Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 823) (1893 05 02)
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No. 823. ite “long 1s ck ST BC OEE SET ES BP i Ve a, - i ab tle _imtalbe a. —s: + SRR See pe Lett. WL Rt “ { a ee Tl mM ci lt Tl hl ln i Post Office _Copyrighted 15 Hs att York, N. ¥ , by Bi ADAMS. PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW $2.50 a Year. : . . Ie Seven vad \ Wrage Al, AN) “AWAY WITH HIM TO THE DEVIL’S SYEW-KETTLE,” oo £ we > meabd Ee kat ith ie ois i 5 cents. hes Dl | las 2\ Ze eee Vol. HHMI. ey |
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Silent Saul, the Young: Mountain Patrol. Poker Jack, the Detective Sport ; OR, The Protege of Pilgrims’ Bar A Romance of Silent Saul, the Young Mountain Patrol. BY OLL COOMES, CHAPTER I. EXCITEMENT IN PILGRIMS’ BAR, PrueRis’ BAR was thrilled to its center, A young girl had ridden into the place that ge! and asked for protection. ad the Angel Gabriel appeared to announce the end of time, the citizens could not have been more surprised, for she was the first woman to set foot in Pilgrims’ Bar—the first that many of the miners had seen in years; and her coming there alone, the angelic beauty of her face, the girlish simplicity of her bearing, all conspired to fill their excited minds with the belief that she was a divine visitant, notwithstanding tho | emphatic assertion of Old Mahomet, an odd and eccentric character of the camp, that the Lord would not permit an angel to appear among such wicked men, They soon discovered, however, that she vas a creature of flesh and blood, then their wonder became confusion dire, Years of seclusion from female society—of the roughest life and associations, had almost de- prived them of their mother tongue, and now, when unexpectedly called upon by the gentle little lady, they stood, almost dumb, for the lack of words to address her. Joshua Bloom, the mayor of the camp, a stal- wart and bearded man of forty years, was, by virtue of his official standing, delegated to meet the girl; so, brushing back his long {hair, and, doffing his slouched hat, as the beautiful stran- ger drew rein before him, he said: “Hullo! how do ye do, miss? Ben’t you lost” In a low voice, her white lips tremulous with fear, she replied: “Oh, stranger! I know not where I am, but, I pray God I may have found a camp where I can have protection from my enemies! “You can bet your dust every man in the gulch would die fer you, miss,” replied the mayor. “Thank you!” the girl answered, a little con- fused by the man’s compliment, that look of fear and uncertainty vanishing from her eyes, and that tremor from her voice. “IT reckon,” the official observed, ‘‘as what you’ve struck the wrong lead, eh?” ‘Sir? I did not understand?” ‘*T presume your lost?” ** No, sir,” the girl replied; ‘‘I cannot say now that I am; but oh! I am so tired and distressed, that I cannot tell you why I am here at present, if you will please excuse me!” ‘To be sure I will!” exclaimed Bloom, “ Just fly down here, and I'll take ye to the best she- bang in camp where ye shall have food and rest, or 1y name ur’n’t Josh Bloom,” The mayor assisted the girl to dismount, and having called a miner to take care of the horse, he conducted ber to his own cabin, which she was informed would be. her own as long as she was a guest of Pilgrims’ Bar. After she bad been refreshed, and made as comfortable as sible, the mayor left her and hastened to the “City Hall,” Pilgrims’ Bar was a placer camp in the ‘‘ Gold Belt”? of Southwestern Utah, It was located in a deep guich iv a spur of the Sierra Madre Mountains, and on'the banks of a little stream that went gliding down over golden sands to mivgle with the waters of the Virgin River. It was somewhat remote from other camps, and some fifty miles from the nearest Mormon set- tlement. But despite its seclusion, and the smallness of its population, it affected the airs of more pretentious camps. There were not over two-score men in the camp. The ‘* City Hall” was headquarters. It was kept by a man called‘**Swanzy.” It was a gen- eri | supply store for the camp—it was a saloon and gambling-place as well. Alongside the ‘‘ City Hall” was the ‘t Soup Shop.” This was a boarding-house kept by two negroes bearing the euphonious names of ‘* Alli- gator Sam and “ Catfish ” Joe. As Mayor Bloom approached the City Hall, after leaving the girl, he was met by a man whose face was all aglow with smiles, He was haps five-and-fifty years of age, of medium fight and build, His face was covered with a | gray li | ring the shadows of night to the light of day. | short, stubby beard, and his head with thin | once announced that he would do shaving and | locks of grizzly gray hair. He had a pair of pn a eyes,in one of which there was a | | squint, His mouth was slightly askew and its | corners stained with the juice of tobacco, He | was dressed in a miner’s suit with the exception of his hat, which was a brokeu and battered plug,” hanging carelessly on the back o) | his hea This individual was known as Old Mahomet, | the Puzzle, the Bum, the Pilgrim, and divers other nicknames, He was the genius of the | camp. He was odd, eccentric and jolly. He had a great aversion to physical laber, but | loved to stroll alone in the hills, usually prefer- He was an inveterate gambler, and was never known to refuse a drink of whirky. Until he came to Pilgrims’ Bar, nine months previous, not a soul had ever heard of cor seen | Old Mahomet, The history he gave of himself } was accepted as true, due allowances being | made for reckless self-contradictions, and his perversion of facts and figures to suit his story. Because of his jolly, genial spirit, his whims | and eccentricities, he was accepted into full fel- lowship by the miners, who soon discovered that he was a deep, shrewd man, ‘Wal, May’r Bloom,” the, old man said, as the two met, ‘‘my predictions have gone wrong wonce’t,and an angel has swooped down upon us and found the camp in dirt and sin.” **Set a good ’zampie, Mahomet, by goin’ forthwith and takin’ a bath,” responded Bloom, facetiously, ‘*T war moved by inspiration to take a‘dip in & mountain pool yisterday, may’r,”’ Mahomet replied; ‘‘but say, Bloom, did ye find out who that gal is, and whar she come from?” _**She was so tired and flighty-like that I didn’t stop to ax any questions. When she’s rested [ll interview her,” “Say, may’r,” observed Old Mahomet, ‘*wouldn’t I makéa fine cum’it’y to call on the angel and talk’ith her? You never heard me warble to a woman, did ye? Oh! I’m a hrunette on rockers when it comes to that! I used to be a hull jewel-shop ’mongst the ladies, but I'd got a little rusty the past few years; but since she come, my old memory’s been fillin’ up like a guide to courtship on fine words an’ sayin’s,” Then Ill take ye long when I go to inter- view her,” decided Bloom ;‘‘ but I’ve a proclama- tion to issue fu’st. Come into the hall.” The two entered the building, a long, roomy log structure, in which most of the camp had assembled to discuss the great sensation of the hour.. Mayor Bloom mounted an empty whisky barrel, and in a sharp, business tone shouted: ‘* Men o’ Pilgrims’ Bar, you'll please close the gaps in yer faces and come to order.” deep and respectful silence followed. - ‘Friends and citizens,” the mayor went on, ‘we have somethin’ to do. As you all know, one 0’ the Lord’s purest and prettiest of angels has come amongst us askin’ our protection from —I know not-what, I feel that her comin’ isan omen 0’ good-Inck to us; but, be it good or bad, it is our duty to pertect ner till purgatory is a solid cake o’ crystalice. And furthermore, we don’t want her to think that she’s in the lair o’a gang o’ wild animals, ora band of water prohibi- tionists; therefore, by virtue of the power vested in'me as mayor o’ thiscamp, I do hereby issue the follerin’ verbal proclamation—to wit, namely: ‘Every man shall perceed at once and forth- with to wash hisself, dress up his beard, comb his ha’r, sand-stone the tobacco-drip off’n his shirt-front, take his pants outen his boot-tops, see that both suspenders are in workin’ order— if he wears such things at all—and remove the mournin’ from his hands and nails that some 0’ ye gb dei bem from Arizony, nine months ago. If any roostero’ you appears before the Protege o’ Pilgrims’ Bar without havin’ fu’st complied with the orders hereunto set forth in this proclamation, he shall be subject to a heavy fine, or forever furbidden to speak to the al, or both, and be drummed out o’ camp to oot. Do ye hear, men o’ Pilgrims’ Bar?’ An affirmative shout almost raised the roof on the ‘‘ City Hall.” “Then git thar!” commanded the official, Z and in two hours report here for inspec- ion,” An amusing activity followed the mayor’s or- ders, The miners p en masse to the creek and made a most thorough ablution. In the absence of soap, the free use of sandy clay answered the purpose admirably. Gator Sam, one of the boarding - house darkies, the possessor of the only razor in the camp, and which he had always carried as a weapon of defense, with an eye to business, at i toilet, so to speak, all were ter, now—God only mayor pitched his voice in a higher — same time brandishing a revolver abo head, ‘‘ I want you to remember that the fu’st son of a mother o’ ye that offers that gal an in- sult, by deed or thought, I will shoot—” his arms he held the struggling form of t tege of Pilgrims’ Bar. the hat on his head he was dressed as an Indian. hair-dressing at a quarter ounce of dust “* per rooster,” and “uring the entire two hours he drove a thriving business, assisted by his part- ner, Catfish Jce, Finally, when the miners had made their ‘“roun. ed up” ‘n the saloon for inspection, by the mayor, who ad, himself, trimmed his beard, combed his sir and put on a clean shirt. A roar of laughter burst from Bloom’s lips as 45e gazed upon the metamorphosed faces around him. Every man had done his best, and some so well that they were almost entire strangers tohim. The latter were those who had been | shaved clean, and had theirshair cut, and in roore than one case the change was so complete that the mayor facetiously begged an introduc- tion. Old Mahomet came up smiling with his thin locks combed smooth, the tobacco-staizns re- moved from his broad bearded chin, his clothes well ‘‘ sand-scoured,” and his hat raised toits full hight, padded out, and sitting square- ly on his head, ‘* A real, good-lookin’ set o’ kiyotes,” the mayor declared, approvingly, ‘‘ and while this ere little affair has made some o’ ye strangers to each other, and removed ail di-doubts as to your belonging to the Caucasian race, I hope it’s the beginnin’ o’ a new era in the history Pilgrims’ Bar. ‘*Men, for twenty years I’ve been a miner, and my heart had grown calloused. All the gentler incidents o’ my earlier life war blotted from my mem’ry, so it seemed; but the instant that gal’s little warm hand touched mine it sent a thrill through my whole being, and in- stantly the past loomed up beforeme, I caught the glimpse of a dear old face—the face o’ my noe long in ber grave—of a kind, gentle sis- nows where! Ever since, leasant things and dear faces have been pass- in’ before me—things and faces o’ my younger days, and I begin to feel like another man—a And now, men!” and the stalwart at the ve his better man, He did not finish the sentence, for at this mo- mént the clatter of borses’ hoofs sweeping down the street, mingled with a wild, piercing scream—the scream of a woman—assailed the ears of the miners, and sent a sickening chill to their very hearts! CHAPTER II, SILENT SAUL, For a moment the miners stood staring from one to the other as if their bodies had been par- alyzed; but it wasfor a moment only. With a bound like that of a deer, Old Mahomet rushed from the saloon, Bloom, who in turn was followed by all the miners, He was closely followed by ‘*My Lord!” cried Old Mahomet, ‘‘a devil has got our angel!” and in he Pro- Vith the exception of A horseman was flying down the gulch ‘‘ Halt! halt!” shouted Bloom at the top of his lungs, as he rushed down the road; but the vil- lain was alread nizant of the shoulder at the excited miners, and uttered a fierce, defiant yell. blended with the sharp , leaped almost out of hissaddle. His horse came to a sudden stop, the girl slipped from his arms: and fell motionless to the ground, while he, rey pite earth. beyond Pio ee and, cog- act, he glanced back over his But it was bis last, for it report of a rifle, and he ing to and fro for a moment or two, finally ed forward and dropped heavily to the ‘Gods! but wasn’t that a juicy shot?” ex- claimed Mahorfiet, as he and Bloom hastened to the assistance of the maiden. ‘But I’m afraid it’s killed the gal, too,” re- plied the mayor. i ‘¢ Better she be dead’n in that devil’sclutches!” declared Old. Mahomet; ‘‘ but, who fired the shot?” ‘There comes the man,” responded Bloom, inting to a figure that had emerged from the | serntor at the side of the gulch and was advanc- ing, rifle in band. ** By the royal Jacobins! it’s Silent Saul, the Young Mountain Patrol,” declared the old miner. And so it was.* With hasty footsteps the young mountaineer a Sg es them, a look of deep anxiety upon face—an eager light
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ry ee ee a ee ~~ fo Ahan cee reer Toner = eee eS SRS 8 SOE AEE burning in hiseyes. And sucha face! and such eyes! — cea ae Th. Silent Saul, the Young Mountain Pat ' fe) 3: Mahomet, *‘ and the yaller-maned boy give him the miasma squar’ atwixt the peepers. But, Scarcely more than twenty years of age could | may’r, who’d ’a’ thought Injuns war ’bout these this new-comer have been. He was above the | diggin’s? The lopin’ varlet has follered the gal medium in hight, broad-shouldered, deep-chest- ed, with muscular limbs and sma)l extremities, the ideal of physical manhood. But, still more remarkable was his face, which was devoid of beard; slightly oval in contour, with a high and noble forehead, a fairly prominent nose, and a mouth expressive of firmness and decision, His eyes were of a dark blue, keen and bright, but nervous and sweeping in their glances as the eyes of one accustomed to eternal vigilance—not the vigilance of the hunted fugitive—but like that of the noble buck that instinctively suspects the presence of danger at all times, whetber wandering in the grassy vale or traversing the gloomy wind-carving of the mountains, Still another striking feature of this youth was his hair, It was of a light golden hue such as is seldom seen except upon the heads of chil- dren, Jt was tossed back from brow and tem- ple, and fell liko yellow, silken floss to his shoulders, givin s a softening effect to the pecu- liarly rugged yet handsome face, every linea- ment of which seemed to have been the develop- ment of a single life-p se combining manly courage, fearless determination and heroic pa- tience, ekcey He was dressed asa mountaineer, his trowsers, over-shirt and moccasins being of buckskin. A light, blue flannel undershirt lay open at the collar, revealing a smooth yet strong neck, across which ran, just above the Adam’s apple, a horrible red scar, He was armed with a handsome repeating- rifle, a knife and revolver. Around his waist was a belt filled with fixed ammunition, for both rifle and revolver, Thus appeared Silent Saul, the Young Moun- tain Patrol, as he wasknownto Pilgrims’ Bar, as the other camps of the ‘‘Silver Belt,” and the Mormon settlements further north. Beyond his name, little was really known of him more than that he was speechless—dumb—a misfortune that must have been the result of accident, for 3 hearing was as acute as that of the mountain deer. As no one could obtain from him a single word regarding the cause of his loss of speech, or of his history, many were the conjectures in regard to him. Some believed he was simply a hunter, whose striking appearance and voice- less lips had surrounded him with an air of mys- tery. Some regarded him as an avenging Nemesis, whose incentive lay in ‘the silence of his tongue and the red scar across his throat; while others suspected him of being a spy and scout of the Danites, or of the outlaws under the leadership of the daring, dashing bandit, Revenue Bill, But, as no proof of his having been, in any way, connected with evil-doers, was ever brought against him, and as he always conduct- ed himself with a manly dignity and honor in keeping with his frank, open countenance, he was kindly received and entertained in all the mining-camps that he occasionally visited. Knowing that Silent Saul had slain the maid- en’s would-be abductor, and observing the in- quiring look upon his face that his silent tongue could not put into words as he came up, Old Mahomet, who had discovered that the girl had not been hit by his bullet, exclaimed: ‘¢ Well done, Saul! The gal’s only seared and slightly stunned by her fall! Come forward and receive the eternal thanks o’ Pilgrims’ Bar, you yaller- haired glory — you magnificent whooper!”’ A faint smile lighted up the face of the Young Mountain Patrol, and with a wavo of the hand and bow of the head he acknowledged Maho- met’s compliment. Assisted by Mayor Bloom the maiden arose to her feet, gazing in confusion and affright about her. Her eyes met those of Silent Saul for the first time, and as a light of admiration shone from their depths, and a tinge of red suffused her face, she said: **You are the gentleman who so kindly res- cued me?” Silent Saul touched his hat and answered with a nod of the head. ** Miss Idyl,” remarked Old Mahomet, ‘‘ Silent | Saul is dumb ;—he cannot promis’ An expression of pain fli over the maiden’s lovely face. She saw Saul take a small tablet from his pocket and begin to write thereon, hohojaag he had finished he handed the tablet to er, Bloom and Mahomet examined the face of the fallen foe, who lay a few feet away. ** An’ Ingin, by jumpin’ Jacobins!” exclaimed here, and, while we war toiletin’ ourselves up and takin’ lessonsin ettikette, the sly devil stole | into camp and got the gal right under our pro- | bosises; and if it hadn’t been for Yaller-Top | She’d been lost, soul and body.” ‘Well, there’s one thing certain,” Bloom an- swered, ‘‘and thatis—we may look out for fur- der troubles from the red-skins. There’s more than this one’round in these hills, and theyll | not give— Ah! horsemen are coming now!” The clatter of hoofs fell upon their ears, The next moment two masked men galloped into view around a point of rocks that were thrust sharply out into the valley, and with re- volvers in their right hands opened fire on the | miners at a distance ot twenty rods, ** Mormon avengers! or outlaws!” yelled Ma- homet, :*‘and they’re after the gal or blood! Be YS let’s warm ’em up with lead—fill ’em full!’ But, he had scarcely finished speaking before Silent Saul had stepped from the crowd around him, throw his rifle to his shoulder, and fired, One of the masked horsemen was seen to throw up his arms the instant the rifle cracked; his revolver fell from his hand, he reeled in his saddle and would have fallen had his companion not caught him about the waist, dragged him from his saddle to @ position across his horse's withers, then turned and beat an inglorious re- treat to shelter behind the point of rocks, as ra- pidly as he had come, Silent Saul was greeted by a ringing shout from the miners, as he coolly turned and walked back to where they stood, But, when the ex- citement had abated, and it was discovered that two of the crowd had been wounded by the bul- lets of the masked horsemen, the miners’ joy turned to the wildest indignation. The maiden was immediately escorted back to Bloom’s cabin, and, to make sure that an- other surprise might not'occur, two men armed with rifles were placed on guard outside the door. Another meeting was held at the City Hall and the state of affairs discussed. Thatthe two masked horsemen were whites, and confederates of the ‘ow red-skin, there seemed little doubt; but, whether all three were outlaws, or merely the tools of Mormonism, they knew not. The facts, however, they concluded, could be ascertained from the maiden, for it was from those very men she had doubtless sought the protection otf the camp. A visit to tbe girl was fanaa and Mayor Bloom and the voluble Mahomet se- lected as the party to hold the interview. But, much tothe surprise of all, when Bloom was ready to start on his mission, Mahomet was found missing, nor could he be foundanywhere, high or low, in the camp! That did it mean? It was easy to ask the None but no one could answer it. Some thought it a little singular that he should leave them as he did at. that critical time, but the more outspoken declared that it looked decided- ly suspicious, decided upon, CHAPTER III. THE LONE NIGHT SCOUT. Tne disappearance of Mahomet caused no little excitement in camp, and delayed the in- terview with the maiden. Some thought he would soon return and account for his absence, It was nothing unusual for him to wander off alone day or night; but it was leaving at that particular time, when all was excitement, that disturbed them. Silent Saul finally announced that he would go out in search of the absent man, and at the sam3 time reconnoiter the surrounding hillsand woods. He seemed to suspect the presence of enemies in force somewhere about. Taking his departure, he proceeded down the gulch to the Virgin River, a mile from camp, up which stream he turned his foosteps, Briskly he walked along, his form erect, his keen eyes taking in everything around him, his golden hair, as he turned his head, seeming to emit flashes of mellow sunlight. Silent as his voice were his footsteps, and so sprightly that he soon found himself three or four miles from camp. By this time theysun had gone and the day was near its end, Darkness found the Young Patrol near a great whirlpool in the river known there- abouts as the ‘* Devil’s Stew-Kettle.” It was at a point where the river made a sharp bend, The water, after sweeping with great velocity a ee down a rocky inclination, shot over a fall of six @recight feet high into agreat stone-walled basin with a sullen roar. At that season of the year the volume of wa- ter in the Virgin River was reduced to a mini- mum, yet the p 01 was none the less noisy—bcil- ing, swirling, bubbling and gurgling as though it held inits embrace a dozen writhing, strang- ling demons, Yor a moment Silent Saul stood and gazed in- to the angry flood, and listened to the medley of the strange sounds. Finally he turned to depart, As he did so, he started, stopped and glanced over his shoulder. He heard @ peculiar sound—a choking cough. lt seemed to come from the depths of the whirlpool; but upon reflection the Young Patrol conceived how easy it was, with a slight stretch of the imagination, to hear any soundof distress and turmoil in the angry waters, and so dismissing the matter from his mind, he went on his way, The course the young mountaineer took lay through a body of heavy timbers, and as night had now set in, the darkness was intense, However, the youth moved on, slowly , cautious- ly, until his ears were assailed by a faint sound, when he stopped and listened. The sound was repeated, and it seemed to bea human groan, and looking in the direction whence it proceeded, he discerned the faint glow of a light. Concealing his rifle and cartridge-belt, he crept cautiously toward the light, revolver in hand. He soon came in full view of three or feur camp-fires, around which were seated, standing and reclining, no less than two-score men, Creeping still closer—-so close that he could hear the men talk, he was enabled to make out the complexion of the party, or some of it, at ay rate, ' t was an easy matter to distinguish ‘the pres- ence of half-a-dozen red-skins who were dressed in full Indian garbs, except that they wore hats. Besides these, and a few Mexicans, all the others wore white men, so to speak, Few of them were dressed alike, The garb of the miner, the ranchero, the mountaineer, the bandit and the Mormon ‘‘disciple” was represented in the crowd. Having ascertained this much, the nxt thing to determine was the character of the party. All were heavily armed, A wounded man lay upon the ground near one of the fires, everand anon breaking forth into groans of pain. One of the most conspicuous of the party Silent Saul finally recognized as one ‘* Bishop” Darral, a prominent Mormon residing some forty or fifty miles to the northward, He was not, in reality, a ‘‘ bishop,” but was so-called, for he was a bright and shining light of the Church, hated by the Gentiles, and feared by his friends. He was past fifty years of age, with a tall muscular form, a bearded face, and cold, cruel gray eyes, around which were gathered the deep, hard lines so characteristic of a passionate and violent temper. Another person of note whom Silent Saul rec- ognized was none other than the bandit chief Revenue Bill, That he and *‘ Bishop” Darra should affiliate was not at all surprising to many Gentiles, for the opinion had long pre- vailcd that Revenue Bill was an agent of the Mormon Church, and that the ‘‘ collections” he took up among the Gentiles were for the benefit of that institution. But be that as it may, Revenue Bill’s mode of robbery was different, somewhat, from that of most outlaws. He would descend upon the out- lying camps when least expected—and it seemed he had agents at every camp to notify him of themost favorable time to call—take the miners off their guard, make a demand for a certain amount of wealth—never in excess of tho amount on hand--and on obtaining it quietly depart for new fields, Naturally enough, the miners became en- raged, and prepared to give the dashing bandit a warm reception the next time he came, But, Bill was shrewd enough never to call at the same place the second time, for as new mines were being almost daily opened up, his source of revenue was unlimited, even though he made but one *‘ assessment” on a place. The wounded man in camp Saul felt confident was one of the masked horsemen he had shot that evening near Pilgrims’ Bar, and if so, he realized that a great danger hung over the camp, Tt mi ht have been merely accident’ that threw «Bishop ” Darral and his friends into tha tial
