she, Harry?” was the hunter’s observation as the door closed behind the young woman; ‘‘Lordy! sich eyes! and sich a form! and sich graceful movements! Dog-nabbed! if she isn’t a real queen of hearts! Reckon you’re sorry I broke in on you, eh, Harry?” ‘Oh, no, Dan,” answered Harry, though, at the same time, he mentally admitted that he was truly sorry; ‘tI have been here so long that the camp has become suspicious of me, and just this evening served notice on me to leave or take the consequences,” ‘*Ho! ho! ho!” roared Dan, in his good-na- tured way; ‘‘ that’s pretty good on Harry West. But I’m sorry that I couldn’t git here sooner, I was away over in the mountains when your let- ter came, and it waited for mea week. But I’m now at your service, ready to—” Landlord Kline now came in to inform Dan that his supper was ready. As all the others had been to supper the young hunter had to eat alone, and when he left the room Harry West found himself in his own company. At once the young man’s thoughts reverted to Roxana and her unfinished sentence. How he longed for her to return and finish her confes- sion! He would not leave the parlor through fear the opportunity might be lost, notwith- standing he could hear a commotion out in the bar-room thatindicated some unusual! excitement _ among the miners, Suddenly the dcor opened and Roxy came sweeping in, her face aglow with mirth and ex- citement: “Harry,” she exclaimed, ‘‘Red Notch is get- ting to be quite aresort. There are two new arrivals out here—a gentleman and his valet—a real English lord who is making a tour of the country. Hisnameis Lord John Joseph Kes- wick, of England, and such a looking old sinner that he is! me and take a peep at him.” Roxy held the door slightly ajar so that Harry could get a glimpse of the Englishman, and he could scarcely suppress a laugh when he did so. His lordship was fully six feet high, slender as a snake, with long, angular limbs, He might have been in the neighborhood of sixty years of age, and was a Briton throughout. is thin gray locks were parted in the middle and combed smooth to his long, hae op ay head. His very scant whiskers had the English cut. A pair of big, gold-bowed eye-glasses strided his thin, sharp nose, His velvet coat was buttoned from top to bottom, and so short that it scarce- ly reached his narrow hips. His pants of light corduroy fitted his slender limbs, tight almost as the hide. Lh A walking-shoes, gray Cloth leg- gings with brass buttons, and a hat like a helmet, completed his attire. ; His valet, a little, smooth-faced man with a keen eye and quick, nervous temperament, was dressed ina plain suit of gray jeans. In l and dress there was nothing to indicate the Eng- lishman about him, Coeur D'Alene Dan returned from supper to the parlor, and as he came in he exclaimed, in his bluff way: ‘¢‘Now, Harry, I'm in shape again, and am ready to hear what business you’ve got on hand, if it’s anything from killin’ grizzlies, makin love to a pretty woman, or tearin’ down a moun- tain Ezogting herself, Miss Roxana again left the parlor. Seeing that the doors leading into the parlor were closed, Harry walked over to the one win- dow in the room, pulled down the thin muslin blind, and then seated himself facing the young bear-hunter. “Dan,” he said, *‘ I'll tell you now what I sent for you for; since we were bunting in the Teton country, one year ago, I have become a Govern- ment employé.” ‘‘ Whew! great smoke! you don’t say sof” ther exclaimed, a smile lighting up his big, boy- ish face. ‘tYes, I am in the Secret Service of Uncle Sam,” H went on’ ‘‘in other words, I’m a detective, t has become pretty well under- : Es os ad ag aeg? hineg we ee
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' - { i ] ; — OE — ee — | — ~~ — _ ee a of dutiable goods, especially opium,from British America into the United States is going on, and detectives are being placed to watch for the operators, I have been assigned to the Idaho Pan-Handle country, with permission to call such assistance as I deem necessary; and [ have deemed your help necessary since you know all this country so well,” ‘Ha! ha! ha!” laughed the boy giant. ‘It tickles me to think of Dan Baker as an assistant detective—Bear-Slayer as a Government lynx! Coeur D’Alene Dan asmuggler-shadower! I[v’s stupenduous, by smoke! But [iladmit, Harry, I know this country pretty well, and if you think thar’ll be any grizzly-bear fun and fightin’ in the business, I wouldn’t mind takin’ a crack atthesmugs. A little change o’ work might be good for my health.” ‘Yes, Dan, there’s danger of you being stunted,” Harry observed with a smile, ‘‘ and | think the change’ll be good for you. As to fun and fighting, we may get all we care about, be- fore we get through.” “Wal, Harry, put me down as your pard in nnin’ for the covies, but the idea makes me jaugh.” “You don’t want to drop your character asa bear-hunter, Dan, but you must go armed and equipped as usual for grizzlies, and if you run across one, take it in. Keeping up your char- acter as a hunter is the way to deceive the shrewd scamps we are to spot and scoop in. Yve come armed for bear, and we must leave here ostensibly on a hbear-hunt, and keep it up. ‘¢-You’re a slick one, Harry!” declared Dan; **and I know will be a royal mountain-lynx de- tective. I reckon we’ll strike out—when?” ‘*In view of the fact that I have been notified to quit Red Notch or take the consequences, I would be ready to go to-night, if it wasn’t for one thing.” ** And what’s that, pard?” asked Dan. ‘*T would like to have a talk with Miss Kline before—” The words died on Harry’s lips, for, with the simultaneous crack of a Spe a bullet crashed through the window behind him, and, with a ery of mortal pain, he fell forward upon the floor at the feet of his friend, shot down by an assassin! » CHAPTER III, THE VALET’S WARNING, A SECOND shot quickly followed that of the assassin, but it was from the big revolver of Cour D'Alene Dan. Scarcelyhad Harry fallen from his chair, when the big hunter, with re- markable presence of mind, sor pt out his weapon and sent a ball through the window in hopesit would find the murderer, *he thunderous crash of the great pistol fair- lyshook the house, and its report quickly aroused the inmates, Hank Kline came rushing into the room, followed by others, in a great excite- ment. And, just as Roxy came in, Cour D’Alene Dan raised the form of his young friend from the floor. The girl caught sight of Harry’s white face, down which a stream of blood was trickling to the floor. ‘*Oh! what has happened?” she shrieked, as she ran toward the prostrate man. ‘*Some murderous hellyon has assassinated Harry!’ was the outspoken answer of Coeur D’ Alene Dan. Kline led his distracted and terrified daughter from the room, . Dan, supporting the body of his friend, saw Harry open his eyes and gaze around him, and then, to the surprise of all, he was heard to say: % It was a close call, Dan!” : “By smoky!” burst from Dan’s lips, ‘‘ the man’s not dead, by along shot! Bring in some water, somebody, and a bandage. e’s only wounded | Hurry there, now!” ‘* That’s all, Dan, my boy,” Harry said; ‘*‘ but T was hit hard,’ On examination it was found that the assas- sin’s bullet, evidently of small caliber, had struck the mullion of the lower window-sash, causing a slight deflection of the ball, else Harry would have been shot squarely through the head. As it was, the bullet glanced along ‘the side of his skull, just above the temple, ening a deep and ugly furrow that bled pro- usely, But Coeur D’Alene Dan, assisted by Peter Grew, Lord Keswick’s valet, who took hold like anold surgeon, soon had the young man’s wound dressed and bandaged. : Dan was bitter in his deninciation of the stood that a considerable amount of smuggling re ee Lan) Cour D’Alene Dan, the Mountain Guide. cowardly attack, but the miners seemed to re- gard itasan every-day occurrence incident to the camp, and but little, if any, effort was made to hunt the assassin down. In the course of an hour or two all had once more become quiet in The Fodder Corral, and Harry West, aside from a stivging pain in the head, was himself again; and while he and Dan sat discussing the situation, Hank Kline came in with Lord Keswick and said, addressing Dan: ‘Cour D’Alene Dan, this is Lord John Jos- eph Keswick, of England, who’s wantin’ to make the ’quaintance o’ the Baby Bear-Hunter 0’ the Rockies.” ‘*Put her thar, my Lord John Joseph!” ex- claimed Dan, rising and extending his hand. ‘* Ah, thanks!” responded Keswick; ‘‘ glad to meet you, Mr. Coeur D’Alene Dan Baker. By Jove! I’ve ’ad a great desire to see you, my fine fellow! Hi’ve’eard you was a greatcuriosity.” **T’m sure I don’t set myself up for a curios- ity, my lord,” Dan answered. **Ob! Hi beg pardon, sir,” apologetically ; ‘* you misunderstood me, I meant to say J pos- sessed the curiosity to meet you. By Jove! you hare a fine fellow. You're hancestors were Hinglish, were they not?’ ‘* No; Bunker-Hill Americans from the jump,” retorted Dan, countering against the English- man’s egotism, ‘Oh, beg pardon! but your fine physique and your reputed hindifference to dangers in these *orrid Hamerican jungles hare so suggestive hof Sir Samuel Baker and other noted Hinglish *unters that I was led to make the hobservation. Beg pardon, sir; but your friend ’ad ba narrow pe al ** He got a ditch tunneled along his head, but he’s good as a dozen dead men jit,” assured the giant.” “A narrow escape, by Jove!” declared his lordship. ‘‘ You need to shoot a few hassassins as well as gr‘zzlies, my fine fellow. This is ha beastly country, I vow.” ‘* Been here long, my lord?” ‘* Thanks—yes; some six weeks up and down the Pacific Railway. A deuced’ard tramp we ’ad the hother day by putting credence hin the story hof the haverage Hamerican liar, and so we'll rest here a week. By Jove! a hunter named Rattler—Tom Rattler—at Missoula told hus by going to the top hof a ’igh mountain- peak we could see, with a strong glass, all hover the whole United States. We were blarsted fools enough to believe the ’onest-looking hold villain, and we set hout. We weré seven days, *ardest work of my life, getting to the top of that blarsted mountain-peak, though it didn’t seem more than a day’s walk away. And, by Jove! when we did get there, shame! shame! we couldn’t see ’alf the States. We couldn’t even see the village hof Homaha, to say nothink hof the pig-sties and bull-pens called Chicago. Hamerica is a deuced big country, hafter hall; but its biggest things are its liars, By Jove! they lie so easy—so hinnocent-like—so natural! If we ever meet that Tom Rattler, blarst me hif I don’t ’ave my valet, Peter, thrash thunder hout bof ’im; I will, by Jove!” Harry Wes¢ smiled, while Coeur D’Alene Dan, no longer able to repress his emotions, burst into a peal of laughter. ord John Joseph elevated his nose and peered at the big hunter in evident surprise, muttering as he did so: ‘“A strange country—a queer people, by Jove!” ‘¢ Yes,” observed Dan, “‘ we’re pretty close to British America.” ; ‘‘That fact don’t himprove my opinion of British Hamerica, a blarsted bit, sir,” respond- ed Keswick, who readily perceived the sarcasm in Dan’s remark. ‘‘ But, the country aside, Dan, I'd like to take a turn with you hin the jungles and pop hover a few grizzlies before I sail for ’ome; I would, by Jove!” ‘It’s a wonder American grizzlies are good epuff game for yer aristocratic gratification,” put in a voice from behind Keswick, and look- ing around he saw Bill Hohn standing in the doorway, a look of disdain on his unpleasant ac 8. ‘* Ah! beg pardon, sir,” and the Englishman turned to the miner, ‘but I was haddressing myself to Coeur D’Alene Dan.” ‘“‘And I was addressin’ myself to you,” de- clared Hohn, evidently ina quarrelsome mood, ‘* By Jove! you’re a churl, sir,a churl!” re- gontad Keswick; ‘tI ave no desire to talk to you. You'll retire, sir.” ‘¢Not as anybody knows of, I don’t retire,” exclaimed Hohn; ‘‘ Bill Hohn’s not the man to flunk from any Britisher that ever wore pants. Do you savey, eh?” mene ee age gee ‘*Such beastly talk!” sneered the old Briton: P sare an Hamerican fool, sir,an Hamerican ool! ‘* By thunder, I take that from no galoot!’’ exclaimed Hohn in a frenzy, advancing upon Keswick. It was quite apparent, now, by the appearance of other miners at the door, that Hohn had come in there on purpose to ruise arumpus with the Englishman, and had soon succeeded in do- ing so. He was a quarrelsome bully and prided himself on his fighting qualities. To have the honor of licking an English lord was the only motive he had in provoking a quarrel, and when the Say was given for the blow, he lunged out furiously at the tourist’s face, But, wonder of wonders! Lord Keswick par- ried the lick as gracefally as though he were a trained athlete, and, with a ‘‘beg pardon,” landed a blow on Hohn’s neck with such terrific force that the bully was knocked half insensible to the floor. As the miner scrambled to his feet, others be- gan crowding into the room, swearing venge- ance on the old tourist; but, at this stage, of the proceedings, Coeur D’Alene Dan sprung to his feet, his eyes flashing and his big form towering up lke a Titan’s, exclaiming in a voice of no uncertain meaning: ‘* Hold on there,men of Red Noth! Fair play! Oneata time!” and ho laid his hand on his revolver. ‘* You hear me chirrup!” The miners paused. Keswick stood erect, awaiting the renewal of Hohn’s attack. But, it never came, His friends caught the half-dazed man and dragged him from the room, and quiet was once more restored. ‘*My lord,” said Harry West, as Keswick re- nisiad his seat as coolly as though be had simply performed an ordinary act, ‘‘the people of Red Notch don’t like you and me,” ‘* No; but, when they know us better, they will,” Keswick responded, with a meaning in his words, ‘* By the way, Mr. West,” said Peter Grew, his lordship’s valet, ‘‘when do you expect to leave Red Notch?” Harry glanced about the room, and seeing none of the miners present, replied: ‘* To-morrow morning, I presume.” ** Why can’t you go to-night?” Peter asked. **T see no necessity for it.” ‘* Your life’s in danger every moment you stay here!” Grew declared, speaking in a low, earnest tone. ‘*There’s some scoundrel around here that’s tried to kill me, I’ll admit.” ‘*Mr. West,” and Grew’s voice fell still lower ‘it was a woman that attempted to kill you. I stood within the deep shadows of a bush within ten feet of her, and saw her fire the shot. Her bead was covered with a shawl] and I could not see her face,” ‘*Tmpossible, Mr. Grew! {mpossible!” declared Harry. ‘‘There’s but one woman in this camp, and she is Roxy Kline, our landlord’s lovely daughter.” ‘** Young man,”said Grew, ‘‘ the pretty face of a woman has been the ruination of many a noble man, Let me tell you, sir, the woman I saw came out of and went back into this house! If Roxy Kline is the only woman in this camp then Rowy Kline is your would-be murderer ps r’aps idden CHAPTER IV. A MOUNTAIN DELIVERANCE, ALMA GRAYSON was lost in the mountains, and terror filled her young breast as she wan- dered on and on through the desolate hills where it seemed no human foot had ever trod before, She was a young girl of seventeen, and one ofa pew of excursionists that had been soornias or several days on Lake Kaniksu, a beautifu sheet of water lying some fifteen or twenty miles north of Red Notch Camp. She was scarcely aware of being out of sight of camp when she discovered she was lost, and it was not until she had tramped over miles, even then, that her courage gave way. She was naturally a brave and plucky little girl, but her long, weary walk, the deep, desolate solitude in which she was continually drifting, were more than she could bear up under, and so fear and distress filled her mind and heart. Still she wandered on aimlessly, hopeless. Hours that seemed like days to her dragged on, but all too scon, she saw the sun dropping down toward the hilltops, and knew that night was not far off. Finally she sat down to rest. Then it was that the sound of a voice fell upon her ears. She started up, and, through the mist in her eyes,she saw.two men coming toward her. But they were strangers, and the little ray of hope that
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Coeur the sound of their voices had kindled in her breast, went out in the gloom of a new-born fear that their presence excited, Both were rough, bearded men, and in the cold, hard lines of their faces she instinctively realized that she was in the presence of men than whom she would rather have met the fiercest mountain beasts, ‘* Wal, by the almighty hills! What have wo found, Tim?” were the first words uttered by one of the pair, ‘A mountain fairy, Jubal, by Tophet!” was Tim’s response. Alma shrunk back, her face white, her lips sealed. ‘*Don’t be skeert, little gal,” said the man, Tim, ‘‘but tell us who you are and whar you comes from, child, Speak right out like the lit- tle white-faced lady that ye be.” There was a touch of kindness in the man’s voice and words that gave Alma a little respite from her fears, and she again looked up. The man stood closer to her—a small, dark-eyed man of thirty years. He put out nis hand and touched her upon the shoulder, Had it been the touch of a serpent she would not have recoiled with a deeper shudder of horror. “*Gal,” said the man Tim, ‘‘ you be flighty— you must be lost in these hilis, Who are yeand whar do you belong?” ‘*My friends are on Lake Kaniksu,” Alma found words to reply, ‘and as [ am lost, I ho you will be so kind as to set me on my right yrs ee the At peatih pa i ; y, grea ence! gal, you’re ten miles from Lake Kaniksu, and it’s almost sundown. You’d better go with us to our camp, and stay till mornin’, and git rested.” ‘* Yas,” added the man, Jubal, ‘‘ we'll take keer 0” you.” ‘* But you are strangers,” Alma protested. **Oh, you'll git acquainted with us,” assured Jubal; ‘* we're hunters, we are.” **Of course we are,” added Tim: but his looks belied his words, and despite their assurance Alma was afraid to trust them. This they saw, and finding they could not secure her confidence, the villain, Jubal, for villains they both were, a mepemnged took her by the arm and pulled her along. Aina uttered a cry of terror and struggled in vain to break from the rascal’s grasp. Tim took hold of her other arm, and in this manner she was hurried along the valley, despite her struggles and petitions for mercy. But the villains had not gon» far with her when they were suddenly brought to a halt by the ap nce of a strange man before them, Heh svenped from the bushes by the wayside carrying in bis hand ashort, stout club that had ‘been whittled smooth. The man was no other than Lord John Joseph Keswick, and, in appar- ent surprise at the presence of the two men and the girl, he stop short, and surveyed them eee his eye-glasses, at the same time drawl- ng out: f Well, ba Jove! what’s this we’ave here?” . The outlaws were not only surprised, but puz- zled by the appearance of this unique specimen of humanity there in the mountains, In silence they surveyed him from head to foot, Jubal’s hand resting upon the butt of his revolver. To Alma there was nothing in his presence to inspire hope, and the very first thought that flashed through her excited brain was that he was a crazy man, ‘* Wal, who the deuce are you?” Jubal finally PW ae pant, sic" esponded bis lordshi pardon, sir,” respon 8 lordshi “but [ham Lord J, Joseph Keswick, of ors land, a descendant hof the great Don Quixote— a defender hof the hinnocent.” ; His words confirmed Alma’s first impression of the man—that he was crazy. “Wal, my Lord J. Joseph,” retorted Tim, who seemed to be of the same opinion as the girl, ‘‘ I guess you're off your beat, and I’d ad- Me you to be gittin’ back to the lunatic asy- um, ‘* Ab—thanks!” returned the old tourist, ad- vancing closer, twirling his stick on his fingers, **but, hit happears to me you're pretty bimpu- dent to a stranger.” Jubal made a motion as if to draw his revol- ver when, quick ag a flash of lightning, the tourist’s arm was flung forward, and, almost with the same motion, he gave the two outlaws a rap on the head with bis club that stretched both of them senseless and bleeding upon the ‘There, now—beg pardon, Miss—” but the rest of his words were lost to Alma, for, filled with a greater dread of the crazy man, as she D’Alene Dan, the ge ee ee : BALE RAI Tut Mountain Guide, Le aa believed Keswick to be, than the outlaws, she The girls rode on, Tom following with the» turned and fled down the valley like a deer, nimble steps of youth, his Winchester lying on The Englishman followed her, and finally | hisarm ready for instaat work should the pur- overtook her at a point where the deer-path she | suers crowd too close upon bim. was following led close along the edge of a high, perpendicular embankment