Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 896) (1894 09 25)
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if (ra (al Ta Cie ntered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y , Post Office, Copyrigz shted 1894, by BEA: ADLE AND ADAMS, Septe mber # $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS. Price, O. 896 a Year. No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 cents. Td TV. Se aa or TR BS a ay OD ge ERE 9 oe BOE Re ee En Le an cme BS eT he DE WS RE Ss EG: LT eRe ae ies —, ins Xl i Wh " fo ene : Bil} . a ; i Hid)! )~ BS OS \ Wi ’ .) : mo — a == — Spar Gold Nugget Camp; ‘Wild a Around aport ; OHAPTER I. THE MISSING MILLIONAIRE. “New Yor«K Nat, I have a case for you ; : mip that will be your death or your fortune, dare THE THREE ENTERING THE COUPE, DROVE RAPIDLY AWAY, you undertake it?” NEW YORK NAT CLOSELY OBSERVING THEM.
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time with death to win a case. ' ‘* Well said! men, but waited to see you, ‘‘I am delighted to have you take the work, though it will carry you out of New Yerk—far away from the city.” “All right, sir, I will go anywhere that duty calls.” \ “Tt will take you to the Wild West.” ** Just where 1 would like to go, for when in California I had some little experience in wild life.” “It will try your nerve, endurance and temper to the utmost, as you will have to go to the mining country of Arizona, among the ranches and in fact follow trails of greatest danger in the work I will have you undertake.” * All right, sir, I live to learn; but what is it Lam to dor” s ““You read of the mysterious disappear- ance of old Millionaire Marcey?” There was no immediate reply; and the one who asked the question gazed fixedly at the one he addressed, a handsome-faced youth who looked younger than the eighteen years be had lived, and whose slight, ahtletic form indicated strength and endurance far beyond the average. The other was a man of twenty-seven, with a face of indomitable will and nerve, clear-cut features, expressive blue eyes and the look of one who would do and’ dare much. d He was stylishly dressed, and was seated in the library of an, elegant New York home, where he was keeping bachelor’s hall for ne few months he was visiting the metrop- olis. ee) About him was the evidence of luxury and refinement, and upou the table by which he sat was a bundle of letters, an open map and a note book. When New York Nat, the Boy Secret Service Chief of the Gamin Ferrets, did not answer his last question, though his face showed that he had heard it distinctly, Sher- man Canfield * said again: “You have, of course, read about the mysterious disappearance of the millionaire, Malcolm Marcey?” » “I bave, Mr, Canfield,.and I know more about his disappearance than the police seem to have found: out,” was New York Nat's rejoinder, and the quiet smile hovering about his determined mouth told Sherman Canfield that the youth had a story to tell, *‘ What do you know, Nat, or do you care to tell me?” **Oh, yes, sir, I will tell, for you have been too true a friend of mine and my ferrets ‘*Mr Canfield, I will take chances any : 1 knew you would do it, so I did not go to the Secret Service chief for gir? believe are crooks. They went into Mr. Marcey’s house, and five minutes after a cowpe drove up and halted before the door. ‘Then I saw the men come out, support- ing Mr. Marcey, who seemed weak and tot. tering, and the three entering the coupe, it drove rapidly away.” ‘** And you followed the coupe, Nat?” ‘**T intended to do so but did not.” ‘That was not like you, Nat, when you were shadowing two men you believed were crooks.” ta smiled blandly, and after a moment said: ‘Do you see this plaster on the back of my head, Mr. Canfield?” * Yes, it looks like a bad cut.” “ Well, sir, one of those men who led Mr. Marcey from his home gave it to me, for the ‘coupe stopped around the corner, he got out, and as [ was running along to keep it in sight, I came upon the man, who deult me a severe blow with a brass knuckle and I was knocked senseless. ‘Yes, Mr. Canfield, we must solve the mysterious disappearance of the millionaire. I have been working hard to do so, for I in- tend to run those two crooks down if it takes me to Tophet.” Nee ‘* Well, to do so, Nat, your trail leads you not to Tophet but to the Wild West,” was the emphatic response of Sherman Canfield, CHAPTER II. THE MISSING LINK. CLEVER ferret that he was, New York Nat could not just see how he would have to go to the Wild West to solve the mysterious kidnapping of Millionaire Marcey, But, the young shadower read by Mr. Can- field’s face that he knew more than he had thus far told, so he said: ‘All right, sir. Iam willing, as I said, to goanywhere. Onlyigive me the clue and set me right in the start,” ae 2 ‘You have given me the clue, Nat, for the missing link in the disappearance of Mr. Marcey you have furnished in proving that he did not commit suicide, or meet an accidental death, but rather was murdered.”’ “Do you think that he was murdered, ‘*Yes, I feel sure of it now that I have heard what you have to say. “The police, detectives and reporters have been trying torun down this mystery for weeks, but with no result. ‘His servants thought they heard him come in with his pass-key and go into the library, and think they heard voices there, so supposed he had brought company with him; to refuse you anything; but has the disap- | but they did not hear him go out; and though pearance of Mr. Marcey anything to do with the work you wish to send me upon to the Wild West?” ~ his mansion fronts on a park no one else seems to haye seen what you did. ~ ** But, go out he did, and not a werd has “Strange to say, it has, as you will see | been heard of him since, save that one man when you know all; but now what do you know about this most mysterious disappear- ance of the millionaire?” **T will tell you, sir, just what I know, asserts that he saw him on the Long Branch boat, and that he appeared to have been | | drinking. » e ‘Now you show that two men you were and though the police accept the theory that | shadowing as’ suspected caooks drove up to he has comitted suicide by veapee off the | his house in a coupe, entered, and—” Long Branch boat at night, or was seized with one of the dizzy attacks he is subject | with their own key!” to, according to the reports in the papers, I ‘* Yes, and now I remember they entered ‘Well, they came out unseen by the ser- know that if he is dead he was murdered, van 8, Mr. Marcey accompanying them, and and if he is alive he is held a prisoner against | they were apparently supporting him, Ahis will.” / (age Al 5) am sure you have facts to base your belief upon” “My facts are, sir, that the Other after- ‘Entering the coupe they drove away ‘at, you interest me greatly, for I ‘rapidly, and you attempting to follow were met by one of the meh with a blow that | stunned ou. i This shows that you had been seen and noon, when disguised as a bootblack I was | suspected; and when discovered following following two men whom I have reason to | eee mae Man woo \ q 3 ea ‘ Mr. Canfield visited | _ guide on the pla Bill pe #8 | done for the sake of a ransom?” the private sec ‘ alo d 1s now a |‘ OF SNP BAKO: OF 8 TADAOIE SES: : \: . faa duer in Nebraska. Tee aurson, "°” ® |" «For the sake of a fortune, Nat. ) oe 5 eran bey ; } aa Be rancher in| “sg nan Canfield of Omaha, Neb. A youn aw - ; a porder boy, an tara them, you were promptly checked—which shows that Mr, Marcey really was kidnap- ped.’ . ‘* Yes, sir, that much is evident. Was it i 4 New York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp. i ‘‘ Ah! you really think that is the reas then?” ** Yes, I have letters here that place me i possession of facts which 1 will now mak known to you, for there are mysteries fo you to solve, as you will see, lives to save guilty ones to bring to justice. ‘‘T will read\you a letter I have just received from an old mining pard in Colora- do. ‘Tt is written in the Golden Nugget Min- ing Camps, one of the worst communities, as I happen to know, in the country, and where life is held dirt cheap. ‘*My old pard isa good fellow, always hoping to strike it rich, but always failing in his hopes, yet still working on. ‘*He 1s square, honest, fearless and ever ready to aid a friend or do a good deed. -* But his letter will explain, so listen to it attentively.” Taking one of the letters from the table Sherman Canfield read as follows: ‘*GoLDEN NueGet CAMP, COLORADO, April 1st, 18—. ‘*DEAR PARD SHERMAN: — ‘*So you arein dear old New York, are you, keeping house in grand style for an old chum who has gone away leaving you as master? ; ‘*Well, you are in clover, and 1 wish I could drop inon you, and also meet that young Ferret Captain you wrote me saved your life. He must be a dandy hustler. ‘‘ Well, Iam here at the sume old game of hoping to find a fortune; but now I hasten to reply to your letter to put you on the : trail of a little deviltry that is being con- ee cocted here against one in New York, so | that you can thwart their little game. . ‘It is just this: > ‘There is a wild fellow here, one who gambles to win and shoots to kill, and is an Bvt all-round sport, who it seems is pennants ee: to be hard at work and thus deceives his old — ie father, a millionaire of New York, who de: threatened several years ago to disinherit him unless he mended his ways. LE “The old man put up money for him to | buy a ranch here, and believes the youn : amt fellow is working hard; but he squandere | Ae the money, never bought the ranch and has developed into a terror; yet he writes home Obes glowing letters of what he is doing and all AY ira that. ** Now it so happened that this youth be- came suddenly made aware of the fact that his father had an elder son, by a former marriage which had been kept a secret, and — which fact would rule him out of his fortune should the old man learn that his first born still lived and was a fine fellow, while the second son was all that was bad. ‘So, as the will was made in favor of the sport, before the other son could appear, or the father change the will, this heartless scoundrel has plotted against two lives,” Lo ‘‘Ah! LT see the missing link I furnished, Mr. Canfield, in showing that the millionaire was kidnapped,” said Nat eagerly, ; CHAPTER III. THE MAD SPORT'S PLOT, ‘*Yus, Nat, you have f guessed aright, for AeA Mr. Malcolm Marcey is the millionaire my os pard’s letter refers to,fand this border sport’s plot was quickly carried out here in New York. Ai ae? ** But, let me read on,” and Sherman field continued reading the letter: as: ‘Now, Pard Sherman, it is a secret I can- not divulge, of how I got hold of all this, and I am so tied up by a pledge that I can- not act in the matter myself; but the case | plain that two lives are in danger, the — millionaire and his eldest son, and I-put you in possession of the facts, that you ia New York and checkmate — Maybrick Marcey, but known her ah ce: ; ap hs Se Can-"
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-f © Obi aS T ee - _aybrick’ and the ‘Mad Spor‘,’ and the Man Killer,’ and all of the names fit lim. ‘There is a woman in the case too, one in rhom I am interested, and whom I Lelisve ared for me until she met Mad Maybrick. fe seems to have cast a spell over her, thong) believe it is fascination, not love she feels lor him. ‘‘Her name is Florence Dudley. She came here with her father a couple of years ' ago, and report says that the girl herself struck it rich by finding a mine; but she is _ » Well educated for her years, a refined little > tady and a beauty. ~ ‘JZ love herand wish to save her from "this terror, Maybrick Marcey, even though I “never win her myself, and you can help me, ~ “The intention of the Mad Sport andjhis al- iy, for he has a mysterious pard in league with him, is to send men Kast who will do away with his father and also this unknown elder brother, of whose existence Maybrick ' Marcey has only lately learned. “With the old man dead, and his will standing in favor of Maybrick, and the elder brother ovt of the way, the Mad Sport gets the enormous fortune for all his own, and will then still add toit by marrying Miner Dudley’s daughter. That will mean her un- happiness and her father’s death, for that térrible man will allow no life to stand be- ~ tween him and his plot for gold;—of that 1 am sure. Gat * **] send herewith copies of papers that ‘ __ were shown him, proving the existence of an f © elder brother, and that he was alive, and just § ~~ _ who his mother was. a ‘«T made these copies to send to you, and I es place the whole facts, plot and all before you, ip and beg you to act promptly to save the Pat millionaire and his eldest son. Bi ‘‘AsTum not sure that [ read your ad- _ dress in New York aright, I send this to your home in Omaha, with a request to forward it -- without delay lh tr ' ‘* By placing all before Mr. Malcolm Mar- = know—that his eldest son still lives—that his youngest son is not only deceiving him, | __ but is the wickedest man in the mines, and ) _ is living a lie, while he is plotting ‘the death “a of his father and brother to get, thereby, the big fortune which he will commit any crime to obtain, Look over the papers carefully, Can- field, and then act with your usual clever- ness and promptness in the matter, for, remember, that your doing so will also save bemeed ‘Florence Dudley’s happiness from being wrecked by this unconscionable villain, _ the Mad Sport. ' *] ask this of you by our old friendship, and the pledge you once made me to answer any call I made lpon you. _ * After you have warned Millionaire Mar- cey, come, or send a detective here, and I will place you in. possession of facts that will send Maybrick Marcey to the gallows, or make him a fugitive from justice, “Hoping soon to hear from you, believe e,asever, rook . “Your attached pard, Ga, ‘‘Hueu Horcomr, ‘““Nuacer Nar,” Sherman Canfield passe the letter over to Spt Nat, as he finished it with the re- ark: ‘There, Nat, the case is before you, and \, are the papers for you to look over.” Bee =)’ CHAPTER IV, A BOO LATE, | . Anp the warning came too late,” said York ior as he glanced over the letter to him by Sherman Canfield. in _for it was delayed a couple of weeks” at, | : Omaha, as my family were away | not killed then, nor was her son, and now, e and it was not forwarded to me ~ eey you will show him, what be does not |, a4 : i Abs aA Cites Vee ids Bh, fev ae -- Bee oe: K ‘ee ree eat eee tan i . New York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp. —s = — ‘Tt has, as you say, come too late to save Mr. Marcey, for he has disappeared—doubt- less has been murdered, but his eldest son may yet have escaped, so we must act. “Tt is not too late to punish the villain who rejoices in the name of the Man Killing Sport.” ‘‘No, sir; not too late for that. He must | suffer,- I am ready to begin work at once— can start to-night if need be,” ‘*Good! and that alone is assurance of success, - ‘Unfortunately Lam just now so tied up in business matters here in the city, which I must settle for Colonel Cody, that I cannot get away; but you shall have all the funds necessary, and can take with you any mem- bers of your band of Unknown Ferrets that you deem fit,” “«T shall take two, sir, Freckles and Keno, for the former has been a clerk in a law of- fiec, can telegraph, writes a good hand and as news-agent has picked up a great deal of information, while Keno is now a clerk in the chief of police office and is as clever a comrade as I want.” So Nat answered, ‘Both are the very ones to help you. I will get special badges and papers for you all from the Secret Service chief, so that you will be thoroughly protected.” ‘‘Thank you, sir. That will help us much, in an emergency.” ‘“And I will give you a letter directly to my pard Hugh Holcomb, se that he will put you on the right track, though it will be best for you not to appear to know him, l guess,” ; : ‘Yes, sir, that will be best. My idea is that we go tothe camps as three runaway boy miners seeking our fortune by gold-dig- ing.” ‘Tl trust you, Nat, to carry out your plans to perfection, and you will find Hol comb a splendid fellow, for I have seen him tried time and again, and twice has he saved my life.” ‘He is my namesake, sir, I see, as he signs himself Nugget Nat.” ‘* Yes, in the mines they are sure to mis- name, or rechristen a fellow, and Hugh was called Nugget Nat from the fact that he found a nugget of gold worth a fortune, and init wasa silver vein that most distinctly formed the letters N. A. T.” “That was strange, sir.” “Yes, it was a remarkable freak; it was a perfectly outlined. Nat.” “‘T shall take it as a good omen in this case, sir.” \ ‘© Yes; it being your own name; but, poor Hugh’s nugget was stolen from him one night, and he has never seen it since. He stili lives in hopes of finding it.” ‘*Did he have\ no ‘suspicion of who the thief was?” | | ‘‘None, lt was taken while he slept, one ntght. It hit him hard, for he was going to return home with his find, as it was worth many thousand dollars.” ‘‘He has indeed been unfortunate, sir; but, now to the other letters you have there.” — Nieod ‘Here is one which tells that Mr. Marcey, when a young man, and a lieutenant in the army, married secretly a Gypsy Queen who_ had saved his life. ‘‘He resigned from the army and joined the Gypsy band, remaining with it for several years, and until the Mexicans one night attacked their camp and massacred all’ save half a dozen; who escaped. \ “Mr. Marcey was one of those who escaped, and believing his wife and child to be dead, he returned to civilized life and be- gan to grow rich, marrying again, and this |. ar the Mad Sport, is the son by his second wife. ! . ‘But, it seems that his Gypsy. wife fens: ow in some mysterious way, it is discovered that the eldest son lives, a dis said to bea iat : ’ : j ; ; yy yr Ee “ti Z t WE bose hye! The. 7 vd - ye * ae j 2 i ae ate Te 4 4 ’ ; 2 ode 4, ‘ Leeder Se Saat yh are , #4 Fe re " fg 7 : ws Gf WON aT haa we ade, ie splendid fellow, a well-to-do rancher in Arizona. . ‘‘How his existence became known, or how the secret marriage was found out Hugh Holcomb does not relate, he seemins to be under a pledge of secrecy; but, here is the addressof the first son, known as Julinn Mareey, and if his mother, Bonita, tle Gypsy Queen, is still alive, then Maybrick Marcey, the Mad Sport, has no claim upon the estate of the millionaire, his father, if Mr, Mercey is dead, “Tako the papers, Nat, look them care- fully over, and start upon the trail wheneycr you are ready.” ‘“T will be ready to-morrow night, sir,” but alas, it is now too late to save the mil- lionaire, 1 very much jfear,” was New York Nat’s response. CHAPTER Y. NEW YORK NAT AND HIS ALLIES, Tw an old deserted mansion in the city of New York, surrounded by several acres of overgrown land, and with a burying ground in the rear, a place shunned by all asa dread- ed spot and haunted house—New York Nat made his home, and here his band of young Ferrets were wont to congregate and receive the orders of their chief. : The young chief and his Unknown Gamin Ferrets were a mystery to the police and the Secret Service men, an enigma which they could not solve. See . Almost daily were notices sent to the Secret Service chief, through Sherman Can- field, the ally of the young Ferrets, of crimes committed of deeds of ouUawry planned to be done, and where ‘‘ wanted” crooks could be caught, and these mysterious ‘* Un- knowns” were making fame and fortune for themselves, though, for some reason best known to the members only of the band the preferred to work under cover and remain wholly hidden as ta just who and what they were. Their band was run with military dis-. cipline; their laws were severe and strictl obeyed; and the Ferrets were proud of their rallant chief, New York Nat, and his sister —their Mascot Queen, yet whom they did not know save as their Queen—not eve knowing her by sight, as, at their meetings in the old Haunted Mansion, she was in- variably niasked, In rewards offered New York Nat had. accummulated a small fortune for himself and his Ferrets, and the band was bound thus together by bonds which death alone — of the’ — could sever. It was the night following the da interview between Sherman Canfield and ‘New York Nat that the ‘‘ Unknowns” be- ° gan to assemble by special call in the as- sembly room of the old mansion, the keeper of which, in the absence of the young chief, was & huge and savage dog who seemed to © know each gamin detective by name as well as sight, ye The two chairs behind the table were occu- — pied by New York Nat and Olive, the Mas- cot Queen of the Ferrets. She was masked, as usual, and 4vore a. -robe-like domino concealing her form. The dog was in the cellar, acting as senti-- nel against any intruder, and the band, a | score in number, were bp! os on seats in, — front of the chief and the Mascot. ny In a few words New York Nat explained to the band that he was g ing to the Wild West on a detective trafl, and that two of vote your, whole time an your shadowin << CP Ae She ani the band, Keno and Freckles, must accom-— address I will give you the daily results of ai" ; “This work is to find out what has be- s
