Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 913) (1895 01 22)
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at Um ah 5 Ms 1 | rim Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. ¥ , Post Office. BEADLE AND ADAMS, anuary 22, it N 2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE A ND ADAMS ice T O, $ : 4m fl Ai/ BUM, Price, , = 913. a Year. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 cents. Vol. XXXVI, oe gS al u I ‘ HHI i | = — 2 ee Saas Y Pie Sirs RD area in. SHE GAVE 'THE DETECTIVE A SEARCHING GLANCE AND TURNED DEADLY PALE
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Kit Keith, The Revenue Spotter; OR, The Big Bag at Dark Run. BY E, L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ DEADWOOD DICK” NOVELS, ETO, CHAPTER I. THE COTTAGE ON THE CLIFF, IT was a wild, oma night on that cer- tain portion of the Virginia Coast overlooking the broad Atlantic, and lying to the southwest | of the Chesapeake Bay—a night when a flerce gale swept inland and lashed the stormy waters with relentless fury against the rugged shore, The darkness was intense, and any vessel that might be so unfortunate as to be cruising along that coast, stood in imminent danger of being driven ashore and-wrecked upon the rocks, Upon a high promontory, overlooking the surf-lashed beach, wasa small but rather attrac- tive-appearing dwelling, from one of the win- dows of which a bright light shot out athwart the darkness, but owing to the violence of the storm, even this could penetrate but a short dis- tance into the Stygian gloom. A pretty picket fence surrounded the cottage; there were a garden and some shrubbery, an everything on the exterior was indicative of tidiness and thrift, Within the dwelling all was bright and cheer- ful. A roaring fire burned in the firepiace, the furniture was tastily arranged, and the uncar- peted fl or was a marvel of whiteness. At a table on which burned the lamp, sat a maiden of some eighteen years, engaged in sewing, and a pretty girl she was, with fair, rounded features, bright hazel eyes, and hair like a rift of summer sunshine, er form was cast in Nature’s perfect mold, and although her attira was plain, she was a most charming pic- ture to gaze upon. Near the fireplace lay a huge St. Bernard mastiff, who appeared to be the maiden’s only companion, and as she sewed away diligeatly he watched her through his half-closed eyes, and occasionally when a fierce gust would strike the cottage and cause the doors and windows to rattle, he would rise and wag his tail, ag if there were something he wished to say. Then the maiden would look up from her work and listen @ moment and give a slight shiver, as another blast would strike the little building. ‘*Oh! it’s only the wind, major,” she would say. ‘‘There’sa terrible storm on the water to- night, and no one will think of venturing out to pay us a visit,” ut later on, when the storm seemed at the height of its fury, suddenly there came a light rap upon the door that c.used the girl to start quickly and spring to her feet. Evidently she recognized the knock, for she wentat once and opened the door, and a young man, bundled up in astorm-coat, hat and knee- boots, entered. ‘Well! well! Squire Darrel, what in the world brings you out such a night as this?” the maiden asked. ‘*Oh! just a notion, that’s all, Sadie,” was the cheery reply, as the young man, a stalwart, handsome fellow of four-and twenty, laid aside his wraps and backed up before the fire, ‘The folks over at the manor all put off to bed bright and early, and as I got tired of hearing the wind moaning and roaring around theold place, 1 thought ’'d run over here and spend a little while. Sol mounted Black,Hawk and here I am. It’s a rough night out.” . ‘“‘The worst of the season,” Sadie replied, handing him a chair, and resuming her seat, ‘* { fear we shall hear of some terrible wrecks in the morning.” “T trust not. There have been too many wrecks along this coast of late, and old Jack Jarvis and his gang have been the ones to profit by them.” ‘Very likely, Mr. Darrel; but, you know, Jack doesn’t like you any too well, and [I am afraid you baye done wrong in coming here. If Jack knew you were here there would be trouble, I feel certain.” ‘“*Humph! how so? I hope you don’t think I'm afraid of that moonshiner?t Not much! There’s better fighting in one of the Darrels of Darrel Manor than in all the moonshiners and coastmen put together!” “That may all be true, ’squire, but you know the moonshiners of Black Run area desperate | thing had turned up missing, and never after- set, and, abetted as they are by Jack Jarvis and | ward had reported for duty, his coast patrol, they form a formidable league. In my opinion, they were responsible for the mysterious disappearance of your father, the judge.” The young ’squire’s brow darkened perceptibly at this suggestion, ‘* Yet you would never admit you knew any- thing to corroborate your suspicion,” he said, gloomily, “Nor did or do I,” was the reply. ‘All I[ know is that my poor misguided parent was once a member of the gang, and that he disap- peared in the same mysterious manner that yours did, Of course I naturally laid his death to the gang, but was able to prove nothing, and, since then, have had to toil for my living, as you know.” ‘¢ You’d never have to raise your hand todoa stroke of work if you would but come to Darrel | Manor as my wife, Sadie,” the ‘squire returned, ’ 2 q earnestly. ‘‘ You know I fove you dearly, and you once admitted that you caredforme. Yet ay are persistent in your refusal to become my wife.’ “That can never be, Roger—at least, not while your mother lives, I could never be a daughter-in-law to tie haughty, merciless wo- man who sought to wrest from us this little home, and would have done so but for Gerald Glover, the village attorney. Then, too, it is rumored at the village that you are engaged to Miss Melville; so really you have no right to speak to me of love and marriage.” The ’squire’s brow again darkened. “Tt is false that [am engaged to May Mel- ville. Some one has been trying to poison your mind against me, and I’ve no doubt but what it is that infernal pauper lawyer, Gerald Glover. If? so, hang me if [ don’t call him to account!” ‘*Mr. Glover has never mentioned your name in my presence, sir, and you do him an injustice by calling hima pauper. If he is poor, he is at least a gentleman!” ‘* Ah, indeed! A gentleman, is he? Perhaps he has been trying to ingratiate himself into your favor?” ‘* Fe has paid me several pleasant calls, I ad- mit,” Sadie replied, with a quiet dignity, ‘‘ and as I respect him asa gentleman, in every sense of the word, I have invited him to call again.” “* Then, by heaven, [’ll invite him not toina way he will understand!” the ’squire declared, springing to his feet flushed with anger. ‘*‘No man shall stand between you and me, Sadie, for you shall yet be the lady of Darrel Manor, But I must be going now, and, before I do so, you must give me a kiss.” ‘* Sir!” cried Sadie, rising, ‘‘ you must excuse me, You have noright to expect such a thing of me.’ ‘*Oh, haven’t I? But I have, you know, and a kiss I’m bound to have, if I have to steal it, So now get ready.” And he advanced toward her. With a frightened cry she sprung toward the door, and no doubt would have made her escape into the tempestuous night, only that, just at the moment, the door swung open, and a stran- ger, young and handsome, stepped into the cot- tage and confronted the frightened maid. “* Hello! what appears to be the difficulty?” was his interrogation as, at a glance, he took in the situation, CHAPTER II. CAPTAIN CUSSICK, THE gang of Jack Jarvis was one of the most notorious of any in the immediate region where is the scene of our romance, “4 They were desperate, time-hardened charac-, ters to a man, and numbered an even dozen, Each one had committed some offense or crime that had compelled him to flee from the aveng- ing arm of justice, and, united as a band, they worked together as brothers, They derived their livelihood from two sources, namely: through patrolling the coast and plundering wrecked vessels and robbing the bodies of any unfortunates whose remains might be washed ashore; secondly, by abetting the in- terests of a band of ‘‘moonshiners,” or illicit distillers, who carried on the manufacture of whisky at a haunt in the mountains a number of miles inland from the coast. These moonshkiners were the most formidable in existence at the time of which we write, and although the U. 8, revenue officers had made numerous attempts to unearth their rendezvous and break up the organization, they had never been able to do so up to the time of our story. Several special officers who had attempted the 2 ' Kit Keith, the Revenue Spotter. SS Ee And so the moonshiners went on with their illicit work in spite of goveromental vigilance. On the long, narrow beach, which ran along the coast below Sadie Sefton’s cottage, were about a dozen rude shanties, and these were oc- cupied by Jack Jarvis and his Coast Patrol, but who, ostensibly, were fishermen. The place bore the name of Jarvishaven, and was the only place along that particular pcertion of the coast where a vessel of moderate burden could putin end anchor. It was to Jarvishaven that the moonshiners of Black Run ran down by skiffs in the York River, all its illicit product, and from there, the whisky wascarried by vessel to certain points, where it was easily disposed of at a handsome rofit, On the night of the storm just recorded, four men were gathered around a rough’ deal table, in the large, rudely-furnished kitchen of Jack Jarvis, engaged in smoking and conversation. One of the men, roughly attired, was Jarvis himself—a large, raw-boned person, with a re- pulsive face and black eyes, hair and beard, that gave him a rather brigandish appear- ance. The other three were members of his gang, and much the same in appearance, as far as their forbidding aspect was concerned—in fact, a hard-looking gang one would not care to en- counter after dark, or ina lonely place, even if well armed, A bottle and glasses were upon the table; also two lanterns, which afforded the light. —° Outside, the combined rear of the surfand the gale made a very thunder, while blast after blast struck the rude shanty, threatening to carry it from its foundation. ‘Ugh! this isa bad night!” Jarvis said, with a shiver. ‘The wu’st fer months!” assented the young- est of the gang, whose name was Cass, and who stood next to Jarvis in authority. ‘If the beacon light does any good, we ought to run something ashore to-night.” ‘* Not much danger, I reckon!” Jarvis growl- ed. ‘*Thar ain’t many craft cruisin’ along here this late in the season, ’cept ther reg’lar coast steamships, an’ they steer wide o’ heerabouts, Et orter be time fer the Sea Cat to put in byar fer the next cargo.” ‘Not fer several days yet,I allow. It’s a wonder Cap Cussick hain’t been down from the Run, though.” ‘‘That’s so. But Cap is a cute cuss, and if he scented danger, you can bet he’d not stir out of his hole. He’ll be likely to pop in on us when we least expect it.” ‘* Right you be,” spoke up a pleasant voice, as the door opened, and a new-comer entered the shanty. ‘* You know. the old saying, boys— ‘The devil’s always near at hand when you’re talking about him,’” ‘The captain!” ejaculated the coastmen, in one voice, : ‘* Ay! thecaptain,” that individual declared, as headvanced toward the fire and shook the water from his rubber coat and cap. He was a tall, finely-proportioned individual of about thirty, with a rather prepossessing face, dark-blue eyes, and sandy hair and mustache— a person who would attract more than a passing glance in boyd crowd, To look at his seemingly honest face, one would have little suspected that he belonged to a des- perate band of men who bade defiance to the laws of a mighty Government. ‘¢ Wal, Cap, what brings ye down-stream sich a night as this?” Old Jarvis demanded. ‘*Oh! this ain’t a bad night,” the captain re- plied, with a light laugh; ‘‘just such a night as you vultures delight in, is it not? As for me, I thought l’d pull down and see if the Sea Cat had put into the haven,” ‘* Not yet, boss, an’ 1 opine she won’t be along for several days, Got a cargo ready?” ** Yes, and a big one, too. I want to get it off out of the way as soon as possible!” **Ah! Why so? More trouble brewin’?” *‘T reckon. Read this, from my agent!” And the chief of moonshiners tossed a letter upon the table, yas Old Jarvis opened and perused it with interest, It read as follows: : “ WASHINGTON, Oct. 20. “Capt, Cart CussicK:— “Dear Srr:—Be on your guard. There’s more trouble brewing. Ihave been vigilant and made a discovery The Revenue Department bas received information that you are again running things bold- one more attempt to break you up, ly somewhere up the river, and have resolved upon™ ¢ Ss PBN AP OE a TE ee
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aia OE EP n¥ Te Le ne eee a aad very pleasant day, ‘A private steamer will leave Baltimore early this morning. and, as near as I can learn, land at Jarvis- haven. The only ones on board is the crew of five, and a fellow called Kit Keith. He is only about twenty-two years old, but is sharper than hghtning, anidiscr dited with being one of the shrewdest fer- rets on the revenue staff. charge of the job on his own hook, and furnish such information as willlead oth» total rupture or cap- ture of your gang. So look ont forbim. The boat is a racer and most likely will make a landing dur- ing the night. “*Yours truly, *McCart.” ** Well, what do you think of it?” Cussick de- manded, Oid Jack shrugged his shoulders. ‘**Humph! not much!” he replied. ‘I hope you ain’t afeard of one feller, when ye’ve fooled a dozen?” ‘{’'m not so sure, I happen to know some- thing about this Kit Keith,” the captain replied, ** He is a bad one to deal with and no mistake, especially when you try tonab him. Why, he’s the same chap that broke up the Parson’s gan over in the Blue Ridge, and he had only two men to help him at that. They say he does mot know the meaning of the word fear; that he is as keen as a fox, and as persistent as a terrier.” ‘** Well, that may all be, but ef he comes pok- in’ around here I reckon thar’s enough of us to attend to his case,” Jarvis replied, with a glitter in his evil eyes, ‘‘ Bread-an’-butter is bread- an’-buiter, an’ I allow we ain’t goin’ ter let no pesky Government clique take it away from us. ‘* Spoken in the right spirit, old man; and I want you to keep a lookout for this fellow, and to go for him as you would for a shark in your nets. But there’s another thing to be looked in- to. Jack, listen: We have a traitor in our midst. Doyebear? A traitor! and he must be picked out and utilized for shark-bait.” ““No traitor in my gang,” Jarvis replied,. gruffly. ‘‘ Every man has been tested, and [ll stake on ’em all.” ‘* Nor do | think there is in mine,” added the captain, ‘‘In fact, I am sure there is not; but, there is a nigger in the bush somewhere, or else there would not be so much known about usand our business in Washington. Do you suspect that girl up on the cliff above here?” **No. She’s true as steel—I know that,” Old Jarvis said with emphasis and witha sort of fatherly pride. ‘That gal would cut off her hand rather than betray any of the secrets of the gang—and don’t you fergit it, Cap Cus- sick!” ‘*T am notso sure about that. .I don’t take uite so much stock in women as you seem to,” Cussick replied, laconically, ‘‘ They’re very uncertain, and are apt to be about as treacher- ous as a red-skin. cwever, the girl is deuc- edly clever and pretty, that I admit, and I think I'll go up some day and sound her on the subject of matrimony.”’ “ Waal, now, you'd better not!” ‘Why not?” ‘‘ She carries a pop, an’ kin fetch a sea-gull as fur out as a bullet will carry. She’s givenever one around here to understand that she don’t ‘want no company, and I allow she means putty near what she says.” ‘“‘That’s all the more reason why a good-look- ing fellow like me should try to convince her to the contrary,” the captain replied. ‘* However, that’s neither here nor there. I must now be off for the return to the Run, Do you think that Roger Darrel, of the Manor, has had any- thing to do with giving us away?’ Old Jarvis was about to reply, when there came a quick rap on the door, — Rising, he went and opened it, To the surprise of the gathered gang, on the threshold stood Roger Darrel, @ scowl upon his face, and one of bis eyes considerably dis- colored. states P Evidently some one had been “doing him up. CHAPTER III. ON THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON, We must needs make a retrogression of a month’s time—locale, the gay city of Wash- ington. Time: One pleasant Saturday afternoon, when the streets were thronged with gay shop- pers and sight-seers, i _ The store windows were resplendent with magnificent displays of newly-arrived fall goods novelties; the stores were crowded with durchasers, and the sidewalks with the gay Shrong that isa feature of the Capitol City on He has promised to take | it Keith, the Revenue Spotter. In front of one of the largest dry goods em- .| poriums was an especially Jarge crowd, for the windows presented an unusually attractive ap- pearance that won the admiration of the gentle- men strollers as well as of the fairer sex. Of that crowd one unmistakably belonged to | the shabby genteel, for, though her clothes fitted | her neatly, they were the cheapest quality and plainest make. She was a woman say of about twenty-three, and rather an attractive face, except that its expression was too bold, and the eyes had a rest- less, watchful expression as if to guard against surprise. Sbe wandered hither and thither among the crowd listiessly, and seenied more iutent in ey- ing those who surrounded her than in looking at the display in the windows. Evidently she was not aware that she was closely watched, but she was. Her footsteps were dogged everywhere she went. T e one who shadowed her was a young man, not over two-and-twenty years of age, He was attired in a plain but serviceable business suit, wore a dark, soft felt hat, and carried a light walking stick. He possessed a rugged, muscular figure, was of medium height, and his face was round, and pleasantly good-looking, lit up by a puir of sparkling brown eyes. His hair was brown, and his face perfectly devoid of beard or mus- tache. Asa whole, there was nothing in his appear- | ance that would cause a person to give him more than a passing glance. Nevertheless, this young man was Kit Keith, the celebrated young U. 8S. Revenue detective— known among the force as Retriever Kit, He had been sauntering about that afternoon, with nothing in particular to occupy his atten- tion, until he had espied the shabby-genteel young woman mingling with the crowd in front of the big store. ‘* Here’s the notorious Ann Mullen, pick- pocket and shoplifter. I wonder if she’s up to her old tricks? She has not been out of jaila week, yet. (tuess I'll keep an eye on her.” And this he proceeded to do, For all of kalf an hour Miss Mullen sauntered among the crowd, without showing any inclina- tion to be light-fingered, but at last Kit saw that she had singled out her prey in the person of an elderly lady, of aristocratic appearance, whose costume, in point of costliness and ele- gance, surpassed those of any ef the ladies around her. She wore, among other jewelry and adorn- ments, a handsome gold watch, that reposed in one of those little outside pockets, which partly ‘exposed the watch to view. Phis lady was accompanied by an elderly, white-haired gentleman, who was well dressed, and walked with a cane, The watch had evidently attracted the atten- tion of light-fingered Ann Mullen, for she bov- ered close to the lady until the right chance came, when she reached deftly forward, and ex- tracted the watch from the pocket. No sooner had she done so than the iron grip of Kit Keith had fastened upon her shoulders. “So, I caught you at it, did I?” he cried. “Oh, I’ve been watching you this half hour, Ann, Give me that watch!” The female pickpocket looked at him in abject | terror, and then obeyed. By this time the lady and gentleman had turned around to see what the matter was, and Kit took a step forward, forcing Ann Mullen to do the same, ‘* Here, madam,” he said, ‘‘is the watch this female crook just robbed you of. Take it, please, while I hustle gentle Ann off to the freezers.” | Mechanically the lady put out her hand and took the watch; then, as she gave the detective a searching glance, she turned deadly pale, and staggered against her companion for sup- rt. Pe My God! ’tis he!” she fairly shrieked, and sunk to the ground in a dead swoon. To say that Kit’s astonishment knew no bounds would be the truth. What didit mean? , Did the woman refer to him? Evidently, yes. What, then, was the mystery? This was something Kit had not the time to think about, for the crowd was ——. in around him, and foreseeing the necessity of get- ting his prisoner out of the jam, he proceeded to do so, and succeeded. f He conducted her to the station-house, which was not far away, and after entering a com- plaint, hastened back to the scene of arrest, rr Sh se But on arriving there, he found that the lady had been put into a hack, and, accompanied by her aged companion, had been driven away— whitber, as he found after diligent inquiry, ro one knew. - So he was baffled, To have learned more of the strange woman hc would have given much: but, for the present, sbe was lost, and he had no means of knowing where to search for her, The singular event both puzzled and worried him, and he was left to conjecture as to her identity and what she knew of him. For a whole week he watched every local newspaper, in the vague hope that she might advertise for him, But, all in vain; no such an ad. appeared. At last the young detective was forced to give up all hope; still he could not help think- ing of the occurrence, and even in bis dreams could see the woman of mystery. One day, not far from the Capitol, he met a seedy-looking individual of the tramp order, who was shuffling idly along the avenue, as if it was immateri.! to him whether Congress was in session or not, When he saw Kit, however, he stopped stock still, thrust his hands deep down into his pockets, and surveyed the detective with a speculative scrutiny. “T say, young feller, be you the cove as ar- rested Ann Mullen?” he demanded, ‘© Woll, what of it?” replied Kit, scanning the vagabond sharply. ***Ca'se I want to know. I’ve got something to tell you, if you’re the same party.” ‘Then shout away. I’m the identical chap.” The tramp delayed a moment to answer, as if studying the detective more searchingly. ‘Yas, | reckon you aire,” he said, finally: ‘“leastwise yer look like him, an’ I ain’t much off on figgerin’ out a phiz. Ye’r’a durned good- lookin’ sport, and I ain’t, I’m a gentleman o’ leisure, an’ my handle is Bum Blinker!” ** What the blazes do I care what your handle is? cried Kit, impatiently. ‘‘ I’ve no wish to know your family history. Stand eside!” ‘*Hold yer horses, now, Peter!” cried the other, coolly. ‘Don’t start too fur abead o’ the field, or you'll get sent back, ye one question: Do you remember the leddy who Ann Mullen filched the ticker from?” ‘** Of course I remember her,” Kit cried, quick- ly. ‘* What of it?” Bum Blinker’s eyes twinkled. ‘“* Waal, ye never see’d her before, did ye?” _ **Not that I know of.” ‘She locked at yer when ye guv her the watch; then she got pale under ther gills, screeched out, ‘My God! it’s he!’ an’ then went off into a collapse.” **Yes! yes! What do you know about this strange woman? Tell me truly, and I’ll give you ten dollars,” ' ** Sure ?” **?Pon honor)!” ** Waal, guess I’ll make it a go. I know the woman—used to work for ber. Dunno nothin’ *bout what she knows of you, but it must be suthin’ portant to make her faint. She’s mighty rich, an’ lives*in a big place called Darrel Manor, down on Vitginny Coast. Yego down the Chesa- peake to where she empties into the ocean, then turn to yer right av’ cruise along ther coast till ye come to a fishin’-camp called Jarvishaven. Any one thar kin direct ye to where Matilda Darrei lives. That’s aJl I know. Now fork over the money!” Gladly did Kit do so, and Bum Blinker thrust it into his pocket, and went off chuckling. He could now ‘ indulge” for a week. Kit Keith was that very day commissioned to visit Jarvishaven to officially investigate the moonshiners’ operations in that vicinity, but personally to learn why Matilda Darrel swooned at sight of his face. CHAPTER IV. DARREL’S TREACHERY, Let us nowreturn to the cottage of Sadie Sef- ton, where we left the inmates the actors in an exciting scene. The stranger who had so abruptly entered, when Sadie was seeking to escape from Roger Darrel, was Kit Keith, the Secret-Service shad- ower. Of course Sadie stopped when she saw tho Poung man blockading the doorway, and so did ger Darrel, who had sprung forward to inter- cept her. ‘ Well,” remarked Kit, ‘it seems there’s some trouble here. Whatisit, younglady? Hasthat fellow been trying to molest you?” I wanter ax