on the left. On the ; aloug, their young hearts throbbing with fear. right was a dense growth of bushes crowding The valley as they proeanses grew narrower. close upon the path, and the hills on either side more rough and ‘*Stop, girl!” exclaimed the Briton, as he came | broken, : close to the fleeing girl; ‘‘stop, I say; for God’s Suddenly a little cry broke from Puss’s lips, sake, don’t break your neck!” and, at the same instant, her pony gave a snort. At length he came up with her, and, seizing | of affright and stopped still in its tracks. her by the arm arrested her flight. Alma Puss quickly discovered the cause of its alarm, screamed with terror. A great shaggy beast was moving across the de- ‘*Girl!” he admonished, ‘‘don’t be afraid of | file beforethem. It was a monster bear upon me; I—” which it would be dangerous to crowd, But, At this juncture the Englishman was seized | the surprise seemed mutual. The bear stopped from behind, by a man who had glided noise- | short, glanced at the horse in evident alarm, lessly as a shadow from the bushes, lifted bodily | and would doubtless have fled into the-hills but into the air and fired over the embankment into | for an unfortunate occurrence. Just as it a dense thicket of bushes and vines! paused, a rifle-shot rung out among the hills, Alma glanced around at her rescuer. A Jight | the animal gave aroar of pain, rolled over a. of recognition and joy broke upon her pale face, | time or two on the earth, then regaining its: and her white lips uttered the glad words: feet, charged toward the pony and its riders in. ‘*Oh, thank God! it is Tom Rattler!” furious rage, blood streaming from its mouth. “Tt are, by the great Rosycrucians, Miss With great presence of mind Puss turned her Alma!” pony to flee. It was her only course to escape: the fury of the grizzly, whatever dangers might. otherwise be encountered. But, it seemed that dangers were concealed in every bush, for, as she wheeled her pony, she found a ruffianly-looking white man and a. hideously-painted savage confronting her, and,, as she attempted to ride by them, the outlaw seized the pony by the bits and jerked the ani- mal back upon its haunches. Little Puss uttered acry of rage and struck viciously at the man. with her riding-whip,. while Alma, slipping from ser seat fell uncon- scious upon the ground, The Indian ran up, and seizing Puss dragged her from her saddle, when the outlaw began backing the pony down CHAPTER V. WOUNDED AND ADRIFT, It was the redoubtable Tom Rattler, indeed, who had come to the rescue of Alma Grayson. He was the guide of the excursion party to which the girl belonged. ** Miss Alma, who the Sam Hill war that crit- ter what war chasin’ you?’ the old hunter asked, when the maiden had somewhat recov- ered from her fright. ‘* He called himself Lord John Keswick, butI know he is either crazy,*or a bad, evil: man feigning lunacy!” was the girl’s answer. to receive the attack of the oncoming grizzly. “Pll see if I can’t shoot him yit,” declared But, however well and quickly the two scoun- Tom, advancing to the edge of the bank over | drels’ plans had been conceived, to capture the which he had so dexterously hoisted his lord- | girls, and escape the fury of the wounded bear,, wnDs ‘**T alers kill snakes and lords.” they were countered by those of another, Hard- @ peered over the bank, but could see noth- ly had Puss’s feet touched the ground when ing of the Englishman; but he could hear a, there was a second sudden appearance from rustling and a scrambling among the vines and | somewhere—a great, stalwart giant figure, bushes at the base of the bank, and an occa- | whose eyes blazed with an incarnate fire, and sional grunt or imprecation. whose big boyish face was the very picture of A smile lit up the countenance of the old | deadly fury, and who came like a whirlwind hunter, and he was about to call down to the | upon the scene. It was Coeur D’Alene Dan, the discomfited lord when Alma warned him of the | Young Bear- Hunter! approach of the twomen Keswick had liberated The young giant’s coming was silent as it was her from, accompanied by three or four In: | swift, and, swifter still was his vengeance’ dians, or white men dressed as such. With one blow of his fist the outlaw fell as if Tom quickly secured his rifle, and then led | stricken byathunderbolt. With another bound the way down thedefile, ever and anon glancing | he reached the Indian, and, seizing him, liftea ——SS eens back over his shoulders to note the movement | him aloft as though he were an infant and flung of his pursuers, He had no time for converse | him with mighty force full into the face of the with Alma, else he might have learned that | grizzly that was now upon them! Lord Keswick had really befriended the girl, The force of the collision staggered the bear, however much she feared the man, and that he, | but, before the half-stuaned red-skin could re- in his haste, had committed an unpardonable | cover his feet, the enraged brute had seized him blunder, if nothing worse. and begun its terrible work. ; Pushing along as rapidly as possible, the At this juncture the young detective, Harry fugitives finally came out into a broad, wooded | West, Coeur D’Alene Dan’s friend, appeared valley, down which ran an old iggian trail to | upon the scene. It was he who had fired the the shores of Lake Kaniksu. Just as they | shot which had wounded the grizzly, being reached this their ears were greeted by the | wholly unaware of the presence of any one but sound of hoofed feet, and, looking around, they | his companion at the time, Eager to kill a saw a young girl mounted upona pony gallop- | grizzly be had embraced the first opportunity ing down the valley toward them. that offered since leaving ‘‘The Fodder-Corral,’” ‘* By the great crusians!” exclaimed Old three days previous, to go in search of opium—- Tom, “it are Little ‘ Puss,’ the darter o’ Hermit | smugglers. : Paul!” - It was an unfortunate shot, but, like the fear— ‘Tt is, indeed,” declared Alma, who had met | less man that he was, he hastened to his friend's: _ the maiden during their sojourn on the shores | assistauce the moment he saw the mischief he of the lake, at her father’s cabin, had wrought. Great as had been his haste, Approaching, the girl drew rein before them, | however, the outlaw was down and the Indian Scarcely seventeen, with soft brown eyes, glow- | in the clutches of the bear when he arrived om ing cheeks, and long flowing hair, Little Puss | the scene. was the very picture of girlish beauty. Little Puss’s pony broke loose and ran away. As she drewrein Tom saw that her face was | Alma lay unconscious upon the ground. The flushed with excitement, and, glancing back | Indians and outlaws were coming down the val- over her course, she exclaimed, before either of | ley. Not a moment was to be lost. the others could speak: ‘‘Oh, Dan!” cried Puss, in wild excitement, ‘“‘Mr. Tom Rattler, the Indians are making | ‘“‘ what shall we dof Wecannot leave that poor trouble! More than a scoreare coming down | girl!” the valley this moment!” ‘* No, nor will we—” ‘ ‘“¢-Yes, and others are after us,” Old Tom said, The crack of a rifle caused him to look with a nervous start, ‘‘Come, we must hasten; around. Tom Rattler could be seen approach- — on.” ing, fighting on the retreat, by turning and ‘““Seat that young lady behind me, Mr. Rat- | sending a shot at the foe, several of whom could tler, and I will hasten to our cabin with her,” | be seen dodging among the trees and bushes om Little Puss commanded. the hillsides, Tom waited for no further words, but, lifting ‘‘1t’s Tom Rattler, the bunter,” said Puss; Alma from the ground, seated her behind Puss, | ** only a short time ago he rescued poor Alma. on the pony. from those bad men.’ ‘* Now go, he said, ‘“‘and may God speed ‘‘ Harry.” remarked Dan, ‘‘in our smuggl ye! These are bulgin’ full o’ murderous | huntin’ we’ve struck a regular nest of devile. devils!” | ‘The curse of ‘The Fodder-Corral’ seems tobe The girls spoke but few words as they rode . , ~ . ‘J ql )
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t pursuin’ us, I tell you we've got to fight our way out of this, and fight we will!” Harry West lifted the inanimate form of Alma in his arms and started off with her down the valley, Puss carrying his rifle and leading the way. Dan put a bullet through the brain of the wounded grizzly, for the unequal contest be- tween it and the Indian had about ended. Then he motioned Tom Rattler to hurry forward. He awaited the old borderer’s coming. Their greet- ings were spirited. The presence of the prostrate outlaw, the dead bear and the mutilated savage told the old man that the young giant had been at work. **You’ve been makin’ a muss o’ things ’round here, boy,” Rattler said, with a grim smile, ‘‘ J swatted one or two o’ the red-rined varlets that crowded on me, and I reckon it'll r’ile ’em up like hornets; but, let ’em r’ile!” Few words were necessary for an understand- ing of the situation between the hunters, when they joined issues against the foe. Retreating down the valley, keeping a sharp watch behind ‘them, and ever and anon sending a bullet at the human coyotes that were following—gliding from cover to cover—they discussed the situa- tion amid the “‘ping” and ‘‘spatting” of bul- lets around them, “Tf it weren’t fur them gals, Bear-slayer,” Old Tom observed, “ I’d like to show you some fancy work with them varlets, ’mnot asyoung as I used t» be, but, if thar’s anything the Red River Epidemic loves, it’s plonty room for a run- nin’ fight with thesmoky-skins. Butthe galsmust be saved, at all hazards, and it’s a good thing, Bear-slayer, you and your friend dropped in when you did. That poor Miss Alma must be nighly dead with terror, for I rescued her from the dod-gastedest ole white cuss I’ve struck in all this Selkirk Range o’ the Rockies. He was dressed like a fool, and called hisself, so Alma said, Lord Somebody.” ‘Lord Keswick?” Dan asked. ‘‘That’s the very feller, Dan’l—know the old dark?” ‘*T have seen him—yes. Do you mean to say he bad captured the girl, Alma?” ‘‘ That’s the way I took it, Dan’l, and just as he Jaid his hand on her I seized him by the scruff o’ the neck and the breechin’ and fired him over a high bank intoa bramble, Oh, but he war a lily-lipped hummer, Dan’l!! He must ’%a’ been the friend o’ them varlets comin’ arter us— Whew! that war a clus’ shave!” A bullet from the pursuing foe cut so close to ‘the old man’s head as to cause him to dodge, ‘but the sound seemed to thrill every nerve in bis old frame. His flashing eyes swept the hills behind them; in a twinkling his rifle flew to his shoulder, and as quickly rung out, “Take that, ye red-rinded varlet!” he ex- claimed, ‘‘ and reemember the Red River Kpi- demic’s abroad in the land!” ‘That was a marvelous fine shot, Tom,” de- clared Coeur D'Alene Dan, as the death-yell of a red-skin came winding down the hills. ‘* Thanks, boy, thanks!” replied the old moun- wain ranger, Thus the retreat continued for two or three miles, the open condition of the country en- abling the two men to keep the pursuers at a fair distance behind. But as conditions were gradually changing as they approached Lake ‘Kaniksu, The hills were growing more abrupt, broken and woody—a condition favorable to the foe, However, the lake was not far away, but just what advantage this goal would afford, the fugi- tives had not been able to determine, The cabin of Hermit Paul was fully three miles north of where they would strike the lake, and that was the only place where anything like safety could be secured. A new diffieulty suddenly arose before the lake was reached, Harry West had not been in the best of health since the attempt on his life at The Fodder-Corral. His wound had given him much trouble, and had threatened a fever. But of this he thought nothing when the lives of Puss and Alma were at stake, and in hurry- ing away, with the unconscious form of the lat- ter, the burden proved more than his enfeebled strength could withstand, and when less than @ hundred yards from the lake, he fell ina dead faint, the blood gushing from his nostrils, And this wasthe state of affairs when the bunters came up. Fortunately, however, Alma had recovered consciousness, and with Puss’s help was able to “walk, and as there was no alternative now, cour D'Alene Dan lifted the form of his young companion in his strong arms and bore him safely to the lake-shore. As he laid the inani- mate man on the ground, he said: ‘“‘Tom, here the struggle is to come. If we've got to fight, we'd as well have it out here. If you want to go on with the gals, well and ex As for me, I will never desert Harry. will die with him!” **Danny,” returned Old Tom, with a look of admiration, ‘* you’re a lily-lipped hummer, and I want to stay and show you a sample o’ the Epidemic’s fightin’. See! yonder is a canoe! Why not put the gals and your friend in it and send them out into the lake? It will not carry us all, but it will those three,” ** A splendid idea, Tom!” declared Dan, who had not noticed the boat before, The canoe—a small Indian craft—lay beached under some willows. It was but the work of a moment to launch it and put the girls aboard, Then Harry West was laid in the bottom, his head resting. on Alma’s lap. All was ready to go, but where was the paddle? It could be found nowhere! A look of disappointment clouded the faces of the hunters, Cour D’ Alene Dan looked out upon the water. The wind was quartering, but favorable. The gen ngs rocked and swayed as if impatient to 06 Off, ** Hold! I have it!” suddenly exclaimed Dan, as a thought occurred to him, and whipping out his great bear-knife, ho cut off two bushes with thick, dense foliage. These he handed to the girls, saying: ‘* Hold these bushes erect, girls; the wina blows fairly strong and they will serve as sails, Drift out into the open Jake, and trust in God for your rescue. Good-by.” The girls grasped the bushes, and, even as he | spoke, the novel sails caught the breeze, the lit- tle craft crept slowly out from the shore, and then, as it received the full strength of the wind, went scudding away over the rippling waters, its green sails rustling in the wind, its white-faced occupants silent and sad. Before the enemy had discovered what was going on behind the rocks and bushes on the | lake-shore, the boat was fully two hundred yards away. A yellof dismay, and a volley of shots at the fleeing craft, announced the vil- lain’s depth of rage, <A few bullets fell danger- ously near to the canoe, and the firing was kept y the leaden missiles whistling over the heads Dan and Tom, until the craft had drifted out eyond range into the now rapidly-deepening shadows of night. Unburdened by the girls and poor Harry West, the two heroic mountaineers took a posi- tion in a kind of grotto in the face of the bluffs and awaited the final onsl@ught. u 0 b CHAPTER VI, IN THE BLACK HAWKS’ NEST. So silent and quick had been the movements of Old Tom Rattler, in his attack on Lord John Joseph Keswick, that the latter did not even get a glimpse of the hunter’s face. Down amon the bushes and vines he sunk, and it was well these same bushes and vines were there to break his fall, else his forced leap might have resulted seriously. As it was, he reached the ground quite easily, barring numerous scratches on hands and face, and a somewhat demoralized suit, Extricating himself from the vines, he crawled toward the bank along the base of which there was a space barren of vegetation. There he paused to consider the extent of his injuries, get his bearings, and moralize upon the uncertainty of life in the American wilds. It was quite dark where he sat, which was not only owing to the gathering shadows of even- ing, but to the dense canopy of vegetation that hung over him like an awning. ‘Not long, however, did his lordship tarry there. He arose and crept along the base of the cliff some thirty rods or more, when he emerged into a more open space, though that same green awning hung over him, The sound of a footstep fell upon his ear, and, at the same moment, a gruff voice commanded: ** Halt! throw up your hands!” Turning quickly, the old tourist saw a man with a cocked revolver standing in the black resis ps of a cavern which led back into the bluff. ‘* Beg pardon!” his lordship exclaimed, quick- ly raising his hands as commanded; ‘‘I ’ope I’m not hintrnding,” ‘* What the de’il ye spyin’ 'round arter, then?” growled the man. ‘“‘T ham ’ere by haccident, sir; by haccident; I was tossed hover the bank by some blarsted Hamerican—’, ‘© Who be you, anyhow?” demanded the man, impatiently. Cour D’Alene Dan, the Mountain Guide. 5 ‘Lord John J. Keswick, of Hengland, sir, touring in Hamerica, and a beastly place hit is, by Jove!” ‘“Whew!” ejaculated the cavern’s guardian; “a lord from old England!—a real, way-up, eye-giassed, dew-dawed lord! Well, my Lord Kisswicked, you'll please walk right into the Black Hawks’ Nest, and when Captain Dago comes around he’jl examine your passport, Walk right in and make yourself to hum,” ‘* Ah, thanks!” said Lord John, advancing in- to the cavern, with a dignified step. It was dark enough at the entrance, but, after he had penetrated a few paces into the passage, the glare of a light burst upon hiseyes. Within its radius, seated upon a rude bench or stool, he saw a young and beautiful woman, who, at a glance, he recognized as Roxana Kline, the handsome daughter of the proprietor of The Fodder-Corral at Red Notch Camp! But, what- ever his thoughts and feelings upon making this startling discovery, he succeeded most admir- ably in keeping them to himself, The cavern was large and roomy, its extremi- ties and angles being lost indarkness. The only wall visible was the one near which the lamp hung. It was full of holes and pockets, into which were crowded articles of clothing, sus- picious-looking packages, and bundles, Fire- arms, saddles, pots and kettles were strewn about in profusion and disorder, Keswick was conducted straight to where Roxy Kline sat reading a book. As they ap- proached she arose, though the look and expres- sion upon her face could not be observed, for her back was to the light. ‘¢ Miss Roxy Kline,” said the old tourist’s cap- tor, addressing the woman, ‘‘permit me to in- troduce Lord John Joseph Jackson Keswick, English tourist, whom I war compelled to run into our den. Miss Kline, me lord,is an honored captive here, held for a bit of a. ransom, and you can consider yourself a prisoner, also, until Captain Dago looks into the merits of your case.” “Ah! by Jove!” exclaimed Keswick, ‘‘ then I ham in a nest of Hitalian brigands and cut- throats!” ‘You're in the Black Hawks’ Nest, sure,” an- swered the man, ‘‘and any attempt to escape will be death. Don’t forgit that,” and with this reminder the outlaw-guardian returned to the mouth of the cave, ‘““Oh, by Jove! this is’orrid—’orrid, my dear madam!” the old Englishman exclaimed ;—‘ a prisoner in Hamerica—the land hof the free and the ’ome hof the brave!” ‘‘It is indeed, dreadful, my lord,” said Roxy Kline, her voice full of sadness and grief, ‘‘I was on my way to visit my young friend, Little Puss, the daughter of Hermit Paul, when I fell into these wicked Black Hawks’ power. But, how unfortunate that you, too, should fall into their hands.” ‘* Beg pardon, my dear lady, but at first I regarded it has very unfortunate hindeed, but since I fall into your presence and company also, 1 deem it a bit hof fortune.” ‘ ‘*T do not understand you, my lord,” said Ltoxy,. ‘“T mean hit will bea pleasure for me to share your himprisonment with you,” he explained. ‘Beg pardon, madam, but since I first met you at Red Notch your face has ever been before me,” ‘Oh, sir,” exclaimed Roxy in little confusion, ‘vou are jesting, Iam sure.” ‘s7Pon honah, my dear lady, I tell you the solemn truth. I’ave seen a deal hof this world, and been smiled bupon by the fairest women hof many climes, but none—no, not one ’as ever won my affection until I met you! And now, since J ’ave said this much, pardon me, hif I say all: I know L’ave been habrupt, but it is the circumstances hunder which we now meet that forces the issue. Weare prisoners in this haw- ful dungeon. You are held for ransom, I love you, by Jove, I do! Iamrich, You are'beau- tiful and charming. I can ransom you, and I will! Be mine, dear lady, and you shall never want or—” ‘But, my lord—” ‘‘ Hear me through, dear girl,” he persisted. “As my wife, you will be mistress hof one hof the grandest old mansions hof Hingland, and one hof the leading ladies hof theland. Your beauty and charming manners will hadmit you to royal favors—you'll shine as the brightest hof bright stars. My wealth. will be at your command, ‘Your wish shall be law in our man- sion. Just think of it, dear lady, a moment and then answer me,” ‘*My lord, 1} am a young woman, while youw are—”? .