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ETT S 1 je) bas a Pap Ae es tS ee “Silent Saul, the You 0 5 aia bien rp at ee ae Te Ge Se ee Saat ot ee eect a as el LiL lias elaice Bin sot be WE RIT Sgt Rt yy a phe ng Mountain Patrol, = ia eas Th en nd camp with the outlaws that night; but, whether this was so or not, the best of feeling seemed t exist between them ; and the only deduction the Young Patrolcould make was that the futrre would find them acting together, and that, too, against Pilgrims’ Bar. Determined to lose no time in retracing his footsteps, and putting the camp on its guard, he arose to depart. As he did so he received a blow on the head from a bludgeon in the hands of an unseen foe, that sent him reeling back- ward through the undergrowth into full glare of the camp-fire where, striking his heel against a rock, he fell to the ground. Half-dazed by the blow the youth sprung to his feet when, to elude a second ‘blow from his assailant who lunged through the bushes upon him, he sprung backward, drew his revolver and fired. The man felldead. Saul madea bound for tho shadows, but was met by no less than three outlaws, whoseized upon him and crowded him back into the light. By this time the whole camp was aroused, and when, by superhuman efforts, Saul suc- ceeded in getting free of his three assailants, he was surrounded by the entire party, a dozen of whom had him covered with their revolvers. “‘Stand!” shouted a man before him, “or yow'll be riddled!” In the struggle with the three men Saul had lost his revolver; but now drawing his knife, he flashed a look over the excited faces before him that involuntarily widened the circle around him. ‘* Well, what in the name of the prophets has broke loose?’ asked Darral, as he pushed his way into the circle. *-Wecaught a feller spyin’ round camp,” re- plied one of the three men with whom Saul had come in contact, ‘‘ buat the sneakin’ varmint “poeta poor Joe] Sands, and now defies us all! ‘*Ugh!” ejaculated a little, ferret-eyed In- dian, as he caught sight of Saul’s face in the light of the cump-fire, ‘he Still Spirit—big shoot! He kill Wolf-Foot when Wolf-Foot go to camp and git white squaw and ride away!” ‘You're right, most noble Cobra-Head,” de- clared a dark-visaged man of undoubted Span- ish blood; and then turning to Darral, ho ton- tinued : ‘‘ Sefior Darral, behold Silent Saul, the Mountain Patrol, whom you’d just expressed a wish to see.” Bishop Darral uttered an exclamation of sur- prise when, for the first time, he looked upon the Young Patrol; but when his eyes met those of the youth, he started back as if with sudden fear. There was something in the light ef those flashing orbs that none but Darral seemed to realize. It sent a shiver through his frame, and he turned away to escape the boy’s gaze. Half a dozen outlaws brought flaming torches from the fire and held them aloft. In their wavering light the figure of the Young Patrol stood fully revealed—tall, erect, his head bare, and his e, stern-set features framed in by his long, disheveled, yellow hair. ‘*Lord!” exclaimed Darral, who, having re- covered his composure, once more turned his eyes upon tlie youth, ‘‘ don’t he do the tragical in fine style? But, boys, that’sall bluff. I com- mand you, in the name of the prophets, to take him prisoner.” Quickly Silent Saul turned and waved the human hyenas back, His face grew white as death, while the circles of his eyes seemed to burst into wheels of consuming fire, CHAPTER IV. THE WHIRLPOOL TRAGEDY AND MYSTERY. THE ruffian assailants of Silent Saul hesitated and drew back asif awed by that terrible look. It was plain to all that he meant to fight, and that to attack him would be certain death to some of them before he could be overpowered, “Tt’s no usefirin’ up, young man,” expostulat- ed Darra), ‘ You've overdone the thing te-day in shootin’ twoof our men, and you must an- swer tothe Avenging Angels for those deaths, Furthermore, we propose to know who Silent aul is that we’ve heard so much about.” The mute threw back his head, exposing his white, smooth neck, and pointed to the red scar upon his throat, Then he touched his lips, shook his head, and again motioned the mob back with a quick, nervous sweep of the arm. Some of the wretches laughed at him and made light of his infirmities; but there were a few others who experienced a strange feeling of terror creeping over them whenever they met the burning glances of the Young Patrol’s eyes, _ ‘Say, men,” suddenly spoke up Revenue Bill, Bice eink a re al aS Re rR Es dahl ee ee et eee the bandit, ‘‘ isn’t this matter hanging fire? If you’re afraid to attack the Patrol, let him de- part. He’s no coward, you can rest assured.” ‘* Closein on him, men!” shouted the *‘ Bishop,” at a safe distance from the défiant, fearless foe. fhe circle began to move. Those on the out- side crowded the others inward, Cobra-Head, the Indian, dropped forward on his hands, and by a quick movement essayed to seize the youth by the ankles from behind; but, quick as he was, Silent Saul was quicker, and with a downward and backward sweep of the arm, the keen blade of his knife dashed across the red-skin’s neck with such force as to almost sever the head from the shoulders! The mob, however, took advantage of the mo- mentond rushed inuponthe young mountaineer likea pack of wolves. But witha giant’sstrength the mute plied thatterrible knife and fought like a madman until, by sheer force, he was over- powered, borne to theearth and bound hand and foot. Saul’s hands being tied, the Bishop had no hesitation in facing him, and taunting him with vile epithets and curses. ‘*What shall we do with him, Bishop?” one “Rocky” Lnke finally asked, eager to avenge the death of bis friends. “Cook him!” cried the ‘‘Saint.” ‘‘ Away with him to the Devil’s Stew-Kettle, and plunge him in alive, with a stone about his neck! He’ll make good Satan’s broth, Away with him to the Kettle!” With a wild shout of approval, and the pros- pect of some excitement more to their taste, the infuriated mob hurried away through the woods with the prisoner to the edge of the whirlpool, a dozen men with flaming torches, leading the way. To make sure of the depth of the pocl a man tied a stone to the end of a lariat and lowered it into the water. It was fully fifteen feet deep. ‘*Oh! it’s a noble ole pdt-hole!” declared the man making the measurement, ‘‘and’ll hold its secret till doomsday.” While three or four stones were being tied to the stalwart form of the Young Patrol, Darral confronted him, saying: ‘* Youngster, this comes of your nosing around in other people’s affairs, and of being too handy with pistol and knife, You’ve long been sus- pected of being a spy and scout of those who would destroy the Church of the Saints and all its believers. But Mormonism is deep-rooted, and is here to stay, despite the power of its ene- mies. Yours is to be the fate of many others who have crossed the path of the Avenging An- gels; and if you have anything to say—to com- municate before you go, you can now have the opportunity of doing so.” Silent Seul drew himself proudly erect, his browscontracted and his lips curled with scorn. Then ke flashed a look of defiance at Darral and at the mob around him, while an expression of cold disdain settled upon his face. **Oh, but he’s gamey!” observed an outlaw: it ee like a pity to waste such rattlin’ good pluck! A frown clouded the brow of Darral when he heard this remark, and through fear that too much sympathy for the doomed youth might be created by further delay, he ordered two men, named Conklin and Bard, 1o put an end to their work. Stepping forward, the two, one on either side of the Young Patrol, lifted him bodily from the ground and advanced to the edge of the rock vibe, me: the whirlpool. As they did so, the doomed mountaineer, as if eager to meet death, threw himself forward with such force that, before the man Conklin could release his hold upon him, he was thrown out of balance on the edge of the basin, and, with the silent youth, Lyry headlong into the whirlpool! A ery of horror burst from the outlaws and Mormons as they saw their confederate disap- yor beneath the boiling flood with their vic- tim, baagitaet ti eoat face downward, upon the rock, with head and shoulders hanging over the whirlpool, Bard watched for Conklin to rise to the surface. He had but a few moments to wait. The man was suddenly thrown to the surface of the boiling caldron and whirled around and around, bis face wearing an ex- pression of appalling agony. The swirling wa- ters carried him close to the basin’s rim, when Bard seized him by the arm, and, with other help, the victim was lifted from the ‘‘ Kettle.” Te the surprise of his friends, Conklin could not speak, nor could he stand or sit; and as he sunk peetay to the ground, he was seized with a violent fit of coughing, which was followed | by a gush of blood from his mouth and nostrils | that almcst strangled bim, ‘* He’s ruptured a bloud-vessel!” exclaimed. Darral, excitedly. ‘Open his collar, and loosen his belt!” cried another. This was done, but it afforded the man no relief, and, a few moments later, he was taken with convulsions and in two minutes was dead. An expression of genuine sorrow and pain rested upon the face of the Bishop. He took a torch and advancing to the edge ef the whirl- pool gazed down into the vortex of waters. No | sign of Saul could be seen, and the fact seemed. to afford him some relief. Meanwhile Bard examined the body of his pard. He could not believe his death had been caused by drowning, for he had not been in the water to exceed forty seconds. His friends did not share in this belief, but when he revealed to their gaze two wounds in Conklin’s breast, that looked asif they had been made by knife- stabs, they were forced to accept the truth, startling as it was. “3 Bard probed the wounds with his finger: Both_ were clean-cut and deep. The outlaws and Mormons stood aghast. ‘There was some frightful mystery connected with this tragedy, for it seemed utterly impossible for the augry, waters to have hurled him against any hidden, knife-like projections that would have inflicted such a clear, deep and mortal wound, And yet, what cise could have done it? They were dead sure the mute Saul had not dealt those blows, for, with both hands and feet bound, and weighted with stones, he had gone to the bottom cf the pool like a bullet, and had never appeared again! Yor the second time, Darral, accompanied by Revenue Bill, went back and gazed down into the waters which seemed laughing and gurglim with conscious, fiendish glee; but they, coul discover nothing thet would even suggest a. so-- lution of the mystery of Conklin’s death. With the body of their friend the party final- ly took their departure for camp. Darral was the last to leave, and when but a few paces away he stopped, turned around and went back once more to the edge of the whirl- pool. He was under a horrible fascination. He could not resist it, although conscious of the subtle port, that enslaved him, On the edge of the basin he stopped, and as he gazed down into the waters, holding a torch above his head, he heard a voice-—a strange, hollow voice that seemed to bubble up from the very depths of the whirlpool, saying: ** Lafolette! Lafolette! thy doom is sealed!” A shiver ran through every fiber of the frame of the Bishop. He reeled, turned and fled the spot asif to escape the wrath of an avenging God! CHAPTER V. THE MAIDEN’S STORY. THE disappearance of Old Mahomet hada tendency to throw the entire camp off its bal- ance, for never since his advent into Pilgrims’ Bar until! this time hed they felt such an inter- est in the strange and eccentric old man. Bloom still delayed calling on the maiden in hopes that night would send Mahomet in, or at least that Silent Saul might bring some inform- ation regarding his unaccountable departure from the settlement. In the mean time every miner in camp pro- ceeded to clean up bis fire-arms and load them ready for any emergency. As soon as night set in four men were sent to guard Bloom’s cabin and the Protégée of Pil- grims’ Bar, Most of the men were assembled at the City Hall discussing the events of the day and specu- lating what the morrow would bring forth. Two or three hours thus passed when the silence, so unusual in that place, was broken by the sudden appearance of Old Mahomet, who came bounding into the room as chipper as a youtl: of twenty, and without the least apparent concern marched up to the bar and called for a drink. And not until/yhe had received and quaffed the liquor did he deign to answer ony of the volley of questions cr criticisms fired at him, *“Now, pards,” he said, as ke placed the empty glass on the bar, ‘‘I’m ready for you. By the way, some 0’ you chaps seem to mistrust mein goin’ out to take an evenin’ramble. Is there anything ’bout my classic face, or gym- nastic form, or stoic garb that savors of Druidi- cal mystery? Dol look like an unfathomable abyss in which are concealed deep, dark and woolly secrets? Do I look like a Danite league, or a gnome of darkness that feeds and fattens on spirits of the night washed down with moun- | “
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Silent Saul, th ‘ttain-dews? Say, what kind of an old lally- whooper do you take me for?” **Pard,” responded Bloom, ‘‘ what did ye {eave us for, anyhow, when your wise counsel war so greatly needed to keep our ears from gittin’ lonesome?” **To take a walk—a ramble for a health-lift,” Mahomet answered, with a good-natured smile. ** You know I dote on night atmosphere for my lungs. Hav’n’t I told you my doctor sent me into this salubrious clime for my health? But say, pards, let me tell you that you can look out for a visit, sooner or later, from a gang of outiaws made up of Mormon bishops and lay- men, Ingins, Mexicans and the Lord only knows who else,” ** Is it possible?” exclaimed Bloom, “True as Gospel. They’re in camp up the river now, for { saw ’em with my own eyes. think Revenue Bill’s in the crowd.” ‘It would be a poor time for that thief to strike Pilgrims’ Bar,” averred Marshal Hazen, ** for it was only two days ago we sent our dust all over to Carson.” ** Yes; but to convince him of that fact,” sug- gested Mahomet, ‘* might prove a difficult task. But, boys, remember we must, for the gal’s sake, avoid all troubles, even if we have to make a little sacrifico one way and another.” This last remark sounded a little queer, if not suspicious; but, as Old Mahomet was past find- ing out, as the months he had been at Pilgrims’ Bar bad demonstrated, he was not called upon to explain. In fact, Mayor Bloom @hanged the subject by inquiring: ‘*?Aomet, did you see anything o’ Silent Saul while ye war refreshin’ yer lungs?” “Nota thing! Fact is, ld forgot ’bout him entirely ; but say, Swanzy,” and the old Puzzle turned to the barkeeper, ‘‘ set out the ‘snake- wake’ tor the house.” **Look here, pard,” exclaimed the mayor, **vou don’t want to sp’ile yer breath, for you and me’s’p’inted a committee to call on the Protégée.” ‘*Oh, murder! no!” Mahomet replied in great surprise; ‘‘me a comity to call on the angel? Well, then, Swanzy, no more‘ snake-work’ for me; but, dish it out to the boys jist as long as a Pinte of them wants to make hisself a serpent’s den.” In his exuberance of spirit the old Puzzle was libéral, both in purse and language, and while his friends availed themselves of his liberality to take one drink around, they were too cau- tious, and some of them even suspicious, to muddle their brains with liquor. Finaliy Bloom and Mahomet left the saloon and proceeded to call on the maiden, whom they found quite composed after her day’s experience, She seemed aHeh pleased to see them. ‘* Miss Stranger,” Bloom began, as he seated himself on a stool after some preliminary re- marks, ‘‘ we've called on you to inquire what yer handle—I mean yer name might be, and what sent you into this ’ere camp.” The girl glanced from one to the other of her visitors, evidently pleased with the interest they took in her welfare, and seating herself she an- swered: ‘““My name is Numa Custer; and, as toa home, [ have none othér now than this,” and a look of pain passed over her fair face, and her eyes filled with mist. ‘‘ Yuma Custer?” repeated Mahomet thought- fully, his squint eye closing tight, while the other fixed a searching glance upon the maiden; “* but, where did you come from, Numa?” ‘*f came from the settlement near Beaver,” she answered, ‘‘a fugitive from Mormon perse- cution.” ‘*T knew it!” exclaimed Mahomet, excitedly slapping his knee with his hand; ‘‘ by the jump- in’ Jacobins, I knewit! That cussed Mormon Church is—” ‘* Hold up, Mahomet!” interposed the mayor; **keap your shirt—I mean, keep yer temper, for yer’ in the presence o’ ladies.” ‘**Scuse me, Miss Custard,” the old man said, apologetically ; ‘‘ goon with your story and I'll keep the may’r still if I have to chlorotorm him ith that are pick-handle, Have you no friends —relatives, Miss Numa?” **T have a brother,” the girl replied, ‘‘if he has not been killed by the Saints. We lived in tho valley not far trom the ranch of Bishop Darrel. Our father settled there, years ago- before Darra! or eny other Mormen hadscome into the valley. After undergoing hardships and privations—the worst of all being the death of mather—father accumulated some sroperty and ‘built us a nice, pleasant home. Meantime the Mormons kept coming into the valley and settling around us, es i ** All went well, as we supposed, until one day father disappeared. We do not know to this day what became of him, although he disap- p2zared two months ago, We were satisfied, however, that he had been murdered by the Mormons, for father was very bitter and out- spoken in his hatred of the Saints, ‘* Brother Tom and I said nothing of our sus- picions. We were heirs to our father’s prop- erty, and resolved to sell everything and leave the country as other Gentiles kave had to do, Bishop Darral contracted for all our possessions. He was tu pay five thousand dollars for the same, one morith afterward, on the day that I became of legal Before that longed-for day came around, Bishop: Darral visited our house, and told me that he had had a revelation in which it was revealed to him that it was the Lord’s wish I shculd be made his fourth and most cherished wite—” ‘The tumultuous ole hellonian! Why did- wt you whang some hot water into his face— scaid bis eyes out, the leprous ole cancer! Jumpin’ Jacobins! I’d like to’a’ been out and around—” ‘* Whist, Mahomet! that lip o’ yourn.” interrupted impatient tap of the heel. ‘*Pardon me, Miss Custer, for I had to let it out.” With a smile at the eccentric old man’s appar- ent confusion, Numa continued: ‘*The idea of me being the wife of Darral, even if he had been a single man, was revolt- ing. I denounced him to his face as a human monster, and his church as a blighting curse—” ‘*Bully! bully!” broke in the impulsive Ma- homet; ‘‘ served the old leper right! But ’scuse me ag’in,” “*My reply to him,” Numa went on, ‘‘so en- raged him that he swore he would make me and Tom both beggars if I refused to become his wife. I did not know then what he really meant by the threat, or, at least, how he intended to accomplish his designs of making us beggars. But, two days ago I found out. ‘* The day I reached my eighteenth year Tom and I went before a magistrate and signed the papers conveying to Darral all our property in consideration of the sum of five thousand dol- lars, ‘* With the papers brother Tom proceeded to the ranch of Darral to complete the sale, ‘Dar- ral wanted to examine the deeds, and Tom handed them to him, Heread them over and then coolly put them in his pocket, at the same time producing another paper which he held up, saying: ‘*** Thomas, here is a paper—a sort of a note and mortgage together—calling for just five thousand dollars, and bindingsthe heirs, assigns and executors of the maker for the payment of the same, The man who gave this note, Thomas, was your own father, and I must apply the pur- chase price of his estate—your property and Numa’s—on the note.’ ‘*To brother Tom this news came like a thun- derbolt, for he had never heard of such an obli- gation before. Hedeclared it aforgery. Darral pade him examine it. The signature was that of John C, Worth. The instrument bad been dated at Kentonville, Kentucky, sixteen years previous.” ‘“ Ah! indeed?”’ exclaimed Mahomet, with a nervous start; ‘*‘ was that note made payable to Bishop Darral?” ‘No, sir; it was made payable to Daniel Kirk, ‘or bearer,’ Darral claimed to have pur- chesed tite note of Kirk a day or two before that man’s mysterious disappearance from Kcnton- ville.” ‘Well, what did your brother say?” ‘*He told Darrai that even if the note was genuine, it had become outlawed—that the stat- ute of limitations would debar collection. ‘A cold, mocking Jaugh escaped the Mor- mon’s lips, and holding the back of the note so that Tom could see it, he said: ‘ Do you see that indorsement? A few days before your father’s death or disappearance, he paid meone hundred dollars on the note, and that indorsement re- news the obligation [” ‘‘ But if the notewassigned by JohnC, Worth, how could it be John Custer’s obligation?” queri- ed Mayor Bloom, ‘*T was just coming to that,” Numa replied. ‘*T am going to tell you all, however painful it may betome. Brother Tom threatened to in- voke the aid of the law unless Darral returned our papers or paid for the property. To this the ecenton replied that, in such an event, he would be compelled to show that Jobn Custer was John C, Worth, and that he was a fugitive from justice—that an indictment stood against ave, : Clap the breaks onto )) Bloom, with an e Young Mountain Patrol. 5 him on the court records of the State of Ken- tucky for the murder of Daniel Kirk, to whom the note was made payable, ‘¢Gentlemen, I know my father’s name was Worth, and that he dropped that name when he left Kentucky. Ialso know that his whole life was under a cloud, end ke had promised to tell us all some time. He may have been charged with Kirk’s murder, but I cannot think my dear, kind father was such acriminal. Darral knew our great love for our fatherand his mem- ory, and he thought Tom would pay the note rather than have the stigma cast upon ourselves as well as on our father’s name. ‘‘And in this he was, ina measure, correct, Tom saw that the mak had the advantage of him because all the officers of justice thereabout were Mormons, ard he could hope for nothing by going to law; so when Darral saw that Tom was dis oged to settle the note, though it would make us penniless, he proposed a compromise which he thought would meet Tom’s prompt ap- proval. He propcsed that if I would marry him be would settle tor half the face of the note! ‘‘ But, the wretch.was mistaken in his man, It was an insult to Tom’s manhood, and he flew at the detestable villain’sthroat and would have choked the life out of him, had friends, whom he bad within reach, not come to his assist- ance.” “Gallant fellow! How I’d like to embrace him!” declared Mahomet, rubbing his palms to- gether in glee, ‘¢ When brother turned to leave the Mormon’s presence, he told Tom that he would keep our papers, and that he should marry me if it took all Mormondom to perform the ceremony, and that’we could make up our minds to that end, ‘“Tom came home and told me all, and we at once prepared for flight. The following night we rode away from our dear old home, fugi- tives from man’s injustice. We determined to seek refuge among the miners of New Mexico and from there go wherever it seemed best anc sufest. Butit seems Darral had kept a watch on our movements, for we soon found that we were being pursued. ‘¢ Ten miles from here Tom’s horse fell lame, and he was forced to quit his saddle, He bade me ride on, giving me directions by which I could reach yourcamp. Here he hoped to join me, But poor, brave Tom! I am afraid some- thing has happened to him, or he would have been here ere this.” ‘Don’t git discouraged, little un,” urged Mahomet, encouragingly; ‘if Tom don’t show up to-night, we'll look after him. As game a fellow as he ar’n’t goin’ to be catched asleep, And as for Bishop Darral, don’t be afraid. u look after him a few, also.*. I'll Varn the old villain that be can’t have all the pretty women for wives, while I go peggin’ round without a single cne. No, sir; so fur as this wife busi- ness is concerned, thar’s got to be a dividend struck, ‘* But, oh! what juicy souls are them Mor- mon ‘ pillars’ hke Darral! °W hat a glorious in- stitoosbun it is that robs the orphans and mur- ders the soul of innocence! Great and enlight- ened America! to thee I sing! ‘Freecom! screeches thy grand old eagle from his perch on your banner, while low in the valleys of social life the ravens are Aluckin’ out the eyes of help- less innocence and tearin’ its heartstrings to flinders! Mayor Bloom, do you know that the word ‘ Deserct’ signifies Virtue and Industry ¢ That’s the name the Mormons gave to Utah, their adopted land. Oh, pestilence!‘it makes me swoony-sick, delerious to think ’bout it!” Mebby then you’d better rest yer brain ’Homet,”facetiously suggested the mayor, * and see if silence won’t be an antidote for your nar- vous oppression. I'd like to ax Miss Numa if Bishop Darral bas much inflocence ’mong the folks up his way?” ‘¢ He has among his class,” Numa answered; ‘‘he is not a biskop, yet the leader of the church in that vicinity. His word is law, and his law that of a cruel and tyrannical man. Brother Tom always believed that he was_di- rectly in league with the bandit, Revenue Bill. Suspicious characters have been seen coming and going to and from his ranch in the night when honest people were at rest. : * Darral complained of Revexue Bill havin made three different ‘assessments’ on him, anc while his story may have been true, father and Tom believed it was all a blind. ‘‘ Mather was ‘assessed’ twice by tho Bandit Collector, and as both calls were mace within a day after he bad sold some property, it was lain encugh that some one in the settlement sept the outlaws posted.” “The frisky Bill must have a spy in every