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4. Kit Keith, the Revenue Spo tter, ‘*Oh! yes, sir. He tried to kiss me against my will, and he frightened me so that 1 was running to escape from une cottage, when you opened the door,” Sadie replied, excitedly. “Tt’s a lie!” cried Darrel. ‘‘The girl’s a lunatic, and go into a huff because I wouldn’t kiss her!” ‘“‘That’s a likely story, sir! The young lady is right, and you deserve a good cowhiding for insulting hoi'! Kit -ied, his eyes flashing with knightly .nger. **Ho! hoi I[do,dc ? Woll, maybe you'd like to take the job of doing it? Who are you, any- how, that dares tal<c the liberty of sntering here uninvited?” ‘ma man, every inch of me, and will take ae pleasure in teaching you manners!” it replied, with increasing anger, Sadie drew nearer tothe ‘oung stranger, as if reassurea 2. his resonce. ‘* You're a contemptible cur!” the squire cried, furiously, ‘‘ and here I'l. break your skull!” “No*no! Don't goand leave him here!” cried Sadie appealingly. “Never fear, young lady. It is not my in- tention to leave, while he is here!” was Kit’s re- ply. ‘‘Do you live here allalone? Have you no one to protect you?” ‘Oh! no, sir; but then, you see, no one has ever offered to molest me until to-night, Every one has been very kind to me, and—and ! never thought Mr. Darrel would be so ungentleman- Kit started at the name. ‘*Mr, Darrel, eh?’ he said, half aloud, ‘© Yes, Mr. Darrel!” cried the squire. ‘‘ What do you know of Mr. Darrel, you tramp?” **No good of you!” Kit retorted, ** But, let me warn you, I’ll be under the necessity of put- ting you out ot doorsif your unruly tongue is not controlled.” ** Oh! please don’t get into any fight with him, Mr.—Mr,—” ‘Call me Kit,” the young knight replied. “‘P'm not a person to urge a fight, but I’ll not take insult from any man,” *‘ Youarea low-lived adventurer and tramp,” roared Roger. ‘* Assault me if you dare, [ll fix you for a funeral in two seconds and then -have my satisfaction from the silly girl.” ‘Hardly were the words uttered, when Kit Keith bounded forward and struck Roger a ter- rible blow upon the right eye that sent him spin- ning to the floor; then seizing him bodily, he motioned Sadie to open the door, and when she had done so, he pitched the hapless squire out into the night. This done, he closed and barred the door, and turned to Sadie, who was now almost helplessly nervous and frightened, ‘* There, miss, I don’t think the impudent lout will molest you again,” .*Ob, you don’t know bim, sir. He is in a fearful rage now, and in fit condition to do any bad act. 1 never had any idea that he was such abadman,Iam sure. He is rich and power- ful, and now that he hates both you ard me, he will use every means in his power to injure us. The men at the buts, down at the beach, are not angels by any means, and for a few dollars they would come up here and murder you, I do be- lieve. They have no frisndship for strangers around these parts.” ‘*So [have heard, But that don’t annoy or intimidate me. T’liremain here a little while, until J see that ‘they don’t intend to molest you, then TPli go and hunt up some lodging- lace. Pi Dear me, I don’t Know where you'll find that, There’s no habitations around here, ex- cept the shanties on the beach, my cottage, and Darrel Manor, a mile inland. The village of W—— is three miles distant!” ‘*Oh, I’m provided for, My steamboat is ly- ing at anchor only a couple of miles from here, and it won’t take me long to reach her. I'll stay here yet a little while, and, meanwhile, theré are a few questions I want to ask you, a you will be so kind as to answer yhem ! ¢ Vann had become of the infuriated Squire Phe he struck the ground, he lay for two or three minutes partly stunned; then, recovering his senses, he picked himself up, and shook his fist toward the cottage. ‘** A thousand curses on you two! I'll fix you’ t rat the night is over, or my name is not rrel |’ He stalked out of the yard and away, and, agcacbing the verge of the cliff, be found a rug- * you don” 1t once get out of, ged path that led to the beach below, and care- fully descendec it, In due time he reached the beach, 2nd made- his way at once to Old Jarvis’s cabin, where he immediately rapped on the door. The door was opened, and he entered, as al- ready narrated. Ofcourse his coming created no little surprise among the inmates, :or heretofore hc hac held himself aloox from their society. ‘“Well, Darrel, what foteches you here?’ de- manded Jarvis, gruffly. ‘' \/s*.7ore just a-talk- in’ about you!” ** At! were vor Then the old sdagc *bout the devil and 0 forth is true, I suppose. \/ hat were you saying abort me! Singin= my praises, [ pre-ume.” ‘* Well, no. We were just debatin’ whether you wero playin’ false ag’in’ us 2° not.” Darrel laughed aryly. % ‘* Well, not so bad as that, I hope. Instead, I’ve taken the trouble to cothe down here through the storm, and put you onto a discoy- ery.” ** A discovery?” te Yes,” ‘‘ Well, out with it! What is it?’ ‘* You're in danger again.” “Tn danger?” ‘* Yes, There’sa stranger arrived you want to look out for.. If I ain’t off, he’s a spy.” ‘*Degcribe him!” Captain Cussic cried, quickly. ‘* He’s a young man, twenty-two or there- abouts, smooth-faced, and answers to the first name of—” ‘* What ?” the outlaws cried in a chorus, as they sprung tv their feet. ‘© Kit. 1 did not get onto his other name,” ‘The same,” Cussick said, .ooking over at Jarvis. ‘It’s Kit Keith, the Revenue Detect- ive. Go ahead, Darrel. ‘Tell us all. briefly and quickly. You shall be well recompensed,” **T want no recompense!” Darre) returned, haughtily. ‘‘All [ want is that that fellow shall get his head broke.” ‘‘ Your wish shall be gratified,” the captain declared. ‘ But, go on,” ‘* Well, vl tell you how it was,” the ’squire went on, stroking his handsome mustache. “* I’ve been keeping company for some little time with Sadie Sefton against my mother’s wishes. To- night, however, I found an opportunity to steal away from the manor for a couple of hours, and [ embraced it. ‘*On my arrival at the cottage, judge my sur- prise to find this Kit there engaged in conver- sation on what I judged to be an important sub- ject. “No sooner had I become seated than this young man turned to me, and looking me over from top to toe, said: “** Young man, we can dispense with your company this evening, so please make your exit : Darrel’s auditors roared at this, for in truth they were pleased at the supposed insult to the heir of Darrel Manor. The ’squire went on: ‘¢ Well, you can believe T wasn’t going to take any such insult as that, as | gave him to under- stand it; and the upsiot Vf the matter wus, we clinched and had it hot and heavy for some twenty minutes, this eye being the only hurt I ot while I blued him up in good shape, Oh, I’m there, when it comes to the manly art. ‘*But the girl finally came to his assistance with a revolver and ordered me ont, and I had to leave or strike her down. So I came here to see if you fellows care to take a chance at clean- in’ out this Government spy. What do you say?” “Of course we will,” Cussick unhesitatingly replied. ‘Tg he still up at the cottage?” ‘ He was when I left,” ‘‘Then no time must be lost, W’ell nab the detective and anchor him in deep water. Get ready, boys! As for you, Darrel 1am undera thousand obligations, and if I can ever do youa favor, let me know,” ‘* You can do me one to-night if you like,” “‘ Name it, and it is as good as done,” “Thank you. What l want isthis: When you take the detective, I want you should also secure the girl, and take her with ro to your stronghold, and there keep her until I can come and interview her. She’s evidently in league with these Government hawks, and 1 think I can bring he to my terms and yours.” *‘I¢ shall be as you say, by the Lord Harry! So, boys, let’s off before our game escapes us!” The six scoundrels quickly left the shanty, and began the precipitous ascent of the cliff, to- ward Sadie Sefton’s cottage, CHAPTER V. THE ABDUCTION, THE Revenue Retriever and Sadie were soom seatcc. near tho fireplace, and while Sadie lis: tened in fear for thc roturn of Darrel, Kit propounded the question uppermost in his mind, “‘] wishec: < inquiro,” he said, ‘‘ concerning these Darrels. i suppose you must know about them, as they do not live far from you.” ** Indeod, I know very little,” Sadie replied. ‘* They have lived at the manor only four years, and in that time I have never entered their house,” ‘Quite unsociable, were you not?” ‘*You might think so, but Mrc. Darrel is a cold, haughty, overbearing person, whom no one could liko, and i never mad any attempt to cultivate her socicty. 1 got acquainted with Roger, quite by chaucoc, and he always con- ducted himselt ar a perfect gentleman until to- night.” Better give him a wide berth, I don’t fancy the fellow. Is his father living?” ‘“No one knows, His father and my father mysteriously disappeared about the same time, and it has been supposed that both were mur- dered by she—the—’ Here Sadie hesitated and look confused. Kit Keith ai to smile, ‘Out with it,” he said, ‘‘ You mean by the moonshiners)” ‘Well, yes, But howin the world do you know about them?” **Oh, I’ve heard about them,” ‘*Then vou are a detective!” she decided, con- fidently. ‘* You hit it, miss. I have come here to break up this illicit distilling business,” ‘*Oh. sir, you have done a very foolish thing, They will surely find you out and kill you. They are a very desperate set of men, and place no value upon a life, especially of one who is their -enem ! Ny A fig for that! Idon’t tear them! They'll have to catch me before they get me. By the way, miss, I believe | haven’t learned your name yet.” ‘‘ My name is Sadie Sefton, sir.” ‘* Sefton?” ‘Yes, sir. You seem surprised. It is not such an uncommon name, is it?” ‘‘No, It simply called to mind an incident of my detoctive career,” | ‘Oh, tell me about it!” ‘¢ Well, over a year agol had occasion to ar- rest a man named Sefton, for a burglary in Washington. He was sent to jailfora year, Shortly after his incarceration, an uncle of his visited him, and told him thatif he’d brace up. and be 8 man he’d get him pardoned, and make his will in fhis favor. Sefton laughed, and said he preferred jail, but suggested that the will be made in favor of his daughter, **Tt seems the uncle did so; for he died soon after, and I heard it said that the whole fortune was left to the daughter. That’s the last I ever heard of the matter.” — ‘* What was the daughter’s first name?” ‘‘ That I never learned. In fact, [ was so busy at the time that I had but little time to pay any attention to the case,” **Oh, could it be possible that it was my fa- ther who was sent to prison? He was not a teed | good man, but he was always good to me ‘* Very unlikely, Miss Sefton, The Sefton who got sent up, 'as—or rather gave his name as Joel Sefton!” ‘Oh, sir, it’s father! it’s father! His name was Joel; and, oh! he’s still alive, and I yet may see him again!” ‘‘ Don’t hope too confidently, my dear young lady, for there may be a dozen Joel Seftons in this great country, ‘But, wait! wait! Dll show you a picture he had taken in Baltimore.” She arose quickly, and went to a little bracket in one corner of the room, and returned bear- ing 2 photograph, which she placed in Kit’s hands, He had barely time to giveita glance when there was heard the rush of feet outside the cot. tage, and then there camea heavy crash that burst asunder the fastenings on the door, and it flew open. e The next instant Captain Cussick and his men poured into the room! f ‘ Surrender, dog of a detective!” shouted the captain, ‘*‘ We’ve got you this time!” _ Kit had had time to spring to his feet, and made an attempt to draw his revolver, but ere he could do so, he was pounced upon by five m who bore him back upon the floor,andinalmost =» ——— i ryt '
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tee Jess time than it takes to tell it, he was bound and helpless, ‘There you are, you prying puppy! We'll learn you to come prying into our affairs,” the captain cried, bending over the prisoner with &n expression of demoniac hatred upon his face. ‘* Your fate will be a lesson to the United States Government to let us alone, I allow. Kit Keith’s your name, is it? Well, itll be Kit Fishmeat, mighty soon, ' So you came here with the intention of breaking up the Independent Order of Moon- shiners, did you? And single-banded, too! By my soul, you’re the worst idiot I ever heard tell of. There is no foom on this fair earth for such asyou. You’ve got to go to Davy Jones's locker, and there, mayhap, you will meet some of your professional kindred who have gone be- fore, ere, boys, lay hold of the fellow and carry him to Mother Miggs’s cliff and toss him over. The tide is running high to night, and he will not have the ghost of a show for escap- ing. Old Jarvis and his three men accordingly raised the young detective from the floor and bore him from the cottage. Sadie, who had stood literally petrified with terror, now rushed forward with a cry of an- guish, ‘Oh, don’t harm him!—please don’t harm him!” she cried, imploringly, *‘for he is my friend!” ‘Oh! he is, is he?” sneered Cussick, intercept- ing her and blockading the doorway, ‘‘ Well, my beauty, so am J!” ** You, sir! I do not know you. You are a bad man. Step aside and let me pass,” ** Well, no, sis! Can’t afford to do that, as I judge you can run faster than I, and I might have some trouble to catch you again.” ‘* What do you mean, you monster?” ‘‘T mean that you are going t@ accompany me up into the hills, where you'll be safeand have @ pleasant home and all the pure old mountain- dew you want to drink! It’s highly improper and imprudent for you to live here all alone, for you now not what hour or minute some tough might come along and make you trouble. So you will come along with me to my inland home, where my sister will watch over and care for you, the same as though you were her own sister.” ‘No, no! Iwill not go!” Sadiecried, retreat- ing to the further side of the room in alarm. *‘ This is my home, and I must stay here.” ‘* But Tsay, no! L[say you must go. If you won’t go peaceably, I'll force you to go. There, now! which will you do?” “No, no! ll never go. I'll die first!” ‘* We'll see about that!” the captain cried, as he bounded forward and seized the terrified maiden. ; Strong man that he was, it was an easy mat- ter for him to hold her, and to securely bind her. He forced her down upon a chair, and she ‘was powerless to move, at least so far as escape ‘was concerved. “There you are!” he said, surveying her with triumph. *‘‘ You see, it never pays for a scholar to disobey the schoolmaster, for the master is bound to come out winner, Now, don’t try to ruv away, that’s a good girl, while I bundle up some of your wardrobe, and then we’ll set out for the “‘ retreat.” He retired te an adjoining room, and pro- ceeded to bundle up some of her clothing. During his absence, Roger Darrel peered into the cottage, then softly entered and confronted poor Sadie. : “You brought this on yourself,” he hissed. **You are in my power now, and I'll break you to my will, or kill you!” Then he noiselessly withdrew, When Cussick returned, he found Sadie in a dead swoon, ‘“*So much ‘the better,” he muttered, ‘The rain will fetch her to in time enough.” In five minutes more he was mounted upon a stro:g-limbed horse and speeding away toward s ’ the interior, holding Sadie in his arms, as though she were a mere child, c “Ha! ha! Roger Darrel!” he cried, exulting- ly, ‘it will be a long time ere you see this prize, which Sh were clever enough to intrust to my ware! Ha! ha! ha!” CHAPTER VI. | FISHED FROM THE SEA. In the mean time, what of Kit Keith? Probably no pon could accurately portray the feelings of the young man as he was borne from the Sefton cottage by the coast rangers. His doom had been | Aetna by the leader of the moonsbiners and these wreckers had been deputized co be bis executioners Hit Keith, the Revenue Spotter. That they would obey orders he had not a doubt, for their very faces proclaimed them to be wretches of the most hardened type, in whose hearts such a thing as mercy did not exist. What then was he to do? Drown in the mighty ocean that cast its sul- len waters against that rock-bound beach? Mother Miggs’s Cliff, as it was cailed, was a promontory overlooking the ocean, and against which the surf rushed, even in low tide, with resistless fury, the spot being about a half-mile south of the Sefton cottage. The top of the cliff projected over its base, so that there was a sheer descent into the vortex of waters below. Looking seaward, was an opening reached from the top of the cliff by a rugged path; also from the narrow fringe of beach, a similar rug- ged path, which only the venturesome would use, ascended to the opening. This opening was, in reality, the entrance to acave—a water-worn chamber, for there was nothing to show that it had been excavated by the hand of man, In this cave had lived a strange old creature, ag was feared and shunned alike by one and all. She was some forty-eight or fifty years old, tall, raw-boned, and said to be of prodigious strength. In face she was anything but hand- some, with gaunt visage, sharp black eyes, and furrowed forehead and cheeks, while her gray hair was always worn in a disheveled state, and her clothing was but a conglomeration of rough garments, Such was Mother Migys, the lone resident of the chamberin the rocks, which no one dared or cared to enter but herself, for the superstitious | coast people believed it to be the abode 4 evil | spirits, Every one of the coast people seemed to stand in awe of her, and few there were who cared toineur her displeasure, for her enmity meant bad luck, Just how she managed to eke out a livelihood, no one took pains to inquire, but it was sup- posed to be mainly by fishing, as none of the coast denizeus had reason to suppose that she had any money, and she was never known to make any purchases at the village, On the wild, tempestuous night which opens our story, Mother Miggs was at home. A heavy blanket hung across the compara- tively narrow entrance to the cave, and kept out the wind. Within the cave there burned a fire, the smoke from which found its exit through crevices in the rocky waHs, The size of the apartment was some ten to twelve feet wide by more in depth and seven high. 1t was supplied with some rude pieces of furniture and a few cooking utensils. A heap of dried grass and sea-fern, in a deep alcove, and covered over with a couple of Ginshaks, evidently did service as a not uncomfortable ed. While the storm without raged with unabated fury, Mother Miggs sat upon a stool before the fire, her dark eyes riveted upon the flames, her thin lips compressed with an expression of stern purpose, Her face wore a peculiarly thoughtful ex- pression, such as one might wear when com- muning with the past. “*To-nigit is the anniversary of her death,” she murmured— just eighteen years ag‘, to- night! °Twas just such a night, too. How well Lremember it! how well I remember her dying shriek, and peering over the ship’s rail, I saw her, by a lightning-flash, rise to the surface and put up her hands, imploring me to save her! ‘*Ah! that was no suicide—no suicide! Nor was it an accident, Poor Cassandra was mur- dered—plunged overboard into a watery grave by her husband, Kyle Kenneth, guilty wretch that he was! And when I gave the alarm, | found the demon in his state-room, to all intents asleep. Bah! "twas only mockery! He was no more asleep than I was,” Here the woman’s fingers clutched nervously together, and the passion-gleam in her eyes grew stronger and fiercer, . “Yes,” she went on, **he murdered ber, and would have murdered the child had I not inter- fered. Then, when I threatened to denounce him, he had me arrested and incarcerated in a mad-house, where my tongue could not injure him, Ha! curses on him, how he tried to force me to give up the certificate of his marriage to Cassandra, but failed! Even the strait-jacket could not attain the desired end, Then he gave up and left me, and I never saw him again until two yearsago, For sixteen years I suffered the tortures of a prisoner in a mad-house; then I escaped and struck out for vengeance—struck out toxavenge my own and Cassandra's wrongs, + ' ‘ - 4 he Wy. Ps . FP as Cae yee he aie 5 ON ch ' te ey ery 9 ane FERN PT LMT ANY Ave! Sha \ Lhe AE Om US UF ge alimetn Supay Rn | PAS Sto da ; geek / Late in, Ls: wa he od we as » Two years have already passed since my escape, and my last sight of his face, and nothing has been accomplished. But the time must soon come—the time must soon come!”’ She arose and went to the cave entrance, and pulling aside the curtain, peered forth upon the tempest-tossed waters. ‘*Ugh! ‘tisa terrible night,” she soliloquized, “and old Jarvis aud bis gang will be abroad, in ba of finding a wreck, I must not be behind thém, for, though they never leave inuch, I sometimes secure what I most need.” . She turned back into the cave, where she took one of the blankets from the bed, and throwing it about her head and shoulders, she left the cave and picked her way down the precipitous ~<a path that led to the base of the uf, At last she reached the water’s edge, but found that the narrow strip of beach, to the left, was so deeply submerged that it would be im- possible to make her passage along the shore, The waters lashed themselves into a fury at her very feet, and the great waves beat the cliff at her right with tremendous strokes. ‘“‘Somehow I feel strangely to-night!” she muttered, as she stood shiveringly at the foot of the pathway, and peered out as far upon the beundless expanse of water as the darkness would permit. ‘‘ A feelirg seems to possess me that Tam no longer an ugly ogre, but that a new life is about to open before me—that I have henceforth something to live for besides venge- ance. ‘*Oh, cruel ccean! but give me back my poor lost sister, and | will no longer regret the past! But, no! It is foolish to even dream of such a thing. Never shall I see poor Cassie’s face again, nor that of her child, and naught remains for me but to strike for vengeance. I have waited too long already. If I cannot reach Kyle Kenneth direct, | can reach those v ho are dexr to him, They say he ts dead, but I know better. Two yeare ago, when 1 came to this coast, he met me face to face, and fled from me before { could say a word to him, Ha,ha! He never has been seen since then, and is hiding from me, like the coward neart he is, because he fears my vengeance. But, wait! I will find him yet, and poor Cassandra shall be avenged! I swear it!” And the hermit of the cliff shook her clinched fist on high. ; Just then, high above the roar of the storm, sounded a human cry. It came from the cliff overhead, It reached the keen ears of the woman, and caused her to start violently. ‘**Ha! what new deviltry?” she cried. ‘* The wreckers are indeed abroad to-night, and there’s trouble for some poor soul!” She stood perfectly still and listened. A second, soeneey. more—then some dark ob- y ject flashed suddenly down through the air to the right of her, and there was a loud splash in the deep water at the great cliff base. é Ast thought,” she hissed. ‘ Jarvis and his gang have thrown another of their victims over the cliff. But he shall not die! Unless already murdered, I must save him!” ‘ Heedless of ber own peril, she threw aside ber blanket and advanced fearlessly into the roaring vortex at the right—an act many a stronger person would bave hesitated at. Though the water reached to her armpits, she advanced boldly until she reached the spot where the dark object bad gone under. Here she stood but a moment, when the body came to the surface. It was a human form! Instantly it was in her grasp, and then toward the path she struggled with her burden. In five minutes more she stood within the cheery firelight of her cave, and upon the grass couch placed the person she had rescued from a watery grave. To all appearance, he was déad, but Mother Miggs knew better than that. She set briskly to work at rescusitating the unconscious man, and soon had succeeded so well that the breast yave token of regular respi- ration, and color began to creep back {nko the white cheeks, i The rescued, it is needless to say, was Kit Keith, whom Jack Jarvis and his gang had, as they doubted not, consigned to a-watery grave, Diligently did Mother Miggs work, unmindful of her own condition, for, accustomed to coast life, she minded not a ducking even in cold weather. She cut away the cords that bound Kine and,in due time, after considerable runomg an thumping, had the satisfaction of seeing him. _ open his eyes.