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ox, Dies 9 aes 3 ae oS Cour D’Alene Dan, the Mountain Guide. “oe i ‘** Sixty, dear lady,” he quickly put in, “but, over the head were our men. If so, they'll by Jove! T have the spirit hof a rapegee thirty.” | make life burdensome to you when you meet “Then I am but the daughter of a poor tav- | again.” ern-keeper, while you are a refined English no-| ‘*I ham your guest, andclaim your protec- bleman,” Roxy demurred. tion,” Keswick said. ‘‘ TI honly hacted the part “Don’t let that thought trouble you, dear | of an Hinglish gentleman in rescuing the young girl,” the persistent old lover replied; ‘‘risk lady from them,” your ’appiness in my keeping, hand, by the ‘* And the feller that fired you over the bank gods! hit will be sacredly guarded.” acted likewise, I suppose?” observed Reddy. ‘*My lord,” the girl said, after a moment's “No, sir; I beg pardon; be was an Hameri- deep thought, ‘‘I may be a foolish, flattered | cau blackguard, sir—a sneak that struck from woman, but my lot has been such a hard one | behind.” these past few years tbat the prospects of a hap- ‘*Well, I reckon you understand you’re a pier and moro pleasant life and home are strong | prisoner here, my lord?” the outlaw chief re- temptations for me to risk my life in the keeping ; marked. of one of whom I know but little, and yet one ‘*As much has been hintimated; what are whom my better judgment tells me is worthy of | your terms, sir?” the love of any woman in the land.” ‘* Ah-ha!” exclaimed Dago, rubbing his hands ‘“* Ab! thanks, dear lady, a thousand thanks! | in delight, ‘‘that sounds refreshing, my lord! Shall I consider your words asa favorable an- | But let me see: you admitted to your affianced swer?’ that you were lousy rich—that you were wal- “You may, my lord,” Roxy answered, in a | lowing in wealth. Now, in view of this fact, voice of joyous timidity. we'll have to tax you about as follows: we'll ‘“Appy day! ’appy day!” exclaimed the old | say one thousand pounds for the release of your wooer, and dropping on his knee before her he | charming little sweetheart; about two thousand lifted her hand to his lips and imprinted a re- | for your experience in the American wilds, and sounding kiss upon it, then it will take another thousand to mollify the And just then a loud and boisterous laugh | feelings of the two fellows you clipped over the rung through the cavern, and the sound of | head, if they prove to be our men, and turn up many feet were heard approaching. alive—four thousand pounds, all told, seems to me dirt cheap considering everything.” CHAPTER VII. ‘* By Jove!” exclaimed the Englishman, with SLIGHTLY SURPRISED. a show of indignation; ‘‘ that’s houtrageous, sir, AS the ga'lant Lord Keswick arose to his feet, houtrageous!” after kissing the woman’s hand, he found him- ** We're ey ag folks here, my lord—never self confronted by four rough, brigandish-look- | cut on prices. It’sfour thousand, or you'll never ing men whose faces were aglow with mirth. tread the hallsof your English mansion, or chuck ne of the four was Captain Dago, leader of | your young wife under the chin.” the notorious outlaw gang known in Northern ** Blarst it! you drive a man hard, sir; but Idaho and Washington Territory as the Black | you ’ave the hadvantage and—” Hawks. He was a tall, dark-skinned man of “ And you the wealth,” interrupted Dago. fifty—an Italian by birth, and a brigand by na- ‘*Tf I'm to stay here, ’ow the deuce can I get ture. you the money?” Lord Keswick was the first to speak. ‘*Oh, easy enough, my lord, Draw an order ‘*T beg pardon, gentlemen,” he said, showing | on your banker, and have the remittance made some confusion. to you by Express, at, say, Missoula, in care of ‘* Granted, sir,’ responded Captain Dago, | Samuel J. Hobart. We'llsee that it is got from ** but, this beats all the romance ever conceived | the office and brought herein good shape. Or- by the poets, A real British lord—Lord J. Joseph Keswick, we were told by the guard, in our den, makin’ howlin’ old love to our fair prisoner! But, my lord, I congratulate you on that.” ‘*Then I will draw on the Montreal Bank, your success.” ‘Thanks, sir,” exclaimed Keswick, with a po- | get returns, and will cut short your sojourn lite bow. with us, Now don’t think you can deceive us, ‘*T say, my lord,” said one of the Black Hawks confronting the old tourist, ‘‘]’m somethin’ of an Englishman myself, and used to know Lord Henry Keswick, but never heard of Jobn Joseph Keswick.” ‘‘And what might your name be, if you please?” asked his lordship, ‘*Tt used to be Wyatt; but I’m ‘ Reddy’ now, for short,” was the man’s answer. ** And per knew Lord Henry Keswick?” ‘** Yes, I did, ole hoss, and I hope you’re not an impostor,” ‘** Reddy ” responded. “Beg pardon, Mr. Wyatt, but when did you leave old Hengland?” ‘*Ten yearsago.” ‘“* Ah! that explains why you didn’t know me,” Lord John responded, ‘* Lord Henry was my elder brother, He died seven years ago. Thirty years before he died I went to India, and was serving there when news of his death brought me ’ome. I succeeded to his hestate. Did you never hear that he had a brother in In- dia?” P most of his men. They seemed eager to hear **Come to think, I did,” answered Reddy, | from the rest of the world, and especially the il- *fand I guess you’re allright. Shake, neighbor | lustrated part of it. John Joseph! I’m truly glad to see some one | from home. How’s Queen Vic? and Prince Al? How’s all old England stack up?” “Oh, charming, charming, sir, when I left, two years ago,” responded his lordship, getting op familiar terms with theoutlaws, ‘' By Jove! Icouldn’t be content to settle down and rust, and ‘aving a great desire to see Hamerica, I sailed for the blarsted, habominable country.” ““ Travelin’ all alone?” | blankets. There were two or three rude chairs. ‘* Not exactly, sir; my valet accompanied me, ; Some clothing hung on the walls, and a few for you can’t. My secretary here, ‘ Reddy,’ will conduct you to our library, and see that ou give the prope? order on your bankers, You see, we understand commercial business pe: we do, and make sure our net brings sh. At this juncture three more outlaws entered wick had thumped on the head. Their heads were bandaged and their faces and clothing covered with blood. Their joy knew no bounds when they discov- ered their enemy a prisoner in their den, and direful were the threats they made against him. But when D1go informed them that he had as- sessed his lordship a thousand for the self-ad- mitted blows, their feelings were, as predicted, somewhat mollified. The third new-comer was the band’s messen- ger, who had come in from somewhere, bring- ing a supply of newspapers which at once claimed the attention of Captain Dago and eddy, the commercial man of the band, lighted a small lamp and bade Keswick follow him. He led the way down nearly to the mouth of the cavern, when he turned to the right and entered a side chamber or passage quite narrow. Through this they passed some ten paces when they debouched into a little circular chamber, brilliant with stalactites. At one side there was a couch of furs and and is now somewhere in the blarsted hills,” small boxes and packages of some kind were in ‘*Bat how came you in here?” asked Captain | view. A heavy blanket hung over the entrance Dago. to the room, The Englishman gave a detailed account of ‘* Ah! a deuced nice chamber!” declared his his encounter with the two ruffians in the hills, | lordship, as the brilliant points overhead, and | his being flung over the embankment, and his meeting with the guard at the mouth of the cavern. But whether he told the facts in the case, is a matter that does not concern us at this time, ‘“* By Judas!” exclaimed Captain Dago, atter Keswick had concluded his thrilling narrative, “*I’m of the opinion the two fellows you belted | ‘* It’s our business office,” explained Reddy, placing the lampon a little projecting rock that | sna gred for a shelf. ‘‘Be seated there, my ord, Keswick took a seat. Reddy fished out from the head of the couch a little rosewood secre- dazzled his eyes, | where [ ’ave a credit for—for that hamount,” | the cavern. Two of them were the men K Reig” ie op yess: ay Oe tary which he placed on his lordship’s lap, say- ing: fi In that, my lord, is paper, pen, ink, and everything necessary in a first-class business of- fice. You will proceed to make your order on the Bank of Montreal for four thousand pounds in currency. Order it sent to you, at ausel Junction, instead of Missoula, as the captain suggested, in the care of Russell Wyatt, instead of Hobart. The Express-agent at the Junction is an old chum of mine, and I’ll have no trouble in getting the money when it comes. You might say, in a postscript to your banker, that you propose making an investment in American roperty, which will be true, since the fair oxy Kline is to be your reward.” ‘* By Jovel you fellers are deuced ay you are!” declared Keswick, with a sickly laugh; ‘*but here goes.” His lordship began to write. Reddy sat fac- ing him, a grim smile of satisfaction on his red, sinister face as he watched the pen go wabbling across the paper in a jerky, nervcus way. __ It required but afew minutes for the distin- guished old prisoner to finish the order, and the postscript as directed, and then he handed it. over to Reddy to inspect, saying as he did so: ‘¢ See if that covers the ground satisfactorily.” Reddy looked it over a time or two, ‘¢ Well, I guess that will answer,” he began; but be did not finish the sentence. As he lifte his eyes from the paper and glanced at the prisoner, his face blanched and his eyes almost started from their sockets; for he found himself looking into the muzzle of a big-mouthed der- ringer in the hand of his lordship, whose elbow rested upon the secretary on hislap. ** One word or one move, Russell Wyatt, and yowre a dead man!” said the old tourist, in a changed voice full of deadly meaning, to which the glitter of his gray eyes gave terrible emphasis; *‘ ’m Kit Bandy, the Mountain De- tective, by the horn o' Joshua !” CHAPTER VIII. OFF INTO THE MOUNTAINS, RUSSELL WYATT, as we will hereafter know der the remittance in currency; don’t forgit | the outlaw, ** Reddy,” was completely thunder- struck—paralyzed. He could not have spoken if he had desired ever so much to do so. The deadly derringer within ten inches of his head, ** Good! that'll as take a couplo of weeks to | the gleaming eyes behind it, and the stern-set | features of his supposed lordship were all suffi- cient to convince him that he was confronted by a bold, desperate and cunning man, who was playing a bold and re ae game character- istic of the notorious Kit Bandy, of whom he had heard much, but never had the pleasure of meeting before. . Old Kit, for he the English lord in reality was, had played his cards well. He could read the man before him like an open book. He knew the helpless state of his mind and body, and has- tened to take advantage of it before a reaction setin. Reaching over with his left band he lift- ed the outlaw’s weapons from his belt and shoved them into his own boot-tops. Then he arose and exchanged his hat for one that hung onthe wall. He also donned an outlaw’s coat, and then said: ‘¢ Now, Russell Wyatt, you must go with me from this place. You must lead the way from thiscave. If ths guard challenges us as we go out you must satisfy him. I shallfollow at your heels, and if you attempt to give me awayl will olug you. Your friends are engaged at the upper end of the cave. It has been night out- side for two hours. Life may not be worth much to you, but if you care to live, you want. to walk in the straight and narrow way. Kit Bandy is not to be monkeyed with. So lead the way.” |! Wyatt obeyed as implicitly as though under mesmeric influence, which was really about the condition the fellow wasin, He led the way in- to the narrow passage and down into the maim chamber, Old Kit grasping his arm. No light reached them from above, and quickly Bandy turned his man toward the exit and hurried him along. They could hear voices in the back chamber, but no one was astir. They soon came tothe guard standing in the deep shadows of the awning of foliage that so. ‘effectually concealed the entrance to the cave, ‘¢ Where now ye bound for?” he demanded, the flashing flakes of mica on the walls, fairly , surlily. Wyattseemed to hesitate. Bandy pressed the fellow’s arm, and he answered: * Outside.” There were no strict rules about members passing out, and so the two walked on out into the valley. The moon was high in the heavens and her beams fell full upon the two men. ee er
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Coeur D’Alene Dan, the Mountain Guide, hs wore bier, ro” aes i tai — oe , “Step lively, Wyatt,” Bandy now command- od, and the two moved off at a brisk walk. Up to this time the entrapped outlaw had en- ‘ertained strong bopesof escape. for the old detective to carry out bis unpara- lelled scheme without discovery. But it wasthe very boldness of the act that had disarmed the uard, and Wyatt now inwardly cursed himself or his quiet submission when he had a chance | for escape, That chance, however, was now gone. He could see, as they moved along, that Bandy kept that murderous derringer pointed toward him, his finger on the trigger. So he could do | nothing but go quietly and watch his chance. But this apparent submission did not cause Bandy to relax his vigilance one moment, He had often dealt with such fellows before, and was not to be caught napping, as the Black Hawks had been. Down that valley for a mile or two they went, then they turned to the right into another, which they followed awhile, and again switched into | first one defile and then another until they had traveled at least five miles, Old Kit ail the time following bis man, holding firmly to the out- law’s belt with his left hand, Finally a halt was ordered under the brow of a beetling cliff where the shadows lay deep. Old Kit gave a low, prolonged whistle, and was im- mediately answered from the darkness by a short, shrill chirrup, ‘This way, [chabod!” then called out the old | detective. ‘* Bring the darbies, for I’ve got our man.” At thisjuncture Wyatt was detected in an at- tempt to unbuckle his belt in front, but the pressure of cold steelagainst his jaw caused him ! to desist, and warned him that his captor was / not to be deceived, even in the darkness, Ichabod Flea approached from under the cliff with a pair of handcuffs, and proceeded to shackle the Black Hawk; but this was not to be done without trouble. The villain determined to make one desperate effort for liberty. With an oath he leaped backward against Bandy with such force that the old detective was cap- ' sized, but holding on to the outlaw’s belt, the re- pate was that Wyatt stumbled and fell over im. A desperate struggle ensued, but the outlaw was no match for the two wiry old moun- taineers, and he was soon overpowered and handcuffed. Wyatt’s rage now broke forth, He made the defile ring with his exe¢rations, nntil the detec- tive proceeded to gag him, which of course shut off all noise. ) Quiet being restored, the prisoner was con- ducted to a secluded place under the cliff and Vigilantas he | knew his friends to be, he thought it impossible | permitted to sit down. ‘* Here, Wyatt,” said Old Kit, ‘* we'll sojourn afew hours, and then start southward. You may wonder why I brought you here alive, when, after gettin’ out of your den, I could have dropped you, and had no further trouble. But | the fact is, I wanted you. For you, above all others, havel yearned, and I was puzzled at one | time to-night how I was ever to get possession of you, surrounded as you were by friends, | But that order onthe Montreal bank, that se- eluded little library, and the fact of your being the commercial busiiess man of the gang, all conspired to work rig@t into my hands like things do ina novel. But, Isay you’re wanted —wanted away over the ocean in Old England, the home of your childhood,” “For what?’ growled the discomfited Hank, as if he half-suspected what the old detective meant. 4 **Tll tell you, Wyatt,” Kit answered, ‘‘ seeing you might be able to make some things a little clear before you quit America, and thereby make your punishment lighter. In other words, you can turn State’s evidence.” ‘““You’ve reference to that confounded Sir Isaac Hull affair, haven’t you?” queried the pris- oner. “‘Exactly, Russell,” responded Kit. ‘* You the born o’ Joshua! But I'll go over the whole story to refresh your memory: ‘Sir Isaac Hull was a wealthy old Britisher, and as mean and parsimonious as he was rich, He had ason, Alfred, and a daughter, Mary. He made life a burden for bis family. One day he | : L | turn State’s evidence. catch on Jike a burr to a cow's tail—you do, by | | | ' { drove Alfred from home and swore he would | thereafter disown him. ‘* Alfred was a fine, plucky lad, and he came to America and struck out for himself. By and by Mary died, and finally old Isaac deviled his r wifeinto her grave. Then the old tyrant y took sick and died himself, ‘*But upon his deathbed a pang of remorse | tective from Scotland Yard has been in Ameri touched up his conscience like a sharp stick. He repented of his treatment of his boy, and tried to could not be found. In the mean time, he made a will, bequeathing everything to his son, or, if he was dead, his issue, if any. In that will he named two men, Leander Warren, barrister, and Phelix Hopley, Esq., as executors of his will. They had been old friends of his, and possessed some of his meanness. ‘* Wal, Sir Isaac shuffled off the mortal coil, and then the executors went to work to find Alfred. The last heard of him be was in the United States, They came over in person and | had a fly time at the expense of the estate, for they were fly fellows. trace of Alfred. The ried an American gir fore, and then moved West, up and learned that Alfred was dead—that he had left a widow and one child—a little girl, But the widow had married again, and had gone with her husband and child—no one knew where, so the story goes. ‘* Now, when Leander and Phelix discovered this much, the devil that was born in their hearts began to assert itself, and they con- But they finally got found that he had mar- in Ohio, ten years be- spired to set up a false heir to Sir Isanc’s es- | tate. They had no trouble in finding a woman of the proper age willing to enter into their scheme, She was a beautiful Circe of St. Louis. She had a daughter fourteen years of age who was to be presented as the child of Alfred Hull. “This much accomplished, they must have witnesses to identify in court, the women as the widow and child of Alfred. In you, Russell Wyatt, and one Rodger Gray, both English- men by birth and rascals by na ure, they found willing witnesses for so much cash, and | passage to and from England. “Ample proofs of Alfred’s marriage were obtained from the Ohio records, and after some months spent in New York coaching the women and the witnesses as to their parts to be played in the courts of England, the bull band sailed for the British Isle, and, as there ‘was no one contesting the widow’s claim to the estate, the impostor and her daughter were duly installed in Sir lsaac’s mansion, and with the reward of your work you and Gray returned to America to continue your criminal career, ‘¢ The executors, Leander and Phelix, were to | look after the affairs of the estate until little Lady Jane Hull was of age—and they did so most devotedly—so devotedly that the gay Leander finally coucluded to marry the widow | so that he could be constantly on the grounds to look after affairs. Phelix, poor man, had a wife already, else ho might have married the daugh- ter and been installed also at the manor, ‘* Things run along in this way for two or three years, when trouble began to brew. Phelix mistrusted that Leander was not allow- ing him bis share of the yearly income, and, by and by, there was a ruction between the two. Phelix threatened to expose the whole conspir- acy unless Leander did the fair thing as per agreement. So, one day, when they were out gunning, they quarreled like Satan and sin, and Leander filled Phelix’s dissipated carcass full of buckshot, and left him for dead. A game- keeper came along and found him on the ragged edge and carried him home, Phelix sent for a detective, and divulged the hull affair from A | to Izzard, ‘* But, the detective kept mum, and I presume Leander and his St. Loo confederate are still flying high on Sir Isaac’s heath, unconscious of the coils gatherin’ ’round them, ‘The detective went to work at once to hunt up Alfred’s true wife and daughter; also, the witnesses, Wyatt and Gray, who proved such magnificent tools of the conspirators—” “And you expect me to criminate myself— swear myself into prison, eh?’ broke in the shackled outlaw. , ‘* Not exactly, Mr. Wyatt,” returned Bandy, ‘¢ Gray is now in jail in Denver, and ’s dyin’ to He confessed to me the whole plot, and put me on your track, He wants you to enjoy the fun with him, He also told me, by the way, that you and him were thinking of going to England on a visit soon, and, in view of the hard times here, draw on the Sir Issac outfit, and if they refused to shell out handsomely, to expose the conspiracy and bring forward the true heir of Alfred Hull. He said that you knew exactly where to lay hands on Alfred’s child—that his wife, who’d married a second time, was dead. ** And now, Russell, I can almost insure you immunity from severe punishment if you'll straighten this matter all up squarely, A de- They followed | on the lake, provided he does not leave before, ; as he has been warned to, ca some six months looking for the actors in _ the affair, He called on me and my pard here, et him home before he died, but Alfred | | wick I drew upon your failings—failings so , characteristically sympatheticin an Englishman to assist him, and, as Lord John Joseph Kes- the world over, and it worked to a dot,” ** Well, I know all about that dirty affair,” confessed the outlaw; ‘‘I know where Alfred Hull’s daughter 1s, also; but, ’m goin’ to keep my secret until I have some assurance that I’m not to rot in an English prison, nor—” ‘* By snakes!” suddenly broke in Ichabod Flea, as the report of a rifle in the direction of Lake Kaniksu came reverberating through the hills, ‘‘there’s shootin’ going on over toward the lake!” “‘ Ah!” exclaimed the prisoner, as if a thought had suddenly struck him, ‘‘ to-night an attack is to be made on Hermit Paul, whose cabin is He has a daughter Kit Bandy—a fair and lovely girl whose soul and body are worth the saving. I would have been on my way there long ere this, but for your performance, If that girl’s life is sacri- ficed to red-skin barbarity you'll.be held respon- sible, old man, And, if [ am your priscner, sir, I advise you to hasten at once to the cabin of Hermit Paul, and warn him that, between midnight and morning, a band of savages will attack his home,” Old Kit, whose keen powers of perception were seldom at fault, detected a hidden meaning in the man’s words, but, without evincing any concern in his advice, finally told Ichabod to take care of the prisoner, and he would make a reconnoissance in the direction whence the re- port of the rifle had come, But, when he left, a ome ate point was the cabin of Hermit aul, CHAPTER IX, GUILLOTINED, WE left Cour D’Alene and Tom Rattler by the lake shore awaiting the attack of the out- laws and red-skins, But more eagerly did they hope for the coming of darkness, under whose friendly cover they might escape the enemy al- together. The fate of their friends adritt on the lake made them restless and impatient, and the course they had determined upon, should they elude the foe, was to hasten to Hermit Paul’s cabin, procure a boat and go in search of those | sent adrift. Grave fears, however, were entertained of the enemy getting in ahead of them. The escape of the girls upon the lake was known to them, and both knew that no effort would be spared by the foe to find them, To the happy surprise of the hunters, night fell without any demonstration on the part of the foe, In fact, they had begun to entertain doubts as to the enemy being anywhere in that vicinity. It was barely possible that they had stolen off to where they had canoes secured, and gone in pursuit of the girls and Harry West. At any rate, the hunters determined to be off, and so they crept from the grotto along the See of the bluff, Old Tom Rattler taking the ead. Silent as a shadow the old hunter glided and so rapidly that the first thing Coour ie | )’Alene Dan knew his friend was out of sight and sound in the darkness! Not daring to call to him, and knowing Rat- tler was too discreet to doso, he resolved to make the best of it and burry along alone, hoping that he might rejoin him soon—at Hermit Paul’s cab- in, at any rate. To Dan nearly avery acre of the lake country was known; therefore he had no difficulty in shaping his course, and when assured of being out of immediate danger, he moved along more rapidly in the direction{of the Hermit’s cabin. When about a mile from the home of the re- ciuse, his ear caught the sound of human voices, He stopped and listened, The sound came from the woods before him, Stealthily he crept to- ward it. Hesoon gained a foint from whence he could hear a voice speaking in angry tones— pouring out terrible blasphemy and murderous threats, Was it upon Tom Rattler’s head that those terrible curses were to fali? Had the old man fallen into the outlaws’ bands, after all? As Cour D’Alene Dan asked himself these questions he crept closer, guided by the k- er’s voice. He came soon to the edge of a little opening, upon which the moonbeams fell full a ; bright, and there he beheld a strange sight.