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Silent Saul, the Young’ Mountain Patrol. settlement and camp,” declared Bloom, ‘‘ unless itis ours. I reckon he considers us so church- mousely poor that he can’t ford to keep a spy ‘mong us. At any rate, he’s never yit, tried to collect any revenue off Pilgrims’ Bar. But he’s made other camps come down powerful heavy with the dust.” “* Queer he can’t be gathered to his daddies,” observed Mahomet, unable to keep still longer. ** He’s too many friends among his enemies,” Numa Custer said, with great earnestness, ‘*Mayor Bloom,” Mahomet said, suddenly springing to his feet, ‘‘ if youll excuse me, Vl retire. Good-night, Miss Numa!” and he abruptly left the room, much to the surprise of the mayor. y ‘* He is a funny old man,” Numa remarked. “He's a regular old’ puzzie,”’averred Bloom, ‘past solvin’s I know we’ve suspected him of everything evil and good since he’s been at Pil- grims’ Bar; but he always comes around in such a way as to completely dispel our suspicions 0’ the evil part, at any rate.” ‘*T noticed he became quite restless and un- easy when I spoke of Révenue Bill having friends among his enemies,” ‘* Ab! indeed?” exclaimed the mayor; ‘‘ I no- ticed that, and it was so marked that I mental- ly said to myself that, if Revenue Bill should come to this camp soon, ’d charge it up to Ma- homet as being his friend and spy.” The mayor had scarcely ceased speaking when the door was suddenly thrown open and a@niner rushed in in great excitement, exclaiming: ‘* Mayor Bloom, you’re wanted at the City | Hajl! Revenue Bill, the Bandit Collector, and his gang are’ there, demanding forty ounces 0’ clean dust, or the blood o’ every man in Pil- grims’ Bar!” CHAPTER VI. THE BANDIT COLLECTOR COLLECTS, Tur ‘‘ City Hall” was about forty rods from Bloom’s cabin, yet it required but a few min- utes for the mayor to travel this distance. He took with him two of the men on guard af his cabin, for he felt certain every man would be needed Reaching the saloon, he found the door closed and barred; but, upon demanding admittance, it was opened and he and his companions were permitted to enter the room, where a sight met their view that was enough to have appalled even stouter hearts than theirs. The place was virtually in the possession of the outlaws, who to the number of a score and a half, stood aligned along the south side and east end of the spacious room, every man with a glistening; revolver in each hand. Americans, Mexicans and Indians—all fierce, desperate and savage-looking fellows were re- presented in that line. At the end nearest the door stood thé notorious outlaw chief, Reyenue Bill—a comparatively young man, with a tall, lithe figure, a bearded face, a long, straight nose, and keen,flashing gray eyes. There was in his dress, the poise of the head and the gen- eral expression of the face ‘a dash of reckless abandon; but aside from this he had less the appearance of an outlaw than any one of his followers. Old Mahomet, from a position with Swanzy behind the bar, piped out as*Bloom entered the room: ‘“There’s Joshua Bloom, the Mayor o’ Pil- grims’ Bar.” ‘*Glad to make your acquaintance, mayor,” said the Bandit Collector, bowing to Bloom, ‘This is the first time I have had the pleasure of meeting you, I believe,” **T reckon your room ’d be as ‘ceptable as your presence now, and’ford me fully as much pleasure,” was Bloom’s rejoinder, given ina tone that betrayed a little excitement to his friends, ‘¢ Well, I presume so,” Revenue Bill continu- ed; ‘* that’s about the way they all feel that I call on, though they don’t just have @:e words always at command to say so, But, as you know, I am Revenue William, the Bandit Col- lector, and hope you have not been offended at my not calling sooner. All my ‘assessments’ are made for the benefit of the widows and or- phans, missionary and church purposes, and no charitably inclined person can complain: Now, Ihave made your assessment light this time— very light, considering the low state of our funds. he clean ounces’ we want of you, anguage of the poet, we want it and, in. the “Old hoss, do you take the miners o’ Pilgrims’ Bar for real tender-hoofs?” demanded Bloom, keeping bis temper under fine control, te e ** Not at all, my dear sir!” blandly respond- ed the outlaw; ‘‘[ take you for sensible, pros- srous ‘ placers’ who will pay your assessment ike men and without delay.’ ‘*Suppose we refuse, point-blank, to submit to bein’ robbed?” suggested Bloom, ‘* You'd be very foolish, indeed,” answered the outlaw, mildly. ‘* Well, s’pose I was to inform you there isn’t ten ounces 0’ dust in this camp?” ‘Op, I wouldn’t believe you, that’s all,” blandly smiling. ° ‘“* But it’s the case, just the same,” declared the mayor; ‘‘only two days ago we sent all, our dust to Carson. Yowre three days. too late, I'm pleased to say.” ‘*'That’s the old, old story the other camps used to tell us, but when we put on the screws they managed to rake together the necessary revenue. Now we dislike blood—we detest it; but, with us its gold or gore. We've never‘left a place yet without one or the other—generally the gold. Now, business is business, “We've dallied long enough, If the dust or its equiva- lent is not forthcoming, there won’t be agtabin left standing in Pilgrims’ Bar to-morrow morn- ing. A camp that can’t pay a small assessment don’t deserve to exist, and if there isn’t men enough here to rub it out, a whistle will soon fetch more. We take no risks.” ‘** Bah!” exclaimed Mahomet, ‘‘ you can’t skeer this community with your wild wind, ole rooster! We don’t want no tumult, but we're not goin’ to stand still and let you do all the shootin’ and blood-spillin’ if it comes to a fight.’ Upon the ears of Joshua Bloom these words fell like mockery, for the suspicion he had form- ed at his cabin, of Old Mahomet’s true charac- ter, was now stronger than ever. He believed Mahomet had brought the outlaws there, and at a time, too, when he knew there was not five ounces of gold in the camp. In view of this fact, it looked as though the old spy wished to precipitate a bloody conflict, or else afford an opportunity to carry Numa away. To the miners it looked as though a collision with the outlaws could scarcely be averted. True, they outnumbered the robbers, but the latter were well-armed and disciplined men, while they—the miners-——were without training or organization, and some of them armed with inferior weapons. But they were fearless men, and as their minds reverted to the maiden—the Protégée of Pilgrims’ Bar—and the oath they had taken to defend her with their lives, their courage grew stronger, And yet there were few of the miners who would not have made any reasonable concession toavert a conflict on account of the girl. For her sake they would have suffered humiliation— anything. Readily enough, would they have given the bandit the gold he asked had they pos- sessed it, but every man, save one, knew there was little dust incamp; and so a fight seemed the only alternative. The keen and observing eye of Revenue Bill saw that the miners were disposed to a pacific policy, and yet were slow to act. This hd thought came of a want of understanding among them; so he said: “You Pilgrimites can discuss this matter *mong yourselves over there; but, understand, no two can leave the room .alive. If you have- n't the dust with you, you can go, one at a time,and bring it. You see we know exact} how many men are in this camp, and that all but two or three are right before us. If there’s to be shooting we don’t want any one figing into us from behind.” ‘¢Then let me out,” demanded Mahomet, gruffly, advancing-toward the door, Revenue Bill stood aside and the old man | passed out into the night. Again Mayor Bloom’s suspicions were aroused, and a chill ran through his frame as be thought of the almost wholly unprotected | girl, Numa, | Some five minutes, however, had passed in badinage of words and threats, which came near resulting in blows between the miners and outlaws, when Mahomet returned, carrying in his hand a buckskin bag well filled. Placing the bag on the counter, he said, addressing Swanzy, the barkeeper: “Swanzy, thar’s some dust; weigh out care- fully the’mount demanded by these blood-suck- ers, and let em depart and die.” tga | poured out the gold and began weigh- ing it. Mahomet’s friends were completely astound- ed, Where had the lazy old Puzzle obtained so much gold—some of it being nuggets of many dollars in value? It was a decided mystery. teal Joshua Bloom could scarcely believe he was not dreaming. Swanzy soon weighed out the required amount of dust, though there was little left in the bag. ‘¢ Well, well,” remarked Bill, slightly sarcas- tic, ‘‘I—I thought there might be a little stuff round this camp, and here comes one man alone with all we ask. Il swear, I’ve a notion to double the assessment. But, Sonora, go ex- amine that dust and see if it’s all right before we accept it.” Sonora, a little, weazen-faced, black - eyed Mexican, advanced and carefully examined the gold, even applying, or pretending to, at least, an acid test{to the nuggets. Finally he said: ‘‘Tt’s all the pure oil, Sefior Captain; and finer lump Thave never seen from the Utah— Nevada—Arizona placers.” ‘Gentlemen,” said Revenue Bill, with his bland smile, ‘‘I receipt in full for this assess- ment with my sincere thanks, You have done this thing very handsomely, indeed, and when we call again we hope we'll find you better fixed. And now, to make our word good, we'll retire without even taking'a drink with you. Good-evening, gentlemen of Pilgrims’ Bar! About face, men! Forward! march!” Throwing open the door, Revenue Bill passed out into the night, and was immediately fol- lowed by his band. Scarcely had the last man filed from the room before Mahomet, upon whom all eyes and thoughts were fixed, turned to the minersfand said: ‘Boys, it cut deep into me, but I gave the dust for her sake! Isee’d that a fight meant death to us, and slow murder to the Protégée, who is more precious than all the gold in the land!” The miners applauded the old man’s remarks, while a pang of remorse smote the breast of Joshua Bloom. He felt that he had wronged the old Riddle. But this feeling lasted for only a few mo- ments, for a man burst into the room, his face and clothes covered with blood. It was Mat Redmon, one of the men left to guard Numa Custer! ‘* Boys!” he gasped, half choked with blood, as he reeled across the room, ‘‘the girl! the girl—she’s gone !” CHAPTER VII. AN APPARITION. Mayor Broom left Numa Custer in a state of dreadful suspense. The news brought by the miner, of Revenue Bill being at the saloon, forced upon her. already overwrought brain a. terrible fear. Full well she knew the character of that. ban- dit, and she could not help but associate Bishop Darral and his crimes with those of the outlaw. And in view of.these facts she was sorely afraid that her presence there had something to do with the visit of the freebooters, Thus one distressing thought after another forced itself upon her mind until terror took possession of her, Shearoseand paced the floor, a wild and haggard look upon her fair young face. A dead silence reigned—a silence that she momentarily expected to be broken by the mur- derous crash of revolvers. The very air in the room grew stifling. Her temples began to throb and her breast to fill with a weight that threatened to suffocate her. At length her suffering and suspense became unbearable. She took BR her hatand shawl and turned to flee the place, but only to start back, for the door swung open and a man entered. A ery of terror burst from her lips, and she reeled back across the floor, almost falling. The man was her enemy, Bishop Darral! ‘¢‘Oho!” the saint exclaimed, a leer of tri- umph upon his face; ‘‘so I have found my little lady-truant at last!” he very sound of his hateful voice acted like magic upon the maiden’s heart and brain and transformed her fear and suspense into rage and scorn. The haggard look upon her face was changed to defiance, and with form erect, eyes flashing, and her little hands clinched, she ex- claimed: ‘ ‘¢ Bishop Darral, leave my presence, or I will | have youejected! You have dogged my steps here for no good purpose! You know I detest— | loathe your very presence!” “You'll git over that,” responded the Mor- mon. ‘‘Teave here, Bishop Darral!” again com- manded the girl, ‘‘ or I will call the miners,” < “Call away, if you wish,” the man said, with a grin; “call till Judgment Day, it you will, for little good it will do you, my tragic queen.
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— am here to escort you home and make you Mrs, Darral, No. 4.” ‘*) prefer death a thousand times!” declared the maiden. ‘* Perhaps; but one can’t always have his pre- ference in this wicked world.” ** Bishop Darral,” Numa said, with unflinch- ing courage, ‘‘ you have robbed us of our home and property, and now you would destroy my soul! Mai. L give you warning ; beware!” ‘Tut! tut! foolish child; your home and prop- erty were virtually made of the ae your fatherowed me, Butl intend you shall be tress of your old bome, and as my wife live like the little queen that you are.” ‘Shame upon you, Bishop Darral!” rebuked the girl; ‘‘ your heartless cruelty and mockery will be avenged as sure as there is a just God! Leave me, [ say, leave my presence!” A sardonic laugh escaped the Mormon’s lips. ‘* Well,” he added, ‘‘ there’s no use arguing with you, so you’d as well put on your hat and go peaceably, for go you shall; and the sooner the better, for at this very moment a band of outlaws arein Pilgrims’ Bur, and it?ll be worse for you if you fall into Revenue Bill’s bands,” ‘“*T would prefer being in his power to yours,” retorted the girl, ‘‘ for I will not go with you !” And she drew further back from the sancti- monious scoundrel, ‘Oh, but you must,”he rejoined. ‘I see I’ve got to call in help and carry you away by force.” He stepped to the door and gavea low whistle, when two men—strangers to Numa—at once entered the cabin. A single candle lighted the room, and its feeble rays scarcely dispelled the shadows from the remote corners of the apartment. Into one of these angles Numa shrunk with terror. ‘* Men,” commanded the Mormon dignitary, “the little Gentile’s as obstreperous as a mus- tang filly, so we'll have to pick her up and lug her offin ourarms, You need have no fears in doing so, of the fate of the Indian, for the Devil’s Stew-Pot holds deep im its embrace Si- lent Saul who thwarted the Pyntah. Advance, men, and take hold of her.” The two ruffians started toward the maiden, but had taken only a step when they recoiled in terror from an apparition that confronted them. Like a phantom, noiseless and sudden, a sha- dowy form had come between them and the girl, It was the tall form of a beardless man with long yellow hair, a face that looked corpse- like in the dim light, but with eyes that glowed with red, quivering fire of deadly wrath! It was the form and face of the murdered Si- lent Saul, the Mountain Patrol! CHAPTER VIII, A MYSTERIOUS DELIVERANCE, Bishop DARRAL and his two confederates stood motionless—dumb with terror before that apparition of the young mountaineer—the ghost oF the dead Patrol! Their wicked and super- stitious minds could admit of nodoubt upon this score, for they had not only seen, but aided with their own hands and counsel, in the hor- rible execution at the Devil’s Stew-Kettle. To Numa Custer the youth appeared, not alone in the spirit, but in the flesh. Despite the whirlpool, the bonds upon his hands and feet, and the stones lashed upon his body, Silent Saul lived to confront his executioners. That he did live was, indeed, a mystery to even himself, When he had been led to the edge of the pool, weighed down with stones, and securely tied, he became resigned to his fate and commended his sot! to God, knowing all hopes were out of the question. Thus prepared for his doom, he went down into the whirlpool, and for a few moments his mind was filled with a confusion of thoughts; there was a roaring in his ears and a burning pressure on his brain. He became vaguely con- scious of being swirled and dragged through the seething pool, and at length seemed landed where there was a falling away of the waters around him. Then the pressure on his brain removed, Buthe could still hear thesullen roar of the perturbed waters, and darkness was *round and about him, Was this death? Had he passed from earth to the great Beyond? These and kindred thoughts flashed through his wild brain which had, at no time, entirely lost consciousness, but he was unahle to pene- trate the vale of darkness surrounding him, and keep pace with the moments that were crowded with the thoughts and events of hours. He was conscious of existence in some state, for he could mise | breathe and move, and all the while he could feel what seemed restless, nimble fingers pulling at his clothing, and passing, cold and clammy, over his face and hands, And this continued until he seemed to hear a voice say: ** Boy, how are you now?” At sound of the voice Silent Saul sat up. He looked around him, but all was darkness, and the roaring waters, and the damp air he breathed, all confused him. Oh! if he could only speak! ‘* Boy,” he again beard that voice ask, and at the same time felt his band grasped by the cold fingers of the speaker, ‘‘ do you hear and @nder- stand what I say to you? Do you realize that you’ve been saved fromthe pool? Within fif- teen seconds after you dropped into the Kettle, I had youdraggedhere, under the falls, at the very brink of the pool int» which youcould step now. Them outlaw wretches know it not, although { could not forego the temptation to put the steel into the villain that fell into the pot with you. Yes, Saul, you areas good as ever. [ got to the bottom of the ‘ pot’ soon as you did. To cut your bonds and unload you of your | weights was no work forme; You keeled over when I got you out of the water, but 1 knew you wasn’t bad off, and as I’ve had much ex- perience with such cases, I secon got you into shape. It’s been an’ hour since you war con- signed to the ‘Stew-Kettle,’ and your enemies are gone, feeling sure your form reposes in fif- teen fect of ice-cold water, Oh! what asurprise it will be to them, when you ccmé smiling up before them, serene &Sa summer morn. Boy, do you realize—do you understand your situa- tion?” Silent Saul answered by a warm pressure of he | the hand, *“ Good!” exclaimed his rescuer; ‘‘ now, here’s a vial of liquor; take a swallow and it'll kill the nausea in your stomach,and then, whenever you wish to depart, Pll land vou safely on shore, where you can settle with your enemies.” Saul tock a draught of the liquor, for, as the unknown had rightly judged, he felt faint and sick, The stimulant acted like magic, and soon the Young Mountain Patrol felt little the worse for the terrible ordeal through which he had passed, Finally he made known bis desire ‘to depart, when his friend guided him from the damp and dismal hoie under the falls to the shore. It was so dark outside that the youth could recognize nothing familiar except the starry sky abovehim, But for this he might still ha¥e doubted his earthly existence and rescue from the whirlpool. He soon, however, got his bear- ings, and then, despite the darkness, things around him began to assume a familiar air. But woo was hisrescuer? He could make out the outlines of a man shorter than himself, but that was ell. He could ask no questions—he eould not even thank his rescuer, save by a pressure of the hand, for what he had done for him. The unknown, however, seemed to have read his very thoughts, for he finally said, in a low, strange voice: ‘You'd like to know, young man, I feel confi- dent, who has rescued you., I am the genius who presides over this pool—low in whose depths there lies a secret that he who seeks to solve it shall die! You must never reveal to man or woman how youescaped. This I ask as a favor—as a friend. To me this place is sacred, and assuch I want you toregard it. I know you will.” Silent Saul grasped and pressed the hand of the ‘*Genius” in a manner that spoke plain as words, and yet he could not jhelp wondering what mystery surrounded this man’s life+-what secret was hidden with him beneath the mad waters of that dreadful caldron. The two finally parted, Silent Saul turned his footsteps in the direction of Pilgrims’ Bar. As he moved along he removed his buckskin over- shirt and threw it over a limb, but the rest of his garments he decided to let undergo the slow process of drying upon his person. 1t was real- ly the best he could do. The mute was nearing Pilgrims’ Bar when he caught the flash of alight in camp that caused him to stop and ponder, He did not see the flash repeated, but he did hear footsteps and low voices passing near by. Three or four persons, as near as he could make out by ear, were going in a rather stealthy way toward the camp. He could not see them, ner could ha recognize their voices until bis acute car suddenly, detected the presence of Bishop Darral! The wen stopped. Saul crept closer—so close that he could hear an occasional word, They seemed to be in an impatient mood, They Silent Saul, the Young’ Mountain Patrol, | talked aboat some ‘‘ plan” that evidently had been previously arranged. They were irritated with delay—like snarling jackals afraid to at- tack a quarry still struggling in the throes of a slow death, Suddenly a light swung to and fro on a bluff overlooking the camp. ‘*There it is, at last! Come!” ordered the Bishop, and off they moved in the darkness, CHAPTER IX. THWARTED SAINTS, Intro the deserted streets of Pilgrims’ Bar, past the saloon, where, at that moment, Revenue Bill and.his gang were confronting the miners, on toward the cabin of Mayor Bloom, Darral and his two companions made their way. They seemed to know exactly where they were going, and when the two unsuspecting miners left to guard Numa Custer attempted to stop them there was a brief and silent strugglein the dark; then. the guards lay motionless on the earth, while at once into the cabin strode the bishop, leaving his men to watch outside the door, What followed, up to the time the three ‘‘eaints” were confronted by Silent Saul, has already been recorded. Numa Custer quickly saw the effect the youth’s presence had upon her enemies, but did not know that they were gazing upon what they fully believed was an apparition. She only knew that the presence of him who filled them with terror, revived hope and courage in her own throbbing heart, For almost a minute the three Mormons stood glaring at the Young Patrol, the unnatural light of whose eyes seemed to paralyze their limbs, while the fear in their cowardly hearts bade them flee. { Saul was empty-handed—weaponless, but he knew wherein lay his power. Slowly lifting his right arm he swuvg it around toward the door, when, from the hollow of his hand, there seem- ed to have burst a whirlwind of terror that caught the three Saints and swept them, like dead Jeaves, from the room, out into the night, With a faint smile of triumph upon his pale, resolute face, the Young Patrol turned ,to Numa, slightly inclining his headin kindly re- cognition; and in an instant, almost, the heart and brain that had raged with the storm of si- | lent passion had become as tranquil as the spirit | f of Peace, Numa felt a strango sensation of joy and ad- miration thrill her soul as her eyes met those of the youth. She advanced ond was about to speak when Saul touched his jips and shook his head—movements she rightly interpreted as in- junctions of silence. He pointed to her hat and started toward the door, motioning her to follow. ‘*Do I understard you wish me to go with you, Saul?” the maiden asked. The answer was a nod of the head, Numa put on her hat. He had won her ut- most faith and confidence, Saul took a pair of blankets from Bloom's bunk and threw tvem over his arm; then he and the maiden passed out into the dark, They bad been gone but a few minutes when & man with blood-stained face and hands stag- yered to the door of the deserted cabin and Toe ked in; then he turned and reeled away through the gloom toward the ‘‘ City Hall.” CHAPTER X. “WATCH THAT MAN,” BETWEEN their surprise and rage growing out of the visit of Revenue Bill, and the startling information of the disappearance cf Numa, the miners of Pilgrims’ Bar were thrown into a state of confusion bordering on frenzy. tedmon’s bloody face told of uw desperate struggle at the cabin, lut, as he lay in a faint, if not dead, none of the particulars of the con- flict could be obtained, and a general stampede from the saloon to the mayor's cabin ¢ stint As usual, Mahomet was the first to reach the place. The light was still burning, but to their surprise, they found no signs of a struggle in the cabin; outside, the miner left on guard with Redmon was found dead. ‘Furies o’? Hades! cried Bloom, ‘‘a terrible mistake bas been made here to-night!” ‘¢ Yes,” affirmed Mahomet, seriously; *' while them ramshacklin’ bellions were at the saloon, bleedin’ our pockets, others were after the gal! And they’ve got her, too, without the loss of @ drap of blood, cr so much as a ha’r of the head, on their part. Ob! it’s frightful, men, fright- fu)!’ ‘* Let us return to the hall, and organize for work, men,” called out Bloom, ‘' We've been ‘millin’ round here like a drove o’ locoed jack-