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G Kit Kei th, the Revenue Spotter. As soon as he recovered consciousness he sat | artist could not have drawn a more natural fac- bolt upright and gazed inquiringly about him. simile of the weapon. The mark was on the For the moment he failed tocomprehend what | thick side of the arm, midway between the had happened to him. When he felt and saw his wet garments, however, a full realizetion came back to him of the experience through which he had just passed, ‘*You rescued me?” he said, interrogatively, as she stood gazing steadily down at him. ‘* Ves, It was lucky I was at the base of the cliff, or you’d be a dead boy now.” ‘.Reckon you're right, there. Where am, apyhow, and what’s your name?” *“*1'm called Mother Miggs, the Witch of the Cliff--a person whom every one hates or fears, This is my abode,” ‘* Indeed! Well, now, mother, I don’t see anything about you to fear, and as for hating you, that would simply be impossible,” **You don’t know me yet. When you do you'll turn from me the same as all the world does,” ** Not so, mother—not so!” Kit cried, heartily, as he regained his feet and thrust out his hand, ** We'll shake on that, Mrs, Miggs! You have saved my life, and I’m so grateful for it, you can depend on it, that I’m your friend through thick and thin, Shake!” The woman took his hand and gazed steadily into his face, ‘* You look like a good young man,” she said, in a thoughtful way. **T hope I am that!” Kit replied, with a smile, ‘* What is your name? You remind me of one now passed away, who was very dear to me, “My name is Kit Keith.” “Ah! That is not the name of the one to whom [ had reference. What brings you here? Who threw you over the cliff?” “Jack Jarvis and his gang,” Kit replied; ‘‘ and, as for my business around these parts, came for the purpose of discovering a gang of moonshiners.” He then made such explanations as he deemed prudent, including tbe assault of Roger Darrel upon Sadie Sefton, and the subsequent attack of the coast rangers upon the cottage. ‘The man who ordered you thrown off the cliff was Captain Cussick, chief of the organ- ized moonshiners of Black Run. Heisa desper- ate character, and the men who surround him and follow his lead are equally desperate,” Mother Miggsaverred, ‘‘ You were foolish to come here alone, for you surely can do nothing single-handed, my boy. They’re too many for you—twenty to your one!” ‘“‘Tyion’t care if they’re fifty!” Kit replied, resolutely. ‘* I’ve got my eyes open now, and if I don’t make them hump, you can call me a wriggler. I’ve located the gang and their stills, and got everything ready for a raid, I can command a regiment of men from Headquarters if 1 want them.” ‘*And you would need a regiment, for the headquarters of the moonshiners are almost in- vulnerable, and they have traps so arranged as toinsoare any one who may seek to ferret them out. I tell you, truthfully, my boy, that you'll ain little by meddling with the moonshiners’ eagzue. Where others have failed, you can have little hope of succeeding.” **Can’t more than try,” Kit responded, ‘TI broke up a gang over in the Blue Ridge, and I can do it again. Besides that, I’ve got other business to attend to. So, now, if you'll show me the way out of this place, I'll go and see if Miss Sefton is all right, and then return to my boat. I haven’t any money with me, but I'll re- wrist and elbow, and was so vivid in color as to | make itinstantly noticeable as soon as the arm was bared. Mother Miggs gazed at it full two minutes without speaking; then let go the arm, mutter- ng: ‘* No, no! there can be but one like it in the world, Tell me, sir, have you always borne that mark?” ‘* Reckon I have; at any rate, ever since I can remember,” ‘¢ Are your parents living?” *T do not know. I never remember kaving had any.” ‘* Ah! What of your early life? Tell me all you remember, Here—sit down here and dry off while you talk.” Kit obeyed. In truth, he was deeply interested, for the old woman’s agitation had aroused his curiosity and interest, Here was more mystery, which seemed to di- rectly concern him, ‘* Well,” he said, when he was seated, ‘‘it is not much I can tell you in regard to myself. About the first I recollect was when I was a T| | ture was taken. kid, about six years old, I judge, 1 was then apprenticed to an Italian organ-grinder iu Philadelphia, and for three years went around with a tambourine, asking for eon He used to beat me unmercifully, sol ran away from him at last, stole a ride to Baltimore, and there I sold newspapers, and as I grew bigger, drifted in‘o other kinds of work, until finally I bit into the line of business I now follow.” Mother Miggs remained silent for a few min- eS, ‘*Do you remember of possessing any little trinkets ia your youth, that might have be- longed to your relatives?” she finally asked. “Only one thing—a golden locket,” Kit re- plied. ‘“‘T have always worn that suspended from a cord about my neck, and it contains the picture of one whom I have always believed might be my mother, although I had no means of knowing for certain,” ** Let me see it! let me see it!” the hermitess cried, excitedly. ‘‘ It may be I will recognize it!” Kit obeyed by drawing the locket from his bosom, and holding it in the firelight so that the old woman could plainly see it. Toe picture in the locket was that of a woman some four-and-twenty years of age. who had a round, attractive face and brilliant eyes—a woman whom the beholder would set down as one of a pleasant, loving disposition and sunny nature. As she saw the locket and picture, Mother Miggs eagerly seized it, with a joyous cry, and pressed it reverently to her lips. ‘Tis the same! ’tis the same!” she cried, ‘I thought I could not be mistaken, even though a score-and-one years have passed since the pic- Oh, Cassandra! Cassandra! Would to God you were alive and here now, in- stead of lying at the bottom of the sea!” and tears streamed down the woman’s furrowed cheeks, ‘* But who was Cassandra?” Kit asked, eager- ly, as he took the locket and scanned the face closely. ‘*She was my younger sister,” the recluse said, drying her tears, ‘‘and she was also your mother !” ‘* My mother! Oh, are you sure?” ** Ay, my boy, sure enough, When I saw the turn here to-morrow in disguise, and reward | birthmark on your arm, 1 was sure that you ou,” “J want no reward, my lad. But, take Mo- ther Miggs’s acvice, and be careful. If they capture you again, it willbe all up with you. You had better remain here, and not venture forth until the storm is over.” ‘*No, [ must go, as soon as I dry off a little,” and as he spoke, Kit divested himself of his coat, and in doing so, his right arm became bared to the elbow, and exposed to view a pecu- liar birthmark, the sight of which caused Mo- ther Miggs to spring forward with a cry of sur- prise. El eta CHAPTER VII. FOUND A RELATIVE, NATURALLY, Kit Keith was also surprised, when the prophetess seized his arm and gazed intently at the birth-mark, manifesting consider- able emotion as she did so. The mark itself was a singular one, and had often excited Kit’s curiosity, 1t was about two were my long-lost nephew, and now that you ossess poor Cassandra’s picture, there is no onger a doubt concerning your identity.” ey LS al a are my aunt?” ‘Yes, I am your : unt, but a sorry-looking specimen of humanity to be related to a noble- appearing young man like you.” **Say not so, for I am just as glad to meet you as though you were clothed in silks and satins,” Kit said, shaking her warmly by the hand. ‘‘ And now draw a stool near the fire, and tell me of my father and mother, and of myself, for this sudden discovery is a wonder- ful one to me, who bave never known what it was to have a mother’s or a father’s care.” ‘* Poor boy,” Mother Miggs said, sympatheti- cally. ‘*l know you are eager to hear all, but the news can bring you little else than a feeling of sorrow, You shalthear the story, neverthe- less, while your clothes are drying: “Years ago, before you were Torn into this world of trouble, the two sisters of us, Clara and as chorus-girls in the operas that were them produced in the city theaters or music halls, Cassandra was some years my junior, and very pretty and attractive, and had suitors by the score, some of whom were gentlemen of wealth and high social standing. ‘¢ Among these latter was one Kyle Kenneth reputedly worth a million and a half, the owner of fast horses, a yacht, and interested largely in shipping and transportation between New York and Southern ports, é ‘*Kyle Kenneth was ou everybody’s tongue. Kyle Kenneth led the fashion. Kyle Kenneth spent his wealth with a lavish hand, and it was. Kyle Kenneth here, and Kyle.Kenneth there; everybody seemed to know him. ‘Naturally my sister felt flattered at his at- tentions, and I rather liked him myself, for he was very polite and attentive to us, made us costly presents, and when he asked Cassandra to be his wife, the poor, overworked girl was: only too glad to aczept his offer. ‘*He installed us both in a costly up-town mansion—I as Cassandra’s attendant—and for a time all went well. Then, after you were born, Kyle Kenneth began to absent himself from home, spending much of his time in the South, staying away often as long as two months: at a time, ‘¢ Business’ was his plea, and when he came: home each time, he seemed more and more mo- rose, sullen and disagreeable, ‘**Of course this made your mother grieve, and she ceased to be the happy creature she was before her marriage. Once a rumor reached us that Kyle had another wife living in the South, hut we were loth to believe this, and kept the secret to ourselves. ‘* Finally, one day, when you were about four years of age, Kyle told us be had transferred all his business interests to New Orleans, and that. the Crescent City would be our future home. Of course Cassie brightened up at this, for she: would now be near her husband. ‘* We sailed a few days later, and had pleas- ant weather until, eighteen years ago this very night, the vessel encountered a terrible gale off this coast—just such a night as this, when it was. blowing great guns, as the sailors say. ‘¢ Before the storm came up, Kyle Kenneth quarreled with Cassie about some trivial mat- ter, and struck her, Then he went on deck, and did not come down vo.supper. It was after supper tiiestorm came up, and I had just fin- ished tucking you away in your little bed, when, suddenly, I missed Cassie. ‘Heeling alarmed, I rushed on deck, and ar- rived there justin time to hear a piercing shriek —Cassie’s! I rushed to the side of the boat whence had come the shriek, but no one was. there. Then came a glareof ligbtnuing—I peered overboard, and saw Cassie in the waters, hold- ing up her hands appealingly tome. I quickly gave the alarm, and every effort was made to. rescue her, but to no avail. She drowned ere any aid could reach her. ‘*T went in search of Kyle Kenneth. He was in his state-room and the door was locked, I burst it open, and found him lying in his bunk, undressed, and feigning sleep. ‘* When EF entered, however, he sprung up, furious with rage, and seized a_ pistol. t snatched it from him, and told him what had happened. He then went on deck, and pro- fessed deep grief, but I could see it was all sham, and afterward told him so, and charged him with having thrown Cassie into the sea, Of course he denied it, and cursed me roundly. That same night I saw him standing ly your bed, with the look of a demon upon his face. I quickly hustled him from the room, and after that 1 was never out of your sight, for I well knew his aim was to put you out of the way. ‘““ The next day, when we made a landing at Norfolk, I stole you away and escaped from the boat. Pursuit was given, and after a long chase I was overtaken, and you were torn from my arms, I was arrested, examined by a board of physicians employed by Kyle Kenneth, ad- judged insane, and sent to the neurest insane asylum. **There I was kept in confinement for sixteen: long years, and what I suffered no one can ever know. Of courseI lost all trace of you, and doubted not but that Kyle Kenneth had put. you out of the way. ** Well, a little over two years ago I made my escape, and set forth to devote the remainder of my duysin seeking vengeance upon my perse- cutor and the murderer of my sister—for never has a doubt existed in my mind but that Kyle Kenneth did pitch Ca-sandra into the sea, Af- ter some little search, I at last locat: d Kenneth, and Cassandra Colville, resided in the city of ; New York, and earned our living by sewing, - inches in length, blood redin color, and a per- tect sword in shape. Indeed, the pencil of an who was still very rich, and living under am
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it —" é Keith, the Revenue Spotter. assumed name. He wasalso married,and not Guiding her nephew to the top of the cliff, only married, but had a grown-upson of your | Miggs there bade him adieu and returned to her ownage, This set me to thinking, and [had a quiet investigation made, and found that Kyle Kenneth wasa bigamist at the date of. your birth. ‘*He had married my sister, Cassandra Col- ville, on the twelfth day of May, and on the twelfta day of September of the same year had wedded Matilda Merchant, a rich Baliimore lady. This accounted for the singular nearness of your age and that of your step-brother, ** Well, after tracing out these discoveries I came to this place and assumed this character. i was not ready to strike, and wanted to remain incognito until l was ready. But one day I met Kyle Kenneth face to face, and he recognized | me; but, coward and craven that he was, he turned and fled from me as if he were pursued by Satan himself, “Then, immediately afterward, came the news that he had mysteriously disappeared, and that fears were entertained that he had met with foul play. At any rate, he bas never been seen since,” ; “Do you think he is dead?’ ‘Not I! It is my belief that he is hiding from me, or else—” ‘*Blse what?” ‘There may be such a thing that his wife and son are keeping him in the background in order to get the use of his money,” Mother , said, significantly. “That may be,” Kit replied, thoughtfully. ** Tt has been a great revelation you have made to me, aunty, and now it is my hope thatI may be able to meet tais inhuman father face to face, You say he has been masquerading under an assumed name?” “ Yes,” ** What name?” ‘Hor the present I prefer to keep that a secret from you. [have some plans to arrange for our mutual benefit, and until they are ar- ranged you had best be kept in ignorance.” Kit laughed quietly. ‘* What if I should tell you that I already know the name?” te said. ‘“‘ That is impossible,” the woman replied, “ un- less you know more than.J think you do.” “Oan’t a fellow guess? Now, if | hit the name first time, will you acknowledge it?” “ Yes.” **1tis Darrel!” **Very true—Judge Darrel he is known as, But, how in the world did you know?” “iF simply guessed.” ‘But bow did you come to guess? You must know something to give you a reason for guessing.” : “ Well, I'll explain.” And the young detective proceeded to narrate the circumstances of his meeting with the rich lady in Washington, and his subsequent meeting with Bum Blinker, conciuding by mentioning Sadie Sefton’s reference to Judge Varrel’s disap- pearance. ‘*¥ see! I see!” Mother Miggs said, thonght- fully. ‘‘ Well, perhaps it is as well that you should know, But letme warn you of one im- portant thing—be sure to keep away from Dar- rel Manor.” ** Why so?” ‘¢ Because, if Matilda Darrel were to see you oe) a ae we shall still continue to call her— T around these parts, she would spare no expense | to have you suddenly turn up missing. She isa bold, scheming woman. and I’ve more than once suspected thet she isin sympathy with the moonshiners. If you are smart enough, how- ever, there is one thing you ought to do,” ** What is that?” 4 “Gain a nocturnal entrance into Darrel Mavor, and have a private look at Kyle Ken- neth’s private papers, If he is dead you are bis legal heir, and entitled to everything as soon as we can arrange things.” F “Very well; perhaps I can work the thing. Bot can you prove my parentage?” “Yes, | possess the certificates of the mar- riage and of your birth,” : . We'llwork hand in hand then. But I must be going now. When the storm abates I must get my boat out of these immediate wa- ters lest she be discovered.” ‘* You will return hereagain?” ** Yes, but when I do, it will be in one of my numerous disguises,” “*Take care, lest you are suspicioned and at- tacked again. Both the coast rangers and cue moonshiners will be‘on the alert now !” _“T don’t think so, especially as they believe me dead, Put never fear; Ill look out for Num- ber One, aunty mine!” rock lodge, while Kit made his way to Sadie Sefton’s cottage, which he found in utter dark- | ness, The door was closed and locked, **She’s gone to bed, and I'll not disturb her,” he muttered, and continued on his way. Had he but known! CHAPTER VIII. SADIE’S INHERITANCE, THE next day the storm had passed away and the sun shone brightly, but the beach was strewn with débris, washed asbore by the waves. During the forenoon the report was circulated by Jarvis and his gang that Sadie Setton was missing, and had undoubtedly been . st, the theory being that she had wandered out on the beach in the storm, and had, in some mysterious manner, been caught in the surf and washed out to sea, One of the coast rangers went so far as to de- clare that he had seen her walking along the shore during the height of the storm, and this seemed to confirm tbe theory advanced by the others. Tho news spread to the pretty village of S—, situated several miles inland from the coast, and there created great consternation and anx- iety, for Sadie was well known to the villagers, and universally admired and respected. The news caused a number of the citizens to hasten to the coast, to prosecute further in- quiries. All they could learn, however, was that the cottage was found locked and Sadie gone— | whither, no one knew, except as already stated— that one of Jack Jarvis’s Coast rungers claimed to have seen her walking along the beach, below her cottage, during the heig t of the storm, so the natural inference was that she had been overwhelmed by some buge wave, and washed out to sea by the tremendous under-tow, Sadie’s huge St. Bernard dog was nowhere to be found. Tue news in regard to the missing girl reached Darrel Manor, while Matilda Darrel and her | son, Roger, were partaking of a Jate breakfast. The Manor was a large, old-fashioned, and rambling structure, two stories high, and singu- larly irregular with its several wings and gables, " Painted a duli lead color, and’ surrounded by tall silver poplar trees, atall times it had rather a grim appearance, Within, however, all was bright and cheery, for wealth characterized every appointment, The breakfast-room was a model of its kind, and the table-ware of the costliest description, Mrs, Darrel, as once before described by us, was a portly personage, some years past middle age, with a haughty expression of countenance, keen gray eyes, and bair quite liberally sprin- | kled with threads of silver, Roger was very like his mother, though at times he was free and open-bearted, and in- clined to be sociable. Still he possessed her domineering disposition, and when angered, was not only cunuing and treacherous but danger- ous, After the servant had reported the news of Sadie’s disappearance, Mrs, Darrel glanced across the table at Roger, a peculiar glitter in her eyes, Well, said she, ‘‘you do not seem much ieved over the loss, Roger?” = particularly,” Koger replied, indiffer- ently. ‘* Which proves that you still have some sense left,” the mother declared with a commenda- tory nod, ‘It is better for the sake of our family name that the girl has disappeared, for | as long rs she remained at she cliff you were not your usual self.” ‘*Family name be banged!” Roger retorted. ** What does it amount to? You're not thought any the more of becaus: of it, I am sure.” Mrs. Darrel shrugged her shoulders, ‘* There is where you err,” she returned. “It at least keeps me from the contaminating society of those who are my inferiors, If you had my pride, you would be more locked up t» than you are. Your associating with this Sefton girl has already placed you on a common level, and I can say [ am heartily glad she is gone, for now you may turn your attention to those who are more your socixl equals.” “If you refer to May Melville, you can set your heart at rest.on that score, she can never be aught to me!” Roger declared firmly. ‘Be Sadie Sefton living or dead, I shall always re- main true to her!” ‘‘Atthe pain of my displeasure, 1 suppose,” Mrs, Darrel suggested with a sneer. “TE needs be, yes! You have no cause to be displeased. I am over age, avd perfectly able to choose for myself, and 1 propose to/do so. ‘* Do you know what your continued defiance of my wishes will entail, sir?” **] donot know, and I careless, I have good reasons to believe that Sadie Sefton is not dead, and I shall not give her up.” ‘‘What reasons have you for believing her not dead?” eying him with quick suspicion. ‘*I matters not. Ihave reasons, and that is all I have tosay.” ‘* Then vou refuse to give her up?” ‘*I do, most assuredly. I love the girl, poor though she is, and I shall yet make her my wife, if she still lives.” ‘“*This defiance is intolerable, Roger,” Mrs, Darrel said angrily, ‘‘and I will not tolerate it, I bave.ever Leeu indulgent to you, and to have you now turn against me, in this unfeelin manner, is more than | can or will bear. ’ sbali send for my lawyer this very day, and bavea new willmade. I will disinherit you.” Roger paused long enough in hisrepast togive vent to a dry laugh, **Nisiniierit me, eh?” he repeated, “Yes, Pil disinherit you!” ‘*But, pray, mother, how are you to do that, when you have nothing to leave behind? I really donot understand. The bulk of father’s mouey liesin the bank at S——, and there it will remain, until the bank officials are satisfied that father is dead. Neither can this estate be sold without my consent, fur, since father left no will behind, | am as much of an heir as you. So I gon't se bow you are going to particularly disiuh- rit me or kick me out of doors, when I have &3 much interest here as you have!” Mrs. Darrel bit her lip, and her eyes flashed in anger, ** You shallsee. You may not be aware that a will has been found!” sbe rejoined, “Bab! 1+ on’t believe 11! Didn’t we make a a Gilgent search with: ut finding a trace of such a document? No, no, mother! That won't work. Tbere’s no earthly use of your trying to bulldoze me, form bound to have my own way.” ; Mrs. Darre! was about to make a declarationof - war when the servant re-entered, bearing a silver card salver, upon which was a business card: A. COBURN, ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR aT Law, Washington, D.C. Mrs. Darrel took the card and surveyed it thoughtfully. ‘*] wonder who he can be, and what he can want here?” she mused. Then aloud: ‘*Show the gentleman in bere, John,” and a gentleman of business bearing was soon ushered into the breakfast-room and given a seat, Hs was some fifty years of age, well dressed, and sported an enormous pair of iron-gray side- whiskers. ‘* T believe LT have the honor of meeting Mrs, Judson Darrel?” be said, when seated. * Yes, sir, l au. Mrs, Darrel, You, I per. ceive by the card, are Mr, Coburn, from Wash- ington,” ‘* Juséso, madam, I was directed to you by | your Washington attorney, Mr. Black.” ** Ab, yes, 1 see, Of what service can I be to you, sir?” ** Well, possibly you can assist me in finding a person i am in search of. Mr. Black said he presume] you might be able to. A large for- tune in money has been left to a young lady, who is supposed to be hving somewhere in this region, and I have been commissioned to look her up. sae Fins see, the case is like this: There were two brothers, one considerably the senior of the ofber. The elder was very rich, while tie younger was a miserable scamp, confined in jazl for a Lurglary. - ‘‘ The elder brother, being in failing health visited the younger in prison, and offered not only to secure his liberation, but alzo to make his will in bis favof, providing the junior would promise thereafter to lead a better life, “This offer was recklessly refused; but the prisoner was thoughtful enough to suggest that the will be made in favor of his daughter, to which the elder brother agreed, anid took his de- re, “The elder brother kept his promise. He made his willin favor of the prisoner’s daugh- ter, and I was appointed executor and adminis