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Cour D’Ale ne Dan, the Mountain Guide. with both hands lifted heavenward. Dan recognized him in a moment as Lord Keswick whom be had met at Red Notch! Ontheside of the glade next to the hunter stooa three men, | each with a revolver leveled full upon the old tourist. One of them was still pouring out his wrath, and this much Dan caught, for he was now within fifteen feet of him: ‘© You played it fine, you miserable, ’ristocrat- | ic old sheak! [reckon you escaped the ‘ Nest’ by bribin’ ‘Reddy’ with your wealth, and coixed him off. Oh, my gallant lord! 1t was a sorry day for you when you struck the Black Hawks’ Nest, for your head shall ornament the entrance to our place as a warning to all other English lords, old sinner for weapons.” The two ‘‘boys,” murderous looking scoun- drels, crept, half-crouching, to the side of the old detective, for, as the reader knows, it was Kit Bandy, who, with all his skill and cunning, had been caught and held up in the glade by three of his late captors of the Rlack Hawks’ Nest while on his way to Hermit Paul’s cabin. Full well the old detective knew it would go bard with him if bo was ever taken back to the cave, and, as ths two men advanced to search him, he made up his mind to watch his chance and make a dash for liberty, Bat, befure tnat tine came, his attention was attracted bya low, gurgling cry from the lips of tne outlaw stand- ing in the edge of tae shadows; he saw the ~il- lain reel backward into the bushes and fall to the earth in the darkness. The two outlaws searching Bandy cased their work and glanced after their friend. They heard a strange noise in the bushes, and were puzzled by it. A moment later a dark, spher- ical object came rolling into the moonlit glade, | it came toa stop at the very feet of the trio. An exclamation. of horror escaped the lips of the two Hawks, while Old Kit started with a shudder. It wasa human head! The face was upturned in the moonlight, the eyes staring, the muscles still twitching, and jaws hanging agape! sy My God! burst from one of the outlaws’ lips, *¢it?s Opium Bill’s bead!” All this terrible tragedy bad occurred in a few brief seconds, and before tbe horrified Black Hawks or their prisoner could herdly realize what had been done there came to their ears the quick tread of feet, and a man bounded into the opening with the yell of a demon! The outlaws, already filled with terror, crouch- ing low, fled into the darkness, leaving their pistols lying at Bandy’s feet, while the old de- tective, starting slightly, his long arms descend- ing from aloft and falling limp at his side, ex- claimed: ‘‘Coour D'Alene Dan, by the horn o’ Joshua!” “‘ Yes, my lord,” responded the young giant; “the varlets had you rounded up in great shape!” ‘* Bear-Killer, did you guillotine that critter?” Kit asked, pointing to the gbastly object on the ground, ‘* Didn’t he promise that your head should or- nament the entrance to his den?” was’ Dan’s evasive answer. ‘‘ Butcome! let’s get into the shadows, or we may get shot yet. The woods are full of Ingins and outlaws.” “Dan,” suid the old man, as they entered the woods, his voice entirely changed, ‘*I am’ Kit Bandy, and no more lord than a baboon!” ‘“* What?” and Dan stopped sbort, ** you Kit Bandy, the Mountain Detective?’ “Tam, Dan’l, by the horn o’ Joshua! though I hate to confess the fact after bein’ caught in sich a condemned, sneak-thief pickle as I war in a while ago.” ‘¢ Well, ty the stars above us!” declared Dan, “T am glad to know you are Kit Bandy, though you made a delightful, Jo-dandy old lord, Shake, Kit, and may we ever be friends! An old hunter ha’ been tellin’ me just this evenin’ about Kit Bandy and his exploits,” ‘¢ Who was the hunter, Dan’l?” “Tom Rattler. Do you know him?” “Know Tom Rattler?—Old Tom Rattler?” ex- claimed Kit. ‘' Do I know the voracious, fraud- ulent, fightin’, lyin’ Old Tom Rattler? Well, I should smile, Dan’l, I did! And so Tom—Old Tom is in these parts?” ‘‘T became separated from him about two hours ago.” : * Horn o’ Joshua! 1t’li do my soul good to asp that old measly pirate’s hand once more, and feel the air palpitate with some of the an- cient runt’s sonorous yarns.” ‘**from what he was telling me,I think he met you yesterday. He said he’d rescued Miss Alma Grayson from a man calling himself Lord Boys, advance and search the | | se In the center of the opening stood a tall man, Keswick, so Alma told him. He said he flung the fellow over an embankment—” ‘*Ram’s-horn o’ Joshua!” burst from Bandy’s lips, ‘* was it Old Tom Rattlerthat flang meover that. precipice? Then Bear-Knocker, hold me— | suppress me, for if ] ever set eyes on Thomas Rattler, the Red River Epidemic will be forever antisepticated. Jm the mau that was sent flow- ing over that rock lke a Nisg’ra, and if it hadn’t been for the bushes and vines and thorns that L poured into, I reckon I’d now be skippin’ rods, It was devoid of vegetation, except a fringe of grass along the water’s edge, and asthe moonbeams fell aslant upon it, and walking was easier, the hunters concluded to follow it. “ As I war sayin’,” Bandy remarked, as they | moved along the beach, ‘* young men are ter- in various directions through the hills inside the | jackets of woives. Yes, I was thusly treated atter 1’d rescued the gal from two p’izen villains, and it war while I war tryin’ to keep the scared rible fools sometimes ‘bout a pretty face. I, Ka-ristopher Ko lumbuss Bandy was once a young man and afoo]. In an evil hour I fell in love with Sabina Hilen Frisby, and by her was led to the hyenal altar. I built a noble mansion on the classic Chugwater. The walls were of beautiful, vari’gated sod cut from the ' green bosom of the valley, and laid in golden little heifer from breakin’ her neck that 1 war | seized and without even a grunt, tossed over the precipice, Tom Ratvler, did it! Waugh!” ‘*But, Bandy, you wrong him,” Dan expostu- lated; ‘the didn’t know it was you—didn’t recognize youin yourstrangeeattire. He thought you the girl’s enemy,” ‘* He'd done it all the quicker if he’d knowed it wear me. It’s just like him, Dan’l; he never would play fair with me when thar was a gal in the boat, so to speak. Bat he'll know me when we meet again, for Vil animate his carcass when I git bold o’ him tiil he'll think he’s been pumped full o? the Eiixir o’ Life! But, Dan, do you know what becoine cf that gal, Alma?” ‘© 1 do, Kit,” Dan answered, and then as brief- ly as possible narrated the story of their adven- tures up to the time he and Rattler became | | separated. ‘* By the horn o’ Jeshua!” the old detective ex- claimed, ‘‘that isa sad state of affairs, the gals and wounded man adrift on Kaniksu under this night! He war a splendid, fine young man, Dam, but woefully taken in on that fair siren, Roxy Kline, of Red Notch.” ‘*] mistrust. Kit, she’s his affianced wife, de- spite your valet’s story of her having attempted to shoot him,” “The fool man!” blurted Kit. gaged to me, too!” “To you” “Yep,” and Bandy indulged in a chuckling laugh; ‘‘to-day, when J wasTom Rattlered over the bank, I finally was brought up standin’ in the mouth of a cave which proved to be the Black Hawks’ Nest.” ‘* You don’t tell me, Kit!” exclaimed Dan. ** Yes; and I was roped into that den, and thar I found sweet Roxy Kline, a prisoner. She sat alone when I was ushered into her presence, reading the sad, pathetic story of the life of Jesse James, She was bein’ held for ransom, a la Italian—brigands—Erin-go-bragh! As Lord Keswick, with haydoogins of wealth, I made love to her right there and then—shot straight from the shoulder, Dan’l. I told her I'd ransom ber if it bu’sted the Bank o’ Eng- land, and make her queen o’ the universe. Oh, I Jadled out love to her equal to Old Tom Rattler a-lyin’, and I won her consent to become Lady John Joseph Roxy Keswick.” ** You were cruel, Kit, cruel to deceive the poor girl—to take advantage of her there,” Dan said, in mock asperity. ‘* Ha, ha, ha!” softly laughed the old detect- ive; ** whar youthfulness is bliss,” he went on, ‘* it’s folly to be old. Boy, you say Harry West is a detective lookin’ out for opium smugglers. Now, if he'll look into his own condition, he'll find his heart has been smuggled. as well as opium,” ‘* What do you mean, Kit?” ‘* That outlaw rendezvous is headquarters for all the rascals in Idaho. Fresebooters, horse- thieves, tram-robvers and opium smugglers all ‘nest’ there. It’s their storehouse, and I’!] bet there’s several thousand pounds o’ opiumin there this minute, besides other goods that’s been run over from British America waiting a chance to runjinto American markets. And that played out minin’-camp, Red Notch, is only a relay station for the gang, and the fair Roxy is queen o’ the hull dimmed caboodle!” ** [mpossible, Kit, impossible!” declared Cosur D’ Alene Dan, ‘** You'll see, boy, you’ll see! She’s a holy screamer from ’way, ’way over yan. She doubtless got onto Harry’s detectiveracket, and tried to slug him through the window. Boy, she’s a charmin’, deceitful woman—a siren of sirens. Ill bet her victims are haydoogins, ‘*She’s en- What fools men are—young men ’specially !” **Kit, it seems impossible that Roxy Kline can be such a wicked girl,” Bear-Slayer per- sisted. At this juncture the two hunters emerged from the woods into a smooth stretch of sandy beach extending back from the lake seyeral And to think that that old mummy, | yellow mud mortar. The roof was of as beauti- ful grass as ever rustied in a summer breeze, or concealed in its depths a skulkin’ coyote. Steps of Parian marble quarried right there were at the door, On a graveled hearth—with a beau- tiful smoke-hole in the center of the roof—was ever kept burning a cheerful fire, whose light at night brought out the gorgeousness of the groined ceilmg and the lovely frescoed walls, The floor was covered with a Brussells carpet of bear-skins, and the furniture was ekally elaborate, ‘Into this palatial home [ took my bride, and for a few short days all went lovely as the stars in their course, Then trouble began, Sabina grew jealous of Sarah Ann Stump; a neighbor’s daughter—a little girl of eighteen only—-whom I kissed once, or twice, or three timesin a play- ful manner when she came to our house one day to borrow my revolver to attend a dance up at Sain’s Ranch. From that day on things grew from bad to worse. ‘*Sabina undertook to discipline me one day,and the water was so hot that I slipped one-fourth of my cuticle like a snake. For breathin’ spells I just had to run over to neighbor Stump’s every few days. Sarah Ann made good salves, and laid it in my wounds with tender hands and deep solicitude. ‘‘One day I stayed longer than usual, and *Bina mounted our mule, Jenosaphat, anu rode down after me. I was ready to start when she came, and when westarted home, | put a little, round cactus under the mule’s tail, and if ever you saw a mule go clatterin’ over territory it war that same Jehosaphat. When I arriy’ home, ’Bina wasthere to greetme. I didn’t get out again fora month. It was the worst lay-up I ever had, and when I did get up, | shook the dust o’ the Chugwater from my moccasins, and sought the more congenial society of bears, and Ingins, and outlaws fer pertection. Ah! Sa- bina was a holy stem-winder, Dan’l!” “Your experience,” said Dan, with a broad smile upon his face, ‘* was, indeed, a lively one. But then, you should not judge all women by Sabina. By the way, Kit, here seems to be a fresh track in the sand goin’ our way. It may be Tom Rattler’s,” ‘*Tf it looks like the track o’ a bear walkin’ on its hind legs, or a buffalo wallow, it’s old Tom’s track, and—” “ kit Bandy, prepare to die!” It wasa deep, sepulchral voice that uttered these words from the depths of the bushes fring- ing the beach, and as the hunters glanced in the direction whence the sonnd had emanated, they saw Tom Rattler step from the bushes with lev- eled rifle. ‘“¢ Hold, Tom!” shouted Coeur D’Alene Dan; but, even as he spoke, the hunter’s rifle cracked, a bullet tore through the air, ana Kit Bandy dropped to his knees, while down the beach be- hind them a frightful yell of agony trailed out through the night. CHAPTER X. FACING DEATH. For a moment Cour D'Alene Dan was fairly aralyzed. He wSS sure Tom Rattler had shot Bandy, for he heard the bullet and saw the old man go down upon his knees. But, the yell of agony behind him dissipated that fear when, glancing back, he saw two or three red-skins running across the beach toward the woods, carrying the body of a brave who had been slain by Rattler’s shot fired directly over his and Bandy’s head. And, before the foe had reached the cover of the woods, the intrepid old hunter had sent another shot after them, Springing to his feet, having taken in the sit- uation at a glance, Old Kit exclaimed: “Tom Rattler, by the horn o’ Joshua! Come forth, lurkin assassin, that I may destroy you!” With a broad smile upon his wrinkled face, his eyes twinkling with delight, Old Tom Rat- tler advanced with extended hand, saying: ‘t Kitsie, bless your piratical old soul, shake!” The two old bordermen fairly embraced each
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= other, and for several moments al]] else was for- gotten in the joy of their meeting. ** And so we have mit met once more,” Rattler finally observed; ‘‘f wor just thinkin’ other day, Kitsie, that you war prob’ly in the Infirmary for the Old and Decrepit, if you weren’t in the penetentiary somewhar. ut here you be, still frisky as a mulecolt and uglier than ever.” ‘* Are ye through, Tom? Ifso, pormit me to slide in the observation,” returned Kit, ‘‘ that [ never expected to see you alive ag’in. Several weeks ago I found a dried and withered carcass over in the mountains, and near it war an old gun with ‘T R’ cut on the stock. I thought the face war yours, only it war better lookin’, and with tears I buried it in a bear wallow, But it must ’a’ been the carcass 0’ a kangaroo.” ** Likely, Kitsie, very likely,” responded Oijd Tom with a chuckle, ‘‘but, what does all this style mean?—velvet coat, dude pants, and high boots? What ye tryin’ to act like, now, pari?” ‘““Tom Rattler!” demanded Kit in a tragic tone, “ didst thou ever see me in this garb be- fore? Didst thou not, with jackal cunnin’ and jackass stealth, creep up behind this suit and the man in it, and rob him of the maiden he’d gallantly rescued from outlaws, and deliberately and with malice aforethought, throw this. suit and the man in it over a precipice? Speak, Tom isttler! tell the truth once more if you dost suffocate by doin’it!” ‘* And so the man war killed, as he’d ought to %a? been, and you robbed him o?’ his suit, eh?” was the evasive answer of Old Tom, as a start- ling truth flashed through his mind, ‘* No, sir; I was in this suit when it wont over the heights,” declared Kit, ‘* Kitsie, I didn’t know it war you,” confessed Tom, ‘‘and as [ war in a hurry ’bout that time, I didn’t stop to introduce myself. I beg pardon, Kitsie.” ‘*Granted, Tom, this one lonely time. But, by the way, it’s a wonder them red varlets didn’t attack us as we come up the beach,” ‘* They war layin’ for bigger game-—perhaps the Red River Epidemic. i saw tho skunks crawl out and hide in the water behind that grass, and wonderin’ what they were waitin’ for, I watched ’em. I reckon, Dan, they were layin’ for you, but, when they see’d the great wali-eyed ornegallus, Kit Bandy, with you they were paralyzed.” While all this conversation and badinage wus going on, the trio were moving along the lake, and, as they thus continued, they suddenly emerged into a little valley where a sight met their gaze that almost chilled their blood. it was the sight of a burning building, around which, in the red glare of the roaring flames, could be seen a score or two of savage forms! ‘Great heavens! Hermit Paul’s cabin is in flames!” burst from Coeur D’Alene’s lips, “Then Wyatt war right; and I am too late!” said Old Kit, ‘* What do you mean, Kit?” “T haven't time to explain now,” replied Bandy, ‘‘for we should hurry up there. We may beintime yet to help the old Hermit in some way.” In this the others coincided; so they pushed rapidly toward the burning cabin, keeping un- der cover of the timber, Hermit Paul’s cabin stood in the valley a few rods from the edge of a dense woods, For ten years he had resided there with his daughter Kate, or, as she was better known, ‘ Little Puss.” Hewas a bunter and the friend of every man, red or white, who called at his cabim. Nor did ho ever question the character of any one who sought shelter under his roof, He was as noble and generous as his daughter was bright and beautiful, . Annually, since be had resided there, a band of Crow Indians came about the first of Septem- ber to fish and bunt in and about Lake Kaniksu, They brought their wives and children and pitched their camp on the creek about a mile from Paul’scabin. The first time they came a sickness broke out among them that baffled the skill and drums of their Medicine-man. Hermit Paul went among them, administered some sim- ple remedies, and all rapidly recovered, From that time he became known to them as White Medicine, and no man, not even Black Horse, their chief, had more influence over them, or was more highly honored and respected. These Indians usually remained about two months, and before their departurea certain per cent. of all the saleable hides taken were given to their White Medicine, All these facts were known to Cosur D’Alene Dan, who had been, of late, a frequent visitor at Hermit Paul’s cabin, attracted there, not by the | game around and about Lake Kaniksu, but the pretty face of Little Puss; and, as they proceed- ed toward the burning building, he made them known to Bandy and Rattler, adding: ‘* But, at lust, the peace and quiet of his home have been broken on the very eve of the annual coming of his Crow friends, He has been ex- pecting them every day, and oh! that they were bere!” ‘*Maybethat’s them ’round the burnin’ cabin,” suggested Bandy. ‘* No,” he answered, ‘it’s a horde of red cut- throat Indians made up of Blackteet, Sioux and renegades—an outlaw band under a white chief named Shaggy Head. They have pitched their encampment on @ peninsula in the northeast corner of Lake Kaniksu., That they’re in collu- sion with the Black Hawk gang of outlaws, we've had ocular proof already. Only a few days ago Hermit Paul was warned to leave the valley, The Indians under Shaggy Head claim that they hunted bere years before he came, and therefore havea prior right. But in hopes that his friends, the Crow band under Black Horse, would come before they would attempt any hos- tile movement, he has remained, I fear, too long. And I believe the Black Hawks are at tho bot- tom of itall. He is too honorable a man to be permitted to live in the neighborhood of a ban- dits’ home or rendezvous,” The threo flually reached the nearest point that afforded cover, to the burning cabin—not over twenty paces away. Fully a score and a half of Indians and a few white renegades were gathered ia front. of the blazing hut, and a more murderous and fiendish-looking gang the moun- taineers never looked upon. ‘*Thank God!” suddenly burst from Coour D’ Alene’s lips, ‘‘ Hermit Paul still lives!” and he pointed out to his companions the old hunter, seated at one side, his hands and feet bound, hig head bare, and his almost snow-white hair falling to his shoulders. ** A noble-lookin’ old man!” said Old Kit. At sight of the Hermit’s face Cour D'Alene Dan’s very soul seemed aroused. His great eyes blazed with an unnatural fire, and his breast fairly heaved with the pent-up storm within, The yells and shouts of the demoniac horde, as the roof or walls of the cabin fell, added new fuel to his wrath, and then, unable to restrain himself longer, be turned to his friends and said: ‘*Men, if Hermit Paul dies, I will die with him !” ‘* Boy,” admonished Old Tom, ‘‘ keep cool; the odds are against us,” ‘*! know it, Tom,” Dan replied, excitedly, “but I care not! Do not follow me! Wait and watch! You will know when to strike!” With these words—before his friends could restrain him—the impulsive young giant strode from the shadows into the light of the burning building, and with a revolver in each hand, con- fronted the murderous gang! CHAPTER XI, SHAGGY HEAD MEETS HIS MATCH, THE boldness of Coeur D’Alene Dan’s act in marching into the presence of the Blackfeet and their allies seemed for a moment to fill the say- age with stunning surprise. The natural in- ference was that he was backed in his defiance of their number by a superior force of friends concealed in the darkness of the woods, A murmur of excitement ran through the crowd, but when it was discovered that he was followed by no friends, a renegade in the rear of the party yelled out: “Tes that big boy-cuss, Coeur D’Alene Dan! Kill bim! kill hica!” Instantly there arose a sound like the snarl of many wolves, and asif actuated by a single im- pulse the crowd swayed toward the big hunter, But Coeur D’ Alene was watching every move- ment. With bis arms extended he moved his cocked revolvers to and fro along the line of foes, his eyes flashing with an unnatural light, and his face rigid in its determined expression, ‘*Keep back, devils!” be exclaimed, ‘I will kill the first ono of you that raises 9, hand!” Atthis instant Shaggy Head, the chief, stepped outin front of his followers, and waving them back with an imperious gesture, said: ‘* Leave this man to me;” and then to Dan he said, his hand grasping the butt of his revolver hanging at his side: ‘I am Shaggy Head, the Man-Killer! What seeks the big pale-face hunter here in my presence?” “‘T am Coeur D’Alene Dan, the Bear-Slayer,” retorted Dan, ‘‘ and I am here to demand the re- lease of my friend, Hermit Paul!” A laugh burst from the chief’s lips, and it be- came infections among his followers, A more atrocious-looking villain Dan Baker had never Cour D’Alene Dan, the Mountain Guide. faced than that same Shaggy Head. He was a tall, angular fellow with a shock of bushy black hair, and but a single eye that gleamed like a serpent’s. His nose was half-gone and his facea mass of hideous scars, Outlaw and renegade that he was, Shaggy Head had no fears of death. His match in bat- tle he had never met, and he loved to kill and destroy. He knew he was a hideous wretch, and gloried in it; and when he confronted Cceur D’Alene Dan he had expected to overcome the young hunter with awe; but in this he was mis- taken. ‘* Wool!” he roared, seeing his presence made no impression upon the young mountaimeer’s nerve, ‘* you invite death! You sneer in the face of Shaggy Head! You shall die!” And having taus procluimed, the villain threw up bis hand with a revolver in it, but quick as he was, Cosur D'Alene Dan was quicker, and the young hunter’s weapon cracked and the mighty Man-Killer fell dead, shot through the heart, his own pistol falling unexploded to the ground, For a moment there was a dead calm; then, as the savages realized that their chief was down, a murderous cry burst from their lips, and as a man they rushed toward the young hunter, But before their cry had died on their lips it was an- swered from the woods by another—a wild war- whoop, the sound of which caused Hermit Paul to start with a cry of joy,for he recognized it as thay cf friends. The Crows had come!” ‘The Crows! the Crows!” burst from the lips of some Blackfoot renegade, as two-score of forms came sweeping from the woods with flash- ing tomahawks, while down upon the right, like twin cyclones, came Kit Bandy and Tom Rat- tler, their revolvers flashing tongues of flame at every bound, The Blackfeet were never so surprised, and with the very first shock of battle they recoiled, But over the dead body of their chief they ral- lied, but even here they stood but for a moment or two before the fiery onslaught of the Crows —just long enough to recover the body of Shag- gy Head and bear it away—when they fled in disorder to the woods, leaving most of their killed and wounded on the field, hotly pursued by the victorious Crows. When, amid the smoke and dust of battle, Tom Rattler saw the form of Cour D’Alene Dan unharmed, he shouted: ‘Hooray! Hooray! the Baby Bear-Killer lives!” and rushing up to Dan he grasped his hand, saying: ‘* Boy, yowrea Trojan—a. lilly- lipped hummer, by the great Rosycrusians!” ‘* And the roarin’ courage 0’ a mountain dee- tective,” added Kit Bandy, grasping his other hand, Hermit Paul was quickly relieved of his bonds and with a voice full of, deep emotion poured out a blessing upon the bead of Cour D’Alene Dan, his brave companions, and the Crows, his old-time friends, whose coming had not been a moment too soon, The scene revealed by the light of the burning cabin was a ghastly one, and was made all the more distressing by the groans and cries of the wounded, of which there were at least a dozen, One by oue the Crows returned from pursuit of their old enemy, tbe Blackfeet, and hastened to greet their White Medicine-Man, the hermit hunter. From Black Horse, their chief, it was learned that the band bad arrived that night at their old camping-ground, A messenger had been dispatched to Hermit Paul’s cabin to in- form their White Medicine of their arrival, but before he returned they discovered the cabin in flames and heard the yells of the Blackfeet, and at once hurried away to the rescue of their friend. Almost the first thing Hermit Paul inquired for was his daughter—whether any one had seen her. Coeur D’Alene Dan answered for the party, briefly relating the story of their adventures that day and evening. ‘¢ Poor Little Puss!” the half-distracted father sighed, ‘tif she escapes from the lake alive) it will be to find her home in ashes and the many little keepsakes of her father and mother de- stroved!” ‘Then her father and mother are both dead?” quickly observed Kit Bandy. ‘* Did I say so?’ Hermit Paul aeked, with a sudden start. ** You did,” ** Ah! then let it be so,” “Then,” said Bandy, ‘“‘she is Alfred Hull's child.” The old hermit started, and, fixing a search- ing look upon Old Kit, demanded: * Stranger, who are you?” ; ‘* Pardon me, Paul,” Coeur D'Alene Dan inter-