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“Silent Saul, the Young Mountain Patrol. os aszes long enough. We've got to act with some understandin’ and together, or fu’st thing we know we'll know nothin’, and we've nighly reached that condition now.” Back to the saloon went the crowd. By this time Redmon, under the treatment of Swauzy, the barkeeper, had recovered consciousness, and from him they learned that he and his friend had been beaten down by three unknown men in the darkness, who bad epproached from down the guich. Beyond this he knew nothing. Bloom called the crowd to order. Amid the silence that followed, Silent Saul entered the room! A low murmur of applause greeted his ap- pearance, Pushing his way through the crowd to the light, he wrote a few words upon bis tablet and handed it to Bloom. The maycr read the words over to himself; then, as his eyes kindled witha light of joy, he read aloud: . “The maiden is safe—I conducted her to a place of security !” A yell greeted this joyful news. **Shades o’ Gideon!” exclaimed Mahomet, rasping Saul’s hand, ‘‘ you're a hull salvation eague, Saul!l—a yaller-headed lallywhooper, that fills my heart with reverence end joy! Now, do tell us what you know about the trou- ble at the cabin, and the death of poor Sam Ja- son!” Saul communicated te facts of Darral’s visit to the cabin, and the part he took in Numa’s rescue. Beyond the statement that the maiden was safe, he would say nothing to the crowd; but afterward, when alone with Bloom, he told os where he had secreted the persecuted"mai- en. The miners took courage and proceeded to ef- fect an organized resistance to the further en- croachments and invasions of the outlaws and Mormons. For sinee Darral had failed in se- curing Numa, they had no doubt but the villain would repeat his visit to camp. Four guards were posted in the gulch ‘above and below camp, while Silent Saul volunteered to act as scout, in which capacity Old Mahomet concluded he would act, also. Saul was about to depart when a miner, Jacal Rees, or ‘* Jackal,” as he had been called since the day he landed in Pilgrims’ Bar, remarked: * Look’ee here, pards; s’pose Silent Saul should go away and git killed—how’d we know whar to look for the gal?” At sound of the man’s voice Silent Saul start- ed slightly, and turning, he fixed a searching lance upon the miner’s face—a glance which, if not observed by Jackal himself, did not es- capo the notice of Joshua Bloom aud one or two of hisfriends, It wasa look of contempt, and with manifest disdain the. young mountaineer turned his back upon the anxious miner, ** Reckon he’s ole enuff to take keer of hisself by this time,” observed Old Mahomet. ** Jackal ’ did not insist on his point, but re- lapsed into a sullen silence. Saul took out his tablet and wrote thereon, “* Watch that man,” and handed it to Old Ma- homet, who thoughtlesely read it aloud. The impulsive Old Puzzle saw his blunder in an in- stant, but too late to rectify it, Jackal turned suddenly upon Saul, his eyes flashing with rage, and demanded: ‘What do you mean by that, dummy?” Saul threw back his head, revealing his white throat, and with his index finger slowly traced the blood-red scar running acrossit; then turned and left the saJoon. ‘That feller’s a fool—an idiot!” declared Jackal, indignantly, ‘‘and he’s got to explain hisself or tale the consequence.” ‘*1 war a darned ols tool, and have got the documents to prove it,” declared Old Mahomet, regretfully, ‘‘for blabbin’ out what the boy writ. But I reckon he thought you war in love with the gal and’d try to run her off if you knowed wharsbe war. But you’d have thirty or forty rivals if it come to that, for every man in Pilgrims’ Bar is struck by the little queen. They're all out and around, "bout the gal.” Jackal appeared toaccept Mahomet’sexplana- tion in good humor, and soon left the saloon for his cabin; but on hour later, when his room- mates went to their quarters, they discovered he was gone, nor could he be found high or low about camp. : His disappearance recalled the words of Silent Saul, and the miners began to ponder over them. What did the Young Patrol know of Jacal Rees? The fellow had been in Pilgrims’ Bar over six months. Where he came from no one knew certain, and as to his past record no onein particularcared. So long asanew-comer ——————— ee eee ee conducted himself according to the customs of | heard him deciare that Silent Saul was in the the camp his past history was of little concern, | flesh, that he had rescued Numa from the Bish- All were well satisfied, however, that Jackal’s departure had been hastened by Saul’s warning inadvertently blurted cut by Old Mahomet; at any event it iooked very suspicious. But what did bis leaving portend to Pilgrims’ Jar%7—to Silent Saul?—to Numa Custer? They could only wait and see, CHAPTER XI, RECONNOITERING THE OUTLAW CAMP, WHEN Silent Saul left camp to-reconnoiter, he pusfed off in the direction of the outlaws’ evening camp, for the double purpose of secur- ing bis rifle and belt and noting the movements of the enemy. S000 after bis departure Mah met left also, but this time not under suspicion, although he fully maintained his cearacter and standing as | Where he had obtained the | a living mystery. gold—some of it fair-sized nuggets—with which he had paid Revenue Bill’s ‘‘ assessment,” his friends knew not, unless he had brought it to the place with bim, or else wag working a secret pocket somewhere that was fabulous in its accu- The Old Puzzle went down the gulch, passed the guards, and continuing on, crossed the river and entered the deep pine forest beyond, A dim lght suddenly attracted his attention, and he pushed toward it. He traveled nearly two miles before he came near enough to ascer- tain its nature. He found it was an outlaw camp—the camp of Revenue Bill, whose hospi- tality was being extended to the Bishop Saint and bis friends, Of the latter fact Mahomet was morally sure, for he had scarcely got into position where he could command a full view of the camp, when he saw the Bishop and two men enter the radius e light fresh from their adventures at Pilgrims’ ar. Mahomet heard the Mormon.greeted thus, as ee with dejected spirit, toward Revenue ill; ‘¢ Why, Bishop, where’s failin your part?” ‘* Completely,” was the reply of the Saint, a look of chagrin and disappointment on his face, ‘* How did that happen?” asked the bandit. ‘* We carried out our part, and got our dust so promptly that I had to ‘monkey’ a little in or- der to delay things to give you time to do your pagt. Ss aro to what ‘Piny’ says, there wére only four miners absent from the Saloon, and two of them were in their cabins on their backs wounded.” ‘* Yes,” replied the church dignitary, ‘‘ that’s true, and all went well until we encountered the ghost of Silent Saul.” The bandit captain laughed loudly. ‘* Oh, it’s so!” declared the Bishop, with em- phasis. “Do you mean to say you were defeated by the ghost of Silent Saul?” ‘¢? mean to tell you,” the Mormon explained, “that we went to the cabin where the girl was, silenced the two guards, and was in the act of takin’ our prize when there came between us a figure, and it was the apparition of Silent Saul! ‘¢T won't confess to being a coward, for I’m not, under ordinary circumstances, but I do confess my want of courage to battle with the spirits of the dead. Before we were scarcely aware of it we were swept from that room by 2 power irresistible, yct unseen and unfelt, in a physical sense,” ** Ha! bal ba!” roared the Collector; ‘* your conscience, Bishop, isn’t scouring just right. Your digestion’s out of order. If you saw any- thing, any head on it, it was Silent Saul in the flesh |” f ‘* Impossible!” asserted the Bishop, and his two companions repeated the declaration. ‘* Well,” said Revenue Bill, ‘‘ seriously, it does seem impossible for him to have escaped that whirlpool weighed down and securely tied ashe was. But no man can cram any ghost racket down my throat, and you'll find, later, that Silent Saul is out and around as frisky as ever.’ “That you will!” echoed a voice from behind the outlaw, and turning, all saw a man emerge from the shadows andapproach the knot of men gathered about Darral and the bandit-chief. Old Mahomet heard and saw him, also. It was the suspected miner, Jacal Rees! The old scout was tempted to shoot the treach- erous scamp and then run for life, but his bet- ter judgment prevailed; he kept quiet and watched and listened. ; He soon heard enough to satisfy him that ‘* Jackal” was indeed the bandits’ spy. He your girl? Did you op and tidden ter away in tke bills, ‘Tho congueless young devil!” exclaimed Bill, in surprise, ‘‘ he must be possessed of supernat- ural powers after all, eise how could he have eseaped from that whirjpool, alive? But, boys, we have sworn to seeethe Bishop through with this matter; so we'll have to. make another trip to Pilgrims’ Bar to-night. If we can corille the miners again, as we did before, we’ll make them trot out the girl as they did the dust.” ** But you'll not catch ’em asleep this time,” Jackal! assured them; ‘‘ they’re wide awake and full of fight.” ‘s Well, we know how to play more tricks than one,” averred Revenue Bill; ‘*so, boys, you'll make ready to march at once.” The greatest activity at once prevailed, and Old Mahomet shuddered when he realized what it portended to Pilgrims’ Bar! ‘Yo prevent the camp from being taken by surprise a second tirae—for he knew the outlaws would not be expected back again that night— he resolved to hurry back and put his friends on their guard; but, just as he was about to start, his attention was arrested by the appear- ance of four persons in the outlaws’ camp. Three of them were Indians, hideously paint- ed and bedecked with feathers and bear-claws, while the fourth was a whiteman and a captive. The latter was well advanced in years, though with a firm step and well-preserved physique, He had a full, iron-gray beard, and a clear-cut and intellectual face which at once fixed the at- tention of Mahomet so closely that he forgot all else. And as he continued to gaze at the old captive, the scout’s eyes fairly protruded from their sockets, and finally he started back as if from a suddenly discovered danger, mentally exclaiming: ‘¢ 13 him, sure’s there’sa God in Heaven! Oh, my blessed Redeemer! can it be that she—the Protégée— But, bah! what an ole lailysbacker Ibe! Come, Mahomet, cool down, and if you’ve no objection to,kickin’ an old fool, step back a ways and let yourself have it heel and toe,” The old feliow’s self-lecturing was here inter- rupted by a burst of excitement in the camp. Bishop Darral seemed to have been thrown into violent rage about something or other, and it was severel minutes before the ‘‘ pillar ” cooled down. A delay of half an hour was occasioned by the coming of the Indians with the old captive; but finally the band departed for Pilgrims’ Bar, leaving the prisoner lashed to a tree and in custody of two Indians and three of Darral’s men, Despite the danger that he knew menaced Pilgrims’ Bar, Mahomet lingered by the outlaw camp. Something in the presence of the old captive held him spellbound, and forced upon him a sense of duty, and that was the rescue of the old man. : But, what could he do against such odds and some of them ferocious savages? é He had searcely asked himself the question when he saw a tongue of flame shoot from the darkness on the opposite side of the camp, the crash of a rifle tore through the wocds and was mingled with the death-cry of one of the In- dians. Then, from the darkness whence had leaped that flame glided a man, and with an uplifted club rushed upon the foe like a whirl- wind of death! Tt was Silent Saul, the Young Patrol, and the instant Old Mahomet recognized the youth, he, too, dashed from his concealment with a whoop, and for a few moments the echces of that pifion forest and the impinging foot-hills, gave multi- plied voices to the din of battle. CHAPTER XII. THE RESULT OF THE CONFLICT. THE three Mormons and their two red-skin friends left to guard the old captive, were seated before the camp-fire in conversation, never dreaming of possible danger until startled by the grack of Silent Saul’s rifle. Even then the first thought was of flight, for they felt assured they had been attacked bya guperior number of foes; but before they could get upon their feet and under way, the Young Patrol was upon them, dealing deadly blows; while, from the opposite side of the camp dashed Old Ma- homet, yelling like a wild Indian, and brandish- ing a revolver around his head, But a great noise was all the old man was able to contribute to the conflict, for by the time he had reached Silent Saul’s side it was ended, and five men lay motionlerson the earth, two of them dead and the others with broken
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Ss Silent Saul, the Young Mountain Patrol. eid ded & Wp B on heads. As he glanced around him, his revolyer drawn for a shot, and saw no enemy to engage, he raised his eyes to Saul's face and burst into a well-feigned passion, “ Blankety-blank !—blank !—blank!” he ex- claimed, ‘* Silent Saul, you're an improved Jer- sey swine! I’m out and around, and come for a lthe ’vailable thunder and left me the gust. But then you're a lallyeooler, anyhow, Saul— the ido] of my tumultuous ole heart!” ‘‘Men, for-God’s sake cut my bonds!” It was the old captive that made this appeal. Mahomet drew his knife and severed the man’s bonds, saying, as he did so: ‘They had you foul; didn’t they, stranger?— there you are,” ‘“*Thank you, thank you!” exclaimed the old man, gratefully, as he stepped forward to greet his rescuers, ‘‘ Stranger,” said Mahomet, ‘‘ there’s nothin mean-lookin’ ’bout you, but you must have been up to mischief or else you’d not been here in bonds.” ‘* Friends, [am being persecuted to death in the name of the Mormon Church!” * Mormon curse!” exclaimed Mahomet, avert- ing the keen, searching glances of the old man; ‘“‘it’s the rankest, bubbtin’ hellbroth that ever scorched the soulof manor woman! But say, pard, what might your name be?” “ John Custer.” ‘What! the father of the celestial angel, Miss Numa?” ‘* Yes,” eagerly answered the old man; ‘‘ what do you know of her and Tom?—my children?” ** We know nothin’ of Tom, but we’ve got the gal cooped up safe as vou please.” ‘Thank God for tuat!” cried the old man. * But she thinks her father’s dead.” ‘*No doubt of it, fpoor child! She has been led to that conclusion—that belief, through the schemes of the vile wretch who is still perse- cuting her. But, my good friends, isn’t it dan- gerous to tarry here? Tho sound of your fire- arms will bring back that pack of devils upon us! ‘Yes, yes! you're right,” assented Mahomet; *‘we'd better be out and around, but here’s some fine-locking rifles, and some fixed ammu- nition we'd as well take along.” The three meu appropriated the arms of the dead and wounded foo, and then Mahomet led the way into the shadows of the woods, Jobn Custer following, and Silent Saul, as was sup- osed, bringing up the rear. But, glancing ack just as he was entering the deeper shad- ows, Mahomet saw the Young Patrol bend over one of the outlaws and whip a knife across his throat, then rise and with nimble footsteps hurry on atter them! The escape of the three was not made a mo- ment too soon, for the form of Silent Saul had scarcely been swallowed up by the darkness when Revenue Bill, Bishop Darra] and their fol- lowers came rushing into camp like a herd of stampeded sheep. As John Custer had predicted, the sound of Saul’s fire-arms and the din of battle had brought them back. Revenue Bill was furious with rage at sight of his prostrate friends, but it wasonjyin a mild form compared with that of Bishop Derral when he discovered that John Custer had escaped! ‘‘ Whose hellish work is this?’ the good * pillar” exclaimed, as he glared arcurd him with blazing eyes. One of the Mormons, who had been knocked senseless with Silent Saul’s club, raised himself on his hands and looked around him in a con- fused sort of a way. ‘* Good Lord!” cried one of the outlaws, ‘‘ see! his throat is cut!” **Toltec Jim, what’s happened? who did this murderous work?” questioned the Bishop. ‘Toltec” Jim sunk back upon the ground faint with the loss of blood. Of the five men left in charge of the captive, three were found dead. Across the throats of two of them—one of the dead, and Toltec Jim—a knife had been drawn, cutting merely deep enough to draw blood. ‘Wot does that slash on these men’s throats mean, Bishop?” Revenue Bill inquired, **]T don’t understand it,” replied the Bishop. ‘ Bishop,” spoke up tho treacherous miner, Jackal, ‘‘do you remember the red scar on Si- Jent Saul’s throat? Isn’t that enough to con- vince you that the Young Patrol] has been here in the flesh and the spirit of vengeance? I tell you he isa Nemesis, and God only knows how mapy of us ars marked fer his silent ven- geance!” aes pir: in this thundergust, but you've deestroyed > Se ee CHAPTER XIII, MAHOMET DESTROYS <A ‘' SNAKE-DEN,” It was broad daylight when Sitent Saul and Mahomet reached Pilgrims’ Bar with John Custer, and relieved the miners of a great fear anc suspense. Already Mayor Bloom had conducted Numa from her hicing-plaee up the gulch back to his cabin, and there her father was taken, At sight of him a shriek burst from the maid- en’s lips, for his coming, without previous no- tice, was like the coming of one from the grave. “Oh, my father!” burst from her lips, and then, in her endeavors to embrace him, she fell fainting in hisarms! ** Numa, my poor child!” the old man mur- mured, as he held ber in his arms, his form con- yvulsed with inward emotion, the tears trickling down his bearded face, Tbe spectators witnessed the meeting with sad and solemn mien, Mahomet’s brows con- tracted, he bit his nether lip as if to restrain an outburst of inward emotion, and finally, with a deep-drawn sigh that seemed born of bitter an- guish, he tore himself from the cabin, and, hastening to the saloon, cailed for two or three glasses of liquer, which he drank with a grim sort of satisfaction. In a little while Numa recovered from her styvoon, and her first remark wes: ‘* Mather, wo have mourned you as dead!” ‘*So I have learned, Numa.” ‘Where have you been, father?” ‘¢] have been a prisoner. I was taken by masked men the day 1 left home—men claiming to be outlaws, who had me confined in a cavern—where, I knew not. They told me 1 was to be held fora ransom. Night before last I was liberated by a woman—the junior wife of Bishop Darral. It was that woman who told me that you and Tom mourned me as dead, and that you had sold off the property to Darral, determined to flee the country—that Darral had got your decds of conveyance into his possession, and then insisted on paying for the same by applying an old note, purporting to have been given by me, cn the purchase, Or, that on condition of your marrying him, he would give up the note and helf the value of your property in cash. This was what aroused the Spanish blood of the woman. She was cde- termined no other should succeed heras Darral’s wife, as she bad'succeeded two others. Seeing Darral was determined upon marrying you, she effected my release in hopes of thwarting her husbana’s wicked designs. She gave mea horse and bade me god:peed after you and Tom, who, she informed me, had fled the night before, When I thought I wasfree of all dangers, I was captured by three Indians, friends of Darral, and taken to his camp; but, thanks to heroic Si- lent Saul, and fearless Old Mahomet, I was res- cued, But, Tom, they tell me, has not been heard of since you and he parted,” ‘* Nothing, father,” answered Numa, *‘ and I am afraid, the dear, good boy bas been killed, But, oh, father! you do not know what I owe to Silent Saul and these brave, kind-hearted miners!” ‘¢God bless them, is my prayer!’ said the old man, fervently. Numa assisted Bloom in preparing breakfast for her father and bis rescuers, and when 1t was reacy Mahomet was sent for; but he declined to come, giving as an excuse that he bad already breakfasted at the ‘‘ Soup Shop.” Half an hour or so later word came to the mayor’s cabin that the outlaws and Indians were advancing upon’ the comp; but, happily, it proved to be a false alarm, growing out of the discovery of two Indian scouts lurking among the hills, Tbat it was merely a question of time until an attack would be made, no one had a doubt, and so, double guards were posted, and every man kept under arms. The day wore slowly away, and aboub noon the quiet and suspense of -the camp was broken by the arrival cf a heavy freight-wagon drawn by six» mules, It was loaded with supplies *or Pilgrims’ Bar, and accompanied by six men. Two of the six were the freighters, themselves, but the other four were men who bad engaged passage to Pilgrims’Bar, as this was the only means of conveyance to the place. Of the four passengers two were gold-scekers, ‘the third wes a.middle-aged. man recently from the States, judging by his dress, while thefourth was a man whom everybody declared, on sight, was a sport—one cof those neatly-dressed, soft- handed fellows who made gambling a regular business. He wag a young man of perhaps thirty Aone of age, dressed in an immaculate suit of black corduroy, bis feet incased in gi oa boots, and his head surmounted oy a gold-banded, whitefelt hat, Heintroduced himself as Jack Baldwin, and if there had been any doubt as to his character before, it was now entirely removed, for the fame of Jack Bald- win, or rather‘ Poker Jack” had long preceded him to Pilgrims’ Bar. The man in citizen’s dress Jack introduced as his ‘‘ tenderfoot ” friend, David Force, from the East, out on asight-seeing visit among the hills; but no one doabted but that he was a card-sharp also. The four new-comers took lodgings at the boarding-house, the freighters stopping with their friend Swanzy. A barrel of whisky was among the supplies brought to camp. Pilgrims’ Bar had run short in flour and bacon, but the only thing in which the miners had feared a famine was liquor, That fear was now removed, Everybody that could get a band on the bar- rel helped to unload it from the wagon, It was then rolled to the door of the saloon, and was about to be taken inside when Old Mahomet stopped the men and turning to Swenzy asked: ‘ Swanzy, how much clear profit do you con- sider there’s in that snake-den?” “Why, do you think you can drink the bull o’ it?’ replied the proprietor of the City Hall, somewhat surprised by the Old Puzzie’s ques- tion. ‘*No,” returned Mahomet, ‘“tbut honest- bright, how much clear profit’s in that barrel?” “Wal,” said Swanzy, making a mental cal- culation, ‘‘ the cost is bout one hundred dollars, and I aim to make over and about that, two bundred, or nighly that.” ‘‘Here,” said Mahomet, taking a well-filled buckskin bag from his capacious shirt-bosom and handing it to Swanzy, ‘‘ weigh out the dust —take gcod weight—and J’ll take the hull bar’l of ‘snake-wake,’” Mechanically Swanzy took the bag, his eyes fixed on Mahomet with a puzzled look, ‘‘TSall right,” said the old man; “t weigh out your dust—thé liquor’s mine!” Swanzy and Mahomet turned and went into the saloon together. ‘“* Wal, I do sw’ar!” declared a miner; ‘'I reckon Old Puzzle’s goin’ to knock out the head o’ the bar’l and set ’em up to the hull camp on the strength o’ that gal. Oh, what a roarin’ drunk thar’j] be!” * Bus whar the de’il dces he git all his dust?” ut inanotber, ‘t He’s alers lousy ‘ith it.” ‘*Fasn’t that question been axed a hundred times before?” the first speaker retorted, ‘* Hasn’t he been ¢ mysterious ole cuss ever since he come here?—past findin’ out?” in Mahomet soon returned with an ax, with which he deliberately proceeded to knock in the end of the barrel. A few stout blows and the work was done, and the amber liquid re- vealed to the eyes of the thirsty, astounded crowd. The miners began edging up closer like so many swine eager to get at the trough. ‘Stand back, boys,’ Mahomet said, as he dropped the ax and seized the barrel by the chine. ‘* I’m goin’ to treat oie mother earth,” And as he concluded, he tipped the barrel over, and before a men could speak or arrest his movement, every drop of liquer was spilled on the ground, A genuine cry of dismay esceped the lips of the miners, and this was followed by loud curses and abusive epithets, For awhile 1t seemed the old man was in danger o? his jife, but he stood his ground fearlessly, defiantiy; and when the confusion had subsided, he said: ‘“ Men; don’t make fools o’ yourselves, but lis- ten. Up the guich are four graves—the graves of good men, wken sober, that died with their boots cn. Every grave represents the arrival o’ a new bar’! o’ liquor in thiscamp, Every ‘rival was follered by general drunk, and fight- in?’mongst us. This would been no exception. Could we.efford it? Think! up at the may’r’s cabin yonder is as sweet a little dove as coped the heart of man into gentle love. Over yonder and ’round us, as you all know, are hoverin’ bands o’ slimy-necked vultures ready to destroy her! Men, we need clear brains and steady nerves to defend ber as we have sworn to do, Liquor shall not rob her of that defense, and that’s why I give that hellbroth to mother earth!” For -a moment a deep silence followed this speech. There were few, if any, but who felt the force of his remarks, not only as a well- merited rebuke, but as a serious and solemn fact. A murmur of ai passed| over the crowd and finally ended in a deafening shout of applause, K