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as / Gang, A New York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp. come of Millionaire Malcolm Marcey, who disappeared from his home some time ago, and is thought to have fallen overboard from the Long Branch steamer, **Such was not the case, I now am quite certain, for he was kidnapped by two men for their further use. I have made a sketch from memory of the scene as I myself saw it—the coupe, the driver and the men. ‘The two men who came out with Mr, Marcey were, I am sure, (for I was watch- ing them as suspicious characters) members of the old Devil’s Den Gang of the Five Points. ‘‘The time they took him away was at dusk. The coupe had no number, so came from a stable doubtless. ** With these facts to work on I believe you can find out where Mr, Marcey was taken and where he probably is now. ‘*T am going to the mines in Colorado to find the man who wanted to get rid of Mr Marcey, and together we must fathom this eratery and bring the guilty plotters to jus: tice, “You, Keno and Freckles, must meet me at the eight o’clock train for the West to- morrow night via the New York Central road; and Parson, you will be in charge of the band until my return, subject of course to the orders of our Queen, to whom you are to report as to me, and to notify of any im- portant discoveries you may make, leaving your communications in our private box, “* Now, boys, that you know just what to de, the meeting is adjourned,” The band dispersed quietly in twos and threes, and New York Nat escorted Olive, the Mascot, to her home,in a little cottage on the Hudson River, where he was wont to take his meals. After a late interview with Sherman Can- field, the next afternoon, New York Nat, and his two comrades, took the train for the far West. SYS fe CHAPTER VI. ON A FRONTIER TRAIL, ‘Pas, does yer see them three gerloots as come in on the stage from the East?” ‘“We sees ’em, Doc,” ** Does yer know ’em?” ** No, but they is tenderfeet, sure.” “Yas, out here, but where they belongs wid Hareh greenhorns.” ** You knows ’em then, Doc?” ** Yas, and they knows it all.” ** You don’t think they is tenderfeet, then?” “Oh yes, out here, but asI said, not where they belong,” ‘* Who is they, Doe?” ** Yorkers.” ** From the city, eh?” ‘*Yas, from the great burg itself,” “Runaways, I take it, come West to fight Injuns and road-agents,” ** Not much!” “What then?” “T’'ll tell you what; they is young fer- rets.” ‘* What? them young fellows—the spring chickens?” “ Has. you forgotten that there was a band o’ secret ferrets in New York, unknown young fellers who run down the Devil’s Den Gang?” ‘No, Doc; I remembers ‘em well now, for it was they who made us skip.”’ “You bet they did, Benson! and I tell you they is out here on some trail, dead sure.” : “‘ Does yer think that, Doc?” ‘* Sure of it, for I recognizes the handsome feller who is boss of the trio, aud I tell you he 1t was who wiped out the Devil's Den I has seen one of the others at Police Headquarters, so I tell you they is out here for work.” ** Shadowin'?” ** Sure as Saint Peter.” **Us?" ‘* Maybe so.” ‘“‘ Well, what’s to be done?” ‘Watch which way the cat jumps and then bag it.” ‘‘T’m with you, for we can’t afford to be run in now.” ‘* You bet we can’t!” ‘“They is not going to stay here, I take it: ‘* No; but, whichever way they goes we'll keep ’em company, for now f knows that young one for certain, and you bet [ won't let him slip this time for I’m sure now that he is on to us.” ‘‘Lordy! does yer mean it?” A whispered response was given, then the two men arose from their seats and walked away. They were two rough looking fellows, dressed as miners, wearing slouch hats, top boots and a@ belt of arms. They had been seated in front of a mining- camp tavern in the far West, a terminus of the stage trajl to the nearest railway station, The persons they spoke of were three a. who had arrived by the stage an hour efore. The three had gone in to dinner, and after- ward had a talk with the landlord in regard to purchasing horses and an outfit for the mountain mining-camp of Golden Nugget. ‘‘It is along and dangerous trail, young pards, and youll want a guide and an escort there, if you will not wait for a wagon train or party to go through.” “No escort, landlord. We came out here to rough it and take our chances, and we can follow the trail, I guess, so we will get an outfit and start at dawn to-morrow,” the spokesman of the trio announced. ‘*All right. If you will go through alone I'll say no more, I've got horses to sell and can fit you out to the queen’s taste, you bet, if you’ve got the dust to pay for it all.” ‘We are not. over rich, but we’ve got enough to pay for what we want,” was the answer. The three youths soon selected their horses and outfit, and showed considerable clever- ness in doing so. Still refus ng a guide they set out at dawn, the next morning, on the trail of the Golden Nugget Camps, the landlord of the tavern riding a mile on the way to set them right and give them full directions so that they would not go astray. They seemed pleased at’ the prospect of camping on the way and being alone upon the trail, and rode alongas though they were not ‘‘ tenderfeet” in the Wild West, assum- ing an air that seemed to say: **We know it all.” About a dozen miles had been gone over, sufficient to show them that it would have been wise to have adopted the landlord’s sug- gestion and secured a guide, for it was no easy task to follow a trail with which they were wholly unfamiliar. They were hoping to find a good camping place for noon, when they heard the rapid clatter of hoofs behind them. Coming toa halt and looking back they saw a horseman approaching at a gallop. As he drew near he was seen to be well mounted and armed, and rode with the ease of a perfect plainsman. He had a fine physique, was dressed as a miner; his face was shandsome, fearless and frank, while his long blond hair fell in wav- ing masses upon his broad shoulders, “You are just the ones I am after, pards,” he said as he drew rein before the three youths. CHAPTER VII. A WARNING. Tue three boy: from New York looked at the horseman wi‘: some surprise, for they ‘you are riding into a trap.” recalled having seen bim back at the stage station. His manner was not hostile, however; though just why he had come after them they could not understand. ‘* Well, sir, here we are, and may I ask what you want with us?’ said New York Nat, for he and his two cromrades, Keno and Freckles, formed the adventurous trio, as has doubtless been surmised. ‘‘T wish to save you from your foes, for ‘‘ Indeed. sir? What foes have we here on the frontier?” ‘** You will know best when I tell you that Loverheard two men say that they recognized you as New York Ferrets—that you had been the cause of their having to skip out of New York, and they felt sure you were not out here on a gold hunt, but perhaps after them, and so they arranged to get even with you. ‘‘T intended to look you up, but you got away sooner than I expected, anc when I heard the two men, whose room was next to mine, say they would head you off at Silver Creek Ford, I decided to ride after you and give you a warning that they intended to ambush and kill you, for out here life is held very cheap, as you will discover before you" have been here long.” ‘You are certainly most kind, sir. but I did not notice the men you speak of,” said Nat. ‘ “That is because you were not looking for them, perhaps, but they recognized you, and you know best whether they hit you right in saying you were detectives.” at and his companions did not. reply, and the stranger continued: “‘Now, when I heard that you had gone I hastened through with my business to come on after you, for I am returning to Golden Nugget and can guide you by a trail that. will avoid the ambush laid for you.” ‘‘But I am anxious to see those nien, and, if they wish to kill us, to have it out with them,” declared New York Nat, eagerly. ‘‘Ah! that is the true ring of courage, young pard; and, as you wish to meet them, why we will just surprise them in their am- bush and you can have it out with them, for Iam sure they are waiting in ambush for you at Silver Creek Ford,” ; ‘* And you can guide us there, sir?” ‘*Yes, we can flank the ford and come upon them from the rear,” ‘All right, sir; lead the way, and when we get there we willsce who our foes are. If they belonged to the Devil’s Den Gang they are bad ones and. are hiding from the hangman,” explained Nat. The stranger at once turned off at the trail they had deen following and led the way over a trackless country, still bearing, however, in the direction of Golden Nugget. Camps. t After a ride of ten miles they came to a stream, and the stranger then remarked: im ‘The ford is a mile above here, forthis _. age is Silver Creek, WON ey 47 ‘There is a cliff at the ford that we cam =») reach and you can see the men in ambush Pea from it. » SOAS & ‘*Leave your/horses here and we will go P on foot,” \ The three New York Ferrets obeyed, and after a walk of half an hour climbed .a | hill, and there, hiding among some rocks ; bordering the trail, they beheld two men, their horses concealed near them. ‘*There are your foes, and lying in am- ~ bush as I told you. Now, what do you” wish to do?” whee “Go down and advance upon them, and — if they show fight we will settle it in their — way,” was New York Nat’s response. So the stranger led the way down tothe — plain, and New York Nat and his two comrades stepped boldly out and advanced toward the two men, who soon heard their
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a eg te peony ete psa “ ¥ ; ¥ eo and sprung to their feet, rifles in and. ‘Benson, they is onto us! Kill ’em!” cried the man Duc! and their rifles were quickly raised to their shoulders and fired. But, they had been surprised, where they had intended to surprise, and this so un- nerved and flustered them that their aim was very unsteady, though still too close for comfort. ‘* Boys, it’s Doc and Benson of the Devil’s Den Gang. We want them for more than ithat,” cried Nat, and he called out: ‘* Surrender, or we will kill you!” The answer of the men was to fire again, and one bullet was buried in the butt of New York Nat’s rifle, while the other just ‘grazed his cheek. “You must kill them, or they will down ou,” shouted the stranger, taking no part in the action. This New York Nat saw, and fired at the man Doe, bringing him to his knees, while Keno and Freckles dropped the other with their rifles, Running upon the wounded man New York Nat saw his mistake, as he was sud- denly covered by his rifle. But, ere the trigger could be pulled, the stranger fired and his bullet saved the life of the daring Delegate Detective. ; CHAPTER VIIL A DEAD SECRET. ‘Tux first of the three men who had been liying in ambush had dropped dead under thé fire of those they had meant to.kill, but New York Nat did not wish both of them to die and their secret he buried with them as to the fate of Millionaire Marcey, for he con- cluded that the two rogues were involved in that scheme. So he had hastily aimed to wound his man ‘and had done so. But the man was game, and though ‘brought to his knees by Nat’s shot and badly ~wounded, had no idea of yielding, and so would have killed the young detective, but for the quick and timely shot of the stranger, whose bullet pierced the brain of the New . York crook, There was a moment of silent contempla- ‘tion of the scene; then New York Nat sprung to the side of first one and then the other of the two men and said in a voice that sur- prised the stranger. ““My God! they are both dead!” “ Yes, your shot did not kill him and had I uot fired you would now be dead,” coldly admonished the stranger. ‘* Pardon me, sir. know that I owe you my life; but with these two men dies a secret I came here to unearth. ‘Tt isa dead secret now, and that is why I fired to wound and not kill. ‘But 1 owe you my life, for he would have killed me as he caught me off my guard, and most deeply grateful am I to you.” Nat held out his hand which the stranger grasped and replied: ° ‘* Had I only known that you wished to secure a dying: confession I would have broken the man’s arm, and not have killed him, for 1 see that the wound you gave him was fatal. *“You know the men then?” “* Yes, sir; they are both escaped convicts ‘and professional New York crooks; but, as you have already been so kind to us, may I -ask that you, do not speak of what my tongue _just let slip—that I came West to learn a se- cret these two men could have told? “We are tb three boy miners, sir, .come to the Wil est to seek our fortune,” »and Nat smiled, while the stranger answer- ed: -“T understand, my young friend, and ‘what you unintentionally said shall at once ‘be forgotten. “But you had better search your men; ‘then we will bury them, for death makes the ‘human form sacred in my eyes, I always oat , = i ee oe a ae ee rier - New York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp. decently inter the dead, no matter what the man may have been in life.” ** You are right, sir. We will bury them at once; but I will search the bodies first.” This New York Nat did most thoroughly, taking from the bodies some papers, 8 map well worn, and belts containing considerable money in gold and bank notes. ‘* These are the men I believed them to be, sir, for here is the proof,” said Nat holding up the papers; then he asked: ‘* Are you much acquainted in the Golden Nugget Mines, sir?” ‘Yes; Iam mining there; but let me in- troduce myself, for there I am known as Nugget Nat, though, as I am not, like man men out here, ashamed of my real cane will make it known to you—” ‘It is Hugh Holcomb!” quickly cried New York Nat. ‘*Ah! and how did /you find that out?” asked Nugget Nat, surprised enough at the recognition. “Do you know Mr. Sherman Canfield, sir?” ** Know him? I have on earth.” ‘* And a good friend he is of ours, I have a letter from him to you, Mr, Holcomb,” and New York Nat hastily drew the letter out of an inner pocket and handed it over to him. Hugh Holcomb quickly glanced over the letter and said, as he extended his hand: ‘*So you are New York Nat, the Unknown Ferret? and these are your allies, Keno and Freckles? and Canfield sends you out to fathom the mystery here and bring the guilty ones to ‘anne ‘Well, lam most glad to meet you—be assured of that! You will havea gigantic task on your hands, young pards; but, I have already seen you tried, and from what Canfield says, you can do what you pledge ourselves to accomplish. I can ask no more than that,” and Hugh Holcomb shook bands warmly with the three Delegate Fer- rets. It was decided to bury the dead crooks there and go into camp for the night, as it was now late in the afternoon, and to con- tinue on to Gold Nugget Camp in the morn- ing. But, poe Holcomb now regretted, as much as did New York Nat, that the killing of the two crooks closed their lips forever, and left the fate of the millionaire a dead secret. Why, he is the best friend CHAPTER IX. THE COUNCIL OF WAR. WuHeEn the dead crooks were at rest in their graves, the horses had been staked out for the night and an early supper dis- posed of, the Gold Miner, Nugget Nat, and his three Ferret allies, sat down for. a talk— to hold a ‘‘ council of war,” as’ New York Nat put it. Hugh Holcomb at once set to work to ex- plain the situation to New York Nat more ay than he had written it to Sherman Can- e€1a. - He stated that he had seen those very two crooks in Golden Nugget. Camps a few days before, and in conversation with the one known as the Mad Sport, the Man Killer, while the money that had been found upon them seemed to show that they had been well paid for some service rendered. New York Nat explained that they were the same two men whom in the city he felt he had recognized as crooks, and watching them, he had seen them enter the house of the New York Millionaire Marcey, and come out with him, take the cowpe and drive away. It had been the man Doc who had suspect- ed that he was shadowing them, and quickly getting out of the cowpe had struck hima stunning blow as he ran around the corner in chase of them. Now the question was, what had they done A 8 Oy with Mr. Marcey, and this could not be dis- covered from death-sealed lips. That he had his Ferrets at work to solve the mysterious disappearance of Mr. Marcey New York Nat explained, and added: ‘** Acquainted with the facts as they are they will find out something, and write me here at once, under cover to you, Mr. Hol- comb,” “ All right, a mail is due once a week in Golden Nugget, and you should hear now by the next, which will be in four days, ‘* But now let me tell you that the Mad Sport is carrying a very high hand in the camps now, and since I wrote Canfield, has tt three men, so that he is dreaded now by all. ‘* He has a companion whom no one knows, who calls himself Rio Grande Don and who is a Mexican and a dangerous man. ** The two are constantly together, and Rio Grande Don made a record for himself before he had been two days in the camps as a dead shot and a man killer, ‘* That he and the Mad Sport are plotting some game of deep deviltry is certain.” ‘* And there is no doubt but that the Mad Sport is Millionaire Marcey’s second son, May- brick Marcey?” ‘* Not in the least, as I know well, though, as I:wrote Canfield, I am pledged not to make known certain facts that I am aware of, but still I can give you information enough for you to work on.” ‘“ Well, Mr. Holcomb, as I see it, May brick Marcey, knowing now that he has an elder brother, and that his father, deceived into be- lieving that he is ee an honorable life, has made his will in his favor, is anxious to get rid of Millionaire Marcey before the will can be changed through his discovery of the other son and the truth about his, May brick’s, real life. ** To carry out this plot he set those crooks todo away with his father, and doubtless his elder brother also.” ** That is just it, New York Nat.” ** Now we must find this elder brother, and also, just what Mr. Marcey’s fate has been.”’ ** Exactly.” $ “You know the name of the elder brother and where he can be found? : ‘Yes, his name is Julian Marcey, and he has a ranch on the old Mormon trail near the San Francisco Mountains in ‘Arizona.” ‘Then I must look him up as soon i sible, for there is no time to lose, for I see here that those crooks had his name and just how to find him, with a note addressed to some one there who is known as Senora Bonita. ‘The note is sealed as you see, but she must be an ally of the assassins, though liv- ing in the house of Julian Marcey.” ugh Holcomb quickly took the letter, glanced at the address, and said, as he shook his head: ‘*My tongue is tied now, for I can say nothing; but it would be well if you deliver- ed that note in person, and as I have sealing- wax at my camp, we can open and reseal it, so you can know its contents,” ** Yes, all is fair in love and war, and this is war, Mr. Holcomb.” ‘* Yes, and war of the worst kind, for it is war against cold blooded assassins,” sternly said Hugh Holcomb, and he added: ‘‘ Now there is another person to consider in our council of war, New York Nat.” ‘** Who is that, sir?” “A young girl whose destruction ‘the Man Killer is plotting,” was the response of Nugget Nat the Gold Miner. CHAPTER X, UNLOOKED FOR RESCUE. “You refer to the yee lady you wrote Mr. Canfield of, sir—Miss Florence Dudley ?” said New York Nat in answer to Hugh Hol-