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Edi Pah ceded, “‘I had forgotten you men were stran- gers; this brave old man is Kit Bandy, the Moun- tain Detective. 2 ‘* And as royal old buccaneer he is as never told the truth or slit the wattle o’ a red-rind,” added Old Tom Rattler. ‘‘ I partly trained him, Hermit Paul, and if he lives a century longer he'll make a fu’st-class rascal-catcher, Sa can trust him now, I can assure you, sind as he’s in sight, am ‘ Thomas, will you please button your lip?” asked Bandy; ‘‘I’d like to have a few moments aside with Hermit Paul.” The old detective and the hermit walked off to one side, and seating themselves held an hour’s conversation. In the mean time the wounded warriors had all been cared for and sent off to the Crow camp Black Horse invited Hermit Paul and the moufiraineers to share the hospitality of his camp. The invitation was at once accepted, a the latter were feeling keenly the pangs of unger, The Indian camp reached, the best it afforded was given them for supper, and though the fare was coarse, it satisfied their hunger. By this time the night was well advanced, but there was no rest for the mountaineers. _ Little Puss and Alma were adrift on tho lake with Harry West, for all they knew and much feared, a corpse ‘at their feet, and they must go at once to their rescue. CHAPTER XII, THE NIGHT ON THE LAKE, As Little Puss and Alma drifted out into the Jake with the unconscious young detective at their fe»t, the growing expanse of water and the gatheri ing shadows ot night filled Alma’s breast with a dread, choking fear. As for Puss, she feared neither waternor da rkness, but she was troubled about the condition of Harry West, who had so gallantly risked bis life to help them outof danger. Nor was Alma, even in her distress, unmindful of the young man’s condition, which had been brought on by ex- haustion in carrying her, and dipping her hand in the water she sprinkled his face and bathed hisbrow. And this she kept up until her kind- ness was rewarded by seeing Harry open his eyes and gaze up into the starry sky and into her own face, From this time on Harry began to recover consciousness, though all .was deep confusion around him. The blue starry vault overhead, the unbounded expanse of soft moonlight on all sides, the easy, drifting motion of the boat, the — rustle of the bush-sailsin the lightest of reezes like the flutter of fairy wings, all con- spired to fill his bewildered mind with the vague impression that he was in another spbere, Finally he arose to a sitting posture. This brought him face to face with Little Puss, who at once said: **Oh, I am so glad you are feeling better!” “‘] recognize your face, I believe,” he re- bac “but I'declare I am somewhat con- “You fainted, sir,” Puss explained, ‘‘ while fleeing from the "Indians with Miss Grayson in your arms, Coeur D’Alene Dan then carried you to the lake and placed you in this boat; and we have been adrift a long time,” *“Ab! I begin to remember,” he exclaimed; “but what became of the young lady I was carrying?” ‘*She sits behind you, sir, and has been bath- your head and face this hour or two.” ‘Excuse me,” he said, turning his bead and gazing at Alma; a r NGvES 2 ay ch aes morning created a vague suspicion in his mind that had gradually dispelled the infatuation for the handsome girl from his breast. As ey drifted on over the lake Harry taxed his social powers to entertain his fair compan- ions and keep up their spirits. The shores of the lake had long since receded from view. Only the rugged outlines of the far- off mountain - five could be seen against the starry sky. About midnight the breeze died down and the boat stood still upon the waters. But as the night was warm bar ig ide, coi no unpleasant- ness from being thus becalmed, and so made merry as possible over the situation. And thus the remainder of the night was passed, and when morning dawned and the wind arose and set their boat in motion, they felt that the worst was over. Daylight revealed to them a little island lying directly in their course about half a mile off, and they at once decided to land there a few minutes to rest their cramped limbs and aching bodies, When at length they touched at the island, Harry leaped ashore to assist his companions out. Little Puss, who was in the prow of the boat rose to her feet and with a laugh dropped back into her seat. Her limbs were so numb that they would not sustain her weight. Harry was about to lift her out when his attention was drawn elsewhere by a sound in the water. The next instant a canoe, propelled by two paddles, shot like an arrow from around the island and glided alongside their boat. It con- tained three Blackfoot savages! A ery of terror escaped the girls’ lips at sight of the hideous red-skins, one of whom leaped quickly into their boat, paddle in hand, while the others sprung ashoreand attempted to brain the young detective. But Harry West had his revolverand proceed- ed to make good use of it, and one of the red pirates fell dead as his feet touched the shore, and the other met a similar fate before he could raise hisarm. But by this time the savage in the boat had, with a single stroke of the paddle, driver the craft twenty feet from shore, and with his own body covered by that of Little Puss, plied the blade with all his strength and was soon beyond reach of revolver-shot with the maidens. Harry durst not risk a shot through fear of hitting ove of the girls, and leaping into the red-skins’ boat he took up the paddle and gave chase. But he was no match in water-craft for the athletic savage, who doubled the distance between them at every stroke, and at length, through sheer exhaustion, he sunk down in the boat heartsick and discouraged. And thus he lay with burning brain for quite an hour when he was aroused by the dip of paddles and the sound cf voices, Rising to a sitting posture he gazed around him. A boat was approaching. It waspotover twenty paces away, and in it were Tom Rattler and Coeur D’Alene Dat CHAPTER XTIT. HARRY WEST DISGUSTED, At sight of the Young Bear-Killer and Old Tom, Harry West experienced a sense of morti- fication and disgust over his situation, He would rather have faced a duzen red-skins just tben than his two friends, for it seemed to him that the story he would have to tell them would be self-conviction of the lack of caution and courage in defending the girls, However, he greeted them as cheerfully as cir- cumstances would admit, and at once told his stor v. concluding with the observation: “Dan, I am thoroughly disgusted with my- self, A man may makea fair detective around a city, but as a hunter of opium-smugglers a sad and sorrowful failure. The very first lick t made the rebound knocked me silly; that was at Red Notch.” “In your little love adventure?” asked Dan, with a broad smile, ** Yes,” confessed Harry, ‘‘ I made a blooming fool of "myself there, and every step I have taken since bas been in the wrong direction,” ponte gal hoodooed ye,” suggested Old Rat- tler, ‘*Tt seems so,” Harry acquiesced, with a sick- ly smile, ‘* and I mean to get out of this country just as quick as God will Jet me, and go over to the coast and hire out to pound sand; I know I can do that. I’m done smug: ler- -shadowing. = Don’t git apn ORE Fe boy,” advised Old Tom; ‘‘it takes expr rience to make a mountain deetective and that you're havin’ from the jump. When you git your heart steeled so a pretty face won't affect it; when you learn to lie —— ———— a little, deceive consider’ble, defraud inmenseh then ye'r’ on the way to success as a deetectivi Go take a few lessons under the immortal K. Bandy, and if ye’r’ an apt scholar, my word fc it yout; make a lily-lipped hummer, Old Kit: ; over on the lake-shore now.’ ** Indeed?” ‘*Harry, do you remember Lord John Jose] Keswick?” Coeur D’Alene Dan asked, ‘*T shall never forget him,” Harry answered, ‘*That was Kit Bandy,’ **Ts it possible?” “Yes, and yesterday, through an accident for which Tom here is responsible, he stumbled inte the den of the Black Hawk outlaws—a grea’ cave in the hills—and who do you guess he foun there?” “T can’t imagine,” replied Harry, ‘‘ unless was myself, for it seems I have been knockir around on land and sea like a sompambulist.” ‘* Not you, Harry, but your sweetheart, Roz Kline,” ‘* A prisoner?” ‘*'Yes, held for ransom, so she said, and so t outlaws told Lord John J oseph. So his lordsh —for Kit was still playin’ Englisher—offered ransom her if she’d be his wife, and after bh poured out a volume or two of selected Ic passages she consented to marry him,” , ‘* Dan, you’re jesting now!” declared Hari, in doubting tones, ‘Tam not—I swear it. Kit told me that s is one of the outlaw gang, and believes st. the princess of smugglers.” & ‘*Tho beautiful siren!” exclaimed Harry,. ~ crestfallen. ‘‘If that’s true, it proves con sively that I shouldn’t be running at lar Bers I’m a tender fool!” ‘*Oh, don’t beso hard on Harry West, s said Old Tom withacbuckle. ‘ You're yi Z and the lesson will do you good. you'll m 4d deetective and Ingin-swatter yit ad “It looks doubtful, Tom,” re plied 1” ‘however, [m going to stay right ou deck those girls’ are rescued, if it costs me my wo F ed head.” rs “That's the way to warble, boy,” excla 4 Rattler, approvingly, ‘‘ them two gals are v ul fightin’ for, and we'll muss up this hull cor 45 but what wesave’em. Hop in with us, H 4 and let that boat go edrift, We'll pull’ fo‘ at east shore and git off the lake before w, ap chased off by a fleet o’ red-rinds. We'll rine dertake to foller that boat with gals, or w. mia run into a trap.” and Harry shipped with his two friends, an“Qg_ at once bore away toward the eastern sl. the lake. CHAPTER XIV. THE INDIAN CAMP, pay ON a long, narrow and densely-wooded of land or peninsula, in the northwest extr ta of Lake Kaniksu, the Blackfeet and their . ?s under Shaggy Head had pitched their e:, some three weeks previous to the opening . story. nsyagdthag a on all sides by water syed a narrow neck whereit joined the mainla’ was easily defended against the encroack he of enemies. Here hid the band located ey the determination of making themselvéjey- ters of the lake and its surroundings. Bur in the very first move they made, their c’ Dan; many of their warriors were slain; a. ink ked, the morning following the battle at the aan Hermit Paul, there was wailing and gnasi. ae teeth on the peninsula. Shaggy Head, their beloved and valiant” lay dead in bis tent. from the women and children, »nd theb vung of muffl-d drums, filled the air with mou. uful, discordant sounds. The warriors were howed downinsorrow, It wasa camp of mourning. Even tho coming of a warrior into camp from off the lake with the two fair captives, Little Pnss and Alma Grayson, afforded but little Hg lief to the feelings of the grief-stricken band especially after learning that their capture had cost two more of their warriors, It was about ten o’clock when the captives were brought into camp. They were given in custody of two old, ogrish-looking squaws, who conducted them to a irty little lodge and shut them in. Almost dead with fear, and suffering for the want of food and sleep, the poor captives sunk down and wept in each other’s arms, , Finally some miserable food and a gourd of water was brought them, They ate sparingly and drank of the water, and would have laid down and slept but for the doleful noise outside, It was high noon when there came a lullin the sounds without, and the maidens ventured ; Cries and Jaments i ei
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e a era eT a a Cour D’Alene Dan, the Mountain Guide. il out of their prison. To their surprise _ to peer ’ they saw a little old white woman seated upon a mule and surfounded by savages but a few rods away. She was dressed in a plain calico dress, and wore an old, flaring sun-bonnet on her head. Across her lap lay an ancient um- .. brella, and at her side hung a gaunt-looking * sag ghar, In reply to a question directed by an outlaw, the captives heard the old woman say, as she flourished her umbrella in the air, asif to give emphasis to her words: “T am Sabina Bandy, the wronged and de- sarted wife of Christopher C, Bandy! Without cause or provocation he desarted my bed and board, and left me to struggle alone with the cold world and a carbuncle on my jaw. But my wounded heart still cries out for its old love, and I sot out to find him; and I have tracked him from Texas to Idaho, and if I get my eyes on him once more I’il mako him feel the venge- ance of a wronged wife’s power. I'd hoped he might bein your camp, and if he should come, I pray you will tie him up and send word to Sabina Bandy, and she'll bless you.” ‘Old gai,” a renegade was heard to reply, ‘if Kit Bandy’d ever sot foot in this camp ‘ou’d now bea widder. You're on the wrong ‘“rack, my old fairy.” ¢ ** Woe! woe! is me!” exclaimed the old woman mournfully; ‘‘ will my trials and tribulations “never end? Oh! if I could git one whack at ‘m,” and she instantly flew into a passion, ‘‘ I’d %2 pple him so he’d stay at home, the owdacious ‘w ?retch!” ; Lk , At this juncture, Long Face, the medicine- 1an of the tribe, who was, by virtue of his posi- th.jon, spokesman since the death of Shaggy ‘oad, came up and thus addressed the old wo- To “an: Id i White squaw, the Blackfeet are in sorrow, Kit:.1 their hearts thirst for pale-face blood; but .2y do not make war on squaws, and yet your b Yhite face makes angry the wrath of the red- di 1an, You must go away or your blood will alp atone for that of our slain chief.” th: ‘** Oh! noble Ingin, I am so tired and hungry!” er. abina answered in flattering tones. ‘* Will gre u not Jet me dismount and rest awhile and for ‘t a bite to stay my strength?” las -With a covetous look at her mule and saddle, Waid medicine-man succumbed to her flattering were deal and granted her wish. W )Dismounting, an Indian led her mule‘ away, goin: bh the self-assurance she would never see it and, .in. emer ieating herself, Sabina opened her hand-bag th~‘ad took therefrom some bread and meat, and }egan munching at it as though her teeth were wh: bad working order, coui.“he medicine-man, having lost all interest in ‘*«* for the time being, turned away and pro- fl _ cded to convene the warriors in an open coun- ‘ito take some action looking toward a suc- se _essor to their dead chief, ° "In a circle, with bowed heads and manifest **) sow, some fifty or sixty red-skins and three Ban , four renegade whites seated themselves upon mr ic ground, Then the medicine-man, arrayed sow , all his hideous, savage toggery, arose and in In’emn tones addressed them us: tapi ‘Shaggy Head, our great, brave chief, is der c7¢ to the land of his fathers. He was slain Her ye big white hunter, and many of his war- rods f, by our old enemies, the Crows. Shaggy yearsad’s death must be avenged. Tho Blackteet ‘Kat ast strike the Crows and their white friends Pusid slay them ail. But who will lead them? mr et the spirit of our dead chief answer, as did ‘ie spirit of Fish Mouth that led Shaggy Head 1 the Sacred Lodge. Shall not the laws of the Great White Wizard, who came among us when we were children, be obeyed?” - To this last question there was an affirmative SPEwSE, though but feebly given by the rene- es. “Then let the Sacred Lodge be erected,” commanded the medicine-man; ‘‘and all the weapuns and clothes and ornaments of the dead Shaggy Head be placed therein for the new chief that Shaggy Head’s spirit will guide there. And let us rejoice that when the new chief comes, we will have the two white cap- tives for his wives and slaves,” At once there was a commotion. The circle broke up, and the lodge that had been Shaggy Head’s was removed to a secluded spot on the peninsula, and all the possessions of the dead chicf placed therein for the accommodation of the new chief whom ay believed the spirit of Shaggy Head would send, Years before, @ white man, a fugitive from justice, bad come among this particular band of Indians. He was skilled in all the arts of eri SiS SS sss SSS SSS upelery, aud by this means be won the name of | tion of the Sacred Lodge, when lo! out of the hite the tribe, Soon after his advent among them, their chief was killed, and, instead of another being selected in accordance with past tribal customs, the White Wizard sprung a new scheme upon them. He led them to believe that by erecting what he called a Sacred Lodge off in some se- cluded spot, and placing therein the personal effects of the dead chief, the latter’s spirit would guidea great warrior there, clothe him in his raiment and imbue him with a warlike spirit, and send him forth thus ordained to lead the tribe to war and victory. The scheme worked to perfection, The Wizard hadafriend in hiding that he put onto the scheme, and had that friend steal into the Sacred Lodge after night, put on the dead chief’s clothes, paint his face with pigments found therein, and then ap- pear and proclaim himself the elect of the de- parted spirit, and chief of the tribe, The fellow proved to be all that savage heart could wish, and for forty years thereafter the White Wizard’sscheme was observed upon the death of the head chief. Nor did the chieftain- ship have to go begging under this plan, for there wero always white renegadesin the band wo had a friend outside that was given the cue, and that friend at once availed himself of the secret and became chief of the tribe. Of course these same renegades knew it would be death to expre-s their opmion of the White Wizard’s deception, so they affected belief and took whatever advantage of it they could to ad- vance their own selfish interests. Nor was the present occasion any exception to the others, for even while the Sacred Lodge was being erected, the following conversation took place between two outlaw renegades, seated within ten feet of Old Sabina Bandy: ‘*The infernal fools!” said one of them; ‘‘ to think o’ bein’ bamboozled in that way is a dis- grace, If I wasn’t afraid o’ gittin’ my foot into it, { believe I’d let Shaggy’s spirit run me in for chief,” ‘*T wish I could git word to Bill Hohn, at Red Notch,” added the other, ‘‘He’d make a roar- in’ fine chief, [ tell ye.” ‘Why I’d like it,” said the first villain, *‘is on ’count o’ gittin’ them white gals for my wives. ‘' They’re screamin’ little tender beau- ties, and the fellow that draps into Shaggy’s moccasins is bound to git the gals, for that’s the custom,” ‘* S’pose we keep this old nag, Sabina Bandy, and throw her in with the gals for good meas- ure?” facetiously observed the other renegade, Old Sabina had taken in every word they had spoken, but if she had been deaf and dumb she could not have observed more indifference than she did. Without com ng to any definite conclusion as to what they should do about the selection of a new chief, the renegades finally went away to another part of camp; and as soon as they were gone, Old Sabina arose and went sauntering about camp. Coming to the lodge in which Puss and Alma were confined, she pulled aside the flap-door and peered in. For this inquisitiveness she was set upon by the two squaws in charge of the tent and beaten severely ; and, finally, amid the jeers and shouts of a mob of squaws and boys she was driven out of camp, the Indians having confiscated her mule, Order being once more restored, the savages settled down to await the Shaggy Head’s spirit in conducting to their midst a new chief. izard, and became the patron saint of CHAPTER XV, THE NEW CHIEF COMES, THE hours passed slowly away—slowly, in- deed, to Little Puss and Alma. Hope of rescue had faded from the young breasts, and they sat in constant terror of the fate that awaited them. At length night again settled over the land. Around a great camp-fire the Indians seated themselves, talking, smoking—waiting for the coming of their Moses, The renegades were there in the circle, too, but most of them soon lopped over on the ground and went to sleep. The women and children in their tents also waited and watched, It was an hour of deep and anxious suspense. At the least sound—the rustle of a leaf or the snap of a coal of fire—every savage would start and gaze around him into tiie shadows. It was along about midnight, when sleep and anxiety hung heavy upon the eyes and breasts of the circle of savage forms. a light step was heard. Instantly every face was turned in the direc- shadows, with lofty mien and stately tread, a tall form clad in the blood-stained garments of Shaggy Head, and carrying his weapons, emerged into the circle of light! ‘*Our chief has come!” burst from the lips of the medicine-man, and instantly every warrior prostrated himself on his face in the dust before: the new