Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 969) (1896 02 18)
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__. OBRAS 0/5 iim enc wll 1 Pa | li! it lV {p(t lt | ! amt! | Ut a | Oa! ee ‘Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y , Post Office. Copyrighted 1896, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, February 18, 1898, 7 No 969 $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS. Price, Vol XXXVI "5 if a Year. No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK, 5 cents. ¥ aacower ii A ‘ h i i ' (i LM | | lark’s (ylose jh —= [A STORY OF THE : Vigilantes’ Chief at Touch-and-Go. } t ds BY WM. R. EYSTER, ; AUTHOR OF ‘‘THE TIE-TO SPORT,” ‘FARO FRANK,” ETC., ETC, ; CHAPTER I. pa FIGHT IN THE STORM. i= ! SS 2 & = 3% + ) ‘“‘Ou! heavens! Must I dic?” , SSS —————— —s The snow lay white on the mountains, and SPRINGING FROM UNDER THE NOOSE, CLARK FACED THEM ALL. the wind swept its icy breath over the al-
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The Girl _Sport- -Shadower, most obliterated trail. For a person to be lost on the hillside at night, in such a pitiless storm, was to confront certain death. Scarce to be wondered, then, that the speaker felt the agony of de- spair. As he staggered and nearly fell, he uttered that exclamation; ‘but, a moment later, his teeth were set, with a new purpose, and he reeled onward once more, shaking his almost palsied hand at the round glow in the heavens which showed where the moon was vainly try- ing to peer through the murky clouds. “No, I will not die; not while Muriel eis unavenged, and a single man of the Sacred Seven lives and laughs! Let, him laugh best who laughs last! Has the wind changed, or have I been turned around in the blizzard? If I only knew. Touch-and-Go must lie somewhere yon- der, and not so many miles away. I can reach it, and I- will! Yet before this I should have been descending the mount- ain. Strange I should feel so drowsy.” It was not strange. Clarence Clark was even then nearer to death’s door than he knew, in spite of his resolute vow to live and be avenged. The acute suffering of the last hour was passing away, but, in its place Was coming an apathy a thousand times worse. He had started that afternoon to go from Walnut Bar to Touch-and-Go, had been overtaken by a snow storm, turned from the true course, and now was wan- dering forward on a path where every step was taking him farther from his destination, and into a region where he was less and less likely to meet with help. Even as he spoke he felt his limbs tot- ter under him, and then he sank almost helpless on the snow-covered ground. But, brave man that he was, at that last. crisis he did not think of giving up the fight, and once on the ground it seemed to him:that he must take a few minutes of rest for which his soul was crying. * He huddled himself together at the foot of a pine, and the air suddenly filled with ‘grateful ‘warmth. ,The biting wind no longer reached him; the snow was soft as down! He made a pillow of the trunk of the tree, hard though it was, and closed his eyes. He was slipping away into the dream- land from which no excursionist ever re- turns, when his consciousness flashed back with tenfold power; he recognized his danger for the instant, and uttered one wild cry, which rose shrill and high | above the roaring of the storm. It was a last flash of the life-fire, for - almost before the echo had died away he was once more voiceless and numb. He folded his arms, closed his eyelids, and heard no longer the howling wind, which came racing up to the mountain crest with more power than ever. _ For. some little time he lay thus, and his breath came more and more gently. The snow drifted and sifted up against} | him. Death was very near. For all he could have told, hours might have elapsed, though, in reality, but a few minutes had passed. Then—he was no longer alone! From out of the pines which bordered the side of the almost hidden trail, two figures came bursting, and one of them halted almost by the side of the one | crouching beneath the pine. “T see nothing, and yet from the sound it must have been near here. he has fallen into the gorge, and that was his last scream!” “Wait! Here are the signs of tracks, if I mistake phe and, see! they come Perhaps | ‘this way. ‘ae look! He is there! Have we come in time?” The second speaker pointed to the half- hidden heap at the foot of the tree, and the two sprung together to see what was their find. “He still lives,” muttered one of the two, with his hand-on the heart of the silent man. “We may be. too late, but we can at least make an effort. Here! Up with you! It is death to lie there another min- ute!” As he spoke he caught the wayfarer by the collar, and with a rude wrench brought him to his feet. This rough attack had its effect, slight though it was. A mumble came from the lips, a slight motion from the arm; but it was like an expiring flicker. Had the stranger released his grip the figure would have collapsed once more. “Do not waste time, Ralph! We must carry him to the hut over at the gorge. He is too far gone to help himself.” The speaker was the smaller of the two rescuers, and though a -heavy cloak~ disguised her sex, the voice was that of a woman. Ralph shook his head. “He is too far gone for that. He will die in another five minutes unless he is aroused now. Cut me a stick. He must be brought to his senses,” The suggestion was the best possible for the occasion, and the girl recognized its wisdom. With the knife she drew from the girdle at her waist she lopped off a straight bough from a near-by birch and rapidly cleared it of twigs, after which she placed it in the hands of her companion. Then ensued a singular scene, Holding the benumbed man with one powerful hand, with the other the cruel friend plied the whip with biting vigor. “Crack! crack!” the wiry switch fell, lithely wrapping around arms andelegs, and touching, with tingling force, back and shoulders, Steadily and mercilessly it fell, until the death-apathy began to succumb, ‘The lad—for he was. little more—began to writhe under the blows, and his tongue at last found speech. “Hands off, I tell you! You’re killing me!” and his hand began to fumble at his waist. Strength was returning, and his first movement would have been to defend himself against the man who was saving him. “You would fight, would you? Ha! that’s good! Now, a little larger dose of birch, and then perhaps you will be ready to move. No. You are not a safe young man to trust with such things. in take care of it for” you, for the pres- en ” revolver from the rapidly warming fin- gers, and then went on with the easti- gation. The blows continued, and by and | by the expostulation became something like screams,. The tough whip had done its work, and therf it was tossed away. “ All right, young man! I guess you are safe enough now, with a little looking after. You feel strong, but a minute or. two by yourself and you would be back again where we found you. Come! We will help you over the rough places, but you have got to help yourself. Brace bad and trot along!” i “ Where are aes taking me?” 1ere is shelter not far away—an abil peed cabin. You will be out of the Paare, and it will take but a few | ‘ou were the trees the wind would chill you in a minute. Come on, Madge!” . - Dexterously the speaker twitched the | no reason why it should be a secret with mon ex ts to start a fire. Now, then lean on You ar e not half so strong as you | ‘think, and_ it ster out from under. The girl stepped to his other side, and with the rescued youth between them, the pair moved back under the pines. The way grew rougher. Fortunately they had not far to go. Only one well acquainted with the route could have found it in the darkness, and the youth began to lose rapidl had come back to him under the rod. Ralph rather more than half carried him, and he sunk down with a sigh of relief the moment the sustaining arm was un- clasped from around him. Around was dense darkness, but in a. brief time there was a faint glow, soon to be followed by a leaping flame, as a fire was started in the fireplace at one end of the cabin with the dry wood found therein. “Safe at last!” exclaimed the man, as a cheerful warmth began to diffuse itself through the room. “Lucky it was that Madge fancied she heard your cry. Another five minutes and you would have been gone. Who are you, and how did you come to be lost in this storm?” areata “Did I scream?” “You did, for a fact, and you may thank your ‘lucky stars that you did so. It was Madge’s sharp ears which heard you. If I had not believed in them I never would have gone out into the night.” “Thanks, then, to both of you, and especially to Madge, as you call her. I believe I dare answer your questions truthfully, and I would not like to lie to one who has just saved my life. My name is Clarence Clark. I left Walnut Bar on foot, intending to take a short cut I was told of, and strike the main trail somewhere half way up the mountain. They warned me of danger from a bliz- zard, but I did not believe. Then the storm came. I lost my way altogether, wandered on until I sank down for a lit- tle rest. What else there is to tell you know as well as I.” “ When you were warned of danger, it was strange you did not at least keep to the main trail. You could save but a few miles by the cut-off. Clarence Clark looked up keenly at his questioner, whose features at that mo- ment were brought out in pews relief by the roaring fire. He saw a dark, handsome fai, with coal-black eyes, long, midnight hair, and an aquiline nose. But, beyond all, there was an expression in the face which seemed to say that this: stranger to him was one to trust. “To tell the truth, I ‘ek the route be- cause I had certain reasons for avoiding a man who might possibly have met. ane had I gone the other trail.” : “ And that man—who is he? There a me? There are bad men at Touch-and- Go, whom any one might be pardoned for trying to avoid; but this man must be something more, I infer.” “You are. “right. not yet come for us to meet. When it does, I would ask nothing more than to stand face to face with Henry Harring- ‘ton.” je “Ah, with Henry Harring ‘on! Boy, there are others who would ask the sane boon, though it aight mean death. Is he your foe?” ; “Till death!” “ Hush! Hark!” " . Madge ht sprung to their side, with one for Ay Bs erlip, while with An ge that, a acusthan’ of | teet petaide, and almost immediately a heavy hand fell on the rude door, y the strength which . While I am on his trail to strike and to slay, the time has a ¥e =a + ba Sled
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LP IO LES FLEE! SIC LIS» at ne EO OGLE LE | t The Girl Sport-Shadower. CHAPTER II. THE SACRED SEVEN. In that knock there was something which sent a shiver through Clarence Clark, though he knew not why. Though he had begun to talk, he was not by any means restored to his usual strength, and his nerves were still un- strung. Perhaps the movements of his companions, made on the instant of the knock, had something to do with it, for they were certainly mysterious. Almost before the sound had ceased they had flitted to the other end of the cabin and disappeared! There was a shuttered opening there, which served in warmer weather for a window, and of this they had taken ad- vantage. Clarence Clark, as he called himself, was left alone to face the in- truders, whoever they might be. He had no time to consider what was the meaning of this hasty flight before the knock was repeated, and this time he answered feebly: “Come in! You have as much right here as I myself.” Whether his bidding was heard or not, the door flew open, urged by no gentle hand, and a man strode into the cabin, peering around as he did so, with his re- volver thrown up to a ready. After him followed others, though Clark did not take time to count them. He saw at a glance they were rough- Jooking, and from their actions had grave doubts whether they were the kind he cared to meet. The newcomers saw the ‘young man ly- ing in the glare of the fire. “Who are you, and what are you do- ing here?” Sharp and quick the question came, and the muzzle swept around so that the revolver covered the youth. “T was caught in the storm, and came “nigh to perishing. At almost the last gasp I was found by a man who brought me here. No doubt he saved my life. My name is Clarence Clark, and I was on my way from Walnut Bar to Touch- and-Go.” The men crowded closer. What was there in what I said to cause this? “Found by a man? Who was he? What has become of him? Is this his shack? ” “Sorry I can’t answer your questions,” answered Clarence, now on his guard of suspicion and caution. “He found me, as I said, brought me here, built this fire, and then went away. I never saw him before; probably will never see him again. All the same, he has my hearty thanks for having saved my life. If you see him tell him so. He ~ has made a friend of me till death.” “How long ago was this?” “TI cannot tell. It may have been an hour; it may have been but a few min- utes. Your knock seemed to rouse me from a trance. Make yourselves at home. A night like this all mankind ought to be welcome, anywhere.” “Out, some of you, and look for the trail!” "exclaimed the leader, turning to the men. “T thought I heard voices as we stood at the door, and it may be he has just léft. If you find him you know what to do. I doubt if he could go far in this blizzard.” “Neither kin we, eon. Bt gits wuss an’ wuss. I’m thinkin’ we'll hev’ ter camp lryer fur ther night.” ; “Never mind what you think, Hyena! ‘Take the lead, and find his trail. Time enough to think of the next move then.” He swung around so sharply as he spoke that the grumbler threw up both hands in evident dismay, “My mistake, boss. you orders, ef et’s ter Tophet. But I reckon ef we hit ther wrong man he’s paid fur. Bones an’ Flirter, come with me.” Drawing their weapons as they went, they passed out into the night. , Whether it was that the cabin had less protection from the wind, or the wind had actually raised in force, it seemed the storm had increased in violence, _ The roar outside deepened, and flakes of snow came sifting in. ‘When the door was opened a savage blast swirled in a great drift, and though the fire was burn- ing brightly, it no longer seemed to be throwing out the gracious warmth which had revived the half-frozen youth. He shuddered as his eyes followed the three men. It must be a desperate reason which would take them out on such a desperate night. As for himself, Clarenee Clark recog- nized the fact that he could do nothing. He would have risked his life for his newly-made friends; but saw no need to throw it away. Besides that, he suspect- ed his own life was none too safe, though it was a strange thing these men should care to add a causeless crime to their record. : His revolver, which Ralph had re- turned, was still convenient to his hand. For an instant he had a wild notion to spring up and fight his way out into the storm. Wisdom prevailed. There was a chance here that no harm would be done him; outside there was no chance at alk He lay quiet, and watched the leader from the corner of his eye. ‘The minutes passed in silence, until Hyena and his pards came trooping back. “Sorry, boss, but ef my eyes was dub- bel dimund mikerskopes I couldn’t git a glimp’ ov a trail. We bin round an’ round ther shack, we jest sifted that snow down ter bedrock, an’ we ain’t found sign ov hair ner huff. Flirter are jest froze solid, an’ Bones are next thing ter a stiff ‘un. Ef so be you orders et we'll go out thar an’ hand in our checks, but et won’t do no good. Weall both three thinks ef et war him he’s passed on, an’ when yer finds ther cabin we war speakin’ ov we'll strike him.” “That will do, It is almost certain he did not see or hear us, and it is not likely he will come back again a night like this. As for this fool here, he knows too much. Tie him up till morning.” “Why not run him out right now? He'll have no tales to tell afore srl, Non an’ et’ll save rope er lead.” — “Do as you are told. If need be, we can drop him over into the Devil’s Gorge. If he dies it must be so that he vanishes without trace. See what he has on him, and make no more suggestions. The peng: time will be worse for you than for him.” The men advanced, and Clarence had heard every word of this. He saw there was no child’s play coming, and threw his hand to his revolver, but as he at- tempted to spring to his feet he received a blow which knocked him senseless. When he came to his senses again he was bound hand and foot, and was lying ‘at the end of the room farthest from the fire. He seemed to have been dumped there without the least regard to whether he might live or die, and, looking across the room, saw the chief examining the con- tents of his wallet, bending low before the roaring blaze to do so. He was about completing his inspection and soon rose and turned to the men, who were silently lounging near. es RP SE ea We kin go whar. -an’ be sure. “A little over seventy dollars. Share it among yourselves, and I will keep the papers. They are rather interesting reading to me, but would hardly be so to you.” * Villain!’ muttered Clarence, between his teeth. — “TI believe I recognize you at last!” The words appeared to reach the ears of the chief. He stepped lightly across the room, and stood by the side of the lad, looking down into his eyes with a cruel smile. “So you begin to suspect. Yes, I am the man you know of as Henry Harring- ton; and these men you see are the work- ing members of the Sacred Seven. After hearing that you may know how much ehance you have for your life!” “You coward!” .gritted the lad, be- tween his teeth. “You can well taunt me when my hands are tied, and I am a helpless pris- oner. If you are a man, give me free . limbs and face me here. I dare you to it.’ “Ha, ha! For a young one, you try to crow loud. Why should I do anything. of the kind? Excuse me, but I prefer to drop you down Devil’s Gorge when morn- ing comes—if you live that long. For reasons best known to myself you will leave no trail, and if there is any in- quiry the mystery of where you went can never be solved.” “Make no mistake about that. If I vanish there are those who will know by whom was the taking off, and they will require full vengeance. They will know but too well where the bolt must fall.” “Mighty highflown talk for a young- ster. To-morrow you will not be crowing so loudly. And as for the avengers— perhaps they will sleep as well as this poor lamb who has strayed hither for the slaughter. Sleep if you can. Rest well, for to-morrow you die.” Harrington turned back to his men, and for a little they talked together in a low tone. Clark heard some reference to “the hut.” They spoke of the storm, which would blow itself out before day- light. By that time they hoped to be on the move. No doubt the surprise would be thorough. It was not hard to understand that their presence here was not planned be- forehand, and that they would not have stopped had it not been for the storm. The murmur of voices seemed to sink lower, and be gradually dying away. The fire roared higher and the flames threw fantastic shadows. The cold no longer chilled Clarence to the bone. W the men lay down around the fire-pladl hey seemed to him to. be but moving Whad- ows, and he scarcely was roused a little when Hyena dropped a blanket over him. He must have dropped off into a doze altogether, though by and by he heard the voices of two whispering together, and they came to him as if in a dream. Pe dh boss seems kinder stuck on him, e > ss Kinder; but he mustn’t git off.” “In course not. Ef I thort—” ** What? ” “Thet he warn’t booked fur kingdom come I’d throttle him when ther rest are asleep, sure.” “Et could be did; an’ it’d be a heap sight safer. Ef he gits ter Touch-and- Go, whar’ll we be?” “ “You tell. May ez well throttle him e’ll do et.” Clarence heard, but hardly understood. There was silence after this, and again he slept, and an hour or so went by. The fire no longer flared, and the end | of the room lay dark. If Bones and his companion were standing guard they de-
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The Girl Sport-Shadower. served to be hung for The smoldering coals told they had for- gotten or neglected to put on fuel, and even at the chimney the air began to grow chill. It was an hour past mid- night, and Clarence Clark suddenly awoke to feel a hand on his throat, CHAPTER III. THE HOWL OF THE WOLF. At the touch Clarence was awake, and remembering everything. The whispered plotting no longer seemed indefinite, and not to his interest to hear. He was the one who was to be throttled, and the executioners were here. The hand touched him, but-did not clutch. He was bound hand and foot, and so stiffened he felt as though he could not move even were he free. For- tunately his tongue refused to utter the defiance he was about to launch; he was not even able to call the captain, who possibly might object to his taking off at that time. Then he heard the softest of whispers at his ear. “On your life make no sound, and help me as you can. I am your friend, and will save you.’ The speaker was bending over above him, and a chill draught came in through the opening where the shutter had been raised. “T understand; be quick,” was all that he said in answer. Already he knew the awakening of the outlaws would be but the work of a minute or so, and he was almost sure he recognized the voice of the man he only knew as Ralph, and once before his preserver. The hand at his neck caught him by the collar; another hand seized him by the thigh. Without any apparent effort _ he was lifted bodily from the floor and through the window, where another fig- ure was dimly to be seen. Madge was there, holding up the shut- ter, which she now let softly back. A sharp knife slipped through the cords at wrists and hands, and without waiting for explanation Clarence Clark staggered off between the two. In a moment they were out of the lee of the cabin, and then they felt the wind in all its biting force, while the snow, swirling up, beating down, driving against them, blinded, staggered and al- miost destroyed. It did not seem they could go a dozen | yards, though in reality the fury of the tempest was not as great as it had been an hour or so before. Clarence did not care. It was death to remain behind; he pre- ferred death here, though he did think once of going back and having a fight for his life before them all. He might have tried some such piece of insanity had he not been hurried away. After all, his guides knew better than he, and were taking no great risks. The wind swept them along before it so that they turned neither to the right nor the left, and they found their way as if by magic. By the time Clark was thorough- ly bewildered they had come to a halt before proceeding onward on a different path, and which might be perilous only for the missing of it. . They were at the edge of a great ; gorge. Right here it was possible to drop own to a path along its face, and be _ sheltered altogether from the storm. “Madge dropped to the ledge without hesitation, and stood expectant. | “Take him,” said Ralph, as he gath- ered the youth up and swung him over. eareless watch. if it must come, |a night? Madge’s strong arms were upraised. She caught him, lowered him steadily and safely to his feet, and then Ralph slipped down beside them. A step or two, and they were alto- gether out of reach of the blizzard. Then, with the girl in front and Ralph in the rear, his hand on Clarence Clark’s shoul- der, the three wound their way along. The path was doubtless unknown to the Sacred Seven, and there was little dan- ger they would discover it now. Not, at least, before morning. The bewilderment of Clarence contin- ued. He moved on mechanically with- out a thought of whither he was being led. The path was reasonably a safe one, and Ralph’s hand was on his shoul- der. A slip or a stumble could hardly bring him harm, though the black chasm to his left only ended hundreds of feet below, when the bed of the canyon was reached. Practically he knew nothing of that second, journey until he had come to its end. They came up out of the gorge, and entering a door, found them- selves in another cabin, much more com- fortable than the first, in which a low fire was burning. “Here we are, safe and _ sound,” laughed Madge, as she glided across the threshold. “We have saved the young lamb, and now, perhaps, he may save us. He is new to this sort of work, and his break- ing in has been of the roughest. x Again Clarence “Clark had to go through the trials of a return to full identity, but this time it did not take so long. The exercise had done him good, and his chief trouble was bewilderment caused by the storm, Even that had been passing away, for of late he had been gathering strength with every step. He nodded an answer to the words of Ralph, and stretched his limbs as though taking the kinks out of them. Meantime, he was thinking. He re- membered something of what he had heard, and it appeared to belong to this adventure. When he could put it to- gether once more it would be well to tell it to Ralph and Madge. “Feel better, do you?” continued the former. “For a youngster new to such things you have had rather a rough breaking in. If I am not mistaken, no one ever came nearer twice to death than you did to-night, and yet. marched away with flying colors.” “I believe you, and for my escape I can thank you. I would sooner do it with actions than words, though I think I can give you a warning which may not be amiss. When I lay a prisoner on the ‘spot where you found me, I was not al- together dreaming, though at the time perhaps I half believed I was. I think I understand better now some of the things I heard.” “Did you hear how they came to turn up there, just when least expected? I tell you, the jumps Madge and I made were more energetic than graceful, and we had not a moment to spare. If they had ever seen us it would have been good-by for you.” “From what I heard I believe the storm drove them in, and they were more surprised to find me there than you were | at their coming.” “ But what brought them abroad such There is no one wiser in weather signs than Hank Harrington.” “T should judge they expected :a storm, but not such a one as is raging, They were on the way for some other cabin, which should be this. ‘The blizzard caused ste to halt, but they seem to Meets cain expect the storm to blow itself out. by ray . morning, when they will move on again. If the wind lulls you may expect them here.” “You are sure of this?” Ralph appeared to be startled by the intelligence, and as he spoke he glanced over at Madge with a troubled look. Clarence Clark’s eyes followed in the same -direction, and for the first time he fairly saw the countenance of the girl whom he only knew as Madge. It was a fresh face, a lovely face, glow- ing with youth and beauty. The wrap- pings which had concealed face and figure had been thrown off, and as her glance,met his Clarence thought she was one to die for. ward to hear his answer, and he saw she, too, was deeply interested in what was to come. “Of course, I cannot say that it is this very place they were seeking, but there was some other cabin than that at which they found me, the location of which they knew, and which they* had intended to attack if they had not been turned aside by the storm. You can judge better than I, but I think this is the one they meant.” “Tt is all the difference in the world whether they actually know its location, or whether they just guess at its ex- istence. What were the exact words you heard?” Clarence recalled them as well as he could, and as he repeated them they seemed more than ever to indicate an exact knowledge. So Ralph seemed to think. “Tt must be so. One of their scouts has some way stumbled upon the secret of the place. It was well for us, per- haps, that we came across you’ this night. They might have taken us una- wares, for in a storm like this our senti- nel is within doors, and we might not ~ have thought to place him again before it was too late.” “Your sentinel?” ~* “Yes. You have not seen him, but I will venture to say he has taken very close note of you, and that he could pick you out of a thousand. mere, Bobo, come here!” From the darkest corner of the room something came shambling out at the order. The firelight was flung back from two glowing eyes, mouth opened with a long yawn which ended in a sigh, and something like a snarl, and a white wolf, of immense size, stalked fearlessly up to rub his side against Ralph and give a canine wag of his bushy tail. Then he turned his attention to Clar- ence, the huge beast crouched low as though about to spring. If the threatening movement was for a a cavernous . test of the youth’s courage it was a suc-_ cessful one. Clarence never winced, but quietly laid his hand on the great head, which was fairly within reach. He knew well enough of the snap of the wolf, which is given like lightning, and scores deep, but in the presence of. Ralph and Madge he was not afraid. j The animal turned the touch into a caress, and fawned upon him as basi earey on an old friend, “That is enough. Bobo and you are friends. You could come boldly up to the cabin without his appearing t tice. There are others who cannot, ever, and he will how- your absence cine time.” “ Still, doubt it they will come before, nies 7 { (Oo no- have to go out into the storm to watch for them, The wind lulls every minute, and if they discover _ may waste no further | She leaned for- . 7
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i 4 pl Bobo “will let us know if. they turn up sooner.’ We will make a move that will checkmate them. Take what rest you can. In two hours, if the wind keeps going down, you will have to risk the mountains once more—unless you " eare to wait for Harrington.” “Never! I. will take the blizzard first!” Little more was said. Bobo was turned out on guard, and appeared to go quite willingly, for he knew his business. ‘Then Clark’ threw himself down on the couch provided for him, and, strange as it may seem, was soon asleep. It seemed to him he had but hardly closed his eyes when he was awakened. “Come! It is daybreak. If they in- tend to try the assault they will soon ‘be here. Bobo has scented them and given warning.” “ And the storm?” “Ts over; but the snow lies deep in places. We will take you to another place of refuge. When we can we will guide you toward Touch-and-Go, though you will scarcely reach it to- day.” The door was open, and from what seemed a great distance the warning howl of Bobo floated up and in. CHAPTER IV. DROPPED IN THE GULF. Tt seemed hardly possible the storm had so soon passed away. The morning was clear, but bitterly cold, and the sun, when it shone through the pines, sparkled on rifts and drifts of snow. It seemed almost im- possible ‘that the four should be able to seek another place of refuge without leaving a trail behind them. But Ralph was not only intimately acquainted with the ground, but he was |. wise in the ways of the storm. Though there were places where the mantle of snow lay level and smooth, and others where it was heaped up in great .ridges, there were still others where the wind had swept the rocks smooth, or a break before the blizzard had left the windward side bare. On leaving the cabin they at first left a bold trail, which seemed to laugh at the idea of concealment. _ But before long, with Ralph in the ‘lead, they wound to the right, and re- _ turned without so much as leaving a rau ae Then they once more left the place by the route over which Clarence Clark had been guided the preceding night. ‘This move might not altogether throw the expected enemy off the scent; yet, with | the track leading away, there was “a strong possibility some time would be spent searching for the trail beyond the point where it was lost. They went along the narrow path for perhaps a quarter of a mile. -* Then Ralph called a halt. “For to make a stand at the hut, though we Might have beaten them off. Madge, - who knows the bis will go on to guard | #4 a eercoet point. Wwhile 1 ¥ Veity’ adae and call Bobo off. Most like- | ly he would take care of himself; but | he may get enthusiastic, and the Sacred Tae Be are close shooters. You will remain here, ill go back and see what is to lose him.” ; you?” “No. This is one place where the hid- revolvers you can make a Caloccastet as t if they\should make the attempt rpg various