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rescue the girl, awe my word for it, the a Te Rmenrer Mee Yo York Nat Nat in Gold Nugget C Camp. comb’s remark about the young oor Saiasiod as one of the Mad Sport’s victiins. *T do. She is a beautiful girl, dwelling with her father alone in this wild land Her father has struck it rich beyond all doubt, and she is his only heir—all of which this Mad Sport knows. ‘*He seems to have fascinated her, and if she marries him it means that her life will be wrecked, so we must save her from BiMie 4 “We must, sir; see the man’s character and intention? ‘Tf he does he fears to say anything, for he appealed to me to save her from the |, man, ‘* Well, Mr. Holcomb, we are now ac- quainted with all the facts, and we will go into Golden Nugget Camps as three boy miners, and at once begin work in shadow- ing the Mad Sport, his ally Rio Grande Don, and to find out if Julian Marcey and Mr. Marcey have been killed. ‘*Tt will be better for us not to go in with you, or appear to know you, save by meet- ing you there.” * Yes, Nat, that will be the best plan; but, remember, Iam your ally, and command my services whenever you need them, even to the death if need be.” *‘T will, sir,” was the answer, and the party turned in for the night, the jthree Fer- rets greatly pleased with their handsome miner ally Nugget Nat, while he was much impressed and fully satisfied with the young detectives sent out to shadow and to down the Mad Man Killer of the Mines, Bright and early they were off on the trail the next morning, it having been decided that Hugh Holcomb should leave them after their noonday camp and push rapidly on alone to the camps of Golden Nugget, they following so as to get in after nightfall, and but does her father not 9” having been directed by their minerally just where to go and what to do upon their ar- rival. They were just about to leave the noon camp, when New York Nat, glancing over the trail ahead, saw a party of horsemen coming rapidly toward them. He at once made their coming known to Hugh Holcomb,*who said quickly: We are ina dangerous country here, from both road agents and red-skins; but, fortunately, our camp is a perfect ambush, as you see, so we hold the winning hand. _ **Get the horses together, and your rifles ready, while J take a view of those fellows through my field-glass,”’ The young Ferrets were delighted with the prospect of an adventure, and were soon in readiness for a fight, if need be, As New York Nat approached the spot where Hugh Holcomb lay concealed, view- ing the coming party through his glass, the latter said: * They are three in number, and one is a woman,’ * A woman’ ‘Yes; and more—it can be none other than Florence Dudley. She must have been kidnapped, for I know those two men as I can now make them out—there! I see her now distinctly! It is indeed Florence Dudley.” ‘*Then we must rescue her,” ‘quickly gv decided the New York Delegate, ‘* By all means, but—’’ he continued: ‘*T must not be known in this matter, sol and after a pause will go into hiding, yet be nearif Iam need- ed, but if not needed 1 will go on lo, the cain s. es, they have her bound to her eddies sah Nat, I leave it to you to rescue her. “Tf you can do so without killing the men, make them prisoners and learn “what ou can from them, taking them to Golden | ugget with you. fs mf will be a feather in yeur cap if you ” miners will marie relieve you of all | we could take in the accomplices you speak prisoners, should you take them with you.» | of,” Nat remarked ‘T leave all to you, and now I am off.” ‘‘T have discovered from w hat they said, With this Hugh Holcomb hastened to his | sir, that they are about five miles from herea horse, mounted ‘and rode away into hiding in but, just where, Ido not know, nor hows a pine thicket near by. many of the villains there are. » The kiduappers and their prisoner, mean- ‘*1t will be best tor you to go right on to? while, were drawing near the rocks that con- ; Golden Nugget, I think, strapping “the dead cealed the three Tenderfoot De stectives, and |'man to his saddle and strapping the prisoner, ‘4 it could now be seen with the naked eye | also, for he is a bold, tricky ruffian, ready ° that their captive was indeed tied to her | for any treachery.” saddle, ‘We were just breaking camp, miss, when | ‘‘Pards, we must make them.surrender if | we saw you coming, so will you not have — we can, but not let them escape if they re- | some dinner and rest awhile before we start?” fuse. ‘‘T will, indeed, for 1 am as hungry as & *«' They are riding right into our trap, and | bear,” was the cheery response, and while be careful not to hurt the young lady. | Keno set about getting dinner, Freckles ‘ ‘‘ Freckles, you cover the man on the right, | looked after the prisoner. Nat unfastened \ and you Keno, take the fellow on the left, the lariat that bound the fair captive and led but don’t fire until you see they will escape, | her to a place where she could rest, while he and I will stand ready as a reserve, hastened away into the pines to find Hugh { ‘* Now here they come!” Holcomb and report the situation. ae Three minutes after the two men, bronzed, ‘1 know all, for I saw your brave rescue, bearded, evil-faced fellows, with their cap- | Nat,” said Hugh coming forward, tive between them, rode in among the rocks “They have accomplices some miles from: through which the trail wound. here, sir, to whom they were to deliver the: They had. ridden hard, as their horses | young lady, ” Nat explained, showed, and cast glances behind them as ‘‘T wish I knew where to find them; but. though ig pursuit. you must press on rapidly to camp. Tk oa e ; i Suddenly w York Nat’s voice com- | be there ahead of you. manded ; ‘*Can I tell her, sir, of your being here?” i : “Halt and surrender, or we will kill ** Not under any circumstances,” quickly: ("ygieee you!” demurred Hugh Holcomb, Pay, ‘‘She really owes her reseue to you, sir, astyou planned it, and I thought she ought to know that you—” hil HI ‘‘No, no! You, forget that, as the Mad ay Sport holds her by some strange influence, ' she may tell him that you and I are pards, and that he must not know, for he is as cun-\_— ning as he is cruel and vicious,’ “Yes, we had best not take the chances of” his finding out; but may he not be the one _ a who was the real kidnapper of Miss Dud~ ' heel . pley-?” ‘‘Tdo not doubt but that he was; still he: is too clever to be caught in it, and Idoubt al if those very men know him in the affair; but, I will be. off now, and when you reach Golden Nugget to-night.o at once ‘to the tavern with your prisoner and dead man and — report that you were at your noon Camp, if saw the two men with the girl bound, and rescued her, H) py “The miners’will do the rest, as you will » A yell of terror broke from the lips of one of the men, with the words: “Wheel and run for it, pard!” ‘‘ Drop your man, Keno,” shouted Nat. He was obeyed, while dashing out of his covert, the young ‘Delegate Detective seized the bridle-rein of the other kidnapper, and held a revolver in his face with the com- mand: ** Surrender, or I pull trigger!” CHAPTER Xf. FERRETS TO THE RESCUE, Srrrne his comrade fall, his bridle-rein in an iron grip, a revolver thrust under, his nose, and two others coming to confront him, the remaining kidnapper did not carry out his intention to fire upon New York Nat, but, dropping his revolver hastened to raise his hands above his head while he cried:’. see, ‘*Don’t shoot, for I pass!” With this Holeomb waved a farewell fae Nat had had such experience in dealing | the young New York detective and walke with city crooks that he at once unbuckled rapidly away to where he had left his horsel@ the belt of arms from about the man’s waist, | Returning to camp New York Nat foun and then ordered him to dismount, that the young girl was enjoyingyher dinnef& This order was sullenly obeyed; then | and Keno had also given something to La dag Keno and ‘Freckles tied him with a dex- | prisoner, but it was refused with “the r terity that was surprising to him and he | mark: growled out: ‘I don’t mind a Jeetle hunger when yi ‘* Who be you, anyhow?” lookin’ down inter my grave, for I tell yer, ‘ Boy miners, going to hunt up a fortune, boys, ther miners will hang me sart'in, so if Are we on the men trail to Golaen Nugget | yer don’t want ter see me strung: up, a sight Camps?” - yer'll never fergit, yer better take what ** No, but Tl guide you there,” said the | money I has and "Jet me £0.” man, promptly, while the young girl now “‘Ton’t mind us, pard, for we’ve seen — men die beforc and none that deserved it — more than you, while we are not to. be — bribed,” answered Keno, Soon after the party moved off on the trail ai? where he has accomplices who are to take | to Golden Nugget Camps, Florence wan | me in charge, while he returns to the camps, | riding by the side of New York Nat.) ) eae for they kidnapped me this morning from Berit SB my home there.” a ae ‘ew York Nat gazed into the roe of the si steels XII. A GOLDEN NUGGET WELCOME, | speaker with admiring interest. It wasa beautiful face, with Jarge, earnest blue eyes, shaded by long lashes, and an ex- Stern and plucky, prepared to meet thee “Sekt pressive mouth. ‘| ordeal before them, New York Nat and his ~ The girl was slender in form and wore | Ferrets rode into the Golden Nysgetminin camp soon after nightfall, They had pressed on at a brisk pace du the afternoon, the i sg in pe ee spoke for the first time and said: ‘** Yes, sir, you are on the right trail, and I can guide you there. ‘This man only wishes to guide you to amost becoming blue cloth riding habit, while a slouch hat and black plume shelter- ed her head with its wealth of nut-brown chair. Keno and Freckles me **T wil: follow your guidance not his, miss, ; which the body of the di and return you to your home; but, I wish ; strapped.
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_ New York Nat rode by the'side of Florence Dudley, and found her a most delightful companion; but he felt convinced as he studied her closely that she was under some saddening influence. He saw her eyes droop at times, heard her sigh involuntarily, and felt sure that she earried in her heart a secret sorrow, one that was to influence her life in the future. She certainly was a beautiful girl and a charming one as well, and the young ferret captain did not wonder that’ Hugh Holcomb loved her. Knowing that she was wholly ignorant of why he had come to the mines he tried to draw her out, and she told him frankly that she was sorry that he and his comrades had es) come. : ee She told him that her father had once been h Pee ' rich, that they had had an elegant home, but they had lost it and her father had come to the mines and worked hard to regain his lost fortune. He had been successful beyong his ex- pectations, and yet they were not happy, though why she did not say. Asked why she had been kidnapped, she said she did not know, unless it was to force -from her father a large ransom for her return; but she did not know that she had a single foe in the mines. She was wont to go on long rides alone, taking her rifle for game, and that evening her horse had been Jassoed not far from - home and she had been made a prisoner by _ the two men, who gave her no reason for _. their actions. Asked if there were many men in the _ mines of her. father’s kind, possessing edu- cation, refinement and unsullied honor, Flor- ence had at once mentioned the name of - Holcomb, saying that he was a hero to ad- mire, but one who had been unfortunate in _, his hunt for gold. abby She spoke of him as one to admire and . trust implicitly, but about whom there hung a mystery. | _ Of the wilder element she spoke severely, though she said one and all had always treat- ed her with respect. - Once she spoke of the Mad Sport, saying: _. “There is one man in the mines above all ‘others whom you must avoid, in fact two of them, for he has a companion as danger- - us as himself, “ - ** T refer to one who rules the camps with _ rod of iron, and the name by which he is _ rown is the Mad Man Killer. ‘* His companion’s name is Rio Grande “pn, so beware of both of them, for they are : 1 Sreae /as rattlesnakes,” ‘And'this was the man that Hugh'Holcomb’s _ ter to Sherman Canfield had said Florence udley was to marry, and for whom she had - tisearded him, New York Nat jotted all down in his mind, and when they at last rode into the -campsthey found a large body of horsemen assembling at the tavern to go out and look “At their head was the Mad Sport, and somehow it had become whispered around, ns ‘Hugh Holcomb was aiso absent, that perhaps she had run away with him. But this her father denounced angrily, as he said that his daughter was not one to run away, that she had been kidnapped by some one seeking his old, and he was willing to pay largely for her return to him, ce __ Just then the party rode up, and a great ‘shout went up as Florence was recognized, and all gazed curiously at the three young _ Ferrets with her, the prisoner and the dead re ater vl a warm greeting from her father, peace turned to the excited crowd and story of her being kidnapped, bound, rapid flight until halted by the three gold-hunters who had come to Golden to seek their fortune. fo $te Pe Pr: 5 cheers greeted her story, and the - eg New York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp, three Boy Gold Hunters were invited again and again to: ‘* Slip inter ther baran’ hev suthin’.” But the invitation was declined with thanks, Nat acting us spokesman, and saying. that they had not yet learned to drink after, the western style, Most of the crowd cheered this sentiment, but one big, bearded, hard-faced fellow with a strong following took umbrage at their re- fusal, and said as he stepped up to New York Nat: “Yer has got ter doin Golden Nugget as we does here, and put on no citified airs. calls forthree straight whiskies for you, and ef yer don’t drink ’em then I slits yer ears as I ‘ust ter mark pigs, so as I'll know yer ag’in ” “Red Nose Jack, set up three glasses 0’ tanglefoot fer these three tenderfoot kids, and pards all ’round, watch ’em guzzle ’em, er see me put my brand upon ’em—see?” ** Drink the rum, boys, for that is Purga- tory Pete, and he’s the worst man_in the mines,” urged a miner, in a low tone, ‘“T will not drink the vile stuff, nor can ‘the bully frighten us by his threats,” was New York Nat's firm rejoinder, and a death- like silence followed the words of the brave Detective Delegate from the East. CHAPTER XIII. TAMING Tue words of New York Nat were heard with awe by nearly all present, for Purga- gatory Pete's record was too well known not to know that he would resent them, He was. one of the worst stripe of men that are to be found in the mines, and he was as ready to quarrel and kill as he was to eat and sleep, He turned savagely upon New York Nat, as though to spring upon him, and in the interest of his movement the dead and living kidnapper and return of Florence Dudley were forgotten. A TERROR. Checking his impulse, however, to rush upon Naf, the bully smiled in a cruel way and said: : ‘* Waal, I said I would brand 9” ree... **Tll do it, and then spank ther three of yer and send yer ter bed.” He took out his knife as he spoke, ran his finger over the edge, and moved slowly yer, didn’t toward the youths, as though in no hurry. That there were several who were watch- ing him closely he did not notice, or care, but Hugh Holcomb had joined the crowd, and Miner Dudley and Florence were gazing at him with intense interest. Suddenly the young girl stepped forward and said: ‘*Purgatory Pete, you ought to be asham- ed of yourself, but you are too low to have any feeling of shame., ‘* There are men here who will not allow you to carry out your crue] threat!” and she glunced over the crowd, while her father said quickly: ** Yes, there are men here to check you.” ‘‘Let this be my quarrel, Miss Florence, for | am watching him,” and Hugh Holeomb_ stepped to the front amid a murmur of ap- plause. The desperado, meanwhile, had paused at the words of Florence, glanced about the crowd and said: -‘*There be men here, too, ter back me up, leetle gal; and as fer you, Nugget Nat, Ill squar’ accounts with you after I has branded ther kids.” t : ‘All right, Purgatory Pete; 1 am ready, so settle now and do your branding after- ward,” was Hugh Holcomb’s retort. : I | ed—for Purgatory Pete and Holcomb had their hands on their weapons now, and scores of others were ready to draw also—wags broken by New York Nat’s stepping for- ward and saying boldly: ‘‘T thank you, miss, and you, sir, but we expected to rough it when we came out here, and that man has sought a quarrel with us, * Tenderfeet we are, but not cowards, and I'll settle with him the moment he attempts! to carry out his threat.” There burst from the crowd a wild cheerat this, which ended abruptly as the bully made a rush at the brave young Tenderfoot Detec.- tive, knife in hand. But before Hugh Holcomb could step for. ward, there was seen a lightning like move- ment of New York Nat's hand, his revolver was, drawn, leveled and the trigger was pulled in a second of time. There was a yell of pain and fury as the bullet shattered the hand that grasped the upraised knife, which fell to the ground. But, the desperado drew his revolver with his left hand, when, before he could use it, again New York Nat pulled trigger and this time the left hand of the desperado was shattered, the pistol dropping to the ground, while the young tenderfoot shouted: ‘Next time I'll send a bullet through your heart, Purgatory Pete.” At this moment tall form stepped. be- tween the three Boy Gold Hunters and tho gang of bullies that were now backing up Purgatory Pete and cried: “This stops right here, men. hear?” ‘‘Thears, but my hands is torn ter pieces and my pards kills thet Ferret Tenderfoot boy whether you backs him up or not,” Mad Sport Marcey, and don’t you forgit it.” ‘* What, not enough yet? Then take that!” With the words the Mad Man Killer threw Do you crashing through the brain of the big des- perado, who dropped dead in his tracks. “Tf you did take up for me, sir, it was cowardly to kill that man who could not de- fend himself,” shouted New York Nat, now thoroughly aroused, and he fearlessly faced the Mad Sport amid a perfect silenee, The Mad Sport smiled blandly, and return- ing his revolver to his belt said quits “Take your boy rescuer in. hand, Miss Dudley, and give him a lesson in manners,” With this he turned and walked away, while some one, to change the dangerous topic into another channel, shouted out: ‘** Hang the kidnappers of Miss Florence |” The cry was savagely taken up; men tush- ed to the dead and living kidnappers, and. in spite of a strong show of resistance, they were both quickly strung up to a tree! There they hung at the end of lariats, the | dead and living side by side, until the strig- gles of the latter ceased, and the crowd be- gan to disperse, while Hugh Holcomb whis- pered to New York Nat: ‘* That ends our hope of finding out who the real kidnapper was; but, let me ec n- gratulate you wpon your bold stand to-night. It has made you solid with the best men of Gold Nugget! They’il* stand by you after thia;? \ , CHAPTER XIV... Fie, THE FERRET GOLD HUNTERS, New York Nar certainly proved himself a hero that night in Golden “Nugget, and congratulated him upon his pluck and deadly - aim, While Keno and Freckles were wild with delight at the manner in which their, young ty a captain had acquitted himself. : Miner Dudley had come up and shaken him by the band, telling them that they — All knew that they stood on the brink of | must come to his home, and addi a volcano, that might burst forth at any | they would «lways find in him a_ , moment, and the painful s'lence that follow-.' while Florence urged them to go to their riend, BE Betis . 2 t ae ys og his revolver forward and fired, his bullet — others beside Hugh Holeomb came up and fac it A ‘ ¥ f ate ee 2