leader, The white renegades awoke and rubbing their red eyes stared at the stranger with a mingled look of surprise and disgust upon their faces, Although the new chief’s face was daubed with paint until he looked hideous, it was plain to be seen he was a white man. But of this the Indians thought nothing, for every chief since the days of the great White Wizard had, strange to say, been a white man, While yet the warriors lay prostrate on the earth, the stranger, in a deep, impressive tone thus addressed them: ‘* Warriors and braves of the great Shaggy Head, give ear to the voice of Big Polar Bear!” Quickly every savage sprung to his feet and in deathly silence listened. ** The spirit of your dead chief,” the Big Polar Bear went on, ‘‘came to me in my home in the vorthland and bade me go on the wings of the wind and lead you to victory and power. To his lodge by the water’s side the spirit led me, and there bade me don thegarb of the Blackfeet. Then the spirit entered my body and brought me into your presence, Warriors, my arm is strong, my feet are swift, and my spirit burns with the red fire of vengeance. I am eager to avenge the death of Shaggy Head!” This proclamation was received with a fierce shout of savage delight, and for several minutes at least night was made hideous with a series of welcoming orgies. Buta single yet trifling in- cident occurred to mar the grand ovation given the Big Polar Bear: a renegade made some de- rogatory remark to a friend about the new chief looking like an *‘ old dismantled shite-poke,” and an Indian, overhearing it, promptly resented it by sinking his tomahawk to the eye in the renc- gade’s brain, and then dragging the body out where the squaws and boys could hack it into mince-meat, After order had once more been restored, tho chief made a fiery and impassioned speech in which he set forth the policy he should pursuoin dealing with his enemies, all of which was heart- ily approved by bis delighted warriors, To destroy the Crows and drive the white hunters from the valley was the first thing he proposed to do. Prolific indeed was Big Polar Bear in prom- ises, and loud was be in praise of his own prow- ess in battle. Many were his deeds of daring in tho far-off nortbland that he recounted to the infinite delight of his superstitious hearers, Little Puss and Alma Grayson heard the ex~ citement that followed the new chief's arrival, apd ventured to look out. They saw the wretch’s hideous face and shrunk back, shuddering anew with terror, The Sacred Lodge was now brought back to- camp and erected for the use of Big Polar, and when it had been furnished with every means of comfort the camp afforded, Long Face, the medicine-man, once more came to the front and said: - ‘* The night is far gone, Big Polar Bearmust be weary aud in need of rest. His lodge awaits him yonder; but it is empty, and he will be lone- ly. This must notbe. He shall have squaws to wait on’ him and share his lodge, In yonder tent are two fair white captives. The great chief shall have them both for his wives and slaves,” ‘Let the white captives be brought before: Big Polar Bear, that he may look upon their faces and see that they are fair,” commanded the chief, The poor captives, in mortel terror, were dragged into the presence of the chief. Fora moment or two the painted monster gazed at them like a hungry tiger, then said: “They are boss—they are lovely. Big Polar Bear wants them both for his wives, He would take a dozen likethem.” ‘Then it shall be so,” declared the medicine- man; ‘‘I have spoken, They are the wives of Big Polar Bear. Let them be taken to his lodge.” Straightway the maidens were conducted to the chief’s lodge, At the door Alra fainted and was carried inside, Little Puss broke away from her escort and endeavored to escape, but she was caught, brought back and place¢ i: the lodge. Then Big Polar Bear entered, drew the flap over the entrance, and the three were alone in the dark tent,
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12 Coeur CHAPTER XVI. A HAPPY SURPRISE, LirtLe Puss shrunk back into a dark corner of the lodge, and there crouched down, breath- jess and speechless in terror, <A silence that was broken only by the labored breathing of Alma Grayson, now reigned in the lodge. Fully a minute passed and then Puss Beara Div Polar Bear say in a low tone: ‘* Puss, darter 0’ Hermit Paul, fear not, [am your friend, here to save you, not to harm a nairo’ your head. Iam Kit Bandy, the Moun- tain Detective. I’m playin’ a trick on these In- gins to rescue you gals, Do you hear? do you understand?” Puss heard his revelation, but she could hard- | ly comprehend how it could betrue, The man spoke in a changed and kindly tone, it was true, but how such a villainous-looking wretch could be a friend was what bothered her. Seeing she hesitated to answer, Kit Bandy, for he Big Polar Bear was, again asked: “Did you hear me, Puss? Answer, for we must have no misunderstanding.” ‘*T heard you,” the girl found voice to reply. **And you understand I’m your friend, Kit | Bandy?” ‘*“You have said so,”’ Puss responded. ** And I mean it, by the horn o’ Joshua! Did- | n’t you see my wife Sabina Bandy in camp to- day? It was she who put me onto this chief- business. I expect I look ugly, but that’s natu- ral with Kit Bandy. [’m goin’ out to give some orders to put out all the fires, and whileI’m gone you brace up Miss Alma, and both ba ready to go with me whensver I say the word. We'll manage some way to git off before morn- in’. There’s a boat at the lower end of the peninsula we'll sail in, Now, brace up, and be brave, andibe ready. Understand, Puss?” “ Yes, sir,” answered Puss in a tone that no longer indicated the least doubt, Big Polar Bear turned and’ left the lodge. Many of his warriors were seated around the fire discussing the'merits of their new chief, and advancing to the circle he was about to speak when there suddenly burst ypon the night a hideous war-whoop, It was the battlecry of ‘the Crow Indians, They had made an attack on the guards at the neck of the peninsula! A look of disappointment swept over the face of Big Polar Bear, but quickly recovering his presence of mind, he uttered a yell, and drawing his tomahawk dashed away up the peninsula shouting to his warriors to follow. Like an avalancke the red-skins swept up through the camp and by the chief’s lodge, yelling like demons—fairly deafening the star- tled captives, who could not understand the meaning of the wild commotion, The girls, however, were not long kept in doubt as to what was going. Tne fierce tumult of the Indian battle grew more furious every moment, and they finally realized that their Sy had had been assaulted by onemies. hey ventured again to peer out of their prison. They looked for their friend, Kit Bandy, He was nowhere in sight; but to and fro from lodge to lodge, and across the grounds within the light of the camp, ran women and children in wild excitement. ‘ Suddenly the two watchers saw three men come from the shadows of the woods into the circle of light. Ata glance they saw they were white men, before whom the Indian women and children fled shrieking in mortal terror. Up through the camp, their advance undis- puted by a single warrior—for all were gone to the scene of battle—they came, peering into ! every lodge they passed, Suddenly a cry of joy burst from Puss’s lips, ‘*Oh! Alma! it?s our friends!” The three mea came on. The girls stepped from the lodge, and the next moment Coeur D'Alene Dan, Old Tom Rattler, and Harry West stood before them! CHAPTER XVII, TOM RATTLER GETS ‘BOUNCED.” Littte Puss and Alma Grayson became al- most delirious with joy at the sight of their friends, They cried and laughed by turns, and Pass, unable to restrain her emotions, threw her arms about Coour D’Alene Dan’s neck, and gave her big lover a rapturous kiss. ‘*See here,” suddenly exclaimed Old Tom, ‘if that isn’t to be passed around, we'd better he pallin’ ont o’ this, Them yellin squaws’ll bring us trouble,” “Yes,” added Coeur D’ Alene, ‘“we'’ve no time to lose, girls. The Crows are fighting up the peninsula in order to draw tho Blackfeet from camp to enable us to slip in and reseue you.” “But, Dao, a man calling himself Kit D’ Alene Dan, the Mountain Guide. rr Bandy,” spoke up Little Puss, ‘‘and disguised | as an Indian chief, left our lodge a few minutes ago. Hesaid he would soon return and help us to escape.” ‘By the great Rosycrusians!” exclaimed Rattler; ‘‘I told you folks when that old buc- caneer failed to show up this evening that he warn’t idje—that he’d bob up when and whar least expected. Oh, he’s a hummer!” ‘* Tf the girls leave here then before he re- turns, in case he does, he will not know that they are with us, and it may cause him trou- ble,” said young West. ‘* We can arrango that,” Coeur D’Alene Dan | replied. ‘‘ Let the girls go at once with Rattler down to the boats, and thereawait our coming.” Without further words the girls and Old Tom | hurried away tp whers twocanoes were concealed at the lower end of the peninsula, Ceeur D’Alene Dan and Harry West entered the chief's lodge, and with revolver in hand awaited the coming of the old mountain detect- ive. Five minutes, perhaps, had been thus passed when the form of a tall savage appeared at the entrance, and said, in a low, excited tone: ** Come, gals, ve got the varlets all at work, and now’s our chance,” Dan and Harry recognized the voice as that of Kit Bandy, true enough, and Dan at once re- lied: se They’re not here, Kit; but we,Coeur D’ Alene Dan and Harry Westare. We sent tho girls down to the boats, and remained here to notify you of the fact, for the girls told us that you were on hand,” ‘Good, by the horn o’ Joshua!” exciaimed Kit; ‘lead the way, for if my warriors find I have des’arted them, they'll make it intrustin’ | for me if they catch me.” Down through the camp at a double quick Dan led the way—through the dense timber and darkness for half a mile, when they emerged from the shadows onto a sandy, moonlit beach where lay the two canoes in ono of which sat Tom Rattler and the two girls, ‘Oh, thank Heaven! he is with them!” cried Little Puss, at sight of Old Kit, Bandy gave Old Tom Rattler one glance, then strode swiftly forward—entering the water to his knees—until he stood by ‘the side of the canoe in which Tom sat, and without a word to any one, or before any one could speak, he seized Rattler by the collar of his hunting-jacket and the leg, and lifting him clear of tie canoe he was in, plumped him down in the other craft. Then springing into tho boat with the girls, he seated himself and grabbed up the paddle, ex- claiming: ‘* Waugh! I am Big Polar Bear! these gals are my wives, by the horn o’ Joshua!” And as he thus spoke for the benefit of the astonished and discomfited Tom Rattler, he dipped his paddle and sent the canoe gliding out into the lake, ‘* By the great Rosycrusians!” exclaimed Old Tom, gazing up into the mirthful faces of his friends, Dan and Harry; ‘‘boys, did you see that? Did you observe how it was did?—why it was did? and what it was that didit? War that Kit Bandy? war ita man or the devil disgracin’ hisself in the guise o’ that old Mountain Detect- ive? Dan and Harry seated themselves in the boat with Old Tom, and the latter, plying the paddle. with all his strength and skill, sent the craft speeding after the other. Meanwhile, Bandy was out some forty rods from the peninsula and still pulling away with all his might. Suddenly Old Kit burstinto a good-natured laugh when he saw the boat with Old Rattler and his friends coming in pursuit. ‘* By the horn o’ Joshua!” he exclaimed, ‘tI reckon I’m oven with that old tarrantler for throwin’ mo over the cliff.” “Oh, I bope you were not displeased at our leaving that horrid Indian camp with him, Mr, Bandy,” Alma ventured to say. “* Lord, no, gal! it made me rejoice with ex- ceeding great joy when I found other friends war on hand to help me, for, as Big Polar Bear and your rescuer, Thad my hands full, I had to rush off and jead them savages to battle, and then watch for a chance to slip away in the dark. Displeased? no, I’m pleased, I just wanted to play a trick on Old Tom; and ivil be fun to hear him spout like a wounded whale when they come up with us.” Permitting his candée to rest, the one with the others soon came up. As if ran alongside, Old Tom grappled that of Bandy and the girls and held them together, saying as he did so: **Kit Bandy, [brand you as a thief and a marauder, and if you've any reespect for them ' gals you'll now perceed to jump overboard and drown yerself with as much dignity as you can |eommand. It willsave me powder and lead for better uwse—to kill ki-yotes and Ingins with, and—-” * Oh, close your ole phonograph, Tom,” inter- rupted Kat.. ‘* Yow’ll make Big Polar Bear and his wives sick. You can steala gal from an English Jord, and then feloniously and murder- ously flinz him over a precipice, but you can’t come none 0’ your insane-asylum games on Big Polar.” ‘¢ Kitsie, I alers chalked you down as a dee- licious old fool, but now I see I’ve been drawin’ it too mild and child-like,” returned Tom, and then of Alma hoe asked: ‘‘ Miss Alnua, do you reecognize in that wretched attempt to appear as a respectable, cut-throat Ingin, Lord Kes- | wick,,who I heaved over the cliff yesterday when he tried to catch you?” “No, Tom,” answered Alma; ‘I do not. Surely that cannot be possible!” ‘*Tt’s the very same critter that nightly scared you into fits!” declared Tom. ‘* Great Rosy- crusians! what a deelightful lord he made—sich arare specimen thatif ’d had time I’d killed the thing and had it stuffed,and put on ex- hibition with an African gorilla as the Missin’ Link between the chimpanzee and old Goliah’s | fire-tongs. Yes, Miss Alma, that critter is that same Jord Kisswicked,” ‘* Ts it possible, Mr. Bandy?” questioned Alma. ‘‘Tt is true, by the horn o’ Joshua!” answered | Bandy. ‘* Then, indeed, I owe you an apology,” said the maiden. ‘'] was so frightened by those two outlaws, that I fancied you an enemy, also, Tam truly sorry, for your fall over that em- bankment might have killed or crippled you.” ‘¢7t’s all right now, Miss Grayson,” Kit re- plied; ‘‘ but, as for Old Tom Rattler, Pil settle with him before he dies for I'l! never meet him after.” 3 ‘‘ Right you are, Kitsie, for you'll never be able to smuggle and defraud your way into heaven! You can fool a fool Ingin, lie to a stranger, deceive an innocent gal, bub ye can’t pull the wool over St. Peter’s eyes!” After the badinage of words had ceased be- tween the two old border warriors, Bandy nar- rated the story of his adventures. He had left bis friends at the Crow camp after the battle at Hermit Paul’s cabin, and hastened back to where he had left Ichabod Flea in charge of Russell Wyatt. It was his intention of taking them to the Indian camp, but meeting Alma Grayson’s brother and two other men in search of Alma, he turned Wyatt over to them with the request that they return with the prisoner to their own camp, and trust to himself and friends to rescue the girl, The three men complying with this request, Kit and his little pard returned to the dake, Having heard Cour D'Alene Dan say that the Blackfeet were encamped on a peninsula in the northeast corner of tho lake, they proceeded in that direction to make a reconnoissance; for Kit was satisfied now that the wind had carried the boat with the girls and Harry West down into the vicinity of the enemy’s camp, and that they had undoubtedly been made prisoners. When they arrived in the vicinity of the Blackfeet, Ichabod Flea, as Old Sabina, was rigged out and sent boldly into the Indian camp on her famous mule, And while she was there, as the reader has already seen, she not only dis- covered that the girls were captives there, but, also, discovered the secret of the manner in which Shaggy Head’s successsor was expected toappear among them. Of thissecret Old Kit proceeded to avail himself, having reached the Sacred Lodgejafter midnight by!swimming from the mainland to the peninsula the distance of over half a mile, The rest of his movements we will givein hisown language, ‘Havin’ found the Sacred Lodge,” he said, ‘*by following Sabina’s directions, I entered and found wyself in darkness. The spirit of Shaggy Head furnished no light, so I groped around and gathered up everything I could find loose and ran down to the moonlit beach and proceeded to make my toilet.. Shaggy Head’s royal breeches fitted me snugly, and when I got dressed up all that war lackin’ war my war- paint. : ‘*Shagey’d left a good supply of this, and I proceeded to daub it on with my finger ithout regard to the harmony o’ colors and shades. Then I went back to the Sacred Lodge, groped again for Shaggy’s war-tools, and I was ready to go forth, and I goed. : ** Wal, I war received with an ovation, and | issued a red-hot proclamation-of-war ’gainst the
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i ae fog Crows and Old Tom Rattler, and forthwith the Great Medicine proceeded to present me with two beautiful white captives for wives, and after lookin’ at ’em I decided to accept, and waltzed ’em to my lodge. Miss Alma fainted and Little Puss showed signs 0’ rebellion, but as soon aS we war alone | told’em who I war, and—” ‘*Tt’s a wonder ye did,” piped in Old Tom. ** Silence, pirate!” commanded Kit, and then he continued: ‘‘ I then stepped outside to issue an order to put out the fires when, bang! whoop! went a gunand an Ingin yell up the peninsula and then the battle begun. This was somethin! not down on the programme, and it kind o’ pes- tered me; but 1 quickly saw that I must lead forth to battle, and with an original war-whoop full o’ gore and destruction 1 bounded awa calling to my braves to follow. And they di and as soon as I got them all engaged I sneaked back to my waiting wives, and—lo! I found Coeur D’Alene Dan and Harry West in their “egy Shortly afterwards I found Tom Rat- tler. ‘* Well, well,” said Coeur! D’Alene Dan, ‘if we’d known of your movements, ours would scarcely have been necessary. When we found out by Harry that the girls were captives we reconnoitered the peninsula and, having deter- mined the exact location of the Blackfeet’s camp, we planned an attack, Finding the neck of the peninsula heavily guarded because of its distance from camp, it was arranged that the Crows attack the guard and make a hig show of fight. This was to draw the warriors pray from camp, and when this was accomplished, Rattler, West and myself were to proveed in two boats to the lower end of the peninsula, en- ter camp, release the girls, and escape just as © have, ** Tf we succeeded in our part, we were to sig- nal the Crows that fact, and I think we'd better pull around to the shore and give the signal of our success,” This met with Bandy’s approval, for he had left Ichabod Flea at a point on the northern shore to await his return from the Indian camp. In a short time they had landed, and were soon afterward joined by Ichabod Flea, while Cour D’Alene Dan and Old Tom proceeded along the shore to a certain point and there sig- naled the Crows their return toland. This they did by striking a fire on the open beach and per- mitting it to burn some five or ten minutes. In a short time thereafter the firing and yell ing at the neck of the peninsula ceased, and in the course of an hour Hermit Paul and the Crows had » aon the party on the lake-shore and Little Puss was once more clasped in her father’s arms, It was quite a happy meeting all around, though the newsof the destruction of their home was quite a sad blow to Little Puss, Kit informed Alma of the meeting with her friends the previous night, and she was great! cheered over, the prospect of soon meeting with them herself. The Crows and whites repaired together to the camp of Black Horse which they reached at sunrise, hungry and fatigued. An Indian breakfast was prepares for the whites ard partaken of with a keen relish by ail hands, A rest until after dinner was decided upon by the hunters and mountaineers, After dinner aacies ger for departure with Alma were speedily made, and not until the last moment did Hermit Paul and his daughter make up their minds to quit the coun- try and-go South with the party. This decision was brought about by Hermit Paul taking Old Kit and Little Puss aside and, in tones of sad- ness, saying: ‘ “ Puss this old detective, Kit Bandy, is hunt- ing for the daughter of Alfred Hull, and I have - euitee that you are that person—Catharine nu . ‘Hunting. for me, father?” exclaimed Puss, smiling, ‘* why, I'm sure I’m not lost now.” ** Gal,” said Old Kit, “you're an heiress— rich as old Bildervant. Your father was the only son and heir of Sir Isaac Hull, of England, and since you’re Alfred Hull’s only living child, you come in for all the Hull wealth.” ‘‘ Dear me!” exclaimed Puss, half incredulous- ly, ‘that sounds like a romance reads.” ‘It’s true, nevertheless, Puss,” declared Kit, ‘and Pil tell you all about the matter, and why you’re wanted so bad.” ‘ And, as the reader has already heard it, Ban- dy related the whole story of the death of Sir » the conspiracy of the executors, and the presenceof the impostors inthe home that should Coeur D’Alene Dan, the (Mount ain Guide. 