reasons I did not care} I do not care | “Would it not be better for me to go. with | no mistake about it, and while the vise- ; like grip ever tightened he looked up i: sienh can be reached from above, | flank us. Keep close "watch on mouiec point: until I return. a iii a The Girl ‘Sport: indower. Ro not let one of the Sacred Seven pass it.” He spoke in a tone of authority, and without waiting for discussion turned and took the back track. Madge moved just as promptly, so that Clarence was left alone on the ledge. to wait and Watch. He drew his revolver and examined the cylinder to see that it was in perfect working order. Then be crouched down along the rocky wall, and with eyes fixed on the danger spot resigned himself to his lonely vigil. The moments went along, and in the gorge the silence was utter. He looked upward for the most part, all the time doubting if any one would dare to at- tempt the descent, but now and then cast a glance downward. So far as he could see there was a gulf without bot- tom. Still, there was no sound from above, and he heard nothing -of Ralph or the wolf. He was growing nervously anx- ious, when there was something like a shout and the report of a pistol. sound- ing from beyond the rocks behind which Madge had disappeared. Clarence sprang to his feet, The girl was in danger, and he cared no more for his instructions to watch the pomt above. Pistol in hand he dashed away. He knew he had not far to go, and if there were any dangers in the way he forgot them as he bounded along, though at no time could he see half a dozen yards ahead of him on the trail. But, fortunately, he had not far to which shut off his view he came to a little plateau where the scene was being enacted. Madge stood at bay, her back against the rock, her hand extending a revolver. The man he had recognized as Harring- ton’ was slowly approaching, his eyes fixed firmly on hers, while some little distance in Harrington’s rear, crouch- ing on the ground, with a levelled pis- tol in the one hand, while with the other he nursed a wounded leg, was Flirter. Clark threw up his pistol hand, but dropped it without pulling trigger. "Har- rington .stood right in line with the girl, and there was a chance that a bul- let would go through and through them both. ‘He swung the weapon away to its scabbard | and sprung fearlessly forward. He was little more than a boy in weight and age, but at that moment would have willingly flung himself upon the leader of the Sacred Seven, and felt he could tear him from the ground. With the benefit of the surprise he might have. given Harrington a hard fight had they been alone together, but unfortunately there was another party to be considered. | Clarence had no eyes for anything but Madge and her danger, and as he darted forward received a heavy blow back of the ear, which staggered him to the ground, whilst over him stooped a Hyena, with a grin on his hardened face. “Reckon this time we got yer be- yond gettin’ away. We gethered up yer chips last night, so thar ain’t no use ter delay "bout cashin’ in. Good bye, John.” ‘His hand closed on the white throat, tightening fiercely. He meant to have to see how Harrington was progressing. The captain had been deliberately ad- yancing, and through the magnetism of Tai to escape eet He ney. what go; and as at last he turned an angle the eye was not allowing a thought of | was coming the instant before she pulled’ the trigger, and dodged to one side. The bullent went humming viciously past, on a line with his heart, and before the hammer could rise again he had her in his arms. “One of the accursed pair at last. Through her we can take the other. A dainty bait you are, my lady, and we will. see to it that the trap we set is worthy of you.” His arms held her, closed about her wrists. She was utter- ly helpless, and knew the danger she was in, but did not cry out, nor even struggle after the first convincing effort. But she looked along to where Hyena was kneeling upon the prostrate youth, slow murder in his grip. “€all off your hound, there!” she ex- claimed. “What need to kill the boy since the fight is over?” “Let the hound worry the whelp,” answered Harrington, carelessly glancing in the direction of the two. “He has been sulking for a day or two, and needs a little blood to take the edge off of his temper. Anda boy or less is of little account when the bigger game is afoot.’’« “ Beware!’ retorted Madge. “Of what?” laughed the cliief; and at that moment something like a thup- derbolt struck him. He went down in a heap, his hold on Madge relaxing, whilst with forepaws on his breast, and teeth all shown in a savage snarl, Bobo ‘stood over him, his mouth open and ready to close on the neck which lay near to his jaws. “Watch him, Bobo!” sharply ordered the girl, picking up the weapon which dropped from her grasp. She was still slow to kill, but meant to save Clarence at all hazards. There were yet three bullets in her revolver, and she did not doubt she could place them where they were wanted. Her words had reached the ears of the Hyena, who had listened with the wicked grin still around his lips. Un- fortunately he was looking downward and his hands once more just when Bobo came bound-_ ing on the carpet, so that he did not see the fall of the chief. , The struggle which Clarence had sud- denly begun was much stronger than any he had expected, and for a momont he found himself very busy. The throat writhed from under his grasp, and Clark was almost upon his feet when he heard the sharp cry of “ Watch him, Bobo!” ‘In spite of himself he looked in that direction, and saw Harrington's danger. He struck fiercely at Clark’s head, which dropped away before the blow, and then bounded to the rescue. He intended to strike Madge first, and after that, Bobo. Clarence was half dazed and weak from his struggle, but by some won- derful chance he had dodged the blow aimed at his head, and was up on his feet, and staggering after the Hyena be- fore that worthy .was fairly started, Madge took a snap shot at the outlaw as he came, and when he staggered back Clark struck him a savage blow on the corner of the jaw. Between wound | and stroke the man collapsed; and Madge caught the boy by the hand. “This way, quick! We must fly now, before it is too late. The rest of them ies are coming.” “But Ralph?” mumbled Clarence. “He can take care of mate Only that he does not yet care slaughter he would have ia acter ote the gang. If they drive him too hard he will think their time in truth has come.’ So she answered as she hurried him along, holding him Aigeay by the hand,
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q ‘ ; 4 D. - % rn 6 Nor was the retreat an instant too soon. As Bobo leaped to her side at a snap of her fingers, a yell arose be- hind them. The rest of the gang had suddenly come in sight, having doubtless reached the ledge by the point which Clarence had been left to guard, and they charged forward with a hurrah. Madge was fleet of foot as a mountain sheep, and without the cumberance of her friend would soon have left them far behind; but Clarence was yet weak and giddy, and she was dragging him along in a way which might soon exhaust her powers. The Seven were gaining on her. Flirter was still out of the game, but Harrington had staggered to his feet comparatively unhurt, while the Hyena was staggering on with the rest, and savage for vengeance. It was possible for Madge to launch the wolf at them, but she was loth to do that until the last moment had come. Ralph might make his appearance; and when Clark regained fully his wits they could turn and fight. Not very far away there was an elegant place for a stand. If she only had the use of both hands she would be loading her revolver as she ran, but. she dared not let go of her companion. Looking back over her shoulder she could see how much the pursuit had gained, and hardly thinking what she did, threw up her hand and fired. Whether the bullet reached a mark or not, the answer was a more savage burst of yells; and then came a single pistol shot, which missed Clarence and Madge, but just grazed Bobo, who trotted on the inner side. The ball did not bite deeply, but it stung, and the huge wolf, startled at the wound, gave a quick lurch to the side, which knocked the feet from under Clarence King. He lurched heavily in turn, stumbled, slipped, and went sliding over the edge of the precipice. For a moment he hung there, his wrist just showing above the rock, while Madge braced herself vainly, yet never opened her hand. Then she, too, toppled and went over the brink. Bobo looked, uttered a howl, and followed. CHAPTER V. MYRTTR. At the disappearance the men halted in something like real terror. Hard- ened though they were they could not see two human beings dropping to what seemed instant death without a thrill of pity. f “By ther great grizzly, we got ’em both!” exclaimed Bones, who seemed the least startled of them all. “This time thar ain’t no doubtin’ on it. Ther kid hez passed in his checks, sure; an’ ther gal, she’s gone along with Co him.” “What in Hades have you been do- ing?” sharply interrupted the captain, brushing his hand across his eyes, and peering forward toward the spot where -the two had disappeared. “Who fired that shot?” “oTwan’t ther shot ez did et, boss. It war ther blamed wolf. I tried ter plug him, an’ he give a war dance thet canted em over ther rocks. Then he follered. I reckon he hed a bullet through his brain; but sich cattle dies hard, an’ ef one ov us hed bin thar he’d a made strings ov him jest too quick.” Harrington did not stop to listen, but staggered on to the verge of the cliff, at ' the spot where the fugitives went over. Looking down on the rock he saw a drop or two of blood that told him this was the place, and throwing himself a eiaprey inna nderry oer 2 apres oo meet a IE ae Re eS TSI eee A Ly 7 The Girl Sport-Shadower. down, he craned his neck over the edge of the precipice. Away down below, so far that it made him giddy to look at it, he saw the bot- tom of the canyon, but no trace or sign was there of the unfortunates, though he gazed long and keenly, ~ “The cursed rock hangs over so you can’t see the bottom of the wall, but it’s strange they should not have fallen in sight. They must be buried in a drift.” “Saves a funeral, cap. Thar ain’t no bein’ ez could take that tum’le an’ keep alive.” | “ Likely—and yet not sure. We should know. Is there any one here who knows of a way down?” At the question all shook their heads. “Not within half a dozen mile, an’ without ropes. With sich goin’ ez this I ain’t the one ter want ter take ther tramp.” “Not ter say nothin’ ov ther fact thet we ain’t struck ther hub ov ther concern ez yit. It wan’t ther gal we war arter, ner yit ther kid, but thar’s a man loose ez we wants ter drap er he’ll drap us, sure. Et’ll be time ernuf ter poke ’round down thar when we git his toes turned up.” - “Right you are. We must run no risks of losing him. No doubt he has remained behind to cover the retreat of the others. We may as well investigate. Perhaps we can find a spot from which we can obtain a sidelong view of the ground below better than the one here. Come.” The party turned away from the spot, where none of them seemed to have a desire to linger. They plodded along the ledge, and watched closely as they went, but nowhere did they see anything of the man called Ralph. If he was near he kept himself hidden, and their way to the empty cabin was ope They reached the spot ae Wisk: and a hasty search revealed that the building was empty, and that it contained little of any value. “Put the torch to it,” ordered the cap- tain; and without hesitation he was obeyed. The flames. quickly rolled up, and a lurking place of the man they feared and hated was in the way of destruction. They did not give over the search at once, but try as they might, they found no further traces, and could catch no glimpse of any living thing in the bot- tom of the canyon. ‘“ Baffled once,more,” growled Harring- ton, in no good humor, as they left the spot. “But we took in part ov ther gang,” suggested Bones, who tramped by his side, and was none the worse for wear. “Better for us, perhaps, if we had failed altogether. So far the man has been content with threats, and as Touch- and-Go was none the safest of places for him to venture into, we might have taken the risks and let him run. Now he will begin to think it is time to act. And there is that boy. For reasons of my own I did not care to have him die.” | “ An’ yit, after seein’ us-on ther war- path, an’ knowin’ what he did ‘bout us, it wouldn’t hev done ter let him git inter camp.” “T am sure I would not have run the risk. He would be a stranger there, and his word would have been of no account against mine. It would have been time enough to think of taking him off when he showed his hand, and we could judge whether he was likely to crowd us close.” ‘““Mebbe he ain’t dead yit; an’ ef yer says so we'll hunt fur him. Sich trash dies hard, an’ ef we found him livin’ we might bring him inter camp rejoicin’.” — “Don’t be a fool. He has gone over — the divide for sure, and if I saw him halting on the way, I would have to send him along, after all that he has seen and heard.” “But be we goin’ ter give et up so?” “We must. in a haystack as for Red Ralph on these mountains at a time like this. Perhaps he may find us. If he don’t, we will go back to Touch-and-Go. And I need hard- ly tell you all we must keep quiet about this little adventure. It is one thing to hunt an outlaw; it is another to slaugh- ter a woman and a boy. It would hardly go down, even at Touch-and-Go, if some- one took a notion to call us to account.” “Say, boss, who war ther boy, any- how? ’Pears like we got a eenterest in him, an’ we orter know.” “Never mind that. It will be time enough to tell when we know whether he is downed for good, or escaped by a miracle. Enough that he knows, or knew, something of the Sacred Seven, and that if he had lived he would have been their keenest foe. He came here to hunt us down, and probably it was your life or his.” *“An’ he must a hed it in fur you, ‘long with ther rest ov us. I don’t jest see why you war so bent on a spairin’ ov him. Mebbe we'd onderstand better ef we knowed his name.” . “There is no mystery about that. He told it to you, did he not? Clarence Clark it is. Drop it now. It’s a long ways yet to Touch-and-Go, and we ought to be there before the night closes.” “Drap she am; but I’d like ter know © ef that war his really right handle. Don’t *pear ter me ez I ever heared et afore.” “You never did, but he is a boy with a mission. Wait. Some day I may tell you more. Just now:I do not care to say more about the matter.” This time Harrington’s tone was final. Even. Bones did not care to trouble him farther, and the little party went on in silence, keeping a keen lookout for the appearance of Red Ralph, which they more than half expected. He did not turn up, however, and as it happened, they re-entered Touch-and- Go without meeting a living soul An the course of the journey. : Once there, they separated, and Har- rington strode on by himself. The storm had struck the town with no mean force, though it had not raged there with the severity it had done on the mountains. The streets showed here and there a drift, and few persons were abroad, even now. Harrington never looked to the right. nor to the left until he reached the.“ Liv- ing Light” Saloon, which was the most pretentious gambling den in the place, and one in which he was a partner. «It was quite a building, formed by bringing two of the largest houses in the town under one roof, and he did not en- ter the saloon proper, but went in by a rear door, which took him directly into a living apartment. A woman arose at his entrance and gave a little cry of delight upon recog nizing who it was. “Back again, Myrtle, and safe; as usual.” He gave her a careless caress as he spoke, and then threw himself down in a chair with a sigh of satisfaction. He was well tired with his late tramp, and was not ashamed to show it before her eyes. There was no question about the de- ‘light of the woman at seeing him once more; yet there were times when this. marble-faced woman could be as im- passive as a statue. Touch-and-Go was. As well look for a needle .