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: a . 4 ped epee sete cabin at least until they could find quarters for themselves. But, the three detectives firmly refused, saying that they would stop at the tavern over night and the next day find or build a cabin for themselves, and the landlord of the tavern told them to make themselves at home in his hotel as long as they pleased, adding in a whisper: ‘**T owe it to you for being the cause of Purgatory Pete’s death; but you must be- ware of the Mad Sport, for I didn’t like the way he took your words to him, young feller.” Hugh Holcomb managed to get to say: bby Wes, the Mad Sport will not let your words pass unnoticed, Nat; but as I have told you you have made man friends here to-night—in fact, you are solid in Golden Nugget after this.” e three New York Ferrets were given a hen-coop of a room with three bunks in it, but made themselves comfortable, and after a hearty supper went to bed, all con- vinced that they were roughing it with a vengeance. After all they had seen and passed through within the last forty-eight hours they were certainly in a fair way to become real wild Westerners, and get the tenderfoot knocked out of them. ‘* We'll begin work to-morrow,” Nat had said to his two companions, before they sunk tc sleep. When they awoke in the morning, at the beating of a snare drum announcing break- fast at ‘‘ Epicures’ Hall,” as the tavern was ealled, they saw that the camps were quiet after the stormy night. The bodies of the kidnappers had been re- moved, and the miners were away to work, save a few who boarded at the hotel and the idlers and bums of the camps. The landlord greeted them cheerfully and told them that a miner who was about to leave Golden Nugget offered to sell out his cabin and claim for a few hundred, adding: “The only drawback to it is that itis next to the Man Killer's cabin, and you will hard- ly be the best of friends, I fear.” **Oh, that cuts no figure, for we won't disturb him and he must let. us alone. “‘T was much obliged to him for taking my part, but for him to kill that man with both hands shattered, was the act of a cow- ard and I could not help telling him so,” averred the New York boy. “Well, watch him, that is all, for if he would kill a wounded man, you may be sure your age woud be no protection to you. “He pays me big money, and is very friendly, but he’s a bad and dangerous man— No, there is no charge for your lodging and grub, boys,” and he refused to take any in spite of urging. So Nat and his companions took out their cash, counted it over as thou sb it was all they had, when the former sai ‘Here's three hundred, sir, if you think that would buy the claim and cabin.” *‘T'll see him,” said the landlord, and when he returned he told them that the cabin and claim were theirs, They found it a ‘pleasant little board build- ing, situated at the head of the valiey, and within an easy walk of the large cabin home of Miner Dudley and the quarters of the Mad Sport. There was grazing ground near for their horses, wood and water, and the claim panned out a small sum ‘daily under hard work. Several days passed away and the three Tenderfoot Detectives had not been idle. ‘They had acquainted themselves with the mines and the young Delegates had seen the Mad Sport several times, and found that he was inclined to be most friendly with them. They also had met his close comrade, Rio Grande Don, and several times had secretly held interviews with Hugh Holcomb.: New York Nat was convinced that the Mad Sport held some secret power over Florence Dudley, and noticed that he called at the miner’s house daily. Visiting the miner and his daughter him. self, Nat felt assured that at heart the Mad Sport was not welcome there, whatever might openly appear to be the truth. ** Well, boys, ’ve seen enough to know that the first thing to be done will be to hunt up Julian Marcey, the eldest son of the millionaire, so I will pretend to go prospect- ing, but really g go to his ranch and see if he is living or dead. I very much fear the latter, seeing how much he is in the way of this Man Killer desperado, ‘* Nugget Nat says there is an Indian here who will be my guide, and is true as steel to him, so you work on here, keeping your 7 and ears open, while I go to find Julian Marcey. “lt yvill take me a week or ten days, Mr. Holcomb says, but I’ll hardly be missed, for you will show yourselves about the camps. Steer clear of all rows; keep a close watch on the Mad Sport and his pard, and note just who are their comrades, for I'll tell you that he it was who started the cry to hang the kidnappers that night; and he killed Purgatory Pete for some reason we cannot see through, while 1 feel assured that he was the mover in running off Miss Dudley. ‘* Yes, Ill start to-morrow.” CHAPTER XY. THE TENDERFOOT DETECTIVE. In a secret meeting with New York Nat, Hugh Holcomb had arranged that the young detective was to leave the camp at. night, under the guidance of the Indian whom he had spoken of. The red-skin was a hunter, and made money enough by bringing in game to bu his food, ammunition and whisky and that was all he wanted. He had been found in the mountains one day by Hugh Holcomb, wounded, and his death would have followed, had not the young miner brought him to camp and ten- derly cared for him. He was known in the camps as Chief, and not once had he ever showna wish to return to his people, the Utes, ‘* Chief knows the country perfectly, Nat, and will guide you to the ranch of Julian Marcey, for here is a map I have drawn showing its location. ** You may be too late to save him, but if he has been done away with it will be an- other crime to place at the door of Maybrick Marcey, and I think your idea to find out if both father and brother have been done away with a good one. ‘* Tf he has been killed, then we must find out if the two New York crooks did the work, or the Mad Sport has other hirelings to aid him.” With full instructions then to guide him, New York Nat bade Kenoand Freckles good- by soon after nightfall and mounting his hardy pony rode to the spot where he was to meet Hugh Holcomb and the Indian They were there awaiting him, and grasp- ing the miner’s handin farewell: ‘the Tender- foot Detective started off on his mission, the Ute chief leading the way, mounted upon a tough, wiry little mustang. They went intory camp when well away from the last miner’s cabin, and slept until dawn, {when they again started upon the trail. Thus three days and nights went by, Chief unerringly keeping his course, and, as they went along, teaching New York Nat. much that he was glad to learn of frontier life, trail- ing and what a career in the Wild West really meant. ** Pale-face young brave heap big head, see much, know heap—no tenderfoot,” said Chief admirin gly one day as he saw how New York Nat in Gold Nugget CAD. | quickly and. well ‘New York Nat wae ene and well New York Nat was catch i ing on to what he was teaching him. ik “Tm awful pleased to know it, Chief; but fo I confess that Tam a real tenderfoot out here, ye though if you were in New York I guess I could give you a few pointers,” replied Nat. st ‘No like pale-face village—love red-man’s 9- country,” said Chief. It was in the evening of the third day that the Ute said: ‘* Ranch yonder by mountain. ‘* Sleep there to-night.” Before them rose the white peaks of the San Francisco Mountains, and about them the country had become more fertile and cheering to ride through, contrasted with the barren lands behind them, almost waterless and treeless the past two days. The Indian had been told that the ranch of the man they sought was at the base of the San Francisco Mountains, and he had gone there unerringly. There soon came in sight a large log cabin situated among the foot-hills, and in the green, well watered valleys near were a number of cattle and ponies feeding, a couple of cowboys in charge. They eyed the Indian and New York Nat as they approached, and the latter saluted them politely and asked if it was the ranch of Mr. Julian Marcey that was in sight. ‘Tt is, pard, but he hain’t at home,” was the answer. ‘*T am sorry, for I have come a long way to see him.” ‘‘ Where from?” ‘‘Gold Nugget mining camps up in Col- orado.” ‘* Thar’s where ther cap’n is.”’ ‘* Indeed? ‘‘Tam sorry I did not know it. ‘* When did ye go there?” ‘* Some two months ago, I guesses.” ‘Ts he mining?” ‘*Dunno, but he’s thar, for his ma got a letter from him only two days ago.” ‘* His mother?” ‘*'Yas, and we thought maybe come through with a letter for her.’ ‘‘ Where is she?” asked New York Nat, his curiosity excited, ‘Up at the ranch, so you better go up and see her.’ ‘‘T will, thank you,” and Nat rode on toward the ranch, having gained much food for thought, for he muttered as he rode weir is mother at the ranch, eh? “Then she was not killed as was supposed, and if she lives, then Millionaire Marcey’s second marriage was not legal, and the Mad Sport could not inherit the fortune if it was known. ‘*T must go slow and with care.” you had CHAPTER XVI. NAT MEETS THE GYPSY QUEEN. Tr was a great surprise to New York Nat to learn that thé man he sought was in the very camps he had left to seek him. What had taken ‘him there he could not understand, for he was sure that he knew nothing of his father, and that he possessed an enormous fortune that would be his at his death. ‘‘Chief, whatever I say here you must — swear to, for I’ve got news I didn’t look for,” said Nat as they approached the cabin. Me talk straight,” was the Ute’s reply, and Nat turned his attention to the ranch: a before him, Tt was finely located upon the brow of a . hill, and the cabin was as strongly builtasa _ fort, for there was reason to dread a raid by the Navahoes at almost any time. é The cabin had four rooms in it, divided by s that ran through in both d it was surrounded by a boar wide hallwa. rections, an roof piazza, Hanging upon the walls were saddles,
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| bridles, lariats, spurs, and several weapons, while seated in a rustic chair watching their ‘approach was a woman engaged in sewing. Nat gazed fixedly at her as he drew near and muttered: “Tf she is not a Gypsy she belies her looks.” He saw a woman of forty apparently, tall, handsomely formed and attired in a pictur- esque costume that betook of the Mexican and Gypsy. Her face was dark, very dark, her hair black as night and around her head wasa silver band netted across the top. She wore massive earrings, a necklace, and her arms were covered with bracelets, as were her fingers with rings, while buckles were upon her small red slippers. Her features were regular and handsome, her teeth white as milk and the eyes were grandly lustrous and expressive, ‘It’s the Gypsy Queen Mr. Marcey mar- ried and believed dead, or I am greatly mis- taken,” muttered Nat, and doffing his hat politely he said: “Pardon me, madam, but I came here from Golden Nugget to seek Mr. Julian Marcey.”’ “My son is away from home, young man; but you are welcome, so come in and I will make you feel at home,” she replied with a decided accent in her English, yet in a voice that was strangely soft and musical. Nat dismounted and gavé his rein to Chief, who led his horse away, going with a Mexican who came at ‘the ‘call of the wo- man. “You are young, senor, to be following the trail in this wild land, and in company with a red-skin,” she said. ‘‘T know the Indian, madam, and he is a true friend to me, though Lam what you call out here a tenderfoot,” ** Yes, a tenderfoot in frontier experience penars, yet well versed in other knowledge, take it **So you came here to see my son?” New York Nat, young as he was, had be- came a deep reader of human nature, and he nad been closeiy studying the face of the woman and he determined to go slow, to make haste reuy and be sure of his ground so as to make no mistake. ‘‘ Yes, madam, I came to see Mr. Julian Marcey.” **You came from Golden Nugget Camps, T believe?” “* Yes, madam.” “* And he is there.” “*T am sorry I did not know it.” “* He has been there for some time, and you must have seen him for he is one to at- tract attention,” ** T/did not even hear his name spoken. ** Will you describe him, please, madam, vand I can tell youif Isaw any one answer- ing the description.” “the He is there, for I lately had a letter from him. “But he is a tall man, with broad shoulders and an elegant form, a face as jee as mine and just the one to win a young iy He has a long silken mustache and im- perial, wears his black hair falling upon his shoulders, dresses in Mexican attire and is about thirty years of age. ‘Do you recall seeing such a person?” New York Nat was about to reply when he checked himself, and remaining silent for a moment, asked: “You say he dresses as a Mexican, madam?” ** Yes, he is a Mexican Gypsy, as I am.” “«T only wish I could have met him, for it is a long ride here on a useless errand.” “Perhaps I can tell you what you would ‘now if you will make your business known to me, his mother.” Nat hesitated an instant, and then said, pests ete, | yee ie MES New York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp. **In- case I should miss him upon his re- turn, I will tell you why I came.” **Not now, come in to supper,” and the woman led the way. . EE CHAPTER XVII. NAT GROWS CAUTIOUS. Nav was shown a pleasant room, in which there was a large hammock swung instead of a.bed, and having made his toilet by brushing off the dust of travel, he went into the supper-room and sat down to a most tempting meal, The woman was not long in making known to him that she had been the queen of a once powerful band of Gypsies, but war and Gisease had reduced them untilin the end the remnant had all been wiped out by an Indian massacre, only her son and herself escaping. She seemed to like to talk of herself, and also stated that she had married an American army officer, and that he had deserted her at the time of the massacre, and she had never seen him since, but had reason to be- lieve that he was still living, though at first she had believed he had been killed by the Indians. The chief of the Comanche band had spared her life, and her little son’s, on ac- count of having once been kindly cared for by her people, and‘in time she had bought their freedom from the Indians, and had, as her people had been wiped out, become a ranch-owner, for she had gotten some money from where her father had buried it. She had taken her son to the East to be educated, but they had, after a few years, pined for their wild life, and they had re- turned to it, purchased the ranch they then lived on and were contented. Nat listened with deepest interest to the story of the woman, for it agreed with that which Hugh Holeomb had written to Sher- man Canfield, and which he had read in the various papers he had then with him. As they returned to the piazza the woman excused herself for a moment and Nat hastily drew from his pocket a small miniature set in gold and glanced at it, while he slowly shook his head, and then opening a letter, one cf those given him by Canfield, he read it over, and again came that significant shake of the head. The woman soon returned and handing a miniature set in gold to the youth suid: ‘‘There.is my American husband ‘as he looked when he won my heart. ‘He was a handsome man, and I loved him with all my soul. ‘*He resigned from the army and became one of our people, but then came the mas- sacre, and that ended my dream of love.” The likeness was of a handsome young man in the uniform of a cavalry officer, and upon it was engraven: ‘“MALCOLM MARCEY, “* Lieutenant —th Dragoons, “U.S. Army, “To Bontta, my Gypsy QUEEN.” **IT will now hear why you came to see my son, senor,” said the woman, and there was a look of nervousness about her, an anxiety to learn just’'why he had come. ‘‘T am a clerk in an attorney's office, madam, in, New!York, and I came here in the interest of your son, ‘In fact I will tell you the truth, as I must make it known to him, for you can doubt- less give me more information than he could,” ‘“‘T know that I can,” was the eager reply. After a moment New York Nat said: “You are right in your surmise that Mr. Malcolm Marcey is alive, or rather he was until several months ago. ‘‘He married again, however, years af- — believing you ewere dead, and his son also, ‘* He: married a Southern ef of great wealth and beauty, and she died after the birth of twin sons, one of whom also died. ‘* The other was raised by his father, but as he grew toward manhood he became very wild, grew dissipated, gambled, and so squandered money that his father at last threatened to cut him off unless he changed his ways. ‘* He promised to do so, came West, wrote his father that he had found a ranch well stocked with cattle, which he could purchase at a bargain, ‘* His father sent him the money, and _be- lieved his letters home telling how he had re- formed and was working hard, while in reali- ty he had squandered the money and had de- veloped into a border desperado, known as Mad Maybrick the Man Killer. ‘«In some way he learned of his father’s former marriage and that he had an elder brother, and so he plotted to get rid of his father and brother and thus secure the large fortune that he would thus inherit.” ‘* A bold plotter indeed, senor.” ‘* Yes, madam.” ‘* But 1 would still stand in the way, for not being dead, Mr. Marcey's son by his second marriage would have no claim.” “True, but he seemed not to know of you, only of his brother, and I know that he sent wut Rast to get rid of his father. eo at has become of Millionaire Marcey Ido not know, but he mysteriously disap- peared, and in the company of two men, whom I have the proof were bribed by May- brick Marcey to put his father out of.the way. 2 P00 late to save Mr. Marcey I came here to warn his eldest son of his danger, and to tell him that he is the heir to the millionaire’s fortune, ‘** But you tell me he is in the camps where his murderous brother now dwells, and, if he knows who he is will plot to kill him,” The woman smiled in a strange way and replied: ‘* As I know now why you are here, senor, I will place confidence in you and tell you a secret,” CHAPTER XVIIL. THE GYPSY QUEEN’S SECRET. “ Youn@ scnor, both my son and myself have much to thank you for, as you are to lace in our hands a fortune, ifymy husband s dead, or give us acclaim upon our rights, if he lives, as the wife and son of a million- aire, ‘*Of. course, as’ you act for an wd, ou will expect pay, and your reward will a liberal one, I p edge you, and I wish now to tell you that individually I desire you to serve my interests and most liberally will I recompense you,” ** You are very kind, madam.” ‘‘ However you may serve your employers, you must serve us,.myself and my son, bet- ter; andin possession of the facts on both sides, you can the better act for our inter- est.” “*That is true, madam, and I appreciate your kindness toward me, for, you know an attorney’s clerk is not paid a large salary.” * That I do not know about, but you will find that the one who serves me, Queen Bonita, will be well paid.” **] thank you.” 4 “‘ Now let me tell you that it has not been’ very long since we knew of Mr. Marcey’s being alive and that he had married again. ‘Tt came to my son’s ears through one he befriended, and who accidentally told the story, when he heard Julian’s name was Marcey. ‘But my son kept his own counsel, and also learned that his half-brother was a wild
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10 New Yo rk Nat in Gold Nugget Camp. aK “ = i Po Se ee , Ca tak BD et beta D> Sn ee Pia My a fellow in Golden Nugget Camps, and known as the Mad Sport and Man Killer from his desperate deeds. ‘* Having assured himself that his father lived, and that this desperado of the mines was his heir, Julian decided to act for his protection and mine. ‘*So he went to the mines and became the pard of the Mad Sport. * Of course he knew just what he was to him, but did not allow his half-brother to suspect his identity. ‘* He pretended to know the whole story of Millionaire Marcey’s life, that he had an elder son then living, and whom it was necessary to get out of the way if he, May- brick Marcey, expected to inherit the fortune as the direct heir of Malcolm Marcey, “Thus he gained the confidence of his half-brother and undertook to put Julian, himself, out of the way for certain con- siderations, as also the old man. ‘Then he was told that the latter deed had already been arranged for by the Mad Sport, who had employed two men he knew the life of, to put his father out of the way.” _ “To kill him?” "No, strange to say that, Man Killer though he is, he shrunk from taking his father’s life even by proxy, so the two men were hired to take Mr. Marcey from his home and carry him under the pretense of his being a maniac, toasmall private asylum in a Western State.” ** This the mer did?” ; : ‘“Yes, though Maybrick Marcey would not tell my son where the asylum was, and the two men Julian was unable to see.” __ Then he does not know where Mr. Marcey is confined?” ‘*No, but I suppose he can be traced,” “‘ Doubtless, madam, and as he is not mad, he will be released, while you as his wife, can prove your claim, and your son’s, and be restored to your rights, as Maybrick Marcey certainly has no claim upon his father in a legal way.” yw ‘That is just it, and nowin possession of the facts you can arrange the whole affair for us.” ‘T think so; but I must find Mr, Marcey first.” “Yes, I will give you a letter to my son, and perhaps he may now know where he is hidden, or can, in some way find out. ‘Then you will see him, tell him that I and his darling boy Julian still live, and are anxious to be taken into his heart and home after all these long yeurs of cruel separation.” ‘* But what about this second son, for he _ isa very dangerous man?” The woman smiled, and it expressed volumes, while she replied: ‘* Yes, and my son is a very dangerous man too, senor, and between us, this man the Mad Sport must be gotten rid of.” ‘It would be just as well for several reasons,” coolly said Nat. ‘‘One would be that he would kill my son, rather than yield his claim to him, but remember, he does not know Julian while Julian does know him and thus holds the advantage.” _ “Very true; but there is a legal point to be taken into consideration too.” ** What is that, senor?” “Should Mr. Marcey have died, for he is ‘an old man, and the charge of being mad may have broken him down, or he may ety gone mad in earnest, which is just as ny higd “« And then *‘In either case\ his son Maybrick is his heir, and his willis made.” _* But Llive and so does Julian.” G ‘*The law would have to be assured fully, and it would be years before perhaps proof rg could be found, so you might be old before U _ you won your case.” the achat said anxiously. ae eg ee A Sinise, a “That is true—you have a wise head,” ee you.’ ‘But with Maybrick Marcey dead my claim could come in, there being no other claimant, and we would be secure.” ‘‘Far more than if Maybrick Marcey lived.” ‘‘Then he must die,” savagely said the woman; but she quickly added in a milder tone: ‘‘That he is a desperado all know, and he has been deceiving his father and persecut- ing him. ‘He is a murderer, and should be hanged —yes he must be gotten out of the way.” Tes, it would complicate matters for ’ CHAPTER XIX. THE INDIAN GUIDE'S DISCOVERY, New York Nar saw that the woman meant just what she said. The Mad Sport was a dangerous man—so was Julian Marcey, his half-brother. The Mad Sport was plotting against his fathcr, and to get rid of his -half-brother, and the latter was then his companion in Golden Nugget Camps, and unknown to him, so he held the whip hand over him, Nat ran over the situation rapidly in his mind, and as was his wont, quickly came to a conclusion as to what was best to be done. So he said: ; ‘‘ Well, Madam Bonita, I had better re- turn to Golden Nugget and carry a letter to your son from you, telling him who I am, and we can work together.” ‘* Yes, yes.” ‘‘T can then arrange with Mr, Julian Mar- cey what is best to be done, and he can per- haps find out in some way just where his father is held in confinement,” ‘* Yes,-you must find that out.” ‘*Then we can plot to get rid of Maybrick ae , the Mad Sport, in some way, and if Ys, all will be plain sailing for you and your son }. as claimants.” ‘Yes, yes, you understand, I see ‘“You are wise beyond your years, my young friend, and you shall be well re- warded, ‘‘At last I see a ray of hope, I see the prospect of realizing a dream that will place me in a luxurious home, living a lite of pleasure, and with servants, horses and car- riages at my command. | ' ‘* Yes, I see hope ahead, and you, young senor, shall be’ well remembered,” and the woman Clasped her bands in an ecstasy of delight at the luxurious picture that floated before her vision of what her future life would be, ‘“When do you wish to start upon your return, young senor?” she asked, as though anxious now not to delay him, ‘«] will depart after an early breakfast in the morning, madam, and while you write the letter I will see my Indian guide and tell him to be ready,” a . ** Yes, I will give you fresh horses, the best cn the ranch, in the place of your tired animals.” } ‘‘| thank you, madam.” ‘*And will see that your provision-bag is well supplied, while what money you may need my son will let ycu have, for he has plenty with him.” . ‘*Again I thank you, Madam Bonita,” and Nat srose and went out to the corrals in search of the Ute chief. He failed to find him, and was returning ‘to the cabin when he met the Indian. ““ Well, Chief, been well taken care of?” ‘*Oh, yes, heap plenty toeat.” ‘* We return after breakfast in the morn- D ee ’ “*Me ready.” — ay ‘The lady will give us fresh horses and plenty to eat,” { ‘* Good, me get along all right} but vaguero go too. ” wt : f 8 ° , ae Who?” ** Mexican cowboy go too.” ‘* How, do you know?” ‘* Hear squaw say so.” ‘* You heard the Gypsy woman tell him to go?” : ‘* Yes, she call him and tell him we go i after breakfast, he start two hours before | we, ‘*He must ride very fast, taking his best horse, and get to camps ahead of we, and | give letter to her son. | **She tell him not to let us see him on trail or at camp.” “Ah!” and New York Nat gave a low | whistle of surprise and said quickly: ‘“Say, Chief, can we overtake that va- quero?” te Yes.” ‘* How, if he has a better horse than we ) will ride?” ‘‘Him horse get lame on _ trail—Chief knows.” ' All right, I'll leave it to you, but don’t | let the vaquero know that you are aware he | is going.” ‘* No, Chief have still tongue.” ‘*Good! I will go back now and not let | them know 1 found you; but did the woman see you when she told the vaguero he must | go to the camps?” ; ‘*No see Chief—me slip away like snake.” ‘‘You know your business, Chief, and I wish I had youas one of my band of Unknown Ferrets in New York.” The Ute did not comprehend the compli- ment but smiled as though he knew some. thing had been said in his praise, and New York Nat at once retraced his way to the / cabin ,and asked the Gypsy Queen if she | would not send a man to look up his Indian guide for him. This she did and Chief soon appeared and was told by Nat to be ready to go upon the arcey is living, and in his right mind, | return trail in the morning. After a long talk with the Queen that — night Nat retired, and when he arose in the morning she had the letter for him to give her son. : | Soon after he rode away with the Ute, | promising to let Bonita hear frcm him as soon as all had been arranged with her son, CHAPTER Xx. | : THE GYPSY'S COURIER. , Once New York Nat and his Indian guide had passed the Mexican cowboys, guarding the ranch cattle, and gotten well out of sight, they pressed rapidly on. heir horses were good ones, and willing — | to go, while they were built for endurance | as well. | A few unjles out the keen eyes of the In- — : dian saw a single trail coming into the one Ni : they were traveling, aud he said in his la- — conic way: ‘* Vaquero trail,” aay “Then he is ahead of us without doubt.” ** Oh, 1% me see him go early.” ee Goo ha ‘* And me fix pony so not go far.” Better still; but I hope you did not have ; to make the horse suffer, “* No, me fix him all right—tie bair round — . ; ” his leg, make him heap Jame bimeby. “You are a dandy, Chief; but then will “4% | not the vaguero avoid us?” “Oh, yes. ; ‘Then how will we catch bim, for you are. the doctor in this case, and I am a tenderfoot you know.” : as “Yes, Chief know,” was the reply in tone that New York Nat did not think was. altogether complimentary as to his frontie education; but he said: — Le Ati ‘You can plot some way to bag him out killing him.” jue ** No want kill him?” | “ Oh, no.” : }
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a a yu * ran f 4 ARAL, **Tlim only a Greaser.”’ “* Never mind what he is.” ** Him have good scalp.” “Well, this ain’t no scalping expedition, Chief, so we must catch the man without afterward I do not know, ** Now how will we catch him, Chief?” ** See hill yonder?” “é Yes. ” “From top of hill see long way. ** Vaquero's horse get lame he turn back to get another. ‘* NO matter how lame, he ride him, for va- quero never walk. “We wait for him to come back, and ie Chief have lasso and catch him, for me lie hid on side of trail. *““Chief, you have got. it down fine, and we will bag the vaguero without doubt. __ ‘Then we must decide what to do with ‘7 him.” ‘re ‘No want him, take him to camp, tell i! miners he horse-thief, they hang him.” Hy" “Well, Chief, under your training I will 0 not be a tenderfoot long. , “Why, you can give me pointers.at my own game. ‘*But we'll catch the vaquero first and then let circumstances decide as to the future for him.” They had now reached the summit of the ridge and the Indian guide peeped over. ** He come, pony heap lame, ** Look!” . New York Nat dismounted and looked over the hill, just where a bush concealed him from view, “Yes, there he is.” ‘*Him come back here, take trail where he come in, so as not to meet us, and go back _ to ranch for another horse.” , ** And we must bead him off bere?” Foe * “Yes, catch him with lariat.” '-~New York Nat then rode back out of 1 gleht, taking the horses with him, while the te chief selected a spot where he could lie _» in hiding and not ten feet from the trail the waquero would pass by. ~ The Ute fastened one end of his lariat around a scrub pine growing near, and coil- ing the other held it in hand ready for use, ____ Watching from his hiding-place New York - Nat held the greatest interest in the result, _ He was always fond of a life of adven- _ ture abd he was beginning to like the career, upon the frontier, even though he was a tenderfoot. He saw the head of the vaquero appear ' over the ridge, then the shoulders, and the _ horse limped painfully into sight. _ . Another moment and there shot forth from behind the rocks a little dark cloud, it set- _ tled over the head of the vaquero, the startled ‘pony gave a spring forward and the rider _ was dragged from his saddle. New York Nat ran rapidly to the scene to - find the Indian standing over the prostrate, form. . . The vaquero lay as he had fallen, all in a heap, the lariat still wound about his body. ‘tm Tis horse bad sore but a few paces away, and halted, holding one foot up from the ground, : ey Catch his horse, Chief,” cried Nat as he won't run away,” 4 stunned him.” A Maybe so, no talk, look like dead—fell aad ‘ Liha angers upon his pulse. ere is no heart- beat.” . aad ed him, | once raised it, and it fe)l back the as before, — ¥ ad ’ youth bent over him and placed his | **My God! his neck is broken,” ‘“Him dead, maybe so,” quietly said the} with the remark. Ute. “Yes, he is dead. ‘“You did not mean to kill him, but the killing him, though what to do with him |/fall broke his neck,” ** Chief heap sorry. ‘Make pony well now,” and he walked over to the pony of the Gypsy’s courier, leaving New York Nat decidedly in a quandary at the situation hé found himself in. CHAPTER XXI. TWO LETTERS, Wuen the Indian chief reached the pony of the dead courier he raised the lame leg and running his hand along it broke a horse hair that had been wound closely about it, stopping the circulation of the blood, and thus, by an ingenious device, causing the lameness, though doing no serious harm, Rubbing the leg for a few minutes to re. duce, the swelling, the Ute led the animal over to where Nat stood still regarding the body of the vaquero, and said: ** Bury vaquero now, maybe.” “Yes, we must bury him decently; but I wish the letter he carries first.” A search revealed a letter addressed in a feminine hand to: vats SENOR JULIAN MARCEY, ’ By CourrerR PEz0.” The letter was sealed, but thrusting it in- te his pocket Nat went on with his search, There was a belt of money, evidently the man’s private belongings, with some loose change in one of his pockets, a pair of re- volvers, a knife, Jariat, couple of serapes and bag of food. This wasall that he had with him. The body was then wrapped in a serape and a spot not far away selected as its burial place. : The Indian dug the grave ina way that appeared to show that he had had considera- ble practice in that kind of work. Then the body was placed in it and the grave filled in and rocks put on top to keep off the coyotes, The Ute looked longing}y at the scalp, as though he would have liked to have taken it, but this Nat would not hear to and with a sigh he relinquished his desire. The horse was rapidly getting over his lameness, and mounting they rode on for an hour or more when the noon halt was made on the banks of a small stream and where there was good grass. While the, Ute prepared dinner. New York Nat sat down to look over his letters. The first was the one he was carrying to Julian Marcey and it was sealed. After a while it was cleverly opened and in such a way that it could be resealed and the discovery not made that it had been. opened, It was as follows: rer ““My Dear Son:— vt ‘* The-yearer of this is Senor Chandler, a young attorney’s clerk from New York, **He has come West to find your father, who was kidnapped from his home, and to find you and warn you of danger from the hands of your brother Maybrick, .‘‘ We have talked over the legal aspect of the case, and he will tell you what is best to be done under the circumstances to hold our ‘title secure, and as he is a very clever young man his advice is worthy of consideration. ‘‘T have promised the young,man a large personal reward if we win, and if he needs immediate funds you can supply him. ‘* Whatever is agreed upon between us as to what is best, will meet my views. — ‘*Let me hear as soon as a move has been decided upon. . fac: ** Affectionately, es Your ' “ Mornmr.” | bad with him, a * Of course, if Maybrick Marcey has in- if a carcerated his father in an asylum, as he B. claims to have done, and he is still alive, ae we must see that he is proven insane, or 3 " dies, a «Tt will never do for you and I to attempt a oe to stand the test before Malcolm Marcey in ie his right mind. ‘a 4 ‘* Under existing circumstances then it is. i best to first get rid of Maybrick Marcey. \; This letter New York Nat carefully sealed “That is all right as faras it goes; but now I'll see if the other is not more explicit,” He broke open the other letter and read: “ My DEARLY LOVED JULIAN:— ‘You will be surprised to get this letter ay from me telling you that an attorney in New + NG York is on the track of your father and your- on self, and is striving to thwart Maybrick age Marcey from committing a double crime, ei ‘‘Tam not known to be alive, so am not ict considered in the matter. , “a ‘The attorney’s agent, a most clever — a young fellow, with only his youth against fee him, came here to the ranch to find you, pe ‘*He told me what he will make known to Re you, that he has learned that Maybrick Mar« - cey is aware of your existence, and that he ig ag plotting to get rid of his father and of you. ey ‘* Fortunately you know his intention re- “a at garding yourself, and are counter-plotting, ‘T told this youth that I was the real claimant to Marcey’s millions, being his wife, id long believed dead, and that you were his. me son, so we could claim the estate. i. | ‘*But he presented legal complications that might arise as far as our proof was con- cerned, and suggested that with Maybrick mn . , Marcey out of the way matters would be a easier for us, especially if Mr, Malcolm Mar- aaa cey was alive and in sound mind. ‘I pretended to think so too, but you” Bye know that Maleoim Marcey would discover he the truth us far as you and I are concerned,” re At this Nat whistled and taking out the re miniature he had looked at slyly when at the a ranch,'/he again regarded it attentively, as Ri well as reading over one of the letters he also a ‘*T begin to sce a great big plot, and I've et, got to counterplot on just as extensive a oe scale,” muttered the young Tenderfoot De- . ‘a tective, and he at once began to read the mee ‘ ria | J letter again carefully from the first, Coming to the place wheré he had left off | he went on as follows, unheeding the Ute’s = == | call to dinner: ‘You know that he has plotted your life, that he has pledged youa handsome sum to = J get rid of Julian Marcey for him, and I6a ae have accepted the duty. — ; ‘‘He is unpopular, feared by all, a terror, la a desperado, and could readily be led intom® = = difficulty with some one and killed, or be shot. — , from an ambush, | Pe * You know best how to silence him.” a / CHAPTER XXII. FOREARMED, _ by . _ Agaty Nat paused and re-read the last, part of the letter, striving to impress it most thoroughly in his mind as food for thought as he rode along. peiey Then he continued reading: © ‘You are on the field, so know how to act. ‘With Maybrick Marcey dead, our claim das no one to dispute it, y ‘‘ As’ Maybrick Marcey’s pard you can readily plot against him, nae ie You wrote me of a young girl whom he _ intends forcing into a marriage with him _ just for her money, he holding. some secret power over her. De Te Sy at ‘* You say that he is aware that her father has an enormous fortune, which he has not. _
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intende 12 told the miners of, and that 'you also love this girl. : ‘‘Now with Maybrick out of the way you could marry her, thus adding to your fortune, and it would be wel! to discover the secret over her that he holds, so you can have the Same power. ‘* When Maybrick is beyond recall, let me suggest that you and the youth arrange a plan to have him carry the proof of my claim as wife and yours as eldest son to Marcey’s fortune, ‘‘Tf need be, Malcolm Marcey must follow in the track of Maybrick Marcey, for there must be no mistake. ‘You understand, ‘* Much influence will be carried by the youth’s story, so he must be promised and paid well. ‘*T need say no more, but leave all in your hands. ‘The youth will bring you a letter from me introducing him, but I send this ahead by Pezo, whom keep with you until you have some important tidings to bring back for me, **T can start for New York at a moment’s notice, and we are in this game to win, for there is not the shadow of a suspicion against us, and if we find old Marcey would betray then his tongue must be silenced as I said. ‘* Destroy this letter the moment you read it, and be sure to write me fully when your plot is formed. ‘‘Tt is a fortune and a life of luxury for us in palaces, or the one we lead here for us, so win we shall. ‘* Hiver ** Your devoted ‘* MOTHER,” This letter New York Nat folded and put carefully away with the miniature and the others that he carried, keeping theone given him by the woman for her son in a pocket to ‘itself. ‘*Now I can eat dinner, Chief, and with an appetite, for I have had a tonic to give ame one,” he said cheerily, and he did enjoy the meal which the Ute had prepared out of ‘the bounty furnished from the larder of the Gypsy Queen Ranch. After a couple of hours’ rest they mounted and pressed on once more, the pony of the dead waguero having gotten entirely over his Jameness, while New York Nat seeing it took a lesson in the art of how the Indian ‘had accomplished the clever act of sending ‘tthe courier back for a fresh horse, a return that had proven fatal to him. The courier's death had relieved New York - Nat at least of his presence as a prisoner, a thing that would have been most embarrass- ing as he would not have known what to do with him at Golden Nugget Camps. With his own letter of introduction, and the .one.to Julian Marcey, New York Nat felt thoroughly forearmed for the work in hand, and he meant to lose no time in carrying out whatever plot he should decide upon. His visit to the ranch of Julian Marcey had opened his eyes to the fact that he had left that personage, by his mother’s assertion a dangerous man, in Golden Nugget Camps as the pard of the very man who was plot- ting his life, but who, not knowing his half- brother, did not of course suspect him. It was a wheel within a wheel, and Nat saw that all would have to be handled most delicately to make matters come out as he to have them. Discovering that Julian Marcey’s mother was living, he had reason to believe that she was a very dangerous woman, and would go as farin a plot for gold as would her son, He did not care to know much more of the career of: Julian Mareey than he was then peaneed with, to discover that he was one ead as surel as was his half-brother the ‘Mad Sport, and he went on his way plotting and planning to find the millionaire, to " to * ~ om Celt ws oo ereemas nto ' — — vee ree - FN $ thwart both Julian and Maybrick Marcey, and save Florence Dudley, all the while Bldaaet that he would have as a strong ally Hugh Holeomb, and the Ute Chief, not to men- tion his Ferret pards, Keno and Freckles. CHAPTER XXIII. THE RETURN OF THE TENDERFOOT. New York Nat and the Ute rode into Golden Nugget late at night, having made the ride back in good time, The Indian went to his camp near Hugh Holcomb’s cabin, delighted with the fact that the young detective had turned over to him the vaquero’s belt of gold, horse, saddle, bridle and weapons. He was to at once acquaint Hugh Hol- comb with the’ fact of Nat’s return, and wished him to come to his camp the next morning. Nat Roriad no difficulty in arousing Keno and Freckles, for they had been most anx- ious about him ever 3 one his departure. They welcomed him back with . warm rasps of the hands, and gave him some etters that had arrived that day for him, while they said he had not been missed by the miners, nor was his departure, they be- lieved, known in the camps. ‘‘Lhavea letter from our Queen, boys, and another from Parson,” he said, and breaking them open he hastily glanced over the one from Olive the Ferrets’ Mascot. His face brightened and he said. ‘*'They have found him, boys.” “Found who?” ‘The millionaire who was kidnapped. ‘The boys went to work with a will and found the coupe that had taken Mr. Marcey to the ferry, ‘Tt had been hired at a down-town livery stable to take a crazy man, it was said, to = train, and they went across the ferry in t. ‘Then the boys discovered that tickets had been bought for three men to Kansas City, and the state-room in the sleeper had been en gaged. ‘* So Parson jumped the. train and track: ed them, discovering at Kansas City that tickets had been purchased for a little town in Kansas, and thither Parson followed to find a private asylum there, and that on a date peeene with the time of the kidnap- ping of Mr. Marcey, two men had taken an old gentleman ‘to the asylum and left him’ there, ‘It did not take Parson long to feel con- Vinced that the old gentleman was Mr. Mar- cey, held as a lunatic against his will, and so he wrote me fully the particulars and re- turned at once to New York. ‘*This is the connecting link I needed, boys, to make out my case against the Mad Sport and the two men we had to kill. ‘*Our "Mascot’s letter states that all goes well, that the papers say the police are still mystified about the fate of Mr, Marcey, and she tells me that Parson has gone West on a gure trail, she thinks, “They held a meeting at