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Bae Fr arena - oe a a ne 2 4 ; 4 - x. Revenue Spotter money, I had to give bonds ina large sum when the money was paid over tome. I had a great deal of trouble to get responsible men whom the Orphan’s Court would accept to go on my bond, 1 succeeded, though, and havesince held the mou- ey. The heiress’s father broke jail, and I had no clew to work upon except that in bis cell was found a scrap of paper bearing your name, I re- membered of having heard Lawyer Black men- tion the name, and, going to him, he gave me your address, and presumed, I could gain some information of you. 1 am verybusy with my pan: and want to get this matter off my ands as soon as possible.” * **But you haven’t mentioned any names,” Mrs. Darrel reminded. ‘‘ How am J to know whom it is you wish to find?” “True enough, The name is Sefton.” “ Sefton!” Mrs. Darrel started and glanced at Roger, upon whose face there was an uninterpretable expression, ‘¢ Yes, ma’am—Joel Sefton!” the lawyer said. “And the daughter’s name?” ** Sadie.” Mrs. Darrel leaned back in her chair and drew a long breath of surprise. Here was an astonishing revelation, to be sure! Sadie Sefton, whom she had snubbed and de- spised because she was poor, was, after all, an heiress! The haughty mistress of Darrel Manor dare not give a second glance toward her son, for she felt that he would return asmuile of exultance and triumph. ‘*Tt appears you do know the young lady?” Lawyer Coburn observed, stroking bis long side- whiskers, ‘* Yes, indeed,” Mrs. Darrel replied. ‘‘ Sadie isa model young lady, and has lived alone in her cottage a short distance from here ever since her father mysteriously disappeared, two yearsago. Tobat is, until last night, whea she also mysteriously disappeared,” ‘* Indeed! How is that?” ‘* Well, you see,’ and the lady smiled compla- cently, ‘‘ her disappearance has caused a lively sensation in the neighborhood. The theory is that she wandered out in last night’s storm, and, becoming bewildereu, fell over the cliff into the ocean,and was washed outtosea. Thisis the gen- eral belief. Therearetwo persons, however,who know better.” ‘* Ab! Whoare they?” ‘* Myself and my son here.” ‘“Tndeed? But, pardon me, if I fail to under- stand.” ‘* Well, you see, it’s a little family secret, and we have not seen fit to disabuse the neighbors of their opinion for the present. You see, their surprise will bo all the better hy and by. But I will explain: Mis; Sefton is engaged to my son, and has left for New York to secure her wed- ding trousseau.” ‘*[ndeed? This isa surprise. return?” ‘*Wedo not anticipate her return until two days before the wedding-day—which is fixed for two weeks hence,” “Hum! Well, really, this is disappointing. Tcanill afford to wait that length of time, and as for another trip here immediately, that will also inconvenience me.” ‘“‘ Perbaps that can be arranged, Miss Sefton can meet you in Washington on her return.” ‘*But I shall not be there for possibly two months, having an Eastern estate to settle up. “How large is the sum of Miss Sefton’s in- heritance, sir?’ Roger asked, speaking for the fir«t time, } ‘* Thirteen thousand dollars.” ‘*T infer from what you have said, that you brought the amount with you to settle with her here?” sp ls bs Fil “Then cannot some arrangement be made, so that the money can be left in trust for her? My When will she ‘mother and I jointly own this estate, valued at fifteen thousand dollars, and besides have a bank-account of seventy-five thousand dollars, If hese like, you can deposit the money with us, and we will give youa joint receipt of trust, so that the money would be safe for Miss Sefton on herreturn.” _ Coburn shook his head gravely. **That would be a very unbusiness-like way of doing business,” he answered. ‘ [see no other way than that I shall have to return home, and your affienced will have to wait until I can get an opportunity to see her in person,” rn A ** Could you wait here a couple of days?” ** Well, yes, in an emergency I think I could possibly spare that time, Sput why?” ‘“*T’ve an idea Miss Sefton expected to spend a day or two with an acquaintance in Philadel- phia, lcould perhaps reach her there by tele- graph, and have her return home at once,” ‘*Very well, If you can do that I will wait, as I want to get the business off atonce. My bondsmen are also equally anxious.to be re- leased. So if an early settlement can be ar- rived at, so much the better.” * All right. I'll saddle my horse, ride to the nearest telegraph station, and send a dispatch. In the mean time you must accept of the hospi- tality of Darrel Manor, and make yourself at home, for the accommodations at S—— are of a very inferior character, and I could not think of allowing you to go there.” The attorney expressed his thanks for the hospitable offer, and accepted an invitation to breakfast. Immediately after the meal was over, Mr. Coburn was shown into the parlor and left jto amuse himself, while in another room, Roger anil his scheming mother held an earnest con- sultation. Later on Roger mounted his horse, and rode rapidly away from the Manor. He did not head toward the nearest telegraph stution, however, but toward the distant forest- crowned hills, amid whose fustnesses the head- quarters of the Moonshiners’ League was lo- cated, ‘* Sadie Sefton musi be mine, now!” he mut- tered, ‘‘ There shall be no tomfoolery about it, either! That thirteen thousand dollars must not be lost, and it sha’n’t be, not even if—” He left the sentence unfinished, but there was a wicked gleam in his eyes that spoke volumes. CHAPTER IX. BUM BLINKER’S CALL, Mrs, DARREL, some two hours after her son’s departure, was seated in the parlor, making herself agreeable to the Washingtcn attorney, when a kitchen domestic, on whose florid coun- tenance ‘‘cook” was plainly written, bolted abruptly into the room, with arms akimbo, and eyes flashing with anger. ‘-If ye pl’aze, mum,” she cried, ‘it’s mesilf as is wishin’ yez to come to the kitchen, to oncet!” “What is the matter, Bridget?’ her mistress demanded. ‘Shure, an’ it’s enough’s the matter, so it is! There be a spalpeen ay a tramp in the kitchen, a-makin’ himself as free as a lord, an’ shure he says he won't go out ontil he has an intervoo wid yersilf!” ** We'll see about that!” Mrs. Darrel decided, ‘Excuse me, Mr. Coburn, while I see what is gone wrong.” ‘¢ Certainly! certainly!” the lawyer replied, ‘¢ A mighty fine woman,” he added to himself, after she had gone. ‘‘If I wasa marrying man, T should feel inclined to think twice before ne further than the charming Mrs, Dar- re}! He tipped back in his easy-chair, and in- dulged in pleasant thoughts of the mistress of the Manor, when a paper floated down into his lap. From what source it came he had no means of knowing, for, on looking sharply around, he 1 | | the kitchen, she saw a specimen of the unmis- takable tramp species, seated upon a work- table, engaged in munching away at one of Bridget’s freshly-baked pies, and, judging by his coatented expression, it suited his appetite to a nicety. The fellow was none other than Bum Blinker, whom Kit Keith had met in Washington—the same individual, but now, if anything, dirtier, more ragged and dissipated in appearance than then, As Mrs. Darrel entered the kitchen, he looked up, and nodded familiarly, ‘* Howdy do, Matilca?”’ he saluted. ‘‘ Glad ter see you! Lookin’ jest as hale and hearty as ever, I perceive,” ‘*Sir! what do you mean by entering my house and conducting yourself in this manner?” Mrs, Darrel angrily demanded, turning white and red by turns, ** Your house?’ chuckled Blinker, taking an- other nip at the pie. ‘‘ Who said it was your house?” ‘* | said it was my house, sir, and I want you to yet outof itinstantly, or I'll call for assistance to put you out.” “ Better not, Til, You know I’ma bad man, and I carrya pop. Set down and make your- self sociable, or it’ll be the worse for you!” His toae, as well as his words, implied a threat, and she knew it, evidently, for she turned to the domestic. ‘*Bridget, you can run up-stairs and see the chambermaid a few minutes,” she sug- gested. Bridget accordingly left the room, and then Mrs, Darrel turned upon the cool intruder, fiercely. ‘* Now, sir, be good enough to explain what brings you here!” she cried, fury stamped on every feature, ‘* Ob, several various things,” the tramp an- swered, good-naturedly, ‘‘One thing, [ had a kind of a hankerin’ to see the old place again. Then, too, my wardrobe was gettin’ depleted, my stomach empty, as well as my bank acccunt, and so methought I’d wander back again. Ain’t yer glad to see me, Til? Ain’t ye got a couple 0’ fatted calves ye’r’ goin’ to kill, on account W’ the prodigal’s return?” Mrs. Darrel’s eyes now fairly blazed with assion. ¢ Joel Sefton!” she cried, ‘‘I thought I paid you to Jeave this part of the country and never return?” ‘Sh! not that name!” he said, with a serio- comic gesture. ‘‘ Joel Sefton lies buried in the lock-up of a distant city. You are now in the presence of Bum Blinker, Esq., gentleman of leisure!” ‘¢ Yes, I know you’ve been in jail,” she hissed, “and if I’d known it while you were there, you'd never got out!” ‘¢ Humph!” and Blinker looked disgusted ; ‘‘ no ail strong enough to hold me! Love laughs at ocksmiths, they say, and you know I worship you, or atleast I do your money—which is all thesame. Howsomever, notwithstanding, never- theless, that’s neither heer nor there, One thing that brought me back to these parts war to see my gal, Sadie!” ** You'll never see |} er!” Mrs. Darrel said, tri- umph in her tone, ‘She was drowned during the storm last night!’ Blinker put one finger to his left eye, and drew down the lower lid. ‘“*D’ye see any green thar?” he chuckled, could detect no other human presence in the | “Waal, I reckon not, Matilda—nary green, you room than himself, bet! I’ve beerd them theories, but they don’t Not without a deal of ‘curiosity, he examined | go down my gullet. Thar’s one person knows the paper, aud found it to be the fly-leaf of a book, upon whith was written in pencil: ** Pay no money to the Darrels under any circum- stances! I believe Sadie to be a prisover and in their power, At any rate, she has not zone to New York. Be on your guard that you are not robbed, Will see you later. ‘Kir Kerra, Detic/ive /” Mr. Coburn could scarce repress an exclama- tion as he read the note. ‘‘ Kit Keith here ?” he mused, for the young Revenue Retriever was well known to him by reputation, ‘* What in the world is he doing here, and where is he?” He arose and looked behind every article of furniture that could hide the author of the note from view, but all in vain, He was the only occupant of the room. Here was certainly a mystery, At least it was a mystery to him, and he sat down to ru- minate over it. Meanwhile, let us follow Mrs, Darrel. When, accompanied by Bridget, she reached | a ee ee ee whar my Sadie is, and he’s got to produce her, or ['ll wake erow-fodder out of him, He’s yer stuck-up son!” ‘* Roger knows nothing about your girl!” Mrs, Darr*l cried, haughtily, “Ob, don't he? Waal, jest wait till I get hold of him, and you'll find out.” ‘You scoundrel! Dare you threaten my son in my presen e? Leave the house, sir, or it will be the worse for you!” “Git out! Who'’safraid of you ? I won't go till I git good and ready!” Blinker declared. ‘*You’d better act a leetle more perlite, or it — may be the worse for you, instead of me!” Mrs. Darrel winced at this, and then her © na ie gi dark with passion once more, as she cried: ‘* You came here iS apc get money?” “You bet!” replied Blinker, emphatically, “ You couldn't have hit the nail the bead if you had tried, Money is the very jewel I’m after, for, pon honor, I haven't see’ the shadow of a red cent ina month!” Hi) ** Well, you’re not likely to in another montn + au straighter on ©
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Kit Keith, the Reven ue Spotter. 9 ‘if you ie, to get it from me. Not one more amd will you receive from me,Joel Sefton. I ‘bargained with you to leave this part of the country, never to return, andI paid you well. Now you have come back, expecting to bleed me out of more money, but you have come in vain!” “Oh, I have, have I?” Blinker sneered, ** Well, if that’s the case, I suppose I’ll have to make a raise in some other direction. By the way, how's the guv’nor getting along these times?” ‘““ He died over a year ago. It would have Ss benefit to the country if you had died, also, i . ‘* Mebbe you think so, but, you see, I have a different opinion. So the judge is dead, eh? Waal, I dunno about that. You never were remarkable fer tellin’ the truth, and I’m of the opinion thet you’re tryin’ to shut my eye up now. Howsomever, notwithstanding, neverthe- less, it don’t matter. I want money, and you’re goin’ ter give it to me!” ‘** Not one farthing! and if you don’t get out of this neighborhood at once, I’ll have you ar- rested!” ‘““Humph! What for?” ** You are an escaped jail-bird, and are want- ed in Washington!” Bum Blinker laughed loudly. ** Arrest and be hanged!” he grunted, ‘* Look out fer me, tho’. I ain’t nobody’s fool, By-by! VU see you later!” And, leaping from the table, the noble speci- men of the genus tramp snatched another pie from a shelf, and made his exit from the kitchen in surprisingly quick order. Mrs, Darrel, now grown pale with alarm, rushed 'o the door and called after him, but, paying no heed to her, he hurried from the grounds, munching the pie as he went. ** Good heavens! I did wrong not to give him money!” the scheming mistress of the Manor gasped, as she stood with pallid countenance, watching him depart, ‘‘ I wonder if he will dare. betray me?” CHAPTER X, REUBEN SWEET, OF CONNECTICUT, THE Village of S——, which was about three miles from Darrel Manor, contained nearly five hundred inhabitants. Having no railway fa- cilities, its chief dependence was the farming country surrounding. It was, however, not particularly prosperous. The people were, of course, both good and bad, and it was not strange that the dwellers olf the hill districts should bring their moonshine whisky in exchange for groceries, ‘The “ Horn of Plenty ” tavern, run by a man named Howler, was the only place in the village where the ardent was regularly retailed, and, as nay be judged, the place was well patron- ‘ized, ' On the evening following the events last nar- rated the Horn of Plenty was more than usually full, for a gang of “‘ up country ” men had come to town, and several of Jack Jarvis’s coast rangers had come up to mix with the crowd, There also was present a man attired in a plain business suit, black soft felt hat, and white shirt and collar, sporting a full gray beard and bair silver gray. This stranger kept rather aloof from the ‘carousers, for he was quietly seated in an out-of- the-way corner and appeared absorbed in noth- ing so much as a brand new corncob pipe which he was leisurely smoking, He wore spectacles, carried a stout hickory cane, and to all appearances was some fifty years ofage. ~ Another noticeable self about with no Blinker. In some way he had succeeded in getting snough moonshine to make him tipsy, and he was cayorting about with the friskiniess ofa half-crown lamb. “ Ye tell me my yal aire gone up ther spout!” he stiouted. ‘I tell yerno! Thar.ain’t a word 0°’ truto init. She war no sech darned fool as to go s-ootin’ out inter, a storm, tumble off a cliff, an’ git drowned! Shehev lived too long on ther coast fer that, an’ he’s a liar who sez there is. My gal hev been kerried off by some cuss, an’ ther job lays atwixt three galoots!” Several times Blinker paraded up and down the room, shouting this harangue, and shaking his fists about in a promiscuous manver, meaty he was interrupted in one of his rounds by ale tote, a burly up-river rough, nearly as huge and ferocious of aspect as was erson who disported him- ittle flourish was Bum Howler, the proprietor of the Horn of Plenty, “‘See here, Joel Sefton!” Big Peve growled, / seizing the bummer by the shoulder,‘ ye’r’ mak- in’ ter danged much noise for a man 0’ yer size, You’ve been prancin’ up and down here lon enough, a-shootin’ off that some one hez carried | off your gal, an’ ye say it’s one o’ three persons as did the job. Now, which is them three per- sons? We, ther people, want ter know, and don't ye fergit it!” **Dunno as it’s anything to you,” growled Sefton, sobering up. ‘It ain’t you I mean!” ‘*T don’t care a tinker’s pot for that. You spit out who ye do mean, orI’ll take it upon myself to smash you!” ** Mebbe ye think I’m afeard of you!” returned Sefton, spunkily. ‘* You an’I wasallus on good terms, Big Pete, an’ never had a quarrel ; but, jest the same, I ain't afraid 0’ you!’ ‘* Well, you just tell me who ye’r’ slingin’ hints on, concernin’ carryin’ off yer gal, or |’!l make you the sickest-sucker as ever hung around this ah ‘“* Well, I ain’t afeard to express my opinion,” Sefton declared, evidently believing that discre- tion was the better part of valor. *' I’m sart’in my gal has been carried off, an’ the job lays be- tween three men. One of them aire Roger Dar- rel, another is Jack Jarvis, an’ t’otheris Cap Cussick. Thar! now, are you satisfied?” Big Pete uttered a savage oath. “So ye accuse the captain, do ye?” he roared. ‘‘ Waal, I want yer to know that the captain is a friend of mine. .D’ye know what he’d do ef he war here?” **T don’t know, nor don’t keer!” was the re- tort, ‘‘One of the three hasegot my gal, an’ I’d just as lief suspect one as t’other.” ** Well, Pll tell you what the captain would do if he was here—he’d smash ye all over the floor, ef he didn’t kill ye, an’ bein’s he’s a friend of mine, I'll jest about look out for his inter- ests!’ And with that he hauled off and struck Sefton a fearful blow in the face, It was a stroke that would have felled an ox, and Sefton went crashing to the floor, blood gushing from his mouth and nostrils, He quickly staggered to his feet, however, a vengeful light burning in his eyes, ‘You accursed low-lived moonshiner!” he yelled, “I'll get square with you for this, By the God above me, I’ll have your heart’s—” He did not finish the sentence, for another fearful blow from Big Pete’s fist laid him out senseless on the floor, The ruffian then dragged his victim to the door of the saloon, and pitched him headlong into the street, Whether Sefton was dead or alive, no one left The incident of the knock-down evidently soon passed out of the minds of the revelers, for the larity. During the evening, Hen Howler substituted a bartender for himself, and sauntered over to where the man with the gray beard was seated, “Well, old man, you *pear to be takin’ it sorter easy, ain’t ye?” he said. ** Yas, sorter,” was the reply. ‘‘ Been kinder lookin’ over the crowd to see if I couldn’t pick out some man who could give me some point- ers, ‘** Pointers, eh?’ and the landlord eyed him keenly, ‘So you are a detective ?” The old man Jaughed heartily. ** Waal, no,” he said, ‘* not as any one knows of. I am Reuben Sweet, from Connecticut. Heer’s my card.” Wists 9 took the extended card, and glanced at it; orgies went on with unabated hi- lt read: “ REUBEN SWEET, Wholesale Dealer in Wines &: Liquors, Saybrook, Conn,” ‘“* Ah! you’re in the liquor trade, eh?” Howler observed, ‘* Yas, this last twenty years,” was the reply. “‘ Handled a heap of stuff in that time,” “T should business?” ‘Waal, yas. I was told, on the quiet, ef I’d fetch my boat up along this coast, I could pick up. a cargo of ‘moonshine’ at a pretty reason- able figger; so aS my stock was runnin’ low, I thought I’d try the experiment, ye see,” “‘T understand,” Howler said, drawing a chair to hand and sitting down. ‘** And I opine you’ve come to purty mgh the right | ity, pee gent, providin’ you’ve got the stuff to pay or it. * The ‘stuff’s’ all right,” Sweet assured, with a nod of the head. ‘‘ presume so, Up this country on always pay cash,’ ‘*Have you made any purchases yet?” ‘No. Only just arrived, this afternoon. Thet is what [ have been sittin’ round here for. to see if I couldn’t pick out some one who could put me onto a bargain.” . ** Well, old gent, since you appear all on the square, { can help you out, or, at least, | know a fellow that can.” The proprietor of the Horn of Plenty then called out the name of Big Pete, who stalked forward, and was formally introduced to Reu- ben Sweet, of Saybrook, and suown his card, “* Mr, Sweet bas come to these parts, Pete,” said Howler, *‘ with a view to purchasing a con- signment of mountain-dew, to take back with him to the Nutmeg State. His boat is anchored down along the coast, in readiness to ship a cargo, and here’s a ripe chance for a sale, Where’s the captain?” ~ ‘Up the Run, I reckon,” Big Pete replied, surveying Mr, Reuben Sweet rather suspicious- y. ‘* How much stock has he got on hand?” Pete shrugged his shoulders, ‘*More’n he'll be likely to get rid of right away. The stuff will keep, tho’, providin’ the captain shells out the money to the boys. How much d’ye want to purchase, stranger?” ‘ ‘* Waal, that depends su’thin’ on the price, From fifty to a hundred bar’ls, or thereabouts.” ** Pay cash?” ** Sart’in.” ‘** Well, ef you mean business, ye kin go ‘long wi’ me up to the Run to-night and see the cap- tain. Reckon he’ll be glad to make a sale like that,” ng ‘“* Ts the stuff full proof?” ‘You bet! There’s no better stuff made, Howler, here, has some of it, Ye kin see what it is.” ** Just let me have a taste, judge of the juice.” Whisky was ordered, and Reuben sipped a lass of it leisurely, occasionally smacking his ips with a gusto. **That’s prime!” he declared. about that. Vl take a hundred bar’ls of it at thirty-five cents!” ** T reckon not. it!” ‘* Not for a hundred bar’ls?” ‘*T reckon not,” ‘* Waal, then, I reckon, as ye say, that I'll have to look further,” Reuben said, tipping back in his chair and relighting his pipe. ‘* Can’t af- ford to come all the way from Connecticut and y them figures, I'll take a hundred bar’ls, de- lived at Jarvishaven, at thirty-five, but I won’t pay a cent more,” And the old man appeared resolute in his de- cision. Howler and Big Pete exchanged glances. ‘* You'd better take him to the captain,” the former said, ‘‘I’ll go the drinks he’ll accept the offer on account of the size of it.” ‘* Well, maybe he will,” Big Pete admitted, “So you can go "long wi’ me, old gent, an’ meb- be we can fix ye out. The captain ain’t werry hard to deal wi’.” ‘Very well. What time will you be ready to start?” ** Oh, not tillafter midnight. Have to be kind of careful, you know,” “Correct. Lunderstand. While waiting, I'll go and look the town over and hire mea horse. Pil be back long before you are ready to start.” The little party broke up, and Reuben Sweet left the tavern. “If everything works right,” he muttered when out it the.d enair, ‘‘ min for a scrap. I wonder what has become of Sefton? The poor devil got it bad.” He wandered leisurely down the lone main street of the village, his mind busied in formin plans of action, when suddenly a man step from a shadow and grasped bim by the shoul- der, It was Joel Sefton, looking almost hideous in the bright moonlight, covered with clotted blood as he was. ’ “Halt!” he commanded, in a boarse voice, “Are you the old man who was in the tavern to-night?” “ es,” ** You see me get laid out?” ‘IT did.” ‘Is Big Pete in there yet?” ** He is,” ‘““ All right. That’s all I want to know. I'm goin’ to kill him when he comes out.” ‘** No, you are not!” “Why not? What the deuce have you got to say about it?” I'm & purty good Nothin’ less’n forty will touch ‘* No chemicals —