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Sef apt to speak of her as a beautiful wo- man, indeed, but one without a heart. The trouble with her was that she had ‘no heart for any of them save one, and that one was the man who now was with her. “You are tired—you must be hungry,” she said in an anxious fashion. “Not a bit of it. I passed right by the door and thought of going in for a bite, but decided I had not a grain of ap- petite. Perhaps appetite may come by and by; but just now I feel more like resting up, so that I can be on hand for to-night. Anything new last night?” “Yes. Something new, and decidedly odd. There was a stranger against the bank, and he won every time, Nothing but a boy, at that.” Harrington gave a start. “A boy! What was he like? It could not have been—of course not.” The latter part was said to himself. “Of course not—what? You speak as though you might guess who it was. He was a stranger to me, and somehow wormed his way into the game without being noticed. With his luck he might have broken the bank if he had gone for it in earnest.” “ What was he playing for if -it was not for coin? He could not have been the boy I was thinking of, for I found him far enough away from here by mid- night.” ‘Ah, there would have been time. He dropped out at an early hour, and I saw no more of him. Some said he was scared away by a bluff of Reddy Pete, but I doubt it. He looked like a lad that had nerve for a dozen. I do not believe he would have quailed even with the drop on him.” * You must have noticed him more than a little.” “1 did, for somehow I thought he was studying me. And I thought perhaps he had something to do with your expedi- tion of last night. The less I know about your outside work the better, yet—were you successful?” . “No. It was worse than a failure, though in one way it may have been of use. It will bring things to a crisis, or I am much mistaken. Ralph Roylston and I cannot:live longer on the same side of the divide.” “That is enough. When the moment of danger comes you will find me at your side. Till then I ask to know nothing more than you think best to tell me. We have trusted each other thus far, and I think we can keep on doing so to the end.” “The end—yes,”’ said Harrington, gloomily, at the same time gathering himself up. “T am not sure I care for myself how soon that may come; but it makes me wretched to think what I have done to- ward bringing it for you.” “Never think of that. We have been close together all these years, and when you go I am with you. Surely, you be- lieve? ”’ She was well past the first flush of youth, but she could be fascinating yet. When his eyes met hers he saw there was a suspicion of tears in her swimming eyes. “So be it, Myrtle,” he answered, an unwonted softness in his tone. Hard and cruel though he might be to the ‘rest of the world, there was somewhere down in his heart a warm spot that this Woman had reached. “T hope the end is long enough off. Forget what I have been saying. As for the boy—I doubt if we see him again. There was one of the brood disappeared up in the mountains, and luck seems to The Girl Sport-Shadower. be running our way show now and then. I will look for you at the Light on time, as usual,. I must go in and see what there is to report.” He dropped a light kiss on her lips, and slipped out of the room. As she had said, it would be as well for her to know nothing of what happened the night be- fore upon the mountain. Things were running on after their usual fashion at the saloon, and there was nothing particular to note. Of the men who had come back to town with him, two or three had dropped in, but they made no sign, taking their places among the crowd after their customary fashion. At 9 o’clock Myrtle glided in and took her place at the table in the inner room. As usual, her face was masked. A few moments later the door of the saloon ofened and two young men—one of them seemingly very young—entered. Harrington looked up on the instant, stared sharply, and though he gave no other outward show, a singular look came into his eyes. In spite of the long, yellow locks which hung over the shoulders of the taller, and the rest of what was a careful disguise, he believed he recognized Clarence Clark. Who the other might be he made a strange guess, though he had thought them both buried deep in the snow- drifts at the foot of the wall of the Dey- il’s Canyon. With the dead alive and before him, it was no wonder that, as he thought, for a moment the color of his cheeks slightly paled. CHAPTER VI. A BIG RUN OF LUCK. It was only a momentary show of ex- citement on the part of Harrington, and the color returned to his face so quickly that it is doubtful if anyone had time to notice its absence. ‘ He gave a swift glance in the direction of Myrtle, and understood a slight mo- .tion which she made. The smaller of the lads was the one who had gone against the bank the pre- vious evening, while the other was, to her, a total stranger. , As for the lads, they took in the en- tire room at a single, sweeping glance, and without a doubt recognized Har- rington, though they gave no show of having any particular interest in him. They made their way to the faro ta- ble without hesitation, and the lesser lad threw down a couple of chips on the queen. some out of his winnings when he cashed in the previous evening. The checks were played flat-footed, and Myrtle saw at a glance that they would be lost, for she knew the run of all the cards in the box. No one had ever charged seriously that a skin game was being run at the Living Light, but, all the same, the lady dealer was a ‘thorough mistress of her profession, and whether she ever sprung the cards or not, she was able by a single deft twist of the wrist to so divide them in the shuffle that the one-half would win all the way through while the other half Jost. The thought came to her at once that the luck of the youngster was broken; and that after a deal or two he would drop out of the game. She hoped so, at least. It had been a great mistake allowing him to begin, but now the oversight had been committed it was a little doubtful if he could be barred out with- | out more trouble than she cared to risk, k, , though snags de It seems he had reserved A weakness for youngsters. was the one weak point about Myrtle. She had a way about her which, for the most part, kept the older hands in order, Na matter how rough the gamester who ran against the game, she never shrank from the deal, or doubted that she could hold her own. Sure enough, the queen lost, and with a light laugh the young sport strung his chips on the corner of the queen for the queen and three to win. Both of them were supposed to be case cards. Several turns went along and then suddenly the youngster exclaimed: “Bar this turn!” Myrtle glanced over at him and nod- ded. It was no unusual thing for a player | to take a notion of the kind, and as he spoke before the next card had moved: the right was allowed. It attracted attention, however, and as the top card slipped off the. queen showed as the first of the turn. “That kims ov a fresh youngster puttin’ in his oar whar men plays,” growled a harsh voice from the other end of the table. “He'll squeal like a whitehead when ther bank rakes in ther stake what he’s left in hock. Reckon he never thought of ther rules ov ther house.” The speaker was Reddy Pete, the same man who had some slight difficulty © with the lad the night before, when he left off winner without treating the \ouse. There was something in what he said, for the rule of the Living Light was the old-fashioned one that all bets flat on the hock card—or the last in the box—as well as money on the table which neither won nor lost at the end of the deal, be- longed to the house, “Don’t worry over my kicking, little man,” murmured the young player in a soft but steady voice. “It is time enough to do that! when I lose. Dealer, it goes!” Again the lady with the box nodded, but had it not been for the mask which concealed her features a close observer would have seen something like a troubled look in her eyes. What the cue box said was one thing; her own recollections were another. It hazily struck her there might have been a mistake somewhere. Would any trouble come out of it? It could not be long before it was decided one way or the other. She was right. In the very next turn, when the card for, the bank was drawn out, .another queen was revealed. The cue box had been wrong. “Reckon I won’t kick as long as the little beauty wins,” laughed the young sport. “All the same I’d advise the house to get a cue-keeper that can tell a jack from a queen. It might make some people think you were getting ready to spring the cards, and hadn’t . the nerve to make the riffle.” “Touch-and-Go knows better, young man, and outsiders don’t count,” said a quiet voice almost at his elbow. “If you don’t like the deal jump it-and cash in. There are plenty more to take your place, who would stand to win a heap sight more than we can rake out of your little ten-cent game.” Harrington was as soft and. silken as ever when dangerous at his table, but those who knew him best understood the insinuation had cut him deeply, and more than one wondered he had not thrown the impudent youngster out of the house. “You think?” drawled the lad, appare ee Bir oie 4 igs ca » oa edi So as : ae .- ‘ iY
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a oes ie _ your pile. ‘to : smile The Girl Sport-Shadower. ently recognizing the interest of the speaker in the bank. “Maybe you'd like to raise the limit off of your little tinhorn game and have a rustle for blood and hair. And if you’d only pull the cards yourself—one don’t .feel like rustling the bank when a lady has the box.” It was a straight defiance, which the bank could hardly afford to overlook, when it came from a winner, young though he looked. “* IT suspect. the flyer will suit you very well as it is, even if it don’t oversize The bank is always ready to pull the cards for all the chips you can pile on the table, and when it runs out of checks it will pay in hard, cold cash. But if that don’t suit, you bet your wallet on the turn, and if you win we'll pay you four to one—if it’s » ten thousand on a cat-hop.” As he spoke Harrington moved around the table and took the dealing box from the hands of Myrtle. The last offer was _ a liberal one, for when there are two of a kind in the last three cards the odds are only two to one, and a winner ' receives pay accordingly. * All right. A running limit that ends ’ with the roof of the house is what suits me. It’s a little slower, but it’s just as sure. I'll heap it up on the trey while we're waiting for the last turn.’ With a reckless cast he dropped his stack of chips on the three spot, folded his arms, and watched the gambler with. a smile, well assured that from now on to its end the deal would be fair, since Harrington had nothing to do with plac- ing the cards in the box. The amount was larger than Harring- ton had expected, and came near to reaching the limit. He saw that he was fairly committed to the game, and after one more glance over the table, slowly pushed off the top card in the box, and uncovered a nine spot. Under that lay the lone trey. A hum arose around the table, for the spectators had listened to the chaff with interest, which grew as they watched the play. Evidently the young sport was in luck, and more than one wished he had taken advantage of the streak and fol- lowed his lead on the trey. The ques- tion now was, how it would be if he risked his all on the last turn in the box, which was not far away. . Almost breathlessly they watched his face for a little,"and then a dozen necks were craned over to get a glimpse at the cue box, though the most of them knew well enough what was left. Two kings and a deuce remained, and without hesitation the young sport strung his chips to play them in that or-— der. Then he-hesitated a moment. _A mocking smile curled the lips of the dealer. “It’s one thing to plat on velvet, and another to put up hard, cold coin of your own. That’s a fair-sized pile, but nothing to brag on, It hardly scratches the limit.” ' “ Have you scales? Ag The question smacked of the old times, when dust Was the only money known in the camps, and a balance was the most important of the paraphernalia of a gaming table. Harrington nodded, and '- ) said’ a few words to the looker-out at his -e who left his seat on the raised r. He was gone for but a moment. When he returned he brought ‘with him tke ar’ cle called for. t was the turn of the Rr J sport to le. He drew out, ‘from fa stout leather pocket attached to his belt a buckskin bag, and flung it on the table. - “You must think I want to weigh mosquito wings to bring on an affair like that. There’s ten pounds of oro in the sack; weigh it by the spoonful if you want to, but any way, it sizes the weight of the bank, which they told me stopped at ten thousand.” Harrington never winced, but coldly opened the bag to turn out a handful of the contents. He watched the arm cf the scales drop on the side of the dust, and then carefully returned the shining scales. *“It goes,” he said, tersely, and, after a momentary pause, uncovered the first card of the turn. It was the king of clubs. CHAPTER VII. y BLOOD ON THE SNOW. The hum ceased. The interest of the crowd was too deep to allow of utter- ance; and when the king of clubs slipped off, to show the king of hearts beneath him, the. silence changed into a roar. When the bank loses a stake such as the one just played for, the winner, for the moment at least, is the great man of the house. “ “Game is closed for to-night,” Harrington, without a quiver voice. “Take his chips, Pete, and pay him ten thousand. That’s the size of the bank to-night, and he has taken its full measure.’ He threw down the box as he spoke, and, rising from his chair, strode away. Back in the crowd jlurked one of the men who had been with the gambler on the raid of the previous night, and he caught a glance which he understood. He did not at once move, but a few minutes after Harrington had disap- peared strolled out of the room. The young sport glanced around crre- lessly. Wonderful as had been his winnings in the short time he Wad been bucking the tiger, he did not appear unduly’ elated; or, in fact, excited over it at all. Touch-and-Go was a rough and tough place and this was a rough and tough erewd which stfrrounded him, but that gave him no apparent uneasiness. One thing, however, could be noticed. During his previous visit, and when he entered the room this evening, there had not been a sign of a weapon visible about him. Now, from some place where they had been concealed, he had drawn around a brace of revolvers so that their han- dles lay in plain sight dnd easy reach. It looked as though he realized his 1 and intended to protect him- self. “Gents, all,” he exclaimed, with a touch to his hat, followed by a. graceful gesture toward the other room; “ [’m not given to such things myself, but I know said in his what is your vanity and expectation. They shan’t be disappointed.” Theyre had been some enthusiasm he- fore, but this raised it to a white heat. Tt required some agility, and a good deal of firm determination, to oid being carried out to the other. room on’ the | shoulders of the cheering mob. On a night like this all Touch-and-Go would be indoors, and a goodly portion of its Yeu se was indoors: at the Living t e No, thanks,” he continued, laughing genially. “As far as a hundred dollars goes the town will have my best regards, and I know it will pardon me if I don’t join in the general jamboree. I like to see him, thing struck him on the breast and he. = men enjoy themselves, but this is ‘not my style. I'll wait for such play till my beard is full grown.’ He threw down the hundred dollars, which was to turn the bar wide cren while it lasted, and then slipped out cf the crowd, which was eagerly pushing forward. “This way,’ he whispered, Clarence Clark by the arm. Out into the night they made their way, and near the corner of the build- ing halted for a moment. “T must go back now, and if you are bent on staying here I shall have to leave you. I doubt if we would be safe together, and I don’t know which is in the most danger if we separate. Here. Take care of this, and use what you need. They’ll make a try for my wealth if they get on the trail, and perhaps something can be saved from the wreck if things should go against me. Good night.” He held out his hand, which Clark grasped firmly, and before Clarence could voice his objection had thrust into his pocket a large share of his winnings as he had received them from the bank. Without waiting to hear more he then turned and darted away. Clarence Clark would have called after but there might be other ‘ears ready to hear, and Clark did not trust the people of Touch-and-Go. It was pol- icy for his late companion to get cut of town as quietly as could be. The wealth he was known to have on him was temptation enough to bring him danger. “TI would follow,” he thought to him- self, as he watched the retreating fig- ure, ‘““were I not afraid it might bring him-.more danger. If they have faiied to see him depart they might track me, for something tells me that there is dan- ger afoot for—” He broke off in the thread of his thoughts, and stared eagerly at a brace of moving shadows that suddenly came into his range of vision. They were following on the trail of the youngster,.and Clark scented danger. Without more than that first hesitation, he darted forward, silent and eager. He had already lost sight of his late companion, and in a moment or two catching more the following figures also disap- > peared, being hidden by the intervening buildings of the crooked street, but he did not hesitate on that account. He uttered no sound, for the street seemed otherwise deserted, and he had his doubts about the utility of summon- ing assistance. The fewer men of Touch-and-Go who appeared on the scene the safer it was likely to be for the lads, who had to take care of all the wealth which had been seen at the Living Light. Quickly he passed the buildings which had out off his view, and found then that the two had lost no time, if, in- deed, they had not already got in their work. They were bending over some- — lay motionless between thing which them. At sight of that he, broke into a run, and, drawing his revolver, was about to throw it up to an aim when some- fell backward. He did ngt lose consciousness, and it seemed. to again in an instant; but when he looked for them, the figures had disappeared. He was chilled with a great fear, (but | There was a little did not hesitate. dark mound still to be seen in the gloom and he. guessed only too well what. "te was. He threw himself down by the mo- tionless figure of the young sport and — pat his Tne out to feel his heart. | im that he was on his feet) io {2—-o