the Haunted Mansion list night, and the boys all sent their regards to us and wished vs to hurry back,-as they feared we would be scaiped out here in the Wild West. ‘‘ Now, boys, I am very tired, so I'll turn in, and when Mr. Holcomb comes I'll tell you with him the result of my trail, and you bet I struck it rich, as they say out here. ** Now, what of,the Mad Sport?” “He’s all right and killed another man two nights ago.” ‘* Well, the Man Killer’s days are num- bered; but is his pard here?” **Rio Grande Don?” “yes.” ‘Yes, he’s here all right, Cap’n Nat,” ** Have you seen Miner Holcomb?” ** Yes, twice, and he seemed anxious about you, we thought,” New York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp. > <= ‘‘All right, we'll turn in now,”’and Nat was soon fast asleep. The boys allowed him to sleep until they had breakfast ready the next morning, and Hugh Holcomb came up just as they finished the meal. He welcomed Nat warmly, and said: “The Chief told me that you got there, Nat, and I congratulate you. ‘* But now let me hear what was done?” ‘‘T found that Julian Marcey is not the good little man we supposed, but a design- ing, dangerous fellow, one that knew only lately that his half-brother was living, and | at once plotted to get rid of him. ‘* His mother is living, too, and—” ‘That 1s bad, for it will hurt her deeply to know all that she must learn.” ‘‘Don’t waste any sympathy upon her, for she is as wicked and dangerous as her son.” ‘Indeed ?” ‘*Oh, yes, sir, itis a dog eat dog case all around, fcr to get rid of his brother Julian Marcey came here and became his friend, and is now known as his shadow, for he is no less than Rio Grande Don,” ‘* Whew! ‘“You have made a discovery, Nat.” “Wait until you hear all, Mr. Holeomb, and then say if ever you heard such a deep, devilish plot to get a fortune,” and Nat then told of all that he had discovered, CHAPTER XXIV. A CRIME UNMASKED. Hvuern Honicoms, Keno. and Freckles lis- tened with deepest attention to all that Nat had to tell, from his searching the Gypsy Queen’s ranch until the killing of her courier and the return to Golden Nugget. *‘ Well, Nat, as I see it all now, the Gypsy Queen and her son were not massacred, as supposed by Mr. Marcey, and after long years finding out that he lived and was very rich, they plotted to get his fortune, when they discovered that he had married a second time, and had a son.” ‘* Yes, sir.” ‘« Then they decided to get rid of that son, and coming here to do so, Julian Marce discovered the cheerful fact that his half- brother was plotting to kill him and his father.” ‘That is the situation, Mr. Holcomb.” ‘«And Julian Marcey will let Maybrick put his father out of the way, while he per- forms a like duty for him, getting his for- tune thereby, and also Florence Duley, z ** Exactly, sir.” “But you have run the secret to cover, have fathomed the mystery, and can now lay your clutches as a detective upon the two brothers.” _ Yes, sir, but we must go slow, and m first move will be to send Keno after Million- aire Marcey. ‘*] will write a letter to the asylum, show- ing how the head of it has been deceived by the two men, and demand Mr. Marcey’s re- lease, and he can come West with Keno, ‘¢ And when he is here I shall strike, for I = will arrest the Mad Sport and RioGrande = Don, while the Ute Chief can carry a letter HT hs aes to the Gypsy Queen Bonita, that will bring ee P her upon the scene. 4 “She shall, also be arrested, and facing — Mr. Marcey, I will take them all away to be. ' tried before a United States Court forcon- | spiracy, attempt to defraud, kidnappingand murder,” ’ Soe “You are playing your cards boldly and — Ee cleverly, Nat, and you will win,” said Hugh ~ iat Holcomb, earnestly. pane 0) A ‘* Yes, sir, 1 intend to win this, my first — a . p trailas.a Tenderfoot Detective, and it will hie ae save, Mr. Marcey and Miss Dudley, and |) vee brin g the guilty ones to punishment.” | PS “5 “ee Vat.” “ at i ** Yes, Mr. Holcomb.” AB pee A: \
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“Did you ever hear of Old Sloat, the guide?” «Yes, sir, I have heard of him as an old frontiersman.” ‘* Well, he is here in the mines, and came ill and poor, so I cared for him. “He lay ill for weeks, but I brought him round all right, and one day, hearing my name, he told me a strange story, keep- ing back however facts which I most wish. ed to know, and swearing me to secrecy | upon some points. ‘*Now Old Sloat came into camp again to-day and is very feeble and wretched, “He is at my cabin and I fehr his days are numbered, while he said he wished to tell me a secret. “1 wish you to see him and hear what he has to say before you send Keno after Mr. Marcey, for what he tells will be about this whole affair.” “T will be glad to see him and talk with him, sir.”’ “* Very well, you come over to my camp this afternoon,” and Hugh Holcomb took his leave. He had hardly gone before Florence Dudley rode up, and dismounting called out: “Mr. Nat, I wish to see you, for I have something to tell you.” Nat walked apart with her, and seeing that she was much excited. said: ‘‘T hope nothing has gone wrong with you, Miss Florence?” ** Yes, everything has gone wrong with me; but I did not come here to speak of my- self, but of you. ‘Your life is in danger, let me tell you.” “It always is. ‘7 am used to that, Miss Florence.” ** Well, this time you will die if you do not look out, as the Mad Sport has said to me that you were threatening his life and he in- tended to kill you.” *‘T have never threatened him, but when he begins his game he will find that I have a pues good hand to draw to,” ‘*Why, Nat, you are getting to talk, just like the miners,” said Florence with a smile; but her face clouded again and she said: ** You’ will not betray me ifI tell you a - secret?” ** No indeed.” © Well, Ido not believe Rio Grande Don is the Mad Sport’s friend, as he professes to be, and I think he is suspicious of him also. ‘*He seems anxious ‘to go away, and so “he has told me that Fmust go East with him within three days, and I feel confident that he intends to quarrel with Rio Grande Don before he goes, and of conrse that means to kill him,”’ : ‘‘But you are surely not going with him?” ‘I must, for he holds a secret agente my father and threatens him unless I become his wife, but I know that it is my money he wants. “To save my father I must marry him, and will.” CHAPTER XXYV. THE OLD GUIDE'S STORY. Nar heard what Florence Dudley said with asmile she did not understand, and then asked: * . * Pardon me, but is your father’s name Lewis Dudley?” ce Tt is. » . “He is from New York?” *« Yes, but you will not tell?” ‘Let me tell you that your father left * New York the victim of a most designing _ villain, who, with circumstantial evidence to aid him, made him appear to be a murderer and a robber. ~ “But 1 am a detective, Miss Florence, I know all about your father’s case, and it was who ran down the real robber and oi { dy % wl t mn ee . Sys hal hae Bah [33 es Alb Ast a «sami New York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp. ON murderer, and time and again has your fa- ther been sought for and notices in the pa- pers have urged his return.” ‘Thank God for those words.” ‘*Maybrick Marcey knew him in New York, and was aware that he left at a time the crime was fastened upon him; but he knows he is not guilty, he igaware that your father dreads to be found out, innocent as he is, fearing to suffer for a crime he did not commit, and so he forces you, to save him, to become his wife. ‘‘But 1 tell you that it will not go, for I will prove to your father that there is no charge against him, and he will return home in honor, and with the large wealth he has earned out here.” With tears in her eyes Florence grasped the hand of Nat who continued hastily: ‘*But not a word of this to any one until I say the word. ‘Return home and pretend to accede to the demand of the Mad Sport and have your father do the same. ‘‘T did not intend to strike so soon, but to save you I will, and let me tell you that my strongest ally in all this is Hugh Holcomb, and when the blow falls he will be the one to deal it. ‘“Now I can say no more, but go home and feel assured that you will not need the Man Killer, for he is about to the end of his rope, and you need not fear Rio Grande Don either, for his neck is in the same noose,” With a light heart, and hardly daring to believe what she had heard, Florence Dudley rode home, while Nat went at once to Hugh Holcomb’s cabin. The Indian chief was at once dispatched with a letter from Nat to Bonita the Gypsy aa and told to go with all the speed that his horse could carry him and guide her back to Golden Nugget. Then Nat went into the cabin where Old Sloat the borderman lay, ‘*This is the young man, Pard Sloat, of whom I spoke. ‘The one who came West at my call to thwart those who were plotting a crime, so you can tell him now what you would not tell me,” said Hugh Holcomb. ‘Yes, I'll tell you now, as he is here to act and keep your good heart from making a fool of you. ‘You have told me of the boy and what he has done, and he’ll see that things go right now. *T’m on my last trail and nearing its end, so] must talk and you two must lis- ten. ‘I’m an old man, but time was when I was an army scout down in Texas, and I mind a splendid young fellow by the name of Malcolm Marcey. ‘* We married the sweetest girl I ever set eyes on, a Gypsy Queen, and they loved each other, ‘** There were two of them as different as starlight and sunlight; but he got the gem, for he won the girl with a heart and soul, ‘* Well, a son was born to them, and when he was still a’ baby the Gypsy camp jas at- tacked by Indians and all were massacred, save two, “The officer was away on a hunt at the time, with me, and we escaped; but his wife And Rio Grande Rob, in reality Carlo, the and child were killed. son of Viola, the Gypsy, was planning to “T did not tell you that I had married the | kill the Man Killer’ before he should wed Queen’s sister, and that Ihad a little son too, | Florence Dudley, and thus remove him from. ‘‘ But they were spared, though I believed | between him an@ their father’s fortune! them also slain. But, the two were apparently devoted “Long after I found that they were not, | pards, and were talking together in the cabin and when I found them she, my wife, tried | of the Man Killer, when the ominous order— to kill me, ‘Hands up or die!” startled them like a ‘‘T never went near them again.” rifle-shot. ‘But, they are living, and the woman They saw two. Winchesters and a revolver claiming to be Bonita the Gypsy Queen is but her sister, and the son, pretending to be Julian Marcey is known hereas Rio Grande Don,” said New York Na ** Who told you this, boy?” ““T went to their home and discovered the secret for myself, and that they are plotting now to get Mr, Marcey’s fortune.” “Tt is true, but you will thwart them.” **T will; but do you know anything of Mr. Marcey’s second marriage?” “Yes; but it was to thwart her, Viola, m wife, and my wicked boy, that I told Hu h Holcomb what I did, though not all, and he wrote East to save Malcolm Marcey from them and you came West to take -their trail. “You are but a boy and a tenderfoot, but you have done your work, ‘You ask if I know of Malcolm Marcey’s second marriage? ‘Well, I do, and I know that his wife gave birth to twins. **One of those boys was stolen as a baby by my wife, and he was reared with no knowledge of who he was. ‘*But I found out the crime, and it was only a short while ago that I discovered the missing boy, and there he is, bearing the name of the one who reared him, Hugh Hol- comb, while his real name is Maleolm Mar- ce Pi “*My God! is this your secret, old man? “Ts this true that you tell me?” cried the yéung miner. ‘* Boy, tell me who he is the image of?” ‘‘Of the Mad Sport, Maybrick Marcey,” said Nat, eagerly, “It is true, for he is your twin brother, you all nobleness, he all evil; but so it. oes. ‘**T have the proofs of what I tell you, so you can prove your claim, Malcolm Marcey, and may God bless you, for you have been true as a son to me, ‘Now, young Tenderfoot Detective, you know it all, and there are two menanda woman you are to put your grip upon: Viola the Gypsy, her son Carlo, not Julian Marcey, and Maybrick Marcey, the Mad Man Killer, ‘Tf you have the nerve to take them, do it now, so I can appear as a witness against them and place in your hands all proof of what I tell you. ** Will Sh take them, Tenderfoot?” ‘1 willl” was the stern response. CHAPTER XXYVI. THE TENDERFOOT PLAYS TO WIN, ‘* You are covered, so hands up or die!” ears of the Mad Sport and Rio Grande Don as the two sat in the former’s cabin the night following the recital of the old guide’s story to the New York Delegate, The two men were talking earnestly to- gether, They were plotting for the fortune, though each was even then trying to deceive the other, The Man Killer, not willing to take any chances with a man so dangerous as Rio Grande Don, had that very day bribed two of his hirelings to kill him the next day, and yet he was telling him that he intended to marry Florence Dudley and wished him to go Kast with him, He had been told, by Rio, Grande Don, that the man sent to ‘ill Julian Marcey had done his work, and believing it, the Mad Sport the more wished to remove the Don from his path. hands, rush deliberately to their death. . . 4 vee wimsi hh i ) hea ee a: Widbitbia? The words fell like a death knell upon the’ ang them, when’ at’ once up went their or they were not madmen enough to» Then, while the. rifles: still covered them, . Ss ie 43 eee OE gees — 4) one
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PRs are ey ine eee 14 the one holding the revolver glided up to one . then to the other of the astounded men and slipped upon their wrists steel manacles, while he deftly disarmed them both. *‘That Boy Tenderfoot!” gasped the Mad Man Killer, recognizing New York Nat as the voung Gold Hunter. ** Yes, gentlemen, I am the Kid Tenderfoot Detective in the Wild West. I want you two for conspiracy to kill, to rob, and for other heinous crimes. ‘**Pard Ferrets, come in and we'll make them doubly secure.” In came Keno and Freckles, when the two ‘infuriated men were securely ironed and then bound together with lariats. They soon, however, became white-faced -and silent, both wondering how much was known against them. Presently into the cabin came Hugh Hol- comb, At sight of him the Mad Sport cried: “You have done this because I won Florence Dudley from you, and this is your dastardly revenge!” “No, this young tenderfoot from New York has run you to earth, though I confess that, to save Florence Dudley from you, when I learned from one who knows you both, who and what you are, I did plot to checkmate you, Maybrick Marcey—you whom I am ashamed to own as my twin brother, and whom no word or act of mine can now save, ** Now I also know of you, Carlo, son of | the Gypsy Viola, and how you plotted, not ‘blood of those two men, for Oid Sloat, when knowing that I lived, to get rid of Maybrick, here, put my old father out of the way, and thus secure his fortune, ‘*T knew you both as you are, but for the sake of our kindred blood, Maybrick, I would have saved you if I could. ‘‘But your father, Carlo, Old Sloat, the guide, has made known the story, and if the miners do not hang you both— My God! they are coming!” A roar of many voices, the tramp of many feet was heard, and New York Nat cried: “They must not, they shall not hang them. £ yh ‘‘ We will protect them aud take them to trial.” beware! These men would tear you and your comrades limb from limb, if you pre- sumed to inferfere. ‘*They are all ‘around, and thirst for the he heard you were to arrest them to-night, | went to the tavern and made known the whole story. ‘*Tf you value your lives do not resist the decree of fate. It is Wild West law—an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth!” ’ New York Nat could but yield, and a mo- ment later the cabin was surrgunded by hun- dreds of enraged miners, : Nat made a brave appeal for them to let tbe law punish the villains, but he was si-' lenced with the words: ‘* Border law and Wild West justice rule in Golden Nugget! “They must hang!” Way And, pleading for mercy in vain, the two men were dragged up to the tavern and swung up into mid-air. A just retribution had fallen upon them for their crimes; they had merited and met the outlaw’s doom. CHAPTER XXVII._ ‘CONCLUSION, Gotp Nuecrer Camps were wild with ex- citement the night of the hanging of the Mad Man Killerand Rio Grande Don. Nat and his two young comrades had ac- companied Hugh Holeainb to the home of | found a noble son in the ‘Nat, you are not in New York now, so | party. New York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp. Then Nat made known that retribution had befallen them, also told Mr. Dudley the story of how his foe had been run to earth, confessed his crimes against him and no stain longer rested upon his name. “‘T thank God for what you tell me, my noble young friend, and within the next two wecks I will settle up my affairs here and go East with my child,” said the miner, fervently, and he added: ‘Yes, and you will have a large fortune, Florence—one that I place in the hands of Hugh Holcomb—no, I beg pardon, of Mal- colm Marcey to manage for you, for he, too, must leave these mines. It was also arranged that New York Nat | and his two comrades slfould go along, but the Tenderfoot Detective decided that he would go upon the trail, meet the Gypsy | woman coming with the Indian as her guide, and turn her back to return to her home, for he said: ‘‘These mad miners might kill. her, too, and I do not war on women. **She can go back to her ranch, for her punishment will be great in the ignominious death of her idolized son, and the loss of the fortune she had plotted to gain.” So Nat and his two fellow Ferrets went on the trail, and meeting the Ute’ and the Gypsy two days later, the woman heard the story of her schemes being discovered and of the death of her desperado son. Loving him as she did, she loved her own safety more, and gladly took Nat's advice and fled back to her ranch’ home to pass her days in bitter memories. | Vhen the Ferrets returned to Golden Nugget, they learned that Old Sloat was dead and had been burried with honors. Miner Dudley, Florence and Malcolm Marcey were ready to depart, and they rode out of Golden Nugget amid the’ wildest cheering of the miners. When they reached the railroad, they all decided to release Millionaire Marcey from his confinement, and this they did, the old man being overwhelmed with joy at havin young miner, anc putting from him all grief at the fate of the unworthy Maybrick. ° Back to New York he went with the Upon arrival in the great city, New York Nat and his comrades again retired into the seclusion of their lives as the Unknown Fer- rets of the Metropolis, but with their treasury much the richer for their work accomplished as Tenderfoot Detectives in the Wild West. THE END, Next Haur-Dime iLrBRaRy, No. 897!) _ SOMETHING TO GO FOR. A Human Spider Weaves His Web. A Daring Boy Breaks It. A schemer, scheming for a big prize finds his foil in a boy and girl—Davy Doon and Nickel Nell—who “get onto” the case quite by‘accident, There is a lost man who is badly wanted, but he seems to have “utterly disappeared. Only his discovery and pres- ence can verify a will and restore a great fortune— which the foxy lawyer and his confederates expect to scoop in. To find the man and fleece the fleecers the boy becomes a most artful shadower and crime” hunter, and the story of bis work and tough tussle with the shrewd roghes makes mighty lively read- ing. So see that you have ; Davy Doon's Big Bounce; in dt found Old | yy: Spe Se ees (Bld to Florence, and to her | Nickel Nell, the Boy Spotter’s Mascot father, also, the story of the crimes known to reader, | ' », BY T. C. HARBAUGH, (tg re ee ss SS Beadle’s Dime Library. BY EDWARD WILLETT, 483 Flush Fred, the River Sharp. 368 The Canyon King; or, a Price on his Head, 348 Dan Dillon, King of Crosscut. 337 Old Gabe, the Mountain Tramp, 327 Terrapin Dick, the Wildwood Detective. 315 Flush Fred’s Double; or, The Squatters’ League, 308 Hemlock Hank. Tough and True. 298 Logger Lem; or, Life in the Pine Woods, 289 Flush Fred's Full Hand. 274 Flush Fred, the Mississippi Sport. 248 Montana Nat, the Lion of Last Chance Camp, 222 Bill the Blizzard; or, Red Jack’s Crime. 209 Buck Farley. the Bonanza Prince. 129 Mississippi Mose; or, a Strong Man's Sacrifice. BY CAPT. FRED, WHITTAKER. 614 The Showman Detective; or, The Mad Magician, 609 The Texas Tramp; or, Sclid Saul. 445 Journeyman John, the Champion, 412 Larry Locke, the Man of Iron. 406 Old Pop Hicks, Showman, 878 John Armstrong, Mechanic. s 826 The Whitest Man in the Mines, ! 310 The Marshal of Satanstown; or, The League, 303 Top-Notch Tom, the Cowboy Outlaw. ; 295 Old Cross-Eye, the Maverick-Hunter. , 290 The Lost Corvette; or, Blakeley’s Last Cruise. 284 ‘The Three Frigates; or, Old Ironsides’ Revenge. 277 The Saucy Jane, Privateer. j 272 Seth Slocum, Raiiroad Surveyor. 265 Old Double-Sword; or, Pilots and Pirates, 253 A Yankee Cossack; or,The Queen of the Nihilists, 247 Alligator Ike: or, The Secret of the Everglade, , 242 The Fog Devil; or, The Skipper of the Flash. 230 The Flying Dutchman of 1880, 226 ‘The Mad Hussars; or. The O’s and the Mac’s. 215 Parson Jim, King of the Cowboys. 211 Colonel Plunger; or, The Unknown Sport. 206 One Eye. the Cannoneer. 193 The Man in Red; or, The Ghost of the Old Guard, 187 The Death’s Head Cuirassiers, 174 The Phantom Knights. 159 Red Ruriger, the Archer. 132 Nemo, King of the Tramps. 115 The Severed Head; or, The Castle Coucy Secret. 108 The Duke of Diamonas. ‘ 98 The Rock Rider; or, The Spirit of the Sierra, . 96 Double Death; or, The Spy of Wyoming. 69 The Irish Captain, A Tale of Fontenoy. 65 The Red Rajah; or, The Scourge of the Indies. 39 The Russian Spy; or, The Starry Cross Brothers. BY NED BUNTLINE 657 Long Tom, the Privateer, : 633 The Sea Spy. 621 The Red 584 Fire Feather, the Buccaneer King. 517 Buffalo Bill's First Trail, 361 Tombstone Dick, the Train) Pilot. 270 Andros, the Rover; or, The Pirate’s Daughter, 122 Sauk Sabberday, the Idiot Sy 111 The Smuggler Captain; or, The Skipper’s Crime, 61 Captain Seawaif, the Privateer, 23 The Red Warrior; or, The Comanche Lover. 18 The Sea Bandit; or, The Queen of the Isle. 16 The White Wizard; or, The Seminole Prophet. 14 Thayendanegea, the Scourge; or, The War-Eagle, MISCELLANEOUS. 811 The Man in Red; or. The Island Rovers. By Lieut, Harry Denies Perry, U.S.N. _ 566 ‘the Dauntless Detec:ive: or, The Daughter : Avenger. By Tom W, Bing. 542 The ag ares or, The Fight for Two Lives, . F, Holt. . By Marmaduke Dey. Cave. By Geo 366 The Telegraph Detective, e H. Morse By John Cuthbert. 350 Flash Falcon, Society Detective, By W. J. Cobb. 312 Kinkfoot Karl, tbe Mountain Scourge. By Mor- ris Redwing. 179 Conrad, the Convict. By Prof. Gildersleeve. 165 Owlet, the Robber Prince. By S. R. Urban. 152 Captain Ironnerve, the Counterfeiter Chief. 146 The Doctor Detective. By George Lemuel. 144 The Hunchback of Notre 140 The Three Spaniards. By Geo. Walker. 133 Rody the Rover, By,William Carieton, 125 The Blacksmith Outlaw. By H. Ainsworth, 110 The Silent Rifleman. By H. W. Herbert. — c 102 The Masked Band. y. muel Lover. 6 Wildcat Bob. By Edward L. Wheeler, gigi a new issue every Wednesday. BEaDLe’s Dive Liprary is for sale by all News- dealers, ten ccnts per copy, or sent by mal on ceipt of twelve cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York. h ¢ ¢ ~h 4 M \ \ é : Nd he \ ay ean 8d,’ rivateer; or, The Midshipman Rover, | By ; ne 534 Green Mountain Joe: or, The Counterfeiter’s _ re 853 Bart Brennan; or, The.King of Straight Flush — 275 The Smuggler Cutter. J.D: Conroy,’ © "Seems 261 Black Sam, the Prairie Thunderbolt. By Col, Jo Yards. coe ac) 199 The Three Guardsmen, By Alexander Dumas. A ame. By Victor Hugo. 11 Midshipman Easy. Captain M Ath, 6k 10 Vidood, the wepeah Te ice Boye By himaelt. ah y ine