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iPoey San. ee 2 — oF A LD LN ED NEI, NI re Spotter. fate of your daughter!” “How do you mean?’ member a young man whom you accosted in Washington a few weeks ago, and gave some information to, concerning Matilda Darrel?” ** Yes, I remember,” **Do you know who that young man was?” ‘“No, Who?” ‘* Kit Keith, the Revenue Detective.” **The deuce yousxy! And who're you?” “The same chap! Listen: Iam here, osten- sibly to purchase ‘moonshine’ whisky, but, in reality, to break up this gang of moonsbiners, Iam going to the Run to-night with Big Pete to make a supposed purchase of whisky, but, in | reality, to get the lay of the ground. While there [ will find and rescue your daugnbter, provid- ing you — to remain here, and keep your- | » self quie **T promise, and may God grant that you suc- | ceed in your undertaking!” Sefton saia, earnest- ly. “Iwill go to my cottage, and await you there.” ** No more whisky?” ** Nary drop, ’pon honor!” Hiring a saddle horse, and looking well to his weapons, the retriever returned to the Horn of Plenty, ready for his daring nocturnal venture, CHAPTER XI. IMPRISONED. Let us return to Sadie Sefton, who, when we last saw her, was being’ spirited away by the moonsbiner chief, Captain Cussick, At the time, Sadie, it will be recalled, was insensible, When consciousnéss returned, she found her- ~alf lying upon a bed in a plainly but neatly-fur- nished room, At first, on awakening, she was unable to comprehend the situation, but when her adven- tures of the previous night dawned upon her, . and she realized that she had been carried off by Captain Cussick, she buried her face in a pil- low and wept piteously. By and by, however, her curiosity got the bet- ter of her grief, and drying her tears, she arose and looked around her. Her room was not a large one, but contained a door and two windows, the latter overlooking adismal piece of wooded ravine, where there were no habitations in sight. The wiadows were guarded on the inside by heavy wooden bars, which were spiked to the casing. ; The door was also securely fastened on the outside. ‘he floor of the room was covered with a rag carpet, and the furniture consisted of a comfort- able bed, a couple of chairs, a table, and a wash- stand. There were also several pictures on the walls, and a few old magazines upon the table. After washing herself and combing her hair, Sadio sat down by the window, and gazing down into the gloomy ravine, thought over her experiences of the last few hours, ** Poor Mr, Keith!” she murmured, tears fill- ing her eyes, ‘‘I wonder if they really did drown him? Oh, it is terrible, if they have! He was so nice and good, and J thought in him | I had found a true friend. He knew something about father, too. Oh!Ido so hope they did | not harm bim; but, well I know that I hope in vain, for Jack Jarvis and bis gang are not the ones to show mercy! ‘And, oh! that villain, Roger Darrel. It was he who betrayed Mr. Keith’s presence at the cottage, and I doubt not it wus he who caused me to be carried off to this lonely place. ‘* Here Lam, a prisoner among wretches of the worst type, and who, oh! who will ever come to my rescue? Alas! no one! If Mr. Keith has been drowned, I have not another friend in the world to search for andrescue me!” The thought was certainly a heartrending one, and despite her effrts to be brave, she was forced to noe egg ¢ Something like an hour later a key turned in the lock, the door opened, and Captain Cussick entered the room, After locking the door after him, he turned, folded his arms across his breast, and surveyed his captive in triumpb. ‘*How is my pretty bird this morning?” he asked, ‘‘ What! been crying? Pstaw, how fool- ish of you, my dear! You'll spoil your pretty eyes by crying.” ‘* Sir!” cried Sadie, passionately, asshe sprung to her feet, ‘‘ leave my presence! Is it not enough that you have imprisoned me here in So ye kin make up yer mind if the captain cal- torture me?” “Tot! tut! It is not to torture you that I | mate; and,even had be, it would not matter, ‘‘ Listen, and you shall know. Do you re- | come,” Cussick replied. ‘* Indeed, that would | for I would never marry h.m—no! never!” | be the last thought to enter my mind, Miss Sef- | ton,” He spoke now in a mure respectful tone. ‘*T came to see if thee was anything i could do for you.” ‘** Nothing!” Sadie returned, haughtily. ‘* You | are a despicable wretch, and | loathe and despise you! You caused the death of my young friend, Kit Keith, and that is all-sufficient to make you } a human monster in my sight, let alone all your | other badness.” “True, [I caused the death of the Government spy because I was forced to do so for self-protec- | tion. He came here to break up our business, and thereby take the bread from our mouths, and he well deserved the fate which overtook him, But, despite this, Sadie, the devil is not always so blacz as heis painted, It was not of my own accord that 1 prougbt you here, nor bave I any personal aims to further, so far as you areconcerned, I was hired to abduct you y your lover, Roger Darrel.” ‘My lover, indeed! Heis as vile a wretch as ourself!’ Sadie bravely retorted. ‘* Be that as you like, it was he who was the cause of your abduction; it was he who inform- ed of Kit Keith’s presence at your cottage. He paid me a good sum to bring you here, and I did so. But that does not signify that you must ne- cessarily remain here for any considerable length of time.” **T donot understand you, sir.” ‘Then I will make matters plainer: Darrel means to possess you, by fair means or foul, and hired me to bring you here, in the belief that I would assist him in forcing you to become his wife, But in this he bas reckoned without his host, I can assure you, ** For a long time it has been my desire to get young Darrel in my power, for, by holding him a prisoner, I can compel bim to pay a large ran- som for his release, So you see, when he want- ed me to bring you here, I foresaw a way by which I could entrap him, and make his arro- gant mother pony up a round sum for his re- appearance,” “ But in what way does all this concern me?” Sadie demanded, ‘This much: That when Darrel comes here, he will be made a prisoner, then, as soon as I have secure the money from his mother, you will be set at liberty.” ‘* Tf you propose to liberate me at all, why not 0 80 &8 s00n as you capture him?” Ot! well, Tl see abont that. Perhaps f will arrange it thatway. Socbeerupnow. I'll send my sister in with some food directly.” Ana bowing, the captain withdrew, locking | the door afver him. ; ‘*T wonder if he means what he said?” Sadie murmured, as she seated herself once more by the window. ‘If so, my lot will not he so hard as itat first seemed. I pray to God that I may | escape!” About an hour later the door opened, and a woman entered, bearing a tray of food, which shodeposited on the table, and then quickly lock- ed the door, She was several years Sadie’s senior, of short, stout build, and rather prepossessing of appear- ance, albeit her face was dark almost to swarthi- ness, and her eyes and hair jet-bleck. She was neatly attired, and diamond earrings pended from her ears, ‘*There’s yer grub!” she said, turning to Sa- die. ‘*So you are the woman Cussick’s brought | home, are ye?” : ‘*Ob! miss, it is not my fault, indeed it is not!” Sadie replied, ready to burst into tears. “ gas gen me from my home against my will. ‘‘Oh! that’s like him,” the woman replied, with asneer. ‘‘ He ain’t satisfied with mie, but I’m boss here, and I won’t have no interlopers, a ——$_$__ culates to put you in my place, you'll get this!” And the woman drew a dagger from the folds of her dress and flourished it in the air, while her face grew dark with passion. y ‘* But, ma’am, the captain has no such inten- tions,” Sadie replied, ‘‘ He intends soon to set me at liberty, be says.” “Ob! that’s a likely story! He’s no such a foolas that, He only told you that to get you in a better humor, you see, I know him like a book. He’s stuck on that baby face of yours, and intends to put me out of the house and mar- ry you. But he shall never do it, I swear it. I'll kill you first!” **Oh! you must not feel hard toward me!” The dark woman broke into a sarcastic laugh. ‘¢ You're a fool!" she said. ‘‘He would force you to—force you to, es he did me!” ‘*Then you are his wife?” “Yes, Whoelse do you suppose I am?” ‘* He said his sister would fetch my meals!” “ AL! didbe? The lying hound! He has no sister. Oh! but Dll fix him forthis! And,mind you, me lady, if hc pays you any more Visits, L shall know it, and your life will pay the for- feit!’ And turning, she unlocked the door, and left the room, a look of bate incarnate upon her face. Poor Sadie! Here was another source of trouble that kept her in a state of worriment the livelong day, She saw that the wife of Cussick was ofa fierce aud jealous disposition, and a woman who would not hesitate to do an act of violence, when frenzied with jealous rage, Sadie shuddered and wept when she thought of her peril and her perfect powerlessness. CHAPTER XII, ROGER RUNS AMUCK, Dark Run, where the moonshiners’ league had their headquarters, was a lonely, up-the- river ravine, surrounded by hundreds of acres of dense pine and hemlock woodland, and was so situated us not to be easily found, No roadway led to the ravine, but a deep, slow running creek wormed its way from the moonshiners’ head-quarters to the river below, which gave easy access to the ocean at Jarvis- haven, The grain from which the liquor was distilled was brought into the camp by big skiffs at night from below, ‘ihe headquarters consisted of some half a cozen shanties, built in an open space andin a semicircle, anda large barnlike structure where- in the stills were located and theliqucr was man- ufwetured, Of the shanties Captain Cussick occupied the most pretentious one, while the others were divided up between the gang. There were twenty of the moonshiners here, banded together if a sort of codperative league, Cussick being the ruling spiritand general man- ager, Spark of the men were regularly employed at the still; another portion worked as grain trans- ports, and still anotber portion did guard dut at either approach of the ravine to the head- quarters—for the latter could. only be reached by either coming up or down the ravine, owing the precipi‘ous hills that arose on either side, In one side of the ravine, an immenee cellar had been dug, the entrance being guarded by ponderous doors, In this cellar the whisky was stored as fast as manufactured, and held until sold, Under Captain Cussick’ssupervision the whole business was run ina systematic manner, and the fact that the plant was located in a wilder- ness and reached by no wagon rcad, had been one reason why the revenue cflicers had been un- successful in locating the place, When Captain Cussick left his house after his brief interview with Sadie Sefton he made his way to the still-house, where half a dozen men were engaged in drawing liquor from one of the great vats and barreling it. As the captain entered the place, the familiar song of the distiller greeted bis hearing—the voices of the singers blending harmoniously : “Down under tho hill There 8 a little mill Where the grist 1s rye—old rye; You can tell right well, By the steam and the smell, That there’s whisky, boys, close by.” ‘*Well, boys, have you got the last batch done?” the captain asked, cheerily, as he ad- vanced among the men. “That we have, Cap,” replied one of the men who appeared to be foreman, “and a good share of it parted When are we to start an- other?” Z ‘*Not right away, till we dispose of some of the stock we have on hand, How does it count up? ** About two hundred barrels, sir.” ‘* More than we can work off for some time, I want to see some pay for what we’ve got on hand before we run any more money, Ward—on duty?” Yeu hereis
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p i] 4] hI Kit Keith, the Revenue Spotter. p ie “No, he ain’t,” cried a voice, and a rough- looking fellow entered the still-house. ‘I say, captain, the chap you told me about is outside, and waats to see you.” ‘*Very well. Come along, boys, near the door, and when I whistle, you rush out and seize the fellow!” The captain then turned and strode from the room, Just outside the door, mountéd upon his horse, was Roger Darrel, looking flushed and overheated from his rapid ride, “ Ah, captain, is that you?” he saluted, ‘* You see I have come,” “So [ see,” the captain replied. ‘I hardly expected you so soon,” **Probably I should not have hastened so much, only I have certain reasons for wishing to see Sadie Sefton at once.” ‘* Wall, dismount, and Ill have your horse at- tended w. Then, ac Darrel dismounted, the captain whistled shrilly. Instantly the half-dozen moonshiners poured from the distillery, and pounced upon the un- suspecting ’sqvire, and bore him to the ground. Before he was bardly aware what had bap- ‘pened, he was securely bound band and foot. ‘*Lean him up against the building!” ordered the captain, avd he was obeyed. ‘There you are, sir! How do you feel?” Cus- sick demanded, confronting his prisoner, a grin upon his face, ‘“What is the meaning of this outrage?” Roger demanded, furious witb rage, ‘“{ mean to impress upon your memory the fact tnat you are a fool!” Cussick replied, ‘* How a fool, curse you?” ““Why, for coming here with the expectation of seeing the girl,” was the reply. ‘‘ When | brought her here, it wasn’t my intention to ever let you have her—not much! In due course of time she will become Mrs, Captain Cussick !” **Curses on you!” Roger cried, ‘‘ I'll pay you up for this dirty trick, if it takes me a lifetime! Release me, you infernal scoundrel!” ‘*Nary a release; not for awhile yet, anyhow,” ** Release me, and I’ll fight you, the winner to take the girl!” “*Like to accommodate you, dash me if I wouldn’t, Roger, but you see, it won’t pay. IfI were to fight you, I’d kill you, and I can’t afford that, vou know, You're too valuable a piece of property to lose.” ‘* What do you mean?” “*T mean taat I’m going to command a ran- som for you from your amiable mother, She’s got lots of boodle, and will gladly shell out a few thousands for the sake of securing her son’s liberty. D'ye savey?” Roger uttered an oath. You'll get left on that calculation!” he de- clared. ‘She'd not give a cent to get me out of your clutches,” Tho captain smiled disagreeably. 3 ‘‘T’ll take my chances on that!” he declared, mi can fetch her to terms as easy as rolling off a log. ‘Supposing she positively refuses to yield to your demands?” ‘* In that case, your future is wrapped in un- certainty. Onething is sure: It will be a long spell before you’re a free man unless she shells out. So, if you want to write a letter of appeal to her, I will free your hands.” “Plido nothing of the sort!” Roger averred, fiercely, ‘I'll submit to imprisonment first. But, bark you! Ishall eseape yon; then look out for me, for, by the eternal, I'll bring the law down upon your heads,” The captain laughed defiantly, and waved his hand to his followers. ‘“‘Away with him, boys!” he commanded, » “and see that he is securely locked up. Ward, you go and fetch my horse.” ' Five minutes later the Moonshiner chief was in the saddle and riding rapidly away, ‘* Now for Darrel Manor,” was his settled pur- pose. ‘If I can squeeze a round sum out of the arrogant Matilda, I'll add that to what I have already got, and bid adieu forever to Dark Run and this locality. The still can’t run much lon- ger anyhow, before the officers pounce upon it, avd the sooner I get out of the way the better it will be forme, The ! oys can look out forthem- elves, and have all the stock in the lock-up for their share!” CHAPTER XIII, she found Lawyer Ceburn with his hat in hand, ready to depart. ‘“ Why, Mr. Coburn, you are not going away?” she exclaimed in surprise. “Yes, I must hasten back to the village,” he replied, ‘‘for it has just occurred to me that I left my valise in my room at the hotel, and as it contains yaluable papers, I must go and see to the matter at once.” ** Why, that is too bad,I am sure, I hope you won’t loss anything. You will return here and accept of our hospitality, will you not?” ‘*Oh! yes, certainly, madam, certainly,” and the disciple of Blackstone took his departure. ‘*T wonder whether he really did leave his valise?”? the scheming woman asked harself after his departure, ‘‘ or was that only an ex- cuse to get away from here? If but an excuse, he mvst suspect something. Dear me! trouble and worriment never come singly. I wish Roger would hurry back, sol can get h’m to set some one efter that wretch, Joel *‘,efton. Cursetbe man! If heshould give me way, J would \xvo to abandon everything here and leave this part of the cuntry. “Buatpno! Dilnever ¢othat. I’ve piayed my game well, so far, and itt will never do to give up now, Joel Sefton must be silenced, and that, too, by a weapon mightier than money. There are plenty of coast-wreckers who are not partic- ular what they do, so long as they get money, and some one of this class must be utilized.” The day dragged slowly along. lt was considerably past the noon hour, when Mrs. Darrel heard a footfall vear, and looked up to find a man standing in her presence—and that man none other than Captain Cussick. She gave a little cry of alarm, and sprung to her feet. ** You here?” she aan, ** As you see!” he replied, coolly, helping him- self toa chair, ‘‘ You seemed surprised at sight of me!” ‘**'You startled me, How did you gain en- trance?” ** Oh, I found a window up, and came in that way. Quick and easy, you know. No long waits for the door-bell!”” ‘* What are you here for, now?” ‘*Money!” was the laconic answer, ‘This is pay-day, I believe, or very close toit.” | ‘You are very punctual,” she sneered, ‘* Will you never cease to harass me for blood- money ?” ‘** Not as long as I am custodian of a very valuable piece of property,” he replied, with a cynical laugh. ‘‘The fact is, Matilda, this is to be the Jast payment you will have to make,” ‘* Why ?” she demanded, quickly. “* Because the subject is on his last legs, and there is no possibility of his pulling through to the expiration of another month. So we will square up all accounts to-day, and have done with it.” ‘ Mrs, Darrel’s thin lips became compressed tightly, and she drew from her pocket a well- filled purse, from which she took a crisp new one-bundred-dollar note. This she handed to Cussick. ‘*There! take it, and begone!? she said. ‘‘l'm getting sick and tired of these demands for money.” ‘*Are you? But you will please remember you are not square with me yet. The last pay- ment was to he a thousand dollars!” ‘* Well, you'll not get it yet. When all is over, it will then be time to make that de- mand!” ‘*T make the demand now!” be replied, em- phatically, ‘‘ This is the last time 1 shall visit im £0 I must have a settlement in full, now/ have carried out my part of the agreement to the letter, and you must yours, or there'll be war in the camp, you bet!’ “But he is not dead yet!” she protested, her face growing ghastly in its pallor. ** Pll guarantee he'll not live the month out!” ‘* Bah! what does your guarantee amount to?” ‘‘ A blamed sight more than yours wiil, if you refuse to square up!” he retorted. ‘If you don’t want a pandemonium on earth raised, Ma- tilda, you’d best not trifle with me, You know I’m a very devil to deal with, when I am aroused |” Evidently the woman schemer was aware of the fact, for, without a word, she turned and left the reom, , With a smile of satisfaction upon his face, Cus- sick awaited her return, : > When she did so, she placed ten one-hundred- dollar bills in his hands, ‘That fixes things to date!” the captain re- plied, as he tucked the bills away in his pocket. ** Within a month the lifeless remains of Jud- son Darrel will be found not many leagues from this place, and it will then be conclusively proven that he is dead, and you can claim his fortune, ‘** But, before I go, there’s another matter I wish to call your attention to. Your estimable son, Roger, had the temerity to venture into my camp to-day, and was captured by my men, wko bear him no good will, I can assure you. f tried to intercede in his behalf, but the boys would not hear to me, They say they'll not give him up without they geta ransom, and if the ransom ain’t forthcoming by sunset to-day theyll put him out of the way. They directed me to tell you this, and if you wish your son re- leased, you are to pay me the ransom money. The sum (emanded is five thousand dollars, up- on receipt of which I will guarantee the release of both your sn and Sadie Sefton, who is alsoa prisonerin my camp.” ‘* Never!” Mrs. Darrel cried, springing to her feet in a terrible passion—‘‘ never, I say! This is but another scheme to swindle me out of my money; besides, I have no such a sum in the wide world. If my son has got himself into such a scrape. hi must get himself out as besthe can. I cando «4 ‘thing for him.” ** Well, do ag y ou like,” Cussick said, indiffer- ently. ‘‘It’s tou bad that a likely young feilow like him should have to pass in hischecks for the want of a little financial assistance—too bad, Tl! swear if it ain’t!” Mrs. Darrel made no reply, but her thin fips were pressed resolutely together, as if with de- fiant resolve, ‘* Perhaps,” continued Cussick, after a mo- ment’s silence, ‘‘if you were to give me what money you have got, that, together with my in- fluence, would secure the poor fellow’s re- lease!” “Not one penny!” Mrs. Darrel declared, sharply, at the same time stamping her foot on the floor. ‘‘ Not one farthing!” ** Ah, I see!” Cussick observed, sarcastically, as he arose and buttoned up his coat. ‘‘ If Roger never comes to light, you willinherit the whole fortune. Well, by my soul, I’m bad enougb, but you're an unnatural, an inhuman mother, But, have a care! There’s such a thing asa slip, ’twixt the cup and thelip. It is barely possible that Judson Darrel mayrecover, And in that event, it may be possible that he would be willing to ransom bimself and his son, But, by-by, Matilda! I won’t harass you longer with my company. May the ex-saints bless you for your generosity in giving me this money, and J trust if we never again meet in this world, we shall renew acquaintance in the next, By by, baby!” And with a mocking laugh, the moonshiner turned and hastened from the room. While Matilda Darrel sunk back among the cushions of her easy-chair, faint and overcome with a nameless terror, CHAPTER XIV. THE BARGAIN CLINCHED, Kir Kxtru. in bis disguiso of Reuben Sweet, knew that be bad a trying ordeal before him in visiting the moonsbiners’ stronghold, but he did not flinch. He was secretly well armed, and felt that, whatever the trouble in store, he could fight his way through. Reéntering the bar-room, he called up the drinks for the crowd, and thereby established himself in their confidence. He then resumed smoking his corncob pipe, and leisurely watched the movements of the mountain giant, Big Pete. Kit was anxious lest the fellow should get in a disagreeable humor, and once, when Howler drew near, the Connecticut liquor merchant beckoned to him and remarked: » “Tf that fellow pours down much more stuff, won’t he be rather dangerous to travel with?” At which Howler laughed. | ‘* Waal, no, sir-ee! It’s just the opposite, When Pete is Pete, be’s sullen and ugly, and a feller needs to keep out of his way; but when Pete is whisky, be’s as pleasant and perlite as a. poached egg.” ; ‘* But he won’t be able to find his way home. Good heavens! where (oes be put it all?” ‘*Uncle, ye dun’t know him. He néver gits: drunk, He is cast-irov, copper-lined. He’s gauged for a good four quarts, but he often overruns by two or three pints,” and with a. THE CAPTAIN AND MES, DARREL, , His WHEN Mrs, Darrel returned to the parlor, _ after her kitchen interview with Bum Blinker, im ey f ; “*There, Carl Cussick, that squares us for- ever,” she said, ‘‘ and you need never bother me again for money!” broad grin the host of the Horn of Plenty passed vA “4 on. A sep it was half an hour after midnight ere Big ; pate