1s then be in possession of Catharine Hull, alias ** Little Puss,” The girl heard the story through in silence; but when Kit told her she must go at once to England and prove her rights to her father’s in- heritance, she emphatically declared: **T will not go to England for all England’s wealth! Ths property of Sir Isaac must be ac- cursed,” 3 ‘*Then it will go to the crown,” Kit informed er. ‘Let it go. I would like to see those guilty men and women impostors punished, but that can be done anyhow if Russell Wyatt turns State’s evidence. I cannot—I will not leave my dear father, Hermit Paul, and—and—” ‘** Coeur D’ Alene Dan,” put in Old Kit. “Well, yes, sir,if I must. I like Dan, and Dan likes me,” was the frank and honest con- fession of the outspoken little lady. ** But,” said Kit, ‘‘ your father should go, too; his evidence will be all-important in proving your claim, Them impostors will do some hard fighting to hold their ill-gotten gains,” hile neither Puss nor her step-father would consent to anything at that time, they informed Kit that they would take the matter under ad- visement for a few days—at least, until they should reach a land of safety and have a tal with the English detective, ; So, with this understanding, they bid fare- well to the Crows and went away with the whites, lt was late in the night when the party reached the camp of the tourists on the south- ern pseretniey ot Lake Kaniksu, where all re- ceived a royal welcome, and where joy reigned supreme the rest of that night over the safe re- turn of Alma to her friends, But by early dawn next morning the tourists were ready to depart forever from the land of tho savage and outiaw, They had had ee recreation in that country to last them a life- e. CHAPTER XVIII. BREAKING UP THE ‘ NEST.” AFTER escorting their friends to a point on the North Pacific Hallway, Coeur D’ Alene Dan, Bandy and pard, Tom Rattler, and Harry West, resolved to 'make another trip to Red Notch Camp, and institute a thorough investigation of the true character of that place. They reached tho camp at night and proceed- ed to the ‘* Fodder Corral” for lodging. Harry West, however, had no desire to re- new his love affair with the charmin Roxy. The story of Peter Grew, Keswick’s valet, and the wound on his head, were still fresh in bis memory. Moreover, the young detective’s ac- quaintance with Alma Grayson had dispelled from his breast all infatuation for the landlord’s daughter; and, we may as well remark here, his acquaintance with Alma grew into a friend- ship that eventually ripened into genuine love and culminated in a life-partnership. To the surprise of the party, they found on reaching the Fodder Corral that Hank Kline and his daughter had departed from Red Notch some ten hours previous, having sold out the hotel to Bill Hohn, This sudden departure looked a little, sus- i and when the brigade of detectives and unters learned that the father and daughter had gone north, they concluded to make a descent upon the Black Hawks’ Nest, and at once departed from Red Notch, Timing themselves so as to reach the outlaw rendezvous under cover of darkness, they crept up the defile to within fifty paces of the en- trance to the cave, The moon was shining full in the valley, enabling the detectives to see that quite a commotion was going on among the rob- bers. Itdid not take them long {to determine what it meant: the robbers were preparing to abandon the cave, No less than a score of Indian ponies stood before the entrance to the cave, Half of them were loaded down with packs; the others were saddled and bridled for their riders. ving their friends, Cour D’Alene Dan and Kit Bandy crept still closer—so close, in- deed, that when the outlaws issued from the cave to mount their ponies, the scouts recognized Hank Kline and his daughter Roxy among the nine persons that came in sight. Hastening back to their friends, Dan and Kit communicated their discovery to them, and pro an attack upon the absconding gang. This met the ae of the others and as the outlaws, by this time, had mounted, ready to depart, no time was to be lost,and so Cour D’Alene Dan boldly stepped into the moon- light, and in a deep, thunderous voice de- manded: ‘* Surrender, every mother’s son of you!” The outlaws were stricken dumb by this: startling demand, and seemed paralyzed in their saddles. The fair Roxy was the only one who appeared to maintain her presence of mind, and before the last word had fairly fallen from Daun’s lips, she raised a pistol and fired, the ball passing so close to the big hunter's head that he felt the wind on his cheek. Then, as the desperate woman put her pony into a gal- lop, she shouted: ‘ Away, men! away!” Her words were taken as the signal for the ambushed brigade to fire, and as one their fives rifles rung out, Three or four saddies were emptied, and both outlaws and their ponies. thrown into the wildest confusion; and the re- sult was, but two of the nine escaped the deadly revolvers of the brigade, and one of the two was the bold and dashing Roxy. Most of the saddle and pack ponies were cap- tured, and upon examination of the bundles on the backs of the latter, several cases of crude: opium were found. This find settled, heyond all doubt, the fact of the Black Hawks being: smugglers as well as outlaws in general, One outlaw, who had been mortally wounded. and died in a few hours, became quite talkative and answered all sonemsons without hesitation. He said the Black Hawks were abandoning their retreat, believing that Lord John Joseph Kes- wick had bribed Wyatt, or ‘‘ Reddy,” Captain. Dago’s business manager, and that their disap-- earance meant sure destruction to the band. e admitted that they were doing some smug- gling of various goods over the border. This department, he said, was under the man- agement of Miss Roxy Kline, who, by the way, was a married woman and the wife of Captain, Dago. He also said that it was Roxy who had. attempted to kill Harry West, She had listened at the key-hole of the parlor door and heard West tell Coour D’Alene Dan of his being a Government detective in search of opium-smugglers, and, to protect her depart-- ment of the Black Hawks’ business schemes,. she concluded that powder and lead would be more speedy and effective than love-making in getting away with the young detective, inas~ much as she was a married woman, This last confession was a damper on Harry West, and he promised to divide the first million: dollars he made ‘“‘pounding sand” among his: four friends if they would keep the whole mat- tera secret, All agreed to do 80 except Old Tom Rattler, He thought the joke was too good! to keep, but he promised that, in tellirg it, he would substitute the nameof Kit Bandy for that of Harry West, Both Captain Dago and Hank Kline were killed in their attempt to escape, and what be- came of the fair and false Roxy was not known.. With their captured ponies and goods the brigade returned the next day to Hausel Junc- tion, where the friends separated, Harry West returned to Portland to report the success of his hunt for opium-smugglers, but never to venture out again in the mountains as. a detective. Kit Bandy and pard proceeded East with their prisoner, Russell Wyatt, while Old Tom Rattler and Cour D'Alene Dan having joined issues, went southward into the hills on a big bear-hunt, Dan having orders for no less than wa grizzly hides at fancy prices, Hermit Paul and his daughter gettled down in Missoula, but as soon as the English detective heard of Puss’s refusal to go and claim her in- heritance he went to Missoula to see her, and,. after much persuasion, she, with Hermit Paul’s approval, finally concluded to make the contest for the great property and, if successful, convert. it into cash and return to America, for live in England ske never would. Russell Wyatt was also very desirous that. she should make the contest—not because he was anxious to right a wrong, but to make his own punishment as light as possible, now that he could no longer dodge the law. But before Puss had consented to anything she held an interview with her big lover, Coeur: D’Alene Dan, and obtained his views of the mat-- ter. Feeling perfectly secure in her Jove~ sure. that the glittering fascinations of the world, outside that of the mountain vales in which she - had learned to love, would not win her from him, he advised her to act upon the counsel of the English detective, This she did, and at last accounts the matter was pending in the courts of England with the, promise of a speedy settlement in her favor, THE END,
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LPP ney Ow One So! Oe, OO OF SUS SOOO, Oy OS, & ONS Gi Bia Oi. | O SetOureO» heron i — —— | The Best Weekly ——."™ | Berm | tt, Publish in America! Always Original! | Always Pure! | Always Strong! / == Its Corps of Contributors Unrivaled! = Almost all of whom write exclusively for its publishers—embrace the following popular authors: Col. Prentiss Ingraham, Col. E. Z. C. Judson (Ned Buntline), Ol] Coomes, Albert W,. Aiken, Hon. Wm. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), Charles Morris, Joseph E. Badger, Jr., Major Dangerfield Burr, Philip Ss. Warne, Capt, Fred Whittaker, Major Sam S. Hall (Buckskin Sam), Edward L. Wheeler, J. 0. Cowdrick, Edward Willett, Wm. R. Eyster, TT. CC. Harbaugh, Eben E, Rexford, Wm, H. Manning, Frank Triplett, A. EF. Holt, H. H. Johnson, Wm. S. Gidley, K. F. Hill, Henri Montcalm, Al. W. Crowell, Jo Pierce, Hi. S. Keller, Weldon J. Cobb, 41 to to Fae < —- aeOe = Te oye ro Va 4 eS fa) oS etc., etc., op “2@ Ay ss INTERESTING AND ATTRACTIVE FIELDS OF Border, Interior, and Wild West Romance— oa Adventure, Exploration, and Sport— i | Life on the Great Plains— A Life on the Ranches— "7 Life in the Mines— Life in the Wilderness— , City Life Character, Courts and Ways— Detective and ‘Shadow’ Revelations— - dj Stories of the Great Deep, ete. B: 3 = Published at the Following Rates ? — Hence, each and every number overflows with the most sy 3 ; 7 interesting and exciting matter, while in its several SPECIAL re, (li Porrour Months, (94 a7 ve me, ee me OO _ DEPARTMENTS answering all the needs, and adding to the Feil For One Year, icky Eka haaienh cane Rita $ pase general interest and usefulness of, the strictly popular , yt Two Copies forOne Year - - - - = 5.00 ; : de , journal, Taz BANNER WEEKLY is the paper of all x Single Copies, - - - - - = - = 6 cents, ; t Sf others for good reading and entertainment. be \ SOLD BY ALL NEWSDEALERS. ‘ . mth weesctssessesssessseesess BSS 050508608 0525085285200 9 5050558055088 8 0005 eeseseese® TEESE ‘ is af SS WATE Se 06 wiLtiAM ST, BRADLE AND ADA
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y ue __ ae ‘ ~~ viet ees ¥ a te, ~ BEADLE’S+HALF-DIME* LIBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Hach Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. ay di eae ‘ AT 7. x nip oe di ‘ y - No Double Numbers. BY OLL COOMES. 5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. 81 Keen-Knife, the Prince of the Prairies. 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 58 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. A staxbeere Harry the Young Trapper Ranger. 88 Rollo, the Boy Ranger. 184 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. 448 Scar-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter 146 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 158 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. 168 Little ‘Wexas, the Young Mustanger 17S Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 1s2 Little Hurricane, the Boy Capbain. 202 Prospect Pete; or, The Young Outlaw Hunters, 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps, 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 225 Little Wildiire, the Young Prainie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger, 248 The Disguised Guide ; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger, 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. R72 Minkakin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. 800 The Sky Demon; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger, BSA Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. A409 Therculess vr, Dick, the Boy Ranger. AIT Webtoot Mose, the Tramp Detective. A22 Baby Sam, the Boy Ginnt of the Yellowstone, 444 Little Buckskin, tne Young Prairie Centaur, 457 Wingedfoot Fred} or, Old Polar Saul, 468 ‘Tamarac ‘Tom, the Big mrappet Boy. A478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic, AS2 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. 562 Blundering Baall, the Hermit Boy Trapper, 652 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance, 661 Old Kit Bandy’s Deliverance. 4670 Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. 680 Dauntless Dan the Freelance, or Old Kit Bandy In Arcadia, %78 Highland Harry, the Wizard Rifleman. BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8, Hall.) 284 Old Rocky a * Boyees; or, Benito, the Horse-Breaker. 246 Glant George; or, The Ang’! of the Range. 275 Arizona Jack ¢ or, Giant George’s Pard. 297 The Tarantula of eae) or, Glant George’s Revenge, BO? The Strange Parad ; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. B18 Ker-whoop, Ker-whoo; or, The Tarantula of Taos, B27 Creeping Cat, the Caddo; or, The Red and White Pards, B82 Frio Fred; or, The Tonkaway’s Trost. B44 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. 849 Wild W olf; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front. 867 The Ranch Raiders; or, The Siege of Fort Pargatory. 861 Snap-Shot, the Boy Kanger,. B75 Chiota, the Creek; or, The Three Thunderbolts. BS1 Bandera Bills or. Frio Frank to the Front. BY Romeo and the Reds; or, The Beleaguered Ranch. 404 Little Lariat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 414 The Dalay from Denver. 427 The Three Tratlers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage, 442 Bluff Bills or, The Lynx of the Leona, A455 Little Lone Star: or, The Belle of the Cibolo, 684 Cache Carl, the Chico Giart BY PHILIP 8. W/ RNE. 67 Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 Vaptatin Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game, 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leether Joe’s Defeat. 219 Despard, the Duellat; or, The Mountain Vempires. BBS A zeegh Boy; or, The Dwarf’s Revenge. B68 Little Tornado; or, The Outcasts of the Glen, BIR Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. BSS Little Oh-my ; or, Caught in His Own Trap, aa Tate | bey ed ly 3 or, aan fora apes . e Leather-Breeches ; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse, 481 Little Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood. 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the olines. 480 Three Jolly Parda, 517 Jim Gladden’ Deputy. 527 The Jolly Pards to the Rescue, B47 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down, 556 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. 574 Old Weasel-top, the Man with the Dogs, 598 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. 599 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport. 618 Billy Blazes; or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. 685 Oklahoma Hi the Blue-Coat Scout, 648 Happy Harry’s Big Find. 664 Cheeky Charley the Special. BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Asa Scott, the Steamboat Boy, 199 Featherweight the Boy Champion of the Muskingum, 228 Ozark Alf; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws, 282 The Typo Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp, 295 Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quartzville. 811 The Roving Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp, 822 Nemo, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon’s Vendetta, B40 Clip the Contortioniat: or, The Montana Vigilantes, ’ BY 30 PLERCE, BYT Rob o’ the EF wery $ or, The Prince of Mulberry Street, 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom, 452 Notapur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow; or Luke’s Legacy. A472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective, 504 Five Points Phil. 509 Jack Jaggers, the Butcher Boy Detective, 516 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerie, 526 North River Nat, the Pier Detective. 588 Wrestling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward, 541 Jeff Fileker, the Stable Boy Detective. ety nt Nettle, sor Bo’ Beige ‘¢ Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter, 588 Jack-o’-Lantern, te Under-Sea Prospector, ROR Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer. 614 Whistling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid. 628 Buck Bumblebee, the Harlem Hummer. 689 Sunrise Saul, the Express-Train Ferret. 649 Gamin Bob, the Bowery Badger; or, Scooping ® Slippery Set, 658 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Lite-Saver. 688 Saltpeter Sol, the New York Navigator. 694 Spicy Jim, the Only One of His Kind 706 Tom Thistle, the Road-House Detective. 717 Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin, 726 Dennis Puff _the Brown Sport’s Kid. 744 Dick of the Docks, the Night-W atch. 265 Flipper Flynny the Street Patrol. 771 Foxy Fred's Odd Pard; or, The Keener’s Huge Hustle, 731 Cast-Off Cale, the Scapegoat Detective. Rival GhhaucfNowhare” 69 The Riva ants of Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. 587 Old Buckeye, a Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner. 609 Bolly Dorrit, the Veteran Detective. $20 Little Lightning’s League; or, The Mystery oftne Island By eky Panis the Boy Prospector, 51 1d-Dust Dan, the Trail Patrol. 1 55 Gold Dust Dan’s Oath; or Keckless Roy, the Regulator. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl, 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. ZY Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 288 Joe Buck of Angels and His Buoy Pard. 447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nicky or, The Fortunes of a Foundling,. 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 498 Taos Ted, toe Arizonn Sport, 510 Cool Colorado, the Half-Breed Detective. 518 Cool Colorado in New York, BY GEORGE Cc. JENKS, 455 Git Thar Owney the Unknown, 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 5618 The Demon Doctor. 581 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. BYS Flute, the Singer Detective. 608 The Pitcher Detective’s Fotl; or, Dan’s Double Play, 616 The Ocean Detective: or. The Last Cruise ofthe Black Bear, 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussle. 786 Larry the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Side. 279 Lron Hand, the Charmed Detective. BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 WII! Somers, the Boy Detective. 122 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Picayune Pete 3 or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 WIll Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Black Beas, Will Wildfire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry the Harber Police Boy. 162 Will Wildfire in the Woods, 165 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. 170 A Tramp Card; or, Will Wildfire Wins and Loses, 174 Bob Rockett ; or, Mysteries of New York, 179 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, 188 The Hidden ihand; or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge, 187 Fred Malyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, 189 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed; or, Bob Kockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Tom ‘Tanner; or, The Black Sheep of the Flock, 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky. 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two “ Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. 252 Dick Dashaway ; or, A Dakota Boy in Mo og 262 The Young Sharps: or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot TraiL 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The Young Detective, 298 The Water-Mound; or, The Young Thoroughored. 805 Dashaway, of Daketay or, A Western Lad in Quaker City, $24 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective 3s or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. 879 Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard. 408 Flireily Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagabond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive, 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, 666 The Secret Service Boy Detective. 596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves, 627 Tom Bruce of Arkansas; or, The Wolf tn the Fold, 655 Plucky Paul, the Boy Speculator. 667 Bob and Sam, the Daisy Detectives. 709 The Curbstone Detective; or, Harry Hale’s Big Beat, 757 Detective Frank’s Sweep-stakes, BY MAJOR E. L. 8ST. VRAIN, 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit. 801 Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince. $88 Brimatone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette. 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “Sand.” 859 Durango Dave, the Young Champien Wrestler. 871 Kingbolt Chris, the Young Hard-Shell Detective. 880 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide, 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountain Mail-Line. BY EDWARD 8. ELLIS, 6 Bill Biddon, Trapper. 8 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of tne Frontier, 316 Nat Todd3 or, The Fate of the Sionx Captive. 2 ‘xno Frontier Angel. 98 The Roy Miners; or, The Enchanted Island, 182 The Munted Hunters or, The Strange Horseman, 254 The Walf-Blood; or, The Panther of the Plains, 271 The Nuge HNunter; or, The Stenm Prairle Man, BY BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG, 3? prayed bo te ot, the vat came de isa ahah The Captain of the Clu ty ay 101 Jack Markaway in New York. BY MAJOR HENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-Scout, 806 Neck-Tle Ned; or, The Dug-Out Parda, 846 Rapler Raphael; or, The Swordamen of Zacatecas, 891 Kid-Glove Kit, the Dandy of the Rocktes, 898 Kid-Glove Kit and Pard; or, The Gold King, 406 The Mad Man-Hunter: or, The Golden Gulch Mystery 505 Powell's Pardy; or, The One-Armed Giant, BY COL, A. F. MOLT. 899 Black Buckskin: or, The Masked Men of Death Canyon. 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King. 485 Littie Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods, BZ8 The Dandy Sporty; or, The King Pin Conspirator, 678 Headlight Harry’s Hazard; or, The Lightning Express Detective, oe 691 Headlight Warry’s Haul. 727 Headlight Harry’s Stren. 759 Headlight Harry’s Heritage. BY C. DUNNING CLARK, 185 Captain Paul: or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains. 280 The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef, BY WM. G. PATTEN. 489 The Diamond Sport: or, The Double Face of Bed Rock, 519 Captain aMystery $ or, Five in One. 681 Datla) Dare the Sport from Denver. 587 Old Rombshell, the Ranger Detective. 604 Iron Fern, the Man of Fire. 619 The Boy Tramp Detectives or, The Double Grip Witness 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Spor. 641 Dismal Dave’s Dandy Pard. 651 Bound Boy Frank, the Young Amateur Detective 66% Violet Vane’s Victory. 682 Wild Vulcan, the Lone-Range Rider, 698 Violet and Daisy, the Posy Pards. 705 Violet Vane’s Vow; or, The Crafty Detective’s Craft, 714 Old Misery, the Man from Missouri. 724 Violet Vane’s Vengeance. 780 Violet Vane’s Verdict. Z41 Violet Vane, the Ventriloquist Vidoeq. 750 Violet Vane, the Vanquished. 768 Violet Vane’s Vision. @74 Clear-Grit Cal, the Never-Say-Die Detective, \ : bs ie - aes so moet , : PEpaanee Ores SL ee BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR, 2 Vellowstone Juck3; or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Ayent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Murricane BIL; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 119 Muatang ba et 7 King of the Plains. 186 Night-linwk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Glant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trallers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 203 Vhe Boy Parda; or, Dainty Lance Unmasks, 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City, 810 The Barranca Wolf’; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thievea’ League, 885 Old Double Fist; or, The Strange Guide 855 The King of the Woods: or Daniel Boone’s Last Trail. 449 Kit Fox, the Border Soy Detective 625 Chineapin Dan, the Boy Tratler. 677 Chineapin Dan's Second Trall, 68S Chincapin Dan’s Home Stretch. 698 Old Crazy, the Man Without» Head. 708 Light-Heart Lute’s Legacy. 718 Light-Heart Lute’s Last Trail. 728 Silverblade, the Shoshone, 729 Silverblade, the Half-Blood; or, The Border Beagle at Bay, 789 Silverblade, the Hostile. 748 Sllverblade, the Friendly; or, The Border Beagle’s Boy Pard, BY JACK FARRAGUT. 815 Ned, the Cabin Loy. 820 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper. BY LIFUT. Il. D. PERRY, U. 8. N. 176 The Boy Runaway; or, The Buccaneer of the Bay, 180 The Sea Trailer; or, A Vow Well Kept. 192 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID, 78 Blue Dicky; or, The Yellow Chief's Vengeance. 87 The Land Pirates; or, The League of Devil’s Island, 187 The Helpless Hand; or, Backwoods Retribution, 289 The Qold-seeker Guide? or, The Lost Mountain, BY WILLIAM R EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank ¢ or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pard* BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR U.S, A. 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker. 194 Buffalo Bis Bet: or, The Gambler Guide, BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS. 