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tne Pe et a i Spot. went. out. sf y There was a throbbing there yet; but he felt something else—something warm ‘and wet. The blood was trickling out from. a wound, and it stained Clarence Clark’s hand a deep crimson, even be- fore he recognized what had happened. “Are you dead? Are you dying?” he asked, abroad for the moment, though he did not hesitate to pick up the body and stagger back toward the Living Light, and the heart of the town. He would have shouted, but he had no breath to waste, nor was he sure it would be the part of wisdom. Half the distance had he traversed when he thought he heard a gasping sigh from the mouth at his shoulder. It was not altogether curiosity which made him ease the body down. His late exertions and the blow he had received were beginning to tell on him, and it was time he took a moment’s breathing spell. His heart was throbbing, his bead beating, and he was in no fit condition to tell whether the body he had keen carrying was that of one dead or alive. Then there was a yell, two or three dark figures pounced upon him, and ‘some one began to shoot off his revolver as fast as he could work it. The shots, fired in that way, were a signal which Touch-and-Go understood, and seldom failed to answer to. Out from sheds and shanties, out from saloons and stores, came the citizens, and with a little army from the Living Light in the advance, rushed toward the Before Clarence Clark could real- ize what was happening he was sur- rounded by a mob—all too ready to be set on fire at the first stroke of the match—which began work by knocking him down. _ “Murder she be, *» exclaimed one of the men who had first come upon the scene. “We cotched him in the ack. Dunno who ther gerloot be, but he put a knife in ther tother one. Then they hed it, nip an’ tuck, tell jest ez we kim up he downed him fur good.” “Who is it? What's it all about? ” A dozen voices took up the cry, which Clarence was too dazed to answer. » “No use ter ax,” growled Reddy Pete, thrusting a lantern forward. “It’s ther chap ez broke ther bank ie ther Livin’ Light, an’ this are ther cuss ©z war freezin’ on ter him when they He’s downed him fur his wealth. Clark was up and glaring around him, his hand feeling for the revolver he had not yet drawn. He heard the accusation, but had no answer ready, and if he had thought of making a moVement it ‘was now too late. A dozen revolvers covered him; almost as many hands \ elutched him, and Pete, looking up from the body on the snow, shouted: “ He’s cleaned ther poor cuss out slick ez a loon on a mill peayi See ef he’s got ther boodle on him.” CHAPTER VIII. HELD FOR JUDGE LYNCH, Clark was stunned by the magnitude ‘A hs ot the charge. . - ra! asap ‘Had he been guilty he might have found voice to utter a dozen different 4. ist protests. Being innocent, he was speech- ess until it was too late. se i A lantern was thrust into his face at the th outset, and the marks of hlood gth to the charge. When cager ands searched his pockets for the in- thant it seemed there was proof beyond a doubt. | The. roll tHrust there by the young ‘sport was easy to recognize, and the me ee were eras with crimson. which he was freely stained gave “Hyer, cap, I reckon you got ther best right ter hold these tell we see how ther cat are goin’ ter hop. They kim from your ranch, an’ a man ez’ll pull ’em straight fur a pile like that kin be trust- ed.” The man who spoke was the ene known among the Seven as Bones, There was a grin on his face, but the men there took no note of it. The pro- posal hit the popular taste. Bones was speaking one word for Harrington, and another for himself. If these were spoils of war the Sacred Seven would be more apt to get an even share than if covery man administered for himself. “Tf the crowd wishes I will take charge of it, but if the money was won at the Living Light it belongs to the par- ty who took it ‘away from the table, or some one who may | claim under him, It is no longer mine.’ “Who said it war?” The growl came up from an outsider, who would have been glad enough to have been made the depositary—and who would have skipped the camp before morning, “Take it easy, my friend. If no other owner turns up for it there will be a dividend among the crowd, and part of it will come up your way. Now, then, what is the Bia going to do about this? ” Short and sharp came the question; and the camp understood what it meant. Touch-anc-Go had handled such cases before, and its vigilantes had made short work ‘of more than one fellow caught red-handed. How many it had allowed to escape, was another question.. When the wrong man committed a crime there, it could be very merciless. “'Thar’s on’y one thing fur sich cases. A hemp necktie an’ a wooden over- coat!” “Ett’s murder, cl’ar an’ we ez good ez seed ett.” “What's ther usé ter waste time with Jedge Lynch. Hyer’s ther corpse, an’ thar’s ther man with er knife. Jest eler- vate him an’ say no more about ett.” “That’s right. He’s killed his man.” “ An’ that man busted Hank Hajring- ton’s faro bank.” When every one was voting the man who had grumbled: before put in a word now, and it was hard to say whether he spoke in derision or’ wanted to add fuel to the flames. / His sarcasm, if such it was, passed without notice. Harrington once more came to the front. * There can be no doubt as to what he has done; and there seems to be no difference of opinion about our, ‘duty. If any one objects let him speak out. If he don’t do it now he shoulders his share of the work.’ t . This time there was an ominous si- lence. “Enough. There is not an objecting voice. Carry the body to the Traveller’s Rest, and call out any of the boys you find there. Tell them to gather at the Hangman’s Pine, and to come quick,” was the command, The Hangman’s Pine was a spot well known to Touch-and-Go. simple, an’ Half a dozen executions had taken place there, and a noosed rope always hung ready for the next victim: When a summons came to meet there, the citi- zens knew the meaning of it. Several men stepped forward and raised the body from the snow, where it had been suffered to sink. One of them turn ed toHarrington.. ‘““Mebbe Johnny won’t want sich a | lodger, ” Pemarked one of them. The Girl Sport-Shadower. _ Ef he don’t, jest what shell we say?” “Tell him I pay the freight. If that don’t go, I'll want to know why. Off with you!” The men moved away with the stif- fening body, while Clarence Clark was dragged off, still umnresisting, though something like understanding was begin- ning to come into his face. In under the pines the snow lay light- er—some places it did not show at all. Several torches were gathered up, and by their flaring light they came to the pine, and from the first tough limb dan- gled the ready noose. “ Reckon we better wait tell ther crowd hez time ter gether,” suggested Davy Jones, the man who had already offered several suggestions that had grated harshly on the ears of the self-appointed overseer of the job. “Wile he lingers he might be tellin’ us all about it. Most fellers hez suthin’ ter say ter make ett interestin’, an’ we ought ter give him ther chance.” “We know all he can tell us, and probably a good deal more than he will. If he is guilty swing him off and be done with it.” This is duty and not play.” Harrington was at the front, and stepped forward to lay his hand on the noose. When there was a public move- ment in Touch-and-Go he could always be depended on to do his full share. The men with the torches stood near, along with a few others, whilst in the background was the crowd. For once, ‘what the king-pin of the Living Light had to say did not go. The men of Touch-and-Go were not to be balked of their show; and they meant to have the programme as full as possible. “Speech! ”’ “ Let’s hear how he did it.” “Make him confess! ”’ A dozen were shouting, and even Hank Harrington’s splendid nerve was a trifle shaken as he saw the young man draw. ~ himself up as though in answer to the calls. It wag not his cue to allow the expla- nation Clarence Clark might make. “ All ready, you at the other end of the rope?” he exclaimed; and back came the answer, from the spot where Reddy Pete and several others were holding on to the cord, where it dangled from the tree. “You bet! Fix yer noose an’ we'll yank him ter kingdom come in great shape.” “ An’ ther man ez pulls on ther fope tell ther boy hez a chance ter chirrup dies!”’ yelled ee Jones, Deanne for- ward. “Cover him,” Bald Harrington, cold- ly; and at the word Jones heard an om- ‘inous clicking which told him to beware. ‘ It was not wall to defy the boss of | Touch-and-Go. “As for this little chap—reckon his time has come.” But Clark had at last recovered his wits. He knew there was no chance for es- cape, but he did have a last word to say, and, springing back from under the noose, he faced them all. “Men of Touch-and-Go—if there are any! You think you are hanging me be- cause I stabbed Madge Lee. It is a lie! I was her friend till death. You are lynching me because Hank Harrington dares not have me live. When you have followed the trail of the men who did do the i will find it ceed to his door.” , Harrington’ would; thave leaped upon him, but it might be better to have him > say his. worst than to kill him just now, with what he had said.on his lips, As for the crowd. the most of them Kinga to feel mystified,
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a The Girl Sport-Shadower. glance at the street, she could hardly have helped but see him. The latch closed with a snap, but What was this about Madge Lee? They knew nothing about any woman, and cu- riosity drove them harder than Hank Harrington held them back. “That’s right, lad,” encouraged Jones. “Tell us all about it. Touch-and-Go don’t want ter go off ther trigger too quick. She’s did that once er twice too of’en a’ready.” : With a little more time to work up the sentiment the impromptu court might have been willing to suspend its sentence for a time, at least, but on the one side there was but one who was outspoken, and on the other side there were many. “We've heared ernough!” yelled Bones, and a dozen echoed his shout with: “That’s so. Kill him!, Kill ther long- haired leetle murderer! ” Defiance sparkled in Clarence’s eyes, . and he drew himself up straighter than ever. He raised from his head the shock of yellow hair which he had trusted to as his chief disguise, tore open the breast of his shirt, and stood before them, _ fierce and defiant. ‘Yes; kill me! Shoot me here as you did Muriel! You, Hank Harrington, and you others of the Sacred Seven, kill me now; for if you don’t by the sacred heavens, I'll live to search you out and slaughter you all!” way was open for him, and he did not hesitate. With a steady hand he lifted the latch, thrust the door open, carefully, but so swiftly there was no creak to give no- tice of his coming, and stepped over the threshold, closing the door behind him. The woman had thrown herself int6 a chair in front of the stove, without re- moving her hat and mask, or even *urn- ing up the light, which shone dimly from the farther corner of the room. Evidently she was lost in thought; and, judging from the sigh which came from her lips, her reflections were by no means pleasant. Whatever they were, they were rudely broken in upon by a hand placed upon her shoulder. “Not a word above your breath, not a sound that can be heard without, or it will be the worse for you. I have come to have a little conversation with you, and I do not propose that we be in- terrupted.” There seemed little danger of any outbreak through fear. Unexpected though it had been, the touch of the’ hand on her’ shoulder searcely caused her to start, and she looked up and around with a cool de- liberation that spoke well for her nerves. “Thank you, Ralph Roylston; I am not one of the screaming kind. I gen- erally calculate on being able to pro- tect myself; and will not be apt to call for aid. If it should come, it would go hard with you, for Touch-and-Go has decreed you an outlaw, and promised you a short shrift if found again with- in its borders. It must have been some- thing wonderfully important which led you to run the risk.” ‘*Nothing more important than to see you—though I can well believe you would gladly have spared the interview.” “Rather. I am supposed to be finical about my acquaintances; and a convict- ed and condemned outlaw is hardly the man I would hold a tryst with had la choice in the matter.” “But you haye no choice.” “T am not so sure of that. I fancy that if I chose this interview would be brought to an end in short order. Now you are here, I am a trifle curious’ to know what it can be you have to say. Speak up, man. What is it you want from me?” “ Justice.” “Have you not had enough of that? You have been condemned; and if not yet executed it is only because the camp has not been able to do it. Do you ex- pect me to handle the rope?” She spoke with a scorn which seemed intended to anger, but Roylston went cn in the same steady manner. “JT speak to you because you have been back of it all. It lies in your power to undo the mischief you have done, and I give you one chance. If you tal it away it may never return.” CHAPTER IX. THE FALL OF THE TRAP. Some time after the young sport had entered into his successful game at the Living Light, a man moved up to the neighborhood and took his station at the corner of a vacant’ shanty in the rear of the building. He came as silent as a shadow, and remained at his post mute, motionless, but on the alert. Py He was so placed he could command two windows, the one of which allowed a flood of light to stream out from the eard saloon. The other was darkened by & curtain, around the edges of which was a feeble line of light, scarcely above a glow. The lamp burning in the room beyond was turned down to a mere glimmer. The watcher knew the room, however, and that it was the one which Myrtle, the feminine dealer at the Living Light, claimed for her own. At present. she was occupied at the table; but for all that the watcher placed his attention there from time to time, turning his eyes away from the saloon for the moment, as though expecting the apartment to receive a visitor. In this he was not mistaken. When Harrington took the box, to deal against the wonderful winner, Myr- tle stood for a few moments at his- shoul- der. When she saw the game moving aleng without any apparent hitch, she turned and glided away. There was a rear door by which she came and went, and through this she passed out into the night. The watcher’s eye was caught by the gleam of light which darted out through “You are mad! What are the ani the open door, and for the first time | ments of Touch-and-Go to me? Wheth- turned his head. | er they hang you or let you go is all Framed in the doorway he saw the} the same. Did I stop stages, or rob my figure of Myrtle, as for a moment she | friends? Or, did I give witness the crime paused to peer out into the night. was yours?” tase Then, as he saw her come down from ‘“Perhaps uot, though of even that I the step and go around toward the pri- | am not so well assured. And yet, your vate door of her'living apartments, he | hand can be traced through it all.” rapidly, though stealthily, approached the “Humph! In all this town there is no | one who would be so merciful to you as I. If I shot you before you could ‘repeat the insult, to the last man the people here would rise up and say I had done PES Oe ws cen: —— —- spot. So swiftly did he move that he was almost at her heels when she entered, and had she turned about, for a final there was no second click of a bolt. The the right thing. The wonder is I do Pi: t try it on.’ “What is the verdict of Touch-and-Ga to me? It is false as that other verdict, rendered half a dozen years ago, which Mw drove an innocent man out, heart-broken. +4 } and despairing, and wrecked three lives, if not four. That is that one I wish re- me with such talk. I neither understand. you, nor do I care to have your words explained. If this is all you have to say to me the sooner you go the ‘better it will be for your safety, while it will prof- it you nothing to linger. I know nothing of that of which you speak.” “And yet, that is the verdict which is at the bottom of the other. That is: the one which really periled my life last versed.” { “You are certainly insane to come to | I night, and which is hunting me down. I have had enough of this work. It must. stop. I have been so far on the defensive, but the time has come to carry the war into Africa. Beware, when the campaign. opens.”’ Myrtle remained as cool as ever. In | spite of the danger in his tone she nei- ther shrunk from him, nor was angered. — “Your threats, at least, I can under- | stand, and the Harringtons are the wrong people before whom they can be aired. We can meet threats with threats, force with force, and if need be you will never go out of this place alive.” Her hands still lay idly in her lap, and there was nothing to tell that she meant a movement, yet the man was suspicious. He watched her keenly as she spoke; had her fingers strayed ever so little to- ward any spot where they might close. on a hidden weapon his grip would have: been on her. “The crimes of the Sacred’ Seven have been placed on my shoulders, and I have berne them with a laugh. Beyond Touch- and-Go the accusation would not have the weight of a feather. Before long it. may rise up at the real criminals. If it has not done so already, it is because it was bossible I might find use for be kaa leader.”’ “ee Well? ” “Well, the time for forbearance has. about passed. Draw off the dogs on the — trail, and do me justice.” LP Otte. “The time has come for a fight to a — finish.” , A Then it is about time for you to re- tire.” 4 Against any visible movement he might. ? have guarded; but Myrtle sat as motion- f less as ever. So it seemed in appear- ance, but her hidden foot pressed hard > upon a spring in the floor, and swift as. es oP Se ee thought a trap door dropped away from K under him. Ralph felt himself falling: and clutched © at the woman. He was too late. She sprung away like a flash, and his hands only grasped the chair in which she had been sitting. In one way, the movement was un-- | fortunate; in another, it was his salva- es ‘4 } tion. He was dropping down to the un- | certain, but he instinctively held on to © ‘the chair, which caught on the edges of the nearest corners of the opening. ee hung there, suspended by the grip of — the one hand, and the uncertain and sides. support above him. ah “At that instant of danger every sense: at was on the alert, and after what seemed . an’ age of waiting he heard something, which he knew had been dislodged at the time he fell, strike away down be- low him. Had he dropped along with it, he could in that moment fancy what would have been the result. ~