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—— Ei ee =F PATER OO OE eis cere eer ery een oe 4... ns iz Kit Keith, the Revenue Spotter. Pete, backed away from the bar, wiped his | mouth, and cried out, as he glanced at the clock | ver,” Reuben said promptly. | the banterin’ sort, ’cept I’m tradin’ horses, an’ on the wall: *“* Waal, boys, I must be goin’, Sorry I can't | linger wi’ ye till mornin’, but, ye see, the fact ‘** Well, that settles it then without any pala- ‘*T ain’t one o’ then I kin skin a man out o’ two years’ growth, So you know what you want to get, and I know is, I've got some important business to attend | what I want to pay, and that settles it, plum to, and bizness is bizness, you know. Hello, there, Reuben, aire you asleep?” * Not by a jugful!” Reuben cried, springing | | pew in church, and in fact, the best of every- up and coming forward; ‘‘ but darn my buttons if I | straight!” ‘*Hamph! I neversawa Yank yet but what didn’t want the best of every bargain, the best shouldn’t think you'd be sleepy, with all the | thing!” growled the captain, ‘‘How much nose-paint you’ve got inside of you!” a crowd roared at this, while Big Pete re- plied: ‘““Why, Rube, you old cuss, there's nothin’ like gettin’ used to a thing. That ain't no cir- cumstance to what I have done. But come. We'll mosey !” Reuben and the giant left the tavern, and were soon mounted upon their respective horses and riding away. “‘ You'd better let me have your bridle-rein, | while you freeze to your saddle, for {’m going to ride hellaty-toot!” Big Pete said. ‘Sail ahead,” Kit replied, ‘‘ Hf I am gittin’ old and stiff, | ain’t fergot thet I was once a jockey, and know’d a few things about ridin’.” ** All right, don’t lose sight of me!” And off went the giant at a swift gallop. He had a fine horse under him, who could cover ground with great rapidity, but Kit’s |, animal was every bit as good, and held her own nobly. Fast riding at length brought them into the dense forest, and there their progress was slow, and they were obliged to ride in single file. But Pete knew every crook and turn among the trees, and just at the first signs of day-dawn, they rode out into the glade, where the shanties of the moonshiners were located, In answer to a challenge of “Who goes there?” Big Pete gave vent to four peculiar whistles, and be and Kit rode on, When they reached the distillery building they dismounted and bitched their horses, an Big Pete said: *“Come along now, old man. I see thar’s a light up at the captain’s, and I reckon he’s up.” They made their way through the semi-gloom to Cussick's shauty, and Pete rapped ou the door. ** Who’s there?” demanded a voice inside. ** Me, Pete!” replied the giant, “ Waal, come in then! What you knockin’ for?” Pete opened the door and entered what proved to be a scantily-furnished kitchen, Kit followed him. At sight of a stranger, Cussick, who was seat- ed at a table, sprung to his feet and drew a re- volver, ‘** Who's that?” he demanded fiercely. ** Ob! he’s solid!” Peteassured, gruffly. ‘‘ Set down and don’t beafool. This is Rube Sweet, a Yankee whisky-dealer, from downin Connetty- kut, an’ he’s up this country lookin’ for a cargo of moonshine. So, as he wanted to makea big purchase, I reckoned I’d run him up here, seein’s we've got a big stock on hand, Givehim your ecard, Reuben! Oh! he’s white, Cap; | sized him up well ’fore I fetched him, an’ so did owler! Revben produced one of his cards and gave it to the captain, who glanced it over, and then surveyed his. visitor a moment critically, “Take a seat, Sweet,” he then ordered, ‘T tia oat all right, Been around these parts on ** Jest landed about fifteen hours ago,” Reuben replied. ** Whereabouts?” ** Some ten mile north of the leetle placecalled Jarvishaven.” ** So you’re lookin’ after whisky, eh?” ‘*Waal, yes, A friend o’ mine give me a pri- vate wink that there was plenty of it to be had up this country, and as my stock war gittin’ rather low down in Saybrook, I tuk a notion to take an excursion on my boat up round this coast, and see whatI could skeer Ne in the way of good juice. I’ve bin in the likker business over twenty year right around Saybrook, and I’ll be gol-danged ef | hain’t got tired o’ payin’ two or three prices for whisky.” * Well, I can’t say asI blame you, You'll find no trouble of findin’ the kind you want in old Virginia. What do you expect to pay?” ‘Thirty-five cents, an’ not a whit more, as I told this feller afore I come up here. If I can’t ship a cargo at them figgers, I'l go hum with- out any at all,” ‘‘Humph! We hold ours at forty cents by _ ithe lot, and then we’re not makin’ a livin’.” Come ahead, an’ take care you ! fe] whisky do you want?” ‘* A hundred bar’ls.” ** What?” ** Ye heerd what I said?” The captain whistled, ‘* Well, that makes a difference. you expect to pay cash?” ‘* Spot cash on delivery on my boat.” ** When do you want it?” ** The sooner the better.” ‘‘Hum! let’s see! I s’pose you know you'll paglded to load up betwixt midnight and morn- lng Yas, Of course That would be safest,” “Well, to-day is Friday. Say Sunday morn- | ing. How will taat suit you?” ‘* At thirty-five cents?” * Vous ** Waal, that'll do first-rate.” ‘*You say your boat is not at Jarvishaven?” ‘*No—furder up the coast, in a little inlet. Purty *afe place, so I'll let her stay there till loadin’-time, then I’ll run up the York to where you say.” **Good idea, Jarvishaven ain’t the safest place to land for any length of time. Well, we'll call it a bargain. The stuff shall be ready for you at the appointed time, at the mouth of the creek, and you shall have plenty of help to assist you in loading. I suppose you'd like to know’ what you're Sapiig Til get you a sample.” He arose and entered an adjoining room, but soon returned with a gobletful of amber liquid, “There! try that!” he suggested, Reuben obeyed by taking several sips, Then he took a patent liquor-tester from his pocket, and tested the contents of the glass, This act satisfied the captain beyond all doubt that his visitor was in reality what he represent- ed himself to be—a liquor merchant from the fast, “ That's all right!” Reuben decided, after the test, ‘*If you give me the same in the bar’l, I won't kick.” : ‘* You shall have the same,” Cussick declared, ‘* And now, Mr. Sweet, are we to “have some- thing to clinch it with, as a guarantee of good faith?” ** Waal, I hain’t gotmuch with me for a fact,” he said, taking out anold-fashioned pocket-book, ‘* for [ wasn’t expettin’ to make a real purchase so soon as this, an’ didn’t fetch much along with me from the boat. However, I reckon I can let you have a hundred dollars,” ’ ** That will do,” Cussick returned, approving- ly. “AllI want is enough to satisfy ms that you mean business,” **Oh, I’m business to the backbone!” Reuben chuckled, “‘ Any one down in Saybrook, Con- necticut, kin tell you Reuben Sweet is no slouch when it comes to business!” And so the hundred-dollar gnarantee of good faith “clinched” the bargain between the moonshiner chieftain and the Revenue Re- triever, CHAPTER XV. A SURPRISE FOR KIT. It was by this time full daylight, and Cussick’s black-eyed wife came down-stairs to prepare breakfast. ** While Lucinda is getting some grub, friend Sweet, 1’ll show you around the premises, if you like,” the captain said, graciously, for he was now in an excellent mood, and not without rea- son, too, As soon as he should get his clutches on the fifteen hundred odd dollars which the pay for the liquor would amount to, | t was his inten- tion to give the gang the slip, and skin out for parts unknown. ‘ ‘*Waal, I don’t keer if I do take a look around,” Reuben assented. ‘‘ Never wasat sech a place as this before.” Accordingly, the captain did the hospitable and showed his customer around the premises the principal point of interest being the still- house, Here the method of the manufacture of liquor was explained, Then they visited the storage cellar, where rows and tiers of barrels lay, unstamped, and waiting sale in defiance of the laws of the U. 8, Government. ’ ee, $ { . / oot . & eb Y CE SEBL gy ii ee aoe Awan SSE ees The captain next explained the rafting pro- cess by which the liquor was conveyed down the creek to the river, and stated that it required the labor of his entire force of twenty men when a large shipment was made, By this time, breakfast was ready, and the captain and Kit helped to do full justice to it. Daring his tour of the premises, he had used his eyes to their bess advantage, but had failed to discover the least clew to lead him to believe that Sadie Sefton was a prisoner in the moon- shiners’ camp, If she was, he concluded that she was locked up in the captain’s house. After breat:fast, as he saw nothing to be gained by remaining longer in the camp, he announced that he must return to S——, as he had some stores to purchase for his boat, and other busi- ness to attend to, Accoraingly, Big Pete was detailed to escort him to the outskirts of the woods, from where it was a straight road ty. S—., ‘‘The captain seemed mighty pleased over the sale he made to you,” Pete observed, as they | rode along, ‘*T don’t wonder. Fifteen hundred dollars and over aire a powerful heap, : “Yes, Bat the captain ’ll never git it!” ‘* Why not?” asked Kit, in surprise. ‘Cause he won't!” Pete replied, grimly. “ You won’t giveittohim. You don’t want no whisky. You can’t stuff that gaff down me/ You're no Reuben Sweet from Connettycut, as I know’d from the first I saw you. You're a good one at your business, but you can’t foolold Pete Plunkett og! time!” Kit stared at the giant in speechless amaze- ment. ‘* Why, thunderation! are you crazy, man?” he cried, ‘Not the least. You might’s well acknowl- edge the corn, You're a revenue detective, and you’re playing a strong game, an’ I admire ye fer it, fer I reckon ye ain’t fur advanced in- ter yer twenties yet. Ye’r’ playin'a lone hand ag’in’ a full table, an’ darn my picture if I don’t reckon you'll win!” “« Well, if this don’t take my time, shoot me!” Kit ejaculated, not knowing what to make of it, “‘Tf T am a detective, as you say, how is it you, @ moonshiner, are acquainting me with tho fact, so good-naturedly?” Big Pete laughed. ‘** ve nothin’ ag’in’ you,” he said. ‘In fact, T'd like to see the hull business bu’sted up, I have been a member of the gang, but have never received anys particular fer the hard work I’vedone, Last night, when I went to S——, I got a letter from the East, sayin’ thet my old mother was dead. 1 had about made up my mind, after that, to give up this sort of life, an’ when I saw you, and tumbled to your racket, my mind became fully made up. ‘“The hull gang at the camp have allus been sour on me, ’cause they dassent pick a fight wi’ me, an’ they’ve showed their animosity in vari- ous anéakin’ ways. So, when I met you, and sized your lay-to, sezI to myself, ‘ Pete, here’s your chance to get square, and change your ways!’ An’ that’s how I cum to guide you to headquarters,” ‘* Pete, it does me proud to hear of your good resolution,” Kit said. stretching forth his hand— ‘that is, if you mean it!” “If I don’t, may the devil kick me off this horse and break my neck!” was Peto’s reply. at you don’t intend to go back to the un?” **T ain’t decided yet. I’m goin’ back, at least, after you’ve roped in the ’shiners. I’ve suthin to do. there. But, first, let me hear your lans,’ Kit hesitated. Should he make known his plans to this man? Could he trust bim? Big Pete noticed his hesitation, and spoke up: Ri Oh, ye needn’t trust me, if you’re afeard to. Yon’d find me worthy, tho’!l” ‘*T will trust you, Pete,” Kit declared, earnest- Vv ‘* But first, ere I give my plans, answer me is: } ‘“ Why did you go for Joel Sefton so flerce?” Pete’s brow darkened. ** Well, [’ll tell you,” he answered: “ I had an ugly fit on, for one thing; and, another thing— I’ve had it in for the cuss sence he run away and deserted his gal, two year ago, and left her to eke out hor own livin’ as best she could, He were hired to leave these ob forever, you know, an’ I know who hired him, But of that, more after a while. Now for your plans,” “I “* Well, do you think the captain vill raft the — whisky down the creel: to the river?” “Sure, You completely shut his eye up, and at fn " Th ‘ Se eT hehe ene) TRE -| j ae os ea i r hs
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you can depend on it the whisky will be there, and the whole gang along with it. The.captain expects to receive the money, watch his chance and skip. Oh, I’m dead onto his game.” Well, Ishall have a strong posse of United | States officers near at hand, to capiure the gany. I cannot tell you more definitely now, until I examine the whole vicinity, where the yreek enters the river.” ‘* Will you take part in the attack?” ‘No. I shall plan it, and then leave it in charge of a superior officer, When I am sure the gang are well away from their stronghold, I have business there.” ‘*Ah! What?” ‘*T believe Sadie Sefton to there, and propose to rescue her. ‘*She is there, locked up in Cussick’s house, But, for the present, I don’t think she will suf- ferany harm. He’ll have to git rid of his wife first, for she watches him like a hawk. I, too, have a mission in the camp, after the gang are gone; s0, if you are agreeable, we will go to- gether,” ‘Of course. I have no objections. is your mission?” *“T will tell you: For two years past, Cap Cussick bas had a man locked up in a dungeon in the rear of the whisky vault. Cussick has been paid to keep the mana prisoner there by the man’s wife. I never knew any of these facts, until I overheard a conversation yester- day between Cussick and his wife, It appears the man’s own wife has kept her husband shut upin order to get possession of hismoney! I propose to release him. It wasalso my intention to free the Sefton gal. But now, since we un- derstand each other, we will go together.” “You bet we wil man prisoner’s name?” ‘Ves, Itis Judson Darrel, He has been, by ‘most everybody, believed dead.” ** My father !/” cried Kit. ** Your father?” ejaculated Big Pete. ‘“Yes, His real name is Kyle Kenneth, and I am his only legitimate offspring.” Kit then went on and explained the story of his life, as he had heard it from Mother Miggs, and knew it himself. Big Pete listened with rapt attention, ‘Well, if this be true, you can claim the Darrel fortune,” he averred, ‘‘for, judging by what I heard Cap Cussick tell his wife, the pris- oner in the whisky-vault ain’t booked for much longer in this world!” ‘“*T hope to Heaven he does not die until I can see him,” Kit said. By this time they were out of the woods and drew rein, “To avoid suspicion of my intention to desert, I reckon I’ll return to the camp,” Big Pete an- nounted, “Ill hang arouné there uniil fate | Saturday, and then manufacture some pretense | fer goin’ to 8——, an’ will meet you near the | Sefton cottage.” i “All right. 1 shall expect you. I will go | now and wire word to Washington, so as to be | sure and have my menon hand. You return to | headquarters and keep your eyes about you, | and if opportunity arrives for you to get a word | with Sadie Sefton, assure her that she will soon | be liberated.” “Very well. And now before you go, I’d kinder like to know what you look like under | that disguise.” Kit accordingly removed the wig and beard and exposed his own handsome phiz to view. “Tam Kit Keith, of Washington!” he said, Big Pete uttered an ejaculation, ‘*T thought Cussick had a spy of your name thrown into the sea?” ““So he did, but, by good fortune, Mother | Miggs fished me out and restored me to life.” ‘3 Waal, ye’r’ a plucky cuss, anyhow, an’ I reckon I wasn’t fur off in regard to your age.” ‘*No you were not. Iam only a trifle over twenty-two,” ; They separated, Big Pete returning to the ren- dezvous, and Kit riding off toward B —, tne nearest telegraph station, some four miles from be imprisoned But what -—_—- CHAPTER XVI. THE RETRIEVER RETRIEVES, Wren Kit Keith reached B——, he imme- diately sought tie telegraph office and sent the following dispatch to the chief of revenue de- tectives, at Washington: ‘Have succeeded bevond my most sanguine ex- petsticns. all ready for a grand pull early Sun- ay inorniog "lave fifty spezials in private dress here at dusk, «9 morrow night, Will mee” you then. Answer, Kit Kerrs,”’ 1! But, do you know this | Kit Keith, the Revenue Spotter, 1S The message was flashed over the wire with- | out delay, and in half an hour an answer came | back: |“ Mr, Kir Kerra:— * Will come by water. Land two miles north of , Jarvis aven, Saturday eveni! g. Come there. **CoL. ———, “ Acting Chief U. S. R. Detectives.” Mounting his horse he returned to S——, and | found Lawyer Coburn at the Horn of Plenty | tavern. Taking him to one side and introduc- | ing himself, Kit held a somewhat lengthy con- | sultation with the attorney, after which he | remounted his horse, and set out for Darrel | Manor, where he intended to make a call, On arrival there he dismounted, hitched his horse, and rung the door-bell. The summons was promptly answered by a servant, to whom Kit presented a card bearing the name: Hon. JosHvua BRADLEY, In his detective excursions the retriever al- ways carried with him a stock of business and calling cards containing various names, finding | that it aided bir) materially in perfecting his changes of character. The servant disappeared with the card, but soon returned and ushered the caller into the parlor and bade him be sented. A few minutes later Mrs. Darrel entered, and Kit at once recognized ber as the same woman be had encountered in Washington. She was looking pale and haggard now, however, and had evidently passed a restless night. f Mrs. Darrel, I believe!” Kit remarked, ris- ing, with a profound bow. ‘‘T am Mrs, Darrel, yes, sir,” was the reply, in a tone that evidenced that the lady was in aad too pleasant a humor. ‘‘ And, you, sir— ‘‘Am Kit Keith, the detective!” was the re- ply; and, by a quick movement of his hands, Kit removed his false beard and wig, at the same time covering Mrs. Darrel with a revolver. **Do you recognize me, madam?’ Mrs. Darrel started back with a wild cry of alarm, her face growing sickly pale. ** You!” she gasped, ‘*7, madam! I see you recognize me. Al- though [ lost track of you in Washington, I have at last run you down and found out the whole of myhistory. I know all, everytaing, and have called to see how soon you will beready to vacate these premises.” ‘ Never!” the woman replied, her hands clinch- ing together. ‘‘I am mistress here, and intend to remain so, Who are you, that you dare to come here and ask me when I intend to va- cate?” ‘‘T am the only legitimate son and heir of Kyle Kenneth, who married you under the as- sumed nawe of Judson Darrel when he had a, wife living. You were not then 4 1egitimate wife, madam, aud your son, Roger, therefore, is. not of legitimate birth. My mothér’s marriage- certificate is inexistence to prove that she was legally wedded te Kyle Kenneth several months before you were. Also, I believe, proof of this fact can be found among Kyle Kenneth’s papers, Unknown to you, I was in this house yesterday, but could not gain entrance to my father’s library. I desire to visit that apartment now, madam.” ** You cannot do so. my house instantly.” ** And 1 refuse, There is no such thing as cannot, You must admit me to the library, madam, Refuse me, and, woman though you are, [ll shoot you down as though you were a she welf, I mean to search the library, to see if I can find a will, Remember, you have got a man now to deal with who will not be thwart- ed I command you to leave Mrs. Darrel laughed scornfully. : ‘Oh, well, you can search the library, if you like,” she said, ‘‘ but you will find nothing, for it has already been thoroughly searched and nothing found. You cannot prove your claim, nor anything you. have said, you adventurer, and I will have you arrested for a fraud and blackmailer.” ‘Look out I don’t have you arrested for keep- ing Kyle Kenneth locked up in a dungeon for two years,” Kit retorted. ‘Come! I wish to be conducted to the library, Any attempt to give an alarm or to frustrate m ps will result in our being shot down. Ido not intend to pun- h you by law if youaccede to my terms, [| in- tend to dispossess you of this estate and have all my rights fully conceded. So, if you don’t want a term of imprisonment, you will find it to your advantage to obey my orders promptly and implicitly,” a ee >| White with rage, Mrs, Darrel glared at him z moment as if she would like to strike him down. with a death-blow; then, grating her teeth in vicious impatience, she said: **Well, come along. You can search till. doom’sday, for all I care!” She led the way from the parlor toa room om the second floor, the door of which she unlocked, and she and Kit entered. The room was of good size, cozily furnished, and contained several desks and bookcases. ‘Give me the keys to the desks, and then sit down yonder in the corner, and don’t you dare to move!” Kit ordered. ‘*I won’t detain you sl rembling with her illy-suppressed passion, she obeyed him. After receiving the keys, he proceeded to make a minute examination of the desks, at the: same time menwing his revolver handy for use, and an eye on the now desperate schemer, Examination of the first desk and its contents yielded no discovery, the desk being of ordinary construction, and the contents of a commonplace business character. The same occurred in the instance of the sec- ond and third desks. The fourth desk was rather an antique affair, and Kit’s hopes rose a little as he began its ex- amination. Mrs, Darrel watched him narrowly. Suddenly, a cry from his lips caused her to spring to her feet in eager expectancy, He had touched what was apparently a solid knot in the interior of the desk, and a secrets panel had shot to one side, revealing a cavity beyond. eaching into it, he drew forth two docu- ments. “** Last will and testament of Kyle Kenneth,, otherwise known as Judson Darrel!” he read. ‘* Also, the ‘ Confession of Kyle Kenneth!’ Ha, ha! the very papers I want!” “Give them to me—they are mine!” fairly screamed Mrs, Darrel, rushing toward him, “ They are mine—give them to me!” ‘* Back!” ordered Kit, sternly, leveling his re- volver at her. ‘‘Come nearer, and I'll drop you ”? documents, His face lighted up as he did so, The confession was first read. It told of Kyle Kennetb’s sinful life; of how he had married twice; of how he had pushed his true wife into the sea, and afterward had given nis son, Christopher. to an Italian organ- grinder. It also narrated the incidents of Kit’s life, up to the time he entered the United States revenue service, and in conclusion asked bis son’s for- giveness, and further stated that the confession was made in fear of impending evil, the con- fessor believing that his second wife had designs upon his life in order to secure his property. The will bequeathed all his money, real estate and personal property to his son, Christopher Kenneth, who, at the time of the making of the will, bore the name of Kit Keith. When the young retriever had finished the perusal of these Cocuments, he read them aloud to Mrs. Darrel, who listened, pale and speech- less, ‘‘-You see now that Iam master here, I pre- sume!” Kit observed, ‘‘and that you will have to vacate. I shall place these papers in the hands of a lawyer, and have matters settled up at once!” “* { won't vacate!” she hissed. ‘‘ I'll stay here and fight you in court!” ‘‘Perhaps,” Kit said, dryly—‘‘ perhaps not. ‘When I tell you that, within a few hours, Ca) Cussick’s gang will be broken up, and Kyle Kenneth set at liberty, fierce and vengeful— perhaps, then, you won’t care to tarry long in this neighborhood.” The guilty woman reeled back at this infor- mation, and with a gasping moan, fell prone up- on the floor, y Leaving her lying where she had fallen, Kit pocketed his precious papers and left the house, CHAPTER XVII. CONCLUSION. Wuart remains to be told it need not take long. to relate. Saturday evening a revenue cutter, contain- ing a strong posse of officers, dropped anchor above Jarvishaven, and was met by Kit Keith, who conducted them to an ambush near where the Dark Run Creek emptied into the York River, and gave them such instructionsas would enable them to capture the moonshiners witbout much trouble. Then, with weapon poised, he examined the
Page 14