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ee eee % pose te . co bin Wild ee COT EIL Sean eeR CURLER MNO OO AER Rae A? TA RCT PR Ra OR OF a Silent Saul, the Young Mountain Patrol. CHAPTER XIV. MAHOMET TAKES A HAND AT POKER. THE miners of Pilgrims’ Bar were like all other miners.in one respect, at least; they were addicted to gambling among themselves, and never hesitated to entertain a stranger when- ever one happened along. As every man in the camp considered himself something of an expert, ‘‘ Poker” Jack Bald- win had no difficulty in getting a game started and in less than three hours after his arrival in camp he had fleeced at least a dozen men out of all the dust they possessed and all they could borrow, Baldwin was a quiet, genteel gambler. The moment he began to play his handsome face took on a mild, pleasant expression which, no matter how the game was going, was main- tained throughout. There was no chance for his opponent to judge by the expression of his face, the value of his cards. Not a miner complained of his ill-fortune, or dared to find any fault with Jack’s success, At the time the playing began Old Mahomet was absent, but he finally came swinging in whistling ‘*‘ Captain Kidd” in such a merry, sprigatly way that Poker Jack, looking up, was induced to remark: **The old man’s a little mellow, isn’t he, if he did spiJl all the poison?’ ‘* Stranger,” replied Mahomet, who overheard the observation of the sport, ‘‘I’m out and | around, full of joy and happiness—the pure stuff made outen a clear conscience and sunny disposition, 1’m feelin’so gracious and philan- thropic that ’'d as soon as not contribute a few ounces to your purse—providin’ the keerds you hola says so, Yes, stranger, I’m out and around, [ am,” ‘* Be'seated, my genial friend,” said the gam- bler, with a bland ‘‘ will-you-walk-into-my-par- lor” smile, ‘‘ and I will be pleased to amuse you, at least.” Mahomet dropped himself into a chair oppo- site Baldwin with the air of a veteran{ tipped back his battered tile and was feady for work. | The deal fell to Baldwin, Mahomet planked | down a bag of dust on the table, again causing | the miners to stare in amazement. The betting at once began ina spirited way on both sides. Old Mahomet seemed to have anin- exhaustible supply of dust, and promptly met the advances of the sport who finally ‘‘ called” Mahomet on a pair of aces and jacks. Mahomet won the stakes on four kings. A murmur of surprise ran through the crowd of spectators. Baldwin was unmoved by his loss and went on dealing for a second game, Mahomet ‘‘ raked the pot” to one side of the table, and then started the new game with the five golden eagles won from the sporé, Baldwin drew a well-filled purse from his pocket, poured the contents on the table at his right, and again the betting began more spirit- and determined than before, And all the while Old Mahomet kept softly whistling his favorite, ‘‘Captain Kidd,” while <0 inept ae gambler maintained his pleasant smile, The “ptlery, Skcumac ape until it finally became evident that Poker Jack was nearing the bottom of his pile, while the Lord only knew how much more dust, besides that in sight, the redoubt- able Old Puzzle had stored away about bis per- son. A direful suspense took possession of the as- tounded crowd of miners gathered around the layers. A deep and almost painful silence, roken only by Mahomet’s whistle, ensued. The a were calm, codl and deliberate, though aldwin’s smile was not quite so bland, nor Mahomet’s whistling near so musical, But as there must be an end to all things, it was even so with that game, and the end was greeted with an explosion of lungs that fairly shook the building. Old Mahomet won the game on a bluff, he having no two cardsalike in his hands, Poker Jack accepted his defeat with quiet in- es and as he arose from the table, he said: ‘* Wolks, for the first time in years, I’m about broke. Old Mahomet’s a veteran card-sharp. Vd give five hundred dollars, if I had it, for that whistle of his, for it’s more deceptive and delu- sive than the voice of a siren.” Mahomet gathered up his treasure, stuffed it into his capacious pockets, and with a polite bow left the saloon trilling his familiar air with spirit anew. ‘*Gentlemen,” said Poker Jack, as the old man disappeared from the room, ‘‘that man’s a singed cat, Ill bet this chronometer..about all of value he left me, that he’s an old schemer, deep and shrewd, and will wake up Pilgrims’ Bar some of these fine mornings in a way that’ll make Rome howl!” CHAPTER XV. MAHOMET SEEKS A WATERY GRAVE, SILENT SAUL took no interest in what was go- ing on at the saloon, but like a wary eagle he kept unceasing watch over thecamp, He could not trust the safety of the place entirely to the men on guard, An hour or two before sunset he started off up the river to make his usual rounds of the wooded hills where enemies were likely to be hovering. He kept on the west side of the stream,and when be had made half the distance | to the Devil’s Stew-Kettle, he concluded to go on and take a peep at the whirlpool. He could not forget the strange mystery that to him hung over the place. He had hopes of a sight in day- light of the Genii that had delivered him from death, As he moved along a voice hailed him. Look- ing around he saw two men approaching. One of them was Jack Baldwin, the gambler, and the other his friend, Davy, Force. Quickly Silent Saul dropped his rifie into the hollow of his left arm asa measure of precau- c eyes from the angry pool, but no sigbi tion. Baldwin readin themovementthe Patrol’s thoughts, and throwing up his open hands ad- vanced fearlessly toward him, A few words passed between them, Saul, of course, using his tablet. Their conversation was finally interrupted by the sound of excited voices, Kettle, whose sullen roar they could also hear. SilentSaul instantly became all alertness, and stealthily as a cat he began moving in the cirec- tion of the voices, the gambler and his friend following. They finally gained a point behind a rock from where they could command the view of an exciting spectacle. On the very edge of the whirlpool, holding a large stone in his two hands, his back to the river, stood Old Maho- met, while confronting him, and about, fifteen feet away stood four masked men witb drawn revolvers. It came f: om the direction of the Stew- | With an oath of baffled rage the four villains rushed to the brink of the great pool ready to seize the old man the moment he should rise to the surface. This was Silent Saul’s time to act, and quick as thought he raised his rifle and fired. With a yell one of the outlaws leaped forward and fell into the whirlpool dead. As the Young Patrol’s gun rung out, Jack Baldwin and his friend sprung from behind the rock, each with a pair of black-mouthed der- ringers in hand, and opened fire on the other three. The latter stood their ground and re- turned the fire,and several shots were quickly exchanged. David Force fell dead at his friend’s side, but never flinching, the plucky sport drew a revolver and popped away. Once, during the brief and deadly contest, Silent Saul was sure | he heard a bullet strike the gambler, but as he never moved out of his tracks unti! the last out- law had fallen, the Young Patrcl concluded he | was mistaken, and ran to the edge of the whirl- pool in hopes of being in time to aid his old friend, But nothing of the old man, save his battered tile whirling and tossing on the boiling, swirl- ing waters, could be seen. Hestood for a min- ute—for two minutes, never once takirg his of his friend rewarded his eager gaze. With a look of intense pain upon his face Saul finally turned away from the poo}. He saw Jack Baldwin kneeling by his friend, and advanced to bis side. **Poor Davy!” Jack sighed, in a husky voice, “‘he’sdone for; but what of the old man—Ma- | homet?” The five were not over ten paces away, and | every word spoken could be distinctly heard by the men behind the rock, ‘* Gents,’ Mahomet was heard to say in reply to some remark, ‘‘you’re off your base, and you'll find that I’m out and around,” ‘* You can’t bluff game us, ole man,” one of the masked men was heard toreply. ‘' You’ve had your share o’ gold outen these hills w’ot God’s consecrated to the Mormon Church, be- sides the cool thousand you cieaned Poker Jack out of. Now, we want the rest, and you can save yerself oceans 0’ trouble by jist namin’ the | | bad as had been at first supposed, but he be- spot whar your secret pocket are you’ve been workin’,” On hearing these words Silent Saul flashed a suspicious look upon Poker Jack and his friend. Baldwin quicklyread the thought in the youth’s mind and said, in a whisper: ‘*That’s thundering queer, sir, that them fel- lows should know already that I lost heavily in cards with Mahomet. There’saspyin Pilgrims’ Bar, if them four fellows are not Barites them- selves. You may confound our presence here with that of them masked men, and their pur- pose, but I assure you I know nothing about them and am ready to prove it—but hark! listen to Mahomet!” ‘* You infernal scoundrels!” the Old Puzzle was heard to exclaim with indignation, ‘* you take me for aspring lamb, but don’t forgit to keep out of my reach for ’ma bad man—I’m out andaround. I’ve no secret ‘pocket’ to lo- eateto you, andifI had doyouthink I'd tell you?” ‘* Mahomet, you can’t bluff us like you did that sport,” declared one of the masked men, betraying some impatience; ‘‘ we have watched and waited for this opportunity to catch you out for some time, and you’d as well unlimber your tongue and,take us into partnership in workin’ your claim,” ‘*T don’t perceive as I want any sich pards,” retorted Mahomet, ‘‘as you clout-faced bush- rangers, I’ve no fears, nor no use for sich sneakin’ critters, ‘*Old man, we'll fetch the secret we want,” threatened one of thé maskers, ‘tif we have to apply a slow fire. Men, take him!” ogether the four made a rush upon the old man. Quickly Mahomet raised the stone in his hands above bis head as if to hurl it at the foe, As he did so he sprung backward, lost his bal- ance and fell into the whirlpool. Feet down- ward, he sunk from view like a stone in the boil- ing flood. I’m; ott and around, gents.” | ‘*He’s found a watery grave,” Saul wrote upon his tablet, but in his heart there was cher- ished a burning hope that the mysterious Genii who had saved his life, would also save the old man’s. ‘Well, Silent Saul, I’ve got a hole shot in me,” Jack Baldwin said, his face growing death- ly pale. and his voice weak; ‘‘ help me back to camp, Saul, please.” Blood was beginning to show through his clothing in the region of the right breast, and Saul knew he must soon succumb; so taking the brave and plucky sport's arm within his own, he started w.th him to camp. CHAPTER XVI. SOME STARTLING REVELATIONS, THE news of Old Mahomet’s death and that of David Force, and the wounding of Jack Bald- win threw the deepest gloom over the spirits of Pilgrims’ Bar, Men were sent out to bring in the body of Force, while the gambler’s wound was examined and carefully dressed. His injuries were not as came quite weak with suffering and loss of | blood. The sport had been taken to a miner’s cabin where he was made as comfortable as possible. Night by this time had setin. Double guards were posted at all the approaches to the camp, while Silent Saul continued on duty with tire- less energy. The miners went armed, ready for an attack at any moment, for they did not believe the night would pass without bloodshed. ayor Bloom, Marshal Hazen, and a few others gathered at the saloon to discuss the situ- ation. Old Mahomet’s death seemed to distress the mayor most. “The poor ole galoot,” he said, sorrowfully, “it cuts Fike a knife to think he’s gone. But one thing is sartain: there’s been more’n one traitor in our midst in easy communication with the outlaws, else how could them four scoundrels have known ’bout ‘Homet cleanin’ out Poker Jack so soon after the job was did?”, ‘¢- Yes,” replied Hazen, ‘‘and ‘less we weed out these traitors with cold lead I’m afraid we'll all be taken in yit. It begins to look asif that gal’s comin’ war bringin’ us bad luck instead of good fortune,” ‘© It’s lookin’ that way, sure,” affirmed Bloom, ‘but we'll stay by her till the last breath, as we’ve sworn to do, It’s too bad the sport got hurt, for he must ‘a’been a holy swizzer on a fight. But, boys, that reminds me that I war to escort the gal and her dad to call on Jack, and I must be about it. I think the sight o’ her pretty face and sweet voice will be a balm to the i Soo feller’s wounds and spirit.” So saying, Bloom left the saloon, and shortly afterward he conducted Numa and her father into the presence of Jack Baldwin and intro- duced them. Jack was reclining on a bunk quite weak and.
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_~., ae -- + still suffering much pain, but.as Bloom had pre- dicted, the presence of the maiden and her gen- tle sympathetic voice seemed to soothe his pains and strengthen his body. They remained half an hour and then, after | expressing a kind hope for his speedy recovery, they returned to their own quarters. Bloom remained with Baldwin, and as soon as the visitors were gone he asked: ‘* What did ye think o’ the Protégée o’ Pil- grims’ Bar, Jack?” “*She’s an angel, Mr. Bloom,” declared the wounded sport ;‘*[ don’t blame you folks for fight- ing like Trojans for her. But I believe you said her father’s name was John Custer?” ‘* Yes, John Custer,” “Too bad, too bad on her account,” said Bald- win, half to himself. ‘* Why too bad, Jack?” interrogated Bloom; ‘what's wrong ’ith him?” ‘* Mayor,” said Baldwin, ‘‘I didn’t mean to say what I did, but since [ ‘did, all goes. Years ago, during the great Civil War,a man named Daniel Kirk was Kentonville Kentucky. A was indicted upon strongest evidence for tho crime, and was in jail awaiting his trial when a band of Confederate guerrillas swept downupon | the town, and because Union sentiments were | strong in that place, killed, destroyed and burn- | ed everybody nearlyand evérything. Thetown was laid in ashes, and of course the jail went | What became of the prisoners nobody | with it. knew, but they were supposed to have per- ished. ** Nearly all of the old settlers and even their families disappeared durimg the war. ‘Tho mysteriously murdered in | man named Worth ! | alarmed, The Old Puzzle said that he had been boiled u like sediments from the bottom of the whirlpool, and chucked in under the projecting bank, his head just above water, but concealed from those on shore, There he had remained until after dark, not knowing how matters had ended on shore. His story seemed plausible enough, and was accepted as such, The night wore away without any further in- cident, much to the happy surprise of the miners, The fact of Jack Strickland having a warrant for Custer’s arrest was kept a secret, Old Maho- met having obtained a promise from the detec- tivenot to serve the warrant until the danger hanging over the camp had passed away. Silent Saul was absent yet when day dawned, nor did he return as the hours wore on. Natu- rally enough the miners became uneasy about him, Patiently the return of the Young Mountain Patrol was awaited. The camp waslifeless and quiet with dire suspense; but about ten o’clock a little commotion was excited by the appear- ance of two strangers claiming to be gold-seek- ers, They were heavily armed, and looked upon with suspicion, as ’most any stranger would have been at that time; but as they gave a good account of themselves and were quict fellows, they were hospitably received. But afew hours later when a party of seven other strangers ap- peared, telling the same story as the others, and far more suspicious-looking, the camp became The miners | mies were endeavoring to gain admittance to marching and counter-marching of first one | army and then the other almost desolated the land; so that when the war ended, and a very | few of the fugitives returned to their old homes they found them not, neither were their neigh- bors to be found or even heard of. In the course of a few years a few men, or their fami- lies returned; but the most of them never. The murder of Daniel Kirk was almost forgotten; | but a few months ago, the Governor of Ken- tucky received a letter from Salt Lake City in- forming him that Worth, the murderer of Kirk, was alive and living in Southern Utah near Beaver City, under the name of John Custer, | The letter also informed him that the main wit- ness, one Lafolette, was also living in the same vicinity under an assumed name. | “The governor at once had a warrant sworn out for Worth’s arrest, and dispatched an offi- cer with it tothe West. J have that warrant in my pocket |” ** You the warrant?” exclaimed Bloom; ‘‘ what the deuce are you doin’ with the warrant?” ‘‘Hal ba! ha!” softly laughed the wounded man; ‘‘mayor, I don’t want any trouble with you folks, for you are a choice lot of brave fel- | ows, and since I’m on my back, and your guest, I'm going to tell you all, though it’s not exactly business like. As a gambler [’ve been a very fair success, except at Pilgrims’ Bar, and made quite areputationassuch, But the fact is gam- bling is only a cloak to hide my real character. I am a detective!” “Thunder and fire!” exclaimed Bloom in- credulously, ‘youre pokin’ fun at Pilgrims’ Bar, Jack,” ‘*No, Lam not. Did you ever hear of Jack Strickland, mayor?” ‘The detective?” “ Yes,” “A thousand times!” declared Bloom, ‘and he’s a deetective that is a deetective.” “Well, lam Jack Strickland. David Force, the Kentucky officer, placed the warrant in my hands, and Jobn Custer’s my man. And an- other thing, Mayor Bloom, that lovely girl, Numa, is not John Custer’s child !” “You may be Jack Strickland, stranger,” came a voice through the partially open door from the darkness without—a voice.that caused the mayor and gambler to start, ‘‘ but as sure as you undertake to carry off the dad o’ the Pro- tégée of Pilgrims’ Bar, you’ll be crise-crossed with bullet-holes till, yer blessed Redeemer won't know you! Gentlemen, I’m out and around!” And as the voice ceased speaking, the door was pushed open and Old Mahomet stepped into the room, his head bare, his thumbs in his arm- its, and a bland smile upon his bearded homely ace, CHAPTER XVII, THE TEXAS ‘‘ TARRANTLER.” THe return of Old Mahomet was like the re- turn ¢* one from the grave, and there was great rejoic&he throughout the camp, carop inthe guise of friendly strapgers, watch their opportunity and strike when least ex- pected. Hadi Mayor Bloom been equal to the occasion, he would have disarmed the strangers, if not ex- pelled them from camp. He was a good, brave man, but wanting in executive ability and that firmness of mind to act promptly and at the right time; and so the new-comers were soon enjoying the freedom of the camp, and one of them, calling himself Old Spider, the Texas Tarrantler, making himself quite obnoxious, The ** Tarrantler ” was amanof forty, heavy- set, with a big bullet-head set upon a massive neck. He was a man of undoubted great physical strength, and coarse, brutal instincts, who took the first opportunity to boast of his conquests in knock-down-and-drag-out fights in other camps. Fortunately every drop of liquor in the sa- loon had been dispensed that day, so that when Old Spider called for the drinks for him- se)’, and was informed that none was to be had, | Swanzy realized that it was a good thing for the Bar that he was out of the stut¥. Spider, however, was inclined not to believe Swanzy, or else made his pretended disbelief a pretext for raising a row, and opened up on the camp and its poverty in a high-handed way. But while he was giving free expression to his feelings, the attention of the crowd was drawn to still another new-comer, and who, of all the stranger's, filled the miners’ breasts with most fear. He was an Indian chief—a tall, athletic fellow with a queerly-painted face and heavily- plumed head, His muddy-colored hair hung in ashort, heavy braid at the back of his neck. He was ‘Iressed in an odd and peculicr Indiangarb, neat-fitting and clean, He wasa fine specimen of the American Iadian, and what was the most remarkable about him were his eyes. They were large, intelligent, and of a dark bluecolor, and fairly glowing in their keenness, At his irdle he carried a tomahawk and a long-bladed nunting-knife. There was not a man present who had ever seen the Indian before, or knew who he was. ** Great Geronimo! and Gen’r’l Jackson !” burst from the lips of Old Spider at sight of the state- ly chief, “‘ what high and mighty big Injin have we here, anyhow?” ‘‘T am Thunder Voice!” replied the chief, | flashing a look of scorn upon the bully. “Oh, my, my/ whoopee!” exclaimed Spider, sarcastically, ‘‘ how are you, Thunder Voice, old pard? am glad— Oh! so you refuse to ‘shake hands with Old Spider, the Texas Tar- rantler, eh? Wal, I’ll be eternally rapzooped if that don’t take the puddin’, pot and all. An Ingin refuse to shake hands with me! It’s far more than | can stand!” In his assumed rage the bully 'reached out, and, seizing the chief by the ear, was about to walk him out of the room, when there wasa sudden flash of the Indian’s arm, the sound of a dull blow, and Old Spider lay stretched upon the floor half-dazed, the blood streaming froma ijattened nose. In bewilderment the Texas Tarrantler arose mistrusted that their ene- | eee ie 7, Al a acid alata A i NPE VL aT - rd . “sh at” ; ° 4 ; ’ ’ ¢ Silent Saul, the Young Mountain Patrol. fa to his feet, and wiping the blood from his face, muttered: ; ‘+ No Ingin that ever breathed can strike me and live! Ingin, prepare to die, for l’m goin” to rip your soul right outen your infernal car- cass!” Swanzy and others pleaded for peace, but Old Spider was inexorable. He would listen to no one. He was determined to have the life of the | chief, and throwing off his coat, he drew a mur- | | derous-looking knife from his boot-leg and turned upon Thunder Voice. But the latter was prepared for him, and as the bully, blind with furious rage, rushed upon him, he raised his hand, in which he held a long, slender-bladed knife, by the point—his arm swept forward, there was a flash of the flying steel, a gurgling cry burst from Spider's lips—he stopped short—reeled backward, clutch- ing at his throat into which was driven to the guard Thunder Voice’s knife! ‘‘ Help! help!” gasped the doomed desperado, as the blood bubbled from his tightly-drawn lips, his eyes glaring with death-agony. A miner sprung forward and drew the knife from the man’s throat, and as he did so there was a violent convulsion of ‘the body and the Texas Tarrantler fell dead. In terror the crowd recoiled from the reach of Thunder Voice, who stood, tomahawk in hand his blazing eyes taking in the moyements of every man in the room, A dead silence followed. It was broken by the entrance of Joshua Bloom, who, at sight.of the Indian, his attitude of defense, and the life- less body on the floor, was told plainer than words that Pilgrims’ Bar had been the scene of another bloody tragedy. ‘Took out for the Ingin’s hatchet, may’r!” yelled a miner, as Thunder Voice turned to- ward Bloom. But the chief seemed to have recognized a friend in the mayor, and with a change of de- meanor he advanced to Bloom and .said, in a low tone: ‘¢ Thunder Voice would speak in a whisper to the white chief of this camp.” There was a magnetism in the wonderful eyes of the Indian that sent a strange thrill through the mayor’s form, and as the red-skin turned and left the room he turned also, and followed bim out, Outside the saloon, beyond hearing of all others, the chief stopped and in a subdued voice said: ‘* Let the white chief of Pilgrims’ Bar be on his guardif he would save the white maiden. Dangers hang over the camp. When it comes it will be a whirlwind of death. Thunder Voice will be near. But let all your friends wear a bandage around his left arm, and by this you can be known from your enemies by Thunder Voice. Fail not in this, and make sure none but your friends wear the badge. Again I say, be on your guard! The storm will come sooner or later, and the camp will run red with blood, Thunder Voice has spoken, and will now go back to the hills.” And so saying he turned and left the camp. CHAPTER XVIII. THE ‘' PROTEGEE” ACCUSED OF HORSE-STEAL-~ ING. Mayor Broom stood and gazed after the re- ceding figure of the Indian like one in a trance, He was completely astounded, He had never seen the red-skin before, nor ever heard of such a chief as Thunder Voice; and yet there was something so mysteriously familiar about the fellow that it seemed he must have seen him be- fore, in a dream, at least, Seeing Old Mahomet emerge from the saloon, he advanced to meet him, and at once com- municated to him the Indian's words of warn- ing. Ktter Mahomet had Heard the mayor’s story, he asked: ‘“ What did you think bout that Ingin, any- how?” ‘‘ He’s no more Ingin than you be!” declared Bloom, ‘‘but who he really is, what he is, and what he means to do, I don’t know. I wish the critter’d throwed more light on hisself and his words, But then he’s a mystery. Didn't he knock the trotters from under the Texas Tar- rantler in fine shape?” , ‘*T should say.so, and he done the knife- act neat as I could ’a’ did it,” observed Ma- homet:;‘‘ but, may’r, there comes two more visi- tors up the pass.” ‘¢-Yeg,and by Joe,” exclaimed Bloom, at sight of the two men who were riding slowly up the ulch, ‘‘that one with the big hat on’s Sheriff Boole 0’ Beaver City!” bs) sna i i ln 7 = 4 i 4 q: ’ | Lk