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock, 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 576 The Silver Sport. 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow 5689 Tom-Cat and Pardj or, The Dead Set at Silver Clty, 601 Happy Hana, the Dutch Mg 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules, 622 Texas Tom-Cat’s Triad 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Task. 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumph; or, Bleck Dan’s Great Combine. 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Letective. 657 Warbling William, the Mountain Mountebank, 665 Jolly Jeremiahy the Plains Detective, 676 Signal Sum, the Lookout Scout. 689 Billy, the Gypsy Spy. 699 Staple Sim, the Broncho Buster. 712 The Mesmerlat Sports or, The Mystified Detective, 788 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector, T45 Kansas Jim, the Cross-Cut Detective. 761 Marmaduke, the Mustanger Detective, 778 The Ruatler of Rolling Stone. 785 Lone Hand Joe, the Committee of One. BY CAPT, MARK WILTON, 256 Young Kentuck; or, The Red Lasso, 270 Blizzard Ben; er, The Riot at Keno Camp, 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot, BY DAN DUNNING, 746 Quiet Jack, the Sveret Service Spy. 767 Mac and Jack, the Invincibles; or, The Diabolical Three, MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-Worse Hunters. By Capt. Mayne Rela and Frederick Whittaker. 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver’s Travels. By Dean Swift, 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Orusoe. (27 Tlustrations,) 18 Sindbad the Satlor, His Seven Voyages, 22 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe, By Juan Lewis, 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribecs, By 8. W. Pierce. 86 The Boy Clowns or, The Arena Queen. By # 8, Finn. BY Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 61 The Boy Rives; or, The Underground Camp. By A.C, Irons, 95 The Rival Rovera; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi. By Popo hin mayer Rebin Hood, the Outlawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Green- 96 wood. By Prof. Gilderaleeve, olny ry 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Hunter; or, !heCave of Death, By Burton Saxe. 124 Tippy, the Texan; or, The Young Champion, By George epson. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish, 148 Sharp Samy; or, The Adventures or a Friendless Boy. By J. Alexander Patten. 227 Dusky Darrell, Trapper; or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- lowatone. By Edward Emerson. ] 261 Fergus Fearnaught the New Y irk Boy. By @. L. Aiken, 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; »r, Davy Crockett’s Crooked Tratl. By Ensign C. D. Warren, 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Cliff. By Captain Comstock, B17 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Lieu- tenant Alired Thorne. 828 The Sky Detectives or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Hono, By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Red Ralph, the River Rovers or, The Brother’s Re+ venge, By Ned Buntline. 865 Baltimore Ren the Bootblack Detective. By A. P. Morris. 874 Gold-Duat Tom? or, Ben’s Double Match, By @ H. Morse, 876 Cailfornin Joe’s First Trall. By Colonel Thomas mille Monstery, 418 Billy Bombshell, the Cliff Climber, By F.8, Winthrop. 475 The Black Ship. By John 8 Warner. 484 Comanche Dick and Hix Three Invinetbles. By Urko» Pass, By WII Lisenbee. A New Isaue Every Tuesday. The Half.Dime Library is for sale by all newsdealers, five eontn por copy, or sent by mai! on recerpt of six conts ened BEADLE AND ADAMA, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York a , a » ¥ ot 2 ; ’ ne a t » ‘bette ee “
Page 16
BEADLE’S« HALF-DIME*] IBRARY. _ Published Every Tuesday. Hach Issue Complete and Sold at the BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwoed Dick Novels. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road, 0 Deadwood Dick’s Defiance; or, Double Daggers. a nea woor on] re Pe eth Buffals Ben. & Deadwooc ek in « Caatle. 42 Deadwood Dick’s Bonanzaj or, The santom Miner. 49 Deadweod Dick in Danger; or, Omaha Oll. 57 Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity é ine, the Heroine 10D Soe palpdoe 2 aed hast rayiis or, Corduroy Charlie. endwoo ck in Leadville. aa Bese Nat | one apes lee; he ‘The Double Cross Sign, endwoo ck as Detective. 129 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. 188 Deadwood Dick’s Home Kase; or, Blonde Bill. 149 Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike; or, A Game of Gold. 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood: er, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dreams or, The Rivuls of the Road. Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill’s Jezebel. ate wage eet ee poom Ta ER Jane’s Adventure. % endwoe ck’s Dene eal, Dendwood Dick’s Death-Plant. 282 Goeld-Dust Dick. A Romance of Roughe and Toughs, aus Bosdwess picks hd or, rhe Spirit of Swamp Lake. eadwood ck’s Dea rail, 809 Deadwood Dick’s Deals or, The Gold Brick of Oregon, Deadwoed Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats Deadwood Dick’s Ducata; or, Daya in the Diggings. pe posawees nt thay ala or, The Terrible Vondeita, endwoo ck’a Claim. 405 Deadweod Dick in Dead City. 410 Deadwood Dick’s Dinmonda. Deadwood Dick in New Yorky or, A “Cute Case,” ryt Rose eos pee aes or, The Chained Hand, ead woo ek, Jr. 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deflance. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Full Hand. 459 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Big Round-Up. 465 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Racket at Claim 10, Deadwood Dick, Jdr.’s, Corral; or, Bozeman Bill. are aa <p ig Dos mnteati vee endwoo ek, Jr., in Deadwood. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Compact. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Inheritance, 600 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Diggings. 508 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deliverance, 515 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Protegee. 622 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Three. Deadwoed Dick, Jr.’s, Danger Ducka; 584 peaer ers ont oe ni pin Hunt, eadwoo ck, Jr., in Texaa, 544 ponnwned Pies are the gt a \ endwoce ck, Jr., on Hia Mettle. 554 pesewses picks E ibte - —— endwood ck, Jr., in Boston, h67 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadelphia, 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicage, 678 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Afloat. &S4 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Denver, 690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Decree. Eee iettusan duck: Src of Gena inlesht = endwoo ck, dr., at Cone sland, 606 cages in : i Leadville Lay. eandwoo ek, Jdr., in Detroit. 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Cincinnatl. 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Nevada, 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in No Man’s Land, 686 Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer. 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In_ Buffalo. “t¥4 pena wees ears yey eee Revean seo se 59 endw ood ck, Jr., Among the Smu ers. 660 pany, han Bua ols Peay bate Cane. endwoo ek, Jr., Back in the nes. 672 Deadwood Dick, dr., tn Durango; or, ‘‘ Gathered In.” ere eoawece _— aye, han aN bo Found a Fortune, é eadwoo ek, dr.’s, Dazzle, 690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s. Dollars, 695 Deadwood Dick, gre at Danger Divide, 70@ Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Drop. T04 Dendwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. peadwoed Dicks rey in Bop F ranchsge. endwoo ek, Jr.'s, unt. 722 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dominoes, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguls Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, beubile Deal. 740 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deathwatch. 7 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Doublet. Wb2 Dendwood Deathblow. Ch Genewese it ss em My presperata Heralt, endwood ek, wone Hand, Deadwood fF Defeat. 776 Deadwood ‘ss Resurrection, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dark Days. Deadwood Dick, Jdr., Defied. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Device, Deadwood Dick, Jr’.«, Desperate Venture, 802 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Diamond Dice, BY J, ©. COWDRIOCK. Broadway Billy Novels. 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 514 Broadway Billy’s« Boodle, 686 Broadway Billy’s ‘ Difikilty.” Broadway Bllily’«s Peath Racket. Broadway Billy’s Surprise Party. 605 Broadway Billy; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning, 628 Broadway Billy’s Dead Act, 669 Broadway Billy Abroad. 67% Broadway Billy’s Best; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest. 687 Broadway Billy tn Clover. 696 Broadway Billy in_ Texas. 708 Broadway Billy’s Brand. 711 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe. 720 Rroadwnay Billy’s Full Hand, 785 Rroadway Billy’s Business, 7BS Broadway Billy’s Curious Case. 758 Brondway Billy in Denver. 762 Rroadway Billy’s Bargain. 769 Broadway Billy, the Retriever Detective, 775 Broadway Billy’s Shadow Chase, 788 Broadway Billy’s Beagles. Breadway Rilly’s Team. 0 Broadway Billy’« Brigade. Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequest. 800 Broadway Billy Baiiled. Other Novels by J. C. Cowdrick. 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. 869 Shasta, the Geld King 3 or, For Seven Years Dead, 420 The Detective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without a Name. 424 Cibuta Johny er, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar, 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout, 467 Diaco Dan, the Deley Dude. r 606 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 Fichting Warry the Chief of Chained Cyclone. 640 Bareback Reth, the Centaur of the Circle, 647 Typewriter Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward, 659 Moonlight Morgan, the “ Pizenest ”’ Man of Ante Bas. LRP cane egret Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 26 Cloven Woof, the Buffalo Demon. 52 Bob Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot. ! 89 Death-F ace, Detective; or, Life in New York, 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 568 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 614 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team. , 69 Gold Rifle, the puarpenooran. or, The Boy Detective, 80 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight, S84 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand, 88 Fnotenravk Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance. 92 Canada Chet $ or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp, 06 Watch-Eyes or, Arabs and Angels of a Great City, 8 Jack Moyle the Young Speculator. Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective, Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport. Bonanza Bill, Miner, Bees Lob the King of Bootblacka, Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. Captnin Ferret, the New York Detective. +t New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective, Nobby Nick of Nevaday or, The Sierras Scampea, Wild Frawk, the Buckskin Bravo. Fritz the Bound-Boy Detective. Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter, Sneozer, tlhe Boy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 6 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young G)adiator. 244 Sicrra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. 248 Slerra Sam’s Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sterra Sam’s Pard; or, The Ange! of Big Vista, 258 Sierra Sam’s Seven} or, The Stolen Bride. 278 Jumbo Joey the Boy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs, 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen, 281 Denver Doll’s Victory. 25 Denver Doll’s Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza, 291 Turk the Boy Ferret. 296 Denver Doll’s Drift; or, Tho Road Queen, 299 A No. 1, the Dashing Toll-Takor. 808 ’Liza Jane, tbe Girl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. 825 Kelley, Hickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia, 880 Little Quiek-Shot 400 The Dead Face of Daggersville, 884 Kangaroo Kit; er, The Mysterious Miner, 889 Kangaroo Kit’s Racket, 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood. 858 First-Class Fred, the Gent trom Gopher. 868 Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherer or, The Life Lottery. 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize, 878 Nabob Ned; or, The Secret of Slab City. 882 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, 885 Yreka Jim’s Joker} er, The Rivals of Red Nose, 889 Bicycle Ben; or. The Lion of Lightning Lode, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Wat Warry, the Base Ball Detective, 3 Sam Slabaides, the Beggar-Boy Detective, 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives, 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher. 486 Seulskin Bam, tho Sparkler, worm se ets 000 at oad eae Leth tol ~ RS RE RS AE bet pk pe pk tt fk kf rd SER an Thee BY T. O, HARBAUGH. 28 Nick o’ the Night or, The Bey Spy of 116. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Littl: Hunter. 47 Nightingale Nat}; or, Tne Forest Captains, 64 Dand ack 3 or, The Outlaws of the Gesien Trali. 82 Kit Harefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jack 3 or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Froaty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 128 Klown Charley the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lynch Jr.: or, The Boy Vigiiante. 155 Gol Trig er, the Sport; or, The Girl Avenger, 169 Tornado Tom; or, Injun Jack From Red Core, 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy, 198 Arkansaw? 6r, The Quen of Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick. the Boy Gold Hunter. 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Tovknot’s Crusade, 281 Plucky Philly or, Rosa, the Re! Jezebel, 241 Bill Bravos: or, Tho Roughs of the Rockiva, 255 Captain Apoli’,s tne King-Pin of Bowie, 267 The Iiuckaskin Detective. 279 Old Winch}; or, The Buckskin Desperadoes, 294 Dynamite Dan; or, The Bowie Blade of Gochetopa. 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bally, 816 Old Eclipse, Trump Curd of Arizona, 826 The Ten Pards3¢ or, Tho Terror of Take-Notice, 886 Ble Benson; or, The Queen of the Lasso. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Ked Thunderholt’s Secret, B56 Cool ham and Par'¢ or The Terrible Six. 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 886 Captain Cutlass; or, he B:ccaneer’s Girl Foo. 896 Rough Rob; or, The win Champions of Blue Blazes, 411 The Silken Lasaoy: or, The Rose of Ranch Robin, 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. 425 Texas Trump. the Border Rattler. 486 Phil Fla«h, the New York Fox. 445 The City Vamptres; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon, 461 One Against Fifty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Roy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. 477 The Exceisior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter. 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport, 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. 5612 Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective, 621 Dodger Dick’s Best Dodge. 528 Fox and Faicon, the Bowery Shadows, 588 Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret, 548 Dodger Dick’s Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, 658 Dodger Dick’s Deaperate Case, 568 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidocq. 678 The Two Shadows. 582 Dodger Dick’s Drop. 594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. 610 Old Skinner, the G¥id Shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard. 626 The Champion Parda. 687 Dick Doan, the Dock Boy Detective, 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp. 658 Billy Bantam, the Boy Beagle. 671 Jersey Jed, the Boy Hustler; or, Shadowing the Shadower. 685 Wappy Hugh, the Boy Musician Detective. 701 Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. 715 Wide Awake Len, the Quaker City Ferret. 782 Daisy Dell, the Pavement Detective; or, Trapping Big Game, 742 Billy Winka, the Bell Boy Detective, 754 Billy Winks, the Poss Boy Shadow, 768 Eagle Ned, the Boy on Guard. 780 Tonkaway Tom, the Red Wizard, BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm, F. Oody) 8 Kansas Kings or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie, 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout. 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust. Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. BY COLONEL-PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 7? The Flying Yankee} or, The Ocean Outcast. 17 Ralph Roy, the Boy Buccaneer; or, The Fugitive Yacht. 24 Diamond Dirks: or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone. 62 The Shadow Ships or, The Rival Lieutenants. 7S The Boy’ Duelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf. 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Smuggier. 111 The Sen-Ievil 3 or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116 The Hussar Captain; or, ‘he Hermit ot Hell Gate. 197 Little Grit, the Wild Rider; or, The Stock-Tender’s Daughter. 204 Buffalo Bill, the Pony Express Rider, 216 Bison BAH, the Prince of the Reins; or, Buffalo Bill’s Pluck, 222 Grit, the Bravo Sport or, The Woman Trailer, 229 Crimson Kate, the Girl Trailer. 237 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain; or, The Mysterious Ranchero 245 Merle, the Middy 3 or, The Helr of an Ocean Freelance, 250 The Midshipman M tineer 3 or, Brandt, the Buccaneen. 264 The Floating Feather: or, Merle Monte’s Treasure, 269 The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned. 276 Merle Monte’s Crulse; or, “The Gold Ship ” Chase, 250 Merle Monte’s Fate ; or, The Pirate’s Pride. 284 Merle Monte’s Pledme; or, The Sea Murauder. 287 Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover. 804 The Dead 8 ot Dandy ; or, Benito, the Boy Bugler. 808 Dead Shet Dandy’s Double. 814 The Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Trails. 877 Bonodel, the Boy Rover; or, The Flagless Schooner, B88 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island, 887 Warpath WILL, the Triitor Guide; or, The Boy Phantoms. 898 Seawalf, the Boy Lieutenant; or, The Red Clasped Hands., 402 Isodor, the Young Conspirator}; or, The Fatal Leagues. 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta, 412 The Wild Yaehtamany; or, The War-Cloua’s Cruise, 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 Captain Cart, tne Corsair; or, A Cabin Boy’s Luck, 487 The Bea Raider; or, The Hawks of the Hook. 441 The Ocean Firefly 3 or, A Middy’s Vengeance. 446 Waphazard Harry t or, The Seapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard Will, the Wonder Worker, 454 Wizard Will's Street Scouta. 462 The Born Guide; or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer. 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Conster. 474 Wizard Will’s Vagabond Pard. 488 Wizard Will’s Last Case; or, Ferrets Afloat, 487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Kancer. 495 Arizona Joe, the Boy Pard ot Texas Jack, 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy3 or, The Shark and the Sea Cat. 507 The Hunted Midshipman; or, The Young Sea Ranger, 511 The Outlaw Middy; or, ‘ihe Young Patriot Sea Ranger, 520 Buckskin Bill, the Conianche Shadow. 625 Brothers in Buckskin; or, The Tangled Trails in Texas. 530 The Buckskin Bowers. 685 The Rue. skin Rovers; or, The Prairie Fugitive, 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder ot the Rio, 545 Lieutenant Lea, the Son of Lafitte. 5650 Lafitte’s Legacy; or. The Avenging Son. 5655 The Creole Corsair; or, The Golden Wings of the Gulf, 560 Pawnee Bill, the Prairie Shadower. 5665 Kent Kingdon the Card King. 570 Camille, the Card Queen; or, The Skeleton Trail, 575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective. 5680 The Outcast Cadet; or, The False Detective, 686 The Buckskin Avenger}; or, Pawnee Bill’s Pledge. 691 Delmontes the Young Sea- Rover; or, The Avenging Sailor-. 59? The Young Texan Detective; or, The Black Bravos, 602 The Vagabond ofthe Minca. 607% The Rover Detective; or, Keno Kit’s Champions. 617 Ralph, the Dead-Shot Scout; or, The Kio Raiders, 644 Rutterfly Billy’s Debut. 650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Rider Detective; or, Buffalo Bill’s Boy Pard. 656 Butterfly Billy’s Man Hunt. 662 Buttertly Billy’s Bonanza. 668 The Buccaneer Midshipman; or, The Sea Rover’s Ruse. 674 The Wizard Sailor; or, Red Ralph, the Rover, 679 The Sean Shadowery or, The Freebdroter’s Legacy. 686 Orlando, the Ocean Free Flag; or, The Tarnished Name. 692 The Rival Sharps; or, Redfern, the Secret Service Scout, 697 The Scarlet Sombrero; or, The Sharp from Texas, 202 Blue Jacket Bill; or, The Red Hat Rangers’ Red Hot Racket 20% The Red Sombrero Rangers; or, Redfern’s Last Trail. 718 Carl, the Mad Cowboy; or, Tie Lariat Queen, Pawnee BIill’s Pledge? or, The Cowboy Kidnapper’s Doom. 25 Daring Bick, Pawnee Bill’s Pard; or, The Red Cavalry Raids 1 Ruth Redmond, the Girl Shadower. ? Buck Taylor, the Comanche’s Captive. 48 Buck Taylor’s Boys; or, The Red Risers of the Rio Grande. 49 Dashing Charlie: or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s First Trail, 56 Dashing Charlie’s Destinys or, The Renegade’s Captive, 60 Dashing Charile’s' Pawnee Pard, 66 Dashing Charlie, the Rescuer. 72 Dick Poom’s Death-Grip; or, The Detective by Destiny. 77 Dick Doom’s Destiny; or, The River Blackleg’s Terror, 84 Dick Doom, the Death-Grip Detective, LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 288 Dick Doom in Boston; or, A Man of Many Maska, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 789 Sam Sheridan, the Secret Service Special; or, The Jamboree at arly Bird Bar. By Wim. G. Patten. 790 Broadway Billy’s Brigade. By J. C. Cowdrick. 791 Kit Bandy Rattleds or, The Intant Giant. By Ol] Coomes. Tz pone nene Dick, Jr.’s, Double Device. By Edward a4 Wheeler. 298 Dick Doom in Chiengo; or, The Ferret of the Golden Fetters. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 4 294 Wendlight Marry’s Hunt; or, The Railroad Pards’ Tough Run in Satan’s Camp. Br Col. A, F. Holt, <n 795 Kit Bandy in Red Ruin; or, The Young Whirlwind of the Hills. By Oli Coomes. 796 Broadway Billy’«s Queer Bequest; or, Siting the Santvword Secret. By J. C, Cowdrick. 4 797 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture. By Edward L, Wheeler, 298 Dick Doom in the Wild West. By Col. P, Ingraham, 799 Kit Bandy’s Big Ruastle. 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.’s, Diamond Dice, By Edward L. Wheeler. 808 Dick Doom’s Clean Sweep. By'Col. P. Ingraham. 804 Kit Bandy’s Brigade. By Ol! Coomes, 805 Broadway Billy’s Signal Scoop. By J. C. Cowdrick.. 806 Silver Spur Steve, the Ranch’ Mascot, By W. G, Patten. Ready January 3d. 807 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Flush Hand. By E.L, Wheeler Ready January 10, A New Iasue Every Tuesday. The Half- Dime Library 1s for asle by all newsdealers, five- ; cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New Yorks