14 Kit Keith, the Revenue Spotter. Kit then made his way to the vicinity of the Sefton cottage, where he found Big Pete wait- ing for bim, At Kit’s suggesticn they visited the dwelling, and found the bummer at home, and by Kit’s interces ion, the tramp and giant consented to cancel all differences and shake the hand of re- conciliation, Joe] Sefton volunteered to make a third party in the visit to the moonshiners’ headquarters, and soon after dark the trio started forth, each well mounted. In due time they reached the neighborhood of the stronghold, and Big Pete stole forward to reconnoiter. On his return, he reported that | the coast was clear, and they went forward. They found the camp entirely deserted of | moonshiners. | They first visited Cussick’s shanty, and, lying ‘dead upon the kitchen floor, they found the cap- | tain’s wife, with a bullet-wound in her head, Anxious for Sadie’s safety, the three men rushed up-stairs and burst in the door, only to | ‘find her sleeping soundly upon her bed, safe and | unharmed. Great was her joy, on being awakened, to find herself in the presence of her father, and of the young detective as well. Leaving father and daughter together, Kit and Big Pete visited the whisky-vault, and, | gaining an entrance, lit a lantern. In the rear they found two dungeons, the doors | wide open. Flashing the light into the cells, a sight met | ' ‘the gaze of the two men that caused them to | ; shudder with horror. Upon the floor of one cell lay the blood-cov- ered figure of Roger Darrel, stone dead! In the other cell, upon a cot, lay another man, gray-baired, gaunt «nd ghastly. He was also dead, but this was nota case of murder. He had evidently died naturally. The two searchers hastened from the spot, and soon the quartette set out for Darrel Manor— Sadie mounted on Cussick’s best horse, On their arrival there, early Sunday morning, they were informed that Mrs, Darrel had taken a hasty departure, stating that she should never return. Nor was she ever heard from thereafter! There was a terrific fight that early Sunday morning, between the revenue officers and the moonshiners, during which several of the latter were killed, Captain Cussick included. The distillery in Dark Run was broken up, and nothing now remains to tell of that which was. Kyle Kenneth’s body was removed to S—, | and treated to a respectable burial by his son. Kit had no difficulty in establishing his right of heritage, and came into possession of his prop- cs) rty. Kenneth Manor to-day, as an estate, contains many more acres than it formerly did, and among those who enjoy its bountiful hospitality may be named, Joel Sefton, Mother Miggs, otherwise Clara Colville, and Big Pete Plunket, who, in Kit’s absence, is general manager. Sadie came into her little fortune, and, that | Kit should lead her to the altar is a matter of | course. Jack Jarvis and a portion of his gang were | arrested, along with the moonshiners—all of | whom received sentences commensurate with their crime. | ] THE END. Beadle’s Dime Library. BY PHILIP S. WARNE. 1 A Hard Crowd; or, Gentleman Sam’s Sister. 4 The Kidnapper; or, The Northwest Shanghai. 29 Tiger Dick, Faro King; or, The Cashier’s Crime, 54 Always on Hand; or, The Foot-Hills Sport, 80 A Man of Nerve; or, Caliban the Dwarf, 114 The Gentleman from Pike. 171 Tiger Dick, the Man of the Iron Heart. 207 Old Hard Head; or, Whirlwind and his Mare. 251 Tigeer Dick vs, Iron Despard. 280 Tiger Dick’s Lone Hand. 299 Three of a Kind; or, Dick, Despard and the Sport. 338 Jack Sands, the Boss of the Town. 359 Yellow Jack, the Mestizo. 380 Tiger Dick’s Pledge: or, Tne Golden Serpent. 404 Silver Sid; or, A *‘ Daisy” Bluff. 431 California Kit, the Always on Hand. 472 Six Foot Si; or, The Man to “ Tie To.” 502 Bareback Buck, the Centaur of the Plains, 522 The Champion Three. 544 The Back to Back Pards. 567 Cap‘ain Midnight, the Man of Craft. 583. Captain Adair, the Cattle King. | 111 ; 293 Stam BY PROF, J. H. INGRAHAM, 113 The Sea Slipper: or, The Freebooters. 118 The Burglar Captain; or. The Fallen Star 14 Lafitte; or, The Pirate of the Gulf. 816 Lafitte’s Lieutenant; or, Child of the Sea. BW GEORGE C. JENKS, Sleepless Eye, the Pacific Detective. The Giant Horseman ’ The Drummer Detective. > Death-Grip, the Tenderfoot Detective. 538 Rube Rocket, the Tent Detective. Mad Sharp, the Rustler. 2 Jaunty Joe, the Jockey Detective, BY OLL COOMES, 7 Death Notch, the Destroyer. 43 Dakota Dan. the Reckless Ranger. 44 Old Dan Rackhack, the Great Extarminator, 46 Bowie-Knife Ben, the Nor’west Hunter. 48 !daho Tom, the Young Outlaw of Silverland, 51 Red Rob, the Boy Road-Agent, The Giant Rifleman: or, Wild Camp Life. Long Beard, the Giant Spy. One-Armed Alf, the Giant Hunter, Kit Bandy & Co , the Border Detectives. BY EDWARD WILLETTY. 9 Mississippi Mose; or, a Strong Man's Sacrifice, 209 Buck Farley, the Bonanza Prince. Bill the Blizzard; or, Red Jack’s Crime. Montana Nat, the Lion of Last Chance Camp. Flush Fred, the Mississippi Sport. 9 Flush Fred’s Full Hand. 298 Logger Lem; or, Life in the Pine Woods. Hemlock Hank, Tough and True. Flush Fred’s Double; or, The Squatters’ League. 327 Terrapin Dick, the Wildwood Detective. Old Gabe, the Mountain Tramp. Dan Dillon, King of Crosscut. The Canyon King; or. a Price on his Head. 3 Flush Fred, the River Sharp. BY NED BUNTLINE. 14 Thayendanegea,the Scourge; or, The War-Eagle. 16 The White Wizard; or, The Seminole Prophet, 18 The Sea Bandit; or, The Queen of the Isle. 23 The Red Warrior; or, The Comanche Lover. 61 Captain Seawaif, the Privat»er. 7 The Smuggler Captain; or, The Skipper’s Crime, 122 Saul Sabberday, the Idiot i 6 270 Andros, the Rover; or, The Pirate’s Daughter, 361 Tombstone Dick, the Train Pilot. 517 Buffalo Bill's First Trail. e 584 Fire Feather, the Buccaneer King. \ 621 The Red Privateer; or, The Midshipman Rover. BY WILLIAM R. EYSTER, 145 Pistol Pards; or, The Silent.Sport from Cinnabar. 160 Soft Hand, Sharp; or, The Man with the Sand. 182 Hands Up; or, The Knights of the Canyon. 192 The Lightning Sport. 214 The Two Cool Sports; or, Gertie of the Gulch. 229 Captain Cutsleeve; or, The Little Sport. 268 Magic Mike, the Man of Frills. 300 A Sport in Spectacles; or, Bad Time at Bunco. 833 Derringer Dick, the Man with the Drop. 344 Double Shot Dave of the Left Hand, : 856 Three Handsome Sports; or, The Combination. 875 Royal George, the Three in One. 896 The Piper Detective; or, The Gilt Edge Gang. 402 Snapshot Sam; or, The Angels’ Flat Racket. 429 Hair Trigger Tom of Red Bend, 459 Major Sunshine, the Man of Three Lives. 478 Pinnacle Pete; or, The Fool from Way Back, 503 The Dude from Denver. 525 Fresh Frank, the Derringer Daisy. 533 Oregon, the Sport Witha Scar. 549 Belshazzar Brick, the Bailiff of Blue Blazes, 558 Hurrah Harry, the High Horse from Halcyon. 568 The Dude Detective. d 578 Seven Shot Steve, the i tg with a Smile. 590 Gentle Jack, the High Roller from Humbug. 603 Deseré Alf, the Man With the Cougar. 622 The All Around Sports. BY SAM 8S. HALL—‘** Buckskin Sam.” 3 Kit Carson, Jr., the Crack Shot. 90 Wild Will, the Mad Ranchero. ‘178 Dark Dashwood, the Desperate. 186 The Black Bravo; or, The Tonkaway’s Triumpb. 191 The Terrible Tonkaway; or, Old Rocky’s Pards. 195 The Lone Star Gambler: or, Magnolia’s Maid. 199 Diamond Dick, the Dandy from Denver. 204 Big Foot Wallace, the King of the Lariat. 212 The Brazos Tigers: or, The Minute Men. 217 The Serpent of El Paso; or, Frontier Frank, 221 Desperate Duke, the Guadaloupe ‘ Galoot.” 225 Rocky Mountain Al; cr, The Waif of the Range, 239 The Terrible Trio; or, The Angel of the Army, 244 Merciless Mart, the Man Tiger of Missouri. 250 The Rough Riders; or, Sharp Eye, the Scourge, 256 Double Dan, the Dastard; or, The Pirates. 264 The Crooked Three. 5 269 The Bayou Bravo; or, The Terr’ble Trail. , 273 Mountain Mose, the Gorge Outlaw. 282 The Merciless Marauders; or, Carl's Revenge, 287 Dandy Dave and his Horse, White Stocking. de Steve: or, The Doom_of the Double. 301 Bowlder Bill; or, The Man from Taos. 309 Raybold, the Rattling Ranger. : 322 The Crimson Coyotes; or, Nita, the Nemesis 828 King Kent; or, The Bandits of the Bason. 842 Blanco Bill, the Mustang Monarch. 858 The Prince of Pan Out. 871 Gold Buttons; or, The Up Range Pards 511 Paint Pete, the Prairie Patrol, BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID, 8 The Headless Horseman. 2 The Death-Shot: or, Tracked to Death. The Scalp Hunters. A Romance of the Plains. > The Speeter Barque. A Tale of the Pacific, The Captain of the Rifles; or, The Lake Queen. | The Rifle Rangers; or. Adventures in Mexico. The White Chief. A Romance of Mexico. 3 The War Trail; or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse, The Wild Huntress; or, The Squatter, The Maroon. A Tale of Voodoo and Obeah, The Hunter’s Feast, The White Squaw, BY CAPTAIN MARK WILTON, 3 Lady Jaguar, the Robber Queen. ; Don Sombrero. the California Road Gent. 202 Cactus Jack, the Giant Guide. 219 The Scorpion Brothers; or, Mad Tom’s Mission, 223 Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain, 227 Buckshot Ben, the Man-Hunter of Idaho. 237 Long-Haired Max; or, The Black League. 245 Barranca Bill, the Revolver Champion 258 Bullet Head, the Colorado Bravo. 263 tron-A¥med Abe, the Hunchback Destroyer. 266 Leopard Luke. the King of Horse-Thieves. 271 Stonefist, of Big Nugget Bend. 276 Texa; Chick the Southwest Detective. 285 Lightning Bolt, the Canyon Terror. 291 Horseshoe Hank, the Man of Big Luck, 305 Silver-Plated Sol, the Montana Rover. 311 Heavy Hand; or, The Marked Men. 823 Hotspur Hugh; or, The Banded Brothers, BY JACKSON KNOX—* Old Hawk.” | 827 Detective Walden’s Web. | 778 The Butler Detective; or, Old Grip’s Grip, 770 The Showman Dete tive. 762 Old Grip, the Detective. Captain Clew, the Fighting Detective, 2 The Hurricane Detective. Castlemaine, the Silent Sifter. 5 Magnus, the Weird Detective. The Drop Detective. Wellborn, the Upper Crust Detective. Joram, the Detective Expert. Old Falecon’s Double. The Thug King; or, The Falcon Detective’s Foe, Falconbridge. the Sphinx Detective. 3 Old Falcon’s Foe; or, The Detective’s Swell Job. 515 Short-Stop Maje, the Diamond Field Detective, 9 Old Falcon, the Thunderbolt Detective. Springsteel Steve, the Retired Detective, The Detective’s Spy. Rowlock. the Harbor Detective, Dead-arm Brandt, 7 Mainwaring, the Salamander. The Cireus Detective. Griplock, the’ Rocket Detective. The Magic Detective; or, The Hidden Hand, Hawk Heron’s Deputy. Hawk Heron, the Falcon Detective. A new issue every Wednesday. Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by all Newsdealers, ten cents. per copy, or sent by mai) on receipt of twelve cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Pus.iisHERs, 98 Witi1AM St., NEw YorKE, — OO — Next Hatr-Drme Lisrary, No. 914, New York Nat’s Queerest Call | in which the young chief of the Police Puzzle, Tam Unknown Ferrets, is confronted by a new double, who is his veritable counterpart! Tae Yale Student Detective, Nick Norton, whose remarkable likeness to Nat, as has been chronicled, produced exciting results, is really outdone by this still another duplicate, so that there really are _ os Three of a Kind! but, in this new counterpart, Nat discovers the Sro- DENT Crook, whose victim Nick Norton becomes; and, once “ on” the genteel rogue, Nat quickly opens out a villainy whose mastery puts all of Nat's powers to asevere test. It is Steel to Steel! ; and the short, sharp, hot run that ensues is a detec- tive exploit of which the YouNe New York Vipocg might well be proud. Keno! Freckles! Flip! all have a hand in the SHapow-Hunt, and are in at a climax so full of power and pavhes that the story is one of the most effective of this now celebrated series of revelations of : The Boy Detective Magnates, The Mysterious * Unknowns ” The New York Police Enigma,
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PR Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Co BEADLE’S« H ALF-DIME*[_IBRARY. mplete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cenis, by all Newsdealers, — eT ———_—_— BY OLL COOMES. £6 Kit Bandy, Detective; or, Silver Star, the Foy Knight. i68 Kit Bandy in Texas; or, The Young Muatanger, 208 Kit Bandy’s Catch; or, The Boy Hercules. 422 Kit Bandy’s Right Bower; or, Baby Sam,the Boy Giant 444 Kit Bandy’s Swoop; or, Little Buckskin, tue Centaur, 478 Kit Bandy’s Slick Scheme; or, Old Tom Rattler. 661 Kit Bandy’s Deliveranee; or, Banner Ban. 680 Kit Bandy’s Pard; or, Dauntless Dan, the Freelance. f91 Kit Bandy Rattleds or, The Iniant Giant. 795 Kit Bandy in Red Ruin; or, ‘he Young Whirlwind, 799 Kit Bandy’s Big Rustle; or, Saddle King Sam, S04 Kit Band)’s Brigade; or, Dan, the Mountain Guide. 158 Jack Drew, the Nemesis, or, Eagle Kit the Boy Demon, 482 Jack Drew's Drop; or, Littie Hurricane, the Boy Captain. 2O2 Jack Drew In Deadwood; or, Prospect Pete, 27 Keen Knite on Guard; or, Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide, 81 Keen-Kuite, the Prince of the Prairies. 5 & Vagabond Jove, the Young Wandering Jew, 18 The Dumb Spy. 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 68 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. T1 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. Z4 Mawk-eye Marry the Young Trapper R ingers 88 Rollo, the Roy Ranger} or, The Heiress, 184 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. 148 Sear-l ave Saul, the Silent Hunter 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 218 Tiger ‘Tom, the Texas Terror. : 224 Dashing Dicks or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger, 248 The Disguised Guide ; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger, 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. 272 Minkskin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy; or, Old Caleb Arbuckle. 800 The Sky Demon; or, Rainbolt, the Rauger. 884 Whip-King Joc, the Boy Ranchero. 409 hercules: r, Dick, the Boy Ranger. A417? Webfoot Moxe, the Tramp Detective. 457 Wingedfoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul. 468 Tamarac ‘l'om, the Big Trapper Boy. 82 Stonewull Bob, the Boy Trojan. §2 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper, $52 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance. 670 Nerway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. 778 Wighland Harry, the Wizard Rifleman. 828 Poker Jack, the Detective Sport. BY T. ©. HARBAUGH, 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of ’76. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Littl Hunter, AZ Nightingale Nat; or, Tne Forest Captains, 64 Dandy Jack 3 or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Tralt. 82 Kit Marefoot, the Wood-Hawk; -r, Old Powder-face, $4 Midnight Jack 3 or, The Boy Trapper. 206 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen. $28 Kiowa Charley the Whit: Mustanger. 489 Judge Lynch Jr.: or, The Boy Vigilante. 455 Gold Trigger, the S vert; or, The Girl Avenger. 169 Tornado Tom; or, Injun Jack From Red Core. 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy; or, The Mad Hunter. 29m Arkansaw 3; or, The Quen of Fate’s Revenge 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 285 Captain Bullets; or, Little Topknot’s Crusade. 281 Plucky Phil; or. Rosa, ‘he Rei Jezebel. 241 BAll Bravo: or, The Roughs of the Rockies. 255 Captain Apoli » the King-Pin of Bowie. 267 The Kuckskin Detectlye; or, The King of Road-agenta, 279 Old Winch3 or, The Buckskin Desperadoes. 294 Dynamite Panz or, The Bowle Blade of Gochetopa. 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully. $16 Old Eclipse, Trump Curd of Arizona, 826 The Ten Pards; or, The Terror ot Take-Notice, B86 Rie Benson: or, The Queen of the Lasso. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Red Thunderboli’s Secret. BH Moot sam ond Parts or The Territle Six, B66 Velvct Foot, the Indian Detective, B86 Captain Cutlass; or, | he B ccaneer’s Girl Foe, $96 Rough Rob; or, The | win Champions of Blue Blazes. Ali The Silken Lasso: or, The Rose of Raneh Robin. 418 Fellx Fox, the Boy Spotter; or, The Gold Gang of New York, 425 Texas Trump. the Border Rattler. | 486 Phil Flaah, the New York Fox; or, The Mystery of Room 91, 445 Vhe City Vampires: or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon, 461 One Againat Fift y3 or, The Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Roy Shadow; or, Fellx Fox's Hunt. 4t7 The Exceisior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter, 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. 602 Rranded Ben, the Nicht Ferret. 512 Dodiwer Dilek, the Wharf-Spy Detective. 621 Dodger Dick’s Best Dodge; or, The Gotham Gold Gang, 628 Fox and Falcon, the Rowery Shadows. 88 Podger Dicks the Dook Ferret. 548 Dodger Dick’s Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, 558 Dodger Dick’s Desperate Case. 668 Dodger Dick. the Boy Vidoeg, or, The Gang of Three. 678 The Two Shadows; or, Dodger Dick’s Stop Game. S82 Dodger Dick’s Drop; or, The Man from Jersey. 694 Little Lon, the Street-Sinver Detective, 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard. 626 The Champion Pards; or, The Lucifer of Silver dar. 687 Dick Doan, the Dock Bov Detective, 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp, $58 Billy Buntam, the Boy Beagle, rral Jersey Jedd, the Boy Hustler; or, Shadowing the Shadowert ae Happy tug, the Boy Musician Detective, 01 Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. 715 Wide Awake Len, the bere: Foizet: alsy Dell. the Pavement Detective; or, Trapping Bi 42 Billy Winke, the Bell Boy Detective,’ “PPIn Big Gomes (254 Rilly Winks, the Poss Boy Shadow, Z6S8 Kagie Ned, the Boy on Guard; or, The Camp Spiders, Tonkaway Tom, the Red Wizard, S27 The Bantam Sport. 848 Clip, the Battery Ferret; or, Jack Jeffers? Foul Play. BY BUOKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8, Mall.) 284 Old Rocky's “* Boyees: ot, Benito, the Horse.B 6 Glant estas: or, The ang’ of the Range. “cig en Teck : “ T Giant George’s Re arantula of Taos; or, Gian rge’s Reven 307 The Strange Pard: or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt, ice. 818 Oreenneoe Ker-whoo or, The Tarantula of Taos, a fehtt olf; Big-Foot Wallace to the Front. rH The Ranch Ralderas. or, The Slege of Fort Pargatory, : 14 Snap-Shot, the Boy Kanger. 875 Chlota, the Greek: or, The Three Thunderbolts. $81 Randera Rill; or. Frio Frank to the Front. 92 Romeo and the Reda; or, The Beleaguered Ranch. a4 pittle Lariat y Ory Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage- ¥ from Denver. ¢ Three Trailers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage, ARB Elttle Tete eee eee! the Leona, 4 a an '. 684 Cooke Gari, the Chico Giant” ™* ‘ BY ALBERT W. ALKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 79 Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper, 268 Joe tiuck of Angels and His Buoy Pard. The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl, j 447 New York Nat. A ‘ale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling, 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 498 Taos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Halt Breed Detective. 618 Cool Colorado tn New York; or, The Cowboy's Fight. KB GEORGE ©. JEN KS. 485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 5618 The Demon Doctor; or, Deadhold, the 581 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. 598 Flute, the Singer Detective; or, Owney in a New Role, 608 The Pitcher Detective’s Foil; or, Dan’s Double Play, 616 The Ocean Detectives or. The Last Cruise of the Black Bear, 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussle. 786 Larry the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Side. T7Z9 lron Hand, the Charmed Detective 854 Uncle Sam’s Detective in Chicago, ‘ BY CHARLES MORRIs, 118 WIlLl Somers, the Boy Detective. 122 Phil Mardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Picayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Mandsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 Wil Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Klack Beas, Will Wildfire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry the Harbor Police Boy. 162 Will Wildfire in the Woods. 165 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy, 170 A ‘Trump Cardy; or, Will Wildfire Wins and Loses 174 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. 179 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, 158 The Hidden Nandy; or, Wil! Wildfire’s Revenge. 187 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, 189 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed; or, Bob Kockett’s Fight for Life. 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 'Tom Tanner}; or, The Black Sheep of the Flock. 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky, 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two ** Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang, 252 Dick Dashaway ; or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. 262 The Young Sharps; or, ollicking Mike’s Hot Trail 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The Site Detective. 298 The Water-Hound; or, The Young Thoroughored. 805 Dashaway, of Dakota; or, A Western Lad in Quaker City, 824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detectivey; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. 879 Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Fireity Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagavond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or Entombed Alive. 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket; or, How He Fought for Honor. 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, 566 The Secret *ervice Boy Detective. 596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. 627 Tom Bruce ot Arkansas; or, The Wolf in the Fold, 655 Plucky Paul, the Boy Speculator. 667 Bob and Sam, the Daisy Detectives. 709 The Curbstone Detective; or, Harry Hale’s Big Beat, 75? Detective Frank’s Sweep-stakes, 869 Ned Norman, the Gamin Broker, BY J0 PLEROE, 897 Bob o’ the Bowery ¢ or, The Prince of Malberry Street 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom, 452 metspur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow; or Luke’s Legacy. 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective. 504 Five Pointa Phil, the Pavement Prince. 509 Jack Jaggera, the Butcher Boy Detective. 516 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Phil’: Menagerie. 626 North River Nat, the Pier Detective. 5685 Wrestling Rex, the Pride of the Sixth Ward. 641 Jeff Flicker. the Stable Boy Detective. 651 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow; or, The Old Well Mystery. 559 Uarlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. 569 Rrooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, 577 Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter. 688 Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector, GOR Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer. 614 Whistling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid. 628 Ruck Bumblebee, the Harlem Hummer, 689 Sunrise Saul], the Express-Train Ferret. 649 Gamin Rob, the Bowery Badger; or, Scooping a Slippery Set. 658 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. 688 Saltpeter Sol, the New York Navigator 694 Spley Jim, the Only One of His Kind 06 Tom Thiatle, the Road-House Detectives Z Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. 6 Dennis Duff the Brown Sport's Kid. 1 Dick of the Docka, the Night-W atch. Kid Detective, & Flipper Flynn, the Street Patrol. 1 Foxy Fred's Odd Pard; or, The Keener’s Huge Hustle, 1 Cast-or Cale, the Scapegoat Detective, 4 Rowery Billy, the Benco Bouncer, 8% The Big Four of the Bowery. 46 Ruck, the New Vork Sharper. 850 The Grand Street Arab. Sie The Weat Rroadway Gamin, 86° The Boat-Club Mascot; or, Dan Decker’s Double Deal. 864 The Union Square Baggage Boy. BY PHILIP 8. WARNE, 67 Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 Captain Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game. 198 Captain Masks or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat. 219 Deapard, the Duellat: er, The Mountain Vempires. 888 A Tough Boy 3 or, The Dwarf’s Revenge. 868 Little Tornado; or, The Outcasts of the Glen. BTR Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. BSS Little Oh-my 3 or, Caught in His Own Trap. 401 Litt}> Shoo-Fly 3: or, A Race for a Ranch. 408 Little Leather-Breeches : or, Old Jumbo's Curse. 481 Little Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood. 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale ofthe stines 480 Three Jolly Pards; or, The Pots of Paddy’s Flat. 517 Jim Gladden’s Deputy; or, The Jolly Pard’s Campaign. 527 The Jolly Pards to the Resene; or, The Jack of Hearts, 547 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down, 556 Lartat Lil; or. The Cast for a Life, 574 Old Weasel-top, the Man with the Dogs, 98 Keen Clem, the Ranch imp. 599 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport. 618 Rilly Blazes; or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. 685 Oklahoma Hi the Rloe-Cont Soont. 648 Mappy Harry’s Big Find; or, The Beautiful Jezebel 664 Cheeky Charley the Special. PP Perieseieiriered zv ~ | ; | | BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm, F. Cody) 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand, 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie. 65 Deadly-iye. the Unknown Scout; or, The Banded Brotherhood 68 Border Robin Hoody; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Faney Frank ef Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust. BY COL, A. F. HOLT. $17 Wideawake. the Train-boy Detective. S11 Headiight Heorry’s Flyer; or, Duke Derby, 7B Meadlight Larry's Hazard. | 691 Headlight Harry’s Haul; or, The Railroad Parda, 727 Headlight liarry’s Siren; or, Mad Madge. 759 Headlight liarry’s Heritage. 794 Headlight Harry’s Hunt; or, The Cache of Gold. 8YY Black Buckskin; or, The Masked Men of Death Canyoa 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King; or, The Doomed Six. 485 Liitie Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods. 828 The Dandy Sport; or, The King Pin Conspirator, BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR, 2 Vellowstone Juck; or, The Trapper. 48 Biack John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Hurricane (ill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard. 119 Mustang Sam ¢ or, The King of the Plains. 186 Night-llawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue, 160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trallers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 The Boy Pards; or, Dainty Lance Unmasks. 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. | 810 The Barranca W olf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League, 885 Old Double Fiat; or, The Strange Guide 855 The King of the Woods: or. Daniel Boone’s Last Trail, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Trailer. * 677 Chineapin Dan’s Second Trall. 