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. t : . 3 4 . S 4 / : eet os Cis " ¢ bs - 1 ; 4 P 8 BEADLE’S* HALF-DIME* | IBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Isswe Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by all Newsdealers, rr . on pet se ee AE = patentee ee Se = OLL COOMES. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, BY BUFFALO BILL (lion, Wm, F. Cody) rt Kit Bandy, Detective; or, Silver Star, the Boy Knight, 11 The Two Detectives: The Fort fa B irl. . . or, The Re bo X65 Kit andy in Texas; or, The Young Mustangore 76 Abs Colt, the ihe Tina ees geal ares! : 4 Te e $ a 804 Kit Bandy’s Brigade; or, Dan, the Mouiitesn Guide. 485 Git Thar eens he Cone ENKs. oa5 rennet % aad bg Horltag: Mad Madge. - . ej bY 4 ° > end » hharry’s ie ec. age Jack Drew, ee Treats ov, Eagle Kit. the Boy Demon. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. ; | %94 Meudlight Harry’s Hunt; or, The Cache of Gold, ‘ Jack Drew's Drop; or, L ttle Hurricane, the Boy Captain, 518 The Demon Doctor; or, Deadholi, the Kid Detective, | BYY Black Buckskin; or, The Masked Men of Death Canyomo 202 Jack Drew in Deadwood; or, Prospect Pete. 581 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. 419 Kenneth, the Knite-King; or, The Doomed Six. 27 Keen Knife on Guard; or, Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. 598 Flute, the Singer Detective, or, Owney ina New Role, 485 Littie Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods. 81 Keen-Kuiltes the Prince of the Prairies. 608 The Pitcher Detective’s Fol}; or, Dan’s Double Play, | 688 The Dandy Sport; or, The King Pin Conspirator, & Vagabonda Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. Sut The Bren ea corsets net? pe try hel Fgh BY JOSEPH L, BADGER, JR, 18 ‘The Dumb Spy. 286 Larry J en ehataea a 2 Vellowstone sucky or, Tbe ‘trapper “¥ aS zarry the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Side, 4 : pay : Bo aera satis Se Some Mentgeee. {20 Tron Mand, the Charmed Dateien $8 Blnck: Johny ho Hons-thest a, Zhe Quinn Belewak " ti Delaware Dick, the Yeung Renget Spy. amr agers ma tee gp eae a 119 Mustang Sam 3 or, Tho King o! the Plains. ; : ; 74 Wawk-eye Harry the Young Trapper Ranger. BY CHARLES MORKis, 186 Night-Llawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, ; re 88 Rollo, the Boy Ranger; or, The Heiress. 118 Will Somers, the Boy Detective. 144 Daleey Lance the Boy Sport. 4 , A&4 Sure Shot Seth, the Roy Rifleman. 122 Vhil Mardy, the Boss Boy. 151 Panther Paul: or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue, tenho 048 Scar-Face Saul, tle Silent Hunter 126 Picayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective, 160 The Black Glant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy, ‘a 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. Lt Potective wees or, bl ore eens % 136 Headly Dash or, Fighting Fire wiih Hire, waa ie f 4) 218 Viger Tom, the Texas Terror. y andsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 4 The Ro rallers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 5 fi% we \ 224 Dashin Diek; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle, 147 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred, 208 The Boy ?arda; or, Dainty Lance Unmaske. 4) 228 Little Wildtire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 152 Black Beas, Will Wildfire My Racer. 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. +4 inte? @88 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger, 157 Mike Merry the Harbor Police Boy. 810 The Barranca Wolf’; or, The Beautiful Decoy, Vale, 248 The Disguised Gulde ; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger, 162 Will Wildfire in the Woods, 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League. hee: 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. 165 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. 885 Old Double Fist ‘ or, ‘The Strange Guide vA ei 272 Minksakin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 170 A ‘Trump Card; or, Will Wildfire Wins and Loses 855 The King of the Woods: or Daniel Boone’s Last Trail, ou Wi 290 Little Voxfire, the Boy Spy; or, Old Culeb Arbuckles 174 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York, 4419 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. { ¥ t ie py! 1 B00 The Sky Demon; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger. iz) Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, ag 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Trafler. ate BS4 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero, 158 ‘The Hidden ging a Will Wildfire’s Revenge. 677 Chincapin Pan's Second Trall. ar. | 409 hercules; vr, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 187 Fred Halyard, the Lite Boat Boy; cr, The Smugglers, 688 Chincapin Dan's Home Stretch, a) | Al? Webfoot Mose, the Tramp Detective 189 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall, 698 Old Crazy, the Man Without a Head, iy] S} abd? Wingedfoot Fred} or, Old Polar Saul, 196 Shadowed 3 or, Bob Kockott’s Fight for Lite. TOS Light-Meart Lute’s Legacy. ‘fa 468 Tamarac ‘Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 718 Light-Meart Lute’« Last Trall, ; 42 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan, 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective, | +4 Silverblade, the Shoshone. ; . 5 32 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. 220 ‘Tom Tanner; or, The Black Sheep of the Flock. 20 Silverblade, the Half-Blood; or, The Border Beagle at Bay. 152 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance. 225 Sam Charcoa the Premium Darky. | 789 Sllverblade, the Hostile, or, The Border Beagle’s Trall, 670 Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 748 Silverblade the Friendly; or, The Border Beagie’s Boy Pard \) N. “ ” 2% Highland Harry, the Wizard Rifleman. 242 The Two * Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. BY . OSRON 28 Poker Jack, the Detective Sport. b+ ty eek Paskaw ay § or, A Pane Boy pe var 469 The Rival Lh RES «OSH ONs The Young Sharps; or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail, / id : 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 498 Cactus burr, the Man trom Hard Luck, BY Tec. HARBAUGIL “ The \ » Detective. 587 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 289 Jolly Jim’s« Job; or, The Young Detective. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner; or, The Man Without a Past, 28 Nick 0’ the Night; or, Thy Boy Spy of ’76. aan Tetuaas of hotel A ein Mba ry yt City. 609 Bolly Dorrit, the Veteran Detective. i he Midd . jodges een re ey 824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. aay Litt ois htning’s Leagues or, The Mystery oftne Island 2 Re LES, ores’ Vaptains, 4ST. - " Yarabond De fa. : ueky Paul, the Boy Prospector, U Kk3 or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Tratl. oar he lienoven Datesnivet ah Flyer’s Blizzard, TS) Gold-Dust Dan, tlre Trail Patrol. K# S2 Kit Harefoot, the Wood-Hawk; or, Old Powder-face, 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. 255 Gold Dust Dan's Oath; or, Reckless Roy, the Regulator, " [s x , ‘ ho White 879 Larry. the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR U. 85. A. ies Kleen Once ro ae nie Rivem. 408 Firetly Jack, the River-Rat Detective, 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker, REO sudeo Lynch. Jr.t or, The Boy Vienante, a 428 The Lost Finger ; or, The Entrapped Cashier, | 194 Buffalo Bills Bets: or, ‘he Gambler Guide, \ 155 Gold Trigger, the Sport; or, The Girl Avenger. MED gh take tS ahah ag 8 tape fs be BY EDWARD 8. ELLIS, - 3169 Tornado Tom; or, Injun Jack From Red Core. 66 Billy Brick in, Jolly: Vagnoond { 6 Bil Biddon, ke ep é + 488 Ned Temple, the Border Boy; or, The Mad Hunter. 466 W ides Awake ri] sate Het ctive; or Entombed Alive. H 8 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of the Frontier, BOR Arkansaw ; or, The Queen of Fate’s Revenge, AtY Detective Dod on tn The Mystery of Frank Hearty, / 10 Nat Todd} or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive, ya . Meyster) . 2: ‘xne Frontier Angel, 83 The Boy Minera; or, The Enchanted Island, 162 The Munted Huntér; or, The Strange Horseman, 20T Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 48s Wil i ; bs , . 4 Dick Racket; or, How He Fought for Honor, aut Mivaky DRUG re teen, ste Re cot Saag 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman: or, Too Sharp tor the Sharper, 66 The Secret service Boy Detective, 1. . ur ’ Bill Brave; or, Tie Roughs of the Rockies. > : ar ie 7 254 The Walt-Blood ; or, The Panther of the Plains. 255 Captain Apoli , we King-Pin wf Bowl. 1 tlh ual Mcop ls ag Yael ag BY opr aeP 271 The Nuge Hunter: or, The Stenn Prairie Man, } 267 The Buckskin Detectives or, The King of Road-agents, 5s Plucky Dor Of AFRANEASS OF, Ene , MISCELLANEOUS AUT ‘A VTP Old Winch; or, The Buckskin Deaperadoes. 667 B * va ante the ey Speculator, re ROR 0K ORR. A F 294 Dynamite Dan; or, The Bowie Blade of Gochetopa. 209 Th » Oui b » D ois Perec ve Hale's Bi Beat. 4 The Wild-Horse Hunters, By Caps. Mayno Reto and ion Sen T saunter evens: ws The Trigger Bar Bully. Rh? fiatectivs east Sraccicdian’ wih ae | am aves ater B M =| Melipae, Trump Card of Arizona, rare ak rs ae ventures o uDohenestn ay Wen Pavdas or, The Terror ot Take-Notice, 869 Ned Norman, the Gamin Broker, 12 Gulliver’s Trav af. By Dean Swift, B86 Big Benson; or, The Queen of the Lasso. BY J0 PIEROE, 24 Aladding or, The Wonderfol —— ’ 5 Pitiless Matt; ov, Ked Thanderhol!’s Secret, 897 Bob o’ the Bowery}; or, The Prince of Mulberry Street. 16 Nobinson Orusoe. (27 Dlustrations.) , BEE Cool sam vne Pars or The Terrible Six. - 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom. 18 Stndbad the Satlor. His Seven V 88s ; 6 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 452 meuaper Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 22 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crosoe. By Juan —BR6 Captain Cutlass; or, | he Beccnneer’s Girl Fog. 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow; or Luke’s Legaty. owls. / f | BV6 ough Rob; or, The !win Champions of Blue Blazes, 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the ; 1 The Silken Paumes or, The Rose of Rauch Robin. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective. Carribevs. By 8. W. Pierce, 4 y A18 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter; or, The Gold Gang of New York. | 504 Five Points Phil, the Pavement Prince. 86 The Boy Clowns or, The Arena Queen, By & 8. Finn. 425 Texas Trump, the Border Rattler. 509 Jack Jagwers, the Butcher Boy Detective. BS Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. wa ane Phit Vlaah, the New York Fox; or, The Mystery of Room 91, | 516 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Phil's Menagerie, 61 The Boy Rites; or. The Underground Camp, By &. C.Trona, , AS The City Vamplres; or, Kod Rolfe’s Pigeon. 526 North River Nat, the Pier Detective. 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi oe) 461 One Against Fifty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar, 538 Wrestling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward. By Lieut.-Col, Hazeltine. : j : 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. 541 Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective. 98 Robin Hood, the Vutiawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Greene ‘ The Exceisior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter. 551 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow; or, The Old Well Mystery. wood. By Prof. Gilderaleeve, y Single Bight. the One-Eyed Sport. 559 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive, By Captain Branded Ben, the Night verret. 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective. Hamilton Holmes. a B12 Wodger Diek, the Whartf-Spy Detective, 577 Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter. 112 The Mad Wuntery or, | he Cave of Death. By BurtonBaze, 1 Dodger Dick’s Best Dodge; or, The Gotham Gold Gang, | 588 Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sen Prospector. 124 Tippy, the Texan; or, The Young Champion. By George *- 8 Fox and Faicon, the Bowery Shadows. KOR Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer. Glepson. i 588 Yodger Dick, the Dock Ferret, 614 Whistling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid. 128 The Young Privateers or, The Pirate’s Strongheld, By 8 Dodger Dick’s Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, 6283 Buek Bumblebee, the Harlem Hummer. Harry Cavendiah, r Dick’« Des 689 Sunrise Saul, the Express-Train Ferret. 148 Sharp Samy or, The Adventures o: a Friendless Boy, By J, 649 Gamin Bob, the Bowery Badger; or, Scooping & Slippery Set, Alexander Patten. . ; > 658 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Lite-Saver. 227 Dusky Darrell, Trapper; or, The Green Ranger of the Yel. _ : 688 Saltpeter Sol, the New York Navigator lowstone. By Edward Emerson. { j 694 Spicy Aim, the Only One of His Kind. 261 Fergus Fearnaught the New York Boy. By G@, L. Alken, 706 Tom Thistle, the Rond-House Detective. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; +r, Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trail. 717 esd nitc Jack, the Hustler Gamin. y Ensign C, D, Warren. 726 Dennix Puff the Brown Sport's Kid. 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Cliff, 744 Dick of the Docks, the Night-W atch, By Captain Comstock. 765 Flipper Flynn, the Street Patrol. a 817 Peacock Pete. the Lively Lad from Leadville, By Liens fersey Jedd, the Boy Hustler; or, Shadowing the Shadower. T71 Foxy Fred's Odd Pardy or, The Keener’s Huge Hustle, tenant Alfred Thorne. : : j Wappy Hugh, the Boy Musician Detective. TRL Cast-O Cale, the Scapegoat Detective. 828 The Sky Detective; or, 4 Boy’s Fight for Life and Honor, 1 Photo bin Fred, the Camera Sharp. 824 Rowery Billy, the Beaco Bouncer, By Maior ei hg , 1 ide geet Len, the Some City Ferret, 887 The Big Four of the Bowery. ; 850 Red Ralph, the River Rovers or, The Brother's Ree Daisy Dell, the Pavement Detective; or, Trapping Big Game | 846 Buck, the New Vork Sharper. venge. By Ned Buntline. Billy Winks, the Bell Boy Detective, 850 The Grand Street Arab, £65 Baltimore Ren the Bootblack Detective. By A. P, Morrla, RBULy Winks, the Poss Boy Shadow. 855 The West Broadway Gamin. 874\Gold-Duat Toms: or, Ben’s Double Match, ep H. Morse, ‘Fagle Ned, the Boy on Guard: or, The Camp Spiders, 86° The Boat-Club Mascot; or, Dan Decker’s Double Deal. } 876 Callfornian Joe’s Firat Tratl, By Cofonel Thomas ‘Tonkaway Tom, the Red Wizard, 864 The Union Square Baggage Boy. Hoyer Monastery. p t Z The Bantam Sport, RY PHILIP 8. WARNE 418 Biily Bombshell, the Cliff Climber, By F, 8. Winthrop, ‘ 4 Clip, the Battery Ferret; or, Jack Jeffers? Foul Play, : d 7% The Black Ship. By John S Warner. . 6T Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer | 484 Comanche Dick and His Three Invinctbles By ‘ae “RY BUOKSKIN SAM (Major 8 8, (175 Caprain Arizona; or, Petent-Leather Joe's Big Game, | Henrv J. Thomas. ’ rey ‘o : . am. Nall.) ~ 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Lerthar Joe’s Defeat. B82 The Gowkos Duke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest, S4 id’ Rocky's *t Boyeess or, Bonito, the Horse-Breaker, | 219 Deapard, the Duelist; or, The Mountain Vempires. 52 Artel the Athlete, By David Druld "0 “- aoeeks ors Giant George's Pard, Lo Rey Zong Boy; or, The Dwarfs Revenge. 85 Will Waters, the Bov Ferret. By II. Enton. f ih 5 Arizona faa B or Tae Sgtlar rirey in aoe yittte 5 anlage 4 es had ay of the Glen. 682 The Dead Netective’« Double. By Gerald Carlton. ; ‘The antula of Taos; or, Giant George’s Reven; e Jingo}; or, the Queer Pard, ’ . eT he 4 inge Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. ” 888 Little Oh-my 3 or, Caught in His Own Trap, Mis if ag Soong Mo co yh tere Peele ony She Wkaey a av O1 Littl Shoo-Fly: or, A Race fora Ranch, 809 Don Danton, the Gent from Denver. By King Keene, of the 408 Little Leather-Breeches ; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse. U.S. Secret Service Corps. + / | 481 Little Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood. 814 Ace Nigh, the Frisco Detective, By C. E, Trinn. A the Tonkaway. 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale ofthe sTines S880'The Grim Lodgers In Rag Alle or, Citizen Ke.be y 4 4 y3 480 Three Jolly Parda; or, The Pets of Paddy’s Flat, of Number Seven. By Ben D, Hallidny. ; ea Kanger rgatory. ett Th . Sa Depots HH The Jolly ey pe see oat ae Chicago Drummer's Deal. Pica G. Tahar. ’ 7 j . » Jolly Pa e@ Reseue; or, The Jack of Heurts. 2e . . v4 % « . or. The Three Thunderbolts. Bat ‘4. ie ay Andyt r ‘Good Man Down. , mee Charlie, the Cat’s-Paw ee “id arma, ; ' 56 Lariat 3 or, The Cast fora Life. _. 848 Dan, th Ss or, Foiling the Frisco Sharp. B 574 Old Wensel-ton, the Man with the Dogs, Hat rarer port; g arp : y 598 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. 861 Billy Brine, the Swamp Fox. By Chas. F. Welles, dt led gee Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport. f § New faane Every ‘Tueadany ’ , 618 Rilly Blazes; or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. The Half-Dime Library ‘» tor sale vy all Newadealers, five — 685 Oklahoma Hi the Blie-Coat Scont. ' eeuts per copy, or sent by mail op nacnte Ot nts Sent eet ; 648 Wappy Harry’s Big Find; or, The Beautiful Jezebel BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publ 664 Oheeky Charley the Special. ( : 98 William Street, New York, , : ‘ a4 ia Re an a 8