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* 4 att ‘a YY * .*. ca a’ | heart of a devil.” ' the law now, and not Darral you threaten to a _thorses from Darrel and endeavored to run them Yala oe 12 And so it proved to be. The sheriff was well known to the miners, be having been there twice before looking for horge-thieves. He was a big-hearted and pleasant man, and left a fa- vorable impression on the camp when there last. Mayor Bloom awaited his approach and greet- ed him warmly. ‘You can’t help driftin’round to Pilgrims’ Bar once in a while,” observed the mayor. “* Yes, but I’d rather not have come this time, mayor,” the sheriff replied. ** Why not?” ‘My business'here’s very unpleasant; besides, you have had so much shooting and killing go- ing on’round here of late that a fellow can’t feel entirely safe, But the fact of it is I have warrants for the arrest of one Silent Saul for the attempted murder of Bishop Darral, and—” “Saul’s not here, sheriff,” interrupted Old Mahomet, ‘nor has he been since the fore part o’ last night. We're afraid somethin’ has iap- pened him—that the Bishop’s folks, or his asso- ciates, Revenue Bill and band, have killed him,” ‘* An hour or so before daylight this morn- ing,” the officer said, ‘‘ Silent Saul crept unob- served into Darral’s tent and attempted to cut his throat. He came so near killing the Bishop, in fact, that he cut a gash across his weazen from ear to ear, but for some reason or other it was only skin deep. The sting of the keen blade awoke the Bishop, and the assassin fled before he could finish his bloody work, but, as he went outof the tent, he looked back over his shoulder like a guilty wretch and Darral recog- jnized him, I tell you, men, he must possess the **He can’t hold a candle to Bishop Darral!” declared Old Mahomet. ** Don’t you think he has some deep-seated grudge against the Mormon?” asked the mayor. ‘*That may be,” answered Poole; ‘‘men with infirmities like his are naturally nervous and excitable—in other words, cranky —always imagining he has enemies. But still, that don’t justify murder.” “* Sheriff, do you think the Bishop’s a saint?” Mahomet asked, The sheriff smiled. “Well, not exactly; but he’s a good Mormon, strong in the faith, and aman of great influence in Southern Utah,” ‘* He’s a double-dyed, fulminatin’ old devil!” Mahomet declared with blazing eyes; ‘* he fu'st attempted to murder Silent Saul, and since then one of our men has been killed and another ‘wounded by that very Bishop Dar—Demon! He’s now in cahoots with Revenue Bill—they’re ¢campin’in thesame ring and workin’ together as docile as Eng and Chang. Oh! I tell you, the greatest blunder of Silent Saul’s life was in not rippin’ the cold stee] right into his innards deep and often. That’s what 1 think ’bout it, andif any critter takes exception to my senti- ments he’!] find me—out and around.” ‘* Men, I didn’t come here to pick a quarrel, but to do my sworn duty as an officer of the Jaw,” said the sheriff. “Oh, sartainly, sheriff! I don’t hold no grudge ’g’inst you; but it does seem asif some one'd *bring the law to bear on Darral, he’d swing so durned high the blue-bottles’d never find him. But look here, sheriff; you said, did- n’é you, that you’d warrants for more’n Silent Saul?” “Yes,” replied tha officer, ‘‘I also have war- rants for the arrest of Tom Custer, and his sis- ter, Numa—now a guestin your camp—for the «rime of horse-stealing!” CHAPTER XIX, BISHOP DARRAL IN CLOSE QUARTERS. Mayor Bioom and Old Mahomet were loth to believe the sheriff’s charge against Numa Cus- ter; but upon reflection they saw in the whole affair the work of the villain, Darrai—ihat in failing to obtain possession of the girl by brute force, even aided and abetted by the outlaws, “he had invoked the law, knowing he could com- mand the entire legal power of the Territory to -aid him in his designs. Sheriff,” the mayor finally said, ‘“‘asto young Custer we know nothing, but the gal’s here, but you can't take her !” “Never!. added Mahomet, “ without you walk over the bodies of as brave men as ever pulled a trigger!” : “Gentlemen,” said the sheriff sternly, ‘it’s obstruct. That boy and girl stole a pair of » =r wihiig ~ Silent Saul, the Young Mo nia out of the country. Warrants were sworn out | for their arrest and placed in my hands, and | that’s why I’m here.” | ** Sheriff, go back and tell Darral we defy the | warrants, him, the devil and Tom Walker,” de- | clared Mahomet, . ‘* But remember, men,” persisted the sheriff calmly, ‘‘that £ can command the power of the | whole Territory, and if Darral insists on the | warrants being served, 1 wiil bring a force to | doso. It will be my duty.” ‘*We understand that, sheriff,” replied Ma- | homei, ‘‘and we'll be in shape to stand by our colors, ButI think this matter can be settled. Atany rate, you go back and tell Darral'that Vil settle for them hosses—pay double value and ali expenses if he’ll recall the warrants, And furthermore, if the Bishop ’ll come here with you alone, Vil wager my scalp that he’ll be treated fairly—be given an opportunity tomake a statement as to his grievances, in spite of the dirty things he has already done, and if he can’t be dissuaded from hevin’ that gal arrested by fair and honest means, then I'll say no more, but help you serve the warrants.” © ‘*That’s sayin’a good deal, 7Homet,” observ- ed Bloom, with a disapproving shake of the head. “Ym sure of what I say, may’r,” declared Mahomet, ‘‘and you'll see jist as 1 do when a couference is held.” ‘* Well,” replied the mayor, with an air of hesitetion, ‘‘ lll not commit myself as to the | gal, but ll promise no harm shall come to Dar- | ral if he’il come into camp.” ‘*Gentlemen,” said Poole, leaping into his | saddle, ‘‘ fF go see Darra!, but I'll promise | nothing,” And turning his horse’s head down the gulch he and his companion galloped away. “Well, "Homet, what next?” asked Bloom, evidently at his wits’ end. “Fun, may’r, fun; if Old Darral’ll come up | here I’ll make itso musical for him he’j1 wish he’d | never been born, and don’t you forgit to remem- ber and recollect it.” ‘*I'm afraid we'll lose the gal yit if we don’t run her away into the hills and conceal her, Darral has every advantage of us, and he knows Thus the two conversed for some time, when they finally turned and went around to the mayor’s cabin and had a talk with Numa and her father to whom they related Darral’s latest expedient to get possession of the former, From the cabin they went direct to the saloon accompanied by John Custer. They had just reached the place, when who should come riding up to the door but Sheriff Poole and Bishop Darra}. The Saint hada sullen, angry look upon his face, and a bandage around his throat. He |! para ig his head like one with a very stiff neck. ‘* Well, sheriff,” exclaimed Old Mahomet, as the two men entered the saloon, ‘‘I observate that the good Bishop decided to accept my pre- position and call for a chat.” ‘* Yes,” snapped the Mormon, like a worried wolf, ‘‘ but 1 want 1t understood that I’m in no mood to trifle over this matter very long.” : ‘““Them’s my sentiments, Bishop,” replied the | Puzzle; ‘* I mean business—l’m out and around, | Bam,” ‘* Well, what’s wanted with me here?” grufily demanded the Bishop, his cold, gray eyes fixed | upon Mahomet. ‘*To see if we can’t settle this matter ’bout the stolen hosses without makin’ any arrests,” | ‘*T can’s compromise a felony,” declared the | Bishop, with the air of one insulted by even the | suggestion of such a thing. ** They were not stolen horses, Bishop Darral,” | spoke up John Custer, confronting the Mormon; | ** they were the property of my son!” **Your son!” sneered Darral, ‘‘a worthy son | ofanobilesire! You and he together tried to | defraud me out of the payment of your note I | had carried, out of charity for you, for years. | You made over your property to your son and | daugbter, and then hid yourself away to make people believe you'd been foully dealt with, while your offsprings could dispose of your property and flee. But I thwarted that scheme!” ‘“* Darral, you know where I was and who had ) me placed a prisoner in that loathsome cavern!” ; thundered the old man, ** Do you mean to say I put you somewhere a prisoner?” demanded Varral. **No, I do not say you did it, but you had it done!” ** You lie, sir!” was the response of the enrag- ed Mormon. . ‘Very well,” said Custer, coolly, ‘ time will | prove what Isay.” | untain Patrol. | Custer and Numa all their property, and when | ed around and stole two of the horses [’d bought | deliberate murder of Ishmael Barr, and his en- | this scathing accusation, and turning toward aera “ys,” retorted the Mormon, ‘‘it will prove a good many things—things that have been proven before, John Worth!” ‘* Let it all out, Darral,” said Custer, ‘I’m ready for the worst.” ‘* That’s the gallows!” ‘*' Then so be it,” replied Custer, with an ex- asperating coolness. ‘*Men,” said Darral, addressing himself to the miners, ‘' I did not come here to quarrel, but to make a statement, by your request, of my | case against the Custers. I bought from Tom I wished to apply an old. note—a legacy of their father, and oue binding upon them as upon me —on the purchase, he whined like a baby—turn- and run off with them.” ‘* Bishop, was the note you held against Cus- ter made payable to you?” asked Old Mahomet, ‘* No; I had purchased it'of one Daniel Kirk,” © Ah, Darral!” exclaimed Custer, “if your life-record was laid bare, I dare say, worse crimes than horse-stealing would be written of, in letters of blood!” ** John Custer Worth!” Darral fairly shriek- ed, incited to a new burst of rage by Custer’s remarks, ‘‘no longer will I shield you, though the heavens fall upon me! I wish to inform these miners that are befriending you that you are not the father of the girl, Numa, and that there stands to-day on the court-records of Ken- tucky an indictment against you for the murder of Daniel Kirk!” ** And I want to inform them that there stands ; onthe récords of High Heaven, an indictment against you, Bishop Darral, for the willful and tire family !” lt was a strange yet earnest voice that made the open door the Bishop found himself con- fronted by the mysterious Indian, Thunder Voice! CHAPTER XX. THE MORMON “ PILLAR” TOTTERING, BisHop DARRAL grew visibly pale, and a shiver ran through his form as his eyes met those of the tall Indian. Involuntarily he shrunk back asif the burning yzaze of the red- skin’s eyes penetrated to his very soul. The momentary silence that followed was brokenby * a subdued voice in the room, saying: ‘* Lafolette! Lafolette! the gallows awaits you in two lands!” Turning like a wild beast at bay, Darral-, sought to discover the speaker among the many faces turned toward him. | ** Another State heard from!” exclaimed Ma- homet, looking around, also, for the speaker; ‘*the blows are falling thick and heavy on you, Bishop.” “Tt’s a conspiracy! a conspiracy!” cried the Mormon excitedly. ** Let’s hear, anyhow, what that Injun’s got to say.” ‘Curse the Ingin!” ‘Hear the Ingin! hear the Ingin!” yelled a dozen deafening voices. ‘¢ Sheriff, you should arrest, every man here!” exclaimed Darral, mad with rage, ‘‘and kick that Ingin out of sight!” ‘‘Order! order!” commanded the sheriff ; ‘“men, we took you at your word and came here to avert trouble not to make it.” ‘“‘Order, men!” shouted Old Mahomet; “ or- der, and hear what the Ingin has to say.” ‘* Curse the Ingin, I repeat!” hissed Darral, “Save your curses, Bishop,” said Thunder Voice, ‘‘ for like your touch, they will no longer blight and wither; your crimes in the name of the Mormon Church are about ended, I have waited and prayed for this hour to be able to re- proach you for the murder of Ishmael Barr and ” family over ten years.” . ‘Miners of Pilgrims’ Bar, you. can’t intimi- date me by these trumped-up charges of crea- tures like this savage!” Darral proclaimed, with a sickly attempt to appear defiant and re- solute. : ‘*Hold on, Darral,” Thunder Voice said, lay- ing his hand upon the Bishop’s shculder, “ this is no trumped-up charge. You know it, too, and that’s what hurts. You cannot have for- gotten that one night years ago, you and six other Mormons, visited the humble home of Ish- mael Barr to rob him of his fair deughter Grace, who had steadfastly refused to become your wife. You must remember what took place— that the family barred the house and fought for their lives and honor. But, you overpowered the father and mother and the childrer, and when you found Grace had taken her life tether than be disgraced, you murdered theent ‘e fa- % ( : at
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SSN BIR SEES hoe is nr a Silent Saul, the Young Moun a) tain Patrol. + > ts r vied a 13 misy—you and your minions, inspired by the example of John D. Lee and his minions at Mountain Meadow, butchered Ishmael Barr and hisfamily. No, not all, either; you remember a boy of ten yrars that you struck down, and then cut his throat—kitling him as you supposed. But the blade did no; cut deeper than did Silent Saul’sinto yourthroatlastnight. Herecovered his senses—that boy did—and crept away to the camp of some vagabond Indians, who dressed his wounds and cared for him, He recovered, but his tongue was paralyzed. He became Si- lent Saul, the Mountain Patrol—an avenger. He made his home among the Indians who be- | friended him. He became a leader among them. They honored and respected him because of his misfortune. For years Silent Saul has roamed through the hills, camps, and settle- ments—doing good where he could for the wor- thy, but ail the while seeking the murderers of hisfamily. Every ono of taem has fallen a vic- tim to his vengeance but yourself. You could have bean slain years ago, but Saul preferred to let you live in hopes his speech might be restored to lum, that in4words snoken he could reproach you for your crime before slaying you. Last nightSilent Saulspoke the first wordin ten years, His speech was suddenly restored to him in an- swer to a prayer to Almighty God. That boy often whom you-struck down—whom you de- prived cf home and family stands before you! Lam Robert Barr—Silent Saut !” sishup, Darral reeled back, throwing up his arm agifto ward off a blow, horror depicted upon every line of his wicked face. But Silent Saul, for this mysterious youth Thunder Voice really was, did not offer to strike him, Ho was content for the time being to see the guilty wretch tremble and writhe in an agony of fear. The miners were astounded by the story Si- lent Saul told, but of its truthfulness there were no doubts, for afterhe had declared himself, all could readily see he was the Mountain Pa- trol. ‘That's layin’ itin pretty thick,” declared Mayor Bloom, ‘Yes, and while the shower’s on, and I’m out and around,” said Old Mahomet, ‘‘I want to drap a word ortwofor the ear of the Bishop, and, alao, Poker Jack, here, who turns out to be the fastive rogue-catcher, DetectiveJack Strick- land, witha warrant for Custer—John Custer Worth’s arrest for the murder of Dan Kirk. I want to inform them that J, Custer Worthis not guilty of any murder, but has been a victim of a rascally conspiracy to rob him, in which Daniel Kirk suffered likewive. I know all about that murder business—” ‘* Tt’s false--false as the devil!” cried Darral, recovered from his*paralysis 6f terror, ‘‘ you know nothing except what Custer has been stuffing you with in order to get himself sworn out of a bad scrape,” “‘ Listen, will you?” said Mahomet, ‘‘ and Pil convince you I do know something bout that affair. You and Dan Kirk and John C, Worth were neighoors in Kentucky. You disliked Worth because of his defeating you fora litical office. You and Kirk were friends. The war broke out. Kirk wasa Union man and so you pretended to be. For fear of being forced into the rebel army, Kirk whose wife had re- cently died, sold his property to Worth, took his note payablein two years,and away he went North, having left the note in your hands to be collected if he never returned, and placed on interest for the benefit of his child, thena young babe. ‘“‘ Kirk entered the Federal navy and served three years, was wounded in one eye, but final- ly got through safe and returned to Kenton- ville under an assumed name. Judge of his surprise to find Worth and all his family gone, also his friend Darral, and nearly every other | family he had known. The war had swept the country clean, but from an old, aged man who had not been molested, Kirk learned that John C. Worth had murdered him—that is, Kirk— and that he was indicted on Darral’s testimony and would no doubt have hung but for the com- ing of Morgan’s Cavalry. What become of Worth he never knew, nor did he know what had become of Darral—you, Bishop. He did remember, however, that what was left of Worth’s estate, was taken and sold to satisfy a note you held against Worth, drawn in favor of Kirk. So it seems youhave managed to pre- sent that note the second time for at Exe y ‘‘ You are a lying impostor!” hissed Darral. “O54, no, I’m not, Bishop;” replied Mahomet, with dis bland smile; ‘“‘for some reason or other, ou were not compelled to surrender the note when first paid, but stuck toit till you were enabled to find John Custer Worth, when again you opened upon him. You no doubt thought Kirk had been killed—in fact, sucha report did reach Kentonville; but when he found all his friends gone, he did not make him- self known and began rambling around over the country making a kind of an old fool o’ hisself, One day heran slam-bang against his old friend, Darral, in this country, but his old friend didn’t recognize him, Tobe sure, nighly seventeen years had changed Kirk a great deal, besides the squint in his wounded eye made him look Jike another man. Bishop, do you catch on? Do yourecognize ia me, Old Mahomet, your old friend and neighbor, Daniel Kirk? I am Dan’], Bishop, alive as you healthy, and sound ’cept this eye, and I’m out and arou:d, lam. And this knocks the stuffin’ outen your murder case, and I want five thou- sand dollars outen you with interest for seven- teen years, But, Darral, your persecution of Worth is not what has made me your enemy, but your brutal treatment and persecution of— of his daughter, Numa!” CHAPTER XXII. A DEATH STRUGGLE. OLD MAHOMET'S revelations, like a sudden burst of light dispelling gloom, laid bare the | Bishop / true character and Darral, The villain admitted by his looks that, in Mahomet, he recognized Daniel Kirk, and with apparent despondency of heart, he finally turned to Poole and observed: ‘Sheriff, I’m going; it’s no use to breath with this mob of jackals,” Silent Saul quickly sprung between him and the door. ‘‘ No, no, Saul,” said Mayor Bloom; “‘let bim depart. We promised the sheriff no harm should betall him if he would come here and endeavor to settle our troubles. He came, and while no compromise has been made, we must keep our word with Sheriff Poole.” With a bow of submission Silent Saul stepped aside and the Mormon passed out of the saloon, He did not wait for the sheriff, who tarried be- hind, but mounting his horse, he rode away as though the furies were after him. Sheriff Poole being now introduced to the noted detective, Jack Strickland, sat down to chat with him, having forsworn to have noth- ing further to do with Darra] and his warrants. ot over forty minutes had passed, when to the surprise and consternation of all, Darral was seen returning; but he was not alone, At his horse’s heels marched a column of armed men, to the number of nearly three-score. “The tug’s comin’ now, boys!” said Old Mahomet, ‘* Let it come,” said Thunder Voice, ‘‘ I am ready for it.” At thelower end of camp Darral halted his force and formed them in line so as to present as formidable array as possible. Then a man was sent forward, evidently to confer with the authorities, ; Bloom and Thunder Voice advanced to meet him, Hecame with the demand for the imme- diate surrender of Numa Custer and Silent Saul. ‘¢ Go back and tell your friends to scamper to purgatory,” said Thunder Voice, “‘ or else come and take us if they can.” The rman departed with the message. In the mean time, Old Mahomet was marshal- ing all the available forces in camp ready for battle. The odds were three to one against them, but they feltno fear, They were ready to die, if need be, in defense of their protégée. Knowing the superior numbers of his force, it was evident that Darral had hoped to gain a bloodless victory by making an imposing dis- ylay. But he hadreckoned without his host, as be found out to his surprise when his dispatch- bearer returned. An advance on the camp was at once ordered, but the line had not gone over twenty rods when it wasagain halted. Again a demand for the surrender of Saul agd Numa was made, and as before, it was refused, with haughty disdain, Intimidation by array of warriors had entirely failed, and it became plain that they must now fight or back down entirely in the very sight of the waiting, defiant miners. Darral and Revenue Bill stood and talked to- | Hera some minutes. The sun was nearly own, and when the bandit chief was seen to glance toward the west, Thunder Voice at once mistrusted what it meant—that he was noting the position of the sun, with the view of defer- Bir Whe attack until night set in, ‘“Mayor,” said the young mountaineer, “‘ it’s ’m going to force the bat- wickedness of waste fight now or never. sce, purfectly | { | tle,” and as he concluded, he placed a whistle to his lips and blew three sharp, shrill blasts that fairly awoke the mountain echoes. Instantly it was answered from tha blufts overlooking the camp, and then, like so many spirits bursting from the shadows, three-score Indians sprung from the hiliside and came swarming down into the gulch, their weapons glinting end flashing in the red rays) of the | setting suv, while the very air seemed to shake | and quiver with their unearthly and demoniac | yells. Revenue Bill and Darral stood for a moment as if dazed by sight of the human avalanche pouring down into the valley, bub they soon realized the situation, and guickly gave a com- mand that swung their line of warriors around so as to confront the unexpected foe. The first shot was fired by Revenue Bill at Thunder Voice, who, shouting to his friends, rushed to the conflict with tomahawk in hand. Instantly a volley from rifles and revolvers rat- tiled and crashed through the gulch, and bullets. whistled and shrieked through the air. The followers of Thunder Voice hurled them- selves upon the allied forces of outlaw and Mor- mon, and then the dull crash of blows, the flash of murderous knives and the cries of agony and curses and yells of rage told how terrible and deadly was the struggle. Down from the saloon, at the head of the min- ers carne brave Old Mabcmet,firm and undaunt- ed as the veteran that he was, and joined in the conflict, he and his friends striking the foe om the right flank, More than a hundred men and savages had now become mixed in the hand-to-hand strug- gle. To and fro, around and around, with yells, groans and curses, sodden blows and pistol-shots blending in one frightful din, surgedand swayed the seething, writhing mass like battling fiends in a swirling vortex of hell! CHAPTER XXII. THE ‘' PROTKGLE” A CAPTIVE AT LAST, As soon as Bishop Darral left the City Hall John Custer started on his return to bis daugh- ter at Bloom’s cabin, accompanied by Detective Strickland. As they slowly walked along the latter said: ‘* Well, really, Mr. Custer, Pilgrim’s Bar is a little the liveliest placer-camp 1 ever struck. For meanness, that man Darral seems the grand sachem of all, In his schemes ‘on you—his enemy—he used his best friend, Ki mean,” ‘“‘Meaner, Jack, meaner, knowing what he did,” declared Custer; ‘‘you know it has al- rine been said the girl Numa is not my daugh- ter?” ‘* Yes, I heard so,” answered the detective. “1tis true, she’s not my child, though as dear’ to me as if she were my own flesh and blood. Her mother died when’ sbe was but one week old. My good wife, now in heaven, took the little babe, and we raised her as our own, does not know but that she’s my child; but, Strickland, Old Mahomet—Daniel Kirk—is her father!” i Strickland stopped and gizimg into the old man’s face uttered a low whistle of surprise, “Thicker and thicker!’ he finally declared; ‘‘ will surprises never end!” ~ Here the conversation ended, for they had reached the cabin, Numa met them at the door with smiles and kind words of greeting; and ushering them into the cabin. Before seating himself the detective removed his revolvers from his pockets and laid them on a shelf within reach. \ Scarcely had be become settled in his seat when the ears of all were assailed by that terri- ble din of battle. A cry of terror burst from Numa’s lips. John Custer started, his tail form erect, his eyes flashing with the fire of youth; then with a bound he reached the door, and seizing Strick- land’s mevolvers as he went, he exclaimed: “They are at it,and I’m needed. I’m going to take a hand in that fight. May God protect you, Numa,” and before Numa could enter her test to his going, he was speeding away as if the sound of battle had thrilled him with the vigor of youth. oker Jack arose and leaning against the door-jamb listened to the dreadful sound for a few moments. Then his spirit began to chafe within him, and although scarcely able to stand, he told Numa he felt it bis duty to give all the aid he could to her friends, and would at once go to their assistance. Numa begged him not to go, for she would be left alone. Just then three men were observed coming rk, almost as, She: —