688 OChincapin Dan’s Home Stretch. 698 Old Crazy, the Man Without a Head, 70S Light-Heart Lute’«s Legacy. 718 Light-Heart Lute’s Last Trail. 728 Silverblade, the Shoshone. 729 Silverblade, the Hali{-Blood; or, The Border Beagle at Bay. 789 Silverblade, the Hostile, or, The Border Beag!e’s Trail. 748 Silverblade the Friendly; or, The Border Beagle’s Boy Pard BY J. W. OSBON,. 469 The Riv al Giants of Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. 587 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow, 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner; or, The Man Without a Past. 609 Bolly Dorrit, the Veteran Detective. 620 Little Lightning’s« League; or, The Mystery of the Island 688 Plueky Bant, the Boy Prospector, 751 Gold-Dust Dan, the Trail Patrol. 755 Gold Dust Dan’s Oath; or, Reckless Roy, the Regulator, RY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR U. 8. A. 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker. 194 Buffalo Bills Bet; or, The Gambler Guide. BY EDWARD &. ELLIS, 6 BUl Biddon, hs er. § Seth Jones; or, The Captives of tne Frontier. 16 Nat Todd; or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive, 2: xne Frontier Angel. 98 The Boy Miners; or, The Enchanted Island. 182 The Hunted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman, 254 The Half-Blood; or, The Panther of the Plains. 271 The Iuge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man, MISCELLANEOUS AUTHOKS. 4 The Wild-Horse Munters. By Capt. Mapne Relic ané Frederick Whittaker. 9 Adventures of Baron Muncheusen. 12 Gulliver’s Travels. By Dean Swift. 14 Aladdin; or, The Gey eee 16 Robinson Orusoe, (27 Dlust 2.) 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages. 22 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe, By Joan Lewis. 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribees. By S, W. Pierce. - 86 The Boy Clown; or, The Arena Queen. By £ 3. Finn. 88 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 61 The Boy Rif'es; or, The Underground Camp. By A. C. Irons, 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi By Lieut.-Col. Hazeltine. 98 Rebin Hood, the Outlawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Greene wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve. 105 Old Rube. the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Hunter; or, 'beCave of Death. By Burton Saxe. 124 Tippy, the Texan; or, The Young Champion. By George Glepson. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish. 148 Sharp Sam; or, The Adventures o1 a Friendlees Boy, By J. Alexander Patten. 227 Dusky Darrell, ba cae or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- lowstone. By Edward Emerson. 261 Fergus Fearnaught the New Y irk Boy. By G. L. Aitken, 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; »r, Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trail, By Ensign C. D. Warren. 298 Red Claw. the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid ot the Cliff, By Captain Comstock. B17 Peacock Pete. the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Liew tenant Alfred Thorne. 828 The Sky Detectives or, 4 Boy’s Fight for Life and Honot, By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Red Ralph, the River Rover; or, The Brother’s Re+ venge, By Ned Buntline. — B65 Raltimore Ren the Bootblack Detective. By A, P, Morris, 874 Gold-Duat Tom: or, Ben’s Double Match. By @ H. Morse. 876 Cailfornia Joe’s Firat Trail. By Colonel! Thomag Hoyer Monstery. t 418 Billy Bombahcll, the Cliff Climber. By F. S. Winthrop. 475 The Black Ship, By JohnS Warner. 484 Comanche Dick and Hix Three Invincibles. By Henry J, Thomas. 582 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest. BSL Aricl the Athlete. By David Druid. 585 Will Waters, the Bov Ferret. By 1. Enton. 682 The Dead Petective’s Double. By Gerald Carlton. 721 Maverick Mose, the Arizona Detective; or, The Wiard of Urkow Pass. By Will Lisenbee. 809 Don Danton, the Gent from Denver, By King Keene, of the U. S. Secret Service Corps. 814 Ace High, the Frisco Detective. By C. E. Tripp. 880 The Grim. Lodgers In Rag Alley; or, Citizen Kebe of Number Seven. By Ben D. Hallidey. 881 The Chicago Drummer’ Deal. By J. G. Rethure. 841 7 eae Charlie, the Cat’s-Paw Sport. By Marma- minke Dev, 848 pan, the River Sport; or, Foiling the Frisco Sharp, By are "ayne. 861 Billy Brine, the Swamp Fox. By Chas. F. Welles, Sew faane Fvery Unendes The Half-Dime Library ‘+ tor ssie ny all Newsdealers, fro Gents per copy, or sent Ln A on receipt of six cents eacr. BEADLE. AY ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York,
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mer 2 Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by all Newsdealers.. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novels, 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Deadwood Dick's Detianee; or, Double Daggers. +4 earres ae e He need or, Buffaj. Ben & Deadwooc ek in a Castle, 42 Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza; o;, The Phantom Miner. 49 Deadwood Dick in Danger; or, Omana Oll. 57 Deadwood Dick’s Englex; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 7s Deadwood Dick on Deck ; or, Calamity 4 ‘ne, the Heroine mA ro dete as nay anes Acts or, Corduri\y Charlie, aiwoo ekinm Leads es Le] penaroes pp as fee; Fy The Double Cross Sign. endwoo cK as Detective. aoa pasa wood oe Piha He The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. ead wood ek’s Hi 2 asec; or, Blonde Bill. 149 Deadwood Dick’s Big Strikes or. Naber Gold. 156 Deadwood Dick of Dead wood: or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dream ¢ or, The Rivuls of the Road. 201 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hil)’s Jezebel, +t peared per ey : or, colenity Jane’s Adventure. , ead wood ek’s Dead Decal, 221 Deadwood Dick’s Veath-Piant. 282 Gold-Duat Dick, A Romance of Roughs and Toughs, 44 ponewees Hote ~ my ot! Fee Spirit of Swamp Lake. ead w oor ch’s Death Tra 809 Deadwood Dick’s Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. 821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, Th. Fakir of Phantom Flats 847 Deadwood Dick’s Duents; or, Days in the Diggings. re | Gese wee eee or enced 3 or, The Terrible Vendetta. - endwooc ck’s aim. 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City. 410 Deadwood Dick’« Diamonds. 421 Deadwood Dick in New York; or, A “Cute Case.” 430 Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand. as Road weed Dicks or ig Crimson Crescent Sign. end woo ek r.’s, eflance, 45% Deadwood Dick. Jr.’a Full land. 459 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Big Round-Up. 465 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Racket at Claim 10, 471 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Corral; or, Bozemen Bill, 4ai Desivood Moke 3r.,'beNeadeacd. 49L Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Compact. — 496 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s. Inheritance, 600 Deadwood Dick, Jr Digginga. 508 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dell verance, 515 Deadwood Dick, dr..4« Protegee, H22 eosevecs pict ¢ ry Three. eadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Danger Ducka. 524 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death Hunt, ota Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Texas. 9 B A 5 Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidoog 5 Deadwooa Dick, Jr., on Mix Mettle. 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Boston. 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadetphia. 572 Deadwood Dick, Jdr., in Chicago. 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Afloat. &S4 Deadwooo Dick. vr.. in Denver. 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deerce. aoe Ls pa Fea ere ~ Peetpelnd's Paste. adwoo e r-, at Concy Island, 606 Deadwood Dick, Irs, Leadville Lay. 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Detroit. § 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. 642 Deadwood Dick. Jr.. tn Buffalo. 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Chase Across the Continent G54 ont bbe peeks rs Amons the Pecepeters. i, Sra vauronce Case, 666 Deadwood Dick; dr., Rack in the Mines. 672 Deadwood Dick, Jr., tn Durango; or, * Gathered In,” 5) etre elton ee Sg rcerenst or, Found a Fortune. . eadwoo ek, Jr.’s. Dazzle. 690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a. Dollars. 695 Deadwood Dick. Jr., at Danger Divide. 700 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Drop. 704 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. 710 Deadwood Dick Jr., in San Francisco. 716 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Still Hunt. 722 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dominoes, 728 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Diagulae. 784 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Deal 740 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deathwatch, Deadwood Bick, Jr.’s, Poublet. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Reathblow. Read wend aactt arg i" eperate Strait. ead woo Mek, Jr.’s, Lone Hand, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«; Defeat. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Resurrection. Dehdwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dark Days. Deadwood Dick Jr., Detied. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Device, Deadwood Dick, Jr’.s, Desperate Venture, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Dinmond Dice, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Royal Flush. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Head-off. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Rival. © S22 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Boom. 828 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Scoop. 884 Deadwood Dick, dr.’«, Proxy. 840 Deadwood Pick, Jr’s, Clutch, 845 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, High Horse, 852 Deadwood Dick Jr., at Devils Guich, S58 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Neath-Hole Hustle. 863 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Bombshell, S70 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Mexico. Deadwood Dick, Jr’s, Decoy Duck. S82 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Silver Pocket. 891 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dead-Sure Game, S98 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Pouble Drive. 904 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Trade-Mark. BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS. 559 Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dead Set at Silver City. 622 Tom-Cat’s Triad; or, The Affair at Tombstone. 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Task; or, The Cowboy Detective, 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumphy or, Black Dan’s Great Combine. 5646 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 Wana, the Dutch Vidocg; or, Hot Times at Round-Up tad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules. 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective, 657% Warbling William the Mountain Mountebank. 665 Jolly Jeremiahs the Plains Detective. 676 Stenal Sam, the Lockout Scout. 689 Billy, the Gypsy Spy: or, The Mystery of Two Lives, 699 Straple Sim, the Rroncho Buster; or, For Big Stakés. 2 712 The Mesmerist Sports or, The Mystified Detective, 788 Toltee Tom, the Mad Prospector. 45 Kansas Jim, the Cross-Cut Detective, 61 Marmaduke, the Mostanger Detective. 78 The Rustler of Rolling Stone. 85 Lone Hand Joe, the Committee of One. O01 Kent Kirby, the Hich-Kicker from Killbuck, 8s ane tor Detective in Texas. ; 872 Two Showmen Detectives in Colorado. Din PLARAR Ns - -o tvs NGNWNODS DDH Me Leyokedekedeyryodny © ~—— on BEADLE’S«H ALF- DIME*] JBRARY. Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 80 Rosebud Reb; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Rosebud Rob on Mand; or. Idy!, the Girl Miner. 88 Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance; or, Photograph Phil. 121 Rosebud Rob's Challenge; or, Cinnamon Chip. 277 Denver Doll, tlie Detective Queen; or, The Yankee’s Surround 281 Denver Doll’s Victory; or, Skul! and Crossbones, 285 Denver Doll's Decoy } or. Little Bill’s Bonanza, 296 Denver Doll’s Drift; or, The Road Queen. 868 Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gathererg or, The Life Lottery. 872 Yreka dim’s Prize; or, The Wolves of Wake-Up, > 8385 Yreka Jim’s Joker} or, The Rivals of Red Nose, 889 Yreka Jim’s New Role; or, Bicycle Ben. 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective; or. Dot Leetle Fame, 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Veutriloquist Hunter 241 Sicrra Sam, tho Fronticr Ferret; or, A Sister’s Devotion. 248 Sierra Saws Sceret; or, The Bloody Foutpriuts, 258 Sierra Sam’s Pardy or, The Angel o! Big Vista. 258 Sierra Sam’s Seven} or, The Stolen Bride. 834 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner. $89 Kangaroo Kit’« Racket; The Pride of Played-Out, 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York. 69 The Boy Detective; or, Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter, 96 Watch-Eye, the Detective; or, Ar.bs and Angels. 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 145 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. 161 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 226 The Arab Detective 3 or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp. 291 Turk the Boy Ferret. 825 Kelley, Mickey & €o., the Detectives of Philadelphia. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Detective. 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Mat Marry, the Base Ball Detective. 426 Sam Slabaides, 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 Bludsee, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bills; or, The Red Rifle Team. 92 Canada Chet} or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. 118 Jack Hoyle the Young Speculator. 125 Bonanza Bill, Miner; or, Madam Mystery, the Forger. 188 Boss Hob the King of Bootblacks. 141 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent; or, The Branded Brows. 177 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps. 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 Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs. 209 A No. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. 808 ’Liza Jane, the Girl Miner; or. the Iron-Nerved Sport. 880 Little Qu!ck-Shot or, Vie Dead Face of Daggersville. 858 First-Clase Fred, the Gent trom Gopher. 878 Nabob Ned; or, The Secret of Slab City. 882 Cool Kit, the Kirg of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance. 438 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher, or, A Son’s Vengeance. 486 Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler; or The Tribunal of Ten. BY J, ©. COWDRICK, Broadway Billy Novels. 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 514 Broadway Billy’« Boodle; or, Cleming aStranze Case 586 Broadway Billy’s ‘Ditikiity.” 7 Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. 579 Broadway Billy’s Surprise Party. 605 Broadway Billy; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Innine. 628 Broadway Billy’s Dead Act: or, The League of Seven 669 Broadway Billy Abroad; or, The Bootblack in Frisco. 675 Broadway Billy’s Beat; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest. 687 Broadway Billy tn Clover. 696 Broadway Billy tn Texas; or, The River Rustlers, 708 Broadway BPilly’s Brand. 711 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe: or, The Clever Deal. 720 Broadway Billy’s Full Mandy; or, The Gamin Detective. Zz Broadway Billy’s Business. Broadway Billy’s Curious Case, Broadway Billy tn Denver. Rroadway Billy’s Bargain; or, The Three Detectiv Broadway Billy, the Retriever Detective. Broadway RBilly’s Shadow Chase. Broadway RBilly’s Beagles; or, The Trio’s Quest. Broadway Billy’« Team: or, The Combine’s Big Pull. 790 Broadway Eiflly’s Brigades or, The Dead Alive, Srondway Billy’s Queer Bequest. 800 Broadway Billy Bafiled. 805 Brondway Pilly’s Sigua! Scoop. 810 Broadway Hilly’« Wipe Out. 815 Broadway Billy’s Bank Racket. S21 Brondway Billy’s Bluff. $26 Broadway Billy Among Jersey Thuga. 83 Broadway Billy’s Itatd, 889 Broadway Billy’s Big Boom, 844 Broadway Billy's Ble Bulge. $49 Broadway Billy's #100,000 Snap. 856 Brondway Billy’s Blind; or, The Bootblack Stowaway. 862 Broadway Billy in London. : 868 Broadway Pilly Shadows London Slums. S74 Broadway Billy’s French Game. 880 Broadway Billy and the Bomb-Throwers, 906 Satety Sam, the Cvele Sport. 900 Jumping dack’s Jubilee. SS7 Battery Bob, the Dock Detective. | 860 Milver-Maak, the Man ot Mystery; or, The Golden Keys. 869 Shasta, the Gold Kings or, ForSeven Years Dead,” 420 The Detective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without a Name. 424 Cibuta Jonny or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar, 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. &06 Redlight Ralph the Prince of the Roa... 524 The Engineer Petective; or, Redlight Ralph’s Resolve 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 571 Alr-Line Luke the Young Engineer; or, The Double Case The Boy Pinkerton; or, Running the Rascals Out. 615 Fighting Harry the Chief of Chained Cyclone, Bareback Beth, the Centaur of the Circle, 647 Tyrewriter Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward. 659 Moonlight Morgnn tho“ Plzenest’’ Man of Ante Bas. 894 Arizona Dick’s W ipe-Out. BY WILLIA)) R. EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke; or. The Tivers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank: or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pards, + 818 The Hustler Rogue-Catcher, 8838 Poker Pete’s Double Dodge, 851 The Tie-To Sport; or, High Hustling av Sinners’ Flat. 888 Monte Saul, the Sport. 901 Diamond Dave, the Gilt-Edge Shooter, BY BUFFALO BILL (ion. Wm. F. Cody, 8 Kanasaa King; or, The Red Right Hand, 19 The Phantom &py: or, The Pilot of the Pratrie. 55 Peadly-Eye. the Unknown Serut, or, The Banded Brotherhood 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Faney Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust, BY HAROLD PAYNE. 848 Dan, the River Sport; or, Folling the Frisco Sharp, 892 Bowery Ben in Chinatown, ~ TSOROA * ¥ ie he he te be he Lele LBNVIAARKA ~ BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM. 908 New York Nat’s Double. 902 New York Nat’s in Colorado, 896 New York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp. S89 New York Nat’s Deadly Deal, 888 New York Nat’s Crook-Chase, S@T7 New York Nat’s Trump Card, STL New York Nat and the Grave Ghouls. 865 New York Nat’s Masked Mascot, 859 New York Nat, the Gamin Detective. 858 Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out, S47 Dick Doowm’s Ten Strike. 842 Dick Doom’s Flush Hand. @72 Dick Doom’s Death-Grip; or, The Detective by Deciiny. ?Z Dick Doom’s Destiny; or, The River Blackleg’s Terres. 84 Dick Doom; or, 1)i¢ SLarps and Sharks of New York, 88 Dick Doom In Boston; or, A Man of Many Maske. 95 Dick Doom tn Chicago. 298 Dick Doom in the Wild Weat. 808 Dick Doom'’s Clean Sweep; or, Five Lin's 808 Dick Doom’s Death Clue. S18 Dick Doom’s Diamond Beal. 819 Dick Doom’s Girl Mascot. S29 Dick Doom’s Shadow Hunt. 885 Dick Doonm’s Big leul. Z49 Dashing Charlie; or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s First Trail 756 Dashing Cherlic’a Destiny; or, The Renegade’s Copt.. 760 Dashing Charlie’* Pawnee Pard. 766 Dashing Charlie, the Rescuer. 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 787 Buck Taylor, the Comanche’s Captive. 748 Buck Taylor’s Boys; cr, The Fed Riders of the Nio Crande. 560 Pawnee Bill, the Pirie Shadower. 718 Pawnee Bill; or, Carl, Wie Mad Cowboy. 719 Pawnee Bill's Pledge; or, The Cowboy's Doom. 725 Pawnee Bill; or, Daring Dick. 692 Redfern’s Curtous Case: or, The Rival Sharps. 697 kedfern at Devil’s Ranch; or, The Sharp from Texas, TO2 Redtern’s High Hand; or, Blue Jacket, TO? Redfern’« Last Trail; or, The Red Sombrero Rangers. 668 Red Ralph’s Ruse; or, The buccanee: Miushipman. 674 Red Ralph’s Bold Game; or, The Wizard Sailer. 679 Red Ralphy the Shadower; or, The Freebogter’s Legacy 644 Butterfly Iilty’s Hisguise. f 650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony t-xpreas Rider, 656 Butterfly Billy’s Man Hunt. 662 Lutterfly Billy’s Bonanza. 565 Kent Kingdon; 0, Ihe Ow Js of the Overland. 570 Kent Kingdon's Shadower 3 or. the Card Queen. ® 575 Kent Kingden’s Pucl 3 (r, The Surgeon Scout. 586 Kent Kingdon’s Looms «r, The Buckskin Avenger. 545 Lafitte Run Down: or, The Tuc aneers of Barrataria, 550 Lafitte’s Legacy: or. ‘The Avenging Son. 555 Latitte’« Confecstons or, The Creole Corsair. 520 Buckskin Bill, the Conanche Shadow. 525 The Buckskin Brothers In Texas, 580 The Buckski. Bowers or. The Cowboy Pirates, 585 The Buckskin Lov ere: or, Dne l'rairie Fugitive, 540 The Buckskin Pards’ Quest: or, Capt.in Ku-Klvn, 508 The Royal Middy ; or, The Shark anid te Sen Cor, 507 The Royal Middy’« Luck; or, ihe Huntea Midshipoicm 611 The Royal Middy’s Foc. 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferret o: New York. 454 Wizard Will's Street Scouta. A474 Wizard WIILDs 1 ard; or, Flera, the Flower Girl. 488 Wizard Will's Laat Caret or, The Ferrets Afivat, 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 4 488 Duncan Dare’s Plot; or, A Cabin Boy’s Luck. 187 Duncan Pare’s Prize; or, The Sea Raider. 441 Dunean Dare’s fecrets or, Tle Ocean Firefy, 402 Isodor, the Y oung Conspirator ; or, The Fatal League. 407 Isodor’s Pouble Chasey or, The Boy Insurgent. 412 Ixodor’s War-Cloud Cruise: or. The Wild Yachteman, 216 Bison Bill, the Prince of the Reine. 222 Rison Bill's Clues or. Grit, the Biavo Sport, B04 Dead Shot Pandy’s Vilemmal 808 Dead Shot FP andy’s Rouble; cr, Keno Kit. 814 Dead Shot Pardy’s Petianee; or, The Loy Bugler. 607 Dead Shot Pandy’s € hic t; or, The River Detective. 245 Merle Monte’s I. ap for Life. 250 Merle Monte’s Mutiny ¢ or, Prandt, the Buccaneer. | 264 Merle Monte’s Treasure Island. 269 Meric Monte the Condemned, 276 Merle Montec’s Crnixe; or, “ ‘Ihe Gold Ship” Chase, 250 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, The Pirate’s Pride. 284 Merle Nionte’a Mledge: or. The Sea Morander. 197 The Kid Glove Sport; or, Little Grit, the Wild Rider. elale hed in a Clove, 204 The Kid Gleve Sport’s Doomys or, Buffalo Bill, the’ Pony Express Rider, S885 Dead-Shot Ralph’s Ten-Strike. S67 Dead Shot Kalph’s Prop. 878 Deck-Hawk Roy’s Big Scoop. S25 Marlo, the Cowboy Coaster, T8L Ruth Redmond, the Girl Shadower. 686 Orlando, the Oceay Free Flag. 617 Ralph, the Pead-Shot Scout, 602 The Vagabond ofthe Mines, 59T The Texan Detectives or, The Black Bravos, _- 591 Delmonte. tie Young Sea-Rover; or, Toe Avengzing Sailors) 580 The Ontcast Cadet; or, The False Detective, ‘ 495 Arizona doe or, The Boy Pard of Texas Jack. L877 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger. 468 Neptune Ned, the Bey Conster; or, Pirate in Spite. 462 The Sailor Boy Wanderer; or, The Born Guide. 446 Haphazard Warry;: or, The Sea Scapegrace. . 808 The Red Tinened Vanda; or, The Boy Lieutenant, | 8ST bg pot h W4ll, the Traitor Guide. 888 The Indian Pilot: or, The Search for Pirate Island. 877 Bonodel, the Buy Rover: or, The Flagless Schooner, 287 Billy Bluc-Fyes, of the Rio Grande. 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 229 Crimson Kate, the Girl Trailer; or, The Cowboy’s Triumph. 116 The Hussar Captain: or, The Hermit of Hell Gate. 111 The Sen-Devi) ; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Smuggier, or, The Cruise of the Vixen, 75 The Boy Dnellats or, The Cruise of the Sea-Woll, 62 The Shadow &hip ¢ or, The Rival Lieutenant, 24 Diamond Dirks or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, © 17 Ralph Roy, the Roy Buccancer; or, The Fugitive Yacht, 7 The Flying ¥ ankee?} or, The Ocean Outcast, LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 909 Midshipman Dare, the Pirate Catcher; or, he Sea Rovers of 98. By T.J- Flavagun. & 910 Deadwood Dick, Jr. at Tip-'Pop; or, Gold Guns, the Builet-proof sport. By Edward L. Wheeler, 911 Bowery Bob, the Eant-nide Detective; or, Spotiing the Shady Sharpers. By Harold Payne. t 912 Train Boy WT rixt « Mot Hustle; or, Bouncing the Broadway’ Crodk. 4 y d+ C- Cowdrick. 918 Kit Keith, t ¢ Revenue Spotter; or, The Big Bag at Dark Run, By Ed, L. Wheeler, " ' 914 New York Nat's Three of a Kind. By Col. Prentiss. Ingraham, 915 Flip Flasher, Ferrets or, Firing the Fire-bugs, Ey Jo — jerce, A New lesue Every Tuesday. The te or sent by mail on recerpt of alx a mr OP" BEADLE AND ‘ADAMS. ‘ j “‘Pime Library is for sale by all newsdealers, five. — iitam Btrect, Ne | Work tate ¥