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BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novela. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road, 20 Deadwood Dick’s Deflance; or, Double Daggers. 28 Deadwood Dick in Disguise; or, Buffal. Ben 85 Deadwood Dick In His Castle. mC pesdweed pai Benassy or, The Phantom Miner. endwooc ck in Danger; or, Omana Oll, 57 Deadwood Dick’s Pasion: i The Pardes of Flood Bar. ch rep pad, Rice on. oaers or, mats es ; te Heroine * Deadwood ek’s Last Acti or, Corduroy Charlie. 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. ¥ aoe Roeuwees dp ves fee; or, The Double Cross Sign. endwoo ck as Detective. 129 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. Mey sate bah oe 4 To 2 page Peony eB ends es , e woo ¢ « gz Strike; or, A Game ot Gold, 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick's Dream; or, The Rivals of the Road. 2OL Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill’s Jezebel. ace eeamses ee yoo wr pecans Jane’s Adventure, 7 Deadwoo ck’s Dead Deal. 221 Deadwood Dick’s Death-Plant. 282 Gold-Dust Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Toughs, +14 pase need eke Pivides al ad Spirit of Swamp Lake. end woo ck’s Death Trail, 809 Deadwood Dick’s Veal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon, 821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats 847 Deadwood Dick's Ducats; or, Days in the Diggings. byt setae hacer Dee teen or, The Terrible Vendetta, ead woe ek’s Claim, 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City, 410 Deadwood Dick’s Diamonda, ( 421 Deadwood Dick In New York} or, A “Cute Case,” 480 Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand. y ire pesaweed dpa ort ye Crimson Creaceut Sign. ‘ e ’ eky 7®, Defiance, 458 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a Full Hand, 459 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Big Round-Up. 46% Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s. Racket at Claim 10, ana ebay | picks p aie) oer ets ots Foenipe Bill. endwoo ck, Jr.’*, Do etective, 481 Deadwood Dick. Jr., in Theadwoad. 491 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«s, Compact. 496 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Inheritance, 500 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Diggings. 508 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deliverance, 515 Deadwood Diek, Jr.'s, Protegee. 522 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’*, Three, 529 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Danger Ducka, 544 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death Hunt. 589 Deadwood Dick, Jdr., in Texas. 5644 Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidoog 549 Deadwooa Dick, Jr., on Hla Mettle, 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Boston. 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Philadeiphia, 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago, 578 Deadwood Dick. Jr., Afloat, 5S4 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Denver, 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Decree, 595 Deadwood Dick Jr., in Beelzebub’s Basin. 600 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Coney Island. 606 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’a Leadville Lay. 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Detroit. 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Cincinnati, 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Nevada, 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in No Man’s Land, 686 Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer. 42 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Buffalo. aoe pesawess pieke . my uae Aeveas the Continent Bae Pethuned Hicks, Ses. lntetoue Caren 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back in the Mines, 672 Deadwood Dick, dr., In Durangoy or, “ Gathered In,”” or pead an nti 5 Fe'My iiseoverss or, Found a Fortune, . eadw ck, Jr.’a. Dazzle, 690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Dollars, 695 Deadwood Dick. Jr., at Danger Divide, T00 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Drop. T04 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. T10 Deadwood Dick drs, in San Franclaco. 716 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Still Hunt. 722 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Dominoes, 28 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Disguise 84 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’s Double Deal, 40 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Deathwatch. AT Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Doublet. 52 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Deathblow,. 75S Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Strait. 764 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Lone Hand. 770 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’# Defeat. 776 Deadwood Dick, Jr’, Resurrection. TS2 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dark Days. TST Deadwood Dick dJr., Detied. 792 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Double Device. T97T Deadwood Dick, Jr’.«, Desperate Venture, ) 802 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Diamond Dice, 807 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Royal Flush. 812 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Head-off, $16 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Rival. 822 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Boom. 828 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Scoop. S84 Deadwood Dick, Jyr.’«, Proxy. 840 Deadwood Wick, Jr.'s, Clutch, 845 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, High Horse. 852 Deadwood Dick Jr., at Devil’s Gulch, S58 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Neath-Hole Mustle. 868 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Bombshell. S70 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Mexico. S76 Deadwood Dick, Jr’s, Decoy Duck, 882 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Silver Pocket. <= z 7 z ¢ BY WM. G, PATTEN. 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Sport; or, The Jubilee ot Jacktown. 66% Vialet Vane’a Victory; or, The Jasper City Clean Out. 698 Violet and Dalay, the Posy Pards. 705 Violet Vane’s Vow; or, The Crafty Detective’s Crait. 24 Violet Vane’s yemaennees or, The Wipe-Ont. 80 Violet Vane’s Verdiets or, The Game at Coffin City. 1 Violet Vane, the nape ar p Vidoeq, or, Sport vs. Sport. © Violet Vane, the Vanquished. or, The Lite Strugg!e, $ Violet Vane’s Vision; or, The Fiery Hand of Fate. The Diamond mes 5 or, The Double Face of Bed Rock, 9 Pastels myeteny§ or, Five in One. ' 1 Dalay are the Sport from Denver. 87 Old Bombshell, the Ranger Detective. 604 Iron Fern, the Man of Fire; or, Among the Vultures, 619 The Boy Tramp Detective: or, The Doubie Grip Witness 641 Dismal Dave’s Paney Pard; or, The Clue to Capt, Claw Young Amateur Detective 714 Old Misery the Man from Missonri, 774 Clear-Grit Cal, the Never-Say-Die Detective. 789 Sam Sheridan, the Secret Service Special. 806 Cowboy Steve the Ranth Mascot. 820 Nobby Nat, the Tenderfoot Detective, 886 Sharper Stoke’s Double Deal. 857 Spotter Bobin New York. 366 Spotter Bob’s Bowery Racket. AMG redeted oom DRI a Ns - - — oem nats aaah: ft sine 3 re me os $8 ry: Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 80 Rosebud Reb; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Rosebud Rob on Hand; or, Idy!, the Girl Miner. 88S Rosebud Rob's Reappearance; or, Photograph Phil. 121 Rosebud Rob's Challenge; or, Cinnamon Chip. 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen; or, The Yankee’s Surround 281 Denver Doll's Victory; or, Skul! and Crossbones, 255 Denver Doll's Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza, 296 Denver Doll's Drift; or. The Road Queen. 868 Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gutherery or, The Life Lottery, 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize; or, The Wolves of Wake-Up, 885 Yreka Jim's Joker}; or, The Rivals of Red Nose, 8S9 Yreka Jim’s New Kole} or, Bicycle Ben, 804 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam. 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective; or, Dot Leetle Game, 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter 244 Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret; or, A Sister’s Devotion, 248 Sierra Sams Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sierra Sam’s Pard 3; or, The Angel of Big Vista, 258 Sierra Sam’s Sevens or, The Stolen Bride. 884 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner. 889 Kangaroo Kit’* Racket; or, The Pride of Played-Ont, 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York. 69 The Boy Detective; or, Gold Rifle, the Sharpehooter, 96 Watch-Eye, the Detective; or, Arabs and Angels, 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 145 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective, 161 New York Nell, the Boy-Gir! Detective, 226 The Arab Detective ; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp, 291 Turk the Boy Ferret. 825 Kelley, Hickey & Co,, the Detectives of Philadelphia, 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Detectives 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Hat Harry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam Slabsides, the Beggar-Boy Detective, 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives, 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures. 82 Bob Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot, 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhora Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team, 92 Canada Chet ¢ or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. 118 Jaek Hoyle the Young Speculator. 125 Bonanza Bill, Miner; or, Madam Mystery, the Forger. 188 Boss Bob the King of Bootblacka, 141 Solid Sam, the Bov Road-Agent; or, The Branded Brows. 177 Nobby Nick of Nevadayj or, The Sierras Scampa, 181 Wild Frank the Buckskin Bravo; or, Lady Lily’s Love. 286: Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado; or, Rowdy Kate. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator; or, The Locked Valley. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patro): or, The Rival Heirs, 209 A No. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. 808 ’Liza Jane, the Girl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. B80 Little Quick-Shots or, The Dead Face of Daggereville, B58 First-Class Fred, the Gent from Gopher. 878 Nabob Ned}; or, The Secret of Slab City, BS2 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher; or, A Son’s Vengeance. 486 Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler; or The Tribunal of Ten. BY LIEUT. A, K. SIM&, 589 Tom-Cat and Pardy or, The Dead Set at Silver City. 622 Tom-Cat’s Triads or, The Affuir at Tombstone. 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Task; or, The Cowboy Detective, 688 Tom-Cat’s Trium phy or, Black Dan's Great Combine, 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock; or, Josh’s Ten Strike 568 The Dandy of Dodge; or, Rustling for Millions. 576 The Silver Sport; or, Josh Peppermint’s Jubilee 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow 601 Happy Mana, the Dutch Vidoeg; or, Hot Times at Ronnd-Up 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules. 646 Powber. Gldy the Cattle-Range Detective. 657 Warbling William, the Mountain Mountebank, 665 Jolly Jeremiahy the Plains Detective, 676 Signal Sam, the Rodkout Scout. 689 Billy, the Gyyey Spyz or, The Mystery of Two Lives, 699 Simple Sim, the Bronclio Buster; or. For Big Stakes, 712 The Meamertlat Sports or, The Mystified Detective, 788 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector, 745 Kansas Jim, tho Cross-Cut Detective. 761 Marmaduke, the Mostanger Detective. 778 The Rustler of Rolling Stone, 785 Lone Hand Jee, the Committee of One, 801 Kent Kirby, the High-Kicker from Killbuck. 882 The Doctor Detective in Texas. 872 Two Showmen Detectives In Colorado, , BY J. ©. COWDRICK, Broadway Billy Novels, 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 514 Broadway Billy’« Boodle; or, Clearing a Strange Case, 586 Rroadway Billy’s ‘Ditikilty.” 557 Broadway Billy’« Peath Racket. 579 Broadway Billy’s Surprise Party. 605 Broadway Billy; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. 628 Broadway Billy’s Dead Acts or, The League of Seven, 669 Broadway Billy Abroad; or, The Bootblack in Frisco, 675 Broadway, Billy’s Bests or, Beating San Francisco's Finest, 687 Broadway Billy in Clover. ' 696 Broadway Billy fn Texas; or, The River Rustlera. 708 Broadway Billy’s Brand. 711 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe; or, The Clever Deal. 720 Broadway Billy’s F'ull Hand; or, The Gamin Detective, TBS Broadway Billy's Business, TBS Broadway Billy’s Curious Case. 758 Broadway Billy tn Denver, 762 Broadway Billy’s Bargain; or, The Three Detectiv 769 Broadway Billy, the Retriever Detective. 775 Broadway Billy’sa Shadow Chase. 783 Broadway Billy’s Beagles; or, The Trio’s Quest, 786 Broadway Billy’s Team; or, The Combine’ Big Pull 790 Broadway Billy’s Brigades or, The Dead Alive. 796 Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequest. 800 Brondway Billy Batlled. 805 Broadway Billy’s« Signal Scoop. 810 Broadway Billy’s Wipe Out. 815 Broadway Billy’« Bank Racket. 821 Broadway Billy’s Bluff. ‘ 826 Broadway BUly Among Jersey Thugs. S88 Broadway Billy’« Raid. 889 Broadway Billy’s Big Boom, 844 Broadway Billy’s Big Bulge. 849 Broadway Billy’s 8100,000 Snap. 856 Brondway Billy’s Blinds or, The Bootblack Stowaway, 862 Broadway Billy tn London. S68 Broadway Billy Shadows London Slums. S74 Brondway Billy’s French Game. S80 Broadway Billy and the Bomb-Throwera SS? Battery Bob, the Dock Detective. 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery! or, The Golden Keys. 869 Shasta, the Gold King; or, For Seven Yeara Dead, 420 The Detective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without » Name, 424 Cibuia Jonn; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout, 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 506 Redlight Ralph. the Prince of the Road. 524 The Engineer Detective; or, Redlight Ralph’s Resolve 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 571 Alr-Line Luke the Young Engineer: or, The Double Once 592 The Boy Pinkerton; or, Running the Rascala Out. 615 Fighting Harry the Chief of Chained Cyclone. 640 Bareback Beth, the Centaur of the Circle. ~ 647 apneyriter TH), the Merchant’s Ward. 659 Moonlight Morg, n the *! Pizencet”” Man of Ante Baz. BEADLE'’S« H ALF- DIME« LIBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by atl Newsdealers.. —--——— } BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRANAM, S89 New York Nat’s Deadly Deal.j S88 New York Nat's Crook-Chase, St? New York Nav’s Trump Card, STi New York Nat and the Grave Ghouls. 865 New York Nat's Masked Mascot. 859 New York Nat, the Gamin Detective, S58 Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out, 847 Dick Boom’s Ten Strike. 2 Dick Doom'’s Flush Hand. 2 Dick Doom’s Death-Grip; or, The Detective by Deeth y Z Dick Doom’s Destiny; or, The River Blackleg’s Terrur, 4 Dick Doorn; ‘or, ‘ihe Sharps and Sharks of New York. 8 Dick Doom in Boston; or, A Man of Many Masks. 8 Dick Doom tn Chicago. 298 Dick Doom in the Wild Weat. 808 Dick Doom’s Clean Sweep; or, Five Links in a Clo. 808 Dick Doom’s Death Clue. S18 Dick Doow’s Diamond Deal. 819 Dick Doom’s Girl Mascot. S29 Dick Doom’sa Shadow Hunt. A Pe 885 Dick Doom’s Big Haul. Z49 Dashing Charlie; or, The Kentucky Tenderioot's Firet Tea't. 756 Dashing Charlle’« Destiny; or, The Renegade’s Captives 760 Dashing Charlie’s Pawnee Pard. 766 Dashing Charlie, the Rescuer, 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 782 Buck Taylor, the Comanche’s Captive. 748 Buck Taylor’« Boyan; or, The Red Riders of the Rio Grands, 560 Pawnee Bill, the Prairie Shadower. t 718 Pawnee Bill; or, Carl, the Mad Cowboy. 719 Pawnee Bill's Pledge; or, The Cowboy's Doom. 725 Pawnee Billy or, Daring Dick. 692 Redfern’« Curtous Case; o, The Rival Sharpes. 697 Redfern at Devil’s Ranch; or, The Sharp from Texas. ZORZ’ Redfern’s High Mand; or, Blue Jacket. ZO? Redfern’s Last Trail; or, The Red Sombrero Rangers— 668 Red Ralph's Ruse; or, The Buccaneer Midshipman, 674 Red Ralph’s Bold Game; or, The Wizard Sailor. ’ 679 Red Ralph, the Shadower; or, The Freebooter’s Legacy. i 644 Butterfly Willy's Disguise. L 650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Express Rider. ‘ 656 Butterfly Billy's Man Hunt. 662 Butterfly Billy's Bonanza, 565 Kent Kingdon: 07, The Ow|s of the Overland. 570 Kent Kingdon’s Shadower ; or, the Card Queen. 575 Kent Kingdon’s Duel} ¢r, The Surgeon Stout, . 586 Kent Kingdon’s Doom; or, The Buckskin Avenger, 545 Lafitte Run Down: or, The Buccaneers of Barrataria, 550 Lafitte’s Legacy: or. The Avenging Son. ' 555 Lafitte’« Confession; or, The Creole Corsair, i 620 Buckeskin Bill, the Comanche Shadow, J, 52 e Buckskin Brothers In_ Texas. c2 580 The Buckskin Bowers; or, The Cowboy Pirates, vy 5685 The Buckskin Rovers; or, The Prairie Fugitive. ‘ 640 The Buckekin Pard«’ Quest; or, Captain Ku-Klax, 4 508 The Royal Middy ; or, The Shark and the Sea Cas, iF 507 The Royal Middy’« Luck 3 or, The Hunted Midshipman, $11 The Royal Middy’s Foe. 4560 Wizard WII]: or, The Boy Ferret ot New York, i 4 Wizard Will’ Street Sconta, y 474 Wizard Will's Pard; er, Flera, the Flower Girl, 488 Wizard Will's Last Case; or, The Ferrets Afloat. 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 Duncan Dare’s Plots or, A Cabin Boy’s Luck. 4467 Duncan Dare’a Prize; or, The Sea Raider. 441 Duncan Dare’a Secret: or, The Ocean Firefly, 402 Isedor, the Young Conspirator; or, The Fatal League. 407 Isodor’s Double Chase; or, The Boy Insurgent. 412 Inodor’s War-Cloud Cruise; or, The Wild Yachteman.. af 216 Bison Bill, the Prince of the Reine. ; 222 Bison BUI's Clue; or. Grit, the Bravo Sport, 804 Dead Shot Dandy’s Dilemma, 808 Dead Shot Dandy’s Double; or, Keno Kit. 814 Dead Shot Dandy’s Defianees or, The Boy Bugier. 607 Dead Shot Dandy’s Chicts or, The River Detective, | / 245 Merle Monte’s Leap for Life. ' . 250 Merle Monte’s Mutiny ¢ or, Brandt, the Baccaneer, : 264 Merle Monte’s Treasure Ieland, ‘ 269 Merle Monte the Condemned. ba 276 Merle Monte’« Crutse: or, * The Gold Ship” Chase. ie3 250 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, The Pirnte’s Pride, ‘ 284 Merle Monte’s Pledge; or. The Sea Marauder. uty fy 197 The Kid Glove Sport; or. Little Grit, the Wild River, aT 204 The Kid Glove Sport's Doom; or, Buffalo Bill, the Pony Exrress Rider. J 885 Dead-Shot Ralph’s Ten-Strike. 867 Dead Shot Ralph's ey 878 Deck-Hawk Roy’s Big Scoop. S25 Marlo, the Cowboy Coaster, 781 Ruth Redmond, the Gi] Shadower, 686 Orlando, the Ocean Free Flag. ‘he 617 Ralph, the Dead-Shot Scout. 602 The Vagabond ofthe Mines, bY? The Texan Detective; or, The Black Bravos. B91 Delmonte, the Young Sea-Rover; or, The Avenging Sailor.. 580 The Outcast Cadets or, The False Detective. malt A405 Arizona doe or, The Boy Pard of Texas Jack, reg) AST Nevada Ned, the Revolver Rauger. tng dl 468 Neptune Ned, the Koy Conster; or, Pirate in Spite, aie 462 The Sailor Boy Wanderer; or, The Born Guide. 6 Haphazard Harry : or, The Sea Scapegrace, 898 The Red Clasped Wands; or, The Boy Lieutenant, BST Warpath WII. the Triitor Guide. : 888 The Indian Pilot: or, The Search for Pirate Island. . 77 Bonodel, the Buy Rovers or, The Flagless Schooner. pe 287 Billy Blue-Eyes, of the Rio Grande. 87 Lone Btar, the Cowboy Captain. ’ 229 Crimson Kate, the Girl Trailer; or, The Cowboy's Triumph. 116 The Hussar Captain: or, The Hermit of Hell Gate. ice 111 The Sen-Devil ; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. Mf 102 Dick Dend-Eye, the Smuggier, or, The Cruise of the Vizem,. — %5 The Boy Puellst; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf, ' i} 62 The Shadow Ship; or, The Rival Lieutenants, 24 Diamond Pick; or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 17 Ralph Roy, the Roy Buccaneer; or, The Fugitive Yacht, % The Flying Yankee}; or, The Ocean Outcast, LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 891 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Dend-Sure Games or, Pistol Polly of Nuggetville. By E. L. Wheeler. ; 892 Bowery Ben in Chinatown; or, sam Ling, the East Side Sport, By Harold Payne. Z 898 Farrel Fox’s Sweep-Stakea; or, The Boss Counter~ ~ feiter’s Round-ap., By Dan Dunning. iF 894 Arizona Dick's Wipe-Outs or, Dare Devil Dave’s Death- Trap. By J. C. Cowdrick. ’ 895 Fifth Avenue Fred, the Valet Detective; or, A Corner in — Rogu.s. By Jo Pierce. he 896 New York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp; o, The Wilds, q All-Around Sport... By Col. P. Ingraham. tel 897 Davy Poon’s Big Bounce; or, Nicke) Nell, the Boy Spotter’s Mascot. By T. C. Harbangh. a 898 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Double Drives or, The Rival Mayors of Hardecrabble. By Edward L. Wheeler, ‘ 899 Bakement Bert, the Bov Cobbler Detective. By Jo Pierce. A New leaue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library is for sale by all newsdealers, : tents por copy, or sent by mail on rece nt 07 six cents each, uf) BEADLE AND ADAMA, Publishers, (98 William Street, New York,