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4 14 ona runtowardthecabin. Strickland recog- nized them as three of the strangers that had come to camp that day with Old Spider. He knew not whether they were friends or foes, but they were cowards, at least, be thought, else they would have joined the miners in the battle. Straight toward the door of the cabin they came, each with a revolverin his hand. Strick- land saw now that they meant mischief ard stepped backintotheroom. Custer had taken his pistols, but grasping a pick-handle that stood in the corner of the cabin he took his position to defend the girl. ** Halt, there!” he called out as the men ap- proached, A shot from the foremost villain answered him, the bullet ‘‘ fanning ” his cheek. Then into the room bounded the wretch, when *‘erash ” fell the pick-handle on his head and he dropped as if smitten by lightning. The other two villains bounded into the room together and then came a double blow and two more forms were felled to the floor insensible; but one of these was the form of brave Jack Strickland, One of the outlaws had struck him on the head with his revolver. Numa, crouching in terror, in the corner, now found herself alone, as it were, with a man whom she recognized as the friend and tool of Bishop Darral, ‘‘ Ho, my pretty bird!” he exclaimed, ‘‘ we’ve got you at last! Come, not a word nor a whim- r! He seized her by the arm and dragged her over the prostrate form of his friends and the detective to the door. There she fell fainting. The Mormon, for such he was, lifted her in his arms as though she were a child and bore her away up the gulch. As soon as he was out of sight of the cabins, he began climbing the hillside on the left. He followed a path that led up and back into the dark recesses of the moun- tains. Numa showed signs of returning conscious- ness in the course of a few minutes, and her abductor strained every nerve to get as far away as possible before this hap A Finally he succeeded in reaekine @ narrow bench ofr plateau, on the mountain-side, almost out of breath. Then he stopped to rest, laying his burden on the ground and seating himself by her side. He had scarcely done so when the figure of a man with haggard face, blood-shot eyes and torn garments leaped from behind a rock and ran toward him with an uplifted club in bis hand. The Mormon heard the approaching footsteps and sprung to his feet, drawing a pis- tol. But he was not quick enough, for the hag- gard man, whose club fell with a crash upon his skull, striking him to the earth at the feet of the maiden, to all appearances dead. ‘* Numa!” then burst from the lips of the man ashe bent over the figure of the girl, ‘‘ Numa; sister, awake!” The words, like an electric thrill, caused the maiden to start, open her eyes, and glare wildly up into the face bending overher. * “Numa, don%* "you know me?’ the man asked. *“‘Tt?’sTom! Oh, it’s brother Tom!” burst from her lips. And so it was, ‘¢ Yes, sister,” he answered, ‘‘ I have been lost in the mountains since theday we parted, Like a fool, I have cursed my fatea dozen times, at last to find it was God’s will that it be so that you might be saved! But, Numa, what meant those dreadful sounds of battle | heard a few moments ago off yonder? Can you tell me? How have you fared since we parted?” Numa,told him all, and the young man fairly ha with joy when he heard that his father was living. The sound of battle had now ceased, and as the sun was just going down, Tom and Numa started in the direction of the camp, . They had not gone far when they discovered two Indians ig toward them like hounds upon a Tom became alarmed, but Numa, recognizi ‘one of the red-skins as Thunder Voice, dispell me fears, and soon they were with the In- ans. Numa’s first words. were to inquire about the result of the battle and her father’s safety, to which Silent Saul replied: ‘* We tairly obliterated Revenue Billand Bishop Darral’s forces, ya both the leaders. But it cost us dearly. Half my Indian friends were killed or wounded, Among the latter were Old Mahomet and your father, though neither, I hope, are dangerous,” Silent Saul, von 4s ae Se pen nr . ara en =e pre A cry of anguish burst from Numa’s lips, and she begged to be taken at once to her father’s | assistance. On the way to camp Saul related how, after the battle, he had gone to the cabin and found Jack Strickland just recovering from a blow on the head, and the maiden gone. From the de- tective he learned what had happened, and, taking an Indian trailer, he had followed to ber rescue, It was dark when the camp was reached. Numa and Tom were taken to a cabin wherein lay their father and Mahomet in great misery. But at sight of his children John Custer seemed to forget his suffering, and fairly shouted with joy; and after Numa had sobbed out a prayer of joy and tkanks for their deliverance from persecution, he said: ‘* Now I can die in peace!” **Die?” cried Tom; '‘‘ you do not mean that you are so seriously hurt as to think of dying.” So cone fast!” A wail burst from Numa’s lips, and Tom sunk on his knees at his father’s side in de- pzir. Old Mahomet, who was lying on the opposite side of the room, turned his face to the wall and wept like a child, He, too, was dying. knew the fair and lovely Nunia was his own child! He longed to speak to her as her father, to tell her of her mother, and receive one word —one caress—such as she had hestowed upon her foster-father before he passed away, But he could not think of breaking that holy bond that bound together the hearts of the Custer family, nor claim any of that affection that John Custer, through fatherly love and kind- ness, had cultivated in the girl’s breast. To relieve his mind of its distress, he sent for sepa omer When the Young Patrol came in, e said: ‘Saul, before I go, I want to ask you one question: Have you ever mistrusted what har Ta ha of the Devil’s Stew-Kettle could re? ‘¢ Yes,” replied the young man, with a smile; “T think Old Mahomet, the Puzzle, is the Genius that saved me from a watery grave the other night,” “You are right,” said the wounded man. ‘“‘The miners have for months been wonder where I got so much dust, seein’ I worked bu little, but I was out/and around all the same. When I first saw the Devil’s Stew-Kettle, an idea struck me. For thirteen years I have been a miner, and had some ’sperience in ‘‘ placers,” and it occurred to me the whirlpool might be a depository of wealth like no less than two pot- holes I knew of in Wyoming streams. I knew that while the smaller particles.of gold floating down had long ago found a resting-place in the placers of the valley below, there was the spot at which weightier pieces must’ have sunk, ground up together until the rock was all loosen- ed and carried away, and then the gold settled to rest forever, unless disturbed by the hand of man. I sounded the pot-hole, and found it quite deep, which was all the better, and, strippin’ off my clothes, I took a big rock in my. hands and jum into the water. Down and down I sunk till my feet touched the bottom, then I let go the stone, grabbed two handfuls of loose stuff on the bottom and rose to the sur- face and scrambled ashore. To my joy I found in the two handfuls [ brought up, nuggets of gold busthon from ten to twenty dollars in value. knew then I had found a bonanza, and in the same way I have been workin’ my claim ever since, mostly at night. ‘* In the course of time I found a sort of cave under the rock over which the water shoots into the pot-hole. From that point J generally made my descents, and by means of a guide-rope re- turned there. I was concealed there the night the Mormons and outlaws threw you into the hole, and by the A See you was at the bottom, I was there also, knife in hand to cut your bonds, 1 dragged you up under the rock, and you were saved. That, Saul, is all thereis of the mystery of the whirlpool, I know there are thousands worth of treasure there yet; but it’ll do me no pos now; but, Saul, it will do others good, and n ow desire to bequeath you, and— Come closer, Saul,” Saul stoo and placed his ear near the old man’s mouth when he said in a whisper: _“To you and Numa Custer, all my right and title in that whirlpool.” Here the old man paused fora moment, and was about to resume, when he was startled by a ery from Numa’s lips. He looked around and saw the maiden standing, clutching her brow, ah ads ha os ae ne f 3 Spt gO ees ee at rey PTA ENTE EPR CPE HHT ‘Tom, my brave boy,” the old man said, | He | the Young Mountain Patrol. { | | Sr eatuss Repo dak, a Lk, SE - i her face white as a sheet and her streaming eyes fixed as if by sudden terror. There was a momentary silence, then as if her heart-strings kad been snapped asunder, the girl cried out: *“* You not my father !” “Ah, John! exclaimed Old Mahomet, ‘‘ why did you not let that secret go with us? Why sever the bond that binds your uearts as father and child?” ‘‘ Daniel,” replied Custer in a feeble voice, ‘ I could not die happy without telling her. Nor have I told her all yet—that you, Daniel, are her real father !”’ ‘What?’ cried Numa, ‘‘ Mahomet my father? and he dying too? Oh, my God! my God!” The shock was more than the poor girl’s over- | wrought brain could withstand, and she sunk in a swoon to the floor, It was long hours before she recovered, and when she did, the first thing she noticed was a form lying on the bunk where she had last seen her father, covered with a blanket, silent and motionless. It required no words to tell her the terrible truth; the man she had known as her father was dead! Old Mahomet was still alive but rapidly sink- ing. Numa went to hisbedsideand as she gazed down into his rough, bearded face, he put out his hand toward her. She grasped it in her own, and kissedit; then, with the word ‘' father” upon her lips, she supk sobbing on her knees at his bedside. ' Tenderly the old man talked to her, and told her of her birth, the death of her mother, and of the cruel fate that had keptthem apart. She listened, like one in a dream, to his story, and when he had concluded, her tears were dried; the fountain of her grief had been exhausted and her heart and mind had become resigned to their double burden of surprise and sorrow. During the remaining hours of his life Ma- homet’s wants were attended to by his daugh- ter. She never left his bedside for a moment until his spirit had passed from its broken tene ment into that unknown land beyond the Silent River which flows into the Sea Eternal. CHAPTER XXIII. THE CONCLUSION. Wir the death of Revenue Bill and Bishop Darra], Pilgrims’ Bar’s troubles ceased, although the few miners left would have gone away, through fear of an uprising of the Mormons had they been able to remove their wounded with safety. But, no Saints appeared to avenge the death of Darral. In fact, it was afterward learned that, while the so-called ‘‘ Bishop ” was a leader among them, he was a tyrant, feared and hated, whose taking off was regarded with no little silent satisfaction. It was, also, learned that he and some of his immediate friends, who died with him, were in league with Revenue Bill, and that they shared in the ‘‘assessments” of the daring Bandit Collector, Silent Saul sent his red-skin friends back to their mountain homes with many a blessin from those whom they had so opportunely aide in saving from a life of suffering, the Protégéa of Pilgrims’ Bar, The Young Patrol set earnestly to work to se. cure the treasure Old Mahomet had predicted was lying in the bottom of the whirlpool. By diverting the course of the river, the pot-hole was pumped dry and fully three thousand ounces ef treasure was obtained, which he shared equally with Numa, as per request of hor father, But this gold was not all the riches the gallant youth secured. In the heart and hand of Numa herself, he secured a treasure more priceless than all the metals of earth, and they, as man and wife, are to-day living in the full enjoyment of a happy and prosperous life ip one of the large cities of the West. " After Silent Saul, whose real name, for obvi: ous reasons, we have kept concealed all along uit the mountains and settled down with his charming wife, he entered upon a life-work which, at no distant day, he hopes to see carried to a successful issue; that work is the over- throw of the Mormon Church, which has been the cause of untold misery and crimes, as well asa burning disgrace to the American Repub- lic. Jack Strickland remained at the Bar until be had fully recovered from his wounds, Of this noted mountain detective we have seen but lit+ tle, but in the near future we hope to be abie to present him in a light where all his wonderftl power and skill as a man-bunter will be fully revealed, THE END,
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Published Every Tuesday. BY OLL COOMES. / Old Kit Bandy, Detective, 146 Kit Bandy, Detective; or, Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 168 Kit Bandy tn Texas; or, The Young Mustanger, 208 Kic Bandy’s Catch; or, The Boy Hercules. 422 Kit Bandy’s Right Bower; or, Baby Sam,the Boy Glant 444 Kit Bandy’s Swoop; or, Little Buckskin, tne Centaur, 478 Kit Bandy’s Slick Scheme; or, Old Tom Rattler. | 661 Kit Bandy’s Deliverance; or, Banner Ban. | 680 Kit Bandy’s Pard; or, Dauntless Dan, the Freelance, 1 T91 Kit Bandy Rattleds or, The Intant Giant, | 795 Kit Bandy in Red Ruin; or, The Young Whirlwind, 799 Kit Bandy’s Big Rustie; or, Saddle King Sam, S04 Kit Bandy’s Brigade; or, Dan, the Mountain Guide. Jack Drew, Detective. 158 Jack Drew, the Nemesis, or, Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. 182 Jack Drew's Drop; or, Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain, 202 Jack Drew in Deadwood; or, Prospect Pete, $ 7 Keen-Knife. 27 Keen Knife on Guard; or, Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. 81 Keen-Knitfée, the Prince of the Prairies. Other Novels by O11 Coomes, 5& Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. Al Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 58 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 74 Hawk-eye Harry the Young Trapper Ranger, 88 Rollo, the Boy Ranger; or, The Heiress, 84 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman, 48 Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter 78 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 18 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 24 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 28 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger, 248 The Disgulsed Guide}; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger. 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger, 272 Minkakin Mike, the Boy Shnrpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy; or, Old Caleb Arbuckle. 800 The Sky Demon; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger, B84 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero, 409 hercules; vr, Dick, the Boy Ranger. Al? Webfoot Mose, the Tramp Detective. 457 Wingedfoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul. 468 Tamarac _‘l'om, the Big Trapper Boy. A482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan, 562 Blundering Baall, the Hermit Boy Trapper, 652 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance, 670 Norway Nels, the Biz Boy Mountaineer. T7S Highland Harry, the Wizard Rifleman. BY T, ©. MARBAUGH, Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of 76. The Hidden Lodge} or The Little Hunter. Ni atingale N at or, Tne Forest Captains, 4 Dandy Jack; or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trats. 82 Kit Harefoot, the Wood-Hawk; or, Old Powder-face, 94 Midnight Jaek; or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 428 Kiowa Charley the White Mostanger. 189 Judge Lynch Jr.: or, The a4 Vigilante. 155 Gold Trigger, the Bpsrt or, The Girl Avenger. 169 Tornado Toms or, Injun Jack From Red Core, 38 Ned Temple, the Border Boy; or, The Mad Hunter. 98% Arkansaw ¢ or. The Qusen of Fate’s Revenge. 0? Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 15 Captain Bullet; or, Little Topknot’s Crusade, 281 Plucky Phil; or. Rosa, the Rei Jezebel. 241 Bill Bravos: or, Tie Roughs of the Rockies, 255 Captain Apoliv, tne King-Pin of Bowie, 267 The buckskin Detective; or, The King of Road-ngents, 279 Old Winch; or, The Buckskih Desperadoes, 294 Dynamite Dany or, The Bowle Blade of Gochetopa. 802 The Monntain Detective: or, The Trigger Bar Bully, 816 Old Eclipse, Trump Card of Arizona, B26 The Ten Pardsy; or, The Terror of Take-Notice. B86 Ble Benson; or, The Queen of the Lasso. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Ked Thunderbolt’s Secret. Bb Cool sam avd Pards or The Terrible Six, B66 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. B86 Captain Cutlasa; or, 1 he B ccnneer’s Girl Foe, 896 Rough Robs or, The (win Champions of Blue Blazes. All The MSilleen Lasso; or, The Rose of Ranch Robin. 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter; or, The Gold Gang of New York. 425 Texas Tramp. the Border Rattler, 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox; or, The Mystery of Room 21, 445 The City Vampires; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon. AG1 One Againat Fifty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar, A770 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. 477% The Exceisior Sport 4 or, The Washington Spotter. 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport, 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective, Dodger Dick's Best Dodge; or, The Gotham Gold Gang. Fox and Faicon, the Bowery Shadows, Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret. Dodger Dick’s Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, Dodger Dick’s Desperate Case. Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidocq; or, The Gang of Three. 8 The Two Shadows; or, Dodger Dick’s Stop Game. S82 Dodger Dick’s Drop; or, The Man from Jersey. 694 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sherp on Guard, § The Champion Pards; or, The Lucifer of Silver Bar, Dick Doan, the Deck Boy Detective, 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp. 658 Billy Bantam, the Boy Beagle. B71 Jersey Jed, the Boy Hustler; or, Shadowing the Shadower. 685 Happy Hugh, the Boy Musician Detective. Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. Wide Awake Len, the Quaker City Ferret. Palsy Dell, the Pavement Detective; or, Trapping Big Game, Billy Winks, the Be'l Boy Detective. 4 Billy Winka, the Poss Boy Shadow. Eagle Ned, the Boy on Guard; or, The Camp Spiders, 0 Tonkaway Tom, the Red Wizard. BY BUOKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8, Hall.) 84 Old Rocky's ** Boyeess or, Benito, the Horse-Breakor 6 Giant George; or, The Ang’l of the Range. Arizona Jack ; or, Giant George’s Pard. ‘The Tarantula of Taos; or, Giant George’s Revenge, ¢ Strange Pard 3 or, Little Ben’e Death Hutt. wothid chee Ker-whoo} or, The Tarantula of Taos, peping Oat, the Caddo; or, The Red and White Pards, o Fred: or, The Tonkaway’s Trust, e Fighting Trio; or, Rattleanake, the Tonkaway. Md Wolf; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front. » Ranch Ralders} or, The Siege of Fort Pargatory. >-Shot, the Boy Ranger, ta, the Creek; or, The Three Thunderbolts. era igs y CA bey Frank to the Front. eo an @ Reda; or, The Beleaguered Ranch. e Lariat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. pley from Peers. eth ob the Rane ree Trailers; or, on the page. Billy or, The Lrnx of the Leona. Lone Star: or, The Belle of the Cibolo, Carl, the Chico Giant. WwW bad ~ S — Pe eVegesedea Each Issue "547 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl, 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 79% Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 2bE Joe Buck of Angels and His Boy 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 Arizona Sport, 510 Cool Colorado, the Hall-Breed Detective 518 Cool Colorado in New York; or, The Cowboy's Fight. Bi GEORGE ©, JENKS, Git Thar Owney the Unknown, Git Thar Owney’sa Pledge. 485 492 615 The Demon Doctor; or, Deadhold, the Kid Detective. 551 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective, 5s Flute, the Singer Detective; or, Owney in a New Role, 608 The Pitcher Detective’s Foll; or, Dan’s Double Play, 616 The Ocean Detectives or, The Last Cruise ofthe Black Bear. 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest ale wee : at sor, B : 786 Larry the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Side. T7P Llron Hand, the Charmed Detective RY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 Will Somers, the Boy Detective. 122 Phil iLardy, the Boss Boy. Picayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective, Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags, Wandsome Marry, the Bootblack Detective, Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. Black Beas, Wi!) Wildfire’s Racer. Mike Morry the Harbor Police Boy, Will Wildfire in the Wooda, 165 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. 170 A Trump Cardy; or, Will Wildfire Wins and Luses 174 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. 179 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, 188 The Hidden itand; or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. 187 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, 189 Bob Recketty 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; of, The Black Sheep of the Flock. 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky, 285 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two * Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang, 252 Dick Dashaway: or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago, 262 The Young Sharps: or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail, Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-Hound; or, The Young Thoroughored, 805 Dashaway, of Dakota; or, A Western Lad in Quaker City, Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyers Blizzard, W ide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times, Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, Firetly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 8 The Lost. Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier, Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective, Invinelble Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagapond, Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive, Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. Wild Dick Racket; or, How He Fought for Honor, Boots, the Boy Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, The Secret Service Boy Detective. 596 wang the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. 627 Tom Bruee of Arkansas or, The Wolfin the Fold. 655 Plucky Paul, the Boy Speculator. 667 Beb and Sam, the Daisy Detectives, 709 The Curbstone Detective; or, Harry Hale’s Big Beat, %57 Detective Frank’s Sweep-atakes, BY J. W. OSBON,. 469 The Rival Glants of Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. BST Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner; or, The Man Without a Past. 609 pey Dorrit, the Veteran Detective. 620 Little Li honing’s League; or, The Mystery of te Island 688 Plueky Paul, the Boy Prospector, 251 Gold-Dust Dan, the Trail Patrol. 755 Gold Dust Dan’s Oath; or, Reckless Roy, the Regulator. BY JO PLIEROE, 897 Bob o’ the Bowery ; or, Tho Prince of Mulberry Street. 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom. 452 Motspur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective, 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow; or Luke’s Legacy. 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King, 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective. 504 Five Pointa Phil, the Pavement Prince, Jack Jagger, the Butcher Boy Detective, 5616 Tartar Tin; or, Five Points Phil’s Ménagerle. 526 North River Nat, the Pler Detective. 688 Wrestling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward. 5641 Jeff Flicker. the Stable Boy Detective. 551 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow; or, The Old Well Mystery. 5659 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, 577 Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter, 588 Jack-o-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector. GOR Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer. 614 ¥ stling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid. 6258 } t Bumblebee, the Harlen Hommer, Sulltise Saul, the Express-Train Ferret. Gamin Bob, the Bowery Badger; or, Scooping a Slippery Set, Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. Saltpeter Sol, the New York Navigator Spley Jim, the Only One of His Kind Tom Thistle, the Road-House Detective, Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. Dennis Duff the Brown Sport’s Kid, Dick of the Docka, the Nigit-W atch. Flipper Flynn, the Street Patrol. Foxy Fred’s Odd Pards or, The Keener’s Huge Hustle, Cast-Off Cale, the Scapegoat Detective. BY PHILIP 8. WARNE, Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. Oaptatin Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game, Captain Mask; or, Patent-Lesther Joe’s Defeat. Despard, the Duellat; or, The Mountain Vempires, 888 A Tough Boy; or, The Dwarf’s Revenge, 868 Little Tornado; or, The Outcaste of the Glen, 878 Littie Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. 888 Little Oh-my 3 or, Caught in His Own Trap. 401 Little Shoo- ly} or, A Race for a Ranch. 408 Little Leather-Breeches ; a, Old Jumbo’s Curse. * A481 Little Ah Sins or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the olines. 480 Three Jolly Parda; or, The Pets of Paddy’s Flat. 517 Jim Gladden’s Deputy; or, The Jolly Pard’s Campaign. 527 The Jolly Pards to the Resouces or, The Jack of Hearts, own, 656 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 annem BUT ie, Flag oes peage siciaths 648 Happy Harry’s nd; or, The Beau exedel, 664 Cheeky Charley the Special. , 706 READLE’S*H ALF- DIME*] JBRARY. Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. | | | | | ; | 186 Night-llawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, hare BY JOSEPH FE. BADGER, JR, 2 Yellowstone Juck; or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Murrleane BULL; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 119 Mustang Sami 3 or, The King of the Plains. 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Glanty; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 The Boy Parday or, Dainty Lance Unmaska, 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca Wolf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 319 The Black Rider}; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League, BBS Old Double Fist; or, ‘The Strange Guide 855 The King of the Woods: or Daniel Boone's Laat Trall, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Tratler, 677 Chineapin Dan’s Second Trail, 688 Chinecapin Dan's Home Stretch, 69S Old Crazy, the Man Without a Head, TOS Light-Heart Lute’s Legacy. TiS Light-Heart Lute’s Last Trail. 72S Silverblade, the Shoshone. 729 Silverblade, the Half-Blood; or, The Border Beagle at Bay. 739 Slilverblade, the Hostile; or, The Border Beag!e’s Trall. ; 748 Silverblade the Friendly; or, The Border Beagle’s Boy Pard 4 BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Asa Scott, the Steamboat Boy; or, The Mississippi Pirates, 199 Featherweight the Boy Champion o1 the Muskingum, 228 Ozark Alf’; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws. 882 The Typo Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. 295 Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quartzville. 811 The Roving Sport; or, The Pride of Chucksluck Camp, 822 Neme, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon’s Vendetta. 840 Clip the Contortioniat; or, The Montana Vigilantes, BY JACK FARRAGUT. 815 Ned, the Cabin Boys or, The Witch of the Fort, 820 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper. BY LIEUT. HH. 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, Tho Mystery of Montauk Point, RY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. ‘i 78 Blue Dicks or, The Yellow Chiet’s Vengeance, 8? The Land Pirates; or, The League of Devil's Island, 187 The Helpless Hand; or, Backwoods Retribution. 289 The Gold-seeker Guide! or, The Lost Mountain. i RY CAPT. ALFRED Bh. TAYLOR U. 8S. A, 191 Buffale Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker. 194 Buffalo Bill’s Bet; or, The Gambler Guide, BY OAPT. MARK WILTON, 256 Young Kentuek; or, The Red Lasso, 270 Blizzard Benj or, The Riot at Keno Camp. 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot. BY MAJOR E, L, 8T. VRAIN, 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit. 801 Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport, BIZ Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince. 888 Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette, 853 Tombatone Tom, the Arisona Boy of “Sand,” 859 Durango Dave, the Youny Chanipion Wrestler. 871 Kingbolt Chris, the Young Hard-Shel) Detective, j B80 Avalanche ALf, the Foothills Guide. ; 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountain Mail-Line, : } BY EDWARD 8. ELLIS. 6/BIUL Biddon, Trapper. 8 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of the Frontier, “20 Nat Todd; or, The Fate of the Sloux Captive. f 21 ‘rne Frontier Angel. 98 The Boy Miners; or, Tho Enchanted Island, 182 The mentee Hunter}; or, The Strange Horseman, 254 The Utif- Blood; or, The Panther of the Plains, 271 The Nuge Nunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man, MISOELLANEOUOS AUTHORA, 4 The Wild-Horse Hunters, By Capt. Mayne Rela and Frederick Whittaker. ® Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulllver’s Travels. By Dean Swift, 14 Aladdins or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Orusoe, (27 Tlustrations.) 18 Sindbead the Sailor, His Seven Voyages. . 22 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Rotinion Crusoe. By Juan \ ow la, 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the ‘i Carribees, By 8, W. Pierce. f 86 The Boy Olowns or, The Arena Queen. By & 8, Finn, BS Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 51 The Boy Rifles; or, The Underground Camp. By A. C. Irons, 2 95 The Rival Rovers; or, Tho Freebootera of the Mfsalssippis f By Lieut.-Col, Hazeltine. v 98 Kobin Hood, the Uutlawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Green- wood. By Prof, Gildersleeve. 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes, 112 The Mad Muntery; or, '! beCave of Death. By Burton Saxe, 124 Tippy, the Texan} or, The Young Champion. By George eraon. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By y Harry Cavendish. f 148 Sharp Sam; or, The Adventares of a Friendless Boy, By J, Alexander Patten. 7 S27 Dusky Darrell, Sregper; or, The Green Ranger of the Yel. # lowatone. By Edward Emerson. 261 Fergus Fearnaught the New Yirk Boy. By G, L, Aiken, fi 266 Killb’ar, the Guides or, Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trall, e By Ensign ©. D, Warren. : i 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Mald of the Cliff, VJ By Captain Comstock. hi 817 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville, By Lieu- Fy tenant Alfred Thorne. 828 The Sky Detectives or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Honor, By Maior Mickey Free. \ 850 Red Ralph, the River Rover}; or, The Brother’s Re ; venge. By Ned Buntline, ; 865 Baltimore Ben the Bootblack Detective, By A. P, Morris, ! B74 Gold-Duat Tomy; or, Ben’s Double Match. G H. Morse, ‘ 876 California Joe's First Trail. By Colonel Thomns \\ Hoyer Monatery, 418 Biily Rombahell, the Cliff Climber, By F. 8. Winthrop, ; 475 The Black Ship. By John S Warner. Comanche Dick and His Three Invincibles, By \ Henry J. Thomas. 582 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest, 552 Artel the Athlete. By David Drald. 585 Will Waters, the Bov Ferret. By H. Enton, 682 The Dead Petective’s Double. By Gerald Carlton, ; 721 Maverick Mose, the Arizona Detective; or, The Wizard of Urko» Pass. By Wil! Lisenbee. 809 Don Danton, the Gent from Denver. By King Keene, of the U.S, Seeret Serviee Corps. A New Iaaue Every Tuesday. Tho Half-Dime Lib fe for sal all newsdealers, five decal eneh to eta ch ouaciek pain vei eioke BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York
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BY EDWARD L. WILEELER, Deadwood Dick Novela. | 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Deadwood Dick's Detinnee ? 28 Deadwood Ibick in DDisgulxe; or 85 Deadwood Dick in His Castle. 42 Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza; o., The Phantom Miner. 9 Dendwood Dick in Danger; or, Oinana OL, > Deadwood Dick’a Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar, ible Daggers. juilad s Ben Tie o - ~ 78 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity ¢ ne, the Heroine ZZ Deadwood Dick's Last Acts or, Corduroy Charlie. 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. 104 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Double Cross Sign, 209 Deadwood Vick aa Detective. 129 Deadwood Pilek’s Double: or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. | 188 Peadwooed Dick’s Home Mase; or, Blonde Bill. 149 Dendwood Dick’s Bly Strike; or, A Game of Gold, 166 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’« Dreamy or, The Rivals of the Road, / 201 Dendwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill’s Jezebel 205 Dendwood Dick's Poom: or, Calamity Jane's Adventure. 2 Deadwood Dick’s Dead Deal. z 221 Deadwood Dick’s Death-Pinnt. 282 Gold-Duat Diek. A Komance of Roughs and Toughs, 268 Deadwood Dick’s Divides or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. DES Deadwood Dick’s Death Trall. £09 Deadwood Dick’s Veal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. B21 Deadwood Dick’a Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats S47 Deadwood Pick’s Duents: or, Daya in the Diggings, £51 Deadwood Diek Scutencedy; or, he Terrible Vendetta. 862 Dendwood Dick's Claim. 405 Deadwood Dick In Dead City. 410 Deadwood Dick’s Diamonds, A421 Deadwood Dick In New Yorks or, A “ Cute Care,’ 480 Deadwood PDick’s Yuxts: or, The Chained Hand. 448 Deadwood Dick, dry or, The Crineon Crescent Sign, 448 Dendwood Dt ra, Delluance. 45% Deadwood Jick “sa Full Hand. 45) Deadwood Dick 7, Bic Round-Up, 465 Deadwood Dick rm. Racket at Claim 10, t Pendwood Bitek, « P.M Corral: or, Bozeman Bill, 6 Dendwood Dick, dr.’a Dog Detective. Si Dendwood Dick. dr., In Deadwood. 491 Deadwood Dtck, Jr.%4, Compact, 496 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Inherttance, OU Dendwood Dick, or.’s, Digetinga. 608 Deadwood Dick, dr.’s, Deliverance, B15 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Proteree. 622 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Three. 629 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, nger Docka. 5bLUA Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, ath Munt, 689 Peadwood Dick, dr., In Texas, B44 Deadwood Dick, Ir, the Wild Wert Vidocg b4Y Deadwood Mek, Jr., on Mix Mettle, 554 Dendwood Dick, Jr., ti Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Boston, 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., tn UVhiladetphia. 572 Deadwood Dick, dr., in Chicago, BTS Deadwood Dick. Jr., Afloat. &S4 Dendwood Dick, Jr., in Denver. 580 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Decree, 595 Deadwood Dick Jr., in Heelzebub’s Basin, 600 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Coney Island, 606 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Lendville Lay. G12 Deadwood Pick, Jr., tn Detrolt. G18 Dendwood Dick, Jr., in Cinecinnatl, 624 Dendwood Dick, Jr., in Nevada. 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in No Man's Land, 686 beadwood Pick, Jr., After the Queer, 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Buffalo, 645 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Chase Across the Continent 654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Among the Smugglers. G60 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ [vsurnnece Case, 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr.. Back In the Minea, 672 Dendwood Dick, Jr., (a Durnanyot or, * Gathered In.” 67S Deadwood Vick, Jr.'s, Discovery; or, Found a Fortune, 6SL Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«. Dazzle, 690 Deodwood Dick, Jr.’s. Doliars, 695 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at. Danger Divide. T00 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’*, Drop. 704 Dendwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. 710 Deadwood Dick Jr., in San Francisco, 716 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Still Hunt. 2 Dendwoed Dick, Jr.'s, Dominoes, DPendwood Bick, Jr.’s, Diagwulac. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’4, Double Deal. Deadwood Pick, Jr.’«, Deathwatch, Deadwood Bick, Jr.’s, Doublet. Deadwosd Deadwood tore vn » DPeathhblow. Desnernte Strait, Deadwood Biel, Jr.'s, Lone Mand, Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Detert. Deadwood Dick, dr.’s, Reeurrection, Deadwood Dick, 4r."s. Dar Daya. Deadwood Pick, dr., Deficd. Peadwood Iiek, Jr.’*, Double Device, Deadwood Dick, Jr’.a, Deaperate Venture. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Diamond Diee. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Royal Flush. Peadwood Dick,’ Jr.’s, Hend-off, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Rival. ZELMA SN eee hen) Pededrdepedededelederededede? ISN BVIWASH Di = EE Sen SY WM. @. PATTEN, 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Sport: or, The Jubliee of Jacktown, Vielet Vane’s Victory; or, The Jasper City Clean Out, Violet and Datay, the Posy Parts, aS sa Re 70% Violet Vane’s« Vows or, The Crafty Detective’s Craft. T2A Violet Vane’s Vengeance; or, The Wipe-Ont, 780 Vielet Vane’s Verdict; or, The Game at Coffin City. TA1 Violet Vane, the Ventriloquiat Vidooq: or, Sport vs. Sport. 7ThO Violet Vane, the Vanquished: or, The Lite Strueg'e. 768 Violet Vane’s Vision; or, Tho Fiery Hand of Fate, 48 The Piamond Sport; or, The Double Face of Bed Rock, 519 Oaptain syatery ; or, Five im One. 681 Da iPare the Sport from Denver. BST Old hombahell, the Ranger Detective. 604 Tron Fern, the Mun of Bire: o, Among the Vultures, 619 The Boy hha Detective: or. The Double Grip W Itwrna 641 Diamal Pave’s Dandy Pard; or, The Clue to Capt. Claw 651 Bound Boy Frank, the Young Amateur Detective 682 Wild Vuleam, the Lowe-Range Rider. 714 Old Misery the Man from Missonrt. 274 Clear-Grit Cal, the Never Sav-Die Detective, 789 Sam Sheridan, the Secret Service Special. 806 Cowboy Steve, the Ranch Mascot, BY COL, A. F. NOLT. 1 Headlight Warry’s Flyer; or, Duke Derby. 8 Weadlight Harry’s Navard; or, The Lightning Express Detective. t Weadlight Warry’s Haul; or, The Railroad Pards, 7? Headlight Harry’s Stren; or, Mad Madge. 5°? Weadli¢cht Harry's Heritace. 94 Weadlight Harry’s Haunt; or, The Cache of Gold, » Black Buckskin: or, The Masked Men of Death Canyon, 9 Kenneth, the Knife-King: or, The Doomed Six. 485 Vittie Lichtfeot. the Pilot of ine Woods. $28 The Dandy Sport; or, Tke King Pin Conapirator. | 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. or, ce —] ar, jue “hy Ma ‘ Wie eS seer “SURO TI TER TaN eR an READLE’S* FH ALF-DIME* | IBRARY. Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 80 Roachbnd Rab; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. S4 Rosebud Rob on Mand: or, Idyl, the Girl Miner. SS Rosebud Rob's Reappeara 3 or, Photograph Phil. 121 Kosebud Rot’s Challenge; or, Cinnanion Chip, 277 Denver Boll, the Detective Queen; or, The Yankee’s Surround 281 Denver Doll’s Vietory; or Skul! and Crossbones, 25 Denver Doll’« Decoy 3 or. Littie Bill’s Bonanza, 296 Denver Doll’s Drift; or, The Koad Queen, ¢ or, The Life Lottery. £68 Yreka dim, the GolideGather TRB Vereka Jtm’s Prize; or. The WV s of Wake-Up. BRD Vreka Jhu’s Joker 3 or, The Rivals of Red Nose. B49 Wreka fim'’s New Holes or, bicycle ben, 504 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, : Dot Leetle Game, Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloguist Hunter Alerra Som, thy Frontier Ferret; o *ister’s Devotion, Mferest Summ Secret: or, The Bloody Footprints, } Sierra Saw’ Pards or, The Angel of! Vista. ’ Slerra Sam’s Seveny or, The Stwlen ! Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner, Kangarevo Kivs Macket; or, lie Pride of Played-Out, Denath-I'nee, Detective; or, Life in New York. | » hey Detective; or, Gold Kitle, the Sharpshooter, b Watch-Kyey, the Detective , Ar bs and Angels, Gilt-Eadged Dick, the Sport Detevtive Oaptuin Ferret, the New York Detective. ' New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detctive. 26 The Arab Detective 3 or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp. 1 Turk, the Boy Ferret. U2 Kelley, Hickey & Vo.,. the Detéctives of Philadelphia, £48 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Det ctive, 4090 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective, 416 Pigh Net Farry, the Base Ball Detective. 426 Sam Slabsides, the Begzar-Boy Detective. 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures, B2 Bob Woalfs: ortThe Girl Dead-Shot 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild E the Girl Brigand, 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Backhorn Wills or, The Red Ritle Team 92 Cannda Chet 3 or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. 118 Jaek Hoyle the Young Speculator. 125 Bouanzsa Bill, Miner; or, Madam Mystery, the Forger. 188 Boas Bob the King of Bootblacks. 141 Solld Sam, the Boy Road-Agent; or, The Branded Brows. 177 181 2 Nobby Nick of Nevadny or, The Sierras Seamps. Wild Frank the Buckskin Brave; or. Lady Lily’s Love. 6 Apollo BIEN, the Trail Tornado, or, Rowdy Kate. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator, or, The Locked Valley. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Bev Patrol: or, The Rival Heirs, 29 A No. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. 808 ’Liza Jane, the Girl Miner; or, the lron-Nerved Sport. GSO Little Oulck-Shot; or, The Dend Face of Daggersville. 858 First-Clasa Fred, the Gent from Gopher. 878 Nabob Ned 3 or, The Secret of Slab City, BSS Cool Kit, the Kirg of Kida; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, 88 Ranta Fe Sal, the Slasher; or, A Son’s Vengeance, 456 Sealsxkin Saw, the Sparkier, ov, The Tiibunal of Ten, SoNRee= BY J, C. COWDRICK, Broadway Billy Novels. 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo 614 Broadway Billy’a Boodle; or, Cleaing a Strange Case, 536 KRroudway Billy’a *Pitkiity.” 557 Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. 579 Broadway Bllly’s Surprise Purty. 605 Broadway Billy; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Innine. 628 Broadway Rilly’s Pend Act; or, The League of Seven. 669 Broadway Etlly Abroadys or, The Bootbiack in Friaco. 87h Broadway Rilly’s« Bests or, Beating San Francisco's Finest, 687 Broadway Billy in Clover. 696 Broadway Billy tn Texas; or, The River Ruatlers, 708 Broadway Rilly’s Brand, Til Rroadway Billy at Banta Fe; or, The Clever Deal, 720 Broadway Billy's Full Wands or, The Gamin Detective, 785 Broadway RBilly’s Business. 738 Broadway Hilly’s Curions Case, 758 Broadway Billy in Denver. 62 Broadway Hilly’s Bargain; or, The Three Detectives. 69 Broadway Billy, the Retriever Detective, 75 Broadway Billy’s Shadow Chase. 88 Broadway Billy’s Beagles; or, The Trio’s Queat, 86 Broadway Billy’s Tenimy or, The Combine's Big Pull. 700 Broadway Billy’s Brigade; or, The Dead Alive, 796 Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequest. 800 Broadway Kiily Kaflled. 805 Brondway RBilly’s Figenal Scoop. 810 Broadway Billy’s Wipe Out. 860 Silver-Maak, the Man of Mystery; or, The Golden Keya, BE0 Shasta, the Gold King ¢ or, For Seven Years Dena. 420 Tho Detecttve’s Apprentice: or, A Boy Without » Name, 424 Oibata John; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar, 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout, 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude 806 Redlicht Ralph the Prince of the Road. 524 The Engineer Detective; or, Redlight Ralph's Resolve, 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. STL Alr-Line Bake the Young Engineer; or, The Doghl« Case. 592 The Boy Pinkerton; or, Ronning the Roseales. ¥. 615 Fighting Marry the Chief of* Chained Cyclotre, Bareback Beth, the Centaur of the Circle, 647 Typewrltor Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward, 659 Moonlight Morgin, the *‘ Pizenest ’? Man of Ante Bas. RY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS. 589 Tom-Cat and Pard; or. The Dead Sat at Silver City. &22 Tom-Cat’s Trind; or, The Affair at Tombstone. 621 Tom Cat’a Terrible Task; or, The Cowhoy Detective. 558 Tom-Cat’s Triumph} or, Bleck Dan’s Great Combine B46 Captain Cactna, the Chaparre) Cock; or, Jouh’s Ten Strike, 5468 The Dandy ef Dodge; or, Rustling for Millions. 576 The Silver Sport; or, Josh Peppe: mint’s Jubilee, 6S8 Saffron Sol, the Man With » Shadow 601 MWappy Wane, the Dnich Videcg; or, Hot Times at Round-Up 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules, 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. 657 Warbling William, the Mountain Mountebank, 665 Jolly Jeremiahs the Plains Detective, 676 Strnal Sams, the Lookont Seont. 689 Rilly, the Gypay Spy: or, The Mystery of Two Lives. 699: Staple Sim, the Broncho Buster: or, For Big Stakes. 712 The Meaxmeriat Sport; or, The Mystified Detective, 738 Toltec Tom, the Mad Proanector. TAS Kanaaa Jtm, the Crosa-Cut Detective. 761 Marmaduke, the Mostanger Detective. 778 The Rustler of Rolling. Stone. 785 Lone Wand Joe, the Cominittee of One, 801 Kent Kirby, the High-Kicker from Killbuck, BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm. F, Cody). 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie. ty Deadly-Eye. the Unknown Scr nt; or, The Banded Brotherhood z z z t : er Robin Hoed; The Prairie Rover. 158 Fancy Frank of Coloraad “or, The Trapp 63 or, The Trapper’s Trust. 1 = RAIDS MVTOIST De eFedoded KW Keseiesededes BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAY, ° Y 72 Dick Poom’s Death-Grip; or, The Detective by Desti: 77 Dick Doom’s Destiny; or, The River Blac , 84 Dick Doom; or, | he Sharps and Sharks of New York. SS Dick Doom in Boston; or, A Man of Many Masks. 98 Dick Deom in Chicago. 98 Dick Doom in the Wild West. 08 Dick Doom'’s Clean Sweep; or, Five Links in a C) 08 Dick Doom’s Death Clue. 18 Dick Doom’s Diamond Deal. aT 9 Dashing? Charlie; or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s Fh 6 Dashing Charlic’s Resting; or, The Renegade’s C: 0? Dashing Chartle’s Pawnee Pard. 6 Dashing CharHe, the Rescuer, I? Buck Taylor, K ‘. Buck Taylor, the Comanche’s Captive. 43 Buck Taylor's Boys; or, The Red Riders of the Rio Grands 60 Pawnee BUI, the Prairie Shadower, {3 Pawnee F*fil; or, Carl, the Mad Cowboy. 19 Pawnee Etil's Pledge; or, The Cowboy's Doom. y Dick wes o, The Rival Sharpes ing of the Cowboys we x Pawnee Bill; or, Dwr 92 Redfern’s Curious Cz 97 Redfern at Devil's Raeneh: or, The Sharp from Texas, @2 Redfern’s High UHands cr, Blue Jacket. OF Redfern’s Last Trail; or, The Red Sombrero Rangers. G8 Red Ralph's Rusey or, The Buccaneer Midshipman. 674 Red Ralph’s Bold Game; or, Ihe Wizard Sail yr 679 Red Ralph, the Shadower, or, The Freebvoter’s Leguey. 644 Butterfly Billy’s Meagulec. GbO Butterfly Billy, the Pony | xpres 656 Butterfly Billy’s Man IHunt. 662 Butterfiy Billy's Bonanza. 565 Kent Kingdon; or, The Owls of the Overland. 570 Kent Ktugdon'’s Shadygwer} or. the Card Queer 575 Kent Kingdon’s Duel; or, ‘loes 6S6 Kent Kingdon’s Doom; or, The Buckskin Avenger, 545 Lafitte Run Downs; or, The Muccrneers of Barrataria. 550 Lafitte’« Legacy: or. The Avenging Son 655 Latitte’s Confecsion 3 or, The Creole C rsair. 520 Buckekin Ball, the Comanche Shadow. 5625 The Buckskin Brothers in Texas, 580 The Buckskin Bowers; or. The Cowboy Pirates, 585 The Buckskin Rovers; or, The Prairie Fugitive. 640 The Buckskin Pardw Quest; or, Captain Ku-Klux. 508 The Royal Mtddy; or, The Shark and tne Sea Cat, 807 The Royal Middy’s Luck; or, The Hunted Midshipman, 611 Vhe Royal Middy’s Foe. 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferret ot New York, 454 Wizard Will's Street Sconts. A474 Wizerd Wilt’s Pardj; or, ll+ra, the Flower Girl, 488 Wizard WIHll’s Last Case; or, The Ferrets Aflvat. A29 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 Dundin Pare’s Plot; or, A Cabin Boy’s Luck. AUT Duncan Dare’s Prize; or, The Sea Raider 441 Duncan Dare’s Seeret; or, The Ocean Firefly. 402 Iaodor, the Young Coneptrator: or, The Fatal League. 407 Isodor’s Double Chase; or, The Boy Insurgent. 412 Isodor’s War-Cloud Crul«e; or, The Wild Yachtsman, 216 Rison Till. the Prince of the Reins. 222 Bison Bills Clues or, Grit, the Bravo Sport, 804 Dead Shot Dandy’s Dilemma. 808 Dead Shot Dandy’s Doubles cr, Kero Kit, 814 Dead Shot Dandy’s Defiance: or, The Boy Bugler. 607 Dead Shot Dandy’s Chicf; or, The River Detective, 245 Merle Monte’s Leap for Life. 250 Merle Mente’sa Mutiny ; or. Brandt, the Buceaneer, Merle Monte’s Treasure Ireland. 269 Merle Mente the Condemned. 276 Merle Monte’« Cruise; or, “ The Gold Ship" Chase. 280 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, The Pirate's Pride, 284 Merle Monte’s Pledge; or, The Sen Marauder. 197 The Ktd Glove Sports or, Little Grit, the Wild Rider, 204 The Kid Glave Sport’s Dvom; or, Buffalo Bill, the Pony Express Rider, 281 Ruth Redmond, the Girl Shadower. GRE Oriandeas the Ocenn Free Flag. 617 Ralph, the Dend-Shot Scout, 602 The Varabond ofthe Mines. bY? The Texan Detectives or, The Black Bravos. BOL Delmantes the Young Sea Rover; or, The Avenging Sailor. BRO The Outenst Cadets or, The Falee Detective, A9& Artzona Joes or, The Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Conster, or, Pirate in Spite. 462 The Saflor Boy Wanderers: or. The Born Guide. 446 Waphazard Harry: or, The Sea Scapegrace B98 The Red Clasped Handa; or, The Boy Licutenant, “87 Warvath WII, the Traitor Guide. 298 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Inland. BIT Ronodel, the Buy Rovers or, The Flagiess Schooner, 257 Billy Uluwe-Eyes, of the Rio Grande. VRT Lone &tar. the Cowboy Captain. 229 Crimeon Kate, the Girl Truiler; or, The Cowboy's Triumph, 16 The Hussar Captain: or, The Hermit of Hell Gate, 111 The Sea-Devil 3 or, The Midshipman’s Legacy, 102 Nick Dend-Eye, the Smuggier; or, The Cruise of the Vixen. 5 The Toy Pnellat: or, The Cruise of the Sea Wolt. 62 The Shadow Ship? or. The Rival Lientenants. 24 Wtamond Pirks or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone. 17 Kalph Roys the Roy Buccan-er; or, The Fugitive Yacht. @ The Flying Yankee} or, The Ocean Outcast, LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 814 Ace Kigh, the Friseo Detective. By C. E. Tripp. 815 Rrondway Billy’s Bank Racket; or, The City Detec- tive’s Big Haul, By J. C. Cowdrick. R16 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Rival. By Edward L, Wheeler 817 Wideawake, the.Train-bey Detective. By Col. A. F. Holt. 818 The Hurtler Rogue-Catcher, By Wm. R. Eyster. 819 Dick Thoom’s Girl Mascot. By Col. Prentiss Ingrahan 820 Nobby Nat, the Tenderfoot Detective. By Wm. G. Ps’ 821 Brondway Billy’s Bluff. By J. C.-Cowdrick, | © n 822 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Boom. By Ed. L. wivell R2B Poker Jack, the Detective Sport, By ON Coomes.Ub- 824 Bowery Billy, the Bunco Bouncer, By Jo Pieres 825 Marlo, the Cowboy Coaster, Cy Col. P. Ingil be Ready May 16. this 826 The Bantam Sport; or, Mcrle, the Boy Nabf jit» C. Harbaugh, Ready May 23, bie to A New Insane Every Tuesday lerfod The Half- Dime Library !s for sale by al] new fulty cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six conts eneh BEADLE ANP ADAMS, Publi 98 William Street, N. River. ryeon Scout.