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| | } But there was little time to waste in thinking of such things. He knew at least that it would never do to lose his hold; and it remained to be seen what chance there was above. He turned his face upward, raising him- self steadily ,yby the one hand until he could grasp the edge of the aperture with the other. The situation was desperate enough, yet it seemed more desperate still when he saw Myrtle bending over from above, the lamp in one hand, a revolver in the other. CHAPTER X. THE VIGILANTES’ VICTIM. About the ability of the lady to use a weapon there was not the slightest doubt. In fact, Ralph knew it only too well; while Touch-and-Go had received a prac- tical illustration of her skill and nerve on several occasions. At that distance, and under such cir- cumstances, it was no wonder Roylston fancied he was elected for certain death. Nevertheless, he never “faltered, but steadily drew himself upward, as though there was no such person in the world. The woman was just as cool. “Just a moment, Mr. Roylston. You are aware I can drop a swallow on the wing at twenty yards, so you can imag- ine what chance you would have with me if I once pulled trigger.” “Do your worst,” he gritted back in answer. “If you were a man you would not be living now to make the threat.” “Pardon me. It is no threat, but sim- ply a bit of bald-headed truth. I might say in return, if I did not think you had been badly used, and deserved some recompense, I would not be listening to you. I am anxious to give you a chance for your life. If you are willing to listen to what I have to say, remain as you are for a moment. Any further struggle and I will be compelled to protect my- self.” He had raised himself so that his left forearm from the elhaw down rested upon the floor. It only uired a vigor- ous effort to be once more in the room, provided nothing was done to hinder.. The presence of Myrtle was all that stood between him and safety. Unfortunately, that was a great deal too much. She had the advantage in position, and he saw she intended to make the most of it, if he did not submit gracefully. He ceased his efforts, and hung suspended over the pit. “That is better. I will give you a chance, as I said. There are few men to whose word I would trust, but you are one of them. Swear to me to leave this vicinity, and remain forever silent about Harry and the Seven, and I leave you free to retire. Refuse, and you die at once.” “ And you have no terms to make for yourself? ” “T need to make none,” she answered, proudly. “Tf I refuse, then?” “You die.” * Scarcely.” It was a hundred to oe against him, but at that moment he took the one chance—and won. He was supporting more of his weight on his left arm than Myrtle dreamed of, and his right hand was in the shadow. As he spoke he turned the right wrist Silently, the muzzle of a revolver ap- ‘peared above the level of the floor, and She looked straight into a shoot of flame which burst un toward her. He followed it himself, leaping sud- denty up as she staggered, reeled, and then dropped to the floor like lead. So —- “ — See i. - 5 vr pt = ed The Girl Sport-Shadower. swiftly did he move that he caught the lamp as it fell from her hand, and, it re- mained burning. For an instant he listened, but heard no sound from without, so that it seem- ed as though no one had taken alarm. “Let them come, if they want to,” he muttered, bendin'g over the fair wo- man, and touching her forehead lightly with his finger. “T was afraid I might have bitten deeper than I intended, but her skull is safe, and she will be none the worse for it in the morning. I doubt if I would have cared to insure Hank’s life if it had been he at whom I was aiming.” Maaevellous though it might have seem- ed, his wonderful skill with the weapon had enabled him to place his bullet ex- actly where he wanted it, though it had been a snap shot, taken under the most awkward of positions. “One thing is certain. They have had their warning with a vengeance, and they will know what they are to expect. One couldn’t kill a woman; though it is like trifling with a tiger robbed of her whelps to threaten Harry when she can hear.” He raised her from the floor after the momentary hesitation, placed her com- fortably on her couch, and with a last look to be sure he had made no mistake passed out by the door through which he had entered. ; He had spent more time in his visit than he knew; and in the saloon matters had been moving along at a rapid gait. He turned his face toward the Living Light; but the game there had closed; and the plucky little sport had taken his departure. There was a hum of voices, such as was seldom heard about the table when the game was in blast, and he moved up cautiously to obtain a view if possi- ble through the window. f He lost a little time here. It was not possible to obtain a full view of the’ rocm from any one standpoint, and’ once he thought of venturing into the very lair of the tiger. Finally, he satisfied himself, and turn- ed away, but almost instantly crouched back in the shadow of the building as he heard heavy footsteps. Several men went by. Unfortunately, he could not see them, nor the burden they carried; but he heard them talking. There had been desperate work of some kind, and the vigilantes of Touch-and- Go were again rising. What that meant he knew well enough; but who was the victim? » He had a _ horrible suspicion; and knew from a half-finished experience of his own where to look for Hangman’s Pine. Without hesitation he started in that direction, Harrington seemed to be at the bottom of this movement; and he knew what that might mean. ' He saw the flare of torches as he drew near, and heard the subdued roar of a mob. By and by the voice of a single speaker rang above the other sounds, and he recognized it with something like a feeling of relief. He stole up more softly and heard the defiance of the victim and saw the noosed rope and the crowd. Fortunately, he was able to approach unseen; but he came late. As he dashed forward with noiseless footsteps the vig- ilantes gave their answer. First of all, the man known among | the Seven as Bones threw up his hand, in swift aim at Clarence Clark. He was as fair a shot as the best of them, and had he been able to work his will the crowd never would have heard to the end. 11 Davy Jones was watching, and swiftly © he grasped the extended wrist. “No yer don’t, old man. We give him ther chaince ter talk, an’ talk he shell, You kin go on with yer cattle stealin’,, but yer got ter do ett ’cordin’ ter skid- ule er bust katridges with Davy Jones.” If he had spoken up fairly and square- ly for the prisoners there were men there who would have downed him with a rush. This way, Davy Jones—who generally threw himself with the minority—won all he was playing for, and something more, He folded his arms, and listened with grim amusement to that hurled defiance. Then, he saw what seemed to be the crowd en masse rush forward. Some one slipped the noose over the- throat of the prisoner; there was a shout as Ready Pete and his gang pulled at the end of the rope, and Clarence Clark went swinging into the air. If another delegation from Touch-and- Go was yet to arrive, it looked as though it would come too late. Anyhow, it was a horrible sight, for, with his hands and feet free to struggle, it was not to be supposed the youth could keep still. His arms flew up, and he caught the rope with a death grasp. Again Bones made a motion—and this time Davy Jones, who still -kept at his elbow, shot out his fist. Bones went staggering back, and the. bullet from his pistol went thudding into. the ground at his very feet. What followed would be hard to de- scribe. Two or three men, who saw the move- men, plunged forward at Davy, while: a dozen others, who did not know what was the meaning of the shot, drew their own weapons. In a moment the mob was transformed. into a struggling mass. Harrington alone kept his coolness. He- did not intend his victim should escape him, and he was as well satisfied the at- tention of the crowd was momentarily” diverted. He would have finished the work as. Bones had intended to do, but there was. an interruption in this case just as de- cisive as in the other. From somewhere behind him a knife came hurtling over his head, severing~ the rope. As Roylston sprung upon the. gambler and hurled him to the ground. “Come!” he shouted, catching Clar- ence’s hand; and, bewildered though the: youth might be, the two dashed together™ into the black darkness of the pines, fol- lowed by half a dozen shots from Ready Pete, and the men who had been help-- ing at the farther side of the rope. CHAPTER XI. HANK HARRINGTON’S DANGER. Harrington was up in a moment; but when he glared around on what was left of the crowd found his game had disappeared, and could hear blundering — steps in the pines, and voices calling to one another. “It war Roylston,” whispered the voice of one of the Seven. “He jumped so quick ett war hard ter git a glimp’ ov him, but I ain’t makin’ no mistake. He’s got ther kid in tow— an’ yer knows about how much good’ et’ll be a chasin’ him.” “Roylston—are you sure?” “Dead sure.” “Great heavens! Then the man can- not know. He would have been at our’ throats like a tiger.” __ “Know: what?” - The question brought Harrington to: — his senses, Clarence Clark dropped, Ralph. Ft
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e bs er him, 12 “Never mind. Perhaps I am. wrong—I know you are right. He will glide away like a ghost. The thing has been a fail- ure, and it will be best to call off the boys. If Roylston should take the no- tion, he could make hot work in there for a dozen; and the youngster has nerve enough to be his brother. We'll let them ’ go, if we can; and start fresh when the time is riper.’”’ He gave a whistle, which seemed to be recognized by more than one, for an- swers came out from the darkness, and the hunters threw up the game, return- ing to the tree singly, and by twos and threes. The gambler spoke with a cold dig- nity, which might have convinced those who did not know better: “Men of Touch-and-Go, for once jus- tice has failed you, and a murderer has escaped. His pard is a desperate man, whom we once sentenced to this very tree; and together the two would fight you to the death if they were once cor- nered. You know that it is not cowardice which makes me advise that for to-night we leave them to their lairs. Better that, though, than waste, or worse than waste, the night.” “Ther night’s young, an’ we’re willin‘ ter waste a heap ov it. Say ther word, an’ we'll foller ’em, ef it’s ter death.” Bones spoke up from the crowd, and half a dozen more chimed )in to the same effect. “No, no. In the darkness you would only overrun the trail. To-morrow we can lift it in the snows farther on. Let us go back. First, the funeral of the victim. After that, when daylight comes, vengeance! ” “Vengeance nothin’!’’ muttered Davy Jones. “ When that kims ter Touch-and- Go, ther boot ’ll be on t’other foot.” No one seemed to notice his words. Without further parley the crowd made its way toward the camp, leaving the severed noose lying under the branches of the pine, and a twelve-inch bowie sticking in its trunk. Once back to the town, and Harry Harrington turned his steps toward the Travelers’ Rest. He had ordered the body taken thith- er, though why he scarcely knew. He thought now it was so he could make sure. It seemed to him Clarence Clark had tried to reveal a secret at which no one but himself had guessed. A little motion of his hand brought two or three of the Seven to his side. Together they entered the hotel. Johnny Blaine came forward to meet them. ‘A nice looking lodger ye sent me. He'll sleep sound, I'll bet, and not wake the rest with his snoring; but, all the same, Til have to charge you double freight.” “That's all right. Make your own bill, and I’ll see it paid in the morning. Where did you put him?” “Tn the little room off the shed. He’ll rest well there, and the rats won’t both- like they did the last one you sent me.” “IT want to see him.” “ All right; there’s a lamp burning; but it’s no use. His pockets were in- side out when he came.” Harrington knew every room in the house, and needed no’ guide. He went out into the passage,’and could see the light shining through the crack under the door. He went along with a smooth, steady step, and raised the latch. The door answered to his touch and Swung open. He stood on the threshold and peered within the room. At the very ites a ake of wera air faced him, and he could see on the far- ther side an open window. He would have thought nothing of that, for the lamp was shaded from the cur- rent of air, and it was the natural thing for him to find. Only it was raised higher than he expected, and when he looked at the rude bunk in the one corner it was vacant. That gave him a start, and he sprang across the room, to pick up the lamp and look down at the rough couch. The body had been there, sure enough, since there Were blood stains on the blanket, and a few drops on the floor. “Curses on it! Can Roylston glave come back for her—or has the dead come to life? Whichever way it is, there may be lively times soon at Touch-and- Go.” He shook his head as he spoke, and carefully put the lamp back where it had been standing. He would have gone to look out into the night, but at that mo- ment he heard a sound as of footsteps on the snow, and halted, in momentary expectation of he knew not what. He put his hand to his pistol, but be- fore he could draw it something bound- ed through the window, and, dropping upon him with terrible weight, hurled him to the floor. When he looked up he saw the shaggy hide and yawning jaws of Bobo, the wolf. He knew the ways of the brutes, and that those gleaming fangs, which show- ed white beyond the savage snarl on his lips, would tear out a jugular at a single snap. And this wolf knew what man was, and would not be cowed or con- quered without a fight. He scented blood, and for the moment seemed to have lost every particle of his taming. Harrington knew his danger, and as his wits were all about him could not imagine a way of escape without the most desperate chances. A paw rested on either arm, pinioning the members so they could not be released without a struggle; ahd while that was going on tooth and claw would be hard at work. There was one thing he could try to do. The lamp happened to stand so the light would fall full in his face, and he sought to fix with his the eyes of the wolf. The attempt was a failure. The glit- tering optics glanced right past his, and seemed to be looking at something far away, behind him. While he was thinking all these things Harrington lay as if paralyzed. There appeared to be someyoccult force. at work. It had only been a short time, but he could almost have sworn he hag lain for ages under those paws. Finally, it seemed as though the time had come for work. Very slowly his courage was returning. Bobo saw something was. coming, and his mouth yawned more than ever, He looked at the vacant bed, and snarled audibly. Harrington moved uneasily, and Bo- bo’s teeth closed just before they reached his nose. The sudden snap was horribly suggestive. And yet, the wolf was only considering. He did not know exactly what the situ- ation required, and there was a bare possibility this man was worth more to him living than dead. That was the way he seemed to think, as he cocked his head up, apparently in deep thought. As Harrington gathered every muscle together preparatory to making one great spring for life, he growled deeply. The effort came. With a powerful wrench the gambler slipped his arms out from under the paws, and drew up his knees until they almost touched his chin. Then he dashed his feet violently to- ward Bobo. Towards Bobo—but they did not strike him. All the force of the blow was wast- ed on the air. ,A low whistle sounded without, and the wolf acted as though moved by springs. With a yelp of de- light he bounded about, and with one great leap went through the window. Panting and pale, Harrington sat up. At the point of a knife, or the end of a pistol, he would have faced death without quailing; but there was something too horrible about the mangling and the gnawing of a wild beast’s killing. While he stared at the opening through which Bobo had passed, a face looked in. It was recognized on the instant. Ralph Roylston had doubled on his pursuers, “Murderer!” he exclaimed. “This last crime has filled the cup of your iniquity. Henceforth look only for retribution. Beware!” With the swiftness of thought, Har- rington threw up his hand and took one of those snap shots for which he was famous, aiming it fairly at the face in the window. It vanished at the report, but he heard a*mocking laugh, and' foot- steps hurrying away. CHAPTER XII. BOBO’S TEETH MERT. When Ralph Roylston flung the knife which cut the rope by which Clarence Clark hung suspended, he had intended to follow it up with a fusilade. The time seemed to him to have come when there must be a fight to the bitter end. Yet, he was averse to taking life, even though it seemed to him it would be but righteous vengeance so far as Hank Har- rington and his immediate followers were concerned. The trouble was, in such a crowd some innocent man might be harmed. When he saw the diversion caused by “Davy Jones his: mind was fully made up, and he reserved his revolvers for the time only of the bitterest need. He knew well enough that if Clarence was able to follow him, and the two could once get into the darkness of the pines, the chances were a dozen to one they could elude them all. He knew the way through the timber; was fleet of foot; and had tested his young friend already without finding him wanting. He kept straight on, at full speed. The pursuers blundered, and wasted time and strength in uncertain efforts, so the fugi- tives outstripped them, two feet to one, and before long had moderated their pace to a walk. Then Roylston, took ,time to ask the meaning of the scene—though he be- lieved it was backed by a sch2me'‘of the gambler to remove Clark from his path. Without attempting to soften the story Clarence told what had happened. Roylston heard with no sound save a grinding of the teeth, and abruptly changed his course. He was outflanking the vigilantes, and steering straight for Touch-and-Go. It was possible for them to get fairly within the town before there was a chance of being seen; and near the camp Ralph for the first time halted, end sroke: ‘“Touch-and-Go will be no safe place for you, no matter what object you may have in view. Follow yonder gulch and its course, and you will come upon the trail for Walnut Bar. Hollow it without halting—at least, till you come to the cab- in to which I took you first when I saved \
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you from the storm. It may be that we will never meet again. If we do, it will be time enough to tell you my story, Which will not be finished until all of this night’s work is paid for.” “Pardon me, but I cannot go; I will not leave you. I understand your errand ] and I am with you untif it is accom- 4 plished.” “Come, then. It is a yes or a no with A me, and there is no time to argue.” vey They knew whére to look for the body, { and stole silently toward the Traveler’s } Rest. : } The open window attracted their et- tention, and, looking in, Ralph saw a figure on the bunk, which he recognized. | At the same time there was a slight ; movement, as #hough of one awakening from a swoon. With a low cry of de- light, Ralph bounded into the room. “She lives! She lives!” he muttered to himself, as he swiftly examined what f had been the seeming corpse. “Ah! this blow knocked her sense- less. The, knife-thrust only drew btood, but made no dangerous wound. It has been but a swoon, and Hank Harring- ton has been fooled again.’ A low murmur reached his ears, but he did not stop to hear. Hastily ne wrap- ped a quilt around the now moving form, | and gathering it to his breast leaped out into the night. Clarence had seen and heard enough to understand the situation. He asked no questions, but between them they bore the body away. There was no cer- tainty how soon the disappearance would be discovered, and a search made. When they had reached a fair offing p their burden suddenly slipped away .rom ‘ between them and stood upright, laugh- ing after a shaky but very lifelike fash- on. “It was a close call, sure enough, but I am as good as half a dozen dead wo- men yet. Let me try my strength a trifle, if you please. I think I can walk alone.” “Do not think of it. You are weaker than you know; and we must be far away from here by morning if we would find safety.” _ “Better for me to hide right here. We have a friend or two at Touch-and- { Go, and I am not afraid to risk myself i with them. If you burden yourself with ‘me the end will be they will take us all.” a “Perhaps you are right. We will try it. First of all, tell me what happened to you, and how. Then we will hide you away. After that—perhaps the work is not yet done for the night.” There was a hint in that, yet the dis- guised Madge asked no questions, but told briefly the history of her adven- tures. . } She had not recognized the men who attacked her, and was only certain that neither of them was Hank Harrington. _ From the time she fell from a crashing blow until she awoke in the Traveler's Rest, she knew nothing; and it did not seem necessary to tell her the story of _ Clarence Clark’s narrow escape. They si- |. Jently and swiftly sought the ecahin in | which Madge expected to find refuge, and | though Davy Jones had not as yet re- turned they left her there. ran Bi _ “There is work to do in Touch-and- _| Go to-night,” said Roylston, as they * 4} turned away. Pa “Tf it can be done, I must learn who _ | it was robbed, and would have murdered, bee ey fadge.” ’ ‘ possibly saved Hank Harrington’s life. When he rejoined Clarence, Bobo was at his heels, and was once more a wolf of amiable nature and correct habits. wo ' , thea | : Ate : e & « ' an iy i re ‘This was the way it happened he re- | | turned to the hotel, and by his coming 4 “es “ap . 7 | 4 ; we |The Girl Sport-Shadower. re — “Come,” Roylston said; “ we will seek the place where they met her. It was my fault she fell into the danger. I should not have let her get out of my reach.” They. were fortunate in not meeting any of the men of Touch-and-Go, and with Clarence for guide it was not hard to find the spot. There was a carpeting of snow on the ground, and by daylight itemight have been possible to follow the trail left by the robbers; but, though they could make it out for some little distance, it was soon tangled up in the marks made by many other feet. Clark imagined fur- ther search was useless. Roylston knew better. He spoke to the wolf, and as he spoke pointed out the trail. ‘Here, Bobo, take it. Follow, old fel- low. You can spot them if you will. Search them out.” ‘ The animal put its head down and gave a low yelp, sniffing anxiously for a moment. After that, with its head up, it trotted steadily along until it came to where Roylston himself had lost the trail. Here, fora little, he was at fault, but with only a trifling hesitation he began to circle around the spot. Once, he start- ed in the direction of Hangman’s ‘Pine: but almost immediately turned, sniffed again at the trail, and trotted faster and faster toward the town. The two followed him at the best pace they could assume, but that hungry. swinging trot was more than they could keep up with, and soon they began to drop behind. — Ralph would have called him back, but the animal was now too excited to come to heel. He increased his speed, and final- ly was lost to sight, while Roylston and Clarence stood in the distance, look- ing eagerly at the spot where .he had melted from view. + “Heaven have mercy on them if he comes upon them unawares. I -have started him as if for blood,.and if he sees his chance he will not stop until he has taken it.” “They are desperate men, and it may be they will kill him. It is a pity you could not call him off.” “Trust him for that. His taming has unlearned him nothing., He has the in- telligence and the power of a demon. Hark! Did you not hear a shout?” It was, indeed, a distant cry which reached their ears, but it was not re- peated. Had they been nearer they might have seen two men separating, one of them entering a cabin, while the other strode on. This last was the member of the Sa- -ecred Seven known as Hyena; and against wae? a trifle later, Bobo launched )iim- self. : There was that one cry, an ahgry snap as the beast rose up, head to throat; then Bobo went galloping back, a stain of blood on his lips, while the man lay in a ghastly heap, with the snow rapidly reddening under his torn neck. CHAPTER XIII. TWO AVENGERS. Other ears than theirs might have heard the cry, and they did not make any effort to learn more of Bobo’s veng- eance, Straight back they went, to the cabin where they had left Madge, and fortunately it was on the outskirts of the place. | ees Davy Jones had returned, and did uct ‘seem at all put out concerning the in- trusion made during his absence. He greeted Ralph like an old friend, and urged him to remain for the night. - Ralph ‘shook his head. All he asked é 13 Was security for the girl, who was not yet fit to take the journey to the mount- ain, though her strength had largely re- turned. He had other plans in view; and Clar- ence was but too willing to leave the town, for the time at least. Good luck went with them, and, unob- served, they dropped Touch-and-Go be- hind them. But away up the trail Ralph turned and shook his clenched fist at the camp. “ There are less honest men there than there were in Sodom, and it would seem -but just if it received Sodom’s fate. Of them all, Jones is the only man I would trust; though there are a few who are not og, i ha econscienceless. I would never have left Madge behind if I had not thought the danger with me would be even more. To-morrow all Touch-and- Go will be on my trail.” “ Are they all at the beck and nod cf Harrington? ” ‘Nearly. Those who have never been linked with him in crime acknowledge him as a leading spirit.” \ ‘And he is determined to have your life.” “You saw that up yonder in the hills, when he and the Seven came out to at- tack me in my stronghold.” “What reason has he?” J “Jt is a long story, and one there is not time to tell in full. I mean you to take the road to Walnut Bar to-night. The risk to remain with me is too great.’”” ‘“Never. Your enemy is also mine. You have stood by me in my hours of dan- ger—I swear I will not desert you. It was through no doubt of you that I asked the question. If you prefer, let the answer remain unsaid.” “Nor is it through any doubt of ycu’ that I have not explained it all. “JT have a double claim for vengeance against Hank Harrington: and yet, I have been loth to take it. You understand that we had met years before Touch- -and-Go was thought of?” “So I imagined.” ‘““He was a clerk in my uncle’s bank- ing house, in which I also was employed. With almost Satanic skill, he ferretted out a defalcation of the old cashier—and managed to place it to my credit. He gave apparent evidence that I had been living a wild and reckless life in spite of my seeming steadiness, aided all the time by a woman who was the wife of another—a man who had been, and was, a friend of miné,” “The woman who now passes for his wife?” . } ' “Yes. My suspicions had been arous- — ed; they knew it, and took means to rid themselves of me. At the same time I was drawn into a seeming quarrel with a man I had always considered my friend. ““T struck him down, and they told = I had killed him, and urged me to yi? , “ And you consented? ”’ “TY did, like the utter fool I was, I believed the stuff Harrington told me, and retired, expecting to return when. the first burst of excitement was over. “T had never even harmed the stool pigeon, and when I saw the papers. the next day—it was weeks afterwar that I got them—I found I was branded as a criminal, and a net woven around mesuch as I could not break unless Har- rington or the woman should make con- fession, bs “It was too late to go back, and [ came farther West. y ’ “ For some i ah I had ups and downs, but at last my half-sister joined me here, and I made a strike which would have netted me a fortune.
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ee —— — cs : “s ET CP eee ge ree te. aa3.05-* ee . SPA SS SP gee gee acs ce . Ss <2 en, a my hands. very straight. The Girl Sport-Shadower. “Tt was then I recognized Harrington, who had managed to drift here. He had remained with my uncle for a year, and then had fied with Myrtle, though he left a clean record’at the bank. “Once more he put his wits to work, though this time he meant to have his profit out of it, all the same. He accused me of being the chief of the Sacred Sev- band of road-agents concerning whom you appear to be posted. One of the few good men of the place had been murdered by them, and they manufac- tured evidence first, and condemned me to the rope afterward. “T escaped, and posted word in Touch- and-Go that any man I found jumping my claim would suffer, and that I would never leave the vicinity until [I hads prov- ed my innocence, and brought home the | crime to the guilty. “How they have hunted me since then is part of the history of the camp. To- morrow, I believe, they will make one more effort—I have half decided it shall be their last. I pleaded with Myrtle this night, as I never expected to with a liv- ing being, and her answer was an at- tempt to slay me, You know who I am— practically a proscribed outlaw. Leave me if you are wise. Here our trails should fork. Harrington has hardly done you such wrong as he has to me. He is mine, Leave him in my hands. One day you will learn what I have done with him.” “ He belongs no less to me and I refuse to leave you. You are not his only victim. I had a sister once; and she died by his hand.” “Your sister! ” “Yes.. Not that it was her life he sought; but she stood between, cnd caught the bullet intended for her hus- band. They, too, had made a find, had gathered a “ pocket, ” and in another day ‘would have left the accursed region, but the Sacred Seven found them out,” “And killed him?” “Hung him over his own doorstone.” “And you are her brother? I have heard of this before. It happened before they came to Touch-and-Go, and was one of the crimes I came across when I was searching up the record of the men after they drove me out,” “T ferreted it out, too, and, though long on the trail, T vowed vengeance would come at last.” “Yes; and Hank Harrington knows it. He has recognized you, having no doubt heard of you from some of his spies. He does not mean you to live to carry out the threat.” — “In that very way he is playing into After. this lapse of time I could hardly shoot him down in cold blood; while with an even chance and his skill with weapons he would certain- ly have the chance to get the better of me. But, if he comes to the attack of his own free will, I think I can hold When he goes back to Touch-and-Go it will be feet foremost.” “So be it. We both have had wrongs —if Touch-and-Go comes out, perhaps we can right them in the morning. I have turned the other cheek for the last é - ~CHAPTER XIV. PWARANCE OF THE GIRL SPORT. .v@ vite second time Harrington had been under the paws of the wolf, and the animal had again gone off scot-free, |. and without doing more damage than that to the gambler’s nerve. _ Had it not been for Bobo he might have followed keenly on the trail of the man he both feared and hated, but he ‘was not so sure the beast was not lying. in wait for him, and while Bobo wor- ried Ralph might shoot. the house, and gave the alarm after his . own cool fashion. He did not think it worth while to say anything about the way he had been worsted, but he announced that the sup- posed corpse was gone, and that Ralph Roylston was prowling outside, and prob- ably had a hand in the taking. Then he went on out himself, but not to waste time in search for the man he believed was by this time far enough away. He smiled to himself as he thought of the folly which had spared him, and was deciding—as Roylston had prophe- sied—that the morrow would bring an end to the hunt. He wished now he had finished it up in the mountains; kut they were unprepared for a long ‘hunt, and it might have taken more days than one to run the outlawed man to his last ditch. This time they would be ready for the chase, if it lasted for a week. He intended to pass the word around that night, but first he went in to see Mrytle. He found her seated by the fire, and saw at a glance she had been moved hy some excitement. As he entered she ex- claimed: ““T have had a visitor.” “ Ah! I can guess.” “Tt was Roylston. He demands con- fession—to be cleaned of the old charges. Then, if we draw off from the trail here, he would offer a truce.” “T can guess at your answer.” *T answered him with the trap, over which he happened to be standing; and would have finished with the revolver. He escaped them both.’ “ And spared you, after all?” ** Yes.” “The fool. He held my life, too, this evening, in the hollow of his hand, but refused to strike.” “He is in earnest, now. I doubt if he would do it again.” “No. Nor will he have the chance. He has our secret, anc has good cause to hate. While he lives we can never be safe. He has foiled us more than once, but we will take the trail and run him down.” Myrtle looked up at him, shuddered, but said nothing. “Your boy was a woman, and the wo- man was Ralph’s sister, the Girl Sport. Like him, she seems to bear a charmed life. Twice within the twenty-four hours I have thoughe her dead. Each time she returned to life. What happened to her will scarcely make him feel kinder to Touch-and-Go. She broke the bank on a square deal; and then was robbed, and well nigh murdered.” “Not by your hand!” “No; but it will be fair to suppose be will give it the credit. At least, the wealth came back. I am holding a good demanded we shall see. So long.” He went out with a short, low laugh on his lips, and made his way toward the shanty of Bones. He seldom went in that direction, and never openly, but this time he had a fair excuse. Knocking gently at the door, it flew “Thar—look thar! Ther bloody work hez begun, Thar’s ther fu’st one ov ther Seven to go over ther range, an’ look how he went.” He pointed at the body which lay stretched on his bunk- go next?” He made his way back to the front of. share of it for the owner. When it is. open, and Bones ‘himself pulled him in. “Ther luck hez turned, an’ who’s ter ‘Tf he had fa nana to leave the town — “The man whom the brute follows and obeys. Those are the marks of the talons of the wolf. How did it happen?” Briefly the story was told. They had but barely separated when a cry was heard, and Bones rushed out—to find the body almost at the door, while a dark figure bounded away in the distance. “Enough. I came within an ace of being served the same way. Once more I lay. under the infernal paws. Brute and man must die. See the boys to- night; tell them of this, and warn them to be ready in the morning. Best, per- haps, to bring out a few more whom we can trust. Remember, it will be a run to the death.” “His death er ourn. Ef we slip up on it we got ter jump ther g@amp an’ take to ther road ag’in.’ “Hard lines, just when we start in to © be honest men,” sneered Harrington. “We have waited too long, that’s all. The mine will be jumped when we come back, and I fancy there will be wealth enough in that to pay for a little worry and some risks. Be promptly on hand.” * An’ who’s ter berry him?” pointing to the stiffening figure on the bunk. “J will arrange to have that done, if we do not return in time for the funer- al. See them all; and if possible meet at the Light in an hour. There are a few © things to be decided on.” Late though the hour was, the word ran around the camp, and once more the vigilantes of Touch-and-Go gathered for a council. The Sacred Seyen were all there, save one; but they did not take the leading parts. Harrington told his story, of course, but he waited for others to say what was to be done. He knew well enough what the verdict would be, and would sooner it was pro- nounced by men with whom he was cer- tainly not in league before he came to the camp. Davy Jones was there along with the rest, and listened with that same pro- voking smile of his to the plans which were laid for the morrow. When some one called on him for his opinion he gave it after his own peculiar style. ““T ain’t takin’ much stock in trying ter ketch on with ther man what made ther strike over in "Wayback Kenyon; but ’pears ter’ me we orter find what's become ov ther chap ez busted ther bank. Mebbe this Roylston kerried him away, thinkin’ ter git at his rocks, an’ mebbe he went peaceable, an’ ov his own, free will. While you’re lookin’ fur ther one, I’ll be searchin’ fur t’other. Reck- on we kin mog along tergether in peace an’ comfort.” “An’ ef we don’t?” Bones asked the question suspiciously, Jones was an uncertain sort of a fellow, who had never offered a square defiance | as yet, but it had always semed as though. some day he was going to give trouble. “Ef you goes with ther crowd, you'll hev ter do ez ther crowd sez.” “Whenever I don’t you kin down me— — ef yer kin.” For a little it seemed the two might come to blows, or something more. Har- rington spoke up quickly: “The camp has given the man a fair trial; but if it wants to open up the case again there will be no objection. One thing is certain. He shall not defy us longer, innocent or guilty. No one man shall bluff all Touch-and-Go.” The growl which ran around the crowd showed how much in earnest they were, — and Davy Jones said no more. When he went away from the meeting he was aware of the fact that he was followed. |
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es of sentinels were waiting for him. They did not intend he should warn the outlawed man, as-they more than +} half suspected he intended to do. “oi * Reckon I throwed ’em off,” he mut- } tered to himself. “They'll be waitin’ ter see what I'll be doin’ outside ov town, an’ not be apt ter drop ter what’s goin’ on inside. All ther same, I’ll be with ’em in ther :norn- in’. Somehow, Hank ’pears ter hev a inklin’ ov ther fact I ain’t chippin’ in on his games jest so freely as he'd like.” He was almost at his own door when he said this, with a chuckle, and at that moment Harrington himself glided to his side. “Say, old man, you want to go a trifle slow with the boys. I know you are Square as a die, but they don’t catch on a to your style, and, as I heard some of them. growl, I just thought I’d see you home. They’ll hardly try to crowd you under my wing. If they do, I'll stay with you, and we two could stand off a pretty good-sized gang.” The gambler was as genial as a mild May morning, but Davy was not deceiv- -} ed. There was some other cause. He | fancied he knew what Hank’s suspicion 4} ‘Was. : “Thanks fur nothin’,” he said, in a surly tone. “I jest play my hand fur | what it’s wuth, an’ nary a bluff do I “a make. Ef I war you, I wouldn’t worry.” “Oh, I’m not the sort to do that. All the same, I mean to see you safe into ‘your shanty, and I advise you don’t go out again till daylight.” The two spies had closed up, and Jones 2 knew from Hank’s tone it was useless to object, unless he meant to bring on the fight right there. He had his hand on his pistol, but he knew he could have a better chance in the cabin. Hank would be separated from the rest, and he could ma take them in detail. In some way the gambler had come to suspect that Madge z was there, but Davy made up his mind __} she should never fall into his hands. With thumb to hammer, Jones threw open the door, showing the room be- yond, with the lamp still burning. Harrington sprang to his side, and they both peered in. The room was empty. Madge had yan- ished, and left no sign. CHAPTER XV. THE DEMON OF THE’ DRIFT, So far, Touch-and-Go had always been on the aggressive, while the man they had outlawed had done the retreating. ‘There were many of the vigilantes who believed it would continue to be so. Harrington did not attempt to unde- ceive them, though he had his own rea- sons for believing this was one of the times when the fugitive would turn at at aa’ Re a ee him hard. _ They started from the Traveler’s Rest; and it was not hard to strike the trail near there. There were the tracks of Roylston; of the young man who had "| come so near to being their victim the y night before; and mixed up with theirs _ the marks left by the feet of Bobo. _ Fortunately, none of them led toward Davy Jones’s cabin—Ralph was too was. te iGilow. the footprints. ‘ oh fn ozen men tracking two. It seem- ed certain they could not lose the trail, _ and if they once overtook the quarry _ there could be but one ending to the un- qual fight. — ea be a 7 P that night he would have found a brace | bay should they once begin to crowd The Girl Sport-Shadower. 15 Nevertheless, the trail did vanish, as it had done more than once before when the vigilantes had sought to find the man they had made an outcast. After a time it was seen that Ralph had been proceeding with more and more caution, and presently all traces of his footsteps were lost completely. After that, it was guesswork for the most part. The regular trail for Walnut Bar was not far away, and more than once some of the men had said that was the line the retreat would follow; but Harrington was not one of them. He was sure Roylston would make gocd his word, and never suffer himself to be driven out of the region. More likely he was watching them from one of his lurking places; and it was to explore these recesses of the mountains which they knew he had haunted that the party had set out. As the day advanced, moreover, the sun grew warmer. The snow was dis- appearing, and a warm wave came sweeping from over the mountain. One of those sudden changes had set in which seem almost miraculous, and which ren- dered the journey doubly toilsome, since they were prepared for the cold, biting air they had faced on starting out. It was only when night had come very near, and they were about to camp, that they discovered traces of what might be the fugitive, though the footmarks were so indistinct that the keenest trailer could hardly read them aright. They were soon lost to sight in the gathering gloom, but the vigilantes hard- ly cared to follow them far. It was enough to know the day’s labor had not been entirely thrown away, and that they were at last closing in on the quarry. There was but little doubt the fugitives had gone straight on down into the val- ley. If so, they were in a trap from. which it would be hard to escape. The way led into a cul-de-sac, if the knowl- edge of some of the old prospectors could be trusted. The. canyon afforded plenty of hiding places, to be sure, but with time they could be ferreted out, and with daylight to aid them the men of Touch-and-Go could sweep the gulch, and leave no chance for escape. Across the narrow neck a guard was strung, and of those who slept that night while off duty not one but had the han- dle of his revolver convenient to his grasp. With Ralph so nearly cornered, they did not intend to allow him a chance to beat back unnoticed, or without hin- drance. The night passed undisturbed, and with morning the chase was renewed. Only Davy Jones, who had toiled aicng with the rest, shook his head and urew back. : : “Excuse me, I ain’t given ter nerves, but that place down thar gives me thef creeps. When yer ketches him let me know, an’ I’ll j’ine yer ter see ther fun.” » Had he been alone with Hank Har- rington and the remnant of the Seven he would most likely have remained there permanently. They had their sus- picions, and, good man though he was, he could hardly have fought them all at little more than arm’s length, and in the open. Fortunately, men were there from the camp not ready to go that far, and their presence saved him. The gambler king stared at him, and oh ng in a low tone, growled his warn- RPS fs ahh “It looks to me all along as though you were backing his hand, I’m watch- ing, and if I see you assist him when the tug comes, down you go, Davy.” “In your mind. If you don’t like my style, pull on me now. The boys will see fair play, and I’ll take the chances.” It was a defiance that at any oiher time Harrington would have answered with a shot, even though he knew Da- vy’s hands were in his pockets, and most likely. rested on a pair of cocked der-+ ringers. Just now, there were too many interests at stake to accept that chal- lenge. “You'll keep,” he hissed, as he turned away. “‘ When this frolic is over you and Ill have another count on that, Davy!” “And I'll be with you,” was the cold answer. In spite of the slight wound he had received several days before, The Flirter was with the rest, chief he fell back. There was a fair ex- cuse for him, but Davy knew he was with him to watch. If Harrington and his gang came back victorious, a warm future was in store for him in Touch- and-Go. Progress was slow when the band set- tled down to work. They swept along through the canyon, examining eyery yard as they went, though not really expecting to find any sign until they had reached the farther end. The weather grew warmer; the wind sighing over the gulch had a moisture in its touch that said summer itself had come on the heels of the storm. Some of the vigilantes swung their coats over their arms, but Harrington now and then anxiously scanned the streak of sky to be’seen above, and seemingly would have been glad to peer beyond the mountain. Even the slow work of beating through the cul-de-sac came to an end, at last, - and a shout went up as they saw a fig- ure spring up from. the top of a huge bowlder, and, after a momentary glance at the semi-circle which was closing in, disappear, apparently into the face of the canyon. “ Holed at last!” yelled Harrington, _ and fearlessly he pushed on up the pre- cipitous slope, followed by the whole posse. ‘ A yawning opening, hitherto unheard | of, met their view. Half a dozen men would have rushed into this hole, but Harrington held up his hand in warning, and bent forward to listen. - Not far away they could hear the noise of running footsteps, but the tunnel, for such it seemed to be, darkened rapidly, and the fugitive was already beyond reach of the eye. *‘Look around for torches!” ordered the leader, once satisfied the game was in its lair. “Half a dozen of us will root him. out, and the rest will stand guard to see he does not double back on us and get off the way he came. Does any one know anything about this shaft?” ““Never heard on ett afore,” answered Bones. 4 “Ef ett war topside ov ther ground I’d say it warn’t so much a shaft ez a_chan- nel. Most likely ett reaches ter Chiny, fur I ain’t seen ov it a-comin’ out this side.” “More likely it goes through into Dev- il’s Canyon, and this is the way they made their escape after they tumbled in there. There is a history and a mys- tery going to be told to-day.” f Torch in hand, Harrington led the way, and his own men followed. As they pushed along they peered from side to side at the solid walls, and at the roof of rock overhead. No hiding place could they discover, and they moved faster and faster, sure the game was still ahead, and might at any moment be overtaken. - { At a sign from the.
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16 Still, though the minutes lengthensd, and their pace was not slow, they heserd nothing and saw nothing, and ahead of them the passage stretched with a reg- ularity that seemed to have been shaped for just such use. It was something of a surprise when it suddenly forked, one arm bearing away to the right. “Two of you follow that and see what you find,” ordered Harrington, who, with the rest, kept straight ahead. The gloom and .utter silence of the place were beginning to tell on the nerves even of the chief, and after a long tramp it was with something of a shiver he suddenly found the passage come to an abrupt end. It looked as though some convulsion of nature had forced a huge mass of rock across the passage, and closed it up forever. Something like an imprecation left his lips, but at that moment Bones eaught him by the shoulder. “ Lis’sen, boss! What are that? Satan broke loose? ”’ Away off, low, yet distinct, and rapidly rising louder, they heard an infernal howl, as of a million wolves, yapping and yowling along the passage, in a frenzy of terror! | Then, while they listened, the chorus died away into a sullen rumble, under which the very rocks seemed to quiver, and along the passage, though still hid- den in the darkness, something same lap- lap-lapping towards them! Hez CHAPTER XVI. CASHING IN. The figure which had attracted the at- tention of the vigilantes was that of Madge. As the reader knows, she had slipped away from Davy Jones’s cabin, during his absence, preferring to find a hiding pace which seemed safer. ’ In her own way she had succeeded in reaching the spot but a little while be- fore, and was resting a few moments when she was alarmed by the approach of Harrington and his party. , ‘ She knew from certain signs that Ralph was in advance, and immediately darted into the passage, which was so familiar to her that light and darkness there were almost the same. When she reached the place where the tunnel forked she knew it by the feel of the flooring, and turned unhesitatingly to the right. ; Once more she ran on, increasing her speed as she saw, after a little, a glimmer of light ahead. “ Be careful, Ralph; it is I!” she shout- ed, as she saw the form of a man hend- ing over, his attention attracted by even the light noise of her swift footsteps. “Heavens, Madge! Hasten, hasten! There is not a minute to spare.” As he spoke Ralph ran down to meet her. ‘ “They are coming!” the Girl Sport gasped, as she seized his hand, and the two ran-side by ‘side. “Then, heaven help them. The water is coming and they are doomed, for the dam will break.” “The dam! You must be wrong. Two days ago it was frozen.” : ‘““So much the worse. I have seen the signs of the storm, and I know the tor- rent is coming. When it gets here it will be on the top of the ice. If there has been such a cloudburst as I fancy, it will fill the tunnel from end to end; and woe to those who are caught in it.” Together they came out into the day- light. Clarence Clark was gazing toward the upper end of the canyon when Royl- ston caught him by the shoulder. “This way. Climb for your life. Yon- der comes the flood.” The Girl Sport-Shadower. Swiftly the three clambered up the rocks by the side of the opening, but with such wonderful speed did the tor- rent come that they only made their es- cape in time. The mouth of the tunnel lay right at the seeming end of the narrow canyon, and had been protected from the little stream which had its course down the centre of the gorge by a heap of debris forming a natural dam. This turned the, water into a still nar- rower channel, which wound backward until at ordinary times it sufficed to al- low the scant stream to drop away through a gateway to a side canyon across which the light-footed Madge could here have leaped. The hurrying rush of flood water would never stop to worry its way through here when. the mouth of the old channel, shaped like a funnel, was waiting to re- ceive it.- Doubtless that was the course of the stream, once on a time, and once more the water would find its ancient way. While the three looked, shivering in spite of themselves, the head of the tor- rent came down at racing speed, over- leaped the low dam, and roared into the passage. It was the last of life for the Sacred Seven. Only one of them—F lirt- er—was ever seen alive again. Davy Jones watched the party beating through the cul-de-sac as far as he could see them. When they had vanished from sight he turned suddenly at the sound of a sharp click, and found he was looking into the muzzle of Flirter’s revolver, and that redoubtable desperado looked very much as though he intended to shoot. The swift look may have caused him to hesitate, but he never altered his aim. “You got me, Flirter, an’ that’s a fack,”’ “ An’ means ter keep yer. Somehow you’s a gittin’ in’ ther way, more er less, an’ by’m’bye you'll be doin’ mischif. Reckon you better say good-morning,. Ther boss ain’t no more use fur you, neither hez I.” * An’ yer won’t give me a chance?” “Chance nothin’. I got ther drop.” “Then fire away!” As he spoke Davy threw himself over backward just as the revolver cracked. The bullet went hissing over his head, and he rolled over swiftly, expecting another shot. Instead, there was a snarling cry, the noise of a wild beast worrying over stricken game, and look- ing over his shoulder he saw Bobo hard at work. ‘Come off!” he yelled, springing to his feet, and the wolf obeyed without a mur- mur. He knew Davy of old, and, any- how, unless he meant to devour the ani- mal it was a snap and a tear, and then away for a new spring. “Hello, what’s’ ’this? i Several of the more honest of the vig- ilantes were returning on their trail, and they had seen the whole thing. Davy supported the stricken man ax he answered: “Tt means thet this hyer galloot war one ov ther Sacred Seven—an’ his boss warn’t the man you bin lookin’ fur, by a long shot. He knowed I knowed it, an’ he meant ter close my mouth, actin’ more like by ther capt’in’s orders. “ An’ that capt’in war Hank Harring- ton, an’ he’s left me here ter be killed, same ez he did Hyena! I won’t die, I sw’ar I won't, tell I’ve told ther truth an’ hev him ready ter foller!”’ Flirter fairly shrieked out the words, and there was not a man there who in one glance did not get a comprehensive view of the story. aS “TIT pb’lieve yer, he’s right,” muttered one of the men; “but with Hank Har- rington ter ther front it mayn’t be jest so well fur ter let him know it.” ‘Listen to me all ther same; an’ ef ther time comes you kin know how ter | act. Hyena poured out his story with a voice which rapidly grew weaker, but lasted till the tale was finished. And then, from the valley below, came a strange, gurgling sound. Had they been near to see it they would have noted the water pouring out of the mouniain side, first in a waterfall, which leaped wickedly over the great bowlder, and then, rolling down the narrow valley, rose, and rose, and rose, until a little lake lay beneath them. Others of the vigilantes made their es- cape, and wher they had waited_an hour obtaining farther light on what had hap- pened they made their way back to Touch-and-Go. Hank Harrington and his men came not, though there was a ‘dry-eyed wo- man waiting anxiously for them. Ralph Roylston, Clarence Clark, and Madge did, In some way Davy Jones got word to them, and when they entered Touch- and-Go they were received in amity, if not with open arms. Mrytle told all she knew, and she at least explained the mys- tery of the affair at the bank, so that Ralph could show himself guiltless. She even told enough to make doubly sure that Harrington had been chief of the outlaw Seven. Having made this much of amendment, she disposed of her title to the Living Light and went her way. Ralph was in no such hurry to go. He had made a fair strike in his mine, and waited to watch its development, while Clarence Clark—to whom, and to Davy Jones, interests in that same mine were assigned—-waited with him. Clarence was young yet, but Madge, who had played well her role as a shadower, looked with no unfavoring eye on Clarence, and per- haps he cared more for that than for the mine! At all events, he has no regrets that once upon a time the trail of vengeance ‘led him to the vigilantes of Touch-and- Go. Of them all, Bobo, the wolf, ran the most danger, for the men of the camp voted him a dangerous brute to be at large, but Roylston saved him! THE BND. Next Hatr-Dme Liprary, No. 970° Ahoy Abe, the Dock Sharp ; The Parson Sport’s Mysterious Mission. BY JO. PIBRCE. Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. LATEST ISSUES. 966 Fighting Jack Shubricks or, The Dupe’s Death-T re J. Pieschen Ready Yaner 98th. aa st 967 s1000 Reward; or, The Rival Reporters’ Sleek Scoop. y J.C, Cowdaick. 968 Buffalo Bill's Rush Nides or, Sure-Shot, the High-Flyer. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 969 The Girl Sport-Shadower}$ or, Clark’s Close Shave. By Wu. R Eyster. 970 Ahoy Abe, the Dock *harpt or, The Parson Sport’s Mys- terious Mission. By Jo Pierce, 9T1 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, ‘Oath; or, The Fool of Paradise Cump. Py Edward L. Wheeler, A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library ‘s for sale by all newsdealers, five tents per sopy, or sent by mail on receipt of six conts each, ‘ BEADLE AND ADAMA, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York.